Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip


ALEXA'S POV

Alexa found herself sitting in a bar, the prancing pony to be exact. Why was she here you may be wondering? Well, she was told by Gandalf to wait here till dark – so he could tell the Dwarves more about her. Placing her tankard down lightly, she waved the bartender over – a young Hobbit boy walked towards her.

"I'll be going now, here's the money for the beer and meal," Alexa said, winking at the boy.

"Yes-yes miss. Tha-thank you miss," he stuttered blushing red from his ears to his hairy feet.

Alexa stood, towering over the Hobbit and nodded her thanks, walking towards the exit. She stopped off at the local stable, checking in on the horse that Lord Elrond had generously gifted her.

"Hey boy, how you doing?" the horse snorted pushing his head into her arms.

"They fed you well I hope?" In reply the horse neighed happily, trotting his feet against the ground lightly.

"Well, I'll be back tomorrow okay? Steady yourself with the eating mister," she said, giving a pointed look at the horse, he snorted at her and went back to eating his hay.

/

'Blue door, Bagg-end, mark, Bilbo Baggins' was written on the note Gandalf had given to her.

Wow! Great directions Gandalf! She thought as she walked towards what she hoped was Bagg-end. After a while of going seemingly nowhere, Alexa had come to terms with her situation. She was. Undoubtedly. Lost.

"Dammit! Stupid directions, I'm going to give that Wizard an earful when I see him," She muttered angrily. Alexa looked off into the never-ending darkness. Well fuck!

Closing her eyes softly, Alexa reached out – using the force to guide her. Come on, where are you, you little bugger

Eventually, Alexa felt the Wizard's presence, opening her eyes once more she navigated the old goat in the dark - with the force as her guide and the moon for light.

Ah. Finally, Alexa thought as she came up to the gate leading to the blue door with the mark. Alexa walked up to the steps to the door, knocking on the door lightly, she breathed deeply. This better be worth it.

She could hear loud footsteps inside, just how many are there? Alexa searched the room with the force, she could sense fifteen beings inside. Hearing footsteps come closer, she fixed herself to look tidy – hiding her lightsaber behind her cloak, and brushing the latter down.

Hushed talking came from inside, straightening her shoulders she watched the handle turn with anticipation. A middle-aged Hobbit answered, looking very annoyed. Well I'm certainly at the right home Alexa thought, she smiled slightly at the Hobbit, though it came out as more of a cringe

"Hello Mr Baggins, I am Alexa. Gandalf sent me,"

Bilbo sighed defeated "Hello miss Alexa, I am Bilbo Baggins, but you already know that I see... Well come in then,"

Nodding, Alexa stepped into the Hobbit's home. Well isn't this cosy ? She thought as she bent her head to see inside the supposed living room area, there sat thirteen Dwarves eating; well more like devouring food.

Alexa chuckled, unknowingly getting the attention of said Dwarves. Looking around the room she spotted Gandalf standing, with his neck bent awkwardly to avoid hitting the ceiling – as if sensing her staring he looked at her.

"Ah Alexa, you made it, just in time may I add," she was about to reply when a voice interrupted her.

"A woman? You didn't say she was a woman Gandalf," the voice said angrily at the Wizard.

Alexa looked towards the voice, a Dwarf was standing at the head of the table, glaring at her with his hands grasping the table in anger. He had jet black hair, with a hint of grey, piercing blue eyes with a well-trimmed beard, in his hair were beads? The Dwarf continued to glare at her.

Alexa, however, was not put off by his glare and was looking at him rather closely, she began walking towards the Dwarf. I could've sworn I've seen him before...

"What are you looking at Woman?!" said Dwarf growled, the Dwarves around Alexa begun whispering to themselves about her. Who was she? Why would Gandalf choose a woman for this quest?

Before she could even reach the Dwarf, another stood from his stool - in front of her. This Dwarf seemed to have an even stronger glare than the other. He stood tall – taller than most, if not all. He was bald with tattoos covering both his head and his very muscular arms, he too had blue eyes but not the same as the other Dwarf, this one was dark like a night sky. He also had a bit of his right ear missing. Huh. I wonder if that was a kink thing, she thought humorously to herself.

It seemed she was not as silent as she hoped, the Dwarf glared up at her – though there wasn't a massive height difference (he was a little below her chin)

"What are you laughing at girl?" he spat,

Oh, this one's going to be fun, she thought slyly, she smirked down at the Dwarf and bluntly said "Oh nothing, saw your ear. Man! You're a kinking son of a bitch aye?"

A few Dwarves chocked on their laughs, two, however, did not hold back. One was blonde, he also had beads in his hair with a nice moustache. The other had dark black hair like the first Dwarf, he had no beads however and had no beard, just light stubble. Damn, I'm going to be travelling with some serious eye candy she thought.

Carrying on her original path, she walked past the now severely pissed off Dwarf towards the dark brooding one. Bowing swiftly, she looked at the dwarf in question.

"Hello sir, my name is Alexa and I have been asked by Gandalf to help aid you on your quest. I ask for nothing in return," At this Gandalf seemed pleased at her words, the Dwarf, however, was another story.

"I will not take this woman on the quest," he pointed at Gandalf.

"She will be no aid to us or our quest, she will only get in our way," The bald Dwarf agreed with him.

"Aye! The wild is no place for a woman who cannot fight, nor fend for herself," he stated rather proudly.

Frowning deeply, Gandalf was about to object however Alexa had beat him to it. Irked Alexa imitated the Dwarf using a thick Scottish accent. "Aye! The wild is no place for a woman who cannot fight, nor fend for herself,"

Silence.

The Dwarves looked on shocked, no one ever insulted him. Those who did had a death wish. Said Dwarf clenched his fists, his face turning redder by the second – he swung his fist at the girl, aiming at her face. However, it never made contact.

Shocked gasps echoed throughout the Hobbit's home; Gandalf stared on smiling to himself. The Dwarf's fist was frozen in mid-air, he attempted to move it, anything but it was stuck – motionless.

"Wha' are you, witch!" the burly Dwarf grunted. Coughing lightly Alexa smirked at the Dwarf.

The Dwarves watched as the woman curled her fingers and suddenly the Dwarf could once more move his fist, flexing his fingers he stared warily at the woman, waiting for her to continue.

"Well first off, I am not a witch, I am from an ancient race. You have never heard of my kind - I have skills. Skills you need,"

Sneering at the woman, the Dwarf continued; sizing at her body as he did so. "Pfft. Yer a woman, so wha' if ya 'ave some sort of magic, we already 'ave a Wizard. So, wha' can yer even do tha' would be even remotely useful?" Smacking her lips she was almost tempted to use the force to make the Dwarf dance, sadly it would most likely make them get angrier. Which would not help my situation FFS!

Shaking her head, she glared at the Dwarf. "I may be a woman, thanks for noticing by the way; my eyes are up here bucko," she pointed her look at the now reding burly Dwarf. Turning back to the leader she continued.

"I am no 'fragile' woman! I can fight! And I can certainly fend for myself! I have fought in many battles; I will not be a nuisance. You need me," she stated firmly, the Dwarf looked at her.

"Fine, the woman shall come – however if you prove not as skilled as Gandalf or you say…" he droned off with a knowing look.

"I understand,"

/

FIRST POV

Stepping outside, I hear Thorin going off about some map and Bilbo going on the journey. I'm surprised he would bother fighting Gandalf over someone joining the quest, he's a Wizard for force sake! I guess it's true what those books said - Dwarves are truly stubborn. Sighing I sit on the Hobbit's bench, well might as well relax I thought. Laying my head back against the bench, I let my eyelids fall closed.

Lifting my legs onto the bench, I cross them under my body, I begin to meditate. Images of my old life come to mind. Practising forms with my Master Ki-Adi-Mundi.

"Good work,"

"Getting there,"

"You are strong with the force, young one. But you must learn to use it properly," he'd say.

Images of Anakin and Obi-Wan pop up, us sparring, laughing about Anakin's antics and missions spent together. Smiling, tear's form in my eyes, I miss those days.

A bang startles me, the images of Anakin, Obi-Wan and my old Master fade. Snapping my eyes open I hear Gandalf say "Very helpful Bofur,"

After a while, Gandalf appears, rather pissed by the looks of it. "Ah Alexa, there you are," I hum lightly in reply.

"Gandalf, you need anything?" sitting down beside me he pulls out his pipe.

"Oh no, of course not dearie. Meditating?" he asked, pointing at my crossed legs, I nod watching as he puts some Ol' Toby in his pipe and lights it. Looking out at the scenery I place my legs back on the ground,

"Gandalf," he looks at me.

"Yes, Alexa?" sighing heavily I look right into his eyes.

"How long is this quest going to take - I don't want to be too long away from Ben, he's just a Youngling," taking a drag of his pipe, he smiled knowingly at me.

"It seems the Dwarven map has an inscription - only few can read it," Hearing this I grin laughing joyfully, smiling with me Gandalf confirms my suspicions.

"Yes, Lord Elrond will be of some help to us,"

Gandalf suddenly turns serious "I saw you staring at Thorin, I believe by now you have realized that he was the young Dwarf from your vision which means…" I looked out at the dark unfazed.

"Which means Thorin is the grandson of Thror, he is a King - well Prince in exile, he is to reclaim Erebor to get his home and birthright back," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes," Gandalf says, taking another puff of his pipe, he is calm, enjoying the fruitless night. I, however, was lost in thought.

"Gandalf, we number at just fourteen – fifteen if Bilbo joins and even then, that's not enough to take on a dragon!"

Staring off into the dark Gandalf huffed, blowing out a smoke ring. "Yes, but that is why you are here," slightly startled, I looked at the Wizard.

"Me? What do you think I am? I am a Jedi Knight! not some sort of dragon slayer,". The Wizard huffed. Is he-is he laughing at me?

"Gandalf?" I ask, staring at him weirdly.

"Well of course not dearie, I know you are not a dragon slayer - I merely meant that four years ago the Valar transported you here to Middle Earth for some sort of purpose. I believe it to be this quest," he chuckled puffing out smoke as he laughed, I sat still mulling over his words.

Maybe the Wizard is right, Ki-Adi Mundi always said "Follow the force," Or something like that. I must go on this quest with these Dwarves to help them reclaim their homeland

"Gandalf, I have-" "Gandalf?" glancing around the Wizard is nowhere to be seen. Blasted Wizard, I hate it when he does that

Laying my head back against the bench, I let my eyelids fall closed. The dining room is still occupied with noisy Dwarves, who are far too loud for my sleeping plans. Damn these blasted Dwarves!

I send a quick prayer for a peaceful rest hoping if any god is out there, they would at least have the power to let me sleep or better yet shut up those Dwarves! Uh, I guess nobody appreciates silence until you're with a band of noisy Dwarfs. Like honestly what in force are they doing in there?! Band practice?

ALEXA'S POV

Alexa woke with a start, What the… A Dwarf with a hat looked down at her, "Heya lassie, I'm sorry ta wake ya but we're goin' soon. So, pack yer things," he said with a grin.

Following the Dwarves orders, she picked up her backpack, already packed. "I'm sorry to say but I don't know your name, sir. I kind of missed introductions," she joked chuckling lightly.

The Dwarf smiled big. "Well, of course, Lassie, my name's Bofur. Nice te meet ya," he said and bowed,

"At yer service," added, winking at her; making Alexa smirk. Well hello new best friend.

Bowing lowly Alexa looked up through her eyelashes, "Alexa at your service Mr Bofur," said Dwarf chuckled, nodding as he packed his gear.

Looking inside the hobbit hole, Alexa saw the other twelve Dwarves cleaning up Bilbo's house, she glanced at Bofur, "Well, Bofur would you be able to tell me the names of the others, please?" He looked up at her with a grin,

"Well, of course, Alexa," he began pointing around the room,

"Ya see the one with the big ol' ginger beard an' big bellie?" Nodding, he continued.

"That there is me broth'r Bombur, he loves te cook. The Dwarf next ta him with da axe in his ol' head is me cousin Bifur, he can only speak an ancient language of our people called Khuzadul due te the axe he got in er battle," pointing behind her he continued.

"Those two rascals, blonde and black are the broth'rs Fili and Kili, they are Thorin's nephews. Then there's the err Ri family, Ori, Nori and Dori – all broth'rs. Ori is the one with the uh scarf, Nori is the on' with the star hair - watch ya pockets with that on' and Dori is the on' with the silver hair on the left of Ori. The on' with the hearing trumpet is Oin, if ya have a cut or anything medical go te em, the ginger beside him is Gloin his broth'r. Thorin the one you talked ta last night' is the leader of this 'ere company. The one with the large white beard with a split, in the end, is Balin, he's Thorin's advisor," Alexa nodded taking in as much information about each Dwarf as she could.

"What about that one," she asked,

"The one with the tattoos on his head?"

Following her eyes, he sighed, "Oh, that there's Dwalin, he's Balin's brother," smiling up at her he said,

"Ya showed him up last nigh' no one's ever' done so an' lived te tell the tale," He told her,

His words made Alexa smile smugly, "Oh really? Well, I guess he's met his match,"

Chuckling under his breath Bofur muttered, "Yes, I suppose he has,"