The descent from the Carrock went slowly. Edith maintained her balance well enough, Fili close behind her. She felt different now that she had declared her feelings for him. She felt...ecstatic, her heart swelled when she thought of him. Gandalf counted them off as they each landed safely back to the ground. Edith fixed her boots and adjusted her trousers and belt while waiting for the next business. Where they were going, she had no notion of. Thorin allowed a ten minute respite from the climb down.

The elder dwarves were slightly out of breath, some stood and others sat, all in complete silence. With all the events that had occurred, it was a fortunate thing to be alive. Fili wrapped his arm around Edith, as they leaned up against the wall of stone. No one dared to say anything for the time being. It had been about a year since they began their quest to Erebor.

Fili looked at her, brushing dark hair out of her eyes as her hair fell over her face. He touched her gently, and Edith enjoyed the feeling of his touch. Thorin noticed this interaction between the girl and his nephew. His expression hardened and he walked over to them. Edith looked up when he did. Chills went down her spine, her heart raced in her chest. She was tempted to cower back but stood her ground.

"What makes you think you are worthy of my nephew? You are a coward and not of royal blood." Thorin hissed, his voice rumbling deep. "Your duty is to your people, Fili. End this now. You will not have my blessing."

"Thorin," Fili began.

"She has been useless from the start, running off like a great cowardice to Mahal knows where, nearly falling to her death on the mountain pass. What has she proven? All I ask is for loyalty, honour and a willing heart! She has challenged me since Bag-end. I will not have this woman dragging us down, nor will I have her seducing my heir. Send her back to the tree shaggers."

Fili glared at his uncle, stepping between Edith and Thorin.

"She will stay with us. I will look after her and teach her to defend herself. She is my one, I feel it in every fiber of my being. And she is my choice for a queen." Fili replied, quietly so only Thorin could hear.

"That common whore is no fit to be queen. Once we reclaim our homeland, you will marry Bergljot - as we discussed."

Edith looked at Fili, a frown and shock on her face. He had been engaged? So had she, but had made it known of her relations with another man. Fili looked at Thorin and then to Edith. He hated the look she gave him. Fili could feel the guilt creeping up and looked away from her.

"You were engaged and you didn't tell me? I at least told you about Jack! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Nothing was made official between me and Bergljot. My uncle knows this. The counsel sought a possible match and this was a mere discussion." Fili replied, avoiding Edith's looks. "As I have said before, I will not marry whom you have chosen for me. I found Edith, I did not think much of it then, but I know she is my one. I would give up my life for her and my body for her protection."

Thorin growled furiously, gripping his nephew by the arms. The woman was a witch and he would have no part in her staying a moment longer.

"Must I repeat myself to you, boy? I am your king and you will do as I say. You will have no dealings with that witch any longer. You will obey my orders."

Fili clenched his jaw, knowing that if he defied his uncle, there would be severe repercussions to his obstinance. Both king and heir were equally stubborn; however for now, Fili knew that this would be a match best to let Thorin win. If he or Edith infuriated him further, there was no knowing what Thorin may do.

"Thorin, need I remind you, she is my companion for this journey and she will carry on with me. If you have any complaints about that, I am sorry to disappoint you. Lady Edith will continue on as before. I have about had enough of the stubbornness of dwarves to last me two lifetimes." Gandalf exclaimed.

Edith detected a hint of irritation and anger in the wizard's tone as he spoke. She, too, clenched her jaw and kept her chin up. She would not allow a mere dwarf - even if he was king, to disrespect her and treat her ill any further. After all, she was not a dwarf but a human and from another world. Thorin glanced at her as Gandalf vindicated Edith on her behalf. The woman was angry, that much he could see and too proud to bow or avoid eye contact as most would have. Thorin did never admit it. There was a small part of him that admired her conviction, her strength. In some ways she had proven herself, but there was still something lacking.

"As for Edith being a witch, do you not think I would have detected such magic if she possessed it? Your stubbornness, Thorin Oakenshield, will be your demise. I have never met a dwarf more headstrong."

"How often will you remain with us throughout this quest, Gandalf? Had you not shown up to the goblin caverns, it would not have ended well for us." Thorin asked.

"Had you remained in Rivendell as discussed, you would not have wandered so deep into the mountain. I am free from blame, you have no one to blame for the goblin caverns but your own foolhardiness. I am almost reluctant to help you to our next lodgings!" Gandalf replied, sharply.

"Where are we going, Gandalf?" Edith asked, stepping up beside the wizard.

The wizard sighed and glanced at the young woman.

"There is a house not far from here. Though, our host is not overly fond of dwarves. Before we continue by foot to his house, I have strict instructions on how this is to be executed. It will not work unless each and every one of you complies. He does not often take kindly to visitors. I will explain further once we reach the house. Do I make myself understood?" Gandalf continued, leaning on his staff.

There were murmurs of agreement from the company. Edith and Fili shared a glance before they continued on through the thickets and over hills. Once Thorin was ahead of the company with Balin, Fili walked beside Edith.

"Fili, what are you doing?" Edith asked, sighing.

"I'm walking, what exactly did you think I was doing?"

"Oh, I don't know - being a stubborn dwarf and defying your uncle?" Edith inquired, quietly with a chuckle.

Fili smiled, looking ahead to make certain Thorin was focused on other things.

"Who is Bergljot?" Edith wondered, after some silence - she noticed Fili's jaw tense and release a huff of annoyance.

"One whom my mother and uncle would have me marry once I am king. She is nice enough, I suppose. But, I do not think she is a good choice to be my queen."

"Why?"

"Are you always so curious, little one?" Fili returned, glancing at Edith.

"It is an incurable trait, I'm afraid. You will have to get used to it." Edith responded, smiling.

She did not say so out loud, but her heart warmed when Fili called her 'little one'. Fili gave her a smile back.

"There are far worse qualities to have." Fili said, relaxed.

Edith rolled her eyes and continued smiling as they walked.

"You still didn't answer my question, Fili."

"Which one?" replied he.

"Why is Bergljot not your choice queen?"

"I can't really explain what I felt when I met her that day. Dwarves mate differently than humans, Edith. There are many occasions where a dwarf can go an entire lifetime without meeting his or her one. Female dwarves are so few, and are easily mistaken for male dwarves. When we find our one, we feel that bond instantly. I believe for humans it takes time, no?"

"Well, I suppose some are lucky to know right away, but in most cases - yes, when we look for 'our one', it's rather different and it takes time."

"Did you know with Jack right away?" Fili inquired.

Jack! Edith nearly froze when she thought of him again. She hadn't thought of Jack since Rivendell, slowly he was slipping from her mind.

"Er, I didn't actually. I hope he never knows this, but when he proposed to me - I almost refused. I can't remember why, perhaps it was because of the war. So many men left and oftentimes they never came back. I suppose I was frightened that he would not return."

"But he did."

"Yes," Edith said. "I always felt something was off between us. I never admitted it until now. Of course, I think he is a wonderful man. But, I am starting to wonder if this was why."

"What do you mean this?" Fili continued.

"Well, coming here - to Middle-earth and meeting you, it doesn't happen every day, does it?"

"Do you believe our destinies were entwined before these strange happenings?"

"It is possible, yes. Perhaps that is why I kept delaying preparing a wedding with Jack, a distant part of me was already drawn to you. And I suppressed those feelings for so long."

"But how could either of us have known?"

Edith shrugged. It was undoubtedly a strange thing. For once in her life, Edith was certain of something. She was certain of Fili, and perhaps of their destiny, though the future still lay in darkness. It was enough, for now.