The dwarves watched in awe as the wall was concealed in thick ice. Thorin stepped forward and reached over, touching the ice "solid...how..." He breathed, looking at the small girl in front of him in shock. Erica only gave a soft but sad smile.

"I've done this since I was little" she said while defrosting the wall. It reverted to the way it was. She looked towards Gandalf with a twinkle in her eye. The next thing everyone knew, Gandalf was blown right out the door into the front garden. The company let out bellowed laughter while Thorin suppressed his own laughter.

Erica smiled innocently as Gandalf sat up, grumbling under his breath "ooooh very funny young lady" he mumbled letting a small smile stretch his lips. Erica laughed lightly "your the one that left me on my own" she pointed out. Gandalf chuckled and patted her head.

She slid her glove back on and faced some shocked dwarves. Fili and Kili grinned "I like her!" They simultaneously stated

"Aye lass! What a laugh that was!" Dwalin roared in laughter. Bifur said something in Kuzhual and slapped her on the back. Gandalf vaguely noticed her pained expression but she quickly covered it up with a nervous smile.

"Balin, give her a contract" Thorin state giving her a small but noticeable smile of impression.

Everyone went silent as Balin reached in his bag for one "now your sure about this lady Erica?" He asked. Erica gave a nod and signed it. "Well me dear, may I be the first to welcome you, to the company of Thorin Oakinshield" Balin said winking. The company around her cheered.

"Come on lass! You must be starved!" Bofur said leading her to the dining room. She was sat down with a Big plate of food placed in front of her. She looked around her as the dwarves sat down chatting away. She only looked at the food, then averted her eyes to her hands. She began to remember how her father starved her at times and if she even ate a scrap she was punished. She was afraid, and Thorin took notice. He glanced at Gandalf who stood next to him.

"Why will she not eat?" Thorin asked him. The old wizard sighed "it's not my place to say, but she has not been brought up in the best of environments since she was a child. Her memories hold her back from her freedom" he explained.

Thorin rose an eyebrow and glanced at Erica "is that why she is so small? Her family...."

"Her father actually. Like I said, I will not be the one to say. But Thorin, it is up to you and the others to let her know that she does not have to be afraid anymore...let her know she is with good company, that is all I ask of you" Gandalf finished going off in search of wine. Thorin looked over to Erica, feeling a pang of guilt go through him. He made his way over and sat down next to her. He inched the plate towards her and poured some water for her "Erica...." He said. She quietly looked at him

"There is no need to be afraid of us. We are good company. You are free to do as you please, but I need you to eat to regain your strength. Can you do that for me?" He asked softly.

Erica looked into his eyes and nodded. She took a bit from a roll and then began to eat more off the plate. Soon all the food was eaten and she had drunk a jug of water, feeling much better.

"Now let's get to business here, what news from the meeting in Ered Luin? Did they all come?"

Thorin nodded "aye. Envoys from all seven kingdoms" he informed him. The dwarves murmured amongst each other in excitement while Erica quietly slunk to the far corner, listening in to the conversation.

"What do the dwarves of the iron hills say? Is Dain with us?" Dwalin asked hopefully. Everyone was silent as Thorin let out a disappointing sigh "they will not come" he grumbled. The dwarves muttered in disappointment "this quest is ours and ours alone" he said.

"Your going on a quest?" Bilbo asked coming forward. Gandalf asked him for a little more light and showed the group the map, he glanced over to Erica "Erica my dear, come here and look at this" he said beckoning her with a wave of his hand. Erica stood and glanced over his shoulder "the lonely mountain." Bilbo read from the map?

"Aye. Oin has read the portents and they say that it is time!" Gloin declared

"Ravens have been seen flying back to the mountain as it was foretold: When the birds of yore return to Erebor, the reign of the beast will end." Oin explained further. Bilbos face turned from curiosity to concern quickly at the mention of a beast "Uh, What beast?" He had asked

Bofur looked over at him "Well that would be a reference to Smaug the Terrible, chiefest and greatest calamity of our age. Airborne fire-breather, teeth like razors, claws like meathooks, extremely fond of precious metals--"

"Yes, I know what a dragon is." Bilbo snapped.

Whilst the dwarves talked amongst themselves about the quest, Erica went off into her thoughts. She began to wonder if her dad had noticed her being missing. Though she was very relieved that he would never be able to find her here. She looked at each face of the company, wondering to herself how this quest will turn out, and also what she can do once they face the dragon. The thought of the matter made her shiver, and also because there was a small snow flurry above her again.

"Miss Eria! Your freezing up again!" Kili laughed. Erica snapped from her thoughts, finding the dwarves staring at her. She blushed deeply and called off the snow "sorry, that happens when I think" she said sheepishly. The dwarves chuckled

"ye must have been in really deep thought if ye didn't hear Thorin yell. I'm not sure she's fit for this journey if she goes in that state" Dwalin grumbled. Erica frowned and without warning a few icicles shot from the floor to Dwalins neck making him yelp

"Not fit huh?" She mumbled.

"Easy bow Erica he meant no harm. But I'm sure you'll all learn now not to underestimate Erica or her power" Gandalf spoke as Erica retreated the ice. Gandalf chuckled and turned back to the dwarves "now then as I was saying, dwarf doors are invisible when closed. The answer lies hidden somewhere in this map and I do not have the skill to find it. But there are others in Middle-earth who can. The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth, and no small amount of courage. But, if we are careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."

"That's why we need a burglar." Ori said

"Hm, A good one, too. An expert, I'd imagine." Bilbo spoke rocking on his heels. Everyone looked to him "and are you Mr Bilbo?" Erica asked

"Am I what?" He asked

"He said he's an expert! Hey hey!" Oin cheered making Erica and the dwarves laugh while Bilbo began to panic.

"M--Me? No, no, no, no, no. I'm not a burglar; I've never stolen a thing in my life!" He squeaked.

"I'm afraid I have to agree with Mr. Baggins. He's hardly burglar material." Balin pointed out

"You never know mr Balin. He could hold a lot of potential" Erica defended.

"the wild is no place for gentlefolk who can neither fight nor fend for themselves." Dwalin argued

the dwarves begin arguing. Gandalf, growing angry, rises to his full height and casts darkness over the group as starts speaking in his "powerful" voice. The others stop in awe.

"Enough! If I say Bilbo Baggins is a burglar, then a burglar he is!" He boomed.

Erica went pale and quickly retreated the room out into the front garden, taking deep breaths, trying to shake out the memories of her fathers dark wild temper. "Calm yourself Erica, a lot of people loose there temper" she mumbled to herself.

"Miss Erica? Are you alright?" Came Oris soft voice. She turned and gave a reassuring smile to the shy dwarf "I'm fine Ori, don't worry about me" she said reassuringly. Ori smiled and nodded "as long as your ok! Come on inside, Fili and. Kili want to get to know you" he said.

She laughed and followed him inside just as Bilbo fainted. She looked at the dwarves before her and sighed "alright, who scared him about the dragon?" She asked. Everyone pointed to Bofur who smiled innocently.

(Erica pov)

While Gandalf spoke with a now conscious bilbo in the sitting room, I sat with the other dwarves who had scattered about the house. I was with Fili and Kili. The two of them were so funny, telling me stories about how Thorin, their uncle took care of them growing up in the blue mountains. It was a good laugh.

"So where do you come from miss Erica?" Kili asked suddenly. I hesitated to answer, finding Thorin watching me from the other side of the room so I made up a lie since I didn't think telling them of my world was a good idea "I used to live in a small village by the sea but I wanted more in life than being a house maid, so I began travelling, then Gandalf found me I guess" I said convincingly. They seemed to buy it and asked about my life to which I refused to answer. Such nosey boys.....

(Thorin pov)

"She's a mystery that one isn't she?" Balin asked out of the blue. I looked to him then back to her "she is that Balin. There seems to be something off about her story...." I mumbled.

"She will tell us in time. She seems like a good lassie, maybe keep your boys in check" he chuckled. A small smile stretched to my face "possibly, they seem to like her which is rare."

"Aye....oh, it seems we have lost our hobbit" he sighed. I noticed the hobbit walk away past Erica and the boys

" Probably for the best. The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toy-makers; hardly the stuff of legend."

"There are a few warriors amongst us." I pointed out

"Old warriors." Balin sighed. I smiled.

"I will take each and every one of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty. Honor. A willing heart. I can ask no more than that." I said honestly

Balin sighed and shook his head "You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honourably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor." He said

I held out the key that Gandalf had given me earlier.

"From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice, Balin. Not for me" I said in heroics ness. I will stop at nothing to regain our home land....

Balin nodded in defeat "Then we are with you, laddie. We will see it done."

I gave a nod and once again glanced at the maiden who would be joining us. There's so much too her that meets the eye. Deep dark secrets...and I intend to find out what they are....

(Normal pov)

The dwarves and Erica gather in Bilbo's living room, smoking their pipes by the fire. They all begin humming, and soon Thorin begins to sing, and the others join him. Gandalf listens from nearby and Bilbo listens from his bedroom.

Erica sat between Fili and Kili on the couch, leaning her head back as she listened to Thorins deep voice.

[The dwarves, singing:]
"Far over the misty mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away ere break of day
To find our long-forgotten gold
The pines were roaring on the height
The winds were moaning in the night
The fire was red, it flaming spread
The trees like torches blazed with light"

Erica soon fell asleep against Kilis shoulder and his head laid on top of hers. Fili moved her feet onto his lap so she would be more comfortable and fell asleep himself. The other dwarves found some sleeping spots and settled down. Thorin glanced at Erica and smiled at her peaceful face.

He settled down on the arm chair and closed his eyes, dreaming of taking back Erebor....