Hi there lovely people! I haven't forgotten about you. I promised myself (and you) that I would finish this story and so I shall!

Bronwyn was fast asleep and did not notice the two stormy blue eyes watching her. Thorin sat across from her and was watching the sleeping little creature closely through the camp fire. The Hobbit had been avoiding him all day, he knew that. Every time he came to close the Hobbit would just duck away or walk into the opposite direction. Thorin wasn't bothered at first but eventually it really started to bug him.

When they were walking up the hill today, he turned around from the head of the group to see the Hobbit walking with Bofur. They were just talking and laughing like they didn't had a care in the world. It was the happiest he had ever seen him. When the Hobbit looked up and saw him looking back at him, he quickly adverted his eyes giving Thorin the cold shoulder.

And tonight when it was time to eat he saw the Hobbit messing about with his nephews. Hitting them and laughing together. Yet, the moment he turned up the Hobbit started to act nervous and stand offish.

Thorin could feel his irritation swell up in the pit of his stomach. He was sick and tired of being ignored when he had done nothing wrong. Yes, they had an episode in the bath but he had only said the truth how he felt about the situation. There was no need to get upset and slap him in the face! If anyone should be upset it would be him! The Hobbit slapped him. He should be the one giving him the cold shoulder! Not that small, gentle thing sleeping comfortably on the other side of the fire.

Why does he care so much about how the Hobbit acts towards him anyway?

He saw a gold lock of hair fall down his small face. Thorin looked at his closed eyes, which he knew were hiding two big, dark brown eyes. He noticed his very long, full eyelashes that created shadows on his slightly pink cheeks. He couldn't help but think that they made him look quite feminine...

''You a'right there Thorin?'' Balin sat down next to Thorin, interrupting his thoughts. Thorin teared his eyes away from the Hobbit and quickly shook his head to get rid of his ridiculous thoughts. Balin looked across the fire in the direction his king was looking at to find out where he was so preoccupied with and only saw the sleeping Hobbit.

''Fine.. Just thinking about what we could encounter in the mountains tomorrow.'' he lied.

''Hmm..ยจ Balin slightly raised his eyebrows and looked back at Thorin. ''Yea rumour has it that the mountains are crawling with goblins. It will be difficult to get past them.''

''If we don't attract attention to ourselves we might get past them unnoticed.'' he knew it was a dangerous task but he knew everyone in his company was strong enough to defend themselves if goblins did ambush them.

Bronwyn's face twitched in her sleep and she pulled her blanket higher to her face.

Well, almost everyone..

Bronwyn woke up early the next morning and thanked Eru that the rest of the company was still asleep. She quietly packed her stuff and headed towards the river not far from the campsite but still hidden behind the trees.

Also one of the difficulties while travelling with thirteen dwarves. She always has to make sure she get's up before the others so she can wash up in privacy, which isn't always easy.

Bronwyn walked towards the tree line and looked back at the snoring dwarves. She glanced over each member to make sure they were still asleep. Her eyes lingered a little longer on the dark haired dwarf who was still sound asleep and snored softly under his breath. Bronwyn couldn't help but stare at Thorin's sleeping face. He looked so peaceful and she wished he could always look like that. He sure looked a lot less intimidating.

She quickly teared her eyes away to afraid he could hear her thoughts and wake up. She disappeared trough the trees and headed for the river. She sat down, curled up her trousers and dipped her hairy feet into the water. The cold water felt great on her skin. She leaned forward and cupped her hands to splash water on her face and through her short hair. She sure missed her long wavy hair but she kinda got used to it short. It took a lot less time grooming and washing that's for sure. But it already grown quite a bit since they left Bag End. Her long bangs fell annoyingly in front of her face but she just let them hang there concealing her face. She couldn't wear them back anyway.

She sighed and stared at her reflexion in the water. How long was she going to keep it up. How long until they notice that she's a girl. How long until he will notice?

She wasn't stupid, she knew she couldn't keep it a secret forever but how much longer would it take. Would they sent her home. Would they be angry at her. Would he be angry at her?

Yes, most likely.

''Ghaaah'' Bronwyn ruffled her fingers through her hair and let out a irritated groan. There's no point in thinking about those things! It will happen when it will happen and maybe she's lucky and they'll never find out ever. it's not like Thorin likes her now anyway..

She got up and wiped her feet dry on the grass and walked back. The other dwarves were already awake and packed up their stuff.

''Well, how great of you to join us Master Baggins. I hope we haven't kept you?'' Thorin said with a sarcastic tone and gave her an irritated look.

Bronwyn jumped a little at the sound of the deep voice but managed to meet his eyes with her own.

''No, not at all.'' She replied with a sweet smile. He scowled and Bronwyn smiled to herself for her little victory.

They continued their journey to the Misty Mountains. It was getting darker and the weather was getting worse with each passing step. When they finally reached the mountains the weather was so bad that it had turned into a big storm. The rain made the road slippery and the wind almost blew everyone of the edge.

Bronwyn's hair was soaking wet and stuck to her forehead. She held tight to the rocks to keep herself steady but the rocks were slippery and she could barely see a thing through the rain. She could only hear the dwarves shouting at each other. She thought she heard Thorin say they needed to find shelter but was interrupted by Dwalin.

''Look out!'' he shouted. A huge rock came flying through the rain and hit the rocks right above them. Tiny rocks fell down on top of them. Bronwyn tried to duck away against the stone.

''This is no thunder storm! It's a thunder battle. Look!'' She heard Balin shout and looked towards the mountains he was pointing at. There she saw it through the rain, huge stone giants! She couldn't believe her eyes. The legends were true!

Suddenly the ground they were standing on started to move. They were in fact standing on another stone giant! Bronwyn clung to the rocks for her dear life while they soared threw the air. She could hear the other dwarves scream at each other but she had no idea what was going on. When she finally had a chance to look up she could only see the mountain that was quickly closing in on them. She closed her eyes and waited for the mountain to hit them. She could vaguely hear Thorin scream when her body slammed into the mountain. The stone giant moved away and Bronwyn felt herself sliding down the slippery rocks, She tried to grab anything to hold herself up.

''Where is Bilbo? Where is the Hobbit?'' She saw Bofur looking down over the edge where she finally found something to hold on to. Bofur ducked down over the edge.

''Grab my hand!'' He reached out is hand but it was in vain. Bronwyn tried to grab his hand but slipped down even further. Suddenly something big jumped down and grabbed her shirt. Thorin pulled her up the ledge. Bronwyn sank on her knees and breathed heavily.

''You okay?'' Bofur sat next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

''Yeah, I'm fine thanks.'' Bronwyn was still out of breath but gave him a small smile which he returned.

''I thought we lost our burglar.'' Dwalin said jokingly when he saw that the Hobbit was okay.

''He was already lost, ever since he left home. He should never have come.'' Thorin said with a harsh voice. ''He is not one of us.'' Bronwyn looked up at his stormy blue eyes and saw his anger and something she couldn't quite place. His words cut through her like a knife and she felt her heart ache in her chest. He turned away and walked towards a crack between the rocks. He called out for Dwalin who gave Bronwyn a reassuring smile before he followed his king.

''Come on.'' Bofur gently pulled her up her feet. ''I think they found a cave.'' Bronwyn nodded and followed the rest through the crack. Thorin ordered them to get some sleep. They would leave first thing in the morning. ''Bofur take the first watch.'' Thorin spat and Bronwyn could see Bofur groan a little.

''Don't worry I'll keep you company. I can't sleep anyway.'' Bronwyn sat down next to Bofur who smiled happily that he wasn't on his own for the next few hours.

The cave quickly filled with the familiar sound of snoring dwarves. Bronwyn pulled her blanket closer around her for warmth while Bofur was carving a animal out of wood. The minutes slowly passed by and she could only think about what Thorin had said to her. He had to be one of the rudest man she had ever met in her life! But he was right... She only caused trouble instead of good. But the way he said it, the way he looked at her. It hurt. She really wanted to help them, why couldn't he see that?

''You know, I do think you're part of the company.'' Bronwyn looked up at Bofur who was still carving. ''You shouldn't worry yourself about Thorin. We need you and he knows it.'' Bronwyn was speechless, he could almost read her mind. She smiled. ''Thank you.''

Bofur stopped carving and looked down at her and gave her a playful rub through her hair.

''No problem lass.''

Bronwyn's eyes shot open. W-what?! But before she could ask any further the ground started to shake. Thorin got on his feet. Wait, how long was he awake?! ''Everybody get up!''

But before the dwarves could comprehend what was going on they fell down into the mountain.

They were sliding down further into the mountains until they fell on something hard. Goblins came from every direction. They took their weapons and dragged them away. The Goblins were so busy capturing the dwarves that they hadn't noticed her. She quickly ducked on the ground and made herself so small as she possible could. The Goblins still hadn't noticed her and walked away as planned.

She looked up and saw the group of Goblins leaving while dragging the dwarves behind them. Good now she could follow them and figure out a way to safe them. Bronwyn took out her tiny sword and quietly followed the group. The adrenaline was pumping through her veins and the anxiety made her jump a little in her step, but she was determined. Everything was going well until a Goblin blocked her path. He swung with his dirty sword and Bronwyn could duck away just in time. She swung her sword, which he blocked and pushed her on the ground. The Goblin came closer and swung his sword again, but it was her time to block it. The Goblin snarled in her face. Ugh, bad breath. Bronwyn groaned and kicked as hard as she could between the Goblins legs. The Goblin shrieked and ducked forward. Bronwyn took this chance to jump on his back but the Goblin was standing to close to the edge and lost his balance. It was too late for her to jump off and they both fell into the pit.

Bronwyn slowly opened her eyes. Ooh, my head hurts. She touched her head with her hand and felt the sticky fluid. She looked at her fingers and saw that the sticky fluid was blood. She wiped the blood on her trousers and tried to look around to figure out where she was. She was lying in something soft, that probably broke her fall. She heard the Goblin growl right beside her but also the sound of something different. She turned her head and looked through the plants that broke her fall. The Goblin was lying on the ground when another creature crept out of the darkness. Bronwyn had never seen anything like it. What in Eru's name is that?

Thank you so much for your patience! I will do better in the future, or maybe not.. I really can't promise anything. The only promise I will make is that I am going to finish this story!

As always please review/follow/favourite. It's really wonderful to see you guys pop-up in my mailbox!