All eyes were on her but the ones that caught her attention were the eyes of Thorin Oakenshield himself. He was appraising her she realized trying to picture her small form taking on huge dragons. "I think perhaps I should tell you my story she said quietly"

"I was born 400 years ago in the wild. My mother and her clan were travelers never settling in one place for too long. I was the first child born in almost a century, for my people can only have children with their one true mate, and because there are so few of us and we travelled so often it was hard for many to find theirs.

She was interrupted by Ori asking "Who are your people?" Dori hit him "Don't be rude" he told his youngest brother. Restania smiled it is alright master dwarf he may ask questions you all may. "I come from a race that has all but vanished from the minds of middle earth. I am an elemental." There was stunned silence once again.

This time Bilbo spoke up "I have read of elementals they speak in books as though none exist anymore!" Restania smiled at him kindly

"That is not entirely true although there are only about 40 of us left in this world."

"What is an elemental if I may ask?" Kili questioned?

Restania went to reply but was beat to the answer by Thorin who had yet to take his appraising eyes off her. "Elementals are a race of being who can control the elements of nature Earth, air, fire, and water, they are very gifted in healing and are usually unmatched in battle. They also have the ability to form protective barriers around those who are in danger when need be however this has been known to kill them if they hold these barriers to long. Have I missed anything Miss Greenwood?"

I was surprised many people had not heard of my race much less knew what this dwarf knew about us. "You are correct kind sir and no you have missed nothing"

"My mother's mate was an elf." All eyes turned to Thorin who studied her closely. He saw the fear in her eyes, fear of his rejection but she held his gaze which he knew was not an easy task on the best days. He simply nodded "go on" he said gruffly "I will not forsake you for your heritage that is not your choice."

"He was a high ranking elf in Thrandril of Mirkwood's army."She saw Thorin tense but kept talking.

"He was injured in a battle with orcs on his way back to court and that is when my mother found him. She always told me that the minute she touched she knew he was hers. So she nursed him back to health they fell in love got married and were with child when Thrandril sent him to battle against the evil of Sauron. He was killed in battle before I was born. When my mother found out she was devastated and the stress caused her to deliver me early. I was according to my kin very touch and go the first month or so but by that point my mothers had already taken great dislike to me, for you see I look like my father or so I am told. As I grew she drank more and the more she drank the meaner she got. I was often at the healers having some injury fixed a broken arm, cuts or bruises. The healer finally took me in when I was brought in bleeding everywhere. My mother had tried to slit my throat while I slept."

Restania lifted her head and all the dwarves could see the scar that went from one side to the other. She was surprised to see the anger on the faces of all the dwarves, but Thorin's face was the worst he was literally shaking with anger for dwarves held their children in high esteem since there were so few.

"And what pray tell happen to you mother" he spat the word mother out like it was a foul word.

"She was banished from the community from what I have heard she wandered into Thrandril's realm and was killed." Restania placed her hand on Thorin's shoulder and his eyes shot up to meet hers.

"I am alive and that is all that matters let go of this anger for me, for it serves no purpose it is in the past and I have accepted it, but her eyes told him that it still hurt to think about.

"When I turned 50 I left the community to wander the lands on my own looking for a home to call my own . The healer who had taken me in had taught me all she knew of healing and her husband had taught me all there was to know about my bow, sword, and abilities. I travelled everywhere including the city of Dale. It was one of the most beautiful cities I'd ever seen. I was saddened to hear of its destruction. I wandered for what seemed like ages until I heard of a town Catchka that had been besieged by not one but 2 dragons."

Dori spoke up this time "I remember hearing about this they said that they had never seen a cleverer creature then the one who destroyed the dragon brothers Kaig and Krog."

Restania looked at him and smiled "Do not believe everything you here Master Dori. They made it sound easy, It was anything but from what im told, and by the end of it I had used so much energy that the healers say they lost me twice before I had healed."

"Will you not tell us about?" Fili asked.

"I don't remember it. When I finally awoke and they asked me about it and I couldn't remember a single detail on it. I remember coming to the city and then nothing until I awoke in the healer's home."

"That is what Thorin meant when he said you could die if you fought too hard to protect people" Bofur put in.

Restania nodded and then looked around "After leaving the city I was in some respects a hero, imagine being a hero for something you can't remember doing I wandered for many more years protecting the roads from orcs searching for a place I could call home. That is when Gandalf found me and asked me to join your quest. I would join if you would allow me for maybe in helping you reclaim your home I may find mine".