The dark was upon him and little Hobbit didn't come this way. Thorin looked at his part of the shore but there was no trace of him. Thorin couldn't make out which path did he take so he got back. Up there his dwarves laughed loudly. He liked that sound it connected him to his surroundings better than anything.

Thorin could tell Hobbit wasn't among them, they sounded differently when they were alone. That's why he looked for Halfling. His behaviour started to worry Thorin, not in some direct way, but as part of his group. Elves weren't known for companionship and dwarves knew the strength that was in numbers. Halfling was too much alone lately and Thorin had owed him that talk about Halflings desire to stay behind. They all will be safer that way.

It wasn't hard to find him, he stood alone in the middle of pathways and stared at the moon. Thorin thought he approached him quietly but Halfling turned around quickly looking at guard.

"Oh, Thorin" he smiled that tight smile of his again and Thorin got irritated. Halfling was hiding something from him, in that he was sure. But that wasn't important. "Just meant to find you" Halfling chattered on moving his arms around in hectic manner looking all kinds of insecure "you understand I'm man of my word and writing comes as a word of sorts, you dwarves surely value words…"

"The dwarf's word is only thing that matters" Thorin cut through his words none should doubt dwarf's word "honourable dwarf would do what it takes to honour his word, no matter what price that means. I'll go straight into dragon's flamed jaws if I have to, to honour my father."

"Well I hope that won't be necessary" Halfling frowned looking worried "surely stealth is the better way."

"You think you could do it" Thorin approached him leaning to his face, Halfling looked scared. "Thought as much" he withdrew.

"Now wait a minute" Halfling got upset "I didn't said I can do it, Gandalf said it, and I don't know…"

"Indecisiveness is for weak" said Thorin not turning around.

"I'm here, ain't I?" Halfling shouted finally sounding like a male "I've signed that damn contract and following you through all this madness. I've run from Orcs of all things."

"You didn't mention Trolls" Thorin turned his profile towards him examining his reaction with edge of his eye.

"At least I let ponies go" he argued "that was my task and I did fulfill it" Thorin smirked so he added "after that I got clumsy, but till then I was fine."

Thorin turned around and folded his arms over his chest.

"What, are you complaining we went in to rescue you?"

"No, no, that's not what I said" he lifted his finger waving with it.

"And what are you saying mister Baggins" Thorin mocked him "you did began in saying something about words but you seem reluctant to voice it out."

Halfling clasped his arms behind his back.

"I think all is said" he nodded like he had explained everything. Then the Halfling turned his back to him and Thorin had to agree everything was said. All was packed, mister Baggins will probably just fall behind and disappear without reaching the end of the sentence.

He considered should he say anything more when voices came through the air. Gandalf and lord Elrond had discussed his fate like it was theirs to shape. He could listen to that, his path was before him, his mind set, but then elf turned to the madness and Thorin turned away. Madness in his family was his personal demon and it tormented him during the years. What right did they have to speak of it so lightly?

It was time to go, there's no time to wait for wizards tricks; their mind was already set about him. He was just a mad dwarf who had no right of his own in this foreign land.

As he stormed between his men they all got silenced and got dressed. No words were needed they all followed him in silence and soon they were out on the free air. Thorin could almost smell the wild that laid before them.

They were high up in the mountain when he first turned around and realized that the Halfling was still there. That was a mystery to Thorin. But he obviously misunderstood Hobbit's words.

"Master Baggins" Thorin spoke up "I suggest you keep up." If he decided to earn his title in this company he'll have to walk fast because no one is to be waited. Too many had already knew of their journey. Time was running out.

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