A/N This chapter brought to you despite the trouble causing efforts of my ten month old cat child, Eowyn. She's in her velociraptor era at the moment.

Is it long? No, but we're off to Erebor because of it!

Ready for some time on the road to go see our old buddies? Our feral boys, as someone mentioned, which I think is going to be how I'm going to catalogue them in my head from now on so thank you LOL.

Thank you for all the warm and wonderful comments, they really do brighten my day. 3 3 3

Josephine met Elrond in the gardens just as the scent of false spring was waking up from the soil. She herself missed nature behind the walls of the city, she could only imagine how he'd missed Rivendell during his long stay. But he didn't hint at it, maybe the longevity of the elves made that long stay seem short and easy.

Holding yet another bundle of parchment, she was starkly aware of how much she owed to him. Even if it hadn't been necessary in the end, for him to bring Aragorn her goodbyes, his promise to do it had offered her comfort. At least this time, her letter was a proper hello. She now knew Bilbo as well as he did her, for the first time they were on the same ground.

Elrond didn't seem surprised when he saw the oilskin and held his hand out for it graciously. "Mr. Baggins will be overjoyed to hear from you."

"I'll come to Rivendell before he sails, just send word." There were only a few years left before that happened. They wouldn't make it over the mountains from Erebor, but she would set out north to Rivendell the moment that missive came.

He looked down at her suspiciously. "I thought your knowledge was now spent? We had not yet told him he would be granted the honor."

"I've got to keep a few tricks up my sleeve still." She joked. "He's not the only reason I'm going to see you to the Havens." Too many friends were leaving that day, most of the time she tried not to think about it. But plans had to be set in motion.

He smiled warmly. "Indeed." Slowly they began to wander in the warming sunlight. "I now feel confident in saying that I hold no further knowledge of your coming days."

Josephine smiled in relief. "That's good to hear. I'd like to officially hang up my armor now."

"Aragorn will do all in his power to see to that if you allow him." He took a deep breath, almost like he was deciding whether or not to bring something up. "I wish to offer my thanks. Your words of Estel brought great comfort. Both to myself, and to his mother."

Tears came to her eyes as soon as he mentioned Gilraen and she swallowed hard and kept her eyes on the path ahead of them. "She returned that favor tenfold. So did you as a matter of fact." Gilraen gave her a mother's comfort in that short time and it had helped carry her through all the way to the gates of the city. With a sniff she straightened, trying to change to subject to something that wouldn't make her cry. "Faramir will make sure you have everything you need for your trip back, and Meduseld will be expecting you, I sent word you'd be passing."

"I will give the king your regards when I see him, and those of his sister."

"I don't mean to make you into my messenger all the time, I'm sorry." She laughed.

"Then you may consider it my thanks for your sacrifices and counsel. Now, I am certain you have much to do, I will take no more of your time."

She looked up at him fondly, with the perspective of how much she owed to him over both journeys. He'd been integral to both, if not for him and Gandalf trusting her and following through on her requests, she wondered if she would have ever found the courage to join the fellowship. Giving in to her impulse she hugged him, which he didn't seem too surprised over.

"Thank you for coming." She said as she pulled away.

"You are most welcome, Lady Josephine."

The hall was loud with conversation and cup bearers crisscrossed the room with wine laden pitchers. Josephine accepted another helping of venison and held back from digging into the well seasoned meat with the fervor she wanted to. It was like she was still making up for all the missed meals during the journey, which she supposed shouldn't have surprised her. She was only just now feeling like her gowns fit her properly again instead of hanging off of her frame.

Beside her Aragorn looked happy, watching the ease that everyone laughed and danced with. It was different from the coronation feast, or that of their wedding. It was more familiar, laced with less grief and nervous hope even if it was to harken their departure.

Food was plentiful after the harvest, game was back in Ithilien with a vengeance, and the reserves of wine and mead had grown heavy. Their people were safe, and supported even in their absence. It would do well when Aragorn would want to rebuild the northern kingdom one day and they would be gone far more than a few months. But that was many years in their future, for now she'd be grateful for their journey to Erebor.

She was holding on to some guilt for wanting to go, seeing all of the work and all of the people who were having to make it happen. But this wasn't just for her, they could take advantage of the trip, meet with the lords of Dale and King Thranduil and strengthen their diplomatic ties. It wasn't just for her benefit anymore, or at least that's what she told herself so she felt less bothersome.

Sometimes it was hard for her to find that place inside herself where she'd fallen in the grasses that day and she'd decided she had to go. The rawness of it had overwhelmed her and looking back at it was frightening. In the midst of it she'd been so sure she couldn't move forward without that closure, but now out of it she had space to doubt herself. Aragorn never once faltered on their plans and no one questioned it either, except for her. Silently.

She could question her need to see the company again, but not the feeling that departing the city the next morning was the right one. Something had to change in her, steps had to be taken even if it was just the journey itself. Damp air, heavy with the smells of soil and pine, holding her feet to the ground and drawing whatever this was from her like a salve.

Or maybe it was just another fool's hope of a remedy to something that could only heal with time. But didn't she at least have to try?

Venison gone, she reached over and took Aragorn's hand, drawing it up to her lips and placing a kiss on his knuckles. "Thank you for doing this."

Leaving his hand wrapped by her fingers on the arm of her chair he leaned over so they could converse over the sound of the music playing. "For doing what?"

"Taking me back there."

"I would take you wherever you desire, wherever you need." He kissed her gently and squeezed her hand.

At dawn their procession began its long trip from the sixth level. Legolas, Gimli, Halbarad, Boromir, and of course, Gandalf who scoffed at the mere thought of not being there to tell Thorin he told him so. Soldiers took up the front and back, and not only had Ciril seen fit to bring herself, but had brought another young woman to assist her. There were rangers, and footmen, hell they even had a farrier with them given the number of horses they were bringing. There was a reason it had taken nearly a month to prepare for the journey.

They were sent off with warm smiles and sprigs of dried flowers in their path. It wasn't somber or fearful this time, not like the Last March or their trip to take Theoden's body back to Rohan. There was a normalcy for them in this, a diplomatic journey, but nothing to mourn.

It was slow going with wagons and packhorses on the stone decline of the roads, but over an hour later they passed through the new gates of the city and out onto the fields.

In Osgiliath they boarded three ships and began sailing north up the Anduin, planning to take it as far as the falls of Rauros before setting out towards the East, around Mirkwood and then north along its edge for Erebor.

Aragorn knew the path well, and no one entertained the thought of keeping to the west of the forest and taking the path through. Josephine didn't care if the darkness of Sauron had left the woods by now, she didn't trust them and wouldn't take them without a full escort of Legolas' people. Maybe not even then.

But first she had to make it through their journey by boat, and she still hadn't quite gotten her sea legs yet.