I've had a comment or two about how I'm replacing Bilbo with my OC and that maybe I shouldn't. My reason for leaving out Bilbo is because the fics I've read somewhat glaze over him. I love Bilbo, I really do, but I don't like seeing him so left out. I know for a fact that if my OC was an add-on instead of a replacement, that I would not be giving Bilbo the attention he deserves. It is out of respect for Bilbo that I'm deciding to leave him out of this story.

~~**I**~~

A Merry Gathering

They say that hobbits came into being by the union of mortal men and fairies. Bollocks. Lessil was just that and she was very much taller than a hobbit, not as fat either and nor did she have hairy feet. It's not that she didn't like hobbits, just that the myth was simply that, a silly myth.

But yes, Lessil's father was a mortal man who fell in love and wedded a fairy. Strong and dark haired Dahn, silent and skilled as the hunter he was, stumbled upon the fairy, Mora, while on one of his hunting trips and fell instantly in love with her. For a year Dahn would enter through the forest, the same forest for clandestine meetings with his beloved. Soon after, they were wedded and enjoyed a content, blissful life together.

Together they begot two daughters. The first was Wisteria; golden haired just like Mora, but that was not the only similarities they shared. Wisteria also had her mother's porcelain skin and sharp, delicate features and a spring glow about her. But the most important feature of Wisteria was her light purple colored eyes. The next was Lessil, she was more like Dahn, dark haired and brown eyes and her skin was not as milky white as Mora or Wisteria, but at least she was not marred with any freckles. Many said that Lessil was pretty, but Wisteria was often commented being the loveliest thing in the West and often overshadowed her younger sister.

For many years Dahn and Mora spent together, until Dahn passed of old age. Mora, being a fairy of long life, withered in vitality after her beloved died and passed shortly after.

As to what became of their daughters; Wisteria loved adventure and began traveling outside their home near Bree by her early twenties. She was not one to be settled down, even to the many handsome suitors who begged for her hand. No, she traveled to her heart's content and wherever it may lead her. Lessil, on the other hand, continued living just outside of Bree as a healer. That was her gift and she was very good at it. Her mother was also something of a healer and knew the uses to herbs and remedies and how to soothe pain and discomfort through the use of skilled hands only. Mora taught Lessil in kind and Lessil used her knowledge to help others.

Lessil's talents were well enough known on the western side of the Misty Mountains and it because of that very purpose she caught the attention of a wandering wizard.

Lessil combed the forest near her home. She was looking for cattails, yarrow and nettles that she'd just run out of. So many had come to her with upset stomachs that only her teas could settle them. It was the start of spring, so she did not know just why everyone seemed to be having troubles. But they were and Lessil cured them and now she was out restocking.

Just a couple more nettles. I should have brought my gloves. Lessil groaned as the leaves, yet again, scratched at her skin. Only a couple times did they draw blood and luckily this time was not one of them.

She finished her picking and placed them in the basket along with the cattails and yarrow. Leaning back on her heels, Lessil gazed at her fingers, gently stroking them with her thumbs trying to ease the irritated skin. Her fingers were bright pink and she counted three cuts. They were shallow at least and already the blood stopped running and was crusted over. The tips of her fingers were calloused too. It wasn't new to Lessil, but she stared at them dully.

From the time Lessil and her sister grew into their woman's bodies, many of the folk in Bree worried for her father that his daughters would never make a suitable match for any man. Wisteria, while extraordinarily beautiful, was too much of a wild child. And sometimes Lessil's healing skills unnerved the townsfolk. Many a time, when any other wisemen would give up a person for dead, Lessil could place her hands upon the dying and cure their ailments. It made the people uncomfortable and glad that she did not live so close to town. None could tame Wisteria and none would be comfortable to love Lessil.

But Dahn only laughed at the townsfolk and to his daughters said, No man will ever be worthy of you, my precious girls. He told the two of them that marriage was not needed unless they found someone their hearts could love fully and completely, just as he and Mora did.

And at twenty-nine years of age, it seemed like Lessil's window of marriage had come and gone without even the slightest of opportunities. But it hardly mattered to her, she got by fine on her own. She grew the food she ate in her gardens, got milk from her goat, baked her own bread, caught fish in the stream near her house and trapped rabbits and squirrels in the forest. Anything else she could need was made in small payments for her remedies.

But looking at her hands just oddly reminded her that she felt like something was missing from her life. She told herself she was fine with her solitude. People came by every once in a while for medicines and some did have the decency to speak with her, mostly the people who had known her father. But Lessil could tell it was more out of pity than anything. Though there was one person who came around every once in a while that had a genuine interest in her company, even if it's been about a year since she saw him.

She made to rise, grabbing her wicker basket, but stopped as she heard movement coming from behind her. In all her years of coming, there were no big beasts that could rip her apart and the movement was not of a small animal. More like that of a man. And no one save for her entered in this forest. Slowly, she reached at her waist where she had a small dagger.

With a quick breath, Lessil spun around to face her stalker, dagger in front of her.

"I highly doubt you could maim me with that."

Lessil dropped her arm, her shoulders also releasing tension. "Gandalf, you startled me."

The grey wizard stood a few paces behind her, both hands around his staff that was propped on the ground. He had a bemused twinkle in his eye as he looked upon the young woman. Lessil was so much more guarded than her older sister, even her mother. It must have come from her mortal nature. "That was not intent, dear one."

Lessil sheathed the dagger at her hip, grabbing the handle of her wicker basket and stood. "To what do I owe this visit?" she asked, walking toward him. Somehow my thoughts must have conjured him here, she thought with a smile.

"Do I need a reason to visit a friend?" the wizard asked incredulously.

"Well, it's only often that you have one," Lessil answered with a knowing smile.

Gandalf laughed, turning to walk next to her as they made their way out of the forest. "Well, if you must know, I do have a specific reason for this visit."

"Which is?" Lessil prodded.

"Must you insist on being so hasty?" Gandalf countered.

Lessil grinned. I'm not going to fall for any of your wit and tricks. "Yes."

Gandalf shook his head. "Can this not wait once we're inside?"

Lessil jumped in front of the wizard, making him stop. "You've already started telling me, so why stop?" she said.

Gandalf stepped around her and she let him. "Well, if you must know now, I'm looking for someone to share an adventure."

"Adventure?" Lessil asked. "And you're coming to me? You should go find Wisty, you won't even have to ask before she says yes." From the time Lessil was able to talk, she was never quite able to pronounce her older sister's full name, always calling her Wisty. And eventually the name stuck. She loved it actually and for many long years, Wisteria was known in Bree as Wisty.

"But I do not know her current whereabouts," Gandalf answered. Lessil somehow doubted this. Gandalf was never one to be out of any loop. He was up to something. "Last I knew she was in Gondor," he continued.

Hmm, that sounded interesting. Wonder how much of a whirlwind she would create there?

"But I am coming to you, not Wisty," Gandalf said. "But first, a gathering is in order."

"Gathering?" Lessil inquired.

"Well, I would like you to meet your traveling companions first and they you," Gandalf told her. "A few dwarves coming for dinner. Is that fine with you?"

Dwarves? "Oh-kay," Lessil answered a bit uncertainly. At least it will only be a few.

"Tonight at six-thirty then?" Gandalf arranged.

Lessil took a little bit to answer that one, and nor did she give a verbal reply. She simply nodded, very slowly. She hadn't had guests over for dinner in a long time. Ever really.

Since she said yes, there was work to be done. Luckily her house was always kept in good order and there were little chores to be done so she'd have time to bathe. And she still had some of her nicer dresses.

So, first milk Lady. Lessil made a mental list, naming her goat first. Then wash the herbs and let them dry. Bring out the plates, cups and utensils. Haven't had a need for so many in such a long time that she was surprised to still have a few sets. Still have some meat tucked away. Harvest the garden...and that should be about it.

So she immediately got to work, though the herbs came first as drying them would take the entire day and the longer they held out to dry, the sooner she could have them stored away. Then she milked Lady and proceeded out into the gardens for more food to set at the table.

Lessil's garden was a miracle if she did say so herself. When Dahn and Mora married, Mora brought soil from her home to plant in the gardens and it worked wonders. No matter what the season, any plants and fruits and vegetables could grow strong and healthy and sweeter than in any other garden. Lessil could plant her summer seeds in winter and not have to worry about them withering or spoiling. So she gathered her foods. There was enough for a large stew, she could bake some bread and cook two rabbits and three squirrels and the fish. That would be enough right? Gandalf only said a few.

Hopefully dwarves wouldn't have too big an appetite.

But Lessil took some time away from her planning to bathe in the hot spring behind her home. Another magical perk her mother had brought along. Most would say that Mora was quite spoiled. But Lessil was hardly going to complain. The warm water did much for her aching neck and shoulders. Once done, she dressed in her nicest gown. A bit plain, but the blue looked nice on her.

She got started on the stew and began slowly cooking the fish. She wasn't quite sure about her own appetite and simply munched on an apple as she waited for the first guests to arrive.

The sun had just begun to set when a loud knock came at the door. Lessil jumped from her seat, carefully smoothing out her dress before opening the door.

A dwarf stood outside, quite tall - a few inches shorter than Lessil - and rather intimidating. The top of his head was bald with dark tattoos and even darker hair that hung thick, coarse and straight.

"Dwalin," the dwarf introduced himself with a light bow. "At your service."

Lessil gave a small curtsy. "Lessil." She stepped aside and he made his way in. She looked for any others, but it seemed he was the first for now. How many was she expecting, exactly? Gandalf never gave a number.

"Where is it? Down here?" Dwalin asked, tossing his cloak at her. "He said there would be food."

"Supper is in the kitchen," Lessil answered, dropping the cloak on the chair nearby and hesitantly leading him through her cottage and to the table where the fish was just about done. She laid down a plate of fish, boiled onions and potatoes, some slices of cheese, a few cuts of fig and a separate plate and bowl of biscuits and stew. Oh, and a mug of ale from the cellar.

Dwalin immediately dug in quite greedily - with more of a hungry groan than a thank you. Not so much as the never-before-had-a-good-meal way, but more like I-really-really-really-like-good-food way. Lessil went back to munching on her apple as it seemed eating was more important than conversation. That didn't matter as Lessil truly did not know what she could possibly say to a dwarf. She absent-mindedly tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I was told we would be hosted by a fairy, not an elf."

Lessil looked at Dwalin who now had his eyes narrowed, looking at her ears. Her hand flew up to them, pointed just as elf ears were. She and Wisty were both born with fairy ears. But fairy ears had sharper points, so she was told. "Elves aren't the only beings with pointed ears," she told him. "And I'm half fairy." She moved her hair back to covering her ears. Most the people in Bree didn't like her ears either. She always had them carefully covered when she went into town. Now it seemed she had to do the same in her own home with this company.

"Are you an elf-friend?" His tone was quite patronizing in her opinion.

"Can't say. I've never met one," Lessil answered.

Before he could make another comment, there was another knock on the door. Lessil rose from the chair, wondering if hosting dwarves was a good idea after all.

Another dwarf, white haired and beared this time, stood outside her door. A bit shorter than Dwalin and less intimidating. "Balin, at your service." He gave the same bow that Dwalin had before.

"Good evening," Lessil greeted.

"Yes it is," Balin agreed, looking up at the dark blue sky. Clouds were beginning to form. "Though I think it might rain later." He stepped into the house. "Am I late?"

"No, you're quite early," Lessil answered him. She escorted him into the kitchen were they found Dwalin with his hand in the cookie jar.

Balin howled in laughter. "Evening brother," he chuckled as he sauntered on over the the taller dwarf. Lessil quirked a brow. These two are brothers?

Dwalin broke out into a grin. "By my beard. You're shorter and whiter than last we met."

Balin chuckled. "Whiter, but not shorter. Still sharp enough for both of us." The joined in a few chuckles, gasping each other's shoulders and proceeded to bash themselves with each other's noggins.

Lessil flinched at the sound, but neither of them seemed to feel any pain. She shook of any shock and proceeded to set Balin a plate similar to his brother's and gave Dwalin more ale and a couple seed cakes since he was finished with his meal. He actually ate the head of the fish. Just popped it into his mouth and crunched it! Gross!

Another knock came at the door. What, are they all coming in packs? Lessil thought as she opened to door to two young dwarves. One had yellow hair and the other dark. The yellow haired one seemed the older as his facial hair was braided with clasps even. And for the dark haired one, Lessil would have thought him a man if not for his short height. He only had scruff around his lips and no braiding on him whatsoever, unlike his counterpart at the door. Odd thing was, Lessil found them to be quite...handsome. She'd never met dwarves until now and comparing these two with Dwalin and Balin, these dwarves were very charming to the eye.

"Fili," the fair haired one said.

"And Kili," continued the dark haired one.

Then together they said the same thing Dwalin and Balin did, even with the bow. "At your service."

Twin grins sprouted on their faces as Kili continued again. "You must be Miss Lossel."

"Lessil," she corrected, curtsying and allowing them in.

"Beg your pardon, Lessil," Kili said, gently taking her hand in his. His hands were rougher than that of a man's, but they felt warmer and surprisingly more gentle. "It's not every day I get to meet a maiden as beautiful as yourself." With that, he brought her hand to his lips and softly kissed it.

Lessil was stunned. No one had ever said such courtly words to her. A fierce blush rose to her cheeks and she didn't know just how she was to respond. Was she to thank him? Give a compliment back? She couldn't think of one. Well, he was the most handsome dwarf she'd seen, but he was only the fourth she'd ever seen.

But Fili excused her from any words. "Now brother, stop dallying with our hostess." He nudged his brother into the house and Fili let him, but not without giving Lessil a smile and a wink.

The two proceeded to drop their cloaks and weapons onto the chair nearby. And boy did Fili have a lot of knives. What did he need all of them for? Balin and Dwalin came to meet the new arrivals and Dwalin even threw an arm around Kili's shoulders. "Come, give us a hand," he told the young dwarf. "We'll never fit everyone here. We need to renovate."

"Everyone?" Lessil inquired. "How many of you are coming? Gandalf never gave a number."

"There should be about thirteen of us," Balin answered. "Not including Gandalf or yourself, of course."

Her jaw dropped. Thirteen? And Gandalf thought that was a few? But...but, she didn't have nearly enough food! Thirteen!? With more reaction than thought, she set plates for both Fili and Kili and told them to make themselves comfortable while she went to her gardens and brought in more food. She had just finished washing them with Kili offering a hand to cut them up and put them on to boil when she heard more knocking at the door. Except this was more like a pounding. Lessil worried that her door would buckle under such force.

She moved toward the door, but Kili stopped her with a hand on her arm. "Wait," he said, bringing a hand to her her head and pulling her hair back over her ears. She'd forgotten that it was tucked again. "I may look fondly upon an fairy maid, but I doubt the others will do the same. They'll think you an elf."

Lessil quirked a brow. "But you can tell? Dwalin thought I was an elf," she asked.

Kili smirked. "My uncle has met a few in his youth. Enough to know elf ears point up while fairy ears make a more curved one. And no elf wears trinkets on their ears."

Lessil nearly forgot about the little gold wires that rounded her lobes like vines. They'd been a gift from her mother when she turned fifteen. Yes, they were something of a fairy custom, giving to all young fairies once they reached adulthood. Though Wisty and Lessil reached it far earlier than others. Not only that, but the wires Lessil wore were quite plain in comparison to other fairies. Wisty had an adornment that curved around her entire ear and one of her mother's older cousins had a curled earpiece that that sprouted gold outlines of small leaves.

She was brought out of her musings when the pounding sounded again and she raced for the door before it was splintered. Yanking it open, she only had a moment to leap back in surprise as several dwarves tumbled face first to the floor, making a clumsy pile in her doorway. The only one not to topple over was Gandalf. He seemed amused at the situation and the pile of groaning dwarves like he was a father to this bunch of unruly boys.

"You said a few, Gandalf," Lessil deadpanned.

"I guess I should have said it would be a merry gathering," the wizard chuckled.

It took more time than what Lessil deemed necessary for the remaining dwarves to rise from her doormat. They all introduced themselves; more brothers, Oin and Gloin; Dori, Nori and Ori; and Bofur and Bombur along with their cousin Bifur.

A few of them made something of an impression on her. Bombur was the first, mainly because of how large he was. That and his beard was braided into a thick rope that hung like a long necklace at his torso. Bofur was next as he strode up to Lessil and introduced himself with a kiss on both her cheeks. Then there was Ori who seemed to be younger than Fili and Kili if only for his wide brown eyes and even wider smile with cute dimples. He had blushed so fiercely at Lessil that his older brother Nori had to introduce for him. And then there was Bifur who spoke none of the common tongue because of an accident that left an ax head in his temple. How he still lived was an amazement to her.

They all made way to the kitchen and Lessil was indeed surprised that they all managed to squeeze around the small table. But not before they raided the pantry dry - and the cellar - as well as the food that Lessil just brought in from the garden.

Lessil only watched on as the dwarves dined - quite loudly and with very, very poor manners - and threw food in the air. Bofur tossed a boiled egg across the table right into his brother's mouth. The dwarves all cheered at that. Fili even walked over the table and around the plates of food - nearly stepping on most of it - since it was too cramped for him to go around. Lessil wondered at how the wooden table didn't break. At least it wasn't Bombur, then it would have definitely broken.

She exhaustively looked back to her hand, in which held another apple. She didn't have much an appetite, but hosting a bunch of dwarves took a lot of energy on her part. She took a big bite and during mid-chew she was amazed by the sudden silence that took over the kitchen. But it was only due to the dwarves being in the middle of their drink. They guzzled their mugs of ale so forcefully that some of it actually spilled onto their beards. That started some sort of belching competition in which it was actually sweet-faced Ori who made quite a big one.

Then they proceeded to knock around the now empty dishes and utensils until they were evenly stacked in nice piles. Lessil didn't even have the time to shout in worry that her things would be broken before they were done. She only stood against the wall with a hand on her chest, willing her heart to calm as they all laughed jovially.

Lessil barely had a moment to calm down as the dwarves began singing. A couple of them had even brought musical instruments, though most of them just sung along as they pounded their feet and fists with the beat. Wow, they moved on pretty quick. She watched the pounding flurry of pounding and the chanting singing of a dozen dwarves in song that was foreign to her. It was a sort of stunned fascination at the merriment of these dwarves in her home.

She could almost forget the food strewn on the floor.

At the end of their song, a firm rap came at the door. "Wait, this isn't all of you?" Lessil looked around the table at the large group of dwarves. She never did go around counting, but apparently these were only twelve.

Gandalf went to the door with the rest of them at his heels.

The door opened to a dwarf of long ebony locks, lined with bits of silver that was a perfect mesh of regal and raggedy. A few braids and clasps were woven into his hair and that of his beard which was short and well groomed just as any dwarf. Sharp, angular features were set in a stern, commanding way. And his eyes were a piercing grayish blue. Lessil had thought Kili was handsome, but this dwarf was striking.

"Allow me, Lessil, to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield," Gandalf said.

The beautiful dwarf, Thorin, stepped into the cottage, untying the cloak from his shoulders and tossing it to Kili. He even had a fur-lined coat underneath. This dwarf was a king, or a lord at least. "So, this is the fairy," he said, giving Lessil a quick glance. Something in her just felt scrutinized.

"Lessil Ringali," she greeted with a curtsy. Often the fairies went by titles for what house they belonged to. Ringali was the smallest of fairy families descended from Nemiros, a powerful fairy lord of the ancient times, who gained his powers from the element of water. He was titled Ringali, which meant Water-bearer in the fairy tongue. He was also known to be a great healer, saving people from the threshold of death. It was a Ringali who ruled over one of the two fairy realms and was the second cousin, once removed of Lessil's mother.

Thorin seemed to recognize the name, but whether he was impressed or even intrigued by it was uncertain. "She looks more like a gardener than a burglar," he remarked.

Lessil was suddenly aware of the dirt beneath her finger nails even as she'd scrubbed mercilessly to clean them. She clasped them behind her back instead of looking at them. "I'm a healer, actually." And not only that. "What do you mean by burglar?"

"You have the fairy's gift of walking unseen, do you not?" Thorin asked.

Murmurs went around the other twelve dwarves as they looked at her with new fascination. "By my beard," Bofur exclaimed, "you can be invisible? Show us!"

Lessil shook her head. Yes, even as a half-fairy, she did have the gift, but Bofur had it all wrong. "It doesn't work like that. I can't do it if you can already see me."

"Why not?" Thorin scoffed.

"How can I hide from you if you already know where I am," Lessil answered flatly. "It is the gift of being unseen so long as no one knows I'm there in the first place. I can use the gift now, but you would still see me." Why he wanted to know about her gift, she did not know. It wasn't exactly a secret, but why was he so curious?

She could tell that Thorin wanted to make some sort of rude remark - for a handsome dwarf, he was quite haughty, more so than Dwalin. But Gandalf spoke for him. "Then let's move into the kitchen so she can show us."

Lessil watched as the dwarves wandered back into her kitchen and stared ruefully at their leader who was more sour than a lemon. Did she have to offer him something to eat as well? Was there even any food left that wasn't on the floor? If anything, his dwarves can gather something for him to eat. There might be some stew left.

But she had something else to think about. If they wanted to see how her gift worked, then she would show them. She closed her eyes and pulled at the magic within her. I am a shadow. I pass unseen by the eyes who seek me. I have no scent. I make no noise. I walk unseen.

From the little kitchen, Thorin was growing impatient. What was taking the fairy girl so long? Was she having difficulties because of her mortal blood? Gandalf said she was only half fairy. This was a mistake. The little waif wouldn't last long in the wild. She was too gentle. He couldn't spend his time, or any of his dwarves', worrying about her. "Are you going to show us or not?" he called.

"No need to shout, I'm right here."

Her voice came from right behind him, but Thorin turned and saw nothing. He heard Nori ask where she was from behind him.

"Here I am."

Thorin felt a small hand rest on his shoulder. He looked to see the faintest shadow and like a ripple of water, the pale skin of her hand began to form right in front of his eyes. He followed her blue sleeved arm as it appeared and soon the rest of her body came with it. She looked down at him with slightly amused eyes as if she was proud of herself.

"Where are you?" Kili asked from the table.

She turned toward the table and must have released the enchantment entirely because a string of gasps rang from the dwarves.

So she did have what they needed. Now they were to ask for her help.

Yes, I know I put this as a Thorin/OC romance and don't worry it will be. It just needs some time (okay, quite a bit) for that to warm up. And with Kili's flirting, I couldn't help it, it just came about. But then you see how he shamelessly flirts with elf maidens in Rivendell, so yeah. Kili's gonna be doing a lot of flirting with Lessil. And she's quite flattered by it since no male has ever treated her so fondly (other than her father, but he doesn't count). But she's not going to gain any romantic inclinations toward him I assure you.