A.N. Last update in March. Yikes. Honestly, I hit such a writer's block with this story, and had to put it on hiatus for a while. Once I saw more people reading it, I thought I'd try to reread some of it, and continue. To anyone who still follows, thank you so much for your patience. It is still in my plans to finish this story, so no fear.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and plot points.

The return to Erebor was an immense relief, and clearly healing for Thorin. There was new life and determination in him. Fili had him working as a general, training soldiers for the coming war. He was tired every night but there was almost always the light of purpose on his face, and a smile for Danica. She loved seeing that, and was grateful for the peace that came from no longer being on the move out in the open. However, she had forgotten how difficult it could be living amongst dwarves as a daughter of Man. Just like all those years ago, looks and whispers followed her everywhere. The main difference now was that she had Di̒s, and two of the maids who had served her before. Despite all the others in the mountain, those three had worked hard to give her a warm and happy homecoming.

Her first few days were filled with fittings for new gowns, feasts, and making plans for a nursery. It all started becoming more real as they stitched together baby clothes and cloth diapers. A bassinet was being made, with the help of Thorin, and Bofur was in charge of making a mobile. Danica had sketched a design for it, and Bofur was more than happy to bring it to life. Di̒s said that gifts would begin coming in as soon as she neared her due date. While happy and grateful, there was something bittersweet as well.

Danica had always imagined having her mother beside her during her pregnancies. There would be shopping trips for all the clothes and necessities, and a baby shower with all of her friends and family. Doctors would be monitoring her progress, and she would give birth in a sterile hospital, with the option of an epidural. More than one night, when Thorin was working late, she would sit in front of the fire, fighting against tears and panic. She knew she would need to speak with the midwives about what she was used to, and how they normally handled a birthing. At the very least, she could make sure everything would be cleaned properly. That way, infection wouldn't be as much of a risk. There were also plenty of medicines she knew could help with pain, though nothing could beat an epidural.

A little over a month after they arrived, a performing group came to the mountain. Danica was surprised at the fact that the troupe was allowed in, considering they were all Men. What surprised her the most was how warmly Thorin greeted the leader of the troupe. They clasped forearms like old friends, smiling widely at each other. Fili also shook the man's hand, and there were dwarves excitedly milling around. The man's eyes traveled from Fili to Danica.

"This must be the Lady Danica," he said, a kind smile on his face.

"Nathir, this is my wife," Thorin ushered her forward with a hand on the small of her back.

"It is an honor, my Lady," Nathir bent over her hand.

"Thank you," Danica replied. "It is a pleasure to meet you, as well,"

"Nathir allowed me to travel with him and his group after we parted in Rivendell,"

At Thorin's explanation, everything made sense. She remembered him speaking about the people he had traveled with, and how kind and talented they were.

"Well, Nathir, I must thank you for keeping my husband company, and helping to keep him safe on the road,"

Nathir gave a small shake of his head. "It was our pleasure. If not for his status here, we would have fought to keep him. He is quite the musician, as, rumor has it, are you,"

"I dabble when I can," she tried to remember the last time she had truly performed. She and Thorin had sung together in Rivendell, and on the road, but the last time she had come close to anything like a concert was before she had found herself in middle earth. The realization had weight sinking on her shoulders, and in her gut.

Tala suddenly suggested that everyone follow him to their temporary lodgings so they could rest before the performance that night. Danica caught his eye, and mouthed, "thank you," to which he nodded. Catching the exchange, Kayli looped her arm through Danica's, and excused them, giving the reason of needing to check the performance space again. The two of them had helped Di̒s prepare for the event.

"Are you alright?" Kayli asked once they were alone. "We all know how you've been struggling the last few weeks,"

Danica sighed. "Gorsli̒ has been keeping you all informed of her perception on my mental state, hasn't she?" she couldn't be mad for how much she adored the aging dam.

"She is just concerned for you. You are like a daughter to her, and with Thorin so busy, she wants to make sure you are cared for,"

"I know," Danica gave Kayli's hand a squeeze. "The pregnancy has just brought on some homesickness and nostalgia. It's not something I've thought of much over the past year or so, but…"

"You wish your family could be around for your first child," Kayli finished sympathetically. "Your presence here seems so natural, we all tend to forget that you came from a different world, leaving behind family and friends,"

"Sometimes, I think I forget as well," Danica mused.

Conversation changed to the performance venue. It was an arena cut into the walls of the mountain, which gave the stage incredible acoustics. For the audience, tiered seating had been built out of smooth, marbled stone. Plush pillows, designed by Di̒s and Danica were spread around for more comfortable seating. Multiple chandeliers and lamps were strategically placed, but only those surrounding the stage would be fully lit. Much of Danica's performing background had come into play with setting up this event, which had been both a healing distraction, and sad reminder. What would likely be the best cure for her would be watching the troupe later. That would be her first time seeing a professional performance in middle earth.

Kayli stuck close by her side as they grabbed a mid-morning snack, for Danica's body was in need of constant fuel now. It was also getting more and more fatigued, so she parted from Kayli, and sought the quiet of hers and Thorin's quarters. Gorsli̒ was already there, stoking the fire.

"I figured ye'd want the room warmed up a bit if ye decided to rest," the dam explained, barely looking up.

"Thank you," Danica sat on the edge of the bed, trying to hide just how bone tired she was.

After giving a soft sigh, Gorsli̒ came to sit beside her. "Yer spirits have been greatly dimmed these last few days. Normally, this does not happen until after the bairn is born,"

"I'm sorry. Everything has just been so overwhelming. There's so much to do, and yet not enough. Many of you have been so kind and helpful, but I always thought that I would have my mother with me,"

Suddenly feeling like a child lost in a supermarket, she tried to wipe the tears away. Gorsli̒ caught one of her hands, and held it in her own.

"Yer still so young, Lass, and ye've been carrying such a heavy burden, as though ye were still queen. It's only natural to miss yer mother at such a time,"

"I'm scared," the words were a broken whisper, and the first time she'd really acknowledged it. There had been so much going on, but now she was faced with it every day.

"Dinnae ye worry," Gorsli̒ soothed. "We will have the best midwives and healers helping ye. Durin knows Lord Thorin would never allow anything bad to happen to ye, or the bairn,"

Danica gave her a smile, not wishing to show rudeness by debating with her in any way. And yet, all she could think about were all the times they had been powerless to stop the trials they'd faced. Her silence wasn't enough to fool the old maid, but with Danica's eyes drooping, it was clear that sleep was needed. Once she was sure her lady was comfortably settled, Gorsli̒ excused herself.

She wasn't sure when she had even fallen asleep, but found herself in a dream. It was dark and cold, but not quite as bitter as the north. A campfire burned a little way off from where Danica stood. A couple of shadowy figures shifted to her left. Staying as still and quiet as possible, she turned to try and get a better look at them. In the dim light, she could barely make out their armor, but thought it must be Easterling.

"How could our men have failed so thoroughly?" one growled softly, the words foreign, yet she understood them.

"The witch must be learning how to use her powers on command," the other one answered patiently, but darkly. "That is the only explanation for why they returned to us alive,"

The first man looked back at the camp. Looking closer, Danica could see the men she had sent away from Laketown tied together. From the distance, she couldn't be completely sure, but it looked as though they had been tortured. This seemed to just be a small company of the army, so where were the rest of them?

"How much do you think we can get out of them?" the first questioned. "They don't appear to remember anything,"

A long-suffering sigh came from the second. "It does not matter now. Oakenshield and the witch will have reached the safely of the mountain. Now, we must rely on the one who may help us,"

"You mean- "the first was cut off as the second clapped a hand to his mouth.

"Don't say the name!" he hissed. "She could be watching us this very moment,"

Shock zapped through her, and had her waking instantly. The room was still empty, and the fire had gone down enough for her to realize that it had been a few hours.

"Dani, are you alright?" Thorin came from the bathing room, his footsteps soft enough that his voice startled her. When she flinched, he moved beside her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Another dream?"

She nodded, running a hand over her face. "I think there's an Easterling spy in the mountain. In the dream, two men spoke about our arrival here. One of them mentioned a person who could help, even though we were out of reach,"

Thorin growled. "It is always something, isn't it? If there is such a spy, they must have come in with Nathir's troupe,"

The thought broke her heart, but she'd come to the same conclusion. "What should we do?"

Lips pressed together, he looked at her belly, then her eyes. "We smoke them out, and destroy them,"