The boat stopped at the shore and what was left of the company climbed out of the floating device and onto dry land. Dwalin assisted in helping the young woman climb across safely and then began helping the others unload the supplies, given to them by the generous people of Laketown. Bella wandered up the path, scanning the hills. She found it odd that their didn't seem to be any signs of life. Not even a bird or so much as a bug in the air.

"Bella." Bilbo spoke up from behind her, causing the half-breed to jump.

"Bilbo. You startled me." She admitted, brushing the loose strands of hair behind her ears.

"I'm sorry Bella, that was not my intention. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

Bella gave the hobbit a small smile, he always did think of others before himself. "Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well its just...it couldn't have been easy for you...leaving your family behind. Your home." The hobbit stated.

"Laketown was never my home. And it wouldn't be the first time I left my family. Their better off without me. Being with the company has made me feel more at home then I have ever felt." She said, glancing off over in Thorin's direction, seeing him speaking with Dwalin and Balin as the others started to head in their direction. " Don't worry about me Bilbo. I'm where I'm suppose to be."

Before anymore could be said. Thorin's voice was heard. " Let's move. We must travel as far as we can before the sun sets and then tomorrow we must find the door before the last light of Durin's Day." Thorin told them all as he took lead and began leading the way up the rocky terrain. The young woman and Bilbo followed behind the others talking amongst each other quietly.

Thorin once and awhile glanced behind him to see how Bella was doing and noticed she didn't seem to be at her full strength. He would often find her having to take a rest here and there and falling further and further behind with the burglar. He then instructed Balin to take lead for awhile and waited for the others to pass him and he walked over to where Bella was resting.

The hobbit looked up when he heard the shifting of loose rocks coming towards them. " Bilbo, why don't you go on ahead and catch up with the others. I'll stay with Bella." Bilbo glanced at Bella for a second and the young woman nodded for him to go on and the two of them were alone. " Bella..." Thorin began, until Bella cut him off, know what he was going to say.

"I'm fine. I didn't mean to slow everyone down." The woman muttered, getting up from the rock she was resting on.

"Are you?" Thorin challenged, grabbing her arm when she tried to walk passed him. " Do not think I haven't noticed you struggling to keep up with us since we got to shore."

"I'm fine Thorin, really." Bella growled in annoyance, avoiding his serious, yet concerned look in his eyes. She glared at the ground and once again tried to get pass him, but the dwarf king held her back with little effort, leaving the half-breed no option but to look at him.

"Don't shut me out Bella, not now. Talk to me. What's wrong?" Thorin asked calmly, releasing his grip on her arm. Bella sat back down on the rock. Thorin took a seat beside her, letting out a sigh. " It still hurts." The woman turned to her side and furrowed her brows as she looked up at the dwarf. " Your leg."

" Sometimes...It comes and goes...Oin said the pain may never fully go away." Bella muttered.

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier, Bella."

"I didn't want you to worry about me. You have enough on your mind as it is. Plus, we're so close to finally finding the door." The young woman explained.

Thorin shook his head at her. " You think I care more about finding the door, then I do about you? Bella, do you really think that little of me?" The half-breed couldn't look into the tense eyes of the king and looked at the ground when she felt his hand on the side of her face, guiding her to look back up at him. " Bella, you're the only thing that matters to me in this world, and I wish you would tell me these things...I know your used to depending only on you, but its not like that anymore - you have me." Thorin pulled her towards him, wrapping her in his arms, and pressed his lips against her forehead. Thorin looked over the woman's head, in the direction the others were heading and saw they were nearly out of sight. " We should catch up to the others, and then we'll find somewhere to rest for the night and continue on in the morning." He declared.

"But what about finding the door?" Bella question, pulling out of his hold.

"We still have until tomorrow, before the sun sets to find the door." Thorin assured her, cradling her face in his hands. The young woman finally nodded and the king took her hand and the two of them started walking to catch up to the others. Once they were nearing the company, Thorin slipped his fingers out of her hold and distant himself from her so he wouldn't draw attention from certain others.

The leader was now walking with Balin, and Dwalin informing them that they were to find somewhere to rest for the night and would continue on in the early morning. He was relieved when they didn't question him on his decision to stop, while their was still light in the sky and the two brothers quickly spread the word to the others and eventually found an area surrounded by hills that looked safe enough to rest for the night. Gloin got a fire going, while Bombur prepared something warm for supper. Once their tummies were filled the company got settled down in their sleeping spots around the fire and tried to get as much rest as possible.

It was later in the evening, most of the Dwarves and the Hobbit were sound asleep, except for Thorin, and Balin who were quietly talking amongst each other. Bella was trying to sleep, constantly turning to get comfortable and finally got up and sat on a giant rock, staring into the fire. The King and the elder Dwarf were still talking when Thorin noticed Balin appeared to look distracted.

"What is it?" Thorin finally asked.

"It appears we're not the only ones awake." Balin informed. Thorin turned around to look in the direction the other Dwarf was looking and saw Bella huddled by the fire. The king gave an unnoticeable sigh. He had hoped the young woman would have taken this chance to get some rest like the others but it was obvious she hadn't told him everything that had been on her mind. Balin noticed Thorin hadn't torn his gaze from her and placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a knowing look for him to go over there and talked to her.

The two parted ways and Thorin began to make his way over to the half-breed. Bella was so distracted, staring into the flames of the crackling fire that she hadn't even heard or notice Thorin taking a seat beside her and begin saying her name. " Bella...Bella?" The young woman pulled out of her daze and turned to her side to see a very serious, yet concerned Dwarf looking at her.

"Thorin, you scared me." She stated, letting out a startled breath wondering just how long he had been sitting beside her, without her realizing it.

"Bella, I thought you would have been resting, like the others. I need you at your full strength. We have no idea what is on the other side of the door. We can't afford to have anymore delays." Thorin pressed harshly to her. The young woman turned away from the Dwarf's intense eyes and looked back into the fire. She knew Thorin was right, but part of her couldn't seem to understand why the King seemed to have little care of the fact that they had all just abandon 4 of their own. Ever since they had left Laketown, Bella had felt guilty leaving not only Fili and Kili behind, but Bofur and Oin as well. Thorin had not spoken about it nor showed that their safety even concerned him. " What's keeping you up?"

"I'm worried about Kili...and not just Kili, Thorin. It wasn't right of us to leave the 4 of them behind. They should be here with us now." Bella hissed quietly still staring off into the flames, trying not to disturb the others sleep.

"...I know your worried about them. I am too, but it was for the best. You must see that. Kili was not well. He's better off staying in Laketown until he's well again." The king said, waiting for her to look back into his reassuring eyes but she continued to stare straight ahead of her. Bella suddenly felt the touch of Thorin's rough hand on the side of her cheek, turning her to look at him. " I promise we will see them again Bella. The four of them will be back with us before you know it." The Dwarf gave her a small smile, wrapping his arm around her and pulled her against him. The young woman laid her head against his chest and slowly began to fall asleep as Thorin stroked her arm and she eventually passed out.

The King looked down and saw the half-breed was sound asleep. He carefully picked her up and put her down on her cloak that was laid out between Dwalin and Bilbo. Thorin decided he would try to do the same, though he knew it was no use. So much was on his mind.

They were up early the next morning. They doused the fire and were back climbing the hills, searching for the door. Eventually the company found the ruined city of Dale. Bella had chills as she looked upon the destruction of Smaug. It made her wonder if the dragon still lived after all this time. The young woman had been pulled from her thoughts when she heard Bilbo trying to tell the leader that Gandalf told them he would meet them here at the overlook but Thorin would not hear of it and ordered them to keep going and this sudden change in attitude, gave Bella a bad feeling as they followed the Dwarf.

The day dragged on as they continued to search the slopes for the hidden door and the Hobbit was the one to discover the steps leading up the side of the mountain, with his keen eyes and the company began the long climb up the steps, helping each other along the way and finally after what felt like they had been climbing for hours they were finally at the top and before them was the door.

Hello My Darlins!

I am so sorry it's taken me this long to get a chapter out. This semester has been so hectic for me, that I just haven't had the time to come online to update. I want to thank you all for being so patient with me, it means a lot and I hope you will enjoy this next chapter and i'll hopefully have my next chapter up very soon!

Love you all!

Charlotte 3