So sorry it's a day late, I went camping and well, wifi and camping don't go hand in hand often. Anyway, enjoy! Ps. I don't own the hobbit

I made my way slowly through the halls. The dwarves had gone back to the room while I had been talking with Thorin. I had no idea where the dwarf king had gone off to, but I highly assumed he had sought out more solitude. I turned the corner to find Fili walking down the hall.

"He sounded rather unpleased." He said.

"I bet you could hear us anywhere in Rivendell." I replied, sadly.

"Not really, had to venture outdoors and hide under the balcony to actually make out the words." Fili said.

"Prying like that will get you in awful trouble." I responded. "I'm too upset with myself to even be mad at you for sneaking around in matters I told everyone not to meddle in."

"Perhaps it's a good thing Kili and I were hiding out there…"

"Kili too?" I asked, interrupting him.

"Yes, it was actually his idea." Fili said. "And look what came falling out of the sky." He held out my anklet to me.

I had regretted letting the beautiful thing go as I walked back down the stairs. I took the anklet from his hand and held it out in front of me. "Thank you." I said.

"Missed Kili's head by a mere hair." Fili said, almost laughing. "You always have great aim."

"I'll miss the archery lessons." I said, softly.

Fili fell quiet after I had said this and for a while all that could be heard between us was the sound of our footsteps as we walked down the corridors back to the room.

"Kili and I…we could still try to persuade Thorin." He mentioned. "The whole company would be willing to put in a good word for you. We know you can fight."

"I think you heard everything he said to me." I responded. "It's no use Fili. He feels like he's been tricked and lied to. And then I disrespected him by screaming at him like that. It won't matter if I can fight or not. I've spoiled all my chances."

Fili was silent for another moment. "I'm sorry." He said. "You told me how much the company was beginning to mean to you and then Thorin…"

"I know." I nodded. "You're a good friend Fili. I hate to leave you and the rest of the company."

"Will you stay in Rivendell?" Fili asked.

"For a while maybe, but I suppose I'll soon leave and go back into the wild."

"Promise me you'll look after yourself. Don't go and get yourself killed or have anymore close calls with trolls or orc packs. You may not be part of the company much longer, but you're still a worthy friend, and I prefer you to be a living one."

"I can promise that I will try." I gave him a small smile. "I certainly won't aim for anything like that to happen."

We turned the last corner, and I saw Bilbo hiding in the doorway. When he caught sight of us he jumped inside and yell-whispered "Hurry! She's coming back!"

I raised an eyebrow curiously at Bilbo's suspicious activity. When I reached the door and entered the room the dwarves all stepped back and Bilbo gave a great smile. I looked across the room and saw that they had made a little bed of sorts for me on a window seat. It consisted of a pile of everyone's cloaks, laid upon Kili's large leather jacket. Bofur had even removed his hat and set it aside as a pillow.

"It wouldn't be very proper for you to sleep on the ground beside us." Bilbo said. "So we made this."

I smiled warmly. "It's lovely, but you really didn't have to do anything like that."

Kili spoke. "Well, we did, and we insist you sleep here tonight." He patted the makeshift bed.

"Kili, is this because it's my last night…" I started but Bilbo stopped me.

"You once said to save goodbyes for when they were actually needed. Rest tonight, and we'll go separate ways tomorrow."

I smiled at all of them. "You will make it hard to say goodbye tomorrow."

I fell asleep that night surrounded by their cloaks, curled up in the window seat. Sleep was a bit of an understatement. I woke every hour it seemed, and would check over my shoulder to count them all, and assure myself they were still there. Late in the night I woke again to sound of Thorin entering. I made sure not to stir, but I could feel his eyes burning holes through me when he noticed his company sleeping by the heat of the fire because they'd all surrendered their coats for my bed.

"You were out very late." Balin said, and I heard him rise.

"Did they all know?" He asked, and I could still feel his gaze on my back.

"Not until tonight." Balin replied. "Thorin about Rue…"

"I think by now you all know what my answer is. She can stay in Rivendell or leave Rivendell to go anywhere she chooses. But she cannot come with us."

"She can fight, you've seen her at camp. And she never puts up any fuss."

"I would not take her if she were a highly decorated war hero."

Balin sighed, heavily. "Then I suppose her fate becomes her own." He said. "And what of us? What is our next action?"

"We leave. Early in the morning, before they have chance to finish their council. The Grey Wizard must attend. He will meet with us later on the road. We shall take the high mountain trail."

"Then so it will be." Balin finished. The two dwarves found a place by the fire. "Pity," he added before they fell asleep. "We had all gotten rather fond of the nymph, were she man or woman. Even you I think."

Soon I could nothing but their breathing, and from some of the dwarves their snores.

So it had been decided. They would leave without me. I felt as hollow as a lightning struck tree. I sat up suddenly. I would not lie here and let them leave me and accept this fate. I would pursue what I wanted and what I wanted was to join.

Very well, let them leave early, I thought to myself. I shall leave earlier. With determination in mind I slipped from the warm confines of their cloaks, picked up my bag and my belt, and tip-toed from the room.

I was pleasantly surprised to find my freshly washed tunic, pants and hat all sitting nicely folded beside the door. I placed them in my bag and then noticed under them was a traveling dress, a pale blue-grey. A note sat upon the garment, one that read in fine, graceful words: "For the journey ahead, may it fit you well". It was sighed from someone named Lady Galadriel.

I had no idea who the lady was. The writing was some of the prettiest I had ever seen so I assumed she was an elf. How could she have possibly known I would be leaving early when I had not known myself a few minutes ago? I put the dress in my bag and wondered about until I found a closet (at least I think it was a closet) and changed into the traveling dress that had been gifted to me. It fit me, luckily. I quickly tied on my boots that had been returned, cleaned and with new laces.

And with that I left Rivendell. The halls I wondered through were empty of guards and I avoided the front gate and instead exited through one of the pantry windows. I slipped noiselessly through the gardens until I spotted a trail that ascended high into the rocky hills. This had to be the trail that Thorin spoke of. I began walking. I had to get as far ahead as I possibly could, then I would rest for a few hours, and wait for the company to find me. And I would have to think of something to say to Thorin that would convince him, once and for all, to let me stay.

The path was a rocky one and I was often crawling along the trail, trying not to slip and fall into down any waterfalls. It was too dark to be traveling safely on such a path, but this was my only chance. I stepped on a patch of rubble that rolled down the side of the slope, and sent me falling to my knees. I wished I had the company with me right now to help me balance. Or at least more light so I could avoid stepping on loose rock.

I ran over Thorin's plan in my head. Gandalf (who I realised had yet to see me as a girl) would be left behind, temporarily. I frowned, remembering what had happened on the last occasion the Grey Wizard had left us. The only reason we were all alive right now was because Gandalf had the heart to return to us. I had no doubt he would return for us again…it was the wait between our next meeting that was weighing on my mind.

Orcs had already found us, and they had managed to hunt us down without our knowledge. Who was to say that could not happen again?

I stopped briefly to catch my breath, and cast a glance over Rivendell. I was leaving safety, and beauty, and…well, the most elegant bathes I would ever have be they in pantries or no.

And what was winning my favor over this? Wearisome traveling, an orc pack on our trail, and at the end of it all I assumed my prize would be a fire breathing dragon. Had I gone mad?

And yet the thought of leaving them all, even Thorin, would cause my mind such worry I realised. I could sit in Rivendell, but I would be constantly thinking of where my new friends were, how they were faring, if they lived yet or had been destroyed.

No, come high waters, heat scorches, or the Halls of Oden I would be by their side for I belonged here with them. I saw that now. They covered the void of my family (not filling it of course, but reminding me of the happier times in my life with their spirit and their calibre). I couldn't leave Fili or Kili, and good lord Bilbo would need me.

I opened my bag to drink from my waterskin, and noticed the anklet Fili had returned to me. I took it out and placed it back around my ankle, where it continued to shine brightly. I silently thanked Fili again for returning it to me.

The sun peaked out from behind golden hued clouds and I choose now to be a good time to stop and rest and wait for them to find me. I scrambled to a flat, plateau like surface and sat down upon a rock that was being warmed by the early sun. Give them an hour or two and they would be coming out from behind the corner of the path and right up to me.

What on earth was I going to tell Thorin? I had to prove I was valuable in some way, that I could take care of myself, and most importantly, that I could be trusted. My head raced with a thousand, completely disordered, things I wished to say.

You've seen me fight…

I've been in situations like this before…

I don't need to be protected….

Please trust me, I never lied to you, I will never lie to you.

Trust me. Trust me. Trust me.

I heard them about ten minutes before I saw them. Then they came around the corner, Ori first and I called out to him, from atop my rocky perch "Careful not to slip! It's a long way down."

Ori spun around on his heels and his whole face lit up when he saw me. "Rue!" He rushed over to me. "What are you doing here?!"

"I'm joining you." I said. "You found me and now I'm not letting you go anywhere without me." I embraced the timid scribe. Ori was a little shocked at the hug, but soon his arms were wrapped around my shoulders.

Other dwarves were surrounding me now, my hair was being ruffled, my shoulders clapped by broad hands. "Rue!" A very ecstatic hobbit yelled and I was hugged so suddenly and tightly I nearly lost my breath.

"Bilbo." I replied, gasping for air.

The hobbit released me and his face turned quite comically stern. "You scared us half to death, disappearing like that! And where have you been all along?! Waiting down the trail! My goodness…"

"I thought I told you that you were not to leave with us." Thorin stepped forward and the others fell silent.

"Precisely why I left before you." I replied, stepping up to Thorin and meeting his gaze.

"My orders were for you to stay or leave on your own travels." Thorin said, his eyes flashing at me.

"Well, I did go on my own travels...they just happened to be in the same direction as you were headed." I looked at him courageously. "Thorin I want to join your company and I'm not taking no for an answer."

"Rue, you are a woman and I cannot…." Thorin began.

"Oh, be quiet!" I shot back, stunning a few members of the company.

Thorin's eyes reflected anger for being spoken to in such a manner, and surprise that I had done it.

"I know fully well I am a woman." I said, controlling my voice to be calm and rational. "I was a woman when you found me. I was a woman when you let me travel with you. When I fought with you, ate with you, slept beside you all on the ground. You seem to forget that. I was a woman all along, and I for one think that had you never found out in Rivendell I'd have had a few more hours of sleep this morning and be traveling with you. But does it even matter?"

Everyone was quiet.

"I was told that when you were looking for members of a company you asked for loyalty, courage and willing heart." I continued. "If I have to scream an oath of fidelity from the top of Erebor I will. I have no family or home left, like you mentioned last night, which makes it far easier to step into the dangerous paths for someone who does. And as for my willing heart, you all now possess it. Like it or not Thorin, you and your company are the closest thing to a family I've had in two years. I'd do anything for you."

"That does not change the fact that you're a lady." Thorin said. "I cannot risk the life of a young woman. You have too much life ahead of you."

"And I want to risk it for you." I said, passionately. "What good is a long life if I should spend it wondering if all of you are safe, while I am wandering aimlessly around Middle Earth? I want a purpose in life Thorin, and I've found one with you. You offered me a place in your company before…and the only reason you took it away was because you felt deceived, and blamed me when I was innocent of such a crime. And enough of about protecting me because I'm a lady. I've protected myself just fine these past few years and I will continue to do so."

Thorin's gaze shifted slightly and I knew he was thinking quite critically of my argument.

"If you are in serious danger, it may be in our interest not to save you and risk ourselves." He said.

"Completely understandable." I replied.

"We may even leave you behind."

"I would have it no other way." I promised.

Thorin's face turned stern again. "You will not be given any payment at the end of the journey."

"I would not dream of accepting anything. Not even a single bronze coin." I swore.

He thought more. "This will need to be discussed." He then motioned for Dwalin and Balin, as well as Fili and Kili.

I nodded and let the dwarves talk in their hushed whispers. I stood beside Bilbo, who gave me an encouraging smile, but I couldn't find the heart to grin just yet. They were taking longer than I had predicted. It was in the nature of a dwarf to protect women probably, seeing as they were a rarity. I hoped they could see past that and understand I wasn't some fragile flower.

At long last, I felt someone shaking my shoulder and looked up to see Kili's face. "Yes or no?" I managed to say.

Kili flashed me a bright smile. "Did you ever have a title before? Lady of someplace or something of that likeness?" He asked, excitedly.

"Does 'Miss Rue' or Daughter of Auran count?" I asked.

Kili shook his head. "Well, I believe you may now be called Rue; the fifteenth member of the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

"Oh!" I cried out happily, throwing my arms around Kili's neck. "You're letting me stay!"

"Just sign here." Balin said, handing me a quill and a contract.

"Gladly." I beamed, taking up the pen and writing my name below Bilbo's. I briefly noticed words like 'incineration' and 'lacerations' and the phrase 'entitled to proper burial' but decided to pay these little attention. I knew what I was getting myself into and I could not be happier.

Fili came up to me with a smile beneath his braided mustache. "Welcome to the company." He said.

I embraced him as I had Kili. "Thank you for persuading Thorin." I told him, gratefully. "I couldn't ask for anything more from a friend."

Before Fili could say anything else I was being pulled in ten different directions it seemed, all by welcoming members of the company. I made sure to slip from their grasp however and hurried up to Thorin. "Thank you." I said, meaningfully, and bowed beautifully before him. "My king." I added.

Thorin smiled at me, actually smiled. "You're welcome." He said softly. "I'll be making sure you keep up with us." He threatened lightly.

"Then you best look ahead of yourself." I smiled. I gave Rivendell a final parting glance as we continued on the path. Then I looked ahead of me, at the company I was now part of.