Author's Note: I am new to the world of fan fiction, so please, take it easy on me. I've read so many good stories here from a lot of good writers ( Calla Mae, for example, is one of the best. Go read her brilliant stories if you haven't yet, you won't be sorry!).

If enough people enjoy this story, I will continue posting up chapters. So please, read and let me know what you think! Comments are certainly welcome, as well as suggestions.

As for the story, may be slight AU (when it comes to dialogue, locations, etc.) Trying to stick to movie/book-verse. It will be a Fili/OC, there aren't enough out there. (I've seen so many good Kili/OC and Thorin/OC stories though.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing from The Hobbit, or anything from the wonderful Mr. Tolkien.

Chapter One: What Are You Doing Up There?

"I'll bet he doesn't even show up," one of the dwarves mused aloud. Gandalf didn't turn to see which had said it. He had faith in Bilbo Baggins. "And I'll take that bet. The hobbit will show, give him time." The company of dwarves would continue on their quest to reclaim their home, Erebor, even if the Halfling wasn't with them. Thorin knew it was possible that they would have to look elsewhere for their burglar.

They continued down the path, laughing amongst themselves and making jokes. Thorin held a hand up, and they all brought their ponies to a stop. "Do you hear that?" he asked, pointing off to the side. A rustling sound, it was, followed by what sounded like grunting. Gandalf dismounted from his horse, and a few of the dwarves did as well.

They walked as quietly as possible towards the sounds; curiosity had gotten the better of them. Fili and Kili immediately starting giggling quietly with one another when the group rounded a series of tall trees and saw what it was that was making such a fuss.

Rhunia Byorwenlo continued reaching upward, trying her hardest to pull herself up and cut the rope. With no such luck, and the fact that she was growing tired, she finally gave up and let her body go limp … again, curses spewing quietly from her mouth. And there she hung, upside down, now staring at a bunch of dwarves and one very tall wizard.

"Well … this is embarrassing," Rhu huffed. The two dwarf princes began howling with laughter, Bofur managed a cheeky grin as well. Thorin seemed to be the only one who didn't find the situation amusing at all, and shot his nephews an icy glare.

"Lovely day, isn't it, Gandalf?" They all looked to the old wizard after Rhu had addressed him directly and wondered how she knew him. Gandalf hadn't said a word. He stood there for a moment, toying with his smoking pipe. "Rhunia my dear, what on Earth are you doing?" he'd broken his silence and asked the woman.

Rhu was having a hard time hiding her annoyance, none of them had so much as offered to help her down. She smiled at the wizard and said, "Oh you know, just…" She had to stop herself from stating the obvious. "I was hunting, and it seems I've been delayed now."

Bofur took the opportunity to chime in. "Aye lass, and whose trap have ya stumbled into there?" They all looked on in silence, waiting for the answer. Though a few of them already had an idea what she was going to say. She went on to confirm their suspicions. Rhu retorted, "Mine, sadly," and most of the company erupted into fits of laughter. She didn't find it one bit funny, trying to reach up again to cut the rope.

Her body grew tired and weak as it did the previous time, forcing her to give up once more. "I know you're all enjoying yourselves, but if you'd be so kind as to shut up and help a lady down, I would be most grateful," Rhu hissed through gritted teeth.

Thorin finally motioned for Fili and Kili to assist the young woman. The two boys were more focused on laughing at Rhu than actually coming up with a good way to get her down unharmed.

They stood underneath her and raised their arms, as if to catch her. You've GOT to be kidding me! Rolling her eyes, Rhunia didn't bother saying a word. Instead, she watched as the bald dwarf they called Dwalin raised his axe to cut the rope from the tree limb.

And it worked. The line snapped, and sent Rhu hurtling down towards the brothers. They grunted as she landed right on top of them, both having the breath knocked from their bodies. She wasn't heavy, but then again, they hadn't paid much attention when Dwalin chopped the rope in half.

Rhu smiled triumphantly and pushed herself away from the two dwarves underneath her. She dusted her britches off before looking up at Gandalf. "What brings you all the way out here, Gandalf?"

The wizard ignored the looks Thorin had been sending his way. He wasn't going to spill their secrets of Erebor and what they desired, but it made Gandalf chuckle to see them all sweating over it. "Dear child, how long have you been out here?" He answered Rhunia with a question of his own.

She was none too pleased. Rhu knew he would intentionally dodge her question. Same old wizard, she almost thought aloud. The woman shrugged her shoulders and answered, "A day or so, I guess. Which reminds me … would you mind escorting me to the next town?" Rhu didn't expect their leader to respond so quickly, and an unhappy one it was at that.

Thorin clenched his fists, they had no time for unneeded stops. And to have a woman he didn't even know following along with his company? It was most certainly not going to happen. "Out of the question! You have already delayed us, and we cannot afford to have you tagging along."

"Oh but you see, I have no food or water. A thief came and stole my horse as I hung defenselessly, along with the rest of my possessions. I have no way to travel. And I will most certainly be attacked by something when night falls." Rhu feigned a pout, and Gandalf noticed a mischievous look in her eyes. "You won't even know I'm here, I promise!" She didn't like having to beg, but there seemed to be no other way around it.

"I will just follow you if you say no…" It must have worked. Rhu could hear Thorin mutter something under his breath, most likely a curse or two in dwarvish. But she didn't care, it was better than her earlier predicament. "You shall ride with me, my dear," said Gandalf from behind, and soon enough, Rhu was seated up on the tall horse along with the gray bearded wizard.

No sooner had they started moving again, they heard a voice yelling. Along the path ran little Bilbo Baggins. "Wait, wait!" the hobbit cried out after them. "I signed it." He had a beaming smile spread across his face as he handed the contract to Balin. The old dwarf looked over it carefully, giving a nod of approval to Thorin. "Everything seems to be in order."

"Welcome, Master Baggins, to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield." The white bearded dwarf smiled thoughtfully at the Halfling as he spoke. Though Bilbo was unhappy with the idea of having to ride a pony. He began to protest, but to no avail, as Fili and Kili grabbed ahold of his jacket and hoisted him onto a brown pony. The way the animal jerked it's head about made Bilbo nervous, and it showed on his face.

Bilbo brought his pony up beside Gandalf. He had been chatting on, until it finally hit him. He looked up at the woman who rode with Gandalf. "Who is she?" He asked, pointing to Rhu. "This is Rhunia, Master Baggins, and she is going to be accompanying us for a bit."

Gandalf hadn't spoke to Rhu since they'd started riding again. She knew he wasn't pleased with her. "Don't look at me like that. You were taking too long," she said over her shoulder in a soft tone, knowing Gandalf would've brought it up eventually.

Bilbo scratched his head, curious as to what she was referring to. Though he didn't ask, not at that moment anyway. He was sneezing and carrying on, complaining of horse hair and having left his handkerchief back at Bag End.

The company resumed their laughter and joking. Now that their burglar had decided to join them, they could actually begin their quest. Erebor was the prize, and the dragon Smaug would fall at their hands. It weighed heavily on Thorin's mind most of all.

But Smaug wasn't the only thing that plagued his thoughts. The mere idea of having to watch after a tiny hobbit was one thing. But now they'd ended up escorting some human, and a woman at that! Thorin was less than thrilled, and he made no effort to hide it.

I hope you all enjoyed it. As I've said, I will continue the story if people like it. And again, comments and reviews are welcomed! :)