Authors Note: First of all, HAPPY NEW YEARS GUYS! Second, HAPPY NEW YEARS! :D
I actually wrote my way into 2015. *ba dum tss*
Yeah that was pretty lame. Honestly though, I didn't even realize it had hit the new year until I glanced at the clock and it was 10 after midnight and I was like "Oh hey!"
Anyway, I dunno if it was just the music I was listening to or Smaug's death or Kili/Tauriel but I totally cried writing this chapter. But at the same time I feel like its lacking. But I always feel that way anyway but you all always bring me up out of that cause I always get such amazing reviews!
I hope you all had an amazing 2014, and have an even greater 2015!

All Sylwen could was watch as Smaug sunk beneath the cold waters. The tears that wanted to spill over felt like hot coals in her eyes.

There were no words that would fit the feeling she was overwhelmed with at that moment. She knew what Smaug was responsible for, but even so..

Once the group was safely on shore, it didn't take long for the Dwarves to split from the group, their path already set for them. Tauriel stayed close to the children though as they searched for their father.

All around them they were surrounded by the dead or dying, the folk of Laketown mourning all they had lost. Their homes, their families..

"Da!" Sigrid yelled over the voices, holding tightly onto Tilda's hand as they pushed their way through the crowd of people. She tried to drone out the sounds of peoples cries as they mourned over those who were dead.

She only prayed the three they sought weren't amongst them. "Bain! Sylwen!" Sigrid called once again, gaze scanning around frantically.

"DA!" Tilda cried, tears staining her cheeks.

On another part of the shore, Bard and Bain arrived safely back on solid land again, completely sodden but alive. He barely had a moment to search for his daughters and Sylwen when he heard Alfrid's raised voice over the people.

Too bad.

"Come with me." He told Bain, pressing through the group as he easily found Alfrid. His eyes darkened as he watched him raise a hand against the woman, quickly stepping in behind as he grabbed his wrist.

"I wouldn't go turning on your own Alfrid. Not now." He warned him, pushing him back as Bain was next to step in, kicking out his leg and knocking Alfrid's feet out from behind him, knocking him flat on his back on the ground.

Tilda and Sigrid pushed through the crowd, their sights setting on their father as relief rushed through them.

"Da!" Tilda called happily, rushing over to him, Sigrid close behind her.

Bard could have cried when he saw his daughters, bending down as he opened his arms. "Come here!" He called, Tilda rushing into his arms as he picked her up, hugging her tightly.

"You're alive!" Sigrid exclaimed in relief as she hugged her father tightly.

Bard held them both close to him, basking in the moment as he was just grateful that they were alive and unharmed. He laughed softly, closing his eyes. "Its alright.." He told them, taking a breath of air.

Now he only needed to find Sylwen..

"It was Bard!" The peace wasn't long lived as Percy pushed through the crowd, bless his soul. "He killed the dragon! I saw it with me own eyes! He brought the beast down! Shot him dead with a black arrow!"

Bard stood quietly as the townsfolk began to rejoice, grouping around him and thanking him for all that he had done. He didn't kill the beast to take in their gratitude or for any sort of reward.

Before he knew it, his arm was being lifted into the air like some champion.

"All hail the dragon slayer!" Alfrid cheered, the grin plastered onto his face as tried to win the favor of the people.

Lucy couldn't even pretend to not hear her fathers voice as she pushed through the crowd where Sigrid and Tilda ran off to, seeing the scene before her as she rolled her eyes. "You have got to be kidding me.."

"All hail, king Bard!" Alfrid continued, juicing the topic.

Bard swiftly tugged his arm out of Alfrid's grasp at the title, a frown set upon his lips. But of course, Alfrid continued.

Alfrid held his hand in the air. "I have said it many times! This is a man of noble stock! A born leader!"

Lucy could have laughed if it wasn't so sad at the effort Alfrid was trying at, letting out a sigh as she put her hand against her head. And she was related to this?

"Do not call me that." Bard finally stopped him, stepping up to him as he stared at him. "I am not the master of this town. Where is he?!" He turned around, gaze scanning across the crowd. "Where is the master!"

"Half way down the Anduin, with all our coin, I don't doubt." A woman spoke up, turning her sights on Alfrid as she pointed at him. "You would know!" She stepped up to him, shaking her finger. "You helped him empty the treasure."

Alfrid froze at the accusation, hearing all the angry townsfolk begin to gather around. "No!" He squeaked out, taking a step back. "I tried to stop him!" He claimed, glancing around nervously. As the woman advanced on him, he rushed to hide behind Bard.

"I begged! I pleaded!" Alfrid claimed, peering out from behind Bard's shoulder as he looked at the crowd. "I said, 'Master. No."

They weren't buying it though. Glancing around once, he pulled out another card to play. "Think of the children!" He called to them, turning around as he grabbed Bard's child and tugged her in front of him. "Will no one think of the children!"

Lucy watched in barely veiled amusement as Alfrid struggled to win the favor of the people, but was failing horribly. A small smile crossed her lips as Tilda kicked him roughly in the shin and ran into the arms of her father, the townsfolk crowding around him and hoisting him into the air.

Lucy counted in her head for a few moments before sighing, pushing into the crowd. "Put him down!" She yelled, trying to shove her hands away from them, but they didn't seem to listen to her until Bard stepped in to help her.

"Let him go!" His voice boomed over the others, pressing into the crowd as he pushed Alfrid out of their hands as he fell to the ground with a painful thud. Of which he didn't pay much heed to. "Look around you! Have you not had your fill of death?" He scolded, seemingly talking some sense into the people as they looked around them in realization of what they were doing.

He felt Alfrid grasp onto his shoulder to stand up once again, but Bard paid no mind to it as he shrugged him off and back onto the ground. "Winter is upon us. We must look to our own." He told them, needing to lead them at this crucial time.

"To the sick, and the helpless." He looked around as everyone had seemed to stop and listen to him. "Those who can stand, tend to the wounded. And those who have strength left, follow me. We must salvage what we can." He told them, before pressing through the crowd.

"What then?" A voice stopped him, causing him to turn around to address the question. "What do we do then?" She asked.

Bard gazed back at her, his gaze scanning the crowd. "We find shelter." He said softly, before continuing on his way, only one thing on his mind right now.

And that was finding Sylwen.

Tauriel walked along the edge of the shoreline, her gaze scanning the crowd as they searched for their lost ones, mourning the dead and tending to the wounded. Legolas had gone to speak with Bard and the Dwarves had already set off to the mountain.

It wasn't long before her gaze landed upon the only other ginger head that was around these parts, slowing to a stop as she watched her for a few moments. She stood at the edge of the water line, her gaze set upon the burning mess of her home, hands clutched tightly around the coat she wore.

Something about it struck odd with Tauriel as she watched the young elf. Should she not be seeking out her family?

Slowly approaching her, it wasn't until she came closer to her did she notice the tears that stained her pale cheeks, her gaze was distant and distraught.

"You loved him.." Tauriel observed softly, seeing her head whip in her direction as she came to stand beside her. "The dragon, you loved him didn't you." She asked, looking down at her.

Sylwen had barely made it onto solid ground after escaping the burning town, the boat she had found was falling apart but it had gotten her to shore safely. The moment her feet hit ground, she was torn. She wanted to go find Bard and the children, make sure they were safe but at the same moment, she couldn't seem to move her feet in the direction she wanted to go. She was planted to the ground, gazing upon the grave that would now hold Smaug.

She didn't expect Tauriel to find her first though, catching her off guard as she glanced up at her. Pressing her lips together, Sylwen struggled to find her voice as the question hit her hard.

Tauriel watched as her green eyes shimmered beneath the layer of tears that she struggled to hold back, pressing her lips together as she let out weak sigh. "I'm sorry for your loss.." She offered gently.

Sylwen shook her head, lifting her hands as she rubbed her eyes. "I-I know what he was responsible for but, I knew a side of him...that he only ever showed me." She choked out, covering her face with her hands as she choked back a sob. "I know it's wrong, but I can't help the way I felt about him."

Tauriel felt a familiar tug at her chest as she listened to Sylwen's words, opening her hand as she looked down at the stone that laid in it, still warm from Kili's touch.

"It's not wrong." She spoke suddenly, Sylwen's teary gaze lifting to hers. Tauriel smiled softly, looking down at Sylwen as she brushed the hair out of her face. "What you feel for him isn't wrong. Love is love. It shouldn't matter if you're different race." She told her. "Not only have you proven that once, but twice now."

Sylwen felt the tears spill over her eyes as she just stepped forward, hugging her tightly as the tears continued to spill over her eyes.

Tauriel was caught off guard by the hug, and though she barely knew Sylwen, she felt as if she could relate to her on so many levels. Her arms gently fell around her shaking body, rubbing her back soothingly.

She couldn't imagine the pain she was going through right now, and somehow felt as though speaking to her now, helped Tauriel make her own decisions for the future.

"Sylwen!" The voice cut through the crowd, Tauriel feeling Sylwen stiffen under her touch as she glanced down at her. She could see she was torn between what to do. She loved Smaug and the man who killed him.

"Why don't you come with us?" She asked her, the crowd still hiding them away from sight for the moment.

Sylwen finally stepped back, taking a couple shaky breaths as she looked up at Tauriel. Forcing a small smile on her face, she shook her head. "As much as I feel like I need to get away, I know I cannot leave. The children still need me here." She told her.

Tauriel couldn't help but smile softly at her resolve, giving her a small nod. "I wish you well then.." She said softly, stepping back as the crowd finally parted.

Bard's gaze finally found Sylwen, relief flooding through his veins as he didn't even hesitate before he rushed forward, pulling him into his arms as he held her tightly against him. "I'm so glad you're safe." He said quietly, his grip tight around her.

It was when she didn't return the embrace that he grew worried, pulling back slightly as he cupped her face gently. "Are you alright? You weren't harmed were you?" He asked her, his gaze scanning her face.

Sylwen shook her head lightly in response, looking up at him. "I'm unharmed.." She said, which had been the truth. But she couldn't say truthfully that she was alright or not hurt..

She didn't really know what she felt at that moment..

Bard brushed his thumbs against her cheeks softly, letting out a soft sigh as he leaned his forehead against hers. "I was so worried.." He breathed out, feeling relieved that everyone was alright and unharmed..

It was when he looked into her eyes, that he found his answer.

Her emerald jewel eyes...had lost their light.