I'm back! I promised you all I would continue and so here is the newest chapter! I really do feel terrible for updating now, after months of nothing, it's just that I had a lot on my plate. School comes first so my stories seem to get left behind sometimes. Either way, review and comment! I love everyone who reviews my work. You guys motivate me to write so keep it up!

Just as a heads up, I have added some drama. No my favourite thing to do, but still. ;)

Chapter 3

I awoke to an odd sensation, one that I hadn't felt in a long time.

I feel refreshed... I mused; I haven't felt like this in a long time. My legs and arms actually feel as if they won't fall off today. That's new…

I yawned and opened my eyes, stretching out my not pained arms. I relished in the feeling of sleeping in when I realized that I had done exactly that.

I had slept in.

I sat up and looked around, noticing that all of the dwarves had gotten up already. For a moment, I thought they had left me behind, simply forgetting the female member of the group. I could just imagine Kili casually peering around before suddenly realizing that someone was gone.

Standing up quickly, I let out a low chuckle when I heard the company inside the kitchen, my irrational fear of being left behind gone.

Honestly Kris, you sleep in one day and you immediately think your group have left you behind in a house of a bear man. If that doesn't say something about trust issues, I don't know what does…

With another yawn I got up and made my way over to the table, shaking my head at my irrational thought.

If they really wanted to get rid of me, they could have left me long ago. I thought darkly to myself, waving at a cheerful Gloin by the table. Just a simply, hey Kris look over there, and then run.

Amused at my slightly cynical mood I was in, I surveyed the scene before me, craning my neck to see over the oversized furniture.

Beorn stood off to the side of the hungry dwarves and I nodded to him, averting my eyes. He unsettled me and whether it was from his height or the fact he could turn into a giant bear, I wasn't too sure. Still he was our host and it never hurt to be polite.

He eyed me with cool calculation then nodded back, causing me to smile awkwardly in response. I didn't want to get on the wrong foot with a man who could turn into a giant bear at will.

He was a huge man, making Gandalf look small in comparison. He had wild hair that seemed to cover most of his face and had eyes that seemed too old for a man his age.

He seemed to have seen much, his eyes haunted and veiled. Perhaps I was not unsettled by his intimating size, but rather what those eyes had seen.

This man has known sadness… I concluded grimly, sitting down beside Bofur and Oin. I just hope he is forgiving or else we may find ourselves in more trouble than we bargained for. I'd rather not be eaten today. I finally got to sleep in for a change.

Once settled onto the high stool, I was given a huge mug of milk and some cheese and bread, my stomach rumbling at the sight of all the food on the table.

I quickly dug in and allowed myself to listen casually to Beorn as he addressed Thorin and Gandalf, his tone wary. Thorin too seemed wary of the bear man and kept his arms crossed, his posture never giving away anything.

I could feel the tense atmosphere in the room as each side faced off, my eyes flitting around nervously as a result. I knew that if we did not gain this man's trust, we would be at the mercy of Azog by nightfall. And as much as I loved running for my life, I wasn't against having someone on our side for a change.

"You woke up late today." A voice said lowly from across the table. I looked up and smiled when Kili's brown eyes met mine, his gaze only somewhat guarded.

"You could say I had a rough night." I muttered in response, running my hands through my hair. I grimaced when I found my hair had stiffen from my attempt at washing it last night, now resembling the straw the goat had mistaken my hair for the night before.

After a few more minutes of trying to comb out the stiff strands I gave up, turning my attention back to my food. If I had to look like a scarecrow for the next few days, then so be it.

I turned slightly to Bofur and lowered my voice, hoping not to be heard by Thorin or Beorn. "How's it all going so far?"

Bofur merely looked at me out of the corner of his eye and shook his head, a small smirk pulling at his lips.

"Ohh Thorin is being Thorin, as usual. It seems he is just as suspicious of Beorn as Beorn is of us."

Kili leaned over the table. "Beorn likes Azog as much as we do. Turns out his people were hunted by him a long time ago. He's agreed to take us to Mirkwood."

"Mirkwood?" I asked uncertain, not liking the name one bit. It didn't bring to mind a happy, sunny place with birds chirping and deer frolicking around a meadow.

"Oh don't worry yourself lass, Mirkwood is about as dangerous as Oin is." Gloin joked, earning a confused look from the very deaf old dwarf to my left. "There may be elves there but we will be in and out before they even realize we had gone through it!"

"I hope so. A place with the name like 'Mirkwood' doesn't sound very agreeable." Bilbo intoned from beside the ginger dwarf, "Beorn said that the elves there are not the same as the ones in Rivendell."

I cocked an eyebrow at this and titled my head at the hobbit. "What do you mean?"

The hobbit took a small bite out of a hunk of bread, "He said they were less wise and more dangerous than their kin."

"Less wise and more dangerous?" I repeated, not sure how to take that. The image of the obnoxious dark haired elf from Rivendell came to mind and I felt myself bristle at the memory.

"Please. Last time I checked, some of the elves in Rivendell could have been considered less wise. I doubt the ones in Mirkwood could be any different. If they are half as annoying as some of the elves I have met, than they can't be all bad."

Fili, who had stayed relatively quiet throughout the breakfast, snorted loudly into his large mug of milk at my rant, breaking the silence.

I turned to him and noticed him trying to maintain a composed face, his brother beside him already grinning ear to ear.

"What?" I began, my face beginning to blush, "It's the truth. I don't mean all of the elves but the ones I met were pretty rude."

Bofur clapped me on the back and chuckled, Gloin already guffawing and nudging Bilbo with his elbow.

"Would you look at that? Our little Kris has gone and become a real dwarf! Next thing we'll know, she'll be growing a beard!"

The table erupted into a fit of laughter and I felt my blush grow, however I couldn't help but laugh along with them at my new found distrust for the elvish kind. Only a few months ago I had defended them, and now, I was just as bad as the rest of them.

God damn dwarves… I thought my grin widening despite myself, they are corrupting me! If I start explaining the pros and cons of axe warfare, I'm screwed.

We finished our breakfasts quickly after the dwarves and Bilbo were done quizzing me about a certain goat, a story that Fili had felt should be shared with the group. As it turns out, not only did he leave out a lot, but he added his own little details to make my night a bit more exciting.

"You did you really tackle the goat in anger?" Ori asked amazed, his eyes widening at me. The others chuckled around the table and I pressed a hand to my temple, groaning.

Fili, you are a dead man. Or dwarf…either way, you're dead to me.

Thorin and Gandalf had moved further away with Beorn to discuss travel arrangements, thus leaving me with a company of very interested and amused dwarves.

"No, Ori. For the last time, all I did was try to get the goat to let go of my hair before Fili helped me out."

Kili cocked his head to the side and pointed at his brother with a fork. "I thought he said that he had to save you from being mauled by it?"

I sent another glare at Fili who looked downright pleased with the way the conversation was going, a smirk hidden beneath his beard.

"I was not mauled by a goat! Is that even possible?"

"My nephew was attacked by a goat." Bofur stated plainly, his eyes glinting when Bilbo turned to look at him, horrified. "And almost killed the poor lad. Good on you Fili, saving her like you did. Goats are nasty little things, with their little hooves and big eyes..."

Bombur clapped Fili on the back as the others nodded in approval, half in jest and the other half in confused seriousness.

Dwarves…Why do I put up with this?

I sighed, rubbing my head again. "Well, other than your nephew I was not mauled. For the last time, the goat tried to eat my hair, I tried to get it to stop, Fili helped. The end."

Gloin and Oin gave me some side long looks but the rest quieted down, Dwalin muttering something about the idiocy of it all.

I'm with you there Dwalin.

Kili patted my arm and sent me a reassuring smile, his other hand twirling a piece of my straw-like hair. "Don't worry about it Kris. We believe you. Only, the next time a goat tries to attack you, I'll save you from it. You don't need my useless brother."

Kili sent a half-hearted glare at his brother, but I couldn't help but notice a slight friction between the two. Fili met his brother's gaze and I felt Kili's grasp on my hair tighten, causing me to grimace.

We don't need some sort of sibling fighting when my hair is on the line! I already dealt with a goat about this.

I swatted away Kili's hand before more damage could be done and let out a huff as the rest of the table laughed happily. I quickly used the sudden change in atmosphere and made myself lighten the tension, my eyes narrowing across the table at Fili.

"You laugh now, just wait. We will see who gets the last laugh my friend."

He shrugged his shoulders but chuckled at me, his eyes twinkling at the challenge. Kili stiffened ever so slightly but chuckled as well, making me wonder if I imagined the whole exchange to begin with.

Shaking my head at it all, I took a sip of the milk and thought of better things; particularly the possible things I could do to a certain light haired prince.

You are a dead dwarf walking, Fili… I thought, jumping off the high stool when Thorin finally decided to get us all packed up. Just wait.

Ignoring the amused chuckles that followed me, Beorn encouraged us to pack up and meet him outside where he would be giving us ponies; a luxury I nearly collapsed in pure joy when hearing.

I don't have to walk anymore! No more running, jogging, or sprinting from danger any longer! I thought, my spirits lifted greatly from the extra sleep and transportation. I didn't even care that my hair had almost been eaten by a goat.

Transportation was worth the risk of being bald.

Beorn had called the ponies out and each was lined up perfectly by the front gate, saddles already on each of their backs. Kili had easily helped me place the rest of the bags on my pony's back and hoisted me up, settling onto his own mount beside me.

It had been a while since I had sat on a pony and I fidgeted, the animal underneath me snorting in annoyance.

"Sorry…" I mumbled, patting the brown neck of my pony apologetically. The pony eyed me warily but ignored me, shaking its head idly in the warm breeze.

Thorin signaled for us to move out and I kicked my mount forward, giving Beorn one last look before our caravan moved on.

The large bear man simply watched us go, his dark eyes unreadable. Bilbo muttered something ahead of me but I didn't catch it.

I went to call something to the hobbit when my mount whinnied in annoyance once again, shaking its long mane into my face as I spluttered back the horse hair.

"God damn it…" I spit out, sending a small glare at the pony below me. My steed eyed me back just as steadily and snorted, soundly downright contented.

First the goat mocks me, now a pony. This is ridiculous…

"Making new friends?" Bofur joked from in front of me, puffing away on his pipe as he turned to study me.

I shot him a look. "Of course. Turns out I am quite good with farm animals. Me and William here are quite close already."

"William?" Dori inquired from behind me, his brows quirked as I turned to look at him. "Did you make that up or did Beorn tell you?"

I shook my head, jabbing my thumb over to the blonde princeling further down the line as I smirked. "Goat Whisperer over there shared some of his farm animal wisdom with me."

Dori frowned and cocked his head to the side, completely confused. "He's a what?"

"Goat Whisperer. You didn't know?" I asked, hiding the smirk that threatened to escape. Bofur's eyes glinted in mischief as he watched me but stayed silent, puffing on his pipe in amusement as the older dwarf stared at Fili.

"No, I didn't." Dori said, watching the princeling with a mix of disbelief and suspicion. "Is this a sort of thing from your home? Or is this some sort of jest?"

Ever since Thorin had told them of my real home, or rather world/universe/reality/what-have-you, the dwarves would continually ask me questions about it.

I was lucky that so far, the threat of danger more important on the workings of electricity, but they often seemed to now expect my odd phrases or actions to be somewhat related to this strange new world.

Even my attempts at humor were now being questioned as being some strange otherworldly custom or some such thing.

In this case, I was just going to let him believe what he liked. If goat whisperers were a thing in my world, why not in Middle Earth?

Might as well get a few laughs out of this, I thought to myself happily. Looks like you will get what is coming to you, you cheeky bugger.

Turning back to Dori, I nodded sagely.

"Oh no, this is a real thing. We only have a few people with the gift, but I was amazed when Fili spoke to the goat last night."

"He spoke to a goat." Bofur stated, his brow pulled up on the side in mischief. "And how did he do that?"

"It was pretty strange, if you ask me." I said, targeting my explanation at the grey haired dwarf. He seemed to be rather convinced by the lie. Bofur, not so much.

"He started making odd noises and did something strange with his hands. Either way, it was really odd. Perhaps you should ask Fili. I'm sure he can explain it better than I can."

Dori's eyes widened, turning to look at the dwarf in question. I couldn't help but chuckle when I noticed Fili looking over, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the exchange. It was as if he knew we were talking about it.

To further his suspicions I sent him a wide grin, his blue eyes narrowing further.

Ha. Bring it princeling.

Dori, oblivious to the exchange, pulled his pony out of the queue, the others in the line taking his place. Ori watched with a confused expression and pulled his pony to a halt as well, no doubt curious to what his kinsmen was going to do.

"I shall." Dori mumbled to himself, nodding to his younger kin. "Seems very odd if you ask me. Speaking to farm animals…I wonder how he does it?"

Kili, who was next in line, quickly moved his mount to joined me and Bofur, sending me a confused look as his gaze shifted from me to the waiting Dori behind us.

"Should I even ask?"

I smirked and rolled my shoulders, turning slightly in hopes of catching Dori's question to Fili. "Probably not."

Bofur turned his gaze to me and chuckled, shaking his head. "Kris thought it would be fun to bother your brother."

I grinned back at him and shifted in the saddle to see the exchange behind us, only Bilbo, Oin and Gloin obscuring the view.

I did not see the frown that pulled at the younger dwarf's lips, his brown eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"Oh." He said, his voice cool.

My attention was still on the other young dwarf and laughed as Fili quirked a brow at Dori but held is pony up so that they were side by side, his eyes flicking from him to me.

I giggled quietly as I watched his face change from confused to annoyance as Dori and Ori asked what was undoubtedly a very random question about speaking to cloven footed animals. Flicking his gaze up to mine, I grinned broadly and mouthed across the caravan.

"Baa."

He returned the sentiment with a frown before turning back to Dori, Kili moving his mount beside me and blocking the view.

"He is going to seek revenge, you know." He said quickly, his chocolate eyes sharp. I smiled at him and noticed that his smile seemed almost forced, catching me off guard for a second.

But when I looked again, it was gone. Happy go lucky Kili was back and was smiling at me with amusement.

I must be hallucinating. I thought blinking my eyes. Why would he be bothered? Kris, you get one night of real rest and you are seeing things. This can't be a good sign.

I shrugged away the thought and turned my attention to the area around us, watching the landscape pass by.

"Most likely," I said, responding to Kili casually. "But sometimes you just have to do it."

Bofur shook his head at me but grinned, easily switching the topic to what he would do once he was back at Erebor; a topic that would pop up often. The dwarves loved to regale each other on the wealth and prosperity each would have, sometime Gandalf and Bilbo getting in on the action. But I never did. I usually just smiled with the rest of them, but kept my peace.

These talks usually allowed me some time to think, about all sorts of things. Middle Earth, my family, Azog, the moody stone on my neck.

However, today Kili tried to bring me into the conversation, and my one word answers were definitely causing the dark haired dwarf more frustration than they should have.

I dodged the question as I had done a hundred times before but it seemed to only wind him up further, his brown eyes darkening with each answer.

Honestly, it wasn't like I hadn't thought about it, it was just I didn't have the heart to tell him that I may not even make it that far.

That an elf had told me that I would not remain in Middle Earth for much longer and would be returning to my life sooner than later.

When he looked me in the eyes, his brown ones so earnest and open, all I could ever do was nod and say that I hadn't quite thought about it.

But I had. I had thought about all the things I could do if I stayed. All the people I wouldn't have to leave behind. All the possibilities I could have.

Yet, no matter what I did, I knew that getting my hopes up was pointless. It would just hurt more when I found myself back in my own bed, my alarm clock beeping beside me. I just needed to be happy for what I was given, and pray that the many people I had come to care for, and some love, would forgive me when I left.

We rode along for quite a while before Thorin deemed it alright to stop for lunch, my mind thankful for the reprieve of dwelling on sad thoughts.

My dark musings had left me quiet for the rest of the trip and Kili could definitely tell that something was on my mind.

Sitting beside me in the grass, he nudged my shoulder, watching me with a guarded expression.

"So are you going to share what has been bothering you or no?"

'Nothing is bothering me Kili." I said, picking at the cold meat Bombur had prepared for us. "I'm just thinking about stuff is all. Some of us like to use our heads."

I sent him a small smirk but felt it fade when I noticed his expression, his eyes growing dark.

"I'm fine Kili. Don't worry about me." I tried again, slightly worried. "Are you okay?"

He shook his head in response and fiddled with an arrowhead, an action he did when he was severally bored or bothered.

I was assuming the latter.

I touched his arm carefully and forced him to look at me, the stone around my neck emanating my concern.

Was he injured? Or sick?

"Kili…"

"I'm fine." He interjected quickly, moving his arm away from me. "I just don't understand why you can't tell me what is bothering you, is all. You tell the rest of the company."

I frowned at him, bewildered at his attitude. When did Kili decided to act like a toddler? I thought cynically to myself, trying not to feel as hurt as I did over his jerky reaction to my touch. Was he really so bothered by my answers? I didn't think this was such a big deal…

"What? Are we having the same conversation, or have I missed something? Because please, I am so lost right now…Are you mad at me because I don't know what I want to do when I reach Erebor? If you really want to know so badly then I would have to say…"

"Fine," he said, picking up his bow and dagger quickly, "do not tell me. Just keep your secrets as you always do."

"Secrets?" I murmured, now partly confused and partly angry. "Kili, what are you talking about?"

He glared at me but remained silent, his mood ring eyes now black.

"Kili, just tell me what the hell you are talking about!" I demanded, my mind trying to come up with a possible reason for his aggression. "Is this about my home or the stone? Kili, what is it?"

"I was not talking of that sort of secret, Kris. Perhaps you should ask my brother…"

And with that bomb of a statement, he strode off, my mind whirling.

What the hell does that mean? His brother? What does Fili have to do with this? God damn it, Kili. What did I do? I thought this was just about my avoiding questions! And men think women are cryptic? Geezus…what the hell just happened?

I stared after him in confusion, my mind flicking over what he could have possibly meant. We had started off so causally then he leaves with that?

Unable to finish my meal, I sat back in the grass and tried to figure out what had happened. Thorin announced it was time to go, yet I couldn't seem to function.

I was too god damn flabbergasted to think.

"Are you alright Kris?" Bilbo asked quietly, the hobbit's eyes concerned as he held out a hand to me. I shook my head and mumbled an excuse before I forced myself to stand, ignoring the concerned look he sent towards the others.

I hurried over to my pony and noticed with even more confusion that Kili had already mounted up and was heading off, his back straight with tension. Even Thorin seemed curious by his eagerness to leave and turned back to the group, as if searching for the reason for his nephew's discomfort.

Unable to find the right conclusion to what had just transpired, I clambered on top of newly named William and kicked him forward, m brows furrowed in thought.

"Kris?"

I jumped at the voice which sounded to my right and looked over at a very concerned pair of blue eyes, Fili watching me from his mount who was now side by side with mine.

"Fili, I think I have done something." I finally said, looking at him with wide eyes. "I don't know what I did, but I must have done something pretty bad."

His eyes narrowed and he shifted in his saddle. "What do you mean?"

"I think I must have done something to Kili. He just…" I stumbled to find the right words, Fili merely watching with a concerned expression.

"He just blew up at me and I can't seem to figure out why." I finally said, keeping my voice down. "He said something about secrets and then, he just stormed off. He also said…"

I was going to tell him about his brother's parting words as well but held my tongue, unsure how to broach it with Fili.

"Said what?" Fili asked, his voice slightly deeper than usual.

"Nothing," I fibbed, not meeting his suddenly cool gaze. "He just confused me and I can't seem to figure out if I broke some sort of dwarven code or something."

"You would know if you broke a code." Fili said finally, his face thoughtful. "It would have either involved beer or a beard. And at the moment, you have neither."

I let out a small snort and cast him a look, my confusion over Kili pushed back for a second. "What do you mean at the moment? Are you telling me I am going to suddenly grow a beard?"

"Of course not." He said, his blue eyes watching mine. "Only the one you have cannot be called a beard yet…"

"Hey!" I cried out, smacking his shoulder as the light-haired dwarf laughed quietly. "You're a jerk, you know that? The one I have… Thanks Fili. That's exactly what I needed. A blow to my self-confidence. Perfect."

Yet, I felt my smile return despite my annoyance, his jib working. Shaking my head, I chuckled at his stupid insult.

Cheeky rascal. He insults me and I laugh… I don't know if this should worry me or not but at least I feel a bit better.

I continued to chuckle but finally quieted down, his face searching mine in the meantime.

"I don't know whether I should thank you, or hit you again." I said finally, looking at him from the corner of my eye.

"Would hitting me make you feel better?" He asked quietly, a small smirk pulling up at the corners of his mouth. The action made the beads in his mustache hitch up slightly, resulting in me chuckling further.

"Maybe."

He nodded to himself and looked towards the front of the line, his gaze lingering on his dark-haired brother.

"I'll talk to him." He said, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Kili sometimes doesn't react the way he really means to. He lets his emotions get in the way. I can find out what is bothering him. Do not worry yourself too much. This is probably nothing."

"Are you sure? He seemed pretty angry."

I followed his gaze towards his brother and felt my stomach tighten. We may not be a conventional couple, or even a true couple. But I still cared for him, and the fact that he was giving me the cold shoulder was making me feel sick.

"I'll find out what happened, don't worry. And then I will get my idiot brother to apologize to you for being a fool."

I looked over at him and quirked a brow, frowning slightly. "I want you to see what is wrong, not start a fight Fili. Please, Fili. I just want to know if he is okay. This isn't like him..."

The older princeling nodded his head slowly in return before urging his pony forward towards his younger brother, my hands nervously twisting the reins in my hands as I awaited the answer.

An answer I wasn't sure I was going to like.