Chapter 3

We walked silently for about thirty minutes I would guess, I wasn't paying much attention to time as I was again gawking at the beautiful surroundings. This pastime granted me to be pushed by Gandalf half of the time but he didn't make me walk behind him as he knew I would just fall behind. Bless his heart.

Eventually we came to a stop in front of another beautiful Hobbit home with a well-kept garden and who I assume was the owner of the home sitting out front on a bench, smoking a pipe. Gandalf and I exchanged a glance; he stepped in front of me quietly and made to get the content hobbits attention.

The hobbit frowned a bit at Gandalf looking annoyed, but his expression softened noticeably when he spotted me peeking out from around the tall wizard. "Good morning" he said as he looked back up at Gandalf.

"What do you mean? Do you mean to wish us a good morning or do you mean that it is a good morning whether we'd want it or not?" Gandalf started, sounding more asshole'ish by the second. "Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning. Or are you simply stating that this is a morning to be good on?" The poor hobbit looked utterly confused. I couldn't blame him, I was too.

"All of them at once I suppose" he managed to stammer out. Gandalf kept staring at him like a mad genius plotting his next big experiment. To tell you the truth, it was both amusing to watch and slightly unnerving to observe at the same time. The hobbit seemed to share my thoughts as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

"Sorry, do I know you?" the hobbit finally asked, having had enough of the awkward silence that had dominated the air not two seconds ago.

"Well you know my name, but not that I belong to it." Gandalf said. He really like to be smart ass doesn't he? "I am Gandalf and Gandalf means… me" then he put his hand on my back and pushed me forward so that I could be in full view of the hobbit. "And this is Miss Ren, a friend of mine" he added with a smile.

The hobbit smiled and gave me a small nod again before looking back to Gandalf, recognition brimming in his eyes. "Gandalf the Grey! You're the wizard that makes those splendid fireworks every year for the mid- summer festival." He exclaimed, he looked rather exited to have remembered. Though Gandalf looked much less so. Aw poor Gandalf.

"Yes, well I'm glad that I've been remembered even if it is just for my fireworks" Gandalf muttered drily much to my amusement. The hobbit hummed happily to himself as he took another hit off his pipe.

"I am here Master Baggins, because we are searching for someone to share in an adventure." Gandalf said, having recovered quickly. The now freshly dubbed 'Master Baggins' faltered a bit at his words.

"I'm sorry but no one is looking for any adventures here, nasty little things. Make you late for dinner. You should try looking somewhere on the other side of the lake. Good morning" He said, standing from the bench and moving to his mail box. He sorted through the letters quietly, pointedly trying to ignore our existence. He got away with it for only a minute until Gandalf spoke again, now with an even more amused tone then he had started.

"To think that I would have lived be 'good morning'ed' by Belladonna Took's son. She would be most disappointed" he mused, looking down at me as if I knew anything about whoever this Belladonna person was. Master Baggins looked surprised at the mention of his mother's face and ever so slightly offended.

"How do you know my mother's Name?" he asked

"Well it's decided" Gandalf declared suddenly, ignoring his question. "I'll inform the others"

"What's decided?" Master Baggins asked in nervous confusion.

"It will be good for you. And most amusing for me" The wizard responded cryptically again. Master Baggins began shouting about not going anywhere and scurried inside his house, slamming the door in the process.

Gandalf didn't seem the least bit put out by the behavior and made towards the front door. He quickly carved out a small symbol on the door that faintly glowed, then turned to me expectantly. "Miss Ren you stay here with Bilbo, I must go take care of a few things" he stated and started walking away.

"Okay then, I'll just wait here" I nodded a bit dumbly I must admit, at the escalation of the conversation and watched as he disappeared over the hill. Once I couldn't see him anymore I turned back to the freshly marked door and walked up to it with a purpose.

I knocked on the door a few times then waited. The door opened after a minute or two and Bilbo Baggins looked at me questioningly, I could smell his annoyance from here. But I sucked in the sarcastic comment and smiled sweetly at the hobbit.

"Hello again" I chirped. "Gandalf told me to wait for him here until he returns for me, do you mind if I come in?" I asked softly, good thing that I redid my hair and bangs this morning. Because I know for a fact that very few people can resist my cuteness when I put in some effort. Bilbo blushed at me and sputtered a bit, motioning for me to enter without further questions. Mentally, I smirked at my effect on the slightly shorter man.

"Thank you, Master Baggins." I said stepping into the cosy home. I instantly went about removing my cloak and beanie setting the cloak on a coat rack and putting the beanie into one of the interior pockets that it had. When I turned around to face Bilbo again, I caught him gapping at my tail. He quickly drew his gaze upward when I turned and started to gawk at my ears. I giggled at his expression and he sobered up instantly. Offering up apologies, but I waved him off.

"I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself" I said and stuck out my hand towards the star struck hobbit. "My name is Ren Kross, it's a pleasure to meet you"

Bilbo smiled kindly and took my hand in his. "Bilbo Baggins, the pleasure is all mine" he practically chirped. "I am awfully sorry to ask, but what are you?" he asked, his smile turning into a small wince.

I grimaced for a second then smiled reassuringly at the poor hobbit. "It's alright, and I am a full blooded dog demoness." I answered pride filling my chest a bit. Then I faltered at his blank stare, and looked away with a grimace. "But you don't know what that is" I sighed. "Let's just say that I'm a demon, and that I'm from another realm of sorts." At this he came back to reality.

"Another realm?" he said in astonishment and obvious disbelief. "There is no such thing" he stated crossing his arms over his chest. I shook my head at him.

"Believe what you want Master Bilbo but look at my clothes. Do they look like anything someone in this world would wear?" I asked motioning to my attire with my hands. Bilbo looked down and his eyes widened, I guess he was too busy gawking at my ears and tail to take in my clothing choice. After a few seconds of him just staring wide-eyed at me, I started to shift from foot to foot uncomfortably. I opted to cleating my throat to snap him out of it. He looked up at my face and turned around and started to stutter out apologies.

I shook my head in both exasperation and amusement. "Oh turn around you big lug, it's alright if anything, these qualify as traveling clothes." I said, putting my clawed hands on his shoulders and forcing him to turn around.

"Would you like some tea?" he asked suddenly, keeping his eyes solely on my face. I smiled at him and nodded.

"That would be lovely." I said, "Maybe once you've calmed down I'll tell you about how I got here." I offered. He nodded turning and heading off into what I assume was the direction of the kitchen. I sighed as I watched him go. 'This is going to be one hell of a quest. It hasn't even started and I'm already exhausted.' I thought as I started after the hobbit.

I spent the better half of the day explaining the whole 'Destiny' thing to Bilbo. And he only fainted twice! So that's good… I think. He made us both some soup for lunch and we spent the afternoon just talking about things we liked and exchanged a few stories from our childhoods. The short man was a welcomed distraction from yesterday's events. He was so polite and amusing; I'm surprised that he hasn't married yet—But that's his business—he even gave me a gran tour of Bag End. It was amazing, so warm and cosy it actually felt like a home.

"You should go and get washed up for dinner. It's almost ready" Bilbo said snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked up at him from my spot looking out the window for Gandalf and nodded.

"Alright" I responded and made my way to the bathroom. There I washed up and looked myself in the mirror. I wasn't thinking in anything in particular as I assessed my face until a thought struck me like a ton of bricks. One of me men that will be appearing tonight is my intended. Holy shit.

This fact terrified my almost as much as it made me all bubbly inside. I was terrified because now that I can't use my beast I won't know which one is my mate. I can't believe I'm going to say this. But I have inadvertently been reduced into human courtship. Just thinking about it made me shutter. I don't know the first thing about dating. How am supposed to single him out of the group? And then explain this whole intended mate thing to him? There aren't any demons in this realm, so he'd probably call me a crazed monster and never wish to even look at me. I shook my head trying to rid myself of those thoughts. No, my mate won't turn me away like that. At the very least he'll reject me kindly. It'll kill me either way but I would take solace in the fact that he was nice about it.

But more than all that negative thinking; I was excited to finally have him in my grasp. To able to touch him, and smell him—even though I have no idea what he smells like but I bet it's wonderful—and to just bask in his presence. I've always wanted to find my mate. And have the same thing that my parents had. Love, happiness and a family, technically I already had that back home. But it was different, no love can compare to that of a mates. Well…. Parental love is pretty strong but once the pups are grown and have pups of their own, the only thing you've got left is your mate. Same goes for friends; they all have lives of their own and can't always give you the companionship you yearn for. With a nod of determination, I left the bathroom and readied myself to find my intended tonight but not be able to be with him until the time was right and I was sure that he was the one. Let's do this.

When I came back, Bilbo had already set the table for us and was plating the fish he had prepared. "Smells good" I said as I took a seat. He nodded thanks as he poured water into our cups. I waited until he was seated before taking the hand that was closest to me and closing my eyes. I made an internal prayer to the gods before speaking.

"Thank you for the meal" I said, looking up to the heavens and let go of Bilbo's hand and digging in. Bilbo just stared at me with an unmistakeable 'what the fuck' face. I spared him a glance as I chewed my fish and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, force of habit" I said once I had swallowed.

Bilbo nodded in understanding. "It's alright, we all have our little traditions" he said, as picked up a lemon, and squeezing it on top of his fish. I was just about to respond when there was a strong nock at the door. Bilbo paused in his lemon squeezing, looking hilariously annoyed. I turned my head in the direction of the front entrance and scented the air, trying to determine if it was Gandalf or not. It wasn't, the scent was different from the wizards. Gandalf smelled more like magic and pipe weed.—Yes, magic has a smell— This scent was strong with musk and some type of steel, iron perhaps; I'm not too sure.

"Maybe it's Gandalf" Bilbo said, standing from his sea and heading to the foyer. I pursed my lips but didn't mention that the scent was different from the troublesome wizard. I stood as well and followed the hobbit quietly, curious as to whom it might be. Bilbo opened the door to reveal a very intimidating man. He was taller than me—but let's face it who isn't taller than me in this dammed place except hobbits?—and muscled he also had face markings. They weren't natural markings like mine though, I could smell the ink. And to just top it all off, he had a sword on his hip and two battle axes on his back. He was like nothing I've ever seen before; it was sort of scary; he didn't even smell human now that I think about it. I tensed instantly from my place by the hallway, ready to protect my short friend from harm's way if need be. The man silently stared at Bilbo for a moment before speaking.

"Dwalin, at your service" he said with a deep accented voice, bowing low at the waits. Both Bilbo and I were noticeably dumbstruck. Bilbo looked to me questioningly and I shrugged showing that I had no idea who the monster of a man was.

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours." Bilbo said, still in a confused daze. Dwalin nodded but kept his featured strait and almost bored. Bilbo kept looking between the door and Dwalin for a moment before he finally found words.

"Sorry, do I know you?" he asked skeptically. Dwalin blinked once at Bilbo before responding.

"No" was all he said as he stepped inside the house, looking for something in particular. "Is it this way lad?" he asked pointing in my general direction.

"Is what where?" I asked, gaining his attention. He grunted a bit as he gave me a once over. His eyes lingering on my demonic features; ears, tail, claws, markings, you know the obvious ones. Then he started towards me and I tensed even more then I already was as he lumbered to my—tiny in comparison—form, completely ignoring Bilbo's words of protest. When he reached me he promptly took my hand and kissed my knuckled much to my astonishment.

"Dwalin, at your service My Lady" he grumbled, looking me straight in the eyes. I blinked, still in vapor lock from his behavior. I was definitely not expecting him to be this gentlemanly when I had first laid eyes on him. Don't I feel like an asshole, I should really stop assuming things.

"Ren, at yours" I said, repeating the same thing Bilbo had when Dwalin first introduced himself. He nodded at my name seemingly satisfied. I gave him a small friendly smile in return and remembered my question. "So what's where?" I asked as he let go of my hand.

"The food lass, he said there would be food. And lots of it" he said. I gave Bilbo one last skeptical glance before giving Dwalin my full attention. I stuck out my thump in the direction of the kitchen and smiled at the huge wall of a man.

"Well the kitchen is that way, you're welcome to join us if you want" I said. Dwalin grunted in approval and motioned for me to lead the way. Turning on my heal I lead the tall man to the kitchen where he took the liberty of seating himself where Bilbo had been before he had arrived. Bilbo appeared at the door still out of it from the recent events, he stammered out questions to Dwalin who ignored him in favor of eating his meal. I sat beside Dwalin, watching him as he ate. I was both amazed and disgusted at it but couldn't take my eyes away. But what was amusing was that Bilbo would keep talking to the man about guests and stuff and Dwalin completely ignored him. Poor Bilbo.

"This is good, anymore?" Dwalin asked as he finished emptying his plate. I snapped out of la la land and pushed my own plate to him.

"Have mine, I'm not that hungry" I said, having somehow lost my appetite. Dwalin grunted again and shook his head, pushing the plate back to me.

"You eat up lass, get some meat on your bones." He rumbled. Funny, I always thought that I needed to lose some weight, not gain it. Who knew that my chubby stomach and meaty thighs are considered skin and bones? Dwalin then turned his gaze to Bilbo questioningly. Said hobbit reluctantly handed him a bowl of biscuits as I nibbled on my fish.

Bilbo was about to speak again but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Dwalin and I paused on in our eating to look to the door while Bilbo glared at it. "That'll be the door" Dwalin stated as he went back to eat his biscuits. Bilbo scurried to the door grumbling about Dwarves. Dwarves? Is that what Dwalin was? He certainly doesn't smell like any human I've ever come across. I watched him from the corner of my eye for a second before nodding to myself. 'Yep definitely not human' I concluded.

"Dwalin" I said, getting his attention. He grunted to signify that he was paying attention. "This might sound weird and a bit offensive to ask but….. What are you? Exactly" I asked, flattening my ears afraid I might have offended the man. Dwalin paused in his eating and looked at me in confusion. He cleared his throat faintly before speaking.

"I am a Dwarven Warrior of Ered Luin, son of Fundin" he said proudly, puffing out his chest slightly as he spoke. He then turned to me with furrowed brows. "And what may I ask, are you lass?" he asked as he took a drink from Bilbo's former cup. I smiled at him and straightened in my seat, puffing out my chest like he had. Girls gotta' represent.

"I am a former Demon Heiress, first born and only daughter of the Lord of the West." I said, lifting my chin with pride. "And first Demon to set foot in Middle Earth." I added as an afterthought, as I looked at the dwarf. He looked confused and I could see the questions bubbling up in his head but he interrupted himself when he heard a voice talking to Bilbo. Dwalin promptly stood from his seat and marched towards the voices with and almost exited skip to his step. Whoever the voice belongs too must be very important to him.

I followed soon after hearing him greet the voice as Balin, his brother. Standing by the door, I observed as the two dwarves spoke with obvious affection to one another. Yep, they're definitely brothers. The new addition to home was shorter then Dwalin but still taller than me. Which I think is total bull because who has ever heard of dwarves being tall? Though even with them being taller than me, they probably only reach to Gandalf's chest. Balin was obviously the older of the two; seeing as he had white hair and beard—I very much dough that they have hair dye here— He was also sporting a small smile and wise eyes, he was hopefully a kind man….well dwarf.

I watched with a bemused expression as the brothers gingerly ignored Bilbo's whines as they looked through the pantry, speaking among themselves. If the rest of the dwarfs that will be going on this quest are half as interesting as these two; then I guess that this trip won't be that bad.

So thats chapter 3!. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

i posted this early because... well i can and to celebrate my summer so i'm in a good mood. I got three whole months to do nothing! i'm very exited.

Anyway so, we've already met Bilbo and two members of the company, yay! i can't wait till they all arrive and start asking questions about Renny! i hope you like It.

-With all my love

Karybear1