As Bard walked through the ruined streets of Dale, making certain that everyone was being taken care of, he heard talk of an elf maiden with hair like the stars and eyes of emerald helping the wounded. He ran to see if he was correct and stared at Halien as she stood from a man she had just healed. She hadn't noticed him, but Frerin was starting to fuss and she took him from a woman who had been holding him. Bard watched as Halien took her son off to the side, into an empty room. He hurried to find her and when he did, his heart sank.

Halien stood in the middle of the room, singing a soft lullaby to her son. She rocked him gently in her arms and felt the tears spilling from her eyes as she looked at her son. He looked just like his father and that made her heart ache even more.

"Halien?" Bard asked, coming into the room.

She looked up and saw him standing in the doorway. "Hello, Bard…" she said, trying to hide her tears.

Bard saw them anyway and came to her side. "Halien, what's wrong? Why are you here?"

Halien looked down at her son, who had now fallen asleep, and then at Bard. "He turned us away…"

Bard looked at her. "Who? Thorin?"

Halien nodded. She couldn't bear to relay it vocally to him, so she put her hand on the side of his neck and placed her forehead against his, and closed her eyes. She lowered her shield and let her memory of what happened in Erebor after they returned to be seen by Bard.

Bard closed his eyes when the memory started to flow into his mind. He saw how Thorin looked when Halien first gazed upon him standing in a sea of gold. He saw how he looked tenderly and lovingly at his son, then his mood change. He watched as she spoke with Balin, heard him speak of dragon sickness, and felt Halien's worry and pain as she began to realize she might lose her husband to the same fate as his grandfather. He saw how Thorin reacted to seeing the Men of the Lake flooding into Dale, how he reacted to Halien questioning him and begging him to hold up his end of the bargain. He watched and listened as Thorin accused her of betrayal, accused her of no longer loving him. He heard Halien's faith in him, in his people, and saw her fighting to bring the man she knew back from the darkness that clouded his mind. He watched as she asked him if he loved her or the gold more and Thorin not give an answer. He watched as Halien took her son into her arms and began to leave, heard Thorin tell her if she went to the Bowman- to him- that she would no longer be welcome in Erebor.

Halien felt overwhelmed by the memory and she pulled away. She looked away from Bard as he stumbled back, having never experienced a memory share before. He looked at her, but his cheek felt wet and he knew it was because she was crying.

"Halien…"

"Bard, he would not tell me if he loved me. He would not even look at me." Halien said, looking at him. "He turned me away… I love him and he knows that, but yet he turned me away…"

Bard went to her and pulled her into his arms. She cried against his chest and held Frerin to her, careful not to hurt him. He slept through it all, through the conversation, through the crying, through everything. Bard held Halien for a long time as she cried silently into his chest. He stroked her hair and tried to calm her, having truly felt what she was going through all because of the memory share.

"What am I to do, Bard…?" Halien asked when she felt as if her tears were spent. "He turned me and our son away, would not even look me in the eye. He won't honor his promise, his word, and I feel like I am losing him. He is stronger than this, I am sure of it…"

Bard lifted her chin to where she could look at him. "You remain strong. Strong for your son, strong for yourself, strong for your companions, your husband. You are their queen, their ally. They look to you for guidance and strength as much as they do Thorin. I felt that much when you shared your memory. You trust that he can overcome this and when he does, he will be the man you fell in love with, the man you know."

Halien looked at him. "But what if I lose him? I cannot do this on my own; I cannot raise our son alone."

Bard kissed her forehead. "Halien, you are strong and you will never be alone. You are welcome to stay here in Dale with us- with me- and help us rebuild. If Thorin will not take you back, then you can make a home for yourself and your son here."

Halien touched his cheek. "You would let me stay? Even though it is our fault that this all happened?"

Bard smiled. "Of course. You are not to blame for our misfortunes and I could not begin to tell you how grateful I am to you for keeping my children safe. You are welcome here in Dale any time that you wish."

"Thank you, Bard," Halien said, then looked down at her son. "Oh, my dear sweet boy, what are we to do?" she whispered to him as she kissed his forehead.

"He looks healthy," Bard noted as he looked at the babe. "He looks like his father."

"Aye, but he has my eyes," Halien said with a smile.

"He has your ears, too," Bard said with a chuckle, then looked at Halien. "He will be fine, Halien. You are going to be a wonderful mother and he will grow to be a fine man, just like his father."

"I hope so," Halien said, looking at him.

One of the Men from Laketown came into the room and asked for Bard. "The food we managed to salvage is scarce and we need to find some soon. We won't last here long."

Bard nodded. "Make sure the women, children, and the wounded are taken care of first."

The Man nodded and left, leaving Bard alone with Halien again.

Bard sighed and looked at Halien. "He is right. We cannot last long here with as little food as we were able to save. The fire and the destruction of the city would have scared what fish there were we could have caught and there has been no game in these lands since the days of old."

"We will manage. I have a feeling something will happen very soon to change our fortunes." Halien said, coming to his side. "Trust me, Bard. We will be fine."

And somehow, Bard the Bowman, descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale, did trust her. Somehow he knew that she was right, but he feared for the safety of his people. He took her hand and led her to where his children were.

"Miss, you're alright!" Tilda said, running to Halien.

"Aye, Tilda, I am just fine. Are you, your brother, and your sister alright?"

Tilda nodded and Halien smiled when Sigrid and Bane came up to them. Sigrid and Bane hugged her, glad to see her in one piece.

"We were so worried, Halien," Sigrid said. "Is Frerin alright?"

Halien smiled down at her son and nodded. "Aye, he is fine now."

"He's so beautiful," she noted as she looked down at the babe.

"He's so little." Bane pointed out.

"All babes are, Bane," Bard said, smiling softly at his son. "You were that little once."

"Well, I like him. I think he's cute." Tilda said.

Halien smiled. "Would you like to hold him?"

Tilda looked from her father to Halien. "Is it OK?"

Halien nodded. "Aye, dear girl. He won't mind, I promise." She said, then handed Frerin over to Tilda and showed her how to hold him.

Frerin woke up just as Tilda took him into her arms and looked up at her with incredibly green eyes- just like his mother's. He reached up and touched a small curl that fell from Tilda's ear and he smiled.

Tilda giggled and smiled down at him.

"He likes you, Tilda," Halien said, rubbing her son's cheek. "He thinks you're his sister."

"How do you know that?" Bane asked.

Halien looked at him. "Frerin has inherited my ability to speak to others with his mind. He talks to me and tells me what he sees, asks me questions. He thinks you and your sisters are his siblings."

"I have a little brother?" Tilda asked, looking at Halien.

"If you wish to treat him as a brother, then yes. He will grow up around you, that I am certain of. He is bound to think of you as family anyways." Halien said, nodded. "I think he'd be grateful for that."

Tilda smiled and looked down at Frerin. "Hi, Frerin. I'm your big sister, Tilda."

Halien watched as Frerin touched Tilda's cheek as the girl leaned down to kiss his forehead. She smiled when she heard him tell Tilda that it was nice to meet her and he was glad she was his big sister.

Tilda was taken aback for a brief moment, then looked at Halien in surprise. "He talked! In my head!"

Halien laughed. "Aye, he tends to do that a lot."

"I want to hear him!" Bane said, eagerly.

"Be sure not to crowd him, alright?" Bard said.

Bane nodded and asked if he could hold Frerin next. Tilda nodded and with Halien's help, she handed the babe to Bane. Bane said hello and let Frerin take his finger.

"Hello, Frerin, I'm Bane, your big brother." Bane said, introducing himself to the babe.

Halien laughed at Bane's expression when Frerin replied to him in the same way he had with Tilda. Her smile faded a bit when someone came to get her to heal some more people.

"Sigrid, can I trust you to bring Frerin to me if he starts to fuss and gets hungry?" Halien asked, looking at the girl. "He'll probably tell you."

Sigrid nodded. "Aye, miss. We'll look after him while you tend to the wounded."

Halien thanked her and hugged her before she kissed her son's forehead. "Frerin, I need to go help a few more people. Your brother and sisters are going to look after you while I'm away. Be good for them."

Frerin cooed and touched his mother's cheek, promising her he would be good. Halien left with Bard to go attend to the wounded, leaving her son with the Bowman's children.

"The children love your son, Halien," Bard noted as they went back to their makeshift infirmary.

"I'm glad they do so well with him. Frerin needs to grow up with people he can depend on. If he cannot have that in Erebor, I'm glad that you and your family have given him the chance to experience that." Halien said, smiling at him.

Bard stopped her for a second. "Halien, I meant what I said earlier. You are welcome to make a home here in Dale. Once we rebuild, I want you and Frerin to come and stay with us in the Keep."

"In the Keep?" Halien asked, then looked at him puzzled. "Does this mean that you are going to accept your lineage and take your role as King of Dale?"

Bard rubbed his neck. "I do not know, Halien. The Master of the Lake is dead and everyone looks to me for guidance."

Halien smiled. "Bard, you're Girion's descendant. You have taken care of the people of Laketown for years. You looked out for them, stood up to the Master for them. You already are their leader. Perhaps it is time you take your place as their king. Bring honor back to your ancestors, let these people see that you are strong and will look after them no matter what. If they ask you to be their king, you need to consider it."

Bard sighed. "Alfrid already has spread the word that I should be king, and many people have already asked me to lead them."

"Then become their king, Bard. Become the leader you were always meant to be. Rebuild Dale and its people and they will never turn you aside." Halien said. "The people here love you, Bard. They'll accept you as their king either way. You defeated the dragon, saved them from his fire, and led them here to safety. You give them hope."

"I do not know how to be a king," Bard said, looking away.

Halien reached up and turned his cheek to where he could look at her. "Bard, it's something you already know how to do. You lead your people, do what is right- what you feel is right- for your people and your kingdom, you make the tough decisions. You already have done that and more and the people love you for all that you have done. Take things in small strides and you will be a great king."

Bard looked at her and put a hand over hers. "Will you help me? I cannot do this alone."

Halien nodded. "I will Bard. You have my word."

Bard smiled and rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you."