The following morning, Avalain and the Company were at Rivendell's exit.

They all stood there, gazing at each other. Many of the Dwarves were thanking Avalain heartily for her hospitality and friendliness. They were indeed sorry to go, and to leave her behind—and they all felt very sorry for her. Even though they had not yet left, they could see the repressed sadness in her eyes.

After thanks from Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur, it was Kira who approached Avalain next. With a small smile, she said, "I'm glad to have met you, Avalain. You have confirmed that not all Elves are strict and condescending."

With a small smile, Avalain nodded. "I am glad to have met you as well, Kira Nightengale. I hope you find everything you may be looking for on this quest."

"As I hope you shall find everything you are looking for after this quest is over," said the She-Dwarf with the same smile. Then, softer, she added, "I know I can entrust you with my friend. He has a good heart."

"I know," whispered Avalain. She was not ready to tell him farewell…

It was then that Kili trudged up to her, dark circles underneath his eyes. It appeared he, like Avalain, had not gotten a restful nights' sleep after what Thorin Oakenshield had decided. He wore a hopeful smile, however, as he bowed before her. "It has been a great pleasure to know you, Avalain," he said with a fair amount of sadness. "I hope to see you again in the future."

Avalain's hopeful smile did not reach the depth of her eyes, but she did feel the flicker of it in her heart. "As I hope to see you. You have been a great part of my joy these past few days, Kili. Thank you for being my friend."

He bowed again and moved aside. Fili stepped forward then.

"Avalain," he said, his face reflecting her own, "may I speak to you just there?" He pointed outside the gate to the road. It was within the Company's sight, but out of earshot.

She smiled sadly and nodded. "Of course."

They walked out together slowly; Avalain reveled in every moment, knowing that the number of them were dwindling with each step. She looked at him in adoration and asked, "What would you like to speak about?"

"I want to come back as soon as we reclaim Erebor."

"What?" gasped Avalain. She stared at Fili, aghast—how could he possibly leave his homeland as soon as it was reclaimed? He deserved to rest and recover and be there when his people began to settle down; she opened her mouth to speak as much, but he cut her off by raising his hand.

"I wish to return here to Rivendell, to you," repeated Fili, the gaze in his brown eyes nothing if not serious. "I would like to see you again, to be with you. I might stay for a little while in Erebor before setting off for this place again, for truly it is a peaceful haven that I have grown very fond of. I would be happy to spend my days here with you, if you would allow it."

Avalain's happiness returned somewhat. But she said, "I cannot allow it, but only because it would be wrong for you to leave your people. I would welcome you back to Rivendell, but I would have you return to Erebor… And I would come with you."

Fili's face morphed from surprised to sad to surprised again as she spoke. But despite the happiness he dared to feel, he was a little doubtful as he asked, "You would be willing to leave your home to live in Erebor?"

"If it meant being with you, yes," replied Avalain simply. "Your people are your responsibility; as I have no such duty, I would be quite glad to accompany you to your home. Besides, I am curious as to whether the rumors of its majesty are true, and only being exposed to the mountain will tell me the truth."

The Dwarf stared at her as she spoke. He blinked once and whispered, "But your home… I cannot ask you to leave it."

"I have lived here for the better part of eighteen-hundred years, Fili," said Avalain. "You have not seen your own homeland. I will not allow you to forsake anything for me when I am willing to live in the Lonely Mountain. Do not try to dissuade me, Fili, for although I am an Elf, my stubbornness rivals that of a Dwarf."

Hearing this, Fili finally laughed. Avalain was pleased with the sound—she soon joined him, taking comfort from the fleeting moment as she could. Their mirth lasted for another moment before Fili took her hand at her side and kissed it gently, his gaze reverting back to an anticipative sorrow.

"I look forward to the day when I shall return," murmured Fili. "It will not come soon enough."

Avalain knelt and smiled at him sideways, her eyes sparkling with both tears and amusement. "One thing at a time, dear Fili," she whispered. "First you must reconquer Erebor. Afterwards, I shall look forward eagerly to your return—and as soon as possible we might go home."

"You say 'home' as if you've already accepted it."

"Home is where the heart is, is it not?" asked Avalain. "If you are there, so is my home."

Fili blinked again—before she quite knew it, he was kissing her gently, one hand lightly placed on her face. She was shocked, but it was a pleased surprise, and Avalain kissed him as well, knowing that she would not see him for another number of months, and that she would need to have a comforting memory to sustain her until then. And so she focused on the way he lightly held her—carefully but sincerely, as if she were one of the precious rubies he mined; his lips were soft against her cheeks, for with a shock she realized a couple tears had escaped her eyes. He then leaned his forehead against hers and gazed into her amber eyes.

"You are still just like a star," he sighed. "So far away…"

"I will not be for long," she reassured him. "I will wait for another hundred years if I must…"

He smiled and grabbed her hands again. "I swear to you; I will come back as soon as I can."

"I believe you," she whispered. She happened to glance over at the Company—most of them were turned away out of respect for privacy, but Thorin was gazing at them, a look in his eye that said, It's time.

Noting this look, Avalain sighed and rose. "You must go, quickly… I will try to stall for time so you might gain ground."

Fili looked over to see his uncle and nodded hollowly. "You're right…" He and Avalain then walked back over to the Company, the leader of which nodded towards Avalain.

"Thank you again for what you've done," said Thorin, but that was all he said before issuing a command that they were to leave that instant. Without looking back to see if they had heard him, he tromped out of the city. Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, and Dori all immediately followed him. Balin was afterward after a swift, "Farewell, Avalain. May the Valar protect you and your home." And then Ori left with a shy wave—Kira and Kili left together, wearing identical looks of eagerness. Both waved at Avalain as they left.

That left Fili and Bilbo Baggins.

The hobbit spoke first: "Thank you for allowing us into your city," said Bilbo. "It was a most lovely place, and I intend to return if I can."

"Rivendell shall always be open to you, Master Baggins," smiled Avalain. "We shall be glad to host you again."

With a sincere smile, the hobbit shouldered his pack and followed after the Company, his walking stick in his hand. Avalain could faintly hear him humming something as he ambled off.

Fili glanced at Avalain before murmuring, "Good bye, Star Lady."

She smiled, though it was sad. She recalled how she had thought there could be no joy without pain these days and realized that she had been quite right… "Farewell, Golden Heart. May the grace of the Valar protect you."

He nodded, for there was nothing else to say. And then he followed his Company out of Rivendell, leaving Avalain in its gates.


The Elvish girl stayed there for nearly an hour afterward, already missing the Dwarves and their company. She was surprised by how much she truly did miss them—their friendship had been what filled the void in her heart during their stay, and it was only once they had gone that she truly realized what she'd been given.

Of course, none of the other Dwarves quite matched the hole that Avalain felt in herself without Fili. A month ago, she never would have dared to dream that in only five days, she would fall unmistakably in love with a Dwarf princeling who was traveling with his kin to reclaim their lost homeland.

An hour after the Company of Thorin Oakenshield had departed, Lindir came rushing up to the gate. Seeing Avalain standing there, he stopped. He had an idea of why she was there—cautiously, he stepped up towards her, even though Avalain already knew he was there. "They've gone, haven't they?" he asked her.

"Yes," was all she said.

"When did they leave?"

"An hour ago."

Lindir nodded. "I see." He gazed out over the terrain for a moment—the mountains were in the distance, the end of the valley barely within sight. The dawn had long since risen, and puffy white clouds floated in the sky. Turning away from the scenery, he looked at Avalain who, he was shocked to see, had tears in her eyes.

"Avalain…?" he asked as question. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, yes, I'm fine," she gasped. But at that exact moment, she burst into tears, leaving Lindir stumped about what to do. Because it was clear she was not fine, he thought it safe to embrace her the way he did whenever she was stressed.

The Elf girl was grateful for her friend's presence; he was there to help wipe away her tears. Though she did not tell him the true cause of their appearance, she quickly accepted his offer to go inside the Homely House for a cup of tea. She knew that if anyone was going to help her through this difficult time, it would be Lindir.

And while she could not possibly tell him why she was upset, she would take what comfort she could from his friendship.