Happy Sunday! A new chapter awaits and there's a rocky path ahead.

Thanks very much for all your reviews on the last one, I loved reading every single one. Thanks to Filisgirl251, MissRuthless, purple-pygmy-puff16, DawnScarlet19610, ValarenOfGondor, Fair Helen and Erikawaskiki! Let me know your thoughts on this one.


Three days had passed since the incident in Fili's chambers. Arinna had not seen him since and she had avoided going anywhere near his chambers. She did not know whether he had been outside since, though she had heard from Dain that he had been able to talk to him about a few issues concerning the kingdom. Though, she had barely taken in any of his information and just nodded along, ignoring the concerned look the old dwarf had given her.

She had spent the past days mostly by herself, avoiding all of her friends when they tried to speak with her. During that time, she had examined her courting braid several times, feeling it weigh heavily and awkwardly in her hair now. She did not feel worthy of it any longer. Did not feel as though she could wear it in good conscience, when she knew the way Fili felt about her. How could she?

She had made her decision the day before, one day before Bilbo's departure from the mountain.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Bilbo had asked her with obvious concern, looking at her in barely concealed shock when she had announced her plans to him. "What about –"

Arinna had nodded firmly, crushing his words, before he had been able to finish his sentence. She had thought about it for a while now, and though her heart was heavy, she knew that there was no choice. Not anymore. How could she remain here, when her presence was but a painful reminder? How could she ever meet Fili's gaze again, when every time he looked at her all he would see was her failure to save his brother?

And so, today she found herself standing at the foot of the mountain, wrapped in several layers of warm clothing with her few belongings and some provisions strapped to the back of a shaggy brown pony. Gandalf had already mounted his horse and was watching thoughtfully from a distance as Bilbo said his emotional goodbyes to the dwarves. Word had spread quickly through the mountain after her decision had been made, and the Company had gathered outside the front gate, faces filled with sadness as the hobbit finished his round, sniffling slightly as he addressed them.

"Uh, if any of you are ever passing Bag End," he muttered, wiping a few small tears from his eyes as he looked at his friends with a smile. "Well, tea is at four. There's plenty of it. You are welcome any time. Oh, and… don't bother knocking."

The dwarves chuckled quietly as they remembered how they had first met the hobbit all those months ago, inclining their heads at Bilbo as he gave a last nod before he turned around and walked toward Gandalf. Arinna felt her friend's hand brush over her shoulder as he walked past her and she took a shaky breath, trying to form her lips into a smile as she looked at her companions all gathered before her. Not all, she reminded herself with a pang of sadness.

The druid stood stiffly, unable to move as she caught Balin's kind gaze. He was looking at her with sad eyes, but there was a certain understanding in them that made it even harder for Arinna to look at him. She couldn't imagine not seeing the kind, old dwarf again. She couldn't imagine saying goodbye to any of her friends. She had spent so much time with these dwarves, had come to love them like family, it was almost impossible to imagine parting from them. And yet, there was nothing else for her to do, and so she felt herself move forward eventually, Balin pulling her into a tight hug as soon as she was within arm's reach. Arinna returned his embrace, taking in a sharp breath as she tried not to let her tears take over, though she couldn't help them falling down her face.

"I will miss you, lassie," the old dwarf muttered quietly as he pulled back, his hands resting heavily on her shoulders as he sent her a gentle, sad smile. Arinna couldn't bring herself to return it, and from the look on Balin's face, perhaps he wasn't expecting her to.

She felt herself being pulled in for another hug by Bombur, the fat dwarf squeezing her so tightly that she struggled to breathe for a few moments, though she did not complain. She grabbed the dwarf's hands with both of hers as he released her, looking up at him with a bleary smile that quickly faded from her lips as she spoke tearfully. "I will miss you and your cooking, Bombur," she uttered, feeling her heart weigh heavy in her chest. "Who could ever make a stew as good as yours?"

Bombur blushed slightly and inclined his head in thanks, wiping at his eyes as more of the dwarves moved to hug the druid goodbye. Arinna held them all close, the lump in her throat building with every kind word they said to her, with every sad smile they gave her.

"Please, stay," Bofur muttered as she pulled away from his embrace. He was the last one to say his goodbyes, and Arinna suddenly felt her tears spill over at his sorrowful request and his still hopeful eyes. She shook her head, taking in a shaky breath that turned into a small sob. Bofur squeezed her shoulders gently.

"I cannot," she breathed, struggling to speak as she looked the hatted dwarf in the eyes. Her gaze drifted over his shoulder for a few moments, finding the entrance to the mountain above the large steps that led up to it. It lay behind the company empty and deserted. "There is nothing now for me here."

"But -" Bofur began quietly, though he stopped speaking as her doleful eyes met his again. He could see that there was nothing he could say or do that would sway her. None of them could, he thought, and the one person that might have been able to change her mind was not here. Her let out a sigh as he watched her shake her head again, the druid mustering up a tiny smile to give him, to reassure him.

"I will miss you, Bofur," Arinna said through her tears and Bofur couldn't help his own falling from his eyes as he nodded solemnly, returning her smile with a soft one of his own. She brought her hands up to his hat for a moment, straightening it slightly on his head before she sent him one last look. "Very much."

And then she turned away and walked over to the pony that was waiting for her beside Gandalf's horse, saddled and ready for departure. The wizard and Bilbo had already mounted their own steeds, and Arinna put a trembling hand on the animal's saddle, using the other to wipe away the remaining tear tracks on her face, while more just kept running down her cheeks. She took a deep breath, before she swung herself onto the saddle and grabbed the reins. The pony neighed quietly beneath her as she nudged it into a slow trot. She followed behind Gandalf and Bilbo, the wizard slowly leading them away from the mountain, when she finally raised her head, her tears now having subsided somewhat.

The druid turned her head slightly, seeing the company waving at them from where they stood at the bottom of the stairs. She felt her heart constrict again at the sight, before her eyes slowly drifted upwards to take in one last view of the Lonely Mountain, and that was when she saw him. Standing alone at the top of the steps, half hidden in the shadow of the mountain's entrance, was Fili, staring out onto the plain with his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

Arinna was too far away already to see whether he was looking at her, though she supposed it didn't matter much anymore. But her heart disagreed and gave a hard, painful tug in her chest and the druid quickly turned her head away, bringing her gaze forward as a sob rushed through her throat. She saw Bilbo shoot her a worried look over his shoulder, letting his pony fall into step with hers as she wiped furiously at the tears streaming down her face.

She did not meet the hobbit's gaze and he did not know what to say, what comfort he might give her. And so, he said nothing, and instead just rode beside her in silence, hoping that perhaps she would find a tiny bit of solace in the company of a friend as she rode away from the man she loved and the life they might have had.