Second chapter of Quest for Erebor. As I said in the last chapter, this one will be a bit longer than the previous one. Hopefully I got Kili and Thorin right.

However I still am unsure how long to make it last, reception for this story seems to be fairly poor so I'll give it a bit longer before I decide.

Either way, until then...

Enjoy.

"Quickly now lads, we haven't much time." Balin urged the company on to pack their gear together for their flight from Rivendell.

Gandalf had been expecting someone might try to stop them. If they were fortunate then they would be able to leave without any fuss. The meeting the wizard was currently in was what would decide it. He expected trouble though, so he had recommended they escape at dawn before anyone noticed just in case.

The sun was barely coming above the horizon as the company made their escape as quietly as possible.

Kili would never admit it, but he was a little sad to see the place go. The youngest of the three Durins did not share the distain for elves his uncle had.

The elves of Rivendell had after all welcomed them fairly warmly, mostly at least. There was of course the occasional glare or look of contempt, but all in all it was a nice place to stop and rest. Despite the lack of much meat, the food was not too bad either. Then there was the women...

Within his own mind, Kili would admit what he said to the rest of the company was complete hogwash. Of course elven women were attractive, the rest of the company, save maybe Bilbo and Gandalf, were morons not to see it.

That one maiden playing the harp had been checking him out too! Then of course that was when Dwalin caught him eye flirting with the female. Had it not been directed at him, Kili would have laughed himself right out of his chair at the look on the grizzled warrior's face.

That was what led to him stumbling into a explanation of why elven women were not attractive, leading to mentioning the one walking behind him at the time was not half bad looking. Thanks to his lousy luck, he realized too late that it was a male behind him. Something Dwalin had been all too happy to point out to every single dwarf around the table.

Dwalin said nothing else but his eyes looked so smug that Kili wished he could throttle the older dwarf. Even with the ass kicking that would follow it would be so worth it.

Never had Kili wished more for the ground to just swallow him up.

Now they were leaving just as suddenly as they had arrived. Due to the early hour they encountered no trouble whatsoever as they left.

Kili looked over his shoulder at the view of Rivendell this cliffside path allowed. The place really was quite majestic, one day, he would revisit this place. Not as just as Kili, but as a prince of Erebor.

"Be on your guard." Thorin called out from the front of their group. "We're about to step over the edge of the wild."

Thorin was right, they were leaving the security of Rivendell and it was time to focus on the way ahead.

"Balin, you know these paths. Lead on." Thorin stepped aside for the eldest of their company to lead the way.

"Aye," was Balin's only response as he took the lead.

As Kili was walking, he noticed that he had not been the only one looking back.

"Master Baggins, I suggest you keep up." Thorin all but growled to the Halfling.

Kili frowned slightly. There was no need to be harsh on the poor lad. He may not be dwarf but he was every bit a part of the company the rest of them were.

The Hobbit actually was a surprise to Kili. Especially from what Kili saw of Bilbo back in The Shire, Bilbo was not someone used to the roughness and perils of the road. Not like the rest of them were. Yet, here he was right with them.

Three moronic trolls were brought before Kili's mind. While Bilbo was partially responsible for getting them all stuffed in sacks, he more than made up for it. Some of the company thanked Gandalf for their rescue but Kili and his brother Fili knew better.

Bilbo may not have fought them, but he was brave enough to stand up to not one, not two, but three giant trolls, to try to protect the company. The Halfling had not the strength, but he had the heart. That was what really mattered.

Bilbo hesitated for only a moment before falling back in line with the company.

Some of the company breathed a sigh of relief once they were back in the open country, even Kili. While he enjoyed their short rest at Rivendell, the allure of the open road was quite appealing.

It was here in the wilderness that the company encountered something unexpected.

Thorin, ever alert for dangers, saw him first and shouted for everyone else to pause.

Kili looked over his brother's shoulder to see the hold up. Up ahead was what Kili assumed to be a Man, if the height and lack of pointy ears was any indication. He was perched on a large rock, obviously waiting for something.

His eyes snapped up in their direction and he smiled. Rising up to his feet, he began walking toward them.

As he did so, Kili took a look at him. He wore a long black coat that covered most of his body, beneath the coat Kili caught sight of what might be armor of some kind. He had no visible weapons but the length of the coat could hide quite a bit.

"Endymion?" Bilbo muttered quietly behind Kili.

Huh, was that his name? This might be someone Bilbo met back in Rivendell. It was the only place the Halfling could have met anyone like this since leaving The Shire.

Thorin, as protective as ever, had his hand gripping the axe he carried tightly but he was not lifting the weapon. Not yet at least. "Who are you?"

The stranger stood a little ways ahead of Thorin, out of range for either to perform a quick attack with anything short of a bow.

He then bowed to Thorin, much like one would to a king. "I am no enemy Thorin Oakenshield. My name is Endymion, sometimes known as The Traveler."

"Never heard of you." The way Thorin said it was a lot like how he said similar words to Lord Elrond upon meeting the elf. This time though, his tone lacked the same level of venom but the same suspicion. Not being an elf did make a difference.

Endymion smiled. "There is a reason for that."

Thorin slowly led the company closer to the Man, Kili knew his uncle was still suspicious but against thirteen armed dwarves and a Halfling an attack by Endymion would be a foolish move.

"And what is it you want?" Thorin was as blunt as ever. Now he stood directly in front of the man, allowing Kili a better look.

Endymion might have been a Man but there was no way he was an ordinary Man. First of all was the abnormal silver eyes, Kili did not know that man people of the world of Men but he knew something like that was not normal. The next thing Kili saw was the marks around his neck. They were definitely scars but they were not random. The scars were in shapes and patterns of some kind unfamiliar to the young dwarf.

"I am actually here to assist in your quest." Endymion said simply.

Thorin scoffed. "Why would we want help from the world of Men?"

An elf offering help would be met with pure hostility, a man with just suspicion. Both would be rejected by Kili's uncle. As a Halfling, Bilbo was tolerated because he was brought on at Gandalf's insistence. The reason for Gandalf's acceptance spoke for itself. If a dwarf was offering to help them then Thorin would happily accept any help given. Much to Kili's chagrin it was indeed a rough and unfair double standard.

Endymion was not given a chance to respond before Thorin just ignored him and resumed walking.

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks," Endymion began, not even looking at Thorin.

Thorin stopped cold.

"And the setting sun with the last light of Durin's day."

Kili's uncle turned around as everyone else stared on in disbelief.

"Will shine upon the key-hole." Endymion finished as he turned to look at Thorin.

"How do you know that?" Thorin snarled.

The only people present at the time Elrond read the map had been the elf himself, Gandalf, Bilbo, Balin, and Thorin. That was what Kili had been told. The rest of the company had been told what the map said but none of them would have told anyone. Bilbo would not have either, he was still trying to earn the dwarves respect. Elrond telling Endymion was also doubtful because he did not support this quest either.

So how Endymion knew that verse was a little disturbing.

"I know many things that would surprise you." Endymion's voice was deathly calm, the kind that few could manage in the presence of the intimidating Thorin.

"What is it you want then? A share of the treasure of our people?" Thorin moved closer to the Man, his posture all but ready for battle.

Endymion's composure did not falter for a second. "No, I have no designs on your treasure Thorin Oakenshield, my desire is to see your home returned to you."

Thorin scoffed once again. That was not a reason he was willing to accept. "No thanks, we don't need your help."

Thorin turned to walk away for a second time when a flash of light sailed past his head, missing by mere inches, to strike a nearby tree.

The dwarf whirled around so fast, Kili thought his uncle's neck might break.

Following the direction it came from, Kili saw Endymion's hand was still raised toward Thorin's. The Man was not even trying to hide the fact that the attack came from him.

Kili's jaw dropped. Endymion was another wizard!

This was likely the only thing that stopped Thorin from attacking him. Everyone else in the company was of the same mindset as well if Kili observed correctly. A wizard was not someone they wanted to engage in battle if it could be avoided.

If he was a wizard, that light had been a warning shot. Endymion was close enough that it was near imposable to miss unless on purpose.

"Will you accept my assistance now?" Endymion's voice was not smug or anything. It was a simple question to Thorin.

Kili understood now, it had not been an attack at all. Merely a demonstration he was a wizard.

Kili thought hard for a moment. Gandalf was still missing, he was not going to rejoin with them until later in the mountains. Until then they were a company member short, a wizard short. When the grey bearded wizard caught back up they would be up an extra wizard. One that had no interest in being pain anything.

Kili may not be the most intelligent dwarf in all Middle-Earth, but he was smart enough to understand two wizards was an unparalleled advantage to their company. One that Thorin could not easily pass up on a whim.

There was also the matter of them being on a limited timetable. They needed to find the doorway as soon as possible, before Durin's Day, when they arrived at the Lonely Mountain. A sixteenth set of eyes at least would be helpful in that regard.

Thorin moved to stand directly before Endymion as he had done earlier. Now, he was staring at the Man with his steely, assessing gaze.

Kili shuddered as he remembered being under that same look before.

Endymion just looked down at Thorin, his expression patient but otherwise blank.

"Ki, what do you think they're doing?" Fili whispered in Kili's ear.

"Starring contest?" Kili whispered back without thinking.

That earned him a light slap to the back of the head.

"You wish to help us reclaim our homeland, our birthright. Free of charge?" Thorin's voice was still skeptical but lacked its previous bitterness.

"Yes." Endymion replied instantly, without hesitation and with absolute confidence.

The dwarf archer had to give the Man credit, most would have been reduced to a squirming mess beneath the glare of his uncle.

"We have many miles ahead of us, unknown dangers, even a fire breathing dragon to contend with. You still wish to join us?" Thorin's glare did not relent.

"Yes." Endymion repeated.

Something changed within Thorin in that moment. Exactly what, Kili was unsure of.

Thorin said nothing else, simply resumed their trek.

It was actually Balin who spoke for Thorin. "Well, since he didn't say no, I suppose you are welcome to come along. Welcome to the company of Thorin Oakenshield."

Endymion threw a small smile Balin's way. "Happy to be along."

No one said much else as they continued their journey.

Kili regarded their newest addition with a bit of curiosity. Endymion did not dress anything remotely like Gandalf, did not have a staff like the graybeard either. It remained to be seen if Endymion acted anything like Gandalf or if that was different as well.

"Huh..." Kili looked over their group. They certainly made a strange company. Thirteen dwarves, a hobbit, and two wizards once Gandalf caught back up. The only way it could get stranger was if they were joined by an orc or an elf.

Hope you liked this one. Some feedback would be more appreciated than you know. If there is something people don't like I would love to know.

Next chapter will see Goblin Town and maybe the chase by Azog. Either way, we are due for some good swords and sorcery action.