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Valadhiel walked out into the courtyard, looking back at Kili and Fili with an amused smirk as Dis kept fretting over them. She could understand it, however. Dis had lost her husband, though she was unsure how. Her brother and sons were all she had left.

"Kili, you make sure to be careful- and don't get into any trouble!"

"Mother, I'm seventy seven years old. I can take care of myself." Kili assured his mother as he shouldered his pack.

"Fili, you watch over your brother, all right?"

"I won't leave his side. I promise." Fili replied with a nod, looking his mother in the eye so she'd know he was serious. His eyes also held a small amount of amusement.

Dis smiled before she chuckled. "I should know better. You two have been inseparable since the time Kili was born."

"You have nothing to worry about, little sis." Thorin told her, giving her a side hug.

Dis turned the side hug into a big hug instead. "You keep yourself out of trouble, too, you hear? Keep those boys safe. Lead your men like the king you are. And return to me safely, brother."

Thorin smiled and gently patted her back before he gently pushed her back from the hug and held both of her hands in both of his. "I'll be back before you know it. We all will."

"You all had better be." Dis murmured, then she looked at Kili and Fili before she slipped something into their hands. "Keep these with you. Not just for good luck, but as a promise. Promise me that you will return."

"I promise, Mom." Kili told her, then he smiled and pulled her into a hug, then looked up when Fili joined into the hug, then when Thorin joined the three. "You have nothing to worry about."

Dis bit her lower lip to keep herself from breaking down into tears, and to keep herself from telling them exactly why she had everything to worry about, but she refrained and just nodded her head, hugging her sons and her brother in return. "Thorin, if you die, I'll kill you."

Thorin chuckled in amusement. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind." He replied, then he pulled away from the hug, playfully tugged at Dis' beard, then turned to all of his men. When they all nodded to him, he looked at Kili and Fili again. "Let's set out, sister-sons."

Valadhiel, who was waiting next to Balin, one of the older and wiser dwarves she'd taken a liking to, watched the little family as they said their goodbyes. She smiled a little, then looked down, the twinkle that had been in her eyes fading away. When she realized that Balin was looking at her curiously, she forced her sadness down and smiled at him before she looked up at Thorin again.

Once Kili and Fili had said a final goodbye to their mother, they joined the throng of dwarves and began walking to the stables, where the dwarves all got ponies, as well as extra ponies for luggage. Once they had their ponies, they made their way to the end of Frerin's Courtyard, where they would walk down a stone path and into the Vale Of Thrain.

"She worries about us way too much." Kili groaned, though he wasn't complaining, and looked more amused than anything.

"Well, she has lost many loved ones already, Kili. Keep that in mind." Balin reminded the youngster.

Valadhiel smiled. "Just be glad that you have a mother to worry over you." She added. "It could be worse."

"True." Kili replied, looking over at Valadhiel with a smile. "I do love my mother, and I am glad I've got her."

"What exactly is a hobbit, Miss Valadhiel?" Fili asked after Kili spoke, gently kicking his horse's sides so his pony could walk along Valadhiel, who was on foot.

"A hobbit is a creature that is typically three foot something, very rarely over three foot six, though they have very large, hairy feet with tough soles so that they have no need of shoes. Despite their size, they have large appetites, as they can and will eat six meals a day, sometimes even seven. They're peaceful folk and find those who travel to not be respectable, and they live comfortable, peaceful lives." Valadhiel explained to Fili, then she smiled before adding, "And please, call me Valadhiel, or even Vala."

Fili smiled at her and gave her a nod, then he chuckled. "What kind of a name is Bilbo?" He questioned, seeming to be rather amused by the description of hobbits and the name of this particular one.

"Hobbits could very well think the same of your name, you know." Kili pointed out, smirking when his brother gave him a playful glare of sorts. "But the description you gave of them... they do sound hilarious. Short, with big feet?"

"Very short with very big feet." Valadhiel said with a chuckle. "But I find them to be very cute creatures, and I do love spending time there in the Shire. It's so beautiful and so peaceful."

"How many times have you been there?" Ori asked, earning a look from Nori, though the young dwarf simply ignored it.

"Ah, several times, though I haven't been there in a long time." Valadhiel responded. There were many places she hadn't been to in a long time, and she was eager to reach some of the places during their travels.

"Is it true that you lived near Thorin's Halls at one point in time?" Kili asked, remembering something she had said the night she had arrived. It was after they had started a drinking contest, which Valadhiel ended up winning without being even slightly affected by the alcohol- and she had even had wine rather than ale!

"Yes, it is true." Valadhiel replied. "I lived in Edhelion for awhile. Until Skorgrím and the Dourhands destroyed it, that is."

Balin looked over at the elf in surprise. "You were there when Skorgrím and his men invaded?"

"Indeed." Valadhiel replied, looking down a little. "I was there when Skorgrím attacked, and I was there when Talagan Silvertongue took Skorgrím down with him."

The dwarves all nodded quietly, then looked up as they came upon Noglond. It wasn't a large place at all. There were simply stables and a small shop for those who traveled or wandered. As Valadhiel passed one of the dwarves around the area, the dwarf greeted her.

"Vala! How have you been, lass?"

Valadhiel paused and grinned at the dwarf. "Gisli! I have been doing well. How have you been?" She then looked at the group she was traveling with before she looked at Gisli again. "I would love to stay and talk, but I must be going."

"I've been well." Gisli replied, then he gave a nod. "Of course. I would love to know what you're doing traveling with a group of dwarves, but I won't keep them waiting." When he noticed Thorin, he gave a bow of respect and greeted him in Khuzdul, then looked at Valadhiel. "I wish you well."

"And I wish you well." Valadhiel replied before she walked over to the group of dwarves and ponies again. Once they were making their way down the road, she spoke to the others. "I apologize for the slight delay."

"You know Gisli?" Thorin asked in response, looking over at the elf.

"Aye, I've been through here before, after all." She replied. She knew that they knew how long ago it had been, since she had mentioned it the night she had first arrived at Thorin's Halls.

After Valadhiel spoke, everyone was quiet, lost in their own thoughts. Then, after awhile of silence, they began chatting amongst each other once more, though Valadhiel remained silent and just listened to the conversations, smiling whenever something that amused her was said. Somehow, the conversation went from killing dragons to talking about parents.

"So, Miss Vala, who are your parents?" Dori asked. He was curious as to which was the elf and which was the skinchanger. He still thought being able to turn into an animal was unnatural, and he didn't like the thought of traveling with one, but he'd tolerate her for Thorin's sake.

"Oh, no one important, really." Valadhiel replied with a small shrug, glancing away from the group when her parents were brought up.

"Was your mother the skinchanger, or was she the elf?" Ori asked curiously.

Valadhiel smiled. "She was half elf and half skinchanger." She replied, then her smile faded and she looked up at the others. "She was killed long ago, though. And as for my father, I would really rather not talk about him. He's gone, too."

"I'm sorry, Miss. I didn't know." Ori said, sounding sad at the thought of her having to go through losing both parents.

Valadhiel smiled and shook her head. "There's no need to apologize. Like you said, you didn't know."

"Lass, are you sure you don't need a horse?" Bofur asked her after a moment, looking back at her. "No doubt you'll tire out."

Valadhiel, in response, shifted into her silver, thick-furred leopard form, then she trotted until she had caught up to them. She was about as tall as the ponies were- about the same height, if not a little shorter. "I'll manage. I don't tire out as easily in my leopard form."

Ori blinked in awe when he saw the elf change into a leopard, then he grinned. "That's amazing! Does it feel weird?"

Valadhiel chuckled, slowing her pace to walk alongside the young dwarf. "The first few times can feel strange, but it's natural for my kind. Once you get used to your bones popping as they shift, it isn't so bad."

"I bet that draws a crowd among young elves." Gloin commented, glancing at the leopard before he turned his attention to the road in front of him.

"Not as often as you would think, though that depends on whether or not you refer to the elves from Rivendell and Lothlorien, or the elves from Mirkwood."

"Don't all elves behave the same?" Thorin questioned, muttering in a bitter tone.

Valadhiel looked at him and raised her furry brow. "You tell me. Do all dwarves behave the same?" She very well knew that not all dwarves were rude, and she knew that the dwarves would see her point to this question, considering the Longbeards were nothing like the Dourhands.

"The lass has got a point." Balin commented. He had no hostile feelings towards the elves in all honesty. The only elf to feel hostility towards was the Elvenking. The mistake of one, or even one kingdom of elves, was not the mistake of all other elves.

"So, which are the elves that don't like you?" Ori asked, obviously wanting to learn as much as he could about Valadhiel.

"It may be a touchy subject, Ori." Bofur scolded. "Don't ask so many questions."

"He's all right." Valadhiel smiled at Bofur, though it almost seemed like a mask to hide how she really felt about the subject, then she looked at Ori. "The Mirkwood elves are the ones that dislike me. Most other elves accept me for who and what I am. Besides, I don't necessarily think very highly of the wood elves, either."

"Why's that, Vala?" Fili asked curiously after a moment, looking at her from where he was on his pony.

"Something I have noticed is that they are very distrusting of others, though once they get to know you, they can be kind. Some also like to act better than mortals, and let us face a clear, obvious fact." Valadhiel smirked just a little. "Their king is a ditsy blonde."

Bofur, Bifur, Gloin, Ori, Kili, and Fili laughed, Dori, Nori, Oin, Bombur, and Dwalin snorted or chuckled, Balin gave a small chuckle, and Thorin couldn't help the ghost of an amused smile that appeared on his lips.

They all traveled for quite awhile longer, taking a few breaks in between for meals and for the ponies' sakes. By the time the sun began to set, they saw the small dwarven town of Gondamon not too far from them, close enough to make it there before nightfall.

When they reached Gondamon, they paid for board for their ponies before they found an inn they could stay in for the night. To make things cheaper, they simply paid for two rooms, half in one room, the other half in the other room.

Valadhiel, now back in elvish form, discovered that she would be staying in the same room as Thorin, Fili, Kili, Balin, Dwalin, and Bombur. Dori, Nori, Ori, Bifur, Bofur, Gloin, and Oin would be staying in the other room.

"Who all get the beds?" Kili asked when they all stepped into the room, setting his luggage down before he sat in a chair in the corner and began taking his boots off.

"I was going to let Valadhiel and Balin take the beds." Thorin replied, stepping to the side of the room so he could close the door. "She is the only woman among us, and giving her the bed would prevent any arguments among you."

Valadhiel, who had put her satchel on a hook, looked over at Thorin before she shook her head. "I don't need a bed. The floor is rather comfortable in leopard form." She replied, then bit her lower lip when some of the others began to debate who got the bed. After seeing Thorin sigh, she spoke up again. "I say that the king should get the bed. Doesn't that sound appropriate?"

Bofur nodded his agreement. "Aye, let Balin and Thorin take the beds. The best for the oldest and for our king."

After a little more discussion, it was finally settled. Thorin was soon in one of the beds, and Balin was in the other bed, while the rest of them spread out mats they'd packed up over the floor and slept there. Valadhiel shifted into her leopard form, walked over to a corner further from the dwarves, curled up, and soon fell asleep.

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