Authors note: these are beginning to be the longest updates I've ever done. :) hope you guys read and enjoy and hopefully let me know how it's going. I write this story in first person which is odd for me.

After many long minuets of getting myself back in order I hadn't stopped to realize that what I had done to the fili and kili was very rude. I hoped the dwarf men wouldn't hold it against me too very much.

Taking off the filthy gown I changed into a much more comfortable and clean brown and cream dress. My hair was hopeless and I simply combed it out and gathered it to fall over my shoulder free of the braid.

I drug out the time as much as my stomach allowed. Sighing I knew I would eventually have to go out and face them. Taking a deep breath and finally feeling presentable I walked out to see all of them. From the sounds of things bilbo was already in a fit.

I stepped tentatively out of my door to gauge the situation and found the number of dwarves to have increased by a great number. Their voices carried very loudly and clearly. Bilbo's did as well unlike him I couldn't blame them for their merriment even at our homes expense. I walked quietly down the hall to enter the kitchen and found the pantry surprisingly empty with bilbo staring at it with passionate disdain.

"If you wish to eat you will have to join the others in the dinning room. " he said. "The pantry has been pillaged. " he smiled a little when I laughed a bit. My hand gently patted his back in reassurance.

"We will see the pantry refilled again bilbo no need to fret too much. Let them have their fun for now they are guests. And merry ones at that"

I took a calming breath before I entered the dinning room where very loud burps had once echoed now the throwing of food was commencing. I stepped around the doorway and noticing Gandalf who held up a plate with a smile as I darted quickly to retrieve it. Once the plate was safely in had I meant to go back to my room but was stopped by the silence that fell over the room.

"Bless my beard! It's a lady of our own" I twirled about seeing a dark haired dwarf man with a funny hat having been the one to speak.

"May I introduce you all to Mr. Baggins adopted sister Mari. Mari my dear this is oin gloin balin dwalin bifur bofer bombur dori nori and ori and I do believe you have met fili and kili." Each nodded of smiled in greeting except the last two who were very somber with questions burning in their eyes.

"I did in fact meet Mr fili and kili in Bree and was astounded to meet them and even more delighted to travel with them. " I cleared my throat hoping this would be taken for the apology that it was. "Though I was a very poor traveling companion mr Gandalf as shocked as I was to be traveling with other of my kind. And to find that they were unexpectedly going to the very house I was and calling my brother a burglar. " I gave the two an apologetic look before gazing at Gandalf once more.

"It seems it made for an interesting journey regardless. Now my dear sit with us and eat. I'm sure we can all remember our manners in front of a lady. "

Conversation returned and as usual there were always questions that wondered at my origin.

"So you don't remember anything of where you come from?" Bofur asked incredulously.

"Not a thing before I woke with bilbo's mother above me" I said taking a large bite of ham.

"That is a very sad thing for any dwarf to bear being far from what kin they may have had. " balin interjected.

"I remember two people. My younger sister Mae and my older cousin Sybil. Since I awakened alone I've never heard of them since." I kept the pain at bay knowing it would do no good.

"Well maybe you will find them." Bofur reasoned "it's a big world out there"

'And I'm not from it. ' I think to myself.

"Gandalf if my brother goes on this expedition then I will as well. I won't be left at home to worry if he's never coming back" I gave the wizard a hard stare once the dwarves closest to me went back to the main conversation.

"Very well my dear. I think you will find answers to questions on this quest that you thought would never be answered. "

For many many years since I first met Gandalf I had the strange feeling he knew that I wasn't of this world. That I didn't quite belong here. Only bilbo knew for sure, he had been far too persistent asking questions. And I was much less resolute. He had heard too much when I had nightmares.

In all the world only he knew.

"Mayhap" I shrugged beginning to pick up the dishes as Gandalf left to see to my ruffled brother.

Bifur a dwarf with an axe in his head gave me a queer look and shook his head using sign language and a strange tongue I had never heard before today.

"He says a fine lady of our kin shouldn't welcome us into her home entertain us with her warmth and do the dishes as well. Let us" the smooth voice breathed just behind me ruffling the hair against my pointed ears. I twirled about nodding hesitantly.

"If you insist" I manage. "But-ah I really don't mind. "

"Excuse me but what should I do with my plate" the west little voice of ori asks.

Fili stepped away to see to ori and that's when I saw bifur begin to set up the tin basin for cleaning up the dishes. The others silently pulled out instruments.

"Here ori give it to me. " he says.

'Oh I just wonder how bilbo will react to this'

My brother gave them the perfect responses to start their song with. And so the lovely song followed. With music and flying dishes. Everyone stepped in to help.

"Blunt the knives bend the forks"

"Smash the bottles and burn the corks"

"Crack the dishes and the plates that's shT bilbo Baggins hates!"

The way the slung the dishes about with such surety of each other was astounding. I clapped along and tapped my foot in rhythm. I refrained front singing but couldn't help humming along with them. It was surprisingly catchy.

I gave my brother a indulgent smile when he piped through to see all the dishes stacked neatly and cleaned.

"See brother they aren't so terrible" I whispered amidst their laughter.

The pounding on the door made all the merriment cease serious expressions over took the merriment that had once been. This must be a very important dwarf. Who was late and tired and hungry from his travels. I went to warm up some warm stew and get a mug of ale ready while the rest went to greet this last member of the company.