Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 16 of Seven Wonders. I want to thank those who have left reviews. I promise that this story will get more interesting as it goes on. I hope that this story continues to grow. Since I've decided to not do a series for this story. It makes it a lot easier for me. Meaning more chapters in a story. I hope that you guys will enjoy this next chapter. Without further ado Chapter 16. ENJOY!

Chapter 16

Thorin had found bare footprints in the mud near the entrance to the cave that they had come out of when first arriving a few days prior. He walked into the cave when he heard her singing. Granted it was soft, but he had an idea that she was in the cave. Thorin stopped when he saw her sitting there against the wall. He had not expected her to be sitting there in the cave without ever thinking about where she was going.

Artemis's eyes shot up to him. "What the fuck do you want?" She hissed out narrowing her eyes at one of the most stubborn dwarves that she had ever met in her entire life.

THorin swallowed some of his pride knowing what Gandalf had told him was still ringing in his ears. He could not retort to what she had said. "Everyone was worried."

"So… You don't trust me and I am a wench." She hissed at him looking at him very darkly.

"I want to apologize. I did not mean to insult you."

She scoffed. "You did more than insult me Master Dwarf." She said looking away from him and crossing her arms.

"I know I did more than insult you and I am sorry. I should have trusted you."

"Which is why I am going to stay in Rivendell. You are free to release me from the contract." She said as she got up to her feet.

"There is no way out of the contract unless death takes you. Until then you have to fulfill the contract. Which means you are stuck with us until the end of the quest." Thorin said bluntly.

Artemis turned to him. "Death can only take me. So be it." She said to him harshly. "I am nothing but a worthless human. Nothing I can do to help you. Not worth being part of your company."

Thorin felt his ire go up. He tried to remain calm as he could. "Death can not take you until your time is near. So until then you must keep your word and help us with our quest and I am sorry for the things I said and called you."

She scoffed looking away from him. "You may not know this, but my time is fucking closer than you think." She said pulling up both of her sleeves showing shallow marks on her arms. "These cuts are for every insult that you have said to me."

Thorin felt guilty as he looked down at his feet trying to figure out what to say, but he knew that he could say nothing to take away the pain he caused her. But he formed an idea to let his emotions take over instead of using words.

"And the worst part you haven't even seen yet.' She pulled up her left sleeve up to the elbow, showing a deep cut that ran up the vein instead of across it. It was still slightly seeping blood. "This is when you called me a wench."

His eyes widened when he saw the long deep cut. He moved closer to her.

She looked at him. "I see you have no reaction and now you finally see why I said my time is closer than…"

Thorin suddenly grabbed both her hands and pinned her against the wall suddenly kissing her.

After a few seconds, she moved her head away and headbutted him.

He released her stumbling back and she slid down the wall holding onto her head. "What in Durin's name was that for?!"

She shook he head and looked up seeing two Thorin's. She pointed at the wrong one. "By moon and stars, what the hell was that kiss about?" She shouted wincing as it caused her head to hurt more.

Thorin looked at her befuddled about why she was pointing away from him and at thin air. He realized that she had done more damage than what he thought she had done.

"Maybe you should just leave."

"I am not leaving until you return with me."

"Why?"

"We can not do this without you. Everyone is worried about you. Especially Gandalf."

She looked at him confused as she looked down knowing that she had to return for Gandalf's sake. She looked up at him. "I can't stand."

Thorin pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Then you are going to have to deal with being carried, Miss Houston."

Artemis huffed and crossed her arms knowing that it was true. "Fine."

Thorin carefully picked her up being careful of her ribs. He began to walk back towards Rivendell.

The two of them were silent as they went back to Rivendell.

Artemis couldn't help, but think back to the kiss and her cheeks went pink. That was the first time a man had willingly kissed her in a long time since her last boyfriend before he had broken her heart.

Thorin looked down and saw that her face was red, but didn't say anything to her.

Elladan saw a dark figure moving in the night towards their home and went to alert his father.

Bifur noticed that Thorin had returned carrying something in his armss and went to alert the company.

"Bifur what is it?" Bofur asked his cousin.

Bifur said something in Khudul and used body motions to tell the company that Thorin had returned with something in his arms.

Meanwhile Elladan met up with his father. "Father there is a dark figure coming towaRds Rivendell." He said as he tried to catch his breath.

Elrond looked at his son. "Alert the guard and Aalia and Elphaba."

Elladan nodded his head and went to alert the guard.

Meanwhile the company went to meet up with Thorin to find out if he had found Artemis. Their eyes lit up when they saw that Thorin indeed found their magical healer.

"Laddie what happened?" Balin asked THorin concerned about the young woman who Thorin now carried in his arms.

Thorin was glad that he had pulled down the sleeves so the company didn't see the cuts on her arms. Thorin looked at Balin. "She hit her head hard and was unable to walk. SO I carried her back." He told his oldest friend.

The company heard thundering towards them on elves on horse back.

Thorin gave Artemis to Bilbo. "Form Rank!" He yelled to the. This was the second time that the elvees had surrounded them.

The company did as what they were told.

Elphaba jumped from her horse and saw the company. She looked at Elladan. "We don't need the guard." She said narrowing her eyes at him. "It's jus the dwarves." She noticed Bilbo holding onto someone and Thorin. "Bt I do believe the young lady and Thorin Oakenshield were not here before."

Elrond looked at the guard. "Return ti your posts. No harm here."

The guard went back to their posts.

Elrond looked at Artemis and saw her forehead was discolored. "What happened to her?"

"She hit her head hard." Thorin simply replied.

"And what would that hard something be?"

"My head."

"And how…"

"That's no concern to you." Thorin bit out calmly.

"Take her back to her room. I will tend to her."

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This is the end of Chapter 16. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter. I tried my best to write this chapter out. I think that it turned out fairly well. I can't wait to show you guys what will happen next. Please leave a review and let me know what you think of this latest chapter. Reviews help me keep going when it comes to writing. I hope to have the next chapter out soon. Until next time.