Return To Me[Thorin Oakenshield Love Story]DISCONTINUED

[Chapter Twelve]

The Fellowship disbanded after the meeting to pack their supplies, food, weapons and any other necessary things they needed before they began the long trek to Mordor. They were to leave tomorrow at first light. Freya was in her quarters. Most of her belongings that she had brought with her when she left the Shire were still packed in her satchel. The Hobbit made sure she had more comfortable clothing ready to wear tomorrow when they left.

Freya looked around the room, making sure she didn't leaving anything important she would need behind. When she was sure she had everything she finally took a moment to breath and rest on the chair. It didn't feel right to her that Thorin wouldn't be coming with them on this quest. Yes it was going to be dangerous, and yes lives would probably be lost along the way, but there was an evil out there, threatening the survival of Middle-Earth. The Dwarf King said it wasn't their fight, but it was just as much their fight as it was everyone else. He should know that better then anyone when darkness tried to take Erebor sixty years ago and nearly succeeded.

All this thinking and wondering was overwhelming the woman she need to get some fresh air. She left her quarters and decided to visit the one person she had to see since she had arrived here. Freya had been feeling pretty guilty that she hadn't made time to visit with her cousin, she just never expected Thorin to be alive which a feeling grew inside her that he wasn't completely being honest with her just how much he actually knew what caused his resurrection.

The woman stopped at a door, and knocked three times before waiting. The door slowly opened. " Freya. I was wondering when you were going to come for a visit." Bilbo stated. The two of them hugged. Freya noticed that Bilbo didn't looked the same as he did before he left the Shire. He looked as if he had aged twenty years. Which made her wonder if it had something to do when he left the Ring behind for Frodo.

"I'm sorry cousin. I would have stopped by sooner it's just.....a lot has happened. Things I don't even really understand..." Freya trailed off. They went out onto the balcony and took a seat on the stone bench.

Bilbo looked at her with a warm smile as he reached over and took her hand. " You know you can tell me anything, Freya." He assured her.

She half smiled at that. "Thorin...he's alive. And he's here." She told him, as she turned and looked at him and noticed he didn't seem to be all that surprised by this.

"I know," He said. " I was shocked at first...but then I've seen a lot of things out in this world that most people could never even imagine." The two of them laughed at that. For two Hobbits they had seen more then what their kin had ever had the opportunity to see, but then again most Hobbit's did not like to venture outside the borders of their home. They preferred to stay where it was safe. " Freya, he's worried about you, and not just you, but the girls as well. I know why your doing this, and I'm thankful that Frodo will not be doing this mission alone. It's my fault he has to bare this burden. Just promise me that you'll all come back safely."

"Even you know theirs no way I can keep that promise Bilbo. I really don't know where this will end. All I know is that we need to stop it. Whatever the cost might be. As long as the Ring gets destroyed that's all that matters. Middle-Earth will be safe." Freya pressed.

"At-least tell me that Thorin is going with you." Bilbo asked.

Freya swallowed and looked at the ground before answering. "He's not. He made that clear at the meeting... "

"I'm sorry, Freya...but maybe he's right? Maybe you and your daughters should stay behind. Frodo as well. There are others that can dispose of the Ring. It's a burden none of you should have to bare." Bilbo insisted. Freya got up, she wasn't going to let Bilbo talk her out of this.

"I should probably go and make sure Thora and Thea are ready to leave in the morning. It was so good to see you again Bilbo and I hope it won't be our last." She told him walking towards the door and stopping. " I promise I won't let anything happen to Frodo." Freya left her cousins room just as Bilbo stood up and went to go see how her daughters were making out.

The day dragged on until it was finally the evening. Everyone was in the courtyard enjoying a hot meal and for some might be their only one for awhile. Freya was sitting with her daughters and the Wizard and she couldn't help but look to see if Thorin had yet to join them, but the chair beside Gloin and his son, Gimli remained empty, and the woman couldn't help but think Thorin might have left the valley already and left back for Erebor and felt a tear role down her face that she quickly stopped before anyone else noticed.

It was completely dark out when everyone finally left to return back to their rooms to get some sleep. Freya climbed into bed and pulled the cover over her and closed her eyes hoping to get some sleep. She tossed and turned most of the night, thinking about Thorin and wondering if he would change his mind and come with them.

Morning came. The Hobbit woman was up before the sun had even begun to appear over the valley, having found no rest to be had she gave up on trying and got up and got dressed in her clothing she had laid out last night and went to wake her daughters and grabbed their satchel's and weapons and they begun making their way towards the Gate of Rivendell where the rest of the Fellowship was waiting.

"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further that you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you." Lord Elrond declared to them all. Freya searched amongst the crowd, still hoping the Dwarf would still make an appearance before they headed off.

" The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf spoke next looking at Frodo to lead the way. Frodo slowly turns to the Fellowship and timidly makes his way to the head of the group. The faces of those who vowed to follow him watch as he makes his way to lead the group and begins walking passed the gates out of Rivendell.

Freya follows behind her daughters, looking behind her one last time and realized she would have to accept that Thorin would not be joining them and that she probably wouldn't see him again. All of them were almost passed the gate when a familiar voice called out for them to wait.

They all turn around to see the Dwarf King, shoving his way through the crowd of people. He had his satchel on his back and looked at the group suspiciously.

"Thorin, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up or not. Changed your mind, have you?" The Wizard stated amusingly, but the Dwarf only continued to glare at the Wizard and everyone else.

"No, I haven't changed my mind, but I'm not just going to sit here while my daughters are out on this suicidal quest." Thorin growled at Wizard like it was all his doing. Not wanting to talk about it anymore Thorin went and stood by Gimli who just happened to be standing by Freya and he was trying so hard to avoid eye contact with her right now. The group started to move again and the woman waited for Gimli to pass so she could speak to the Dwarf.

"Thorin," She began lowly. He turned and looked at her, she could see the anger and hurt in his eyes. " Thorin, I'm really glad your here with us-"

The Dwarf interrupted her. " Freya, I am not here to help destroy the Ring, I'm only here to make sure our daughters don't wind up dead because of this." Thorin muttered at her quietly and followed the others. Freya stopped in her tracks. The woman knew Thorin was mad at her for not telling him everything and he had every right but she never thought it would come down to the point that he may never speak to her again.

"Freya, are you alright?" Freya looked up, not realizing the group had already left except for Strider who was looking at her with worried eyes.

"Yeah, sorry. We should probably catch up to the others." She replied. Aragorn gave her a small smile. He had heard everything the Dwarf said to her and the two of them caught up to the others in no time and the journey had finally begun.