"Troll hoard." Dwalin said, gesturing to the cave in front of them. It had only taken a few minutes of searching to find the troll's hideout, the company now gathered around outside peering into the dark cave.

"Oh god what is that smell?" Benna asked, putting her sleeve over her nose.

"Troll hoard." Dwalin said again as if it was a perfectly reasonable explanation as he started towards the entrance "Are you coming?"

She eyed the cave again "What's down there?"

He shrugged "Treasure, bones, relics, trash."

"Gee what a mixed bag." She said following after him, gagging as the smell intensified.

Benna looked around the dim cave, nudging the toe of her boot through one of the piles of scattered around the floor, passing Bofur and Gloin who were busy filling a trunk with gold coins. Venturing further into the cave, she gave a shudder as her eyes landed on a crumpled skeleton piled against one of the walls.

"Benna here." She turned to see Dwalin digging around one of the cracked shelves on the wall. As she approached he shoved a short sword into her hands. "This seems light enough for you to swing around without cutting off any toes."

Benna pulled the sword part way out of the sheath, the blade glinting in the dime light. as she pulled it out further she noticed a small engraved pattern that snaked its way up the length blade.

"Come on let's get out of here." Dwalin said, nudging her to the mouth of the cave.

When they were free of the cave she took a large gasp of the clean air.

"Feel good to breathe fresh air again?" Fili laughed.

Benna nodded, wandering over to the brothers.

"And what do you have there?" Kili pulled the sword from the sheath "A nice find my friend." He said giving it a few test swings

She uncurled the scabbard belt and looked it over with a frown. "How does this go on my back?" She asked, shaking the belt at them.

"Here let me see," Fili said, taking it from her. He studied it for a moment then stopped down to one knee in front of her "This ones meant to go around your hips."

Benna could feel heat beginning to creep into her cheeks as his hands worked the belt around her hips.

"Th.. Thanks." She said willing her voice to stay even.

"Of course!" He smiled, looking up at her as he finished strapping it into place. His hand rested on her hip for a moment, before he stood brushing the dirt from his knee.

"Somethings coming!"

A loud crack echoed through the trees as the company drew their weapons. Benna pulled the bow from her back, knocking an arrow as she looked around the forest for the source of the noise. Then suddenly there was a crash as a sleigh burst through the tree line skidding to a halt in front of them. She choked as she took in the sight in front of her. A tall wild looking man dressed in dirty brown robes was atop the sleigh, pulled by a team of large rabbits.

She opened her mouth then closed it, unable to form a coherent thought.

"Radagast!" Gandalf greeted pulling the wizard aside.

Benna cautiously approached one of the rabbits wanting to get a closer look. It blinked up at her its nose twitching.

"What is that thing?" Kili frowned as he came beside her peering down at the furry creature "Its clearly not natural. Look at the size of them!"

The rabbit took a hop towards him suddenly causing Kili to take a hurried step back with a startled yelp

"Some body guard you'd be." Benna snorted reaching a hand out to scratch the rabbits head.

"Oh aye well some champion you'll be." Kili countered "Not sure how far you'll get with out this.." He dangled her sword in front of him.

Benna's cheeks turned red as she felt around the empty sheath "Oh..."

"Well don't you worry, my brother an I will have you trained up in no time. You'll be the best of the best..." He looked her up and down for a moment "..Or at least the best of the rest."

Benna gave an indignant huff snatching her sword from his hand before skulking off to join Bofur and Bombour.

"Ah There you are." Bombour stood to meet her as she approached "Dwalin said you might be hungry after your stomach issues earlier." He said with a wink holding out a crust of bread to her.

"Oh thanks Bombour I.." Her reply was cut off as a howl echoed through the forest.

"Is that a wolf? Are there wolves here?" Bilbo asked nervously.

"Wolf? No that is not a wolf..." Bofur said jumping to his feet, a tinge of fear in his voice.

Benna grabbed Bilbo by the arm, pulling him closer to the group.

Without warning a large furry creature bounded into the clearing its teeth bared as it lunged for the company, Thorin sinking his blade into its neck before it could advance.

"Thorin!" Benna turned as Bofur called out, catching sight of a second warg poised to lunge at the dwarf. She felt a waft of air brush her cheek as Kili's arrow whistled past her, striking the beast in the chest.

"Warg scouts!" Thorin growled pulling his blade free "Which means an orc pack is not too far behind."

"Orc pack?" Bilbo blurted out, looking around them in fear. Benna gripped her bow tightly.

"Who did you tell about this quest beyond your kin?" Gandalf asked Thorin urgently.

Thorin shook his head "No one I swear. What is going on?"

The wizard regarded him darkly "You are being hunted."

"We have to get out of here!" Dwalin growled, looking around them.

"We can't the ponies have bolted!" Ori cried.

"Hunted?" Benna breathed "What does he mean hunted?"

Fili put a hand on her arm drawing her attention "It'll be alright, just stay close to us". Though the tension in his voice did little to reassure her.

She heard the brown wizard triumphantly declare that he would draw the pack, giving Gandalf a wide grin before he took off into the trees with a cry of "Come and get me!"

"Lets go!" Thorin called out as the company sprinted after him, bursting through the tree line and onto an open field littered with large rocks. In the distance Benna could see the orc pack as it chased the sleigh through the field.

"Quickly now," Gandalf called "Stay together!". They ran out from the cover of the rock only to see the pack running across the field just ahead of them.

"Move!" Thorin ordered as they turned on their heels running for the next rock covering.

Benna felt a hand on each shoulder as Fili and Kili pressed her back against the rock.

"Ori no." Thorin called grabbing him by his hood, drawing him back into the cover of the outcropping. The company stood there for a moment, ears straining for any sign of their pursuers. After a moment they could hear the sound of the warg's nails scratching on the rock above them. The company went still as sounds drew closer.

Thorin bent forward slightly locking eyes with Kili and Benna, then looking down at their bows. Kili gave a small nod and looked over at Benna. Her heart hammering in her chest as she nodded back. Slowly and quietly they each drew an arrow. Kili looked at her and after a beat jerked his head to the side. They both rushed out from their hiding place, turning to face the orc above them. Benna gasped as she saw the thing, Kilis arrow striking it in the neck. She released her arrow, drawing another as her shot hit the warg in the chest. Kili fired again this time hitting the orc, causing both orc and warg to tumble down the rock falling in front of the company, shrieking as it fell. As the orc got to its feet Dwalin and Bifur rushed to silence it. Benna's head snapped around as she heard the howls begin again, moving closer to them.

"Move! Run!" Gandalf yelled as the pack advanced. They came to a halt as Orcs rode up onto the hill in front of them.

"There's more coming!" Kili yelled as the orcs appeared on the other side.

"Kili, Benna, Shoot them!" Thorin ordered. Benna fired another arrow, this time going wide of its target, as her hands began to shake.

"Were surrounded!" Fili shouted as the rest of the pack closed in.

"Hold your ground!" Thorin called out over the din of the pack.

Benna forced her breathing to slow before firing again, this time hitting an orc in the chest, knocking it from its mount.

"Nori!" She yelled, tackling the dwarf to the ground just as the warg leapt at him.

She cried out as its claws skimmed her arm, cutting through her shirt. Benna heard a strangled yelp, looking up to see Dwalin pulling his ax from the warg's skull.

"Did it get you?" He asked, looking at the tear in her shirt.

She shook her head "It's not bad. Nori you alright?" She asked, helping him up.

"Aye thanks to you." He nodded.

Benna looked around the field at the advancing pack. "What do we do?" She asked breathlessly.

Dwalin looked down at her grimly "Fight."

She loosed another arrow and then another, fingers feeling around her empty quiver. She stowed the bow behind her, nervously drawing the unfamiliar blade.

"This way you fools!" Gandalf cried out his head poking up from behind the rocks.

"Lets go!" Dwalin said as they took off towards the wizard. They watched as one by one the members of the company disappeared behind the rock. Benna leapt down the tunnel, rolling down the steep embankment before coming to a stop in front of Balin.

"There we are lass." He said, pulling her out of the way as Dwalin slid down, followed closely by Kili and Thorin.

All of them watched the opening of the tunnel waiting to see if their pursuers would find them. Suddenly a horn blast rang out above them followed by the sound of orcs shrieking. They all took a step back as an orc tumbled down the passage. Thorin gave it a kick with his boot before stooping down to pull the arrow from its neck.

"Elves." He spat, throwing the arrow aside.

"I cant see where the path leads, do we follow it or not?" Dwalin called back to them.

"What's the other option," Benna pointed up at the opening "Go back up there?"

"She's right. Follow it of course!" Bofur agreed.

...

As they wound their way along the passage Benna began to feel a strange prickling sensation along her forearm.

"Gandalf where are we going?" She asked, rubbing her forearm as the sensation increased.

"You can feel it can't you?" The wizard said knowingly.

She ran her fingers over the mark "It feels… Well I don't know what it feels like."

"It feels like magic." Bilbo said, coming alongside them as the passage opened up.

"That is because it is." Gandalf smiled as they rounded the bend "The valley of Imladris. In the common tongue its known by a different name."

"Rivendell." Bilbo breathed.

Benna's mouth fell open as she looked into the valley below, taking in the sprawling city "What is this place?"

"This is the house of Lord Elrond, one of the great elf lords." Gandalf answered as they made their way towards the valley. Stopping as they reached a small courtyard.

"Gandalf."

She turned to see a tall dark haired man approaching them, her eyes immediately went to his softly pointed ears poking out of his hair. Gandalf smiled "Ah Lindir, I must speak with Lord Elrond."

Her attention was pulled away from the elf as she noticed the frowns on the company's faces.

"What's wrong with you guys?" Benna raised an eyebrow, looking at Fili and Kili "This place is beautiful!"

"It's an elf city." Fili said looking around distastefully.

"So?" She prodded.

"Elves and dwarves do not have a very genial history." Kili supplied.

"Are we in danger?" She asked, looking around them.

As if to answer her question a horn blast sounded as elves on horseback came trotting into the courtyard. Benna felt a hand go around her collar again as Dwalin pulled her back into the center of the group. Gandalf looked on unperturbed, smiling as one of the riders dismounted.

"Ah Gandalf!" The elf smiled warmly.

"Lord Elrond" Gandalf greeted. Benna lost the conversation as they switched to a different language.

"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin growled.

Gandalf sighed loudly "No master Gloin he's offering you food."

The dwarves deliberated for a moment "Oh well then lead on."

Benna moved to follow, stopping as Elrond stepped towards her.

"Would you like to have your arm looked at before dinner?" He offered, looking down at her torn shirt.

"Oh does it look that bad?" She asked, rolling up her sleeve.

She looked up as he inhaled sharply. Gently he took her arm, rolling it over to reveal the mark. His eyes flew up to meet Gandalf's "It would seem we have a great deal to discuss."

"What's going on?" Fili demanded suspiciously as he marched over.

At his question the rest of the company stopped walking and turned to look at them, hands on their weapons.

"I was merely offering to have her wound looked at before the meal master dwarf." Elrond said kindly.

"She stays with us." Fili growled putting his hand on her shoulder pulling her to him.

"I am a grown adult thank you very much," Benna said scowling at him, shoving his hand off, taking a few steps towards the elf "And I would like to not waste this second life by dying from an infection!"