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Kyrie

The company broke out into hushed whispers, scurrying for their bags. I raced to my room, stripping out of the dress. I hurriedly dressed into my washed trousers and corset, stripping the crystals off my body like they were fire-hot. I wrapped the gems inside the gown and folded the dress as small as I could. I stuffed the dress and crystals into my cloak pocket. I'd ask Bilbo if he had some kind of sewing kit to sew the pocket shut later.

I grabbed my satchel and headed out to the front gates of Rivendell. The sun was going to rise any moment. Within the allotted ten minutes, the entire company was stationed outside the gates and ready to move. With a single nod from Thorin, the company began to march along the path leaving away from Rivendell.

"W-who is the White Counsel?" Bilbo asked.

"Gandalf, Elrond, another Wizard, and an Elleth." I answered, focused on the rocky trek ahead of us. I hope that we're moving fast enough. It doesn't feel like it. There was no conversation as the company focused on our march.

After what felt like an hour, Thorin gave up his position at the head of the line. ""Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Balin, you know these paths, lead on."

Bilbo turned around at Thorin's words and gazed longingly at Rivendell. He wanted to go back to the lavish culture and their overstuffed libraries.

"Master Baggins, I suggest that you keep up." Thorin called, having caught Bilbo's wandering eye. Bilbo frowned turning to me with a sad pout. Poor man wasn't set out for the harshness of nature.

By the time the sun was slipping below the horizon, I was starting to wish that we hadn't left Rivendell either. Our company had trekked through valleys, ranges, mountains, and plains. I was growing weary and my eyelids felt like they were made of lead. A few times, I caught myself leaning against Bifur because I was so exhausted. My cheek pressed against his shoulder and I closed my eyes, using the older Dwarf as a guide. Bifur seemed to realize just how tired I was and allowed me to use him as a walking pillow. But then Thorin called him to the front of the line, and I was left to shuffle along myself.

"We're now crossin' the Misty Mountains!" Balin shouted to the company, all of whom either groaned, moaned, or cheered sarcastically. I slowed my steps, pacing myself for the rougher terrain. Just as it was getting rougher to walk, the sky began to darken.

"I hope it doesn't pour." I muttered, just as a clap of thunder boomed. Bilbo and Bofur gave me an annoyed glance; as if I had summoned the damned rain! I could feel the stone getting slippery under my feet, which made me nervous.

"Hold on!" Thorin called over the howl of the elements.

I yelped, seeing Bilbo stumble towards the edge out of the corner of my eye. Dwalin snapped his hand out to grip Bilbo's collar and pulled the poor Hobbit back onto the stone trail. Bilbo smiled bashfully and thanked the Dwarven warrior. How had the weather gotten so hellish so quickly?

"We must find shelter!" Thorin shouted, narrowing his eyes to try and find a cave or even a slight cleave in the mountain.

Hell, I'd take a small crevice at this point.

"Watch out!" Dwalin shouted. Bofur and I grabbed onto each other just in time to see a massive rock hurtle over our heads. The rock hit the mountainside above us, causing hunks of the mountain to come raining down on us.

"Augh!" I yelped, wincing as a sliver of rock sliced against my forehead, splitting the skin. I felt blood dribble down my face and into my eye.

"This is no thunderstorm; it's a thunder battle! Look!" Balin announced, looking at the mountain range in awe as a Stone Giant rose from a nearby mountain. The Giant pulled a hunk of stone off the mountain to use as a weapon.

"Well bless me, the legends are true. Giants! Stone Giants!" Bofur gasped, holding tightly to me. We hugged the mountain, gaping at the emotionless Giant.

"Take cover you fool!" Thorin said, jerking Kili away from the edge. The princeling hit the stone with a resounding crack, the dark haired Dwarf shooting his uncle a dirty look.

"What's happening?" Kili asked, rubbing the back of his head.

"The Giants are fighting!" I shouted, catching eye contact with Bifur. The axe-headed Dwarf's eyes were wide, urging me with a few swift hand motions to get as far away from the edge as I could.

Everything was such a blur. Rain beat against my face, messing with my sight. My ears echoed with the shouts of the company, but I couldn't tell if anyone had fallen off the edge or not. I prayed not. The rock beneath our feet began to vibrate, and suddenly, gravity was no longer a principle. We were soaring, still clinging to the side of what we thought was a mountain; but was really a stone giant.

"We're split apart!" Thorin cried from ahead of me. I squinted into the distance and saw that half of the company was on the opposite ledge. We had gotten separated!

"Hold on!" Thorin roared over the storm and battle. The rock beneath our feet began to vibrate again from the falling boulders. Another stone giant appeared, throwing another boulder at the first giant. The giant fell, right into the path of the group that had gotten split apart.

"No! No! Kili!" Thorin cried. Terrified, wet, and shaking, we rushed to find a way over to the others. Or where the others once were. Were they dead? I couldn't see over people's shoulders and heads, but the resounding cheers seemed positive.

They're alive!

"Where's Bilbo?" Bofur asked, wildly looking around. "Where's the Hobbit?"

Bilbo was gone? Where? Had he fallen? I felt instantaneous guilt. Gandalf had told me not to leave his side. Is this instance what he meant when he said Bilbo needed me? Something twisted inside my chest, causing pain to jolt through my entire torso. What the hell was that?

"There!"

"Get him!"

Looking over the edge, I spied Bilbo hanging onto the cliff with his fingertips. The pain intensified, causing a nauseated feeling that made my hands shake. Ori dove for him, but Bilbo slipped and fell another few feet.

"Bilbo!" I gasped, diving down beside Ori and offering my hand, but I couldn't reach him. I was about to suggest Ori hold my ankles and lowering me down, when Thorin swung down onto the cliff. With the strength that I never knew he had, Thorin boosted Bilbo up into safety before hauling himself up. At the last moment, Thorin fumbled, but Dwalin and I managed to grab his arms before he fell.

"I thought we'd lost our burglar." Dwalin said good naturedly, slapping Thorin's back. Thorin scowled in Bilbo's direction, making him flush a shade of deep purple. My back became ram-rod straight at the angered expression on Thorin's face.

"He's been lost ever since he left home. He should never have come. He has no place amongst us." Thorin hissed, his face pinched in dislike. "Dwalin! Let's find shelter for the night."

I stood, unsure of how to respond. Did I follow Thorin, and stay in his good graces? Do I go to Bilbo and comfort him, but be in Thorin's bad graces? Do I take the neutral root that most of the company seemed to be taking?

Nervously, I edged my way towards Bilbo.

"Are…are you alright?" I asked softly, unsure of what response I would get. Bilbo huffed, but nodded his head. His eyes looked tired and his face looked gaunt. Gone was the happy, if not paranoid, Hobbit I had met in his home.

"Everyone's nerves are shot. Tomorrow will be better." I tried to say honestly. Bilbo shrugged, clearly discouraged. I had no clue how to make things better. I figured I should say nothing. We walked side by side behind the Dwarves, a few of who kept glancing back at us nervously. Dwalin and Thorin eventually found a cave to camp in for the night. It was no inn, but it was better than no cover at all.

"Looks safe enough." Dwalin shrugged, tossing his pack onto the sandy floor.

"Search to the back; caves in mountains are seldom unoccupied." Thorin said, steely eyes inspecting the cave. Thorin seemed a little paranoid about the cave. Not that I could blame him. What if this wasn't a cave, but really a stone giant's ear canal?

It could happen.

The company shuffled around the cave, poking their heads around corners and tapping at the walls. Exhausted, eventually everyone stopped searching and started to hunker down on the dry sandy floor and tend to whatever wounds they had gotten in the Stone Giant's fray.

"There's nothing here." Dwalin said, settling onto the floor. Everyone began to relax, but when Gloin suggested a fire to warm everyone's bones, Thorin shot down the idea. The fire could give us away while we slept. Thorin commanded that everyone sleep, because we were moving out as soon as first light hit.

"Gandalf-" I started, only to be glared at by the would-be king. Bilbo tensed beside me, a crunched look of frustration on his face. He was tired of Thorin's anger, and so was everyone else.

"I believe what Kyrie is trying to say is: we were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan." Bofur said softly. Thorin frowned, as he recalled the plan that Gandalf had made.

"Plans change. Bofur, take the first watch." Thorin barked. The company began to settle down once more, rolling their bedrolls and eating what rations we had to spare for the night. I set my bedroll down besides Bifur, who grunted unhappily. He jerked his head towards Thorin, who was quietly talking with Balin.

"He's got a twig up his ass." I said, unsure of what was wrong. Maybe he was just tired. Thorin did almost lose one of his nephews today. A part of me wanted to give the king a break, but the way he talked to Bilbo angered me.

Thinking of the Hobbit, I tried to find him among the group. He was camped closer to the mouth of the cavern, slumped against the cavern wall. His blue-green eyes were glazed in thought as he looked out at the twinkling stars.

"I'll be back." I said to Bifur, who gestured back an 'ok'. I snagged a handful of bread and dried beef from Bombur before slowly making my way over to Bilbo. I sat next to the contemplative Hobbit, who had not taken his gaze away from the stars.

"Same stars we had over our heads when we were in Rivendell." I said softly, pressing some of the food into Bilbo's limp hand. Bilbo looked towards me, confused.

"I thought that would make you feel better." I offered, shrugging my shoulders.

Bilbo's brows furrowed. "Why would stars make me feel any better?"

"I don't know." I shrugged, stuffing some bread into my mouth. "You seem to like looking at them."

Bilbo shrugged, looking down at his feet. "Your forehead is bleeding."

I furrowed my brow, feeling a sting of pain above my eye. It was the small gash from a sliver of rock during the battle. I reached up to dab at the cut with my fingers, but Bilbo lightly swatted my hand away. He wriggled close to me, pulling out his canteen and the handkerchief that I had given to him at the beginning of the journey.

"Your hands are dirty." Bilbo said, pouring some water on the light green handkerchief. He gingerly pressed the cool cloth to my skin, which would have burned if not for Bilbo's gentle touch.

"I don't think you need a bandage. Just a good cleaning." Bilbo said, leaning closer to peer at the cut. He dabbed the cut dry with the unsoaked corner of the hankie, nodding at his job well done.

"Thank you." I said softly, smiling at the Hobbit. He said nothing, just blushed and wriggled his furry toes in the dust, frowning. I didn't know what to say, but I knew he was going back into his little depressed shell. Thinking on my feet, I pulled out a piece of parchment that Ori lent me and a small pencil.

"You said Hobbits are well versed in the language of flowers, yes?" I asked, hoping to distract the Hobbit from his thoughts. Bilbo nodded slowly, turning his head towards me. "Then, we'll play a game. I'll say a quality, and you name the flower that matches said quality."

"Please, Key, I'm very tired."

"Just for a few minutes, Bilbo. Please." I begged, hoping he would agree. Bilbo sighed, rolling his hand in my direction, requesting me to start. Smiling, I snuggled myself into his side, poised my pencil on my parchment, and got ready to write.

"Alright…what flower means…healing?" I asked, waiting to see how long it would take for Bilbo to answer. Bilbo's intelligence did not disappoint me, he answered in a few seconds. I quickly scribbled down the answer using symbols.

"Peonies." Bilbo said, a small smile crossing his face. "Key…"

"Mhm." I said, quickly sketching out a peony next to the image of a bandage that I had drawn.

"Can you…can you not write?" Bilbo asked softly, gently. My sketching slowed and I rubbed my thumb over the first sketch.

"Yeah…I never learned." I admitted quietly. "I understand numbers, but for everything else I use drawings."

I ducked my head down, and continued to draw. I felt Bilbo's hand coming out towards me before I saw it. Smooth fingers tapped at my chin, pulling it up and towards him.

"Why didn't the Ents teach you?" Bilbo asked, still holding my chin. I laughed, unable to keep serious.

"Why would a tree need to write? Parchment is made from trees, you know." I giggled. Bilbo smiled, leaning over and pulling the pencil from my hand. Bilbo leaned closer and began to write underneath each of my drawings.

"This means 'healing' and this means 'peony'." Bilbo said, pointing to the scribbles underneath my drawings. They didn't mean anything to me, but they looked nice. The handwriting looked neat and looping.

"You're very smart, Mister Baggins." I teased, taking back my pencil to finish my peony. Bilbo smiled, his warm breath washing over my skin.

"As are you, Miss Kyrie." Bilbo said, watching me draw. I snorted, brushing my fingers over the finished sketch.

"I can't read. What intelligent person can't read?" I said honestly. Bilbo snorted back, reaching out to wrap his hand around my wrist, stilling my sketching.

"There are different types of intelligences, Key." Bilbo said honestly, sweetly. "There are people like me who can write and read, but not much else. There are people like Balin who are good with history and in tense situations. There are people like you, who are amazing at their craft and with people."

I smiled, leaning further against the Hobbit. "You, are the sweetest person I've ever met."

Bilbo laughed, a hollow laugh that sounded sad. "Sweet, maybe. Lost and useless to this company, defiantly."

I frowned, rubbing my head on Bilbo's, our hair frizzing against each other's. Bilbo stiffened for a moment before relaxing.

"You're not useless. I think we're all a little lost, Bilbo." I said honestly, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and squeezing. "The Dwarves are lost, they want their home back. I'm lost, far away from my Ents and even further from my people."

Bilbo's head bobbed, drooping to rest on my shoulder. Bilbo usually hated 'improper' touching, so he must really be feeling horrible to need all this physical comfort. I squeezed him tighter, my cheek resting on the top of his head.

"I want to go back to Rivendell." Bilbo whispered lowly. My heart skipped a few beats.

"If that's what you feel is right." I whispered back, making sure none of the Dwarves could hear us. Bilbo sighed, glancing back up at the sky and shuddering.

"Would you come with me?" Bilbo whispered, winding his arm around my waist and squeezing. My heart stopped for a moment. Could I do that? Leave everyone? My heart started pattering like a frightened bird. Sure, I liked Bilbo, but was it any more than friendship? Could I runaway with him, like the princess ran away with the prince in the stories that my mother used to read to me as a little girl?

"I can't." I whispered back. "I…I need to stay. I want to help get Erebor back. I want to be on this adventure."

Bilbo's grip on my waist tightened, and he nodded his head. We sat like that until we both got tired. We released each other and prepared to go to our bedrolls. I bit my lip, thinking about my next actions.

"Bilbo…if I wake up and you're not here…know that I'll miss you and I hope I'll see you again." I whispered, taking a step closer to the Hobbit. Bilbo looked up at me, his blue-green eyes somehow bright, even in the darkness of the cave.

Throwing caution to the wind, I tipped my head down and leaned for the Hobbit's lips. The kiss was quick, more like a fleeting press of soft skin than anything else. Bilbo's lips were soft, gentle. I pulled back quickly, ready to run back and hide in my bedroll.

But Bilbo had another idea.

A warm hand wrapped around my wrist, tugging me around to face him. Bilbo's eyes were wide, but warm and inviting. He tugged me close to him again, barley an inch between us.

"You'll see me again." Bilbo whispered. "When this is all over. Come to Hobbiton. It'll be you and me, we'll have a grand time."

I smiled, squeezing the Hobbit's hand back. "I'd love that."

We released each other, returning to our own bedrolls. My eyes filled with tears as I lay down to sleep. The salty tears tipped over the edge and poured down my face. I was able to keep my sobs silent, which I was thankful for. I was sad and I was going to miss Bilbo. When had my feelings changed? Was it in Rivendell, where he acted so sweetly to me?

A rough hand whisked over my tear stained cheek. I looked up to see Bifur, who was lying beside me on his bedroll.

"Shosh!" Bifur whispered quietly in Khuzdul while making the hand signals so I could understand. "Me zud zalfur."

'Shh, you should sleep.'

"I can't sleep." I whispered back. "I'm…Bilbo is going back to Rivendell and I'll miss him."

Bifur grunted, whispering gruffly while his fingers spun his words. "Me omril hû."

'You love him.'

"I…I don't know. I feel…something different." I admitted, letting the Dwarf dry my wet cheeks with the sleeve of his tunic. Bifur smiled, grabbing the edge of my blanket and tugging it up to my chin.

"Zann galikh." Bifur bid me good night softly, closing his eyes. I still felt sad, but I did feel a little better talking to Bifur. I closed my eyes and curled into a ball.

Holiday one shot!

"Bilbo, do we have to?" Kyrie complained, lounging on the comfortable sofa inside Bilbo's Hobbit hole. Bilbo, who was finishing up a batch of apple cider, laughed from the kitchen.

"It's a festival, Key!" Bilbo laughed, somewhat confused as to why his love didn't want to go to the Hobbiton Winter Festival. "Is it because of the dress?"

Kyrie snorted, her fingers trailing down the shimmery green and gold dress that was wrapped around her. "No, I love the dress. I just don't want to deal with some people."

"You mean some of my relatives." Bilbo chuckled, pouring two cups of cider. "I'll make your cider hard, just for you."

"Please! Let the gods of alcohol make me a better in-law." Kyrie laughed, sitting up on the couch to accept the alcohol-infused drink. Bilbo handed his taller love the warm mug before sitting beside her. Kyrie nuzzled into the Hobbit's side, warming herself against Bilbo's warm coat. Her ankle bells chimed as she swung her feet, kissing Bilbo on the cheek.

"What am I to expect during this festival?" Kyrie asked, smiling as a bright light burned in Bilbo's eyes.

"It's truly magnificent, Key." Bilbo said dreamily. "There's so much food and drink! And music and dancing! There are people in costume and crafts. It's truly magnificent."

Kyrie smiled, leaning closer to her love. She loved when Bilbo would get so excited, because it started that spark of adventure in his eyes that she adored so much. Kyrie pressed a long kiss to her love's mouth, their lips searing hot against each other. The two pulled away, large smiles on their faces.

"Let's go." Kyrie cooed, batting her lashes at her love. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we can come back and be...alone."

Bilbo's brows shot up on his forehead in excitement. He grabbed his woman's hand and playfully yanked her off the couch. She manage to grab her coat before the excited Hobbit dragged her out of their home. Their bare feet crushed against the layer of snow under their feet, but neither cared. The couple raced through the crowded streets, ignoring the rare annoyed or disapproving look from one of Bilbo's distant relatives.

After all, Hobbiton's most eligible bachelor should not be romantically associated with a "mutt".

But, the couple was not going to let mean words ruin their time. They ignored every dirty look, because with every one disapproving glance, there were ten happy smiles to greet them. Bilbo was happy to find that most of his close family and friends loved his woman. She was different, yet so sweet and kind. It hadn't taken most of Hobbiton to lean that different didn't mean bad.

Bilbo and Kyrie ended their night sharing hot doughnuts and peppermint hot chocolate. The cold had begun to seep into their skin, so they wrapped themselves around each other and made their way back home. Bilbo nuzzled their cheeks together for warmth as he unlocked their front door. The two hurried inside, pulling off their nice clothes in hope of putting on warm sleeping close.

Or not.