Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize, this story is for fun, not profit.

Notes: so here's the last chapter. The sequel is in the works but due to how long this took, I'm not going to publish it until it's done.

Warnings: none really

"You can talk to them, can't you?" Bofur asked one day while they made camp. Malrin turned from her pony and nodded.

"I have always been able to understand animals."

"Yet you are not a vegetarian like the rest of the tree-shaggers." He grinned.

"I have learned not to waste what comes my way. I always give my blessing before I eat, so the soul of the animal can move on." Malrin rubbed her pony one last time and smiled at Bofur. "Plus I'm sure my father is more of an influence on me than I think."

"Well, we Dwarves are very prominent."

"Aye. I'm sure you are."

The silence held for all of three seconds before the pair burst out laughing, only quieting when they got weird looks from the rest of the company.

"Don't your hands ever get cold?" Ori asked Malrin one night.

She looked down at her bare hands and shrugged. "I guess I am just used to it."

"Have you ever thought about knitting some?"

She laughed. "As if. I'd get the yarn so tangled, my sword couldn't cut it. No, it's best if I leave knitting alone."

"I could knit you a pair. N-Not because I like you, I mean I like you as a friend, but Fili-"

"Ori. Calm yourself," Malrin cut in, worried the young dwarf would work himself up too much. "I would greatly appreciate it. As a friend."

Ori's smile could've lit up the night.

"Malrin, come over here," Bombur called out. She walked over. "I hear that you are competent with spices."

"Aye. I learned a lot over the years," she answered.

"Would you like to help me then, so those imbeciles quit complaining?" he asked.

She quietly giggled and nodded. He sent her off to find the right herbs. She found many that could be used for cooking, but she also found a great deal that could be used for medicine. She picked those too and handed them to Oin, who thanked her.

"You fight good."

Coming from Dwalin, that was the highest compliment he could give. The two were sparring in Beorn's field. So far, Malrin was holding her own against the strong dwarf.

"Thanks," she said, faking to the left, then stepping to the right. He anticipated the move and blocked her.

"Did anyone teach you?"

"Here and there. Most of it is picked up by observing."

"Well then you've got a keen eye."

She grinned and vaulted over his shoulder, bringing her stick across his back. Grunting he nearly fell to one knee, but regained his balance.

"Keen hit too," she said amid cheers and laughter.

"You're good at healing, aren't you?" Oin asked. Malrin shrugged and focused on Bifur's hand, which was scraped nearly raw.

"I am decent," she answered, chanting a little in Elvish and rubbing Oin's healing cream on the hand. When she pulled her own back, Bifur's hand looked unscratched.

"Decent," Oin grumbled, scoffing. "Right."

Bifur thanked her in Khuzdul. That was the one language she never learned, so she just nodded and he left. She ignored Oin's mumbles and cleaned up.

Malrin's head hurt again. She opened her eyes and saw Gandalf staring down at her. Wait. Gandalf! She sat up too quickly and groaned as her head spun.

"Easy," he said.

"I can remember! I know who you are!" she exclaimed.

He chuckled. "Still plan on leaving?" he asked.

She hesitated. "Gandalf, this doesn't change anything. Thorin is still himself, the Arkenstone is-"

"Gone."

She stopped and looked at him, wide-eyed. "What?"

"It is gone, destroyed. A few days after the battle, Thorin held a meeting with Bilbo, Thranduil, Bard, Dain, and a number of beings from each side. Nearly everyone who was well enough to attend. He announced that the Arkenstone was to be destroyed, that it was too much trouble for a little stone. Bilbo had the honor of taking a hammer and crushing the stone to dust. It is gone."

"And the sickness?" Malrin asked.

"Cured once Thorin pulled himself out of it. He was horrified by what he had done to you, what he had almost done to Bilbo, and by how much he had hurt Fili," Gandalf informed her. "Fili had almost disowned Thorin. He was ready to renounce the crown if you never woke."

Malrin was starting to realize how much she didn't know. Fili had been acting under the sickness, he wasn't himself. But he was ready to give everything up. For her. He called her his rock, but she betrayed him by walking away.

"I need to go back." Gandalf nodded as she ran off, heading back for the tent she woke up in. Many were confused to see her run past.

It was just her luck that the tent was empty when she got there. Panicked, she headed for the mountain. She ran past dwarves, looking for golden hair. As she rounded a corner, she smacked into something and fell back.

"Malrin? Are you okay?" Thorin asked, steadying himself and looking down at her.

Her throat closed up as she looked at him. The last time she saw his eyes, they were blazing with fury as he held her over the edge. She forced herself to swallow and speak.

"I am looking for Fili. I have made a grave mistake."

"So have I. I was actually on my way to your tent when Balin informed me you were leaving?" he asked, hesitantly holding out a hand. He slightly relaxed when she grabbed it and stood.

"I was. I was overwhelmed, with my memory being gone and everyone telling me how brave I was. I couldn't remember why I had left Uncle's in the first place. Gandalf helped get my memories back, unfortunately, I got all of them back."

"I'm sorry!" Thorin blurted, making her shrink back a step. "I was sick, angry, and hurt I was losing my little nephew. I realize he's grown now, but I still remember the little dwarfling running around with his father's dagger, too big for him. I was suspicious of you, angry you were related to the one race I hate more than Orcs. I couldn't see past that, couldn't see how well you bonded with my company. If anything, that made me hate you more. I felt like everyone was betraying me by getting closer to you, by liking you. I was wrong. There is nothing bad about you. Nothing wrong. Not even the fact you were attacked and had your control ripped away. That was not your fault. I would give anything to have you forgive me. Your father would be so proud of you, as would your mother."

Malrin didn't know what to say. To her horror, her eyes started tearing up. Thorin's face softened and he held his arms out. She rushed to him, sniffling as he rubbed her back.

"Just don't throw me over anymore cliffs and we're okay," she mumbled. Thorin chuckled.

"Deal." He let go and stepped back, smiling. "Check the garden at the very top of the mountain. You can't miss it. I suspect he'll be there."

She nodded and started running again. She made her way up to the top and her breath caught as she found the garden.

It was beautiful, probably the one thing that Smaug didn't destroy. It opened to the sky and was filled with plants that reflected the sunlight. It would look even prettier in the moonlight. There were benches surrounding a fountain that was shaped like a couple embracing. The man was stout and tough looking, while the woman was lovely and looked like she was laughing.

"Mahal and his wife, Yavanna. It is rumored she created the Hobbit race, though Bilbo doesn't know for sure."

Malrin looked over to one of the benches. Fili was sitting on it, head down. She walked over and sat down next to him.

"She is beautiful," she said. She glanced over to Fili, who kept his head down.

"She is. I never seen this statue before, but Uncle used to tell Ki and I stories about them. They were so different. Mahal came from rock and created dwarves, she came from the earth and supposedly made Hobbits. But they were much in love."

"Fili, I've made a mistake," she began, waiting for him to look up. When he did, she continued. "I was distraught. I had no memory except of something that you had no control over. I was scared and overwhelmed. I was going to go back to Rivendell because I didn't understand why I was not there in the first place. I didn't remember what caused me to leave."

"You do now?"

"Yes. Gandalf helped. Now, before you forgive me, if you do, there is something you need to know about me," she said. She paused, took a deep breath, and told him everything about that night with the guards. He listened intently, angry on her behalf.

When she was finished, she was unprepared for his hug. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and buried his face in her hair.

"Malrin, I would always forgive you, no matter what. I feared it was my mistake that drove you away. And I don't care about what happened long ago. It doesn't change who you are."

She ended up crying again. When she was done, the two sat there until the sun went down, talking. It seemed Malrin finally found a place she could stay.

20 years later

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Come on, it's not like I'm fragile."

"Yes you are, right now."

Malrin sulked and slumped in her chair. She had been bothering Bombur, now the royal chef, about helping out in the kitchen. Her swollen belly prevented her from slumping too far.

"I can still cook," she mumbled, aware she sounded like a child. Bombur hid his grin as he stirred the stew.

"Maybe, but if anything were to happen, Prince Fili would have my head," Bombur pointed out. Ever since Malrin had gotten news that she was pregnant, Fili had been overprotective. Thank the gods she only had a few more weeks left.

She grumbled some more, but shut up once Bombur handed her a few snack cakes. She left the kitchen, munching happily on them. Everyone she passed greeted her. She now had the official title of Princess of Erebor as well as Rivendell. Once the dragon had been defeated, there was no rush for marriage, though Fili and her did hurry it up somewhat. They'd been married for five years and had been trying for a child ever since. The whole kingdom, plus the surrounding ones, including Mirkwood, celebrated the news that the first child, one of the royal family, was to be born in the reclaimed kingdom of Erebor.

Bilbo had gone back to the Shire, though he visited every now and then. Dis, Fili and Kili's mother, moved in and took it upon herself to guide Malrin through the pregnancy. All of the company had royal jobs given to them. Dwalin took up post as the head guard, in charge of training the new recruits. Balin worked as Thorin's adviser, Ori worked in the library, Gloin was in charge of the forge, Oin was head healer, Bofur and Bifur were designing the armory details, Dori and Bombur were in the kitchens, and Nori was the unofficial spy, bringing news to Thorin every day.

Kili was happily courting Tauriel after Thorin gave his grumbled acceptance. She had, after all, saved Kili's life twice. Fili was learning everything he could under Thorin. Once Malrin discovered she was pregnant, he had been stretched between his duties and getting things ready for a child. She had already passed the dwarven stage of nine months, so Oin suspected she would complete a elven pregnancy of twelve months.

She made her way through the mountain, rubbing her belly tiredly. As she walked, she thought about her job, one she would continue as soon as she could. Thorin had named Malrin Head Peacekeeper. Her duty was basically to make sure Thorin didn't anger anyone important. She was cut off from duties until she gave birth and she was resenting the fact she now had nothing to do.

"My calgh, you are supposed to be resting," Fili said from behind her, using the Khuzdul term for rock.

"I am," she said lightly. "I needed to stretch my legs a bit."

He grinned and tucked her arm under his. "Come on. Let's get you back to bed."

She sighed, but followed. However, she suddenly groaned and bent over.

"Malrin?" Fili sounded worried. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just-" She cut herself off as a spasm of pain swept through her and what felt like a wave of water ran down her legs. Oin had told her to watch for this, but she wasn't ready!

"Get Oin!" Fili barked at a passing dwarf. The dwarf nodded and ran off. "Oin's coming, Malrin."

He settled her on the floor and continue to comfort her until the aged dwarf appeared. Oin took one look at her and nodded.

"It is time."

Together, Oin and Fili carried her to the infirmary and laid her on the cot. Oin sent one of his helpers off to carry word to everyone of the company, who Malrin promised to alert.

It was a quick birth, though full of surprises. Thorin arrived first, bursting into the room, only to stop short at the sight. Malrin held a bundle in her arms, looking tired but excited. The unusual part was Fili was holding a similar bundle.

By the time everyone arrived, Thorin found his voice. "What-"

"Uncle, meet the new additions to the Durin family," Fili said, walking up to the group. He shifted the blanket to show a small baby with a head full of black hair. "This is Galrin, the new princess of Erebor."

As everyone cooed over the baby, Thorin's eyes drifted back to Malrin. She smiled and beckoned him closer. As Thorin walked closer, she pulled the blanket back and revealed a baby that looked just like the one Fili was holding.

"Twins?" he breathed, unable to believe it. Twins were common in other races, even the Elves, but Dwarves never experienced twins before.

"Yes. This one is a boy," Malrin said amidst cheers. "Ferin, named after your late brother."

Thorin and Dis, who had followed, both smiled a watery smile at the tiny boy. It was a proud moment for the line of Durin. Dis took the tiny bundle from Malrin and held him gently as Thorin peered over her shoulder.

"I wish Feren were here now," Dis mumbled. Thorin gave a rare grin and patted Ferin's hair.

"He is, Dis," he said. The two chuckled and watched the tiny boy slowly open his unfocused eyes.

Malrin felt everything was going to be alright finally.