"You almost compensate your inadvertence with your efforts now" even among tens of thousands she would recognize that voice. Fíli. He let go of her and instead pulled her into a tight hug, trying to kiss her. But she first wanted to teach him a lesson to never startle her like that again. So she pulled away and gave him a hard push that he fell backwards into the fountain. Laughing he pulled her with him and they started splashing water at each other.

"Now, you've only seen each other for a minute and you're already fighting again" she suddenly heard Kíli next to them. She exchanged a glance with Fíli and also Kíli was in the fountain.

-oOo-

"How did you even get here?" she asked Fíli a few hours later when they had had dinner and were lying in a bed together, snuggled up against each other.

"By pony" she almost rolled her eyes

"I meant why"

"Some time ago, a messenger from Mordor came to Erebor asking for our help to find a certain Hobbit and a magic ring. Bilbo Baggins from the Shire. They offered us Sauron's friendship and three of the seven Dwarven rings as reward"

"They did what? Oh no. What did you tell them?"

"Told them I needed time to consider and we instantly came here to warn Bilbo and to consult with Elrond. I did not expect to meet you here, however"

"Well, I kind of am here because of the same reason. Frodo has that ring. And it is the One Ring. The one made by Sauron to be master over Middle Earth" he took her hands

"Don't worry, we will find a way and I would never betray Bilbo or give them information about the ring. When we arrived here, they told us about the council tomorrow, I bet we can find out more then"

"I know but I'm worried about Erebor. These messengers will know you won't help them and then they attack"

"Don't worry about that either, we're having Erebor prepared for war"

Early in the next morning Fíli accidentally woke her when he tried to pull her closer and cover her again. Kíli was still asleep in the bed next to them so they continued talking quietly. Again he reassured her that Erebor could withstand an attack, that the Dwarves were warned and that he would let them know anything they found out at the council.

"I bet Erebor would have been attacked even if these messengers hadn't come. So we're warned at least. I'm sure Dáin knows what to do if war comes"

"Dáin?"

"I left him in charge of Erebor after Kíli insisted to come with me"

"Yes that seems typical for him. But are you really talking of Dáin Ironfoot, Thorin's cousin? Isn't he already very old?" he chuckled

"He is but assured me there's nothing he couldn't do. And with that age he's seen his share of life and will know what to do, trust me" for a while they were silent, then Fíli asked if she had an idea who else would be attending the council.

"Well, I think Elves, Gandalf, Frodo and perhaps even Strider" of course she had told him about the man yesterday already "maybe they even talked to other kingdoms?"

"I think so. But we'll see soon" too soon for her tase for she didn't want to leave the bed an hour later and get ready for the council.

"I really hope Elrond and the other Elves speaks Westron or they can have a taste of my Khuzdul" Kíli said when they were on their way to the council. She threw a glance at him and saw that he had cut his beard to a few inches since she last saw him except for two longer braids at the side of his chin

"Experimenting with your beard again, huh?" she asked with a grin and got a grin in return.

"Well yes. I thought might be more comfortable on the journey" he shrugged and soon they met other people; Elves. But not those from Rivendell and she didn't recognise most of them. Except for one. The one she had met decades ago in the battle, who had killed Bolg. Perhaps this were the Elves of Mirkwood then.

"Oh not that Elf again" Fíli growled.

"If he locks us up again…" also Kíli joined in.

"Listen both of you" Lhindril said "Today is about more important matters than your disagreement with Elves so if you could please pull yourself together during the council. Thank you" soon they were on the balcony where the council was to be held and she saw that people from all races were there and she suggested that not everything would be as peaceful as she thought. And of course it started when Frodo placed the ring on a small table in their middle. Only now most seemed to realise that this was real and to be taken serious. Boromir, a man from Gondor, thought that the ring should be used against Sauron despite Gandalf assuring him that it was evil through and through. Also Strider piped up, telling him it was not possible because Sauron was the only master of the ring. This again insulted Boromir, saying that a ranger like him had no idea of matters like this. It seemed like now Legolas, the Elf chipped in but she didn't understand what he said because Fíli was complaining about Boromir in that moment. Not that he said the words very loudly that everyone heard them and it seemed like the comment was only meant for Lhindril and the Dwarves. At least the men had stopped fighting and now Elrond spoke that the ring had to be destroyed.

"Is it really necessary to destroy it? What if it was hidden?"

"And where would you do that, Dwarf?" an Elf at Legolas' side asked

"Oh, somewhere where no one would look for it. Or where it was too laborious to find. We could hide it in Erebor's gold halls" oh he had not really just said this?

"Forget that idea right now, Kíli" his brother said shaking his head "This thing doesn't come close to the mountain. What if another dragon comes? Or worse, Sauron? Then there's these Nazgûl who could still find the ring. Which goes for all possible places where the ring could be hid. It will put its guardians in danger and it would be only a question of time until it's found. No, it has to be destroyed"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli, son of Glóin got up and tried to cleave the ring with his axe. But all he achieved was that his axe broke and the Dwarf fell back. The ring didn't even have a scratch. Elrond explained that the only way to destroy it was to throw it into the fires of Mount Doom where the ring had been forged. Naturally, Boromir complained again but then Legolas agreed with Elrond.

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it." Gimli asked angrily "I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf" Kíli and Glóin jeered at that while the Elves seemed insulted and got up, towering over the Dwarves. Legolas held them back before something happened but the Dwarves were enraged anyways and jumped up too, while Lhindril tried to stop them. To make matters worse, Strider and Boromir, who had been in another fight now also took part in this one that got worse by the second. Some Elves started discussing in Sindarin and as he had promised, Kíli started to shout at them in Khuzdul. Now Gandalf tried to intervene but he only got into a fight with Boromir but she couldn't even say what it was about because everyone was talking or shouting at each other. Glóin even got physical with an Elf and Elrond tried to tell them to shut up while Lhindril just sat there, watching the scene and didn't dare to try and stop her husband for fear of becoming involved as well. Finally, Frodo was the one that managed to stop them.

"I will take it!" he said "I will take the Ring to Mordor, though I do not know the way" they all looked at the Hobbit and while Elrond looked pleased to have found someone to do it, Gandalf seemed worried. Lhindril bit back a snort because he had been the one who wanted Bilbo to go on the quest to Erebor. But finally he agreed and offered his help. Also Strider got up.

"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword"

"And you have my bow" Legolas said, joining the forming group

"And my axe" Gimli offered. Lhindril saw how the two Dwarven brothers exchanged a short glance

"I think it's time for a new adventure. Fíli"

"and Kíli, at your service" now also she got up.

"Don't think you can just send me back home while you're going on that adventure. Who knows what will happen. I'm with you as well"

"You carry the fate of us all little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done"

"Oh now he has to make it about himself, doesn't he?" Kíli muttered and suddenly the other three Hobbits that had accompanied Frodo to Rivendell jumped out of the bushes and demanded to be part of the group too.

"Twelve companions. So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring." Elrond announced

"Great" Pippin said "Where are we going?"

-oOo-

The whole afternoon Fíli and Kíli tried to convince her that she shouldn't come. That it was too dangerous and she should return to Erebor where, despite the war that was sure to come, she would be safe. They wanted her to take charge of Erebor in case something happened to them and directly deliver the new information to Dáin. But Lhindril wouldn't be swayed. She told them that travelling to Erebor would be dangerous too even though three other Dwarves would be with her. Finally, she escaped the discussion when Elrond came to see her because he said he needed to speak to her.

"I realise that you have questions. Most of all about your mother. Which is the reason I wished to talk to you" he remained silent for a short while "She has passed away a few years ago"

"Oh" she stopped and felt like her breath was gone for a while "How… did she die?" she felt tears in her eyes and Elrond placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I am sorry for your loss. She passed away from natural causes. We buried her in Rivendell, as she had wished. We should have let you know." with tears now streaming down her face she remember when she had last seen her mother; on the journey to Erebor. She had been the one to realise that Fíli and her were in love and she didn't dare thinking what would be if she had not said that. If she would still have ended up with Fíli?

"Could I… see her grave, please?" the Elf nodded and started leading her through the place. It seemed like there was something else he wanted to say and so she asked. She often knew that the Lord of Rivendell kept secrets unless you asked him directly and mostly it were such that you didn't want to hear.

"It is about your brother. He too is in Rivendell"

"He's here? Where? Can I see him too?"

"You will" Elrond had stopped and Lhindril saw they had reached what seemed to be the graveyard. And they weren't alone. Strider was there too, standing at a grave. "He is here. Aragorn is here, at your mother's grave"