Fact number one: Trolls are the most stupid creatures to ever walk the face of Middle-Earth!

Fact number two: Dwarves are very stupid for making camp near the ruins of an old farm house!

Fact number three: the two young Dwarves known as Fili and Kili have pebbles for brains for letting the Hobbit wander into the Troll's' camp alone over informing their leader of the situation!

Fact number four: the young Dwarves OBVIOUSLY have pebbles for brains for letting the Hobbit wander into the Troll's' camp alone over bringing him back to camp to inform their uncle of the missing ponies!

Fact number two to tie in with fact number five: Dwarves are very stubborn and stupid - well at least the lesser known as Thorin is, for pissing off the Wizard by arguing against understandable reason reason of the situation with the Trolls could have been avoided if he had only listened to the Wizard's wisdom of it being wise to move on.

Fact number six: due to the lead Dwarf's stupidity, I am forced to clean up this entire mess. I suppose I shouldn't use the past tense word forced for the ordeal unfolding before me while watching from the shadows. I could just let the situation unfold by itself while staying hidden in the shadows, while the Dwarves submit to the Trolls and be stuffed in bags to be tossed to the side to keep the poor Hobbit from being killed.

I could do plan A, but plan B began to rear its head in the pit of my stomach and remind my conscience of the fact I had agreed to the Wizard's plight of settling my debt to him by joining the suicidal quest to protect the Hobbit and Dwarves, especially The Line of Durin.

Fact number seven: my name is Raven, and this is my story of how I always saved the day whenever Thorin underestimates, overestimates and makes many mistakes along the way.

I watch the Trolls stuff the last Dwarf into the last burlap bag and throw him to the side with the others. All of them had managed to get into a sitting position.

The lead Troll spoke again. "Are there anymore?" Not paying attention to the woman walking into the opening.

"Right here." I cross my arms while all heads turn to look at me with shock-filled-faces.

"Good evening, gentlemen!" My greeting is polite and kind. "I think there is a huge misunderstanding as to why there is a bunch of Dwarves and a Hobbit in your camp." My eyes glare daggers first to Thorin then to Fili and Kili.

"Oh really?" The lead Troll speaks up.

I nod. "Yes. You see, Thorin's nephews have pebbles for brains for letting the poor Hobbit wander alone into your kind gentlemen's' camp while they themselves run back to camp to inform their uncle of the situation. Then to make matters worse, you kind gentlemen didn't know the Hobbit was part of a Company of twelve Dwarves and their unintelligent leader when you took hold of the Hobbit for dinner, and said unintelligent leader led the twelve Dwarves into your kind gentlemen's' camp with their weapons drawn to get the poor Hobbit back. As a result, I have come to save their sorry hides all because said unintelligent leader refused to keep moving and pissed off the Wizard when said Wizard advised him to do so. One stupid idea led to another and tada! Here we all are."

The Hobbit known as Bilbo hopped up to me. "What she said. I never wanted to venture into your kind gentlemen's' camp, but I made the mistake of listening to our leader's pebble brained nephews' idea of looking into why we were missing two ponies all because I wanted to prove my worth since the Company hasn't been welcoming."

Bilbo flashed me a thankful smile. "I'm thankful you showed up when you did."

"As am I, my sweet Hobbit. How upsetting it must be to feel unwelcome and equally treated as such by a stuffy Dwarf leader." I ignored Thorin's glare.

I turn back to the three Trolls who have been quiet. "So, my kind sirs, I normally don't give a mind as to what you three decide to put on the menu for your gentlemen's' dinner...but these Dwarves are just too filthy to eat - bathing in rivers infested with fish pee and fecal matter and the like..." my words are cut off by a lot of Dwarves protests about how they keep themselves fairly clean.

I give the Dwarves a pointed glare the same time Thorin shuts them up with a good kick. They shut up when Thorin gives them a pointed look that said: she and Bilbo are saving us; agreeing with Bilbo and I soon after.

Bilbo lets out a low chuckle at my muttered words. "Stupid Dwarves."

"So, your kind sirs, if I may, I would kindly request all of my companions be let go as it's not worth your three's' health to eat thirteen-filth-infested Dwarves. And in turn, I will gladly find some food for you three so this whole misunderstanding can be put to rest."

The stupid Troll spoke up. "I like her Bert. She is very kind and polite."

"She is, but I call load of rubbish on her words."

I gave an offended look. "Ouch! That's a bit deep there, kind sir."

The stupid Troll spoke up again. "Oh, come on, Bert. The nice lady is keeping us from getting sick. She feels bad that we was disturbed by the Dwarves."

"And if we don't let them Dwarves go, what will you do?"

I move across the camp so I'm now standing in front of the Dwarves at my side. I let out a sigh. I lift up my right hand that is now engulfed in white energy. Shock crossed all thirteen faces.

"I will have to resort to different matters." I catch the look Thorin gives me.

The stupid Troll was obviously stupid enough to say more. "Bert the nice lady is going to hurt us because we took her friends. I would rather eat something that won't make me sick."

"Shut up, Tom! Her friends won't make you sick with their filth! She made that up so her mean friends could be let go!"

The stupid Troll looked at me. "You lied?!"

I felt sorry for the poor Troll. A thought came to mind. "I only lied to keep you from being hurt further...Tom, was it?" I ask.

The Troll known as Tom walks up to me and bends down so he is eye level with me. "I am...you don't want to hurt me?"

I nod. "That is correct. You see, your two friends here are sentencing you to torment by refusing to let my friends go by refusing to listen to reason. The same reason said very unintelligent Dwarf refused to listen to and got he and his Company mixed into this huge mess. See, the lack of good communication is why he and his kin got themselves stuffed into burlap sacks like mushrooms. If he and his kin had used words over their weapons, this whole situation could have been avoided, and you, Tom, wouldn't have to worry about being sentenced to torture by your two friends. That's why I have a solution for you, Tom." I let out a sigh.

"You're lucky I'm also merciful, Tom. No one has ever been lucky enough to receive mercy from me before. As a result of my mercy, my solution for you Tom is to free you from said torture so much so, you will be free from your cursed nature going as far as even enjoying the rays of sun - even the rays of dawn, and not turn into stone. And I'm guessing you have never felt the warmth of the sun."

My words piqued the Troll's curiosity. The stupid Troll ignored the protests from the other two.

"Hows that, kind lady?"

I smile then latch my hands onto Tom's head, holding his face between my hands. The sound of loud gasps from the Dwarves and Bilbo catches my ears when my magic engulfs Tom completely in white energy; giant Troll turns from that of a Troll, to that of a man with a lazy eye. Tom, now a man, is shorter than Gandalf, but taller than me.

Tom, now a man, is now wearing a sleeveless tunic and tan trousers. His eyes changed from the black beady eyes of a Troll, to sparking beautiful blue eyes of a man; reminding me of the beautiful blue shimmering hue on the water of the sea. And he has a full head of curly brown hair like Bilbo; body all muscular.

My purple eyes take in the gaping looks from the two Trolls. "You can either let my friends go and receive the same treatment I gave to Tom. Or, you both can be dealt with in the harshest of manners."

Bert's reply was mechanical. "What is the harshest of manners to you, woman?" His tone was flat.

I peer at the horizon and notice the first rays of dawn painting the sky with a large boulder cutting off part of the horizon.

"The dawn." I used my magic to slice part of the boulder off and the sun's rays hit the Troll's' faces with the gold rays. I catch a smile pulling at Tom's mouth when the warmth of the sun crashed against his face. My smile broadened when he looked over at me.

"Thank you, kind lady." Tom says gratefully while the Dwarves busy themselves with helping one another out of the burlap sacks.

"You're welcome. I'm just glad everyone is still in one piece." I barely manage to get my words out when another voice demands my attention.

Oh boy! Time to face the music!

I turn to find Thorin standing behind me.

"Be nice to the kind lady!" Tom chided the Dwarf.

I look to Tom. "It's alright, Tom. This was bound to happen sooner or later." I turn my eyes to the Dwarf King. "Hello, Thorin Oakenshield. What is wrong?"

"Everything is wrong. Gandalf didn't tell me he was bringing you along."

I nod in understanding. "Gandalf didn't see a need to. I was only traveling at a distance so I could observe. But then I caught him storming off after your "disagreement."

Thorin's eyes narrowed, looking me up and down; trying to pick out any lie that there might be.

"Who are you?"

Instead of answering his question with the answer he sought, I gave a different answer. "'Answer my riddle to get your key: correctly, and my answers yours shall be.'"

Thorin sighed. "Very well." He was not happy I had decided to pull a riddle on him. "Let me hear."

"'This bird gives me my name

One bends the rules of nature

One has fangs but together

My strength is stronger than Trolls

My might is bigger than Stone Giants

I'm mistaken by human appearance

I'm feared when my true form shows

I'm judge, jury and executioner in fights

I can only survive on what?

What. Am. I?'"