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The dwarves' stay in Rivendell went far to quickly in Emi's opinion. She sighed to herself as the small hobbit strolled away from the others again. They would be leaving in only a few hours by the cover of night, and Emi wanted just one more look before they left this paradise. The night was pleasantly cool. Breathing in a deep breath, Emi took in the fresh fragrance of the elven house.

"Of course I was going to tell you." Gandalf's voice broke through the silence. Emi perked slightly, eyes scanning for the old wizard. "I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I- I think you can trust that I know what I'm doing." There he was. Over on a path below her. Lord Elrond was walking beside him.

"Do you?" The elven lord asked. "That dragon has slept for sixty years. What would happen if your plan should fail? If you wake that beast-"

"But if we succeed!" Gandalf interjected. "What if the dwarves take back the mountain? Then all our defenses will be strengthened!"

"It's a dangerous move Gandalf." Lord Elrond shot back. Emi looked behind her. Thorin stood a few paces back, his eyes following the wizard and the elf intently.

"It is also dangerous to do nothing!" Gandalf snapped back, oblivious to the onlookers. "Oh, come… the throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright! What is it you fear?"

"Have you forgotten?" Lord Elrond looked at the wizard. "A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall? Gandalf, these decisions do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you to redraw the map of middle earth…" their voices trailed off as they moved away out of sight. Emi turned to Thorin again, only to see him gone. Panicking slightly, she looked around to see him walking off towards the others. His broad shoulders slumped in defeat.

Thorin's thoughts swirled miserably. Was the elf right? Would he fall just as his grandfather had? Just like his father? ...Not that it mattered what an elf thought about his quest. But the dwarven lord was nervous about the trueness of Lord Elrond's words. What if he did succumb to the dragon sickness?

"I don't agree with him!" a slightly anxious voice echoed quietly through the hall behind him. Slowly, Thorin turned around to see Emi standing at the other end of the hall, body tense with agitation. "What Lord Elrond said…" she explained. "I don't believe it could be true. I have never met your father or your grandfather, but I do know you. Well… sort of anyway. And I know you aren't the kind of person to be corrupted by greed. And I'm absolutely certain that the rest of the company would agree with me!" A silence followed. The two just stared at each other for a moment before Emi's brain finally caught up with her mouth. It was amusing to watch her go red in practically seconds as all anger at the elf's words seeped away from her.

"I… I-I am so sorry. You probably weren't even concerned about that! What am I saying? Idiot! Idiot idiot idiot." She smacked herself on the head several times. "Well, sorry to bother you. Very sorry. I'm just being a fool. Well! Anyway! I'll be going now. Yep. Just one last walk about Rivendell before we leave. Sorry! There was no reason to tell you that. Sorry. Why am I still talking? Really sorry to take up your time. I'm sure you have more important things to be doing…" She glanced back at Thorin who was still staring at her. "Yeah… so bye!" And she turned on her heel and scurried away.

"Thank you." The hobbit halted just before she turned the corner. Very slowly, she looked back at Thorin.

"What?" She asked in confusion.

"Thank you." He repeated, holding her gaze steadily. Emi opened and closed her mouth a few times, but nothing happened. She couldn't respond. The blush came back fiercer than even and she quickly disappeared from sight.

…

"What's troubling you laddie?" Balin asked. Thorin looked over at his old friend in surprise.

"I thought everyone was asleep." The dwarven lord said.

"Aye." Balin nodded. "They are." He came to stand next to Thorin who was seated on the small half wall separating the large room from the rest of Rivendell. It provided a beautiful view. A few more plants than Balin could appreciate, but beautiful, nonetheless. "As you should be too. We'll be leaving in not to long and it's better to get safe rest while your able."

"Our burglar has not returned yet." Came Thorin's reply. Balin looked searchingly at his king and sighed.

"So this is what it's all about." He shook his white haired head. Thorin glared at him. "I'll set your mind at peace laddie. Emi's been sleeping in the gardens ever since we got here. She said there was less snoring, so she'd take her sleep while she could still get it." Thorin did not seem particularly happy with this news. "She said she'd rejoin us before we left. Don't worry."

"If she doesn't arrive, then we must leave the burglar behind." The other dwarf frowned.

"It would be no trouble to send someone to get her you know." Balin looked at him. "But that's not why, is it?"

"She likes it better here." Thorin replied, looking out over the elven haven. "She does not belong with us."

"You don't mean it like that." Balin shook his head. "Emi is not one for adventure, that is true. She feels more at home in Hobbiton or here where she doesn't have to worry about getting eaten in her sleep. But she's signed up for this quest and I don't think she'll give up now." Thorin nodded numbly.

A few hours later, the dwarves began packing quietly, an excited hush over all of them. Emi joined them as well, just as Balin had said, though it did not look like the garden had done much to aid her sleep. The hobbit stumbled around slightly in a thin haze, nodding in reply, but not uttering a word. Her eyes continued to blink steadily, as if they didn't appear to be working correctly. But she followed the dwarves as the headed out of Rivendell. The group was quiet, not wanting to wake any of their hosts.

"Be on your guard." Thorin announced as the sun began to peak over the mountains. "We're about to step over the edge of the wild. Balin, you know these paths, lead on."

"Aye." Balin nodded, walking past Thorin who had stepped to the side. The rest of the company began to follow. Thorin sighed. Emi had stopped, looking back for one last look of Rivendell.

"Lady Brandybuck, I suggest you keep up." Thorin called down to her. She looked over in surprise. That was the first time he had called her anything other than 'burglar'. She nodded earnestly and looked back at the elven dwelling one last time before sighing and turning back to follow the others.

Emi was stiff and sore. She never would have admitted it, but she missed those ponies. Traveling on foot was much harder. And although her hobbit feet were tough, Emi was used to the rolling hills of the shire. The foot of the Misty Mountains was much much worse. Emi's feet were covered in cuts and bruises when Thorin finally called out that they would be camping for the night.

The hobbit dropped her pack down immediately on the ground and the rest of her followed. She let out a small groan as she picked her feet off the ground.

"I don't know how you do it!" Nori shook his head, setting down his pack next to her. "It's tiring enough walking so much with shoes on."

"She's a hobbit." Ori said sweetly, as if it explained everything. And Emi counted to five, knowing that if two of the brothers were around, the third would not be far behind.

"Come along Ori!" Dori said, bustling him off. "No time to dilly dally, we've got to unpack and…" Emi stopped listening. She needed sleep now more than anything else, for some reason, her last night at Rivendell brought her no rest. Even though she had not been plagued by the dwarves dreadful snoring, she still could not sleep. Emi still did not want to consider the fact that there was another reason for her unrest. But it seemed the only explanation now.

"Did you hear what I said?" Emi's heart jumped alarmingly. The hobbit looked in surprise to see Thorin standing next to her.

"W-what?" she stammered, unconsciously inching away.

"I said that you were to help Bombur and Bofur with dinner." The dwarven lord repeated.

"R-right… Right! Yes! Sorry, I'll just…" and she jumped up and hurried to go help the two brothers with the rabbits Kili had caught on the road. Thorin let out an annoyed huff and turned away.

"What is it now?" Balin said from beside him. Thorin jumped ever so slightly. How did the old dwarf always manage to sneak up on him like that?

"It's nothing." The raven-haired dwarf walked away from the others setting up camp. Balin followed.

"I know that look laddie." He snorted. "So either tell me now, or wait until I beat it out of you." Thorin sent his friend a bemused glare.

"It's the burglar." He admitted at last. Balin sent a glance over at Emi who was currently teaching Bofur a better way to prepare the rabbits.

"Again?" the old advisor asked.

"We had just finally been able to hold a conversation without it leading straight to a fight, and now she won't even look at me without stammering like a chipmunk." Thorin growled unhappily. Balin let out an unbelieving laugh.

"It's finally happened." The old dwarf shook his head.

"What?" Thorin asked in alarm, his face growing serious. "What's happened?" the other dwarf continued to chuckle. "Balin, tell me." He ordered.

"No lad," Balin shook his head between hearty chuckles. "You're on your own for this one." And he walked away laughing merrily to himself, leaving behind a confused and very annoyed Thorin.

... Yay!

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