HEEEEEYYYYY!
Sorry about the longer wait for this chapter.
I think that I'm going to start updating every other week.
All I ask is that 1) you review and tell me what you think of the story thus far
and 2) you check out the poll on my profile.
It's to see which story I should upload next.
It will probably be up for awhile because I want to get this story done first.

Ok, this is kind of a filler chapter.
I hope to have something better for you in the next chapter.

~ Rachel

Bofur was the one to lead Eärwen to her room. It was decorated in soft shades of blue and green with an oak bed and dresser. It fit Eärwen perfectly and she smiled at he floppy-hatted dwarf who was waiting for her reaction.

"Tell me, Bofur," the nindari said as she sat on a wooden chair in the corner, "when will the others come from the Blue Mountains?"

Bofur shrugged his shoulders slightly and sighed, "I don't know. We sent them a raven as soon as possible, but with winter setting in, They may not be hear for a long while."

Eärwen nodded and said, "Perhaps I shall offer my services to Thorin as an escort to the dwarves as they travel. I will soon be travelling to Imladris and the Shire. I find that I am no longer content to sit and let time pass me by."

"Will you do something for me when you reach the Shire?" Bofur asked suddenly with his eyes downcast.

Eärwen could tell that the normally fun-loving dwarf had something very serious on his mind. His shoulders sagged slightly and he wouldn't meet her eyes. She rose from her chair and knelt in front of her friend. Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, she asked, "What is it?"

"Could you -" he began before pausing and letting out a sigh, "could you please tell Bilbo and Eraveth that we are sorry. We didn't do right by them. Thorin was mad with gold-sickness and we didn't defend them."

"Tell me what happened," Eärwen said in a serious tone.

Bofur removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair before returning the hat to its normal position. "I don't know how much you have been told about the last part of our quest," Bofur began in a sad voice. "After you and Eraveth were captured, we managed to escape the goblins with the help of Gandalf, but as soon as we were out of the mountain we were cornered by Azog. Thorin was injured in the fight and Bilbo saved his life. We probably all would have died if Gandalf hadn't called for the eagles to come help us.

"We didn't know what had happened to you and Eraveth, but we didn't really have a choice to go back because the eagles had flown us to the Carrock. We made the decision to keep going. We had a few days respite before the orcs caught back up to us. We were forced to take refuge in Beorn the Skinchanger's house. While we were there, Beorn found Eraveth and an elf on one of his patrols. He brought her back to his house where she was reunited with us."

Bofur paused for a second and sighed, "She was a sight when we first saw her. She never told us the extent of what Azog had done to her, but the whole side of her face was swollen and badly bruised and she had a cut on her cheek. We were all shocked to see her again, Thorin most of all. He pressed her too hard to find out how she had escaped. It was as if she forgot it was us standing in front of her. She was shaking with fear and kept promising that she had told Azog nothing of our journey. She seemed so scared that we wouldn't believe her. I guess she had a right to be.

"Anyway, after we left Beorn's, we were forced to travel through Mirkwood. That first night, she had a dream, nightmare is more like it. We all woke up to her screams and found her thrashing about. The only way we could make sure that she didn't hurt herself was for one of us to restrain her. She had hit Tosur in the jaw when he had neared her, so Thorin sat down behind her and pulled her into his arms and held her until she quieted. For days, she was continually silent and refused to say what happened until Tosur pushed her too hard. She yelled at him and ran off into the forest. By this time, we had already lost the trail, so we tied a rope to Fili and he went after her. She told him everything. She had dreamed that she was lying on a great battlefield and all the bodies of the Company were lying around her with the exception of you, Bilbo, and Thorin. She was forced to watch as Azog killed Thorin before turning on her and thrusting his claw into her chest.

"Soon after that, we were attacked by spiders, but Bilbo freed us only to be captured by the elves instead. We were sent to the dungeons but Eraveth was separated from us. She and Bilbo were the ones to free us and lead us to the cellars where we escaped using barrels. However, when we were in the river, the elves realized we were missing. They tried to stop us by closing the gate in the river. Then the orcs came and everything was chaos. Kili climbed from his barrel to try and release the gate and Eraveth went after him. An orc tried to fire an arrow at Kili, but Eraveth pushed him out of the way and took the arrow in her gut. She pushed Kili into the river after he had pulled the lever."

Bofur let out a mirthless chuckle and said, "That lass has defied death about as much as you have. We didn't see her again until after Smaug was killed. She had sneaked away from the elves and into the mountain. By this time, Thorin was already taken with the gold-sickness. She tried to help him and it worked for a few hours before he returned to the treasury in search of the Arkenstone. The next morning, Thranduil and Bard came back to negotiate and we found out that someone had given him the Arkenstone as a bartering tool in hopes of ending everything without bloodshed. Thorin refused and turned on Bilbo. Eraveth tried to intervene, but Thorin took it as her betrayal.

"We all thought that he was going to hit her, but he didn't. He turned his back on her. I have never seen her look more hurt. She called him a fool and tried to stop him from walking away. When he spun around, she was forced to back up, but she tripped and fell. Her head hit a rock and it formed a gash from her temple back into her hairline. I rushed forward to try and help her, but she pushed me away.

"She pressed a hand to her wound and noticed the blood that was running down her face. The look in her eyes was feral and angry and lost. I don't think I'd ever seen that look before on any living thing. Before we could react, she sprung forward and slapped Thorin. She left a bloody imprint on his cheek. I can still remember what she said. She screamed, 'I loved you!' It took a second for her words to truly register. She spoke of the past. I will never forget what she said next. After Tosur had pulled her away, she quietly said, 'I loved you, but now, I do not even recognize you. You have changed, Thorin Oakenshield, and you have allowed greed to take hold of your heart and blind you to the truth around you. Bilbo gave the Arkenstone to them in an effort to save you, but you refuse to see the truth because you are a stubborn and cruel dwarf. Look around you! These people have given everything for this quest. I was captured by goblins and sent to Azog for you! I took an arrow for your nephew! What more do you need? You condemn them to death if you continue with this madness!'

"Thorin seemed shocked for a second, but he told her that she had betrayed him and that she had to leave before he threw her out himself. She turned slowly with so much pain in her eyes and kissed Tosur before running down the mountain back toward the elves. After she left, Thorin turned on Bilbo but Gandalf showed up before Thorin could do anything. He escorted Bilbo back down the mountain. After that was the battle and I guess you know what happened."

Eärwen nodded her head as Bofur finished his story. Her heart ached for her friend. She would soon be having words with a certain dwarf king.

"Thank you for telling me," she said as she hugged Bofur tightly. "When I see them I will tell them what you asked. I believe that I need to have a talk with Thorin soon. You should go sleep now. I will see you in the morning." Bofur bid the nindari goodnight before taking his leave with a heavy heart.