Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except for the characters of Lili and Leo.

The quote at the end of the prologue, is by Bo Bennett.

A/N. This is my 1st ever Hobbit story, so please be gentle, R/R.

Prologue.

Lili stood regarding the lonely peak that was Erebor in the distance and couldn't help but wonder how her life had ended up at this point? She'd gone from being Lillian Shale, a 24 year old overworked waitress, struggling to make ends meat. To a woman on a quest with thirteen Dwarves, a Hobbit and on occasion, a Wizard, to reclaim the ancient home of her Dwarven friends. Friends…She smiled softly at the thought, a few weeks ago she wouldn't have claimed she was friends with any of the group, but now after everything they'd been through together, she couldn't claim them as anything less.
She'd been almost eaten by Trolls and witnessed the very mountains come to life around her. She faced down giant wolf like creatures and their monstrous riders with courage she hadn't known she'd had within her and flown aloft a mighty eagle. With all that had transpired these past few weeks, Lili still didn't know how or even why she'd ended up in this place, this Middle Earth. At first she'd suspected she'd been dreaming or possibly suffering exhaustion induced hallucinations, but as time went on each of her flimsy explanations crumbled, until she had no choice but admit it was all real.
Glancing over her shoulder, she let her gaze rest on the motley band of dwarves as they settled down to make camp, on the peak where the Eagles had left them. The original plan, had been to make their way down to lower ground before making camp but nightfall was encrounching faster than they could move. So while Gandalf had gone for fire wood, the rest of them had set up camp, in the shadow of a small rocky over hang that offered protection against the elements.
She smiled slightly as she realised how much she'd come to care about them all, how she'd laughed with Kili and Fili, the two brothers lifting her spirits when the surreallness of the situation had threatened to overwhelm her and Balin whose kindness and patience was endless. Balin's brother, Dwalin whose intimidating presence actually gave way to gentle heart and booming laugh, which she'd heard countless times during her training sessions. Even dear, sweet Bilbo, had found a permanent place in her heart, the Hobbit who had been as lost as she had on this whirlwind adventure. She'd even come to see Gandalf as some what of a Grandfather figure, despite his infuriating habit for talking in riddles. Yes, despite her initial terror at mysteriously arriving in a strange land with its even stranger peoples, Lili had come to love this ragtag group of companions.
With a sudden shiver, Lili realised she was visibly trembling, her hands quaking with violent tremors. Glancing at her filthy, grazed and scratched hands, she clenched them tightly into fists and frowned at the ache in her fingers. Turning her attention back to the darkening view of Erebor, Lili, sank down to sit on the rocky outcrop and drew her knee's up to her chin, with a sigh and flexed her fingers experimentally. She had gripped her weapons so tightly in Thorin's defence she thought her hands would go numb.
Suppressing another shiver, Lili swallowed heavily as she remembered her gut churning fear as the Azog and his Wargs had attacked them, a fear that had turned to utter panic when she'd realised Thorin had meant to face the pale Orc chieftain.
Panic for a Dwarf Prince, who only weeks before she'd been certain she hated, but when she'd seen Thorin caught in the beast's jaws and then thrown like a rag doll by that massive white Warg, her only thought had been to save him.

…Scrambling for purchase as the pine tree hung, precariously over the cliff edge, Lili, watched helplessly as Thorin, released a bellow of pain as the massive warg closed it's jaws around his torso.
"Thorin!"
Hauling herself onto the main body of the tree trunk, Lili managed to loosen the small Elven knife and axe from their sheaths at her waist, before instinct screamed at her to help him.
Just as she lunged forward, the small figure of Bilbo raced passed her darting through flame and smoke, sword in hand.
As she burst through the choking smoke, she watched as the Hobbit tackled a bulbous looking Orc, intent on taking Thorin's head. Without a second thought, Lili pinned her attention on the warg and with a screech of rage she leapt in front of Bilbo and the fallen Thorin, her knife slicing through the air and across the beasts head, gauging its left eye…

Folding her arms over her knees, Lili knew had it not been for the untimely arrival of the Eagles, she would've either been eaten alive or gutted by Azog himself. The instantaneous roars of rage from both Orc and Warg had been deafening.
"Lili?"
Lifting her head to glance over her shoulder, her gaze caught Bofur's as he beckoned her to join them.
"Come on, Lass, you should eat something." Balin spoke gently.
With a small shake of her head, Lili turned back to watch the sun begin to dip below the horizon. "I'm not hungry," she admitted quietly, realising the thought of food made her stomach roll. "Share my portion amongst yourselves," she continued letting her chin rest on top of her folded arms.
Behind her, one of the dwarves, possibly Gloin, chuckled at her suggestion. "Your portion…I've seen squirrels eat more than you do…"
A hiss of disapproval sounded, followed by the grunt of discomfort. Maybe a well placed elbow to the ribs, Lili couldn't be bothered to look in order to find out.
"If you're sure, Lass?" Balin enquired a few moments later, when the bustle of making supper had settled to a low hum of clunking spoons on bowls.
At her silent nod, the white haired dwarf spoken again. "We'll save the unused rations for leaner times, when the hunting may not be so fair."
Listening to her companions chatter and laugh around the small, snapping fire. Lili watched as the sun finally slipped below the horizon, turning the sky from the warm pink and orange hues, to the inky purple of twilight and the first of many stars appeared. Letting her gaze rest on those distant stars, she couldn't help but think of her own home, of Leon, her older brother. Of her beloved twin, who had been officially listed as MIA whilst serving on his second tour of Afghanistan. Had there been any news of him since she'd been gone?
Tears unexpectedly welled at the thought him and Lili felt her throat ache with the need to cry.
A sudden weight on her shoulders, had her hastily clearing her throat and wiping her eyes.
As the heavy folds of the coat settled around her, Thorin sank down beside her with a steaming mug of something in his hand. If he noticed her tears, he didn't mention them and it was something she was grateful for.
Letting her gaze flick towards him, Lili could still make out the cuts and bruises beginning to mar his features, evidence of his encounter with Azog. Those were superficial wounds that would heal quickly, but she found her gaze drawn to the area of his left shoulder, where part of his fur lined cloak was stained with blood.
Was the injury more serious than he had let on?
"If you won't eat something, at least take a drink." He told her, his voice pulling her gaze back to his face, as he offered her the mug.
Accepting the mug, Lili sniffed it experimentally, which pulled a small awry smile from the Dwarven Prince, before she realised it was a mug of chamomile tea.
No doubt from Bilbo's pack, she smiled thoughtfully.
"Thank you," she murmured softly, wrapping her achy fingers round the warm mug.
"My words earlier, they weren't just meant for Bilbo." Thorin spoke calmly, his gaze resting on the growing darkness before them. "I am sorry I ever doubted you, I was wrong. You are meant to be here, with us."
With a small smile, Lili let the warmth of her chamomile tea seep through her fingers and hands. "I still have no idea how I ended up here, or even why. I am not a warrior, or an adventurer. I'm a plain, shorter than average human who…"
"Who has the spirit and heart to match that of any Dwarf," Balin announced sharply from behind them.
"Aye, 'tis true. Though ye' might not look like much," Dwalin added, "Durin knows, I've seen sparrows with more fat on 'em."
With an indignant squeak, Lili turned to glare at the large, burly tattooed Dwarf, her emerald eyes narrowing. "What? There's nothing wrong with the way I…"
The rest of her sentence melted into nothing as the warm laughter of the gathered dwarves rippled around their camp, even the normally surly Thorin beside her chuckled. A smile pulled at her mouth as she realised, Dwalin was teasing her and as if to prove her point, the Dwarf flashed her a quick wink.
"You're one of us, Lili. Just like Master Bilbo, here," Bofur grinned, lighting his pipe.
With small chuckle, Lili eased herself further into her coat and sipped her tea. An old quote, from her school days resurfacing in her memories and she couldn't help but feel it held an echo of truth for her.

"Remember that it is not where you come from, or not even where you are; it is where you are going that matters most."