Hey guys! I would like to thank all of those following/ faving my story. Although there are no reviews yet, these follows are what make me write faster. Stupidly I forgot to save the part of the last chapter I wrote, so I will have to begin again. It should be up some time next week :)

Chapter 3

I tensed, and stopped cutting the leather bindings. I turned to move my head to look at the person attached to the weapon but the sharp edge pushed further into my neck, and I stood still. "I repeat, do not move" the voice demanded. There were more voices now, grunting and people waking up.

"I found a… scavenger trying to steal one of our ponies" The voice behind me bellowed, seeming to want to wake up everyone. "Thief" Someone else shouted and I heard someone else walk closer. I wanted to speak out; to tell them I hadn't been trying to steal a Horse, I only wanted one of the skinned rabbits. "Ori, get some rope, I wish to tie his hands." The loud voice ordered behind me, and I felt the weapon lower and a large hand grab at my wrists. I kept hold of the dagger and tried to fight the hands, I didn't want to be tied, as he tied my hands with a rough rope, the dagger was taking from my hands. He pulled me back and pushed me over towards the fire which had gone out. I tripped over but he was strong and kept pulling me back up. I was shoved to the ground, most of the figures were now awake but I couldn't see faces in the darkness. I knew they were quite short, and quite wide and apparently strong.

"What is your business in these parts?" Someone demanded. It was a male whom seemed to do all the talking and was in charge. I struggled to find the words… I just wanted to eat, I wasn't stealing a Horse. Nothing came out of my mouth and once again a weapon of some sort was pushed against my neck, harder now that before.

"I wanted the rabbit" I eventually gasped out, I was panicking. I had never been around this many people before, they were everywhere, all around me, all had weapons and I was surrounded.

"It's a wee Lass" someone gasped, and immediately the bindings were gone from my wrists, and the weapon vanished from against my neck.

"Someone light the fire," the man behind me demanded "Quick!" I was still breathing deeply, trying to get air into my lungs. The brightness of the newly lit fire was harsh and I cringed away from it, blinking rapidly. Someone bent down and helped me to stand up. When I opened my eyes fully I could tell the faces of most of these around me, most of a similar height to me, a few were taller. I turned slowly to the person who was still behind me.

"I only wanted a rabbit, I wasn't stealing a horse, I wouldn't…" I trailed off. Everyone was silent and I wanted to tell them I wasn't a thief when I realised I was. I was a thief, I had tried to take something that wasn't mine, even if it was something as small as a dead rabbit.

"You are hungry?" someone questioned to my right. I looked at them and nodded. He looked to be the oldest of the group, with light grey hair. He stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Balin, at your service my lady" I was shocked and my mouth open slightly of its own accord, I had never been bowed too before. "We have some stew left over, I am sure we can spare a bowl or two" He looked over to the person who had originally found me as if asking permission.

I dared not look at him, the man who not long ago held something sharp against my neck, with the intention to harm me He must have nodded the affirmative because the man, Balin, walked over to the fire to start preparing some food. I didn't know what to do. Some of the people were staring at me, others were staring at the person behind me, and I imagined him to be the leader of the group.

"Sit down" He pointed to a fallen log and pushed me gently towards it. I sat, as others dispersed, some going back to their bedrolls and some sitting up, talking amongst themselves . There were several of them and I quickly counted fourteen all together; one rather smaller than the rest of them.

The leader sat down on the log also and turned to face me. I still did not dare to look at his face so I settled for looking at my hands on my lap.

"What is your name?" He questioned. It was a simple question, but after not having a real conversation for over 6 years, my voice was croaky and barely anything came out. I tried again.

"Solara Froy" I was almost surprised that anything passed my lips. "I am Thorin Oakenshield," he replied "and this is my Company" He gestured around the area, some nodded in my direction and I nodded back as a general acknowledgment.

His next question startled me. "Why are you here, are you following us?" He demanded. I looked up at him then, his face was stony, guarded and his eyebrows were furrowed. I could see his facial features in the low light of the fire. He had dark, long hair and a large beard. He was large, taller than me. I came to a conclusion that this group of people were dwarves. The height and the beards gave it away once I could see him properly. I had never seen a dwarf before, but I had been told descriptions from both my mother and my father.

"No" I replied. "I live here" Talk about giving away all your secrets at once, I internally rolled my eyes.

"You live here?" His voice was questioning now, as though he didn't quite understand.

"Not here, here" I gestured to the area we were in "I lived in there" I gestured in the direction of the forests. The forest was large, so I wasn't worried about my hiding place being found out, it was small and concealed.

He looked incredulous then, his eyebrows coming right up, and he looked so surprised I almost laughed. "You must be jesting, aye?" He said. "Ye can't live in a forest, especially in these dark times?" His loud voice seemed to have captured some attention and I heard people coming closer. A bowl was placed into my lap by Balin and I looked up and smiled my thanks before digging in. It was what I had smelled earlier and it tasted as good as it smelled.

"The forest you say?" Balin asked. "In these times?" He shook his head and looked at Thorin.

I was too busy scoffing the stew to answer his question, what did he mean dark times? Apart from Trolls and the chilly weather I had seen nothing of these dark times he mentioned.

"Where are your parents, wee lass? You cannit be alone here, surely?" Balin questioned and I swallowed a mouthful of food. "They died" I replied simply. Murdered, you mean. I stuck my chin in the direction of the building. I couldn't see It because it was dark but I could make out the shape, one side barely standing. "That building wasn't always like that- it used to be my home" I revealed. "I have been living in the safety of the forest ever since"

Thorin looked shocked. I handed my now empty bowl to Balin, thanking him and yawned. I stood up. "Are you going to let me leave?" I asked. "I am sorry for trying to steal your food; I shall stay away from now on"

One of the dwarves whom had been listening to the conversation came over. "You cannit leave, it's dangerous out there!"

Thorin looked to him and spoke in his deep voice, in a language I couldn't understand. They seemed to be arguing, words were spoken fast and harsh and I looked back and forth between the two, as Balin was doing, but he seemed to understand, nodding his head sometimes as though he agreed with what one was saying. The smaller dwarf came over. He was much shorter and much quieter than the rest; his small voice was barely able to be heard over the argument.

"Thorin, Kili," The small dwarf interrupted. I was surprised when the argument ceased and they looked at him. He gave his opinion. "I think she should stay" he said.

What did they mean stay? I looked at the small dwarf as he came forward to me. "Bilbo Baggins, My lady" He bowed. Now he was in front of me, I could see he looked nothing like a dwarf. There was no facial hair and no braiding and his hair was short for a dwarf too. He also had no… shoes?

"Solara Froy" I replied. "Why do you have no shoes on?" I asked the question before I even thought about it. My cheeks flamed instantly and I regretted asking at all.

"I am a Hobbit, my lady, and Hobbits do not wear shoes. Our feet are made perfectly for the rough ground." I had never heard of a hobbit before, but it certainly explained why he looked much different from the rest. Kili also came over to introducing himself, bowing low with a smile and his brother, Fili also introduced himself, explaining that he and Kili were brothers, and that they were nephews of Thorin.

"What did you mean, stay?" I asked the leader; Thorin.

He looked at Fili,Kili and Balin and then down at the small hobbit, Bilbo. "You should stay with us, we will be leaving in the morn and we can take you to the next kingdom, Gandalf will know of a safe place for you to go. The forest is not safe" Thorin explained.

I shook my head and backed away from them. "No, no, no. Absolutely not" I said.

"I am here because I want to be. I don't want to live in a kingdom where I am told what to do. I enjoy the peace and quiet and besides, what would I even do in a kingdom? I have no trade and no skills" I ranted. For some reason, I needed them to understand.

"My lady,"One of them began, I don't know who said it because I had turned and walked back into the forest from the way I come. No one followed.

I woke when the sun was creeping through the clouds. Before I even got outside I could tell it was a dull day. I predicted rain. I sat on my makeshift bed roll, the events from yesterday creeping up on me. I didn't know what to do. I barely knew these men; I didn't know whom they were, what they were doing or where they were going. I shook my head and stood up, leaving the cave and striding quickly towards where the men had laid camp. I sped up and panicked slightly when I heard no noise. Would they have gone, already? I broke through the trees and looked around. Nothing. The fire was out, the bed rolls and the people in then were gone, the ponies were no longer tied to trees and there no laughter or conversation. I stood in the middle of the bare camp, and my heart sank slightly, I didn't know why but I was disappointed. They had wanted to help me, to guide me and I had walked away. I sat down on the fallen log, the same fallen log I had sat upon last night when I was talking to Thorin.

I remembered his face. He hadn't smiled, but at the same time he seemed kind. Balin was also nice, and the little hobbit however small he might have been seemed to have the biggest heart. Fili and Kili seemed to be a bit mischievous, but fun nonetheless. I smiled when I thought of them but my smile dropped when I realised I wouldn't see them again.

Suddenly, my life seemed… empty. It felt boring and repetitive and I didn't want to live like this anymore. I scoffed. I would barely call it living. More like surviving.

"The Company made bets, to see if you would come back; it seems I made a winning bet" A voice I had come to know pierced through the silence. A smile graced my face and I stood and turned around to voice belonging to Thorin Oakenshield.