(Caleniel's POV)

Bard smiled at me as he sat next to his window. I returned his smile as I asked his daughter, Sigrid, to grab three carrots for me.

"Let me prepare dinner," Sigrid grinned as placed the carrots at my side. "It's my job every other night anyway, and you're a guest."

I let out a small laugh. "I have to you repay you for everything the Dwarves and I were welcomed to while we were all here."

Bard lowered his eyes. "They have already paid for what they asked of me."

I chopped an union. "I should at least pay my way in. I didn't hand over any money. Not one coin."

"That is true." Bard walked toward me. "I never learned about why you were with them. How does an Elf get stuck with fourteen dwarves and a halfling?"

"Thirteen dwarves, a halfling, and a girl." I began cutting off the skin of the carrots.

"I'm sure there was fourteen."

"The female is actually of men. She comes from another world." I began cutting the carrots. "I only met her when I arrived in Rivendell. Since then, we fought Orcs and rode giant eagles."

"Giant eagles," Tilda smiled at me.

"You rode them," Bain asked.

I nodded and continued peeling potatoes.

"What else have you done?" Bard grinned as he grabbed a potato and began chopping it. "Encountered the Elves no doubt."

"We fought off giant... spiders." I let out a small laugh of my phobia. "We fought more Orcs and ran into a bargeman." I looked at Bard. "A bargeman named Bard."

Tilda smiled. "That's you, Da! You're part of a story now." She turned to me. "Will there be songs about him?"

Bard and I laughed.

"I suppose so," Bard said. "However, how did you get stuck with them? No Elf I know would even think of doing what you have."

I put our cut ingredients into a boiling pot. "The girl was my reason. I felt like she and I met before, but more than that, it's my fault that she came here."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a tale as old as that of the Ents." I grabbed the potatoes and cut them up more. "There was a fountain, which seems more like a waterfall, that connects to another world, and I threw a necklace into that fountain. In fear of it landing in the wrong hands, I jumped into the fountain, but that fountain did not allow me to pass as the necklace had. It has not allowed anything to pass after that necklace."

"Are you sure the necklace went to another world," Bain asked. "Did you check the bottom of the fountain for it?"

I nodded as I stirred the soup. "And then Bre came along. She misses home. I can tell, and it's my fault she cannot return."

Bard's brows furrowed. "How do you know?"

"If she could, she would be there already. All she'd have to do is wish to return home, and I'm sure she has wished it many times. The necklace must not have enough power to do so."

Bard lowered his eyes. "She has wished to return to her family."

I nodded. "I only hope that I will find a way for her to return home."

There was a knock on the door, and Bard raised a brow, walking to the door. His brows crashed together. "No. I'm done with Dwarves for today," Bard said as he tried to slam the door closed. "Go away."

The Dwarf stopped him from closing the door. I walked towards the door.

"No, no." Bofur opened the door a bit more. "Please. No one will help us. Please, he's sick. He looked back at Kili, then turned to Bard. "He's very sick."

I looked at the pale Kili. "Bard, we have to let them in."

"What?" Bard looked at me with knit brows.

I locked my gaze with his. "What good is left in this world if you let someone like that Dwarf die, knowing you may be his only hope?"

Bard paused and looked at Kili. His shoulders fell. "Get in. Tilda, Sigrin, get blankets. Our guest must be warmed."

(Bre's POV)

I stared at my reflection in the water as Dwalin rowed us toward the mountain. Thorin sat next to me. "What's bothering you?"

I continued staring at my reflection. "Kili. He didn't look so well as we left. He's skin was as pale as snow or paler."

Thorin lowered his eyes to the water. "I noticed that as well."

I looked at Thorin. "Then why not stay with him? Isn't he your nephew?"

"Yes. Family is very important, but he understands that I only have one chance to claim all that WE have sacrificed for. As I told Fili, Kili will understand." He smiled.

"But you're right."

Thorin looked at me. "About what?"

"Family is important. I miss mine." I looked back down at the water. "I suppose that is why I've looked at my reflection for so long. I have my mother's chin, my father's eyes," I let out a small laugh. "I see them so vividly when I stare myself. I don't even see myself when I stare at my reflection."

Thorin looked down at my reflection. "You wish to return home, don't you?"

"Isn't that what you've wished since your home was taken from you?"

Thorin paused, understanding what I was getting at. He nodded, taking a deep breath. "I always forget you are not a part of this world. When I think of my future I see you at the side smiling in much joy. You may have a home with us." He smiled. "Stay with us, Bre."

"Intend to." I smiled. "That is if I do not return home. I can only see a real future back at home."

Thorin looked at his own reflection. "What if this land were to be your permanent home? What sort of future do you see then?"

My brows furrowed as I thought of what sort of possiblities there could be for me if I did stay. It hadn't crossed my mind until now. "I don't know. It can't be much of one. I am not a very good warrior. I haven't used my sword properly once."

"That is because you have thought too much before swaying it."

I paused and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"You cannot plan everything, and you should not think too much about anything." Thorin let out a small laugh. "My life was a standstill for ten years when I thought that way."

I smiled. "Maybe that's why get glummy when I think about returning home. I always overthink and tell myself there is no way back, but I can't see a future for myself here."

Bilbo cleared his throat.

I raised a brow and looked at the hobbit.

Bilbo smiled at me. "Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear. You see, for most of this journey, I have spoken to Caleniel quite a bit, and I'm telling you now that she told me not to let doubt of returning enter your mind." He smiled. "For as long as you are alive, there is hope for anything." 

I paused and looked down at my reflection, and I remembered my parents vividly. I smiled and looked at the hobbit. "Thank you, Bilbo."

"Bre," Thorin locked his gaze with me, "when we reach the mountain, would you be my queen?"

I blinked. "What?"

                                                                 ~~~~~~~

I sighed, feeling guilty that Thorin may have been serious with his question, but he did claim not to trust me shortly before. Without a word, Thorin ran to the edge of the mountain, placing the tip of his sword into the rock, and I followed closely behind him. I marveled at the scene of the mountain, but I frowned as I saw the ruined remains of buildings and towers.

"What is this place," Bilbo asked.

"The lost city of Dale," Balin answered. "Or as some call it, the Desolation of Smaug."

Thorin looked around. "The sun on the mountain is becoming pale. We must find the gate to mountain before it sets. Let's go." 

"Wait," Bilbo said before Thorin could walk further. "This is Dale? Gandalf said to meet him here, and that we could not--" 

"Do you see him?" Thorin stepped dangerously close to Bilbo.

Bilbo paused, his face slowly falling into a frown.

"We have no time to wait for our wizard." Thorin looked at the mountain. We're on our own. Come on!" He rushed away.

"Thorin." I ran to him and tapped his shoulder. "Are you sure of this? We did not get away from the spiders on our own. What chance will we have without our wizard now?"

Thorin took a deep breath. "Hope that he arrives in time."

                                                         ~~~~~~~

Thorin sighed as we walked around the base of the mountain, looking for the path that led to the gate. "All pieces of the land look the same no matter where we go."

I moved a giant rock away from a bush, thinking there was a button or something that moved the path toward us. "What exactly are we looking for?"

"Clues on the ground that lead to the path." Thorin let out a deep breath. "A hidden path." He looked down lost in his thoughts.

I nodded to myself and continued walking around, looking for "a clue." I was so focused that I didn't notice Thorin had moved close to me. He grabbed my arm. "Bre, the more I think, the more I want to..."

I turned to look at him, but he completely lost his thought.

Thorin smiled and looked away. "I want to find this, but I don't want to lose myself in the thought of this being my priority. However," he began walking around, "you are a very special girl." He looked at the mountain, scanning it. "One of whom I enjoy the company of."

I let out a small laugh as I scanned the land. "Thank you, Thorin. That's one of the nicest things someone has told me."

He smiled and looked at the setting sun. He slowly frowned. "We are running out of time." He ran to Gloin and handed him something. I saw Thorin whisper something to Gloin, and Gloin smiled and nodded at me. I raised a brow.

Thorin ran further ahead. He stabbed his sword in the ground, probably to see if that stone made a different noise or something. "Anything?" he yelled.

"Nothing," Dwalin yelled back.

I ran to Bilbo, who was the furthest ahead. I looked at the hobbit. "Do you think we'll find it in time?"

"There is hope as long as we're here." Bilbo let out a small laugh.

I laughed a bit too.

Bilbo nodded and looked at the mountain. "Those rocks are shaped oddly." He ran ahead.

"They look kind of like stairs." I ran by his side. I gapsed I noticed the obvious stairs-shaped ones. "I found the stairs!"

"Up here," Bilbo cried back to the rest of the company.

Everyone ran towards. Thorin stood between Bilbo and me. "Well done, Master Baggins and Bre."

I smiled as I stared at our way in.

Thorin led the way. "Let's open the gate to our home!"

                                                            ~~~~~~~

My arms were tired from pulling myself up about two thousand times going up the large square stairs, but I had one more to go.

"Come on, Bre." Thorin held out a hand to me.

I jumped to the otherside, grabbing the edge with my hand, slightly slipping. Thorin quickly grabbed me and pulled me up. But once I was up, the world stood still as my gaze locked with his. I felt my heart race, and he smiled.

Thorin stepped aside. "Perhaps, since you don't know what sort of future you could have here, you could have one of gold. I could help you have plenty." He began leading the way.

I smiled. "I would like that, but first we have to open the gate."

Thorin nodded. "Right. The gate won't open itself." He let out a small laugh and led me to arm of his ancestor. We walked over the axe and shoulder of the stone Dwarf. Thorin grinned as he stepped in front of a large part of the mountain that was flat. He turned back to face us, holding the key out to us. "May all those that doubted us rue this day."

I cheered along with the Dwarves and Bilbo.

Dwalin stepped forward with a large smile. "All right. We have key. Which means somewhere  there is a key hole." Dwalin began touching every inch of the door.

Thorin stood on the edge of the mountain, looking at the sunset. "The last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."

I smiled and nodded. "We're almost there." I watch the sunset with Thorin. I frowned as the light began to go away. "Uh..."

Thorin turned to Nori. "Nori." He jerked his head to the door, and Nori walked to the door, taking out a spoon and cup. My eyes widened as the sun went away.

"We're losing light," Thorin said. "Come on."

My breath slowed as the two Dwarves desperate tried to open the door.

"The keyhole," Dori said. "Find it."

"We can't find it. It's not here," Dwalin spat back.

"We'll use weapons then," Thorin barked.

Gloin, Nori, and Dwalin all used axes on the stone door, but nothing was happening.

"Do you not see?" Balin faced the desperate Dwarves. "The secret doors cannot be forced."

They all backed away, and I looked at the ascending darkness. My shoulders lowered, and I looked at Thorin.

"No!" Thorin ran to the door and faced us, looking down at his map. "The last light of Durin's Day... will shine upon a keyhole." He looked up from his map. "That is what it says." He glanced at every one of us. "What did we miss?" He walked to Balin. "What did we miss, Balin?"

"We lost the light." Balin shook his head. "There's nothing more we can do. We had but one chance."

My eyes lowered. The Dwarves began walking away.

"Wait a minute." Bilbo turned to the Dwarves.

I paused and stared at the defeated Dwarves.

"Where are they going," Bilbo asked. "You can't give up now!"

"He's right!" I looked at Thorin. "Isn't he? We came all this way."

Thorin said nothing.

"Isn't he?"

Thorin said nothing and turned away, letting the key drop from his hand. Bilbo's brows furrowed. "Thorin."

Thorin walked to him and shoved the map against Bilbo's chest. Bilbo sighed. "Thorin, we can't give up now." Thorin continued walking away.

"Thorin!" I took one step forward, but I paused when I noticed the door in the corner of my eye.

Bilbo took a few steps toward me. "There has to be a way for us to find it then."

I nodded.

Bilbo nodded. "Right." He stepped toward the door. "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks." He looked up and around.

I looked around. "I don't see one or hear one."

"Right, so." Bilbo stepped back and looked up the mountain. "The last light of Durin's Day. The last light." He looked at where the setting sun was.

I sighed. "But we lost the light."

As if on cue, a cloud moved out of the moonlight's way. I gasped as I saw a thrush land and knock on the door. A part of the flattened mountain side began to glow. Bilbo let out a small laugh. "And that's..."

I laughed. "The keyhole!"

Bilbo gasped. "The keyhole!" He ran to the edge and began to shout. "Come back! Come back! It's the light of the moon, the last moonlight of autumn!" 

"We have to open the door! Quickly!" 

Bilbo nodded and began looking for the key. "Where's the key?"

I looked at the ground. "Somewhere away from the door."

"Where's the key!? It was right..."

My eyes widened as I heard a few small, metal clinks. They widened more as I saw the key travel away. I was able to breathe again when I saw Thorin's boot slam the key in place. He slowly bent down and grabbed the key. The other Dwaves were now at his side, looking at the door. Thorin looked at the door with a smile. He placed the key in the keyhole and turned it. He placed both of his hands on the door and pushed the door open.

I grinned widely. "We did it."

"Erebor," Thorin said quietly.

Balin stepped towards Thorin, choking as he spoke. "Thorin."

Thorin placed hand on the old Dwarf's shoulder and stepped into the doorway. "I remember these walls. These walls of stone." He touched the walls and continued walking down the tunnel. "You remember, Balin, chambers filling with golden light."

"I remember." Balin smiled and walked into the tunnel. One by one we each walked in, and I marveled at the structure of the tunnel.

"Here in lies the seventh kingdom of Durin's folk," I heard Gloin say.

I paused and turned around, spotting a carved in picture of the mountain with a stone shining on top of it.

"May the heart of the mountain unite all Dwarves in defence when called upon," Gloin continued.

"The throne of the kings," Balin told Bilbo.

"Oh," Bilbo replied. "And what's that above it?"

"The Arkenstone." Ballin looked at Bilbo.

"Arkenstone." Bilbo nodded. "And what's that?"

"That, Master Burglar," Thorin turned to Bilbo, "is why you're here."

I turned to Bilbo as did the others. My eyes lowered as I realized we were all relying on him now.

(Caleniel's POV)

Kili continued screaming as Bard and I searched for medicine. "Get him some water."

"Right," Bofur replied. He ran to the table, filled a bowl with water, and ran back to Kili.

"Can you not do something," Fili asked him franticly.

Oin looked at Fili. "We're trying, lad. Slowing his vains and everything."

"Anything, Bard?" I tore open the cabinets.

"Red chili, fever hue," Bard answered as he quickly placed a few ointment on his table.

Bofur looked down at Kili. "Do you have any King's Foil?"

"King's Foil?" I raised a brow. "That's a weed."

Bard looked at Bofur. "We have not any to eat. We feed it to the pigs."

"Pigs?" Bofur stepped forward.  "Weed?"

I gasped. Of course! King's Foil is another name for the weed. My gaze locked with Bofur's. "It will save him." 

Bofur nodded. "Right." He turned to Kili and pointed at him. "Don't move." He ran out of the house quickly.

I paused, almost running after him. I sighed, telling myself I was most needed here.

"Da," Tilda called as she watched Kili continued to grunt and scream from the poison.

Bard ran to her. "My children do not need to see this. They should not see death."

I paused, and my eyes lowered. "Perhaps that is true, but is it worse to see or hear the cries of one's suffering?" I locked my gaze with his.

"My children have had enough death."

"Da," Bain said. "He'll be all right, won't he?"

Bard sighed as he looked at Kili.

My eyes lowered. "Hope is a way."

Bard's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"For as long as we live, we can always hope." I smiled weakly. "That is what my mother told me."

"Quite a wise woman she is."

I nodded. "She was."

Bard paused.

"She is part of the reason Bre was able to come to this world. Her sacrificed life... is the reason that the necklace had magic in the first place."

"A life for power exchange." Bard lowered his chin as Kili screamed louder. "I am sorry."

I walked to Kili with a bowl of water and carresed his forehead with my finger-tips. "It is not your fault. My parents always lived dangerously. My father was a guard for the Elven King." I dipped my fingers in the water and carressed Kili's forehead again. "My mother experimented with magic often, offering what she learned to Lord Thranduil. And one day, it backfired on both of them." 

Kili took deep breathes, calming down. 

Bard's brows furrowed. "Your mother in death, and your father as well." 

"My father I am not so sure of. I was simply told that he went missing. My own King refused to release the details, and I lived alone for decades." I smiled at Kili. "But I found my light in many other things."

"Such as," Kili asked.

I let out a small laugh. "Healing and story-telling."

(Bre's POV)

I pursed my lips, both trying to and trying not to look at Thorin. I could feel some sort of tension between us. At the same time, it wasn't like we could have a private conversation or anything. Balin and Bilbo were deep down the tunnel, and the others were probably listening for anything at the entrance. I pursed my lips again, looking away from Thorin.

Not being able to stand the silence any longer, I cleared my throat.

Thorin cleared his throat too. "How... Do you..." His shoulders fell as his eyes lowered.

I looked away. "I think I know a lot about Caleniel, if you're going to ask about that."

Thorin paused. "Right. What did you learn?"

"She's a very broken girl with fragilty. She might be a great warrior, but she is as fragile as a piece of glass when it comes to her emotions." My eyes lowered. "It might be a lot to assume, but she's probably lost and alone."

Thorin's brows furrowed. "Did she tell you that?"

I shook my head. "It's just what I gathered."

"How did you gather that?"

I paused, trying to find the words the best give the answer. "When we were imprisoned by the Elves in Mirkwood, I took one look at her eyes. She was having a horrible moment. Her own kin was breaking her because she thought she was a traitor to her own people. I could tell that she felt quite alone with all of us, with her smiles, because... she had the same look in her eyes as I once had." My shoulders fell. "She knows what it's like to lose someone as I do."

Thorin slowly stepped forward, taking both my hands, and kissed my forehead. He pulled away and had his forehead touch mine. "I hope you will never feel that way again."

I paused. "Thorin..."

"Bre, allow me to speak." He moved closer. "I do not know what will happen beyond this point. I do not know if we will even have to face a dragon, but what I do know is that I don't want to risk the chance of not being able to tell you I love you before dying."

I blinked. "What?"

"Bre, I love you." Thorin leaned in and kissed me.

My eyes widened, and I closed them, kissing him as he pulled back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he wrapped his arms around me, making our second kiss longer. I slowly pulled back, catching my breath. "I love you, Thorin."

"I could ask for nothing more. That is all I've wanted since we were tied up by trolls." Thorin smiled. "Bre."

"Thorin." I smiled.

Thorin let out a small laugh. "I met you the day we got our burglar, and I..." He looked down for a moment, grinning to himself.

I raised a brow, looking down at him. I took a step towards Thorin in the narrow tunnel we were in. "You what?"

Thorin's head snapped up. "I want to know, if you would like a future with me, if you stay here. I know we haven't had much time together, but it has been... strange and special."

I blinked, grinning. "What?"

Thorin smiled, stepping back, and knealed. "Forgive me for not being prepared with an actual engagement ring. You were the biggest surprise that happened on this adventure. I didn't expect someone as beautiful or perfect as you to come along." He pulled off his own ring and held it up to me. "This is not the exact ring I wanted to give my queen-to-be, but I want to make due. For I do not know if we will be killed by a dragon or not."

"I don't believe we will be." I smiled.

He smiled up at me. "Then, I shall buy you whatever ring you like after we reclaim Erebor and have the treasure as our own."

"This ring is perfect." I let out a small laugh, believing that Thorin was serious this time.

Thorin let out a small laugh. "Perfect. Like you. Bre, would you do me the honors of being my queen?"

I nodded. "Yes, of course!"

Thorin smiled and stood up. He put the ring on my finger. "I love you, Bre. May we forever be together and rule as the King and Queen of Durin's Folk."