A/N: Same as always - disclaimer in Chap 1, muchas gracias to NixNox for beta-ing :)

Chapter 4: Trixy Business

They had been on the road a few days now. The dwarves trudged on, Bilbo hated a lot of it despite not really showing it. Gandalf seemed perpetually amused. Linshara on the other hand enjoyed the trip so far. The Lonelands moreso than Breeland were brimming with history and the sage, knowledge oriented part of her was always interested in it. Often when she would ride up front with Gandalf he would relate a story or two.

Other times she would chat with Ori and Balin who were both extremely nice and kind to her. Ori being the Company scribe related to her a lot about dwarven history while Balin told her of dwarf customs. Kili and Fili would entertain her other times when they weren't busy executing Thorin's instructions. She'd come to find Kili endearing while Fili remained somewhat of a mystery in his reserved yet mischievous manner, especially when Kili was around.

One night after they had dinner and made camp at the edge of the Lonelands near Trollshaws, it came to pass what Fili had predicted.

"I believe we should test your skill with a blade finally, lass." Dwalin announced at one point and stood up some of the older dwarves grunting in agreement.

Linshara looked up from where she sat with Ori who had asked her thoughts on some of his texts. Dwalin was more interested in proving to her, Gandalf and Thorin that she had no business being in the Company, she could feel it.

The problem was she hadn't practiced much of late with a real blade, for one. The other problem was that she was rather restricted in her options, not being able to rely on her primary form, Niman and force based attacks too much, if at all. She would have to mostly rely on Soresu for the time being.

"Alright. It is only fair I suppose." She stood up as well and retrieved the sword that Fili had lent her, he had more than enough left.

There was keen interest from all of them for this display. Some wanted her to prove herself, some to fail, the others merely curious.

Linshara stepped after Dwalin over to a nearby clearing, spinning the blade in her right hand to warm her wrist up. It felt distinctly heavier than her lightsaber, which she'd need to compensate for.

He bowed to her and set his blade at the ready and she followed suit. Dwalin lunged at her without much preamble. Were she anyone else she would be distinctly afraid of the large intimidating dwarf. She blocked his opening attack with difficulty and stepped out of his reach. He was a strength based swordsman and while disciplined he seemed to be fuelled largely by rage. For each of his rather brutal attacks she found herself blocking, parrying and dodging at least four or five before finding an opening for an attack of her own which he usually deftly did away with.

She shed her coat at some point as she became overheated. The spectators seemed surprised that she lasted well twenty minutes into the spar session. It lasted long because she spent nearly all of that time on defense.

Gandalf could feel the immense self control and effort she exerted not to unleash the full arsenal of her abilities on the unsuspecting dwarf, which she feared would kill him. Indeed Dwalin seemed to believe he was winning the exercise despite her leading him around the small clearing. However he was tiring slowly and exposing his left calf.

Rolling to the side and spinning quickly she tripped Dwalin up. Even falling the tall dwarf swung at her and growled. She quickly clambered onto her feet and made to disarm him. He took the opportunity however to do the same only he used his momentum and superior mass to roll on top of her as she fell and twisted the blade out of her hand.

He was panting heavily as he slid his blade under her neck. "Not bad..." gasp, "lassie, not bad at all." He flashed her a smug grin.

Linshara felt some of the tension from the others lessen. Little did they know just how much she held back. But this session indicated some flaws she needed to work on. "Thank you, Master Dwalin. I yield."

Gloin and Bofur helped Dwalin up, while Fili and Kili helped her. She could feel Gandalf's eyes on her as she dusted herself off.

"Yeh 'eld yer own longer than Fili an' Kili usually do, lass." Bofur chuckled as Fili stepped over with her coat.

"Oi, that's not true!" Kili protested immediately.

"Here Linshara, so you don't catch a cold." Fili said through a chuckle as he glanced at his little brother and the grinning Bofur.

She slipped into her coat and went to sit by the fire to warm up. At this moment she would kill for a bath but with no running water near she'd have to wait till they reached the river.

"I'm impressed." Said Fili as he sat next to her.

She rubbed her upper arms looking over at him. "Thanks."

"I would be even more impressed if you hadn't held back the way you did." He leaned a little closer and whispered.

She turned to face him slowly, catching his icy blue eyes. How could he tell?

"How exactly did I hold back?" She had to ask.

He leaned in again, the beads on his braided moustache swinging a little. Briefly, fleetingly almost and alarmingly so she found herself once overing and admiring the golden prince. She banished the thoughts quickly.

"You're not a classical warrior. Your defensive skills are admirable but we saw almost no offense. Which makes me think you rely on a different weapon usually as well as magic. Perhaps magic even more so. Being scholarly minded, it makes a lot of sense." He replied with a smirk, a smug one almost.

It was her turn to be impressed by his insightfulness and intelligence. "You are correct. I would loathe to kill Dwalin which could have easily happened." A half truth was better than a lie at this point.

He nodded slowly, "I understand." A grin flashed her way then, "still an impressive feat, for a lass."

She gasped in surprise at the tease, making him laugh a little, his eyes catching hers. They had grown a warmer, sapphire blue now. As quick as it was there the look was gone.

"Kili is rubbing off on you." She chuckled finally.

He shook his head, "who do you think taught him everything?"

Soon after the company settled around the campsite to grab a few hours sleep, Kili and Fili taking first watch. Linshara could hear in the back of her mind some quiet talk, and feel Thorin's agitation but shut it out pretty quickly in favour of a few hours rest. She knew they'd wake her if there was trouble.

Over the next few days the weather took a turn for the worse, as did mood. The dwarves didn't like the rain. Having entered deeper into the Trollshaws, they decided to stop for a night at what looked like an abandoned cottage.

"A farmer and his family used to live here." Gandalf murmured as Thorin approached him.

Linshara however listened very little to the chatter of the dwarves as she dismounted. She felt a presence of something very familiar close by, something she hadn't felt in a while. But how was a Force nexus possible here?

She handed her horse over to Kili who, along with Fili lead the ponies away. It wasn't until Bilbo stepped over to her that she brought herself back to reality.

"Linshara, are you alright?" He asked gently.

She smiled at the little man, "oh yes. I was just distracted a bit, sorry. Anything I can help you with?"

It was then that they heard Gandalf fuming at Thorin. The stubborn, cantankerous dwarf had done something again.

"Where are you going?" Bilbo asked after Gandalf as he passed by them.

"To seek the counsel of the only one here that has any sense!" Gandalf rumbled.

"And who's that?"

"Myself!"

Decision quickly made, Linshara darted after him. The dwarves didn't seem to be much affected by his leaving while Bilbo had clearly been worries.

"Gandalf, what's happened?" Linshara asked as she caught up to the tall wizard.

He muttered under breath still, "save me from the stubbornness of dwarves."

Only then did he notice he had company.

"He is refusing any council and guidance. I urged him to leave the camp site and find another. We are in danger here." Gandalf supplied the answer but continued to walk.

She nodded, still half running to keep pace with him. "Danger from what? I didn't feel anything."

"The farmer's house was destroyed not too long ago."

"So whoever did it may still be here."

He nodded, "exactly. He also will not seek the aid of the elves to help us read the map. Obstinate creature."

"He has a grudge against all of them." Linshara commented. That reminded her of someone so very much. It would seem some qualities and flaws were the same no matter the race or time.

Gandalf nodded, "Lord Elrond was never at the Desolation nor were his people. Yet to Thorin all elves are guilty of not helping them in their hour of need."

They were quite a way away now from the camp. Gandalf seemed to have a specific direction in mind as he barely looked at her. It went on like that for a good few hours.

"Is he really the only one that can read the map?"

He nodded again, "I believe so, yes."

"Change the circumstances then, lead us there as if it's the only path we can take." Linshara suggested.

He stopped and looked at her, his sharp eyes piercing hers. "Guile, Master Linshara. Sounds like you have experience with it."

"How else could one be a successful negotiator without it?" She chuckled.

He smiled for the first time in a while.

"I keep feeling a strong presence of the Light Side, Gandalf. There is a Force Nexus of some sort further on." She said suddenly.

"What you are probably feeling is the power of Lord Elrond and Rivendell." He supplanted.

Linshara frowned, "elven magic? Interesting."

She turned sharply towards the direction of the camp suddenly. "Something's wrong, they're in trouble."

"Go, I will catch up." Gandalf urged.

Linshara darted off and was soon no more than a speck on the horizon as she enhanced her speed with the force. However, there was nobody there back at tracks were mixed up and muddled so she couldn't tell where they were leading. So she reached out with her senses.

Realizing they weren't that far away she headed in their direction carefully. As she noticed a large fire and voices, she took to the bushes to observe the situation first. Three enormous creatures sat around a big fire, with the dwarves and the ponies behind them. The dwarves were all placed in large sacks, Bilbo also. He was however on his feet and trying to talk the big lugs out of eating Bombur. So far they seemed mostly agitated but unharmed.

Was he stalling for time? She had no idea what the creatures were, nor if she could use her abilities against them to aid the dwarves, but she'd have to try because Bilbo was running out of excuses.

"He's right though." She spoke as she stepped out of her cover. "Those worms are nasty business."

Gandalf was nearing, she could feel it.

The trolls turned to face her.

"Well well, what do we 'ave 'ere? What are you?" The most confident one turned to her.

She shrugged, acting as casual as she could. "Oh I hunt and cook dwarves for a living, was hunting them before you three made off with them."

Some of the dwarves wanted to protest, but a swift kick from Thorin and they quieted down.

"We should cook 'er too!" The one with the squeaky voice said.

Gandalf clambered onto the rock behind her, "the dawn will take you all!" With that he cracked the rock, part of it sliding aside and exposing dawn-light at the trolls.

~That's one neat trick! Need to remember that one.~

A/N: Let me know what you think guys