Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not my own, yadda yadda yadda. I'm not making any money off of this. (Though I wish I could.)

Please read my first story in this line, A Change of Fates, or this story won't make much sense.

Authors Note: Hey guys! I'm finally back. Its been… well to be honest, an awful couple of years. I went through a hell of a divorce and am now a single mom of two (my eldest, with a heart condition, and my youngest, with speech delays) and work full time. I am sure that does not mean much to most of you… But I do apologize for leaving this for so long, untouched.

Without further ado…


The next morning, a quiet hush had descended on the dwarves, and with it, an air of palpable excitement and longing. Thorin was quieter than usual, his face contemplative, and I walked quietly at his right side, Dain at his left with the rest of the company close behind.

The atmosphere, too, amongst the men and woman of Bard's people, had changed. They were anxious, worried, and I could understand why. They, much like me no doubt, were wondering how well they would be received by the rest of the dwarves. I had no illusions that everything would be smooth sailing from here on out just because Thorin had told my story and had demanded respect on my behalf. In fact, I wasn't entirely sure that wouldn't make things worse.

Thorin seemed to sense my anxiety, or perhaps he just knew me well enough by now, and he reached out and brushed a hand against my arm, rolling the back of his knuckles across the skin there. I offered a small smile but said nothing.

It was a little past mid-morning when the Erebor came into clear view. Dain had told us his kin had been working tirelessly to fix the damage wrought by Smaug and the battle, but I had not realized just how skilled the dwarves were, or how quickly they could work. Even from the distance in which we stood, I could see that most of the rubble had been cleared away and the battlefield in which we had fought was clear of debris.

The pace in which the dwarves traveled picked up and I glanced back towards Bard' people, concerned that they would not be able to keep up with the sudden haste. My gaze fell to the elves, then, too, and I began to wonder if it was not best to let the dwarves go on ahead, first to greet their kin, then to explain the situation at hand. I did not have any doubt that Dain had probably mentioned that Men were coming to stay under the mountain, but I worried about just how well they would be received.

"Thorin… Maybe it's best if you guys went on ahead. Bard's people aren't going to be able to keep up at this pace and I'm concerned at how well they are going to be received by the rest of your people. Not to mention the elves. Your arrival is going to cause a whole lot of commotion as it is. At least if you get there first, you can kind of brief everyone on what's going to happen." I said, glancing over at Dain, then Thorin. Thorin raised an eye brow and thought for a moment.

"Perhaps you are right, Talya. In my haste to return, I had not much given thought to the mingling of Man and Dwarf. No doubt there will be some who find the idea reprehensible." He replied slowly, his mouth turning to a frown. "I do not much like the idea of leaving the Men and Elves to their own devices, however. Dain, perhaps you can stay…"

"Stay behind with this lot?" Dain asked, then snorted, as if that was answer enough.

"Dain's not really the best choice. I don't think the whole telling people to sod off really endeared him to all that many. He probably would just make thing worse. No offense."

Dain shrugged and Thorin glanced at him, then at me.

"Then who would you suggest?" I just stared at him and watched his eyes narrow further. He shook his head thoroughly. "No. I will not allow you to stay amongst these people. I still hold little trust in elves, and I have seen the way in which some of the guards of Lake Town have treated you."

"You will not allow me?" My voice dropped about ten degrees. Dain wisely stepped away while I turned to glare at Thorin.

"I wasn't aware that you suddenly could tell me what I am allowed to do, or not to do."

"I am to be your husband. I am to protect you, to keep you safe. I can not do that when you rush head long into any situation."

"Rush head long into a situation? That's rich, coming from you! Mr-I-am-going-to-charge-Azog-and-get-my-ass-kicked-in-the-process." Dain snorted and both Thorin and I glared at him.

"Look, Thorin, I am about the only one besides Bilbo and Gandalf that can mingle freely without much of an issue. No offense to Bilbo, but no one is going to take him seriously and Gandalf is not one to interfere. I can stay behind and make sure everyone behaves and, along with Bard, direct everyone accordingly."

"Bard," Thorin growled out. "I do not like that Man."

"Why? What has he done to you?" I asked, exasperated.

"He…. He holds feelings for you," He admitted lowly. I let out a puff of air.

"Does it matter? I chose you." I tilted my head up ever so slightly and Thorin's eyes flicked to his ring at my throat. "Besides. The fact that he has feelings for me proves nothing except that he has exceptional taste."

Thorin let out a snort.

"I refuse to have the title of Queen simply because we are married. I want to be able to help. Staying here with people that, for the most part, I get along with and enjoy the company of, is not really that big of a deal. Trust me."

"I do," He said immediately. "It is others that I am wary of."

"I'll be fine. Besides… to be honest with you… I'd rather not…" I fumbled for a moment and frowned.

"You would rather not…?" Thorin prompted.

"I don't want to walk in there with you the first time you cross the gates. Your people are going to mob you, eager to see their King again, or in the case of some, for the first time. I want you to enjoy seeing your people without the curious glances they will send my way, or the questions they are no doubt going to ask. I'm nervous enough as it is of my reception without being thrown into a crowd of hundreds unprepared."

"I told you, they will adore you."

"I don't think you nor I are naïve enough to believe that everyone will be okay with you taking me as a wife, or that they will be okay with you making peace with the elves, or with you allowing the people of Lake Town to stay there. And god forbid what they will say when your decree comes down that you guys will be rebuilding Dale and Lake Town free of cost."

Thorin had nothing to say to that.

"So, let me stay behind. Let me do this."

Thorin watched me a long moment, then sighed.

"I should know better by now than to attempt to stop you from doing anything you have set your mind to," He said finally. "No doubt if I had willed you to stay, you would have found your way around it."

"Of course, I would."

He managed a small smile, then took my hand in his and pressed a kiss to the back of it, a finger stroking the inside of my wrist gently.

"Be safe, Amrâlimê. I will await your arrival on the morrow."

I tightened my hand in his and stepped away once he let go.

It did not take long before Thorin and Dain had made their way through the dwarves to inform them of the change of plans. While a few members of the original company glanced my way with concerned or questioning looks, most everyone else looked excited. Or relieved that they did not have to continue at such a slow pace. Probably both.

"Let us make haste and return home!" Thorin finally called out loudly to the dwarves around, a cry coming up from them. Thorin and Dain charged on ahead, leading their people on towards Erebor. I waved on the company members as they passed, shaking my head in amusement at the near childlike excitement that they all held. By the time the few dozen dwarves had pulled ahead, Bilbo, Gandalf, Bard, and the elvish Captain I had spoken to days before stood next to me. They all were staring at me and I shifted.

"What is that all about?" Bilbo asked, glancing up at me.

"They are excited to go home." I said simply. "We won't be far behind and it's probably best that they get all of the head butting and ass-slapping out of the way before the rest of us get there."

"Ass-slapping?" Bard asked, an eye brow raised. I shrugged.

"Okay, so maybe not. The sentiment remains. Let them get out their greetings out of the way. The rest can wait."

The elf sniffed.

"I would think that the matter of peace betwixt our king Thranduil and your dwarf-king would be of more importance." He commented. I let out an irritated grunt before I could help it.

"It is important, Master Elf. Therefore, the appropriate amount of time and delicacy must be applied to the matter. Rushing in there right here and now would do nothing but cause a whole hell of a lot of unnecessary friction. No doubt by the time we get there tomorrow morning, everything will have settled down and matters such as the presence of you and yours can be explained, and hopefully any nay-sayers will have already been shot down."

The elf blinked slowly, watching me with a measured stare.

"As long is the matter is settled 'ere tomorrow's eve. My King expects us back in a few days' time." He finally said with an incline of his head.

"It will be done," I replied. He gave a short bow and melted back into the crowds, no doubt going to relay the message to his people. I turned to face ahead once more when I noticed that the remaining three males were watching me.

"What?" I asked, exasperated.

"You speak so very strangely." Bard commented.

"You have no idea," commented Bilbo. "Have you heard her swear yet?"

"I have indeed," Bard answered with a short laugh. "Rarely have I heard such words so artfully combined.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go on and laugh."

"I do believe we are." Bard said, matter-of-factly. I rolled me eyes and continued on our path.

"I am surprised that Thorin was so willing to allow you to stay behind, Talya," Gandalf commented after a long silence.

"He didn't, really. I think he's finally come to realize that I'll do what I feel is necessary regardless of what he thinks."

"It took him this long?" Bard asked, mildly surprised. "I knew that of you within a matter of weeks."

"Dwarves are stubborn." I said with a shrug. Bilbo snorted rudely and Gandalf allowed for a small chuckle.

"Coming from you that is so very amusing." Bilbo pointed out dryly.

"Can it, shorty." I grumbled.

"Can what?" He asked, genuinely confused. I huffed.

"Never mind."

That rest of the day passed slowly and uneventfully. While the mood of the dwarves had definitely improved the closer we came to the mountain, everyone else had become more somber and subdued. No doubt the people of Lake Town missed their homes and were still reeling from the recent tragedies and, like myself, worried about how warm their welcome would be once we finally reached Erebor.

By the time we had made camp and settled down after a short evening meal, the elves had begun to grumble and complain and a few of the men had snapped back at them in retaliation, the nerves getting the better of them. I had finally had to snap my fingers at them to get their attention, and between Bard and I, we finally managed to break up the mini-spat. The encounter had done little to improve my already grumpy mood. I was tired, sore, and my nerves were beginning to get the best of me. All I really wanted to do was get food and crawl into a big pile of furs next to Thorin and sleep for the next month.


The next morning, I woke with a start to the sound of shuffling feet. I popped open a bleary eye to the site of Bilbo making himself busy by the banked camp fire. I grumbled and burrowed my face further in my bed fur for a moment before stretching and grumbling. Some how I felt more tired now than I had the night before.

"Good morning, Talya." Bilbo said over his shoulder. He bent over a moment and pulled a long skewer out of the flames, then slid what looked like sausages onto a couple crudely hewn plates. "If I didn't know better, I would have thought Beorn was still around here somewhere."

I blinked a few times as I sat up and looked at the hobbit quizzically.

"You sound like a bear when you grumble like that." He said, passing me a plate. I stuck my tongue out at him, before taking the offered plate without much enthusiasm. I absent mindedly picked up a sausage and bit into it.

"Sonofabitch! That's hot!" I spit the piece of sausage back on my plate and panted. Bilbo shook his head at me.

"….It just came off of the fire." Bilbo said after a moments pause, his eye brow raised about as high as I imagined it could go. "Are you feeling alright this morning?"

I plopped the plate into my lap and let out a long, steading breath. Half remembered dreams and thoughts floated in my head, glimpses of the Arkenstone, a gold ring… It was all jumbled together and I could not cohesively piece any of it together.

"I don't know. I think its just nerves. I think I'd rather face a horde of orcs again than go into that mountain and face the whole of the dwarves."

"Well, I don't envy you that," Bilbo admitted as he settled himself down across from me. "But it will turn out all right in the end. I am sure of it."

"Thanks, Bilbo. I appreciate that."

We ate in silence for a while, appreciate the view of the sun rising and the quiet that early morning brings. It was not long before the bustle of camp began to make it self known. Bilbo and I cleared our plates and cleaned up our little camp site; dousing the fire, rolling up our bed furs, and gathering our things. I glanced over at the hobbit and realized with a sudden pang that I would miss him greatly when he finally set out for home.

"Bilbo?" I asked as I slung my pack over my shoulder.

"Hmm?" He asked, glancing up, an unlit pipe in his mouth.

"Will you stay for the wedding ceremony, at least?"

A warm smile lit up his features and he took the pipe out of his mouth.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world." He replied, eyes soft and misty.

"Good."

We finished gathering our things and slowly made out way to where Bard and his children had made their camp. After a few unenthusiastic 'good mornings' we began to walk amongst his people, letting them know we would be on our way soon. I smiled as I watched Bain stop now and then to help people gathering their things, a small feeling of pride welling up in my chest. He was turning into a fine young man. An unbidden thought came to my mind and I could not help but wonder what sort of man my son would have turned into had he been born. I brushed away the tears before anyone could see.

Mid-morning had come and gone before we had made any real progress. By noon, the gates of Erebor loomed ahead. One part of me wanted to rush ahead to find Thorin and the others, just for a sense of familiarity. The other part of me wanted to run in terror.

"It looks as though there is a welcoming party," Bard commented from my right. I looked ahead to find that there was indeed a large group of dwarves waiting, none of whom looked even remotely familiar. In fact, there was a few who's shapes I had to take a second look at. I looked more carefully and found that I had my first glimpse of a dwarven women; stocky and thick, much like their male counterparts, but with a decidedly feminine cast to their features. Curvier with softer lines to their faces. Their beards were but loose wisps compared to the full and thick beards of the males, though the hair on their heads was just as abundant and brilliantly braided and adorned.

There were probably fifty or so dwarves waiting, perhaps a dozen of them female. As we neared, I heard quite a few of the people behind us begin to talk in hushed whispers. While I did not catch much of what they were saying, I did here a couple of young men discussing what it would be like to kiss a woman with beards. I rolled my eyes and hoped like hell that none of the dwarves would catch on to any sort of conversation like that.

Bard and I glanced at each other before we paused and turned to face the crowd of Men and Elves.

"Remember that we are here as guests and act accordingly. I do not wish for it to be said that our people are of ill manners and grace." He said firmly, pausing to glance at a few of the young men who had been talking. Apparently, he had heard the discussion too. "And our elven friends of Mirkwood, remember that you act as delegates and representatives of your kin. You have come on a mission of peace. May your words and actions reflect that."

I nodded, impressed at his tact.

"I would have just told them all to shut up and be nice." I muttered.

"Which is why I spoke before you had the chance." Bard retorted.

"Shall we get this over with?" I asked, jerking my head lightly towards the doors behind us. He nodded.

"I suppose,"

We turned then and continued forward until we stood but feet from the dwarves ahead of us. They seemed very much unimpressed.

"Hail, dwarf-friends!" Bard called out, bowing low. "I am Bard, Master of Lake Town, and these are my people."

"Greetings, Master Bard," One of the dwarf males stepped forward. He looked very similar to Dain, and I wondered if it was a relative. "We have been told by our King Thorin and our Lord Dain to assist you in what ways we can."

"I offer you thanks, then, Master Dwarf." He bowed his head again, though briefly. The dwarf eyed him a moment, then made a swift motion with his hand.

"Let us take these people and their belongings within. The sooner we are done, the sooner we can go to our supper!" He called out. He turned to look at Bard and me.

"Our King has called for a feast this evening, to welcome your people, and to introduce his intended. We are to settle you and yours in and allow for a few moments for you to freshen up."

Bard cast me a sly look and I cleared my throat and shifted slightly. The dwarf was eyeing me curiously. Obviously, he did not realize that I was Thorin's intended and was no doubt curious why I was dressed in such a blatantly dwarvish fashion.

"No doubt after days on the road, we require more than but a few moments to freshen up. But in the face of a good meal and a gracious host, I think we can quite manage." Bard said, a friendly, albeit somewhat forced, smile on his face. I reminded myself to tease him later for the ass-kissing.

The dwarf said nothing to that, merely grunted, and turned to disappear in the throng of people. I shrugged at Bard before I, too, began to move among the crowd and help with belongings.

"I would prefer if you did not touch my things," Growled a man's voice, not too far off from me. I glanced up to find the same group of young men who had been talking crap earlier were facing off against a few dwarves who also looked quite young, probably younger so then Fili, Kili, and Ori. I let out an irritated sigh and pushed my way gently through the crowd to face them.

"Here now, whats the problem?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. I looked between the two groups, eyes narrowed. The young man who spoke shifted.

"I can carry my own things. I do not need a dwarf's help." He gripped, shooting a nasty look at the young dwarf in the front.

"I was merely wondering how someone with such scrawny arms could manage even the smallest load," The young dwarf growled.

"I am not scrawny, you short bastard!"

"I could break you in two, whelp!"

"I'd like to see you try!"

The young man went to move ahead, but I surged forward and caught him by the back of his shirt and jerked backwards, hard. About the same time, the lead dwarf was hauled off his feet by a sturdy dwarf woman with fierce eyes.

"None of that!" We both snapped at the same time. We glanced at each other briefly before looking at the males we had in our hands.

"Why don't you boys stop making asses of yourself and, instead, make yourself useful. Get your shit and get inside before I have to beat some sense into you." I shoved the young man backwards and his friends caught him before he fell on his ass. They stared at me, startled, no doubt knowing who I was now after days traveling in my company. I pointed sharply back towards the people and, though they grumbled, they turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I turned to face the dwarrowdam who had also stepped in. She snorted and shook her head.

"I do not know what males would do without us females to step in now and again." She said. Her voice was deeper pitched than I was used to hearing from a woman, though not masculine, and still quite pleasant.

"I'm not sure myself. Sometimes I wonder why we put up with them." I answered.

"I do as well." She regarded me coolly, though not unkindly, sizing me up from head to toe.

"I suppose I ought to introduce myself, or my brother shall no doubt think me remiss in our hospitality." She said slowly. "I am…"

"Amad!" A familiar voice called. Suddenly, Fili and Kili burst through the group.

"Uncle would like…" Fili paused then and glanced at me, then at the dwarf woman in front of me. She raised an eye brow, irritated by the interruption, but I could see a softness in those familiar blue eyes. Suddenly it dawned on me and I felt like smacking myself.

"Ah," Kili stumbled, glancing between the two of us.

"My sons," She said proudly, though with a hint of amusement. "Ever the eloquent ones. I am Dis, daughter of Thrain, son of Thror, and these are my sons, Fili, and Kili."

I bowed my head low to her then.

"It is an honor, my lady Dis. Talya Shadowbane, at your service."

She arched an eye brow then while Fili and Kili stared.

"When first my brother told me he intended to wed a woman of Man, I thought he had gone mad. I could hardly imagine Thorin taking a wife after all this time, let alone a woman such as yourself." She started, frowning. "Long has my brother been shadowed in pain and rage. Dark he had been these many years and yet… For the first time, there is a light within his eyes that has little to do with our home and our people. Within moments of seeing him… it became very apparent. And I believe that you are to be the cause.

"If nothing else, that would have been enough cause for me to meet you and at the very least, accept that you are to be his wife. But I have heard tales, too, of your bravery. Of how you saved Kili before Rivendell, and again when he was wounded. How you fought alongside our people, and how you ensured the survival of both of my boys and my brother. As a dwarf, that would be enough to grant you acceptance. But as a mother, and a sister…. I can do no less but to welcome you in our family with opened arms and wish that Mahal shall bless you all of your days."

Dis stepped forward then and we embraced tightly. Her warm welcome after worrying of how well I'd be received was nearly too much and I found that I had to choke back a few tears. Judging by the looks that Fili and Kili were giving her, they were more surprised than anything.

We stepped apart and Dis offered me her arm. I took it with a warm smile and she patted my hand.

"Come now. Let us bring you to my brother. Not that he would ever admit it, but he has been fretting terribly over your whereabouts. He seemed to be quite eager to be told of your arrival immediately, but I must admit, it quite slipped my mind." She smirked then, and it was a mirror of Thorin's. "I dare say he thought to hide you away."

"Fili, Kili, you stay here and make sure all goes smoothly. Come and find us when all is settled."

They merely stared after us a moment before they finally nodded. Dis led me away and I shrugged at the two brothers.

"I have to say, I was rather intimidated to meet you," I admitted once we had passed through the arches.

"And why would that be? Has my dear brother been telling wretched stories of me?" She asked, glancing at me with a slight grin.

"I do believe the words he used to describe you were 'difficult' and 'sharp-tongued'. Also 'stubborn', but I don't think I have come across a single person in my travels who hasn't been."

"Shame on him for worrying you so! I am as sweet as nectar…" She offered a wicked grin. "…as long as you do not rouse my ire. And it seems males are much more talented at such a task than females."

We laughed then, and we fell to telling each other stories of Thorin, Fili, and Kili. I was delighted to hear about Thorin when he was young, and all the trouble his brother and him got into. I found that I very much wished I had a chance to see him when he was not so care-worn.

"To be true, Fili and Kili remind me much of those two. The trouble they used to get into!"

"Used to?" I asked with a laugh. "They were trouble makers the entire trip! I can't tell you how many times we all were pelted with dirt or mud when those two went at it. Or the countless times they broke out into scuffles and impromptu wrestling matches."

"I find this does not surprise me over-much." She snorted.

"I can almost see how Thorin could have been like that. Every once and awhile, he will say something or do something, and such an impish grin will follow! I can remember the first time, we were in Rivendell, and he made a comment of how I had lost weight. I chided him and told him he should not make comment on a lady's weight. His response? 'I will remember that the next time I come across one!'"

She mock-gasped and I shook my head.

"He has always been a charmer," She replied sarcastically. "Frerin in truth was always the one who had the easy manner and sweet words. Not to say Thorin did not have his share of admirers. Many a lass fell for my dark and brooding brother."

We entered the main hall arm in arm and I gasped at the sight before me. I had thought the repairs on the gate had been impressive, but that was nothing compared to the sight before me. Gone was all the debris and webbing. Gone was the musky smell of stale air and decay.

Instead of being damp and cool, the hall was pleasantly warm and lit brightly with dozens of lamps and chandeliers. Dis pointed out this feature and that as we made our way through the hustle and bustle of crowded main entrance. Dwarves everywhere moved from her path and offered a gesture of respect, a bow here, an 'at your service' there. She answered each both with an incline of her head and thanked each dwarf who offered an 'at your service'. I was envious of her easy manner and acceptance. My head was already spinning, and they weren't even talking to me. Dis must have felt my tension because she winked at me.

"To tell true, I do not remember even a quarter of their names," She whispered in an almost conspiratorial tone. I chuckled despite myself. I decided I liked Dis, to hell with all the warnings.

We turned a corner and a familiar site loomed before me. Though now the great carved doors had been fixed and guards stood watch at either side, I recognized the 'common rooms' that we had stayed in when the company first reached Erebor. I smiled slightly to myself, remembering the night Thorin had all but proposed to me. The drinking, the jokes, the laughing, and my first tattoo.

"I would ask what has brought upon such a lovely smile, but I do not think I want to know that side of my dear brother." Dis said with a bark of laughter. I shook my head.

"No, nothing like that! Well, mostly. This is the same place we stayed after…The dragon. Thorin had proposed and the 15 of us had a hell of a party. Fili, Kili, and I all got our first tattoos that night. We were pretty hung over the next morning."

"Who ever decided on this room, then, has an ironic sense of humor. 'Tis usually a hall where delegates meet and official conferences are held." She smirked before stepping ahead and flicking her wrist.

The guards grabbed the great bronze door handles and pulled. With nary a sound, they swung open to reveal the interior.

Where before, moth eaten chairs and termite ridden tables had lay around and the only light had come from the fire place and few half-worn candles, now a grand, seemingly fresh-carved stone table stood, taking up nearly the entire area, back lit by beautiful red and gold tapestries. Finely wrought chairs with great, curving backs were lined up at each side of the table, most of which held stocky and well-dressed dwarves. A gold chandelier with grand arches and tines spread nearly the entire length of the table, the light from the candles bringing attention to the fine silver details inlaid into the dark stone table. Book shelves were now set against the wall across from the doors we had entered, scrolls already beginning to gather on the bare shelves.

I felt my heart in my throat as Dis lead me through the room. I could feel eyes on me as we neared the head table with Thorin, Dain, Gandalf, and the countless other nameless dwarves sat.

"Dear brother, have you not yet learned it is very rude to comment on a lady's weight? I would have thought you had learned your lesson when the dwarrowdam from the Iron hills slapped you after you asked if she were with child!" Dis called out once we were close. Thorin frowned and jerked his head up. His eyes lit up briefly when he saw me, but he quickly became guarded when he saw Dis and I arm-in-arm.

"My lady Dis," Dain said with a charming smile. He stood and offered a low bow to her.

"Piss off, Dain." She growled. Dain grinned and re-settled back into his seat.

"Sister," Thorin said, inclining his head to her. The warmth resettled in his eyes when he gazed at me. "Talya,"

"I must apologize. I quite forget to send word that our guests had arrived, particularly when I came across your intended. Were you planning on hoarding her away?" Dis said sweetly, with a wink in my direction.

"No," Thorin answered shortly. He stood up then, as did the rest of those at the table, and walked to my side. He held out his hand to me and Dis dropped my arm so that I could take it. "I merely did not wish for her to be overwhelmed."

"No doubt you had a little 'alone time' in mind as well, right, coz?" Dain asked cheekily.

"Pervert," I grumbled at the same time Dis said "Degenerate."

We grinned at each other then and both Thorin and Dain shook their heads.