A/N: Okay, so here's what I think:

1) The story is too broken for me to go around fixing things. It would need complete rewriting.

2) I can either take it off ff or leave it be and do better next time.

Such being the case, I have decided that I would leave it up in its current form and follow the path of a compromise. I'm going to end this story here and write a (hopefully better) sequel. The reason is twofold: everyone knows what goes down with Smaug, Tolkien has already written it and the movie showed it, frankly I couldn't possibly reach the level of either, and I need the OC away from these proceedings because it's simply be disrespectful to the story for her to change the outcome on her own.

The sequel will be posted under the The Stones Unturned, the Path Behind Us. It will deal with the aftermath of the BoFA, with, of course, some minor changes regarding the ending.

I hope you are not too disappointed by my decision, but I felt it had to be made.

Thank you everyone who took the time to read, comment, followed, favourit-ed and critique my work. Though it's been years since I've done actual work for this, it humbled me that there are still those who show an interest. Thank you, everyone!

Happy New Year! See you in 2019

"Something wicked befouls the air." Lori shuddered to hear the two women speak such words. "It must be that mountain. They've gone and woken the dragon, no doubt." Fear, already rotted so deeply within her heart, gave way to panic. Grimly, she paused in her sweeping, turning to glance at the mountain in the distance. Could it be that the fiend had woken? Should they not have seen some sign of it? "I tell you, they are naught but trouble, those dwarves. And who will pay the price for it? The woman's companion mumbled her reply. "Aye. Aye; we will pay. We always pay."

No matter the case, Lori did not think she could stomach further blame being heaped upon men she had come to care for, thus she did the only thing which came to mind in order to hurry the women along. A childish action, more fit for a prank than any serious attempt at changing an opinion. She pushed the bucket at her feet, making certain its contents flowed down the steps into the street. The two women squealed in protest, turning the full heat of their stares upon her. Lori merely clapped the dust off her hands and entered the house, leaving behind the protesting duo.

Once within, she clambered atop the winding stairs, making her way to Kili's room. Fili, who had been sitting with his brother, throughout the morning, greeted her arrival with a mild smirk. "Was there any particular reason for which you assaulted those women, or are you simply as bored as I am?"

"Your eyesight must still suffer the effects of poor lighting," she answered calmly. "I assaulted no more." She preferred to think of it as retribution. "How is your brother?" Walking around the eldest's chair, she leaned over the edge of the bed, reaching to touch the patient's forehead. The fever no longer brewed within him and it had been a day since it had broken. Hope, feeble as it ever was, soothed some of her pains.

"Being stubborn. He should have woken up by now." Stubborn; well they shared that between the two of them. Lori hummed in agreement, drawing back from the bed. The boy ought to have opened his eyes. At least for a moment or two. Sleep could not be that sweet and they were running out of time/ If anything, she had to begin planning for an escape.

Lori had thought the matter through. Aye, they'd been clothed and fed by the people of the city. Aye, she owed gratitude to its Master. But she could not lower herself the way he asked and she could not expect that he spoke true when he suggested he would let the dwarves go. As soon as Kili opened his eyes, they would have to do something. Anything. It was much too dangerous to sit idly and await the blow of fate.

"He will wake soon enough," she offered consolingly, touching Fili's sleeve. "I am going downstairs. Mayhap I may help in the kitchen." True to her word, she joined the other occupant of the kitchen and began carrying out the more menial of tasks, peeling onions and chopping carrots.

The motions, familiar from her youth, put her in the mind of home. She recalled her mother teaching her one trick or another which might make the task of peeling onions or dicing leeks more palatable. That in turn brought her to wonder if she was to ever see her family again. The path to Erebor had been strewn with danger; the road back was bound to be equally entertaining in its attempts to halt her progress.

She was midway through slicing the tomatoes when Fili burst into the kitchen, calling for her excitedly. "You must come this moment," he insisted even as she dried her hands upon a piece of cloth, abandoning her task in order to follow.

"Is it your brother?" Lori questioned, grabbing hold of his arm so the difference is speed might be somewhat attenuated. He confirmed her notion by tugging her along more fiercely, speaking of miracles and the gods' mercy. At least she had misplaced her trust in the higher beings. That much she could congratulate herself for.

In the room, for the first time in too long a while, Kili sat up in bed, groggily eyeing his surroundings. In spite of his wan look, there was a small smile curling his lips, barely visible even with all the attention heaped upon him. Still and all, he proved rather receptive to the gentle hug Lori bestowed upon him and more than that attempted to return it. He did not quite manage the feat on account of too-tired arms, but then the poor lad had been at death's door and back.

"We are ever so glad to have you with us again," she managed after a little while spent making certain no imminent danger of the fever's return lurked. "Your brother has been at your side day in and day out. Now you rest there while I go bring you something to eat. Fili, do not let him gulp down his water. Small sips only."

Lori knew her absence would give the brothers enough time to speak of their uncle. Fili would doubtlessly let Kili know what had gone on and mayhap more than that, but they would not get to the planning part. Or so she hoped, for the thought of it left her uneasy. Lori returned to the kitchens armed with a wealth of patience and her good intentions. She prepared a thin broth for her patient, making certain it would be easy to swallow and not too spicy. In any event the spices were not present in any goodly quantity in these kitchens.

She returned upstairs with a laden tray and a bit of conversation. Fili insisted he would help his brother with the meal and that she ought to have a moment's rest as well. Lori did not protest. They were brothers; she understood, she thought, the elder's need to protect the younger.

"Fili tells me uncle could not wait on us." She sighed as the words reached her. For a moment she did not even pay any heed to the fact the lad's voice sounded so tired.

"There was urgent business to attend to." It was a tired excuse, barely even adequate, and yet Lori found that she was glad in some way that the two would be spared the horrors of Smaug and whatever nefarious actions the beast would undertake in order to keep all the gold in its possession. Dragons are their hoards would not be easily parted.

Whatever else was to come, Kili and his brother took the time to rest easily knowing the closest danger had passed. Lori, while much relieved to have Kili back with them, found that her rest was not as easy. She tossed and turned the nights away, all in hopes that the morrow would not come. Each sunrise brought her a step closer to the fate the Master had for her and each time she did her best to calm her pounding heart with promises that she would find some way out of it.

Alas, she found no easing of her burden in sight. But as the days drifted past, Kili got stronger and stronger, gaining back his vitality. One day h was holding a cup on his own, only to spend the next day walking about his room. And then he was climbing up and down the stairs, a determined look upon his face. It was not long before he'd returned to his original state and she found herself waiting for the brothers to give her some indication of their desires.

Lori had considered talking them into leaving, but in her heart of hearts she well understood they would follow out of a sense of duty, some need to protect her, and that try as she might to cushion such a choice in terms of favours and such, they would in the end be more hurt at being absent from their uncle's side than not. Thus, she pretended she did not hear the creaking of boards as they moved around the house late at night. She also feigned ignorance regarding their whispered conversations. They were warriors at heart. No matter how she twisted the situation, it never seemed quite right to her to drag them away from what they perceived to be their duty.

Thus, when one morning the three of them sat down for breakfast in the parlour, Lori was not at all surprised to meet a pair of slightly guilty gazes regarding her with utmost attention. Fili cleared his throat while Kili fiddled with the collar of his tunic, tugging on it as a child might. Reining in her first reaction, which was one of genuine fright and a modicum of disappointment at being correct, she swallowed some of her toast, washing it down with a mouthful of tea and waited until they felt comfortable enough to engage her.

"We've been thinking," Fili began, reaching out for a slice of toast, "that we have been enough a burden on the shoulder of these people. In fact, it would be show a great lack of gratitude if we continued in this way."

"You wish to join your uncle." Kili nodded. Lori bit her lip. She could not send them off with a flea in their ear. It would only brew resentment between them. Gathering all her strength, she forced a tremulous smile to her lips and nodded her head as though to strengthen her position. "You will need food for the road. And some swift ponies." Surprise flickered across Fili's face. "And some salve for Kili's wound."

"I thought for certain you would try to keep us here," Kili dared after a brief silence. "I would have if I were in your place." Lori could but hope her strength would not run out as she prepared to assure them they did not remain behind on her account. "Or at the very least attempt to convince us to take you along."

"Much as I should like to join you, the lair of a dragon is simply not the place in which I may do so." She stood, dusting off her skirts. "I have no true skill which may aid you and I should only be in your way if battle ensued. I would rather wait for you here."

What man could give a fight his all if he was worried about another? With that thought in mind, she put her plate away. "You must tell your uncle that I expect him to do his best to return to me."

"He will be glad to know you are waiting." Of that she was certain. If only she could wait for him beyond the allotted time. Alas, the hour of her trials drew near and she refused to allow herself to fall to such a fate. If Thorin had taught her one thing, then it had to be that pride could never be bought back once sold. "And we'll make certain to keep the prettiest pieces for you, never fear."

"Do not concern yourself. I am certain I shall have more gold than I will ever need." And she would trade all of it for a quiet life. The trouble with adventuring, she was coming to find, was that fun was a transitory aspect of it. She did not regret coming along, she did not even egret giving her heart away to a man who might soon meet his end. But how dearly she wished they might have had some time, even as short as a few years, together in a small home all of their own. A few children running about. She had to stop thinking along those lines or else she might start weeping. "Now, I trust you can take care of the clothing on your own. I shall see to it that you have enough food to last you the journey."

Only before urns of dried meats did she manage to shed a tear or two, but even then she did not allow herself more. It would be noticed if she did and for the life of her, she was determined to see her boys off with a big smile. Preparing a satchel's worth of food, she made certain to put a bit of everything in, adding something sweet for Kili. If only she'd had time to cook something for him, but then those two wee in a hurry,

The swifter they left, the faster they would reach their uncle and his companions. Lori awaited their return with baited breath, wondering if they'd managed to find a worthy mode of transportation. Not ones to disappoint, the two had somehow found a horse they might rode. Certainly what they lacked in height they made up for in determination.

And so it came time for them to leave. She stood on the steps as they mounted the long-legged beast, pressing a square of embroidered linen to her chest. "Take care of yourselves," she demanded of the brothers, "and do your best by your uncle."

"We'll do our best to have him back with you, lassie," Fili promised, reaching one hand out to her. Kili was too busy holding onto his brother to do likewise. Lori took the proffered hand and squeezed it gently. "Take care of yourself and be sure to lock the door tightly. If there's any sign of trouble, run. Run and don't look back."

Given that such was her plan in any event, Lori felt somewhat easier when she agreed to the words. She waved as they departed, making certain to remain upon the steps until she could no longer see them. Once that had been accomplished, she returned into the house and locked the front door, blocking it to the best of her abilities. There was not much time, she knew. In so small a settlement it would not take long before it became known the last of her companions had departed. And whatever meagre protection their presence had afforded her was gone with them.

Lori began her preparations by selecting the simplest garb she could get her hands on. It was nowhere near as good as what she'd had on at her departure from home, but it would have to do. She then searched for her only weapon and secured it to the girdle of her garb before fastening a cloak about her shoulders.

"Is you going out, mistress?" questioned the one helper they'd been given. A woman in her old age, she'd been kind after a fashion and mostly kept to herself.

"For a short walk," Lori answered, pasting a smile upon her face. "I will be back in time for the midday meal." She could not risk packing a satchel for herself. It would look much too strange. Beside, she would still be able to catch some fish, she was certain.

A horse was beyond her means and she wouldn't be able to ride a pony well enough, she reckoned, to escape pursuers. What she could do was turn to the elves once more and hope that they would take pity and simply send her back to the shire. After all, in spite of their king's greed, she had sensed some kindness there.

With such in mind, Lori began walking the streets of the dingy town, aimlessly pursuing the paths. She thought back on how it had all begun. The opening of a door, that had been it. And now she'd closed the door. It was not the ending she'd wished for, nor was it any great consolation that out of them all it was she who would return unscathed to her home.

The roughly hewn wool of her clothes scratched against her skin. The flesh would be red and raw, she considered, if it went on long enough. Alas, the point was to attract as little attention as possible. And what better way than to look as though she'd been dressed in a quilt of leaves and dried grass. A sigh left her lips as she recognised the great road leading to the edge of the town.

What she did not expect, however, was to be joined on the road. She jumped at a greeting levelled her way and turned to glance at the giant striding towards her, his footsteps eating away at the distance between them. "Fancy seeing you out and about, mistress." Bard drew to a stop before her. "A little bird told me the last of your companions have left you."

"I'm hoping the same bird knew to keep quiet around the Master of your settlement," she answered, unable to keep from frowning. "I thought a walk might do me good."

"There is a path, it leads towards the dark wood. Not many travel it for the elves have no desire to count us among their friends and we have no desire to be on the end of the sharp point of an arrow." She liked the man, Lori decided. He could have easily turned a blind eye to her troubles, but he chose to aid her instead. "If you leave now though, you'll have a tough time of it. Stay with me until nightfall and I shall see to it that no one impedes you."

It had all begun with her opening a door and taking a step into the unknown. It would end with her closing that very door and returning to the comforts of the familiar. "I wish I had more than words to thank you with."

"Sometimes words are more than enough." But they weren't. Not truly. Lori nevertheless followed the man as they walked in a loop together, conversing about one thing or another. Her mind drifted towards her kin far away. She wondered if she could make the journey swiftly enough that it might seem a dream.

She wondered if the whole adventure would seem a dream to her in the years to come. If she'd know then where the road lead, would she have taken it again?