Long days have passed since the company had left the Last Homely House. The valley now miles behind. And without the help of Gandalf, they needed to trust on Balin to lead the way. Not that Frêllian didn't have faith in the memory of the dwarf, but she would rather had the wise wizard lead the way.

But alas, after her little talk with Lady Galadriel and the warning the lady of light had given her, Frêllian had wasted no time to gather the dwarves to leave at first light. But it was also when Gandalf was summoned for a meeting of some sort. He did give them some directions, but it would have been better, if he had been with them in person.

Frêllian glanced at Bilbo, seeing the hobbit struggle. Even some of the dwarves seemed to struggle climbing the hard and dangerous path. And while the young ferian was used to these kind of roads, even she had to admit, she would prefer a different one. Especially in her true form. Her jumps, she had noticed, weren't nearly as impressive as they would have been had she been in her wolf form. And the night before, when it had been raining really bad, she had missed her clawed paws to give her some extra grip – and her warm fur mind you!

Just a couple of days, and she would be able to shift again with no problem. Just a couple of days more! To shift now, would be foolish and might inflict some damage in the process. No, for now, she would remain in her true form. Besides, it wasn't like her face was a secret to her companions, they had all seen the real her now and it seemed they were much more at ease with the ferian around.

'How long do you think we'll have to continue for today?' Bilbo suddenly asked no one in particular. 'For it looks like it might rain in a bit.'

Frêllian eyed the dark clouds that were heading their way, before shrugging.

'Who knows. I think it depends on how bad the weather will be.'

Though it didn't take them long to find out. In only half an hour, the sky had opened, soaking their cloaks in just a few minutes. Their stony path becoming slippery and even more dangerous as they continued forwards. Bilbo had even tripped, almost falling down into the chasm, if Dwalin hadn't reached for his shoulder in time.

'Thorin!' Frêllian shouted through the howling wind. 'Thorin, we must find shelter!'

At first the dwarf seemed to ignore her. But as he turned to look at the others, he finally agreed.

'Indeed, we must. Frêllian, can you scout ahead? Your agility is what we need right now.'

The ferian nodded and was about to pass Thorin, when the said dwarf pulled her back with a loud yell. A missive boulder hit the mountainside above them, causing the rocks to fall all around them. The arm of Thorin pressing her against the mountain as the rocks fell down.

She heard Balin say something, but the words were lost by the cracking thunder.

'Well bless me, the legends are true,' Bofur exclaimed as he pointed at something in the distance. 'Giants; stone giants!'

Frêllian watched as one giant threw a boulder into the air, hitting the one standing behind them in the head. Yells were heard all around her, telling each other to brace themselves and hold on.

By now, Thorin's hand had an iron grip on her shoulder as they ducked. More rocks fell down, as the ground started to shake. A loud scream came from Frêllian as she almost fell down – thank Lüna for Thorin's iron grip!- as the ground started to split, parting the group in two.

'Kíli! Grab my hand! Kí…'

Frêllian didn't dare to look behind her, as she noticed they were standing on a stone giant. It started to fight with another, bumping into the mountain. Thorin took this opportunity to jump to a different spot, onto the mountain, urging the others to follow suit.

'Dwalin!' Frêllian yelled in horror, upon noticing half of their company was still on the knee of the giant. 'Dwalin, hold on!'

Suddenly, the giant fell down, falling into the mountain, taking half their company with it and Frêllian gasped. Next to her, Thorin yelled out for his nephew, fearing him to be crushed by the impact. Leading the group, Thorin rushed over to the spot where the giant had fallen down, fearing the worst. But as they rounded the corner, the others were fine, much to their relief.

'We're all right,' Balin said as he tried to get up. 'We're alive!'

With a sign of relief, Frêllian rushed over to the only bald dwarf present, holding him in a tight embrace.

'I thought I'd lost you,' she whispered as she tried to hold back her tears.

'You're not getting rid of me that easily, lass,' he answered with a smirk, though his voice was a bit shaky.

'I'm holding you onto that one.' Then she looked around, her eyes scanning for any injured. 'Wait, where's Bilbo?'

'Where is the hobbit indeed?' Bofur asked, while looking around as well.

A muffled squeak was heard and Ori suddenly spotted the missing hobbit, hanging onto the edge of the cliff for dear life. Before Frêllian could even react, her father called out to get him and dwarves dived towards Bilbo to pull him up. Though unsuccessful.

Suddenly Thorin swung down on the cliff – earning a shocked squeak from the only female present- next to Bilbo to boost him up. There the others pulled him to safety. Taking the shaking hobbit in a tight embrace, Frêllian watched as Dwalin tried to pull up Thorin as well. But to her horror, Thorin lost his grip and began to fall.

There was a loud pained yell as a flash of white dived towards him, sharp teeth sinking into his flesh. He winched in pain as Frêllian pulled him back to safety, before releasing him. His icy glare watching as she shifted back with a winch, rubbing her shoulder for a moment. Inspecting her injured shoulder. Though it seemed no harm was done, the shoulder just being sore.

'That may not have been a smart move,' she muttered softly to herself, before looking up at the dwarf she had just saved. 'I'm sorry, Thorin. But I am stronger as a wolf and if I hadn't shifted, you would have fallen to your death.'

He remained silent, his glare never leaving her, nor faltering as he let her words sink in. She might have saved his life and for that he was grateful. But he wasn't going to let it show! For she was still a ferian, hailing from the pack that had sided with orcs. And he was too proud of a dwarf to admit his wrong!

'I thought we'd lost our burglar,' Dwalin began, trying to get the attention away from his daughter. 'It's…'

'He's been lost ever since he left home,' Thorin interrupted him, turning his eyes away from the ferian, only to glare at the hobbit for a moment. 'He should have never come. He has no place amongst us.'

Frêllian clenched her fists, wanting to say something. But the look Bilbo was sending her, stopped her. So instead, she suggested to find shelter, so she could heal Thorin's shoulder.

Bilbo watched the sleeping form of Frêllian, as she laid next to him. Even now, she still preferred to be sleeping near him. She seemed to be dreaming, muttering something in her sleep. With a small smile, he gently brushed her hair out of her face.

He would miss her. The ferian had become a dear friend to him. Oh, she had annoyed him many, many times, having made it her mission to embarrass him as often as possible. But to be honest, he never really minded that. It's what made Frêllian, well… Frêllian.

As he pulled back his hand, Bilbo wondered for a moment if he should wake her. Asking her to come with him, to go back home.

But then he quickly dismissed the thought. No! He would do no such thing! He had kept her search for her father for long enough. And now that she had found him, he couldn't possibly think of taking her away from him!

No, he decided. Frêllian must stay with her father. The pair had been apart for far too long. He would not separate them again.

And with that, he had decided. Bilbo looked around. No one was watching as they were all asleep, so he quietly got up. Rolling up his blanket as quietly as possible, he kept a watchful eye on Frêllian. Silently praying she wouldn't wake up. But even as he packed his things, the ferian remained silent. The only sound coming from her lips was a soft mutter as she turns in her sleep again.

Satisfied, Bilbo grabbed his walking stick and glanced over at his sleeping friend one last time. Then he started to leave, tiptoeing over the sleeping forms of the dwarves. Just a few meters and he would be outside of the cave.

'Where do you think you're going?'

Bilbo jumped in surprise, before turning to face the hatted dwarf. He had forgotten about Bofur, the dwarf had been ordered to stand watch.

'Back to Rivendell,' Bilbo answered, almost ashamed to say so.

'No, you can't turn back now,' Bofur argued, as he moved over to the hobbit. 'You're one of us, part of the company.

'I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he...'

Something moved in the darkness of the cave, and Bilbo closed his mouth. The last thing he needed right now, was for others trying to stop him. Especially not Frêllian. If she were to try and stop him, he might give in to the female.

But the person just turned in his sleep, so Bilbo turned his attention back to Bofur.

'What about Frêllian? Isn't she your friend?'

'She belongs with her family,' the hobbit replied, ignoring the pang of guilt he felt for leaving her just like that. 'With her father and uncle. I cannot ask of her to come with me, nor can I remain with the company. I don't know what I was thinking when I ran out my door. I guess I just wanted to please Frêllian.'

He paused for a moment, looking down at his feet. Had that really been the reason? Had he really wanted to only please the ferian? Hadn't there been a part of him that had been wanting an adventure also?

'It's just… I'm a Baggins, not a Took. I don't belong here.'

Bofur nodded his head, saying that he understood the hobbit was homesick.

'No,' Bilbo said, cutting the dwarf off. 'No you don't. You don't understand! How could you? You're dwarves, your used to this life. To living on the road, never settling in one place. Not belonging anywhere.'

Too late Bilbo realized his mistake, and now he couldn't take back his words. As Bofur looked offended, Bilbo stammered. Apologizing to the dwarf. But Bofur held up his hand, saying he was right. That they didn't belong anywhere.

'But we will, soon,' he added with a weak smile, before placing his hand on Bilbo's shoulder. 'I wish you all the luck in the world, I really do. And who knows, one day our paths may cross again.'

At this the hobbit smiled, liking the thought of meeting the hatted dwarf – and some of the others as well – again one day. He patted the dwarf on his shoulder, then turned around. But before he could take even one step, he heard Bofur asking something and he turned around again.

Before he could ask what the dwarf meant, he saw Bofur pointing at his swords. A bluish glow coming from the hilt. Quickly, Bilbo pulled his sword partway out of its sheath, only to see it was glowing brightly. Horrified by the glowing sword, he looked at Bofur. There were orcs or goblins nearby!

'Keep your filthy hands off of me!'

Frêllian growled as the goblin as it pushed her. Then she turned her attention to another one to glare at him as their leader spoke. His voice as unpleasant as his whole appearance. Though all goblins were ugly creatures, the self-proclaimed goblin king was much larger than the others. Towering over even tall wizard if he had been there.

'What are you doing in these parts? Speak!'

No one responded, angering the goblin king. So after a quick scan over his prisoners, he threatened to torture them.

'Begin with the youngest,' he added with a smirk.

'Wait!'

Surprised, Frêllian turned her attention to Thorin, as the dwarf stepped forth.

'Well, well, well, it seems this is my lucky day. First I find the lost pup on my doorstep, and now you as well. Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror; king under the mountain.' The great goblin bowed exaggeratedly to Thorin, before speaking again. 'Oh, but I'm forgetting, you don't have a mountain. And you are not a king. Which makes you nobody, really.'

The ugly brute chuckled at his own twisted joke.

'I know someone who would pay a pretty price for your head. Just the head, nothing attached. Perhaps you know of whom I speak, hm? An old enemy of yours. A pale orc astride a white warg.'

'Azog the defiler was destroyed,' Thorin replied, though he could not hide the shock on his face. 'He was slain in battle long ago.'

The goblin eyed Frêllian for a moment, a smirk still plastered on his face.

'So you think his defiling days are done, do you? Perhaps you should ask your little pet about him, if you do not believe me.' Then he turned to a tiny goblin sitting in a basket. 'Send word to the pale orc. Tell him I have found his prize and weapon.'

Weapon?! So lady Galadriel had been right! Azog wanted something of her! That was why he had kept her alive for so long! That was why he had wanted her mother! He needed the legendary gift of power of the firstborn! But that was all it was right, a legend?

As the tiny goblin left, she still pondered over the words. She had never expected Azog to be a fool, yet he still believed in legends. How come? Why would he believe such a thing, unless he had reason to believe there to be some truth about it?

She was so lost in thought she didn't even hear the great goblin start to sing. But a piercing screech snapped her out of her thoughts and her ears were filled with the out of key singing of the goblin.

'I know that sword!' she then suddenly heard the goblin yell. 'It's the Goblin-Cleaver, the biter! The blade that sliced a thousand necks! Slash them! Beat them! Kill them all! Cut off his head!'

Suddenly goblins were all over Frêllian again, and the others. Beating her, hitting her with a whip. And she could see a goblin pulling out a knife as it prepared to behead Thorin.

Letting out a low growl, Frêllian turned her head out of instinct to bite the nearest goblin, ignoring the disgusting taste of its flesh. She needed to get them out of here, but how? She had no weapons and not enough strength.

She snapped at another one, though this one jumped out of the way just in time. She elbowed one and tried to stand up, but two more goblins jumped on her back.

'Don't kill the ferian, you idiot,' she heard the great goblin yell, but she didn't care. 'She is needed alive!'

With a turn of her head, she knocked down a goblin. Her head spinning for a moment at the impact. But it seemed that with each goblin she took down, two more replace it.

Suddenly there was a massive explosion of bright light. And a muted shockwave of some sort rips through the area, as goblin were flung in the air and the torturing machines were destroyed.

The force of the shockwave knocked Frêllian – and everyone around her – down to the ground. The goblins that had been holding her, now scattered across the floor. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the buzzing sound in her ear, before looking up. The light was beginning to fade and a shadow moved closer. As she squinted her eyes, she could make out the figure of a tall person and a pointy had. Her nose – though not as keen as it would have been had she been a wolf – giving away the familiar scent of the wizard.

'Take up arms,' he demanded. 'Fight! Fight!'

She didn't need to be told twice as the young ferian quickly got up, her dwarven companions doing so as well. With a scan over her surroundings, she spotted her sword and rushed over to it. She couldn't care less about her daggers, but her sword she needed the most!

As she followed Gandalf, she could hear the great goblin yell something about Gandalf's sword – something about wielding the Foe-Hammer – but she was too preoccupied to hear clearly. Though the sounds of the screaming and yelling foes was something her ears didn't miss as she swung her sword at them. As Gandalf lead the way, more and more goblins followed, emerging from who knows where.

'Frêllian, watch out!'

A hand reached out for her shoulder, to pull her close to someone just as an arrow passes her by. Then the person released her, asking her if she was alright. Confirming it with a nod, she looked at Fíli, adding a 'thank you' before both of them proceeded to follow the others.

'Quickly!'

'Faster!'