Chapter 29: Awake

"How do you know about The Hobbit?" asked Sara, sitting down on a rock, still struggling to process that Nori and Bifur could have found out. She was suddenly very grateful that Nori had insisted that she follow him away from the others and she realized his purpose in leading her here to the waterfall, for it would work to mask their words.

"First tell us how you came to have a complete record of our journey in your phone," said Nori, leaning back against the large rock behind him.

"What do you know?" she asked, resting her chin in her right hand wincing a bit at the pain in her wrist.

"That is our question for you. What have you been keeping from us?"

"Quite a bit," she said weekly, not meeting their eyes. "Unfortunately there is a lot I can't tell you." Bifur said something to Nori in dwarvish.

"Bifur has suspected for some time that you were hiding something. Several times he noticed inconsistencies in your supposed lack of knowledge." She was quiet for some time studying them.

"Such as?"

Nori shook his head. "Not until you tell us how you have a complete record of our journey in your phone."

"But how do you know about it?" she asked, her voice growing in irritation. "I had only had it for a few days. How did you find out?"

The two dwarves shared a short secret conversation that ended with Bifur pointing accusingly at Nori and then to Sara. Nori sighed and turned back to her. "I borrowed your phone when you passed out a couple nights ago," he said. Bifur added something in dwarvish before he too took a seat and bent to pick up several loose feathers setting them adrift in a puddle.

"Borrowed usually means you asked first," said Sara, scowling at the thief.

"It appears Bifur would agree with you, though I am inclined to disagree," said Nori succinctly.

"You would," she grumbled, picking up a stick at her feet.

"Regardless, we know, so explain it."

She blew out a breath. "I'm not entirely sure I can."

"Try," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. Sara heard metal clinking.

"I mean I'm not supposed to."

"Why?" asked Nori souldering off the rock.

"Because I advised her not to," said Gandalf, stepping around the boulder behind Nori. "I advised her to keep it a secret." The two dwarves turned, startled slightly by the wizard's sudden appearance.

"Figures you would have something to do with this," muttered Nori pulling his hands from his pockets to fold his arms over his chest once again.

"I advised her to keep this secret, partially for her own safety, and also because the knowledge she has is not relevant to this company."

"How is a complete chronicle of our march to Erebor not relevant to us?" countered Nori.

It was Gandalf's turn to look confused. "Whatever are you talking about Nori?" he asked.

"Gandalf," interjected Sara, pushing pebbles around in the dirt with her stick. "Things have changed since we left Rivendell. You have missed quite a lot."

His eyebrows rose. "How so Ms. Sara?"

"Well for one thing I have a copy of The Hobbit," she said. "And for another, we found out that I am likely from Middle Earth."

His eyebrows rose even further. "Explain," he said leaning on his staff. So she launched into an account of what had happened on the eighth day after they had left Rivendell. She explained how her necklace had broken, how Gloin had showed her it was a locket, and told him of the note and the SD card she found inside. She told him briefly about her grandmother and her search for her family. She showed him the craftmas mark inside her locket and finally explained how her grandmother had left her a digital copy of The Hobbit.

"I see," said Gandalf, stroking his white beard lost in thought.

"Well I don't," said Nori impatiently. "You have explained how you came to possess what you call The Hobbit, but that does not explain why such a thing even exists." Sara looked to Gandalf for guidance, but he was not paying attention.

"In for a dime, in for a dollar," she muttered, throwing the stick over Bifur's head and into the waterfall. Nori and Bifur already knew too much, so what would it matter if they knew more. She turned to face the two dwarfs. "Okay look," she said sighing. "I'm not quite sure how to tell you this, but you know those stories I'm always telling you?"

They nodded. "Like the ones you told this morning?" asked Nori.

"Yes," she said picking at her bandaging. "Well your quest for Erebor is just another one of those stories, another fairytale, one that has been written down in the book called The Hobbit. Lots of people have read it. It's quite a popular book." Nori and Bifur were frozen in shock but after a moment Bifur asked Nori something.

"Bifur wants to know if that is how you knew the password for the door into Moria?" translated Nori.

"Actually... no," she admitted, rubbing her temple. "That one's from The Lord of the Rings."

"And what ais that?" asked the thief. Gandalf had come out of his reverie and pulled out his pipe listening.

"They are the books that tell of another adventure, one set in the future of middle earth about 60 years from now." Bifur asked something again.

"What did he say?" asked Sara, when no translation was forthcoming.

"He says that would explain a lot."

"Like what?" she asked, turning to Bifur.

"Like how you knew the name of Rivendell simply by knowing that Elrond lives there," said Nori. "How you knew the password into Moria, and how you seemed to already know that Gloin has a son named Gimli. Those and a few other smaller slips."

"Apparently," said Gandalf turning to Sara. "You are not quite as tight-lipped as we would have hoped. Do any of the others know or suspect?" he asked, addressing the dwarves.

"Not yet," said Nori, letting his hands drop to his side. "We wanted to talk to Sara first and there has been a lot going on lately. It's been rather difficult prying her away from the others."

"Good," said the wizard. "Keep it that way." Nori opened his mouth to argue but Sara cut him off.

"It doesn't matter Gandalf, I don't have the book anymore. It was with all the rest of my stuff when we got separated, and Ori and Oin were the only two who seem to have made it here with anything other than their weapons. I never got to this point in the book, so we still don't know about the future. Besides," she said kicking at a rock. "I'm not sure how reliable the information in the book really is."

"Actually," said Nori slyly. "That's not altogether true." He dug into his many pocketed coat and withdrew something wrapped in cloth and handed it to her. She pulled back the covering and gasped in surprise. It was her puzzle box.

"You had it all this time?" she asked.

"I grabbed it during the confusion in the goblin tunnels," he replied. She slid out the key piece and opened the box to see her solar charger and phone still intact.

"Well that's one problem solved," said Gandalf, blowing a purple smoke ring. "Now Ms. Sara, what did you mean about the information of The Hobbit being suspect?"

"The book and reality don't add up Gandalf. There are parts that are downplayed, missing, or downright contradictory."

"Such as?"

"Azog," said Nori and Sara at almost the same time. She looked at the dwarf.

"Just how much of the book did you read?" she asked as she closed the box and slipped it into the pocket of Ori's pants.

"I was most of the way through chapter three when Thorin relieved me of the watch and I was forced to return your phone or risk your notice," he admitted. "She's right Gandalf, there's definitely something wrong with the account in her book."

"Elaborate," said the wizard impatiently, waving them on as he continued to puff on his pipe. Together she and Nori began to describe the differences between reality and the book.

"This is troubling," said Gandalf, his pipe forgotten in his hand. "Very troubling indeed."

"You're telling me," said Sara, biting at her thumbnail. "The one guy everyone was hoping to see safely dead is not only alive but hunting Thorin, and now me too."

"You?" ask Gandalf. "Why would he be hunting you?"

"Gandalf," she said quietly, letting her hand drop to her lap. "He saw my birthmark."

"How did that happen?" he asked startled.

"I would rather not have to tell the story more than once," she said, pushing Bofur's hat back further on her head. "Suffice it to say that when he saw it, he told me he would be taking me to his master in Dol Guldur. Apparently his master has been searching for someone like me." Gandalf began to pace muttering under his breath. This had been going on for several minutes and Nori and Bifur had shared several words in dwarvish when finally the thief broke into the wizard's preoccupation.

"Gandalf, where have you been these many days? We looked to see you sooner?"

"I was gathering information at the behest of the White Council," he said, fixing his gaze on Nori. "I think it would be best to keep all of this between ourselves for now. At least until Ms. Sara has had a chance to finish reading the book. We can discuss what to do about it then." Nori once again looked ready to argue. "There is no sense worrying the others until we know for sure that there's anything to be done."

"I don't like keeping secrets like this from the others," said Nori. "It doesn't sit well with me."

"Only until Sara has read The Hobbit in its entirety," assured Gandalf. "Then we will be able to share all at once rather than have to give it to them in bits and pieces. Besides…" but here the wizard was cut off as Dory came puffing up to them.

"He is waking," said Dori. "Thorin is waking." The dwarves turned and ran back towards camp. Sara got to her feet but hesitated to follow after them, the last words Thorin had spoken to her coming to mind with a slight sting.

"Why do you not go with them?" asked Galdalf watching her carefully.

"Last time I was around Thorin, he was kind of mad at me," she said running her finger up and down the gold chain around her neck. "And I think that once he finds out what happened, he will not be any happier with me."

"Come we will go together," offered the Wizard companionably. They walked in silence for a while but Sara finnalt broke it.

"Gandalf what did you mean when you said you were gathering information for the White Council?"

"Ah," said the wizard, giving her a knowing look. "The Lady Galadriel suggested it would be prudent to see if the morgul blade was indeed from the tombs of Angmar, and once the idea was suggested Saruman insisted that I depart immediately. I'm sorry I was detained."

"Saruman insisted?" asked Sara dubiously. "But he was the one who doubted your information the most. Why would he change his mind so quickly?"

"I'm not sure," said Gandalf. "Saruman's sentiments have fluctuated more and more in recent decades."

"What did you find?"

"The graves were empty," he said, his expression somber.

"But how? Lord Elrond said they could not be opened."

"I don't know for certain," he admitted tucking his pipe away. "There is much I do not understand and it troubles me. I do not like all the uncertainty and unexplained events and actions."

They could see camp and were not surprised it was empty for the company had crowded into the nest. As her feet sank into the downy feathers that carpeted the interior of the nest, Sara saw Fili and Kili at Thorin's side with Oin. Gandalf, Balin, Dwalin and Gloin were close by and the others stood clustered a few steps further back. She spotted Bilbo to her left hanging back from the rest looking uncomfortable and went to stand with him, unwilling to penetrate the more intimate circle surrounding Thorin.

"I thought Dori said Thorin was awake," she said.

"That he is close to waking up," corrected Bilbo. They watched together in silence though it was difficult to see anything through the group of dwarves gathered in front of them, especially for Bilbo who's diminutive height did not aid him. Nonetheless, Sara could tell the moment that Thorin woke.

"Uncle Thorin!" exclaimed Kili, as the others clapped for each other on the back or talked happily.

"Do you think he will still be displeased with us?" asked Bilbo, mirroring the thoughts in Sara's mind. She shrugged.

"I would hope not," she said. "But it is Thorin, so who knows. He probably thinks I'm dead anyway." The dwarves talking had ceased and Dwalin stood in front of Bilbo looking down expectantly at the hobbit.

"Thorin wishes to see you Master Baggins," said the warrior.

"Me?" squeak Bilbo, rubbing one foot on top of the other as he was want to do when unsure of himself. Dwalin only nodded and gestured for Bilbo to follow him. Sara followed them closer to the group and stood just behind Bofur and Bombur, watching Fili and Kili help Thorin to sit up.

"Bilbo Baggins," said Thorin sternly, looking over at the hobbit sitting beside him. "Did I not say you would be a burden, that your foolishness and recklessness would lead to your death?" Bilbo's face fell by degrees the Thorin spoke and Sara felt heat rising in her chest as she clenched her fists. "Did I not say that you do not belong in this company, that it would be better if you went home to your books and gardens? Did I not say so Mr. Baggins?"

"Yes," said Bilbo quietly his eyes on the ground. "You did." Why was Thorin being so cruel, throwing these words back in Bilbo's face and after he had risked his own life to save the stubborn dwarf. She was about to push forward and defend Bilbo but when Thorin's voice came again it was a completely different tone.

"And yet you come back and proved that I have never been so wrong in all my life," said Thorin dragging Bilbo into an embrace. Bilbo's face was slack with shock but Sara noticed the smiles and pleased looks of the others. Thorne released a confused but hopeful Bilbo.

"I am sorry I doubted you," he said sincerely.

"No," said Bilbo, his ears a bit pink. "It doesn't matter. I have doubted myself too. I am not a hero or warrior; not even a burglar," he said smiling sheepishly.

"It does matter," insisted Thorin. "I want to know. Why after everything did you come back. I know that at times you have longed to be home, so why, why did you come back?"

"You're right," admitted Bilbo. "I often think of Bag End. I miss my books, my armchair and my garden. Most of all I miss my stocked pantry." A smile quirked on Thorin's lips. "You see," continued Bilbo. "That's where I belong. That's home to me and that's why I joined your company and why I came back, because you don't have one, a home. It was taken from you; but I will help you take it back if I can." He looked around to his friends who were listening intently. "Everyone should have a place to call home."

"I ask your forgiveness for the words I spoke the other night," said Thorin, his voice a bit rougher than normal.

"You have it," replied Bilbo quietly without hesitation.

"You are a most gracious hobbit," said Thorin. "I only wish..." A pained look crossed his face and the muscles in his jaw worked.

"Cheer up uncle," said Fili bracingly. "All is not so bleak as it seems."

"How can you speak of cheer when you have lost the one you would have made your heart sister?" asked Thorin despondently. "Can your affections be so easily forgotten, my sisters son? I did not think you so callus or fickle."

"But uncle," said Kili, standing. "Sara is here!" He drew Sara from behind Bofur and Bombur and brought her to stand before Thorin. His gaze locked and held hers for several moments before he wordlessly held out a hand to her, beseeching. She took his hand and knelt by his side.

"Sara," he breathed. "But how? You were dead."

"It was a bluff," she said quietly. "Azog meant to distract and deceive you all." He was watching her intently, his eyes glistening a bit more than usual as he swallowed thickly. He let go of her fingers, instead lifting his hand to the side of her face, his calloused thumb resting gently on her cheekbone.

"Sara I…" he began, but he was cut off by a wolf whistle from Bofur. Sara looked away from Thorin to see Dwalin giving the toymaker a glare to rival dragonfire. Thorin let his hand slip from her face but his fingers curled around hers again in a firm grip.

"Aren't you still angry with me?" she asked, as he pulled her closer to sit by his side, never relinquishing his hold on her hand.

He grimaced. "My words to you the other night were born of worry, not anger. But regardless of how I said them, I know they wounded you and for that I apologize. I was merely concerned for your safety, and sought to protect you in future."

"I thought you said I should not expect anyone to protect me," she said slyly as Fili and Kili pushed closer to her and Thorin. He sighed.

"I told you before," he said holding her gaze. "Many things have changed since that day in front of the inn." Sara's stomach gave a little lurch.

"Like what?" she asked quietly. "You didn't answer me last time." Bofur said something loudly in dwarvish that caused an angry flush to rise on Thorns face, but it was Dwalin's reaction that surprised Sara. The warrior stomped over to the cheekily grinning Bofur and wrapped an arm around his neck dragging away the snickering dwarf muttering something about a reprobate.

"Will you grant me your forgiveness?" asked Thorin, tugging gently at her hand, bringing her attention back to him.

"As long as you don't expect me to stand by and do nothing if someone is in danger, especially someone I care for," she said.

"I prefer you safe," he said seriously. "Will you refrain from unnecessary risks?"

"The unnecessary ones," she agreed.

He huffed. "That is all I will get from you isn't it?" She nodded. "Very well," he said, shaking his head wearily. "But you must stay closer to me and the others on our journey back to the Blue Mountains. I won't see you put in harm's way again."

"Journey home?" asked Kili confused. "What about Erebor?"

Thorin's face fell once again. "It's lost," he said releasing Sara's hand to run his own through his hair in frustration, grimacing in pain with the movement. "The key to Erebor is lost somewhere in the goblin tunnels and without a way into the mountain our quest is for naught." All the dwarves were somber at these words save one. Nori stepped forward and Sara was confused when he held a small leather pouch out the Thorin, who upon seeing the offered item tried to get to his feet a hopeful look on his face but was forced back down by a rather stern Oin and the pain in his shoulder. Nori placed the pouch carefully in Thorin's hand and Sara watched as he unlaced the opening and withdrew a small tin, several hair beads and ties, his pipe, and finally the ornate silver key to the secret door of Erebor.

"What else do you have in there?" asked Sara pointing at Nori's jacket.

Nori shrugged. "I took what I knew to be most important."

"You have done well," said Thorin.

"I'm only sorry I could not find the map as well," said Nori.

Thorin shook his head. "We got all we needed from the map, we know the location of the door. The key is what matters," he said looking to Nori. "If our adventure proves fruitful I will see that you are given a place where your specific talents and skills will be appreciated and put to good use." He turned to Gandalf. "I have many questions to ask, not the least of which is an inquiry as to your recent whereabouts."

"All questions can wait till this evening," said the wizard. "I have spoken to the eagles about plans for the morrow, though where we can go next without supplies I do not know."

"I would like to check your wounds," added Oin. "And then I think it would be wise to clean up as best we can." Thorin looked down at his clothes dark and stiff with dried blood.

"What about the hot spring," suggested Sara. "An eagle took me and Bofur there yesterday." Thorin looked up sharply at her words and his eyes drifted to the hat on her head, his jaw clenching slightly.

"That would be ideal if it can be arranged," said Oin looking to the wizard. "We could all use a good bath."

"I will see what can be done," said Gandalf.

The eagles agreed to take the group down by fours as the pool was not large enough to accommodate the whole company at once, and by late afternoon Thorin, Fili, Kili, and Balin were gone to bathe. Dwalin found Sara and informed her that he had her staff but offered to keep it for her until she was once again able to hold the weapon.

"Ya have to quit getting injured or I will not be able to train ya lass," he teased.

"I don't mean to get hurt," she huffed irritably. "Really. I'm not reckless or anything, at least I try not to be."

"I know. I know, " he said placatingly, raising his hands in surrender. "I just don't like seeing ya in pain."

"Well I don't like being in pain, I'm not a masochist."

"Just stay closer," said Dwalin, flicking a strand of hair back over her shoulder. "Thorin is not the only one who wants to see you safe."

When Thorin and the others returned from the hot springs, Sara was sitting near the crackling fire with Bilbo on a log that the dwarves had pulled from the abandoned nest, laughing as Bofur told them a story about him and Bombur as dwarflings. Thorin sent an excited Bilbo, Bofur, Dwalin and Gloin to bathe next. All the wet clothes, save the trousers, steamed near the fire, hung on long straight poles that were laid over crossed staves driven in to the ground. Sara stood behind Fili trying to untangle his wet hair with her right hand as Oin sat next to him examining the cuts on his arm and side. Kili was behind Thorin working at his hair as Oin had instructed Thorin not to raise his left arm if he could avoid it.

"You are healing well," said Oin as he finished re-wrapping Fili. "Try not to over exert yourself, but you are fit enough to resume normal activity." He moved to sit next to Thorin assessing his shoulder and Sara found it difficult to keep her eyes on Fili's hair and not the topless Thorin across from her.

"I am told that I owe my life to you," said Thorin, his eyes trained on Sara. She looked up from a particularly difficult knot but quickly averted her eyes and shrugged noncommittally.

"Oin and Gandalf are the ones who healed you, not me," she said.

"Your quick action saved him," assured Oin. "He would have been dead by the time I could have helped him if it were not for your bandaging. Don't underestimate yourself Ms. Sara."

"I think it's more like don't underestimate Quick Clot," she said.

"I was not aware you had medical training," said Thorin.

"I don't," she said, finally working free the last of the knots in Fili's hair. He pulled her to sit in front of him so he could tend to her hair, being careful of the sore patch behind her ear while she held Bofur's hat in her lap. "I mean not really. I learned some of the basics at summer camp as a kid but I'm not a trained professional or anything."

"Regardless of your training, you have my sincere thanks," said Thorin, grunting in pain as Oin gently raised his arm above his shoulder. Kili came to sit beside Sara having finished Thorin's hair.

"It's doing well," said Oin as he brought his arm back down and began to bandage Thorin's shoulder. "But you are still too pale for my liking. Try not to move around too much, rest when you can, and be sure to eat your fill at dinner." They were all quiet for a few minutes as the healer finished his work and Sara kept her eyes trained on the ground.

"Do you have my bead?" asked Fili. Without thinking, Sara reached into her shirt and fished for a moment before she pulled out the bead and held it out for Fili. She looked up to see Thorin was watching her, thoroughly nonplussed. She quickly refocused her eyes on the pile of pebbles she had picked from the dirt and away from the dark hair curling on his chest. Oin cleared his throat awkwardly as Fili took the bead from her unfazed. Shaking his head, Thorin stood carefully and went to retrieve his, Fili, and Kili's shirts which were now dry. He dropped his nephews shirts in Kili's lap and resumed his seat, Oin helping him in to his. Fili had finished her hair, and she moved to sit on the log next to him, fiddling with the new braid swinging from a bit further behind her left ear. Oin came and crouched in front of her expectantly.

"Ms. Sara," he said.

"Yes?" she asked uneasily.

"Let me see your arms," he instructed, reaching for his bag. "No excuses this time. I will tend to you." Sara looked at Thorin who was lacing up the front of his dark blue shirt, apprehension rooting itself in her stomach. Reluctantly she extended her left arm and watched Oin's face as he began to unwind the cloth around her hand. As the last of the cloth fell away Oin looked at her, a sick look on his face.

"Who did this to you?" asked the healer quietly. Fili looked over to see what had caught Oin's attention and hissed out a colorful expletive.

"Sara!" cried Kili, spotting her arm. Thorin came to stand over her his expression reminding her of a brewing thunderstorm. He took her arm gently from Oin.

"Azog did this?" he asked, his voice quiet and fierce.

"Yes."

They were all quiet watching as Oin began to unwrap her right arm, their faces only growing more irate. Oin began to carefully reapply the cream from the previous night to her burns and Thorin released her arm. Sara swore she could hear him grinding his teeth as he sat glaring at his boots.

"Does it hurt terribly?" asked Kili, leaning around Fili who was tugging on his shirt rather forcefully.

"Sometimes," she admitted. "But the ointment helps numb the throbbing for a while."

Fili shot to his feet and kicked a piece of firewood, sending it flying out over the cliff edge some 30 feet away, making Sara jump. His shoulders shook and his fists clenched into white balls at his sides. "If I ever see that fowl creature again I will make sure he meets and end worthy of him," he said vehemently.

"Not if I find him first," growled Thorin, sitting up straighter his hand resting on the hilt of Orcrist. "He will pay dearly for his crimes against our people and kin."

"And Sara," said Kili, scooting closer to her to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her snug into his side and placing a kiss on her temple.

"I said kin," replied Thorin looking at them. "I cannot allow you to adopt her as a true heart sister, but there are bonds that run deeper than blood or politics." His fierce blue eyes locked with Sara's and a fervent heat thrilled through her evoking memories of the last night in Rivendell and the feel of his arms around her. "And I will see our kin avenged."

By the time the whole company was bathed and Oin had tended all the wounded once again, the sun was sinking into the horizon staining the sky orange and pink. The Eagles had provided them with two sheep which Dwalin and Dori had cleaned and skinned. Sara was holding the long skewers that Bofur was deftly carving while Bomber cut the meat into manageable chunks, handing them to Bilbo who pushed them onto the sticks and positioned them near the fire. The smell of roasting mutton wafted through the air filling Sara's mouth with saliva in anticipation, and she could hear several bellies rumble hungrily as the strips of meat sizzled and popped, dripping fat onto the glowing coals. Kili and Nori were chopping firewood with Gloin's ax to feed the two fires, for they had had to light two, one to cook over and the other to dry clothes. Balin, Bifur, Ori and Fili were tending the clothes making sure no one got back charred socks at the end of the night, and Oin had banished Thorin and Gloin to sit with Gandalf. Sara was laughing at yet another story Bofur was telling when she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned to see Thorin standing behind her.

"Thorin?" she said, smiling widely at him. "Do you need something?"

"Come sit," he said, taking the skewers from her hand, placing them on a rock. "You have done enough, come rest."

"But I..."

"Oh go on lass," said Bofur, his eyes twinkling with hidden merth as he looked over her shoulder at Thorin. "Go sit for a while, we are almost done anyhow."

And so Sara found herself sitting between Fili and Thorin, licking the grease from her fingers as Thorin handed her yet another skewer taking the empty one and adding it to the growing pile at their feet. As their stomachs gradually began to fill, the conversation inevitably turned to their recent misadventures, each party wishing to know what had befallen the others. Balin was the one to tell of the dwarves fall and subsequent capture by the Goblins. He told how they had escaped and lost almost all of their belongings. He relayed all the relevant details, answering both Gandalf's and Sara's questions. He then told of being hunted and herded by the Orcs and recounted their battle and the timely arrival of the eagles. Once Balin began to speak Sara had known that she would now have to tell the company what had happened to her. She sat, mercilessly ringing Bofur's hat between her hands, dreading the end of Balin's account. Her gut clenched when all fell quiet and 15 pairs of eyes looked to her.

"Ms. Sara," said Balin again. "Will you tell us what happened to you on the mountain pass?" Sara fought the nausea and aching panic rising in her but when she caught sight of Bofur he nodded and mimed taking a deep breath. Filling her lungs and pulling Bofur's hat over her ears with trembling hands she began to tell how she had returned to the cave to find them gone and instead was found by orcs on the path outside. Dwalin commended her for her struggle against her adversaries and all were pleased to learn that she had not gone down without a fight, even killing and orc. She told of her time spent in the orc camp as a prisoner and of the arrival of Azog, but here her voice failed her and she struggled to find the courage to continue. She could feel the sting in her eyes harbingering the coming tears, but comfort came from an unexpected source. Thorin took her clammy hand in his rough warm fingers squeezing gently.

"You need not go into detail," he said softly. "Only relay what is pertinent and necessary." And so she did. The dwarves were all furious as she told the what Azog had done to her arms but their anger soon shifted to worry as she spoke of Azog's master in Dol Guldur and his search for someone like her. When she described the enormous bear that had killed the orc guards, many of the company had expressed concern over a beast so large, but Gandalf had been intrigued, asking several questions. She finished her account with her and Bilbo's actions to save Thorin.

"Once again Master Baggins, I must express my gratitude," said Thorin, his thumb rubbing small circles over the mark on the back of Sara's hand, sending warmth up her arm and into her chest. "Though I must now ask after your story, for I thought I saw a strange thing before I lost consciousness and I would like to be assured that my mind is not simply growing tired."

"I will tell you," said Bilbo, getting to his feet. "Though thankfully I was not subject to quite so much excitement as the rest of you."

"Tell on," said Thorin.

"Well," began Bilbo. "I must have hit my head when we fell, for I woke to darkness and can only suppose I was overlooked by the Goblins, for there was not a soul around. I did not dare call out, for who knows what lurks in dark places and after hearing your tale, I am very much glad I didn't. I stumbled through the tunnels by the dim light of my sword," he said, drawing his little blade though it did not shine now. "But it seemed the more I wandered the more lost I became until I blundered right into a frigid underground lake. In all my splashing and floundering to reach the shore I found the most unlikely of objects." And here he withdrew a gold ring from his pocket showing them before taking it safely back into his vest pocket. Sara's mind whirred into action. Was that the One Ring?

"Regrettably this Lake was also home to a most horrible creature. I fear it... or should I say he... or they have been down in that miserable place for longer than I care to speculate. He has been subsisting on any poor creature that is unfortunate enough to cross his path and indeed planned to make me their next meal."

"It... he... they?" asked Gloin confused, as Oin checked to see his ear trumpet was clear. "Of a truth little hobbit, how many of these creatures were there?"

"I… well really only one," he stammered. "But I mean he was such an odd fellow. Really like two people in one, one easily delighted like a child and the other quite grim and full of evil schemes. They did not say what they called themselves but I have come to think of the creature as Gollum for the strange sound it made in the back of its throat. They were determined that I should be their next meal and I was just as determined not to be. I drew my sword and he seemed to go more carefully and craftily and proposed a game of riddles. If I won he agreed to show me the way out and if I lost I would surrender to him."

"Quite a grisly game to play," said Fili as he picked at the many burs that were stuck to his coat.

"Well I had little choice but to agree," said Bilbo. "He was my only way out of the mountain and I was most anxious to be out from under its oppressive gloom. But, I do have to admit that I had little fear, for I'm quite good at riddles and so I proved when I won and demanded he showed me the way out. He insisted on first showing me his birthday present and paddled away on his little boat and I must admit that I questioned his motives. While I waited for his return I found a chance to examine the ring and finding it to be pleasing slipped it on. The Gollum creature gave a blood-curdling shriek and came tearing back across the lake raving about his precious being stolen. I admit to feeling terror sweep over me, for I could hear in his voice that he meant me harm and so I ran, but stumbled and fell upon my little sword, blocking out its light. To my astonishment Gollum ran past me and up the tunnel. It was then that I realized that my little ring was no ordinary trinket, but a magic ring," said Bilbo, his hand still in his pocket.

"Magic?" asked Kili. "Magic how?"

Bilbo's eyes twinkled for a moment and Sara guessed what her friend had in mind just before all the others cried out in astonishment. Bilbo had winked out of existence before them. Several of the dwarves including Bofur and Fili jumped to their feet, Fili's coat falling to the dirt quite forgotten. Sara was a bit surprised to see that the only reaction Thorin gave was a small grunt of understanding as his fingers tightened slightly around hers.

"Bilbo," called Bofur, his voice full of concern. They heard a slight chuckle and Bilbo popped back into sight pulling the gold ring from his finger.

"That kind of magic Master Kili," he said, looking thoroughly pleased with his little joke. Gandalf was watching the hobbit with an unexplainable expression on his face and Sara wondered what he was thinking. Did he know or suspect the true nature of Bilbo's ring? Sara had to admit that she was glad that no matter how differently this reality had played out, that at least Bilbo still had come into possession of the ring. At least some things seemed to be fixed.

"So that's how you got past the goblins," said Dwalin watching Bilbo with new admiration. "Quite handy in a scrap I'm sure. But how did you find your way out of the mountain?"

"Well it seems that Gollum did not see me and assumed I knew the way out and so was determined to find and stop me. So you see, I only followed him to the exit, slipping past him in the end. There was a moment mind you that I was almost caught, for it seems that in bright daylight one can see the shadow cast by the wearer of this ring of mine, but I finally made my way out into the open air late in the afternoon. But, no sooner did I escape the mountain than I was almost run over by an orc pack and their wargs. Luckily, I still wore the ring and after that I determined to keep it on until I was well and truly away from all foreseeable danger. It seems you were not far behind me coming out of the mountain. I had only been wandering the mountainside searching for way down into the valley for about an hour when all the commotion with the orcs began and I saw you run by below me headed for the orc trap. I followed after you as best as I could and arrived only just in time. I believe the rest is known," finished Bilbo, fidgeting with the two remaining buttons on his green waistcoat.

"All but this," said Thorin. "How is it that while you were wearing your ring, your blade was visible and you were not?" Bilbo's brow furrowed

"It is?" asked the hobbit, slipping the ring back on. They heard him draw his sword but there was no metal for the firelight to glint off of. Thorin frowned and he released Sara's hand, going to circle the spot where Bilbo stood invisible.

"Maybe you can only see it when the blade glows blue," suggested Sara, as Bilbo removed the ring and sheathed his sword.

"I think Ms. Sara is correct in this instance," said Gandalf, getting to his feet and tapping out his pipe. "But, it is late and after listening to Sara's story I have an idea where we might seek aid."

"Where?" asked Thorin returning to Sara's side.

"Tomorrow," said the wizard. "First I must talk to our current hosts." He disappeared into the night and the company stood gathering their clothes and made their way to the nest. Sara was just brushing off the seat of her pants when Bofur approached.

"Feel a bit better lass?" he asked, tugging on the trailing end of his hat on her head. Thorin's back stiffened as he collected his clothes.

"A bit,' she said, offering the hat to Bofur. "Thank you for letting me wear it for a while."

"Yer welcome," he said pulling the hat back over his ears. "I'm glad yer doing better. Good night lass." He swooped in and quickly kissed her cheek, winking at her before retiring. Sara gathered the greasy skewers off the ground and threw them onto the glowing embers, watching as they burst into flame. Thorin came to stand next to her watching her with a cautious expression on his face.

"What?" she asked a bit uneasy as he stepped closer to her.

"Why were you wearing Bofur's hat?" he asked, his eyes searching her face. "He never removes it if he can help it. It was his father's, or so Bifur has told me."

"Really?" she asked surprised. He nodded. "I didn't know."

"So why would he let you wear it," he asked again.

"Well," she said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "When he told me that Azog burned my coat, I might have cried... rather a lot. I think he was lending me his comfort item because mine was gone. After we arrived here I kind of went into shock. Bofur was the one who found me and pulled me out again." She was quiet for a moment watching the fire. "I really am going to miss that coat," she said forlornly. A weight settled on her shoulders.

"Take mine for the night," he said. She looked up at him startled.

"But it's yours," she protested, though she made no move to take it off.

"Yes," he said, folding his arms across his chest. "And it would please me to have you use it tonight. It is the least I owe you for saving me and my nephew's. Besides," he said, letting his arms drop to his side as he leaned closer, a smirk on his face. "I know you enjoy the smell." Sara's face was still warm as she lay between a snoring Fili and Kili trying not to breath in the smell of Thorin's furred coat. She failed miserably.