Preparing for the journey to Hobbiton was the most stressful thing Eiki had experienced. She was no young and wild female that dashed around the village in an attempt to find a husband while still in the flowers of youth. Nor was she an old maid with no hope of marriage, doomed to die alone, however this blacksmith has gone through her years filled with plenty of stress. Wondering, will father wake up today or will I find him gone to meet mother, is he in pain? Did I forget to make lunch? If I don't get this job finished will I have enough to pay for all our daily expenses? How much is this material going to cost, or should I skip it all together?

Yet none of that so much as compared to the thoughts of leaving Askru, my father, and finding someone suitable to care for him in my absence. Packing up all the tools needed for on-the-go blacksmithing, packing flints and other fire starters, small scraps of different metal for small repairs, finding a way to carry my hammer without weighing myself down too much. Buying a new coat as my old one is unsuited for the unexpected, picking up my books, extra thread and needles for cloths repair, oh speaking of clothes I need to make sure my travel boot still fit.

So simple to say I procrastinated best any worthwhile Dwarrowdam should and more. I was worried, could you blame me, this would be this first time I would not be here to care for my father in his sickness. Balin had left the money to hire a caretaker but that made me no less uneasy. It took almost a week before my father, irritated with my hovering, threatened to send a message to Dain and have him force me out of the house. "I hear he has a messenger in the next town over, it will take little effort to inform him of the situation and get him here if I must." He would say, I was unsure how he knew such things but I preferred not to take that risk.

And so on this early morning I found myself bidding my father goodbye, not before giving his new caretaker, a blond friend of mine by the name of Lexsly, the run down on his care. Tossing my large bag of supplies over my shoulder I meandered my way to an old field fenced off just above the city exposed to the mud and rain, waving to local merchants along the way. Arriving at my destination a let off a loud, hawk like call, allowing the wind to carry my voice with it.

Within moments a small stampede could be made out from over the noise of the ever falling storm. And so three ponies could be seen making their way over; the stud of the group just ahead of the other two, his chestnut coat splotch with a bit of cream around its eye and backside. Following close behind was the mare, a beautiful vanilla color now caked with a bit of mud. Off to her side stumbled a young colt, built much like its father with a lighter coat, now dirtied from an earlier roll in the fresh made puddles this rainy climate provided. Stopping before me I gave each a pat and an extra apple or two, before walking the Male away from the others to saddle up. Bringing back fond memories as I did so, these horses were once a favorite of my mother, though that was quite a few horses ago, their offspring continue under my care and once long ago my father's as well.

Mounting the handsome pony, and giving a quick check that I had all I needed, I set off on my way to Hobbiton.

Downpour eased off into a drizzle, moving along to cloudy skies, and at last sunshine and warmth. After 2 days of trails and the occasional stop to ask directions our favorite smith was finally within a fair distant of the company meeting point. Pulling the jacket close to shield against the nippy breeze of the night, Eiki dismounted and led the pony from here on as to be at a better level to notice the mark that signaled the randevu point of the company.

However Eiki would soon find that she was not the first to arrive. Inside the home of one hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the young princes had struck up a conversation and are currently comparing muscles.

"Ha," the large warrior known as Dwalin scoffed flexing a muscle of his own, "you boys have a long way to go before you can start gloating about those rubber arms."

At this Kili childishly stuck out his tongue, "comparing to you is just unfair, you're naturally huge!"

"Now Lads, though unfair it may be my brother has a point." the eldest in the room spoke up, "why I know a Dwarrowdam with more muscle than the two of you."

Giving an unbelieving scoff Fili turned to his brother, "there he goes again, exaggerating as usual."

As Balin made to reply a knock sounded on the rounded green front door, with a grumbling hobbit making his way to answer it.

"Well it seems my special guest has finally arrived." Balin clapped his hands and rose from his seat to greet the women entering the house. Intrigued the other three follow and stood shocked as they watch a Dwarrowdam step through the threshold of the house and finish giving a proper greeting to the hobbit. "Ahh Eiki dear".

Hearing Balin's call I dropped my bag to the side of the door, the metals inside clanging together from jostling. "Balin! How are you, I should have guessed you would beat me here."

Looking over at the rest of the residents, as the Halfling attempted to move my bag a bit farther out of the main hallway and failing, I did a quick look at the three unknown dwarves. First my eyes rested on the large man standing behind Balin with a gruff eyebrow raised towards my gray haired friend. Even without the Mohawk I instantly recognized this man to be Balin's ever fabled little brother, Dwalin. Not wanting to give the old dwarf any ideas I gave him a quick scan before looking towards the younger dwarfs, one blond the other with barely a beard, and they remained gawking at me.

"What boys, never seen a Dwarrowdam before?" I chuckled, "close your mouth or you'll catch flies"

With a small click their mouths jaws shut together, however that had not lasted long as the younger dark haired one spoke up not two seconds later. "S-sorry m'lady it's just that, umm we, we weren't expecting a... umm..."

A women I finished mentally

However despite this I smiled, "well how about I find me a place to sit and maybe something to drink, then I shall explain my presence here a bit farther seeing as Balin has yet to do so." I shot a playful glare at said dwarf, "while I get settled in, why don't you lads give our gracious host a hand with my bags, I doubt he should be able to lift them on his own."

I went to make my way to the main dining room when Balin stopped me and explained in passing, "They thought I was joking las, would you mind proving them wrong?" I looked confused for a moment before he tapped my right bicep and I quickly understood with a bark like laugh.

"Very well" with this I pulled my sleeve up and enjoyed watching the boys struggle with my bags.

Whistling to grab the attention of the two young men, Balin motioned to me, "Over exaggerating was I?" and on cue I flexed just enough to watch their faces go just a bit paler. Scratching the back of their heads I smiled and fixed my sleeve before continuing on my way to the dining room, snickering as I heard a multitude of apologies and the occasional passing of money.

Entering the area I saw Dwalin leaning against the table, "so you must be that female smith my brother is always going on about," he gave a slight bow of the head never taking his eyes off me.

"I see, that would, indeed, make you master Dwalin then." Giving a slight bow I properly introduced myself. "Eiki daughter of Askru, however it seems that Balin gives you as much grief about me as he does me about you!"

He snorted, "You don't know the half of it!" I rolled my eyes.

"I wouldn't be so sure, he might surprise you as to what he seems to..." I paused looking for the words before settling on "...Open up about." I let out a sigh, "now that I think about it the only way to shut him up is to throw something at him, but he always manages to dodge" this earned a smile from the Large warrior.

Making a bit awkward conversation with the warrior I rummaged through the kitchen and found myself a cup and some well made mead. Once I was seated Fili and Kili, Dwalin told me they were named as despite their high status they forgot to introduce themselves, bombarded me with questions.

"Who are you?"

"Why are you here, I don't think uncle would hire a dwarrowdam?"

"What is in your bag! Why is it so heavy?"

"How do you know Balin?"

And lastly "do you think you could give me some advice on women?"

Taking a drink from my mug I huffed a laugh from that last question and waited a bit for them to calm down. "Ready to listen boys or you do you have any more questions?"

The Blond one, Fili I believe, tapped his finger against his chin dramatically "Nope that should be it for me! What 'bout you brother?"

"Nah, I think I'm good, I'll ask on the road if anymore come up."

Sighing I placed down my drink and folded my calloused hand in my lap waiting patiently for their conversation to end."Alright then, for starters it's quite rude to ask the identity of another without first introducing yourself" I decided to have a bit of fun and let them go red, stuttering out an apology as they realized they forgot the basics of greeting any guest, Female or not.

Once recovered they introduced themselves, "Fili son of Dis, Daughter of Thrain,"

"Kili son of Dis, Daughter of Thrain!" then a pause "I'm the handsome brother"

And then together they bowed "At your service!"

Huffing out a laugh I snarked "Are you sure, you both seem kind of scrawny!" ignoring Dawlins laugh ('Should have followed my lead eh boys'), as I bowed, " Eiki Daughter of Askru"

Before anyone else could respond, Balin piped" Ahh leave it to the girl to set them lads strait!"

"I'm not that scrawny am I" Kili said looking himself over.

"Don't you worry lad, Eiki here just has a preference for... Larger men" He sent a pointed look towards his brother who was towering over him.

Growling, Dwalin and I shared an annoyed look. A silent message seemed to pass between us as I threw my now empty mug and Dwalin grabbed a hold of his brothers collar to keep him from avoiding said projectile.

Once the mug came in perfect contact with the old dwarfs' forehead, he seemed to process what had just happened. "You teamed up against me..." he muttered then spoke up louder in all his dramatics "Mutiny! It's mutiny I tell you!" he waved his arms and leaned back for emphasis, causing him to fall backwards into his brother, Leaving them in a tangled pile on the floor. So naturally they began to wrestle. The match ended fairly quickly with Dwalin coming up with his elder brother in a choke hold grinning victorious, the Durin boys cheering him on.

I let out a hearty laugh, enjoying the show, when a tug on my sleeve caught my attention. Looking down at the Halfling I smiled noticing the curious gleam in his eyes. "A-are they always like that?"

"Well I would imagine so, as you'll soon find most dwarves are quite rowdy," I grinned at him truthfully."However that's not what you came to ask me now is it?"

Shaking his head the now bashful hobbit stared at his feet as he spoke to me. "I umm.... I was just wondering... I mean I always thought that all dwarves, male or not, h-had..." he trailed off but I understood where he was going.

"Had beards?" He nodded, "yes that is true we all posses the ability to grow facial hair, however women usually shave in times of peace, except for fashion reasons, many feminine beard style are used to indicate high Status. I don't have that luxury, as with my line of work I can't risk my beard setting on fire."

He nodded understanding, then got confused again "times of peace?"

"Oh yes right you wouldn't know. During wartimes the Dwarrowdams grow out their beard as to blend in with the males. This way if the enemy decides to target us for leverage against our soldiers it is harder for outsiders to distinguish who is male and who is not." I looked up thoughtfully, "quite the clever strategies if I do say so, as the male dwarves are quite protective of us dwarrowdams."

Any further conversation was cut off by multiple knocks on the door. Our host, who I have yet to learn the name of, walked off as yet more knocks sounded one after another. Grumbling something about how, if this was some blunderheads idea of a joke, it was in very poor taste.

The door opened and all that could be heard from my position at the table was the groaning of multiple (what I assumed to be) dwarves. Walking around the corner with Balin at my side I came upon quite the hilarious sight, a pile of what appears to be eight dwarves attempting to untangle themselves with a gray wizard standing over them.

"Gandalf" the word came out as an exasperated sigh from the Hobbit's lips, as if he expected no less.

It didn't take long for the dwarves and wizard to get settled in. Surprisingly none of them questioned my presence, well at least not immediately, and introduced themselves one by one. In total I learned that the last eight were named Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Oin, Gloin, Ori, Dori, and Nori, and in turn I introduced myself as any lady should. However before they could ask any questions I insisted that we all grab something to eat and I'll explain once we were all sat.

That in short is how we got here to where we are now, crowded in the pantry. Fili and Kili had climbed up the shelves grabbing anything edible they saw and tossing it down to Ori and Bofur, who was trying his best not to let Bombur snatch anything before it made it to the table. Dori and Balin were put in charge of the wines; Oin, Bifur and Nori where finding plates, bowls and silverware, while Gloin and Balin set the table; leaving Dwalin in charge of moving every piece of furniture to the dining room for everyone to sit. Gandalf was off somewhere having a conversation with Bilbo, the hobbit who was hosting us, whose name I caught somewhere in the whirl of things.

Once everyone had finished their tasks and were getting seated Fili and Kili took it upon themselves to literally climb over the table and pass out the mugs of ale.

And where was I you ask? Well while they set up I went to grab some of my pre made weapons from my saddle bag, making sure the rest of the company had properly tied their ponies to the railing as I do so. Seeing as that the company would start asking questions before long I decided to skip the middleman and bring some of my work for show, so that whether they like the idea of a dwarrowdam in my profession or not they would be forced to accept it. Or well at least except my work, because even if I'm kicked out I have no intention of sending them off without the proper weaponry. Making my way back into the house, if you could even call it that, I had just stepped foot through the door when the Gray Wizard pulled me aside.

"Awe Eiki child, it has been far too long," his ever mischievous smile shone down at me. "It's been what twenty years since I last visited the shop."

I rolled my eyes, "seems your perception of time is still plenty off Gandalf. Been nearly forty now, thirty-eight I believe. "

"Yes and what a marvelous blade you gave me!" at this his face scrunched up a bit, "unfortunate to say I lost it many years ago, got shattered on one of my adventures, never could find all the pieces."

"Gandalf! You don't simply lose a craftsman's blade like such let alone tell her nigh 40 years later!" crossing my arms offended at such negligence. Pressing a hand to my temple I sighed knowing arguing with the wizard would do me no good, I simply made a mental note never to forge him a blade without at least tripling the cost as to buy more sturdy materials, from the elves if necessary, beforehand.

"Yes, yes well anyway how is your father? Last I was there he had been ill."

Relaxing my posture I stared at my feet, "no better I'm afraid. He's been getting worse and has been completely bedridden for quite a number of years now. Poor old man's been getting restless." Lifting up my bag again, I walked away not wishing to continue of such depressing topics.

Back in the dining area, the 13 dwarves were quick to notice the absence of the red haired dwarrowdam. After a long moment it was Gloin who breached the subjects.

"What is the woman here for? The last thing this company needs is more distractions." he glared pointedly at the young Durin brothers.

"Well don' look at us, it was Balin who brought her along!" Kili immediately defended himself and his brother.

"Thorin would never agree to this. She will only get herself killed!" The grumpy dwarf shouted out to the accused dwarf.

Before Ballin could answer I entered the room carrying my sack of weapons. "And indeed if I do it will certainly be a fault to none but my own. Balin is a dear friend and I came along as a favor to him." I made sure my voice was hard enough to let that point sink in.

"I meant no offence ma'lady however-" I raised a hand and cut him off there.

"Just because I am a lady does not mean I lack the ability to defend myself, from things both physical," I sent him a look," and verbal. Your problem with me should be taken up with myself, and myself alone. Balin may have invited me but I am present among your of my own free will and you will be mistaken to think otherwise." In a way you could describe my actions as 'putting your foot down', either way, however you call it Gloin held my gaze for a moment and backed down quickly, sinking into his chair.

Awe yes that explains it, a married man, probably knows that look all too well then doesn't he, where the young Durin boys would have simply kept shouting, with their lack of experience with women. That will be sure to change by the end of this quest.

In a much politer tone I added "Good now that we are all settled in, I will explain how, because of me, you will be just that much less likely to die on this journey." I placed my bag onto the table, as throwing it would damage what was kept inside, and spilt the contents for all to see. I allowed them to gawk in silence as I grabbed a roll and a bit of cheese from the scraps on the table. "Because as of now, through the rest of the journey, I shall be your weapons smith"