"So, the plan was to not wake the dragon, eh?" asked Elrohir.

Nobody answered the inane question. Everyone was thinking the same thing: they need a plan.

"Once he leaves the mountain, it will not take him an hour to get here. Bard, you must take your children and flee," said Tauriel.

"We have nowhere to go," replied Bard.

"So you will what, stay here and burn for sure? If the company cannot stop him…. This town is nothing but kindle," said Kili.

"It is your company's fault! You, your uncle, and his company should never have come here!"

"It was inevitable," interceded Glorfindel. He turned his full attention to Bard. "It was prophecy, but not only that. Something evil has been stirring in the East. I and a few others have an inkling, but we hesitate to have it spread just yet. That mountain is in a prime location. Whoever controls that mountain will have an advantage. Better it be the hands of its people than the evil we believe seeks to control it."

"That drake must be destroyed," said Legolas.

"But how? There is no weapon that can pierce its hide," put in Tauriel.

"What we need is a black arrow, and that will be impossible to obtain in time," said Glorfindel.

Bard went still before looking up, and reaching for something above the table. Eyes grew wide when they realized he held a black arrow.

"I thought they were all lost," said Fili.

"I am descended from Girion's line. This has passed from son to son since the day we were forced to flee Dale."

"We must get you to the wind lance," said Glorfindel.

"The Master has people watching me. The guards will never let me near it."

"We need a plan. Legolas, you and I will get Bard to the wind lance. Elladan and Elrohir, see if you can start urging others to leave as well. Fili, Kili, I promised your uncle I would get you to the mountain, and I plan to keep that promise. I have no doubt that there are people here who will react worse than Bard did to your presence now. Because of this, you may be more of a hindrance than a help. Tauriel…"

"Get the children and dwarrow to safety."

While Bard told his children goodbye, Legolas explained the general layout of the town to the twins as they walked out. Glorfindel and Tauriel locked eyes before he followed Bard out of the door. Kili saw this and remembered the promise he made himself.

"Sigrid, Bain, Tilda, I need to gather what you can. Grab anything important to you, but nothing too large. Fili, gather as much food as you can find. Tauriel and I are going to go ready the boat."

Fili understood what his brother was doing and prodded the children to do as they were asked. Tauriel gave Kili and strange look, but followed him down to the boat anyway. They began removing things from the boat to ensure there was enough room and so that they would not be overloaded.

"Is there a reason you wanted to get me alone?" she asked.

"Yes, but I am not sure how to start. I guess the only choice it to just get it over with. Legolas told Glorfindel to leave you alone."

"What?"

"Glorfindel is a loyal. He saw that Legolas was upset with him and he sought to make it right. I could not hear the conversation myself, but I read body language fairly well. It was obvious to us all, well, all but Glorfindel, that Legolas cares for you as more than a friend. It is also obvious that you do not share the sentiment, but that you and Glorfindel are attracted to each other. Don't bother denying it."

They continued working in silence, Kili glancing at her every few seconds.

"While your friends resided with us, Thranduil told me not to encourage Legolas. He wishes for him to make a better match than a Silvan elf. It hurt, but not for the reason you may think. He raised me, you see. He led me to believe that I could do anything and be anything. I am young, and to have reach the position I held was a great honor. Suddenly, he found me lacking, and there was nothing I could do about it. You cannot change who you truly are. I had never entertained the idea that Legolas saw me in that light. He has always been my brother and my friend. I cannot see him as anything else. Thank you, for telling me."

"I thought it only right that you should know."

The others were making their way down the stairs. The children carried spare clothes, blankets, and a few trinkets and books. Fili had managed to gather a good assortment of food. It would all be needed. They were filling the boat when they felt it. The entire town shook. Smaug, was coming their way.

They began to work quicker. Sigrid and Bain climbed into the boat, but Tilda stood frozen.

"Come on, Tilda, into the boat," coaxed Kili.

"Are we going to die?" she asked, trembling.

Kili got out of the boat and walked over to her. "Not today."

They made an odd sight. An elf, three children, and two dwarrow. Many people were giving the dwarves nasty looks, but none tried to start anything. Everyone was searching for loved ones and friends, and they were no different for the moment. Also, they were looking after the children of Bard the Dragon Slayer. The children could not move an inch without hearing about how their father had slayed the dragon. They were desperately searching for him. Tauriel saw them first.

"Over there!"

Bard and the four ellon spotted them about the same time and were quickly making their way towards them. The children flung themselves at their father. Tauriel, Fili, and Kili were happy to see that all of their companions survived.

Legolas approached Tauriel first, smiling wide. "I glad you are safe."

"I am glad you are as well, mellon." She had forgotten, for a moment, what had transpired in the dungeons. She was determined to fix this. She did not wish to hurt her oldest friend, but she would decide who she would and would not be involved with. Legolas saw her expression become a bit fierce and wondered at the cause. He turned to Bard to discuss the best course of action for the people of Laketown, since they had named him their leader. He missed the lingering looks Tauriel and Glorfindel gave each other.

Glorfindel could hear the conversation going on between the two, and turned his attention to the red head. "You are well?"

"Yes, thank you. I see that you are also well. Did you have any trouble getting Bard to the wind lance?"

"Legolas and I distracted the guards long enough for Bard to get up to it. Once the panic set in, no one cared to try and stop us."

Tauriel looked him in the eye. "Legolas does not decide who I am friends with, or who I have affection for. And neither do you. Just so you know, I have never had feelings for Legolas above that of a brother and friend. That will never change, no matter how much he may wish it to."

Their eyes held. She arched her brow as if in challenge. Glorfindel looked back at his friend. "I cannot hurt him like that."

"I am not asking you to, and I can handle him."

"We cannot be."

Tauriel felt tears begin to build, but she held them back. "Can we not be friends, then?"

Glorfindel felt conflicted. He felt such a drawing towards her, but it was not her friendship he sought. While Legolas harbored feelings for her, it was outside his grasp to see if there could be something between them. "I cannot. I am sorry."

Tauriel nodded her acceptance and went to check on the children, who had begun to set up a rough camp while their father talked with Legolas. Glorfindel noticed Kili watching him. It was obvious the dwarrow had overheard their conversation, and disagreed with his handling of it.

"Why?" he asked. "Why do you deny your heart?"

"I do not deny it, I simply realize it is not possible. I do not know how deeply he loves her. I will not break the heart of my friend, no matter the cost to myself."

"What about what the Lady Galadriel said to you, before she left Rivendell? 'Do not fear should your heart be taken.' I thought she meant that you were afraid of love, or to love, but it is something else entirely. You're afraid for your friend. I have come to understand that heartache is a serious matter for your people. You and Tauriel could be happy together, but you have decided you cannot be, all because Legolas refuses to accept that she will not care for him as he wants her to. Am I the only one who sees that he is being a horrible friend to you both? No, Elladan, Elrohir, and Fili see it too. If he truly cared for you both, he would let you be happy. Love is selfless, not selfish."

Glorfindel had no rebuttal. Kili was right. "You have given me something to think on."

Kili feigned shock. "You mean, I, a simple dwarrow, who has yet to see his eightieth birthday, has taught the mighty Balrog Slayer something new?! Impossible!"

"Maybe not something new, but you have reminded me of a truth I forget applies to everyone, not just myself. Regardless, now it not the time to revisit this. Legolas still plans to ride to Gundabad, and we must make for the mountain. Thank you, for reminding me of the Lady's words."

"Kili! Glor… Glor… um, Master Elf, Da needs to speak with you," said Tilda. Glorfindel and Kili thanked her and headed towards where Legolas and Bard were arguing. Kili noticed the Master's man standing nearby.

"And where would you have us go? To your father? He would turn us away for aiding the dwarves, saying we brought this on ourselves. Dale is our only chance. There are no other towns or settlements close enough, or large enough to contain us. Thorin Oakenshield promised the people of Laketown reimbursement for lodging and supplying him and his company. We need it now."

"Good idea, Sire. We can take shelter in the mountain. They'll be beds, stores, heat…. a little bit of gold…"

Before Fili or Kili could release their anger at his statements, Bard silenced the greasy, ex-advisor. "That gold is cursed. We will take only what we need to survive."

The dwarrow weren't much happier with his statement, but they let it go. All dwarves knew Thror was mad, and their uncle had once confided his own fear of succumbing to the sickness. They settled for glaring at the poor excuse of a man.

"If it is to Dale and Erebor you head, then we shall travel with you," said Glorfindel. Bard accepted this, feeling a bit of relief as well. He left to spread the plan throughout the camp.

Elrond's sons brought their attention to a new elf. He was riding towards Legolas and Tauriel. The ellon standing with the dwarrow hissed in anger at something the new elf said. Legolas was angry as well, while Tauriel looked contrite.

"What is that about?" asked Fili.

"Thranduil has ordered his son home, and Tauriel is banished. The Woodland king has laid all the blame at her feet," growled Glorfindel.

"What?! Why?" cried Kili.

"Because he feels that, while Legolas was acting out of loyalty to his friends, he believes Tauriel did it out of spite for an order he gave her."

Kili knew what the order had been. Tauriel did not bother to try and hide the hurt. Kili did not think very highly of the Mirkwood royal family at the moment, and he wasn't sure he ever would. He heard a whistle, and saw their mounts come running out from the trees. Kili turned to his companions to ask how they could have been saved, saddled, and ready, when he caught the twins matching smirks.

"We prepared and released them before we started urging people to flee."

Legolas took the reigns of his horse and mounted him. "Tauriel and I are riding for Gundabad. We will meet you at the mountain with whatever information we can gain."

"Tauriel," said Elrohir, "you will be welcome at Rivendell."

She smiled at him before mounting behind Legolas.

"You are only taking the one horse?" asked Glorfindel. His conversation with Kili had opened up feelings he wasn't ready for. Seeing Tauriel with her arms wrapped around his friend stirred them.

"You need the extra mount more." Legolas replied. Tauriel found herself confused. She recognized his look. Why would he display a hint of jealousy after he had dismissed her? A glance at Kili revealed that he had once more meddled. She mentally shook her head and focused on the journey ahead. She had had enough of hurt feelings. There would be time to sort it all out after they had all completed their tasks.

After the two Woodland elves left, the remaining friends helped people pack up, and began to move out. Glorfindel traveled at the front with Bard, the twins kept watch over the back, and the dwarrow mingled in the middle. All kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, though Kili spent most of his time entertaining the children, who had all been placed in the middle, with dwarven stories. After seeing that they only sought to help, many people found themselves thawing a bit towards the dwarves.

The journey took three days. By the time they made it to Dale, the stores were almost completely depleted. There was, however, some seemingly good news."

"Look, Sire! The braziers are lit!" cried Alfrid.

"Kili! The company lives!" said Fili happily.

Glorfindel smiled. "We will camp here with Bard and his people for the night. Better to approach the mountain in the full light, lest we be thought an enemy."

They all agreed. Besides, one more night couldn't hurt.