A/N: And they're off! If you've got any sort of comment/suggestion/correction, etc, please don't hesitate to contact me! I would love to hear your thoughts :) Cheers!

Bilbo shivered and wrapped his cloak tighter around himself. Despite the clear afternoon sunshine, the air was nothing less than frigid as the small group trotted further and further from the warmth of Erebor. Mirkwood forest stretched across the horizon to their left, and the Grey Mountains were a jagged blur to their right. The field they were riding through was mostly covered with knee-high grasses, occasionally broken by a small hill or patch of woodland brush. Only Tauriel appeared unaffected by the chill, apart from the flush across her cheeks and knuckles.

"Make for the forest, we should set up for the night." Gandalf barked from the front of the troupe, and the other five riders obediently followed his orders. The trees, still furnished with their gold and brown leaves, were less twisted than those further south, and their foliage shimmered in the descending sun. Gandalf dismounted and led the way several yards into the thick forest, followed closely by Tauriel. Gandalf abruptly stopped in a tiny clearing, then turned around and smiled.

"Well, this should do quite nicely for the night."
"What about the spiders?" Fili asked as he slid from his pony.
"Not a problem. They're on the opposite side of the forest, nearly four hundred miles from here. We will not cross them on this journey."
"Are you sure you wouldn't like to start a fire, Master Baggins? As you're so good at it…" Kili offered with a wide grin as Bilbo nearly tumbled off his pony on the leafy floor.
"No, thank you. I've done enough kindling, awakening, and lighting to last me the rest of my life. Which may only be a few months." He replied dryly, making the dwarf grin even wider as he continued pushing leaves and stones into the proper circle.
"Where exactly does this journey end, Gandalf?" Thorin asked as he began tying up the ponies, "Khazad-dûm is our destination, but how do you plan on getting us there?"
"Ah, we will ride to Siryamen, where we can follow the Anduin to Lorien. We will find friendly shelter there, and the Dimrill Dale is near their borders."
"Elves. I should have guessed."

Thorin stalked away, leaving the rest of the group set about their tasks. Tauriel and Bilbo began unloading the packs while Gandalf murmured something about 'checking their surroundings.' With Gandalf gone and Thorin brooding in the distance, the four remaining travelers were able to set up camp with no arguments besides the typical sibling teasing. The light was fading fast but the tents were pitched and the fire was crackling well before sunset, so Bilbo, Tauriel, and the two dwarf princes lounged contentedly around the fire as the world fell asleep around them.

"Have any of you actually been to Seeriahmen?" Bilbo asked, drawing a smile from Tauriel.
"It is pronounced seer-yah-men, the place of two rivers. I have never been, but much of our cloth comes from their weavers."
"I've never heard of it. What sort of place is it?"
"It is built at the joining of two rivers – where the rivers Greylin and Langwell meet and feed into the Anduin. It is the capitol of the realm of Neleduin, the place of three rivers."
"I'm surprised Erebor didn't trade with them." Kili mused, absently poking the fire.
"I think they did, once, in Thror's early days. When Thror was taken by greed, trade stopped." Fili said, whittling some little twig as he spoke.
"Is it and Elvish place? Or one of Men?" Bilbo asked.
"Men, mostly, although King Thranduil often sends elves to ferry good between realms. Siryamen people are very superstitious, and do not like to travel through our wood."
"Siryamen…does it have a Westron name?"
"It does – it was built on the ruins of Framsburg, and the name remains. Although the city is bilingual; they are just as likely to speak in either Westron or Elvish."
"I wish I knew Elvish." The hobbit murmured, scooting closer to the fire.
"I could…teach you?" Tauriel offered quietly, and Bilbo grinned up at her.
"Would you really? I mean, if it's not too much trouble."
"No, it would be my pleasure! We shall start on letters tomorrow." Tauriel stated happily.

The sun, now dipping close to the horizon, cast a warm glow through the thick trees, throwing dappled orange light across the happy quartet. Thorin, despite his brooding attitude, was eventually persuaded by Bilbo to come close to the fire once Gandalf strode in from the depths of the darkening wood. While Kili tended the fire and Fili looked after the ponies, Tauriel slipped away in search of wildlife that might be caught for dinner; she returned shortly thereafter, handing over a trio of rabbits for Kili to skin and roast. They were eaten in companionable quiet – the group was content to wallow in the sounds of the night rather than shout and laugh as the Company had often done on the road.

"You all should sleep – I'll take the first watch." Thorin eventually rumbled, having caught Gandalf lightly snoring from his seat by the fire.
"Bedrolls are in my pack," Kili said with a stretch, "I'll fetch them."
"Fili, a knife?"
"Aye, here you go." Fili pulled a hunting knife from his sleeve and tossed it over the fire. Thorin easily caught it, but the glint in the orange light reminded Bilbo of something-

"Hold on a minute, I've got something better." The hobbit proclaimed, standing and shuffling towards his bulky pack. He rummaged around for a moment, then returned to the fire with a triumphant smile. In his hands was none other than Orcrist, glimmering as if freshly wrought in the firelight. Gandalf grinned sleepily at the familiar blade, and Tauriel did her best to hide a knowing smile. Thorin was showing more emotion than he had all day – the surprise was evident on his features, and Bilbo couldn't help but relish the feeling of shocking the stoic mountain king.

"It'll defend you better than that, anyway." Bilbo added awkwardly, nodded to the hunting knife in the dwarf's hand. "Could I offer you a trade?" Thorin was quiet for a moment, then rose and stepped over to wear Bilbo stood.
"It hardly seems a fair bargain." He rumbled, raising his eyebrows fondly at the hobbit.
"Nonsense. This blade is too large for the likes of me – it is better suited to your hands, I think."
"Then how can I refuse?" Thorin smiled, handing Bilbo the knife and taking the offered sword in one smooth motion. He admired the scabbard openly, then looked back up at Bilbo.
"How came you by this?"
"When we took the Gems of Lasgalen to Thranduil, I might have hinted that Orcrist was part of the offered deal." Bilbo mused, ignoring Tauriel's pointed cough.
"You haggled with the Elvenking?" Kili asked with an incredulous smile. Bilbo only gave short bow and a wink in reply.
"It would seem your subtleties and skills extend to words as well as theft, Master Burglar."
"What can I say? I saw a chance and took it." Bilbo replied simply, returning to his pack for his bedroll.
"I am glad of your silver-tongued cunning; Orcrist will serve me better than a skinning knife. No offense to your knife choice, Fili."
"None taken, uncle. If you wake me at midnight, I'll take next watch." The blond dwarf replied merrily, unfurling his bedroll near the fire as Thorin nodded.

The rest of the group followed suit, clustering around the dying fire. Gandalf had his hat tipped over his eyes, and Fili and Kili were heaped in a pile, buried together under their combined blankets. Can't really blame them, Bilbo thought, after seeing my brother murdered I'd want to spend as much time as possible with him too. He spread his bedroll out between the slumbering wizard and Tauriel, who had wrapped her blanket several times around herself before laying down.

"Lostomai, mellonin." She whispered to Bilbo as he settled down.
"What does that mean?" He whispered back, wriggling around to glance at her.
"Sleep well, my friend. In Quenya."
"…I am glad to hear you call me friend."
"Only if you will return the favor – I should hate our friendship to be unbalanced."
"Happily – lostomai, mellonin."