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

Chapter 6

"As you know I am Gandalf, and this is Bilbo. I believe you two met already." The wizard said indicating to the smaller man riding beside them.

She mouthed hello and gave a small bow of her head before speaking up. "How do you all know each other?"

Tension ran through the group. All eyes fell on the wizard awaiting for his response. Maya gulped as Gandalf eyed Thorin who had, to her relief, remained quiet. Gandalf cleared his throat ready to speak when Thorin interrupted.

"We are from the Blue Mountains."

Maya's brows furrowed in confusion. The blue...where... "Oh...Where's that?"

The question all but had the leader of the group stop his pony and in doing so stopping every else. Slowly he turned his pony around to face her. For a moment, she feared that he was going to kill her or worse, yell at her. But there was no anger in his eyes, only suspicion.

"It is west of The Shire."

Maya bit her lower lip as she thought. Scanning her mind of what little she knew of Geography. Yet the longer she tried to think, the name itself was all but unknown to her. Meeting Thorin's eyes, she frowned.

"I'm sorry, I don't know where that is."

His eyes narrowed before looking past her, she assumed to Anders. I wonder if he knows what he's talking about.

Her thoughts were answered when the same suspicious eyes met hers once again.

"You do not know these places."

She shook her head. It was at this moment she wished that she hadn't spoken in the first place.

"Earlier you said where you were from. Thorin perhaps she was not lying. It would explain her and her companion's accents. And perhaps explain why he bear a similar resemblance to Master Fili."

Accent? Oh...Guess they all seem to be British. I didn't notice that before.

"Then how did they get here?" Thorin pressed.

"I do not know and by the looks of things, neither do they. But seeing as how they are not from here and have nothing to gain, perhaps extra members might prove viable in our journey. After all, we seem to have a God amongst us."

"And what of the girl? She cannot fight."

"We cannot leave them here alone when they do not know the dangers that are around them."

Despite fearing the man she rode with she couldn't help but lean back into him. As if he would act as some sort of protection from the hostile looks Gandalf and Thorin shared. For a while, neither spoke and the group remain silent as they had their silent conversation. In the end it was Thorin who finally agreed, reluctantly ordering Balin to have them sign the contract.

Balin rode up to Maya with a tight lipped smile as he got out a long sheet of paper and an ink feather pen. She hesitantly grabbed the pen and signed the paper. In the back of her head she knew she should always read a contract but given how quickly they started moving again and how reluctant Thorin had been in agreeing to them coming along, she didn't want to push her luck in delaying the group.

"Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield." He said with a bow of his head.

She did the same as they rode past the older man, who waited behind to have Anders sign as well. Looking behind, she watched as he scanned the paper. Biting her lip, she turned back. There were still so many questions swirling around in her head and the contract only brought up more. The group seemed secretive and while she too kept her distance from others, she couldn't help but wonder what it was they were trying to protect. Maya held her tongue. She had some of her questions answered and she and Anders seemed to be safe for the time being. But at this moment all she wanted to do was get back to her new found companion. While he easily got on her nerve, she needed something familiar. Or at least more familiar than the man she rode with.

"Um...I...Sir?" She stammered.

"What is it?"

She couldn't help but shrink a bit at the sharp tone in his voice. "Can I ride with Anders? We won't try anything and you heard Gandalf, we don't know where we are so riding off would be stupid cause we could get lost or worse killed...but then you would kill us too if we tried to run so-"

"Alright! Alright. Just stop your blabbering." Dwalin said rolling his eyes as he stopped the pony.

It's not my fault that I talk a lot when I get scared.

"Just remember, try anything..."

Maya gave a curt nod as he dismounted with her right behind him. She made sure to keep close to the large man as he led her to Anders. Not really sure what he was thinking as Anders watched them approach, Maya kept her eyes low. Dwalin said nothing as he moved her to stand in front of him. Placing his hands under her arms, he lifted her up with ease as she sung a leg over the saddle, settling snuggly behind Anders. Ander said nothing as he scooted up to give her a bit more room, for which she was thankful.

"Move out."

A slap on the backside was all it took to get the pony to start walking again, following the others with lazy steps.

"Are you alright?"

Maya nodded, her eyes locked on her hands. Not used to riding like this, she was uncertain where to hold before settling on holding onto the back of his shirt.

"Are you ok?" She asked cautiously.

"Aside from the kink in my neck, being lost and nearly dying...twice. I'm fine." He snapped.

She remained silent. The familiar feeling of guilt gnawed at her.

"Can't do anything right."

"Stupid whore."

The images of a hand on her neck, eyes filled with anger and hate flashed behind her closed eyes.

Stop! Get out of my head!

Letting out a whimper, she screwed her eyes close. Her hands clenching Anders shirt tight as the voices got louder. A tear ran down her cheek. Lifting a hand, she hastily wiped it away trying desperately to push the images away before anyone noticed.

However, it didn't go unnoticed. Not for the young God who listened silently. All the while wondering. What happened when I was passed out?