Sorry for the late update! Here ya go!

Beorn showed his gratitude in trusting the company with his ponies for the ride to Mirkwood and he gave them enough food and water for weeks. Bilbo, who preferred a high variety of food, was sick of nuts and honey, he was almost feeling like a giant squirrel already. To his annoyance, Beorn had started to call him bunny. He was no bunny. He was a hobbit. But if he was honest, he liked bunny more than Thorins "halfling".

Thorin had been more relaxed during the stay at Beorns. He had smiled when his nephews or his daughter were close and occasionally, he had even smiled at Bilbo and had asked if everything was alright. Thorin showed his gratitude and his new respect for Bilbo openly and for a short while, the king seemed like a normal dwarf again. But then came the day of departure and Thorin was back to his grumpy self. He ordered the company to sit up onto the ponies and Bilbo winced at the thought of even more riding. His hobbit behind was still sore from the weeks and weeks on ponyback. Hobbits were good hikers, hence the feet. But riding was not so much his preferred way of moving.

The company bid their goodbyes to Beorn and then they continued their journey. The ride to Mirkwood was swift and untroubled. There were no orcs nearby and the shadow of a huge bear followed them and kept them safe. Bilbo looked back one last time before they entered Mirkwood and looked at the huge black bear standing on the hilltop, watching them. The hobbit feared to enter Mirkwood. The forest was sick, he could feel it. The trees were brown and unhealthy and the elven statues were covered with poison ivy. And if all of this was not bad enough, Gandalf left them to cross Mirkwood on their own.

Why did he even come here with you, if he wanted to leave again? That does not make any sense! You do not have the best sence of direction, but even you would have found the huge dark forest by yourself!

Thorin rolled his eyes at Branns humorous remark. But he had learned to trust the wizard and to not question his motives. He felt that the company was crestfallen by the departure of the wizard, especially Bilbo, who had talked to Gandalf - probably trying to persuade him to stay. But the wizard had rode away, yelling back at them to not lose the path, leaving them to deal with the dark forest and its inhabitants. Thorins mind darkened as he thought about the Mirkwood elves. A dishonorable bunch that lot. There was nothing worse than Mirkwood elves. So he thought.

#

Belladonna took a deep breath, but it did not help. The air was sticky and humid and she thought that she was going insane if she would not get some fresh air, soon. The company had entered the Mirkwood forest one week ago, or at least what felt like one week. The whole company was sick and tired. Of course, they had lost the path long ago and were now wandering around in the woods, without any sense of direction. They had to cross a black stream on their way north - or at least what they thought was north - and Belladonna remembered something Beorn had told them about the black water of the forest. Drinking some of it, or even touching it, would make people fall into a deep slumber and sometimes never to wake up again.

Kili detected a few branches which led across the stream and grabbed one of them to climb across. But Thorin held him back and ordered the hobbit to cross the stream at first, for he was the lightest. In fact he had not really ordered Bilbo to go, but he had told the company that the lightest should cross the stream first and that was Bilbo. The hobbit rolled his eyes as he saw all dwarves turn towards him and scrambled towards the branches of the tree. He only hoped that the tree was not as dead as it looked and that it would allow him safe passage over the stream. With more luck than everything, Bilbo reached the other side of the stream, but he felt dizzy. This was not good, is was not good at all. He turned to warn the company, but the dwarves - patient as ever - had already begun to cross the stream behind him. It went quite well until Bilbo saw Belladonna fall.

Belladonna was about to reach for another branch as she remembered a story told to her by her mother when she had been a dwarfling. The story was about a human princess, who fell into deep slumber and could only be awaken by the kiss of her true love, a prince. The prince had fought thorny forests and a dragon to come to the princess´ rescue. How ironic, that she, a princess, was now on her way through a similar forest and on a quest to slay a dragon. Belladonna was lost in her daydreams as she felt the root below her feet give away. She fell into the stream and gasped. No air filled her lungs, but water filled her mouth and in her panic, Belladonna swallowed some of it. She heard her father cry out for her before she closed her eyes and gave in to the darkness surrounding her.

'Belladonna! Donna! My gem, wake up!'

Belladonna blinked as she heard her mothers voice. She opened her eyes and sat up straight. Brann was kneeling at her side and smiled at her. She was young again, as young as she had been when Belladonna was born.

'Amad!' Belladonna leaped into her mothers arms. Brann was also strong again, not the fragile old woman Belladonna had to say goodbye to. 'Amad! I missed you so...where am I?'

Belladonna took a look at her surroundings and frowned at her surroundings. She had never seen this place before. Brann chuckled as Belladonna grimaced as a wave hit the rocks she was siting on and water splashed into her face.

'These are the ruins of Belegost.' Brann told her. 'Here, I told your father that I was pregnant with you. I threw up right over there...'

'Eww...' but Belladonna had to grin nevertheless. 'Aren´t these the ruins of the dwarven cities which fell during the war between elves and dwarves?'

'Yes.' Brann nodded sadly. 'But these wars are long over. It would do good to keep that in mind.'

'Is that why I am here?' Belladonna asked her mother who shook her head.

'No, my gem. You are here because you fell into the black stream of Mirkwood. You are in a deep slumber and you have yet to wake up.' Brann frowned. 'Your father is worried sick and for some reason I cannot tell him that you are here. His mind is clouded by some evil force. I think it might be the forest. Something evil dwells in there. I have not been able to speak to him since you entered that cursed place.'

'I will tell him that you are still with us.' Belladonna told her. 'As soon as I wake up. How do I wake up?'

'I have no idea.' Brann shook her head and bit her lip. As much as she enjoyed having her daughter with her, she hoped that she would soon return to the world of the living.

'Do you remember the fairytale you always told me when I was little? The one where the princess falls into a deep slumber and can only be awaken by a true love´s kiss?' Belladonna asked her mother, who smirked amused. 'I want this.'

'You are still young, Donna. Do you think that you have already found your true love?' Brann asked.

'No, but maybe someone found their true love in me already?' Belladonna frowned at her mothers laugh.

'And this someone is supposed to be in the forest with you?' Brann grinned as Belladonna cursed. 'Language, darling!'

'I did not think about that.' Belladonna grumbled. 'Maybe adad can kiss me.'

'Your adad can consider himself lucky that he did not fall into the stream right behind you.' Brann shook her head. Her husband really had no sense of direction and he could be clumsy at times. Of course he would never admit it. 'But what about...let´s say Bilbo?'

'Bilbo?' Belladonna sat up straight and looked at her mother in shock. 'The hobbit Bilbo?'

'No, the bunny Bilbo.' Brann answered sarcastically and shook her head. 'Yes, the hobbit!'

'Why the hobbit?' Belladonna looked confused and Brann rolled her eyes. Like father, like daughter. Compeletly clueless when it came to matters of the heart.

'Bilbo likes you. I can see it in the way he looks at you and smiles at you. Your father looked and smiled at me that way when we fell in love.' Brann smiled dreamily.

'He cannot be in love with me.' Belladonna shook her head. 'He is a hobbit and I am a dwarf. I am taller than him and I am hairy. I am the male in this constellation.'

Brann had to laugh out loud at that statement, although she understood her daughters worry. 'You seem to have thought about it already. But I would let him decide wether he finds you attractive or not. Do not close your heart, Donna. Your father will complicate things soon enough if he catches the hobbit glance at you this way. Just promise me that you are careful and do not let your doubt take over control.'

'But...' suddenly Belladonna felt a cold gravity pulling at her. The world around her as well as her mother faded and the last thing she saw was her mothers loving smile. She reached out for her, but she could not touch her anymore. 'Amad, stay here...'

Belladonna woke up coughing. She was completely lost and needed a moment to realise that she was laying on the forest floor, surrounded by her father, her cousins and Bilbo. Bilbo was leaning over her and his lips were only inches away from her. Belladonnas breath got caught in her throat and she stared at him while Oin fought his way through her family.

'Give the lass some air, will ya. It was a good idea to get some air into her lungs, master hobbit.' Oin patted Bilbo on the shoulder and Belladonna realised that he had probably given her the so called "kiss of life". She had seen Zial do it when she had worked in the infirmary. If a person stopped breathing another could keep the one in need alive with the own breath. So he did not kiss her. Belladonna frowned as she felt her heart wrnech in disappointment.

'Thats enough.' Thorin was at his daughters side immediately. He looked down at her in worry. 'How are you, my gem?'

'I am fine. I saw amad.' Belladonna bit her lip as the words passed them, but the company had already heard. Thorin paled, but Oin shook his head.

'In a near death experience, people tend to see what they think is the afterlife. Many see loved ones who have already gone. Don´t worry, lass, you are fine. Just might want to take it easy now?' Oin smiled at her and nodded at Thorin, who sighed in relief. Belladonna was about to apologise, but Bilbo was still with them.

'Thank you, Bilbo. You saved my life. Again.' Belladonna felt gratitude towards the hobbit, but at the same time she cursed herself to have brought herself into trouble again. She did not want to be a burden for her father.

Bilbo nodded in understanding. If anyone could understand her embarassment, it would be him. The hobbit burglar who had needed to prove his worth to her father. Bilbo was about to say something as Fili and Kili joined them.

'You fell into the stream! Right in there!' Kili watched Belladonna in worry. 'And I thought that Gwen was the clumsy dwarf out of the three Durin princesses.'

'Very funny.' Belladonna snarled, but Kilis cheerful behaviour already made her feel better.

Fili was the one who saw the look in Thorins eyes and took charge. 'Come on, Bilbo, Kili, lets get on the road again.'

He pulled his brother and the hobbit up and left with a last glance at his uncle and his cousin. They would have to talk about what had happened.

'I am so sorry, adad.' Belladonna murmured.

'Sorry about what?' Thorins voice was low, but Belladonna knew that she was in trouble. She could cope with her yelling father, but not with a silent one.

'Sorry about having fallen into the stream and worrying you. Sorry about almost telling the others about amad.' Belladonna sighed. 'I will be more careful, I promise.'

Thorin nodded and took his daughter into his arms. 'You have really talked to your mother? I thought that she had gone.'

'She is still with us. Something in this cursed forest keeps her from talking to you. But she told me to tell you that she will not leave you. Us.' Belladonna smiled as she saw the relief in her fathers eyes. 'I miss her.'

'I miss her, too, my gem.' Thorin laid his forehead against his daughter's. 'One day, we will be together again. But not today.'

Belladonna smiled and together, they joined the company again. The princess tried to keep a straight face while walking past Bilbo, but Thorin frowned. His daughter had told him that something kept her from talking to him. Something. Brann had also told him that the halfling carried something with him. Something evil. He would have to find out what it was. But not today. They had to reach the mountain and time was running thin.

#

'I miss aunt Brann.' Kili sighed as he and Fili walked to begin their watch the next evening. 'I wish that I could talk to her like uncle Thorin does.'

'I miss her, too.' Fili smiled. 'But you were always her favorite.'

'Thats not true! She loved you as much as me.' Kili looked at his brother with big eyes. How could he even say that?

'Maybe, but she always cuddled with you and took your hand when you started walking. I was already a grown dwarfling when she came to the Blue Mountains.' Fili smiled. 'Have I ever told you that Dwalin fainted during your birth? Aunt Brann yelled at him.'

'Captain Dwalin isn´t really the hard warrior he wants us to think he is...he also fainted when Zial and Gwen were born.' Kili giggled.

The two princes yelped as they were grabbed by their collars from behind. Dwalin had sneaked up on them and gave them a scolding frown. 'I am still warrior enough to kick your royal behinds all the way to Erebor.'

He let them go with a smirk and the two princes landed on their behinds, protesting loudly. 'And for Mahals sake, be quiet. You are supposed to be watching us, not giving away our position.' Dwalin turned around to walk back to camp, but he briefly turned around again. 'And you are not alone.'

Fili and Kili looked at him in surprise.

'I miss her, too.'

#

The sticky air of Mirkwood took a toll on the dwarven company. A few days later they were still lost and they began to halluzinate. It was Bilbo who climbed up a tree to look for the sun for direction. The hobbit took in a deep breath as he reached the top of the tree and gazed to the horizon. Blue butterflies welcomed him over the treetops and a warm breeze graced his skin. He could see the sun and he could actually see the Lonely Mountain. Excited, he called out for the company, but there was no answer.

While Bilbo was climbing up the tree, Belladonna watched him from the ground. The rest of the company was engaged in fidgetting and yelling at each other. The princess rolled her eyes and turned around to scold the males as she froze and stared at something behind her fathers back.

Thorin caught his daughters horrified gaze and turned around, only to be pierced by something thin and burning. He looked down and saw a spike stick out of his chest. The king was down before he could even shout out in alarm. But the other dwarves were jerked out of their fights by Belladonnas shrieking scream. But it was already too late. The company was surrounded by giant spiders and they were overpowered in only a few moments. Belladonna looked up to the treetops as she fell and the last thing she could see was Bilbo falling.

Brann watched the incident in horror. It pained her that she could not contact Thorin in any way. She felt physical pain as she watched the spiders overwhelm the company. Frantic, she looked for a way to reach them. But there was none. She could do nothing but wait. Brann decided to stay near to the halfling, who was dragged to the rest of the company by a smaller spider. She could see Bofurs hat and Thorins sword below the other cocoons. A particularly round cocoon had to be Bombur. Brann only hoped that the spiders would not eat him first, for he had to be the best looking meal in their eyes. Even the trolls had chosen him to eat first. Poor Bombur. Brann turned around as she heard a high pitched shriek. The small spider which had caught the hobbit fell down the tree and landed on its back. Dead. The hobbit was still awake! He had slipped on the ring and Brann stepped towards him with her hands in the air. The hobbit jumped as he became invisible to the spiders, but saw the beautiful woman again.

'Bilbo.' Brann warned him and pointed behind him where more spiders approached. The hobbit ducked and Brann took the opportunity to catch up with him and hide them both behind a tree trunk. She thought about questioning him about the thing he carried, but now was simply not the time. 'Help them! You are their only hope. Use your...gift...wisely.'

The hobbit looked at her in wonder, but slowly determination showed in his eyes. He nodded and rushed towards the spider who was about to take a bite out of Bombur. Brann watched as the brave little creature slamemd his sword into the spider and killed it. The dying spider was the namegiver for Bilbos sword, or as Balin had gently called it, the letter opener. Bilbos sword was named Sting, but there were only Bilbo and Brann to witness the glorious moment.