Author's Note: I own nothing.

45 Swift End, New Beginning

It was a full week after the battle had ended that a peace council was summoned. They met in one of the Dwarven Infirmary tents and Thranduil was near surprised to find Thorin Oakenshield sitting at the center of the council. Last he'd heard the King Under the Mountain had died, Bard was not as good as Thranduil about hiding his surprise.

"It is good to see you alive, last we heard you had passed on." Bard said with a slight smile. Then he frowned. Thranduil spoke before he could.

"Indeed, the King Under the Mountain lives."

"And lives up to his word." Thorin said nodding to one of the dwarves behind him. He stepped forward and opened a small chest he was carrying. Thranduil's voice caught in his throat as he spotted what was inside. It was his wife's necklace, jewels he'd never expected to see again. The dwarf stepped forward and set the chest on the table in front of Thranduil before stepping away from it.

"Gandalf has assured us that whatever malevolence may have lain over the gold is gone now. It is long since time these jewels were returned to their rightful owner." Thorin said and Thranduil ran a gentle finger over the jewels, he was speechless, though he'd never admit it. Thorin, seeming satisfied turned to Bard.

"To the King of Dale I offer my sincerest apologizes. It matters not that I was not in my right mind at the time I should never have turned your people away. I would extend an offer to the survivors of Smaug's last attack to stay the winter in Erebor. When spring arrives we will offer our help in rebuilding the town of Dale or Lake Town as you choose, and you will receive recompense equal to one fourteenth of what was taken back from Smaug." Bard blinked.

"This is far more than was ever agreed upon." He stated confused as he pulled the Arkenstone from its place in his coat, setting it down on the table between them. Thorin shook his head.

"This is not a ransom for the Arkenstone." He regarded the stone rather coldly now. "This is what should have been done from the beginning. Only one of us was wise enough to see that and now she is gone." He said shaking his head. Thranduil snapped the chest in front of him shut.

"You have proved yourself a wiser king than your father or grandfather before you Thorin Oakenshield." Thranduil said and tilted his head slightly. "As such I would offer you two things. The first is an emissary between our people. I can think of none better to represent my court in yours than the old captain of my guard. May Tauriel serve you well." The red haired elf, who'd been lurking in the back of the tent blinked at her once king. Thorin glanced at her and nodded. It was an honorable position and no one could raise questions about her presence in Erebor of it, drawing attention away from the burgeoning romance between her and Kili and allowing them time to court in private. Thorin nodded slightly.

"The second is a piece of information. She lives." Thorin blinked at him before realization bloomed across his face. "We found her just two days after the battle. She left that night, believing you had passed as we all did at the time, in the company of four of my best and Beorn the skin changer. I know not where they went from there." Thorin's breath stuttered out of him and several of the other dwarves were shooting Thranduil dirty looks but the oldest of them was looking him over with calculation in his eyes. He seemed to know why Thranduil had aided in Bella's escape for he laid a placating hand on Dain's shoulder as the Lord of the Iron Hills made to rise and muttered something in Khuzdul.

All Thorin could think was that she was alive, somewhere in the world his One lived.

It took them only a few days to reach Beorn's house since the elves knew a secret safe path through the woods but by the time they reached it Bella was feeling quite unwell. The elves Thranduil had sent with her were quite concerned but Beorn did not seem worried. Aldon, the leader of this small group frowned as Beorn handed Bella a cup of water.

"Are you sure you are well Little One?" He asked and she nodded, though she truly didn't feel it. Eryn shook her head slightly.

"Of course she's not alright. Would you be?" She asked shooting Aldon a withering look. He frowned. They had guessed most of the story by now, though Bella had been unable to speak of it since finally crying all the tears she had. Now she just felt empty. Nessa was silent, she was a healer and disappointed in herself for not being able to discover the source of the Hobbit's illness. Garret, the last of their party, was frowning.

"Not to pry my lady, but you do not appear well at all we may not be able to leave in a few days as you had wished." Bella frowned at him. Most of the elves spoke in Sindarin alone, which they'd been surprised to discover she spoke quite well, but Garret, upon discovering that Beorn did not speak a word of it had switched entirely to common. Beorn frowned. He hadn't known her plan was to leave so soon. He shook his head.

"You cannot leave so soon, the journey through the mountains will be too dangerous in winter for the little one." Bella frowned. Nessa's eyes went wide as she looked Bella over.

"Oh, Valar above how did I not see it!" She chastised herself.

"What are you two on about!" She asked and Beorn shook his head.

"Little Bunny, you are with child." He said and Bella blinked at him, remembering the night in Lake Town. She and Thorin had… But.

"Oh sweet Yavanna." She muttered before sitting down hard in the grass of Beorn's garden. Why must life be so wildly complicated? But even as she asked herself the question, even as Nessa and Beorn fussed, as Eryn sent her a sympathetic look and Aldon began to try and figure out the details of to transport a pregnant Hobbit she could not help the spark of hope that bloomed in her chest. Thorin was gone. But perhaps she was not all alone in the world after all.