Thank you you all for staying with us for so far! I didn't really expect this story to get many likes!

Thank you to the people who have added Between Two Lives to their favorites; including Fire of the Void, who I've just seen as our newest favorite-r!

And thank you to everyone who has added Between Two Lives to their story alerts; including MaiaGen, anon940, cain412 and lewazi as our newest story alert-ees?!

TheRosesOnTheWall - Thank you so much for your review again! I love it when I get them! I'm glad you like it, and I hope it's not all moving too soon! And thank you the message, it really made my day!

I've been trying to make a banner or story art, whatever you would like to call it...And...well, I'm not very good at it! So if someone would like to I'd love you forever!

Here we go guys!

The company seemed to have been walking for hours, but eventually the cave system seemed to stop and they were working their way through a rocky pass. It was narrow and Erika, from the back of the company could see that it was forcing them all to go one by one. The little Nord stood aside and allowed Bilbo and Gandalf to go a head of her; she was going to allow the last to go a head of her but Thorin stopped and let her go first claiming he was fine at the back and would prefer to stay there, he would prefer to know that they were in front of him for the time being in case anyone fell behind. As the they were making their way, she heard Bilbo continuously asking Gandalf if he knew where the passage was leading him and every time the wizard said no. Erika had, however, seen the sly glances back to Thorin which the wizard was making. With her own glance back, she was almost certain that the dwarf hadn't seen the looks from the wizard. He did however catch Erika glancing over her shoulder at him. He also caught the slightly shocked look at being caught staring before she turned back to the wizard; he had also caught the slight pink glow on her cheeks before she had so quickly turned away. And Thorin couldn't help but smirk.

The walk was a long one, and nothing unlike Erika was used to. She was however used to taking a lot more breaks then Thorin allowed them, but after he had caught her staring...well, Erika didn't really want to face him. They walked and walked, and Erika couldn't help but chuckle with Gandalf as Bilbo complained about how the trail was never-ending and how tired he was. She was surprised to find it drew her attention from how tired she was and amused her in many ways. The long walk gave Erika an excuse to be quiet and because of how far a part they all were, she wasn't being asked question upon question; not that she minded. She loved talking of Skyrim. It was her home, and like anyone she spoke proudly of her home. The silence of companions and solitude of her mind had brought some questions to mind, some things she had though of over the past few days. Things which had intrigued her and frightened her. Travelling through worlds was one that did both. On one hand the fact that she was now in this completely new world fascinated her but on the other, it terrified her. She had no clue how she got here and no clue if she could get back. She clearly had some form of purpose to be here, since one night in the Frost fruit Inn and a stern talking from a friend, Erika was a firm believer that everything happened for a reason.

"So, here you are!"

A red-eyed Erika looked up from her drink to see her friend standing there. Erika looked back down at her drink and her plate of untouched foods, she was in no mood for company and said nothing to her friend. Erika hadn't even realised her friend had walked away until they were back and putting two cups of spiced wine on the table.

"What are you doing here? Why aren't you in Riften?"

"Because I've been looking for you. I went to the Guild, and they told me you had departed a few months ago. You had told them you wouldn't be long, and you have been long. I assume you've had other matters to attend. I know how busy you can get."

Erika took a sip of her wine.

"Look, I'm not the best of company right now..."

"You're telling me, and I hope there's a good excuse, Vex wasn't too happy that you've been gone for so long. Whining that you're not taking things seriously."

"Yea, well...screw Vex."

"What's wrong Erika?"

"I told him." Erika leaned her head on her hand. "I did as I told Bryn I was going to.I went to the college and did what was needed to there. I went to check how Nazir and Babette, it's all good. And I had a long and painful argument with Delpine; she doesn't seem to think that I can be on their side If I allow Paarthurnax to live..."

"And yet you can see her point?"

"Well yeah, but I think he has changed. And I've learnt so much from him..."

"But this isn't why you're holed up in the middle of nowhere drinking your sorrows away?"

"No."

"Erika, I hate to see you so upset."

"I told Farkas. I told him everything, everything about me. About who I am, he knows I am the dragonborn, he's known for a while but..."

"He didn't know about the Thieves Guild or the Dark Brotherhood."

"No, I tried to explain to him that to the members of the guild and the brotherhood see those as he does the companions. It's they're family. They're my family."

"What a messed up family you have." The friend chuckled.

"You're telling me."

"Did you tell him this? That they're your family, he should be grateful that he is a part of your family. I most certainly am. Come out side with me, the fresh air will do you some good."

Erika did not protest when she was led outside, she understood that it was all done for her own good, the two of them stood in the moonlight and looked up at the stars, and it was then that Erika felt her tears fall once more.

"I can't lose him Karliah." The little blonde said, looking to her friend. The dark elf glanced to her as she heard the sad tones in her friends voice and Karliah quickly wrapped an arm around Erika's shoulders. "I'm not ready to lose any one else, especially not Farkas."

"Try not to worry, little one." Karliah moved them, so they were sat down on the steps to the Inn, she still had her friend wrapped in her arms. "You know my mother used to tell me that everything happens for a reason."

"What's the reason for this then?" Erika spat out bitterly.

"Perhaps a test? Perhaps to see just how devoted to you Farkas is." Karliah hugged her young friend. "Do not worry Erika. Everything will be fine. Let us make our way to Riften come sun rise. I will be with you in the guild, although you need not worry about Vex. Her bark is worse then her bite. As for Farkas, he will see sense."

Erika smiled to herself, they were still walking through the pass but now it was shone in a new light. And that wasn't just because of the different position of the sun. Erika suddenly felt...if not happier, then more content with her situation. Everything happened for a reason and although on that night when Karliah had said so, Erika had been sceptical. However her elf friend had spoken the truth and with the months that had came to follow her chat with Karliah at the Inn, Erika had returned to Whiterun. When she had, she had run into Farkas almost straight away and the two sat on the plains and spoke about everything Erika had said. Farkas had explained how it had all took him by surprise, and yes he had been angry but then he had time to think about it. And he didn't know many that could look after so many. The two had made up with gentle words and a kiss. Everything happened for a reason, and Erika would find out why she was here. Perhaps it was the mere obvious, that she had been sent here to help them with the dragon. But Erika felt it was something much bigger then that.

The company were now making their way to the gates of Rivendell. This had been where the passage had lead them. This had been the reason behind the sly looks that Gandalf would give Thorin every time that Bilbo asked if he knew where they would end up at. Many of the dwarves seemed to share the same mistrust as Thorin did and others, like Ori, shared the same look of awe and the same fascination as Erika and Bilbo felt when they first set eyes on Imladris. So this was Rivendell, this was the beautiful elven haven that she had read about in Bilbo's books. As they got closer and closer to the gates, Erika was more then happy to stay between the two laughing brothers Fili and Kili, and she now had another reason to avoid Thorin. When they had finally gotten out of the pass, Thorin had rounded on Gandalf. He said Gandalf had purposely lead them to the enemy, the dwarf was not at all happy and had glanced to Erika. The look on her face seemed to have done all the more damage and he had stormed off. After a while, either she had caught up or he was falling behind and he saw the look on her face again. That greedy, awestruck look that drank everything in and yet wanted more. He had seen the look on only on one other and that had been his grandfather, Thror. Thorin quickly scolded him, how could he compare this beautiful, delicate yet strong woman to his...wait. Beautiful? Where the hell had that come from? Thorin shook his head. No, Why was he thinking these things?

"Why do you upon them as if they were the greatest of treasure?"

"Because I've never seen anything like it."

"You said there were elves in your homeland."

"Exactly. My homeland, the elves in skyrim were from different places. Valenwood or Sumerset Isles or...I forget where the dark elves are from. But I've never been to anywhere like that. I've no reason to leave Skyrim. I've seen elvish armour and weapons, and I though very little of them."

Good.Thorin thought gladly and stubbornly.

"It's different and something new. It's very beautiful. I've not seen anything like it in all of Skyrim and what little I have seen of Middle Earth. It is beautiful and no small inch of it should be left unseen, it's new to me and in all honesty I shall treat this place as if it were Aftland and I were going through it for the first time again. I shall look at it through an explorers eyes, and see nought but beauty."

"What is Aftland?"

"Dwemer ruins."

"Dwemer?"

"Dwarf."

Thorin looked at her, as did a few others near them, whom had been listening to their conversation. And upon seeing the look on the faces of his friends, Dwalin and Gloin; he knew he was not the only dwarf who was extremely proud right now. It didn't take them long to get to Rivendell, and now that they were inside it so close, even the dwarves stopped and stared. They had barely looked around, when a young elf came down to them, he spoke softly to Gandalf, and being at the back of the group standing close to Bilbo, Erika could hear very little of it. Within seconds the echo of a horn was heard as well as galloping horses and Bilbo and Erika was pushed into the centre of the dwarves and Elves crowded round them on horses. Gandalf spoke a bit of elvish to the elf, whom he had previously called Lord Elrond, and Erika did her est to try to elbow to the front, only to be pushed back by Dwalin. She tried again and was stopped by Thorin who took hold of her hand, as he had done in the valley. When she looked at him howver, he did not look at her and instead continued to glare at Lord Elrond.

"Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders," Lord Elrond explained, holding up some orcish weapon, "Something or some one has drawn them near."

"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf said, looking around sheepishly.

Erika was suddenly reminded of a child, who had done wrong and trying to look as innocent as possible. Her hand was dropped as Thorin made his way to the front and she now stood just behind Dwalin. Erika watched as Lord Elrond walked to Thorin.

"Welcome Thorin, Son of Thrain."

"I do not belive we have met."

"You have your grandfathers bearing. I knew Thror, when he ruled under the mountain."

"Indeed, he had not mentioned you."

Erika muttered under her breath, no need to be so rude. And received a strong Hush lassie from Dwalin. Erika watched Lord Elrond, and saw some small amusement in his eyes as he spoke elvish to the dwarves. Erika couldn't help but she Lord Elrond's smirk as the dwarves roared, angered by the elvish.

"What did he say? Did he offer us insult!?"

"No, Master Gloin he offered you food."

In a moment Erika was tightly surrounded by dwarves again as they discussed something lowly. They dispatched,

"Well lead the way."

As they had walked through the halls of Rivendell, Erika stopped. She could hear the flow of water, like a stream or fountain and it intrigued her. It also reminded her of the several days she had went without a good and thorough clean. Erika didn't realise that most of the company and went on a head of her or that she was looking in a particular direction. All she could see was a stream of crystal clear water in her mind's eye.

"Miss Erika! Are you alright?" Gandalf asked.

"Oh, yes. Sorry. I though I could hear water."

"And that you can, my lady." Lord Elrond answered. "Just down the corridor is a bathing room, tell me how long have you been on this quest?"

"Too long without a good clean."

"We still have a while before dinner, so I'm told. Would you like to like to take a bath?"

"Yes, please."

"Of course." Lord Elrond, after asking Gandalf just to wait there, escorted Erika down the corridor to a room, where an elf stood outside. He opened the door to see inside, there was a large pool of fresh water. "You may use this room, Clarence will make sure that no one disturbs you. I will call to my daughter Arwen, and she will bring you a comb and fresh clothes."

Erika thanked Lord Elrond as she slipped inside the room and the door was shut behind her. She walked over to a shelf where different soaps lay; there were scented soaps, soaps for her hair and body. And when she chose the ones she would use she took them to the side of the pool. Erika took her armour off and slipped into the pool. It wasn't hot nor was it cold and Erika found it very easy to relax in the pool. She could feel all the dirt on her still, and took hold of the soaps and began to clean her body and hair. It had been so long, since she had cleaned herself so thoroughly, so long since she had the chance to relax in a bath. It wasn't long until she heard a faint knock at the door. Erika looked around, she could see no towels but an elven lady popped her head in,

"Good day. My name is Arwen, my father told me to come here, I assume you are Lady Erika."

"I..Yes."

"I have towels."

There you are then! It's finally out!

Sorry there's not much action in it, ut theyre finally in Rivendell.

You should all thank TheRosesonthewall, without her lovely message, I would not have finished the chapter. Although I did look over the chapter and decided to redo it. But it's out and that's all that matters!

Don't forget to review and tell me what you think!

UmbraLunae xox