Aria packed a knapsack appropriate for her travels. She chose outfits that were easy for travels; wouldn't snag or trip her. She packed extras, such as handkerchiefs and an umbrella, and of course she packed food. Aria took along her daggers, which the boys had gifted her after she had completed training in weapon wielding. She left her bakery to her coworkers and borrowed a pony as she set off on her adventure.

She traveled along the Lhûn River, through the Hills of Evendim, and eventually got on the East road. It had been a while since Aria had been out in Arda. She hadn't ever left the dwarf town, so all her traveling had been long ago, when she was a child. Aria couldn't pin exactly what was wrong, but she could feel something sick in the air. Eventually she arrived at Bree, and stopped for a proper rest before leaving again at dawn.

It was nightfall when Aria found herself along the Weather hills, lost in the woods. The sky was overhanging; there was a storm coming, and it was an omen for something bad. Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard wolves.

She didn't come this far to be eaten by wolves! Aria needed to throw them off her scent, and the only other creature they could chase was the pony. Aria had a heart for animals, but right now it was the question of her life. She could pay back the pony's owner when they got back to Erebor. Because once they were back in Erebor...

Aria jumped down the pony and took odd some essentials, burying them by a landmark tree. After one last caress, she smacked the pony and sent it yelping and running into the forest while she herself took off towards the cliff.

It was a tough climb without the pony, but survival instincts kept her going. The closer she got to the mouth of the cliff, the more she felt warmth. She prayed to all the stars that it was her company, and not something that was planning to make a meal out of her.

"Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood."

Oh, the boys! She heard them from her spot, where she could see the ponies sleeping. Aria breathed a sigh of relief and had almost sprinted out past her tree when-

"You think that's funny?" Thorin's warning stopped her.

"You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"

"We didn't mean anything by it." She could hear the remorse in their voice.

"No, you didn't."

"You know nothing of the world." She heard the pain in his voice.

"Don't mind him, laddie. Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs." A new voice stepped in.

"After the dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria. But our enemy had got there first."

Aria stayed pressed against the tree, listening to the tale of Battle of Moria, the fight that took her father.

"Agog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back. And our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast nor song that night for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived. And I thought to myself then, here is one who I could follow. There is one... I could call king."

The tears on her hands snapped her out of the daydream. By now all the dwarves had awoken, listening to the legend of Thorin Oakenshield. Their king. Her king. And she would forever stand by him as his queen.

"And the pale Orc? What happened to him?" Asked a voice she didn't recognize.

He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago." Aria heard his voice coming closer and rushed to hide herself.

Thorin felt pride and sorrow as he stood at the edge of the cliff, watching his company stand respectfully for him. The true story of Moria was one he hadn't told anyone, not even the boys. He felt the open air constricting him and stormed off towards the trees for a walk.

He was on edge already from the boys' joke, and the ruffling in the trees didn't help. He turned towards the noise once, but found nothing. He'd killed the pale orc, there was nothing he couldn't take on. Thorin heard a noise again and walked backwards, a plan in his mind. He zigzagged through some trees and came back around, in front of him was someone hooded.

Thorin took out his sword and creeped forward towards his prey. He positioned his hand to cover the person's mouth, his sword ready to thrust forward. Thorin jumped, covering the creature's mouth and turned them around, pressing them against the tree. She squealed behind his palm, afraid from the ambush and the sword tip pressed threateningly hard into her neck.

Thorin blinked a few times. Was this his mind's way of calming him down? Oh no, not again! Not here. But he felt her warm face and her blood rushing beneath his palm. The possibility of her actually being here was worse.

He let her go and stumbled back, and Aria lifted from the tree, taking in deep breaths.

"A-Aria?"

"Hi!" She heaved in reply.

"W-what are you doing here?"

"You left a map in my house. I couldn't just let you go."

Thorin leaned against a tree, arms folded as he watched her.

"I told you to wait." The corner of his mouth lifted in a half smile, remembering his claim to her.

"Yes. But you didn't tell me to stay behind."

Thorin knew there was a reason he liked her. He couldn't do with a housewife queen.

"And I can lift my own weight. Fight for myself." She suddenly pulled out her daggers from her waist, swinging them around.

Thorin smiled and pushed off the tree, then walked towards her until he had her pinned again.

"You shouldn't have to."

"But I can. I invited myself along. I'm not asking you to take responsibility for me."

Thorin pressed his forehead to hers, holding her close to him.

"How can I not? You're mine."

Aria rubbed her nose against his, snuggling herself into his body.

"Forever."

Thorin leaned back and kissed her head before letting go, walking back towards the camp.

"I've never heard the story before." Aria told him.

"It's not one I enjoy sharing."

"My father died in Moria." She confessed.

Thorin stopped to look at her.

"Then he must have been a great warrior. I am forever in his debt." He took her hand and kissed it, holding it all the way back to camp.

"Uh, hello? Who's..." the halfling stuttered.

"Ria!" Fili and Kili shouted and ran through the hobbit, almost tackling the lady.

"I didn't know you were coming!"'

"Why didn't you just come with us?"

"Did you bring food?"

"Boys! Leave her alone." Thorin pulled her away, leading her to Gandalf.

"Aria, this is..."

"Gandalf the Grey, I assume?" Aria cut in and curtsied to the wizard. "It's an honor to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, my dear."

He next introduced her to the dwarves that hadn't lived in their town, saving the halfling for last.

"And this is Bilbo Baggins."

"How do you do?" Bilbo asked her.

"Fine, thank you. What are you doing with a company of dwarves?"

"He's a burglar!"

"Kili!" Aria chided.

"He's the 14th member of our company." Thorin informed her as he led her to the fire

"If there's supposed to be 14, where does she fit?" Ori asked.

"Yeah, how will the treasure split now?" another dwarf asked.

"Well she'll count with me of course!" Fili claimed.

"Why you of course?" Kili whined. "She could have mine."

"I love her more than you do!" Fili defended himself.

"No you don't!" Kili argued.

While the boys argued, the rest of the company watched Aria and Thorin sitting by the fire, talking between themselves and smiling.

"Boys!" Dwalin barked to shut them up.

Fili and Kili joined the others in their gazing.

"I think she'll have the king's share."

"Works for me!" The brothers winked.