Bilba woke to the feeling of the bed dipping and opened her eyes to see Thorin settling on the mattress beside her. He sat with his back against the headboard and his legs stretched out in front of him. His arms were folded across his chest and the expression on his face was annoyed.

Bilba sighed and reached a hand out to lightly rest on his thigh. "What did you say to him?"

Thorin replied with something particularly rude about Bard, not looking at her. The sun was beginning to go down, lengthening the shadows in the room; she must have been asleep several hours she thought idly.

"That's not very helpful," she said calmly.

"Why do you assume I did something?"

Bilba yawned. "You do tend to say things you shouldn't."

He gave her an appraising look. "You yelled at Thranduil."

Bilba frowned. "He locked you in a dungeon for two weeks," she grumbled, "and I had no idea where you were! Of course I yelled at him". The memory brought back the feelings of horror and fear she'd felt back then and she scooted closer, wrapped both arms around his leg and pillowed her head on his thigh.

He reached down and put a hand on her head in reassurance, lightly playing with her braid. "Good point," he conceded his voice gentle. He was silent another second and then, his tone teasing, asked, "What about Gandalf?"

Bilba winced. She'd hoped he'd forgotten about that one. "We didn't need to hire a boat from him," she finally said lamely.

Thorin was not impressed. "And Radagast?"

"I was not yelling at him," Bilba defended, deliberately trying to pitch her voice as innocent as possible. "I was just asking him a few-"

"- dozen -" Thorin interrupted, amused.

" - questions," Bilba finished dryly. "Anyway, you should let me talk to Bard."

"Why?" Thorin asked, "So you can yell him into submission?"

Bilba smacked him lightly, feeling the muscles in his thigh jump slightly from the contact though Thorin didn't react. "I got Thranduil to let us go, didn't I?"

"I seem to remember Glorfindel having a hand in that," Thorin said mildly, amusement leaking into his voice.

Bilba made a non-committal sound and snuggled in tighter around his leg, allowing her eyes to drift shut again. She made another noise, one of displeasure, a few moments later when she felt him shift suddenly; pulling her partway out of the light doze she'd been in.

Thorin said something quiet and she felt him pulling out of her hold for a moment only to settle next, drawing her back in. Still half asleep, Bilba happily rearranged herself so her head and one hand were resting on his shoulder and chest. It left her other arm in an uncomfortable position under her body but she could live with it. She felt Thorin's arm slide around her back, his hand on her waist and then felt him relax.

Priscilla would kill her if she saw Bilba sleeping in the same bed with Thorin, intended or not. Bilba sighed and relaxed, sleep pulling at her.

She just wouldn't tell Priscilla.

She fell asleep.

The dream started immediately.

She stood on a rocky ledge set into the side of a mountain. Around her the rest of the Company sprawled in sleep, their forms still and quiet.

Directly in front of her a dark opening led into the mountain.

On either side of the door stood two armored figures, young and slim, with shoulder length dark hair and the barest hint of stubble that might one day grow into beards. Both had their heads down and held swords gripped in their hands, points resting on the ground.

She didn't recognize them but, for whatever reason, a powerful sense of relief washed over her. She started to rush forward only to stop short as they both vanished, their images breaking apart like smoke and drifting away on the wind.

She found herself, instead, mere inches from the black opening leading inside the mountain. A cool breeze wafted out from it and she could hear the faint sound of water dripping.

This was her last chance.

She didn't know how she knew but she did. This was her last chance to turn away, aside…back.

If she took one more step her path would be locked, no more side paths, no more opportunities to make another choice.

She would have to continue on the path laid out before her, no matter where it led.

She took a deep breath, one hand going up to grasp Thorin's ring where it hung around her neck. It felt like ice in her hand, the cold so intense it nearly burned. It spread outward until her entire body shook with it and the breath she released frosted in the air before her face.

Footsteps crunched on the dirt and she turned to see the two from before had returned. They stepped up on either side of her, their faces grim, each gripping their swords in one hand. They angled their bodies toward the entrance.

Two sets of identical, crystal blue eyes settled on her, two identical expressions of determination.

The message was clear. They would go with her no matter what path she chose.

She took a deep breath and faced the darkness once more.

She stepped forward.

The sound of heavy footsteps thumping up the stairs broke into her consciousness and Bilba stirred, her eyes flickering open to stare blearily into the room. She was startled to see it was now growing light instead of dark, apparently she'd been asleep the entire night though it felt like she'd barely shut her eyes a moment earlier.

Had she had another dream? If she had it was gone, as all the others were, but she felt the strange sense of foreboding she normally had after one.

Dwalin appeared in the doorway a bowl of soup held in one hand.

"Oin ordered me to bring up your breakfast," he said, coming forward.

Bilba pushed up off Thorin's chest and reached her hands out to take the bowl. "Thank you, Dwalin."

He grunted, before addressing Thorin who, up to that point, hadn't moved. "You can get your own."

"Fine way to treat your King," Thorin muttered, his eyes still closed.

Dwalin turned and started to stomp back out, grumbling, "I'll treat you better once we take back the mountain. Till then, get your own food."

"Somehow," Thorin said, "I doubt his treatment will change even then."

"You're probably right," Bilba said cheerfully. She shifted until she had her back against the wall, settling her legs over Thorin's waist. When he opened his eyes and looked at her she just shrugged. "I probably won't change how I treat you either."

"Nice to know you'll both be there to make sure I don't get a big head," Thorin replied dryly.

Bilba grinned. "We live to serve, my King."

He stretched as best he could in such a cramped position and then pulled up to a sitting position, managing not to upset her as he did.

"Do you want to join me downstairs?"

Bilba cocked her head as though considering. "Are we still on a stupid lake?"

"We are."

"Then no."

He raised an eyebrow. "Why is the bed any safer than the rest of the house?"

Bilba lowered the bowl and, as sweetly as possible, asked, "Why are we still stuck in this stupid house on this stupid lake when you told me we'd leave earlier?"

Thorin grimaced. "Because Bard thinks we're going to wake up the dragon and it'll burn down Lake-town."

Bilba frowned. "What does Lake-town have to do with it? Why wouldn't it just eat us and then go back to sleep?"

"Because the man is a paranoid bastard," Thorin groused.

Bilba's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You didn't actually TELL him that did you?"

He said nothing, his eyes fixed on the far wall.

Bilba gave a long suffering sigh. "Tell him I want to talk to him, please?"

"It won't do any good."

"Then it won't hurt will it?" Bilba answered. She slid her legs off him, got up, shoved the almost empty bowl into his hands and then leaned forward to kiss him quite thoroughly. When she pulled back several long minutes later they were both breathing heavily and Bilba felt quite flushed.

"I think," Thorin said, his voice huskier than usual, "you're trying to use my own tactics against me."

Bilba grinned. "They are effective."

He studied her, his eyes heated and Bilba felt her own face heat in embarrassment. She pulled back and then pushed at his shoulder. "Go! Bring me Bard!"

Thorin groused but got up, taking her bowl with him. "It may take time. Not all of us are at your beck and call you know. Not to mention he could just refuse."

"He won't," Bilba said with assurance, "He'll still have residual guilt over his daughters barging in on me. He'll come."

Thorin gave her an assessing look but Bilba put on her most innocent face and then lifted an eyebrow inquisitively.

Thorin shook his head, smirking in amusement and then left.

Bilba watched him go and settled back in the bed again. Idly she lifted her hand to wrap around Thorin's ring at her throat.

It felt strangely cold.

Thorin had barely left the house before Nori appeared in her doorway, her pack and jacket wrapped arrows in his hands. It was the first time Bilba had been alone, Fili and Kili off getting supplies and more arrows respectively. Now that she was on the mend they didn't feel as though they had to babysit her every second Thorin wasn't there.

"I was wondering where that all went," Bilba said, holding her hands out. "Hand them over." She tried to keep her voice light and her movements slow but it was difficult. She'd been worrying over the arrows since she'd been coherent enough TO worry.

He stepped in and set her pack down but kept hold of her wrapped arrows, idly pretending to study them. "I'll happily hand them over," he said mildly, "if you'd be willing to explain why they're not broken like you said they were."

Bilba cursed. She'd been afraid the longer he had the arrows the more chance he would look at them but, at the same time, she knew if she had insisted on having them back sooner it'd guarantee he would examine them.

Really she'd been in trouble from the moment Dwalin had taken them and handed them to Nori.

She indicated the chair next to her bed and he took it, leaning forward.

"Did you tell anyone else?" she asked, chewing on her lower lip.

His eyes flashed for a brief instant and Bilba, for the first time, had a sudden realization that this was not someone she ever wanted against her.

"Did I tell anyone you're carrying around unbroken, Morgul shaft arrows instead of the broken, normal arrows you claimed they were? No I didn't."

He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, his posture clearly stating she better convince him why he shouldn't tell anyone.

So she did. Bilba laid out all the things she'd seen along the way showing her that there were far bigger things going on in Middle Earth than just the Quest. Gandalf's actions, the White Council at Rivendell he'd been so worried about, Radagast, Glorfindel and his mission and warnings. Nori never changed expression and Bilba wondered if perhaps none of what she was saying came as any surprise to him.

"You and I both know I'm not walking in there and finding the Arkenstone without waking up that dragon," Bilba said finally, studying him.

He shrugged. "Way I understood it Thorin had no intention of allowing you inside the mountain regardless. I imagine, with the way things stand now, his convictions will be even stronger on that front."

"Which is why I didn't tell anyone about the arrows," Bilba said, her voice pitched low.

Nori frowned. "And, why, pray tell, must it be you who goes in?"

"Because I believe Gandalf was right," Bilba insisted. "Smaug won't know what I am. You know the legends about dragons; they have an almost insatiable curiosity. He won't kill me until he finds out."

"You place a lot of faith in a theory," Nori said, his voice more serious than she'd ever heard it. "What if you're wrong?"

"Then I'll confuse him with a riddle," Bilba said shortly. "The legends are true. I know they are. Dragons have an insatiable curiosity, a need to know everything. He won't be able to resist finding out what I am, especially if I throw in riddles after that." Nori's expression still hadn't changed and Bilba leaned in closer. "And it won't be for long. I'll simply be distracting him, just for a moment." She reached out and set a hand on his hand where it rested on his knee. "You know it's a better plan than the one we had."

"It's a dangerous plan," Nori said, his voice angry. "You could die."

"I could have died a half dozen times on this quest already," Bilba said dryly. "You could have died too, or Ori or Dori or anyone else." She saw his jaw tighten at the names of his brothers and hastened to add, "We're all adults, Nori. We came of our own free will knowing full well the dangers we'd face."

Well, okay, she hadn't REALLY known all the dangers, or the fact that Lake-town was actually ON a lake, and she doubted Nori had expected anything other than Smaug to try and eat them but, still, they were all adults regardless. She also knew if she didn't convince him now all her plans would be right out the window.

"We're going to the hidden door regardless," she said. "Which plan do you think has the better chance of working, mine or Thorin's?"

There was no contest and they both knew it. If they followed the original plan exactly Bilba would have entered the mountain, tried to locate one gem in a treasure hoard without waking up a dragon, get it all the way back to Blue Mountains, hope the dwarves held to their word, then return and hope they could kill the dragon in spite of the fact that the entire army of Erebor had been useless against said dragon. And that was assuming the dragon didn't wake up in the meantime, realize they had been there and come after them or, worse, get involved in whatever had Glorfindel and the Council so upset and make things a thousand times worse. In other words, even if the plan SUCEEDED it could still end up failing, in the end.

Her plan, if it worked, would succeed in truth. Erebor would be free, the dragon would be dead and unable to bother them again or get involved in whatever else was going on in Middle Earth.

Assuming Bilba could distract it. Assuming the arrow worked on him the same way Glorfindel and the legends claimed it worked on others. Assuming it killed him quickly. Assuming the aim was true when the arrow was fired.

"You'll need an archer," Nori said, his voice startling her. "And a good one at that."

Bilba took a deep breath. "I was sort of hoping you might help me with that."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I need to talk to Kili," Bilba said, "alone. You know how hard it is to get him away from Fili, even for a second."

Her gut twisted as she spoke. She was dragging Nori into her deception and soon would have Kili involved as well, forcing him to lie to both his brother and Thorin. What if she got him killed? How would she ever face Thorin again?

Well, her mind supplied immediately, odds were if the dragon killed Kili it would kill her too so she probably wouldn't have to face Thorin, or anyone else. She sighed, twisting her hands in her lap. Maybe if she had Kili stand near the entrance so he could run out at the first sign of trouble?

"Weren't you the one just commenting on how we're all adults?" Nori mused, breaking into her thoughts. Bilba looked at him in surprise and saw him giving her a knowing grin.

She really needed to work on her facial expressions, Bilba thought, that or Thorin, Fili and Nori were all able to read her thoughts.

A disturbing notion.

She gave Nori a weak grin. "I did say that."

She was still touching his hand and he moved it, grabbing hers in reassurance. "For what it's worth, I think you're right. Thorin will see it too."

Bilba gave him a rueful smile. "If we survive."

Nori shrugged and stood. "Try to be optimistic. Maybe the dragon will eat us all and he'll never find out."

Bilba gave a small laugh. "You're right. Why didn't I think of that? The last stop on the tour of things in Middle Earth that want to eat you."

He grinned. "Last stop is always the best." He turned and headed out. "I'll make sure Kili sees you, alone."

"Thank you," Bilba whispered and then settled back to wait, a sense of relief washing over her. Nori was the first one she'd fully laid her plan out to and he supported her in it.

Now all she had to do was convince Kili.

And then Bard.

And then she'd have to figure out a way to get on the boat without freaking out and making herself sick all over again.

Bilba gave a low moan and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them and dropping her head on them.

How had this become her life?

In the end, Kili took less convincing than she'd thought. She didn't know what Nori said or did but Kili showed up in her room, alone, and, when he left, it was with all three of the Morgul arrows. He wasn't happy about having to lie to Thorin either but agreed with her reasoning.

He was also confident he could hit the dragon if given the opportunity. Particularly since, as Bilba explained, there was no reason to worry about the reported toughness of the dragon's scales or to even look for a weakness.

All he had to do was put an arrow in its eye.

A nice, big dragon sized eye.

He could do it, of that he had no doubt, and Bilba trusted him.

After that Bilba only had to convince Bard to help her.

And then figure out how to get off the Valar forsaken lake to the other shore.

Personally, she imagined Bard would be the easiest task.

"Thank you for coming," Bilba said politely to Bard. She tried not to shift in her chair as she spoke, not wanting to give the impression she was a wayward child before a responsible adult. When Thorin reported Bard had agreed to come, as Bilba had thought he would, she'd made the effort to look presentable and adult, in spite of how much smaller she was than the Human. She'd taken a bath and gotten dressed in her normal clothing again, ignoring the irritation over her trousers STILL being to tight in spite of her illness and lack of proper eating for several days. She felt almost back to normal, only a slight fatigue still plaguing her.

He nodded at her. "You're welcome. I had wanted to return, if only to apologize again for Tilda."

"No harm done," Bilba said. She gave him a rueful grin. "In truth, I feel I must apologize also."

"Indeed?" Bard said. "What for?"

"Well," Bilba continued, "I have to admit I questioned the sanity of anyone who would choose to live ON a lake. Now that I've met you, however, I can see my initial assessment was wrong."

Sort of wrong. In reality it made her even MORE confused that he would appear so rational and yet choose to live in such insanity.

Bard chuckled, leaning back in his own chair and resting a foot on his opposite leg. "To be honest, it wasn't my idea. My family is originally from Dale. We were forced to flee after the dragon came and, well, Lake-town is really all there is on this side of the world, particularly when you have no money for travel."

"Oh," Bilba reconsidered him, "I didn't realize there were any survivors of Dale."

Bard nodded. "There were many. My mother, in fact, was the wife of the Lord of Dale at the time, Girion. He fell in the attack but his wife and son, my great-grandfather, were able to escape and ended up settling here."

"Then that makes you the rightful ruler of Dale," Bilba said slowly, startled, but Bard shrugged.

"It is of little consequence," he muttered, "to be lord of something that no longer exists."

Bilba heard the trace of bitterness in his voice and a spark ignited within her. "It must be hard," she started, carefully, "to see the remnants of your people, your own children, live in such difficult circumstances compared to what I'm told life in Dale was like."

His eyes narrowed slightly, "it is but little can be done for it."

"What if something COULD be done?" Bilba suggested.

"Oakenshield already told me his plan," Bard's voice grew dark and hard edged, "and I informed him quite clearly what I thought of it."

"I'm sure you did," Bilba replied, "but what if it wasn't the only plan?"

That got his attention. He frowned at her. "What are you talking about?"

Bilba took a deep breath, twisting her hands where they lay in her lap, and then proceeded to outline her idea.

When she was done Bard simply stared at her as though she'd suddenly sprouted horns.

Not encouraging, Bilba thought.

She waited, fighting the urge to fidget.

Bard finally reached up and ran a hand through his hair, grimacing. "And what if your plan also fails and the dragon awakens? What happens to Lake-town?"

"I don't expect anything will," Bilba said. "The dragon will have no reason to suspect you aided us and it's never bothered you before, why should it now?"

He didn't seem convinced so Bilba tried another tack.

"If you're that worried you could always take your children to Mirkwood for a few days, just to be sure."

Just to be paranoid but she didn't mention that, especially since she was pretty sure that WAS what Thorin had said and the last thing she wanted to do was start channeling HIM.

"And what of the people left behind?"

Bilba rolled her eyes. "It's not as if we've hidden our plans from them. They know we're going into the mountain."

Okay, they actually HAD hidden their plans, or she had at least. Hidden the fact that they had a BETTER plan, that is. The people of Lake-town were happy with what they THOUGHT the plan was, going in to try and find the Arkenstone.

She watched as Bard considered, trying to curb her growing impatience. It wasn't as though he could STOP them. They were going in the mountain whether or not he helped them. It would just involve a lot less walking, possibly starving and getting eaten by orcs if he gave them a ride versus trying to sneak out and walk around the lake.

Of course if they DID try to sneak out it was highly likely the Master would find out and try to stop them which could well lead to them having to fight and could POSSIBLY lead to the Master getting hurt.

Dwalin would be saddened if they didn't get to go that route. He'd been sharpening his axes for DAYS in anticipation.

Thorin would be upset as well even though Balin had patiently explained multiple times that one did not start their new reign as King under the Mountain by assassinating one's potential allies.

Balin tended to be rather stuffy in that area.

"I'll tell you what," Bilba said, breaking into whatever doomsday scenario Bard was probably concocting in his head. Her mind went over the beginnings of their conversation, her idea gaining strength. "What if I promised to pay you for your services?"

"Oakenshield already offered payment," Bard said, a slight edge to his voice. "It did not persuade me."

"Did it not?" Bilba answered innocently. "Did he offer you enough to rebuild Dale?"

Bard blinked, startled, and Bilba knew she'd finally managed to peak his interest. She already knew he had no love for the Master and had heard the longing and bitterness in his voice when he spoke of Dale. Now that she knew he was the rightful HEIR to Dale, well, it just gave him that much more to gain if things went well.

"I've been promised a share of the treasure," Bilba said, "and I would gladly turn it over to you in return for safe passage."

Bard's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

Bilba shrugged. "I'm a Hobbit. We have little love or need for treasure. What would I do with it?"

Amusement suddenly shone in Bard's eyes. "Not to mention you already hold the heart of the King. I'm sure he would have no problem replacing your treasure if you asked."

Bilba smiled. "Or maybe his heart is a greater treasure than anything I could possibly find in the mountain and the possession of it leaves me little desire or want for anything else."

She flushed in embarrassment over her words but Bard's eyes were softening.

"I once had a treasure like that," he said softly, "but I lost her, many years ago."

"I'm sorry," Bilba said her voice sincere. "I know what it's like to lose someone you love. It's a pain you don't overcome."

"You just learn to live with it," Bard agreed. He frowned and stared down at his hands where they lay clasped in his lap. "There is little I can do to stop you," he said finally, "and though I am not sure that you will succeed, or that your failure will not turn the dragon's ire on Lake-town, I will take you to the other side of the lake. He looked up and his eyes were dark. "I just hope I do not come to regret it."

Bilba let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, relief assailing her. She reached out to clasp the Man's hands, allowing her gratitude to shine through.

"Thank you."

She kept to herself the thought that she also hoped he didn't come to regret his decision.

They were finally ready to leave.

Bilba was nearly beside herself with both excitement and dread. Excitement at finally getting off the stupid, cursed lake and dread at having to take a boat to do it.

Bard had said they would leave once it got dark and had left to make preparations. Afterward Thorin had come back in, wanting to know what in the world she had said to make the "stubborn, paranoid human" agree to help them. Bilba had refused to tell him, choosing instead to distract him with a rather lengthy kissing session. That had ended when Kili, walking by the open door, had called out "not old enough to see that!" as he'd passed.

Bilba had ended up snuggled against Thorin's side, listening to the Company getting ready downstairs, waiting for Bard to return.

He did finally and Thorin left to go speak to him.

He'd only been gone a few minutes when Bilba heard a slight patter of footsteps on the stairs and Tilda appeared in the doorway, something in her hands.

"Tilda," Bilba said in surprise, "shouldn't you be in bed?"

The little girl responded by stepping forward and holding up whatever she carried. "Da said you were afraid of the water so I brought this for you to borrow. You can wear it in the boat."

Bilba took the object from her, frowning at it. "What is it?"

It appeared to be a series of…globes of some kind, filled with air and linked together inside a mesh made from fishnet.

Tilda held one of the globes up. "These are pig bladders," she explained. "Da cured them." She reached and swung a row of them around Bilba's waist, hooking them together snugly in front. Two more, smaller rows went around Bilba's arms until she was liberally decorated in inflated pig bladders.

She gave Tilda a look of confusion.

The girl grinned. "I used them when I was learning to swim and before that. They float, if you fall in they'll keep you on the surface and someone can just pull you out."

Bilba stared at her. "Truly?"

Tilda nodded. "Yep. I used to play in the water all the time with them on."

Bilba had no doubt she looked ridiculous but it didn't stop her from throwing her arms around the little girl as best she could, hugging her. "Thank you Tilda." She set back again, grinning at the little girl. "I'll be sure to take care of them."

Tilda nodded, looking pleased with herself.

Footsteps sounded on the floorboards and Thorin strode into the room, coming up short at the sight of her.

Before he could say anything Bilba spoke up. "Not a word and I promise to stop bringing up the little incident with Azog."

Thorin only hesitated a second before he nodded. "Deal." He held a hand out. "Shall we, my Lady?"

Bilba grinned at Tilda who giggled, apparently having decided at some point that Thorin wasn't evil after all.

"We shall, my Lord," Bilba said grandly, reaching out to grab his hand. He pulled her out of the bed and, together, they strolled from the room.

And if anyone else thought her new accessories looked…odd, well, they knew better than to say anything.

Though she was mildly concerned Kili was going to hurt himself trying to hold back his laughter.

In the end she survived getting across the lake.

It wasn't fun by any stretch, but the pig bladders did a great deal to calm her fears of falling in and drowning. Thorin carried her from the house so she was able to shut her eyes and never had to see the water mere inches away on the walkways. Once they got on the boat he settled her in the middle, as far from the sides as she could get.

The trip back to land was uneventful. Bard seemed lost in thought and content to focus on sailing through the mist and ice rising off the lake surface. The temperature was bitterly cold and Bilba stole Thorin's Coat of Majesty and wrapped it around herself like a blanket. When that didn't help she dragged the King under the Mountain down and used HIM as a blanket, huddling on his lap and curling against his chest. He didn't complain, holding her easily as the boat cut soundlessly through the water.

When the boat finally slid to a stop Bilba turned to Thorin with chattering teeth and said, "Off, right now."

Thorin responded by sliding his arms around her and standing straight up with her as though it wasn't even a struggle.

Bard extended the ramp and Thorin stepped over the side of the boat and walked down it, strode along a short ramp and then his boots were crunching in what could only be the dirt and gravel of the beach.

Bilba bit back a shriek of delight, scrambled out of his arms, and flung herself headlong into the dirt. Dirt and rock bit into her body but she didn't care, groaning in happiness at the feel. She dug her hands into it and turned her face to the side allowing her body to go limp.

Thorin chuckled and turned to aid the others in disembarking and gathering up the supplies Bard had managed to find for them.

No one asked her to help which was good as she had no intentions of doing so. She and the earth had been apart for far too long and she needed a few minutes for the reunion.

Finally Thorin approached again and knelt beside her. "Come on," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, just above the pig bladders. "Bard wants his, whatever this thing is, back."

He tugged her up and Bilba clenched her fists, bringing up handfuls of dirt with her. She ended up kneeling along with Thorin and held herself patiently still as he removed the pig bladders from her, fighting back a snicker the entire time.

Once they were off he carried them back to Bard who still waited on the boat. Thorin returned them while Fili handed Bilba her sword and knife, which she promptly strapped back on and slid into its sheath at the small of her back.

Bilba waved at him, his figure a bare silhouette in the light of the moon overhead.

"Please tell Tilda they worked wonderfully and thank you again."

"I will," Bard said. "I will pray you have luck on your journey and that we meet again."

He didn't say meet again soon, Bilba noted, just that they would meet again period. She wondered if he would end up taking his children to Mirkwood in the end but didn't ask. She was grateful he'd agreed to help them, even more so that he hadn't told Thorin of her true intentions.

The rest of the Company gathered and watched as Bard left. Once he was lost back in the darkness Bilba turned and reached up to grab Thorin's braids, tugging his face down to hers.

"NEVER AGAIN," she said clearly, "EVER."

He kissed her lightly on the forehead and drew back up. "You have my word."

"Good." Bilba shuddered. Now that she was back on solid ground, where she belonged, she had no idea how she'd managed to make it so long on that cursed lake.

She knew though that it was the absolute last time it would ever happen.

She was a Hobbit, by the Valar, and belonged on SOLID ground.

Humans were clearly insane, with the possible exception of Bard.

Someone handed over her pack and Bilba slid it on her shoulders. She shot a glance at Kili and saw him return it, a somber look on his face. His quiver of arrows was slung over his back and, if she looked closely, Bilba could see three that were a different color than the rest.

She swallowed against the sudden lump in her throat and straightened, her eyes straining to see through the murkiness ahead of her.

It was time to embark on the last stage of the journey.

Here's to hoping it wasn't literally HER last stage.

The sight of Erebor dominating the landscape as the sun rose had Thorin frozen in shock and awe. The rest of the dwarves seemed in much the same state, either remembering when they'd once lived there or contemplating their first true, up close and personal sight of something they'd only heard talked of to that point.

Finally it was Bilba who marched forward, grabbed Thorin's hand and pulled on him. "If you ever want to see INSIDE the mountain again we should get going," she groused at him, tugging on his hand with all her strength and ignoring the fact he didn't move so much as an inch.

Thorin's eye lost their dazed look, sharpened and focused on her. "You're right," he said. "We need to move. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

They set off at a brisk pace after that as though Thorin would run all the way to the mountain if he could. Bilba, unable to keep up with his longer strides, soon found herself near the back.

Kili and Fili joined her, neither one speaking, simply keeping her company as they moved.

The days seemed to pass in a blur as they marched to the mountain.

Bilba barely saw Thorin but didn't fault him for it. In many ways he'd spent nearly his entire life on this quest and now finally neared the end of it.

She wasn't much in a talking mood as it was. Every day they would inch closer to the mountain and every day Bilba would find her trepidation, and her doubts, growing. There were so many ways it could all go wrong and only one way in which it could go right.

She imagined the others felt much the same way as there was little talk or cheer as they moved and it lessened steadily the farther they went.

Due to this it was a quiet group indeed that crested a hill to find the desolation of Smaug laid out before them.

Bilba stared at the devastation before her. Broken columns and collapsed homes, rubble strewn for miles and the ground scorched to little more than ash and dust. It was hard to imagine what it must have been like on the day itself though she thought, if she listened closely, she could still hear the screams of the lost scattered on the wind.

She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Fili and Kili stood on either side of her, their eyes wide as they studied the destruction.

"The stories did not do it justice," Kili whispered. On her other side, Fili shook his head. "No little brother," he agreed, "they did not."

Thorin stood a few feet away, his eyes dark. One hand was clenched in a fist at his side, the knuckles white and Bilba wondered what exactly he saw when he looked at the devastation. She hesitated and then stepped around Fili, moving a few feet to stand next to Thorin. She reached out and wrapped both her hands around his clenched fist, lightly massaging the back of his palm.

He started and looked at her, his face relaxing. He gave her an affectionate smile and then addressed the rest of the Company. "Let's go."

As they turned to start making their way down, Bilba cast one final look over the area of destruction. Her eyes traveled to the gates of Erebor and she couldn't stop the shiver that ran up her spine.

She couldn't shake the feeling she'd seen this place before.

Bilba found the staircase, hidden in the decoration of a statue of Thorin's ancestors. Thorin led the way up, pulling Bilba with him, her hand clasped in his. The rest came along behind, their faces partly excited and grim.

It had taken longer to get to the mountain than they'd expected, even longer still to find the staircase.

As they headed up they were using the last few hours of daylight of Durin's Day itself. Thorin had grown quieter and quieter the closer they'd gotten to the day, until he'd woken up utterly silent that morning and hadn't spoken since.

He still didn't speak until after they'd reached the top and stepped onto a small ledge of rock jutting from the side of the mountain.

Again Bilba felt the strongest sense of familiarity, as though she'd been there, standing on that very ledge before even though she knew it wasn't possible.

Bilba watched as Thorin faced the Company, looking more excited than she'd ever seen him. She watched him smile as he spoke, finally, to them all, marking this day as one all other dwarves would come to know as the day the Company of Thorin Oakenshield took back their mountain.

She watched him set the others to work finding the keyhole.

And then she watched his smile begin to fade, along with the light, as they couldn't locate it.

The sun set.

The door remained shut.

It happened so quick.

A quest that had taken the better part of seven months, had seen them through trolls, goblins, orcs and more.

It couldn't be decided that quick.

It just couldn't be.

Bilba stood frozen, her mind struggling to comprehend what happened.

The rest of the Company was equally still, all eyes turned toward Thorin. He stood just in front of the rock wall, grasping the map in his hands, unmoving.

Bilba couldn't bring herself to move, irrationally convinced she could pause time if she just stood still.

Thorin's voice spoke out of the dark, asking Balin what they had done wrong. He sounded like a child, his tone cutting at Bilba's heart.

Boots scraped against rock and she realized the others were beginning to leave, their steps slow and sluggish.

No.

Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness and she could make out the silhouette of Thorin as he turned to leave. A soft clunk sounded and she realized he'd dropped the key, letting it slip from his hand as though it meant nothing.

No.

She couldn't let it end this way. Not after they'd come so far.

Bilba stepped in front of Thorin, her hands on his chest.

"Wait."

"Get out of the way, Bilba." Thorin's voice was flat, empty. He tried to step forward only to come up short as Bilba set her feet and pushed her hands against his chest. She was under no illusion she could stop him if he wanted to move but was banking on the belief he wouldn't risk hurting her.

"Bilba-"

"Just WAIT," Bilba insisted. "Thorin. Please."

He sighed and lifted a hand to slide through her hair at the back of her head. "What would you have me wait for?"

"I don't know," Bilba said helplessly, "but what does it hurt? Please? Just wait."

He didn't move his hand but, instead, lowered his head until he could press his lips to the top of her head. She moved her hands to the edges of his coat and lowered her head slightly, looking toward the ground.

They stayed like that. Bilba wasn't sure how long. She was vaguely aware the rest of the Company had stopped near the edge of the staircase and were waiting quietly for them.

If they really had failed then, truly, there was no rush.

Time passed.

Eventually the area began to grow lighter, not from the sun rising but from the moon. It was a full, harvest moon, fat and bloated, throwing off so much silver light the entire ledge was thrown into sharp relief.

Kili was the one to spot it.

Bibla heard the quick intake of breath and then, "Uncle. Uncle, look!"

Thorin lifted his head to look toward the wall and Bilba turned to look with him.

Silver light spread over the ledge, spilling into cracks and crevices, pooling in gaps in the rock. Several areas glowed more brightly than others, forming the very clear outline of a door.

And, in the very center, what could only be a keyhole.

Thorin let out a laugh that was almost a cry.

"The last light of Durin's Day," Bilba whispered. "The last light, moonlight, not the sun at all."

Thorin released her and bent to retrieve the key. He stood and turned to look at her, a grin breaking out over his face and spreading all the way into his eyes.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward to the door. Bilba watched as he slid the key in, his hand shaking slightly, and turned it.

A low rumble sounded.

Thorin wasn't moving.

Bilba went to stand next to him and placed a hand on his arm, feeling the tautness under her hand.

Thorin released the key and placed both hands flat against the door. He took a deep breath, tensed and then pushed.

The door opened.

Bilba held back as Thorin stepped inside, his hands trailing along the rock. Balin followed behind him along with most of the rest of the Company.

Bilba stayed near the entrance, watching. A soft light permeated the hall, seeming to brighten the longer the dwarves stood in it.

The Blessing of Mahal, Bilba thought. Every kingdom belonging to the dwarves was lit, somehow, by a light that seemed to have no natural source. Even after the dwarves left the light remained, dimmed, but still present. Once the dwarves returned, if they did, the light would brighten as though reacting in joy to their presence.

A miracle. One so common most forgot, after a while, that it WAS a miracle.

Thorin had come back out, his eyes lighting on her. He wrapped both arms around her waist, lifted her straight up and kissed her before gently setting her back down again. "So," he said, "what do you think of my Kingdom, my Lady?"

"It's beautiful," Bilba said, "though I imagine it will be even more so once the sun has come up."

He nodded absently. "It is late," he said, his voice distant. She could tell he wanted nothing more than to charge in right then and was physically restraining himself. "We'll camp here tonight and decide our next course of action in the morning."

"All right," Bilba agreed. Her eyes flickered toward Kili and he gave a minute nod.

They settled down quickly after that, too excited to eat and unwilling to risk discovery by lighting a fire.

Bilba lay down near Thorin but not actually touching him. She shut her eyes but did not sleep, listening instead to the others as they slowly settled.

It took a LONG time. So long, in fact, she was afraid they would miss their chance all together.

Finally, however, the camp seemed silent, everyone somehow managing to fall asleep in spite of their excitement.

Bilba opened her eyes and found Kili already up, standing next to the doorway. A few feet away Nori leaned against the rock, on watch. He hadn't been first on watch, Bilba remembered, and she saw the moon was already well on its way down, the sky beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn.

She got to her feet, moving as silently as possible and joined Kili at the door to the mountain. She looked to Nori and saw him simply staring back at her, his face blank. Slowly he lifted a hand and proceeded to give the two of them a complicated gesture she'd never seen before.

Beside her, Kili watched and then carefully placed his arm across his chest and bowed low. Bilba copied him and then turned to face the opening.

Kili stood next to her.

Bilba felt someone heavy settle on her, a sadness almost that was not her own.

She took a deep breath.

And then, together, she and Kili stepped through the doorway into the mountain.