Dáin flipped onto his back, sleep just out of reach, although the bed was comfortable with its firm mattress and normally lulled him to sleep after a busy day which included sparing for hours. The previous two days were sinking in. One he was going to be a father again and two; that idiot Fræg was really in the dungeon. Dáin was given charge of him and it took all his willpower not to spare them the trouble and end his miserable life. He decided to personally escort Fræg to the other prisoners first so he could determine if they might be released and banished or just executed. It never crossed his mind to let them remain and he wasn't allowing them to go anywhere near any Longbeard clan if they departed. No, he decided, they could return to Jötunheim.

"Is my expecting the reason you roll over every two minutes?" Azie asked as her hand found his bare stomach and she allowed fingers to slip through soft hairs on their journey to his chest.

Dáin laid his large, battle toughened hand over her soft, delicate one, holding it in place. "Ye almost sent me ta Mandos' Halls with yer announcement. I think ah baby will be good for Durin's an will give the returning dams ah project."

"Hmmm, I am thinking that also. You aren't awake thinking of dams. I've yet to see you get through a conversation involving them."

He chuckled and squeezed her hand. "I was planning Fræg's itinerary in my head. Starting in the morning, I'll personally take him to the ones incarcerated because of him. If he can convince that lot; I will allow him topside two hours ah day as Thráin ordered."

Azie remembered something to tell him. "Young Thorin has talked of nothing but his first time in the Durin lineup at the throne. I always imagined what it would be like and now to see my husband and son in that line makes me proud I was chosen to marry you. I look forward to seeing you again in that line when Thorin weds. Will there be a king's decree when all Durin's marry here?"

"Maybe." Dáin felt himself start to drift off…..finally. "Night," he murmured.

"I tell you, Master Óin, my powers are limited and I cannot control the weather or stop up rivers. You need a more powerful wizard for that," Gandalf snapped, as once again the irritating dwarf was audibly wondering why he couldn't part the river and allow them to cross on dry land. "Valtron is Landroval's eldest son and was the one who carried Bilbo to safety." He turned his attention back to the Great Eagle standing before him. "Carry a wagon with dwarves across and have them unload. Use the wagons loaded with dwarves to ferry everyone over," Gandalf instructed Valtron. "Don't drop the livestock, please."

Sun was setting when the last of the wagons gently settled on the far side of the river and camp was already made and food bubbling in pots when Gandalf caught a ride on the back of an eagle. In the distance he saw two more approaching and had a good idea who they were, so waited a ways from camp to allow Gwaihir and Landroval space to land. "My friends, once again your service to Middle Earth surpasses the simple tasks Lord Manwë charged you with. We are humbly in your debt. Tell us, how does Thorin fare?" While he was greeting the leaders, Óin, Dwalin, Nori, Bifur and Bofur crowded behind the wizard, eager for news. Other leaders also drew near, but not too close. They were in awe of the large talons that could easily grasp their wagons from side to side.

"He is with Elrond," Gwaihir replied. "Do you still need our help?"

"Tell me, did you spot orcs or flying foul things between here and the mountain?" Gandalf asked in lieu of a straight answer.

The great head bobbed up and down. "Scattered orcs on foot and moving towards Mordor. You will find them."

"You didn't see any Nazgûl?" Gandalf pressed.

"No."

"We can handle a few orcs." He motioned everyone back so the birds could leave and watched until they were lost in the brightness of the setting sun.

Thorin woke and instinctively knew it was night. Immediately an elf was at his side and he figured they were watching his eyes. He couldn't hold back the groan with his chest feeling excoriated with a grinding stone. As soon as he ended his outburst of pain, his head was lifted and a cup pressed to his parched lips. Drinking deeply, he tasted cold water with a hint of herbs. The pain subsided to a bearable throb and he relaxed his head back onto the soft pillow. "How long have I been here?"

"Five days, Prince Thorin," a soft voice kindly answered.

"Last time I was under the care of elves, I managed to slip your chains in only two."

The healer allowed a glimmer of smile to creep across his face. "And paid the price."

"I was in my own dwarven bed and not an elven cot, so the setback was worth slipping out and whistling for a ram."

"Just how did you get past our guards and healers?" the healer asked. He was on duty in the tent assigned to dwarves and didn't hear or see the dwarf leave.

"I lifted the edge in the back and slid out," Thorin replied in a satisfied tone.

"I will inform Lord Erestor you are awake."

"It's night; don't disturb him on my account," Thorin offered, not wishing to impose on anyone here, like his previous visit.

"He is in the Hall of Fire with Lord Glorfindel. They are swapping stories and sharing every detail of the days they were parted. Lord Elrond is the only other who they are close to and the lord is also with them." With that he moved away and spoke to another.

Thorin wondered how they did it, but no more than two minutes passed when the door opened giving the three lords who ruled Imladris entrance and they were at his bedside in a flash. Elrond immediately started an exam while Erestor moved to the head to talk with him. "Melcótte, your attendant tonight, was under instructions to fetch me the moment you awoke. We kept you in a healing coma until you could stand the pain."

Elrond finished looking at the raw chest with satisfaction it was healing and not re-infected. "We cannot bandage you or cover your chest. It needs air to allow the skin to regrow."

"How long will I be bedridden this time?" Thorin's deep voice was deceptive. He wasn't going to take orders from prissy elves and needed to get out of bed and stretch his legs.

"We will let you decide. Right now, I need you to sit up and eat." Elrond motioned and a servant who stood in the background stepped to the bed with a tray containing soup and bread.

Thorin's mouth almost drooled and he decided no amount of pain would keep him from his first meal in days. With Elrond's careful handling, his legs were placed over the edge.

"Can you stand?" Elrond asked.

In answer, Thorin gripped the offered forearm and placed bare feet on a rug of braided wool and stood. He was guided to a chair at a small table and he wondered aloud, "Do you always keep furniture for dwarves?"

Elrond smiled at Thorin as he settled him on a chair dwarf sized. "Actually it is for visiting children of either men or elves, but works for dwarves also." He watched Thorin eat and turned back to his companions. "I will be along. Lindir worked hard on your lay, Erestor, so go back and enjoy his efforts."

"I am honored he thought me worthy of song," Erestor commented and addressed Thorin next. "Perhaps when you are able to sit in our Hall, you can hear the lay Lindir wrote about you."

Thorin looked at him in surprise. "Me?"

"Well, you do play a major part, but it is about your father and you and the retaking of the mountain," Erestor clarified.

"Should be interesting," Thorin retorted and returned to his food.

The seneschal's bowed heads to Elrond and departed leaving the lord to sink into a chair sized for his long frame. "How does your chest feel?"

"A lot better than when I was on the bird," Thorin admitted. "The cold affected me and I couldn't stay warm even under the mink blanket."

"I had it cleaned and it will be returned to you. It's been a long time since I've seen a blanket that large of pure chocolate mink."

"We have one of combined summer and winter stoat that will be a wedding gift should I marry. It was made by my grandmother, Paq, for my parents wedding. I haven't seen it since I was young. Mother put it away after father gifted her with a new blanket made from red fox. She saw it in the market when traders came from the Red Mountains and made a comment to one of her ladies she would give anything for it. I was with father when the lady in waiting's husband hurried into the sparing chamber and spoke with a soldier of higher rank. He in turn motioned for General Jötun, who was overseeing a match of seasoned warriors in the ring, including father." Thorin stopped for a bite and drink of water. "Father was in the ring, so Jötun motioned the warrior to his side, eyes remaining on the match. I was standing beside him, so heard everything."

"He said, 'Sir, Princess Lis is coveting ah rich red fox fur blanket. She was asking….,' he stopped when Jötun raised his hand for him to quit talking."

"Jötun hollered, 'Cease the match. Thráin, ye have ah domestic problem that needs yer attention.'"

"Father looked to where Frerin and I were standing, as he let his Warhammer's head hit the sand and leaned on it while he contemplating what the domestic problem might be. Finally he stated, 'I don't see my lads with broken bones or blood running free, so unless it's my wife sending messengers ta say she is in the family way again, I doubt I have ah domestic problem.'"

Elrond chuckled. "I can picture Thráin questioning his general and the tone he would use."

"Aye, I remember the look on father's face when Jötun started laughing and explained the problem. 'Thráin,' he said, 'ye never take into consideration yer lovely wife might want more from ye than just another baby.' This had all the warriors laughing until father held his hand up."

"'I think ye might want ta tell me in private or Lis will know before I do what my answer will be.' He motioned Jötun to him and of course Frerin and I scampered to hear what the problem was with mother."

"Jötun leaned close and whispered, 'Lis saw ah red fox skin blanket that just arrived on ah wagon an is in the market. It is one of ah kind an she is scared someone will get ta it before her. It cost ah pretty price an she said even she didn't have funds ta take from running the household ta splurge on the beautiful blanket.'"

"'Aw, fer crying out loud,' father cried and reached into his pocket for his gold pouch. 'How much is the blasted thing?'"

"'I don't know, but I don't think that is the issue. She wants ye ta buy it as ah personal type gift. You know; the things that get the lasses in the mood?' Jötun explained."

"Father cast glances down at us boys and uttered, 'Right. Ye have said too much already an I'm not explainen what is in it for me at their young age.' He was whispering back and the warriors were getting impatient the prince and ranking general were standing in the middle of the main sparing ring. They didn't care who it was because a match was being held. Father looked around and made his decision. 'I will be back in an hour. Carry on.' He looked down at us. 'Stay here an watch. I'll be back before ye miss me.'"

Thorin stopped and chuckled. "We stayed until the match ended and father still hadn't returned. Jötun was keeping an eye on us, as was Balin. Balin said he would make sure we got back to the family wing. When we entered, starved from not eating for hours; we found our grandparents telling us to wash up and be their guests that night. Frerin quickly asked for our parents and I was getting just old enough to catch looks cast between the adults. Grandmother Dás immediately explained they were on a date and we would see them in the morning."

"'You mean father quit the match for ah dumb ole date with mother?' I asked with all the disdain a fifteen year old dwarfling could muster."

"'I believe you may have another sibling if we are lucky,' Grandmother Dás replied hopefully while she helped Frerin onto his booster seat."

"I went quiet at that and slid into my chair; my mind on losing my brother, Gwarin, only two years before. Frerin was over the pain of a death in the family and hoped for a brother. Seeing I wasn't speaking, Grandfather Thrór took me aside later that night and asked what the trouble was."

"'I don't want another death,' I explained. That's when the king put the title aside and held me for a long time in a rocking chair. I must have fallen asleep, for I woke in my own bed and when I entered the main chamber for breakfast, my parents were there and mother was telling how the red fox hair gave a different look to the bedchamber and she was going to redecorate. Father was teasing her about spending his money, but they were looking at each other all through our meal. The grandparents were gone and nothing was said about a baby, but within a few months they announced another was on the way." Thorin stopped talking and sopped the empty bowl.

Elrond escorted him back to bed after taking him to the latrine at the end of the room. He swung a chair by the bed and sat. "I've never heard you talk so much or Thráin mention a child that died."

"Story for another day," Thorin replied. "Funny, we were forbidden to talk about the death and I would appreciate if you didn't mention my slip to father or any dwarf. Security of the mountain is tied up in my little brother's death."

"Now I am very interested and anything you tell me will be held in confidence. That goes for Glorfindel and Erestor also. They may goof around way too much, like my sons, but all know when to keep a secret."

Thorin got comfortable and asked, "Tell me what your life was like at fifteen? That is if you can remember that far back."

Elrond smiled at the crack. "I may have lived over six thousand years, but I do vividly remember my early years. You see, my twin brother and I were kidnapped when only five years of age. Of course my father had already abandoned us most of the time and my mother was so obsessed with our father's safety she could barely give us a hug goodnight." He stopped when a look of revulsion crossed Thorin's face.

"I thought elves ferociously protected their young?"

"It was the First Age of this world after the rising of the sun. Elves were still young and learning to be the parents we evolved into. Nothing could part me from my children when they were elflings and I even refused a summons to the Havens one year because I didn't want to miss one day of the twins' lives in their infancy. My parents loved us, but were caught up in the struggles that plagued us back then. There was a group of elves who killed other elves and it was they who stole us when they raided the coastal town we lived in. They had a fortress on a hill called Amon Ereb where we were taken to live. My brother and I lived with…..," Elrond paused, wondering the best way to explain his convoluted family. "There was a son of a High King of the Ñoldor in Aman who had seven sons. Two of the seven sons kidnapped my brother Elros and I. Lady Galadriel, Celeborn's wife is the first cousin to the two Ñoldor who kidnapped us."

Thorin chuckled. "Your family makes mine seem sane and tame."

"I am related to most of the High Kings in Aman. Anyway, when Elros and I were thirteen, the War of the Wrath started. We would climb to the highest part of the towers and watch the battles rage all around us. Most nights the sky was lit with firefights between dragons and Maiar. Sometimes Maglor and Maedhros would join us and explain what we were seeing. One day when we were fifteen a Maia rode right into our protected city and announced he was Olórin sent from Eönwë, another Maia who was leading the Vanyar armies. Elros and I gathered with the rest to hear what he wanted. Maedhros and Maglor, the two who kidnapped us stepped forward and greeted Olórin, for they knew him from Aman."

"'I am surprised to see you on these shores, Olórin,' Maedhros called out from the top of a set of stone steps leading into his great hall."

"'The tide of war will turn in our favor, Maedhros, but this city will be destroyed and all inhabitants killed. I am sent to retrieve the sons of Eärendil and Elwing. Your life will be spared and the lives of your band of thugs if you turn them over now and ride away from here. Any harm befall them and we will give you to the orcs and Balrogs,' the Maia announced in a loud tone."

"Maglor stepped beside his brother and pleaded to keep us. 'Olórin, we have come to love them as our sons. As kin to them, I plead you allow us to continue raising them.'"

"'Bring them to me,' Olórin bellowed."

"Immediately hands grabbed us and we were hauled to our captors and kin. Olórin dismounted and I never saw anything so beautiful. It was my first look at a Maia and I could see his power and was frightened."

"He looked at us kindly and then asked, 'Has anyone here ever laid a hand on you?'"

"Maglor objected. 'Not a soul would dare harm these elflings.'"

"'I didn't ask you, Maglor,' Olórin replied and looked back to us."

"We had just been beaten by the cook the night before for stealing food because we never got enough to eat. We weren't growing crops during the war and food was scarce. Elros looked scared, so I answered, 'I am Elrond. Yes, we get beat.'"

"Maglor and Maedhros looked stunned. 'Why didn't you ever tell us?'"

"'Who did these things to you?' Maedhros echoed."

"I looked up to them and started naming names. I could see with each name, their countenances darken. They looked at those they considered loyal followers with new eyes."

"Maglor responded to my charges. 'I should have known kinslayers would have no respect for two small waifs that we displaced. He looked at Olórin. 'It is obvious we can't protect them. As much as it pains me to lose what I consider sons; they will be cherished and never again will a hand or boot touch them if taken back to the Havens of Sirion.' He put a hand on my shoulder and Elros' shoulder. 'Should we ever meet again, don't hate us, for we love you and just tried to make amends for what was done to Eluréd and Elurín.'"

"'Who are they?' Elros asked."

"'Your dead uncles,' Maglor replied truthfully. 'It was by our hand they died through neglect and abandonment.'"

"Olórin reached for us and we were scooped in his arms. He took us to his large white stallion and set us before him. With a final look at the only home we could really remember; we left and rode for a long time until reaching a camp with so many tents you couldn't see across it. We rode by banners with staves and flags we had never seen. Olórin pulled up by a large tent with a standard above the rest. Dismounting, he set us on the ground and with a hand on each shoulder escorted us inside. It was full of armored elves that all looked important. One approached and knelt on one knee so he looked us in the eye."

"'These are your great, great, great nephews, King Finarfin,' Olórin said from behind us. 'Where is Eärendil?'"

"Standing, King Finarfin replied, 'He is forbidden to set foot on these lands although I pleaded his case. He flew back to Aman. I told him, I would find his sons and reunite them in Aman.'"

"'No,' a voice from the back of the tent ordered and the king looked surprised."

"'We can't abandoned them again,' he protested, as another beautiful being came up to us. 'Lord Eönwë, I know nothing was said in the planning of Eärendil's sons, but they are still young elflings and can't fend for themselves.'"

"'Lord Manwë did give me instructions. He said future events in Middle Earth depend on the sons of Eärendil remaining.' He motioned with his hand and an elf joined us. He had a short beard and I couldn't take my eyes off it, for elves didn't grow beards. 'Nowë is without a son since his own son, Cirwë, was killed valiantly fighting the last vampire of Morgoth. He said his home is open to them.'"

"I looked for the first time upon the elf who would raise me to my majority. Around me conversations started up again."

"Another elf asked, 'Why doesn't Celeborn take them to raise? After all, they are his great, great nephews.'"

"Again the Maia answered and it became obvious his word was law. 'He will have great influence on their lives, along with Galadriel. Nowë is more stable in his housing, whereas Celeborn and Galadriel will yet explore the new lands and build cities. Their paths will cross in the future with a permanent alliance.'"

"Another tall, silver haired elf came and looked us over. 'I don't see why Círdan should be stuck with them. Galadriel raised their mother and can do the same with these two.'"

"'No, Celeborn, they must take a different path. No more of this will be spoken,' the Maia ordered and all the elves fell silent at the raised voice issuing a decree."

"Elros leaned over to me and whispered, 'I wish they would stop talking and feed us.'"

"There was laughter from those close enough to overhear and the one called Nowë instructed, 'Take him to my young page, who will be most relieved to see they live.'"

"Lord Eönwë waved his hand and Olórin escorted us out and we marched by several tents and a few rows over to a smaller, yet impressive tent."

"Olórin shouted, 'Erestor, come out; I have visitors for you.'"

Thorin chuckled again. "And I assume you two have been together ever since?"

"Most certainly. Now, you've heard my account of being fifteen and you need to rest. Tomorrow if you can walk around by yourself, I will move you to a private room and you won't have to bunk with them." Elrond pointed to three Dúnedain warriors that were brought in the day before with arrow wounds. They were sleeping since Thorin woke and he didn't really notice he was no longer alone in the large healing room. Elrond reached over and touched Thorin's head, pushing him into a healing sleep.