The days began to pass, and Bilbo began to heal.

It was by no means a quick or easy process. For many days the hobbit was bedridden, and even once he began to move about it was slowly and painfully. His first steps were shaky at best, like a toddler only just learning to balance on their own two feet. Bilbo was short of breath and short of strength, though certainly not short of will. He took frequent rests, but within a few minutes was back to hobbling around Beorn's house, or, more frequently, his gardens. One or two members of the company were often with him, Thorin more often than most.

In the meantime, Amelia had never found herself closer with the company. The revelation of her name seemed to have broken some barrier that had sat between them. There were many who were still unhappy about Amelia's lack of forthrightness concerning her foreknowledge, Thorin and Fili leading that charge. There was still an undeniable pressure on Amelia to reveal her knowledge. However, the company could no longer question her intentions, nor her loyalty. As such, much of the distrust that had crept up as of late in their interactions was dispelled.

Everything seemed to be vastly improving.

Which is why, of course, it's all starting to fall apart, thought Amelia.

She sighed, watching the pony and rider disappear into the distance. Thorin had taken one of Beorn's ponies and ridden north. It was something he had begun to do more and more frequently. At first he had only been gone for a matter of hours. Now he often vanished for the entire day. Amelia suspected he would be gone through the night, except the king feared accidentally encountering Beorn in his bear form.

The horse soon faded from sight, and Amelia turned away. She didn't have time to chase after Thorin. She had work to do. Although it would still be another couple of weeks before the company departed Beorn's house for Mirkwood, Amelia wanted to make sure they were prepared.

"Gandalf."

The wizard looked up from his conversation with Beorn, lifting a bushy eyebrow in question as he glanced at the woman standing in the doorway.

"Is there something I can help you with?" he asked, setting his mug of tea down on the table.

Amelia nodded. Seeing her look, Beorn quickly excused himself, slipping outside to check on his little bunny, as he had taken to calling Bilbo. As soon as the door closed, Amelia approached the table.

"I have a plan for the remainder of the quest," she informed the wizard. "But there are a few details that I would iron out with you."

Gandalf nodded, all business now, and gestured for Amelia to take a seat. She did so, spreading a map of Middle Earth over the table as she did.

"What are you thinking?" asked Gandalf. "I do hope it accounts for the time that will be lost due to Bilbo's injury."

Amelia finished weighing the parchment down. "It does. My plan is to avoid getting lost in Mirkwood. Moving briskly, the company can make it through in a couple of days, especially if we can avoid any mishaps with enchanted rivers."

Gandalf nodded slowly, his eyes growing hooded.

"But what of the forest elves?" he asked. "We both know that they will be vital to a victorious ending to the oncoming battle. If they are not met, how will Thranduil know to be at Erebor?"

Amelia lifted an eyebrow. "From what I've heard? Thranduil will have ears everywhere, and will know the moment Smaug is dead. There are gems in the mountain he wants; he will come of his own accord."

Gandalf thought for a moment, then made a face of agreement.

"Quite true," he admitted.

Amelia nodded. "Without getting lost, we will find ourselves on the banks of the Celduin after leaving Mirkwood, south of Esgaroth."

Gandalf made a noise deep in his throat. "Thorin will want to avoid the town of men if at all possible," he warned. "And they are also vital to the success of the battle."

Amelia nodded grimly. "I know. Luckily for us, by the time we make our way north we will be so short of supplies that we will have no choice but to stop in Lake Town to replenish."

"And from there events go as you recall from your stories," Gandalf guessed.

Amelia shrugged. "Well, a little less sneaking around. I don't plan to arrive in a barrel of fish, or go crawling through anyone's toilet." She shuddered. "I have done stuff like that before, and I don't plan on doing it again."

Gandalf laughed. "So what then do you plan on doing?" he asked.

Amelia rubbed the back of her neck. "We ask for an audience with the master of the town, get what we need, and head off. I'll also have Thorin request that he evacuates the town, just in case."

Gandalf nodded. "Will he listen?"

Amelia sighed. "I don't know. I think if I tell Thorin what awaits those people he will trust my foreknowledge, but the master might not take us at face value. And I don't think telling the Master who I am to convince him would be a good idea."

"In which case events again play out as you know them."

Amelia nodded.

"And if they do evacuate? If Bard is to gain his people's trust and respect, he must have some part in slaying the dragon. The people must also see the Master fleeing."

"This is where it gets tricky," Amelia warned. "Truly tricky. I'm going to stay behind in Lake Town. I'll ask for volunteers, people who are willing to set a trap for Smaug in case he makes it past the company. I'm sure Bard will be among those volunteers. Once Smaug is dead, all it takes are some well spread rumors to create distrust for the Master among the people. They are nearly ready to revolt as it is. They just need the right push."

Gandalf pursed his lips as he considered. Amelia waited in terse silence, growing more impatient with each moment the wizard remained quiet. Matters weren't helped when he pulled out his pipe and lit it.

"You are chancing a great many things," Gandalf warned. "Would it not be simpler to let the dragon come to the town as it is? We know such a scenario will prove beneficial to us."

Amelia's eyes narrowed, and her hands curled into fists. It took everything in her to not sock Gandalf right there and then.

"But it won't be beneficial to that town," she growled.

"Either way, the town will still burn," he reminded her.

"But the people won't."

Gandalf sighed, and then nodded slowly.

"The gold sickness will prove a hindrance," he cautioned. "Thorin will be less likely to listen to and trust you. I fear it is already taking a hold of him."

Amelia nodded. "It hasn't progressed very far yet. Not to the point of affecting his already lacking trust. But I have noticed him acting odd. Do you have any idea where he rides off to so frequently?"

Gandalf puffed out a plume of smoke. "I do not know for sure, but I can guess. I think it is the carrock."

"The carrock?"

"Yes." Gandalf gave a short puff. "The view from the top provides him with a wide view. He can see all the way to-"

"To Erebor." Amelia inhaled sharply. "He's looking at the lonely mountain."

Gandalf nodded. "It is starting."

For several moments they sat in silence. The atmosphere of the house seemed to change, turning from a cheery little place to a room full of dark, brooding thoughts.

"Bilbo," stated Amelia suddenly. "Bilbo helps."

Gandalf shot her an odd look. "Pardon?"

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Bilbo is good at keeping Thorin's mind where it should be. He can help keep the gold sickness at bay. So when the men of Dale and the elves arrive, one seeking aid, the other seeking gems, Thorin will be more civil."

Gandalf gave Amelia an amused look. "This is Thorin."

Amelia snickered. "I know. I'm not saying he'll be happy. Bilbo and I may need to knock some sense into him concerning Thranduil."

"Why are you so convinced that Bilbo can keep Thorin in line?" asked Gandalf. "He didn't in the original events."

"They weren't a couple in the original events." Amelia pressed her lips together to fight back another snicker. "I do believe I might be responsible for that change in events."

Gandalf looked at her sternly. "If I recall, you were sent here to stop Thorin from being effected by the gold sickness, to lessen the stain it will have on this world. Not to play matchmaker."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "By 'matching' Bilbo and Thorin, it seems I have done my job. I assure you, I did not come here with the intention of doing that. And don't try to pretend you mind."

Gandalf's eyes darkened. "I mind very much when it shall end in heartbreak for my friend."

Amelia sighed. "It won't."

"You said you wouldn't tamper with the fates of the line of Durin."

"Did I? I don't recall making that promise."

"Amelia." Gandalf's tone was sharp. "We both know that if Thorin lives, Bilbo will move in with him in Erebor. The ring will not pass to Frodo. The damage to the timeline could be catastrophic. It could mean the end of this world."

"I know what I'm doing," hissed Amelia. "If there is one thing that I have learned, it is that time wants to happen. Things will settle back on the right path. My job is to minimize the casualties. To wipe clean the stains the darkness leaves on worlds before they are even caused."

Gandalf shook his head. "Perhaps that is true," he said. "Or perhaps it isn't. Perhaps you just do not wish to lose someone you care about."

His eyes drifted to the door, outside of which they could hear Kili laughing loudly about something.

Amelia shot to her feet, fists balled and eyes blazing. Every muscle in her body was taught, and she knew there was a feral look in her eyes that made Gandalf lean back ever so slightly.

"I have lost many people I care about," she hissed. Her voice was tight, but trembling ever so slightly. "Everyone. Don't you dare talk to me about loss. My mind is not so easily clouded by such a fear."

"Do you think I have never lost anything?" asked Gandalf. Thunder rolled through his eyes as a great shadow drew over the room. "I have lived for a great many years, Phoenix. I have lost many people I have cared about, to no crueler a cause than time. I have lost many more to far harsher circumstances. What I have learned is that you must not meddle with time. You must not meddle with things greater than you."

"Greater than me?" Amelia's voice rose to a shrill volume. "I am a hundred thousand times older than you, Greybeard. I have seen the birth of universes and watched as their time ran out. When you have stood on the horizon of the death of the very last star, when you have witnessed the passing of time itself for universes that have ceased to be thousands of years ago, then you can tell me that I am smaller than time."

Amelia jerked to a stop, forcing herself to take deep breaths. For several minutes she remained where she was, then, suddenly weary, leaned against the table.

"Please," she pleaded. "You have to trust me. I know what I am doing. The ring will go where it needs to be. I will make sure of it."

Gandalf studied her for several moments. "I wish I could believe the way you do," he admitted. "I suppose that is why you are the Phoenix and I am the Istari. Is there no way I can convince you to let events happen?"

Amelia shook her head slightly. Then she sighed. In a moment they would be arguing again, and that wasn't what she had come to Gandalf for.

Gandalf seemed to realize this as well. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I take it you did not come to me so that we could argue over the functioning of time," he mused.

"No," agreed Amelia. "I didn't." She pointed to where the old forest path ran through Mirkwood on the map. "I know that somewhere in here, Thorin leads the company astray. I need to know where, so I can stop him."

Gandalf raised an eyebrow. "My dear, I have no more of an idea than you do."

"But you do know the path." Amelia traced over the line again with her finger. "You've travelled it before. Where are the most likely places for us to lose our way?"

"Hmm." Gandalf leaned back in his chair, taking some very long draughts of his pipe. "Let me see."

Gandalf had a surprisingly good memory. Amelia found herself impressed by it over the course of the next two hours, during which time Gandalf relayed to her everything he remembered about the forest path. Beorn popped in at one point and added a few pointers of his own. The shape shifter had never traveled that far East before, but he had heard enough tales to have some useful input.

"Don't eat or drink anything in that forest," he cautioned. "The very air is toxic, once you've been in there long enough. Especially the further south you go. There is a shadow over those lands now." He shook his head sadly, then left. Amelia and Gandalf traded looks.

At last they were done. Amelia had several sheets of paper containing drawings and descriptions of various points in the path where the company chanced going askew.

"You know," said Amelia, dropping her pen and flexing her hand, "you'd think that a map that looks so straight on paper would actually be straight. Why couldn't they just make the path straight?"

Gandalf chuckled. "That would be too easy."

Amelia made a noise of reluctant agreement.

"Alright," she said. "With the change in plans, when do you expect to rejoin us?"

Gandalf sighed. "I still have a role to play," he stated. "Even if I know what I will find in Dol Guldor, I must go, for appearances sake. I doubt I shall rejoin you until the day of the battle. I might be later, seeing as I will be off to a late start."

Amelia grimaced. "Send Radagast to get help before you go in," she advised. "Make up something. Say that you'll just have a peek around in there, but he should go get help because you can tell already that whatever is in there will require a team effort. That should get things rolling faster, instead of him lingering around outside the fortress for days before realizing he needs to retrieve the others. Perhaps we should send word now?"

Gandalf cocked his head. "Perhaps. I think I can convince a few birds to carry my messages."

Amelia nodded. "I like that. In fact, if you can avoid getting captured at all, that will be better. Less of a stain."

"Well, believe me," said Gandalf. "I'm not exactly looking forward to it."

"Be careful what you say," Amelia warned. "Avoid mention of me. Caution Radagast, Elrond, and Galadriel of the same."

Gandalf nodded. "I am well aware. I kept Elrond from mentioning you in Rivendell; I can do so again."

Amelia's eyes widened. "Saruman! Of course! Oh, that's going to be difficult. He doesn't know about me though? How did you convince Elrond of that?"

Gandalf chuckled. "I may or may not have insinuated that knowledge of you would have made Saruman chase after the company to halt its progress. We knew he would disapprove of the quest. I convinced him that putting you and Saruman in an argument would result in the destruction of all of Middle Earth."

Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Have you seen the way you and Thorin argue?" asked Gandalf. "Both Elrond and I have. And while you don't necessarily agree with the dwarf, you respect him. Saruman's lust for power makes it hard for even me to respect him at all times. Elrond and I knew that was a catastrophe waiting to happen."

Amelia humphed. "Well then." She paused, cocking her head. "Still, I thought Elrond didn't approve of the quest."

"He doesn't like it," admitted Gandalf. "But he understands its necessity. He would not stop it. The point is, word has not, and will not reach Saruman or Sauron of your presence in Middle Earth. Even Radagast will have enough sense to not mention you in the shadow of Dol Guldor. I have no desire to speed the arrival of the second war of the ring."

Amelia nodded, exhaling slowly. "Good." She ran a hand through her hair. "Though I suppose Galadriel knows about me."

Gandalf gave Amelia an amused look. "The Lady of Lorien knows everything."

Amelia snickered. "So I've heard." She stood. "Alright, that's about all I needed."

"Amelia."

Amelia paused halfway to the door, turning back to see Gandalf watching her.

"Yes?"

"You may be able to separate your fears from your work for the most part, but we both know that is not completely true. Just be sure that you are changing events for the right reasons."

Amelia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Meaning?"

Gandalf lowered his chin and peered at her the way one might peer at a child they were lecturing. "Mia, I have seen you and Kili. We all have. Your feelings for him are more than platonic."

Amelia shook her head. "I have taken care that they aren't."

"Then it hasn't worked." Gandalf's smile was soft, sympathetic. "Amelia, whatever steps you have taken to distance yourself from him have served to do the opposite. Whether you like it or not, there is something between the two of you. Be wary of it."

Amelia opened her mouth to say that no, there was nothing between her and Kili. For some reason the words wouldn't come out. She tried several more times, and then, before Gandalf could say anything else, spun and darted out the door.

I am so, so sorry that I've been so long. Life has been hectic. I just graduated from high school, and have been going crazy trying to get ready for college and working every day. Not to mention multiple writing projects. Thank you to everyone who has waited for the next chapter, and I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for reading!