Five Years Later....

Freya was out in her garden, working on getting rid of the weeds and collecting her vegetables that were ready to be picked. She would often hear her two daughters playfully screaming throughout her home. It was the joyous sound to her ears. It's spring time and the sun was shinning down over the peaceful valley of her home. Since she returned, Freya felt like the Shire was not the same, she was not the same. She experienced things no hobbit could ever dream of doing; or would do for that matter. Not a day went by that she didn't think of Thorin and how different things could have been, if only she could have saved him. Freya didn't sleep much these passing nights and her daughters often found her crying but with everyday she got a little better. She knew she would always have a part of Thorin with her.

As Thora and Thea got older, she saw little things that reminded her of their father. Thora had proven to be just as stubborn; if not more then Thorin and she had his black hair but it was curlier. She also could be just as proud and brave as him. Thea had his strong heart, and had his smile that Freya wished she would have seen more of. Thea was more like her mother she could be just as sweet but could be stubborn when she wanted to be and she had the colour of her mothers hair and it wasn't as curly like her sisters. Both girls had their fathers eyes.

The woman was carrying her basket full of the fresh crops she had just picked and was about to go inside when she heard a familiar voice she never thought she would hear again. "Freya." The woman slowly turned around to see Balin and Dwalin standing at her gate and a smile spread across her face to see her friends.

"Balin. Dwalin. What are you two doing here?" She asked in surprise as she walked up to both of them and hugged them both.

"Why checking up on you lass." Dwalin chuckled. " You didn't think we forget about you did ya?"

"Would you both care to come in for some tea? I got cookies." She encouraged with a smirk.

"Don't mind if I do." Dwalin said as he walked passed her.

"Of course we would lass." Balin added and the woman looped her arm around his and they went inside her home. Freya placed her pot over the fire to get hot and placed the plate of fresh cookies on the table. Dwalin helped himself. The water began to boil and she poured Balin and herself a cup and poured Dwalin a mug of ale. " How have you been lass? Since everything." Balin asked from across the table.

"I've been okay.......it's been hard since....Thorin left but I get by. " She admitted, and she let out a shaky breath. "How are the others? I miss them so much."

"They are all doing fine. " Balin replied with a smile. They miss you and Bilbo dearly. Freya couldn't help but smile, thinking of all the moments she spent with the company. She never would trade any of it for the world. They were apart of her and she was thankful for that.

" That's good to hear..." She mumbled as her smile slowly faded.

"Freya.. Are you alright? You look a little under the weather." Balin pointed out, looking at her with concern. He knew it had to be the grief she felt for the loss of Thorin, Fili and Kili but this grief was only going to weigh heavier on her heart if she didn't find a way to move on.

"I don't sleep much these nights...." She began, the dwarf looked at her not with disappointment but in understanding. " I see him Balin.....every time I try to close my eyes. I see him when I'm awake and....it's just hard to let him go..." She admitted, quickly wiping her eyes before the tears would come out. Balin took her hand in his and gave her a smile.

"Lass....I can't imagine what you are going through but I promise things will start to get better." The hobbit smiled but it never reached her eyes and suddenly they all heard a shriek from down the hall.

"What was that?" Dwalin questioned. Wondering if he would have to do some fighting while he was here. Thea playfully screamed as she ran over to her mother.

"Mama. Thora's trying to get me." Thea whined. Balin and Dwalin's eyes widen in shock. Freya brought Thea up onto her lap and the little girl looked at the two dwarves curiously. "Mama who are they?" She questioned.

"Their dear friends. Can you say hi." Freya asked, giving her youngest an encouraging smile.

"H-hi." Thea hesitantly said.

"Whoa! What do we got here?" Dwalin said, as he yanked up his arm to see another odd creature hanging from his arm.

"Thora. How many times have I told you not to climb on people." Freya pressed. Thora landed on the ground and looked at the woman.

"Sorry, mama." Thora replied.

"Tell Mister Dwalin, you're sorry for using him as one of your climbing trees."

"Sorry." Thora grunted and Dwalin snorted.

"Not shy, this one at all is she? When did this happen lass? Who's the lucky lad?" Dwalin chuckled, not seeing it at all. Balin looked at the two girls and noticed they wore boots, and didn't have oversized feet like typical hobbit children. But that wasn't what gave it away. It was their eyes, they both had the same eyes as someone they knew.

"Thorin." Balin answered. Freya nodded, her lips twitched into a smile. " Did he know?"

Freya's expression quickly fell and she shook her head. " No...I never knew until the day I left. Oin wanted to tell you all, but I made him promise not to say anything. I didn't know what else to do. I just knew I couldn't stay." She admitted

"Freya, you don't need to explain yourself. We never blamed you that day, for wanting to leave to come back here. You lost a lot that day....we all did. But to see that something truly wonderful came out of that tragic day is a miracle. The line of Durin will live on after all." The dwarf praised. Balin then looked at the little girl sitting on Freya's lap. "What's your name little lass?"

Thea looked up at her mother, unsure about answering and then she turned her face against Freya's chest and the woman giggled and stroked her daughters hair. "This is Thea, she's a little shy." Freya stated. Thea climbed off Freya's lap and the two girls chased each other down the hall, screaming and laughing.

"Thorin would have been proud, to be those two beautiful girl's father." Balin declared. "What are you going to tell them when they ask about their father?" He asked next.

"I'm gonna tell them. That their father died to give his people back their homeland." She declared. The two dwarves approved of this.

"Mama, can we go see uncle Bilbo?" Thora begged.

"Of course. Would you both like to join us? I know Bilbo will enjoy to see you both." Freya insisted but Balin gave her a knowing look.

"I'm afraid we better be going lass. It's a long journey back to Erebor as you know. Besides, we visited him earlier. Freya nodded and the five of them walked out of the hole, seeing the sun beginning to set behind the hills.

"Mama, can we run to uncle Bilbo's?" Thea asked, looking at the three of them, forming a shy smile across her face.

"Yes but be careful." Freya said and the two of them took off running up the hill. She then turned to the two brother, sad to see them go.

"You take care of yourself lass, and those two girls."Balin said and the two of them hugged. Dwalin gave her a quick hug and stomped down the steps. " Freya, I know that it may not seem like it, things will get better. But Thora and Thea need you. Remember the good that happened to you on this journey. What you and Thorin had was something most people could never imagine experiencing. " He said and he gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and followed behind his brother. The woman watched as they disappeared down the road, tears of joy coming down her face. She left down the stairs and began the walk up the path her cousins and smiled at her thoughts. Thorin had given her the one gift she never imagine she would have and she was forever thankful for it. Those girls were the only thing left she had of Thorin and she knew this was sign of hope that her life was still worth living.

She continued up the road, and glanced to her side to see Thorin standing beside her, smiling. But she did not weep this time, she had to move on for the sake of their daughters and she decided to do what the elder dwarf told her to do. She remembered the good that Thorin brought into her life, even if it was just a short time, it was a memory she would for always treasure and as she climbed her cousins stairs his hallucination slowly vanished from the spot and she disappeared into her cousins house.