Hey all! If last chapter didn't make sense. That's because I posted the wrong one. It's fixed now so you can go back and read it.

Enjoy!

"We need to talk." Thorin looked up slowly from sharpening Orcrist to stare into two large hobbit eyes.

"Indeed?" the dwarf lord raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Now."

"About what exactly?"

"You know what."

"Perhaps you could enlighten me?"

"That morning. Atop the Carrock." Emi fought down the blush that threatened to blow her stern composure. Thorin's face grew serious immediately.

"Where is the rest of the company?" he asked.

"Beorn is leading them to a stream to bath."

"You didn't join them?"

"How could I?"

"Perhaps I shall instead." Thorin said, moving to get up. But Emi pushed him back down on the stone step.

"No." She said firmly. "You and I are going to discuss this once and for all."

"Is that an order?" Thorin shifted his head slightly in a slight jesting manner.

"Yes." Emi replied in a very unjesting manner. "Now talk." The two stared stubbornly into each other's eyes until, at last, Thorin let out a frustrated sigh and looked down.

"It was a mistake." He relented. The stubborn firmness disappeared from the hobbit quickly. "A slip of the moment, my mind was not my own at the time."

"So… you don't have any feelings… for…me?" Emi spoke quietly.

"None but that of a travelling companion." Thorin shook his head.

"Oh." Came the short reply.

"I apologize for my inappropriate behavior." The dwarf lord tilted his head forward slightly.

"No, no it's fine. W-well, I mean, it's understandable! Not that I…" Emi stopped and looked at the dwarf king for a moment before turning away. "Well! I'll just let you get back to your business then… Sorry to be a bother." And she dashed out the bear's house, almost knocking over the returning dwarves as she went.

"What did you do?" Balin asked immediately, walking over to Thorin.

"Nothing." The other huffed, sliding Orcrist back into its sheath.

"Thorin." Balin said warningly.

"I only informed her that what had happened after the eagles rescued us was a mistake. A momentarily slip." Thorin explained quickly. Balin's eyes widened.

"You don't honestly believe that?" he asked in hushed tones.

"What else could it be Balin?" Thorin turned to his old friend. "She is a hobbit. Not a dwarf. Nothing will ever come of it."

"You can't stop love, laddie." The white haired dwarf shook his head.

"I do not love her!" the room quieted slightly and Thorin looked up wide-eyed to see several of the company casting curious glances at him. He furrowed his brow before turning back to Balin and repeating in a low voice, "I do not love her."

"So you say," Balin sighed. "But Thorin-"

"No." the dwarf lord silenced him. "I know my own feelings Balin. For once, stop trying to meddle." Balin watched as the raven-haired dwarf turned and stalked away out of the house.

Letting out a long sigh, Balin muttered under his breath. "Laddie, you've got no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

"Is something troubling you little rabbit?" Emi looked up in surprise at Beorn's deep voice rumbling from above her. The bear man was standing behind her looking down at her cautiously. The hobbit had been hugging her knees tightly to her chest as she forlornly watched a little black ant crawling a long a blade of grass. The tiny bug seemed to be the only thing that was normal sized in the entire garden.

"Troubling me? Oh! Oh no, I'm fine." Emi laughed nervously. "I'm afraid I just made rather a fool of myself is all." The hobbit rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment as she continued to gaze at the tiny ant. "It wasn't very professional at all. And I'm supposed to be a burglar hah! What a joke."

"You are not a burglar?" Beorn asked.

"No! I've never stolen a thing in my life!" Emi cried.

"Then why are you supposed to be the burglar?"

"Because Gandalf said-"

"Who is this Gandalf to say what you are or are not?" Beorn cut her off gently. Emi looked up in surprise. "If you are not a burglar, than tell me, what are you?"

"I'm…" Emi started "a baker. A reader. An old spinster." She laughed slightly, remembering Hamfast's early morning greeting those many nights ago. "I'm a hobbit." Emi concluded at last. "Just a simple hobbit who made the mistake of stepping out her door." She let out a long sigh. "What am I even doing here I wonder?"

"You do not know?" Beorn asked.

"Not really." Emi admitted. "I guess I wanted a change. Just for a little while. And this adventure has proved to be a little more than I bargained for."

"It is far from over."

"I know." The hobbit nodded. "But what else can I do?"

"You are always welcome here if you wish." Beorn offered. "You seem to care for all things living. They will accept you here."

"Thank you." Emi said, sounding truly honored, "But I don't think I could ever get used to the size of the bees here." Beorn chuckled quietly. "No. I started this quest. I might as well finish it."

"Then come," Beorn beckoned for her. "The others are preparing to leave. Since you choose to join them."

"Yes." Emi sighed, standing. "Back to the wild again. Delightful."

"For someone who has decided to continue, you do not sound very glad of it."

"Just because I am going doesn't mean I have to like it." The hobbit reminded the bear man.

"Very well." Beorn nodded. "Just know that the invitation is always open should you choose to come back this way."

"Thank you." Emi smiled. "I'll definitely remember that."

"Go now while you have the light." The company and ponies trotted out over the plain, Beorn's warning following on the wind. "The hunters are not far behind." Everyone was quiet as they travelled to the edge of Mirkwood. And they were even quieter once they got there.

"The elven gate." Gandalf announced as they dismounted. The wizard wandered into the tree line. "Here lies our path through Mirkwood." He called back.

"No sign of the orcs." Dwalin. "We have luck on our side."

"Set the ponies loose." Gandalf ordered. "Let them return to their master."

"This forest does not seem pleasant." Emi frowned coming to stand next to the wizard. "Is there no other way?"

"Not unless we go two hundred miles north or twice that distance… south." The wizard replied before disappearing into the trees. Emi let out a disappointed sigh and waited quietly as the dwarves unloaded the pony. She had already strapped on her own pack and two bottles in a strange basket type bag. Out of boredom, she slipped her hand into her pocket, spinning the little ring she kept in it. It wasn't much, but it kept her from being completely bored. And she didn't feel like conversing very much with anyone, considering th-

DEATH.

Emi's tensed suddenly. A fiery eye. Fear. It was gone as soon as it came, but it had been there. The hobbit dropped the ring back into her hobbit and started trembling almost unnoticeably. She jumped even higher when Gandalf's voice boomed from the forest.

"Not my horse! I need it." Everyone turned surprise to see the wizard hurrying to his mount.

"You aren't leaving us?" Emi panicked. Not now. Why is he leaving now?

"I would not do this unless I had to." Gandalf explained, speaking more to Thorin. The dwarf king motioned for the other to head towards the forest as Gandalf hurried to his horse, Emi following behind still confused. "You've changed, Emilie Brandybuck." The wizard turned to the small hobbit. "You're not the same hobbit who left the shire." It was meant to be reassuring, but Emi paled horribly and burst out loudly.

"I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU!" she gasped, trembling ever so slightly. She shut her mouth for a moment, trying to regain her composure, but the words kept spilling forth. "I… I found something… in the goblin tunnels…"

"Found what?" Gandalf asked. The hobbit's eyes darted around the wizard's face nervously. Gandalf leaned slightly closer, squinting his eyes as if looking for something. "What did you find?" Emi opened her mouth and shut it again, looking slightly pained. She was clearly struggling with something.

"M-my courage." She gasped out at last, pulling her hands quickly from her pockets and holding them at her sides.

"Good." Gandalf said, seeming rather puzzled. "Well, that's good." He repeated, straitening again. Emi smiled nodding in agreement. "You'll need it." the smile dropped completely. "I'll be waiting for you at the overlook, before the slopes of Erebor." Gandalf told Thorin, mounting his horse. "Keep the map and key safe. Do not enter that mountain without me." He glared hard at Thorin. "This is not the Greenwood of old. There is a stream in the woods that carries a dark enchantment. Do not touch the water. Cross only by the stone bridge. The very air of the forest is heavy with illusion. It we seek to enter your mind and lead you astray."

"Lead us astray?" Emi squeaked. "What does that even mean?"

"You must stay on the path." Gandalf continued, turning his horse. "Do not leave it. If you do, you will never find it again." The wizard galloped away calling one last warning. "No matter what may come, stay on the path!" Emi watched hopelessly as the wizard disappeared the way they had come.

"Come on." Thorin spoke to the company. "We must reach the mountain before the sun sets on Durin's Day."

"Durin's Day." Dwalin repeated enthusiastically. "Let's go!"

"This is our one chance to find the hidden door." Thorin nodded, leading the others into the forest. Emi followed closely behind Bifur. But what happens if we fail?

What did you think?

I'm ashamed to say I'm loosing steam on this story and I need to get inspired again! So please, reviews help!