Travelling over the Misty Mountains was not Bella's favorite part of the journey at all, if nothing else but for the fact that it was so boring. All around them was stone, barely any vegetation at all around the base of the mountain, and when they got up into the mountains there was none around at all. Nothing to break up the monotony that was the stone around them. To make things worse, it was lightly sprinkling on them the whole time, and if that wasn't as annoying as being poured on constantly, Bella didn't know what was. The icing on the cake? She couldn't feel the earth around her. They'd had to ride their horses (and pony) constantly to make good time, and as soon as they had reached the Misty Mountains the elves wouldn't let her get off her pony.

Something about it being dangerous, and evil, and if she got down to feel the earth they'd never make it to Mirkwood.

At least not anytime within the next century.

So now Bella was cold, tired, annoyed, and saddle-sore. She didn't make very good company to travel with this way, she knew that much. At least the elves were gracious enough to take it in stride.

It took them a total of four days to cross the mountains, and they only stopped briefly for a short rest a couple of times. At one point Bella actually fell asleep on her saddle, the elves making sure she didn't fall off, although it didn't do anything for her neck which now had a massive crick in it, making her even more irritable. All because of the stupid cave she'd wanted to sleep in.

"Look over there; a cave!" Bella had pointed ahead and to the left when she saw the opening. The elves took one look at it, barely glancing inside before denying it.

"I'm afraid not, Lady Bella. It'd be best if we moved on. We still have a little bit of light left, and the storm looks to be moving on; we should make the most of it while we still can." The elf - Gwaendaer was his name - looked back at Bella in sympathy as she huffed and shifted on her saddle before trying to argue her point again as they were passing it.

"Why can't we take a short break in there? It is surely drier in there than it is out here, and I'm certain your horses and my pony would enjoy the rest. I'll promise not to use my magic even if it calls out to me." She hated that her voice had a slight whine to it so she attempted to change her tone at the end, but by his slightly amused look, Gwaendaer wasn't buying it.

"While I am certain you would do your best to make good on that promise, we are all aware of the children of the Green Lady and their call to heal the lands around them. Try as you might, you would not be able to resist the urge to help with your magic. The animals would not be able to enjoy a rest in there, either. That cave is a trap, leading deeper into the mountains where any number of foul creatures dwell. I am sorry, Lady Bella, but we cannot stop for a rest in the cave."

She sighed in defeat, but couldn't help but watch mournfully as it passed by. Bella sniffed right then, and inhaled the telltale scent of a musty, sandy cave, but there was something else there, too. It was very faint, but it was still foul enough to make her scrunch her nose in disgust and turn back towards the front. After a while more of plodding along the pass, her pony's movements lulled her into a light doze, and when she woke, her neck was extremely sore and very much Not Appreciated. A day and a half later, they had made it to the other side; a lot faster than if Bella had been traveling alone and on foot.

She very nearly cried when the elves allowed her to climb off her pony again, and sat for a full twenty minutes, burying her hands and feet in the ground while the elves set up their camp for the night. They wore amused expressions at her display of emotion over the earth, but she ignored them in favor of sending her magic into the ground and healing the land around their campsite, happily ensconced in the embrace it gave in return.

It helped that she was able to sit in front of a fire and dry off completely as well.

As she snuggled under her blanket that night, she sighed in contentment. So long as she didn't have to be cut off from the earth for so long again, she could make the rest of the trip.

She could do this.

Thorin cursed as the rain pounded down harder still. They had begun to cross the Misty Mountains, against Gandalf's warning to wait for him, and it seemed they were being punished for it. Thorin slipped slightly against the smooth stone and cursed again. If the wizard wanted to cross the mountains with them, he should've been there. As it was, Thorin had to put it out of his mind; this storm was taking all of his concentration and he couldn't be thinking about their flaky wizard if he wanted to survive this.

Unfortunately, the Valar must've decided to help him in that venture suddenly as a rock flew through the air and all thought fled his mind momentarily.

"Watch out!" Dwalin called out right before the rock - really, it was a boulder, and what is a boulder doing flying through the air like that? - hit the wall above them, causing stones to rain down on them.

"This isn't a thunderstorm, it's a thunder battle!"

"Well bless me, the legends are true! Giants! Stone giants!"

Really, Bofur, nobody would've guessed from the massive hulking beast hurtling rocks at us all. It took a lot of willpower for Thorin not to comment out loud, and he very nearly would've, had he the extra energy to spare.

The next several minutes were some of the worst of his life as they jumped for their lives while playing Musical Giants (Thorin would not recommend this to anybody as a fun excursion,and would, in fact, really only recommend they play the original version of Musical Chairs for entertainment), and he thought he would have a heart attack as his Company was split in two and very nearly turned into pancakes against the side of the mountain.

He thanked Mahal for the safety of his nephews, and the rest of the Company.

Dwalin managed to find a cave for them to shelter in for the night, but it was a little too conveniently placed for Thorin's liking so he made sure they checked to the back. One couldn't be too sure in mountain caves like these - they were seldom unoccupied. Luckily, it seemed to be clear of any danger so Thorin let everyone rest there, although he made sure no fires were lit.

He didn't want to push their luck too far.

As Bofur set up for the first watch and everyone else settled down for what bit of rest they could get for the night, Thorin scanned over everyone in his Company to reassure himself once again that they were all okay. Not for the first time, nor would it be the last, he cursed their would-be burglar for running off and leaving them as an unlucky thirteen. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he settled down by his nephews, pulling them close and reassuring himself that they were still there with him.

A faint hissing sound and a slight glow from his elven blade were the only bit of warning they got that something was wrong before the floor literally dropped out from under them and they fell down a giant slide into a crudely made cage and were beset upon by goblins. So, so many goblins. The dwarves rallied as best as they could but in such tight quarters they couldn't draw weapons without fear of hurting each other.

The goblins herded them towards a wide open cavern where the largest goblin Thorin had ever seen was jumping around - dancing? - and leading the rest of the goblins in what he assumed had to be a song. The giant thing sat back on a crude throne and eyed the dwarves in front of him.

"Who would be so bold as to come armed into my kingdom? Spies? Thieves? Assassins?"

"Dwarves, Your Malevolence." One of the goblins came forward, bowing to the Goblin King.

"Dwarves?"

"We found them on the front porch." Thorin internally sighed. I knew that cave was too good to be true.

"Well don't just stand there!" The king gestured towards the Company. "Search them! Every crack! Every crevice!" The Company was soon set upon by hundreds of goblins all at once, each trying to be the one to bring something of import to their king. The dwarves fought them off as best as they could, and soon the goblins drew back, and the Great Goblin demanded they speak, to which none of the dwarves obeyed. "Well then, if they will not talk, we'll make them squawk! Bring out the Mangler! Bring out the Bone Crusher!" He pointed at them and grinned evilly. "Start with the youngest."

The dwarves closed ranks around the three youngest and Thorin stepped forward. If his Company was to die here and now, he would make sure the goblins all focused on him. He could spare the others a little more time, at least.

After denying the Goblin King's claims of Azog being alive, Thorin stood stoically as the king danced around again. The torture devices were being brought up, and Thorin would make sure he took it first so the others wouldn't have to. Slowly, the machines were wheeled up onto the platform in full view of the rest of the cavern and the goblins were going wild. In the merriment, one of the goblins unsheathed Orcrist, and the effect was immediate. All of the goblins reeled back in fear and disgust.

"I know that sword! It is the Goblin-Cleaver, the Biter, the blade that sliced a thousand necks." He was still attempting to scoot back as far as he could into his throne, but still the Great Goblin commanded his subjects with a voice filled with panic and anger. "Slash them! Beat them! Kill them! Kill them all! Cut off his head!" Unfortunately for the Goblin King, his orders were not fulfilled, as there was suddenly a white flash and everyone was thrown to the ground.

In walked Gandalf, and his voice cut through the silence with a promise of doom.

"Take up arms. Fight. Fight!"

That was all the dwarves needed to get up and start hacking their way through the goblins to freedom. The chase through the caves was harrowing, and the dwarves all very nearly died. Except, they didn't, because they were full of righteous fury and refused to be brought down by the maggots that called themselves goblins.

When the Goblin King crashed through their platform, smugness oozing from his every pore like the pus there, the Company was ready to tear him to shreds, but Gandalf got to him first. Then the platform they were on decided to freefall through the mountain and they all clung to the rotting wood for their lives.

It was only natural that they couldn't have a clean getaway, and the Great Goblin's body crashed on top of them.

It was also natural that they would be cornered by orcs and wargs and the apparently still alive and very much not dead Azog the Defiler.

Thorin was not happy.

Neither was Dwalin when he finally managed to climb up the fallen tree and slay the orc about to behead Thorin.

Wielding his battle axes, he tore through the orcs and wargs with a fury that could rival a dragon's. The others managed to jump into the fray as well and protect their fallen King, driving back the orcs and wargs for a bit. When the eagles came and picked them all up, they heaved great sighs of relief as the Misty Mountains fell behind them and for the moment, they were safe. They were worried about Thorin, of course, but the wizard was there and as soon as the eagles set them on the Carrock, he was there working his magic.

Everyone heaved great sighs of relief as Thorin opened his eyes and demanded about the others.

He struggled to stand and as soon as he was in range, Dwalin smacked the back of his head.

"You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed!" Thorin looked back at his brother-in-arms, a wounded look on his face. "You ever do something that stupid again I'll kill you myself." Thorin looked at him before nodding back gravely. Dwalin sighed and grasped Thorin's forearm, before the gasps of surprise sounded from the rest of the Company. Releasing their arms, Thorin and Dwalin turned towards the others before noticing what they were looking at. A silent awe passed over the dwarves of the Company, and they all had tears in their eyes at the first sight of the Lonely Mountain.

"Erebor. Our home." Thorin spoke reverently by Dwalin, and Balin came up on his other side. A bird flew by, chirping happily, and the others couldn't help but agree with the sentiment.

"A raven! The birds are returning to the mountain!" Oin's voice called out, and the others were suddenly reminded of the prophecy he intoned to them before they began their journey.

"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush." Gandalf corrected the old healer. Thorin turned back to look at the loyal dwarves behind him, his Company.

"But we'll take it as a sign - a good omen." He locked eyes with every dwarf there, and then the wizard.

"The worst is surely behind us now!" Kili's voice popped up, joy radiating from him as his arm was around his brother's shoulders. Thorin and Dwalin both mentally sighed at Kili's verbal challenge against the Valar, although they couldn't do anything about it now.

They just hoped the Valar would give them this brief respite before hurtling everything at them once more.