Slowly Lindsey opened her eyes and immediately felt a sharp pain in her left leg, but she was certain it was not broken.

"Kate?" she called out in panic but as she cast a glance around she was aware that something was definitely not quite right. Instead of the endless ocean she stood on a field of beautiful green grass and colorful flowers.

'How is this even possible?' she thought but her mind was invaded by her sister again and panic crept up in her once more.

"Kate!" she cried out even louder than before. Tears started dwelling in her eyes and run down along her cheeks.

"Oy, what's that commotion about? Why are you yelling like this, lass?"

She turned around and saw a man watching her curiously. He was rather short, with a long, white and bushy beard. The smile on his face was warm and friendly.

"I'm looking for my older sister—Kate," she replied and sobbed quietly.

He nodded understandingly and stepped a little closer causing her to take a step back.

"I won't harm you, lass. My name is Balin. What is your name?"

"Lindsey—"

"Lindsey, where have you last seen your sister?"

That was a very good question. Last time she saw her was around six miles above the ground on their way to New Zealand as the plane crashed into the ocean in the middle of nowhere.

"In the plane. We—we were on our vacation but the plane crashed into the ocean. I don't know what happened next but I opened my eyes and found myself right here. I have no idea where I am and I have to find my sister! She has to be alive!" she explained and could feel hot tears in her eyes again.

Balin stepped closer and carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm certain we'll find your sister. At least I know someone who might help us. I'm on my way to a meeting with friends. We plan a journey. Gandalf might be able to help you."

Lindsey had no idea what he was talking about but her inner feeling told her that she could trust him. He seemed to be friendly and she was aware that she was slightly taller than him. Therefore she could knock him out if he'd try to harm her. She sighed and followed him into a small village which was surrounded by rolling hills with doors built into those hills. The sight reminded her a bit of a smurf village.

'Kate, please, please,please—be alive!' she prayed silently.

Kate felt the wetness of the ocean on her face. The water was quite warm. Her mind was rushing and her thoughts circled around Lindsey.

'No, please, no!' she thought and slowly opened her eyes. She cried out in shock as she looked up to the warm and wet nostrils of a pony that was curiously nudging her face.

"What—what's going on?" she mumbled and slowly got up. She rubbed her neck which was aching a little. As she turned around, she could see two young boys sitting on their ponies. They both smiled at her.

"Did you enjoy your nap?" the blonde one said with a cheeky grin. His grin vanished as he was aware of the dark scowl on her face.

"My nap? You think I lay here to take a nap? Where is my sister?" she snapped at them.

"I am sorry, but there's only you around. We haven't seen your sister—," the brunette boy replied calmly and dismounted his pony. He was a little shorter than she was but not that much. She was not very tall at all and even Lindsey was a bit taller than she was.

Kate sighed and felt her heart wrench. What if she had lost her little sister? She would never forgive herself if Lindsey was dead.

"My name is Kili and that's my older brother Fili," the brunette boy introduced them and Fili smiled at her. She weakly returned that smile.

"Tell us, what happened to you and your sister?" Fili asked and dismounted his pony as well.

"We—we were on a vacation. And the plane crashed into the ocean somewhere between Australia and New Zealand. I don't know—I thought we crashed into the ocean but—but—where am I?"

The brothers exchanged an uncertain look. Fili stepped closer towards her and said,

"If your sister is somewhere around as well, am certain we'll find her. What is your name?"

"Kate. And my sister's name is Lindsey. She's a beautiful girl with long black hair and blue eyes."

"You're just like us!" Kili exclaimed with a broad smile and added, "I'm the younger and dark one, while he's the elder blonde one."

"Yeah—whatever, I need to find her," Kate said and turned around to walk along the path which was leading into a small village.

"Hey, wait!" Fili called and they approached her again.

"What? I have no time to chat. My little sister is somewhere out there—she has to be here."

"We're on our way to a meeting with friends. You should come as well. Gandalf might be able to help you."

Kate frowned but finally nodded. What other options did she have?

Silently she followed them into the village.

Lindsey sat silently in a comfy armchair with a cup of hot tea. She was still confused and afraid but that small man named Bilbo cared a lot for her, while the group of ten men already began to invade the dining room. They were all rather short and different of size.

The tallest was Gandalf. He sat across from her and asked her a lot of questions, but much to her own anger she was unable to answer any of them. The fear that she might have lost her sister weighed heavily on her chest. Suddenly she said,

"I was holding her hand tightly before—before it happened. She has to be alive."

Gandalf nodded with an encouraging smile as a sudden knock sounded from the front door. Bilbo went to open to door and found two young dwarves in front of him.

"Kili—"

"And Fili—"

"At your service," they said in unison as they bowed deeply. Once they straightened again, Kili smiled widely at Bilbo.

"You must be Mister Boggins," he said.

"Baggins! My name is Bilbo Baggins," the hobbit replied a little annoyed until his gaze drifted to the third person standing behind the dwarves.

"And who are you?" he asked and she stepped a little closer into the light. His eyes grew wide in realization as he said, "No need to say—you are Kate!"

Kate's heart leaped. "You know my name?"

He nodded and gestured them to enter his house. The three stepped inside the warm and comfy entry hall.

"There's someone waiting for you—," Bilbo began but there was no need to show the way. Kate rushed past him into the living room.

"Lindsey!" she cried out in relief.

"Kate!"

The two young women embraced tightly while tears of joy ran down their faces.

"Are you alright?" Kate asked once she stepped away and watched her sister carefully.

"Yes, though my leg hurts a bit,"

"Is it broken?"

"No—just a bruise. And you?"

"Nothing much. My neck hurts a bit, but that doesn't matter, sis! We're back together again," Kate said and pulled her into an embrace once more.

They could hear the men in the dining room starting to sing and laugh loudly.

"Let's go and take a look," Lindsey said curiously and Kate followed her out of the room just to nearly get hit by a plate.

"Sorry!" Kili called with an apologetic smile. Lindsey watched the two brothers and Kate could see the admiration in her sister's eyes as she spotted Fili. She pushed Lindsey forward and together they entered the dining room. The men just finished their song and seemed to laugh about Bilbo.

A loud knock from the front door silenced them all. They didn't even pay much attention to the girls.

"He's here," Gandalf mumbled and went to the front door. Bilbo and the group followed him.

"Gandalf—"a deep voice spoke up. The owner of that voice stepped into the house and sent a warm smile towards Kili before he turned to look at Gandalf again and said, "I thought you said this place would be easy to find. I lost my way—twice. Wouldn't have found it at all had it not been for that mark on the door."

"He's just as sassy as you are," Lindsey whispered but Kate silenced her.

"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!" Bilbo mumbled confused but Gandalf said,

"There is a mark; I put it there myself. Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield."

"So—this is the Hobbit," the newcomer stated while he crossed his arms in front of his chest and watched Bilbo intently and quite judgingly.

'Hobbit?' Kate thought confused but kept silent.

"Axe or sword? Which is the weapon of your choice?" he asked and circled Bilbo slowly.

"Well, I have some skills with conkers, if you must know, but I fail to see why that's relevant," Bilbo replied a bit annoyed.

"More a grocer than a burglar, just like I thought," the man said amused and cast a glance at his company who chuckled until his eyes suddenly fell on the two women next to Balin and Dwalin.

"Who's this?" he asked curiously and stepped a little closer. His stormy-blue eyes rested on Kate, drifted to Lindsey and back to Kate again. She cleared her throat and stepped forward.

"My name's Kate O'Connell and this is my younger sister Lindsey O'Connell."

He nodded slowly and watched them carefully before he said,

"Why are you here? You're no dwarves and clearly not a Hobbit."

"Dwarves? Is that what you all are?" Lindsey asked amazed and earned a chuckle from Fili as he replied,

"Aye, we're dwarves—"

"It doesn't matter what we are. I asked what you are. Tell me, now!" Thorin interrupted him and glanced at Kate.

Anger crept up in her. "Maybe you should consider changing your behavior before we tell you anything about us," she snapped back what caused him to narrow his eyes. The color of them turned a shade darker.

"You have no idea who you're talking to! You're not in the position to talk to me like this, Lady."

"And you are not in the position to talk to me like this as well, dwarf!" she replied and placed her hands on her hips while the amber of her eyes turned darker as well.

"Uhm—Kate? Calm down," Lindsey tried to intervene and her sister took a deep breath and turned away from that arrogant dwarf.

"You didn't answer my question—"

Kate spun around but Gandalf stepped between them before they could start mauling each other and said,

"I suggest we all calm down and get some rest in the dining room. There's still plenty of food and enough ale for all of us. I'm certain you are hungry as well?" His gaze drifted to the girl. Kate huffed but gestured them to enter the dining room again.

Once they all lowered down at the table again, Thorin began to silently eat what seemed to be a soup. Kate cast a glance at him while she sat between Lindsey and the dwarf with the bald head. Next to Lindsey was Fili.

"What news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?" the dwarf with the bushy white beard asked and Thorin looked up at them.

"Aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms," he said proudly. The other dwarves murmured in joy.

"What do the dwarves of the Iron Hills say? Is Dain with us?" the one next to Kate spoke up and watched Thorin expectantly.

"They will not come—," he admitted quietly and the group murmured now in disappointment.

Thorin sighed. "They say this quest is ours and ours alone."

"You're going on a quest?" Bilbo suddenly spoke up from behind Gandalf.

"Bibo, my dear fellow, let us have a little more light," Gandalf said and Bilbo brought a candle to the table, where Gandalf had spread a map which he revealed out of his pocket. He cast a glance at Kate and Lindsey as he said,

"Before we start I should introduce those dwarves to you. Here we have Bofur, Balin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Bombur, Kili, Fili, Dwalin, Oin and Gloin, Bifur. And you already know Thorin."

The two girls tried to remember who was who and signaled Gandalf to continue. He straightened himself and said,

"Far to the East, over ranges and rivers, beyond woodlands and wasteland, lies a single solitary peak—,"

"Stop!" Thorin's voice spoke up and caused them all to look at him in surprise. His eyes rested on the girls again as he added, "I think it's not wise to speak about this in front of—them." He gestured to Kate and Lindsey.

Kate's eyes narrowed as she snapped back, "We did not chose to come here, alright? We could've been dead instead! Would that be more pleasing for you?"

He rose up from his chair. "I told you before to watch your tongue! I'm not wishing death to anyone, but you are clearly of no use for my Company. I don't even know you! You could be human spies trying to—," but he slumped down on his chair again and left that sentence unfinished.

Kate rose up as well, passed by Dwalin, Oin, Gloin and Bifur. Gandalf grabbed her wrist gently to stop her. "Don't leave," he whispered while his gaze drifted to Lindsey. The young one looked pleadingly at her. Kate sighed and turned to cast a glance at Thorin.

"We're no spies and we have no interest in your business or whatever you're after. We're just two ordinary girls and we just want to go home," she said calmly and turned to lower down on her seat again.

After a moment of heavy silence, Thorin finally gestured Gandalf to continue. Bilbo leaned closer towards the map and read,

"The Lonely Mountain."

"Aye. Oin has read the portents, and the portents say it is time," Gloin said and watched Thorin determined.

"A sign?" Lindsey asked but was silenced by a kick from Kate under the table.

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end," Oin continued to explain with a smile at Lindsey.

Bilbo, hearing the word 'beast', looked quite concerned as he asked, "Uhm—what beast?"

It was Bofur now speaking up," Well, that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible. Chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meat-hooks, extremely fond of precious metals—"

"Yes, I know what a dragon is," Bilbo snapped a little sassy.

"Dragons? Dragons are not real. They are as real as Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny," Lindsey chuckled and all gazes drifted to her.

"Lindsey, please—," Kate whispered and shot a warning look at her sister. The young one replied,

"What? Do you believe in that? Oh, of course, you do! You even believe that Nessie is real!"

Kate did not reply to that. Her gaze drifted to Thorin who watched them intently but she kept silent.

"I'm not afraid! I'm up for it! I'll give him a taste of the Dwarfish iron right up his jacksie!" the young Ori called and rose up from his chair. Several dwarves cheered loudly while his brother, Dori, pulled him down again.

"The task would be difficult enough with an army behind us, but we number just thirteen. And not thirteen of the best, not brightest," Balin stated.

"Hey! Who are you calling dim?" Kili protested.

"Watch it!" Gloin grumbled.

"What did he say?" Oin asked and tilted his head a bit while he placed his ear-trumpet into his right ear.

"We may be few in number, but we're fighters, all of us, to the last dwarf!" Fili spoke up and Kate could see the increasing admiration in Lindsey's eyes.

'Oh no, I have to stop this before it turns into a mess,' she thought but Kili pulled her out of it as he said,

"And you forget, we have a wizard in our Company. Gandalf will have killed hundreds of dragons in his time!"

"Oh, well, now, uh—I—I—I wouldn't say that, I—," Gandalf stammered and coughed some smoke from his pipe.

"How many then?" Dori asked.

"Uh, what?"

"Well, how many dragons have you killed? Go on, give us a number!"

Kate could see that the old man was clearly embarrassed. The dwarves rose up from their seats, argued about the number of dragons Gandalf had killed. Her gaze drifted to Thorin and she could see the rage growing in his eyes until he rose up in anger.

"Shazara!" he bellowed and silenced the Company instantly.

'Yeah, whatever that was, it worked,' Kate thought and watched him expectantly.

His voice, still strong but lower now said, "If we have read these signs, do you not think others will have read them, too? Rumours have begun to spread. The dragon Smaug has not been seen for sixty years. Eyes look east to the Mountain, assessing, wondering, and weighing the risk.
Perhaps the vast wealth of our people now lies unprotected. Do we sit back while others claim what is rightfully ours? Or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? Du Bekâr! Du Bekâr!"

The whole Company cheered loudly until Balin once again had to be the bad-sport as he stated,

"You forget: the front gate is sealed. There is no way into the mountain."

A triumphant smile appeared on Gandalf's face. "That, my dear Balin, is not entirely true." And with twiddling his fingers, he revealed a key, ornately wrought. Thorin looked up in awe and surprise.

"How came you by this?" he whispered still in disbelief.

"It was given to me by your father, Thrain, for safekeeping. It is yours now," Gandalf handed the key to Thorin while everyone watched them in wonder. Lindsey was completely into all this already while Kate was still careful and suspicious. And Thorin annoyed her a lot. She absolutely could not stand this dwarf.

The Company continued to talk about the key, another entrance into the Mountain until they finally reached the point in which Bilbo was considered to become their burglar. He was not very amused by this and the dwarves seemed to have their doubts about him.

Gandalf grew angry. He rose to his full height and cast darkness over them. Lindsey clutched her hand on Kate's arm and Gandalf spoke up in a darker voice,

"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is!" And with that, the darkness vanished and his voice became normal again as he added, "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet. In fact, they can pass unseen by most if they choose. And while the dragon is accustomed to the smell of dwarf, the scent of hobbit is all but unknown to him, which gives us a distinct advantage. You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this Company, and I have chosen Master Baggins. There's a lot more to him than appearance suggest, and he's got a great deal more to offer than any of you know, including himself. You must trust me on this."

Thorin's gaze rested on Bilbo for quite a while until he said in defeat, "Very well. We will do it your way."

"No, no, no!" Bilbo protested but Thorin ignored his pleading and turned to Balin, "Give him the contract."

"Please," Bilbo pleaded once more.

Kate couldn't help it as she said, "Why are you forcing him to go with you? It's clearly visible that he does not want to come! He's afraid, for Christ's Sake!"

"Ah, you're still here, I nearly forgot—," Thorin replied annoyed and watched her challengingly.

They held a death-glance for several moments in which nobody dared to speak until Lindsey rose up from her chair and called,

"Please! Could you stop this for just one second? You two will be the death of this Company with your stubbornness! Both of you!"

Thorin sighed heavily. "I cannot guarantee your safety. Nor will I be responsible for your fate. Neither yours, nor the Hobbit's. If you consider coming with us, you're going to follow me."

"Said the dwarf who lost his way twice," Kate stated sarcastically, but before Thorin could reply to that, they could hear Bilbo's voice suddenly calling,

"Funeral arrangements?"

He stepped back a bit to read the contract. "Terms: Cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit, if any. Seems fair. Eh, present company shall not be liable for injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof including but not limited to lacerations—eviscerations—incineration?" His gaze drifted to the Company.

"Oh, aye! He'll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye," Bofur explained while Bilbo tried to steady his breath.

"Huh," he simply stated

"You all right, laddie?" Balin asked concerned. Kate grew to like this dwarf for he seemed to be the good soul of this Company. Just like a friendly grandfather.

"Uh, yes—feel a bit faint," Bilbo mumbled.

"Think furnace with wings," Bofur added with a cheeky grin.

"Air, I—I need air!"

"Flash of light, searing pain, the Poof! You're nothing more than a pile of ash," Bofur finished.

Bilbos breath came heavier and he tried to compose himself while they stared at him until he simply said, "Nope," and dropped onto the floor.

Kate got up and approached him while she grumbled, "Very helpful, Bofur!"

Fili leaned in closer to Lindsey and whispered, "Your sister is just as moody as Thorin. I suppose if you accompany us, it might be fun to watch these two. What do you think?"

A cheeky grin appeared on his face and Lindsey blushed a bit before she replied, "Yes, I just hope they won't kill each other."

They chuckled and watched how Kate picked up Bilbo and left the room while being followed by Gandalf.