Benna blinked, taking stock of her new surroundings. She was in a bed, a large bed. She turned her head. There was a dog, a large dog. The dog barked at her as it watched her almost expectantly. She frowned as it barked again.

Slowly she pushed herself up "Is this what you want?"

The dog tilted it's head but said nothing.

Benna painfully pulled herself from the bed "I don't suppose you could tell me where I am?"

The dog barked enthusiastically.

"Alright then lead on." She grumbled as she shakily followed the dog out the door and into a large house.

Nervously she looked around for the company, seeing no sign of them.

"Where are we going?" Benna mumbled, leaning against an oversized chair, waiting for the pain in her side to pass.

The dog looked at her and barked, trotting to a large door, pushing it open with its front paws. With a sigh she shuffled after it. She could hear voices as she followed the dog outside.

Rounding the corner she caught sight of the company as they milled around in the yard- some sparing, others relaxing or mending their belongings. The dog barked loudly, grabbing their attention.

"Well now look whos awake!" Bofur exclaimed

Dwalin stepped forward frowning down at her "What are you doing out of bed?"

Benna blinked up at him.

"Come sit down, You should be resting." He said, guiding her to a large wooden bench. "You had us worried these past few days. But thanks to Oin's persistent attention you seem to be on the mend."

She stretched her stiff limbs, wincing as a sharp pain ran along her side "I don't feel on the mend."

"You are lucky to be alive at all." He shook his head "I suppose you are too stubborn to let even death take you."

She shrugged "It didn't stick the first time, I'm not going to let it get me that easy a second time." Benna paused looking around them "Dwalin where are we anyway?"

"You are in my house of course!" a booming voice answered from behind them.

She jumped, hissing as a jolt of pain shot through her side.

"I did not mean to startle you little one" a large hairy man came into view "I am Beorn."

She stared at him for a moment "Benna… Benna McCallium."

Beorn studied her. "The dog tells me there is a strange feel to you." He said patting the dog on the head.

"Well that's very rude of him." Benna grumbled.

He laughed "This one I like. I will have him bring you some food to make up for his rudeness."

The dog reappeared a few minutes later balancing a tray of food on its back. Benna's eyebrows shot up, pulling at the cut over her eye.

"What is this place?" She asked looking at the dog bewilderedly.

"One of Gandalf's acquaintances," Dwalin said, his eyes following Beorn as he moved across the yard "Apparently he's got some sort O' magic about him."

"Magic?" Benna repeated, watching as the man disappeared into the house.

"Aye Gandalf says he can turn himself into a bear when he wishes it".

She felt the cut pull more as her eyebrows lifted even higher "A bear? You're joking."

Dwalin shook his head "We all heard something sniffing around outside the house last night. Something big and..."

He was cut off as the side door to the house slammed open

"Dwalin!" Fili shouted, racing from the house "I just went to check on Benna, but shes..."

He came to a halt as he saw Benna smiling at him from the bench.

"Benna." He breathed stepping towards her

The side door slammed open again, this time Kili dashing out onto the lawn "Shes not in the.."

Fili stumbled as Kili ran into him, sending them both teetering to the ground.

Benna leaned forward "Are you both alright?"

Kili jumped up, brushing the grass from his pants "Are we alright? We should be asking you that!"

"He is right." Fili sat down beside her "How do you feel? We did not expect you to wake so soon."

"It hurts still." She traced one of the jagged cuts snaking around her forearm with her finger "But I think I'll be ok."

Fili nodded "You should rest while your wounds heal."

"How long are we here for?" Benna look between them

Dwalin shrugged "Until your stitches come out."

Benna shook her head fervently "That could set us behind. I can travel!"

She stood up, only to be pushed back down.

"It is another day or two at most, we can spare it. Though if you keep insisting on moving around it will be much longer." Dwalin frowned

He looked over a Kili and Fili. "You two are going to watch her." He said pointing a finger at Benna "Make sure she doesn't move around too much and pull her stitches."

The pair bowed dramatically.

"But of course, we are at the lady's assistance!"

...

"I can walkkkkkk" Benna groaned, shifting her hold around Fili's neck.

He turned his head slightly to look back at her and shook his head "Sorry but I am much more afraid of Dwalin than I am of you."

Benna scowled at him half heartedly "Where are we going anyway?"

"You said you wanted to rest outside. Ori said there's a nice sunny clearing just off this path."

"Are you sure you're ok carrying me this far?" She asked innocently "If you're tired you can always put me down for a moment."

He raised an eyebrow "Why so you can take off running the rest of the way yourself the moment I set you down?"

"It was worth a try."

Fili set her down carefully in the clearing. Benna laid back stretching out her limbs, running her arms through the warm grass. He sat down next to her, pulling out a whetting stone.

She closed her eyes as the rhythmic sound of metal sliding across the stone drifted around her.

"It's nice here." She sighed, picking a few wildflowers, lazily weaving them together. Benna looked over as the sound next to her stopped. Fili was watching her pensively.

"Whats wrong?" She asked, sitting up to look at him.

He place a hand lightly on her cheek, gently running his thumb over one of the dark bruises "I thought I had lost you."

Benna placed her hand over his "I'm not going anywhere, I promise"

She grinned "Besides I think I've proven no mountain can kill me."

"Lets not test that theory any more." He said, pulling her gently to him. He looked at her intently "I want you to have something."

He pulled something from his pocket, dropping it into her hand. She looked down at the small clasp.

"I don't understand." She said, rolling it in her palm.

"It is a token of my intent. When the mountain is ours I would like to court you formally, if you would have me."

Benna's eyebrows sank "But we've only known each other a few months. What if you find someone when the mountain is reclaimed who is better suited for you?"

He shook his head "Dwarves only love once Benna."

She stared at the clasp "What about Kili, is he alright with this?"

"Kili is excited to have you as a sister."

She looked at him hesitantly "...What about Thorin?"

"Thorin is aware of my plans, He thinks you would make a fine queen."

Benna's head snapped up "Wait what was that part?"

Fili shrugged "Kili- he will be excited to have…..."

"No, not that part, the other one about being a queen!" Benna cut him off.

He gave her a confused look "If we were to marry you would become queen when I take the throne from Thorin."

Benna's eyebrows shot up into her forehead "Queen? I Can't be queen! Back home I couldn't even keep my goldfish alive, I can't help run a kingdom!"

Fili put his hands on his shoulders. "You need not worry so much Benna, it would be many years before you would need to be concerned about that. If you still have worries when that time comes we can figure something out." He grinned "Kili could always be king, I admit I would be curious to see his reign."

Benna cracked a smile. "Kili king under the mountain, now there's a scary thought" She laughed tying off the daisy chain of flowers in her hand placing it on his head "I think it's a better look on you."

He moved behind her, his fingers deftly moving through her hair. He plucked the clap from her hand snapping it into place on the braid.

Benna ran her fingers over the small braid that now ran behind her right ear. "I feel like a bonafide dwarf now."

"You're still missing the beard." He said playfully running his thumb over her chin.

It was nearly dinner by the time they returned. Fili placed her down a few yards from the house so she could walk the rest of the way.

"And where have you two..." Kili stopped as he caught the glint of silver behind her ear "Oh Bilbo Baggins owes me so much money now!"

He grabbed her arm, dragging her towards the house.

"Kili!" Fili frowned.

Kili looked back at him and then at Benna.

"Oh right," He said picking Benna up "Stitches."

…

"Come one Bilbo stab at him!" Benna cheered from her spot next to Fili on the lawn.

Kili lowered his sword to look at her.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"You are telling him to stab me." Kili raised an eyebrow.

"I'm trying to help motivate him." Benna corrected.

Kili yelped as Bilbo gave him a poke with sting.

"See," She said cheerily "Motivating."

"Perhaps you could motivate him a little less." Kili grumbled, rubbing his arm.

"Oh come now brother," Fili laughed, taking a draw from his pipe "Are you afraid Mister Baggins will beat you?"

Kili huffed at them before turning back to Bilbo. Benna smiled as Ori took a seat next to her.

"Hello Ori, come to enjoy the sunshine?"

The scribe nodded. "I thought we could work on your lessons as well." He said, pulling out some sheets of paper.

Benna took them from him and studied the sheet before grinning. "Hey Ori," She whispered leaning in conspiratorially "What's the dwarvish word for stab?"

Ori gave her a funny look "Zάnk. But why…."

Benna cut him off as she yelled "Zάnk Bilbo zάnk!"

Fili gave a bark of laughter as the hobbit turned to her with a bewildered look, while Kili gave her a frown.

"Whose idea was it to teach you Khuzdul?" He sighed.

"Mine." Benna grinned "I want to make sure you guys aren't making fun of me when I can't understand you."

"Oh Beanie if we wanted to make fun of you we would just wait for you to leave the room like we always do." Kili shrugged.

"Hey!" She said indignantly.

"Don't worry we will just make fun of you to your face from now on if you would like." Fili suggested looking down at her with a smirk. Benna jumped at him, knocking him to the ground. She lifted her head from his chest and grinned.

"You better hope I don't catch you talking about me" She said, wincing as she tried to push herself off of him. His arms wrapped around her as he gently helped sit her up

"Easy Mithrim."

Benna cocked her head "What's that mean?"

Fili grinned but said nothing.

She looked at Ori "Ori what's mithrim?"

The scribe opened his mouth to reply only to be cut off by Fili.

"Ori no." He shook his head still grinning at Benna.

She looked at Ori sweetly "Come on Ori please tell me."

"Ori." Fili warned, adding something in dwarvish. Ori nodded with a chuckle.

"Sorry Benna." He said getting to his feet.

She scowled "I'll find out just you wait."

Fili kissed her on the forehead helping her to her feet "I'm sure you will... Mithrim."

...

Benna flipped through one of Ori's books as she leaned against the wall, the pages holding little interest for her. She yawned looking over at Bifur. She watched as he methodically scraped his knife over the wood in his hands. He held the carving up for her to see.

"A bear?" She guessed.

"Oeí." He said, signing yes as he spoke.

She took it in her hands looking it over. "You are very talented."

Benna smiled running her finger along the smooth wood. Bifur smiled back at her as he spoke again. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Ok I got 'you', 'finished', and 'see' but I'm afraid the rest is lost on me. Ori hasn't gotten very far in my lessons." She admitted.

"He said you are kind to say so but it is not done, and to come back to see it when he is finished." Thorin said as he approached.

"Oh," Benna looked at him then to Bifur "I'd love to see it when you are done!"

She looked up at Thorin as he stood unmoving in front of her.

"I was hoping to speak with you." He said, offering his hand. She nodded, slowly and carefully pushing herself up from the floor, taking Thorin's outstretched hand. She followed him into one of the small side rooms. "Sit." He motioned to the bench nearby "I know Dwalin has been most insistent about you resting."

There was a long silence before Benna spoke up "Am...Am I in trouble or something?"

Thorin raised an eyebrow at her and shook his head "No, nothing like that. I realized I have not had a proper chance to thank you. You saved my life in the mountains at great risk of your own. You kept silent in the goblins caves even through the threat of torture to keep this quest intact. I do not know what I have done to deserve such loyalty from you but I am immeasurably grateful for it. I admit…. when we first met I was indigent that the Valar would send someone like you to aid me," Benna raised an eyebrow at him. He put a hand up quickly continuing "But I have seen the depths of your loyalty, your courage and your kindness. I am glad you are with us."

"look Thorin, I know you doubted me.. and I dont blame you, I would doubt me too. I'm not a warrior or wizard or even a scholar. I dont know anything about orcs or dragons... Hell I dont really know much about dwarves for that matter..." She ran her hand over the mark "But the Valar seem to think I can do something to help you get your home back, and I plan on doing just that." She looked at him with a sad smile "I've been alone for most of my life." She admitted "But this company has become like a family to me- I would gladly do it all again in a heart beat for any one of you."

Thorin smiled back "You have become dear to all of us indeed." He cast a look at the braid behind her ear "Some more than others. I hope this means if we reclaim the mountain you would stay in Erebor."

"When we reclaim the mountain." Benna corrected "And you'd have a hard time getting me not to stay."

...

Oin hummed his approval as he examined Benna's stitches "I think these can come out today".

Her excitement turned to apprehension as the elderly healer turned back to her knife in hand. She gritted her teeth as she felt him tug at the thread, hissing as he pulled it from her skin bit by bit. "I'll wrap you up then we'll be done." He said, patting her on the arm "You'll need to rest still as much as you can.". She nodded almost springing off the bench as he finished. Outside the rest of the company were loading supplies onto the ponies.

Benna moved to grab her pack only for Oin to smack her hand away "Ow what the hell?"

He frowned at her "By the forges of Mahal girl- rest means rest not saddling ponies!"

Benna plopped herself down in the grass watching as the rest of the company finished loading the packs. Soon the dog came trotting over to her. It sat down next to her placing its head in her lap as she scratched its ears.

"He likes you." Beorn's deep voice rumbled from beside her.

"He was right you know, you do have a very strange sense to you." He said, watching her carefully "You are not from this world are you?" Benna looked at him in surprise but shook her head. Beorn gave a deep laugh "A strange power and a strange girl. You must come back when your task is completed and tell me your story from the start!"

She nodded "I'd like that. Though I'm not sure you'd believe half of it."

He laughed again "I have heard many strange tales in my life, but a woman from another world is a unique one."

"Benna." Dwalin called, waving her over.

"Goodbye," Benna said, looking up at Beorn.

"Until our next meeting." He nodded, waving her off.

"You're sure you feel well enough to ride?" Dwalin asked, looking her over.

Benna nodded grinning "You're becoming quite the mother hen, you know."

He shot her an exacerbated look. "Oh," he said rummaging in his pockets "I almost forgot." After a moment of searching he pulled out her bracelet, dropping it into her hands. "Thorin and I fixed it up the best we could."

She looked at it closely, she could see where the silver had been repaired with iron.

"Thank you!" She said clicking the clasp in place.

He Helped her mount the waiting pony before walking over to his own.

"Let us go while we have the light." Gandalf called as the company moved in line behind him.