Please enjoy this chapter! It's short, but a lot happens.

She could barely keep her eyes open. Emi was exhausted. She could scarcely feel her injured arm anymore, and the hobbit doubted strongly that it was a good thing. The feathers beneath her were so soft. Emi just wanted to lie down and go to sleep. The eagles had come none too soon. But the hobbit could not sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, they flew open again searching for the leader of the company. He had not moved since the eagles came. He couldn't be… dead?

The eagles began spiraling through the air around a tall rocky pillar. The top of which was vaguely shaped like a bear. Thorin was set down first, and Gandalf followed right after, rushing over to the injured dwarf. The rest of the dwarves crowded around worriedly, Emi however, hung back. The harsh words she had said to him earlier rushed back. She had been so rude.

"It's alright." Gandalf spoke up, interrupting her thoughts. "Emilie is here. She's quite safe." Emi looked up in confusion to see Dwalin and Kili help a shaky Thorin to his feet. Relief washed over her. Then it disappeared.

"You!" Thorin barked, shaking the others off of him. He was staring straight at Emi. "What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed!" Emi opened her mouth to snap back, but no words came out. Tears began misting over her eyes as the dwarf stomped towards her. "Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild?" He was inches from her now and finished in a low voice. "That you had no place amongst us?" Emi swallowed, trying hard not to break down right then and there. Resisting the urge to push the oaf right over the cliff edge, or to jump herself.

A weary smile broke onto Thorin's face. "I have never been so wrong in all my life." He moved towards as Emi's brain and heart momentarily shut down. Her eyes stared wide and unblinking, staring at Thorin's face right in front of hers. His eyes were closed, but the corners were crinkled in a smile. One hand held the side of her head tightly, as his other hand snacked around her waist, pulling her to him. His lips, pressed against hers.

She should have been angry with him. That was the only logical thing to do. To push him off the cliff edge as she had first intended. But she was so tired. And they had just been through so much. And it felt so… right.

So slowly, Emi let herself relax into his embrace. Her eyes dropped close and she returned the kiss.

Both of them were covered in blood, those of their enemies, and their own. Both were exhausted, barely staying on their feet.

When the cheering of the dwarves began to quiet down, and Thorin and Emi realized that it had been there in the first place, they pulled apart. Both stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Thorin was smiling. Emi was still slightly bewildered, her eyes still a little wider than usual.

"I am sorry I doubted you." Thorin apologized quietly. Emi just made this little squeaking sound and nodded. At last, she found her words again.

"N-no, I would have doubted me too." She admitted. "I'm not a hero! Or warrior… not even a burglar." She gave Gandalf a look before turning back to Thorin. It then occurred to her just how close the two of them were. Apparently, Thorin realized this too, as his brain caught up with what he had actually just done. Both of them stepped away from each other quickly, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Thorin coughed awkwardly and the company grinned annoyingly. Emi quickly turned her attention to the leaving eagles. It was truly a magnificent sight. The company watched as well as the large elegant birds disappeared over the mountains.

Emi snuck a peek at Thorin however, to see him walking away, his eyes transfixed on the horizon. Emi followed his gaze to see a single solitary peak, towering in the distance.

"Is that… what I think it is?" she asked aloud. The whole company turned as one to see what she was talking about. Their eyes widened.

"Erebor." Gandalf nodded. "The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle earth."

"Our home." Thorin spoke. The emotion made his voice almost raw sounding. A tiny bird flapped past them, chirping merrily.

"A raven!" Oin exclaimed merrily. "The birds are returning to the mountain!"

"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush." Gandalf corrected the aging dwarf.

"Well we'll take it as a sign." Thorin spoke up, casting a glance over at Emi and smiling. "A good omen." Emi blushed slightly, but smiled back.

"You're right." She nodded, sighing in relief and looking towards the mountain again. "I do believe the worst is behind us."

So yes, I know it seems a little sudden, but that'll be dealt with in the next chapter. I promise!

Review if you think this chapter was worth it!