Hey guys! Sorry it's a late update, was out shopping today!

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue

Arriah stood quietly amongst the bustling dwarves. Just last night a now dark haired Thorin had told them that they would be leaving today. Now the dwarves were bustling about, packing and gathering supplies.

"Has anyone seen my cloak?"

"Wheres my tobacco pouch?"

"In the left pocket!"

"Where's my knife?"

"Which one?"

"The blue one."

"Here!"

"My cloak?"

"What about water? Have we enough?"

"Plenty!"

Arriah reached up to fiddle with the necklace Elrond had given her.

"Lady Arriah?"

The huntress looked towards the voice.

"How can I help you Bilbo?"

"Actually I was wondering if there was anything that you needed."

Arriah smiled. "Not that I can think of."

"Ah..."

...

"Elrond said that you could stay, didn't he?"

"How did you know?"

The red head shrugged. "Lucky guess."

"Its just- do you really think that I should have come? I mean, am I really needed? It feels as though all I've been is extra baggage so far."

Arriah was silent.

"I- do you really doubt yourself so? Bilbo, you have become much more than extra baggage. And you never were to start with. You saved us from the trolls, and have made quite the friendly conversation with many. We need you Bilbo, I know it. Maybe you and the others don't yet, but I believe in you."

"Right. Right. Thank you, Lady Arriah, you are most kind."

And the hobbit was gone. Arriah sighed and lowered herself to the ground. Crossing her legs and pulling her pack closer she listened quietly.

"How about my pipe? Has anyone seen it?"

"Nori?"

"I 'aven't seen it."

"Oh, never mind! I found it!"

Arriah smiled and shook her head. So much has changed. I never would have thought that this journey would turn out like it has. And there's still so much left to do. So much more distance we must cover. How much further? When will this journey end? They keep saying that this will all end when we reclaim the mountain. But will it really end there? Will it end there...for me?

"Azyungâl ."

Speaking of changes.

"Fili."

"Have you packed already?"

Arriah nodded towards her bag. "Yeah. I just can't find my cloak though."

Fabric ruffled and her hand was brought to feel the fabric of her cloak.

"Oh, thank you."

"Welcome."

Arriah stood and swung her cloak over her shoulders and fastened it closed.

"Let's go! I don't wish to be here any longer."

"Well, Thorin sounds rather cheerful today."

Fili chuckled beside her. Arriah bent and grabbed her pack and went to put it on.

"This isn't going to work."

With a grumble she set down her pack and took off her cloak, pushing it in Fili's direction. Once her cloak was taken she put her pack on, securing it onto her back snugly before reaching out for her cloak again. Putting that on over top of her pack and fastening it she turned towards the direction Thorin's voice had come from and began walking.

Fili chuckled from some where behind her and grabbed her hand before pulling her to the right.

"This way, Azyungâl."

Arriah grumbled but allowed herself to be led by the blond dwarf.

"Be on your guard. Were about to step into the wild's. Balin, you know these paths, lead on. And Arriah as well!"

She could feel the grip on her hand tighten.

"It's kinda why I'm here. I have to go."

Fili gave a hum and let go of her hand. Arriah walked forward until she knew she was behind Balin.

"Just stay close lass, and stick to the left, you'll fall off from the right."

Arriah gave a nod. "Lead on."

The company continued on at a decent pace, through small groves and plain like stretch's of land and till it was all rock.

Rock. Rock. Stone. Rock. Rock. Rock. Rock. Pebble. Rock. Ah, some rubble. Is that a waterfall?

She hummed as small drops of water began to splash her.

Oh, a small rock. Finally! Some variety.

"Watch yourself, lass."

"I will."

She tripped.

Thank the Valar for Durin's son's. Honestly, they all deserve a medal.

Throin's arm's retreated from her waist and he took a step back.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine, fine. All good here."

A grunt and she was urged on.

They continued for some time. Only stopping for a short moment at a time. Fili had found her hand again, after Thorin had taken the lead.

I bet this is some incredible scenery. Maybe I should come back this way...

"Azyungâl?"

"Mh?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"The scenery. I bet it's nice."

"...It's quite the sight, yes."

Arriah hummed. "I think it's going to rain. Sometime tonight, maybe tomorrow."

"Thorin!"

"What?"

"Arriah thinks it might rain!"

...

"Impossible! I see not a cloud in the sky!"

She listened to Fili scoff. "Yeah, that's what Bofur and I said too."

Arriah giggled and bumped his shoulder with hers.

"Hey, at least with me you'll get a heads up and won't be so wet."

"True. True. What else?"

"Oh, well, I'll have you know that I make excellent flower crowns."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Perhaps I shall make one for you after we get Erebor back. Fili Flowerhead, Prince Under the Mountain."

The dwarf beside her let out a bark of laughter.

"Yes? And your title? Perhaps 'Arriah, Pranker Under the Mountain'?"

Arriah giggled. "I like that."

"You would."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, Azyungâl, nothing."

Arriah rolled her eyes and continued on.

The rain fell harder then Arriah had expected it to. She was soaked from head to toe, her early warning doing nothing for herself and Fili. Said dwarf held onto her tightly. The storm making the mountain even more treacherous for him, would be tripled fer her.

"Steady! Hold on!"

Thorin's words offered little comfort to the blind huntress. The storm continued to rage on. Thunder crackled and briefly, for a fleeting moment, her word was lit with blinding white light.

Hate thunder storms.

"We must find shelter!"

"Look out!"

Arriah was stunned into stillness and Fili's body moved to cover hers and the entire mountain shook. Rocks fell from above, falling down into the valley's below.

What is going on?!

"This is not thunder storm, it's a thunder battle! Look!"

"Well bless me, the legends are true. Giants! Stone giants!"

Oh, I see. Make's sense. Stone giants. Of course. An easy thing to miss, I'm sure.

"Are you alright?!"

The blond dwarfs breath tickled her ear.

"Fine!"

The mountain shook again and Fili held her close.

"Take cover! You'll fall!"

The rock above and below the red head shook with incredible force. It was moving.

"Kili!"

"Fili!"

The blond dwarf still held her tight but couldn't help but cry out for his younger brother.

"Hold on Arriah!"

The mountain shook and swayed. Rocks fell and crashed down the mountain. Suddenly she felt herself lurched froward.

"Don't move."

Rocks crashed around her and she fell forwards, landing on something soft.

You mean, I'm not dead? Huh. Great!

A groan came from beneath her.

"Fili? That you?"

"Yeah. Are you alright?"

On shaky legs she slowly stood and reached out her hand. It was taken and she pulled the dwarf up.

"Fine, no thanks to you."

"Fili! Your alright."

"Kili."

She imagined the brothers embracing.

"And Arriah, you're okay too."

And suddenly she was pulled into a hug. The archer wrapping his arms around her tightly. She returned the embrace happily.

"Where's Bilbo? Where's the hobbit?"

"There!"

"Bilbo! Grab my hand."

There was shuffling, grunting, shouting and finally some sort of silence.

"I thought we'd lost our burglar."

"He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us."

Arriah frowned and glared in the direction that Thorin had gone.

"Dwalin!"

"Here, Bombur."

Kili finally released her and walked away.

"There you are."

"Thank you lad."

Her hand was taken and she was pulled forward.

"What was that about?"

"Oh, Bombur just needed some help getting up."

Arriah nodded. "Are we in a cave? Or has it just stopped raining?"

"Were in a cave."

Arriah frowned again. Well, I'm not sleeping tonight.

"It looks safe enough."

"Search to the back. Cave's in the mountain's are seldom unoccupied."

Finally everyone had gathered in side the cave.

"There's nothing here."

"Right then, let's get a fire started."

"No, no fires. Not in this place. Get some sleep. We start at first light."

Arriah couldn't help but frown.

"Worry not, my Lady. Between my brother and I we have many warm cloaks to wrap ourselves in, and we'd be happy to share."

Arriah smiled and nodded.

"Bofur, you take first watch."

Arriah sat snug in between the two brothers. Bundled up in two dry cloaks, one provided from each brother, and sharing body heat with the brothers had warmed her up greatly. Her head rested on Fili's shoulder. Said dwarf's breaths were even and he was sleeping peacefully.

Wish I could say the same.

Arriah was wide awake, and it was unlikely that she would sleep at all.

This place make me uncomfortable. Dwalin said that nothings here, but this scent, it's faded, but not naturally, its like something's hiding in here. We just don't know it.

Faintly she registered Bilbo and Bofur's voices, but the huntress was to focused on the sound surrounding her.

Click. Click. Pop. Click. Bang. Over and over and over and over. What is going on?

Now there were creaks and the sound of...

Sand? Is that sand? From below...

"Thorin! We have to leave! We have to leave now! We-"

And the ground beneath her and the company gave out.

So, that's all for now. Be on the look out for the next chapter! R&R!