It was already dark outside as Bilbo silently wandered up a little stairway. He had to stay awake for the meeting with Thorin, Balin, Gandalf and Lord Elrond later. He really hoped that Thorin would change his mind and show the elf Lord his map of Erebor.

The Hobbit stopped at a balustrade and listened to the quiet rumbling of the waterfalls nearby when suddenly a voice waved through the air which he immediately recognized as Gandalf's.

Bilbo turned and cast a glance down to the path where he spotted the wizard and the elf walking slowly side by side.

"That dragon has slept for sixty years. What will happen if your plans fail? If you wake the beast?" Elrond asked quite sternly.

Bilbo shuffled closer towards the balustrade to eavesdrop more of the conversation.

"What if we succeed? If the dwarves take back the mountain, our defenses in the East will be strengthened!" Gandalf replied determined while he tapped with his staff on the marbled ground.

"It is a dangerous move, Gandalf—"

"It is also dangerous to do nothing! The throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright! What is it you fear?"

Just by now, Bilbo was aware of someone's presence behind him. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder and saw Thorin standing silently and eavesdropping as well. Bilbo turned back to watch the wizard and the elf as Elrond replied,

"Have you forgotten? A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind, his father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?"

Bilbo felt more than uncomfortable to listen to that part of the conversation. Thorin, on the other hand, felt a massive pain growing in his chest and sadness showed up in his blue eyes that would break each heart around if anyone could see it. He lowered his face away from the hobbit, just in case Bilbo would turn and look at him.

The dwarf King sighed heavily as he suddenly spoke, "Come—we have a meeting to attend to."

Bilbo jumped and didn't miss the pain and anger in his voice but he nodded and followed him back to get Balin. Both missed the rest of the conversation as Elrond suddenly asked,

"And why the girls, Gandalf?"

A twinkle flashed in the wizard's pale blue eyes. "You doubt that Thorin Oakenshield won't fall into his family's madness. I know it is still a risk, but there's still one power—the greatest power of all, that will always keep evil at bay," he replied.

The elf Lord smiled amused. "You think love will bloom between Lady Kate and the dwarf King?"

Gandalf nodded. "There, I have no doubt."


Later the two dwarves and the hobbit met with Gandalf and the elf Lord in a study room.

"Our business is no concern of elves," Thorin grumbled now even more determined not to trust that elf after what he had heard earlier.

"For goodness sake, Thorin! Show him the map!" Gandalf sighed heavily.

"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect, as are its secrets."

"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-Earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond. You accepted the girls on your quest, so why don't you trust Lord Elrond?"

Thorin wanted nothing more than snap back that someone who called him mad would never be able to help him at all. He felt all eyes on him, Bilbo's seemed to be the most intense and he still felt uncomfortable that the Hobbit now knew about his family's problem. His mind wandered to each of these dwarves that were willing to risk their own life's to make him become King. No one forced them to follow him. They did because they saw his potential as a leader, as their King. Should he really put his own pride above the faith of his men in him?

Quietly he revealed the map from under his coat and handed it the elf Lord. Balin tried to stop him but he brushed his hand gently away and finally Elrond took the map to examine it carefully.

Bilbo smiled at Thorin but the dwarf King tried to ignore him.

"Cirth Ithil," the elf suddenly said.

Gandalf looked a bit sheepish. "Moon Runes—of course. An easy thing to miss."

"Well, in this case, that is true; Moon Runes can only be read by the light of a moon that has the same shape and season as on the day they were written," Elrond explained.

"Can you read them?" Thorin asked as politely as possible in his current mental state of pure anger.

Elrond signaled them to follow him to an open area outside of the study room. They walked towards a large crystalline table.

"These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to be here tonight, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us right now."

As they looked up into the sky, the clouds which were covering the moon floated away and rays of moonlight hit the table. Light began to shimmer on the map that was spread on the table. Ancient runes became visible on the map and Elrond translated them,

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."

"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asked curiously.

"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf explained.

Thorin looked closely at the map before he spoke, "This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

"We still have time," Balin spoke up now.

"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked once again.

"To find the entrance. We have to be standing at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened," Balin explained.

"So, this is your purpose, to enter the mountain," Elrond said.

"What of it? Don't speak as if you didn't know that already!" Thorin snapped.

"Well—there are some who would not deem it wise," the elf replied calmly.

Thorin snatched the map out of his hand. "I don't have time for more lies now," he growled and left them all behind.


Kate scurried through her room and changed one tunic after the other. She put on some comfortable pants and a red tunic.

"No—"she mumbled and changed it to a black one.

"Oh hell—"she tossed the black to the floor again and chose a dark-green tunic.

"Perfect—"she smiled and grabbed the sword to leave her room. She headed through the garden down to the meadow at the waterfall. Thorin was already waiting for her. He turned around to look at her. He felt slightly distracted for a second before he stepped closer.

"Show me how you'd hold a sword," he immediately began with his training. No greeting, no nice words—not even a smile. Kate frowned but did what he told her. She placed her fingers around the hilt just like he had shown her the night before.

He nodded slowly. She could see a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. A slight smile curled her lips but vanished immediately as he raised his sword.

"Today I want that you disarm me. Don't show mercy—so won't I."

She raised her sword wordlessly and charged at him. Their swords crashed in air over and over again until he disarmed her.

"Concentration, Kate!" he growled.

"I am concentrating," she snapped back and wondered why he was so strange that night.

He grumbled and she picked up her sword to attack him once more. This time it took him a bit longer but finally disarmed her a second time. Her sword dropped and she fell onto her back.

Thorin stepped closer, the tip of his sword directly in front of her face. "You're weak," he snapped and turned around to walk away slowly.

That was a mistake. She jumped on her feet again, grabbed the sword and charged at him. He spun around quickly and their swords crashed, their faces just mere inches away from each other.

"I—am not—weak," she hissed and he pushed her back with his sword.

"Then show me your strength!" he growled.

She attacked him again and whirled around him multiple times. If anyone would have seen them it must have looked like a dance instead of a fight.

"Come on! That's not what I call strong!"

Thorin really tried to keep his anger away from her but he failed. He couldn't help it. Kate, on the other hand, grew angry as well. Her attacks came much faster and stronger, but still he was able to block every blow of hers.

He whirled around and tried to hit her but she took that chance. She grabbed his arm, tripped him and let him drop into the river.

"Ha!" she called out in triumph.

Thorin broke through the surface of the water and rubbed his eyes. He looked up at her, his blue eyes narrowed.

"Who's the weak now?" she chuckled while he crawled out of the river. Water dripped down from his hair, running over his face.

"You're insane! I should let you get slashed by an orc next time we're back in the wild!" he bellowed at her, all his anger broke free. She stopped laughing and was aware that he was really angry with her.

She couldn't hold it back any longer. "Oh Jesus Christ! What is wrong with you tonight? Why do you have to be that stubborn and grumpy again? Where is your spontaneity? Isn't it allowed to have some fun as King?" she yelled back at him.

He was slightly taken aback for a second until his blood began boiling again. Kate was about to open her mouth for another insult as she felt his hand grabbing her chin. There was no time for her to react as a pair of warm lips crashed onto hers.
She placed her hands against his chest, wanted to push him away but they simply rested on his wet tunic as she felt his fast beating heart beneath her fingertips.

Thorin deepend the kiss for a short moment. He could feel a slight movement from Kate and couldn't tell if it was resistance or response. He broke the kiss before he could slip his tongue into her mouth. He stepped away from her and saw that she stared at him quite in shock.

She couldn't really realize what just happened. Her gaze met his but he quickly turned away and said, "Tomorrow we'll meet again. Same time," and with that he was gone.

Kate shook her head to clear her mind a bit. She returned to her room and dropped down onto her bed. A light smile appeared on her face as her fingertips touched her lips. Why had he been so changed tonight? Why was he so angry again? Was he really angry with her or was there something else?

And why did he kiss her? Was it because she insulted him to be unable to have fun or being spontaneous?

Or did he kiss her because he had deeper feelings for her?