#eyja

The night hung quiet and peaceful over the small town of hobbits, many of the locals already tucked cozily away into bed. But at the top of the hill, with an emerald green door, lay a hobbit hole with a winding trail of smoke rising from the chimney. Warm light spills from the windows as a limber, cloaked figure makes their way silently to the door with the small glowing mark. The well kept garden path was encircled by a small wooden fence, the wood remained unpainted but smooth. The gate slowly creaks closed, and the small path crunches beneath the boots of the mysterious figure. Raising a hand to the door the figure delivers a sharp knock, and the sounds of conversation and movement behind the firm wooden door quiets before a solitary set of footfalls approach the door. As the knob turns and the door swings open, a gust of warm air ruffles the cloak of the newcomer. A small hobbit stands in the open space, blonde curly hair ruffled. the figure bows, and with a slight lilt to her voice says, "Eyja, at your service, you're Mister Baggins I presume?"

Rising to meet the smalls mans gaze, the hobbit gives a small nod and shuffles back a step, leaving room for woman to enter the small entry room. Removing her cloak allowing her waved brown hair to fall free and the light from inside to catch on the rings of metal in her lip and ears, she hangs the dark fabric on the wall and lays down her long slender blade on a small chest.

The sound of voices comes from down the hall and as Bilbo moves towards the sounds of ruckus, Eyja follows on nearly silent feet. Rounding the corner, her gaze is met with 13 dwarves all laughing and shouting, and one taller man in grey robes.

"Ah there we are, Thorin, this is the shifter I was telling you about," Gandalf's calm voice drifts across the room and Eyja turns to see the wizard and the raven haired dwarf watching her, "Eyja, this is Thorin Oakenshield the King Under the Mountain." The dwarf nods briefly, as she bows.

"Your majesty." Thorin stands, and the rest of the group quickly falls quiet. Bilbo moves to stand beside the grey wizard as Thorin begins to detail the quest they will be going on, and how the dwarfs will receive no assistance from the dwarven kingdoms of their kin.

"We are here to collect a burglar, and a shifter to assist us in our adventure." Thorin's cool gaze drifts from Bilbo to Eyja, drawing the rest of the companies eyes to the two aforementioned people.

Gandalf clears his throat, and places a map upon the table, "The journey to Erebor will be long and treacherous, but with this map we will find a way into the mountain, where our burglar will be able to find the Arkenstone, and in the worst case scenario where the dragon awakens Eyja will be there to handle it quickly." Gazes travel to the woman in the corner, wondering how she would be able to best Smaug the Terrible.

A dwarf with a dark mustache, pipe and large hat raises his hand and interrupts the wizard, "Now, no offence lass, but how is that wee girl meant to kill the infamous Smaug the terrible, the greatest calamity of the age?" Eyja raises her head watching as Gandalf brings up his own pipe, taking a large puff before sighing, leaning back in his chair he begins to explain.

"Master Bofur, Eyja is a skin changer, one of the very few that still roam Middle-Earth, now shifters often turn into great beasts, but she can shift into a dragon large enough to rival the size of the one currently residing in your mountain." At those words all heads turn swiftly to the woman who stands in the corner, picking at her nails. The dwarf, that she now knows is named Bofur, nods and brings his pipe to his mouth.

The other dwarfs murmur to themselves about the newest information about the only female member of the company. Bilbo however speaks up from behind the monarch, "What were you saying about a dragon?" The fear in his voice is evident in the way it warbles a bit at the end. Bofur speaks once more, going into detail about Smaug took over the mountain years ago, leaving Thorin's people to wander in search of a new home, and how those who tried to fight against the beast were scorched beyond recognition, which all lead to the small hobbit fainting.

"Eyja if you would be so kind to carry Master Baggins to his bed, so he may recover." Gandalf's soft voice breaks the silence that followed the hollow thud of Bilbo's body hitting the floor. Moving forward the shifter swiftly scoops up the burglar and begins to wander the halls attempting to find the bedroom of the company's host.

The pitter patter of feet follow her down the hall and a tall dwarf with dark hair and a shadow of stubble begins to walk beside her before bounding ahead to look into rooms. Once the two successfully find the room, Eyja gently places Mister Baggins upon the bed and both the dwarf and the shifter exit the room. "I'm Kili," the dwarrow breaks the silence while they walk slowly back to the rest of the company, "are there many other shifters like you in Middle-Earth?"

Eyja smiles at the young dwarfs curiosity, turning her head to meet Kili's dark gaze she slows her pace even more, "There were once many shifters roaming the world, for we were here before all else, we lived as one with the land and we a happy people. We protected those who could not protect themselves. But now," She brings in a ragged breath, "there are merely two left." Her walk ceases and she turns to face the warrior fully, "When the orcs first came they killed many of the shifters, capturing the rest, as it brought them amusement to torture us in cages and chains." There is a sullen pause where Eyja's hand drift to the sleeves that cover her wrists, old pain swimming in her yellowish gaze. "As far as I am aware, only two of us were able to escape the painful death we would have received, me, and Beorn; a mighty man who shifted into a great bear. Once free of the orcs grip we separated to find hidden corners of the world where we could remain safe."

Kili stands across from the woman mouth open, eyes wide, he had never meant to bring up painful memories and now the shifters eyes darken with the memories of her past. "Forgive me, I never meant to-"

She silences him quickly with a wave of her hand and a dry chuckle, "It is no worries master dwarf, you had no knowledge of it, those are old memories that I must learn to deal with eventually." Her lips close, and her golden eyes soften, "Besides, it is aways nice to talk of the times before the orcs came." The two grow silent, a contented peace settling as they continue back to the company. Returning to the table, Eyja finds the dwarfs dispersed amongst the residence setting up bedrolls and beginning to relax in preparation for the long journey ahead of them. Though Thorin stands by the door speaking with an older dwarf with a long silver beard. Kili turns to the woman again face turned up towards her with a gentle smile playing on his lips,

"I am going to go find my brother, so until tomorrow madam shifter." he bows his head a little and his grins widens at Eyja's quiet laugh.