Chapter 13:

The beautiful birds flew over the rocky lands and mountain paths to settle us in a safe place. They laid Thorin on the flat surface of a jutting rock, and began to drop or place their dwarves there, too. I leapt off of mine with the help of Kili, the last ones to dismount. I stroked the bird in thanks, and then started towards the dwarf king.

"Thorin!" Gandalf bellowed, worry seeping into his voice. "Thorin," he murmured, passing his hand over the dwarf's face, muttering in Elvish.

Thorin sat up and I smiled in spite of myself. My former worry and current relief must have been plain on my face, because Thorin spared a short, painful laugh for me.

"The Halfling?" he asked.

"He's alright," Gandalf reassured him, saying a bit louder, "Bilbo is here."

Thorin got up with help from some dwarves, and started towards Bilbo. The hobbit sighed with relief to see the man alright.

Thorin shrugged off any remaining hands and stabbed a finger at Bilbo. "You!" he took a step towards the Halfling. "What were you doing?"

Bilbo frowned with uncertainty at his tone.

"You nearly got yourself killed." He drew ever closer to the hobbit, who looked helpless. "Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild? That you had no place amongst us?" He was within a foot of the hobbit, and he was breathing heavily.

The hobbit stared at the rock beneath his feet, looking utterly miserable and permanently downtrodden.

"I have never been so wrong," Thorin admitted in a whisper, embracing the hobbit with gratitude. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

Bilbo looked stunned. He finally found his voice, "No, I would have doubted me, too." He shrugged. "I'm not a hero. I'm not a warrior. Not even a burglar," he admitted, receiving a laugh from the wizard. The company turned to watch the Eagles fly away.

"Thank you!" Ori called, jumping and waving goodbye. I smiled and waved with him after our rescuers.

Thorin's eyes drifted across the sky and alit on a sight sweet to behold. Bilbo followed his gaze and asked quietly, "Is that what I think it is?"

Thorin replied, with a gravelly, soft voice, "Erebor. The Lonely Mountain – the last of the Great Dwarf Kingdoms of Middle-Earth." He closed his eyes and sighed, then opened them, his smile never faltering. "Our home," he declared.

"A raven!" hailed Gloin as a small bird flew by. "The birds are returning to the mountain."

"That, my dear Gloin, is a thrush" Gandalf corrected, smiling at the little creature.

"But we'll take it as a sign," Thorin nodded, smiling at Bilbo beside him. "A good omen." The hobbit returned the king's smile and followed the bird with his eyes.

"You're right," sighed Bilbo. "I do believe the worst is behind us."

I sighed heavily into Kili's chest. I didn't want to point out the fact of the huge whopping dragon that awaited us, so I merely smiled and closed my eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" asked Kili quietly.

"How far I've come," I replied without opening my eyes. "How far we've come."

He chuckled. "We've got a long way to go, Frey."

I jerked away from him slightly. I had never been called that before. "What?"

"I've been trying to find something shorter to call you. I finally made up my mind."

I leaned against him again. A nickname. This could get far more interesting.

This one is painfully short. It's really just a filler chapter as I shift from movie-to-movie. Well, movie to book and then back to movie - never mind. Heh. Anyway, please review!