Mean, gruff, short tempered, ill-mannered and fussy.....yes, that was the best way to describe Thorin since a certain elleth had left the Mountain. Not that he would admit that his foul temper had anything to do with (Y/n) no longer being there, oh no; the king stating that he was glad to have seen the back of her, and that elves didn't belong in the Mountain, anyway. Thorin simply putting his continued gruffness down to the fact that his injuries were not fully healed yet.

When (Y/n) had informed Balin she would be leaving, he and the rest of the Company had tried to dissuade her; stating that she was still needed and given her services to the line of Durin, she was welcome to stay as long as she wished in the Mountain. That given she had brought back their king and princes; she deserved the respect and praise of all Durin folk. Telling her that they planned to honour her and that they were sure the princess Dis would very much like to meet her and thank her for all that she had done. Yet all the Lady of Mirkwood had done was smile and shake her head; thanking all of them for their hospitality but stating that she needed no honours nor praise. That she had done what she had done because she was a healer; and whether, elf, man, dwarf or hobbit, she would have still stayed to care for her patients; that such things were the right thing to do. And given that Fili and Kili would be out of bed, any day, and that she could leave everything for Óin to care for Thorin until he was back to his old self, it was perhaps best that she return to her brother's kingdom. Though, she did hope that it would be allowed for her to send messages, so that she could keep abreast of her patient's improvements. And that one day, she might meet the princess Dis, so that she could inform her that she had raised two wonderful sons. The entire Company only able to watch, as a contingent of Thranduil's guards had arrived at the Mountain, to escort their princess, back to Mirkwood.

Now, since then, Óin had been doing his best. The boys were up, and their wounds had healed well; the old dwarf having followed the elleth's instructions, to the letter. But Thorin, well, again Thorin was being Thorin; refusing treatment since (Y/n) had gone, stating that he was fine despite the fact that one member of the Company or another, would catch him wincing or groaning, as he moved; would notice his limp was not improving. Yet no matter what Balin, Dwalin, Fili, Kili and even Dáin had said, Thorin would vehemently state that it was nothing to worry about, and that he had more important things to think about.

"We have ta do something........" Fili said, as he, Kili and Dwalin sat with Balin.

"He's nearly as bad as when the Dragon sickness took him......." Kili agreed. Both he and Fili still not happy that the way their uncle had been treating the elf that had brought them all back from the dead, seemed to have pushed (Y/n) back to Mirkwood. Neither of them caring that she was an elf; that she was Thranduil's sister, just that something didn't feel the same now that she was gone. That, and they weren't embarrassed to say that they missed her. The way that she had cared for all of them, been there for all of them; taken no time for herself to eat or really sleep while they had been recovering, and all this, without asking anything in return, had meant that she had found a place in even the gruffest dwarf's heart.

"Aye.....that he is, lad........." Balin replied, as he puffed on his pipe, and looked into the fire in the hearth. A smile slowly creeping across his lips.

"Brother..........?" Dwalin asked, as he noticed a little glint in Balin's eye.

"We need ta sent a message ta Mirkwood..........."

                                                        >>---------------------------------<<

Quiet, distant, distracted, troubled and sad.....yes, that was the best way that Thranduil would describe his sister since she had returned from the Mountain. She had of course assured him that she was fine; that she was quiet because she missed Legolas, given the prince had looked to her as a mother figure since his own mother was taken from them, during the Greenwood-Angmar war. Yet no matter what she may say, Thranduil knew it was not just his son leaving, that had saddened his sister, no; it was something......or should that be someone else; the thoughts of whom would make her wander the halls of the palace, late at night, seemingly lost. And though (Y/n) had never really said anything about her stay in Erebor; anything about her interactions with the members of the Durin line. He had a feeling that it was one particular dwarf that had caused such a change in her. And though he could not pretend that he approved, he dare not say a word; he had already lost his wife, his son, so he could not lose his sister too. Thranduil fearing that if he were to say anything against a certain dwarven king, he might never see her again.

"Sire.........." Thranduil looking up to find one of his guards.

"There is a message come from Erebor......It is for the princess........" The guard continued. Bowing as he passed Thranduil the missive. The king just nodding, before dismissing the ellon. The king slowly getting to his feet and making his way to find his younger sibling.

                                                       >>---------------------------------<<

Lost, that was how she felt. She had no idea that the dwarves of Erebor had had such and effect on her; no idea how much she had cared for all those that had reclaimed the Mountain, until she was no longer there. Yet out of all of them, it was of course Fili, Kili and Thorin she missed most of all. The princes were darlings. Sweet young dwarves that had been through so much yet had still kept their spirits and sense of humour. And despite the fact that Thorin had made it clear that she didn't belong, that she was a nag and a nuisance; that she treated him as though he were a child, and he would be glad when she was no longer in the Mountain. The king calling her all manner of things in Khuzdûl, that would make Fili, Kili and Balin wide eyed, she had liked him. (Y/n) not blind to how handsome he was; how the sight of his body, as she cleaned and changed his wounds, would make her feel. But some things were just not meant to be, she had to suppose. He was a dwarf, and she was an elf, and not just any elf. She was the daughter of Oropher, sister of Thranduil, and given that, well, her foolish notions would just have to stop.

"Sister..........." (Y/n) looking up and smiling as Thranduil made his way over to her.

"Brother........?"

"There is a message from you, from Erebor.........." The elven king continued, passing her the missive. (Y/n) quickly opening; her eyes taking in the words, before getting to her feet.

"I must return to the Mountain.........."