Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The rain fell hard during a stormy night in late spring, all the animals in the forest were nice, warm and tucked up in their homes, all but one.

A lone black wolf, Rosalie, had just been hunting for the night, successful in catching a rabbit. She had eaten her full before returning home, returning to the small abandoned den she had found.

Looking around, Rosalie makes sure the area is clear before crawling inside, shaking her wet fur, before heading deep in to join her; her remaining pup.

A couple of months prior, Rosalie had given birth to a litter of three girls, each a different colour; her largest and stronger was white, taking after her father's warg heritage. The middle, grey, was a mixture of the two. And the third, was all black, looking just like her mother. While she was bigger then a normal wolf cub, she was still the runt of the litter.

The orcs who had owned her, had given the pups some time to grow, but when it was becoming clear that her youngest was still the runt, not growing as fast as her sisters, they had planned to feed her pup to the rest of the pack, some of whom were Rosalie's older children!

She knew she couldn't let that happen. She had seen runts from other litters being thrown to the pack before, and while those mothers didn't seem to care, or were too afraid to fight back, she was not one of them.

Not only did she have the mind of a wolf, but she also had the morals of her human side. You see, this wolf was a part of a race called The Wolfkin; a breed of wolf who could change into human at will, if they so chose. However, it had been a long time since she became human, she had forgotten how to do so.

But, knowing that she couldn't let her baby girl die, be fed to the wargs, her older siblings, she took her baby and left. She knew her elder pups would be fine, the other females had often taken on other pups not of their own, when the dams had died.

That was just a few days ago when she had left and the two of them had been on her own since. Rosalie had missed the company of a pack, missed the interaction with other wolves. However, if being alone meant she would keep her daughter alive, than she would be alone for the rest of her life, if that's what it took.

She curls up around her pup, Violet, she had named her, after her own loving mother, smiling as the pup whines before snuggling into her mother. Rosalie leans down to nuzzle her pup, licking her a few times before laying her head down.

"I promise, my darling, I will always protect you." she vows.

And with that, she lays her head down to sleep.

Rosalie is startled awake by a howl in the air. Jumping up, fear runs through her body as she recognises the howl. Violet's sire, the warg she had been paired up with to breed. He must have gotten her scent, coming to kill Violet and bring her back to the orcs.

Looking down at her pup, who was whining in fear and confusion, she knew she couldn't let that happen. Leaning down, she nuzzles her pup back to sleep before leaving the den.

Tilting her nose to the sky, she sniffs around, finding his scent. Thankfully, it's only him. She then takes off away from the den, hopefully leading him away from her remaining pup.

It works, as she hears his howl getting closer to her. She continues to run, putting as much distance as she can between them both, before she skids to a stop as the warg jumps out in front of her, blocking her from getting away.

'Our master is angry with you.' The warg growls at her. 'He ordered me to kill the runt and bring you back.'

Rosalie growls. 'I will not let you kill her.'

'Don't fight this, you will not win.'

'I would rather die.'

'Then so be it.'

The male charges at her and the two canines begin to fight. the warg is bigger than her, so much bigger, and stronger. But, she knows she can't let him beat her. She refuses to let any harm come to her little girl.

The two bite, claw and scratch each other, the fight never seeming to end. That's when the wargs huge paw swings at her head, knocking Rosalie into a tree, hard enough to leave her feeling dazed. She knows for a fact she has a concussion.

She yelps as the warg presses his paw into her head, forcing her further into the ground as he leans over her.

'I told you you would not win, and now you will pay. After killing you, I will find the runt and finish the job.'

Rosalie closes her eyes, feeling tears appear. She had failed. She failed her daughter.

"Violet. . .I'm so sorry. . ." she thinks to himself.

Just as she feels his muzzle against her, she hears a thud before he drops to the ground. Opening her eyes, she's surprised to see the warg on the ground, an arrow sticking out of his head. Whoever killed him, she will be eternally grateful.

Hearing footsteps, she looks up to see a tall male walking towards her, long brown hair and pointed ears, so she knows he's an elf. As he sees she's alive, his eyes go wide before running over and kneeling besides her. Rosalie growls a little, trying and failing to move away from him.

"Shh, it's okay. I won't hurt you." the elf says gently, his voice full of nothing but warmth.

Rosalie stops growling, sensing the kindness in this man-elf.

He smiles as he runs his hand over her fur. "That's it. You're safe with me."

"Elrohir! Where'd you go?" another male voice speaks up.

"Over here, Elladan!" the male Elrohir calls out.

Another elf jogs over, this one, Elladan, looks the same as Elrohir, so Rosalie assumes they are twins.

"There you are brother, you suddenly took off an-is it dead?"

"The warg is. But the wolf's still alive." Elrohir answers.

She looks between the two elves, maybe these two could help her. . .help her daughter. . she then struggles to her feet, staggering over a little, having to keep her front right leg lifted, since the warg had broken it.

Elladan also kneels besides her. "Don't move, you're hurt. Let us help you."

Rosalie just walks, limping away from them. When she realises they are not following, she looks back and gives a whine.

"Do you want us to follow you?" Elrohir asks.

Rosalie gives a bark before walking on again, this time, hearing the two of them behind her. The walk is long and painful, Rosalie falling to the ground a few times, but they finally reach the den, where she collapses once more at the entrance.

She looks up to the elves. "P-Pup. . . in-inside." she hadn't spoken Westron in so long, it sounded foreign coming from her.

The elves look surprised.

"Y-You spoke. . ."Elrohir breathes out.

Elladan eyes go wide as he gasps. "You're one of the Wolfkin, aren't you? Wolves who can become human?"

Rosalie nods. "My pup. . .she's inside. . ."

While Elrohir stays by her side, Elladan gets on the ground and crawls inside and sees the pup. It, she he remembers the mother saying, looks to be larger than a normal wolf pup. Reaching out, he gently takes the pup into his hand, which startles her, causing her to begin to yelping and whining loudly.

He uses his other hand to pet it, trying to calm her down.

"Shh, it's okay, little one. I'm bringing you to your mother."

The whines settle down to a small whimper before Elladan crawls his way back out of the den, where the mother is right there, nuzzling and licking her pup.

Elrohir looks around at the area. "Do you suppose there are other wargs around?"

Elladan shakes his head. "I'm not sure. But, we can't leave these two. She's too injured to look after herself, let alone the pup."

"We could take them home. Knowing now what they are, father wouldn't oppose to them staying with us."

Elrohir is right, their father, Elrond, is never one to turn anyone away who needs help, especially after he knows these are not normal wolves. Elladan knows this would be the right thing to do. He nods.

"Alright, take her, we'll head on back to camp and clean up before going home."

Elrohir nods before looking to the mother. "Is it okay if I carry you?"

Rosalie nods and Elrohir puts one arm under her back legs and the other under her chest before standing, gently settling her into his arms. Elladan, still holding Violet, follows his brother as they make their way back to camp.

Their too horses, Thalion and Beleg, were waiting, snorting and whinnying as they returned.

"Calm down, you two." Elrohir says to them, gently laying Rosalie one the ground.

Elladan places the pup by her mother and she instantly seeks her out, suckling on her.

The elves leave the two of them to it, while they cleaned up camp. Rosalie just lays back, relived to finally be safe. After so many years being held captive by orcs, forced to breed and increase their ranks, she's free at last. Free to live her life the way she wished, free to raise her pup away from that, to give her the life she wished she could've given her other children.

With that knowledge, she closes her eyes as she lets her exhaustion take over.

Having finished with camp, Elladan looks over at the wolves, and pales as he notices the mother had gone unconscious. Rushing over, he kneels besides her, but is relieved when he sees her body still moving up and down in time to her breathing.

"I thought we lost her for a moment." Elrohir gasps as he joins his brother.

Elladan nods. "So had I. Come on, let's hurry and get them home. We have no idea if we could still lose her."

After picking up the pup again, Elrohir carries the mother and lays her across Thalion before getting up into the saddle. Elladan hops up onto Beleg, looking over to his brother in concern.

"Do you have her alright?"

Elrohir nods. "I've got her, don't worry. You focus on the pup."

Elladan opens up his coat, slips the pup inside it and buttons it back up, the pup now nestled securely.

The two then ride on, pushing their horses faster. Thankfully, the two of them were on their way home when they heard the howling, so it had taken them just a few hours to get home. Elrohir had kept a firm hand on the wolf, keeping her secure on Thalion's back, while Elladan kept and eye on the pup, having to push up her a little when she slipped.

Finally reaching Rivendell, they hop of their horses, Elrohir taking the wolf into his arms before they go inside, asking Lindir to bring their father to the healing halls, who does as asked, after giving a look to the wofl.

They reach the healing halls and Elrohir lays the wolf on a bed. She had not woken up during the whole ride. He hoped they weren't too late to save her.

The door opens and Elrond comes in.

"What's this Lindir tells me about you bringing a wolf home?"

"They're not just wolves, adar."Elladan begins, carefully taking the pup from his coat. "They're Wolfkin."

Elrond's brow raises in surprises. "Wolfkin? I didn't think there were any left."

"Nor did I, until she spoke to us in Westron."

Elrond nods as he begins getting some healing supplies ready.

"What happened to her?"

"Warg." Elrohir simply replies. "We were on our way home and had woken up this morning to howling nearby. We went to investigate and I found the warg over her and killed it."

"And the pup?" Elrond asks, his eyes glancing towards the little one.

"She was fine." Elladan answers, looking down at her, who is snoozing. "We think the mother had led the warg away from the den they were in."

Elrond nods before standing by the bed and begins looking the wolf over. He notices a few cuts and gashes, some deeper than others, but nothing life threatening. Her front right leg however, is a different matter. It's broken at what would be the wrist joint if she was human, and wonders if the warg had bitten it hard enough to break. Judging by the punture wounds in the skin, he assumes he is right.

He begins to use a combination of healing magic and supplies to help her, suturing any of the bigger gashes, while manoeuvring her leg in a way the bone will heal properly, before getting it splinted and wrapped. He also cleans out the smaller of her cuts, making sure infection couldn't set in.

"There. She should be alright now." Elrond informs his sons a couple of hours later.

They both breathe a large sigh of relief.

"Thank Eru for that." Elladan says, petting the pup in his arms, thankful she won't lost her mother.

Elrond nods in agreement. "We'll give her some time to heal and wake up. Would you two be able to keep an eye on her? Make sure she doesn't move that leg?"

"We can do that, adar." Elrohir agrees, Elladan also happy to do so.

Elrond smiles and pats both his sons on the shoulder. "You did a good thing bringing them here. They wouldn't have survived for long, not with her in this condition."

"That's what I thought." Elrohir says.

Elrond then turns his attention to the pup. "Now, let me have a look at this little one."

He takes the pup into his arms, noticing instantly the size of her.

"She's a little big for a normal pup." he muses.

"We thought the same." Elladan remarks.

Elrond pulls up a chair to the bottom of the bed and sets the pup down. He begins by looking into her mouth, checking her gums and for sign of any teeth.

"No teeth. She's definitely under a year old, since she's still in her wolf form, but looks to be two maybe three, by her size."

"Being Wolfkin, they age differently to normal wolves, right?" Elrohir asks.

Elrond nods as he checks out the rest of her, frowning as he notices fleas. She and her moth definitely need bathing.

"From what I know, the pups will stay in wolf form until after their first birthday. But, even though they look human, they actually age like dwarflings."

"Is that the same for adults?" Elladan asks.

"Yes. I wouldn't be surprised this ones mother is around a hundred years old, give or take some years."

"That's quite fascinating. I remember reading a bit about them, but not a lot." Elrohir states.

"Maybe you could ask our friend here questions when she's well enough." Elladan says, putting a gentle hand on the mothersside.

"I'd be. . . happy to." A small female voice speaks up.

They look to see the wolf is awake, looking at them with blue eyes.

Elrond smiles as he stands by her head, pup in hands.

"You're awake. How do you feel?"

"Sore." She rasps.

"i can get you something to help with the pain, if you want to change back to human."

She pauses for a moment. "I-I don't know how."

Elrond looks to her in surprise. "You don't?"

She shakes her head. "It has been so long since I was human, the knowledge of how has been erased from memory."

"I see. I may know of a way to help you with that."

She looks hopeful. "You do?"

Elrond nods. "My mother-in-law, Lady Galadriel, will be arriving in a few days. She should be able to go into your mind and unlock the ability once more."

"Really? That would be great!"

Hearing a slight thud, the three males look over and chuckle as the see her tail wagging.

"Sorry. It has a mind of it's own, sometimes."

Elrond smiles. "No worries, my dear. Could you tell me your name?"

"Rosalie."

"That's a lovely name. And what about this little one?" he asks, holding the pup up.

"Violet. Is she alright?"

"She's absolutely fine." Elrond reasurres her.

Setting the pup in front of her and she begins licking her, the pup giving some happy whimpers as she snuggle into her mother's warm fur.

"I apologise if I'm over stepping, but she seems large for a wolf pup."

Rosalie looks down for a moment. "Thats because, she's not just a Wolfkin. She's part warg." She turns her eyes to Elrohir. "The one you killed, he was her father."

Elrohir pales at that. "I killed your mate? I'm so sorry, I-"

Rosalie immediately shakes her head. "No. He was not me mate. You did good to kill him. He was going to kill Violet after me."

"Kill his own pup? Why?" Elladan asks.

"Because she's the runt." Rosalie reassures him bitterly. "I was captured by orcs, years ago. And since then, I was bred with wargs, to grow their ranks. I had many different sized pups in the past, which didn't seem to bother them. Violet, however, while much smaller than the others, and the pure wargs, still bigger than Wolfkin. But, they didn't like the fact she was very noticeably smaller than the rest of her litter. The orcs had threatened to feed her to the pack. . .but I took her and left."

"And that warg was to bring you back." Elrond puts together, causing Rosalie to nod. "How old is Violet?"

"Two months."

Now this does suprise Elrond. "Two months old? You were very brave to have left when you did."

"I wasn't going to risk anything happening to my daughter." Rosalie says as she nuzzles her pup.

Elrond gives a sad smile. "Well, the two of you are welcome to stay here, if that is your wish."

Rosalie bows her head. "Thank you, Lord Elrond."

The elflord raises a brow. "You know of me?"

A smile comes to her lips. "I do. I believe you knew my great grandfather, Cedar?"

Recognition appears in his eyes. "Ah, yes. I did know him. He was a great man. Was the one to teach me all I know about your kind. I was sad to hear of his passing."

Rosalie smiles. "I didn't know him, but my father talked of him often, told me stories of the elves of Rivendell. Said if I were ever in need, to go there. . .I suppose I was in too much distress to remember that detail during my escape."

Elrond smiles as he gently pats her. "Well, you are here now, and I would be happy to welcome you into our home."

"Thank you, My Lord."

Elrond nods. "Now, I would like for you to stay in the healing halls for a few days, give you leg a chance to heal a little more. I can have someone come and help you and Violet bathe."

Rosalie breathes a sigh of relief. "A bath sounds lovely, right now."

He pats her again before leaving, taking his sons with him. Rosalie smiles as she looks to her daughter, watching her nap. Finally, they are somewhere safe. Finally, she and Violet are away from that nightmare. Now, their lives can truly begin.

From that day on, Rosalie truly began to heal. As Elrond had said, a few days after she first arrived in Rivendell, Lady Galadriel arrived and with her help, Rosalie was finally able unlock her human side, able to change back.

Her human form was skinnier than she remembered, not surprising, bearing in mind what she went through. Her long hair reaching the middle of her back and deep blue eyes staring back at her in the mirror.

Even though she knew that it would take her some time to get used to her human body again, she thanked Lady Galadriel profusely, who just accepted her gratitude gracefully.

Time moved on for the small family. Despite her dangerous start in live, Violet was thriving, meeting all her development milestones and growing up as a happy and healthy little girl, just like she should.

Every time Rosalie looked at her youngest child, she often thought of her sisters; of Iris and Holly, wondering how they are, if they are alright. . .still alive. She often had nightmares about the two of them, ranging from their hatred of her abandoning them, to the two of them being fed to the wargs. She wished there was a way she could have escaped with all of her pups, but she knew she had to get Violet away, knew she had made the right choice. She just hoped the two of them would forgive her.

Apart from the nightmares, and constantly worrying of her other daughters, life seemed to be perfect for Rosalie and Violet.

Elrond, who had grown to become a second father figure to Rosalie, had even begun teaching her how to speak Sindarin, the common Elven language, and one that all elves knew, which she enjoyed learning. When Violet was old enough, Elrond had brought her into their teachings, though he had asked Erestor to assist her, while he kept focused on teaching Rosalie. Erestor was a kind and patient mentor to Violet, never being frustrated with her mistakes, but would help her through them, until she could get it right.

Elladan and Elrohir, who had become like brothers to Rosalie, were always there for her, always included her in things and became devoted uncles to Violet, who she adored and idolised.

Galadriel, her husband Celeborn and Elrond's daughter, Arwen, had also become like family to her, like her grandparents and sister, and they too welcomed her and Violet into their family, Arwen often calling her the sister she never had. Even though they didn't visit Rivendell often, the few times they did, Rosalie and Arwen were always together, with Arwen doting onViolet almost as much as her brothers did.

Roselie was thankful for all of them, she had gone from having no familial support system, to suddenly having a father figure, grandparental figures and siblings in this elven family.

Elrond had confided in her one night that he had worried about his sons for a while now, apparently, they had gone through some grief in the past due to their mother, and with Rosalie and Violet, it gave them a reason to not be so. . .reckless. Now, they had a reason to stay home more, wanting to stay with Rosalie and Violet.

Rosalie didn't know what had happened to their mother, she didn't dare ask, but to know that not only were they helping her to heal, but she them, it brought a good feeling to her.

As well as getting close with the family, the two of them also made friends with the elves, and even those of the Dunedain Rangers, who were constant visitors to the elven realm.

However, one of their greatest friends, was the Grey Wizard, Gandalf. Like the Rangers of the North, he was a constant visitor to Rivendell, having been a friend to Elrond for many, many years. Rosalie remembers stories about the Grey Wizard, told to her by her father when she and her sister, Flora, were children, and would wish to meet him one day. Now that she has, he didn't disappoint her expectations. Like Elrond, he had also known her Great Grandfather, Cedar, and had regaled her with more stories about him.

Violet had become enamoured with the wizard, always seeking him out whenever he visited. Gandalf had also seemed to take a liking to the child, often treating her with light shows with his magic and bringing her gifts from his travels. He became almost like a grandfatherly figure to her, where she would sit on his lap while he told her stories.

However, the past seems to have a nasty way of creeping back up on you, and in ways you sometimes don't expect.

Chapter Text

It had been ten years since their escape, and Violet was now flourishing as a bright, happy and bubbly ten year old child. She always had a kind smile, and a kind word to say to everyone around her.

Rosalie had never told her of the past, not wanting to burden her young child with those dark times. The only thing she knew of the past, was when she would ask about her father, Rosalie had simply told her that he had died when she was a baby and while Violet was sad she wouldn't know her father, she left it alone ever since. When she was old enough to understand, Rosalie would tell her everything. Until then, she would continue to let Violet be a child, have a childhood she deserved.

One day, after asking Rosalie if she can go play by the woods, she agreed since they were still in the borders of Rivendell and knew she would be safe. However, she still still warns her not to go too far from home, and to be back before the sun set, she promised to do both, before running off.

Rosalie smiles as she watches her run off, the love and pride she has for her little girl brewing brightly in her.

She spends the day working in the library, organising the books and shelving new books that had arrived just that morning. She had been busy the whole day, she had not realised how much time had passed, until she looked out of the window and noticed that the sun was starting to set.

Realising Violet should be home by now, she put away the last couple of books before leaving, walking to her daughters room, which was next to hers. She knocked on the door, but hearing nothing, she walked in. it was empty. The bed looked as though it had not been touched since that morning, the window still closed and checking the bathroom, that was empty, too.

She didn't panic, not yet anyay. Rivendell is a big place after all, maybe she is somewhere else. And so, she leaves the room and beings walking around to look for her, asking anyone she passed if they had seen her, but nothing.

By the time the sun had set, everyone in Rivendell was searching for Violet. Rosalie, now in wolf form, had gone to the woods with the twins and Glorfindel to see if she was there; maybe she had fallen asleep, or had gotten injured and couldn't return on her own.

Putting her snout to the ground, Rosalie sniffs out her scent and follows it. Reaching the edge of the forest, the border to Rivendell, she pauses as she smells something else, another scent replacing her daughters. Sniffing it again, she lets out a low growl. Wargs. Wargs had taken her baby!

"Rose, what is it?" Elladan asks.

"Wargs." Rosalie growls. "Wargs and orcs have got my baby!"

She goes to leap off, to chase after them, but is stopped when Glorfindel grabs her by the scruff of her neck.

"No! You can't go alone! They will kill you as soon as look at you!"

"I don't care! They have my baby! I will die trying!" Rosalie screams at him, trying to escape his grasp.

"And what will happen to her after you are dead?!"

This stops her in her tracks, those words finally breaking through to her. He was right. . .of course he was right. If anything happened to her while trying to save her daughter, then what would happen to Violet? There would be no one else to save her, to get her out of there.

All the fight now leaving her, she lays down on the ground when Glorfindel lets her go, though he kneels besides her as she sobs, brushing his hand along her fur.

"I know this is hard for you, Rose, but you need to think rationally, we all do. We all love Violet like she's our own. We all hate to think of anything happening to her. But we can't run in blind, that's how things go from bad to worse. You have to trust us, alright?"

Rose nods and Glorfindel reaches out to take the grieving mother into his arms and the small group make their way back to the house.

In Elrond's study, Rosalie was pacing back and forth like a caged, wild animal, wringing her hands together as she listens to the elves come up with a rescue mission. Elrond had already sent a scouting party to hopefully pick up on the wargs tracks. There was no word back from them just yet.

When the elves were done and leaving, Elrond goes to Rosalie and takes her hands into his.

"Rosalie, go and try to get some sleep. There is nothing more you can do, for now."

"How? How do you expect me to sleep? My daughter is out there somewhere, in the hands of orcs, being subjected to Eru knows what."

"I understand what you are going through, Rose. I assure you."

At her look of confusion, he pulls her over to one of the sofas and they sit down before he begins to speak.

"In the year twenty five oh nine, my wife had left for Lothlorien, to visit her parents, Galadriel and Celeborn. On her way there, her guards were killed while she was capture by orcs. She was gone for many days until Elladan and Elrohir rescued her and brought her home."

Rosalie's heart breaks for the elflord, for her friend. "Oh, Elrond, I am so sorry. W-What happened to her?"

"I was able to heal her wounds, but her mind was never the same. She couldn't see the world the same anymore, the orcs had tainted it all. And so, she sailed to the Undying Lands within the year. She will be able to heal there, become herself again, and one day, I will also sail there and will be reunited with her."

Rosalie smiles, happy that her friend will be reunited with his lost love one day. "I'm so relieved. It had to be hard though, to know she lives but you can't see her."

He gives a sad smile. "It can be, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her. But, my point before still stands, I understand what you are going through. Celebrian may not have been my child, but I know the feeling of grief of knowing someone you love dearly has been taken, that they are in danger, and there's nothing you can do about it. But, I assure you Rosalie, we WILL find Violet, and we WILL bring her home. Alive. I promise."

Rosalie nods before leaning into him, accepting his comfort as she cries silent tears. He's right, they all are, there is nothing she can do right now. She could act on instinct and run out there to get her, but if she was also captured, or worse killed, then what? Even if Violet was able to be found, she would be an orphan. No. She would listen to her friends, no matter how much it killed her, she would stay behind and wait, wait for her to come home.

It had been months since the day Violet had been captured, and Rosalie was losing her mind. She couldn't eat, she couldn't sleep and was going stark crazy, knowing she couldn't do anything.

Her friends had surrounded her with love and support, even Galadriel and Arwen had travelled to Rivendell to be there for her when they found out. Arwen would be by her side constantly, and had even taken to staying in her room with her at night, helping her to get some sleep.

Gandalf had also arrived, soon leaving to join the search party when he was given more information, swearing to Rosalie that they will find her and bring her back to her.

One night, after a particularly bad night, Rosalie found herself wandering through the halls of Rivendell once again, walking aimlessly. She eventually found herself on an outdoor landing on a cliff edge, looking as though it had been carved right out of the mountain. At the end, there is a plinth of some kind. And at the edge, she could see the water from a waterfall falling, the sound of it raging through her ears. However, it seemed to comfort her more than anything.

She sat on the edge of the cliff, legs dangling off it and just looked out over the valley, her mind in a constant war with itself. On one hand, she wished to go out there, find her daughter and bring her back home where she would be safe. But on the other, she knew she couldn't. All she could do was wait, but it was killing her to wait and she knew she was worrying her friends. With her not eating, she had lost so much weight, her clothes were almost falling off her. She felt worse now than she did when she was in their clutches. Maybe. . .maybe she could go to them, bargain her life for her daughter's release?

"That wouldn't be a good idea, my child." Galadriel's voice speaks up from behind her.

Glancing behind her, she sees the Lady of the Woods walking towards her.

"You know as well as I that they wouldn't uphold any bargain you may think of. You know it is futile. They would just keep you both. You also know Violet wouldn't want that."

Rosalie sighs, knowing she was right about it all. Violet wouldn't want her to sacrifice herself, and the orcs would definitely not uphold any sort of bargain.

"I know that, I do, I just. . .I'm losing my mind with worry. It had been months, I don't know how much longer I can wait."

Galadriel sits besides her. "I know how you feel, dear. I know Elrond had told you what happened to my daughter, and I remember going through the same worry, the same grief. I, just like you, had almost lost myself with worry, and being far away in Lothlorien did not help. She was found and brought home by the time my husband and I had arrived in Rivendell. You just need to have trust and faith that the rescue parties will find her, that they will bring her home."

"i do, I trust all of them, of course I do. I just wish I was among them. Wish I was doing something."

"It would not be a good idea for you to go, Rosalie. They know you, as soon as they'd see you, they would try to manipulate you back to their side, use your love for Violet against you, and then you would be back in their hands once again. Your place is here, you are needed here, to be here for when Violet returns. However, she needs you at your best, to help support her, to give her back the normalcy and stability she will need to heal. And for that, you need to eat. You need to sleep. You will do her no good by dying from worry and fear."

Rosalie looks down, tears coming to her eyes. She's right, Violet will need her at her full strength, at her best, she doesn't need to see her frail and weak, when she would no doubt feel the same when she returned.

As Galadriel had wrapped her in a warm embrace, her fingers running through her hair, she could feel herself suddenly feeling tired, her mind drifting off.

"Sleep, my child. Everything will be alright soon, I assure you." Galadriel's voice spoke in her mind.

Feeling the familiar sensation of her magic, she didn't fight her, feeling herself drift off in the Lady's arms.

After her talk with Galadriel that night, Rosalie made some changes to her life. While she was going out of her mind with worry over her little girl, she would put all of her energy into other things and would do random chores to keep her mind off darker things.

She had also began to eat again, as well as getting more sleep, it still wouldn't be a full nights sleep. Rosalie is sure she won't get that until Violet is safe and sound in her arms again, but it was more than the hour or two she would get before.

Arwen, the darling she was, would stay by her side through it all, giving her words of encouragement and comfort, never once patronising her, but being a constant support and friend.

Almost a week after her nighttime talk with Galadriel, Rosalie and Arwen were in the library, when the door burst open and Lindir had run in.

"Lindir, what's wrong?" Arwen asks.

He doesn't answer her, but turns his attention to Rosalie, who was standing at an upper railing, looking down at him.

"Rose, Gandalf, Glorfindel and the twins are home! They found her!"

Rosalie could feel her legs almost give out, her hands on the banister being the only thing to keep her upright. They found her! She's home at last!"

"Oh, thank Eru! Is she alright? Please tell me she's alright!" she exclaims, rushing down the stairs to meet him.

"She is injured," Lindir begins, taking Rosalie's hands into his. "However, she is alive and has been asking for you."

She goes tor un past, however Lindir stops her.

"There's something else you should know." this had her looking to him in conern. "When they had found her, she was with a man called Beorn, who is a shape shifter. He had also been captured, but had escaped, taking Violet with him. But, they weren't alone. There was another wolf with them. . .another pup. Violet had said. . .she was her sister. . .of the same litter."

Rosalie gasps, her legs truly giving out at that point. Lindir quickly gets her sat down in a chair, Arwen rushing over to kneel beside her.

"Her-Her sister. . .are you sure?" Rosalie breathes.

"It's what she says. The wolf had told her that she began asking questions about her parentage, knew the one raising her wasn't her mother. No one had told her at first, but the wolf raising her did. It turned out, this one did not agree with everything that had been happening."

"Luna. . .it must have been her. . .she's a Wolfkin like me, from a different pack. She had been brouhgt in after me, we both knew what the other were, but we dare not speak of it out loud. We were already forced to breed with wargs, if the orcs knew we could become human. . ."

The next part was left unsaid, but the two elves knew instantly what she meant. The orcs would try and breed with them in human form.

"Well, she told her everything; how you and her adopted mother had became close in those dark times, how your daughter and her sisters were born and how you left to protect your youngest. Violet had said, when she was captured and locked away, the wolf would be a constant visitor to her, going against everyone, just to see her sister. One day, when the orcs were hurting Violet, her sister had jumped in and killed the orc, protecting her sister. But. . ."

"But?" Rosalie asks, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.

Lindir pauses for a momsnet. "She-She was almost beaten to death for it."

Rosalie gasps, her hand flying to her mouth as tears came to her eyes. Her babies. . .her poor babies. . .

"It was at this point that Beorn, the skin changer, hearing the girls cries, had broken out, killing those that were hurting the children, took them both and left. Gandalf's group had stumbled upon them completely by accident. Beorn was wary of them at first, but upon realising that they were indeed family to the girls, he had left them in their capable hands before leaving."

Rosalie just sat there, stunned by all she had learnt. Her little girl had been tortured by those orcs, her other baby had jumped in and saved her sister, almost getting killed in the process. She had come close to losing two of her baby girls. . .she wished she could thank the skin changer, thank Beorm for all he did, for saving her daughters. She would be eternally grateful for all he had done for her.

It's then that Elladan runs into the room. "Rose, you need to come with me, now."

At his look of panic, Rosalie is instantly on his feet.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Violet, she won't settle down and let father help her. She keeps screaming and lashing out, making her injuries worse, she won't stop screaming for you."

Rosalie instantly runs off at this point, running to the Healing Houses, tears appearing as she can hear her daughter screaming, the sounds getting louder and louder the closer she gets.

Bursting through the doors, she sees Elrond, Elrohir and Galadriel all around Violet's bed, who looks a mess. She's in her human form and Rosalie had to stop herself from bursting into tears at seeing her; from what she can see, her skin is covered in cuts, gashes and bruises, a nasty gash on her head, one of her arms looks longer than the other, from a dislocated shoulder, her legs at odd angles so she knows they are broken. The one injury that has her almost breaking down, is her eye. her left eye is white, completely white, indicating she has been blinded, a deep gash from her hairline to her chin. Her poor baby is in so much pain, but just wants her.

Violet eyes meet hers, going wide, her non dislocated arm reaching out for her.

"Mummy! Mummy!"

Rosalie rushes over, Elrohir making space for her, and she holds her little girl as close as she can, without causing her pain. Violet sobs her little heart out on her mother, Rosalie making soothing noises, running a gentle hand through her hair.

"Shhh, it's okay now, my darling. I'm here, mummy's here, you're safe now. But, we need to put you to sleep to get your injuries looked at. I promise, I will stay right by your side, I won't be going anywhere. Okay?"

She sniffles through sobs and nods her little head. Galadriel then reaches out and putting a gentle hand on the child's head, uses her magic to lull her into a peaceful sleep, no doubt the best sleep she's had in months.

Rosalie gently lays Violet back in the bed and moves aside to let Galadriel and Elrond begin healing her. Elrohir stands besides her and Rosalie instantly wraps her arms around him, who holds her close.

"Thank you. . .thank you bringing my baby. . .my babies. . .home."

"You're welcome, muinthel." Elrohir replies, kissing Rosalie on her head.

Rosalie pulls back and looks up at him. "Where is she? Violet's sister. . .where is she?"

He nods to the back of the hall, where drapes have been drawn around a bed.

"Gandalf and Glorfindel are healing her." he stops her as she's about to go over. "No, I wouldn't, not now. You shouldn't see her like she is."

Rosalie just shakes her head. "I need to. . .i need to see her."

The woman pulls from his grasp and makes her way down the hall, hearing Gandalf's muttered words as he uses his healing powers to aid him. Hesitating at the curtain, she steps inside and almost falls to her knees, Elrohir who had followed her, helping her stay upright.

On the bed, she sees her middle child, Holly, still in wolf form, but her body is worse than Violet's. Through the grey fur, she can see almost every inch of her is covered in blood, and like Violet, her limbs appear to be broken and her right ear had been mangled at some point, no doubt a fight from another warg.

"Holly. . ." she gasps.

Glorfindel looks at her in sympathy. "Rose, you shouldn't be here, dear. You shouldn't see her like this."

"I know. . .but I had to. . .I needed to see her. Is she. . .will she. . ."

"She will live, my dear." Gandalf answers, standing from his haunched position over the child. "She will heal physically. Mentally however. . .I am unsure. She had been held captive for ten years after all. She will need you to help her adapt to a new life. You have been through it before and can help her."

Rosalie nods instantly, knowing she would do everything within her power to help Holly through this, to help the both of them, to heal them from the hell they have been through.

The elves and Gandalf had managed to heal both girls and after asking Galadriel to check, was thankful to hear that neither of them had been defiled sexually, even the orcs amd wargs seemed to be able to understand neither of them would be valuable to them in that aspect yet.

Galadriel had tried, but even her healing ability couldn't revert the damage done to Violet's eye. She would remain blind in her left eye for the rest of her life. Violet would need to relearn how to do a lot of things, even just walking would be a problem for a while. But, she will adapt, children are resilient. The both of them will adapt.

Over the next few days, Rosalie spent her time divided between the two of them, who had been moved into a private room.

Violet had woken up a day after, sobbing from the pain. Rosalie helped her drink a pain tonic and stayed sitting by her side, holding her good hand and brushing her hair back with her fingers.

While they had say in silence, Violet had asked the question she had been fearing.

"Mummy, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me we had lived with orcs and wargs before?"

"Because you were too young to understand, still are in some ways. I didn't want you to have to think of that, to worry about what I had gone through. I was going to tell you when you were older, when you could fully understand it."

She looks down for a moment. "Luna came to me. . .told me everything. You were taken from your mummy and daddy and brought to them, like she was. But. . .you saved me, instead of staying."

Rosalie reaches out to gently hold her daughter's cheek. "I will always save you, my darling. You mean the whole world to me, I wasn't going to let you die."

"But. . .Holly and Iris. . ."

"I loved the two of them dearly, just as much as I do you, but I knew they would be safer there. Oh, how I wished I could have taken all three of you with me, I truly do. But, you were my main priority in that moment, you were the one in the most danger. I knew, if I had not left with you when I did. . ."

She couldn't say it, she couldn't say those four words, but her daughter did, her ten year old little girl, wiser and smarter beyond her years, had said them.

"I would be dead."

Rosalie carefully gets up onto the bed and holds her daughter as close as she dare to. Violet snuggling into her mother. As she ran her fingers through her hair, she began to sing her lullaby, one she remembered her mother singing to her and her sister when they were children.

"Lavender's blue,
Dilly diilly,
Lavender's green.
When I am king,
Dilly dilly,
You shall be queen.

Who told you so?

Dilly dilly,

Who told you so?

Twas my own heart,

Dilly dilly,

That told me so.

Call up your men,
Dilly dilly,
Set them to work.
Some to the plow,
Dilly dilly,
Some to the fork.

Some to make hay,
Dilly dilly,
Some to cut corn.
While you and I,
Dilly dilly,
Keep ourselves warm.

Lavender's green,
Dilly dilly,
Lavender's blue.
If you love me,
Dilly dilly,
I will love you.

Let the birds sing,

Dilly dilly

And the lambs play.

We shall be safe,

Dilly dilly,

Out of harms way.

I love to dance,

Dilly dilly,

I love to sing.

When I am queen,

Dilly dilly,

You'll be my king.

Who told me so?

Dilly dilly

Who told me so?

I told myself,

Dilly dilly,

I told me so."

By the time she finishes the song, Violet is deep asleep, even Holly, on the bed besides her, seems to be sleeping easier than before. Rosalie smiles as she kisses Violet's head, gently laying her back in bed, and then goes over to pet Holly, brushing the fur back on her head.

"I promise, neither of you will ever have to go through that pain again." Rosalie vows.

It was a few more days after that when Holly had woken up. Elrond and Rosalie were checking on Violet's wounds, when they heard a groan from the other bed. The three of them look over to see Holly's eyes opening, looking around in confusion.

'W-Where am I?' she asks in confusion, speaking in animal language.

'You're in Rivendell, my child.' Rosalie answers, standing besides her.

Holly's eyes snap up to her, widening slightly as she sees the woman standing before her. Luna had told her that her mother was one of the Wolfkin, one of those that can become human as well as wolf, had said her hair and eyes would be as black and blue as they would be as wolf, just like this woman. Could. . .could it be here? Could. . .could this woman truly be her mother?

'Mu-Mummy?' she gasps, almost unable to believe it.

Rosalie smiles, tears appearing in her eyes as she kneels down in front of her, brushing her fur back.

'I'm here, darling. Mummy's here, and I promise, I am never letting you go again.'

Holly's eyes water before she sobs, not just from finally being with her mother, but the gentle way she petted her fur, just how loving and gentle she was with her. The love she craved, she yearned for. Luna, unfortunately, hadn't been able to provide that for her, the fear of the orcs ingrained too much in her. But to now have her mother back, to have a sister that could love her, not abandon her. . .it became too much.

Rosalie changed into her wolf form and hopped up onto the bed, curling around her elder daughter, licking and nuzzling her head.

'It's alright now, sweetheart. You're safe here with us. I promise.'

And safe they were. Over time, the two girls had healed from their injuries, though the mental strain became harder. They would wake in the middle of the night from nightmares and had taken to sleeping with Rosalie for a while.

When Holly's injuries were healed, and realising she didn't know how to become human, Galadriel had helped her, the same way she did her mother, using her magic to unlock the ability. When she did become human, she looked just like Violet, except her hair was grey and eyes blue like her mothers, while Violet inherited her brown eyes from her warg father.

Ever since they had come home, Violet and Holly had become close, speaking and acting as though they hadn't been separated for ten years. Rosalie remembers how, when they were pups, had not long since been born, the two of them had always found each other.

Even though they couldn't see or hear one another, they could just sense one another and would curl up together, while her eldest, Iris, would often pull herself away, even when Violet or Holly would seek her out, she would just press herself against her mother for warmth or just to suckle.

Violet and Holly grew up to be each other's best friends, loving sisters and every day you wouldn't see one of them without the other, laughing and playing with one another, when not in their studies. Violet had even offered for Holly to share her room with her, not wanting to be apart from her again.

Rosalie had also begun to help Holly acclimatise to her new life, to her free life. It had been a long journey, but they had made great progress. By the time Holly turned fifteen, she was living life as a happy child, just as she should have been from the start.

Violet, however, was much changed from her ordeal. To have spent ten years with a normal, happy childhood, to then having to go through the horrors she suffered. . .it had made her harder, seeing the world differently.

Rosalie feared for her at first, having heard what had happened to Celebrian, she feared she would end up losing her youngest child. However, she didn't have to worry about thatt. Even though, for a while she wasn't the same child before her capture, she still stayed as a happy child, though through her seeing you, you can tell she had faced some things, things she couldn't get over.

It was more clear when you looked to her left wrist, where the manacle and chain rested. When Beorn had saved her daughters, Violet was chained up, and he tore the chain from the wall, leaving the manacle and chain still on her. However, when Rosalie had made plans to have it removed, Violet refused.

"No. I don't want it gone. It's a reminder of what we went through. . .what our old master did to us. I don't want it gone until he's dead. Then I know we're truly free."

She's had to grow up so quick, both girls have.

She wasn't happy to do so, but Rosalie agreed to leave it. She could understand where her thoughts were on this, it was symbolic to the fact that despite everything, the three of them had survived. The three of them had gone through things you couldn't even dream of, but they survived and they were thriving.

The years passed the family by, and while Holly had grown into a beautiful, young woman who was afraid to fight, who was afraid to leave home, wanting to stay near her mother, Violet had grown differently.

While she was equally as beautiful as her sister, she had developed the itch to travel, to see other lands and while Rosalie was hesitant of this, not wanting her to go through what she had been through in the past, she would allow it. Although, she had made sure Violet wait until she was older, until she became of age, which for Wolfkin's, it would be when they were forty years of age.

Before then, Rosalie insisted that she begin training, in both weaponry and wolf. She wants her daughter to be prepared for anything. And so, while Elladan and Elrohir had begun her weapons training, Rosalie had trained her wolf form, working on her speed, agility and strength, the two of them often being seen running around the grounds of Rivendell, or play fighting, to increase her strength. Holly, while not wanting to fight, decided to join in, seeing the knowledge of learning how to defend yourself at the least.

A few months after the girls fortieth birthday, Violet began leaving whenever Elladan and Elrohir would go out on their adventures, and while Rosalie missed her daughter, she knew this was the right thing to do. She couldn't keep her cooped away when she yearned to go, yearned for adventures. She also felt the same when she was younger. As wolves, they would often travel, living an almost nomadic lifestyle. But, after her imprisonment, she valued the home life, staying somewhere she felt warmth and safety, as did Holly.

Every time Violet returned, it strengthened Rosalie's beliefs that she did the right thing. Her eye would shine with so much awe and happiness, she could slowly see the old Violet returning after each trip, and that was something she wouldn't take from her.

During some of these trips, she had met with the Dunedain Rangers, becoming friends with their Chieftain, Arathorn. who the twins had introduced her to. She would eventually become friends with his wife, Gilraen, and then their son Aragorn, when he was born.

However, when Aragorn was just two years of age, Arathorn had died from an orc arrow. And while Violet had grieved the loss of her friend, she had helped Elladan and Elrohir to escort them to Rivendell, where Elrond had taken the two of them in.

Over the next eight years, the family of two began to heal, although Gilraen wasn't the same as before, having lost her husband. Rosalie had taken the woman under her paw and helped her with her healing. The two women grew to become close friends, even growing a sister ship with each other. It woulsn't be the same as the relationship Rosalie shared with Arwen, or even with her own sister, Flora. . .especially with her, but she still saw Gilraen as her little sister, and Estel her nephew, Gilraen feeling the same for Rosalie and her daughters becoming her nieces.

Little Aragorn, or Estel as he would now be called, as to hide his true heritage, thrived in his new environment. He grew to be a happy little boy and Violet had stopped her travels for some time, wanting to stay by his side, having fallen in love with the child. Holly, having also grown attached to the boy, had also joined her sister, the two of them playing with Estel every day, teaching him in many subjects, even their own Wolfkin teachings, which he was fascinated about.

Rosalie felt her life was now perfect. She was free, two of her children were also free and were thriving, she had a new big family she adored, she didn't think things could get better.

That was until the year twenty nine forty one, when Violet would embark on an adventure, which would change not only her life, but the lives of their entire family forever.

Chapter Text

Having spent most of the day snoozing, I stretch my body and yawn before clambering out of the abandoned den I had found to sleep in. The sky had turned dark, night well and truly having fallen, the perfect time to go for a hunt.

I had begun travelling again a few months ago, feeling ready to get back out into the wild. It had been nice staying home for some time, staying with mum, Holly and Estel, but the itch had returned once again and with my family's blessings, I had left.

I am currently on my way home, sad that I had missed Estel's birthday, but knew I would make it up to him when I got back.

Putting my nose to the ground, I begin to sniff around for anything to hunt. There, the scent of a rabbit, almost thirty yards to the south.

Keeping quiet and low, my dark fur blending in with the night, I move slowly, so as to not jostle the chain on my leg as much, I begin to follow the trail, looking forward to a fresh meal.

That's when I stop. When I reach the road, another scent crosses over the rabbit; horses, many horses, all heading east. However, higher up was something different, there were many different scents. Although, one scent did stand out to me, making my tail wag. Gandalf! Whoever was travelling this way, Gandalf was among them!

I had not seen him in so long, it would be nice to see him again. And so, forgetting my hunt, I follow Gandalf's scent and after some time of moving through the bushes, I see a campfire glowing in the night, my ears picking up many sounds of snoring.

Crouching down, I stalk through the bushes, just as slowly as before, being careful of the chain, getting closer to the camp and lower down to my belly as I scan the campsite. I can see many figures, almost all of them asleep, and most of them seem to be dwarves, which surprises me. You don't usually see dwarves leaving their mountains.

Counting them, I can see fourteen, no fifteen, dwarves asleep in bedrolls. There's also a small figure amongst them, just by his size, I believe him to be a hobbit, one of the folk from the Shire. Now, that development really does surprise me, what would a hobbit be going out here. And there, on the other side of camp, is Gandalf! Laying propped up against a boulder, grey hat pulled over his face as he slept.

I make to go around camp, to go to Gandalf's side, but then stop as something else hits my nose among the slight breeze. . .Wolfkin. . .all Wolfkin have a specific scent, something that helps you identify other Wolfkin.

One of these dwarves, or even the hobbit, had mated with one of us, had been given the mark, claiming them as their mate. But then, there was another scent, it didn't have a mark, so this one must be the other's child. Turning my gaze back to the group, I look around to see if I can find out who it is that is one of us.

Him. My eyes land on the dwarf that is on watch. He is very handsome for a dwarf; long black hair with streaks of silver running through it, black moustache and beard and deep blue eyes, just as deep as my mum's. He's the one that is mated. And I can see why, can see why he would be a suitable mate; he exudes strength and confidence. I'd chose him as a mate if he wasn't old enough to be my father

Looking around again, I see the child, well, young dwarf. He looks like an almost copy of his father with long black hair and the beginnings of a moustache and beard. I could imagine that beneath his closed eyelids, his eyes are blue, just like his father's.

My attention is suddenly back on the one on watch, who had sat up straighter and is beginning to look around, looking in my direction. He can sense me.

He draws his sword as he stands. "Who's there? Show yourself!" he practically growls.

If he was in wolf form, no doubt his hackles would be raised.

His shout wakes up the others.

"What is it, Thorin?" the older blond asks, sword also in hand. "Are we in danger?"

"I don't know, Frerin, I just know something is watching us." Thorin answers.

The only one that is calm is Gandalf, who steps forward.

"Oh, we have nothing to worry about, Thorin. That is just a friend of mine. She has been here for a few minutes, watching us."

The group turns to him, surprise and shock on their faces.

"A friend? Are you sure?" One of the elder dwarves asks, the one with snow white hair.

"Absolutely. Violet, my dear, please come on out. You're safe here, not to worry."

I hesitate for a moment, wary of all the weapons, even more so with the dual axes the broad, bald one wields, but I do creep out, keeping low to the ground to show I'm not a threat.

Thorin and his son's eyes go wide as they see me, instantly recognising the same scent I caught from them.

"Wolfkin. . ." Thorin breathes, his sword lowering.

This causes the dwarves to look at Thorin now.

"Wolfkin? You mean like Aunt Flora?" the younger blond asks.

My ears perk up at that. Flora, that was the name of mum's older sister, who had managed to get away when orcs had attacked them. Mum had no idea if she had survived or not. Did this mean she actually survived and is now married to Thorin?

"Flora?" I ask as I stand. "Is she a brown wolf with green eyes? Like his?" I nod to Thorin's son.

Thorin and his son look at each other in wary confusion.

"Yes," Thorin replies carefully, turning narrowed eyes to her. "How do you know that?"

My tail begins to wag, happy at the thought that my aunt, my mum's older sister, is still alive!

"That's my aunt! My mum's older sister! Mum thought she died, years ago!"

Thorin's eyes widen slightly before turning to the blond he had called Frerin and when I look over, I'm surprised to see him looking at me with a hurt expression.

"Your mother, is she named Rosalie?" the white haired dwarf asks.

I nod. "Yeah! You know her?"

Thorin nods. "We do. . .she has a mate?"

I shake my head. "No, she does not."

"So, he died?" Frerin asks, a hint of something in his voice, which I don't like.

"No. She's never had a mate."

"Then, who is your father, dear?" the white haired dwarf asks gently.

My ears and tail droop at this as I look down. That has always been a sore spot for me. A reminder of the past, of my family's past. True, I keep the manacle on as a reminder, but it has the other meaning of a possible freedom.

I look up as Gandalf clears his throat, a sympathetic glint in his eyes as he looks at me. He knows of it all of course, of everything my family had gone through. Not only had my mum had told him, but he was a part of bringing Holly and I home.

"Maybe that would be a topic best left alone. I can assure you, her mother has never had a mate. But, there were other forces at work, which led to Violet's and her sister's births."

This causes the others to look at me with sympathetic eyes this time, all of them seeming to understand what Gandalf was hinting at.

Frerin, while looking sympathetic, also looks devastated at the news. I do wonder why. How does he know my mum? She never mentioned knowing any dwarves.

"Are you hungry, lass?" A dwarf with a floppy hat asks, thankfully changing the topic. "We had already eaten, but we may have something left."

"I am a little hungry. I was hunting when I caught your scents."

He smiles as he walks over to a pot and after looking in, grabs a bowl and fills it before turning to me, frowning as he looks to me, then to the bowl and then back again.

I just giggle as I can see the confusion and panic, not wanting to assume, ask, or be offensive.

"You can put it on the ground, it's fine. I don't turn human in front of people I hardly know. For my own protection, you know."

He nods, looking relieved, before he puts the bowl in front of me and I tuck into the slightly cold but delicious stew.

"Mmm. This is good. My compliments to the chef."

The dwarf grins. "That would be me and my brother, lass. I'm Bofur and my brother Bombur." he points to a rotund dwarf, who smiles at me. "and that is our cousin, Bifur."

He points to a dwarf and I blink in surprise for a moment as I see the axe in his head. But, I just give him a wolfy smile, to which he smiles back.

I'm then introduced to the rest of the group; the brothers, Dori – who has grey elaborate braids in his hair and beard. Nori – red hair that is pointed into a star shape, his eyebrows braided into them and Ori – red hair like Nori, but it was around his head, the top bald.

The two brothers Oin and Gloin. Oin has grey hair with his moustache in a circle. And Gloin has long red hair, matching beard and moustache, I don't even know where his hair ends and beard begins.

Another pair of brothers, Balin and Dwalin. Balin is the dwarf with snow white hair and a kind smile towards me. Dwalin is the one who hold the dual axes, looking at me with a scowl, so I know he doesn't trust me. I'll be sure to stay away from him for now.

Next are two of the younger dwarves; Fili and Kili. Fili has blond hair with a moustache that dangles on either side of his lips.

His brother, Kili, has shaggy brown hair with no sign of any facial hair. He has deep brown eyes, almost like looking into hot chocolate and a charming smile aimed towards me. For some reason, I can feel my stomach flutter when looking at him.

The last three dwarves are Thorin, his brother Frerin and son, Durin.

And finally, there's the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. He gives me a friendly smile, though he seems wary of me, probably because of my wolf form.

"Where were you heading, dear?" Gandalf asks once I've finished eating.

"Home." I answer as I lay besides him, once everyone settles down again.

He smiles. "Oh, we were heading in the same direction. You should come with us."

"Gandalf, I don't think-" Thorin begins, a warning edge to his voice.

Gandalf turns to him. "Do you expect me to leave my friend out here alone? And besides, this will give you an opportunity to get to know your niece, will it not?"

Looking to the dwarf, I can tell he's not incredibly happy about this development.

"Oh, it's okay. I know the way home, I'll be fine alone."

Thorin sighs as he shakes my head, giving me an almost kind look. I can see it's hard for him to trust strangers, even if they are family. I get that. I was the same when I reunited with Holly.

"No, you can stay with us. Flora would throttle me if she knew I left her niece alone in the wild."

I give a nod of appreciation. "Thank you, Thorin. I promise I won't slow you down."

He nods before turning back to the group.

"Alright, back to sleep, all of you."

Everyone goes back to their bedrolls and settled down again. I lay where I'm sat besides Gandalf, laying my head on my paws and close my eyes. I'm about to drift off when I hear paws padding besides me. Looking up, I see a brown and black wolf with green eyes. Turning to the dwarves, I noticed Durin isn't where he is and Thorin is just watching the two of us, so I assume this wolf is Durin.

I turn back to my cousin. "Mixture of your parents?" I ask.

He nods, a wolfish smile appearing. "Aye. Can I join you?"

I nod and he lays down besides me. We don't say anything for a moment.

"So. . .you're my cousin?" he asks.

"It appears that way. I knew what your mum looked like, and Balin got my mum's name right."

He nods. "I've never met another Wolfkin before."

"I have. Once. Over sixty years ago."

He looks to me for a moment. "I'm guessing there's not a good story to that?"

I look down, my eyes catching the manacle. "No, there isn't."

I noticed him also looking at it.

"What happened?"

I don't answer. Even though he is family, I've only just met him. I don't know if I can trust him with that. Thankfully, Thorin makes it so I don't have to answer him either way.

"Durin, Violet, get some sleep."

Durin lays his head on his paws and when my gaze catches Thorin's, a look of understanding passes between us. He knows that I have secrets, horrors in my past, that I don't want to share. He's allowing me to keep my privacy and dignity until I'm ready.

I smile and give him an appreciative nod before falling asleep.

Thorin watches as his son and niece sleep. He had watched the two of them since Durin changed his form and padded over to her, had heard their short conversation. He's seen her eyes, one milky and one brown, turn downwards, towards the manacle and chain around her leg. He knows something awful must have happened to her. But, until she is ready to speak of it, if she'll be ready, he won't let anyone badger her about it.

Hearing someone get up, he turns back to see his little brother standing and making his way towards him, casting a look to the wolves.

"You should be asleep." Thorin states to him.

"I won't be able to get back to sleep. Not now" He answers, sitting besides him on the boulder.

Frerin turns his eyes back to Violet, watching as she sleeps.

"Spitting image of Rosalie, isn't she?" Thorin asks, knowing where his brother's thoughts have gone.

Frerin sighs as he nods. "She is. It's been almost ninety years since Flora came to us, since her family was attacked. We though Rosalie had died. . .I should have looked for her more. . .I should never have stopped."

Thorin wraps an arm around his brother's shoulders. "You can't live on should haves, Frerin, it's not healthy. Believe me, I know. All you can do is look to the future. Now that you know she lives, maybe you will meet her again one day."

He looks up at his big brother, hope shining in his brown eyes. "You think so?"

He nods. "I do. Flora and I found each other, did we not? What's to say you and Rosalie won't?"

Frerin thinks it over. Could that be a possibility? Could he find Rosalie again one day? Could they ever rekindle the love they had first shared all those years ago?

He then looks back to Violet, who seems to be in a deep sleep.

"Do you think she would accept me? Her and her sister? Do you think they would give their mother and I their blessing?"

Thorin then looks over to his niece, also wondering the same thing.

"I don't know. They may. I'd say take advantage of the time she is with us. Get to know her. And also, if you win her over, then it would put in good graces with Rosalie."

His brother nods thoughtfully. "I would like to get to know her. . .if Rosalie would like us to be together, then I would like to take on her girls. If they will have me as their father, that is."

Thorin nods, clapping his brother on the shoulder. "Go on, try and get some sleep. It's already late and we have an early morning."

Frerin nods, accepting an affectionate knock to the head before going back to his bedroll to sleep. Thorin watches him go, glancing at the two sleeping wolves for a moment before turning his gaze out over the horizon. The next few days, weeks or however long Violet will be staying with them are going to be interesting, to say the least.

He takes out a blue, silk handkerchief from his pocket, one that his lovely wife had hand sewn a raven into, seven stars above it. The raven was also holding a rose in it's beak. It was one of his greatest treasures, other than his wife and children of course. He just holds it, wondering what she would think about this turn of events.

"I've found them, my love." He says softly. "I've finally found your family."

The next morning, my nose twitches as I wake to the smell of bacon and sausages cooking. Opening my eyes, I see mostly everyone is awake, going about morning routines. I let out a loud yawn.

"Good morning, lass." Bofur greets me with a grin.

I smile as I stand and stretch my limbs. "Good morning, Bofur. Breakfast sure smells good."

"Thanks. It'll be ready soon."

I nod before I leave camp and go into the woods to take care of business. Returning, I nudge my head under Gandalf's hand, aiming to get some fuss from him. He chuckles as he pets my head.

"How is your family doing, dear?" he asks me.

"Great. Holly's coming along well in her healing."

He smiles. "That's good."

I nod and as I look around, I notice Frerin standing by the edge of the cliff, just looking out. He appears to be in deep thought, no doubt thinking of last night. Excusing myself from Gandalf, I stand and walk over to him.

"Frerin."

He looks up and turns to me, giving me a friendly smile. "Oh, Violet. Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Good, thank you. Yourself?" I ask as I sit besides him.

He pauses for a moment. "Not well, admittedly."

"I'm sorry for that. I could only assume my arrival did not help matters."

He gives a small smile. "You assume correctly, but not in the way you would think."

I look out over the cliff edge, thinking my next words over carefully.

"When-When I told you told you who my mum is, you seemed. . .I want to say angry? Agitated. I don't sense a mate mark on you, so I know that's not the reason. How did you know her?"

He's quiet for a moment before he sighs. "I loved your mother. I still do."

I gasp at this, not having expected that revelation. "You did? You do? Did-Did she love you?"

He nods. "She did. Your mother, aunt and their parents had come to the Blue Mountains one winter to rest. It was one of the worst winters we had seen in years, and since there wasn't anything to hunt, they had come seeking sanctuary with us and Thorin agreed, allowing them to spend the winter months with us.

I had loved your mother from the first moment I saw her. She was beautiful; long hair as black as ebony, eyes as blue as the sapphires within our mountain. We had gotten close during their stay, to the point that not only did she admit her feelings for me, but she told me her secret, about being Wolfkin, had even shown me her wolf form. It didn't bother me, of course. In fact, it made me love her more. To think that she felt as though she could trust me with such a secret. . .I was honoured. Even though we had known each other for a few months, we had fallen deeply in love.

Before they were due to leave, I had asked her father for her hand, but he declined. Not only did she and I have a big age gap, twenty years, but he felt as though I was not good enough for her. I'm sure he thought the same of Thorin, as ge gad declined him when he asked for Flora's hand. Before leaving, Rose gave me this,"

He reaches into his shirt and pulls out a silver chain and on the end was what looked like a silver medallion, with a rose carved into it.

"She had it commissioned for me, as not only something to remember her by, but as a promise, that she would return to me. But. . ."

I look down. "They were attacked."

He nods. "When Flora had come back, she told us what had happened, that they had been attacked by orcs. Thorin gathered a group of us, Dwalin and I included, and we rode out to see if anything could be done, if we could help them. . .but we were too late. Your mother was nowhere to be found and your grandparents. . .well, I would rather not get into that."

He doesn't need to answer that. I had seen the savagery of wargs, even orcs, first hand.

"I could imagine, those vile beings are ruthless and savage creatures." I growl.

I feel him looking at me. "You speak from experience?"

I pause. "In a way."

"Does it have something to do with the manacle?"

I look down at my left leg, the chain dangling onto the ground.

"Sort of. I'm not ready to talk about it right now, but one day."

He nods. "Take your time."

He pauses for a moment to accept a plate of food from Bofur with a thanks. I also thank the hatted dwarf as he puts a plate in front of me. I lick my lips, almost salivating as the delicious smell of sausages and bacon fill my nose. It might not be much, but sausages and bacon are my favourite and I tuck right in.

"How-How is your mother? Does-Does she speak of me?"

I swallow the mouthful I was eating before turning to him. "Admittedly, she doesn't speak much about her past. Not anymore anyway. I had no idea she knew any dwarves, let alone fall in love with one. Don't take it to heart, Frerin," I say gently, noticing the hurt in his eyes. "Mum had been through a lot in her life. All she has wanted was to forget the past and just look to the future. As for you. . .I think. . .there are circumstances which stopped her from returning to you. If you see her again, and if she tells you, I'm sure you would understand."

He nods. "I kind of have an inkling from what Gandalf said last night, about your birth. And if I'm right, I'm so sorry for her. I wish. . .I wish I could have been there for her. . .fought harder for her hand in marriage and kept her safe with me."

I look at him with pure sadness in my heart. This poor dwarf must have been carrying so much guilt over the years. Not being able to save the woman he loves from a fate worse than death.

I do something I have never done with strangers, I tuck my head under his hand, aiming to comfort him. He looks to me in surprise, before running his hand through my fur. He kneels besides me as I nuzzle against him and after wrapping a paw around him, I lay my head on his shoulder, in an embrace, he embraces me back, putting his plate down to do so. His arms go around my body to hold me close, his fingers holding onto my fur almost as much as Estel's would after a nightmare.

"You needn't blame yourself for what happened, I know mum doesn't. You can't focus on the past, Frerin, can't focus on what could have been, or be driven by unnecessary guilt. All you can do is look to the future."

Frerin chuckles as he pulls back. "Thorin told me the same thing last night."

I grin, my tail brushing the dirt as it wags. "Great minds think alike. But, he's right, it does not do any good to focus on what happened, or what could have happened. If you did, you would drive yourself insane, and it's not healthy."

He chuckles again, eyes flickering behind us. I turn and see Thorin watching the two of us, and know that I said something else he had said.

"Thank you for your comfort, Violet. It means a lot."

I smile at the blond dwarf. "You are welcome, Frerin."

He smiles and pets me once more before we continue with breakfast. Once I'm done, he picks up my plate and takes it back, while I lick my paws.

"Violet."

Looking up, I see Thorin walking over, and I turn to face him fully.

"Yes, Thorin?"

He stands before me. "I don't know what you and my brother talked about, but I could imagine. Whatever you said, thank you for giving him the comfort he needed. I don't know what happened to you before, but I could imagine how much it would have taken for you to be affectionate with a stranger, but I truly appreciate it."

I smile. "You're welcome. I know it was something he needed."

He smiles back, the smile dimming slightly for a moment. "I also want to apologise if I seemed harsh or detached last night, even after finding out you are family."

I shake my head. "You have nothing to apologise for, Thorin. I understand completely, why do you think I haven't become human yet?"

He nods. "True. Flora and Rosalie didn't show us their wolves until they were comfortable around us."

"Yes. We only change in front of those we truly trust. I'd say my mum and aunt put their faith in two great dwarves."

He smiles again. "Thank you. And if I may welcome you properly; we would be glad to have you join us, Violet."

I smile and bow my head. "Thank you, Thorin. I look forward to getting to know you and the rest of my new family."

He nods, still smiling, and we return to camp. As I see everyone preparing to saddle up, I walk over to Dwalin and surprise him by tucking my head under his large hand. He looks down at me in surprise.

"What was that for, lass?" he asks.

"To thank you, for trying to save my mum."

A look of understanding comes across his face, his eyes softening, as he pets my head.

"You are welcome. I only wish we could have arrived in time."

I nod. "So do I."

He pets me a little more before he continues getting his saddle ready. Once everyone has mounted up we move on. Durin had returned back to his dwarven form and is riding his pony, a black and white filly. When we move on, I walk besides him, wanting to get to know my new cousin better. This trip is certainly turning out better than all the rest.

Chapter Text

I had been travelling with Gandalf, Bilbo and the dwarves for a few days now, and it's safe to say, I have really been enjoying my time with them. Thankfully, they don't ask questions about the manacle, or my past. When they ask about my eye, I just tell them I was blinded when I was younger, and sensing my need to not speak of it, they leave me to it.

I had taken the time to get to know my new family and they're great. I've gotten really close with Durin, Fili and Kili.

Although, with Kili, I feel something. . .different. It's not something familial or even friendly, even though I do consider him my friend, I feels like something. . .more. I'd have to ask mum about that when I get home.

I've also been taking the chance to get to know Frerin, and the more I talk with him, the more I like him. He's everything I had hoped mum would find in a mate; strong, kind, caring, brave. I truly hope that they're able to heal and marry/mate.

As for Thorin, I've been able to spend some time with him, mainly when we're camped for the night. He allows me to sit by him and we talk. He tells me about Aunt Flora, even confirming some things I knew from mum. He also informs me that he has four more children at home; the eldest is a girl, Rosie – who they had named after Rosalie, which warmed my heart to hear – she is Durin's litter mate, so she'll be seventy five like him.

The younger three are fifteen years of age, still children in both Wolfkin and dwarven terms. The three are litter mates and are two boys – Thrain and Aspen, named after Thorin's father and my grandfather – and their youngest girl, Poppy – named after my grandmother.

As he talks about them, I just smile as I think of my family, the family I had been deprived of, the family mum and Holly had been deprived of. . .I can't wait to see them again.

The dwarves also accept me into their group, and I like every one of them, even Dwalin, when he came around. I shouldn't have favourites, but Balin is by far one of them. He's so kind and patient. With Thorin's permission, since we're family, Balin has begun teaching me khuzdul, which I'm happy about. Another link to my new family.

The only one I seen to have a problem getting to know is Bilbo. He's been wary, but polite, of me ever since the beginning. I do wish I knew what I could do to help him see I'm not going to hurt him.

A week after our first meeting, while we're waiting for dinner, Durin and Fili are sparring and Kili is shooting his bow. I go over to Gandalf and finally ask him about Bilbo;s wariness towards me.

He turns to me. "Do you not remember what happened thirty years ago, my dear? When the wolves had attacked the Shire?"

I nod. "I do, but what does tha-wait. . .how old is Bilbo?"

He gives me a knowing look, knowing I'm understanding. "He's fifty one."

I gasp. No wonder he's been wary of me! He was alive during the Fell Winter! I remember that. It happened thirty years ago, during my first trip out of Rivendell. I was visiting with the Rangers when we had heard about it and went to see if we could help.

Meeting Gandalf on the way, we had taken out the wolves and then helped to deliver food to the Hobbits so that they could survive through the winter.

That would have happened when he was in his early twenties. As far as I know, he would have still been a tween, a teenager. He must have been terrified.

Looking over at Bilbo, who is sitting with Balin, I get up and walk over to him, laying down besides him. He jumps slightly as I do so.

"Oh! Violet, you scared me a little there." He says, getting his breath back.

"Sorry, Bilbo. I just want to say, I now understand why you're wary of me. And I assure you, I'm not like those wolves. I would never attack anyone, unless I or someone I care for was being attacked."

"That goes double for me, Bilbo." Durin says, having finished his sparring ans is now sitting on the other side of Balin in wolf form, accepting pets from the elderly dwarf.

Bilbo smiles between the two of us. "Well, I thank you both for telling me so. And I'll be sure to loosen up around you."

I smile, my tail wagging before surprising the hobbit by laying my head on his lap, looking up at him with puppy dog eyes, a slight whine coming out.

He gives a chuckle as he lays his hand on my head to pet me, causing my tail to wag more.

I don't normally do this for people I hardly know, but for Bilbo, I'm happy to make an exception, if it'll help him warm up to me.

I stay with Bilbo, Balin and Durin as the three of us talk. Bilbo is currently regaling us with a story, when Durin interrupts.

"Kili, no, don't you dare!"

Seeing him glaring behind me, I turn to find Kili standing a bit away, large stick in hand, grinning at his younger cousin.

"What? All I'm doing is standing here." He says innocently, or it would be without the mischievous glint in his eye.

"No, you're not, I know you, you're going to-"

And just like that, Kili pulls his arm back and tosses the stick, causing both Durin and I to act on our instincts and chase after it with barks.

I reach it first and pick it up in my mouth and proudly trotting back to camp, before Durin grabs one end and we both growl playfully as we play tug-o-war.

I hear some of the dwarves laughing and cheering, each taking sides as they egg us on.

With me being stronger, thanks to my warg side, I'm able to dig my feet in and hold ground, while he is tugging, trying desperately to either get me to let go or knock me over.

As he gives a long pull, I suddenly let go, causing him to fall back with a surprised yelp.

I grin and walk back to camp with my head held high, but am then surprised as Durin tackles into me and we begin play fighting., both of us a blur of black and brown fur.

"Puppies! Dinner!" Bofur's teasing voice calls out.

Durin and I laugh as we pull apart and bound back over eagerly digging into our food, still in wolf form.

"I have to say, lass, you sure are strong." Nori comments.

Dwalin nods. "Aye, certainly stronger than our Durin. I reckon you could even take Thorin on."

"Doubt it. Thorin is a strong looking dwarf, that's sure to pass over into his wolf form, too." I explain as I sit on my haunches, licking my lips.

"How are you so strong?" Ori asks. "You do look bigger than a normal wolf, is that due to being a pure Wolfkin?"

Dutin looks to him. "Ama's a pure Wolfkin, and even she doesn't look as big as Vi."

"Violet, are you alright?" Kili suddenly asks.

The camp goes quiet as I feel eyes on me, though I don't look up. Ever since the talk of my strength and size had begun, I had gotten quiet, and by the time Ori asked me his question, believing me to be pure Wolfkin, my gaze had turned to the ground, anger and fear coursing through me; anger at the orcs and wargs and fear at the company finding out.

I don't answer Kili. Instead, I get up, leaving my bowl half empty, and pad away from camp, laying further out in the darkness, something I do when I want to hide, my black fur making me blend into the black of night.

Thorin watches his niece hide away from them. Ever since she had been asked questions, he had kept a close eye on her, knowing she has things in her past that she would like to be kept exactly there, in the past.

He had watched as she became quieter and quieter, eventually looking down at the ground, her ears drooping in sadness. He even swore he saw a tear fall into her black fur.

"Did-Did I say something wrong?" Ori asks, upset he might've said something he shouldn't have.

"No, you didn't, Ori." Gandalf begins. "It's normal to ask questions, and I'm sure she wouldn't begrudge you asking. But. . .dear Violet has been through some things. Things you couldn't imagine. As have her mother and sister. It's hard for her to talk about. And, I'm sure she feels afraid."

"Of what?" Frerin asks.

"That you would hate her."

"We'd never think that!" Fili exclaims, Durin nodding feverently in agreement.

"I know that. And, I'm sure she does, to some extent. But, fear can be a powerful nemesis, can stop us doing things or saying things we shouldn't."

Thorin just looks at Violet's wolf form he can see in the darkness, thansk to his wolf side and being able to see in the dark, and feels sympthy for her. To be so young and already have so much weighing down on you. . .he can relate.

He sees his son stand and about to walk over.

"Inùdoy, sit down." Thorin reprimands gently.

Durin turns to him. "But, adad, she shouldn't be going through this alone."

"I know." Thorin then takes off the remainder of his weapons before standing aside and takes his wolf form, which is a large black wolf with white markings. This surprises the dwarves. Thorin rarely takes his wolf form, only doing it in front of his family, not in public like this. "Stay here, I will go to her. Gloin, you have first watch, tonight."

The red haired dwarf nods. "Aye, Thorin."

Thorin then pads over to Violet, hearing slight sniffles as he gets closer.

As I'm sitting away from the others, I can hear what they're saying, what Gandalf is telling them and I know he's right.

I am afraid. Afraid of what they would think once they found out. When they find out I have warg blood within me. . .that I am part warg. Would they thing m too dangerous and chase me off? Or worse, kill me?

That last thought causes me to silently cry. I had just found new family members, just found an uncle who had married my long lost aunt, my cousin Durin, who I had become extremely close to in such a short amount of time. Fili and Kili are my closest friends, friends who I absolutely adore. And then there's Frerin, the dwarf who had fallen in love with mum, and she him, would he resent her for being with a warg? I would hate that for mum, she would be crushed.

Although. . .maybe it would be best to know sooner rather than later. . .then I could leave and mum would be spared more pain.

Seeing a large paw next to me, I jump slightly and gasp as I look up to see a large black wolf with white markings and blue eyes, Thorin's eyes.

"Thorin. . .I thought that. . ."

"Like you, I dont change in front of people I hardly know. I think tonight I can make an exception."

He lays besides me, his front paws crossed in front of him. Even in his wolf form, he manages to still look as regal as he does as a dwarf.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asks gently.

I look down for a moment. Even though I just argued with myself it may be best to tell them soon, can i actually trust him? Trust themm? I know we're family, but. . .could I?

"If. . .If I told you a little bit of it, can I trust you to keep it secret? Until I'm ready to explain fully?"

He looks me in the eyes as I ask this, and all I see, all I can feel, is comfort and safety. I know I can trust him.

"You can trust me with anything, Violet. Although, if you're not wanting anyone else to know, then I'd suggest we move somewhere more private. Durin will still be able to hear us."

Glancing back at the other wolf, I nod and the two of us stand and walk on a little. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Dwalin following to stand watch, though he does stand out of earshot, which I appreciate.

Once Thorin and I sit back down, I begin to tell him about me just being part warg, but then, everything just comes out; how mum was captured by orcs, forced to breed with their wargs, them threatening to kill me for being the runt, leading to mum escaping with me and then to my capture when I was ten and how I had reunited with Holly.

By the time I had finished, I was crying; exhausted and scared, my whole body trembling. Now that he knows the whole truth, my fate now lies in his hands. Would I be shunned? Disowned? Killed?

What I don't expect is Thorin leaning forward to nuzzle me. My tears stop, I'm that shocked. I pull back and look up at him, my eyes wide, but all I see in his eyes are grief, sadness and sympathy.

"Violet, I am so sorry the three of you had go through so much. I'm also sorry we couldn't get to your mother in time. She definitely should not have had to go through that. I can understand your fear of everyone finding out about your. . .heritage. But, I can confidently say that you won't be shunned, or hurt in any way, by any of us. You are my niece, and I have grown quite fond of you over the past week, I will not see anything happen to you again, I will keep you safe, even if it's from the company. However, I will keep your secret. It is yours to tell when you are ready for them to hear. And I will be right besides you when you do."

I take in his words for a few moments, making sure I had heard him right through it all, before I break down into tears again.

He still likes me, even after hearing everything. He won't get rid of me, or worse. He's alsp assured me the others will feel the same way. I'm still not ready to tell them, but knowing that they'll accept me just like he did. . it's very comforting to know.

Leaning forward, I press my face into his fur as I nuzzle him, feeling his head on top of mine and one of his front legs wrapping around me in an embrace.

"Thank you. . .uncle." I say softly.

"You are welcome, kundith. Little wolf." he clarifies when I look at him in confusion over the dwarven word.

I look at him in surprise as he gives me the moniker, not having expected it from him of all people. Even though he is my uncle, and he does like me, he still appears as such a strict, gruff and serious dwarf. Frerin, I would have expected it from, not Thorin. I think knowing that, makes it all the more special to me.

I smile as I nuzzle him again, shifting closer to him, my tail wagging in the dirt.

Since that night, Thorin and I have gotten a lot closer. With him now knowing my secret, it makes me feel more at ease being around everyone now, to the point where I feel as though I can be my true happy and bubbly self again, which I do take advantage off.

Now, during the nights when we're camping, Durin and I have been seen playing with each other in wolf form a lot more, both of us training each other to be better.

Thorin and I have also gone on patrol a few times, walking around the nearby area in our wolf forms, talking as we go. I also take time out to continue my relationships with the others, especially family.

After they find out I can use weapons, Fili asks if I've ever used a weapon as wolf, had a sword in my mouth to fight, when I look at them as if they were crazy, Kili just chuckles.

"Durin can. He and Fee often fight like that." he informs me.

"Really?" I look to Durin. "Can you teach me?"

He nods with a grin. "Sure. We can start tomorrow if you like."

And we did start the next day, using a stick instead of an actual weapon to begin with. It was much harder than I thought it would be. I am not used to this fighting style at all, used to using teeth and claws in a fight. But, as Durin said, when teeth and claws aren't sometimes enough, it's good to know everything you can to help.

As the days go on, the weather soon changes. As we travel during the day, the sky darkens and the rain falls. I grumble to myself, knowing my wet fur is going to cause a problem.

"Alright down there?" Kili asks as he rides besides me.

"I hate rain." I mumble.

He chuckles. "I'm not surprised. All that fur, it's bound to weigh you down."

I just grunt, causing him to chuckle again, reaching down to pat my head in sympathy.

"Here, Mister Gandalf, can't you do something about this deluge?" Dori asks the Grey Wizard.

"It is raining Master Dwarf, and it will continue to rain until the rain is done." Gandalf answers curtly. "If you wish to change the weather of the world, you should find yourself another Wizard."

"Are there any?" Bilbo asks.

"What?"

"Other Wizards."

"There are five of us. The greatest of our order is Saruman the White. Then there are the two blue Wizards. . .you know, I have quite forgotten their names."

"And who is the fifth?"

"That would be Radagast the Brown."

"Is he a great Wizard? Or is he more like you?"

I give a bark of laughter at this, having to quickly clear my throat to hide it, as Gandalf turns a glare at me. Meeting Kili's snickering face, I have to hold back from bursting out laughing again.

"I think he is a great Wizard, in his own way." Gandalf answers the Hobbit. "He's a gentle soul, who prefers the company of animals to others. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the east. And a good thing too. For always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

"I remember you telling me about Radagast years ago. I still want to meet him." I say, liking how the Wizard cares more about nature and animals than anything.

Gandalf chuckles as he turns to me. "Maybe you will one day, my dear."

I smile as we continue moving, hoping that day will come soon.

The next couple of days pass by in a blur and soon enough, the sun is finally out, to the relief of all of us, especially me.

At the beginning of the third week, we come across the ruins of what appears to be a farmhouse.

"We will camp here for the night. Fili, Kili, look after the ponies. Make sure you stay with them."

"Oin, Gloin, get a fire going." Thorin orders as he walks past.

"Right you are." Oin answers as he and his brother get started.

"I think it would be wiser to move on. We could make for the Hidden Valley." I hear Gandalf call from the house.

My ears perk up at that. The Hidden Valley. . .Rivendell. . .is he serious about leading dwarves there? I love my new family dearly, and would love nothing more for them to come home with me, especially for Frerin to see mum again, but even I know the dwarves would never set foot in that place.

"I have told you already, I will NOT go near that place." Thorin snaps.

See?

"Why not? The elves could help us. We could get food, rest, advice."

"I do not need their advice."

"We have a map that we cannot read. Lord Elrond could help us."

"Help? A dragon attacks Erebor, what help came from the Elves? Orcs plunder Moria, desecrate our sacred halls, the Elves looked on and did nothing. You ask me to seek out the very people who betrayed my grandfather. Who betrayed my father."

"You are neither of them. I did not give you that map and key for you to hold on to the past."

Thorin glares up at him. "I did not know that they were yours to keep."

I watch as they glare at each other for a moment before Gandalf suddenly turns and walks out, walking past the rest of us.

"Everything alright? Gandalf, where are you going?" Bilbo asks.

"To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense."

"Who's that?"

"Myself, Mr. Baggins! I've had enough of dwarves for one day."

Thorin stands in what used to be the doorway. "Come on, Bombur, we're hungry."

"Is he coming back?" I hear Bilbo ask Balin, who looks unsure.

After a moment of watching Gandalf, I turn a reasurring smile to Bilbo. "He'll be back, don't worry."

He just nods, though I can see he doesn't look very convinced.

Night quickly falls and we're all eating the stew Bombur and Bofur had cooked for us.

"He's been a long time." Bilbo says as he walks over from where he's been looking out.

"Who?" Bofur asks.

"Gandalf."

"He's a wizard! He does as he chooses. Here, do us a favour; take this to the lads."

Bofur hands Bilbo two bowls of soup to take to Fili and Kili; Bilbo leaves. Bombur tries to take more soup.

I giggle as Bofur slaps Bombur's hand with his wooden ladle, stopping him from getting yet another bowl of soup.

"Stop it, you've had plenty."

When I've finished, I lay besides Frerin, my head on his feet, smiling as he reaches down to pet me.

"Are you alright, darling." he asks me.

I yawn as I nod. "Aye. Just relaxing after a good meal."

He smile as he pats my head. "Aye. Nothing better after a long ride, relaxing around a campfire, with good company and eating good food."

I nod in agreement, my eyes closing. I think I drifted off, as the next thing I know, I'm bolting up at Fili suddenly barging into camp.

"Thorin! Trolls have taken our ponies!"

I just stare at the blond prince. How in Eru was I not be able to sense that? Or hear and smell them? Have I truly not been paying attention?

"Where is your brother?" Thorin asks him, worry of his youngest nephew engulfing him.

"He stayed behind. We sent Bilbo in to get our ponies."

Thorin turns to everyone. "Get your weapons, we're going in. Not you."

I stop as he blocks my path, I look up at him, hurt in my eye, wanting to help.

"But, uncle-"

He interrupts me, kneeling besides me. "I know you want to help, kundith, but troll hide is thick and tough, you wouldn't be as much help as we will be. Stay here, you'll be safe."

He then leans down to kiss my snout before hurrying off, Frerin dropping a kiss and pat to my head as he goes.

I just watch as my family and friends run off into a fight they are definitely not going to win. A few seconds later, I hear their cries as they go into the fight, hearing their weapons swing. However, just as quick as it began, the sounds stop.

I whine and pace the ground with worry, wanting to run in to help but also not wanting to disobey my uncle. I don't want him to be disappointed in me so soon.

That's when I think of something; Gandalf!

Looking back in the direction they went, I bound off after Gandalf, hoping I can find him soon.