A/N: Hello readers! Thank you so much for sticking around. I promise the story is starting to ramp up with some action. I try to get my posts out every day, so check back for an update, or follow and favorite to get a notification! I hope you like it!

Chapter 13

The Erebor caravan stood in the courtyard preparing their wagons and ponies for their journey. Many were lined up to return to Erebor, and a few were lined up to accompany Thorin on his quest for Dain. Kaleria knew he had split the caravan with the intention of giving her the most protection. She watched him checking on each man in his company from across the courtyard.

They hadn't spoken to each other since their fight the night before. The silence between Thorin and Kaleria clung to them like pipe smoke on an old dwarf man's beard. Thorin hadn't returned to their room until late in the night, and when he came in, Kaleria pretended to be asleep. She heard him walking across the stone floor to his side of the bed, pausing for a long time. Finally the bed dipped with the weight of him lying down, but he made no move to touch her. When she woke in the morning, he had already packed his things and left.

After her pony was saddled and ready, Kaleria waited for her time to mount up. The trip back to Erebor was determined to take less time than their journey to the Iron Hills, with the weapons and armor not nearly as heavy as the gold they had brought with them. She looked forward to seeing Dis and Hedina soon. Her hands rested across her stomach as she thought of how excited her friends and family would be to learn the good news.

Thorin finished checking his caravan and looked across the courtyard at his wife. He wanted nothing more than to return home with her, but delaying his return to Erebor by a month was a blink of an eye in the life of a dwarf. She would hardly have time to miss him, and he would be back long before the baby would be born.

He watched Kaleria's hands come to rest over her stomach, and he knew it was time to say goodbye.

Thorin strode toward her, his body automatically falling into its regal demeanor. He looked around to see who was watching, though everyone seemed too busy with their own tasks. She saw him coming and averted her eyes to the ground.

He stopped in front of her. "Are all your things packed?"

"Yes."

"Do you need help mounting?"

"I can manage."

He sighed deeply. "Kaleria, please look at me."

She forced her eyes up to his.

"This will only delay me from home another month. We will be together again soon." His hand reached out and brushed her cheek, but she pulled away from it. The gesture, however tiny, made Thorin's heart clench. He leaned in to press a kiss to her lips, but she ducked her chin away.

Thorin pulled her head forward and placed a long kiss on her forehead. Kaleria closed her eyes, trying to reign in every emotion that told her to reach out and hold onto him.

He removed his lips and pressed his forehead to hers, before whispering to her. "I will return to Erebor. I promise you. Take care of our child, my love."

With those final words he let her go and walked over to Balin.

"Balin, please return my wife home safely." Thorin pleaded to his oldest friend.

"Aye, your highness. I will make certain of it." Balin promised.

Thorin spared one more look to Kaleria before turning and walking to his pony.

Kaleria watched him mount up and start giving orders. Dwalin passed near her and she stopped him.

"Dwalin, promise me you will look after Thorin." She held onto his arm, hoping he could feel her pain.

Dwalin wasn't one for emotions, but the look in the eyes of his queen made him understand how seriously she cared about him.

"Aye, my queen. I'll keep him out of trouble."

"Thank you, Dwalin." She released him and watched him join Thorin's caravan and mount up.

Thorin shot one last longing look toward Kaleria, then kicked his pony into a trot, leading the caravan through the gates. Kaleria watched until every last member was gone, and the only proof they had been there was the dust floating in the air. A single tear rolled down Kaleria's cheek.

"My queen," said Balin, "we should be leaving, too."

"Yes, Master Balin. Please tell the caravan to move out. We will follow your lead." She turned to her pony and mounted it quickly.

Balin stared at her a moment before mounting his own pony and giving the command to move out. The ponies and wagons passed through the gates of the Iron Hills and pointed themselves toward the solitary peak of the Lonely Mountain.

Hours of traveling passed in silence for Kaleria, who played her final moments with Thorin over and over in her head. She shouldn't have been that cruel. She should've understood his commitment to his people would sometimes be greater than his commitment to her.

"You have been very quiet, milady." Balin observed.

Kaleria gathered her thoughts. "Thorin and I argued last night."

"Ah, I see." Balin waited for her to continue.

" I'm still angry with him, but I'm more angry with myself." The terrible things she said to him repeated in her head like the tune of a mockingbird.

"I have known Thorin all his life. He can make it very easy to argue with him. He has spent most of his life waiting for the next person to leave him."

"I would never do that!" She turned her gaze to his, hoping to convey the truth.

"I know, my dear," replied Balin. "If I know one thing, he's more upset with himself than he is with you. He's probably feeling the same way you are right now."

The tears built up in Kaleria's eyes. "What do I do, Balin?"

"You go home, you wait for your husband, and I'll make certain you both apologize. You love each other too much to remain angry over one argument." Balin smiled.

"Thank you, Balin." Kaleria returned his smile.

She looked ahead at the open plain before them, wanting to be home as quickly as possible. The faster she could get home, the sooner she could see Thorin again.