Sorry, sorry. I know I keep updating this! I decided to have this chapter go in a different direction than what I originally had. Sorry, sorry. I don't mean to be a pain.

Tylene

SLASH!!!

The wet squelching sound filled my ears as blood sprayed like a fountain from the very deep gash I had inflicted across the lead bandit's throat, followed by instant choking before the bandit fell over dead.

I turned to Diego and Shira, my two Smilodon, just as they finished off two more bandits.

"Is everyone alright?" I ask.

"We are fine!" Those three words were said in unison by my two Smilodon and Ruby-Red-Haired-Tarantula, Briggs, who now was cleaning himself while perched atop my left shoulder.

I turn to catch sight of Gandalf wiping the flat of his blade along a dead bandit's tunic to rid of the blood.

"Gandalf?" I ask because the Wizard hadn't said anything.

"I'm fine, my dear." Gandalf straightened. "Are there anymore?"

I focused my hearing on the vibrations of the creatures skittering around the ground all around us. The timid vibrations of the Rohan civilians moving to peek out the doors and windows blended with the slightly louder vibrations of the insects and animals of the outside world. But everything else was quiet except for the licking sounds from Diego and Shira cleaning the bandits' blood from their claws and from each other's fur and jaws. But no loud thundering vibrations indicating threats. I finally shook my head. "No." I sheath my blade.

After we left the small village, Gandalf decided to head Northeast. I raised an eyebrow, but I didn't dare complain. I knew it had been a year since the Wizard had seen his Dwarf friends. I shrugged. He probably wanted to see how they were faring after reclaiming the mountain and crowning a new king.

That night, I found Gandalf scribbling at a piece of parchment when I emerged from over the hill. The way he scribbled across the tinted paper and the very concentrated look on his face, were the two indicators he was writing something very important. I moved to sit on the log beside him. The Wizard must have sensed me because he scooted away from me. That was odd!

"There is left over stew for you if you want it." Gandalf didn't look up from his scribbling while motioning to the hunter's pot over the fire.

I raised an eyebrow, but instead, I grabbed a bowl and went over to fill it with tonight's dinner.

After Gandalf made sure Lyrian wasn't looking, he signed his name at the bottom of the parchment - very pleased with the words that had fallen from his pen. He gently tied the rolled up piece of parchment to the Raven's leg. "Fly true, my feathery friend; straight for Erebor."

The Raven unfurled its wings and soared through the night sky. Gandalf tucked his quill and ink back into his pack and leaned back to smoke his pipe.

Meanwhile, The Lonely Mountain was illuminated with a vast array of golden light. Thorin Oakenshield leaned against the front gate's balcony, looking to the horizon in the West and Southwest - beyond Mirkwood and Dale - to The Misty Mountains that lay beyond; Rohan, The Shire, Moria, Rivendell, Gondor and The Green Road on the other side. He began to wonder if Mahal's choice for his One was somewhere out there beyond his kingdom, as none of the women now residing in Dale, had caught his attention. Soft footsteps approached and Thorin let out a sigh, frowning. But his frown was instantly replaced with a very relieved smile when a familiar voice broke through his silent surroundings.

"Thorin?" Dis approached her older brother and Thorin's smile grew when his little sister appeared at his side. Thorin turned to give his little sister his full attention, hiding the aching pain on his face just a little too late, because the sudden worry on his sister's face revealed she had caught sight of the pain twisting his features. Still, he tried sounding happy when he saw her.

"Hello, Dis." Thorin forced a smile.

"Don't you hello me, Thorin Oakenshield!" Dis crossed her arms, chiding her older brother. "I heard your dreaded sigh reflected by the pained look on your face!" Thorin opened his mouth to reply but Dis cut him off. "We are brother and sister, you daft Dwarf! We share everything! So talk to me - and don't try and squirm your way out of telling me what's wrong." Dis added before Thorin could try and do exactly that. Dis pointed out, "you have been coming out here every night for the past month long after everyone returned home. You barely eat, you barely sleep. What's wrong?"

Thorin was about to answer his sister, but the sound of flapping wings caught his attention. He turned his eyes to find a very big black Raven land in front of him, perching on the balcony's edge. Thorin eyed the rolled up parchment tied to the bird's leg. Dis unfolded the parchment and silently read Gandalf's note. She glanced up to meet her brother's gaze. "The Wizard, Gandalf, he is traveling with a woman by the name of Lyrian. They are coming here. He says he wants you two to meet sometime once after the competition or after they arrive in Dale. He will send word when he has arrived."

I had finished dinner and just as I dipped the bowl into the river to wash it off, I felt an uncomfortable gnawing in the pit of my stomach. I walked the familiar pathway back to camp to find Diego, Shira and Briggs already fast asleep. I kept feeling the deep gnawing in my stomach as I climbed into my sleeping bag to go to bed. But I just lay awake.

The first chapter isn't quite finished yet. Im taking a different route than what I had had before.

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