Hey all! Chapter 10 is here! I hope you all enjoy this one and are enjoying the whole story. I know this has been different to the one I had done previously, but I am really happy with how this one has turned out. It feels a lot smoother and flows better.

Chapter 10

Over the next week or so, I divide my time between the company, Gilrean and Estel. Enjoying my time back in Rivendell. I also spend some time with Oin as we go through the gardens, gathering up what herbs and such we might need for the journey ahead. I also learn a few things from him about dwarvish medicine, as he does with elvish medicine.

I also notice that I seem to have gained the trust of the older Ri brothers, Dori and Nori. Both of them thanking me for saving Dori from the warg and Ori from running out and possibly being found by the orcs when we were running. I am relieved to know that now everyone can trust me. I do not know what I would have done if the dwarves had resented Thorin for allowing an elf to travel with them. Now, I will not have to find out.

Throughout this time, I have also continued with Bilbo's training with his sword, moving onto light sparing with myself. Just mainly him coming at me and me blocking his blows, instructing him more and then trying again before we reverse the roles. He is coming along well, slow but well. Hobbits are not normally built for battle, so it will not come as natural to him as it does to myself or the dwarves. But, despite that, I am pleased with the progress he is making. He will be able to defend himself at the very least.

Around halfway through the second week, I have finally been given clearance from both Alassiel and Oin to have my arm free, my wound having healed quicker than either of them expected. Although, I have been warned to just start off with some light exercises and not do any vigorous training.

As the company are eating lunch, I grab my weapons before making my way to the training area. Leaning my knives against the fence, I walk over to a ranged target and after standing my quiver, pull out and arrow and notch it onto the bow. I take a deep breath as I roll my shoulder slightly, testing it out before I raise the bow and pull back on the string. Luckily, I use my right to pull the string, but I can still feel some tension in my bad shoulder. Releasing the arrow, I watch as it hits the outer ring. I just wince as I rub my shoulder a little. This is the part I hate after being injured; training. Getting back to how you were before said injury.

I clear out my quiver a few times, feeling proud as the arrow gets closer and closer to the mark each time. Although, I can feel my shoulder being to throb. As I'm clearing the arrows away, I hear the company make their way towards me.

"I should have known you would be here." Thorin grins as he walks over.

I grin back. "Just getting in a little exercise."

"How is your shoulder?"

"Good. Throbbing right now, but should be good for when we leave."

He nods. "I am pleased to hear that."

I smile before calling Bilbo over to continue his training, where we spend the hour perfecting his swings. Once I am satisfied with his progress, I end his training and we both go to sit on one of the benches. As I am about to walk past Thorin, he stops me, placing his sword across my chest to halt my movement. I look to him with a raised brow at this. He just grins back at me.

"How about we see if we can break our tie?"

I grin back as I pull my twin blades from their sheathes. "I thought you'd never ask."

The other dwarves immediately back away to sit and watch. Thorin and I start by circling each other, as we do so, I notice our steps almost mimic those of our very first fight in Erebor. Though this time, I make sure not to be the one who charges in first, and grin when Thorin charges to me. I manage to dodge out of his way and smack his rear with the flat of my blade, causing most of the others to snigger and him to scowl as he turns back to me.

I just grin at his scowl. "You should know to not let me get your back."

"A mistake I won't be making again, I assure you."

He charges and we meet in the middle with a clang, sparks flying off our blades. We continue to swing, jab and dodge for a while longer. As I spin out of one of his blocks, I don't notice him nodding to someone. When we come into another block, I sense someone coming up behind me and swing my left blade out, only to hit another. Looking back, I see a grinning Fili standing there. I look between them both, a grin threatening to split my face, the memory of me standing between Thorin and Frerin coming to mind.

"My, my, this looks familiar."

Thorin is also grinning. "I could not help myself, I had to do it."

"What do you say, Aunt Cal? Think you can handle two dwarves?" Fili asks, a teasing glint in his eye.

I just grin at him. "My dear Fili, I have done it once, I can do it again."

I duck and swing out of their blocks, causing them to stagger slightly from the sudden movement and Fili to instantly go onto the defensive as I come at him, managing to knock him away before turning to Thorin as he comes for me. We continue to fight for sometime, neither of us letting the other in, before Thorin falters just slightly, but it's enough that I see it. Swinging my leg out, he grunts as he falls onto his back, his sword falling out of his grasp. As he reaches out for it, I straddle his chest, placing my knees on both his wrists to trap him before placing my blades across his throat in an X.

I grin down at him. "I believe, that breaks our tie, My King."

He grins back, a look of pride in his eyes as he glances behind me. "Not this time."

Frowning in confusion, I freeze as I suddenly feel the cold, sharp metal of a blade against the side of my neck.

"Always make sure you opponent is dead." I hear Fili's voice from behind.

I smile and then laugh as I pull my blades from Thorin. "Okay, okay. I yield."

The others cheers as I stand and help Thorin up when Fili's blade has gone. I smile as I place a hand on Fili's shoulder.

"Well done, Fili. As I have said before, I can tell Thorin and Dwalin have taught you well."

He grins back. "Yes, they have. I'm grateful for everything they've taught me."

Smiling, I pat his shoulder before we join the others. Oin immediately comes to me when I am sat on the ground.

"What did that elf healer and I say about no strenuous exercise!?"

I give a sheepish smile. "I am fine, Oin. It's not the first time I have been injured, and I am sure it will not be the last."

Oin looks over my shoulder. "That is not the point, lass. You will never heal properly if you don't listen to us healers."

I grin. "You sound like Alassiel."

"Sounds like a smart woman, if you ask me." Oin says as he sits back down, after clearing my shoulder.

I just grin as I lean into Thorin. As we are all sitting and reststing, Estel chooses this moment to come and join us. I smile as he practically falls into my lap.

I chuckle as I run my fingers through his hair. "Just finished your studies, tithin pen?" I ask him.

He nods. "Erestor kept me in the library alllllll day!"

I grin at his whining, some of the others chuckling. "I know it can be boring, guren vell. But, we've all had to do it at some point as children. Learning about the world makes us understand it better when we go out there to see it. You will thank Erestor some day."

He looks up at me, an uncertain expression on his face. "Really?"

I nod. "Really. I have come to thank my teachers from when I was an elfling. Just as any one of these have here."

He looks around at the others, some of whom nod their agreement. Standing Estel up, I kneel in front of him, holding his hands.

"You are going to use all the knowledge you gain from your teachers and do good things, Estel." I gently place a hand on his cheek as I look at him with so much love and fondness. "You are going to grow up into a great man, Estel. A man that I know will make your father proud."

He smiles as he hugs me. I wrap my own arms around him and hold him close, already seeing a lot of Arathorn in him. I know he is proud of his son. I only wish he could be here to see him become the man he was born to be.

That night, after dinner, Thorin, Balin, Bilbo and I go to Elrond's study, so that he can read the moon runes on the map. Elrond leads us outside to an open area, on the side of a cliff, with waterfalls all around. The moon is behind some clouds.

We walk toward a large crystalline table, not far from the edge, where Elrond lays Thorin's map on the table, just as the clouds part and the moonlight hits the crystalline table, causing light to flow through the map. Ancient runes become visible on the map, glowing blue and Elrond translates them out loud.

"'Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole.'"

"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asks in confusion.

"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf explains to the Hobbit.

"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us." Thorin says worriedly.

"We still have time." I say, placing a reasurring hand on his arm.

"Time? For what?" Bilbo asks.

Balin answers the hobbit. "To find the entrance. We have to be standing at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."

"So this is your purpose, to enter the Mountain." Elrond states, looking to Thorin.

"What of it?" Thorin asks, sounding irritated.

"There are some who would not deem it wise."

Thorin takes back the map gruffly.

"Who do you mean?" Gandalf asks.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." Elrond walks away.

Thorin, Balin and Bilbo walk away, leaving Gandalf and I still on the cliff, I just give Thorin a nod as he looks back towards me, letting him know I will follow in a moment. He hesitates but walks on anyway.

"The White Council?" I ask Gandalf after a moment, noticing the slight look of worry on his face.

He nods. "I am afraid they may try to stop this."

I start to worry. I know Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel wouldn't stop us from leaving this city, stop us from completing our quest. However, I do know of one in the White Council that will try to stop us. Saruman, the White Wizard. I haven't had too many dealings with him, nor much contact, but the contact I have had with him was enough. I do not know what it is about the White Wizard that has me uneasy, but I find myself not being able to trust him as much as I do Gandalf, or even Radagast.

"What do we do?"

He stays quiet for a moment before standing close to me. "Warn Thorin. You need to leave before dawn."

"We? What about you?"

"I will stay behind and distract them, give you time to get away. I will meet you in the Misty Mountains."

I nod before walking off to find the dwarves. I do so on their terrace, a little campfire to cook some meat. Thankfully, they remembered my warning about using the elves furniture as firewood.

As I look around, my ears pick up a creaking and I look in the direction of Bombur who is sitting on another bench, his plate filled high with food.

"Bombur." I hear Bofur call out.

The jovial dwarf throws a sausage he had just been cooking to Bombur, who catches it, and immediately, the bench he is sitting on breaks underneath him. I smile and shake my head as the dwarves laugh.

I walk over to Bombur. "That was cruel Bofur."

Bombur thanks me as I set him onto his feet again, with the help of a still laughing Dwalin.

Looking out of the corner of my eye, I see Thorin walking up some stairs. Following him up, I see him and Bilbo standing further up looking out at something. I also look and see Gandalf and Elrond talking.

"But if we succeed! If the dwarves take back the mountain, then our defenses in the east will be strengthened." Gandalf tries to convince him.

"It's a dangerous move, Gandalf."

Bilbo turns and notices us standing there before looking back to the wizard and elf lord.

"It is also dangerous to do nothing! The throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright! What is it you fear?"

"Have you forgotten, a strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?"

I look to Thorin to see him looking away, a look of anguish on his face.

"Thorin has something that Thror did not have. He has Caladwen by his side. She will not let him fall."

There's a pause.

"Gandalf, these decisions to not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-earth."

I watch as they leave. Looking to Thorin, I see him still looking away.

"Bilbo, could you leave us alone, please?" I ask the Hobbit.

He nods. "Of course." he walks back down.

Taking Thorin's hand, I lead him up the stairs into the pavilion and sit with him on one of the couches.

"Thorin, talk to me."

He says nothing at first until he sighs. "Lord Elrond is right. You know there is a sickness that runs in my family. The Gold Sickness that claimed my grandfather. . .I am afraid Caladwen. . .afraid that I will weaken and also develop the same sickness that runs through my veins."

I take one of his hands into my own before gently making him look at me with the other. "I am not going to allow that to happen. You are strong, Thorin, you are one of the strongest people that I know. Your time will come. You will face the same evil your grandfather once did, and you will defeat it. And I will be right there by your side, like I should have been a hundred and seventy one years ago." I reach up and place a hand on his cheek. "A si i-Dhúath ú-orthor, Thorin. Ú or le a ú or nin."

He doesn't say anything for a few moments. "What did you say?"

I smile at him. "That, I will tell you when we regain Erebor. When this is all over, you will know. But for now, there's something you should know."

I begin telling him everything Gandalf warned me of, and warn I say that we need to leave before dawn, he nods in agreement. That is when we return to the others and he lets Balin know what is happening while I retire to my room and sleep, anxious to start the day tomorrow.

Well, there we have it with chapter 10. I hope you have all enjoyed this one. For those that read the previous version of this story, you will recognise the fight with Caladwen, Thorin and Fili. For those that don't, I had written a chapter where, in Erebor, before the dragon attack, Caladwen and Thorin were sparring together when Frerin had gotten involved in the same way as this. In that, it ended with her taking out Frerin and her and Thorin ending in a draw. It still looks as though they need to break that draw, Fili won that one.

Please keep your reviews coming, I love to hear from you all xx

Translations;

tithin pen – Little one

guren vell – My sweet heart

si i-Dhúath ú-orthor, Thorin. Ú or le a ú or nin. - The shadow does not hold sway yet, Thorin, not over you and not over me.