Benna sat with her knees pulled to her chest, watching the sun inched lower and lower down into the horizon. She frowned up at the sky, wiping her sleeve across her tear stained cheek.

"Why didn't you bless someone better?". Benna pulled up the sleeve, scowling at the mark as she traced it with her finger "What was even the point?"

She froze, her fingers lingering on the mark for a moment, before stumbling to her feet taking off back towards the camp.

...

"I don't give a damn if he's in a meeting with God himself, I'm going in there!" Benna's muffled angry voice sounded outside the tent.

Gandalf Looked up in surprise as she pushed her way inside, the guard trying to drag her back. Thranduil waved his hand dismissing the guard. Benna looked around at the occupants of the tent all gathered around a large table, Gandalf was watching her with concern while Bard and Dain looked on in surprise.

"You!" She shouted, jabbing a finger at the elven king.

Thranduil's eyebrows rose as she limped over to him.

"You said you could teach me to use the blessing from the Valar. What did you mean by that? Can this thing do something other than resurrect me!?" Benna said shoving the mark in his face.

Thranduil cast a glance at Gandalf before nodding "I'm not exactly sure what it could do, but you have power from the Valar inside of you."

Benna looked intently at him then at the wizard "Could it possibly fix them? Thorin, Fili, Kili?"

Gandalf watched her carefully for a moment. "It is possible…" He started.

"Then what are we waiting for?" She cried turning towards the tent flap.

Gandalf placed a hand on her shoulder pulling her back around. "Even if your power can heal them, you cannot save them all." He said mournfully "Your power is finite and the only thing keeping you alive. Trying to heal all of them would most likely take all of that power from you."

Benna took a step away from him "You... you cant ask me to choose. I won't."

"You must. You do not have the power to try to save them and yourself." Thranduil said, shaking his head.

She fixed him with a hard stare "Then I'll save them."

"Benna, you cannot gamble your life like this!" Bard spoke up.

"Bard is right," Gandalf placed a hand on her shoulder "I know you wish to help them, but it is too great of a risk."

She shook her head "It's a risk I'm willing to take. Where I'm from there's a saying 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'. Erebor needs a king, it needs the line of Durin to help it rebuild. They sacrificed everything to try and get their home back, they deserve to live to see it restored."

There was a long pause before Gandalf spoke "You will not be swayed from this path?"

Benna nodded "If you don't help me I will just go and try to do it by myself."

The wizard sighed deeply "Then let us begin."

She looked at him hesitantly "Is there enough time for me to see the company?"

Gandalf nodded "Of course. You will tell them of your plan then?"

Benna shook her head "I just want to see them one more time, just in case..." She trailed off looking down at the floor.

Thranduil placed a gentle hand on her arm "We will meet you here when you are ready."

...

Benna sat and drank alongside the company. They drank to the quest, to Thorin, Fili, and Kili, to Erebor, and to each other. As the night grew long she looked around at the company for a moment with a sigh, Balin had not come like she had hoped, but she knew there was no more time left to wait.

"I think I'm going to go now."

There was a small chorus of 'goodnights' and 'goodbyes'.

"Good night Benna." Bilbo said from beside her.

She gave him a small smile "Good night Bilbo."

He smiled encouragingly "Tomorrow will bring a better day."

Benna simply nodded before pushing herself up. "Thank you." She said quietly as she looked at the company.

"Thanks for what?" Bofur asked.

"Oh for…. for the ale." She turned to Dwalin, trying not to let her voice crack as she spoke "Good night."

"G'night Benna." He nodded back.

She took a few steps to leave before turning back to him "Dwalin..."

He looked down at her frowning "What's wrong?"

Benna shook her head "It's...it's nothing." She looked back up at him. "You know I'm really glad it was you who found me in the forest." She said standing on her tip toes as she pressed her forehead against his.

Dwalin gave her a funny look before his face softened. "I'm glad I found you too lass." He said patting her shoulder "Go get some rest."

She took one last look at the company before turning away as tears began to slide down her cheeks.

...

Benna squared her shoulders before walking into the tent. Gandalf, Bard, Dain, and Thranduil turned to face her as she entered. She gave them a short nod, the group following her from the tent. They walked in silence through the camp, Benna flanked by Gandalf and Thranduil, Bard and Dain trailing behind them. Gandalf pulled back the tent flaps as they ducked inside.

"Benna?". The troupe looked over to the corner of the tent where Balin sat.

"Balin? What are you doing here?" Benna asked nervously.

"Keeping watch over the lads." He eyed the group around her "What is going on here exactly?"

"Nothing Balin," She shook her head "I just wanted to see Fili that's all."

He looked at her skeptically "And what are they doing with you?"

"Benna…" Gandalf started.

She gave him a hard look before turning back to Balin "We just need the tent for a bit."

The old dwarf looked at her apprehensively "Benna whatever this is you can tell me."

Benna sighed "Swear to me you will not tell the others, not yet at least."

Balin frowned "Benna…"

"Swear it Balin."

The old dwarf nodded slowly "I swear it."

She sighed deeply "I'm going to try to use my blessing from the Valar to heal them."

Balin's face brightened "There is hope then!". His face dropped a little "Why all this secrecy?". Benna stared at the ground unable to meet his eye. Balin looked sharply at Gandalf.

"The secrecy is because there is a good chance lass will not survive it." Dain spoke up.

Balin's face dropped completely "Benna you cannot do this. Do not risk your life!"

She shook her head "I have made my choice Balin, you cant stop me. I have already lived one life, everything that has come after has been a bonus. They deserve to live the life they fought so hard for. If there is a possibility I can save them I have try!"

"There has to be another way."

"There is none." Thranduil said solemnly.

Balin looked at her desperately "At least let me get the company, they should be here."

She shook her head again "They would try to stop me."

He grabbed her hands "Then just Dwalin."

Benna sighed. "He won't understand Balin, none of them will. I want to do this, I have to do this. Erebor needs them." She said pointing to the cots.

He looked at her sadly "Can I stay then?"

Benna smiled "I'd like that."

Thranduil placed a hand on her shoulder "We must hurry."

Benna nodded. She knelt next to Kili looking up at Thranduil expectantly.

"Focus your mind on the mark." He instructed. Benna shut her eyes as she took Kili's hand in hers "Feel the energy in it". Her forehead creased as the tingling in the mark intensified, the pink rune beginning to take on an eerie pale glow. "Focus your intention."

Benna felt a flush of heat run through her body, then race through her forearm and out her fingertips. She pulled away from Kili with a gasp.

"Are you alright?" Balin asked, frowning.

She nodded slowly "I'm ok."

She moved to kneel next to Fili, she kissed his hand gently taking it in hers. She squeezed her eyes shut as she focused, feeling the heat begin to swell in her again. She frowned as the burning sensation intensified. Benna gritted her teeth in pain as the heat scorched through her, crying out as it seared its way down her arm and through her fingertips. She collapsed, gasping for air, writhing in pain as the heat began to fade away.

"Benna!" Balin knelt beside her, slowly sitting her up "Stop this, you've done enough."

She shook her head "Help me to him."

Balin hesitated for a moment. Benna pulled from his arms trying to stand. As she took a step towards Thorin her legs gave out, Balin catching her under the arms as she fell. "Benna please..."

She looked at him softly "Its ok Balin. It'll all be fine".

She wiped the tear from his cheek as he helped her to Thorin. He held onto her hand for a moment longer as she knelt beside the king taking his hand as she felt the heat beginning to build.

"Thank you Balin." Benna smiled tiredly up at him "Tell Thorin he will make a good king. He just needs to get his head out of his ass."

Her weak laugh died off, replaced by an ear splitting scream as the mark on her arm glowed brightly then faded. Benna fell limply to the floor.

"Benna?" Balin called mournfully as he gently shook her.

Gandalf put a hand on her forehead then shook his head "I'm sorry my friend."

Balin scooped her into his arms as he looked down at her. The mark on her arm had gone completely.

Thranduil stepped forward "I can have my people prepare her for viewing." He said, gently taking Benna from him.

Balin simply nodded numbly, passing her body to him.

"What do we do now?" Dain broke the silence.

Gandalf looked at them sadly "Now we wait."

...

The sun had just crested the sky when they saw the first sign. Balin held his breath as Thorin's hand twitched slightly then closed fully. From the other side Kili gave a soft groan as he began to stir, Dain quickly rushing from the tent. The flaps were thrown open minutes later as the company poured into the tent.

"Is it true?" Gloin asked anxiously "Are they waking?"

The company watched as Kili's eyes blinked open groggily.

"Lad?" Oin grabbed his wrist, feeling the strong pulse beneath his fingers.

"Oin?" Kili said tiredly "What's going on?"

Thorin pushed himself up, looking around at the company then over to his nephews.

Fili blinked up at Gloin. "Mahal my head." He groaned pressing a hand to his eyes.

"How do you feel?" Dwalin asked kneeling beside Thorin.

Thorin frowned "I feel... Well I feel fine." He slowly undid the bandages around his chest. There was a collective gasp as the bandages fell away revealing nothing.

"How can this be?" Thorin breathed, running a hand over where he had been stabbed, now completely healed into a faded white scar. Fili and Kili similarly undid their bandages, finding only faded scars where their wounds had been.

"I….I don't understand." Kili gaped.

Oin ran a hand along the scar, his mouth hanging open "This cannot be. You were dying only a few hours ago. They said you would not make it to morning, none of you."

Balin cleared his throat casting a quick look at Gandalf "Lads…."

Fili looked around "Where is Benna?"

"Aye someone should go find her, she will not want to miss this!" Dwalin chuckled. Balin and Gandalf shared a pained look. "What?" Dwalin frowned.

Balin sighed heavily "It... it is Benna, she is in the next tent over. But I need to…" Before he could finish Dwalin was already pushing the flaps to the tent aside. Balin caught his arm pulling him back. Dwalin pulled his arm from his brothers grasp, frowning as he looked at the tearful expression on his face.

"What are you not telling us Balin?" Thorin asked getting to his feet.

"Hey what is that?" Nori pointed to the king's arm. Thorin frowned turning his arm over. There on the inside of his forearm was a small faded mark- one just like Bennas. Kili and Fili turned their arms over as well, finding the same marking.

"What happened here?" Dwalin growled anxiously looking at his brother and then to the wizard. Balin struggled to speak as he looked at him then to the rest of the company. Dwalin pushed his way out of the tent, the others following behind him.

"Dwalin wait you have to…" Balin's call was cut off as the warrior opened the flaps of the adjacent tent.

He stood rooted in the entry way for a moment, staring fixated ahead. He took a few tentative steps inside before an anguished cry echoed from the tent. The rest of the company scrambled inside, Balin and Gandalf following grimily behind. The company stood stunned as they took in the site before them. Dwalin knelt next to a small cot in the center of the tent which had been draped in a black cloth. On top of it lay Benna. Her usually tan skin was now pale, eyes shut to the world. Her armor was gone, replaced with a simple green elvish dress, her hair neatly splayed out under her.

"Wha...What…" Fili tentatively approached the cot.

Dwalin rounded on Gandalf and Balin. "What happened?" He grounded out, anger replacing his sorrow.

Balin gave a deep sigh. "The three of you were going to die," He said looking sadly at Thorin Fili and Kili. "So Benna gave each of you part of the power she had been given by the Valar to heal you. But there was only enough to save two of you. In the end she chose to try to save all of you…. which killed her."

There was a long silence as they processed Balin's words. Dwalin gently turned Benna's arm over revealing the empty skin on her forearm.

"No…. no,no,no,no!" Fili cried looking at the mark on his forearm. "Take it back! I do not want it. Not like this, not at this cost!" He sobbed clutching at her arm. Kili dropped to his knees tears silently streaming down his cheeks as he watched the scene in front of him. Thorin looked on stunned, as he stood frozen in place.

Dwalin stalked over to his brother. "You knew about this!?" He yelled "You let her do this?"

Balin shook his head "Her mind was made long before I knew." There was a loud crack as Dwalin's fist connected with his brother's cheek.

"You should have stopped her!" He shouted.

Balin looked angrily back at him "Do you not think I would have stopped her if I could have? Do you think I wanted this end!" He poked his finger into Dwalin's chest "She would have gone through with it no matter what. Benna did this for us," He said looking at the company "She did it for Erebor -so that we could all have our home back."

Bilbo quietly padded over to Benna. "If I had known it was good bye I would have made you stay a little longer." He sobbed as he patted her hand.

Thorin finally snapped out of his stupor as Balin put a hand on his shoulder.

"She said you would make a great King Thorin," He said smiling at him sadly "But that you would need to pull your head from your ass first. Do not waste this gift, it has come at too high a cost."

Thorin swallowed thickly as he stared at Benna's body, a tear streaking its way down his cheek. She had saved him, saved his nephews, even after all he had done she had given up her life for his. The Valar should have sent someone less brave he thought, for he did not deserve this second chance.