(Y/n) and Bilbo had taken one last look at Rivendell, as they and the Company made their way along the precarious path. She knew that her brother didn't want to leave; that he would much rather just stay in the realm of the peredhel, and part of her wanted to stay too. She wanted to explore the place that had been her mother's home; to speak more with Lord Elrond, and learn all she could about Ilmamë, about Frór. Yet she had made a promise......both of them had. They had signed the contracts; and even though she knew that she would be able to learn so much from the ellon, Elrond was not blood. She had no family in Rivendell. Her blood, her family, the hobbit she loved more than anyone, was with her on the path along the cliff side. So, that was where she had to be too. Though she did hope that one day she would be able to return.

She had thought the Wild would have been an awful place; but in truth, it was beautiful. The towering snowcapped Misty Mountains watching over them as they walked for hour after hour. The waterfall that cascaded over their heads, as they continued along their way, making her stop for a moment. Bilbo joining her, as they both looked up.

"Are you alright?" Bilbo asked quietly, the others moving passed them as they just stood there for a moment, and he took her hand.

"Yes.......no.......I don't know, Bilbo. Lord Elrond had promised that he would tell me all I wanted to know about my real parents. He said that I could stay in Rivendell for as long as I liked; that it was my home just as much as it had been Ilmamë, that it is part of who I am. But I knew I could not stay. I know that just like Frór there is a dragon that I have to fight. And........." (Y/n) explained, before she turned to look at her brother.

"Someone has to keep you out of trouble, Bilbo Baggins." She chuckled, as Bilbo just smiled and shook his head.

"And I will watch over you too..........."

"I know Bilbo. You always have." The dwarrowdam replied, as she squeezed her brother's hand. Her gaze turning back to the waterfall for a moment, before seeing Thorin look at them.

"We better hurry up. We stand here much longer and king grumpy will have another reason to shout at us." (Y/n) continued, placing a quick kiss to her brother's cheek, before she pulled him along to catch up to the others.

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

(Y/n) got up from her bedroll; they would have another long day's trek ahead of them in the morning, before they got to the mountains proper, and as much as she knew she should be sleeping; just like in Rivendell, she had too much on her mind to rest. The dwarrowdam carefully stepping over her sleeping brother and the dwarves, before making her way from the group. Glóin, who was on watch, keeping an eye on her, as she stood amongst the grasses and looked up to the large moon.

Fili and Kili had been with her and Bilbo most of the day, telling her about the family and what little they knew of Frór. Also, that she had another cousin that was the Lord of the Iron Hills; a dwarf by the name of Dáin, who was the grandson of Grór, her real fathers and Thrór's younger brother; Balin and Dwalin joining them at some point and filling in the gaps that the younger dwarves had missed out on. Yet Thorin was still to say anything to her; the son of Thráin, son of Thrór, just occasionally looking to her. The peredhel dwarf seeing him place his hand on the dagger she had given him, that was now tucked in his belt, whenever he would catch her eye. It appearing as though he wanted to say something after their interaction the night before; but it seemed that just like with her, he was still coming to terms with all that he had been told.

"Lass........." A soft voice came. (Y/n) smiling, as she recognised Balin's tone.

"I didn't wake you, did I...........?"

"No, just one of the banes of growing old." The pale haired dwarf replied, as he moved to her side.

"I was wondering if I could talk ta ya, lass.........." Her attention turning to him, as his voice became more serious.

"Of course, Balin. You can talk to me whenever you like........."

"Its about tha succession........."

"Succession? Thorin will be king and then Fili. And, Mahal forbid, something happens to either of them, then the role will fall to Kili.........."

"And if something happens ta all of them......." Balin interrupted solemnly. (Y/n)'s full attention now on the elder dwarf now.

"That will not happen, Balin; don't say such things. And even if it did, there is Dáin.........."

"No, lass......there is you......."

"What.........?"

"As the daughter of the second oldest son of king Dáin; you would be the next in line ta tha throne of tha Mountain." Balin explained, as he placed his hand on the shoulder of a very shocked (Y/n).

"As much as I do not want ta think of such things, if we do succeed in taking back tha Mountain, and anything happens ta tha lads, then I need ta know if ya would be ready ta take on tha role........"

"But........I would have no idea how to be a queen, Balin. I was raised in the Shire by hobbits. That, and I am half elf; and given what I know, I cannot imagine that dwarves would take kindly to the next ruler of the Mountain, having the blood of their enemies in her veins........surely you could look to Fili and Kili's mother.........."

"I never said that it would be easy, lass; but ya a Durin. Granddaughter of the great king Dáin, and ya have a duty ta ya father's people; just like Thorin and tha lads do. There needs ta be a Durin on the throne, and in you, we have a chance of continuing tha line.........." Balin told her. The old dwarf not wanting to talk about this, to think about this, either; but he had to, given what they were off to do. Given that they were being hunted by orcs, and he had a feeling that there was much more to come; such things would have to be dealt with sooner or later.

"Just promise me that y'll think about it?" Balin asked. The pale haired dwarf giving her a small smile, as she slowly nodded. Patting her on the shoulder, before making his way back to his spot on the ground; leaving (Y/n) in the knowledge that getting sleep that night, really wasn't going to happen.