Hey there guys! I'm sorry this is a little late getting up, but with everything going on lately, I've been stressing out too much to even think of doing any writing or updating. I've also not been well the past few days, not with Coronavirius! Don't worry, I'm safe! The UK has officially been put on lockdown so the wife and I are confined to our home, unless we need shopping. Hope you are all keeping safe and being smart with all this. Stay safe and well xx

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Crystal-Wolf-Guardian-967 – I'm glad you loved it! Hope you enjoy this chapter! xx


Chapter 21

The next few days go by relatively quick, despite me not doing much as I rest from the spider venom. Aiden woke up a few hours after I returned to my room, which brought me such relief as I felt him climbing into my bed. I hardly let him go that day, which he didn't seem to be bothered about, not wanting to leave me. Bilbo had managed to sneak by into my room that night, with news that he's found the barrels in the cellar. We put our heads together to come up with a plan of when to get the dwarves out, but haven't thought of it just yet.

On this day, just after Bilbo, Aiden and I had finished our lunch in our room, the read haired elf, Taruel, had walked in just after Bilbo had become invisible once more.

"Good afternoon, Tauriel." I say with a smile.

Since we had become guests barely a week ago, I had come to grow fond of Tauriel, seeing her as a good friend, and also thankful for her saving Kili and Aiden.

"Good afternoon, Sophia. And you too, Aiden."

Aiden smiles shyly from my side as he waves, a slight pink tinge to his cheeks. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he has a slight crush on the elf that saved his life.

"How are you both feeling today?"

"Well, thank you. I think we are both finally healed from our ordeal in the forest. I certainly don't feel any pain anymore, and Aiden has sure bounced back from it."

She smiles at this. "I am very pleased to hear this."

After a moments pause, I turn to her. "Tauriel, can I ask something of you?"

She looks to me, curiosity on her face at what I am thinking. "Of course. What is it?"

"Could. . .Could Aiden and I go to the dungeons and visit our friends?" at her hesitation, I quickly go on before she can speak. "We know, thanks to you, that they are safe and are being treated as well as prisoners can be, but it would ease my heart to see them for myself. The dwarves have become like family to the both of us."

She looks to us for a moment before sighing and nodding. "Come. I will take you to them."

I smile as Aiden cheers, jumping off the bed and tackling into Tauriel's legs as he wraps his arms around them.

"Thank you, 'Riel!" Aiden says happily, completely butchering her name.

Tauriel staggers back a little, looking a little surprised and not knowing what she should do. But as she sees me smiling away, she gives a small smile as she lays a hand on the boys head.

"You are welcome, little one."

Aiden pulls away and takes her hand as we leave, Tauriel keeps hold of it, not having the heart to let go while I walk on his other side, a warm smile on my face at my son.


Thorin is sitting at the back of his cell, a scowl permanently etched onto his face at the current situation he and his company were currently in. They are close to Erebor, so close, and now they are all sitting in Thranduil's cells, expected to just rot away. Well. . .not all of them are in the cells. Luckily, Bilbo had managed to sneak his way inside, thanks to some ring of his that makes him invisible, he never would have believed it if he hadn't seen it for himself. Bilbo informs him that he and Sophia are coming up with a plan to get everyone out.

That was a few days ago and they are still trapped in the cells. Although, despite this fact, his heart is lightened to know that Sophia and Aiden aren't with them, and are being treated like guests of the King. His is pleased to know that Thranduil hasn't mistreated her for being in alliance with the dwarves.

He did not know what it was about the woman and child, but ever since they came into his life, he has looked at the world in a different light. Ever since the dragon took their home, there had always been a darkness in his heart. One that only a few things could penetrate. The day his sister had married and the days his nephews were born. Dis and the boys were the only things that could bring such happiness to him, but know he has met Sophia. . .his heart somehow felt brighter and happier, a happiness he never thought he ever deserved.

And Aiden. . .ever since the boy first stumbled into their camp many months ago, he knew he was a special lad, and even though he could not look at him – or any of them – with nothing but fear, he knew that he would special to all of them and how right he was. Aiden was such a sweet and innocent boy, one that he would protect with his last breath. He had grown to care for the lad like he was his own.

He is brought out of his thoughts by the door to the cells clanking open. He paid no attention to it, knowing it was just the guards making their usual rounds. He just closed his eyes and tucked himself further back into the corner of his cell, hoping whoever it was would leave him alone, that was not to be the case. He grumbled to himself at the red haired female stopped at his cell.

"You have some visitors."

She then stepped aside and his heart skipped as he saw the smiling faces of Sophia and Aiden standing there.

"Sophia! Aiden!" Thorin jumped up and was by the door in an instant, kneeling down and taking Aiden's hands as he reached for him.

Sophia smiles as she kneels down besides her son, Tauriel walks off to give them some privacy.

"Are you alright, Thorin?"

Thorin smiles to her. "I'm fine now I know you are safe."

Before Sophia could say anything more, that's when the rest of the company realised she and Aiden were there.

"Hey, look! It's Sophia and Aiden!" Bofur calls out.

This has the others shouting above each other, all clamouring to the doors and making sure they're alright. Sophia just tells them they're fine while Aiden goes round to each cell to visit them. Sophia just smiles as she turns back to Thorin.

"Are they treating you well?" Thorin asks her.

Sophia nods as she sits down. "They are. King Thranduil has allowed us free roam of his Kingdom. And will also allow us to leave whenever we wish. But, I won't be leaving anytime soon. Not without you and the others at least."

When Sophia mentioned Thranduil will allow them to leave, he selfishly admitted to himself that he hoped she wouldn't leave, but then also wish she would so that she wasn't trapped here with them. And then for her to say she will be staying so that she doesn't leave them. . .he swore he could feel his heart jump once again.

"Even though you will be trapped here with us?"

Sophia smiles as she looks to him. "We won't be for long."

Thorin looks to her at this. "What do you mean?"

She looks in the direction Tauriel is, seeing her talking with Kili, before leaning closer to Thorin to talk quietly.

"Bilbo and I know how to get you out, we just don't know when yet. It could still be a few more days, but once we know you will know."

Sophia smiles as she sees the ray of hope in Thorin's eyes. Thorin nods, knowing he can trust both her and Bilbo to get them out. He finds it strange that at the beginning of their quest, he hated the idea of Bilbo coming with them, feeling that he would be more of a burden to them than any form of help, but now they depended on him and this woman to get them out. The woman he had once said they would be leaving in Rivendell. He is now so relieved that she and Aiden had come with them. True, it was mainly for her to find her way home at the end, but now she's there. . .he doesn't want her to go home. To leave them. . .leave him.

He shakes his head slightly as he sees the look of concern on Sophia's face and inwardly curses himself for allowing his emotions to show.

"Are you alright?" Sophia asks him, reaching through the bars and taking his hand.

Thorin looks to her hand, feeling that tingle he always felt whenever she touched him.

He smiles to her. "I'm fine, I just worry for you. I don't want you to do anything that will get you in trouble."

Sophia looks surprised by this, his concern for her taking her aback a little, but she just gives him a reassuring smile.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry. We both will be."

He just smiles as he takes this chance to look her over. She is wearing a simple Durin blue elven dress with long sleeves and matching slippers.

"You know, you have been here for a few months, and I have yet to see you in dwarven clothing. Mainly elven."

She looks down at her dress before giggling as she looks back to him again. "That is not true, I wore Kili's cloak when you rescued me, remember?"

He smiles as he nods. "Aye, that I do. We'll have to get you some dwarven clothing made when Erebor is ours again."

She looks to him at this, her smile slowly turning to a frown. "Thorin, I won't be staying, Aiden and I will be returning home by the end of this."

Thorin - obviously knowing this but wishfully thinking she'd stay - looks down, not wanting her to see the pain on his face at this.

"Right. . .of course."

Nothing is said between them for a moment before Sophia squeezes his hand.

"Thorin, I-"

"Sophia, it is time to leave now." Tauriel says as she walks over with Aiden.

Thorin curses the elf in his head at disturbing them, before turning to Sophia who nods to Tauriel and turns to him.

"I'll come back and see you tomorrow. Okay?"

He nods as he squeezes her hand and awkwardly hugs Aiden through the bars before they leave, Sophia saying goodbye to the others on her way out.

Thorin watches Sophia as she leaves, smiling to himself as she looks back at him before moving out of sight. He sighs as he lays his head back against the wall. How in Middle Earth did he get into this situation? He has never, in all of his hundred and ninety five years, has never felt this way for another woman before. But now, this otherworldly woman literally falls into his life and now. . .he cannot stop thinking about her. Her smile, her laugh, the way she cares for her boy. . .just a few weeks ago, while they were still at Beorn's, he had dreamed of them on their wedding day, which unnerved him when he awoke that morning. He knows that if a dwarrow were to have dreams of a woman on their wedding day or their children, then that was a sign that she was his One, the other half created for them by Mahal.

That morning, he believed Mahal to have a wicked sense of humour to create her for him, her from another world and a human too. But, as he thought more on this, as he watched her more, he had begun to believe that maybe he was right in this choice. Just knowing that Sophia could possibly be leaving them soon. . .it broke him. . .he didn't know what to do. So, he just groaned to himself before plonking himself back on the uncomfortable cot and slept. Maybe everything will clear up soon. . .he hoped.


Well, there we have it. They'll be soon escaping Mirkwood and on their way to Erebor! Hope you all enjoyed this and please keep your lovely reviews coming and stay safe! xx