Date: TA 2941

Thorin: 195 years old

Lina: 192 years old

"Now," announced Gandalf once they'd reached the bottom of the stone spire, "I have done that which I set out to do: escort you across the Misty Mountains. Not quite how I'd intended to do it, but it is done."

"Are you leaving us then?" Bilbo's eyes were wide with surprise at the wizard's words. The entire company was just as shocked. Lina felt her heart sink a little. Was Gandalf truly going to leave them? They were still a very long way from Erebor with a great deal of dangerous territory between them.

"I promised you the night we met in the Shire that I would only be your escort for so long. I have another matter that needs my attention, one that is likely to affect you all if it is not dealt with," Gandalf announced. "Rest assured I shall not vanish instantly. You need provisioning and I know the one to do it. For now, perhaps, you had better wash up. The individual I am taking you to might be more inclined to help you if you at least look presentable."

Lina hid a smirk at the horrified expression on some of the dwarves' faces. Some, like Balin, Lina, and Thorin, had spent a great deal of time trying to at least appear presentable. Others, like Dwalin and Nori, were used to spending most of their time absolutely filthy from life on the road, fighting, and, really, not caring if they were presentable in the slightest. Lina was glad of the chance to rid her body of the filth accumulated in the goblin tunnels. Now was also her chance to see what had become of Thorin's wounds, whether Gandalf had healed them or not.

Fili and Kili were the first to strip, plunging into the nearby water eagerly. Much to the shock and amazement of several of the dwarves, most notably Bofur, Nes quickly followed suit. Her dark clothes were dropped carefully on the bank, easily within reach once she was ready to wash them. Then her scarred and tattooed body disappeared beneath the water with barely a ripple. The other dwarves looked at one another before shrugging and stripping down. Gandalf joined the dwarves, relaxing in the water with his pipe. Bilbo looked scandalized momentarily. Lina was not sure which had shocked him more: open nudity in general or that there were at least two females among them. After taking a moment to compose himself, the hobbit joined the dwarves in the water. His eyes, however, remained focused intently on the sky.

Thorin was more protective than usual as they joined the others in the water. Lina again had to hide a smile as she examined the wounds on her husband's chest. Even around his cousins and companions, he was very careful to keep his body between his wife and the others. It seemed he was trying to hide her from view, not that any of the dwarves were really paying much attention to her.

A few of the dwarves were lounging against the banks, enjoying the cool water, warm sun, and their pipes. Fili and Kili were taking turns ducking one another, and, occasionally, Ori. The other young dwarf had been bewildered by their playful manner at first, and then quickly joined in the game. Bofur was trying, without success, to keep his eyes from Nes. Nes, on the other hand, was focused on washing out her garments. It was likely that she was aware of the attention she was receiving from the toymaker, whether she wanted it or not.

"They aren't going to steal me away, you know," Lina muttered, torn between amusement and annoyance. Nori had come too close to the pair, and Thorin had subtly, or so he thought, edged Lina further from the group. Her hands still gently ran over the tooth wounds on his chest, checking to see how well they'd healed. They were surprisingly far along, beyond scabbing with new skin already forming.

Thorin at least had the grace to appear embarrassed. He was probably more embarrassed that he'd been caught than that he was defending her from his companions and at least two of her own friends. Lina returned to her examination of his wounds. Whatever had occurred between the time the eagles arrived and the time Lina awoke, Thorin's wounds had almost completely healed. Whatever, or whoever, had healed them, she had not. Though the darkness was strange, and the connection strong, Lina doubted even she had the ability to heal such terrible wounds.

Even though none of the dwarves were anywhere near them, Lina suddenly found herself being pulled behind a rocky outcropping, hiding the pair from the rest of their companions. She opened her mouth to object to Thorin's overprotectiveness. Her husband cut off any sound, kissing her hungrily. His large hands came to rest on her hips, thumbs caressing her wet skin. The intensity in his kiss sent tremors racing through Lina's body. She quickly forgot to be annoyed with his territoriality, giving herself over to the sensations coursing through her.

They lay together on the bank afterwards, Thorin's arm wrapped possessively about her waist. Lina ran her fingers through his wet mane, content to have his head on her chest and his arms about her once more. For one brief moment, Lina could almost forget where she was and what had happened. The flight from the goblin tunnels seemed so distant. The pain and terror she'd felt watching Thorin fall beneath the warg had begun to fade. Closing her eyes, she could almost pretend she and Thorin were on one of their short trips, skirting the edge of Lake Evendim or resting beside the Brandywine.

"There's a bird staring at us," Thorin mumbled against her shoulder. His eyes were directed at the rock behind them. Craning her neck, Lina caught sight of one of her messenger birds perched quietly. A soft whistle summoned the bird to her. Attached to the bird was a letter. The outer paper was waxed to prevent water damage and had Fili's name written in small, delicate script.

"What is it?" Thorin asked, lifting himself off of her. Lina explained Kitta's request to join her. The female's request did not seem to surprise Thorin, though he was surprised Lina had turned her away.

"The open road and a mountain guarded by a dragon are not places for anyone not used to fighting. For her safety and ours, I couldn't let her come," Lina explained. She pulled on her now dry and clean clothing, preparing to take the letter over to Fili. Her husband chuckled as he dressed beside her. His hands froze for a moment over his belt buckle. The merriment left his eyes, replaced by a more contemplative expression.

"What's wrong?" Thorin's sudden change of mood struck Lina as strange. She watched him, worried.

"I was just thinking," he said slowly, "about the first time I saw you."

Lina sank back to the ground beside him, her eyes never leaving his face. She'd wanted to know the answer to this question over twenty years ago. When he'd refused to answer then, she'd given up ever finding out.

"You were down a side street near the markets of Erebor. My father was on his way to visit a craftsman he'd commissioned a gift for my mother from. I was just tagging along behind, trying to imitate his confident walk. I don't know why I looked down that side street, I simply did. You were sitting quietly, eyes fixed on the wall in front of you. Blood was running down the side of your face, but you didn't seem to even notice it." Thorin went quiet. Lina remained silent, shocked that he remembered that day.

Lina had been very young, only ten years old at the time. It was the first time her father had ever used a weapon against her in his drunken rage. She didn't remember seeing Thorin, but she did remember staring at that wall, simply letting the blood run down her face. The hurt within her had been so terrible. It seemed as if her father's knife had been buried in her heart instead of slashing her face. All she'd ever wanted was a father like the other females had: one who laughed and played with her. Lina looked down at the memory.

"I wanted to stop, to help you," he continued, his fingers playing nervously with his belt buckle. "Had my father not been with me, I would have. I was so focused on impressing my father that I just left you there to bleed. For years I felt guilty about it. When I saw you years later at your stall in the marketplace, I was stunned. I'd spent years shooting glances down that same street, always hoping I'd see you again so I could convince myself you were okay without my aid. To have you suddenly appear before me was astounding. You were so captivating. When your eyes met mine, I could barely breathe. You had survived somehow, and grown stronger. That stuck with me. Though I was young, my father was already talking about the kind of wife I was to have. I knew when I saw you that day, when I saw the strength, the fire, in your eyes, I could never marry any of the women my father would have found appropriate."

Such passion filled Thorin's voice that it brought tears to Lina's eyes. Thorin looked up from the buckle Lina had fashioned so many years earlier, his blue eyes watching her face intently.

"I didn't know then what love was, but seeing the fire in your eyes and the strength within you made me realize I could never be happy with anything less. I found myself drawn to you. It took time, many years, in fact, to realize that I was falling in love with you. The only thing I have Smaug to thank for is that he gave me the chance to be with you. Had he never attacked Erebor, I doubt our lives ever would have become entwined the way they have."

"Thank goodness for Smaug then," Lina answered quietly. Standing on her toes, she placed a tender kiss on her husband's forehead. A small smile grew on his face as he watched her moving toward the other dwarves. Thank goodness for Smaug indeed.