The escape of the Dwarves and their little burglar had caused quite a stir, a stir big enough to ensure that (Y/n) could make up an excuse to her father that she needed to go on a diplomatic mission to see Lord Elrond and would not be back for some time, thankfully her father was too caught up in his own affairs to hear any excuses, angry that somehow Thorin Oakenshield had been able to escape from his kingdom. As (Y/n) returned to her chambers to pack so that she could follow Master Baggins as promised, Legolas pushed his way through the door.

"(Y/n), where are you really going? There are no diplomatic missions, and even if there were, the last elf we would send would be you." He scoffed, watching as she placed whatever she could fit into a bag.

"Brother you wound me; I can be just as diplomatic as you if it is called for." (Y/n) retorted, placing her hand on her heart and pretending to be hurt by Legolas' insinuation.

"I know you helped the Hobbit and the dwarves to escape, I just don't know why." Legolas declared, as (Y/n) turned back around to face him.

"HOW DARE YOU! You may be my brother, but I will not let you accuse me of betraying our father. I have given everything for this kingdom. I have watched my men die before my eyes, I have spilt my own blood on battlefields, and had my beauty taken by an Orc." (Y/n) growled as she pointed at the scare on her face. Even though she had done all she could to help, (Y/n) had no real idea how Master Baggins and the Dwarves had really managed to escape, so it was true that she had not aided them completely; but she was glad that they had, for now she could fulfil the destiny that Gandalf had told her about so many years before.

"Where I am going is none of your concern, what I am doing is even less of your concern. All you need to know is that this is my destiny, you can have your palace and your servants, I need more. One day brother you may understand." (Y/n) said, her eyes softening as she rushed to embrace him.

"No matter what happens, or where my life takes me, remember I will always love you Legolas. Now I must finish packing, I must begin my journey soon." (Y/n) told him, as a look of sadness crept across his features, knowing that whatever (Y/n) was doing, no matter how hard he tried, he would never talk her out of it.

Before Legolas could say anymore, (Y/n) turned back to the bed, wiping away the tear that rolled down her cheek, her attention fully focused on finishing packing her belongings. As she heard the door slam behind her, (Y/n) let out a deep breath that she had no idea she was holding in, she had no choice but to leave, no choice but to follow her destiny, and even though she had left the kingdom before, the thought of never seeing her brother again was affecting her more than she ever realised it would. Slowly she put on her armour, strapping daggers to her legs, and her sword to her side, her bow and quiver slung over her shoulder with her shield.

Standing quietly, (Y/n) took one last look around her rooms, before grabbing her helmet and make her way to the stables. The night was quiet as she saddled her stallion Asfaloth, mounting him and making her way to an entrance to the palace that only Legolas and she knew about, having found it when we were elflings; she knew that she could leave through the main gate, but the fewer that knew she had gone the better. With one last look up at the only home she had ever really known for maybe the last time, (Y/n) turned and left, praying to Valar to watch over her kin until she could hopefully return.

                                                                      >>------------------------<<

(Y/n) had been tracking the dwarves and her little burglar for two days now, and now she had left her small camp and was staring through the trees looking at the group in the clearing. (Y/n) could see the dwarves and Master Baggins around a fire all talking happily, and in the darkness was a taller figure, all she could see was the glow of his pipe as he drew on it; but there was no doubt in her mind about who the shadowy figure could be, a small smile gracing her lips as she remembered the last time she had met the wizard.

As she got closer to the scene, she stepped forward and broke a small twig, the crack was loud for such a little thing, causing her to curse herself, cursing again as she looked back up to find that some of the dwarves were missing.

Without a second though, (Y/n) ran instinctively, nocking three arrows on her draw string; as she sped back to her camp she caught her foot on a root and tumbled, but as she quickly regained her footing, and jumped gracefully back to her feet, she was confronted by three dwarves with their swords raised ready to attack. Drawing back her bow string and aiming the arrows at the heads of the three in front of her, she prepared to strike; as they moved into the light, (Y/n) saw that one was Thorin, the other two she had learned from Master Baggins were his nephews, Fili and Kili.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" Thorin roared, as he drew closer to the elf before him.

"I'll be killing dwarves if you don't drop your swords now, king under the mountain. I can assure you that I am much quicker with my bow than you are with swords." (Y/n) smirked at Thorin, as not one of them backed down, and just as the fight was about to begin, a voice split the heavy atmosphere.

"STOP NOW!" The voice called out, sending a rumble through the trees, the dwarves turning as they and (Y/n) dropped their weapons. Into the light strode Gandalf, a subtle smile gracing his lips as his eyes fell on (Y/n).

"It has been a very long-time my lady, and I am glad to see you. I must say you have grown to be more beautiful than even I could have believed. I have heard much of your valour in battle with your father's armies, and I am sure that you will be an excellent addition to the company." Gandalf said, coming over to greet her as (Y/n) bowed her head and smiled, the Dwarves looking at Gandalf and then each other in shock, as finally Thorin turned to look at the elf, making it more than obvious that he wasn't happy about this latest occurrence.

"Gandalf, we have no need for this elf. She is the one that had us locked up in the dungeons. Her father has sent her here as an assassin." Thorin fumed, as he raised his sword once again.

"Thorin, (Y/n) here actually did all she could to help you escape the dungeons. And she is not here for you, she is here to protect Bilbo. I told her a long time ago that this would be her destiny." Gandalf said, as he crossed his arms and looked at Thorin.

"(Y/n) stays and that is my last word."

"Looks like your stuck with me handsome." (Y/n) laughed, the air being knocked from her as Master Baggins rushed over and hugged her, before Thorin could protest any further.

"(Y/n), I thought you weren't coming, you have to come and join us round the fire." The little hobbit said happily, as he pulled (Y/n) by the hand leading her past the scowling Thorin and towards the clearing.

"I told you I would come Master Baggins. I pledged to protect you and I will." (Y/n) said softly, as the little man pushed her towards the fire and sat her down on a large log.

"(Y/n), my name is Bilbo, you don't need to call me Master Baggins." Bilbo informed her as he sat by her side.

"Well Master Baggins, Bilbo it is."

Bilbo happily introduced (Y/n) to the rest of the company, seeming not to notice that the others all appeared uneasy at her presence. As Thorin, Kili and Fili returned to the fire, Bilbo discreetly moved away with (Y/n) while Gandalf explained the reason for her presence, his explanation seeming to make the atmosphere easier and even cause some of the company to smile and nod as she returned.

As the night darkened and the embers of the fire grew low, (Y/n) looked over and found that Bilbo was fast asleep, almost cuddled into her side. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she pulled his blanket up over his shoulders.

Looking to the fire once again, it was impossible not to notice Thorin glaring at her.

"If you have something to say to me get it off your chest now king under the mountain." (Y/n) said, just loud enough so that Thorin could hear, but not loud enough to wake the company, as she stoked the embers of the fire.

"I don't trust you ELF! No matter what Gandalf says. If you get in my way, if you harm any of this company, I WILL kill you do you understand?" Thorin growled, his hand falling to his sword.

Gently, (Y/n) pushed Bilbo away from her side and stood up, crossing her arms across her chest, as she looked down at the irritated dwarf.

"I am not here because of you handsome; I am here for Bilbo. I pledged my sword and bow to protect him and that is what I intend to do. And you mean you will "TRY" and kill me, but I assure you that you are far from quick enough." (Y/n) informed him, a small smile tweaking at the corners of her lips as a growl came from deep inside Thorin's chest.

"Where are you going elf?" Thorin demanded to know as (Y/n) turned and slowly walked away, intending to pick up her belongings from the camp that she had set up for herself earlier, only to find herself stopping in her tracks as Thorin's demand made her blood boil.

"If you wish to address me, you will either refer to me as your highness, commander or (Y/n). I do not answer to ELF! And to answer your question I am getting as far away from you as I possibly can, you self-righteous, pompous, arrogant, egotistical, bad tempered old fool." (Y/n) informed him, the look of shock in his face making her smirk, before she turned and left.

Arriving back at her camp, (Y/n) collected her belonging and mounted Asfaloth leading him back the clearing, her arrival back to the dwarf camp going unnoticed as she heard Bilbo shouting at Thorin.

"You made her leave, didn't you? You were rude to her again weren't you" Bilbo said angrily, as he looked up at the dwarf.

"Bilbo!" (Y/n) called out as she dismounted Asfaloth, chuckling as Bilbo spun around, before running into her and squeezing her tight.

"Bilbo, I went toretrieve my weapons and Asfaloth, I have no intention of leaving this company,especially as I know that my sheer presence upset handsome over there." (Y/n)said, smirking at Thorin as Bilbo led her back to where his bedroll was, Thorinhuffing as the hobbit pulled her down so that she was laid by his side.