After the eagles saved he company and Thorin and Bilbo had their bonding moment, Kili and Ori started to tear up.

„We just left her! She deserved a funeral. Kaléa…", Oti sobbed and Dori took his little brother in a comforting hug.

The men stood in silence, grieving for their friend. „We let her down, in goblin town. We should've done something to…", Kili rambled but ended crying bitterly.

Then another eagle came to view and landed in front of them. On it's back Kaléa. The company couldn't believe their eyes. She was alive.

Dwalin ran to her helping her down. „Thank, Mahal, spitfire. Ye alive.", he breathed relieved.

„Léa, we thought…", Fili stuttered but smiled happily.

„We though we lost you.", Thorin finished for his nephew.

Kaléa grinned tired. „I'm to stubborn to die.", she whispered and leaned against Dwalin.

Then the dwarven king embraced her tightly. „Uh,,, Thorin? As much as I enjoy this… it hurts.", she laughed nervously.

He loosened his grip but didn't let go. „I'm so sorry, Kaléa. I'm just so happy and relieved that you here.", he murmured in her hair.

„As we all.", Balin wiped a tear away.

„Come on, uncle. We want to hug her too.", Kili pouted.

Everybody took the female in a loving embrace. „Hey, look! Is that what I think it is?", Bilbo said after a while.

And all looked at the horizon. „Erebor!", Kaléa whispered.

„Our home.", Thorin saif with a happy smile.

„It's so close.", Bilbo said in awe.

A bird flew above them. „The ravens return to the mountain.", Oin announced.

„That's a thrush, my dear Oin.", Gandalf corrected.

„You think that's the thrush the map speaks of?", the dunedain wondered.

The wizard looked dumbfounded at her. „You think it's about an actual bird?"

„Not everythink hat to be an metaphor, my friend.", she mused.

„Either way, we take this as a sign. As a good omen.", Thorin interjected gently smiling at the hobbit.

„Yeah, I truly think the worse is behind us.", he agreed.

Boy, but you wrong. „We should make camp and attend to the lasses wounds.", Balin suggested.

—–

Oin treated Kaléa's ankle and Gandalf her back. The female flinched every now and again, but didn't make a sound.

Then she felt a rough hand on hers. She looked up and saw in Thorin's blue eyes, who crouched in front of her. „You are very brave and unbelievably strong, my dear.", he said softly.

„Yea, even Dwalin would full and complain on how much it hurts.", Oin joked.

„Hey!", Dwalin barked offended.

„What's the point of it. It doesn't help.", she just shrugged.

Thorin's thumb caressed her knuckles. It was an new strange but welcomed feeling for the dakhaired women. „We are so sorry we didn't protected you against the goblins.", Kili stepped forward.

She arched her eyebrow, Sorry? There is nothing to be sorry for, Kee. I signalled you to be quiet.."

„We know, still…", Fili said rumorseful.

„Listen carefully. You did everything right. There was nothing you could've done. My wounds will heal. There be scars, sure, but I will wear them proudly. Sp stop feeling quilty for something you didn't do."

The prince's just nodded but the dunedain could tell they were not convinced. „Spoken like a true dworrow.", Dwalin commented approvingly.

„You must realise, dear. We dwarves value our females highly. There a so few of them left. That's just our nature to protect our women at all cost.", Balin explained.

„But I'm not your kin.", Kaléa shook her head.

„No? You fought beside us. Shared your blood for us. That makes you more family then everything else. There is nothing that we regard more then loyalty.", Balin responded.

„The women blushed and tears formet d in her grey eyes. „Thank you. That means a lot to me."

„There you go. As good as new.", Gandalf announced when he finished bandaging her. Oin was done as well.

„Thanks, guys. I shall rest now.", she yawned.

„That you should, darling. As should you, Thorin. You were a wargs chewtoy a few hours ago.", Oin agreed.

„I'm fine.", Thorin protested.

„Thorin Oakenshield" Either you go to bed volunteering or I will drag you to my bedroll and make you fall asleep by suffocating you with my tits!", Kaléa chided playfully.

Thorin smirked while the rest looked just shocked. „Is this suppose to be a threat? It sound more like a proposition, and a rather tempting one at that."

Now the female looked dumbfounded. „Never mind, do as you please.", she said flushed.

„And if I please to lay with you? With my face in your cleavage?"

„Thorin! Stop! For Mahal sake, what's gotten into you.", she laughed nervously. And the king boomed with laughter and after a moment the rest joined him. „I will never talk to you ever again. Now I see the family resembles.", she rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile.

—–

Bilbo was watching for the orcs. While Kaléa and the rest waited for him.

„How's your back, Léa?", Kili asked concerned.

„Fine. Gandalf did excellent work, as did Oin with my ankle."

„Good, you had us scared to death, young lady.", Fili scolded playfully.

„Wasn't planed, I swear!", she defended laughing.

„I certaintly hope so. It should never be part of a plan to be almost killed. That's stupid! And you are anything but stupid, beautiful.", Kili joked.

Then Bilbo ran towards them, obviously tansed. „How far is the pack?", Thorin asked impatiantly.

„No more then a few leagues. Bue we have another problem."

„Did someone see you?", Gandalf asked worried.

„No? NO!"

„See? I told you! Quick and quiet…" Gandalf and the dwarves complimented the hobbit ignoring his protest.

„Would you idiots just shut up for one second and listen to him!", Kaléa hollered annoyed. „So what were you saying?", she asked Bilbo once the others calmed down.

„Someone else was there…"

„Like a bear?", Gandalf interrupted.

„Well… y – yes, how…"

„You know of this creature, Gandalf?", Thorin asked skepticaly.

„There is a house nearby. We could seek refuge there.", he ignored the question.

„Who's home? Friend or foe?"

„Neither, he either help us or kill us."

„Do we have a choice?", Thorin asked defeated.

„Nope, let's go.", Kelaé chimed in and tried hard to cover her amused smile.

—–

They reached Beorn's home after running away from the giant bear. „What was that?", someone breathed.

„This is our host, Beorn. Sometimes he is a huge bear. And sometimes he is a great men.", Gandalf explained.

Kaléa laughed so hard it confused all of them greatly. „I think the lass is in shock.", speculated Oin worried.

„No, no. It's just… your faces. And Bombur…", she kept laughing.

„You find that funny?", Thrin asked annoyed.

„Beorn won't harm you. Not while you a befriend me. So be nice to me or I sick him at ya!"

A colletive "WHAT!?" „You know Beorn?", Gandalf asked shocked.

„We are…", she started but Kili interrupted.

„An old friend?", he smirked.

„He saved me me. He helped me after I got attacked by Azog."

„And why, prey tell, didn't you said something sooner?" Thorin was furious at her but she couldn't care less.

„You deserved a good scare.", she snickered.

„Ye little…", Dwalin barked and took steps towards her in a intimating manner but was hold back from his brother.

„Not funny.", Fili commented dryly.

„If he is your friend, why did he attacked us?", Bilbo wondered.

„He couldn't smell me while you were around me, he only smelled dwarves and well, he doesn't like your kin very much."

„Is this you way of telling us we stink?", Kili asked in mock offence.

„Terribly.", she confirmed amused.

„You not smelling of flowers yourself, Léa.", Fili shot back.

„Anyway, we are safe. I will speak with Beorn in the morning about it. With luck he won't be to cross with me."

„Unlike us right now, you mean?", Thorin challanged.

„Still worth it.", she shrugged.

—–

The next morning the company woke up. „Léa? Kaléa?", Fili called and looked for the female who was spleelping beside him and his brother. But she was gone.

„She is outside with Beorn.", Gandalf informed.

„What!?", the prince's gasped.

„Easy, lads. They seem to have a nice conversation. He even hugged her.", Balin reassured.

They looked out the window observing the two friends. They saw she turned to look at them gesturing them to come out. „There goes nothing.", Bofur chuckled nervously.

„Beorn, this are Dwalin, Balin, Thorin, Fili, Kili…", she introduced all.

The huge skinchanger didn't seem to pleased. „Why I am not surprised you befriended a bunch of dwarves.", he growled.

„They are fun to have around. Now stop forrowing, you big teddy bear.", she chided.

The company covered their amusement. „I begged you to not call me that any longer.", Beorn said offended.

„Nah, to fitting. So, what about breakfast? What kind of host are you?", she tsked.

Beorn rolled his eyes. But complied.

—–

After breakfast and informing Beorn about the quest, the company relaxed in the garden. „Damn, I needed this break.", Kili sighed and laid on the gras. Arm behind his head.

„Yeah, getting new energie for the next battle.", Kaléa sat beside him and was picking uo the gras, throwing it at him.

„You mean the one against Smaug?", he asked eyes still closed.

„Yea, sure. That one too."

„You think there will be more?", Bilbo who leaned against a rock opposite them.

„Well, it's always safe to assume there will be more."

„How optimistic, sunshine.", Fili said sarcasticaly. He sat Kili's other side with a pipe in his mouth.

„Just realistic, sweetheart. I know how the world works."

„Would you finally stop this?", Kili asked irritated when some gras landed on his face.

„Make me.", she challanged. Kili tackled her down and tickled her sides. „Get off me!", she giggled.

„Nope, you started it. I warned ya!", the archer laughed.

„Fee! H – help me!"

„Nope, not getting involved.", he chuckled .

„Traitor!", she shrieked and suddenly the dwarf above her grunted in pain and she realised that her knee hit his chin. Hard. „Ooops."

„I kinda deserved it.", he murmured and rubbed his aching chin.

„No shit. And I deserved this one!", she announced and held up the rune Dis gave her son. Grinning widely.

„How…?", he gasped and stood up to snatch it back but the female was faster. „Give it back!"

„Make me."

„Oh, you asking for trouble, gorgeous.", he smirked deviously.

„Hey, Léa! I'm here!", Fili called behind his brother and the dunedain threw it to him.

„Traitor.", Kili now commented.

„Sorry, brother. To tempting to resist. Bilbo, catch!", the blonde said to the hobbit and he caught the rune. And so they continued their little game.

„Ya teach 'im!", Bofur cheered.

—–

„Shadow! There you are. I missed you, buddy.", Kaléa said happily when her horse approached her when she and the men made themselved ready to leave.

„But where is Spirit? Havent seem him since the rain started after Rivendale.", Kili wondered.

„No, idea. He will probably show up eventualy.", Kaléa replied.

„You think he is okay?", Bilbo asked.

„Ah, I don't worry. Some sexy female caughed his attention, for sure.", she laughed and hoped on the black horse.

They reached the border of Mirkwood. „Let the ponys return to their master.", Gandalf ordered.

„The forest seems… sick.", Bilbo said quietly.

„Because it is. I hatw this place.", Kaléa hissed.

„You've been here before?"

„Unfortunatly. Let's not talk about it."

„Not my horse!", Gandalf voice boomed.

„You leaving again?", Thorin asked irritated.

„I wouldn't if I didn't have to. Stay on the path. Don't touch the river and don't let the forest fool you. Hold onto Kaléa. She knows the way.", he said and rode away.

„I know the way? The old men is kidding right? This forest will fuck me again!", the female shouted angrily.

„What you mean by that?", Thorin asked.

„You'll see. Come on, we waste time.", she sighed defeated.

—–

They got caughed by the elves after beeing rescued from the spiders. The men were weary since they haven't seen Kaléa amongs them. They heard Kili shout out. A spider approached him. „KILI!", Fili panicked but an elf held him back.

An arrow hit the beast and it died. But more came. A redheaded she – elf fought some off. „Give me a Dagger!", Kili, called to her.

But she ignored him. The spider was just two feet away from her. Out of the blue Kaléa came out of no where and jumped on the spiders back and killed it with another arrow. All eyes landed on her and she stood in front of the archer. Her weapon aimed at the strangers.

„Away from my friends.", she demanded dangerously quiet.

„Hunter?", the redhead breathed.

„We were once friends, Tauriel. But I won't hasitate to kill all of you to protect them."

„You aren't suppose to return here, Hunter.", Legolas interjected

„I didn't plan to, believe me. If I would never had to see you all again I would've died happily.", she taunted annoyed.

„Please, be reasonable. Lower your bow and come with us. We won't harm you or your companions.", he pleaded softly.

„So, you can drag me to you maniac father? Oh no, princeling. No fuckimg way."

„Hunter!", Thorin called and she looked at him and he signalled her to give up.

„Let's not antagonize them further, shall we? We kinda outnumbered here.", Kili whispered to her.

After a hasitant moment she groaned and put all her weapons aside. „Fine. But that goes south, it's your ass, blondie!", she warned Legolas who nodded.

—–

Kaléa and Thorin were standing in Thranduil's throneroom, while the rest was imprinsoned. And the female was pissed. At the situation and herself. Why did I let this happen?

„So, here we meet again. The heir of Erebor and my betrothed.", the elf said smugly.

Thorin's eyes widened and starred at the dunedain. „I'm not your betrothed, you delusional imbecile. I rejected you, remember.", she spat.

He turned to her and stepped close to the darkhaired women, looking deep in her eyes. „And yet, you returned to me. I knew you would come to your senses, maleth."

„Don't dare call me that, Lýgion! (Son of snakes) Le fuion! (I hate you)"

„Ah ah. Hold your tongue, beloved. That's no way to talk to your king or husband.", he scolded half heartily.

„Mítho orch! (Kiss an orc) You are neither, princess!"

„Enough, I take you crossed Mirkwood for a reason. To reach Erebor before Durinsday? Well, since you brought me my wife back, I will offer my help!", he turned to Thorin.

„Help? Like you helped them in Azanulbizar or after Erebor was destroyed by Smaug? You don`t even now what that word means! You know no loyalty or love! You don`t even love your own child.", Kaléa shouted and she got a hard slap across the face from the elf.

Thorin growled outraged and wanted to charge but the guards held him back. „You dare to harm a female, you disgusting worm!", he barked.

„What else you expect from someone like him?", the women chuckled humorless.

The elf observed the scene with great interest. „Well then, take her to her beloved dwarves.", he ordered his guards. And Kaléa followed silently.

Thorin looked after her struggling to keep composure. „I see how it is.", suddenly Thranduil commented amused.

„What?"

„The witch echanted yet another king. The sirens song is just to tempting, isn't it?", he smirked.

Thorin didn't said anything to this, just glared.