Disclaimer: I do not own the Hobbit.

So I finally got to see the Desolation of Smaug, at last! I live in Australia so it didn't come out until after Christmas, plus I've just gotten over swooning at Smaug's voice. Anyway, finally i can write again!

Enjoy!

There was a pair of green eyes looking up at Marie from the still water. She knew them to be her own but it took her a moment realize that, for surrounding them was tired face, paled from lake of sleep and coated in blood. This was not the hobbit that left the Shire in such a hurry.

The company had stopped for a moment's rest after the long climb down the eyot, which Gandalf had called Carrock, and the long trek through the day and the night. The will to put as many leagues as they could between them and Azog's orc pack push the need for sleep from their minds, but the first light of the second day they stopped. Many of the dwarves needed to account for the lost provisions and weapons, not to mentions what course to take now that they had crossed the mountains.

"Oh me poor back." Gloin groined from his seat on a boulder he shared with his brother Oin, "That tumble in the mines did something in, I can feel it."

There was a communal groan of agreement as the older dwarves felt the same pain, while the youngster carried on quietly as look outs.

Marie reached down into the puddle and cupped a handful of water, not to drink but to clean her face with. The feeling of the blood cracking every time she moved her cheeks was unnerving and unpleasant. The water drained slowly between her fingers and her bandages absorbed it to form a makeshift sloth. She first padded her hand across the small gash just above her right ear. It stung only a little as she wiped away her blood.

"If we make for the Greenwood, we can cut right through and be at Esgaroth within a week." Marie looked behind her to watch the interaction between Balin and Thorin, with her own eagerness of finding out the plan brewing.

"We risk too much on that path and the Wood Elves will be onto us as soon as we step foot into that place." Thorin shook his head, "No we should head further South, away from his domain."

'His? Whose realm?' Marie thought, her hand resting against her ear as she forgot what she was doing.

"We are limited in both options and time," Gandalf cut in between to dwarves, "Balin is right, the Elven Path will take us straight to the desired path."

Thorin did not take to this plan well, and his face twisted in pain. He raised a hand to his side where he had been wounded by the warg. Marie was worried, he hadn't had his injuries seen to yet and they would only get worse.

Balin had seen his friend's pain and gripped his good shoulder, "Thorin, it does not suit me either to ..." The old dwarf went silent all of a sudden and looked uneasy. Thorin saw it and looked around. "What is it?"

One by one the dwaves looked up at Thorin with a sense of worry. Marie wet hand dropped as she finally heard it, the distant howling. 'It can't be." She muttered.

"Our pursuers have finally caught up with us." Gandalf walked over to the base of the mountain they had taken refuge at. The dwarves huddled together in a defensive circle, which Marie noticed was their general plan in these situations.

Kili parted from his brother and pulled Marie to her feet, "Here Marie." He pulled her into the safety of the circle. Marie had notice him becoming quite protective of her since her dramatic return from the depths of Moria, more so than the rest of the company.

"How did they find us?" Dwalin gripped the handle of his hammer tightly. "They haven't yet." Gandalf turned, sending his cloak whirling around himself. "We still have a chance to outrun them."

"They could be miles away still." Dori said hopefully but Thorin did not believe that, "Or right on top of us, we don't know."

"Not yet." Gandalf raised a bushy eyebrow in the direction of the she-hobbit, "Perhaps our burglar could do some scouting."

"Mm? What?" Marie pointed to herself, "Me?"

"Yes Marie," Gandalf reached into the circle and pulled her away from her companions, "Take this path up the peak, use the rocks to take cover." He pointed up a steep passage that curved into the side of the mountain.

"Gandalf, I'm not sure if you've noticed but I'm covered in goblin blood." Marie pointed to the black mess that caked her left cheek and stuck her hair to her face.

"That is good, it will cover your scent."

"And if it doesn't?"

Gandalf bent down a little lower and whispered, "Then be prepared to run, fast."

Marie couldn't believe the wizard at times, but it didn't look like she had much say in the matter and she began her climb up the mountain. "Miss Baggins." Marie stopped and looked back at Thorin. His brow was deeply lined, "Should see any sign of the pack ... or of Azog, return at once."

Marie nodded and continued on her way. The path felt well worn and her feet found no trouble during the climb. Someone had used the path frequently or it was game trail for animals. As she neared the peek the dirt became stone and she could hear her feet padding along granite surface. The howls grew in volume as she peeked over the rocks, yet she could not see any sign of the wargs. All she saw was a indigo coloured sky with the first teasing signs of daylight behind the mountains. If was a beautiful sight to behold, until Marie finally caught movement from the mountain. It was just one warg she saw, but it did not take long for the rest of the pack to appear. The wargs sniffed fiercely for the trail, or lack of one, and were crossing over the peak. One warg stood out from the rest and Marie pressed against the rock. She recognized the beast and his rider, Azog the Defiler.

Marie could still hear his blood curdling scream from their escape and the blood shot eyes glaring down at her. It made her skin crawl and she snuck low behind the rock.

Her pointed ears detected another sound on the air, but it was much closer than the wargs. She kept low and looked to her left. There, not far from her, stood a large black beast. It rested it's meaty paws on a boulder and was watching the pack as she was, its heavy panting filled the air and Marie began to panic. If it smelt her it would be onto her in mere seconds. If the pack wasn't enough to worry about now there was this thing to worry about. She slid herself out from hiding and launched herself back down the path, but the vibrations from the black beast's roar nearly knocked her over.

She ran down hill so fast she had to steady herself on the rocks. At the bottom of the path the dwarves stood waiting, arms at the ready for a fight. Marie skidded to a halt to avoid being impaled by Orcist. "How close is the pack?" Thorin asked.

"No more than three leagues." Marie puffed out. "We have another problem though."

"Did they see you Marie? They saw you." Gandalf pressed her for answers. Marie bent over to catch her breath, "No they didn't"

Gandalf looked awfully pleased with himself, "See what did I tell you, quiet as a mouse." He said to the dwarves, who all agreed with grins, "Perfect burglar material I must say."

"I am flattered but," Marie raised her voice over all the mumbling, "There is something else out there and it is much closer than the pack." That silence the company.

"What form did it take? Like a bear?"

Marie cocked her head at the wizard, "Yes. Yes it did, only much, much bigger. How did ...?"

"You knew about this?" Bofur cut her off, "I say we double back."

"And be run down by a pack of orcs?" Thorin had a point.

"There is a house. It's not far from here, we could find refuge perhaps." Gandalf was staring off into the south. Marie could see hesitation behind all the hair.

"Whose house? Are they friend or foe?" Thorin growled.

"Neither. He will help us or he will kill us."

"What choice do we have?"

"None."

Another great roar bellowed from behind the company and all the dwarves and Marie turned to it. It was closer now. It sounded angrier.

"Quickly all of you, this way." Gandalf was the first to take off, then one by one the dwarves followed after, keeping their weapons out.

xxxx

They ran on through the forest until the sun had finally reached the middle of the sky, that is when the howling of the pack was heard along with the bear.

"Where is this house Gandalf?!" Nori shouted from the back of the group, but the wizard did not respond. The bear was catching up to them faster and was growing even fiercer to Marie. She alone knew what shape the beast was and the image of it running them down was enough to keep her already tired legs moving.

"This way, run!" Gandalf made for a clearing in the forest. Marie thought it was a bad decision to run out into the open, until she saw a large thatched house nestled in a small forest island in the middle of the glen. "Into the house!"

They ran with all speed as if the very gates of the Lonely Mountain were open and waiting for them with a might feast. They passed thought the wooden gateway and crashing into the massive door to the house. Marie stopped at the gate to catch her breath and look back. The black bear burst through the forest, taking out a tree of two as her did and Marie found herself running again. The dwarves were so anxious to get in that only Thorin had any sense to unlock the latch. The doors opened and they flooded in, Marie pushing Balin in before her.

"Come on lads push!" Dwalin spurred them on to shut the doors as the black mass of muscle came closer. Just as the two doors met, there came a great crash as the bear hit them. Marie saw a scarred muzzle pushed though and a set of sharp teeth to go along with it, roaring and snapping to get in. Marie stepped back into Gandalf's staff as the dwarves pushed the door close and successfully keep the bear on the outside.

"What is that?" Ori squeaked.

"That is our host."

Marie stared up and Gandalf with utmost confusion. Their host was a bear?

"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin changer. Sometimes he is a huge black bear, and sometimes his is a great strong man."

"Skin changer? I thought they were just things of folk tales." Marie said.

"No my dear Marie, they were as real as you or I." Gandalf began to pace. Marie noticed a small herd of cows calmly huddled in the huge wooden house, in fact everything was huge, from the chairs to the fireplace. The dwarves began to spread out and explore the skin changer's dwellings. "The bear is unpredictable but the man can be reasoned with. However he is not over fond of dwarves." Gandalf warned them. Gloin and Oin gave each other a worried look. "Get some rest, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight."

Marie came away from the door to find some comfort in the strange house. Balin and Kili surveyed the food they had access to, but found mostly wheat and berries. "Someone get water." Thorin ordered. "Aye, my throat is as dry as bone. An ale would do nicely." Marie heard Bofur from the other side of the hall. "Careful now. Don't break anything." Dori said frantically. "Where is the meat?" Bombur was digging through the cupboard.

Marie walked over to a table were a beautiful chess set was laid out. All the pieces where made from dark pine wood and where carved in the form of animals. A thin layer of dust floated up as she touched the smooth surface and tickled her nose. She whipped it on a sleave and came to realize that she was starting to smell, quite bad actually.

"Here." A large bucket was thrust before her, half full of clean water and a rag hanging off the side. Marie glanced at the hand holding the bucket, then followed up the arm until she came Thorin's face. "Get yourself cleaned. Stay inside."

Marie took the bucket from him, though it was twice the size of any normal one for her. "Thank you."

Thorin began to say something else but Oin tugged him away, "Come on Thorin, let's have a look at those wounds."

It eased Marie's conscious to know that Thorin's wounds were being cleaned and bound. She tightened her grip on the bucket and looked for a quiet spot to wash, which was not easy since the dwarves were taking up much of the house. Marie had no choice but to venture in between the cow and to the far corner of a forgotten pen, a small board of wood served as her guard

It had been so long since Marie had even thought to wash. It would be nice to be rid of the goblin blood once and for all. She first removed the shredded bandages from her hands for they had served their purpose. Her hands were now covered in tiny scars. Next she removed her coat and waistcoat, the once fine garment was now ruined and not worth keeping. Before she threw it over the board she remembered her new ring, still safe in the pocket. She plucked it out and popped it into her pack pants pocket, there it would be safe with her acorn button.

She peered over at the company warily before unbuttoning her shirt. She may have trusted them, but they were still men and she was still a woman. She sunk to her knees and peeled the white garment from her skin, leaving only her felt pants and bodice to shield her. She dunked the cloth into the water and began cleaning herself properly.

She let the sound of the dwarves talking mingle into a soft single murmur playing in the back of her mind. Bofur had started to sing, but in a mush docile tone than usual. Unlike before she had time to enjoy the sensation of water dripping down her forearms, to press her face into the cloth to cool her skin, all of it sweet relief it brought her running water across her bare shoulders. The water grew darker with filth and Marie's skin now glistened. She draped the damp cloth on the bucket and cupped great handfuls of water, dosing her long locks with it. She pulled her wet hair over her should and pulled at the knots. Twigs and dried blood stuck to the curls and it was no easy task to pick them out, but Marie found she had entered into a calm state of mind and it did not bother her to do so.

She combed her fingers through the relatively clean hair over and over, but something made her tense up. She was overcome with the sense of being watched.

"Um ... Marie?"

The hobbit almost died from embarrassment and snatched up her shirt. "Kili, for goodness sake!" She hastily threw the shirt around herself and pulled it tight across her chest. "I'm agh, I'm mean I ... agh I." Kili tried to speak but her had forgotten how.

"Warn me next time." She glared up at the youth, whose cheeks and ears had turned crimson as he stood gawking at her.

"There's food. I mean we have ... you know. Sorry." Kili hung his head in shame.

"Right. Thank you, just give me a moment."

But Kili did not move, and was peeking out under his messy hair. It wasn't until a large hand with armour plates came crashing down on his shoulder did he move. "Right lad. Come on." Dwalin yanked Kili away. Marie let out a sigh of relief and listened to what followed.

"Kili what were you doing?" She picked up Fili's disapproving voice.

"It's not like that I was ... OW! Uncle!"

Somehow the image of Thorin scolding Kili was enough to make Marie giggle, but she did so quietly.