Kíli jerked awake with shock, just as his uncle and brother had done earlier.

"Where am I?!"

"Kíli, lie still! You still need to rest!"

As soon as he recognised the voice as Tauriel's and as soon as he saw her face, he calmed down.

"But, where am I?"

"You're in a tent, Kíli. Your wounds are healing and your fever has gone down."

"What about my brother? What about Thorin?"

"Both Thorin and Fíli's wounds are healing and their fevers have gone down. Gloin is tending to your brother, and Sigrid is tending to Thorin."

"Sigrid, isn't that Bard's daughter?"

"His eldest."

"How is Thorin treating her? Is he being rude to her?"

"I imagine that if your uncle wants his wounds to stay clean and his fever to stay down, he'll be treating her well. And Bolg is dead, Legolas killed him. The corpses of all the orcs, goblins, trolls, and other monsters are being burned as we speak."

"The corpses need to be reduced to ashes."

"They will be."

Then came a bit of silence between the two, with Kíli thinking he did something wrong to Tauriel.

"Amrâlimê, what is it?"

"It's nothing. It's nothing, Kíli. Get some more rest."

Tauriel walked out of the tent to leave Kíli to sleep. Legolas was waiting for her.

"You do feel for the dwarf, Tauriel."

"Legolas-."

"I'm not upset with you, Tauriel. I've never seen you smile so much except when you're around him."

"Being captain of the guard, there is not much to smile about."

"I've seen elves and men marry, but elves and dwarves, there is still a choice to be made, Tauriel."

"I know what that choice is."

"Have you made it yet?"

"In my heart, yes. But the approval of your father and Thorin, it could never happen. And even if they never give their approval, Kíli will just want to take me and run away to the Shire. It seems we would be most welcome at the home of Bilbo Baggins."

"And if anything, you would both be welcome in Rivendell."

"Or Lothlórien, or anywhere outside of these lands."

"I may not like dwarves, but you were right to help heal Kíli"

"Legolas!"

"Gandalf! Father! What is to happen now?"

"I have sent word to Narnia, asking for help."

"Narnia, they're too far to help anyone here."

"Not so far. The royal family is your family. The four children of Eadbhárd of Terebinthia and Queen Úna's daughter Caoilfhionn."

"I know, but how would they here fast enough?"

"We were all at Caoilfhionn's wedding, and Rosheen's wedding to King Caspian. Do you not remember who Caoilfhionn married?"

"The king of Ettinsmoor, I know."

"And he is the king of the Eagles. The letter will arrive there on time, I promise you. My guess is, it already has."

"I didn't know the eagles could that fast, Gandalf?"

"What do you mean?"

"Here they are."

Legolas was right, for a convocation of eagles was coming their way, with a response from Narnia. The head eagle in the group dropped the letter into Gandalf's hands.

"What does it say?"

"They are sending an envoy, one of the royal family themselves, Queen Lucy the Valiant."

"It will be a wonder to see little Lucy out here without the rest of her family."

"That is where you are wrong, Legolas, She is bringing her father from the other world with her."

"As if Narnia alone wasn't a wonder enough for their other world families. Wait until her father sees everything at this end of the world."

Gandalf headed for Thorin's tent, where Fíli and Kíli also were.

"I have news from Narnia. They are sending an envoy, one of their own royalty, Queen Lucy the Valiant."

"How long until she gets here?"

"She and her father have already boarded a ship bound for Dol Amroth."

"I thought her father Prince Eadbhárd was dead?"

"This is her father from the other world."

"How will one person help us?"

"She will tell us that when she gets here. And I warn you, like the rest of her family, she is a feisty one. None of you, not one of you, will insult her for being a woman. There is a reason she was crowned as Queen Lucy the Valiant. She once stood up against an entire army with a dagger in her hand."

"I wasn't planning on insulting her."

"You know I won't. I've seen women fight."

"It was a woman who saved my brother's life. She won't get any hate from me."

"Good. How much longer until you all can start your journey towards the Iron Hills?"

"We plan to start the journey tomorrow."

"And Thranduil has given permission for the people of Lake-Town to stay in the Woodland Realm for the Winter."

"And what should we do about the gold in Erebor?"

"I have asked a dragon to guard it."

"We just rescued our kingdom from the hands of a dragon, and now you want to give it back?!"

"No need to worry about this dragon. He is a gift to you from Queen Caoilfhionn of the Dragons."

After Gandalf left Thorin's tent, Thorin went off to find Sigrid. He had a special request of her.

"Bard the bowman, I would like to have a word with your daughter, Sigrid?"

"What need do you have of her?"

"Nothing bad, I assure you."

"Sigrid, Thorin is here to speak with you."

"Hello, Lord Thorin."

"Hello again, Lady Sigrid."

"What brings you here now? Have I done something to offend you?"

"Nothing of the sort. I have a request of you. My company starts our journey to the Iron Hills tomorrow. If you are comfortable with it, and if your father grants his permission, I would like for you to be my nurse. I still have a long road of recovery ahead of me, ad frankly, Dwarvish nurses aren't the most comforting as nurses. I will see that you are paid for your work."

Sigrid would only accept Thorin's offer on one condition.

"The only payment I ask for, Lord Thorin, is what you promised my people so that we can rebuild our lives."

"You will have it when Spring comes around."

"Daughter, you are driving a hard bargain."

"I see she takes after her father greatly."

"I will go with your company to the Iron Hills so long as you actually keep this promise."

"If it makes you feel any better, I am not my grandfather. I am still just Thorin Oakenshield."

"Do I have your permission, father?"

"You do, daughter."

"Tauriel has also agreed to accompany us as a nurse for Kíli."

"Good. I could learn more healing arts from her, Oin, and Balin."

Thorin was not expecting to hear Sigrid be so enthusiastic about the journey.