I'M STILL ALIVE! :D

Boy, does life sure get busy and hectic! That and trying to juggle 3 fanfictions can be a bit of a handful sometimes when it comes to updates xD I apologize for my long delay in updating this story, I've gotten a lot of reviews and PM's asking me to update soon and asking if I would be continuing this story. For one, it made me feel good knowing that there are still people sticking with me and wanting to read more of my story, wondering about it instead of forgetting about it since it hasn't been updated in a while. Thank you to all those who are still with me :)

Never fear, my friends, this story is far from over! I would not abandon it! I have just been busy and haven't had as much time to write. Plus I had a slight writer's block on this story and was relieved when it finally passed!

So now, to make up for the long wait, here is a long chapter for your viewing, entertainment and enjoyment! :D

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"Kili…those stories you told Tauriel about your rune stone and the fire moon…why did you never tell those stories to me?"

After having slept a little longer on the barge ride and then just recently waking up, Aira had found Kili looking down at her as she woke up. As delighted as she was to awake to his lovely brown eyes gazing at her with an overabundance of fondness, she couldn't help but remember him giving Tauriel that same look back in Mirkwood. In remembering that, she also remembered the stories he had told the Elf that she herself had never heard from him and decided to ask him about them.

He hesitated for a moment and looked away. Then he answered her, "I don't know…they just never came up, I suppose. There's been so much that's been happening on this journey that those things never crossed my mind." He looked back at her. "I honestly had almost forgotten I even had my mother's rune stone with me until the Elves began searching us. Then it dawned on me that I still had it and that they could potentially find it and take it away from me and I couldn't let that happen."

He took both of her hands in his. "Please don't think that I was ever lying to you or keeping anything from you, Aira," he pleaded. "That is not at all what I was trying to do. Believe me, I would have told you about the stone or the story about the fire moon eventually, but there just hasn't been a time where I'd thought about them or remembered them on this journey. Please do not be angry with me."

Aira believed him and was not angry with him. "I am not angry with you," she told him. "I was merely concerned…and that was my thought, as well, that you hadn't thought of those things at any point on this quest…but I still thought I should ask, anyway."

But then there was still another concern on her mind that she had to know about. "And what about Tauriel?" she asked. Kili looked at her almost confused as to what she was getting at and she continued, "I know that, due to the memory loss, you were falling for her back in Mirkwood…do you still have any of those feelings for her now?"

Kili let out a quiet sigh and lowered his eyes, knowing that Aira eventually was going to ask him that question. He hoped that she would believe what he would tell her.

"I will not deny that I developed slight feelings for Tauriel back there…," he said.

Aira felt her chest and her throat tighten nervously.

"…but once my memories returned and I remembered how I felt about you, they all went away. You are the one I love and anything I thought I felt for her remotely in that way is no more."

The constricting Aira felt inside instantly disappeared at Kili's statement. That was exactly what she had been hoping to hear. Any inkling of doubt or worry she still had was cast aside, knowing that Kili was truly back; heart, mind, body and soul.

"However, I do still consider her a friend," he continued. "She was kind to me in the dungeons and she saved my life twice, in the forest and on the bridge. I saw a friend in her, even back when I thought I had feelings for her, and I still see that now. I will not deny that."

Aira nodded. "I understand," she said softly. And she meant it. She trusted Kili and could accept that he thought of Tauriel as a friend instead of anything more than that. She still had her mixed feelings about her, but decided to just overlook them in this case.

Kili gently lifted Aira's head up so that their eyes met and he looked at her steadfastly. "Truly, my heart knows no other feelings for her than kindness and friendship," he told her as a finalization of what he had said before. "Anything more than that, my heart feels for you. There is only you, Aira, and I love you with every part of my heart and soul."

With that, he leant forward and pressed his lips to hers, a great and evident amount of love behind his kiss. Kili didn't care if anyone else on the barge noticed; really, he never cared about that. He was not afraid to show anyone, even the world, how much he loved Airaním. And after everything they had just been through, more importantly, he wanted to show her how much he loved her.

She knew it, too. She could feel the intensity of his love for her in his kiss and she knew that, if they weren't already sitting down, she would've lost the ability to stand and fallen to the ground. It was moments like that that continued to remind her how blessed she was to have someone like Kili and to have chosen to spend the rest of her life with him.

"I love you, too, Kili," was all she could say with much feeling in return when he pulled back. After a moment of just looking into each other's eyes, she asked him, "May I see your rune stone?"

"Yes, of course," he answered. He moved to reach into his pocket, but he winced a little as he slightly shifted his injured leg. Aira, on impulse, laid a hand on his shoulder as she made sure he was all right. He said nothing about it but continued to fumble into his pocket to retrieve his stone.

"I do hope his stubbornness doesn't get the better of him…," she thought to herself. She just knew that he would keep silent even longer about his injury so as to not appear weak or vulnerable and that bothered her. If his leg got worse and he would say nothing of it, then what would happen? He would surely be doomed to far more serious consequences and she couldn't bear to think of what they could possibly be. She prayed earnestly that his behavior wouldn't continue this way.

Kili pulled his mother's stone out finally and then handed it to Aira, who turned it over in her hands to examine it. It was a medium-sized stone, dark in color with blue tints. There were seven symbols carved in a line horizontally on the smooth, polished stone. She read them; they translated to one simple phrase: "Return to me."

That was very like Dis to give one of her sons a gift like the stone with a phrase like that upon it. Fili and Kili were the jewels in her eyes and she cherished them more than life. Apart from Thorin, they were all she had in the world. While Dis knew her sons were strong and pretty able-minded, she also knew how reckless they could be—Kili, especially—and worried constantly about them. Aira couldn't imagine how Dis must have felt when she learned her sons were going with her brother on a potentially dangerous journey to Erebor. She must have been scared to death for her two boys! She herself was a very strong, capable woman, but when it came to her family and them possibly being in danger, she was not always as strong as she wished she could be. She needed her elder brother to give her courage and security when she did not feel brave or safe; her sons to give her strength and comfort when she did not feel strong or happy. Knowing this about the only mother-figure she'd ever known, Aira could understand why Dis would give Kili an intimate token such as the rune stone and have him promise to return to her and remember that promise. Aira missed Dis with all her heart and hoped that she could help Kili fulfill his promise to her, as well as Fili and Thorin.

"It's beautiful," Aira said, handing the rune stone back to Kili.

He turned the stone over in his hand, running his thumb over the runes and gazing longingly down at it. "This is all that I have of my mother," he told her, a low tone sounding in his voice. "I felt guilty leaving her. I wanted to go on this journey with Fili and Thorin…but I didn't want to leave Mother."

Kili turned to look at Aira and she saw a sad glint in his eye. "I'm her son…," he stated, "…and apart from Uncle Thorin, Fili and I are all she's ever had. We were always there for her when she needed us. It was so hard for me to leave her."

Aira understood completely how Kili felt. "That's how I felt when I left thirty years ago," she responded, snuggling up closer to him. "I was so ready for an adventure; to see the world I'd only ever heard of in stories and read about in books…but a part of me inside did not want to leave my family; the people I knew I would hurt if I left. But it's that yearning for adventure that gets the best of us, overpowers that guilt and drives us to go."

"Exactly," said Kili, understanding the point she was making.

She leaned forward and touched her forehead to his lovingly. "You will see your mother again, Kili," she declared to comfort him. "I will make sure of it, as will the rest of the company. You will be able to keep your promise."

Kili said nothing, but simply smiled gratefully in response.

Aira looked around at the rest of the barge to see what everyone else was doing. Mostly, they all were just sitting on the sides of the barge, resting or quietly conversing. Bilbo, Bofur and Bombur were standing near the front next to some of the barrels. Dwalin was leaning on one himself and then there was Thorin, who was standing on the side with one leg propped up on the edge of the boat and resting a hand on a barrel next to him.

"Posing, as usual…," Aira thought wittily to herself.

Her eyes drifted to the back of the barge where Bard was standing tall, driving the barge down the icy, misty lake upon which they sailed. The man looked lonely standing in the rear of the boat by himself and something inside her compelled her to go to him and keep him company, at least for a little while. She excused herself from Kili, kissing him on the forehead, and then stood up and made her way to the back of the boat.

"Would you care for some company, Master Bard?" she politely asked the bargeman.

The corners of Bard's lips twitched ever so slightly upward. "If you are offering," he said back to her. As Aira sat down on the edge of the boat, he asked her as a reminder, "So the lot of you are visiting your kin in the Iron Hills, yes?"

For a small moment, Aira wondered what he was talking about, but then immediately remembered the story Balin had given him when asked what they were doing in these lands. She had to keep that in mind so as to not slip up and give the company's true intentions away.

"Yes, that's correct," she answered.

As Bard pulled the lever driving the boat, he then asked, "And the Halfling…how does he fit in?"

She shrugged with a small chuckle. "He's a good friend of ours," she said, "and when he found out we were journeying east, he wanted to join us." That really wasn't far away from the truth, so Aira didn't feel like she was really lying.

"And here you are; a lone female amongst a large group of Dwarves. How did that come about?"

"My family is a part of this company. My father is the leader."

"Which one is your father?"

Aira pointed over at Thorin and said, "Him, right there."

Bard leaned over a little to get a look at him. "The one posing on the side of the barge?"

Aira giggled. Bard had noticed that, too. "Yes, that would be my father."

He nodded in comprehension. "So he brought you with him, then?" he asked.

"At the start, he actually did not," she clarified. "I had been away from home for a while and another friend of ours, who was with us before but then had to part ways and attend to other matters, found me. He informed me of my father and our friends journeying east. Upon learning that, I too wanted to go with them, so I returned to my father and joined in the venture."

Bard once again nodded. "That is glad news that you were able to return to your family," he said to her with a polite smile.

"Just as you are returning to your family," Aira replied. "Have you been away from them very long?

He got a contemplative look on his face as he recollected how long he had been away from home. "I suppose it has been some time by now," he answered. "But my children are old enough to where they don't have to worry as much. That and we have someone; a friend staying with us that watches over them when I'm gone, anyway."

Before Aira could inquire further about the friend he had mentioned, they both heard Bofur suddenly shout, "Watch out!" They were coming upon a large rocky formation and the Dwarves all thought they were going to crash into it. But Bard was paying attention and turned the boat a little to the left, avoiding the giant rock wall.

Thorin then turned, looked up towards him and questioned, sounding accusatory, "What are you trying to do? Drown us?"

Bard didn't appreciate the tone of his voice and decided to retort as he continued to maneuver the boat, his voice low and raspy with attitude, "I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you…I would not do it here."

Aira then stepped down from the back of the boat and made her way towards Thorin, giving him a bit of a sharp glare, warning him about his behavior towards the bargeman. He simply sighed and rolled his eyes a bit, but then held out an inviting arm towards her. She stepped into his embrace and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, planting a gentle kiss on her temple as he did so.

Dwalin, behind them, was chuckling cynically at Bard and then stated, "Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with him."

On the opposite side of the barge, Bilbo, who was standing with his arms folded across his chest, groaned and said back, "Bard. His name's Bard!"

"How do you know?" asked Bofur.

The Hobbit gestured to both himself and Aira, who had moved beside him, and replied in an almost sassy fashion, "Uh…we asked him."

Still annoyed, Dwalin responded, "I don't care what he calls himself, I don't like him."

Thorin cast Aira a rather unsure glance and then moved around to the other side of Dwalin, sitting himself on the edge of the boat and folding his arms. He was just keeping quiet for the time being.

Balin, who was sitting down counting a large amount of gold coins sitting on a box, then stated, "We don't have to like him. We simply have to pay him. Come on now, lads. Turn out your pockets."

Most of the Dwarves grumbled as they began to rummage through their pockets or pouches, which surprisingly they still had.

"How do we know he won't betray us?" Aira heard Dwalin whisper about Bard to Thorin behind her.

"We don't," Thorin answered.

Aira began to grow wary listening to how distrustful Dwalin and Thorin were of Bard. Dwarves normally weren't always quick to trust to begin with, but what had Bard done to make them so suspicious towards him? He had given them transportation over the lake and means to get closer to Erebor, even though that was unbeknownst to him. Yes, he had questioned what they were doing in this part of the world, but that was the extent of it. He hadn't pried into their affairs since then. He had shown them kindness, which was more than what she could say about their previous host. She began to think that, to change their minds, maybe she'd have to remind them of how Thranduil had treated them as opposed to how Bard was treating them and that was stop their suspicious behavior.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Balin, who was finishing counting up the money, said a timidly, "There's uh…just a wee problem: we're ten coins short."

Everyone suddenly looked worried, but Thorin knew exactly who to talk to. "Gloin…," he said, crossing his arms and casting the ginger Dwarf in charge of the company's finances an urging look, "…come on. Give us what you have."

But Gloin looked surprised at the fact that Thorin was even asking him for more of his money. Perhaps more offended than surprised. "Don't look to me," he declared. Then he began to go on an irritated rant, "I have been bled dry by this venture! And what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and—"

When Gloin stopped talking, Aira looked around and saw that everyone else was standing up and gaping in awe at something behind her, her father more than anyone. Next to her, Kili was starting to rise, but wavered a little as he stood, so Aira put one arm around his waist and the other on his back and helped him stay up, holding him against her. Then she herself looked to see what everyone else saw…and her jaw dropped, gasping in awe at what they beheld before them.

Amid the mist stood the massive stone wonder that was the Lonely Mountain. There it was, seemingly within reach. It was even more beautiful and majestic up close than it was from afar. She marveled at the glorious sight, feeling overwhelmed with joy that they were almost to their destination.

They were almost home.

"Bless my beard…!" she heard Gloin quietly exclaim. Then he swiftly dug out a small pouch from his pocket, which was jingling with coins, and handed it to Balin, telling him to take everything.

But then the moment ended when Bilbo subtly cleared his throat and signaled with his head that Bard was coming down.

The bargeman jumped down from his platform, held out his hand and said, "The money, quick! Give it to me!"

"We'll pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin told him.

Bard gave him a stern look and responded in the same manner, "If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say. There are guards ahead."

They all cast their eyes to the front of the boat and, sure enough, there was a line of small docks ahead with guards and other people on them.

Bard told them quickly to get back inside their barrels if they didn't want to be discovered, which they quickly obeyed. Within minutes, they could hear and feel the barge coming to a stop at the dock and Bard climbed out.

"What's he doing?" Dwalin whispered loudly to whoever could see.

Bilbo was peering out of the little peephole in his barrel, which was facing the dock, and answered, "He's talking to someone." There was a brief pause. "And now he's pointing right at us!" There was another pause. "Now they're shaking hands!"

"What?!" exclaimed Thorin in a whisper.

"The villain!" said Dwalin. "He's selling us out!"

"He can't be!" said Aira. She had had a good feeling about Bard, and normally she was never wrong when she had a good feeling about someone. There was no way he would do that to them.

They all were still and silent as they heard the boat creaking from someone coming on board. The next thing they knew, all of them were getting something heavy and slimy dumped on their heads. Their barrels were being filled with loads of dead fish.

Aira felt so disgusting as her entire body was encompassed by the wet, slimy fish. At least they now knew Bard wasn't selling them out. He got the fish to conceal them and get them into the town secretly.

However, from the horrid stench that filled her nostrils along with the lack of oxygen inside her barrel, it was within minutes that Aira's vision suddenly faded and she passed out.

"She's not coming out."

"Get her out of there!"

The young Dwarf-woman would faintly hear the voices of Bofur and Thorin as she slowly regained consciousness. Then she was suddenly jolted back awake as she felt herself tilting and then falling backwards out of her barrel, the fish sliding up over her face and onto the floor. She gasped quite sharply for air, now that there was actually air for her to breathe, and began to cough hard. She heard Bilbo then say her name as he knelt next to her and lifted her head slightly, cradling it in his lap.

Thorin was on her other side and asked, laying one hand on her shoulder and taking her hand in the other, "Aira, are you all right?"

She continued coughing and gasping for air for a moment and then, when she finally stopped, she replied breathily, "I will never eat fish again as long as I live!"

Everyone chuckled at her remark and Bilbo then said, "Looks like she's just fine!"

"Get her up quick and let's go. We need to hurry," said Bard urgently.

Thorin took a hold of Aira's forearms and hoisted her up with Bilbo behind her gently pressing up on her back. Once she was upright, they set off, following Bard as carefully as they could through the place known as Laketown.

This small city on a lake looked pretty rundown, yet still as well to do as you could get. The people were dressed in slightly tattered and worn clothing. They didn't appear entirely poor, but they didn't appear rich either. It seemed like a pretty decent place.

As the company followed Bard, Bilbo explained to Aira what she had missed while she was passed out. They had been stopped at the toll gate, but then he had heard a man called Alfrid speak to Bard about how he was only supposed to bring empty barrels instead of ones filled with fish and how he almost had some guards dump the fish in the canal. Luckily, Bard was quick and mentioned how there would be rioting if the starving people of Laketown found out they had dumped perfectly good fish back into the lake. It seemed that Alfrid and someone called the Master of Laketown didn't like Bard very much.

Just then, a young boy with dark, curly hair, wearing a tan coat came running up to Bard. He appeared pretty concerned. "Da!" he cried, signifying that he was in fact Bard's son. "Our house: it's being watched."

The company stopped, their anticipation growing at hearing Bard's home was being watched. That would definitely compromise their attempt at secrecy. What were they going to do?

Bard turned to face the company, the same look of concern etched upon his face. His eyes darted back and forth as he tried to devise a solution to the problem.

Then his eyes lit up as something came to mind. He looked to the Dwarves. "I have an idea," he said. "Do exactly as I say and be careful and this should work. Follow me."

"Whose brilliant idea was this?" cried Aira.

She and the others were climbing up through the toilet disposal hole of Bard's home and it was perhaps one of the most nauseating thing they had ever done. Not only was the lake water gross and murky, but the fact that they were coming up where Bard and his family disposed of their physical waste only made the quality of the surrounding water even more repulsive. Aira was hoping they would never have to do this kind of thing ever again.

Dwalin had come up just before her and had sat himself on the side of the hole, ready to help her up. As he took hold of her arm, he turned to Bard's son, whom they found out was called Bain, was standing by waiting. "If you speak of this to anyone…I'll rip your arms off," he sneered at the boy. Bain stepped forward to help them, but Dwalin shoved his hand away in annoyance and snarled gruffly, "Get off…!"

It was clear that their experience below did not sit well with him in the slightest.

His attitude, however, didn't seem to affect the boy. "Up there," Bain directed him, pointing up the neighboring staircase, which Dwalin immediately went for.

Aira stayed back for a brief moment to ring out her sopping wet hair and clothes. "Pay him no mind, lad," she told Bain. "He's a very moody Dwarf and is easily aggravated. The last few days have not been kind to us."

Bain just shrugged his shoulders. "Everyone has those days," he responded.

There was the sound of water dripping and splashing behind Aira and Bain stepped forward to help the next person out. Aira turned around and saw Bilbo popping his head out of the hole. His eyes were so wide, she thought they were going to burst from their sockets. The Hobbit looked utterly traumatized. Bain took a hold of one shoulder of his jacket and Aira stepped forward and took the other.

"My poor friend, let's get you upstairs" she said, leading him up the stairs as another Dwarf came up out of the hole.

A young girl who appeared in her late adolescence stood by the railing at the top of the stairway. She wore a pale blue dress with white sleeves and her blonde hair was pulled back in a braided bun.

"Da…why are there Dwarves coming out of our toilet?" she asked Bard, a bit bewildered at what she was seeing.

Then another girl, who was much younger than the other and looked very similar, asked with a bright fascination in her face, "Will they bring us luck?"

Aira couldn't help but chuckle. It was clear that the younger girl wasn't as confused by their presence there, but was rather intrigued by it. Then Aira noticed that Bilbo was beginning to shiver quite violently next to her.

"Oh, dear Bilbo, you're shivering. You must be freezing," she pointed out as she led him over to a stool by the fireplace. Then she turned to the teenage girl who was standing next to Bard. "Do you perhaps have a blanket or anything for my friend? He's very cold."

"Sigrid, go get a blanket for him," Bard reiterated to his daughter. She nodded her head and walked away. Then he looked to the younger one. "Tilda, please fetch some dry clothes from my room for our guests." She gave the same gesture to her father as her sister and ran off.

The remainder of the company had finally come into the house and were squeezing the excess water out of their clothes or shaking it out of their hair and beards. Oin was dumping water out of his partially opened ear trumpet and Bofur was spilling it out of his floppy hat.

Sigrid soon came back with a dark, heavy blanket for Bilbo. "This should help warm him up," she told Aira as she handed her the blanket, "and I'll go make some hot tea, as well."

"Thank you, Sigrid," Aira said gratefully. Then she took the blanket and draped it over Bilbo's shoulders and he hugged it close for warmth. "There you go, Bilbo," she said kindly. "I would imagine it probably doesn't get very cold often in the Shire, does it?"

"N—no, not really," he stuttered, still trying to warm up. "Even wh—when it rains, it's s—still rather warm."

"You've dealt with a lot of cold on this journey," said Aira, crouching down in front of him, "and our last escapade on the river as well as our detour in the lake has not helped at all, but I am glad you continue to fight through it. You keep weathering the storm. You inspire me, Bilbo Baggins."

The Hobbit looked quite surprised at that remark as his eyes narrowed. "Really?" he asked. "I, a simple little Hobbit, inspire you, a brave Dwarven Princess?"

Aira smiled brightly at him and her response was simple, as a matter of fact, "Yes. You do."

Bilbo went to say something in return, but then stopped as he saw Bard and Tilda coming back into the room. Tilda was carrying a pile of clothes and was handing pieces of them to each of the company members.

"They may not be the best fit, but they'll keep you warm," Bard informed them.

"Thank you very much," said Bilbo as he took a dark blue jacket from the young girl.

Tilda lifted up an oversized green shirt as well as a large maroon-colored shawl and handed them to Aira.

"Thank you, Tilda," Aira said to her.

"You're welcome, miss," Tilda replied as she continued on to the next Dwarf.

Aira did not want to change her clothes in front of everyone, so she went into an empty room and quickly changed out of her damp clothes, all except her trousers. The green shirt was indeed a bit big on her; it could've been a dress had it been just a little longer. The shawl, she wrapped around her neck and shoulders and then tied it at the base of her neck. That really helped her warm up pretty quick.

When she came out of the room, she spotted Thorin standing by a nearby window, staring outside of it at something. She walked near him and heard him utter to himself in disbelief, "A Dwarvish windlance…!"

She too looked out the window and spotted just yards away, at the top of a tower, the exact weapon her father had just mentioned. She had never seen one like it before. What was a Dwarvish weapon doing in a town of Men?

Bilbo came up beside him. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he pointed out as he blew into the cup of tea Sigrid had just brought him.

"He has," Balin replied, approaching them. When he had their attention, he told them grimly, "The last time we saw such a weapon…a city was on fire. It was the day the dragon came…the day that Smaug destroyed Dale."

Right away, Aira looked to Thorin. His head was lowered and she could see the sad, distant look in his eyes. She knew that he was remembering that awful day at the mention of "the day the dragon came". She could faintly imagine the screams of terror that must have rang throughout Dale as Smaug had descended upon the city, destroying everything in his wake with dragon fire.

Balin continued his tale of that day for Bilbo and Aira. "Girion, the lord of the city, rallied his bowmen to fire upon the beast…but a dragon's hide is tough; tougher than the strongest armor. Only a Black Arrow fired from a windlance could've pierced the dragon's hide…and few of those arrows were ever made. His store was running low when Girion made his last stand."

It had been some time since Aira had heard the story of Girion and his attempt to bring down the dragon. At least there had been someone brave enough to try, or foolish enough.

Thorin spoke up, his voice low with melancholy, "Had the aim of Men been true that day…much would have been different."

Aira laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It was not the fault of Men that brought about the terrible events of that day," she told him softly, "nor was it the fault of Dwarves. Hardly anyone would dare to face a dragon…you cannot blame them."

The Dwarf King did not respond, but simply closed his eyes and turned his head back to stare out the window.

"You speak as if you were there," Bard suddenly spoke behind them, catching their attention. His voice seemed to reflect a very slight hint of suspicion.

"All Dwarves know the tale," was Thorin's reply, which really was true.

"Then you would know that Girion hit the dragon," said Bain, coming around behind his father. "He loosened a scale under the left wing. One more shot and he would've killed the beast."

Behind him, Dwalin stood there chuckling at how naïve the boy sounded. "That's a fairy story, lad. Nothing more," he contradicted.

Thorin strode past Aira, Bilbo and Balin up to Bard. "You took our money…," he stated firmly. "Where are the weapons?"

Bard maintained eye contact with him for a moment and then responded, "Wait here. I know someone who can provide weapons for you. I will be back shortly." With that, he turned on his heel and walked to the door. Just as he opened it, he looked back at them and told them before leaving, "A friend of ours lives with us and should be returning momentarily. She will see to you while I'm gone."

Not long after Bard left, everyone seemed to keep to themselves in different parts of the room. Bard's children had gone into the room next door and left them alone. Thorin called over Fili and Kili to join him, Balin and Aira in a small huddle.

"Tomorrow begins the last days of autumn," he pointed out, keeping his voice down.

"Durin's Day falls two morns from now," said Balin. "We must reach the mountain before then."

"And if we do not?" Kili asked, concerned. "If we fail to find the hidden door before that time?"

"Then this quest has been for nothing," stated Fili.

"We cannot be too idle with time," said Aira. "We have all that we need to find the hidden door. All we must do is not waste our time in getting there and finding it, since we have over two days until Durin's Day."

Thorin sighed. "We need those weapons first…," he uttered, "but unfortunately, we know not when the bargeman—"

"Bard…!" Aira interrupted, reminding Thorin of his name.

"Bard…," he corrected, "…will bring them to us."

Fili leaned forward a little and whispered, "How are we even sure we can trust him?"

"He got us here, didn't he?" Aira spoke. "He helped us get into Laketown unseen and without question. That should be enough for the time being, don't you think?"

Just then, they could hear movement in the next room followed by Sigrid's voice saying, "Tilda, hurry and get the door."

The company all listened as they could hear the creaking of the wooden door opening and someone's footsteps entering the house.

"Ree, Ree! You'll never believe what Father brought home!" cried Tilda gleefully.

There was a cluttering sound, like something being set down on perhaps either a counter or a table and then a woman's pleasant, lilting voice asked, "Oh? And just what did your father bring home?"

Many heads shot up and eyes widened in surprise. They knew that voice.

"A whole group of Dwarves!" Tilda exclaimed in reply.

There was silence for a few seconds until the woman cried out, "What?!"

All heads turned as they heard rushing footsteps coming from the next room and, within seconds, a short figure emerged before them, her amber eyes wide with shock. She was dressed in grayish-blue robes and a thick black scarf adorned her neck. Her long, almost black hair was pulled half back and there were single locks, curled into ringlets, that hung by her temples.

There was stunned silence hanging in the air between the woman and the company, who realized they now stood in the presence of an old, beloved friend.

Many of them in unison then exclaimed in delight, "Maori!"

"My friends…!" Maori gasped while laughing merrily, her face beaming with joy as she launched herself at Aira, who was the first closest person she spotted.

"You know them?" asked Bain behind her.

Maori looked back at him and his sisters. "Yes," she replied gladly. "These are all my good friends!" There was the sound of merry laughter as she proceeded to go around happily embracing every member of the company, who all still looked surprised yet glad to see her.

At last, she came to Fili, who looked the most surprised to see her. His eyes were full of both shock and complete joy. The half-Dwarf woman he was worried he would never see again was now there, standing before him. She was still as beautiful as ever, just as he remembered her. Something inside the young Prince was telling him he was dreaming. There was no way she was there. He closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again…and she was still there. It was truly not a dream. His darling Maori was there in the flesh.

Without a word, he drew her into his arms and crushed her against him, wanting to hold her and feel the warmth of her body next to his. Unfailingly, she responded in kind by throwing her arms around his neck and snuggling her face into the crook of his neck tightly. Neither of them cared that there were others watching them in the middle of the room. Then Fili pulled back, brought his hands up to cup Maori's face firmly yet gently and kissed her hard, which earned a few proud grins from some of the other Dwarves.

Soon, he pulled away and said breathily, "I thought I would never see you again…!"

"Neither did I," she replied. Maori then turned and looked to everyone else. "Oh, it is so wonderful to see all of you!" she declared.

"Maori, what are you even doing here?" Aira asked in disbelief.

Maori hesitated briefly. Then she craned her neck to look past Aira at Bain, Sigrid and Tilda. "Children, there are some sacks and baskets of food that I have brought for tonight in the kitchen," she told them. "Could you please unload them and then get supper started?"

All three of them nodded and responded, "Yes, Ree." Then all three of them filed into the kitchen.

"Ree?" asked Kili, who had moved beside Aira.

"It's what the children call me," answered Maori with a casual shrug. Then she motioned for everyone to gather around as she moved over to some chairs. "Now, come, my friends! Tell me what's happened. There is much we have to talk about."

.

Maori's back! :D How about THAT for a surprise?

What is she doing at Bard's house? What will become of her now that she's encountered the company again? What will become of her and Fili? All of these questions and more will be answered in the next chapter...so stay tuned! ;D

Also, in light of the DOS extended edition coming out soon (SOOOO excited!), there will most likely be some changes made to past chapters once it's out, cuz I'm sure I'll want to add the new scenes to the story. So, when those changes are made, I'll be sure to post an author's note and let you know so you all can go back and re-read the edited chapters, should you wish to :)

Thank you all again, my dear readers and followers, for your patience and for staying with me during the long wait! You all are wonderful and amazing! Let me know your thoughts via review or PM! :D