Here's the next chapter!! I really hope you like it! Please comment, vote and follow!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: I've posted the first part of my newest story, 'the Archer Princess', which is the prequel to this story so I would be really grateful if you could go and check it out! I'll be updating that story regularly!

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter! Enjoy!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Caspian's POV*

Almost three days had passed ever since Smaug had left the mountain to go for Laketown. What was left of our company had decided that it was safe enough to go out on the small clearing in front of the doors to Erebor.

A few days ago a thrush had come to us; tweeting and chirping, and it had taken us quite a while to realise that the bird was trying to tell us something. But none of us could understand it and the bird had flown away after Balin had said that it was a pity it wasn't a raven, for the ravens had been allies of the dwarves in the ages before Smaug's attack. Much to our surprise, the thrush had later come back with a raven named Roäc, a descendant of those ravens that had remained on the hill even after Smaug had driven out their old allies. And then the bird had told us news that none of us had been expecting.

It told us that Smaug had been killed during his attack on Laketown by Bard the Bowman.

Roäc had told us that the news of Smaug's death had travelled fast and far already, and that Lakemen were gathering on the shores with elves that had come from Mirkwood. Amongst the Lakemen, there were murmurs that their sorrows were due to the dwarves and they now thought to find amends in Thror's treasure after the dragon had destroyed their town had many had died.

Thorin had reacted to this news with nothing short but anger, refusing even the idea to give any of the treasure to those who would try to claim it. Thorin had asked the raven to bring a message to his cousin in the Iron Hills then, a call for help in guarding the treasures of Erebor.

A few days had come and gone since then and I had observed how Thorin became more intent on the gold and especially on finding the Arkenstone with every day that passed. And his temper was getting worse with every day that the gem was left undiscovered. He worked with the rest of us as we worked hard to fortify and repair the front gate as well as we could upon his command, so we could keep our enemies out, even though I didn't think of the elves or Lakemen as enemies. But Thorin's mood was dark and he didn't speak to any of us much, instead spent most of his time searching the mountains of gold for that one jewel he so desperately wanted to find.

The others were more or less cheery since we had heard the news of Smaug's death and with it the knowledge that the treasure was ours; the only thing that really dampened our mood was not knowing the fate of the rest of our company that had been in Laketown. I however, found myself utterly unable to focus on much these last days, for my mind was overflown with worry and guilt. Whilst I was relieved that we had reclaimed Erebor and fulfilled the quest, I was constantly thinking about the five members of our company that were not with us and that had possibly found their death in Smaug's flames because we had awoken the dragon and sent it down on them.

But my thoughts were mainly set on my lovely twin sister. I couldn't bare the thought of losing her... again. I had only just got her back in my life after years of being apart and even the thought of her no longer being alive made me feel like I was slowly dying inside. I had not cried yet knowing she would want me to remain strong and help the company, her friends. But I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold myself together for much longer.

I looked up from my place sat on the floor and saw Balin and Thorin standing together next to the wide stone stairs that led up to a large balcony over the front gate where the company mostly spent their time if they weren't exploring the halls of the mountain. I however hadn't really explored much and just remained sitting or practicing my target practice with my throwing knives, it allowed me to vent out some of my frustration.

I glanced at Bilbo as he entered the room. He looked nervous and was fumbling in his coat pocket. I had dealt with a lot of different people in my travels and I knew when someone was hiding something and Bilbo's behaviour made me frown. He was hiding something... I just knew it.

Balin greeted Bilbo with a smile whereas Thorin merely shot him a short look as Bilbo walked past them and quickly rushed up the set of stairs, only sending them both a small nod.

I knew that I was not the only one that missed the rest of the company and I slightly shook my head as I glanced up the stairs where I knew the rest of the company were. Deep down we all knew what had become of our friends and I wasn't the only one that was visibly affected by it. Gloin was worried for his brother as much as Bombur was, Bifur was also upset about Bofur. Whereas Dwalin had become even more silent than he had been before and I had seen him glancing at the distant horizon where Laketown had been more than once. Ori was scribbling into his notebook, often sitting in a corner all by himself. I had sat with him once, and seen him draw pictures of our lost companions. Dori and Nori had just remained quiet and refused to talk to others. I had even seen Balin crying silently a few days ago although I didn't mention it to anyone as he probably didn't want the others to see him looking weak.

Thorin, however, had not reacted in any visible way, probably not wanting to show any signs of emotion. I could see it in Thorin's eyes, the sadness and the guilt, though there always was this other feeling I could see in Thorin's eyes, the one that seemed to overrule anything else ever since he had first set eyes on the treasure beneath the mountain. And that was a dark and unsettling obsession.

I stood up, wanting to stretch my legs. I sighed and walked past Thorin and Balin, not even glancing at them as I walked up the stairs to where the others were.

Once I got to the top of the stairs, I saw my companions sat there, by themselves or chatting quietly to each other. The air was fresh and cold up here but no one seemed to mind. I walked straight over to the balcony and leaned against the worn, stone railing as I gazed into the distance, absorbed in my own thoughts.

"What's that?" Bombur suddenly asked from behind me, ripping me out of my thoughts quite abruptly. I followed the dwarf's finger as he pointed towards the horizon and upon squinting against the sun I recognized a few dark dots in the distance that were slowly moving closer.

"What is it?" Nori asked as he came to stand on my other side, leaning against the broad stone bannister that kept us from falling off the edge of the balcony.

"Someone's coming." Bilbo answered as he peered into the distance, though the dots were still too far away for any of us to see whom it was. "Though I don't know who it is."

A few others came to stand by the bannister as well then and together we watched the dots slowly grow larger in the distance. It was a long while until my elf vision could see five figures approaching the mountain, their pace not entirely fast but steady.

"Lakemen?" Dwalin asked gruffly from behind me.

"They are too few for that. Roäc said they were coming in large groups and together with the elves. It would not make sense for -" Bilbo suddenly broke off in the middle of his sentence.

"It is them!" Bilbo called out excitedly as he leaned over the stone bannister to get a better look. "It's Fili, Kili, Cassy, Oin and Bofur!"

We all shot him surprised, almost shocked looks as the hobbit leaned back, a broad happy smile plastered on his face as he returned our gazes. My gaze snapped to the dots again, my heart beat increasing dramatically as I caught sight of a head of long, curly, jet black hair. "Cassy." I mumbled as a wide, relieved grin spread onto my face.

"Open the gate! Open the gate! Quick!" Bilbo yelled as he ran down the stairs, the rest of us following in a rumbling of heavy boots and agitated calls. Thorin and Balin shot us all a confused look as Bilbo came to a halt next to Thorin, panting slightly from how fast he had ran down the steps. He looked up at the Thorin intently. "They are coming! They're alive! The others! Fili, Kili, Cassy, Bofur and Oin! We must open the gate immediately!" Bilbo said.

I watched as Thorin's expression froze for a moment, shock written in his steel blue eyes before a relieved expression crossed his features. He suddenly moved abruptly, calling loudly for Dwalin, Gloin, Bifur and myself to help open the gate. We didn't hesitate, running to work open the large doors. And as the doors swung open, Bilbo ran past us and outside, the rest of us following on his heels. We stood on top of the stairs that led up to the front gate from below when we finally saw them.

All five of our missing companions, thought dead, were walking towards the mountain. Fili was leading the small group, Bofur and Oin walking in the middle whilst Kili and my sister followed last.

My gaze was already set firmly on my sister. My relieved grin faltered slightly upon seeing the thick bandage around her torso, the cuts covering her body and the purple bruises on her neck as if she had been strangled. I resisted the urge to yell angrily and ask who dared to touch my sister but all negative thoughts were pushed to the back of my mind upon seeing Cassy's gaze land on me. I saw her grin at me and I didn't wait for anyone to say anything before I hurried down the steps, tackling her in a tight hug. I heard her relived laugh as I spun her around in my arms.

"Oh, I missed you so much!" I said into her hair as I held her tighter.

"I thought you were dead... again." She cried onto my shoulder. I sighed and turned my head to the side watching the others.

I could hear Bombur and Gloin and Bofur and Oin both call for their respective brother at the same time. Bofur and Oin hurried up the stairs, engulfing their family members in massive bear hugs as soon as they reached the top. Fili and Kili were taking a bit more time to climb the massive set of stairs and it was when Thorin caught his oldest nephew's gaze that he smiled for the first time in days. Fili and Kili's expression were happy and relieved as they looked at their uncle. Thorin reached out and wrapped both his nephews in a tight hug which they returned.

I smiled at the others and hugged Cassy tighter. "I'm fine, don't worry. I swore that I would never leave you again and I intend to keep that promise." I told her. "I thought you were dead too. I'm so sorry that you had to face Smaug... I was so freakin' worried about you."

"It takes more than a dragon to kill me." She laughed.

I smiled and pulled back slightly when I caught sight of a braid in her hair. Once I realised what it was my smile turned into a wide grin. "It's about bloody time!" I joked as I tugged the braid making her laugh.

"I'm happy for you." I smiled.

"Thank you... I know it's hard being here when you could be with... them, but I'm really glad you're here." She sighed hugging me again.

I smiled as I rubbed her back soothingly. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I glanced down at my left hand and smiled at the ring on my finger. I had been travelling when I ran into Cassy at Beorn's and I decided to go with her instead of returning home to Catalina and Alan. No one knew about Catalina or Alan apart from Cassy because she was my sister. I'm sure you're wondering who Catalina and Alan are... Well Catalina is my wife of five years and Alan is my four year old son. I never told anyone about them as I didn't want them to be in danger.

"I am never letting you out of my sight again!" I laughed into her hair before I pulled back.

"Likewise." She said.

"We will be discussing this," I said pointing to her various injuries, "later."

"Sure." She replied before she smiled at something behind me.

"It's good to see you, Bilbo." She said as she pulled the hobbit into a tight hug.

"You too, I'm glad you're okay." Bilbo said, with a relieved smile.

*Cassy's POV*

I grinned at Bilbo before I began being pulled into tight hugs by the other members of the company.

I found myself being engulfed in multiple hugs by multiple dwarfs, even Thorin hugged me. It was only when the group had calmed slightly and separated a bit that I caught sight of Dwalin, standing behind the others with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His face was grim as he looked at me. Slowly, I took a few steps forward until I was standing right in front of the big dwarf, I was exactly the same height as him which made me smile slightly. Dwalin hadn't moved a muscle, his arms still crossed tightly over his chest as he scowled at me which made me a little uncomfortable.

"I had thought you dead." Dwalin eventually rumbled, his voice vibrating roughly in his chest but I refused to break my gaze with him.

"I know the feeling'" I replied, seeing the expression on his face change, as he looked me over. His expression became a bit softer, though he frowned when his gaze landed on my bandages and my bruised neck.

"You got hurt." He observed causing everyone's attention to land on me, everyone now realising that I was covered in injuries.

"It was just an unpleasant encounter with a few orcs. One got a little angry and started taking to the idea if strangling me." I said. "Nothing to worry about." I added with a shrug.

Dwalin just growled slightly in reply before he shook his head and unfolded his arms. "At least you're all alive." He grumbled before he quickly pulled me into a fierce hug and I instinctively wrapped my arms around him, squeezing tightly before I pulled away.

"Seriously, it's nothing to worry about." I said as Dwalin just shot me a pointed look. I suddenly glanced over at Ori as the shy dwarf spoke up.

"Orcs?" He asked, his gaze set on my injuries in concern for a moment before he looked into my eyes. I just shrugged slightly and gave him a reassuring smile before Fili and Kili stepped up next to me as the others looked at us questioningly, obviously waiting for answers.

"It's a long story." Kili said from beside me. "And quite a good one. It involves a few nasty orcs, helpful elves, a near-death experience on my part and an archer that saved my life."

There was a heavy silence over the group as Kili's arm encircled my waist gently. "That was of course before we all almost died in the dragon's firestorm." He added.

The silence became rather uncomfortable when no one said anything but Balin broke the tension by speaking up in a calming manner.

"I think it might be best if we go inside." He said, looking over the group. "I'm sure we have a lot of long stories to tell each other."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What did you think of the Caspian bit? I didn't know how to reveal the whole wife and son thing but I just thought 'what the hell'? ;3

Please comment, vote and follow! Thank you!! :D

Also! I've been informed that another one of my followers has copied this story and is posting it as their own. They've translated The Archer Queen into Dutch and is pretending it's their story! If anyone else copies my stories they will be reported and I have warned people of this. But thank you to those who have been supporting me and have messaged the person on my behalf xx