After the city had been reclaimed and my family returned, much of my life seemed to become uprooted. It felt as if my little world was turned upside down, everyone was so focused on getting their things together, it made me feel very out of place. It had taken Dwalin and me a few days to get our things together but after which, he allowed me to do what I wanted while he was helping the others get their things together.

Unfortunately, my last day in Tharbad eventually came, I thought I was prepared mentally for what I was going to do…never have I been so wrong. I made sure to wake up just as the sun was beginning to rise in the sky so I could say goodbye to my friends. I stood from the comfortable, warm arms of my bed as quiet as a mouse and grabbed my cloak before I slipped out the window. The usual quick walk to the forest took longer than usual. I was purposefully I was taking my time during the walk, etching every detail in my memory for the last time. The small dirt road took its usual turn into the forest and my usual excited smile replaced by a sad smile. As I heard, the familiar comforting voice of the Oak I had spent so many hours of my life in I relaxed a little, "Ah Penneth, elen sila lumenn omentilmo."

"Cormamin lindua ele lle, Mellon-nin." I don't know how many hours I sat, talking into the wind, but I know it was early into the evening when I left. We strayed away from the topic of my leaving until the last hours of my visit, when he wrapped his branches around my body in a protective manner.

When the time finally came to say goodbye, I would be lying to say I didn't have tears in my eyes. All the Oak kept repeating was, "Hannon-lle Penneth, hannon-lle." I started silently sobbing when I finally left his branches for the last time. The Oak, as well as the trees around me, told me they would spread word about me to the forest near Erebor so the trees would welcome me with open arms.

As I turned to walk out of the forest as I spoke into the wind one last time, "Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha". I pulled the hood of my cloak up so no one would see my face. Less than a league away I saw Fili running towards me a smile on his face. I chose to ignore him, and pretended I never saw him coming in my direction. He ran up to me, but I pushed past him not particularly wanting to talk right now. Just as I had taken no more than a few steps away from the forest edge, back onto the familiar dirt path, a pair of strong yet gentile arms brought me back into the forest. I knew immediately that it was Fili.

He turned by body in his arms so I would be facing him before he placed me on the ground and removed my hood, "Runin," he called gently speaking in Khuzdul, "kulhu wîhyid?"

I know his eyes were filled with worry, but in that moment I didn't care, and didn't want to see him. "Stop," I whispered as I attempted to push him away, "please."

"Nay," he shook his head, "I am not leaving you alone while you're upset."

A sudden bout of anger came over me, "I had to say goodbye to the only constant friends I had so forgive me for being upset."

He pushed me away from his chest and held me at arm's length; I looked at the ground as my angry tears fell to the soil. Fili lifted my head with my chin, forcing me to look him in his silver eyes, "Only friends?" His tone was soft as he wiped away one of my tears with his thumb, "You have no idea Runin."

"Fee what are you talking abo..." he cut me off by smashing his lips against mine before I could finish. At first, I was too shocked to react, but eventually I allowed myself to melt into his embrace. His beard tickled, but it was surprisingly nice.

When he pulled away from me, he moved a hair away from my face and smiled sweetly, "Your face is the same color as your hair." Of course, him saying this made me blush harder. I reached for the hood of my cloak, but he caught my hand and moved it away before I could even touch it, "Stop it Ru, you are fine." He pulled me into another hug and whispered into my ear, "You will always be safe in my arms, never think that you are alone."

"Fili I..." What could I say? Eventually I closed my mouth and pretended me saying something never happened in the first place.

He pulled away from me and kissed my forehead before he took my hand, "Come, Dwalin was searching for you."

"A...aye," he squeezed my hand as we walked onto the path in the clearing, my ears perked up as my friends thanked me one last time in the wind. We reached a fork in the path and I squeezed Fili's hand once more before we walked our separate ways. I replaced my hood as Dwalin's house began to appear over the small green hill.

I was too preoccupied with dissecting the days past events, I literally ran into Dwalin's chest. He stopped me and placed his hand on his hips, "Lassie, where were you?"

"Sorry Uncle, I was just saying goodbye to some friends."

"Aye," he nodded, remembering what I told him yesterday, "it's time to come home, we will be leaving with Balin tomorrow at dawn." He paused before his hard exterior melted and a smile grew on my face, "Take your hood off, it's not raining. There is no need to be wearing it."

"Yes Uncle." I removed the hood and followed behind him.

"You know Runin you don't have to call me Uncle if you don't want to."

I smiled, knowing he was obviously uncomfortable with this 'mushy-gushy garbage' as he would put it, "Aye I do, but I see you as a father figure so I think it fits. However, if you don't want me too then I don't have too."

He stopped, turned around, and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Runin, I don't know what will happen when we get to Erebor, but you will always have a home with me. You can call me Uncle if you want, you can even call me father if you're comfortable with it."

I smiled brightly and hugged him tightly, "Thank you 'Adad," I giggled as I tested the new word, "it means a lot."

He smiled and rubbed his fist in my hair, messing it up a little, "Come lassie, we have to get you packed."

"Aye." We walked back to the house and he handed me a black burlap backpack, and told me to get my things together. I removed my cloak and walked towards my room to gather the few clothes I had, which consisted of mostly light blue long sleeve dresses and brown leather corsets. They used to be Dis's (Fili and Kili's mom) so originally they were much too big, but Balin helped me tailor them so now they were perfect and fit me just fine.

After I had packed my clothes away in the bag, I undid the multiple braids in my hair and laid on my bed fingering my silver fox necklace. My mind traveled back to Fili and I felt my face turn scarlet red, immediately I tried to shake the memory from my head, but it wasn't that easy. The thought that Fili had all those emotions pent up was more than enough to make me smile. I closed my eyes and thought about everything that happened and it all just seemed like a dream.

I turned towards the little end table I had next to me and opened the drawer; inside I kept a fairy tale book I had found somewhere, that talked about a magical race called Elves. The drawer also contained a silver and green leaf pin that Dwalin had found on me when I was hurt. I cherished it dearly, considering it was the only thing that was unbroken from my past. I never wore it though, I was always so afraid it might break. I pinned it to the underside of the backpack flap and placed the book on top of it. After everything was packed away, I checked and rechecked my bow and arrows, because I had nothing better to do.

Finally, after I had gotten bored of sitting and doing nothing, I decided it might be fun to go bother Dwalin. I was very shocked to see Kili staring out of the small window in the den, "Um hello Kili," he turned away from the window and smiled at me, "what are you doing here?" I asked politely.

"Oh hey Ru," he leaned against the wall slightly before he continued, "I was wondering if you wanted to hit the archery range one last time with me before we leave tomorrow."

"Oh, sure Kee!" I said excitedly, "I've been practicing while you were away and I've been meaning to show you my awesome skills."

He laughed, "I already asked Dwalin and he said it was fine. He actually also said that you can stay with Fili, Uncle, and I for dinner if you want."

"That sounds great! Let me grab my bow, I'll be back in a second." I ran quickly to my room and grabbed my bow and quiver, but when I turned around to leave, I was surprised to see Kili opening the door to my room and stepping inside. I was confused so I let out a forced laugh, "um Kili you know tis impolite to come to a lady's camber uninvited."

He turned around, closing the door lightly. When he turned back to face me his face was filled with an anger I had never seen there before, "Where did you get that book." He gestured to the Fairy Tale book I had sitting on the floor, his tone was more than simply demanding, it actually scared me.

"What? I stammered.

"This," he yelled as he picked up the book, thrusting it under my nose. "Where did you get this book?!"

I backed away from him, shrugging lightly, "I don't remember. Tis just a children's story anyway, why does it matter?"

Kili's eyes and face literally turned deep red with anger. He growled and grabbed my wrist with his hand, pulling me towards him, "Lying to me is the worst thing you can do right now. Where did you get it?"

I tried to break his grasp but his grip only tightened, "Kili stop! You are hurting me!"

"Why should I let go?" He pushed me up against the wall and got in my face, his eyes were no more than a few millimeters from my own, "I don't know what my brother sees in you." He purred slightly, "why don't we find out."

"K..." He slammed my arms against the wall and forced himself against me.

I whimpered at the pain, but he ignored it, "You know I could get you kicked out of the kingdom for treason. It wouldn't be hard for me to make you an outcast among us." He paused his voice still soft, "We've all worked so hard to keep you from knowing, but maybe it's time."

"What?" I asked confused.

He laughed, a deep scary laugh, "No elf has ever been allowed into Erebor to stay there permanently."

"Elf?" I asked in a small voice.

He shook his head, a smug smile plastered to his face, "Yes Elf." He chuckled a little, "You don't have a clue." He didn't wait for me to respond, "Once upon a time there was a race of people called Elves. They were a horrible, greedy people who refused to help anyone when they needed it. The stole from our people and turned their back to Middle Earth. They killed many people and joined forces with the Orcs. Over the years, their skin morphed into that of the Orcs. When we found you, the darkness had not yet touched you. Your father, Adar in their language was selling you to the Orcs when we..."

"Stop!" I screamed, "You're lying!"

He pushed me up against the wall again, and grabbed at the strings of my bodice, "Why don't we see if I'm lying." Before I could respond, he shoved his tongue down my throat. He released my arms and I elbowed him in the gut. He doubled over and I took my chance to escape through the window.

I ran as fast as I could away from the house. I don't know how long I ran and I didn't stop until I was sure he wasn't following. It was dark, cold and I had no cloak. I rubbed my arms against my shivering arms, as I tried to remain calm. I couldn't chance an attack right now, not in the dark, in the middle of nowhere.

Kili was lying, he had to be. I knew that here were holes in his story, but it still didn't make me feel any better. If I were an Orc how could I have pale skin and red hair. I have a visible scar over my eye and others littering my body from when I was attacked. I don't have Orkish tendencies as far as I know, and if I were an Orc why would the Dwarves keep me alive.

I walked to the nearest tree and pressed my forehead against it, I needed to take a second to process what just happened. I ended up wandering back to my favorite Oak in tears, he was confused but he didn't care. He welcomed me back in open arms and I told him in our language what just happened. After I was done talking, he warned me to stay away from the brown haired Dwarf.

As the moon was beginning to set I risked sneaking back into the house through my window. I picked up the book that lay abandoned under my bed and placed it in my bag. I grabbed my nag and bow and walked into the den to see Dwalin waiting fo me, smoking pipe in hand. "Where were you and why are your eyes red?"

My heart suddenly rose to my throat, "Um I was saying goodbye to a friend." Well it wasn't a complete lie.

He took a long drag of his pipe and looked me in the eye, "I believe you said that yesterday Lassie."

"Forgive me father, it's just this is the only home I know, and I couldn't sleep so I wandered."

For a split second his hard exterior melted, "Do not worry, you shall love Erebor. That shall be your home now, I promise things will get better soon. Now run and see Thorin little fox, he wanted to speak with you."

I nodded, fixed my cloak, and walked the short path to the house of Durin. The house was slightly bigger and nicer then Dwalin's but still the same general thing. I knocked on the large oak door and adjusted my quiver, Fili answered and I suddenly felt dirty, "Uncle summoned me." He let me in, but the fact that I would not look up to him confused him.

Thorin was running around the small house, shoving things into a backpack. He didn't even look up when he spoke to me, "Runin, you will be traveling with us. Go gather your bag."

"Aye." My face remained emotionless when Kili and I made eye contact, but I would be lying if I didn't say I had a slight pep in my step as I exited the house.

I walked back to Dwalin's and smiled when I saw Balin there as well. I told then the plan and grabbed my small pack, "I wonder why Thorin wanted you to travel with them?" Dwalin asked.

"Not sure," I whispered.

Balin turned to me, "What's wrong Lassie."

I sighed and played with my braids, "I guess I'm just afraid of the unknown."

Dwalin walked over to us, "Ah but that's what makes it fun, does it not?"

"I guess."

Dwalin suddenly perked up, "I got you something while we were away," he ran over to a drawer and picked up a cloth that was bound in string. "Here," he handed it to me and motioned for me to open it.

I sat on a worn wooden chair and rested it on my lap. I unwrapped the goatskin cloth to find two twin silver blades with dark blue handles. They were about the size of my forearm and were sharp as dragon claws. "They're beautiful," I said as I traced my fingers over the cursive lettering that felt familiar, but I let the thought go.

"Be safe Runin, Middle Earth is a dangerous place," Dwalin paused for a moment, "especially Mirkwood and Rivendale. Always keep your face and ears hidden."

I knew better then to ask questions so I only nodded my head. As I turned to walk out of the door, Dwalin grabbed my face, forced our foreheads gently together, speaking softly, "Be safe little one, we will see you on the other side."

He released me and immediately I felt better. No matter where I was, I knew I always had a home with Dwalin.

Elven (Sindarian) Phrases:

Penneth – Little one

Mellon-nin – My Friend

Elen sila lumenn omentilmo – A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting

Cormamin lindua ele lle – My heart sings to see thee

Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha – May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown

Dwarvish (Khuzdul) Phrases:

Kulhu wîhyid – What happened

'Adad– father