So I got a few reviews saying that they felt the development of Daisy's character was a bit rushed. Looking back I think it was, so in this chapter I'm just going to slow it down a bit and see where it goes

Thank you for all the support!

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Daisy walked silently over to Ori, ignoring the looks from the other dwarves. She felt a little guilty for being rude to Kili, but then again they had just tipped Bilbo's water supply on the ground. Ori didn't say anything once she reached him; he just helped her up onto his pony.

Daisy looked up to see Kili looking at her.

'Why?' He mouthed. Daisy sent him a cold glare.

'Are we ready? Let's go!' Thorin shouted at his company and they began to move.

The ride wasn't quite as smooth as before, owing the fact that Ori hardly had any luggage on his pony to soften any harsh movements. Of which, Daisy discovered, were frequent. On more than one occasion she had to grab Ori's shoulders because she feared she'd fall off.

'I'm sorry' Ori said, and it sounded like he meant it.

'No don't worry,' Daisy gasped, she felt a little sick. Maybe riding with Ori wasn't such a good idea after all.

'You could always jump on Kili's horse' Ori suggested. Daisy immediately decided that she couldn't, not after having made such a fuss.

'I don't think he'd be too pleased if I did. And I don't particularly want to.'

'You must remember they've been together their whole lives; they're bound to cause some mischief. I guess their just a bit too insensitive at times.' Ori told her. 'Anyway, they'll be desperately trying to make it up to you tonight.'

'Mmm' Daisy replied, distracted. It was catching up with her, all this. She hadn't really considered what would happen once she reached Rivendell, if they reached Rivendell. Thorin had made it quite clear he wasn't going out of his way to journey there. Her eyes travelled to a small book sticking out of Ori's bag.

'And then he said-' Ori was saying but Daisy wasn't really paying attention.

'Ori, what's this?' She asked, pulling the small book out to look at it.

'What's what?' He asked, turning round.

'Ori! Don't loose control of the pony!' Daisy hissed out of fear. Ori quickly turned round.

'Sorry. What's what?' He said and Daisy pushed the book through his arms so he could see.

'This.'

'That? That's my journal.' Daisy felt a little awkward.

'Oh'

'Don't worry, you aren't invading my privacy. You can have a look in it if you want.' Ori said casually, watching Bofur attempt to trip Dwalin's pony up. Daisy pulled the book towards her, trailing her fingers over the patterns on the cover.

'It's very well made' Daisy stated. Ori laughed. 'What?'

'You aren't the first person to say that, and I doubt you'll be the last.' Ori explained. Daisy undid the clasp that held the book closed and opened it.

'Oh Ori' she breathed. Inside there were dozens of drawings, mainly of each member of the company, but some of plants and buildings. 'These are amazing.'

'What are amazing?' Daisy turned to see Bilbo trying to steady his horse beside them.

'These drawings. I would show you, but I don't want to fall off' Daisy said, eyeing the moving ground below her.

'No worries, I'll show Bilbo them when we stop later' Ori suggested.

'Oh blast it. I will never get the hang of riding a horse.' Bilbo muttered beside them. Daisy smiled at him and returned to looking at Ori's book.

There were lots of drawings of his brothers, but the one of Fili and Kili really struck her. It was the two of them laughing together, Fili helping Kili up off the ground.

'When did you draw this?' Daisy asked as she pushed the book through Ori's arms again. He paused for a moment, then said:

'When Thorin first asked us to join his quest. There was a group of us staying in the forest overnight: Fili, Kili, Dori, Nori, Bifur and myself. We were planning to meet the rest of the company the following day in various places. Fili and Kili were being their usual selves, wrecking havoc. They were asked to find some logs so we could all sit on them, but them being them bought back two normal logs and a rotten hollow log and placed them down. We all had dinner and went to sit down, but Kili had forgotten which log was the rotten one, sat down and went straight through. Fili couldn't stand up straight he was laughing so much.' Ori said, smiling at the memory.

Daisy wondered how they could be so carefree and happy all the time. Their Uncle was a very unpredictable and sometimes very angry, how could they always laugh? It made her jealous that she could never be like that; it made Daisy wonder that if she'd had a sibling, would she have been so inclined to end it? She pulled the book back to have a look through it some more and found a picture of herself and Bilbo. Bilbo was smiling and Daisy was holding up the dress Bilbo had given her. She traced her fingers over the drawing and found that smudged a few of the lines.

'Oh! I'm sorry Ori, I think I've smudged a bit of this.' Daisy apologised.

'I wouldn't worry, most the drawings smudge. It adds to the effect.' Ori explained, turning round. 'I've only just finished that one. Bilbo told me you were happy once he'd given you that dress, so I imagined what it'd be like.' Daisy beamed at him. Some of these people she'd met really weren't so bad, and she beginning to feel better, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

'Ori! Turn around, please' Daisy pleaded and Ori shot her an amused look.

'I'm not that bad at riding a pony.' He pointed out. Daisy found another drawing of herself, but this time she was in the dress she'd arrived in, and there was a shadow looming over her. She looked….scared stiff. Do I really look that that? She wondered.

'Ori,' She said quietly. 'When did you draw this?' Ori took the book back without turning around.

'When I first saw you. It's when I noticed how….stiff you were. I knew there was a lot you were holding back. Do you want to talk about it?' He asked. Daisy knew she wasn't ready. Although she liked Ori, she felt it could be a while before she could tell him things.

'Not really.' She replied. Ori nodded.

'That's alright. Here, I drew this while we stopped for our break. I used the description you gave Fili and Kili. It's probably far from what your home looks like but I did my best' He handed her back the book on a page that was filled with tall buildings. Only some buildings weren't the usual rectangular shape, some were circular. It sounded silly in Daisy's mind but on the paper it looked more like a city than Daisy thought it would. There was the occasional tree on the ground, and a forest off into the horizon.

'It's almost. But this is more beautiful.' Daisy told him.

'It must have been truly awful there, I thought that that drawing was plain and that I'd offend you. But if you say its better-'

'My home might have been better, but that's just the way I saw it. Bare, plain, like there was nothing worth doing or seeing.' Daisy explained, vaguely aware of Ori looking at her sadly.

'I won't hold it against you if say no, but will you ever tell me how you got those cuts that you hide so very well from the others?' Daisy thought, she knew the answer but wanted a nice way to put it.

'One day Ori, one day.'

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They made camp early evening in a little clearing. Fili and Kili had been sent to gather firewood and Bombur, as usual, was looking for things to cook for their dinner.

Gandalf had spent most of the day talking with Thorin and Bilbo, separately of course. Thorin didn't seem to like Bilbo, and from the way Bilbo acted he didn't like Thorin either. She noticed the Hobbit sitting down on a log attempting to pour water from one skin to the other. Confused, Daisy made her way over to him.

'Hi Bilbo' She said as she sat down. He looked at her and grinned.

'Hey Daisy. Would you mind just holding this please so I can fill it up?' Daisy nodded and took the skin from Bilbo's hand.

'Why are you doing this?' She asked as Bilbo poured the water in.

'Kili apologised for throwing mine out, and said I could fill mine with the water from his.' Daisy's eyes widened at this.

'Did he?' She asked. Maybe Kili could be sensitive at times.

'Yes, though I suspect he figured out why you didn't ride with him and tried to make amends. I don't think you had a very comfortable ride with Ori, did you?' Bilbo asked. Daisy grimaced.

'No, it was a bit bumpy.' Daisy admitted, rubbing her back. 'But Ori was lovely company.'

'Yes, I rather like him.' Bilbo told her as Fili and Kili came back, their arms full of wood. They dumped it at the feet of Gloin, who quickly set about making a fire so Bombur could start cooking. Then they turned in Daisy and Bilbo's direction and walked over.

'Daisy,' Fili said as he sat down.

'Bilbo' Kili said in exactly the same voice as his brother. 'I trust you've got your water?' Bilbo nodded as the young dwarf sat down. The four of them sat awkwardly for a few moments before Ori joined them.

'Bilbo I can show you those drawings now if you like.' Ori said as he sat down.

'What drawings?' Fili asked curiously.

'Ori drew some drawings and I was looking at them, though as we were moving Bilbo couldn't see.' Daisy explained. Kili moved in closer towards Daisy and Bilbo to get a better look.

'Hey look! There's you and me!' Kili said cheerfully. 'I remember that, the log. I can't believe I sat on it' Bilbo looked confused but didn't question it. The five of them spent a while looking at Ori's drawings, Ori tactfully skipping the ones of Daisy. The brothers were laughing at fond memories, and even Bilbo shared a grin when one of the drawings revealed his beloved home.

Daisy put her chin to her knees and let a wave of longing wash over her. She longed to have memories of happiness, which she could laugh about at later dates. She longed to have friends who cared and who she could joke with.

Bofur came round and handed out some stew, which everyone ate heartily, except Daisy. She knew eating would be a problem, but fortunately everyone was too engrossed by their food to notice her play with hers. Everyone except Bilbo.

'Daisy,' He said, warningly. 'Come on dear, you've got to eat it.' Daisy sighed.

'It's just so…..hard.' Daisy admitted, plonking the spoon back in her bowl with distaste. Bilbo sighed and edged closer to her.

'Come on, I'm not going to feed you. Please Daisy, if you wont do it for yourself, do it for me. I know it's been hard for you,' He whispered the last bit so no one would hear. Daisy wanted to do it, for Bilbo.

'Alright' She agreed much to Bilbo's joy.

'Good.' Bilbo watched her to make sure she ate. Though she didn't finish, he was satisfied she'd eaten enough and so let Bofur clear away the food. He then came and sat down right in the middle of everyone, causing a few to grumble.

'Right everyone, who's for a song?' He whipped out his flute form his clothes and began to play a merry little tune, to which the others started humming along. Even Bilbo seemed to liven up at the music and started tapping his feet, which encouraged Bofur to get up and dance around, much to everyone's enjoyment. They were just so carefree, and happy. Daisy longed to be like them. She glanced around and noticed Gandalf and Thorin were in deep conversation yet again. Thorin looked up and caught her eye briefly, and she thought he sent a look of reassurance her way, but it was gone in an instant.

Bofur collapsed down beside her, breathing heavily out of exhaustion whilst the others applauded loudly. They went back to chatting away amongst themselves, and Daisy thought she'd talk to Bofur.

'That was really nice playing' Daisy began, shyly. 'And dancing.' Bofur gave her a grin.

'Always liked playing, been doing it since I was small. Here, I'll teach you something if you want.' Bofur suggested. Daisy cast a quick glance at Bilbo who gave her a nod of encouragement.

'Alright' Daisy replied, unsure of what he was going to do.

'Right then.' Bofur said, pulling another flute out of his bag. 'I carry two, this ones barely used. You hold it like this' He positioned her hands on the flute. 'And put your lips to the mouth piece and blow.' Daisy did as he said, and a sound that sounded vaguely like a flute came out.

'I did it!' Daisy cried in surprise. Bofur chuckled.

'You did. Actually, that was quite good for a first attempt. Let me show you the notes for this tune'

And so that how it was for the rest of the evening. Bofur sat with Daisy teaching her some small tunes and by the time they all went to bed she'd been congratulated by every single dwarf on not giving them a headache, including Thorin.

And Daisy smiled inwardly, and thought that she could possibly come to think of these dwarves as friends.

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I tried, I might have failed but I hope you liked it.

I'll update whenever I can