Night had come quickly and Vanáezae had long since shifted back into her original form. The dwarves had built a small fire to keep themselves warm. She on the other hand sat away from the others. No one came near but Vanáezae could hear some of them chatting about her. Questions came up, Dwalin glared at her, and Thorin's eyes showed so much distrust.

Bilbo seemed worried about Vanáezae, she could tell, and Gandalf was just sitting to the side smoking his pipe. Vanadessë was torn between talking to Vanáezae or Thorin. Her best friend or the person she had a crush on. Vanadessë may of course deny this but Vanáezae could see it in her eyes. Vanadessë looked to Bilbo for help, who in turn nodded and walked over towards Vanáezae and Vanadessë over to Thorin.

Bilbo sat next to Vanáezae, her knees pressed against her chest and her arms folded around them. There became silence between them, not a tense one but more of an almost peaceful one. Anyone would tell Bilbo had a question.

"Why?" Bilbo asked.

Vanáezae's gaze snapped from the rocks below her and to Bilbo's eyes.

"What?" She questioned, trying to play it off.

"Why didn't you tell us? Or at least Kili?"

"I just, couldn't."

"That's not an answer."

She looked down. "Please try to understand Bilbo, I'm different. I shape shift, and into a dragon at that. Thorin's home was taken by one. He has every right to judge me."

Bilbo's eyes hardened. "No he does not. You have saved us on multiple occasions. The wargs, the goblins, and from Azog himself." Vanáezae looked back up to Bilbo, sadness clearly written on her face. "You may turn into something Thorin dislikes," Bilbo continued, "but that is not you. You are also a member of this company. And my friend."

Vanáezae smiled softly. The little hobbit can really make someone smile. Reaching over she hugged Bilbo.

"Thank you," she whispered.

The hobbit hugged her back and stood up. He went to go back to the other when Vanáezae told him to wait. Bilbo stopped and looked down at her.

"Send Kili over please? I need to speak with him."

Bilbo grinned at little but nodded. Vanáezae turned back to looking at the ground below her. Soon she could feel Kili's presence next to her as he too sat down. Her eyes traveled over to him but he was looking forward, at the mountain. Minutes passed and no one spoke a word.

"You could have told me, Vanáezae," Kili suddenly said.

"No, Kili, I couldn't," Vanáezae replied.

"Why?"

This immediately came back as Vanáezae's and Bilbo's conversation.

"Gandalf told me not to and, you guys would never trust me. I mean, an elf who turns into a dragon. Thorin's worst nightmare."

Kili laughed a little at that and Vanáezae smiled. He has a nice laugh. Wait what? Vanáezae cleared her mind and looked up at Kili who in turn looked down at her. His gaze met her and he looked down immediately. Vanáezae dismissed the weird act and too looked down.

"You know," Kili smirked, "I think your friend likes Thorin."

That picked up Vanáezae's interest. "Vanadessë?"

"Yeah, her. She likes him."

"I agree, and I would say that your uncle likes her too. He may not show it but I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at her."

Suddenly Vanadessë and Thorin looked at Vanáezae and Kili. Vanadess was smiling and Thorin of course had no expression. They went back to their conversation after a moment.

"It's as if they heard us," Kili commented.

Even Vanáezae chuckled at that. Vanadessë probably did hear us, she had elf ears too. She seemed to be listening to us and Vanáezae wasn't even listening to her conversation. A comfortable silence fell and Vanáezae looked to the mountain. She knew the danger ahead and couldn't do anything about it.

"You know, Kili," she said, "I can shift into a wolf too."

Kili laughed. "Maybe you could show me sometime."

Vanáezae smiled, yeah sometime. Sighing she leaned against Kili, staring at the stars and the rest of the night sky. Time passed and she unknowingly drifted to sleep. After all, it had been a long day.

**********

Vanadessë didn't know what to do. Her friend was alone but the person she loved was too. It was a horrible decision to make. She looked at Bilbo for help and he nodded and walked over to Vanáezae. The shape shifter sighed and walked over to the dwarf king who stood off to the side.

"She couldn't tell you, you know," Vanadessë said, looking at Thorin.

"She betrayed us. That dragon shouldn't be here," Thorin growled.

"Gandalf told her not to tell you. You can't hold that against her!"  The wind picked up and blew against Thorin at her words.

Thorin glared at the elf next to him. "It doesn't matter. Gandalf should've told me what she was. For all we know, she could be a spy!"

"A spy for whom, Thorin? Smaug? He would've killed her in an instant, no questions asked. Azog? It seems to me like someone under his rule would feel fowler."

"She's fowl enough."

Vanadessë cast her eyes downward and looked back at her friend. Vanáezae was hugging the small hobbit. Then Bilbo went to walk away but Vanáezae stopped him and spoke. Thorin glanced to see why the elf had been quiet. He followed her gaze and saw Kili walking over to the dragon. The dwarf king went to make a move and stop him but Vanadessë grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks. She gave him a pointed look, telling him not to. Thorin only glared at Vanáezae and went back to where he was.

Vanadessë heard a small laugh come from Kili.

"He likes her, you know," she said. Thorin nodded slowly but kept to himself. She went on, "Although she doesn't seem to know, she likes him too. Vanáezae may subconsciously know it, deep down but she'll realise it. Soon enough."

Vanadessë looked back at her friends to find them staring at her. Thorin too looked at them. The elf smiled softly at them whilst the dwarf king showed no emotion at all. Typical. The two turned back around and Kili said something quiet, in turn making Lilia chuckle. Thorin turned as did Vanadessë. A comfortable silence fell between the two. Before they knew it half an hour had passed and the sun had long since gone down.

"Get some sleep," Thorin ordered to his company.

Most of them had already gone to bed but the ones still awake obeyed and rolled out there packs. Thorin's eyes drifted over his company and noticed one gone. His eyes immediately went to where Kili's sack was rolled out, two people laying on it.

Vanáezae was snuggled against Kili's chest in order to keep warm. The young dwarfs arm draped over her waist in a sense of protection, and security. Thorin was about to go over and make Kili leave her but Vanadessë spoke first.

"Leave them be. They're fine."

The dwarf begrudgingly nodded and set out his own pack. Vanadessë stayed awake through the night with Gandalf. Eventually she started up a conversation, one that Gandalf was somewhat reluctant to start but did so anyway.

"Galadriel told me that Vanáezae was part of a prophecy," Vanadessë began. "Mind telling me what that's all about?"

Gandalf sighed. He knew this would come up sooner or later. "It is true, my dear. There is a prophecy about your friend."

"What does it say?"

"That is for you to discuss with her."

"That's what Galadriel said," Vanadessë mumbled, glaring at the ground.

She deserved to know. This was her friend after all. Someone who always called her 'Princess Dess' or 'My Lady'. Always jokingly but Vanáezae always meant it.

"I know it is hard not knowing something so big about a friend," Gandalf spoke, softness in his voice. "At one time I'm guessing you didn't know who she was. Let her take her time and she will tell you."

The shifter sighed. "You're right Gandalf. I'm sorry for asking."

Gandalf chuckled. "It is normal for someone your age to be curious."

Vanadessë smiled with the laughing wizard. And the night went on. The dwarves for once slept peacefully, as did Vanáezae with Kili. Neither not knowing they fell asleep with each other and would wake up surprised to find one another very close.

**********

Edited!