Hey guys! How is everyone doing? I hope you are all well! We are back with Chapter 7! I hope you have all been enjoying the rewrite to this as much as I have writing it. I love hearing your thoughts, so please do me a favour and leave your reviews, I do love hearing from you.

Chapter 7

The next morning, after enjoying a lively breakfast with the company, Elrond invites Gandalf and I to his study to talk. So, leaving Aiden in the capable hands of the dwarves, I follow the wizard and elf lord to a large, circular study, bookshelves lining the walls and a desk ahead of us. A balcony is to the right, thin curtains billowing from the slight breeze flowing through the opening.

"Gandalf tells me you are from another world." Elrond begins as he sits behind his desk.

I nod as I step forward. "Yes, My Lord. I don't know how my son and I came to be here, but one moment we were there and the next, there was this bright light before we're waking up in a forest."

He gives a thoughtful hum. "What were the events that led you and your son to be at the place you were before the light appeared?"

I look down, not really wanting to go into a sensitive subject right now. "I-I'd rather not go into the details on that, but I know that, if that light had not appeared. . .Aiden and I might not be alive right now."

They both look surprised by this detail, neither of them saying anything for a moment.

"I had said when we first met that the Valar had shown you mercy by bringing you here, If you believed your life was in danger, I stand by what I said." Gandalf says. "The Valar wanted you to survive. You have been brought you here for a reason, my dear, it is up to you to find that reason."

I pause for a moment. "So. . .I can't go back home?"

"Even if you could return, I do not have the knowledge to send you home. Travel between worlds is something unheard of." Elrond explains. He then stands and walks around the desk so he can stand in front of me. He places his hands on my shoulders. "You and your son are welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to."

I smile and nod my thanks before I turn and leave the study. My mind is in a whir of thoughts right now. Gandalf said that The Valar, the Gods, or whatever they're called, had wanted to save Aiden and I so they brought us here. But, why? Could there actually be a reason other than wanting to save us? But. . .what reason could that be? I know I have to do some serious thinking about this.

As I'm walking, I find myself in the gardens and following the sounds of weapons clashing, I find the company in a training area, sparring and training with one another. Aiden is sitting with Balin and Ori. Being the first to notice me, Thorin says something to his partner, Dwalin, before walking over to me.

"Did you find out what you needed to know? Can they return you home?"

I sigh as I shake my head while folding my arms. "No. Apparently the Valar brought me here for a reason."

"What reason?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I have no idea. Gandalf said it's something I have to figure out. And besides, Elrond doesn't know of a way to send us home, even if I didn't have this reason to be here."

He nods. "What happens now?"

I sigh again as I fold my arms across my chest. "I don't know. I mean, Elrond has offered Aiden and I to stay here for as long as we need to. But after then. . .I'm not sure."

He nods. "Well, I hope that, no matter what the future holds for you, you and Aiden will be safe and happy."

I smile at this, my heart fluttering at his concern for me. "Thank you. I wish you well on your journey and hope you will succeed in whatever it is you are doing."

He bows his head in thanks before inviting me to join the training session, saying that just because we're soon going to be separated, it doesn't mean I can't continue to take advantage of their teachings. I happily accept his offer and follow him back to the others.

Kili continues to train me, along with Dwalin as Fili begins teaching Aiden how to use a dagger. As well as using the sword, Kili also starts teaching me on how to use the bow, which excites me, as I'd always wanted to know how to do archery, ever since seeing Robin Hood. And when I mention on feeling like Robin Hood, the dwarves ask me who that is, and I proceed to tell them the story of a man who robbed from the rich to feed to the poor. The dwarves quite like this story.

That night after supper, I tuck Aiden into bed and sing to him until he falls asleep. Kissing his head, I walk out of the room, leaving the door open a crack for him before walking down the hall. I manage to find myself in the gardens again, which seem to be more beautiful when bathed in moonlight. I stop beside a river and smile as I listen to the water flowing by. I never realised there could be so much peace before.

"You have come such a long way, Sophia Turner." A voice from behind me says.

I jump and turn but stop as I see the person behind me. A beautiful female elf with waist length, blond hair and wearing a white, off the shoulder dress which cover her feet. Her blue eyes seem to bore into my own, looking into my very soul.

"Y-You know my name?" I would have thought she'd have overheard the dwarves or even Gandalf mentioning my name if she hadn't said my last name, which no one else knows.

"I know more than just your name, Sophia. I also know you and your son are not of this world."

"You do?" She nods. "Do you know how I can get home?"

Again the thoughts of whether I actually want to go home come to mind.

"I can sense your hesitance, you do not want to go home?"

I don't say anything as I continue to think about the question. I don't want to go home because of what is there, but then again. . .how can I just up and leave the world I was born in, the world I had grown up in, where my son was born. . .how can I just leave all that behind?

She just smiles. "The answers you seek, will be found at the end of your quest."

I look up at her in surprise, wondering just how she knew about the quest, I don't even know and I've been travelling with them for over a week.

"How did you-"

"The quest Thorin Oakenshield takes is not unknown to me, my child."

I look to her suspiciously for a moment longer before sighing as I look down.

"Thorin won't take me. He only promised to see Aiden and I to the next city, and now that we're here, he and the others will leave without me."

I feel a finger under my chin and raise my head up. The lady smiles. "Do not be so sure. I know not why the Valar chose to bring you here, but I have a feeling Thorin will need you before the end."

I look to her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Before she gets a chance to answer, there's footsteps behind me. Turning, I see Thorin making his way towards us.

"That my child, you must find out on your own."

She then turns and walks away, leaving me to stare after her.

"Sophia, are you alright?" Thorin asks as he reaches me.

I just nod, still wondering what she meant. Thorin looks in the direction the elf left.

"What did she want?"

"I don't know. . .to meet me I guess. She knows that I'm not from here."

He looks to me in surprise for a moment. "I have heard of Lady Galadriel and of her knowledge of future events. Maybe she foresaw your coming here."

Pushing back that familiar nagging at the mention of her names, I sigh. "Maybe. . .she wasn't very clear about me going home though."

He looks to me again. "I thought you could not get back home?"

"I thought so too. But, she said the answers I seek will be found at the end of my quest. I don't know what other answers I could be wanting, other than wanting to get home."

He see him freeze for a moment, a frown on his face.

"She knows?"

I nod. "Foresight. I said that you wouldn't allow me on the quest because you already promised to get us to the next city."

He doesn't say anything for a moment before he says.

"Go get some sleep. I'm sure things will be clearer tomorrow."

I just nod as I bid him goodnight and go to my room, smiling as I see Aiden still asleep, half of the covers thrown off him. I change and carefully get in bed with him, pulling him to me as I close my eyes, Galadriel's words being the last thing on my mind before I sleep.

Over the next few days, I spend all of my time with Aiden and also what I had left with the dwarves, knowing that I would be left behind, with Galadriel's words still haunting my mind. If the answers I am after are at the end of my quest, then I would need to go with the Company on whatever quest they are on. What also haunts me, is her telling me that Thorin will need me before the end, what did that mean? It actually scares me a little, thinking that something bad might happen to him, Although, I know that death is a possibility on a journey such as this, I have faced it once already with the orcs.

I often stopped with my thoughts, as when I think about the possible death of Thorin, or any of the others for that matter, my head would start to pound as a hidden memory would try to force itself through. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened since I came here.

Thorin said, on that night, that things would become clear the next day, but all I've had is more confusion as the time has gone on. Thankfully, I've had a lot to take my mind off such things with Fili and Kili continuing to train me, along with Dwalin on occasion. My archery has come along, although I have still yet to hit my mark, Kili tells me that I have potential.

As well as helping me with Kili, Fili continues his training with Aiden, who I know enjoys it very much, though I still keep a careful watch from the side, the mama bear in me not liking him around sharp objects.

Oin, after taking me under his wing since my arrival, would often teach me about different type of herbs and plants the can be used in medicine. I already knew some of them from my world, like what types you can boil to make a tea which would calm headaches or ease a cold. But it was useful to know of others which when crushed and mixed with water, can be used as a poultice to heal wounds. Speaking of, the wound I received from the bandit a week ago is finally healed. All that remains is a pink scar, which Oin assures will fade over time, but will still be there, which I don't mind.

I've not seen Bilbo much since we first arrived in Rivendell, but I know he's taking as much time as he can for himself, with having little privacy since leaving his home. I can tell he's finding it hard to adjust to his new surroundings while we have been on the road, and I also know that some of the dwarves haven't been making it easy for him. I've tried to help him as much as I can since we first met, even though I have little knowledge on journeys such as that, or even the world in which we are in right now. I hope that is enough for him to be brave enough to continue on with the others when they leave.

The dwarves all continue to be patient with Aiden, for which I am grateful for. I know that to a six year old, who has a fear of men, some of the dwarves can be seen as rather scary, with their fierce looks. Thorin, Dwalin and Gloin he would keep well away from. I have seen him being around Fili and Kili mostly, who have taken him under their wings as a little brother, which I love. Bofur has often been seen to play with him and tell him stories – thankfully not any scary ones or any with obscenities in them. Bombur seems to take it upon himself to try to fatten either him or myself up, saying that we were far to skinny. I just giggle every time, telling him we were the ideal weight for our races, but he still wouldn't listen. As for Bifur, who Aiden was wary of from the beginning, he's started warming up to, especially after Bifur had gifted him a wooden soldier, one he says he had been making since he first met Aiden, a gesture which almost had me tearing I have to admit. Whenever the time comes for Oin to teach me something new, Aiden always comes and joins us, Oin happily accepting him and involving him in his teachings, whether that's gathering herbs or helping him to make something, something which I know Aiden enjoys, always eager to learn something new. Dori seems to mother him more than I do, and that's saying something since I'm his mother. Aiden thankfully stays away from Nori, though he does acknowledge him when he talks to him. I have heard of Nori's reputation for stealing, lying and cheating, and even though Nori is a good enough dwarf, I don't want my son to be learning things like that. And finally, Balin and Ori seem to have taking it upon themselves, from the beginning, to school him. Helping him to read, write and even with his maths. This is something I have thanked the both of them profusely for, having been worried about this, as I couldn't continue his schooling myself. Ori just blushes and stammers a "you are welcome." While Balin just smiles and tells me he and Ori are happy to help.

All in all, I have grown to love every single one of these dwarves within this past month and know that I will be heart broken by the time they have to leave, as I know Aiden will be. I haven't told him yet of the plans that we will be staying while they will leave by the end of next week, not having the heart to see his own heart breaking. Seeing him smiling more now than he has for most of his little life, I want to keep seeing that smile for as long as I can.

Well, Chapter 7 is done and dusted. Please leave me your reviews and stay tuned for the next chapter x