A few kinda funny places here. This chapter was more or less to move things along and give information.

The dwarves spent the next week going between visiting with Kili, weapons training, and finding ways of annoying their hosts without getting themselves thrown out. Kili seemed to be getting better every day, but there was no doubt that he would not be well enough to leave when Thorin planned. He was very bothered by this. He would be leaving both of his nephews behind in the care of elves. He was warring with himself. He realized that he owed Lord Elrond a great debt for helping them. Kili would have perished for sure, and without knowing what the map said, they could make some serious errors and miss their chance to retake Erebor. So much was at stake. On the other hand, elves had always been the enemy. They were to be hated and never trusted.

"Are you alright, Uncle? You look a bit stressed there," said Kili. Fili finally taken to leaving his brothers side a little each day. He was training with Dwalin in a courtyard the elves had set aside for visitors.

"Just thinking. I do not want to leave you here, yet I know it is best. I want to see these elves as our enemy, but I can't. I can't help but wonder if I have been wrong, but then I remember Thranduil and his betrayal."

"Not all elves are Thranduil," said a voice.

Kili and Thorin turned their attention to the door. They forgot that Glorfindel was there. He was never far from the young dwarf. No one had figured out why. Thorin sent him one of his famous scowls. "Do you always listen into others conversations?"

"I did not mean to, but you must understand that elf hearing in very good. I can hear a conversation going on near the stable. The closer one is, the harder it can be to shut it out. But I meant what I said, not all elves are Thranduil. You will find that he is not a favorite for many of our kind, outside his kingdom."

"I did not think an elf would speak ill of one of his kin, not matter how true."

"Yes, well, we have never really gotten on. In fact," he laughed, "I was banned from his halls about fifteen hundred years ago. He would have banned Elrond's sons as well, but he did not want to put more strain on the relationship between Rivendell and the then Greenwood than there already was."

"What did you do?" asked Kili.

"We added dye to his bath that turned his hair and skin crimson for two weeks. And I call him Thranny. He hates it. That ellon has never had a sense of humor."

Before Thorin could stop it, he laughed, though he tried to cover it with a cough. Kili felt no such qualm and laughed hard enough to cause himself discomfort. Glorfindel offered a mischievous smirk before saying, "He makes a magnificent red head."

Thorin lost it for a moment.

"Glorfindel, I hope you are not hindering the progress of my patient," said Lord Elrond, who had just entered the room.

"Of course not. I was merely sharing an old memory."

Elrond's response was a raised eye brow. He turned to his patient and began his daily check. "How are you feeling today, Master Kili? Are you having any stomach issues?"

"No. Can I have meat now?"

Elrond chuckled. "You have asked me that question every day and the answer has remained the same, except for today. We had Rangers stop by today. I sent a request for venison a few days ago. I believe your stomach will be able to handle it."

"Thank Mahal!"

Elrond finished his work and turned to the king in exile. "Thorin, tonight we shall be able to read your map. If it please you, meet with me after we dine tonight. Bring whoever you like with you, I have already informed Gandalf." With that, Elrond took his leave.

Kili looked to his uncle with sad eyes. The company would soon be taking their leave. Glorfindel cleared his throat and he, too, took his leave.

"When will you be leaving?"

"Tomorrow, most likely. We have lingered here too long. The map will determine the manner in which we shall take our leave. Lord Elrond knows we are on a quest, and I believe he knows what we are up to, but he has no proof. I have no doubt that he will try to persuade us from our goal."

"Then let us say our farewells now." Kili and Thorin turned to see Fili enter the room. We are less likely to be disturbed right now."

The three dwarrow spent the next two hours doing just that.

When Thorin took his leave from his nephews, he did not get far down the hallway before he hear his name called. He turned and saw the Lord Glorfindel motion for him to follow.

"Eavesdropping again?"

"No, I can guess your plans. I merely desire to put your mind at ease."

"And how will you accomplish this."

"I know you wonder why I spend so much of my time hovering in the vicinity of your nephew. Though I will not give you the particulars, I made a promise long ago. It is only now that I know I must fulfill it. I shall accompany your nephews to Erebor, where I shall assist the Line of Durin for a time. I am not tying myself to your line, and will come and go as I see fit."

"What makes you think that I will allow such a thing? Surely you know that your kind would not receive a friendly welcome from the residents of the Mountain?"

Thorin watched as the elf removed something from his tunic. "This is how I know."

The dwarf inspected the token with awe. It was first age, from Durin the Deathless himself. "Where did you get this?"

"I have said I shall not share the particulars. He said this would validate my claim."

"Where were you when you when Erebor was taken?" the grief was heavy in Thorin's voice.

"I was seeing a friend to the Grey Haven's. By the time I became aware of it, Thror had turned away any and all help from the elves. And we did try to help. Your father, Thrain, finally managed to accept some aide in secret. Elves and dwarves have long been at odds, but it is not always so. Even in the halls of Thranduil, there are those who had compassion for your plight. You, yourself, know the helplessness of loyalty. Remember that when you reclaim your home?"

"You believe it is possible?"

"I believe many things are possible." The elf lifted a chain and medallion from his neck. "Should you find yourself in Mirkwood, this will identify you as a friend of mine."

"I thought you were banned from that place."

"I am, but I still have friends there, one of whom is Thranduil's son, Legolas. Make no mistake, you will be taken captive, but you will find your stay will be far more pleasant."

"I am not going to just trust your people, but I find it difficult not to trust you. I do not say this lightly; thank you."

Glorfindel gave a slight bow and moved on his way. This encounter had done nothing to help his conflicted feelings. As Thorin walked to his room, he resolved that he could release some of his hatred for elves, but only for some and only to a degree. He will continue to keep his guard up. He also decided to look into Glorfindel's mention of aide. If Rivendell had indeed tried to help, perhaps some of their anger is misplaced.

After leaving Thorin, Glorfindel made his way to the heirs' room. The brothers were speaking in low tones when he made his presence known. "Not over doing, are you?"

"You're one to talk. Wasn't it you that nearly caused me to open my wounds with your story about the red headed elf king?'

"Everybody loves a red head."

"That is why he has never taken a wife," said a voice.

"Not many red headed elf maids to be found in Imladris," said another.

Fili and Kili looked a bit startled while Glorfindel groaned.

"Elladan…"

"Elrohir…"

"At your service," they said in unison.

"I think we may have to make this a thing, brother," said Elladan.

"I think you are right, brother."

"Hey," said Kili, "that's our thing!"

"That's what the hobbit said," said Elrohir.

"When he told us about your arrival," said Elladan.

"What are you two doing here?" asked Glorfindel.

"Well, we overheard your little conversation with Thorin," said Elrohir

"What conversation?" asked Fili

"The one where our Balrog Slayer plans to escort you to Erebor once the dwarfling here has recovered," said Elladan.

"I am not a dwarfling!"

"Where's your beard then, if you are an adult dwarrow?"

"Elrohir! You know better than to ask a dwarf about his beard!"

"But Elladan…"

"I'll have you know that I am an archer and keep it trimmed…."

"ENOUGH!" cried Glorfindel.

The four other occupants moved not a muscle. The elf lord turned to Elrond's sons. "You know better."

"How else are we to know what is going on," said Elladan

"No one tells us anything," said Elrohir.

"I wonder why….." muttered Glorfindel. He turned his attention to his charges, for that is how he saw them. "I have promised your uncle that I will see you two safely to the mountain after you are both able to travel. I shall be staying on for a while, to fulfill a promise I made many years ago."

"And we are coming, too," proclaimed Elladan.

"Excuse me?"

"Well," said Elrohir, "you can't expect us to stay here and let you have all the fun."

"And we may or may not have hidden one of Ada's favorite daggers in the wall of one of the guest rooms of Erebor. This would be a fantastic opportunity to retrieve it."

"You mean the one your mother had commissioned when you were born that he has been looking for these past three hundred years?"

"We thought it would be a good joke."

"We didn't realize it was that dagger. We had actually forgotten about it, until the dragon came."

"And the dagger was completely out of reach."

"Idiots," muttered Glorfindel. "We will not be able to leave without you, will we?"

"No, we would follow regardless."

"So," said Fili, "you will see that we make it to Erebor?"

"Yes. We shall further discuss our plans when your uncle and company take their leave."

"I have a question," said Kili.

"What is it?"

"Why did they call you Balrog Slayer?"

Glorfindel groaned as the twins preceded to tell the story of his epic battle and return to Arda.

The sun had not yet risen as Fili and Glorfindel watched the dwarves leave the Hidden Valley. One was anxious while the other was unnervingly calm.

"Will Lord Elrond send out someone to search for them once he learns of their going? Will we be in any kind of trouble?"

"No. He undoubtedly disagrees with the quest, but he will leave them be. It is out of his hands. He would have tried to delay your uncle, but he would never imprison him for seeking to regain his home."

Fili released a sigh of relief. He could admit to himself that that was one of his worries. As the last of the Company disappeared from sight, they turned back to the figure in the bed. Though he was a bit livelier, Kili was unable to do much on his own, and still slept long hours.

"What plans do you have for us?"

"We shall be taking a longer route than your uncle, but I have little doubt that we may arrive around the same time. We shall be traveling on horseback. You and your brother shall double with us. Now, now. I do not mean that as an insult. Our horses have longer life spans and more endurance than others, it would just be quicker."

"Do you really think that we could arrive around the same time, even though we shall be leaving seven weeks after them?"

"They shall be on foot, and crossing through the mountains will slow them down, as will traveling through Mirkwood, which, I believe, is Gandalf's plan. It will be tight, but I believe they shall make it in time."

"In time?"

"I was invited to the reading last eve. The Company must make it to the mountain by your Durin's Day. Then, and only then, will a secret door be revealed. That is how they shall enter the mountain."

"Durin's Day!"

"Fear not, Fili, I and a few other's believe this quest ordained by the Valar. They shall make it, though there will be great opposition, that we, too, shall undoubtedly encounter."

"I suppose you would know."

"Do not put your faith in me. I have inclinations. The Lady Galadriel knows far more than I, and I know she is in favor of this quest as well. If she felt it would bring disaster upon Middle Earth, she would do all that she felt she must to stop it. Lord Elrond also has such a gift, though he has not seen much in regards to this quest."

"What does our reclaiming our homeland have to do with the rest of Middle Earth?"

"Everything. There is a darkness growing in the East. An old Enemy."

"Sauron? He was destroyed."

"No, Master Fili, he was not. He was defeated, but the one who defeated him neglected to destroy the ring. Sauron's life force is tied to the ring. As long as it exists, he, too, shall exist."

"Well, where is the ring?"

"No one knows. It is thought to have been swept out to sea. To answer your original question, Erebor is in a ripe spot. If Smaug lives, he would be a powerful ally to our enemy. If not, the mountain is a stronghold, and the riches within would enable him to procure the help of Men and dwarves who care not for the lives of others. Erebor must be reclaimed. It will be vital for what lies ahead."

Glorfindel turned to watch the young dwarrow beside him. He had gone pale and sought a place a sit down lest his legs give out. It was a lot of information to process.

"Does Thorin know?"

"No. It is not the right time. He needs to focus on the job at hand. He needs to focus on not giving in to the sickness that plagues his family. He has been warned that it is a definite possibility. Do not let your heart be heavy. It may not even be in your lifetime that Sauron will strike, but we must be prepared. We must first focus on your brothers' recovery and our own travel plans. We will leave the planning of war for a time far into the future."

"I thank you for telling me. This is why you will dwell with us, isn't it? Was this the promise you made?"

"I promised to help the dwarrow at a great time of need, with a few other specifics added in there. I know that now is the time to fulfill that vow. That is all I shall say on the matter."

There was a stirring from the bed. "Fili, what are you doing up at this hour? Thorin…. have they gone?"

"Yes, they have gone. Rest, Kili. We need you well as soon as possible."