Chapter 3

"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." –Helen Keller

It was early, earlier than what Nina liked when she finally woke. It turned out sleeping on a horse in front of a dwarf wasn't the most wonderful situation to be in. Nina only stirred slightly at around dawn before she conked out again on Dwalin's chest, only to feel a slight chuckle from him. There was nothing funny about a sore butt. At some point after that, Nina woke herself fully, the sudden realization that she was still in Middle Earth, and she found her mind wandering back to the tree she had seen before all of this. How had she seen it? She hoped Gandalf would know. He was supposed to be some all-powerful wizard and what-not after all.

"Where are we?" She murmured incoherently.

"Just go back to sleep lass, just stopping for the horse." Dwalin grunted as she felt herself float off the horse, which she presumed was Dwalin's doing. Blind or not, Nina was most definitely not a morning person. In the mornings, sometimes she forgot who she was and where she was just from grogginess.

These arms were different though. They were warmer, and far lighter and thinner than Dwalin's, though quite muscular still. Nina opened her eyes wearily in a small attempt to wake herself, only to hear low chuckles.

"Dwalin?" She called out to anywhere, her panic rising. Had he given her up to a stranger? Nina would kill him if he did.

"You're fine, lass." He chuckled tightly, though his voice was not directly above her as if he was carrying her. So he wasn't.

"Who's got me?" She squeaked helplessly, earning a few more laughs from the stranger.

"I won't drop you, if that's what you're worried over. You weigh about the same as a blade of grass." Said a new voice. It was deep, though not the same sort of gruffness as Dwalin; it seemed gentler than that. Though he was a horrible liar whoever he was. Nina wasn't the lightest person in the world, and this stranger was obviously having trouble holding her by the sound of his strained voice.

"Yeah, sure." She snorted in response.

"She's a looker this one," Her carrier called presumably to Dwalin. "Very pretty."

"I suppose any young lady would be." Dwalin replied, oozing with uncomfortableness.

"I wish you would stop lying, it's really not your stronghold." Nina snapped lightly at the man. He laughed heartily.

"That's alright if you don't believe me lass, I can see it plain as day." He chuckled. Nina felt little offense at his statement about seeing things, though Dwalin obviously didn't take things as easily as Nina did.

"Bofur! Watch your tongue, man!" Dwalin barked. He was using his harsh tone that he had used with Nina when they first met. He continued in a softer whisper: "She's got no sight, you half-wit."

"Oh, my apologies Lady Nina," Bofur rushed pitifully. Nina chuckled lightly from in his arms.

"It's quite alright, I'm used to it. And you didn't know," She sighed. Nina was having a normal-person conversation with a dwarf. What the heck was happening to her?

"Well I truly am sorry lass." Bofur chuckled. Nina decided then, now that she had had a conversation with two dwarves that she wanted to go for a walk.

"Dwalin, do you mind if I walk around a minute, to stretch my legs?" She sighed, changing the subject.

"Don't stray far from the inn," Dwalin called. So they were at an inn. She nodded, presumed that he saw, and hobbled away a little. It was strange, being on ground she hadn't memorized. She stretched her hand out, feeling around for some kind of railing. Her hand hit a wall, and she staggered into the inn, unsure of herself.

"Hello young lady," An unfamiliar male voice addressed her. Nina jumped. "Oh, I didn't mean to scare you…" He trailed off, becoming too close for Nina's comfort. She frowned, and found herself about to call out for Dwalin.

"Excuse me, I need to get inside." Nina decided to say through gritted teeth, figuring that being inside where all of the people were would be safer. The man's firm hand grabbed her elbow and held her fast. "Let go of me." She squeaked, panicking. What were these Middle-Earth men like?

"What's your hurry, lass?" The man sneered.

"Please, leave me alone!" Nina shouted, unaware that she had alerted a certain pair of dwarven ears.

"Just cooperate!" The man hissed, shoving the helpless Nina onto the ground and moving to overpower her.

"Hey!" A familiar gruff voice growled. "Get your hands off her." Nina could have jumped for joy at the not-so-scary-now voice of Dwalin as he took down the horrid man. Nina didn't realize she had begun to cry until Dwalin had lifted her up, letting her stand but holding her steady. "Are you alright? That man was scum," He continued. Nina nodded frantically.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm not used to people acting like that, ever." She whispered hoarsely. Dwalin nodded.

Nina had always thought that she was tough, that she could handle herself. No one had ever tried to take advantage of Nina back home, but she could always be trusted to take care of herself. Now she realized that she wasn't at all the tough she girl she thought she was. She was a handicap blind girl, someone who needed help with everything. Even in Middle-Earth.

"Let's get back on the road then," He muttered, leading her back to the pony. It wasn't long at all before Dwalin had dragged Nina back to the pony, neither of them speaking until Bofur called his farewells to them.

"We'll meet again at the burglar's home then." Dwalin grunted at the other dwarf, simultaneously helping Nina situate herself onto the pony.

"Right you are Dwalin, safe travels. Will I be seeing the lass again?" Bofur called from the ground as Dwalin mounted the pony behind Nina.

"I don't think so." Dwalin effectively ended the conversation. Bofur said his farewells then both to Dwalin and surprisingly to Nina as well, and the two were off again.

"So, what happens to me when we reach the Shire?" Nina asked tentatively. It was about early afternoon, the sun high in the sky when Nina finally spoke to Dwalin after that morning's events with Bofur. Nina could hear Dwalin's heavy sigh from behind her and she assumed he hadn't thought that far in advance.

"Well," He cleared his throat gruffly. "I was thinking of letting you stay with a respectable hobbit fellow when we get to the Shire." He reasoned. Nina nodded her head thoughtfully, a small sense of fear washing over her at the thought of Dwalin just dropping her off in the Shire.

"Trust me lass, you don't want to get yourself caught up in our plans." Dwalin chuckled, saying so softly that Nina wasn't quite sure if she was supposed to have heard it. She snorted.

"Believe me I know," She mumbled to herself dryly.

The ride continued longer that day until night fell, when Dwalin informed her that they were about a day's journey from the Shire. Nina was relieved to hear this news, not only because she was sick of spending whole days on horseback, but also to be able to see Gandalf. She could think of plenty of people in her school back home that would be thrilled to be sucked into the hobbit, though Nina couldn't say she was one of them.

Never had Nina wanted more her painting supplies and her iPod; she could just paint her days away with some good music on. No, she remembered, she had this horrible thing called school. And school was requiring finals in every class and stupid analysis-work and essays on a stupid book called the Hobbit. Personally, Nina had always gotten the impression that the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings were all just Nerd Bibles with bad and depressing endings.

"So where are you from then, lass?" Dwalin broke Nina from her thoughts. She gulped, unsure of what to say as he handed her a stale piece of bread.

"I'm not sure you would have ever heard of it," Nina hesitated. "My home was called Virginia though." She added, shrugging. Dwalin hummed thoughtfully.

"I don't know of this Virginia place, Lady Nina, but I'm sure our wizard will have heard of it."

"You really think so?" Nina peeped desperately. Dwalin chuckled at her comfortingly.

"You need not worry, lass. Gandalf is said to know almost everything there is to know. He's a wizard, after all."

"So are wizards considered all-powerful beings or something? Can he get me back to where I'm from?"

"I don't know, Lady Nina." Dwalin sighed heavily. She could hear the exhaustion from the days' riding in his voice. "Do you have close family there?"

"My father and my sister," Nina mumbled, feeling a pang of hurt surge through her at the mention of her family. Would she ever see them again? What did they think?

"What of your mother?" Dwalin questioned hesitantly. Nina sighed. She knew vaguely that it was wrong, but she felt considerably less sadness when he mentioned her mother since she had never known her.

"She died when I was a baby, I never knew her." Nina explained, awkwardly waiting for the dwarf's reaction. He merely sighed.

"I am sorry lass that must have been difficult." He offered. Nina shrugged uncomfortably. She never understood why people said things along that line, that it must have been difficult. She was a baby, it hadn't been very difficult for her then. "I'm sure you will be back with your family soon enough, Lady Nina," Dwalin encouraged. It was in vain though, since it made Nina no less panicked than before.

"You don't have to call me Lady Nina," Nina chuckled softly. "Nina is just fine."

"No lass, I've been raised to respect the womenfolk as have the rest of my kin, and I'll not stop that now." Dwalin insisted kindly. Nina rolled her eyes to herself. She was arguing with a dwarf.

It was dark that next night when Dwalin whispered in Nina's ear to wake up. She hadn't even remembered going to sleep, but when she woke she could hear the occasional splashes of a pond, and the steady chorus of crickets. It was incredibly peaceful.

"I did not think that it would be night when we got here," Dwalin grunted, obviously irritated with himself as he led Nina along by the arm. "I will not leave you with a stranger so late at night. Would you mind staying in the hobbit's house that I'm supposed to meet with?" Dwalin asked her, being sure to keep his words vague. She seemed nice, but he didn't trust her a single bit.

"Sure," Nina shrugged. "Thank you for letting me stay. But I don't want to be a burden," She said, mostly out of politeness. She didn't at all want to be left alone at night with a strange hobbit, but she didn't want to seem ungrateful to Dwalin.

"Before you ask, yes, we're in the Shire." Dwalin grunted as he saw Nina open her mouth ready to ask that very question. She promptly closed it.

"Do you know what house you're looking for?" Nina asked instead, noticing that they had been walking a good while ever since they had left his horse at a stable nearby. Dwalin grunted.

"Almost there," Dwalin growled, though she knew his anger wasn't directed at her, but at the situation. Nina found it to be the most comical aspect of Dwalin. When Nina heard three loud bangs, she jumped. Dwalin squeezed her arm slightly, and she realized he must have been knocking and there was no danger. This was Middle-Earth after all, Nina figured it couldn't hurt to stay on guard.

"Ah." A voice said as the creaking of old door hinges disrupted her thinking. The voice was definitely belonging to a man, but it was gentle and not gruff like Dwalin's, and he seemed…British. Nina internally rolled her eyes. She was going to be the only person in this world with an American accent, wasn't she?

"Dwalin, at your service." He bowed. Nina could tell that he was shielding her from who she was presumed must have been Bilbo if the story was correct.

"Bilbo Baggins, at yours." The flustered hobbit replied. Nina had to suppress a giggle. She wasn't a fan of the story, but she had to admit she always imagined hobbits looking very adorable.

"Come on," Dwalin pulled on Nina's hand and practically dragged her inside the house. She swiveled her head around in all directions, wondering if there were any other hobbits present.

"D-do we know each other?" Bilbo exclaimed, absolutely shocked by the rudeness of the burly dwarf shoving past him.

"No. Which way, laddie? Is it down here?" Dwalin asked urgently, pulling Nina along as he searched for who-knows-what.

"Is what down where?" Bilbo huffed, clearly not a fan of the current events. Nina smiled to herself. This hobbit reminded her of her sister.

"Supper." Dwalin answered, like it was the most obvious thing ever. Nina noticed that her stomach growled quite loudly at the mention of food, and she realized she hadn't had a decent meal in some days, only the quick snacks Dwalin provided on the road. "He said there'd be food, and lots of it."

"He being Gandalf, I hope?" Nina whispered to the dwarf quietly. Dwalin nodded.

"Aye, the wizard."

"Who said!?" Bilbo was currently calling after him. Nina felt some pity for Bilbo, since she knew this quest would turn out to be nothing but stressful to him in her opinion.

"I think you should be warned that we dwarves are…rather loud," Dwalin said as he pulled Nina aside. "Not all of them know how to behave around a lady."

"Believe me I've heard," Nina snorted under her breath. "I understand." She said more seriously. "What is it?" She asked, sensing his hesitance and discomfort.

"I don't know much of where you are from, Lady Nina, but I do think around here you'll want some different clothes before the others arrive." Dwalin explained uncomfortably. Nina must have turned beet red, as she remembered that she was wearing a tattered black tank top, her oddly-comfy grey cargo pants, and boots. All of which were in no condition to be worn in front of fourteen men. At least she had her bra, Nina thought. Something told her they didn't sell those here.

"You there." Dwalin called to Bilbo, who still looked quite confused at the whole ordeal. "Show this lady a room, and give her some proper clothes." Dwalin ordered, Bilbo looking baffled the whole time.

"Right this way," Bilbo grumbled, pressing a gentle hand on Nina's back and leading her to what she presumed to his bedroom. Then she cringed at how that sounded, considering her previous dealings with a Middle-Earth man other than Dwalin.

The hobbit hole had a certain smell about it, and Nina couldn't quite pin down what it was. It seemed to be quaint, and it smelled vaguely like that smell Nina smelled when she was around old people. There was a faint hint of fish smell as well, and from what she could deduce while walking through the hole with Bilbo, it was quite short in height.

"This is my uh…my room." Bilbo awkwardly showed her. Nina nodded, smiling down at Bilbo gently.

"Thank you very much, Mister Baggins. Could I have some clothes?" Nina asked politely. She felt a bit guilty at the way Dwalin had demanded Bilbo to take care of her, but she did want to keep her hygiene. Even in Middle-Earth.

"Oh! Yes, yes of course! I'm sorry, where are my manners—I…" Bilbo rambled, scurrying around the room yanking clothes from their orderly drawers. The clothes he set out were, of course, male clothes, although Nina felt that perhaps that would be the better choice since she would soon be in the company of thirteen men excluding Bilbo.

"Thank you so much, Mister Baggins."

"Um I uh, I put some hot water in a basin for you, to you know, wash up." Bilbo stammered awkwardly. Nina smiled again, this time out of pure gratitude.

"You're the best! Thanks!" Nina exclaimed, wrapping Bilbo in an unexpected hug. She must have been really tired.

"Um, thank you." Bilbo blushed from the rash action. Nina smiled, not seeing his blush but knowing it had to be there based off of his tone. "How did you know my name?" He finally asked. Nina inwardly cursed herself for being so careless. She couldn't very well tell him she read the book, could she?

"I um, I heard you say it to Dwalin at the door." She scrambled for an excuse. Bilbo seemed to believe it, and said his parting words to Nina before shutting the door and leaving her to herself.

Nina ran her hands up and down the soft, warm clothes she had been given. She smiled, knowing that they were fairly normal clothes and not too different than her normal wardrobe. The dark-brown pants that she put on reached her mid-calves (after she had scrubbed and dried her underwear of course), but the high boots she had came up to her knees and tucked in the pants nicely. The shirt was cream-colored, which Bilbo had told her before he left, and was loose on the arms and fell down to her elbows. The outfit was overall comfortable.

Nina reached her hands into the basin of water and cupped them to capture some water. She splashed it up into her face, basking in the feeling of utter cleanness and familiarity. This felt much like a hot shower back home, and for at least a moment she felt like she was bathing back in her two-story home in Virginia. Soon enough, the hot water and her homesick tears couldn't be differentiated, and she longed for her father's secure arms and her sister's scolding voice.

"This is the only closed door I bet the good ale's in here!" A male voice tore Nina from her reminiscing, and she panicked. "MAHAL WHAT THE—" He bellowed as a basin now empty attacked him.

"Dwalin!" Nina called in panic, her voice weak from crying. He probably didn't hear her.

"Why did you throw this at me?!" The man demanded, shoving the basin off of him and rubbing his head. "Mahal, I've never been attacked by a woman…" He trailed off in a grunt.

"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are, I didn't mean to," She rambled, hearing the man's footsteps approach her. "Get back I'll hit you again!" Nina shouted, holding up a towel threateningly. Then she realized it was a towel.

"I don't know that that will hurt too much," He grinned, gesturing to the towel. Nina dropped it to the ground haphazardly, sighing.

"Well who are you?" She grumbled, assuming that this was a dwarf now that she had regained her senses.

"Kili, at your service."

Author's Note:

Oh my goodness, I finished this chapter! I was really busy horse-shopping (is that a thing?) this weekend, and I literally just sat down. This chapter was actually pretty hard for me to work out and write this chapter, and I'm not exactly 100% happy with it's turn out either :/ But I have to say, the reviews, favorites, and follows definitely made me sit down and finish this chapter. Thanks to all of you!

Katara: Haha thank you so much for the review, and don't worry there will be more than two chapters soon enough! I have the same reaction when I read fanfics I like :) thank you!

Katelyn: Awwww you're so sweet! I look forward to more reviews from you and you really motivated me to keep writing this chapter :)

Guest: Yes, it will be interesting to see how she reacts to fighting... ;)

Wolfshark: Thank you, and I'm glad my story has gotten your attention!

Alexma: Thanks for the review, and I won't abandon this story!

Guest: Thanks for the review! :)