Val's POV

Bilbo and I made our way down towards the side of the elves and stood next to Gandalf.

"You did all that you could." Bilbo said quietly

"I wish he would snap out of it."

"He will in due time. "

Gandalf came forward with Bard as Bard gave me a sympathetic look

"What happened to you two?"

"We got banished." I croaked. i won't see Fili again.

"Have hope my friend. There is always hope. " Gandalf tried to make me feel better. Thrandruil walked forward as he stopped at the sight of me.

"You were the girl that escaped"

"Yeah. I was."

"You loved the blonde dwarf." He remarked

"I still do." At this point I was on the verge of tears.

His expression softened as he gave a side hug "I'm sorry." He said quietly as I nodded staying in his embrace.

Night time came as Bard sat beside me.

"How are you doing?"

"Fine. Now isn't really the time for feelings since there is gonna be a war and all..."

He chuckled "we have time now. A war hasn't started yet."

"I guess so." I weakly smiled "As you know I went with Thorin to the mountain and my Fiancé stayed in your town. Every hour I worried for him that he would be alright. When I heard that laketown was ruined I thought he was dead. It's hard being apart from the person you love most."

"I know how you feel. When my wife died, I always woke up in a routine where she was beside me. But when I opened my eyes. She wasn't sitting at her chair. She wasn't laying next to me in bed she wasn't cooking or setting the place on fire." He chuckled "she did leave me a gift. My children. Tilda, at your engagement party she looked so much like my wife. Same with Sigrid. I realized they had grown up a bit. That each day is a gift. "

"Your a great father you know. I know that they are all so proud of you." I placed a hand on his shoulder as he smiled.

"They laughed when I told the story of you pretending to be my fiancé."

I busted out laughing. "How could I forget? You were so poetic! The jewel to my heart?" I cracked up as he joined in.

"You should have seen Fili's face!" I laughed even harder "he was so r-red!"

A moment of silence passed over as I smiled at Bard "thank you for making me laugh. I needed that."

"You know what they say, laughter is always the best medicine ."