Hey there guys! here's chapter 3 up for you all! I hope you all enjoy this one! xXx

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Chapter 3

Thorin? No. . .it couldn't be. . .not here. . .looking towards the voice, my legs almost give way, but I force myself to stay upright. It's him. . .he's actually here. . .he's actually in front of me. . .I wanted to run to him and just take him in my arms, but remembering that I never went back to him. . .I'm nervous he might not want me anymore.

"Thorin. . .I. . .is it really you?" I ask, still not trusting my eyes.

He smiles as he dismounts his pony. "Of course, it's me. You-You look good."

I smile as I blush. "Thank you. So do you."

And he did. He still had his black hair, which had white strands running through, though it didn't diminish from his looks, looking like the veins of silver running through the mines of Erebor. But his moustache and beard had grown since the last I saw him, although, I did expect his beard to be as long as his father's, like he always said it would be. However, it was short, barely hanging off his chin. . .although, it does look good on him. Underneath his black furred coat, he wears a blue tunic with black pants and black boots with a fur trim.

He smiles, a smile that can always make my heart flutter. "It's good to see you."

I nod, also smiling. "As it is to see you."

We continue to look at one another when, after a hundred and sixty four years of being apart, the damn breaks and we're suddenly rushing to each other like a raging river.

I throw my arms around his neck, burying my head into his shoulder as I sob, while he wraps an arm around my back, the other on the back of my head. Oh Valar, it felt so good to be in his arms again. . .to have the feeling of comfort, safety and love I had always felt from him. I never ever want that feeling to stop.

"Oh Kana. . .I have missed you so." Thorin says softly.

I choke back a sob before replying. "As I have missed you, Thorin. So, so much."

We soon pull back and he uses his thumbs to wipe my tears away before he leans down and presses his lips against mine. Oh Yavannah. . .I do not remember his kiss being so intense before. . .true it was our first kiss back then, so it was innocent and unsure, but now. . .it must be a combination of the love, passion and longing we felt for each other. It makes me feel even more guilty for not going back to him sooner.

Our kiss is soon interrupted by someone loudly clearing their throat. I pull away and blush, forgetting that we have an audience. Thorin just chuckles as he looks down at me. Even though the Arcani are roughly the same height, or taller than dwarves, I had always been shorter than Thorin, since he was tall for a dwarf.

"Can we talk later?" he asks.

I just nod, knowing what he would want to talk about. "Of course."

He smiles and gives me another quick kiss before pulling back, though keeping hold of my hand. Looking back to the others among his company, I gasp as I see two other familiar dwarves.

"Balin? Dwalin?"

Balin smiles as he walks over and we embrace. "Hello again, lass. It has been a long time."

"Far too long, old friend, for that I apologise."

He continues to smile as he pulls away. "No matter my dear, you are here now, that's what matters."

I smile back before turning to Dwalin, who has since made his way over. He reaches out and we clasp each other's arms.

"It's great to see you again, namad." he says with a grin.

I smile, thankful he still sees me as his sister.

"As it is to see you, too, veli." I reply, calling him brother in my native tongue.

His grin widens as we pull back.

Our attention is brought to footsteps coming closer and we turn to see Shana walking over. I smile as I hold my arm out, allowing her to settle into my side as I wrap the arm around her shoulders.

"Shaylee?" Thorin asks.

I give a smile and shake my head. "No. This is Shana, Shaylee's daughter."

Thorin looks to me in surprise, but smiles as he turns to Shana. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Shana."

Shana smiles back. "As it is to meet you, Thorin. My mother has told me so much about you."

"As much as I am enjoying this reunion, we should find some place to rest for the night. The sun is almost setting." Gandalf suddenly says.

"Oh, of course. Shana and I have a camp set up a little further ahead, if you would like to join us."

Thorin smiles. "That sounds like a good idea."

"If you can, could you spare a dwarf or two to help Shana bring back the haul we caught? We had just been hunting when we heard the fight."

He nods. "Of course. Fili! Kili!"

"We've got it, uncle!" A voice calls out from the back.

It's my turn to look to Thorin in surprise. "Uncle? Dis?"

He chuckles. "Yes. Dis had two sons. She also has a little girl at home."

I smile wide at hearing this news. That's when two dwarrow come by, one blond and one brunette. The blond has long hair with a few braids, a short beard and a mustache which hangs on either side of his lip. The brunette has wild hair, void of braids and a stubble on his face.

"Hi aunt Kana!" The brunette says with a cheeky grin, kissing my cheek before following Shana.

"Nice to finally meet you." The blond smiles, also kissing my cheek before also following Shana.

Thorin and I chuckle at this before he and the others mount up and follow me up to the campsite, where Snowflake and Starlight snort at me in annoyance. I chuckle as I walk over and pet them.

"I'm sorry we were gone so long, girls. But look, we have company."

They look over at Gandalf's horse and the ponies before neighing at them, who answer back. I smile as I kiss their snouts before grabbing my pot and going to the lake we found hunting to fill it up. By the time I return, Shana, Fili and Kili have returned with the kill. Some of the dwarves begin to skin and clean them.

Balin looks up as I return. "We were just saying to your niece, this is a good haul you two managed to gather."

I smile and open my mouth to answer, but am interrupted.

"Daughter." Shana says to the old dwarf.

Balin blinks as he looks to her. "I beg your pardon."

"Since she raised me, I'm her daughter, not niece."

Thorin looks to me, piecing together what she said. "You raised her. . .then Shay. . ."

I nod. "She died, almost eighty years ago."

Thorin, Balin and Dwalin look distraught at hearing this.

"Oh, Kana. . .I am so sorry." Thorin says sympathetically.

I give a thankful smile. "Don't be. It was a long time ago now."

He nods, thankfully letting the subject drop. After putting the pot over the fire to boil, I walk over to Shana and gently take her face into my hands before touching our foreheads together.

'Are you alright?' I ask, reverting back to our native tongue.

She nods. 'I'm fine, don't worry.' a mischievous grin suddenly graces her lips as she says, 'I would ask if you are alright, but after that kiss, I know my answer.'

She giggles as I swat her on the shoulder. 'Be careful, you're not too old for a slap.'

She giggles again before going to her horse.

"Do I want to know what that was about?" Thorin asks as he stands beside me.

I smile. "Definitely not." I look up at him and just look at him for a moment, just happy to be in his presence once again. He looks down at me, giving me a questioning look. "It really is good to see you."

He smiles back. "As it is to see you." he pauses for a moment before he takes my hand. "Come with me."

He leads me over to the cliff edge. I knew that the time has come for explanations. I'll admit, I was nervous about what he would say. I just hoped he wouldn't be too angry at me.

As we move past the others, I notice some of them looking at Shana and I with disapproval, especially the dwarf with the intricate braids in his hair and beard. I know that look, having seen it so many times. Showing off too much skin has always been a problem for most people.

"I see Shana and I have some friends to make."

Having glanced back and seen the looks, he chuckles. "They'll get used to you."

As we stand at the cliff edge, while not exactly private, it's enough away that we can talk without being overheard. Thorin looks to me as he both of my hands into his.

"Kana, what happened? I know you said you were going to come back once your people were settled, but I didn't expect to wait a hundred and forty two years."

I sigh as I look down. "I know. I didn't plan to be away for so long. I honestly thought I would be ten to twenty years, thirty at most. But it was harder to settle than I first thought. We would find somewhere and then be driven out by either the people who lived nearby, or orcs and other ruffians.

We finally found somewhere, almost a hundred years ago. We started to settle down, making our homes in the trees, planting our crops and getting some animals for us to survive on." I start to smile. "Shaylee announced that she was to be married. It was the happiest day of my life. My little sister having found someone to share her life with, to start a family. Her mate, Kailen, was a kind and considerate male, I knew would take care of her and make her happy.

When she announced she was pregnant, I was so happy to be an aunt. But, when she was a month away from giving birth, that's when we were attacked by orcs." he squeezes my hands at this. "They came in the night, we weren't prepared. We all fought as best as we could. We lost some good people that day. I-I found Shay next to Kailen's body. He had been killed protecting her and the baby. I knew it would be a matter of time before we lost Shay and the baby too. But, in all of this, she begged me for one favour. . .to save her baby."

He looks taken aback by that. "But, the babe was still inside her, wasn't she?"

I nod. "She was."

I just look to my sister. "Shay. . .it's not time for the baby to be born. It won't be for another month."

She nods as she makes and keeps eye contact with me. "I know."

It takes me a while to realise what she means and I shake my head. "No. . .I can't allow that to happen. We would lose you within moments of the birth."

I feel her hand gripping mine. "I know. I'm going to die anyway. . .I can feel it. But, I can't let my baby die with me. Please, Kana. . .let me have that."

After a moments hesitation, I nod. If this was to be my sister's dying wish, then I'll let her have it.

"Okay, Shay. Let me just find Rhoswyn, she'll be able to do this."

I get up to find our Shaman, but she just pulls me back down. "No. No. . .I want you to do it."

I just look at her in shock. "What? Y-You want me to. . .No. I will allow this to happen, but I won't be the one to do it. I won't be the one responsible for your death."

She just smiles. "You won't be responsible for my death, Kana. You will be responsible for the birth of this baby. I don't trust anyone more than I do you. Please, bring my child into this world."

I look at her. Can I do this? Could I actually consider doing this to my baby sister? Cut her open to birth her baby? But, seeing the look in her eyes. . .I knew I had to. I have to save her baby and to give her the chance to see her child before she dies, and if she wants me to do it. . .then I will. For her.

I nod as I get our Shaman for help and support and after getting her blessing, she stays by Shay's side. She puts a piece of leather in Shay's mouth.

"Bite down, child. This will be painful."

After making sure her stomach is clean, I put a hand on it, the other holding the knife, hovers just over where I'm about to cut. I just stare at the knife, my hand shaking. I. . .I can't do it. . .I can't.

Feeling Shay take my free hand, I look to her, biting on the leather, giving me a reassuring look and a nod. I take a deep breath and after counting down from three, begin the cut. Her muffled screams ring through the air, causing some of the others to gather around to watch.

I block out anything and everything from around me, blocking out her screams, my only focus being on the babe I can now see. Putting the knife aside, I reach inside with both hands and gently pull the baby out, who begins crying at being rudely awakened and pulled from it's home.

After accepting a cloth from Elfrydah, I get a healer to stitch her closed, I want to give Shay as much time as she can with her newborn. After cutting the cord, I clean up the baby, giving her a quick check over.

"Shay, you have a daughter. A beautiful, healthy, little girl." I inform her with a smile.

I can see her smiling, tears of pain and relief falling. After wrapping her in a clean cloth, Rhoswyn helps to sit Shay up and I pass the baby to her. She holds her daughter close as I sit behind her. I watch as she and the baby just look at each other, I know that even though words aren't being said, the baby knows how much she is loved.

"What will be her name?" Rhoswyn asks, ready to take the babe to bless her.

There's no hesitation from Shay. "Shana. Her name will be Shana. A mixture of her mother and her aunt."

I smile, feeling honoured she would put my name into her daughter. Before Rhoswyn takes Shana, Shay leans down and presses a gentle kiss to the babe's head.

"I may not be physically there for you, Shana, but I will always love you and be there for you in spirit. I know you will be well loved. Be strong my love, grow up happy and live your life to the best. I love you."

She hesitantly handed the baby over. As Rhoswyn takes the baby, Shay leans heavily against me. I hold her close, knowing she wouldn't have much time left.

"Thank you. . .thank you for giving me that chance. . .for saving her."

I smile down at her, blinking back tears. "I wasn't going to allow her to die."

She smiles as she takes my hand. "Kana, I know you'll take good care of her. . .treat her like your own. . .but please. . .don't forget your happiness. When you can, find him. . .find Thorin. . .you've spent your life looking out for us. . .it's time you looked out for you. I-I want you to be happy. . .and I know you will be with him."

I just nod as I look at her. "I will. I promise, I will find him."

She also nods. "Good. . .remember. . .mother, father and I will always watch over you. . .I love you Kana."

I smile down at her. "I love you too, Shay."

A few moments later, she takes her last breath, a smile still on her face. That's when I finally allow my tears to fall. Holding my sister close to me, I let out over a hundred years of grief and guilt, not noticing the clan gathering in a circle around us, singing a lament for her and others we lost that night.

Feeling Thorin's hands tighten in my own, I am brought from my memories and look at our joined hands where I can still see Shaylee's blood on them. I just shake my head to get rid of the image, before feeling Thorin pull me into him.

"I'm sorry, Kana. I'm so sorry you had to go through that. No one should have to do that to someone they love."

I just hold him close, resting my head on his shoulder. We stay like that for a few moments.

"Where did you go after?"

I hesitate for a moment, knowing he won't be happy. "We went to the only place we could go. We went to Rivendell."

After feeling him tense, I immediately pull back and rest my hands on his chest as I look up at him.

"No, none of that Thorin, I know how you feel about Thranduil, believe me, I feel the same as you. But Lord Elrond is nothing like him. He took us in the moment he saw us, he gave us a home within his trees, allowed us to bury our dead there. For the first time in a long time, we felt safe. We had somewhere we could live in peace and raise our children. How could I pass that up for my people? How could I keep up my hatred of elves and let this opportunity pass. Tell me, Thorin, if you had no other choice, would you do it? Turn your people and loved ones away from somewhere safe?"

He looks to me for a moment before sighing. "No. I would not. I don't blame you for making that choice. I'm glad you found somewhere safe."

I smile, relieved he wouldn't be angry by that. "Once we made that our home, I would have left to find you, but I couldn't leave Shana, and I couldn't take her with me, she was still so young. I made a promise to myself that once she was old enough, and I knew she would be able to take care of herself, I would come find you. It just. . .took me longer than I thought to do that."

He nods. "So I hear. Sounds like you've had a rough time, and I'm sorry. Hearing everything you've told me, I wish I could have been there for you."

I smile. "I know. And I thank you."

He smiles back. He opens his mouth to say something before Shana comes up. "Mother, Thorin, sorry to interrupt, but dinner is ready."

I smile at her. "Thank you, my Sparrow, we'll be there in a moment."

She smiles as she returns to the others. Thorin turns to me with a fond smile.

"Sparrow?"

I chuckle. "She used to flutter around so much as a child, I began calling her Sparrow and it stuck."

He also chuckles before he reaches up to his neck and I gasp as, from under his shirt, he pulls out the silver bracelet I gave to him, now on a silver chain.

"Remember our promise?"

I smile sheepishly at him. "You mean the promise I made and broke?"

He waves a hand dismissively. "Details. Do you want to fulfil that promise? Allow me to court you?"

I look at him, my smile growing. "Yes. I will." He smiles back as he reaches to untie the chain, but I hold my hand up. "No, please. Keep it. Consider it a courting gift instead of my promise."

His smile widens as he drops his hand before reaching up to my hair. "May I?"

I smile and nod, knowing what he's going to do. He takes part of my hair that doesn't have feathers or beads in and makes a braid before taking one of his beads off and clipping it on.

"There. Perfect. Now, everyone will know you are spoken for."

I smile and as I see his braid which no longer has a bead, I reach up to one of my braids before taking a bead off and look it over before smiling up at him.

"My mother gave this to my father when they started courting. May I?"

He smiles back. "I would be honoured."

Reaching up, I clip the bead at the end of his braid, running my thumb over it lovingly.

"I still can't believe this is finally happening. . .after so long. . ."

Thorin's smile widens as he takes me in his arms and holds me close as I wrap my arms around his neck before he leans down to kiss me again, this time full of passion, love and a promise for a new beginning.

"Oi! Love birds! Food's getting cold!" we hear one of the dwarves call out.

I smile as we pull away, take his hand and join the others, who cheer at us. Thorin and I sit together, with Shana on my other side – after hugging me that is – and we eat. Introductions are made and I meet all the others, realising Dori and Gloin are the two dwarves who were looking at Shana and I in disapproval.

After a lovely dinner, which I thank Bombur for, we sit around talking before beginning to get some sleep. Thorin leaves Fili and Kili on first watch. I decide to take watch with them and after kissing Thorin and Shana goodnight, stand by the cliff edge, an arrow notched onto my bow. I smile as I look over the horizon, for once, the future is looking bright, and it's a future I cannot wait to see.

It has been a couple of hours since everyone has fallen asleep. Only Fili, Kili, Gandalf and I are awake. Gandlf and Fili are smoking, Kili is fletching new arrows and I'm still standing at the edge, my bow still out. I glance back at Thorin and smile as I see him snoozing on a boulder above where Shana is sleeping. It doesn't look very comfortable.

Hearing a sound, I look back and see Bilbo standing and stretching. He smiles at me as he passes to go to the ponies. I watch as he stands in front of a brown pony, I recognise it as being the one he rode on.

He pets her snout. "Hello, girl. That's a good girl."

I smile as, after looking at the others, he sneakily feeds her an apple.

"It's our little secret, Myrtle; you must tell no one. sh, sh"

I give a fond chuckle just before my body tenses as there's a screech ringing through the night air. Orcs.

Bilbo looks between me and the boys. "What was that?"

"Orcs." Kili says after a moment.

Another scream is heard. Thorin, jerks awake upon hearing the word orcs. Shana also bolts up at the second scream.

Bilbo "Orcs?"

"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there. The lowlands are crawling with them." Fili begins saying.

"They strike in the wee small hours, when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet; no screams, just lots of blood." Kili finishes.

As I watch Bilbo looking away in fright, I see the boys glance at each other before chuckling away. My body becomes as tense as it was before. How could they be so inconsiderate of the feeling of others? Orc raids are nothing to joke about.

Thorin, who I know has been watching me carefully, stands and turns to his nephews. "You think that's funny? You think a night raid by orcs is a joke?"

Both boys have the decency to look down in shame.

"We didn't mean anything by it." Kili says quietly.

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world."

Thorin makes his way over to my side, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Are you alright?"

I nod as I take deep breaths to calm myself. "Yes. They are only boys, they will learn."

He doesn't say anything to that as we continue to look out, listening as Balin begins to speak.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate orcs. After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first."

I remember that day as if it had happened yesterday.

After arriving at Moria, the battle had really begun. Thorin and I didn't let each other out of sight, fighting side by side. I could also see my father fighting with Thrain and Frerin not too far away.

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs lead by the most vile of all their race: Azog, the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began by beheading the King."

Hearing a roar, I look up and my eyes go wide as I see a large, pale orc holding up Thror's head, his body no longer attached.

"Oh no. . ."

I can feel Thorin's grief from next to me, crying out as the orc throws Thror's head, allowing it to fall and roll to our feet.

"Thorin! No!" I yell as he runs towards the orc.

I go to follow but am stopped by orcs.

"Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing, taken prisoner or killed, we did not know. We were leaderless. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him: a young dwarf prince facing down the Pale Orc."

As I'm fighting, I watch helplessly as Thorin fights against the pale orc, going up against what seems like an undefeatable foe. Azog uses his mace to knock away Thorin's shield and then his sword, causing Thorin to lose his balance as he falls down an embankment.

"Thorin!" I scream, watching as Azog advances on him.

Killing the orc in front of me, I try to fight my way to him, struggling among the mass of orcs around me. As Azog swings down, Thorin grabs an oak branch before rolling away, Azog's mace colliding into the ground.

"He stood alone against this terrible foe, his armour rent. . .wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield"

Azog continues swinging his mace against Thorin, who is still on the ground, but Thorin blocks his mace with the oaken branch, which he uses as a shield.

I finally get to them and as Azog swings back one last time, I swing my sword, slicing it across his back, not deep enough to cause lasting damage, but enough to be a distraction.

It works, as Azog roars and turns to me, giving Thorin the chance to stand and swing his sword up, cutting off the arm wielding the mace.

I stand beside Thorin as Azog falls to his knees, howling in pain as he clutches his stump.

"Azog, the Defiler, learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken." I can then hear the smile in Balin's voice. "Especially when protected by an Arcani Princess."

I watch as Azog is rushed into Moria by the other orcs as Thorn begins yelling to the Dwarves and Arcani's.

"Du bekâr! Du bekâr!"

'Aseisiin! Aseisiin!' I translate to my people.

Everyone rallies to Thorin and I as we lead the way into battle. The orcs meet us in the middle, fighting against us, and our renewed strength, ferociously. We now seem to finally have the advantage.

"Our forces rallied and drove the orcs back. Our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast, no song, that night, for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived."

The battlefield is covered in the corpses of dwarves, Arcani's and orcs; the survivors weep with one another over their losses. I see Balin and Dwalin hug and put their foreheads together as they weep, having seen their father, Fundin, had passed during the battle. Looking back to Thorin, I see him standing, looking over the battlefield, holding his oaken branch.

I give a sad smile. I have never seen him look more like a King then he does in that moment. A king at such a young age.

Looking around, I spy a familiar shawl not too far away.

"No." I gasp out as I run over.

I stop as I see my father's body, a gaping hole in his chest, his eyes staring blankly at the sky.

"NO!" I scream as I fall by his side.

Lifting him into my arms, I hold him close as I cry, weeping at the loss of my father and soon my mother. I then feel arms around me, but don't move as I know it's Thorin, who's giving me some comfort.

I come out of my thoughts as I feel Thorin pull me tighter against him, knowing where my thoughts had gone. I lay my head on his shoulder as he kisses the top of it.

"And I thought to myself then, there is one who I could follow. There is one I could call King."

Thorin turns away from the view beyond the cliff; I also turn back and see the entire Company is awake and standing in awe, staring at him. I can also see Shana standing, tears in her eyes as she watches us both. Thorin walks between them towards the fire.

Bilbo turns to Balin. "But the pale orc? What happened to him?"

Thorin is the one to answer. "He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago."

I share a glance with Gandalf at this, who is looking in my direction. One thing I didn't tell Thorin about the raid, I could have sworn I saw the pale orc standing some ways away, watching the fight unfold, sneering at me before riding off into the night. Turning back, that night comes to my head again. Maybe. . .maybe I didn't imagine that. . .maybe he actually was there. . .

Well, there's chapter 3, hope you all enjoyed it and will stay tuned for the next one xx

veli – brother

namad – sister

Du bekâr! Du bekâr! To arms! To arms!

Aseisiin! Aseisiin! To arms! To arms!