I am SOOOOO sorry for how long it has taken for me to update.
I really have not other excuse than time got away from me.
I lost some of my inspiration and I was stuck on how I wanted to proceed.
I was just thinking that we just finished the first part of this story.
Now is the second part that will take place between The Hobbit
and The Lord of the Rings.
Please check out the poll on my profile
and as always, please review!

~ Rachel

Eärwen found no sleep that night. Her mind continually turned over what Bofur had told her. She continued to lie down until the silence drove her out of bed. After quickly dressing, she slipped out of her room and began to wander the long halls of Erebor.

Her wanderings took Eärwen to the overlook where she found a certain dwarf king standing alone in the moonlight. He gave no notion that he heard her approach until he turned shame-filled eyes on her.

"I have done wrong," he softly said as he returned his gaze to the land before the Lonely Mountain.

Eärwen strode over to the dwarf king's side and asked, "What is this wrong that you speak of?"

Thorin shook his head and sighed, "I have betrayed two who have done nothing to deserve it. I have made peace with Master Baggins, but it is the other who weighs heavily on my heart. I broke a promise to Tosur. I promised him that should his sister return to us, that I would not harm his sister's heart. Only now, I have done that and so much more. I betrayed her trust and it is my fault that Tosur is no longer by her side."

Eärwen watched as Thorin's shoulders sagged under an invisible weight. Gently, she placed a slender hand on one of his shoulders and turned him to face her. "You can make this right," she whispered as silver eyes stared into icy blue ones. "I will be travelling to find our friends after I leave this place. I would like to help those who are returning to Erebor make the trip back without incident; however, I fear that they would not accept my help. This being said, I will keep an eye on them as they journey."

Thorin instantly could see what Eärwen was saying. "I would like for you to take something with you when you meet up with our friends. I also would greatly appreciate it if you would watch over the returning folk as they journey home. I agree that my people would most like refuse your help. We dwarves can be a stubborn lot, but I happen to know a nymph that could rival myself in stubbornness."

"Why, thank you, Your Highness," Eärwen said with a laugh and exaggerated bow. "That is a high compliment coming from you!"

Eärwen was rewarded with a smirk before Thorin's face once again became serious. A comfortable silence settled over the two. Thorin was the one to break the silence again. "Eraveth left me this note after the battle. She was gone before I awoke. I never got the chance to apologize to her."

Thorin pulled a piece of parchment out of his pocket and handed into Eärwen. It was folded and creased in several places and had the appearance of being read often. Eärwen carefully unfolded the parchment and read it. The words were simple but held so much meaning.

"I want to go and retrieve her," Thorin said with a sad shake of his head, "but I cannot. I must stay here and begin to rebuild. Also, I -" Thorin did not finish the thought and hung his head.

"Also, what?" Eärwen pressed. She knew that Thorin did not often share his true feelings, but sometimes it felt better to just say them.

"I do not deserve her. I have hurt her more than any other. She deserves a good dwarf, one who will treat her as the most precious jewel, one who will spare her heartache."

Eärwen waited some time before responding. When she did, she maneuvered in front of Thorin and knelt so that they were closer to the same level. "Bofur told me of everything that was said and done," she said softly. "Although I do not condone what you said and did, I understand that you were under the influence of the dragon sickness. Eraveth was always kind and considerate. She will understand. Yes, you did hurt her, but if she loves you like she said, then she will give forgiveness."

Eärwen paused for a moment and smiled at the dwarf King. "You are a good dwarf," she said fervently. "I know that, if given the chance, you would cherish Eraveth as the greatest treasure that could ever be found. Heartache is a part of life. You can only try to lessen the ache in one's life. You cannot truly prevent it. You just have to find ways that it does not hurt as much."

Thorin gave Eärwen a nod of agreement before changing the subject. "Come," he beckoned with a wave of his hand. "I believe that you should have a tour of the Lonely Mountain. You will always have a place amongst us here."

"Thank you, Thorin."

Eärwen allowed Thorin to show her the glory of Erebor. The treasure room took her breath away. Giant mounds of gold and jewels created hills within the mountain hall. Thorin explained that Bilbo had given his share of the wealth to the people of Laketown.

While Thorin was talking, Eärwen's attention was drawn to a bit of silver in the vast mountain of gold. Slowly, she bent down and pulled the treasure from the pile. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before. At first, the metal had appeared to be silver, but as she brought it closer to see, the more it appeared as almost a white color. The piece was a circlet a large, diamond-shaped sapphire in the front. A teardrop-shaped pearl hung from the sapphire. The circlet seemed to be a perfect mix of elvish and dwarvish design. The front was made of crossing lines that created diamond shapes around the sapphire. The sides flowed elegantly back like waves in a beautiful elvish design.

"Mithril," Thorin said from beside Eärwen, startling her slightly.

Eärwen glanced at the headpiece in her hand and said, "It is beautiful. I've never actually seen mithril before. The design is extraordinary." Eärwen went to place the headpiece back, but Thorin stopped her.

"Keep it," he said as he pushed the piece toward the nymph.

Eärwen's eyes grew wide as she turned to look at Thorin. "I cannot accept this!" she exclaimed as she thrust it toward Thorin.

Thorin pushed in back and adamantly said, "You can and you will. You gave much, including your life, to see this quest through. This could not even begin to repay the debt that we owe you. Besides, no dwarf in their right mind would ever wear with an elvish design like that."

Eärwen smiled widely at the King and said, "You do not need to repay me, but I will accept it, for your sake at least." Thorin nodded and the two continued the tour until dwarves began to wake and Thorin had to prepare for a meeting with Dain.