Over the next few days or so, Gandalf and Elrond were beginning to get anxious. Elrond feared that Thorin would succumb to the same sickness of the mind that consumed his father and grandfather. At some point, Gandalf had come up to the rest of the company and told them that when he went to speak with Lord Elrond next, they were to slip away from Rivendell and continue on their quest. They had been there near a week and it was time for them to move on, but he feared that if the elves were to see them off that they would be stopped. He instructed them to wait for him at the mountain pass. He left that evening to speak with Lord Elrond and told the company to be ready to leave at dawn.

Thorin and Halien gathered their things together and made certain they were ready to leave in the morning. Thorin had asked Balin to come and wake them. They lay there on their sides for a while as the night progressed, staring at the fire as it danced in the hearth of the room. Thorin held onto Halien from behind, propping himself up on an elbow as she rested her head against her arm.

"Thorin, do you think we can succeed in this quest?" she asked.

Thorin looked at her. "Are you doubting that we can?"

"No, it is just that we will face many obstacles, including the possibility of having to travel through Mirkwood. There is so much in our way that it would seem impossible to do. I believe that we can if we stick together and look out for one another."

"Then we have nothing to worry about," he replied kissing her ear.

It tickled her a little, his whiskers brushing against the edge of her pointed ear. She looked at him over her shoulder and he met her with a kiss. He began to caress her arm and moved his hand to her breast as he kissed her neck. She moaned a little in pleasure and reached behind her to rub his groin. She smiled when she felt his arousal grow bigger and harder. Thorin felt as though he could not resist her and he slid a hand under her knee, hoisting her leg up as he slid himself inside of her. He wrapped his arm around her thigh and began to move his hips back and forth. He continued to caress her breast as he slid his manhood in and out of her loins, becoming more aroused as she gasped and moaned in pleasure.

Halien turned her head and kissed him as he began to ram her harder and harder. She felt his manhood growing harder and larger as Thorin's speed picked up, which led to them gasping in pleasure.

'Your body is so soft, Halien. I can barely contain myself.' Thorin thought to her.

'Give me more, my king. Take me, for I am yours.' she replied.

And take her he did. Thorin squeezed his arm tightly around her thigh and quickened his pace. He reached his climax and Halien felt the now familiar warm rush of his seed entering her womb. Thorin pulled out of her and set her thigh down before he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.

'Halien, I do not know what I would have done without you. I never thought to experience this much pleasure and joy with a woman.'

Halien smiled and put a hand on his forearm. 'I have given myself to you, heart, body, and soul. I would give anything to please you.'

Thorin smiled and kissed her neck before he settled down behind her. Halien felt his warm breath on her neck and found it reassuring. Soon she heard him snoring a little and knew he was asleep. She let him sleep, knowing that after this, they would no longer have the comforts of a bed but must return to their battered bed rolls strewn across the ground in the wilds. Nestling in closer to her husband, the young elf soon drifted off to sleep herself.

The next morning, just before dawn, Balin knocked on their door. He opened it and watched as Thorin sat up, a hand to his head.

"It is time, Thorin. We must leave."

Thorin nodded and thanked Balin as he closed the door and went to rejoin the others. Looking beside him, Thorin smiled when he saw Halien still asleep. He touched her face and stroked her cheek, feeling like he was the happiest man in the world. His smile grew bigger when he saw the flash of white and green glinting off of her wedding ring as she rolled onto her back and opened her eyes, sleepily.

"Is it time for us to be on our way?"

"Yes. We should get dressed quickly; we have to leave quietly before anyone else is awake."

Halien nodded and the two slid out of bed, their feet touching the cold stone floor. They quickly got dressed after pulling their underclothes on- Thorin in his usual blue hooded robes and tunic, and Halien in her usual ranger clothes. She folded the gowns that were loaned to her and set them aside before she made sure that they had everything. They had prepared the night before, but she had to be certain. When she was, she pulled two apples from her food pack and handed one to Thorin.

"It is not much of a breakfast, but it will give us strength until we need to stop again." she said.

Thorin nodded and led the way when they were ready to join the others. Halien had pulled her cloak on and clipped the elven brooch into place. She shouldered her packs and when they had joined the others, Thorin led the way out of Rivendell and up to the mountain pass, where he told Balin to take over the lead. He mentioned that Bilbo should keep up with them, but his tone was harsh. Halien gave him a concerned look and Thorin told her with a thought that he needed to be like that with the hobbit. He was needed on this quest and Bilbo needed to be ready to leave the comforts of home behind him and look ahead. Halien nodded, understanding, and brought up the rear of the company line.