Note: Italics is thoughts, unless specified otherwise i.e flashbacks or visions. / is timeskip


Thorin, Alexa, Bilbo, Balin, and Dwalin all stood before the throne. The very chair that once held the stone they all now searched endlessly for, stood before them; broken. The only clue that it once held the Arkenstone being the small remaining golden sigils which had formerly held it.

The four watched as Thorin gazed at the spot which once held the stone, "It is here in these halls. I know it." he muttered, his eyes a milky colour; showcasing just how far gone he really was.

"We 'ave searched an' searched." Dwalin weakly replied, an unusually hopeless look in his blue eyes as he looked upon his sick brother-in-arms.

"Not well enough." Thorin spat, furious with the companies lack of progress.

"Thorin, we all would see teh stone returned," Dwalin said, in an attempt to assure a mad Thorin.

"And yet, it is still not found!" he snapped, his voice echoing around the open room.

"Do you doubt the loyalty of anyone here?" Balin asked, exchanging a look with Dwalin who instantly looked back at Thorin; awaiting his answer.

Alexa watched as Thorin turned sharply at Balin's words, finally facing them after staring intently at the throne for so long. She held her breath as he walked past her and Bilbo and towards the brothers. The sound of his footsteps the only noise in the otherwise deathly silent room.

"The Arkenstone is the birthright of our people." Balin continued, his tone faltering slightly as Thorin stepped closer.

At his words, Thorin paused on the top of the short staircase; now two meters from the brothers, "It is the King's jewel," he began, a jealous tint in his voice.

"Am I not the King?" he exclaimed, his voice ricocheting off the walls and corners of the vast Throne room.

Balin let out a sigh at his answer, whilst Dwalin looked on at what Thorin had become. During this, Alexa had exchanged a look with Bilbo. The two had remained silent for the whole ordeal, not wanting to anger Thorin further.

Turning back to the Throne, Thorin walked almost in a trance towards it, before glancing back at Balin and Dwalin "Know this: If anyone should find it and withhold it from me," he began, his baritone voice rumbling in their ears, "I will be avenged," he threatened, walking away from the four and out of the Throne room to the treasure hoard.

Alexa watched as Balin drew in a shaky breath, the 'discussion' with Thorin having affected him. An uneasy look fell upon her face as the white-bearded Dwarf left the Throne room, Bilbo, not far behind; until only she and Dwalin were left.

"He's getting worse," she whispered, gazing down the hall Thorin had gone down just minutes ago.

"Is there nothin' ye can do lass?" Dwalin asked, a pleading tone in his voice that Alexa had never heard before.

She turned towards the burly Dwarf, her green-grey eyes catching his dark blue ones, "No, Dwalin. There isn't," she told him, sadly. Suddenly a new spark flared in her eyes as an idea popped into her mind, "But you could!" she asserted,

"Me? Wha' makes ya think I could lass?" he asked, startled at her proposal.

Before she could answer, a loud shout echoed around them. "ALEXA!"

Ignoring Thorin's call, she strode towards Dwalin with purpose, "You and Thorin are basically brothers if anyone can get through that thick skull of his it's you." she said, her voice full of passion and hope as she came to stand in front of him.

Yet even with her inspiring and hope-filled words, Dwalin remained staring at her just as hopeless as before. "Maybe once lass. Now, I do naut know." he murmured; his eyes downcast.

At his words, Alexa's hands reached down to grab one of his; the tattooed paw of a hand being much bigger than both of hers. "Dwalin." she breathed, not knowing what to say. In all her time on the journey, she hadn't known Dwalin to give up. But with Thorin's mental health taking a turn for the worst and now with him questioning his loyalty, she could only imagine how hurt Dwalin truly was.

"Miss Alexa," a deep voice sounded behind her, causing her eyes to widen slightly and her body to stiffen.

Quickly releasing Dwalin's calloused hand, she slowly turned towards the owner of the voice. Her eyes met the glazed blue ones of the Dwarf, Dwalin and herself had been talking about just moments prior.

"Did you not hear me call you?" he growled out through clenched teeth, his eyes flickering over her shoulder to glare at Dwalin.

"No, Thorin I did not." she lied, her face blank and tone calm as she addressed him; knowing that if she showed one small flicker of hesitancy, he would pick up on it.

Thorin seemed to mull over her answer, not saying a word as his dark eyes snapped from Dwalin to her. The room once more grew deathly silent, as the air around them became uncomfortably thick. Knowing that Thorin was waiting for her, Alexa shifted her head slightly, causing her eyes to meet Dwalin's.

"Go, lass," he grunted, shaking off her concerned look.

Alexa tilted her head slightly in a nod, not exactly wanting to go back to the treasure hoard again. Seeing their little interaction, Thorin's eyes narrowed, and his lips twitched as he clenched his jaw.

Without a word, Thorin swiftly turned and began walking away; his long coat billowing after him. Not wanting to provoke Thorin any more than she already had, Alexa quickly followed after him as she knew that if she stayed any longer, he would be furious. And force knows what he would do to her in his mad state.

/

- Time Skip -

/

Releasing a sigh, Alexa gazed over the now familiar heaps of gold and jewels; she did not sign up for this. She watched on, helpless, as the Dwarves she has come to see as family slaved away; in the search of the Arkenstone.

"I do not like how close you are to him," Thorin muttered from beside her, causing her to avert her gaze from the treasure.

"Close to who?" she asked warily, her eyes now on the raven-haired Dwarf who was looking rather darkly at her.

"Him." he hissed, peeling his eyes from Alexa to glance down the side of the platform that they stood on.

Following his eye line, Alexa looked down and found herself staring at Dwalin. Well shit. Thorin had been suspicious of her and Dwalin ever since she had arrived. She didn't quite know why their relationship seemed to bother him. At first, she presumed that he was still mad at them sharing a bed. But from what he had said, and acted since she wasn't so sure anymore.

Alexa thought carefully over her answer, not wanting to worsen Thorin's mental state by angering him, "Who Dwalin? We're just friends." she replied.

But her face betrayed her nonchalant tone as a soft look made its way into her face; her eyes never leaving the burly Dwarf as he helped out a tired Ori. Seeing this, Thorin's eyes narrowed until they were slits; a low growl rumbling in his chest.

"Is that so?" he sneered, his eyes running over the dagger that lay at her thigh; dangling from her belt. Not that Alexa noticed his dark look.

"Hmm? Yes, yes, it is," she said, a cough leaving her as she averted her gaze from Dwalin and Ori and looked back at Thorin.

Thorin. The Dwarf she had joked with outside the Troll hole as he thanked her and apologized for doubting her. The Dwarf who had hugged and assured her at the fountain. The Dwarf who had held and comforted her when she was drunk off her ass in Rivendell, the night she had told the company of the Jedi Purge and Anakin's fall to the dark side. The Dwarf who had embraced her on the edge of the wet mountain face after the Stone Giants. The Dwarf who had stood up for her when the Goblin King's mercenaries were about to take her to their King's chambers. The Dwarf who she had fought with side by side. The Dwarf who had made sure she was okay when her shoulder was playing up. The Dwarf who she had laughed with, and who had protected her from creatures ranging from Orcs to Goblins and Elves. But the Dwarf who had done all these things was no longer there. No, now in his place stood a Dwarf whose only purpose was finding the Arkenstone in this treasure hoard that lay before them.

A sigh left her. If only she had seen Thorin's descent into madness, perhaps she could have prevented it. "Thorin, if I may. Could I go and meditate? Perhaps with some time to clear my mind, I could find the stone." she proposed, twisting her words to include finding the Arkenstone so the probability of him letting her leave would increase.

Thorin's milky blue eyes stared warily at the woman, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. After a few long seconds of this, he stepped closer to her; their boots knocking. "You may," he muttered, "And should you find it..." he drawled off, causing Alexa to nod in agreement; understanding what he meant.

"Yes Thorin." she breathed, staring down at the Dwarf; their faces intimately close.

"That's my Jewel," he muttered, tucking a stray lock of her auburn hair behind her ear; making her involuntarily flinch. The darkness around him increased at her action, causing a nauseous feeling to arise in her stomach. She did not know how much more she could take of this.

/

- Time Skip -

/

Alexa wandered around the endless halls for a long time. She had to prepare for the upcoming battle, so she had to find a decently sized room far enough away from the treasure hoard so that Thorin could not find her, but not too far that she couldn't find her way back.

After walking for about six minutes, she stopped before an ajar door. Pushing the stone, a loud creak echoed around her as the door opened. Several coughs left her as she breathed in the dust. It had been a while since its last clean with Smaug and everything.

Upon entering the room, she looked around. It was bigger than the rooms that she had entered beforehand. With more open space, bookshelves that reached the ceiling, a decently sized desk in the corner, and a large four-poster bed against the back wall.

Releasing a sigh, she got to work. First, she moved all the objects scattered on the ground and placed them on the desk. Then she cleaned and dusted every possible surface and even wafted the bed; that particular task had made her hack harshly for several minutes.

By the time she was done, some hours had passed. But it was all worth it as the room was now somewhat restored to its original state, well what she assumed was its original state anyway.

With a dark blue sheet in hand, she placed it on the cold stone floor. A deep sigh left her as she settled herself on the blanket. Crossing her legs, she straightened her back. Her eyes fluttering shut as her hands rested on her knees.

Soft breaths left her as she calmly inhaled and exhaled. The force wrapped around her like a blanket, soothing her. She focused on calming down and destroying any destructive emotions that had built up within her. As she knew that before she could continue, she had to clear her mind.

As she got absorbed in her meditation, Qui-Gon materialized in the room and watched the woman mindfully. Sensing his presence, Alexa opened her eyes and came out of her meditation. Seeing Qui-Gon's blue figure, a grin formed on her lips.

"I see you are ahead of me, Knight Alexa." he chuckled, his arms folding across his chest.

"Can't wait for you all day, old man." she quipped, a giggle leaving her as Qui-Gon chuckled at her jab.

"You know what to do," he said, a serious tint in his voice; all humour having left him.

"Yes Master." she nodded, closing her eyes once more.

The images played before her eyes like an old movie. She watched as Thorin ordered his nephews to search out the seemingly abandoned Ravenhill.

Following their stocky figures through the mist, she neglected looking back at Thorin and Dwalin who were being overrun by Goblin mercenaries.

Remembering from her earlier vision that Fili died first, Alexa instantly followed in his footsteps after he instructed Kili to search the lower levels.

Proceeding down the initial pathway, she saw Fili glance down one path before peering down the one directly in front of him. Before he could choose which one of the two to check out first, two glowing lights shone from both of the passages; making him back away. However, as he turned to escape the way he came through, another light flashed in the darkness.

Alexa watched as Fili got dragged away, having been cornered by three groups of Orcs. Trailing after the Orcs, she saw Azog lift Fili by the shoulder and stab him through his back. One down, two to go.

The scene changed before her. She was now on the lower levels, a few meters from Kili who was gazing down at his brothers' lifeless body that had been dropped before him. Fury rose within the young Dwarf, and a yell left him as he ran down the pathway; killing all in his sight.

The woman watched as Kili fought on, his eyes filled with rage and unshed tears over his brother's demise. Cries of Kili's name echoed around Alexa, and she watched as the youngest brother replied to them. So, the Elf does come, she mused.

The same fight played before her eyes, ending with Bolg stabbing Kili through the chest. So, it is not enough that Tauriel is here, she noted.

The scene once more changed before her. She now stood once again before a crouched Bilbo and a dead Thorin. But she didn't need this scene, no she needed to see how he died.

"Focus now Alexa, Oakenshield's life and the fate of Middle-earth depends on it." Qui-Gon's voice sounded in her ears, urging her on.

The old Jedi Master watched as Alexa's eyebrows scrunched together and her face screwed up. Sweat ran down her forehead and soaked her tunic; you couldn't say that she wasn't trying.

The scene of Bilbo kneeling over Thorin swiftly changed, moving the two back as if she were reversing a tape. Shallow breaths left her as she fought on to watch Thorin's death. She clenched her fists, and a strangled yell left her as it took all her might to playback the fight.

She observed through clenched teeth as Thorin walked backwards, stood over Azog, was under Azog, was stabbed through the ice, caught the end of the flail that was Azog's arms, and to the beginning of the fight where both of them stood waiting for the other to strike.

Unclenching her fists, Alexa breathed in gulps; the whole rewind taking a lot out of her. Her eyes fluttered as she saw first hand Thorin's and Azog's final fight.

She watched as the pale Orc swung his flail at Thorin, who managed to avoid it several times before being knocked over. As she watched Thorin fight for both his life and revenge, something in the distance caught her eye. It was the Eagles; they had come after all. She observed as the Eagles dropped off Beorn who shifted into his bear form and instantly recked havoc.

Switching her focus back to Thorin, she watched him throw the end of the flail at Azog who caught it; before stepping off the broken piece of ice. The single action caused the ice to tip from the sudden loss of equilibrium. The woman watched as the ice tilted, and Azog's pale body was dragged into the icy depths by the flail.

Thorin followed Azog's corpse, which was floating just below the surface. A feeling of dread went through Alexa as she watched the scene play out. A pained grunt escaped Thorin as Azog stabbed him through the foot with his wicked metal extension. A loud crack then sounded as the pale Orc smashed through the ice to stand over the Dwarf. Azog then thrust his crude extension at Thorin's chest, the Dwarf only just managing to block it with the Elvish blade Orcist.

Seeing Thorin's internal and physical struggle, Alexa averted her gaze. As she did, a horrible squelch sounded; signalling metal meeting flesh. Looking back, she watched as Thorin sucked in a breath; the blade now embedded in his chest.

A surge of anger and grief suddenly hit Thorin, causing a strangled yell to leave him; the pale Orc had taken too much from him. He stabbed Azog through his armour; the blade piercing the pale Orc's heart. The fight itself lasted around six minutes, ending with Thorin stood over Azog, watching the light die in his enemy's eyes.

Snapping her eyes open, Alexa breathed in deeply; her breath coming out in short, quick gasps. Taking the water that Qui-Gon had offered, she quickly chugged it back; the liquid soothing her parched throat.

"Thanks." she panted, exerted from the experience; having been a while since she had done it.

Qui-Gon nodded in reply, taking the now empty cup back from her grasp. "Come now, we have much to discuss."

A pained groan left Alexa as she forced herself to stand. Upon actually doing this, she stumbled over to the desk and landed heavily on the stool. Rolling out some stray parchment across the desk, she dipped the point of the abandoned feather in the ink and began.

"Fili dies first. He is stabbed through the back by Azog," she says, writing the words down.

"Kili dies shortly after, at the hands of Bolg," she continued, dipping the point of the feather into the ink again; then wrote down the words.

"Then finally Thorin dies by Azog." she finished, writing down each detail on the parchment before her.

"At what times?" Ki-Adi Mundi asked, materializing for the first time in front of Alexa.

Alexa paused as her eyes fell upon her Master. It had been six years since she had seen him after all, well, when she wasn't meditating that is. Her eyes became glazed as she watched him lean over the desk; his eyes on the parchment with all her notes about the Durin deaths.

Clearing her throat, she got back to the task at hand, "I have no clue as to when for Kili, but Fili is a few minutes after they arrive on Ravenhill. Thorin, I don't know how long after Kili, only that before he dies the Eagles arrive." she told them, tapping her fingers on the desk as she thought over her vision.

"We can work with this." her old Master replied, gaining a nod from Qui-Gon.

"But how to save them all. You cannot be in three places at once Alexa, no matter how powerful you are." Qui-Gon told her, earning a hum from Ki-Adi Mundi.

"Yes, while this is true, she has also enlisted help from the Elf, Tauriel." Ki-Adi Mundi informed,

Alexa took this as her time to pipe in, "It is true, I have spoken with Kili's lover, and she has agreed to come in two days' time to be there for him on Ravenhill. However, she was there when he died so they will need extra help should they defeat Bolg," she told them,

"And that's not even mentioning Thorin, who is in no shape or form to fight. With the gold sickness having a hold over his mind, he will be vulnerable. He has not eaten nor slept in days and is unable to think straight. There is no way that he will be ready for the battle, and if he is, he will not be at his full strength." she sighed, chewing her lip.

"Now that is an inconvenience." her old Master said, sighing thoughtfully as he thought over the problem.

"What should I do to get him out of it?" Alexa asked him,

"Nothing." Qui-Gon answered, causing Alexa to frown, "What?" she asked, shocked at the Jedi Master's words.

"Trust in the force young one, and you will never stray. He will escape the sickness in time. Do not worry." he told her, his words not doing much to ease her worries. None of the less, they moved on.

They talked over the subject for a while, figuring out strategies and ways Alexa could save the Line of Durin. During this, Qui-Gon had informed Ki-Adi Mundi that he had begun training her in Form IV, Ataro; which had not gone down very well with her old Master.

As Mundi had been Alexa's Master, he had taught her Form II, Makashi. This particular form relying on careful and controlled strikes instead of unpredictable movements like Ataro does. Her Master had also made sure to mention that Ataro was only effective against single opponents; which was useless in the war that she was going to fight in soon. Though Qui-Gon had argued that Makashi was developed for only lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, and no one but Alexa wielded one in Middle-earth. So, that happened.

As their 'debate' over which form was better for Alexa steadily grew heated, she had called enough; causing the two to seize talking. She had then brought the topic of the Durin deaths back, and the three of them began planning for the battle. Then the two Jedi Masters had made off-hand comments about the skills that she possessed and which ones she could improve on.

Which brought us to now.

Alexa sat on the stone floor; her legs crossed and eyes closed. Her head was hanging forward slightly as she focused on the force flowing around her. Feeling the energy course through her body, she allowed it to build in her hands, before travelling up her fingers. The green energy crackled from her fingertips as she cleared her mind.

Several small objects, including the ink, floated in the air as she got absorbed in the session. During this, Qui-Gon and her old Master piped in now and then to correct, encourage, or praise her efforts.

"Alexa you down here?" A voice called, interrupting her training.

"Al?" The voice sounded again; this time closer.

Exhaling softly, Alexa placed the ink and everything else she had levitated back down carefully. Once that was done, she concentrated on withdrawing the energy from her fingertips. As she did this, the green sparks gradually lessened before disappearing entirely from sight. Releasing a sigh, she opened her eyes, uncrossed her legs and got to her feet.

"You have done well my old Padawan." Ki-Adi Mundi spoke, bending his head slightly in a bow. In return, Alexa bowed lowly; a sense of pride thrumming within her as her old Master praised her.

"Remember: Your focus determines your reality," Qui-Gon remarked, repeating the words he had told the woman many times. Alexa nodded in reply and bowed in respect. Which in return got her a professional nod from the Jedi Master before he disappeared; leaving the woman alone with her old Master.

Alexa then looked to her Master, who had yet to leave. As a Cerean, he towered over her, standing just under two meters in height; which would make most people intimated, but not Alexa. His kind yellow eyes being her comfort and anchor as she grew up and went through panic attacks.

Overall, she was glad that he was here. Not only because he was like a father to her, and she had missed him greatly. But with him being a Cerean, he was also highly intelligent as he had a binary brain, which enabled him to observe both sides of a situation simultaneously. And that's not even mentioning how he was well known in the Order for his brilliant thinking, courage, and wisdom. The latter of which made him an excellent strategist and generally just someone to go to when in need of some advice.

"Do you think I can do it, Master? Save the Line of Durin?" she asked shyly, his opinion meaning the most to her out of everyone.

Mundi sighed as he peered down at his old apprentice. Had this been anyone else he would have told them that doubt is not the Jedi way and ushered them along. But now, as he stared into the green-grey eyes of the woman he thought of as a daughter, he knew he could not.

"Of course, I do Lexi." he murmured, the name he had called her since she was a child leaving his lips.

Nodding at his words, Alexa sniffed as her eyes teared up slightly at the use of her old nickname. "I miss you, Master," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I am here now my old Padawan," he told her, placing a hand on her shoulder as he stood before her.

Alexa looked at the hand on her shoulder and how the blue light seeped through it. "But you're not are you," she whispered as her hand reached up to touch the one on her shoulder "I can't even touch you." she murmured, as her hand went through his.

Ki-Adi Mundi sighed at her words, knowing that she was right. "I cannot stay for much longer," he told her, "I have yet to master this form."

"No, please," she begged, not ready to see him go after finally having him back; even if he was just a ghost.

He merely smiled down at her before disappearing, his departure causing a few tears to run down Alexa's cheeks. But she didn't have long to feel the loss of him before the door creaked open.

"There you are, Al, I've been looking all over for you. Thorin has requested for everyone to join him at the gate," Nori said, a sigh of relief leaving him after spending around ten minutes wandering the halls just looking for her.

"Al? You okay lass?" he asked after Alexa had yet to turn around.

Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she breathed slowly in an attempt to calm down. "Yeah Nori, I'm fine. Just give me a moment," she managed to mumble out as she swallowed the hard lump in her throat; a shaky breath leaving her.

Once she deemed herself okay, she turned to face Nori; a weak smile on her lips. "Now, why does Thorin want us at the gate?"


AN: For those who have seen the Clone Wars and are confused. I am aware that in the Clone Wars Master Ki-Adi Mundi and the rest of the Council never learnt how to become a force ghost because of their belief that it was linked to the dark side. However, with Mundi being OC's Master I decided to ignore this plot in the Clone Wars.