So sorry this took so long to get out! I had this whole wedding going on, getting married and all. Lol. Which was amazing, btw.

Thank you to all the follows and favorites on this story! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 34

SUMMER

"Uncle! Uncle come quick!" Fili shouted, as he ran into the hall.

"What is it?" Thorin asked slowly, as he got to his feet and I looked over at his nephew.

He was smiling from ear to ear, and rushed us out of the city and into the sunlight. I picked up the skirt I was wearing so that I wouldn't trip over it, and then had to shield my eyes from the blinding light. It was summer, and the warmth that filled the air had me sighing happily. The Firebeards had not come back since the spring, and I didn't think they'd be showing their faces any time soon. Since then I had grown more powerful. I could transform faster, and even transform parts of my body if needed, like my eyes or my arms. Most of it was just for fun, but part of it was to test my limits.

"They are here!" Fili shouted almost right next to me, making me wince.

"I'd expect Kili to react like this, not you," I grumbled, earning a laugh from the elder prince.

Following his pointing finger, I made out the first group of dwarves as they traveled up the path, soon followed by numbers too great to count. From my side, Thorin drew in his breath, and he walked forward a little so that he could see them better. Kili suddenly joined us as well, and Balin followed shortly after with Dwalin and several other dwarves, who came out to see what the excitement was about.

"By my beard," Dwalin whispered.

"Our kin," Balin smiled slightly, as he came up along side me when Fili hurried forward.

"Here we go," I chuckled softly.

We all started helping as people filtered in, and slowly things started to move along and get taken care of. Everyone in the mountain had spent the last two months cleaning out as many rooms as we could so that we would be ready for this. I had stayed up late many nights to get the rooms cleaned out so that there would be enough room. I couldn't help the smile that stayed plastered on my face as every dwarf who came near was able to greet Thorin. The look on his face had my heart squeezing painfully. His people were here, and they were safe, and now the city could truly start over. It was something he had feared for a long time, not knowing if their travel would be a safe one.

"Where is he?!" a woman shrieked, as she rushed through the crowd.

She was one of the few dwarf women who didn't sport a beard. There were many that did and some that didn't, it was all about preference. Her long black hair was braided and pulled back, and her sharp blue eyes reminded me of Thorin. I had no doubt on whom it was, and I smiled as I walked back to Balin as returned the expression.

"Thorin!" she cried as she reached him, and I watched him hug her tightly.

"Dis," he smiled warmly, after he finally pulled back. "It is wonderful to see you."

"Mother!" Kili laughed bouncing over, and Fili soon joined him.

"My boys!" Her voice was thick with emotion.

She pulled both the brothers to her and hugged them tightly. I could tell that both were overjoyed to see their mother. When they parted, she turned back to her brother. Thorin was smiling as Dis grabbed his hands again as everyone filtered into the city. They had all the supplies from the Blue Mountains and it helped me relax as everyone seemed to know what to do. Slowly, I walked over to Thorin, and Fili smiled at me and grabbed my hand.

"Mother, look who Uncle found along the way," he grinned yanking me over.

"I'm used to your brother being rude, not you," I laughed, repeating my earlier statement.

Her sharp blue eyes widened in shock and I cleared my throat as tears formed in her eyes. Dis walked over to me and I let her take my hands. She stared at me for several minutes, and I blinked back the tears that had come to my own eyes. Dis reached up and moved some hair from my face, like I wasn't real.

"Arina," she smiled, blinking back more tears. "It's been over thirty years, and look at you."

"It's good to see you as well," I grinned back, and pulled her into a tight hug.

She wrapped her arms around me, and gave a tight squeeze before backing up. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Annoying your brother," I chuckled, as Thorin walked over when she let go of me.

"More than that," Thorin rumbled fondly, as he wrapped a hand around my waist.

"Oh, am I looking at a future queen?" Dis grinned, the moment suddenly over.

"You are," Thorin smiled, when my cheeks went red.

Dis clapped her hands together in delight and hugged us both before backing up. "Oh this is going to be wonderful!" she exclaimed, as she rushed off. "I have so much to do!"

"Well..." I said slowly.

Thorin laughed, a sound I never got tired of hearing, and I leaned against him as we stood and greeted the hundreds of dwarves that were coming into Erebor. They all put themselves to work without our help, and got started on making themselves at home again. He looked over his people with such pride and joy, that I smiled and looked down for a second. As I looked to the ground my sight suddenly blurred and I inhaled a sudden breath as it faded and threw me into a vision.

"Thorin," I gasped, before I was lost in the vision.

I wasn't next to Thorin or even outside of Erebor anymore. Standing alone in a large field, I looked up and felt my body tremble. Before me lay Mt. Gundabad, and the fortress that lay within. Orcs filled out, battle ready and the numbers weren't vast enough to be a threat. Voices echoed behind me, and I looked back to see that there were those who had formed the alliance. From the feeling I got, they had far greater numbers than the Orcs. Blinking, I turned back to the mountain, and stepped forward when something stirred in the mountain.

A huge shadow lifted from the fortress and a great roar echoed across the battlefield. Fear stabbed me in the gut, mostly because I couldn't make out what the danger was. There were no wings, just glowing yellow eyes, and I couldn't truly make out the body. It settled itself behind the army of Orcs and I clenched my fists in anger. What was that?!

Thrown back to the present, I gasped a breath and found hands holding my arms. I had reached out to Thorin before my vision, and he had grabbed me. We were still standing outside, and dwarves were still filtering into Erebor.

"Arina," Thorin demanded, as he looked down at me.

"I'm...I'm fine," I said slowly, as I blinked to get my vision from blurring.

Looking up at him, I shifted so I could stand without his help. When he slowly let go of me, I turned toward the others for a moment and watched everyone. My heart was racing, and I had a slight shake to my hands. Swallowing, I forced myself to calm down and I squared my shoulders.

"I...have to go to Rivendell," I said swiftly, as I turned to walk inside.

"Why?" he asked, as he turned to follow me.

I hurried to our room and sat down on the bed when we were in silence. Thorin followed me, and shut the door firmly behind him as he walked over. He knelt in front of me, and I lifted my head so I could meet his eyes.

"What did you see?" Thorin asked.

"A battle," I said slowly. "Or at least the start of one...but...it wasn't' the Orcs that unsettled me. There was a shadow...a shape of some huge beast that I could not see."

He paused for a moment, and his expression fell. Thorin laid his hands on my legs and rubbed one of them. "Then go. Go as fast as you can," he said quietly. "You fear it is someone from your family?"

"I do," I whispered. "I could be wrong, but I would rather be prepared. I just...I never saw anyone after my father got me out. But I cannot be unprepared. I can't."

Thorin nodded, so I reached forward and moved some of his hair from his face. He gave me a slight smile, so I leaned forward and kissed him. Returning the affection, Thorin wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me to my feet. My arms tightened against his neck, and he pressed his face into my neck and kissed the skin there.

"You have five days," he rumbled against my lips.

"I will be back in three," I promised.

"I'll hold you to that," Thorin smiled slightly.

Giving him one last kiss, I walked to the balcony and jumped off. Pushing my change into a dragon, I took to the sky and went far above the clouds. I gave a good few pumps of my wings and picked up speed as I flew. I had no time to waste, and at the same time I was terrified. I didn't know any shifter that ever had visions. I didn't know we could even do that!

I arrived over Rivendell by sunset, and I sighed as I dove and transformed into my human form. I had startled several elves in the process, but Elrond was already waiting for me. I hurried to him when I was on my own two feet, and he let me grab his hands. The distress must have been clear on my face, because he spoke before I had the chance to even open my mouth.

"What is the matter?" he asked, frowning with concern.

"I need you to tell me what you knew about my father, or any of my family that you knew," I replied urgently. "I had a vision today..."

Elrond looked at me for a moment, and then led me to a private room so that we could talk. He set me down gently in a chair and ordered some food and wine. I decided to eat the bread that was offered, and savor the wine since I was upset. Crossing my legs, I waited for him to answer me as he stood with his back to me.

"Your father is long dead, Arina," he rumbled, and he glanced at me when I sighed with relief.

"Then what did I see? And why?" I asked quietly.

"I knew that your father had visions. His power was unlike any shifter I had ever seen before. It is rare, but every once in a while someone will see it," the elf replied. "I have been watching for him, and I've seen nothing. He died that day that he helped you escape. I'm sorry."

"Part of me knew that," I said softly, looking down. "I'm glad what I saw wasn't him. But then what did I see?"

"I'm not sure," Elrond shook his head. "Your powers are growing far more quickly than we had thought. You will need to pay attention to that. We have one full month before we march on Gundabad. Get your dwarves on your side if we can."

"They will be with us. I will make sure of that," I said softly. "Dain will be arriving within the week. Thorin has mentioned it to him by letters but we won't go any further until after the end of the week."

"Good," he nodded his head.

I stayed in Rivendell for two days to learn more about what Lord Elrond knew about shifters. It was much more than I knew. The fact that I was following my father in power overjoyed me, but that didn't answer who I had seen in my vision. As far as I knew it might have been just a fear that I had put there. I left in the early morning on the third day and used my dragon form to fly. I could cover more ground and it was much faster then an eagle.

I arrived over Dale by the afternoon, and dipped below the clouds to announce my arrival with a roar. Once, people would run and hide at the sight of such a mighty dragon, but now they all waved or shouted their greetings. Bard looked up from where he stood on his balcony as I flew by and I came to a gentle land near the gates of Erebor. I rumbled at the sight of home, and sighed happily. I had missed sleeping in the same bed as Thorin, even if it was only three days. He was walking out as I turned human and I approached him in silence, but I had a smile on my face. Thorin returned it, and reached out to gently caress my cheek.

"Were you successful?" he asked as I took his arm.

"Sort of," I sighed. "It is not my father, he is long dead. But I'm not sure if I put the shadow there or if it is something we are facing. Elrond said I seem to be following my father in terms of power. It's growing at such a fast rate that he wasn't exactly surprised that I had this."

"Did he say anything else?" Thorin looked down at me as his fingers laced with mine.

"We have a month before we march on Gundabad," I returned slowly. "I need to get you and Dain on the same page so we know what we are doing."

"I will not sit here while my queen goes out to battle," Thorin replied firmly. "Neither would any of our kin. Dain will be a bit more difficult to convince."

I laughed suddenly. "Seven months ago, he was eager to give every living thing a good hammering for you. I saw you two embrace on the battlefield. I think I will have little problem."

"So confident," Thorin mused.

"I'll make it work," I smiled as we walked in. "So, what is my task for today?"

"You, my dear will be coming with me!" Dis said suddenly, as she appeared through the crowd and snatched me from Thorin. "You are getting married in less than a month."

"What?!" I yelped, as she dragged me away from Thorin, who had a beaming smile on his face.

"Yes," she smiled. "Dain has already arrived with his kin, and I've already sent out the invite to some men of Dale. The elves don't need to be here for the wedding, but I sent the invitation out for it and the coronation. Traditions have changed, I figure why not just go with it."

"Oh Dis," I laughed, as she pulled me into a room that was directly below the King's room.

It was a large room, with two couches a bed and in the middle of the room there was a beautiful dress. It was white, with floral designs twisting around the front to the waist, and it flowed perfectly where it was.

"Oh wow," I breathed. "How did..."

"Apparently, my boy is smitten with a she elf. She informed me that she had some people working on this for the wedding out of Thorin's request," Dis smiled arching a black eyebrow at me. "He knew it was something you wouldn't even think about."

"I...I have no idea what to say," I whispered.

"And your ring for Thorin came in," she laughed.

"I think that was the only thing I did that I remembered," I laughed suddenly, as I sat down on the bed. "What else?"

"You will be coroneted the next afternoon. The crowns are in, and your royal robes and outfit is up in the room where Thorin is," she smiled.

"You are back for not even a week," I glanced at her. "And you've already got this all started."

"It's what I'm good at, and no one can stop me," Dis replied putting her hands on her hips. "Gandalf and Balin will be here to take care of both of them. Balin will be the one marrying you both and doing the crowning under Gandalf's instruction."

I felt my heart flutter and suddenly my hands were trembling slightly. This was all very real, and it was happening right before we were marching out to battle. Taking a breath, I calmed myself and then looked up at Dis who smiled.

"I always knew you two would find each other," she mused, as she sat next to me and patted my hand gently. "No matter how long it took. When he figured you had died...it was so hard on him. He changed for a while, before slowly coming back to life when he heard our father was seen near Dunland. After that, he informed me he met Gandalf and then suddenly they were on this quest."

"I didn't do it on purpose," I said quietly. "I had to hide...I had to disappear."

"We don't blame you lass," Dis replied softly. "I couldn't believe my eyes three days ago when I saw you. Thorin told me when he saw you in Rivendell, and then the journey through this...we are very lucky to have you around. I have you personally to thank, because my boys would be dead if it weren't for you."

"I think it goes both ways," I smiled looking at my hands. "I am happy that I did what I did. Look at where we are now."

"Indeed," Dis agreed with a large smile. "Now, don't you worry about anything. I got this all under control."

"And you are okay, with...with Kili?" I asked slowly.

"Arina, my brother is marrying a shifter," Dis said bluntly. "While I do not particularly like elves...I'm more reasonable than my brother. She has shown nothing but love and support for him, and he is the other way. This is...all very new to me. But I will be fine."

"Some things never change," I smiled, unable to help myself.

"No, they do not," Dis chuckled. "My sons live, as does my brother. I think I'll take dealing with an elf, than to think that they should be dead."

I blinked a few times, and she smiled and reached forward and hugged me tightly. Returning the embrace, I rested my cheek on her shoulder and sighed a little. All of this was going to happen, and it was going to happen quickly.

And here we go. I had to change some things, but over all I really like it!