I apologise to the, what is it now 15, of you who read this. My updates for it are slow but that's sort of because I am attempting to make this good. I also apologise for how weirdly I switch between third and first POV through out the last few chapters and probably the rest of the book.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions or simply leave your thoughts and likes/dislikes.

Enjoy

“No, no, no, no” Bilbo shakily protested to Thorin's sudden acceptance of him into the company. Though it was obvious that Master Oakenshield approved of bringing the hobbit along about as much as he did me, being a dwarrowdam and all.

“Give him the contract!” Thorin called to Balin who was already digging through his pockets for said parchment.

“Please,” Bilbo tried desperately but was spoken over as Bofur announced.

“Alright, we’re off”

Balin took this distraction as a chance to launch into the explanation and get the contract signed. “It’s just the usual summary of out-of-pocket expenses, time required, remunerations, funeral arrangements, so forth.”

“F-funeral arrangements!” Our host went incredibly wide eyed as the extremely long parchment unfolded before him.

With Bilbo stepping back a bit to read the contract I caught a bit of what I assumed to be the same sort of conversation Thorin and Balin had about me, directed at Gandalf. “I can not guarantee his safety.

“Understood.” The wizard answered gruffly. Nothing above a whisper.

“Nor will I be responsible for his fate.”  Thorin added in a final tone.

A sigh escaped Gandalf, “Agreed” However my attention was soon drawn away from the pair as the hobbit began to read the contract aloud.

“Terms: cash on delivery, up to but not exceeding one fourteenth of total profit, if any…” this made sense as my commissions would be paid for depending on how they deem the quality of my work and not simply as a share of the treasure, it would fall to me too keep a approximation of my total costs for weapons repairs and get redeemed for them later. “ Seems fair,” he continued “Present company shall not be liable for any injuries inflicted by or sustained as a consequence thereof including … Lacerations…. Eviscerations…” Bilbo's eyebrows had furrowed at this point “Incineration!?”

“Oh aye,” Bofur had once again decided to have some fun with our squeamish host “He’ll melt the flesh off your bones in the blink of an eye.”

At this Bilbo looked a bit breathless, “you all right there laddie?” Balin inquired. The hobbit bending over a bit, looking ill.

“Uh, yeah… Feel a bit faint”

“Think Furnace with wings” Bofur suggested making a sort of flying motion with his hands.

“Air...I-I-I need air.”

However it would seem the hatted dwarf didn’t quite get the que to stop, “Flash of light, searing pain, the Poof!” he added dramatically “You're nothing more than a pile of ash.”

After a moment of fighting for composure Bilbo stops. “Hmmm, Nope” and promptly falls to the floor in a dead faint.

“Don't you think that was a bit much” I addressed the dwarf who caused this.

“Ah, very helpful Bofur” Gandalf muttered along with me as he made to move Master Baggins into the other room, calling over the Durin boys to help him.

“What I do?” Bofur held up his hand defensively at the companies accusing stares.

Walking into the room with a cup of tea in my hand I saw the gray wizard standing next to a now conscious Bilbo. “Ahh glad to see you awake Master Baggins!” I smiled happily at the still dazed hobbit. “I brought some tea, I thought it may help take the kick out of, well-” I trailed off.

“Ahh y-yes,” he shook his head out of whatever doomful thoughts he had running rampant in his mind's eye. “Much obliged Madam.”

“Call me Eiki,” I offered hoping to lighten the air. After all he seemed like a good fellow, just not quite adventure worthy.  

“Ah thank you, but I’ll be alright” he breathed looking down into his beverage, “Let me, just sit quietly for a moment.”

“You’ve been sitting quietly for far too long!” Gandalf interjected. “Tell me; when did dollies and your mother's dishes become so important to you? I remember a young Hobbit who was always running off in search of elves and the woods, who’d stay out late, come home after dark, trailing mud and twigs and fireflies. A young Hobbit who would like nothing better than to find out what lay beyond the borders of The Shire. “ The old wizard stated, “The world is not in your book and maps; It’s out there!”

“I can’t just go running off into the blue.” Bilbo protested “I am a Baggins, of Bag End.”

“You are also a Took,” I was about to take my leave when Gandalf's next line caught my attention. “Did you know your great-great-great-great uncle, Bullroarer Took, was so large he could ride a real horse?”  following his gaze up to a portrait hung above one of the many shelves, I saw a middle aged dwarf holding a mug and slung what appeared to be a rather large stick over his far shoulder.

“Yes” Bilbo nodded in confirmation.

“Well he could” Gandalf seemed to ignore Bilbo’s response to his rhetorical question. “ In the Battle of Greenfield's, he charged the goblin ranks.He swung his club so hard it knocked the Goblin King’s head clean off, and it sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole. And thus the battle was won, and the game of golf invented at the same time.”

“I do believe you made that up.” Bilbo stated so deadpanned I couldn’t stop my giggle.

“Well,” Gandalf said “all good stories deserve embellishment. You’ll have a tale or two to tell of your own when you get back.”

“Can you promise that I will come back?”

“No,” The wizard didn’t bother beating around the bush “And if you do, you will not be the same.”

“That’s what I thought,” the Hobbit sighed “Sorry Gandalf, I can’t sign this. You’ve got the wrong Hobbit.” Watching as Bilbo walked away I noticed Thorin and Balin watching from the corner.

“It appears we have lost our burglar,” my old friend sighed disappointedly. “Probably for the best. The odds were always against us, After all what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkerers, toy makers, hardly the stuff of legend.”

“There are a few warriors among us,” Thorin attempted to bring a bit of hope, weather for himself or the others I was unsure.

As I entertained myself by walking along the cases of books and scanning shelves, In an attempt to atleast make a laible effort in pretending not to eavesdrop, Balin muttered lowly “Old warriors.”

“I will take each and everyone of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty. Honer. A willing heart. I can ask no more than that.” It took nothing more than that line to gain the king under the mountain all the respect he needed from me, I just pray things stay that way.

A large sigh came from my gray haired friend, “You don’t have to do this. You have a choice. You’ve done honorably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor.”

I made my way to clean up the half drank cup of tea and absentmindedly wiped off the table when I caught Thorin’s response. Holding up the key he said, “From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland.  There is no choice Balin, not for me.”

Shaking my head I made my way into the kitchen, yet as I rounded the corner I could hear. “Than we are with you laddie. We will see it done.”

As the men gathered smoking in front of the fireplace I found myself attending to the kitchen and pantry, cleaning up the crumbs in hopes  to prevent a mice infestation. A soothing yet solemn hum came from the other room. Listening in and allowing the familiar tune to surround me, and though I knew the music well, my better judgment prevented me from joining into the song.

Far over,

The Misty Mountains cold.

To dungeons deep, and caverns old

We must away, ere break of day,

To find our long-forgotten gold.

The pine were roaring on the height.

The winds were morning, in the night.

The fire was red, Its flaming spread.

The trees like torches, blazed with light.

This wasn’t just a story, or any regular musical art; no this was a memory. A last goodbye to the home that meant so much to its people, This song was for those who lost so much that day. I had no right to add my own voice. And so like Gandalf, I merely listened.

As morning rolled around I found myself the first one awake before even the dawn light. Sitting up from my position in one of Bilbo’s chairs, after re braiding my hair of course, I made my way outside to  walk down into the village and hopefully catch some venders while they set up. After all we will need something for breakfast and as we raided the pantry last night I thought it best not to break into our reserves so soon.

Freeing my horse to roam the grassy hills of the Shire, as it would allow him to be less stiff once we do set off. After all I could simply call on him when it was time to head out.

Returning to the Hobbit hole, arms full of groceries, I pushed the round door open with my foot. Walking into find Dori and Bifur awake and moving. “Oh good, you boys are up, why don't you wake the others and come help me with breakfast.”

Breakfast was a small ordeal as it was still quite early, however Master Oakenshield expressed a desire to leave soon after sunrise. Forcing a plate of sausage, bread and cheese into each of the groggy males hands, I sent out Bombur with some oats for the horses before he was allowed seconds. Cleaning up quickly and adding any leftovers into my bag for later on, I sent Balin and Dwalin to reset the table and chairs to the way they were before we invaded Bag End.

The men had made their way outside to prepare the horses for our journey as I made one more lap around the hobbit hole making sure all had been cleaned up. Entering the sitting room, I found the contract on the floor beside the rocker Bilbo had resided in after he had fainted. Picking it up and giving a quick scan I placed it on a nearby table, straightened it out and placed a pen alongside it.

“Now why do you do that Eiki?” Kili asked as he came into the room. “Shouldn’t the parchment be returned to Balin?”

“Indeed it would, under normal circumstances” I replied, facing the young dwarf. “However you can call this one woman's intuition, there is just something about this quest that I do believe has sparked the curiosity of our dear hobbit. As well as how difficult getting reacquainted with peace and quiet will be after our little venture last night.”

“I doubt he will come, the contract will only remain as a painful reminder of what he passed up.” Kili shook his head and looked back up at me “anyway Uncle sent me here to call you out, he wishes to begin our trek any moment now.” nodding I followed the blond outside to the rest of the company.

“Now Eiki child…” Gandalf began as he spotted me and took a scan over the crowed “I only count 14 animals, don’t tell me you journeyed all the way here without a proper pony?”

Shaking my head his a small laugh I turned to him. “Of course not Gandalf, I simply need to call him back. One moment please.” walking over to the edge of the group I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted out the call of a hawk. Within moments my steed could be spotted galloping his way up the path, unfortunately scaring a few of the villagers as he leaped over their cart’s in his venture. Slowing to a trot he made his way over to me and lowered his muzzle for a patt. I gave the creature an apple and turned to the rest of the company, only to find each of them staring.

“What boys, Never seen a properly trained animal before?” I smiled cheekily, and placed my belongings in the saddle bag before effortlessly mounting my steed. “Now shall we be going or do you have more preparations to finish?”

Minutes have passed since we departed from the Hobbit’s residence, and conversation has picked up well among the company. I was pleased to find that, after my little weapons show the night before, no one seemed much worried about my presence. However Thorin seemed to do his best to simply ignore my being there all together. I moved myself away from my inner thoughts in time to witness the beginning of a betting pool, which I was genuinely surprised had not come around earlier.

“The women reckons Mr. Baggins will rejoin us,” Fili began exchanging the little bit of gossip he had gathered with his younger brother.

“That so?” Gloin who was riding just in front of the two exclaimed. “And would the lady like to bet upon that?” his statement gathered the attention of the rest of the males.

With a roll of my eyes I answered, “though my opinion stands, it is unbecoming of a lady to gamble.”

“Aye, it is also unbecoming of a Lady to take up such a strenuous profession. And yet here you are.” Balin added his two cents to the argument. “I suggest you stop pretending that all those lady classes change your view of things and begin to embrace your life a bit more thoroughly.”

Snorting, a smile present on my face, I gave in ”Very well, how much are we going for? I do believe I have a few pennies to spare.” laughs spread as bets were passed around and Gandalf himself got in on the action. After several minutes the atmosphere calmed down and conversation picked back up.

“Now men, keep some of ye stories to yourselves. You’ll have plenty of time to share along this journey.“ Dwalin said with a booming laugh, “Us ol’ warriors have probably heard them all anyway.”

“Aye, we’ve all known eachother for so long now, maybe when this journey ends we’ll finally have something new.” Balin spoke up from beside his brother.

“Well what about Eiki then?” Ori added his voice to cutting off the laughs as attention turned to me.

“Now really, I’m content just listening in, “ I said a bit sheepishly. It wasn't a lie, as I was quite content just listening to the boys get along.

“The boy is right!” Gloin spoke above the others, “Lady or not you are as much a stranger to us as we are to you.”

“Yes well there is not much to know-” I began however the elder gray haired dwarf interrupted me.

“Las, don’t be selling yourself short, why I’ve never met a Dwarrowdam as odd, in the best means possible of course, as you.”  

“Is that so? Well I guess I could start off with that one visit you paid me a few years ago.” With a grin full of mischief I thought back, knowing full well the reaction I would receive. “If I’m correct Gonbi was the one who found you unconscious with-”

“We agreed never to speak of that particular incident!” Balin started out in a panicked voice, calming down as the sentence went on. “Hehe I mean, uh, such a story is inappropriate for some of the younger ears listening in.”   

I snickered as Dwalin raised an eyebrow at his brother, the older of the two’s red and embarrassed face causing the large warrior to direct his pony over to my left. “We will discuss this on a later date, yes?”

“Indeed, Master Dwalin,” I said as casually as I could manage, “I wouldn’t dream of hiding your brothers former endeavors from you.” At my words you could visibly see Balin cringe at the simple thought of us sharing stories. Well it was too late for that, after all he insisted upon our meeting the the first place.

With a satisfied smirk firmly in place the second son of Fundin spurred his mount on, proceeding to trot back alongside his elder sibling.