Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien/Jackson character/stories I only own my own characters and addition's to the story.

Chapter Twenty-Five:Realizations and Truths

Rylynn felt the small pressure of Fili and Kili's bodies push her forward as she came to a stop. It was like a chain reaction as each person ran into the person in front of them. Rylynn heard a couple protest of trodden feet as the group came to a full and complete stop.

"What is it? Why have we stopped?" Nori's voice sounded front the back.

"We are here," replied Rylynn. Her answer sent a excited shutter through the company as they all pushed forward to stand on the ledge at the base of were the doorway was.

Thorin pushed his way forward through the line of dwarves. As he reached the front he looked at the wall before them and walked up to hit. He brushed a hand against the engraved ruins making them stand out and more legible as he cleared away the extra dirt and moss that had been covering the markings. "This is it, this is the side-door into Erebor. We just need the last light of Durin's day" he said as he looked out to the horizon toward the sun that was now low in the sky."

He looked around at the company who were all gathering around the door to examine the ruins themselves. Rylynn made her way to the edge of the group and circled around to the pathway that they had just come from. Thorin watched her make her way and approached her doing his best to not draw the attention of the others.

"Where do you think you are going?" he asked casually as he kept his eyes on the group of dwarves all happily examining the door.

"I have done what I came to do. I said I would bring you to the door and I have done that. Now I will return to my sister."

"Will you not join us in reclaiming Erebor?" he asked

"I think it is best that for now I do not enter into Erebor, my duty is with Milla who I have now realized I have sorely neglected."

"She would not have made it Rylynn. You did the right thing leaving her behind in Laketown. She is safer there than if we had left her alone at the base of the mountain. I fear that this mountain has been neglected far too long and there are dangers that lurk in it that are not just a fire breathing dragon."

Rylynn nodded in agreement to Thorin's words. He could tell that she knew he was right but she was still not convinced to stay. In secret Rylynn had already known she would return the moment the group had discovered the truth. Seeing the reactions of her friends had instilled a reality that when others found out who did not know her, their understanding of the situation would be even more less. Dwalin had been right, Thorin would be seen as a weak and foolish king, as well as Fili and Kili who were his heirs. She could not do that to them, she could not ask them to jeopardize their leadership and credibility of ruling an entire kingdom for the sake of her. No, she had decided the night before that she would lead them to the door, and take her leave from the Lonely Mountain and from the North. She was doing Thorin a favor in making the difficult decision. She had seen how it had been stressing him and how just the thought of making a choice was pulling Fili away from him. It was best that she made the decision, it would be better for all of them.

"I see there is nothing I can do to prevent you from returning and I understand. Our agreement was that you lead us to the door and you have done that. I will hold up my end of the bargain as well and when our business is finished in the mountain I will seek you out in Laketown to discuss further arrangements and your earnings. Rylynn nodded and Thorin offered out his hand. "Thank you Rylynn, travel safe, like I said before there are dangers other than the dragon."

Rylynn accepted his hand and shook it. "I will be careful. You be careful as well and watch out for Bilbo and the others."

Thorin nodded in understanding and released her hand. Rylynn turned and walked around the corner going back down the path.

"Rylynn wait," it was Fili's voice and the approach of his footsteps rounding the corner that Rylynn had just went around. "Where are you going? Are you not going to join us in our reclaim to Erebor?"

"No, given the circumstances for now, I think it would be best that I do not enter the mountain until certain things have been resolved. Besides, I left Milla there alone and I would like to get back to her as soon as possible. When Smaug has been vanquished and Erebor has been reclaimed then she will join you."

"You know she can take care of herself Rylynn, you do not always have to protect her and guard her at all times. I was the same way with Kili once, but there comes a point when you have to learn to let them fall and pick themselves up without always being at their side. Milla has grown alot since you two joined us. It may surprise you as to what she can manage without you." His tone was of all seriousness as he spoke and Rylynn could hear the hint attempt to persuade her to stay.

"I know she can take care of herself, I have known it for a long time. But to be honest it is not her that needs me, but the other way around." she watched as Fili's eyes looked at her inquisitively as he tried to understand what she was saying. Rylynn took in a breath and let it out trying to figure out how to explain it, to have Fili understand. "I have lost every single person that I have loved except for MIlla. There are things that have haunted me for a very long time and it is Milla that has kept me sane. It is for that reason that I am so protective of her to stay near me. Milla is skilled in her fighting, she can and she will, always protect herself. I don't keep her safe out of the benefit of her...I…" she fumbled for a moment surprised by the sting in her eyes as she felt the burning tears well up. She took in a breath to calm herself and felt the wave of tears calm down. "I keep her alive for my own selfish benefit. I keep her safe and near my side because I am afraid of being haunted again if I were to ever lose her..." she shook her head frowning at the idea of losing Milla. "I need her because if I didn't I fear that I would lose my sanity."

"Rylynn...I…"Fili struggled to find the words to reply but could not. "I cannot pretend that I know your past. I only know what you have ever told me but I can tell you this. You can love more than just one person. You can let more than just one person be your protection. I would protect you if you would just let me!"

Rylynn stared at him as she looked into his icy blue eyes. His face was sincere and as he looked at her with so much concern in his eyes and what reminded her of the adoration that her father once had in his eyes as he looked at her. He walked up to her and cupped her face with his hands. At first she hesitated to look him in the eyes but eventually she slowly lifted her eyes and looked at him.

"Why do you always have to guard yourself? Why can't you just open up to me, let me share your burdens, let me protect you from whatever it is that you fear?"

She lifted her hands and grasped his taking them down from her cheeks and too his side. Her hands lingered in his as she looked at them trying to figure out what she was feeling and why she hesitated to let his hands go.

"Because I do not want to lose you Fili, and when you enter into Erebor and Smaug is defeated, everything will change. You will change. You will be the next heir to the throne and you will become King when Thorin goes into the hall of Kings. I cannot just stand around and watch you leave from my life. That Fili, is why I cannot enter into Erebor with you, because as soon as that happens it means that this." she pointed to herself and him."will not longer be tolerated it will no longer be acceptable."

"You make it sound as if you are never going to enter Erebor! You have to realize Rylynn, that eventually, whether it is now or after Smaug you will eventually enter in." Rylynn looked down at her feet as he said this doing her best to avoid the hurt shining through his eyes as the realization dawned on him. "You never mean to enter into Erebor do you?" She looked up to his face and the apology and pain that shone from her small frown and sad eyes confirmed it to him. He took a step forward and grabbed and cupped her cheek. "Rylynn where you planning on just departing without a word? Where you even going to wait until we reclaimed Erebor?" a small single tear escaped the corner of Rylynn's eye as she looked ashamed by the disappointment in Fili's voice. "Go," he said firmly. "Go back to Milla, make sure she is ok, you will be safer in Laketown than with us. Because of that reason I can let you leave my side but you have to promise me that you will not leave, not yet." his voice was no longer soft but instead demanding and desperate.

"Fili..I can't..."she began.

"Promise me!" he said forcefully his voice full of what Rylynn thought was anger.

She gave a nod and turned to go but before she had taken a step further Fili's hand wrapped around her arm and gently turned her around to face him. His eyes were ablaze and his face was hard. He pulled her to him in a tight embrace holding onto her as if he would never let go. But as quickly as she was pulled in he released her and moved back just ever so slightly so he could gaze down at her. A wave of worry washed over Fili and desperation replaced the anger and hurt he had been feeling before. He bent his head and placed a soft but desperate kiss on her lips. Unlike last time, he felt Rylynn's body relax in his arms and as he pulled away he could only see what was what he was feeling reflected in her face and eyes.

"I love you Rylynn and that will never change even if I enter into Erebor a hundred times over. Nothing will ever change the fact that I love you, nothing and no one." With that said he waited for no response before taking a step back and walked back up the path to the rest of the company.

"Fili," said Rylynn. He stopped just before the corner and looked back to her. She looked beautiful as the sun was setting behind her, igniting her hair and making it shine like gold. Her face was soft and her eyes shone with a new light that Fili had never seen. "Be careful and hurry, I would hate to wait around in Laketown too long." she said smiling, trying to lighten her heavy load and worry.

Fili smiled but did not say anything immediately. Instead he gave her a slight bow and gave her his best cheeky smile and wink. "I would never dream of making a beautiful lass such as yourself wait for too long." With that said he turned and rounded the corner leaving Rylynn standing alone on the path with a smile on her face.

Rylynn made her way down the path swifty doing her best to use the last hour of daylight to guide her down the mountain. Her mind and heart were racing and she barely processed just how quickly she was traveling. She was in disbelief as to what had just happened and what she had just discovered. It was so obvious now as to what was causing her so much confusion earlier. There was no denying it now, Rylynn loved Fili.

Fili was sitting next to Kili and Bilbo along with several others of the group. There was still at least another hour before the sunset and Fili was getting anxious. Kili had tried to break him from his thinking several times but gave up when Fili would not be distracted by his thoughts.

The waiting was killing Fili, where he should have been more nervous as he was about to face a dragon, all he wanted was nothing more than for time to pass by. He was desperate to return to Laketown and see Rylynn again. He smiled to himself as he gazed out at the setting sun and thought of the kiss he had with Rylynn. It had been nothing like last time, this time was a hundred times better and a lot less painful. Fili held in a laugh but smiled even more as he thought of the first time he had kissed her and how it had ended so disastrous.

Thorin watched Fili has he sat and waited for the sun to set. He had seen Fili follow Rylynn and had went to first stop him but as he overheard their conversation he thought better of it. He was not sure of if it was the fact that they were about to enter into Erebor because of Rylynn or the realization of just how much Rylynn meant to Fili that made him approach his nephew.

"Fili," he said. It took a moment for him to respond but Fili redirected his attention from the sun and to him. "Come, walk with me"

Fili stood and followed Thorin down the path aways until they were no longer within hearing of the others. "I have not told her yet but I have decided that Rylynn will receive no punishment for what she did. As she said, she was young and looking out for the ones she loved. I cannot hold her guilty of anything especially when she did all she could to avoid bringing Hod all the way here. We would not be here if it were not for her and for that she is deserving of nothing but of the highest regards." Fili's eyes widened with disbelief as Thorin spoke. Thorin could sense the amount of weight pressing on him lift. "I have noticed that you affections for her are past just friendship and for that I am happy for you. I am not sure of how deep your feelings run for her but I can only tell you this. Rylynn is a natural leader, she does not let the grumbling and complaints of others keep her from swaying from a decision or commitment, that is a great quality of a ruler. You would benefit from having her at you side. She has connections and insights that most dwarrow dams would not be able to provide. Her values are more noble, like her father she values what is of true worth and not of gold and riches. The rise of Erebor would benefit greatly by what she has to offer. But I also must be fair and warn you that not everyone will see that. She is a foreigner and where I do not doubt she would stand tall you will have to as well. Whatever happens between you two I would have you know that you have my blessing and support."

Fili just stared at Thorin as what he was saying processed in his head. After what felt like several moments Fili threw his arms around his uncle and hugged him.

"Thank you" he whispered as he tightened his hold.

Thorin hugged Fili back his face breaking out into a smile as he thought about the happiness he had just bestowed on his nephew. He pulled away and clapped Fili on the back. "Now let us reclaim a mountain for you to rule."

With that said they returned to the company just as the last light of the sun was disappearing from the sky.

Faith Nightgrace: Hope you liked this!

I know I thank you guys a lot but really you are awesome and so helpful. This was my first story that I have written on here and I am defiantly looking forward to writing more when I finish this story. There is still a lot more left so I hope you all continue to enjoy!