Author's Note: Hello Hobbit fans! I do hope that you enjoy this chapter and that it is still easy to read. Gotta admit though...this may be one of the chapters I'm not overly fond of, I feel there's something missing...but it's something that needed to be written I suppose, well I thought it needed to be written. Forgive any grammar errors that you notice, and I hope that even with grammar errors this is still an easy chapter to read!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit! All rights belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson. Anything you notice from the movie and the book belong to those two wonderful men who bought Middle-Earth to life. Enjoy this chapter everyone!

"We're nearing the shoreline." I heard Thorin call out as I felt a slight shaking. "Bellethiel."

I opened my eyes slowly, looking around in a daze before looking behind me to see our boat getting closer to land.

As the boat got into shallower waters, my nephews got out and pulled the boat closer and I got up and began helping the company unload the supplies.

"I do hope you rested well Bellethiel." Thorin spoke as I handed him one of our packs of food.

"I did indeed." I smiled. "We have a long ways to walk before we reach the mountain..."

"We will make it there in time." Thorin assured as soon as we got all the equipment off of the vessel.

"I wish the Master was kind enough to have lend us some horses and ponies..." Balamaethor sighed as he put a pack on his back.

"I think he was happy to just be rid of us..." Beriohtarion commented, following his brother.

"Are we ready to depart?" Thorin called out.

The company voiced out their confirmation as we all began our trek toward the mountain.

"Balamaethor, Beriohtarion." I called back as they came jogging up to me. "Scout ahead...anything you see or hear that is strange I want you to report back."

The two nodded before taking off in a run.

"Anything I can do Nana?" Thenidiel questioned.

"I would suggest you follow your cousins...but I would feel better if you were here where I can see you." I commented. "We have been here before so the two know the land pretty well, I would not want you to get lost..."

Thenidiel nodded before walking beside me.

On the other side of me was Thorin, after our little exchange the other day he had kept close to me and I began to notice that if I strayed out of his sight he would move to make sure I was in it at all time. It was not something I was accustomed to, having someone look over me the way he did, but I suppose...it was how dwarves acted toward someone they cared about.

"Hey Nana..." Thenidiel whispered, coming close to me. "how much further until we reach the mountain?"

"We would have to pass through the city of Dale first," I answered. "after...we will go looking for the secret door to the mountain."

"And we have to do this before the last light of Autumn right?" Thenidiel questioned. "What if we were to miss it?"

"Then this journey would have been for nothing..." I stated sadly. "But we are on the right course, there is still time until Durin's Day...we have just the right amount of time left to search for the door."

"Nana!"

Thenidiel and myself looked up the hill to see Beriohtarion waving our way.

"It's clear from this point and further!" Beriohtarion yelled out. "Nothing odd or out of ordinary."

"Return with your brother!" I called out.

Beriohtarion nodded before quickly disappearing from my line of sight.

The two appeared together from over the hill, racing their way back to us and the company.

"We're getting close..." Balamaethor mumbled sadly.

"Close to where?" Thenidiel questioned.

I looked to Thenidiel and smiled the best that I could.

"Dale..." I replied quietly. "I would hope to pass through instead of go around...there is something I think we should do before we reach Erebor."

Thenidiel looked up at me curiously before we reached the top of the hill.

"It's so different the last we saw of this place..." Beriohtarion mumbled, glancing around. "It used to be so green and lively."

"It was such a beautiful place...the vegetation was in full flourish and the land was prosperous last I was here..." Bellethiel sighed.

"It's so quiet..." Bilbo mumbled, coming to stand beside us.

"It wasn't always like this." Balin answered. "Once these slopes were lined with woodlands. The trees...we're filled with birdsong."

Thorin chuckled, coming to stand by us.

"Relax, Master Baggins. We have food, we have tools, and we're making good time." Thorin assured, suddenly looking past us and ran past us over a rock that overlooked a city in ruins. I slowly made my way to stand beside Thorin.

Before us stood the city that’s markets where known far and wide, sadly struck down by Smaug...before us lay the ruins of Dale. The rest of the company came to stand at the edges of the cliff as my niece and nephews stood on either side of me.

"What is this place?" Bilbo asked.

"It was once the city of Dale...now it lays in ruins." Balin answered. "The Desolation...of Smaug."

"We have a few more days until the last days of Autumn...we should hurry. We don't want to waste a day we could be using to finding the door." Thorin stated, turning to walk down the trail. "This way."

"Wait." Bilbo called. "Is this...the overlook? Gandalf said to meet him here, on no account..."

"Do you see him?" Thorin questioned urgently. "We have no time to wait upon the wizard we're on our own. Come on!"

"Thorin..." I called up, halting him from continuing. "I know you do not want to waste a day...but I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you."

"What." Thorin questioned, a bit impatient now.

"There is something I wish to do in Dale..." I looked down at him sadly.

"And what could be possibly be in Dale?" Thorin questioned.

"If you do not wish to accompany us...then we will have to meet you there Thorin. This is important to me and I think it would be most important to my niece..." I stated.

"We have no idea where this door is..." Thorin stated, stepping up to me. And at the sudden motion I saw something flicker in his eyes, a sense of urgency...something I've begun to see the closer we got to the mountain...but I don't know what exactly that flicker is. "we need to find out where the door is before the last days of Durin. If we don't get there by the last light this journey will have been for nothing. We are so close to reclaiming the mountain Bellethiel."

"We will meet you there then." I stated, turning on my heels. "We know these lands, we will be able to find our back."

"Nana, what's going on?" Balamaethor asked.

"We are heading out, we will meet the company at the base of the mountain to help look for the door." I stated.

"Where are we going?" Thenidiel asked.

"We are heading into Dale..." I answered.

"Are we going to see..." Beriohtarion questioned, looking to me in shock.

"I thought it would be appropriate at this time." I smiled before letting out a soft sigh. "And important..."

"There's someone in Dale that you want to meet?" Thenidiel questioned as she walked fast to catch up with us.

"Someone very important." I mumbled.

With my niece and nephews following close behind we made our way down the path toward the city of Dale. Thenidiel asking some questions here and there with my nephews answering. Though, the closer we got...the more upset I became.

'I am sorry I could not visit sooner...' I thought glancing up to the sky.

We finally came up to one of the dilapidated buildings at the entrance to Dale. One of the pillars fallen and blocking our path. I stepped over the fallen structure and helped my niece over with my nephews following suit.

"This is...Dale?" Thenidiel questioned.

"This is Dale." Beriohtarion confirmed. "Or at least what's left of the once beautiful town..."

Balamaethor looked behind him and smiled, chuckling a bit as he leaned to whisper something into his brothers ear. Beriohtarion looked behind and smiled before turning his attention back to the front. We passed so many bodies of the people who were unable to escape the fire...buildings crushed and destroyed.

"We are getting close to the center of Dale." I called out.

We came up to an open area, passing a burnt carousel, I walked forward and made my way to the slab in the middle. There...lay an armor plating and old elvish garment outlining the skeletal remains of someone I had lay here long ago. In the center of the chest plating rested a sword, the rays of the sun reflecting off the blade.

"Who's that?" Thenidiel questioned softly.

"Hello muindor(brother)..." I smiled down sadly at where I had lay the body of my brother. "I want you to meet someone..."

I looked behind me and reached my hand out for Thenidiel. Beriohtarion and Balamaethor smiled down to their cousin and urged her forward. Thenidiel took some hesitant steps toward me before coming to stand by me.

"This is Thenidiel, my niece...and your daughter." I sighed sadly. "Thenidiel this is where we had lay Voronwë when he had passed..."

"This was...?" Thenidiel looked down in shock. "My father..."

I nodded and sighed before reaching forward and delicately taking out the sword that was resting on my brothers chest. I turned to my niece and smiled down sadly at the sword then looked straight at Thenidiel, holding her gaze.

"This was his sword...he fought many battles with it and it has protected him through the years. I think, if he were alive, he would have passed it down to you." I mumbled, smiling sadly as I placed the sword into my nieces arms. "May it serve and protect you as well as it had served and protected him, Thenidiel."

Thenidiel held the weapon delicately, taking out the sword from its sheath to inspect it before tearing up a bit and holding it close to her body, as if it was the most important thing on this earth.

"Thank you..." Thenidiel mumbled, tears now running down her face.

I smiled sadly and reached out to her, hooking my arm around her and bringing her to me, holding her close as her shoulders started to shake.

"It will be alright Thenidiel..." I assured as I held my niece. "he would have loved you..."

"Hello uncle..." Beriohtarion greeted coming to stand by us.

"Sorry if we haven't came to visit..." Balamaethor mumbled. "a lot has happened since you've been gone..."

"We've been looking after Nana..." Beriohtarion smiled.

"Well...until she disappeared." Balamaethor added in. "But, Nana has fallen in love...with Thorin Oakenshield! The future King of Erebor!"

"You're probably saying that it's about time..." Beriohtarion mumbled, placing a hand upon the slab.

"I think...that is enough..." I smiled, as I still held on to Thenidiel.

"Every day we wish you were here uncle..." Balamaethor whispered, bending on one knee. "you would have loved Thenidiel. We promise to look out for her as well, she's the sister we always wanted."

Beriohtarion looked to me before reaching out for the crying elf in my arms.

"We'll take Thenidiel..." Beriohtarion smiled, taking Thenidiel by her shoulders and looking to her. "You going to be okay?"

"Yes..." Thenidiel mumbled. "But...can I say something to my dad?"

I smiled as Thenidiel knelt to the ground beside Balamaethor and place a hand on the armor plating.

"I'm sorry we haven't met...I really wish I could have. Mom has told me so much great things about you back in Mirkwood and I hope you and mom are happy together where you are." Thenidiel smiled through her tears. "Bellethiel, Beriohtarion, and Balamaethor have taken such great care of me, so there's no need to worry...Ada(dad)."

"I'll look after your daughter muindor...you have my word." I smiled, placing a hand on Thenidiel's shoulder.

"We'll take her and give you some time with uncle." Balamaethor smiled, helping Thenidiel back on her feet.

"Thank you..." I smiled gratefully as they turned to leave me alone for a bit. I knelt on both knees in front of my brothers remains, placing a hand upon the slab of stone. I sighed sadly and bowed my head low.

"Voronwë...I am sorry that I have not come to visit." I mumbled. "I have kept my promise to you...we all have. We are reclaiming Erebor brother, I am hoping that through this we accomplish our goal...that we will have finally fixed the rift our King had caused...repair the alliance."

I reached forward and grasped the fabric of his clothing.

"I am so sorry for...everything..." I mumbled, my eyes blurring, tears now falling. "When you passed...it has been hard staying strong. So many times I have wished you were still here muindor..."

To others who may see me, they would think I was speaking to no one, but to me...I felt like I was speaking to my brother. I told him what we had been doing after his passing, the deeds we did and what happened after the war in front of Moria, disappearing from Rivendell, and the journey we were on so far and I could only cry. I cried because the more I spoke...the more I realized how much I missed my family, and slowly I started to relive our adventures together and the good times we had with Anameleth...reliving the times we were all together as a family smiling and laughing.

"I miss you so much...mellon nîn..."

(Beriohtarion's P.O.V)

"So what made you all decide to follow us?" I questioned.

After Balamaethor and myself took Thenidiel away from our Nana we made our way to a broken down building not far from Belle.

While we started walking through Dale, Balamaethor leaned in to whisper that we had people following us. I had glanced behind me to see that the company was trying to be sneaky and follow us into Dale. So, the moment we gave Nana some alone time with our uncle we pulled Thenidiel with us to sneak up on the company...which we succeeded. The moment I spoke up from behind the group, the young ones jumped up to glance at us.

"We were worried..." Balin stated. "and I said that we shouldn't split into two different groups."

"We were also curious..." Kili mumbled. "Who is it that Belle is kneeling in front of?"

"Is it alright if we stay here for a day?" I questioned, ignoring the young prince, looking and pleading to Thorin. "Our Nana needs this..."

Balin glanced to Thorin who looked conflicted, who looked ready to deny my request until Balin placed a hand on Thorin's arm.

"We can afford to lose one day Thorin...for the lass..." Balin stated.

Thorin glanced to Balin, before looking back to me and nodded.

"Set up camp inside one of the buildings where we can still see Bellethiel..." Thorin ordered, causing the company to jump into action.

The company had quickly taken shelter in a building that had the perfect view of where Bellethiel was. Day became night and the air became chilly, but no fire was lit due to precautionary measures with being so close to the mountain. The company wrapped themselves in the coats that the Master from Lake-Town had given to stay warm and they were huddled fairly close to share the warmth radiating from each other. I stayed away from the group as I kept my eyes on my Nana...making sure that she would alright.

'Take as much time as you need Nana...' I thought, watching sadly as my Nana stayed unmoving in front of the stone slab.

"Brother..."

I looked back to see Balamaethor standing behind me.

"Nana will be fine...come join the group." Balamaethor pleaded, as he took a hold of my sleeve, pulling me away from the pillar I was leaning on.

The two of us sat on either side of our cousin...no, our sister, and sat as close as we could to her. Thenidiel still held our uncle's sword close to her body.

There was silence between us, and though the company couldn't hear...I could hear my Nana silently crying, now reliving memories of when they were younger.

'Nana...' I thought sadly, glancing back toward where she was.

"Our uncle..." Balamaethor spoke out. "You had asked who our Nana was kneeling in front of...that's where we had lay our uncle when he had passed."

I glanced to my brother and sighed.

"We knew the reason she wanted to come through Dale..." I mumbled. "and I think she really needed this..."

"As you know...our Nana and our uncle was the last to come out of the mountain. We had been told that the archway had collapsed and it would have crushed the dwarves that were in the back of the group. Our uncle pushed the dwarves out of the way and the archway crushed him. He passed on in Dale and we took him to that slab." Balamaethor looked down sadly. "Before he departed...he made our Nana promise to help the dwarves of Erebor, told her that her decision was just, and to not give up on them...he also made her promise not to mourn for his death and to be strong."

I could see my brother tremble as I reached over and patted his hand.

"Our Nana always had to be strong for us...and for others. When our mother sailed off to Valinor she stayed strong for us. When uncle passed on she stayed strong for everyone that followed her...she had to." I continued. "We knew she missed our uncle...we knew she missed our mother, but she never cried."

I looked around to the company and motioned toward where my Nana was kneeling.

"You can't hear, but she's been crying quietly over by our uncles remains...it's probably the first I've seen her with her defenses down. She's done so much for my brother and myself...giving her the opportunity to mourn after so long for however long she needed was something we could give her."

I glanced to Thorin who was now looking at where Nana knelt.

"That's why I asked if we could stay here...for our Nana..." I mumbled. "I understand that we don't have much time until Durin's Day...the importance of finding the door, but thank you for allowing Nana to have this moment..."

I watched as Thorin got up from his spot and made his way toward where our Nana was. I watched as he stood beside her for a while before he hesitantly reached out to place a hand upon her shoulder. I smiled and turned to my brother who smiled back as we averted our attention away to give them some privacy.

(Bellethiel's P.O.V)