Ok so here's the update! I hope you all enjoy it! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I really hope you are enjoying my story so far! :) Thanks to ALL, and I mean ALL, my followers and I hope to gain some more! Okay, ignore my spiel and read...READ READ READ!

Disclaimer-I only own Lark (my other characters aren't in this chapter)

One down, Thirteen to go

Lark led the way as they begun their decent. Gandalf and Thorin followed close at her heels. The others grumbled behind them and Lark rolled her eyes. They were just a bunch of stairs! Gloin's grumbling was VERY annoying. She jumped down, her foot caught a rock and she stumbled. Lark steadied herself...her body had been playing up on her. Never had she stayed in one form for this long. She heard Gandalf whisper, worridly, into her mind...

"My dear, are you alright?"

"Fine Olórin, just need to get used to remaining in one body."

"It can't be THAT difficult! I mean you are hardly ever human so you should enjoy it rather than wishing to be something like a mouse."

"You underestimate my love of stealing the dwarves cheese!"

The wizard chuckled, as did Lark, and Thorin shot them a funny look. He then pushed in front of the wizard, so he was just behind the girl. Most of the others shot glares at the two, they were several hundred feet above solid ground. How could they be laughing?! Gloin began grumbling again, not paying attention to the dip in front of him, and slipped. The red-headed dwarf crashed into Nori. He crashed into the Durin brothers and they collided with Dwalin and Gandalf. The two crashed into Thorin and the dwarf king was sent tumbling, with Lark, toward the edge of the large stair. Thorin was lucky for his big coat, protecting his back, whereas Lark was holding back a scream as her back got scraped along the stone stair...the edge was coming closer!

" Olórin...HELP!"

The wizard waved his staff and a magic cloud caught the tumbling pair just as they reached the drop. The dwarves crowded round the king, hauling him to his feet. Lark tried to push herself up, her arms shook and she felt the blood trickling down her back. It felt as if it was burning. She tried again to ush herself up but, this time, a pair of hands caught her arms and Bilbo and Kili helped her up. Their eyes widened in shock as they saw her back. Large gashes had ripped through her shirt and blood had begun to stain it terribly.

"How bad is it?"

Kili met her eyes. They were filled with tears and showed all signs of pain. Oh Mahal, how he felt his heart pity her. He decided to be honest with her.

"Pretty bad, large gashes, all bleeding."

She nodded her thanks at his honesty. Gandalf touched her shoulder and she turned to him. Many of the dwarves moved behind her to see the damage as Thorin spoke to her.

"Is there a stream or somewhere were we can get ourselves cleaned and you injuries treated?"

She nodded weakly. Bloodloss was something she wasn't used too and she felt slightly

light-headed. Lark gripped the wizard's cloak for support. Gandalf, seeing her struggle, spoke for her.

"There is a river where we can replenish our water skins and wash, we just have to climb down this last stair and it is near the bottom."

The King nodded and looked back at Lark. He could see that she had lost a lot of blood already and she was taking it hard. Would she be able to climb the rest of the way? The grey wizard spoke again.

"Thorin go on ahead and i'll take it slow with Lark!"

The dwarves moved off and Lark smiled at the wizard when he whisped.

"Shift and meet us there!"

Lark, built up some of her remaining energy and shifted. What the two didn't know, was that Thorin had turned to look back just as she shifted. His eyes widened as he saw the girl change into a sparrow and fly overhead. His steel gaze met Gandalf and he felt the wizard enter his mind.

"Don't bring any unwanted attention! I'll explain later...move on Thorin Oakenshield. She will meet us there!"

He sighed and continued on. The wizard lagged behind the group, to keep his story plausible. He would tell the dwarf when they stopped again...

They reached the river and began to strip themselves of their armour and weapons and began to bathe. Lark hovered just above and changed back as she landed beside the wizard. Her heart froze when she saw Thorin standing beside him, an angry look was set in his eyes. He had seen her change...she knew she had to tell him now. The rest would find out later...

"I guess I have some explaining to do..."

"So it would seem!"

The trio sat themselves away from the group and Gandalf tended to her back. Lark explained her gift and her heritage to the king as he did so. Thorin's eyes widened with amazement, a Maiar?! The daughter of their creator, Mahal! He knew of few Maiars who dwelt in Middle-Earth, Gandalf being one of them, he was sitting, open mouthed, when Lark left the group. This was SOMETHING he was definetely NOT expecting when he agreed to let the girl join...

OK so Thorin knows! :D He is taking it ok, I suppose. Just so you know Mahal is the dwarves name for Aüle...next chapter is Lark seeking her revenge on Fili and Kili! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OOOOH next chapter hopes to be a funny(ish) one! ok enjoy the wait...TTFN