A/N: Thank you for sticking with this story! I hope you enjoyed it!

"Right."

In the library, clad in warm, dry clothes, Bella folded her hands around a mug of tea and stared, unseeing, out the window at the rain battered lake. "Typically, there's no reason for there to be so many ghosts here. Yes, they accumulate around disasters, but not to this extent and why would they linger so?"

She took a deep breath.

"Not to mention how they behave. I think they're being compelled. Forced into attacking us."

"Compelled?" Thorin repeated from beside her, his own mug of tea in his hands and his expression grave.

"Yes."

"By whom?"

"Smaug."

"Even though we haven't seen any actual physical trace of him, apart from the boathouse, which we had all managed to completely ignore until you went there this morning?" he asked.

"Yes," Bella said nodding and fully aware that the others were following the conversation like a tennis match.

"How is he compelling them?" Thorin asked.

"Magic." Bella cringed even as she said the word.

"Magic." Thorin looked sceptical.

"Oh, come on," Bella said. "You'll believe in ghosts and gravity, but not magic? Besides, Smaug clearly believes or we wouldn't be having this discussion."

"So what do we do?" Kili asked. "How do we stop him from ordering the ghosts to attack us every five minutes?"

"I'm not sure," Bella said with a sigh. "I think we need to find him, and well, throw the compulsion back on him somehow."

"Do you know how to do that, lass?" Balin asked.

"Not a clue," Bella said slumping back in her chair. "We need Gandalf."

Thorin straightened up and looked at Dwalin. "Go to Laketown. We'll cable him at the university. See if they know where he is."

"Going to have a hell of a time doing it," Dwalin said nodding at the horrible weather outside.

"Bella, what can you do?" Tauriel asked.

"I don't know," she said staring out the window at the pouring rain.

"Could you find out?" Tauriel asked. "We have his books, you know."

Balin nodded. "It's true. Could you do what he did? Follow his progress?"

"I could try," Bella said shrugging. "But I'm not a magician. I simply talk to the dead."

"There is nothing 'simple' about you," Thorin said looking at her. "Would you be willing to try?"

She stared at him for a moment, stared into those sharp blue eyes that had always seemed to look right through her from the very beginning. She could see how much it was costing him to even ask the woman he'd been sharing his time with to do such a dangerous task, and she appreciated his struggle. She also knew that he'd be completely accepting of her decision to not help.

She, however, would not, could not accept inaction. Not now.

"I'm willing to try," she said, her voice firm. "I need to go back to the boathouse."

He nodded. "But, not alone."

"Oh, most certainly not alone," Bella said shuddering. "I want at least four of you lads with me."

In the end, five went with her, while Tauriel, Fili and Kili drove to Laketown to cable Gandalf. The shattered glass from the morning still lay on the floor, but there was no sign of Smaug or any kind of ghost.

"Just grab them and let's go," Bella said, rubbing her hands on her arms. "I don't like it here."

"It isn't as though he can't follow us into the house," Bofur said lifting several books into his arms.

"Yes, all right," Bella said. "All the same."

They grabbed what they could and then quickly headed back to the library, where Bella quickly assumed a seat at the desk in the corner and started to read.

An hour passed before a mug of tea was placed beside her and Thorin asked quietly, "Dare I ask how it's going?"

"It'd be better if I knew what I was looking for," Bella said taking the mug and sipping. "I suspect he got rid of any of his actual notes and heaven knows how he died or where his body is. Not that I'd really know what to do with it if I found it."

"Can't you just call him?" Bofur asked from over by the window. "I thought that's what mediums did."

"Well, yes, I think I could," Bella said. "The problem still remains in that he commands a large number of ghosts. If I call Smaug, I call the lot of them and we can't manage them all at once." She glanced at Thorin. "And now you've seen what happens if one of them gets in."

Thorin's brow furrowed and he looked down. "I think it happened last night. When I came in here to sleep. I was…agitated and I had such dreams." He swallowed hard. "I saw him just before he…" He looked at Bella. "No one is to be alone until this is finished."

"Agreed," Bella said, longing to reach out and just touch him. He seemed to pick up on her thoughts, for he came closer and brushed the backs of his fingers against her cheek.

"Thank you," he said. "It looks as though you have once again saved me from torment."

"I hadn't planned on making it a habit, you know," she said, reaching up and wrapping her fingers around his wrist, feeling his pulse strong and sure. "But you seem to attract trouble extremely well."

He half-smiled and took her hand in his to press a kiss to the back of it. He opened his mouth to say something, but Dwalin's voice announcing, "They're back!" interrupted him.

They all turned to the library door as Dwalin strode through with a peculiar look on his face.

"We've got guests," he said.

Behind Fili, Kili and Tauriel came Bard Bowman, his daughter and other people from Laketown.

Thorin let go of Bella's hand and faced them.

"Why have you come?" he asked, staring at Bard.

"To make sure that those devils you've awakened don't go past the boundaries of Laketown," Bard said. "And to make sure you keep your promise, Durin."

Thorin bristled and his eyes narrowed, but Bella got to her feet and said, "Thank you, Mr Bowman. The extra hands may come in handy."

She turned to Fili. "What of Gandalf?"

"We sent the cable," he said. "And rung the university, but no one has seen him in days."

"Bother the man," Bella muttered. She turned back to her books and sighed.

"What next?" Dwalin asked.

Bella flipped another page until she realised that the room had gone quiet. She looked up to see everyone staring at her.

"Oh! Oh, I have no idea," she said, her hands fiddling with her sleeves. "We wait, presumably."

"For Smaug to make another move?" Thorin asked, cocking his head at her.

She shrugged. "Yes? As it is, I only have the vaguest idea of what's going on. I'm not a tactician, Thorin."

"Then it's a good thing that I am," he said. He turned to look at the company and then at the Laketown residents. "I refuse to wait."

"You want to draw him out," Bard said stepping towards him.

"Yes," Thorin answered. He looked everyone in the eyes, one by one, and then continued, "And I propose to do it now. Before nightfall."

"Now?" Bella asked, putting her hand on his arm. "But you-"

"His captain has just been defeated," Thorin said. "He's weak and expects us to go away to lick our own wounds. We know where he wants us."

"The mines," Fili added. "Azog was quite clear about that."

Thorin nodded. "He wants us all to perish in the mines. We can go there and call him out. Call him out of the darkness." He nodded at Bard. "We have reinforcements. We have our medium. We can beat him."

"But for how long?" Bella asked. "He's using magic to control those ghosts. I can't change that."

"I may be able to," a voice intoned from the door.

Gandalf breezed into the room just as though he'd always been there.

"Oh, you have the most uncanny timing of anyone I've ever met," Bella said eyeing Gandalf disbelievingly.

The insufferable man merely winked at her as he said, "I do like to keep everyone on their toes."

Bella raised her eyes skyward and prayed for patience with bearded old men who meddled.

"Welcome to Erebor, Gandalf," Thorin said looking amused. "You can fight this magic?"

"I believe so," Gandalf said frowning. "I found a former colleague of his, from when he attended university. Smaug has always been obsessed with death and the power of it." He looked at Thorin. "I believe it was he who sabotaged your mines all those years ago."

Thorin looked stricken. "It was no accident?"

"No," Gandalf said shaking his head. "I do not believe so." He looked out the window towards the mines. "Death is the last great adventure, so they say. And I believe Smaug searched out a way to start his path to what he is now."

"A dead magician?" Thorin asked scornfully.

"A powerful dead magician," Gandalf said. He looked at Bella. "I believe I can counteract his compulsion spell, but I'll need him out in the open to do so."

"I've never called anyone, Gandalf," Bella said, her stomach twisting. "I'm not sure I can."

"Of course, you can," he said. "You're Belladonna Baggins' daughter and a medium in your own right. You can send them away, you can bring them forth."

She took a deep breath and nodded. "He won't be alone when I call him. He'll bring the rest of the dead with him." She looked around the room. "It won't be pleasant."

"But you can send them on?" Sigrid asked, from her place beside her father.

"I can," Bella said, "But I'll need some help from you all."

"Distraction," Fili said nodding. "We can keep them busy for you."

Bella nodded back and then looked to Thorin. "Captain. This is your land. You give the final orders."

"Then we go to the mines. Now," he said. "We face this madman head on and we don't hesitate. We rid these mountains of the dead and we start again." He looked at Bard. "You're with us?"

"We're with you," Bard said solemnly. "If only to make sure you don't mess this up."

"Such faith," Thorin said arching his eyebrows. "But, I'll take it. To the mines!"

For the second time that day, Bella rode in tense silence to the mines. She practiced the words used to summon a spirit that her mother taught her over and over in her head. Rubbing her forehead, she stared out the window. A hand on her arm had her looking over at Tauriel, who smiled at her.

"You can do this, Bella," Tauriel said. "We'll not let you do this alone."

"'Course not," Kili added grinning. "You're our medium, now. We don't abandon our own."

Tears stung the back of Bella's eyes as she smiled back. "It's very kind of you to say."

"It isn't kindness," Thorin said quietly from the front of the Rover. She looked at the back of his head, as he continued to look forward. "You're one of us now, Miss Baggins. For good or for ill. We'll not be leaving your side."

Bella's breath caught in her throat and it took her a moment before she could reply, "And I'll not be leaving yours."

Thorin's head turned, just a fraction to the side and she saw the corner of his mouth curve up and then he faced the road ahead once again.

Feeling a bit more confident that she'd at least not be alone Bella faced forward, as well, and steadied herself for what was to come.

The yard was silent apart from the rustle of the pine trees above and the hiss of the lake as its waves pulled back and forth on the pebbled shore. Bella walked to the centre of the yard and peered into the dark of the main tunnel. She glanced at her friends behind her. Gandalf carefully stepped slightly forward. Thorin also caught her eye and after a moment, he nodded slowly at her.

Bella nodded back and then, once again, faced the mines.

She closed her eyes and tried to recollect the image of the man that Azog had so feared. A tall, thin, pale man, with angular features and black eyes formed and holding his image firmly in her mind, she opened her eyes.

Staring at the black tunnel ahead, she said, "I summon you, Smaug. Come forth, for there are those here who wish to speak to you. Come forth."

The only answer was the sound of the wind across the lake.

"Come forth, now!" she called. Her eyes sliding to the side and down, she said, "Unless, of course, you fear what's waiting for you. Unless, you cannot bear to face your enemy in the flesh." She laughed lightly. "Well, so to speak."

A dark form appeared in the tunnel ahead and Bella focussed on it. It walked steadily towards her and she straightened her back.

"You're not the most accomplished medium I've encountered," the form said, his voice low and hissing. "But you're not the worst by any means."

"Thank you," she said uncertainly. "So, you're Smaug."

He stepped fully out of the shadows and bowed his head. "At your service, medium. Shall I tell you how I did it? Shall I explain myself?"

"You can fade away into the mists of time," Thorin called out, his voice harsh and echoed in the empty yard. "You can suffer as you made others suffer!"

"Oh, I am so glad you've brought your kin with you, Durin," Smaug said laughing. "You're all so predictable. So proud of what you think you can accomplish." He looked over the crowd, his grin deepening to a toothy gash across his face. "And do I see the locals in the crowd? How lovely!"

"Go back to hell, demon," Bard called.

"Happily," Smaug said, placing his hand on his chest. "But only after I take some of you with me. Shall I start with your daughter?"

Fili took aim with his pistol and said calmly, "Try it, you bastard."

"Oh, I intend to," Smaug said his tone as light as if he were discussing the weather. He looked at Bella. "You've done well, medium. You've sent quite a few on their way. But it's so hard to get them to go your way when they don't want to."

"They do want to," she said scowling. "They want to be free of you. Let them go, Smaug."

"Oh, I don't think so," he said shaking his head. "A tradesman would no sooner let go of his tools, than I would let go of mine."

He blinked a long, slow blink and Bella forced herself to stay in place as hundreds of spirits appeared from the tunnel behind Smaug. Their faces ravaged by fear and anguish, they lined up behind Smaug and stared out at the living in the yard.

"Are you going to send them all on their way, medium?" Smaug asked chuckling. "I don't think you're strong enough, do you?"

"Perhaps she just needs assistance," Gandalf said stepping forward.

"From a dusty old scholar?" Smaug said to Gandalf. "How quaint. I have magic on my side, old man."

"Why?" Gandalf asked his expression fierce. "Why do this?"

"Because I can," Smaug said, his mouth curling back over his teeth. "Because I figured out how to manipulate the dead. Because it's fun, old man! Because it's delightful to see fear bloom within someone, to smell their fear on the air." He looked at Bella. "And you cannot get rid of me. Evil is here, in this land and it is here to stay. You've just had a taste of what is to come. It's power and power is meant to harnessed."

He smiled a terrible, gruesome, mad smile. "Do your worst."

The ghosts surged towards the living.

Bella would always remember the following several minutes as a haze of gunfire and the harsh cold of the dead as she darted about the yard, pulling in those she could. Absently, she heard Gandalf shouting words that had no meaning to her and Smaug shouting back. As she sent terrified spirits through, she was aware of Thorin close beside her, his pistol accurately hitting where he aimed it.

Suddenly, a great blast of warm air swept over the yard, and both the living and the dead staggering where they stood.

Bella looked to Gandalf, who shouted, "It's broken! Bella, send them on!"

Turning, Bella was overwhelmed by the mass of spirits that invaded her mind, eager and desperate to be on their way. She stumbled backwards and would have fallen if not for Thorin, who grasped her waist and clasped her to him, her back to his front.

"I have you," he said beside her ear. "I won't let go."

Bella couldn't speak, she could only grab onto his arms that had banded about her midsection. Her grip increased as the number of spirits rushed at her. Her eyes strained and teared as she kept them open.

A mad howl came from nearby and a force shoved her to the ground and sent Thorin flying back.

She looked up at the furious face of Smaug above her.

"You cannot have them all!" he shouted. "You cannot take me!"

Bella scrambled to her feet, locked her gaze to his and said mockingly, "Do your worst."

Then she pulled. She pulled with all her might. He sneered and she nearly sobbed with frustration when he barely budged.

"God damnit," she said through gritted teeth. "Go!"

"Such a tiny thing," he said as he started to dart about the yard, but never once taking his eyes away from hers. Bella spun around and around trying to keep track of him. Her feet slipped in the mud and the gravel, but she kept her eyes open and kept pulling.

"Bella! Pull him through!" Gandalf shouted from somewhere on the periphery.

"I can't," Bella said through gritted teeth as her grip on Smaug started to falter and he started to laugh.

Oh, God, she thought. Mum, help me!

"Certainly, sweetpea," a familiar voice said next to her. "You only ever needed to ask."

"Mum?" Bella said, her voice shrill as she made sure not to take her eyes off of Smaug.

"Yes, darling, it's me. You called and here I am," Belladonna Baggins said, her transparent form holding still beside Bella. "Now, let's send this dreadful man on his way."

"Oh yes, let's," Bella said. She drew in one final deep breath and pulled at Smaug with all her might, A sharp golden light shone from her mother beside her and all around the Baggins' women as they pulled together.

Smaug's eyes burned with desperation and mad hatred as the combined will of the Bagginses became too much for him.

"No!" he hissed. "I'm not leaving!"

"Yes, you are," Bella said flatly, and then she shouted, "Now!"

A gunshot rang out striking Smaug directly between his eyes. He froze for a split second in shock, which was all Bella and Belladonna needed to make a final pull.

Screaming in anger, Smaug flew at Bella and she gasped as tears ran down her face as he and his burning anger passed through her. She stood completely still as she watched with her inner eye as he scrabbled for purchase on the path as he shrieked in her mind. The echoes of his screams were joined by the rest of the lingering spirits as they passed through Bella down the path. Soon, Smaug's screams faded and Bella blinked rapidly, clearing her vision.

She turned to see the company and the Laketown citizens staring at her and at the figure beside her. She tried to smile, but couldn't quite get her stiff and exhausted facial muscles to work. Her eyes met Thorin and he lowered his pistol to his side while he stared back at her. Gandalf shifted beside him and Bella noticed that he couldn't seem to stop staring at her mother. Bella looked over at her, who was looking at Bella with so much love in her eyes.

"Oh, my darling girl," Belladonna said smiling.

"You're really here?" Bella asked, her voice cracking.

"Always," Belladonna said. "Not quite sure how, but that's death for you. Always one surprise after another. Your father sends his love."

"Does he?" Bella said laughing and holding her chilled hands to her stomach, as if she could hold in the exhaustion and giddiness the day had brought on in her. "I miss you both, so much."

"We miss you, too, darling. But you're doing wonderfully, dear. So strong and capable," Belladonna said, before she winked. "And you have wonderful taste in gentlemen, too. You get that from me, you know!"

Bella's startled laugh faded as her mother slowly disappeared from sight. Frowning, she turned to the others and looked for Gandalf.

"That's that, then, is it?" she asked him. "It's done?"

"Yes, my dear," he said, looking dazed.

"Good," Bella said. Then, for the second time in her life, the ground rose up to meet her as the world went black. However, this time, she was quite certain that two very strong hands caught her before she hit the ground.

Bella slowly came to feeling warm and utterly wrung out. She shifted under the duvet and realised that the murmuring she'd first heard upon awakening had stopped. Turning her head, she opened her eyes and saw Gandalf and Thorin standing just inside her room, next to the door.

"Morning?" she tried.

"More like evening," Gandalf said. "You've only been asleep for a few hours."

"Ah," Bella said, sitting up and rubbing her face. "It's the same day, then?"

"Same day," Gandalf confirmed. "However, I don't think you should get up just yet. That was quite the display."

"I have no intention of getting out of this bed," Bella said, dropping her hands to settle on top of the duvet. She looked at Thorin. "Are you well? Is everyone well?"

He nodded. "Thanks to you and Gandalf, yes. Everyone is well. We've neither seen nor felt any spirits."

"Good," Bella said adjusting her pillow behind her. "That was some excellent shooting, Captain."

"Thank you, Miss Baggins," he said half-smiling as he opened the door. "I'll let everyone know you're awake. They were quite anxious about you."

"Oh, you don't-" The door closed behind him and Bella finished softly, "have to go."

She sighed and glanced at Gandalf who merely raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, hush," she said crossly. She rubbed at her eyes again, and then asked, "My mother was there, wasn't she?"

"Yes, she was," Gandalf said. "Did you call her?"

Bella nodded. "I didn't mean to. I mean, I didn't know I could. Oh, Gandalf. I didn't know about any of this. Magic? All these ghosts? Mining? You threw me into this woefully unprepared."

"I know," he said. "And I apologise for it, but I had no choice."

"Right," Bella said, not believing him in the slightest, but she didn't have the energy to fight him on the point. "I think that I have a great deal to learn."

"Well, it appears that there's a lovely selection of reference materials in the library," he said cheerfully. "Unless…"

"Unless what?" she asked.

"Unless you aren't staying long?" he said. "I know that you have things to tie up back home."

"So I have," she said slowly. "I'm…not sure what my plans are at present."

He nodded. "Yes, of course. Get some rest before you make any decisions. That's always been my strategy."

Bella chuckled as she closed her eyes. "You have no strategy, you old wizard. A part from dropping in unannounced and hoping for the best."

"And look how well that turned out," was the last thing she heard before she fell back to sleep.

She slept through the night, only waking once to find a cup of tea that had long since gone cold, and a small sandwich. She devoured the sandwich right there in bed and then pulled the duvet over her head and fell back to sleep.

The next morning, she got up well before the sunrise, splashed some very cold water on her face and washed the rest of herself off as best she could using the flannel and basin. Then, dressed in her last set of clean clothes, she headed downstairs. On her way, she ran into Tauriel, who hugged her tightly.

"Feeling better?" Tauriel asked.

"Much," Bella replied. "Don't suppose there's any tea?"

"Where do you think you are?" she asked. "Of course there's tea."

Two cups of tea later, and a complete account of everything that occurred after she so spectacularly fainted from Fili, namely that the Laketown residents were cautiously grateful and were going to come back to help clear the main tunnel, Bella went in search of Thorin.

She found him standing in the library staring out over the lake. Reluctance seized her and she paused in the doorway.

"You can come in," he said not turning away from the window. "I'm not going to snap at you again."

"Always good to know," she said walking forward. She stopped beside him and looked out. She chuckled. "Naturally, the sun is out today."

"Naturally," was all he said.

Bella crossed her arms over her chest and frowned. "Are you still angry with me?"

"I was never angry at you," he said with a sigh.

"No?"

"No."

"Then what was all that?" she asked facing him, and tugging at his arm to get him to face her.

"It was a proposal," he said, not quite meeting her eyes.

"Yes, well, the Durin method of proposing really needs to undergo some extensive work," she said poking his chest. "Try again."

He looked up at that. "You… What?"

"Try. Again," she said stepping towards him and craning her neck to look at him.

His eyes moved over her face and then he opened his mouth. Bella leaned up expectantly.

"Bella! Telegram!" Bofur shouted from the hall. "It's from that Lord Elrond fellow. He says-Oh, bollocks. I've done it again, haven't I?"

Bella looked over at him standing in the doorway and holding a piece of paper aloft. He cringed as Thorin glared.

"Yes, you have," Bella said. "What does Lord Elrond say?"

Bofur cleared his throat and looked down at the telegram. "Miss Baggins. STOP. There is case against relatives. STOP. Could keep business due to existing claim. STOP. Would you like to proceed? STOP."

Bella stared at him and frowned. "Oh. Well. I don't…"

"Pardon us, Private," Thorin said taking Bella's hand and pulling her with him out of the library, past Bofur. "I need to show Miss Baggins something."

"Right-o, Captain!" Bofur said as they headed down the hallway.

"Thorin?" Bella asked.

"Wait," he said shortly. "Just. Wait a moment."

Bella fell silent as he led her through the halls, past the kitchen, to a door that led to the back of the manor. Opening the door, Bella blinked in the sunlight and tightened her grip on Thorin's hand.

He strode across a stone terrace and then down a short flight of steps, only to stop and say, "There."

Bella looked and her eyes widened. "Oh, heavens."

Ahead of her was a garden. A massive, overgrown garden. She could spot at least four different types of roses amongst hyacinths, ivy, daisies and poppies. Walking forward, she saw thick, lush hedges that desperately needed pruning, as well as brambles and even some strawberry plants. Ferns of the deepest green she'd ever seen lined a stone path that wound its way past wildflowers and a small downy birch was propped up in a corner next to a thick blackthorn.

"There's an orchard just further on," Thorin said quietly behind her. "And I checked, there's still a large field just beyond that. It's very overgrown and needs to be ploughed before anything can be done to it, I presume. But…"

"But," Bella said turning to look at him.

"But I don't know the first thing about gardening," he said staring into her eyes. "Give me a gun and a map and I can find the enemy. Hell, give me a pickaxe and I can carve rock. But…give me something alive and I haven't the faintest idea what to do with it."

He stepped forward and took her hands in his. "Show me what to do with life, Bella. I'm not sure I'll be able to remember on my own."

"Oh, you ridiculous man," she said pulling a hand free to place it on his face. "You know what to do. You've gotten this far."

"Well, then, perhaps I would be better off asking." He took a deep breath. "Stay. Here. With me. Let me hold you up against the dead, while you hold me up against the living." He met her eyes and smiled shyly. "Let me finally be seduced properly in front of the fire in the library and then have you make an honest man out of me."

Bella burst out laughing and curled her hand around his neck, pulling him close enough to press her forehead to his. "Only if you promise to seduce me at the same time."

"Promise," he breathed, his voice a deep, rumble that made her shiver.

"Then, yes," she said. "I'll stay. I'll stay as long as you'll have me." She lifted her head. "I may need to go back to the Shire for a few things and to make sure that my relatives don't completely wreck the place."

"Luckily I remember the way," he said grinning.

Bella grinned back and allowed him to kiss her breathless and senseless and later, she could have sworn she heard her parents' delighted laughter on the wind.

The End.