Man, this took forever, I know it did. I'm so sorry school is really kicking my butt. But i'm almost done. I hope this chapter is worth the wait, i'll have to go back and clean it up but i didn't want you all to wait any longer than you had been so I hope you'll forgive me. Here's to the next chapter!

Thank you to swscreams and Mooncatknits for the reviews!

Rain beat against her skin, large angry droplets that might have hurt if Kate cared enough to think about it. But there she sat, unmoved trying to think what evil she might have done, what law she had unknowingly broken to land herself in this predicament.

Nothing came to mind as she sat there, back against the stones that were far too quiet compared to the storm around her. What would she do? Was this permanent? Temporary? What was happening? Tired of sitting there moping Kate resolved herself to action. She needed shelter. She needed food. With her health the way it was she wouldn't make it out by herself. Hadn't Gandalf said Bree was nearby?

With a sigh and last look back Kate plodded forward, heading in the direction Bree should be, a walk that took hours longer than she had hoped. Finally, she spotted the town in the distance and she sighed heavily. Yeah, you made it...And then what? Where to after that?

Lothlorien had been the obvious destination. If anyone had the wisdom to help her it would be Lady Galadriel...but as Rivendell was closer she imagined Lord Elrond would be just as knowledgeable on the subject.

Worst case scenario he tells me to go to Lothlorien anyway, which is fine. I've got all the time in the world right? She thought dismally as she walked through the muddy streets of Bree, only narrowly avoiding being baptized in the contents of a chamber pot.

Kate grinded her teeth as her rain soaked boots squelched in the mud. The rain pelted against her face as she turned her head to and fro, looking for what she needed. Shouldn't be this hard to find an inn! She thought to herself irritably crossing her arms to try and contain her shivering. Kate kept her head down, ignoring the odd stares she got from her the people of Bree who were dressed more appropriately than she was.

"Not really my fault." she grumbled, trudging along. Of course she couldn't blame them, she stuck out like a sore thumb in her borrowed clothes that hung off her like a sheet, and now soaked through they felt like they weighed a ton, or maybe it was just her.

She wasn't exactly prepared for this situation and if she were home right now than- no, don't think about that right now. Just get to the inn. One step at a time.

At long last Kate walked into the Prancing Pony, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the firelight and rukuous laughter from a table of patrons in the corner sounded more like a dull roar to her ears.

Kate swallowed, walking forward to the bar where she hoped she could get a room and pretending she didn't notice the water she tracked about the room, or that she could hear her boots squelch even over the din.

"Do you have a room available?" Kate practically shouted to the frazzled barmaid who carried four mugs in hand.

"Only if you have coin." she shouted back, using her arm to wipe the sweat off her brow as she walked away to drop off the drinks at a table. Kate watched uncomfortably as one of the men reached to grab her, but she playfully bated his arm away and walked back to the bar, rolling her eyes when the man could no longer see her.

Suddenly, Kate was rather grateful she looked a mess, and hoped that would be enough of a deterrent. Her hand grasped the small knife involuntarily as she gave an affirmative nod.

"Yes, I do. Shall I pay now or when I check out-er, depart." The barmaid huffed, turning the pages of her registry.

"How many nights will you be?"

"One. Maybe two...God, I hope no more than two."

"Two or one?"

"Put me down for two, just in case."

"Of course." She replied in an overly polite manner, and Kate raised a brow in response. "Name."

"I'm sorry?"

"Your name."

"Oh, um, Kate."

"That it?"

"Afraid so. Could only afford one name." Kate said with a shrug, hoping to elicit a smile from the woman only to receive a blank stare in return.

"That supposed to be funny?" She asked. "Putting me on then, are you? Do you have coin for the room or not?"

"I have coin, I'll pay you now if it will put you at ease. And yes, for the record, it was supposed to be funny." Legolas would have laughed, or at least pretended to. The barmaid continued to stare blankly at Kate, her dark eyes assessing the woman. Kate could practically hear the woman's internal debate as to whether she was a scoundrel or not.

Whatever she decided, there were worse things one could be than a scoundrel and eventually the frazzled woman shrugged.

"Pay me now if you will be having your dinner here." She said with a nod, scribbling Kate's name down in the ledger and she told Kate the price for two nights. "Pay me one now and if you decide you'll stay two you'll settle with me then?"

"Yes, of course." Kate nodded enthusiastically, reaching in her pocket for the coin she had lifted off the dead traveller. The Woman gave a weary smile, took Kate's meal order and gave her a room key. After payment had been made the woman seemed cheerier and after Kate had been seated at a table in the back corner she brought her a mug of ale.

"Best in Bree." She said with a smile as she slid the mug over to Kate. "Where you headed then?"

"I-i'm not sure yet." Kate responded, smiling despite the situation as the stew warmed her belly. She dunked the bread in and hurriedly ate as the woman assessed her, nodding knowingly.

"Aye, I see." She said, a pitying expression on her face. "If you're in need, the tailor down the street can find you a good set of clothes for your travels. You can't be wearing your husband's things for too long. Just tell 'em Matilda Butterber sent you."

"Oh, it's not -i'm not."

"Sure you're not, love. Just traveling through." She said with a wink. "Will you have another?"

"No, i'm fine." Kate replied, feeling a bit guilty the woman had assumed she'd run away from her husband, and guiltier still that it should be such a common thing for the woman to assume. "Thank you."

The woman nodded and gave Kate a small wink as the table across the room hooted and hollered, waving their arms for Matilda to bring them another round of ale.

"I'd lock your door tonight." She warned, grabbing the empty bowl from Kate. "There's a rowdy bunch tonight."

Kate nodded in thanks, and took a sip of her ale, nose curling in protest. You've been spoiled by hoity toity elvish wine. She thought wryly, taking another sip despite her objection to it. It felt good to have something to sip on. These last few days were spent foraging what she could and drinking out of rivers where she could find them.

Tired was too simple a word to describe how she felt. It only scratched the surface. No, no what she felt was deep down in her bones, an ache that couldn't be named. An exhaustive longing, heartbreak, hopelessness, confusion, rage. Her body hurt, not just from the bond, but from the separation of everyone she loved. The worry she might not see them again...such feelings could not simply be categorised as tired.

Should probably call it a night, she decided, pushing the half full jug of ale away as her eyes drifted the group of men singing drunkenly in the corner and headed up the stairs. Her legs felt like stone slabs as she dragged them up the stairs and finally to her room. Closing the door she leaned her head against it, not sure she could muster the energy to drag herself to the bed.

Tomorrow she would set out for Rivendell. She'd figure out what was wrong, and she'd be home with Legolas. She didn't want to waste whatever time the two of them had left stuck in the wrong timeline. With a weary sigh she kicked off the oversized boots and headed to the bed only to be roughly shoved back against the door, a hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled, pounding, beating but she couldn't see her attacker. It was only when he spoke she realized who it was, and it made her blood run cold.

"Now imagine my surprise when I stop by this quaint little in after a long day of searching, to discover the very thing I was looking for right under my nose." Kedron said with a laugh. "Surely The Traveller would be a little more discreet."

Kate wished she could have been braver, come up with some smart mouthed retort but all she could see was his blood spattered face at their last encounter all those years ago. How did he find her? Why did he even care?

"Oh, I see...you think your little threat on the battlefield was enough to dissuade me." He chuckled. "You really thought you'd keep me in a time loop and I wouldn't have noticed. Vairë can't have thought that would work. The moment I realized it I began to test things, change things...and then there you were, the faithful little Traveler showing up time and time again. I guess you thought you were being clever, noble...doesn't really matter because in the end I got what I wanted."

"And what's that?" Kate asked, her voice quivering.

"Is it not obvious? You." He said, but frowned at Kate's horror stricken expression. "Not for that." He said with disgust, turning his face away and then turning back to look at her, cocking his head to the side as if considering it and then sneered deciding against it once more.

"Than what?" Kate asked. "You're right, I'm a Traveler and you're way out of line. You're not where you should be at all and you of all people should know the consequences of trying to meddle in my affairs." She was bluffing. For whatever reason she felt nothing, no deep ache that warned her Kedron should not be here or the throb in her head that urged her to correct an event. Nothing...not even the echo of what should have been there… And yet, Kedron should not be here! Neither should she for that matter but she hoped that he wouldn't call her bluff.

"You see, now that's what I find so vexing! You seem to know me rather well and I'm only just now getting to know you, Kate."

She had always hated the way he said her name and she hated it even more now that he'd said it like a taunt. As if he's uncovered some deep dark secret, a Rumplestiltskin type character whose power was in her name that he now knew.

Lucky for her it didn't work that way.

"Yeah, we know each other."

"I suppose we weren't friends?"

"Not really."

"Shame." He said with a shrug, betraying no real surprise or remorse as he sauntered over to her bed and made himself comfortable. His long legs nearly hung over the bed, but he looked perfectly at ease as if everything was falling right into place.

Kate had to be careful...she wasn't sure what his aim was but she wasn't exactly fighting fit right now. But Kedron's strengths didn't lie in his strength alone, but in his mind.

"Is it? You're looking to make friends now? After everything?"

"Well you really can't hold anything over my head, Kate. I've only just met you, remember? I hardly had a chance to do anything particularly heinous."

"I've seen enough of what you can do. Leave now, before I decide to stop being such a gracious Traveler."

"And how would you do that exactly? I'm just curious." He said, unbothered. He's stretched himself out now, hands crossed over his chest, black hair swathed around him.

"How about I show you?"

"Well then we wouldn't be able to help each other would we. Threats of violence aren't the best ways to start a partnership are they?"

"Why would I ever help you?!" Kate nearly screeched, to which Kedron only frowned in dismissal.

"Because I have it on good authority that you're dying." Kate snorted.

"I've you to thank for that...well, future you at least."

"Be that as it may I am the only one that can release you...and if myself in the future was so inclined to put you in such a bond I doubt I'll be so willing to free you from it." You have no idea...Kate thought wryly, thinking of future Kedron in exile on her Earth. "Which leaves me, here and now, you're only hope for salvation. You're only hope for however many years you and your Elf wish to live out." He said, spreading his arms wide waiting for her gratitude. Instead her eyes narrowed.

"How did you know about him?" Kate asked suspiciously.

"A mutual friend of ours." He replied with a smile. He didn't have to tell her, Kate knew he meant Alice, but her cheeks still burned with the shame of it. How could she have been so foolish, so trusting? Did she really want so desperately to believe there was someone from her world here on Middle Earth who was just like her?

"But of course you won't do this out of the goodness of your heart." Kate sneered, anger and humiliation still burning in her stomach. "What will that cost me?"

Kedron's eyes smoke colored eyes glittered in excitement, the taste of victory at the tip of his tongue.

"Well the value would have to be equal to your life, of course." He said eagerly.

"Of course."

"I must warn you, it's very dangerous...deadly even."

"You're really selling this. Certain death versus almost certain death...however will I choose?" She asked, taking a step forward. "What is the task?"

"The arkenstone. I want it." Kate threw her hands in the air, exasperated.

"You're trading my life for a stone?!"

"It's a bit more than that dear." He said with a patient smile. "Bring me the stone and I'll relieve you of your blood bond."

Kate shook her head.

"From what I heard the dragon has it, in Erebor and in case you haven't noticed I'm not exactly in any shape to be fighting dragons right now." She argued. Kedron smiled and with a flick of his hands Kate felt the air rush into her with such a force she felt to the ground, all the while greedily sucking in oxygen she hadn't known she'd been missing. She felt stronger...strong than she had in a long time.

"It's not permanent of course," he explained. "You've simply been given back what was taken from you...at great personal cost to me at some point I'd imagine."

"Why?" Kate breathed out, her head dizzy now. He had to want this arkenstone very bad...that hadn't been what he wanted the first time she'd met him in Rohan then...no, then he'd wanted power, his power back...and that might still be what he wanted now, but she couldn't imagine him giving that away now.

"Don't trouble yourself with that now. All you need to worry yourself with is how to get me that arkenstone."

"And if I don't?" Kate asked suddenly. "If I decide not to?"

"That would be a very foolish decision, Kate." Kedron said evenly, towering over her now. "You will do this, Kate, or i'll-"

"You'll what? Kill me? Do to me what you did to Aleric and all the other Travelers?" Kate barked out. "You can't kill me because I'm still bonded." Understanding clicked into place all the sudden as the memories of that night flooded her mind...and suddenly it all made sense now...Kedron smiled, unaware that Kate had put all the pieces together, tipping her chin up to look at him.

"You think me killing you would be the worst outcome, Kate?" His hand reached up, tucking her hair behind her ears. It was such a purposefully intimate gesture, it reminded her of Legolas and it was all she could do not to recoil at his touch, she needed him close. "There are things I could do...things that would make you beg for death." He whispered.

And suddenly he froze, as the cuff clicked into place, secured around her wrist and it was Kate's turn to smile, taking great pleasure in the different shades of red and purple he was turning.

"I know you think i'm an idiot. That i'm just some dimwitted human Traveler, but i'm not as foolish as you think."

"What have you done." He snarled, but without the threat of magic and Kate renewed vigor she wasn't as worried.

"Leveling the playing field." She said simply, walking around him as he futility tried to undo the cuff. "Oh, don't bother. Won't come off. Unless I'm the one to take it off...kind of like this ridiculous bond of yours."

"You have no idea what i-"

"Oh, no, I think I do. You see, i had wondered why you'd make such a trade, and while I admit i had no idea what your use for the arkenstone would be...I did know you very much wanted the power I possessed for yourself, along with what was taken from you. Had I not seen what you had done to Aleric I might have agreed to your little deal."

"Would have been the wiser decision."

"And it does seem that way, doesn't it?" Kate replied, crossing her arms and smiling down at him. "I get the arkenstone, and you release me from the Blood Bond because a deals a deal after all….but then you'll take it."

"Take what?" Kedron asked, a wolfish smile spreading across his face because he already knew what was coming next and for a moment Kate faltered.

"Whatever it is that makes me a Traveler. What made Aleric a Traver. You took it from him that day, tried to take it for yourself. But it didn't work."

"Oh, it worked." He said with a grin, "But it doesn't last. I went through a lot of Travelers… not that anyone minded, and after the rumors swirled about Travelers they were already being hunted, driving out...no one would mind if several went missing."

"Vairë minded!"

"And did nothing!" Kate stopped, realizing he was right. There was no warning in her gut that this timeline was off, nothing telling her something was amiss. This timeline...it was not wrong. Vairë was the Weaver, one of the Valar...she had to have known. Known and done nothing to stop it. "That is why they left. Why the Travelers abandoned this world… because no matter how often they fought to do the right thing...there would always be someone else who would ensure myself, Sauron and others did the wrong things."

Kate was silent for a while, processing all that she'd heard.

"Then why come after me? If you've gone through a bunch of Travelers why come after me? I know there aren't many now but still."

"Because you're The Traveler...the others, it's a temporary power. Yours...yours will last as long as I do."

There it was. She hated being right, and suddenly it didn't feel as good to gloat over her victory. She just felt gross. Used. A part of her wondered if Kedron had expected something like this.

"Alright then," Kate said with a sigh. "Take it."

"What?" Kedron asked, whipping his head to her. That he hadn't been expecting.

"If what you say is true and you really can take that ability i'll allow you to take it." His eyes narrowed wondering what her angle was but Kate had none, not really. All she wanted was to go back to her old life with Legolas, to be a healer. She never wanted to be a Traveler, she didn't even like it. The idea that she could be free of the blood bond and this burden, to live her life with Legolas in peace, maybe even have a child...it was too much to even hope for. And yet here it was, her murderous, irritating, overly dramatic, black clad golden ticket. All she had to do was get some stone.

"I've never done it without killing anyone...and now i've no ability to do such a thing, thanks to you." Kedron protested irritability, but he leaned back against the bed, legs sprawled out in front of him. He was considering it.

"Which is why i'll have to stay in this state. Bonded, but paused. You'll have to figure out how to do it without killing me and until you have you'll stay cuffed."

"I could lie...say i've discovered a way, relieve you of your bond and just kill you and take it." Kedron countered with a smirk.

"You could but Vairë would never give you an audience then. I'm in her favor. Imagine her response if you kill her Traveler...one she'd hand picked after centuries of silence. It won't go over well. But if i've given it up, come all the way back here to try and rid myself of this Travelers curse and you were simply there to take over where I had failed, because you could never let such an important position go unmanned, well now that's an entirely different story, isn't it."

Kedron leaned back a smile across his face, considering this now. His eyes roamed the woman freely, as if looking at her in a completely different light now.

"You're a married woman then?"

"Happily."

"And does your husband know what a devious woman shares his bed?"

"I'm sure he has an idea." Kate replied as Kedron.

"No, Kate, I don't believe he has any idea what kind of woman you are. You really will do anything to get back to him, won't you?"

"Absolutely." Their eyes met, holding each other's gaze in silent agreement then finally Kedron stood to his feet.

"Well it's settled then. You give me the arkenstone, I release your from the blood bond and relieve you of the burden of being a Traveler."

"And you'll need to send me home."

"Of course, any other addendums? I really do believe I'm getting the better end of the bargain."

"Believe whatever you want, as long as I get my end of the bargain." Kate said with a shrug.

"Now," Kedron said, holding out his arm "I'm sure you'll be wanting this back." Kate barked out a laugh.

"Oh, no. No, that stays on until all this is over." Kedron ground his teeth but offered his most polite smile.

"Kate, dear, however will we manage without a little extra help now and then. You'll need protection."

"I can protect myself just fine, Kedron, don't you worry." She said with a smile. "You'll want to be getting a good night's sleep though. We start tomorrow for our destination."

"And where is that?" Kedron ground out.

"Leave that to me." she replied, and blew out the candle.