I want to give a quick shoutout to everyone who has followed/favorited this story. Thank you for reading, and thank you for letting me share this story with you.

This chapter is dialogue heavy, but introduces some of my favorite characters and sets up several arcs for the future. If you enjoy it feel free to leave a comment!

I don't own anything except my OCs. Everything else is from Tolkien and his family.


We walk silently and quickly to the outskirts of the town, back to his house.

We climb the stairs, and he gives me an indecipherable look as we enter. Chiko turns to greet us, looking relieved that I'm back safe.

"How was it?"

"Uneventful. He asked me who I was, where I was from. Who I was staying with." At Chiko's raised eyebrow, I shrug. "I didn't offer any more information than that."

Chiko looks at Kalonga, who nods. She grabs a basket of flatbread and thunks it on the table. "Every one of those administrators is a load of rubbish. You got off easily enough, it sounds."

I nod in agreement. Kalonga catches my eye, raising an eyebrow, and I sigh.

"Kalonga asked me to share more information with you. About myself."

Chiko seats herself across from me beside her brother, nodding. "I think that would be wise."

Something in her tone makes me give her a closer look. Her features are hard, her eyes missing nothing. She's not someone I want on my bad side.

"I will tell you my story, on two conditions. The first is complete confidentiality. What I say must stay in this room, unless someone else needs to know."

"Aye, we can come up with a story to tell others. What's the second?" I raise an eyebrow to emphasize my next words.

"The second, is that you arrange a meeting with Bard. Y'all have been stalling long enough, and I can't wait any longer to speak with him."

Kalonga stares at me. "That will depend on what you say." I open my mouth to argue, but he holds up a hand. "That is all I will say about it."

I sit back, fuming, but I see no other way to get my meeting. I shoot another poisonous look at Kalonga, but Chiko urges me on.

"It's best if you speak, Aspen. The sooner you do, the sooner you can speak with Bard."

I narrowly avoid rolling my eyes, knowing she heard Kalonga's words as well as I did.

Kalonga looks at me. "You can begin."

Deep breath. Inhale. Exhale. Again. My chest is tight. Again.

"You may not believe me, I swear every word of this story is true. I'm not from Middle Earth. I'm from a different world, and earlier this year, I woke up here, alone in a forest. I spent the day trying to find a town or village, but had no luck. I was completely lost, and was lucky to find a stream for water. At night, I was attacked by a goblin. And that is when I met my future employer, a dwarf by the name of Thorin Oakenshield."

Kalonga and Chiko listen attentively as I go through my journey, asking questions as they wish. I describe the meeting at Bilbo's smial, Bree, the trolls, Rivendell, and the goblins. I explain Beorn, the forest, the Mirkwood elves, and my escape. There are several things I leave out, such as the stable boy in Bree, and pretty much everything between me and Fili. If I feel comfortable enough I can bring it up later. When I finish, the siblings share a look with each other, then back to me.

Chiko looks like she doesn't believe me. Kalonga looks like he wishes he didn't. We sit in silence for a bit, the siblings contemplating my story while I try not to drown in memories.

Finally, Chiko breaks the silence. "That's quite a story. So when you met Bilba Boggins—"

"Bilbo Baggins," I correct.

She continues, "You were with your employer when you met this hobbit, and his companion the White Wizard,"

"Grey wizard. Gandalf the Grey," I say.

Chiko peers at me, and I huff. "There's no way I can make this stuff up and keep it all straight. Ask me what you want, but I'm not lying."

Chiko looks like she might argue, but Kalonga stops her with a hand on her arm and a look. He turns to me and says, "I have just one question. Why did you do it?" He makes an encompassing gesture with his arms.

I give a grim smile. "At first, I joined because I needed protection. I didn't know anything about living in Middle Earth, and I didn't know who to trust. Thorin offered me a way to protect myself and earn money. When I found out I wouldn't be able to go back home, I continued with them because I still needed those things, but also because I liked them. They're my friends, and I want them to have the best chance of survival they can."

"And yet you left them in Mirkwood," Chiko notes.

I bristle. "It was my only chance for escape, and I had to take it then or never get out! And when I left we had plans to get them out too."

"Who's we?" Kalonga asks.

I scowl at him. "A friend."

"Is this the friend that helped you escape as well?"

"Yes."

"And they did this because…" Kalonga trails off, eyes glinting as he watches me grow more and more uncomfortable.

"Because she wanted to!"

Kalonga waits, but he relents when I stay silent. His aggression seems to crumble before my eyes.

"Very well, I believe your story, as unbelievable as it may seem."

Chiko murmurs her agreement, and I slump down, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn't even realize it was there. I need so desperately for them to trust me, and getting them to accept my story was the first step.

"I held up my end of the agreement. Now you need to hold up yours," I remind them, and the siblings nod and exchange glances.

Kalonga takes a deep breath, and looks me in the eye.

"I am Bard."

If I weren't so tired I'd probably be able to come up with a response. As it is, all I can do is stare at Kalonga, mouth slightly agape, as Chiko says, "You must forgive our caution. My brother and I run a resistance network, and we cannot trust outsiders. What we do is very dangerous. Part of the way Bard protects me is by hiding his nickname."

"Everyone who knows me well knows me as Bard. Those who do not know me as Kalonga," Kalonga explains. "Kalonga is quiet and pays his taxes. Bard protects Chiko's network and plans food raids for the poor."

I stare at my bowl, absorbing their words. No wonder they were both wary when I came in and started asking for Bard. I wasn't even supposed to know he existed.

"So, what is it you have to tell me?" Kalonga—Bard, asks.

His question brings me back to the present, and I squirm in my seat, uncomfortable with what I have to say.

"You know I was travelling with a company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield." At their confirming nods I continue. "And you know Thorin is the heir to the throne of Erebor in the Lonely Mountain. Before he was hurt in the Misty Mountains, he planned to lead the company to retake the Mountain from the dragon. And he didn't plan on leaving the dragon in there."

I watch as the implications of my words sink in, two faces drained of life staring back at me, eyes wide and afraid.

"He would unleash a dragon on our town for a chance at his gold?" Chiko's voice is so quiet I can barely hear it.

I want to tell her that he wouldn't. I want to say that Thorin is good, and caring, and has a smile as bright as the sun. I want to say that Thorin would never endanger innocent people if he could help it.

But Chiko doesn't know Thorin like I do, and all she knows is that a dragon is coming to burn her town to sticks while a dwarf king out of legend runs his fingers through mountains of gold.

"He would only do that if the town was prepared, and if its people were safe. If they had somewhere else to go, and there was an actual chance at killing the dragon," I say instead.

I don't let myself look at Bard, but I hear his strangled breath that he turns into a cough.

Chiko stares at me, and I know I haven't quite reassured her.

"You say this Thorin would wait until our people were safe before destroying our town?"

"I think he would, but it won't be him making that decision. He got hurt," I hurry on, seeing Chiko's face. "And he's recovering at a friend's house. His nephew Fili is the leader now."

"And what is Fili like?" Chiko asks.

I sigh, in no rush to answer. The siblings wait patiently for my answer as I think about what to say. I wonder if they see anything on my face that says more than words.

"Fili is a lot like his uncle. But he's more approachable. He's steady and gentle. He would want your people safe before he entered the mountain."

I look down, not trusting myself to speak more.

"When are they planning on entering the mountain?" Kalonga asks. It's difficult to think of him as the same person as Bard.

"A couple months from now, right when fall turns to winter."

"It's not a lot of time. But it's better than nothing," Chiko ponders. "My network could work on an evacuation and safety plan."

This is the second time I've heard them mention a network, and despite my tiredness I want to know more.

"What does your network do?"

Chiko leans forward, a trace of a grin on her face. "We provide whatever we can, but mostly food for families, and care for orphans. Bard helps me, especially within the citadel. He's able to hear more about politics than I am."

"So you have access to supplies; and people who can help get us those supplies."

"Limited access, but yes. We can use our connections to help plan for the dragon if what you say is true."

"I know it's true. Tauriel will get the dwarves out eventually, and then they'll go to the mountain. It's better to start planning now than later."

Chiko and Kalonga share a long look, before Chiko turns to me and says, "I'll call a meeting in the next few days. But for now you must rest. We cannot have you getting sick again. In the morning we can get you some clothes, and then you must decide what you want to do."

She stands and says, "Come, come," gesturing to the curtain that leads to her room.

"I can't sleep in your bed anymore; it's yours," I object, even as I'm standing to follow.

Chiko brushes my words away with a flick of her fingers. "That is a problem for tomorrow."

I follow her into the room I've spent the past few days in, the quilt and burnt-out candle as familiar to me as my cell in Mirkwood.

"We can find you a new place to stay tomorrow," Chiko says, bringing me out of my thoughts, as she goes through a chest at the foot of the bed. "I know our house is small."

"I like it," I say. "It's enough."

She pauses, pressing her lips together. "It was our parent's house."

"What happened to them?" I ask.

Her gaze flits to me before returning her attention to the chest. "They disappeared." She hands me a nightgown. "This is yours."

I turn around to pull the gown on while she lets her locs out of her bun and grabs a chewed stick to clean her teeth.

"Do you still have my old clothes? The ones I wore when Kalonga and Mphatso rescued me?"

"Aye, but they needed repairs, so I gave them to my partner Dolgoon. We can go see her and a few others tomorrow."

I clean my teeth and Chiko snuffs the candle. Sleep takes me quickly, but I wake several times during the night, thinking too much and too hard about everything. I eventually fall into a fitful doze, managing to rest for a couple of hours.

When I wake in the morning I feel tired and stretched. Chiko is already gone, murmuring with Bard in the kitchen as they get ready for the day. I scrub sleep out of my eyes, wondering how I'm supposed to meet with people from Chiko's network if I'm this exhausted.

"Ah you're awake! Good!" Chiko peeks around the curtain, beaming. "I left a dress on the chest for you, and you can keep wearing Bard's old boots from yesterday. Come out when you're ready."

I take my time getting dressed, wanting to avoid the siblings as long as possible. Will their opinion of me change now that they've had time to think? When I finish putting on the threadbare dress and ill-fitting boots, I slip out to face the siblings.

Kalonga barely glances up from a mug of tea. "Morning," he says, his voice thick with sleep.

"Morning," I reply, accepting a mug of tea and bowl of oats from Chiko, who slips beside me after a moment. We eat in relative silence, Chiko and Kalonga only exchanging a few words while I look around the room, spotting a bow by the door.

I happen to glance at Kalonga only to find him looking at me.

"Yes?"

"Chiko asked whether you might be interested in helping at the orphanage."

"I suppose so. What would I be doing?" I ask her.

"Working with children, or doing chores, whatever needs to be done. It would give you something to do, when you're not helping with preparations for the evacuation."

Her words surprise me, because I wasn't expecting to help with the preparations, although I guess it makes sense that I do.

After breakfast Kalonga leaves, and Chiko and I wash the dishes, and she shows me where everything is located, including the toilet below the house. And before I know it we're on our way to the market. Chiko says we're going to the docks first, on the far outskirts of town, and we weave and dodge around the townspeople on their morning errands, voices rising in the air. There's a bit of thin fog hovering over the water, and the smell of wet dirt and weeds clogs my nose.

When we first reach the docks we pass fishermen hauling in the morning catch, spilling straining nets out of their boats and onto the slick boards. "Watch where you step," Chiko warns, skirting around piles of rotted fish innards from previous days. I wrinkle my nose, but tell myself fish innards is preferable to dungeons in Mirkwood.

Chiko haggles for two fish, and then moves further down on the docks, where a couple of merchants with nicer boats sell meat and vegetables. She buys a bundle of carrots and parsnips, counting her leftover coins when she's done.

"Just enough to buy some cloth to make you clothing."

Now we move toward the market in the center of town, and the closer we get, the more and more people there are, of every color, shape, and size. Every manner of dress and language. All looking faded and worn.

We pass between the hall and the magistrate's office, and I shiver, the ghostly feel of the man's slimy lips on my hand. "Chiko?"

"Hmm?"

"I don't think new clothes are necessary."

Chiko scoffs. "Well they are. You're going to be staying in town for a while, until some more of your traveling companions come at least. The clothes you came with are dirty, and eventually you will have to stop borrowing mine."

I sift through her words in my head, acknowledging that she's right. Even one extra set of clothes will help.

Chiko makes her way over to a stall at the edge of the crowd housing a cloth merchant. "Greetings Ahmad. How are you today?"

"Quite well, thank you. What can I help you with today?"

"We need some cloth for my friend, Aspen. She's going to be staying for a while. We need material for dresses or skirts, and some oilskin and leather."

"Do you prefer dresses or skirts, Aspen?" Ahmad asks.

"I actually prefer long tunics with pants, but skirts are fine."

Chiko and Ahmad both nod, making small talk about the general usefulness and mobility of such styles as compared to the latest styles out of Gondor.

Ahmad pulls out a couple of bolts of cloth, and I let my attention wander to the people flowing and weaving through the crowded space.

Out in the water there are more vendors selling anything I could possibly want, though there aren't many buyers. Several large buildings ring the area, and down the way there's a wide walkway that appears to lead to the edge of town.

Guards move in and out of the crowds, with shiny armor and spears. About ten feet in front of us, an elderly man accidentally drops his basket, his wares rolling across the planks. A couple of guards laugh, kicking the basket and goods away from the man as he goes scrambling after them.

People flock to help, but I stand rooted in place, unable to tear my eyes away from the guards. They continue with their patrol, like the last few seconds never happened.

"Aspen?" Chiko jolts me out of my daze, and I know from the look in her eyes she saw it too. "Let's go."

She hurries back the way we came towards the magistrate's building, but turns left before we reach it, knocking into the guards stationed at the corner as she goes.

"Beg pardon sirs," she tosses back. I shake my head. For a leader of a resistance network, Chiko is anything but subtle. I wonder if she antagonizes them on purpose.

She leads me to a building not too far from the market. "This is our main community house. The orphans stay upstairs." Scattered groups of people pause when we enter, scrutinizing me. Chiko walks past all of them and up the stairs in the far corner. I raise my chin and trail after her, ignoring the stares that follow.

At the top of the stairs, Chiko is talking softly with a petite woman with freckles. They turn as I approach, and Chiko says, "Aspen, this is Dolgoon. She runs this community house and takes care of the orphans that live here."

I smirk at her and she sighs, throwing up a hand. "Yes, she's my partner."

I smile at Dolgoon. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I heard you were kind enough to fix my clothes."

Her returning smile is shy, but no less sincere. "The pleasure is mine. Your clothes are almost ready, but Chiko tells me you need more. And something to do here. Is that true?"

"Yes to both, if possible."

"Maybe you can help with the reading and writing lessons," Chiko muses. "Ahmad, the cloth merchant we just met, leads the Westron lessons, although having someone familiar with some of the western dialects would be useful too. You said you're from the Enedwaith right?"

I stare at her, before raising my eyebrows and saying, "You do remember where I'm actually from, don't you?"

Chiko's eyes widen and she nods. "Oh yes, of course, now I remember. In that case, you should join Ahmad's lessons. I hear he's an excellent teacher. And I'm sure Dolgoon has some things she needs help with."

I turn to Dolgoon, who's been watching our exchange carefully. "Where are you from, Aspen?" she asks.

Chiko gives a quick nod, so I say, "I'm from another world. My country is called America, and Middle Earth is fictional where I'm from. But that's not really important now."

Dolgoon's eyes are impossibly wide. "How did you get here?"

I shrug. "I'm not sure. I don't remember anything about it."

She pushes me into a side room with several large chests and a loom. "Stand there," she points to the middle of the floor. "I'd like to talk with you about it some more if I can. My ancestors used magic, and I've been trying to learn more. My parents didn't want me to know anything about it."

Chiko shakes her head. "You don't know why your parents kept it from you. Maybe they did it to protect you from the guards. Do you know what they did in the market today? Old Percy dropped his basket, and they scattered his goods all over the place."

Dolgoon scowls. "They shame themselves. Old Percy has the tremors."

She begins taking my measurements and complains about the ill fit of my boots, promising she'll knit me some socks.

The beginnings of a commotion reaches upstairs. Chiko frowns and Dolgoon groans. "I didn't think they would come so early." She hurries down the stairs, Chiko and I trailing behind.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"It's tax day," she mutters darkly. "Someone's here to collect."

We make it down the stairs just in time to see Dolgoon handing over a small pouch of money to Alfrid and his accompanying guards. She has a tight look on her face, and I bet whatever Alfrid is saying it's not good.

When Alfrid finally leaves and Dolgoon returns to us, most of the residents have disappeared. Dolgoon goes back up the stairs, Chiko close behind her. After a final look at the door, I follow.

"If I ever have to see him again it'll be too soon," Dolgoon spits.

Chiko snorts, then says, "He's worse than the master."

Dolgoon finishes up with my measurements, and moves on to designing the patterns for my clothes, promising a tunic and leggings set by the end of the month. Chiko talks all the while. I'm content listening to the two of them. I've really missed female company.

The sun is sinking over the horizon when Chiko and I head back to the house to start dinner. It's not far, but by the time we get there I'm exhausted. Chiko and I decide to keep it simple and make another stew. Thankfully, she lets me do most of the cooking.

By the time Kalonga gets back from the citadel, bowls of stew are on the table, and Chiko and I are already seated.

He slides in and takes a tentative sip of the broth, and I almost laugh as his eyes widen comically. "It's good," he says, almost as if he's angry.

Now Chiko and I both laugh. "I'm the one that burns water," she says. "Not Aspen."

Kalonga turns his gaze to me. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you want."

The rest of the evening passes with Chiko and Bard brainstorming ideas to prepare for the dragon, everything from defenses to food preparations to camp locations. When I mention that I have a little bit of healing experience, they look intrigued. I try to say it's nothing more than helping with fevers and scraped knees, but they insist that every healer they can get is useful.

The two slip into their language for a quick conversation. While they talk, I think about how much time I have here. At least a month or two—Durin's Day, from what I remember Balin saying, is in October. It's August now. The dwarves may be prisoners for a month in Mirkwood. I hope they survive.

I'll need something to do besides learning to read Westron. I want to help Chiko and Bard with their resistance as much as I can. I want to help prepare this town for Smaug. I don't know if Chiko and Bard trust me yet, but I can work on that. I can start by telling them how to defeat Smaug.