Hey guys! How is everyone doing? I hope you are all well! We are back with Chapter 8! I hope you have all been enjoying the rewrite to this as much as I have writing it. I love hearing your thoughts, so please do me a favour and leave your reviews, I do love hearing from you.

Review Responses;

BubblyYork – Chapters 1&2 – As you see, help came pretty quickly for Sophia, thanks to brave little Aiden.

Chapter 3 – Yeah, same. It took me a little bit to figure out how to explain all of that, but I managed to get it to work.

Chapter 4 – Well, she has to end up learning how to defend herself in this strange world. And I saw the BSL in another fic I had been reading and wanted to add it in somewhere. Plus, I love Bifur too.

Chapter 5 – I'm glad she's better too and yes, poor little Aiden. But, his mama and the dwarves will be there for him.

Chapter 6 – She won't realise until quite some time later I'm agraid, so you'll have to be patient a little longer. And it seems like it, doesn't it?

Chapter 7 – Yeah, same here. She knows she feels at home with them. Let's just hope they don't get separated.

LairaCapulet – Chapter 4 – Thank you for the information. I had heard about the thumb being tucked in, which is why I had put it in. I hoped I did a good job with that other than the thumb thing.

LairaCapulet – Chapter 7 – No matter how long it might take me to upload a chapter, this story is not going to end. I'm having too much fun with it. As for how Sophia and Aiden continue on with the Compnay, it took my wife and I a while to figure out a way in which to do it, and I hope it is acceptable with the reason we gave.

Ro781727 – Hm. I remember you mentioning this before, before I did the rewrite. But, the wonderful thing about fanfiction is that you can write it to how you want it. As I have said in the first chapter, if you do not agree with what is written, then don't read it.

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Chapter 8

The next morning, after enjoying a lively breakfast with the company, Elrond invites Gandalf and I to his study to talk. So, leaving Aiden in the capable hands of the dwarves, I follow the wizard and elf lord to a large, circular study, bookshelves lining the walls and a desk ahead of us. A balcony is to the right, thin curtains billowing from the slight breeze flowing through the opening.

"Gandalf tells me you are from another world." Elrond begins as he sits behind his desk.

I nod as I step forward. "Yes, My Lord. I don't know how my son and I came to be here, but one moment we were there and the next, there was this bright light before we're waking up in a forest."

He gives a thoughtful hum. "What were the events that led you and your son to be at the place you were before the light appeared?"

I look down, not really wanting to go into a sensitive subject right now. "I-I'd rather not go into the details on that, but I know that, if that light had not appeared. . .Aiden and I might not be alive right now."

They both look surprised by this detail, neither of them saying anything for a moment.

"I had said when we first met that the Valar had shown you mercy by bringing you here, If you believe your lives were in danger, I stand by what I said." Gandalf says. "The Valar wanted you to survive, I have no doubt. You have been brought you here for a reason, my dear, it is up to you to find that reason."

I pause for a moment. "So. . .I can't go back home?"

"Even if you could return, I do not have the knowledge to send you home. Travel between worlds is unheard of." Elrond explains. He then stands and walks around the desk so he can stand in front of me. He places his hands on my shoulders. "You and your son are more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to."

I smile and nod my thanks before I turn and leave the study. My mind is in a whir of thoughts right now. Gandalf said that the Valar, the Gods, or whatever they're called, had wanted to save Aiden and I so they brought us here. But, why? Could there actually be a reason other than wanting to save us, like Gandalf suggested? But. . .what reason could that be? I know I have to do some serious thinking about this.

As I'm walking, I find myself in the gardens and following the sounds of weapons clashing, I smile as I find the company in a training area, sparring and training with one another. Aiden is sitting with Balin and Ori. Being the first to notice me, Thorin says something to his partner, Dwalin, before walking over to me.

"Did you find out what you needed to know? Can they return you home?"

I sigh as I shake my head while folding my arms. "No. Apparently, according to Gandalf, the Valar brought me here for a reason."

"What reason?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I have no idea. Gandalf said it's something I have to figure out. And besides, Elrond doesn't know of a way to send us home, even if I didn't have this reason to be here."

He nods. "What happens now?"

I sigh again as I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I don't know. I mean, Elrond has offered Aiden and I to stay here for as long as we need to. But other than that. . .I'm not sure."

He nods. "Well, I hope that, no matter what the future holds for you, you and Aiden will be safe and happy."

I smile at this, my heart fluttering at his concern for me. "Thank you. I wish you well on your journey and hope you will succeed in whatever it is you are doing."

He bows his head in thanks before inviting me to join the training session, saying that just because we're soon going to be separated, it doesn't mean I can't continue to take advantage of their teachings. I happily accept his offer and follow him back to the others.

Kili continues to train me, along with Dwalin as Fili begins teaching Aiden some techniques, thankfully using a stick. As well as using the sword, I'm starting to get better with a bow, according to Kili anyway. I don't believe so. I have yet to hit whatever target Kili sets for me. But, there's time.

That night after supper, I tuck Aiden into bed and sing to him until he falls asleep. Kissing his head, I walk out of the room, leaving the door open a crack for him before walking down the hall.

I manage to find myself in the gardens again, which seem to be more beautiful when bathed in moonlight. I stop beside a river and smile as I listen to the water flowing by. I never realised there could be so much peace before.

"You have come such a long way, Sophia Moreno." A voice from behind me says.

I jump and turn but stop as I see the person behind me. A beautiful female elf with waist length, blond hair and wearing a white, off the shoulder dress which covers her feet. Her blue eyes seem to bore into my own, looking into my very soul.

"Y-You know my name?" I would have thought she'd have overheard the dwarves or even Gandalf mentioning my name if she hadn't said my last name, which no one else knows.

"I know more than just your name, Sophia. I also know you and your son are not of this world."

"You do?" She nods. "Do you know how I can get home?"

Again the thoughts of whether I actually want to go home come to mind.

"I can sense your hesitance, you do not want to go home?"

I don't say anything as I continue to think about the question. I don't want to go home because of what is there, but then again. . .how can I just up and leave the world I was born in, the world I had grown up in, where my son was born. . .how can I just leave all that behind?

She just smiles. "The answers you seek, will be found at the end of your quest."

I look up at her in surprise, wondering just how she knew about the quest, I don't even know and I've been travelling with them for over a week.

"How did you-"

"The quest Thorin Oakenshield takes is not unknown to me, my child."

I look to her suspiciously for a moment longer before sighing as I look down.

"Thorin won't take me. He only promised to see Aiden and I to the next city, and now that we're here, he and the others will leave without me."

I feel a finger under my chin and raise my head up. The lady smiles. "Do not be so sure. I know not why the Valar chose to bring you here, but I have a feeling Thorin will need you before the end."

I look to her in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"That my child, you must find out on your own."

I go to ask more but she just smiles and walks on, leaving me to my thoughts. The answers I seek will be found at the end of my quest. . .what quest? I'm not on any quest except to return home. I then think about what she said with Thorin and his quest. She would've only brought that up if she knew I would be going on with them. . .but, how could she have known?

Deciding on going to find him, I return to the house and walk through the corridors to reach the area where the dwarves are resting. Hearing music, I take a detour, wanting to find the source. I assume it would lead me to an elf playing, but what I see stops me in my tracks.

Reaching the veranda we had been eating on, I stop as I turn the corner to see, not an elf, but the one I was searching for. Thorin, sitting at a harp and playing, beautifully I might add. Thorin is sitting on a stool, his fingers strumming the strings expertly. I would never have expected such rough hands to be so gentle with such an instrument. His eyes are closed as he plays, seemingly lost in some thought.

Not having the heart to interrupt him, I just stand, leaning against the wall as I also close my eyes, letting the music flow through me. I had always been a lover of music, and not just the pop or rock n roll type of songs in my world, but also classical music. Mozart, Beethoven and the like. But, hearing Thorin play, it brings me peace, peace I hadn't felt in a long time.

Hearing a throat being cleared, I jump and snap my eyes open to see Thorin has stopped playing and is just sat looking at me.

"Sorry, I was coming to find you, but I didn't want to disturb you." I begin to explain before taking a step back."Should I go?"

He shakes his head as he stands. "No, it's alright. I was just finishing."

I walk over, still looking at the harp before turning to him. "I didn't know you could play."

He gives a small smile as he looks to the harp. "I learnt when I was a dwarfling. My grandfather. . .he would sit me on his lap and teach me."

I smile at this, trying to picture a child version of Thorin sitting in his grandfather's lap and reaching out to pluck the strings.

Thorin nods to the instrument as he turns to me. "Do you play?"

"No. I've never even seen a harp in person until yesterday. But, I can play the violin." at his look of confusion, I begin wracking my brain to think of another word, and then remembering Bofur telling Fili and Kili to get their fiddles out to play a week ago. "Fiddles. My brother taught me how to play when I was young. I had always wanted to learn to play a harp, though."

He then stretches his hand out towards the stool in invitation, I go to object but seeing his face and also thinking this might be my only chance, I walk forward and sit on the stool. Thorin stands behind me and I blush slightly as I feel his chest against my back. Now he isn't in his thick coat or armour, I can feel every line of his muscles against me, the way they shift at his every movement. The way his hands are gentle as he takes my own, telling me to relax my fingers, as he uses them to pluck the strings in the right places to make a tune. His hands soon leave mine, allowing me to play by myself, and slide along my arms and up to my shoulders where they rest. I don't know what this dwarf is doing to me, but I pray whatever it is, it won't stop.

Soon stopping, I pull my hands back and lay them upon my lap. Thorin makes no notion of moving, his hands staying on my shoulder. Looking up, I am taken aback by the emotions running across his face; wonder, admiration and. . .love? No, that couldn't be it. . .right?

I am very much aware of his eyes looking over me before they fall onto my eyes, his lips tilting up into a warm smile.

"You played beautifully." he says, so soft I can barely hear him.

I am surprised at the tone, I have never heard him speak like that, even to his nephews.

I give a tentative smile and say just as softly. "Not as good as you."

His smile seems to grow. "You are a beginner. You will learn."

As we just watch each other, he raises a hand and the backs of his fingers glide gently across my cheek. My eyes close of their own volition and my head tilts into them, as the fingers stretch so he can hold my face in his hand. This kind of touch. . .it's very much foreign to me. I have had partners in the past I have loved, but even those have never been this loving. . .this gentle. It feels like a dream, although I know I am very much awake.

Opening my eyes, I see Thorin has leant down closer to me, but has stopped, just watching me for any movement of rejection. I see his eyes drop down to my lips and back up to my eyes to gauge my reaction. I just raise a hand to the one that's on my cheek and hold it close, the other hand going to his other arm, raising up to his shoulder, sitting straighter so I can be closer.

His free hand goes around me and he is able to gently bring me to my feet, making us now equal in height, our faces are now so close our noses are almost touching.

"Thorin. . ." I manage to breathe out, amazed I can even speak, feeling as though the breath has left me.

He reaches up to brush a stray hair from my face. "Just, tell me to stop, and I will. . .tell me to stop."

I close my eyes as his lips brush against mine, almost pressing them, when a loud laugh of the dwarves rings out, breaking whatever spell we are under. I immediately feel cold as we quickly pull apart from one another, already missing his warm touch. He straightens his shirt, clearing his throat.

"I-I apologise for that, Sophia. I don't know what came over me." he says, his voice still thick with emotion.

I smile "There is no need to apologise. Not for that."

He looks to me for a moment before deciding not to say anything more about it and clears his throat once again.

"You said you were looking for me?"

I look at him in confusion. "Hm? Oh! Yes, right. Sorry. I was out in the gardens earlier and ran into an elf, an elleth I believe the right word is. She-She knew of me, Thorin. Knew who I was, not just my first name, but my family name too. Not even Gandalf knew it, so I know she didn't hear it from him. She knows where I am from."

He looks to me in surprise. "She does?"

I nod. "She-She also knows of your quest."

He tenses this time. "What? What did she say of it?"

"Only that, the answers I seek will be found at the end of my quest."

He raises an eyebrow. "Your quest?"

"That's what she said. We talked about me going home and that's when she said that. But, it doesn't make sense to me. The only quest I've had is thinking how to get home."

He just looks to me for a moment, seeming lost in thought. "She must believe you are to come with us."

"Maybe. She said something else."

"What was it?"

"She said. . .she said you would need me before the end. I have no idea what she meant by that though."

He doesn't say anything, but I can see the gears in his head turning, before he eventually sighs. "Leave this with me, Sophia. I will think of something. For now, go get some sleep."

I just nod as I bid him goodnight and go to my room, smiling as I see Aiden still asleep, half of the covers thrown off him. I change and carefully get in bed with him. Laying on my back as I stare at the ceiling, deep in thought, just wondering about the words the elf had spoken to me. Would I be going with Thorin on his quest? Would he allow such a thing? I had no idea. My thoughts then go back to the moment Thorin and I just shared, how we almost kissed. I wasn't opposed to such a thing, Thorin being a highly handsome individual. But, it scared me. It scared me how quick all these emotions came to me. Do I believe in love at first sight? Of course. I had seen enough Disney movies to not. But, after my relationship with David. . .I was now afraid of ever finding love again, until now.

Sighing, I decide to let future Sophia handle it, just like I do with everything else before I turn over and pull Aiden close to me, kissing his head before I eventually fall asleep, dreaming of Thorin that night.

Over the next few days, I spend all of my time with Aiden and also what I had left with the dwarves, knowing that I would be left behind, even with the elf's words still haunting my mind. If the answers I am after are at the end of my quest, then I would need to go with the Company on whatever quest they are on. What also haunts me, is her telling me that Thorin will need me before the end, what did that mean? It actually scares me a little, thinking that something bad might happen to him, Although, I know that death is a possibility on a journey such as this, I have faced it once already with the orcs.

I am often stopped with my thoughts, as when I think about the possible death of Thorin, or any of the others for that matter, my head would start to pound as a hidden memory would try to force itself through. It wouldn't be the first time it's happened since I came here.

Thorin said, on that night, that he would think it over, but since then, it hasn't been brought up. Neither has what almost happened between us that night. I don't know whether to feel relieved or upset about that. The self conscious part of me thinking he didn't want any of that to happem, he doesn't think of me in that way and what happened was just a mistake. But then, I think of the emotions I could see, not even an experienced actor could make that up, so. . .did he feel the same way I did? I keep seeing him giving glances to me when he thinks I'm not looking so. . .maybe?

Thankfully, I've had a lot to take my mind off such things with Fili and Kili continuing to train me, along with Dwalin on occasion. My archery has come along, although I have still yet to hit my mark, Kili tells me that I have potential.

As well as helping me with Kili, Fili continues his training with Aiden, who I know enjoys it very much, though I still keep a careful watch from the side, the mama bear in me not liking him around sharp objects.

Oin, after taking me under his wing since my arrival, would often teach me about different type of herbs and plants the can be used in medicine. I already knew some of them from my world, like what types you can boil to make a tea which would calm headaches or ease a cold. But it was useful to know of others which when crushed and mixed with water, can be used as a poultice to heal wounds.

I've not seen Bilbo much since we first arrived in Rivendell, but I know he's taking as much time as he can for himself, with having had little privacy since leaving his home. I can tell he's finding it hard to adjust to his new surroundings while we have been on the road, and I also know that some of the dwarves haven't been making it easy for him. I've tried to help him as much as I can since we first met, even though I have little knowledge on journeys such as that, or even the world in which we are in right now. I hope that is enough for him to be brave enough to continue on with the others when they leave.

The dwarves all continue to be patient with Aiden, for which I am grateful for. I know that to a four year old, who has a fear of men, some of the dwarves can be seen as rather scary, with their fierce looks. Thorin, Dwalin and Gloin he would keep well away from. I have seen him being around Fili and Kili mostly, who have taken him under their wings as a little brother, which I love. Bofur has often been seen to play with him and tell him stories – thankfully not any scary ones or any with obscenities in them. Bombur seems to take it upon himself to try to fatten either him or myself up, saying that we were far too skinny. I just giggle every time, telling him we were the ideal weight for our races, but he still wouldn't listen.

As for Bifur, who Aiden was wary of from the beginning, he's really started warming up to him, especially after Bifur had gifted him a wooden soldier, one he says he had been making since he first met Aiden, a gesture which almost had me tearing up, I have to admit.

Whenever the time comes for Oin to teach me something new, Aiden always comes and joins us, Oin happily accepting him and involving him in his teachings, whether that's gathering herbs or helping him to make something, something which I know Aiden enjoys, always eager to learn something new.

Dori seems to mother him more than I do, and that's saying something since I'm his mother. Aiden thankfully stays away from Nori, though he does acknowledge him when he talks to him. I have heard of Nori's reputation for stealing, lying and cheating, and even though Nori is a good enough dwarf, I don't want my son to be learning things like that.

And finally, Balin and Ori seem to have taken it upon themselves, from the beginning, to school him. Helping him to read, write and even with his maths. This is something I have thanked the both of them profusely for, having been worried about this, as I couldn't continue his schooling myself. Ori just blushes and stammers a "you are welcome." While Balin just smiles and tells me he and Ori are happy to help.

All in all, I have grown to love every single one of these dwarves within this past month and know that I will be heart broken by the time they have to leave, as I know Aiden will be. I haven't told him yet of the plans that we will be staying while they will leave by the end of next week, not having the heart to see his own heart breaking. Seeing him smiling more now than he has for most of his little life, I want to keep seeing that smile for as long as I can.

Well, Chapter 8 is done and dusted. Please leave me your reviews and stay tuned for the next chapter x