Chapter 35

After recovering from her shock, Annelise asked Legolas for a few days to make her decision. The elf prince readily agreed and informed her that he would be staying in Dale, helping Bard and his people prepare for the cold winter ahead of them. She promised to send word as soon as she made her decision before saying goodbye to her friend and returning back into the mountain.

She was met at the entrance by Bofur, who had stood watching the interaction between the young woman and elf prince.

"What did the elf want?," he asked curiously, knowing from her posture and expressions while talking with the prince that he had said something that shocked the girl standing before him now.

"He had news of my birth father's kin," she said with a slightly distant tone in her voice. "Prince Legolas plans to leave Dale and head north in search of the Dunedain."

Bofur quickly caught on to what was causing the young woman in front of him to act so strangely.

"You wish to go with him."

Annelise quickly looked into his eyes when she realised he'd said it as a statement rather than a question, and knew that he had guessed her thoughts.

"It seems wrong for me to want to leave so soon after-," here her voice choked up at the thought of her lost family. She swallowed deeply and cleared her throat quietly before continuing.

"But they are my family also. Family that I've never met, that have no idea that I'm even alive," she finished, her thoughts quickly turning to Estel.

"I cannot speak for the others," Bofur answered her after thinking over her words for a moment, "but I think you should go. As much as we want you here and despite how much you will be missed, you need to get away from this place. And heal."

This last word was spoken accompanied by a serious look that was rarely seen on the playful dwarf's face and she knew he spoke the truth.

"But the others-"

"-will understand and likely encourage you to go as well."

Annelise felt tears building in her eyes at his words and quickly knelt down in front of him and pulled him tightly into a hug.

"Thank you," she said as a few tears fell past her lashes.

"We all loved your father, lass. And the lads," Bofur spoke softly, bringing one hand up to lay on her head while the other rested on her back.

"They wouldn't want you to give up something you wanted just because they are gone now."

Those soft words were all it took for Annelise's fragile walls to crumble once more, and Bofur simply stood with his arms wrapped around the young woman as she cried for the first time since her family's funeral.

Annelise was surprised that evening when, just before dinner, Bilbo took her hand and began leading her to the large room she knew the members of the Company had been sleeping in.

She was shocked again when she saw the entire Company had assembled and a table with dinner had been set up in the center of the room. She knew from the sad expressions on the faces of the others that Bofur had told them of her plans to leave.

She quickly looked down at her feet so she would not have to face the guilt that their sadness caused her. She felt Bilbo squeeze her hand in his own in comfort before releasing her and she heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching her.

Dwalin and Balin had moved to stand in front of her and Balin touched her arm and asked her to look at him.

"You're doing the right thing," he said simply and Annelise turned to look at Dwalin and he nodded his head to reassure her that he and, by extension, the others agreed with the elderly dwarf.

Annelise let out a small sigh of relief and allowed Dwalin to guide her to a seat at the head of the table. Once she and the rest of Company were seated at the table, Balin stood up and held his drink in his hand.

"We wanted to have one last night together as a Company before you and Bilbo leave for your next adventures," he began softly speaking directly to Annelise. "I know I speak for the rest of the lads when I say that you will be missed terribly, but we know that this is something that you need to do for yourself. So to you and our Master Burglar," here he tipped his glass in Bilbo's direction, "we wish you both safe journeys until our paths cross once again."

Here he raised his glass and the others followed suit.

"I really appreciate you all doing this, but I'm still going to be around for a little while," Annelise said looking at the dwarves around her fondly. "I haven't even told Legolas of my decision yet."

"I sent word to him, lassie," Bofur spoke up sheepishly. "I knew you would delay your decision as long as you could to avoid hurting our feelings, but you need to do this. Bilbo will be leaving for the Shire in the morning and the elf will be waiting for you in Dale once you say your goodbyes."

Annelise's heart swelled with sadness at the realization that the Company would be parting ways so soon, but also anticipation at the fact that she was so much closer to finally seeing Estel once more.

"Thank you, Bofur," she said softly, overcome with emotion.

While she was sad to be leaving so soon, she decided to push those emotions back for one night and just enjoy her last evening with her family for a long time.

Their dinner went well into the night and once the others had finally turned in for bed, Annelise retreated to her room to begin packing for the journey.

Bofur gave her the note Legolas had sent back in response to the news that she would be joining him. He wrote saying he would meet her outside the great hall of Dale with Bard and his family as they wished to bid her farewell also. He had been unable to find a second horse for her to ride on their journey but informed her that his own horse would have no difficulties carrying both of them.

Bard had graciously given them supplies from the aid King Thranduil had brought the people of Laketown and Annelise was grateful to have one less thing to worry about carrying.

Knowing they would be sharing one horse, she tried to pack as little as possible in her travel bag. She packed the two outfits that she had carried throughout their quest to Erebor and set out the new outfit the Company had gifted her that evening.

Seeing as she would be traveling to the North just as winter was beginning, the members of the Company knew she would need heavier clothes to protect against the cold.

They had given her a pair of thick dark grey wool leggings and a wool shirt to wear under the longer tunic that she had received from Arwen.

As Annelise set out her clothes for the next morning, her thoughts turned toward her Elvish family. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since she'd been in Rivendell and had learned of the truth of her past.

With her thoughts turned toward Rivendell, Annelise moved over to the vanity in her room and pulled out a sheet of paper and began to write a short letter to Lord Elrond, informing him of the events since she had left his home and letting him know her plans. She knew Bilbo and Gandalf, who would be traveling with the Hobbit, planned to stop in the Elven city on their way to the Shire and hoped they would carry the letter with them.

At this last thought, Annelise looked up from her letter and turned to face her bed.

Since receiving the sword, Orcrist had been laying against the wall next to her bed and Annelise had continued to carry the sword that her cousins had given her when she was younger.

She stood from her seat and removed the belt still around her waist and removed her sword before reaching for Orcrist. She quickly tied her father's sword to her belt and laid it down on her bed next to her clothes. Turning back to her letter, she wrote a postscript asking her Uncle to place the sword from her cousins in her room for safe keeping.

Part of her wished to send the twin blades her father had given her to Rivendell as well, but she knew she would not be able to find a suitable replacement for them in time for her to leave in the morning. 'I'll just have to be careful not to lose them,' she thought to herself.

Annelise knew that her attachment to the gifts from her father and cousins was a little too much, but she couldn't help it. They were some of the last reminders she had of the family she had lost far too soon.

She finished her letter and then set it on top of the vanity with her sword so she would remember to give them to Gandalf in the morning.

She then turned back to her pack and took an inventory of what she had packed and what she would still need. Looking over her clothes, she realized she needed a cloak or coat to protect against the harsh winter that was quickly approaching.

Before she could move to her father's old wardrobe to see if there was something in it she could wear, there was a solid knock on the door.

She opened her door and was surprised to see Dain standing in the hallway before her.

"Balin informed me of your plans."

"Yes, I'm so sorry. I meant to tell you but I didn't realize I would be leaving so soon."

He was quick to wave away her apology. "It's no trouble, lass. I understand. I just came to wish you luck an' give ya this."

With those words, he held up what looked like a ball of light gray fur but she quickly saw it was a coat when she took hold of it and it unfurled.

"Figured you'd be needin' one," he said with a smile.

"I was about to look and see if I could find one," she nodded to him gratefully and his smile grew bigger.

"I also wanted you to have this," he continued, holding out a small bag.

Annelise reached out and took it, shocked at how heavy it was. She was speechless for a moment when she pulled the strings open and saw that the bag was filled with gold coins.

"I can't accept this," she said finally in shock, trying to hand it back to him.

"Nonsense, lass. You're the princess of Erebor, it already belongs to you," he said sternly. "What's more, you do not know how long you will be gone and you will likely have need of it at some point."

Knowing his stubbornness rivaled that of her father, Annelise reluctantly agreed with his words and thanked him for the gifts.

"It's nothin' lass. Now remember, no matter how long you are gone, you will always have a home in this mountain," he spoke, resting his hand on her forearm affectionately.

"Thank you, cousin."

"Your father was so proud of you, Annelise," he said with a sad smile. "I can see why."

Not knowing how to respond to his comment without crying, Annelise simply smiled down at her father's cousin and he smiled back at her before telling her goodnight and leaving her alone once more.

Back in her room, Annelise pulled on the fur coat and was pleased to see that it fit her well, though it was a little short but not enough to be a nuisance. More importantly, it was very warm even though she was currently wearing only a thin tunic underneath. Once paired with the warmer clothes she had received, she would be well prepared to face the cold winter ahead.

The next morning, Annelise found herself standing before the gates of Erebor watching the sunrise and looking out toward Dale, her thoughts turned toward the path before her.

She was soon joined by Bilbo, who stepped up next to her and reached up to take her hand in silent support. Annelise looked down at the small Hobbit next to her and smiled brightly, squeezing the hand clutched in hers tightly.

"One journey ends and another begins," Annelise said softly after standing with her companion in silence for a few minutes.

"Yes, both of us toward home."

Bilbo's words struck Annelise heavily, as she realized that the Hobbit's words were true. She would be traveling to her parent's home, to her true people.

With this thought, Annelise looked back into the gates of the mountain and saw the members of the Company gathering in the opening, along with Gandalf.

'These are my people too,' she thought to herself and turned completely to face the group, smiling at them softly.

Looking over the group, Annelise couldn't help but feel there was someone missing.

"Where's Fili and K-," she began to say without thinking, before her mind caught up with her.

"Oh," she said dully, watching the faces of the Company shift in grief.

When Balin stepped away from the others to speak with Bilbo, Annelise turned to Gandalf standing behind her and moved to his side.

"Could you give these to Lord Elrond when you reach Rivendell?," she asked softly, handing over the letter and her old sword.

"Of course, my dear," he said smiling fondly down at the girl, before turning and placing the letter in his saddle bag and securing the sword on the side. Once that was done, the wizard turned back to Annelise.

"You have quite the adventure ahead of you," he spoke quietly to her, so that the others would not overhear.

"Yes," Annelise whispered, and Gandalf could detect the nervousness in her voice that she was trying to hide.

"Have courage, little one," he spoke softly, laying a hand on her shoulder. "You have learned much on this journey, both about the world and about yourself. And while you have gained much, you have also suffered great loss. You will carry your grief for the rest of your life, and you must learn how best to carry it."

Gandalf's words caused tears to well up in Annelise's eyes once more, and he moved his hand from her shoulder to rest on the side of her face in comfort.

"I understand that at this moment, it may feel impossible for you to carry the heaviness of your grief alone. Do not attempt to carry it by yourself, for you may be crushed by its weight. You must allow others to help you. And one day, you will find that it does not feel so heavy and you will be able to carry it alone."

As the tears fell down her face, Annelise looked up into the wizard's eyes and tried to draw strength from his encouragement.

"Thank you, Gandalf," she said finally once the tears began to recede. "For everything."

As Annelise looked up into the eyes of the old man in front of her she realised that, if it were not for him, she would never have met Thorin Oakenshield or any of the other dwarves that she loved so much.

"Thank you for giving me my family."

After her exchange with Gandalf, Annelise turned and watched as Bilbo spoke to the remaining members of the Company.

"If any of you are ever passing Bag End-," here he paused and Annelise could see that the emotions of saying farewell were beginning to overwhelm the small hobbit.

"Tea is at four. There's plenty of it. You are welcome any time."

Annelise looked toward the dwarves and watched as they bowed in farewell and acknowledgement of his invitation, seeing that a few of them had glossy eyes as they held back tears. Bilbo then began to turn away, before changing his mind and adding something else.

"Don't bother knocking."

This caused all around him to laugh and the tears finally overflowed onto the faces of many of the dwarves.

Bilbo then moved to Gandalf's side and Annelise stepped forward to say her goodbyes as well.

She opened her mouth a few times but couldn't find any words.

"I don't know what to say," she said finally, laughing slightly around the lump in her throat as tears fell down her face.

Many of the dwarves before her were now crying in earnest and she even saw that Dwalin was holding back tears as he looked up at her.

"You've all done so much for me, ever since I was a little girl. You made me feel like I was a part of you, like I belonged."

"Cause you did, lassie," Balin said softly and Annelise gave him a teary smile.

"I suppose you're right," she responded, looking down at the white-haired dwarf before turning her gaze to the others.

"Thank you for being my family. I love you all dearly and I will miss you immensely until our paths cross once more."

With these final words, the ten remaining dwarves of the Company of Thorin Oakenshield gathered around the young woman and each hugged her tightly as tears ran down their faces.

After hugging Balin last, she turned and walked away from her family to Gandalf's side.

Here she looked back and smiled one last time at the dwarves, standing at the gates of the kingdom that she had heard so many stories of growing up.

She then felt a hand on her arm and looked down to see Bilbo standing next to her.

"Ready for your next adventure?," he asked smiling up at her, though she could still see tears in his eyes.

"Yes," she answered finally, resting her hand on his shoulder and smiling down at him softly, before turning and walking away from the kingdom of Erebor. "Yes, I think I'm quite ready for another adventure."