"No, no, stay with me." Thorin begged as he did his best to carry Agarwaen down from Ravenhill, with Kili and Bilbo in front of him, and Dwalin carrying Fili behind him.

"If I don't wake up..." Agarwaen began, her vision already fading, "I want you to know that I wish...I wish we could have worked." Her voice was quiet enough that only he could hear her. "Le i velethron e-guil nîn."

"You're not going to sleep to begin with." He shifted his grip to keep her feet from dragging on the ground, still surprised at just how light elves actually were. She smiled slightly at him, wanting his face to be the last thing she saw, before finally losing consciousness.

"Men gorach." He muttered. "Wake up!" Her head just rolled back, prompting him to pick up the pace.

"Someone, help, please!" Thorin shouted as they approached the makeshift tents that were being set up right outside of Dale. Bloody bodies were being brought in at a steady pace, both conscious and unconscious. The elves could barely spare him a glance, as they were already busy tending to other patients on the brink of death.

They were eventually ushered toward the dwarven tents, brought by healers from the Iron Hills. The elves offered to take Agarwaen, but Thorin didn't want to let her out of his sight, lest Thranduil get any ideas.

Being the king, Thorin was given his own private tent with his nephews in the next one over, but he insisted that Agarwaen share his tent despite the opposing opinion of the dwarven healers. Gandalf soon found out where they were, along with the rest of the very much alive company.

Oin declared that both Agarwaen and Fili required elvish medicine, and left in search of any elf that could help.

The rest of the company, unable to do anything more, eventually left to help where they could, leaving Thorin, Agarwaen, and a dwarven healer alone. The healer began cleaning Thorin up, wrapping and tending to what he could.

"Thorin?" Dain's voice came from outside the tent before the dwarf pushed the fabric aside and stepped in. "You're alive." He said with a smile, before his face fell. "What is an elf doing in your tent?" Thorin looked to the healer.

"Leave us." The dwarf nodded, taking his things and leaving to tend to someone else. "She's my friend. She saved my life."

"Your friend? She's an elf!" Dain looked at her in disgust.

"She's part of my company." Thorin sat up on his cot with a grimace. "She has been since summer."

"Have you lost your mind, cousin?"

"That has a complicated answer." He stood up. "But I want her treated like any dwarven war hero. She's more than deserving of that title."

"I've brought an elf!" Oin came barreling into the tent, a brunette elf in tow. Dain just stood there, questioning everything with a look of mild outrage.

The elf immediately set to work on Agarwaen with herbs and muttered spells. Thorin and Oin watched hopefully, while Dain considered just leaving.

"She will live." The elf stood, finished with her treatment. "But...what of her sentence, my lord? If I may ask?" The elf asked.

"You may not. Is my nephew being tended to?"

"Yes."

"Then you are dismissed. Thank you." Thorin said genuinely. The elf nodded and left with Oin. Dain looked back to Thorin, at a loss for words.

"It's a bit much, I know." Thorin rubbed his forehead lightly.

"A bit much?" Dain repeated with raised eyebrows. "What happened to you?"

"I've realized that true loyalty can come from any race, that's what. She's pledged herself to Erebor, and has proven to be a true friend to all dwarves." Dain shook his head.

"Are you sure about this, Thorin?"

"Aye." He nodded. Dain scratched his chin through his fiery red beard.

"Alrighty then." He sighed. "If you're really sure, then I doubt I have much say in the matter."

"Precisely." Thorin said with a smile, and Dain grinned back. The tent flaps moving again made Thorin groan in annoyance. This time however, the visitor brought a scowl to the dwarf's face.

"It's raining elves!" Dain threw his hands up dramatically. "I'm leaving." He brushed past Thranduil and exited the tent.

"You will not touch her." Thorin stood between Thranduil and Agarwaen, who still laid fast asleep. The elf just looked down at the dwarf in annoyance.

"Try as you will, she has crimes she must pay for." Thranduil drew his sword.

"I understand she made you a promise, but let me make you a new one." Thorin balled his fists. "If you harm but one hair on her head, you will never see your gems for as long as you live." This made Thranduil lower his sword.

"You would let the life of a murderer be the deciding factor between peace and war among our kingdoms? That is not very wise."

"You know as well as I do that she never meant to kill him."

"It does not matter. He still died by her hands, and if I let her free from her sentence, what kind of example would that set for the rest of my subjects?"

"Declaring war over one criminal is not very wise either."

"How would you see this resolved, then? You already owe me the gems. What more can you give me as payment of her debt?"

"The promise of a strong alliance and trade between our kingdoms. And as I said, you'll see the gems safely returned." Thranduil considered his offer.

"You really care about her this much?"

"Yes." Thranduil hesitated before sheathing his sword again.

"You may inform her that her debt has been paid in full." Thorin let out a breath he didn't realize he was even holding. "My people will be returning to my halls come dawn, but I shall leave a few healers behind to tend to the wounded if you wish."

"Thank you, that is much appreciated. I will see to it that they return home safely when their job is finished here. I will also prepare the white gems of Lasgalen for transport as soon as I am able."

"That is all that I wish to hear." Thranduil bowed. "I am glad to part on good terms, king under the mountain."

"As am I." Thorin nodded. Thranduil then took his leave, but Thorin was restless and couldn't lie back down. He then reluctantly left the tent as well to find Bard and Balin, as there were matters that needed to be discussed.

When Agarwaen finally opened her eyes, she knew not how long she'd been asleep, nor what had transpired while she slumbered. All she knew was that there was stone above her. She propped herself up on an elbow, hissing in pain as her abdomen throbbed, but continued up into a sitting position anyway. She was dressed in a fresh dwarven tunic and clean pants, but her feet were bare. Her arms were wrapped in several spots, as was her middle and a spot on her thigh. The smell of herbs floated through the air, telling her that she had been treated by elves.

She finally looked around now, her head beginning to throb at the motion. She sat on a giant bed in a massive chamber that looked to have once been expertly decorated with golden furnishings and decor. The blankets around her were made from heavy, warm material, and the pillows on the bed were stuffed nicely. It felt strange to have been sleeping atop something that wasn't the ground like she was used to. Gritting her teeth in pain, she moved her legs over the side of the bed, her feet landing on furs. She wandered through the room, shivering as her feet travelled across cold stone upon leaving the furs. She noticed a chair beside the bed had a pile of neatly folded clothing, with new boots on the ground beside it. The boots were elvish, and would obviously fit her much better than the dwarven ones she'd worn before. She slipped them on, before sifting through the pile of clothes that consisted of a dress, several overshirts, more trousers, and a belt. She picked out a blue shirt that looked similar to her old one, and with a wince, pulled it over her head and buckled the belt around her waist to make it less baggy. She slipped on the boots, and then continued further into the unfamiliar surroundings.

She walked through a doorway, down a set of stairs, and was met with a grand office to her left, and spacious living quarters complete with a kitchen and hearth to her right with a hallway that led to more rooms on the far side of the space. Just like the market, sunlight seemed to filter in from somewhere hidden above her, and extra lighting was provided by decorated sconces on the walls.

"Hello?" She called, her voice raspy, and was met with silence. Dust had been disturbed in several places, making the place looked somewhat lived in, and the desk in the study had various pieces of parchment strewn about. The candle on the desk wasn't lit, but the wax wasn't completely dry, meaning that someone was here not long ago.

She continued through the area, making for the large, intricately carved doors inlaid with gold and gems in a magnificent design. She pushed them open and stepped out, beginning to recognize vaguely where she was. She quietly walked down the large corridor, still wincing with every step as every part of her was immensely sore and her side still burned. There were four other doors she passed, the one she came out of being directly at the end of the hall. Each of the doors were also designed beautifully, and her brows knitted together in confusion. These were the royal homes if she remembered correctly. And the one at the end was the king's chambers. She picked up the pace as she started down the staircase at the end that led toward the throne. When she finally reached the monstrous cavern, dwarves were milling about here and there, but upon her entrance, all stopped to stare.

"You're awake!" She heard Dwalin's voice call from somewhere to her left. Looking in that direction, she saw her friend waving her over. She glanced nervously at the other dwarves who still stared at her, but started toward Dwalin anyway. "Thorin just came this way a few minutes ago, actually. They're loading up gold for Bard and the people of Dale today." He explained as he began to walk with her.

"How...how long have I slept for?" She asked.

"A few days. Thorin doesn't exactly trust everyone here with your safety, so he had you moved to his quarters and only Oin and another elf lass has been allowed to tend to you."

"Are the injured still outside in tents?" She asked worriedly. Winter had begun, and she was afraid that the men of Dale were freezing to death out there.

"No, Thorin had everyone move inside the mountain to the gallery of kings. Dwarves, men, and elves. They'd catch their death out in that snow."

"It snowed?"

"Aye. Only a couple inches though." Dwalin led her down, past the treasure horde and finally she knew exactly where she was. They strode into the massive area that was the gallery, and were met by the sight of tents and supplies stocked neatly all over the place. Thorin was speaking with Bard and Balin off to her right, and Dwalin called their attention. The three turned and smiled when they saw her.

"How are you feeling?" Thorin asked with a smile as he met her halfway.

"Like I've just been sat on by a troll." She grinned down at him.

"Sounds about right." He nodded. "Have you had anything to eat yet?" He asked, and she shook her head, still marvelling at the sight of the mountain filled with people. And not just dwarves, either. Elves tended to the wounded, and men sat with their loved ones and were at work, transporting goods from place to place. "Then come." Thorin grabbed her hand, and it took her a moment to realize that he'd just asked her about food. "I have much to discuss with you, but first you must eat."

Le i velethron e-guil nîn- You are the love of my life

Men gorach- You idiot