An Unexpected Journey

Epilogue: Far from Over

"The end," Athena's grandmother said finishing her story, she smiled down at the little girl who had been listening to her story; it had been a quiet afternoon and no one had disturbed them while she had been talking. 

Athena furrowed her brow, she stuck out her bottom lip knowing that was not how this story ended; she had heard this story over and over before now. 

"But Grandmama... that can't be the end," Athena insisted with a shake of her head, her blonde curls bouncing at the action while she thought about the story that she adored so much. 

It had always had a happy ending and that wasn't not what she was hearing this time, it had made Athena feel sad and she wanted to hear the rest of the story now. 

The story that her grandmother told had always been a favourite of her and her brothers, she loved the story of the dwarves, the hobbit and the brave witch; it was the story of her home and how her family had come to be. 

"Why ever not?" Athena's grandmother replied with a small knowing smile, of course that was not how the story ended and she would happily finish it another day but they had heard enough for today. 

They had a celebration to prepare for and Athena would have to be returned to her mother before Samara came looking for her; she would have her hands full with the youngest members of their family. 

"Because you and Grandpapa aren't together," Athena stated knowing that the story could not end there because her grandmother was sat before her; she wasn't in some other realm living her life nor was her grandfather dead. 

Thalia chuckled and nodded her head, there was a time in her life that she had never thought that this was how her life would turn out but she was relieved for every day that it had.

It had been such a long time ago when she had thought that Thorin was dead and Thalia doubted that she would have ever believed this was how her life would end up when she had asked Gandalf to return her to earth. 

"That my darling is a story for another day," Thalia reassured getting to her feet, she rubbed her back hating how her body seemed to creak now and she got aches and pains so easily. 

There was much to be done and Thalia wished to be ready for the celebrations, it was hard to believe that it had been nearly one hundred years since they had retaken Erebor. 

"Now come... I am sure your mother is looking for you," Thalia insisted offering her hand to Athena before they left the room, the next part of the story could wait for another day.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Author's Note:

This is the end of An Unexpected Journey, keep an eye out for the sequel.

Thanks to everyone that has read, commented and rated this story, I couldn't have done it without any of you xxx