Hey all! :) Here is the next (kind of final) installment!

Review Replies-

fiona. boyle .5832: Hello! Wow 7 times? that's amazing! I've seen it once but Youtube has a lot of the scenes for me to rewatch ;D

Freaking Zebra: yes, cliffhangers tend to cause a spontanious CAPS RAGE review ;)

C. Palmer: I have written a Fili/Kili kind of angsty mostly fluffy fic for you and my other faithful reviewers! Go to my profile to see :D

FeatheredFilly: yep, riding takes a lot of time! I switched to online schooling because I wanted more time with the horses. I am always open for prompts! PM me! And thanks for the awesome review as always!

Also thanks to little-miss-laughs-a-lot, PrincessMnMz, Purestrongpoem and anna012 (who actually reviewed just today, reminding me that I should update! Thanks!) for their awesome reviews. You guys keep me going!

Onward and forward!

Not long after Balin and Thorin had spoken, some noises in the kitchen disturbed them. Everybody startled, sitting up. Balin peered around the corner to see Belawen. She put a pot of turkey broth over the fire and began chopping vegetables when she saw the dwarves, all awake.

"Oh, I am so sorry," she said hastily. "I did not mean to wake any of you."

"Do not be sorry," Bofur replied, peering in the doorway also. "What are you doing in the kitchen at such an hour?"

"Making a bit of stew," Belawen offered. "You all are in need of a warm, homemade meal. Figured you would all want to leave early in the morning, so I wanted to have it ready."

Balin glanced at Thorin as if to say "I told you so," but the dwarf prince did not look convinced.

Firmar came in through another door, shutting it quietly behind him. Behind the door was Toric's bedroom.

"Is he sleeping?" Belawen hissed.

"Yes, finally. He did not want to."

"Why?"

Firmar glanced to the dwarves- namely Ori, Fili, Kili and Bofur- and replied, "He liked his new friends."

Belawen just smirked, going back to cutting carrots. "I do not blame him."

There was a comfortable silence for a few moments before Firmar peered over at what Belawen was up to. "Bit late to be making stew, is it not?"

Belawen smirked a bit at her husband. "Not for us." She tilted her head towards the dwarves that still remained in the doorway.

Firmar planted a kiss on his wife's hair. "Do not stay up all night."

While Firmar retired to his and Belawen's bedroom, the visitors settled in also. Most were asleep, but Thorin sat awake, puffing smoke on his pipe.

Belawen continued making the hearty stew, throwing in carrots and potatoes. As she went to her icebox for meat to thaw, she felt a familiar numbing in her legs. For the moment, she ignored it.

Not long after, the meat was thawed and Belawen had it in a pan over the fire. She stirred and cooked it through, cutting it into cubes of tender burger. Her legs suddenly tightened again and she had to clutch the counter to keep from falling.

Belawen hurried to dump the cubes of beef into the stew, stirring it. She sniffed and deemed it fairly good. As she took a spoonful to test, her legs stiffened unexpectedly yet again. As she went careening towards the floor, she grasped out for purchase but found none. She collapsed hard onto the cool, unforgiving floor.

Thorin was the only one really alert in the next room. Gandalf had slipped away yet again and he was left in charge of his Company. He did not feel uncomfortable with the fact, but he still would have preferred the wizard stay closer to them.

As he mused over this, Thorin heard a metalic clang from the kitchen, shortly followed by a heavy thump.

Considering not doing anything, Thorin waited to see if he would hear anything further. When he didn't, he stood slowly. Walking into the doorway of the kitchen, he did not see Belawen. He stepped around the counter and saw the woman on the floor. She had a white-knuckle grip on her calves, brow furrowed with pain.

"What happened?" Thorin asked quickly. Belawen glanced up quickly. She smirked humorlessly.

"Could you fetch Firmar for me?" she asked. Thorin was too shocked to move for a moment. "Please?" she added.

Thorin nodded, his rushed footfalls echoed through the hallway. He rushed to the nearest closed door- unable to tell which room was which- and knocked. A few seconds later, Vaddyn opened the door.

"Is something wrong?" the young adult asked quickly, seeing Thorin's slightly shaken face.

"I know not. It is your mother."

Vaddyn, to Thorin's surprise, did not look shocked nor upset. He nodded swiftly, muttering a rapid "thank you" before he went to the door next to his own. He knocked, bringing his father to the door. Firmar seemed to read their minds. He gently pushed past the dwarf and his son to the kitchen. Belawen had yet to move, still squeezing her legs and cringing quietly.

"Bella," Firmar said, announcing his presence. His wife looked up, smiling with relief. Firmar sat across from her. "Relax, darling," he told her, though he didn't have to. It happened so often that it became routine.

Firmar just took Belawen's legs onto his and gently rubbed the tension away. Belawen slowly relaxed and ended up slumped and yawning. Firmar scooped her up and stood. Belawen did not care that she was being coddled- which she normally would- nor that the dwarves who had awoken could see what had happened. She was just tired.

Firmar met eyes with Thorin's intense ones, a silent thank you to the smaller man. Thorin returned the gaze in kind, allowing Firmar to pass through the hall back to the darkened bedroom.

Vaddyn moved into the kitchen and took the pot of stew from the fire and put out the flame. He set the stew to cool off and turned to see Thorin in the same spot, seeming a bit shocked, and a few other dwarves sitting up upon hearing the commotion.

"She is okay," he assured them. "That happens a lot."

Before anyone could question him, Vaddyn turned to see his father coming out of his bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind him. Firmar came back to the kitchen.

"Sleeping?" Vaddyn questioned. His father nodded.

"Go back to sleep, Vaddyn," he suggested, not before setting a reassuring, proud hand on his son's shoulder. Vaddyn nodded thankfully and retired back to his room.

Firmar turned to see the dwarves. "I 'spose I owe you all a bit of an explanation."

In the sitting room, the dwarves who were awake sat up and listened to Firmar talk. The man was seated in a chair, mostly talking to Thorin. The others just listened.

"My wife has a disease of the muscles. They are deteriorating, getting weak very fast. First in her legs, as you saw. Next will be her arms. After that, her chest. Eventually, she will become too weak to breathe."

Firmar said this in a near emotionless tone, but Thorin could see that he had unshed tears in his eyes. He focused on his hands, which were folded in his lap. The Company saw him swallow before continuing.

"Vaddyn already knows his mother's fate, that much is clear, but Toric still does not."

Fili and Kili looked at each other, sympathy for the humans evident. They both had lost their parents, though their mother's death was hardest. Their uncle quickly took over their father's roles, but no one was there to fill their mother's. She passed unexpectedly. To know that your parent was dying and there was nothing to do but wait seemed much more painful.

Thorin also felt his heart being pulled by the knowledge. He had never really found a soulmate before Smaug took Erebor, nor after. However, he knew how hard it was to loose a loved one. He had lost his sister, father, grandfather and many friends in his life. Those he still held close were among the Company and always under his watch.

The Dwarf Prince also felt guilt in his mind. He had doubted their motives, thought that maybe the humans had ill intent. Now he was to learn that they were nothing if not generous, despite their hidden struggles? He did not miss the look Balin quietly tossed to him that undoubtedly said "I told you so" yet again.

The knowledge took each by surprise, yet a few had noticed slight differences in the female human. She seemed to struggle to keep her balance at times and occasionally seemed to need to stretch her legs.

"You should all get some rest, though," Firmar finally said. "I am sure it will be an early morning for you."

The other dwarves agreed, lying down and soon falling asleep. Firmar and Thorin did not move nor speak.

Finally, as all the others were sleeping, Thorin broke the silence quietly. "I am sorry about Belawen."

Firmar looked into the dwarf's eyes. "I am sorry for your loss also."

Thorin tilted his head in questioning. Firmar smiled a bit.

"Your nephews. I can tell they rely on you. It makes me assume that their parents have passed."

"They have," Thorin replied. "Their father first, he was very ill, and their mother in an accident a few years later."

"They have taken a liking to you. They look at you with admiration."

"I often wonder why," Thorin mused. "I do not feel like a good guardian to them. It seems that their mother did a much better job with them. Even Bofur, the dwarf with the hat, did great with them. Bofur's family are toymakers. My family did not value each other nearly as much as they valued riches."

"Do not worry," Firmar replied smoothly. "Those boys look at you like a king. It is obvious that they look up to you."

"Your nephew also," Thorin pointed out. "He is young but he already takes after you and your wife. How did he come into your care, if I may ask?"

"He is my brother's son. My brother and sister-in-law passed at the hands of orcs when their village was attacked. We found Toric buried in the rubble of the home, under his parents' bodies. He does not remember what happened, it was a couple years past."

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the dying fire.

"I should let you sleep," Firmar decided, standing. He was careful not to trip over any dwarf or hobbit on the floor. Thorin stayed where he was.

"Of course," the prince replied, bowing his head slightly in respect. Firmar nodded back before maneuvering his way back to his bedroom.

Firmar entered the room with stealth in hopes of not waking his wife. He changed into comfortable pants before snuggling under the covers beside the sleeping Belawen. She sighed contently and rolled closer to him. Laying her head on his chest, she stifled a yawn.

"How are you?" Firmar risked to ask, figuring she was awake enough to answer.

"Fine," Belawen responded, though both knew it was not the truth. "Are they all settled?"

"Yes. They were worried for you." Firmar was quiet for a moment. "I am sure they will be happy to see you in the morning."

Just before the drifted off, Belawen replied with a yawn, "I doubt they will be here in the morning."

That's the end! I have another chapter planned, but haven't typed it yet. I will be updating my Lord of the Rings story first to keep my schedule, but I will soon put up the final chapter if you guys wish for it :)