Sorry for the delay… I needed a few sentences translated, but I seem to have lost connection to Calenithlon, so I had to make do with what I had.

Currently, my sister and I are camped outside on a picnic blanket under an umbrella, watching a baby dove we found to either see if its mother comes for it, or to guard it against neighborhood cats.

Right, onto the story.

Chapter 50 – Homeward Bound

A week and a half after the funeral, Ember was deemed well enough to leave the healing tents for good. Thranduil gave her a once over personally, removing her bandages for the last time.

"It would seem that you have healed well." Thranduil said, carefully prodding around her torso. Ember fought to keep a straight face as she kept her eyes away. She knew what was there… she just didn't want to look at it. Thranduil looked up and noticed how she had turned away, and quickly pulled away. "I will take my leave of you now." Ember realized she would seem rude if she stayed silent, and stood.

"Hîr vuin Thranduil." Thranduil stopped and turned to her. "Guren glassui." Thranduil stared at her, then bowed his head.

"Savo 'lass a lalaith, Hiril vuin." With that, he left the tent. Ember was alone, for the moment. She turned to the mirror that someone had put in the tent. Slowly, she lifted her shirt. She stared at her reflection for the longest time. She didn't even hear Thorin call her.

Thorin waited outside for Thranduil to finish, the chest with the White Gems of Lasgalen. He was relaxed. Bilbo had announced a few days back that he desired to return home, to the Shire. And the Company had decided to travel back with him. Dain would oversee the repairs to Erebor while they were gone. Gandalf seemed especially happy with this arrangement, for some reason. When Thranduil stepped out of the tent, he bowed his head as he opened the chest.

"A great wrong was done against you, Thranduil. I hope now, we can look past those mistakes." Thranduil bowed his head as well, and accepted the chest. He left without a word. Thorin smiled and shook his head. Elves never changed. He entered the tent, smiling, then he stop when he saw Ember. She was staring at herself in the mirror, and Thorin caught the look of horror on her face. He frowned.

"Ember?" He called. She gave no sign of hearing him. He moved closer, and saw what she had been staring at. Her body had blocked his view of her reflection before. There on her torso, lay a four inch scar, tilted slightly to the left. The skin lay was extended slightly, and it was pink and white around the edges.

Thorin stepped forward and lightly touched Ember's arm. She jumped and gave a gasp, not having realized he was there. He brought his arms around her, and slowly, she sank down into his embrace.

"Does it not disgust you?" Thorin's eyes widened as he held her at arms-length. She looked at him through tear-filled eyes.

"Don't ever say that, amrâlimê." He shook his head and gave her a kiss. "You must never be ashamed of your battle-scars. They are proof that you survived…and have overcome. Never forget that." He gave her another kiss, and smiled. "Come, I think the Company is anxious to leave." Ember smiled and stood.

"In that case, let me get dressed first." He smiled and turned. Soon, she was dressed in a dark blue dress with a split, so that she would sit comfortably in the saddle. She wore dark blue tights underneath for extra insurance, and brown boots that went up to her knees. A brown cloak covered her shoulders. Her hair had grown exceptionally since the beginning of the quest, and now it reached her lower back. Thorin chuckled as she struggled with it.

"Here, let me." He said calmly. He pulled out his silver clasp and started braiding her hair back, leaving her betrothal braids out. Once he finished, he put the clasp in place. Ember looked over her shoulder at him, and gave him a kiss, which he gladly returned. They were interrupted, however, when Quinn stuck her head inside the tent.

"Oi! Save that for the wedding! We're ready to leave." Ember and Thorin both laughed and shared one last kiss, before the left the tent. The Company was waiting for them.

"About time. Come on, it'll be Durin's Day again by the time we get there." Amelia urged as she climbed onto her horse, which the Elves had kindly provided. She wore an outfit similar to Ember, only hers was turquoise in color. Quinn's was a ruby red. The Company laughed as they all climbed onto their ponies. Thorin helped Ember onto her horse, giving her palm a kiss before climbing onto his own pony. They would meet Bilbo and Gandalf at the Gates of Erebor. Bifur's pony was attached to a cart for Bilbo to load his things on. Tauriel would be joining them, as well. She had been pleasantly surprised when Thorin and Ember had welcomed her into the Company. Kili had been especially happy with this news. Together, they rode out of Dale to the Gates of Erebor. When they reached the Gates, they were surprised. Bilbo and Gandalf seemed to be leaving without them. Thorin and Ember kicked their horses into a trot to catch them.

"Bilbo!" Thorin called. The Hobbit and Wizard turned. Bilbo had a backpack on his back, and a coat covering his shoulders. The Hobbit smiled sadly.

"Hello you two." Ember and Thorin reigned their horses to a stop.

"Where are you going?" Ember asked him. Bilbo shook his head.

"I thought I'd slip away quietly. Tell the others goodbye for me." He turned to walk on. Thorin opened his mouth to speak, but then Bilbo turned again with a smile. "If any of you are ever passing Bag-End…tea is at 4. There is plenty of it. You are welcome any time." He turned to leave again.

"Bilbo!" Ember called. Bilbo turned again and she smiled.

"You think you can lose us that easily?" At that point, the rest of the Company caught up to them. Bilbo seemed surprised.

"But…but what about Erebor?" He asked, as he stared at Thorin. "You can't leave." Thorin chuckled.

"Dain will oversee Erebor's construction, while we're gone." Ember nodded.

"Besides, we can't expect our Burglar to walk all the way back to the Shire now, can we?" She giggled as Bofur and Bifur pulled Bilbo's belongings out of his arms and into the wagon, while Fili and Kili lifted him onto his pony. Thorin pulled up beside him.

"Let's go back to your books and your armchair."

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The road back seemed far shorter than before. They suspected it was because there were no Orcs chasing after them. They merely got to enjoy each other's company. They exchanged stories, they laughed. The girls even told them things about their world. The Dwarves were very interested in the different technologies that their world had.

One thing that Ember noticed though, was that Gandalf was acting rather odd. Well…odd for even him. He kept having secret chuckles when he thought no one was looking. And when they passed the Valley, Ember swore he winked at her.

All too soon, they reached the borders of the Shire. They left their mounts tied to the trees and prepared to walk the rest of the way. The Ur and Ri brothers carried Bilbo's belongings for him. Gandalf chuckled.

"The borders of the Shire. It is here I must leave you all." Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to him, with looks of shock and confusion.

"That's a shame." Bilbo said softly. "I quite like having a Wizard around." He glanced at everyone. "Seems they bring good luck." Everyone chuckled at that.

"I think you were our good luck, Master Baggins." Balin said. Gandalf looked down at Bilbo.

"You don't really suppose, do you, that all of your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck?" The Dwarves all glanced at each other, suddenly interested in what Gandalf was saying. Did he know something they did not? What Gandalf said next, however, shocked them a little.

"Magic rings should not be used lightly, Bilbo." Everyone turned wide-eyed to the Hobbit as he opened his mouth to protest. "Don't take me for a fool. I know you found one in the Goblin tunnels. And I've kept my eye on you ever since." Everyone watched Bilbo as he nodded.

"Well, thank goodness." He said, before holding out his hand. "Farewell, Gandalf." Gandalf shook his hand.

"Farewell." Ember stepped forward.

"Are you sure you can't come with us, Gandalf?" She asked softly. Gandalf smiled and stepped towards her.

"I think you and your friends will be just fine, now." Ember smiled as Amelia and Quinn stepped up to her side.

"Thank you, Gandalf. For all of this." Amelia said. Gandalf sighed.

"You are thanking the wrong person, my dear." He glanced past them, and the girls turned their heads. Thorin, Fili and Kili stood together, watching as Bilbo tried to pull some of his belongings out of Bofur's arms for him to carry, but the Dwarf seemed to be having none of it. The uncle and nephew trio were chuckling at the sight. "The Sons of Durin are here today, because of your efforts." Quinn was tearing up slightly.

"Sorry for blowing my top at you, after the battle." Gandalf chuckled. Suddenly, Ember flung her arms around Gandalf's neck.

"Thank you, for giving us this chance." Gandalf sighed and hugged her back. When they separated, Amelia and Quinn gave him hugs as well. He gave them a smile and turned to leave, then Bilbo called after him.

"You needn't worry about that ring. Fell out of my pocket during the battle. I lost it."

Thorin stared at Bilbo as he called after Gandalf. A magic ring. That would certainly explain how he had managed to get them out of Mirkwood. And how he got past the Goblins and Smaug. But why did he keep it a secret? Thorin glanced at Ember, and noticed a flicker of worry in her eyes as she watched Bilbo. He frowned a little, but shook his head.

"You're a very fine person, Mr. Baggins. And I'm very fond of you." Gandalf said. "But you're only quite a little fellow…in a wide world after all." Bilbo gave a slight nod, and everyone made to part ways. All of a sudden, Gandalf called back to them.

"Oh, I think you all would do well to stop by Rivendell, on your way back to Erebor." Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Dwalin turned to the Wizard.

"Why?" He asked gruffly, not liking the idea of going back there. Gandalf smiled secretly.

"Oh, you'll have to see for yourself." Everyone shared confused looks, so they did not see the wink Gandalf sent Ember's way. Ember raised an eyebrow at him, still slightly confused, but he had already turned to leave.

"What was that about?" Kili asked looking around.

"We didn't leave anything behind last time…did we?" Amelia asked, glancing around. Everyone either shrugged or shook their heads. Thorin sighed.

"Probably some cruel joke he wishes to play on us. Come on, let's get Bilbo home." With that, they carried on.

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They trekked their way up the last green hill of Hobbiton, and finally saw the Bag End on the far off hill.

"Well Bilbo, you're home at last." Bofur said cheerfully as they walked down the path. The Company could practically see the joy rolling off of Bilbo as the headed up Bag Shot Row. He chuckled.

"Yes, well, I still can't understand why you had to dig up that chest for me." He grumbled, referring to the chest Dori was carrying. "It will smell of troll for the next few years." Gloin chuckled.

"Well, we had to give you something after you gave up your 14th of the treasure." This caused a bark of laughter to escape Dwalin.

"A good thing too. That treasure would fill that hole of yours ten times over!" This caused all of them to laugh so much, Kili almost missed the all too familiar box that was being carried past them. He froze and spun to the two Hobbits.

"Oi! What are you doing with Bilbo's mum's glory box?" Everyone stopped as Kili pulled the box out of the two frightened hobbit's hands. Another hobbit passed them, this time carrying one of the dining chairs. Dwalin flew forward and grabbed it out of her hands.

"Where do you think you're going with that?" Dwalin had said it with such force that the poor girl squealed and ran off, the two hobbits following close behind. Tauriel quickly pulled a pouf out of a passing hobbit's arms after hearing that Bilbo's command to put it down was ignored.

"What's going on?" Fili asked in confusion.

"Hello Mr. Bilbo." They all turned to see a Hobbit with a wheelbarrow filled to the brim with adornments from Bag End. He had a smile on his face at first but it quickly faded as he stared at Bilbo. "You're not supposed to be here." By that point, Thorin had grown incredibly impatient. He stepped right up to the Hobbit, causing the poor man to almost bend over backwards.

"And why is that?" He asked in a low voice. Poor Mr. Worrywort was so flustered by the Dwarf King he stammered and moved his hat in a nervous gesture.

"Well, um… on account of… him being pronounced…dead…and all…" Thorin turned his eyes to Bilbo, who appeared to be seething with rage.

"I am not dead. Presumed or otherwise." With that, he hurried up the path, where the Company quickly saw that more Hobbits were carrying his possessions away. Ember turned to the Company.

"Quick. Stop any Hobbit from leaving with Bilbo's possessions. Confiscate them if necessary." She ordered. Mr. Worrywort straightened his hat.

"I'm not sure that's permitted." He started, but one glare from Dwalin as he passed him quickly shut him up, and he made no protest when Fili picked up his wheelbarrow and started rolling it up the hill again. All along the path, the Dwarves stopped to either pull an object out of a Hobbit's hands, or to send them running down the path in tears. Even Ori seemed terrifying to the Small Folk. Ember, Thorin and Balin carried on after Bilbo, reaching the auctioneer just in time to hear his comment about 'Dwarfish reproductions'.

"Stop! Stop! There's been a mistake!" Bilbo cried, causing the Hobbits surrounding them to mutter. A Hobbit carrying a basket of pillows, doilies and silver spoons dressed in what Balin would call a hideous shade of Goblin skin, stared at Bilbo.

"Who are you?" She asked, in a voice that sounded close to a pig's squeal. Balin noted her face almost looked like a pig. Bilbo glared at the woman.

"What do mean who am I? You know perfectly well who I am, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. This is my home!" He looked down at her arms, and pulled the spoon out of them. "And those are my spoons, thank you very much." As they passed them, Ember pulled the tray of West Farthing pottery out of whom she assumed to be Otho Sackville-Baggins, if his attire was anything to go by. Balin pulled the basket out of Lobelia's hands, before glancing up at her… hat. He sighed.

"Lass, do us all a favor and remove that monstrosity from your head. I mistook it for a turkey." Ember found it hard not to laugh at Lobelia's enraged face, but quickly turned her attention to the auctioneer.

"It's been more than 13 months since the disappearance." He said in a gruff voice. He pointed one of his knobby fingers at Bilbo's face. "If you are in face…Bilbo Baggins and undeceased… can you prove it?" Suddenly, Thorin stepped in front of Bilbo.

"Why should he have to prove anything?" At his bark, the Hobbits fell silent. "If this were any Dwarven Kingdom, you would all be tossed into the dungeons for this stunt!" Sensing his anger, Ember placed the tray down on a table and hurried to Thorin's side, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"Thorin, Ghivashel, calm down." Hearing his betrothed made Thorin pause and breath. Ember smiled lovingly at him, then faced the auctioneer. "I am Ember of Erebor. More than a year ago, Master Baggins pledged his services to my betrothed, for the duration of our quest. He helped us to reclaim Erebor, The Lonely Mountain far beyond the Misty Mountains." Many of the Hobbits began to mutter, and Ember turned her head to see the Company coming up the path, laid down with Bilbo's belongings. She smiled and turned to Balin. "Master Balin, if you please." Balin nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out the contract.

"A contract of employment… signed by Master Baggins himself." The auctioneer took the contract and folded it open, studying the signatures. By this point, the Company had reached them.

"Well, it certainly seems to be in order. Yes. Seems there can be no doubt. Who is this person you pledged your service to? Thorin Oakenshield?" Thorin lifted his head.

"That would be me." And then, Dwalin stepped forward.

"He is Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King under the Mountain." The Hobbits all began to murmur anew, but Ember could no longer hear them. Dwalin had said a name, a name which suddenly made Gandalf's odd behavior, and last wish that they stop in Rivendell, make all the more sense. She fought the secret smile that threatened to split her face in half.

'Gandalf, you wonderful, wonderful old fool!'

Khuzdul Translations

AmrâlimêLove of Mine

GhivashelBeloved

Sindarin Translations

Hîr vuin ThranduilMy Lord Thranduil

Guren glassuiThank you from my heart

Savo 'lass a lalaith, Hiril vuinHave joy and laughter, My Lady.

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PS. Review 293, I hope this chapter answered your question