Hola! This chapter was pretty fun to write. I hope you like it!

I woke the next morning underneath the soft velvet covers of my room, feeling fresh for the first time I could remember. My body ached but for some reason I felt clean, safe. I couldn't bring myself to shame such weakness. Looking out of the window of my room I saw that the sun was just beginning to rise, gosh it was nice to wake and know what time it was. Groaning, I hauled myself out of the plush bed and my feet padded against the cool wood floor, that used to be covered in vomit. My legs burned as I plunged to the door and pressed my back against. My bloody dress had been changed and my discarded bowl had been taken away. Someone had been in here whilst I was sleeping and changed my dress. I was torn between feeling violated or grateful.

The wooden door vibrated on my back when someone knocked on it rather harshly, making me jump. Cursing myself for my silliness I reached and eased open the door. Though it was not Dwalin or Fili waiting on the other side…

"Good morning" Thorin said, raising his eyebrows a little. Shaking off my surprise I cautiously returned the statement. Thorin's ice blue eyes swept down my body and over my new dress. Which was a daisy yellow with blue vine like flowers weaved on the bottom and sides. It was a tad too short so only came to my mid shin but I was grateful for the change of clothes nevertheless. His eyes stopped on the brandings on my chest, making me squirm uncomfortably. I was still in pain but it was nowhere near as bad as last night, making me wonder what they could've possibly given me to sooth my wounds.

"Breakfast is ready" He said before clearing his throat and stomping away, leaving me stunned in the doorway. Gently I closed the door behind him with a soft click.

Okay, I took a deep breath, it'll be okay. I began pacing the room in an attempt to reduce my anxiety. The dwarves were not them. I would not be deterred by my trust issues. I could be cautious and if I saw the slightest sign of them having bad intentions then I was out. I had escaped, I reminded myself, I was out.

Shakily I left the relative safety of my room and followed the scent of bacon and fresh pancakes, I couldn't remember the last time I'd smelt food like this. So, I allowed myself a small smile as I padded carefully into the now clean makeshift dining area. Admiring the curved beams that supported the tunnel like house since I hadn't managed to get a good look in my fearful state the night before. A smile that quickly vanished when I stepped into the view of the five dwarves in the room. Nervousness flitting through me like a jolt of lightning.

Thorin wasn't anywhere to be seen.

One of the dwarves closest to me, Balin, turned in his seat to look directly at me, a fatherly smile on his lips. Which were surrounded by an impressive grey beard that split in two different directions at the ends.

"Good morning, here, come sit down, eat," Balin gestured with his hand to the piled up food covering the table. There was fresh fruit and bacon and sausages and pancakes of all assortment covering the table, clearly none of the other dwarves had woken up yet, the food seemed untouched. My stomach rumbled deeply at the thought of eating everything on the table.

The other four dwarves moved around the table to make room for me, I couldn't quite remember their names. I sat down slowly, ignoring the twinges in my back from the movement and began to pile my plate high with food. Not caring about the astonished looks I was getting for the men in the room. I was all but ready to dig in when a voice next to me spoke up.

"That's very impressive for such a small lass like yourself," He laughed, gosh even his laugh alone almost sent me into tears of joy. I looked over from my mound of food to come face to face with a very large dwarf. Though not large in the way Dwalin was, no this dwarf was less tall and more, round. Sporting an even larger beard than Balin, this dwarf had a fiery red beard that was braided into a thick loop. I attempted to smile back at him but it turned into more of a grimace when pain shot through my face again.

"T-thanks," I replied, not coming up with anything more interesting.

"Would you like a drink?" the dwarf asked me, handing over a cup filled with what seemed to be a fruit juice. I forced myself to remember that I was not there, the drink wasn't poison. I could trust them. A small part of me still doubted that I could as I nodded and accepted the drink from his hand.

"My name's Bombur, and these are my brothers Bifur and Bofur and that's Ori," I was grateful for Bombur's reminder of their names. They all gave me surprisingly energetic waves, apart from Bifur. Who, to my surprise, had an axe sticking out of his head, how he was still alive I didn't know. I waved timidly back at them.

"Hello," I said, proud my voice didn't present the anxiety I still felt. I couldn't resist the scent of the food so left their small conversation and dug into my meal. Almost moaning at the luxurious flavour.

I was halfway through my meal when Gandalf strolled in with Oin close on his heels. I recognized Oin from the blurred memories I had of the night before when I would briefly come to consciousness. They both seemed pleased that I was eating.

"Hello my dear, could you please come with me?" Gandalf asked me, leaning against his tall staff. "Once you've finished your meal of course," he added when I started to put my cutlery down. Gandalf then proceeded to march back out of the room, leaving behind a slightly awkward Oin. It was then that I noticed that all of their beards were unique to them, not one being the same as the other. Proud that I had found a way to distinguish each of the dwarves separately I gave Oin a slight smile. Careful to only raise the right side of my lip. He seemed shocked at my sudden openness and smiled widely through his mass of grey beard.

"I don't believe we know your name lass?" Oin asked stepping more into the room. The conversation in the room quietened waiting for my answer. It shamed me to know I had been made nameless by those cruel men. That I had given up in even trying to remember what I was called. Sighing I looked out of the window on the other end of the room. Only to see a little robin perched on the window ledge, framed by the tree outside that was just beginning to grow back it's leaves. It was spring then. A time of new life, perhaps it was a time for my new life too. So I said.

"May, my name is May," I would not tell them my number, I would not try to remember my first name. Both of those people are dead, so I would start fresh like the newly grown flowers outside.

"What a lovely name," Bofur commented. A mumble of agreement went around the table. Blushing, I went back to my food, somehow, I already felt better. I had to clamp my lips together to stop myself from smiling to hard.

In the ten minutes it took me to finish my meal most of the dwarves were starting to stir. If the loud bang of a dwarf falling of a couch and muffled grumbles of protest were any indication. So I was glad to leave the table and set off to find Gandalf.

I found him in a little study just across the hall from where I was eating, sitting and smoking his pipe opposite a merry fire. I wasn't sure whether it was the fire from the fireplace or the smoke from Gandalf's pipe that instantly put me at ease. I came and sat opposite him in a surprisingly large armchair, considering the size of the little hobbit. I'd always been one of the smaller ones, being about the same height as Fili, that's probably why I attract people like him, I look weak. I shook myself out of those thoughts, I was out. I had escaped. Gandalf's gravelly voice brought me from my thoughts.

"I'm not sure what's the best way to approach this topic so I apologise for my bluntness. What do the brandings mean?" He looked up at me beneath the edge of his grey pointed hat, sympathy clear in his eyes. I froze, not expecting him to ask this so soon.

"I don't know," I whispered, looking back into the flames, memories of the heat from the fire as they branded me came flooding back. I slammed my eyes shut and gripped the arms of the chair. Gandalf hummed in answer.

"I am sorry, I thought you would know," I didn't answer, focusing solely on blocking those memories out. He paused for a second. "soon me and the company of Thorin Oakenshield will be leaving on an adventure. Will you join us?"

My eyes shot open and looked incredulously at the strange man. He wanted me to join them? thoughts whirred in my head. And the longer I thought on the idea the more it appealed to me. I would have their protection and if they could use the weapons that had been thrown by the door then the protection would be the best I could get. I had nowhere else to go, and in my weakened state I highly doubt I could manoeuvre my way across this unfamiliar land. Could I let myself perhaps find a place amongst these strange new people, who have already shown me more kindness that I have felt in too long.

"Does Thorin know?" I asked, Gandalf's eyes lit up as if knowing his answer would affect mine.

"Indeed, I asked his permission last night. He agreed, albeit a little unwillingly. We will take you to Lord Elrond of Rivendell, who should be able to tell you what that ancient writing says, were we will leave you under the care of Lord Elrond," he said gesturing to my chest. I was stunned into silence at the thought of getting answers, to knowing what was permanently branded onto my skin. Gandalf sighed contently and got to his feet, using his winding staff as help.

"We will be leaving in half an hour, meet us outside if you wish to join us. However if you do not then I will make sure you are well looked after here in bag end," Gandalf then proceeded to leave the room. Leaving me with a decision between safety on my own or safety with a group of warriors or perhaps friends surrounding me.

I had returned to my room after my conversation with Gandalf for a moment of solitude. Heart racing at what I was about to do. I'd only just met these men and I was planning on going to faraway lands with them. My thoughts were still torn between trusting them or not. But I took solace in the fact that we would be in the wilderness and I could walk away whenever I pleased.

Glancing over I caught a glimpse of myself in the large mirror across the room.

What I saw sent a sob out of my throat, my legs shaking as I walked up to the mirror. The source of the pain in my face wasn't a small gash like I had thought, but a huge gash covering most of the left side of my face, marring my appearance permanently. It would scar, I could handle scars on my body, they were easily hidden, but this. There was no hiding this, forever I would be reminded of what he did. Tears threatened to fall but I refused to let them. He broke the old me, he won't break May.

I focused on anything other than the fresh scar. My light brown eyes stared back at me, framed arching eyebrows that were the same colour as my now clean dark blonde hair. I was perhaps once considered pretty. But my face had been made harsh and there was a permanent crease between my brows from a long time of stress and worry. Yet I was now clean and my wounds had been dressed, another act of kindness from the dwarves.

With newly restored determination I pulled open the door and walked down the now light hallway, past the dining room in which I had had my first full meal in months, past the study in which I had come to a conclusion that would change my life, and straight through the front door.

The company outside was in the process of saddling their horses, getting ready for the adventure to come. They all stopped and turned towards me standing in the doorway, my head raised. Gandalf came forward and grinned, we shared a knowing look and he turned, sweeping an arm towards the awaiting dwarves.

"Welcome May, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield,"

Let the fun begin! I'm going to try and make sure that May doesn't become a damsel in distress don't worry. Her badass side will come out soon enough ;)

Question: I want May to have some sort of romantic relationship somewhere in this story, do you guys have any thoughts on who it could be?

Thank you for reading,

Ellie x