"We could cut through the Redhorn Pass," Morwinyon said, surveying the options before them. "They probably did. Of course, if Balin really has retaken Moria as Gloin said, it might do us good to stop there, and they do have your cousin with them."

"More family reunions," Kili said, but he did not sound upset. He added, "Our cousin."

"Our cousin," Morwinyon granted, and did not point out that Elrond and his children were then Kili's cousins as well as her own.

"The Redhorn should be first, though," Kili said. "If we're trying to catch up. Best of luck to us."

"They have four hobbits," Morwinyon pointed out as she resettled her pack. "They will be moving slowly anyway unless you think they are carried, which would mean they moved at the same pace, probably, and there are only two of us."

She did not point out that Gimli would doubtless slow the group, as Kili sometimes slowed her. It was not much, but she could move faster on her own than even any of the Dunedain. Kili knew that already.

"You could go ahead," Kili said. "I could catch up."

Morwinyon snorted. Kili shrugged and started into the mountains.

"I don't see any sign of travellers," he called days later. "Not for at least a day!" His words were snatched almost entirely away by the wind: Morwinyon would not have heard him if she had not been an elf.

The Redhorn pass was cold, windy, and chest-deep in snow for Kili. Morwinyon walked on top of the stuff, which was better for moving but did expose her more fully to the wind. At night they burrowed into the snow and packed it hard as a windbreak, but Morwinyon's whole body ached from the cold despite it, especially the arm she had broken in the fall with Smaug. Her scars at least didn't feel the chill even the rest of her hated it. She was adult enough to admit that they perhaps should have gone through Moria, but it was too late to turn back now.

Of course, if the party had died in the pass the entire point was moot. Surely, though, if they had Morwinyon and Kili would have found bodies: Legolas at least would not have sunk in the snow even if a fresh fall had covered him. It was better for everyone if Morwinyon assumed that her brother and his companions had made it through the pass.

She went back to Kili instead of waiting for him to catch up: standing still was even more uncomfortable than moving. When she reached him she said, "There was a recent snowfall. It could easily have covered tracks."

"Avalanche is more like it," Kili said, and did not point out that if it had indeed been an avalanche the group could have been swept off.

More days later they trudged through melting snow, trying to keep their stockings dry and avoiding the more slippery rocks and perpetual mud. It was warmer, at least, Morwinyon told herself. She had been through worse weather in the downs, which were always miserable.

There were signs of orcs at the pass' other side, but no others recent enough to be the fellowship.

"Definitely Moria," Morwinyon said. "Damn and double damn."

"We could have been fed and watered and had to deal with more awkward family reunions," Kili said. Morwinyon could not decide if he sounded sarcastic or not.

"Maybe Moria detained them," Morwinyon suggested. "We might not be too far behind if we start for it now."

Kili shrugged. "We'll pick up their trail, at least."

Morwinyon took longer watches on the nights to Moria. Kili needed the sleep more at the pace she set than she did. They saw more signs of orcs but ran into none: it began to make them nervous.

"I cannot help but feel as if something watches us," Morwinyon said, "but surely if it was an enemy we would have been set on by now."

"Could they know we're following your brother?" Kili asked, as if whoever or whatever was watching them might be listening too.

"If they knew that then there are spies in RIvendell," Morwinyon said. "I do not like that thought."

Kili shook his head, and Morwinyon fought the urge to run back to Rivendell. The memory of it was still soft around the edges, but she remembered home and cousins and Arwen. who had wanted the world saved but wanted her love saved too, and Elrond, who had healed Morwinyon because he loved her mother.

A compromise occurred to her. "We could try for Lothlorien," she said. "It is not so far off from Moria, if my brother has already moved on. The lady Galadriel will have a way to warn Rivendell."

"Isn't it haunted?" Kili asked skeptically.

"Tauriel called it outside of time," Morwinyon said. "I do not know if that makes it haunted as you mean it, but Galadriel is my mother's cousin after some fashion."

Kili laughed. "Who isn't?"

"We could presume upon family more," she said, ignoring that. "She might also have more information of my brother's whereabouts, if we do not find him at first. She knows much, Tauriel said."

The shrug he gave her in return meant acquiescence, and he covered himself in his cloak and went to sleep.

"I hear of great joy in the Greenwood," Galadriel said into a lull during the council. "Laeriel has given birth – a healthy girl. Thranduil calls her Mirwen for the present."

"Great joy indeed," Saruman replied, but he did not sound overly interested.

The rest of the council was more enthused.

"That will please Laeriel," Elrond said. "She wanted a daughter. She has threatened to steal mine."

"The name will not stay, though," Gandalf chuckled. "She won't stand for it. 'Treasure' indeed."

"No," Galadriel agreed, looking through him. "She will not."

Celeborn touched the back of her hand gently. She smiled at him. "But nonetheless! A happy occurrence."

"We discuss the fate of Middle Earth here," Saruman said. "The name of a spare royal child is of little consequence to me."

Elrond frowned, and Gandalf shook his head, and Galadriel shrugged at them both. They returned to discussing the fate of Middle Earth.