I can't believe how fast this story is gaining followers! Thank you to everyone! Here is number 7!

Chapter 7

"Understanding and Celebration"

Her eyes were playing tricks on her, they had to be! Torshar could not even begin to imagine her mother was standing before her at the moment of her "death". She gazed at the figures on the platform as one moved behind her, removed the noose, and gently released her hands. Slowly, in slight terror, she backed away, "There is no way… You cannot be my mother…"

"Then am I not your father?" an elderly male voice asked and Torshar turned to see the figure remove his hood to reveal the emerald green eyes and white hair of the blacksmith; Yurbir.

Her heart was beating so fast that the versifier thought it would explode in her chest, "It… It is impossible… I watched you die… Hanging from this tree… you are dead!" she screamed in terror. She looked over at her mother and the bowman who still held her uncle at bay. Uriess reached up and pulled the hood back to reveal her oldest brother, Thbir!

"Not you, too! I musts be going insane!" she shrieked and turned her gaze to the last figure who exposed himself to be Nalor. Tears began to pour down her face as her knees collapsed beneath her, "It cannot be… You are all dead…"

"We are alive and well, my daughter of the moon." Yurbir slowly reached his hand out, "Feel for yourself…"

Torshar peered at his hand then gazed up into his eyes, "Father…?" she reached out and grasped his hand. When they made contact, any doubt that was in her mind fled as she gasped and more tears fell, "FATHER!" Jumping up and into his arms, Torshar wrapped her own around his neck as she buried her face in his shoulder.

The citizens cheered at the reunion but went quiet when Harar stepped up again, "How are you here?! We all watched you die!"

Yurbir glanced at the lord with disappointment and anger, "I knew of your ambition to kill me because my wife chose me over you and that you desired to learn the dark arts of witchcraft to do it… I informed Uriess who traveled to Lothlorien to seek council with the Great Lady in White. She learned white magic in case you ever did turn against us." The blacksmith explained and received an exasperated look from his brother.

"But father… That does not explain how all of you survived… There were bodies found in our home…" Torshar stated as she pulled back to look her father in the eye.

At this point Uriess had stepped closer to her husband and daughter, "The people that Killed were animals your brothers captured and brought home. I was able to mask them with a spell so Nalor, Thbir, and I could escape while your father went to see, Kilbera. The man who was hung was one beyond help. He came to your father for help on how to end his life himself and he spoke to him about our plan. Once he knew the result, he agreed and with another simple spell, he was transformed into your father. He was hung the day you ran… And what he said to you was what we told him to say. My darling, we never meant to hurt you… We only wanted to protect you. None of us ever imagined you would return to clear your father's name and restore our honor-"

Torshar interrupted angrily, "How could I not?! You are my family and you deserved to be restored… I love you all too much to allow to you to be disgraced any further." Uriess smiled and opened her arms to allow Torshar to envelope her in a hug, "I have missed you…"

The older woman smiled and kissed her head, "We have missed you as well, dear one."

Yurbir turned to address his brother for the final time, "Harar, for the attempted murder of myself and my family, you are hereby sentenced to life in prison. By the order of the council of elders of Valtek and decreed by Dain Ironfoot of the Iron Hills."

"You cannot do this! I am the head elder of the council!" he cried as two soldiers grabbed him by the arms and Thbir lowered his bow.

"No longer." From his cloak, the blacksmith removed a piece of parchment and held it up to the once elder's face to reveal the mark and signature of Dain.

He screamed in anguish and anger as a couple more soldiers stepped up and they began to drag him away, "No that is not possible! NOOOO!"

"Release the party of Gandalf the Grey and prepare a celebration!" Yurbir, the new elder, declared as the citizens cheered even louder than before.

That evening as the sun began to set, Ori was sitting with Nalor and Thbir rekindling their friendship, Gandalf and Yurbir were speaking with the other six elders are one of the fires, Torshar was dancing with Fili and Kili while Bifur, Bofur, and Dwalin watched laughing, and Thorin was ushered aside by Uriess to speak in private.

"Tell me, Master Oakenshield, what plans do you have with my daughter?" she asked with a smile, earning a tiny blush from the prince.

"No plans, madam! My company of fourteen and myself intend to travel to Erebor to slay the dragon Smaug." He stated as they stood together on a balcony overlooking the party.

"Does she know this?"

Thorin looked down to see the woman in question grab a very defiant Dwalin by the hands and dragged him out for a dance, "Yes, and I have explained to her why I do not wish for her to accompany us."

Uriess stepped up beside him and looked on at the sight, "And why is that?"

"I want her to stay like this…"

"Like what?"

The homeless prince turned his gaze over to the older woman, "For her to be happy… Always with a smile on her face… This quest will be extremely dangerous and I do not wish to lose her along the way…" he confessed.

The blacksmith's wife smiled sweetly as she laid a motherly hand on his lower arm, "Thorin, Torshar is a full grown woman… She is loyal, kind-hearted, an excellent warrior, and stubborn. She will honor your request but if you do regain claim of the Lonely Mountain and send for her… She will not come. I have trailed her all over Middle-Earth, even when she traveled to Erebor before the dragon attack; I have seen the way she looks at you. If you shut her out… You may never get her back…" she articulated and before Thorin could respond, Yurbir appeared.

"Pardon the interruption, Thorin, but could I steal my wife away for a dance?"

"Of course, Yurbir." The prince answered and bowed his head in respect as the couple returned to the party and began to dance.

After her dance with Dwalin then Ori and her brothers, Torshar stopped for a drink and a quick rest. Scanning the crowd she found no sign of Thorin until her gaze turned upwards where she spotted him on a nearby balcony. Smiling to herself she walked over to the steps, climbed them, and moved to stand beside her friend, "I am glad you came to save me."

"Well, I could not allow my best friend to die, now could I?" he joked and dug in his pocket; pulling out a necklace of gold that was carved in the shape of a tree with a noose hanging from a branch, "I believe this belongs to you, my lady." He stated simply and held it in front of her face as it registered pure joy and surprise.

"Thorin… You found it!" she quickly grasped it then wrapped the prince in a tight hug. He was taken by surprise by her outburst of gratitude and was knocked off balance but steadied himself by gently placing his hands on the moon child's waist. That is when he felt the tears fall onto his tunic and heard her sniffle.

"Torshar…?"

"Thank you…" she whispered, "Not only did you save me from a hanging and reunited me with my family… But you returned my most treasured possession… There are no words to express my gratitude you, King Under the Mountain…" this made the king-to-be stiffen.

'Does she really think that highly of me…?' he wondered and subconsciously held her closer. Not completely realizing what he was doing, Thorin reached a hand up and ran his fingers through her hair, "No gratitude is necessary…"

The versifier pulled back with a smile and wiped her eyes, "Forgive me… After the events of today, I am afraid I have turned into an emotional wreck!" she laughed.

"No… you are fine." Thorin assured, "Allow me." He said kindly as he took the necklace from her and clasped it around her neck the n moved her hair out from under the chain, "This gown… It is the same one Mrs. Turnbuckle gifted you so long ago, is it not?"

She smiled wider as she gazed down at the navy blue gown that was also returned to her, "Yes and the one I performed in for your birthday that night!"

Her smile made Thorin's pulse quicken, his stomach fill with butterflies, and his palms sweat, 'How can one woman cause all these sensations within me?!' he demanded of himself but could come up with no answer.

Suddenly her expression turned serious as she turned back to the celebration, "Dwalin tells me you are leaving in the morning…" her voice gave away her disappointment.

"Yes… We will rejoin the others at the burglar's home in the Shire then begin our journey from Bree after stocking up on supplies." The prince stated with equal disappointment as another merry song began to play, "Come!" he ordered kindly, taking her hand and quickly started down the steps.

"Thorin?! What are you doing?!" she cried out in happy confusion as she followed his lead.

"I want to dance with the most beautiful woman in Middle-Earth!" he shouted back over the music, making Torshar blush and laugh as they entered the circle where other couples were beginning an upbeat dance.

Gandalf sat off to the side of the dancing circle, smoking his pipe and chuckling as he watched Thorin and Torshar dance until a voice reached him, "Mind if I join you?"

The wizard looked to his left to discover Yurbir and smiled, "Of course, dear friend! Come, sit!"

The old blacksmith smiled and say beside the wizard as he dug out his own pipe and pipe weed, "They appear to be enjoying themselves, do they not?"

"Yes… yes they do, Yurbir. You should be proud of the woman your daughter has become. A woman of talent, intellect, beauty, a kind heart, and an exceptional warrior." The grey robed man stated with a smile which Yurbir returned.

"I am… Very proud. I thank you for watching after her all these years. Also, do send my thanks to Lord Elrond of Imladris as well. I know he offered her sanctuary there, should she ever need it." With a nod from the magic wielder the two fell silent, just smoking and watching the happy faces of the citizens. Gandalf laughed when Torshar traded Thorin for Thbir and Yurbir chuckled when she switched him with Nalor a few minutes later; laughing and enjoying herself.

"She loves us… But she loves Thorin more and I fear this quest may end her…" the new elder mentioned grimly, catching Gandalf's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"Her love is so deep for the Erebor prince that she will lay down her life for him if need be. I can see it when she looks at him… A look of love and undying devotion… I still look at Uriess that way. I cannot keep her here if she does not wish to stay, Gandalf. If she decides to follow Thorin on this journey, will you keep an eye on her for us?" the blacksmith asked and turned his gaze to the wizard who smiled.

"On my life and honor, Yurbir of Valtek, I will look after your daughter Torshar." He swore then they both looked back to see Torshar and Thorin laughing and dancing in each other's arms once more.