Well people, the world has decided to grace my teachers with the flu and other nasty illnesses and so I've got free periods and no work! YAY!

I'll try and write a lot of the chapters and then just post them in the evenings

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Daisy drew her gaze away from the balcony and spotted a stone seat not far from where she was standing. She decided to make her way over to it, she needed to think.

So Lord Elrond thought she was there to stop the dwarves from making rash decisions, decisions that could lead them to fail this quest. But, wasn't that why they had Gandalf? To guide them? She shook her head as she sat down.

Now that she was here in Rivendell, she wasn't so sure she wanted to leave. It was so peaceful, and she had felt more comfortable here. If the dwarves hadn't accepted her then she would have gone with Talla to the healing houses and not looked back. She'd have stayed, providing it was alright with Elrond.

The fact that she was unable to wield any type of weapon to defend herself also made her doubt Elrond. How could she offer any help if she was injured? Or dead? Elrond had quite simply put that she could die on this quest.

And what if the dwarves didn't want her there? What if they thought it pointless to let a girl with a troubled past and next-to-no skill accompany them on a quest that was worth everything? What if-

'Hello,' A silvery voice said. Daisy looked up to see boy that look about her age standing near her, resting against one of the many statues. As Daisy looked closer she realised that he had pointed ears.

'H-hi' Daisy stammered.

'I did not mean to frighten you.' He walked over to her. 'My name is Ednam.'

'I'm Daisy.' Daisy realised he was staring at her. 'C-can I help you?' Ednam shook his head.

'Sorry. It's a long time since anyone who is vaguely my age has appeared.' Daisy stared at him.

'Aren't there any other elves?' She asked.

'Oh of course, but most of my friends remained in Lothlorien. I came here.' Ednam explained.

'Lothlorien?' Daisy looked at him, confused.

'A woodland realm. Elven of course. How old are you Daisy?' Daisy didn't quite know what to make of the elven boy sitting next to her.

'I'm sixteen,' She muttered in reply. 'You?'

'Human or elf years? On second thoughts I'll just do my human equivalent. It might alarm you if I told you the other.' He grinned at her and reached over her head and grabbed an apple. 'I'm seventeen.' He took a bite. 'Do you want one?' Daisy shook her head.

'No thank you. I just had dinner.'

'Don't you mean you went to dinner, but you didn't eat anything did you?' Ednam looked at her, an eyebrow arched. He reminded her a bit of Bilbo.

'H-how do you know what I did and didn't do at dinner?' Daisy asked, perplexed.

'I can see people's pasts.' Ednam said solemnly. 'It is sometimes a gift, sometimes a curse.' Daisy shifted uncomfortably. 'Don't worry, Lord Elrond told me not to delve deep into your past as I might discover things that would…upset the both of us.' He trailed off, eating his apple.

Daisy watched him carefully. She supposed he was quite handsome really. His short curly brown hair was almost identical in colour to hers and his blue eyes complemented it. He seemed nice, and if he lived under Elrond's rule then Daisy strangely felt obliged to trust him.

'Do you want a tour of the place?' Ednam said suddenly, interrupting her thoughts.

'Oh, that'd be lovely but I probably should be getting back-'

'Ah yes, to the dwarven company. They are very fond of you, you know. What's it like, travelling with them? How long are you staying?' Ednam asked, eagerly.

'I don't really know' Daisy said, overwhelmed by his sudden bombardment of questions. 'It was thought they'd leave me at Rivendell, but apparently not, though I don't know if I want to leave. But if I go they have to wait at least a week-'

'Daisy!' Daisy and Ednam looked around to see Fili striding towards them. 'Thorin requires your presence immediately.' Daisy's eyes widened.

'Thorin? Why?' Daisy asked as Fili pulled her up.

'I don't know actually. Who's this?' Fili asked upon seeing Ednam.

'I'm Ednam.' He stood up, holding out his hand. Fili's eyes narrowed. 'You're not going to hold something that King Thranduil did against me are you?' Daisy looked between them.

'Am I missing something?' She asked just as Bilbo had done.

'Dwarves and Elves share a mutual hatred for one another.' Fili replied, not looking at her. 'Lets go, Thorin is waiting.' And with he took hold of her arm and led her away.

'Bye!' Daisy called over her shoulder and Ednam waved his goodbye. 'Fili, what was that about?' Fili looked at her.

'I'll explain later. Perhaps you shouldn't talk to anyone'

'What? Why? Everyone so far has been kind. It's you who don't like them, not me' Daisy said stubbornly, thinking Fili was overreacting. Fili didn't reply, instead he carried on leading her through the halls. 'Fili where are we going?'

'We're almost there.' He said, looking ahead. Daisy lapsed into silence. Up ahead she could see a door and guessed that herself and Fili were heading there. 'I think Uncle wants to talk to you about continuing on with us. Please consider it.' He said as they approached the door. Fili knocked on it and then made to turn back.

'Where are you going?' Daisy asked, alarmed.

'Thorin said he wanted to speak to you alone.' He cracked a smile. 'It won't be alone if I'm there will it? We'll see you later.' Daisy smiled at him before she opened the door and entered a large study like room with two levels.

Thorin was standing with his back to her, facing a statue. Lord Elrond was standing next to Gandalf, talking quietly. All three of them turned to face Daisy once she entered.

'Daisy.' Gandalf smiled. 'I trust you have had time to reflect on the evenings events.' Daisy nodded. Gandalf walked past her, Elrond in tow. 'We shall leave Thorin to discuss an important matter with you' With that they left.

'I'm sure you are aware Daisy,' Thorin began slowly, watching the door close. 'That I agreed to take you to Rivendell and then continue on my way. I honestly thought you would be a waste of space and that the sooner we got rid of you the better.' Seeing the look of hurt that flashed across Daisy face he hastily continued. 'I will not be ashamed to admit I was wrong. You have proved that you are brave, loyal, a quick thinker and a great friend. I do not judge where you came from, as I am told you will tell me one day, I only ask you to consider where you are going to. Would you join myself and my men on our quest reclaim the Lonely Mountain?'

Daisy stood silently and stared across at Thorin. She desperately wanted to say yes, but then she wanted to say no.

'Daisy?' Thorin asked quietly.

'I-I, I want to say yes….but I – oh! I don't know' Daisy sighed, and sat down on the nearest chair with her head in her hands. Thorin walked over to her.

'What troubles you?' He murmured.

'I, I don't see why you want me. I can't handle a sword, I have no skill at anything and I don't think the others want me-'

'That is nonsense.' Thorin said sharply, taking her hands in his. 'We can teach you how to use a sword, you do have skills. And I think the others would be quite distraught to hear you say that. Please Daisy, I am asking you to join this quest.'

Daisy looked at him and when she was positive there was no trace of doubt in his eyes she said:

'But you want to get away quickly, I'll only slow you down-'

'Then we are slowed down .Member's safety is always a priority.' Thorin explained. 'Please, if you wish to think on it do so.'

'I-I think I will. I'll sleep on it. Just everything that has happened today with the trolls and the orcs and…I'm scared Thorin.' She whispered the last part and felt Thorin tense slightly beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder.

'There is no need to be scared Daisy.' He assured her. 'For I know that every member of that company would fight and die for you. And I would too.'

Thorin got up and made his way to the door.

'Please, I'm beg-' He corrected himself. 'Asking you to come' Daisy watched him leave before sighing heavily. At least Thorin wanted her to come. If she was honest she did too, but she knew the reality of what was going to happen. They weren't all going to make it through the quest, she knew that. And she was scared it would be someone she cared for.

Daisy made for the door and decided to go in search of somewhere to sleep. Of course she had absolutely no idea where the others were, or how to get back to the balcony or gardens so she just walked and hoped for the best.

Her saviour came in the form of the young elf she'd met earlier.

'Hello again,' Ednam chimed as he swung down from the archway like a gymnast.

'Oh hi!' Daisy smiled. 'Hey Ednam, do you think you could show me the way to the balcony? I don't know where anything is..' She said, shuffling her feet. Ednam laughed.

'Of course. I take it the balcony you ate on?' He asked beginning to walk.

'Yes. Why, how many other balconies are there?' Daisy exclaimed, follwing.

'Too many.' Ednam admitted. 'So what did the dwarf king want?'

'He wants me to go with them.' Daisy sighed.

'But you don't want to?' Ednam asked, curiously.

'It's not that. I want to go with them, I'd miss them all so terribly.

'Then what?' Daisy remained silent.

'I, don't know.' She finally concluded. Ednam looked at her.

'Thank you master elf but I think we can take it from here.' Daisy looked to see Fili and Kili standing in the doorway, blocking their path.

'Alright then' Ednam smiled. 'See you around Daisy,' he patted her on the shoulder and jumped over the edge of the wall. Fili and Kili started grumbling.

'What's the matter?' Daisy asked, impatiently. 'Is it this hate for elves again?'

'Maybe' Kili said darkly, and no more was said on the matter.

Fili and Kili lead her to the balcony where the rest of the dwarves and Bilbo were.

'Daisy! There you are, I was getting a bit worried you, you know-' Bilbo blurted out as soon as he saw her.

'Bilbo, I'm fine.' Daisy reassured him. 'I'm just tired.'

'Fear not Daisy, Lord Elrond has arranged a fine room for you' Gandalf said as he entered. 'If you so wish I could take you there now.' Daisy looked at Bilbo.

'It'll be fine, I'll see you in the morning.' He encouraged.

'What-what if I can't sleep?' Daisy whispered to him, and hoped he'd understand.

'Then go out into the garden below. I'll look out and if you're there I will come and help you.' Daisy thanked him and followed Gandalf down even more hallways until he came to a doorway which led to a bedroom.

'Hopefully this will be alright. I trust you will think about Thorin's offer?' Gandalf asked her.

'Yes, of course I will.'

'Good. Lord Elrond would like to see you tomorrow as well. Sleep well child.' Gandalf left the room swiftly.

Daisy saw that nightclothes and a new dress for tomorrow had been laid out. She changed quickly, deep in thought. She thought about what Thorin had said, was he being serious when he said he would die for her? And why had he begun to say begging?

Perhaps there was more to the dwarf king than he let on.

If that was true, then she might just accept his offer.

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Next chapter hopefully tomorrow

Let me know what you think :)