Tara started to strap on her boots. She put a cape, given to her by a kind woman, over her shoulders and exit her room. The dwarves were already out the door and walking towards the boat. They started loading in weapons, food, and water. Tara got into the boat as did the others, until she noticed Thorin talking to Kili. He had a look of shock and betrayal from Thorin's words and turned to walk away.

"Kili," Tara said, getting out of the boat.

"What is wrong?" she asked.

"Uncle has said that I should not come," Kili said, a look of hurt spread over his features, "He said that I would only slow you down."

"What nonsense," Tara said, but she didn't believe the words she spoke.

She knew Thorin was correct with Kili's wound. He has been growing weaker by the second. Fili approached them, as did Oin. Bofur was nowhere to be seen, but the dwarves took off anyway. People cheered and waved at the leaving company and Bofur burst out of the crowd.

"Ah! So you missed the boat as well?" He asked happily.

Suddenly, Kili moaned in pain and began to fall over, but Fili caught him.

"Kili? Kili!" Fili asked worryingly

Tara felt his forehead,"He's burning up."

"We need to find a place to stay in," Oin said.

Bofur draped one of Kili's arms around him as Fili did the same.

"Quickly," Tara said, walking ahead.

She noticed the Master walking up the steps to his house and she approached him.

"Wait, please! wait!" Tara yelled making them turn around.

"We need your help," Fili said, "My brother is sick!"

"Sick? Is it infectious?" The master asked frightened, "Get back! Alfrid, get them back!

"Please," Oin pleaded, "We need medicine.

"Do I look like an apothecary?" Alfrid spat, "Haven't we given you enough? The Master's a busy man. He hasn't got time to worry about sick dwarves. Be gone. Will you go on? Clear off!"

Tara glared at him, but he just turned away and started whispering with Alfrid. She didn't stay to listen as she had more important things to worry about. They walked through the town, but the townsfolk seemed to no longer care as they weren't being bribed for gold. They came up to a familiar house and Tara started banging on the door.

Bard opened the door, but his face turned annoyed and angry when he saw them.

"No. I'm done with dwarves. Go away," he demanded and tried to slam the door.

Bofur quickly put his foot in between the door to stop it.

"No, no, no! No one will help us; Kili's sick," he pleaded, gesturing to Kili, "He's very sick."

Bard looked at Kili and hesitated. He let them in and they lay him on a bed. Autumn rushed to his side, bringing bandages and hot water. Kili groaned in pain, one hand pressed against his side.

"Can you not do something?" Fili asked.

"I need herbs, something to bring down his fever," Oin said.

"If only I had my medicine bag," Tara said, "Curse those elves."

"I have nightshade, feverfew…" Bard said, pulling out contents from his medicine bag.

"They're no use to us," Oin said, "Do you have any Kingsfoil?"

"No, it's a weed," Bard said looking confused, "We feed it to the pigs."

""Pigs? Weed?" Bofur said, "Right."

Tara racked her brain, trying to remember the plant Kingsfoil, then it hit her. The elves called the plant Athelas and her eyes brightened.

"Bofur," Tara yelled, "Follow me."

"Right," he said, then pointed at Kili, "Don't move."

"Like he's going to be able to move," Tara muttered to herself as she burst out of the building.

Autumn ran around, looking through the cupboards for any medicine. She was not skilled in medicine, so she felt like she was looking for nothing. Suddenly the house shook and she looked towards the mountain.

"Da? Mum?" Sigrid said.

"It's coming from the mountain," Bain said.

Fili got up and approached both Autumn and Bard.

"You should leave us," he said, "Take your children; get out of here."

"And go where?" Autumn asked with a sad look, "There is nowhere to go."

"Are we going to die, Da?" Tilda asked scared.

"No, darling," Bard reassured her.

"The dragon, it's going to kill us," She stated.

Bard looked at his children and wife worriedly for a moment, then reached up and pulled a black arrow from where it had been hidden as a drying rack for plants. His children and wife looked at the arrow in shock.

"Not if I kill it first," Bard said with courage.

He kissed his baby daughter on the forehead and hugged his other daughters. Before leaving he kissed Autumn and took Bain with him.

"Be careful," Autumn whispered to him before he left.

A small cry was heard from the small cradle next to the fire and Autumn went to pick up baby Amber. It wasn't long before Bain had returned without Bard. He told them what had happened, leaving many unanswered questions. When night had fallen, they heard something outside, so Sigrid went to check thinking it was Bard.

A shrill scream is heard from out the front door and Sigrid is seen trying to shut it. The sword of an orc was caught in between the door, keeping it from closing. The door is soon flown open and Autumn made a grab for her weapons. She slashed at the orcs, ducking and spinning to avoid the swings from the oncoming orcs. Orcs broke through the ceiling and Sigrid was seen hiding under the table, pulling Tilda with her.

Out of nowhere an arrow flew out and imbedded itself in the forehead of an orc right next to Autumn's head. A red headed elf entered the room, her daggers unsheathed. She started slashing at the orcs and another elf appeared from the ceiling. Three figures with hoods over their faces came from downstairs or through the windows. An orc was seen leaning over Amber in the corner of Autumn's eyes. She tossed a dagger and it cut the orcs head clean off. The orcs were quickly put to death and she could finally breathe.

Autumn ran towards Amber, picking her up and rocking her back in forth. The commotion had given her quite a scare as she was use to peace and quiet.

"Autumn?" A familiar voice was heard behind her.

She turned quickly and Faedra stood between Lia and Amara.

"Faedra," Autumn breathed out.

She hadn't seen her since she was but a teenager. She looked older and wiser than last they met. Her hair was no longer at her shoulders and her eyes were darker looking. She wore many more battle scars and even though her skin was tan her complexion looked pale.

"You killed them all," Bain said in disbelief.

"There are others," Faedra said, "Legolas, take Tauriel and follow the orcs to the bridge. Amara, Lia go around and block them off, be sure to kill them all."

They nodded and ran off.

"Tauriel, come," Legolas said as Tauriel glanced at Kili.

She nodded and followed him out the door.

"We're losing him," Oin said worryingly.

Autumn looked at Faedra, concern on her face. Faedra heard something behind her and quickly unsheathed a dagger, pointing it at Bofur.

"I know that plant," Faedra said, taking it from Bofur, "Athelas."

"What are you doing…?" Bofur asked worryingly.

"I'm doing Tara a favor," she said, "I'm going to save the only one who was able to love her properly since the death of my parents."

"I thought you didn't know the arts of healing magic?" Autumn asked, handing a now sleeping Amber to Sigrid.

"There were times when I did pay attention to Tara's teachings," Faedra smiled, but it quickly faltered, "Now hurry. We don't have much time."