A/N: First and foremost, thank you for reading. This is the revised version of my sequel to The Prince's Bride. Because I spared Thrain and Thror in the first one, and I hadn't planned on having Smaug attack at all when I started writing it, I had to change things around in this story to try and tie everything together (you'll see more of that in chapter two). This isn't meant to follow Tolkien's stories or the movies to a "t-" it's whatever I conjure up. As always, reviews aren't necessary, but always welcome (if it's constructive). And though it's obvious, I feel like I have to say it anyway; I own nothing except for my OC.

Enjoy:

Rose walked along the winding dirt paths through the countryside of the Shire with her husband beside her. She tried to hoist her skirts at an appropriate length to enable her to walk more easily while still concealing her ankles (in those days it was highly promiscuous for women to show any more than an inch above what is now called the *lateral malleolus- not that Rose cared too much about it. She was never one to follow proper etiquette, having spent most of her younger years in boy's trousers and baggy shirts). More than anything she wished to get out of the dry May air and stop for rest, but Thorin insisted they move on. Twice now they had lost their way, and each time the haughty prince- soon to be king, once they completed the Ultimate Task they had set out to do- simply refused to ask someone for directions. With a conspicuous roll of her eyes, Rose silently chided him and continued the journey.

Dusk was settling over the farmlands they had been wandering through, and soon a little village by the name of Hobbiton came into view. It was a beautiful place, especially for those who enjoyed a quiet and peaceful life- a life Rose had long forgotten. They approached what was known as The Hill by people for miles around, with a good view of the river (or simply The Water as most called it) that ran just at its base. Tiny round doors shaped like portholes were scattered neatly in rows up and down the Hill, with lilies and snapdragons and numerous other species of flower lining each in a different pattern. Each door was perfectly unique in its own way- one made of oak while another mahogany, this one painted red while the other left plain. At last they came to a green door with a shiny brass knob in the very center. From within the two heard shouts and merry laughter; someone, a great number of someones, was singing. The last line of their song rang loud and clear from the door step.

"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!" In the window Rose could see many shadows passing one way and another, tossing various objects and stacking them high on what she assumed was a table. Beside her Thorin spoke in his deep voice: "It appears we have missed our supper."

Rose gave him a knowing look and replied, "We would have been on time if we stopped to ask for directions." At this the prince rolled his eyes and his wife, wanting to avoid any conflict after a long journey from the Blue Mountains, turned away and knocked against the green wood. After a few moments Rose began to wonder if she had knocked loud enough to be heard over the noise coming from within. She leaned forward, pressing one ear against the door listening intently.

"Do you suppose they heard us kno-"

The door swung open so quickly Rose barely had time to register the fact that she was falling head-first through it. With a sharp "oof!" she collided with the hard wooden floor. Her body came to an abrupt halt as her skin hit the surface with a loud slapping sound that silenced any talk and immediately sent a dozen dwarves rushing forward to meet her.

In an instant numerous pairs of hands took hold of her arms and waist, and with a jerk Rose was back on her feet almost as quickly as she had fallen. All the while the poor hobbit- a small creature with pointed ears, bright clothes, and big hairy feet- was asking a thousand pardons and saying he was sorry so many times that before she could say a word Thorin rather sarcastically growled "Pray don't mention it" after seeing that Rose wasn't seriously injured. She turned to the master of the house- or hole, as it is more accurately named- with a kind smile, and addressed him as well as the others who had by now gathered tightly around to inquire about her "graceful" entrance.

"It's alright, I'm fine. No need to worry, just a scratch or a bruise, nothing more."

"Ah!" said Gandalf the wizard, who had just stepped into the throng. "Bilbo Baggins, allow me to introduce the leaders of our expedition-" he made a grand sweep of his arm to present the very important newcomers- "Thorin Oakenshield and his wife, the Lovely Lady Primrose. My dear, you grow more beautiful each time we meet." To that the wizard was met with several nods and grunts of agreement, which Rose smiled sweetly and curtsied as low as she could (silently thankful that he at least hadn't seen her collision with Bilbo's hard floor).

"Now then," the wizard continued turning back to the hobbit, "I hope there is food left for our new arrivals! And might I have another glass of red wine?"

"And I as well," said Thorin in a not-so-polite tone.

"Just some tea for me, if it isn't too much trouble." said Rose.

"And I would like some more ale!" announce several others.

"And apple tarts! And seed cakes!" shouted several more.

With that, Bilbo was sent huffing and grumbling back into the kitchen for another round of refreshments. As he parted Rose could hear his mumbling: "Seem to know as much of my own larders as I do."

"Aunt Prim!"

Rose was met by her nephews as soon as Bilbo had exited the front room. Fili and Kili knew better than to go rushing forward before the proper introductions were made, but could hardly contain themselves a moment longer. It had been ages since they'd last seen one another- so long ago, it seemed- that they roamed the halls of Erebor, playing games like Durin Says or Mahal in the Middle. As they raced to be reunited with their aunt once more, it felt as if little time had passed since their last encounter. Kili was first to reach her, scooping Rose up in one of his trademark bear-hugs and leaving her breathless.

"We've missed you!" he said in her hair. Rose exhaled softly the moment she was released, smiling up at her youngest nephew and inspecting him carefully. His journey must have been easier than her and Thorin's. Kili's dark hair fell neatly over his shoulders, his traveling robes revealing barely any indication of wear. Fili's coat was much furrier, and his beard long enough to hang from the corners of his lips in two braids that moved slightly as he took a step forward and greeted his aunt similar to his brother. When they finally released one another, Fili leaned back and smiled down at her appreciatively.

"You still give wonderful hugs," he noted.

"Only the best for my favorite nephews," Rose quipped.

"But we're your only nephews," said Kili.

Rose smiled. "All the more reason to show that I love you."

From behind she heard the sound of boot heals drawing near.

"Fili, Kili."

Thorin's voice was gruff, but he smiled warmly- the first time in days- when he looked down at his sister-sons. They always had a positive effect on people- something Rose had noticed the day she met them. The brothers greeted him and offered to take Rose and Thorin's cloaks to hang with the others, all hung neatly in a row- Dwalin's green robe, Balin's scarlet, Fili and Kili's blue, Dori and Nori's purple, Ori's grey, Oin's brown, Gloin's white, Bifur and Bofur's yellow, and lastly Bombur's pale green. Shortly Rose and Thorin's matching sky blue hoods were beside the rest.

All the while Bilbo was scuttling about, trying to get everyone's orders right and wondering to himself if an awful adventure had wandered right into his own house. He sat Thorin and Rose at the head of his dinning room table- seeing as they were the most important guests of the evening and not wanting to offend them- and quickly made some hot soup with steaming bread (while simultaneously managing to ignore his growling stomach). Rose thanked him earnestly- the first to do so all evening- while her husband idly sat stiffly as his meal was placed in front of him. It seemed the others were very keen on starting their meeting, and without waiting for the couple to finish, Balin began to speak.

"What news from the meeting at Ered Luin?"

"Did they all come?" asked Bofur curiously as he smoked his pipe.

Thorin took a bite of food and nodded proudly. "Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms."

As Thorin retold the events at the Blue Mountains and everything that's happened since, Rose could see the hope and determination in the faces of her kin. Gandalf had retrieved a map of The Lonely Mountain from his robes and placed it on the table as the prince spoke (to which Bilbo was automatically drawn to- he absolutely adored maps). Soon the prince transitioned from the past to the present, telling everyone their reasons for the meeting and what would soon follow. Every so often Thorin would pause from his great speech to allude to the hobbit, with terms such as "audacious" or worse still "fellow conspirator," which confused poor Bilbo very much. Soon he had heard more than he could handle, and when the word "beast" actively came into conversation, he was sure he felt faint.

"Beast?" he asked with round eyes. "What beast?"

"That would be reference to Smaug the Terrible," said Bofur cheerfully. "Teeth like razors, claws like meat-hooks. Extremely fond of precious metals. He kills his victims quickly, and with no mercy at that. White-hot flash of light, searing pain, and then- poof!" He made a sudden gesture with his hands, to which the hobbit practically jumped out of his skin up to the light fixtures in the ceiling. "You're nothing more than a pile of ash!"

It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise that Bilbo did not like this description one bit. The moment he heard "searing pain" and "pile of ash" his little legs buckled from underneath him and his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Everyone sitting around the table jumped up at once and gasped to see Bilbo Baggins lying on the floor in the hall, shaking uncontrollably and screaming "Struck by lightning! Struck by lightning!" over and over again.

*One of the many tendons in the body, just behind the ankle. Congratulations, you've learned something about human anatomy.