Laurelin opened the window to let the fresh air of the outside flow into her bedroom. The air was still cold, but somehow it smelled of Spring and Laurelin knew the nature had started its slow reawakening. She breathed in deeply, several times. She was eager to feel the sun on her skin again, and to sit outside in the evenings, when all the work was finished.

She was about to walk away from the window to return to her work when suddenly she heard voices in the distance. Shouts and animated conversations, and laughter. At first she frowned, and then her heart started beating faster in her chest as he realized what it was all about : Thorin ! Thorin was back ! He was alive ! A smile came to her lips, and a moment later she ran out of the house as fast as her legs allowed it, without taking the time to comb her hair or to wash her dusty hands. She knew such details wouldn't matter for Thorin.

She walked through the streets of the village at a brisk pace, and soon she was breathless – but she didn't wlo down.

When she reached the village squares where all the Dwarves were gathered, she had to force her way through the crown. She was so eager to see Thorin that she used her shoulders to push people out of her way. He was so close... Her legs were trembling, and her fingers toyed nervously with the small wooden necklace Thorin had offered her for her birthday she had worn it every day, and she had cherished it like a real treasure. She wanted Thorin to see she was wearing it. She wanted him to see how much she cared for him.

Yet when she reached the center of the square, she saw that Thorin was not here. It was Dwalin. Only Dwalin. Her jaw dropped in disappointment, and she had to hold back her tears. This was so cruel. Why didn't Thorin come here himself ?

She took a deep breath and tried to regain some composure. She made an effort to listen to Dwalin's words.

« Erebor is ours again. » the warrior bellowed at the top of his lungs, and the crowd roared enthusiastically in response. « Our King is waiting for us in Erebor ! Thorin Oakenshiled defeated the dragon, and now Erebor is ours again ! Our homeland is awaiting us ! »

Everybody cheered, aand all the Dwarves around Laurelin fought to get closer to Dwalin. He bore a few more scars than the last time Laurelin had seen him, but otherwise he hadn't changed. And he had said that Thorin was waiting for them in Erebor. He said that Thorin was alive. This idea made Laurelin incredibly happy, yet she wondered once more why he hadn't come back himself, to tell his people the good news in person.

Several minutes later, Laurelin saw the Lady Dis run straight to Dwalin. She was breathless, and her eyes were very red as if she had been crying. She exchanged a few quiet words with Dwalin, then a strange sound escaped her lips – something that sounded both like a sob and an hysterical giggle. But she smiled, and Laurelin couldn't help but smile as well. Fili and Kili, probably. So they had survived too, thank Mahal.

After a long while, the Dwarves slowly returned to their homes and their tasks, but Laurelin stayed within earshot of Dwalin, eager to catch a word or two about Thorin as the warrior spoke with other people. She was too shy to adress him herself, even though her lips burned with hundreds of questions.

When almost all the other Dwarves were gone, Dwalin's eyes suddenly fell on Laurelin. Instinctively, she guessed he wanted to talk to her. She froze, and for a moment she was too frightened to go to him – did she truly want to hear what he had to tell her ? What if he had something bad to tell her ? Would she be strong enough to keep her composure in front of Dwalin, if he told her something hard to hear ?

« Laurelin ? » Dwalin called out, and then she no longer had any choice. Her feet carried her over to him.

Dwalin greeted her with a smile.

« So you were successful ? » Laurelin started, feeling horribly awkward. She forced a nervous smile on her lips.

« Thorin has a special message for you. » Dwalin said in his gruff voice. He looked around to see if nobody was listening. « He wanted me to tell you that he had forgotten nothing. »

Laurelin's face lit up like a candle when she heard the words Thorin had wanted her to hear. Her eyes filled with tears of joy, but she didn't want to let them flow in front of Dwalin she had always been very shy in his presence, because he was so tall, so strong, so overpowering. Even though she knew he was kind-hearted, and a loyal friend to Thorin, she couldn't help being impressed every time she found herself in his presence.

She closed her eyes and tried to picture him saying those words.

I have forgotten nothing.

She could almost hear his deep voice, and see the sparkle in his piercing blue eyes. She wanted to see him so badly, and suddenly she felt as if somebody had lit a firework in her heart. She had not been so happy in a very, very long time, because now she knew the Thorin who awaited her in Erebor would be the same Thorin than the one she had learned to appreciate and to care for during the years spent in his company.

Dwalin hesitated, then he spoke again :

« He missed you, during our journey. » he added. « He was very worried for you. I saw him looking at this pendant of yours, when he thought nobody was watching him. He is very eager to see you again, now. He never says it aloud, but it's obvious. »

This time she couldn't keep her tears from rolling down her cheeks – but they were tears of joy. Unable te refrain herself, she completely forgot about her fears and without thinking, she hugged Dwalin between her white, slender arms. Then she realized what she was doing, and she let him go at once, blushing and apologizing. But she was still smiling, because the happiness Thorin's words had woken in her was stronger than anything else.

Dwalin smiled gently at Laurelin, showing a softer side of himself.

« Do you need help to pack your things, or to carry them ? » he offered, but Laureln shook her head, still a bit ashamed of how familiat she had been with him.

« N... No, thank you. » She said. « I still have Thorin's small wagon. It's big enoug for my things, and I have this small donkey to pull it... » And she gently caressed the little beast.

In truth, the donkey did not belong to her, but to her neighbour Freyna. But if Laurelin made room in the wagon for Freyna's stuff, then Freyna would probably be more than happy to use her donkey to pull it.

She was about to walk away, her hands trembling with emotion, when suddenly she turned around and looked at Dwalin over her shoulder.

« Thank you for your words... » She said with genuine gratitude. « It means a lot to me. »

Dwalin nodded in response, and then Laurelin left him for good. She had so many things to do, so many things to prepare !

And within a few months... I will see Thorin again !