Chapter 2: Introductions

"I can't remember..." Marie repeated, feeling dazed and confused. She looked at the men around her, pausing on the handsome man that had helped her to her feet. Kili, that was what he had called himself. "I can't remember why I'm here, or where I was before this."

Suddenly, a very tall man dressed all in grey knelt in front of her. "My dear, do you remember anything besides your name? Where you live perhaps?"

Marie thought for a moment, trying to pinpoint and hold a memory through the static that seemed to fill her brain. Every time a picture came into focus it flitted away, like a startled bird, before she could identify it. She shook her head slowly.

"All I remember is a bright light, one so bright it was painful. Someone was calling to me, but then I fell down. I hit my head and the next thing I knew I woke up in the woods, alone. I heard you talking and thought that you might be able to help me so I tried to find you, and here I am. That's all I can remember, I'm sorry."

Another man came into view, holding an old ear horn against his head. This man was smaller than her, with long grey hair and a massive beard, decorated with intricate braids and plaiting. "You said you hit your head lass?" He asked leaning in to hear her answer. "Oin, at your service if it pleases you. I know a bit about healing. Would you allow me to take a look at it?"

He waited for her to nod her head before putting a large but gentle hand behind her head, prodding softly before finding the sore lump. Blinding pain shot through her and stole her breath away as she flung herself away from the intrusive touch.

"I'm sorry Miss Marie! I'll try to be more gentle. It is quite a large bump you've got there. Come, come, sit down here. You look as if you're about to swoon. I really am sorry lass."

"It's fine. It wasn't your fault, Oin."

"I have seen this before, once in the mines a boulder ricocheted off of a poor fellow's head. When he finally came to he couldn't remember his own name, let alone where he was or had been. He didn't even recognize his own little ones!"

Marie gripped onto his arm. "Did he ever remember?"

Oin suddenly looked uncomfortable. Marie's stomach began to churn. He didn't want to tell her, he didn't want to say out loud that the poor man never remembered, that he had lived the rest of his life in this hazy cloud of confusion. "Tell me, please."

Oin looked at her sadly. "He...he didn't make it to morning lass."

Marie was going to be sick. She was going to lose whatever it was she had last eaten all over these kind men, and then she would die. "I can't breathe, I can't breathe!" She gasped out, the world around her tipping as her lungs tightened painfully. 'I'm going to die!' The thought filled her head and echoed again and again until all she could hear was the sound of her labored breathing.

Someone was calling her name. "Miss Marie." She tried to focus on the smooth voice calling her name. "Marie, breathe. Everything will be alright."

The world around her eased into focus and Marie was looking into a warm pair of chocolate eyes, Kili. He was kneeling in the dirt in front of her, both of her hands dwarfed by his as he held on to her gently.

"That's right, breathe deeply." He soothed, bringing a hand up to her face to brush a tear away. "You'll be right as rain just as soon as that pretty head of yours heals up."

"That's right lass." Oin added. "I didn't mean to frighten you. The man I told you about had an injury far worse than your own. I recon you'll be much better by tonight."

Marie nodded, feeling her breathing regulate again. Kili looked up at her, his hand still cradling the side of her face. She felt a blush rising into her cheeks as someone off to the side cleared their throat. She looked up to see the man who had held her at sword-point looking between her and Kili.

"We need to keep moving. It was lovely meeting you miss, but we need to be on our way."

"You mean, you're leaving me here?!"

Noise exploded around her, Kili jumping to his feet in front of her. "We can't leave her here!" He cried. "She's hurt and doesn't know what's going on!"

"I agree with the lad." Oin came to Kili's side, looking at the stern looking man. "I cannot leave her here in the woods, not in good conscience."

The tattooed man spoke up, his gaze bearing down on her and his voice steely. "She's a risk. We know nothing about her."

"We can't leave her Dwalin."

Everyone looked to the "Swordman" who had not spoken since saying goodbye. No one moved or spoke as they all waited in silence for him to say something. Marie decided that this man must be the leader of their group.

"Thorin..." He turned to the tall elderly man. "We can't leave her. We can take her to the next town, make sure she's set up nicely..."

"Please take me with you!" She interrupted, jumping to her feet. "I'll try my hardest not to burden you! I don't want to be alone again." She could feel tears in her eyes as she stared into the man's dark blue eyes. Thorin looked back at her for a moment. The short amount of time felt infinitely longer as she waited for him to decide.

"Fine." He turned and stalked away from her, toward his mount. "We leave in 5 minutes!"

"Now lad," Oin told Kili as he handed Marie up onto his pony in front of him. "it's very important that Miss Marie remain awake and alert. At least for the rest of the day, we'll check her tonight. She'll be tired because of the injury, but she must NOT sleep."

"I understand." He turned his attention to the lady in front of him. "Hear that Marie? No naps!"

Marie flashed him a wide grin and his heart stuttered in an unusual feeling. None of the Dwarf women at home had ever glanced his way. Sure, they enjoyed his rambunctious charm, and they hung around him because he was in line for the throne. It surely wasn't his looks that drew their attention, or kept it long enough for the ladies to get to know him. While he knew that he was considered attractive by Human standards, his slight build and short facial stubble did not make him attractive to his common kind. It felt nice to have a lady pay him attention for no reason other than to enjoy his company.

"You'll have to keep me entertained then, won't you?"

He threw back his head and allowed laughter to flow from him, before he turned back to her. "And just how would I accomplish that?" He asked, an eyebrow raised in question.

"Well, I know you and Oin and I sort of know Thorin...but I don't know anyone else. Maybe you could tell me about everyone, introduce me to them?"

"Of course!" He directed her gaze to his brother, who was riding next to them. "This is my brother, Fili."

Fili nodded to Marie, giving her a warm smile which she returned in kind. "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Marie."

"Thank you, Fili. Please, just call me Marie."

"Okay Marie. I'm sorry that you have to share a pony with my reckless baby brother. If he becomes too much for you, or bores you let me know and you'll be welcome to ride with me. I'm far more interesting!"

Marie giggled at his brother, making Kili smile. He had known they would get along, everyone made quick friends with his brother.

"You're no less reckless than I am brother. I seem to remember a certain night mother came home to find it nearly burnt to the ground because someone wanted cookies. Besides, you may be more interesting I'll give you that, but I'm more handsome by far!"

Marie burst into hearty laughter that echoed in the forest around them, causing both brothers to chuckle along. His mirth quickly turned to concern as she abruptly grabbed onto her head, a soft moan of pain escaping her. "Are you alright?!"

She waved off his concern, forcing a smile at him. "Nothing that time won't fix. Hopefully..."

Kili cast a worried look to Fili, which he returned in kind. He looked back at Marie. "Shall we continue?"

"Yes please."

Kili continued with his introductions, moving on to Balin, with his grandfatherly concern. Bifur who needed him to translate his story to Marie. Both Bifur and Kili were pleased with her sweet concern for the Orcish axe blade stuck in his head. She relaxed after Oin assured her that although it looked rather painful, it didn't endanger him at all.

Then came Bifur's cousins, Bofur and Bombur, telling her jokes and asking what types of foods she liked. After that the brothers Dori, Nori and Ori, who were all polite and friendly. Ori seemed to warm up to Marie quite quickly, surprising Kili. The young Dwarf was usually quiet and shy, keeping to himself and his books even at home. Kili and Fili had at many times shared their suspicions that his timid nature was because of his overprotective older brothers. While Fili had always watched out for him Kili was glad he wasn't as pushy and mothering as Dori.

Next Gloin told Marie, in painful detail, about his son Gimli and his wife. She listened to him with rapt interest as he told her of young Gimli's mischievous adventures in the tunnels and surrounding forests of their mountain.

Kili had held off introducing her to Dwalin, given the fact that he had frightened her so badly, but the moment that they pulled up alongside him he apologized. It had shocked him to see the tough old Dwarf admit a wrong so readily. It was amazing to watch Marie interact with everyone, she made instant friends with everyone. Even his sullen uncle seemed to warm to her sweet nature.

"Up ahead of us is our company wizard Gandalf the Grey."

"A wizard?! Wow!"

"Stop!" A voice sounded out. "Stop! We have to turn around!"

"And that would be our Hobbit friend, Mr. Bilbo Baggins." Kili sighed.

"I hope everything is alright..." Marie looked concerned and he was once again amazed at her, to have such worry for a complete stranger. He had missed what the problem was as they began again, he assumed that it had something to do with the lecture that Gandalf was giving him about handkerchiefs and the comforts of home being behind them.

The rest of the day passed quickly as Kili told her stories of adventures he and had had in the Blue Mountains with his brother. The time they had been playing and had almost fallen to their deaths off into a mineshaft, the time they had put frogs from a nearby river into Thorin's pockets, and the night when half a dozen cave spiders had "found" their way into their mother's bed. Fili chimed in when another tale came to mind, or to correct details of Kili's stories. All the while he diligently watched Marie to make sure she didn't sleep, rousing her when a moment of silence stretched too long or she looked drowsy.

"I think I need to walk." She suggested just as the sun was beginning to set.

"Don't bother," Thorin said from ahead of them. "it's time to make camp for the night." They journeyed for another short while before finding an outcropping that was pleasing to their leader.

Kili reached up to help Marie down from the pony, his hands completely engulfing her small waist. The moment her feet were on the ground her legs seemed unable to hold the weight of the rest of her body and she sat quickly on the ground.

"Oin!" He called out, panicked, as he crouched down in front of her. "Are you ok? Is it your head, are you dizzy?"

She shook her head, a look of embarrassment coming to her face. "I'm all right Kili. I think my legs are just asleep from being on the pony all day."

"I still think that Oin should take a look at your head, he hasn't checked on it in a while."

"I'm okay, I promise." Marie told him as she got to her feet on unsteady legs, he gripped her arm by her elbow, offering her support. He wished she wouldn't brush her injury off so easily and try to hide her pain, he didn't mind helping her. It felt good, actually. Being the youngest in his family everyone always watched out for him, protected him. It felt good to help Marie, to feel important and needed by someone. If only she wouldn't fight it...

"The lad is right Marie, let me take a look at that bump." Oin came up to them. "Go ahead and take a seat on this rock here. Kili, why don't you go and grab her a quick bite to eat."

Nodding, he went to go find Bombur, hurrying back with a small sandwich just as Oin was standing up from his examination. His heart drummed heavily in his chest as he looked to Marie, her head bent over her knees, cradled by both of her hands. Had her injury worsened?! Had he failed already in keeping her from harm? He knew he shouldn't have left her!

"Oin?"

"She's fine lad, the swelling has gone down and she's alert as well. She seems to be out of danger. She's just a bit tired is all."

All of his breath left him quickly and he felt dizzy with relief. He held the sandwich out to Marie, smiling down at her as she took it and ate gingerly.

"As soon as you're done with that you can lie down and sleep for a bit. We'll watch over you to make sure, but I'd say it's safe for you to relax."

"Thank you Oin. I really can't thank you enough for helping me."

"It's no trouble lass. Now rest." As Oin walked off to help set up camp Kili had a chance to look at Marie, noticing that she did indeed look exhausted. He took off his cloak and grabbed his blanket from off his pony to make a very cozy looking nest for her inside the mouth of a shallow cave. "Come on Marie," he called to her. "you heard the Doc's orders. Come and rest up."

She was asleep the moment she burrowed into the blankets.

"Oin says she'll be alright brother." Fili patted him on the shoulder soothingly.

"Yes, let's hope that she can get a good night's rest." He countered as he settles down next to her to take watch.