The dwarf king opened his eyes slowly and looked down beside him to see the young woman sound a sleep against him. Her head rested on his firm chest, with her right arm laying on his chest as well. Thorin had his arm wrapped securely around her waist. His eyes drifted to the scars along her arm, and back. Some were from years ago, before he even knew her and others were from the event that happened in Goblin Town. His calloused fingers gently traced along the damaged skin and caused the half-breed to shift in her sleep.

"Your awake." Bella murmured her eyes closed. Thorin moved his hand to her back stroking it and kissed her forehead. "What time is it?" She asked her fingers grazing the dwarf's dark chest hair.

"Not yet dawn." He whispered. "Go back to sleep." Bella could hear in his deep voice that something was clearly on his mind and the half-breed sat up, so she was looking down at Thorin.

"What's wrong?" She asked softly. " I know something is bothering you." She added. The dwarf reached up with his other hand and caressed the side of her cheek.

"Bella...the last thing I want to do is put you in even more danger. There was so many times I thought you weren't going to pull through, but your stubbornness has managed to keep you alive." Thorin trailed off.

"What are you trying to say, Thorin?" Bella dared to ask. She had a pretty good feeling she knew where this was going, but she hoped she was wrong and this was just Thorin's failed attempt at trying to be sympathetic with her. He was never good at showing his weaker side, though he tried when it came to her.

"...Bella when we reach the mountain. Its going to even more dangerous. I don't want their to be a chance that something could actually happen to you. I know you can't stay here, but I want you to be somewhere safe away from all this until it's over."

"What? Thorin. I'm going with you. I'm not going to just abandon you all. Not when were so close!" Bella pressed.

"Bella, this is too dangerous for you. You were nearly killed, how many times? I'm not going to risk your life anymore." The king protested.

"This quest has been dangerous since we left the Shire. And encase you have forgotten I signed the contract. So I'm going to see this mission through, whether I live or die." She declared, giving a smirk at the end, but Thorin continued to look at her with serious eyes.

"Bella this isn't funny. I'm being serious." Thorin growled lowly.

"So am I. I'm going with you and nothing you say is going to stop me. So you might as well shut up about it and accept it handsome." She placed her hand on his face and kissed him on the lips and he pulled away giving her a look.

"Have I ever told you how stubborn you are?" Thorin stated with a hint of a smirk he was trying so hard not to show.

"I might of heard it a few times." She admitted, with a giggle and rested her head under Thorin's chin. " Promise me, we will do this together." She asked him.

"I promise. Close your eyes. I'll wake you when its time." He whispered and kissed her hair and he slowly closed his eyes.

The young woman had shifted herself off Thorin in the time she had fallen asleep and was now laying on her side curled up facing the leader and she opened her eyes to see the light streaming in through the tiny window and look over to see the dwarf still sound asleep, his face actually looked peaceful for once, as oppose to all the restless nights he had. She moved closer to him and pressed her lips against the dwarf's and she felt his lips twitch into a smirk. "What are you doing up?" Thorin murmured and opened his eyes to look at her.

"Watching you sleep." She admitted.

"Oh? Were you now." Thorin said, sounding almost embarrassed at the thought and the half-breed giggled at Thorin and he turned away from her.

"Oh, handsome you are so adorable when your mad." Bella smirked, knowing Thorin could not stand it when it came to her teasing him. The king grumbled under his breath and she took his face in her tiny hands, stroking his beard with her thumbs. "I was only teasing you." She murmured before connecting her lips with his. Thorin pulled her closer to him, as the kiss deepened and they both pulled apart when they needed air. " I'm going to shower. You're welcome to join me." Bella whispered. The half-breed removed herself off the bed, pulling the sheet with her and she went to shower. The dwarf sat up and heard the water going and waited a few minutes and followed in soon after.

Bella came back into the bedroom, feeling fresh and wearing the dress she wore last night. The half-breed knew she would have to make a quick stop at her brother's so she could change into some of her spare clothing that she would rather wear to continue on this journey. She found Thorin standing near the window dressed and she snuck up behind him. Thorin looked down at his side, to see she had managed to sneak under his arm and he pulled her close to him.

"Are you hungry?" Thorin asked her.

"Starving." She admitted and the dwarf took her hand and they left the room and headed down the hall to find the others. Along the way, Thorin stopped the half-breed, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her tenderly and felt the smile appear on her face. The sound of two familiar voices caused them to pull apart.

"Uncle, what happened to you last night, you never came back-" Fili began only to stop when he saw who was with him. " Bella, your here!" Fili praised, pulling the young woman into a tight hug, Kili doing the same after. Thorin was glad that the boys had clearly missed the flush of embarrassment that had appeared on his face when he thought they might of seen him showing fondness towards the half-breed.

"Bella, you must sit with us for breakfast." Kili asked, as the two brothers looped arms with the young woman not really giving her choice as they started leading her down the hall, telling her how happy they were that she would be continuing on with them. The half-breed glanced over her shoulder to look at Thorin who just gave her a warm smile and slowly followed behind the three of them.

They walked into a room, and Bella's face lit up when she saw the rest of the dwarves and Bilbo all sitting at the long table, stuffing their faces with the delicious food. She saw Bofur passed out at the far end, under the table. Bella sat in between Fili and Kili at the table, talking with them and the others. The young woman looked over at the hobbit. Poor, Bilbo. He looked as if the dwarves kept him up all night. Thorin would ever so often glance over at Bella from his spot beside Balin, seeing the happy smile on her face, being reunited with the others that seem pleased to have her back with them as well. The leader suddenly felt like he had eyes on him and sure enough he saw Dwalin giving him a knowing smirk and Thorin gave him an annoyed look before looking away and the warrior chuckled under his breath.

Breakfast was kept short. Thorin informed the others that he wanted to leave within the hour. They only had 2 days to find the door, before Durin's day ended. Bella told Thorin she was going to head to her brothers to get more suitable clothing to travel in for the days ahead. The dwarf-king insisted he would go with her, but she assured him that he had nothing to worry about and she would return soon.

It was a cold morning. Bella was nearly home and she quietly opened the door and saw neither her brother or her nieces and nephew in the living room and she tip-toed down the hall to her room. She quickly got changed into some trousers and a long sleeve sweater and she peered around her door to make sure it was safe to continue on. The young woman was just about to open the door when she heard her brothers voice come from behind her. "What are you doing here, Bella?" Bard questioned.

"Just came...to get a few things." She muttered.

"You mean. Your leaving again." Bard hissed at her. Bella turned around to face her brother as he came to stand only a few feet from her.

"I don't have a choice, Bard. I can't stay here. I don't belong here." Bella argued.

"Bella...the mountain king can't see beyond his own desire. And that will only get you and everyone else killed. "

"You don't know him Bard! He is nothing like that. I have been traveling with these dwarves for a long time!" She snapped and went for the door, when Bard grabbed her arm.

"I know that he won't let anything get in his way from getting the gold, including you! Bella I know you think you know this dwarf but his greed will get you killed. Stay here, where it's safe."

"If I stay here. I'm dead anyways." She stated in a cold tone and yanked her arm out of her half-brother's grip and left out the door. The half-breed felt tears coming down her face and she hid underneath the stairs of a house to wipe them away. The last thing she wanted was for her and her younger half-brother to part like this. Every time she left, it was in an argument, but this was the worse. Her brother had never caused her to shed tears. Bella left and continued on her way to the Master's home to meet up with the company. She wanted to leave now and never have to return. Bella made it to the Master's home and saw the company had gathered at the docks and she came through the crowd to be with the others.

"Bella. You made it back." Thorin whispered in gladness, not wanting to draw to much attention to them, but saw the redness around her eyes. Clear signs that she had been crying. "Bella is everything okay? You've been crying."

The young woman smiled and looked up at the dwarf and took his hand in hers." I'm okay. It's nothing." She said with a small smile that never reached her eyes. She wanted nothing more then for Thorin to just hold her, but she knew the leader would never risk any of his men seeing him comforting the young woman. Thorin squeezed her hand and helped her onto the boat that some of the other dwarves and Bilbo were already on. The Master's soldiers were handing weapons and some food and other supplies to the company to load up.

Fili climbed onto the boat and stood by Bella. Kili was about to climb onto the boat when an arm stopped him from going any further. "Not you. We must travel at speed. You will slow us down." Thorin stated, harshly.

"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you." Kili said, with a smirk on his face, thinking his uncle was joking until he saw the seriousness in his eyes.

"No." Thorin said as he took weapons from the watchman and handing them off to Dwalin on the boat. Fili had caught the conversation going on between his younger brother and their uncle.

"I'm going to be there when that door is opened. When we first look upon the halls of our fathers, Thorin." Kili pressed, trying to hide the pain he was.

"Kili, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed." Thorin stated, in a calm voice. Bella was standing beside Dwalin when this conversation was going on and she turned around to look at them and that's when she really noticed, just how pale the young dwarf really looked. Kili didn't look well and even though she knew Thorin was right, as harsh as he was being. Was it really such a good idea to leave him, stuck here, on this forsaken town? He was his kin. His blood. His nephew!

"I'll stay with the lad. My duty lies with the wounded." Oin grumbled, climbing off the boat to attend to the young dwarf.

" grew up on tales of the mountain. Tales you told us. You cannot take that away from him!" Fili growled.

"Fili-"

"I will carry him if I must!" Fili continued on, but it didn't seem to change Thorin's decision to leave his young nephew behind.

"One day you will be king and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one dwarf. Not even my own kin." He stated. Bella couldn't believe what she was hearing. Thorin was speaking as if Kili's life meant nothing to him. Was that really what it was coming down to? He risked everything to make sure she would continue on with them. She didn't know exactly what Thorin had done to secure her release but knowing the Master it had to be something worth his wild. The half-breed watched as Kili tried to convince Oin that he was fine, that he was well enough to continue and normally she would have snapped at Thorin for being so harsh to the two brothers, but she couldn't seem to open her mouth.

Fili was silent for the longest time, glaring from the side and shoved by his uncle and got off the boat with determination, he was not going to leave his brother behind. Thorin grabbed him by his clothing. "Fili, don't be a fool. You belong with the company."

"I belong with my brother." Fili growled back and he yanked himself out of Thorin's grip and went to stand by his brother. Thorin muttered under his breath and climbed onto the boat, turning away when he saw the disappointing look on the young woman's face.

The trumpets began to play as the master, said a few last chosen words to wish the dwarves the best of luck on this dangerous quest and that it all ended in all them seeing riches. The boat began to move away from the docks, through the town. Bella glanced at the company that was on the boat and saw they were missing one. "W-where is Bofur?" Bella asked, suddenly.

"He's fallen behind." He stated coldly, staring at the open water ahead of him. The young woman didn't like this one bit. Not only were Fili and Kili stuck in Laketown, but so was Bofur and Oin now. She hoped the four of them would be safe, and Kili would overcome whatever it was he got, but most importantly she hoped this wouldn't be the last time she ever saw them and the hardest thing she ever had to do was to not look back.