Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognise :(

A/N: I am sorry that this has taken so long for me to upload, I only finished it yesterday, but at over 8,000 I feel it will make up for the wait! I normally don't write chapter this long, but I needed to fit a lot in it.

I have had a job application to fill in, an interview to prepare for (I got the job btw) and I have gone on holiday where the only wifi I can get is in the clubhouse :( However I have finished this chapter and the next and have the following two half done :) Thank you so much for sticking with me and now on with the show :)

Chapter 8

Ariana POV

I fidgeted on the scratchy wooden table that the healer had plonked me up on, I mean, I know that I am shorter than most dwarf children and that my legs haven't been working right, but I can climb. My legs had been getting better in the month since everyone had left. I huffed at the stupid dwarf that was puttering around the room, muttering about something that had nothing to do with making sure my legs were working, clearly Dis thought so too. "Can we actually perform my sister's examination today or are you going to continue stalling? I would hate to have to look for another healer." She snapped out and I tried hard to stop smirking, Dis could be so mean when she wanted to be.

The healer then spent too long huffing and puffing and prodding me in the back to try and see if my back was healed properly. I looked at Dis and rolled my eyes, causing her to nod and smirk. He then suddenly all but threw me off the table and I stumbled, spinning around to face him and reached for the little dagger I had tucked away. "Excuse me? What did you hope to achieve from that?" Dis snarled and I stared at him, this was how healers treated their patients here?

The healer huffed, "There is nothing wrong with her, stop wasting my time and get out." He snapped and Dis sneered over at him, I shook my head, only an idiot would anger my sister. I tugged on Dis' hand and we walked out of his house and back to the one I now shared with Frerin, Dis was grumbling all the way back and I shook my head, looking around the new mountain, my back twinging a little where I had been thrown around, but it wasn't bad enough that I would tell Dis. She slammed open the door and Vilí and Frerin looked around. "Umzam? Is everything alright?" Vilí asked and Dis shook her head, sitting down on the small couch next to him and curling up under his arm.

I ran towards Frerin and hugged him around the waist, my head only just reaching up to his chest. I huffed a little, wishing I could be a little taller, vaguely hearing Dis retelling our trip to the healers. "Asshole, he's lucky you went with Ariana and not me. On the bright side though, now I can train you when I have time." Frerin said, looking down at me and I smiled up at him. I really wanted to be able to use the axe's that adad and Dwalin had given me for my birthday. Frerin smoothed a hand down my hair, "I think we could train in the small courtyard between our house and Tristahal's behind. That way no one can see you and they can't distract us." He said and I nodded, knowing that it would either be before or after he finished work.

I helped Frerin cook the dinner that night, watching him to make sure he didn't burn the food, although he was nowhere as near as bad as Thorin when he cooked. I smiled faintly, remembering when we had first arrived at the mountain and Thorin had been looking after me while everyone else was out around the mountain trying to get the things we needed to live. He had been told repeatedly by Dis how to warm up the broth she had made me and yet he still managed to burn it to the bottom of the pot, giving it a slightly funny, burnt taste. Dis had boxed his ears for that, as it could have made me sick, but it hadn't so I forgave him.

When Dis and Vilí had left after dinner, Frerin curled up on the couch and I sat next to him, curled up against his side and listened to him tell me stories until I fell asleep and he carried me upstairs. After the first week, Frerin had given up on having his own room again when I had begun to have nightmares that would make me wake up screaming and panicking and trying to find grandfather or adad or Thorin. Frerin had pushed the two beds together and we curled up like that, having someone near me making the nightmares happen less often.

When I woke up the next morning, Tristahal's wife Britta and Dis were already sat downstairs in the kitchen, talking over a cup of tea. I waved as I moved to the table, trying to tug my hair into some kind of braid. Dis chuckled and waved me over, "Honestly, you're getting as bad as Thorin with your mane of hair. He's never been very good at braiding his own hair, other's no problem, but his own didn't stand a chance." She teased and I stuck my tongue out. I didn't mind that she was teasing me, because it meant that she wasn't worrying about the other's so much today, I hated it when she had that sad look on her face.

Britta placed a small bowl of food in front of me and I quickly ate it, for some reason incredibly hungry. I watched as Dis and Britta pottered around the house tidying up, before Britta left for the small textile shop that had employed her and Dis left for the forge. "Remember, don't leave the house, if you do have to for some reason, don't go far. I don't know what we would do if we lost you now." She said to me as she left, hugging me tightly. I nodded my head, knowing that she was just worried about me, but I had survived before living on unfamiliar streets, I could do it here.

I waited a little while before shrugging on a thin dark grey fur coat that wouldn't draw attention to me and walking out of the door. I wondered down towards the market area of Ered Luin, Thorin having brought me down here a few times to get some necessary things. I wandered in and out of the crowds before pausing at something down a side alley. There was a group of large dwarflings who were pushing around a smaller one, laughing and teasing him. I couldn't see anyone looking for him so I crept closer, keeping out of their eyesight for the moment.

The largest of the group shoved the little one hard, causing him to fall down. "Aww look at the widdle baby. Looks like your thief brother isn't around to save you." He said, kicking dirt at the little one, making him wince as a stone caught his face. I frowned and reached for the daggers that were tucked into my boot and the hem of my coat. I walked up behind the bigger one and dug the point of one into his back, the other just touching his scruff where his beard was starting to grow. "I suggest you leave him alone, you wouldn't want to anger the wrong people now would you." I said, deliberately lowering my voice.

The boys turned to look at me before backing away, leaving their leader with me. "Leave him alone now or I'll make sure you get what's coming to you." I hissed in his ear and he nodded, bolting as soon as I moved my daggers. I tucked them away and turned to face the little one on the floor. "Hello. I'm Ariana, what's your name?" I asked him and he sniffled a little before answering. "Ori, Thank you for helping me." I smiled down at him and reached down to help him up, "Come on I'll help you home." I told him, noticing how stiff he was and the little cut that the stone had caused above his eye.

He nodded and I walked along with him, going slightly further down the market place than I had with Thorin, before ducking down a side alley and coming to a small warmly lit house behind a big textile shop. "Ori? Is that you? You said you weren't going far." A frazzled voice came from inside and Ori tucked in closer to me, I squeezed his hand softly and pushed the door open to find a older dwarf with dark hair, just starting to turn silver in places, braided in a complicated style. He turned at the sound of the door opening and saw the pair of us. "Ori? Nori get down here! I know you're upstairs." He yelled out as he came towards us.

He went to tug Ori further into the house, but Ori wouldn't let go of my hand. "It's alright your friend can come in, I just want you away from the door." The older dwarf murmured and we were moved to sit in front of the fire. It was then that I noticed another dwarf slide in through the door and over to us. "Thank you, one of my friends saw what you did, you shouldn't have done that." He said to me and I frowned over at him, "And why not? I would hope that most people would stick up for a dwarfling who is being bullied." I snapped out and he nodded, but still frowned at me. "Yes, but not everyone is you now are they, Princess." He replied and I felt Ori and the other dwarf freeze and look at me.

I sighed, climbing to my feet and bowing to them, "Ariana at your service and don't you dare bow to me. I don't like it." I told them and the older two of them, nodded, but still bowed their heads, "I'm Dori and this is my younger brother Nori, I'm sure that Ori has already told you his name. I want to thank you for what you did for Ori, you shouldn't have taken the risk Princess, I understand you've only just finished healing." Dori said and I sighed, but nodded. "Yes, the healer gave me the all clear yesterday. Please don't call me Princess, I wasn't born as one and I don't really like it." I told them.

They nodded and I sat down with Ori as Dori cleaned out his braids and the little cut on his head. "Your Khuzdul is rather good for someone who didn't grow up speaking it." Nori said and I shrugged, "Thorin taught me, he said the same thing as I learnt it so quickly. I don't know what it is, I learn really quickly and I just remember it all. I like to learn, it keeps my mind busy, especially at the moment." I said and they nodded, understanding my meaning. Dori fussed around for a little while longer, before turning to the stew he had been making. "Would you like some Ariana?" Ori asked and I smiled shaking my head. "No thank you, I ate just before I found Ori. Please eat though, I don't mind watching." I told them smiling.

I watched as Dori set the bowls on to the table and I saw that Ori's had far more in it than either bowl and Nori's had more in than Dori's. I smiled over at Ori as he fiddled with a sketch book and I tilted my head to the side. "Do you draw?" I asked and he nodded sliding it over to me and I paused until he nodded. I flicked through the sketch book and although they weren't as good as some of the ones I had seen Balin do, they were still very good for a dwarfling who was so small. "These are very good, is this an elf?" I asked studying the drawing that was half finished.

Ori nodded, "I had just started drawing that when the attack on the mountain happened, we lived near the door so we got out easily compared to some of the others." He murmured and I frowned, "I'd been kidnapped and badly injured, I wasn't even awake or in the mountain when the attack happened. I don't really remember much from after either, not until we had rounded the Greenwood and were heading towards the Misty Mountains." I said tilting my head and studying the picture. Ori handed me a charcoal piece, "You saw the elves closer than I did would you be able to do the face?" I looked at him and nodded, "I can try, I can't promise it will be as good as yours." I told him as I softly sketched out the outline of Legolas' face.

Nori scoffed and Dori frowned at the sound. "Don't see why you're so enamoured with the pointy-eared backstabbers." He muttered and I turned to look at him, tilting my head to the side. He noticed my gaze and sighed, "It was while you were unconscious, we had journeyed through the wood, looking for aid. Their king came out to meet us and when King Thrór asked for aid he said he wouldn't give it. The strange thing is when Thorin said something to him, he paused and from I was it looked like he was going to do it, but he shook his head and walked away. I willing to bet that your brother asked for aid for you, we had all heard and seen the fever you were travelling with." Nori murmured and I looked over at him.

I placed the charcoal on the table and thought about it for a minute, "This is what they wouldn't tell me? Why Thorin always scowled when there was even the faintest mention of elves?" I said almost to myself. "You didn't know? Nori why did you have to go and tell her, it's absolutely none of our business." I smiled and raised a hand, showing happiness where I was feeling so sad inside. "Peace Mister Dori, I don't mind. I'm glad that someone isn't treating me like I'm dying still." I told him and he huffed. Nori finished his bowl and stood abruptly. "I think we should be getting the little Princess home, the miners kick out for lunch soon." I froze at the thought of Frerin and Dis turning up at the house to find me not there.

I nodded and stood quickly, smiling over at Dori and Ori, "Thank you for not overreacting when you found out who I was, even after all this time I'm not really used to being a princess. Good day to you both." I said politely and they murmured it back as Nori led me out into the alleyway and back into the street, I watched as his eyes took in everything, especially the richer nobles that were milling around the edge of the street, sneering at any that walked past them. I scrunched my nose up, but carried on walking beside Nori. It wasn't until we walked past a particularly rude noble that I quickly flicked my hand out and snatched the small coin purse that she had hanging from her belt, made to look like a small leather pouch for jewellery purchases.

We walked on a little further down and Nori chuckled at me, "That was good, very smooth. You looked just a second too long though. But you are good, a little more training will make you better and if you really practice you could even be as good as me." He teased and I smiled over at him, shaking the coins out of the purse and handing them to him, "For Ori and you all. I don't need them." I told him, quickly throwing the pouch away. He stared at them and then at me, "You're not a very good grifter if you give away what you've grifted." He chided me and I smirked up at him. "I've only ever stolen what I need to live, I don't need those coins right now, but your family does. So take them." I told him and he nodded, "Fine, can you find your way home from here?" He asked and I nodded, waving to him as I walked away.

I got home and managed to hang up my coat, get a book and sit curled up in one of the armchairs before Frerin came home and Dis and Vilí just after him. I smiled over at them and waved, Dis moved into the kitchen and got us some dried meat, bread and cheese for lunch. I smiled and ate what she had given me, listening to the flow of conversation around me, not really paying much attention to it all. Frerin cleared his throat after eating, "We'll start doing some more training later, I shouldn't be back too late." He said and I nodded, smiling over at him.

Dis smiled as well, "Vilí and I won't be over later, we want to just have some time to ourselves. While you're training Ariana is the perfect time." She said and I nodded, waving at them all as they left to go back to work. I sat curled up in the chair, reading some of the book that I started just before they walked in. It was some time later that I heard the door open and realised that Frerin was already back. "Spend all afternoon reading, namanith?" He asked and I shrugged and nodded. "Isn't anything else to do." I told him and he raised an eyebrow, "What you mean like going out of the house wandering the markets? Or like being escorted back to the house in the presence of a known thief?" He asked and I flushed, looking away from him.

I sighed and he was clearly waiting for an answer, "I can look after myself, not many people here know what I look like and I just wanted to get out of the house. I was in Nori's company as I saved his little brother from bullies and took him home, so he repaid the favour." I said, crossing my own arms and facing off against my brother. Frerin chuckled, "You don't have to defend yourself to me, I'm not Thorin or Dis. Yes I worried that you were out of the house, but I know that Dwalin has trained you and you always carry your daggers. That being said, just leave a note next time. Just in case. I have no worries about you spending time with the Ri brothers, especially little Ori. He may need some of your confidence." Frerin told me winking at me.

I smiled and he moved to the chest by the door, pulling out one of my axe's and his own one. My grin widened and I darted after him, leaving my book on the chair. We moved out to the small courtyard and I saw Tristahal and his son, Tristaven, waiting as well. "We both seemed to be of the same idea. 'Ven needs some training to even get as good as Ariana with a blade." Tristahal said and I giggled at the look on 'Ven's face. Frerin laughed and we paired off, Frerin teaching me much the same way as Dwalin had, by having me copy him. I moved through the steps aware of the eyes of Britta and the two younglings on me. I soon began to flow through the steps Frerin had taught me, not flinching too much when one of my blocks collided with his axe.

From there on he was 'attacking' me and I managed to block all his blows before turning them back towards him, making him work. Frerin called time a while later and I sighed, my back was starting to twinge again. "Time for dinner, namanith. How did you get so good?" He aksed and I smiled, "I was paying attention when I sat down at the training grounds, I wasn't just there to watch Dwalin beat up half the guards." I told him, causing the adults to laugh. He nodded and ushered me back into the house, waving goodbye to the others.

My days progressed in similar manner for the next week. I would wake up and have breakfast with Dis and Britta, spend the morning with Ori and Dori and then head home for lunch. I would then sneak out and join Nori where ever he was within the mountain and he taught me his skills, teaching me to be better at picking pockets or using my dagger differently. He taught me a few different poisons that could be used and how to track someone efficiently without getting caught.

It was early in the second week that I froze halfway through sitting in Dori's house with the three brothers. Nori caught on first, just standing near me as I watched the room fade and suddenly I was on a familiar, but not battlefield. I looked around and saw Thorin fighting. I blinked and I was staring at grandfather, watching as a monstrous pale creature attacked him, cutting off his head. I screamed and watched as adad tried to fight, but was soon lost from my sight. I blinked watching as Thorin fought back against the creature, cutting off its arm. I blinked again and I was back in the house with Ori hugging me tightly and Nori and Dori crouched at my feet.

It was only then that I realised that tears were streaming down my cheeks. "Mim Kaliâl, are you alright?" Nori asked me and I shook my head, "Grandfather is dead. I saw it, father is gone. I can't see him any more." I whispered. Dori wrapped an arm around me, "I am sure he will be fine." He whispered and I shook my head. "He's gone, he won't be back. Thorin will though, he will be coming back." I murmured and Nori squeezed my hand. "Do these episodes happen often Ariana? Do Frerin and Dis know about them?" He asked and I shook my head. He shooed Dori out of the way and pulled me up into a rare hug.

I looked up at him, "It's time we get you back. I'll take you all the way back ok?" He said and I just nodded, to upset to really complain. I said goodbye to Dori and Ori, letting Nori lead me away from the house and back to my own. Frerin was already home when Nori opened the door and ushered me in, he turned at the sound of the door opening and frowned. "Namanith? What happened?" He demanded to know and I vaguely heard Nori telling him as I curled up in the chair grandfather used to sit in, clutching the little token around my neck. It was only as I heard the door close behind Nori that I began to sob.

Frerin tugged me into his arms, lifting me up and sitting down with me in his lap. He whispered nonsense into my hair, but I could hear his breath catching. I looked up and he was crying as well. I wiped away the tears on his face and he leant down, resting his head against mine. "You're sure that Thorin is ok? That he is coming back?" He asked and I nodded, "Thorin was still standing when the thing ended. I saw him win against the creature that killed grandfather." I murmured and he nodded, brushing his nose against mine. We both jumped as a raven cawed at the window. I darted up and over to it, taking the letter from it.

Namaniths, Nadadith.

We have not won this battle. The orc numbers were too great. We have lost many, adad and grandfather included. Balin and Dwalin are well, but Fundin was among those lost to us. I am fine, a few light wounds, but whole. We will be marching back as soon as we have tended the injured that will make it. I hope this finds you all well.

Thorin.

I read it out loud and Frerin sighed, "That is good. No doubt it will be another month before they are back. We can only hope that they make it back safely after all that." I nodded and we both jumped again at the throat that cleared behind us, "Who get's back safely?" Dis asked and I just handed the letter over to her, wrapping my arms around Frerin, "Please don't tell her about what happened earlier, I don't want her to worry." I whispered and he nodded, frowning slightly. Dis choked on a sob and came over to us, Frerin wrapping us both up in a hug and I almost felt guilty, that I was mourning two dwarves I had only known for 3 years, where they had known them for 85 years and were related to them by blood.

Suddenly I felt trapped and squirmed out of Frerin's hold and darting out the door, wrapping my fur coat around me tighter. I could hear Frerin shouting after me, but I had learnt from Nori, I ducked in and out of alleyways, darting up the side of houses and running along thin walkways that he had shown me. I ended up somewhere far from where I should have been, down in the poorest area of the mountain, near the mines. I sat down beside a boarded up toyshop and curled up on myself, letting the tears fall. I tried to stay silent, but I knew I had failed when I heard a cheerful voice call from the front of the shop.

"Alright there little lass? Are ya lost?" It asked and I turned to find a dwarf wearing a funny hat, I looked over at him and shook my head. He walked over to me, "Ah your one of that Nori blokes tricksters. I've seen you with 'im a couple of times. Here he's just down the street. Come along." He said cheerfully, shepherding me down to where Nori's three-pointed hairstyle stood out. "Got your little one here Nori, found 'er down the side of my cousin's little shop. Have a good 'un." The dwarf said, slapping Nori on the back and walking away. Nori turned to me and clamped a hand on my arm, leading me away from the mines and back towards my house, hissing under his breath. "You are damn lucky that I hadn't gone far after taking you home. Your sister wants to have half the mountain out looking for you. What in Mahal's name were you thinking running off like that?"

I shrugged his grip off and glared at him, "Last I checked I was confined to an area within the mountain." I snapped out at him and he frowned at me, studying me. "You feel guilty about something. I don't know what, but I doubt you should be feeling guilty at all. If this is about earlier you need to stop. None of this was your fault at all." He told me and I shrugged, turning away from him and walking on. He sighed and walked alongside me. "You don't, if either of us is needing to feel guilty it's me. I'm teaching you grifting, spying, thieving and lying. If Dori knew he'd have my hide." He said and I turned to him, "You aren't teaching me anything I don't already know Nori, you're just tuning my skills."

I told him as I approached the house, he nodded and followed me to the door. Dis wrenched it open at Nori's knock and pulled me into a tight hug. "Don't you ever do that to me again, I don't think I could take it. Why did you run?" She asked and I looked down at the floor, "I don't know, I just felt trapped all of a sudden. I don't even know why. It wasn't the hug." I hurried to reassure them, I truly couldn't say why I had felt trapped, I just did. Dis nodded and pulled me further into the house. "Thank you so much for bringing her back, Nori." I heard Frerin say and Nori nodded, tilting his head to me and leaving.

Frerin shut the door and tugged me into a tight hug, followed by Vilí. "Dis is right, unsurprisingly. Please don't run away like that again. Now let's all sit down and just have some dinner ok?" Frerin said and I flinched, realising I had been gone far longer than I had thought. Dis sat close to me through dinner and I bit my tongue, knowing it was my own fault for running away that she was crowding me. When she and Vilí left later, I moved over to the chest near the door, got out my short sword and one of my axe's and walked out to the courtyard. I heard Frerin follow me, but ignored him in favour of just going through the movements for each weapon that I had been taught, before slowly combining the two, until I was moving faster.

Frerin cleared his throat and I stopped, blinking away the sweat that had started to drip down into my eyes. "I think that enough for this evening Ariana. Come inside now." He said and I flinched slightly at the tone of his voice. I moved inside and put the weapon's away, before moving up to the bedroom and washing up, changing into my nightshirt and curling up on my side of the bed. I listened as Frerin's footsteps sounded up the stairs, pausing in the doorway. "Good night, Ariana." He said, before continuing up the stairs to his room. I curled up tighter on myself and stuck a pillow over my head as I began to cry, I had truly ruined everything now.

I cried myself to sleep, eventually. Nightmares haunted me, of grandfather dying, of Frerin telling Dis and Thorin what a freak I was and throwing me out and I woke up with a swollen tongue, clearly having bitten it during the night to prevent the screams. I looked out of the small window and saw that it wasn't much after dawn. I dressed quietly and tied my hair back simply into a tail, before creeping down stairs. I moved out into the courtyard and sat down under the kitchen window, staring at the token I had carved out. I shifted as I heard Frerin moving around upstairs, moving to sit on the floor by the cold fire. I wrapped my arms around my knees, resting my head on them and trying to be as small as possible.

I heard him walk down the stairs, not even pausing at my room. I flinched, biting my lip to stop tears from forming. "Ariana? What are you doing down there?" He asked and I curled up tighter as he walked towards me. He paused and I looked up at him, from over my arms. He was watching me warily, "Ariana? Namanith, talk to me please." He whispered, crouching down and sitting opposite me. You don't want me any more. I signed out, not wanting to speak. I didn't really want to hear his answer, I would have no place to go if he threw me out and it scared me. He inhaled sharply and darted to his feet, causing me to flinch and put my hands over my head, the reaction unused, but not forgotten.

He paused and came to sit next to me, tugging my arms down and away from my head. "Whatever gave you that impression? Of course I still want you here." He said and I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was frowning, but there were tears forming in his eyes. "I don't know what I would do if you weren't here. Do you want to go?" He asked and I shook my head, signing, You seemed angry with me last night, then you ignored me when I came in. You didn't seem to want me at all. I told him and he sighed, standing up and walking away from me.

I flinched again, standing up and darting away quietly, up the stairs to my room. I clambered up into the bed and curled up under the blankets again, putting the pillow over my head, tears sliding down my cheeks. I bit down hard on my tongue to stay silent and could taste blood, but not really caring. I flinched, curling up tighter as footsteps came into the room. "Namanith? Ariana?" Dis' voice sounded, muffled by the pillow. I clamped the pillow down around my ears and bit down on my sealed lips, trying to keep all sounds in. I felt hands tugging on the blankets and I let them go, keeping the pillow over my head.

Strong, calloused hands that were not Dis' prised my fingers away from the pillow and I heard Frerin mutter, "What has gotten into her?" Dis answered him, but I just curled up even tighter, wrapping my arms around my head, the tears flowing now, even though I tried to stop them. "Frerin, she's bleeding." I heard Dis say loudly and his hands moved mine away from my head. I kept my eyes and lips shut, refusing to do anything, turning away from them and hiding my face in the bed. "Namanith? Ariana please show me your face, I need to know where you're bleeding from." Dis pleaded with me and I sighed, shaking my head.

I flinched when I heard Frerin growl and whimpered as his hands wrenched me up to sit against his chest, his arms wrapping around me; keeping me against his chest. I struggled for a moment before going limp, knowing I wouldn't get out of his hold. Dis' eyes were wide and she wiped away the tears and the corner of my mouth, her thumb coming away red. I swallowed and tasted the blood coming from where I had bitten my tongue. She prised my lips open and inhaled, "Namanith, what have you done to your tongue? This is far more swelling than just from this bite." She said and I flicked my eyes towards the window, signing, I didn't want to wake Frerin last night. I didn't want to make him even madder. I didn't want to be even more of a burden.

Frerin's arms loosened and I darted away from him, scrambling up on top of the tall wardrobe in the corner, that held mine and grandfathers clothes. Frerin looked up at me and I curled up on myself, "You are not a burden. I didn't think you would want to be crowded last night. I wasn't mad at you, I could never be mad at you. You know that I don't mind you waking me, why didn't you come and get me if your nightmares were back?" He asked and I shook my head, tears forming again. He sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face, "Please come down Ari, it kills me to see you cry and I want to take a look at your tongue." He said and I moved slowly down off the wardrobe, finding myself in a hug as soon as my feet were on the ground.

Frerin pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I love you Ariana. I wasn't mad at you. Please don't do this to me again." He whispered and I looked up at him, allowing him to check my tongue, before guiding me back down the stairs with Dis behind us. We curled up together and Frerin kept murmuring things into my hair. I looked up around lunchtime to find them both asleep. I wriggled carefully out of their arms and began making us all some lunch, jumping when I felt a hand on my shoulder and found Vilí stood behind me. I smiled slightly at him and gestured to the food.

He shook his head, signing, I already ate at home. I was looking for Dis. She didn't sleep well last night and I didn't want her to be in the forge when she was tired. I nodded and waved a hand at the living room. I take it you didn't sleep well either? He asked and I shook my head, No I had so many nightmares last night. Imagining adad and grandfather dying. Of Thorin not coming back. Of Frerin and Dis wanting me to leave. Of being too much trouble. I told him, looking away and back at the food. I flinched as arms came around me, Vilí wrapping me up in a hug. "I don't think any of us are willing to let you go. You have only been part of my family for a short time, but I can't imagine you not being part of it." He told me and I smiled, nodding my head, my worries not gone, but lessened slightly.

I began to act as I had before this last day, once everyone had woken up and that night Frerin curled up in bed beside me, telling me stories until I fell asleep. The next few weeks passed much as they had before my weird spell, although I was aware that neither Frerin or I had forgotten it as he always made sure to reassure me I was wanted, needed here. I trained with both Frerin and Nori, I spent time with the other Ri brothers and Vilí and Dis. It was part way through the fourth week that I dared to look through grandfathers things and found a small leather pouch, I tucked away all the little gifts that had been given to me and took to wearing it around my neck as it hung down and was lost in the folds of my clothes.

It was as the fifth week was drawing to a close that everything really changed. Frerin and I were just walking out of the house to go and see Dis and Vilí when Dis barrelled into us. "They are back. Thorin is back!" She chattered excitedly and someone cleared their throat behind us, we turned around to find Thorin, Dwalin and Balin stood behind us. We all froze, before darting forward and wrapping them all in a huge hug. I looked up to find Dwalin had a bandage wrapped around his head and Thorin was holding himself really stiffly, like he was hurting everywhere. We tugged them back into the house and ushered them to sit down.

Thorin sat down heavily and I curled up gently against his side, tucking my head against him and breathing in his smell, although it was strongly masked by the healing herbs that were being used on the injuries we couldn't see. Thorin told us the story of the battle, I think watering it down so that I wouldn't react badly. I rolled my eyes slightly, but was just really glad to have them all back safe. Thorin had several wounds on his chest and arms, as did Balin and Dwalin, who had also lost part of his ear and had a vicious cut across his nose that had scarred on the journey home. Dwalin and Balin stayed over that night, all of us again sleeping in a huge pile, but this time we were all curled up in the bed upstairs that Frerin and I had been sharing.

I woke up before all of them the next morning and slowly wiggled my way out of the pile. I looked around and decided that I would go out into the courtyard. I was moving through the steps with the axe and sword when I heard a chuckle behind me, I turned to find Thorin watching me. "It's nice to know that you take to your physical studies as well as your knowledge. I have never seen someone improve so quickly in such a short space of time. I'm so proud of you. You will make a formidable warrior." He told me, pressing a kiss to my forehead and pulling me into a hug. "Frerin and Vilí spoke to me about what happened last month. I don't want you to ever think that I would allow them to get rid of you. You are my sister and I guard what is mine. Also it may be a good idea not to tell Dwalin that you've been hanging around Nori Rison." He told me and I chuckled nodding.

Everyone stayed home today, with only a short time apart when people went to their homes to change. After lunch we were all sitting in our living room when Dis cleared her throat and drew all the attention to her. She moved away from Vilí and looked around at us, "I have some news to share with you all. As those who stayed know I haven't been feeling my best and have been rather tired, I'm sorry for deceiving you kurdumizim, but I went to see a healer yesterday morning." We all paused and I could see Vilí itching to ask what was wrong. Dis smiled, "There is nothing majorly wrong. The symptoms will last for a while, but it is not a bad thing." Vilí twitched and Dis finally took pity on him, "I'm with child." She blurted out.

The room froze for all of maybe a minute, before it sank in. Vilí pressed a kiss to Dis' head before paling and passing out. Thorin and Frerin were laughing and congratulating Dis, as were Balin and Dwalin. I moved over to Dis and hugged her tightly, signing my congratulations against her skin. She bent slightly and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I'm counting on you mizimith to help me keep this child out of trouble, Mahal knows what will happen to it if these five get too much time with it." I giggled and nodded, glad that I would be of some help. I remembered something and ran upstairs quickly, I dug through a draw in my bedroom remembering seeing an envelope with Dis and Vilí's name on it.

I ran back downstairs and passed it to her, she opened it up and shook out three beads and a letter. Each bead had the Durin crest on it and she read the letter tearing up. "This was left by grandfather for any children I might have. There is also a letter for Thorin and Frerin with the same inside, for any future children and spouses that we have." Dis said softly and I moved over to hug her. She smiled wrapping her arm around my shoulders, Thorin and Frerin darted upstairs to try and find them and I followed them upstairs, showing them where I had found the one for Dis. Frerin handed me my own letter and walked back downstairs. I sat down on the edge of the bed and opened it carefully.

Ghivashel,

I know that as I write this our time together is growing short. I will soon be off to battle, one I know I will not return from. I have had some strange dreams of late, starting from before we left the mountain. These visions were telling me things I would need to do. I needed to make you several gifts, all of which are in the large chest in your room, should you ever managed to get back to the mountain. The others were things like the Durin beads and how many would be needed for each family. The final thing was these letters.

In the others letters I have explained many things to them and given them many lesson and words to live by, but in yours I need you to know several things. There is NO person on this earth who can remove you from the Durin line, you are now in it and will stay in it. There was an old ritual I remembered my grandfather doing for my uncle when he adopted a child, that using magic bound the bloodline together. While you were asleep, long before the dragon, I performed this ritual and made you drink the potion when you woke. I am so sorry for the deceitful way that I have done this, but for you to be parted from our bloodline will cause disastrous results.

I am not placing this burden on your shoulders, but I know that you will keep the rest of this line sane as you did for me. Also your wisdom and guidance is going to be very much in demand a long time in the future.

It feels strange to sit here writing this and watching you sleep in your bed across from me, knowing that when you read this I will have gone to the halls of my ancestors. Hopefully I will have made up for my mistakes before then. If not I will gladly suffer the shame, knowing that you are safe. Remember, our greatest glory is not never falling, but rising every time we fall and that hope, is the only thing that is stronger than fear.

Zu lukhudûn, uezuduh ra gimiluh.

I love you.

Grandfather.

I wiped away the tears that had formed reading grandfather's words, tucking the letter into the pouch around my neck. I moved off the bed and walked down the stairs, stopping at the bottom to find Thorin and Frerin sitting next to each other, with a very proud Vilí holding Dis close on the couch, a Durin bead shining brightly in his hair. Dwalin was sat on the floor at Balin's feet, rubbing his bandaged ear. I smiled, leaning on the railing as I watched, clutching the little leather pouch around my neck that now held every gift that they had given me, even the swords and the axes. I wasn't going to question how grandfather's little leather pouch suddenly held so much more, almost like magic, I was just glad it did as it meant I could carry everything around with me.

Thorin turned slightly and saw me standing there, beckoning me over. I had only stepped down one step when I staggered, a sharp tugging pain piercing my stomach. I cried out as it kept tugging at my stomach, the pain slightly familiar from when I had arrived here in this world. "No. No. I don't want to go." I whispered out as Thorin tried to get to his feet quickly. "ARIANA!" I heard the shout of my name and saw Thorin and Frerin reaching for me, just as the house faded to black and the world around me span. I curled up on myself and waited for the spinning to stop.

I looked up and found myself back in my original world, on a street I didn't recognise. I looked around and quickly shed the furs and boots, tucking them away in to my bag, I was left just in my breeches and shirt which gave me the look of a homeless child. Which I realised as I untangled my hair and took the beads from my braids, I now was again. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as I thought this, I had no idea how to get home and I had no idea where I was. I moved out onto the street and looked around trying to find something familiar. It was as I was edging towards the other end of the alley I was in that footsteps sounded behind me and a strong hand holding a cloth clamped over my mouth. The last thing I remember was a man's voice saying, "I have a good feeling about this one."

A/N: I apologise if there is any glaring spelling errors in this I have read and reread it but somehow I still miss loads :)

Some translations for you:

Zu lukhudûn - You are my light.

Uezuduh ra gimiluh - my sun and stars

Mim Kaliâl - little trickster

Kurdumizim - Heart's jewel

Also the next chapter has no POV and is a little bit of a "um what did she just write" kind of thing, please just take it with a pinch of salt and as the rest of my story unfolds it will be explained I promise :)