RE: I own nothing but the small sub plot and my OCs, the rest of it is are works of Tolkien and the 'The Hobbit' films.

Chapter 3: Oh god there are so many!

Gandalf never ever tells me anything, and when we reached Bree at around 5:00 I just assumed that we'd meet Thorin Oakenshield there. How wrong could I be. I mean, you know what they say about assuming.

"Do tell me, dear Stasi, what are you doing?" Gandalf asked as I marched up to the desk, intent on booking a room.

For myself mind you, normally what happened is that I went to sleep and Gandalf stayed up doing something. Who knows what he was doing, he could be a bloody creep at times, I would wake up and I'd find him staring at me and chanting, chanting?

Of course I tended to leave the room and get drunk when that happened.

"Erm… booking a room," I said, cold realization dawning on me, "…we're not staying in Bree… where the bloody hell are we staying?!"

"That language is very unbecoming on a woman…"

"Traveling with a wizard is unbecoming of a woman," I snapped dismissively, "now, if we're not staying here in Bree, where are we staying?!"

Gandalf sighed, "If things go the way I would like, we will be staying in the house of Master Baggins."

"Come on!" I snapped under my breath, giving the on looking innkeeper an apologetic look as I left him to his next customer, "then why are we here?"

Gandalf glanced around quickly as he led me to one of the more empty corners of the tavern, "Several of the Dwarves are due to come here," he said, "we will lead them to Master Baggins' home."

I glared heatedly up at him but accepted it for what it was, that was really the only way you could live with Gandalf the Grey. Not that we lived anywhere, we just traveled aimlessly… actually no, I traveled aimlessly while he knew where exactly we were bloody going, because he didn't tell me a bloody thing.

"Okay… wait, there are going to be more Dwarves?" I asked in excitement. The thought hadn't occurred to me at all, and it was really an exciting one.

You see, I had only met one Dwarf and that was in fact Thorin Oakenshield. To look for my father and the assemblance of the family that I had left (if I even had one) I'd have to find more Dwarves, and somehow my chance had appeared in front of me, without me having to act. Which was very rare.

"Don't be a fool Stasi," Gandalf said to me and I rolled my eyes, what a way with words, you really know how to crush someone's spirit, "did you think we'd go with one Dwarf prince, a Wizard and a burglar… who, might I mention is most likely inadequate when it comes to battle," he said.

I rolled my eyes.

"…Thank you Gandalf," I said sarcastically, "you really know how to ruin someone's mood, much appreciated. Also… why was I not included in that? Anyway, is my father going to be here? Is someone who knows him going to be here? Will you…"

Gandalf didn't respond, instead his gaze shooting across the tavern where shouting and yelling was ensuing, "Your distraction has led to our blindness Stasi, we must show more care in the future," he said, suddenly dragging me forwards and forcing me to concentrate on not crashing into irritable looking men and women.

He blamed everything on me, honestly, everything.

On a side note it has just occurred to me that I do the same to him. Bloody Wizard.

I found my curiosity peaked at the sound of harsh accents and deep voices and yells. When I finally was able to see the Dwarves, I realized how different I was from them, but I had no time to dwell on it as Gandalf was already speaking (unsurprisingly).

"If you have a problem Master Norris, I suggest you go and solve it somewhere else," he said, his voice becoming eerily loud, one of the many things he was able to do as a Wizard.

The said gentleman looked like he wanted to say something else but I chose to intervene, "Get lost," I snapped. And that is how you tell someone to go away Mister Albus Dumbledore.

The man seemed more shocked that a woman at the height of 4 foot 4 inches was threatening him than the fact that Gandalf had – which really boosted my moral – and I took that to my advantage, raising an eyebrow at him and resting a hand on one of my twin blades. He eyed it sullenly before turning away and once satisfied that he was gone for good, I glanced up to Gandalf.

The Wizard nodded at me before turning to the group of slightly sulky looking Dwarves, "Gandalf the Grey," he said to introduce himself, "this here is my companion…"

"Stasi at your service," I said, curtsying clumsily, I mean, it's not like there's another way to curtsy.

The Dwarves stared at me with blatant shock, obviously not expecting to see a woman accompanying the great wizard, much less protecting him. I mean, they should've expected that because it's just so… never mind.

I just smiled awkwardly, suddenly aware of the fact that I was surrounded by a lot of Dwarves who I had never met and whom I had absolutely no idea how to act around.

Shit, what do I do? I asked myself as I felt a sliver of nervousness work its way into my mood.

"Bofur at yer service m'lady, a lot of thanks fer stoppin' tha' fight."

To say I was relieved when the Dwarf stepped forwards would be an understatement, but, then I became very, very overwhelmed. Dwarves nodded to me, introducing themselves in rapid fire making it very hard for me to keep up, and by the time they finished, I was trying to figure out who was Nori, who was Gloin and who was Oin… also if there was any end to hairyness.

Actually, you know what, I don't want to know the answer to that, I'm just going to decide that there is.

The only Dwarves who's names I was really sure about were Bombur, Bifur and Bofur, and that was because Bofur, the dwarf who had first spoken had introduced me to them.

Bifur was a tall and slightly twitchy Dwarf with a shaggy mane of hair that reminded me a lot of a sheep dog. The top of his head was black while his beard was completely white and he had a lot of intricate braids embedded in his hair like the rest of the Dwarves. What really drew my attention however, was an axe that was embedded in the poor Dwarf's head. After staring at it for a few seconds, I realized that I was being rude and slowly and apologetically turned away.

It probably looked more awkward than apologetic but you know what, sue me.

Bombur was the largest Dwarf out of the bunch and I don't mean largest by height. Bombur was… wide, in fact, so much so that he took up the space of two of me. I'm not joking.

Bofur was a little more average than the other two, he was tall for a Dwarf with wide shoulders, large hands and a stocky figure. His clothing was old and weathered and in his right hand was a large and heavy mattock that he seemed to carry around with little struggle. He wore a lopsided hat matching his lopsided grin and had two points that stuck out oddly.

We spent no time in the tavern, Gandalf ushered us out immediately, saying that 'we've drawn too much attention to ourselves'. He was probably right, as per usual.

Although considering he wore a hat that poked a foot up into the air he wasn't the one to talk.

Remy walked beside us, dismissing the Dwarves with a sniff and they dismissed him… although I noticed the one who seemed to be the youngest looking at him with fearful eyes.

I didn't particularly blame him but honestly, his farts were scarier than his growls. And considering he was a bloody scaredy-cat, his farts were much more often.

Gandalf and I found our ponies at the entrance to Bree, we had left them tied up to the post, but the Dwarves had hidden theirs in the forest for safety reasons. Probably a better idea.

Once all ponies had been gathered, we were off, and I found myself somehow scared. I was journeying to Erebor with group of Dwarves that I had never met before (Apart from Thorin) and I myself was a Dwarf. How was I expected to act, I mean, I didn't even have a Dwarven name. What have I gotten myself into? I asked myself desperately, a whine came from beside my pony and I knew Remy could sense my upset.

Letting out a sharp breath through my nose, I desperately tried to push my worries away but it was useless.

"So, lass, what made ye come on a quest with a bunch 'o Dwarrows like ourselves?" the question awoke me from my worrying and I glanced to the side. Bofur sat on his pony, Bombur behind him, his beefy arms around his waist, "I'd say we're undeservin' of such a pretty face like yours."

The Dwarf winked, and I smiled at him despite my worries, "…I'm looking for my father," I admitted, "I'm meant to be a seer… it's a long story. Anyway I'm looking for my father and Gandalf seems to be the one person who knows who he is."

"An' do ye' know yer clan?" he asked, "that would help."

I shook my head, "no, I have absolutely no idea what my clan is," I admitted, "Gandalf does, so I'm following him… like a bloody idiot."

"Aye, he's a wizard so he'll make ye' feel that way," he said.

"And what about you Master Bofur?" I asked, "why'd you venture on this quest."

"They said the beer'd be free," he said.

He was staring straight ahead as he said that and I found myself staring at him, entirely unsure how to react. Finally he realized I was staring at him and he winked at me.

"Erm… you came on a quest to slay a dragon because they said the beer was free?" I asked, what? And I thought Gandalf was mad.

"Dragon? What Dragon… no one told me there was gonna be a dragon," he said, a look of mock confusion on his face.

I laughed, shaking my head as he looked around with a look of fright. The Dwarf beside him, I have honestly no idea what his name was, looked at him weirdly, "What's wrong with you?" he asked.

Unlike the rest, his accent was sharp and posh and his voice was, in general, rather accusing. Bofur gave him a glance, "Hiya Nori, didn't see yeu there, an…"

Nori, that was his name. He was of average height with his hair jutting out at three different corners. His eyebrows were braided up to his hair, and he held an old looking axe. His eyes were a hazel and they glimmered with mischief, in fact, I could already tell, this one was a trouble maker.

"I see you're already trying to woo the lady," he said nodding at me, "ignore Bofur, he's looking for a woman."

I raised an eyebrow at his abrupt way of talking but Bofur just looked disappointed, "Darnit," he said before leaning towards me, "just as yeu were startin' to fall under me spell."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter at that and Nori rolled his eyes as Bofur looked pleased with him.

"Sorry M'lady, I didn't actually catch your name," he said, interrupting my laugh.

"Stasi," I said, a smile still on my face, "at your service."

"And what do you do M'lady Stasi?"

"None of that, it's just Stasi," I said, "and I really just follow Gandalf around…"

"…she's lookin' for her Da'…"

"…yes, I'm looking for my father," I said, "Gandalf happens to be the only bloomin' person who knows who he is."

Nori frowned, "That's unfortunate… I wouldn't trust the wizard if I were you. Speaks in riddles he does."

"Well it's not as if I have much of a choice," I pointed out, "I don't really have a family, and a woman alone…"

"Dwarrowdam?" Bofur practically asked me.

"Say what?"

"You're a Dwarf aren't you?" Nori asked, and when I nodded, he frowned, "female Dwarves are called Dwarrowdams."

I frowned, "Sorry, I wasn't raised around Dwarves."

"An' what a sad life tha' must've been," Bofur deadpanned, a puppy like sad expression on his face, "but then again, 'ah wasn't raised with yer beautiful face in ma' life."

I raised an eyebrow, a small smile on my face as he winked at me and Nori visibly rolled his eyes, "…Braid each other's hair already," he said with a snort.

Bofur raised an eyebrow at Nori while I was a little confused, "ye sound jealous lad."

Nori shot Bofur a look and I snorted with laughter, "I am not jealous in any way thank you very much Master Bofur," he said with in a sniffy tone of voice, "anyway, I don't flirt with strangers."

Bofur shot me a grin and I shook my head, a small smile on my face, "Why'd you come on this journey Master Nori?"

"The gold."

His answer was abrupt (as usual it seemed) and I glanced at him, "So… you had no other ulterior motive?"

"That is my ulterior motive," he said, "my brothers think I've come to reassemble our sibling bonds, but… you know, well, gold."

I couldn't help the instant dislike I felt towards Nori and tensed slightly. So far he had shown an abrupt way of speaking that was downright inconsiderate, "and why do your sibling bonds need to be reassembled?"

Nori shrugged, "Dori doesn't like my work…"

"Ye can hardly call that work Nori," Bofur interrupted, "come on lad, the L…"

"Okay, fine, Dori doesn't like my way of life," he said, interrupting the dark haired Dwarf.

Bofur seemed to settle with that but I was confused, "What does that mean?"

Nori was about to answer, but Bofur interrupted him, "The lad steals for a livin'," he said abruptly, "so watch all yer goods and things ye hold dear."

Nori frowned. "No, t'isn't stealin' if they don't know."

"That's a pretty twisted sense of logic," I pointed out dryly. So far any chance of me liking Nori was diminishing by the second.

"Aye, that's assumin' he has a sense of logic… no need to wonder why his relationship with Dori went 'capoot'," Bofur said.

Both Dwarves had a slightly blunt way of talking and even though I knew that both meant no harm in it, I didn't quite like Nori's lack-of-a-filter.

Nori shrugged, "Dori has no creativity."

Bofur seemed to leave the conversation at that and because I was personally not interested in learning anything else about Nori, I glanced to Bofur, "and what do you do Master Bofur?" I asked.

"Jus' Bofur's fine," he said, "an' me and Bifur do toymakin' and minin'," he said.

Funnily enough, I was not surprised, "I bet you're a good toymaker," I said.

"Why'd ye say that lass?"

"You smile a lot, you're friendly and I bet you could make a rock laugh," I said, "I think those are good traits for a toymaker."

Nori snorted almost as if he disagreed with the point but Bofur only cast me a wink, his way of saying thank you. We continued the journey in silence, all the while me naming each Dwarf in my head, an attempt at getting the names correct. It was unlikely that I had gotten any of them correct but I could only try.

We reached the house of Bilbo Baggins when the sun was low below the horizon and walked through the beautiful and peaceful Shire to get to our destination. For the second time that day, I found myself standing in front of the house of Bilbo Baggins, but this time, Gandalf was knocking.

The Dwarves had pushed forwards, shoving themselves against the rounded door in a fight to get in first and the moment poor Bilbo Baggins opened the door they collapsed in. And there goes any little bite of peace the poor hobbit had.

His hamster like face was filled with shock for a moment until he caught sight of Gandalf and I, "Gandalf," he said, his voice filled with blame as the Dwarves scurried past him.

I chose to do the same, abandoning Gandalf to speak to the affronted Hobbit and making my way into the curved ceilinged house. I was instantly greeted by two unknown Dwarves who seemed to take delight in smiling at me and standing in my space bubble, "Kili…"

"…and Fili…"

"…at your service," they chorused bowing.

"To what do we owe the immense pleasure of the company of so fair a lady," the blonde asked, winking at me. He had a deep voice and as he walked beside me I was aware of the odd swaggering he seemed to have. Look at this one, he thinks he's Bruno Mars.

"What does that even mean?" I asked, not quite understanding the question, "are you asking why am I here? Because you don't 'owe' anything… although if you want to give me money, by all means, hand the jingle over."

The darker haired one grinned and the blonde one burst into laughter, "she's a smart one," Kili said, "are you the Hobbit's wife?"

"Are you an elf?" I shot back.

"Not the Hobbits wife," Fili established before regarded me with his lips pursed and brow furrowed in thought, he had somehow gotten the idea to braid the ends of his moustache, I desperately wanted to pull one, "…are you an elf actually?"

They both had identical disgusted expressions on their faces and I rolled my eyes, "I'm a Dwarf ," I said in annoyance, "well… it's complicated."

While the black haired one seemed to dismiss this and plowed straight into talking the blonde had a suspicious look on his face, "where do you hail from… wait, do you come from the Blue Mountains… no I would've remembered you… where do you…"

Okay, I'd like to stop right now and apologize because my darling Kili didn't say all of these things in one breath (although knowing him he could). While Kili was talking to me/himself we had been dodging Bombur, Bifur, Gloin, Fili… I don't actually know how I ended up dodging the blonde haired Dwarf when he was at my side but anyway.

Poor Kili got interrupted yet again when he, Fili and I rounded the corner and I went flying in the other direction.

Okay, so I didn't go flying per say, but I fell to the floor and Fili stumbled. Why, I had crashed into someone.

I stand at the height of 4 foot 4 inches which is small even for a Dwarf, and the Dwarf I smacked into was around 4 foot 6, bam-smack average (p.s. this just means average but the bam-smack gives it more oomph) with a slightly large belly, snow white hair and the sweetest brown eyes I had seen on a person. And I mean chocolate-sweet.

I didn't understand the look of shock on his face at the time, I just thought he was surprised to see a woman but wowzers was I wrong.

I glanced to the Dwarf beside him and allowed my eyes to widen fractionally, then marginally… then so wide that they practically fell out of their sockets.

I want you to imagine The Rock in Dwarf form. There he was, Dwayne the Rock Johnson except hairier (but still bald though, what would Dwayne the Rock Johnson be without his baldness), angrier and… with a hand stuck in a cookie jar.

Yep, exactly like Dwayne the Rock Johnson.

Said Dwarf was practically five foot, and tuna can packed with muscle. He had tattoos literally everywhere and his right eyebrow was heavily scarred. He had ice blue eyes and a passive aggressiveness to his stare that made me want to run in the other direction yet seemed very familiar. I was certain he had been in my nightmares.

It was then that I realized that Kili and Fili were laughing and that I was made aware that I had fallen after crashing into a Dwarf that was barely larger than me, whilst Fili had knocked into someone that was two times his width and eight times his height. And Mr. I-swagger-and-all-the-ladies-swoon hadn't budged.

I sent them a glare as the white haired Dwarf helped me up and dusted my skirt off, "Stasi at your service," I said haughtily while Kili and Fili chortled with laughter.

"Balin at your service and this here is Dwalin," the chocolate eyed one said, elbowing the Dwarf beside him.

He let out a grunt that sounded more like the growl of a Tyrannasourous Rex before glancing down at me, a slightly confused expression on his face, "Dwalin at yer' service lassie, 'ah don't reckon' yer from tha' Blue Mountains," he said, "where will I be knowin' ye from?"

"I haven't met any Dwarves before this," I admitted, "I don't think I've ever met you."

He 'harumphed' and Balin glanced up at him before looking at me, "…well where do you hail from?" he asked, he had a nasally wizened voice… kind of like Gandalf's except nicer.

I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted by the said Wizard from behind me, "Stasi has a complicated history and her home is even more so. I suggest we wait until Thorin comes to finish such conversation."

Balin nodded, "fair enough, Thorin'll want to hear the full story," he laid a hand on my shoulder, practically dragging me away from Fili and Kili. I could tell they were glaring after us. Sorry boys, you'll get the lady another day.

Balin proceeded in dragging me around and introducing me to Dwarves that I had already met before but I didn't mind. I wouldn't be able to keep track of their names for another year anyway.

Poor Bilbo Baggins. All he could do was run after the Dwarves as they made a mess of his pantry, Bombur cooking up a storm with either Ori or Dori next to him… I honestly can't remember which one. Thorin wasn't there which was strange but I was a bit too distracted to think about it.

I had been assigned with stacking plates with mounds of food. Bombur was fast. One second it would be fish, the next chicken and the next pork. There was so much meat I thought I was going to die of happiness.

It was two hours before we started eating, around 10 o'clock and the table was filled to the brim with food.

Dwarves were messy.

Bilbo Baggins sat in the corner while I was shoved between Balin and Dwalin (the latter of these ignoring me) and I glanced to him sympathetically as a wad of mashed potatoes landed in Dwalin's mug of ale and the poor hobbit blanched. Poor sod.

Dwalin let out a bellow, Balin looked grumpy, Fili climbed up onto the table and Bofur tossed a boiled egg at Bombur. Food flew in the air and I was wondering whether to cry, laugh or do both. I chose to eat.

I had no idea when I would have food that nice again, actually, since coming to Middle Earth I had never had food like that. I think I fainted for five seconds when I tried the chicken.

"Oi, who wants some ale?" Fili yelled at the top of his lungs.

Kili tossed a mug in front of Dwalin and I and I watched with avid interest as Dwalin snatched his ale, grabbed the Dwarf from beside him (Oin? Gloin? I don't know) and poured it down his ear horn (he was deaf), "'ave a drink," he yelled menacingly.

The poor Dwarf went cross eyed for a moment and I could hear Fili and Kili bursting with laughter, "Is he okay?" I asked, wincing a little.

"Aye, he'll be alright, it's just gone to his head," Nori said smartly, a smug grin on his face as I joined the other Dwarves in laughter.

Mr. Baggins looked like he was going to get sick. Poor sod.

Biting into a forkful of mashed potatoes I managed to dodge an impending bread bun just in time. Glancing up I found myself glancing between Fili and Nori (Fili had sat back down), both either distracted by their food or by other Dwarves. I narrowed my eyes, grabbing a whole potato and aiming it at Fili.

There was a long silence as the potato hit Fili's shoulder and the Dwarf looked at me from across the table his mouth wide open in shock. I thought he was angry as I looked at Nori's smirk, but seconds later, all hell broke loose.

Shit.

I think my childhood was killed in those few moments of horror. I faced my death in the form of green beans, garlic sauce and slivers of steak. It was traumatizing but Bofur and Nori both came to my rescue as Kili came to Fili's.

Our food fight was cut off when Balin started yelling at the Princes (who didn't look ashamed in the slightest) for throwing at a woman, and then Nori fell onto his brother (again, either Ori or Dori) and he started yelling at him. I instead realized I was being stared at, and glancing to the side, I found Dwalin looking at me with a genuinely curious expression.

I smiled at him… and he smirked back.

-{}-{}-{}-

We finished eating slowly, when everyone was satisfied (which took at least an hour of eating – talking not included) Dwarves got up one by one and started cleaning up. I went over to Gandalf, intent on asking him about where Thorin Oakenshield was but I found myself listening in onto the gripes of Bilbo Baggins, "…I'm surrounded by dwarves! What are they doing here?" he asked.

I watched with widening eyes as Nori tried nicking the chain of sausages Bofur was holding, not sure to be amused or aghast, "They're quite a merry gathering, once you get used to them," Gandalf attempted.

"I don't want to get used to them!" Bilbo snapped. He was having a very sophisticated temper tantrum. Poor sod.

"There's mud trod into the carpet, they've pillaged the pantry! I'm not even going to tell you what they've done in the bathroom," he snapped and I wrinkled my nose in agreement. I had been in desperate need of peeing but had chosen to go in a bush outside because of the state of the bathroom, "they've all but destroyed the plumbing! I don't understand what they're doing in my house!"

I opened my mouth to explain but was cut off by the youngest looking Dwarf coming up to Bilbo and tapping him on the shoulder. Now, I say youngest because he looked the youngest. It had become quite obvious to me that Fili and Kili were the youngest they were so, so immature. Not that I was any better or older than them.

"Sorry, I hate to interrupt, but where would you like me to put my plate," he asked, his words oddly enunciated. It seemed as if all of Nori's family had taken a stint in England, they were the only Dwarves with posh English accents (apart from Thorin but he wasn't actually there).

A lot of the others had a thick brogue of some sort and then there were those who had a New Zealand accent like Fili and Bombur. I was pretty certain Kili had some sort of Irish accent, he had already asked me 'what's the craic?'.

Fili seemed to appear from nowhere, grabbing the plate, "Here you go, ori, give it to me," he grunted before tossing the plate.

Somehow Kili managed to catch it… almost as if he'd been expecting it and soon, dishes were being tossed everywhere.

I'd like to pause my narration and bless Bilbo Baggins the Poor Sod who ran around desperately yelling nonsense about pottery and clam shells. Okay… not clam shells. Anyway, he put up a good fight and I felt honestly sympathetic.

I know I didn't look honestly sympathetic because I was laughing and banging spoons with Bofur but I was. Afterwards. Very afterwards. I am lying.

Anyway, I was dragged over to the table by Bofur and soon I found myself scratching utensils and stomping on the floor. I took me a full thirty seconds to realize we were making a beat.

"Could you please not do that?" Bilbo asked, I swear I didn't laugh, "You'll blunt them!"

Bofur grinned widely, "D'you hear tha', lads? He says we'll blunt the knives."

Seconds later Fili was singing, "Blunt the knives, bend the forks!"

"Smash the bottles and burn the corks!" Kili called back.

'Chip the glasses and crack the plates

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates

Cut the cloth, tread on the fat

Leave the bones on the bedroom mat

Pour the milk on the pantry floor

Splash the wine on every door

Dump the crooks in a boiling bowl

Pound them up with a thumping pole

When you're finished, if they are whole

Send them down the hall to roll

That's what Bilbo Baggins hates"

At the end of the song, I was once again, dragged by Bofur, (you'll find that he's always dragging me) to the kitchen where we stood around a set of completely clean dishes.

I was honestly shocked when Mr. Baggins didn't faint.

The knock on the door didn't register to me until Gandalf spoke, "he is here."

Santa Claus?

I saw Gandalf glance at me, his mouth opened as if he wanted to say something, but then a mischievous glimmer entered his eye and he shut his mouth. That was always, always, always a bad sign.

Obviously, it wasn't Santa Claus, but it was Thorin Oakenshield, "Gandalf, I thought you said this place would be easy to find," he said, his voice as deep and depthful as the ocean, "I lost my way, twice. I wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."

"Mark? There's no mark on that door, it was painted a week ago," Bilbo cut in.

I winced and Gandalf spoke, "There is a mark; I put it there myself," he said dismissively, "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

The moment Thorin took a step towards Bilbo I saw the judgment and amused disgust in his eyes. "So," he said thickly, "this is the hobbit. Tell me, Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

My dearest Bilbo, looked as if Thorin had asked him to do the Haka in front of him at that very moment, "Pardon me?"

Thorin was almost circling him now, aiming to stand in front of the Dwarves in front of him, "Axe or sword? What is your weapon of choice?"

"Well, I do have some skill at Conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant."

"Thought as much. He looks more like a grocer than a burglar," Thorin said.

I couldn't help the amused smile, "come off of it Thorin, leave the Hobbit alone," I said.

Thorin looked to me in slight surprise, dismissing my comment, "and you, Miss Stasi," he said before glancing to Gandalf, "you expect me to allow this woman on my quest? She is a Dwarf, a Dwarrow-dam, our Dwarrow-dams are precious more than gold."

I think I'm blushing, I thought sarcastically.

"I understand that but Stasi is Fae as well as Dwarven. She is a seer and she may be able to shed light upon the future of the quest," Gandalf said, "it is the Valar that have presented her to me as my student until she finishes her task and can return…"

He trailed off when I gave him a sharp look and Thorin glanced at me curiously but ignored it, seeming to sense the emotional basis for my frustration, "am I to understand that the Valar have sent you?" he asked me.

I nodded.

"Do you weild a weapon?" he asked, "I have no need for any sort of useless woman…"

"Twin swords Oakenshield," I interrupted curtly, ""I'd be happy to spar with you if you need proof of my talent with them."

There was a long still silence, Thorin's gaze locked on my own. A silent battle before he smirked, "perhaps there will be a time my lady Dwarf," he said.

I glanced to see Bilbo looking at me. I knew exactly what he was thinking about me, he was saying to himself; Poor sod.

I wasn't scared… granted I'd be scared when he asked to spar, but for now I wasn't. I was just living in the moment, "great, now that that's established, do you want stew?"

Thorin gave me slightly surprised look before nodding, "aye, I'm hungry. I have not stopped for a rest in all of my travels."

"You're welcome," I said with a flash of a smile before leaving. I could feel his eyes burning into my back.