Chapter 8:

It was truly a sight to behold.

Dale was still being restored but even still it was magnificent. Stalls filled with goods of all types. Dwarves, humans and even some Elves alike all wandering through the busy main streets of the once desolate city.

Nala wished she could stop and enjoy her first encounter, each market stall calling to her, but she ignored them all in favour of something much more valuable. The Lonely Mountain was in front of her, just half an hour away.

Her shoulders brushed against the people, soft apologies constantly falling from her lips. Following along the main road, she kept her eyes on the mountain knowing that the only living member of her family was there and nothing else was on her mind but finding him. In truth, she hadn't thought of what else she would find there.

"Sorry…Excuse me." Her shoulders glide past a blonde Elf. Their eyes latch onto the others; for a moment which seemed to be uncomfortable for the both of them as the Elf scowled at her. Blinking away the oddness, she focused once again on moving through the crowd as quickly as she could. "Ex-sorry…could you just-"

A loud grunt of air passed out her throat as she pushed through a group of men that did not have any courtesy and took up the entire path. After an exhausting effort, Nala at long last finds her way to the edge of Dale. Without another moment to lose, she walks as fast as she can down the soft slope.

The road was long and slightly winding. A few carts passed her and out of desperation for her journey to finally come to an end, she imagined jumping on the back of one to reach Erebor's entrance quicker. For a while she thought that she was somehow getting further away with each step, but all too soon was she standing in front of the large stone doors. There was a line of guards standing on either side of the short bridge and she watched them inspect paperwork of a group of tradesmen in front of her. She didn't have any paperwork.

Swallowing away her nerves, Nala pressed onwards, keeping her head low but eyes forward. She crossed the threshold of the bridge, slowly passing by the line of guards.

"Halt!" As though a spell, Nala instantly stopped, her head rising. An older Dwarf with a long grey beard marched towards her. "Do you have your papers miss?"

Nala's mouth fell open and slowly she shook her head from side to side. "I'm terribly sorry sir. I did not know I needed any."

The Dwarf guard sighed, tipping his head slightly. "Are you a visitor or intending for residency?"

"O-oh, uh. I don't really know I suppose. My brother is here, I've come to see him."

"I'm sorry ma'am but you have to register in Dale. Once you have the paperwork you may enter."

She couldn't wait another day. Not when her brother was right there. It had been two months of non-stopping running. Mulbury had died from exhaustion two weeks prior – guilt that will never leave her, but she knew that that lone figure was on her tail. "Please! I know Thorin Oakenshield, he can vouch for me."

"Get lost missy before I have you escorted to the dungeons."

Nala opened her mouth, prepared to snap at him and demand he bring her brother out at least but a voice she hadn't heard in over thirty years called out first. "Well I don't believe my eyes!" Both Nala and the guard looked towards the other side of the bridge from where she came. Her shoulders sagged at the sight of Bofur who did not look one bit different. "Nala! You've made it!"

"Bofur," she laughed out, leaving the guard to embrace her old friend. "I'm so glad to see you well."

"When did you get here lassie?"

"Just now but they won't let me in without paperwork. I didn't know I had to get any," she explained, wiping a single tear of frustration away. "I just want to see my brother."

Bofur nodded with a completely serious composure. He squeezed the sides of her arms before walking past her to speak with the guard. "She is my guest. There is no need for paperwork."

"My Lord, every guest must be accounted for on paper-"

"Then write it down somewhere," Bofur snapped and Nala raised her brows at his authoritative persona. "Now unless you want your highly King to come down here personally and give you the order, and he is very busy with a loathing for being disrupted mind you, you'll let her in."

The guard shifted on his feet, the eyes of his guard on him. "And how long will she be staying?"

"As long as she feels like."

Nala watched the pair closely, the guard's eyes seething but reluctant for whatever reason to fight Bofur any further. He jutted his head over his shoulder, a signal for them both to move on. Bofur grinned, marching back and linking his arm around her elbow. Nala silently walked with him past the guard, Bofur tipping his hat as they do so.

She leaned in close to his ear. "Forgive me for the insult, but who is a toymaker to command a guard?"

"A toymaker with a title," he smirked. "Us company members have the utmost respect of Thorin, and the entire kingdom knows it. Not that I use it for much. Bola was sure glad to see me at the meeting. Between you and me, he had a rough time getting along with everybody else."

"I don't think that's a secret," she snorted, letting him guide her along the halls. They were more magnificent than she could ever imagine. Dwarves were walking in all directions, all sorts of doors leading off to places. Even now, four months after reclaiming it was more stunning than Ered Luin had ever been. "And he didn't tell me much to be honest. Only that you defeated Smaug. Well, the bowman did."

"Well then we have a lot to catch up on."

"Where are you taking me?" she finally asked as he led her away from the main busy halls. The ones they were in now were wider and much more finely detailed.

"To your brother. He's in a meeting with Thorin and a few of the others."

Nala stumbled slightly, tugging against Bofur's pull at her arm. "I-I can wait," she muttered. Really she couldn't but Bofur's words from minutes earlier flooded her head. Thorin would loathe being interrupted and who else would be in the meeting? She knew as soon as she saw her brother, she would break down again.

Bofur waved his free hand in front of his face. "If it's Thorin you're worried about lass, don't be. It's only a routine meeting. And besides, I think there's more than one person in there keen to see you again."

Before she could ask any more – or argue further – Bofur tugged on her arm again, dragging her along the corridor. With a sewn shut mouth, Nala begrudgingly – and wrecked with anticipation and nerves – lets him.

They walk down a few more and Nala was sure she would need guidance for at least a month before being able to find her own way anywhere. Bofur stops at a large wooden door with metal designs welded in. His knuckles knocked loudly on the wood and her stomach dropped. Before waiting for an answer, Bofur pushes the door open, striding through. Nala followed silently.

Inside the small chambers was quite a few people she recognised. At the furthest end of the long table situated in the middle was Thorin. He was donned in a fur coat, a metal crown adorning his head. On his left side were Dwalin and his brother Balin who she had not even thought of in many years. On Thorin's right, there was first a head of blonde hair. Fili.

He was much older – obviously – and grown to be quite the handsome Dwarf. Her heart yearned to run to him, missing their old friendship but she wasn't quite sure what he would think.

Next to Fili was another familiar dark head of hair. Her stomach dropped at this Dwarf's face, horrible memories flooding back to her. Kili stood stiffly in a black leather long coat. Like his brother, he was much older than she had last seen him but at the same time, nothing had changed.

But next to Dwalin was the one person she wanted to see most of all. Her brother was bent over the table, his hands resting on the edge but his – along with everybody else's – head was turned towards her.

"Nala," her brother spoke first. He strode forward and Nala ran forward to meet him halfway, jumping into his ready arms.

She clenched her eyes shut, digging her face into his shoulder. "I missed you," she breathed. Pulling back, she wiped her nose with the back of her hand, leaning into him to hide from the eyes of everybody else in the room.

Thorin was the next to speak, offering her a kind and warm smile. "I'm glad you've come. Last I heard you were near Bree again. Must have been quite the journey." Nala nodded offering a small smile in return.

"Quite," she agreed. The rest of the is mostly silent except for a few whisperings of some Dwarves who were unknown to her. Her eyes trained on Fili, waiting to see his reaction. The shock was the first thing she registered from his expression, but it soon changed to delight, and she watched as he strode around the table, arms opening wide as he nears her.

Risking the lack of her brother's protection, Nala takes a step forward to meet him, winding her arms around his neck. They both laugh as her feet leave the ground, the room spinning around a few times. "Durin's beard," Fili cried. "I never thought I would see you again. You didn't write like you promised."

Honestly, she was surprised that he even remembered their last conversation. She had expected him to forget all about her. Perhaps he thought of her as often as she thought of him. Her feet touch the ground once more. "I didn't know what to say," she answered quietly, noting every single pair of eyes and ears on them. "I thought it would be best to leave everything behind." Her attention turned back to the rest of the room. "I'm sorry for interrupting. I tried to tell Bofur that it could wait."

Thorin tilted his head towards the toymaker who was smiling. "Patience isn't his best quality," Thorin mused. "But it's no matter, we have finished for the day. You are dismissed."

Most of the council members began to shuffle out of the room. "It's good to see you again, Nala," Balin greeted, placing a soft hand on her shoulder. "I would love to have dinner with you one night to catch up on all the adventures I'm sure you've had."

"I would love that as well."

Balin smiled, patting her shoulder before moving out with the rest of the crowd. Dwalin gave her a long and slow nod which she returned. Never was one with words. As most of the Dwarves retired for the day, the chamber is left empty except for Bola, Bofur, Thorin and his nephews.

Nala's smile dimmed as reality settled back on her. Releasing Fili's jacket, which she hadn't realised she was still holding on to, she took a step back to her brother. She didn't want to speak first.

"I have a feeling I don't want to ask," Bola murmured. "But where is Da?" Nala bit the inside of her lip as her eyes began to sting once more. Bowing her head with failed attempts to hold her sniffles, Bola wrapped an arm around her back, tucking her head under his chin.

"They got him," she whispered. "Whoever they are, found us again. He told me to run and I-I had to leave him there." The room was captured in silence and Nala pulled her head back. "Who are they, Bola? He told me parts of it, but I still don't understand. But he told me to find you, to find Thorin."

Bola glanced up towards Thorin who nodded his head. Bola held his own emotion. Some part of him knew their father was dead, even before his sister arrived. As soon as she entered the room alone his fear was confirmed. "I will tell you. Everything. But not tonight." Nala opened her mouth to argue. "No, you look like you're about to collapse on me right now. And it's a long story."

"I'm sure Fili will find her a suitable chamber," Thorin offered in his smooth voice. Nala peered over at Fili who nodded, stepping forward. He offered his hand out. Nala looked back up at her brother who gestured to Fili with his head, so she let him go, taking the prince's hand.

"I think I have just the room for you," he said, quite obviously trying not to focus both their attentions on the morbid news she just delivered. "It's only a few minutes away from my own." Nala managed a small laugh that was almost silent, but it did help the slightest bit. They began to walk out, and Nala looked towards the only remaining person who had yet to speak.

Kili still stood there, arms crossed over his chest with a blank stare. Their eyes met and it seemed as though he had the same uneasiness as she did. She holds a sigh already knowing that nothing would have changed between them.

Fili led her through a few corridors. "It seems we've got quite a bit of catching up to do," he mused. "Considering my best friend hasn't written to me in fifty years."

Nala's lips tweaked into a small smile. "I'm still your best friend? How terrible are you at making them?"

"Worse than your brother it seems," he jested. "No, I have a number of friends but none of them are quite like you. And I am serious, how about I show you around Erebor after you've had a few days to rest. It's easy to get lost here."

"I will definitely need it."

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