Hello! I don't know how many of you still have this story favorited but I hope some of you are still out there! :) This is NOT a new chapter to this story. After finishing my second Hobbit story (If the Dark Returns) I decided to write a sequel of sorts to THIS story that will follow Thorin and Rhae's daughter through the events of Lord of the Rings. I'm still quite a ways from beginning the story on here but I wanted to go ahead and post a short preview. When I do finally get ready to start posting it will be listed under LotR and not The Hobbit. :)

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What I have here are two different sections of the beginning of the story.

Though much had changed over the past seventy years or so, the view from the balcony over the Main Gate of Erebor was the same: the green valley, though still scarred from the battle so many years before, the gleaming city, the Long Lake further behind it. A cool wind blew down from the mountains, sweeping over the forest, rattling through the streets of Dale, and racing across the valley until it hit the unmoving stone face of the Lonely Mountain. It's force caused hair and cloaks to flap wildly but their owners stood firm. Fall was still a good month or so away but it seemed an early, hard winter would be right on its heels. Those on the balcony of the mountain, however, were not thinking about the weather. Their attention was focused on the sole black rider slowly approaching. The king stood proudly with his wife by his side and his three grown children arranged behind him. With the armed guard flanking them and the archers on the upper balconies they presented a formidable barrier. Not that the rider had any plan to attack and they knew it. It was to show they were not intimidated by him or his Master; they had seen him before and knew what he would say.

And the hissed message was indeed the same, the seemingly innocent request and slimy promises filtering up to them. His wife could understand the creature perfectly and relayed the few bits he had trouble deciphering from that voice of evil.

And his answer was the same. "We have not yet made a decision on this matter. More time is required."

That was not what the messenger had wanted to hear. He hissed a few threats but quickly wheeled his horse around and galloped back towards the south. When he was long out of sight and the darkness he brought with him had dissipated, the two monarchs faced each other with mirroring expressions of concern.

"We have to do something, Thorin. Sauron is not going to give up in this. If he doesn't get what he wants from us he will find another way." He sighed deeply.

"I had hoped to stall for longer but I know you're right, Rhae." He took her hand and motioned to the three standing behind them. "Come. I believe it's time for a meeting. Rhoin, summon the Elders along with the others. Tell them to be in my study in an hour."

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Thorin stared at the Council, seeing the uncertainty in some of their eyes. His gaze roved over the few members of his original Company then his wife and three children. They were all waiting to see what he had to say.

"I wish Balin were here. His advice would be welcome," Thorin muttered, running a hand through his silver hair.

"All the more reason to go to Rivendell. Lord Elrond may have some news." She had a bad feeling in her heart when it came to the colony Balin had established in Moria; it had been so long since they'd heard from them. She knew what those ancient dwarves had unearthed in the mines. "And they must be warned that Sauron knows Bilbo has the Ring." Even though Rhae was fully aware that Bilbo had no idea what he had in his possession she wished she knew when their old burglar had gotten his hands on something as evil as the One Ring

"I have not travelled over the mountains since the quest - "

"You will not be going, Thorin. The King Under the Mountain cannot leave right now, not with this threat looming over us," she interrupted. There were some raised eyebrows but the Elders remained silent. After eight decades as queen Rhae's manner, especially when it came to speaking her mind, were well known. Even if they disagreed they wouldn't have said much, knowing how much Thorin valued his wife's council and she was usually the only one that could get him to see reason. If it escalated into an argument that was all the more reason to stay out of it. As it was they whole heartedly agreed with her in this.

"The Queen is right, your Majesty. Besides the threat now facing Erebor we cannot risk your own life," Gloin said. The dwarf glanced at the woman by Thorin's side, knowing what she would suggest next. "We also cannot risk our queen's life." When she frowned Gloin could only chuckle.

"Then who shall it be? It will take at least two or three months to get there," Gravir, one of the Elders that had come from Ered Luin, asked.

"It should be a member of the royal family that meets with the elves. Our plea will be much more likely to be taken seriously if it comes from one of them," another of the Elders, Malv, put forward.

"Lord Elrond will not brush aside our concerns," Rhae replied, just managing to keep from rolling her eyes. Of all the dwarves that had returned to Erebor the ones that still had problems trusting the elves were the older citizens from Ered Luin. It was a battle of wills she still had to fight on occasion. Durin sat up straighter and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off before he could utter a word.

"I will go." All eyes swung to the young woman standing just to the left of the queen's chair.

"No." Thorin's voice was sharp.

"Why not? I am just as capable as Durin or Rhoin. Rho has a new baby, he doesn't need to leave Sala right now, and Durin, as your heir, cannot be risked. I am the only logical choice."

"You are my daughter."

"And that makes a difference how?"

Thorin stared at her. With her hands on her hips and eyes blazing in challenge she reminded him of Rhae and that moment so many years before when his future wife had stared him down on the road outside Bree. The chamber was silent and he wished this had not been brought up in front of others. Well he knew his daughter's stubbornness (she came by it honestly) and would prefer to have had this argument in their private home. He glanced over at Rhae, meeting her gaze, and stifled the sigh that wanted to escape when he saw what was in her eyes.

His attention was caught by the arrival of a group of dwarves, or rather, the presence of the female with them. She didn't look like a dwarf but those with her obviously held her in high regard. Taller than her companions but still shorter than would be expected in one from the race of Men, she moved confidently and her companions obeyed every word she said. He was intrigued and tried to move a bit closer without being noticed. Her black hair was pulled back in three braids which were gathered together in a silver clasp at the base of her neck. Peering closely he could see a few smaller braids, adorned with gem studded beads, hanging loose around her face. She wore a black leather traveling coat with gray fur around the neck. Under that chain mail was visible at the neck and arms of the dark blue tunic that reached almost to her knees. There was an ornate belt at her waist, the black bracers were adorned with dwarven symbols, and her gloves were fingerless. When she removed her black cloak he noticed no shortage of weapons adorning her person: a sword on each hip, bow and quiver across her back, and if he wasn't mistaken, there were daggers hidden just inside the top of her boots. The group approached Lord Elrond and the few elves that had assembled to greet them and he edged a bit closer, wanting to discover who she was.

"Lord Elrond," she said with a bow, her voice low but gentle.

"Shaella, daughter of Thorin, Princess of Erebor, it is an honor to finally meet you. I must say you have your father's coloring though I can see Rhaella's mischievousness in your eyes."

She laughed. "I have heard that more than once, I assure you. I'm afraid adad doesn't quite know what to do with me even after all these years. Durin and I seem to have gotten more of amad's Dunedain blood than Rhoin."

As they continued their introductions, he just stared in amazement. The daughter of a Dunedain and the dwarven King of Erebor? Rumors had reached Gondor after the battle in the north that the King Under the Mountain had married one not of his own race but they had always been brushed aside. The dwarves propensity to shun those of other races was well known. He would never have believed it if he hadn't seen the proof with his own eyes. They began to move off in the direction of Lord Elrond's study and he found himself gazing after her retreating back. Why was there a female traveling with a bunch of dwarves?