Hey guys! After a long while of considering this, I've decided to get this chapter up now and gauge peoples reactions to it. I've had it completed for a few months now, but was waiting until I get a few more chapters under my belt. But, I've only got one other chapter done at the moment. So, this is basically going to be a test chapter, just to see your thoughts on it and see if you're wanting more from this. Please let me know your thoughts, I very much appreciate it.

Chapter 1

In the years that have passed since the Battle of Azanulbizar, the days have gone by slowly, even slow for an elf, where a hundred years can pass in the blink of an eye. After the battle, I retreated to the elven city of Rivendell where I rested and healed from the ordeal, my sleep riddled with images of that awful day.

Since I left Moria, I have often worried over Frerin, wondering whether he had actually survived from the battle. . .although I did have my fears and doubts that he did, I still held on to the slight sliver of hope.

My thoughts would also drift to little Dis, having lost her grandfather, her father and possibly her older brother, all in one day. I just pray that she and Thorin, along with the help of Balin and Dwalin, have enough strength left to continue on.

Three years after the battle, word reaches me that Thorin has led the dwarves of Erebor to the settlement of Ered Luin in the Blue Mountains, where they have made their home. This makes me happy as well as relieved. Now that Thorin and the others have a place to live, somewhere they could live in safety. I now do not have to spend everyday worrying about them.

Over the next few decades, I have often gotten close to the gates of the Blue Mountains, of Thorin's Halls, while keeping out of sight, just watched. I have managed to catch sight of Thorin a few times, just managing to hold myself back from calling out his name, fearing the feel of rejection. Listening to nothing but that fear, I always ride off, feeling like a coward for not going to do what I have been craving to do since the fall of Erebor. One day though. . .one day I will go through those gates, I will reunite myself with Thorin once again and I will never leave.

It is now the year twenty eight sixty three, where I am travelling from Rohan to Rivendell after visiting a friend. I decide to take the long way around, following the North-South Road, through Tharbad, going past the Blue Mountains, rest in Bree and then ride along the East road where I will eventually reach Rivendell. It will set me back a few days to a week, but with it now being winter, the path across the Misty Mountains would no doubt be blocked and more dangerous.

I have to make camp early this day as the snowfall becomes so heavy that I have trouble seeing through it, even with my heightened eyesight. I find a cave just off the Baranduin (Brandywine) river, large enough to give shelter to myself and my horse, Alassiel. After making sure she is watered, fed and uninjured, I make a camp fire and set on a small pot of stew to boil for dinner later, before sitting back against the wall to relax.

Not an hour later, my head snaps up as I hear a scream pierce the air, what has my blood turning cold is the scream sounds to be a child. Quickly taking up my weapons, I charge out of the cave and in the direction of the scream, praying I am not too late. After stopping for a moment to get my bearings, I continue running towards the familiar snarling of Orcs I hear nearby.

The snarls and crying are coming from a ditch nearby, I growl to myself as I see the orcs, before running towards them, jumping over the ditch and land on the body of a shocked Orc, which was poised and ready for attack.

Thinking quickly, I take out my dagger, stabbing it in the throat to kill it instantly before removing it and throwing it at another Orc before taking out my twin blades and fight the remaining Orcs, protecting whoever it is behind me.

Soon enough, all but one Orc is dead, this last one giving me some trouble as it disarms me before knocking me onto my back, hard enough to send me dazed as I hit the back of my head on the ground with a crack. Now weaponless, I quickly reach up, grabbing its hands as it jumps onto me, about to thrust a dagger into my neck. I push with all the strength I have left to keep the blade from taking my life, but I can start to feel it fade.

"Hey, ugly! Over here!" A small voice suddenly pipes up.

My heart instantly freezes. Why didn't the child hide? Or better yet, run? Although, the taunt does make the Orc stop and look towards the voice, leaving him distracted and vulnerable. Taking this chance, I push back and force the surprised Orc onto it's back and straddling it, before pulling a hidden blade from my vambrace and shoving it deep into the creatures throat, hitting the right place for it's black blood to spout out, spraying my face. The Orc let's out one last gurgle before it falls limp, the life leaving it's eyes.

Releasing the breath I didn't realise I had been holding, I roll off the corpse before sitting back on my heels to take in deep breaths to calm my pounding heart, shaking my head to rid myself of the ringing headache. That's when a dwarfling suddenly appears in front of me, a worried look on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asks, placing a hand on my knee.

As I look him over for any injuries, I see that he is only a small dwarfling, he cannot be more than five maybe six years of age. His hair is blond and shaggy and he has blue eyes, eyes that look strikingly familiar to me.

I smile as I nod. "I am, thank you. Your distraction certainly helped."

He smiles and puffs his chest out a little in pride. "My ada says if you can't fight, dis-diswaction is best."

My smile widens, especially at the butchering of distraction. "Your ada sounds like a very wise man."

"Oh he is! He and my uncle are the greatest!"

Chuckling, I stand, the boy watching as I retrieve my dual knives and daggers, sheathing them all in their rightful place.

The dwarfling looks to me, eyes full of wonder, as I walk over to him.

"How many daggers do you have?"

I grin as I sheathe my last one. "Enough. Come, let us get you out of the cold."

He nods and lifts his arms up, allowing me to pick him up, which I do, with a slight struggle at first as a dwarfling is heavier than any other toddler his age and settle him on my hip before walking on, wrapping my cloak around him as the snow begins to pick up. By the time we reach the cave, there's a heavy blizzard blowing outside.

Alassiel stomps her front hoof in agitation and worry as I walk in, ears folded back, so I pat her on the snout to calm her. At seeing the boy in my arms, she leans in and begins to snuffle him, making me smile as he giggles.

"Tickles!"

I chuckle as I walk to the back of the cave, the campfire still going thankfully, and sit down on the bedroll I already set up earlier. Taking my blanket, I wrap it around the little one.

"Are you warm enough?" I ask gently.

The boy nods, snuggling further into the blanket.

"Good. Now that we are warm and safe, who are you? Where are you from?" I ask as I use my cleaning canteen to wash off the orc blood.

I watch as he suddenly throws the blanket off him and stands. "Fili. My name is Fili, at your surbus. I'm from the Blue Mountains."

I pause for a moment, realising that he is from Thorin's settlement. "What are you doing this far South?"

He gives a small, sheepish shrug as he sits back down, wrapping the blanket back around himself. "Got lost."

I nod as I dry off with my outer tunic, which I have taken off to change. "Alright. You can stay here with me tonight. This storm should blow over before morning and I can take you home. Okay?"

He nods. "Okay. What your name?"

"I am Caladwen."

He frowns at this. "Ca-Calaladwen?"

I give a chuckle at this as I slip on a clean tunic, remembering a certain other dwarfling who had stumbled with my name. "Almost. But, how about you just call me Cal? It'll be easier."

A grin appears on his face as he nods. That's when he begins blushing as his stomach gives a large grumble.

"Hungry?" I suggest, assuming he would have probably missed dinner.

After he nods enthusiastically, I turn to the pot bubbling over the fire and after declaring the meal done, pour out a large helping and give Fili the bowl and spoon, watching him devour his meal, a lot more carefully after almost burning his mouth out on the first bite.

"Better?"

"Yus thankoo." he replies, his mouth full of stew as he speaks. He swallows his mouthful. "What about you?"

"I'll have something to eat in a little while."

Fili just continues to shovel the food into his mouth so fast I worry he's going to choke, but luckily he doesn't. When he's finished, I give him my water canteen to drink from, which he does, taking large gulps.

"You said you got lost, but why were you beyond the gates alone?" I ask him gently.

"Wasn't alone. I was playing with friends when I got lost trying to get home."

I nod in understanding. It's hard to be lost when you're a child. I had once gotten lost in the woods of Greenwood when out with father and Legolas, that wasn't fun. I immediately push those thoughts aside as I feel a pang of hurt and longing hit my chest. Instead, I put on a smile as I wrap an arm around Fili.

"Do not worry. Everything is going to be alright, I promise. You will be home soon."

Fili sniffles as he cuddles into me, making my heart warm up in the process.

"Ama's gonna be so worried. 'Specially with the baby."

I smile as I wrap him in my cloak and pull him onto my lap. "You have a baby sibling?"

He shakes his head. "Not yet. Ama said it won't be here for a while."

I reach up and brush aside the stray hairs from his eyes as he leans back against me.

"You must be excited to be a big brother." I say, remembering when Legolas would tell me how excited he was when my mother was pregnant with me.

Fili nods. "Yeah! I'll have someone to play with, to teach and do all sorts of fun things with."

"Being an older brother is more than about having fun, it is a big responsibility."

He nods. "I know, ada tells me I need to look after him and protect him."

I smile fondly at him. "That is right, that is the job of a big sibling."

He looks up at me, eyes wide in curiosity. "Are you a big sister?"

I have to smile more at the eager curiosity of children.

"No, but I have a big brother."

"Really? Where is he?"

"Somewhere far away from here."

"Why isn't he with you?"

I do not say anything at this. That familiar pang hitting my heart again. He should be with me, and I should be with him. . .unfortunately, fate did not have that choice for us. Looking down at Fili, I just put on a small smile for him.

"That is enough questions, little one. Get some sleep. It is going to be an early start in the morning."

Seeming to sense my sadness, Fili leans into me, wrapping his little arms around my waist in an embrace.

"You can be my big sister, if you want." he says tiredly before drifting off.

I just chuckle softly as I hold him close before leaning back and humming a song I had only heard when I was a baby, but it had never left me. Fili is fast asleep before I could finish, but I still continue to hum, watching as his thumb slowly comes up and goes into his mouth. I just smile as I hold him, thinking on what mine and Thorin's own son would have looked like if we had the chance. He would have had Thorin's raven black hair and stubbornness and my blue eyes and calm demeanour.

Tears instantly come to my eyes, which I blink rapidly to fight them back. It could have been a reality had my father not got in between us and kept me away from him. But still. . .it is only a dream now. I continue to hum as I look out into the blizzard, no matter how much you pray and hope, dreams do not come true, it's just a fairy tale. . .I had learnt that a long time ago. Little did I know how wrong I am going to be.

Well, there we have it, the first chapter up. Hope you all enjoyed it xx

Translations

Ama – Mum/mummy

Ada - Dad/daddy