Felicity stood by her mothers grave, utter sadness overwhelming her at the thought of leaving her once more for another journey, unsure if she'd even return.

With a few simple steps forward, she walked towards the stone that wore her name, nearly conealed by tendrils growing from the ground.

"Gûr nîn thîr, nethril. Ae anír lin ú-gell dîn hirio..", (Wish me luck, mother. Maybe we see each other sooner than thought.) she whispered, as she crouched down and leaned her head against the gravestone. She let out a soft whistle, knowing that her brother wasn't going to answer back with his part of their little talk.

"It is very impolite for a King, to watch a mourning soul.", she spoke suddenly out of nowhere, causing Thorin to look confused at her. "You are as thrilled as Lord Elrond to have me with you."

Even if she knew, that he was a hard man, that lived through so much pain - little jokes didn't hurt. And she was right, she stood up and started to face him, his blue tired eyes gleaming in curiousity at her.

"It was not my intention to disturb you, my Lady.", he apologized politely, making the brunette woman in front of him smile.

"Just Felicity, or Fel, please."

Thorin forced himself into a gentle smile.

"May I help you with something?", she asked, unsure of why he appeared all of a sudden. He was the grumpiest one, and when she'd join them, she didn't really need to be on his bad side..

"You can answer to my questions.", he said, causing the young woman in front of him raise her eyebrow and cross her arms in front of his chest.

"Why?"

Thorin sighed. "I have my people to protect.", he started, earning an agreeing nod from her. "I want to make sure, that you are no foe - that you are not going to stab us while we are sleeping or something like that."

"To do.. treason?", she asked, with raised eyebrows, causing him to nod.

He actually didn't care about that though, he would've killed her the second she made a wrong move. He just wanted to talk with her for whatever reason he had.

"I understand that you want to protect your people, King under the Mountain.", she said softly, yet with a little bit of coldness in her voice. "But I can assure, I am the least threat you have on your neck."

Thorin raised his eyebrows now in curiousity. "What do you mean?"

Felicity walked turned away, walking towards her mother's grave again. "I know who is after you, and as does Lord Elrond.", she said, softly stroking over the carved letters onto the beautiful decorated tombstone. "I have the same business as much as you do, Thorin."

Suspiciously, he glared at her every move and he had to admit.. there was such a grace in every move she made. She was like an Elf - but without the pointy-ears and ability to suck.

"I will die in battle, of that I am certain.", she spoke and looked at the ground beneath her - earth and dirt were where Gilraen was buried deep underneath and had already been rotting for over twenty years. "But I wanted it to be a battle of my choosing."

Thorin flashed her a look, she didn't quite read exactly, or at least.. know. "As I told Balin, I am honored to be apart of Thorin Oakenshield's company.", she spoke and stood up, walking towards he Dwarf, that was astonished by her. Nobody ever, had such an impact on him like the woman in front of him just had.

"What is your business, Felicity?"

"None, I will tell you now.", she answered, truthfully. "Because I do not trust you enough right now, which I objectively know you do as well."

Without talking back, he nodded.

Very unusal for him, yet she was right.

"It is getting late, King Thorin.", she said, with a halfheartedly joking manner, flashing him a smile. "I bid you to go back to Gandalf, for I know you are here unwillingly for a reason."

He grabbed her by the wrist, as she wanted to leave, causing her to turn with a puzzled, yet prepared glare at him.

"You told us your mother was dead.. I did not know nor think forward enough that it might be here.", he said, trying himself in an apology, which made Felicity to kill the look in her face, staring back into his blue eyes.

Thorin was mesmerized, he saw the same fire he had himself - it was like.. looking into an opposided mirror.

"My condolences of the loss of your people, King of Erebor."

He widened his eyes in slight shock. She knew where they headed- did she know what they wanted to do as well?

"I assure you King, I will be of service as good as I can.", she said, freeing herself from his grip by pulling her hand towards himself. "If you will excuse me.. I need to feed your Company meat, before they'll kill each other out of hunger."

With an amused expression, he watched her leave, unintentionally smiling towards himself  tenderly, at the thought of her behaviour.

Unbeknownst to him, the Lord of Rivendell had watched them - his heart aching at the sight of what had happened.

He wasn't overly fond of what is going to happen on their mission - with a sigh he walked after the young woman, in need of his own priorities, knowing that their talk is going to end in a fight.

"Fel-", he started, as he stood behind his foster daughter, watching her get meat for the Dwarves out of their pantry. He couldn't resist himself a smile before changing into his usual, serious expression. "We need to talk about your attendance with the company."

The young woman stopped in her tracks, knowing damn well what he was about to do. "Not now, hîr nîn Elrond.", (My Lord Elrond) she said, and walking with a middle-big chest filled with raw meat out of the elvish larder. "We can talk about it later. I do not want to speak without Gandalf about it."

"But Felicity -"

"Le naid, hîr nîn. Ni aníron na lhûgad, ú-'ninathad vi ined lembas. Guren, mellon nîn.", she interrupted him in Sindarin, while walking away and leaving him behind to sigh in defeat. He couldn't hold her here any longer than she needed to.. Gandalf was right- she chose her own fate. And as such as.. will she live through the consequences of it.

The young woman walked into the valley of chambers, she assigned to the Dwarves, a small smile onto her face as she heard their happy laughter.

Even in dark times such as those, they never seemed to fall into sadness when they still had each other. 

"Baruk Khazâd, ai-mênu.", (Hello, friends.) she greeted softly, causing the company of twelve Dwarves to turn towards the young woman, glancing astonished at the beautiful Princess in front of them.

With a wide opened mouth, Kili stared blankly at her, before speaking. "Is it bad that I would rather marry her than anybody else?", he questioned his brother aside him, who stood in the exact same position as him, his mouth widely open and his eyes gleaming.

"No, I am with you on this one, brother.", Fili answered, only to recieve slaps on the back of their heads by Dwalin, who still wasn't overly fond of the brunette woman.

Women, that were as beautiful as she was, always had something to hide.

"What do you want?", he asked, with his arms crossed in front of his chest, his voice rather dangerously than nice and his body straightly and proudly standing in front of her.

"Do not worry, Master Dwalin.", she said tenderly and held the chest with raw meat in front of him, offering him to take it. "Knowing, that you did not have a proper supper, I wanted to gve you something."

The bald, and dangerously looking Dwarf glared at her, before taking the wooden present with caution.

The entire group of males stood in a circle around the chest, opening it only for a little gap, only to close it quickly again, before glancing suspiciously at the young woman behind them, who was by the way really amused by their behaviour.

Once more, they opened the meat-box, before turning to the woman again.

Bofur smiled at her. "You are sent from heaven! By my beard!" 

"I bid you goodnight and a good eating.", she bowed respectfully, before turning away, wanting to go to her own chambers and.. do nothing except overthink and maybe cry herself into sleep. She wasn't sure which of them she wanted to do today.

"Why are you not staying with us?", she suddenly heard from Ori, causing the other Dwarves to give away their agreeing sounds, the only one that was still suspicious of her, was Dwalin.

With good reason.

She'd be wary herself if she would be in his position.

"I do not want to disturb your closeness.", she said tenderly, with a tired expression. "Besides, I spoke with your leader myself and I am glad that he accepted me at least."

"How come, you gained his trust?", Dori asked, making the brunette woman shake her head.

"I did not say trust, I said acceptance.", she repeated herself before corrected him. "For that, I am grateful."

When she wanted to turn in her heels and say her goodbyes again, Dwalin was the one to stop her. "If you say the truth about Thorin, then I will follow him.", he said, with a big smile on his face. "I would be glad for you to stay here and accompany us."

"Yes! And we can not thank you enough for the meat!"

A gentle expression made itself clear onto her pale face when she nodded once in a thankful manner, before turning back to them again and walking to their little group.

"Where did you and Thorin find place to talk?", Kili asked, while the Dwarfes started to lit a fire out of the wooden chairs and tables of their chambers.

Elrond isn't going to like that - but she won't be there anymore to listen towards his complain.

"I was at the grave of my mother.", she explained, only for the laughs to stop and turn into pity and sorrowed expressions, causing her to shake her head. "We talked and I found it quite amusing."

Now little smiles appeared onto their faces again.

For them - it was like talking to a mother. A long, gone mother they found again on their journey - someone they could trust. A woman, they needed to love and protect for themselves. She did so much in one day, where others failed to do so in years.

"We are sorry to hear that.", Fili said, making the brunette woman shake her head once more. 

She lifted her hand and placed it onto his cheek, as he was sat in front of her. "Do not mourn my burdens, Master Dwarf.", she said with such a gleeful yet gentle voice, it made him blush underneath her touch.

He wasn't used to that act of kindness from other women that weren't Dis.

"We all lost someone, many more, many less. It is the way of life, and we should be grateful for every day we have our loved ones nearby."

Ironically, that she said it - the woman that despised her own brother in front of everybody because he left her alone, what nobody ever knew.. she always held onto him.

"Tell us more, about yourself, Fel.", Kili said, while his hands lingered dreamingly onto his chin, balled into fists to hold his head as he was ready to listened carefully - readying every word from her beautiful and full lips. "Where is your brother? The one, you told us about."

Felicity's heart started to get heavy. At some point it was clear that they wanted to know about Aragorn, but she didn't think that it was that soon...

"Gone, far away into the mountains and visiting some of our folk.", she said, with a tender smile at the thought of her brother, laughing and hugging her - only making her pain worse. "He is far away, yet.. his mind will always linger here in Imladris with his love."

"For you?"

"Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter."

With big eyes, they looked at her. They weren't sure if she was telling the truth, or just messing with them- but in fact it was more than just the truth, it was the reality. "I do not talk of him as much as I liked to.", she explained, sighing as she leaned back. "You can ask me anything, except about him."

"Why?", Bofur asked, stupidly, only to get a kick from Bombur.

"Did you not listen?", Nori said. "She does not want to talk about him."

Now, Dwalin took the chance to ask a question, once more killing the entire friendly aura. "Why did you use the name of Azog in your elvish talk with the Lord?", he asked, causing Bifur to nod hastily and point at him, while the other ones spat out the wine they just drank and other just looked at the bold Dwarf wide eyed.

"Way to ruin the mood, Dwalin.", Bofur said, while rolling his eyes and cooking his meat.

"I have history with him as well.", she said, truthfully, even if she'd follow with a lie. "I recognized him when I once had the lovely pleasure to meet him, eye to eye."

"And.. you are still here?"

She chuckled. "Why would I not?", she questioned. "I am a skilled fighter, I was trained by my brother before he left and by Lord Elrond himself, as well as many other good fighters."

The Dwarves shared a glance, causing her to scoff in amusement. "I know, that it must be confusing for you to meet me, and that I am knowing of Thorin's dead enemy, but maybe it was forsaken for us to meet."

She stood up, feeling herself getting tired. "I will tell you all many more things, if I am sure that I can fully trust you.", she said, before turning around. "Have a good night, Thorin Oakenshield's company."

The eleven Dwarves looked at each other. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I assure you, Bofur. I give you my word.", she promised. "Enjoy your food, and please, do not burn Rivendell down while I am asleep. I would love to be awake and see Lord Elrond and Lindir's face when they nearly explode."

And with that, she turned around, leaving the company to eat and laugh at her comment.

Felicity walked into her chambers, opening the door and having a rather inconvenient guest sitting on her bed.

With an annoyed eye-roll, she turned away, only find Gandalf himself standing behind her and walking forwards - pushing her unwillingly with this manner into her room.

"You really did get the Wizard?", she asked, while she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Without hesitation, Lord Elrond stood up, his face filled with worry, while his eyes told her not just concern - but anger as well, meant for the Istari behind her.

"Joining the Dwarves on their journey is utter death.", the ruler of Imladris started. "It is madness! Which I will not allow you to do!"

Felicity raised her eyebrow, challengingly. "What are you going to do? Get Aragorn?", she scoffed. "Oh my-! I am so afraid."

Lord Elrond stepped closer. "You should be, waking the Dragon Smaug to get back Erebor is not a light task!", he explained their plan towards the brunette woman. "I have seen death, if you are going with them. Death, I can not accept."

"Even if I die, i chose my own fate, not you.", she argued back, wanting to turn away and leave, but Gandalf stood in front of the door, simply listening in silence. He would take Felicity with him - he was just there as her moral support because he knew, that he was on her side. "You took us in, but you will not rule over my life like you do with Arwen."

"You really think this is about my daughter?", he asked, causing the Princess to go silent. "Nauthon nîn nín hervenn vi erthad ú-'erir." (It is not my daughter I am worried about.)

Felicity clenched her jaw and looked at Elrond. "I do not want to be locked in forever, because of my inerhitage.", she whispered softly, knowing how his face features softened, as he glanced back at the Istari, who nodded. "You can not protect me forever, Ion Thalannen." (Adoptive Father)

Gandalf knew, that she had a much deeper connection with the Lord of Rivendell, than her brother had - yet.. he was amazed by their relationship over and over again.. The familiarity within Elf and Human - it wasn't common.

He understood Elrond, yet he had to let go one day - and it was today.

With a defeated sigh, he sat back onto his bed.

"Be careful, as soon as your identity is revealed, you are a target of worth.", he warned her, concern flashing over Lord Elronds soft-wrinkled and remarkeable face. "Your brother is not going to like it."

She sent him a tender smile, before she sat onto her bed too, shaking her head. "I'm just a ghoststory.", she said gently, earning a nod from Gandalf. "Like him."

"Yet, your brother left in order to be with the last of your kin.."

Slightly sarcastic, she scoffed. "I waited here.. all these years for him to return..", she whispered, feeling her heart getting heavier with every though she disguised her brother. "And.. knowing that he even chose your daughter above me.. breaks my heart even more."

Looks of empathie were flashed into her direction, but she didn't want to be pitied, she wanted to have her own kind of adventure now - after getting kidnapped by Azog, she was such a mess before.. All those years she dedicated her brother with a slight hope, only to be disappointed deeply by him.

He was afraid of his inheritage, yes. He did it all to protect her, only that he didn't even think about her being as free-willingly as him.

So she got herself into trouble, and he wasn't there to help her - even when she was nearly married to an disgusting Orc.

"I do not want to wait forever.. knowing that it was all for nothing.", she said towards them, ending their discussion, causing Gandalf to humm thoughtfully, like he always did before he wanted to say either something very smart and advicing, or something very stupid.

He shook his head, before opening the door and walking out on his own, leaving Elrond and the young woman their privacy.

"So it is decided.", he said, as he started to disappear. "I wish you a restful night, Fel."

Felicity just nodded at him, when she waited for him to close the door of her chambers until she could talk to Elrond furthermore - privately.

"You have foreseen my destiny.", she said matter of a factly, earning a nod from the Lord of Imladris. "That is why you did not want me to leave dinner all of a sudden.. why you wanted me to stay here."

Elrond couldn't deny it.. But it was not his place to tell her, what he had seen, he only hoped for the best, because her ending of the journey was still clouded to him - as was his daughters one.

"Indeed.", he agreed in his melancholic voice. "Yet it burdens my heart to let you go.. Even when I knew, I had brought news to my beloved daughter and she had decided to come back and leave once more after she talked to you."

Felicity looked astonished at him - even when he couldn't impress her any more, he always found a way.

"How come I did not see her? Nor Asfaloth?"

A clear and such euphonious voice erupted from her balcony, causing the young woman to turn quickly. "Because I am a lot sneakier, than you may have thought.", Arwens beautiful voice sounded, making her jump from her bed, before walking with hastily taken steps and open arms to her friend, as she started to embrace her best friend into a big hug.

Her heart was filled with joy at the sight of her best friend. She couldn't thank Elrond enough.

So he stood up as well, knowing that she was in better hands now, and that is duty was fulfilled - he left without any other word, only for the two woman to talk all night long.

"Leithio ennas lin, ú-'erichon edregol vi meleth nîn.. I' hiril vuin, na vedui, torthad lin..", (You cannot believe how happy I am that you are here.. That you came, just for me..) she whispered as the two of them stood at the balcony, looking into the beautiful shining sky of Imladris - the stars shone with such a gleamful appearance onto them, they didn't any light to shine for them, the natural light and their closeness was enough.. 

Arwen simply hummed, before answering. "Edregol ú-'erthilithon, an Iarwain benle i dîn vi thad." (Your brother would have done the same, if you would have just told him to.)

"How would you know? He's in the north."

The black haired Elf-maiden chuckled, before shaking her head tenderly. "He was visiting me in Lorien.", she confessed, only making Felicity's heart ache in pain.

So he was in Lothlorien.. and not visiting her to say goodbye? Even when he knew how dangerous it was? That they'd never see each other again?

"Iôn tithen belegor.", (Such a little scaredy-cat.) she grumbled, causing Arwen to shak her head at the stubbornness of her friend.

"I do not want you to join."

Felicity looked at her friend, a light, shocked expression onto her beautiful face. "So he just sent for you to make me stay..", she said truthfully, watching as Arwen's face fell into a caught manner, only making the brunette woman shake her head in utter lugubrious at her. "Why would you do that? Why does everybody think I need protection?"

"Fel-"

"No, Arwen.. I want to live my own life, not caged in.", she explained. "Why can I not do, what Aragorn does?"

"Boe 'waer guren bain dorthannen nin hîr i dhôl vi aníron. Stôg in gwestad gîn i 'wathad nîn ú-'alae.", (Because he knows whats laying onto the path you have chosen. He begged me to talk you out of it.) Arwen answered, making Felicity only furious even more. 

"Knowing that appealing on your humanity does not get me far, I try to appeal on you for him... even if you despise him."

Felicity glared at her friend, before standing up without any other word towards her friend and leaving her own chambers.

Arwen was now alone in the room of the Princess of Gondor, yet again she felt her heart shatter now into pieces, knowing what she had done - a single tear fell down her procelain white cheek, before many more followed.

She just didn't want her to die.. She already had lost so much either.