So glad you're all liking the series so far!
Wow, you guys are fast, it was barely up an hour before I got the first review! I've never had so many reviews on one chapter before! Thank you all!

On a side note...Today (17th December) I just saw Desolation of Smaug and it was AMAZING! You've haven't already been to see, then go! And if you have...go see it again! Even when watching it, I was thinking of things I can change for my story and came up with a few!

ScruffyBunny - Thank you for your review. Will you forgive me for the little cliffy? I had to make sure you would all come back for more and what better way then leaving you all hanging? :P I did tell you there was reason behind her being cold, and it was for her to think about her magic and shouts. I won't ruin it for you though.

EternityDragon2610 - In response to what you first said: yes! The company while, at first may hold a grudge, one person in particular will remember her words! I wouldn't say that was a spoiler, would you? As for the latter, I know what will happen, and can't say more then that because that would be spoiling things! But I am hoping either way, *spoiler* to put a scene in where she does meet Smaug. I think, perhaps, even without the shouts he may feel her presence, I think perhaps he would think there was another dragon about by sensing her soul and or smelling her blood.

TheRosesOnTheWall - I'm glad you think so, always look forward to your reviews! And thank you I'm you like how they found out, I knew they should find out soon but I just couldn't come up with a way of her telling them! And then I remembered how much they love stories! But don't worry our grumpy dwarf can't stay grumpy at her forever.

Bernard Karp - I like your thinking! But you'll have to wait and see :P And I never played any of the DLC's.

PandaMooMoo - I'm hurrying! I'm glad you love my story so much, thanks for the review and I'm glad I;m one of the few it seems :P

Littledhampir13 - I'm so glad you like the story! Thank you so much for reviewing! I only saw your review as I was about to upload this chapter so quickly came back on to say thank you! At least you didn't have long to wait!

"You lass?" Bofur asked, he was as shocked as his comrades at her confession. "You're the Dragon Born?"

"Yes. I am."

Was this all a ploy? Thorin felt hurt, no she would not....

"I meant to you all sooner or later."

"Why not sooner, Lass?" Dwalin barked, "So we would understand what danger we were putting ourselves into?!"

"And to think, we truly believed you understood how it felt!" Gloin snarled at her. "But you're just like those monsters, a dragon!"

"Just by blood and soul!"

"And you can...shout?" Gloin continued, "Who's to say you weren't kill us all with your shouts?!"

"Me! I am!" Erika let out in a sob, "They don't work. I don't think they do, not here. I'm a nord, nords have better resistance to the cold then anyone! But you all saw me a few nights ago, shivering like a leaf in autumn! If that doesn't work, something I am born with...who is to say my Thu'um does work?"

The dwarves, now silent, sat thinking over her words. This was true, these seemed to be abilities she was born with and yet, if she could not use one, then indeed, she may not be able to use the other. For now, they were safe from her shouts. Thorin felt betrayed, she had kept this from him and his company; it was something important, significant to their task a head and she had hid it from them.

"You are to follow my every order." Thorin spat at her.

"Yes, I already agreed to that."

"And yet, you failed with the trolls." He held his palm to her as she started to speak, "You do as I say. Do you understand, Dragon?"

Erika visibly flinched as he spat the word dragon at her,"Yes."

"Good. Now all of you, go to sleep. We travel soon."

All the dwarves did as their leader said, laying on their sleep rolls and drifting to sleep. Poor Erika felt miserable when she saw Bombur pull his sleep roll away from her. Stupid, stupid little dovah! You should think before you speak! You stupid little child! Erika, lay down herself and did not notice that Bofur had taken first watch. Well, the only watch for that night as it would not be long before morning rose. Erika spent an hour tossing and turning before she heard the merry dwarf speak to the her,

"If it means anything lass, I'd like to know more about the Dragon born."

Erika sat up, pulling her knees to her chin, "The legend or the person?"

"Is it not the same?" Bofur smiled at her.

Erika attempted one back.

"So what else can you tell me about the Dragon Born?"

"Well.." Erika started, when she had first seen the appalled faced of the dwarves she had not expected one of them to get of it so quickly. "There is another name for Dragon Born."

"And that is?"

"Dovahkiin. It's the dragon word, Dovah means dragon."

"Dovahkiin?" he tried out the word, and was relieved to see Erika smile. "These...shouts? You can't use them?"

"I don't think so, I've not tried yet. I've had no reason thus far to use any of them."

Bofur looked into the fire as she did, yes, he was scared of her now as few of the others were. But somehow the dwarf could not shake that she was still the kind protective the girl whom he had walked with and teased. It was unfair, that they suddenly felt differently about her, dragon blood and dragon soul. He knew it was wrong and he felt sorry for Erika, they heard the word dragon and were suddenly treating her as if she had been in league with Smaug. A girl that wasn't even from this world! He thought about what Gloin had said and knew the dwarf was wrong. Bofur had seen the look in her eyes as she spoke of dragons in her home land, she really had lost friends to dragon fire.

"Back in Bilbo's house when you were talking about dragons, you looked like you really hated them." Bofur watched her nod, glaring into the flames as she did. "You don't hate yourself do you lass?"

"I did."

"Y-you did?"

"Of course, I was sixteen when I was first faced with a dragon. Destined for the block; I was on my knee's, hands bound and the executioner had his blade rose and then the dragon landed. I was defenceless, I could barely bring myself to stand and I somehow made it into Helgen Keep." Erika felt hot tears burn their way down her cheeks, " A few of us managed to escape to Riverwood, but there was so much fire...so much death."

"Did you know then?"

"No, I'd no clue. The legend of DragonBorn, I'd grew up with it. But it was no more then a story and it was in my child hood, a part of my past, no more then a memory at that point."

"And then? How did you find you out?"

"I went to Whiterun. and warned him of the dragon. I'd gotten an odd stone in a crypt and the court wizard called it a dragon stone. The Jarl, the leader of that town, sent me to an outpost. A dragon came and after hours it was killed. It's soul...it flew it into me and as I was making my way to Whiterun, there was a shout that shook the land. It was no dragon but the Grey beards. The Jarl told me to go to them, that you don't turn down an invitation from them. So I went."

"Who are the Grey Beards?"

"Monks, they trained me in the art of shouting. They were reluctant to at first."

"Why?"

"They expected...more. Their words, they had expected someone older, taller, stronger. A mage or a warrior, not a black smiths apprentice. The only way to gain experience from other Dovah is to kill them and the Grey beards did not believe I could do so."

"But they didn't turn you away?"

"No, but they did not believe that I would be...that I would succeed as the DovahKiin. It sounds mad, but knowing they did not believe that I could do it...made me do better I believe, I needed and wanted to prove myself."

"And did you?"

"I hope so, my friend." Erika smiled sadly, "I learnt many shouts, clear skies, frost breath, unrelenting force...I even learnt the forbidden shout."

"Forbidden shout?"

"Only to fellow Dovah, Dragon rend, it is called. When directed at a dragon, it will bring him plummeting to land. It is hard to defeat them when they are up in the skies, that is their domain. To stand a fighting chance you must bring them down here; with Dragon Rend and wuuthrad, I have killed many a dragon...many of my kin."

"But you haven't lass. You're not a dragon, you care. You're our...my friend. Give them a chance to cool down lass, sense will come to them. You are Erika, you protected us, you put yourself in harms way for us," Bofur stopped, he could see his words had cheered her up a bit, "Get some sleep lass, we're up early."

Erika lay down on her roll, facing Bofur still. The tears still gliding down her face.

"Bofur?"

"Yes, lass?" He asked, turning to her.

"Do you think he will forgive me?" She asked nodding in the direction of one particular dwarf.

"He would be a fool not to."

Erika acepted this for now, and covered herself with her blanket. Easily she drifted off to sleep. And Bofur lay down as well, there was no threat in Rivendell and he was going to get some sleep while he could. Across camp, Thorin turned onto his back and gazed up at the clear skies. He had heard everything, Yes, he will forgive you. He felt betrayed still, he had thought she trusted him and with a blink of an eye, the dwarf prince was asleep.

True to his word, Thorin had woken them all incredibly early. They were up, ready and away from Rivendell before any of the elves had woke. Erika walked to the back of the group, she did not want, despite her chat with Bofur, to walk among the group, for many still looked upon her as if she were diseased. Many of the company tried to keep their distance from her, and she heard Bofur many times scold his friends for it. She smiled, glad to know that the night before was true and id still have one friend amongst them. It was now nearing midday, and the company were a distance from the Elf haven. Thorin stopped the company, allowing them to rest and eat. They had split into a few groups, although all staying quite close together. As Thorin moved through them with Balin, he saw the only two not close to the group was Erika and Bilbo. Who had also went to the Nord, and told her that he was still her friend. He told her, he'd only heard stories of dragons and that they were nasty creatures, powerful ones. Bilbo told her, yes , he did believe she was powerful, but she was not evil. The Erika he knew was good and kind, friendly and always willing to help a friend in trouble. Thorin and Balin stood watching the two for some time, Balin told Thorin that they had nothing to worry about; Bilbo was on their side.

So is she, she is on our side as well! Can you not see that Balin! Thorin shouted in his head. She is one of us, she is our Nightingale.

Thorin caught himself, his train of thought on her again. And this time, he did not scold himself. She was worth thinking about. Part dragon she may be, by blood and soul only. Before he had caught part of her conversation with Bofur last night, the dwarf had tried to think of some way in which she would be helpful, some way in which they could use the dragon part of Erika in their favour. And it was as he had realised what he was thinking that he heard them talking last night, he had realised he was thinking of putting her in harms way, he had thought of offering her to the dragon. And he felt the heart break of loss once more. No, she would not be offered; but he was still hurt that she had kept this secret from him, he was waiting for her to prove herself to him once more. It hadn't been too long that they had been staring at the two, when they heard Dori shouting of his brother, telling him to come away from there. And it was then he realised Ori was walking over to Bilbo and Erika, with his journal in hand and when he reached them. When innocent little Ori reached the cheer making hobbit and depressed Nord and showed her more of his drawings, telling her what they were...she smiled, a real smile. Her pretty and warm smile, and tears fell once more. Happy tears, Erika hugged Ori. Whatever the young dwarf had drew, it had done the trick, Thorin wanted to know what. But if it had her happy again, after the efforts of the hobbit and Bofur, it must have been something personal and it had done the trick. Thorin was willing to let it lie, for it to be a secret between Ori and Bilbo and Erika so long as it cheered her up.

Thorin called them all together, it was time to get moving again. They were back on the path and moving towards the mountains once more. They had a long way to go and Thorin feared it would be night fall before they reached the mountains. As they moved closer and closer to the misty mountains, the formations of how they walked changed many times. And suddenly Thorin heard quick steps behind him and now Erika strode along side him, catching her breath.

"I...wanted to ...speak with you." She said between pants.

"Catch your breath, little bird."

"I'm fine...kinda."

Thorin chuckled at her, despite being angry with her.

"Well...look back...I was...with Bil-Bilbo and Ori.."

Thorin looked over his shoulder, indeed they were a distance away at the back of the company and just coming over the hill. "What is it, Erika?"

"No dragon?"

"No. No dragon."

"I was going to tell you."

"But you didn't. You kept that from us." Thorin stopped, forcing her to stop with him, "You kept that from me...we're fine Dwalin, keep going."

Erika didn't dare look at Dwalin for she feared she would be back at square one with him. "I'm sorry Thorin."

"Do you not trust me?"

"Of course...I just...the look on your face when I let slip, you were disgusted..."

"Indeed, I hurt me, little Nightingale. No more lies."

The company were now struggling up a mountain pass, two days since Erika had spoken with Thorin, and since then the prince had not spoken to her. He had barely looked at her. This, along with the weather did not help her mood; it was windy and raining. And Erika pulled her hood up, and now incredibly thankful that the enchantment was still working on her armour. There was thunder and lightning and the path was very slippery now, every step had to be the right one; which proved the case as Erika felt her heart jump to her throat. Bilbo slipped, he started falling but Bofur and Dwalin grabbed onto him. Erika made a mental note to thank both of them later, even if Dwalin was not speaking to her...he could at least listen. Erika moved closer to Kili, the young dwarf forgetting his anger towards her and held her as his brother did to keep her safe from falling. Over the wind and the rain, they heard Thorin shout,

"We must find shelter!"

Before anyone had a chance to answer, Dwalin called out as well. "Look out!"

There was no time to blink when a giant boulder flew through the air and hit the cliff side above them. As rocks rained down onto them, they all pressed themselves to the wall, trying to make themselves as small and flat as possible against the rock. The dwarves began shouting, and more boulders flew towards them. Fili, Kili and Erika huddled together against the rock, barely able to see from under their hoods, they held tightly to each other as Balin stepped forward.

"This is no thunder storm! It's a thunder battle!"

They watched in awe as a large stone figure pulled itself away from the cliff side, it took hold of the cliff top by it and pulled it off before hurling it their way.

"Well bless me! The legends are true...giants! Stone Giants!"

Not at them, at a stone giant which they were on. Which had now been awakened, Erika had not realised what had been said. Her head in a hot fuzz, all she knew was Fili's hands were now on her back and pushing her towards to Kili. Erika wondered why for a mere second before she felt the ground give way beneath her. She and Kili were separated from Fili, and the lost look on Kili's face as he was separated from his brother broke her heart. The company was split in two, but as the stone giant fell back, the group that Erika and Kili were with ran onto a safer path, which was not on the stone giant. They had to watch in horror as they were separated from brothers, cousins, nephews and friends. The giants continued their fight, and Erika thought of nothing but the distressed look on Kili's face. Thorin's glanced between his nephews; Fili, so far away and close to danger, and Kili, close to him but devastated that he and his brother had been parted. Thorin had noticed Erika next to Fili and Kili when the storm had started, how the three of them had looked out for one another and he had seen how Fili had pushed her out of the way so she had been with the bigger group of the company before they were split in two, and now he saw her with his youngest nephew. She still stood with Kili, cooing over him, as he had seen his sister Dis do when he was upset. Her hand still on his arm, she rubbed soothing circles on his arms; trying to calm herself, and worry not about her other companions, her only attentions on young dwarf, hoping to keep him calm. They watched as the stone giant was knocked down sending the other group straight towards the cliff side. Kili turned into Erika, his face hidden in her shoulder unable to watch as they heard Thorin cry out.

Once the stone giant had hit the cliff, it fell down past them and Erika and Kili stayed put as they heard the others run to where they had seen the other group fall. They heard the sounds of Fili's voice and Kili began to run to his brother, Erika not far behind him as Bofur asked where Bilbo was. Kili was pushed back slightly as they made to pull Bilbo up who was dangling from the cliff edge, in one swift movement Thorin swung himself down onto a ledge and pulled a terrified Bilbo up. Erika caught her breath again as the ledge beneath Thorin gave way; for a second time that day, Erika made note to thank Dwalin. Thorin turned to her and Kili, and he met Erika's eyes, seeing the terror in them as he had fallen, Thorin nodded to her. He was alright..for that one second when his eyes caught something above Kili and reflected the terror which had shone in Erika's eyes. A dislodged boulder was falling, it would crush him. No. He had almost lost Fili...he was not going to loose Kili either, he swore to Dis he would keep them safe, she would still have both her boys when the quest was over. Time seemed to slow for Thorin, and as he and Fili tried to run for the Kili they were both grabbed and pulled back, their company holding them from protecting their loving brother and nephew. They felt so helpless; Kili...A loud voice sung over the storm, ringing through mountains.

"WULD NAH KEST!"

Within a blink of an eye, Kili and Erika were in front of them and time sped up for Thorin and Fili. The boulder crashed down behind Kili and Erika. Fili pulled away from Bifur and Nori who were restraining him and ran past Erika, tackling his brother in an enormous hug. Thorin, also was glad; of course he was, both his beloved nephews were safe, but like many of the company, now including the reunited brothers, he watched Erika. She was shocked to say the least, and fell to her knees. She stared a head of her, almost in a trance and Bofur walked over to her, kneeling in front of her. He took her arm and helped her up; as did the Durin brothers as they passed her.

The company knew what this meant, down to the last dwarf...and hobbit. She could use her voice, and the one thing which had scared them so much a few nights previous, they were now thankful for.

Erika could shout.

There you go guys, the next chapter. I hope it was alright, I felt like towards the end it was a bit rushed. but I hope it's still okay for you all.

And for everyone that was wondering whether she will be able to shout...of course she can! She's the dragon born! I had thought about her finding out whether she could shout another way, like finding a secluded spot and you know, trying to that would be no fun! I thought this way was much better!

Let me know what you all think, reviews?

Thanks for reading guys,

UmbraLunae xox