Bombur and several others had been working busily, preparing food that was brought by the elves and dwarves. It wasn't exactly a feast, but it was something. After Agarwaen had eaten, and Thorin finished speaking with Bard, Thorin pulled her aside, away from everyone.

"There is something I need to ask you. It is something of a quest of your own, I suppose." He started.

"What do you mean?" She asked before Thorin pulled the Arkenstone out of his pocket.

"This jewel...It drove my grandfather mad. It drove me mad..." He looked down at it, seemingly at war with himself. "Will you take it from me?"

"I..." She wasn't sure what to say. She knew this was of importance, but she could not take it.

"When you leave here, I want you to take it with you. I...I never want to see it again. I never want to see Fili or Kili fall to its beauty like I did. Please."

"Thorin, when I leave here, it will be in shackles into Mirkwood." Thorin shook his head.

"Thranduil no longer has any claim over your life."

"What?"

"Your debt has been paid."

"With what? What did you give him? What did you promise him?" She began to panic, worrying that he'd done something brash. Surely Thranduil would not release her so easily.

"An alliance, trade, and his gems. That is all." He assured her.

"There has to be more." She shook her head. "He wouldn't have..."

"He did. And I am not one to question that which is in my favor. You are free." After a few more moments of shock and confusion, she finally forced herself to return to the subject at hand.

"What will I do with it?" She gently took the Arkenstone from him, her fingers running over its smooth surface as it shone brightly between them.

"Keep it, bury it, drop it off a cliff, I do not care so long as it never reaches the hands of another dwarf again." He tore his gaze from it and finally looked back up to her.

"You're serious?"

"More serious than I ever have been in my life. Agarwaen...it drove me to break my word. It stripped me of my honor and in my blindness, I hurt those I care about." He reached up to touch her cheek and ran his thumb over the forming scar across her face. She leaned into his touch and looked down at the stone once more before tucking into her pocket.

"I will make sure it is taken care of." His hand reluctantly retreated back to his side.

"Thank you." He smiled. "I also have something else for you." He pulled out two other objects, though these were much smaller. He held them out in the palm of his hand. Two beads. "It symbolizes honor, and will show that you are a war hero, someone to be respected among dwarves." She took them and examined the runes and design etched into it. It looked new. They were rectangular, the runes on two sides of each bead, with a symbol and design on the other two sides.

"What does it say?" She asked in reference to the runes.

"Aet'manan Khuzi and Azbad al Silfdor. Moonlit warrior and Lady of Mithril. I made them myself over these past few days."

"I...thank you." Her voice was quiet in wonder and gratitude. "But..."

"What?"

"I cannot imagine your people would want me to wear what is sacred to your kind."

"That is why I give them to you. As a gift from the king, it demands that respect be given to you, no matter your race."

"How should I wear them?"

"At the end of a braid on both sides of your head." He explained. "I made them out of lighter material due to your fighting style. I notice your braids often hit your face when you spin." She smiled as she held them gently in her hand.

"They're beautiful, Thorin. Thank you. Why those titles though?"

"Moonlit warrior because you shine as bright and beautiful as the night sky under which the elves were first awakened. Lady of Mithril because although beautiful, graceful, and treasured, you are unbreakable; strong beyond measure." Agarwaen felt heat rising to her face as her heart rate sped up.

"Why must you flatter me so?" She asked, pulling at the hem of her sleeve. He smirked.

"Because it is truth. Can I give you one more thing?" He asked, and she sighed. "Just one."

"I have nothing to give you in return for all of this. You make me feel ungrateful."

"I am not asking for anything in return. I am merely giving you that which you are owed." He held out the sapphire and diamond necklace he stripped her of only a week ago. She looked at it, her small smile now faltering. She remembered that horrible night, and suddenly the cut across her face began to throb.

"I know when I first gave you this, I was not of sound mind. Nor when I took it back. But that night on the ramparts, when I saw you through my own eyes...it looked like it was made for you." Her heart felt conflicted. She knew Thorin spoke from his heart, and that he really cared for her, but the longer he stood there with his feelings bared, the more hurt he would be when she finally had to leave.

"Thorin..." She started softly, "We have to stop this."

"Stop what?"

"The stirring of our hearts. That night on the ramparts... it can't happen again or I fear I may not be able to move on." She took the necklace finally, and held it to her chest in despair. Thorin sighed.

"Then don't move on. Come back when you've lost the stone."

"Thorin, you know I can't. We can't."

"I am the king. I make the rules."

"But you don't. You'll be dethroned."

"I will find a way." Agarwaen shook her head.

"I cannot let you throw away what you've spent your whole life preparing for. I cannot come back." Her words brought a lump to his throat, and he nodded slowly.

"I cannot force you to." He said. "But should you decide to return one day, know that you will be welcomed."

"I know." She smiled sadly.

Agarwaen stayed in the mountain for another week, as Oin forbade she leave until she was nearly healed. During that time, she'd officially met Dain, who was reluctant to talk to her at first, but after talking over a few mugs of mead, he came around.

Upon her insistence, she relocated from the king's quarters to an old noble's home not far from the royal lodgings, and she helped to establish plans for trade with the woodland realm, and voiced a few ideas on how to rebuild both Erebor and Dale to be even better than before both in terms of finances and building.

Dwalin became in charge of the guard, and Balin continued on as chief advisor to Thorin, so she spent a considerable amount of time around them.

Bofur and Bombur were part of the very busy kitchen, Ori worked on finishing his writings, and Nori...well, no one really knew what he'd been up to but some had peculiar suspicions of secret tunnels or something of that sort.

Fili was still bedridden for the remainder of her stay, but the healers said that he would be able to walk again without any trouble come spring. The prince was less than thrilled, but still glad to be alive.

Kili spent much time at his uncle's side, doing his best to learn as much as he could about the kingdom and what it meant to be a proper prince. He met with Agarwaen several times, asking her to teach him some elvish, but wouldn't tell her why. She suspected it had something to do with Tauriel, though. The elf had stayed behind with the elven healers to help, and was still in the mountain when the day came for Agarwaen and Bilbo to leave.

Bilbo seemed to have just been following people around awkwardly, spending most of his time helping the healers or helping in the kitchen. He didn't know anything about rebuilding a home or politics or finances or trade, so he stuck to more physical tasks.

"Well, Bilbo." Agarwaen said one morning after seeing Oin for an examination. Her wound was beginning to close, but it would still drain quite a bit before healing completely. The elven magic sped up the healing process, but she still had to be careful not to strain herself and undo all of the progress she'd made. "Today is the day. I've spoken to Thorin, and the company wishes to see us off this afternoon."

"I-I think I'd rather just slip quietly away." Bilbo shook his head.

"Nonsense. They'll all miss you very much, at least give them a chance to say goodbye." The hobbit sighed.

"I suppose you're right. Will Gandalf be coming with us?"

"I think so, yes. I'm going to go gather my things. We'll meet at the gate at noon, hmm?"

"It's been...quite some time here." He nodded, looking around the halls once more. "You know, you don't have to come with me. I'm sure Gandalf and I will be just fine. I'm well aware Thorin has asked you to stay." Agarwaen narrowed her eyes at him.

"And how would you know that? Have you been sneaking about?"

"What, you think no one notices the looks you two give each other? I was merely just assuming he asked you to stay, and you just proved me right." He smirked at her.

"Go get your things and say goodbye." She rolled her eyes and waved him off. He chuckled lightly before disappearing down the halls. Agarwaen sighed, not sure she was quite ready to say goodbye to Erebor yet, but the choice wasn't exactly hers to make.