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 44

Panic wasn't the word to describe the full extent of how Magdalen felt the morning of Thorin's challenge. The final trial for her and Fili's future. Magdalen was sure that she had paced the length of her living room enough times to beginning to wear through the stone floor. She couldn't help it, Dis's words rang in her mind. She had to win this challenge if she wanted a future with Fili. But she had no idea how to prepare. And thus far preparation had led her to failure.

How could I have lost against Tearsa? Magdalen still wondered. She wasn't the best archer of all time, but she still should have been better than Tearsa, a dwarf who had little to none interest in archery at all. Magdalen tried not to dwell on it, but her thoughts always wandered back to what had happened.

Her fingers danced along her necklace, trying to keep the storms of her mind from dampening her mood. She had to remain positive, she had to have faith. Faith seemed to be the only thing she had these days. Just as she found a happy life for herself in a place she once thought was a fictional place, she and Fili would find their way.

Magdalen was so caught up in her thoughts she hadn't heard her door open. Or the tapping of feet on her stone floor slowly approaching her. Until a hand placed on her shoulder. Magdalen let out a yelp turning to face the intruder, fist tightly balled ready to fight. A smug look spread across Fili's face as his hands raised up in the air in surrender.

"Try not to break my nose this time." He teased.

Magdalen narrowed her eyes at his comment.

"Fili, what are you doing?" Magdalen exclaimed unmoving, a few feet away. "You aren't supposed to be here."

A grin appeared across his face, lifting up the sides of braid mustache. He folded his arms over his broad chest.

"Do you not wish to see me?" He raised an eyebrow.

Magdalen shook her head gently, a smile growing on her face as she took a small step forward. "I didn't say that."

Fili closed the space between them. His arms enveloping around her, he pressed his forehead to hers. Magdalen closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of Fili so close. His fingers began to comb through the tangles of her hair.

"I had to come and see how you are doing."

Magdalen sighed into his touch. "Not well, my love." She admitted in a low whisper.

Fili hummed, tracing his fingers from the nape of her neck to the middle of her back.

"You have to keep fighting, Magdalen." His hands gripping her shoulders, forcing her to look him in his eyes.

"Promise me you'll keep fighting for us, Dushin-Mizim." Magdalen butted her forehead against his lightly giving him a small smile.

"I have never stop fighting, Fili." Her hands dug into the sides of his arms. Reaching up she placed a kiss on his lips, welcoming the feeling of warmth and safety that radiated from him. His fingers roamed through her hair. In that moment, nothing else mattered but them. There were no trials that awaited her. There was no Tearsa, or Amrus. There was only them. And that was enough. She wasn't fighting to become Queen of the Mountain, like Tearsa. She was fighting for moments like this, to be held in Fili's arms the rest of her days. She gripped him closer realizing the gravity of their situation.

What if this is the last time he holds me? She wondered

Fingertips brushed over the concentrated creases of her face. "Dushin-Mizim, you worry too much." Fili voiced as if he had read her mind.

His lips pressed into her forehead. Her lip pouted, giving Fili a serious look. "Fili, what if-"

Fili shook his head, clamping his gigantic hand over her mouth. "No what if's, my love. It's you and me forever, as long as you'll have me. Just you and me." His hand fell from her mouth cupping her jaw, making her meet his gaze.

She nodded, nuzzling into his touch.

"You and me." She sighed into his embrace.

Magdalen stood in the empty hall in front of the Throne Room, pacing back and forth. Tearsa sat at the edge of the hall glaring at Magdalen, like she was the scum of the earth. Magdalen guessed to Tearsa she was. Magdalen tried to ignore the Lady, but found the weight of her heated gaze almost impossible to ignore. Spinning on her heels Magdalen faced Tearsa.

"What? Do I have food on my face." Magdalen tried to make light of their situation.

Tearsa snarled at Magdalen, "Don't speak to me like I'm one of your friends." Snapped Tearsa.

Magdalen didn't flinch at Tearsa's sharp tone, she had grown accompanied to it.

"I imagine that you were nice at one point in your life." Magdalen stated leaning against the opposite wall.

Tearsa shot up from her seat, her shoulders tensed as if she was ready to fight.

"You know nothing of me, humans." Tearsa spat.

She took a step in Magdalen's direction, her hands visibly shaking. "I carry the weight of my family's name on my shoulders." Tearsa quickly closed the space between them. "I was a disappointment from the moment I was born. I was a girl, I could never carry my family's name on." She seathed. "This is my chance to finally bring honor my family rightly deserves." Her nostrils flared. "My father will finally be proud of his daughter," Her finger poked into Magdalen's chest. "That will not be taken away by some no name human."

Magdalen's eyes widened, a part of her felt a sense of pity for Tearsa. A small part. The grand doors opened behind them the waves of cheers flooding through the open doors. Tearsa gave her one last look, before pushing past her coming to stand in front of the now open doors. Magdalen took a deep breath before taking her place right beside Tearsa. They began to walk down the long stretch of the stone walkway that led to the throne. She had been in the throne room before. In the balcony watching as Thorin addressed the people of the mountain. But that couldn't explain the grandeur of Throne before her. Golden rivers ran from the rock hovering above, dipping into a small sharp edge that pointed to the simple seat that sat in the center of the room. As if the mountain was aware of the power of the seat, and who sat on it. Thorin stood in front of the seat, eyeing both women carefully as they approached him. Clothed in his royal robes, and grand crown. Fili at his right, his eyes never leaving Magdalen. Kili openly grinned at Magdalen, silently cheering her on.

Thorin held up his hand silencing the room with one gesture. Thorin cleared his throat ,his cold eyes hovering over the room. Magdalen remembered a time when she would have flinched at his gaze, she dropped her head giving herself a small smile. That was a very long time ago.

"Lady Tearsa of the Grey Mountains," Thorin nodded at Tearsa, whom bowed upon being addressed. His eyes moved to Magdalen, "Lady Magdalen of The Ur clan." Magdalen did not bow.

Above her, she heard the whispers of her display. Magdalen met Thorin's eyes, thinking she would find a look of displeasure. But instead she found a glimmer of pride in his old eyes.

"You both have shown your strength, and have proven to us in folds that you are willing to pick up a sword in battle." He paused.

"But being the Queen or King of the Mountain is more than just having strength. It is having a kind heart, wisdom for you diplomats, and loyalty to your people. I give to both of you, your final task. Present to me and Prince Fili three items, gifts, that show what you will bring to the Throne. You have access to our vaults, and anything else you think you will need. You will have three hours to complete the task. At the end of those three hours you both report back here with your gifts. You will present your gifts, and I will determine their worthiness." Magdalen's heart surged as she stared up Thorin.

"Your time beings nows."

An hour had passed and Magdalen had nothing. She had wandered the length of the mountain trying to find something to give Thorin. She had seen Tearsa heading straight for the treasury with a hoard of her guards. Magdalen was sure they would find the biggest and brightest gem there was. Magdalen had thought about looking around in the vault, but figured Thorin and Fili already owned those riches. She wanted to find something she could give to the mountain. Eventually she found herself in the library, sitting on the edge of the rails. Her legs swinging out into the air. She rested her head against the cool steel rail, thinking aloud.

"Agh it's hard giving a gift to someone who already had everything." She moaned to herself.

"Quite the dilemma isn't, my dear." A jolly voice called behind her.

Magdalen turned to find the friendly face of Balin behind her. A smile grew across her face, "Hello, Balin."

The jolly old dwarf nodded to her. "I'm afraid your time is growing short, Lady Magdalen." He informed her his arms clasped behind his back.

Magdalen looked down, her finger tracing over the rough uneven stone. Balin seemed to notice her downward moos, glancing around him before he spoke. "You know it isn't about what Thorin or Fili want. As you said, they already have everything. It's about what their people need. A Queen isn't just for looks. No a dwarven queen is just as powerful as her king. They are equals and must equally provide for their people." He said carefully.

Magdalen got up off the ground, coming to her full height. She looked down at the king's right hand man, lighting setting off in her mind as idea began to roll in. She rushed forward catching Balin in a hug, who let a squeak of surprise.

"Thank you, Balin. Thank you so much!" She exclaimed running out of the library.

Balin fixed his tunic watching the golden haired girl rush away, he laughed to himself.

The three hours had wound down, and Magdalen found herself in front of the Throne room once again. Tearsa had already been at the doors when Magdalen arrived. While all three of her items fit perfectly into her arms, Tearsa's gifts came in a range of barrels and chests. Tearsa seemed very proud of her gifts, holding her chin high when the door once again opened. Her judgmental gaze settling on the two small gifts in Magdalen's arms.

"We were supposed to get three gifts. Or were you too busy drooling over the prince to hear that?" Tearsa questioned.

Magdalen ignored her beginning the walk to the Throne. The room was eerily quiet, the dwarves sizing up their champions. Whispers began pouring in at the sight of Magdalen's, though they quieted when the two girls arrived at the throne. Tearsa quickly bowed at the bottom of the steps, looking up at the king when he called her name.

"Lady Tearsa, you may present your gifts first." Tears smiled turning to gesture to one of her guards.

Her guards lifted an ornate chest, carrying it up to the king. Swiftly unlocking the chest to reveal stacks of rich silk fabric that shined under the light.

"My first gift I present that unique fabrics that hail from my homeland." Thorin nodded seemingly pleased with her gift.

Tearsa snapped her fingers, her guards quickly moving into place with a barrall. "My second gift is The Grey Mountain's finest ale."

"And my final gift comes from your own vaults, my king." She snapped her fingers bringing forth the last gift, a small golden box. Tearsa stepped forward opening the box to show off a glittering blue diamond. Carefully lifting up the diamond to show off the jewel to the people.

"I found this in my time in your marvelous treasurer. This diamond will shine as bright as Prince Fili and mine rule, when our time comes." Tearsa lowers self into a deep bow.

Claps of support surged from the near balconies. Thorin clasped his hands around the small chest quickly, nodding at Tearsa solemnly, excusing her. Tearsa climbed down the steps, a prideful smile playing on her lips as she passed Magdalen. Magdalen kept her eyes trained on Thorin, not giving Tearsa any sense of her feelings.

"Lady Magdalen, please come forward." Thorin called.

All eyes were on her now as she slowly trudged up the steps. Magdalen's eyes met Kili's, giving him a small smile, before connecting with Fili. Fili had been taken back when her nervous demeanor melted with each step. Her spine straightened, and her head was held higher. A graceful smile played on her lips, she looked liked a queen as she stood in front of Thorin. She bowed her head only slightly when she stood before the kinh. Thorin gestured for her to begin.

Magdalen pulled open the brown stack that sat comfortably in her hands. Retrieving from it a small stone, almost a peddle. Smooth on both sides, Magdalen flipped it reading the blue runes engraved on the top of the stone.

Do all things through love

It read.

"You have a lot of treasures." Magdalen began, chuckling. "Gold, silver, diamonds…It's just so much, that I didn't I could give you anything of importance. I don't hail from the rich and beautiful lands like Lady Tearsa. But as I was wandering through the mountain, I thought that not all your treasures are in your vaults." Thorin tilted his head, thick brows furrowing.

"I give you this stone as my first gift, it hails from your market. Made by a lovely dwarf, his craft is truly a treasure to this mountain."

Whispers began to accumulate. Walked over to Kili placing the stone in his hand, lightly tapping his hand as she closed his hand around the stone. Magdalen then walked over to Fili, his eyes watching her every move with pride. He smiled when she stood in front of her. Magdalen suppressed her smile, digging in the stack once again. She pulled out a raw cut gem, shining with the power of a thousand diamonds under the lights. Fili's eyes light up at the sight of the jewel, he kept himself from jumping up on the spot and kissing his Magdalen senseless.

"What is that?" Thorin questioned eyeing the jewel in Fili's hand.

"It's the stone Fili won at Amnesty Festival. It is the night I realized I loved him." She spoke to him never faulting on her words.

"I don't just offer my love to the Prince, I offer my love to the people of Erebor." She turned to speak directly to the people.

"I consider you all my friends, even those you who don't trust me. I would die for the people of this mountain." The dwarves stared at the girl silently unmoving.

"That is only two things, Lady Magdalen. Where is your last one, if you even have it?" Snapped Tearsa.

Thorin's look quickly silenced her, his eyes softened as he turned back to Magdalen. "Magdalen, where is you last gift?" He commanded softly.

Magdalen reached back, finding the clasp of her necklace. She left the silver necklace fall in her hand, turning over the small stone that sat in the middle.

"While my gifts aren't as exgevangent as Lady Tearsa's, I have only one last thing to offer. My family proudly served Erebor long ago, though I have rejected you as my king. I give you this, the last piece of my heritage, and give you my willing heart to serve you, King Thorin." She stepped forward placing her necklace into Thorin's hand.

Thorin stared down at the jewelry in his hand stunned by what the girl had just said. Magdalen took a step back, placing a closed fist over her heart, bending her knee before her king. Both Fili and Kili stared at the girl in bewilderment. The world fell silent. Thorin stood from his seat, all eyes on him, the echoing of his footsteps ringing in the hall. His hand reached out in front of Magdalen's face. She looked up at him, her hand slipping into his. He pulled her to her feet, holding her hand into the air.

"Lady Magdalen of the Ur Clan is the winner." Thorin yelled to his people.

The hall was quiet for a second before being filled up with cheers and cries of joy. Magdalen felt tears in her eyes, she could help but smile. Her heart beat so hard in her chest when her eyes met Fili's. She had done it, the future now laid in Fili's hands.

Thorin stood addressing Fili now. "Prince Fili, you have a choice. Lady Magdalen or Lady Tearsa, you will have the night to decide. We will meet here in the morning, and you will announce your decision."

Fili couldn't contain his smile as he looked at his future queen.

When she returned to her apartment she was on cloud nine, she wasn't walking she was floating on air. So when she found a note on her table from Fili asking her to meet him, Magdalen practically ran through the mountain. She wanted to wrap her arms around Fili and never let go. Magdalen bit her lip awaiting her Fili, ready to celebrate their future. They had a long fight, but they had finally gotten where they were meant to be.

She heard heavy footsteps behind her.

"Fili." Magdalen stood up straight feeling the new presence in the room.

She spun to find a very wide set figure, dark ugly eyes that had haunted her nightmares. Magdalen gasped at the face of Thymun, her body screamed for her to run. Alarms were going off in her head.

"What are you doing in here?" Magdalen snapped, her eyes searching for something to protect herself with.

A smile curled on Thymun's lip, showing off his yellowing teeth. "I've just come to congratulate my favorite little human." He stepped closer.

Magdalen braced herself against the wall. She took a breath before pushing herself off the wall, trying to dodge Thymun's grasp. Though Thymun was quicker, his enomerus hand clasped around Magdalen's arm. Giving it a painful squeeze.

"Were you expecting your prince?" His hot breath licked her ear.

Magdalen breath hitched, moving back to look at the ugly dwarf in his face. Quickly Magdalen spat in his eye, kicking his shin as hard as she could. Thymun let out a growl, letting go of Magdalen for a split second. Magdalen scrambled from his grasp rushing down the hall, Thymun lunged forward gripping her ankle in his grasp. She heard a snap as her ankle was pulled from underneath her. A rush of painful heat radiated from her ankle. She screamed as Thymun pinned her to the ground. His eyes were so dark, it made her skin crawl. Every part of his body pressed into her. He brought a hand to her cheek tracing over her skin.

"Don't worry, little whore. We will have our fun late, right now we are going on a little trip." He laughed as she squirmed in pain underneath his weight.

"I'd rather die than go anywhere with you." He still laughed, rearing his hand back into an iron fist before slamming it into her face. She saw a burst of bright purple light, before raining into blackness. The last thing she thought of was Fili

Sorry it's been a bit! School's been crazy.