Agarwaen strode over to the table, merriment heavy in the air, but plates of greens still mostly full.

"Lass, can we get some more o' that wine?" The dwarf with a floppy hat asked.

"I-I'm not one of the servers, I apologize."

"Well then who are you?" The blond one asked. "If you're not a server, then the only thing I'd say you're good for is Kili to look at." He said before bursting out in laughter along with the rest of the table besides the young dark haired dwarf from earlier. He knocked the blond on the head and stared down at the table, his face a dark shade of pink. Agarwaen wasn't sure what to think about that, and just shuffled awkwardly at that comment.

"I'm sorry lass," A white-bearded one leaned over and said. "Is there something you needed?"

"I was just introducing myself. I am the guide Gandalf spoke of." The table grew silent, and Kili just put his face in his hands. At the mention of 'guide', many of them grew looks of anger, confusion, and dread.

"I-I can't say I was expecting someone of your..."

"Race? I know. I was mistaken to think that Gandalf would have informed you all of that already. But I assure you, I know the land we are about to travel better than any man or dwarf could, for I have traversed it for many years. Your king is still considering my services as well, so my usefulness to you remains to be seen."

"Nothing against you, lass, but this journey is a bit personal for us to be sharing it with a-an elf, you see." The dwarf struggled for the right words.

"Our journey, our company, our time, and especially our culture is not for sharing with an elf." An older, balding dwarf covered in tattoos glared up at her, just like Thorin did.

"I do not wish for you to share anything with me, as I am merely to be a hired guide. As long as you follow the paths I lead us on, you needn't even speak a word to me. I understand that it is important to reach the mountain as soon as possible, and my purpose is to make sure you do. That is all. As I told your king, I respect your race, especially your line, and I hope that the shape of my ears will not affect your decision in allowing me to do my job." Agarwaen basically repeated herself for the second time that day. The dwarves mulled over her words.

"I know I will have your king's final answer in time, but I do have one final offer for you." she threw a sausage to the fattest dwarf. "I will find you later tonight if you want some real food. I may be an elf, but I too enjoy the taste of fine meats." As she walked away, the table erupted in conversation and argument. Fili and Kili had grins plastered on their faces as they watched the elf leave.

"See, I told you, that's a woman!" Kili said to his brother.

"She seemed nice, how 'bout we give her a chance?" Bofur asked.

"I wouldn't trust her to bring me mead that I watched her pour." Dwalin grumbled in response.

~~~~~~~~~~

Elrond walked with Lindir, discussing the problems of the dwarves staying another day, when Agarwaen nearly bumped into them, her hands over her eyes.

"I can't believe I agreed to travel with them." She muttered as she kept on walking. The two confused elves then turned a corner to find the dwarves bathing in one of their fountains.

"Iluvitar have mercy on Agarwaen's soul." Lindir squeaked out as they both backtracked and left.

"What am I doing? What am I doing?" Agarwaen asked herself as she wandered through the halls. "Dwarves. Me travelling with dwarves? What did I think it was going to be like?" She began taking her hair out of its braid, and ran her fingers through the tangled mass. It was a nervous tick she had. "Maybe they won't talk to me at all. That'd be fine. At least then they can't call me things to my face." She turned a corner and stopped, this hallway was a dead end, and nobody was ever really in there. She put her back to the wall and slid down. "Am I really this desperate for adventure? I never would have agreed to this a hundred years ago. They're going to be the death of me. Literally and figuratively."

"That's what I thought too." A softer voice said from down the hall, causing Agarwaen to jump up.

"O-oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." The hobbit apologized. She let out a relieved breath, glad that it wasn't one of the dwarves that walked in on her talking to herself.

"It's okay. Gandalf wasn't joking when he said hobbits are light on their feet." She laughed. "What are you doing all the way over here?"

"I'm uh...a bit lost." He admitted. "I take it you saw them all? In the....the fountain?" She nodded. "You don't have to come along, trust me. They're not so bad once you get used to them, but I imagine they'll spend quite some time trying to get rid of you. What did elves do to them anyway?" He began to ramble.

"A lot. They have every right to hate us in my opinion. The elves refused to help them after Smaug attacked Erebor. It's created a deep seated grudge that they have every right to hold. Many of them died because of it."

"Oh." The hobbit seemed shocked to learn this new information.

"Why would...But you've all been so nice?"

"These are high elves, master hobbit. You have not met the woodland elves of Mirkwood yet."

"They sound cruel."

"They are." She nodded, knowing that cruel was an understatement.

"You're a high elf?" He asked.

"No, I'm from the woodland realm."

"O-oh, I'm sorry--" Bilbo was scared that he had offended her with his words against her kind.

"Don't be. They're a dangerous and heartless group of elves. I learned that the hard way. Anyway, I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I am Agarwaen."

"Bilbo Baggins. It's a pleasure." He held out his hand, which she shook in greeting.

"How has the trip between the Shire and Rivendell been?"

"I'm not sure you want to know."

"They've been that much trouble?"

"The-the dwarves? No, I, well, I mean yes, but mostly the trolls a-and orcs. And that other wizard was a strange fellow..."

"Trolls? You shouldn't have run into trolls. They're supposed to be more toward the mountains. And you mean Radagast?"

"Well they were. And yes, I do believe that was his name. He needed to speak with Gandalf about something, and then we were attacked by the orcs."

"Which I killed..." Agarwaen's mind began to compose a list of questions, all which made no sense and brought a sense of unease to her.

"Oh, you were with those elves?"

"Yes... Bilbo, do you know where Gandalf is?"

"Um, I think he's with that Elrond fellow."

"Come, then, let us get you un-lost." She took off down the hallway with Bilbo in tow, as the two made their way back to the pavilion. After asking a few different elves, they finally found Gandalf and Elrond talking on a balcony.

~~~~~~~~~~

Please drop a comment, and if you have any suggestions for fillers or ways for Agarwaen to get to know the dwarves better as individuals, please let me know! If you find any inconsistencies within my story or that something is veering away from canon (despite my character and the impact she has on the quest, of course) don't be afraid to tell me, as I do tend to get picky about that.

As always, thank you all so much for reading, and rest assured I have so much planned for this story!