A/N: Due to the excitement of some friends because of the "Hobbit" coming out this year and because they know that I like a certain pairing which is hard to find, - I can count the ones I found on one hand, - so I got dragged into writing this story.

As for the disclaimer, I own nothing in this story except the plot, but the characters and places belong to Tolkien and anyone he gave some rights to use them.

P.S.: I finished my original novel for the contest so I will start translating it to English and post both of them up here or maybe only the translated version I'm not sure. All depends on if I win because the price is the publishing combined with the fact that I get money for every sold book.

I. Better you, then me

Anor was already standing high in the sky, blazing its golden light over the valley as if to symbolise the bravery and determination of those nine bound together in a Fellowship to carry the One Ring back to Mordor to destroy it. The unlikely companions representing all the hopes of Middle-Earth, even of those who didn't know about the approaching darkness.

"Never thought that one day that thing would return and we would rely on such an unlikely little group to get rid of that by which the Last Alliance failed." stated a golden haired elf grinning, but his smile faltered when it fell on his lord who was massaging his temples and looking troubled.

"Adar, are you alright?" asked Elladan worried as both he and his younger twin Elrohir took a step closer.

"I'm fine, only now that the Fellowship left have I realized something which had left my mind in that moment and now I'm lost about what to do." admitted Elrond as he looked over the ones whom had stayed around him, his twin sons so alike in every manner with only little exceptions in, his two friends and consolers Glorfindel and Erestor and the old hobbit Bilbo.

"And what would that be mellonen?" asked Glorfindel grinning, he thought he knew that his lord and friend may have realised that sending his secret lover away would give him some dull evenings.

"Someone needs to inform Thranduil that his son is part of a group seeking to destroy the One Ring." after finishing buried the dark haired Noldo lord his head in his hands, he could already imagine the scene which involved a lot of screaming, violence and pain. Everyone knew that he and the wood elf king had a strained relationship which was bound to them accusing the other, namely Thranduil blamed Elrond for the death of his father Oropher while he in return blamed him for the death of the past Noldor king Gil-Galad. It was already a shock that they even met Legolas who had such a shocking resemblance to his father only gentler this wouldn't end well for Imraldis.

The others were also buried in deep silence after they had finished flinching at some of the images floating around they minds, the rumours about said rulers temperament were legendary and neither forgot the nearly one mile long list they got when Legolas firs visited here. Half of the list contained things his son could do and what should be taken care of that it doesn't happen to him, Elrond broke rule 423 after like two weeks and now also rule 677, while the other part had threats as to what will happen if even one of the rules gets broken and he finds out.

"Erm…right…" said Glorfindel, he didn't like the other blonde to much mostly not if he was angry. Shaking his head he immediately turned to the twins, tone dropping to a whisper. "Do you think that it would be too late to ride after Aragorn and join they quest? Somehow, that they task sound more like a vacation then telling an overprotective father that his son went on a trip to Mordor." the duo nodded, they loved they ada, but they read those threats and Legolas had confirmed that his father would not hesitate going through with them.

"I could go." at this looked all elves at the greying hobbit sitting on one of the stone chairs. "As already said I could go, Thranduil knows me and you could say we parted in friendship back then. I would be in lesser danger." offered Bilbo, he knew that his friend come over as cold, harsh, strict, but seeing the land he needs to rule over and to protect he understood him. Beside that like most people had he also a soft side, you only needed to try looking for it or why would his people and son love him so much.

"Well, then is the problem solved." stated Glorfindel with Elrohir nodding beside him, but Elladan looked thoughtful as did Elrond.

"After my knowledge are you still not fully healed Master Bilbo." come the calm voice of Erestor as he looked over at Elrond for confirmation.

"It is true, you will not be able to make that journey." confirmed Elrond as he looked again over the group. "So what should we do then, someone needs to inform him, I don't wish to find out what would happen if Legolas doesn't return home and Thranduil sends someone to check up on him." no one answered him for a while.

"I agree, he needs to hear it from us then form another source, Imraldis and Mirkwood are starting to created a bond with each other, but at the moment is this still to fragile we cant risk its breaking." said Erestor with a sigh as he stepped forth "I will travel to Mirkwood." he said while ignoring the grateful look Elrond was giving him or the pitying ones from his idiot of a friends and unruly students.

"I will write a letter to Thranduil which will also explain the situation to him, it might help calming him." said Bilbo helpfully.

"Then it is decided, I will make everything ready for you." said the elven lord as he left to get everything set. Erestor watched after him silently when suddenly a heavy hand fell on his shoulder squeezing it.

"Better you then me mellonín." said Glorfindel as he departed.

Erestor didn't like the grave tone he had said it, as if this was the last time they would see each other, or the disturbing facts that the twins hugged him tightly and thanking him for being such a patient teacher. Hopefully will he be able to return home in one piece and not in different boxes, damn… he shouldn't have read the threat part of the list Elrond got, it didn't help his imagination in any way only making it worse.

To be continued…