Hello again Wonderful People of Earth, Middle-Earth or Other Strange Places with Wi-Fi! This chapter is quite a bit longer than previous ones as you can see. I joined up two chapters. Of course I will eventually sort through this chapter and make it more SNAZZY and descriptive and generally awesome but I haven't YET. So stay tuned for that. I get the feeling that I'll be re-editing this story a lot. :D Anyways! Thanks for turning up again to read. Enjoy!

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    “So Kili had left here for six days when you started your ride here,” Sabrielle analysed, “If he was travelling at a good speed he should have been at Erebor for two days before you set off. The road usually only takes four days from here to the mountain. In bad weather or with an injured pony it can take nine days. You acted so swiftly.”

All eleven of the dwarves were gathered around the table with her. They’d finished dinner which had been quite a merry sight if a little rowdy but the elf was used to uncouth table manners and the dwarves were definitely not the worst she’d hosted by a long way. Each cradled a large mug of mead as they talked.

    “Aye,” agreed Balin, “But Fili was quite . . . anxious to be after his brother.”

    “Anxious is an understatement!” blurted a red-headed dwarf, Gloin, “He was nearly ripping the mountain to pieces! No disrespect meant of course, your Majesty.” Fili shook his head.

    “No, you’re right, Gloin,” agreed the King, “I was far more than anxious to see my brother again and I still am.” A mutter of displeasure rippled across the room.

    “So wha’ now?” asked Bofur the dwarf, “Do we ‘ead back to Erebor? Or star’ a search party? Wha’ now?” All eyes turned to their King.

    “Tonight,” he declared, “We rest. It is too late to plan anything now. In the morning we will have a plan of action. Right now what we need is sleep. Do you have enough beds for us all, Sabrielle?” The elf nodded.

    “Follow me,” she ordered standing up from the table. The dwarves hastened to obey and tramped along behind her deeper into the house.

The moon was at its height when Fili shuffled out onto the porch. Sabrielle was already there sitting on a low stool breathing in the frosty midnight air.

    “What do I do?” the young dwarf questioned softly taking a seat next to his friend. After a lengthy pause she answered.

    “I would advise you send a group back to Erebor,” the elf whispered her breath clouding the night sky, “People you trust to mind the halls. The rest should split into two groups and attempt to track Kili. That is what I would advise.” Fili nodded thoughtfully.

    “Would I go back?” he breathed, “Or stay and look for my brother?” Sabrielle took a deep breath of the chilly air.  

    “You are a King,” she sighed sounding slightly frustrated, “You can make your own choices now. Not everything has to be controlled by someone else.” The blonde smiled a little at her tone.

    “Right,” he chuckled gently, “And what would you do?”  The elf looked at him out of the corner of her eyes.

    “I might stay here,” she answered simply, “Or I might track him down myself. Whatever takes my fancy really.” A rather large smirk was winding its way up the young dwarf’s face.

    “What if I ordered you to come with me?” he jested. Sabrielle’s head spun around to stare at him and she placed her cheek into her fist which was being supported by her knee.

    “You are King Under the Mountain,” the elf scolded in fun, “Not of here and certainly not of me. If you want me along all you have to do is ask! Don’t go throwing your weight around on a tower with no walls; you are bound to fall off the edge.” At the bewildered look on the dwarf’s face Sabrielle burst out laughing.

    “I’m sorry, Fili,” she managed between breaths, “I didn’t mean it to come out so harshly. It was in fun, honest.” But by that time, the young dwarf, having recovered from his shock, was laughing uncontrollably as well.

    “Would you like to come?” Fili gasped out of breath. It took a while for the other to answer as she tried to find the air to speak.

    “Yes,” Sabrielle replied breathlessly, “You need someone who can track something harder than an injured bear if you want to find him. I don’t think you’d have much luck on your own.”

    "I'll have you know," Fili defended, "We dwarves are actually quite good at hunting."

The ponies were packed and ready to go. All provisions had been accounted for and the last minute checks were in order.

    “We’re right to go, Laddie,” Balin declared. Fili had separated his group in two. Balin, Bifur, Bombur, Ori and Dori were to go back to Erebor and keep everything in order until Fili returned. The rest, Dwalin, Oin, Gloin, Nori and Bofur, would accompany their King and Sabrielle to track and hopefully find Kili. They would travel along the road together until they could find evidence of Kili’s path changing. And so the journey began.

They rode for many hours, Sabrielle watching the path for signs that someone had veered off it. Nothing presented itself and as the sky began to darken the troop set up camp at the River Anduin. Dwalin was put on first watch and the rest of the company settled down to rest. Sabrielle was almost asleep when a shadow moved in the distance. In an instant she was alert before she heard the soft calling of a kirinki. She listened carefully to the quiet song and recognised it. Slowly she nodded her head into the darkness and a figure came closer.

    “Sabrielle?” came a soft questioning call. The person continued to come forward until she could see quiet clearly who it was, even in the dim night light.

    “Legolas!” she whisper-greeted smiling, “Why are you here? Last I heard you were travelling with the Rangers of the North.” The pair embraced.

    “It has been a long time,” the male elf grinned, “I came to your house with news only to find you not there. I rode hard today and I find you in the presence of dwarves. You are strange, Mellonamin.”

    “News?” Sabrielle questioned, “What news?” Legolas shook his head.

    “I cannot speak of it here,” he answered, “We will talk later. But for now tell me why you are travelling with dwarves.” The female shook her head smiling.

    “I am trying to find a friend,” she replied, “His name is Kili Arken. He is a Prince of Erebor. His brother is the King. You would know him I am sure. Dark-haired, no real beard?” The elvish princeling nodded.

    “He is Tauriel’s lover, is he not?” he sighed a distant look passing over his eyes, “I offer my services to help find him. I understand you are close. Anything for Tauriel. Or you.”

    “Thank-you, Mellonamin,” Sabrielle smiled, “Your skills will be appreciated. But perhaps we should talk to the King before you impose yourself upon this company.” And so they did. Sabrielle woke up her friend who in turn woke up the rest of the dwarves and they discussed at great length whether Legolas should be accepted or not. The dwarves all still remembered their time in the dungeons of his father quite vividly and the rudeness of Legolas himself upon capturing them after their run-in with the giant spiders.  In the end, mostly at Sabrielle’s urging, the other elf was permitted to join the search for Kili as his talents in tracking would be useful. And as Sabrielle had said ‘two pairs of eyes are better than one’.

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So Legolas had joined the party! YAY! Hope you like the pic! I'm sorry I suck at writing his parts so extra crit would be really helpful right now. :D I will tidy up what I've written because either Dwalin sucks at keeping watch or our blonde elf hottie is a very good bird imitator and shadow stalker. I will tighten stuff up soon but please tell me what you thought! Until we meet again!

~SpanishFox