This story is about a family whom are the key-holders and Gatekeepers between our world/Wizarding World and Middle Earth. Adventure, friendships, and love drive this tail forward, but… there is More to The Story than meets the eyes and ears. OC's and real characters.

More to The Story takes place in Middle Earth during the time of the Hobbit, which coincides with the Second Wizard War. Gatekeeper, Ruben, and his witch wife, Priscilla Paisley are passing the duties onto their two children, and when the time comes, pass it to their children. When a grandchild receives a vision that their family is in great danger and the Wizarding War is building, they decide to flee to Middle Earth, closing the Gate to protect it from the Dark Lord. Only not everyone will make it and others will become separated from the remaining family. Their quest is to find their family, and assist a small company of dwarves in reclaiming their home.

I do not own anything from the Hobbit or Harry Potter; only the OC's and their story. All Harry Potter/Hobbit references and characters belong to J.K. Rowling, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Peter Jackson.

I have a shout out to Princesslishus! If it were not for her story Two's Company, I would not have the inspiration to write my story. Thank you very much for your work!

"Check the back!" Thorin ordered. "Caves in the Misty Mountains are seldom unoccupied."

"All clear!" Dwalin shouted as the rest joined them inside.

Everyone started to shed their outer layers in hopes of getting dry. Jordan and Karah used magic to evaporate the water from their clothes. They offered it to the dwarves, some refused like Thorin, Dwalin, Gloin, Nori, and Dori. The rest graciously accepted. Aside from the younger dwarves and Bilbo, Bifur was the most curious of their magic. Soon there was a pile of wet clothes. One by one, Jordan and Karah dried and cleaned them the best they could, and made a second pile for them to sort through to find their belongings.

Jordan was working on a yellow cloak. She evaporated the water and was about to remove the dirt when a wood object fell from a pocket. She picked it up and studied it. It was a little wooden dwarf. It was smiling through it's long curly brown beard, holding a pickax in one hand a precious stone in the other.

Bifur grunted to get her attention. Please be careful with that.

Is it yours? Jordan asked, holding it out to him.

In a way. I made it for my nephew. The memory of him playing with a happy little dwarfling before an Orc attack was one of his most cherished. He took the doll and studied his craftsmanship.

It's beautiful! It reminds me of the doll that my grandparents gave me when I was little. Jordan thought about her own memory, how happy she was when she got it. We were visiting them while they were in Bree. They gave all the girls dolls, and the boys wooden boats that floated.

Do you remember if there were any markings on the feet? Bifur asked. He showed her the bottom part of the doll's foot to show her the mark he put on all of his work.

Merlin's beard! That's the same one! Jordan was so surprised her smile took over her whole face.

Karah looked at the markings as was equally shocked. "What are the odds?"
I spent some time in Bree. What a small world that I have met your grandparents. I've made so many toys that I don't know that I remember them. I would have to see their faces. Bifur's kind eyes gleamed at the possibility. I will personally see you and Karah safely returned to them.

Jordan was a little surprised that he felt responsible for them. It did not offend her because she could trust him, but she did not want to be a bigger burden to him than she already had been. Thank you, but you don't need to do that. I don't want to get in the way of your returning to your home.

Bifur gently squeezed her shoulder, and continued to sign. I would never forgive myself if I abandoned you in a random town and something happened to either of you. I vow that if your family is not in Lake-town when we arrive, you and Karah will come to stay in the Lonely Mountain with us. We may not be family by blood, but I will watch over you like your real family would. You will be honorary family members and can stay as long as you wish.

Bombur and Bofur must have been watching the conversation. The brothers stepped up on either side of Jordan and Karah, taking their dried cloaks.

"Which you may come to regret that," Bofur teased playfully.

"You will never be hungry, that's for sure." Bombur added, ignoring his brother's comments.

Jordan and Karah both smiled and laughed. There were so many things to consider before they could make any definite plans. The journey to Lake-town was treacherous on it's own. They had not considered what they would do if they discovered their family had not arrived, or had left in search of them. At that very moment, their priorities were to get dry, get some sleep, and be prepared for the road ahead. Jordan handed Bifur his cloak and continued to work through the pile.

Fili was watching the interaction from the middle of the cave, waiting for his brother to give him his attention. He still had yet to apologize for his earlier behavior. Admittedly, he felt creepy watching her all of the time, but he could not help it. In the last few days, she had let him in to see her at her strongest and weakest. Her smile was enchanting him, even when she was not paying him any attention. He knew he should feel bad about hoping that her family would not be there when they arrived in Lake-town. Their futures would be unknown until they got there. There is a chance that the company would part ways and they would never see each other again. That idea rationalized his hope that they would not find her family right away, and Bifur would keep his vow and make them stay in the Lonely Mountain.

Kili shook the water from his hair like a dog, splashing Fili, forcing him back to reality. Quietly he spoke to him in Khuzdul, "Kili? I'm sorry for overreacting back there. I was so worried that I did not think about what was saying before I said it."

Kili looked up at his brother. The look on his face said that he was still mad at Fili, or at least he wanted to be. Kili was never one to stay angry for very long. "It's fine. Let's just forget it and move on." He smiled reassurance and Fili nodded.

Karah picked up a sky blue cloak that was dripping wet a that did not quite make it to the pile. She evaporated the water and cleaned the dirt off. Looking around to Kili and Fili, assuming it belonged to one of them, frowned when she saw that they already had theirs. Jordan was casting the dirt and water away from the brothers' clothes and then moving on to Ori. His paper and quills managed to get wet inside his bag and hopped they would be salvaged.

"Hm-em," a throat cleared. "That's mine."

Karah whipped around and tripped over a rock. Thorin was glaring down at her and reluctantly offered her a hand up. When their skin touched, Karah's eyes went from the floor, to a dazed one-hundred-yard stare directly into Thorin's. They both froze for different reasons. Thorin tried to pull her up and free his hand. Karah held tighter and would not move.

A vision came through her brain, like a movie scene. She saw him traveling at night in the dark. He was looking for something, a sign or a mark. He arrived in the hobbit village he was to meet with the company. He was annoyed at himself at having realized found the sign he needed, but he had lost his way, twice.

Another vision came through that the company had lost their way in a forest. Then another, Thorin was sitting in a big chair, lost in thought. And a fourth, he was lying on the ground, lost in sorrow.

"Lady Karah!" Thorin practically shouted, drawing attention from the rest of his company. He had called to her three times before she came to. Her behavior was peculiar and his opinion of her was not getting better. She was a strange one. "Are you alright?"

Karah finally let him pull her to her feet and she handed the cloak to him. She did not know what to do. Should she tell him what she saw? Should she not? She started to pace and chew on her knuckles.

Jordan tapped her on her shoulder. What did you see?

Karah did not answer at first. She went back and forth in her mind on what to do for what seemed like hours. As delicately as possible, she asked. "Thorin, did you get lost in the Shire?"

His gazed narrowed on her. "Why do you ask?"

"I had a vision, and saw you getting lost. I wanted to confirm if it was true."

He rolled his eyes. One of his nephews must have told her. "Yes, I lost my way looking for Master Baggin's home."

She chewed on her lips and nodded. "I see."

"Is there anything else?" Thorin asked, taking a step toward her.

"Um," Karah searched for her words. "We will get lost again."

"Where?" He took her arm and pulled her back to the entrance away from everyone else. Now she had his undivided attention.

"Inside a forest. I don't know which one." Karah looked down at the ground. She was afraid he would be able to read her eyes and see there was more she did not want to tell him.

"Is that all?" He was not going to let this go. He could see that she holding back and he would get it out of her one way or another. However, from growing up with his sister, he knew it was difficult to get information from a woman when she did not want to give it. He remained as calm as he could, "Tell me."

Karah looked around for help, still not sure on what to do. Jordan was in her line of sight, encouraging her to do as asked. Kili and Fili were also watching, wondering what was happening. Taking in a sharp breath, "You will be lost in more ways than one. We once we reach Erebor, you will lose your good judgment and your joy."

They stared at each other for a long moment. Karah's insides were tearing her apart that she revealed his fate to him. This side of her gift was something she would never be able to get used to. It made her hurt for everyone she gave bad news.

Thorin's face was radiating controlled anger, but his body language showed his distress. He crossed his arms over his chest, like he was protecting himself. His feet were spaced apart, bracing himself to hear more or speak his thoughts.

The sound of wood hitting the ground broke the uncomfortable silence. Gloin rubbed his hands together. "Right, lets get a fire started."

"No," Thorin shook his head and escorted Karah back inside. "No fire tonight. Not in this place. Get some sleep. We leave at first light."

Balin protested. "We were supposed to wait for Gandalf. That was the plan."

"Plans change." He looked around and saw the glow from the Jordan's wand. He saw how relieved Oin looked when the water was gone. After speaking with Karah, his nerves were on edge, but grateful that she dried his cloak. He ushered her back to where she dropped her bedroll, nodding his thanks. "Bofur, you take the first watch."

Everyone tried to get as comfortable as they could, considering their surroundings. Their bedrolls gave a little bit of cushion from the cold, rocky ground. Bombur unpacked some bread, cheese, and jerky and passed it around.

Silently eating, Karah noticed that Biblo was off by himself. She did not like that and took it upon herself to try to make him feel better. When her ration was gone, she picked up her bedroll and laid it near his. She fixed her braid, and got comfortable on her bedroll. Jordan caught on her also moved near the two of them against the cave wall.

"Are you cold, Master Baggins?" Karah asked kindly.

"Bilbo, please." Bilbo politely ordered. "And no. Just still a little shaken from nearly falling to my death."

Karah was still mad on his behalf, "That wasn't your fault. Don't let him get to you. You handled it well." He did not look convinced, but he smiled softly before turning over on his side to sleep.

Kili had been keeping track of Karah from the middle of the room. He wanted to know what she and his uncle spoke about. And wondered what she was up too with the hobbit. Before he knew what he was doing, he gathered his gear and set it down at Karah's feet. He unrolled his bed and laid down with his head where his feet should be. "How are you?"

Karah did not see him move near, because she was staring up at the ceiling and her hands folded on her stomach. She lifted her head high enough to look down her feet at Kili. She smiled softly, not that he could probably tell, and used her hands to support the weight of her head and neck. "I'm fine, quite tired. You?"

"The same," he answered. "I've wanted to ask you all day, but what does you braid stand for?"

Karah was confused by his question. She thought he would ask her about the visions and surprised he wanted to know about her hair. "What do you mean? I just needed it out of my face."

He seemed confused at first, then relieved. He wanted to keep speaking with her, but the rest of the company would have probably yelled at him. He saw that her eyes started to droop, knowing that conversation would be pointless anyway. He wished her a good night and studied her face as best he could in the dark. She was absolutely lovely. When she looked at him he felt paralyzed. When she smiled, he was sure that his feet were no longer touching the ground. He wondered if she felt the same way about him, and hoped that he would get to find out soon. He fell asleep thinking about her, unbeknown to him that she was doing the same thing.

Jordan was still sitting up, with her back to the cave wall. She was exhausted, but her eyes would not cooperate. She grabbed her bag and pulled out her invisibility cloak, her guitar, and spare string. She decided that she would replace the broken one that snapped the night before. She was not sure when she would get the chance again, so she covered herself and Lumos'd a light on the tip of her wand. She held the wand between her teeth while she worked on the guitar on her crisscrossed legs

"What are you doing?"

Jordan jumped and dropped her wand and the string. Fili's head was poking inside her little tent. She pointed to the broken string and he nodded his understand.

"Do you want me to hold your light?" He offered as he sat down next to her.

She nodded and handed it to him. It would be much easier it she did not have to hold it in her mouth while she worked, and she trusted him too. She pulled the cloak to cover both of them as much as possible and not let any light out. Fili held the wand and watched her work. She pulled free the broken one, set it aside, and put in the new. She had to resist the urge to start tuning it. The cloak would make the light invisible, but not the sound. Everyone was tired and she did not want to be the one to wake them up.

While they worked and everyone else was asleep, Bilbo rose from his bed. He gathered up his belongings, packed them and with his walking stick, made his way to the entrance to the cave.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Bilbo stopped and turned around, seeing Bofur sitting down with his pipe. "Back to Rivendell."

"No." Bofur rose to his feet. "You can't turn back now. You're part of the company. You're one of us!"

Bilbo looked so defeated when he stated the obvious. "I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I never should have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins. I don't know what I was thinking. I never should have run out of my door."

Neither of them realized there were three sets of ears listening in. Thorin was still awake on his bedroll by himself. He lifted his head to hear the conversation better. Guilt was getting the better of him. Jordan and Fili had just finished the guitar and were still sitting together under the Invisibility Cloak, just about ready to go to sleep. She was sad that Bilbo felt so left out and misjudged. Fili shook his head slowly, annoyed at both Bilbo and his uncle. In his opinion, Bilbo needed to buck up and not be so sensitive. Thorin needed to do just the opposite.

"Your home sick! I understand-."

"No you don't! You don't understand, none of you do! Your dwarves, your used to this life. To living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere!" Bilbo carried on with his rant enough that it took him a second to realize what he said. It was not until Bofur's face fell did he want to kick himself for not having a better filter. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't-."

"No you're right. We don't belong anywhere." Bofur was now the defeated one as he looked onto the rest of the company. He had grown rather fond of the hobbit and was sad to see him go. But if it would make Bilbo happy to return to Rivendell, Bofur would not stop him. "I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do."

That was not what Biblo was expecting to hear. Or have the dwarf pat his shoulder in encouragement. He thought Bofur would yell at him, demand that he stay, enforce the contract that he signed. But he did not. He also did not expect the leader of their company to be listening to everything they said to each other. As he turned to leave, a blue light shown brightly from Bilbo's belt.

Bofur saw it immediately. "What's that?" He pointed to the light coming from Bilbo's sward in it's sheath.

Bilbo looked down and his heart dropped at the sight of the blue radiating from his sword. The fear in his eyes when he lifted it out just enough for it to shine to the back of the cave. Thorin's stomach flipped when he realized what they were speaking about. Around him, the little bit of sand that was cushioning the ground, sifted through the breaks in the rock. The breaks grew into large cracks.

"Wake up!" Thorin yelled. No one really registered what was going on, nor were they moving very quickly. "Wake up!"

The ground began to crack loudly, and before they knew it, the floor opened like a trap door. Swallowing everyone, falling down, down, down inside the mountain. Eventually they landed on a bumpy surface that they continued to slide deeper inside a tunnel. It felt like a waterpark inner tube ride; only not as smooth or as much fun. There was no water, or any tubes to protect them from the bumps, small cracks in the rock, and rough jagged edges. Everyone would have bruises and cuts fro their wild ride.

With no idea where they would stop, everyone yelled or screamed with the ground disappeared beneath them and they free fell again for another thirty feet before landing. It was some sort of porch, fenched in with sticks, rocks, rope; decorated with bones and skulls. Dori, Nori, Gloin, Dwalin, Bilbo, Bofur, were the first to reach it. And then Thorin, Balin, Ori, Jordan, Fili, Karah, Kili, Bifur, Oin, with Bombur followed last, landing on top of everyone.

"Get off!" Dori shouted at everyone, since he was on the very bottom.

The company was able to get to their feet, just in time to hear the sound of feet running toward them, snarling, whooping, altogether terrible. Finally coming into view, they were the most hideous creatures Jordan and Karah had ever seen; worse than the trolls.

"What are those things?" Karah asked.

"They're Goblins!" Nori answered loudly.

"Thorin, were surrounded!" Dwalin informed.

Great! Jordan signed and smiled.

Karah was dumbstruck by her response to their situation. "What do you mean 'great'!?"

Kili was standing between them, also confused. Fili was beginning to doubt her sanity.

We can attack in all directions! Jordan pulled out her wand, ready to strike. She heard Bifur, Kili, and Fili chuckle as everyone armed themselves for a fight.