Here is another one! Rate and Review! Disclaimer: I don't own anything :(

The next morning Katarina woke curious to see if Thorin would treat her any differently in front of the company. She wasn't sure what she was expecting. Thorin completely ignored her, to others it would seem that he was acting as if nothing had transpired between the two but Katarina knew better. When he looked at her his eyes were less harsh, his shoulders less tense. They were not friends, far from it but they weren't outwardly hostile toward each other anymore, that was an improvement she supposed.

"Come Kat." Gandalf said.

Katarina looked up at the sky. "I think it will rain today."

"Then you best put on your cloak." Gandalf stated. Thorin watched the two for a moment before grabbing his own cloak and putting it on. Balin watched smiling smugly at his King who seemed to trust the word of the woman, he too put his cloak on, the others quickly following suite.

The group travelled in relative silence until a crack of thunder interrupted it. The rain began to fall soon after that, falling in earnestly, soaking most of the company. Katarina was careful to keep her medical pouch safely tucked under her cloak.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori called out watching as Ori's teeth chattered lightly.

"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." Gandalf yelled back, holding no patience for he too was wet and cold.

"Are there any?" Bilbo called out, the only one without a cloak and soaked sufficiently to the bone.

"What?"

"Other wizards?" Bilbo inquired.

"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White." Katarina tried to cool her expression of hostility when the White wizard was mentioned. "Then there are the two Blue Wizards; you know, I've quite forgotten their names."

"Alatar and Pallando." Katarina interrupted. Gandalf froze slightly so Katarina continued. "They were sent to the east a long time ago and haven't been heard of since."

Gandalf nodded but frowned in thought. "You know I've quite forgotten why they went to the east in the first place."

Katarina looked up at Gandalf unsure of how much to share, the grey wizard quickly gave her an encouraging nod. "They went during the formation of the rings of power, at the second age. They went to the east to stir up rebellions among the people against Sauron."

"Rings of Power?" Bilbo questioned curiously.

Katarina waved them off as if it mattered little, only the slight tension of her shoulders told Gandalf that she knew more than she was letting on. "That's no matter, anyway they returned from the east having been successful. Then in the third age they once again left to the east," Katarina left out the fact that Saruman was with them to evaporate suspicion, he had his role to play. "Their purpose was to free the Easterlings and Haradrim, from that no one knows, no one has heard a word from them since."

"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo questioned when a silence lapped over the group.

"Well, that would be Radagast, the Brown." Gandalf stated.

"Is he a great Wizard or is he . . . more like you?" Bilbo asked bluntly making Katarina giggle.

"I think he's a very great wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world." Gandalf said surely.

"I cannot tell if you are defensive in defense or yourself or your cousin." Katarina teased.

"Cousin?" Fili said curiously.

"Yes, Radagast is my cousin." Gandalf stated simply.

"So you two are probably similar." Kili said slyly. Gandalf huffed making Katarina giggle again.

"Kitty?" Kili questioned.

"Yes Kili?"

"Can you continue your story?" Kili asked. Katarina looked at him curiously, she had only told them the first book and there were twenty-four of them.

"Sure." Katarina shrugged hoping to pass some time. "Now the other gods and the armed warriors of the plain slept soundly, but Zeus, was wakeful, for he was thinking how to do honor to Achilles, and destroyed many people at the ships of the Achaeans. In the end he deemed it would be best to send a lying dream to King Agamemnon; so he called one to him and said to it, 'Lying Dream, go to the ships of the Achaeans, into the tent-"

…

"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them." Thorin commanded looking around the small clearing where the ruins of a farmhouse stood.

Gandalf dismounted fluidly, helping Katarina down swiftly. The golden-eyed girl turned to the brothers and smiled gently shooing them away with the ponies.

"A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf stated ominously looking around the abandoned house.

"Oin, Gloin." Thorin yelled ignoring the wizard.

"Aye?" Gloin asked looking toward Thorin, his bushy brows pulled back in confusion.

"Get a fire going?" Thorin stated simply, leaving no room for discussion as he turned and walked into the old building.

"Right you are." Gloin muttered nudging his brother to help start the fire.

"Gandalf." Katarina called, the grey wizard looking at her curiously. "We shouldn't-" She paused looking around them at the dwarves who were in ear shot. "I have a bad feeling about this place."

Gandalf nodded knowing that this was her subtle way of warning him of something that would occur. Robes billowing, Gandalf turned toward Thorin who stood in the barren house. "I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley."

The grey wizard nearly cursed when he saw Thorin's face immediately become blank the only indication of an emotion stemming from his blue eyes alight with fury. "I have told you already. I will not go near that place."

"Why not? The elves could help us. We could get food, rest, advice." Gandalf implored, his instincts telling him it wise to go the elves for help.

"I do not need their advice." Thorin replied stubbornly.

"We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us." Gandalf tried to reason.

"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor, what help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather and betrayed my father." Thorin replied murderously.

"You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past." Gandalf snapped his patience running thin.

"I did not know that they were yours to keep." Thorin replied hauntily.

For a moment Gandalf stood staring down incredulously at the dwarven king before letting loose a loud snort. Turning swiftly Gandalf exited the piles of rock once called a house, his anger seething off of his face.

Katarina stood leaning on the doorframe of the building her face carefully blank as the two exchanged words. To the best of her knowledge neither of them noticed her until Gandalf left, a small tilt of her head indicated that she would stay with the dwarves. Her eyes immediately went to Thorin's, who stared back at her annoyed.

"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo questioned worriedly as the wizard stomped from the company.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense." Gandalf called over his shoulder not bother to look at the tumbled face of the hobbit.

"Who's that?" Bilbo asked, silently begging for him to come back.

"Myself, Mr. Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves for one day." Gandalf replied hotly.

Katarina watched as Thorin stepped from the building, brushing by her slightly as he did so. An immediate jolt shot through her body as she felt an almost electric current run through her body. Frowning she noted Thorin's shoulders tense slightly, he felt it too.

"Come on, Bombur," Thorin began before clearing his throat, "We're hungry." The dwarf King stalked away not looking back.

"Gandalf's right Thorin." Katarina called to him, the dwarf immediately tensing at being challenged once again.

"I did not ask you for your opinion." Thorin snapped. Katarina shrugged nonchalantly.

"But I gave it."

Thorin turned sharply stalking back toward Katarina. "Are you challenging me?"

"No." Katarina replied calmly making Thorin only angrier. The dwarf King stopped but mere inches from Katarina, careful not to touch her.

Blue eyes melt gold, anger met calm, fire met ice. Thorin huffed a breathe, trying to control his ever mounting temper. Her eyes which had been blank warmed slightly startling Thorin.

Sighing Katarina spoke. "I think I will go see if Oin has anything more to teach me."

Thorin watched her walk away confused, she was always doing things like that and it frustrated him. She never outright challenged him but she said things, small things here and there that made him pause and reconsider his actions and that frustration him beyond belief. They may have come to an understanding last night but he certainly wasn't about to make her his confidant.

…

Katarina was eating beside Oin and Bifur, the healing dwarf helping her whenever she and Bifur weren't sure how to continue. Both were patient in teaching her Iglamesh something she was eternally grateful for.

"He's been a long time." Bilbo worried, having to hold himself back from chewing on his lip.

"Who?" Bofur questioned sticking his head up from his food.

"Gandalf." Bilbo stated gazing out into the darkening forest.

"He's a wizard! He does as he chooses. Here, do us a favor: take this to the lads." Bofur commanded handing Bilbo two bowls filled with soup. Bilbo shot another look toward the direction that Gandalf had disappeared.

"Don't worry Bilbo." Katarina stated watching carefully as Bifur moved his hands.

"He will come back right?" Bilbo begged toward the woman who seemed to know Gandalf the most.

"Of course he will." Katarina replied following Bifur's motions with her own. "If you continue to worry like that you will end up prematurely gray like Thorin."

A couple of dwarves began to cough suddenly making Katarina smirk. She looked up and met Thorin's eyes who seemed to be blazing at her from across the fire, the look unreadable.

Bilbo huffed indignantly before grabbing the bowls and stomping toward where the ponies were. Katarina tried to cool her expression, calm her breathing, and focus on her task dreading what was coming.

Katarina did not have to wait long, it seemed like only minuted before Fili came running into the clearing breathing hard. Thorin was immediately on his feet.

"Fili! What is it!" Thorin commanded worriedly, where was Kili?

"Bilbo-Trolls," Fili gasped out. "Kili stayed to keep an eye on him."

"What!? You left your brother!? I told you to watch the ponies-I give you one thing-Fili I expected more-" Thorin yelled running forward pulling his sword from its scabbard. He paused to send his nephew a look that made the elder prince wilt. "We will talk about this later."

Thorin turned to the company. "Gather your weapons, we have a hobbit to save. You!"

Katarina looked up brows raised. "Stay here." He commanded. She nodded her head and looked to Fili gently.

"Don't worry Fili, everything will be fine you are doing fine." Katarina soothed. Thorin shot her a look that clearly showed that he did not appreciate her contradicting him before turning and following after Fili.

Katarina sighed laying back her hands behind her head as she waited. She never noticed how bright the stars were here, very pretty, she thought. Closing her eyes she felt herself drift off until she felt a light kick.

Looking up curiously she found Gandalf staring down at her curiously. "My dear where are the dwarves?"

"Oh." Katarina said standing dusting herself off. "There are three trolls nearby and they got captured." She stated as if telling him that they were having soup for dinner.

Gandalf's brows shot up in surprise a million questions running through his eyes. "Do you know where they are?"

Katarina shrugged. "Not really, but they went that way." She said pointing toward the place she saw their backs retreating Walking she turned to Gandalf. "Are we going to go save them?"

"Yes, that would probably be best." Gandalf agreed nodding his head. The two walk in silence until they heard the sounds of a complaining company. Katarina stopped where she could easily hide while Gandalf continued on.

"What a load of rubbish! I've eaten plenty with their skins on. Scuff them, I say, boots and all." One of the trolls said sneering down at Bilbo. Katarina sighed rolling her eyes before looking over the relatively unharmed company, the only thing harmed being their pride.

"`e's right! Nothing wrong with a bit of raw dwarf! Nice and crunchy." Another troll said grabbing Bombur and holding the whimpering dwarf above his opened mouth.

"Not-not that one, he-he's infected!" Bilbo stuttered frantically trying to find an excuse.

"You what?" The first troll asked squinty at the hobbit as if that would help him hear Bilbo better.

"Yeah. He's got worms in his . . . tubes." Bilbo pleaded looking at the plump dwarf.

The other troll quickly dropped Bombur-more like threw- to the other dwarves. They groaned in pain, the heavy dwarf crushing most of them, making Katarina giggle. Thorin it seemed was the only one who heard his eyes quickly snapping to hers.

"In—in ffact they all have, they're in—infested with parasites. It's a terribly business; I wouldn't risk it, I really wouldn't" Bilbo explained trying to sound like a helpful neighbor instead of a deceiving thief.

"Parasites, did he say parasites?" Oin demanded his trumpet momentarily lost.

"We don't have parasites! You have parasites!" Kili yelled irately.

"What are you talking about, laddie?" Gloin demanded.

Katarina rolled her eyes as the dwarves broke out into arguments, all circling around insulting the hobbit. Thorin continued to look at Katarina heatedly not understanding why she wasn't helping. Katarina's eyes travelled back to Thorin curiously before she sent him a pleading look nodding her head toward Bilbo. Dawning touched the dwarf king's eyes as he suddenly kicked the other dwarves around them. A pregnant pause passed over the dwarves for a moment.

"I've got parasites as big as my arm." Oin yelled first.

"Mine are the biggest parasites, I've got huge parasites!" Kili screamed.

"We're riddled." Nori agreed.

"Yes, I'm riddled." Ori said nodding his head furiously.

"Yes we are. Badly!" Dori yelled out his voice still touched with a gentle tone.

"What would you have us do, then, let 'em all go?" The first troll demanded.

"Well. . ." Bilbo trailed off as if in thought.

"You think I don't know what you're up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools!" The troll screamed poking toward Bilbo.

"Ferret?" Bilbo questioned crossly.

"Fools?" The third troll asked looking toward the other curiously.

Gandalf took that moment to pop up above the rocks, his shadow looming over the group.

"The dawn will take you all!" Gandalf yelled thumping his staff down.

"Who's that?" The third troll demanded.

"No idea."

"Can we eat 'im too?"

Katarina nearly rolled her eyes as Gandalf once again picked up his staff raising it high above his head before striking it down on the rock, the great boulder splitting. Sunlight poured throw the crack, seeping into the clearing, the trolls turning away with pained screams.

Silence stretched over the company as they stared with disbelieving eyes at the trolls. Strolling out into the clearing Katarina smiled sweetly. "Hello boys, lovely morning isn't it."

"Kitty!" "Kat!" Voices yelled out happily, Bilbo letting out a large sigh of relief.

"My dear would you help those in the sacks, I shall get the ones on the spit." Gandalf called climbing down the rock fluidly.

Katarina strode toward the dwarves smiling knowingly, almost mockingly at them. "What did I say Thorin?" She teased.

"Just get us out of here." He ground out. Sighing Katarina kneeled down untying the sloppily down knot on the bag.

"You could ask nicely." She whispered to the dwarf King so that only he would here.

"Do not push me woman." Thorin commanded.

"I have a name you know." Katarina replied annoyed her hands still on the knot of his bag, the other's forgotten for a moment.

"And I have a title. You don't use mine, I don't use yours." Thorin retorted.

Katarina's face screwed up annoyed. "Fine then, forgive me my King." She said sarcastically smiling a sickeningly sweet smile at him. "I will try to remember to always address you with the proper respect of one in your situation." She continued her hands accidently tightening the rope making Thorin huff out a quick breathe.

"Woman." Thorin warned not enjoying being mocked.

"Of forgive me my king! I seem to be having trouble with your bonds, please do be patient with such a simple commoner as myself." Katarina continued purposefully tugging and pulling on his robes. She was so caught up in her ministration that she did not notice Gandalf had freed those on the spike and were coming over to those in bags, rolling his eyes at the two.

"Katarina." Thorin warned, her name rolling off of his tongue with a low rumble-like purr. Katarina felt a genuine jolt of pleasure run through her body. Her hands immediately began to shake as they struggled in earnest to free the dwarf King so that she may be free from his presence.

"There." Katarina said hurriedly standing to see if anyone else needed help, which none did. Thorin watched the girl run from her with brows raised but he did not give it much thought and quickly stood, grabbing his clothes and weapons.

"Where did you go to, if I may ask?" Thorin questioned walking up to Gandalf.

"To look ahead." Gandalf replied cryptically.

"What brought you back?" Thorin demanded gently, his eyes on Katarina as she laughed with his nephews teasing them good-naturedly.

"Looking behind. Nasty business. Still they are all in one piece." Gandalf replied following Thorin's view toward Katarina.

"No thanks to your burglar." Thorin huffed.

"He had the nous to play for time. None of the rest of you thought of that." Gandalf stated sending Thorin a knowing smirk which he dutifully ignored.

Katarina glanced at Thorin from the corner of her eye, the dwarf King arguing with their wizard.

"So Kitty." Kili said draping an arm around her shoulder.

"Yes Kili." Katarina said looking over at the nuisance curiously.

"It seemed like you and Uncle were having a serious conversation back there." Kili stated seriously.

"We were just wondering-" Fili said coming on her other side, draping his arm around her other shoulder.

"-what you were talking about."

"Because you know-"

"-you were two were talking for a while."

"Not to mention the fact that-"

"-you're faces were pretty close."

"So what were you saying?" They questioned together.

A blush found its way on Katarina's face as she recalled how Thorin's voice wrapped around her name like a caress. "That is none of your business."

Before either could question her further a shout went up from the front of the group.

"What do you reckon that is Fee?"

"I don't know probably something important Kee."

The two made no move to remove their arms as they dragged Katarina forward toward the rest of the group who quickly told them that they were searching for a Troll hoard.

The smell hit Katarina first, a pungent smell worse than any other odor that had ever burned her nose before. She paused at the entrance to the cave as the others happily filed in. Fili was the first to notice her hesitation.

"Are you coming Kitty?" He questioned curiously, Kili stopping at the sound of his brother's voice.

"No thank you. I think I shall stay here were the air is clear." Katarina stated simply, gesturing for the brothers to go on without her. They shared a look before shrugging their shoulders and following after the others.

"The smell too strong for ya Lass?" Dwalin questioned coming up from behind Katarina his arms crossed tightly.

"Call me Kat." Katarina stated simply before answering the burly dwarf's question. "And yes I suppose it is. Did Thorin send you out here to keep watch?"

Dwalin nodded his head mutely staring down into the cave annoyed. "Don't know what the big deal is down there."

Katarina shrugged her shoulders. "Perhaps everyone will pick up another weapon." The woman turned her golden eyes to the tattooed dwarf. "You can go in if you should like, I will stay here and scream if anything comes our way."

Dwalin looked at the woman having not talked to her much, but she had gone through hoops to become friends with them and if his brother trusted her then she could not be all bad. "Very well." He conceded nodding his thanks and heading into the cave just as Balin exited.

The elder dwarf walked over to her bros raised. "I'm surprised my brother trusted you enough to leave you on watch."

"I think he only does because you trust me." Katarina replied truthfully.

"Ah, that may be so." Balin agreed. "Here, you may have distracted Dori but I know better."

Katarina frowned at Balin as he pulled a sword from behind his back. Her face was white as a sheet as she accepted the thing, strapping it to her belt quickly. "Balin." She pleaded weakly.

"Don't worry Kat, I haven't told Thorin that you cannot fight and I have no intention of it but I think it best that you learn to fight." Balin responded quickly.

"Thank you." Katarina said breathing a sigh of relief. The sword she noted was nothing special, though it was thankfully well balanced and light in her inexperienced hands.

"Kitty!" Two exited voices called out, the sounding of running feet echoing in the cave.

Katarina watched in amusement as Fili and Kili ran from the cave their eyes alight with excitement. "Look what we found." Kili yelled swinging something in his hands. The two stopped short of her bursting with happiness. The young dwarf shoved the object in her hands, the sharp metal object scraping her hands slightly.

"We thought it appropriate for out little Kitty." Fili said smugly as Katarina held them up to observe them.

"They are gloves?" Katarina said curiously.

"Mithril gloves." Balin said breathlessly looking at them. He held his hand out for them and Katarina immediately dropped them in his outstretched palms. "Dwarven make it would seem, the ends of the fingers are extended and sharpened."

"Like claws." Kili said happily.

Fili nodded excitedly. "What better for our Kitty than Cat-claw gloves?"

Katarina frowned for a moment in confusion, accepting the gloves back, they were light. She looked up curiously at the two dwarves whose happiness was quickly fading.

"Do-do you like them?" Kili asked suddenly unsure.

"If you don't we can always find something else." Fili said sullenly.

Katarina smiled gently pulling them on, finding that they fit surprisingly well. "No, these are perfect." She assured observing her hands carefully.

"You like them?!" Kili exclaimed bouncing on the spot.

"Truly? If you do not we can get something else." Fili asked still serious though the spark of amusement was back in his eyes.

"They fit me well, do you not think?" Katarina questioned pulling them off and pushing them in the pockets of her trousers.

The two shared an amused look before responding. "Yes, perfect for our Kitty-"

"-Cat."

Katarina looked up as the two looked at her with mischievously bright smiles. "I told you not-"

"Not to call you Kitty-Cat." Fili finished nodding knowingly. "And we did not, I called you Kitty."

"It was merely coincidence that I called you Cat right after." Kili assured, though the smug grin had her thinking otherwise.

"Coincidence my butt." Katarina grumbled but before she could say more Thorin called out.

"Something's coming!" The dwarf King yelled already running into the woods. Katarina shared a reassuring glance with Gandalf and followed after, Fili and Kili flanking her.

"Thieves! Fire! Murder!" A man or rather wizard yelled coming into the clearing. Katarina immediately relaxed recognizing the wizard, the dwarves around her following suite when Gandalf began to converse with him seriously.

"Is that bird poop?" Kili asked curiously leaning somewhat over Katarina's shoulder to look.

"Yep." Katarina replied looking around the clearing suspiciously.

"You think he's a bit addled in the head?" Fili questioned silently.

"Oh! Did he just pull an insect from his mouth?" Kili demanded, his face screwed up in disgust.

"Wonder where he kept that?" Fili muttered to his brother.

"I don't think I want to know." Kili said silently.

A howl sounded in the woods, echoing off of the trees making Katarina tense suddenly.

"Was that a wolf? Are there-are there wolves out here?" Bilbo questioned, fear leaking into his voice.

"Wolves? NO, that is not a wolf." Bofur said standing suddenly. A warg jumped out from behind Thorin, the dwarf King quickly swing his sword out striking it to the ground. Another tried to sneak up on him, faster than Katarina thought possibly Kili drew his bow back, shooting down the beast. It cried for a moment before Dwalin's axe silenced it.

"Warg-Scouts! Which means an Orc pack is not far behind." Dwalin spat.

"Orc-pack?" Bilbo squeaked, gripping his little sword tighter.

Gandalf turned towards Thorin advancing on him. "Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?"

"No one." Thorin replied seriously.

"Who did you tell!?" Gandalf yelled, panic seeping his voice.

"No one, I sear. What in Durin's name is going on?" Thorin demanded.

"You are being hunted."

"We have to get out of here." Dwalin grunted.

"We can't! We have no ponies; they bolted." Ori pleaded.

"I'll draw them off." Radagast said heading to his sleigh.

"These are Gundabad Wards; they will outrun you."

"These are Rhosgobel Rabbits; I'd like to see them try." Katarina smiled unsurely at the wizard as the company began to move out.

"Be careful Radagast." Katarina mumbled following after the dwarves.

The brown wizard sent her a surprised look before kicking his rabbits into action.