On the third day of his journey with the company, Bilbo sat on his pony, following the path through the woods. It was a fine day, sun dappling through the canopy above, and they were keeping a steady but easy pace.

As they made their way, Kíli looked up in the trees suspiciously.
Fíli noticed this and did the same, but saw nothing. Then he heard it; a sound in the branches above. Then quiet again. He shared a look with Kíli, but they shrugged it off.

A few moments later, Gandalf put up his hand, and the company came to a stop on the path.
The dwarves looked at each other with confusion.
"I know you're there," the wizard called out loudly to the woods in general.

Suddenly a girl dropped from the trees, landing with a thud to crouch thirty feet from the front of the convoy.
She stared down Gandalf, holding a thin grey staff topped by a piece of blue sea glass. "You're late."
"I am not," Gandalf replied indignantly, getting down from his pony.
She grinned and flipped her staff up onto her shoulders as she walked toward him, resting her hands on it casually. "Well, I was early, which is the same thing," she laughed.
Gandalf let out a small laugh and clapped her on the shoulder. "Glad you could make it."
"I wouldn't miss a summon from you," she beamed up at the grey wizard.

It was then that Bilbo noticed her small stature. She was probably only two or three inches taller than he was, but she didn't seem to be a hobbit or a dwarf. She had small feet in leather boots, pointed ears, and no beard. Her long brown hair was in a single, high braid, and she wore a pack on her back for travel. Her brown pants were fitted and her blue linen shirt was loose. He couldn't think of any group of people he'd heard of that would fit her description.

"Gandalf," Thorin called, hopping off his pony. "Who is this?"
"The final member of our party," Gandalf announced. "I present to you Andréa, the blue wizard."
Andréa bowed deeply to the convoy. "At your service."

"Another wizard?" Bilbo stared with confusion and excitement.
Thorin looked suspiciously at Gandalf. "You did not mention this."
"Well, I wasn't sure she'd be able to make it. Didn't want to get your hopes up." He laughed nervously, hoping Thorin was not offended.
"So you thought it better to surprise me with this elf-Wizard."

She raised her brows. "I am no more an elf than a dwarf."
Thorin's tone betrayed his offense at the idea. "You are no dwarf."
"Then I am no elf."
"Well you're not a hobbit, with those feet." He eyed her suspiciously. "What are you, and from where?"
"I am nothing, and of nowhere."
Gandalf put a hand on Andréa's shoulder, giving Thorin a pointed look. "She is a wizard. And a friend of mine, Thorin."
"You have earned my trust, Gandalf, but still…"

Thorin narrowed his eyes at her and gave her an appraising look. "Do you know how to fight?"
"By blade and staff." She straightened up, standing her staff on the dirt and putting her hand on the grip of the sword she had sheathed. "Shall I show you?"
Thorin shook his head, believing her.
He mulled this over, looking to Gandalf, and finally back to Andréa.
"And you wish to come with us?"
"I don't have any more contracts," Balin interjected.
She put her hand up. "No need for that. Gandalf has asked that I protect you and your kin as you reclaim Erebor. For that I am prepared to give my life."
Bilbo raised his brows, but said nothing.

Thorin looked over the short blue wizard, and saw her earnest devotion to her mission. It was true that they could use the extra help, given that none of the other dwarves had joined them. And if a hobbit was supposed to be of use, surely a second wizard would be even more so. Still, he couldn't help but think she looked barely grown.
"Do you truly know what you are swearing to? It may well cost your life."
"I am quite aware, yes. But I feel it is a worthy cause."
"And why is that?"
"The great halls of Erebor belong to dwarves, not dragons."
He smirked slightly, agreeing, and put his arm out. "Very well. Welcome to the Company."
She took his arm in hers and accepted the welcoming shake and back pat that accompanied it.
"I expect great things, wizard."
She didn't flinch, instead nodding. "My word is true. Or you may take my life yourself."
"Now hold on," Bilbo stammered. "That's going a bit far don't you think?"
But the dwarves seemed to take her oath seriously, most of them looking on with respect.

Bofur called out. "If Bilbo is our burglar, does that make Andréa our wizard?"
"Surely that's Gandalf?"
"Backup wizard?"
"Backup wizard!" several cheered in unison.
Thorin called over the cheering. "Get her a pony. We're not stopping here."

As the group slowly started moving forward, Kíli approached with a pony. "Here, her name's Pansy."
"Thank you…" she trailed off, hoping for him to introduce himself.
He flashed her a charming grin. "Kíli."
"Thank you, Kíli!" She beamed up at him, then mounted Pansy.
"Have you ridden before?"
"A few times," she shrugged. She leaned forward to run a hand down the pony's long neck. "We'll be fine, won't we Pansy?" she asked softly.

She fell into position just before Kíli and Fíli at the back of their long procession. The fine weather made for an easy ride in the sparse woods.
Kíli watched the new party member as they rode, making sure she wasn't having any trouble. He studied her pack, noting how full it looked in comparison to her small frame. It was well-worn, with patches near the bottom, and several layers of different types of stitching where the straps met the sack.
He imagined her moving through the treetops with this old thing on her back and marveled that she hadn't gotten it caught on an errant branch.
Or maybe she had, and that was why it was so beat up.
What sort of wild wizard is this?

When they finally made camp for the night, Kíli watched as the short wizard stared openly at Nori while they sat around the fire. Andréa was sitting in front of Gandalf and Bilbo, a few feet from where Fíli and Kíli had sat, and Nori was standing tending the flames.

Nori shot her a dirty look when he caught her staring at him. "You have something to say?"
"Oh! No." Color rose in her cheeks and she put her hands up. "I'm sorry, I was just admiring-" she moved her hands in circles, gesturing at his face. "Your braids. I've never seen any so spectacular before." She looked away, wincing awkwardly, immediately regretting her words. "I'm sorry."
Nori grunted, smiling to himself, then went to sit down with Dori and Ori.

Kíli laughed silently, finding her bashful side charming.
Gandalf, who was sitting beside Andréa, smirked. "Andréa's always had an interest in dwarves."
"Gandalf." She looked up at him with annoyance.
"Is that not why you agreed to come along?"
"I came along because you told me a great king was going to reclaim a mountain from a dragon."
He nodded and smoked his pipe. "That is the truth."
"You know, Gandalf, your hair is quite long. It could hold braids well."
He eyed her without saying a word.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine."

Bilbo laughed. "You two have an interesting friendship," he remarked.
She grinned at the hobbit. "Gandalf is my mentor." She nudged the grey wizard playfully. "He's used to my mischief."
Gandalf patted her head patronizingly. "Yes, for now I will forgive the folly of your youth," he teased. "Though, Master Baggins is younger than you and considerably better mannered."

She frowned and straightened up, her entire demeanor changing to polite and serious. "I can be well-mannered." She turned to Bilbo. "Are you truly younger than me?"
Bilbo shrugged. "Well, I'm 50…" He had no idea how old anyone in the company was, now that he thought of it - least of all Gandalf.
"Oh, you are?" she commented lightly. "I'll have to take special care of you, then."

Kíli leaned over from where he'd been eavesdropping. "Well I'm 77."
She raised a brow and turned toward him. "Oh?" She looked him over. "Hm."
Fíli leaned over as well. "And I'm just 82."
She smirked slightly at Fíli. "That would make you five years older than me."
Kíli furrowed his brow, doing the math. "Then… we are the same age?"
She tried not to laugh. "Yes." She winced slightly. "You're- Kíli, right?"
"Kíli," he nodded.
She pointed to Fíli, looking guilty. "And?" She had tried to overhear the names of all the dwarves during the day, but both the names themselves and the dwarves they belonged to were so numerous and unfamiliar, that she hadn't picked up on much.
"Fíli."
She nodded, then repeated them to herself. "Kíli, and Fíli. I will endeavor not to confuse them."
Fíli wrapped his arm around Kíli. "My brother and I are used to it."
Kíli smirked and raised his brows flirtatiously at the blue wizard.
Andréa, unsure what to make of that, looked away, smiling.

She looked out over the group, then slid over to sit on the ground in front of the young dwarves, pointing around the fire. "Will you remind me the other names of the company?"
Kíli grinned and leaned closer conspiratorially and Fíli followed his lead, their faces pressing forward on either side of hers.
Kíli put his hand on her shoulder and pointed. "Of course you know Gandalf, he's our wizard."
"And Mr. Baggins, that's our burglar."
"Burglar?" She looked over a Bilbo with a raised brow
Bilbo shrugged.

"And then you've got Nori with the braids you liked."
She cringed, embarrassed that Kíli had overheard that interaction.
"Beside him's his brother Dori. He'll make you tea, if you're into that sort of thing."
"Then their cousin Ori, he's often got his nose in his book." Kíli scrunched his nose disapprovingly.
"Then Gloin, with the red beard. He's a bit quick tempered, but he's the only one here with a wife."
"Maybe that's why he's ill tempered?" Kíli joked.
"And his brother, Óin, who's hard-of-hearing. He's a great healer."
"Then there's their cousin, Balin. One of Thorin's most trusted advisors. Great warrior."
"And Balin's brother, Dwalin. Another great warrior. Don't take it personally if he distrusts you."
"Why would he-"
"Well, you're not a dwarf."

"Oh." She deflated somewhat. "That's hardly something I can control."
Fíli and Kíli both let out small laughs.
"The one with the big hat, that's Bofur. And the big one beside him's his brother, Bombur. He'll eat anything he can get a hold of."
"And the one with the axe stuck in his head is their cousin Bifur. He won't be able to speak to you, since he only speaks our dwarf tongue."
"And then of course there's our uncle Thorin."
"You seemed to have an idea who he was already."

"Yes, Gandalf told me of Thorin." Andréa let out a deep breath, looking over the group. "That's a lot of names to learn at once."
Kíli grinned crookedly and winked. "Just remember Kíli and I'll know you're looking for me."
"And you can call me Kíli too, if you forget." Fíli added. "Thorin's in the habit from scolding him so much."
Andréa let out a small laugh, turning to smile appreciatively at the brothers. "Kíli, and Fíli," she said, pointing at them in turn. "I won't forget."
She looked down at her hands and started counting with her fingers. "Kíli, Fíli, Thorin… Nori, Dori, Ori… then… Bofur? Bifur? No, I've forgotten some of them already."

The next morning as Andréa readied her pony, she was approached by the young dwarf with the long brown hair.
"Good morning, backup wizard," he grinned.
She lit up at the greeting. "Good morning, Kíli."
"No, I'm Fíli. That's Kíli," he gestured past her to his older brother, who was readying his own pony.
She narrowed her eyes at him in confusion. "That's not what you said yesterday."
"So you did remember." He smirked, looking her over. "Kíli," he nodded.

She tried to fight the grin on her face, shaking her head at him. "Don't confuse me. There are thirteen of you to remember, not counting the hobbit and Gandalf."
He clucked his tongue, shaking his head dismissively. "Ah but, Fíli and I are the most important."
She did laugh at that. "I would think that Thorin Oakenshield is the most important? He's to be king under the mountain, is he not?"
"Yes, but as his nephews, we're next in line." He hooked his thumbs into his belt. "And Thorin's much too old for you anyway."

She shook her head, adjusting her pack on her back. "You're trouble, aren't you? I think I should keep my eye on you." She narrowed his eyes at him teasingly.
He smiled crookedly and raised a brow. "Oh, feel free to watch me as you please."
She snorted, but felt color rise in her cheeks and quickly turned away to mount the pony.
Kíli walked past her to join Fíli, smiling to himself.

When they stopped for a midday break, Andréa sat down next to Kíli and drank deeply from her waterskin, looking over the troop.
Kíli glanced over to see her tapping her fingers as she looked over the dwarves, mouthing names. He snickered and leaned toward her. "Almost got our names down?"
She bit her lip and tilted her head. "Mm. Some of them."

"Who's got you stumped?" he wondered, moving closer to her so they could be quiet about it.
"Well, I've got-" She held up her fingers. "Kíli, Fíli, Thorin, Nori, Dori, Ori… Bofur has the hat, and Bombur has the long ropey beard?"
"It's alright to say Bombur's the roundest one," Kíli laughed.
"And… One is named Bifur?"
"The one with the axe in his head, yes."
"Oh, okay…" she nodded, sighing.

"Is that all?"
"It's a lot." She looked over to him guiltily. "But that means there's just four more?"
Kíli nodded. "Balin and Dwalin are brothers." He pointed subtly. "Dwalin's the bald one who looks like his grimace could break your bones. Balin's the much older one who's always talking to Thorin. They're both very close to him, and mighty warriors."
"You respect them?" she asked, surprised.
Kíli seemed offended by the question. "Very much so. They survived the Battle of Azanulbizar."
"What was the Battle of Azanulbizar?"
He let out a long sigh, not wishing to discuss it. "The battle for our ancestral lands, where my grandfather, King Thror, was slain by orcs."

Andréa nodded with understanding. Gandalf had told her a little about Thror, and Thrain - that they'd fallen in battle and left Thorin as heir to their people - and of the fall of Erebor to Smaug. She pulled a necklace out from under her shirt and held the pendant tightly.
"I'm sorry. That sounds awful." She looked between Thorin, Balin, and Dwalin. "It must give Thorin comfort to have such fine warriors with him again on this journey."
Kíli's brow furrowed. He hadn't considered it from that angle, but knew that his uncle did hold the other two dwarves in high esteem. "I suppose."

Andréa scanned the group, her gaze settling on the grey wizard. Her voice was quiet. "Gandalf helped me when I was very much in need, so his presence gives me great comfort. Even now."
Kíli pursed his lips, looking between the two wizards. He didn't understand why she would need comfort given the ease of their journey thus far, but he was happy to have two wizards at their side for any potential dragon encounters.

At nightfall, when they broke for camp, Andréa walked a bit off from camp to meditate on her own.
When she returned, she came upon Dwalin cutting large pieces of wood into suitable pieces for their fire. He gave her a stoic glance before continuing to chop.

"Good evening," she offered.
He grunted and continued on.
"Could I help?"
"I'm fine."
"I'm sure I'm not as strong or fast with an axe, but I've chopped wood before."
"Run along."
"I just thought if I could be of help-"

He threw his axe at the ground, where it stuck upright, trenched deeply into the hard dirt. "I don't need help from a wee lass with no beard!"
"Of course." Andréa shrank in response, looking at the ground. "My apologies, Mr. Dwalin."

It wasn't the apology that struck a chord of guilt in him, but the soft way she spoke his name; somewhere between respect and affection. He took a breath and turned to find that she'd already hurried off to the other end of camp.

Andréa sat down near the fire and tucked her knees up to her chin, staring into the fire with a morose expression. Kíli watched as she pulled a necklace out from under her shirt and held the green pendant tightly in a fist against her chest. He knew that Dwalin's actions had been a bit harsh, but he was surprised to see her so affected by them. Just as he was thinking of going over to her, her attention was caught by a set of hairy feet that had come upon her.

Andréa looked up to see Bilbo smiling down at her. "Brought you some supper," he offered, sitting down next to her with a cheery demeanor.
She felt like she might cry in relief, and took the portion he offered gratefully. "Thank you so much, Mr. Baggins."
"Oh, please, call me Bilbo," he insisted.
"Thank you so much, Bilbo." She smiled as she pressed her fork into a piece of potato.
"Ah, there it is." He clucked, nudging her playfully before starting to eat. "Can't have a good meal without a good mood."
She nudged him back. "Can't help but be in a good mood with such fine company."

Kíli smiled to himself as he watched the hobbit cheer up their backup wizard.

"Is this the sort of meal you'd usually have back home?"
Bilbo laughed. "Not- exactly," he hedged, not wanting to be rude. "Usually a few more courses."
"Mmm, yes, I've noticed the dwarves don't stop for Elevenses."
"Thank you," Bilbo enthused. "It's not natural."
Andréa laughed. "They're quite focused." She gestured with her hand in a straight line. "We've a goal in mind, so we should keep to it."
Bilbo shrugged. "Being well fed never hurt anyone on a long journey."
"I hope it is long," she murmured.
"Why's that?"

She glanced about the group, then leaned in toward Bilbo, speaking very quietly. "I've much to learn."
Bilbo blinked in surprise. "From- from them?"
She nodded. "Durin's folk. Noble dwarves. I might not get another chance to meet folk like this." She popped a piece of hot carrot into her mouth. "Nor a burglar hobbit."

Bilbo laughed, then looked away bashfully. He caught Thorin staring at Andréa, and, before he could look away, Thorin caught Bilbo staring at him.
Bilbo looked down to his plate. "I'm not sure Gandalf chose correctly for his burglar, if I'm honest."
Andréa studied his face with an abnormally serious expression. She put her hand on Bilbo's knee. "I think it's right that you're with us, Bilbo."
"That's very kind of you to say."
"Or selfish." She shrugged. "I'd like you to stick with us, if you would."
"Of course." Bilbo wrapped his arm around her playfully. "We non-dwarves can stick together."
She snickered, but nodded. "I'd like that."

Kíli stopped by where Andréa was seated as Bilbo took their dishes to Bofur to clean them.
"Have you got us all memorized yet?" he teased.
She smiled, nodding. "Thanks to your help, Kíli."

A breeze picked up and she shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her small frame.
"If you're cold, you should sit closer to the fire."
She let out a small sigh. "Yes, seems so."
"Actually-" Kíli rubbed his chin. "Dori's always happy to make tea, if you need something to keep you warm."
"Oh?"

Andréa walked around the fire and stopped in front of Dori, her hands behind her back.
"Dori?"
"Hm?" He looked up at her with mild surprise.
She pointed in the general direction of Kíli. "I was told by the troublemaker that you make a fine cup of tea. I was wondering if you'd share some with me."
He smiled, straightening up a bit. "Why, that sounds lovely. How about a nice, calming chamomile?"
"Yes please," she grinned.

He got up to fill his kettle and place it near the fire.
Nori raised a brow at Andréa. "You're making the rounds."
She shrugged, smiling. "Well if I'm to die for you, I'd like to at least meet you all properly first."
Nori scoffed. "As if we need your protection."
"You may be right."
"What's in it for you anyway?" Gloin asked, leaning over to squint at her.
"Didn't Gandalf tell you? I have a special interest in dwarves."
"Oh, aye? Why's that?"
She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it, looking away.
Nori let out a suspicious hum.
Andréa put her hand over her chest and met Gloin's gaze. "A dwarf saved my life once." She looked over to Nori. "I wasn't able to repay that."
Something about the expression on her face made Nori believe her. He relaxed somewhat and nodded. "Fine then."

Dori returned with a mug of steaming tea. "Here you are, sure to warm you for an evening's rest."
She smiled up at him as she cupped the mug with both hands. "Thank you so much."
He retook his seat, holding his mug up at her briefly. "Cheers."

She sat down on the ground facing Dori, between him and the fire. She blew on her tea and looked off to the right to see that Ori was scribbling in his book. She watched as Fíli and Kíli walked behind him, heading to where their packs were.
Kíli made eye contact with her and flashed an easy grin.
She smiled back, then took a sip of her drink. She closed her eyes as the hot liquid warmed her chest and let out a pleased sigh.
"You like it?" Dori asked, raising a brow.
She met his gaze and nodded, trying to temper her grin. "I feel cozy."
He let out a small laugh. "Well I'm glad someone in the party appreciates finer tastes."

Some of the dwarves started humming a low, melancholic tune.
Andréa turned to see the rest of the company gathering around the fire with stoic looks on their faces.

Thorin began to sing, staring into the flames.
"Far over the Misty Mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old"

Andréa clutched the mug and looked around slowly, reading the heavy expressions as the other dwarves joined in. As the song continued she closed her eyes, sinking into the deep vibrations that surrounded her as their low voices blended and harmonized.
She pictured clearly the fire in the night and her chest ached for the pain in their tune.
As the song continued, she opened her eyes and looked over the company. She made eye contact with Bofur, who gave her a subtle nod, and then Kíli, who simply looked away and kept on, his face abnormally serious.
Finally her gaze settled on Thorin, and she felt the skin on her arms prickle with goosebumps.

That night while most of the company slept, Balin, Fíli and Kíli kept watch.
Bilbo snuck off to feed an apple to one of the ponies, and as he returned, a strange sound rang out in the night.
"What was that?" he asked the dwarves.
Kíli sat up, furrowing a brow. "Orcs."
"Orcs?" Bilbo ran back toward the brothers.
At the mention of orcs, Thorin jolted awake, as did Andréa.

"Throat cutters," Fíli elaborated. "There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them."
Gandalf sat smoking his pipe, watching the interaction.
Andréa slowly sat up, wrapping her blanket around her.
Kíli looked up at Bilbo. "They strike in the wee small hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood."
When Bilbo looked back out toward where the sound had come from, the two brothers looked at each other and started to laugh.

"You think that's funny?" Thorin's voice was disapproving. "You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"
Kíli blinked and looked away shamefully. "We didn't mean anything by it."
"No, you didn't." Thorin walked off to look over the lowlands. "You know nothing of the world."

Andréa watched as he walked past, her face somber. She exchanged a knowing look with Gandalf, who offered her a pitying half-smile.
"Don't mind him, laddie." Balin said, approaching Thorin's nephews and Bilbo. "Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the lonely mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarven kingdom of Moria."
Andréa leaned forward, interest piqued and hands clutching the pendant of her necklace. It was then that Kíli noticed her, and the way she looked up at Balin, enthralled as he began to tell the story of how Moria had been overrun by orcs led by Azog The Defiler.
"The giant Gundabad orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin," Balin explained. He made eye contact with Andréa. "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."

Fíli, who was familiar with this tale, looked to Bilbo and Andréa; the hobbit looked horrified, but the small wizard had a knowing, empathetic expression on her face.
"We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us." Balin took a breath and smiled, his voice growing conspiratorial. "That is when I saw him," he nodded, then looked over to where Thorin stood with his back to the camp.
"A young dwarf prince, facing down the pale orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armour wrent, wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog The Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin," Balin looked to Fíli and Kíli, "would not be so easily broken."
Andréa smiled softly and looked from the brothers to their uncle.

"Our forces rallied, and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast," Balin shook his head, growing mournful once again, "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." He raised his brows. "There is one who I could call king."

When Thorin turned toward the camp again, every dwarf in the company faced him with respect.
They had woken during the telling of the tale and most had stood, though his nephews stayed seated at the back of the group.

Bilbo, who was still seated, looked up at Balin. "And the pale orc? What happened to him?"
Thorin made his way through the crowd. "He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago."
Gandalf and Balin exchanged a silent look.

As Andréa looked up at Thorin, she saw, from her low seat, the seven stars of Durin's Crown twinkling in the night sky just above his head.
Thorin met her gaze as her eyes grew wet.
"Do you wish to flee now, lass? Overcome by a tale of death in battle?"
She shook her head. "I am moved by the promise of a great king and his people."

He snorted, but a soft smile crossed his lips before he turned to the rest of the company. "Get your rest. We depart at dawn."