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Bofur gently shakes you awake just before sunrise, smiling slightly as you yawn.

"Wake up, stone head," he teases, "We've got to hit the road."

You yawn again sleepily and mumble grumpily, snuggling back into your bedroll. The sun is just beginning to peak over the mountains that shelter Rivendell from the outside world. You, despite being a morning person, aren't really keen to be up and about so early today.

But with a few more whispered words and pokes, Bofur managed to drag you out of bed. You surfaced to the mortal world, staring around grumpily as the other members of the company began to rise and pack up their belongings. Thorin, already up and about by the time you surfaced, utters a polite 'good morning', offering a smile that you return, despite the churning in your gut at the sight of him.

Fili and Kili eventually turn up at your side, laughing at your bed hair. "Shut up," you said irritably, conscious of the fact that Thorin may have smiled at your ridiculous bed hair, rather than you. But his nephews just laughed, ruffling your hair so it was even messier. It took you ages to get the knots and tangles out.

After a breakfast of cold sausages and a sip of ale, everyone is ready to go. Someone wakes up the hobbit just as you all were about to leave, and he trundles along behind everyone as they quietly made their way out of Rivendell, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"Where is Gandalf?" You asked Fili as you pass through the gates of Rivendell and into a mountain pass. "He'll catch up, " the dwarf shrugged, adjusting his pack.

You watch Thorin trudge ahead of you for a while, trying to pluck up the courage to walk beside him. Suddenly the dwarf stops in his path, causing the rest of the Company to halt, jostling each other as the convoy halts. "Be on your guard," he calls to everyone, "We are about to step over the edge into the wild."

His haunting blue eyes meet yours, and you shiver for a brief moment. His gaze makes you feel as if you've been zapped by lightning all over again.

"Balin," Thorin addresses the old dwarf, breaking away from your eyes. "You know these paths. Lead on."

Balin takes the lead from Thorin, and the Company is on the move again, trudging up the slope.

You look back over your shoulder, determined to get one last glimpse of Rivendell. Despite the fact that you regarded elves with suspicion, this city was one of great beauty. Especially in the early morning light, when the sun reflected off the graceful white arches if the city buildings. It would be wasteful to ignore such a sight.

You noticed you were not the only one treasuring your last glance. Bilbo Baggins was also standing still on the path, his keen eyes filled with wonder, though also with sadness.

"Master Baggins," you and the hobbit turned to see Thorin looking back at you both. "I suggest you keep up," he said gruffly, turning to continue walking after the group.

You began to walk forward, mouth open, ready to protest. After all, you both had simply been enjoying your last view of a beautiful city, probably the only time you would ever visit Rivendell. Why not enjoy it while it lasted?

"You too, Y/N," he added in a lighter tone, turning back around to face you. "Or I will be forced to throw you over my shoulder."

"I'm no damsel in distress, Oakenshield," you shot back, walking a little faster to try and keep up with the other dwarf's heavy strides. Even as the image of being thrown over such a nice shoulder gave you more pleasure than it should.

"Not at the moment, but you'll be in distress if you get stuck in an elm tree again." You huff, glaring at the ground, recalling the childhood memory, and hear Thorin chuckle quietly.

"Quick to bite, as always," he murmurs, before moving off into the crowd of dwarves.

You glare stubbornly after him, regaining your place in the company behind Fili. But there's a hint of humour in your glare, and you smile slightly to yourself. If this was how things would continue, 'as friends', it was going to be a very interesting journey.

*****************************************

The wind howls liked a wolf at full moon, and the rain lashes down with menace. The sky rumbled darkly, pitch black, as you and the Company struggle your way up the mountain pass. The fact that the path was only a few feet wide did not help matters either, for one wrong step could send you spiralling down into oblivion.

"Hold on!" Thorin yelled, as large deadly boulders the size and weight of trolls came crashing down the mountainside. You and the others clung to the damp wall desperately as the boulders bounced down, missing you by a hair's breadth.

"WATCH OUT!" Dwalin roars in your ear, and yanks you roughly out of the way just in time, as another massive boulder thumps down the mountain.

Shaking from the near miss, you thank him, and he grunts in reply before moving off. It was an improvement, you decided shakily, finding your feet on the slippery rocks. An improvement from glaring at you every time you walked past and muttering curses in Khuzdul under his breath.

"We must find shelter!" Thorin hollers above a large clap of thunder, that makes the mountain you're standing on shudder.

"This is no thunderstorm!" Balin cries to the Company, "It's a thunder battle, look!"

He points off into the darkness, and you squint, seeing something large moving. A large humanoid form comes into view, completely hewn from stone, before it is tackled in slow motion by another monolithic stone creature.

"Well bless me," Bofur exclaims over the racket. "The legends are true! Giants! Stone giants!"

"What's happening?" Kili cries desperately in front of you, and the rock sways beneath your feet sickeningly. One foot wrong, and you'll go plummeting over the edge. You grab the wall, stomach churning but the rock continues to move. You, Kili and several other dwarves cling on frantically as another leagues-high giant breaks free on the mountain rock.

"Kili, grab my hand!" Fili says panickedly. But his fingers slip, and Kili is stuck on the giant's leg with you, as the behemoth turns to battle with the remaining giant.

The rain continues to lash down, and you hold on for dear life as the world spins dizzily around you, a blur of black and grey laced with lightning. A few choice blows, and your giant collapses backward, the wall of the mountain rushing up to meet you. This is how it ends, you realise, and squeeze your eyes tight shut. A faint cry of "Nooo!" reaches your ears, before you're flung off into certain death.

You meet the cold, unforgiving rock, but no pain or darkness follows. A rain of tiny pebbles peppers you, settling into your coat and hair, and after a few moments, you open your eyes.

The storm still rages on above you, and the other dwarves who were also stuck on the giant are sprawled on the ground of the pass beside you, groaning and trying to pick themselves up.

"We're alright! We're still alive," Balin calls as the other members of the Company arrive, Thorin at the helm. Without stopping he runs straight to you, enveloping you in a bone-crushing hug.

"Thank Mahal," he breathes into your hair, then pulls back and surveys you for injuries.

"Are you alright?" He asks, concern clouding his eyes as water drips across his face.

"I'm fine, Ma," you tease him, and his cheeks tinge pink with embarrassment when he realises all the Company are watching you.

"Let's go," he calls gruffly, and you gather your pack, strewn on the ground. Surveying the Company briefly, a spike pierces your heart as you realise someone is missing.

"Where's Bilbo?" You call, and peering down the pass, see him clinging onto the edge desperately, feet kicking feebly.

"Help! It's Bilbo!" You call frantically, straining down to offer him a slippeey hand. Suddenly, your companions jostle around you, and Dwalin, Bofur and Nori bend down in an effort to pull Bilbo to his feet.

Out of the blue, Thorin takes to the air. Brashly, he swings down beside Bilbo, and with a groan of exertion, pushes the hobbit back up onto the pass.

At the last moment, your leader's fingers slip, and you cry out in panic, veins running icy cold. But your fingers catch his at the last second, and Dwalin hurriedly helps you to haul him back to his feet.

"Are you alright? " You fuss over Thorin, heart beating painfully fast over that near miss. The image of him falling down, down into the dark abyss, to fall onto razor sharp rocks below is seared upon your eyelids.

"I'n fine, Ma," Thorin says sarcastically, but his eyes are smiling.

"Do not fret," he murmurs, brushing a strand of soaked hair back from your cheek, his remaining arm around your waist.

Seeing Bofur and Dori worrying over Bilbo, he turns as Dori says, "We almost lost you!"

"He's been lost since he left home," Thorin says boldly, scowling at the hobbit. "He should never have come. He has no place amongst us."

"Thorin!" You hiss at him disapprovingly, but he pays no heed to your words. His hand leaves your waist, and he shoulders past you, calling to Dwalin. The pair mutter away for a second or so in the constant deluge, before they are interrupted by a shout from Kili.

"There is a cave, just behind you, Uncle!" He hurries over, pointing out the large dark depression in the side of the mountain.

Dwalin enters the cave, checking it for potential dangers, but reemerges, citing that the cave is plenty big enough for everyone. The others start to file in, desperate to get out of the rain and storm. You notice Fili struggling to help Bombur to his feet, and promptly go over to help. Trying to distract yourself from the residual feel of Thorin's hand on your waist, burning your skin through your clothes.

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