You know, I actually forgot how much time has passed since the battle and had to go back a few chapters. But that Hobbit teaser for the final movie…wow! It played on my emotions for sure. I…I might've died a little inside when Billy Boyd's song was playing.

…and this should've been uploaded months ago, but I found things to tweak, making excuses for myself. You won't have to wait another month for the next chapter, let alone a week.

Days until the 1st caravan's arrival: 56

Time stood still, only resuming with a flick of the wrist and tugging of thread. A fine-tipped needle weaved in and out of cloth at the seams of battered garments under candlelight, making amends to previous assaults. Embroidery kits had been retrieved from old caverns below; needles, threads, yarn, and varying materials had been pooled in a basket and brought up to the higher halls. While others busied themselves with other tasks, Éla occupied her own time with these small projects.

Three piles were sprawled on the floor in front of her. She had gathered clothing and some armor for repairs. Night and day, she worked in silence save for intruding thoughts racing through her mind. Even though her focus was on the shirt in her hands, they worked on their own as ghostly memories continuously interfered with her concentration.

Finding strength to visit Thorin had been mentally and emotionally exhausting. Seeing him in such a weak state was haunting after her meeting with another who claimed to be a councilor.

Her handwork paused from a faint trace of pain crossing over healing wounds. She had been hunched over in her seat working too long. Everything running through her head blurred and the item of clothing she had been working on floated to the ground in a heap. Looking down, she realized it was all mixed up.

"It is advisable that you keep your distance…"

Was it best to avoid him? Éla purposefully busied herself with tasks to do, mainly repairing items so they would at least be warm and armed throughout the winter. She knew better than to argue with a councilor. Quarreling would only lead to exile or a similar fate. With no power to rival theirs, the company would be dismissed and all would resume as if nothing had happened. That seemed to be their intent. It all came down to Fili to keep everyone in line. The poor lad endured so much sitting in a room with old dwarves arguing amongst themselves when all he wanted most was to be next to his brother.

The company quietly commemorated him for being thrust into a political dilemma so soon.

Shaking her head, she gathered the fabrics that were dropped, and neatly folded it on top of the pile that had been more or less completed. She silently promised herself not to dwell on the past. What's done is done and there was nothing that could be done about it.

So why had it bothered her so? Living amok had certainly hindered her views of the world. Her attention turned to the door, a knock signalling that someone was entering.

"May I come in?" Balin poked his head through the slit, content to see he had come to the right place.

"Hello Balin."

"Keeping busy?" He asked, observing the candlelit room with little interest.

Éla returned the used items back in their proper casings as the old dwarf let himself in. "We all have our part."

When she wasn't received with an answer, she looked up to find him staring. The gesture had become adopted by many from their company. Words were rendered useless but their faces were always filled with sorrow or pity, she couldn't decide which one was intended. She had been thankful Dain hadn't spread a word about her actions with Thorin, although time ticked away with new extortions within his council.

"Have you come to check on me?"

"It's been some time since we last saw each other. Just making sure everyone's at their best." Balin responded, moving towards the window opposite them. A thin white blanket of snow had draped itself over the lands already. "Thorin claims you paid him a visit."

"So he's improving?" She made sure not to cause sudden movements to alert the dwarf.

"A little, yes. It will take some time before he'll be able to move on his own." Balin turned away from the frigid weather beyond the glass panel. "He wishes to see you again as proof that your last visit was not a dream."

A twinge of remorse escalated, forever embedded on her soul. Every day a smile had been forced to ease worried minds. The mention of seeing him again hurt too much. Guilt, uncertainty, regret – what was one to do to amend a heart that was never whole?

"Who is Falo?" Éla blurted before having the chance to catch herself.

Balin's expression contorted in a mixture of sympathy and dread. "He's part of the king's - Thorin's council. A dwarf of high stature refusing to live a life below his own means when Erebor was first taken by Smaug, harboring within the Iron Hills until the king's return."

Éla remained silent.

"Have you met him?"

There was truth to Falo's tale after all. Very little was required to persuade Balin of his own assumptions.

"Éla?"

"Forgive me, Balin. It's been a long day." She finished putting everything away and tidying the table she had been using earlier.

Reassurance was a challenge lost against the advisor. There was no convincing Balin for he knew too much otherwise.

Fili removed prying ears from the wooden door. Making a habit to eavesdrop on conversations was one he did not like. Although, it never took much to overhear dwarves when talking turned into shouting.

He obviously spent too much time around Nori during their travels. With Dain and the other dwarves running around, it became a challenge he did not care for, so he gave up rather quickly. Hearing enough for one lifetime, he pushed away from the wall and continued down the silent corridor save for the thump of his walking stick held under his arm.

While his leg could handle some weight, Fili still required the cane to help distribute his pressure under both feet. Now that everyone had settled within the mountain, the halls were bustling and ravens even occupied a perch near the main gate. Dain spent the most time near that area for reasons unknown.

Fili stopped himself from thinking too much into everything. It was dangerous to ponder over the small things. He was glad to have been relieved from duty for the rest of the day.

As usual, the young dwarf followed routine to his chambers shared with his brother. Always, he refrained from making as much noise when entering the room as Kili spent his time resting. The only exception was eating after Oin threatened to starve them both from their mother's cooking when she arrived. Despite his ailing and fragile state, the healer managed to crack a smile from Kili's enfeebled appearance. That was one moment Fili enjoyed greatly.

His little brother's mischievous smile always brightened anyone's mood.

"Fee? Is that you?"

Fili hobbled over to a chair next to his brother's bedside, smiling in exhaustion. He was glad for the short companionship that was to follow. "You're awake?"

"Ever since you left." Kili closed his eyes, furrowing his brow trying to recall the time of day.

"You should have been resting."

Kili looked at his brother restlessly. "My legs feel like jelly, my arm like stone." He'd been bed-ridden far too long, yet couldn't deny that staying awake was tiring as well. Now that he was more alert, the face which bore into him appeared foreign. This was not the Fili he knew. Had the tales of the mountain been deemed fraudulent?

"It's…too quiet, being alone." Kili relaxed, content to have his brother by his side once more. "You're lucky to see all the action."

Fili heaved a sigh as Kili fell asleep. The routine was always a welcome escape from what he personally had to endure beyond their bedchambers. "It's better to be here than out there."

The young heir took this opportunity to sneak out, his own curiosity leading him down an adjacent corridor. It was safe to leave Kili, for the time being. Fili was restless too, more so mentally. War pushed him into a seat of political power, one that made him unsure of himself.

He often questioned his abilities to surpass the expectations thrown upon him. Despite the many uncertainties clouding his own judgment, Fili knew one individual who could help reassure that what he was doing was right.

~Decided to cut this chapter short as I need to transfer a few scenes that was written on another device, and I was away on a business trip until early this morning. Look forward to good-sized update in a few days :)