The Only Exception (A Hobbit and Almighty Johnsons crossover fanfic)

Chapter 6

"Perhaps he could be of use to us Thorin." He said slowly. "Having one with an ability as his could work in his favor."

Thorin....weird name.

Upon noticing the tiniest curve in the old man's lips, Anders suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that this old man had his own ulterior motives for saying what he said. However, he wouldn't be given the chance to dwell on it more before Thorin begrudgingly agreed.

"Very well. I will not be held accountable for his safety. And God."

"Anders."

Thorin's jaw clenched at Anders' smugness and continued. "If you try anything, I will promise you will not live to see your home again."

With that, Thorin turned on his heels and mounted his pony. It was then that everyone followed suit only pausing when a gruff voice spoke.

"What of the girl, Thorin?"

"Bring her."

Anders released the breath he didn't even realize he had been holding as the bald man dragged the girl with him to his pony.

Good job Bragi. What the hell is going on with you?

He rolled his eyes and held back a growl of irritation. His powers were stronger than before, that much was obvious. But his patience for waiting was running thin. And that girl was going to give him more trouble than his brothers back home.

She owes me big.

Maya was placed onto the front of the saddle with the giant man who had earlier held a knife to her throat. Her mind was reeling, playing back everything that had just transpired. Everything said. Despite witnessing Thorin's change in behavior, the shift in Anders voice, she still found it hard to believe. Even more curious was how Gandalf was more amused than frightened by this new found information. It brought about more questions in her already cluttered mind.

Slowly she lifted her gaze to the man she rode with. He frightened her, with his rigid posture. The glare in his eyes as he stared ahead, his jaw obviously tense beneath his long brown beard.

She quickly cast her eyes away when he caught her looking at him. Not that she was subtle in doing so in the first place. Still, it didn't stop her heart from nearly leaping out of her chest or the small squeak that almost escaped past her lips.

"Something on your mind?"

The words made her jump. She hadn't expected him to talk to her and wasn't sure how to respond. While his voice was gruff, there seemed to be no hostility in the question. Taking a slow breath, she asked the first question that came to her mind.

"Who are you all?"

The man stiffened and for a moment Maya worried that she had made him angry. A quick look to Thorin, who only gave a small nod, the man relaxed. But only slightly.

"Dwalin." He said dully.

One by one the men introduced themselves. She couldn't help but note how each name rhymed with one or two others. However, it wouldn't help her in remembering them. Even with the rhyming, she was horrible with names and theirs were so different from anything she's heard, it would take a while before she would be able to say them all correctly.

Slowly she bowed her head and tried her best not to show how terrified she was. To her surprise and relief, not all the men showed hostility. The man with the silly hat, Bofur as she discovered, gave a reassuring smile as did the younger man, Or...something...Orly? Or was it something else.