Staring out over the balcony I find myself suddenly starting to think about Thorin and our conversation the day before. We had some things in common and that alone made him easier to understand. There was also the way my mind and body kept reacting to him. It was confusing and yet a bit exciting. As I stare at the water cascading down over the rocks, I feel someone walk up behind me and I turn to see Elrond watching me intently as he walks up to lean against the rail alongside me.

"I see you chose to remain in your own clothing." He says and I nod as I smooth down my t-shirt.

"Yeah, no offense to you or your kind; but your dresses didn't really fit me."

"None taken; besides I have a feeling you are more comfortable in this."

"You'd be right." I reply a smile covering my lips.

"You're not with the rest of your company?" He asks and I shake my head.

"I needed some time to think. My mind's been a little weird lately." I reply looking back out to the waterfall.

"About?" He asks and I shake my head.

"I have no idea really. There are so many things running through my head." I pause my eyes meeting his for a moment before he ushers me to continue. "I mean I should be missing my home and everything there; but this place," I pause taking in the scenery, "No, so far this whole world feels more like my home than where I came from."

"That does not surprise me." He replies making me meet his gaze. "There is something about you and how you came to be here that makes me think you are not too far off in your belief. Something or someone brought you here, whether they were good or not is the mystery."

"I just wish I knew why I was here. Like, I feel like I shouldn't veer too far from the company but... I don't know how to explain it."

"You may not know for some time what your reason for being here is," He pauses turning towards me his hands reaching up to rest on my shoulders, "But if for any reason you may change your mind about staying with them, you will always have a place with the elves. Whether it be here in Rivendell, the great kingdom of Lothlorien, or even with the woodland elves of the Greenwood; you will always be welcome."

"You know little to nothing about me, yet you and your kin would welcome me so warmly? Why?" I ask brows knitted together in confusion.

"I believe you may find that we are more alike than you know," He states making me cock an eyebrow at him in surprise. "That and I find you most interesting. If you should need my help do not hesitate to ask. Also, there is someone who would like to meet you later. If you wouldn't mind meeting them, I would greatly appreciate it." Then giving my arms a quick pat, he disappears down the hall leaving me there to stare after him with a whole new load of confusion on my mind.

"This place is just one confusion after another." I say running my hands through my hair. Turning back to the waterfall I let out an annoyed groan and brace myself up against the railing. I knew he meant well but I couldn't help being skeptical of him. That's how I was wired. Taking a deep breath, I compose myself and turning around head back to where the dwarves were camped out.

Upon reaching where they were being housed, I let out a chuckle as they were all laughing and convening around a fire. Shaking my head, I go to walk over to them when I spot Thorin sitting off by himself overlooking the city of Rivendell. I decide to go over and chat with him. Walking over to him, I clear my throat to let him know I was there. He turns towards me and a smirk covers his lips as he says, "Hello (Name),"

"Hey, mind some company?" I ask and he motions to the spot next of him.

"Be my guest, I was just lost in thought." He replies folding his arms over his chest.

"About?" I inquire rubbing my arms unconsciously.

"I may not have told you everything about how we were driven from our homes?"

"Oh?"

"When my grandfather was presented with the Arkenstone, he became mad with a sickness for gold. It consumed him, my father succumbed to the same sickness and now I fear..." He pauses his eyes looking down at his hands.

"You worry you will do the same when reunited with the mountain." I finish for him as he nods. "I don't know much about dragon sickness, but I have faith that since you have seen this sickness effect your own family, you know what to be on the watch for. You will be stronger than your father and grandfather and you will not succumb to the sickness." I pause, my hand reaching out to take his as I gently give is squeeze. "You will be a wonderful king."

Thorin remains quiet but his gaze is fixed on mine. My breath catches at the fire in his deep blue eyes and I suddenly become very self-conscious as I slip my hand from his, a slight flush filling my cheeks. Looking from him I feel my heart start to race in my chest and I silently curse it as I hope he cannot hear its thunderous beating.

"Do you mean it?" He asks as he turns slightly to face me. "About me being a great king?"

"I do." I reply my eyes focused on the scenery in front of me. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't."

"Thank you, (Name)." He says his voice soft and velvety.

"No problem." I reply a lump forming in my throat making me clear my it.

"I know we haven't really talked about it, but what are you planning to do now?" He asks and I tilt my head in confusion as my eyes meet his.

"Well I figured I'd still travel with you guys. I mean it's beautiful here and I was already told I could stay but..."

"But what?" he asks turning just enough that he is now facing me completely.

"I don't know, I just feel like there is something telling me to go with you." I answer making a burning emotion fill his eyes causing me to stammer as I add, "You all," I cough a few times. "I meant with you all."

"Well," He pauses his hand reaching out to gently take my own. "We all would be glad to have you with us."

I am about to thank him when the sound of someone clearing their throat catches my attention making me jump back away from Thorin as I pull my hand from his own. I turn toward the person to see Gandalf standing there eyeing the two of us suspiciously.

"May I borrow our young friend for a moment Thorin?" Gandalf asks and Thorin nods.

"Of course,"

"Come along (Name), Elrond wishes to speak with you." Gandalf announces making me nod in agreement. I give Thorin a polite smile as I head off down the walkway with the wizard. When it is just the two of us, he turns to me and says, "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything."

"Of course, you weren't, we were just talking about stuff and things."

"I see." He chuckles clearly not buying my words. "Cause from where I was standing, I would call that flirting."

"Uh... I... I wouldn't call it that." I stammer as I trip over my own feet in surprise at his words.

"Oh really, then what would you call it?" He asks cocking an eyebrow at me.

"I don't know, I was just being supportive. He asked me a question and I gave him my honest answer. If that was somehow flirting than; yes, I guess I was flirting." I retort anger filling my body causing me to pause and stare into his eyes. "And even if I had been flirting, that's between me and him. Why do you care?"

"I'm just worried about how it will affect you both when this is over, and you return home." Gandalf clarifies making the anger vanish from my body as it is replaced with regret. "I don't mean to be mean; I just worry for you both."

"I understand." I reply stopping him from continuing. "You're right. I can't give him hope where there isn't any."

I can tell there is more Gandalf wishes to say but instead he keeps his mouth shut and leads me to a gazebo like balcony where Elrond was waiting for us. As we near him he pulls Gandalf ahead of me as he starts talking about the journey for the mountain.

"I'm not the one you have to answer too." Elrond says and then motions to a figure standing with their back to us making me look around him to see a woman with long flowing golden hair standing in the moonlight. As she turns around my breath catches at her beauty.

"Lady Galadriel." Gandalf says but I cannot pull my eyes from hers.

"Mithrandir. It has been a long time." She replies and I swear it's like an angel singing.

"Nae nin gwistant infanneth, mal ú-eichia i Chíril Lorien." (Age may have changed me, but not so the Lady of Lorien.) Gandalf replies causing her to smile making me practically week in the knees. "I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you."

"He didn't. I did." I hear another voice say and I turn to see what I guessed was another wizard but something about this one rubbed me the wrong way.

"Saruman." Gandalf says giving the white wizard a slight bow.

"You've been busy of late, my friend." Saruman replies looking at me. "What is she exactly?"

"Don't worry (Name), come." Elrond says motioning me toward the center of the gazebo by a small set of chairs and table.

"This, is (Name), she hails from another world." Gandalf says causing them all to look at me. Fear fills my body causing me to reach up and unconsciously start rubbing at my arms.

"You came here by a very dark means." Galadriel says pulling my attention toward her.

"I don't understand." I reply making her offer me a soft smile.

"Even you yourself do not know how you came to be here. This dark force I see in your mind, I fear we may not have the answers you seek." Galadriel replies making me bite my lip.

"I also sense another power hidden inside you," Saruman says causing me to look from Galadriel to him. "Why not show us?"

"If you are willing." Gandalf adds trying to calm my nerves.

"Please don't freak out." I say as I reluctantly hold my hand out and taking a deep breath look over at a nearby lantern.

As if the fire heard my command it flows like water from the lantern to my hand wrapping around it like a snake. I glance at Gandalf who offers me a wink before I send the fire back to the lantern. Next, I kneel down smiling softly, I think a happy thought as I create hundreds of wildflowers all around us. Then I call upon air making it whip around me wildly pulling the flowers from their stems as they dance upon the breeze. Smiling I send them out into the water down below. Finally, I walk over to the balcony and closing my eyes I reach out both hands and calling the water from the river below I feel it rise towards me. My heart lifts as I feel the water take the shape of a dragon.

I open my eyes and see it staring at me and my breath catches. Then with a flick of my wrist I send It diving back into the river. I would have called lightning like my brother could, but I felt like that would have been too much for a first showing. I feel my body suddenly become sluggish and I shake the sleep away as I turn back to see them all staring at me.

"Was that too much?" I ask concern suddenly filling my body.

"That was beautiful." Galadriel says and I swear I could cry. Back in my world no one would have reacted like she did. "I believe there is more, but you were wise not to show them right now."

"I felt like calling down a bolt of lightning would probably scare a lot of people."

"You would be correct." Elrond adds making me smirk.

"Where did you come to possess such gifts?" Saruman asks narrowing his eyes in scrutiny.

"I was born with them, but they didn't show themselves to me until I was about twelve years old. That's how it is for a lot of mutants though."

"Mutants?" Gandalf asks suddenly becoming offended for my sake. "Why would they name you that?"

"Because we are different. In my world a mutant is a human being that possesses a genetic trait called the X-gene. It causes the mutant to develop superhuman powers that manifest at puberty. Human mutants are sometimes referred to as a human subspecies, Homo sapiens superior, or simply Homo superior. Mutants are the evolutionary progeny of Homo sapiens and are generally assumed to be the next stage in human evolution."

"Were your parents the same?" Saruman asks and my heart clenches.

"I don't know. My parents died when I was a child. I don't remember much about them."

"You poor child," Galadriel says reaching out to pull me into her arms. I stand frozen for a moment as she gives me soft hug. "You have seen so much hardship." She adds and I cannot help the tears that form in my eyes as I slowly reach my arms around to hold her back. As I bury my face into her upper chest, I suddenly feel my worry and sadness start to melt away.

"How do you suggest we send her back?" Saruman interrupts and it takes everything I have not to glare at him.

"There is no way to send her back. At least no way we possess." Galadriel answers giving me one last squeeze before she says into my head. 'Your company needs you. You should be with them.'

"(Name), you look rather tired from your earlier display. How about you retire for now?" Gandalf suggests making me nod.

"Okay, goodnight everyone." I announce then giving her one last look head back toward where Thorin and his kin were. When I reach them, I cock an eyebrow at the sight I saw. "What are you doing?" I ask making them all turn toward me halting their packing.

"Good, you're back. We're leaving." Thorin replies not looking at me.

"Leaving? Why?" I ask nearing him.

"I will not wait for permission from a council of elves to go after my homeland. We leave now before they try to stop us. Will you come with us?" He asks his eyes meeting mine.

"Of course, I can't just let you leave me behind." I reply making him smirk.