Thorin's POV

Something was wrong. Jo started to look around frantically, panic stricken across her face. I began to thrash around even more against the cloth and ropes that entrapped me. Jo finally stopped, her whole body frozen in thought before she leaned down and picked up...a...fiddle? This woman was going to be the death of all of us! She raised the instrument to her shoulder and her other hand gracefully made its way to the strings, bow in hand. I continued to thrash around with even more force as she took a deep breath. Instead of playing, she started singing in a surprisingly lovely voice.

You had your maps drawn
You had other plans
To hang your hopes on
Every road they let you down felt so wrong
So you found another way

The trolls looked around in confusion, trying to find the source of the new voice. I heard Jo's hushed name a couple of times around me and stared in wonder at her. She was going to get herself killed, and all for simple chance to perform?! The violin joined in softly with her tune and she stepped out of the shelter that the forest had provided.

You've got a big heart
The way you see the world
It got you this far
You might have some bruises
And a few of scars
But you know you're gonna be okay

She was now directly in front of our group staring at the trolls.

And even though you're scared
You're stronger than you know

"What is this rubbish?" a troll exclaimed.
"Let's just eat that one now. Maybe it'll stop that awful noise!" I looked towards the small female without concealing my worried look, and she looked back at me over her shoulder... and grinned.

If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home, home

Jo was dodging every hit aimed at her while still singing and playing. It almost looked like dancing, the way her body flowed with her movements.
If you face the fear that keeps you frozen
Chase the sky into the ocean
That's when something wild calls you home, home

A troll cried out in irritation and she rushed under his legs and used an other's hand to jump on to. She then climbed her way up to the top of one's head and continued playing.

Sometimes the past can
Make the ground beneath you feel like a quicksand
You don't have to worry
You reach for my hand
Yeah I know you're gonna be okay
You're gonna be okay

And even if you're scared
You're stronger than you know

She jumped through the air as a troll went to grab her, missing and hitting his partner in the face. She almost landed perfectly on the former's shoulder, but slipped and let out a cry while waving her arms about in a panicked manner before righting herself again.
"I'm ok. We're good." she said making a gesture with her hands before coughing and continuing her song.

If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home, home
If you face the fear that keeps you frozen
Chase the sky into the ocean
That's when something wild calls you home, home

She stopped singing and went into a violin solo while continuing to dodge the trolls. She even managed to kick them in the face a couple of times. She looked over too a rustle in the trees, distracted by the sudden movement and finally reached her limit on luck. A troll tripped her and she fell on her face, her arms outstretched to save the instrument. She rolled quickly out of the way and hopped back to her feet, a light trickle of blood running down her forehead. She raced over and continued the end of her song without the violin and Gandalf appeared.

If you're lost out where the lights are blinding
Caught in all, the stars are hiding
That's when something wild calls you home

"May the dawn take you all!" he boomed.
"Who's that?" a troll asked.
"No idea."
"Can we eat him too?"

Gandalf drove his staff into a large rock, allowing bright rays of light to pour onto the trolls, turning them to stone.

Jo threw her hands up in the air and shouted happily before looking up at Gandalf.
"You were late." she scolded. He looked back at her in surprise before chuckling.
"It seems you and Mr. Baggins handled that situation quite well in my absence." Jo placed a finger on her chin in thought.
"True. True. Now would you mind helping me untie everyone?"
"It would be my pleasure."

Jo went to Bilbo first and gave him a hug once she untied him, complimenting his bravery before moving to Kili, then Fili, then myself.
"So," she started as she untied the knots on my bag. "Have I passed?" I stared at her, baffled by her idiotic motives.
"Is that meant to be a joke?" she stopped and looked at me, the ghost of a much sadder expression in her eyes.
"No..."
"You could have been killed!"
"But I wasn't! You lot needed more time before Gandalf showed up, so I made some for you. You're welcome, by the way." she replied, obviously irritated as she quickened the work on my bindings. "Besides, it's not like you would have cared. I'm just your temporary Caretaker, so why don't you let me just take care of you while I have the chance?" she finished freeing me and looked down with a rejected look in her eyes.

I sighed, placing my face in my hand. She began to turn away from me and I grabbed her arm, making her look at me again.
"I am sorry for doubting your skills. Please forgive me." I said sincerely. Green eyes met my own before her face melted into a soft smile. It seemed so natural on her.
"Well, it's the thought that counts." she said. What? Was I expected to apologize for something else? "Apology accepted, Thorin." she continued, her smile now wide and it seemed as if for a moment that she was the sun itself.

...

Jo sneezed yet again as we exited the trolls cave. The small kitten noises seemed to be increasing, and I could tell it was starting to set Balin and Gandalf on edge. We had managed to find Jo a total of eight knives laced with spider venom. She seemed quite skilled with her hand-eye coordination, so Dwalin offered to help her train. Bifur also found pouches to carefully hold them and a belt to keep them on.

Movement in the trees suddenly caught my attention.
"Something's coming!" I shouted to the group.
"Stay together." Gandalf ordered. "Hurry now! Arm yourselves!" We all ran to a clearing that would allow proper fighting movement. A strange figure came bursting through the trees with large rabbits pulling a sleigh.
"Radaghast." the wizard exclaimed with relief. "Radagast the Brown."

We all watched in a mix of confusion and wonder as the strange wizard exchanged words with Gandalf. Jo had her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle her bubbling laughter. It bewilders me how such a simple thing can put me at ease. It's almost as if small bells are chiming lightly in the breeze. Her nose also scrunches up in a pleasant manner, crinkling her forest filled eyes. It was interrupted by another sneeze, her eyes watering slightly. Now that I was taking the time to really study her actions, Jo seems to be a bit pale.

My thoughts were interrupted by a distant howl.
"Was that a wolf? Are there- are there wolves out there?" the Hobbit asked.
"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf." Bofur answered.
"Look out!" Jo shouted, pointing up at Warg.

We killed it as well as another one that came up behind me.
"Warg scouts!" I shouted angrily, not pleased that my past was uninvitedly uprooting itself. "Which means an Orc pack is not far behind!"
"Orc pack?" Bilbo asked.
"Who did you tell about you quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf questioned urgently.
"No one."
"Who did you tell?!"
"No one, I swear! What in Durin's name is going on?"

"You are being hunted."
"Guys, I think it's time we get the hell out of here." Jo interrupted.
"I agree, we have to get out of here." Dwalin joined.
"We can't! We have no ponies! They bolted." Ori exclaimed.
"Bungo..." Jo whispered. I felt my thought process freeze for a moment. She fell in love with that pony, and we have no other choice but to leave him behind. We are about to face extreme danger, and all she can think about is Bungo- and all I can think about is the sudden urge to hold her in my arms and ease her worry. What is happening to me?

"I'll draw them off." Radagast stated.
"These are Gundabad wargs, they will outrun you." Gandalf refuted.
"These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try."
"You go Radagast! Show them who's boss! Now everyone else, we gotta fecking go. Now!" Jo said before taking off.

We began running as fast as we could. I stopped and watched as the wargs came into sight.
"Not exactly the best time or place to strop and sight see Thorin." Jo said tugging on my sleeve and dragging me the other direction.
"Saty together." Gandalf ordered.
"Move!" I shouted, urging the others on.

Jo suddenly bolted forward and stopped with her arms out to her sides.
"Ori..." she warned, but he didn't have time to slow down.
"Ori no!" I shouted pulling him back before he could run into her. I watched almost as if in slow motion as his front half doubled over and his forehead collided with Jo's.
"Ow." she stated blandly, blinking a little excessively before running the spot that was already beginning to turn a light shade of purple on her cranium.

"I'm sorry Miss Josephine."
"It's fine Ori, just be a little more aware of your surroundings so you don't go running straight into an Orc pack, 'kay?" she replied with a half hearted grin and ruffled his hair. he nodded quickly before running off again.

"Where are you leading us?" I asked Gandalf accusingly. I had a very bad feeling about this. He looked away guiltily and continued without answering me.

We all huddled behind a rock and froze at the sound of a warg and it's orc rider right above us. I looked at Kili and glanced down to his bow, gesturing for him to use it. He drew an arrow and quickly ran out and shot the warg, then its hideous rider. I felt a wave of pride for my nephew and his growing archery skills.
"We have to move, it's making too much noise." Jo said in a rushed manner. Dwalin and Bifur finished off the orc as she started running again.
"Move! RUN!" Gandalf agreed.

I stopped in my tracks as two more appeared on the hill before me.
"There's more coming!" Kili shouted.
"Kili! Shoot them!" I shouted back.

"We're surrounded!" Fili yelled. Kili shot an orc in the chest. "Where's Gandalf?!"
"He's abondoned us!" Dwalin exclaimed angrily.

"Wrong!" Jo shouted.
"What?" Dwalin asked.

"Hold your ground!" I had no time for this.
"No seriously, you all should just ignore the person who knows the fecking future! It'll be fine! It's not like it might get us out of danger quicker or anything!" Jo screamed sarcastically. I whipped my head around to look at her. She looked rather irritated, but a little dazed as well.

"This way, you fools!" Gandalf shouted, his head popping up from behind a small pile of boulders. We all stared for a split second before dashing over to the opening.
"Quickly! All of you!" I ordered. I cut down a warg as it charged us, giving the others a chance to escape.
"Kili, let's go!" Jo screamed. I looked over at the human and could tell she would not leave until she knew he was safe.
"Kili! Run!" I shouted. He ran over and slid down. Jo went to slide down as well but slipped and tumbled down instead.

"Jo!" I yelled as I slid down. She had landed with her legs up and over her head, her feet up against the wall of the cavern.
"Well, that happened. Can I just stay here for a bit? Just kidding, I know we don't have time for that." I helped her ease her legs back down to the floor so that she was laying flat on her back.
A horn sounded and Jo quickly sat up saying "nope" over and over again as an orc body rolled into the cave and landed right where she had been laying.

I pulled an arrow out of its corpse and forced myself not to grimace.
"Elves." I spat out.

"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?" Dwalin shouted.
"Follow it of course!" Bofur replied.
"I think that would be wise. Gandalf muttered as we started to follow the path.

"Jojo, are you ok?" Fili asked.
"I'm fine. I won't be a hindrance, I promise." she replied softly.
"We're not worried about that. If you need help, we will gladly oblige." Kili urged.

I turned around, wanting to know if she was truly well. She caught my gaze and looked quickly back to the boys.
"That is very kind of you, but I really am fine. I'm just a bit tired is all. Nothing a little sleep later won't fix." she said and sneezed.

...

I am not pleased with this situation in the slightest. We are surrounded, by elves, on horseback, in Rivendell. As Jo seems to like saying; "feck".
"Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near." Lord Elrond stated.
"Ah, that may have been us." I walked forward, axe in hand in case the elves decided to attack.

"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain."
"I do not believe we have met." I replied.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain."
"Indeed? He made no mention of you."

"Thorin, don't be a turd!" Jo said from behind me.

Elrond then shifted his gaze to the small woman and smiled slightly before saying something in his elvish tongue.
"What is he sayin'?" I heard Gloin growl. "Does he offer us insult?"
"No Master Gloin he is offering you food." Gandalf translated. I felt myself relax. I like food.

"You are ill." Elrond stated, now addressing Jo. Everyone's gaze quickly landed on the girl in question. If she was ill, she would have said so by now...Wouldn't she?
"I am aware." Jo replied.
"Why didn't you tell us Jojo?" Kili cried out.
"Because we had to deal with trolls, and the wargs and orcs, and we had to make it here without any more stops so you all could get some rest." Jo started ranting.
"Well, we're here now, and now we know, so why don't you let us take care of you?" Balin asked.
"But I'm the Caretaker."
"Miss Mikol. Don't you think you would be of more use as a Caretaker at full health? If you want to be of use, let them help you." Gandalf scolded.

We all waited for a moment before she sighed and slumped her body and ran her hands over her face.
"Someone catch then."
"What?"Kili asked before she collapsed like a doll and jumped back up with a laugh. We all reached our arms out reflexively and groaned at her antics.
"I got you guys. You should have seen your faces." She said walking towards the stairs and tripping. I reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"You shouldn't jest in your condition." I scolded before scooping my other arm behind her legs and picking her up.

"No wait. I'm fine. I'm sorry. You can put me down! I'll walk by myself." Jo started to squirm around, trying to return to the ground. I sighed, realizing now what she had been doing. This was my fault. I gently moved a lock of umber brown hair out of her face, frowning slightly at the dried blood on the side of her temple and cheek, and placed my forehead on hers, which was burning like a small flame.
"You no longer have to prove yourself to me. I have accepted you as a member of this group. Now please relax, there is no battle to be fought other than the sickness that you have." I said quietly. I felt with relief as the tension left her body.
"Thank you, Thorin." she whispered. I pulled away to look at her, but she was already asleep, a serene look grazing her beautiful features.
"Sleep well, my little warrior."


Yay. Extra long chapter and Thorin's chilled out a bit! I wanted Josephine to have a unique fighting style, so I thought; what better way to fight than with music and looking like a badass while doing it? Hooray for movie logic! \^w^/~