HELLO! I'm BACK! Wow...It's been a crazy long wait for you all and I truly apologize. At first I got stuck and didn't really know where to go with the story and then life kind of happened. Anyways, while working on re-writing my first story, I came back to this one and it was re-reading this story that I finally got some direction for it. Sorry this is a short chapter but I hope you enjoy it. Comments and reviews always appreciated!

Never in her life did she think she would find herself lost with a stranger on her back, while traveling with a group of men who seemed to take LARPing to a whole other level. But here she was. She let out a sigh as she readjusted the unconscious man on her back. Her pace had slowed down a while back and now was bringing up the rear of the group. The only thing at this point keeping her going was quietly humming to herself and the determination to not piss off the leader any more than she already had.

It still came as a shock to her at her outburst and she could only be thankful that the dark haired leader hadn't said anything or worse, left her behind with no horse and this unconscious prick.

Wow! I'm really cranky. Okay Maya, breath. Just keep walking and not talking. Cranky Maya always equals Maya with no filter.

She cringed remembering how many times she had said things that she immediately regretted because she was tired. Shaking of the thought, she continued her humming.

By midday Maya's legs burned with each step and her back ached. A nudge at her hand had her turn to the pony she led.

Great. Even the pony's telling me to hurry up. This is all Ander's fault. He just had to get worse. He probably did this on purpose to get back at me and is really fine but just sleeping...Please wake up Anders. Don't leave me here with the men by myself.

A frown formed on her face and without thinking she leaned her face against his limp head. Despite her anger towards the man, he was her only connection to her home. She couldn't lose that connection. Not now.

So lost in thought, Maya was completely oblivious to dip in the path until it was too late. Losing her footing, she fell face first into the ground. Even with the grass, it still hurt and more so with the extra load. A moan escaped her lips and the sound of laughter didn't go unnoticed, but Maya chose to ignore it. Slowly moving Ander's off her, she got to her hands and knees. She could tell that overall she was fine aside from a few bruises and a bruised ego.

"You alright there, lass?"

Lifting her gaze, she saw a man with a long beard and mustache with a funny hat laughing as he made his way over to her on his pony. She narrowed her eyes at him as she stood.

"Fine."

"Need a hand?" He asked dismounting and walking over to her.

Cocking a brow at him, she was ready to snap at him when he gave a smile. Despite laughing earlier, he did seem sincere in his offer. She was half tempted to take it when she remembered her promise. Biting the inside of her cheek, she released a deep breath.

"No. I'm fine. Thank you."

The man frowned and took a quick glance behind him before nodding.

"Ah. Right. Well seeing as how comfortable you are around the pony, I don't have to tell you there's other ways of getting on them." The man gave Maya a wink and a smile as he shifted his eyes in the direction of a large rock that lay planted in the ground off the side of the road.

Confusion shifted to understanding and before she could say thank you, the man with the funny had turned his horse around. She bit her lip. While she promised not to get assistance from his men, there was no mention of getting advice. And technically she didn't ask, he offered it before she could protest.

Shifting her gaze to the unconscious Anders still laying on his back and the rock, she let out a sigh. She grabbed the pony's reins and led it to stand next to the rock. The rock stood just at the pony's knees. While she wished it were higher, it would do. At the very least she would be able to get Anders on it's back.

"Stay." She said softly while holding up a hand.

Satisfied that it wouldn't move, she quickly walked over to Anders. The lack of sleep and having carried him all this way, lifting his dead weight was much more of a struggle. But she persevered, maneuvering herself so he was once again one her back. Her legs shook with each step and her breathing became more labored. For a brief moment she wasn't sure she was going to be able to climb on top of the rock without falling, but thankfully her footing stuck. Gently releasing Ander's legs on at a time, she wrapped her arm around his waist as she turned to face him. The limp body pressing against hers made her cringe. Instinct told her to move away and fast but she managed to ignore it as she twisted and turned them around so Anders face the pony. Careful not to drop him out of fear of spooking the pony, she managed to get him to lay across the saddle like a sack of potatoes. Straightening up she took in her work.

This could work...But if he wakes...That would be bad.

Picturing Anders waking up and falling off the saddle, while amusing didn't sit well with Maya. Taking a moment, she worked on a plan. Chewing on her bottom lip, she shifted him to lean against the smile pile of supplies tied down to the saddle. She was half tempted to throw his leg over and let him ride backwards but again. It would be cruel for him to wake to a pony's ass. Even though he was one himself. The thought made her chuckle to herself as she went back to work. More shifting, more lifting, more adjusting and finally she had him laying back against the supplies, legs straddling the saddle. As gently as she could, she mounted the pony. Settling in the saddle, she reached back and pulled Ander's against her, wrapping his arms around her waist before taking the reins.

A labored sigh escaped from her lips before a satisfied smile appeared on her face. Turning to the others, her smile faltered. All attention lay on her. Eyes wide with shock and awe and a bit of amusement. But the look that made her smile fall was seeing the amusement that pull at Thorin's lips before he ordered everyone to move.

Maybe things will be better now.

Smiling to herself, she kicked the pony's side and followed once again bringing up the rear.

Anders walked lazily on the path. He didn't know why the hell Mike insisted on meeting in the woods. There was no reason. No one else in their family was become a god. Unless dear old dad had another family that they didn't know about. He couldn't help but scoff at that.

It was when he got to the spot that he realized he was the only one there. His eyes scanned the area. Something caught his eye, a figure beside a distant tree. A young girl with auburn wavy hair hiding just behind the tree. Even at this distance, he could tell she looked scared. He took one step and she took a step back.

A sense of déjà vu hit him. The sound of a snapping twig behind him sent the girl running away.

"Wait!" His call went ignored and he couldn't help but scowl. "Dammit Mike! Why the fuck –"

His mouth went dry as he turned to find himself staring at himself. There were key differences. Bigger build, bigger nose, long hair and a braided mustache that Anders would never be caught dead having on his face. But the eyes were the same that he saw every time he looked in the mirror.

"You! Who the fuck are you!? What are you doing here?"

The man said nothing before his eyes narrowed and he unsheathed his sword.

Anders let out a gasp as his eyes shot open. The feeling of a warm body against his own, his arms wrapped tightly around their waist was too much as he hastily pulled away. He instantly regretted the move as he suddenly found him struggling to keep seated and with a high pitched squeak he fell of the pony.

"Anders!"

He let out a moan as someone quickly rushed to help him up.

"Anders are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" He snapped shoving the hands away as he scurried to his feet brushing himself off. "Why do you. Oh it's you."

The concern from the same brown eyes in his dream vanished and replaced by annoyance.

Well that explains the girl in the dream. What was her name? Again? Mia...Mina...Briefly recalling it was the same reaction she gave when he first saw her in the ocean.

"Yup. You're fine." She muttered.

The response was priceless to him as he let out a chuckle before movement drew his attention away from the girl. Several men on horses stood before him. Upon laying eyes on the blond, his memory returned. The bizarre man who mistook him as someone else, the group of men surrounding him, and the man who had his eyes before everything went black. He had hoped it was all a dream, but as reality hit him, he could feel himself start to panic.

Lifting a hand to adjust his collar, his eyes widened as his hand touched skin.

What the?

Frantically, he glanced down to find his clothes similar to those of the men on the horses. He looked at the girl and took in her change of attire as well to loose fitting tunics and trousers. He opened his mouth and quickly closed it as he turned his attention to the other men. It was then he noticed how much larger the ponies seemed to have gotten since he passed out.

"What? You…But were you. And now you're." His hands flailed about as he tried to spit the words out. "What the fuck is going on!? Who the Fuck are you?"

Not one of his finest moments but who could really blame him. The old man dismounted and walked towards him. While he was tall to begin with, he now towered over Anders.

"To answer your first question. I am Gandalf, Gandalf the Gray."

"Gandalf!" The dark haired man used a familiar tone. The same tone Mike frequently used on Anders.

Ooh right. That Theo whats his name. He and Mike would get along well if they met.

"Who are you?" The man said dismounting his pony.

"I asked you first." Anders said smugly.

The man glared and quickly unsheathed his sword, bringing it directly to Anders throat.

"What the fuck!?" He cried out throwing his hands up in a surrender position.

"No! Don't!" The girl cried out.

"I will not ask you again. Who are you and why do you bare resemblance to Fili?"

The tone sent a shiver down Anders spine. Not one to underestimate his lack of fighting skills, Anders was not one to back down so easily.

"Who I am is no concern of yours. But you will lower your weapon." As the voice of Bragi floated past his lips, Anders felt relief flow through him as the man did just that. "You and your men will get on your horses and take us to the nearest town. You will bring no harm to myself or my friend, is that understood?"

For a moment, it seemed as though he was going to do just that, when his doppelganger and the man he called brother raced to their leader's side, their weapons focused on Anders. The man snapped back to his senses.

"What sorcery is this?!" He roared. "How could you not know he was a wizard!?"

Anders knew he was in hot water this time. The sound of others dismounting and swords being drawn was an indication of that. But he did his best to keep his calm.

"He is not one that I know of. I assure you." Gandalf stated, his eyes narrowing down at him. "Who are you?"

"Do not try anything wizard or we will have your head." The beardless man sneered.

"And your friend's."

What?

The term puzzled Anders for a moment until he looked back. His eyes widened, seeing her being held with a sword at her neck by a large bald man.

"Holy Fuck!" He cried out. Spinning back around he found the others watching him like a predator watches its prey. His heart raced. There was no way to get out of this alive if he didn't talk. He may not like her but he didn't want to see her die. He had already seen enough blood to last him a life time.

"Alright! Alright...Just please...don't hurt her." He said taking slow deep breaths.

The leader straightened and lowered his weapon slightly before signalling everyone to do the same. Chancing a look back, he found the bald man no longer had the knife to her throat. She was breathing heavily as tears ran down her cheeks. She was afraid and rightly so, but she was alive.

"Who are you?" The baritone voice asked.

"Anders Johnson." He said turning back to the leader.

"Who are you?" The brunette's voice became dangerously soft as he took as step closer to him.

It suddenly occurred to Anders just what the man meant. "Bragi, God of Poetry."