Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien (who probably hates us for doing this to his work).

Chapter 24

Durin's day was fast approaching in Erebor, and the whole kingdom knew it. The usually calm mountain was now bursting with life as people rushed around finishing up on final preparations for the celebration. Dwarvish leaders from every major mountain had begun arriving a week prior. That meant Magdalen hadn't really had a chance to see much of Fili or Kili, as they were preoccupied with their princely duties. She could never tear them away from their duties, but she would admit she missed their company. Her days in Middle Earth were dwindling down, and before she knew it Magdalen would be back in the comforts of her own world away from the place she had come to love.

The weeks of liveliness in the mountain seemed to be the calm before the storm. The real trouble came when Dain Ironfoot, a cousin to Thorin and leader of the Iron Hills, and his family had arrived. The Ironfoot clan were by far the rowdiest group of dwarves she had ever met. Thorin Stonehelm, Dain's son, drove his cousins crazy and his father did the same with the king. Thanks to Lady Alina, Dain's wife, Dis was running around Erebor like a chicken with its head cut off. Lady Alina 'suggestions' had not helped the already stressed princess.

"Seed cake, can you believe that woman! She 'suggested' I change the raspberry lemon cake I had commissioned over a month ago to seed cake. The audacity!" Dis jeered tightening her grip around the fabric samples before tossing them over her shoulder.

Mysdora, and a younger maid, Avril, followed their frantic princess through her personal study trying to catch the flying clothes. Avril, a shy and quiet girl, only hummed carefully setting the samples back in the chest they had come in. Mysdora, the old bat, glared at the princess, and then at Magdalen and Deamra when they giggled at her pinched face. Magdalen held back her laughter, Deamra went back to her needlework avoiding eye contact with the elderly maid. Magdalen had seen Dis angry before, but it was usually aimed at her sons or brother and was soon resolved. This mood didn't seem to be going away anytime soon, well not so long as Lady Alina was in the kingdom.

"The nerve of that woman, she's never liked me. Ever since I married Nili." Dis ranted pulling at her dark hair.

She stopped her pacing suddenly eyeing the chests that were scattered all over her study. "Mahal, where are the orders for ale at?"

Avril knocked in Mysdora's back when she abruptly stopped, she glared at the young maid before huffing straightening her dress. Mysdora fell back into her cold demeanor turning to Dis.

"I believe Master Gillian has them in the chief kitchen ma'am, I can go and fetch them." Mysdora offered her head bowed in respect.

Dis waved her hand in dismissal. "No I will go, I need to speak to him about making some Seed Cake." Dis fretted turning back to Magdalen.

"I am sorry, my dear. We will have dinner tonight and I promise no talk about the party or Lady Alina. Just you and I and some marvelous food." Dis gave her hand a squeeze before rushing from the room, asking Mysdora and Avriel to fetch some tea for her headache.

The maids closed the door behind them leaving Deamra and Magdalen no longer able to contain their laughter. Magdalen hid her face in her hands as she cackle. Deamra wiped away a tear.

"I've never seen Dis so frazzled," Magdalen exclaimed.

Deamra calmed her laughter, "Lady Dis always has a lot weighing on her mind this time of year, and now that you are leaving in a few days. I think she is trying to keep her mind busy."

Magdalen's own laughter died now, the subject of her leaving had been one to avoid. She had no doubt in her mind that Gandalf could help, but the idea of saying goodbye was not one she was ready to deal with yet.

"Magdalen I have something to confuse." Deamra fessed up turning in her chair to face her friend.

She set aside her needlework rubbing her hands over one another, a nervous tick of hers. Deamra wouldn't meet Magdalen's eyes, which didn't surprise her.

"I must admit I have been avoiding you lately," Deamra confessed picking at the fabric of her dress.

Deamra had been cagey lately, to say the least. She had all but ignored Magdalen in the last two weeks. Magdalen was surprised when she accepted her invitation to spend the morning with her. Yes, she had occupied with Bilbo and the Durin's, but that didn't mean she didn't want to hang out with Deamra.

Magdalen knitted her eyebrows together, reaching out to tap Deamra's shoulder.

"Mra it's fine, it's my fault too. I've been so caught up in meeting Bilbo and getting ready to leave. I haven't tried to hang out with you."

Deamra snorted she had grown used to Magdalen's strange vernacular but still found her wording funny.

"It's not okay, Maggie. I've been so caught up in Ori that you and I have lost our dear friendship, I fear." Her lip pouted.

Magdalen shook her head. "That could never happen, I set you and Ori up. It's all been a part of my grand scheme. I knew you would need someone to keep your life exciting when I left." Magdalen winked at the blushing Deamra.

Deamra bit her lip holding back a bright smile.

"About Ori and I…" She paused.

"We were planning on announcing our courtship after Durin's day." Deamra rushed out her sentence out so fast Magdalen could barely catch what she said.

Magdalen let out a gasp, flinging her arms opening attacking the girl. Deamra giggled as Magdalen shook her.

"Kili is going to owe me so much when he finds out!"

Deamra eyed the study door holding her finger to her lip.

"Shhh, Ori doesn't want anyone to know until after Durin's day." Deamra laughed patting Magdalen's back, signaling her to release her death grip on Deamra.

"So why are you telling me?" Magdalen tilted her head.

"Ori and I thought you'd be gone before we could tell you. And I couldn't keep anything for you." A smile grew on Deamra's gentle face.

"Thank you," Magdalen wrapped her arms around Deamra once again. "Thank you for being my friend, and for everything you've done for me."

Tears gathered in her eyes and she squeezed the girl in her arms. Deamra let out a sad laugh burying her head in Magdalen's shoulder.

"Since I won't be here, we'll have to go ahead and start planning the wedding." Magdalen yelped dramatically.

For the rest of the morning, the girls spent their time talking about dresses, flowers. Magdalen explained the concept of a flower girl and laughed about the idea of Dwalin as a flower girl.

XXX

Dwalin stood around the banister over the training arena, watching the flood of activity below. Magdalen rocked back and forth on her feet, tapping her cane on the stone floor bored out of her mind. She huffed looked at the bald dwarf beside her, she opened her mouth but Dwalin cut her off.

"No." He answered her unasked question.

Magdalen huffed falling unceremoniously onto the bench behind her.

"Dwalin, please. I'm going to go crazy up here."

Dwalin did not budge. "No, and that's final. You aren't ready to take on those dwarves."

Magdalen snapped her head in his direction. "I have taken on Fili, I have taken on Kili. I've even taken on your best guard. You've taught me well, please let me go show that off."

Dwalin ignored her moving past her walking down the steps into the training arena. Magdalen groaned following after the grumpy dwarf. It seemed that Dis wasn't the only one affected by the new dwarves arrival. Dwalin had been on edge more than usual if that was possible since they arrived. He had stopped their training a week ago, stating that her stay was coming to an end there was no need to continue. And then he all but banned her from the training arena. He won't let her go near the other dwarves without him glaring behind her.

Small wars were happening all around her as dwarves threw themselves at each other. Locked in battles of brawns. Grunts and screams filled the air, crowds of dwarves cheered as their respective champions won. Dwalin didn't bat an eye making a beeline for two certain dwarf princes. Magdalen said a silent prayer in hopes not to find that either of the princes was in a fight, or shirtless. Especially a certain blonde haired prince. Kili caught sight of them opening his arms to them.

"Dwalin, Maggie. Good to see you finally join us." He grinned.

Dwalin mumbled a greeting, while Magdalen smiled back. "Hello, Kee."

Fili tore his gaze away from a group of dwarves caught her eye.

"Hello, Fili." She added softly as an afterthought.

He smiled at her happily, nodding to greet her. Her heart skipped stupid dwarf and his cute face.

"Come to show these worthless dwarves, what a real fighter looks like?" Kili teased swinging his sweaty arm around Magdalen.

"No!" Exclaimed both Dwalin and Fili.

Magdalen narrowed her eyes at the two men. She shrugged Kili's arm off her shoulders, she glanced between the two dwarves.

"I am not going to fight, but only because I chose not too. I don't know where you two think you get off telling me what I can and cannot do." She poked their chests.

Her voice carried over the crowd and she grew angrier. Neither dwarf said anything only staring at her with wide eyes.

"Try and tell me I cannot fight again. And I will have you pinned to the ground beating you with my boot. You are not my father, I am a grown woman. Or had you missed that."

A small crowd had gathered around the woman, who was so opening scolding the two most respected dwarves in Middle Earth. Dwalin grunted turning his back to the girl, like a stubborn child. She expected nothing less. Fili just stared down at her, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Kili was dying behind her, though when she caught his laughter she turned and gave him the stink eye as well, quickly shutting him up.

"Magdalen I'm-" She held up her hand to Fili not wanting to hear his apology.

"Just because you are a prince, does not mean you can tell me how to live my life." She snapped.

Before he could say anything else a large hand caught Fili's shoulder.

"Such fire for such a small body! Cousin, are you sure she is not a dwarf?" Boomed the new man.

He was short, only coming to her shoulders, but his height was made up by his larger than life presences. His braided orange hair held clamps of gold, feathers, and ivory. His face was square and strong. A tusked necklace laid around his thick neck. There was no denying who he was. Thorin Stonehelm, son of Dain Ironfoot. He had a lopsided smile that made him look handsome in a lumberjack type way. He pushed past Fili standing in front of him, she watched as he raked over her figure. Women wore pants in Middle Earth, but not many. She was definitly an oddity. Magdalen stood tall, not cowering away from his gaze. Her face set in an unamused look.

"You must the beauty I keep hearing about." He bowed to her holding her hand.

He looked over his shoulder to Fili, smiling.

"I can see why you've hidden her away, cousin. I'm sure you'll have dwarves from the Ironfoot clan knocking themselves down to get the chance to dance with such a diamond." He leaned in winking at Magdalen.

Fili cleared his throat stepping in to split up the couple. "I think that is quiet enough, dear cousin." He glared at Thorin.

Thorin grinned mischievously letting go of Magdalen's hand. "Forgive me, I know how we dwarves are with our treasures."

Her anger was soon forgotten as an embarrassing heat swallow her. She pushed past Fili, glancing at him and then his cousins.

"I am no one's treasure, Thorin Stonehelm."

She could hear Kili trying to stifle his laughter behind her. Thorin raised his eyebrows in amusement.

"Ahh such spirit. Fili you were right, she is even more beautiful when she's angry."

Magdalen froze in place at his words, her cheeks suddenly become unbearably hot. Fili had called her beautiful? Why did the thought of him saying such a thing that made her skin jump, and her heart race? Thorin winked at her before pushing Fili aside.

"Come now, stop drooling over Lady Magdalen and let's fight." Thorin picked up his ax swinging it above his head.

She felt his gaze on her, but she did not move to meet his stare. Fili's face was dark as he turned away from Magdalen grunting something to Dwalin. The captain nodded moving to Magdalen's side.

"Come on, girlie, time to go," Dwalin ordered moving through the crowd.

She felt like a dog with its tail tucked when she retreated to Dwalin's side, who looked at her in hidden amusement. Kili gave her a small wave as he followed his brother to the fighting ring. She stopped at the top of the steps watching for a moment, as Fili ducked under Thorin's swing. Her heart caught in her chest when he landed a blow on his large back. She couldn't help but smile in pride when he kicked Thorin Stonehelm's leg out from under him, circling over top his body. He was bathed in pride as the dwarves cheered around him. His golden hair shine in the light when he spun ready for Thorin's next attack. Even from a distance, she could make out his brilliant smile. It was funny to think that he called her beautiful because he was the beautiful one. She had never called a man beautiful before but Fili certainly was. Behind her, Dwalin cleared his throat nodding toward the door.

"Don't want to make Ori wonder where you are." She nodded taking one more moment to enjoy the view of Fili before moving to Dwalin's side.

XXX

Durin's day was only a day, and so did her departure. She wasn't sure how to feel about leaving Middle Earth. Magdalen had grown to love her life in Erebor, she had fought and she had survived. She had carved a place in this crazy world. It was going to be weird when she left it all behind. Those feels were magnified as she sat in front of the fire, the Ur children tucked into her side as they told her a story tonight. Bofur and Poppy sat on the couch swinging a sleeping Marigold in their arms listening to their children ridiculous story.

Magdalen insisted on no big parties for her departure, she didn't want to make a big fuss. Durin's day had already taken up so much of Dis's mind, she didn't want to add to her stress. Dis, of course, had opposed but after negotiating Magdalen had agreed not to leave the Durin's side during tomorrow celebration. Besides Magdalen wanted to spend one of her last nights in Erebor with Ur children.

"The dragon roared in front of the princess," Bomfur exclaimed standing up.

Rampur made claws and snarled like the dragon, Magdalen hid her smile. The story developed and the children grew giddier to show off the tale they had concocted. Their smiles made a pain echo in her chest. Leaving them, leaving the family she had made was going to be the hardest part. She held Rampur in her lap, resting her chin on top of his head.

Daisy jumped to her brother's side. "And with her friends the princess stabbed the evil dragon in the heart, freeing the people of RhysGuard forever!" She yelled on top of her lungs.

Bomfur cheered on his sister. Magdalen clapped kissing the top of Rampur's head as she stood up sweeping the children into her arms. They giggled snuggling to her embrace.

"Oh my, I think I've taught you all I can. You all are master storytellers now." Magdalen cheered releasing them.

Suddenly there was a pounding at the door, Magdalen ignored it praising the children for the wonderful tale. Bofur stood to answer the door, Magdalen hearing a heaving voice whispering. She glanced over her shoulder to see Bofur with a very serious face and a sweaty looking Kili. Magdalen stood looking at the frantic prince, his dark eyes caught her. Something was off. She let go of the kids moving closer to Kili.

"Kili's what's wrong?" Her voice was high in alarm.

Kili's shoulders were tense.

"He's here… Gandalf just arrived." His voice was strained as if he were trying to hide his emotions.

Magdalen felt her face crack with a smile. Her heart soared.

"What?" Was all she could muster.

Kili swallowed nodding. "He's in Thorin's study right now."

Magdalen looked back to the Ur family, her smile melting away when she took in their solemn faces. Her excitement suddenly faded, she cleared her throat looking down at her feet.

"Kili, will you give me a minute," Magdalen asked.

Kili looked at the children, whose tears were bubbling in their wide innocent eyes, nodding.

"I will wait in the hallway for you." With that, he closed the door behind him.

The room was quiet, and the air was heavy. The children became quiet looking at one another. Bomfur looked up at her through thick lashes.

"Do you have to leave, Maggie?" A small quiver rang in his voice.

Magdalen blinked brushing his golden hair behind his ear, tugging at his cheek. "I'm sorry kid, but I've got to go home. I have people wondering where I am."

Daisy sighed moving beside her brother. "We could be your home." She spoke quietly.

Magdalen could contain herself as she held the three sad children in her arms. "You guys will always be my home."

"Maggie, please don't leave us. Who is going to tell Mari stories?" Rampur hiccuped burying his head into her thigh.

"You guys just told me the most amazing story. I think you guys will be fine without me." She kissed his forehead, brushing away a loose tear.

"Children let go of Magdalen," Bofur commanded gently.

The three children stepped back staring at the ground. Magdalen turned to face Bofur throwing her arms around his middle.

"Say goodbye before you leave," Bofur whispered in her ear knocking his forehead against hers.

She nodded holding back the tears she felt burning her eyes. He held her in a tight hug before releasing her. Poppy quickly handed over Marigold to Bofur. Before attacking Magdalen when Bofur backed up. Poppy whimpered, tears freely falling onto Magdalen's person. She sighed tucking her head in Magdalen's shoulder, running her finger over the braid she had given her.

"Promise you will not forget us," Poppy said so that only she could hear. She didn't want to alarm the children.

Magdalen held back her tears squeezing the tiny hobbit woman.

"Never," She croaked feeling the heavy ache weighing in her heart.

Poppy quickly let go of Magdalen turning her head to wipe away a tear.

Magdalen held her arms out to take Marigold. She leaned down pressing a kiss into her chubby check. Brushing her finger over the baby's peaceful face, even in the midst of all this chaos Marigold was still fast asleep. Her heart ached as she handed Marigold back to her parents. Taking her cane from the front door, she exhaled as she opened it giving a small wave to the Ur family as she left.

Kili pushed himself off the stonewall coming to Magdalen's side.

"Ready?"

He was anxious, she could tell. He wasn't smiling, or joking. Kili was serious, and it disturbed her deeply. Magdalen nodded slipping her arm around his trying to keep up with his pace.

"As I'll ever be."

XXX

Bile burned her throat, she had felt her anxiety all week. But in the moment, standing before Thorin's study, she felt it all at once. Tumbling toward her like a snowball ready to take her down. Kili nodded at the guards on duty as they stood before the door. Her hands shook violently as Kili wrapped his hand around the doorknob. Part of her was screaming in delight thinking about her bed, thinking about her apartment, her friends. Her sister. She had spent seven months in a place she had always thought was fiction. How was she going to explain her disappearance? How much time had passed since she arrived? All of her answers laid just beyond the door in front of her.

Magdalen nodded to Kili signally for him to open the door. The wood cracked as it swung open, the warmth of the room wrapped around her. Dis sat in a chair by the hearth, looking distressed as she knitted over her hands. Fili stood behind his mother pacing back and forth anxiously. He hadn't spoken to her since that day in the training arena. Bilbo stood in front of Thorin's desk looking up a figure she had never seen before. There standing before Thorin's desk like a giant was Gandalf the Grey. He was just as she had imagined him. He wore a crooked grey hat, which only added to his height and long robes that fit in perfectly to his grey aesthetic. At the sound of the squeaking door, everyone turned their attention to them. Dis stood up staring at the girl, Magdalen could see she was holding back tears for her.

Gandalf turned revealing an old wrinkled face. In his hand was a long pipe, taking a drag he huffed a small butterfly from the smoke. Lines of his long face told stories of his life as a wandering wizard but also held many secrets. A smile cracked on his face, as his eye light up at the sight of her.

"Hello, my dear." Gandalf bowed at her.

Behind him, Thorin stood from his desk joining Bilbo and Gandalf at their side. Magdalen shook her head slightly, shaking herself out of the trace. She blinked.

"Hi." She answered back.

Gandalf let out a deep laugh that warmed the enter room. I'm going home. Her heart exploded into a million pieces. She smiled at the wizard, stepping forward she let go of Kili's arm bowing at him.

"I've been told you have quite the story, my dear," Gandalf asked his eyes were twinkling with mischief.

She nodded slowly. Gandalf hummed glancing at Thorin to his right. "Why don't you have some of the red wine King Thranduil sent for the celebration brought up here. I do like a good drink with a mystery."

XXX

Gandalf was never found it rather odd when Thorin asked he come to Erebor earlier than he had planned, but wasn't surprised. He was an old soul and had roamed the world for many years. Though there were still mysteries left in the world that puzzled him, he was rarely left surprised when finding their answers. But this small human girl was something else entirely. She had weaved her wild tale, and it almost left him gobsmacked. He stood pacing back and forth listening to her every word.

"Now I'm here. And I'm ready to go home." She breathed relaxing into the chair Fili had brought for her.

He stroked his beard as her story drew to a close.

"That is quite the tale, Miss Kathan." He muttered looking at Thorin, to see if he had bought into her elaborate story.

"Aye, it is. But I believe she speaks the truth, she is not from Middle Earth." Thorin backed up her claim.

Magdalen's eyes softened at the king, thinking about how he and Fili had treated her when she first arrived in Erebor.

Gandalf held up his hands in defense. "I have no doubts in my mind, that she is not from this world. But the question is how she got here?" He said wisely.

Magdalen's mind flashed back to the man that had followed her that night. The golden dust that had wrapped around her before she slipped into the blackness.

"Do you think that man sent me here?" She questioned.

He took another huff of his pipeweed thinking how such a thing could have occurred. The room suddenly grew very cold around him, a sweet voice whispered so that only he could hear.

The necklace. Galadriel said in his mind.

She was always with him, in a way. Always listening, even from great distances. Gandalf's eyes wandered to the girl's necklace, only now taking note of it.

No, it couldn't be. His eyes snapped as he stood, alarming everyone in the room.

"Gandalf what's wrong?" Bilbo inquired worried by his sudden actions.

Gandalf reached his hand out to Magdalen.

"May I see your necklace, Miss Kathan."

Magdalene's hand shot to her necklace protectively. Thorin cleared his throat nodded for her to do as the wizard had asked. Slowly she detached the chain slipping the small jewelry into the palm of his hand. He held the necklace by the chain letting the light of the fire brighten the small emerald inside the knotted pendant.

"It has been a while since I have seen this." He muttered.

Thorin huffed frustrated by the wizard's riddles. He slammed his hand into his desk. "What is it, Wizard? Can you send the girl home, or not." He sneered.

Gandalf lowered the necklace from his gaze, wrapping the chain around his hand. He looked to the girl, her eyes glimmering in hope. He gently handed the necklace back closing his hands around her open palm.

"I am afraid I cannot help you, my dear."

The hope in her eyes died.

The world stopped around her.

"What?" She whispered, not believing her ears.

"You were brought her by the Valar, I cannot go against their authority." Magdalen stared at the grey-haired wizard.

She shook her head trying to soothe herself, Magdalen ran her fingers through her hair.

"No, take me home Gandalf, I want to go home." Anger burned through her body.

She could contain her ragged breathing.

"There is nothing I can do." Her chest hurt.

"You're a wizard, there has to be something you can do!" Her voice hitched as tears blurred the world around her.

She felt her knees go weak, lowering herself onto the cool stone floor. She could not contain her cries of pain as her body shook. Her head pounded, she pressed her palm into her eyes.

The room fell silent only her cries filling the space.

She opened her mouth her voice felt tight and strained as she spoke.

"Why did they bring me here, what did I do?" She tried to fight back her tears.

"I had a life, I had friends, I had a sister. That's all gone, they all probably think I'm dead. Why did they bring me here." Her voice rose as she spoke each word.

Thorin flinched at the scene before him, the girl had done many things but in the whole time he had known her she never once cried in front of him. Guilt rang in his chest, his eyes meet his sister's. Dis was heartbroken by the girl's pleads, she wished nothing more than to find her comfort. Kili stood at his mother's side, he looked distraught. Magdalen had become his best friend. He hated seeing her in such pain.

Fili felt his fist tighten, as a foreign pain rang through his body. His chest constricted and his legs shook. He fought his own instinct to pull Magdalen into his arms and soothe her pain. Whispering in her ear that she didn't deserve to lose everything she loved. He was frightened by his own rationale but he did not fight it, he stood there looking over the girl as she sobbed aloud.

The wizard knelt before her taking her chin into his hands. The rim of her eyes were red and her irises held fierce storm clouds.

"Long ago there was a dwarf who roamed Middle Earth after his home had been taken by a dragon." Bilbo paused confused by Gandalf's sudden story, the girl was in pain she did not need to hear some silly tale from him.

"Gandalf I don't think this is the time for…." He trailed off when Gandalf gave him a look that told him to hush.

"In his travels, he encountered many adventures and made many friends. Once near Riverdell, the dwarf came upon an elfing being attacked by Orc. The girl screamed for help, but no aid came. Being The honorable dwarf he was, the dwarf attack the creature. He protected the girl as best as he could, but the beast was a creature of evil and dwarf had landed a crushing blow but not before the orc cut him with a poisoned weapon. The girl's father, Lord Elrond, came just in time to finish off the creature. The elves tried to save the dwarf, but it was too late. The poison had taken him, for his sacrifice Lord Elrond called upon the Valor to show the dwarf mercy. And they answered. Yavanna, the queen of the earth and wife to Aule, creator of the dwarves, appeared to the dwarf when he next woke. Yavanna thanked the dwarf for his sacrifice and brought his body to Aule telling her husband the story. Yavanna, in gratitude, saved the dwarfs life, but could not send him back to Middle Earth. The dwarf begged to be sent home, but the deed had already been done. Aule made a deal with the dwarf. He was to be sent to another world to live out the rest of his days. But the time came and Erebor returned to its former glory his children would see the home of their kin. "

Magdalen sniffed a confused look covered her face.

"Why did you tell me that story," her voice was small and weak.

"That dwarf was named Harion, son of Jarion. You may know him by the name of Hari."

Thorin stepped forward upon hearing the name "Gandalf what is the meaning of this."

Gandalf stood at his full height towering over everyone in the room. Hooking his hand around his belt looking down at the dwarven king.

"It seems that the Valar have kept their promise." His gaze moved from Thorin to the girl curled on the floor. Her red-rimmed eyes staring up at the old wizard, she sniffed.

Harion. The guard whose journal she had been reading. The dwarf who had wrongfully been banished from Erebor was her grandfather. Her headache from this revelation.

"She is a dwarf?" Dis gasped.

Gandalf nodded stroking his long white bread.

"A quarter dwarf to be precise."

Magdalen stared down at the necklace in her hand. She shook her head.

"No" She fumed.

Gandalf was taken back by her statement."I'm sorry?"

Magdalen stood up with the help of her cane. She stood her ground, her chest heaving. Her mind was racing, everything was happening all so fast. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't be.

"I said no, that's not possible. My grandfather was a farmer, an immigrant. He wasn't a dwarf. I have gone crazy. This can't be possible. It can't be." She said muttering to herself.

Fili could see the panic raising her eyes, she was overwhelmed. He came to her side, pulling her into his arms.

"Maggie."

She screamed in frustration fighting her away out of his grip like a wild animal. She stared at him with pure hatred in her eyes. Her crying was both ferocious and noisy. She blinked briny tears from bloodshot eyes, her thick lashes stuck together in clumps as if she'd been swimming. The tears made wet tracks down her face and dripped from her wobbling chin. Clear watery snot streaked from her flaring nostrils down her red mottled skin to her open quivering lips. Her hand opened and closed, rhythmically clenching as if there could be some violent solution to his pain if only he could find it.

"Don't touch me… just don't."

Fili stood by her side nevertheless, he knew her pain. She needed space, she needed to think.

"Gandalf you have to send me home, is there any way I can." She pleaded.

Gandalf rubbed his eyebrows. "You could go see Lady Galadriel, but she will only tell you what I have told you."

Just like that everything she had ever loved was taken from her. She would never see her home again. The air around her became thin and harder to breathe. She left like she was going to suffocate. She closed her eyes, trying to ignore the nagging feeling of despair stabbing at her.

"Magdalen," Fili whispered beside, this time careful not to touch her.

She opened her eyes holding her head up. Thorin and Bilbo were startled when she forced a smile toward them.

"I'm very tired, I think I'm going to bed." She bowed like nothing was wrong, turning to storm out of the room.

"Magdalen," Dis called after her.

Magdalen stopped in front of the door, she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes."I will see you in the morning."

Flinging open the door she marched toward her room.

"Fili go after her, make sure she doesn't do anything..." Thorin commanded worry filling his voice.

Fili nodded racing after Magdalen, he was going to follow her whether Thorin told him to or not. He called after her but she didn't stop. Fili finally caught up to her pulling her into his arms. She fought for a moment, punching into his chest. Fili leaned her into his embrace, rubbing her back. Her cries were violent and painful to listen too. She sobbed into his chest unceasingly, hands clutching at his tunic. He held her in silence, rocking her slowly as her tears soaked his chest. A tiny lapse let her pull away, blinking lashes heavy with tears, before she collapsed again, her howls of misery worsening. The pain must have come in waves, minutes of sobbing broken apart by short pauses for recovering breaths, before hurling her back into the outstretched arms of her grief.

They spent ages like holding each other like nothing else in the world mattered. When her sobs quietly into heavy breathing he picked her up, carrying her the rest of the way to her apartment. He knew she wouldn't have peace for a while after Gandalf's revelation, he could only hope that she could find some happiness.