What happened when I was passed out? How long had I been out for?

These were the two main questions Anders wanted answered. He was quite thankful to know who they were, well as far as names went. But he knew something must have happened during the time he was asleep.

Taking in their surroundings, the woods were vastly different from those that they had been running through when they first met the group. Even the bush and shrubs weren't the same. It reminded him of the place where he and his brothers had become gods.

The distant sound of thunder and the sharp tug on the back of his shirt broke him from his thoughts. Dark clouds gathered above them. It was going to rain soon. Casting a look behind him, he found his partner silently staring at her hands. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or not, however, from the way she gently swayed with the gate of the horse, Anders figured she was alert enough to not fall anytime soon.

Focusing back ahead, his jaw tensed. What is with her and what's with wanting to ride with me?

He didn't understand this shift to her clinginess and quiet. Not that she was overly talkative before. But she seemed meek, there was no snarky comment, no sassy and it suddenly bothered Anders that he was thinking so much about this.

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, he scooted forward a bit. He hoped that it was a subtle move, but his riding companion seemed to notice as he heard a small whisper of an apology.

"It's fine. I'm uh...I needed to adjust...not used to being in a saddle."

What the fuck was that?! Anders rolled his eyes with a cringe.

"Ah."

Ah? Ok that's it! "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

The words came out harsher than he intended and at the feel of her jump, he knew she was just as surprised as he was.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean what's wrong you with you? You were determined and snippy and fucking bipolar for that matter, and now…Now you're just quiet and meek and -"

"Fuck you! You don't even know me!" She snapped as she hastily dismounted the pony.

Anders eyes went wide, whipping his head around to find her quickly catch herself from falling. Catching the looks from the familiar blond and his brother, Anders knew he wasn't the only one surprised by her actions. While he finally got to see the girl he had met the first day here, wherever here was, he hadn't meant to push her that far.

Looking around, it seemed the outburst caught more than just the brothers' attention as everyone was looking back at him in silence. A part of him was tempted to turn the pony around, the other part was still wondering why he still cared and just wanted to keep his pony moving. But he did stop his pony. Not to turn around, but upon finding the leader of the group riding to the back of the group. He did not look at the others as they slowed their pace, nor did he look at Anders as he passed him by. It wasn't until the older man with the contract ordered everyone to keep moving did they take their attention away from Thorin. Anders' mouth suddenly went dry as he watched him make his way to the girl.

Once again he caught the eyes of Fili and Kili. A simple raise of a brow from him and they gave a quick kick to their ponies' side to catch up to Anders. For a while they rode in silence. The brothers kept their eyes ahead and Anders couldn't help but cast a glance every now at then back at Thorin and the girl.

"She has slept little in three days." Fili said softly.

Three days? Anders raised a brow in disbelief. "Really."

"We thought you wouldn't make it to morning the first night. But Miss Maya stayed by your side." Kili replied, his eyes not leaving the path.

That's right. Her name is Maya.

"Thorin had agreed that she could stay but she had to carry her own weight. Couldn't get help from the company."

Anders snorted at that. And my brothers think I'M a dick.

"She carried you for most of the next morning." Stated Fili.

Anders' smirk faltered as he turned his attention back to the blonde.

"She didn't know how to get you on the pony and Thorin was already irritated, so she carried you on her back. Even snapped at him when he accused her of playing some sort of trick."

"What did she say?" He asked, raising a brow to both men.

Kili chewed the inside of his cheek as he tried to recall what her words were. "I believe it was along the lines of… 'What makes you think I'm playing a game?' She mentioned about being happy for the first time and then being here, nearly dying and having to stuck with "the biggest jerk" she's ever met and then ordered everyone to move out."

The three men laughed. Two remembering all too well the look of his beloved uncle's stunned face and the other quite happily picturing how it played out. As their laughter subsided the younger man continued.

"She didn't leave your side until you awoke…When you first lost consciousness Thorin assumed you were husband and wife, yet she insisted that she had only just met you. For whatever reason, she refused to let you go." The admiration in Fili's voice did not go unnoticed to Anders.

The mention of them possibly being together in that way was utterly ridiculous. The fact that she looked barely legal was only a partial reason he would never even make any attempt at sleeping with her. Not to mention relationships were out of the question now in Anders eyes. Still the wave of guilt that hit him was impossible to ignore.

"Fuck." He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.

It was a lot to take in and he wasn't exactly sure how to process everything he just found out. He desperately wished that he could find a bar and surprisingly enough, wished that he had his older brother and grandpa to turn to for advice. There was no doubt in his mind that they would mock him mercilessly for being carried by a girl. But at least after they were done with the mocking Mike would scold him for being a being so reckless and then for being a dick to Maya. Would probably blame him for most of it. Then there was Grandpa. Grandpa would probably be too stoned to really help anyways.

Another sigh. All in all, he was screwed. If his brothers were here, he would have to deal with their accusations. Hell he wasn't even sure if Axl even wanted to see him after what happened. But at least with his brothers, he knew no matter what they were family, they were familiar to him and he could always find a way to get things back to normal. Or at least somewhat normal for god lives.

"Stupid. Fucking dick! Who the hell does he think he is? Why the hell did I even bother saving his ass? Ugh! And he has the nerve to call me bipolar! He doesn't even know me!"

She had been muttering to herself since she got off the pony. The fact that a dark brown pony and rider walked beside her didn't faze her out of her anger. She kept up a good pace to keep from falling too far behind but kept a good distance from Anders.

Watching the blond haired man laugh with Fili and Kili, the anger began to subside. She didn't know who she was more upset at. At him for making it sound like she was some bat shit crazy lady, although with her outburst she honestly couldn't blame him for thinking that. Or at herself. Their laughter stopped and Maya let out a small sigh.

At least he's in a better mood. Don't Maya. Don't do this to yourself…Just pray that when you get back…Who are you kidding? I'm going to be in so much trouble.

"Are you finished with your little outburst?"

Maya jumped letting out a little squeak at the baritone voice. Hesitantly she lifted her gaze, finally acknowledging Thorin's presence.

"I uh...I...I-"

The feeling of water hitting her made her pause. It was followed by another drop, and another, and another. In a matter of seconds water poured down from the sky and Maya slowed her steps and let out a sigh.

Of course it would rain now.

"Here put this on."

Her attention returned to Thorin holding out his robe. Maya's jaw went slack.

"Put this on, it'll help keep you warm. And get back onto one of the ponies."

She hesitantly took his offering and wrapped it around her already drenched body.

"Why-"

"I still do not trust you or your god. But your dedication to him is admirable."

A blush spread on her cheeks as she gave a small bow in thanks.

"If you do not wish to ride with him, you may ride with our burglar."

Burglar? She cocked her head at the word before scanning the company. As her eyes fell upon the smaller man who was watching them closely, he gave a sheepish smile and ducked his head. Oh, him. Shit…What was his name again? Gonna have to ask him.

She bit her lip and nodded.

"Okay. I just want to walk a bit longer."

Raising a brow, the suspicion in his eyes had once again returned and Maya was quick to make it go away.

"I promise I won't fall too behind. It's just…I'm not used to riding and I'm kind of sore."

His eyes softened a tad and gave a small nod. "Do not walk for too long. I will not sacrifice this company for one human."

Another nod and he rode to the front of the group, leaving her behind to walk in the pouring rain. The ground quickly dampened under her bare feet. Each step was cold and mushy and strangely amusing for her. She quickly bit her lip to hid the smile that pulled at her lips as she continued walking.

Being from LA, rain was rare and when there was, it didn't last long. She could only remember a handful of times of bad storms. The most recent being a year ago when she felt like she had gone through a small river as she drove out of her drive way. But it was nothing to this. The smell of wet leaves and mud. The cold yet refreshing feel of the rain water running down her hair and face. Slowly she opened her eyes, not knowing when she had closed them or when she had stopped for that matter, to find a hand extended in front of her.

Her eyes followed the hand up until she found herself looking up into a familiar face. Yet this face held no irritation or smug smirk. Just a sincere smile. She honestly couldn't help but raise a brow and eyes narrowed.

Anders rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. "You're gonna get sick standing barefoot like that. Now get on up."

Her jaw tightened as she moved her eyes between him and his hand. "Thorin said I can ride with their burglar."

"Oh. Okay then." It looked as if she might as well have slapped him across the face.

"That's not saying I'm going to. But…" She paused biting her lip as he raised a brow. "But only if you apologize."

His eyes narrowed a bit. "Apologize for what?"

"For everything! For being a jerk that first night. For not listening to me when I said something wasn't right about that village. For calling me bipolar and making it seem like you know me when you don't!" Maya tried to ignore the quiver in her voice as she spoke and the way her body began to tremble. While she wanted to believe it was just because she was cold, she knew better.

For a while Anders stared at her, completely speechless. Her heart pounded against her chest and blood rushed in her ears. The fear that she made a mistake was becoming overwhelming, when Anders finally spoke.

"Fine. I'm sorry. Now get on."

"No! I mean it. A sincere apology." A lump began to form in her throat as Anders studied her face. She had no doubt that he could see past her mask that was slipping by the second.

It wasn't every day that someone had him at a loss for words. He was the god of speech after all. Sure there were loads of people who he had to apologize for. Work was probably the biggest one, apologizing to clients he stood up. Sucking up to them and using the words of Bragi to ease them into not leaving them company. Apologizing to Dawn, his brothers…well no he never apologized to them…Not really. Except to Mike. And he truly was sorry for hurting his older brother like he did. But Anders didn't do sincere, didn't do heartfelt talks about his "feelings". He preferred blunt honest truth and people seemed to just accept that as Anders being a dick. Which he was fine with. At least that's what he told himself every day.

So for Maya to demand such a thing was almost laughable for Anders and he would have laughed. Was going to, had he not seen the way she shook. He first took it as her being cold, but seeing the fear in her eyes, it clicked. She was terrified. For what reason he wasn't sure. But he was curious and was going to find out.

With a final nod, he dismounted from his pony. A move which he immediately regretted the moment his feet made impact with a squish into the mud. He hated the rain. Making a face he cursed below his breath before straightening up.

"I'm sorry." He said softly. "I could have been easier on you given what you did for me. I guess I should also say thank you. For saving my life."

Maya gave a small smile and shrugged. "You saved mine. So guess that makes us even."

"Yeah. Guess so. But you can't tell me nothing was wrong. That's bullshit, you and I both know that. I may not know you but I can tell you're lying."

"Guess that's then end of your apology. Let's go." Maya sighed as she rolled her eyes and walked past him, completely ignoring his hand.

Anders gave a hearty chuckle as he turned and watched her mount the pony before looking at him expectedly. He didn't need an invitation as he mounted behind her.

"So why are you in front?" He asked.

"Because I'm shorter and also the back of the saddle hurts after a while." She said smugly.

"So you sacrifice my arse for your own. Good to know where you'll stand in a fight." He pouted.

"Yup." She said smiling as she gave the pony a small kick.

It was the first time that they had a truly friendly conversation and Anders couldn't help but smile as he held onto the back of the saddle. He wouldn't go as far as to say he enjoyed her company, but she was curious.

His mind drifted back to the look of fear in her eyes just moments ago. Curious was the word that came to mind. Not one to ignore his need to satisfy his curiosity, Anders was now determined to get to the bottom of this girl's mood swings. The only question on his mind now was how.

Uh oh. Anders is on a mission. What's to happen next?

So, yes, this chapter was done ALOT sooner than I anticipated. hahaha I hope you all enjoyed it. I had a bit of a more difficult time channeling Anders so I hope you will all be patient with me. Comments and reviews are always appreciated!