At the HobbitCon 2 in Bonn, Germany, Graham McTavish brought tears to my eyes as he was asked why he had no accompanied his brother Balin to Moria. He answered that Dwalin probably had to cope with his grief about losing Thorin, Fili and Kili in the BoFA and had wished to have died himself that day in their place. He had probably stopped fighting after that and would not follow his brother on yet another costful quest. The fact that Balin died in Moria must had been hard on Dwalin. As Graham McTavish said correctly, grief is the worst with the survivors.

Thorin and his company arrived in the Shire in spring. The grass was fresh and green and the cherry trees were blooming. It was a wonderful and peacefiul place. The dwarves acknowledged the Shire's beauty for the first time, since their first visit had been at night and they had not seen much of Bilbos hometown, then.

The king under the mountain sighed as he looked back at the dwarves in his company. Kili, Bofur and Dori had accompanied him back. After the Battle of the Five Armies, the thirteen dwarves of the company had believed the worst to be behind them. But in the last two years, death and loss had struck Thorins brave company of dwarves. Balin and Ori had died in Moria, fighting the goblins as they tried to reclaim their ancient kingdom. Gimli, son of Gloin, had found their dead bodies as he had crossed the mines with the fellowship of the ring. Dwalin had stayed behind in Erebor, bitter and sad in his grief. The loss of his older brother and his partner Ori had broken the warriors heart. Nori, also grieving over his little brother's death had stayed behind in Erebor to divert his dark thoughts in the service of prince Fili. Nori, as Erebors spymaster, supported the young heir as best as he could. Oin had established a huge infirmary under the mountain and worked in close contact with the elves of Mirkwood, learning more about elven healing techniques and elven herbs. Gloin and his wife had settled down in Erebor and were proud of their son Gimli, who had been part of the fellowship which had accompanied Bilbos nephew Frodo to Mordor, to destroy the one ring Bilbo had found during his journey with Thorin to Erebor. That Gimli had become best friend to Thranduils son, Legolas, was a surprise to everyone. But since Kili had fallen in love with an elf, Gimlis friendship to one was the smaller drama.

Bombur was running the kitchen and food supplies in Erebor and was in close contact to the neighbouring kingdoms concerning food trade. He had asked Thorin and his company to bring some food culture back from the Shire as well. Bifur was the same as ever. He was not talking much and only Khuzdul. The dwarf with the axe in his head spent his days in the mines, surveing the progress.

Thorin looked at his younger nephew, who was riding behing him. Kili was gazing into the green of the Shire and a peaceful expression showed on his face. Kili had still not grown a beard, but he did not mind. Tauriel, the captain of Thranduils personal guard, liked him better without a beard. The love between the elf and his nephew gave Thorin a headache. Like Thorin himself, Kili seemed to be attracted to women outside of the dwarven race. But Thorin still felt a strong dislike for elves. After all these years and the bonding between his kin and the elves, Thorin had difficulties in accepting the change in the relationship between elves and dwarves. The two people had felt nothing but mistrust and hatred against each other for more than thousand years. In the Battle of the Five Armies, Thranduil had fought fiercely. Tauriel had saved Kilis life and Legolas had not left Gimlis side during the journey to destroy the One ring. Maybe Thorin would have to live with the constant presence of elves in his vicinity. But right now, Thorin tried to focus on the present. He had to find Bilbo and he had to apologise. Thorin stopped his pony and frowned. Where was Bag End? He realised that he was lost again.

Thorin cursed as he walked down the narrow corridors of Rivendell. He had no idea where his chambers were and he had the feeling that he had walked in circles for ages. This cursed place looked the same all over! And if that was not bad enough, Thorin had the feeling that he was followed. These elves probably spied on him and his company, as if they were some untrustworthy folk. Thorin was about to turn around and yell into the dark corridor as he was adressed from behind.

'May I help you, master dwarf?' a female voice asked.

Thorin turned around and faced the she-elf standing in the dark. The moon was shining behind her back and he could only see some minor details. She was only barely taller than him and long brown curls fell over her back. The dwarf king assumed that Elronds daughter, the Evenstar had found him wandering around in her home.

'I apologise, my lady.' Thorin bowed slightly. 'But I believe that I am lost.'

'Your chambers are that way.' the elf pointed the other way. 'Turn right and then twice to the left. Or just follow the noise.'

Thorin frowned, but in the distance he could hear the company cheer and sing. He was about to ask what was wrong about their merry gathering, but the elf had gone. Grumbling he walked back and this time he found his chambers. He laid down and heard furniture crack and break in the neighbouring room. Follow the noise, alright.

The next morning, Thorin walked onto the huge balcony on which the elves had served breakfast. Lord Elrond and Gandalf were already present, as well as most of his company. A female elf was sitting beside Elrond and the lord introduced her as Arwen. Thorin closely looked at her, but he could not see any similarity to the elf from yesterday. Arwen was tall and had straight black hair. The elven princess bowed before Thorin and smiled at him softly and politely. She seemed to meet him for the first time.

'Is everything alright, king Thorin?' she asked and her voice sounded like the rings of hundreds of silver bells. Definetly not the woman Thorin had met the last night.

Thorin only shook his head and decided to ist down opposite of her. 'Everything is in order, lady Arwen.'

Kaya closed her eyes in defeat. She was in bed in her room in Minas Tirith and could not sleep. Again. She could only think about how her life had changed in Rivendell as she had met Thorin. Until today, she could not explain what had drawn her to the dwarven king. The moment she had seen him, she had been fascinated by him. He had been impolite, rude and ignorant, but for some reason Kaya had not been bothered too much by it. She hated it if men had no manners and the dwarves definetly had none, but nevertheless she had found them to be quite interesting. She had listened to the dwarves sing at dinner and the merry song had made her smile. She had seen Lindir retreat from the dinning hall, muttering something about insufferable dwarves, with cream and salad stuck in his long hair. They were the complete opposite of elves and Kaya had been determined to learn more about them. Then she had run into some of them bathing in one of Rivendells fountains. Naked. Completely naked.

Kaya decided to take a walk. She would not find any sleep that night and sighed as she put on her courtlady's dress and a fitting cloak. Silently, she slipped out of the royal wing and walked through the terrasse gardens of the White City. Siting down at the edge of a small pool, Kaya let her feet dip into the welcome cold. Slowly, she moved her feet in the cold wetness and watched the soft waves crash against the other side.

'Why are you wandering in the night?' a soft voice from behind made Kaya jump. 'Your soul is troubled. Your heart is cold and your mind is busy.'

Arwen sat down beside her courtlady and friend. Kaya knew that Arwen worried about her. Kaya had always been an energetic and wild character. Since she had arrived in Minas Tirith a few months ago, she had not been the same. Arwen had asked her what had happened, but her friend would not tell her. Kaya had arrived in the clothes of a mere merchant woman, exhausted and filthy from the journey. The guards had not let her pass to meet the queen and Kaya had waited for days until she had the chance to talk to Arwen on the streets of Gondor. The proud Kaya had asked the queen to grant her a position in her court, for she had nowhere else to go. Her mother had exiled her and the former princess was stripped of all ranks and titles. The queen of Gondor suspected that it had something to do with the company of dwarves who had come to Rivendell before they had reclaimed Erebor. The company who had taken Kaya with them into unknown territory. But Arwen was sure that Kayas pain had more to do with their majestic leader than the other dwarves. She had watched Kaya fall for the exiled king more every day. Although she had not understood her friend's fascination with the dwarf, she had not acted against it. It was the first time that Kaya had shown any interest in another male being and Arwen had hoped that it would go well. It had, for a some time.

All Arwen knew, was that her friend was now homeless and on her own during a terrible war, without any protection from her rank. She did not even want to imagine what the beautiful woman had to endure during her journey to Gondor, all alone on the road, facing orcs, Urukhai and wild men. It had been understood that she had taken Kaya as her courtlady and she had not asked any further. Kaya would talk when she was ready.

Together with Eowyn, Kaya stayed at Arwens side during court and sometimes even out of it. Kayas education as a princess was helpful and she integrated well into the royal class of Gondor. Arwen knew that it took her friend a huge amount of self control to accept her place inferior to those who had formerly been on eyelevel with her. But sometimes, the pain in Kayas eyes made her think that the former princess had accepted this fate as her punishment. A punishment Arwen could not understand.

'The meeting of kings will start tomorrow.' Arwen informed her friend. She worried what this meeting might do to her courtlady, who had been banished by her own mother and now lived in shame below her former rank, for everyone to see. Kayas mother was one of the leaders of men who would arrive the following day.

'I know.' Kaya nodded. The thought to meet her mother and her half sister again made her sick. But she had a duty as Arwen courtlady now and she would face her past with her head held up. 'I will be ready, do not worry.'

'I know that you will.' Arwen took her friends hand. She had information for her friend and wanted to see her reaction. 'The young king Bain will arrive in two days and apparently king Thorin himself is on his way to Minas Tirith. He will also bring Frodos uncle Bilbo and the four halflings who have been on the journey with Estel. Do you remember Merry and Pippin?'

At the mention of king Thorin, Kaya stiffened and her expression became blank. So he was the problem, Arwen thought.

'I remember Merry and Pippin.' Kaya nodded. In fact these two hobbits had painfully reminded her of Fili and Kili. Kaya closed her eyes, pained from the memory.