Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkien owns all save for characters not in his works.

EDIT: March 1, 2014 Added more to end of chapter

"When Rome's in ruin,

We are the lions free of the coliseums

In poison places, we are empty venom

We're the beginning of the end"

~Young Volcanoes, FOB

CHAPTER FORTY

Misty Mountains

The tree had fallen, hanging over the side of the cliff by just it's roots. Shouts and cries of alarm filled the air as several members of the Company struggled to cling to the tree. The fire that had helped drive back the wargs and orcs now seemed to turn on them, licking hungrily at the dry and flaking wood. Eating the smaller roots while their enemy watched.

Thorin lifted his gaze to once more meet Azog's. Since the name had past his lips, he could not shake the overwhelming grief that filled him, nor the anger that the pale monstrosity had survived. He had been so sure that Azog had died. Told himself that the danger was past and all was well.

It had been a lie.

A damn lie.

A lie that his mind had fed him.

Azog grinned at them, enjoying their desperate plight. Anger filled Thorin, rising from the depths of his chest and filling every part of him. He would not survive goblins, to die here at the hands of the Pale Orc. He looked down the tree to where Dori and Ori hung clinging to Gandalf's staff. He would not have their deaths on his hands. A cry rose in the air, and he snapped his head towards his nephews.

Fili had risen to his feet, shock and outrage on his face. Kili stood beside him looking murderous. Thorin followed their line of sight, staggering slightly as if he had been struck as Azog lifted something into the air. A body, struggling as Azog's hand held it by the throat, a woman. In the light of the flames he saw the long pale scar that ran along her face, the familiar clothing . . .

Breath caught in his throat, rage boiling in his veins, he took a step forward. A single relief and grief filled word passed his lips. "Nuilweyil."

Dimly above the yelling, the baying of the wargs and snapping of wood she felt her arms yanked and she was pulled from the back of a warg. Everything was blur, as her vision swam and smoke filled her lungs. As she was set on her feet Nuil became aware of the burning around her hands. The warmth around her wrist that she knew to be blood. The ropes having chafed the skin to the point that sores had formed and bled.

She stumbled on her feet, wincing as her body protested. Hunger gnawed at her stomach. Her lips cracked and mouth dry. The flames did little to help. The orc yanked her towards a wall of white fur, her mind helpfully supplying that it was Azog's warg. A moment later a large pale hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her into the air.

It hurt, a lot, being lifted in the air by ones neck. And no matter how many times she was held that way, was she ever going to get used to it. Choking on air she kicked out, trying desperately to fill her lungs. She was deaf to the yells that filled the air, only the grinning gaze of Azog, as her vision wavered, when he brought her close enough to see his leering face. Nuil knew she was lucky, so far, that he had only touched her in rage. Lucky that he had not wanted her. Blackness began creeping on her, and she wondered for one brief coherent moment, 'why was she still alive', and 'why was there fire?'

Azog dropped her when a rage filled roar filled the air. Slamming into the ground she bit back a cry, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he had caused her pain. Nuil lay for a moment gathering her scattered thoughts, then she raised her eyes and she felt the world just stop. Panic flared in her and she wanted to scream, anything to make this nightmare go away.

'No. Mahal stop him please!'

As much as she wanted to meet under different- better- circumstances, she still could not help but admire the fire- the rage, in his eyes.

Azog turned his attention to Thorin, a feral gleam in his eyes. She had to stop him, the image of Frerin flickering before her eyes as he had faced Azog all those many years ago, before he died like Frerin. With both ties hands in front of her she dragged herself forward, arms straining. Yet deep down she knew that there was no possible way she would make it to him. Azog was already urging his warg forward into a run, Thorin was racing towards him.

The first impact- she cried out as Thorin hit the ground.

Stunned he found her gaze, pain flickering in his deep blue eyes. Nuil dug her fingers in the dry dirt, crying as he rolled away from her.

Thorin rose again, looking winded but raised his sword once more. He was nearer to her, Azog turning his warg around to face him. They charged and this time Azog's warg opened its jaws and clamped down on Thorin, lifting him into the air as the dwarf let out a cry of agony. Nuil forced herself to her knees as Thorin brought his blade down on the wargs sensitive nose and the warg tossed Thorin. He landed on the rocks, further from her, unmoving for a moment as he turned his head from side to side in shock.

Azog spoke, sending one of his orcs towards Thorin. Nuil stumbled forward, knowing she wouldn't get there in time. Her legs felt like lead, her movements slow and stiff. The orc raised its blade, she fought to keep the tears from building, as sob tearing from her. A cry ripped through the air, before a small blur tackled the orc to the ground. They rolled before, Bilbo- their burglar, their hobbit who they thought was defenseless-, stabbed the orc repeatedly until it lay still. Nuil jerked in shock as Bilbo rose to face Azog with a positively fierce scowl on his face.

Azog stared at the hobbit in surprise. Surprise quickly turned to anger. Nuil looked around and it seemed by some happy chance that her sword was strapped to the side of another orc beside Azog. It would be so easy to take it . . . and she did when more battle cries filled the air and the rest of the Company attacked, running through the flames with furious cries leaving their lips.

Lunging towards the orc, despite her body's protesting, she drew her sword from its sheath and sliced through the leg of the orc. It slid from the back of the warg with a scream and she turned to face the ongoing battle. Dwalin and Fili were cutting down wargs as Bilbo backed away from Azog, pure terror now in the hobbits face. Nuil ran to him, swinging her sword to cut into the hind leg of Azog's warg. It howled and Azog whirled around to glare down at her.

"You will not touch them!" she cried hoarsely, voice breaking. She hardly sounded menacing, nor looked it probably. Hands still bound, gripping the hilt of her sword, beaten, she no doubt looked like a small and helpless target. She staggered as she placed herself in front of Bilbo, hands shaking from the effort of keeping her sword raised.

Though he did not understand her words, he laughed, advancing on her. For a brief moment fear touched her, then a cry filled the air and everyone looked up as a great shadow flew by overhead.

"Eagles!" Bilbo cried. The eagles began to knock the wargs and orcs off the cliff, the ones that could fled as Azog screamed at them. The great talons dropped from the smoke filled air and began picking up the dwarves, their cries of alarm following them into the night. Nuil turned towards Thorin as Bilbo was lifted into the air. She sank to her knees and took his face between her hands, finding relief in the warmth of his skin and the slight movement beneath his closed eyes.

He yet lived.

"Thorin," she breathed into his ear, "Thorin, come back to me." Nuil pressed a lingering kiss brow before sitting back and letting the eagles lift her into the air. Exhaustion took hold of her, weariness filled her body, and as she was deposited onto the back of an eagle she let sleep take her. Welcoming much needed rest on a bed of soft feathers.

"Will she live?"

"I believe that is up to her."

"How could she have survived?"

"How indeed?"

"Do you not know anything, other than to reply in riddles?!"

"Calm yourself-"

"Calm myself! She is half dead! I will not lose her again!"

"Laddie."

"No, Balin."

"Save me from the stubborness of dwarves! You must rest Thorin, she only sleeps."

The crackle and popping of flames drew her from her exhaustion induced sleep. Nuil stirred slightly, finding that she was lying on her back and covered in many layers of blankets -or cloaks, to be precise- and very warm. Blearily she opened her eyes, the blurred image of the fire before her slowly swimming into focus.

A groan of pain passed her lips as she moved her muscles, but she was pleased that her hands were no longer bound together by coarse rope. They now lay at her side, stiff and stinging.

"Lass?" a voice asked beside her, and she guessed it to be Nori.

She shifted and moaned, her mouth felt like rough sandpaper when she opened it to talk. Mahal, water never sounded so amazing in all her life. ". . . Nori?"

"Aye, lass!" he sounded excited. "Lads, she's awake!"

There was the sound of a scuffle and soon several voices filled her ears.

"Are you alright, lass?"

"Anythin' hurt?"

"You hungry?"

"Give the lady some space!" huffed Bilbo, his voice rising above everyone else's. Surprising, she found, never having known the hobbit to be very outspoken around the Company. Nuil stared wearily up at Bilbo, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "How do you feel?"

She grimaced, "like a warg crushed me." Her voice barely above a whisper, she wasn't sure he had heard her, until he gave her a concerned look. Peering at her closer to see if there was any damage.

"You weren't crushed . . . by a warg . . . were you?"

Nuil swallowed thickly, her throat dry. "No. . . you wouldn't have water-?" she coughed hoarsely unable to finish her sentence.

"Give this to the lass," Oin said holding out a water skin to Bilbo. Instead another voice spoke before Bilbo could wrap his hands around the skin.

"I would like a moment with, Nuilweyil," said Thorin stepping into her line of sight. A relieved sigh passed her lips. He was alive and standing, a good thing. She felt tears burn behind her eyes, but refused to let herself cry. Thorin looked battered, blood still on his face from his cuts along his brows, by the way he stood, she could tell he was favoring his left leg.

With murmurs the Company backed away towards the fire, sitting around it while casting looks in their direction as Thorin lowered himself to his knees at her side with a small grunt. Before turning her eyes to Thorin she noticed Fili and Kili whispering to each other while casting them looks. Concern filled her as she saw that Kili was sporting a split lip, and Fili was a massive purple bruise on the side of his head.

"Nuilweyil," Thorin said, watching her eyes slowly drag from the Company to meet his own. She could not hide the exhaustion in the hazel depths. "Oh, thakul âzyung," he breathed reaching out to touch her face lightly. His fingers trailed over the fresh cuts, the swollen bruised side of her face, anger glittering in his eyes. She winced slightly, and he lifted his fingers.

Her lips curled upwards, " 'thakul âzyung'?" she murmured before he lifted the water skin to her waiting lips. Nuil nearly drained the whole thing before Thorin set it down. "I do believe that is the first time you have called me such."

A hooded look entered his face, and she found herself caught off guard by the intensity of it. "When you fell-" he swallowed, and rested his hand on her cheek, "-I believed you had died." Nuil drew in a long breath, slowing raising one of her hands to rest on the leather of his gauntlets. She saw his eyes narrow at her raw wrists, the cuts dried now. "Then I saw him, with you-" rage filled his face and she winced as his hand clenched over her jaw.

Thorin quickly dropped his hand from her face, but his eyes lingered on her neck, where dark bruises marred the pale skin. He lost himself in the memory of seeing her in Azog's hands, the rage that hand filled him. Seeing her hurt had angered him the most. He would never admit it in words but he had lost control, and ran towards Azog blindly seeing red.

" . . . come back to me," Nuil murmured, reaching out to touch his face. "Dark thoughts should not be dwelled upon." Thorin shook himself, returning his gaze to Nuil. He did not miss the flash pain in her face when she did this. Leaning forward he leant his head against hers.

"I thought I had lost you," he murmured.

"Irmo and the Lord of Mandos let me return," she breathed. Thorin went to pull away and stare at her, wondering at her words, but her hand caught his collar and kept him before her. "Aule wanted it so." He frowned at the mention of his creator, caught between disbelief and astonishment at her words. "You do not have to believe it, but I only speak the truth," she murmured.

He did not know what to think. The fall, he knew, should have killed her. The bottom of the mountainside, had been far, far, below them. And if Nuil's words were true, then he had indeed been blessed by Mahal. Thorin frowned, unsure of what to believe. Her words seemed outlandish, and perhaps she was using it to cope with her capture. But he did not want to disbelieve her words. He knew she did not lie to him, and rarely bent the facts when speaking with him.

Nuil sighed at his silence, touching his beard softly. She would be fine if he did not believe her, at least in her mind she knew she had been honest. What caught her off guard though, was when he caught her face between his two hands and looked her in the eye.

"I'm glad that you are here, thakul âzyung," he murmured.

"Mm."

He leaned in and Nuil could feel his hot breath on her face, not minding in the slightest. Without hesitating he brought his lips to hers, wrapping his arms around her body while pulling her up against his chest so that there was no space between them. Nuil was careful not to make a sound of pain as his lips crushed hers bruisingly, responding hungrily to the kiss instead.

She buried her hands in his hair, taking note of everything around her. The taste of salt on his lips from sweat, the heat of his hands against her aching back, the growl that came deep in his throat. Her skin burned from his touch and she felt breathless, a moan rose from her. Thorin pressed forward, and she willing let him until she heard the cry of an eagle fill the air.

They broke apart, breathing heavily.

"Where are we?" Nuil panted looking over Thorin's shoulder. She noted the sky, and the birds flying overhead. The moon was out, and it seemed that they were still in the mountains.

"The eagles brought us here," Thorin murmured, loosening his hold on her. "They call this the Great Shelf."

"Indeed," said a deep voice from the ledge. Nuil's eyes widened at the sight of a massive eagle perched on the edge. His dark feathers gleamed in the moonlight, great talons gripping the stone, while his beak looked as though it could cut through anything. What made her gasp, was the depth in the eagles glittering eyes. They shone with knowledge and understanding, and something else. She couldn't put a finger on it, but he seemed ageless- timeless. Like elves, but more so. "I am the Great Eagle, and I welcome you, young fledgling, to my domain."

Nuil bowed her head, in reverence and awe of the magnificent being.

"My master, Lord of the Skies, told me a borrowed spirit would cross my paths," he went on. Nuil stilled and felt Thorin stiffen beside her. She dared not move though, her attention rooted on the Great Eagle. "Your path is a perilous one, little fledgling. I only hope that it does not destroy you."

"Manwë, told you about me?" were the words that left her lips then.

The Great Eagle bowed his head slightly, his gaze still on her.

"For now, you and yours will rest tonight," he went on, turning his attention to the silent Company gathered around the fire. "On the morrow you will be taken down the mountain so that you may journey on your way." Thorin bowed his head, in both respect and gratefulness. The Great Eagle seemed pleased and spread his great wings, all the while Nuil stared in awe, before turning and flying off into the night sky.

She let out a breath, she hadn't known she had been holding, before looking back towards her Companions. Gandalf had risen, standing tall and grey among the dwarves, his gaze on her. Nuil could not read the look in his eyes, she could not begin to understand the emotion playing across his face. He slowly approached her, growing taller before her eyes, and she shrank away instinctively. Thorin frowned at the wizard, reaching a hand out to rest on Nuil's abdomen.

Her mind flashed back to the water in the ravine and the hand forcing its way up her tunic. With a startled cry she flung his hand away and flinched into the wall behind her.

Now Thorin stared at her, Gandalf stopping by his side, and the Company had risen from their spots around the fire. Breathing heavily, Nuil shuddered, closing her eyes and banishing the memory in the ravine. Worry filled the dwarves eyes, while Gandalf leaned on his staff.

"I think, my dear, it's time you told us all that happened in your absence."

Silence met Gandalf's words. Other than the crackling of the fire, the only sound was breathing and cries of the eagles still flying overhead. With a shudder Nuil lowered her gaze to her lap, her hands fumbling with the hem of her travel stained tunic, eying the dried blood with a feeling that could only be described as indifference.

"Nuil?" came a soft voice from the fire, and slowly she raised her eyes to meet the concerned gaze of Bilbo. She clenched her jaw, fighting the urge to avert her gaze. Bilbo's voice pulled the others from their silence and this time Thorin reached out for her, as if he were approaching a spooked animal, his larger hands gripping her smaller ones. Nuil looked at him, feeling a small amount of guilt for reacting the way she had.

"I told Thorin-" she looked to Gandalf, speaking carefully, "-that Irmo and Mandos, granted me another chance."

The wizards brows rose, and he peered closely at her. And he did find what he was looking for. A light shone in her eyes that he had seen in one other person before her. "You died then."

Nuil nodded. She wondered if Gandalf would believe her, or tell her it had only been a dream. In her heart, she knew it was not. Part of her feared that they would claim she hit her head to hard on the way down, or pity her because of her outlandish claim.

"This has happened before," the wizard said, and Nuil's eyes widened. "To a High Elf of Gondolin, in the first age. He is known as Glorfindel, the Balrog Slayer, reborn." Murmurs rose up around the campfire, and Gloin stepped forward with a heavy frown on his face.

"An' just what is this elf magic?" he demanded. Gandalf spared the dwarf a nonplussed look.

"It isn't magic, master dwarf, it is the work of the Valar," he replied in a clipped voice. Gandalf's gaze moved to the night sky, a thoughtful look crossing his face. His mind turning to his conversation in Rivendell with the White Council. "Dark are the forces at work," he murmured shortly.

"What then? How did the- orcs, get you?" Dori said, casting a worried glance towards Thorin. The dwarf king stiffened slightly, his grip on Nuil's hands tightening. Their attention was once more on her. Nuil swallowed thickly, choosing to look at the buckle on Thorin's coat, as the memories filled her head.

"I woke in the ravine- it was filling with water, they found me there . . ." she shuddered. "They- Azog, decided that they would take me with them to use me. To lure you to him."

"Did they hurt you lass?" came Balin's immediate response. Nuil looked at the white haired dwarf frowning.

"Of course they did!" Fili snapped. "Look at her face!"

"Fili." Thorin looked at his nephew and the prince fell silent, looking at his feet with a scowl on his face. Nuil wanted to tell him that her face would heal and it wasn't the worst thing she had done to her face. But no words left her mouth, and once more Balin spoke.

"Lass, did they, touch you," his careful words made her want to turn away from them all and forget this was happening. Part of her wished that she hadn't fallen off that stupid cliff. But she understood Balin's meaning. At least she knew that they cared about her wellbeing.

"No." Relief filled their faces. "He stopped them before it went that far." She did not dare to meet Thorin's gaze, knowing well enough that he was glaring. Unlike the others, he spent more time on the meaning of her words. She could feel the rage, the slight tremor in his hands.

"Well, we're glad to have you back, lass," Balin said. The company murmured in agreement, some more enthusiastically than others, but all the same. Gandalf then declared that it was getting late and that there was a long day ahead of them. Nuil was glad for it, relaxing as the Company began to settle down for the night. A grin spread on her face, when Fili and Kili approached her. Thorin let go of her hands so that they could take each of hers respectively, the brothers sitting on either side of her.

"We're glad you're back, Aunnie," Kili said lightly embracing her. "We missed you."

"Me too, mimel ze."

"I hope you don't keep calling us that forever, amadinh," Fili said grinning. "We're not so little anymore."

Nuil scoffed, gripping their hands tightly. "You two will always be little to me." They smiled at her, holding her hands. She looked at their faces, taking in Fili's bruises and Kili's split lip. "What happened?" she asked withdrawing her hands from theirs and touching the brothers faces lightly.

"Just a scuffle with goblins," Fili said with a shrug. She did not miss the protective look he sent Kili and there was little guess as to why he had a bruise on his face. "We fell into their lair and met the Goblin King. Nasty business."

"A good thing you weren't there, too," Kili added.

"There really is no good way to see the situations had I been there or not," Nuil reminded them. They looked down and she regretted her words, remembering that they had seen her fall and it was unfair of her to say such things. Nuil pulled them closer, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads. They buried their heads in her neck and for a moment it felt like they were dwarflings once more. "Ma âzyung zu," she murmured to them. "Now go get some rest."

They drew away and gave her wide grins, and she mirrored them when they kissed her cheeks, before rising and joining the others. A sigh left her and she looked at Thorin. He was standing now, arms crossed and staring out into the night with a dark look on his face. It was moments like these that she feared he was losing parts of himself, dwelling on the past instead of the future. Letting his anger and pain overrule anything else.

"Thakul âzyung?"

He turned to her and Nuil held her hands out to him, an invitation. Thorin came and sat beside her, a grimace working its way across his face as he rested beside her. He took her hand in his, entwining their fingers and bringing their hands to rest in his lap. Nuil felt warm, her shoulder pressed into his, drawing heat from his own.

"What happens now?" she murmured. His thumb began to rub circles into that back of her hand.

"We continue on," he murmured. "The eagles will take us to a place called Carrock and from there we will make our way to Mirkwood." He all but spat the name 'Mirkwood', and Nuil did not- could not fault him for it. She shuddered at the mention of the forest.

"If I could be given my way, I would not venture into those woods willingly."

"No?" There was genuine amusement in his voice. "Other than the elves that reside there it should be like any other forest we have traveled through."

"You are jesting?" She said with raised brows. He tilted his head, in a nodding fashion, before bringing their hands to his lips and kissing the back of her hand.

"Too soon Durin's day will be upon us," he murmured looking at her, his eyes lingering on her bruises. "We must make it to the hidden door before then. There is no other way." Thorin breathed out bringing his free hand to lightly trace her scar, the one on the right side of her face trailing from her brow to her jaw. She shut her eyes and leaned into his touch, enjoying the heat that emanated from his fingers, and the pull in her gut, wanting nothing more than to be wrapped in his arms and being showered with his ravenous kisses. "I would have you safe, but it does not seem that my wish will be so."

"Many wishes are hopeless," she murmured, opening her eyes to see a dark look cross his face. He withdrew his hand and Nuil instantly missed it, wanting to take back her words. Thorin looked down, a frown marring his face. Nuil reached out and touched his face, hooking her finger beneath his chin and drawing his face back up. His eyes determinedly met hers, passion and fire burning in the blue depths. So much was thought, yet unspoken. "Rest with me."

Thorin opened his arms to her and Nuil laid her head on his chest, her right hand resting over his left breast where his heart lay beating. As her eyes closed she felt him press his lips into her hair.

The morning was pale as the sun had yet to rise over the mountains. Thorin woke with a groan, his body waking and the pains of his fight surging to the surface as he drew in a deep breath. He was about to rise when he felt another being stir beside him and he looked down. A brown head of hair met his sight, while the hand on his chest lazily shifted closer to her face.

Nuil.

His arm wrapped around her waist tightened. He kept telling himself that she really was there, she was real and not his imagination. But she had been gone. She had died. Yet here she lay in his arms, warm and real. Still with him. His own. Mine, his mind supplied, as he brushed her hair from her face and took in her sleeping visage. Despite her injuries and Oin's adamant protests that they should have killed her, she was here.

As his mind cleared and noticed that she had her leg draped across his. He certainly didn't mind, wondering if this was what it would be like to wake every morning were she his wife. Would it be the same waking after making love to his wife? With that thought he slowly pulled away from her, carefully laying her back down on the bed of cloaks and blankets before rising and facing the horizon. He shook himself.

He was a leader. King. He could not dwell on such thoughts while he still had a duty before him. He would only do so when the time allowed for it.

"Thorin . . ." he turned at the sound of her sleep filled voice, smiling gently at her as she blinked up at him. Yes, he could get used to waking like this. He certainly could.

It was quick work getting ready that morning. Supplies were limited, if they had any. The eagles took them after their Lord bid them farewell. Nuil, who had been asleep the first time they had flown on that backs of the great eagles, watched wide eyed as they soared through the sky. The ground lay before them, spread out in all directions. The mountains behind them and a wide expanse of land before them. Mirkwood, but a long strip of dark green in the distance, and the mountains rising beyond it. The wind howled in their ears and the voices of the Company were lost to her ears.

The eagle that carried her flew with grace and power, that she felt in the muscles moving beneath her legs. The feathers, softer to the touch, hid the sheer power of the magnificent bird. She was grateful for them, glad that they would not have to climb down the mountain. Yet the thrill of flying, was not all pleasant. Land was where those with legs belonged, the air was for the birds.

Their destination, the place that the eagles took them to was called Carrock. A tall pillar of stone rising from the ground. As the eagles circled the pillar it was easy to see the great steps carved into the stone, winding down the rock. Her eagle set her down gently, kindness shining in its eyes as she stood on unsteady feet. Nuil offered the eagle a grateful bow, and seemingly pleased the eagle took to the air once more.

When the Company was standing on their own feet once more, Nuil looked to Thorin, seeking his command for what they were going to do next. Yet the dwarf king's eyes were on something on the horizon and she watched him pass through the Company to stand at the very edge of the rock. Nuil followed his gaze and felt her heart come to a stop, her breath ceasing as her eyes drew in the sight before her. Her feet carried her to Thorin's side. She was not the only one, the Company following with awe and reverence in their eyes.

"Is that-?" Bilbo asked in a small voice.

"Erebor," Thorin breathed, "our home." His hand sought hers, and she slide her hand within his, giving it a gentle squeeze.

The lone peak rose up in the distance, far beyond the dark swath of forest ahead and empty plains. A twitter of a bird reached their ears and Oin gasped.

"A raven! Returning to the mountain."

"That, my dear Oin, was a thrush," Gandalf said, his eyes following its flight.

"We'll take it as a sign," Thorin said. Nuil looked at his face, seeing the hope there and feeling a sense of peace at his moment of contentment. She stared, trying to memorize the contours, how much younger he looked when the weight of his responsibility was forgotten. The moment he looked away it would return, she knew.

Bilbo hummed from beside them. "I do believe the worst is behind us."

Nuil drew her gaze back to the mountain, wanting so very much to believe the hobbit was right. Yet reason, left a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that the easy part of their journey had just ended and they were entering the wilds now. Home was behind. And home was ahead.

After writing the beginning of chapter 41 and getting to the end, I realized that it would be better to just put it with chapter 40, seeing as it was so short and it wrapped up the entire first movie/part of the story so nicely. So, if anything is messed up, let me know, I'll try to have chapter 41 out soon. And there always comes a point in a story where it gets so long you start to forget things, so if something is wrong let me know, I'm literally losing my mind trying to keep up with this story.

Thank you to my amazing reviewers. I don't deserve you, but you are all awesome anyways.

Also, soccer season is starting, so I will have less time to write. I'll make an effort to write and post as often as possible. But with school and daily practices, that time will be limited. I shall use it wisely.

As always, Read and Review!

~filimeala