I didn't originally plan this. Hope you like.

The company of the elves, hobbit, dwarves, wolf, and the wizard had been venturing into the mountains for two days, with still absolutely no clue as to where exactly they were supposed to go. They had to insure not to lose sight of Fluffy, as at the moment, he was their only assurance as to if they were heading in the right direction. They followed him like a band of Mother Hens.


Everyone was gathered around the campfire, save Legolas. He kept a sharp eye out for danger, with Fluffy sitting guard on the other side of the ridge, as keen and focused as any Woodland warrior. "I don't think this is going to work." Thorin shook his head.

"What do you mean?" Gandalf frowned skeptically.

"We are warriors, travelers. And here we are, leaving our fate and that of our kin in the hands of an overgrown mutt." Thorin muttered. Legolas scowled but remained silent.

Dwarves, He thought. Then he slightly smiled as he imagined the earful the dwarf king would receive from Legolas's little sister if she had been there to hear him insult her playmate!

"You mean 'paws', don't you?" Elrohir quipped to Thorin. Thorin glared at him while the other dwarves laughed.

"Do not underestimate an Elven wolf, my friends." Gandalf lightly scolded, smoking his pipe. "He is attuned to voices and many beings that surpass even that of ordinary dogs. He is gifted with remarkable sight, smell, and reading people's true intentions."

"You should consider yourself lucky he did not take unkindly to your whole company! He is a very suspicious fellow." Elladan teased.

"No doubt takes after his owners." Gloin mentioned sarcastically and the dwarves laughed again at the insult for the Wood elves.

"But he has divine guidance. I wouldn't make light of it." Gandalf warned them. They quieted down after that.

"What if he is trained to lead us astray as a trick, because we are dwarves?" Dwalin whispered. Legolas heard every word. He turned and fixed the rough dwarf with a menacing gaze. Dwalin only returned his contempt.

"Excuse me? He is Elvish. He is nothing if not honest." Elrohir spoke up defensively. "You would do well to treat the wolf with respect."

Bilbo quietly snuck away from the group. He didn't want to get mixed up in any petty quarrels and end up as wolf chow! He made his way over to Legolas. "You cannot see this high in the clouds from Bag End." Bilbo murmured. "I always imagined climbing mountains and seeing the world from that perspective would be thrilling. Now, while I find it stupendous, it is rather unnerving."

"Does nothing ever trap and hover over your home with a gloom so dark, it is as if it will never disappear?" Legolas asked softly. He'd seen the hobbit, and he knew his name. But he didn't really know very much about him, come to think of it.

"Only when it comes to the Sackville- Baggins's!" Bilbo whispered casually. "My relatives. One should be allowed to publicly divorce such greedy kin!" Legolas instantly started to chuckle.

"I am sure my father would agree to that sentiment, when it comes to certain individuals." He stated with a smile.

"You don't smile very often, do you?" Bilbo cocked his head up at the tall elf prince.

"Not so much...since my father and sister were taken." Legolas's face fell. "They are the only family I have left. I cannot bear to lose them." No sooner had the words left his mouth, than Legolas suddenly gasped in pain and hunched over, clutching his chest. "Ahh!" He sucked in a breath.

"Prince Legolas? Are you alright?" Bilbo asked worriedly. Legolas could not answer. He gasped hard for breath and leaned forward. "Uhh...we could use some help over here!" Bilbo called to the company. "I think Legolas is ill!" At that, Elladan, Elrohir, and Gandalf sprang to their feet and rushed to the prince.

"Elves cannot get ill, Master Baggins, save for poison or grievous wounds." Elladan said. "Legolas? What is it, mellon?" Legolas glanced up at his friend with such anguish in his eyes that it broke the other elf's heart.

"Ada...Alasse...it hurts!" Legolas cried to his friends. Gandalf looked away sadly, as if he had just heard tragic news of a friend. The dwarves were puzzled over this.

"What's with him?" Oin asked the wizard as he hurried over.

"I fear the king and the princess have taken a turn for the worst." Gandalf said sorrowfully.

"What does that mean?" Bilbo asked in alarm as the sons of Elrond hovered around Legolas, offering comfort.

"Elves have a remarkable, spiritual connection to those they love." Gandalf explained. "Especially between siblings. These symptoms of pain Legolas is going through...it can mean only one of two things, I fear."

"What two things?" Bofur asked as he appeared.

"Either King Thranduil and little Alasse have both been killed, or...one of them has and the other is writhing in despair." Gandalf said with tears in his eyes.

Legolas fought to breathe, to will the pain away but it festered inside his soul. He could sense and feel his father's despair. No, no! It cannot be! It cannot be true! I can't be too late! Valar, please no!

"Breathe, Legolas." Elladan told him soothingly, rubbing his back and he let his friend lean his head on his chest. Bilbo gulped. After what Gandalf had said, he recalled now that the wizard had told him before that elves could die from a broken heart! If Legolas's behavior was any indication, he didn't want to see what came next!

"No, no, no! Don't despair!" Bilbo said to Legolas. Legolas glanced at him helplessly.

"Don't you understand, Master hobbit?" He whimpered, his voice so devoid of hope. "We're too late. I have failed them!" Bilbo couldn't bear the pained redness in the beautiful creature's eyes. He had to do something!

"Fail? Failed?" Bilbo sputtered. "No, no, no. Here...let me show you." He reached into his pocket and showed nothing but a tiny acorn in his small hand.

"What is that?" Elrohir asked.

"That's a promise, see?" Bilbo smiled. "It looks small and insignificant, and...useless. But...but once it is planted, underground where it is stepped on, trampled, and no one notices or cares...it, it is becoming a miracle. It is springing forth a new life, even though it is unseen. Useless? No." Bilbo shook his head, chuckling. "Far from being useless. It spreads, doing what it was intended to do. And that's a promise!"

"Promise?" Legolas furrowed his brows.

"Promise that even under blood and dirt, there is a chance for new life. It may sound hopeless, it may sound foolish. But...really, what else can you do? What can anyone do, when faced with death? You go on living! There is still hope." Legolas could not speak, he could only stare at the halfling. Gandalf smiled proudly.

The dwarves were silent, astounded at Bilbo's words. Thorin gazed at the hobbit deeply. This home-loving, soft-hearted, homesick, friendly, timid little man whom he'd never bet would've made it this far, from all his normal comforts and habits, was standing fast that this rescue was not for naught. Even though it now appeared hopeless for some, Bilbo was willing to press on, grasping at even a chance in a million that they could accomplish this and save their loved ones! Thorin felt his heart glow with a fierce admiration for the halfling, though after the Goblin tunnels escape, he'd never thought it possible for that respect to grow any larger or warmer!


Long into the night, Thorin also pondered Gandalf's words. If the elf's family was truly gone, what had become of Fili and Kili? Were they too...no! Never! His nephews were too stubborn and fiery to go down without a fight! But how were they holding up? Were they in despair, waiting and waiting to be saved? Had they possibly escaped?

Thorin had promised Dis that he would look after her boys. If they never returned to her, would she give up and let herself die, after so much loss already? A chance for new life, Bilbo said. Dis had lost her other brother, her father, and her husband in battle. Fili and Kili, her precious boys were what kept her going, the reason she went on living! She still needed them, if even faraway, she needed them to stay alive! If they perished, she would give into her despair, and Thorin would lose his sister too! I will find them, sister. I promise you! Even if I have to flip these treacherous mountains onto their backsides, I WILL find them! Thorin promised himself.


Thorin took the last watch. "Dawn is approaching!" He thundered. "Let's move!" Bofur and Bombur scrambled together a quick breakfast of cheese and meat on bread that they could eat as they walked.

"Where is Alasse? Find her!" Legolas commanded the wolf in Elvish. Fluffy held his head high in the air and then trotted to the left, down a steep path leading along a trailed ledge. They followed him with haste.

By mid-morning, they were growing anxious. They'd been at it since rising from sleep and suddenly, Fluffy had just stopped. "What are ye just standing there for, ye mutt?" Gloin huffed. "Get on with ye!"

"Silence!" Gandalf bellowed. Legolas came to stand beside the wizard.

"He senses something. Everyone, quiet!" Legolas commanded. Thorin nodded to the dwarves to obey the elf, even though Dwalin did let out a low growl. If the wolf was onto something, it meant they were closer to finding Fili and Kili! Fluffy's large, pointy ears flickered. Gandalf noticed his hackles raised along his spine. He made no sound, but snarled viciously. "Show me!" Whispered in Elvish. Fluffy took off. "Follow!" Legolas yelled, and they raced with all their might to keep up with the strangely provoked wolf.


Bombur struggled, running down a steep trail only to race up again. When they came to another dip, the fat dwarf completely lost his footing, and landing on his rotund side, he rolled down the path like a barrel of ale. He bumped into Dori, Oin, Bifur, Nori, Gloin, Dwalin, and then Bilbo! They growled with protest as, having the wind knocked out of them, they too slid downward. Thorin yanked Ori, Bofur, and Balin away as he braced himself against a rock wall. Legolas, the twins, and Gandalf sprang out of the way. Legolas blinked in disbelief. It would've been a most amusing sight, it they were not an emergency errand! Well, he would have to store this back in his memories to entertain Thranduil with later on when he told him!

Grunts and groaning were heard around the corner. The elves, the wizard, and dwarves hurried to find them. They'd ran smack into a tree! They all struggled to get up, scolding Bombur mercilessly, save Bilbo. "Is anyone hurt?" Thorin asked breathlessly.

"It is only by Durin's beard, we didn't break every bone in our bodies!" Gloin growled.

"You nearly broke my head, numskull!" Dwalin huffed at Bombur.

"Oui! Was an accident, ye overgrown grizzly bear!" Bombur protested defensively. Elladan and Elrohir snickered at the bantering.

"We'll tend your injuries later." They said.

"The jewels! Have we lost the jewels?!" Legolas cried in panic.

"No, no. See. It is safe." Bilbo smiled, showing the necklace.

"Safe as can be, laddie." Balin assured Legolas who nearly wilted with relief.

"Where is the mutt?" Thorin asked dryly. They all glanced around but did not see the wolf.

"Curses! We lost him!" Dwalin pounded his weapon on the ground.

"No! Be quiet!" Legolas shouted. He spaced out for a moment, his eyes widening. "Come! This way! Fluffy has found something!"


They ran over large crags, till the trail leveled out to a mound of enormous boulders. There, they saw Fluffy hovering dangerously over an elf, keeping him pinned flat on his back with his huge paws. Everyone drew their weapons, but Legolas flew to the giant rock fluidly and pounced flawlessly on top like a cat. Aiming his bow, he pointed it at the elf on the ground. He could see that the guy had a nasty bite on his left arm, courtesy of Fluffy. This was a good sign. Fluffy never attacked anyone unprovoked, unless they were up to no good. "Don't move!" Legolas snarled.

"Please, please! Don't kill me! I'm only a weary traveler. I didn't mean anything, my lord!" The elf pleaded.

"Who are you?" Legolas demanded.

"Bryceson, just Bryceson. No one of any consequence!"

"I am Prince Legolas Thranduilion, of the Woodland Realm. Sound familiar?"

The elf paled. "Y-y-you're him?" He gulped helplessly. "W-w-we were not expecting you so soon!" Thorin pounced on the elf and snatched him by the collar.

"Where are they?" He asked dangerously calm.

"Who are you?"

"Thorin Oakenshield."

"Thorin! I...I-I..."

"Speak, you coward! They asked you a question." Gandalf hissed. The elf found himself surrounded by a band of belligerent dwarves with heavy weapons, and two more elves who were piercing him with menacing glares.

"I don't know nothing!"

"You lie." Legolas spat, holding a knife to his throat. "Where is the king? Speak!"

"You got the jewels?"

"That is not your concern. Don't make me ask again." Legolas said coldly.

"Th-that way. That way!" Bryceson pointed out frantically to a winding path down the hill. "If you hurry, you can make it by sun up tomorrow!" Bryceson knew Devlin would be furious if they didn't have the jewels, but he was scared to death that Legolas would command the wolf to eat him alive if he felt offended!

"If you lie..." Thorin glared.

"I'm not, I swear it! You must believe me! It wasn't my idea! It was Devlin's and Malcolm's! Please believe me!" Bryceson begged desperately.

Legolas glanced at Fluffy who set his eyes on the path, rather than continuing to growl down at his victim. If the wolf was not focusing on the path, then Legolas would know the elf was lying. For an animal, Fluffy had remarkable perception. "Alright. I will not kill you." Legolas rolled his eyes. "You will remain our prisoner and show us the way. But if any harm has come to my father or sister, you will suffer!"

"That goes double for my nephews!" Thorin added.