Arwen stepped into her adar's open arms, head finding his shoulder, as when a small elfling fighting nap time. His strong arms warmed her cold, quaking body and she realized she was in shock, both from the injury and orcs, suppressed until he arrived to make it all better. Only this time the hurt remained, both in her fëa and arm. Tears she couldn't contain made a path down his front, forte melting like the metal used to forge the armor she dripped upon as she broke and sobbed.

Elrond sensed her breakdown coming and availed himself to her comfort, while glaring at his sons and advisors. Finally, he lowered his head and started whispering words of comfort into her ear until the sobs became hiccups. "I haven't seen you cry like this since harm befell your naneth."

"That's why I'm crying, Adar. Naneth." She raised her swollen eyes and tear streaked face. He held out his hand and the ever sagacious Erestor placed a handkerchief in it. He wiped her face and gave it to her to blow her nose, which she did with one hand. Composure partially regained, she confided, "I was with one for a few seconds and frightened beyond endurance. Naneth spent three days with them." Tears started dripping again and through blurred vision, she saw his face shatter at the memory and for once felt his pain that he blocked from his children.

Elrond, mindful of her arm, pulled her close once again. Now he knew why she had to come. Of all of them, she was the only one to never experience an orc first hand or even see one from more than several miles away. When she traveled, extra care and guards surrounded her path. He was relieved when the servants and healers arrived at that moment.

Elrond turned her over to Azthêla and his best healers. She was led to a hastily erected tent for treatment with pain medicine and proper binding of her arm. He turned his attention fully on the four and moved to them. He looked his son's over for injury, relieved and angered at the same time. "Does anyone care to explain?"

"Not now, Elrond," the usually tolerant Balrog slayer's tone had an edge of its own and his blue eyes flashed a warning.

Elrond squared off against one who always had his back and was by his side for almost two ages of this world.

'I just got the twins settled down. You don't want them going back to the way they were, do you?'

To anyone watching them, it would resemble a staring contest. Erestor knew instantly they were silently communicating. "Elladan, Elrohir, with me." He motioned for them to follow and marched in the direction of Thráin, who was now with Radagast at his sled.

'What did you see?' Elrond's body language shifted subtly.

'After it was over, the twins started in on self-degradation. I could see and feel their failure once again to protect a female member of their family. As you dealt with Arwin's shame for never facing an orc, I faced theirs for her having fought an orc. And to have her injured drove them back in an instant to their bellicose behavior and thoughts. I had to remind them repeatedly until you arrived that Estel wouldn't understand if they stopped coming home and were surly. You didn't lose any children this time, Elrond. Don't damage your iôn's fëas.' Lecture over, Glorfindel crossed his arms and waited for Elrond.

"I'm tired. This world is wearing me, mellon-nín. I feel call of the sea constantly. You are right; I am sometimes too hard on the boys and not enough on Arwen." Elrond spoke aloud, too tired to continue the harder mental conversation.

The call of, "Adar, Glorfindel, come and see this," ended their quarrel that was over before it began. He started to turn when Glorfindel stopped him by grasping his upper arm. He placed his other hand over Elrond's armored chest and it glowed with the light of the trees of Aman. It was an act he performed daily when Celebrían returned from the orcs until long after she sailed.

Thráin caught the glow of sunlight in the dark out of the corner of his eye as he was showing off what he put in Radagast's sled. "What is he doing?" He pointed to Elrond and Glorfindel.

"Something we haven't seen in a long while," Elrohir answered. "Glorfindel can give strength to another elf like none in Arda except Daernaneth. They both were born in Aman during the Noontide of Valinor or light of the trees in common tongue. Glorfindel got his light from being reborn, and Daernaneth from the Maia. Adar must have fought hard for him to need replenishing." They watched Glorfindel's hand lower and cease glowing. As their father approached, he was walking normal and gave them a smile, which was gratefully returned.

"What do we need to see?" Elrond asked in a lighter tone.

Elladan held up a sword and handed it to his father. "This belonged to Verthenwë."

Elrond asked for a light to be brought from Figwit, who was standing nearby awaiting instructions. He disappeared into the dark and shortly rejoined them with a lantern.

Celeborn also joined them when he overheard. He was kneeling by his wife, hand on her breastbone, giving strength and keeping her asleep. He took the sword as Haldir arrived to report. Haldir's eyes widened at the sight, for he had spared with the owner of that fine sword for centuries.

Celeborn turned to him, "I'll take your report in a moment." He turned back to Thráin, "I gave this sword to Verthenwë when he became a master March Warden. It is of superior construction and design. For being a faithful companion, I give it to you." He handed the sword back to a shocked Thráin.

Thráin accepted with a formal announcement in the tongue of the elves. "Hanna-nín, Lord Celeborn. Verthenwë told me he was allowed to use his own sword in the fighting arena. It has seen much battle and with a fair amount of luck, will become a symbol of peace and good fortune to myself and kingdom. Verthenwë was an elf of peace and I shall endeavor to make his sword one also."

Celeborn nodded that he approved the sentiment and turned to Haldir, "Report."

"We have scoured the ruins and can't find anything left alive to kill." Haldir's tone conveyed his sorrow the fight was over so fast.

Celeborn turned back to the sled without a reply.

Thráin handed several elvish swords over and everyone gathered found one in their grasp. "These are too fine ah weapons ta leave for scavengers." The elves agreed.

Celeborn looked at Elrond, "In the light of day we will try and determine where they came from and find the clans."

Elrond nodded, "Wise, as usual."

Lastly, Thráin looked at Elladan, "Laddie, do ya mind liften that heavy bugger an findin even more light."

Elladan carried it to a cut stone long lain in its abandoned position from when Sauron wrestled Amon Lanc away from King Oropher and it became Dol Guldur.

Erestor meanwhile asked Figwit to find another lamp and held the first one so Thráin had light to work the rusty latch. Figwit returned promptly, running back with a lamp ahead of a stream of angry shouts from a servant of Lothlórien for him to cease his lamp stealing.

Celeborn looked on with amusement.

Thráin lifted the lid and everyone crowded in anticipating the contents. Inside were old coins, gems and jewelry from a bygone age.

Celeborn lifted a coin and held it against the lamp. "This is a gold ingot beat into coinage by the dwarves of Nogrod for Elu Thingol." He dropped it and took up another and nodded that it too was of the same make. "Very few of these survived the sinking of Beleriand." He again let his hand dip into the coffer and pulled a ring out. Everyone waited for him to give the age and maybe maker, for he looked like he recognized the piece. Celeborn carefully looked at it from all angles. Without a word, he carefully placed it back and closed the lid. "What are you planning with your treasure, King Thráin?"

Thráin vehemently shook his head. "Nay, Lord Celeborn. I never owned this. These are elvish trappings. Azog himself told me this chest was once owned by Morgoth and there are more, some in Mordor and Angband. This was the only one in Dol Guldur. I give it to you, Lord Celeborn; for your hospitality and a bridge to start mending fences destroyed at Doriath very long ago. I'm sure dwarves have crossed all the elves at one time or another. I will make amends with King Thranduil also. If we take the mountain, we'll find his gems of starlight."

Celeborn's lips quirked up at the corners, "You can speak eloquently when you try."

Thráin threw his head back and belted out a laugh. "I speak very well, but am a dwarf and prefer the sound of our native idioms, and don't expect me ta sound all fancy an proper outside council meetings." The elves and wizards laughed with him.

"Why?" Celeborn's abrupt question silenced everyone. "Why are you not affected by gold sickness?"

All eyes trained upon Thráin. He looked his age all of the sudden. "Gold sickness is ah damnable legacy an has ruined more than one in the line of Durin. I watched my own father, Thrór, succumb an almost completely ruined. He returned somewhat ta himself away from Erebor, but forever took ta wandering an the sickness drove him back ta the Lonely Mountain many times, although Nár kept him from entering the dragon's lair. I felt the pull of gold sickness days before Smaug came, but it left me when we fled. I fear for Thorin. Away from the mountain he is himself, but returned..." he trailed off.

"All we can do is hope he is strong enough to withstand it," Gandalf assured Thráin. "I have you as proof it can be done." He smiled at his old friend to reassure him, when he himself wasn't so confidant in Thorin's willpower. He was sure Thorin was changing the closer they got to the mountain.

Celeborn looked at the chest and made his decision. "I will accept on behalf of the elves of Beleriand. My borders are still closed for settling, but will resume trade. The Sindar, of whom I am Lord and all of my realm will offer aid and assistance should you fight an honorable war and need our assistance. If you battle elves or men of Eriador, Rohan and Gondor, we will not aid. You will have to make your own pact with King Thranduil."

Thráin had listened very carefully and accepted with a hand over his heart and bowed. Celeborn did likewise.

Elrond added his pledge, "All Lord Celeborn declares, I offer also. Also, as your son and the Company found out, my home is the last homely house east of the sea. You are welcome to take your leave in my halls when traveling over the mountains between your kingdoms. I would have offered as much to Thorin, but he slipped away in the night." As he finished, his eye caught that of Gandalf.

Gandalf gave him a shrug, but smiled. Feeling much better with a draught of Miruvor coursing through him, he interrupted, "Is my horse still here, Radagast?"

"I turned your horse loose and it took off, Gandalf." Radagast lifted his hat and the birds flew off to eat as dawn was just breaking.

"That was a loner from Beorn. It went home. Radagast, I need you to gather our friends, bird and animal. The battle for the mountain is about to begin. There are not enough forces on our side, even with Lord's Elrond and Celeborn bringing their warriors. Azog isn't here because while I was captive, I saw him lead a great host to the north away from Dol Guldur."

"I can do that, Gandalf," Radagast vowed. As the grey wizard started to leave to look for one of the horses he could conjure from an elf, Radagast stopped him. "Wait," he handed Gandalf his staff. "If what you say is true, you'll need this more than I."

"Thank you," Gandalf felt better with wizard magic than Glamdring, which Elrond instructed Figwit to retrieve from a pack horse. Also, Radagast found his hat in a bush and now it was prominently perched on his head once more. He saw horses milling about and hurried to procure one and heard Radagast yelling something about the staff being dicky or sticky or tricky, but it most likely wasn't too important.

An elf came to him leading a dapple gray horse. "Lord Mithrandir, March Warden Haldir was just informed he would be returning to Caras Galadhon. He has offered you his own horse."

"Wait," Haldir was seen pushing through elves and horses. "Orophin is going so fetch his mount for Mithrandir." Haldir swung into the saddle and looked smugly at Gandalf. "I used a dirty trick, informing Lord Celeborn that my brother hadn't yet been punished for letting a dwarf through our boundaries."

Orophin led his own horse up to Gandalf and glared at his brother, "I will be avenged."

With a wide smile, Haldir accepted the challenge; "You, little brother are..." he broke off when Galadriel marched through the warriors who parted for her. She made a direct path to them.

"Your brother will join you." She looked at Gandalf, "Mithrandir, please take my horse." As she spoke, a white stallion pushed through the other horses on its own power and didn't halt until its muzzle was blowing against her face. She smiled fondly at her mount and stroked its nose. "His name is Rohirrim, after the people of lands that born him. He is faster than Celeborn's horse, so hold him back a little." She smiled at her old friend and he basked in her light, delighted with how the morning sun played in her golden locks.

"We will race again, hervess-nín," Celeborn overheard as he reached her side.

She turned her attention to her love. "I am sending Orophin with you." Her tone was law. 'He deserves to be rewarded and not punished. You will need all your Galadhrim. I will ride with Arwen and Azthêla. We will be safe. Danger is where you go, not I.'

Celeborn looked at Gandalf, ignoring Orophin, "Excuse us." He took his wife's arm and led her to the only erected tent, one used for healing. Arwen was the only occupant and was sleeping on a mat so he opted to speak into his wife's mind. As he spoke, she started changing into her riding outfit. 'Galadriel, why must we always have this same argument? I wish to send a handful of warriors back as an escort. Besides, you are too weak to mount an effective counter attack if another army were coming from Moria.'

'You're right, dear hervenn. But luckily for us, we have elven cloaks to hide behind.' She finished pulling the grey tunic over her head and reached for the leggings. 'Celebrían and I faced much greater danger fleeing Ost-in-Edhil.'

'Any danger to my elleth is too much. What do the twins say about you three embarking on your own?'

She slipped her feet in comfortable ankle boots. Dressing complete, she added her sword and daggers. 'I haven't seen the twins. They are much more interested in fighting than playing nursemaid. Don't tell them.'

'Elrond?'

She stood before him and looped her arms around his neck, an intimate moment alone without prying eyes to witness the private moments of the Lord and Lady. 'Elrond will do as I command.'

His hands found her waist, drawing her against his armor. 'Elrond has more faith in your abilities. He hasn't seen you fail.' His lips found hers for a parting kiss.

'Arwen's awake,' Galadriel commented as her tongue matched his.

'Maybe I should feel you up and show her what she is missing,' Celeborn started to move a hand to her breast when she broke the kiss and stepped away, turning to her granddaughter.

"We were waiting for you to wake so we can leave," Galadriel helped Arwen to her feet. "It will be an adventure, just three elleth's and no guard."

"The others?" Arwen wasn't ready to be parted from the safety of the ellons.

"We have to ride to Erebor and fight Azog," her grandfather said as he pulled her to him for a hug.

Elrond entered, "Safe to come in?"

Celeborn handed Arwen to him, "They are going alone. Something about a bonding moment where danger lurks."

"That was one of Celebrían's favorite stories to tell the kids. Adventures with Naneth. As the elflings got older, she added detail that was age appropriate so the story never got old."

"I'm glad you are taking it lightly." Celeborn escorted Galadriel back outside where Orophin was anxiously waiting. Celeborn glared at him, "Get with your unit."

The young elf saluted and galloped off before the Lord had a change of heart.

Celeborn held Arwen's horse as Galadriel sprang lightly into the saddle. Arwen was handed up carefully by Elrond to sit behind her daernaneth. "I'll let you know when we arrive home, Elrond."

He nodded his thanks to Galadriel and looked at Arwen, "The star has shown brightly upon our seeing each other again. I will count the days until our next reunion."

"And the stars will once again shine brightly for us," Arwen rejoined.