A/N So, before we get to the full story of the Hobbit, here is a chapter highlighting some background information on Sirana. Hope you like it!

Chapter 2: To Bree with a Story

"What?!" I gasped after hearing the name on Gandalf's lips. He couldn't be, the King under the Mountain? My Thorn?

"Yes, the man you know as Thorn is the great Thorin Oakenshield, and he came to your house for you, just as he claimed he promised you when last you two met. And he was quite broken in not finding you. Therefore, if you wish, you may join me when I leave tomorrow to go to him."

Leave Rivendell and be with my Thorn, or I guess, Thorin? I thought. I looked at Gandalf, my decision only too clear to me, "I would be glad to accompany you, Gandalf."

"Excellent! Meet me tomorrow by the stables, and we shall leave at first light; I do not wish to tarry long away from the party."

"Party?"

"Yes, there were twelve other dwarves traveling with us. I am sure I can explain the rest of that on the way tomorrow though. There are certain people who should not hear about the explanation."

"Of course. I had better get back before my uncle notices I am gone. I am afraid if he learns of my leaving with you, he might try to force me to stay."

"Good night then, Sirana. I shall see you tomorrow morning."

I left Gandalf and walked back to the main areas of the palace. I came upon my uncle as he was talking with the twins about tomorrow's patrol. When they were finished, Elrond turned to me and gave me a hug.

"Do you think you would be able to do the ceremony tonight for your mother? The moon is high and it is a special time to do it. I would not wish to wait too long, but if you are not comfortable with doing so, I would not force you."

"Actually, I think that is a wonderful idea, Uncle. I think I might need that for closure, so that I may start my new life. Shall we also lay her ashes in the tomb by the rest of the family?"

"As is her place, of course. I have prepared everything to take place by the moon well if you would join me there in a few minutes."

I nodded and departed for my room. From one of my packs, I took the carefully wrapped urn with my parents' ashes, and held it to my chest to hug them one last time. Elrond would not place my father's ashes in the family tomb when he died, as he was not of Elven blood. But I was very glad that Mother had decided to have me mix their ashes in order to be with Father without Elrond being able to know or complain about the arrangement. I retraced my steps back to the garden where Elrond, my cousins, and Gandalf were waiting.

I placed the urn on the little stone table by the moon well, and joined the circle forming around it. Elrond chanted ancient Elven prayers for my mother's spirit to be at rest, and in my mind I added prayers for my father as well. When the ceremony was finished, I carried the urn to the tomb outside the palace, and placed it by my other uncle and grandparents' urns. Then I returned to my room, wishing my uncle and cousins a goodnight, knowing it might be the last time that I see them….

…When I returned to my room, I quickly packed all of my things, and changed into more suitable clothes for riding. I did not sleep much that night, worried about my uncle discovering my plans or if Thorin would still take me. Before dawn, I gathered my things and left for the stable to saddle my pony, Spirit. By the time I was done, Gandalf had arrived and we were ready to leave.

Along the road out of Rivendell, we were both quiet. When we reached the entrance to the valley, I looked back one last time. I knew Rivendell would always be there for me as an option, but it simply was not a home for me. I looked forward once again and did not look back a second time; I had made my decision, and had no intentions of changing my mind.

By the time the sun had risen far enough to see across the land, Gandalf seemed more awake. He tossed an apple to me, and we ate breakfast while he described the different members of Thorin's party to me. They sounded very interesting, I only hoped they liked me and accepted me into the party.

"So," Gandalf began, "how did you meet Thorin Oakenshield, and capture his heart for that matter?"

"Well, that is a bit of a story…"

"I think we have enough time."

"Well, it started back when my mother met my father…on the day that Smaug attacked the Lonely Mountain, she happened to be staying with King Thranduil. She felt bad for the dwarves and hated Thranduil for refusing to help them, so she ran down to help the evacuation. While there, she met my father, Dervan.

"With all the work my mother did to help the dwarves, they spent much time together and soon fell in love. King Thror married them, and since my uncle was against the marriage, they moved to the house I grew up in. When I was little, my father was called to war to battle against the orks in Moria with King Thror. It was there that he died in battle, leaving my mother to care for me.

"A couple of years ago, Thorin happened to be passing by our home with a cart full of wares to sell at the human villages. When he came near the house, I was gardening for my mother. I saw his cart and stopped him, asking if I could look at his wares, as I had never been anywhere besides Rivendell to visit my uncle.

"He accepted and showed me a beautiful metal box with roses on it and an eagle. I had been trying to figure out how to make a box to place my needle work in, as my father had just begun to teach me metal working when he died. I told him I would like to buy it, and asked for a price. He said he'd trade it to me, and asked what I'd give him in return. I told him to wait a minute and ran inside to find the clock clasp I had just finished making. It was the colors of the line of Duran and had the Duran eagle on it.

"Of course, when I presented it to him, I had no idea who he was, as he had introduced himself as Thorn the metal worker from the Blue Mountains. He marveled over it and I asked if it would be enough as I felt his beautiful box was worth so much more. He smiled and gave me the box and said that my clasp was perfect. We talked for a little while longer, and then he had to leave, but he promised he would return and that year he sent letters to me and I wrote to him at the Blue Mountains.

"The following year, he did return on the same route, and it happened to be my birthday. He greeted me and we talked for a while, and I made lunch for him. Both times he came to the house, my mother was not there, so she never saw him. This time, he went into his wares and brought out a small box and told me to open it. Inside was a beautiful silver necklace with matching earrings shaped like the Duran eagle. I told him I couldn't accept it, as nothing I had to give him could match the amazingness of this gift, which I said was only fit to be worn by King Thorin's queen. He laughed and said he wanted me to have it, especially since it was my birthday. He said that he had loved knowing someone on his journey that he looked forward to it for once. He left soon after and promised to return this year on my birthday, giving me a small kiss on my hand before he left.

"Well, I waited for him to return, and right before my birthday my mother passed away. I waited until after my birthday, but he never came, so I left for Rivendell."

"How very interesting. Well, I can tell you that you certainly captured his heart, and he was afraid at first that you would be mad at him for being late. But when he came to your house and found you gone, with only the note to explain what had happened, he was crushed. He tried to not let it show to the others, but I could tell something was wrong. All he would tell me was that a special woman lived in that house, whom he'd wished to make a proposition to and ask to join the company."

"A proposition, in addition to joining the company?"

"Yes, but he would not say what it was."

"Hmm…how did you come to know him?"

"I had heard he was traveling, looking for companions to join him, but I also heard of a price on his head. I found him in Bree and told him I would join to help him."

"What would this company being helping him do?"

"Why, retake Erebor of course. The dragon has slept for many years, and none have seen him for the last 60 years. Therefore, with the signs presented in the prophecy of the return of the king under the mountain, Thorin believes it to be the best time to try to free their ancient home."

I nodded and thought about this in silence. We continued our journey to Bree, and all I could wonder was what kind of adventure Thorin and his company would take me on…