I do not own any of the characters or the Hobbit (just the AU storyline and my OC) those are the work of the esteemed and brilliant John Ronald Reull Tolkien, and without his genius, this and many other fan fics would not be in existence.

Please review! I love getting them-they keep me encouraged! J

The next morning, the sunlight shone through the hole in the roof, illuminating the young trio sleeping peacefully.

Sometime during the night, the three of them had nestled very close to each other, no doubt for warmth. Their limbs tangled as three different colors of hair intermingled on Cirashala's pack, which had served as a makeshift pillow.

Cirashala blinked, her eyes fluttering open as she squinted in the bright morning light. She groaned a bit as she wiggled her still tender fingers and toes. She had been very lucky, indeed, according to Oin, because had she been out in the cold any longer she surely would have gotten frostbite.

She heard the fire crackling, and tilted her head slightly to see Bombur preparing breakfast. The rotund dwarf looked up at her and grinned.

"Morning, lass," he said quietly so as to not wake the other members of the company. "How are you feeling?" She managed to disentangle her hand from where it had been stuck under her pack and rubbed her eyes, yawning.

"Fine," she mumbled. She tried to move, but quickly realized that the two brothers had her in a vice like grip, and couldn't move hardly at all, let alone get up. Her head dropped back down with a sigh.

"They have a right good hold on ye," Bofur chuckled as he stood to his feet, having just come in after being outside. He brushed the snow off of his knees.

"Looks like the weather has cleared," he said to Bombur, who had just put some bacon on the skillet, causing sizzling sounds to emanate from the black pan. "But there's a good three feet of snow out there. Seems like the mountain is confused as to what season it is." Bombur shook his head as Bofur sat opposite him and held his hands over the small fire.

"The Misty Mountains are never kind to travelers, you know that" the round dwarf replied, before glancing at Cirashala.

"Those two lads have sure taken a liking to ya," he said, winking. "Seems they have decided you are their friend. Good judge of character, they are."

"Aye," Balin agreed, sitting up and stretching his arms. The kind dwarf smiled warmly at Cirashala. "They have more sense than the rest of us old dwarves, it seems." He stood up, stretching a bit more, before heading outside, winking at her as he passed by.

She sighed and laid her head back down. She was quite annoyed by the fact that she could not sleep in anything but darkness, and would have very much liked to go back to sleep had she been able to. To make matters worse, she needed to visit outside, and could not figure out how to get two unconscious and dead weight dwarves off of her.

Balin returned after a few minutes, and glanced at her as he brushed the snow off of himself. He noticed her attempt to move, and fail again. A twinkle entered his eyes as he glanced at the two sleeping dwarves, and he smirked.

"Do you need some help getting up, lassie?" he asked her, kneeling down beside the trio. She nodded, glancing at each of the brothers.

"They are too heavy," she replied. "Fili's arm has my waist in a death grip, Kili's hugging my arm so tightly that my fingers are going numb, and they pinned my legs. I can't get them off without waking them." Balin chuckled.

"There are other ways of waking them up, lass," he said with a smirk. Her eyebrow raised.

"And is this other way going to get me in trouble?" she asked, and Balin grinned.

"I don't think so," he replied, his grin getting wider. "You see, I helped raise these two, and I happen to know that they are both quite ticklish." Her eyes widened comically.

"You have got to be joking," she replied. "If you think I would even dare to—" The three dwarves awake chuckled as a loud growl sounded from her stomach.

"Well, you can either wait for them to wake up to eat," Bofur said, grinning, "Or let them sleep while the rest of us eat. The two of them hardly ever wake up on their own." She groaned as the smell of freshly cooked bacon and biscuits wafted to her, before the words from last night came back to her, and she eyed Balin suspiciously.

"How can I be sure I trust you?" she replied, eyes narrowing. "You dwarves do not trust me as far as you can throw me." The grin left Balin's face and his eyes widened in surprise as the other two dwarves stiffened. Her heart was pounding as she spoke, for she felt absolutely certain that the conversation she overheard last night was not meant for her ears at all.

"You all made it very clear last night that you cannot trust me. You do not believe me to be willing to help you unless I can get something out of it," she continued, and Balin could hear the slight twinge of hurt in her voice. He held up his hand.

"Lass, we didn't mean—" he began, but she cut him off.

"Forget it," she said, closing her eyes and taking a shuddering breath. "I am genuinely trying to help you. I expect no reward, nor will I ask for one. If you don't believe that, then I am sorry for it. But maybe when we reach Laketown you will finally believe me. But know that I will honor the agreement I made- we part ways in Laketown, and until then, I will not tickle anyone or prank anyone or give you any other reason to distrust me. I think my being human is enough." She yanked her arm roughly out of Kili's, who woke with a startle and slight confusion on his face.

"Wha…" he mumbled, and his eyes widened as she shoved his leg roughly off of hers. At that, Fili woke too, both of them sitting up confused.

"Cirashala, what's the matter?" Fili's sleepy voice asked her as he rubbed his eyes. She didn't answer as she stood up, not meeting anyone's eyes as tears threatened to fall. She stepped around Balin, before ducking out the door, leaving five very bewildered dwarves behind her.

XXX

She swiped the tears off her face angrily, tramping through the snow as best she could to find somewhere she could take care of her business.

The tears ran freely down her cheeks, and she kicked a tuft of snow that was in the path that Bofur had beaten down that morning. She sniffled as her nose ran, and held her arms close to her, having forgotten her cloak in her haste.

"Stubborn dwarves," she choked out. "Always suspicious of everything, and never being willing to give anyone a chance!" She saw a large boulder ahead, and the path wound around it. No doubt was in her mind that behind it was what the company were using to relieve themselves.

She had been so preoccupied with her thoughts she hadn't noticed Ori, who was returning from his morning errand, and the two ran smack into each other just as Cirashala had been going to turn off the path and take a detour around the other side of the rock.

She fell backward into the snow, effectively sitting in it, and the scribe's eyes widened.

"Cirashala, I am so sorry!" he said, reaching an arm out to grab her wrist and pull her back up out of the deep snow. He noticed the tears on her face and froze.

"What's wrong?" he asked her, and she flushed in embarrassment as she hastily wiped them away.

"Nothing," she snapped, and Ori stepped back, holding up his hands.

"Sorry," he replied quickly. "You just seemed upset." The startled and apologetic look on the dwarf's face was so genuine that Cirashala sighed and ducked her head.

"Why did you join the company?" she asked quietly, and Ori's expression turned from apologetic to confused. "Was it only because you wanted some of the gold?" The quiet dwarf's eyes widened, realizing that she had overheard the conversation last night.

"If this is about what Gloin said, know that not all of us think that," he replied quickly. "I didn't join the company for the gold, although I will admit the thought of having a part of the treasure is tempting. I joined because I wanted to chronicle the journey, and I wanted adventure. Not only that, but I am loyal to Thorin, and he needed help." She looked downward and bit her lip.

"Then why does everyone seem to think that's all I want?" she asked him, and he saw hurt in her expression. "Not everyone desires gold, and I have never mistreated any dwarf." Ori shuffled, clearly uncomfortable, and she shook her head.

"I am sorry," she apologized quickly. "I should not have—" Ori held up his hand.

"Gloin wasn't sure about my coming along either," he said, earning a surprised look. "He, er, said that my choice of weapon was not exactly indicative of being a warrior, and that gentlefolk who can't fight or defend themselves should stay home where it is safe." Her eyes widened, before her brow furrowed in confusion.

"But a slingshot can take down many things," she replied, and Ori chuckled.

"Aye, I think so too," he replied. "But unfortunately, Orc and warg skulls are too thick for stones."

"So are dwarves," she muttered before she could stop herself, and turned bright red as her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Ori laughed.

"Aye, they sure are," he said, chuckling. "And Gloin's is the thickest." He smiled warmly.

"Don't you be minding what they think," the scribe said. "You are not like other humans we have encountered. I should know- I wrote all about the irritating ones in my journal." He winked at her, and she gave him a grateful look.

"Thank you," she replied, before biting her lip nervously, hoping she wasn't overstepping bounds. "D-did you draw things in your journal, too?" Ori's face lit up, and he nodded.

"Aye, I have," he said. "I haven't traveled much, either, and so I have drawn as much as I could. Would you like to see them?" She nodded, before eying the rock.

"Perhaps after I get back in the shelter," she said, and Ori nodded.

"Would you like me to keep watch so the others don't bother you?" he asked. "I will stay on this side of the rock and I won't look, I swear."

"Yes, I-I mean, if-if you don't mind," she stuttered. "I-I would appreciate it." After her little seat in the snow, she wasn't too sure about the idea of beating another path.

"I don't mind," Ori nodded. "You are a lady, after all, and need your privacy."

"Thank you, Ori," she replied. "I don't know why Gloin says that I would think dwarves have no manners, because you definitely do." The dwarf flushed a bit at the praise.

"Best get going," he said. "Smells like breakfast is nearly done."

She nodded and disappeared behind the rock.

XXX

The company looked up as Cirashala came back in after Ori, and Bofur passed her a bowl with bacon, biscuits, and some dried fruit in it, not meeting her eyes. While she had heard some talking going on before she entered the door, now the room was strangely silent.

She looked for a place to sit down, before moving between Fili and Kili. The two young dwarves looked at her with trepidation, scooting a bit away from her as she sat down. She began to eat slowly, feeling more and more uncomfortable at the pressing silence.

XXX

They finished eating quickly, and packed up their things before heading out. Dwalin, Fili, and Bofur took a few minutes to destroy their shelter with their war hammers and mattock so as to not leave a large indication that they had been there.

The company soon set off, and Cirashala noticed that whenever she neared anyone, what low conversations they had would cease. The two heirs walked near her as usual, but they didn't make eye contact.

She finally made her way to Bilbo, hoping that the hobbit would give her some answers as to why no one was speaking to her or around her.

"Bilbo," she said quietly. The hobbit looked up at her, and his eyes widened as he moved a bit away from her. An expression of hurt crossed her features.

"Bilbo, please," she said quickly, her tone pleading. The hobbit stopped, before looking at her guiltily.

"Why is no one talking to me or around me?" she asked, and the hobbit gulped, before ducking his head.

"Because you heard what they said last night when you weren't supposed to," he replied. "As far as Fili, Kili, Bofur, Bombur and Balin, they are hurt that you think they don't trust you, and Fili and Kili are also convinced they made you angry." She looked down with a sad expression.

"I am not angry," she said, hurt in her tone. "I just reacted badly to the accusations made last night. As for eavesdropping, I didn't mean to, I swear!" Bilbo placed his hand on her arm.

"I know that," he said, and she gave him a flat look.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" she asked, and the hobbit turned crimson as he refused to meet her eyes.

"Er, well," he said, clearing his throat. "After what you said to Balin, I…well, I thought…" he trailed off, shuffling.

"You thought what?" she asked, and Bilbo gulped.

"I….I thought you were having, well…." He gulped again, turning even redder. "My father always told me to never ire a woman when she was having, well….her time." If poor Bilbo could have disappeared, she was quite confident he would have done so, and was rather glad he didn't have the ring yet. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open.

"Um, no," she finally said slowly, shaking her head as her face turned crimson as well. Bilbo gulped again.

"Well, we had better get going, don't want to be late-never late," he said in a rush, before hurrying away from her as quickly as he could. She stared after him, eyes wide as she blinked stupidly.

Well, that explains a lot, she thought to herself. If the others came to that conclusion, no wonder they are avoiding me. Dwarrow women must be absolutely terrifying indeed at that time.

She hadn't yelled at Balin at all, or even snapped really, and was rather surprised if he had come to that conclusion as well. She had a feeling when it came to the dwarves that it was more that she had heard words not meant for her ears. She continued on through the snow, shivering as a gust of wind blew against her.

You really made a mess of things now, she thought to herself. You may have just lost the few friends you had.

XXX

The company passed under an overhanging of rock. Icicles glinted in the morning light, some reaching as far down as the ground while others ended in a sharp point.

Kili saw Cirashala shiver ahead of him, and sighed. He glanced over at his brother, and signed to him.

Do you think she is still angry with us? He said. Fili shrugged.

I don't know, he replied. She seemed to be very upset that we had all but pinned her down this morning.

We were just trying to keep her warm, Kili countered. She was so cold last night.

Fili shrugged, glancing at her with concern.

She is still cold, he replied. She's back to that flimsy elvish clothing.

"Of course she is," a voice muttered behind them, and they turned to see Gloin. The red haired dwarf scowled in her direction.

"Probably thinks dwarf clothes are inferior," he added. The hair on Kili's neck bristled and he and Fili shot the dwarf an angry look.

"It's because of you that she thinks none of us trust her," a voice sounded behind Gloin, and he turned in surprise to see Ori. The scribe glared at Gloin.

"She was upset when she ran into me on the way back from visiting the rock this morning," Ori continued. "She thinks because she is a human that none of us could trust her. I told her not all of us feel that way." Gloin huffed.

"Why wouldn't you?" he replied. "It's not like you are a warrior either." Dori glared at Gloin.

"Let my brother be," he replied. "It seems that you are the only one who is still against her." Gloin rolled his eyes.

"Thorin is too," he replied. "And you all should be. She heard something not meant for her ears. Why would you trust an eavesdropper?" The two young dwarves in front of him turned and glared at him.

"If you do not trust an eavesdropper, then you should not trust us," Fili said, and Kili nodded. "We are far worse eavesdroppers than she is, and you know it!"

"It's not like she could just step out while we talked," Kili added, his eyes narrowing. "You saw how well that turned out when we were just changing!" Gloin huffed.

"You are dwarves," he said simply. "She is a human, and she has no business listening in on our conversations. She should not have pretended to be asleep."

"Well, since the conversation was about her, I would say she did have a right," Fili retorted. "And you had no right to accuse her of what you did." Gloin's eyes narrowed.

"I had every right to do so," he replied. "You two are naïve and know little of humans. Do you not remember what happened to Thorin in Bree?" Kili rolled his eyes.

"She is only 26! She wasn't even born then!" Kili replied indignantly.

"She is way too young to even be on this quest!" Gloin responded. "She has nearly gotten herself killed more than once!"

"Which proves that she doesn't want any gold," Ori spoke up behind Gloin, and he turned in surprise.

"And how would that prove anything?" he asked, looking down at the scribe. Ori folded his arms around his journal and looked Gloin in the eye.

"Because the gold would be of no use to her if she were dead," he said simply. "If she really wanted some of the gold, she wouldn't be putting herself in harm's way like she is." The merchant stared at Ori for a moment, before turning and pushing past the two smirking heirs with a huff.

Fili and Kili turned and looked at Ori, before the three of them chuckled.

XXX

They continued walking, and Kili glanced again at her, noticing her shivering form. He sighed, and pulled his tunic out of his pack. He moved ahead of Fili and approached her nervously.

She raised her head as he fell in step beside her. They walked in silence for a moment, before he reached his tunic out to her.

"Take it," he said quietly. She looked at him for a moment, before hesitantly reaching out and grasping the tunic.

"I-I'm sorry for this morning," she muttered. "I just…I didn't sleep well last night, and I couldn't get up this morning." He sighed.

"Gloin's wrong," he said, looking straight ahead as they walked. "I don't think you are after the gold at all. And…I am sorry I pinned you." He flushed a bit as he said the last part, looking away from her.

"You were asleep," she said. "You could not help it. Though when Balin said the other night that there was room between you two if I didn't sleep like a whirlwind, he failed to tell me you two did." Kili chuckled.

"I guess I am just so used to sleeping by my brother," he said. "Fili can sleep through anything."

"I am sorry I heard things I shouldn't have," she replied quietly, and Kili glanced at her. He sighed.

"If they didn't want you to hear, they shouldn't have said it," he said. "You would have to be deaf or unconscious to not have heard us last night." She sighed, and her shoulders slumped.

"I shouldn't have said anything," she replied. "I need to learn to just keep my mouth shut and my head down." She looked so sad in that moment, and Kili recognized the look in her eyes. He had seen that same look in the mirror every time he had been teased or taunted by those he had thought were friends, and he had thought himself friendless.

Here she is among those she barely knows, grieving for those she had lost, and she thinks that none of us like her at all, he thought to himself.

"For what it's worth, you do have friends among us," he found himself saying, and she stopped and looked at him in surprise. Brown eyes met blue, and he smiled shyly at her.

"Aye, that you do," Fili said, coming up on her other side. "And we do thank you for not tickling us this morning. Though I have in mind that mister Balin is long overdue for a little amusement." He winked at Kili, who smirked back, and she held up her hands.

"Uh-uh," she said. "I am not taking midnight watch again!"

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A response to guest reviewer Ri-chan- Thanks! I am glad you liked the igloo idea- getting trapped on a mountain in a snowstorm without some kind of shelter isn't a good idea, and there isn't really a good way for them to pack a shelter around big enough for all of them to fit in, so I went with the next best thing. Besides, they are nowhere near Goblintown yet so no caves yet- they are only (goodness I forget-have to count backwards in my chapters for sure!) about four days or so into the mountains, and by my calculations they would need at least a week at 10 miles per day in order to reach the other side- I am estimating about 50 according to the Atlas of Middle-earth as the raven flies, and so after up, down, and around about 70 or so. I think I will have them take 8 days of travel before they reach Goblintown, so 4 more days to go. As far as Balin- he understands the loss she's experiencing far too well. He saw Erebor fall, and he watched Thorin as the dwarf prince saw nearly his entire remaining family wiped out at Azanulbizar (his grandfather beheaded, his father went missing, his brother died- we never hear about his mother so I had her die in Erebor's attack in my story, and Dis, the boy's mother, is in the Blue Mountains. I feel that she and the boys are all he has left at this point). So he knows that look in her eyes-it's the same as the look in Thorin's when he thinks about the losses he suffered. That's why he knows that her grief IS affecting her, whether she thinks it is or not. And she doesn't realize that bottling it up isn't going to work. It might in the short term, but it is eating away at her from the inside.

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