As Thorin and Gandalf planned, as first light broke over the valley of Imaldris, Thorin and his company were already packed and ready to leave. Their supplies had been restocked, thanks to Elrond's pantries and Nori's skills as a thief, and their bodies well rested and recovered from the trials of the last few days before they arrived in Rivendell between the trolls and the Wargs.

Still, there were certain members of the company who did not look as keen to get back on the road as others. The most noticeable of these was, naturally, Bilbo, who would have preferred to a few more days exploring the home of Lord Elrond and possibly visiting the elf lord's famous library. Bilbo couldn't believe that he had met so many of the same elves that he had trekked across the Shire looking for in his youth.

Also among those who seemed hesitant to leave was Thorin, who despite his dislike of elves, rather liked the home of Elrond, even if it was only because his son had found a home there... a home where he was well treated, loved by many, and would be protected from harm. Thorin knew that it was highly possible that he would never see Kíli again. The journey ahead promised to be a long and dangerous one and Thorin knew that it was possible that he would die trying to reclaim his home, be it on the road or by Smaug's fire or by some other cause. Thorin only prayed that some of his company survived, to tell Kíli and Dís what had happened, and to convey their condolences. Thorin knew more than anyone how much the pain of not knowing hurt, and he would never wish that sort of pain on anyone.

Thorin sighed as he slid Orcrist into its sheath at his back before he picked up his pack and turned, looking around at the rest of the company. They were all busily preparing for the journey, stuffing last minute items into their packs and checking weapons. Fíli and Nori were tucking their hidden knives away, Balin was checking a map that Nori had picked up somewhere, Dwalin was inspecting Ori's pack to make sure it wasn't to heavy (even though Dori had done it three times already), Gloin was keeping watch, Bofur and Bilbo were re-packing Bilbo's pack together, and Bombur and Bifur were packing away the things used for their light breakfast, Dori was having a last cup of tea, watching Dwalin and Ori discuss how heavy Ori's bag should be, while Oin did last checks on his bottles of ointments and salves and on their supply of bandages.

There was nothing for Thorin to do at that precise moment and Thorin knew that everyone would be ready when the time came to leave, so he turned, looking at the embers of the fire, all but gone out.

"You alright, Thorin?" Dwalin asked roughly from behind Thorin, obviously having finished with Ori. Thorin shrugged and Dwalin put his hand on Thorin's shoulder.

"Don't worry about the boy, Thorin. He'll be okay, regardless of what choice he makes."

"It's been less than a day, Dwalin. This time yesterday, I thought Kíli was dead... but now he is alive and may be joining the quest. If we were not so pressed for time, I would have allowed another few days here, to give the company more time to rest and to give Kíli more time to get to know us. I would have told him about Erebor and what has befallen our family since. I feel as though I haven't given him all the information he needs to make his choice and I know, should he decide not to come, I will feel as though I am abandoning him."

Dwalin shook his head and pulled Thorin around to face him.

"Thorin, you did as much as you could for Kili. Should we succeed in claiming Erebor, you will be able to spend as much time as you want telling him about the history of the dwarves. You aren't abandoning him, Thorin. You're giving him the chance to make his own choice... which was the right thing to do. He's young but he's old enough to make up his own mind about this. You just need to trust him."

Thorin sighed and nodded. "I know," he conceded, glancing towards the balcony and observing the light hint of sunlight that shone through the window.

"Time to go," he told Dwalin, who nodded. The company got their packs on and gathered their respective weapons. Thorin went and stood beside Gloin at the door.

"All clear?" Thorin asked and Gloin nodded.

"All is well and quiet."

"Good. Let's go." Thorin nodded and Balin and Bofur took the lead, as they were the ones with the best sense of direction. It wouldn't do to get lost in the elven house while they were trying to escape. Thorin knew from his attempt at finding Kili's room the previous night that there was no way that he would be able to lead the group out of the labyrinth that was the house of Lord Elrond without getting lost... numerous times.

It was not long before they arrived back at the main, wide walkway that led into Rivendell, and out as well, and Balin and Bofur led the company does the stone stairs that led down to the entrance courtyard... and their pre-arranged meeting place with Kíli.

The group reached the courtyard and stopped, all of them looking around, some hopefully, others curiously, and Thorin tried to ignore the sinking feeling in his chest when he didn't immediately spot Kíli waiting for them. The dwarves didn't have time to wait, Thorin was sure their absence would be noticed before long. He glanced over his shoulder, hoping to see Kíli sprinting down the stairs, chasing after them, much like Bilbo had, but the steps were deserted.

"KILI!" Fíli abruptly yelled and Thorin spun around, following his nephew's line of sight, his heart skipping a beat.

Peering over one of the shoulders of one of the warrior statues flanking the bridge was Kíli, who was smiling. He swung himself sideways, landing on the bridge between the two statues, before he picked up his bag from where he had put it down, behind the same statue he had been climbing.

"One contract, signed as requested," Kíli told them, offering Balin the contract. Balin checked the signature and Thorin felt his heart skip in his chest when, looking over Balin's shoulder, he noticed that Kíli had signed it 'Kíli of Rivendell', and then beneath it he had added 'son of Thorin'.

"The residents of Rivendell are early risers. We should get going," Kíli advised and Thorin nodded, clapping Kíli on the shoulder, before he began walking across the bridge, the rest of the company falling into line. Kíli turned to follow them when a young voice broke the clear, morning silence

"KILI, WAIT!"

Thorin and the company spun around at the voice and Kíli groaned and rolled his eyes, looking back at the young boy standing on the stairs.

"Estel... what are you doing here?" Kíli asked as the human ran down the stairs and across the courtyard, throwing himself affectionately into Kili's arms.

"I... I had to say goodbye... I didn't want you to go without saying goodbye."

"Estel, don't worry. I'll be back, you'll see. Everything's going to be okay."

"But what if something happens?" Estel asked, his bottom lip quivering as he struggled to hold back his tears.

"Estel, you know I can't promise you that nothing will happen... because it might, but I promise that I will do everything I can to make sure nothing happens, alright? You know me, I'm a fighter. I'm not going to let some dragon get me. I promise that I will fight as long as I can to make sure nothing happens to me."

"We'll hold you to that, you know, little brother," another voice chimed in and Kíli blanched at the sight of Elladan and Elrohir entering the courtyard from the side, having obviously been concealed by the bushes.

"Elladan, Elrohir... please tell me Ada didn't send you," Kíli groaned. Elladan quietly laughed.

"No, Ada is preoccupied. Mithrandir is playing his part in the ruse well. Estel was the one that alerted us. He's not as quiet and stealthy as he likes to think," Elrohir replied, ruffling Estel's hair affectionately

"Hey, I am so quiet and stealthy. You just have freaky hearing," Estel argued back.

"They're elves, Estel, get used to it... and if you do want to sneak out, the window is the best bet."

"Great, now you've put the idea in his head," Elladan groaned, slapping his palm to his face.

"He's hard enough to keep out of trouble now, but now he knows how to evade us even more. We'll be forever chasing after him," Elrohir moaned, putting his hand in his face.

"I wasn't that much older than him when I figured it out...comparatively speaking...Anyway, if you're not going to stop me, why are you here?"

"First, to wave you off, and second, to make sure somebody," Elrohir sent a pointed look at Estel, "doesn't try and follow you."

Kíli nodded, shooting a glance over his shoulder at the dwarves, who were shifting uncertainly. Elladan stepped forward and straightened Kili's pack, smiling fondly.

"It's time for you to go." The elf softly smiled before drawing Kíli into a tight hug. "Take care of yourself, little brother."

Kíli nodded hugging his brother tightly. It had suddenly dawned on him that he was leaving the only home he had ever known... that he was leaving the only family he had ever known behind.

"If you ever need us, send word," Elrohir added as his twin stepped back, engulfing Kíli in a hug.

Kíli nodded. "I will," he solemnly promised.

Elrohir clapped him on the shoulder supportively. "Remember to shoot straight, little brother."

"Promise you'll tell us when it's over?" Estel asked and Kíli nodded.

"Of course. Actually, I have a job for you, Estel, an important one." Kíli reached up to one of the statues, retrieving the leather bound satchel that he had slung off the statue when he first got to the courtyard before Thorin and the others arrived. He handed the bag to Estel, who opened it, taking in the soft, blue blanket tucked inside.

"I was going to leave it for you to find but since you're here, I'll just give it to you. Can you look after it for me, until Erebor's safe and I come back? I don't want it to get lost or anything on the road."

Estel nodded, clutching the bag close to his chest. Kíli rested his hands on the boy's shoulders and rested their foreheads together.

"You're destined for great things, Estel... and don't let anyone tell you anything differently, alright?"

Estel nodded, hugging Kíli tight for a moment, before letting go and stepping back between the two elves, holding the blanket in his arms. Kíli stepped backwards, rejoining the rest of the company, keeping his head low to try and hide the tears that were rolling down his face, before he gave Thorin a subtle nod, who led the company across the bridge before turning right and heading up the path.

"Er... Thorin," Balin offered.

"What?" Thorin grumbled.

"The road east is the left path, not the right path." Balin told him gently. Thorin paused.

"I knew that," he told his oldest friend before turning around and heading the other way, the company of thirteen dwarves and a hobbit trailing along after him.

THE HOBBIT

Gandalf fought the urge to roll his eyes at Saruman as the white wizard rambled about the negative health effects of mushroom consumption. For all he liked to offer up a uncaring facade, Saruman was in fact a bigger mother hen than Dori when it came to his 'brothers' and Gandalf had heard his lectures about living a healthy lifestyle many times.

"The dwarves... they're leaving." Galadriel's voice slipped into Gandalf's mind and he turned a little in his seat to look at her. It was, after all, bad manners not to look at the person you were talking to... even if you weren't actually making a noise.

"Yes," Gandalf replied shortly.

Galadriel's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You knew?"

Gandalf gave the Lady of the Golden Woods a sheepish look and Galadriel gave him a warm smile, her eyes glinting with amusement. Both wizard and elf alike were hard pressed to not laugh at that moment. It wasn't long after that that Lindir entered the courtyard the White Council had set up as their own.

"My Lord Elrond... the dwarves... they're gone," he reported in a fearful voice. Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf all exchanged a look, Elrond's questioning while Gandalf and Galadriel struggled to hide their amusement. Saruman scowled at the news and Gandalf reflected on his thoughts that Thorin would never let the quest to reclaim Erebor be jeopardized by the opinions of a wizard he had never met.

"There... there is more, Lord Elrond," Lindir hesitantly continued and all four members of the council looked curiously at the elf.

"Go on," Elrond gently and kindly prompted.

"When... when we noticed that the dwarves were not in their room, we wondered if they had moved during the night to Kili's room. It is more dwarven in design and since the revelations of yesterday were still fresh in their mind, we thought they might try and spend some time together... but Kili's room was empty as well."

Elrond blanched and Gandalf sighed. He had wondered, and privately hoped, that this would happen. An archer of Kili's capabilities would certainly come in handy... even if it was just for hunting purposes. An archer would have been very handy as they fled the wargs as the approached the hidden pass.

"My Lord, Kíli is gone as well," Lindir finished, stating what everyone in the room already knew.