Kierielle had stormed away from Kili ignoring the calls of Bilbo and Fili as she rushed past them so that they would not see the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. She was angry with Kili for saying those hurtful things and it really made no sense to her that he was suddenly so against her being there when he had rooted for her in the beginning. Perhaps she thought to herself as she moved around the forest making a loop back to camp perhaps this had been his plan all along. She did not want to believe that Kili had only befriended her to hurt her but it really was the only explanation she had.

Instead of returning directly to the camp Kierielle made her way to the trees alongside where the dwarves were sitting and talking. She was close enough to see them and even hear them with her elf hearing but far enough not to be noticed or heard herself. She found herself climbing into one of the trees resting on one of the lower branches and finally letting the tears fall. She wanted to reprimand herself for this after all she had cried far to much on this journey so far and the dwarves had already thought of her as weak or in Kili's words a burden to this whole ordeal. Perhaps she should have listened to the company back at Bilbo's when they had told her she did not belong or that she would only get in the way though it was hardly fair that any of them would say this when she had not yet even had a chance to prove her worth. Maybe she was only doubting herself because of Kili's words and the thought of Kili made her angry all over again. Who did he think he was approaching her as he had? If he had not wanted to be her friend then perhaps he should not have tried to be in the beginning. None of it made any sense in fact Kierielle was really starting to dislike dwarves altogether.

She found it strange that despite her anger at Kili for what he had said she also had this strange ache in her heart that she had not felt before. The way he looked at her as if she was a burden or just some stranger he wanted nothing to do with had actually been what had hurt her the most. Perhaps it was because spending time with him and even the other dwarves had given her a sense of belonging being with the elves had not or perhaps it was something more that she was not willing to admit to herself yet.

At the sound of laughter her green eyes focused on the group of dwarves below her and she watched them for a moment a small smile on her lips at their antics. Most elves and even humans would have thought of them as rude and obnoxious not to mention quite loud but that was what Kierielle liked about them. As she scanned the group she realized that Gandalf had still not returned and at the thought of that she began to get upset once more. After all what was the purpose of him dragging her along on this quest when she was clearly not wanted and not only that why had he left the group and abandoned her with dwarves who wanted nothing to do with her. Part of her wanted to pack up her things and leave without a word she had no doubt Thorin would be thrilled if she did. Gandalf was not here to stop her or promise her meaningless things such as information of her father and yet she had not left yet despite her anger something was keeping her there.

Kili's POV

Saying those things to Kierielle had tasted bitter coming out of his mouth and when she turned to leave he had almost grabbed her arm to stop her from going. But he didn't and instead he watched her leave without looking back not that he could blame her. Kili wondered if maybe she would take off that night after all he would not blame her since he had been the one to tell her she was a burden and that they did not need her to reclaim Erebor. Deep down he knew his feelings for her were much more then friendship and the aching feeling in his heart was telling him he had made a terrible mistake and even though he felt hollow and sick to his stomach he held his head high heeding his uncles warning. Dwarves and Elves could not be together romantically it was odd enough that he had thought of her as a friend. It would never have worked she would have been banned from Erebor and he would have been forced to marry someone worthy of a prince anyway. It was better that he had done it now and not after they had reclaimed their homeland now they could move on from whatever it was that was going on between them.

It did not take long for Bilbo and Fili to find Kili leaning against the same tree he had been before Kierielle had arrived. He could feel their eyes on him assessing the situation as they approached and he could only guess they had seen Kierielle run off.

''Is everything okay Kili?'' Fili questioned holding a bowl of soup in his hands as well. Kili nodded taking a spoonful from his bowl before responding

''Yeah, I'm glad the company thought of bringing us supper before it was all gone''

Bilbo glanced from Kili to Fili clearing his throat slightly causing Kili to look over at their burglar raising his own eyebrow

''Everything alright burglar?'' he found himself asking and Bilbo nodded looking slightly uncomfortable

''Well yes, its just that I saw Kierielle leave here rather quickly looking upset''he replied and Kili tried to look as calm and nonchalant as possible.

''We tried to call to her but she would not respond'' Fili added and Kili shrugged taking another spoonful of food into his mouth.

''Odd, she seemed fine when she left'' he replied and the other two looked at one another before Fili cleared his throat and nodded

''well perhaps we should check the horses'' he muttered and Kili followed his brother over to the clearing where they had left the horses before they had become distracted.

The two of them stood staring at the ponies and right away Kili could tell something was off as he mentally began to count them one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen... He counted them once, then a second and third time only the number didn't change and he looked at Fili who had the same confused and panicked expression as he did. Bilbo approached them looking from Fili to Kili and then at the horses before asking

''What's the matter?''

''We're supposed to be looking out of the ponies'' Kili replied still mentally counting them even though the number did not change.

''Only we've encountered a slight problem'' Fili added

''We had seventeen'' Kili confirmed

''And now there's fourteen'' Fili finished and Bilbo looked over the ponies as well no doubt counting them over again.

The three of them approached the group of ponies examining them slightly and it was then that Kili figured out which ones they were missing

''Daisy, Bungo and Ronan are missing'' he spoke his eyes beginning to scan the area to see where they had gotten off to exactly.

''Well, that's not good. That is not good at all. Shouldn't we tell Thorin?'' Bilbo questioned and Kili looked over at Fili with a worried expression Thorin would not be happy about this especially if he knew Kili had been distracted due to a certain elf.

''Uhh, No. Let's not worry him. As our official burglar, we thought you might like to look into it'' Fili replied and luckily Bilbo halfheartedly agreed.

''Well...uh look, some-something big uprooted those trees'' Bilbo started and the three of them approached the fallen trees examining them as they did so.

''That was our thinking'' Kili replied trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice though he did not think Bilbo noticed.

''Something big, and possibly quite dangerous''

''Hey! There's a light. Over here stay down!'' Fili called interrupting another sarcastic response from Kili.

The three of them approached the light staying low and out of sight then realizing it is a fire they hide behind a nearby log listening to laughter erupt.

''What is it?'' Bilbo questioned and Kili replied

''Trolls'' while mentally cursing himself for letting this happen.

They move closer to the fire watching another troll approach holding two more of their ponies and this time Kili knows they really are in trouble.

''They've got Myrtle and Minty! I think they are going to eat them, we have to do something!'' Bilbo exclaimed in a whisper and Kili nodded in response they most definitely had to do something or Thorin would have their heads.

''Yes; You should. Mountain trolls are slow and stupid, and you're so small'' he explained and Bilbo began to get a look of terror on his face much similar to the one he got when he read the contract.

''N-n-no'' Bilbo stuttered and Kili placed his hand on the hobbits shoulder to reassure him and to push him closer

''They'll never see you''

''No, no, no, no..''

''It's perfectly safe we'll be right behind you'' Kili replied pushing him a little closer and glancing at Fili who agreed

''If you run into trouble hoot twice like a barn owl and once like a brown owl'' and with that they pushed him towards the fire together before leaving the bowls on the ground and rushing through the woods back to the camp knowing they would need all the help they could get.

Normal POV

Kierielle had been sitting in the tree for a long time in fact the rest of the company had begun to get ready to sleep for the night and Thorin was taking first watch. She watched the camp quietly still lost in her own thoughts when Thorin began to tell everyone it was time to turn in, it was only then she realized Bilbo had not yet returned and her stomach began to knot with worry. She was about to climb down from the tree and mention this to Thorin when Fili and Kili burst through the trees both breathing heavily and looking panicked. Kierielle saw no sign of Bilbo and the entire company stood from their places as Thorin approached the young dwarves.

''Mountain trolls, they've taken the ponies'' Kili explained and instantly the dwarves were taking up arms.

''Where is the hobbit?''

''distracting them''

''And the elf?'' the two young dwarves paused looking around the camp and they looked as confused as Thorin did.

''she left us long before we discovered the trolls'' Fili replied and Thorin paused only for a moment before replying

''show us the way'' and the dwarves took off almost as fast as Fili and Kili had arrived.

The first thing Kierielle did after the dwarves ran off was jump from the tree, she ran over to where she had left her supplies and grabbed her bow slinging it over shoulder with her arrows. She was about to take a step towards where the company had taken off too when she stopped. Why on earth was she going to their rescue? They had made it quite clear she was not needed and besides that they had ignored Gandalf's warning in the first place. Maybe the horses didn't deserve it but they deserved to fight trolls on their own and if they lost that was their fault entirely. Besides if Thirteen dwarves could not handle a few trolls then she would not understand why they were willing to face a dragon. So instead of going in the direction of the dwarves Kierielle gathered her things and began to go the opposite way.

She did not know how long she had been walking but it seemed like quite awhile when she heard a familiar voice beside her

''Kierielle what are you doing out here?''

''I could ask you the same thing Mithrandir'' she replied not pausing as Gandalf fell into step with her.

''I was looking ahead, why are you not with the company?''

''They are fighting trolls and made it very clear they do not need my help''

''Trolls? and you left them?'' Kierielle paused turning to face Gandalf not sure if she should tell him what had happened so she sighed before replying

''There is thirteen of them I'm sure they can handle it'' then she continued to walk.

''Where are you going then?''

''I do not know Mithrandir anywhere that does not involve dwarves''

''They need our help Kierielle it is not in your nature to abandon those in need''

''I also know when I'm not wanted'' Gandalf sighed in return frowning in disapproval as Kierielle paused but kept her back turned towards him.

For a moment they stood in silence seeing who would break first but after several minutes of nothing Gandalf turned away before speaking.

''I did not know you to give up so easily Kierielle'' then he was gone and she was left alone once more.

Kili's POV

As it turned out the slow, dumb trolls that Kili had told Bilbo about earlier had managed to catch the lot of them. They had some of them already roasting over the fire and the rest well they were tied up in sacks to be saved for later. Tied up in his sack listening to his friends grumble and curse under their breaths all he could think of was an escape. Though at this point they really had none they were trapped and probably were going to be eaten by Trolls whether they liked it or not. There was still no sign of Kierielle which made Kili feel even guiltier partially because she probably could have helped them and partially because things between them were going to end on such bad terms.

''Wait your making a terrible mistake!'' Bilbo spoke up and Kili broke his train of thought turning his attention to the hobbit who was now standing in his sack talking to the trolls.

''You can't reason with them their half-wits'' shouted Nori

''Half-wits? Then what does that make us?'' questioned Bofur and even Kili had to admit he was confused about what the hobbit was trying to do no one could reason stupid mountain trolls.

''Uh, I meant with the uh, with the seasoning'' Bilbo continued

''What about the seasoning?'' The troll with the apron asked.

''Well have you smelt them? Your going to need something a lot stronger then sage before you plate this lot up'' that was the final straw the hobbit was selling them out and none of them could believe it.

''Traitor!'' they shouted and even went as far to kick at him from their sacks.

To be honest it was not until Bilbo began to talk about parasites and that Thorin kicked them so that they did not argue with the accusation that Kili finally realized what the hobbit was trying to do. He was not betraying them after all instead he was buying them time and now he only hoped they had not ruined it all. '

'You think I don't know what your up to? This little ferret is taking us for fools'' came the voice of one of the trolls and just when Kili was about to give up hope their was another voice shouting

''The dawn will take you all'' followed by a cracking rock and while the Trolls turned to stone from the sunlight the dwarves began to cheer at the sight of Gandalf and Kierielle standing beside the rock.

I'm sorry about the wait, work has been keeping me super busy! This chapter is longer to make up for it and I will post again either tomorrow or sometime this week, enjoy and let me know what you think!