Dwarfs were stubborn. Dwarfs were hard headed. Dwarfs were selfish, unyielding, and insufferable! So why did Bilbo Baggins like them so much? His best friend, Bofur, was a wonderful man, infact if Bilbo had not known any better he would have sworn that Bofur was half Hobbit with how polite and understanding he was. Bifur... he was still trying to learn Khuzdul to understand even a small part of what the man was saying. Bombur was fun to be around when it was time to cook, the only reason why he was as big as he was had been due to his love of food, something the halfling could fully understand. Ori... he didn't know how to react around Ori nor Dori or Nori, mostly because one was still in a teenage phase trying to show how good he could be in anything though he excelled in being a scholar and the other two... not exactly social butterflies but they get along well enough with Bilbo. Speaking of young, Fili and Kili had their moments that drove Bilbo up the wall while other times he just smiled at them and admired their energy and their ability to grow. Balin, he liked Balin. He was wise and kind hearted and almost acted like a grandfather to everyone in the group. Dwalin... frankly he scared Bilbo. Oin and Gloin were a good sort, the older doctor was very useful in their expedition and Gloin, though not truly one to mingle made Bilbo feel more comfortable to be around than with Dwalin. Then there was Thorin. The whole reason why he was hitting the bottom of his tankard so fast and ordering another from the bar keep.

That reckless, thick headed, sheep kicking, flower plucking, rose cutting fool! Bilbo went out of his way to separate the two of them from the rest of their group so that they could address something pressing and what did Thorin do? Ignored what Bilbo had to say. Swept it under the rug like he always did. Then he did the unthinkable!

Thorin had kissed him! KISSED HIM! Like he had been some Shire lass that had been pining after him for years. Sure, maybe for a little bit of time but that was still so so... unheard of! You don't just kiss someone! That was preposterous! You had to get permission to court first, then you courted for over two years minimum and only then did you kiss someone on the cheek. Just kissing someone on the lips was... was...

Bilbo flushed deeper as his heart started to pump faster making his drink get to his head faster. Yes, he liked the kiss. Yes it took his breath away, but there were certain things that he could not leave behind even though he was on an adventure and courting was one of them.

"You look like you need another drink." Bofur placed down two more pints of different ciders and ales beside the one Bilbo just had refilled. "Did he... really... you know?"

"YES!" Bilbo blurted out so loud that the company of Thorin Oakenshield paused in their merriment, passing a glance between the hobbit on one side of the room and their king on the opposite side. The two glared at one another before Thorin turned his head and acted as if no such outburst had happened. His cheek still a little red from where Bilbo had slapped him.

Bofur only smiled and rubbed Bilbo's back. "Don't be holdin' it against him. We've got a lot different between the two of our peoples."

"What?" Bilbo asked with a little drunken hiss not understanding.

"Hobbits and Dwarfs court differently." All he got was a look that was reserved for when someone had just stated the most obvious thing in the world. He sighed. "Dwarfs don't have courtin' Bilbo. We see someone we like and we go for 'em until we are completely rejected or we get what we want."

Bilbo whirled on Bofur, his eyes wide. He huddled towards his friend and whispered, "You mean to tell me that he's been with others so easily?"

"No! No, I'm sayin' we're different creatures."

But Bilbo didn't hear him, only glared at Thorin's figure across the room. He scowled and turned up his nose when the king looked to him. Bilbo was no tart to be stuffed into the pocket to be saved for later. He was no easy win to gain. Infact in the Shire most hobbits had actually stopped trying to court him because he was, even in hobbit terms, a prude. Personally, Bilbo felt that he was taking extra precautions, he came from a rich family, his mother was a well known woman from the head of the Took family. He had to watch his assets and he had no desire to wed someone that was just after an easy life.

"Bilbo, you shouldn't be givin' 'em such a hard time. It was a misunderstand'in between- Wait, where are you goin'?" Bofur got up from his seat as the Hobbit just got up.

"I need air." Bilbo started walking out in a huffed strut. It was more that he wanted to get out of the room. Deep down he knew it was something small that he should forgive and let slide but his Baggins side would not allow it.

He trudged outside of the tavern they had stopped at for the night. The light fuzzy, spin of his head from his stout drinks only allowed the cold night air to gently his skin with a delicious contrast. It was a fine, clear night, the stars bright overhead. The town they were in had been a small one with little crime making it safe to walk at night. With that decided, he put his hands into his pockets and walked. He let his feet take him where they wished, pulling along a trail of thoughts that dealt with their adventure as well as the nagging need to put his anger behind him and go back to the king and state fully that if he wanted Bilbo he had better step up his game and court him properly.

Eventually he found himself outside of town and in a large field. He let out a long sigh sitting down and looking up at the sky... maybe he was being too much of a prude. Maybe he really should just let things slide and get Bofur to help him understand everything. Dwarfs, beside being stubborn and insufferable, were loving and gentle, had the best smiles and warmest chuckles and safest, most wonderful hugs that he never wanted to be released from and... and Bilbo felt like a fool now. He's been throwing a fit all this time and the kiss was wonderful and perfect and Thorin didn't deserve to be slapped over being himself.

He let out a loud groan hating himself for leaving the tavern and letting his head clear so quickly in the night air. So stupid.

"Fine, fine!" He said out loud to no one in particular. "You win, I'll go back and apologize but that's it. No more."

A strange laugh reached his ears. A jovial cackle that seemed too old and too young all at once.

"My but you are interesting."

Bilbo jerked to his feet, his face flushing at having been heard saying such improper things. A grown man, whining like a child, how embarrassing! He was about to excuse himself when he saw who had spoken.

Eyes, a piercing gold color, set in a face that was indeed elderly. The woman had white hair tied in ribbons that formed up into swoops making her hair look almost like the horns of dragons he had seen drawings of in books. She had a mixture of plated armor over her arms and legs with red leather, the studs and raven feathers reflecting the moonlight of the beautiful night. Bilbo had to admit she had a beautiful figure for an older woman, but it was her eyes that he was most drawn too. They did not seem... natural.

She carefully stepped around him in a circle looking him up and down. Her dark painted lips fixed up in a quark. "What is your name small one?"

"Bilbo, Bilbo Baggins. A-at your service, and I'm not a 'small one' I'm a hobbit. I would be most obliged to know yours."

She laughed that odd laugh once again, "So polite, it is good to see that manners thrive in someone. I have many names, Asha'bellanar, Flemeth, an old hag that talks too much." She chuckled with fondness towards the last one. "Humor an old woman and tell her the story which concerns you so."

"I..." She stopped moving and stood in front of him, her hip cocked to the side with a hand to her chin, ready to listen and think deeply upon whatever he said. He felt pressed to confess something, anything, to the stranger that held herself with such commanding stature. So he told her of how his current adventure had begun and what had taken them this far. He did however leave out Thorin and his kiss and the more personal matters.

She waved her hand as her smile grew making him feel more on edge. "I see. A gentlefolk that had his strings pulled deep into the roads of the earth. A merrionette carried by someone else's will."

"I wouldn't go as far to say that. I did come of my own will." Bilbo said rather proudly.

Flemeth looked down at him, "Tell me, of this... adventure of yours, the leader of your company, does he lust for gold yet? The riches poison his mind like those before him."

"For..." Bilbo's brows knitted. "He will not. He is a better person to have such a thing happen to him."

"Such faith. And tell me, if it is not his lust for gold why do you hide the ring in your pocket?"

He paled. He had never told anyone of the ring, in fact he kept it only in his pocket and had yet to put it on again. "How did you-"

She reached out, her clawed gauntlet kindly touching his face. "I see a kindness in your face unknown to this world, yet blanched by the common greed to spoil the living. Though obtaining such an object you remain so pure." She dropped his chin and smirked, "Very well. An answer for an answer little one."

"What do you mean?"

"I require the knowledge of where this Rivendell is located."

Eager to get this behind him and to be as far away from this odd, scary lady he pointed to the west and gave simple directions to what he remembered being the way. He did make sure to note to the woman that indeed he did not have be best of directions considering everything as she knows from his tale and to please forgive him if it is not completely accurate.

"Now for your answer. There is a cave not far from here. Travel down to the lowest part and turn left there will be a crack in the cave wall, open it and you will be rewarded with what you seek."

"Seek? But I don't seek anything, I- where... did she go?" He looked around finding Flemeth completely gone. His muscles tensed as he felt like he had just had a brush with the devil.

"Bilbo~ Bil-there you are!" Bofur's familiar voice came to him. He quickly turned and ran to his friend in all hopes that being in the safety of the dwarves would make him forget what had just happened.

To Be Continued...