Alina slept for three days straight. She only woke to use the facilities and went back to sleep. She was exhausted. Once she woke up, she felt energized and back to her old self. She teleported from once side of the room to the other without feeling tired. There was a knock on the door and she teleported back into bed. "Come in." The door opened, Lord Elrond came in. "How are you feeling today?" He asked with a warm smile. "Oh much better my teleportation powers have returned to full strength. How long was I out? "You were asleep for three days, the healers were beginning to worry. Fortunately I was able to convince them it was just you body needing to replenish itself. You did however miss the arrival of the Dwarves." Alina shot up out of but bed but Lord Elrond pushed back down. "Dammit I missed them. Are they still here?" Lord Elrond looked amused. "Yes Alina they are still here. They are replenishing their supplies and are taking a few days rest. I explained who you are to an old friend. Do you have the strength to meet him?" Alina was practically bouncing on the bed. "Yes of course I have the strength let him in." With that Gandalf comes in.

Gandalf walks into the room with a flourish of his robes and introduces himself. "Good morning, Alina I am Gandalf the Grey. I have heard a great deal about you." He smiles down at you and offers his hand. Alina takes and Gandalf brings it to his lips for a kiss. A slight blush dust her cheeks. " I hope what you have heard of me was good." Gandalf looks a little startled. "Oh yes, yes very good. Very good indeed. Lord Elrond tells me that you are from another world. That you have knowledge that the line of Durin will die on this quest and wish to save them. And the most interesting of all is that you are not human, is that correct? Alina looks down at her hands. It has been a long time that she has felt ashamed for being a Mutant. But the way Gandalf just said it made those old feelings come back. Gandalf noticed and took her chin in his hand. Raising it to look at him. "Do not be ashamed of who you are, child. It was not my intention to make you feel self conscious. I just find the concept very interesting."

"Lord Elrond says you are called a Mutant. He has also explained to me what you can do. Now I wish to ask you are there more of you in your world?" Alina took a deep breath and began to explain the situation in her world. "Yes there are more of us, but we are the exception to the rule. Or you can say the minority of the population. I'm not sure if it is the same here as it is in my world. But humans have a tendency to fear what they do not understand." Gandalf nodded his head. So since we are born different and have powers we are hated and sometimes attacked outright, experiment on or just plain killed" Lord Elrond was horrified "Why do you not just fight back?" asked Gandalf "Some do, but in my case I was taught by a great man that violence is not the answer. That trying to get the humans to understand us is the way to go. He also taught me to control my powers." Both Gandalf and Lord Elrond looked at each other very impressed. "He sounds like a very wise man. What is his name?" Alina smiled, it was a radiant smile. His name is Professor Charles Xavier, maybe one day you can meet him." Alina said with admiration in her eyes.

"Well now we must discuss how we are going to get Thorin to let Alina to join the Company on this quest." Gandalf said. Yes let us discuss this further in the library. Alina a bath has been prepare for you and some clothes laid out. Please join us when you are ready." Alina hadn't even noticed that an Elf maiden had entered while they were talking and had prepared a bath. She got out of bed and headed straight for the tub. The Elf maiden had remained to explain what and where everything was. When Alina undressed behind the dressing screen, her clothes were gathered and taken to be washed. Alina gets into the tub with a sigh. The warm water felt great on her sore muscles. After she sat there and soaked for a while, she looked over the soaps and found one that smelled like cherry blossoms. Like her shampoo back home. She washed with it got out of the tub. She dried her hair and body with the soft towels that were provided. She then got dressed in the fine Elven dress that was provided by the Elf maiden earlier. That same maiden came in to do her hair. Alina insisted in just be left down as she didn't want to be a bother. though the servant said it was no bother at all.

Once Alina was ready, left the room in search of the library. While looking for the library she happen to come along the Durin brother. "Hello there, lovely human." Kili said as he leaned against the wall effectivly blocking Alina's path. "Hello master dwarf." Alina said as she curtsied in front of them. (When in Rome.) "What is a beautiful human maiden doing in Rivendell?" Asked Fili as he leaned over his brother's shoulder. "Right now looking for the library, if you gentlemen will excuse me." Alina got past them and continued on her way. The boys were hot on her heel. So she made a small bump appear in the floor which caused Kili to trip which in turn caused Fili to fall. With that she was able to get away scott free, not before smoothing her hand to be rid of the evidence.

Once she found the library, she knocked very timidly. She was bid to entering Alina stopped right in her tracks. For not only were Lord Elrond and Gandalf there but also three Dwarves. They were of course easy to identify. The bald headed one with the tattoos on his head sitting closer to the door was obviously Dwalin. The shorter one with the White beard was Balin his brother. That could only mean the only seated facing away from her was none other than Thorin Oakenshield. Alina swallowed hard, squared her shoulders and continued into the room. "Sorry for the delay, I had a hard time finding this place. I should have just teleported it would have been easier." From behind her she heard a snort of disblief. When she turned around it was obivous it came from Dwalin. Since she had turned around, she was finally able to get a good look at Thorin. He was exactly as described in the book, but much much more handsome in person. It was also obivious how bitter and alone he was.

Alina turned to face Lord Elrond again. "I see there has been a discussion about me with these Dwarves." Gandalf smiled. "Yes well we thought it best to get a head start." Alina just nodded her head. "So how far did you get? From the bald Dwarf's reaction (She'll play along) you've told them of my powers." She gave Dwalin a dirty look. Gandalf speaks again "Yes that will require some convincing, perhaps a demonstration." Alina rolled her eyes "Figures." Dwalin hopped out of his chair to say something, but Balin cut him off. "I think introductions are in order first. I am Balin son of Fundin. This is my younger brother Dwalin, at your service. And this is the leader of our Company Thorin Oakenshield." Thorin just inclines his head. He has yet to say a word. Alina smiles at Balin which takes his breath away. Alina has a smile that can light up a room and can melt the coldest heart. So Thorin was going to find out. She curtied to him. "Alina Stark, sister to Anthony Edward Stark, but most people just call him Tony." As she said this Thorin could see the pride in her brother and a longing. For what he did not know. "Alright on with the show." The minute she said that she teleported onto Dwalin's lap. "What was that snort about teleporting, big guy?" Dwalin was stunned, but when he went to push her off his lap she teleported to stand next to Lord Elrond. "I'm going to assume that you were told about all of my powers so I'm sure you know the others must be demonstrated outside, so lets go." With that she teleported outside. "Well that was interesting." As Balin gets up to go outside.

Once outside Alina goes through the whole paces she did with Lord Elrond except for the metal. She turns around angry as hell when she hears Thorin say "Fallacy, this is all a trick!" With an arrogant grin. He hasn't said a word all day and that's the first thing out of his mouth. Alina was livid now, how dare he doubt her powers. "You're fucking joking you stupid dwarf! Well try these false powers on!" She then bent his sword in half and then tossed him across the garden. Then turned to Dwalin and turned his war hammer into a pretzel and twined his axes together. Gandalf placed a calming hand on her shoulder, when she realized. "Holy shit, I just developed a new power!"

Everyone in the garden just looked at her. Some with fear others with awe. One particular Dwarf looked at her with hatred. "Alright I think you proved your point repair their weapons." With a twirl of her hand Dwalin's weapons were returned to normal, the axes sharper than they had ever been. He immediately ran over to Thorin to check on him. With a wave of her hand she straighten out the Elven sword and added a wicked edge to it as well. The rest made their way over to Thorin to see if he was alright. Alina knew she could heal him if there was anything wrong. But after what just happened she doubt he would let her near him. Balin walked up to her and layed a hand on her arm. "Don't worry too much about it, lass. He was in the wrong to say that about you. Though you shouldn't have used so much force. Remember that if you wish to travel with us and protect him." Alina looked up at him surprised. "Yes, Gandalf told only me your entire story for being here. And I think it is a noble cause." All Alina could do was blink in disbelief. "Tell Thorin I'm sorry for me please?" Balin smile and patted her arm "I most certainly will. With that Alina teleported to her room.

Thorin was beyond livid. He had never in his life been man handled like that before. And she tossed him like a rag doll. The humilation of it. Dwalin reached his side first. "Are you alright Laddie? That was some toss she gave you." He said behind a stifled grin. Balin showed up next. "Are you alright, anything broken? Thorin just scowled at them. "No I'm fine just help me up.

Once he is on his feet and cleans himself of any dirt, he looks directly and Gandalf and says. "She can not come." Gandalf was in shock. After all they had seen how could they afford to not let this young lady come with them? "I beg your pardon Thorin it sounded as if you said you didn't want this young lady to go? The two other Dwarves stared at him too. "I think she more trouble than she is worth." Balin and Dwalin look at each other.

Dwalin spoke first. "Believe me I would be the first to agree with you about a woman coming along on this quest. They are too delicate, too much of a distraction and always get in the way." Thorin smiled a smug smile. "But this human is completely different. She is very powerful. I doubt that she is that delicate, once the lads get to know her she will not be a distraction. I dare say she'll intimidate them. I think you should give it some more time to think it over.

"Aye, I agree, the lass was very sorry for doing that to you. She said that a new power had developed when she tossed you. She couldn't do that before. Thorin stood up and looked at Balin. "You see all the more reason, she is an unstable, whatever she is."

"Mutant, Thorin." Gandalf said after lighting his pipe. "Her kind are called Mutants. They are superior to the the race of Men. Some are gifted with other sorts of powers, but Alina is known by her kind as a Level 5 mutant. The most powerful in existence. That is why she so easily manhandled your weapons, Dwalin and bent Thorin's Elvish sword in two." Thorin became a little more intrigued about the idea of having a being as strong as Gandalf, if not stronger with them. As long as she could keep her powers under control. "Alright she can come with us, if she can keep up. I will not have the company coddling her." In a lower voice he said "we leave at first light be sure she is there."

Balin went to Alina's room to deliver the good new that Thorin had said yes. She was so happy she gave him a kiss and a hug. "You will not be disappointed Master Balin, I'm sure I can be of some use. Like now for instance. Balin looked at her curiously. "What do you mean lass." She squinted her eyes at him then asked him "Are you having trouble with your vision, Master Balin? Not being able to read up close or see far away?" He looked upon her. "Why yes for many years, how did you know that?" Alina ignored his question and asked him if he trusted her to help. Balin said yes. He didn't know why but he just did.

Alina proceeded to lay him down on the bed. Once he was comfortable she told him to close her eyes. Thats when she told him he would open them but not to panic. Alina then went over to the wash basin and retrieved the basin table and set it next to the night stand. With her powers she swirled the water around into a ball. Then seperating so that they fit like two gloves over her hands. The two water gloves started to give off a blue glow. A blue glow, that had anyone been paying attention would have matched Thorin's eyes. Once the blue was more pronouced she placed her hands over Balin's eyes with the water touching. "Alright Master Balin open your eyes." Balin gasped as he saw water all around him. But then he noticed how calming and soothing it was to his old tired eyes. He began to look around in the water and noticed that the water was the same color as his fearless leader's eyes. 'Interesting' he thought to himself. Alina noticed that he was tensing. "Shh Lord Balin just relax." "I would relax more if you just called me Balin." She smiled at him. A radiant smile that he could even see with the water over his eyes. "Alright as long as you call me Alina.

Time was up, She told him to close his eyes again then she removed her hands. She patted his face dry and helped to a sitting position. She told him that now he could open his eyes. "Better, worse or the same?" Balin kept looking around in wonder. " My dear girl this is a great deal better. I have the vision of a young Dwarrow." Alina looked at him confused. "I guess that's a good thing? He glance at her confusion "Yes, yes that is a very good thing, thank you." Smiles again "It was my pleasure."