Disclaimer: I own nothing except Eva. Please don't sue, not making money (though there are times that I wish I were).

AN: There are a number of chapters in my repertoire that I have written about the Company's time in Rivendell. So for the foreseeable future, we will be in Rivendell. Hopefully there will be time to do a bit of character development for everyone. Enjoy! And thank you for all the reviews, follows and favourites. Thank you for waiting so patiently.

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Chapter 15 - Just a Little Hope

Thorin stared at the damp stone walls around him, growing ever more angry and fearful with each passing moment. He could feel himself slowly but surely going mad to the depression that pushed at the edge of his mind. Quiet, serious whispers echoed down the sparsely lit passage way.

"He will surely fall, I have no doubt-"

Those words sent icy fear coursing through his veins, and his mind was lost in memories of his grandfather going gold mad before the fall of Erebor. It was his darkest fear, that he would be no different to his forefathers. He pressed himself against the bars of what he now recognised as some type of prison.

"-you forget, he has seen much hardship due to his family's actions."

He waited with baited breath, near silent as he pressed himself against the entrance.

"While I know that he will likely fall, I also know that he is strong enough to pull himself out and fight the sickness that has cursed his line. You do not know King Thorin as I do."

Through the fog of his dream, he could not be sure of who was speaking, but the words left him strengthened, even though he was not at all relieved.

"And what of you?" a deeper voice asked, smugness drenching it.

Footsteps echoed down the passageway this time, and he saw a flash of red and gold that he instantly recognised. "Do you always ask these questions, or it is just when you're bored of playing games with others?"

Eva's voice was sharp in her rebuke, a tone that Thorin had rarely heard from her.

"I don't envy you for your long years, you know." she began softly, pityingly "You have time, but sometimes I think you have forgotten how to live. Sometimes I wonder if you have forgotten what it feels like to fight for something that you believe in."

"And what do you believe in?"

The answer was almost immediate "I believe in love of kith and kin. I believe in the mithril will that all of those dwarves have. And should I fall in this journey, I believe that I would have fulfilled my promise and lived. I would have willingly died for a cause that I believed in. They are the reason I'm still here…." Her passionate rant suddenly went quiet, but the reverence in her voice touched something deep within Thorin's soul when she spoke the next words with such steadfast certainty and power.

"They believe in me, and for that, I would move all of Arda for them."

Unlike the previous times that Thorin had dreamed, this time Thorin woke slowly. His heart was not racing and he was not sweating, but he felt different somehow. On a quest that would likely have very little chance of success, hope was a fickle thing. While Thorin had always considered himself a pragmatic dwarf, her words echoed through his mind and moved him in a way that left him feeling uneasy. He wondered whether or not he should listen to such words, and his uneasiness gave way to frustration and confusion.

As he rose, he reminded himself to speak to Balin later about his grandfather's map. He scanned the courtyard and counted the dwarrow in it, a little bit of tension leaving him when he counted everyone present that had slept there the night before. At some point he had to find time to talk with Eva.

He had an uneasy feeling that there was something she was not telling him.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Morning dawned far more lively than the previous one for Eva. Word had spread overnight throughout the valley that the sconces would be lit in the Hall of Fire that night. She lay in her small cot in the Halls of Healing and listened. Though muffled, there was excited talking on the other side of the door. She allowed herself a small smile before a stifled giggle met her ears. Her eyes snapped open.

"Well now," Eva began "Wha-"

"Shh!" the voice whispered urgently

What in the-

The chatter outside the Healing Halls died down after a while and the ruffling of fabric made her sit up in her cot. Looking over, she saw a child with crop brown hair and muted trousers and tunic emerge from under the adjoining cot. He looked slightly older than her twins would have been, but his eyes were slightly sharper. She turned to the young boy, one eyebrow raised.

"Now, young Master. I believe that you owe me an explanation as to why I was so hurriedly hushed just before." Eva began, her voice kind but firm.

The young boy gave a silly grin and hopped from foot to foot, but Eva knew this tactic very well. Throwing back the covers, she swung her legs out and stood. She was acutely aware that she was not very tall in stature, but over this child, she struck a rather unimpressed pose. This time she crossed her arms and raised both eyebrows expectantly. The young boy soon stopped his playful fidgeting and began to squirm.

"Ada said we had guests the other night," the boy began slowly "but he said that I needed to go to my lessons…" He stepped from one foot to another "Are there really dwarves?" he asked suddenly.

Eva couldn't blame the boy for wanting to skip lessons. She remembered the struggle at one point to get Connor up and to school. Eager curiosity shone in the boy's eyes and Eva knew that he would not wait forever.

"As you can see, young Master, I am no dwarf. But the Company I travelled with are certainly dwarves… and a hobbit as well."

"Hobbit?" the boy began in confusion "What's a hobbit?"

"They are Shirelings, young Master." Eva began warmly "They rarely travel outside the Shire, but I think you will find that this particular hobbit is rather special."

The boy bit his lip nervously, obviously wanting to ask another question but hesitating because it was a near stranger he was asking. Eva knew the look well.

"Ask your question then, young Master. I won't bite." she reassured him gently.

"Can I come with you today?"

Eva blinked "Won't there be people looking for you?"

He nodded "But I want to learn about dwarves! I've never met one before!"

Eva studied the boy for a moment "If You will let me change out of my sleepwear, I think you may have my attention." She paused "What is your name, young Master?"

The boy gave a toothy grin "My name is Estel. Suilad!"

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The dwarves all agreed the next morning that the previous night's dinner was a significant improvement over the green food that had been served previously. The Company were in much better spirits this morning and it showed, though some of them were hesitant about going to an Elven hall that evening.

Breakfast was a quiet but filling affair, the outside table being ladened with a wide array of meats, breads, cheeses and fruits. Each dwarf took their fill and as Bombur emerged with Bilbo, there was a collective greeting by the Company. Bombur and Bilbo were eagerly discussing the new discoveries in the kitchen when a child's voice broke through their quiet chatter.

"Please, Lady Eva? I've already shown you the training grounds. Why can't I see the dwarves?"

Thorin looked up, his curiosity perked.

"Estel, we cannot meet them if they are still asleep." Came Eva's voice, familiar but gentler than any of them had ever heard it. "Also, I'm not actually part of their Company. I don't know how they'll-"

"Miss Eva!" Kili called out "I thought you were still in the Healing Halls!"

Eva came around the corner, this time dressed in hues of purple and lilac. It was obvious that the dress had been modified for her lack of height, the hem of the dress still touching the ground slightly. A young boy was by her side trying to negotiate with her, but when he caught sight of the dwarves all looking in their direction, he quickly ducked behind Eva with a squeak. She saw Bilbo look up from his conversation with Ori and smile as Eva approached them.

"Come have breakfast, lass!" Balin said jovially "The spread is much more presentable this morning!"

Balin did not miss the way his brother's eyes followed Eva as a near-blinding smile crossed her face. Nor did he miss the flash of annoyance on Thorin's face before he quickly schooled his expression. She turned around and quietly addressed the small boy that was hiding behind her dress. Balin saw a cropped mop of brown hair flash in and out of view before Eva turned around.

"As long as I am permitted to bring a visitor. He's been telling me he's been wanting to meet you since we arrived in Rivendell."

Eva walked to the entrance of the courtyard, little hands gripping her skirt.

"A visitor?" Gloin began grimly "Who's come to stare at us this time?"

"Ummm…." came the shy voice of the little boy.

The Company fell silent. Whatever hostility that Gloin had vanished almost instantly as he registered the voice of a child. Gloin stood slowly as he saw the hands on Eva's skirt tighten slightly.

"Oho!" Gloin began, all aggression vanishing from his voice as he rose "Do we have a little Miss or a little Master?"

The boy peeked out from behind Eva and she swore she could almost feel the Company collectively melt. They all saw a mop of brown hair and curious dark eyes study the group hesitantly. From what Eva remembered from Gloin's brief conversation at the Troll Shaws, dwarrowdams were few and far between and children even more precious.

"My name is Estel." the boy said quietly, nervously.

"Well then, Master Estel," Gloin began warmly "I am Gloin, son of Groin. At yer service." The fiery-haired dwarf bowed with a flourish.

Estel peeked out from behind Eva and she stepped aside. He stared up at the red-haired dwarf for a long time with wide eyes, before he said with a bright smile "You have a handsome beard, Master Gloin."

For a split second, there was silence, then the Company exploded into laughter as Gloin blushed and spluttered. Kili roared the loudest, then yelped as he fell off the log he was sitting on. The Company stopped for an instant, then roared with laughter at Kili's misfortune.

"What did I say?" Estel asked with a mix of confusion and dread.

"Oh laddie!" Balin began, wiping a tear of mirth from his eye "I know you meant nothing by it, but when you compliment a dwarf on their beard, you are essentially asking to court them."

Estel's eyes widened in horror as a fresh wave of laughter ran through the Company. He was saved further embarrassment though when Bilbo piped up with "I didn't know that!"

The laughter abruptly stopped.

"You dwarves are so secretive, I'm not surprised he made that mistake. I would have made it." Bilbo huffed "In fact, there's very little that I really know about your background at al. Nobody's bothered to tell me much of anything, and I'm meant to be part of this Company!"

Ori surprised everyone when he said quietly "I think it's about time that changed."

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Lord Elrond made his way quickly through the halls of his home. Ever since Lindir had informed him that Estel had not turned up to his morning tutoring session, he had had the rest of his children search high and low for his youngest ward. Lord Elrond was not concerned, as he knew that his guard would have immediately told him if he had tried to escape Rivendell. He was annoyed though, because this would not have been the first time that Estel had successfully escaped his lessons.

"-getting better. I would think that with practice, yer skills should build nicely."

"Really?"

Lord Elrond huffed as he recognised the voice of his youngest. With an irritated look, he made his way around the corner and down the hallway to the hall to where his newest guests had been staying. The sight that met the Elven Lord made him pause though.

Estel was sitting in the middle of a semicircle of seated dwarves, Lady Eva seated just behind him, watching the young boy. Several plants were laid out in front of him and he seemed to be thinking hard about something. An older dwarf with an ear trumpet stepped forward and picked out two of the plants, laying them down in clear view of the boy.

"Now then, laddie," the older dwarf began quite loudly. He saw his ward wince at the volume of the dwarf's voice "Tell me what ye see."

"This one," Estel began slowly, pointing to the plant on his left "has needle leaves. The other one has really small leaves."

"Aye, keep goin', laddie." the dwarf prompted kindly.

Estel bit his lip and Lord Elrond saw the effort he was going to in order to find something to comment about.

"The one with the needle leaves looks fatter than the one with the small leaves." Estel continued. He leaned down "They smell different too."

"That's important." Lady Eva said, her voice one of instruction rather than conversation "One thing that you have in your favour as a child, Master Estel, is that your senses are far sharper than ours because you are still young. Time has not had the opportunity to diminish your senses as they have our own. Would you like me to crush the leaves so you can smell them better?"

Estel looked behind him "Are you sure they're not poisonous?" he asked "Ada said he would make sure that there wasn't anything poisonous around me because I was so small."

"Quite certain, Master Estel." came the gentle reassurance of a very rotund-looking dwarf "I use these plants to cook with. I added these to me own dinner, and I'm still alive." He patted his round stomach here and the group of dwarves chuckled gently.

Lord Elrond watched with a growing smile as his guests guided and tutored an over-excited Estel to recognise the common herbs that were around the courtyard they were staying in. Eva crushed the leaves in her hand and had Estel smell them, his face shining with delight at learning that they could be used to flavour different foods.

"That's rosemary, Master Estel." Bilbo began as he pointed to the plant with the needle-like leaves "The other one is thyme. Both of them are used in hobbit cooking."

"Speaking of which-" Lord Elrond interjected. The entire Company turned to him and Estel's face fell "It is nearing luncheon, and you've given Lindir and your siblings quite the runaround." He turned to the Company "I hope that he has not been too much trouble. I apologise."

"Don't." Eva began before any of the dwarves could even open their mouths. She stood and escorted Estel back to the Elven lord with a warm smile "Don't ever apologise for Estel, Lord Elrond. If you can't be curious as a child, when are you ever going to be?"

"Can I see you again?" Estel pleaded, his eyes going from Eva to Thorin. "Please?"

"Lord Elrond is hosting us in the Hall of Fire tonight, laddie." began the dwarf with the hearing trumpet "We'll all be there. If yer adad let's ye-"

"Please, ada, please?" Estel begged. "I've learnt so much! Did you know that their braids-"

Lord Elrond gave a long suffering sigh and held his hand up to stop the boy's excited rambling "If you finish the work in your lessons that you were meant to have this morning," he began sternly "then you may come."

Estel was bursting with excitement as he hopped from foot to foot, waiting for Lord Elrond. His stern face softened "Lindir and Erestor are in the Library."

And with that Estel raced off in a cloud of dust.

Eva laughed softly as she watched Estel race off, unaware that a good number of the Company were watching her. Her bright smile remained as she turned her attention back to the Company, specifically Oin.

"Thank you, Master Oin." she said to him, or more specifically his ear trumpet "I couldn't have done that without you."

"Not a problem." the older dwarf replied "He's a good lad, if a little over-excitable."

"Thank you, Lady Eva, for watching him as well." Lord Elrond began "He can be such a handful at times." Eva nodded at the elven Lord "Now, I must take my leave. I look forward to seeing you tonight."

Lord Elrond bowed to Eva and the Company, and they all inclined their heads in response. As Lord Elrond left her smile turned sad, lost in memory, and she sighed quietly as she fidgeted with something that was inside a pocket of her dress. But before she could excuse herself, she was whisked away by an excited Bilbo chattering away in her ear. Her smile returned to its previously happy state as she listened patiently to where Bilbo intended to take her for the remainder of the afternoon.

Thorin grumbled silently to himself as he realised that finding Eva for a private chat might prove to be harder than he initially thought.

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Ada - Father

Suilad - Hello

Adad - Father

AN: Sorry it took so long. Thank you to all of the new follows and favourites. I hope to be able to update soon.