Okay, sorry this took slightly longer to update. I'm recovering for a minor knee injury and I just started back up in the gym. Gymnastics takes so much time out of my day, plus when I get home I'm usually too tired to write. But I'm committed to this story so don't worry. I'm not going anywhere. (It also helps to be homeschooled!)

Hope you guys like this chapter!

P.S. I'm gonna run out of titles for the chapters!

Chapter VI

Unexpected Laughter

"Move out!" Thorin called atop his pony.

The sleepy company moved at a slow pace. Well, slower than Thorin would've liked. All he wanted to do now was get to Bree as fast as possible. He wanted to get rid of this grocer and ludicrous girl, and be able to rest without fearing a knife sticking out of his back. Thorin was aware that his worries were probably unnecessary. But truthfully, he had been stabbed in the back too many times to take any chances.

The morning had gone as smoothly as to be expected. He had woken everyone up with the sun, and Bombur had started breakfast while camp was packed up.

Dawn was almost finished painting the sky when everything was put away for another days march. Now, everyone sat in wait for the food that wafted through the air.

Conversations started up and Thorin pondered (he did not brood) about the consequences this quest would bring should they either fail or succeed. He didn't get the chance to think on it for long; piercing laughs and snorts broke through the chatter of dwarves. Looking toward the direction the noises came from one would see the woman, hobbit and wizard all laughing hysterically. Realizing that everyone was watching the human and hobbit covered their mouths in attempt to calm themselves (Gandalf did not even try to hide his amusement, though his was more subdued). Thorin soon concluded that he was the cause of their laughter, going by the quick glances they shot him, only to burst out in a fit of laughter again. Only with the time did they stop and even then Thorin could still hear their chuckles from across the camp. By the time breakfast was served they strange outburst of laughter died down and the rest of the company had picked back up their discussions, most of which were now questions of what was so funny about Thorin to bring on their bemusement.

The morning was quite entertaining for Bilbo. He began to like Ashley more and more. She always peeked his interest and curiosity, but with the ability to display manners, so very unlike the dwarves. She was mysterious and it served as a challenge to figure her out.

After they had packed their belonging away and awaited a much desired breakfast, Gandalf came to sit down to Bilbo's left (with Ashley on his right).

"Bilbo, my dear fellow, how does the adventurous atmosphere suit you so far?"

"To be honest, Gandalf, I'm not sure. The ground is hard, making it nearly impossible to sleep. We have only two meals a day, which is hard transition to take for me. But I'm sure I'll get used to all of those in due time." He paused for a moment, in thought. "I guess what is really irking me, is Master Oakenshield's excessive glaring. I'm mean does the man ever smile."

Gandalf snorted silently and a bemused smile twitched on his lips. "I can assure you that I have seen Thorin smile, though it is usually reserved for his own kin."

"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Ashley look towards Thorin with knew interest and amusement, "so you're telling me, that… Thorin can actually smile? I thought his face was forever stuck like that."

Their jaunty laughing brought the rest of the company's attention on them which caused them laugh even more, (though Gandalf was more capable of restraining himself). The hilarity got even more intense when they saw Thorin looking at them with a disapproving scowl, the very thing that had started their mirth. And it just got worse when Thorin's glare did. It took a good while for Ashley and Bilbo to calm down enough to be able sit up and breathe. The arrival of food doing a fine job silencing one's voice. Although they still kept on shooting each other amused glances, while the rest of the company still wondered what could have been so funny that it could leave two breathless and in pain, and one wizard to be, slightly incoherent for several moments.

Two of those dwarves were very much determined to find out.

Looking up from his bowl, Thorin could see Ashley with her own bowl. But she hadn't touched it yet. Only that was not the strangest thing. Her hands were clasped together and her head was bowed, lips soundlessly forming words. The whole company once again stared at the strange female being.

"Miss Ashley, what are you doin-"

"Shh."

"But-"

"Shhhh," she said, cutting Ori off again.

Everyone watched in silence for several moments before Ashley straightened up and took her bowl up in hand and started eating.

"Now, what was it you wanted to ask me, Mister Ori?" She said after swallowing.

"I-I was going to ask what you were doing."

"Oh, sorry. I was praying. That's why I shushed you. You were interrupting my prayer."

"Fascinating," Balin said earnestly. "Who, might I ask, were you praying to?"

"God."

"Yes, but which one?" Said Fili.

"My God."

"Yes, but which one?" Kili said, repeating his brother's question, putting more emphasis on each word.

"The One."

A mix of confused and frustrated looks were exchanged; even Gandalf and Master Baggins were looking quite baffled.

"Ugh. Look, I worship God. My God. The God," her voice stated in matter of fact tone.

"Yes we get that," Gloin confirmed, "but what is his name?"

She chuckled quietly to herself, as if their questions were strange and her elusive answers completely normal.

"Well that depends. He has many names. The most common is I AM."

"What? Did she say aye'am?" Oin didn't know if he had misheard or not.

There arose a bunch of arguments on what she meant and how crazy that they thought her to be, before she stood abruptly.

"Shut it!" She cried. "Look. He is called I AM, because God said, 'I am what I am'. He is I AM. He is also called Yahweh, Adonai, El Shaddai, a many, many other names. Okay? Does everybody understand know?"

Silence

"Alrighty, then. Let's finish up breakfast and then we can hit the road."

Two dwarves were now even more anxiously awaiting for the company to finish and head out, so that they could soon begin their investigation of the strange Miss Ashley.

"Miss Ashley you really should ride with one of us." Said Kili for the fifth time that morning. His brother nodded his agreement. It wasn't just that they wanted an excuse to talk to her in order begin their investigation, but that they worried about her health. It would be an even longer day of travel before they would reach Bree, and she would exhausted herself by the time the sun reached its peak. At least she wasn't tripping all the time like she did the previous day, though.

"How many times must I say it? I. Am. Fine. Okay?"

"But-"

"Okay?" she said again, this time a little louder.

"Fine. But we get to ask you some questions."

"Hmm, fair enough. Ask away."

"Okay, I'll start," Fili said, batting his brothers protests away. He thought for a moment longer and decided to start with a harmless question (he didn't want to ward her off). "Who's your favorite dwarf?"

She laughed, but smiled back. "I don't know, considering I know next to nothing about any of you. Or dwarves for that matter." She mumbled the last part.

"But if you had to pick, who would it be?" Kili asked, chest puffed up slightly.

"Well, going by my first impression, I like you two, and Mister Bofur and Bombur. But that's mostly because you're the only ones I've really talked to."

"Bofur and Bombur!" said Fili.

"You like them more than us?" shouted Kili.

"Shhh, not so loud." Ashley beckoned, as some of the company started glancing their way.

"But Miss Ashley, were so much better than them. Why, we are strong and handsome. Well… at least I am," Said Fili. "Kili never really grew into his beard." Fili dodged one of his brother's punches and ignored his insults. "It's a pity really."

"Shut it, Fee, or I swear I w-"

"Hey, it's alright. You're both just as attractive. And if it makes you feel any better, Kili, the most attractive men where I'm from, have scruff just like yours-if not cleanly shaven."

"Are you saying that you find me handsome?" Kili inquired with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"Umm… yeah. Yeah, I guess I did. You're welcome." She replied, unfazed at her accidental confession.

"Uncle? Did you hear that? Miss Ashley finds me handsome. Even without a beard."

Thorin just glared at him, then to Ashley. He gave a stern look to Fili, silently telling him to control his brother.

"Congratulations, Kili," said Dwalin. "Now if you could only find someone who finds you attractive even without a brain."

"Hey! I got plenty of brains. I just chose not to use them."

Both of the brothers looked over to see Miss Ashley giggling.

"She also finds me funny!" Kili shouted back to Dwalin, making Ashley laugh even harder. Dwalin just huffed and turned back around on his pony.

Fili and Kili took pride in her laughter.

"You seem to find us very funny, Miss Ashley." Fili said.

"You two are ridiculous."

That shocked them both and they were about to reply with complaint of how they were not ridiculous and could be very charming if they wanted. However, Ashley beat them to it.

"I can now answer your question, Fili. Hold on, let me finish." She said holding her hand up to stop them from interrupting. "I like you two. Your funny and probably the closest to my age, so yes. You two are my favorite dwarves."

"Alright!" They both said slapping the other on the shoulder to congratulate each other.

"How old are you anyways?" asked Bofur.

"You're too late Bofur. She's already declared us her favorites. You'll just have to find a Lady friend somewhere else." Kili playfully told him off.

"I never said that. I said you were my favorite dwarves. Bilbo's my favorite out of all of you so, ha." She listened to their act of outrage and betrayal. Realizing they would go on for a while, Ashley turned to Bofur. "I'm sorry. What was your question?"

"Needn't you worry ma'am. I just wanted to know how old you were."

"Guess."

Kili and Fili had stopped their act that had turned into an argument to guess her age.

"Eighty-six?"

"Eighty-six? Do I look like I'm eighty-six!" she protested rather loudly.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't thinking," Kili said.

"Yeah, he doesn't think a lot," his brother teased.

"Shut up, Fee."

"Would someone explain why Kili thought I was eighty-six?"

"Well, ya see, Kili just forgot to convert the aging of men and dwarves," Bofur answered.

"Dwarves age differently?"

"Aye."

"How old are you?"

"One hundred and thirty-three."

"Dang, that's old."

Bofur chuckled, "Yes, I can see how it would seem like that. But, believe it or not, I'm actually in my prime for a dwarf."

"Really?"

"Aye, although I'll admit that time has not been kind to me. Aging me beyond my years."

"Well, I think you look fantastic," she said, trying to cheer him up, for his face was grimmer than usually for the jolly dwarf.

"You are very kind, Miss Ashley."

"Please, call me Ashley."

"Very well, Ashley. But you will have to call me Bofur from now on as well."

"Alright, I think I can do that."

"Ashley," whined both Kili and Fili, "stop bonding with Bofur and talk to us."

Ashley rolled her eyes so only Bofur could see, and turned toward the brothers. "Alright. How old am I?"

"Twenty-seven?"

"Nope, lower"

"Twenty-four?"

"Nope. Guess again."

"Twenty-two."

"You got it."

"You're only twenty-two?" all three of them said at once, loud enough for everyone else to hear. Murmurs floated through the air as dwarves exchanged their opinions on her age.

"Yep. Don't worry though. I'm completely capable of taking care of myself."

"No that's not what we meant. It's just that your about as old as Kili and Fili, yet you seem much more mature than they are," Bofur explained.

"Hey!" said dwarves shouted. "We can be mature."

"The fact that you just said that, clarifies you can't," Nori stated; everyone now listening in on the conversation.

"Well, I've always been mature, whatever age I was. But that doesn't mean I can't have fun. I can be just as childish as these two over here."

"We knew we liked you," Fili said.

Ashley smiled brilliantly. "You've made a very wise decision," she joked.

They spent the rest of their time traveling to Bree, explaining to Ashley (and Bilbo when he occasionally joined in the conversation) how dwarves age and of the life styles they were living in back in the Blue Mountains. Everyone who heard the conversation realized just how little Ashley knew about dwarves, which was basically nothing. Why, even the hobbit knew more about them the she did. Maybe she did come from somewhere else. A place without dwarves.

Hope you all enjoyed it. If you have any comments on the story please tell me.

It makes me really happy when I get positive feedback, but if there's something you'd like me to know that's not necessarily positive, please use constructive criticism. I'm only fifteen. I do have plans and paths for this story to take, so if it seems to be going a bit slow it's because I want everyone's relationships and character to be strong and connected.

Thank you all who have read, reviewed, followed, and/or favorited so far!

P.S. I do not own any part of the Hobbit.

P.P.S. That would be so freakin awesome though!