Waking between Fili and Kili has become a familiar comfort. Billana yawns widely as she wakes, drawing in air that tastes and smells like her princes even though it is also tainted by the smell of decay and dragon. She wriggles out from between them, a task made rather more difficult by the way they have tangled their fingers into her fur as they sleep pressed tightly against her for warmth. She shakes, feeling mussed fur shift and settle back into place, then stretches with a low groan and surveys the den that they have made. Whatever furniture there was is unsalvageable, she can smell the rot in it clearly, but there is a large fireplace with a hook for a pot and her sensitive ears can pick up the distant fall of water over rocks. Rumbling snores tell her that most of the Company are still asleep, and likely will be for some time yet, Oin, however, is sat next to Thorin with his gift glittering about him as he tries to figure out what happened to the fallen king. Thorin is still, sleeping though the scent that comes from him when she draws near tells her that it isn't natural and the feel of dark magic clings to him in a way that makes her whine and withdraw.

"I think it's time you turned back, nathith," she hears Balin say and the wolf turns to look at the dwarf that she calls father.

He throws a blanket over her shoulders and back, the weight settling on her in a way that makes her want to shake and she sighs. The wolf form is familiar and comfortable. It will be useful now that they have the mountain, but Balin also has a point and she shifts back, letting her hobbit form settle over her like a familiar old coat. She shudders at the wave of cold air that flows over her from a gap in the blanket, pulling it tighter around her as she hunts for the clothing that Nori had recovered for her the night before. The warmth of them is welcome, though they could do with a good wash, but she drifts closer to the fire anyway, pleased to see that the pot is already full of oats and water, though she doubts that there will be anything else to flavour it with. The quest has made her alarmingly accustomed to bland food.

"What happens now?" She asks Balin.

"I was wondering that myself," Fili says from behind her, exhaustion clear in his voice, and she squeaks.

"You should still be sleeping," she admonishes him.

"I was," he shrugs, "but you left and it was cold without you." Balin rolls his eyes.

"Now that the dragon is dead it makes everything far more simple," he says. "As long as we can find the Arkenstone before he gets here I can't think of any reason that we shouldn't send for Dain immediately. It was what Thorin had planned on doing if we arrived and found the dragon dead anyway."

"We don't have to worry about the Arkenstone," Fili replies, touching his pocket. Balin gives him a relieved smile.

"Then it is simply a case of sending a raven to Dain if one will agree to take the message, and working out what the dragon did to Thorin."

"Nothing good," Billana tells her father, "I don't know much about magic, but he smells wrong, twisted somehow." Balin makes a frustrated noise.

"I was afraid of that," he mutters. "The sooner we can get into the great library the better. Then we need only hope that decades of neglect hasn't destroyed the text that we need." He rubs his forehead with a hand that trembles, a clear sign that he is as exhausted as the rest of them. "First things first, we had best send for Dain and get Bombur, Bifur and Gloin from Dale as well. No sense in them waiting there for us now. Then Ori and I can start on the library."

"You can get some rest," Billana shakes her head. "You were as involved in the fight with Smaug as the rest, you're still tired."

"I won't linger there too long, lass," Balin assures her, "though I would take it as a kindness if you would ask the ravens to come to us rather than having to search them out."

Billana gives her agreement easily and the three of them make their way out to the battlements even though she protests that Fili, at least, should go back to bed. He refuses and they follow Balin, who is the only one who knows Erebor, along a route that winds around piles of rubble left from Smaug's entry into the mountain. As they walk Billana reaches out to the ravens who have begun to repopulate the ruined tower on the western side of the mountain, asking them silently to come and meet the dwarves.

The view from over the remains of the gate is incredible and the three of them take a moment to simply absorb it.

"I never believed I would see this again," Balin sighs, his eyes bright with tears. Fili rests a hand on his shoulder.

"You have the rest of your days to see it now," he says, "the mountain is ours once more."

"Aye, it is," he smiles at the young prince, "and we need to make sure that it stays that way."

Their conversation is interrupted by the flap of wings, Billana's mental call having been answered by three of the large black birds. Billana finds herself wishing that Kili could be here to see them, but whatever spell he cast to finally kill Smaug has obviously drained him completely.

"You called, flock sister," the oldest of the ravens croaks and Balin takes a shuddering breath. "It is good to know that Durin's kin are once more the masters of this mountain. We are ready to honour the ancient agreements between our forefathers and theirs."

"That it good to hear, flock master," she replies with a respectful bob of her head, secretly relieved that these birds can communicate in a way that her companions can understand. Translating is sometimes difficult given how differently animals see the world. "We would be honoured if you would carry a message."

"Roac will take it," the elder says. "Speak it."

"We wish him to tell Dain of the Iron Hills that Erebor is won, and we call upon his oath to the King of Durin's folk to stand beside us in making the mountain secure. We would also be obliged if you could stop in the ruins of Dale along the way and advise the three there that they are to come to the mountain." Balin tells the bird. Roac bobs and repeats it back, leaving only when Balin is satisfied. "There is another message, if you have one who would agree to it," Balin adds, "the journey will be a far longer one."

"Craa is young enough to make the journey," the elder croaks.

"For Lady Dis in Belegost," Balin says, "tell her that the mountain is won and our people may return, and that her sons are alive and well."

Billana reaches out to Craa silently, requesting that on his way back from the Blue Mountains he stop in Tuckborough in the Shire and assure her grandfather that she is alive, well and happy. The raven promises her that it will be done and departs as rapidly as Roac did. As she follows his departure she catches sight of something that may be of concern.

"What's that dark cloud on the horizon?" She asks, drawing Balin and Fili's attention to it.

"It looks like smoke," Fili replies and Billana's stomach clenches. It could be a coincidence that whatever is burning is large enough to catch their attention from this distance, but she cannot help but wonder whether it has something to do with whatever Kili did to kill Smaug. "I hope that isn't down to Kili," he mutters, "Mirkwood and Laketown are both in that direction. It will make things difficult if we've inadvertently burnt down one or other of them."

"I think both could use a bit of fire, personally," Balin mutters. "Now come along, you pair, Fili needs more sleep and you look like you could use it too, nathith."

-Flock sister- The raven calls to her. -The young one is your mate?-

-One of them- she replies, carefully constructing an image of Kili in her mind that the raven will understand. -There is this one as well, although when the mood takes him he can take on your form too. He doesn't hear like we do, however.-

-They will give you strong hatchlings- he says approvingly.

-I hope so- she smiles. -May I ask one last thing of you?-

-If it can be done, and does not interfere with our preparations for the Big Cold- he agrees.

-It shouldn't- she assures him, -I ask only that you keep watch, I have an uneasy feeling. Gandalf the Grey should have joined us by now, and our journey here was plagued by orcs and other difficulties. I hope that now the dragon is dead and the mountain is won our greater difficulties will be over, but the Men of the Lake feel we owe them something and I worry that the elves will decide the same once the word is out.-

-The world of the groundwalkers is a strange one- the raven elder sounds amused -but we will watch for any strangers, such is our habit in any case.-

She thanks him, then hurries after Balin and Fili who have noticed her absence and are waiting inside. She tells them that the raven had simply wanted to talk and they both smile. Fili slips his hand into hers, his other hand in the same pocket as the Arkenstone and she sees Balin's eyes linger upon it.

"It may be best that we find somewhere safe and secure for that," he comments. "Since we aren't in the room anyway. It was source of Thror's obsession with riches after his wife died. We'll need to check that he didn't place any magics on it that might have an adverse affect on any of us."

"Would he really have done that?" Fili asks, snatching his hand from his pocket.

"The line of Durin has ever felt the loss of their One keenly," Balin sighs. "As both you and Kili have seen and experienced. Every dwarf will seek to fill the cracks left in their hearts with something," he explains to Billana. "Usually it is their craft that offers them the greatest consolation. For others it is their children who become a source of joy. Some turn to alcohol where the other two cannot help. There are those, however, who will find solace only in the increase of their wealth. This is where Durin's line has always fallen, the lust for gold, gems of great beauty and even power has ever filled the hearts of those who have lost the One who might have filled the cracks."

"Amad drinks," Fili admits. "Far more than she thinks Kili or I know." Balin pulls a face. "Do you think that will change now that we have the mountain?"

"You're the healer, lad," he replies sadly, "what do you think?"

"So, when I die," Billana mutters, "what happens to you and Kili?" They stop walking and Fili turns so that he can take her other hand and meet her eyes with his.

"You don't need to worry about that," he tells her. "Whatever happens is in the future, you may well outlive both of us yet."

"But-" she begins to object, not wanting to doom them to a future of madness or obsession when her shorter hobbit life-span finally catches up with her.

"Billana," Balin cuts in before she can finish, "even if you were to walk away now, neither Fili nor Kili could ever marry or love another. It doesn't work like that for our people. It's why we feel the loss of our loved ones so keenly."

"You need to trust us, Kitten," Fili tells her. "It's the way things are for us, if we all feared what might happen we would never marry." She nods, but she knows that this is a concern that she will revisit later.

"To the original point," Balin sighs, "I have no idea whether Thror would have laid a spell upon the stone, but nor would I put it past him. I would prefer to be safe, especially until we know what the dragon did to your uncle, lad. I dislike the fact that he still has not woken."

"As do I. It would be best to have Kili look at it, he was always better at finding hidden spells than me," Fili sighs. "Where would you advise we hide it?"

"If I knew that," Balin huffs, "we would be there already."

"Thorin has to already know that I found it," Billana shakes her head. "He would have seen me carrying it as clearly as Fili did."

"Uncle isn't always the most observant," Fili reminds her.

"But in this she may yet be correct," Balin mutters. "The only way to know for certain is to see what he says when he wakes. Until then, it would be best that we see to finding somewhere to put it and larger quarters to spread out into. That room already feels crowded, I'd like us to have a little more space before Dain and his warriors arrive. It would be poor form to request their aid and have nowhere to house them."

"Not to mention working out how to deal with Smaug's carcass." Fili grumbles. From the way that Balin swears, she realises that he hadn't thought about that either.


A.N: It's back! I hadn't forgotten about this one. For those who haven't been reading Wild Magic: Trickster's Sight (exclusively on AO3 for the moment due to rating, I'm not sure if it will make it over here due to how tied into the plot the sex is, which is something I never thought I would say), I felt that I needed to get that one finished so that I can focus on all the big stuff that's coming up in this story. I've got loose ends to tie up, a few threads to weave in and patches of lore to tack on and I needed to not be distracted by what was going on with Dwalin and Nori, there was a lot going on with them. When I'm not studying this now has all of my attention. Hooray!