I follow her gaze to see a lone boat sailing toward the other side of the lake. My heart drops at the sight of my friends leaving me behind. I hear people start moving things behind me and I turn to see the People of Laketown packing whatever they can find. I follow closely behind Tauriel and the Blonde Elf until we reach the top of the hill and look out over the desolation. Suddenly Bard appears with a rick of wood and the Blonde elf says, "Where will you go?"

"There is only one place left," Bard says and I slowly turn toward the mountain.

A few moments later Bard walks past us and I hear the blonde Elf say, "News of the death of Smaug will have spread through the lands."

"Aye."

"Others will now look to the mountain for its wealth, and its position."

"What is it you know?"

"Nothing is certain, it's what I fear may come." I look to the mountain and fell my heart being pulled toward it. My friends, my family, they were in that mountain and I worried that they would fall victim to the dragon sickness. I see the blonde Elf and Tauriel start walking away and I have nothing else to do but follow them.

"You saw something out there." Tauriel says and I listen carefully as he replies, "The Orc I followed out of Lake Town, I know him. Bolg, the spawn of Azog the Defiler. A Warg pack was awaiting him on the outskirts of Esgaroth to the north. These Orcs were different; they bore a mark I have not seen in a long time. The mark of Gundabad."

"Gundabad?"

"An Orc stronghold on the far north of the Misty Mountains," He says and before he is able to say anything else I hear someone speak in Elvish, "Hîr nín, Legolas. Celin 'winiath o adar lín. Cân i hi danwenidh na le." (My Lord Legolas... I bring word from your Father. You are to return to him immediately.)

I turn toward the voice to see a brunette elf sitting astride a grey mare. "Tolo, Tauriel!" Legolas says and I suddenly start to feel like I'm being left behind again.

"Hîr nín. Edlennen Tauriel." (My Lord, Tauriel is Banished.) I slowly turn to see sadness mixed with relief fill Tauriel's eyes.

"Edlennen?" Legolas says and I turn back to him as he continues in English, "You may tell my father, if there is no place for Tauriel; there is no place for me."

The sudden realization that he is Thranduil's son suddenly sinks in and my eyes widen. That's why he seemed so familiar. "Legolas, it is your king's command." I hear Tauriel whisper to him.

He slowly turns toward Tauriel as he says, "Naw aran nín, mal ú-gân innas nín." (Yes, he is my king... But he does not command my heart.)

I start to follow them when they walk away but the Elf on the horse says, "Hiril vuin Melethril," I pause and slowly turn toward him as he continues, "Taur amin Thranduil, merna lle an danwenidh ah amin." I pause for a moment and contemplate following him.

I look around at the people making their way toward the mountain and I let out a sigh. "Lle innas nara-Thranduil tanya manka e merna amin an danwenidh, e innas tol-a cova-nin e." (You will tell Thranduil that if he wants me to return, he will come and collect me himself.) I say as I slowly turn back to the Elf who nods and then turning his horse heads back off toward Mirkwood. I let out another sigh as I walk back to where Bard was helping people and say, "Can I offer you my help?" He turns to me for a moment before nodding.

I walk through the wreckage until I feel a familiar hand take mine making me turn toward them to see little Frieda smiling up at me. "Randír, are you here to help us?" She asks and I smile softly as I say, "Aye Lady Frieda, I am." I watch as she smiles even brighter before pulling me off toward where I saw her mother collecting what she could from the wreckage. "Mommy, Randír says she's here to help us!" Frieda calls out as she releases my hand and runs over to her mother. Frieda's mother was older woman with a worn face; her golden hair had streaks of grey in it and her eyes were a deep brown.

"Oh she did, did she?" She says as I approach them.

"Could you use the help carrying anything?" I ask as I suddenly start to feel awkward and a little out of place.

"Of course I could my dear. Why don't you help keep Frieda occupied while I gather what blankets we have left." She says giving me a soft reassuring smile. "Oh and my names Mahrie."

I smile genuinely as I say, "Thank you Mahrie."

"Randír will you walk with me?" Frieda asks and I chuckle as I say, "Of course my dear." Taking her hand plus some of Mahrie's belongings tied to my back, we join the rest of the town's folk as they head toward the mountain.

Hours pass before we finally see Dale in front of us. I smile as I think about how I will soon rejoin my friends. Suddenly I feel Frieda tug at my hand as I turn to her say, "Yes my dear?"

"Will you braid my hair like yours?" She says and my face turns confused.

"My dear my hair's not braided."

"Sure it is," She says as she pulls me down until I am kneeling in front of her. I watch as she reaches over and gently tugs on a section of my hair and I tilt my head as I follow her hands to my hair where I feel a strand that was in fact braided. I narrow my eyes before it hits me that Fili had braided my hair. When he had done it I didn't know but the fact remained that he was the only one I let close enough.

"I guess you were right my lady, but I will give your hair a proper Elven braid instead of just one strand. Would you like that?" I ask causing her to nod enthusiastically. I look toward the mountain and my heart swells in my chest. I knew that braiding someone's hair to the dwarves was something done out of love. I smile at the thought of soon being reunited with him.

As we all pour into a deserted Dale I feel Frieda's little hand clench tightly around mine. "It's okay," I say as I pull her up into my arms and continue walking through the city with Mahrie following close behind us as I try to find them somewhere safe and warm to sleep. All the sudden I hear Alfrid cry out to Bard and I gently set Frieda down and turning to her say, "Go with your mother, I'll find you soon." Frieda starts to argue but I am already gone running after Bard.

When we reach Alfrid he is pointing toward the mountain where I turn to see the braziers lit. I feel my heart jump into my throat as the thought of my friends being alive makes me happy. "Look sire the braziers are lit!" Alfrid cries out and I can already feel myself being pulled toward the mountain.

"So, the company of Thorin Oakenshield survived."

"Survived? You mean there's a bunch of dwarves in there with that gold?"

"You shouldn't worry Alfrid there's gold in the mountain for all." Bard says as he walks away. I glance over to see the greed filling Alfrid's face and I slowly turn toward him as I say, "If you try anything, I will take great pleasure in separating your head from your body." He stares at me wide eyed for a moment before walking off after Bard who turns back to him and says, "Alfrid take the night watch."

I chuckle as I slowly turn back to the mountain. Reaching up I gently caress the braid Fili had left in my hair as I smile. Then suddenly I realize that they are barring the door with gigantic stones and my heart drops.I ask to myself as I feel Bard stand beside me.

"I suppose you wish to rejoin your company?"

"I do, but something tells me I won't be accepted. I fear that Thorin has fallen under the same sickness as his grandfather. As much as I long to be with those I love, I cannot go to them."

He nods slightly as he says, "Then you are most welcome to stay with us. We could use your help getting everyone settled."

I nod and take one last look at the mountain before following after Bard. I find Frieda and smile as she notices me and runs over to my arms. "I told you I'd come back." That night I remain with Frieda and her mother. As Frieda sleeps her head resting in my lap I gently run my hands through her hair. I smile as I braid it for her. It would quite the surprise for her when she awoke. As I did I start to think about what my life would have been like if I'd have had children of my own. I smile at the thought of having a child running through the woods alongside me. I take one last look at the mountain before I fall asleep.

When I wake Frieda is staring at me a giant smile bright on her lips. I return her smile as I say, "I take it you like your hair?"

"Thank you! I love it!" She says as she tugs at one of the braids. I return her smile as I climb to my feet and looking around find that Mahrie is nowhere to be seen.

"Frieda, where's your mother?"

"She's down in the square trying to help the sick and hungry." She says and I nod as I say, "Why don't we go and join her?" Frieda nods and I take her hand as we make our way to where her mother was. When we arrive my heart clenches at the sight of all the sick and wounded. There were so many and from what I had heard on my way up to them they were running low on water and food. As I spot Bard I let go of Frieda's hand and say, "Go find your mother dear, I have to speak with Bard." Nodding she runs off down the corridors to locate her mother.

As I reach Bard he is walking up some stairs to Alfrid who is half asleep in his chair. "Morning Alfrid, what new from the night watch?" Bard asks as we pass him.

"All quiet sire, not much to report. Nothing gets past me." He exclaims and my eyes roll as I look forward to see an army of elf's standing in the courtyard.

"Except and army of Elves it would seem." Bard says as stares at the mass amount of elves that stood before us. I knew right away that they were Mirkwood elves and I find myself instantly looking for Thranduil. Bard starts to walk forward and I quickly follow after him. As we near the Elves they turn and part leaving a path for us to walk through. When we are through the mass amount of elves I hear the sound of hoof beats coming toward us and turn to see Thranduil upon a massive Elk riding toward us. He was adorned in his battle armor; it shimmered like a diamond in the sunlight.

"My Lord Thranduil, we did not look to see you here." Bard says and I watch as the two of them converse back and forth.

"I heard you needed aid." He says and turns back the way he had come. I follow his gaze to see wagons full of supplies for the people of Laketown. I smile as their spirits lift and the rush toward the wagon.

"You have saved us, I do not know how to thank you." Bard says and I sense the relief in his voice.

"Your gratitude is misplaced. I did not come to your aid; I came to reclaim something of mine." I see Thranduil eye me before he continues, "There are gems in the mountain that I too desire. White gems of pure starlight." My smile disappears. Gems, that was what he was here for? I suddenly feel my anger rise and I look away from him. I ignore him until I see him start to march his people toward the mountain.