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Hey guys sorry for the long update time! I had some serious writers block! but sadly from now until the first week of May my update may be late because I'm about to enter finals so I probably won't get a lot of free time to write, but after that I promise the updates will be more regular!

"It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit."

― J.R.R. Tolkien


..

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"A date" Lyrin said incredulously

Fili nodded as he took his seat across from her "This is what you said was normal for courtship in your world correct?"

Lyrin nodded "I just didn't expect... well all of this" she said gesturing to the courtyard around them.

"Like I said before, you are my one and if this is what you are more comfortable with as a courtship then I wish to do so"

she smiled "well then why don't we start simple? how about what's your favorite color?"

They talked well into the evening and long after the sun had set into the valley

...

.

Lyrin wandered the halls, unable to sleep after her dinner with Fili.

She ran her fingers along the cool marble walls, tracing the small carved patterns that wove along it.

as she walked, Lyrin began to feel drawn to a small passage leading off the main path. She slowly made her way down the passage until finally finding her self in a small balcony overlooking the cliffs of Rivendell. She sat on the railing, looking out into the valley below, reveling in the cool night air as it slowly blew through her hair.

"A most beautiful view is it not?"

Lyrin jumped at the voice, taking a white knuckle grip on the railing to prevent her from falling over.

after taking a moment to regain her balance, she turned to face the owner of the voice. Just inside the entry way stood a tall pale woman. Her long golden hair fluttered slightly as she stepped forward, the hem of her long pale dress ghosting along the ground as she walked. As she watched, Lyrin felt something unearthly about her presence that caused her to take a step back towards the railing.

"there is no reason to be afraid" the woman said calmly

"Who says I'm afraid?" Lyrin shot back still feeling uneasy

the woman simply smiled

There was a brief silence before she spoke again "I apologize for startling you. I am Galadriel"

"Oh its alright I guess its a good object lesson about sitting on high ledges" she put out her hand "I'm Lyrin Hayward"

She smiled again as she shook her hand " So I had suspected"

Lyrin frowned

"You remind a great deal of your grandfather, cautious yet still kind of heart"

"you knew grand?"

Galadriel nodded "I did. Your grandfather made quite a stir with his arrival, though his presence proved to be invaluable just as I suspect yours will be as well"

"What do you mean?" Lyrin asked

"your grandfathers presence in this world was not by accident, but by the will of the Valar. There are stories of strangers from far away lands coming to this world in times of great need. I believe you too have been called here to serve a greater purpose"

Lyrin frowned "You think I was brought here to help with some big peril?"

"Indeed"

"But why me? I can't fight a war or rebuild lands what am I supposed to do here to help?"

Galadriel smiled softly "Not all problems can be solved with swords or iron leadership, some must be solved with compassion and love"

Lyrin's eyebrows knitted together

Galadriel simply motioned for her to follow her to the far edge of the balcony.

As Lyrin opened her mouth to ask why she was cut off by another set of voices carrying from below

"It's a dangerous move, Gandalf."

"It is also dangerous to do nothing! Oh, come – the throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright! What is it you fear?" she heard Gandalf shoot back

Lyrin leaned over the edge of the railing, straining to hear as the voices below became quieter "Have you forgotten, a strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness... Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall? these decisions do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-earth."

She sat back as the voices faded, a part of her wishing she had never heard what had been said. "Is it true? what they said about Thorin"

Galadriel nodded

Lyrin looked back over the valley "Is this why I am here? to save him?" she asked quietly

"It is not my place to say the will of the Valar"

she snorted "Figures"

Galadriel placed a gentle hand on her shoulder "This journey will take courage and strength beyond what you can imagine and the dangers that line this path are great, but take heart, even the smallest light can pierce the strongest darkness"

Lyrin smiled softly at her words "I.."she began turning to face Galadriel, only to find herself alone on the balcony once more.

She sighed looking over the valley one last time before pushing herself up to her feet and slowly wandering back out into the hallway

as she rounded the bend she nearly ran into Bilbo.

The young hobbit gave a startled cry as the two nearly collided.

"oh Bilbo I'm so sorry I didn't see you!" Lyrin apologized

"Its quite alright" Bilbo said smoothing out the front of his vest "in fact I was looking for you"

"For me? why?"

"Thorin said that we are to depart early tomorrow morning ,so you should make sure you have everything ready tonight"

she nodded "right I will thank you Bilbo"

He nodded back pausing a moment to study her "Are you alright Lyrin? you seem a bit distracted "

Lyrin shook her head "I'm fine really just have a bit on my mind"

.

After leaving Bilbo, Lyrin made her way back to her room, making sure all of her belongings were packed and that the few more precious items were safely tucked away in the room Elrond had left to her so she could leave a few thing behind.

she then made her way to the bath, deciding to get in one last long bath before going back to few and far between.

...

..

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Lyrin had never been a big fan of heights though most of the time she could push through it, but as she clung to the steep rock face as rain poured down her hood, she felt a twinge of nausea form in her stomach as she caught a glimpse of the drop below.

She jumped a bit as a clap of thunder sounded followed by another large streak of lightning, letting out a colorful line of curses.

"Whats the matter lassie ya look a bit pale" Bofur asked

Lyrin waved her hand dismissively "Oh its nothi.." another laugh clap of thunder echoed around them as she let out a strangled whimper

"Nothing eh?" Bofur laughed

"I may have a small.." she flinched as another clap echoed "Very large fear of thunder"

"Oh aye Biffer used to have the same thing. cried like a babe at the slightest rumble"

From behind them Lyrin heard Biffer yelling irritatedly, waving his free hand at Bofur as he went

Bofur only laughed and even Lyrin had to chuckle at the emphatic yelling coming from behind them.

her good mood was short lived however as a large rock came crashing down the mountain face.

She flattened herself against the wall as the rock tumbled down into the darkness below.

"What the heck was that?!" she yelled over the storm

"This is no thunderstorm!" she heard Balin call "Its a thunder battle!"

Before she could ask what that meant, her voice died in her throat as a large form took shape out of the darkness.

An enormous stone creature rose out of the mist as it threw another boulder at them.

"Is everything on this God forsaken realm just naturally murderous or do they just really hate you guys?!" she cried "Even a damn rock is trying to kill us now?!"

"Now is not the time lass" she heard Balin call as Kili pushed her further against the mountain

Lyrin gripped the jagged rock face tighter as the ground beneath her began to shift

"is it an earthquake?" Bofur asked frantically

Lyrin peered up against the rain and felt her heart plummet into her toes.

"You have got to be joking" she muttered "Were on one of those things legs!" she yelled to the rest of the company

a large crack had begun to form as the giant began to move

"Kili watch out" Lyrin shouted as she saw the crack forming by his feet, pulling him back by his collar. "Hold tight" she told him as the tone began to shift more

"Kili, Lyrin!"

the two turned to see Fili reaching for them from the other side of the crack

Lyrin watched as the crack widened further, breaking in two completely as the giant moved.

the world spun around them as the two giants fought sending showers of stones falling onto them.

"Brace yourselves lads!" Bofur shouted

Lyrin looked over to see what the warning was for and instantly regretted it. the leg on which they were perched as now speeding towards the mountain face.

"Jump when I say" she heard Kili call and seconds later heard the tell tail command. saying a quick prayer that her ghost would forever haunt Gandalf for bringing her on this adventure,Lyrin lept off the giants leg throwing herself at the mountain face.

The impact was anything but pleasant as she collided with the rock, scrambling for a grip on its surface. all around her she could hear the others groaning as they recovered from their landing

Through the ringing in her ears she could hear muffled shouting and soon the relieved faces of Fili Thorin Dwalin and the rest of the company rounded the bend.

She gratefully took Dwalin's outstretched hand as he helped haul her to her feet. "I bet this was a first for ya aye lass?" he said as he brushes a few stray racks from her shoulder

"and not one I would like to repeat" she laughed shakily

Their attention was both drawn by the shouts of Bofur who was reaching down over the ledge

Lyrin followed his reach and gasped "Bilbo!"

she watched as both Dwalin and Thorin helped haul the hobbit back up the ledge and onto solid ground.

"Are you alright?" she asked helping the hobbit stand as Bofur sighed in relief

"I thought we'd lost our burglar"

Thorin regarded them with an icy glare "Has been lost ever since he left home.. I'm beginning to wonder if hes not the only one" Lyrin heard him added under his breath

"Come on Bilbo lets go" Lyrin urged trying not to let Thorin's words affect her

The two followed the others into the cave where they were met by Fili

"Thank Mahal" he said Pulling her close as she stepped inside "I thought I had lost you"

She let herself relax into his arms relishing in the small feeling of safety it brought.

Lyrin followed him to a small spot towards the back of the cave where Kili had already set down their things

she was exhausted by the time lay sat down next Fili, pulling her large cloak over herself. She flinched as another large clap of thunder rattled the cave, pulling the cloak over her head. She pushed the hood off as she Fili pull her close.

He smiled softly "Nothing will happen to you while we're here" he assured her.

Lyrin gave him a tired smile before settling back down, feeling sleep wash over her as soon as she closed her eyes.

..

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"Wake up!"

Lyrin jolted from her sleep as Thorin's shout echoed around them.

she barely had time to react before the ground below them opened up, sending them plunging into the darkness below.

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A/N: Hey guys I know some of you are disappointed in the lack of 'date' scene but I had such terrible writers block with it. I may go back and add some things later.