Ch. 3~ Breakfast

Kili awoke to the smell of eggs and sausage cooking. When he opened his eyes, Talia was sitting before the fire, still in his shirt and cloak.

"Hey," she jumped, "Sorry. Good morning."

"Morning," she mumbled. they were silent for a moment as she flipped the food. "Do you think it's possible?"

"What?" he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"That I might be the one you need? I mean, if I was this Charmer you think I am, wouldn't I have left that hellhole years ago?"

"You heard Balin, it's possible that you're powers have been suppressed. I, for one, am hoping you are. You're just the right size to be in out company."

Talia sniffled from the cold, "I've always been too short. All the men chose me because I was easy pickings. The women took their frustrations out on me because I was too small to fight even them, and they only let me have the scraps of table scraps. I'm even shorter than all of you. I'm too short to be a Human, and I'm certainly not a Dwarf."

"Certainly? It is true that our women tend to have beards...and their a bit stockier, but not all of the time. Just look at me an' my brother, we look like short Men. Anything's possible." Kili turned to see the others waking up. "Don't worry, we'll take care of you, I promise." Then he moved away.

One after the other, the Dwarves came to her with their plates, and she filled them. Everyone complemented her cooking, saying that it was the best they'd had since Bilbo's house. At this, the Hobbit had a look of exasperation. Gandalf had disappeared some time before, and now waltzed in as though he'd only just left.

"And where did you venture off to, Wizard?" Thorin eyed the tall grey man.

"Well, if you must know, Thorin, I went to procure some provisions for our newest member. I thought, perhaps, she would be more comfortable in actual clothes. My dear, if you'd be so kind." Gandalf beckoned for her to come to him. she got up, wrapping Kili's cloak around herself, and nervously made her way to the old Man. "No need to be shy, my dear." he shook out a pair of pants and held them against her hips. "A perfect fit, I think. here," he handed her a bundle, "Go try these on." Talia ducked into the bathroom and locked the door.

"Shouldn't she have realized by now? We're not gonna hurt her." Dwalin huffed. "Mayhap she could be a bit more trusting."

"Hush up, you great big stone head," Bofur scolded him. "Would you trust a raggedy, mismatched bunch such as us? I should think not, my friend. Not with everything that's happened to her."

"Poor thing's afraid of her own shadow." Fili added.

Thorin leaned towards Gandalf. "I told you I would not be responsible for the Hobbit, since I could not guarantee his safety."

"Yes, I recall."

"I thought there was no gentler gold than that of the Shire, but this girl...Gandalf, my old friend, I cannot even begin to believe she might survive the journey, let alone facing Smaug."

"I know, Thorin. But, we can teach her. I can tell, she is a very quick learner."

"How could you possibly know that?"

"She's survived this long, hasn't she? Despite her fears, Talia will sign the contract. She will learn to fight and live in the wilds. Give her a chance."

"Excuse me," Ori came up to them, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Miss Talia hasn't come out of the bathroom yet."

The Wizard got up and knocked on the door. "My dear, are you alright?"

"Uh, I'm fine." She sounded shaky. "Just having a bit of trouble with the laces."

"Why don't you come on out. I'm sure we can help."

There was no response for a moment, then the door opened slowly. They all froze. Standing in the doorway appeared to be a young Dwarven girl. Though she lacked beard and build, she probably could have gone striding through the Blue Mountains, and none would be the wiser. Talia's cream colored blouse exposed her collarbone and chest, to which she clutched a dark brown corset, still unlaced. Matching pants were tucked into clack boots, also unlaced. hanging off her arm was a long green jacket.

Dori stepped forward. "Have a seat, deary. We'll get you all set, yes?" Talia gave him a shy smile as he helped her tie her boots, showing her the best way to keep them from coming undone. Bilbo had finished lacing the corset and quickly tied it off. Then, as if she didn't already look like a Dwarf, Bifur and Bofur attacked her head in an attempt to tame her unruly crimson locks. once they had finished, half was down, the other was held back in one thick braid over the loose hair, while two smaller ones hung down over her ears. The smaller ones had been decorated with several thick beads dug up from a bag, the main braid was held with a bit of thick brown and gold ribbon.

"Now you are truly part of the company." Fili called from his window seat.

"Not quite," Thorin motioned to Balin, "Give her the contract."

Balin gave her the same "simple" run-down as Bilbo. She quickly and quietly read through it, then took the quill from the oldest Dwarf. "At least if I die out there, I'll never have to come back here. There's no one to make funeral arrangements for me." she signed her full name. Talia daughter of Willimina. "There."

"Good, no we can leave. Have you ever ridden a pony before, girl?"

"Please don't call me that," she said. "But, no, I haven't."

"Well, then, you'll just have to learn quickly." The king looked to Gandalf with a smirk.

Outside, the pony that had been chosen for her was a palomino mare named Butterscotch. However, Scotch (as they called her) was rather tall for a pony, making it rather difficult for Talia to mount. She had actually managed to jump high enough to get her foot in the stirrup briefly.

"Uncle, perhaps it would be a good idea if the girl rode with one of us," Fili said.

"No." Thorin stated firmly. "If she is to travel with us, she must learn to fend for herself."

The brothers looked at each other and nodded, each knowing what the other was thinking. They moved away from their uncle towards the girl still struggling to mount. "Hey there," Fili came up on one side.

"You need some help?" Kili said from the other.

"No, thank you. I'm ok, just need to get my foot up-whoa!" The two Dwarf men had grabbed her as she spoke and tried to jump again, hoisting her all the way to the saddle. "Oh, uh...thank you." She was dizzy from the vertigo of being up so high so quickly. "Um, I think the stirrups are a bit too long."

"A bit?" Bofur looked. "Nah, lass. Those'd be way too long. May I, m'lady?" She nodded, watching his tricorn hat as he moved from one side to the next, shortening the straps and making sure her feet were securely in. "There ya go, lass."

"So," Gandalf rode up next to her, "how does it feel? Being tall?"

"Kinda scary."

He chuckled. "Just take it slow. Gently nudge her with your heels and hold on with your thighs. Don't hold the reins too tightly, horses are very sesnitive."

"And if I fall?"

"Then try to fall away from the hooves."

So, they set off. It took a little while, but Talia eventually got the hang of riding. From then on, it was smooth sailing...sort of.