Almost three weeks had passed since I had spoken to Gandalf in the woods and just over a week since I left those said woods. My trip to Bree was smooth and unhindered as I was making my way to Hobbiton for the gathering with the Dwarves. I couldn't lie to myself, I was nervous. The meeting could go one of two ways, really good, or really bad. I was pitting my coins on the latter. Night had once again fallen, as I made my way through Hobbiton, staying closer to the trees as I looked for the correct hole in the ground. Passing doors and a few hobbits on the way, I could feel the mark that Gandalf said he'd leave pulsating towards me. As I rounded a curved path, I stopped and moved into the side beside some bushes as I looked on.

I could see the mark on the destined door and before it stood a huddle of Dwarves and a tall Wizard behind them. The door opened and like a stack of rocks they all came tumbling down. Getting to their feet and entering the house, the door closed behind them and I stepped out from the dark. Brushing the leg off my pants, I took a few steps forward towards the Hobbit hole.

"Baw anand like i present." (No time like the present) I breathed into the night air.

I walked up to the door, my ears picking up the laugher and shouting coming from within. Maybe this won't be as hard as I though it may be. I knocked upon the door and a Hobbit answered promptly. He looked exasperated and very much annoyed; I can only imagine that this was all a surprise to him.

"You're not a Dwarf?" he looked at me puzzled and thankful at the same time.

I smiled, "Indeed, I'm not. My names Gaylia. It's a pleasure to meet you."

He held his hand out and I shook it gently.

"Well, come in won't you? The Dwarves have all but pillaged the pantry, so help yourself… if there's anything left." He huffed. As I walked in and shut the door he turned to face me, "Ohh, and I'd avoid the bathroom if I were you."

My lips turned in an involuntary frown at the thought. "I'll will, thank you." As I stood by the front entrance, a pointed hat came through one the door ahead before the occupier, Gandalf.

"Gaylia," he smiled, "You came after all." He smirked, knowing that I was going to anyway.

I smiled back to him, "You knew I would, didn't you?"

He moved his head side-to-side, "I had an assumption, nothing more."

I narrowed my eyes, "You know I chose to believe you, Mithrandir."

He chuckled, "Why yes."

Just as we were talking, a larger Dwarf came rounding the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. His face spoke a thousand words before his lips even spoke one. Gandalf moved a few steps to the side, unknowingly revealing me more to the scowling Dwarf.

"What is the meaning of this!" his tone was deep as he locked eyes with me. "Why is there Elf filth in this home?"

My blood was boiling at his quick assumption of me. I took a few steps closer to the Dwarf, "Nag- cín lammen, norn!" (Bite your tongue, Dwarf!) I said quickly. I was never one to back down, and I wasn't going to be intimidated by this or any other Dwarf.

"Dwalin, settled down." Gandalf intervened. The raised voices caused the other Dwarves to come quickly into the hallway, each of them stopping and looking bewildered at my presence.

"What is a she-elf doing here?!" a younger Dwarf asked.

"This is Gaylia," Gandalf spoke, I could sense the hesitance in his wavering voice. Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea, just like I thought. "She will be accompanying you on this quest."

"Absolutely not! We will not accept Elven scum into this company."

"You do not know me, so do not judge me based on what you know of others!" I snapped back.

I looked up to Gandalf; he had a smug smirk on his face, he cleared his throat before addressed the Dwarves once more. "Master Dwarf, she will be a great asset to this company. You may need her skills, so you will do well to accept her."

The dwarf now known as Dwalin looked over me once more. "She doesn't look much like an elf."

I narrowed my eyes, "I can assure you, Master Dwarf. I am full elf… I'm just a little smaller than most, but no less like my kin." The misconception that all Elves are to be tall always annoyed me. We're not all tall, like me and a few others that I've known and met. I had the same grace and light-footed composure as my kin, same sight and exceptional hearing, the same fighting skills, although, I'm a much better fighter than most.

He huffed, "Thorin will not accept this."

"You leave Thorin Oakenshield to me." Gandalf said. "For now, let's eat."

I stood by the entrance of the dining room, a plate of cheese and a selection of fruits in my hands. As I picked up a grape and popped it into my mouth a Dwarf approached Mr Baggins with an empty plate in his hands.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt. But what should I do with my plate?" he was soft spoken and polite, nothing like the one I met earlier. I watched on as another Dwarf shouted.

"Here you go, Ori, give it to me."

The Dwarf passes the plate and throws it down the hall to another who catches it effortlessly as he held a pipe in the other hand. He also throws it to another Dwarf in the kitchen, who once again, catches them effortlessly. They continued to do this with the rest of the plates, much to the dissatisfaction of Bilbo who tensed up immediately as the plates began flying around.

"Excuse me! That's my mother's Westfarthing pottery; it's over a hundred years old!" Bilbo cried to no avail. The Dwarves began banging the silver wear on the table where they ate in unison. "And… and, ca…can you not do that, you'll blunt them!"

"Ooh, d'you hear that, lads? He says we'll blunt the knives!" One shouted out.

Before I knew it, they all burst into song. I walked over to Gandalf who began laughing as they got to work cleaning and singing throughout the dining and kitchen rooms. I couldn't stop the smile for creeping onto my lips as well.

Once the song had halted, Bilbo barged into the kitchen to see all his plates and cutlery washed and stacked neatly by the sink. All fell silent as the door got banged three times.

"He's here." Gandalf said tensely as he walked to the door.

I moved back, almost clashing with the other Dwarves who stood behind me in the hallway. I didn't want to make my presence the first think he saw once he came inside. Master Baggins emerged from within the Dwarf huddle and walked to the door behind Gandalf.

The door opened and there stood Thorin Oakenshield. He wasn't like I had imagined at all. Saying that, none of these Dwarves were. They were taller than most that I had come across throughout my years. I was merely only inches taller than them; I almost met their eye level.

"Gandalf, I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way, twice." His voice was deep and rough as it travelled through my ears, the few fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up. "I wouldn't have found it at all, had it not been for the mark on the door."

"Mark?" Bilbo gasped, "There's no mark on that door, it was painted a week ago!"

"There is a mark, I've put it there myself." Gandalf confirmed.

Bilbo looked shocked at his claims, he couldn't even speak.

The door closed behind Thorin as he entered, "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin looked over Bilbo, "So, this is the hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

"Pardon me?"

"Axe or sword, what's your weapon of choice?" he pressed more.

"Well, I do have some skills at conkers, if you must know. But I fail to see why that's relevant."

Thorin smirked, as did I.

"I thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." The other Dwarves laughed at Thorin's remark, I however found it distasteful.

"There is one other thing we must discus." Gandalf spoke to Thorin. He turned to me and held his arm up, ushering me to come to him, and I done just that. He rested his hand on my shoulder as I took my place by his side.

I made direct eye contact with Thorin as his eyes narrowed, taking in my features. The paleness of my skin, the white of my hair, and the piercing glare of my eyes. He knew straight away what I was… or who.

"You mean to disrespect me by bringing Elven filth?!" he spat.

"Of course not, Master Dwarf. This is Gaylia, and she will be accompanying you on your quest." Gandalf said firmly.

"I will not have this she-elf within my company." He looked over me as I looked back at him, his face stern and his eyes were full of hatred, "She will report back to her kin and sell us out."

I finally took my time to speak, "Yes, I am an Elf, however, I have not spoken to any of my kin in many, many years, sire." I looked down slightly to him; however, not very much as I wasn't that much taller than him. "I would appreciate if you would not judge me based on my kin. I am here at the request of an old friend." I looked up to Gandalf as he smiled at me, "I would be honored to help you reclaim your homeland, Thorin. If you'd allow me."

He moved from foot-to-foot, looking me over, taking me in from head to toe.

He took a step forward so that the little space we had between us was all but gone. "If you betray me, or my kin or I find that your loyalties lay anywhere but this company, I won't hesitate to kill you." He tone was low, but the warning was immense.

I inhaled, "You have my word."

"You can fight?" he asked.

I absentmindedly trailed my right hand down to one of the two blades that were strapped to my thigh; his eyes followed my hand the whole way down. "I have many years behind me." I replied. He returned his gaze back to mine.

He dipped his head slightly, almost like he was accepting me, or so I thought.