Bilbo sat with Rhavaniel as the sun began to set. She was sick with shame and regret that she had caused Kili to fight with his kinsmen. Óin and Gloin had hustled her away so quickly, she had not been able to talk to Kili. She had been crying quietly since then. Bilbo brought her some fish, but she did not want to eat.

Bilbo asked kindly, "Is there anything I can do?"

Rhavaniel sniffed, "You can apologize to everyone on my behalf."

Bilbo sighed, "I think they already know. Those that would listen already know."

"What will become of me now?"

"I think you are going back to your people once the sun sets." Bilbo informed her. "You must be homesick. I know I am, most days. This will be for the best."

Rhavaniel nodded. "Will I at least be able to say goodbye to Kili?"

Bilbo doubted it but, "I will see if that can be arranged."

(***************)

Fili gently chided his brother, "Calm down. The girl is fine. No harm done, and no harm to come since she is going home tonight."

Kili paced back and forth, "I do not want her to go! Bad things happen when we lose sight of each other."

"Bad things happen when you two are in sight of each other as well, from what I have witnessed." Fili pointed out. "It is no one's fault, but we cannot have an Elf with us, or a young girl for that matter. She will cause strife, as she did today without even meaning to. We of the Company are a unit. She barely knows how to fight, and certainly not how to fight as a unit. She does not speak our language, and many of us will never trust an Elf. She cannot stay."

"Bilbo was not one of us, but he proved himself!"

Fili nodded, "Aye, he proved himself after months with us. We are only days away from our goal. And you remind me of another point - everyone on this quest has a contract, including Bilbo. The girl does not, and that is a problem. The Company would never agree to give her one."

Kili despaired, "I know that, but there has to be something else that we can do."

"We are doing the best we can by giving her back to her people. Tell me honestly, what is best for that girl? Shouldn't she be safe at home?"

"She does not have a home, not really."

"Brother, everywhere we look, there are signs. Her people have arrived at this exact time and place, and we need the Elves to be gone. How can you not see that Mahal intends for you to give her back?"

"Why would Mahal give me something that precious just to take it away now?"Kili asked.

He sat down and put his head in his hands, "I suppose Uncle Thorin and our parents felt that. Everyone who was alive that had to flee Erebor felt that...loss. I was protected before and did not even know it, because you can't miss what you never knew existed. Could that be what Mahal needed me to see - enough loss that I would not falter on this Quest?"

Fili pondered his brother's dilemma, "I do not know why that Elf was set upon your path, or you upon hers, but your place is with your family, now more than ever before. I know you will do the right thing."

(*************)

Thorin came to talk to Rhavaniel. "Bilbo, Óin, leave us, please."

Bilbo gave her an encouraging smile and a pat on the shoulder as he left.

Once the others were gone, Thorin handed Rhavaniel her empty quiver, pack, and rain cloak. He had even returned her pocket knife. "I believe these are the only items that you did not steal."

She nodded and handed back the cloak, "This was mine to give."

Thorin waved it away, "Dwarves do not take second-hand charity."

She rolled it up and put it in her nearly empty pack. Her moonstone was still tucked inside a pocket. One other item in the pack was not hers - the enamel feather she took from a dead Orc.

"When you go to speak to the Elves, no more than three from each side should attend." she told Thorin, "Take this." handing him the trinket, "It was an Elf trophy one of the Orcs was wearing. The Guards will know it is Avarin. It is a bit of proof of what Kili and I witnessed."

Thorin took it. "I need to thank you. My nephew is convinced that he would not have found us, would not have even survived without your help."

"But you are not convinced." Rhavaniel noted.

"No," Thorin said bluntly, "I am not. Kili was in a very dire situation, but he would have survived on his own. He is smart and strong. Your presence brought a new set of dangers to him. I would say neither thanks nor blame should be laid, but I will err on the side of graciousness and say 'thank you'."

"I am sure King Thranduil himself could not muster a more gracious gesture." she replied with equal coldness.

Thorin let the insinuation go. "I hold you no ill will, but I will not tolerate your presence among us. My nephew is very important to me. I take this opportunity before you leave to warn you, you will not be spreading lies about Kili when you return home."

Rhavaniel reddened, "I would not! Why would you even suggest such a thing?"

Thorin stared her down, "Because you are a sad little orphan, starving for attention. I think that for you, being terrorized by Orcs was a small price to pay for the longest amount of devoted time anyone has ever spent with you."

Rhavaniel felt the breath leave her body, like a kick to the chest. The ugliest part was that she suspected it was mostly true.

Thorin was not done, "Now that you have developed a taste for attention, I find it very easy to believe you would tell any lie you could think of to get more if it. Telling stories about bad Dwarves would gain you a great deal of attention. I warn you - do not try it. You will not be believed."