As Elrond lead them from the chamber Gandalf pulled his friend close enough to whisper without being heard.
"I want you to take the company before nightfalls and head towards the mountains wait for me as soon as you reach the passage" he whispered into Thorin's ear who nodded in understanding
Elrond had shown Thorin back to his company with Hermione and Bilbo looking concerned for their elder wizard friend.
"Do not worry about Gandalf he has some matters to settle" Thorin reassured them
"Will he be back?" Hermione asked
"Most unlikely, but don't worry he left me instructions" he answered
Elrond with Gandalf's accompanying him he became agitated by this unfortunate turn of events.
"Sorry lord Elrond if I knew this would cause a problem I would have called on you sooner"
"Hello Mithrandir" a gentle voice greeted as he arrived
Turning he saw a beautiful Elven woman standing before him.
"Galadriel, it's good to see you again if I had known this would be a burden I would have told you" he apologized
"She didn't call on you" A more stern voiced announced
Turning again Gandalf came face to face with his old friend and head of the wizard order Sarumon.
"I did"
The quartet sat at a round table with the two elderly wizards taking seats across from each other as Elrond and Galadriel stood.
"Why take on this foolish quest?" Sarumon bluntly asked
"Because of Smaug he owes no one allegiance and if our enemy somehow persuades him-"
"Enemy? What enemy? We have had peace for decades and not a one had disturbed it" Sarumon argued
"Radagast had informed me of a dark force within the old fortress of Dol Guldur, a Necromancer"
"Radagast? I have concerns about his involvement"
"Yes, well Radagast has been known to exaggerat a bit, but..."
"It's not that he has spent his time amongst animals and nature, but his daily consumption of mushrooms"
As Sarumon spoke about the dangers of this quest they were on, Galadriel had searched Gandalf's mind in which he knew full well of.
'You have something...Radagast gave you' she said telepathically
'Yes my queen'
'Show me'
Reaching into his robes he pulled out a blade covered in the same wrapping Radagast had gave him silencing Sarumon. He unwrapped it showing a relic from the war they had facing their most fiercest foe.
"That blade...it should be buried with the Witch King of Angmar after he was buried in the north in a cave deep that light may not shine on it" Elrond recounted
"This didn't come from the living" he added
Everyone had went tense though Sarumon was quick to break it.
"What does it mean? It is clear that this was used by some human dabbling in dark magic and as for Radagast I believe he is too far gone to talk to" Sarumon discontinued
That was when Galadriel felt that the Dwarves had fled the city of Rivendell.
'They are leaving'
She looked to him in which he just gave a troubled look in which she gave a mischievous grin.
Doing as Gandalf instructed the company to leave the elf city in pursuit of their quest, though Bilbo and Hermione were hesitant to leave their friend behind causing them to straggle behind.
"Bilbo, Miss Granger hurry or you'll be left behind" he said making them speed up
As Sarumon left to return to his home Galadriel and Gandalf stayed to chat since neither had seen each other for years.
"Still determined to see this through?" She asked
"Yes, we need to if we are ever to make sure we are truly safe"
They both looked out towards the sunset with a pleasant silence.
"Tell me something, why the halfling and human?"
"Sarumon believes that great power can keep evil in check, but I like to believe...that it's the small things...simple good deeds done everyday by simple folk that keeps evil at bay" he answered with a content smile and which she did the same
As they walked through getting far away as they could from Rivendell, making camp knowing they had to be careful now that the Orcs were after them. A fire was made with the flame illuminating them though most of the Dwarves had went to sleep, Thorin not able to do so he rose from his spot on the ground going for a walk in the forest though staying a good distance from camp. He came upon a small clearing with someone he didn't expect Hermione, sat leaning against an old tree looking to the sky in thought.
"Once again I find you away from the company" he called out causing her to jump
"Oh you scared me master Dwarf" she said
He chuckled a bit then returned to his blank expression approaching her he sat by her in which she moved to make room for him to sit.
"Is something bothering you?" He asked
"I'm just...getting a handle on things there is just so much I didn't expect" she answered
Glancing at her dagger he saw hesitation in her hand that hovered over the hilt of the blade.
"Have you used a dagger before?"
"What? Oh no, I was more of a reader than a fighter" she admitted
Thinking for a moment he gestured for her to come into the center of the clearing.
"What are we doing?"
"I am going to teach you how to use this" he answered grabbing the small blade
"I would appreciate it, better to know what I'm doing" she said gratefully
Smiling he began to instruct her in using the blade to it's full potential well as much as she could get at her age,after an hour the two sat down.
"Well that was certainly exhilarating" she huffed out
"You did well for a novice, but you'll need to practice more" he suggested
Sitting quietly Thorin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye she was beautiful that he had no doubt, but she just seemed hesitant. Hermione did the same taking glances as well looking at the Dwarf he had a stern look, but had a look of a man who has seen much she even found him quite handsome especially his long dark hair that shined in the light.
"Well I better get some sleep or I won't be of any help" she said getting up suddenly
"And I better sweep the area or we'll have some nasty suprises" he said leaving as well
The two parted ways Hermione to the camp and Thorin further in the forest.
Waking up to a dark grey sky signifying that it would later rain as the day went on, Thorin was a bit distracted his thoughts wandering to Hermione as he led. Hermione was having a bit of the same problem though it was mixed with her memories of her old life. Both were knocked out of their thoughts as the rain began the passage way seemed to have gotten even more challenging. At the beginning it was not as difficult going farther up they began to get difficult with the rough terrain, some of the company sled down the path or had trouble to gain a foothold. The rain made it hard to see anything in front of them lighting and thunder began to crash sparks striking the mountain it was then they saw the mountains move taking the shape of a human.
"It's not a mountain, they're rock giants!" Bofur shouted at the realization
The mountainous beast picked up piece of earth throwing it at another of it's kin hitting it, boulders and rock chipped off falling nearly hitting the company. It responded with a headbutt causing more debris to fall the company began to feel what they thought was a quake was actually the movement of a third giant, trying their best to stay on with Bilbo hanging from a ledge Hermione and Thorin gripped both his hands pulling him with Bofur helping his new found friend.
"We need to get out of this!!" Thorin shouted
Finding a cave they setup once more hoping to get rest before trying to venture again. Taking a spot the company lay on any place that was comfortable for them, Bilbo though was wide awake as he was almost dead a few moments ago. Rising he packed his bags and made it out the cave with Bofur stopping him.
"Bilbo? Where you goin?" He asked confused by his friend's action
"I'm going home, I don't know if I can handle anymore of this" Bilbo explained with fear in his voice
"You're homesick I understand" Bofur tried to reassure his Hobbit friend
"No! You don't, you're Dwarves you have no where to go!" He said with anger, but was soon after replaced with guilt and regret
"You're right, we have no where to go" he said saddened by the truth looking at his friends
"Look I'm sorry, maybe you are better off without me" Bilbo said
"Well wherever the road takes you may I wish you luck" Bofur said with a smile still seeing him as a friend
Though as they said their goodbyes they saw the sand that was once on the ground seep through the ground with cracks, Bilbo saw a blue glow on his blade and saw it was a sign of goblins or Orcs.
"Run!-" Thorin shouted waking everyone who immediately fell through the ground