With the first faint light of the day, Alina stirred and snuggled closer against Dwalin, one arm placed on his chest while he was still asleep. A smile curled her lips whenever a quiet snore left his throat.

That was when the door opened and warm, golden light poured into the room coming from the fireplace that was constantly burning in the middle of the main healing hall.

"Oh, I didn't know that you are still asleep," Lailah said quietly as she saw the dwarf girl looking up quite sleepily. "I'll come back later," she added and was just about to close the door again when Alina jumped up. Dwalin mumbled incoherently but kept on sleeping.

"Wait!" she said and approached her best friend. Lailah watched her curiously.

"What's the matter?"

Uncertainly, Alina fumbled with her sleeve. "I—can we talk? Just for a while? I mean, I know that you don't remember me, but I'd really like to help you get your memory back."

Lailah sighed and thought about it for a moment until she finally nodded in acceptance. "Fine, follow me. I was just about to have breakfast. You can join me if you like," she stepped aside and let Alina pass by.

Silently, they walked side by side through the hall, along the hallway until they reached a flight of stairs.

"I thought we will have breakfast? On the balcony," Alina said a bit surprised.

Lailah chuckled quietly and turned to look at the other girl. "I never breakfast up there. I'll go to the kitchen, pack a basket and have a picnic at the river. There I can relax much better than up there," she pointed up towards the balcony from which they could already hear noises and laughter, clearly some of the Company.

Alina sensed that Lailah still was nervous about them, especially those few, including herself, who knew her from a time she could not remember.

"You're right, it is much more relaxing down there, I guess. Fine, lead the way," she said and smiled at her.

Once they had packed a basket with all different kinds of delicacies, they finally lowered down under the big alder tree where Lailah spent most of her time whenever she was not up in the healing halls.

The sun just peeked over the mountain-side and the silence between the two girls grew heavier with each passing minute.

"You said that you could tell me more about my past life," the blonde finally said while she nibbled on a piece of carrot cake.

"Uhm—yes, that's true. We grew up together and are—were—best friends," Alina replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Well, maybe we are still best friends. I just have to remember it," Lailah said with a soft smile on her lips and took a sip of fresh grape juice. Alina smiled back at her, even more amazed that her friend still enjoyed drinking grape juice even though there had been plenty of other juices in the kitchen earlier.

"And what is the last thing you remember, if I may ask?" Alina finally found the guts to ask this question. She had to know what had happened to Lailah in all those years, but she did not want to put any pressure on her. Lord Elrond and Gandalf had told her and Balin that too much pressure could cause that her mind locked up even more.

"The first thing I remember after the darkness was—coldness. Freezing cold water and—and Orcs. A group of Orcs. They kept me as their hostage, fed me with human flesh and—"she fell silent as her gaze drifted over the surface of the water. Alina couldn't believe what she had heard and feared the worst.

"They abused me—but never in that way, you know?" Lailah cast a quick glance at the other girl and saw that she breathed out in relief. Alina was really relieved that at least that didn't happen to her best friend.

"And then they kept me as a prisoner in a place called Dol Guldur—"she added thoughtfully. "I learned that it was an ancient fortress in the south of Mirkwood. That's what Gandalf told me when he rescued me—"

"Wait, what? Gandalf? You know him? What do you mean he rescued you?" Alina was surprised to hear that and remembered the strange look on the wizard's face when he had seen her drawing of Lailah a while ago. So—that was the reason. He knew Lailah and did not even think about telling her and most importantly Thorin about that.

Unaware of the wizard's presence in Rivendell, Lailah continued to explain, "He thought my name was Sukka, because I told him so. It was a name the leader of these Orcs had given me. I accepted that name, because it was the only one I had until I reached Rivendell where Lord Elrond had told me who I really am. He also said that my mother was an Elf who had left this place to live in a place in the north. The Iron Hills, so he said. I didn't believe him for a long time, because the mountains are not really a place to live for an Elf and—well, I don't know if it's really possible that an Elf could fall in love with a dwarf. But now—I don't know what I should believe and what not."

She fell silent again, aware that she had never before spoken so openly about everything. About her time with the Orcs and her inner conflicts. She cast another glance at the girl and suddenly realized, that she had no idea what her name was. Though Gloin had told her, but she couldn't quite recall it. She cleared her throat and asked,

"Forgive me, but—what is your name?"

"There's nothing I have to forgive you," she chuckled and looked at Lailah. "And my name is Alina."

"Such a wonderful name. And you are a very beautiful lady, Alina," she replied and saw that the other girl blushed a bit.

"You tended to say that quite often to me back in our days in the Iron Hills. And often I thought you were just making fun of me, because you are so much more beautiful," Alina said and chuckled.

"You are both very lovely ladies," a stranger's voice suddenly spoke up behind them and made Lailah wince for a second until she saw the two young dwarves approaching them. What were their names again? She tried to remember what Gloin had said.

"You are—Fili," she pointed at Kili. "And you are—Kili," she gestured at Fili.

They exchanged an amused look before Fili replied, "Nah, nearly correct. I am Fili and he's Kili," he pointed at his brother.

Lailah looked at them with both triumph and a bit disappointment written on her face. A cheeky smile grew on Kili's face as he scratched the back of his head and said,

"Don't you worry. Even though we are brothers we sometimes mix our names up, too. Right, Kili?" he shoved Fili playfully.

"I am Fili. You are Kili," Fili shoved him back until they tackled each other to the ground.

Laughter filled the fresh morning air and with a satisfied smile on her lips, Alina watched how joyful Lailah was laughing about these two silly dwarves. She knew very well that the brothers wanted to cheer their uncle's One up a bit and bond with her. They wanted to get to know the half elven lady that had stolen their uncle's heart so long ago.

They had seen Thorin's pain stricken face earlier this morning when he had joined them for breakfast. Whenever one of the Elves had passed by, his gaze had darted almost hopefully to the entrance of the balcony.
Once he had left them again, Balin had informed them all what he had told Thorin, advised him to stay away from Lailah unless she would go and talk to him on her own.

"I should go and check on Dwalin's wounds now. He might be awake now," Lailah said still with joy in her voice and got up, patting her dress a bit. "But I'm sure we will find time to continue this little meeting later," she ruffled Kili's and Fili's hair as she passed them by.

"That would be wonderful, Lailah," Fili chuckled and looked after her.


Lailah had just climbed up the flight of stairs as she bumped into Balin—and Thorin. They stared at each other for a moment while Balin closed his eyes and sighed, placing his hand on Thorin's forearm. The dwarf king winced as if waking up from a deep trance.

"Uhm—"he began but fell silent once more.

"It's a pleasure to see you, Lailah," Balin said with a smile, trying to rescue that quite uncomfortable moment.

She smiled uncertainly, her gaze drifting between them. "Good morning—"she mumbled. "I'm on my way to—your friend—Dwalin, I will check his wounds. You should—you should go outside and enjoy the lovely weather. It's lovely, really. I—I'm sorry, but I have to go," she said without taking a single breath, cast one last quick glance at Thorin and brushed past them, vanishing down along the hallway.

Thorin turned and looked after her, pain and amazement mixing up in his eyes. "She—she still talks without interruption. Just like she always did. Do you remember, Balin?" he looked at his friend with the hint of a smile.

Balin nodded understandingly. "Aye, I remember. And now come, we should do what she said. The fresh air will help you clear your mind."

They descended down the flight of stairs, but nothing could clear the dwarf king's mind. Lailah was the only thought present and he was now looking forward to see her more often now. He would find a way—he had to find a way.