I know I never outright said it, but please don't think that this is the first time you and Thorin have been...together. It's just that my ability to write smut would come out about as sexy as two old people getting it on, so I figured I'd spare you that. Just use your imagination.

Disclaimer: Tolkien owns Tolkien, you own you!

The Council convenes early in the morning. You rise with plenty of time to spare; you refuse to be late to such an important meeting. You take a seat between the Dwarvish delegation and the Elven one. You're excited to act as the bridge between the two races, but you try not to act it; everyone else is solemn and stately.

Elrond rises and begins. "Strangers from distant lands, friends of old: you have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom..."

Well, things are off to a bright start. You suppose Elrond is not as confident in how the quest will go because he hasn't seen it himself. But perhaps the dismal opening is fitting; this quest is more than a little important, and if everyone took it as seriously as you, there would be ten beings of various races skipping merrily into the blue.

Then again, you could still go home with Thorin. There was nothing you necessarily had to change this time around. Everyone would get there in the end without your help. You figure that sixty years as a queen has spoiled you. There would be no beds in the Wild, no baths, no varied meals, little comfort, no Thorin...

"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an Elf!"

You blink around. Had you been so deep in reverie that everything important had been said? "Gimli - "

But you're too late to defuse the situation. Everyone begins arguing at once. You start to intervene, but think better of it and settle back in your seat. You catch Frodo's eye and grimace in a can you believe these idiots way.

"I will take it!" Frodo shouts, standing up. "I will take it!"

The bickering dies down slowly and everyone turns to look at the little hobbit.

"I will take the ring to Mordor! Though...I do not know the way..."

Gandalf stands by Frodo's side. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear."

Aragorn joins in, kneeling in front of the new Ringbearer. "If by my life or death I can protect you, I shall. You have my sword."

"And you have my bow."

"And my axe!"

Boromir comes to accept the decision. "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."

You rise and join the growing company with a small smile. "I'm with you, Frodo, always," you say gently.

Everyone murmurs in surprise at a girl volunteering, but Sam, Pippin, and Merry barreling in causes a distraction.

"Ten companions," Elrond says thoughtfully. "So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."

"Great!" Pippin says brightly. "Where are we going?

You wonder how you ever could have convinced yourself to stay. Yeah, this is going to be on hell of an adventure.

You retire to your room where Thorin is still sleeping. You shed your clothes and crawl back in the bed. Now that your plans are cemented, you feel more at peace, though still very uninclined to leave the love of your life.

Thorin stirs at your fingers in his hair. "Already up?" he asks, eyes still shut. "That's very unlike you."

"The Council was early this morning. I just got back."

"And?"

"And we're leaving out in two days."

Thorin pulls you down to him. "I'm proud of you," he murmurs into your shoulder. "You're doing the right thing."

"I'm definitely doing the selfless thing."

"Well, you needn't start being selfless for two more days. I'm sure we could think of something to do until then."

You're very glad you don't have much to pack, because you are quite occupied for the rest of the day.

The time of departure arrives much too quickly. You're much less inclined to say goodbye to Thorin, especially given his way of "spending quality time together". The two of you stand close in the shade of a blossoming tree while the others make their final preparations.

"It doesn't seem right, leaving on an adventure without you," you murmur with an attempt at humor.

"Adventures come in many forms, love. Mine will be attempting to navigate without my conscience to keep me in check."

"Please make an effort. I'll be pretty miffed if I come home to find you've started a war or something."

"I'll do my best not to."

"Also do your best to stay safe. I don't know how far this evil spreads before we stop it. Sauron's armies may come to Erebor and Dale, so please..."

Thorin embraces you tightly. "I will be waiting for you. I promise."

"And I'll come back to you. Nothing will stop me."

You pledge your love again and share one last kiss before you tear yourself away to join your new fellowship. You try to keep a neutral expression - you have an impression to make as the only woman - but you can't help the few tears that spring in your eyes. You do not look back as the fellowship makes its start into the Wild.