'What do you mean?' Dis asked in worry. 'Its all in your head, Thorin. You simply do not want to let her go.'

Thorin shook his head and handed Gandalfs letter to his sister. He could see the same doubt in her eyes which must have had shown in his own, as he had read it for the first time.

'So...the Istari has found a way to keep Brann in the halls of Waiting.' Dis spoke aloud to capture the essence of the letter. 'Brann will wait in the halls of Mandos until you join her and then...she may be granted to stay at your side in the halls of our fathers. But thats a good thing, is it not?'

'It is.' Thorin admitted. The thought of being reunited with Brann one day was overwhelming. He needed to refrain from the thought of quickening the process, which flashed up in his head for a mere moment.

'Then what is it, Thorin?' Dis asked irritatedly. 'Do not even dare to think about following her right now! I swear, by Durin, I will follow you just to kick your behind all the way back to the world of the living, were you belong! How can you even think about this? What about your daughters? About me, Fili and Kili?'

'Calm down, sister.' Thorin told her reassuringly. 'I am not going anywhere.'

His sister knew him too well. But he would not give up.

'Tell me whats wrong, Thorin.' Dis watched him carefully. 'You say that you can hear Branns voice. How is that even possible? What is she saying?'

'I...' Thorin sighed. 'She tells me that she misses us and tells me to take care of the gems. She calls out to me, but I try to close my mind against...whatever I am hearing. I am clearly going insane, sister.'

'Do you hear her now?' Dis asked carefully and looked around.

'No. I have only heard her in our chambers so far.' Thorin shook his head.

'The wizard said something about the necklace being a connection between us and Brann.' Dis chewed on her bottom lip. 'Maybe its not your rooms, but the necklace.'

'How is this even possible?' Thorin stood up and started pacing. 'Brann is dead. How is this piece of jewelry even important? This makes no sense!'

The lack of sleep and his grief numbed Thorins mind.

'The necklace, a token of your love to her, will keep her close to you. You will soon understand what I mean by it. Know this, your queen will always be with you. Your love has bound her soul to you. And through the necklace her soul will be able to travel between the halls of Mandos and Middle Earth, to you.' Dis read from the letter. 'Maybe he captured her soul within the necklace? Such things have happened in the past. In the First Age, Mahals highest Maiar, Sauron, was destroyed, but his soul remained intact. Rumors spread about his soul being captured in his ring of power, which corrupted the hearts of men and disappeared afterwards. If such things are possible, maybe Brann...'

'Brann is dead.' Thorins voice was hard and cold. 'Nothing can bring her back. And nobody.'

'No.' Dis nodded sadly. 'But clearly, a part of her is still with you.'

Dis stood up and walked to the door. 'Come. We will take a look at the necklace.'

Reluctantly, Thorin followed his sister to the royal chambers. He was not sure about his state of mind. Either he was going insane, or the lack of sleep had taken a toll on him. Maybe it was both. On their way, they ran into Fili and Kili. Although also mourning, the two princes seemed untroubled.

'Where are you going, amad?' Kili asked his mother as they passed them.

Dis looked at Thorin, but her brother did not react. Without a word, she gestured to her sons to also follow them. 'Fili, you come with us. Kili, please get the princesses and take them to the royal chambers. We will meet you there.'

Both princes looked surprised, but they knew better than doubt their mothers decision. Fili followed them with a stern expression, while Kili rushed off to find his cousins. Only a short while later, the royal family was assembled in the royal wing and Dis took charge. Thorin was holding the necklace in his hands and stared at it with a frown. At first, he did not hear Branns voice and already thought that he had imagined everything as he suddenly began to hear her again.

Thorin...do you hear me?

Thorin looked around in reflex and Dis noticed that he was panicking. 'Do you hear her again? Now?'

Thorin only nodded and his daughters and the princes frowned at their parents.

'What is going on here?' Zial asked. 'Who are you hearing, adad? What is wrong? Why are we here?'

Dis looked at Thorin questioningly and waited for his approval. Slowly, Thorin nodded and Dis began to tell their family what had happened. She told them everything and showed them the letter. She waited until the princes and princesses had processed the information and looked at Belladonna, who was still reading the letter.

'The grey wizard linked amads soul to the necklace?' Belladonna was the fastest of the royal dwarflings. 'Like the dark lord Saron linked his soul to the One Ring?'

'Sauron. And yes, at least after my understanding.' Dis smiled at her niece. The cursed wizard could have saved them alot of trouble if he had stayed and explained himself.

'How do you know about such things?' Kili asked his mother and his cousin and looked at them with big eyes.

'We read.' Belladonna answered shortly and made Kili wince.

'Ewww.' Kili only answered and earned rolling eyes from his youngest cousin.

'So...you are telling us, that amad is still with us?' Zial looked around in their rooms. 'Is she here right now?'

Yes! Yes, I am here! Tell her that!

Thorin jumped as he heard Branns excited voice in his head. Dis saw him jerk and smirked.

'Apparently, she is.' Dis had to smile. 'She drives your father insane. It seems that he is the only one who can hear her.'

'Why haven´t you told us that she is still here?' Gwen asked her father and frowned.

'I thought that I was...missing your amad so much that I started imagining her talking to me.' Thorin sighed and looked at his daughters. 'I still cannot believe that this is even possible.'

I am talking to you right now, Thorin. I know that you can hear me! Thorin!

But Thorin shook his head.

You stubborn, insufferable and blockheaded dwarf! Talk to me!

'How?' Thorin spoke out loud and did not know where to look. It was more than awkward to speak to somebody not visible to the living eye.

I can hear your thoughts, you do not need to speak out loud to me. Branns voice was soft and soothing. Thorin wanted to try, but the questioning glances of the dwarflings made him focus on the world of the living. Suddenly, Fili cried out and pointed to the necklace.

'Uncle, look!' Fili exclaimed.

The necklace in Thorins hands was glowing faintly.

Is that you? Thorin concentrated and tried to adress his wife in his mind.

I think so...I am still new to this. A soft breeze moved through Thorins hair and then over the heads of Fili, Kili and the princesses.

'Amad!' Belladonna knew instantly that her mother was around. She had always been the most sensitive.

'This is only wind.' Gwen scolded her younger sister.

Gwen is all her adad. Same blockhead. Thorin heard Brann state dryly and could not fight a smirk. This was definetly his wife and not his conscience speaking to him.

'Wind? Inside of a mountain?' Zial looked at her twin sister and frowned.

'This is your amad, my gems.' Thorin confirmed as his mind slowly began to accept the new presence. Brann was still with him. With them. In some way.

Kili has not said a word. Look at him...he looks as if he would faint. Never seen such huge eyes...Brann sounded amused and worried at the same time. A new breeze moved through Kilis hair and the young dwarf hissed.

'Aunt Brann?' Kili blinked after a long time. 'Why can only uncle hear her?'

My soul was linked to the other half of my heart, to you, my bear. I will only be able to talk to you...I can do this though...

Kili jumped as he felt lips on the tip of his nose. 'What was this?' sweet little pecks covered his face and he recoiled.'Ewwww, aunt Brann, stop that!'

Thorin smiled faintly as the princes and princesses began to talk about this turn of events and the whole room errupted into chaos. Brann was back with them, even if her body was dead. Thorin did not know how to feel about this. He still missed her. He missed to touch her, to kiss her and to hold her in his arms. But the knowledge that Brann would really be there when he would arrive in the halls of Mandos and that they had the chance to spend eternity together made him take a deep breath of relief. But he needed some answers. He needed to be alone for a while.

'Apparently, she can only talk to me.' Thorin informed his family. 'She can communicate with you in other ways, as Kili just experienced.'

Thorin turned to his sister and smiled lightly. 'Thank you so much. If not for you I would still think that I was insane.'

'Brann took a part of you with her when she died.' Dis comforted her brother. 'You miss her and grief numbs people. I know. We all know now.'

'I...I need to be alone for a while.' Thorin turned to his family.

'Tell amad that we...we miss her. And we love her.' Zial whispered and looked down at the necklace. Only reluctantly the royal family left the king. But this new turn of events was alot to handle.

Tell them...

'She loves you, too, my gems.' Thorin smiled. 'And she misses you all dearly. She wants to give Kili another kiss...'

Kili practically ran out of the room, followed by a sniggering older brother and his cousins. Belladonna turned at the door and looked back to her father. The sadness in her eyes almost broke Thorins heart. Dis took the youngest princess by the arm and squeezed comforting. With a silent and reassuring nod she looked back at Thorin and left the room at last.

'Brann, my love...where are you?' Thorin whispered into the dark.

I am...in the halls of Mandos, I think. I can see...I am not supposed to speak about it. All I know is that I was granted to stay here and wait for you. I tried to speak to you during the funeral, but you did not hear me then. It was a beautiful ceremony...all those flowers...But I could only look at you. My strong husband and king, I am so sorry...Brann sighed sadly. I was told that our daughters would also arrive here sooner or later, but this will take a while. I have to tell you, I was relieved to hear that. But...I am not supposed to tell you that either...oh well...This is overwhelming.

I told you that I would stay with you. Thorin could hear Branns whisper. It was as if she was standing behind him and was whispering into his ear. I did not want to leave you. I fought, I fougt so hard, but the decease was stronger than I. I could not fight enough as I was still with you, but I will fight now. But a word of advice. I would not show anyone that you can hear me. They would not understand. Promise me.

'I promise.' Thorin whispered and grabbed the necklace. He gave the glass pendant a kiss and heard Brann chuckle. He could feel her warm lips on the tip of his nose and her breath on his face. 'Will you be here the whole time?'

I will try...I am not strong enough yet to stay with you for the whole time. But I will regenerate as fast as I can and I will come back. Now, you need to sleep. You will have a straining day tomorrow. Thorin heard Brann sigh. I should not have told you this either...never mind. We will both have to learn to cope with our situation. Kiss our daughters goodnight for me.

And then, Branns presence was gone. Thorin felt cold and alone. Even if her soul was with him, he still felt the pain of her passing. He missed her real touch and he missed holding her in his arms. With a heavy sigh, Thorin walked to his daughters rooms and gave them a kiss each. He did not sleep that night.

The following months passed torturing slowly. Thorin Stonehelm and Dwana decided to go back to the Iron Hills, now that Dwana was no courtlady anymore. As it was Branns wish, nobody was told about her presence. Not even Dwana and her husband. Dwalin would miss his only daughter, but he understood. His little daughter had a life of her own now. A life at the side of her husband. Dwalin stood at the side of Thorin Oakenshield, Dis, Fili and Kili as they waved goodbye to Dwana and her family. Thorin Oakenshield felt torn about their departure. Belladonna had asked him if she could accompany them back to the Iron Hills. She wanted to stay with Nain and she wanted to travel Middle Earth. The youngest daughter of Thorin Oakenshield had not gotten her bright smile back since the death of her mother. Nain, her closest friend and cousin had become the only one who she really talked to. Dain and Mya had offered Thorin to raise Belladonna as their own, like Thorin and Brann had done with Thorin Stonehelm. Belladonna was thirty winters old now and had grown up to a wonderful young dwarf lady. But the sadness in her eyes was too much for Thorin to bare. He had tried to cheer her up, but he could see the same sadness in her eyes as in his own when he looked into the mirror. With a heavy heart, Thorin let his youngest daughter go. He knew that she was not happy in the Blue Mountains anymore and he knew that she would be in the best hands in the Iron Hills. So half a years after Branns death, Thorin Stonehelm, Dwana, Nain and Belladonna made for the Iron Hills.

She is so grown up. Thorin could hear Brann sob in his head and closed his eyes in defeat. Our little daughter is leaving.

Thorin was about to change his mind about letting Belladonna leave, but Brann popped in.

You did the right thing. She will be happy in the Iron Hills.

As Belladonna came to say goodbye to her father, Thorin hugged her for the both of them, himself and Brann. He gave the princess a kiss on her forehead and smiled at her.

'I ...we will miss you, my gem.' Thorin had switched to we in time. 'Take care and I will await the day when we will meet again.'

'I love you, adad.' Belladonna told Thorin and took him into her arms tightly. 'I will miss you, too. Goodbye amad.' Belladonna whispered the last words.

Thorin watched her say goodbye to her sisters, her cousins and her aunt and looked at Dwalin, who hugged his daughter goodbye.

'Take care of my little daughter, you hear me?' Dwalin told Nain. 'I would ask your father, but he is a no good...oh come here!' Dwalin exclaimed and crushed Thorin Stonehelm in an iron embrace. 'Safe journey, lad.'

Thorin Stonehelm nearly did not make it here and now, for Dwalin was suffocating him, but he nodded bravely. As the caravan left, the royal family stayed outside of the gates until it was out of sight. Belladonna looked back one more time and she thought that she could see a golden shadow behind her father. Shaking her head, she believed that the sunlight made her see tings that weren't there. Like golden shades in shape of her late mother.

When they walked back into the mountain, Thorin felt empty. The brat was gone. His wife was gone and so was his little gem. But he still had his two older daughters. Zial spent most of her time with Thror and Gwen had decided to spent her time with her older cousins, Fili and Kili, as well as Gimli. To Thorins relief, since Niar, Gwen had not shown any interest in another male dwarf. Gwen was strong and she would cope with the situation. Thorin concentrated on Zial, who spent way to much time with Thror and his family. Thorin respected Levek and Thror, but he still had issues with Dara. Ironically, Dara had been more close to Brann than to him in the past years, but Thorin did not mind. He did not want anything to do with her. He had still not forgiven her for wanting to ruin the best thing that had happened in his life, the marriage to Brann. And he had still not forgiven himself for the way he had betrayed Brann shortly after their wedding. With a sigh, Thorin joined Dwalin for an ale or more. Tonight, they were brothers in arms or better say, ale. They drank and talked about their loved ones, who were not longer with them. Thorin was alone, Branns presence had left him shortly after the departure of the caravan. Thorin was sad about the fact that he could not comfort her as he wished. She was beyond his reach.

Later that night, a tipsy Thorin had to carry a passed out and drunk Dwalin to his rooms. Spot and Sock were trailing behind, meowing loudly. Thorin gave them an extra large bowl of fish and dumped Dwalin on his bed. The king himself slept in the armchair by the fire in the company of the fed and content cats. Spot looked at the golden shade beside the sleeping king once more before he closed his eyes and meowed sleepily.

I promise that it will get better soon...