Hello friends!

Another Thursday, another chapter! Please enjoy the latest installment in Brili's adventures. I'm still very entertained by the end of this chapter. Of course, any feedback is happily received, I would love to know what you guys thought of this one! My partner finally had the opportunity to watch the movies last week. He is very upset with me now for Bofur's mistreatment. His exact words were: "THAT'S Bofur? But he's so nice! Why would be so mean to him?"

As always, a huge thank you to my beta reader, RivvyElf over at Ao3, for their incredible feedback every chapter! I'm always so honored and humbled to have their support and humor on my side.

All the best and I'll be back on 2/8!

Kim

Within a few torturously long hours, all of which Brili made every possible effort to avoid eye contact with the company, everyone began their preparations to depart in earnest. Secrecy permeated the area as the dwarves whispered to their comrades. Brili soaked this energy in like a sponge, the general mood seeping in and raising her anxiety.

She kept her hands busy by fussing with her travel pack.

Brili had been prepared hours ago. There was no need for her to rifle through her things. If anything, her energy would be better suited to helping others prepare for the journey ahead. Bilbo most likely would have benefitted from her assistance the most. From Brili's perspective, he looked a bit flustered with the speed the dwarves were packing up in.

She heard Bilbo whispering to Bombur, "Have you packed enough provisions?"

"Aye," was Bombur's brusque reply.

"You're sure of it? After all, we will have another companion to feed this time."

Brili looked up from a cracked tile that she'd been forcing her vision on. "If you are speaking about me, Master Baggins, rest assured that I've packed my own provisions."

"You're, uh, sure about that?" Skeptically, the hobbit glanced at her pack, which was not stuffed to the gills with food like Brili was sure he was expecting. "It doesn't look like there's much in your—"

"I've got more than enough to feed myself. Thank you for your interest."

On the way to join the company, she'd stopped by the kitchens and requisitioned some field rations: waybread. One parcel would fill her stomach for at least a day. It wouldn't be as pleasant as a warm meal, but it would be efficient. Efficiency was all Brili could really hope for out of the journey ahead; anything involving her family would surely be far from pleasant.

It seemed Bilbo did not trust her judgment because he turned to Bombur and whispered, "Better pack up those cheeses, yes?"

Brili sighed but did not argue. She was sure that when the time came, she'd be able to refuse with her usual intimidation tactics. Until then, it was not worth fighting over. Instead, she pulled her sword from its scabbard, inspecting the blade in the firelight. She'd grabbed the blade from the garrison storage since her previous one showed wear and tear. The new blade was not necessarily an improvement, though. She would have preferred her original weapon as the leather on the new blade's hilt had yet to be broken in, but she needed more time and funds to repair her preferred blade. Time and funds were something that she was lacking at the moment.

So this one would have to do. Her knives were in good repair, which was far more important. They were the weapons she liked the most.

A warm body scooted into the limited space she'd left between her and a topiary wall.

Fili.

She felt her back tighten up but did not allow herself to move beyond that. It seemed like he was making an honest effort to forge a cordial relationship. In the interest of not bickering left, right, and center for the entirety of their time together, Brili decided that it would be best to tolerate those efforts.

"That yours?"

She shook her head. "Mine needs some repairs. Found a hairline crack in it when I got back. Grabbed this one from the garrison instead."

He held his hand out. "May I?"

"If you must," she answered, handing it over to him and wrapping both hands around the sheath. Her fingers found themselves tracing the stitching for comfort.

After a moment of silence, she dared a peek at her eldest brother. His focus was on the sword she'd just handed over, an objective and assessing expression on his face. After turning the blade over, he stood up, shifted into a fighting stance, and flexed his hands around the hilt.

"The leather is stiff," he said. "That could get uncomfortable."

"Gloves," she responded lazily. "I plan on putting them on later."

Fili hummed in response before admitting, "They've excellent craftsmen here."

"Yeah, well, they've been doing it a long time, so…"

"When we reach Erebor, I'll make sure to find you a better blade than this," he added, his tone remarkably confident as if he were so sure they could retake the stronghold without issue.

Ignoring the rising fury in her chest, Brili reached up and roughly snatched the hilt of her new weapon from Fili's hands. Even though the craftsmanship of a Dwarven sword would be unmatched and likely built to suit her perfectly, she would rather go without a blade than give this one up. Setting her lips into a scowl, she shook her head at Fili and threaded her new blade's scabbard to her belt.

"I'll pass, thank you," she said tersely. "Might I recommend that you finish packing up? Kili looks like he needs your help."

Kili's head, hair still disheveled from a nap, swivelled around through the crowd as he looked for something or, more likely, someone. Not bothering to disguise his slightly annoyed expression, Fili rose to meet him. Relieved to be alone again, Brili allowed some of the stiffness to roll out of her shoulders.

She could not shake off the prickling feeling of her uncle watching her every movement.

~o~

Too quickly for Brili's comfort, the last pack was lifted off the ground and hoisted onto Ori's reluctant shoulders. The members of Thorin Oakenshield's company settled into quiet grunts as Thorin unceremoniously began to lead his people out of the Elven city that had offered them refuge. Although the rest of the company had determined grins lighting their faces, Brili felt more like she was part of some haunting funeral precession.

I imagine that this is what my wedding would have felt like…

The group passed through the quiet, twilit streets of Rivendell without incident. No one stopped them, if only for the mere fact that no one else was awake. Briefly, Brili debated on alerting the city to their departure. She had been informed more than once that her lung capacity was a force to be reckoned with… Surely, if she started shrieking, then it would attract some attention…

Brili distracted herself by finally stuffing her hands into her gloves.

By the time the group snaked their way through town and towards the unmarked border that separated Rivendell from the wilds surrounding it. Brili could feel a thin veil of sweat building between the lines of her palms with nothing in the immediate vicinity to keep her running thoughts at bay. Would she stand a chance if she took off at her fastest sprint? Perhaps if she stabbed someone as a distraction…

"Be on your guard…" Thorin's voice called out from the head of the company, effectively cutting Brili's debate short. "We are about to step over the edge of the wild."

Beside Brili, Bilbo's mild panting stilled, his steps slowed, and his body shifted to look behind. Brili followed suit, ignoring how Gloin's shoulder brushed hers as he passed the pair. The dawn was beginning to light the day, the first rays of sunlight glittering on the falls below. The morning watch guard would be at attention right around now, and Arwen would have already begun her morning routine. Life in the city Brili loved so much would continue without her presence.

"Master Baggins," Thorin warned brusquely, "I suggest you keep up."

To Rivendell, it would be as if she'd never been there to begin with… Her trembling hands reached for Aragorn's medallion under her tunic.

When she made no move to follow Bilbo, Thorin also scolded her. "Brili, the same goes for you."

Not willing to tear her eyes away from the sight of Rivendell, she forced herself to take one small step backward, more of an awkward shuffle than anything else. Her heel caught on the uneven path, causing her to lose balance. She was saved from falling by two hands that caught her by the shoulders, bracing her against a warm chest. The scent of tobacco, a hint of barley, and wood polish enveloped her senses. Confused and upset, Brili tore her eyes away from the distant view of the place she called home to extract herself from whoever had their hands around her.

Only to find herself face-to-face with Bofur.

I understand this is a bit of a shock, milady…

Brili felt her stomach shrivel as he smiled politely at her. "Are you all right, milady?"

I mean you no harm…

Brili felt her mouth open and close like she was nothing more than a freshly hooked trout. Inside, her blood began to boil. How dare this… this… beast even look upon her. His smile was warm and welcoming, but Brili would not be fooled by him. She scowled as she launched herself off Bofur's body with enough force to shift him back. Several heads had turned around to see what the fuss behind them was all about.

"I'd worry more about yourself," she hissed lowly, a gloved hand shifting her wool cloak aside to display the knives at her belt. "Come near me again and see what happens to you."

~o~

Brili would never have thought these wilds would feel so unwelcoming compared to earlier in the year when she'd travelled through on her survey exercise. Nor would she have expected that Balin would know the area as well as he did. His memory was, admittedly, a bit rusty, especially when compared to hers. Still, he seemed to be getting by just fine. Brili would offer to help fill in the gaps in his knowledge, except for the fact that part of her hoped that they would be turned around by mistake.

"Bri, hey, Bri." Kili was having difficulty masking the impatience in his tone. "Hellooooooo."

"I don't think she can hear you," Bilbo suggested. One glance at his expression made it clear that he was opting for diplomacy and not honesty. "Perhaps you should try later?"

"Nonsense, she's got nothing covering her ears," Kili said just before he leaned uncomfortably close to her ear. "Brili, are you in there?"

He had been acting like this all morning, which was extremely annoying. What had happened to the brother that was so cross with her in Elrond's office? Couldn't he just leave her to suffer in peace?

"I'd just give in if I were you," Bilbo said, grumbling to Brili as he picked up his pace to march past the pair. "He'll keep at this all day if you don't."

Kili emphatically agreed, his chin bumping her shoulder at one point. "He's right. Mum says I have only grown more persistent with age."

Brili hadn't been gone long enough for him to have changed that much. He had always been annoying. Engaging with him would only reinforce his increasingly frustrating behavior, so Brili trained her eyes ahead and continued without paying him any mind. He would give up eventually.

Brili barely managed to repress an annoyed sigh as Fili began striding alongside her as well. "Kili, Bofur is asking for you."

"Oh? What for?" Kili's voice grew quiet as he looked behind him.

I want to be sick every time I hear that name…

"I didn't think to ask. Best not to keep him waiting, though."

When Kili's presence had finally faded from Brili's side, her eldest brother subtly leaned closer to her. "That ought to buy you at least a bit of peace. Bofur's gotten good at entertaining him over the years."

Perhaps Uncle should have arranged for Kili to be married off, then…

Brili kept that comment to herself as well. After a few minutes of silence between them, Kili's entertained voice occasionally making itself heard, Fili placed a hand on her shoulder. Before she could shrug it away, she felt him give her shoulder a firm squeeze. If her memory of home served her correctly, he was trying to comfort her. Not that she wanted it.

"He's just trying to apologize in his own way," Fili informed her quietly. "When you're ready to hear it."

But she knew that already… Knowing didn't make her any less reluctant to accept it.

After that was said, Fili's footsteps slowed so he presumably could walk with Kili and Bofur. Long after he left, Brili realized she was gripping the pendant Aragorn gave her through her tunic. Her index finger was frantically tracing the pattern hiding under the coarse fabric. For what felt like the hundredth time since they'd left that morning, Brili really wanted to go home.

If it weren't for her increasingly problematic siblings strolling behind her, she might have made an escape attempt.

Fortunately, Fili and Bofur had managed to distract Kili for the rest of the day and most of the evening. As a matter of fact, no one paid her any mind at all, which was an unspeakable relief. It seemed that the company had already acclimated to her brooding presence during the first leg of their trip. By the time the group had settled in the evening, hunkering down in a small thicket, Brili had managed to all but completely isolate herself.

Well, almost…

Brili had managed to avoid breakfast and lunch with the rest of the company, a surreptitious nibble of waybread in the morning able to tide her over. However, her lack of appetite had begun to attract the attention of the others, namely the chef, Bombur, accompanied by the ever-voracious eater, Bilbo. She could feel them staring intently at her as they ladled some freshly caught fish and mashed carrots into traveling bowls.

"No, thank you," she warned Bilbo when he'd opened his mouth to address her.

"I've not said—"

"You're going to offer me food."

Bilbo cleared his throat. "It's just that you've not eaten anything all day. Are you well?"

She reached into her pack to pull out the carefully wrapped rations she intended to eat for the entire time she traveled. "I tried to tell you that I've brought my own sustenance. I had some this morning. I won't starve, Master Baggins."

The hobbit eyed her meal skeptically before nodding with a resigned sigh. Considering the matter closed, Brili unwrapped the bundle and broke off a sizable chunk. She rather enjoyed Dúnedain waybread. The crumbly texture complimented the nutty sweetness nicely, and, depending on who made it, one could sometimes find dried fruits buried inside. And, to Brili's delight, it looked like she'd gotten a good batch.

However, after swallowing her portion, when she began to fold away the leaf wrapping again, Bilbo sounded fit to burst. "Oh, come now! That is hardly enough food!"

She glanced up at him irritably. "I've eaten enough."

"One little bite of biscuit isn't enough! I'll make you a plate," the hobbit said, huffing.

Brili could hear the irritability in Thorin's tone as he interjected. "Brili, while your pettiness is commendable, I will not abide by whatever protest you are attempting to put on by starving yourself. Eat what the burglar brings you."

"I'm not starving myself," she snipped, tying the twine around her bread. "If one of you had notified Lord Elrond of your departure, he'd have told you about Dúnedain waybread and why it is often used as field rations by us rangers. I dare say he would have offered you some."

Balin's head snapped to attention. "Did you say Dúnedain waybread, your grace?"

She glared at him and wrinkled her nose over his use of a royal title. "I did."

Balin looked delightfully smug as he announced, "Leave her be, lads. I've had the pleasure of enjoying a sample of this waybread during our stay in Rivendell. It is a hearty form of sustainance, a parcel of this bread will hold even a hearty appetite over from morning to evening."

The way Bilbo's eyes lit up over the suggestion caused Brili's hands to tighten on her bag's straps reflexively. If anyone here was at risk of being a food thief, she had no doubt it would be him. She'd seen the fullness of his pantry back in the Shire.

"Is this true?" he asked excitedly. "Could I try some?"

"They are called field rations for a reason," she warned. "And I packed only enough for myself. If you wanted to try them so terribly, you should have asked for some before we left."

That was the last meal she was able to enjoy in peace, and eventually, Bilbo got more than his fair share of waybread.

~o~

Brili woke before dawn the fifth morning on the road with the dwarves.

Stretching, relishing her joints lightly popping as she unwound her muscles, she took stock of her surroundings. Most of the dwarves were still, mercifully, sleeping. She planned to head towards the nearby spring to freshen up: wash her face, shave her beard, things like that. Waking before the rest offered her the rare opportunity for some uninterrupted grooming.

Dwalin's hawkish expression followed her as she rose from her bedroll and rifled through her pack for her satchel of toiletries. In her humble opinion, he should have devoted his attention to his watch duties rather than babysitting her. She was also sure that her uncle had given Dwalin strict instructions to keep an eye on her. The idea of being under surveillance of any kind again was annoying, but Brili ignored the situation in favor of other matters.

It wasn't until Dwalin audibly grunted as she passed him and shifted as if to restrain her that Brili addressed him.

"To think, a warrior such as yourself reduced to such menial tasks," she said quietly to him, a flicker of a smirk ghosting her lips. "You can return to your watch, Master Dwalin. I'm only going to the spring to wash up. As the rest of you should consider doing."

Dwalin made no further moves to stop her, only grunting in a fine display of irritability. Loudly humming an Elvish tune, she marched over to the water and set down her supplies. After splashing her face with the chilled water, she combed through her shoulder-length hair and pinned as much of it back as she could. She knew full well that her bangs would find a way out by the end of the day. Continuing to hum softly, she pulled her straight razor and unwrapped it from its velvet holding cloth. Such small rituals were all the luxury she could enjoy now.

In other words, her brothers were constantly up her ass, day in and day out.

It was a miracle that she'd managed to get this time to herself.

After setting some fresh water aside in a small bowl, Brili wiped a freshly dipped bar of traveling soap over her sideburns and under her chin. She sighed to steady her hand before she pulled her skin firmly taut. Her focus as she slid the razor down her soapy skin was so great that she didn't quite notice Dori's footsteps approaching until they were beside her.

"Good morning, Your Highness! Good of you to keep a good hygienic routine on the—" His eyes drifted down to the razor gliding smoothly down her chin. "AULË'S BOUNTY!"

His sudden change in volume and pitch caused Brili's hand to slip just enough. Her razor, sharp enough to skin a catch if need be, nicked her skin, leaving a thin red line behind. Hissing out a string of furious curses, the soap on her skin seeping into the minor cut and causing it to sting, she dropped her razor and began splashing water over the bleeding wound. As she did so, several footsteps hastily approached the spring. Dwalin was there first, axe gripped tightly as he scoured the surrounding area for danger. Thorin arrived next, followed shortly by Gloin. Before Brili could get a word in edgewise, Dori had gingerly, as if it would slice him unprovoked if he moved too quickly, lifted her straight razor off the ground and held it out towards Thorin.

"Your Highness," he finally forced out, "do you know what this is?"

"Of course, I know what it is, you daffy," Brili answered.

Dori's free hand once again went straight for his collar. "And you intend to use this to remove your… beard?"

Gloin, someone who was devoutly dedicated to his facial hair, paled slightly.

"Surely, there has been some mistake," Thorin said, that all too famous furrow between his brows making itself present. "Brili has long passed the age to grow a beard, Master Dori. If you recall, her mother had commissioned you to procure a prosthetic for her nuptials."

If Brili could wield magic, she would have summoned fireballs to burn her uncle's beard over the mere thought.

Dori shook his head and held out the razor. "I saw what I saw! There are whiskers on her chin! Sh-she's been removing them!"

Thorin's expression grew even tighter, brows pinching further despite his eyes growing wider. A look of dreaded recognition began to take over. "Brili? Is there any truth to this? Have you been removing your facial hair?"

Brili rolled her eyes and began reassembling her toiletries bag. "What else does one do with a razor?"

Dori was so mortified that he dropped her straight razor, and Gloin physically recoiled like she'd threatened to de-beard him.

"Those elves changed you too much," Thorin lamented, his eyes closing.

"I was shaving my face long before I left home," Brili answered lazily.

"An abomination!" Gloin said, gasping. "Complete lunacy!"

Dori looked like he was going to faint at any moment.

"I see…" Thorin's answer was tightly controlled and remarkably measured as he stooped down to retrieve the razor. "An unfortunate oversight on your family's part… You will have no need of this now that you are where you belong."

And that was how Brili lost one of three straight razors.

~o~

"I wouldn't pester her," Kili muttered to Bilbo from behind Brili. "Didn't you hear the row between them this morning?"

Brili sniffed irritably. She hadn't needed to start a fight with Thorin over the razor blade. She had one spare in her pack and another tucked into a pocket inside her cloak for safekeeping. That said, picking a fight with Thorin felt damn good. She'd been able to bellow all sorts of creative obscenities at him in Elvish, and he hadn't the faintest idea what she'd said. Of course, he was furious that she refused to bicker with him in a language he understood, so the situation had dramatically escalated before Dwalin stepped between them.

Brili now had the advantage of the rest of the company giving her a wide berth. Her uncle was brooding up ahead. Her brothers were wisely keeping out of it, and—thanks to Gloin murmuring to the others about the utter disgraces she'd committed to her facial hair—the rest were also keeping their distance. Frowning, Brili turned her attention toward the not-so-distant peaks looming ahead in the distance. They should be her priority right now, not quarreling with her relatives.

Unclaimed mountains offered no solace, no promises of safety. Anything could be lurking in those craggy depths. Unbidden, the image of spiders lurking in dark, unused cupboards came to mind. It would be advantageous for her to individually scout the area without worrying about the rest of the company. It would only take her a little while to explore the area, perhaps a couple of days at most.

Now, she had to think of a way to get past Thorin. Fortunately, he presented her with a fine opportunity to broach the subject when he called for the company to halt for a brief rest, likely because Bombur had started wheezing. Sucking in a deep breath to settle her nerves, she approached him just as he had crouched down next to Fili and Kili.

The three of them stared at her until Thorin finally spoke: "Would you care to join us?"

Nope. Would rather drown myself, thanks.

Instead, she calmly replied. "I plan on going ahead to scout the mountain pass. Balin said that we would be passing through soon."

Thorin's brow quirked, but his tone was measured when he answered, "No."

She had expected that answer and was ready with a counter. "That pass has been abandoned for too long. A group of fifteen will be unable to pass through without drawing notice. Sending someone ahead is common sense, and I have been trained to survey my surroundings without drawing attention to myself."

"She could be right," Fili interjected before Thorin could argue.

Thorin regarded Fili neutrally. "Be that as it may, I cannot justify sending the three of you ahead."

"I never said anything about the two of them."

If anything, they would just get in the way.

"You will not be going anywhere unattended," Thorin explained. "If you do not return then what am I to assume? That you are dead? Injured? Or that you have simply run off again?"

"Some of us will end up dead or injured if you don't send someone to scout ahead," Brili said.

"My decision regarding this matter is final. We stay together," Thorin said before turning his attention to his pack. "Have I made myself understood?'

"Fine," Brili snapped in response. "Fucking fine."

Thorin was officially going to be the death of her, her brothers, and likely the entire company with judgment like that. Vaguely, Brili couldn't help but understand how Gandalf must have felt during their travels back to Rivendell. It was no wonder the wizard hadn't caught up with them. If it were up to Brili, she would leave the lot of them and never look back.

Dori tutted at her. "Your grace, such profanity is unbecoming a young lady."

Forcing a polite smile, Brili simply raised her fist into an inflammatory hand gesture before stalking off to brood. Listening to Dori choke on his words was undoubtedly satisfying, though.