Astrid's POV

"I was surprised when I was informed of a female hobbit journeying with dwarves. Until I saw this" Thranduil states pulling out my father's axe. "Just like you grandfather following Thorin" he states.

"It wasn't Thorin, I was following" I tell him.

"Either way, you don't belong with them" he states standing up. "I have a proposal for you" he tells me.

"I'm listening" I tell him.

"I'll let you go with your axes" he tells me.

"In exchange for?" I ask him.

"Nothing, your duty is to protect the Shire and you have abandoned. I only wish for you to return there and stay there. I since darker times ahead and they'll need their protector, not the dwarves" he states.

"So I leave the company and return home. Then you'll return my axes?" I ask him looking at my father's axe longingly.

"I'll even provide you an escort" he tells me smiling. I bite my lip thinking about his offer.

"If I do as you ask, there is one thing I ask for in return" I tell him.

"I won't free the dwarves" he tells me.

"That is not my request" I tell him shaking my head. "I was not the only hobbit on this journey. We left my cousin out in the woods as your elves did not know he was with us. I wish to find him, only then will I return home" I explain.

"That is all you ask for?" he asks me.

"Can I say goodbye to the company as well?" I ask him hopefully.

"Of course, now I cannot send a search party until morning as there is a feast tonight. You may go wash and new clothes will be provided along with a room for the night. Enjoy your stay" he tells me holding my father's axe out to me. I take it and hold it close. "The other axe will be in your room" he states.

Just then the female elf from before appears and she leads me from the room. After I curtsied thanking the king. At my request she leads me to the dungeons first and I allow her to hold my father's axe while I go to speak to the dwarves.

"Hi guys" I say.

"Astrid!" they cheer approaching the cell doors.

"I've come to say goodbye" I tell them and they start to shout at me. I notice the elleth leave and turn to them. "Shut it" I tell them firmly and they do so.

"What do you mean by goodbye Astrid?" Fili asks me looking sad.

"Thranduil told me there are dark times ahead for the Shire and that they'll need me. He agreed to return my axes and help me find Bilbo. In exchange for leaving you guy" I explain. "Don't worry abandon you guys, us hobbits can go unseen when we want to. Bilbo and I avoid being captured by the goblins. And he avoided being captured by the elves. We can escape them and come back for you all" I add.

"It's to risky Astrid, you should leave with your cousin while you have the chance" Fili tells me.

"He's right lass, we'll figure our own way out" Balin assures.

"Don't worry, I'll think of a good plan. They are sending a search party for Bilbo in the morning. Then I can scout around and find an escape route. Once they return with Bilbo we'll escape them and retrieve you all. Just be patient" I tell them. Just the I notice the blonde elf approaching. "I'm so sorry Fili, but my people need me" I tell him tearing up.

"You betrayed us Astrid!" he snaps getting my plan. "I hope a spider catches you" he adds.  I gasp and step away from him. A hand lands on my shoulder and I look up at the blonde elf who is glaring at Fili.

"Come Miss Astrid, you shouldn't waste your time with these dwarves" he tells me. I nod my head and he leads me out of the dungeon. He leads me to a private bath house. "There are clothes for you inside, I'll have Tauriel collect you afterwards. I must go organize a search party for tomorrow, I am sorry we left your cousin out there. Had I know there was another, I would of not of left them" he tells me.

"Thank you" I tell him and he leaves. I strip and bath. Then put on the clothes they provided.

Just then I hear footsteps and turn to see no one. "Tauriel?" I ask and suddenly a hand covers my mouth. I scream, but it's muffled.

"Shh Astrid, it's me Bilbo" my cousin says. I stop fighting and as soon as he releases me. I wrap him in a strong hug. "I followed you guys in, I'll find a way out. Then we can free the others" he tells me.

"I'm just glad you're ok Bilbo" I say as we pull away. "We'll free the others tomorrow, no doubt most of the elves will have hangovers" I tell him. He nods his head and there is suddenly a knock at the door. I turn away from Bilbo.  "Yes, who is it?" I call.

"Tauriel, I have come to escort you to your room" the she elf says from the other side of the door. I turn to tell Bilbo to hide, to discover him already gone. Man he's gotten good at that I think as Tauriel enters the room. I notice she has my father's axe and hold my arms out. She smiles handing it to me before leading me out of the room. "May I ask? Why is that axe and the other so important to you?" she asks me.

"This one belonged to my grandfather and father after him. The other is the last gift my parents gave me before their deaths" I tell her.

"I'm sorry for your lose, I to lose my parents at a young age" she tells me. "The king saw that I had the best of car. He's son Legolas has become my best friend. It was through fighting with him I became captain of the guard" she explains.

"Wow, that's a great honour" I tell her. We reach my room and she left. I find my axe and grab it. I put on both axes as Bilbo reveals himself. "You find a way out, I'll wait with the others" I tell him. He nods his head and we go our separate ways.

(Next morning)

It was morning when Bilbo appeared with the keys and we freed the others. He then leads us to a cellar tells us to get into the barrels. Fili pulled me into one with him and I plush at our close proximity. Bilbo then pulls a lever and the floor tilts down send us into a river. I squeak holding Fili tightly.

"You ok Astrid?" he asks me concerned.

"I can't swim" I tell him. 

"Don't worry, I won't let you fall in" he assures me. I smile and snuggle into his chest. It's the first time we've been this close since he saved me in Goblin town. Now that I think of it, he has saved me a few times on this journey and I feel safe around. Not to mention he smells amazing. Soon Bilbo joins us and he holds onto a barrel. We then make our way to the fast moving water.

The others paddle with their hands as the river pulls our barrels along. We soon emerge into the sunlight, and Thorin shouts. "Hold On!" I look to see a waterfall Fili pushes me between himself and barrel keeping me wedged in place as we go over the waterfall.

"Thank you!" I splatter one we surface. An elf with him blows on a horn; as we round a corner, we see a guard post built above the river. The heavily armored elves standing guard there hear the horn and come to attention. One of them pulls a lever, causing a heavy metal sluice gate to block the river. We come to a stop at the gate, unable to float further. Thorin shouts.

Just then orcs appear and start to fight the elves. I get an idea as I look at the lever. "Fili, give me a boost" I tell him.

"Be-careful Astrid, I can't loss you" he tells me. I nod my head and hand him my father's axe.

"I'll come back for that" I tell him smiling. He helps me out of our barrel. I run up the stairs dodging an elf. I see Kili join me and nod my head to the lever. He nods back and he watches my back as I make my way to the lever. I pull it opening to gate.

"Astrid jump in!" Fili calls and I look at the water frozen. But Kili grabs me and passes me down to Fili. Who pulls me safely into our barrel. "Kili!" Fili shouts and I look up to see an orc arrow in Kili's leg. An orc goes to kill him, but Tauriel saves him. He then rules into an empty barrel breaking the arrow. We continue our journey down the river.

Through fighting orcs and the raging rapids. We managed to escape the elves and orcs. I look around and sigh in relief when I see Bilbo is still with us. "You ok Kili?" I ask.

"I'll be fine" he assures me with a pained smile.

"We'll examine it when we reach the shore" Fili tells him. Kili doesn't argue and Fili turns to me. He smiles holding out my father's axe to me.

"Keep it, you need it more then me" I tell him.

"But is was your fathers and belongs to your future husband" he reminds me.

"It's just until you get a new weapon" I assure him. "Fili, thank you for all the times you've saved me on this journey. I would of died weeks ago if not for you" I tell him smiling. He places a hand on my cheek and I look into his blue eyes with my own.

"I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you" he tells me sincerely. "Astrid, I know we're in the middle of a quest. But I can't ignore my feelings anymore, I've had feelings for you since we meet. Would you give us a chance?" he asks me.

"I knew a hobbit would never be worthy of my father's axe or heart. But the more I think about it, maybe you are. I could never explain my feelings for you before as I had never felt them before. But I thought about them a lot last night and I have feelings for you to Fili. I'd be honoured to court you" I tell him smiling. He smiles and kisses my cheek tenderly I then snuggle into him.

A/N

Picture above of Fili on his cell and picture on the external link of the company in barrels. Video above of escaping down the river.