A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed and liked my story. Thanks as always to DreamingGalaxies for being beta for this. Going to try to update every other week from here on in to try to get this story finished up. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me this far x

Decision Making

Esme's POV

Esme had meant to find Dwalin, they needed to talk and she knew it. Instead she had somehow ended up in a small garden at the side of Beorn's dwelling. There was a large hutch in one corner and the rabbits who occupied it were busy running in and out of it. She sat herself down on a bench that had been placed under a large oak tree in the opposite corner. She sat there for a long while just watching the rabbits running about and playing in the sunshine. A particularly plump little fellow with light brown fur and a large fluffy tail hopped up to her and sniffed at her feet. Giggling, Esme scooped him up and placed him on her knee; he got comfortable immediately and was soon dozing as she scratched his head between his long ears. It was clear he was used to being petted and judging by how Beorn treated the rest of his animals she wasn't surprised at all. She was so engrossed in the rabbit that someone clearing their throat behind her gave her quite a fright. Looking up she found Bilbo standing beside the bench with two steaming cups in his hands.

"I saw you out here through the window. I thought you might like some tea." He smiled shyly at her.

Returning his smile, Esme shuffled over to make room for him beside her on the bench, taking one of the cups from him as she did so.

"Thank you Bilbo, it's a nice morning for a cup of tea outdoors. You snuck up on me there. Maybe you won't be such a bad burglar after all." She laughed.

Bilbo nodded and grinned. "Oh I don't know about that, I've never stolen anything in my life! But yes, indeed it is a lovely day. This place reminds me very much of the Shire, it feels homely and safe. I'm happy we got to stay here for a while. Though I suppose now that Miss Jenna is awake again we will soon be moving on."

Esme nodded but didn't say anything. When she thought of Dwalin leaving without her it hurt her more than she ever thought possible. She would have to tell him she planned to remain behind and she knew she would have to do it soon but she hated the thoughts of it. Could she really tell him to go on without her? Could she really let him go? She sighed dejectedly.

"Are you alright?" Bilbo inquired. "I rather thought you'd be much happier now that Miss Jenna is awake."

Esme smiled sadly at him. "I am very happy she's awake, Bilbo. I just have a lot on my mind."

Bilbo nodded understandingly. "Well in the Shire we have a saying, a problem shared is a problem halved. It might help to get it off of your chest."

Esme had never been one for sharing her problems with others, not outside of Jenna anyway. It had been one of the reasons she had hated counselling. Somehow though the thoughts of sharing with Bilbo didn't make her shut down like she normally would have.

"I don't think I can continue on any further." She found herself admitting.

Bilbo's eyes widened but he didn't say anything, simply waiting for her to continue instead.

"I can't put Jenna in danger like that again. She almost died, Bilbo. I feel like it's my entire fault, if I hadn't been chasing ghosts then I wouldn't have come on this quest at all and she wouldn't have followed me." Looking up at Bilbo now she continued. "Why did you come on this quest Bilbo? I came to meet my father in the hopes that I would finally, after all these long years, find my mother but what made you leave your home for a bunch of strangers you owe nothing to?"

Bilbo frowned and took a sip of his tea as he looked out over the rolling fields beyond the small garden. "Well I'd like to say something heroic like I came because they have no home and I would like to help them get theirs back if I can but while that is true it isn't the real reason I came. I love the Shire and my smial but for the last number of years it seems as though something has been missing. I never married you know and I live in that big smial all alone, sure I have friends and neighbours but over the last few years I've longed for something else, something more. I guess I just wanted a little excitement in my life. When Gandalf offered me the chance to get away for a while I found that I simply couldn't turn it down."

Esme smiled at the small male. "And have you had enough excitement yet do you think?"

Bilbo let out a small laugh. "Indeed, I have had enough excitement now to last me to the end of my days!"

"You won't turn back though, will you?" Esme asked.

"No. I won't. I am a Baggins and a Baggins never goes back on their word. I have grown rather fond of you all anyway so I don't suppose I could turn back now even if I wanted to." With that Bilbo finished what was left of his tea, reached across and rubbed down the rabbit that was still nestled on Esme's lap before he rose from his seat. "I will miss you both if you choose to stay here. I am sure I am not the only one."

Esme smiled at the hobbit's back as he made his way out of the garden and around towards the door. She wished she could be as brave as he was but right now she didn't feel very brave at all. Returning all her attention to the fluffy little bundle in her lap Esme didn't hear another's footsteps approaching.

"I was wondering where you'd gotten off to."

The sound of Dwalin's voice made Esme's stomach sink. She wasn't ready to have this conversation.

"I needed time to think." She mumbled.

Frowning, Dwalin came to sit beside her. "Are you well?"

Esme felt sick. She had fought with him when he had chosen Thorin and the quest over her and yet here she was just about to choose Jenna over him. Would he understand that she had no choice? She couldn't leave Jenna here alone and she couldn't put her in danger again either, not now after all that had happened. Swallowing hard, she turned to face the dwarf she had come to love.

"Dwalin, I can't..." It was all she could manage before bursting into tears.

The rabbit that until now had been sleeping soundly on her knees jumped off and ran back to the hutch as Dwalin pulled her into his warm embrace.

"What is it Ghivashel? What's the matter?"

She couldn't bring herself to look at him, it would be easier to tell him if she couldn't see the hurt she knew would be in his eyes. Instead she buried her head in his shoulder, clinging to him as she answered.

"I can't go any further Dwalin. I can't let her get hurt again, not for me. I'm so sorry. I don't want to say goodbye, I just..."

She could feel the dwarf tense momentarily at her words before he let out a relieved sigh, pushing her back slightly so that he could look at her. She had expected to see anger but instead he smiled sadly at her as he brushed her hair back behind her ear.

"I understand Amrâlimê. Though it breaks my heart to think of leaving you here I will not lie, I am relieved to know that you will be safe. I would not have either of you put in danger again. Not for this."

Relief flowed through Esme at his words followed swiftly by a heartache she never knew it was possible to feel. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to him yet even if she had already made her mind up.

"I don't want to lose you." She sobbed.

Dwalin pulled her close again, holding her tightly. "Esme you will never lose me. I will come back for you, I promise. As soon as this quest is over I will return."

Esme sobbed even harder. "You can't promise me that. You might not come back. What then? What am I supposed to do without you if you don't come back? You're all I have here."

She could feel Dwalin tense again at her questions but he didn't answer her. They sat like that for a few moments while she composed herself and then he let her go. Sitting up again she went back to watching the rabbits as Dwalin stared off into the distance. Suddenly he nodded as if he had made some sort of decision. He turned to her and took her hand in his. With his other hand he took something small out of his pocket and handed it to her. It was a bead, small and silver and beautifully carved with delicate flowers and leaves. There was a rune etched into one side of it but she didn't understand what it meant. It was truly lovely but she wasn't really sure what it was he expected her to do with it.

"It's beautiful." She finally said.

"It is a marriage bead. It belonged to my mother. She gave it to me on her deathbed." Dwalin replied.

"Oh, well it really is beautiful." Esme didn't really know what else to say or what he meant by showing this token to her. She held the bead out so he could take it back.

Sighing he closed her hand over it. "You are right. I can't promise you that I will come back but I can make sure that you have more than just me in this world. I can at least assure that you will be looked after by our people if I don't return. Marry me Esme."

Esme sat up straight. Had he really just asked her to marry him? Was he serious? She couldn't possibly marry someone she'd known for such a short time, could she? She wondered if Dwalin would even be asking her if he wasn't about to march off to fight a fire breathing dragon. Surely he wouldn't be. Was he asking simply because he felt it was his duty to make sure she was alright if he didn't return? Or was he asking because he truly loved her? It was only when Dwalin started to frown that she realised she hadn't actually answered him.

"Would you be asking me this if you weren't marching to Erebor?" She whispered.

Dwalin's POV

Esme spoke so low that Dwalin barely heard what she said. He didn't blame her for doubting his reasoning behind asking, it hadn't exactly been the most romantic way to propose, he knew that. Then Dwalin wasn't exactly the most romantic of dwarves to begin with. He did however want her to know he would have asked her either way and he knew she needed something more than this poor attempt at a proposal. So reaching out to her, he lifted her chin so that their eyes met. He saw the uncertainty in hers as she looked at him. How someone so beautiful could ever be so uncertain of being loved he would never understand. Leaning forward he kissed her lips gently, pulling back then and smiling at his beloved.

"I've carried that bead with me since my mother passed but I had never given much thought to it apart from it being a small memento from her. It was something to remember her by and little more. Since I met you though, I have thought of little else. You are my one Amrâlimê and there is nobody else I would be joined with. You would make me the happiest dwarf in all of Middle Earth if you agreed to marry me."

A tear slipped down her cheek and he brushed it away with his thumb as he smiled at her again. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. After what seemed like an eternity she finally looked up to meet his gaze again as she answered him.

"Yes. I'll marry you."

Dwalin's heart soared. He couldn't quite believe it; she had agreed to marry him, to be his wife. After all this time worrying about rejection and doubting that he would ever be enough for her, she had accepted his offer. Pulling her closer he wrapped his arms around her as their lips met in a searing kiss.

After what seemed like an eternity they parted grudgingly. Esme straightened up and smiled at him but soon her beautiful face creased into a frown.

"I don't actually know how a dwarven marriage works." She admitted. "Is there some sort of ceremony? What is it that we have to do exactly?"

Dwalin smiled gently at her. "There can be, if you wish for it Amrâlimê, though usually on the road it is simply done with a marriage braid and a contract."

Esme nodded after a moment of contemplation. "I think the marriage braid and contract sounds good. I never did like being the centre of attention. The less fuss the better really. All that really matters to me is that it's you I'm marrying."

Dwalin grinned widely. Mahal had provided him with the perfect bride; he was never one for ceremonies himself, at the end of the day they mattered little. The only thing that really mattered to Dwalin in this entire world now was Esme. Taking her hand in his he uncurled her fingers where they were still clutching the bead he had given her, the bead that had once been his mothers, and took his time as he carefully braided it into Esme's hair.

"Is that it?" She asked as he finished, running her hand along the marriage braid he had just placed in her hair as she smiled up at him.

"Aye, that is it Amrâlimê, well there's the contract but that is merely a formality. I will get Gloin to see to it later. Now that you have your marriage braid, any dwarf that sees you will now know instantly that you are my wife."

Dwalin liked the way that title sounded more than he could ever have imagined. Judging by the blinding smile that lit up Esme's face she liked it just as much as he did. He leaned forward and rested their foreheads against each other briefly before he caught her lips in another kiss.

Pulling back from him then, Esme looked up at him once again. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, Dwalin. I hope you know that. I love you."

Dwalin pulled her close and held her in his arms as she rested her head on his chest. Kissing her head gently he murmured, "I love you too." Her arms tightened around his waist and they fell into a comfortable silence.

It was nearing evening when Kili came wandering around to the small garden. He smiled at the two of them cuddled up as they were on the bench.

"Dinner is ready if you two can pull yourselves away from each other for a few minutes." He winked at Dwalin as he said it.

Esme straightened up and Dwalin watched as the smirk on Kili's face turned into a look of shock when he noticed the marriage braid in her hair.

"Is that a marriage braid!?"

Esme's face lit up with the most beautiful smile Dwalin had ever seen as she nodded at the young prince and Dwalin's heart swelled with pride. He had the most beautiful wife in all of Middle Earth, he was sure of it. The fact that they had managed to shock Kili into silence for once in his life was a happy side effect.

Kili was still standing there dumbstruck as Dwalin rose to his feet pulling his new wife up after him. He grinned happily, slapping a still stunned Kili on the shoulder as they made their way past him and up to the main house for dinner.

Jenna's POV

Jenna blinked her eyes open and looked up at the ceiling above her. Looking to her side she half expected to see Thorin but instead she was greeted by a widely smiling Nori. She grinned automatically when she saw him. She had grown close to him over their journey, he was really smart, funny and kind and she found she had more in common with him than she had with any of the other dwarves. He was the first real friend she had made here.

"Boy am I glad to see you!" she smiled.

The thief raised a braided eyebrow at her. "Oh?"

"Yep, mainly because last time I woke up it was Thorin that was smiling at me and a smiling Thorin is quite possibly the most irritating thing in this entire world!" Jenna admitted.

Nori snorted and rolled his eyes. "And there I was thinking that you were missing me."

Grinning, she pulled herself up to a sitting position. Nori handed her a cup of steaming tea once she had made herself comfortable. Judging by the smell of it, this particular tea had come from the company healer. She took a small sip and grimaced.

"Damn it Nori, what are you trying to do, kill me?" she spat as she tried to hand back the cup.

The star-haired dwarf laughed at that. "If I were trying to kill you, I wouldn't use tea." He shrugged. "It's Beorn that's trying to kill you I think, though he insists this will heal you quicker than any tea Oin can make. I figured you were going to need it."

It was Jenna's turn to raise an eyebrow in question now. "Why? What's going on?"

"We're leaving in a couple of days. They're planning on leaving you behind." Nori answered bluntly.

Jenna couldn't believe it. Were they really planning on leaving without her, after all they had been through together? She had thought that Thorin had seemed genuinely happy to see her wake up. In fact it was because of Thorin that she was with them in the first place. If he hadn't told her she could come with them she'd still be in Rivendell. Why would he choose to leave her behind now!? What about Esme? Did her friend really want to leave her here?

"What do you mean they're leaving me behind!?" She all but shouted at the star-haired dwarf. She was sure the hurt was evident in her voice, something she normally would have hated, but she was too upset to try to hide it.

Nori held his hands up. "Hey I'm not the one you should be shouting at. I got you the tea, remember? I don't want to leave you here. I've grown a bit fond of you if you must know. Though don't go telling anyone that."

All of Jenna's anger suddenly dissipated at Nori's words. He really was a true friend and for that she was very grateful. It certainly wasn't his fault the others wanted to leave her behind.

"I'm sorry" she whispered, "I'm quite fond of you too you know."

"Most lasses are." Nori answered with a wink causing Jenna to roll her eyes at him.

Throwing one of the pillows in the dwarf's direction Jenna smiled despite her annoyance with the others. "I didn't mean it like that! Could you be any more full of yourself?"

Nori laughed at her, catching the pillow with ease. "No, probably not." He admitted. "Now drink that tea and let's get you back on your feet."

Thorin's POV

Thorin woke in the late evening to the smell of freshly baked bread. Pulling himself out of bed he left the room he had been sleeping in and made his way into Beorn's kitchen. Most of the company were there and Dori moved immediately to allow the King to sit at the head of the table. The company were in far better spirits than they had been when they arrived. They chatted and laughed together easily around the table. There was no sign of their host but that was nothing new, since they had arrived here they had seen little of Beorn. Thorin had spoken to him earlier about supplies for the next part of their journey and he supposed that he was now off with Gandalf organizing the promised weapons, healing herbs and food that would see them through to the other side of Mirkwood. The skin changer had also agreed to lend them ponies to get them to the eaves of Mirkwood under the promise that they would release them before they entered and allow them to return to him. Thorin did not like to think about what would happen if they didn't keep their word. Their host was an enemy he would certainly not like to have.

The front doors opened as Esmeralda and Dwalin walked in and suddenly the room fell silent. Thorin was unsure why everyone had gone quiet until he turned fully in his chair and spotted the marriage braid that now hung over Esmeralda's shoulder. He was slightly taken aback, not because he had not expected Dwalin to ask her but simply because he had not thought his friend would take the step so soon. Rising he made his way over to the two of them, slapping Dwalin on the shoulder and pulling Esmeralda into a hug.

"I am so very happy for both of you." He smiled.

With that the rest of the dwarves seemed to snap out of their shock and the room exploded in a chorus of congratulations. Kili soon wandered in behind the happy couple with a look of shock on his face that could only mean that he had already heard the happy news. Thorin hoped that Kili and Fili too would find their one's once they had retaken the mountain. He wanted more than anything for them to be happy. It was one of the main reasons he had agreed to march upon the mountain in the first place. He would not have his nephews living the same life of exile that he had. They deserved more than that.

As the celebrations died down, the dwarves and Esmeralda sitting around the table once more, Dwalin approached him.

"Esme has decided to remain here." He informed Thorin.

Thorin nodded, he could hear the hurt in Dwalin's voice but it was for the best and they both knew it. They couldn't put the girls at risk again and Mirkwood promised to be more of a challenge than he had originally thought it would be if Beorn's words of caution were anything to go by. The Mirkwood, it seemed, was sick. It had changed immeasurably in the years since Thorin had last travelled through it and even taking the old elven road now provided little guarantee of ever coming out the other side. Still it remained the only usable road that passed through the forest and therefore they must follow it regardless.

"Has she told Jenna yet?" He questioned. He didn't envy Esmeralda, Jenna wouldn't take it well he was sure.

Dwalin shook his head. "Not yet. After dinner."

Nodding, Thorin returned back to the table and tucked into his own food as the company continued to chat amicably around him. Suddenly the doors to the hall swung open and revealed a very irate looking Jenna as a slightly sheepish looking Nori slunk in behind her. Oin jumped up immediately, scolding her for being out of bed.

"I'm very well I assure you Oin, thank you for your concern." Her tone left no room for argument so the company healer merely sat down and said nothing. Suddenly her eyes met Thorin's and they narrowed as she pointed an accusing finger at him. "YOU! What is this I hear about you wanting to leave me here in the middle of nowhere!?"

Thorin was stunned into silence. He was going to kill Nori, this had to be the thief's doing. Before Thorin had a chance to reply, Esmeralda stood up and moved towards her friend.

"Jen, you shouldn't..." she started but Jenna didn't give her time to finish.

"I'll get to YOU in a minute!" she all but screeched at her friend, shocking everyone in the room. "If any of you..." Here she looked back at Thorin accusingly. "Think for even one second that you are leaving me behind then you have another thing coming! I am coming with you or I am following on my own and when I catch up to you there will be HELL to pay! END OF DISCUSSION! Understood!?" Again she looked directly at Thorin when she said this.

For the first time in his entire life Thorin found he was unable to come up with a reply. In the end he simply raised his hands in surrender and almost whispered a shocked "Understood."

Dwalin sat across from Thorin with his mouth agape following the outburst. It was the one and only time Thorin had seen him absolutely speechless. Esmeralda stood glued to the spot wringing her hands and looking worried with good reason. Seemingly satisfied with her dressing down of Thorin, Jenna decided to turn her wrath on Esmeralda.

"You're meant to be my friend! You were going to just leave me here!?" she fumed.

Dwalin made to stand up in his wife's defence but Thorin and a few of the other dwarves shook their heads. They could all hear the hurt mixed with the anger in Jenna's voice. She felt betrayed and Thorin could understand why, in truth he would have reacted similarly if he was the one that was going to be left behind. Dwalin seemed to think better of interfering and instead clenched his fists and remained seated. Whether he had also picked up on the hurt in her voice or he was just as nervous of Jenna as they all were right now Thorin wasn't quite sure.

Esmeralda looked down at her feet and all but whispered. "I was going to stay here too. I wouldn't have left you here alone. I just didn't want you to get hurt again Jen."

"Why didn't any of you think to at least ask my opinion on this? I can make my own decisions! And I..." Jenna trailed off as her gaze landed on Esmeralda's marriage braid. "What is that? Why do you have a braid in your hair?"

Esme looked back up at her friend as her hand automatically went up to trace the braid Dwalin had placed in her hair. "Ah... Well it's... It's a marriage braid." She stuttered.

Jenna's eyes went wide in shock. "It's a WHAT!?" Her eyes flicked to where Nori was still standing near the door in the shadows. "How long was I asleep!?"

TBC