Disclaimer: The Hobbit belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, WB, MGM.

A down pour hit the company as we made our way through the forest. Everyone was miserable and wet as we slogged through the mud. The rain had washed away the path, making it difficult for the ponies to pick their way through the muck.

"Gandalf, is there anything you can do about this, here deluge?" Oin called hopefully.

Water dripped down the brim of Gandalf's pointed hat as he turned partially in the saddle to fix the dwarf with an irritated look. "It will keep raining until the rain is done, Master Dwarf!"

With the wizard in such a bad mood, no one dared utter another complaint about the weather. The dwarves resigned themselves to a miserable day of riding. Even Fili and Kili were unusually subdued, not cracking jokes like they normally would.

Pushing sopping hair out of my eyes, I pulled up alongside Thorin. "How much further are we going?"

The dwarf glanced at me briefly. "As far as we can before nightfall. It is a long way to the Lonely Mountain. I suggest you keep up, my lady."

"That won't be a problem." I replied tartly. "A crawling baby could pass us at this pace."

Anger flashed across his handsome face. "Then perhaps, you'd care to walk instead of ride."

He looked so furious, for a moment I really thought he would force me to trudge through the mud on foot. Clearly, I'd stepped in it.

When he opened his mouth to berate me further, I held up a hand. "Jeez, no need for a temper tantrum. I was making an observation, not trying to insult you."

"I am not throwing a tantrum! I suggest you keep your observations to yourself." He said curtly and urged his horse forward, riding ahead nearly out of view.

I rolled my eyes. Someone had a chip on their shoulder. That's for sure.

Balin gave me a reproachful look but didn't say anything.

I met his gaze head on, unrepentant. I was not going to apologize for something so stupid. I hadn't done anything wrong. Thorin was the one with the bad temper not me. He insisted we slog through this mess, so he had no one to blame but himself for his misery.

I straightened up in the saddle. Thorin Oakenshield could disdain me, sneer at me or whatever. But did his opinion matter to me? Not particularly. I gave a gentle tug on the reins steering my pony around a deep puddle.

If I wanted to find a solution to being trapped in Middle Earth I needed to start believing in myself. As a historian I was an excellent researcher. Eventually, the company would arrive in Rivendell. The elves were bound to have some useful knowledge in their library.

Gandalf noticed the subtle change in my posture, and a small smile of approval curled his lips. "Finally. I was beginning to give up hope."

"I suppose that's fair. I'd given up on myself, given up on everything." I replied with a wry smile, wiping raindrops off my cheeks. "But I'm willing to try. For real."

Though, I probably would continue to falter and make mistakes.

Maintaining hope was never easy.

"Good. That's good." Gandalf looked up at the sky. "Ah, the rain is beginning to let up."

The rain had died down to a drizzle and soon stopped altogether. I leaned forward and gave my mare a pat on the shoulder. "Good girl. You're a strong one too, aren't you?"

The pony whinnied in agreement and I laughed. She deserved a reward for carrying my sulky ass all this way. I really had to give her a name. Calling her 'mare' or 'pony' all the time was becoming tedious.

I considered for a moment. She had a lovely white blaze on her face. 'Stardust' would work.

"Alright, you've got a bright red apple in your future. It'll be our secret, Stardust." I whispered.

At the mention of an apple, Stardust's ears perked up, earning a grin from me.

The dwarves weren't big on offering treats to their steeds. They thought very little of them, honestly. The ponies were a tool to get to their destination. Nothing more. It was an attitude I didn't understand.

All living creatures deserved respect.

Late afternoon an unexpected obstacle appeared on the path. Thorin called a halt. A fallen tree blocked the road, no doubt taken down by the rain.

"Is there a way around?" Dwalin asked, leaning on his ax.

"No. Not without traveling out of the way." Thorin said. "We cannot afford any delays."

I dismounted and joined the dwarves gathered in front of the tree. "Is there anything I can do?"

The surly bald dwarf looked down his long nose at me. "Not unless you got an ax hidden down your bodice."

Anger bubbled in my chest. If there's anything I hate, it's being dismissed. Standing on my tiptoes, I leaned into Dwalin and spoke in a husky whisper. "Your ax isn't all that impressive, in more ways than one."

After a moment of stunned silence, the dwarves burst out laughing. Even a smile briefly graced Thorin's lips before his broad features slid into their usual remote mask.

Kili slapped me on the back and I nearly lost my balance from the force of the blow. He steadied me before I plowed face first into the mud. "I'm surprised and impressed. I did not think you had it in you to be so bold."

"It has nothing to do with boldness. I just wasn't going to let what he said stand." I retorted.

Dwalin's entire head flushed red and a vein bulged at his temple. "So, you're a cheeky one, aye?" He held out his second ax to me. "Then you can start swinging just like the rest of us."

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By afternoon, the terrain had transformed from forest to a rocky, rugged landscape with few trees. In a way it was a relief to leave the muddy swampy ground behind, but the mountainous terrain carried its own peril. The steep and narrow paths were treacherous. More than once I had to reach out and comfort Stardust when a loose rock skittered under her hooves.

When we reached a cliff overlooking the ground far below Thorin raised his hand to halt the company. "We'll camp here for the night."

Relief swamped me as I slid down from my mare's back. Grabbing my pack, I sought out the cover of the trees to change out of my damp clothes.

My arms shook slightly as I peeled off my sweatshirt. After all the ax swinging my biceps felt like cooked spaghetti.

I crouched down in my underwear, the fading light making it difficult to search for what I needed in my pack. I navigated by feel, pulling out a fresh bodice and skirt and pulled them on.

I sighed as the soft cotton brushed against my skin. It felt so good to wear dry clothes again. Stretching my arms over my head I smiled and did a little spin to set my skirts swishing around my feet.

Then I dug around in my pack for my brush and attacked the tangles in my hair. Though I badly wanted a bath, with no water source in the area I had to make do with braiding my hair and tying it off.

Out of the blue something with a lot of legs skittered across my bare foot as I was putting away my hairbrush.

Shrieking, I jumped back, my ankle twisting in a hole as I crashed down hard on my ass.

"Lass?" One of the dwarves called.

I let out an involuntary moan as my ankle started to throb.

Through the pain, I heard someone crash through the brush in a hurry and then Thorin stood over me, eyes scanning the area for a threat. He lowered his sword when he saw me sprawled on the ground. "What happened?" He demanded.

Hiding a grimace, I adjusted the hem of my skirt to cover my ankle. "I just fell. No big deal."

Sheathing his sword, Thorin extended a hand to help me up. "You should not wander off alone. The wilderness can be a dangerous place."

When I made no move to accept his help, his large hand curled around my own and heaved me upright.

Hiding a grimace of pain, I brushed dirt off my skirt, balancing awkwardly on my good foot. "I don't need a lecture. I am not a child."

He glanced down at my open pack and the discarded clothing on the ground. "Return to camp when you are finished. I sense there are eyes upon us this night." Then he pivoted on the heel of his boot and left.

At least I escaped our encounter without being yelled at again. He must be in a good mood. I thought dryly.

Leaning against a tree, I examined the damage in the growing dimness. A lump the size of a goose egg protruded from my ankle. Not the worst sprain I'd ever had but also not good.

If I did not on it too much I could manage. Now, I owed Stardust two apples. She was going to be working her butt off.

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"Wazzock burm!" Thorin bellow, fists shaking in anger as he stalked through the camp.

"Did you notice?" Kili asked his brother after Thorin stormed by, his brows furrowed deeply over his eyes.

Fili paused sharpening a knife. "Aye."

"Adelaide is getting under his skin." Kili folded his arms over his chest and leaned his head back against the rock wall behind them. "I wonder what she said this time."

"Who knows?" Fili swiped his whetstone down the edge of the blade, sending sparks into the air. "But if she does not stop, she will find herself out of the company."

Kili, on the other hand, was not convinced. He did not see Thorin tossing a woman out in the wilderness by herself. No. There was something more going on here.

Dwalin gave them both a stern look. "Best leave it alone, lads. Tis not our business."

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Balin was in the middle of a story when I limped into camp. "The pale orc was large and fierce. He defeated the king and we were outnumbered. But Thorin rallied the army and charged at Azog...."

A fire burned merrily at the center, the dwarves sitting close to the flames to dry out their clothes. I laid out my coat, sweatshirt, and jeans flat on the ground close by and hobbled over to Kili and Fili praying no one noticed my awkward gait.

Hands clasped behind his back, Thorin stood off in the distance looking out over the valley.

I wondered if he could hear the sheer admiration in Balin's voice as he spoke of him and what he thought of it.

Fili and Kili listened to the old dwarf's recounting of the battle for Moria with awe and did not pay much attention when I let out a little hiss of pain as I sat beside them.

"....Many were lost that day but we found one to follow, one who was worthy of being king."

"And the pale orc?" Bilbo asked.

"That filth died of his wounds, long ago." Thorin spat, striding into view, sweeping dark strands of hair away from his forehead.

Gandalf and Balin exchanged a pointed glance. It seemed as if Thorin was in denial.

I made sure to avoid his eyes as he glared around the camp, daring anyone to challenge him. Well, he'd figure out the truth soon enough.

I was not going to be the one to drop that bomb.

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Despite Thorin's concerns about being followed, the night passed with no incident. I woke bleary-eyed at sunrise, having fidgeted most of the night because of my ankle. While the others broke camp, I pulled Oin aside and showed him the sprain.

The dwarf was displeased that I had concealed the injury. "You should've come to me last night. There's no need to suffer in pain." He pulled out a piece of what looked like bark. "Chew this, it will help."

"Is this willow bark?"

"Aye." Oin grunted and wrapped my ankle with a bandage, tying it tight. "Now, keep off it as much as possible."

I touched his arm. "Please don't tell Thorin. He doesn't want me here as it is."

"Can't do that. He's our leader!" Oin sealed the pouch with the willow bark and stuffed it in his pack. "Dishonesty is a great affront among dwarves!"

He scuttled off in a huff and I sighed.

I suppose I should have expected it. Oin did not owe me anything. I was a stranger. The dwarves were his kin.

Surcoat sweeping majestically behind him, Thorin strode over to me five minutes later as I readied Stardust. "Oin tells me you injured yourself."

I cinched the strap on the saddle around Stardust's belly. "Just a minor sprain. It'll be fine in a week." Once I had the saddle in place, I turned to him. "I know I screwed up so if you are about to scold me, please don't."

Thorin studied my face, then shook his head. "I see little point when you're set against even yourself. All I will say is that concealing such a thing could put us all at risk. Be more honest in the future."

I bit back a scathing remark. Set against myself? I fumed. Since when did being a klutz mean I possessed a masochistic streak? Its not like I deliberately sprained my ankle.

Thorin sighed as if I were a trial to deal with and took his place at the head of the column.

I finished adjusting Stardust's saddle and clambered onto her back. I stroked a hand down Stardust's mane, more to sooth my anger than anything else. Thorin was the most aggravating man I'd ever met in my life.

A/N: I tried to show some of Adelaide's personality this chapter since very little of it has been seen yet because I had to get all the introductory stuff out of the way and the cast is so huge so its hard to balance. She's basically an introvert, gradually coming out of her shell and I hoped I showed that. I included a taste of Kili's POV in this chapter. I haven't written first person in years, I normally write in third so this is a change for me. Don't know if I'll include Thorin's POV in the next chapter, but it will definitely show up in Rivendell. Adelaide's POV will be in first person, all other POV's will be in third. Feedback would be appreciated! (P.S. Sorry about these camping chapters. Real action coming up soon!)

P.P.S. Wazzock burm-Foolish human!