The next day I continued my exploring where I had left off, smiling and happy that Thorin had showed something of himself to me. Even though he was back to his grumpy self this morning at breakfast I was still happy to know more about him. And now I was busy trying to see all I could before we left, and I got the feeling that we would leave soon.

The days flew by and on the 14th day I spent as much time around Rivendell as I could, trying to remember everything. I was sad to leave but also excited to see where the road might lead. As night closed in I returned to the Company to find them destroying furniture to make a fire and laughing merrily. Not wanting to put a damper on that I only dropped off my pack, back tracked and chose a different path. As I walked I suddenly heard Gandalf and Elrond's voices. Gandalf's voice sounded urgent and indignant, "Of course I was going to tell you. I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I think you can trust that I know what I am doing."

They were below me,walking together and I stepped back into the shadows so they couldn't see me. Elrond didn't sound any more assured, "Do you? That dragon has slept for 60 years. What will happen if your plan should fail and that beast is awakened?"

Gandalf urged, "What if we succeed? If the Dwarves take back the mountain our defenses in the east with be strengthened." I sensed someone behind me and turned to see Thorin listening as well. Elrond said, "It is a dangerous move Gandalf."

He glanced at me as Gandalf voiced, "It is also dangerous to do nothing! Oh come, the throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright. What is it you fear?"

Elrond huffed, "Have you forgotten? A strain of madness runs deep in that family." Thorin moved up to stand beside me, just out of sight of Gandalf and Elrond, "His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear that Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?"

Elrond sighed as I looked at Thorin, "Gandalf these decisions do not rest with you and I alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-earth."

They moved out of our hearing and I saw the sadness and worry hidden in the shadow of Thorin's face as he turned away from me. Deciding I was making a bold move, I stepped forward and slapped him in the back. He staggered, not expecting that or my strength and stared at me. I smiled gently and whispered, "You are not your grandfather or father Thorin. What say you prove that to them?"

I didn't wait for an answer. I just patted his shoulder more gently and then headed back towards the others, knowing he would follow. When we got back to the others I found an empty corner and curled up with my cloak, watching the others as they said hello to Thorin. Thorin said quietly, "We leave at dawn. We will meet up with Gandalf in the mountains. Make sure we have what we need, quietly. Then get some sleep."

The others agreed and got ready for sleep. I closed my eyes and then jumped when I heard a thunk next to me. I looked at Fili and Kili as they laid down on my right and smiled softly. I closed my eyes again and drifted off to sleep.

0o0

Before dawn we roused and packed up everything we would need. Thorin lead us out of Rivendell by a path hugging the cliff face and I was in the middle as Thorin called back, "Be on your guard. We're about to step over the Edge of the Wild." He motioned to Balin, "You know these parts, lead on."

I glanced back at Rivendell once before paying attention to where I was going, worried about Gandalf. I looked ahead, knowing he would be alright and now that he was not with us, I wondered how the others would act around me now.

0o0

We traveled on, and I actually enjoyed it. The scenery changed from grassy, to rocky as we went higher and higher as we traveled over the Misty Mountains. When we came to a dangerously slippy part of loose silt and rock that was a tiny path with cliff face on one side and sheer drop on the others. We tied us all together just in case someone slipped and I was at the end, Thorin was in the lead. As we traveled on loose gravel and rocks I let my senses tell me where to step. When I did I could feel the earth, and know what was alright to step on and what was not. This came in handy when were were walking next to a drop of 60 feet and the ground underneath Thorin was loose. It felt as if it would crumble at any second.

I called, "Thorin! That ground is weak, walk up closer to the cliff face."

He waved me off and stepped on the shaky ground, the others followed and I felt the ground begin to give deep down where Thorin and the others couldn't feel it. "Thorin! The ground!"

He turned around to yell at me when we all heard a deafening crack. The ground underneath him and the five others behind him, Dwalin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur, gave way! The others didn't have time to react as they were yanked with them over the cliff face! Reacting quickly I took my daggers and slammed them into the ground, just as I was yanked.

Crying out when the rope cut into my flesh around my middle and my arms strained, I cursed underneath my breath, "Stupid knuckle headed DWARF!" Other curse words flowed through my lips as my arms felt like they were about to be ripped from their sockets.

I hung on for dear life to those daggers, they stayed stuck to the ground as if they were anchored to the stone and I refused to let these rock heads fall and die on my watch. Thorin yelled at me, "Girl!" I snapped, loosing my temper, "Shut the hell up Thorin!"

Silence rang around us and I panted, muscles straining. Turning slightly I felt with my feet and yelled, "Hold still! I'll pull you up!"

I heard snorts of disbelief but was too busy trying to find a foot hold that wouldn't give. When I finally did I yanked out my daggers and drove them one by one into the stone, using them to pull myself to the cliff wall. I doubted that this would have worked if my daggers weren't of elvish make. It was hard work, these Dwarfs were heavy! Panting slightly I checked for a good hold with my feet and found one. Then wrapping the rope around my hands I pulled, with everything I had. Slowly, inch by inch I began to pull them up. Just as I saw the top of Ori's brown bowl cut and braids I felt the rope sway from movement down below. It made the rope dig into my flesh and I snapped, "Stop moving dammit!"

They did, and as soon as Ori got to the path, he looked about to faint from fright, but I ordered, "Undo the rope from your waist and then grab it behind me." I was relieved when he quickly did as I said and we started pulling up his brothers Nori, then Dori, whose strength would help greatly. They did the same, undoing themselves and then helping me pull from behind me.

Suddenly something jerked the rope and I hollered, the rope racing through my hands and ripping through flesh! I felt the others behind me let go, the rope yanked from their hands, but I wasn't about to give up without a fight!

Clamping down on the rope I screamed as blood gushed, skin ripped, flesh burning and finally the rope stopped. Panting I felt the others grab the rope behind me quickly and we heaved.

We pulled and pulled, until finally all the Dwarves were up except Thorin. I reached for him as he topped the path and yanked him up. As soon as he was on his feet I glared and snarled, "Next time I tell you the ground will give, Thorin Oakenshield. Move your stubborn ass to the wall!"

Shoving the bloody rope in my hands into his chest, I spun on my heel as all the Dwarves stared at me in stunned silence. I yanked my daggers from the path, returned them to their sheaths and went back to my place at the end of the line. Motioning with a jerk of my chin to continue, my glare had Thorin barking orders to move on and we redid the rope. I had to put it over one shoulder instead of over my waist because of the rope burn. I cradled my hands to my chest and bit back more curses and tears. It bloody hurt! I had to use my teeth to wrap a bandage around my bleeding hands as we continued. I noticed the concerned glances back at me but ignored them stubbornly.

We found a shallow cave off to the side of the path and we made camp for the night. Near the path there was a small trickle of snow run off and I pulled the blood soaked bandages off with my teeth and spat them onto the ground. I went over tiredly and held my hands under the water. Biting back a yelp I let the freezing cold water wash off the dried blood and looked at the damage. I winced.

Pieces of rope was still in the wounds and my hands looked like I had put them through a meat grinder. Discreetly checking my waist I found a red bloody line around my hips and belly. Moving over to a rock that I could sit on, away from the others, I tried to get my pack off without aggravating my hands, but it was futile. I finally just yanked it off, biting my tongue and sat down angrily, glaring at the offending pack.

Then I tried to get into my pack but it only hurt more. About to kick the damn thing over the cliff I nearly jumped out of my skin when Balin appeared at my side and gently insisted, "Come over by the fire, lass."

Staring at him like he was speaking Dwarvish I said stubbornly, "I'm fine." and turned away. But Balin would not be ignored. He nudged my hurt side and I hissed, trying to hit his hand away with my elbow. He said firmly but still gently, "Your not fine. Now come over like a good lass and we'll tend to ya."

Opening my mouth to snap at him, I paused when I saw real worry on his face and something like shame in his eyes. Softening, I slowly nodded. He gave a small, relieved smile and picked up my pack for me. Getting up I followed him to the fire that Gloin had started, and Balin set my pack down next to his own. I glanced around at everyone and saw the shame on the others faces. At first I thought it was the shame of a girl saving them.

But as I studied them I realized they were ashamed because of their attitude towards me before. I could tell because now they murmured thank you's and worries. Thorin even looked worried as he directed me to a seat next to the fire. Not sure what to think of this I sat cross legged by the fire and Oin came up with a small bag. He sat on a rock next to me and I turned so that I faced him. He said gently, "Let me see."

I held out my hands palms up and he winced, pity on his face along with his worry. I watched him warily when he brought out a pair of metal tweezers and bit my lip as he tried to gently get the rope pieces out of the cuts on my hands. I refused out of pure stubbornness to say a word, but I couldn't help the flinches or pain on my face that showed how much it hurt. But I didn't pull away or complain. After all, Oin was only trying to help.

It took longer then I liked until he got the last of the rope thread out and then with rough but gentle hands, put a salve on my hands and arms all the way up to my elbows and then wrapped them in clean bandages. Then he looked at my waist and motioned, "Alright now lass, raise your shirt."

I heard coughs and to my great amusement, saw Gloin stumble over a rock, "OIN!"

Oin gave him a bland look and stood, "Lets go over there lass before Gloin has a fit."

A giggle escaped my lips and I decided to spare the others as well because they also looked uncomfortable. I ducked my head as I followed Oin after he gathered a lamp from his pack and lit it. I could have sworn Gloin blushed behind his beard and Oin and I moved off till we was behind a boulder. I was about to raise my shirt myself but Oin shook his head, "Don't lass. Here."

He had the air of a doctor when he treated my wounds and I knew he was just concerned for my health. If anyone else had tried to lift my shirt as he did now, I would have kicked them off the cliff. But Oin just raised my shirt as high as my ribs and then tied it off. He set the lamp on a small rock shelf next to us and said, "Your waist isn't so bad, you don't need bandages. Your lucky that the rope had moved over your belt, stopping it from doing more damage."

He carefully applied his salve and then gently tugged down my shirt. I sincerely thanked him loud enough for him to hear and I was beginning to feel cold as we returned to the fire. I went to the cliff wall, sitting carefully against my swords, feeling too tired to take them off. Bombur handed me a large bowl of food first, which surprised me, but I was so hungry I didn't complain.

It was a bit awkward to eat with a spoon because of my bandages and finally gave up. I tipped the bowl back to eat and knew the others wouldn't mind. They had worse table manners then I did. I think I was eating rabbit but all I cared about was that it tasted good. Finished I set the bowl down and listened to the quiet murmurs around me, before leaning my head back against the solid rock and passed out right then and there. Hauling 13 Dwarves was harder work then I had thought.

0o0

Balin looked over to check on Ariana and wasn't surprised to find her passed out sitting against the rock. He was about to get up to put his cloak over her when Fili and Kili moved beside her, Kili on the left and Fili on the right and covered Ariana with a blanket that covered all three of them. She didn't even stir as they settled next to her carefully. The boys looked at the others with full Durin stubbornness in place, as if daring them to say anything. When no one did, they closed their eyes and fell asleep.

Thorin looked over at his nephews and felt something in his chest loosen it's hold. He had been worried about the girl since they began this journey. But she had surprised him over and over again. Especially this time when she had hauled them all up a cliff, even Bombur! He called himself a fool for not listening to her and his heart wrenched at the mere thought of what had almost happened. If it wasn't for Ariana, they'd all be dead right now. Then he wondered how Ariana had known that the ground was unstable. Deciding that he would ask her tomorrow he settled back to go to sleep, giving Bofur the first watch.