Hello all I am back MWAHAHA :P I shouldn't be allowed to watch Battle of the Five Armies anymore because I had a little bit of a sniffle *cough cough* breakdown *cough cough* at the end of the film! So my best friends have banned me from watching it with them :( NEVER MINDS :P As I have sugar, green tea and biscuits, I feel like my English is showing :')
On to the reviews I had on my last chapter – By the by THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THEM!

Marina Oakenshield: Awesome name :P I'm glad you think it's getting good, hopefully its going to get even better!
.xx: Haha I am glad you think that it's adorable, I am trying to make it more subtle and it shall be toned down a bit more, I believe they need to become friends before anything else could happen :P
BlackDiamond: I am so glad you love where this is going :D
KiyaJinnSkyWalkerKenobi: Might I mention the awesomesauce that is your name! Haha I shall try to keep the idea of romance for you :P
Lizziecats: Need I say more you beautiful reviewer you :P! I did send you a PM thanking and explaining so I hope you carry on enjoying this :D!

Love you all, please keep reviewing it helps me focus on what the readers want so I can incorporate it into the story for you all!

On to the story :D

We finally stopped for the day at a clearing near a cliff face, sighing with relief I see Bilbo do the same, he gives me an unsure smile as he clambers off his pony and nearly falls onto his back, thankfully Bofur caught him and pulled him up right. Feeling movement from behind me, Kili climbs off more elegantly than Bilbo and grins up at me. Oh please whoever is up there do not let me fall on my butt in front of the company! Holding onto the front saddle I swing my right leg over the back and dangle for a second before dropping to the floor, stumbling back a few steps I turn to Kili and give him a smug smirk. So much for damsel!

"Miss Fiore!" Hearing Thorin's booming voice I jump, quickly swivelling round to where he stood I nod in recognition that he shouted me. "Help Gloin get a fire going." Nodding I grab my backpack and I speed-walk over to where Gloin, the red-headed dwarf, was sat trying to get a flame from a pile of sticks.

"Bloody things will not light." He grumbled to me as I sat down beside him, rummaging around in my backpack I found my own flint and my small pocket knife.

"Do you mind if I have a try?" I ask, seeing his bushy eyebrows pull together in a frown I worry my bottom lip between my teeth but keep firm. He gave a gruff nod and sat back with his arms crossed watching my every move. Ooh like that isn't going to make me nervous! Trying to still my shaking fingers I pile a small section of the kindling by the branches, grabbing my flint in my left hand and knife in my right I started striking the flint like the Scouts taught me to do when I was younger, after the third strike a spark caught the kindling. Dropping the flint and knife I softly blew on the flames and set them against the branches, after a few tense seconds a fire started. Grinning I place my flint back in my pack but keep a hold of my knife, glancing at Gloin I see him look at the fire in shock. Standing up I smile at the red-headed dwarf.

"I'm going to go get some more kindling so we don't run out." I state and walk over to the trees on the outskirts of the camp, while walking I hear Gloin say how he didn't know how I managed to make the fire with just a flint and knife, smiling I walk over to one birch tree and start pulling some of the bark off. Thank gosh I had gone to Scouts when I was younger or I wouldn't even know where to start to get kindling, grabbing a big handful of the bark I grab some smaller branches on my way back to the fire.

"So you're a dab hand at a fire as well as cooking aye lass?" Seeing Bofur's cheeky grin I can't help but chuckle.

"Well when you live alone Bofur you have to be able to look after yourself, that includes cooking and making a fire." I tease the kind dwarf as I place the branches and kindling down a few meters away from the fire, no point causing another fire. Seeing Bombour struggling with skinning a rabbit I cringe slightly before I go up to the dwarf.

"Bombour would you like help with dinner?" I ask praying he would say no because I really, really don't want to skin a rabbit. He must have seen my disgusted look at the rabbit because he started laughing under his breath before nodding.

"Aye lass, could you cut up the vegetables for me that would be helpful." Nodding gratefully I sat beside the larger dwarf and started peeling the vegetables with Bombour's knife; cutting them into chunks I put them in the pot.

"So do you have any family back from where you come from?" I ask while peeling what I believe is a parsnip; do they have different vegetables in Middle-Earth?

"Aye a wife and five dwarflings I left back in the Blue Mountains." I look up at the dwarf as he carries on cutting up the rabbit.

"How come you left them, if you don't mind me asking?" I tilt my head in confusion, if I had a husband and five children I would not leave them for the world!

"They need a better place to live than there Miss Fiore" he replies, seeing his eyes mist up a little I feel like crap, poor Bombour.

"I bet your wife gave you hell, huh?" I grin up at him and see his lip twitch upwards in a smirk.

"Like you wouldn't believe." Chuckling I shake my head at him and place the last of the vegetables in the pot. "What about you? Will your family not miss you?" He probes, seeing his sideways glance I shake my head again at him.

"All my family are dead Bombour, no one shall miss me while I am on this quest." I answer while scuffing my shoe against the floor, seeing him stop his work I look up.

"I'm sorry lass!" His blue eyes looked so sincere I had to look away.

"It was a long time ago, do not worry I can look after myself." I give him a soft grin.

"Ah you wait till we claim back Erebor, there will be a line of dwarves who will want your hand in marriage." He exclaims making me laugh.

"Ooh and who will protect me from all these suitors?" I chuckle as I sit back with my hands supporting me.

"Don't look at me I feel like my wife will be giving me the lecture of a life-time, perhaps Bofur." He jokes as his cousin walks forward.

"Ahh ye can be sure Lassie, I'll protect you from the little beasts!" He beams at me while sitting down on my other side.

"I feel so protected now by my valiant warrior." I tease.

"Oi what's this? Calling Bofur your warrior now?" I turn and see Fili and Kili both pouting down at me.

"He is protecting me from a supposed swarm of future suitors after we reclaim Erebor." I giggle as they both frown.

"We will protect you as well, you are a 'damsel' after all." I jokingly glare at Kili and stick my tongue out.

"I'm sure you both will be too busy with your 'princely' duties to protect a damsel, you'll have to marry princesses instead." I grin mischievously as I see them both shudder. We all talk and joke until after dinner, which tasted lovely and I was right about the parsnips, until it became dark. Settling next to Gandalf I lay down in my blanket and place my coat in a ball so I could use it as a pillow, sighing in relief at lying down I tried to lie in a comfortable position without having my legs cramp up from all the riding on the pony. Closing my eyes to let myself get some rest all I can hear is horrific snoring, peeking out my right eye I can see Bombour snoring and every time he inhaled moths would be pulled into his mouth. Smothering a giggle I cuddled back into my blanket until I see Bilbo getting up and throwing a disgusted look at Bombour, smiling I sit up against the log which Gandalf was sitting on.

Watching him creep towards his pony, which I believe he named Myrtle, I see him feed her an apple while glancing around to make sure no one was watching obviously not seeing me and Gandalf and started whispering to Myrtle: "Hello, girl. That's a good girl. It's our little secret, Myrtle; you must tell no on. Sh, Sh!" Giggling slightly to myself, I see Gandalf give him an indulgent smile, he is truly one of a kind.

Hearing a shriek like scream I bolt up and my heart starts banging in my chest. Clutching my swords handle I look around the camp, seeing Thorin sit up and check as well I do not relax until he does if he doesn't sense any danger then we should be okay, right?

"What was that?" Bilbo stutters while moving quickly over to Fili and Kili who were sat near the fire.

"Orcs." Kili replies while lowering his pipe from his lips and looking out over the cliff. Swallowing hard I quickly shuffle closer to Gandalf, feeling his weathered hand on my head I look up at him and see his worried look focused on me and Bilbo.

Another shriek came across the valley making me and Bilbo jump once more, I hate to say it but I feel like a coward right now! I didn't really consider the danger aspect of this quest, I mean I understood that we were going up against the Dragon and we had to get there but no one mentioned ORCS!

"Orcs?" I mumble to Gandalf as Bilbo stood closer to Fili and Kili, shaking slightly I feel Gandalf's hand rub soothing circles on my back trying to calm me down.

Fili decided to make it worse and explain what Orc's are: "Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Shaking more I clutch my blanket closer to me.

"They strike in the wee hours, when everyone is asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood." Bilbo quickly glanced around seeing if any were near in fright while Fili and Kili both looked at each other and started laughing, letting out a soft gasp, Fili and Kili look over and see me huddled against Gandalf's legs, they were doing this as a joke? Feeling more upset with myself that I believed them I threw my blanket off me and stormed out near a ledge and sat down with my back towards the group. Dumb dwarves!

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?" Thorin boomed out, that's right Thorin you tell them off before I do!

"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili responded, frowning I pulled my knees to my chest and looked out over the darkness.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world." Thorin walked up beside me, crossed his arms and stared out into the darkness as well, having the courage to look up I see a certain type of pain painted across his face. What had happened to this dwarf to make him hate orcs so much?

"Don't mind him laddie." Balin began, I looked over my shoulder to see Balin stood near Fili and Kili, seeing Kili look over at me I quickly looked to my front away from his gaze, I am still not happy with him. "Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had gotten their first." Biting my lip i look up at Thorin as he shuts his eyes, he must be reliving that horrible day.

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs lead by the most vile of their race: Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King." Looking behind me again I see Balin's horrified face and frown, what on earth were these beasts? "Thrain, Thorin's father was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him: a young dwarf prince facing down the pale orc!"

I looked back up at Thorin in shock, he went up against the orc that most wanted to kill him?

"He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armour rent … wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no 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. There is one I could call King."

Thorin turned around as all the Dwarves were stood up in respect to him, I looked up from where I was sat and couldn't help but think is that why he never smiled and was always brooding, he couldn't get passed the hate and grief in his life? He started walking forwards between all the others towards the fire.

"But the pale orc? What happened to him?" Bilbo asked, flinching slightly as I stood up I watched as Thorin spat out he slunk back to where he came from, that he died. Gandalf's worried glance with Balin made me think perhaps that statement wasn't as true as Thorin believed. Walking back over to Gandalf I snuggled back into my blankets and closed my eyes and tried my hardest to get some sleep before tomorrow. I feel asleep to images of Thorin, Balin and Dwalin fighting horrid beings.

Cuddling deeper into my blanket I hear a lot of muttering around me, waking up more I can hear Bofur and Bombour's chuckle along with Bilbo's quiet whispering.

"She does look quite adorable all curled up like that."

"Aye but she needs waking up otherwise she'll get no breakfast." Feeling a soft nudging in my stomach I groan and roll the other way to escape the nudges but no use as the nudging followed as well as soft chuckles, blinking blearily up I see Bofur and Bombour stood over me with matching grins.

"Can I help you lads?" I croak out as I sit up and rub at my eyes.

"Time to get some food lass and sort out your hair or some birds may think it's a nest they can have." I glare at the hatted dwarf who smirked down at me as Bombour gave me a hand up.

"It's too early in the morning to think of a retort to you." I mumble as I try brush my hair out with my fingers into a more reasonable style than birds nest as Bofur kindly stated. Rolling my blanket up I shove it in my backpack and slip on my coat as it felt cold, looking up I see the clouds rolling in with grey specks. "It's going to rain later." I mumble as I follow Bombour to the fire.

"Oh so you can't think of a good retort to me lass, but you can tell it's going to rain?" I smile indulgently at Bofur as Bombour gives me a plate of food, I quickly scarf the food when I see all the others getting the ponies ready, giving Bombour my plate I grab my backpack and walk over to the ponies, seeing both Fili and Kili I frown, still mad at them from yesterday's 'joke' I look at the others and feel a slight tap on my shoulder. Turning round I see Bofur grinning down at me.

"Need a pony lass?" I chuckle relieved while nodding, following him to his pony he hauls me on first, placing my pack on the back of the pony he jumps up behind me. "So how come you are not riding with the two princes today?" He asks as we start forward behind the others.

"Now is it a crime to spend time with my favourite toy maker?" I respond with a cheeky grin.

"I'm the only toy maker you know." He responds with a raised eyebrow. Laughing I nod in agreement.

"That's why you are my favourite one." He shakes his head with a laugh.

"So why are you really not riding with them?" He asks after a few moments, biting my lip I sigh slightly.

"Apart from the fact I do want to spend time with you all and want to get to know you all, I didn't appreciate their joke last night." I explain while playing with the front of the saddle.

"Ahh I see, did they scare you?" I was ready to turn round and glare at him but I realised there was no mocking in his tone.

"Like Bilbo I was not brought up with the knowledge of orcs or goblins, they seemed like fairy tales where I lived. It was safe from them, there was bad people and I could deal with them but a thought of something crueller coming into camp when it is dark and murdering us all while we are asleep did frighten me yes." I whisper the last bit with a blush rising on my cheek at the admission that I was frightened.

"They didn't mean it lass, just young dwarflings that wanted fun at the expense of Bilbo is all, best to ignore their antics." Bofur soothed me and patted my hand gently which was clung on to the front of the saddle. Chuckling he made his pony trot on to catch up with Nori and Dori which made me let out a slight squeak and cling on harder to the saddle. "Someday you will be able to ride a pony without squealing like a young dwarrowdam." Pouting I stick my tongue out at him before chuckling. Smiling me, Bofur, Nori and Dori all start chatting about what they are going to do with the gold that they get from Erebor. Bofur was going to open up a bigger toy store in Erebor, Nori was going to open a pub and Dori wanted to open up a tea house, as I was explaining to Dori what teas I enjoyed – Green Tea with some honey and lemon as well as Raspberry tea – the skies opened up and it poured down, yanking my hood over my head I was saved from having the freezing cold water drip down my back.

Bofur attempted to light his pipe after attempt six he gave it up as a bad job and put it away in his jacket, giggling I shake my head at his antics.

"Here, Mr. Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori shouts out to Gandalf who is ahead of us on the path. Nodding in agreement to Dori's question I try and pull my coat closer around my body and over my thighs which were getting lovely and soaked.

"It is raining, Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done. If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another wizard." He scolded Dori, patting the dwarfs hand in sympathy I tilted my head in confusion, so Gandalf wasn't the only dwarf?

"Are there any other Wizards Gandalf?" I shout out to him, he turns slightly in his seat and gives me a soft smile.

"Why yes my dear, there are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, The White. Then there are the two Blue Wizards; you know, I've quite forgotten their names." He mumbles to himself in confusion as quietly giggle with Bofur as he mutters about ten different names.

"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo questions, glad to know he isn't too scared to ask questions.

"Well, that would be Radagast, The Brown." Huh I wonder why he is brown.

"Is he a great Wizard or is he … more like you?" Bilbo once again questions, turning around to grin at the Hobbit he gives me a quick wink, I'm guessing Bilbo is getting back at Gandalf for letting all those dwarves destroy his Hobbit Hole.

"I think he is a very good wizard, in his own way. He's a gentle soul who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East, and a good thing too, for always Evil will look to find a foothold in this world." Shivering at Gandalf's tone I pull my coat closer. Hiding in my coat I listen to the sound of raindrops on the leaves and grass around us I hum a tune.

"Why don't you sing us a song lass?" Bofur asks while all the other dwarves cheer in agreement. Groaning I shake my head at the smirking dwarf.

"I'm not a very good singer lads!" I try to reason with them, plus I reallllly don't want to sing in front of a load of people.

"Aww comeon Marcy!"

"Don't be a spoil sport!"

Even Gloin was joining in with the pleas, I looked towards Thorin and see him give me a small nod that it is safe to do so, bloody Dwarf the one time I need him to be moody and distant but he has to agree with the other dwarves!

"Fine fine I will but don't blame me if your ears bleed from my horrific voice!"

Thinking back to when I was younger whenever it rained I would always sing the song from Bambi, chuckling slightly at the irony I started the soft tune:

"Drip, drip, drop,
Little April shower
Beating a tune
As you fall all around.

Drip, drip, drop,
Little April shower
What can compare
To your beautiful sound.

Drip, drip, drop,
When the sky is cloudy
Your pretty music
Can brighten the day.

Drip, drip, drop,
When the sun says howdy
You say goodbye right away.

Drip, drip drop,
Little April shower
Beating a tune
Ev'rywhere that you fall.

Drip, drip drop,
Little April shower
I'm getting wet
And I don't care at all.

Drip, drop, drip, drop,
I'll never be afraid
Of a good little
Gay little
April serenade." I finish, looking behind me I chuckle at the dwarves faces, Bofur looked like someone had hit him, Balin was smiling happily, Ori looked like he needed to pee and sneaking a glance to the back I see Kili looking awe-struck. Blushing I hide back in my coat.

"Told you I weren't any good." I mumble, but to my amusement all the dwarves started shouting down my argument saying they wanted to hear another song and another. Blushing with all the attention I hid myself further in my cloak. "If you are good maybe I'll sing later!" I state trying to get the pressure off myself, hearing Bofur chuckle I look at him and he grinned wider.

"They won't forget that as soon as much as you wish lass." I grin up at the hatted dwarf and roll my eyes.

"Well here's hoping it takes a while for us to find a place to stop." I smirk.

We plodded along the wet and muddy road and eventually the rain stopped and the sun started to shine, sliding off my hood I raised my face to the sun and hummed my happiness at feeling the heat. Relaxing I slide my coat off my shoulders and lay it on my lap as I let my hair and shoulders dry as well as my legs. After a few hours we finally made it to a clearing that Thorin thought was best for us to camp at, looking at the old, abandoned farm house I couldn't help think we should keep going on as it didn't exactly look safe.

Bofur stopped the pony and slid off onto the ground, doing the same as I had yesterday I dangled before hitting the ground, but this time the ground was much more squishy and I ended up slipping backwards, waving my arms around like a crazy person to try and get purchase on some stable ground I ended up falling. Two hands quickly grabbed my shoulders and guided me up right till I was standing straight, gasping slightly I turn round to thank the dwarf who had saved me from a very muddy accident. Seeing two chocolate eyes staring straight into my own I glare instead, of course it had to be Kili.

"Thank you." I state with a frown and go to turn back around until Kili spoke.

"Are you mad at me and Fili, Marc?" He asks softly, feeling my heart melt very slightly I turn back round with my arms crossed, seeing Fili right next to his brother made my eyebrows rise slightly in surprise but I tried to hide it.

"Yes I am. Last night you both mocked Bilbo and me to an effect that we didn't know about Orcs." I stated coldly as I tried my best to glare while Fili and Kili both gave me puppy dog eyes.

"We didn't realise it would upset you Marc, we are very sorry! Please don't be mad at us!" Fili begged as Kili's eyes widened marginally into a more puppy dog look. Closing my eyes I tried to rid myself of those eyes that would make the most hardened woman melt into a puddle.

"You have to realise me and Bilbo weren't brought up with orcs and things that could kill us, we might be softer than you but please don't mock us for it." I look at both the dwarves who nod their heads and look at their shoes. "Oh for goodness sake, if you don't do it again I forgive you!" I exclaim feeling bad enough when they both let out a little sniffle. Hearing me say I forgave them unleashed something because they both leapt on me and squeezed the life out of me.

"Fili … Kili … I can't breathe!" I stuttered. Letting go of me they both had face splitting grins on their faces which made a small smile tug on the corner of my lips.

"We'll camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them!" Thorin booms out destroying the small moment me and the two Durin brothers were having. Chuckling at their pouts I give them both a small kiss on their cheeks.

"Get too it boys." I order with a smirk as I turn round and grab my backpack.

"Of course our damsel, your orders are our commands." Kili states dramatically and falls into a low bow. Laughing I push him gently which made him stumble in the mud before standing up straight and glaring down at me. Smiling innocently up at him I then frown.

"I don't think it's fair that all you dwarves are all taller than me, the only one I am taller than is Bilbo and that isn't by much!" I pout while the two brothers smirk at each other then ruffle my hair in a patronising way, slapping at their hands I stick my tongue out at them.

"Very mature!" I mumble while hiding a smile.

Fili went to say something but was interrupted by Gandalf who stomped between us all.

"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo worriedly asks.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense!" I haven't ever heard Gandalf that mad before, biting my lip worriedly I see Thorin standing there looking smug.

"Who's that?"

"Myself, Mr Baggin's! I've had enough of dwarves for one day!" He growls out and carries on striding away, looking at Bilbo we both share a worried look.

"Is he coming back?" Bilbo asks Balin who shrugged and turned to look at the way Gandalf was leaving.

"Come on Bombour we are hungry!" Thorin booms. Worried I follow the others but I feel something in the pit of my stomach telling me this was not a good idea.

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