I'm so happy! Look at all those reviews and favorites/follows. They're so pretty. Thank you to all the people that have done all those things. It really means the world. Also! I realized that I didn't leave review responses before. I'm so sorry. Bad, lion, bad.

PurpleFairy11: I'm glad that you still like it!

1SeriousBookNerd35: Not soon but I hope that you like this update!

inperfection: Yeah. The conkers thing always got me too. And yes, Fili was being rather sweet last chapter. So cute.

JediGemini: *helps you back into chair* I hope this update didn't keep you on the floor for too long.

NESSAANCALIME6913: I knew I had seen you before! Was that PM a little nudge back to Tori? If it was than it worked. Even if it did take me longer than I had thought it would. *scratches head* And I'm so glad that you like my concept. I thought that most people wouldn't, to be honest.

megantreat: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter as well!


Chapter 4: Feeling Peachy

I blinked groggily, my eyes adjusting in the darkness. In front of me, the last flames from the fire flickered and burned, the logs cracking drowsily as they gave their final yawns of wakefulness. The air was cold and dewy against my face, the circular window creaking on its hinges as it shivered in the morning wind from outside. I groaned, rubbing a hand over my eyes and rolling to stare at a bundle of blankets and sweaters, the knit blanket over top of me twisting around my limbs.

When we had been little, Ori had always liked to sleep next to me, his back to mine. Mumbling incoherently, I propped myself up on my elbow so that I could see the room. A large, snoring figure was bundled up beneath the hobbits bed and another one was curled at the foot of the bed, a laugh escaping his lips occasionally. Dori and Nori. I should have known that they would find me. The first clue was the damn window being open. Nori had always been peculiar in such things.

Rolling over like a fish out of water, I kicked at the blankets tangled around me until it was pooled on the floor and I was sweating like I had just wrestled a bear. That had been a lot more complicated than I originally thought. Quietly, I crept toward the door and out into the hallway, the quiet sound of snoring and mumbles greeting me as I snuck down the halls and into the dining room.

The tables were spotless, the plates and dishes all gently placed back in their cabinets and shelves. The floor was a different story but I didn't think that particularly mattered. We had done a glorious job of cleaning up. My eyes caught on the contract, spread out across the table with a quill and ink beside it. I rubbed a hand across my neck, wincing. I had promised that I would sign it by dawn. Judging by the slowly lightening sky outside the window, it was almost that time.

"I, the undersigned, [referred to hereinafter as Burglar,] agree to travel to the Lonely Mountain, oath to be determined by Thorin Oakenshield," I murmured, my fingers running across the thick piece of parchment. My lips thinned, the taste of the words bitter on my tongue. I jumped ahead. "Confidentiality is of utmost importance and must be strictly maintained at all times. During the course of his employment with the Company, Burglar will hear, see… Burglar undertakes and agrees to maintain this knowledge in utmost secrecy and confidentiality, and to neither divulge nor make known said knowledge by any means, including but not limited to speech, writing, demonstration, re-enactment, mime, or storage and retrieval within means or apparatus currently known or unknown or as yet unthought-of."

It was honestly the most insulting thing that I had had to endure in a long time. He hadn't even printed up a separate contract for me. Did Gandalf have to sign anything like this? I jabbed the quill into the ink, pressing the tip so forcefully into the parchment that I thought the paper would rip. In Cirth, I wrote the first thing that came to my mind: Dwarf female. I wouldn't give myself a name in these documents if my presence would be such a blemish on the company. Perhaps I should have said Elf female instead, I thought angrily, slamming the piece of parchment onto a low trunk as I made my way out of the hobbits home. I was so furious! I just wanted -

I slid a dagger from the belt at my waist, stomping toward a small fruit tree to the left of the front entrance that was barely visible beneath bushes and vines and hurled it so hard that it embedded into the bark, pieces of wood splintering off. Chill air whipped my red curls into my eyes, involuntary tears caused more out of sheer frustration than anything else, blurring my vision and causing my nose to burn.

I was as good as any of the others. Maybe even more so. I had been living in troll caves for years now while they had been selling wood carvings of birds. I kicked at a bush by my feet, a scream growling its way up my throat. It was stupid. It was ridiculous. They were treating me like I was some maid that they had brought in to keep their packs tidy.

A bird chirped in the distance, the sound of animals baying from far away. I was acting like a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. Crouching, I pressed my forehead to my knees and let out a breath. I had come out without my boots on so the grass and morning dew were starting to dampen my leggings and make me feel uncomfortable.

"Kulhu imhel?" I whispered to my knees, desperately trying to calm my emotions.

"Talking to yourself, love?" I jerked, turning so fast that I lost my balance and fell on my butt in the cold, wet grass.

Standing in the doorway, looking amazingly attractive with mussed hair and drowsy blue eyes, Fili had his usual smirk on his lips. The dark blue of the sky still twinkled with barely seen stars, the moon heavy lidded beneath thick clouds.

"None of your business," I snapped, scrambling to my feet and swiping angrily at the tears that had escaped.

"Were you crying?" He was in front of me in a matter of seconds, his brows furrowing over his eyes as they darkened with displeasure. "Kuf, Tori?"

I didn't say anything, my gaze shifting uncomfortably from the braids in his hair to the ruffled fur lining his collar, to the grass at our feet. My breath stalled for a moment as I felt the whisper of his fingertips against my cheeks, my eyes drooping as my heart beat faster. Like all of my kin, his palms and fingers were rough with work, callouses from his swords.

"You can tell me," he whispered and my eyes fluttered open as a deep ache started inside me, twisting my stomach into knots as my gaze slowly met his vibrant blue ones. His eyes were so soft - It took my breath away.

"I -" My tongue felt heavy, a burning running across my skin as I leaned into his touch. He was moving closer to me, his other hand skimming down my arm to play gently along the back of my hand. I could barely think. A short kind of desperation tingled through my veins as I turned my hand so that my fingers could tangle with his. What was going on? What was he doing?

Slowly, Fili's head tipped to the side, his eyes darkening and flicking from my eyes to my lips. Was he-?

"Morning!" I gasped, reeling away from Fili as an elderly hobbit wheeling a barrel filled with an assortment of vegetables. My mind felt like it had just been shot through with electricity. Beside me, I heard a deep growling curse in Khuzdul as I tore my hand away from Fili's.

"Bak-" I hastily switched from Khuzdul to the common tongue as the hobbit blinked, his eyes flicking from me to just over my shoulder. Against my back, I could feel Fili hovering closely. "G -good morning, Master Hobbit."

There was a long pause. I could hear my own heart beating as I tried to gulp down a solid breathful of air. My insides felt like they were having a world class match inside of me. With a short nod and one last critical once over the hobbit moved on, his eyes staying on us until he went around a bend.

Gathering what little courage and sanity I had left, I turned, my eyes glued to the grass at my feet as I felt a burning blush sear my cheeks.

"Than-thank you," I stuttered, wincing. Against my face, I felt Fili's gaze. "Thank you for your concern, my prince. It - I -"

My mouth snapped closed with a dull clack as I felt my cheeks flare even hotter. The only answer was retreat. I dipped into a low curtsy, stumbling away and toward the lane.

"Tori." I stopped dead in my tracks, gulping thickly as I turned slowly to meet Fili's amused gaze. Smirking, he nodded toward my feet. "Your boots."

"Oh. Um." I stopped. There was nothing I could do to make myself look any better. I skurried past him, hurrying back into the hobbit's house after quickly yelling, "Thank you," before slamming the door shut.

My head felt like it was buzzing duly, vibrating on top of my neck like a bee's wings as it flew. He had some kind of magic about him. Taking a calming breath, I pressed a cool hand to my flaming face. There would be no staying away from him - not for the entirety of the quest. There would also be no way that I could be near him. My eyes wandered to the left, staying on the circular entrance that I knew would lead to the main sitting parlor. That was where most of the dwarves. That room held Thorin.

I gulped, hurrying down the hall and slipping into my room where my brothers still slept. Hopping over Ori's snoring form, I dragged on my fur-lined boots that were sitting snuggly beside the fire, collecting coal powder. Someone had taken them off of me last night. My best guess was Dori. Although Nori had gone to an inn yesterday, there was still much to find - things that could only be acquired at a market.

Grabbing my pack, I quietly left the room, straightening out my hair and clothing as I went. It was astonishing that Fili hadn't run away from me - much less touched me - when I had been in such a state of disrepair. My undershirt had been half untucked from my skirt, my leggings bunched and wrinkled and my vest buttoned in some places and unbuttoned in others. I gritted my teeth as I tried to comb through the wild mess of my hair, finally leaving it in it's usual poof of thick curls.

"Please," I prayed as I peeked around the front door, my eyes darting around quickly as I took in the empty front lawn. Fili had left, either took go do some last minute preparations or to tend to getting a pony for his brother and himself. Either way, it was in my best interest.

Slinging my bag, over my shoulder, I scurried down the walkway, nearly sprinting along the gravel roads. There was no way that I was getting accosted by Fili again. Lost in my own thoughts, I trudged along the small little lanes, stopping occasionally to move out of the way of hobbits as they shuffled past. Thier gazes were unyielding and they made my skin itch. And appreciate little Bilbo all the more. Although not unwelcoming - No. That was the wrong way to think about it. They were too welcoming. At every turn, every idle look that turned to being appalled then curiously horrified, I realized that there was no way that I would ever be able to stay more than a day here.

"Are you-" Another hobbit, a younger one that was tall for his kind - almost as tall as me, in fact - had stopped right in the middle of the lane. His eyes sparkled with wonder as he shuffled nearer to me. "Don't see many of you around these parts."

I forced a smile, scooting away from him as he got uncomfortably close.

"Yes, um," I blurted out. "Do you - by chance - know where the market is? If there is one, that is?"

His brows went up. "Market? You want to - Very good than. I can - if you would like for me to-"

"Just the directions will be fine," I cut in quickly, clearly shocking the hobbit. Apparently not accepting company wasn't a particularly common thing.

"Yes, well, very well than," the hobbit said, blinking quickly before gesturing down the lane to where the path forked out, one sloping down and the other up the hill. "Just take that one down to where the twin trees curve over the pathway and then you'll see a blue little house. There you'll go around the back-"

I stared at him dubiously. That sounded a lot like trespassing.

"Take the path until you come to a pond then you should see it!" He finished with a cheery smile and a twinkle to his eyes. I hesitated, staring in the direction that he had indicated. It wasn't remembering the directions that I had a problem with, it was the directions themselves. They sounded...unreliable.

"Thank you, master hobbit," I said stiffly, giving him a quick curtsy.

"Say hello to the Bracegirdies!" He called after me and for a moment I worried that he would try to tag along behind me. "Their daughter's just a wee thing. My mother runs a bakery down there so just mention me and you should get a deal. Bungo Goodbody!"

I threw another strained thanks over my shoulder, nearly running down the lane and over the crest of the hill to the pathway below. Strange, strange creatures these hobbits were. It was odd that they were so… I shook my head.

Although the directions seemed untrustworthy, I came across every landmark. In no less than five minutes I was standing in front of a massive market area, the stalls just opened and the streets barely with anyone at all. Small little cottages made with oak clustered snuggling against each other, their doors open and their keepers already busy trying to set up. From where I stood, I could see the Goodbody's bakery, a stout woman ordering two children about as they hurried to get out all the morning pastries. There were vegetables stalls lined with fresh beans and hanging parcels of garlic and lavender and steaming bread stalls.

It was lovely. I smiled, hurrying to collect the things that I needed. By the time that I was done I was loaded down with baskets and sacks. I couldn't so much as see in front of me with the parcels in blocking my view.

As promised, Bungo's name had earned me three dozen still warm pastries for a measly amount. And once I had mentioned him to the Bracegirides, I had received some fresh bread and fruit for just as cheap. By the time, I lumbered away with my load, my cheeks were red with excitement. Nori would be absolutely delighted at my conquest.

"Oh my," a small hobbit woman whispered, scurrying to the side as I tromped along down the lane, Mister Baggins' door just in sight.

A nay pierced the morning air. The day had finally broken, the sun yawning over the horizon as it stretched to reach sleepily over the hills.

"Tori!" Quickly my arms were emptied, my brothers gathering around me as I came to stand just in front of the gate.

The others had woken long ago, it seemed and gone to work immediately, gathering ponies from neighbors and others that were willing to sell them. The beasts grazed leisurely at the meadow just beside Bilbo's small, little home, their eyes drooping with sleep. Most of the others had already hauled their stuff up onto the animals. Bags littered the area, clustered together besides a few dwarves that milled about.

Dwarves weren't necessarily early risers. They kept all sorts of hours, not needing much sleep and being able to take it fairly anywhere compared to other creatures. Like hobbits. My eyes strayed to the cottage door, lingering on the firmly closed edges. I didn't see Bilbo anywhere.

"We thought you had run off," Dori said and I saw Nori roll his eyes as he riffled through a bag filled with parsnips and radishes.

"Nori said you didn't," Ori told me quietly, peeking into the large, wicker basket that I still held, his nose twitching.

"Well, what has Nori ever known?" Dori snapped, straightening my gray vest and trying to smoothe out my wild mass of hair.

"Just getting breakfast," I cut in quickly as Nori's head snapped up, his eyes feverish as his mouth snapped open to reply to Dori.

It had been difficult living in a house with my three older brothers, two of whom couldn't go a single statement without arguing. Hell, they had once got into a full blown brawl over whether it would rain or not. It was part of the reason (maybe more than part) that Nori had left home. The other part was also initiated by our eldest brother.

"I'm tired of cleaning up after you like you're a babe! Without me, you would barely be able to wipe your bum much less feed yourself."

It had been a short declaration but one that had stemmed a fury that I was astonished at. Nori had nearly torn our house apart in his rage. The next day, his bags had been packed and I had been left to hastily follow.

I had never thought about how losing two of the people that he had raised would affect Dori.

"Your favorite," I said softly, nudging a cinnamon carrot muffin topped with sugar into his stubby hands. His eyes softened to the color of a cool pond. Giving me a gentle pat on the head, he prodded me into handing out the rest of the dwarves. I had gotten a fair bit more than I had needed to and it was a good thing because Bombur took five.

"So this is where you ran off to." I startled at the voice, suddenly realizing that I had made my way all the way around the meadow to where Fili and Kili stood.

If it were even possible, he looked more appealing than he had this morning, his hair combed down, braids tangled up in them so that only the smallest wisps fell across his forehead and around his ears. I gulped, the wicker basket crunching as my hands constricted around it. In my mind, I had always thought that I would go for the sort like Kili who never seemed to be able to grow a beard no matter what he did. My mouth suddenly felt dry. I had been terribly wrong in that assumption.

My fingertips itched as Fili's lips tipped into a mischievous smirk, the braids in his trim goatee twitching up as well. His loose shirt fell open around the collar, revealing a smattering of blonde hair and trim muscles. Bloody hell.

"Take what you want," I blurted out, shoving the basket at the brothers as Kili's brows raised.

"Whatever I want?" Fili's voice had dropped lower, his eyes staying on me even as I tried to force the basket on him. Heat coiled along my skin, my breath constricting in my chest. Slowly, his calloused hands curled around mine right where it held the wicker handle. I couldn't breath.

"Brother." Kili's whispered warning broke through the moment, my hands snapping away from Fili's with such force that the basket went tumbling to the ground, pastries littering the grass.

"Damn," I hissed, sliding to my knees to try and salvage what I could.

"Feeling a bit clumsy today, Tori?" I gulped at the dark rumble, my body freezing. Nervously, my eyes traveled over the well worn pants and leather jacket and up, up, up to the dark face of Thorin Oakenshield. "Will you be well enough to travel the beaten roads or are your higher sentiments too weary?"

My lips pressed together, my fingers clenching. He was talking about my elven blood.

"Uncle-" Fili started, his voice hard and his eyes even harder as he turned his full attention on his uncle. I got to my feet quickly as Thorin paid his nephew the same courtesy, his eyes thunderous as they turned on the younger dwarf.

"I am fine, my king," I forced out, trying discretely to step between the two. I failed miserable, Thorin's eyes caught onto the action immediately, his lips thinning and his eyes narrowing. It also didn't help that I felt Fili step closer, his now familiar scent comforting me in ways that I didn't want to admit. "Thank you for your concern."

"You've signed the contract?" Internally, I let out a short breath of relief. He hadn't decided to pursue Fili and my - My mind rebelled against the idea. Nothing. We had nothing. Silly dwarf girl. Jerkily, I nodded, blurting out a quick, "yes," under his resulting glare. With one final glance (an uncomfortably long a searching one that made my skin itch and me to grow uncomfortably aware of how close Fili was actually standing) Thorin turned decisively, calling out a roaring command for Gloin and Oin who were both watching the scene with disdain. Everyone was watching. My throat constricted as I saw the general looks of disapproval. On Balin's face. I gulped. Even on my brother's faces. Heat burned my face, sweat popping from my pores as my eyes swiveled to the grass at my feet.

"You made a mess of things there," I heard Kili grumble from behind me and I flinched.

"I will talk to my uncle-" Fili started, his voice deep and reassuring as his hand gently came to rest at the small of my back. I whipped around, breaking contact.

"Don't!" The words flew from me before I could stop them, Fili's eyes darkening ominously, his hand still outstretched. Hurriedly, I went to correct myself, my fingers knotting together. "There's nothing to talk about. He is my king and you are my prince. I will follow where I need to and do as you command. There's nothing more to be known. Nothing more than that to our relationship."

I made sure to emphasize the last part, dragging my eyes to connect with his. We both knew that I didn't only mean Thorin. There would be nothing to our relationship other than this quest. We may have played when we were small but those days were far gone. I was who I was and he was who he was. Fili's lips thinned, his cornflower blue eyes striking through with gray, swirling until I thought that they resembled the sea when it was about to thunder rather than clear, blue skies. The muscles around his brows tensed as his lips curled down.

I couldn't look at him anymore. Curtsying swiftly, I scurried away, the last thing heard came from Kili: "Just a series of messes, brother."

I had to agree with him. It was a good thing that this mess knew how to clean herself up and get to the nearest exit before something worse happened.

"Where's my horse?" I asked, taking a deep breath as I pushed the wild mass of my hair out of my face. All of my brothers shifted where they stood, their hands pausing in various activities that they had taken up on my approach to make it seem like they weren't staring at the earlier exchange. My eyes flicked from one to the other, all of whom looked like they were very, very uncomfortable. I rubbed a hand over my neck, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Halwa Aule," I hissed. "Do not tell me that you've completely forgotten the fact that I need something to ride on if I intend to get to the mountains."

"Forgotten is a tricky word," Dori said, his eyes flicking to Nori who snorted, his eyes intent on fixing up the saddle to a maple colored pony who nickered.

"An incorrect word," my red headed brother snorted, tightening the flank billet around the ponies belly.

"We could only find three," Ori said quickly, his words timid as his fingers flicked through his notebook, his wide, watery eyes never leaving me. Behind him a black mare, stomped her hooves, tonguing the grass that it kicked up.

I threw my hands up, heat searing my neck as I jabbed my hands at them. "And no one could find one extra bloody pony?! In the whole of this dingy, little patch of-"

"Tori!" My mouth snapped shut immediately, my hands clenching by my side at the deep commanding presence, a big hand grabbing a hold of my bicep in a harsh hold. I bowed my head, embarrassment tightening my intestines. Could this trip be starting anymore fabulously? "I'm sure that the hobbits that were kind enough to offer us these animals would be less than thrilled to hear you talking about their home in such a way. But by all means, continue."

A lump formed in my throat as angry, ashamed tears burned my eyes. On the grass, Ori looked just as ashamed as I did, both Nori and Dori frowning. If I could have dissolved into a fine powder at that moment and gone with the wind, I would have.

"Dwalin, that's enough," a deep voice rumbled from behind me, sounding like the roll of thunder before a great downpour. Hands shoved Dwalin's bigger ones away from me, warmer, more comforting ones taking my place as Fili dragged me to his side. I gulped as Fili stared directly at him, both of them never wavering.

"Fili," I whispered anxiously, grasping at his sleeve. We were drawing attention again. Dammit, this was the day wasn't it?

"Very good, my prince." With one last considering look, Dwalin nodded, walking away to where his brother was waiting with raised brows. I let out a slow breath, nearly sagging into Fili's side as his shoulders softened. There was always a right to the throne - no one would take that away from heirs. But the path there for dwarves was often rocky. Prideful, none of them would be ruled by someone weak. Fili had long past the age where submission was considered acceptable.

"You're horse is that one over there," Fili whispered, his voice gravelly and more than a little tired. Across the meadow, Thorin's eyes were hawk-like as he watched his nephew, barely seeming to listen to Gloin and Oin as they spoke to him. Fili nodded to a pony a bit away from everyone else, it's coat an auburn hue and her eyes intense as her eyes flicked from the grass at her feet to the other animals. "Your temperament seemed similar."

My lips thinned at the snipe, my eyes flicking up to glare into his blue ones, lit by amusement. Tingles fizzed up my arm as his fingers gently played along the back of one of my hands, absentmindedly. Electricity sparked through my mind at the touch.

"But there are-" My mind only totaled in sixteen ponies - two of which were being used to carry other supplies. That left only one spare. Which was supposed to be used for Bilbo.

"The hobbit doesn't seem to be joining us today," Fili cut in, his head tipping to the side as his lips quirked up. "Or for the remainder of the quest."

"I highly disagree with you, my young prince." I turned slightly, shivering as Fili's fingers slipped through mine, his side pressing warmly against my own. Gandalf sat astride a grey stead, it's main twined around his long fingers as he stared down at us.

Although the wizard's eyes held their usual merry twinkle, there was a layer of steel, the pipe in his lips hanging from the corner of his lips as smoke twirled into the air. Fili's thumb ran calming circles on the back of my hand as his uncle strode forward to talk to the wizard whose eyes briefly flicked to our intertwined hands. Why did I feel so comfortable from this touch alone? My nerves had been so frenzied before but now… I turned my gaze to the blonde haired dwarf, his face smooth and calm as he watched the interaction. He looked more at ease as well - happier. Or was that my own wishful thinking?

"Our opinions on the hobbit obviously differ, Gandalf," Thorin was saying and I forced myself to turn back to the scene. "But we both must agree that it is past dawn and we need to begin our trek if we plan on making it to the mountains."

Gandalf's lips tipped down at the statements, his gnarled fingers twisting in the horse's' mane even more as his eyes snapped to the hobbits, round, green door, the mark still bright in the morning light.

"Hmm," Gandalf murmured, clearly displeased. "Very well."

With a stiff nod, Thorin turned around. "Khrub'egam mun!" Angry eyes flicked over to Fili and I and I suddenly became acutely aware of my hand in Fili's. What was wrong with me? Slowly, my fingers untangled from his and beside me, I heard him give a deep sigh.

"Come on, buntanut," he whispered softly and I decided to not talk about the fact that he had just called me kitten. Along with all his other pet names. Lips thinned, I followed him over to the auburn mare, her back already heavy with my bags. "Up you go."

Big hands circled my waist, lifting me effortlessly onto the mares back without her spooking. Beautiful blue eyes glittered up at me, one of his hands resting warmly high on my thigh.

"Khamanmenin," I whispered, trying to not let the shake in my voice show as he gave a short nod and me one final smirk before he was going back to his horse. He was making me crazy. Him and his stupid eyes and his stupid hair and his sweet words. I bit my lips, spurring my pony over to where my brothers were, all of them saddled up.

"Ready, zarisi?" I hissed out a breath at the old nickname. Twig - skinny as a twig was what the dwarves had always loved to tease me with. It wasn't my fault that I was the way I was. I was never able to put on the pounds that the others did.

Throwing Nori a glare, I wheeled my horse, her hooves stomping against the soft meadow grass as she gave a snort, tossing her mane. Lucky for me, Fili had given her a bridle and reigns for me. Not so lucky was that she was very temperamental and kept throwing her head back at every tug of the reigns.

"Are you all settled, Tori?" Dori called, shifting closer to Ori so that he could adjust my brothers hands on the reigns.

"She fine," Nori snapped, wheeling his pony around and in between Ori and Dori's horses so that they had to part with a neigh. Dori's lips quirked down as Ori's did the opposite, forcing me to choke on my own laughter. My red headed brother jabbed a finger at our eldest brother, his brows furrowed. "Stop babying them. They don't need to be coddled like kittens or piglets wandering around mewing for milk. They're old enough to-"

"Oh shut up, you hypocritical brat-" Dori snarled, swatting at Nori whose horse skittered away as he reigned it in.

"Hypocritical?" Nori's face twisted with astonishment. "There you go using big words when you don't know the mean-"

"Move out!" Thorin roared, breaking the obvious fight that was about to begin between my brothers who still shot each other murderous glares as we fell into line.

And so the journey began, the roar of the other dwarves startling hobbits out of the pathway. All along the quiet lane, the little folk were starting their daily routes, the chimneys huffing out great billows of smoke. Barrels overflowing with vegetables were being carted down the lanes, deliveries of fresh bread and the like being taken to every door. They were very quaint people. I tipped my head to the side as my eyes caught on a rosy cheeked hobbit with a muddy petticoat and a tangled snatch of blonde hair. She was reading a leatherbound book at her doorstep, her eyes wide as she watched us pass by.

What a life they had. For the first time, I wondered what they did - other than run their small, little shops in their small, little shire with their families and fires. What could their lives be like in their comfy. little hobbit holes with their couches and pillows and West Farthing crockery.

"What are you thinking of, hamumal amrul?" I didn't startle at the gravelly voice, my eyes staying on a pair of girls passing by, their large, hairy feet peeking out from beneath their hems, their noses red from the summer sun. My skin had long since become accustomed to that same heat although my skin never seemed to grow darker.

"Is it possible?" I whispered, my voice low as a stout man with a wild mane of auburn curls poked his head overtop of a row of green bean stalks.

"What?" My eyes finally turned to meet Fili's, his gaze deep and penetrating.

"To have a life like this. Only knowing about the world through books?" I shook my head, turning back to look at the homes.

"They do it every single day," he said softly and I shook my head again. It was incomprehensible to me. How could they so idly stay here - reading and speaking about distant lands that they had never touched or seen for themselves.

Soon we broke from the Shire, coming down from the hills to the valley below and then eventually breaking into the forest. The hobbits were becoming farther and farther from our grasps. I closed my eyes, trying to mute as much of the squabbling around me. Bilbo wasn't going to be coming anytime soon. Not unless he-

"WAIT!" I blinked, my head whipping up and around at the thin, reedy voice. It couldn't possibly - "WAAAAAIIIITTT!"

My mouth flopped open at the curly head of hair that was bounding towards us, his large feet slamming across the dirt as he worked hard to get to us. A fine sheen of sweat covered his face and neck, dampening the hazel curls at his temple.

"By my stars," I whispered in wonder as the hobbit came to a halt directly in front of us.

"Not such a simplistic life than," Fili whispered, clearly amused as his horse came to a stop besides mine.

"Not such a simplistic hobbit," I said quietly, catching his grin.

"I signed it," Bilbo said triumphantly, holding up the piece of parchment with a grin.

Looking to Thorin for confirmation, Balin took the contract in hand and inspects it with a pocket glass. Unlike the rest, he seemed to be more in favor for the little hobbit. I bit my lip as Balin's eyes moved over the document. Briefly, his eyes flicked up to me, his brows raised. I shrugged.

"Everything appears to be in order," Balin finally said with a smile, pocketing the contract as Bilbo grinned gleefully around. "Welcome, Master Baggins, to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

Cheers filled the air, some of the dwarves pumping their firsts. Beside me, Fili clapped slowly, his eyes meeting mine.

"Barely half of the battle is won," he murmured, shifting on his pony. I tipped my head to the side, watching carefully as Thorin gave an indulgent smile.

"Give him a pony." My stomach dropped. Sixteen ponies. Fourteen of which were already in use.

"Bloody hell," I grumbled, my hands tightening on the reigns before I gave a sigh.

"Come on, To-" I yelped as strong arms coiled around my waist, Nori's sentence cut off as he stared at the utter abomination that was taking place at that moment.

"Fili, let me down," I gritted out, my chest pressed to his in a rather compromising position as he dragged me onto his saddle. His eyes sparkled up at me, one of his hands going to sit lowly in the hollow of my back. He looked like he was having far too much fun.

"Where do you intend to go, kitten?" He whispered, his eyes flicking for a brief moment to my lips. My blood boiled beneath my skin, an uncomfortable ache starting deep inside me as I tried to wiggle away from him.

"With one of my brothers," I hissed, my fingers splayed across his chest. The idea only seemed to amuse him more.

"That won't be necessary." The words rumbled through his chest into mine causing a deep burn to well up in my throat.

"You-" Before I could continue, he was shifting me, his fingers splayed widely across my hips as he turned me effortlessly so that my back was to his front. One of his hands stayed there, the tips of his fingers coming dangerously close to some very intimate places as the other nudged the reins into my hands.

"Take a hold of these for a moment?" I shivered at the hot blow of his breath in the hollow of my ear, flushing.

The hobbit was babbling on about something, I realized my mind thick with agitation as we neared him. "I-I-I've done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton. Once - WAGH!"

Behind me, Fili didn't so much as let out a breath as he grabbed beneath the hobbit's arms, lifting so that the bewildered fellow could be plopped into the saddle. There were some disturbing similarities that were starting to pop up between myself and the hobbit, I thought dejectedly as Fili settled in behind me once more.

"Feeling good, pet?" I sneered at the name.

"Peachy," I growled, huffing as Fili's, big stupid arms caged me in. Stupid dwarf. I should bite him and hop onto the nearest horse.

But he smelt good. And the damage had already been done. All of the others were looking back at us like we had grown extra limbs. I grimaced, bowing my head. Damn him.


Hello! I am Mylovelylions and here is your khuzdul - a - chapter lesson! Let's start with the basics and pretty soon you'll be speaking the language of the dwarves like a pro. *winks*

Kulhu imhel: What am I doing?

Kuf: Why?

Halwal Aule: Sweet Aule

Khrub'egam mun!: Saddle up!

Buntanut: Kitten

Khamanmenin: Thank you

Zarisi: Twig

Hamumal amrul: little love