"How's your back?" Kili asked.

Amelia shrugged. "I managed to get the bleeding to stop."

"Did you bandage it?"

"I don't have anything to bandage it with."

Kili sighed. "You should ask Master Beorn for something," he told her.

"Kili, I'm fine."

"No, you're stubborn."

Amelia slanted him a glance. "Really?" she asked. "You're one to talk."

Kili grinned at Amelia, and she smiled back.

"Come here," he ordered.

Amelia rolled her eyes. "I'm telling you, my back is fine."

Kili chortled. "But your hair isn't. Please, it's painful to look at."

"Hey!"

Kili snickered, then scooted so that he was sitting behind Amelia. His fingers began to weave in and out of her hair, and Amelia felt the tension drain out of her at the familiar touch.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked.

"You just did." Kili allowed himself a moment to chuckle, then slowed his work on Amelia's hair. "Of course."

"In the tunnels of the mountain, you said that they were made by dwarves. Yet not all of them seemed to be, and I had not thought your kin had ventured so far north."

Kili took a moment before answering. "They had started to," he told Amelia. "Durin, who was king in those days, was eager to expand his wealth. It was mithril in particular that he sought." Kili paused. "Do you know what that is?"

Amelia nodded, and Kili continued.

"Well, even as the dwarves delved deeper, and consequently woke Durin's Bane, they began to move north. The idea was to create a second great city, drilling into the mountain there."

"Was the new city ever connected to the tunnels of Moria?" asked Amelia.

"No." Kili finished with Amelia's hair and returned to his place beside her, lounging on the grass. "They were never completed. Joining two cities is always the last step, so that if some misfortune should occur during the construction of the new tunnels, the damage won't leak into what already stands. It is why the tunnels seemed half finished. My ancestors hadn't yet finished their work when the Balrog emerged from the deep and forced them to flee. The goblins, when they took over the Misty Mountains, must have finished the tunnels to their liking."

Amelia nodded. "That explains it," she said softly. "Thank you; that was bugging me."

Kili snickered. "You don't like not knowing things, do you?"

Amelia slanted him a look. "You didn't know that already?"

Kili smiled. "I did. It just amuses me."

"Glad to see I amuse you."

They sat for a while in companionable silence.

"You truly remember nothing of your family?" asked Kili suddenly.

Amelia tensed at this. They had been having a relatively nice time. The shadow that had been over her mind had faded ever so slightly, but now it was returning. Amelia glanced away and blinked back tears.

"I remember what they were like," she told him. "At least vaguely. Like the whisper of an echo."

"Did you never see them again after you became the Phoenix?" asked Kili. He tilted his head to the side and frowned. "You never did tell me about that."

Amelia froze, glancing away again. How on earth could she explain to Kili events that were in his future?

"It was a long time ago," she said. "I had to leave in the night to protect them; even then it was clear my path was a dangerous one. I saw them once more; I was allowed to return to my world just long enough to ensure that they were safe and happy."

"Were they?" asked Kili.

Amelia smiled bitterly. "Yes."

She twisted harshly at the grass before here, only pausing when Kili's hand reached out to gently snag hers. Before she knew it she was leaning against him, eyes closing softly as she inhaled his scent. For a long time they stayed there, leaning together until they were alerted to another's presence by the clomping of approaching footsteps.

"Well, I see you've reconciled," Fili stated.

Amelia glanced up to see him standing before them, arms crossed with a vague scowl on his face. She pushed down her annoyance- she did not feel like dealing with grumpy dwarves- and moved so that she was further away from Kili.

"We have," Kili stated. To Amelia's surprise he closed the distance between them, giving his brother a glare. For several moments the two stared at each other, a silent war raging in their eyes, and then Fili glanced away.

"Bilbo is awake," he stated. "I thought you might like to know."

Immediately Amelia and Kili were on their feet and racing back inside. The others were already there, crowding around Bilbo.

"Back! Back!" shouted Gandalf. "Give the poor lad some room to breathe."

The company grumbled but shuffled backwards, but Thorin remained at Bilbo's side. His hand clutched the hobbit's hand, and he all but clung to Bilbo.

"How do you feel?" he murmured softly. "I'm so sorry."

Bilbo smiled weakly, his thumb rubbing the back of Thorin's hand reassuringly. "Whatever are you apologizing for?" he asked. "Caring? I'm glad to see you're not entirely made of ice."

Thorin scowled gently as Bilbo chuckled, but as Bilbo winced his face returned to one of worry.

"I am sorry that I caused you to become injured," Thorin said. "I should- You could have- thank you." He bowed his head down and rested it on the makeshift bed, beside Bilbo's head.

"Thorin," Bilbo complained. "Your hair is tickling me."

With a laugh Thorin raised his head again, and Amelia dutifully ignored the teardrops on the bed. She tapped Kili on the shoulder, and together, they began to back away. The rest of the company followed, including Gandalf and Beorn, leaving the king and his burglar alone.

The company began to settle down on the grass outside the front door, and Beorn and Gandalf disappeared, talking quietly. Amelia began to leave, to find somewhere to sit by herself, but Kili grabbed her arm.

"You have to face them eventually," he reasoned.

Amelia wrinkled her nose, but couldn't disagree. She allowed Kili to pull her towards the company, and they settled down together. Thankfully Kili chose to sit near Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur, and Bifur promptly planted himself beside her.

Amelia glanced around her, refusing to quail as she saw everyone's eyes on her. To her surprise there was less hostility than she had expected, and several dwarves even offered her rueful smiles that were clearly meant to be apologies for their treatment of her.

Fili watched her untrustingly from the side, but as Kili sent him a look he sighed and came closer. He clearly wasn't happy with Amelia, but he was willing to keep his peace.

A conversation was soon started; nothing serious, just light talk meant to ease the tension. Off to the side Oin frowned and cupped a hand around his ear.

"I can't hear a blasted thing," he grumbled.

"Oh!" Amelia pulled open her bag and ruffled around inside it. "I completely forgot about this. Here!"

She withdrew the replacement ear-pipe and tossed it to Oin. He inspected it for a moment, then stuck it in his ear.

"Can you hear me now?" shouted Nori.

Oin scowled at him. "Aye, thank you," he said, swatting at the dwarf, who was sitting next to him. He sent a nod in Amelia's direction. "And thank you, Phoenix."

Amelia could feel Kili's eyes stray to her face, but she didn't glance over. She weighed things around in her head, then took a deep breath.

"Actually," she said. "It's Amelia. Or Mia."

The company stared at her in openmouthed shock. Silence fell over the fields, and Amelia felt her cheeks redden slightly. She held her chin high though, waiting for someone to say something- anything.

"I like that name," rumbled Beorn, appearing from around the corner. "Amelia. It has a rather nice sound to it."

Gandalf chuckled and nodded agreement as and the shape shifter approached side by side, and Amelia raised her eyebrows.

"Were you eavesdropping?" she demanded.

Gandalf spread his hands wide, a deceptively innocent look on his face. "It is hardly our fault what we overhear," he defended.

"You speak very loudly," Beorn added. "All of you." He had a twinkle in his eyes that wasn't fooling anybody.

Off to the side Kili began to snicker, and Amelia resisted the urge to elbow him.

"So," said Beorn, sitting on the ground at the edge of the group. "You journey to your mountain?"

The dwarves all tensed.

"You mean to the Iron Hills?" asked Balin.

Beorn fixed him with an amused look. "Do not think me a fool," he warned. "I have friends who are small and who travel far. The small birds of the east tell me that for many years now the dragon Smaug has not been seen or heard of. It cannot be a coincidence that the king himself should now journey in that direction, bringing with him his two heirs." He sent Fili and Kili a knowing look.

"What does it matter to you?" asked Dwalin.

Gandalf sighed and seemed about to yell at Dwalin to calm down, but Beorn must have signaled him behind his back, because the wizard kept quiet.

"I care not for your mission," Beorn said. "It is of no concern to me."

"I do believe you're the first person to say that," commented Amelia.

Beorn raised a bushy eyebrow. "You have visited with the elves then?"

The company nodded, most not with a very happy expression.

"I like the fair folk well enough," Beorn confided. "Though I find them a bit long-winded. Their speeches are as long as their years."

"Their egos twice that," added Gloin.

Beorn chuckled. Off to the side Gandalf rolled his eyes.

"Phoenix; Kili."

Amelia turned to see Thorin stalk out of the house. He still looked worried, though less so.

"Bilbo wishes to speak with you two."

Amelia nodded and stood, and together, she and Kili moved toward the house. Thorin eyed them curiously as they went, but at last went to sit beside Fili. Amelia suspected they were already telling him of her true name.

Bilbo was still lying down when Amelia and Kili slipped in the door, but he had a cup of tea in his hands and there was an empty plate on the table. There was slightly more color to his cheeks, and his smile was stronger as the dwarf and woman approached him.

"How do you feel?" asked Kili. He knelt beside Bilbo, clasping their hands together.

Bilbo grimaced. "Not too well," he admitted. "But I think I shall live."

Kili nodded, grinning. "Good, good. It's expected you won't feel well at present. In time though you'll be back to your old self."

Bilbo couldn't help a chuckle at the young dwarf's enthusiasm.

"Thorin told me how we escaped," he said. "Did we really fly? On eagles?"

"Aye," said Amelia. She had been hanging in the back until then, nervous to face the hobbit. She stepped forward now, gulping.

If Bilbo was still bothered by the incident in the tunnels, he didn't show it.

"I can't say I'm sorry to have missed that," was all he said.

Amelia laughed, then knelt down beside Kili. She placed her hand on top of the pile already forming.

"I am glad to see you awake," she told Bilbo. "I was worried."

Bilbo smiled warmly. "I hear I have you to thank for my life."

Amelia shrugged uncomfortably. "Hardly."

Kili snorted. "Nonsense," he objected.

Bilbo shot Amelia a look as well. "You defended Thorin and I after I was injured," he began to list. "You made arrangements for the eagles to bear us away. If it weren't for that, I would have died in those mountains. We all likely would have."

Amelia glanced away, not quite sure how to respond.

"Bilbo," she said at last. "I feel the need to apologize. About what happened with the goblin…"

Bilbo waved his free hand. "It is fine," he said.

Amelia looked into his eyes and saw that he wasn't telling the truth; he was somewhat bothered by it.

Bilbo sighed. "It disconcerted me," he admitted. "But I know you meant well." He paused. "I assume you don't want me to tell Thorin?"

Amelia blinked. "I assumed he already knew." She switched her gaze back and forth between Kili and Bilbo. "Neither of you told him?"

Bilbo shook his head. "Kili refused, and he ordered me not to."

Amelia turned to Kili, whose cheeks had reddened. He didn't say anything though, and Amelia smiled in thanks.

"Then I thank you both," she said. She sighed. "You can tell Thorin, if you want. There shouldn't be secrets between couples."

Now it was Bilbo's turn to have red cheeks. The tips of his ears burned a tomato red as well, and Amelia chuckled.

"You should have seen him when he carried you in here," she told Bilbo. "He was begging Beorn for help; asked him to save you for him."

Bilbo lifted an eyebrow. "He did, did he?"

Kili grinned. "I hadn't heard of this."

Amelia laughed. "Well, now you have. Don't be too mean."

Kili frowned playfully. "But it's so much fun to be, Mia."

"Mia?" Bilbo glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Hold on- is that your name?"

Amelia nodded. "It is."

Bilbo blinked rapidly, then grinned.

"You said you've spoken with Thorin about the mountains," Amelia said. She had decided to change the subject.

Bilbo nodded.

"Did he at all mention me? Or his anger?"

Bilbo sighed, his eyes darkening. "He isn't happy," he warned. "I managed to talk him down some, but I don't know how willing he will be to listen. I suggest you approach him when his belly is full and his mug is empty."

Amelia chuckled. "That is the best time for it," she agreed. She sighed internally, wondering when her feud with Thorin would end.

"I won't let him force you to leave," Kili promised.

"What?" Bilbo's eyes widened. "What is this? He tried to make you leave the company? Is he insane?"

Amelia bit her lip. "I'm supposed to be getting back on Thorin's good side, so I don't think I should answer that."

Bilbo snorted. "Sometimes I wonder if he has a good side." He huffed, shaking his head. "I do believe as soon as I'm able to get out of bed, I'm going to have to knock some sense into him."

Kili chuckled. "How do you plan to do that?"

He wriggled his eyebrows at Bilbo, whose cheeks brightened again.

"Stop it!" admonished Amelia. She swatted at Kili, but she was laughing the whole time. Even Bilbo was chuckling, though he also looked like he wanted to hide under his blankets and stay there.

Kili and Amelia stayed with him for a little while longer, their conversation shifting to lighter topics. When Bilbo began to yawn they excused themselves, and by the time they had crossed the room to the door Bilbo was already asleep.

Thorin was clearly waiting for them to return; he stood as they approached.

"Amelia," he said. He was clearly testing the word on his tongue. He seemed unsure what he thought of it, and Amelia resisted the urge to chuckle.

"Mia works just as well," she told him. "If you prefer that."

Thorin nodded stiffly. "I would speak with you," he said. His eyes flickered to Kili. "Privately."

Amelia nodded and followed Thorin around the back of the house; as they went she could feel the others watching worriedly.

Once they had gone around the corner Thorin turned to Amelia. For several moments they watched each other warily, neither quite sure how to break the terse silence that had stretched out between them.

At last Thorin sighed. "What I said," he told her slowly. "When we first arrived at the Carrock. My orders for you to depart; I retract them."

Amelia said nothing, and Thorin crinkled his nose.

"I see now that you have done all within your power to aid us," he continued. "In my anger I thrust all the blame for our troubles upon you, but I was wrong to do so. If you would, I would appreciate it if you would continue to escort us through the remainder of this quest."

Amelia studied Thorin for several moments, but he did seem sincere.

"I never had any intention of leaving," she told him. She ignored the brief look of annoyance that flashed across Thorin's face at the idea that his orders would have been disobeyed. "I'm curious, what caused this sudden change of heart?"

Thorin refused to answer, though his eyes did stray towards Beorn's house. Amelia nodded slightly to herself, making a mental note to thank Bilbo later.

"However," Thorin started. "We need to have a discussion of your knowledge of the future."

Amelia lifted an eyebrow, but waited for Thorin to continue.

"I need to know what is in our future," Thorin stated. "And what changes you plan to make."

Amelia shook her head. "I can't do that."

Thorin growled, and made a visible effort to keep control of his temper.

"I won't be blindsided by another plan gone wrong," he growled.

"I already agreed to tell you of each danger as it approached," Amelia told Thorin. "I told you before we crossed the Misty Mountains exactly what my plans were."

"Then you should have no trouble telling me the rest of your plans."

Amelia closed her eyes and counted to ten. "Thorin," she sighed. "As I change events the paths we follow change as well. My predictions may not hold true. Even if they do, I can't allow someone else to meddle in affairs the way I do. There is a reason I was chosen for this job. It wasn't so that I could share the secrets of time with all my friends!"

For a moment she and Thorin glared at each other. Amelia wasn't sure how off guard her referral to Thorin as a friend had caught him, but he didn't comment.

"I'm not saying I won't tell you anything," Amelia pressed. "I hold true to my promises; I'll inform you of everything I know of a situation when it draws near. I can't, however, tell you things that have many months to come about."

Thorin scowled. "Very well," he snapped. "But you are to make no changes without first seeking my judgement on them. We must agree on the company's fate together; no more making these decisions on your own. Understood?"

Amelia paused to consider. She didn't like the idea of Thorin taking some of the power back into his own hands. Half of the mistakes she tried to clear up would still come to pass.

It seemed to be the only way to appease the king though. Amelia supposed that worst case scenario, she could always change certain things behind Thorin's back and deal with his anger later.

"Fine." She nodded. "I can agree to that."

Thorin nodded brusquely. "Good."

He held out a hand, and Amelia shook it. They went back to join the others, finding fifteen curious and wary looks awaiting them.

"Are we all settled then?" asked Gandalf. "All silly arguments out of the way?"

Thorin glowered at him, but nodded. "Yes," he rumbled. "The air has been cleared."

"Very good." Gandalf stood and tapped his staff on the ground.

Beorn chuckled. "One might think you travelled with a band of children," he commented.

Gandalf snickered. "Sometimes I think so myself."

"Hey!" Several dwarves shouted complaints, and Amelia laughed as they and Gandalf fought good-naturedly. She sat beside Kili, and the two shot each other small smiles. They allowed themselves to be drawn into the bickering, and for some time, their cares drifted away on the wind.

I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted! Things have been crazy. I hope you enjoyed the chapter though!