Kisha was amazed with the amount of hell twelve dwarves could wreck in one place. She was also amazed with how flustered and, just a bit, rude Bilba was. Kisha was awed with the dwarves and their merry attitude and lack of table manners. She liked them. They were people similar to her (what with the beards and body structure) and she felt like they were her kind of people. But Kisha was also confused with the way they were acting towards her. They were incredibly courteous and gentle. The dwarves moved her out of the way, not touching any place which would be inappropriate, placed food first in her plate and she was the first to be served ale. The younger dwarves (Fili and Kili) were sweet (although, Kili was slightly awkward because, according to Fili, they rarely met a dwarrowdam); Bifur was all smiles and soft voice (but the axe drew Kisha's attention away). All in all, Kisha liked their company and she was relaxed completely.
"So, what's a dwarrowdam like you doing in a place like this?" Asked the one with the funny hat, whom Kisha thought was named Bofur, grinning.
"Um..." Kisha said. "I am not a dwarrowdam."
"You have some of the Big Folk in you, aye?"
"No, I am from a different world."
"Really?" Asked Ori, sounding like Kisha gave him one of the best news ever. "I've read about people who came from another worlds. Is it true that you died in yours?"
"Yes." Kisha responded, feeling a twinge in her chest.
"Are you for a glass of wine, my dear?" Interrupted Dori, his hand upon Kisha's shoulder.
"Oh, no, thank you. I am more into stronger drinks, Sir."
That was how the evening passed for Kisha. The dwarves dotted upon her, acting like she was the most valuable treasure in the whole world.
Then they were banging upon the table with knives and forks, then singing what Bilba Baggins hates and throwing plates to one another. Kisha almost got a bowl in her face but, fortunately, she managed to catch it and throw it to the smirking Dwalin. They were all laughing at the face Bilba made when she saw her mother's best dishes washed, stacked and whole.
Then someone knocked.
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"I thought you said this place was easy to find, Gandalf." A dwarf, a bit shorter than Kisha, said. "I lost my way. Twice."
Kisha snickered behind Bilba only to gasp in outrage when he insulted Bilba ("So, this is the hobbit? She looks more like a grocer than a burglar."). Gandalf sent her a warning look as he introduced the dwarf.
"Bilba, Kisha, this is Thorin Oakenshield, the leader of our company."
"A dwarrowdam?" Thorin questioned, as if he didn't believe such a thing existed. "Gandalf, you have not told a dwarrowdam was living with the hobbit."
"I forgot."
Kisha rolled her eyes, smiling at the lying wizard.
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"So, what you're saying is," Kisha started, frowning. "You're on a quest to reclaim Erebor and slay a dragon?"
"Yes." Balin kindly replied.
"And how are you going to manage that?" Kisha continued to question. "You said it yourself, you're not thirteen of the bravest nor the brightest. A dragon, if the stories in my world are to be believed, is a huge creature that spits fire."
"Aye, Smaug is the greatest calamity of our age. Claws like meathooks, teeth like razors." Bofur interjected, grinning as if the dragon is but a fly. "Think furnace with wings. Flash of light, searing pain and, poof, you're nothing but a pile of ash."
Kisha turned when she heard a thud. A giggle escaped her at the sight of Bilba in dead faint on the floor, the contract still in her hand.
"You know, Bilba will come." Kisha told Thorin. "She just needs some time to realise that she wants to."
Thorin stared at Kisha, his eyes looking in- what Kisha thought- her very soul. His eyes were old, full of bitterness and pain. Kisha was unsure was it because of the song they sang or because of the life he was forced to live.
"What will you do, when Miss Baggins is gone?"
"Who said I would stay here?" Kisha grinned, eyes twinkling.
"Where will you go?" Balin asked, sitting himself on Thorin's right.
"With you, of course."
"And who said that I will let you?" Thorin queried, scowling at her.
"Who said I can't follow?"
"Are you even able to defend yourself? After all, you've been living in a place where you did not need to have any skill in weaponry."
"That does not mean I do not know to fend off an attacker."
"What are you going to use? Your bare hands? Lass," Balin asked. "don't be foolish."
"The only thing I need is a knife." Kisha answered, smiling grimly. "I am well versed in places that are the best for incapacitating a person."
"Could you kill?" Thorin inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Despite what my calling was, I could and I would. Kill or be killed, is it not?"
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Kisha barely slept but she was bright and early to see the dwarves and Gandalf off. Bifur kissed her hand, making her blush and Bofur laugh. Fili and Kili hugged her. Kili even spun her round and round until they almost fell from dizziness. She watched them walk away with a smile on her face.
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"What do you mean, they're gone?" Bilba squeaked.
"Just like I said. They are on their way to an adventure."
"But..."
"You want to go?"
"Well, yes!"
Kisha's only response was the contract shoved in Bilba's hands.
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Running. Kisha hated running, especially with a backpack which bounced on her back as she did. She did not like how sweaty she became or how out of breath she was. Kisha glared at Bilba who was beaming despite panting for breath. It was annoying.
When Kisha was at the end of her strength, Bilba gave an excited shout. She looked to where Bilba was looking and thanked whatever deity there is in Middle Earth.
"I've signed it!" Bilba yelled, grinning like a kid in a candy store. "I've signed the contract."
Bilba gave the contract to Balin who inspected it with a critical eye. Kisha waved off the dwarves converging on her.
"Fucking hell." Kisha gasped. "My lungs just shriveled up and died."
"Not used to running, lass?" Dwalin laughed from atop a pony.
"Yeah." Kisha answered when she straightened up. "I have never ran for so long or so fast."
"Give the burglar a pony!" Thorin ordered, glaring at Kisha. "I told you not to come."
"Do I look like I care?" Kisha snapped.
"No, you look like you're about to keel over." Kisha thought Thorin was even smirking a tiny, minuscule smirk. It was annoying. "Whom do you want to ride with? Miss Baggins who looks like she doesn't know front end from the back or one of us?"
"Kili." Kisha grinned. "Or Fili. They are amusing."
"Glad to be of service, my Lady." Kili winked and offered her a hand.
"Are you sure you want to ride with my brother?" Fili asked Kisha just as she was to take Kili's hand. "He might make you fall."
"I will not!"
"And you're sure you can ride well?" Kisha smirked and made a show of looking Fili from the boots up.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Fili winked, grinning, at Kisha.
"I'm riding with Kili."
Kisha laughed when Kili stuck his tongue at Fili. Fili rolled his eyes and straightened in the sadle.
"Here I thought you liked me more."
"Nope."
"You lose, brother dear."
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Riding with Fili and Kili was more fun than anything Kisha has encountered in all of her life. It was also a learning experience (even though she was not sure everything they told her was the truth). Kisha even managed to fall asleep in the sadle, her arms wrapped around Kili (which he tied for safety reasons, not for amusement at her reaction when she woke up. No, not at all).
Kisha did not wake until she felt Kili move her arms and Bofur tickle her nose with a feather (no one knew where he got it from).
"Come on, lass, it's time to camp." Bofur said when she turned her head to glare at him.
"Yay." Kisha deadpanned, voice thick with sleep.
"You'll continue to nap when you're safely on the ground." Dwalin grunted as he effortlessly grabbed Kisha from the sadle and placed her down.
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Bilba was not sure she made the right decision, but she liked it. She enjoyed the company even though they teased her. Although, Thorin would look much better if he did not glare and brood so much.
Bilba placed her bedroll next to Kisha's and tried to fall asleep. She could not: the snoring was coming from all sides, even from Kisha. Bilba twisted and turned then looked up when a thunderous snore startled her. It was Gloin.
"Moths?" Bilba mumbled, her eyes wide. "Yavanna help me, he's breathing moths in and out."
What kind of creatures were dwarves, anyway?