Hi guys... Sorry I've been gone for so...ever. I was on vacation for a little, and Still working out kinks here and there. And I'm still not sure where I want to go after this yet...But hey, that's what awesome readers like you are for too right? (^_^) So anyway, please enjoy and share your thoughts with me.

Riding out in the town to deliver the produce she had helped harvest on the farm was a nice break from the mundane. It was easy on the back. It was peaceful. Everything was going great until a very unnoticable and very large mud puddle disguised as the road suddenly appeared and got one of her wagon wheels stuck right into it. Yes normally most people could see a puddle and tell the difference between water and ground. But come on. Everything on the ground on the inner roads of this town was brown! And not different tints and shades of brown either but two! Brown and darkish brown.
This was not entreily her fault at all.
So here she was, frowning harshly with fists on her hips, at the wheel in distraught.
She wasn't that surprised. This morning she almost let one of Nadhia's apron's catch on fire.
Then the accident of almost hitting Gloin in the face with a pan in the morning.
She burned some parts of breakfast and tried to keep them for herself so no one would know. However Gloin found a few black chunks in his serving. How embarresing.
And now, there's this wagon.
"Shells and squids.." Alicia grumbled allowed. She stared in disdain at the stuck cartwheel. No way was she going to get this out without being covered in mud. Well, it's not like she wasn't going to when she got these flowers and herbs in the little back yard. She adjusted her gloves and grabbed hold of the wheel and tried to give it her all in hoisting it out of it's dilemma. She started grunting within the effort, not noticing someone approaching until they spoke.
"Need some help lass?"
Alicia swiveled her neck in an awkward position in time to see none other than Dwalin smirking bemusedly down at her. Yes she surely must have looked like a monkey, but that wasn't the issue.
Oh this money grubbing bully again. And why was his skin tone always a little off every time she saw him? He had his hammers on this time, and no unfriendly glower on his face. " Gosh you're everywhere..."
One of his wiry brows slowly rose. "Pardon?"
"And every time I see you, you're looking different." She said looking at the scar his let brow was suddenly sporting. he didn't have that when he took her money last time.
Dwalin blinked at her. " Hm, yes well. ometimes people do that. Look differen't from one day to the next." he said awkwardly before looking back at her wagon. " I see you're still stuck. I can help ya with that." He took a step towards her spot.
"Oh! No, no thank you." Alicia chirped. "I have no money to pay you. I'm doing this so I can get paid in fact."
Dwalin slowly turned back to her. " I didn't ask for any payment lass." He rumbled in a sort of 'what's your problem?' look.
"Theeeen...Don't let me take up your time, I'll just get back to work here, and you can go on about your happy day.."
Dwalin snorted at that. He didn't move anymore than cross his burly arms over his chest, watching her like a statue as once again she tried pullling her wheel free. This time it was even more mortifying now that she had an audience. SHe turned with a small pout at him. " Stop judging me with your eyes."
"And how else do I see, if not with my eyes?" Dwalin rumbled in a tone that subtly hinted amusement. Suddenly in her view came one of his large, decorated hands.
"Ack.." she squeaked, flimching away.
The burly dwarf paid no mind other than a grunt that was probably more of an involuntary response from his effort in yanking the wheel free from it's muddy captivity. Alicia ddi feel more than a little put-off by this. In fact she was angered by this. Was he going to turn around and demand payment for this deed when she told him that she didn't want it already? Of course she might have needed it, but she didn't want it from this grump. He easily moved the cart a couple feet away from the mud hole, dusting off his hands when finished. Alicia's lips curled inword in the tension. "Thank you." She forced out.
Dwalin nodded once slowly." Aye. As you were." He said and turned on his booted heels to leave abruptly.
The islander watched him go, half expecting him or his goonies to come back out and demand more money from her. None of that happened at all. Dwalin walked down the road at a casual pace, people who saw him giving him a wide birth and the same tense wariness or subtle unkind glares when he wasn't looking at them. How truly confusing.

After work, Alicia was greeted home by Nadhia.
"Hello deary. You look more beaten than eggs for a cake." Nadhia had her motherly smile on.
Alicia could onlly smile back. " Yes. I did have an eventful day. How's your's?" The islander asked as she went into the kitchen to get some water for her parched throat.
Alicia's seyes fell on a littler platter that was on the counter. On it were cream filled cookie sandwiches. Ooooh yesss!
Alicia plucked one up, admiring it for a second before taking a bite. Delicious oatmeal cookies stuck together with...something that was NOT cream.
She gagged a little as she yanked the rest away, glaring at it this minty imposter.
Nadhia laughed so hard her shoulders shook with the mirth. "Oh your face is priceless!"
"Whadju' do?" Alicia mock leered at Nadhia.
"Instead of cream I put toothpaste in the middle." She said in such a proud way, clearly she had been planning this for a while.
"Yuck." Alicia mused. she scraped off the paste and still ate the cookies.
"Donna' tell the lads aye? Their faces shall memorable." Nadhia clapped her hands twice and hiding away the rest for later.
That put the mischevious grin back on her face too. Yes there was never a dull moment with Nadhia around. "Now come and help me with the dishes."
Looking out the window, Alicia idly dried the dishes Nadhia would wash. This town to her just seemed, lacking in color. Of she knew how everything was built more for practicality than asthetics. Being on the farmlands was a nice change to it. Lush green replaced most dull browns, color from wildflowers replaced mud, it was a small refreshment. So far, she had yet to see much of the native plantlife from her home islands, but the flora here was still a pleasant sight. An idea ame to her then. "Nadhia?"
"Yes Deary."
"Can I plant some flowers around the house? Would that be okay?"
"Flowers?" The dwarf mimicked. " Whatever do we need flowers for?" Casting an odd look over her shoulder at Alicia.
"To add a little color? Beauty? Pleasantry?" Alicia flashing a huge smile at the mother.
Nadhia pursed her lips. " You want to plant flowers, around a dwarven home?"
"What's wrong with that?"
"It's not exactly that it's wrong per say. It's just dwarves, don't normally partake in pretty things. It's an elvish activity."
Now Alicia had an odd look. " Elvish activity. So only elves are allowed to do anything with gardening?"
"No no. It just, not a norm for dwarves you see. We prefer things more, or rather a little less delicate. Precious metals, good fighting skills and crafts." Nadhia tried to explain as she sat down a load of plates.
"A garden of metal flowers then?" ALicia joked, causing Nadhia to chuckle a little too. "Sooo, if that a definete no? Ooor a let's try it and see if we like it?..."
"Silly girl." The mother huffed. " Fine. If you want flowers then you may try it, but I donna' have the money for things we donna' need right now."
"I have a job. I wasn't going to ask you for money." The human said in an almost horrified tone. "All I was asking for was your permission."
From the sink Nadhia flashed her a smile, though it wasn't as bright as it usually is. It seemed thin, or sad. Alicia tried not to read into it too much. She can brighten up the mood with some nice gardening! The islander simply grinned back. "Excellent." she said clapping her hands together. Already she had a vision of how she wanted to decorate the house.
The islander sat on the couch after her chores were done. She went in her room, leaving the door ajar as she sat in the old chair, leaning her head back and letting her eyes drift close.
She heard the back door open and the usual ' Hi ma.' from Gimli coming home. Then came Gloin's rumbly voice, greeting his wife and then going to the connecting building where Oin worked.
She made a dep sigh, remembering how her family was when she'd come home once a week or so to visit her own family.
Alicia was nudged awake from her dozing on the chair. "Mmmgh." she groaned.
"Oi, don't fall asleep now. I just got home." Gimli shook her.
Alicia turned away. " That's nice. Go take a nap too." She mumbled.
"Nu- uh! You said you'd show me more about those double broad swords today." The young warrior pouted.
"There's always tomorrow." Alicia grumbled.
Gimli huffed. " You.. bah you're too skinniy for it anyway."
Alicia made a face at him.
"That's right you're so skinny you could swing a bracelet around your hips." Gimli said.
Alicia stared at him a second. " Boy shut up." She mumbled and tried closing her eyes again.
"I'm betting your ma's the same way too. So skinny she dissappears when she turns sideways."
"You really talking about my mom right now?" Alicia spun back to him. " Your mom..." The islander had begun to mumble but then stopped in mid sentence, not really wanting another bad culture clash again and she end up insulting them to an unforivable level.
"Look at you. you're so ugly you'd throw a boomerang and it wouldn't come back." Gimli showed off a smug smirk.
That did it. " You're so ugly when you were born the healer slapped your mom instead of the baby." Alicia retorted.
"Your ma is so ugly that the last time I saw anything as horrid, I pinned the tail on it." Gimli retorted.
"Your mom is so hairy, you got carpet burn when you were born." Alicia said easily.
"your ma is so dumb, she wanted to complain to the baker about her bagel, becuase it had a hole in it." Gimli pointed his finger at her.
" Your mom is so bad at cooking the homeless gives it back!" Alicia turned to fully face him, now caught up in the game.
Gimli stepped closer. " Your mom is so dumb when I told her she lost her mind she went actually looking for it."
"Your mom is so dumb she brought a ruler to bed to see how long she could sleep!"
"OI!" Nadhia's voice suddenly come booming up. " You all best stop talking about me! You both have the same gaurdian."
"Gaurdian?" Alicia questioned out loud.
Gimli pointed an accusatory finger at Alicia. " She's the one talking about you!"
"Hey!" Alicia slapped at his hand. " You're talking about my mom!"
"Is that so?" Nadhia came poking her head in, looking at Alicia. " And yes. So long as you're under my roof, and your birth mother isn't here, I am your gaurdian."
"I'm eighty eight!" Alicia quipped.
"Still but a child!" Nadhia wave it off as she entered.
"Not by my peoples' standards. I'm a young adult now." Alicia said, posing an air of an imperial. "I'm a roommate maybe, not nessesarily a second Gimli."
"Again. Whoooo's house is this?" Nadhia said with a rogueish smile of her own , suddenly shooting out her hands and was tickling Alicia on her belly and ribs. The islander did not see that coming at all. She flailed and jerked to get away, laughing at the fun of it. Nadhia was at least merciful enough to let her get a breath before grappling her once again. The mother stopped and pulled her close. Alicia thought it was just a hug, but then Nadhia had suddenly begun pressing her cheek against the side of Alicia's head, nuzzling it enthusiastically. Her hug was securing with no wiggle room at all. "You are new in this town, new to this whole world and living with me which makes you practically my own."
Alicia's whole innards swelled with warmth at the appreciated comment. By her tone, she knew Nadhia meant what she said even with the smile on her face. Not only that, but the gesture she had just did. " What you did, that rubbing. It's called scent marking I think...right?"
"Very good." Nadhia praised. "Yes it is. And I assume you know what it means?"
"I do."
"Good. Remember it." The mother dwarf said, releasing Alicia. "Now do me a favor and go get some more water from the well."
" 'Kay." Alicia, now wide awake, hopped up to complete the request.
Gimli watched her go. " You did hear her say eighty eight?"
Nadhia waved it off. "Oh that's just humans trying to make themselves sound older. I'm sure the correct number is just twenty eight."
Gimli shrugged and followed after her. "And after this, training time?"
"I'm not sure if I'd call it training exactly." Alicia voiced as she hoisted the water bucket. "Did you actually want me to teach you how to use it?"
"Maybe." Gimli shrugged. " But I was thining we might have a wee sparing match too aye?"
Alicia shrugged one shoulder. " Sure. We can try it." To be brutaaly honest she didn't feel like her skills matched Gimli's. She'd never actually seen him in action but just looking at him gave the impresion that he was good.
Alicia filled the pitcher up with water for Nadhia, then followed Gimli to a back room. Hung on the walls or on table stands were a few real weapons and more training weapons.
"We have short swords." Gimli walked to the training weapons. "Or two staffs. Would they do?"
"Anything between twenty eight to thirty two inches is what will work for me." Alicia answered. "Perferably thirty two."
Gimli rumaged around for anything that might match her standards. He popped back up with two wooden weapons more designed to mimic a double blade sword. Double broad sword is a single edged weapon, but since they were training tools it shouldn't be too much of a hinderance.
Gimli of course, favored the axe, and thus pixed a training axe. He wathed her, head tilted at a slight slant, as she took time to go through a few basic manuevers. "That's your technique? It's all, flowy and graceful like an elf."
"I don't know an elf's technique, so I can't really agree with that or not." Alicia smiled. " Let's see yours then."
Gimli grinned, always proud to show off his skills. yes it was very different than her own. Heavy, blocky, with powerful swings as required for a battle axe. He grinned like a loon with a proud laugh once done. "Come now lass! Think you can dance with a dwarf?"
The isalnder chortled a little, and the two clashed. Gimli was obviously toning down his strength for her. Much appreciated. They were grinning ear to ear and huffing soon. Alicia landed absolutely no hits, although she did come close. Gimli had plenty of chances to just run her down. They were about to go at it again until Oin's booming voice halted them. "I think that's enough for one day. Supper's ready."
Nadhia made a lovely dinner as usual. Everyone gathered around the table that Alicia helped set up. Gimli flicked a grape that hit Oin in the eye. The healer grumbled and snorted. " Little brat." as Alicia made her way around him.
"You've not done much real fighting have ya lass?" Gloin asked around a roll.
"What?" Alicia chirped a little confused.
"I watched ye and me son. You've got skills aye, but in a real fight you canno' take yer sweet time makin' it look pretty." the father said.
"Well, I've not been in much kill or be killed situations no. But I do train for it. Gimli is a way different oppenent and therefore more challenging." Alicia tried to justify herself.
Gloin smirked. "Aye. You can join us then. On the eves that I train with Gimli. I'll teach ya a few tricks that might give you the advantage on an opponent much stronger than yourself."
"Yeah! I'm up for it!" Alicia said pumping a fist.
Nadhia put the plate of fruits and cookies
Oin's brows rose inquisitively. Gimli aproved while Gloin merely chuckled. "Hm hm hm. We'll see how long you keep that high spirit once we get to training. We'll get that burned-oph, Gah! What the-" Gloin started spitting out the cookie he had scooped up. His beady eyes went from a squinted smile, to bug eyed shock. Alicia hadn't noticed either that he had grabbed the toothpaste cookie until he started spluttering.
Oin looked down at his own and did the same Alicia had done in scraping the paste off to still eat the cookies.
Nadhia and Alicia both busted out laughing at the newest victims.
"NADHIA!" Gloin hollared out.

Alicia did her usual errend running, in guise as a male, thinking on just how she'd go about decorating the house. In the morning she had washed out an empty barrel to use it for extra rain water collecting.
Up ahead is when she saw a familiar three braid hair style under a floppy hat. He was scratcing his head as if he was lost.
"Hey there friend!" she called out. She said friend becauase she had forgotten his name already and didn't want to admit it.
Bofur spun around, his grin back on his face as he waved back. " Hullo there Missy!"
Alicia shook her head. " Nope nope." she peered around to make sure no one was watching them too much. "Leto. Call me Leto right now."
"Lu-Leto? why? What's wrong with your real name?" Bofur asked.
"My second job is an errand 'boy' and right now my name is Leto you see." Alicia explained to him.
Bofur squinted his eyes, a mischevious smile spreading. "Hmm...Don't know why yer gon' so far to make a few coins, but I'm not judging. Leto. Say, have ya seen my cousin? I know he went with Gloin once but I have't seen him back yet."
"Oh I sure haven't. I keep an eye out and tell him you're looking for him." Alicia responded.
Bofur shrugged half heartedly. " Ah, he tends to get a wee side tracked when a creature or plant he's never seen 'afore crosses his path. Happens on occasion."
The islander bobbed her head as they walked. " I see I see."
"Anyway, heard an old friend's been askin' for us, and I'd like to surprise 'em." Bofur winked playfully.
"See you later!" She waved bye to him before they parted.
Alicia continued down the streets, she ran the last of her parcel delivery to another home of some two sisters who giggled when they saw it like girls talking about boys. She would be willling to bet money that that was exactly what they were so enthralled in. The islander polietely waited for them, as they had something in exchange to return to the office the old man worked at. It was actually a little refreshing to see some people finding something to be happy about. Once done getting to hear their happy cackling, she returned with their new request to the office. Finally she was off, already thinking of maybe surprisin the family with a cake from the bakery. Grinning to herself, Alicia paced down the road towards said bakery, thinking of which kind of treat she might get. Maybe too it might be a nice manner of redemption for the clumsy mornign she'd cuased too.
Someone moved out the corner of her eyes as she passed by two houses. Alicia had to do a double talke before realizing that it was Bifur. She grinned and trotted up to him. "Bifur!" She called out.
But the dwarf barely turned around. When she caught up to him, she tapped him on the shoulder. " Hey Bifur. How are you? I'm glad I found you."
Bifur whirled to face her, a startled look that morphed to a glare.
"Uh. So I just wanted to say your cousin is lookin for you." She tried to ignore the glower until her eyes dropped to a crate in his hands that looked filled with coins and a few shiny trinkets.
Bifur's face wrinkled into a feral snarl. He rumbled out an anry growl as he was climbing to his feet. Alicia backpedaled. " I, uh, sorry am I bothering you? Didn't mean to.."
He grumbled some harsh words out in another language as he rushed to hide away the small box of suddenly his free left arm came lashing out in a harsh back hand that nearly got her.
Alicia didn't waste another second, she pivoted on her heels to run, but she didn't get too far as suddenly Dwalin stepped out from around the corner, also not looking very happy. He didn't have those twin hammers on his back but he didn't look any less dangerous. His eyes narrowed to slits. "You again. I might have known."
"Nope not me. I'm trying to stay out of peoples' way." she countered.
"Well, you know how to do that then." Dwalin said as his arms were unfolded.
Alicia knew what he meant, but she really didn't want to hand over her hard earned money. Instead she played dumb, patting down her middle. " I don't have any money on me now."
Dwalin sneered. "That's too bad. What else ya got on ya then?" he stalked closer.
Alicia was grabbed Bifur just then in a very hostile waythat had bells going off in her head. "Let go!" Alicia reacted before she even realized it. Her free hand swung around, catching him on the axe embedded in his head. That should have spelled the end for the haggard male.
But it didn't. Instead the axe moved completely. In fact his whole face did. His whole left side of the face looked as if it was torn off, revealing even paler skin under neath the torn one. It flabbed about unnaturally and the hairline even was lopsided. It didn't at all make sense how his face would move like that until it finally dawned on her when he adjusted it.
That wasn't his face. It was a mask. And judging by how quickly the man had went from irritable to outraged, she wasn't supposed to know that.
Dwalin cursed behind her. " Grab 'er!" he lunged for her then. he missed her only by a hair's length as she scrambled to get away.
Masked Bifur was quick to follow, and she almost would have gotten away hadn't two other men showed up out of nowhere and nabed her. SHe kicked and fought to get away, but all four of them easily overpowered her, grappling her limbs and roughly gagging her.
"She's seen too much. Come on let's leg it." Dwalin said. Without a moment's hesitation they hoisted her onto one man's shoulder and just started booking it through the narrow alleys of the town. The only place that had narrow allies was the slums, and they took so many turns that it didn't take long for her to get all turned about. Her hands and ankles were bound and she couldn't even try to leave a trail of anything. If she ever got free she'd have to just try and guess random paths to go and hope it wasn't a dead end.
Much too soon, they had arrived in whatever run down building they were trying to get to. Everything was dark until a few lanterns were lit. The rooms she was roughly carried by, she barely had time for one second of a glance, and cuaght glimpses of what might be a privy, another some sleeping quarters with clothes and hair bunches hanging from the walls. Taken to the far back, she was dumped on the ground from the man's shoulder. Wincing from the pain, the islander forced herself up. Around her were the kidnappers and a few other people with confused looks on their faces.
"What's this?"
"She seen too much. She might blow our cover."
"And just HOW was she able to 'see too much?'"
"She knocked off...Bifur's mask."
There was an altogether moan of annoyance from the rest of the group. "lunkhead."
Alicia looked around while they griped at each other about having to wait for the boss to get back. There was no real easy escape from this, not like this was her first time but, the second time didn't really feel any easier at all. This time she was on her own completely.
She heard two other pairs of footsteps coming in, when they entered her eyes went wide with shock at one of them glaring down at her. One was a human and beside him, red hair cascading down and eyes a very unfatherly, angry, cold glare at her.
"Yer becoming more trouble than yer worth." He growled out at her, odd beard beads winking in the dimmed light.
G-Gloin?

Dun Dun Duuun! Yes! Things just got serious. Sooo, I could really use some feedback. I have even entertained the thought of scrapping this and either starting over or letting it die... T_T Right! so! Until then I hope to continue writing anyway.