Hey guys, I'm so sorry for being so late in updating. My heads been all over the place these past few months so I've not been in the right frame of mind to write or update, so I do apologise for that. Also, for those that read A Whole New World, I'm not sure when that will be next updated as I have some things to sort out with it to be able to continue with it. I hope you all continue being patient with me, and I appreciate all of your support, thank you xx

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animefreak112097 – Hey, I'm sorry for being late with this update, I hope you enjoy it xx

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Chapter 26

After taking my leave from my father, I make my way through the twists and turns of my old home, the paths still committed to memory after almost two centuries of being away. Just like dwarves, the memory of elves are indeed long, as if I would ever forget my old home so easily. Even though my last days spent here were pained and miserable, I still had my happy memories to look back on, the memories I made with my brother and Tauriel.

I soon make my way to the door of the dungeons and walk down, bypassing the guards and ignoring their stares as I descend the stairs that lead to the cells.

"Caladwen!" I hear Bofur's voice call out.

I look up and smile as I see the dwarves at the doors looking out towards me. At least I know they're alright. Although I don't believe my kin would hurt them, I still know of their dislike to the dwarves.

"Are you alright, lass?" Dwalin asks as I go past his cell.

"I'm fine, don't worry." I reply.

Going past the cells, I check up on everyone and stop when I come to Thorin's cell, taking his hand as he reaches out to me.

"I'm sorry this had to happen, meleth nin."

Thorin smiles as he shakes his head. "You have no reason to apologise for this, us being imprisoned was not your doing."

"But still, I hate to see you locked up like this, I know how it feels and I did not want this to happen."

Thorin gives me a sad, understanding smile as he reaches up and cups my cheek.

"At least in this situation, we are all here together. If I could, I would have been there for you when you needed me."

I smile as I turn and place a kiss on his palm. "I know you would have, and just the thought of you is what kept me going."

He smiles as he takes my hands. "What did your father talk with you about?"

I look down at our hands, knowing that was going to come up at some point. "We talked about you mostly. You and the gems. He-he tried to make a deal with me."

He looks alarmed by this. "What deal?"

"He said that he would allow us to leave and finish what we planned to do, but once the quest was over, I was to return with the gems he seeks and never return to you."

I feel him take a tighter hold of my hands and his expression darkens a little. "What did you say?"

"I declined him of course. Even though I would wish for your freedom, and it may be selfish on my part, but I refuse to be separated from you again."

His smile returns, a hint of pride shining in his eyes. "Good. I would not have allowed you to accept that anyway. We have been separated for far too long already. As I promised Frerin, now I have you, I am not going to let you go again."

I smile at this. My heart bursting from the love I have for this dwarf.

When the time comes for me to leave the dwarves to get some rest, I take my leave. Walking through the familiar halls of my old home, I make my way to my old room. As I am walking, I pause as I hear footsteps from behind, I turn but see nothing, although I recognise the steps as Bilbo's, I don't see the Hobbit anywhere, and since there are no places for him to hide, I find it hard for him to just disappear. I just turn to continue my way on before I am stopped again by my name being called. Turning back, I smile as I see Tauriel walking towards me.

"Tauriel, it is wonderful to see you again."

"As it is to see you, mellon."

As she reaches me, we embrace one another and I just smile. I have missed Tauriel so much since I left. Her and Legolas. As we pull away, she frowns as she looks over the scars on my face.

"What happened to you?"

"That is a long story. One that I would be more comfortable talking in private. If you have time, I was just going to my room, if you would like to join me."

She nods. "I have time. I have just come from delivering my report to your father."

I just roll my eyes as we walk on. "How did that go?"

She sighs as she shakes her head. "Just as well as I thought it was going to go."

I scoff as I open the door to my room when we arrive. "And with my father, that means not very well at all."

While in the privacy of my room, she opens up on her thoughts.

"Your father would have us hide away here instead of going out there to protect our forest, our home, and refuses to stop the darkness from spreading."

Nodding, I sit at my table. "That sounds about right."

Looking around the room, I notice that it looks so clean, looking as though I had never left. I believed that with me gone, father would care less about what happened to my room, as though if he didn't see it empty, he could believe I was still here, I had not betrayed him and left.

"Legolas and I kept it clean for you." Tauriel explains as she sits with me after lighting the fire. "We knew you would return to us, we just weren't sure when."

I smile at her. "I thank you for that, muinthel. And I also thank you for what you did for me before." I continue the next sentence quietly. "Did father suspect you had anything to do with my leaving?"

She gives a slight shrug of the shoulder. "If he did, he did not say anything. To be honest, when you left, he never really spoke about you since then. So, I think if he did, he just did not want to bring you up in conversation."

I nod at this. "I expected as much."

She smiles at me. "Though it seemed to have worked out well. You reunited with Thorin at least."

I give a tight smile. "Only recently I'm afraid."

Tauriel frowns as she looks at me. "Recently? But, you left a hundred and seventy one years ago. How did you only just recently reunited with him?"

I let out a sigh as I sit back against my chair. "That is included in the story I want to share."

And with that, we both got comfortable as I tell her of what I went through since leaving the woods. First meeting the dwarven camp, the battle at Moria, my capture – which she was horrified to hear – and then finally to our reunion in Rivendell. By the end, Tauriel was looking at me in horror and sadness.

"Oh, Caladwen. I am so sorry you have to go through so much. I should have left and come with you."

I smile as I shake my head. "Don't be sorry. It all worked out in the end. Thorin and I are together once again. That's all that matters."

She smiles as she pats my hand. "Well, I am happy for you. You deserve all the happiness this world can give you."

After a few more minutes, she bids goodnight and leaves the room. I just sigh as I look around my room once more. I am happy to finally be home, to be in familiar surroundings, however, I am not happy at the circumstances of my return.

"Thank goodness, I was afraid she would never leave." Bilbo's voice suddenly speaks up.

I hold back a scream as I jump up, spinning around to see Bilbo sitting in my armchair by the window.

"Bilbo! By Eru, you're safe."

I stride over and hold him close, causing him to chuckle as I feel his arms go around me. We pull away after a few moment and I lay my hands on his shoulders.

"Are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"

He shakes his head with a smile. "I am fine, don't worry. Just a few scrapes."

I nod as I sit with him. "I am happy to see you safe, my friend. But, how did you manage to sneak in here? No one enters these halls without my father hearing of it."

He seems to hesitate for a moment, which causes me to worry slightly. But he begins to speak before I can voice my concern.

"When we were separated in the Goblin tunnels, I found something. I don't know how, but it turns me invisible."

As he speaks, he reaches into his pocket and opens his hand to me where I see a plain, gold ring. Even though it's a beautiful ring, it doesn't look like much at all. Although, the more I look at it, the more I'm sure I can sense something is not right with the ring. A part of me says to take the ring from him just to keep him safe, but another part says not to touch it and keep well away from it. I choose to listen to the latter.

"Turns you invisible, you say?" I ask as I pull my gaze from the eyes to look at the hobbit.

He nods as he tosses it into the air once before putting it in his pocket again, giving me some relief to not see it.

"It's how I was able to escape the tunnels, and how I was able to get through the main doors before they closed."

I smile. "You just followed us right in, didn't you?"

"Why, of course I did. You didn't expect me to let you free those stubborn dwarves by yourself, did you?"

I chuckle as I shake my head. "No, I suppose not. Although, I'm afraid to say, I won't be able to help you free them."

A confused frown appears on his face. "What?"

"This is my home, Bilbo, my father is the King. No one has ever left the dungeons of these halls without the consent of my father. Our cells are unbreakable, I will not be the reason that we have had a breakout. Surely you can understand that?"

He seems to think it over before he nods, an understanding smile on his face. "I can understand that. I am not sure Thorin will."

"You leave Thorin to me, I will explain it to him and makes sure he understands. I must tell you, if you do find a way to get them out, then do not tell me how or when. You may use my room to rest yourself, but I must not know anything."

He nods. "I understand."

"Good. Now, get some rest, I have a feeling you will need all the rest you can get."

He nods as he settles down on the futon and I watch as he sleeps. Bolting the door closed, I get onto the bed as exhaustion hits me and I sleep, hoping and praying that we can succeed in this quest.

Well, there we have it, Caladwen is back home, for now at least. Stay tuned to see the dwarves escape. Please keep your reviews coming and thanks again for your continued support xx