Disclaimer: Nope I don't own anything in this put the plot.

A/N: So I wrote most of this yesterday and didn't want to wait to post it :) I'll be starting the next chapter momentarily :D

Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I think I got them all. Although I continually say that and have still missed some!

So in this chapter we have - Confessions, apologies, awakenings, hugs, dresses, verbal bitch slaps, more apologies and demands of grovelling.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 25

Ariana POV

I seemed to drift in the dark for what felt like years, a searing pain I hadn't felt in years coursing through my bones. I could hear people talking above me and it took me a while to work through the fog around my brain to identify who was with me. I could hear Galadriel and Elrond speaking about my wounds, the fever I seemed to be slipping into and why were my bones sparkling. I drifted off into the dark again the pain and tiredness creeping back over me, letting me know that I really had pushed too much too far on the battle field. I knew that by calling the creatures that I had pushed my magic to it's limits, but the fact that I was healing slower than normal and had a fever only showed me that I did have a limit.

The next time I 'awoke' there was a voice singing softly next to me and it took me a moment to realise that it was Thranduil. I could feel him lightly running his fingers over the feathers in one of my wings, the sensations like lightning through my veins. I frowned mentally, what the hell did that mean. I listened as Thranduil started to speak, telling me how many we had lost, how many were still in healing like I was and how the rest were coping. He told of how Kíli and Fíli were doing and the rest of the company. He spoke to me of Legolas and Tauriel and how much it was hurting him to see them so upset at the thought of losing me.

I listened intently as he began to explain to me why he had not helped me as a child, why he had not tried to contact me and why he had forbidden Legolas to do so. He told me of how scared he was that he had a bond to me, but that I was mortal and he could loose me before he was ready. He told me of how his first wife had died and how he couldn't experience something like that again. I felt some of my anger disappear at his confessions, I felt a little guilty at the fact that he probably didn't think I could hear him as he admitted this, but I doubted he would admit it to me if I was awake.

I listened as he spoke of Thorin and the quietened as someone entered the tent. I listened in shock as Thranduil and Thorin had a civil conversation, my heart breaking even more as I heard the guilt that Thorin carried, how he thought he had been the one to kill me. I was shocked as Thorin admitted that if I couldn't give him the crown back then he didn't want or deserve it. I listened to Thorin apologise again and again to me, telling me he meant none of what he said. He explained what it was like for him under the sickness and I believed him. Didn't mean he was going to get a free ride like the boys though. I drifted off again slightly, vaguely hearing Thranduil asking Thorin for permission to court me when I woke up and I rolled my eyes, like I was going to care if Thorin didn't grant it.

The next time I woke it was to the soft sound of Bilbo's voice speaking to Elrond and a weird magic signature in the air. I filed it away to talk to Bilbo about it when I woke, but for now I was content to listen as Bilbo filled me in on everything that had been happening around the mountain, which people I would really need to talk to when I woke and who was behaving in what way. He told me how Thorin had been acting towards everyone and how he paled and threw up the first time he went to the treasury looking for something. Bilbo spent a lot of time in the tent with me, holding my hand and telling me that I would be proud of Fíli and Kíli who were keeping the mountain running smoothly and how well they got on with Legolas and that they were even warming to Thranduil.

The third day after the battle I woke to find Thranduil sat with me and whispering apologies to me as he began to brush out and wash my hair, complaining every time he found something in it that shouldn't have been there. He told me that he was holding the necklace the Legolas had made for me and would put it back on later. He spoke of the meeting he was going to soon to inform the company of my condition and how he was praying that the fever I had broke soon, because he had had enough of talking to silence. I smirked at that, he would be thinking a lot differently when I awoke and could give him a piece of my mind. The room went silent again as Elrond took over from Thranduil and I desperately wanted to sigh.

Elrond was the most boring of my guests, he never spoke to me which was probably why Bilbo came in when he did to fill the air with his talking. I was grateful that Bilbo did that, it stopped my mind from becoming overactive and imagining the many ways that the battle could have gone. Thranduil walked in a little later and told me about the meeting, I wanted to laugh as I heard him tease the four stood outside the tent, I listened absently as they spoke, three sets of hand brushing over my wings and two brushing through my hair.

I listened to Thalion as spoke and how they spoke of my dragons, I was drifting off as everything seemed to get hectic, jolting awake as I heard Dis and Frerin. I listened intently to the voices above me, growing a little angrier with each spoken word from my other siblings, my magic sparked but died as Fíli spoke and declared their conversation shelved until I could participate and I growled in my head, they had no right to treat my nephews like that, even if they were their own. My mind was reeling as Thranduil stroked my hair and sang softly only stopping when Galadriel entered the tent.

He left me with a soft kiss on my forehead and I shivered, clearly the bond we had went both ways. I settled back into myself as I heard Frerin talking to Galadriel and then I focused in on what he was saying to me, telling me everything that had happened not just here in the mountain, but in his life since I had left and I so desperately wanted to wake up and hug him. As I drifted off to sleep I realised that while I was still magically weak, I was stronger than I had been. It would be another four days before I woke and by that point I was so done with everyone who came to see me.

When I finally managed to open my eyes, it was to find Legolas placing his necklace back around my neck. I blinked and looked around the room and found Kíli, Fíli, Tauriel, Sigrid, Bain and Tilda there too. I shifted and Legolas stared down at me. "Could I have some water please, mizimith?" He nodded and turned to the pitcher beside him, gently lifting me forward allowing me to see the room I was in. They had finally moved me yesterday and I was pleased to see my own room again, my armour gleaming in the open casing. I sipped the cool water slowly, smiling when they all came to crowd my bed. "Aunty? Are you ok?" Kíli asked me and I nodded, shifting my body to lean back against the pillows behind me, adjusting my wings to sit comfortably. The next thing I knew I was wrapped in a huge hug, Kíli and Tilda practically in my lap, although all of them were careful of my wounds.

I smiled, shushing them as I heard a few muffled sniffles. "I am alright, I am sorry that I scared you. It wasn't my intention." I pressed a kiss against the foreheads I could reach and Legolas tightened his grip around my shoulder. "We know nana, but it hasn't made it easier." I pressed another kiss to his forehead and shifted, making them all move off me. "So what has got you all hiding in my room today then?" I asked, finding it suspicious that they were all in one room. Kíli cleared his throat, "Amad's being difficult, she keeps undermining everything we do, she's constantly having a go at Bard and Daín and Thranduil is getting fed up with her little digs at him and her not so little digs at Tauriel. Uncle Frerin has already tried speaking to her about it, but she isn't listening. We haven't been able to get uncle Thorin to do anything as he just takes it without complaint, more so in private than in public."

I frowned as Kíli spoke, before nodding. "Right here's what we are going to do. You are going to call a meeting have family, the company, Daín, Bard and Thranduil all in one room. You are going to say that we are having this meeting to discuss how everything is being handled and you are going to wait there, don't tell anyone I'm awake. Tauriel can you stay?" She nodded and everyone else left. I shifted on the bed, swinging my legs off the side and looking down as Tauriel walked over to me. "You really shouldn't be out of bed nan- Ariana." She caught herself and I looked up at her, frowning. "Call me what you want. If you feel comfortable calling me nana then do it." I told her and she nodded, blushing. I rolled my eyes and stood hesitantly, catching sight of the plate of lembas bread and fruit on one of the tables.

I walked slowly over to it, grabbing a piece and nibbling at it. I looked down and found myself in a thin long shirt that looked like it belonged to a man. "It came from Thranduil, it was thought to be more comfortable for you to lie in." I nodded, pulling it gently off and over my wings, flicking my wrist and making a mirror appear. The small piece of magic caused me to reach for several more pieces of lembas bread as I stared at the reflection that greeted me, feeling all the energy that came from it strengthening my core and my spirit. Tauriel came to stand next to me, "Did someone explain to you that the Arkenstone now grows from your bones?" I nodded, not really believing what I saw. I shifted as I felt my hair catch on something. I turned to find the claw marks left from the bat encrusted with the stone and the exit wound of the sword. Thankfully both had missed the scripture down my spine and my wings.

I moved into the bath room and quickly washed, feeling grubby from the last week lying in bed, despite being bathed several times. I walked back out into the bedroom to find Tauriel going through my wardrobe, "I like this one." She said holding out a dress, I nodded and smiled. I walked towards her and let her help me with it. The dress was one I had made from several dresses I had owned on Earth. It was Grecian in style, with the thick straps crossing over my shoulders and allowing my wings to perfectly sit in the space that would have simply shown bare skin, the small jewels that were sown into it twinkling in the firelight. I looked into the mirror and smirked, the dress had once been just shy of too fitting, but now hugged my leaner body perfectly without being too obvious, the only downside was my arms were bare, but I wasn't overly bothered. The colours shifted as I did moving between a dark burnished gold to a pale gold with hint of orange and red.

I grinned at Tauriel in the mirror as I sat down and she unbraided my hair letting it hang in soft waves down my back covering the bare skin of my back, the small dwarvish braids twinkling in the waves. I tilted my head as I noticed a few additional braids with very fine beads at the bottom. "Legolas and I added those in, we hope you don't mind." I shook my head as I adjusted the thin necklace on my dress and picked up the circlet I had worn into battle, letting Tauriel place it on my head. I slid my feet into the soft flat shoes I had to go with it and summoned my staff.

I stood and began to walk to the door, glancing at my reflection again. I looked completely different, almost like I'd never been injured. The only give away was the Arkenstone burning bright like hot coals on my face, but fitting nicely with the dress and my wings that were out and on show, finally proudly displayed as they always should have been. I smiled up at Tauriel and we moved out into the corridor, I let Tauriel guide me to where the meeting was taking place, looking over at her and raising a brow at the loud voices I could hear coming from the room. "Go in and apologise for being late. I'll be in in a moment." I whispered and she nodded, ducking in.

The room was silent for a moment until I heard Dis' voice cutting through the silence. "And what makes you so special that we had to wait?" She bit out and that was enough, I let the door open silently as I stalked in, my staff tapping away as I walked. "She was helping me. Or is that not allowed dear sister?" I drawled out and everybody froze. Kíli darted up from the chair he was sat in and held it out for me, "My queen." I smiled over at him and walked past everyone to sit in the chair at the head of the table, one I recognised from my childhood. This was the king's private council chambers, I smirked and waved my hand, shutting the door and casting a silencing spell. "Everyone sit down. Now." I bit out, keeping my voice as even as I could.

Everyone sat down in silence, Kíli and Fíli on my left and Legolas and Tauriel on my right. I was looking down the table to find the company on one side ending with Thranduil sat directly in front of me with Gandalf and the others on the other. "I leave you all alone for a week. One week and you lose all your manners." I said quietly and everyone looked at me. "Let me tell you something now, I could hear nearly everything that was said to me over the last week. It has made for some interesting stories and has kept my mind busy allowing me to heal. Do you know what the funniest thing is?" I asked and I could see everyone waiting for me to continue, "The person I put in charge, doesn't seem to be. I was under the impression that the person who was running this mountain in my absence was Prince Kíli. Was I wrong?"

The room stayed silent with the dwarves of the company shaking their heads. "Well if I wasn't wrong then why am I being told that his decisions are being undermined?" I asked looking over at Dis, who was going pink beneath her beard. "When I made the decision on who should lead our people should my brother or I be unable, I chose one who had charmed the people and one who I knew I could trust around the gold. I chose Kíli to be the one in the fore but Fíli was to be there to back him up, because they work well as a team. Tell me sister would you have undermined Frerin if he had be chosen over Thorin? Or I if I had been chosen over the three of you? No? Then do not undermine your boys. As I have told Thorin, I will not stand for it. They may be your sons, but I am viciously protective of my family, even from other family."

I snapped out the last and everyone flinched. I sighed and looked at my sister, "I understand that at the moment emotions are running high. I understand that battle changes things. I get that everything has completely shifted to how it was when you last saw the company. I get that it is strange, believe me. I went from a world where I was feared and hated because I was different to a home where I am loved and wanted. I get being smacked around the head with a warhammer. I don't get why you reacted the way you did. Yes be angry that injuries occurred, be angry that we have the gold sickness within our family and yes be angry because there was too much fucking ego amongst the males in this mountain. But don't you dare be angry because your son found his one. Don't you dare be angry that I have found mine."

I looked around the table and took in every face. "And don't you dare be petty and childish over something that cannot be controlled. Be it finding your one or being taken over by gold sickness. I have forgiven each and every dwarf that entered this mountain before me. I have forgiven any wrong they did me, they just need to forgive themselves. I have spent my life away from my home surrounded by people who were petty and childish and it nearly cost me my freedom, my wings and my life on many an occasion. Life is far too short, even for those who are immortal. So love and forgive those who deserve it and forget those that do not. Thorin you are in the first category before you get it in your head that you aren't." I looked around the table and saw the company nodding at me, some clearly not too happy that I had forgiven Thorin so easily.

I sighed, "I can see that you are all uneasy with my choice, I forgive because I can. There is a saying on my old world. 'Fear leads to anger, Anger leads to hate, Hate leads to suffering.' I do not want this to be the path I walk, so I forgive. I will not ever forget, but I will forgive. I know how much pain Thorin is in because of how he acted and that is good, because pain is a gift. Without the capacity for pain we can't feel the hurt we inflict. Thorin is feeling it as were you all when you realised how much you had hurt me, hurt Bilbo and hurt Kíli before the battle. So if you can forgive a blood brother, forgive a shield one." I said, sitting up in the chair, leaning to look down the right side of the table.

I looked down the table to where Bard was sat. "I apologise to you Bard, you have not had very many opportunities to see dwarves in a good light. I hope that now we can change that." Bard smiled up at me, nodding his head slightly. "Your apologies are unnecessary my queen. For all the wrongs done to us by a dwarf, my people remember all that their queen has done for us. We would not have survived the Dragon and the trek to Dale in the numbers we did if it wasn't for you." I smiled down at him, bowing my head. I turned to Daín, "Lord Daín I also apologise to you. I had hoped that we could have worked together as well after the battle as we did before it." Daín chuckled, "Irakanadad, we were working perfectly well until Lady Dis decided to put her two coppers worth in." I smiled, nodding. Now came the most touchy apology.

I looked directly down the table at Thranduil. "My Lord Thranduil, I offer my most sincere apologies for any rudeness done by my kin in the time I have been healing. I hope you will accept these as a token of our sincerity." I said as Thalion walked through the door with a small chest. I stood and walked down the table, running my hand over the tops of the chairs to help keep my balance. I took the chest from Thalion and turned to Thranduil, bowing low. He took the chest from me and placed it on the table, grasping my hand and helping me stand. "Apology accepted My Lady Ariana. To see you awake and well is enough of a token." I smiled, then raised a brow. "Well then perhaps I'll take these back then." I teased and he quickly placed a hand on the chest, "I am afraid they are mine now, they were already gifted."

I gave an answering smirk to his teasing one and rolled my eyes, "Shame I rather like them." I drawled out as I walked back to my seat, standing at the head of the table and crossing my arms. "That being said however does not mean that any of you get out of your own apologies to me and to several others in this room. I may have forgiven you or apologised to you, but I do not forget easily. Fíli has been forgiven quickly because of how he behaved after everything and for what he has done to help Kíli who I threw in at the deep end. As I said I may have heard what was said to me while I was healing, but I want anyone who apologised to me to say it looking into my eyes. Kingly pride be damned." I bit out staring down the table at Thorin and Thranduil.

Both flinched and I smirked, "Also my dear brother and darling sister who have recently graced us with their presence. I think you owe an apology or two of your own either to me or to my elven children." I said waving a hand at Legolas and Tauriel, winking at them before looking at the room. "Actually I think someone owes their sons an apology too." I said flicking my gaze between Thranduil and Dis. "But such apologies can wait, I'm sure that you will need time to think things over, such as what you are apologising for. Now, I hear from Nori that there is unrest within the mountain as no one has actually seen me. Let us go fix that." I said picking up my staff and smiling at Kíli who offered me his arm. I pressed a kiss to his temple and together we walked out of the room to complete silence, which caused me to smirk and inwardly cackle. Guess what mama's back and she ain't happy, I thought as I heard the rest clambering to catch up with us.

A/N: So... Ariana's awake again :) The grovelling will be shown in the next chapter don't worry. Also she isn't going to let anyone off easily... I was thinking kneeling and begging? ;)

The next chapter will be Bilbo because its been 15 chapters since we heard from him and we all know he's a sassy little shit ;)