Hello, readers! :)

I've been fortunate to have found time recently to get this chapter done, despite the craziness of wedding planning and other things that have kept me busy xD

I know the last chapter was unexpected and a bit upsetting for some people (if any of you saw my previous author's note) but I promise you, all things will be resolved in this chapter. If you decided to stick with me, then I give you my sincerest gratitude :)

Hope ya'll like this one! :)

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"Wait, no!" Aira exclaimed, pulling away from Bilbo.

Both of their eyes were wider than ever and the shock within them was as clear as day. They had just kissed; something neither of them had ever even thought about! They both were beyond astonished at what had just occurred between them and why it had happened.

"Aira…I…I am so sorry!" Bilbo at last was able to gasp out.

"What are we doing?" she replied.

"I don't—I do not know what came over me…!" he told her, his eyes wandering around in bewilderment and his hands running through his brown curls.

Aira then asked a little hesitantly, gesturing to herself, "Bilbo, surely you don't…you have never felt anything…?" However, her question trailed off as she couldn't think of the right way to ask the question.

Bilbo, though, knew exactly what she was trying to ask and he threw his arms out defensively right away as he replied, "Aira, I swear to you, I have never meant to take such an action with you ever! I do not hold any secret feelings like that for you in any way. Not just because I know you are promised to Kili and you love him, but even before that happened, I was never drawn to you in that way."

She was inclined to believe him, but yet she was still a bit puzzled as to why he had kissed her after the accidental one they shared. He recognized her confusion in the expression on her face that looked as if he was speaking half in a language she understood and half in one she did not understand.

"That kiss," he then went on to explain, ", in all honesty, meant nothing. I found myself just…caught in the moment. I was surprised, of course, when you inadvertently kissed me the first time, but then it just seemed like my body reacted before my mind could even process what was happening. I love you, but not in a romantic way. I love you as anyone would love a dear and cherished friend because that is what you are to me…and truly, that is all I ever want from you."

"I feel the same," she responded.

"Well, all things considered, that's easier for you to say because you have a reason to not feel the same way about me even if I did have feelings for you," he said back.

Aira said nothing but simply nodded her head in agreement.

Bilbo's expression turned quite apologetic. "I really am sorry, Aira. I have no idea what came over me just now," he said to her. "I just became caught in the spur of the moment and I feel so embarrassed…but I promise you, it will never happen again."

Even though her thoughts were still slightly fuzzy, she could see that he really did feel bad about inadvertently kissing her; she believed him and she held nothing against him for it. There would be nothing for it, anyway, if she did.

She gave him an understanding smile and replied, "I believe you, Bilbo…and if it really meant nothing, as you say, then we needn't speak of it again. Let us just forget that it ever happened. We will continue on as good friends just as we always have."

He gave a bit of an awkward nod, agreeing to her suggestion, while actually looking rather relieved. "Oftentimes, the love of a close friend can be just as strong and meaningful as the love of a significant other," he said to her.

"I couldn't agree more," she replied.

Then a small smile crossed his face as he began to appear more comfortable in the situation. "That is all I have ever wanted with you," he then added.

"And I with you," she said back.

With those final words being said, Aira and Bilbo embraced each other kindly, having put the past few moments behind them.

When they pulled apart, Aira brought her hands to Bilbo's shoulders, looked him right in the eyes and said, "Be safe…and Mahal be with you, Bilbo Baggins."

He inclined his head forward and responded, "Likewise to you and the rest of the company, Airaním Goldenheart."

Knowing that there was no longer a moment to lose, the Hobbit quickly turned away from the young Dwarf woman, walked down the small staircase in front of them and the disappeared after turning right and going down into the corridor.

Aira couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling that went from her chest down to her stomach as she watched him leave. She had immense faith in him but there was still a small part of her that feared something would go wrong and she prayed desperately in her mind that nothing would happen to Bilbo; that he would get out of this all right and still in one piece.

Before anymore doubtful thoughts could invade her mind, she then turned away and went back the way she came, back towards the hidden entrance outside. When she stepped out into the cool evening air, Thorin approached her.

"Is he in?" he asked her.

"He's in," she answered, her worry still evident in her face.

"Do not worry, lass," said Balin. "He will be all right. He is a very clever Hobbit, you know."

She lightly chuckled and said in reply, "Aye, I do know that."

Now all there was left to do was wait. Aira made her way to the edge of the cliff face upon which they stood and sat herself down, looking up at the bright crescent moon that shone above them. Then her eyes drifted downward towards the horizon where she could barely make out the image of Laketown out in the distance. Her thoughts then returned to Kili and Fili and the last time she saw them when they were leaving Laketown. She still remembered some of Kili's final words to her as they had parted:

"Thorin has always favored you! He has always loved and favored you more than us…we are his family by blood! You are not!"

"Now that I am out of the way, you can have more precious time with Mister Baggins…"

"Thorin is not your real father!"

Her heart still hurt upon reflection of his words…but then she remembered, in their last moments, he begged her forgiveness and she had replied,

"It's going to take more than just the words 'I'm sorry' to rectify your mistake this time, Kili."

Even then she wondered if she had made a mistake in not forgiving him at that time, even though what he had said had cut her deeply. She knew he was distraught from being left behind and was affected by his wound, but even so…there had been venom in his words that she thought couldn't be so easily cured.

Then her hand made its way into her pocket where Kili's rune stone laid flat against her thigh. That was all that she had left of him, save the emblem disk necklace she always wore. He wanted her to keep it as a promise that he would return to her and would make things right. The more she continued to think about him, the more she realized that she really missed him. She wanted him there with her; to be in his loving arms and to feel his warmth surrounding her and protecting her from the rest of the world. It had been so long since he had last held her in such a way…and she wished for that; for him, more than anything, in that moment.

"Oh, Kili…I miss you…and please," she whispered pleadingly out loud, "wherever you may be now…be safe and well. I need you to return to me…amrâlimê…please, come back to me."

"Fili…!"

"I'm here, Kee."

Fili stood over his younger brother, smoothing his wet, sticky hair from his burning forehead; he was trying his best to comfort him while he was in his constant state of pain. It had now been quite some time since Bofur had left and Fili was beginning to get worried for him, too.

"I am so sorry…," Kili groaned.

"For what?" his brother asked.

"For being such a stupid, hard-headed fool."

Fili was confused at his statement. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

Kili winced and replied, "I should never have tried to be brave back in the Woodland Realm…that's how I got us into this whole mess."

Now realizing what his brother meant, Fili brushed back Kili's hair again and told him consolingly, "Don't speak like that, Kili. You did the right thing. If you hadn't gone to open the gate, we would still be stuck back there. You helped us escape; it's because of you that we've made it this far. The only thing that made you a stubborn, hard-headed fool was never letting anyone give you medical attention when you needed it and trying to act all right when you weren't."

"I know, I know…," Kili sighed.

Just then, both Oin and Bard came back into the little corner room as Bard handed the Dwarf apothecary a small bundle of cloths. The three children and Maori appeared close behind them and Fili overheard Maori telling the children to go into the kitchen and start preparing something for the Dwarves to eat. Once they obeyed, she moved over towards the bed where Kili laid.

"We need to re-dress his leg," Oin informed Fili as he unwound the bundle in his hands. He sat down at the foot of the bed and started unbinding the wrapping on Kili's leg. Kili flinched from the stinging he felt and grasped his brother's hand hard. Fili observed the wound once it was uncovered and his stomach churned at the sight: the skin on his brother's leg was almost completely black and wet with blood, sweat and other bodily fluids. It was a sickening sight and Fili began to wonder just exactly what kind of poison the arrow that wounded Kili had been laced with.

Suddenly, as Oin finished with Kili's leg, there was a deep, thunderous rumble that shook the house, causing dust to fall from the ceiling. Everyone jerked up in alarm and looked around as they wondered where the mysterious quake had come from.

"Da…?" Sigrid asked hesitantly in the kitchen, as she looked out the window.

Bain, who was also looking out the window, abruptly turned around and informed them, "It's coming from the mountain!"

Right away, Fili, Maori and Oin all shared knowing looks, realizing exactly what had happened and what was going on after hearing Bain's reveal.

The dragon, Smaug, had been awakened.

Fili knew that nothing good was going to come from that. Very soon, the dragon would more than likely emerge from the mountain and Mahal only knew what kind of destruction he would bring the small neighboring town. They were in trouble, that was for sure. He glanced over at Bard a few feet away as well as his children and he felt sad knowing that they too would suffer the wrath of the dragon. He couldn't let that happen.

"You should leave us," he boldly informed Bard. "Take your children, get out of here."

"And go where?" Bard asked in reply. Then he sadly shook his head. "There is nowhere to go…."

Fili's shoulders fell and he hung his head in defeat. Seeing the sad look of despair in Bard's face told him that Bard had already given up; he had already accepted that there was nothing else that could be done. The young Dwarf wanted to tell him that it wasn't too late and that there had to be somewhere they could go…but then, he wasn't sure of that himself. What hope could he give them that wouldn't potentially prove false if he was wrong?

He looked to Maori, whose face was fraught with worry. "Surely, there must be somewhere you could escape to…," he said.

Her eyes closed briefly in thought and then she answered with a small shake of her head, "The best we could do is make it to the shores of the lake…but who knows if we would be able to make it in time."

They then heard little Tilda ask her father fearfully, "Are we going to die, Da?"

Bard looked at her with a sad look in his eyes. It was almost heartbreaking to hear such a young girl speak so with such fear in her voice. No child should ever be so afraid. But then he mustered a small, comforting smile as he answered her, "No, darling."

However, Tilda still looked scared. "The dragon…it's going to kill us," she stated, worriedly.

There was an uneasy silence that hung in the air for a moment until Bard turned to the side and reached up, grabbed a small dark pole on which some of the kitchen supplies hung and suddenly yanked it down, causing everything to clatter to the floor. Once everything was off, everyone was surprised to see that it was not actually a pole, but what appeared to be a large arrow with a twisted point.

"Not if I kill it first," he then declared boldly.

"Is…is that…?" Maori stuttered, astonished, as Bard swiftly moved to the other room to fetch his coat.

"Aye…a Black Arrow," he answered as he threw his coat on.

"There have not been any of those around for many years…you have had it all this time?" she asked.

Bard nodded. "Yes…and now I am at last going to put it to good use," he affirmed and, with that, walked hurriedly out the door.

"Da, wait!" Bain just then called out, running to the door after his father.

"Bain!" both Sigrid and Maori cried, but Bain was already halfway out the door and he then disappeared.

The Dwarves were somewhat aware of what had just happened, but moreover, they were still concerned about Kili as well as the major trembling they had just felt. Fili felt his worry growing more for both his brother and his love.

"Maori, you and the children need to get away from here," Fili told her urgently.

"What about all of you?" she asked in return.

"We need Bofur to return first so we can help Kili," he answered.

Her expression then grew grim as a certain thought came to mind. "And what if he does not come back in time?" she then asked.

Somehow, Fili knew Maori was going to think about that and ask about it. He knew it was a possibility, even though it filled him with dread himself. Even though he didn't want to give the answer, he knew he had to.

"If that happens and the dragon comes...," he told her, trying to keep his calm, "...then we are prepared to die. We have been since the start of our journey."

That was an answer Maori was not willing to accept. "No!" she exclaimed. "You are mad if you think I'm going to leave any of you behind!"

"Maori, if that is what will come to pass, I cannot let you share in our fate," he said, almost pleading.

She placed her hands on her hips and replied firmly, "Fili, you essentially asked me to share your fate when you asked me to marry you. You all are my family. All of us are in this together; you and I are in this together." She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in, and then stated in conclusion, "If you are staying, then so am I."

Fili wanted to argue with her and tell her he didn't want anything to happen to her...but then, he also knew that arguing would be futile with her. She was a stubborn spitfire of a woman who, when her mind was made up, would not be so easily swayed. At the same time, he found himself grateful to have found so loyal of a woman who was willing to risk even her life to stay by his side. How did he get so lucky, he wondered, to have found her?

He let out a sigh of defeat and then asked, concerned, "What about Bard's children?"

Hearing him not actually fight back made Maori glad. He had accepted that she would stay with them. In answer to his question, she slightly shrugged and said, "I can, at least, get them in a boat and send them off. The rest, they are old enough to manage on their own. I'll get them taken care of once Bain comes back."

Fili then stated a little nervously, "Let us hope that, if the dragon does come...Bard will be able to do what he set out to do."

"I have faith in him," Maori reassured him. "If it does come to it, he will kill the dragon."

Back at the mountain, the tremors from within shook the stone foundation violently to where some of the Dwarves outside almost couldn't remain standing. They all steadied themselves as best they could until the shaking ceased just seconds later.

"Was that an earthquake?" asked Dori, looking around in a alarm.

Balin then answered him rather ominously, "That, my lad…was a dragon."

Their darkest fears were then realized: the dragon, Smaug, was indeed alive and had been awakened.

For Aira, a strong feeling of panic was swelling up inside her. Bilbo was still inside with the dragon! She didn't know if he was the reason the dragon awoke or not, but it didn't matter to her. Smaug was now awake and making the mountain tremble and her friend was still inside with it. The thought of Bilbo all alone inside the treasure room with an evil dragon filled her with the worst fear. He was now in terrible danger!

"Bilbo!" she suddenly cried out as she started to run for the door that led back inside.

Before she got even a couple feet in distance, Dwalin stopped her by wrapping his large arms around her, holding her against him, and placing one hand over her mouth to stop her from calling out again.

"Quiet now, lass!" he whispered warningly. "If you go running in there screaming, you will alert the dragon to us out here."

He then released his hold on her and she did her best to calm her heavy breathing. She just couldn't shake the apprehensive feeling she had. Anxiously, she ran her hands over her face and through her hair. Then she caught sight of a faint flicker of light at the end of the corridor inside the doorway…that surely had to be dragon's fire.

"What about Bilbo?" she asked, alarmed.

"Give him more time," answered Thorin, a slight tremor in his voice.

Balin, who was also very concerned for Bilbo inside, turned to Thorin and asked back, "Time to do what? To be killed?"

Thorin turned to him, surprised to hear one of his most loyal friends speak to him in such a way. "You're afraid," he accused him.

The elder Dwarf looked just about offended hearing Thorin make such a statement; he couldn't believe what he had just heard. "Yes! I am afraid!" he answered resolutely. "I fear for you."

Thorin's head flinched back a little, startled.

"A sickness lies upon that treasure horde," Balin explained to him, ", a sickness which drove your grandfather mad."

"I am not my grandfather," Thorin replied, turning away and looking off to the distance.

"You are not yourself," Balin retaliated. "The Thorin I know would not hesitate to go in there and—"

But he was then cut off by Thorin gruffly exclaiming, "I will not risk this quest for the life of one…burglar!"

Aira had been standing aside just listening to the conversation between Thorin and Balin and, at her father's final statement, she then felt she couldn't keep quiet anymore. How dare he say such a thing!

"Bilbo!" she cried, frustrated, whipping around to look at her father and getting his attention. "His name is Bilbo!"

Thorin huffed and simply lowered his head and turned back the way he had been facing, offering no return words.

After taking a minute to calm her frustration, Aira approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Father, why are you doing this?" she asked pleadingly. "Balin is right, you are not yourself! Whatever it is that is making you this way, you need to get a hold of yourself!"

He still remained silent and just stood there, brooding as he stared off in the distance.

She took that as a sign that he wasn't going to talk to her. Finally, she declared, "I'm going in there, I have to help Bilbo."

All of sudden, Thorin ripped his arm away from her hand and bellowed, "You will do no such thing!"

Completely shocked by his unwarranted outburst, Aira jumped back and held her hands up in defense. The rest of the company also went silent and stared at the two of them in surprise.

Thorin's voice quieted down a little, seeing as how everyone was now staring, as he told her, "I will not risk losing you!"

While normally that sort of statement would've been considered touching, but this time, it just rubbed Aira the wrong way. "But you'll risk losing Bilbo?" she asked, lowering her hands. Now her aggravation was starting to grow again as she went on, "Twice now you have said that you would not risk this quest for the sake of one person…do not make me the exception! You have said that about Kili, your own nephew, and Bilbo, who is your friend; who saved your life and all our lives numerous times already! You would not be alive if not for him and neither would I! The hidden door would not even be open right now if he hadn't figured out the riddle of the last light."

The hard expression on Thorin's face slowly began to soften as he listened to Aira, but it was only a subtle change.

Aira then said in disbelief, "You owe so much to him and yet you still think he's expendable?" When her father didn't answer, she said, "Well, I do not! Bilbo is my friend and I love him dearly. I will not let him get killed by the dragon, not when that beast has taken countless lives already! I'm going in there whether you like it or not."

"You are not going in there," he firmly said to her.

She opened her mouth to fight back, but found herself at a loss for words, being so dumbfounded that nothing she had said made a difference to him. How could he do this? Why would he keep her from doing what was right, especially when it was for someone he knew was important to her?

But then, to her utter surprise, he picked up his sword and said, "I am."

Without waiting for anyone's response, Thorin took off running through the doorway and into the darkness that shrouded the inner corridor.

"Thorin!" both Balin and Dwalin cried.

"Father!" Aira also exclaimed, but it was too late. He had already gone inside and, whether he actually heard them calling, they didn't know.

For a small moment, Aira felt a hint of pride towards her father for finally seeing the right thing to do and going in after Bilbo himself. Whatever it was that had been holding him back had been driven away.

But then, a darker thought entered her mind: he was going after Bilbo…who was in the treasure room…

"A sickness lies upon that treasure horde…a sickness which drove your grandfather mad…."

Balin's words from just minutes before echoed in her head, making her realize what was more than likely going to happen now that Thorin had gone inside: if Thorin laid eyes on the treasure or got near it in any way…it was inevitable that the sickness; the madness that overtook his fathers before him would surely take its hold on him. That was what she had to prevent! That was the reason why Gandalf had asked her to come: not just to reunite her with her family, but to help keep Thorin from falling prey to the sickness that lay in wait for him in the mountain; the sickness which her father had expressed his explicit fear of to her and she, in turn, had promised to help him. She had made that promise to him and also Galadriel, who had told her of her divine role in the first place.

Now, he was running headfirst into the mountain alone. She had to catch up to him!

"Balin…," she said, coming up behind the older Dwarf and laying a hand on his shoulder, "you spoke of the sickness that lies on the treasure inside…and Father has gone after Bilbo by himself…if he goes in there alone, something terrible could befall him if not from the dragon!" Then she went fast towards the door, calling out, "I have to go after him!"

"Airaním, no!" Balin cried after her.

She heard the others call out her name behind her, but she didn't care as she made her way down the stone hallway. The only thing she could think about was to catch up to her Father before something happened to him and to find Bilbo. She went as quickly as her feet could carry her and, before long, she could see a faint light just a ways away.

Then she stopped in her tracks when she heard her father's voice speak up ahead, "You're alive!"

"Not for much longer!" replied Bilbo's voice.

Aira heaved a sigh of relief. At least now she knew that Bilbo was all right.

"Did you find the Arkenstone?" she heard Thorin ask. In the doorway ahead of her, she saw him appear with his back facing her.

"The dragon is coming!" Bilbo warned him, coming up in front of him.

"The Arkenstone!" Thorin repeated with more urgent emphasis. His voice grew quieter to where Aira could barely make out him asking, "Did you find it?"

There was a brief silence, which made Aira nervous, before Bilbo replied, "No, we have to get out," and tried to walk past Thorin.

Suddenly, Aira saw Thorin thrust his sword up beside him and block Bilbo's way. A quiet gasp of surprise and disbelief escaped her lips and her eyes widened at what she was now seeing as Thorin then moved his sword towards Bilbo's chest.

"Thorin? Thorin!" cried Bilbo, startled.

Aira knew right away that something was already wrong and she had to stop him. Swiftly, she ran down the remainder of the small hallway towards them.

"Father, no! Stop!" she exclaimed, coming up behind him, grabbing the arm that held the sword and tugging it back.

Thorin gave no heed to Aira and instead jerked his shoulder forward, pulling his arm out her grasp, which sent her stumbling in front of him to the stone floor. She landed on her side with a small grunt from the impact.

"Airaním!" Bilbo cried out with both shock and concern as he dropped down by her side, placing one hand behind her head and the other on her arm.

Quickly, Aira sat up and braced herself up on her hands as she looked up at Thorin, who now was pointing his sword at her with what just about appeared to be a mad look in his eyes. She recognized what she saw in his eyes and she had a feeling déjà vu come over her. She had seen this exact moment in a dream she had had back after they had escaped Mirkwood while floating down the river, the same dream where she had seen her and Kili drifting apart back on the docks of Laketown.

Realizing what has happening, it then hit her that it seemed all of her dreams were coming true…which then filled her with fear as she recalled other dreams—or rather, nightmares—she'd had before that she never wanted to come true.

"Father…," she simply said, raising a hand up in defense. "Please, come back to your senses."

He took one step closer, inching his sword closer, which made Bilbo flinch and put himself more in front of her to protect her.

"Father, stop! It's me," she said a little louder. "It's Aira…your daughter!"

Just then, she saw something big moving out of the corner of her eye. Her head turned and she gasped in fear as she beheld a giant dragon coming towards them with an angry and also hungry look in his eyes.

Both Thorin and Bilbo noticed her reaction and looked in the direction she was. They didn't react quite the same way, but their expressions grew very afraid. Bilbo put an arm around Aira's shoulders, took her hand with his free one and speedily helped her back to her feet and then moved her as well as himself behind Thorin, who now seemed to have snapped out of the trance he had been in.

As he brought up his sword, there were shouts from in the hallway next to them and then suddenly, the rest of the Dwarves appeared at his side, all of them brandishing their weapons, ready to fight.

Smaug let out a mighty roar as he advanced upon them and his voice boomed out, shaking the ground, "You…will…burn!"

"Look out!" both Thorin and Dwalin shouted and they all jumped off the walkway and down onto a small pile of gold beneath them just as Smaug breathed a huge wave of fire at them. The company could feel the heat that emanated from the fire upon their backs as they slid down the hill of gold coins towards another door.

"Come on, Bilbo! Hurry, Aira!" cried Dori as he ushered them through the door.

They had all made it through the door and into the next room when they heard a loud cry from Thorin behind them. When everyone turned around, they saw him come through the door and his back was in flames. Before anyone could panic, he dropped to the ground, rolled and, in so doing, managed to get his arms out of the coat that he wore and threw the smoldering garment off his shoulders.

Seeming to be unharmed, he picked up his sword, got right back up and said, "Come on!" as he began running again with the company behind him.

"Are you all right?" Bilbo asked Aira as they walked fast behind everyone.

She nodded and replied "I am…at least, for now."

Another angry roar from the dragon rang out behind them.

"Go! Run!" Bilbo told Aira, steering her ahead of him, and the two of them ran fast to catch up with the rest of the Dwarves.

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Do any of you feel better now? xD I told you everything would be fine!

So now the Dwarves are in and going against the dragon and the skirmish in Laketown is about to happen...here's where the fun begins! cuz I've got a few surprises up my sleeve ;) (nothing like the one with the kiss between Aira and Bilbo, don't worry xD)

Have any thoughts or questions you'd like to share with me? Leave a review or send me a PM! I still love hearing from you all :)

Stay tuned!