A/N: Hello. I hope some of you are still out there. I know my updates are much further apart now and I apologize. Trying to juggle a lot at the moment. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think.

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priya: Thanks. It will take some time for him to work through it.

Guest: Thank you. So sorry its taking more time to get chapters posted.

April: Thank you! Hope you continue to enjoy.


After the first true night's sleep she'd had in who knew how long Rhae was ready to go the next morning. The rest of the Company had already finished shoveling eggs and sausage into their mouths when she made it to the table. Thorin raised an eyebrow but she just shrugged as she slid into an empty seat.

"Go. I will meet you there as soon as I'm done. I won't be long."

He hesitated a moment then gave her a curt nod. "The Master has graciously provided us with 'protection' during our time here." She snorted a bit and was rewarded with a smirk. "The guard outside the door will show you the way to their training area when you're ready."

Rhae merely nodded, too interested in the food on her plate to waste time giving him a real response. Now that she had a meal in front of her just how hungry she was became blatantly obvious and she couldn't get it in her mouth fast enough. Nothing anywhere could possibly taste better than what she was now devouring. How long had they been stuck in that forest? Glancing up she caught sight of a dark haired woman, probably middle aged, watching her with a slightly concerned expression on her face. Rhae blushed a bit at being caught eating in a way that was probably not at all dignified.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed you," the woman said hurriedly.

"Do not worry, you didn't. I was just so absorbed in my food I didn't realize you were there."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"You eat as if you hadn't had a meal in ages."

"I'm not sure how long it has been since I or my companions had more than just some dried nuts and berries, maybe a month." She paused, fork stopped between her mouth and her plate. "I do hope they didn't make too much of a mess or clean out your pantry this morning?"

The woman smiled. "I had prepared plenty and they cleaned up every morsel put in front of them. My pantry is still adequately stocked as well."

"Thank you for your hospitality …" her words trailed off not knowing the name of the woman in front of her.

"Maud. My husband Eldon and I own the inn; have for at least twenty years now I think."

"Well, we are very grateful for your help and hopefully we'll be out of your hair before the week is out."

"We are so very glad you have come," Maud whispered before hurrying back into the kitchen. The woman's response caused the smile to slip from Rhae's lips. If they all knew what she did they wouldn't be so eager to see them in their town. Shaking off her morose thoughts she motioned to the guard waiting by the door that she was ready to go. He obliged and led her through the narrow, dirty streets. It saddened her to see the squalor the majority of the citizens lived in and she sincerely hoped she would be able to save them from further misery. When they arrived at the training yard Rhae was surprised at what she found.

There was a small crowd on the other side of the fence watching the dwarves as they worked and she frowned slightly. This wasn't a show they were putting on for the enjoyment of the townspeople. However after thinking about it as she walked through the guard building and came to the doorway out into the yard for a moment she smiled to herself. Perhaps it wasn't such a big deal; the people of Lake-Town seemed to have little to get excited about and who was she to judge them? She liked watching the dwarves spar, too. A laugh almost escaped her lips. Well, if it was a show they wanted, then she would be happy to oblige. She notched an arrow and let her eyes rove lazily over the company, looking for her target. It presented itself and she took her shot.

There was a gasp from the onlookers and even the dwarves spun around at Bofur's cry of surprise. He had been leaning against the building on the other side of the yard, needing a quick breather from the fight Nori was giving him, when his hat went flying. It was impaled on an arrow which was now stuck in the side of the wall directly over his head.

"The lot of you have gotten soft." All heads turned to see a grinning Rhae step from the armory door, another arrow notched and ready. There was audible amazement from the gathered townspeople but the dwarves could only shake their heads and laugh. They should have known to expect something like this from their Ranger. She moved towards them with a smile though they continued to watch her a bit warily.

"Nice of you to finally join us," Fíli quipped from where his seat on a wooden crate. Before he'd barely gotten the words out of his mouth another arrow whizzed through the air and landed with a thud between his legs, barely missing the crotch of his trousers. He looked up at her, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"Anything else on your mind?" she teased. He shook his head quickly, struggling to remove the arrow from the wood.

"Did I not tell you that you'd have no problem besting any solider even now?" Thorin said, coming to her side.

"I thought it was worth it to see if you were correct in your assumptions."

"Come, lassie. Let's see if your skill with a blade is still as sharp as your skill with a bow," Nori dared.

Tossing her bow and quiver to the side she pulled her sword out, twirling it easily in hand. "With pleasure."

.

The sweat on her brow and the soreness in her body all felt good. It had been too long since she'd been able to swing a blade. As she'd sparred with various members of the company the crowd of spectators had grown. Apparently a female with a sword in hand was even more of a spectacle than a group of dwarves. Once she'd become focused on her movements the sounds of the crowd had faded and it was almost a surprise to see them there when they company decided they were done for the day. Rhae was surprised to see Bard in the crowd. He stood at the back of the spectators, his eyes narrowed in thought. Knowing his displeasure at their presence she wondered why he would have taken the time to come and watch them. It was then she noticed the boy and two girls at his side. She wasn't sure how their entrance into Lake-Town, different from what was in the movie, would affect interactions with Bard and his family. It was to his house that the dwarves that stayed in town went to … though she had managed to keep Kíli from getting shot with the Mogul arrow. Perhaps an association with him was no longer necessary but she supposed playing it by ear might be the best way to go; he was the one with the only arrow that could kill the dragon.

When the dwarves finally called a halt to their practice the crowd began to disperse … except for Bard and his family. He managed to catch her eye and she made her way over to where they were now standing by the fence.

"We had no idea a woman could fight as well as the dwarves," the youngest girl told her, awe in her eyes as she looked up at her.

"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or not," Rhae replied with a laugh.

"You were truly a sight to behold," the older girl said.

"Thank you. I am glad I can still keep up with the dwarves. Their stamina and strength far surpasses my own."

"I believe some introductions are in order seeing as how my girls have already begun monopolizing your time."

She looked up at him. "I am Stryker, Ranger of the North. I remember you from the square."

"That is why I am here. I am Bard and this is Bain, my son, and my daughters Sigrid and Tilda." He placed a hand on each of their shoulders as he introduced them.

Rhae smiled at each of them. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Do you think you could teach us how to use a bow?" Sigrid asked a bit timidly.

"Sigrid!" Bain admonished.

The request took her by surprise. "I certainly do not mind but that is not for me to decide."

"We will discuss this later," Bard said with a slight frown. "Bain, take your sisters home."

"Yes, Da." The two girls reluctantly followed their brother off into the crowd and Rhae focused her attention on the man.

"You have a lovely family, Bard."

"My children are my world and I would do anything to keep them safe."

"If you have come here hoping you could somehow convince me to change our plans then I'm sorry to say you have wasted your time."

"You are not a dwarf. I am familiar enough with their ways to know that they do not easily accept those not of their kind into their midst. There must be a very good reason why they would let you come with them."

"As I said yesterday, I am here at the bequest of the Valar. They wish to see Thorin Oakenshield sit on the throne that is rightfully his."

This seemed to give him a bit of a pause. Even here there was at least some reverence for the Gods.

"If they wake the dragon we will all die."

"That is exactly what I will be trying to keep from happening." She met his eyes. "I understand your concern, Bard. If I knew my son was in danger I would want to do anything possible to keep him safe -"

"You have a son?"

"Aye. A fine lad of thirteen, almost fourteen years."

"Where is he?"

"Rivendell where he is safe."

"As a parent how can you willingly go along with a plan that could mean the death of hundreds of innocents?"

Rhae took a deep breath and closed her eyes, searching for the right words … and what she could actually reveal. "Bard, there are more dangers in this world than what is laying asleep on your doorstep. Darker, more sinister things lurk in the shadows. Believe me when I say that if the dwarves do not retake the mountain, if the line of Durin is not sitting on the throne, then you are going to wish your children had died quickly in dragon fire rather than to suffer what is to come."

.

"What did that man want?" Thorin asked later that evening as they sat outside their inn, hoping his voice sounded nonchalant.

"Bard, his name is Bard."

"How do you know that?"

"He told me," she replied, giving him a look that clearly said not to be so thick headed.

"Alright. What did Bard want?"

She shrugged. "He had hoped to change my mind about continuing on with our journey and to get the entire company to give up the idea."

"He what?!"

"I stopped him before he was able to utter a word of his argument and let him know he was wasting his time thinking such things."

Thorin fumed for several minutes. Just being in this town had him on edge. They were so close to the mountain, its song was screaming in his veins, and having to endure the constant scrutiny of Men didn't help his nerves. Then to see Rhae talking with the man from the square, the man that had dared challenge his right to his throne … It had taken him a moment to realize she hadn't followed the rest of them into the armory when they finished for the day. When he'd peered back out the door and seen her standing at the fence talking to the man and his children he'd been rather surprised, wondering what in Arda they could be discussing. He'd watched from the shadows as they'd talked and something had tightened in his chest. The dark haired man towered over Rhae in a way that he himself would never be able to do. She seemed almost tiny next to him. An overwhelming sense of possessiveness had came over him and he had wanted nothing more than to march out there with his sword drawn, whisking her away from his unwelcome presence. It had been a struggle in self control but he'd managed to refrain from acting on his inclinations; she would have been furious at him. Now to hear Bard had been trying to talk her into stopping their quest? He began to see red. How dare he?

"Calm down, Thorin." Rhae laid a hand on his arm. "It was a rather bold thing for him to do but he is merely a father worried about the safety of his children. Would you not do anything in your power to protect Filí and Kilí?"

He frowned but couldn't lie. "I would."

"As would I. It is only natural that the people here would be concerned about what would happen should Smaug awaken."

"Most likely the same thing that happened when he first attacked one hundred and fifty years ago." They both glanced up towards where the ruins of Dale were a dark silhouette against the mountain. "I hope you did not promise him anything that we cannot uphold."

"No. I merely told him that I would do everything I could to make sure nothing bad happened to him and his family. That's about the only thing we can promise at this point … to try."

They sat in comfortable silence for some time, Thorin's arm over her shoulders and her head resting on him. How safe and right she felt with him scared her. Her internal argument that she had to return home echoed in her head less and less forcefully as the days went by. If she could have she would have chosen to stay in Middle Earth, to accept Thorin's offer, but there was still some small part of her, deep inside, that still said it was all impossible. Even after almost nine years there was still a little bit of her that didn't believe any of this was real. She wished her mother would come to her. Miriel had been absent from her dreams since they'd entered Mirkwood. If there was any time she could have used a mother's advice it was now.

"Sometimes I ask myself why I am still doing this." Thorin's soft words pulled her from her thoughts.

"Doing what?"

He gestured with his free hand. "This. The quest, trying to reclaim Erebor."

"It is your home."

"I know and I have always desperately wanted to return. I still do though sometimes I wonder if we should have just stayed in Ered Luin."

"You had a good life there."

"Yes, we did and I occasionally think back on that knowing how hard we worked to get so far and accomplish so much." He paused. "But I cannot ignore my birthright. I can feel the mountain calling to me in my blood. Lately whenever that thought pops up a voice inside reminds me of the history, the tradition, the gold in our home and that it is mine."

Rhae couldn't think of anything to say to that. It was the gold sickness speaking to him, calling to him, seducing him with thoughts of the treasure deep in the mountain. Knowing what it could do to him caused a shiver to run down her spine.

"You're cold. Let's go back inside and -"

"No. I'm fine. I'd like to stay out here like this for just a little while longer."

Her response obviously pleased him and he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head where it rested on his shoulder. She wished they could sit there forever, stay like that forever, because while they were still in Lake-Town, while Thorin still hadn't set foot in that mountain, he was still free from the clutches of the gold.


They made good use of their week of rest. Most of their time was spent in the training grounds though Thorin had to meet with the Master a few times. She had offered to come with him but he had told her, in a moment of honesty that she couldn't fault, that he did not trust her around the Master or his little minion Alfrid. So while she would have willingly gone with him if he'd asked she was glad to be spared having to spend any amount of time in their presence. She ended up, after all, splitting her time between refreshing and honing her own skills and teaching Bard's two daughters how to use a bow. While surprised that he acquiesced to their request she was nonetheless pleased. Getting to know the family better couldn't be a bad thing especially since her presence had already changed much about what happened to the dwarves while in Lake-Town which left her at a bit of a loss as to how to proceed. It was still possible that they would need Bard's assistance at some point and being on good terms with him and his children would come in handy in that case. Even if their paths didn't cross after the Company left town for the mountain perhaps becoming friends with them would help smooth over any future interactions … though she certainly hoped she would be able to not only prevent Thorin falling prey to the gold sickness but the destruction of Lake-Town. Rhae did not like the feeling of uncertainty that now hung over her head.


Their final full day in town was spent in preparations. Supplies were brought and bags were carefully packed. Weapons were checked, sharpened, and checked again. Rhae could feel the excitement radiating off Thorin. Tomorrow would signal the start of the end of their quest. She felt that excitement as well but it was tinged with a heaping dose of caution; they had traveled far and been through so much but the hardest part of their journey was still ahead of them. She couldn't help but watch with pride, however, as Thorin moved among his company, lending a hand wherever it was needed. He truly was a good leader. If only she could keep him from succumbing to the gold sickness …

"They are throwing a farewell dinner and party for us this evening." Thorin approached where she was double checking her own bag in the main room of the inn.

"A what?"

"I suppose the Master wanted to make another show of how friendly and helpful he has been before we leave." She snorted and he nodded in agreement. "We were all given new clothes for the occasion."

He held out a small bundle which she opened eagerly … then almost dropped it in disgust.

"It's not going to jump up and attack you," Thorin said with a chuckle as she eyed the wine red dress in disdain.

"I hate dresses."

"But you look so fetching in them, marlûna. I have not forgotten how you took my breath away that evening in Rivendell." She sighed but grinned at him.

"Very well … since you asked so nicely."

"The quicker we get it over with the quicker we can leave for the mountain."

Nodding she trudged up the stairs to begin readying herself for an event she really didn't want to attend.

The banquet was not enjoyable. The ostentatious display of wealth the Master had brought forth was sickening in Rhae's eyes. Since the company did not seem to be bothered by it, enjoying the platters heaped high with food and the plentiful ale and wine, she swallowed her disgust and kept a smile plastered on her face. Not having much of an appetite, she pushed some food around her plate and watched Bofur as he downed mug after mug of ale. She hoped Oin had something for his head in the morning. As it was they were probably going to have to drag him out. There was music and dancing as well and Thorin surprised her by pulling her out to the floor. They had never danced and she was amazed at how well he moved. She would never have guessed that he was such an excellent dancer. It was easy to forget the circumstances that had placed them in this hall in Lake-Town when she was held tightly in his arms while he spun her around amidst the other couples.

The night began to turn sour when she noticed a perky blonde, probably the daughter of one of the "wealthy" merchants that had been invited, hovering around Thorin throughout the evening. It seemed like every time she looked for him, there was a blonde head by his side. It was no secret to her what the woman's intentions and hopes were; a king of any race would be considered quite a catch. His irritation was clear to her though he masked it well. The jealousy she felt at this realization took her completely by surprise … though it didn't quell any of the irritation she felt. Rhae had finally had enough of the bouncing little blonde when she saw her placing her hand on Thorin's arm and trying to wiggle close to him. Thankfully he seemed well aware of what was going on, excusing himself and stomping over to where Dwalin was sitting nursing a mug of ale. Seeing an opening, Rhae came up behind her, leaning in to whisper in her ear, her voice low and threatening.

"If you don't leave the King Under the Mountain alone, I will make you disappear and it will look like an accident." The woman whirled around, her eyes widening in fear when she saw who had just spoken; she'd seen Rhae in the training grounds and heard the rumors that she was one of the deadly Rangers who roamed lands far to the West. The girl hesitated as if to reply, the flash of anger in her eyes didn't escape Rhae's notice, then seemed to think better of the situation. Dropping a quick curtsy the blonde hurried away, melting into the crowd.

"How did you manage that?" a deep voice said at her side.

She gave him a smirk. "You'd be horrified if I told you."

"Somehow I doubt that."

Not too long after that, feeling like the walls were starting to close in on her, Rhae stepped out to get some fresh air. Leaning against the railing she sucked in several deep breaths and felt the muscles in her shoulders begin to relax. It was too cold to remain out here for very long but she could deal with it for a while … anything to get away from that hemmed in feeling inside. She hadn't been crammed into a room with so many people since … well, probably since she was teaching college classes back in Virginia. She used to have no problem in situations like that. Now … now she vastly preferred space and freedom, living how she wanted, fresh air and trees. It would be hard to readjust to life at home once they returned; perhaps she and David could take up hiking. There were beautiful mountains full of hiking trails only a short drive from their home –

"Excuse me, Lady Stryker, but might I have a word with you?"

"You just did."

She could sense the little toad's slight frown and displeasure at her response but she didn't care. It seemed she wouldn't get through the evening without having to deal with the Master's little sycophant. Knowing he wouldn't leave her alone until he'd said whatever it was he'd sought her out to say she turned around to face him.

"Have you enjoyed your time in our town, my lady?"

"Your town and people have given us an opportunity to rest and supplied us with what we need to complete our quest. We are very thankful for the assistance and it will certainly be remembered once King Thorin regains his throne. I am sure they will be glad to resume trade with the people of Lake-Town as a well deserved show of gratitude."

"Will you be remaining with the dwarves once this journey is over?"

"I will remain with them as long as they need my assistance in re-establishing themselves in the mountain but my place is in the West."

He sneered a bit. "You do not need to pretend with us, my lady. I understand your presence among them perfectly."

"Excuse me?" Anyone from the company could have warned the man right then that the tone of voice and frown were clear warning signs that Rhae was angry and ready to lash out. However, he was oblivious and continued.

"Why else would a lone woman travel with such a group of men? We, of course, take no issue with that, and I was hoping you might consent to stay behind when the dwarves leave instead of continuing on with them to certain death. It would be quite profitable for you." He placed a hand on her arm which she slapped away.

"You presume wrong," she hissed, glaring at the man who, despite his stooped posture, was still a bit taller than her.

He stepped closer and she found her legs pressed against the railing. A wrong move would send her toppling into the icy water. He gripped her shoulder this time. "There is no need to keep up pretenses with me. The guise of a Ranger is a nice touch, I must say." He pressed himself against her and sought to get his hands in her hair only to suddenly find himself on his back on the ground, the point of the dagger she'd concealed under her dress against his neck.

"I am indeed Dunedain, a Ranger of the North, and you have just insulted one chosen by the Valar to come amongst you." She put a bit more pressure on the blade, making the greasy man squeak in terror. "Know this, if you ever dare lay a hand on me again, I will make sure no one can call you a man from that day forward."

He didn't answer though his eyes were wide with fear.

"Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Stryker!" a deep voice bellowed and she turned to see Thorin stomping towards her. He had seen her slip out of the room but when she hadn't returned he'd come looking for her. Part of the conversation outside reached his ears before he could see them but before he could get to her he saw her flip the man easily on his back, pulling her dagger on him. A spurt of pride for her skills managed to flash its way through the rage that was coursing through him.

"Thorin, I was just finished here," she said with a smirk, the anger and indignation still clear in her eyes. He reached down, grabbing Alfrid by the collar and slamming him into the wall.

"Lay a hand on her again and my blade will be the last thing you see in this life."

Releasing the man so he landed in a heap Thorin took Rhae's arm and led her away from the party.

"I believe it is time for us to retire for the evening," he said in a tight voice.

"You will get no argument from me on that."

"What all did he say to you?"

Rhae sighed. He was not going to take this well. "He asked if I would stay behind instead of going on to the mountain with you. He … he believed I was merely with the Company as your whore."

His grip tightened for a second and then a stream of words in Khuzdul, probably curses if his tone was any indication, began to stream from his lips in a low voice.

"Did he hurt you?"

"Of course not. I didn't give him a chance even if he had any intentions to do so."

"I will kill him," he growled.

"He erred and has been soundly put in his place for it. I told him I would relieve him of his manhood if he dared touch me again. Between that and your threat I do not think he will come near me again." He was looking at her but she wasn't sure if he was actually seeing her through his anger. Coming to a halt she reached up and placed a palm on his cheek. "We leave tomorrow. There is no point in worrying about it now."

"He touched you! He dared think -"

"Yes, and I made him pay for his gross insult."

"What would have happened if I hadn't gotten there when I did?"

"I probably would've drawn a little blood from the rat's neck and then left him lying there for anyone else to stumble upon."

Rhae watched him calmly, hoping he would be able to rein in his anger. She would be touched by his concern if she didn't have a sneaking suspicion it was merely that possessiveness overtaking him again. When he didn't say anything further she tugged on his arm and they finished the walk back to the inn.

He escorted her up to her room but instead of leaving her there it was clear he had more to say about what had just happened. It was clear there was still quite a bit of anger in his eyes.

"You will not go anywhere tomorrow without one of the company with you."

She pursed her lips together in irritation. "Thorin, I am -"

"You are MINE!" He pulled her roughly against him, one hand on her lower back, the other gripping the back of her neck forcing her to look up at him. His blue eyes were dark with madness and desire. It was the madness she saw that sent a shiver down her spine. This wasn't Thorin talking, it was something else, and she was suddenly more fearful than she had been at any point on their quest. She took several deep breaths, frantically trying to figure out a way to defuse this situation.

"Let go of me. You need to leave," she told him firmly and planting her hands on his chest tried to push herself away. His grip tightened sending another flicker of fear running up her spine. She glared at him, a frown on her face. "I said to let me go. I will not talk to you when you act like this." This time, instead of trying to push away from him, she twisted to the side, dropped almost into a squat, and retreated to the other side of her bed.

Her actions must have brought him at least somewhat to his senses because an expression of horror then shame crossed his face. She felt sorry for him as she knew this episode had been another example of the effect of the gold sickness.

"Rhae … I am so sorry. I – I don't know what came over me."

"You are tired and anxious about getting underway tomorrow," was her reply. Mentioning the real reason for his altered behavior would only cause the anger to flare up again. "Good night, Thorin."

He hesitated then bade her the same, slipping out the door quieter than she thought possible for a dwarf. Once she was alone she yanked the dress from her shoulders and leaving it in a pile on the floor crawled under the blankets on the bed. Though she knew she needed to rest – tomorrow would be a long and tiring day – she also knew there was no way she'd be able to sleep after what had just occurred with Thorin. It brought up something that had been nagging at the back of her mind for a few days though she'd managed to ignore it until now.

Rhae stared at the ceiling hoping an answer would just appear so she wouldn't have to make this decision. She knew what was waiting for them in the mountain just as she knew what Smaug would do to the town they now rested in. Because of the death and destruction that was brought upon them Bard and the Lakemen ended up pitted against the dwarves once the elves arrived. If they hadn't been so eager to accept their help then perhaps Thorin and Bard wouldn't have argued and everyone would have been prepared before Azog and his filth showed up.

So what was the correct decision?

Continue to the mountain with the Company and hope to kill the dragon there? Or stay here, knowing the dwarves' plan with the molten gold would not work, ready to face Smaug and help Bard kill him?
There was no doubt that Thorin would not take her staying in town well. That change they'd noticed since Mirkwood had become even worse in Laketown. His moods had become increasingly darker and volatile. Tonight was just the worst it had shown itself. She had a sneaking suspicion that seeing her among her own kind (so to speak) was not helping with the jealousy Dwalin had hinted at. She knew it was the gold sickness, its debilitating tendrils were tightening their grip each day, and the thought of seeing what would happen to Thorin once he was in the mountain made her sick to her stomach. Could her presence keep him from succumbing at all? But … if he didn't free himself from its clutches on his own it would leave him open and vulnerable to it forever. No, he had to defeat that enemy by himself. The more she thought through all the different things that were coming she knew that, unfortunately, some of them had to happen. What didn't have to happen was the complete destruction of Laketown. Without that hanging over them Bard would probably be less likely to insist on being immediately paid back what they were promised. The only way to do that was to stay; she wouldn't be able to stop him from burning the town if she was in the mountain.

Now all she had to do was tell Thorin.