"You're holding the string too tightly," said the redheaded woman in the voice she used when she was teaching younger recruits. However, the one who was taking her instruction wasn't a recruit, but a friend. And this tone of voice was not helping the smaller woman at all. In fact, the tone only deepened her frustration.

"I'm trying," Aza grumbled, "I just do not have the talent for weaponry that you do." She set the bow down after her arrow completely missed the target. It landed several yards short of the target and far too right. "I believe I shall stick to magic, it's far simpler." With that she sat down on the warm grass.

The woman sat down next to her, "You don't have to learn the bow."

Aza looked at her new friend with big blue eyes that most swore could talk a troll from its lunch, "Bu-but, you look like you're having so much fun!" With that she fell backwards onto the ground, her hair attracting the attention of a few brightly colored bugs that made their new home in her hair. Her arm crossed over her face, blocking the bright sun from ruining her eyes.

"We can try another weapon if you'd like."

"Really?" Aza asked, not moving from the grass. The sun felt nice on her skin. Her old robes had been taken from her.

This had happened after she fainted one morning from the heat. She was then forced into the light, lovely clothing of the elves and was all the better for it. However, she did miss the pockets of her robes. It was impossible to place saplings in the clothes she wore now. Nor, likely, would the washers appreciate it.

"Of course. A sword might be easier. Or perhaps we can put that staff of yours to use."

Aza sat up slowly and leaned on her elbows, "I'll give it a try."

"Come up," with that she was pulled up and thrust into a new tool of warfare.


The young apprentice to Gandalf the Grey, Azriela, fiddled with the strange ring on her ring finger as she sat and waited for the Hobbit to return from his small scouting mission.

Gandalf, who was too absorbed in keeping the company alive for another day, didn't notice his apprentice doing this. However, another character did. Fili approached the lovely woman and sat down next to her, "What's that?"

Azriela, or better known as Aza, stopped fingering the piece of jewelry, "Hmm?" She looked down at the ring, "This? It is a ring."

"May I?"

Aza, reluctantly, surrendered her hand and showed him the ring.

He examined it with the eye of a jeweler, "It is of Elvish make, is it not?"

"I believe so," Aza said withdrawing her hand from the dwarf's. Nervously she tugged her robe closer to her body.

It was then that Bilbo returned.

"How close is the pack?" Dwalin asked.

"Too close," he said, "A couple of leagues, no more, but that is not the worst of it."

"Have the Wargs picked up our scent?"

"Not yet, but they will; we have another problem."

Gandalf rushed forward, "Did they see you? They saw you!"

"No, that's not it."

Gandalf smiled and turned to the company. "What did I tell you? Quiet as a mouse. Excellent burglar material."

Aza stood and walked over to Gandalf.

"Will you listen- Will you just listen? I'm trying to tell you there is something else out there."

"What form did it take? Like a bear?" Gandalf asked.

"Ye.." He paused, "Y- yes. But bigger, much bigger."

Bofur asked Gandalf, "You knew about this beast?"

Gandalf turned and walked a few steps away.

"I say we double back." – Bofur.

"And be run down by a pack of Orcs." – Thorin.

Gandalf then said, "There is a house, it's not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house?" Thorin asked, "Are they friend or foe?"

Aza looked to her mentor as he said, "Neither. He will help us, or he will kill us."

She gulped.

"What choice do we have?"

A roar shattered the calm before dawn.

"None, it would seem," Aza said.

Dawn began to break as the company ran across plains and streams. They ran all day, hiding behind trees and mounds of earth every so often to catch their breath before they'd run some more. They ran through the forest, Azog always seeming to be close at their heels.

"To the house! Run!" shouted Gandalf.

Everyone managed to get inside the gate. The orcs and whatever else was chasing them seemed to be far behind them then. The house's door was open and the dwarves flooded in. They only just managed to close the door before a bear like creature made for an attack on them.

"What is that?" Ori asked, almost out of breath.

"That," said Gandalf, "is our host."

The dwarves, Bilbo, and Aza turned to Gandalf in bewilderment.

"Host?" Aza breathed heavily.

"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin-changer."

Aza's eyes widened. She'd only heard about skin-changers in books.

"Sometimes he's a huge black bear; sometimes he's a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However, he is not overfond of dwarves."

"He's leaving!" said Ori as he peeked through a crack at the door.

Dori pulled him away from the door, "Come away from there! It's not natural, none of it. It's obvious: he's under some dark spell."

Aza was quick to the recite what she had learned, "He's under no spell. Skin-changers-." She then fell on a stack of hay and her eyes snapped shut, exhaustion taking over her instantly.

A few dwarves made shouts of surprise, thinking she had fainted.

"Aza!" said Fili running over to her and checking for signs of life.

"He's under no enchantment but his own." Gandalf finished Aza's thought. "Alright now, get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight. And don't worry, Fili, she is quite alive. The day's activities have just caught up with her. She'll be right as rain in the morning."