Thessa and Glorfindel arose with the sun, packing up their camp and getting back into their little boat. As they traveled, Thessa felt the pain in her chest grow a little more. She carried so much guilt with the way she had left that she couldn't seem to let go of the pain. She sighed and leaned against the bow. She closed her eyes and fell asleep for an hour or two, trusting Glorfindel to steer the boat safely.

It was midday when Thessa woke again. The pain in her chest had gotten worse and she tried to mentally remind herself how important it was to get home and how happy she would be to see her mother again. Glorfindel handed her some lembas bread and an apple for lunch, which she took gratefully. They paddled down the Bruinen for a few more hours, silently watching the trees for danger. They had a quick dinner, not dissimilar to her lunch, as they continued on. Glorfindel did not want to stop the boat for rests or meals that could be had in the boat, so after they ate their small dinner, it was back to steering their way down the river.

When the sun began to touch the horizon, Glorfindel turned the boat toward the shore. They set up camp like the times before and Thessa lay down on the bedroll. The pain in her chest was much worse now. It was beginning to hurt now when she breathed, and she wondered if she should tell Glorfindel about it. She eventually decided against it. There were excellent healers back home that could attend to her if it became any worse. So she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing until sleep overtook her.

It had been a whole week now since Thessa departed and the time was drawing near to read the map. The company had informed Gandalf of the situation and Lord Elrond had found his letter as well. To say that the life seemed to have been sucked out of the company would be an understatement. There were no laughs to be had nor songs to sing. Even the elves seemed to feel the loss of Thessa's presence. They often wondered if she was safe and where she was.

Lord Elrond had assured them that the escort he gave her was a loyal friend of his and could protect Thessa if they ran into any trouble. No one had mentioned her name around Thorin and it was very hard to avoid talking about her at all. Thorin was starting to become worried about the company. He had never seem them act in this way. They were cheerful on the road, so what had changed? He tried to think back to something he might have missed, something that could have caused this sudden change in their behavior. They had been in Rivendell for a week and a half now, and everyone had been happy in the beginning. Before that, they had been chased by wargs and nearly killed by trolls. Before that, they had stopped in Bree. Whenever he tried to remember what happened in Bree, his head started to ache. What had they been doing in Bree? He couldn't remember.

Thorin laid back on his bedroll, fiddling with the small crystal around his neck. He hummed a sad melody, but he couldn't remember where he had learned it. He heard that tune in his dreams at night and it plagued him during the day as well. The company often heard him humming it when he forgot they were around. They had begin to worry that their leader had lost it when he began humming all the time. Sometimes he didn't even realize he was doing it, they noticed. There was something going on with him, and they knew it had to do with whatever Thessa had done to him.

After a few days traveling by river, Glorfindel had borrowed a horse from a small town. They had rode for a few days, making camp when the horse tired and hitting the road again as soon as it regained its energy. Thessa felt bad for the poor creature, she felt like they were working him to death and would apologize to gelding whenever they stopped.

Her chest pain had gotten much, much worse. Her stomach had started to feel queasy and she now had pounding headaches as well. She tried to fight it off, and she knew Glorfindel had started to take notice. When they resaddled their horse and got moving again after midday, Thessa's body seemed to reach its limit. They had made it all the way to Dunland by now and Thessa did not want to turn back.

A migraine began to develop as they rode on and she was straining to breath with the pain in her chest. She was hunched over from the pain and soon a wave of nausea came over her, causing her to lose her breakfast over the side of the horse. Glorfindel pulled them to a halt and quickly set her on the ground, looking her over. He knew she had been in pain and that it had been steadily increasing, but he thought that she would mention it before it became unbearable.

"My lady, are you alright?" Glorfindel asked, checking her over. Thessa tried to respond but tremors began to shake her body violently. Glorfindel did not know how to help her. They were closer still to Rivendell than they were to her home, but if he turned around, could they get there in time? Thessa's body ceased its shaking, but she had also lost consciousness. That was answer enough for Glorfindel. He would ride back north to the nearest town, find a raven and send word to Gandalf. He would know what to do.

Two weeks had now passed since Lord Elrond assessed the dwarves map. They had gathered once again, He, Gandalf, Thorin, Balin and Bilbo, on the moonlit terrace to read the moon runes. Thorin handed the map to Lord Elrond, who took it over to a large pedestal that was illuminated by the moon. A midsummer's eve crescent moon, to be exact. They watched as the moonlight touched the map, revealing glowing, blue runes that were invisible until now.

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks," Lord Elrond read. "And the setting sun with the last light of Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole."

"Durin's day?" Bilbo asked.

"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf explained.

"This is ill news," Thorin interrupted. "Summer is passing, Durin's day will soon be upon us."

"We still have time," Balin said.

"Time?" Bilbo queried. "Time for what?"

"To find the entrance," Balin clarified. "We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened." That drew Lord Elrond's attention.

"So this is you purpose," he stated. "To enter the mountain."

"What of it?" Thorin growled.

"There are some who would not deem it wise..." Lord Elrond eyed the dwarf carefully and returned the map to him.

"What do you mean?" Gandalf inquired.

"You are not the only one to stand guard over Middle Earth," he replied, turning away from them. Gandalf had suspicions that Saruman had caught wind of his whereabouts and traveling companions, and Lord Elrond just confirmed them.

"Thorin, Balin," Gandalf called to the two dwarves. They came over to Gandalf, leaning close to hear his whispers.

"There will soon be a counsel meeting of my order. Saruman will not favor this quest and will try to stop you," the wizard said.

"Well what should we do?" Balin asked.

"When I am in the counsel meeting, I will stall for time. You will all gather your things tonight and leave secretly. I shall meet you in the Misty Mountains two days hence, do you understand?" he finished. When he saw their nods he stood back to his full height and turned toward the door.

"Good luck to you all," he whispering, leaving in the direction Lord Elrond had disappeared. Balin, Bilbo and Thorin all hurried back to their room. The rest of the company was roasting sausages over a fire they had made from the furniture. There was some laughter for the first time since Thessa had left, but they still were not back to normal.

"Lads! Quickly, gather your things," Balin whispered hurriedly. The company looked of to Thorin for clarification.

"The wizards are meeting to try and stop us," he said. "Gandalf will stall them while we slip away, but we must make haste. Pack what food you can, and leave behind what we can stand to part with." Once Thorin had finished speaking, the dwarves started to scramble about the room, grabbing their things and stuffing their bags. Soon they had packed all they needed and Balin lead them out through the gardens and the secret pass, exiting the Hidden Valley and heading back into the wilds.

After a couple hours, Glorfindel arrived with Thessa in a small village. He asked the first person he saw if there were any ravens in their village that could use to send a message. The woman he spoke with pointed him to an old barn where he found a couple of good ravens. He quickly penned a note to Gandalf, explaining Thessa's illness and told them that he was returning with her to Rivendell. He sent the raven North and purchased a new horse. He quickly saddled the beast and leaned Thessa against his chest. With an arm around the woman and a hand on the reigns, Glorfindel took off, back to Rivendell.

After their meeting with Saruman, Lady Galadriel and Gandalf sat on a balcony, discussing the return of the Necromancer. He glanced up when he saw a raven approaching them, holding out his arm as a perch. When the raven landed, Gandalf untied the roll of parchment and read its contents. Lady Galadriel knew he had just received bad news.

"The lady Thessalia is gravely ill I fear," Gandalf said, handing her the note. She read the parchment and looked up at the grey wizard.

"I have seen this before," the Lady Galadriel said. "When a mermaid finds her soulmate, she is bound to him. The further apart they are, the sicker she will become. Glorfindel will be here in a few days, and the closer they get, the better she will feel." Gandalf froze then. Glorfindel was returning Thessa to Rivendell, where Thorin would be. Except the company is now miles away and trudging up the Misty Mountains in the other direction. Lady Galadriel heard his thoughts and looked up to him with a worried expression.

"Is there anyway we could make up for the lost time?" Gandalf asked?

"The eagles," Lady Galadriel responded. What an excellent idea! It would still take a day or two, but that was the timeframe he had given the company anyway. Lady Galadriel sent for the eagles and told Gandalf they would be here soon.

"Thank you, my lady, for your helping kindness," Gandalf bowed to her. She smiled down at him.

"Think nothing of it, old friend," she smiled, leaving Gandalf to prepare for his departure.

Gandalf rushed to his rooms to gather his things, hoping Thessa would hold out just a few more days. He heard tapping on his window and turned to see a giant eagle perched on his balcony. He quickly grabbed his staff and a small satchel before climbing onto the bird's back. He told the eagle what direction to fly and who to look for. With a flap of its huge wings, they were off, soaring over the valley and south over the Bruinen river. It was nightfall before they spotted Glorfindel and Thessa.

The blond elf waved to them as they approached, explaining to Gandalf, Thessa's condition.

"I'm afraid, my friend, that this eagle can only comfortably carry two passengers," Gandalf admitted. Glorfindel raised up his hand in understanding.

"It is alright, Mithrandir, I will return to Rivendell by horse," he said, smiling slightly. Gandalf gave him a quick nod as they hoisted Thessa's body onto the eagle's back. "Fly, my friend, make haste," Glorfindel waved them off. The eagle gave a great flap of its wings and lifted its two passengers into the air and headed Northeast. Next stop, the Misty Mountains.