A/N: Sorry for the wait, my beautiful readers. I know I had promise to be more consistant withe updates, however I was facing a rather frightening time with my mother being sent to hospital for a surgery on her heart. Thankfully, tdespite a couple of complications, the surgery was a success and she'll be home is a couple of weeks. I thank you all for your understanding.

Chapter Sixteen: Introductions and Agreement

Amara's POV

The Next Morning...

I woke the morning to see everyone else was awake and the sound of someone chopping wood outside reached my ears, I turned to see Bilbo still sleeping in his roll. I watched as a giant bee slowly landed on Bilbo's nose causing him to wake with a start.

"Relax Bilbo, they are harmless." I said as Bilbo tried to swat another giant bee away, as we continued to hear the sounds of wood being chopped I turned to the dining area where all the dwarves and Gandalf were standing, I turned to Bilbo and motioned him to follow me as I then made my way over to the company.

The sounds of Nori's voice then reached my ears.

"I say we should leg it. Slip out the back way." He said, as if it was the best solution before Dwalin grabbed Nori's arm and glared at the thief.

"I ain't running from anyone, beast or no." He snarled, Nori then shrugged Dwalin's arm off before Gandalf then spoke out to the whole company.

"There is no point in arguing. We cannot pass through the Wilderland without Beorn's help. We'll be hunted down before we ever get to the forest." Gandalf said before noticing both Bilbo and I only just joining the group. "Ah Amara, Bilbo, there you are." I nodded my head to the elder wizard as I knew that the first meeting with Beorn was critical, Gandalf continued to talk as he made his way to the door. "Now, this will require some delicate handling. We must tread very carefully. The last person to have startled him was torn to shreds." This caused all the dwarves to turn to each other and look a bit concern, 'That's even less reassuring then last night, Gandalf.' I thought as I turned to Thorin. He looked at me with a knowing look, I knew that he was thinking of the visions in Rivendell and I took his hand subtly as to not be caught by the other members of the company.

"I'll go first and-" Gandalf said before then turning to both Bilbo and I as we were standing by Thorin and his nephews. "Uh Bilbo? Amara? You both come with me." I turned to Thorin as he then motioned for both Bilbo and I to go forward, with a final squeeze of my hand I followed Bilbo as he and I then made our way to Gandalf.

"Is this a good idea?" Bilbo asked uncertainly, which I couldn't blame him as no hobbit in this lifetime has ever come into contact with a skin changer before.

"Yes." Gandalf affirmed before turning back to the company. "Now the rest of you, you just wait here and don't come out until I give the signal."

"Right. Wait for the signal." Bofur said as he turned back to look out the window.

"And no sudden movements or loud noises and don't over crowd him. Only come out in pairs. Right." Gandalf said but then turned and called out. "No. Actually, Bombur?" The fat dwarf took a bite of a carrot before looking up at the wizard. "You count as two so you should come out alone." Bombur nodded at this, but I could tell that he was hesitant. "Remember, wait for the signal." Gandalf said before motioning for both Bilbo and I to follow him.

"The signal. Right. And what signal would that be?" Bofur asked, but by then the three of us were already out the door.

I remained by Bilbo as we exited the house and soon made our way towards the large, hairy 10-foot skin changer who was chopping woods as if he was trying cut off the heads of the very orcs that destroyed his people.

I looked up at Gandalf as I could see the elder wizard comb back a strand of loose hair and cleared his throat as we slowly walked.

"You're nervous." Bilbo said as he seemed to notice it too, Gandalf turned to Bilbo for a moment before turning back at the sound of an angry grunt as Beorn continued to chop wood. 'Well of course he's nervous, Bilbo! How else is he supposed to feel walking up to a 10-foot man who can turn into a giant bear at will?" I thought as

"Nervous. What nonsense." Gandalf muttered snidely as we got closer.

"Good morning." Gandalf then greeted the large skin changer but was ignored before greeting him in a singing tone which then caught Beorn's attention as he stopped chopping wood.

"Who are you?" Beorn asked in a haunted tone, both Bilbo and I hid behind Gandalf as Gandalf then introduced himself to Beorn.

"I'm Gandalf. Gandalf the Grey." Gandalf said with a slight bow, the large skin changer then turned around and faced Gandalf.

"Never heard of him."

"I'm a wizard." Gandalf explained simply before continuing. "Perhaps you heard of my colleague: Radagast the brown. He resides in the southern boarders of Mirkwood."

"What do you want?" Beorn said with a impatient tone in his raspy voice.

"Well, to simply thank you for your hospitality. You may have notice that we took refuge in your lodgings here last night." Gandalf explained as both Bilbo and I then leaned and peeked out from behind Gandalf, which then caused Beorn to look at us.

"Who are these little ones?" He asked in surprise.

"Ah, this is Bilbo Baggins from the shire. And-" Gandalf started but then I stepped out on my own and bowed to our host.

"Amara Harvelle, pleasure to meet you Master Beron." I greeted him politely, using an innocent and kind tone that I often used on skittish animals, which in my defence Beorn was partially on as he could turn into a giant-ass bear the size of a bus.

"They are not dwarves, are they?" Beorn asked staring at me and Bilbo as he then lifted up his axe as if getting ready for battle, I took control of the situation before Gandalf could.

"Allow me to assure you, Master Beorn. Bilbo and I are not dwarves at all." "Bilbo is a hobbit from a good family and has a unimpeachable reputation, whereas I am human magic-user from a far-off land not known to Middle-Earth. Not a drop dwarven blood flows in our veins."

Beorn stared me down as he seemed sceptical to believe me. "Awfully small for a witch." He said with a snide tone, I wanted to make a comment back, but I turned to Gandalf who shook his head at me, so I kept quiet and let the conversation return to the ones who were meant to have it.

"A Halfling, a wizard and a woman. How come you here?" Beorn asked, as this gave Gandalf then took over the conversation.

"Oh well, the fact is that we've had a bad time of it from Goblins in the mountains."

"What did you go near Goblins for? Stupid thing to do." Beron said as if he was scolding 'Hey it's not like we got near them because we wanted to, you know.' I thought with an annoyed look on my face.

And as Gandalf was agreeing with Beorn it was then the dwarves then started coming out in pairs and introducing themselves to our host, Beorn seemed annoyed at the sight of the dwarves and then asked:

"Any more of them?" With those words Thorin was the last to exit the house and introduce himself to the large skin changer, I looked up at Beorn as I could see that he seemed to realise who he was.

Soon enough, we were back in Beorn's house and most were sat at the table as Beorn poured everyone seated a mug of milk, I stood by Gandalf and then looked over at Thorin who was leaning against a wooden

"So you are the one they call Oakenshield." Beorn said before asking. "Tell me, why is Azog the Defiler hunting you?"

"You know of Azog? How?" Thorin asked as he turned to face the skin changer, Beron then began to tell us about his past with how the orcs treated and killed many others like him until he was the only one of his kind that remained.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Beorn. We all know how such an action feels." I said with a bow of my head, the skin-changer then looked to me and smiled softly.

"You are very kind, young witch. Thank you." He said before he then turned to Gandalf. "You need to reach the mountain, before the last days of autumn." He said as he then sat in his chair in the corner.

"Before Durin's Days falls, yes." Gandalf confirmed.

"You are running out of time."

"Which is why we must go through Mirkwood." Gandalf then said before Beorn then said.

"A darkness lies upon that forest. Fell things creep beneath those trees." His voice carried a sincere warning in it, 'Yeah like giant-ass spiders and sneaky Wood Elves.' I thought as Beorn then turned to the dwarves. "I would not venture there, except in great need."

"Which is why we will take the Elven road. That paths are safe."

"Safe?" Beorn questioned before continuing. "The Wood Elves of Mirkwood are not like their kin. They're less wise and more dangerous." I watched as Thorin turned around took a few steps away from the table before hearing Beorn say. "But it matters not."

Thorin then turned back around and stared at the skin-changer before asking with a stunned look in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"These lands are crawling with orcs. Their numbers are growing. And you are on foot. You will never reach the forest alive." Beorn said as he then got up from his chair and as he slowly walked towards Thorin he continued to say. "I don't like dwarves. They are greedy and blind. Blind to the lives they deem less than their own." He then gently picked up a mouse from the table, being so careful with the tiny creature as his thumb stroked the mouse's head.

"But orcs I hate more." Beorn said sternly before looking at Thorin and asked. "What do you need?" I took this chance to ask.

"Allow us to rest here for three days, so that I can heal everyone's wounds. After which we will leave with whatever you are will to offer us." I said in a hopeful tone, as Thorin turned to me and watched me as the skin-changer turn to face me and watch my expressions. My guess is that he could see that I cared for these dwarves greatly as if they were my own kin.

"Very well. I will provide you with ponies to take you to the edge of the forest in three days' time." Beorn said as he then bowed his head, I smiled as I turned to Thorin who looked at me with a soft smile on his face that I loved ever so much.

Thorin then turned to Beorn and bowed his head before saying. "Thank you, Master Beorn." With that, everyone enjoyed the simple breakfast that they were given by our host, I looked over at Thorin and smiled as he flashed me yet another smile that caused me to feel a wave of warmth and tingles run down my body.

I then looked around at the company who were all enjoying their milk given to them by the giant skin changer, I knew that we were in the last stretch of summer now and we only had three more months to get to the mountain and there were many challenges to face. But as long as I had my friends, I believed that I would be ok.