And here is the next chapter in this story you all seem to enjoy so much (I don't know why though... ;). Just so you know, when companies meet, POVs will mix around and change - there will be a few less from here on in.

Chapter 14: Meeting

Thorin could almost jump for joy as he glimpsed through the trees the very rocky plain in which he had been searching for. He could only hope that the rest of the company were there waiting, hobbit and wizard included. As much as the exiled king hated to admit his dependency on anyone, let alone those he did not fully trust. Good as their intentions might be, Thorin did not know either Gandalf or the hobbit well enough to just blindly follow their lead.

"I will be glad when I can set eyes upon that bothersome brother of mine," Oin remarked from where he had slowed to a walk behind Thorin's eldest nephew. Fili did not say anything, something which his uncle took note of.

"He will be fine," Thorin said firmly, "Dwalin will have gotten both him and Ori to the meeting place. They probably were the first ones there." The dark haired dwarf could only hope his words were not wrong as the trio burst out of the gloom of the forest and into the sunlight.

"Where is everyone?" said Fili, the words tumbling from the blonde's mouth unchecked.

"I would like to know the same thing," Thorin heard himself say as he stared at their surroundings, trying to distinguish if any of the company were indeed around.

"Are you sure we are in the right place?" Oin asked as he placed his hearing trumpet to his ear in an attempt to see if he could hear any familiar voices.

"We are exactly where we are supposed to be," Thorin replied in an exasperated voice.

"So you definitely didn't get lost somewhere along the way?"

The question belonged to Fili and it did not take even half a moment for the blonde's uncle to swing around and glare at him.

"What are you implying?" he asked in a dangerous voice. Fili shrugged and tweaked the corner of his mouth.

"Nothing," the blonde answered to neither the belief of his uncle or Oin, "It's just that you do not have the best reputation in finding places."

"Fili, if you are implying that I get lost often-"

"I thought that was your delectable tones I heard," a new voice cut in. All turned to stare at the wizard who was incidentally leaning casually on his staff.

"Is anyone else with you?" Thorin asked bluntly, not in the mood for idle words.

"Both Balin and master Baggins it seems were the only ones smart enough to stick close to me when you gave the order to retreat," Gandalf said in a voice retaining a somewhat annoyed air, "As it were no one else has turned up save for the three of you. Now is the three of you could kindly stop pointing your weapons in my face I will take you to the other two."

Thorin watched as Fili's face paled at this news, the blonde's thoughts clearly flying to his brother. The company leader found his own mind thinking of Kili, of what may have happened to the rest of the dwarves still stumbling around in the forest. It would seem that not everything had gone as he had planned.

Sheathing his blade as Gandalf had asked, Thorin followed the grey wizard to where both Balin and Bilbo were reclining against a rock, watching the line of trees before them.

"And what have you been doing while we were busy fighting orcs?" the company leader asked as he began to pace around the now group of five.

"Doing the only thing we can do," Balin replied as he got stiffly to his feet, "Sitting and waiting for the rest of you to turn up."

Thorin did not move to acknowledge this as his hand routinely kept on sliding to the hilt of his weapon of choice. He was clearly running on pent up nervous energy, but that fact did not concern the exiled king for it kept him both attentive and alert.

"Did you see any of the others while journeying here?" Thorin heard Balin ask. The dark haired dwarf immediately shook his head.

"We did not. What of you?"

"Likewise," Balin replied with the slight hint of a disappointed air, "We did not see hair nor hide of the rest of the company."

"Then we can only hope they will be here soon and have not gotten themselves into trouble," Thorin sighed, his thoughts again flying to Kili. He would not forgive himself if something happened to his nephew, and Durin knew Fili would bring upon himself a whole lot more guilt. Just as Dis had made him promise to keep both her sons safe, Thorin's sister had made Fili promise to keep an eye on his more reckless younger brother. The field of responsibility for the wellbeing of others within the company besides himself stretched even further for Thorin. Any loss of life on this quest would be borne upon the exiled king's shoulders, and his shoulders alone, something Thorin knew very well.

It was at this thought that the dark haired dwarf began pacing once again.

So, can I have some reviews please?