As soon as Lhindril wanted to storm out of the bushes to help the Hobbit she was grabbed by the collar. Without thinking about she tried to free herself and kicked around fiercely.

"Don't worry. It's just me" when she recognized Fíli's voice, also the grasp on her neck disappeared. Abruptly she turned around and yelled at the Dwarf, what he thought he was doing. He explained that he didn't think it was a good idea to lunge at the trolls and it was dangerous.

"At least I wanted to help him, I won't abandon Bilbo. Instead of detaining me you'd better help me."

"That's exactly what I've indented to do." he replied matter-of-factly. Just in this moment Kíli ran past them, directly towards the trolls.

"Ah, and your brother is allowed to lunge at three trolls, huh? Doesn't that make you worry?" she mocked but got no answer. From behind the other Dwarves appeared, all of them with their weapons.

"Are you going to stay here?" Fíli asked. Angrily Lhindril frowned.

"First you want to set me on those trolls, now you don't want me to go?"

"Alright I was just asking" he held up his hands in defence. The Dwarves rushed past them, Fíli and Lhindril followed them. Soon she grinned gleefully because those beasts were easy to defeat, they were clumsy, stupid and slow and the company were also more in number. They wanted to tackle the trolls again, but Thorin stood there and stopped them. Only then she realized why. Two of the trolls were holding Bilbo into the air and threatened to tear him apart if they didn't surrender, which they did reluctantly.

It didn't take them long to put them in sacks or tie some of them to a skewer, which they placed over the fire. In her head was only one thought, they needed to do something or they would end up as troll food. One of them gave ger an idea, when he implied that the sun would make them turn into stone. All they needed to do was to buy some time, until the sun rose. From the corner of her eye she saw Bilbo standing up. Maybe he had the same idea.

"Did you smell them? You're gonna need something stronger than sage before you plate this lot up." In contrast to Lhindril the Dwarves didn't find that amusing and didn't understand he didn't mean it. Furiously they protested, but one of the trolls seemed to fall for Bilbo's plan and wanted to know how he would cook the Dwarves. After hesitating a while he told them that one needed to skin Dwarves, what got their friends going again, they even threatened the poor Hobbit. Worst of all, the cooking troll took Bilbo's idea also to heart.

"Wait!" she cried quickly. "They can't just be skinned like that. First they need to be pickled in water for some hours that the skin becomes softer" It was complete rubbish but she didn't have a better idea.

"The both of you are insane!" Dwalin roared. "I thought we were a company, how can you betray us like this?" in her thoughts I facepalmed. Why couldn't they understand? Even the trolls seemed more intelligent because they didn't believe them and one of them gasped Bombur to eat him whole.

"Not this one. He is infected" fortunately Bilbo came up with something before she did. Then he continued and explained that all the Dwarves had parasites. Lhindril added that they weren't even relishable and were far too tough. Once again the Dwarves were enraged and started to curse them. Angrily she took a deep breath, at least she hoped they would realize that they only said those things to play for time. To their luck suddenly Thorin comprehended and with the help of a nudge he ordered the others to play along. Initially everyone was silent, then they started yelling again, but this time they almost argued who had the most and biggest parasites. You could see that the trolls had looked through their game. However, before they could do anything, Gandalf appeared behind them.

"Can we eat him too?" a troll, probably the dumbest of them all, wanted to know. With his staff he cleaved the stone he was standing on so that sunlight flooded the clearing. No sooner than the light hit the trolls than they slowly turned to stone. The company cried out in joy, they had made it. At least this problem, Lhindril was sure that more would follow. Worse things.

After they were all freed and had their weapons back, Gandalf, who just had a conversation with Thorin, said they would search the troll hoard. Even though no one seemed to know, what this should be good for, everyone followed the wizard until they reached a cave out of which an awful stench came. Some didn't even want to enter it, Lhindril decided to try but soon gave up. Outside again, she stood next to Fíli who crossed his arms and chuckled.

"Trolls aren't very neat and tidy, are they?"

"You don't say" she muttered. For a while they remained silent, which felt quite awkward. Eventually the others left the cave and Bilbo was given a tiny sword by Gandalf. Although this wasn't really of her concern, she felt glad that he also had a weapon now, ignoring the fact that he had no idea how to wield it. Just as Fíli wanted to say something, one of the Dwarves warned them that something or someone was coming towards them. They ran towards the source of the sound and just like an old habit, Fíli jumped in front of her and clutched the hilt of his sword. Suddenly a strange feeling flooded through her body, he didn't want her to attack trolls alone and protected her from something unknown. What was the meaning of this?

No further thoughts could be made because a brown dressed man, who looked as if he had been living in the wilderness for years, rushed out of the bushes on a sledge pulled by rabbits. Lhindril started to wonder why he used rabbits and how they even managed it. The man seemed very ruffled and she thought he wasn't such a great danger after all. Gandalf even knew him. Radagast was his name and somehow she thought to have heard it before. Then she remembered he was the brown wizard.

The two wizards had an agitated discussion a bit apart of the group. Despite the fact it seemed interesting and exciting, she didn't care what they were talking about. For sure it was only a wizard's business. Probably how to kill a dragon. Or how you could transform someone. Abruptly, she was jolted out of my thoughts when somebody shouted that once again something moved towards them. Only this time it was a Warg that was instantly slain by Thorin. Another beast appeared and Kíli shot it. Amazed by the fact he knew how to use a bow, she started to wonder why and how he learned it. At least it was an unusual weapon for a Dwarf. When Fíli grabbed her hand and ran away, she realised she had been lost in thoughts again. Shocked she looked around to see if more Wargs had come but couldn't see much. In front of them Lhindril discovered Radagast dashing through the field on his rabbit-sledge calling out at the Orcs. Wargs with their riders pursued him. As she saw those Orcs memories of that day were revived. If she had the chance to bring this all to an end today? To not distract her she banished the thoughts and concentrated fully on running.

They reached a boulder and hid behind it and she didn't notice that Fíli was still holding her hand. Kíli quickly made a step forward and shot an arrow, whereupon an Orc and a Warg tumbled down next to them. Unnecessarily, several Dwarves started to hit them with their axes, the Orc squealed and she was sure the other would find them even though they started running again. Exactly that happened and some riders surrounded the Dwarves, so that Fíli let go of her hand and pulled out his twin swords. During the short fight she noticed Gandalf was gone. Before she could be angry at him, he appeared from behind a rock and told them to follow him. However, he didn't say that his way lead into a hole, so she cried out in surprise as she found herself sliding down the stone. After some time all Dwarves were down and from above a horn could be heard. To be honest, Lhindril knew she had heard it before but couldn't recall where. A dead Orc toppled into the cave we were in and fearing it was still alive, she made a step aside. Thorin bent over the Orc and ripped out the shaft of the arrow that was in the Orc's neck.

"Elves" he growled and dropped the arrow. Then it hit her why she thought to know the horn, it was an Elvish one. Somewhere behind them Dwalin discovered a path and wanted to know if they should follow it, even though they had no idea where it would lead them. Instantly one of the Dwarves replied they should follow it regardless. Some of the Dwarves started to move and Lhindril noticed Ori behind her.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

"Of course I am. Why did you ask?"

"Well, when you came down here you screamed. So I thought you might hurt yourself" with a smile she explained that she just was surprised that the way was leading them down and had tumbled into the hole. For a while they followed the narrow path silently. Presumably all of them were excited to see where it would lead. Lhindril just hoped it wouldn't somehow bring them back, like to the Trolls or even further. Several times they had to stop because Bombur got stuck and someone had to push or pull him. Suddenly more light reached them and the Dwarves at the front ceased to walk but were looking at something that had awaken their interest. Ere she had an idea what it could be, she saw the place where she had spent the biggest part of her life. Eight years she had lived in Rivendell and only seven years with her own people. Amazed and terrified at same time she looked down at the place that was surrounded by multiple waterfalls. Meanwhile Gandalf was speaking but as chance would have it, she sighed simultaneously with Bilbo

"Rivendell" Rivendell, maybe not her homeland but somehow her home. Even though she immediately remembered why they lived there, she also felt joyous about being back. Those familiar buildings and sounds brought back memories, mostly beautiful ones. How she roamed the area with the sons of Lord Elrond, later with her own brother. The thought of him let her heart beat faster. Would he be there? Quickly she calculated, he was 22 by now, what seemed to be wrong. She had always remembered him as a child, just like when she left head over heels.

They reached the front yard of Elrond's house and heard someone coming closer. Even before Gandalf spoke his name, she knew who he was. Lindir. He had been something like a second father to her and sometimes she got along with him better than with Elrond, who actually took care of their family. As soon as she thought of her father she felt tears in my eyes and banished the thoughts. After learning that Elrond wasn't here Lhindril wanted to ask where he was, when she heard a horn from afar. Then she knew it had been him and his riders that killed the Orcs that were after them.

As the Elves rode towards them, she was pulled into the circle the Dwarves had formed. Everyone had their weapons at hand and she tried to explain that there was no danger but of course they did not listen. Dwarves weren't fond of Elves and vice versa. All of a sudden, she had a horrifying thought. What if Thorin found out - which he most definitively would - that she had lived with Elves for years? Would he just distrust her or even force her to quit? Elrond and Gandalf finished their conversation in Elvish and the Elf talked to Thorin, who only gave cocky replies. It all ended when Elrond spoke in Elvish again.

"What did he say? Did he offer us insult?" Glóin asked enraged.

"No, I don't think so" she tried to soothe him. If the Dwarves had attacked the Elves hell would have broken loose. Furthermore, by experience she knew that the Elven Lord wouldn't ever insult anyone. No matter what her brother, or more Lhindril, got up to, he neither scolded nor punished them. Mostly he would shake his head and tell them to not do it again. When it was something worse, he took their hands and brought them to their mother, who would act her motherly role well and rant and rave at them. Often a punishment ensued. The sudden thought of her mother oddly didn't provoke anything. While she was lost in thought, the Dwarves started to follow Elrond. When she wanted to go after them, Lindir discovered her.

"Lhindril? Is it really you?" he whispered before placing his hands on her arms and kissing her cheek. Surprised, she did the same and then broke away. "You have grown up" he stated, then smiled. "Well, not really grown but matured" she took his words as some kind of insult because she couldn't stand if someone mocked her about her height.

"And you haven't changed, Lindir" she retorted with a smile.

"I know. Come with me, Lord Elrond will be pleased to see you. Your mother as well" he began to move but she stood still.

"Mother is here?"

"Of course. However, your brother isn't at the moment. Maybe he will be back in some days"

"Oh" was all she could say. Lindir walked through the building until he was on a balcony where Elrond asked the Dwarves to have a seat.

"My Lord Elrond" he spoke to his superior, who turned around. When he discovered her behind the Elf, where Lhindril tried to hide, his usually stoic face turned into a smile.

"Lhindril. How good to see you. I am glad to know that you are alright" he said before addressing Lindir and ordering something in Sindarin. The Lord of Rivendell came towards her, put a hand on her back and softly pushed her away from her companions. Before she turned around she saw Thorin who looked at her anything but pleased. She was lead through the house while Elrond asked where she had been in the previous years. Briefly she replied to his questions, knowing he would bring her to her mother, who would want to know the same things. After a while Lindir stood in front of them, speaking to Elrond in Elvish. Even though she never cared she didn't speak the language, she was now annoyed when the Lord explained he needed to settle something with the Dwarves.

Lindir, who was ordered to bring Lhindril to her mother, began to question her about her past as well. Eventually they were in front of the door of their old bedroom, if she wasn't mistaken. After knocking, they waited for her mother to open. At first she didn't seem to notice her daughter, then she yelled happily and fell round her neck. Tightly she pressed her against her own body and tousled her hair, while making soothing noises. And yet she forgot, or rather ignored, that Lhindril was fine. Probably she consoled herself with it. Although the younger woman felt a little embarrassed, she didn't try to get away und embraced her back. Suddenly she realised how much she actually missed her mother in the past years, as she had her brother.

After what seemed like forever, her mother released her and stroked both her cheeks. In her eyes she spotted tears. Both of them examined the other and Lhindril noticed her mother hadn't changed much. Maybe one or two worry wrinkles more round her mouth and eyes. If they were because of her disappearance? Glimpsing to her right, Lhindril saw that Lindir had left, he knew her mother needed some time alone with her. She pulled her in the room, which still had three beds but one was much smaller than the others. It was Lhindril's old one. Her mother sat down and Lhindril sat next to her. First, she asked where she had been all those years, why she had run away and if someone had harmed her. At some points she lied or told half-truths, but most of it was true. Especially that she was left alone. At least until some weeks ago in Bree…

Later, her mother told her what happened in Rivendell after her departure. All of them were worried and some went looking for her, but never succeeded. Most started to think that she died, however, her brother and mother still wanted to believe Lhindril was alive. As soon as he was old enough, her brother would look for her himself. Whenever her mother spoke of her sibling, the older woman smiled, until Lhindril asked why she did so.

"You know… I think he fell in love" she announced beaming. Lhindril wanted to know all details but unfortunately, she didn't know much more, only that it could be someone from Rivendell. "Would you mind sleeping some more nights in your old bed? We would of course get you a new one soon" her incidental remark caught her off-guard and she suddenly felt guilty. Of course her mother assumed that she would stay. She needed to tell her that she would leave soon but hadn't the courage to do so. To be honest, she even considered staying in Rivendell because Thorin probably wouldn't want her to accompany them any further anyway. On the other hand, she didn't feel like living in Rivendell again because it was quite boring most of the time, plus she made new friends in the company. Still, Lhindril was sure, she couldn't tell her mother about her impending departure, so she came up with a plan: When her mother slept, she would decamp, leaving a note. Unfortunately, her mother noticed that Lhindril was thinking of other things and wanted to know what it was all about.

"I… it's nothing" she hedged. For the rest of the night the both of them were talking about different things. But what concerned the quest, Lhindril lied by telling her she accompanied the Dwarves because she wanted to travel across Middle Earth and the Dwarves, whose purpose of was unknown to her, provided safety. The following day, after having taken a bath and changing clothes, she roamed about in the town, among other to find the Dwarves. Yet she never saw any of them. Instead, she spent my day with Elrond, his sons or Lindir. In the evening, they invited the two women to dinner and she had to admit that she felt very happy around her old friends.

Shortly after, they retired to their rooms and went sleeping, better said her mother did and Lhindril was sitting on her own bed, waiting for her mother to fall asleep. Luck was on her side and it happened quite soon so she could get up, grabbed her stuff, her dagger and her old coat, and waddled to the desk, writing a short letter for her mother and brother. Then she sneaked out of the room, hoping to not have woken her mother. Once she was outside, Lhindril started running because she knew she had to find her travel companions soon or they would leave without her. She hoped, they were still there and wondered for the first time, what they might have been doing the past days. Her heart almost skipped a beat when she suddenly bumped into someone. Before she could apologize, a load was taken off her mind. It was Fíli that she almost knocked over, which meant the Dwarves were still there. She was so delighted and relieved that she pressed him tightly against her body. Patiently the blond Dwarf let it happen and wanted to know how he earned that, so she told him about her worry.

"No, we're still here. Why are you running around like mad at such a time? And where have you been?"

"I was with my mother and Elrond… just now I was looking for you. But what are you doing here at this time?" she replied with a fierce palpitation.

"The same I suppose. Thorin wanted to set out without you, so I… well, went to get you" it touched her deeply that he was looking for her and therefore made a stand against his leader. Just when she wanted to say something, she heard a voice behind her.

"I was looking for you as well." her mother. Startled they moved apart and turned around abruptly.

"It's not what it looks like!" they both assured and shared doubtful looks. Lhindril's mother didn't respond to it.

"I already thought that you would disappear again but I hadn't expect it would be that soon"

"You… weren't asleep" she guessed and her mother nodded, before she examined the both of them. It made her feel awkward and she turned to Fíli a couple of times, he seemed to feel the same.

"For years I had no idea what happened to you. Didn't know if you even were alive" they eventually were told. "But I have to understand that you need to set out on your own. And I have to accept your decisions" frowning she contemplated what she meant by it, every once in a while darting glances at the Dwarf, who was still standing behind her. After a while her mother almost grinned. "Go ahead. Experience your adventure!"

"Wait? What? You're letting me go? But why?" Lhindril asked perplexed. Her mother sighed.

"I was about your age when I met your father" she paused for a moment. "Come on, I can see it in you two" immediately the younger woman glanced again back to Fíli who blushed a bit. What if her mother was right? Was there more than friendship between them? Slowly her mother came closer and hugged her daughter. "Now go ahead. But take care, will you?" once again she was silent before she whispered "I can't believe it - my daughter is in love"