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The night led into a party that raged across the town, but the heart of the revelry was in the Master's house, where the Company, soldiers and town officials were.

Alenia had been drifting in between Kili and Fili, Dwalin and the other dwarves, and Bilbo, while taking small sips of the wine she was holding. Parties had never really been her thing, but if this is what it took to gain support for the dwarves' venture then that's what she would do. The Valar knew she felt guilty enough for getting them caught in the first place.

"You're being characteristically non-hyperverbal." Kili said, as they stepped out onto a balcony for a bit of quiet, his brother and everyone else inside.

"These aren't really my scene." Alenia said, smiling ruefully.

"And here I thought that the beautiful, funny, cheerful Ranger of the North would love these things." Kili teased.

"Surprise." The Ranger sang, winking at him.

"I love you." He said, smirking as he wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close.

"I know." She replied.

He squinted at her, and she just stuck her tongue out in reply.

"Aw, come one, Ally." He said, poking her side.

"Ugh, fine, you big baby. I love you too. Are you happy?"

"Very." Kili replied, as he pulled her off to bed.

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The sunlight streamed in through the windows, causing the half-elf's eyes to open. Beside her, Kili shifted, until his eyes too opened up.

Alenia smiled softly at him, and he returned a cheeky grin. They just lay there for a moment, in each other's arms until Alenia sat up with a start.

"We've got to go." she said, leaping from bed, causing her to hiss, as she pulled on her clothes.

"So it doesn't feel any better?" Kili asked, from where he was pulling on his own clothes.

"Nope." Alenia said. "But I can deal with it."

Kili glanced over to where she was applying a fresh bandage, and saw the black veins that surrounded the area.

"Oh my gods." He said, rushing over. "Oh my gods. Oh my gods. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't want you to freak out." She replied, tied the bandage, shoving her pant leg down, and standing.

"I don't freak out!" Kili shouted, clearly freaking out.

Alenia snorted, before she pulled on a set of armor that Master had given her, and strapped a sword to her side.

"Come on." She said, walking out the door of their room, to head outside.

Kili followed, muttering about self-righteous females.

The pair pushed through the crowds to get to the boats that were to take them to Erebor.

"You do know we're one short; where's Bofur?" Bilbo asked, as they arrived.

"If he's not here, we leave him behind." Thorin said.

"We have to, if we're to find the door before nightfall. We can risk no more delays." Balin agreed.

The dwarves began to board the boat, and as Alenia stepped forward to follow, Thorin blocked her with an arm.

"Not you. We must travel with speed, you will slow us down." He said.

"What are you talking about? I'm coming with you." Alenia said, as she smiled, thinking it was a joke.

"No." Thorin said.

"I'm going to be there when that door is opened, when you first look upon the halls of your fathers, Thorin." Alenia protested, the smile dropping off her face.

"Alenia, stay here. Rest. Join us when you're healed." Thorin said, laying a hand on her shoulder and smiling.

Alenia's mouth opened like she wanted to argue, before she remembered that she was the reason that the Company hadn't made it out of the armory last night. Her shoulders drooped, and she stepped back.

"I'll stay with the lass. My duty lies with the wounded." Oin said, getting off the boat to stand beside the half-elf.

"Uncle, we've been telling Ally tales of the mountain this whole journey. Tales you told us when we were growing up. You can't take that away from her!" Kili said.

"Kili." Thorin warned.

"I will carry her, if I must!" Kili yelled.

"One day you or your brother will be king, and you will understand. I cannot risk the fate of this quest for the sake of one half-breed elf." Thorin snarled.

Alenia flinched on the dock at his words.

"That half-breed elf has saved our asses more times than we can count." Fili protested.

Kili looked at Alenia, who shook her head.

Just go. She mouthed.

Never. He mouthed back, before stepping out of the boat.

Thorin grabbed his arm to stop him. "Kili, don't be a fool. You belong with the Company."

"I belong with her." Kili said, ripping his arm away to stand by her side, wrapping an arm around her waist. He leaned in to whisper, and press a kiss to her cheek, "And I always will."

Alenia gave a small smile to him, her eyes turning silvery from unshed tears.

Fili got out of the boat then.

"Fili." Thorin warned, but was silenced with Fili's glare.

"I belong with my brother." Fili snarled, as he moved to the other side of Alenia to support her, his voice becoming quieter, so only she and Kili could hear. "And my soon-to-be sister, apparently, according to the increasing amount of lovey-dovey stuff."

Alenia slapped his side, causing him to laugh, as the Company's boat pulled away from the dock.

The boat sailed off, as the people of Laketown cheered. The remaining Company members waved to the men, women and children and smiled.

"Bring good fortune to all!" The Master shouted from his viewing platform, the boat getting smaller and smaller.

Only Bilbo looked back at the healer, the brothers, and the half-elf.

Bofur finally appeared, pushing through the throngs of people. "Ah! So you missed the boat as well?"

Alenia opened her mouth to explain, but the only thing that came out was a pain-filled moan, as she began to crumple to the dock.

"Alenia? Alenia!" Kili said, as he caught her.

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a/n:

merry christmas everyone! sorry this chapter is eleven hours late haha

hope everyone had a great christmas day <33

- ash xx