Author's Note: Thanks creepyLotRfangirl55, Guest reviewer, Libra Fire, Freydris, and Adeleidhis for the reviews :) Much love for it! Hope I'm not coming off creepy by saying that, but seriously, thanks a lot. I realized I spelled Gaston wrong in the last chapter, but hey it's a tricky name. Will go fix it. I have decided to add a cover! Three points to who recognizes where it's from :)

Disclaimer: I feel totally corny using "With or Without You" by U2, but whatevs, I'm a little bit of a cheeseball. I do not own this song.

Chapter Two: With or Without You

"Has anyone seen a―bracelet with the peace sign?" Rue watched Ori, Nori, and Dori, who were all perplexed by the word: peace sign. "I mean this circle is on it with this Y shape in the middle. I probably left it downstairs. Oh, geeze." No way was she going down there to get it right now. Not after all the craziness that had gone down. She nervously scratched her head, sitting back down on the chair propped by her bed, which was currently occupied by an unconscious Thorin. Nightfall was fast approaching outside; moonlight flooding through the window on the far side of the bedroom, casting a whitish glow on Thorin's knocked out form.

Dori's eyes suddenly widened as he pointedly glared at Nori. "Nori, did you―"

Nori shrugged nonchalantly, pulling Rue's bracelet out of his pocket.

She bounced to her feet, grabbing it, and assumed stupidly, "You found it!"

Ori nervously chuckled.

"Found it?" Dori stammered in disbelief. "More like stole it."

"I found it." Nori nodded in mock assurance, this wild gleam in his eyes.

Rue cocked her head to the side, pointing at him. "Hey! You stole it when I dropped my cup of water, didn't you? Oh my gosh, you're a―"

"Thief," Dori finished irritably for her, crossing his arms over his chest. Behind him, parts of the stone wall shone underneath the ever-increasing moonlight.

Rue clutched her bracelet between two hands, smiling. "Awesome." Sure, he was a punk for stealing from right underneath her nose, but she couldn't help admire his skill. Nori had to be a thief extraordinaire to have stolen it right in front of her face, or maybe she was just that stupid. She guessed the latter.

Nori rolled his eyes. "I did steal it, but I offer my most heartfelt apology." He put his hand over his heart, this naughty twinkle still in his eyes as he bowed. Rue could tell he so didn't mean his apology, but hey what the heck, she had one of her only things from home back in her hands.

"At least I don't have to go down there and look for it, you know." She shrugged, smiling humorlessly.

She sat back down, brushing her bushy bangs out of her eyes. They were getting too long.

"I never seen a piece of jewelry so fascinating," Nori said deliberately, scratching his chin.

"Every piece of something worth anything is fascinating to you," Dori grumbled.

Ori blinked, seeming embarrassed, staring from Dori to Nori. "I do not want to speak out of term, but I think it would best if we―I am not sure how to say this―well, make sure Thorin is all right before you two start fighting again."

Rue couldn't agree with Ori more, but she held her tongue, leaning forward in the chair. Carefully, and because Thorin was scary, she grasped his chin, his beard scratching against her fingertips, turning his head to make sure the medieval tape sealing the gash on the back of his skull wasn't bleeding through again.

She let go of Thorin, turning to face the three Dwarves. "I'm really sorry about everything, you know. Usually, I don't get in bar fights or cause them because I don't do the whole bar thing. In Stockton, a lotta people like to go clubbing like they're in Jersey Shore, but yeah. My cousin Nat wanted to take me clubbing." Yep, like they knew what clubbing was and cared that Natalie was always trying to drag her to the clubs in Sac-town.

"Is Stockton your realm, Miss Rue?" Ori politely asked.

"Yep" She nodded, grinning. Calling Stockton a "realm" was really cute. It was better than just "city."

Dori narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "If I may ask, Miss Rue, did you strike Naji son of Claudio, because of the disgusting things he said of my kin?"

All of them were looking at her, unblinking, anticipating her answer. Talk about pressure.

"I'll keep it one-hundred," Rue started timidly. "I mean I'll say the truth. I don't know a lot about Dwarves. There are none in Stockton, but what Naji was saying sounded like Voldemort's campaign against muggles and muggle-borns, and I just couldn't―so usually, I'm mellow, but it just got to me. So I slapped him, which I shouldn't have. I don't know much about Erebor or Smaug, but from what it sounded, it sounded like Naji took it too far." Rue was now rambling, sounding tongue-tied and stupid.

Nori and Dori gave each other these calculating stares, as if conveying a million unsaid thoughts to each other in a single look. It reminded Rue of her cousin Natalie, the way they could peer at each other, and know what the other one was thinking. It was then she realized Dori, Nori, and Ori were brothers. They must've been.

"You do not know what happened to Erebor?" Dori asked, his lips pursed tightly, the color draining from his face.

Rue felt like a herp derp. She shook her head. "Sorry, I don't know, but it's 'cause I'm dumb. I believed in unicorns until I was seven." Yep, she should have watched Lord of the Rings. Now Rue felt like hitting herself in the head. The movies had been out for over ten years, and she hadn't found one chance to watch them.

"Unicorns?" Ori was puzzled.

"Miss Rue," Dori began gravely, unmistakable pain seeping in his voice. Ori and Nori lowered their heads in unsaid respect. The room felt deathly cold now, the chilliness of the oncoming conversation freezing Rue in her chair. He continued sorrowfully, "Erebor was lost to the Dragon Smaug over one-hundred years ago, when the Dragon from the north came to The Lonely Mountain to seek out all the gold King Thror had, Thorin's grandfather. Thorin was there on that horrendous day. Smaug destroyed Erebor and the city of Dale, and he saw with his very eyes the destruction. And so when Naji said what he said, he could not bear it―" Dori's hands were behind his back, his gaze so woeful, Rue felt her stomach clench in despair― "The Dwarves of Erebor were without a home, a once mighty people ruined. Thorin has made a new home for the Dwarves of Erebor in the Blue Mountains, has worked his fingers endlessly for his people, and to be spoken to in such a way―" Dori shook his head.

Rue was fanning herself, hiccupping as fresh tears sprung from her eyes. Oh, gosh, it was selfish of her out of all people to cry, like she was a Dwarf from Erebor, but it just resonated with her. She wiped her eyes, making an ugly choking noise that was a sob. She'd been homeless before. All she could remember for fifteen years straight was moving from motel to motel, living for a few days here and there in other people's houses, and having few homes for three months at the most before getting evicted. Rue squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to cry like a big wussy. If she were Thorin, she would've molly whomped Naji's butt, too.

"Miss Rue, why are you crying?" Dori asked, standing straighter, alarmed.

"I―it's sad," she squeaked, lips quivering. "I'm sorry for crying, but I just―" Rue wanted to say, "Can't help but feel this weird connection to Thorin and the Dwarves of Erebor because they understand the crappiest feeling in the world: not having a home." Instead, Rue sputtered, "This was never in Lord of the Rings."

"You sob for my kin," Dori noted frankly, blinking in disbelief as if he really wasn't seeing this.

Rue wiped away the last of her tears, wishing she had her Tigger stuff-animal from back home to hold.

"See, Dori, miracles do happen, such as someone from the race of Men grieving for Dwarves," Nori spoke jokingly.

"What is Lord of the Rings?" Ori wondered, eyes big in curiosity.

"A movie in Middle-earth."

"What is a 'movie'?"

"It's something from my realm," Rue explained in a shaky voice, too emotionally drained to tell Ori what a movie exactly was. Besides, she wasn't sure if that was a good idea. She may have not been the brightest bulb in the tanning bed, but telling this "supposed" fictional world about the fact that their world was fictional where she came from, might've been all bad.

"They speak of Middle-earth in your realm?" Nori questioned dubiously, cocking his head to the side.

"Yeah." She smiled humorlessly, wondering if Thorin was going to be okay.

Rue gave him a once over, putting a hand to her forehead in worry, feeling new pimples and blackheads underneath her palm. Please let him be okay and not come out of this permanently damaged?

Rue was nodding off in the chair, the beginning of a dream about a Rottweiler chasing her down Pacific Avenue while she was naked materializing. She jolted awake quick, the room in complete darkness, except for a lighted candle on the bedside table.

She could hear Ori, Nori, and Dori having some kind of dispute about who slept where on the floor.

She leaned forward, immediately frightened when she saw Thorin's brilliant blue eyes through the darkness. Dang, the dude had pretty eyes.

"How do you feel?" She stood up from the chair, panicking. "Are you okay? Can you see how many fingers I'm holding up?" Rue held up five fingers in front of Thorin's face, realizing it was pointless since the room was dark. Herp derp moment.

"Where am I?" Thorin growled impatiently, his silhouette jerking backwards defensively.

"You're in my room, Thorin, your friends are here, too," she said awkwardly. "My name's Rue. S'up." Rue lamely held up a friendly hand like Thorin could see it. "I, uh, was the one who slapped Naji a good one. I felt bad, but now I don't. He kinda deserved that butt whooping." Rue was so nervous, she was rambling.

"Thorin is awake?" Dori asked eagerly, the sound of his thudding footsteps vibrating throughout the room. Thanks Dori. If she would've been talking to Thorin any longer, she surely would have said something stupid to piss him off. Even though the room was drenched in darkness, his mere presence was enough to shake her to the core. He reminded Rue of Natalie.

Ori and Nori anxiously screeched to a halt next to the bed, following close behind Dori.

"Light another candle," Nori told Ori bossily. "Better yet the fireplace. Hurry along."

Rue heard the sound of Ori muttering something under his breath. She thought she heard an insult, but couldn't be sure. Moments later, the fireplace was lit, giving much-needed light in the room.

Now Rue could see King Under the Mountain, his eyes wild in uncertainty, body slackening when he saw the Ri brothers―they had told Rue their last name an hour or so ago. Ri sounded Japanese, and a lot cooler than her last name: Offerman. Thorin sat up in bed, head whipping back and forth from the Ri brothers to her.

An orangey glow was cast on everybody's faces, making the entire situation even more surreal. Rue wondered if it was a good time to mention that a ghost supposedly haunted this room.

"You," Thorin sneered, glaring at Rue.

She pointed at herself, nodding. "Me."

Nori softly chuckled, muffling his laughter after a pointed leer from Dori.

"The son of Claudio, Master of Bree, struck you in the back of the head with a piece of pipe from outside," Dori explained stiffly, cheeks puffing out in seething rage. Rue had only met a Dwarf for the first time hours ago, but she was starting to think when they meant serious business, they refused to call the person who wronged them by their first name. Naji was now just "son of Claudio." Cool.

"Like a coward," Ori added, nodding as his hands were on his sides, puffing out his small chest.

"You missed the lass strike him in the face with a candle," Nori spoke airily, smirking.

Rue covered her face in horror, realizing burning Naji with a candle probably had made things ten times worse than when Thorin had just kicked his ass. What was she going to do when Claudio showed up? She didn't want to think about it, biting her lip.

"Why? Was he not your betrothed or courting you?" Thorin stared long and hard at Rue, scrutinizing every detail of her body language and facial expressions. This was what Natalie did to people: size them up and then judge.

"Good point," Nori agreed, gazing at Rue now, along with Ori and Dori.

"He's not my boyfriend―I mean betrothed or anything to me," she squeaked, her knuckles hovering over her mouth in the crazy anxiety she was feeling. "He just wanted me to escort him places, like…spend time with and stuff." Dang, her word choices were pitiful. If the Dwarves didn't think she was stupid before, they did now.

Thorin's eyes were critical, fierce as he snapped, "Why would you spend time with a man of such filth? Do you not have enough decency to refuse to be treated in such a way?"

Ori was open-mouthed, evidently disagreeing with Thorin's bluntness. Dori nodded in approval, while Nori uncomfortably sent the tip of his boots scuffing against the wooden floor.

Rue decided it was time to explain herself, her crazy story that was still hard for her to believe even after a month of living here.

"I only," she said woefully, gaze on the wooden floor, "agreed to hang out with Naji because he said―" She swallowed hard, desperately keeping her emotions at bay― "that he would help me return home because―"

"Because what?" Thorin hissed, crossing his arms over his chest. "It is thanks to you that I will not be able to travel tonight, and leave this wretched place."

"He said he would take me to meet the Guardians of Middle-earth!" Rue cried out, voice becoming shrilly. "I'm not from here! I―" This was the embarrassing part of her story, but she had nothing left to lose― "fell out of the sky and landed on some barn outside of Bree. Nobody believes me, but―" Her eyes were watering for the millionth time today ― "Naji saw me fall from the sky. Everyone else here thinks I'm crazy! In my world, I―I was walking home from the bus stop and then I got hit by a car. Then suddenly I was falling from the sky." Rue held back tears, shivering. "If you don't believe me, I'll show you my clothes. Wait a sec."

She started to unbutton the black cloak draped around her shoulders.

Ori gave a gasp of fright, Dori shielding his eyes. Thorin looked away, while Nori openly stared, grinning cheekily.

"What are you doing? That is indecent," Thorin said petulantly from underneath his breath. He was only in his tunic, his fur-lined coat on the end of the bed, shining in the candlelight.

"My clothes are underneath this cloak," Rue explained, sniveling. She finished unbuttoning it, saying humorlessly, "Ta-da."

The Dwarves took in the sight of her raggedy blue t-shirt that said Girl Power and black sweatpants at once, Thorin's eyes widening.

"See, my clothes are―"

"Strange," Nori finished for her. "I believe I need some pipe weed."

"Aye," Dori grunted.

"Me, too," Ori piped up.

"No," Dori and Nori affirmed obstinately at the same time, both scowling.

"Come along, we will see if there is any pipe weed from the scarce, decent Men around here," Dori beckoned his younger bros to follow.

Rue was this close to running after them, preparing to cry, "Hey, I'm willing to break my straight edge oath for this pipe weed if it means I don't have to be alone with Thorin," but it was obvious the Ri brothers were purposely leaving them alone.

The door to the room shut with a gentle thud, the whistle of a soft wind dusting across the room. Hollow silence echoed. Rue hugged herself, slowly sitting back down in the chair. She fumbled with the buttons on her cloak, awkwardly buttoning it up.

Before Thorin could declare her crazy, she began in frantic gulps of breath.

"I―I know it sounds crazy, but I swear on―oh, I don't have anything worth something here. P―please believe me? That's the only reason I talked to Naji because even if I come off as a Ponyboy-type-of-gal pushover, I'm not all the time. I just―" Rue choked back another sob― "want to go home." She shut her eyes for a long moment, nodding her head along to keep from having an emotional breakdown.

"He is a liar."

Rue blinked, opening her eyes. "What?"

"That filth is lying to you," Thorin growled heatedly, his eyes brightening in this sudden, animalistic-like intensity. "You cannot simply meet the Guardians of Middle-earth. He is no one of vast importance, so it will never happen. He was manipulating you." He clenched his fists, gaze honing in on a point in the distance as though remembering something ugly. Rue swallowed hard, wondering if Thorin was thinking about that Dragon Smaug burning down his home.

"I thought so," she whispered dejectedly. "That was why I was planning on going to the Shire. Meet some Hobbits. I think if anyone knows the Guardians of Middle-earth, it would be Frodo." Heck yeah, he was the dude who destroyed the one ring after all.

Thorin narrowed his eyes. "Frodo?"

"Yeah, I think he's the only dude with the right answers."

Heavy silence ensued. Rue peered closely at Thorin, for the first time really noticing the differences between human bodies and Dwarf bodies. Thorin was sturdy, legs short, feet big and wide, his hands the biggest guy's she had ever seen. Even his ears were big. Mom would have said in all her crude glory something Rue would rather not repeat. She was one of the only people from back home she wasn't sure she missed. Being in Middle-earth kind of felt like a vacation when she thought about being away from Mom. But when she pondered over Nat, Rue felt winded, nauseated.

"So…Thorin, is it all right if I call you Thorin?" She broke the silence, pushing her bushy bangs out of her eyes. He might like to go by King Under the Mountain for all she knew or T-Dog.

"It is fine," he spoke gruffly.

"Do you―" Her voice dropped to a timid murmur― "believe me?"

Thorin's stare was scary penetrating, unblinking. He remained quiet for seconds, which felt like an eternity. Rue uncomfortably squirmed in her seat.

"Yes."

She sat bolt right, mouth hung open in shock. "Really?"

"Liars make my skin crawl."

Well, Rue assumed she had passed the making-your-skin-crawl test then. She grinned, leaning closer to Thorin.

"Can I ask you something else? Please?"

Thorin nodded slowly, the gesture unmistakably hesitant.

"Do you know the Guardians of Middle-earth?" Okay, it sounded stupid once she had asked it, but she had to try.

"Would I have not mentioned that if I did?" Thorin said sarcastically.

"Good point."

Rue rubbed her hands together, not knowing what to say. She ventured a glance over her shoulder, hoping to see the Ri brothers burst through the door any moment.

She spun back around, muttering so the ghost wouldn't hear her, "I heard this room is haunted. The other night the door creaked open by itself."

Thorin gave her a quizzical expression, a mix between fascination and the utmost determination to remain rigid. His curious blue eyes betrayed him, though.

"A ghost?"

"Yep," Rue spoke lightheartedly, her voice the complete opposite from the vortex of emotions swirling inside her. "Me and my cousin used to go ghost hunting. Things used to get crazy, like we went driving down this haunted country road called Milton Road…"

Rue told Thorin about the whacky experiences out on Milton Road: the windows fogging up, the car dying for one-minute, the radio shutting off, and mysterious thuds hitting the vehicle. That then led to the explanation of cars, which Thorin seemed really judgmental about. Somebody preferred horses and wagons―whatever they had in Middle-earth. He grumbled something like, "When Men have taken over, cars are preferred over horses. Pitiful."

Other than Thorin's critical comments here and there, he wasn't such bad company. He was actually a great listener.

Rue blinked awake, yawning, tasting nasty morning breath. She sat up in bed, rubbing sleep out of her eyes as she took in the sight of Thorin sitting in the chair, seeming perfectly at ease for a man who'd been hit with a pipe last night. Maybe Thorin did this type of thing often: get in a bar fight, get injured, and keep going. The Ri brothers were long gone, having left at first light―that was what people in Middle-earth liked to call sunrise. They had said something about needing to return to their hometown for work. That was when Thorin had stubbornly forced Rue to take the bed. Their conversation had been something like this:

"Take the bed."

"But you need it."

"I do not."

"Fancy Pants hit you with a pipe, Thorin, come on."

"I said take it," he had growled with finality, not flinching. Well, if one thing was for sure, Dwarves were stubborn.

Rue ran her hands through her crazy hair, trying her best to maintain her bird's nest. She yawned, realizing this was her strangest morning since falling in Middle-earth, wailing her arms, and crashing in a barn.

"The owner came in here minutes before you woke," Thorin spoke guardedly. "He said the Master of Bree will be here in a short while." Great. His eyes narrowed in slits. "I should not have spent the night in here."

"They already think I'm crazy." Rue shrugged, sitting up, stretching her arms. As long as she knew what was going on down there, then she was good.

"Why do you take serious matters lightly? Having a reputation as a―" His voice dropped to a discreet whisper― "whore is nothing to brush off." His eyes were heated. Man, Thorin felt things too much, she realized. Even the tiniest things struck something in him.

"I know it's not true, so I'm okay. I mean, if this ruins your reputation, then I'm really, really sorry." She folded her legs, hoping Thorin wasn't known as "The Prancing Pony heartthrob" now. "I just didn't know what else to do last night. I'm sorry, Thorin."

His hands were in his lap, fingers tense. "You have nothing to apologize for." Oh?

Thorin gazed at her, Rue reddening at the intensity in his eyes. It felt like too much, like his eyes were powerful enough to penetrate through stone, through her. She gulped, staring at the bed sheets tangled around her sweatpants in mock awe.

A thunderous knock resounded. Rue jumped in alarm, squeaking. Oh, please no. Already?

Thorin stood up in one swift movement, marching for the door. He was wearing his coat again, body language screaming he was ready for Claudio to come a-knocking. His sheath hung by his side, his hand hovering above the hilt of his sword. If she'd learned anything in Middle-earth, it was that people always had a weapon on them.

Moments later, he opened the door, puffing out his chest. Rue jumped off the bed, awkwardly standing by the chair, wishing she had the chance to clean-up a little. She was meeting the Master of Bree, who could be like the Ministry of Magic for all she knew.

A short, round, stout man passed Thorin as he came in the room, but he wasn't alone. Naji was right behind him, his arm in a sling, his nose taped up. It hit Rue like a thunderbolt. Naji wasn't like Gaston, he was like Draco Malfoy! His face was bruised all over, black and blue, an ugly burn etched in his right cheek. Rue cringed at the sight, deciding right there and then that Thorin would so run the Southside of Stockton if he were from the hood. He was a tough son of a gun.

Claudio wore red and green robes―hmm, Christmas colors―peering at Thorin with these beady, critical eyes. Rue looked at Naji, and then at Claudio sheepishly, deliberating jumping under the covers or hiding underneath the bed. She couldn't do that, though. She had agreed to take the blame.

"So this is the Dwarf who laid violent hands on my son," Claudio said disparagingly, only mere inches taller than Thorin. In return, Thorin glared daggers, absolutely fearless.

"No, that was me!" Rue declared frantically, awkwardly running towards them, standing by Thorin's side.

Claudio and Thorin looked away from each other, their gazes falling on Rue.

"What are you doing?" Thorin snapped.

"You expect me to believe such nonsense." Claudio shook his head. "Pathetic." Now he sounded just like his son.

"Father, it was the Dwarf!" Naji hastily jerked his head at Thorin.

"Hey, I grew up in the ghetto!" Rue declared defensively in a shrilly voice. Like they knew what the ghetto was. It wasn't impossible that it could've been her who kicked butt. Who was she kidding?

"I did strike your son," Thorin spat harshly, his eyes intense. "He insulted the loss of Erebor."

Silence fell, the morning light coming from the window, brushing across Naji's medieval bandages. Rue's eyes froze on his dark eyes, averting her gaze immediately when Naji smirked derisively. He then mouthed, "You whore."

"It is unwise for you and your kin to involve yourselves in my son's courtship matters," Claudio hissed, revealing buck-like teeth. Courtship?

Rue whimpered, "Courtship? I think if there was a courtship going on I'd remember. We're not in a courtship."

Naji mouthed to her from the safety behind his father, "Not yet." Asshole.

"I not only discover Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror, struck my son last night, but now I come in here to find you have shared a bed with what is rightfully my son's!" Claudio bellowed, his face turning purple. Rue thought of Uncle Vernon for some reason. Did that make Naji Dudley and Draco Malfoy put together? That was a lethal combination.

"Hang on," Rue squeaked. "I'm not his property. That's really sexist, Mr. Claudio. I need to get Feministing up in here."

Of course, Claudio ignored everything she said. Rue buried her head in her hands, wondering if things could get any worse. With her crappy luck, they probably would.

"I thought Dwarves were an honorable race, especially one from the line of Durin, the rightful King Under the Mountain." Claudio's hands were on his sides, his bulging belly sticking out as he inched closer to Thorin in anger.

"WE DID NOT SHARE A BED!" Thorin roared, losing complete control of his temper, nostrils flaring.

"Hey, hey," Rue interjected fast, awkwardly stepping between them. They stepped away from her, Thorin looking seconds away from throttling Claudio with his hands, while Claudio jutted his chin out, completely in disbelief.

"This is my land, Dwarf, hold your tongue or I will―"

"YOU WILL WHAT?"

Desperately, Rue waved her arms about, crying out piercingly so they were forced to listen.

"All right, Naji knows I didn't beat him up! But we can pretend I did, and I'll take the blame for what Thorin did! I'll do anything―just leave him alone! Please!" She was out of breath, panicking, realizing her big mistake seconds too late. I'll do anything. Her dark eyes were big in fear, in regret.

Triumphantly, Claudio nodded. "Oh, you will, will you?'

Rue nodded mutely, gazing at her feet. She wore her sketchers, her running shoes from when she was on track in high school. More than anything, she wished she were back in high school, going to track meets and all that jazz. It was better than being trapped in Middle-earth. Why not Hogwarts?

"Marry my son."

"What?" Thorin growled loudly, unable to hide the disbelief seeping in his voice. It was obvious he thought the idea was ludicrous.

She didn't look up, defeated as she said miserably, "Okay."

Author's Note: Dun dun dun! Now they've kind of both gotten the other one in trouble. Rue is being forced to marry Fancy Pants because of Thorin. He got in a fistfight with Naji thanks to Rue and Naji's argument, which led to the tirade against the Dwarves of Erebor. Here's some life advice: if you're ever traveling through California, do NOT stop in Stockton! It really is ghetto and crazy. I'm not playing up Stockton at all. Avoid Charter Way, Wilson Way, Main Street, the east and Southside if you're ever forced to go there. Luckily, I don't live there. But my cousins do, so I'm a little familiar with the city. So review, alert, favorite, PM, do what you must. I took a little creative liberty, creating a Master of Bree, even though I'm not sure there is one. I looked around online and couldn't find anything about who or what rules Bree. Oh yeah, and before I forget, Feministing is a blog for feminists just in case you didn't know :)

In response to the Guest review: You are totally right about the caricature thing. I meant for him to resemble Gaston from Beauty and the Beast with the arrogance and plain ol' ridiculousness, but then as I have continued writing him, he's started to eerily resemble Draco Malfoy. I think it's a good thing, though. And there is a reason he hates Dwarves *hint hint*

Rue's dad is supposed to be half-Dominican, so she does have some color and that's the reason she's got some crazy hair. I have noticed every OC is Caucasian and I don't think I've ever seen a minority before. It's pretty interesting. Wait, I think I remember a Scottish OC.

About placing herself in a degrading-situation-with-the-buffoon thing (I hope I'm not coming off like I'm trying to explain everything). I think since Rue has lived in other people's houses before and such (from personal experience of living in someone else's house for a short period of time and having other people live in my house for like two days), I've learned sometimes you eat shit. Yep, some of those experiences teach you tons.

Glad you're enjoying the Harry Potter references. Thanks for the detailed review, Guest. It's appreciated lots :)