Chapter 3: The Company of Thorin Oakenshield

When Thorin Oakenshield first stepped into Hobbiton around sunset, his first thought was:

That wizard must be mad. There is no chance we could find a burglar in such a safe little pocket of the world.

But even as he wandered around the sleepy hillsides, watching as the residents all tucked in for the evening, he had to admit there was something charming about the many gardens and the simplicity of the people that tended them.

Though these were people who'd never known hardship and woe like he and his people had, he did not feel as bitter towards them as he had first thought he would. Indeed, there was something soothing about the sounds of the people chatting and the children playing as he walked along the paths in the pink and lavender twilight.

There was just something about the innocence of this place that made him feel at peace…until he realized that he had gotten lost.

He frowned at the map he'd been given as he struggled to find the directions on it, only to curse as a strong gust of chilly wind suddenly whipped it up and out of his hands. He jumped to get it, but already it was sailing away beyond his reach and up into a tree.

He sighed heavily to himself, pinching his nose and thankful that none of his kin had been there to witness such an embarrassing moment.

What does it matter, I'll ask someone for directions. I'm sure someone could tell me where this Mister Baggins lives.

And so, he did ask someone. An elderly hobbit who was shutting the low round gate to his home, was very helpful and polite to him and even offered to drive him part of the way. But Thorin refused. The gesture whilst welcome, would also be too cumbersome for such an old hobbit and the Dwarf prince did not like the idea of having to explain his displacement to a complete stranger.

So, he had begun walking once more following the directions he'd been given. Yet as he wandered he realized that though some of the landmarks were obvious, there were some which required a more hobbit like perspective to understand. For one thing Hobbits, as it transpired were quite good with their herbal lore, and often used certain plants and trees as landmarks.

Being a Dwarf who's love for the earth only extended to metal, jewels and rock, Thorin was not quite sure of which trees to locate as he continued to wander aimlessly through the many small winding lanes of the sleepy village. Though he'd travelled a lot, to him a tree was always just a tree, and he'd never learned carpentry like the lower-class dwarves, preferring blacksmithing to woodwork, and jewels to flowers.

Not like these hobbits.

He rolled his eyes as he passed by the same tall tree by a crossroads once more. Now it was well dark, the stars were twinkling high above in the blue-black sky as the moon shone serenely in its place in the heavens.

By mahal where is this hobbit's home?

He was about to storm off and go towards the nearest house to ask once more for directions when he saw something green in the corner of his eye.

It wasn't grass or vegetation, like the surrounding hillsides. This was the green of cloth.

He looked around and saw some ways above and a few hills away, a tall form striding up the hill.

It appeared to be a human. They were around an average height as far as humans go, but still they towered over the last of the small hobbits who were locking their doors.

Gandalf? No but Gandalf wouldn't wear green.

He squinted hard at the figure as a gust of wind swept off its dark hooded cape. At once a shock of long reddish brown was illuminated in the moonlight, though it was quickly covered up again before he could get a good look at her face.

A woman? An elf? No it's too short to be an elf…and besides what would an elf be doing in these parts…but still…could she be…

Thorin watched her as she trudged up the hill towards its top.

Maybe just maybe, that's where I need to go…

The Dwarf prince thought as he quickly dashed down the path, not noticing the small faintly glowing white flower that had suddenly bloomed just next to the spot he'd just been standing in.

When Gandalf the Grey had first met young Ariel Brooks, he had to admit he had his doubts.

While she had adapted quickly to life on the road with him, she was still quite green (he chuckled at his own pun) to the world around her. She'd never used magic, she'd never even swung a sword. Indeed, the only blade she seemed to have ever used was a kitchen knife to chop vegetables.

She was also surprisingly skittish around the campfires, which he noticed interestedly, she always avoided lighting, or even getting close to, even if she was feeling cold. Yet in spite of this one fear, she was disarmingly bright, with a cheeky wit, a rock-solid stubbornness, and quite a mind of her own with, last but certainly not least, a temper to match that mane of thick russet-red hair.

Yes, this new apprentice of his was going to be quite a handful.

And so, it was with bated breath that the old wizard introduced her to the leader of their new company.

"-Bilbo Baggins, Ariel, allow me to introduce the leader of our company; Thorin Oakenshield"

"Lady Ariel" Thorin gave a gruff bow towards Ariel who curtsied in return. But before she had even straightened up he was already eyeing Bilbo with discerning amusement.

"So…this is the Hobbit. Tell me Mr Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

"Pardon me?" Bilbo blinked in surprise as the dwarf prince made to circle about him eyeing his scrawny form up and down as he sized him up.

"Axe or sword? What's your weapon of choice?"

"Well I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know…" Bilbo tried to smile back determined not to seem so shocked as he felt "but I fail to see how that's relevant"

"Hmph! Thought as much" Thorin smirked smugly before turning to the others "He looks more like a grocer than a burglar"

There were several chuckles from the other dwarves but Ariel did not laugh nor crack a smile.

Dissing his host when he himself arrives late? So NOT cool man!

She quietly seethed glowering sidelong at Gandalf who himself was chuckling at the small exchange. Once he caught her eye however he quickly coughed to compose himself before giving a rather confused and slightly hurt Hobbit an apologetic look.

But Bilbo it seemed was more determined to just get this whole night dealt with as quickly as possible.

Soon he was sitting by Ariel along a small clear patch of wall in the dining room as Thorin began eating a small bowl of soup made from leftovers of the giant tomatoes the young girl had just grown that evening with her magic.

"So…miss Brooks-" The Hobbit tried to say but at that precise moment Balin made to ask Thorin from the table.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?"

"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms" Thorin nodded before gulping down another spoonful of soup.

"All of them, that's good" Balin and the other dwarves nodded in excitable agreement. Eventually Dwalin spoke up from his spot beside Gandalf who was seated next to the Dwarf prince and smoking a long wooden pipe.

"And what of the Dwarves from the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?"

Even if Ariel hadn't known the events from the Hobbit book top to bottom she still would've been able to guess Thorin's answer even as he sighed heavily.

"They will not come. They say this quest is ours…and ours alone"

"You're…you're going on a quest?" Bilbo stood up and quickly all eyes fell upon his intrigued face.

But Gandalf's eyes had darted to Ariel who at that moment was trying her best not to smile knowingly.

She caught his eye and gave a tiny imperceptible nod behind the hobbit's back.

So…Bilbo Baggins is the final member of our company…

He gave her a small smile in return before addressing Bilbo who was doing his best to try and look as non-committal as he could though his interest was clearly spiked.

"Bilbo my dear fellow, let us have a little more light." The Wizard's smile widened to himself as he fumbled in a pocket of his grey tattered robes and took out what appeared to be a folded-up square of parchment which he proceeded to open.

"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wastelands, lies a single solitary peak"

Ariel stood up to lean over one of Thorin's shoulders and when he was done lighting a small ca, Bilbo did the same.

"The Lonely Mountain" He read aloud off the flowing script above a map, which showed a mountain towering over a small lake and valley.

Ariel's eyes widened as she looked over every detail. Every tracery of ink was identical to the maps in the books she'd read back home in her world. Even the little imprint of the dragon above the mountain was the same.

"Aye" Gloin spoke up gruffly after taking a swig of ale from his mug. "Oin has read the portents and the portents say it is time"

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold" Oin nodded gravely "When the birds of yore, return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end"

Ariel stiffened trying her best to keep the small squeak from within to burst from her.

In the wake of her excitement to meet the hobbit and the rest of the company of Thorin, she had totally forgotten that there was one giant scaly flying bloodthirsty reptile that she had to meet at the end of the journey.

Noticing and sympathising with her shock, Bilbo gulped nervously.

"Uh…what beast?"

"That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible" Bofur shrugged as he puffed on his smoking pipe. "Chiefist and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat hooks…extremely fond of precious metals-"

"Yes, thank you I know what a dragon is" Bilbo rolled his eyes, as Ariel turned her back on the group to hide her now extremely pale face.

Fire breathing…fire…oh god…fire…no wait a moment girl just breathe, and think cold, cool thoughts of water…the waves on the beach…

Ariel took a deep shuddering breath barely listening as Ori stood up to his feet and shouted out enthusiastically.

"I'm not afraid. I'm up for it. I'll give him a taste of Dwarfish iron right up his jacksies!"

"Sit down!" Nori quickly pulled the younger dwarf down as Balin shook his head.

"The task would be difficult enough even with an army behind us. But we number just thirteen. And not thirteen of the best…nor brightest" he added and at this many of the dwarves began to cry out in offence.

"OY! Who are you calling dim?"

"What does he say-"

Eventually Fili's voice called out louder than the rest.

"We may be few in numbers, but we're fighter's all of us, to the last dwarf!"

"And you forget we have a wizard in our company" Kili added with an encouraging grin to said wizard who was trying to now make himself look as small as possible in his corner "Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time"

"Oh, well no…I wouldn't say-" Gandalf mumbled but then Dori cut across him.

"Well how many then?"

"What?"

"How many dragons have you killed?"

There was a very pregnant pause in which all eyes including Bilbo and Ariel's looked towards Gandalf who opened his mouth…only for a puff of pipe smoke to escape it.

"Oh come on then!" Nori prodded as many dwarves began to murmur insistently "Give us a number"

But when the wizard did not answer cries of outrage and argument suddenly broke out over the table.

"Hey! Hey calm down" Ariel tried to call out over the top of them only to be roughly pushed aside as Thorin jumped to his feet from his chair with a loud rumbling growl.

All the dwarves sat down in silence at once looking up at their leader with sudden docility and respect as he glowered down at them all.

"If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon, Smaug has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look East to the mountain, assessing, wondering, weighing the risk. Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance and take back Erebor?!"

The last word came out as more a battle cry to which the other dwarves cheered loudly to, save for Balin who was still looking grim faced.

"You forget the Front Gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain" At this the cheers fell away quickly into a deflated silence.

But as their heads fell Ariel raised hers as she stood up from the ground.

"Not entirely true. " she murmured softly and everyone turned to look at her sharply.

Crap…did I say that out loud?

She cursed herself mentally, but Gandalf was quick to remedy her problem by coughing softly.

"Yes…yes you are correct Ariel" and smoothly he flicked out from the depths of his grey sleeves a large dark wrought iron key.

Thorin's eyes widened and when he spoke his voice was hoarse and thick with shock.

"How came you by this?"

"It was given to me by your father, by Thrain. It is yours now" Gandalf passed it carefully to the dwarf prince who took it and examined it closely.

"If there is a key" Fili breathed, exchanging awed glances with his twelve other companions "Then there must be a door"

They all looked at Ariel who nodded quietly.

"Yeah…there is one" she looked pointedly at Gandalf who quickly pointed out to a selection of runes on the still opened map that all pointed to a spot low on the mountain side.

"These runes speak of a hidden passage to the Lower Halls"

"There's another way in" Kili murmured and many excited smiles circled the table but Gandalf only sighed.

"Well if we can find it, but Dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere on this map, and I nor anyone else present at this table have the skill to find it. But there are others on Middle-Earth who can."

And with that he exchanged a rather tense glance with Thorin who narrowed his eyes back.

Gandalf rolled his eyes a little before returning to address the group at large once more.

"The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth. And no small amount of courage. But if we are careful and clever, I believe it can be done"

"And that's why we need a burglar" Ori pointed out to Bilbo who nodded in agreement, his eyes still fixed upon the map face.

"Hmm. And a good one too. An expert, I'd imagine"

"And are you?" Gloin raised his eyebrows at the hobbit.

Ariel shut her eyes as Bilbo quickly looked around in surprise.

"Am I what?"

"He said he's an expert hey-ey!" Oin cried out as he tried his best to listen through a beautifully carved silver ear trumpet.

Now Bilbo jumped in his spot.

"Me? No-no-no-no I'm not a burglar. I've never stolen a thing in my life"

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins" Balin sighed heavily as he looked about the beautifully furnished room about him "He's hardly burglar material"

"Nope" Bilbo nodded contented that finally somebody was seeing sense.

Dwalin snorted into his mug.

"Aye the Wild is no place for gentle folk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves…" and at this he glanced very quickly at Ariel who caught the look with a small glare of her own.

"Dwalin stand down before you get yourself killed" Balin hissed as he delivered a swift kick to his brother's shins from under the table. But already it was too late as the arguing and bickering that had started from all over the table suddenly began to get louder, and louder.

"ENOUGH!"

Ariel and Bilbo both shrank back in alarm as Gandalf stood up to his fullest height, the shadows about him seeming to deepen as he spoke in a great booming voice.

"If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is."

And then just as suddenly as the darkness had come, it quickly died out and the candle light from the table flickered back to life. It illuminated the room just as brightly as before as Gandalf made to explain himself in a much calmer fashion as he sat himself back down in his chair.

"Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf and human, the scent of a hobbit is all but unknown to him which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company. And I have chosen Mr Baggins."

Thorin however did not look so pleased at the prospect.

"What of the woman?" he gave a sharp look to Ariel who was doing her best to be inconspicuous by the wall once more. "She's no fighter and she's barely even passed into maidenhood. But surely even a weak and small mouse could be a burglar if it wished to."

"Uh, excuse me, what's that supposed to mean-" Ariel's face flushed red but Gandalf was quick to steamroll over her.

"You are right, Ariel Brooks is no warrior, nor is she a fully trained sorceress. But that does not make her weak or useless. You forget, Thorin, strength can be found in many forms and in many places. And though it may sometimes not be easy to see at first, it is always there, hidden and just waiting for the right opportunity to show itself. The same could be said for Bilbo Baggins. There is a lot more to him than appearances suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know. Including himself"

He looked upon Bilbo who looked back, not knowing whether to be flattered by the high esteem the wizard seemed to hold for him or to be horrified that he was chosen for such a perilous journey without his consent.

Gandalf quickly leaned in to murmur to Thorin, a sense of urgency lacing his grim tones.

"You must trust me on this"

"…Very well" Thorin nodded. "We will do it your way"

At once Bilbo's face fell like a stone.

"No-no-" he tried to protest but Thorin merely rolled over the top of him.

"Give him the contract"

There were many murmurings of ascent and giddy excitement as Balin reached into a satchel he had brought with him and pulled out a thick stack of parchment. When he caught sight of Bilbo's surprised face he added smiling.

"It's just the usual summary of out of pocket expenses, time required, remuneration, funeral arrangements and so forth"

"F-Funeral arrangements" Bilbo spluttered as the contract was shoved into his hands.

As he walked aside to peruse the article on his own Thorin spared a glance back at Ariel who caught his eye for one moment before quietly huffing and pointedly looking away.

Pff! That woman…so silly and petty…she carries that staff but she clearly does not know what to do with it. Not as a weapon nor as a basic tool. She'd serve better staying put in this hole and tending to a garden than traveling along a dangerous road in the Wild. Just what is Gandalf thinking of bringing her along?

Thorin rolled his eyes to himself.

Meanwhile in Ariel's mind similar dark thoughts were swimming around derisively.

He comes trapesing into someone else's home, completely late, and then insults them and other people to their face just because they are different to his high and mighty expectations! Thorin Oakenshield king under the mountain? More like Thorin Okenshield king of the Douschebags!

As he caught sight of the two moody faces, Gandalf pinched the bridge of his nose.

Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be the first time I see this kind of altercation between these two?

"I cannot guarantee his safety" the dwarf prince murmured softly to Gandalf who leaned in to listen.

"Understood" he murmured though it wasn't that enthusiastic a reply.

"Nor will I be responsible for his fate…or hers…" he added, glancing sidelong at a bristling Ariel.

"…Agreed" the wizard agreed solemnly just as Bilbo's voice wafted back into their ears.

"Terms: cash on delivery up to but not exceeding one-fourteenth of total profit, if any. Hmm. Seems fair. Err…present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence there of, including, but not limited to…lacerations?"

Bilbo's gut dropped as he quickly unfurled more of the paper to read the other portents which were slowly but surely getting more gruesome by the word.

"Evisceration…Incineration?"

"Oh aye" Bofur nodded as the hobbit turned to look disbelievingly at his uninvited guests.

"He'll melt the flesh of your bones in the blink of an eye"

"huh?" Bilbo breathed deeply to hide the tiny whimper of terror that escaped him. Ariel bit her lip nervously as she reached out to put what she felt was a gentle and consoling hand on his shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

"Ah…" the Hobbit gulped before he quickly bent over his knees to try and help the blood pump back down into his head as he took a couple of breaths before quickly straightening up.

"Actually, I feel a bit faint"

"Think furnace with wings" Bofur added as though using such weak euphemisms for an impending doom would help Bilbo's small panic attack.

"Let's get you some air outside" Ariel quickly took Bilbo by the shoulders trying her best to mime a stop talking action to the dwarves at the table who were all now watching amusedly as Bofur continued to ramble on.

"Flash of light, searing pain then: Poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash"

"Oh for heaven's sake would you cut it out!" Ariel growled, hands on her hips. But as soon as her hand left the shoulder of the poor hobbit he quickly keeled over unconscious onto the floor.

"err…whoops" Bofur grinned sheepishly at Gandalf who sighed heavily with exasperation as twelve voices barked with loud laughter.

"Dwarves"

"Here…camomile tea…it was the only thing I could find" Ariel smiled apologetically as she carefully placed a small but full and hot hobbit sized tea cup into Bilbo's trembling fingers.

"Thank you" he murmured when he finally had a good grip on the cup with both hands.

After a good deal of trying to settle everyone's mirth, Gandalf and Ariel had finally managed to wake up the poor terrified Hobbit up with smelling salts. Then after the wizard helped him change into a warm dressing gown they had set him down in a quiet chair by the hearth of his living room. Outside of it Ariel could hear many of the dwarves dawdled around the dining room, kitchen and hallway talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Well this has been an eventful evening" Ariel sighed heavily as she sat herself down in a chair opposite Bilbo running a hand over her face and through her dark russet locks, which the hobbit vaguely noticed looked redder in the flickering light of the fire.

"Yes…it has been very…very eventful…If you don't mind me asking Miss Brooks"

"Oh no, please call me Ariel. Everyone else does…or at least everyone did…back home."

"Right then…uh Ariel…once again if you don't mind me asking…how does a young lady such as yourself ever get involved in all this…magic…dwarves?"

"Well that's…that's a bit of a long story actually." Ariel snorted softly.

"Well then you can tell me the short version" The corners of Bilbo's mouth twitched upwards. It was such a relief to be able to talk normally and quietly after spending so many hours listening to such loud booming voices speaking of dragons and danger.

At this Ariel smiled softly to herself, though it was much sadder than he'd expected.

"Well…I guess…A couple of weeks ago I travelled across the sea from my home."

"With your family or-"

"No…no…I'm the only one who came. You see my brother he…he had an accident with magic and fell ill. We tried everything but nothing we tried worked…so I thought that I could perhaps find some cure here in this part of the world for his…uh…condition"

"Was your brother…did he do magic like you?" Bilbo wondered aloud but Ariel just shook her head.

"No, but he did run afoul of a woman who could and she…well…he's now stuck in an enchanted sleep thanks to her."

"I'm sorry to hear that. It must be hard for both you and your parents" Bilbo watched the girl sympathetically as she ran a hand through her hair, her green-brown eyes slightly overbright.

"Yeah…well…what's done is done. And now I'm here so I might as well can do what I can to try and fix the problem. At least I'm with Gandalf now. I don't know what I would've done if he hadn't found me and agreed to teach me. Though I don't know how I'm supposed to be having magic lessons if I'm going to be tagging along on this expedition."

"So you've just been dragged along for the ride huh?" he mumbled.

Ariel smiled.

"You could say that. But it's not been so bad. I used to go camping a lot with my dad so I'm pretty used to roughing it out in the wilderness. And as far as travelling is concerned we've got horses and ponies to carry the luggage so it's not too much of a strain. Touch wood nothing drastic has actually happened yet" she quickly added tapping the side of her wooden chair, just as Gandalf strode into the room.

"Ah Ariel there you are. Why don't you go get some rest, I'll look after Mr Baggins."

With this last sentence, he gave her a very pointed look.

Look after him? More like lecture the poor hobbit.

But nonetheless Ariel nodded at Bilbo who smiled back at her reassuringly.

"I'll be alright. I just need to sit quietly for a bit. There's a spare guest room just down the hall, last door to your left if you would like to rest for the night."

"Thank you." Ariel smiled gratefully as she got up to her feet and quietly walked out of the room.

Gandalf watched her go with a curious gaze.

He didn't know whether anyone had noticed, but as soon as Ariel had walked past the sitting room window, the potted plant on the sill suddenly sprang to life. Quietly it tried its best to creep its way to her only to shrink back into its pot when she was finally too far to reach.

He turned his attention back to the Hobbit in the room who was quietly watching the fire once more, his face a little more relaxed than it had been before.

Now to deal with you Mr Baggins.

Ariel tossed and turned on the small hobbit bed in the guestroom of Bag End.

It wasn't that the bed was uncomfortable. On the contrary, she was so content to just lie there and sleep in the warm soft marshmallow plushness forever more even if her feet dangled over the end.

No…the only reason she couldn't sleep was because her thoughts were focused on the face of a young man, with darker skin and hair, but with very familiar features to her own as he smiled and laughed.

Silently she reached down the front of her green dress and pulling out a golden chain on which a small pocket watch clock was attached like a pendant.

It had been a gift from her brother for her thirteenth birthday. He'd found it in a tiny thrift shop down the road from her house and had bought it for her with his first pay from his first job.

It was a pretty clock, easy to read set inside a golden case on the front of which was a blooming white rose made from white shell. On the back was a small sentence engraved in a neat print.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why we call it the present"

"Don't worry Ian" she murmured tracing the white flower at the front delicately "I'll bring you back…I promise…"

She shut her eyes quietly only to open them again as she heard a small faint deep humming coming from down the hall.

At first she thought it was only just the wind by her window, but even as she listened more intently she heard the beginnings of a tune, mellow and sad.

Curious she sat up and slid out of the bed.

Since she'd taken off her boots to go to sleep her feet barely made any sound against the floor and so she was able to reach the corner wall outside of the sitting room just in time to hear the first lines sung by a deep voice.

"Far over, the Misty Mountains cold. To dungeons deep, and caverns old. We must away to break of day, to find our long-forgotten gold. The pines were roaring on the height. The winds were moaning in the night. The fire was red, it flaming spread. The trees like torches blazed with light"

Ariel quietly slid down the length of the wall curling her knees back up to her chin as she listened quietly to the song.

As she did she faintly could see in her imagination, tall snow-capped mountains and caves darker and deeper than any night she had ever seen and then the glimmer of gold under firelight. Only it wasn't just light…it was fire…a blazing red fire…the fire of a dragon…

And with that last thought her eyes shut and she slid into a darkness, deep and absolute as the blackness between stars.

When Bilbo opened his eyes, everything was as silent as a tomb.

He blinked once to let his irises get used to the light of dawn and then slowly and cautiously rose to sit upright.

He could hear nothing, save the familiar sounds of birds chirping and his neighbour's distant voices as they called out to one another on their morning errands.

He quickly slid off of his bed, his large furry feet cautiously feeling their way around the wooden floorboards as he padded out into the hallway.

He looked about quickly. Everything was silent and still and back in place.

They're gone?

Excitement and elation flooded through him as he darted back into his room, got dressed into his shirt and britches in a flash before dashing back out again to investigate the rest of his home.

Empty! Empty from ceiling to floor, from every nook and cranny.

Empty. Empty. Empty!

Was he dreaming? Or had last night been the dream? Had he really had thirteen dwarves a wizard and his apprentice over for dinner?

Oh, wait yes I did

He nodded to himself solidly as he caught sight of his very desolate and empty pantry. However whatever anguish he felt at the loss of his foodstuffs was quickly snuffed out by his overwhelming relief to finally have his home back to himself.

"Yes!" he hissed victoriously as he exited the kitchen which was as spick and span as ever it had been.

He walked about his hallway for a while, whistling between his teeth and patting himself down repeatedly.

Yes! It's over! They're finally gone! They're finally…gone…

His face fell slightly as he once again took in the space about them.

For a hobbit hole Bag End had always been rather large and spacious but when the whole company had come last night it had felt remarkably cramped and loud and…and fun and…

Bilbo suddenly felt his mind go blank….just like the room around him.

He wasn't quite sure why, but his heart twinged painfully at the thought.

Last night had been the first time in years he had had so many people with him in his own home. And whilst it had been a very hectic and haphazard affair, it was without a doubt one of the least lonely evening's he'd had in a long time.

No I'm just being silly. Besides they're dwarves and I'm just one hobbit

But even as he made to turn around and go back to the kitchen to fix himself breakfast, his eyes caught sight of a large pile of papers on top of which a note was neatly placed.

Brow furrowed in confusion he picked up the tiny note in his hands and read aloud.

"Dear Mr Baggins. I understand we were all uninvited and it was rather a strain on you to accommodate us at such short notice, but even so I wanted to thank you for your kind hospitality. It was wonderful to have met you and I wish you the very best in whatever you choose to do. Yours Sincerely Ariel.

P.S. If you do change your mind about joining us we'll be leaving by the western road."

Bilbo stared at the small piece of paper for a good long moment before carefully pocketing it as he looked upon the other large folded up batch it had been sitting on.

He gulped as he realised it was the contract from the night before.

At once unbidden, the familiar voice of a wizard floated over his mind.

The world is not in your books or maps, it's out there.

Bilbo paused for a moment and looked out of the window. The grassy hills outside were green and lush and life was peaceful and docile. But beyond that…beyond that…

Bilbo quickly looked back down at the paper in his hands.

"I must be out of my mind"

"Oy Mr Bilbo! Where are you off to?"

"Can't stop I'm already late!"

"Late for what?"

"I'm going on an Adventure!"

"Miss Ariel!"

"huh?" Ariel blinked. She was riding at the back of the long line of the dwarves' pony's doing her best to keep up but all the while her eyes strayed back towards the direction of the village of Hobbiton in the distance.

She looked up quickly, only to remember she had to look down to see who she was talking to.

It was Fili and Kili, both sitting atop two short dark ponies which they were steering back from the front of the long line to walk beside her at the back.

"Oh hello" she smiled as she patted her steed's neck and it nickered softly in greeting to the other equines. It wasn't a pony, but a tall strong horse. His coat was a fiery chestnut colour and he had a white star over his forehead.

Both the two young dwarves grinned as they exchanged glances with one another. Eventually it was Fili who spoke, his tone more gentle than his brother's.

"Hello Miss Ariel, the lads in front are having a bet and we were wondering if you'd like to cash in?"

"A bet?" Ariel quirked a brow "On what"

"Well…" Kili snorted in a very ungentlemanly fashion, unlike his brother. Ariel wondered if he was doing his best not to laugh "Since we left the contract on Mister Boggin's desk we haven't seen hide nor hair of him close by"

"So" Fili continued still attempting poise "we were wondering that if mister Baggins is not joining us then where would he be?"

"Still in his home probably" Ariel shrugged though inwardly she felt her gut drop. If Bilbo wasn't coming on this adventure after all…

"Exactly." Kili nodded barely noticing her worry "But some of the others and Gandalf think that he actually might come after us"

"And what do you think?" Ariel asked quietly.

"Dunno." Kili shrugged "But we just bet ten coins a piece to say that he would come"

"Uh…ten coins of what exactly?" Ariel questioned hoping that she didn't sound completely stupid. All her old money notes from her real world had been destroyed when she was washed up on the beach of the Grey Havens, and she still was unsure of what currencies were used on Middle Earth. So far she only knew the colours of the coins which were copper, silver and gold, though whether they were properly minted or not was yet to be seen.

However fortunately for her Fili did not pick up on her true anxiety and only shrugged nonchalantly.

"It's just silver coins really. We wouldn't bet our gold pieces, that would be catastrophic if we lost those. But what about you?" He added looking up at her with intrigue "what do you think will happen?"

Ariel paused for a moment and bit her lip in thought.

If she was honest with herself she was doubting now that Bilbo would indeed come, but even as such thoughts disturbed her mind she remembered that the adventure she was currently on wouldn't be called the Hobbit if said protagonist didn't even-

"Wait!" a voice called out loudly and breathlessly from behind. "WAIT!"

Ariel, Fili and Kili all turned round in surprise as something four foot high with a mop of brown curls and wearing a red jacket and dark britches over his large woolly footed feet dashed past them.

"Whoa" Ariel quickly tugged on the reigns of her horse as it whinnied in surprise.

She heard similar cries around her as the other dwarves made to halt just as Bilbo Baggins quickly skidded to a halt somewhere close to the front of the line. In his hands he was holding up a long roll of paper and waving it enthusiastically for all to see.

"I signed it!"

Ariel's face suddenly brightened as she recognized the red wax seal on the bottom of the last page. She watched with mounting excitement as Balin took the contract and looked it over.

"Everything appears to be in order" the old dwarf smiled, a twinkle in his blue eyes sparking as he looked down on the Hobbit below. "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield"

There were many a chuckle and grins from the others, even Thorin's mouth was twitching upwards in a small smirk.

"Give him a pony" he ordered only for Bilbo to immediately start protesting.

"No-no-no-no that won't be necessary. Thank you, but I'm sure I could keep up on foot. I've done my fair share of walking holidays y'know. Even got as far as Frogmorton once-AH!"

He cried out as two dwarves grabbed him by the straps of his camping pack on his back and pulled him up into the air as another dwarf behind led up a pony to slide beneath his behind.

Ariel snorted into her horse's mane at the momentarily stunned look on the Hobbit's face as a pair of reins were suddenly thrust into his hands.

Kili and Fili both joined her in her mirth and soon the three of them were laughing freely. Ariel could not remember a time she had laughed so hard over something so small. At least not since she'd been sent to this world.

She only stopped when she heard Gandalf's voice call to her from the front of the line.

"Ariel! Could you come up here please?"

"In a moment Gandalf!" she replied still smiling as she nodded to her two companions beside her. "Excuse me gentlemen"

As quick as could be she flicked her horses' reins and set him to trot swiftly up ahead, both brothers watching her progress.

"Well she seems to be quite lovely."

"Indeed. Let's just hope uncle doesn't chase her off" Fili muttered as he wearily eyed Thorin's dark head of hair from the back.

"Do you think he will give her trouble?" Kili frowned concernedly "I mean…she is after all Gandalf's apprentice and he respects the wizard."

"Aye but you know uncle" Fili shook his head "he's always suspicious of new people. He trusts Gandalf because well…it's Gandalf. But Miss Ariel on the other hand is a stranger, and women who study magic don't usually have good reputation-"

"Good Reputation? Che!" Kili snorted rolling his eyes "I don't care what uncle says, I like her. She's got spirit, and if Gandalf approves of her then that should be more than enough for all of us"

"Aye, I agree brother. I agree" Fili smirked, though as his eyes found his uncle's sharp gaze on the back of Ariel's head he sighed softly.

This was going to be an interesting journey, that's for sure.

Meanwhile while the brothers were talking Ariel finally reached the front of the line where Bilbo was currently walking his pony beside Gandalf's own dark brown horse.

The wizard seemed to be delivering a sermon to their newest member with much graveness and wisdom.

"-you were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire. But home is now behind you. the world is ahead. Ah there you are my dear!" Gandalf's eyes twinkled with delight as Ariel made to trot her horse over onto his other side.

"What's up old man? Forgotten the directions again?" she smirked as said old man made to roll his eyes, though Bilbo noticed it was more out of fondness than true scorn.

Not like Thorin's glower as he and his pony skulked behind the three of them, keeping just far enough away to avoid looking suspicious, though still close enough to hear most of what was being said.

"No Ariel I have not forgotten any directions. I just wanted a small quiet chat with you before we go any further." Gandalf smiled reassuringly.

"Okay…" Ariel frowned as she noticed Bilbo quickly slow his pony down so that he fell behind and gave them privacy.

"I know this might sound like the prying and meddling of an old man like myself," The old man whispered as soon as the hobbit was out of earshot "and I understand that this journey is all incredibly exciting, but I just want you to remember that you are still the only lady amongst thirteen male dwarves and-"

Ariel sighed with exasperation "And let me guess, I need to play nicely with the other children?"

"Well, yes and no." the wizard muttered softly.

"What do you mean?" she tilted her head in confusion which only made the wizard sigh heavily.

"Ariel you must understand. You are not like other women most of these males have encountered. Many of the women here in Arda…well…They are usually not as strong willed nor as independent of thought as you are. Hence why you and your more forward thinking might come as a bit of a shock to this company and indeed many men you will meet along the way."

"As shocked as a certain someone behind me?" Ariel clipped tersely glancing back at Thorin who quickly turned away, pretending to look somewhere else.

"Unfortunately…yes" Gandalf nodded grimly.

Ariel narrowed her eyes darkly as she turned back to face the front, all too aware of the Dwarf Prince's eyes once more piercing into the back of her head.

"So what do I do about it? lay over like a dog and let him walk over me?"

"Oh no-no-no don't do that at all" Gandalf shook his head quickly "In fact stay as headstrong as you are and fight back if you must. I only tell you this so that you can be better aware of your…cultural surroundings. Even Elves can be discerning of women and they are a much more educated race than most."

"I'll keep that in mind" Ariel nodded but then quickly asked "Wait am I really headstrong?"

At this the wizard's eyes twinkled once more with amusement.

"Yes…very much so. But oddly enough, it suits you"

Ariel burst out laughing once more, not noticing Thorin's scathing glower to the back of her head of hair.

That damned girl what is she playing at. Looking at me as if I'm some villain.

Granted he was keeping a rather unusually close watch on her, but still. She was a witch. There was no beating about the bush. She was a woman who knew magic. She could potentially be dangerous to both him and his kin.

True she probably wasn't so bad if Gandalf asked her to be his apprentice.

But could it be a trap?

Thorin wondered.

Could she be using that pretty face to deceive all of us?

He sighed softly as Balin and his pony trotted up beside him.

"Why so glum laddie? We're on our way and we've got our burglar" Balin grinned, only for his smile to falter as he caught sight of Thorin's suspicious gaze.

He followed it and saw it fell upon the young form of Ariel, laughing as Gandalf told her a funny story of one of his more amusing adventures.

"I must say it's a shame she's human. She'd have made a lovely Dwarrow lass" Balin smirked as Thorin glowered at him darkly.

"She's a witch Balin"

"A witch who Gandalf trusts" Balin quirked a white brow much to his leaders surprise "Aye, I too was sceptical at first, but I think there's more to this one than meets the eye. She's got magic yes, but she's also got spirit. Besides, I don't think Gandalf would ever let a witch hoodwink him now would you?"

Thorin stayed silent, his scowl deepening as the girl started talking animatedly to the wizard who listened to her patiently.

First the wizard and now my advisor, this witch is craftier than I thought.

Beside him Balin watched his leader, his small smirk widening ever so slightly.

Now won't this be interesting…

"Ow…"

Ariel scowled angrily as she rolled over once more in her spot on the cold earth beneath her body.

All around her there were loud snores.

It had been almost a full week since the Company of Thorin had set out from the Shire, but even so she still could not get used to the sleeping arrangements whenever they made camp.

You'll sleep like a log, he said. You'll be out in a heartbeat, he said. Said the damn wizard who could probably sleep through a hurricane.

She growled softly to herself as she sat up in her spot and looked about her.

The broad but short forms of Dwarves were scattered all around a small but warm fire.

She glanced at it warily and unconsciously rubbed the scar on her wrist just as someone else made to sit up from their spot. It was Bilbo and he also looked rather peeved. Even for a usually patient person like him this noise was sorely pushing it.

"Lovely night isn't it?" he softly snorted sarcastically as he caught her gaze.

"Oh yes delightful" she shrugged rolling her eyes. "If I wanted to listen to a tune of foghorns"

Bilbo chuckled softly at that as he made to stand up.

"Well, I'm just going to see if Myrtle needs more feed"

"You do that" Ariel yawned wide as she watched the Hobbit make his way over to his designated pony, a sweet calm mare who seemed already to be fond of her new master.

Though that may have been because of the small tokens and treats he was showering her with in secret.

Ariel watched in amusement, as Bilbo sneakily snuck the equine a juicy apple. Her own horse, whom she had now named Finn, was currently sleeping on the ground quietly unperturbed by the snores of the dwarves. That is until a strange screech sounded from far off in the distance.

Ariel felt her heart freeze at the sound. At first, she'd thought it was a bird…but she could have sworn she had heard words or syllables amongst the screeches.

Against her will her mind quickly redialled back to view a memory from nearly two weeks ago, of an old woman with a sharp vulture like face and fire in her claw like hands.

As soon as it was over Bilbo turned around to face the fire, where Fili and Kili were sitting wide awake on first watch along with Gandalf and smoking pipe weed.

"What was that?"

"Orcs" Kili nodded gravely.

"Orcs?" Ariel wheeled around to face them, eyes wide.

"Throat cutters" Fili explained quietly to the girl and the hobbit before puffing out a large stream of smoke from his nose. "There'll be dozens of them out there. The Low lands are crawling with them"

Orcs…brilliant…

Kili made to smirk as he caught sight of her bristle.

"They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood"

Bilbo's face paled as he looked out over the distant horizon which was illuminated in the moonlight.

Ariel quickly looked back at the two dwarf brothers who upon catching sight of her frightened face both began to chuckle softly.

"You think that's funny?" a deep voice growled and Ariel turned to see Thorin standing to his feet and glowering down at his two nephews with disappointment and severity.

"You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"

Fili and Kili's smiles faltered as they averted their heads down to the ground in shame.

"We didn't mean anything by it"

"No, you didn't" Thorin snapped bitterly "You know nothing of the world"

Ariel felt a now familiar pang of irritation as the dwarf prince quickly gave a glance in her direction, but she kept her mouth shut. It had been happening for a while now. Every time he could Thorin found some excuse to quietly glare or give her a snide remark.

In return Ariel had taken Gandalf's advice and continued to react as she normally would, either ignoring the jibe or giving it back to him without mercy.

But she was too tired to put up an argument tonight. And it was with another yawn that she watched Thorin stalk off to brood on his own at the edge of the group.

"Don't mind him laddie" Balin's voice spoke softly as he walked up from his spot to stand beside the fire. He looked upon Fili and Kili with pity before turning his gaze on Ariel and Bilbo both of whom were looking confused.

"Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first."

Moria…but isn't that where…

Ariel stared with bewilderment as she listened raptly to the story unfolding.

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs, led by the most vile of all their race: Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc, had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin"

There was a pause in which Ariel faintly saw in her mind's eye a giant faceless creature bigger than three men with dirty grey skin and covered in blood, swing about a spiked club in its arms and felling lines and rows of sturdy dwarves in gleaming battle armour.

She gulped down a lump in her throat as she did her best to push aside the mental image of the creature roaring with bloodlust into the cold night air, so that she could listen to more of Balin's recount. However what came next out of the old dwarve's mouth was far worse than the images her imagination was conjuring.

"He began…by beheading the king. Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us"

Ariel could almost see the dwarf army trying its best to run from the front lines of her nightmarish images of orcs, who seemed to be led on and spurred further into bloodlust by a hags horrible cackling laugh.

Ariel shuddered, clutching at her arms even though her elven cloak was covering her up warmly from the chilled night air. But then suddenly Balin's face was graced by a small warm smile.

"And that's when I saw him"

He looked towards the back of Thorin who was still standing some way away, listening quietly though his face looked distant, as if he himself was seeing the memories dance before him like a mirage.

"A young Dwarf prince facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armour rent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. And so Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back and our enemy had been defeated"

Balin paused once more only this time it was to take a deep shuddering breath to compose himself, even though his voice shook a little as he made to speak again.

"But there was no feast, nor song that night for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one who I could call king"

Thorin turned around slowly at the last word and gazed back at his company, all of whom had awoken during Balin's last few sentences. Their faces were determined and despite herself Ariel could not help but admire the loyalty or steadfastness in their eyes.

Well…I suppose everyone has their moments of greatness…

She thought looking up at the dwarf prince who was looking about with both pride and gratitude at his fellow males. When his eyes fell on her however they narrowed slightly.

Ariel rolled her eyes.

-But he's still a douschebag!

"And the pale orc?" Bilbo asked Balin, completely missing the tense exchange that had just happened. "what happened to him?"

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came" Thorin spat bitterly as he made to walk away once more "That filth died of his wounds long ago"

There was a tiny cough from the shadows and Ariel jumped slightly as she turned to find out the source. But it was only Gandalf choking a little on his pipe smoke.

She gave him a worried look but he only smiled it off with a small wave of his hands. But even as she made to turn away to tuck herself back in to lie back down on the ground to sleep, she could have sworn she'd seen him give a very faint sigh of uneasiness.

Odd…

Ariel's brow furrowed as she rested her head upon her arm like a pillow and shut her eyes.

Gandalf was one of the calmest people she'd ever met in her life. What could possibly have him worried?

Little did she know that barely half a mile away, hidden in the shadows of the trees a shadowy figure mounted atop a great, hairy wolf like beast hissed in a vile tongue into the darkness of the night.

"[Send word to the Master, we have found the Dwarf-scum]

And there, whew! they're all finally out of the hobbit hole. So yeah still not many BIG changes to the story but more will come slowly but surely. like i said before I was pretty happy with most of what i had before (it just needed some extra add ins and edits) for the first few chapters of the original fic so i'm pretty happy with how it turned out now.

Hope you guys enjoyed and review for more ideas and feedback.

Cheers

Fuzzy Beta