The man's face twisted in his anger, making him look like a snarling dog. I thought giddily, "Fuck me sideways." He lunged with a grunt and I swung my leg to crack into his ribs but to my shock he caught my foot and to my horror he started to twist, with a manic grin on his face. Not about to have my ankle snapped I twisted with it, using his arm as leverage and slammed my other foot into his face.

He let me go with a grunt and I hopped back, biting back a yelp when my ankle shot with pain. Balancing perfectly on one foot I was about to get more distance between us when I heard him snarl, "Bitch!"

If there was one thing in this world to make me snap. It was someone calling me a bitch!

I raised my hand and motioned to him to come, taunting him. He lunged with a roar and my focus narrowed. Using my hurt foot to thrust myself forward, I ignored the pain as I ducked his fist, came up under his guard and drove my own fist home into his gut. It dug deep and I felt the skin split on my knuckles. Before he could recover I used my other fist and punched him in the same spot once, twice and a third time before hopping back. He bent over and wheezed, a pathetic sound escaping his lips and I snarled, "I'll give you bitch."

He looked up at me, face red from the pain and loss of breath. But that didn't last long as he straightened. I dashed around as he took a swing and slammed my heel into the back of both his knees and for good measure, punched him right in the kidneys. He staggered and I whipped away from his next strike, trying to stop me and drilled his kneecap with my heel. He shouted in pain and fell.

Now that his face was in range I gave him a shit eating grin, eyes cold as steel, and punched his right cheek, then his left and as he swayed I growled, "Better clench your teeth." Right uppercut in the jaw and he fell like a tree. I swore the ground shook when his great bald head hit the dirt.

Spitting on him, blood dripping freely from my bleeding knuckles, I leveled my glare at the Master and the silent crowd. I called, "Are you going to keep your word or am I going to have to come up there and say hello?" The rat man swayed and sat down quickly. But the Master just smiled ruefully at me and then barked orders. I held my head up high as I snatched my things from the guard that brought them and another guard went over and opened the cage. I dressed quickly, having a harder time getting my feet in my boots because my ankle hurt so much but somehow I managed. Yanking my weapons and cloak on, I turned toward the freed Dwarves. Dwalin actually scared the guard back with a snarl and I hid my amusement. I gave them a small grin and whispered, "Follow me. Don't say anything."

They nodded their agreements and followed me to the gate. Nori and I caught each others eye and smiled our agreement. If we walked close to people, no one noticed anything odd and that was good. I didn't limp or show any sign of weakness as a nervous guard led us to the ponies and packs, luckily they hadn't been gone through yet in case the Dwarves had won their fights. I motioned for them to hurry, Cheese jumping from Ori to me and hiding in my hair as the Master himself came up to us. He was smiling ruefully still but there was an amused twinkle in his eyes, "You put on quite a performance Mistress?"

He held out his hand and I shook it firmly, "Nunyo." He looked confused by my name but let it go as he said to the Dwarves, "I hope there are no hard feelings." I shot them a warning glare at the angry grumbles and said smoothly, "None."

I grew wary when he smiled and said smoothly, "You don't have to run off right away. Share a drink with me. You must be parched."

I realized that he was flirting and pushed down my annoyance. Smiling my best smile I said, "A moment please."

I slipped back over to Bofur and whispered in his ear. He grinned and took off his hat and handed it to me. I settled it on my head with a grin and went back to the Master. I took it off and gave a flourish of a bow before I said smoothly, "Sir, I wouldn't drink with you if you were the last man on Middle-earth."

He looked surprised and I cocked an eyebrow at him, "Kidnapping my friends and making me fight to free them does not give you the right to ask anything of me."

Giving him a shit eating grin I put the hat back on my head and said happily, "We bid you farewell sir."

He nodded, looking defeated but I knew the look in his eyes. We were going to be let go so easily. But he bowed us on and I took hold of Thorin's ponies bridle and lead them through the town, ignoring the stares and whispers. I knew we had to get out of there and fast. We came upon the gate and just before we could reach it I heard the Master call, "A moment Mistress Nunyo!"

I snickered at the name but when I turned to look at him I just showed bland interest. He looked like the cat that got in the cream and said, "I'm afraid I can't let you or our friends leave unless you agree to marry me."

I choked on my laughter as the Dwarves yelled at him and I went over to Dori and asked him politely, "Excuse me Dori, but would you mind helping me with something?"

He nodded, looking confused and I reached down to the ground and pulled up two ropes. I handed him one, and when he caught on he grinned, "Clever."

I smiled with a giggle and saw the confused frown of the Master. I grinned at him, waving the others out and thankful that they went. Dori and I remained, Dori still on his pony and I called, "I decline. Have a nice night."

The Master paled when he realized the ropes were tied to the stilts some of the buildings were held up on. I tipped my hat at him and said in my best southern drawl, "Ya'll take care."

"Now!"

Dori and I heaved and thanks to Dori's great strength, the stilts all snapped and it was like dominoes as the building began to fall. I whooped, grabbing the side of Dori's saddle as the pony bolted out the gate and as we passed, I threw a dagger I had stolen at the pulley system they used to open and closed the gate. The ropes swere cut clean through and the door slammed shut behind us and I heard an angry roared behind us, apparently many people lost money on me and their buildings were falling apart. Pity.

Letting go of Dori's saddle I hear the Dwarves whoops, laughter and cheers. I grinned, handing Bofur his hat back with a thanks, and I lead them quickly down the ridge, ignoring the growing pain in my body as I whistled for Laddybuck. He came galloping up and I said quietly but urgently to Laddybuck, "We need to get out of here, and fast. I'm not sure how long that will hold them."

I said a bit louder to the others, "We gotta get a move on. Hang onto your ponies, it's going to be a bumpy ride!" Practically leaping onto Laddybucks back, just behind the pack and bedrolls, I heard an angry shout behind us, followed by the roar of a crowd. I saw a few people pouring out of the Fort like an angry hornets nest and as they started shooting arrows at us I gave a shout. As one, Laddybuck and the ponies bolted, Laddybuck in the lead. Cheese buried himself into my collar, hanging on for dear life. I heard a screech and saw the Great Horned Owl ahead. He was screeching for me to follow and I wasn't about to say no to some help.

We raced through the forest and didn't go very far until I saw the owl duck behind a boulder near another part of the cliff. Laddybuck slowed as we whipped around it and found a hidden path that lead upwards into the cliff face. We had to slow so that none of the ponies broke a leg and made our way deeper into the rock and the shouts and noises began to fade the further we went. We finally came out at a small area that had a few scraggly trees, a creek and small meadow. Sagging tiredly onto Laddybuck's neck I thanked the owl quietly and asked it for one more favor. It readily agreed and settled in a tree.

I looked back at the others and said, "We should be safe here."

They began to dismount and I looked way down at the ground with a grimace. My ankle was already a mass of pain. Laddybuck saved me from deciding how to get down by kneeling carefully. I slid off slowly, smiling my thanks and took my pack and the bedrolls off. I tossed the bedrolls down before limping over to a fallen log. I sat on it with a grimace and dug out my sketchbook and writing supplies. My hand started to bleed again and I had to be careful not to get blood on everything as I tore a page carefully and wrote a note to Gandalf, having the owl deliver it and it said we would meet him at the edge of the forest sometime tomorrow and to be wary of the thieves.

I held up the rolled note and the owl hooted, swooping and taking it right out of my hand before flying off to disappear into the night. I asked tiredly, too tired to move, "Pardon me Oin, but would you mind giving me a hand?"

Gloin was starting a fire, which felt wonderful in the cool but not yetcold night. Oin came over quickly with his supplies and clucked at my hand and ankle. I saw the others taking stock of what we had left and reclaimed their bedrolls. I saw the uneasiness as they moved. Sighing I said loudly, "Look, no more cracks or jokes about me going, and never call me wench again and we'll call it even. Agreed?"

I didn't catch if they did or not because Oin put some kind of salve on my busted knuckles that stung. I winced and said, "Ow." He gruffly said, "It'll do the trick. I know busted knuckles." before wrapping it. Then he inspected my ankle and told me it was sprained before smothering something on it as well and wrapping it. Then I eyed him as he prepared something else. I sighed and kept still as he smothered it on my cheek and said my thanks, about to touch it. He pushed my hand away, "Leave it till it falls off lass." I fidgeted but finally gave in at his firm look. I thanked him loud enough for him to hear and hear Gloin snarl, "Damn thieves took our road coin."

Groans and curses rang from the crowd and I laughed, pulling out pouches from hidden places in my tunic, "Fear not Gloin. I took that into account." He stared with his mouth agape as I tossed them at him and he caught them, eyes widening at the amount of coin. Balin shook his head in disbelief, "You should keep some for yourself lass." I smiled at him and held up the last pouch, "I'm keeping enough." When he didn't look convinced I said cheerfully, "It's alright. I value friends, laughter and good ale more then I value a few coins. Besides, I don't mind helping with traveling expenses."

This seemed to finally convince him and Gloin pocketed the coin. I looked over curiously when I heard a twang. The Dwarves seemed to want to celebrate and had brought out their instruments.

Cheese, seeing that Oin was done doctoring me and had left, curled up in my lap. I pet him as I smiled softly, it has been awhile seen they had played. The group had been too tense to want to during the trip. I squashed down the twinge of loneliness in my chest as I dug into my pack and got Cheese the cheese I had promised. He ate it happily. I blinked as Bofur came up and swept his hat off his head, bowing, "Thank you for the rescue Ariana." I grinned and he said, eyes twinkling with mischief, "Are you sure you wouldn't marry that Master of thieves? Could have stolen you anything you wanted."

Realizing that I had been proposed too I burst out laughing and choked when my jaw hurt, "Oh my stars! He did propose didn't he?" Bofur joined me in laughter, as did some of the others. I laughed, clutching my sides, "Did you see his face when we brought down the buildings!"

Dori chuckled and said, "We sure did bring the house down." Everyone laughed and I felt the air itself relax as we hooted and made fun of that awful predicament. We knew we were lucky to get out alive, and was grateful for making it out in one piece. The Dwarves didn't play long, but it did wonders to sooth me enough to finally be relaxed enough to sleep. Especially Thorin's harp playing. I could listen to it all night. Cheese thanked me for the meal, bid me good luck and I thanked him quietly for his great help. He gave me a whiskered kiss on my clean cheek and then scampered off into the night.

When everyone did put away their instruments I watched them get into their little groups. The Ri brothers were together, and Bifir with Bombur and Bofur in another. Oin and Gloin slept a hand's width from each other. Dwalin and Balin laid back to back and Fili and Kili went over to sleep near their Uncle. Thorin looked at them with a soft expression I had never seen before. Feeling like the outsider I was, I gathered my pack. Then I carefully stood and made my way more into the meadow then where we were camping by the trees. The grass was thick and bushy enough to almost be a soft mattress and the horse and ponies ate it eagerly. My blanket was thick enough to keep the grass from poking through and I settled down upon it with my cloak over me. Laddybuck came over to eat near me and I laid carefully onto my back, found that that hurt and rolled over to lay on my stomach.

Using my pack as a pillow, I breathed in deep to relax myself again and then let it out slowly. I was surprised when Laddybuck carefully settled down at my side, but grateful. I moved to be pressed against his side, feeling a bit less alone and closed my eyes to finally get some sleep.