'The White City!' Pippin exclaimed as they rode towards Minas Tirith. 'My favorite place beside the Shire! Did I tell you that I am a knight of Gondor?'

'Yes!' the company of dwarves and hobbit exclaimed and Bilbo chuckled. It had been a very merry journey, thanks to his cousins and Kili. Even Thorin had smirked under his beard a few times. But the king of Erebor seemd troubled. Bilbo knew that it had to do with that princess. He had not gotten to know her very well, but she had earned his respects. Kaya, he remembered her name. She had helped him to rescue the dwarves out of Mirkwood and she had challenged Thorin that night.

'I have not spoken to Thorin, yet. I hope that he is alright.' Bilbo whispered. Kaya sat on her bed and listened to the hobbits worries. She had ordered some food to her room and shared it with Bilbo. 'I need to find a way out.'

'The only way out is the gate.' Kaya told him. 'And its heavily guarded.'

'There must be another way.' Bilbo mused.

'Maybe, but I cannot walk around here without the elves getting suspicious. Thranduil already does not trust me because I spoke in the dwarve´s favor.' Kaya frowned. Why had she jeopardized the diplomatic relations to the Mirkwood elves? Because of Thorin?

'I can go. I am...long story short, this ring makes me invisible. I found it in the goblin tunnels.' Bilbo told the astonished princess. 'I have no time to explain, I do not even understand it myself, but with the help of the ring I may find a way out.'

'Alright.' Kaya nodded. 'I will see what I can do myself.'

As they parted, Kaya already had an idea. She sneaked into the armory and stole an armor of the Mirkwood guards. The helmet covered her whole face and she would not be recognised under it. At least she hoped. She spoke fluent elvish, so even if she was spoken to, she would not be detected. Clad in the armor of the guard, the princess made her way down to the dungeons. She smirked under her helmet as she noticed the dark glares the dwarves sent her way. Dwalin threw himself against the bars as she passed and thankfully she did not flinch. She disliked the rude and insensitive dwarf, but she appreciated his honesty. He would never pretend. Even if his life depended on it. After a while and various Kuzdhul bashing later, she found Thorins cell. She kneeled down in front of the bars and stared into the dark. Suddenly a massive fist shot through the bars and closed around her throat. Kaya was pulled against the bars and her hands closed around Thorins bigger one.

'Where are the keys, elf scum?' he growled and Kaya started to see stars.

'Let me go, Thorin.' she croaked and immediately felt his grip losen. 'It´s me, Kaya.'

Thorin pulled back his hand as if he had burned himself on Kayas skin and Kaya slid down onto the floor, grabbing her throat.

'What are you doing here?' Thorin asked her and kneeled down on the other side of the bars.

'I am fine, no need to worry.' Kaya told him sarcastically and coughed.

'You look like one of them.' Thorin defended himself, but Kaya could hear the remorse in his voice. But the dwarf was too proud to apologise. 'And you helped them capture us.'

'I did nothing of the sort!' Kaya snarled. 'I got help. I did not know that they would imprison you. I tried to save a knife for Fili, but the guard saw it. We have an alliance with Mirkwood, it was my duty to fight at their side. I am here to help you. Bilbo is here, too. He is looking for a way out. Stay out of trouble until he has found a way, please.'

Thorin snorted and Kaya frowned at him under her helmet. 'Pouring excrement over Thranduils head won´t help you. Although I would find it rather amusing.'

Thorin paused and looked at the princess under the elven armor. 'Why are you helping us?'

Kaya sighed and sat down on the cold floor. 'Everyone deserves a home. Great injustice has come over your people. The dragon took what was yours and your allies turned their backs on you. That was a dishonorable thing to do.'

'That does not explain why you are helping us, princess.' Thorin moved closer against the bars. 'You owe us nothing.'

'No, I do not.' Kaya nodded, but she could not look at Thorin. 'But if I could see you smile when you set your foot into your home again, that would be worth it.'

Thorin looked at her in surprise and Kaya was thankful for the helmet which covered her blushing cheeks. She could not believe that she had said it out loud. She tried to stand up, but Thorins warm hands closed over hers, forcing her down again.

'Look at me, woman.' he told her softly. He had heard what she had said and it made his heart race. He had thought alot about her in the past weeks and he had wondered if she was alright, travelling on her own. Kaya had dominated his mind and he had hated her for this, for he needed to concentrate on his quest. He did not understand why he could only think about her. He did not know her. But he was already fascinated by her. And apparently she felt the same about him. Thorin could see the fear in her eyes and her fingers trembled below his. 'Why are you here? With me?'

Kaya shook her head. 'I do not know. I...you...I have never felt that way. And right now I want to punch that smug expression from your face.'

Thorin realised that he was indeed looking smug. 'Considering your history with solicitors I think that I have the right to look smug, do you think not?' he asked and smiled.

Kaya looked at the smiling dwarf and pulled one of her hands away from under his. She reached out and gathered all her courage. She let her fingers trail over Thorins smiling lips and sighed. 'So severe. You should smile more often.'

'Does it make me look more handsome?' Thorin asked teasingly. All of a sudden, he felt lightheaded and comfortable.

'No. You are already handsome when you do that thing with your chin.' Kaya smirked as Thorin clenched his teeth in annoyance. 'Like this. But your smile makes you...look younger and carefree.'

'Do I look old?' Thorin did not know wether to feel insulted or not.

'You have grey hair.' Kaya smirked as Thorin frowned. 'I guessed that you are at least older than I am.'

Thorin growled and made Kaya smirk. Their moment was interrupted by some elven guards who walked down the corridors to watch on the prisoners. Kaya quickly stood and and straigthened her armor. Walking away from the cell, she exchanged some words with them and quickly disappeared into the shadows.

In Minas Tirith, Kaya spent alot of her free time with Legolas and Gimli. She enjoyed their company and could forget her situation, at least for some time. Gimli was very much like his father and sometimes Kaya could picture Gloin in the Blue Mountains, enjoying his family time with his wife and little Gimli. She dreaded the reunion with Thorin. She still missed him, but she could not forget what had happened between them. Never had she realised that words could hurt that much. And never she had realised that even thought there was so much hurt, the love for him was still strong.

Legolas and Gimli looked at their friend in worry. Kaya had not eated in days and she often looked to the horizon when they walked over the terrasses of Minas Tirith. They only hoped that the reunion with Thorin would not end in heartbreak for both.

It was a week before Yule when the delegation from Erebor arrived together with the hobbits from the Shire. Frodo and Sam had not come with them, but everyone could understand. Frodo was not the same hobbit who had left the Shire to destroy the One ring. He had no energy for any adventures left. They were welcomed by the king and queen in the throne room. Thorin felt a tingle on his spine as soon as he entered the great hall. He walked up to the throne and bowed his head. King Elessar was already a great king. He had reclaimed his throne and he had fought against the dark armies of Mordor. Thorin looked at the queen and remembered to have already met her in Rivedell, together with...Kaya. Thorin looked at the courtlady standing at queen Arwens side, she was eyeing him in a very hostile manner. Then her gaze turned to Merry and she smiled. Merry waved at her and earned a slap from Bilbo.

'Your majesties.' Thorin greeted the king and queen. 'It is an honor to be invited to the White City.'

'We feel honored that you are here, king Thorin.' king Elessar smiled warmly. 'I was informed that you already know my queen?'

'We have met...' Thorin nodded tried not to seem impolite. The queen had been nothing but welcoming as they had passed Rivendell years ago.

'You have reclaimed your homeland, king Thorin. A very honorable and brave deed.' Arwen stated. 'With the north stabilised and the the south pacified, we may be able to concentrate on the relations between the free lands of Middle Earth.'

'Indeed.' Thorin nodded in agreement and honestly hoped that it would be as easy as the queen made it sound.

'We would be honored if you would join us and the royal guests in the great dinning hall this evening, king Thorin.' king Elessar invited them. 'I am delighted to see that you also brought our friends from the Shire. You are all most welcomed!'

Bilbo, Merry and Pippin bowed at the kings kind words. As the delegations left the throne room, Arwen took a deep breath. She nodded to Eowyn and her courtlady turned to walk to Kayas room. Kaya had asked Arwen to get the day off, because she helped the gondorian diplomats to go through all the contracts and letters. The princess spoke many languages and she knew many of the lords and kings. She was a great support to the diplomats of the newly restored kingdom of Gondor. Kaya looked up as Eowyn entered and knew that something had happened. Eowyn only walked up to her and said three words.

'He is here.'

Thorin worried as he followed Bilbo and the company into the cellar. The burglar had found a way out, but they had not been able to meet Kaya again. He had to see her again and tell her that her feelings, as confusing as they were, were returned. The king of the dwarves had fallen for the brave princess with the sharp tongue and he had spent the time in his cell thinking about her. But now, they were to abandon her in Thranduils kingdom. At least, she was no prisoner, he recalled. Kaya was free to leave whenever she wanted.

As Bilbo asked them to mount the barrels, Thorin trusted him enough to order his fellow dwarves to listen to the halfling. As they splashed into the cold water of the river, Thorin cursed about the cold, but at the same time admired the burglars creativity. They flooded down the river and were close to gaining their freedom as the alarm horn sounded.

Only as the gate closed a mere inch in front of Thorins nose, he cursed again. As he thought that things could not get any worse, orcs attacked. The elven guards struggled against the brutal force of the orcs. Thorins nephew Kili jumped out of the barrel to open the gate, but he was hit by an orc arrow. Thorin could hear Filis cry and his heart sank. Kili.

Just as the situation seemed hopeless, the red haired elven captain stormed out of the forest and shot her arrows at the orcs surrounding Kili. Thorin took a deep breath of relief, but he immediately tensed as he saw the figure clad in elven armor emerging from the forest right behind the prince of Mirkwood on the left. It was Kaya. And she held a sword.