I remember when I once thought I'd have a posting schedule then I was like 'nope' and started posting it whenever I wanted lol

Thank you for everyone who actually gives a flying fuck about my fanfiction, your reviews and follows mean a lot to me and I hope that you don't grow to find my story boring as shit and move on. ALSO please remember to check out the fanart for this series on my profile, links are posted there along with spoilers for future chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own the hobbit or any of it's character, I do however own my fanart and my own characters.

Chapter Five: Memories under the Moon

"Here lies the last Homely House East of the sea." Gandalf introduced and Thorin is quick to turn a poisonous glare towards the old fellow.

"This was your plan all along? To seek sanctuary with elves; the enemy?!" He spat 'elves' out as if it were the crudest thing he'd tasted on his tongue.

"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found amongst this valley is that which you bring yourself." Gandalf grunted in frustration by the sheer stubbornness of the dwarf.

"You think the Elves will give our quest their grace? They'll only try to stop us." He reasoned.

"Of course they will but we have questions that need to be answered." Gandalf reasons back, causing Thorin to let out a deep sigh. "If we are to succeed, this will need to be handled with skill, respect and no small degree of charm; which is why you will leave all the talking to me."

The dwarves say nothing as they ventured along the weaving path towards the great city, only seeming to awe Bilbo and Lian and cause the dwarves discomfort.

The trees almost twinkled in the sunlight, sending small glimmering lights across the stone carvings along the winding stone path leading into the city. She couldn't help but be drawn into the whimsical like place, it made her feel almost childlike with her wonder.

"Do not be drawn into this elven glamor. They're nothing but heartless shrewds!" Dori hissed behind Lian, a grumble of agreement stirring amongst the dwarves.

"I've lived secluded for nearly all of my life, Dori. Everything seems to dazzle me." She chuckled, only making the dwarf grunt stubbornly.

They began crossing a bridge leading to a small platform when Lian instinctively grabbed Bilbo, clinging for stability upon her glance over the edge. He is caught off guard but patted her hand awkwardly as they passed over the river below.

Finally reaching the platform she let go of the hobbit, sending him an apologetic look before turning back towards the elf now descending the stairs to them. Brown hair hanging in light waves upon his shoulders while a circlet adores his head.

"Mithrandir." He greeted, gaining the wizards attention.

"Lindir! What a pleasure!" Gandalf greeted back, a smile gracing his lips as he approached the Elf, conversing in elvish.

"How long do ya think we'll stay here?" Lian whispered, walking up to Thorin who only gave her a glance before answering. "Not long."

"Are ya going to ask them to read the map?"

Thorin sent her a nasty glare upon the subject, an obvious signal to be silent and she just sighed loudly.

A horn sounded throughout the air, startling the group to turn as horseman galloped along the bridge towards them, sending the dwarves into a panic. Closing into a small circle around Bilbo they drew their weapons and Lian hesitantly raised her own, not sure what to expect.

Elves atop of horses circled them, towering over the group as dwarves let out vicious snarls and growls towards the tall creatures. Lian twisted her lips into a scowl when they got too close; threatening to trampling her if she didn't back up.

"Gandalf." A brunette elf smiled upon the wizard.

"Lord Elrod." He sighed, once more speaking elvish as he bowed.

The elf must have been well known to Gandalf, for he dismounted and hugged him fondly. "Strange for an orc pack to come so close to our borders, something must have drawn them here." The elf said in common tongue.

"That would be us." Gandalf chuckled and the elf now noticed the company as Thorin stepped forward. "Welcome Thorin, Son of Thràin." He nodded.

Lian pushed her way to the front, not paying any mind to the grumble of complaints as she watched the exchange between dwarf and elf.

"I do not believe we have met before." Thorin commented with a peer up at him.

"You have your grandfathers bearing, I had known Thrór when he ruled under the Mountain." He explained.

"Funny, he made no mention of you." Thorin scoffed, clearly not willing to offer anything but insult to the elf. Lord Elrod simply spoke a line in elivish, igniting a spark of anger from Gloin.

"What did he say?! Does he offer us an insult?!" He yelled.

"No, Master Gloin, he's only offering us food." Gandalf explained, settling the dwarves ruffled feathers if not a bit as they murmured to themselves.

"Well if that's the case, lead on." He replied gruffly, the company trudging forward to eat.

"Nice choice of action there, Gloin. 'Does he offer us an insult?!" Lian mimiced Gloin's voice loudly and rather poorly, laughing at the color flooding his cheeks whe the dwarf roughly pushed past her. "Shut it! You never know with these sly elves!" He growled defensively.

They are led to their own quarters, being told that dinner will be ready in two hours and that they may bathe before then.

Lian was guided towards a private bathing room by a female elf, walking past ivory pillars that arched into the ceiling; carvings winding up into the impossibly high ceiling.

Once she reached the bathing quarters she's a bit baffled by the large pool of water, resembling a small pond in the middle of the room. Even their pools are decorated, how...strange yet appealing. Quickly she started stripping her thick layers of clothes, letting out a loud sigh as she relaxed within the hot waters. If she didn't hurt so much she probably would happily done a cannon ball into the massive pool of water instead.

Long had it been since she had bathed and she made quick work of scrubbing her grime covered flesh after soaking shortly. Her shoulder let out sharp stabs of pain when she would move it too much, a large bruise now decorating her right shoulder.

After forty minutes or so she finished; having taken full advantage in enjoy herself by dunking her head under the water. She kept going under to marvel at the tiny glittering tiles embedded in the pools walls and floor. She slowly crawled out of the pool, drying herself with a fluffy white towel that had been set to the side for her. Turning she paused, confused by what was; or more so what lacked to be in front of her.

Her clothes were nowhere to be found and in their place laid a pale silver gown laid out neatly, and Lian began cursing the room rather loudly. Having no other choice she slipped the fine fabric on, finding the dress a bit too fitted around her breasts and waist compared to her usual attire.

She wished for nothing more than a potato sack to wear as she hastily walked down the arched halls, hoping to ask Ori or maybe Bilbo for something to wear aside from this accursed gown.

Turning a corner she's suddenly halted, coming face to face with a nude Kili who let out a rather girlish scream upon her appearance, quickly covering his manhood with his hands.

"L-Lian?! What are you doing here? I mean…you look different." He finished with a puzzled expression, taking in her appearance.

"What are ya doing stark naked, lad?" She mused, not even fazed by his nudity.

"Umm…we're all bathing in the fountain." He awkwardly answered, slipping behind the pillar as to cover his genitals. Lian can't help but find his reaction to resemble a blushing maiden cause his cheeks were certainly red enough.

"Well I'd not run around like a newborn babe if I were ya. Anyways, I came to ask if one of ya had some clothes. This gown is rather…indecent compared to my taste." She frowned, fingering the skirt of it with disgust.

"Sorry, I'm afraid not. Our old ones were taken away and we don't have any spare." He shaked his head.

"Kili? Who are you talking to?" Fili called, joining his brother with a large grin on his face until he saw me. Thankfully he was already dressed and only pursed his lips to contain a laugh at the awkward situation.

"I came to ask for some spare clothe but it seems I'm out of luck. I gave Kili here the scare of a life time though." Lian laughed, making the said dwarf blush an even deeper hue of crimson.

"I'll leave ya be now, I'll be in our quarters while ya finish up." And with that she turned, leaving the laughing Fili who received a harsh punch from Kili.

Lian entered their quarters, an amused grin still on her face as she replayed the comical scene of Kili's reaction, not noticing the figure sitting by the window.

"What do you need?" Thorin's harsh voice cut through her thoughts, making her turn rather quickly to face him in shock.

Surprise colored his features, Thorin had thought her to be an elf maid. "I didn't notice ya there." She laughed, a bit breathless from her surprise. "I'm just waiting for everybody to finish bathing. I was quite surprised though when Kili came around the corner nude."

A look of disapproval colors his face upon this but a twinkle of amusement couldn't hide it's self from dancing in his blue eyes as he stands. "Of course it's not like it had much of an effect on me."

"I grew up around many men and even helped bathe the young boys with a few of our maids. Nothing embarrassing about it really, it's…just…" She trailed; Thorin had walked slowly towards her and now stood a mere foot or two from her, causing her to lose her breath upon the close proximity.

"You look…different." He stated rather lamely, blue eyes piercing into her very being it felt, had he always been able to make such a gentle expression before?

Panic shot through her like lightning and with a sharp jerk she stepped back, inhaling sharply. "Of course I do! I'm not covered in filth and my many 'layers'." She laughed rather obnoxiously, a hard slap connecting with his shoulder; sending fire up her arm but she hid it with her laugh.

"The others should be coming soon enough; I'm going to check up on them." She waved energetically before leaving the stunned dwarf with the loud slam of the doors.

Letting out a shaky breath, Lian leaned heavily against the doors, legs quivering as she tried to calm her erratic breathing. What had just happened? All she knew was that Thorin had suddenly shown a completely different side to her and she didn't know how to cope with it.

"Lass?"

A sharp yelp left Lian as she almost jumped out of her skin, turning to see the group of dwarves walking towards her. All dressed and laughing loudly through the hallway. "What are you doing standing outside the door?" Balin asked, walking up slightly concerned by her uncharacteristically frazzled expression.

"I-I, well i-it's a funny story, I mean." Suddenly she stopped her stuttering and slapped herself rather harshly, causing the group to let out worried and shocked noises.

"WHOO! I was just about to come to check up on you guys!" Her cheek stung as she laughed, getting odd looks from the dwarves; who probably were thinking over the limits to her sanity.

"Are you alright, lass?" Balin asked as the other dwarves move into their quarters, conversing among each other. "I'm fine." She waved off his worries and joined the dwarves before dinner was ready to be served.

"Nearly didn't recognize you, woman, you certainly look…proper." Dwalin smirked.

"Don't get used to it. Once given my clothes back I'll be out of this blasted dress." Lian spit the word 'dress' with utter disgust. Never did she think she'd have to wear one but maybe when she was to be wed, the maids certainly never managed to get her into one.

"That's a shame, I rather enjoy you outside of your many layers of clothes." Kili laughed; seemingly forgotten the situation mere minutes before as a few of the dwarves chuckling.

"Funny, I could say the same for you." She shot back, his face going bright red and flustered. He certainly remembered now. Kili was the only one to laugh and rather loudly too, considering he knew of what she was referring too.

Thorin had yet to say anything since she re-entered with the rest of the dwarves, standing once more by the window with a stiff posture and pursed lip.

"Dinner is to be served." An elf suddenly cut in, standing in the doorway with a polite smile.

"Finally! I'm starving!" Gloin complained, quickly moving past the elf towards the dining hall, followed by the rest of the group. Lian hesitated in the doorway, looking back to see Thorin had not moved or even looked up upon the announcement of dinner.

"Thorin?"

A visible tension sets into his shoulders when she spoke, slowly he turned, the most vivid look of hate on his features. This startled her; he looked so different from just a few minutes ago and not to mention that it was directed towards her. She almost began to believe that before was just a trick of light or her mind playing with her.

Without a word he strode past her, nearly bumping shoulders with her on his way out. Anger sparked through her veins at his utter show of disdain for her; like she had wronged him beyond forgiveness. Any sort of affection she may have thought she had for the dwarf quickly dismissed.

Briskly she joined the company in the Dining Hall, taking a seat next to Bilbo; who easily spotted her sour mood and asked what was wrong but she merely brushes off his concerns rather rudely. Though she knew the hobbit meant well and quickly apologized.

"It's nothing." She assured him and he simply nodded before food is brought out to them, nothing but green upon the platters and she scowled. The dwarves obviously disapproved too, grumbling about no meat and picking the food.

She never ate her greens, always felt like she ate air and she'd be hungry mere minutes later. This was not food, it wasn't even hardly a meal! Bilbo had begun to go on a ramble about his awe with Rivendell, the hobbit having always dreamed of seeing the ancient city of Elves.

"I do wish I could someday see your home though, Lian. I'd probably need your guidance in layering myself properly though." He laughed.

"Aye, ya'd defiantly have to cover yer wee hobbit toes." She chuckled.

"So it's a deal. Once we've finished our journey we can visit your home." Bilbo smiled, his eyes twinkling with a childlike joy. Gone was the frightful creature she had met in The Shire and in his place was a rather eager hobbit, ready to see the world for what it had to offer.

"Ya've changed quite a bit." She mused, a soft smile gracing her lips and almost pride in the wee fellow, he was learning to adapt quite well.

"Me? Change? No, No, I'm afraid I don't see anything different about me besides my lack of cleanliness and utensils." He reasoned stubbornly.

"Most of the time yer the last person to see change in yerself." She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before turning, feeling holes burn into the back of her skull. Thorin had been intensely watching the exchange of fondness between the two and looked back to Gandalf when she turned to face him.

Lian raised her eyebrow at his heated glare, growing even more irked with his manner of suddenly dislike for her and with great pleasure she threw some of the food before her at him, at the same time Bofur started dancing and kicking food everywhere. Thorin easily dodged it, causing it to hit the statue behind him with a splatter, followed by several others.

She huffed, displeased by how easily he'd dodged it. Damned dwarf, always seemed to have the upper hand on her.

Gandalf looked beyond embarrassed, lips pursed at the utter display of disrespect shown from the dwarves, Lord Elrod didn't look much different except that he looked annoyed. Dinner eventually ended and Lian was quick to leave the company and their brooding leader, she had grown quite fond of the bunch but she sometimes needed time to her own thoughts.

She entered one of the many gardens that were spread around the kingdom, all equally as breathtaking but this one made her heart ache with homesickness. The pale moon sent a white light across everything, bleaching it to near white as droplets of water glisten upon the leaves.

If she had not known better she would think they looked frozen in ice and this warmed her heart to a degree.

Sitting upon a stone bench she sighed, she can't help but wonder how her people are faring after the plague was lifted or if her soldiers were getting the proper training every day. She knew they'd made a habit of going to the tavern to gamble and drink their selves into oblivion, though she can't say she was any better when given the chance.

Many thoughts came to her in her moment of silence; she'd had little time to think to herself but in the late hours of the night when she couldn't find rest. The dwarves were nearly always chattering away, joking, arguing and telling tales, it reminded her of the old dwarf she knew, her friend.

Looking up into the moon she felt a lump form in her throat, many times she had wished for his guidance and even just his deep laughter, which though rare, was heartwarming. He had taught her so much and she only wished she could have done more for him, often Balin reminded her of him.

Lian doesn't try and catch the tears as they flowed, she only sat in silent mourning, wishing that he was here to say something sarcastic or even harsh. He was never good with emotional things and proved to scold her for it when he didn't know what else to do.

A broken sob left her throat, making way for several more to wrack her body with heavy emotions, she hadn't cried like this since she had held the dying dwarf in her arms, the nights after only silent tears.

Being around so many dwarves made the memories of him resurface, sometimes she'd catch herself thinking about how he'd react to the things they'd do or say. The moon reminded her of him the most though, she missed him dearly; he had been like the grandfather she never had the chance to meet.

A grunt sounded from behind her and she turned quickly to see Bifur standing behind her, looking down upon her sitting form. She had never really spent much of her time with the dwarf, considering she couldn't understand a word he said and his gestures weren't any better. They had mostly kept to themselves.

The dwarf grunted once more, gesturing to the tears that clung to her lashes and cheek, she hastily rubbed them away, sniffing rather loudly and anticlimactically.

"Sorry, I didn't notice ya." She smiled up at the dwarf, who simply nodded as if to say it was okay.

Another series of grunts caught her attention, the dwarf making odd motions with his hands and causing her to furrow her brow in confusion. The dwarf let out a loud huff, obviously annoyed and sat down harshly beside her.

"Ya know ya don't have to keep me company if ya don't want to." She told him, feeling a bit awkward but he only shook his head stubbornly, motioning to her mouth repeatedly. Understanding dawned on her and she can't help but laugh lightly.

"Ya want me to tell ya what troubles me?" She asked and receives a stern nod, the dwarf made sure to keep his arms crossed and looking straight forward and she realized that it was to make her feel less nervous.

A smile graced her lips as she collected her thoughts, a bit jumbled from the sudden surprise Bifur had given her.

"Will ya promise not to tell?" H nodded at this and waited for her to start.

She hesitated briefly before starting. "I used to be quite a trouble maker when I was a youngen, always harassing the maids, guards, merchants, ya name it. I was often told that I needed to start acting like a lady, it was my duty as the Princess. I wasn't allowed to use weapons, wear armor, talk vulgar, gamble, drink or do anything excessive, which of course I ignored." Bifur chuckled at this.

"If I didn't act like a lady then I would never attract a suitor, they said, which means I'd never give heirs to the throne and our kingdoms royal blood would die. But that only made me want to rebel more, I didn't want to be caged into the responsibilities of a lady. So I did everything I could to make sure I'd never attract male affection."

"I tell ya this, my chambermaid was not happy to have seen me cut off my hair to the scalp, threw the biggest fit and scolded me for weeks." Lian laughed. "Of course I didn't care; I'd sneak off with someone's horse or even ride in a merchant's wagon on their way out of the kingdom. A wee devil I was if ya ask my father."

"One day I was approached by a local boy and he kissed me right on the cheek, I was so mortified that I punched the lad and went to cut my hair again. Father was of course furious and told me to grow up, I left the kingdom in a fit, stealing another horse from the stables."

"I didn't know where I was going, I just rode blindly like I always did when I threw a fit, until I spotted something…" She trailed off with far away eyes.

"It was a cave, one of the many that the wolves and bears burrowed into the ice and snow for shelter, I was curious of course so I looked inside but I found no animal within it, but a dwarf."

Bifur seemed to listen more intently at this. "He was quite old and wore clothes far too thin for the harsh weather, I was surprised frostbite or fever hadn't taken him. He had asked me what business a child had out in this storm."

"What business does a human child have out in this storm?" He hissed, voice deep and thundering as he sent a scrutinizing glare towards Lian. It seemed her didn't realize that it was always storming like it was now, thick globs of snow rushing down to cover the already snow covered ground. The child was startled; she had only seen the few dwarves who came from Ered Luin to trade weapons for pelts.

"What business does a dwarf have out in this storm?" She challenged, standing her ground for whatever he may do but she only received a raised eyebrow, a beady eye peeking out from under his thick white eyebrows.

"My business is my own to bare." He answered gruffly.

"As is mine." She answered, setting her chin stubbornly.

The two stared at each other for a few moments before the dwarf turned, mumbling something in a language she couldn't understand.

"Ya know…ya should really get something thicker on. Ya'll die if ya wear such thins clothes." She knelt beside the dwarf, causing him to lean away with a harsh glare.

"I'll wear what I please." He snapped.

"Hmmm…I know! I'll be right back, don't go anywhere." She called, quickly scrambling up the caverns entrance to the horse outside.

About an hour later she returned, a mound of thick furs and leather in her small arms as she slid back into the cave on her arse.

"What are you doing?!" The dwarf snapped.

"I went and got some clothes for ya, I'm assuming yer some poor fellow so that must be why yer so poorly dressed." She grinned, setting down the pile in front of him.

"Did you steal these?" He questioned, lifting a fur pelt for further examination.

"What does it matter? No one was using them and I can take whatever I want." She stated rather snobbishly.

"Take them back." He harshly ordered, making her recoil a bit but only shortly.

"Why should I listen to ya? Ya should be thanking me, I have given ya clothes so ya don't die out here." She argued.

"You've given me things that were never yours to take! Take them back!" He snapped. "You find it so easy to take when you aren't the one being taken from, you're nothing more than a foolish child who knows nothing of the world except what you choose to see."

Color flooded her cheeks as she snatched the pile up once more. "Yer the one that knows nothing, ya old coot!" She yelled before running from the cave.

A day passed before she returned once more, a fur pelt the color of snow in her hands. "I told you, I do not want anything you've stolen." He growled.

"I didn't steal it, ya dusty bag of bones." She huffed, throwing the pelt at him. "I made it."

The dwarf raised an eyebrow, looking down to see that the hide had been rather crudely sewn together and still smelled of flesh and blood, she had indeed made it.

"I took everything back, not cause ya told me to but cause I had no use for them," She pursed her lips, as if she wanted to say something else but chose not to.

"It is unwise to show kindness to strangers." He peered up at the girl as he slid the pelt on, instantly feeling warmer than before.

"I give kindness where it is needed." She huffed once more, plopping onto the ground in a rather unlady like manner.

"I will not give you thanks." He grumbles. "I wasn't expecting any!" She snapped.

"I will do something in return though." He continued, catching the girls attention. "Have you ever used an axe?"

"No, I'm not allowed to learn how or use weapons." She stated bitterly as the dwarf reached behind him for a bundle of thin cloth.

"Men have never condoned to the idea of women warriors, while the dwarves have taken pride in ours." He explained, unbounding the cloth to reveal an axe, steel reflecting the pale glow of snow. She had seen bigger, even better looking axes than this one but it held a certain quality about it she admired.

"I made this axe upon the dawn of my last battle, weapons were few and we had worked to rebuild our stocks for the next wave of battle. This axe is flawed in many ways but it has gotten me through even the direst situations. It is the only thing I have of my previous life."

"I will teach you how to battle with an axe." Shock showed clearly on her face, never had anyone even considered teaching her how to handle a weapon.

"Really?! Ya'll really teach me?!" She exclaimed, a look of giddiness adoring her features as she jumped around energetically.

"Not if you keep acting like a buffoon!" He snapped, causing the girl to still and try to keep a straight face but she was failing horrible as a smile broke out onto her face.

"Will we start today? Right now?" She asked, already could the dwarf feel a headache coming on.

"Come back tomorrow and we'll begin with the basics." He grumbled, rubbing his temples with his callused fingers.

"Great! I'll be back then!" She yelled, running from the cave only to slip and fall on the ice, hitting the ground with a rather loud thwack. "I'm fine!"

The dwarf simply shook his head, grumbling more words in his own language.

Suddenly a small knife slid into the cave, catching the dwarfs attention. "In case some wolves decide they want a snack!" She called before leaving for good. She must have forgotten he had an axe in her rush and he simply snorted at her forgetfulness.

She had returned the next day, driving the dwarf insane with her constant chatter and energy, several times he had yelled out in the language he had informed her was Khuzdul, a dwarven language. He had also informed her upon her request that his name was Falian.

Many days passed, turning into weeks and then finally four whole months had gone by since she had met Falian, he had taught her a great deal and she had grown very fond of him. He was her best friend you could say and she would constantly tell him about how everyone thought she should start acting more like a lady. How she'd rather die than have to wear one of those obnoxious dressed or be wed off to some fool and that's why she cut her hair.

Falian had understood her reasoning but he also told her that soon enough she'd marry whether for love or duty. He also said that her hair reminded him of his beloved he'd lost long ago.

"You remind me of my beloved, you and her both shared the same rich locks. Sometimes looking at you reminds me of her." He had said with a rare look of tender affection upon his wrinkled face.

Six whole months had passed since Falian had come into the young Princesses life, showing her and telling her many things. He even taught her how to make her own weapons out of the teeth of animals and rocks. She felt happy and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Your hair is getting rather long." Her father pointed out at dinner.

"Aye." She hummed, taking a hearty bite of her food.

"You aren't going to try and cut it again?" He asked, a bit bemused.

"No, I've grown past that, Father." She shrugged, talking around a large piece of meat, causing the King to laugh.

"And what may I ask made you do that?" He mused.

She hesitated around another bite, carefully thinking of an answer to his question.

"I'll get married one day, whether out of love or duty. I figured hair wasn't important anymore." She slowly answered.

"So you're accepting your duties as a lady?" The King asked, rather surprised by the sudden change.

"Heavens no! I'm simply going to make it as difficult as possible for a man to stand me. If he can deal with that then he can have my hand." She scrunched her nose despite herself as he father let out a sigh.

"I should have known better."

The next day Lian rode her horse out, having been given to her by one of the guards since she stole it frequently anyways. It was a bit past sundown but she didn't mind, she was rather excited to see what Falian was going to teach her next. He never did the same thing twice so you had to pay attention or else you'll miss it completely, he was short tempered and impatient but she had grown to be used to his moody behavior.

Suddenly she brought the horse to a stop, the echoing of snarls reaching her ears over the howling wind and dread sets deep into her belly. Inhaling sharply she forced her horse into a gallop, soon coming upon the scene of three wolves viciously tearing and biting Falian as he swung his axe at them.

One of the wolves keeled over, a deep gash from the axe in its ribs while the other two lunges on top of the dwarf, causing him to fall to the ground. Forochel wolves were bigger than the average wolf, bulking forms resembling a warg almost.

Lian let out an enraged cry, jumping off her horses back to cling to a wolf's neck. Falian had now managed to crush in the skull of the wolf while she wrestled on the ground with the other, taking her hunting knife out of her waist to repeated stab into its jugular.

It soon grew limp, hot blood soaking her arms and torso from the wolf as she quickly crawled over to dwarf; who now lay upon the ground, letting out wheezy breathes unevenly.

"Falian." She cried, taking the dwarf into her arms as he stared into the sky, eyes almost glassy.

"Lian…" He breathed, voice far weaker than usual as blood soaks his shoulder, one of the wolves having taken a great chunk out of his shoulder. Blood stained the pale snow around him; there was no way to stop the heavy bleeding.

"Let me see yer wound, I'll take ya back home and they'll heal ya, they'll…they'll…" She's silenced by a rough hand upon her cheek, looking down to the dwarf she had grown to care for, to love like another father and she could feel her heart break for the first time.

"This is where my story ends, little one…I have shown you all that was meant to be shown and now it is time for me to join my brothers and sisters." He coughed harshly.

"No, no! Ya can't leave, this isn't fair!" Her voice cracked involuntarily as tears quickly formed within her eyes. "Life was never meant to be fair, it's all a story. We leave our mistakes and achievements behind for others to learn from and I have made many mistakes."

"I must say that one of my greatest achievements though is having you as a friend and ally. You have made me proud, you gave me a spark of life in a world I thought was dull without my loved ones around to share with me."

Tears have spilled over now, broken sobs wrenching her frame violently as she listened, not wanting to hear but not daring to stop what he felt he needed to say. "I thought my life was meant to end on a battlefield with my brothers, falling when they fell. But life kept me alive despite when others died; I was empty for so long, filled with the echoes of what I used to have, what I used to be. Having nothing to leave behind when I left this world." Tears had now filled the prideful man's eyes, streaming down his worn, wrinkled cheeks and into his long white beard.

"You gave me another reason to live, something to leave behind, someone to remember me even when the rest of the world had forgotten." His deep voice cracked, her heart seeming to break with it. "Here…will you take care of this for me?" He asked, handing her his axe, metal icy in her hands as she shook her head silently.

"Thank you, Lian. You have given me all I've ever wanted since I lost my loved ones, someone to remember me." His voice had grown frailer, fading in and out.

"I won't forget you. I won't forget you." She sobbed, rocking back and forth with the dwarf tightly in her small arms, not caring if she got blood on her or how she was to explain herself when she went back home.

A smile broke out over his face, the first one she had ever seen on him as he looked past her to the sky, clouds breaking to let the moon shine down upon them.

"Lûviaria…I'm sorry I kept you waiting so long, my love." He whispered, eyes looking up into the moon the last time before growing still, his last breath drawing out into almost a sigh.

"Falian." Lian wailed, the clouds covering the moon once more as she wept, nature silent around her.

Tears had fallen once more as she sat with Bifur; who had respectfully remained silent through her story. "I buried Falian in the cave and destroyed it so no one or thing would come across his body. My father of course had went into a panic when I came back covered in blood and red eyed in the middle of the night. I wasn't allowed to leave the castle for nearly seven months."

"I've never told anyone about him, I knew they would think of me as mad. That it was merely a child's delusions. So I kept it to myself and hide the axe til i was actually allowed to use weapons, private and sacred. I guess being around so many dwarves for the last few months or so brought it back though. The moon hardly ever shone in Forochel, so when I saw it tonight I thought of my old friend." She swallowed the lump in her throat as another wave of tears tried to fall.

Bifur simply nodded, a look of understanding in his eyes and she smiled fondly at him. "You're a good listener."

The dwarf snorted and mumbled something in Khudzul before standing, placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder for a few moments until he nodded, clearing his throat loudly. He once again said something in Khudzul, which she assumed meant goodnight, before departing back to their quarters.

Sweg