I am so sorry I left all of you hanging this long!


ARINA

It had been easy, life within the mountains, since Thane's departure. The weeks had flown by, and the mountain had continued to do well. It was hard to think that this was once a place filled with such grief. That was well over sixty years ago now. Sighing softly to herself, Arina sat quietly, braiding her hair, when strong hands reached out to stop her. Blinking, she glanced up into the mirror, meeting the warm gaze of her husband. Thorin had been her rock since the war, providing ever present comfort, and advice. Putting her hands in her lap, she allowed him to finish her braid.

"You didn't sleep well," he said softly, as he worked.

"No, but at least it wasn't because of dreams," she replied, lowering her head when he gestured.

"That is nice, but the not sleeping part…." he trailed off, as he tied her hair at the bottom of the braid.

She sighed quietly, and then leaned back when his fingers trailed over the back of her neck. It put her right against him, since she had sat on a stool. His body was warm and inviting, so she hummed happily, when his arms wrapped around her. Reaching up, she wrapped her fingers around his arm, and pressed a kiss to the skin of his knuckles.

"I think I see gray in your hair," he said suddenly, and she yanked away from him.

"You do not!" she gasped, horrified.

Behind her, Thorin laughed and moved out of her reach when she would have rounded on him. She watched him move across the room rather quickly, and she glared at him. Jokes. Lies. There was no gray in her hair! Seeing the amusement flood his expression, Arina narrowed her eyes again. She was about to say something clever, when the horn blew. It brought them both to attention, as it was an alert that something dangerous was coming.

"Bloody…." Thorin muttered, cursing under his breath.

Getting to her feet, they both jumped when a loud roar echoed through the valley. She ran to the balcony with Thorin on her heels. What she saw made her want to throttle him for scaring them both so much. A large black dragon was flying over the lake, heading toward the mountain. His roar sounded again, announcing his arrival.

"Stupid child," Thorin muttered, and Arina laughed.

"I guess giving us all heart attacks was what he wanted," she replied. "I am surprised to see him home so soon..."

"As am I. I was sure he'd be gone for at least a year," Thorin agreed.

"Well...come, let's greet him," she smiled, unable to help herself.

Chuckling behind her, Thorin watched her as they walked down the hall. She had always carried herself like a queen, whether she knew it or not. The years had just perfected it. He loved her more than he had the day they had first admitted feelings for each other.

"Stop swooning," she replied, knowing she had jerked him from his thoughts.

"Of course," he mused, coming to offer his arm.

Smiling at him, Arina leaned in to press a kiss to his lips before they exited the mountain. She caught several guards grinning, and as always, Dwalin rolling his eyes dramatically. The gates opened, and she walked out to greet Thane as he landed before them.

"You are lucky your mother doesn't throttle you," Thorin said, and Arina laughed.

"He means you're luck he doesn't," she replied, walking forward.

"Mother," the dragon rumbled, and she noticed that there was someone on his back.

"It seems you have brought company," she hummed.

She watched as the woman who was on Thane's back shifted, and the large dragon let her down. The moment her feet hit the ground, Thane was human. He moved forward instantly and leaned down slightly to hug her. Arina gave him a tight squeeze, and then stepped back so that Thorin could greet him.

"So, who is your friend?" Thorin asked, and Thane chuckled.


THANE

"Father, mother," Thane smiled. "This is Kailani. Kai for short. She...she is a shifter, like you mother."

Beside him, Kai gave a short bow that was unpracticed and he knew she was uncomfortable. Shifting slightly, he turned toward his mother when she came forward.

"Kai," Arina said, greeting the young lady. "It is very nice to meet you. I thought we were all gone."

"No," Kai replied, doing her best to be polite. "There are a few out there. I believe."

Thane watched mother's expression light up in excitement and wonder. They had all believed that the three of them were the only ones left. Shifting toward his father when Thorin approached him, Thane let his shoulders drop. Arina was quick to take Kai, and he noticed that the young woman went without a fight. They followed at a bit of a slower pace. Thane was keeping Kai in his sights.

"You are here for another reason," Thorin rumbled, and Thane nodded.

"I was visited the other night by a spirit," he answered. "I think...and it was an elven spirit. I do not know who to go to for that, but, the message was about Moria."

In front of them, he watched his mother's shoulders tense, her back straightening at the name of the dwarven city. Thane didn't miss it, and neither did his father. Beside him, Thorin sighed softly and gestured for them all to follow. They could go somewhere quiet for this. He followed his parents to the study, after Thorin asked for food to be brought up. Kai fell to his side when Thorin walked over to Arina. Thane watched his father put his mother's arm in his, and he felt his expression soften. The love his parents had for each other was heart warming.

When the door was shut, Thane sighed as his mother looked at him. She had sat down, and from the look on her face, he knew she wasn't happy. Moria was a hard place to talk about, and he hated bringing it up.

"So tell me," she said, after the food was delivered.

"I was told that there is an evil within the mountain," Thane replied. "I've been drawn to that place mother. I do not know why, but I feel a great need every time I am near the mountain."

"That mountain is cursed," she grunted, pushing a plate gently toward Kai. "Eat, dear girl. You must be hungry."

"Thank you," Kai murmured, taking it.

"So what sort of evil are we talking about?" Thorin asked.

"Not as strong as what we have faced, but enough to cause destruction if others flank to it," Thane answered. "What used to be there?"

"Long ago, the dwarves in Moria woke an evil that drove them away. A Balrog of Morgoth," Arina replied, drawing his attention. "It took all Gandalf hand to defeat the beast. It is possible, that there is another. Or something similar."

"We no longer have much on the mountain," Thorin sighed. "After the fall of Balin..."

"We lost much from that," Thane agreed, nodding his head.

"Aye, we did," his father agreed. "So, you've returned to tell us what exactly?"

"I was hoping we had more information on Moria," Thane sighed, running a hand over his beard. "I am going to see what is down there. It is something I must do."

"Then I will not stop you….no matter how much I do not like it," Thorin rumbled.

Arina had gone quiet, and Thane didn't want to look her way. He knew she would protest it, but at the same time, she couldn't. She had been just like him, and his parents had done far more in their life. Much more dangerous than this, at least he hoped. Gathering the courage to look toward his mother, he took in the expression on her face.

"You were drawn to do things you should not have," he said, giving her a loving look. "I am your son...I am no different."

"I know," she replied slowly. "I agree with your father."

"I was expecting that to be much….harder," he answered slowly, glancing at Thorin.

"Take it while it lasts," Thorin replied.

He caught Kai looking down and smiling at her plate a little. Grunting in slight amusement, Thane sighed and walked around to his mother. Leaning down, he pressed his forehead against hers quietly, and she reached up to pat his cheek.

"Stay and rest, then you can be off," she said, her voice low.

"Mother," he sighed, not fighting that.

"Have guest chambers prepared for Kai," she added, and he nodded.

When he leaned back, he glanced at his father who gestured to go, so Thane turned and went to get that done. He was very aware that it left the poor girl alone with his parents, but they weren't those type of parents. Unless Thane had thoroughly embarrassed his father, Thorin usually let him be. Finding a few of the royal maids, he asked them to get the chamber below his ready. He knew they'd get it done quickly.

As he was walking back, he ran right into his cousins. Fili and Kili smiled at him, and he gave them a grin back. Wrapping him in a hug, Fili patted him hard on the back.

"Good to see you," he said. "How has traveling been."

"It's an amazing world," Thane replied, grinning. "King Aragorn is certainly on a mission. Rohan has already joined his march. I needed to talk to my parents, only reason why I'm here."

"Regardless of why you've returned," Fili smiled. "It's good to see you."

"And you," Thane smiled, glancing at them both.

He returned to the study in silence, listening to the soft conversation going on. His parents were keeping it easy. That was something they had always been good at, probably because they had talked to to so many people over the years. Opening the door, he came into the room and came to stand beside the girl he had brought with him.

"I can take you to your chambers," he rumbled. "You will be able to have a hot bath, and we can get you clothes in the morning."

"Thank you...but the room is en…."

He noticed she had trailed off the moment Arina had arched her brow at the girl. She sighed loudly, and nodded in thanks, and it made Thane grin. Bidding his parents a good evening, he led Kai to her rooms that were directly below his own rooms.

"I am going to go clean off, if you need anything, there will be guards that will bring you to me," he rumbled, and she nodded.

"This is all…."

"Overwhelming?" he asked, and she gave him a helpless look.

"Take advantage of it, just don't...steal anything," he sighed, and she gave a soft laugh.

"I won't," she chuckled. "A bath will be nice. I am sore."

"Then in the morning?" he tilted his head.

"In the morning."

"Good night," she murmured, going into her room.

When the door was shut, he made his way up to his own room. Opening the door with a sigh, he shut it and took off his weapons belt. He wasn't even fighting and it was mentally a heavy thing. He needed a shower. Rivers and lakes just wouldn't do it. Turning on the hot water, he washed his stress down the drain with the water, deciding he'd take everything on tomorrow.