Two years. It had been two years now.

Agarwaen's nerves ran wild as the mountain seemed to loom threateningly before her. After getting rid of the Arkenstone and spending some time in Rivendell once again, she'd spent several months back on the road, trying to convince herself that she could travel alone again. That she didn't belong in Erebor. That she didn't need to see the dwarves again. But it didn't work.

Although she had Fuin to keep her company, he was still only a horse. She often had dreams of times of old, and would wake feeling empty and alone. She longed for nothing more than to see her friends again, and even more so, to belong somewhere. The company loved her, they promised to welcome her, and they made her feel like she belonged. It was something that she could never find again without them.

So, after months of trying to stay away, trying to convince herself that it was for the best, she finally gave up and rode east.

Now, she slowed as Fuin took her away from the northern borders of Mirkwood and walked toward the mountain. She knew he could feel the anxiety coursing through her by the way he tensed and his steps became unsure.

"It's alright, Fuin." She leaned forward to stroke his neck soothingly. "We're not in any danger." She murmured along with a few more comforting words in elvish. That seemed to calm him down enough, as he now was more sure-footed and his ears were more relaxed.

Before long, the front gate to the dwarven city came into view, but now it was guarded by several dwarves on both sides. They were dressed in heavy armor, armed with axes and spears.

"Halt!" One of them yelled when she came too close to the bridge into the mountain. She stopped Fuin, and dismounted.

"Greetings, dwarves of Erebor." She bowed. "I come with intentions of peace, and request an audience with the king under the mountain." The dwarf who told her to stop took a step forward, and one on the opposite side of the gate did the same.

"The king is very busy, and is not expecting an elf at the gates of Erebor. Be gone." He said sternly in a thickly accented voice. Agarwaen figured he was from the Iron Hills.

"He will make time for me, master dwarf, I assure you." She said politely. "He is an old friend of mine.

"My king is no friend of elves."

"What of either of the princes, Fili or Kili? May I see one of them?" She tried a different approach. She most certainly didn't want to upset the gatekeepers.

"No."

"What about Balin or Dwalin, sons of Fundin?" The dwarf gave her an odd look, but said nothing. Instead, he moved to stand in front of the gate, the dwarf from the other side joining him. "Bofur? Ori?" She tried again.

"We only welcome elves into the mountain should they be expected by his majesty the king."

"I wear beads of the king's craftsmanship. Will you at least send word to him that I am here?" She asked.

"We most certainly do not welcome liars." He accused her.

"Well, would you take a look, then?" She set all of her weapons on the ground, and held up the ends of her braids. The dwarves narrowed their eyes at her, but the dwarf who she was speaking to reluctantly stepped forward, and she cautiously met him at the edge of the bridge. Upon coming near enough to see the rectangular beads, confusion spread across his face.

"How come you by the craftsmanship of our people?"

"They were given to me by the king for my deeds of bravery and honor in the battle for the mountain, two years ago. I fought beside him, and nearly gave my life for his." The dwarf stepped back, talking to the others in Khuzdul.

"Why would the king under the mountain fight beside an elf?" He asked suspiciously.

"Because I was his guide across the north through the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood. He is my friend." The dwarf said something more to the dwarves in their language, and one of them walked away, disappearing into the mountain.

"We will see if your story rings true." The dwarf said, not moving from the entryway.

"Thank you." She bowed again, and walked back to Fuin, leading him to the side to wait.

"My king," A guard addressed, walking into Thorin's personal study.

"What is it?" Thorin asked annoyedly. He was in the middle of a mountain of paperwork and hardly had time for any minor inconvenience.

"An elf came to the mountain and is seeking an audience with you." Thorin felt a spark of hope, but quickly waved it off. As much as he wanted to see his old friend again, he knew she wouldn't come back. At least not so soon.

"Did they say what they wanted an audience for?"

"No, only that she was an old friend of yours." Thorin's heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be, could it? "She claims to wear beads of your making." The dwarf continued. "And says she fought by your si--my lord?" The dwarf was taken aback by how fast Thorin stood up and left, papers floating to the ground around his desk where they'd gotten caught in the wind of his cloak.

"M-my lord!" The dwarf called, running after him. "My king!" Thorin sprinted through the halls of Erebor, gaining the attention of everyone he passed. He remembered knocking something over in his haste, but paid it no mind as he quickly navigated his way to the front gate, completely ignoring those who called after him. When sunlight hit his face, he slowed as he stepped outside, letting his eyes adjust to the sun. He heard the guards at the gate greet him, but they were forgotten in an instant, for there, across the bridge stood Agarwaen, her hair shining like gold in the sunlight. Everything else around him grew dull, and he thought that surely he must be dreaming.

"Agarwaen..." The elf turned away from Fuin when she heard a deep voice whisper her name. A large grin spread across her face when she saw him. He was dressed like the king he was now, crown and everything, and only a few more gray streaks ran through his dark hair. His beard had gotten slightly longer, but not very much, and he wore an expression of disbelief. She took a few steps forward, obviously making a few of the guards uneasy.

"My king." She bowed, her grin becoming ever wider.

"Is this a dream?" Thorin asked.

"I don't think so, but if it is, it's a very good one."

"You came back." Thorin took a few steps closer, now nearly at the end of the bridge.

"I...I had to see you all again." She replied, beginning to walk closer, but stopped when she noticed archers notch arrows on the ramparts above. Thorin followed her gaze and went into a panic.

"No!" He shouted. "Put down your weapons, all of you!" Although hesitant, the dwarves did as he said. "Take her horse to the stables and make sure he is well cared for, and bring her things to my study until we can figure out where she will stay for her visit."

"But, my king--"

"Our guest is to be treated with the utmost respect." Thorin cut the dwarf off, continuing forward to grab Agarwaen's hand and start leading her into the mountain, a smile finally spreading across his face.

"The company will be overjoyed." He said. "I think Fili and Kili might just grab you by the arms and never let you go." She laughed with the king as they entered the mountain while the guards looked on in utter confusion. "And you can finally meet my sister." He beamed. "Come, we must find Balin and arrange a great feast! It will be just the company plus Dis, that is if you don't mind."

"Thorin, I don't even know how long I'll be here for." She said, still smiling.

"Then we must make every moment count." He replied, still leading her by the hand. Dwarves stared, some in confusion and others in disgust at her as they passed, and if her memory served correct, they were headed toward the throne. Thorin then led her down a hallway she'd never been in before, and they turned down two other corridors, before he pushed open a set of heavy double doors, revealing a large room that smelled of old parchment and ink. Bookcases lined the walls and also stood in the middle of the room, with desks scattered around the place. What grabbed her attention the most however, was the five dwarves that sat at the desks. They all looked up when Thorin strode in, Agarwaen in tow.

"Agar!" Kili yelled as he shot up, Fili was quick to follow. They bolted toward her and almost knocked her to the ground as they crashed into her, both wrapping their arms around her in a tight embrace.

"Oh, I've missed you both so much." She hugged back, tears welling up.

"We thought you were never coming back!" Kili said, his voice muffled by her cloak, which he had his face pressed into.

"Well, I'm back, and that's what's important." She ruffled the prince's hair, and tried to move, but they wouldn't let her go. Thorin beamed at her with a look that said 'I told you so'.

"It's been some time, lass." Balin said, smiling wide as he also approached. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon." She could tell he was trying to remain professional around the other two dwarves in the room, but his eyes failed to hide his giddy excitement.

"I couldn't find anything out there for me anymore. I had to at least come back to say hello." She told him, still trying to pry the brother's fingers off of her. Fili reluctantly let go first.

"Are you staying, then?" He asked. "For good?" His voice was hopeful.

"I wish I could, Fili, I really do." Kili finally let her go now so that he could look her in the eyes. "But a dwarven city is no place for an elf."

"No place, indeed." Said another dwarf, finally speaking as he made his way over to the merry group. He had black and white hair, a good sized beard, and wore spectacles on his big nose. "What is the meaning of this?"

"This is Agarwaen, Regmir. She travelled with me and my company to the lonely mountain for many months to reclaim it. She also fought with us in the battle of five the five armies, and is a very skilled and honorable warrior. She has been named Aet'manan khuzi and azbad al silfdor by me personally, and is a war hero for saving not only my life, but Fili's as well." Thorin explained as the dwarf, Regmir, eyed the elf up and down.

"A war hero? Doesn't look like a war hero to me." He grumbled. "How long are you planning on...staying, elf?"

"Not long, I don't think." Agarwaen replied, her smile no longer present.

"Would you like me to have a guest's quarters prepared, my lord?" The last dwarf in the room asked. This one had slowly graying red hair, and a shorter, more intricately braided beard.

"Yes, Thordar. And if you could please have the kitchens begin preparing a feast for fifteen, that would be perfect." Thorin nodded, and Thordar then left. "Regmir, please. Agarwaen is a very good friend of ours and has no ill will towards any dwarrow." The king said, turning back to the shorter dwarf, who grumbled something under his breath before leaving. "I'm sorry about that, Agar."

"No, don't be." The elf replied. "That was not unexpected by any means. I am not offended at all."

"They will come to appreciate you. I know it." Thorin smiled again, before turning back to his nephews. "You two, finish your studies. Balin, would you be so kind as to inform the old company of dinner tonight?"

"Of course. They'll all be very excited." The old dwarf nodded with a smile.

"It brings me such joy to see you all again." Agarwaen rested a hand on Balin's shoulder with a wide smile.

"That joy goes both ways." Balin replied, finally letting his guard down with a quick hug. "Don't be surprised if my brother asks to spar with you soon." He laughed. "He's been looking for a challenge lately." Agarwaen laughed in response.

"I think a challenge would be fun." She said before Balin finally took his leave, and the brothers finally settled back down at their desks, but not without another set of hugs.

"Come, Agar. There's much to show you and Dis would love to meet you." Thorin stuck out his elbow, and she took it with a smile. "I do hope you will stay for a while." He said as they left the study.

"I hope so too." She said honestly as he led her down the hall. Her return brought him a sense of happiness he hadn't felt since she left, and her a sense of belonging. Even though she wasn't welcomed at first, and the dwarves were extremely skeptical of her, there were at least a few that she knew loved her very much, and she realized then, that whether she chose to or not, her heart belonged with them, her family.