A/N: Hello! I'm back with a new chapter and it hasn't been months so yay! This is going to be a fairly long chapter with a lot of dialogue and hopefully some cuteness and so I hope you'll like it :)

Chapter Thirteen

Thorin was not exactly a dwarf known for his patience. It was a trait that ran deep in his family, unfortunately. Having to spend two weeks in Rivendell, just so that they could have a chance to decipher his ancestors' map would surely come to test his patience on more levels than one.

He did trust the company of elves.

Admittedly, the elves of Rivendell were better and perhaps even intellectually brighter than those who dwelled in Mirkwood. Thranduil was too obsessed with his love for starlight to see any sense and it had long since created a rift between their people. All elves adored starlight as if it was sacred to them and sure dwarrows loved gold for a similar reason, but there was something in the way that elves became changed around starlight that unsettled Thorin.

He certainly hoped that he would never become as obsessed over gold as elves were with starlight.

Nevertheless, they were in Rivendell for two weeks and as much as he hated to admit it, Lord Elrond had indeed been hospitable and perhaps even kind.

Much to Thorin's immense disappointment, there had been no sign of Ellie for a long time now. A part of him worried that maybe that was it for this time and maybe they wouldn't see each other again. Despite the fear, Thorin felt deep inside that something about her presence here was different. The way that she had appeared throughout different stages of their journey made him wonder if maybe she was following them somehow. He didn't understand why, though, or if there even was a purpose to it. All he knew for certain was that when Ellie was around, the quest did not feel quite so overwhelming.

The strings on his harp had been left unattended for some time and the melody he played was not as soft as perhaps it could be. He needed to make sure to look after it better because playing music was the one thing that calmed him when nothing else could.

Being a king of his people meant that he could never show weakness. Any outwardly signs of anxiety or regret or fear would spread to others and once fear was set in motion it was hard to stop.

Truth be told, Thorin was frightened.

Frightened of what would happen once they reached Erebor. Sure, Smaug was asleep for now, but he was an ancient and wise creature. What would happen once Smaug realized that company planned to reclaim their kingdom? Surely, he would find a way to make sure their plans were interrupted in as much of a cruel way as he could.

Thorin closed his eyes and saw dragon fire.

No matter how many years passed, he still remembered that day with extreme clarity. He remembered his mother, Dís' cries of terror as the Smaug's flames filled the mountain halls with literal fiery rage and greed as the dwarves were sent fleeing for their lives.
Fíli and Kíli had only been little dwarflings at the time and Thorin often thought about how lucky they were that they didn't have any memories that scarred them.

Dís still had nightmares.

Quite honestly, it was amazing that Thorin didn't. Occasionally, even though his friend would never admit it, Dwalin woke himself up in the middle of the night from dreams of that night. Thorin knew that Dwalin had been particularly close to the dragonfire and even had a scar to prove it, although he refused to show it to anyone.

Thorin had only caught a glimpse of it a handful of times and everytime Dwalin noticed, he quickly made sure to cover it so that no questions could be asked.

The son of Thrain sighed as he picked up his harp and gently strummed its strings. They were out of tune because he had not played in a while.

It was his father, Thráin II, who had taught him how to play the harp. He found it soothed his mind during times when his thoughts were racing, such as now. Some of the melodies had been passed down their line for generations, while others were songs that Thorin himself had composed.

"It's been a while since I've heard you play."

At first, Thorin did not answer.

Her voice sounded real and present enough, but whether or not she was actually there was a different matter altogether these days. Was her fleeting presence perhaps some cruel trick of the Valar or maybe even a punishment for his lack of leadership.

She was right, though. It had been a while since he played for her.

"Unfortunately," said Thorin, "Quests of great importance seldom makes time for music."

"Will you play for me again?" asked Ellie, "Like you used to when we were younger?"

Ellie sat down next to Thorin on the bench in the gardens overlooking the valley of the Last Homely House. She looked different than the other time he had seen her on their journey. It was almost as if she was more there somehow and less of an illusion.

"And what shall I play?" Thorin asked softly. It was just the two of them there and it felt strange to be alone with her.

He knew her so well, yet recently it felt as though he did not know her at all. Was she hiding something from him? If so, why? They had been friends for so many years; why could she not share her fears with him.

Then again, why could he not share his with her?

"Something I haven't heard before." Ellie suggested

Thorin gently let his fingers dance across the harp.

They were old friends who simply needed to be reacquainted. He played the beginnings of a solemn melody and then began to sing its words.

"May it be an evening star

Shines down upon you

May it be when darkness falls

Your heart will be true

You walk a lonely road

Oh, how far you are from home

Mornie utulie

Believe and you will find your way

Mornie alantie

A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadow's call will fly away

May it be your journey on to light the day

When the night is overcome

You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utulie

Believe and you will find your way

Mornie alantie

A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now."

Thorin saw in the corner of his eyes that Ellie was crying. It wasn't the first time he had seen her cry, but something about these tears seemed different. It was as though they were filled with a different kind of sorrow and heartbreak than he had ever seen in her. Then, the dwarf prince felt foolish and wanted to scold himself for being angry with Ellie.

After all these years, he knew better than anyone that Ellie could not control her comings and goings. It was unfair of him to take his frustration out on her when he also knew that Ellie wanted to control it.

Suddenly, to Thorin's surprise, Ellie leaned her head against his shoulder.

"That's beautiful." Ellie whispered, "Who taught it to you?"

"My mother did, when I was very little." Thorin replied, "Ellie, are you really here? Or is this another dream?"

Thorin dreaded the answer. Mostly because he wasn't sure how to react to the inevitable disappointment he was sure to experience. Then, something happened that the son of Thráin had not anticipated.

Ellie leaned her head against his shoulder, as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world. It was the first time since he had met her back in Erebor as a child, that they had been able to touch each other. Thorin had always known she was real, but this was the first time that it was truly confirmed and he wasn't sure what to do.

"I don't understand." Thorin said, quietly, as if loudness would somehow break the spell. "I thought you weren't able to be here."

"I wasn't." Ellie said, "I mean. Technically, I'm still not. It's complicated, but this is a gift from Lord Elrond. He said that while we are in Rivendell, we will be able to spend time together as if I'm actually here. Once you leave these borders, it goes back to normal I'm afraid."

Thorin did not understand.

Why would Elrond consider helping them at all? There was no gain in it for him and Thorin knew for a fact that elves could not be trusted no matter how kind or selfless their actions might seem. What was in it for him?

"Will the others be able to see you too?" Thorin wondered, "They'll have so many questions."

"I know, I haven't figured it out yet either." Ellie told him, "But this is good, isn't it? We can finally just spend time together. If you want to, of course. I know a lot has happened and I know I haven't been here for it and believe me, I wish I could have."

Thorin sighed.

"Well, it is not as if I have been there for you either." he admitted, "And I am sorry for that. Truly, I am."

Ellie turned to face him and for a while they just looked at each other. They had both changed since they were children and even though he was many, many years older than her, they had still shared most of their lives. A part of Thorin was frightened that maybe Ellie wouldn't like the ways in which he had changed.

The ways in which he had needed to change in order to become a leader of his people.

"It's okay." Ellie said with a smile, "This whole thing is a bit weird and kinda messed up to be honest and we can't really control any of it. It's all those guys up there. Seriously, Middle-Earth has a lot of divine interventions and I think that means you guys have some issues to sort out."

Thorin chuckled. Ellie had always had a great if somewhat blunt sense of humor. He had a feeling the Company would like her. Although, how he would explain their friendship, he had no idea.

"Can we just, you know, start over?" Ellie asked, "We have two weeks. I'd like things to were as they were before."

"Yes, I should like that very much."

And Thorin meant it.

To be continued….

Yay! They have two weeks together! What will happen? You'll have to wait for the next update to find out! I told you this would be a slow burn.