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We camped out along the cliffs later that night, having traveled a great distance because of our quick pace. Hidden in the rocks, Bifur helped Oin stoke a fire, Bombur started to skewer some sausages, and the rest of us began to set up camp.

The ground was nothing comfortable, just hard rock covered with a dusting of dirt. I threw down my bedroll after trying to find a soft spot, which was impossible. Not far from my spot sat Bilbo on a long rock, nervously nursing his pipe. I noticed that Bilbo kept twisting his neck to look at me, taking his pipe away from his lips, and opened his mouth before he would get a cross look on his face and turn back to the fire. By the fifth time he tried to start up a conversation, a loud howl ripped through the air.

The sound made some of the Dwarves and one nervous Hobbit jump. I took comfort in seeing that Thorin, Balin, and Dwalin weren't reacting nervously to the howls. Also because I had heard the cry of that creature many times, it was nothing but a simple timber wolf.

"W-what was that?" Bilbo whispered, as if speaking softly would stop the wolf from finding us. Kili and Fili smiled, both sitting on a side of Bilbo with playful twinkles in their eyes.

"Why, dear Mr. Boggins, those are Orcs." Fili said seriously, but it was clear to me that he and his brother were pulling poor Bilbo's leg.

"O-Orcs?!" Bilbo yelped, dropping his thankfully empty and unlit pipe.

"Orcs. Orcs on Wargs." Kili said, throwing his arm across Bilbo's shoulders. Normally, I would have laughed along with the brother's joke, but when I noticed how badly Bilbo was shaking, I lost all my amusement for some reason.

"Throat cutters, those Orcs." Fili said, throwing his arm over his brother's on Bilbo's shoulders. "Packs of them, about a dozen each. The Low-Lands are crawling with them."

"Fili…" I warned, getting up from my bed roll and taking a few cautious steps towards the three males.

"We'll definitely meet a few on our adventure! Maybe…" Fili continued, smirking playfully at his brother over Bilbo's head.

"M-maybe?" Bilbo questioned, looking back and forth between Fili and Kili with worried bluish-green orbs.

"We might not even see them because the Orcs attack at night. They strike in the wee hours when everyone's asleep. They are quick and quiet. No screams." Kili said, smirking devilishly.

"Just. Lots. Of. Blood." Fili said, accentuating each word with a tight squeeze to Bilbo's shoulder. Just when the poor Hobbit turned paler than a bed sheet, he was saved by a viciously angry Thorin.

"You think that's funny, do you?" Thorin growled, his eyes turning a darker blue in rage. Kili and Fili jumped away from Bilbo in fear, rushing around the campsite to find a place to hide from their uncle's fiery glare. I quickly took Fili's seat on the left side of the shaking Hobbit and instinctively pulled him into a one armed hug.

"You think that night raids by Orcs are a joke?" Thorin shouted, stomping towards his nephews who were trying to hide behind Oin.

"U-uncle…we didn't mean anything by it." Kili said, wringing his hands and looking down at his boots. Bilbo was still shaking, his wild hair brushing against my eye with every twitch.

"There, there now." I whispered, giving the scared Hobbit a squeeze. "Those two just joke. The howl before was just a timber wolf. One, lone, baby wolf." I said, watching Balin talk Thorin down from almost killing his nephews. Bilbo's hands found their way around me, returning the tight hug. Bilbo slowly stopped shaking, but he was starting to stiffen as Balin told the story of Thorin.

I held the painfully still Hobbit as we learned of Thorin's tragedy. It looked like the only Dwarves that didn't know of their king's misery were the three youngest; Fili, Kili, and Ori. Dropping my eyes to the ground to avoid Thorin's hard gaze, I noticed that Bilbo was whispering to himself.

"Ignore them, Bilbo. They're just...just...what are you looking at?" I said, distracted from my line of thought as I noticed that Bilbo was looking intently at my shoulder.

"I know what the flowers mean." Bilbo said, pulling out of my tight hug.

"My flowers?" I asked, tugging at the edge of the cape to reveal my tattoo once more to the Hobbit. "Papi picked them out himself, but whenever I asked what they meant, he told me that they meant me, so I should know."

"It took some time for me to recall...but I know them. Most Hobbit lasses are named after flowers, so the meanings of the flowers are deeply important. Same with gemstones and jewels." Bilbo said, shifting closer. His eyes narrowed in concentration, his hand coming out to trace the thick lines of color as he whispered.

"Pink begonias and deep pink stargazers, meaning deep thought and ambition. White and yellow carnations, those mean remembrance and cheerfulness. Bronze chrysanthemums for excitement. Orange cosmos for peacefulness. Purple geraniums for comfort. Red gladiolus, meaning strength of character. White orange blossoms and white stephanotis meaning fertility and good luck. Finally, the blue hydrangeas meaning perseverance." Bilbo ranted, running his finger over each of the flowers.

"Wow…that's…that's a wonder that those little flowers could say so much." I said, smiling at the intelligent Hobbit who was still running his fingers over my colored skin.

"You know…you're very smart, Bilbo." I said, making the Hobbit pull away with a red blush. He seemed to shudder and quickly jerked away from me.

"Uh..ah..uh..t-thank you! I-I believe we're much too close!" Bilbo said, inching away nervously. I frowned, pushing myself a little further away, the rough rock scratching against my pants. I felt as though I'd done something wrong by the way Bilbo was stuttering and trying to put more space between us.

"Did…I do something wrong?" I muttered, bringing my hand up to scratch at my shoulder.

"Ah..y-yes! Good night!" Bilbo said, fumbling to pick his pipe up off the ground and almost tripping to getting to his feet. I practically threw myself across the rock, grabbing the cuff of the Hobbit's coat.

"Don't you good night me as you good morning'ed Gandalf before!" I said, furrowing my brow. "Now, I don't believe that I've done something to upset you. You simply cannot say 'yes' and then turn."

"I-I am doing no such thing! I am...I'm simply going to bed, like the rest of the company." Bilbo said, motioning towards the Dwarves, of whom only two were in their bed rolls.

"But...you said yes. Now, what have I done wrong? You're acting like I've propositioned you to assassinate someone!" I said, tugging on Bilbo's cuff to try and get him to sit down. He stood firm. Well…as firm as a shaking Hobbit could.

"I-It's just not proper! Ah...It's not proper for a…ah…a woman!" Bilbo said, trying to gingerly shake my hand off his cuff.

"Proper to what? I haven't done anything improper, nothing that I know of at least." I said, refusing to let go of the maroon fabric.

"Improper! Many, m-many impropers!" Bilbo gasped, his blue-green eyes wide with shock. I was starting to get irritated. I hadn't done anything that I recalled my mother telling me was improper. I wasn't naked, I wasn't being rude, and I wasn't burping or sneezing without covering my mouth.

"Pray tell me then, what I am doing that is so improper." I wracked my brain for a hint of what was startling the Hobbit so.

"F-for one, you ah…you are far too close. A-ah a woman is not s-supposed to hold onto a man in such a way!" Bilbo said, nervously tugging at his collar. He was upset at me for giving him a friendly hug? I felt my brow furrowing as the Hobbit nervously continued.

"F-for a w-woman, you are not dressed! T-You wear men's clothes below, a-and the only thing keeping t-the virtue of your tor-torso is that half corset and that half c-cloak of yours!" Bilbo said, staring at my clothes. I suddenly felt self-conscious, something that I couldn't remember feeling before.

"You are s-sly! You t-tricked Thorin Oakenshield, knowing ah-a woman would never b-be allowed into t-the company! You a-are sneaky! I would n-not turn my head in sh-shock if I was told that y-you are a true burglar!" Bilbo said, loud enough for the entire company to hear.

Something in my chest pulled at his words. I had no clue where all of these accusations were coming from! Just this morning Bilbo seemed to favor my presence over the Dwarves! How could he have changed his opinion of me so quickly? It was not my plan to trick Thorin into giving me a contract, it was Gandalf's! I had not even thought of my gender being a problem with the company.

I thought that the Hobbit was done publically shaming me, but he was not.

"A-and further more! Y-you act so...manly! I-I have known you a lack of two days, and n-not once have I s-seen a speck of femininity! Your skin is not f-fair ,like a Hobbit lass! You are c-covered in tattoos, like Dwalin! A-a male Dwarf! Y-you liken a male Dwarf! You w-walk, speak, act, and p-possibly even t-think like a man!" Bilbo said, his shoulders becoming stiff.

I felt my furrowed brow drop into a deep glare. I jerked my hand away from Bilbo's cuff as if it were poison. I bared my teeth, grimacing at the sight of what I believed was once a gentle and decent Hobbit. I could feel the eyes of the Dwarves and Gandalf upon us, but that only made the embarrassment that I felt burn brighter.

"How dare you. I would rather liken myself to any of these male Dwarves than liken myself as a miserable excuse for a male Hobbit, such as you." I hissed lowly, standing from my seat and using my little height-inch advantage against the quaking Hobbit. I shook the hurt feelings away and replaced them with rage.

I haven't done anything wrong!

I should not be the one feeling ashamed, it should be Baggins!

"You speak of me as if you know me. You judge me as if you are a king. What is this? What are you? Why do you say such harsh things?" I said, my chest puffing out angrily, knocking Baggins back a few steps.

"Ah..a-a-..ah.. I…Good night!" Bilbo yelped, trying to turn tail and run. I snapped, grabbing the back of his jacket and yanking him back to face me.

"No! You shall hear me! You have done your shaming; now you will hear me." I hissed, my anger causing me to rise up a little on my toes to stretch my height further.

"Sh-sha..shaming?!"

"I am not embarrassed of being who I am! I am proud of who I am, what I do, what I think, and what I believe! I am not sorry that I am not your image of a woman. I don't believe I asked you to give me your ideas, but I've seen men like you!" I said, jabbing the Hobbit in the chest.

"Oh, and I know the type! You wish for a woman to be seen, not heard. To think nothing of birthing pups, cooking, and picking flowers! I might pick flowers, but I will not be treated as a lesser being! I see now that Hobbits treat their women as possessions, but my people do not!" I said, raising my hand to the metal clasp of my cloak. I saw Bilbo's face turn even redder as my cape fluttered to the ground.

"My people see the genders as equals! The form, both male and female, is a beautiful thing! If you wish not to see it, do not look upon it! I wear the clothes that my people wear, just as you do! My thoughts, feelings, expressions, actions, and personality are my own!" I started off softly, but soon I began to scream.

"I wish not for your judgment! I wished us to be friends! That's why I embraced you! To comfort you when you were frightened of a story, like a coward! Now, I wish you to not even walk upon the ground that I spit on, for that path is too good for you!" I yelled, pushing Bilbo back a few more steps.

"And with that, I say to you, Baggins: Kiss. My. Fae. Ass." I shouted, picking up my cloak and spinning on my heel. I caught sight of Baggins' gaping maw as he stared at me with horrified eyes. Feeling angered and upset, I stormed over to Gandalf.

"I'll be setting up my bed roll a little ways away from them. May I bunk near you?" I said to the wizard softly, ignoring the varying looks from the Dwarves. Pity, shock, curiosity, and other gazes burned into my back, none of them I wished to see.

"Of course, Miss Key. Get some rest." Gandalf said, patting the rocky space beside him. The Wizard had set himself away from the Dwarves so that he could watch over the lot of them. I laid down my bedroll with a sigh before crawling into its soft warmth.

"You do realize that you just told the company of what you are, correct?"

I felt my brain tick for a moment before I let out a groan. The one damn thing I was supposed to keep my mouth shut about and I couldn't even do it! Now aggravated at Bilbo and myself, I covered my head with my bedroll covers.

The Dwarves and Bilbo stood in shock as the blonde woman quickly marched off towards their Wizard. Bilbo's face was a burning ruby red, and the Hobbit's pride was certainly dealt a mighty blow.

"A Fae." Balin mused, nursing his mug of tea that Dori had brewed. "Haven't seen one of those in many a year. Not surprised though. The bonnie looks just like one, now that I think of it."

"What do Fae's usually look like?" Kili asked, scooting closer to the elder Dwarf. Fili rolled his eyes at his brother, smacking his shoulder.

"Kyrie looks like a Fae, he said! So the Fae must look like her!" Fili said, earning a snort from some of the older Dwarves.

"Fae have been hunted to the verge of near extinction. Most Fae are truly half-Fae, but to them, half a Fae is as much one of them as a full blood. The Fae are usually fair haired, blonde or brown. They are usually about five feet tall, with upturned noses, long fingers, large lips, mismatched eyes, and very thick eye brows." Balin said, pouring himself more tea.

"And the tattoos?" Ori asked, trying to peer at the Fae through the darkness. When Kyrie had pulled off her cloak, the whole company had gotten a look at the flowers that danced across her sternum to her left shoulder.

"I do not know. Any creature of any race can be tattooed." Dwalin said, rubbing his own dark blue tattoos. "I have seen Fae with bells before, that should have been a sign."

"Aye." Oin said, nodding his head. "Her eyes too. They are the eyes of a Fae."

"Key won't leave us, will she?" Bofur asked, worriedly looking towards the woman before turning his saddened gaze to Bilbo.

"Why say such things to her? Key isn't the prime example of what a Dwarve's woman should be, but to me, I value her as a person." Bofur said, making the Hobbit's ears droop a little in shame.

"I…I didn't mean to sound so…" Bilbo said, worriedly looking in Kyrie's direction.

"Well, now we all know she can certainly speak up for herself." Balin chuckled, inching a little closer to the camp fire. Irritated with himself, Bilbo dropped back to sit on a rock with a great sigh. He truly didn't mean to say those horrible things, but at the same time, he did.

Bilbo truly didn't feel comfortable with the way Kyrie acted, but why did the Dwarves seem fine with it? None of the company had said anything or even shown signs of being uncomfortable. Was he the only one?

Was he in the wrong?

Kyrie

The next morning was awkward, to say the least. The company ate their breakfast of seed cakes and small hunks of sausage, packed up camp, and set out onto the trail. I refused to look at Baggins, who was trying to stay out of my line of sight as well.

I saddled up and set off beside Ori, who was somehow writing in a journal as we rode on pony-back. The trail was soon filled with the soft roar of chatter, which helped keep my mind calm.

"How are you, Miss Key?" Balin said, riding his pony next to mine.

"I'm doing just fine, Master Balin. How are you?" I asked, unconsciously tugging my cloak further around my shoulders. Balin seemed to notice and shook his head.

"Don't let what Master Baggins said get to you, lass. He's an old soul away from home in a strange new place with strange new people." Balin said, somehow soothing my wary heart a little.

"I fear I'm acting too harshly. Where I come from, such things are said in jest, never to hurt each other." I shook my head.

"You come from a place where you're loved, don't you?" Balin said, patting his pony's mane.

"Yeah...yes I do." I found myself smiling at the old Dwarf.

"Good. Hold onto that love, and let others see it. I feel like this quest is going to need some love." Balin said, bowing his head before directing his pony to trot alongside Thorin, who was leading the company. Just when I thought that I was to be left in silence, Bofur came riding alongside me.

"Hello, Bofur!" I chirped, smiling at the dark haired Dwarf.

"Hello, Key. How're you feeling?" Bofur asked with a glint of pity in his dark orbs.

"I'm doing just fine, Bofur. Don't you worry!" I smiled, trying to wipe away the spark of pity and sadness in the Dwarf's eyes. Bofur still seemed upset, a small frown on his face.

"You won't leave the company, right?" Bofur asked, tilting his head. "Because of the bicker between you and Master Baggins."

"I won't be leaving anytime soon. Even if I do, all you have to do is call for me and I'll come back." I smiled, patting Bofur on the back. Bofur seemed happy enough to smile and pat my hand.

"Now, Mister Bofur, what's your favorite food?" I asked, seeing a new, brighter spark in the Dwarf's eye as he started ranting about pecan pies, soda breads, racks of beef, and enough day dreams of food to make me hungry for days.

"Master Baggins?"

Bilbo looked up to see Ori sitting next to him on the smooth rock. The company had rested down for the night, the sun just about to dip below the horizon. The literature-loving Dwarf seemed sad, his dark eyes watching Bilbo.

"What can I do for you, Mister Ori?" Bilbo answered as politely as he could.

"Could you apologize to Miss Key?" Ori asked, shocking the Hobbit.

"Apologize?" Bilbo yelped, sitting up straighter.

"Key says that she's fine, but you attacked her for who she is. I believe that if you apologize now, it will save you both some unwanted moments in the future." Ori said, scratching his chin. Bilbo sighed, raking a hand through his hair.

"Mister Ori, how do Dwarf women act?" Bilbo asked, covering his eyes with one hand in exasperation.

"Much like the men, I suppose. Dwarf women even have beards! They act like men, but by the way you're looking at me, I assume it's not the same with Hobbit women." Ori said, crossing his legs.

"Oh, of course not! Hobbit women are much different. Very light and happy all the time. There are the rare mischievous few, like my mother, but deep down they know that a home and a family rely on a strong woman." Bilbo said, nodding his head.

To Bilbo, his mother was the perfect woman. His father had told him that in her youth, Belladonna Took was a lively, vivacious, wild spirit. When she and his father first met, they fell in love at first sight, and were married by the next spring. Belladonna calmed down by the time Bilbo was born, and she became the strong head of the house.

"Well…Fae women are not like Hobbit or Dwarf women, and we just have to grow used to Kyrie. Remember, she is a Fae, and she was raised by the Ents, so she has lived a different life than a Dwarf or a Hobbit, so we cannot expect her to act like one." Ori said wisely, pushing himself off the rock.

"You're right, Mister Ori." Bilbo said with a groan, standing up. Ori patted the Hobbit on the back, and left him to find the half-Fae on his own.

Finding her was not difficult. The company set up camp in a meadow where they were hidden in the tall grass. The fire was small and controlled; a precaution for the grass that the company slept in. Kyrie was sitting by the fire, digging her bare toes into the soft grass.

"Good evening, Miss Key." Bilbo said softly, dropping his bottom onto the soft grass next to the blonde. Kyrie looked at Bilbo from the side of her eyes before she shrugged, grabbing ahold of a stray stick to poke at the fire.

"Good evening, Baggins." Key said softly, nervously shuffling her cloak further around her shoulders.

"I...I wanted to apologize for last night." Bilbo said, bringing a hand up to nervously yank at his hair. "I should never have said all those horrible things to you."

Bilbo was quiet, waiting Kyrie's reaction. Kyrie sighed, turning her head to glance at the Hobbit. Bilbo began to twiddle his toes nervously, biting his bottom lip as the Human-Fae watched him for a moment. The blonde sighed, pulling at the string that held her braid together and started to un-knot her hair with her fingers.

"I don't want you to want to say you're sorry. I want you to be sorry. There's a big difference. There's a difference between wanting to like someone, and actually liking someone, you see." She whispered, raking her fingers through her hair.

"I am really, truly sorry." Bilbo said sincerely, his ears drooping.

"Thank you, Mister Baggins." Key said softly, smiling at him. Bilbo's eyes widened as he took in the woman in the fire light. With her hair down and around her waist, her hazel and teal eyes turned molten in the light. The tanned skin was painted shades of orange and pink by the firelight, making her glow. Part of him wished that he could see the tattoos across her shoulders, but Kyrie was shrouded in her half-cloak.

"What, you can't call me Bilbo?" Bilbo teased, relaxing as Key smiled, even though it was only a small one.

"Sorry, Mister Baggins." Key said softly before she stood. Bilbo frowned as she dusted off her backside and took off to sit beside the grey Wizard. He had apologized, and Kyrie accepted his apology for the most part. They only knew each other three days now, and it would be fair to say that their trust in each other was shaky.

Only time could tell if their friendship would grow at a normal pace.

Kyrie

"Thorin, something evil was in this place." Gandalf said as he, Thorin, and I spied a burned down home. "There was once a family here...a farmer, his wife, and child."

"What was here that was so evil?" I asked, watching the Dwarf King glower at the Wizard.

"And where would you suppose we go?" Thorin asked rhetorically, a sneer across his face. Gandalf snorted, slamming the butt of his staff into the torn up ground. I looked to the ground, which was burnt and in some places there were deep trenches.

"Imladris, of course." Gandalf said innocently, peering off into the distance. Thorin tensed, making me hunch into my shoulders in fear of the look on his face. I tiptoed behind Gandalf a little more, fearful of the royal Dwarf.

"Never. My company and I shall never take shelter in the protection of the Elves." Thorin hissed, looking more intimidating than I'd ever see him before.

"If you cannot overlook the past, it will be the downfall of the future of this company!" Gandalf growled, the air around us seemingly turning a dirty looking grey. I coughed, covering my mouth with my hand as the air was fouled by Gandalf's anger.

"Gandalf, where are you going?" I coughed, scampering after the Wizard who was rushing away.

"I'm going to seek the company of the only one around here who makes any sense!" He shouted, his staff making great holes in the ground with each step.

"W-who?" I yelped, catching up to the Wizard's gait.

"Myself!" Gandalf thundered, storming off into the forest while grabbing the reins of his horse. I shot Bofur a worried glance before rushing off after the irritated Wizard, who was grumbling to himself.

"That Dwarf is his own worst enemy!" Gandalf spat, his bushy brows furrowing in anger. I stayed silent, hurriedly trotting alongside the Wizard, trying to keep up with his long strides. His horse seemed to notice his master's irritation, and followed without complaint.

"He will be the doom of this company if he holds onto his pointless hatred!" Gandalf spat, shaking his head. What I don't understand is why Gandalf isn't riding his horse, just walking alongside the steed.

Seems rather pointless.

"Hatred?" I asked, looking up at the old Wizard.

"Elves. That fool of a Durin hates the Elves." Gandalf said, taking a deep breath through his nose. I felt a knot in my neck appear from trying to look up to the Wizard, the cramp growing along with my own simmering hatred of the Elves.

"Elves are not to be trusted." I muttered to myself, shoving the toes of my boots angrily into the dirt. Gandalf stopped walking and took a deep, troubled breath.

"Kyrie...don't tell me you too-" Gandalf said tiredly, rubbing at his wrinkled brow.

"Hear me out here!" I cried, raking my fingers through my loose hair. "Everyone on my mother's side has been hunted down for their bodies. Their deaths no less than a deer or a rabbits! All because of the Elves! Thorin holds a grudge because of those Mirkwood Elves for something that happened in the past!"

"The killing of your people, that was in the past as well." Gandalf said softly.

"Those weren't killings. Those were massacres. They're still massacres. The moment I step foot into Elf territory and they notice that I'm half Fae, I'll be chopped up, diced, powdered, and poured into different bottles in some alchemist's lab." I said desperately, feeling my breathing start to deepen in terror.

"Kyrie...there is so much malice in the world already. Must you and Thorin add to it?" Gandalf seemed tired, his shoulders drooping. "You should not feel unsafe in the company of the Elves, especially within the company. Master Oakenshield and Master Baggins would never allow-"

"No. Don't you even finish that thought. There are some things that can be forgiven and forgotten, but for me, the slaying of one of my races is not one of them. Think about it, Gandalf." I said, suddenly not wanting to be in the Wizard's company.

"Master Baggins apologized for what he said to you. Why does it still bother you so?" Gandalf said out of the blue, staring off into the darkening sky. Had it really been that long since the Wizard and I had left the camp? How long had we been out here?

"Because Master Baggins said what he thought." I huffed. Baggins' words would have hurt less if he had said them out of anger. But he meant them. He truly meant and thought all those horrible things about me.

"Don't you get upset when others dislike you for speaking what you think?" Gandalf kept trying to reason with me, which was just making the both of us agitated.

"I've never said something purposely to wound somebody." I hissed mostly to myself, but loud enough for the Wizard to hear.

"..KYRIE!"

It was a soft shout, sounding like a little flutter in the wind. It was so soft that it made me question if it was real or if it was a trick of the mind.

"Gandalf...did you hear that?" I asked, my ear twitching.

"Hear what, my dear?" Gandalf asked, closing his eyes to try and focus on his hearing.

"KEY!"

It came a little louder this time, and a small accent that came with the whisper. It sounded like Bofur and he didn't sound happy! He sounded frightened, which made my stomach practically jump into my throat.

"Someone's calling me. I think it's Bofur." I whispered, turning my head in the direction of where I believed Bofur was. I felt a tug on my toes, like something was leading me.

"Ah...yes, the Fae Summons." Gandalf said, his blue eyes narrowing in thought.

"The what?" I asked, trying to focus on Gandalf's voice over the incessant tingling in my toes.

"When a Fae tells someone they will come with only a call of their name, the Fae must uphold their promise to whoever is calling them. You promised Master Bofur that even if you left the company, you would come if he called, yes?" Gandalf smiled, a twinkle alight in his eyes.

"I meant that as an expression, I didn't know that Summons were real! Thank the Gods that Bofur was the only one I promised that to." I said, my toes starting to burn. North, I must go North.

"I must go, Gandalf." I whispered, crouching down low and ready to run as fast as my feet could take me.

"Fly, Fae, fly!" Gandalf commanded as I dashed off, my bells jingling with each step.

Bilbo

"They've been gone a long time" I whispered, peering through the trees towards the path that Gandalf and Kyrie went down. It had been hours, the sun had gone down long ago and there was still no hide nor hair of the Wizard or Half-Fae.

"Who, Master Baggins?" Bombur asked me, licking his lips as he greedily eyed the pot of stew

"Gandalf and Kyrie!" I said, exasperated.

"He's a Wizard. He does as he chooses." Bofur said, watching Bombur stir the stew and scoop it into bowls.

"And Kyrie?" I asked, glancing back towards the dark path.

"She's a Fae. She does as she chooses." Bofur snickered, making me roll my eyes. Insufferable Dwarves, the lot of them! None of them seem concerned that the two had not shown up.

I felt horrible and it was possible that my worry for their slow return was fueled by my own selfish guilt. I wished to apologize again to Kyrie, try to make things right. Try to make her see that I'm not used to a girl like her, but now I know that she isn't being inappropriate (in her eyes, anyways). I wanted her to know that I find her personality pleasant.

Much more pleasant than these confounded Dwarves.

"Here, do us a favor and take these to the lads." Bofur said, breaking me out of my thoughts. I had two bowls stuffed into my hands, which were almost too hot to hold. Biting my tongue, I turned tail and headed towards the meadow where Fili and Kili were watching the ponies.