Slowly she approached the dog. She could not believe who she saw right in front of her. She knew this was no illusion because Fili and Kili had seen the dog as well. And now she realized why that voice in her head sounded so familiar.

Mona stepped even closer. "B—Barbas?" she whispered still in disbelief.

The dog also stepped closer, still wagged his tail.

"Is it really you?" she asked once again.

"Yes, it's me," the dog suddenly replied. Mona was uncertain what she should do and so she listened to her heart, got down on her knees and hugged the dog tightly.

He placed his paws on her shoulder. They were sitting like this for several moments. Finally she breathed, "How is that possible? Barbas, how did you find me?"

Barbas sat down and explained, "As soon as I received the message that Alduin had been defeated I was so happy because I knew you made it. You really made it. I wanted to find you and so I travelled up to High Hrotghar to wait for you, but you never returned.
They said that you died but I could not believe it. I asked them for more information but they didn't give me any answers. I was angry and sad. Then I finally met Paarthurnax and he told me what had happened. And then he said that it might be possible to go through a portal which had opened in the very moment of your death. I didn't think about it very long, even if I couldn't be certain to end up where you are.
But it seemed that fate wanted us to be together again. I followed your tracks and here I am: ready to fight side by side until the bitter end again."

Tears had begun to dwell in her eyes as Mona pulled him into a tight embrace again. "Oh Barbas! I missed you so much!"

"What's going on down there?" Kili asked confused and cast a glance around the Company.

The others just shrugged and Kili finally looked at his uncle. Thorin seemed to be deep in thoughts. Suddenly he made a decision. He left the balcony just to appear behind Mona and the dog.

"Mona?" he said softly. She turned around and smiled at him. He could see she was happy. "Do you know that dog?" he asked which made her nod. She took his hand and signaled him to get down on his knees and he did.

"Thorin, this is Barbas. He—he is from Skyrim."

The dwarf king watched the dog carefully and very surprised. And he was even more surprised as the dog suddenly said out loud,

"Hello, my name is Barbas."

Thorin watched Mona and she giggled about his confused look. Then he looked back at the dog and asked,

"You—you can talk?"

"Oh, yes. I'm a shapeshifter though I am trapped in this dog-form for a very, very long time. Mona and I went through some tough times together. I couldn't believe she's dead and so I followed her."

"In Skyrim I am dead, right?" Mona asked carefully.

"Your body might be, but your soul will always live on. The people worship you even if they have to do it in private because the Empire forbids worshiping a non-god."

"Just like they did with Talos—though I would not compare myself to him."

Barbas nodded but replied, "I am very tired. Can I please sleep for some hours?"

She smiled at him and patted his head. "Certainly, my friend. We will meet again when you're awake."

Barbas got up and walked towards a sunny spot in the garden near the river. Mona watched him and got up. Thorin stood close next to her and said, "It was his voice, right?"

She nodded and smiled at him again.

"You look so happy," he said and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"If you like I can tell you the story of Barbas and me," she said.

"Certainly, I'm very curious about that dog."

They lowered down on a bench and the Company up on the balcony decided not to watch them anymore for they could see the two of them had a private talk and so they continued with lunch.

"I'm curious what that is all about," Kili mumbled between two bites of mashed potatoes.

"She seems to know that dog," Bilbo replied thoughtfully.

"Maybe he comes from her world?" Dwalin suggested and took a sip of wine.

"I'm certain we'll hear her story soon enough," Balin replied and stopped the speculation.

Mona took his hand and begun to explain,

"I was back in the city of Falkreath, you remember? That was the town I grew up in and I had decided to pay it a visit. The blacksmith, his name was Lod, came to me and asked me to go out and find a dog he was looking for. He gave me some meat and I went out of the town for a few miles and placed the meat on the path. I was waiting until that big grey stray dog appeared.
I approached him and suddenly he started to talk. I was very surprised just like you have been earlier. He said I would be the kind of person he was looking for. He told me about his master Clavicus Vile. They had a falling out and Barbas asked me to help him so that his master would take him back again.

"I followed Barbas to the Shrine of Clavicus Vile in a place called Haemar's Shame. As soon as we entered this place we were immediately attacked by vampires but we managed to defeat them. The Shrine was located deeper in the cave, guarded by four or five more vampires. I activated the statue of Clavicus Vile and he asked me what he could do for me. I told him why I was there but he said before he decides I should go and bring him his ax from Rimerock Burrow. I took Barbas with me. Rimerock Burrow was a small cave. At the end of a short tunnel there was a Flame Atronach and a man, whom I later found out that his name was Sebastian Lort. He was a Breton mage."

"What's a Flame Atronach?" Thorin asked curiously.

"They are constructed entirely of fire and resemble humanoid females wearing black metal armor. They possess horns, pointed ears, three fingers and two toes. They float above the ground all the time and when they move they leave a trail of fire behind. But they are also the weakest and most common atronachs."

Thorin nodded understandingly and signaled her to go on.

She continued,

"Well, the Rueful Axe itself was lying on a long table in the back of the cave. We returned to Clavicus Vile but he gave me a choice. I had the choice to kill Barbas and receive the Rueful Axe or to spare Barbas and receive Vile's boon, the Masque of Clavicus Vile.
As you can see I chose not to kill Barbas. I received that mask and could go. Barbas followed me from that day on. He was by my side for a long time but one day we had to separate. I never really had the chance to say goodbye. I missed him very much."

Thorin placed his arm around her waist, pulled her closer and said, "And now he is here. By your side again."

She smiled. "Yes—"

She looked at him questioningly. He kissed her and said, "He can travel with us. You two seem to have a tight bonding and I suppose he is also familiar with dragons?"

Mona nodded. "Aye, we once fought a dragon together."

Thorin pulled her even closer. "I guess the others are curious about that dog. Don't you think it's time to tell them the truth about you?"

"I suppose you're right. Let's go and tell them," she replied though she was quite nervous and uncertain about the reaction of her friends.

The Company was still having their lunch as Thorin and Mona entered the balcony again.

"Mona, are you alright?" Fili asked still concerned about the recent events.

"Yes, I'm fine, but—"

"But?" Kili asked.

She lowered down onto her seat, Thorin right next to her. He was holding her right hand as she said,

"I have to tell you—about myself, about my past and also about mine and our all future."

They now watched her very confused and exchanged curious looks with each other. Mona started to tell them everything she had told Thorin a couple of days ago. Once she finished her story, everyone fell silent. The first to speak was Kili,

"You're half dragon?"

Mona nodded slowly.

"But—but—"he stammered, uncertain what to say. Fili tried his luck,

"Alright, you're human, right? But you have the blood and soul of a dragon? That's—I have to say that's interesting and I'm a bit awestruck right now."

They all nodded in agreement and Dwalin asked,

"You really killed the most dangerous dragon of your century—alone?"

"Yes, and as I stumbled upon you and Gandalf revealed what your quest is all about I was shocked. I thought after my death that I will come to a peaceful place or at least a place where I don't have to be what I am—a dragonslayer."

Finally Balin said what all of them silently thought about. "You are our weapon against Smaug, right?"

Mona nodded slowly and could feel that Thorin's grip around her hand tightened a bit. She looked at him and could see sorrow in his eyes until he said,

"This time you're not alone. We will defeat that dragon together."

"And what about the dog? Will he come with us?" Kili asked. Thorin nodded and the young one smiled happily for he really seemed to love dogs.

"But remember, Kili," Mona started and added, "He's not an average dog. He is a shapeshifter. He could be whatever he likes wouldn't he be trapped in that form."

Now Kili couldn't help but laugh as he said, "We're a very strange company. Thirteen dwarves, a hobbit, a woman being half dragon, a man trapped in a dog's body and a wizard. I mean, with that constellation we are going to kick that dragon's jacksie!"

They all cheered and Mona was more than relieved that they accepted her for being the Dragonborn. Thorin leaned in closer to her and whispered,

"I told you they love you, no matter what you are."

She smiled and kissed him tenderly which made the others exchange happy looks.

A couple of hours later they all were gathered together to discuss their journey. Barbas was now sitting with them and answered many questions. They were all very amazed by his battle stories he went through with Mona.

"Was Barbas your only companion?" Bilbo asked her curiously. She slowly shook her head.

"No, there had been some others but I prefer not to talk about it now."

He accepted her answer but was aware of the sad look in her eyes. Finally they began to talk about their own journey.

"So, Gandalf said we should leave in three days? When exactly?" Dwalin asked and Thorin replied,

"He said we should leave early in the morning so you should pack your bags in the evening so we can leave at the first light of day."

"And where do we go?" Bilbo asked.

"We will head for the Misty Mountains just like we planned it anyway. There is a path that leads us over the mountains and as soon as we passed them we have to cross a forest, but it will take some time so we just focus on the mountains now."

"Are there any dangers up there?" Bilbo asked again now a bit concerned.

"Well, the whole journey is dangerous," Kili said but Mona shot a look at him.

"There might be, we cannot be certain, but as long as we stay together there's nothing going to harm us," Thorin assured him.

Mona was thankful that Thorin tried to give Bilbo some security. She knew that he still had doubts about the hobbit but she had told him she promised that Bilbo won't be put in danger and so he tried to help her keeping that promise.