Master Balin was riding along the small dirt path on his way to the meeting of the Dwarves. This countryside was nice, and reminded him of the city of Dale that lay below Erebor. He looked ahead and saw a small pony tethered to the side of the road. A young woman, with dark red hair, clad in warrior's armor, sat in the flowers nearby. He smiled widely as he recognized who the woman was.

"By my beard! Is that Neara Fairchild, daughter of Furin?" He stopped next to the woman, who was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed. An grin appeared upon her face as she opened her eyes.

"Master Balin. Good to see you." She stands and dusts herself off.

"Admiring the scenery?" He looks around at the beautiful flowers.

"It's very pretty out here." She pets her pony, who neighs at the affection.

"It won't be where we are going." Balin says solemnly.

"I know. I'd just like to look at it one last time, just in case." They both stay quiet for a bit.

"Well, must be off. Don't want to be late. Care for a riding companion?" He gestures to the trail ahead.

"No, thank you. I'm going to sit around here for a bit longer. Speak with the spirits and such."

"Well then, see you there. Ride careful, Neara of Furin." Balin tipped his head and gave his pony a nudge, and off he went.

Bilbo Baggins was not impressed with amount of Dwarves in his house at current moment. He could hear Gandalf counting them off quietly.

"We appear to be down one Dwarf and one lady." He mutters.

"He's not missing. He's late. He traveled North for a meeting with our kin. And she's probably been out front, admiring the flowers again." Bofur answered, chuckling to himself.

The Dwarves had now seated themselves and began eating. The dining area was so loud that Bilbo had gone into the entryway to get some space. He could hear them burping, and chewing loudly, and it made him cringe. Then there was a small knock at the door. Bilbo sighed, wondering just how many more Dwarves he could fit into this home. He opened the door, expecting the worst, but was delighted instead. Before him stood a slim woman, more beautiful than any he had ever seen before. She had long, dark red hair that was pulled into an intricate braid. Her eyes were slightly angled and a brilliant green. Her ears were a bit long and pointed, both of which suggested she was of elven descent, but she was far too short, only being just barely taller than Bilbo. She wore brown leather armor that hugged her body. A bow and quiver of arrows were slung around her back, with a longsword strapped to my side.

"Am I late?" She asks him quietly.

"Late? Oh, no. Please, come in." He steps aside and she walks in. She sets her weapons down carefully on the floor near the door. Bilbo is so very entranced by this woman that he only follows her. She follows the sounds of clattering plates to where the Dwarves are. Suddenly, they quiet.

"There you are! I'd thought you'd gotten lost! Or kidnapped!" Balin chuckles as he smokes his pipe.

"That was one time, Master Balin!" She grins.

"Neara!" Bofur yells and stands to hug her. She makes her way around the table, giving hugs and hand shakes. She reached Fili and Kili who both grin in awe.

"Thought you wouldn't make it!" Fili says as he pulls her into a strong embrace. They let go and she turns to Kili.

"Hello, Kili." If no one in the room had been watching them, they wouldn't have seen both Neara and Kili blush. Or both of them awkwardly looking at their feet. But everyone was and some chuckled lightly. Fili had to nudge his brother into movement.

"Uh, yes. Hello, Neara." He starts to bow to her, gets halfway and decides against it, hugging her instead. Bilbo could swear he heard Bofur mutter something about "young love."

The company moves about so Neara may sit, and even then Kili stands gawkily behind her since there are not enough chairs. They pass food to Neara, who continues passing it without grabbing anything.

"Come on now, lads. Don't you remember she only eats greens." Dwalin laughs as they hand her a plate of sausages. She eyeballs them and passes it by. Nori hands her a plate of apples which she graciously takes and starts digging into. Ori eyeballs her as if she's from some foreign planet.

"Thank you, Dwalin. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to eat anything." She shouts over the company.

"You would think after spending so much time on the road with you, they'd remember." Dwalin shouts back to her. Neara starts laughing, and to Bilbo and the rest of the company, it sounds like angels singing. Bilbo moves closer to Gandalf so he wouldn't be shouting.

"She's exquisite." He says in awe. Bofur hears this and smiles.

"Aye, she is." He looks towards Neara, who is laughing at something Fili had said, while Kili chuckles slightly.

"Is she an elf?" Never before had Bilbo wished no one could see him more than this moment. As soon as the words exited his mouth, everyone was quiet and turned on him. Even Bombur had stopped eating and glared at the poor Hobbit. Neara stands, making Fili and Kili shrink away from her.

"What did you call me?" She hissed, slowly making her way towards him. Although she was only slightly taller than him, Bilbo was afraid. He could practically see the fire in her eyes.

"I just mean, the only creature I've known with such beauty-" Neara cut him off, spitting her words.

"Is one of those foul, self-entitled, snobbish elves? Do not mistake, Mr. Baggins, shall you call me an elf again, I shall have your head on a platter. Woman or not, I will end you." She walks off to calm down and the entire company bursts into laughter.

"He about messed himself!" Bifur chuckles. Bilbo's face had instantly reddened as he walked with Gandalf towards the entryway.

"I didn't mean to offend anyone." He says sheepishly.

"If you don't mean to offend then you shouldn't open your mouth." Gandalf says, taking out his pipe. "She is a nymph, dear Bilbo. And a feisty one at that. It would not due to cross her path for a time, if you value your life."

Bilbo nods as Ori asks him what to do with his plate. The rest of the Dwarves stand and begin to clear off the table. Neara stalks into the kitchen where Bofur, Gloin, and Oin are sitting still.

"Care for a game of rhythm, Miss?" He raises an eyebrow at her.

"Let's go then." She chuckles and grabs a fork and spoon from the spot in front of her. The start by pounding them on the table, then clinking them against each other, then back on the table. Bilbo runs in frantically.

"Can you not do that please! You'll blunt them!"

"You hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives!" Bofur grins as they pick up pace, and add in stomping their feet. They start singing, and Neara can't help but join in, laughing as she does. Around them, the dishes fly towards the kitchen where they were cleaned by Bifur and brought back into the dining room on the table. Bofur stood to play his flute and Neara moved to get out of the way, drumming on the table as she stood. She even helped by elbowing a few dishes to their spots. Being in the company of Dwarves makes you skilled in random number of things, this included. Bilbo made it back to the room, where all the dishes were stacked neatly and clean. He stood there, dumbfounded, as the company laughed at him. A loud knock at the door quieted them all.

"He is here." Gandalf said, letting in the last of their group. Thorin entered, looking as serious as Neara had ever seen him. Come to think of it, she's not entirely sure she's seen him smile. He enters the room and Neara hears something about him getting lost. She can't help but laugh, Thorin never could find his way without a map. He must have heard her soft laugh because he moved right towards her.

"Neara, I am surprised you came. In fact, I'm almost sure I explicitly told you not to." He gives her a look.

"A good hello to you as well Thorin," she smiles and hugs him. "It was not only your home that was lost, so why should you be the only one to reclaim it?"

"Very well. I've learned not to argue with a spirited nymph." Thorin moves to the kitchen where the rest of the company follow, much quieter than they were before. Neara didn't pay much attention to what they were saying. She had heard it all before, said it all before. The only thing that drew her interest was when Gandalf pulled out a key and a map. This was something they hadn't had before. Why all other attempts failed. Apparently, Gandalf wanted the young, cowardly Hobbit, to be their burglar. To break into the kingdom, and let the rest of them in. Balin handed the Hobbit the contract. The one everyone had already signed long ago. Even Neara, much to Thorin's protests. When Bofur had compared the great dragon, Smaug, to a furnace with wings, searing pain, flash of light and then death, Bilbo had fainted.

Neara rolled her eyes. It was a waste of time being here. This Hobbit is a coward. He won't join on this journey with us. Even now, he sat, sipping tea, going on about needing more time to think. After deciding he would not be attending, he went to bed. As Thorin began to sing, his deep voice echoing through the Hobbit hole, Neara began to wonder if this truly was a suicide mission. Dragons live a very long time, and it had only been sixty years. Surely he would not give up his treasure so easily.