Alright, so I was somehow sucked back into this fandom recently after a long, long time away.

So, I'm back with this fic, which I hope someone will enjoy!

She adjusted her position on the saddle as she leant forward slightly to read the road sign she had come to.

„Shire - 8 miles"

A small sigh escaped her as she glanced up at the sky, which was slowly beginning to turn red with the setting of the sun. Gandalf had reminded her not to be late when he invited her to this meeting, she thought, but by how things were looking, she would definitely not make it in time for supper.

„Come on, Lithen," she said and gave her pony a small nudge. The dun-coloured steed immediately fell back into step with a quiet snort and increased his speed slightly as Arinna gave him another nudge. She followed the path for another hour while the sky above rider and steed grew darker and the stars appeared. By then she had crossed over the edge of the Shire and had Lithen trot slowly along the small streets that led past neatly kept fences around fields and hobbit-holes. Arinna looked at every door she came by, keeping her eyes peeled for the marking Gandalf had told her to look for. It was another half hour later that she finally came across it, almost missing it entirely for how small the rune was.

She halted Lithen and dismounted swiftly, not actually bothering to tie his reins around one of the fenceposts that surrounded the hobbit-hole. „You wait here, my friend," she uttered instead and patted his neck lovingly. The pony neighed quietly and Arinna fumbled a small apple out of her pocket and fed it to him before she turned and walked up to the big round door with Gandalf's marking on it.

She gave the door two sharp knocks and waited, noticing that the hobbit-hole was lit from within, though she could hear no voices from inside. As she waited, she cleared her throat slightly and scraped her boots on the doormat that she was standing on. It only took a few moments until she heard the doorknob being turned on the other side and the round, green door swung open, revealing a young hobbit with curly brown hair and a deep frown on his face standing on the other side.

„Good evening," Arinna greeted the Halfling with a friendly smile. „Is Gandalf here?"

The hobbit just sighed and nodded, stepping aside to let her in. „I suppose you're with the dwarves, as well," he said in a slight grumble. Arinna kept the friendly smile on her face.

„I came for Gandalf," she answered, earning another small frown in return. „My name is Arinna."

The hobbit looked slightly surprised when she bowed her head at him in greeting, though he seemed to gather himself after a moment's hesitation. „Bilbo Baggins," he introduced himself. „Pleased to meet you. They're all gathered in my dining room, you'll find Gandalf there, too. Here, I'll show you through."

Arinna nodded and followed Bilbo through the hall to the dining room, where she was met with the sight of a large group of dwarves sat around a long table. It seemed as though all conversation had ceased before she had even entered the room and they were all eyeing her suspiciously as she approached behind the hobbit.

„Ah, Arinna," Gandalf greeted her with a smile, and it was only then that she spotted him sitting by the head of the table, next to a dark-haired dwarf whose steely blue eyes were trained on her. „You are almost on time."

Arinna returned the wizard's smile with a small one of her own, inclining her head in greeting. „I was delayed."

Gandalf just looked at her for a moment and then nodded, swiftly changing the subject. „Indeed," he said. „Well, I am afraid you've missed most of the meeting as well as supper. Though I'm sure Bilbo will be happy to provide something for you. Won't you, Bilbo?"

Arinna's gaze fell on the hobbit again, who had been standing next to her this whole time. He looked a little startled and not entirely inclined to follow Gandalf's request, though he didn't seem to want to refuse the wizard either.

„Only if it's no trouble, Mr. Baggins," she told him then. „I am fine using some of my own provisions later."

„Oh," Bilbo muttered, looking at her for a moment before he shook his head. „No, no. No, that shan't be necessary. I'll fetch you something from the pantry. If the dwarves have left anything to spare."

Arinna's eyebrows rose slightly as the hobbit turned and walked away and she heard him mutter the last sentence under his breath.

„Well, now -" Gandalf began but was abruptly interrupted by the dark-haired dwarf next to him.

„Before we go on with the pleasantries," he grumbled in his deep voice, sending first her and then Gandalf a dark look. „Would you care to explain why you have invited a stranger into our midst, Gandalf?"

The grey wizard held the dwarf's gaze for a moment before he cleared his throat and pointed a hand toward Arinna. „Thorin, this is Arinna of Evendim," he answered, the attention of everyone in the room shifting from him back to the woman before them. „She is a skilled healer and a dear friend of mine. I mean for her to be the fifteenth member of your company. Arinna, this is Thorin, son of Thrain, leader of our company."

Arinna inclined her head toward the dwarf but received no such gesture in return. Instead, his gaze remained cold and suspicious, as did those of most of his companions. She took a moment to look around the table. There were thirteen dwarves sat at it in total, and Arinna cleared her throat quietly with the weight of thirteen pairs of eyes resting heavily on her.

„We already have a healer amongst us," Thorin rumbled. „Oin is the best healer the Ered Luin have to offer. We have no need for a second."

„What did he say?" A grey-haired dwarf asked loudly and Arinna watched him put a battered hearing trumpet to his ear. She heard Thorin sigh quietly while another dwarf, a big fellow with a bald head and tattoos covering his skin, repeated his words into his hearing trumpet.

„He said you are the best healer the Ered Luin have to offer!"

„Oh!", exclaimed Oin with an approving smile. „Of course. Of course, they are softer."

„Be that as it may," Gandalf interrupted with a wave of his hand. „Arinna is of the druids of Evendim. She possesses skills that go beyond those of any healer of the Blue Mountains. Or indeed most other places. You would count yourself lucky to have her with you on your journey."

It was at that moment that Bilbo returned with a plate of food in his hands. He looked around the room shortly, obviously sensing the tension, before he handed the plate over to Arinna with a small smile. She thanked him quietly, taking the plate of hot broth and two pieces of fresh bread. Then she turned back to the company.

„I do not want to impose," she spoke evenly. „In light of the fact that you were not informed of my coming, I shall give you some space to discuss and decide whether you would like me to join you. And indeed, I will need a moment to gather my own thoughts on it. So, please, continue and finish your meeting. I will wait outside."

She gave a short nod in return to the surprised looks from the dwarves and turned to walk back to the front door. However, Bilbo quickly stopped her.

„It is getting rather chilly outside," he uttered, his voice slightly nervous but kind. „You may want to wait in the living room. I've just put on the fire. It's down the hall to the left. Please, make yourself comfortable."

„That's very kind of you, Mr. Baggins," Arinna answered with a smile. „Thank you."

And with that she walked off, making her way to the living room as Bilbo had suggested. She had to agree that it was much cozier in here than it would have been outside on the doorstep. She took a seat on one of the armchairs, letting a small sigh escape her as she leaned back and enjoyed the comfort of the soft cushions for a moment. As she heard the low rumble of voices rise from further down the hall, she began to eat the food the hobbit had given her. It tasted delicious and Arinna let out another small sigh of content. Not being able to make out any of what the company was discussing anyway, she began to think about Gandalf's invitation to this place.

Fili had been sitting next to his brother for the entirety of the meeting and he now leaned back slightly in his chair as the company around him began to discuss the arrival of the druid, as well as the involvement of Bilbo Baggins in their quest.

„Perhaps she wouldn't make such a bad addition, Thorin," Balin spoke. „Having another healer with us certainly wouldn't be a bad thing and as a druid she might even know a thing or two about magic doors."

„Does she possess magic, Gandalf?" Kili, Fili's brother, asked, unable to hide his excitement at the thought. The sound of his voice made Fili's mouth twitch with a small smile as his blue eyes flicked to Gandalf, who cleared his throat again. It seemed that this was his usual response when he didn't particularly want to answer a question.

„We came here to recruit a burglar, not some strange druid," Thorin spoke over the murmurs of his companions, pointing at the map that lay flat on the table. „The gates of Erebor are sealed. We must find the hidden door and go in unseen. That is a task for a burglar, not a healer."

Bilbo, who had been standing a bit awkwardly behind Thorin, now leaned over the edge of the table to take a look at the map. „Indeed," he muttered, more to himself than to any of them. „And you'd need a good one at that. An expert, I'd imagine."

„And are you?" Oin asked loudly, holding his hearing trumpet to his ear as the company looked at Bilbo expectantly.

„Am I what?" The hobbit returned with a frown, before his face fell slightly. „An expert?"

„Oi! He says he's an expert!" Exclaimed Oin merrily, knocking his hands on the table top with a throaty laugh, while some of the others joined in.

„No, no, no," Bilbo stuttered. „I'm not a -"

„Give him the contract," ordered Thorin, speaking calmly over the hobbit's voice. Bilbo's mouth snapped closed as Balin pulled a thick piece of parchment out of his pocket and handed it over to the hobbit. He took it with a frown, though he said nothing and instead began to read, while the companions returned to their discussion.

„I say let her come," said Bofur, a brown-haired dwarf with two ponytails on the sides of his head and a large woolly hat on top of it. „Surely, she would do us more good than harm."

„Aye," agreed some of the others, nodding along to Bofur's statement. With them was Kili, though he shrank back slightly when he felt his uncle's gaze on him. Thorin raised one eyebrow slightly, his gaze flicking from Kili to his other nephew, Fili, who said nothing and just returned his look with a neutral one of his own. Whatever he might feel on the subject, it was not his place to venture a decision, that responsibility lay with Thorin. Though he had to admit that he was inclined to agree with Bofur and the others. His first impression of the druid woman had been rather positive, though they still knew next to nothing about her.

He had watched her from the moment she had arrived in the dining room behind Bilbo. She was short, though taller than the hobbit, and had been wrapped in a dark cloak, matching her dark hair. Underneath it, Fili had seen the faint glint of a sword hilt on her belt as well as a bow strapped around her chest. He had wondered, after Gandalf had introduced her, why a druid would be carrying so many weapons, though he did not venture a guess. He supposed that anyone traveling the lands these days was better off armed. In contrast to her appearance, Arinna seemed to have good manners though - obvious in the way she had talked to Bilbo - and was soft-spoken. Fili could tell that she had chosen her words with care and her forest green eyes had been attentive and watchful as she had addressed them. Now, of course, his first impression of her could be completely off, he thought, but his gut-feeling never usually betrayed him in such matters.

„Laceration?"

Fili blinked as he was pulled out of his thoughts by Bilbo's alarmed voice, drifting over to them from where he was standing in the hall. He had zoned out slightly and was now unsure on whether a decision had already been made about the druid, though he had no time to ask, as the hobbit went on, reading out parts of the contract he'd been given.

„Evisceration?"

„Oh," Bofur chimed up merrily. „That would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible."

„Incineration?" Bilbo read, enunciating every syllable of the word with alarm. Bofur nodded, smiling at the hobbit, obviously in an attempt to calm him.

„Oh aye, he'll melt the flesh right off your bones," he explained, while Bilbo's eyes grew wider and the company watched him attentively. „Think furnace with wings. One moment and poof, you're nothing more than a pile of ash."

Fili shook his head slightly. „That'll help," he murmured toward his brother, who only nodded in return. Both their gazes were trained on Bilbo, who now looked rather pale around the nose.

„Are you alright, laddie?" Balin asked kindly and Bilbo nodded quickly, swallowing heavily past the lump in his throat. He remained quiet for a moment while it looked as though he was gathering himself from the shock. And then he nodded again, glancing up at the ceiling with a determined look. The dwarves looked at each other, surprised and relieved at the same time, and it was then that a small noise escaped the hobbit and he keeled over where he stood, hitting the ground with a dull thud.

„Oh, very helpful, Bofur," huffed Gandalf as he stood up and walked over to the hobbit. Bofur just shrugged sheepishly, while the wizard gathered the hobbit in his arms and carried him down the hall. The dwarves were quick to exchange glances and follow him, standing from the table in a hurry.

They followed him into the living room, where the druid woman was sat comfortably on an armchair, her bow and sword now leaning against the side of it and her cloak hung neatly over its back, while she was thumbing through one of Bilbo's books. She looked up when Gandalf approached, followed by the dwarves, and sat up quickly once she noticed the unconscious hobbit in the wizard's arms.

„What happened to him?" She asked, as Gandalf laid Bilbo down on the small sofa, leaning over the hobbit to get a better look at him. Gandalf just huffed quietly.

„He's merely fainted," he explained and with a small glance toward the company of dwarves standing around them, he added, „Can you help him, my dear?"

Arinna looked at the wizard with a raised eyebrow for a short moment, knowing perfectly well that Gandalf was more than capable of waking up the hobbit, and probably much quicker than she was. But as he made no move to do anything, she simply nodded and walked over to her cloak, retrieving a small bundle of herbs from a little bag in her pocket. She felt the gazes of the company on her back as she leaned over Bilbo and held the herbs under his nose. It was only a few seconds later that Bilbo's eyes shot open and he coughed slightly, and Arinna pulled the herbs away from his face.

„There you go," she uttered, helping the hobbit to sit up. „Easy now."

„Thankfully you have so many carpets in this place, Mr. Baggins," a voice chimed up from behind them and Arinna looked over her shoulder to see the young dwarf that had spoken. He had a blond mane of hair and a mustache that was braided into two plaits that hung down the sides of his mouth. „Or you could have hit your head rather badly."

Bilbo just grumbled something indiscernible under his breath in return and Gandalf shooed the dwarves out of the room, ordering everyone to give the hobbit some space and room to breathe. Arinna followed that command willingly, shooting the wizard a pointed look as they crossed into the hall.

„A word, Gandalf?" She said and the wizard, pursing his lips slightly, merely nodded and followed her outside of the hobbit-hole. Arinna took a few steps into Bilbo's garden, halting as she reached the fence, where Lithen was grazing patiently. „May I ask… Why am I here?"

Gandalf took a moment to light his pipe before he answered her slowly. „Because I've invited you. To join them on their journey."

„You didn't tell them I was coming."

„No," Gandalf agreed. „It would have been more difficult to convince Thorin beforehand."

Arinna huffed slightly. „I doubt you've managed to convince him much as it is, Gandalf," she said, before she continued her questioning of the wizard. „What is the purpose of this journey? Why do you want me to join it?"

The grey wizard sighed quietly, puffing out some smoke. „Their journey is bound to secrecy. Their purpose is to reclaim their homeland," he explained, knowing that such a secret would be safe with Arinna. „The Lonely Mountain."

„Erebor," Arinna breathed, eyes widening at the implications. These dwarves must be insane, she thought. „But, Gandalf, Erebor was taken by a dragon."

„Indeed," was all Gandalf replied.

Arinna hesitated for a few moments, gathering her thoughts as the wizard's gaze rested heavily on her. In such moments, the druid was never quite sure whether Gandalf could almost read her thoughts, though she supposed he didn't need to. He knew her well enough.

„You, much like these dwarves, know the devastating power of dragon fire," Gandalf continued quietly, eyeing her kindly as she remained silent. „And you know the lands they will be travelling. The dwarves will need guidance along the way and I cannot guarantee to be able to go with them for the entirety of it."

Arinna said nothing, still. Her thoughts whirling in her head for a few long moments. Then she finally looked away from Gandalf and out over the fields of the Shire. „I must be insane," she muttered, though Gandalf heard her well and smiled contentedly. „Very well."

And with those words, she moved away and walked back up to Bilbo's hobbit-hole, while the grey wizard merely took another few puffs of his pipe, muttering quietly to himself.

Fili looked up when the front door opened and the druid walked back inside, Gandalf following a few moments later. While the two of them had been outside, Thorin had decided that he would follow the wizard's advice, though begrudgingly, and had Balin draw up a contract for her as of that moment. Meanwhile, the dwarves had all formed small groups in different rooms of the hobbit-hole, talking among themselves. Fili was sat with his brother, Kili, and the two brothers Ori and Nori at the dining table by the kitchen. Their third brother, Dori, was sat somewhere else with some of the older dwarves.

„Do you think the Halfling will join us?" Kili asked quietly. The others around him shrugged or shook their heads.

„It doesn't look much like it," Nori answered. „He fainted at the mere mention of Smaug, I doubt he'll be willing to face him, much less steal from him."

„Aye, he doesn't seem like great burglar material, does he?" Fili added quietly. „Doesn't seem to be the most courageous fellow."

„He might surprise you yet," a soft voice answered him from the door sill. They all turned their heads to find the druid woman standing there, an empty plate in one hand and a thick piece of parchment in the other. She merely gave them all a small smile and made her way past them into the kitchen, meaning to clean the plate that Bilbo had provided her with earlier.

Ori was quick to stand up and follow her into the kitchen, politely taking the plate from her hands. „Please, let me," he said, though she shook her head. „It's my pleasure, Miss Arinna. Please, sit."

Arinna didn't want to let the dwarf do her dishes for her, but he was quick to grab the plate as well as some soap. He was at work before she could utter a word. „I - well, thank you."

„Ori," the dwarf introduced himself with a shy smile. Arinna returned it kindly.

„Thank you, Ori, you're very kind," she said and hesitantly took a seat at the table were the others were sitting. They exchanged a quick look amongst themselves as she set the piece of parchment on the table, keeping her hand flat on it as her fingers twitched slightly.

„So… Arinna. You will be joining us then," said Kili with a smile and pointed at the contract when she looked up at him.

„Oh yes," she replied, following his gesture. „Yes, I suppose I am."

„You're very welcome," the dwarf smiled. „I've never met a druid before. I am Kili, and this is my brother, Fili. And this is Nori and his brother, Ori, whom you've met."

Arinna inclined her head at them politely.

„I do believe uncle's made the right choice inviting you," Kili continued merrily. „Don't mind his behavior earlier, he can be a bit grumpy but -"

„Kili!", his brother chastised quietly, but the brunet dwarf just went on with a smile, nudging the other with his elbow.

„He can't hear me, Fili," he said, causing Arinna to laugh quietly, which made Kili's smile widen in return. „And you know it's the truth. But, mind you, Thorin's a great leader. And I'm not just saying that because he's my uncle."

Arinna smiled at the young dwarf. „I believe you," she answered, before her eyes drifted toward his blond brother, who sat quietly returning her gaze. „And I do believe that Mr. Baggins will come through on his part."

Fili's mouth twitched upward with a small smile as he held her gaze for a moment before he nodded slightly. „Fair enough," he grinned, testing the waters with her. „We are leaving at first light tomorrow and so far, he seems to prefer staying here in his hobbit-hole to venturing out into the wild. But seeing as you seem so sure… Care for a little wager?"

The other dwarves looked at her as she tilted her head, taking a moment to consider Fili's bet, while her eyes studied him. He watched her attentively in turn, eyebrows raising slightly when finally, she just smiled. „I bet you 30 silver coins."