Author's Note: In honor of Halloween, I have added some extra dialogue between Rue and Thorin having to do with scary story time :) Hope you enjoy. Thanks ElynFlame, SwanInProgress, Just4Me, DwarvenWarrior, anna. pantelarou, lillalil, SiaSaySomeday, UKReader, and house of the falling sun for reviewing. You guys spoil me so much with your kind reviews :) Also thanks for the follows and favorites.

Disclaimer: I do not own "Clocks" by Coldplay. There was a brief time in my life (this was when I was ten 'mind you) when I thought Coldplay was boring. How stupid was I? This song is awesome! They are awesome!

Chapter Seven: Clocks

Thorin went psycho.

"YOU SPEAK LIES!" he roared at the Orc's corpse, kicking it in the face, this pained expression screwed on his face as the Orc's teeth and nose shattered. Black blood oozed over the Orc, on Thorin's boot, but that didn't stop him.

Rue and Gimli held their breaths, discreetly tiptoeing closer to each other. They closed the distance separating them, Rue shaking all over, grabbing Gimli by the shoulders.

She whispered, "Gims, you all right?"

Gimli nodded, eyes bugged out as he watched Thorin kick the shit out of the Orc's corpse from behind Rue. "Yes. Lass, are you harmed?"

She felt strangely protective of Gimli, making an effort to physically block out Thorin's rampaging meltdown by standing taller.

"I'm fine," she squeaked, eyes darting around frantically, listening to the sound of thud, thunk, and stomp as Thorin kept kicking the Orc's face in. Who was Azog the Defiler? Why was―whoever that was―searching for Thorin? Azog the Defiler sounded like a professional wrestler's ring name or a gangster's street code. Was it a Dwarf, Orc, Goblin, death eater, Wizard, maybe even a Middle-earth version of the Millennium Falcon? What the heck was a Azog the Defiler? Or who the heck was Azog the Defiler?

Suddenly, the thudding stopped, which meant―

Thorin whirled toward them, stopping to stand inches away, agony etched on his face. His fists were clenched, smudges of black blood on his cheeks, nostrils flaring, and body completely rigid. It was the first time Rue saw any vulnerability in Big Bad King Under the Mountain: the wrinkles in his face were more distinct than ever, as if screaming what Thorin wanted to say, "I'm too tried for this―for everything!" His eyes were blue thunder, brimming in hurt, in combating rage.

"What were you doing?" Thorin snarled, voice shaking in his attempt not to shout bloody murder.

Gimli looked at Rue. She opened her mouth to speak, but then Gimli unexpectedly cut her off.

"You should have seen the lass!" Gimli cried out, wiggling his shoulders. "It was thoughtless, but she distracted the Orc!"

Rue stepped in front of Gimli, swallowing hard, realizing she was going to get the full-brunt of Thorin's anger. Oh, gosh. Don't cry. She had been seconds away from being gutted by an Orc, but somehow Thorin's anger overshadowed that. Was his temper really that bad? Maybe it was the realization that she didn't want to disappoint him that hurt even worse. He must have been disappointed in her.

Thorin inched closer, arms still shaking, forearm guards splattered by Orc blood. He didn't say anything, eyes freezing on hers, prodding her to explain herself. His silent rage. Oh, gosh, not his silent rage.

"You see," Rue squeaked, sniveling, snot running out her nose, "I―I was on the track team in high school. Track team is a running sport, so I know how to run. Uh―I'm no Olympic athlete, but I―I thought I could tire the Orc out―" She paused, using the back of her sleeve to wipe her nose, feeling humiliated― "I made one mistake! And that was by stopping! I was trying to see if it was still following me, but―but it wasn't so I stopped." Her words were no longer hysterical, but a fearful whisper. "That―uh―that was how it got me."

She hugged herself, shivering.

Gimli's mouth was open in awe.

The scary anger faded from Thorin's eyes, replaced by ephemeral fear. A split-second later, it had vanished like smoke going up. Rue could have sworn he looked afraid. And if Thorin was afraid, then this Azog the Defiler might be like Voldemort or Bellatrix Lestrange. Personally, Bellatrix was scarier.

Thorin spun around, stomping toward the tramped over pathway Rue had come. Well, uh, she certainly wasn't stealthy running through the woods―

"We still have seven hours of light. Move. Do not waste time," Thorin growled viciously, for the first time Rue could recall, his voice splintered.

She and Gimli stood still for a few seconds, giving each other sidelong glances, as if asking quietly, "What the hell just happened?"

Then they were running after Thorin out of fear of many things: Orcs and Thorin's monstrous temper.

Rue lay on her stomach in blades of grass, the trees thinned out around their campsite. The sun was merely setting as she scribbled in her diary, saying everything she needed to tell Nat.

Dear Nat,

The last week and a half, Thorin's been different. REALLY different. I'm worried about him. This Azog must be really bad. I finally know what Azog is: a pale Orc. Yesterday, when me and Gimli went to get some kindling, he told me who Azog was when I puckered up the courage to ask. Honestly, I had been expecting Thorin to be standing in the shadows of trees, and for him to come stomping out to yell at me for even asking. Gimli said he didn't know the full-story, since everybody seems to think he's a Dwarfling and too young to tell (he is, but I'm not going to tell him). He just said that Azog the Defiler was this giant, pale Orc who's supposed to be dead because Thorin killed him years ago. Sometimes, Thorin seems like he's cationic for a few seconds, staring off into space, looking out at the sky when me and Gimli ask him something. It takes him a few seconds to break out of his sad spell, but when he does, he's mad. I know he doesn't like being seen like that, just like he hated being seen injured and hated even more Gimli healing him. I just, sometimes I don't know what to do. If it were you, I'd hug him, but it isn't. I just get this mental image of me trying to hug Thorin, and Thorin punching me in the face for even touching him. I know he's a Dwarf so he wouldn't hit me, but still. On the bright side, we're in Hobbiton. Also, two days ago, at approximately noontime, Thorin gave me a compliment. It's kinda lame I know the time and have remembered every little word, like Thorin is Regina George or something, but it made my heart warm and fuzzy. And before you ask, I don't like Thorin that way. I mean, he's handsome, brave, intelligent, a protector―never mind, Nat, stop being pushy! Thorin said, "The Orc was certainly not expecting you to outsmart him or cut him in the cheek. It is no wonder he mistook you for a She-Dwarf." At first, I didn't know it was a compliment, but then Gimli whispered to me, "Miss Rue, for a Dwarf King of such high eminence to compliment you along the lines of a She-Dwarf, well―I wish he would have took note of how I killed an Orc all by myself." Shucks.

Love Rue XOXOXO (Like in Secret Admirer)

PS: No sign of Bree Men. Yes!

Rue felt herself redden when she stole a sneaky glance at Thorin. He was sharpening his sword with a whetstone, half-gazing in the distance at the pinkish-red horizon. He was sitting on a rock, his eyes screaming he was longing for something.

She let out a deep sigh, her head dropping on her diary cover after she shut it. Rue was bumping heads with Tigger.

Swallowing hard, sitting up on her knees, she asked timidly, "Uh, do you need any help?"

Thorin stopped grinding the whetstone against his blade, sitting more rigid now. "I do not."

No way was Rue going to point out that she noticed a slight shiver shooting through his arms. His coat was discarded on the ground by the tips of his boots, so he was a little cold. She gained much-needed courage, scrambling from the grass. Rue carefully neared Thorin, reaching for the coat Speed Racer fast. With a nervous squeak, she grabbed it, draping it on his shoulders, feeling his shoulder muscles through his tunic. Oh, gosh, his broad shoulders were really masculine, and that was―

Thorin was alert, jerking back fast, eyes widening when he saw it was only her. He didn't say anything, mouth slightly parting.

Out of the corner of her eye, Rue saw Gimli's mouth open in a silent O.

"I'm going," she muttered, stepping backwards, "to get kindling. Uh―" Stupidly, having no freaking clue what she was saying, Rue added― "You want something from the―the trees? Like a pine cone or―" Rue stopped mid-sentence, deciding she had embarrassed herself enough. Rue spun around; her head hunched in humiliation as she speed walked like an in-shape granny for the thin tree line.

Okay, maybe tomorrow, she could forget about this. Yeah, right.

Rue had found a fallen moss-covered tree trunk to sit on, the trees that shrouded her too unnervingly thin for her master plan of "hide until nightfall" to work. What the hell had she been thinking? Thorin was probably pissed off at her for even―

There was a creak. Rue stood up, alert, pulling the dagger out her cloak pocket. Her head whipped from left to right, to straight ahead where―

She stumbled back in surprise as she saw Thorin's sturdy form. He was frowning like usual, the waning sunlight behind him creating a pinkish-orange glow that made him somehow appear even more majestic.

"What are you doing?" he growled, stepping closer.

Rue sighed, blowing her long, frizzy bangs out her face. "I was just, uh―having some alone time." Yeah, after she had made herself look royally stupid. Rue swallowed hard, timidly taking a seat on the moss-covered trunk. Gosh, these parts of the woods were too tiny.

With jittery fingers, she held onto her own hands. Rue's gaze was on the grass below her. Staring at the ground seemed like a much better plan than facing Thorin.

She heard him come closer, and she noticed his shadow hovering on the ground to her left. Rue turned, facing the other side of the tree trunk, now occupied by Big Bad King Under the Mountain. Thorin was actually choosing to sit next to her.

Awkwardly, Rue nodded to herself. "I'm sorry about what I did back there―" Vaguely, she pointed toward the path that led out the woods.

"There is nothing you need to apologize for," Thorin said gruffly, his words really sinking in Rue's head moments later.

Her mouth was open in a silent O. Rue gained the guts to stare at him, this close to making eye contact with his brilliant blue eyes. Thorin gave her a fleeting once over before his gaze fell to his boots. His large hands were splayed in his lap, Thorin's lips pursed tightly.

Rue wasn't sure what to say, what to do. So she went with her instincts: be friendly. Don't act like you embarrassed yourself five minutes ago. Play it cool.

"You wanna hear a Halloween story?" A grin tugged at her lips.

Thorin wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion. "What is Halloween?"

Rue gasped in elation, facing him once more, hands waving about anxiously. "Halloween isn't a Middle-earth holiday?"

He shook his head.

She beamed. "Yay, I get to tell you what Halloween is."

Rue could barely contain herself as she dove into an explanation of what Halloween was, describing the scary costumes and trick-or-treat tradition. Of course, Thorin found something to criticize when she was finished.

"Why does the race of Men have such elaborate holiday if they have everything in your world such as you have said before? Should they not be humble?" He leered past Rue, at some point in the distance. She noticed he tended to do that a lot, to stare past her as if remembering things from his 195-year lifespan. Thorin must've had billions of memories.

"See." She shrugged. "That kinda proves my point, but anyway…I want to tell you a scary story. Please?" Rue jerked her knees anxiously, smiling.

Thorin nodded once, which meant yes.

"Okay, okay, so―" Rue scooted closer to Thorin, clasping her hands together― "There was this boy who drowned in this lake called Crystal Lake. You see, he was staying at a camp over the summer with teenagers who were supposed to be watching him. They're called counselors. So the boy, Jason Voorhees, didn't know how to swim." Rue gave a tiny shrug. "And I bet you're wondering where the counselors were? This is where the story gets juicy." She cracked an immature smile. "Two of the counselors were off having sex."

Thorin jerked in his seat, eyes widening as Rue said sex. He looked mortified, scandalized. "Must you use such inappropriate language?" Eh? It wasn't like Rue had said they were making the bed rock, getting it on, doing the nasty, grinding all night long, or one of the millions of inappropriate references to sex. She'd just said sex. Then again, she should have known better. This was Middle-earth.

"Sorry," she apologized. "In my world, we kinda talk about that openly. People talk about it all the time. They share stories and write books about it."

"Then this truly is a scary story," Thorin said in all seriousness. Did he just…make a joke? He raised one closed hand to his mouth in quiet concentration, seemingly pondering the news of, "Hey, people love to talk about sex where I'm from," intently.

She giggled. "You made a joke."

Her words broke him out of his brief reverie.

"I did not."

"You did, but you didn't know it was funny. That makes you even funnier."

Thorin blinked at her like she had just sprouted four heads.

Rue laughed, covering her mouth, hand falling away from her lips just as―snort. Gasping, she covered her mouth once again, realizing in horror that she had just snorted. Crap. Rue-Rue was coming out to play, snorting and everything.

Her mouth was open in an O again as she peered at Thorin, expecting him to make some dramatic leave, with stomping and shouting. He'd been in an awful mood ever since that Orc had brought up Azog the Defiler. And all Rue had done was probably make everything worse for him. Her stupid Halloween stories and snorts most likely annoyed the shit out of Thorin.

"Oops," she squeaked softly. "Now you know uh―uh that I snort."

Steeling herself to look at Thorin again, Rue nearly fell off the tree trunk in shock. What she found was Thorin…smirking…not just smirking either. His smirk was…playful.

"Do you want me to go?" Rue awkwardly stood up, brushing dirt off her trousers to keep her jumpy hands busy.

Thorin's eyes doubled in size, his smirk vanishing. "I thought you were telling me of the tale of Jason Voorhees."

He sat straighter, chest sticking out, intense gaze traveling over every inch of Rue's face. Did he actually want her to stay here? With him? To hear her talk?

She nodded clumsily, sitting back down. "Yeah, I was, uh―just being stupid, you know. So anyway, Jason Voorhees's mother wanted to get revenge on those counselors…"

Rue then told Thorin the Camp Crystal Lake scenarios to the best of her memory, describing the gory details of Jason's many victims. She made sure not to leave out that one of the counselors had beheaded his mother, after she'd gone on her own murdering spree. He was quiet almost the entire time, nodding along and asking questions when she mentioned things from her world he didn't know of.

After five minutes or so, Rue realized something that her nerdy self couldn't resist bringing up.

"I just realized that Halloween was the day Voldemort killed Harry's mom and dad," she pointed out, nodding. Lily and James had died. Snape's poor heart.

"Are you speaking of Harry Potter?" he wondered gruffly. Rue cast a glimpse at Thorin, for the first time discerning only several inches separated their thighs. Had Thorin slid closer to her, too? Rue hadn't meant to invade his personal bubble or anything. Her intention of moving closer to him had been so he could hear everything she was saying―uh, which really didn't make much sense now that she thought about it. They were in the woods, not some public park.

"Yep." Rue beamed, unable to resist fangirling inside over her favorite books.

Thorin carefully observed the woods around them, the ever-increasing darkness snuffing out the last glimpses of sun. If Rue had been alone out here, she would have been scared shitless. But since Thorin was by her side, she felt…safe.

"We have the time if you wish to tell me of Harry Potter," Thorin said in a low, rough voice. He was staring at the tangles of grass in front of him, frowning.

Her legs bounced in excitement as she faced him. "I've been dying to tell you all about Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Snape―"

Just then, the sound of creaks ripped through the air, branches snapping underneath someone's weight. Thorin was up on his feet in less than a second, unsheathing his sword like some ninja. His eyes roamed the woods.

Without warning, the sound of Gimli's booming voice echoed.

"Lass! Your majesty! Where are you?"

In the distance, Rue saw a silhouette of Gimli cupping his hands over his mouth as he called for them, standing a little ways out the woods. Poor Gims was probably frightened all alone out there.

Thorin visibly slackened, the fight leaving him.

"Come," he beckoned Rue to follow him. "We must return."

"Poor Gims." She shook her head, following Thorin.

Was it just her or was it every time she was about to explain the magic of Harry Potter to Thorin, that something seemed to interrupt them? Funny coincidence.

Gullible. That was the first word Rue thought of as they entered the Shire near nightfall. The grass was long, pilfers of wind shifting the blades of grass. There were these tiny holes―Hobbit holes!―lined up down dirt paths. Rue wondered if the Hobbits were like gophers or snakes or―what else lived underground?

As Rue, Gimli, and Thorin walked through the Shire after tying up their pony by some stable, she couldn't help but compare the Hobbit town to a little town outside Stockton called Lodi. One side of Lodi was rich―the well-to-do families that had been living there for like a hundred years. Anyway, Lodi felt like a safe haven compared to Stockton. Crime wasn't prevalent there and rich Lodians were, uh, for lack of better word: naïve.

"Baggins, was it?" Gimli spoke up eagerly.

"That's the guy's name?" Rue gave a little shriek of delight, pumping her fist in the air. "We've got a winner, Thorin. I swear that Baggins is Frodo's last name, so are we visiting his cousin or―" Rue used her common sense, remembering Frodo had a dad in the first film, at least that's what she had heard from Nat who watched all the movies― "I think we're visiting Frodo's dad!" She was seconds away from starting a yes chant.

"His name is Bilbo Baggins." Thorin gave a curt nod from Rue's right. He stood between her and Gimli.

As they continued ambling throughout the Shire, Rue couldn't help but ogle over the Hobbit hood's beauty. Puffs of smoke withered through the air from tiny chimneys. The sky was this brilliant blue, a color she never knew the sky could turn. The sheen of water from a lake shone underneath the moonlight as they passed by. This must have been what book summaries meant when they talked about "sleepy little towns."

"It's so pretiful here," Rue spoke in awe, resisting the urge to squeal and bounce up and down. She knew that would probably annoy the shit out of Thorin. They had been roaming through the Shire for a bit now without finding the Baggins hole.

"Pretiful?" Gimli wondered curiously. "Should I even ask, lass? They use the strangest words in your realm." Rue was tempted to say, "Twerkin" just for kicks. She wasn't about to describe Miley Cyrus's VMA performance and the invention of twerking when Thorin was pissed off, though. Natalie could twerk like a pro.

Painfully, they went on for what felt like hours, climbing up slight slants, checking all the names on the mailboxes and doors. Between Gimli claiming he had spotted Baggins every couple minutes and Rue giggling when she saw Hobbits―hey, they were cute and cuddly looking like Care Bears―, she thought Thorin was going to blow up. Steam could've been coming out his ears by the time they found Baggins on a mailbox.

The door was circular, painted green with a strange, glowing rune on it. Ancient runes? Where was Hermione when they needed her?

"How do I look?" Gimli whispered to Rue, brushing tangles of his beard and hair down, cutely nervous.

"Like a Dwarf." Rue grinned. For real, she had never seen Gimli look so Dwarf-like before.

"Are you telling the truth?" he grumbled.

"Yep."

Thorin neared the door first, footsteps heavy. From inside the Hobbit hole, Rue heard a big ruckus like her family's dysfunctional get-togethers. Nobody needed soap operas when her family was around. No joke.

He knocked thunderously, the Hobbit hole falling in drastic silence. Rue straightened her posture, not sure if Thorin's dead serious expression or the silence from the Baggins crib made her more nervous. Was this the moment she was finally going to meet Frodo? Was she finally going to make it home once she met a Guardian of Middle-earth?

Rue was nearly salivating in her excitement when the door swung open. Light burst through the doorway, making Grouchy's pretty blue eyes even prettier.

"Gandalf," Thorin said gruffly, somehow keeping his irritation at bay. Wow, if only he was that nice to her and Gimli. Rue gave Gimli a look, and she knew he was thinking the exact same thing.

Sheepishly, they stood a little ways behind Thorin as he entered the Hobbit hole―Rue took her words back―home. It was an actual home. Coolies.

Gimli muttered underneath his breath, "Remember, there were ten Orcs." Eh?

Rue nodded as they followed Thorin through the doorway. Collective silence rang throughout the cozy little home. Immediately, Rue saw there was an army of Dwarves crowded around the front door and an old man―Gandalf! Wait, she knew who Gandalf was. People from the Lord of the Rings fandom were always trying to tell her that Dumbledore was a Gandalf rip-off. So far, Rue didn't see any resemblance except for the wise-old-man thing and pointy hat.

Everybody was focused on Thorin, everybody including the shortest dude in the room who was not Frodo. It was hard not to pay attention to Thorin since he had freakishly strong presence. Sometimes, Rue thought one of Thorin's glances was the equivalent of seeing Arnold in The Terminator 2: Judgment Day. It must've been that whole macho thing. Rue certainly didn't think Thorin was some kind of unfeeling machine, though.

"We lost our way," Thorin started, explaining to Gandalf the reason they were late. When he said we, all eyes flitted past Thorin, going to Rue and Gimli, who were trying to tiptoe indiscreetly.

"GIMLI!" Nope, the discreet thing wasn't working.

Rue withheld the urge to shriek and hide behind Thorin as Gloin trundled past Gandalf. His eyes were furious. Gosh, he was scary enough when he was just training Gimli, encouraging him to beat the shit out of straw dummies like they were a dude named Thranduil.

"I'm here. I arrived," Gimli said earnestly, puffing out his chest, trying to play it cool.

Rue noticed in the background, everyone was here. There was Fili and Kili, trying not to laugh at Gimli's sticky situation. The Ri brothers all stood together, Nori jerking his head at Rue in greeting while Ori waved with a big smile on his face. Rue grinned from ear to ear, getting ready to go say hi to the Ri brothers. But then Thorin spotted Fili and Kili.

His arms were crossed over his chest, his handsome face screwed up in anger. "So you disobeyed me and your mother, and saw to it you come on a quest neither of you are ready for."

Fili and Kili's reactions were drastically different. Fili was calm, having the guts to stare Thorin in the eye, while Kili pointed at Gimli like a kid pointed at another kid on the playground.

"You brought him along, Uncle! He's a Dwarfling!" Kili whined, sputtering in disbelief, shaking his head as though the gesture would make everything untrue.

"I did not bring him along by choice," Thorin growled. Oh, shit.

Now Gloin faced Thorin, waving his arms around frantically.

"Why is my son here?" he demanded, voice getting louder by the second. Thorin sneered dangerously, balling his fists, opening his mouth to answer.

"Father," Gimli piped up, gripping his axe tighter, "I had to come to protect the lass, yeah? I would not be a Dwarf of great honor if I allowed a lass to come on her own. And a good thing to I did. There were―" Gimli dramatically held up ten fingers― "Ten Orcs on the road here! I killed them, and I told the lass, 'Stay down, I will protect you.'" What?

Kili's scowl screamed he was seconds away from proclaiming Gimli a liar. Fili chuckled softly, gaze falling to the ground. Nori's eyes narrowed in evident disbelief of Gimli's tall tale.

Gloin turned to Thorin, whispering, "Is this true?"

"There were two Orcs," Thorin uttered in response.

Rue couldn't contain herself anymore, stepping closer to the coppery-haired Hobbit, holding up her hands in silent plea.

"Are―are you Frodo's dad? Where's Frodo? Can I find him around here?" Rue asked in one breath, sucking in a mouthful of hot air. She was so nervous; it felt like her stomach was going to fall out her butt.

The Hobbit―Bilbo―shook his head. "I don't know what―" He faced Gandalf, confused as hell― "Who's this?"

"Introductions, why yes." Gandalf grinned like everything was peachy and honky dory. He pointed at Thorin, who now turned his attention to Bilbo. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

Thorin was downright rude, asking critically, "So this is the Hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

Rue resisted the urge to say, "Uh, Thorin, he doesn't even look like he's ever hurt a fly. That answer's kind of obvious."

Thorin circled Bilbo, sizing him up, making a judgment. Rue wondered if Thorin had done the same thing to her the first time they had met? Made a quick judgment. Bilbo said something about being skilled in Conkers. What was Conkers? Was that the Middle-earth version of Wizard's chess?

"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar," Thorin said mockingly, the Dwarves laughing. Rue blinked in shock. This was certainly one of the uh―least attractive qualities of Thorin. Not that he didn't have a lot of attractive qualities, but―

"Please, do you know who the Guardians of Middle-earth are?" Rue clasped her hands together, interrupting the laughter as she practically begged Bilbo for info. "I'm sorry if I'm coming off a little crazy, I just―just have been waiting to meet them for a long time."

"Then look no more."

Rue was open-mouthed, turning toward the sound of the voice: Gandalf. He was holding onto his staff, appearing to have all the elegance of Leggy. Was this Gandalf dude an Elf, one that was like a thousand- years-old? Wait, he had just said―

"You are a Guardian of Middle-earth?" Thorin asked, blinking in dismay.

"That I am." Gandalf nodded. "And I believe we have many things to discuss outside―" Gandalf jerked his head toward the front door, his long-ass beard shifting slightly― "Come, Thorin, and I believe I did not hear your name." Gandalf was staring at Rue now, his age-old gaze intimidating as hell.

It felt like the only words Rue could muster were, "Ooogabsnssmksk," accompanied by a line of drool. She was in shock; mouth hung open, tongue limp.

Luckily, Thorin answered for her, his voice oddly melodic.

"Ruby." Maybe his voice was just melodic because it was the first time Rue recalled that he used her full name. She wasn't even sure if he had remembered her full name.

"Come along, Ruby," Gandalf said impatiently, ducking as he opened the door.

Rue spun around to give one last glimpse to Gimli. She was hoping he would give her a reassuring nod, but he was busy being lectured by Gloin, who was red-in-the-face mad.

She shuffled forward, clutching the slings on her backpack for dear life. Thorin walked alongside her, each of his footsteps majestic and fierce. She was gazing down at her feet, and then looking at the doorway to see Thorin waiting for her to pass first. The door slammed shut behind them.

Gandalf was sitting on the bench out-front, smoking his pipe for a few moments, way too relaxed in Rue's humble opinion. Her hands were behind her back as she kept shifting her knees nervously. Thorin, on the other hand, seemed seconds away from sassing out Gandalf. No surprise there. His hands were clenched in tight fists, hovering by his sides.

There was nothing to lose. Rue swallowed hard. "So uh―uh, you're a Guardian of Middle-earth―" She scratched her head anxiously, realizing she probably was coming off like one big herp derp― "I didn't think I would just run into one of you like that." Rue snapped her fingers when she said that. The gesture seemed to startle Gandalf, who stood taller in his seat now.

"Why do you seek a Guardian?" he asked, unblinking, gaze downright daunting.

Rue started uneasily, "Before I begin, please be open-minded? Because this sounds really crazy. Uh―you see, I'm from another world. I fell from the sky and you're probably thinking already that I need to go to the funny farm, but please Mr. Gandalf."

Suddenly, Thorin growled, "You do not need to give him your please so much, Miss Rue. He will listen."

Gandalf seemed caught off guard, nodding tersely. "He is correct, Ruby."

"I'm just nervous," she confessed, playing with her fingers now, swearing she felt beads of sweat trail down her forehead. She looked at Thorin, and he gave her a reassuring nod. Somehow, his nod gave her enough courage to continue. Rue began again, "So when I fell from the sky, I landed on some barn outside Bree. Me and Thorin met two and a half months ago after uh―he got in this bar fight with this man named Naji." Rue turned toward Thorin. "I'm really, really, really sorry about that by the way, and your leg." She pointed meekly at his thigh.

Thorin stood taller, giving off an air of badass toughness. "I am fully healed. It is a mere scar now. Nothing more."

"What of your leg?" Gandalf questioned, eyes darkening from underneath the brim of his pointy hat.

Thorin leered, lips curling in a snarl of frustration. "It was a meager cut from a sword, Gandalf."

"From who?"

Dang, this Wizard was just as intuitive as Dis. Rue guiltily gazed at her feet.

"An assassin that Man―Naji son of Master of Bree―paid to see the death of me," Thorin grumbled, his hair slightly blowing.

"Assassin?" Gandalf's jaw was parted for a few seconds before tightening. "Is the son of Master of Bree the same Man you found yourself in a bar fight with, the same man who confronted you during our meeting in the Prancing Pony? Thorin, I believed you to be better than such lows." Gandalf's words were patronizing, his eyes critical.

"But―but it wasn't his fault," Rue defended Thorin. "You should've seen the things Naji said. He took things too far, Mr. Gandalf. Please don't blame Thorin? He's done a lot for me―" Her voice dropped to a shy whisper as she refused to meet Thorin's eyes― "Been really uh―great, even though I know it's because of some Dwarf debt. But I would've never made it on my own to the Shire to meet you Mr. Gandalf if it wasn't for him."

Hollow silence echoed in the night air. Rue could see shapes of smoke coming from Gandalf's pipe as he puffed out a few more rounds. Timidly, she glimpsed at Thorin, reddening when she saw he was staring at her, mouth open in a silent O.

"Well," Gandalf broke the silence, "those are words I do not hear often to describe Thorin Oakenshield." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Thorin was offended, scowling in response to Gandalf's words. Gandalf cleared his throat, locking wise eyes on Rue. "So what can I do for you, child?"

Rue thought it was kind of obvious.

"I was hoping that you could send me home," she said jauntily, grinning at him. "Please, Mr. Gandalf?"

Thorin gave her a pointed look, his piercing eyes screaming, "I already told you to stop saying please so much."

Suddenly, Gandalf was laughing, wiggling his shoulders and shaking his head as if Rue had just cracked some dirty joke or something. The grin fell from her face.

Thorin hissed furiously, "Why are you laughing? It is not funny." Rue could've sworn one of his veins was about to pop.

The laughter faded from Gandalf's eyes. He then said, "I cannot simply send you back to your world, Ruby. I have heard of other worlds, but to see someone confirm such things is overwhelming. You were sent here for a purpose the Valar saw fit. I cannot interfere with that."

Rue was horrified, gasping, "But, but what about my home, my life? Mr. Gandalf, before I was sent here I think I could've died! Does that mean I'm a ghost here? Is this an afterlife?" She frantically moved closer to Gandalf, everything leaving her like word vomit.

He was quiet for a moment, silently contemplating what Rue had just said.

"There is one option," he spoke coolly, giving Thorin a long sideways glance. "On our way to The Lonely Mountain, we can pass through Rivendell and visit Lord Elrond, one of the other Guardians. There is a chance he can offer more help than I can, but I doubt it. This is something truly peculiar."

Rue covered he mouth with her shivering hand. "Really? You would―" She faced Thorin― "Is this okay with you?"

Thorin's hands were clenched tightly, fingers curling in and out, his expression absolutely murderous. That was a definite no.

"We will not be entering Rivendell," he said obstinately, glaring daggers. "You and the Wandering Wizard may enter, but I speak for the Dwarves of the company. We will remain outside." He folded his arms stubbornly, peering at anything else but Gandalf.

"So is that a yes?" Rue nearly squeaked in excitement, feelings all kinds of different emotions. There was one last glimmer of hope, but what if―no, she had to be optimistic.

Thorin now faced Gandalf. "The roads we will travel is no place for a woman." Intensity flashed in his eyes. "There are unexpected perils, Gandalf―" Thorin stopped speaking at once, jaw tightening, teeth grinding from the looks of it. Oh, no. Azog.

Gandalf nodded slowly, irritably unfazed. "I take it you heard of Azog the Defiler's return?" Talk about not beating around the bush whatsoever. Maybe Gandalf really was like Dumbledore. She was quivering from head to toe, stepping backwards to give them space. Rue hugged herself for solace, pretending her arms were her Tigger stuffed animal.

Thorin whirled toward Gandalf, his face a monstrosity of unmatched pain, eyes gleaming wildly in fear. The fear was only there for a moment, but a moment too long in Rue's humble opinion.

She could see everything Thorin didn't want anyone to see. He was slightly panicked, shoulders tense in alarm, the smears of gray in his hair more evident than ever now. Poor guy needed a vacation.

"Is it true?" he growled ferociously, a slight tremble in his voice that could've been mistaken for rage.

Gandalf sighed, "Yes."

Author's Note: They have FINALLY arrived at Bag End ;) Hope you liked the introduction of Rue to Gandalf, and to Bilbo. Poor Bilbo. I think Rue just totally sucks at meeting new people, don't you think? She and Thorin have that in common. Please review :) Would love to hear feedback on the story so far. My update next Saturday might happen on Sunday or Friday instead. Just wanted to let my readers know, but I will most likely be updating on Saturday, but if not, just look out for an update throughout the weekend. Life's getting busy so sorry for you readers who enjoy Saturday updates.