Disclaimer: All of The Hobbit characters, places and so forth belong to their illustrious creator. Which isn't me. Kelda, Sitheiyra and the Sky Folk are mine.

I apologize for the short chapter; life has been getting in the way. Let me know what you think, and thank you for reading!

Kelda woke with a start, her brother's name on her lips. Her scarred back was burning with phantom pain as she bolted upright. Her hand rested over her racing heart as she frantically looked around, searching for the massive beast swimming in his sea of gold. Terror gripped her when she heard a sound nearby her, but her fear addled mind was unable to make sense of it. All she knew was that she had to get out; she had to get out immediately.

The window, a strange male voice reminded her helpfully. Normally she would have questioned where this advice had come from but instead Kelda immediately scrambled up and pulled herself out of the window, landing on the ground with an ungraceful thud. Sitheiyra was at her side in an instant, concern radiating off of her as the skyling tried to get up only to fall against the gryphon's side weakly, gasping for breath.

Little one, the gryphon crooned, moving to encircle the panicked skyling protectively. Hush, it was but a memory, a dream. We are not in the mountain, the brute Smaug is not here, the calamity happened long ago.

"But Shalix-"

We are in the hobbit's shire, with Thorin Oakenshield's Company of dwarves, Sitheiyra interrupted with calm assurance. They remain asleep within the dwelling of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins. We will be joining them on their quest. You remember, yes? Erebor fell over a century ago. We are safe here.

"A century…" Kelda repeated breathlessly, her brow furrowing. It was another moment before she really realized where she was, and when she was. There was no fire, no screaming, no noxious scent of burning flesh and fear. Instead there was the smell of early morning dew, the sound of birds greeting the dawn, the first pale rays of light coming up over the horizon.

A sharp snore and the sound of muffled movement made her snap her gaze to open window above her. Slowly she stood, extracting herself from the Muzmulomil's warm grip as she leaned forward to peer through the window and into the house. There were dwarves sprawled across the floor, some not even seeming to have prepared a place to sleep, but instead having just slept wherever they had fallen the night before. She wasn't quite able to make out who was who in the dim room, but that didn't really matter. It was enough to confirm that what Sitheiyra had said was true. Kelda sighed, leaning against the grassy hill that held the hobbit's home and letting her frantic heart slowly return to its natural rhythm.

A night terror and a panic attack one after the other; considering that she normally screamed like she was being butchered alive when she had night terrors, Kelda was surprised the dwarves were still sleeping. Maybe she hadn't screamed during this particular incident. All the better for her, she had no wish for them to see her in her current state. Her panic attacks were not something she was proud of and, despite the fact that they didn't happen often, she did her best to hide it when they did. The last thing she needed was another reason for people to find her unworthy.

"I need to take a walk," Kelda finally said after a short moment, pushing herself off of the hillside and dusting herself off. She'd fallen into Bilbo's garden when she'd gone out the window and her hands and knees were covered in soil. "Maybe down to the farmer's market, get some fruit for the road. Most farmers are up and busy by now, I think."

I think you have time. They were awake for several hours after us, I believe. I don't think they'll be rising for another hour or so, if I recall the typical behavior of dwarves correctly.

"Nothing about this is typical, but you're probably right. You stay here, so nobody thinks I've gone and skipped out on them. I'll be back soon."

As you wish. I shall keep you informed of any developments.

"Thanks kindly, Sith," Kelda said as she headed down the path that led away from the hobbit's house. She paused for a moment, though, and turned back to the gryphon, which looked at her questioningly. "Sitheiyra…were you the one who reminded me about the window?"

I was awakened by your tumbling out of the window, Sitheiyra answered, tilting her head and blinking her large eyes. Perhaps it was one of the dwarves?

"Maybe…" Kelda pondered that momentarily, before shrugging. It was hardly a big issue; if it hadn't been one of the dwarves then no doubt it had just been a figment of her terrified mind. "It's not a big deal. Alright, I'll see you soon."

Kelda gave the gryphon a wave before disappearing into the sloping green hills of the hobbits' shire.

She'd been right about the farmers rising early; they'd already had their stands up and running by the time Kelda had arrived there. The sweet smell of fruit very nearly made her euphoric as she passed the different carts. Sky-Folk were known for having a vicious sweet-tooth and Kelda specifically loved fruit. She'd already bought apples, pears, and peaches and was currently torn between blueberries, or plums. More than likely she'd end up with both. In the back of her mind she thought that maybe she should grab something other than fruit, like some vegetables, but at the moment the blueberries were calling her name.

Kelda was bitterly disappointed that she hadn't found any strawberries yet, despite having covered most of the market. She was addicted to strawberries; if they were the only food left in all the realms she would have been perfectly okay with it. Sky-Folk adored anything sweet, but there was always one thing they might very well kill somebody for and for Kelda that was a strawberry.

You haven't had a strawberry in months and yet I have not seen you kill anyone over it, Kelda heard Sitheiyra say. It was the first she had heard from the gryphon in nearly an hour.

Nobody's given me a reason to, the skyling replied as she put her purchased blueberries in the saddlebag she carried. Doesn't mean I won't. What's the news on the dwarves? Have any risen from the dead yet?

Most of them have, actually.

Perhaps I should head back then.

I wouldn't worry about it; they cannot exactly leave without their leader and he seems to have slipped away somewhere.

Slipped away? Kelda questioned, immediately growing suspicious. And you didn't notice? Something makes me highly doubt that, Sitheiyra.

Hm, very well, you've caught me. He wished to know where you had gone off to, so I told him. He went to gather you perhaps twenty or so minutes ago. I'm guessing he has yet to find you, which is odd. The market is not that far from here.

You did hear him say that he got lost twice on his way to us last night, did you not? Kelda said with a sigh, shouldering the saddlebag and turning to search the area. I guess I'll have to go and find him now. And since when did you start talking to him?

You assume I never have before. The gryphon said in answer; Kelda was momentarily aware of Sitheiyra stretching her wings out, the refreshing feeling of moving tight muscles ghosting through her before she distanced herself from the Muzmulomil's mind. We used to speak often before the calamity; he has a very open mind, easy to read. You should tell him that you are glad to see him again. I believe it would ease his mind and make things easier for all involved.

Now you're the one assuming, Kelda said flatly as she made her way through the market, her sharp eyes scanning for Thorin's familiar form. She could hear Sitheiyra huff, entirely unconvinced by the skyling's act.

You may be able to lie to everyone else, Kelda, Queen of Skies, but you cannot lie to me. You have missed him dearly. He deserves to know it.

Maybe, Kelda sighed as she turned a quick corner. She was so preoccupied by the conversation and her search for Thorin that she didn't notice someone standing there until she walked right into them, hitting them so hard that she fell back into the dirt.

"Thatûr ra bin'aban! I am so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going," Kelda exclaimed. It wasn't until she looked up and found Thorin looking down at her that she became truly mortified, though. Of course it had to have been Thorin Oakenshield she'd barreled into. Of course it did. The gods must have been laughing, pleased by their cruel joke. Sitheiyra certainly was and it wasn't helping Kelda's mood in the slightest to hear the gryphon cackling at her in the back of her head.

"You seem to be in a hurry to get someplace," Thorin said as he offered his hand. Kelda took his hand and allowed him to help her up, making a sound of protest when he took her saddlebag and shouldered it himself. She didn't need him to be chivalrous, but he obviously intended to be regardless so she let the matter go.

"I was-" Looking for him. "Heading back up to the hobbit hole," Kelda said, ignoring Sitheiyra's insertion.

You are being ridiculous. The gryphon growled, frustrated with Kelda's stubbornness. Kelda continued to ignore her as she looked at Thorin out of the corner of her eye. She'd nearly forgotten how tall he was until she found herself walking next to him and she suddenly felt even smaller than normal; considering she was only about four and a half feet tall that was saying something. By her estimation Thorin had to be a few inches over five feet tall, which was massive by dwarf standards. Kelda chanced another covert glance at him, admiring his proud profile and feeling a wave of comfort at its familiarity. She did her best to ignore that, too, an attempt at which Sitheiyra scoffed in annoyance.

"What exactly are you doing here, if I may ask? Shouldn't you be with the rest of your company, getting them up and moving so we can leave this morning?"

"We couldn't leave with a member of the company missing." Thorin answered, looking pointedly at the skyling beside him. "Especially when that member is in such a state that she throws herself out of the window. Care to explain that?"

"No." Kelda answered sharply. She cursed the gods for allowing the dwarf to see her in that condition, and cursed him for not minding his own business.

He is concerned.

Well, he can take his concern and shove it down his own throat.

He could have brought it up in front of everyone else, yet instead he chose to do it now when it is just the two of you. He has the right to ask, little one. He knows not whether this could endanger the whole of the company. Even so, he asks because he cares. I believe you should be honest with him.

Kelda sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers, knowing that Sitheiyra was right and being highly annoyed by that fact. Thorin did have the right to ask. She just didn't want to tell; she had no idea what he would think of her if she did tell him.

"It-it's something that has developed since Erebor," Kelda finally said, refusing to look at Thorin as she did. "Certain events can trigger…well, what you witnessed. I forget myself. Usually it's a memory or a dream that brings it…or a combination of both, in this case…but it doesn't happen often and I can assure you I will not be a problem."

"Hm," was all he said in response, keeping quiet otherwise. Kelda felt her chest tighten, but managed not to show her anxiety on her face as the two of them walked on in silence. It wasn't until they could see the rest of the company saddling their ponies in the distance that Thorin stopped, putting out his arm to stop her as well. Kelda stiffened, preparing herself for the inevitable rejection that always seemed to come to her.

"Are you well enough now?" Thorin asked, turning to face her. Kelda blinked, surprised by his calm acceptance of her situation and his seeming concern for her well being. Of course, she thought, he could have asked simply to assess whether or not she'd slow them down. That was the more logical conclusion.

"I am. Yes."

"Good. We need to get moving," he said before handing her saddlebag back to her. He turned and walked away without another word, going down the hill to join the others and leaving Kelda to follow along after him. After a brief moment of staring after the dwarf stupidly, Kelda also made her way down to where Sitheiyra was sitting waiting for her. The gryphon had a smug expression on her face.

You worry too much.

Oh, leave it Sitheiyra.

Khuzdul translations:

Thatûr ra bin'aban- Stars and stones