Welcome to the second movie! Please enjoy!

Once again, Emi's thoughts ran away from her to frolic under fanciful whims and daydreams. Most often, or more accurately, always involving a certain raven-haired dwarven king. It was getting out of hand.

The hobbit snapped back to reality as she spotted the orc pack that had been right on their tails for a few days now. The large pale orc stopped and surveyed the surroundings. Emi's eyes widened and she quickly ducked behind a boulder, wincing as her arm was jostled. The bothersome thing was still giving her trouble. It didn't help that it had gotten infected. Oin helped as best he could with the limited supplies, but her arm had grown increasingly stiff. At least she could feel it again. Though barely, and what she did feel was pain.

Again, she was drawn out of her thoughts by the sight of someone else wandering about in the strange twilight that lit the rocky steeps of the Misty Mountains. But this time, it was certainly no orc. It was a huge bear, staring after the orcs. Emi's blood ran cold. That was not a normal bear. She did not hesitate and dashed away down the path back to where the rest of the company was resting.

She was out of breath when she neared the little clearing. In all probability, she shouldn't have gone out to scout. But she was the quietest, and the hobbit found the company of dwarves increasingly insufferably.

That wasn't true. Most of the dwarves were fine. They were just scared and tired. As expected from those on the run. It was just one dwarf that had been getting on her nerves.

Thorin Oakenshield.

The hobbit and the dwarf had barely shared more than four words since the morning atop the Carrock. Emi had understood that the… kiss… had been spur of the moment. That it was just done on impulse and that the dwarf held no feelings for her. She couldn't say she really felt much for him either… Maybe… Hopefully.

…But that was still no reason to act like it never happened! They had not talked at all about that… event. Or even the harsh telling off Emi had given the dwarf lord hours before. Maybe he still held a grudge? Maybe that… kiss… atop the Carrock, was just a dwarven custom for saying you're forgiven? That must be it. It's the only thing that made sense. But the other dwarves certainly weren't asking like it was just that.

Focus Emi. The hobbit snapped to herself mentally as she neared the others. She padded down the path through the gap in the cliffs.

"How close is the path?" Dwalin asked before she had even passed into the opening with the others.

"Too close." She replied immediately. "Just a couple of leagues, I'd say. But that's not the worse of It." the dwarves tensed.

"Have the wargs picked up your sent?" Dwalin asked angrily.

"N-no not yet." Emi said. "But no doubt they will. But we have another problem."

"Did they see you?" Gandalf asked. Emi turned to him in confusion. "They saw you." The wizard frowned.

"No! That's not it!" Emi sighed exasperatedly. Why did they all assume she had messed up?

"What did I tell you?" Gandalf smiled at the dwarves. "Quiet as a mouse. Excellent Burglar material." Several of the dwarves chuckled, nodding at her in appreciation.

"Will you all just listen to me?" the hobbit cried at last. The company fell silent. "I'm trying to tell you, there is something else out there!" That shut them up pretty quickly.

"What form did it take?" Gandalf asked slowly. "Like a bear?" Emi looked at him, then did a small double take.

"… Yes. Yes, exactly like a bear, but bigger! Much, much bigger."

"You knew about this beast?" Bofur asked incredulously. The wizard did not answer.

"Gandalf?" Emi asked quietly.

"I say we double back." Bofur turned to the others.

"And be run down by a pack of orcs." Thorin snorted. Emi glanced over at the dwarven leader.

"There is a house." Gandalf spoke hesitantly. "Not far from here, where we might take refuge."

"Whose house?" Thorin sighed exasperatedly. The stress and weariness evident in his voice. "Are they friend or foe?"

"Neither." Gandalf replied. "He will help us, or he will kill us." Emi paled.

"What choice do we have?" Thorin frowned. Everyone jumped as a loud roar sounded across the rocks. Emi knew that roar. She had heard it only moments ago. It was the bear.

The wizard pulled a face. "None."

And they were running again. Emi hated all this running. She was absolutely sick of it. But that didn't stop her as the sounds of a large beast crashing through the brush behind them.

"Come on!" Gandalf shouted. "This way quickly!" trees blurred past her vision.

"Bombur come on!" Into a large field.

"To the house! Run!" A large hedge loomed on the horizon.

"Come on! Get inside!" through the gate and into a wooded, flower filled, pasture. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the huge bear charging after them.

"Open the door!"

"Quickly!" Emi pushed after the dwarves, slipping through the crack in the door before the dwarves began closing it again. A huge snapping maul tried to wedge through the door.

"Come on lads!" Dwalin hollered. There was a collective sigh as soon as the door swung shut and the par slid over the door. Emi shook as the adrenaline slowly wore off.

"What is that?" Ori asked incredulously.

"That…" Gandalf said. "Is our host." Emi looked up in horror. "His name is Beorn, and he is a skin changer." The hobbit could not help but think that the wizard seemed far too excited about this. "Sometimes he is a huge black bear; sometimes he is a great strong man. The bear is unpredictable, but the man can be reasoned with. However," the wizard turned to those who had begun to explore the little home and raised his voice ever so slightly. "He is not overly found of dwarves."

"He's leaving." Ori announced.

"Come away from there!" Dori pulled him away. "It's not natural! None of it. It's obvious. He's under some dark spell."

"Don't be a fool." Gandalf barked. "He's under no enchantment but his own. Now get some sleep, all of you. You'll be safe here tonight." Emi looked around for some place to get some rest as the dwarves plopped down in the hay amongst the ponies. "I hope." Emi swallowed. Surely, she hadn't been meant to hear that. Had she?

Her skin prickled and she looked in alarm to see a pair of steely blue eyes on her. Emi swallowed as she looked back at Thorin from across the room. Feeling a slight heat rise to her cheeks, Emi turned away and plopped down in the hay. Gandalf was right. She should get some sleep while she could.

But sleep would not come. Even when all the others had fallen into a deep and safe slumber for once in too long. Emi, however, was not to be so lucky. She lay quietly for what felt like hours, but still daylight would not come. So the hobbit let her mind wander. As long as it stayed far away from a certain dwarf king. As it happened, Emi found herself drifting to her pocket. And more importantly, it's contents. The hobbit looked over her shoulder warily. She hadn't seen Gandalf fall asleep, but the wizard was nowhere in sight.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, Emi reached a hand into her pocket and pulled out the small curious thing. The golden ring. Her little ring of invisibility. She smiled to herself. Imagine that. She thought to herself. Invisible! Now you see me, she slipped on the ring. Now you don't! She slipped the ring off again, chuckling to herself. She looked over her shoulder again. That had been a little reckless. Thankfully, no one seemed to have seen her. The hobbit turned back to the ring. It was strange when she was invisible, but it was to be expected. This could prove extremely useful. She smirked. Very useful.

The dark haired hobbit no longer felt tired as she considered her newfound ability. Finally, she had a use to the company. Since she seemed to be useless before. And now she could fight! She may not have much skill with a sword, but it was impossible to fight what one could not see.

All the while, as these thoughts floated through her head, she stroked the small shiny ring. It was precious, wasn't it?

Next chapter is Beorn! That should be interesting...

Review if you think this chapter was worth it.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

I had an Idea for another story recently.

Unfortunately, it requires over 20 different dwarrowdams. Even more unfortunately, I cannot come up with that many different dwarrowdams.
That's where you come in.
If you would like to PM me or review with a dwarrowdam of your own creation, that would be AMAZING!
I need dwarrowdams of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages. Also, there is a possibility that not all will be used! But please, the more options the better! Be as detailed as you want!
And thank you for your time!

- the BugSlayer