Chapter 4 - Thorin

"Gandalf."

Thorin looked up at Gandalf before slowly stepping inside the hobbit hole. "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 the mark on the door." Quietly I moved to the dinning room and hid behind the little wall that separated the entrance hallway and oak hall.

"Mark? There's no mark on that door. It was painted a week ago!"

Peeking out from behind the little wall, I couldn't see much because of the crowd of dwarves. So I quickly moved to the opposite wall. Still trying to stay as hidden as possible I managed to see Bilbo move from behind Dwalin and walk over the the door as Gandalf closed it.

"There is a mark, I put it there myself." Taking a breath he smiled at Biblo. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leader of our company. Thorin Oakenshield."

Ok. So far everything is just like the movie. And I haven't been noticed by Thorin. Yay! Even if I was my normal size, the dwarf scared me a little. I watched as Thorin took a little step towards Bilbo.

"So. This is the hobbit. Tell me Mr. Baggins, have you done much fighting?"

I felt a twinge of sympathy for Bilbo as Thorin began to circle him and stare him down.

"Pardon me?" Bilbo didn't look up at him just turned his head to follow the direction Thorin moved.

"Axe or sword. What is your weapon of choice?" Bilbo stood his ground and looked up at Thorin with confidence.

"Well I do have some skill at conkers, if you must know."

Conkers? I was always confused about that part.

"But I fail to see why that's relevant." The slight hitch in Bilbo's voice made me frown. His confidence faltered.

I was conflicted. I really wanted to stand up for Bilbo. I know how helpful he's gonna be and how he saves the dwarves from death on multiple occasions in this journey. But at the same time it would put a lot of unwanted attention on me and would bring up a lot of unwanted questions. So I had to bite my tongue and just hope that I could leave as soon as the dwarves left in the morning.

Hearing chuckling, I looked back at the group.

Thorin must have told the group Bilbo looked more like a grocer than burglar. I always hated that comment. It was a comment one would hear in high school when the popular kid would single out the non-popular kid. Ugh. Stop worrying bout that and figure out what you can do to get out of here.

I watched as the last of the dwarves made their way to the dinning room, before I turned my attention to the front door.

I could try to make a run for it...but they would see me right?...Maybe not...They completely forgot about me the minute Thorin arrived...But where would I even go? I don't even have money with me.

Shoulders slumped, I quietly made my way back to the guest room. Slowly closing the door behind me, I sat down on the bed. I could hear the muffled voices of dwarves as they discussed the journey to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim what they had lost to Smaug. I couldn't hold back my chuckle as I laid back and stared at the ceiling. At the sound of their angry voices rise, I smiled. They're either complaining about Balin's comment that they didn't exactly have the brightest bunch or arguing over how many dragons Gandalf has slain. My smile was short lived at the booming of Thorin's voice rang through the house, silencing everyone. Yup very scary dwarf.

Slowly scanning the room, I let out a sigh.

Why am I here? Why can't I go home? Why did I have to leave the group?

"Why?" That was all that was going through my head. I've always been independent. Doing my own thing, I never relied on anyone. And suddenly in just one day. It all changed. I didn't care who it was at the moment. I just wanted someone, anyone just to tell me it would be alright. I closed my eyes and flipped onto my stomach. I was getting ready to scream into the pillow when I felt a booming voice. I popped my head up.

Oh. It's just Gandalf.

Although I wasn't even in the same room, I could play the dwarf's reactions, to the dark cloud that spread from the wizard, so clearly. I really had seen this movie too many times. I let out a quite laugh as I dug the palms of my hands into my eyes. NO! Stop it! You've been through worse.

Clenching my jaw, I pounded my fist into the bed. I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I wanted to leave. Needed to leave. Quickly I made my way to the door, and as I grabbed the handle, I paused. Where was I going to go? It was a question that kept lingering. I was in a catch 22. If I stayed, there was no guarantee that I would find my way back home. If I left...Outside of the shire, I could find myself in much more deadly situations.

I heard the dwarves humming and Thorin's voice through the door as they sung of their lost home. I leaned my back on the door and sank to the floor. I didn't care if I saw Danny again, I just wanted to go back home. I shouldn't have left. My lip trembled as I tried to hold back the tears. But soon enough, one tear, then another and I let go. I gave in to the fear. The heart break. The pain of the past.

""""""""""""""""""""""""

The next morning I was awoken by a loud banging. I sat up with a jolt, thinking I was in some kind of trouble when I realized, I hadn't left the floor.

"Miss May! Are you in there?!" Bilbo's frantic voice pierced the door.

I jumped to my feet and opened the door worried something happened.

"Oh good. You're alright. Hurry up! We have to go!" He said with a look of relief.

Go!?

Bilbo quickly grabbed my hand and rushed me out to the hall way.

"What's going on?! What's wrong?"

All questions ignored as the hobbit rushed from one room to the next. As Bilbo came out from the parlour, he gave me a backpack and without any words he rushed to put his on before grabbing a long sheet of paper.

It can't be the contract. My eyes widened as I watched him open the door.

"No! No no no no! No!" I cried out as Bilbo forced the my arms into the bag straps before he shoved me out the door.

"No time! Hurry up!" He cried as he ran down the hill and jumping over a fence.

"Kuso!" I looked back at the hobbit hole and grimaced. May you have two choices. Stay and wait. Or suck it up and go after Bilbo.

Running back I shut the door and then raced after Bilbo.

"Chotto matte! WAIT!"

It didn't take long till I was right behind Bilbo and we were able to see the line of ponies up a head.

"Wait! Waait!" He cried out waving his arms.

I'm trying my hardest to keep running, my chest heaving up and down, and I'm really regretting running up that mountain yesterday.

Bilbo hurries up ahead of me as I start to slow down. I see the dwarves and Gandalf turn as they watch me and Bilbo run to meet them.

"I signed it." He said proudly

I knew that Balin is going to inspect the signature, so I stay behind as I tried my hardest to get my breathing even.

"Miss!"

I looked over to my left and saw Fili and Kili smiling at me. With now shaky legs, I slowly walk over to the two.

"We thought you had left last night." Fili smiled down at me.

"It is very kind of you to accompany Mr. Bilbo and to bid us farewell." Kili said with a smile.

I cocked my head at Kili's statement and I remembered where I was and what I was. Oh yea...I'm female...and not a female dwarf.

"Oh...Uh, actually Bilbo..."

"Who are you?" The baritone voice had me jump.

Slowly I turned to find Thorin up on his pony staring down at me. I took a deep breath to speak but Gandalf interrupted.

"This is May. She too will accompany us on this quest."

"Another burglar I presume? And why was she not present at last nights meet?" Thorin glared at Gandalf. I gulped. The dwarf definitely scared me.

"No, not a burglar, but I do believe that she will be of help to you and your company." Thorin said nothing to the wizard as he hoped off his horse and walked over to me.

"What are you? You do not look like a hobbit nor a dwarf. You are too short to be an elf or man." Keeping my gaze low, I said nothing. Slowly he turned to walk back to his pony. "Go home young lady. I'm certain you would be of more use there than with us."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" I cringed the moment the words slipped past my lips. This is why you need proper sleep...stupid filter.

Thorin snapped around. The rest of the company remained silent.

"You dare talk back to me!?" Thorin was walking back. Great… now you've gone and pissed him off.

"N-no...I...No. I mean you don't know me, yet you just assume I wouldn't be of use because I'm a womanl!" Yup. No Filter WHAT-so ever. "It's not even because I'm woman, but because I'm not a dwarf woman." Thorin was glaring down at me and was standing no more than 2 inches away.

"So then have you done much fighting?" The question caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting him to ask me that so soon.

"N-no. But I-" Thorin circled me like he did Bilbo last night.

"Axe or sword?"

"Neither." I said quietly. "But I-"

"Just leave, lass." My ears perked up at the sound of Dwalin's voice. I looked over at him and saw that he, Balin, Dori, Ori and Nori had started to move their ponies up the trail. Ass.

"It was a pleasure meeting you." With that Fili gave a sad smile and bowed his head before slowly riding after the others with Kili following close behind.

"You are judging her too hastily."

Thorin shot Gandalf a glare. But Gandalf's gaze didn't waver. I didn't know what had happened that made Thorin sigh I just know that I wasn't expecting him to turn and call for the others to stop. He returned his focus on me, no smile or sign of amusement could be found on his face.

"I will give you one chance. If you win, you may travel with us. But you will do as I say and never question my orders. If you lose, you will return back to where you came from. Understood?" Thorin's authoritative voice echoed through my body. I slowly nodded.

"Kili. You will fight her." My jaw dropped as Kili's eyes widened.

He began to shake his head but the look on his uncle's face told everyone it would be wise not to refuse. Kili got off his pony and grabbed two swords from the saddle before walking over to me. Looking at me with regret, he handed me on of the swords.

"I will be easy on you. Everything will be fine." I looked up at him with wide eyes. He gave me a small nod as he took a few steps back and unsheathed the sword.

Shit! I'm actually going to fight him!? With actual weapons that could kill either of us?!

I looked at Thorin, who's expression still hadn't changed, then back at Kili who waited in a readied stance. I looked down at the sword and unsheathed it slowly. The sword was heavy in my hands. While I was fine lifting weights, singing something as heavy as this would be a different matter entirely. My body began to shake with nerves. As if to ask for help, I looked to the others and then my eyes met Fili's. The dwarf gave me a small nod.

"It'll be alright." He mouthed. The concern in his eyes said even he doubted his words. I felt like I wanted to cry again but slowly I took a deep breath praying that what I learned from Kendo classes would be of any use here.

"Thorin, isn't there another way?!" Kili begged his uncle.

"No! If she does not wish to do this, she can go home. Now fight!"

With a reluctant sigh, Kili took a step back and got back into a readied stance. I look into his eyes and gave a nod. With a small nod back, Kili cried out as he charged. Without thinking, I dive rolled to my right and out of Kili's way. He quickly turned back around swinging his sword at my side. Using the blade of the sword, I had managed to block it. My arms shook as he pressed against my blade. Inching ever closer to my face, my heart beat raced and panic began to set in.

"No! Please stop!"

"You know you want it you fucking slut!"

"NO!" I cried quickly sliding my hand against the flat side of the blade and pushed Kili's sward away. Quickly using this to my advantage, I turned into him grabbing his hand with both of mine, tweaking his wrist back. He let out a grunt of surprise as his sword fell to the ground. With no hesitation, Kili wrapped one arm around my neck in a choke hold. I immediately moved my neck so I faced the crook of his neck, making it almost impossible for him to chock me out. I grabbed his forearm with my left hand and shoulder with my right. Still trying to make sure he didn't choke me out or take me to the floor, I maneuvered a bit to my right before I stopped struggling all together. Kili seemed thrown off by my action as his grip loosened a bit.

"Sorry Kili." I could feel his face turn to look at mine. Not giving him a second to recover, I pushed my hip into his as fast and hard as I could while pulling his arm over my shoulders throwing Kili onto the ground knocking the wind out of him in the process. Hastily I grabbed my sword and pointed it as Kili's throat. The young dwarf slowly held up both hands, eyes wide with shock as he tried to catch his breath.

"Well it seems she has some fight in her after all." Gandalf said with a chuckle.

Breathing hard, I held out a hand to help the brunette stand, but he shoved my hand away and stood with a scowl. Brooding, he gathered his swords and mounted his pony.

My jaw tensed. I knew that he never expected me to win. None of them did. I looked over at Thorin. It was very clear that he too was brooding at the outcome. But a man of his word, for now, he ordered the others to give Bilbo a pony.

"N-no no. That won't be necessary. And what about May?" The question had Thorin pause.

"Fine. Give her a pony as well."

I felt a smile tug at my lips as I silently thanked Bilbo.

I heard Bilbo cry out, turning I saw Fili and Kili had pulled him up on to a pony and I laughed as I watched Bilbo pout a bit. He seemed very uncomfortable riding. As his pony passed me by, I realized I hadn't been told which pony to take. Kili said nothing as he trotted past me. I frowned.

"You fought well miss." Looking up at the Blonde, he gave a small smile. I opened my mouth when Thorin called for Fili to ride ahead. I felt a pout form as I just stood there. I should have felt proud. But I felt like in this case. I really lost.

Translations:

Kuso! = Shit!

Chotto Matte! = Wait!