I awoke to the sensation of being placed on the ground. I lurched upright, and made to lash out at the potential threat, but they caught my wrist gently in their large hand. "It's all right, Lyra, no further harm shall come unto you."

"Thorin Oakenshield," I panted.

"We have stopped to bathe," Thorin explained haltingly, "Do…Do you require-"

"-Help me up, I can manage the rest." I frowned at the heavy, suffocating bandages that ran down the entire lengths of my forearms and my right shoulder.

"You were badly wounded from the goblins."

"I know," I mused, "It is just strange to be burdened by bandages." I limped along the river's shore, and followed the wide curve that led to a deep pool away from the rowdy dwarves. I pulled away the bloodstained bandages, wincing when the linen clung to a partially dried wound.

"Are you sure that is wise-" Thorin began.

I shuddered audibly as I dunked my arms in the still chill water. The water hummed as I willed it to heal my angry wounds, and I smiled faintly at the tickling sensation of my skin knitting back together. I scrubbed away the dried blood that caked my arms with a grimace, and glanced at Thorin over my shoulder.

"Tell me how it is possible," he demanded softly.

"Long ago, the world was much different than yours and mine, spirits roamed the Wilds and people lived on giant lion turtle's backs in cities. The lion turtles sheltered and protected my ancestors, but soon we needed to hunt for food…and so, the lion turtles temporarily granted the hunting parties power over an element to fight off dark spirits."

"But one man changed my world. A humble man, Wan, accidently separated the Great Spirits of Light and Dark. In his quest to restore balance, he gained masteries over all four elements, and fused with the Light Spirit named Rava. And thus, the Avatar Cycle was created, to be a protector of balance and peace in a world at war. I am the fourteenth Avatar, and my predecessor was from the watertribe at the North Pole…I am told he was an even-tempered man."

"I can see why you lack it, then."

"Aye," I mused faintly, "But I am patient when it matters most."

"Would you show me?"

I rose to my feet and took a cleansing breath as I closed my eyes. I could see Thorin sitting on boulder near the shore; I could feel the earth bursting with life beneath my feet; I could sense the push and pull of the river at my side. I slid my foot across the ground, and then jerked my heel out. A pillar of earth erupted at Thorin's left, and I smiled at his astonished expression. I swept my arms out and dragged my fingers through the air, and sent a slithering tendril of water coursing around Thorin's arm. I banished the water with a sharp flick of my wrist, and then sent a playful zephyr shrieking with mirth through my hair. I cocked my hips to one side as my hands settled on them, and I impishly regarded Thorin.

I could see his mind a blur with ideas as his brow furrowed. He seemed unable to form any distinct conclusion, and so he resigned himself to silence. "You require another healing, Thorin," I announced gently, "To heal beneath the flesh."

"Will it render you unconscious again?"

"No," I answered, "I will not need to enter the Avatar State to heal you- I will be fine." I knelt before him and summoned a sphere or water to me. I hummed softly in time with the glowing water as I moulded it over Thorin's chest; the dwarf-prince tensed at the foreign sensation, but soon relaxed under the water's balm. My cheeks burned under Thorin's scrutiny as he watched me work, and my control over the water briefly faltered.

"You called yourself a protector of balance…"

"As is every Avatar's duty," I agreed faintly, and sent the water back to its kin. A loud bout of laughter sounded from around the crest of the river's shore- no doubt those dwarves were up to mischief, and most likely at dear Bilbo's expense. "You should rejoin your company, Thorin Oakenshield, and leave me to my thoughts. But wait…" I retrieved the almost forgotten oak shield Thorin proudly bore. "This was nearly left behind…that night…"

"Thank you," he murmured, "This shield means a great deal to me."

"It would be wise to use it properly next time, it was too low when you confronted the Pale Orc…guard the important things." At that, I tapped his forehead and then his heart with a light finger.

I waited until I was certain Thorin could no longer see me before I peeled away my soiled clothes and unbound my knotted hair. A gleam of silver amidst my ebony curls surprised me- I had not thought the bead would survive the goblin's harsh perusal of my person. I waded further into the river; the water soothed my hypersensitive, twitching muscles. I plunged beneath the surface and scrubbed my scalp; the sweat and grime being washed away was liberating, as if all this growing darkness that lurked in the shadows was being purged from my person.

When my head broke the surface I could hear the dwarves still, which caused me to smile. It was a beautiful thing- that they were able to find a little peace in our journey that was fraught with seemingly endless peril. They broke out in the same song Bofur had sung one of the nights the Company was in Rivendell. I swam to the shore, not drawing up to my feet until I was all but dragging myself to the shore, and expelled the water that clung to my skin. I hastily dawned on my underclothes, and then began the push and pull waterbending form.

"Oi! What's going on?" Kili exclaimed as the water level lessened all about them.

I swirled my hands about one another and leapt onto the wave; I thrust my hands forward and carried myself around the bend. I flew around the bend in the river atop a mighty wave that then crashed against the startled dwarves. I trilled a laugh and airbent myself into a nearby tree; however, my amusement was short lived when I realised they were all naked. Frantically, I covered my face with my hands and tried to hide my burning face.

"That's what the little imp gets!" Nori laughed.

"Ach- our clothes are soaked!" Gloin groaned.

"N-Not worry," I called out tremulously, and summoned the water away from the soaked linens. I sent the water back to rejoin the rest in the river.

"Why don't you come down, Lyra?" Fili inquired, feigning innocence.

"I am not coming down until I can believe that you are all properly dressed," I protested, hands still dutifully over my eyes. My remark caused several unnamable dwarves to chuckle, and for my blush to darken.

A collective series of splashes sounded from the opposite shore, followed by the occasional grunt or groan. I listened to the chirp of an idle meadowlark, and the song of the rustling pine. It felt like home.

"Lyra."

I resisted the initial reaction to uncover my eyes to look at Thorin. "Hm?" I hummed faintly in my throat, and still did not lower my hands.

A strong hand wrapped around my slim ankle, as if the circumference was no wider than my thumb in comparison to the dwarf's hand. The touch, however, was gentle- unassuming and pure in intent. "You can lower your hands now," Thorin went on, hand still upon my ankle, "I assure you, all is well…for the time being." His hand ran up the length of my calf before it broke away to reach up to take hold of my hand when it came into reach.