p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"it was somewhere around midnight when Sepha was waken to a knock at her door. she shot out of bed, having grown accustomed to surprising awakenings in the middle of the night. When the knocking continued she climbed out, not caring that she was wearing only a nightgown that was tied around the waist with a sash. She grabbed her sweater she got from Tilda and pulled it on over the top since the top was slightly see through./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Fili who looked worried. "Sorry to wake you Seph..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's alright," the girl said, stepping out, "What's wrong?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili is tossing and turning," Fili replied. "He's having a horrid nightmare but I cannot wake him and I cannot calm him down. I got uncle and Oin but neither can wake him either."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and closed the door, following Fili down the hallway to his room. When they entered the room, they saw that Oin was trying to calm Kili who was shivering and muttering in his sleep. Thorin was standing at the end of the bed, looking completely concerned for his youngest nephew. Sepha noticed that he was only wearing a shirt and pants and his boots. The shirt revealed part of his chest but Sepha fought the blush that lit up her face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Ah thank goodness you're here lass," Oin said, causing THorin to turn around and notice Sepha's presence./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha stepped over to Oin, fighting the urge to look at Thorin who she knew was watching her for she knew she would blush if she looked at him. Walking over, she looked at Kili who was sweating and muttering in his sleep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I cannot calm him," Oin said. "He's so deep in sleep that he wont wake till morning... but we need to calm him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How?" the girl asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""He needs you to comfort him lass," Oin said, "You always had a way with Kili with that voice of yours. Gandalf wasn't kidding when he said that your voice is like medicine to those who are troubled."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I need to sing to him?" Sepha inquired./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Oin nodded, "he needs to know you're here. That should be more than enough to calm him and allow him to sleep peacefully."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sighing, Sepha nodded and walked past Oin. She reached over and with Fili's help, lifted Kili's head and sitting on the bed, she placed Kili's head in her lap and gently held it so he wouldn't hurt himself tossing and turning./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She gently stroked his hair and allowed her soft voice to fill the room. Almost as soon as her voice started, Kili stopped tossing and muttering and his features seemed to relax./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Sepha's soft voice finished, Kili was sleeping peacefully, a smile on his face and he had stopped sweating and was breathing gently now./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl let out a sigh and looked at Fili who was smiling, his eyes still worried but his face calm now. Oin nodded and before telling Fili to warn him if it happened again, he left. Sepha didn't dare move for she didn't want to wake Kili but she soon realized how tired she was. She leant her head against the bed post and stroke Kili's hair./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thanks for coming Sepha," Fili said, sitting down on the edge of the bed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and smiled, "I'm glad I could help."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili felt a tinge of guilt when he saw how tired the girl was. He and Kili's plan had been that in the morning they would casually bring up the origin of courting beads to her in the hopes she would get the hint and say or do something that would finally make her and Thorin admit their feelings (or at least her since Thorin already did) but this threw everything off. Sepha was exhausted. Fili had hoped she would get a good night's sleep before they told her about the beads but now, she was almost out from exhaustion./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You need to rest," Thorin said, finally speaking./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"FIli at once got up and helped his uncle move Kili's head off of Sepha's lap. The girl was practically half awake and half asleep, barely noticing that they moved Kili off of her. In that case, Thorin slipped one arm under her legs and the other around her shoulders and lifted her bridal style into his arms./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili knew better than to smirk with triumph at this gesture but instead thanked his uncle, said goodnight and crawled into bed before covering his brother up with a blanket. Thorin left his two nephews to their much needed sleep and carried the girl down the hallway back to her room./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He was glad the door was half open so he just pushed it open with his shoulder and carried the now sleeping girl to the bed. As he laid the girl down, he marveled at how light she was. Just when he was about to let her go, Sepha's arms snaked around his neck and she held onto him tightly, burying her face in his neck./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He knew she was asleep but it made him smile widely at feeling her arms around his neck and her face in the crook of his neck. He laid her down and gently removed her arms from around his neck. He laid them down next to her and covered her up with the blanket. He stood there a moment, just staring at the beautiful woman lying before him. Her features perfectly shaped... her long lashes brushing her cheek as her eyes were closed... her mouth slightly open as she breathed. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"How he wanted to bend down and kiss her but he didn't want to wake her. Instead, he bent over and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before whispering in her ear./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Givashel."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With that, he stood up and headed out of the bedroom, glancing over his shoulder at the woman he loved before he closed the door and went to his own room./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Sepha roused the next morning, she was surprised to find a new outfit on the chair by her bed. Smiling, she had a sneaking suspicion that the handmaiden who had helped her before the feast had been in for there was a breakfast of bread, cheese and tea on the table./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Getting up, she ate while she changed out of her nightgown and into the fresh outfit./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She decided to redo her hair since it was getting fuzzy so she undid her braids and brushing her hair, she redid it exactly the way it had been. However, when she went to grab the bead to put it back in, she realized it wasn't her bead. Taking a closer look, she felt her heart stop when she recognized the crest on the bead as the crest of the house of Oakenshield.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Her mind raced back to the day before when Thorin had done her hair...he had put his bead in her hair! Not only had he marked her as his... but he had professed his love in not just words but actions!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha put the bead into her hair and rushed over to her belt that held her two swords and the bow that Kili had given her. It had been recovered from Bard's house the night before. Searching through the pouch that was attached to her belt, she came across her own set of beads that had the elven, dwarves crest on one side and on the other, the wizard, skin changer crest on the other side./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She grabbed up one of them and held it firmly in her palm before buckling on her belt and bolting out the door. She practically collided with Fili and Kili who both yelped at her sudden appearance. While Kili took in her new attire, Fili looked at her slightly flustered, shocked expression./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Everything okay Sepha?" he asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl nodded her head vigorously, "Yeah... yeah everything's great!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Without giving further explanation, the girl took off down the hallway. They watched her go and then Kili got a wicked idea and smirked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""See you at the boat later Auntie Seph!" he hollered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He was lucky she was out of earshot or she would have clobbered him right after FIli did./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The dwarves were given a quick breakfast during which Sepha sat between Bilbo and Ori who were talking happily about the journey ahead. She picked at her food, finding it impossible to eat. Occasionally she caught Dwalin or Balin looking at her, smiles on their faces but it was weird how they kept looking at her. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"FIli and Kili were also watching her but whenever she looked at them, they would glance at THorin before looking back down. Of course, they were trying to get the girl to look at their uncle but she guessed that and she kept her eyes on her plate. She noticed how horribly pale Kili was and it was troubling her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Finally, they were all ushered to the docks where they were given a boat. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You do realize we're one short," Bilbo pointed out. "Where's Bofur?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha barely heard THorin and Balin's reply for she could barely keep herself from chuckling at Bilbo's rather ridiculous hat he was wearing which was far too big for him but he seemed to like it immensely./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When they got to the boat, the dwarves began to pile in and Thorin began to hand weapons down to the others. Sepha climbed in beside Fili and found a seat beside Oin./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Just then, she saw Thorin stop Kili from getting into the boat, "not you," he said gently. "We travel with speed, you'll slow us down."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What are you talking about I'm coming with you," Kili said, thinking THorin was joking./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No you're not," Thorin said gently/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili's face fell and Thorin turned to him, a gentle reassuring look on his face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm going to be there when that door is opened," Kili protested, tears springing up, "When we first look upon the halls of our father..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili, rest," THorin said, his voice laced with concern and gentleness, "join us when you're healed."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin gently patted his nephew's head before turning and speaking with Fili as Oin climbed out./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll stay with the lad," Oin said. "My duty lies with the wounded."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""uncle," Fili objected, "We grew up on tales of the mountain, tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Fili," Thorin tried to reason./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I will carry him if I must," FIli offered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""One day you will be king and you will understand," Thorin whispered. "I cannot risk this quest for the life of one dwarf. Not even my own kin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"FIli climbed out of the boat but Thorin stopped him, "FIli don't be a fool, you belong with the company."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I belong with my brother," FIli objected, moving over to Oin and Kili./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin turned his eyes back to the boat and they met Sepha's green ones. He realized she had seen it all and he was about to speak but the girl got up from her seat and climbed out of the boat./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha," THorin said, his voice almost annoyed but trying to reason with her. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm staying," the girl pointed out sternly./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly THorin grabbed her wrist and turned her towards him, "Are you just as foolish as my nephew? You are needed with the company."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha yanked her arm away from Thorin, "I am a healer Thorin, it is my duty to stay with Kili. You wouldn't understand. When you become a healer, you take an unspoken vow to protect whoever needs your help and in this instance, Kili needs mine much more than anyone."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Her face softened when she saw tears slowly begin to appear in Thorin's eyes and she smiled. Walking over to Thorin, she took his hands and looked down at them a moment./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I will take care of him and Fili and we'll you the rest of you at Erabor when Kili is ready to travel. Just promise me that the sickness will not overtake you," she whispered. "When we rejoin you, I want to see the THorin you are now... not a different Thorin."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin nodded and the girl smiled. "I promise."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha took that as enough reassurance and taking one of his hands, she turned his hand over and placed something small and cold in his palm before closing his fingers around it, hiding it from view. She then reached up and instinctively touched one of THorin's long braids that hung on either side of his face and touched the bead, smiling to herself. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin looked at her, puzzled but the girl smiled and let go of his hand before stepping back. "I should probably go find Bofur. We don't want him thinking we abandoned him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Before stepping away, the girl stepped on tippytoe and pressing her mouth next to his ear, she whispered something in elvish to him: /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"em"ni méla tye"/em/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With that, she turned and headed off through the crowd and back into the empty hall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin turned back and headed to the boat. He watched as the dwarves continued to pile things into the boat. They were almost ready to go... then he remembered that Sepha had given him something. Looking down, he opened his palm and looked down at the small silver bead that lay in his palm./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Turning it over in his palm, he took in the elvish and dwarfish symbols on one side... then the wizard staff on the other... and beneath it... a wolf... it was her symbol...a courting bead./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Then he remembered what she had said to him in elvish. THorin had never taken the time to learn elvish but over time he had recognized all the most used phrases and words... and now he realized why what Sepha had said had sounded so familiar... it meant 'I love you'!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin did not know where it came from but he suddenly left the dwarves to finish the loading and he sprinted through the crowd. He was glad he had left his cloak in the boat because his pants and blue cotton jacket made it a lot easier to run as fast as he could./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When he caught sight of Sepha, she was walking towards the front steps of the empty hall. There was not a soul around... the guards that usually stood on the stairs were down at the docks./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha!" Thorin yelled, his voice urgent./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl turned around, surprised at his voice and her eyes widened in surprise at seeing the dwarf prince running towards her. She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him but she barely was able to open her mouth to speak. Thorin somehow managed to stop right when he reached her but within a millisecond he had grabbed her face in his hands gently and crashed his lips to hers./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha had always tried to imagine what it felt like to be kissed but she never imagined it felt like this. The way Thorin held her face gently, yet firmly and how his lips pressed against hers so hard yet so gently, full of passion and need, Sepha felt like her knees were going to break./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"As Thorin's lips caressed hers with want and need, her hands slipped up and wrapped behind his back, feeling his taut muscles. She could feel his heart pounding beneath her hands, his body almost shaking from joy, fear, desire and worry. She knew why he was kissing her like this. Not just because this was the first time they had ever kissed but because he was leaving... he was leaving and she was staying and who knew if they would ever see each other again./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin slowly and reluctantly moved away but placed one final gentle kiss on Sepha's soft lips. Even though it was short and their lips barely touched, that last kiss seemed to carry all the need, want, desire and passion. Thorin didn't remove his hands from Sepha's face as he slowly looked down at her, his eyes pooling with tears./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"em"ni méla tye" /emThorin whispered, stroking the girl's face with his thumb./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears but Thorin bent down and kissed her again, totally soft and gentle this time. This resulted in the tears pouring from Sepha's eyes. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin let her go again but wiped her tears away gently, pressing his forehead to hers and closing his eyes. Sepha closed hers and she felt more tears fall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Amaralime, I promise that no matter what happens, I will never hurt you and I will always love you with all that I have," he whispered, wiping more of her tears away./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha could barely say anything so instead she just reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. Thorin's hands snaked around her and he pressed his face into her soft neck, breathing in her scent, feeling her in his arms. He wanted to remember all of this. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THORIN!" the sound of the dwarves calling him broke the moment./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha gently pushed away from Thorin and traced his jaw with her hand while sniffling back her tears, wiping them away with her free hand, "You should go. You don't want to keep the dragon waiting."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled and holding the hand that was tracing his jaw, he turned his head and planted a kiss on her palm, closing his eyes and leaning into her touch. "Take care of Fili and Kili."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and smiled, placing her hand on his chest, "I will, now go Aramalime."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin smiled widely at that word coming from Sepha's lips. He bent down and kissed her hastily one more time before running back to the docks. He stopped just before he disappeared into the crowd to look back at the girl. The girl smiled and played with Thorin's bead that was in her hair, nodding at Thorin. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled and rushed back through the crowd. Instead of heading to find Bofur like she had first planned, she rushed back to the end of the docks where there was barely anyone standing./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Rushing to the edge, she saw the boat that had already passed. She saw Thorin's tall, confident figure standing at the front of the boat. Then... he turned and their eyes met. A smile appeared on the dwarf prince's face and he reached up to touch his heart where one of his braids lay...where he had placed Sepha's bead. The girl did the same, fingering Thorin's bead and raising her hand in farewell./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Oin standing there, smiling Kindly at him, "We'll see them again."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and looked over at Fili and Kili who were grinning proudly and victoriously. Sepha sighed and shook her head, knowing full well that the two had won the bet. However, Kili suddenly crumbled and Sepha lunged forward to catch him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili? Kili!"/p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili was not doing well. They had managed to convince Bard to let them stay at his place after almost everyone, especially the town master, turned them out. Kili was writhing in pain on the bed and while Fili was trying to keep him calm, Oin was trying to figure out what to do./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""This is unlike anything I have ever dealt with," Oin admitted. "Sepha?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head, "The arrow was poisoned. We need to stop it from spreading before it kills him."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What do you need?" Bofur asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sighed and shook her head, "Kingsfoil... and quickly."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The dwarf nodded and bolted off to search for the said weed. It seemed forever that he was gone. Sepha sat next to Kili and kept whispering to him, humming but he was in too much pain./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What is taking him so long?" Fili insisted, getting worried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head but she was cut off by the sound of footsteps above them... there was dead silence... then out of nowhere Sigrid, who had gone out to look for their father, let out a scream and came running back in with an orc close behind. Fili was on the orc in an instant while the two girls hid under the table. Bain tried his hardest to help by throwing things at the orcs but there were more and more coming./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha covered Kili with a blanket and looked around. She saw Fili almost hurt himself knocking an orc down and she felt fury rise in her body. She remembered the promise she made to Thorin, telling him she would protect his nephews no matter what. No one was going to touch Fili or Kili when she was on duty. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Her hair suddenly turned a bright purple and she missed the shocked look on Kili's face when her eyes turned a shade of violet and she morphed into a giant wolf. She let out an angry growl and pounced on the orc who was giving Fili a hard time. She grabbed him by the head and swung him out the window, growling angrily with her hair standing up. FIli looked at her surprised but smiled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Take care of Kili," the girl instructed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili nodded and rushed back to his brother's side, leaving Sepha to deal with the orcs. Just when she thought that there couldn't be anymore, more came through the front door... .and with them... two familiar elves. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Tauriel!" Sepha cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What have you gotten yourself into?" the elf asked teasingly, killing an orc./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Didn't we warn you to stay out of trouble?" a familiar voice asked, turning out to be Legolas./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled, "I cannot help it."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The two elves smiled and began to make quick work of the orcs. Sepha made a leap over the table and knocked down two orcs who had gone for the children. Soon, there weren't any orcs left./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You killed them all," Bain gasped./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""There are others," Legolas remarked. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel turned and looked at kili who was writhing on the floor in pain. She lifted her eyes and looked at Legolas who stood in the doorway. The elf nodded./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll be back."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel nodded thankfully and just then, Bofur came back, carrying kings foil./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tauriel approached him and began talking to Oin and Fili while Sepha morphed back to human./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How did you do that?" Tilda asked, staring./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled, "It's a long story."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Kili's getting worse," Tauriel warned her, "We need to hold him down. I need you to heat this water Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha obeyed and making a flame in her hand, she warmed the water that Tilda had prepared and Tauriel placed the kings foil in it, soaking it enough. She then placed it on Kili's wound and he howled. Fili held him down and Sepha helped him while Tilda and Sigrid held down his legs. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Soon, Tauriel began to chant in Elvish and Sepha could feel the power of the Ethalas healing Kili. Soon, the young dwarf relaxed under her hold and she released him. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha pulled Fili away from his brother so that Tauriel could finish patching him up and also, Sepha knew that Tauriel probably wanted a moment alone with the dark dwarf./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thanks," FIli whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha was taken aback, "For what?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""For being here," Fili replied. "You could have gone with uncle... but you stayed here with us and if you hadn't, we might have all been dead."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled and hugged the young dwarf, "You would have found a way, but I'm glad I was here."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Suddenly, the whole house went dead silent when the ground suddenly rumbled beneath them. The house shook and Fili stumbled but Sepha caught him by his forearm./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What was that?" FIli insisted, fear in his eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looked around and she felt a horrible feeling when she realized what it was./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's coming from the mountain," Bofur whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili looked at Sepha only to see that the girl had gone deadly pale, "Thorin..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The dwarves and Bilbo were all standing on the tower of dale, looking out at lake town. It was up in flames... Smaug soaring overhead. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Poor souls," Balin whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He turned and noticed that Dwalin was pacing, "Brother, there is nothing that pacing can fix."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I cannot help it," Dwalin admitted, "All of them: Oin, Bofur, Fili, Kili... Sepha... they're all dying down there and its all our fault."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo heard this and turned to look back at THorin. The dwarf was standing a ways behind them, watching Erabor. What no one saw was that the dwarf's face was deathly pale and there were tears streaming down his face. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha... his love... his One was dying by the fire of a dragon... and it was his fault. He would never see her again... she was gone./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He remembered back to the day he left... how they had parted... how she had told him that she loved him. His hand went up and touched the silver bead that was in his hair. He caressed it gently and brought it up to his lips, pressing it to his mouth while he closed his eyes and let the quiet sobs overtake him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"It seemed like years he was standing there, Sepha's green eyes on his mind when suddenly he heard Bilbo./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It fell I saw it... he's dead... Smaug is dead."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He suddenly heard all the other dwarves begin to agree with Bilbo and soon the dwarves were cheering. Thorin smiled and he looked up to the sky at the plane of stars that hung above him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I love you Sepha," he whispered before his eyes fell on Erabor... then something changed. The bright color in his eyes changed to darkness and his face hardened... then he went hurrying down the stairs straight to the mountain, having completely forgotten what he had just said not a second before. His mind was on one thing only and it wasn't on the brown haired, green eyed girl who was sitting in a boat with Tauriel, trying to escape the burning town./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"MEANWHILE... With the others/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""KIli watch out," Sepha warned, reaching over to pull the dwarf back to avoid a floating piece of burning lumber./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili stumbled in the boat and sat down, pressing his back against Sepha's so that they were facing different directions. Tilda was sitting next to Sepha, her head against Sepha's chest while the girl was trying to comfort the child. Sigrid was holding Tilda's hand and trying not to cry herself./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili helped Tauriel and Bofur row while Oin looked out for floating debris. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm so scared Sepha," Tilda whispered. "What if da and Bain didn't make it out?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sh," Sepha whispered, "DOnt say such things. THey'll be fine. Your father and brother are strong. They will make it out."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But what will happen after?" Sigrid asked. "The town is destroyed... what will become of everyone?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looked over at Fili and Kili and shook her head, "I dont know."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Her mind wandered to THorin who was no doubt in the mountain... was he safe? was he hurt? Had he succumbed to the sickness or was he fighting it? Was he still the same THorin he had been when they had said goodbye?/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She shivered at the thought and FIli noticed for he slid over and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "no matter what happens," he whispered. "Even if uncle has succumbed to the sickness, he still loves you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled and nodded, "I hope so."/p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"TIME SKIP/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When they landed on the shore, all the surviving people of lake town were walking around, helping people or trying to find loved ones. Sigrid and Tilda were screaming for Bard and Tauriel was trying to keep them calm. Just when Sepha began to fear something had happened, Brad and Bain appeared, both soaking wet and going blue but otherwise alright./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sigrid and Tilda practically screeched when they saw their father and soon, the whole town was surrounding Bard and congratulating him on killing the dragon. Sepha was pulled away by Oin and Bofur who soon got her to help them load a boat with some things they would need./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha helped by tossing Fili things. However, she soon noticed that Kili wasnt with them. Turning around, she saw that the dark dwarf was speaking with Tauriel. Fili made a move to interrupt them but Sepha stopped him, shaking her head and smiling knowingly./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How much do you want to bet they'll become a thing?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili smirked, "You're on."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You okay Kili?" Sepha asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili nodded, "Yeah... just a lot on my mind."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded, "If you ever want to talk about it, let me know."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili nodded and for a while there was silence before he spoke up. Arya had walked a little ahead to catch up to Fili but at his voice she turned to look at him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Was there ever a time you doubted THorin loved you?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sighed and thought about it, "Before the whole incident at Thranduil's I had my doubts. But then afterwards I realized that he did care... but then when we reached lake town I had the horrible feeling that he didn't care about me anymore. Of course that all changed after he told me he loved me."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili nodded and was silent a moment till Sepha walked over and drew him in for a hug, "Tauriel loves you Kili. I can tell. Maybe you don't see it and she might not be ready to admit it but she does."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili hugged the girl back and smiled, "Thanks." /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha nodded and began to head after the others when Kili scurried after her to catch up, "Sooooooooo," he said, sounding rather mischievous. "You and uncle... so does that make you our aunt?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili seemed to catch onto the conversation immediately because he was right by his brother and Sepha in an instant./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Well..." Sepha remarked, turning bright crimson./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Or at least not yet," Fili remarked, putting emphasis on the 'yet'. "Auntie Sepha sounds cool though."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smirked and ruffled Fili's hair, earning a yelp from him as he hastily tried to fix it again, "And you know what my duties as an aunt will be?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What?" Kili asked, intrigued but Fili looked concerned./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""To see that both of you get married before you turn old and gray like me," Sepha remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You're not old and gray," Kili objected. "You're not that much older than us."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Exactly," the girl teased, patting Kili's nose with her finger. "Which means I'll have to get on it as soon as we don't have a dragon or orcs on our tails."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Better run for our lives brother," FIli whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"TIME SKIP... to the mountain./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili and kili had bolted into the mountain the moment they arrived and Bofur began calling for his brother and his cousin... but no reply./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dwalin!?" Sepha called. "Balin! Dori!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was no reply. They began to worry when suddenly they heard a loud voice as a particular hobbit came into view./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Stop! Stop! Stop!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Bilbo!" Kili cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You're alive!" Bofur hooted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""We need to leave," Bilbo panted. "We all need to leave."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Hello to you too Bilbo," Sepha teased./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bofur cocked his head, "We only just got here."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I've tried talking to him but he wont listen," Bilbo explained./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What are you saying lad..." Oin started./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THORIN! Thorin... thorin," Bilbo panted. "has been down there for days. He doesn't sleep. he barely eats. He's not been himself. It's... it's this place. I think a sickness lies on it."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt her heart drop and she zoned out from the rest of the conversation... Thorin... he wasn't the same... he had fallen to the sickness.../p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Fili!" Bilbo cried, snapping Sepha out of her daze./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The others followed FIli and Bilbo down to the treasure room. When they got there, they were at once hit by the sick voice of Thorin. Sepha could barely look at him and turned her face. She couldn't look at him... she could barely listen to him... he was so sick./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"After THorin had greeted Fili and Kili, Sepha followed Bilbo away from the treasure room while the others went to greet the rest of the company./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm sorry Sepha," Bilbo remarked when they were alone. "I tried to talk to him..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""It's not your fault Bilbo," Sepha whispered. "There was no way we could have prevented this unless we didn't reclaim Erabor."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo nodded, "So what do we do?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sighed and ran her hands over her face, "I don't know... but if this gets much worse... I don't know that I'll be able to stay."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Why?" Bilbo inquired./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head, "Because...it pains me to see Thorin like this...it hurts so bad..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Bilbo nodded in understanding. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Just then, there was movement behind them and the two turned only to find Thorin standing at the end of the hallway, staring at them in shock. Bilbo quickly squeezed Sepha's hand./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'd better see where the others got to."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With that, he left the two alone, giving the girl a knowing smirk before leaving. The moment he was gone, Sepha slowly walked over to Thorin who seemed rooted to the spot. He looked horrible. He had bags under his eyes, he looked underfed... his face was pale and his eyes looked glazed. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin," she whispered, reaching up to touch his face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Before she knew what was happening, THorin had snatched her up and had kissed her long and hard, holding her close. Sepha at first returned it but soon THorin was holding her so tight that she could barely breathe. She gently pulled away and looked up into his eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What has happened to you?" she asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Nothing," Thorin replied. "Everything is wonderful now that you're here."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt the urge to smile at those last words but she knew that this wasn't thorin... it was only part of Thorin while the rest was a sick person./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You look like you're ready to die," she remarked, "You need rest."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head, "I need to keep searching."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin," Sepha began to say but the dwarf had pulled away and had walked off... just like that. "I've lost you haven't I?" she mumbled, too low for his retreating form to hear./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Are you sure you're alright?" Sepha asked Kili./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The dwarf nodded as he drank the large mug of water that she had brought him. He and all the other dwarves had been searching the treasure chamber for the arkenstone all morning and they were beginning to show signs of exhaustion. Sepha had managed to get Bilbo to prepare some lunch for them so that when they took break, they could eat./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shock her head as Kili downed the water in an instant, "I don't think so Kili. You're not the first one who has drunken water like it's oxygen itself."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shook his head, "I'm just thirsty is all. You should worry about Thorin more."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha looked up at the balcony where Thorin was overseeing things, "I don't know what to do Kili. He wont eat or sleep and it's going to be the death of him.'/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili smirked as he drank another mug of water, "Well, you are his one after all and you seem to have a great influence on him. You have no idea how many times I've had to snap in his face to get him out of a daze when he sees you walk past."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"That was before the sickness," Sepha pointed out, trying to hide the blush that lit up her face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Kili shrugged as he set the mug down, "Then maybe you need to be a little more persuasive."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With that, the young dwarf headed off back to searching. Sighing, Sepha decided that she had to try. Her future duty as a wife (possibly) was to care and support her husband. Even if the husband wasn't doing his part of caring and providing and protecting, she had her duty to him and she wasn't going to let him down./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""THorin," She said, coming to stand behind him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin turned and smiled at her but the smile was only half there, "Givashel," he greeted./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha felt a pain in her chest. She didn't mind him calling her that but that was all he called her... never Amaralime, love or even just Sepha... it was like all he said had to do something with treasure or gold./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You are tired and exhausted," The girl pointed out, coming to take his hands, "You need rest."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""No I'm fine," Thorin objected, about to turn around./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha gripped his hands tighter, "No you're not fine. I'm not blind THorin. You need rest."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin shook his head and turned back to the others but Sepha wasn't going to give up that easily. Grabbing his hand she spun him around and without hesitation and placed her hand on the side of his face and kissed him passionately. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin froze for a second before his hands slowly trailed to her waist and to the back of her head, drawing her closer to him. When Sepha backed away, she caught a faint glimmer of the real Thorin in his eyes... it was working./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Come on," she whispered, taking his hand./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What about..."THorin started./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dwalin can take care of it," Sepha replied, not letting THorin finish as she pulled him away from the treasure room./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Sepha finally got him into his room, she stopped in the doorway while Thorin stepped in./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Now get some rest," she ordered softly with a smile./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin turned and looked at her, "But I'm not tired."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Really?" Sepha inquired, "Then why do you look like you haven't slept in a week?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin smirked as he approached her. Sepha let out a soft gasp as his hands gripped her waist and he pressed her against the wall, his face inches from hers, "Because I have been away from you too long."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"This was unlike Thorin completely. Even after their passionate first kiss in lake town and their small moments together, Sepha knew that this hasty, almost rough Thorin was not the Thorin she knew./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha reached up and traced his features, trying to bring out the real Thorin she knew was still in there. Thorin reached his arms around her waist and pulled her into his arms bridal style. The girl wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes as he kicked the door shut with his foot and carried her to the bed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He tossed her on and then climbed on top of her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin," the girl warned./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin smiled, "I promise I'll behave," he whispered. "You're lucky I'm a patient dwarf."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha rolled her eyes and smirked, "Riiiiight."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin grinned and Sepha saw his blue eyes flash... Thorin was back. Before she could even register this, she was attacked by THorin who began tickling her sides. Sepha let out a roar of laughter and tried to get him to stop but he just grinned./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Finally he stopped and hovered over her while Sepha caught her breath. The girl looked up at him and smiled when she saw the gentle, calm, patient Thorin appear in his features. He reached down and gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, moving a strand of hair from her eyes./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You're so beautiful," he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled just before Thorin bent down and placed a feather light kiss on her lips. He then rolled over so that he was lying on his side, as was she and they were facing each other. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"He kept one hand on her waist and the other he traced her cheek with his fingers./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I missed you Thorin," the girl whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin smiled and kissed her gently, "I missed you too Sepha."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"the girl felt her heart soar at his voice whispering her name. THorin was back!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Promise me something?" she whispered, curling up into his side./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Anything," Thorin whispered back, pulling her close and burying his face in her hair./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dont ever forget that everyone in the company, even Bilbo and I only do what we know is best for you."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"There was a silence until Thorin kissed her head and hugged her tighter, "I promise."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With a smile on her face, Sepha closed her eyes and drifted to sleep a moment before Thorin fell asleep, both of them needing the rest. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"TIME SKIP... a few hours/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When SEpha woke, she was surprised to hear the gentle hum of breathing beneath her ear. She glanced up and saw that she was lying on top of THorin... or at least partially. Her head fit right beneath his neck and she was lying right alongside him between his side and his arm that was still firmly around her waist./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin's head was facing upward and he was still asleep. He looked so peacefully lying there./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha reached up and gently ran her fingers through his beard, smiling at how soft it seemed even though most beards were coarse and prickly. THorin stirred at her movements and slowly turned and opened his blue eyes to look at her. He smiled when he saw her lying next to him her chin on his chest and her eyes smiling./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Good morning," he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Morning," Sepha hummed, "How did you sleep?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Incredibly well," Thorin whispered back. "I think the best part was waking up."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled as she sat up and planted a kiss on his lips before getting up. She had slept in her leather outfit but she didn't mind. She headed to the bathroom to wash up. When she returned, THorin was gone... oh no./p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha?" Fili's voice appeared from behind./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha was standing on the stairs, sitting with her knees drawn to her chest. She looked up and FIli saw that she had been crying./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha what happened?" Fili asked, sitting down beside her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head, "Everything Fi. Thorin is falling apart. The other night I thought that he was changing back... but that is the last time he has spoken to me in almost two days! he wont even look at me! Fili... he's gone."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili sighed and drew the girl into a hug. The girl placed her face in his lap and let the sobs overtake her as the boy stroked her hair and rubbed her back./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sh," Fili whispered. "It's going to be okay." /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sniffled and took a deep breath, "I cannot stay here."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What?" Fili asked, startled./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha sat up and wiped her eyes, "I cannot stay here. I'm going to Dale. Bard has arrived with the people of lake town and they need help. I'll stay there and help in anyway I can."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""What if they rage war on us?" Fili asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They wont," Sepha replied. "Unless Thorin succumbs to being the jerk he has been the past few days."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili sighed and nodded his head, "I understand. What will happen if they do?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shrugged, "I'll try to talk sense to him... if that doesn't work... I don't know."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Fili bowed his head but Sepha hugged him, "No matter what Fi, you and Kili will always have a place in my heart."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"FIli smiled and hugged the girl back, letting a few tears fall./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Take care of yourself Auntie," he whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha smiled and pressing her forehead to his, she gave him a final hug before disappearing. She stopped on her way out to say goodbye to Bilbo and the other dwarves but of course Thorin wasn't around. In that case, she went down to the treasure room and sure enough, she found him there./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thorin," the girl called./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Thorin looked up but didn't smile, "What?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'm leaving," Sepha remarked. "I'm going to dale for a while to help Bard."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""YOu're turning on us?" Thorin asked, not even thinking that she was doing this because she was uncomfortable being around him./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sepha shook her head, "I'm not. I just need some fresh air from the mountain. I'm not used to being indoors all the time."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"THorin stormed over to her and glowered down at her, "I always knew that you weren't fit for this life. You're more elf than dwarf. Just like the rest of them: weak, self centered... heartless."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The sound of the smack echoed through the whole treasure room and Thorin's head snapped back when Sepha's hand made hard contact with his cheek. he turned to glare at her with his blue eyes but stopped when he saw the tears streaming down her face. The remaining bit of the real thorin suddenly shot out and his face was filled with guilt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Sepha i..."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Dont even speak to me," Sepha hissed, "You say that I am weak, self centered and heartless when you are really the one who is. You were constantly saying you weren't your grandfather and you wouldn't fall victim to the sickness! Well look at where you are! You did fall to it! You fell to it just like your grandfather! You promised me THorin! You promised that you would trust me and the company in whatever we do because we do all of it out of love for you!"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Without another word, she spun on her heel and headed for the exit. She stopped when she got there and seemed to be doing something. Turning around, she stomped back to Thorin and placed something on the stone slab that stood nearby./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Only the real Thorin will have the honor of putting this back in," she spat./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"With tears streaming down her eyes, she left in a rush. Thorin turned his glossy eyes to the slab and saw the single silver bead... his bead...he turned his eyes at where she had disappeared and his heart broke right then and there. What had he done?/p
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