This story goes along with An Unexpected Fate. I threw out there to see if someone wanted to read about Arina's past and how she came to know Thorin. It's something I've had so much fun with! I hope you guys enjoy it. You can read this alone, or after or during An Unexpected Fate. I highly recommend reading both! :D

Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 1

It was close to sunset, and usually a Prince should be inside with his King to help take care of the last things of the day. Thorin found that he couldn't be confined in the walls of the city any longer. He wanted to go out and hunt, or do something that let him come out and get into the sun. He was proud of his people, his family, and the life they had built for themselves at Erebor. Usually, he wouldn't falter in staying by his grandfather's side, but a sickness had begun to work its way into his heart.

Thorin didn't want to watch such a mighty king fall victim to such a sickness, so he went out hunting to try and relieve the stress. Killing something and bringing it back for dinner would be a start. He was a fine hunter, he knew it. He was also the most skilled warrior aside from his father. Fighting was in his blood, it came to him easily. Walking quietly through the woods, he looked for traces of any animals and started to slowly follow a fresh deer trail. He moved through the woods for some time when he heard something that had him, pressing his back against the trunk of a large pine tree.

Thorin drew his bow and arrow, and held it down, but ready, and peeked around to see what he had heard. Something, or someone was running through the forest nearby and he could hear heavy breathing. Just as he was about to fire the arrow, Thorin froze when a woman came running from the bushes in front of him before collapsing after she lost her footing. She fell to her knees, and then placed her hands out in front of her and sobbed.

Shocked, Thorin slowly put his bow away and waited for a moment before coming out of his spot. She was covered in blood, and when he got closer, he could see that she had been whipped so many times he was surprised that she was even still breathing. Her arms had gashes on them, and her long brown hair was dirty and blood spotted it in several places. Her legs, he was sure were not in any better shape. Her clothes were in tatters, barely covering her enough. Her hand clutched on to something that Thorin couldn't see as he walked forward, and jumped down from the rocks. It caused her to jump and hastily look up, and Thorin instantly lifted his hands to show he meant no harm.

"My lady, what happened?" he asked softly as he knelt in front of her.

She shied violently, but didn't have the strength to move anywhere. She leaned away from him, her body trembling, and he eased his expression into a gentle one. He had never seen anyone so horribly beaten before.

"I..." she paused and shuddered. "Is there anyone with me?"

"No...Not it's just you," he rumbled to her.

He watched as tears gathered in her eyes again and she clutched whatever was in her hand tighter. Thorin sighed softly, and shed his coat that he had on, and moved slowly to drape it over her.

"Let's get you somewhere safe," he said softly. "You need help."

"Don't..." she went to protest but her voice failed her and instead a sob left her throat.

"Let me help," Thorin rumbled firmly.

When all she managed to do was nod, he picked her up as carefully as he could before making his way back to Erebor. He was sure that no one would be happy about it, but Dis would help him, and Oin. They were both good healers, and he knew they couldn't turn away someone who needed help. His sister was always a pushover when it came to that.

"I'm Arina," she whispered suddenly.

"Thorin," he said looking down at her as he walked. "Can I ask how you are managing to stay alive? These wounds would kill anyone else..."

"I'm...shifter," she whispered.

His breath left him in surprise and he looked at her again. Shifters had been long since killed off, or worse taken by Orcs over the last several years.

"Where did you come from?" he asked in a whisper.

"Gun...Gundabad," she choked the word out, her small body shaking.

Thorin managed to keep her talking till he got to the great gates of Erebor. She had lost consciousness right as they got inside so he picked up his pace and ran down to the healers after commanding someone to find his sister.

"What bloody happened?" Dis demanded as she came hurrying into the room that Thorin had managed to take for this poor girl.

"She needs help. I found her out in the woods," Thorin breathed heavily as he carefully laid Arina on the bed.

"She's...she's a shifter, Dis. She escaped from Gundabad."

"Oh dear," she whispered softly as she hurried around and got the supplies that she needed.

Thorin turned back to the woman that was lying on the bed and he carefully picked what was in her hand. It was a silver ring, simple and old. He imagined it belonged to someone very important with the way she had been clutching it. He set it on the table before he was shoved from the room so that Dis could work. Oin had joined her not long after, so all Thorin could do was go clean up and wait. When he returned, it was well into the night, but he had found he could not sleep.

Dis was slowly closing the door when he approached, and she looked up at him. "She's cleaned up. I washed the coat you gave her," she sighed tiredly. "I've never seen a shifter, but her wounds are healing. I'm assuming her body will be back to normal by sunrise. It's amazing...truly amazing."

"I will stay with her tonight," Thorin rumbled. "So she doesn't wake alone."

Dis nodded her head, her long black hair moving into her face as she hurried off. Opening the door, Thorin quietly went in and sat down on the chair that was provided. He guarded her through the night.

When she woke in the morning, it startled him. One second she was asleep, the next, sitting up and looking around her. He pushed his chair back and startled her in the process so he lifted his hands again, just like yesterday.

"You are safe," he said slowly.

"Where am I?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"You are in Erebor. I brought you here last night," Thorin replied gently, soothing her in a calming voice. "You are in the dwarf kingdom."

"Dwarf kingdom...Erebor..." she said and looked at him. He could tell she was still so exhausted, and it actually pained him to see it.

"Yes," he reassured her. "I will not let anything hurt you. You are safe here. My people can keep you safe."

"How can you be so sure?" Arina asked, her voice trembling.

Thorin looked at her for a moment, taking in her fear filled hazel eyes. Approaching her, he pulled the chair over and sat down and handed her the ring he had taken from her closed hand. She snatched it from him, and he noticed tears fill her eyes.

"If you...are indeed from Gundabad," he began slowly, "then yes, we can keep you safe. No one followed me home last night and I saw no signs of them. They do not know you are here."

"They probably think I died somewhere," she whispered.

"No, you are very much alive," Thorin rumbled. "They just do not know that. Can you walk?"

Arina looked at him and then pushed herself from the bed and laid her hand on the wall for a moment. Thorin rose to his feet, and offered his hand to her, just in case but she didn't take it.

"I can walk," she said quietly. "Thank you."

"Then come," he offered. "Let me take you to get something to eat."

Almost chuckling at her suspicious look, Thorin turned to lead her from the room so that they could find her something to eat.