Hi Guys!

So I have decided that I'm going to give Survivor a little face lift as I continue writing. That way I am still rolling around in the fun of creating and not getting stumped/frustrated if I'm not sure what to do. I had gotten a note recently that Survivor would be a little bit easier to manage with chapter titles so I figured the times there is an update; you can gauge what it is by whether a chapter has a name yet or not. It shouldn't be too different but I hope you guys like the tidier version. I have a shitty couple months (health/break up/trauma) but am hopefully turning a corner and I know that writing should help make it better in a way. Chapter 22 should be done soon of Survivor; I just want to make sure I do my girl Amli justice and my wonderful readers.

Anywhooo Enjoy!

Bilbo felt a pang of regret rush over him taking in the sight of the twelve burly dwarves currently crammed into his dining room. Opening the door to the first was out of courtesy; the third was out of plain stupidity. Dwarves, who slowly and painstakingly plagued his evening with were now beginning to gorge themselves in complete depravity.

Belching, throwing food, chugging ale were some of the few highlights of the evening thus far. Hobbits were well known for their hospitality however this lot was pushing his boundaries to the point of extinction.

A firm rapping upon the door stirred him out of his self pity as an eerie silence befell the merry crowd. His eyes gazed warily between the sound and the blasted wizard who appeared to have perked up at the noise.

"Well go on Bilbo, best not to keep company waiting." Gandalf said with a grin full of mischief and mirth as Bilbo sighed exasperatedly.

Turning on his heels, the hobbit could not help muttering and cursing under his breath on the way to the door.

"If only I hadn't engaged that old coot of a wizard with his "good mornings," this all could have been avoided." Bilbo grumbled swinging the door with a vigor perplexed by the new guest.

The figure before him stood hooded and well hidden in the pitch black of night. Not even the faint candlelight could reveal any aspect of the strangely looming short figure.

"May I help you?" He questioned surprisingly mindful of his manners despite his evening thus far.

"Well I do hope so, are you mister Baggins?" A surprisingly dainty voice replied catching Bilbo off guard.

Considering the crudeness of present company, it seemed highly unlikely that any feminine creature would even look at these brutes. "I am and who might you be?"

"Amli at your…" She began voice fading taking note of the crowd developing over his shoulder. A grin pulled at her lips seeing the head of familiar grey wizard whose head stood up above the rest.

"Why is that the always charming and incandescent Amli I see before my very eyes?" Gandalf asked as the hooded figure entered walking up to the wizard.

"Oh come on in, it's no bother. Thank you for asking." Bilbo murmured to himself closing the door behind the figure. It appeared that this Amli was no different than the rest of these ruffians.

"Charming and incandescent, if it was my old friend, I'd have to say that you should go easy on the Old Toby. I have never been that in my life. "

Laughter roared from the grey wizard as he bent down to hug the young lady sweeping her clean off her feet.

Musical laughter wove with the wizard's catching the dwarves' attention as they tried to catch a glimpse. They gazed eagerly taking note of the hood floating back at the sweeping motion of their embrace.

Some guessed by mere height that she was one of their own or perhaps another hobbit. Why anyone would want another hobbit that they did not know.

As Gandalf placed "Amli" upon her feet, the hood fell finally from her hair revealing her identity. She in fact fit the build of a dwarf maiden however feminine curves were quite prominent in the tunics and trousers she wore.

Noticeably facial hair was absent from her heart shaped face highlighting the aforementioned femininity. Enchanting green eyes and light brown hair shone brilliantly in the flickering candlelight.

The dwarf maiden was gorgeous (in a few dwarves opinion). Despite many a gash, cut and a bruise, the warmth of her spirit radiated outward and it was intoxicating.

"My dear girl! What happened to your face?" Gandalf's voice rumbled exhaustedly as she eyed him with a quirked brow in response.

"Such a foolish question; you must be weary from your travels. Come my friend, there is food and ale to be shared. Dori would you bring her an ale? Bilbo could find something for her to tend to her wounds?" Gandalf called as Dori nodded and headed to the kitchen.

Following behind Mithrandir, Amli took a seat beside him at the back of the dining hall. A blush crawled up her cheeks as she finally took heed of the audience of twelve dwarves before her. Their plaits were as intricate and unique as each dwarf was though their eyes held a similar gazes. Who in the hell was she?

"Gandalf I do believe you are doing a great disservice by not introducing me to our company." Amli murmured glancing once more at the unnerving stares that now sat around the table beside her.

The reappearance of Masters Dori and Baggins was a welcomed site as ale was placed before her with a cloth to clean her wounds. She could not help but take a sip of the ale with a contented breath.

"May I?" A voice questioned catching Amli's attention as her green eyes came upon an incredibly handsome blonde.

He appeared to be her height with a wild mane of blonde hair wrapped intricately into braids common to their ancestry. A small grin like smirk played upon his lips at her stare as he indicated his intentions to aid her with her wounds with a nod to her cloth.

A faint blush painted her cheeks as Amli handed him the cloth with a warm grin chewing unconsciously on her full bottom lips. The dwarf in turn smiled warm as he delicately tended to the gash upon her forehead.

"Amli I'd like you to meet Dwalin, Balin, Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Oin, Gloin, Kili and last but not least Fili who is diligently tending to your wounds." Gandalf said as they offered their hellos. Amli's gaze with Fili lasted longer than the others as she felt the butterflies her stomach at his charming grin. Fili was taken in by her warm grin as she eyed him up and down. Taking a seat beside her, Fili offered the cloth back to her.

"Good as new." He murmured relieved that Kili slipped in behind her to take the seat on Fili's other side. At least his brother could aid in making sure he did not act an utter fool before this beauty. Fili couldn't help but ponder what drew him to this dwarf maiden; it was though he was a moth to the flame

"Thank you my kind-hearted healer. I am indebted to you for your care." She murmured cheeks feeling hot under his gaze. "Hello lads the name's Amli and I am at your service." Amli added offering them a toothy grin, green eyes filled with mirth locking with her healer to reinforce the later part of her greeting.

"If you don't mind me asking lassie but what exactly are ya?" Bofur questioned eliciting a giggle from the girl, much to Fili's liking. That laugh was something else and perhaps he ought to devote himself to hear more of it during this quest.

"I don't mind at' tall Master Bofur."Amli murmured with a grin. "I am half dwarf and half human. I get the strength and stamina from my dwarvish ancestry while I get a hairless face and figure from my human ancestry much to my relief."

"What's the matter lass don't feel pride in your own race?" Dwalin bellowed as Amli sent him a pointed look.

That was the absolute last thing on her mind. In fact it was just the opposite.

"Actually master Dwalin I'm very proud of my heritage. I just don't believe I need to be mistaken for a male for it to be true."

"My dear may I speak to you in the other room for a moment?" Gandalf asked diffusing the tension in the room.

"Certainly Gandalf," Amli began getting up from her chair noting the stillness in the room, many of the dwarves looking uncomfortable.

"Go on laddies get back to your feast." She said taking her ale from the table chugging it in a rather neat manner much to Bilbo's surprise. However that stopped as she slammed the mug down eliciting a cheer from most of the dwarves.

"Did you bring them?" Gandalf asked all lightheartedness gone from his voice.

"Yes I did…" Amli began removing the key and map from her belonging and handed it to her friend.

"Excellent I knew I could rely upon you."

"I've meaning to ask you but I came across a trinket upon my journey and was wondering if you knew of it." Amli said taking the necklace from her bag as Gandalf eyed it.

"May I?"

"Of course" She replied handing the gem to him. It looked as if it were jade piece oddly enough it had a similar make to the Arkenstone.

"From the looks of it my dear, it is a rather powerful gem. I do not know much but it has great power so do be careful and keep it hidden." He mentioned handing it back to her as she slipped it on and into her shirt.

"Now that it is finished, lets us join the rabblerousing." Gandalf added offering her an arm that she took with a grin ready to continue the evening.