A/N1: My thanks to everyone who sent in reviews or comments.

A/N2: I would also like to send my Condolences out to the family of Broomstick Flyer. She was a wonderful and talented writer, and her passing on March 22 will leave a extremely large hole in the Fan Fiction Community.

Chapter 15 – A Short Rest

Legolas had been leading Harry to where the Dwarves were in silence. So silent in fact that had it been a Wizard he was walking with, he would have sworn there was a silencing charm on his feet. When they got to what Harry assumed was the Hall of Waiting though, he stopped without entering and spoke to Harry for the first time. "My father has shown great trust in you Harry Potter. Never before has he allowed strangers to walk the halls of our realm while in arms."

"I was just as surprised as you are when he gave me back my wand and sword, but you don't have to worry. Neither Luna or I will betray that trust. Though I did notice that he didn't do the same with the Dwarves."

"No, and he will not. Their arms will not be returned until they leave."

"Do you have any idea how long it will take the five that were poisoned to be well enough to travel?" he asked.

"They should be well enough in 3 or 4 days, but I'm basing that on how long it would take an Elf to recover. We try to have as little contact with Dwarves as possible so they may be different." Legolas replied.

"Why is there so much bad blood between your two peoples? Gandalf never really told me, and I never thought to ask."

"The Elves and the Dwarves have distrusted each other for as long as we have been recording our history here in Middle Earth. We prefer peaceful existence between out race and the lands around us. The Dwarves are forever digging in the ground or hills to get more gold and gems, and tend towards jealously against those who are better off than themselves rather than be content with they have. These days, both our peoples are better off ignoring each other."

"Well,"" Harry said after pondering the Elf's words, "it could be worse I suppose. You could be constantly fighting."

"Very true." And then looking at the door, continued, "Here I will leave you Harry Potter. Your traveling companions are inside. I don't know if Miss Lovegood is with them or if she is still with our healers, but she will be brought here when she is done."

"Thank you, and when you see the King next, please convey my thanks to him for his trust in me," and then after a pause added. "any apologies for not doing so myself as I should have."

"I will do that Harry Potter. Have a pleasant night." Legolas replied and then left him at the door.

-=ooo000ooo=-

When Harry opened the door and walked into the room, well, hall would really describe it better, all the Dwarves looked up to see who had entered. When Thorin saw him he immediately asked about the condition of the five members of the company that were with the Elvin healers.

"I don't know yet how they are Thorin, though Legolas, the Elf who brought me here said that if they recover the same as Elves do, they should be fit to travel in 3 or 4 days. Luna will likely be able to tell you more when she arrives."

Not saying anything, Thorin simply nodded his acceptance. But then he noticed that Harry was carrying his sword. "How come you by that?" he asked, indicating the weapon.

"The Elvin King gave me back both the sword and my wand after talking to me."

"Why would he do that? What did you tell him?" Thorin asked in an accusatory tone. But Harry was spared answering the Dwarf when the door to the hall opened, and Luna walked in. Harry went to her asking as he went. "The Dwarves?"

"They'll be fine." Luna answered. "After I removed the stasis charm, they were given the anti toxin for the spider venom and they had already started to respond when I left. The Elvin healers tell me they'll likely wake in a few hours, but they'll be feeling very sick until the venom is out of their system." Luna explained. "That should take about a day. After that, another two or three days till they're fit top travel again."

"Well that's good news at least." Harry replied. "Do you still have your wand?"

"Oh yes, the King send word to the guards that I was to be allowed to keep it when I left. I see you got your sword back as well."

"And my wand." Harry confirmed. "The King gave both back to me after our talk."

"And what did you talk about?" asked the voice of Thorin who had been standing near Harry as Luna told him about the Dwarves.

Harry sighed. "He asked mainly about the sword. He wanted to know why I had told the guards not to draw it from it's scabbard. He also asked where the company was traveling to." Harry answered.

"And, what did you tell him?" the Dwarf demanded.

"I told him the truth, that you were traveling to the Lonely Mountain to try and get back your treasure from the dragon."

"You should NOT have told him that." The Dwarf said angrily. "It is none of his business where we were going or what we were doing."

"Actually he had every right, or are you forgetting that we're traveling through his realm? Or that the road we were following was made by his people?" Harry snapped. "And…" he continued, not giving Thorin a chance to reply, "I was not about to thank him for saving the lives of the others by lying to him!"

Harry turned and left Thorin standing there with his mouth open. The old Dwarf was obviously not used to people talking to him like that.

-=ooo000ooo=-

After Harry had calmed down considerably, (Luna had helped immensely simply by laying her head on his shoulder) Bilbo decided it was safe to ask him something that had been bothering him for some weeks.

"Harry, I was wondering, do you know any way I could get a letter to someone back in the Shire?"

"Is something wrong Bilbo?" he asked.

"Well, not wrong, but I did run off this spring without telling anyone where I was going or when I'd be back."

"Are you worried the people in the Shire will think you're not coming back?" Luna asked him.

"Well, either not coming back or that I'm dead." Bilbo replied.

"Well, who could you tell if we could get a letter to them?" Harry asked him.

"The only Hobbit I trust enough and who knows his letters is Roper Gamgee. He and his boy Hamfast live at Number 3 Bagshot row, just below Bagend. We've know each other since we were lads, even though he's five years older than I am."

While Bilbo was telling him all about the Gamgee's, Harry had summoned his pack and was fishing around for a quill and parchment. He found the parchment, but no quill. Instead, he pulled out a fountain pen that had a calligraphy nib on it. "Write your letter Bilbo," Harry told him. "and I'll take it to him."

"But how…."

"I'll just pop back to Hobbiton, deliver the letter, and then pop back." But Bilbo didn't seem to understand. "Remember how we crossed the river in the forest?" Harry added

Bilbo nodded a yes.

"Well, it's the same thing, only it's farther away."

"Well, if you can disappear that far, why can't you take all of us to this mountain we're traveling to? Why are we walking?"

"Bilbo," Luna began softly. "We can only Apparate, that's what it's called by the way, to someplace we've either been before, or someplace we can actually see. Neither of us have been to the Lonely Mountain before, so we don't know where to go. That's why we have to walk there."

"So…if I wanted to be done with this adventure, could you take me with you when you delivered my letter?"

Harry had been afraid that Bilbo would make that connection when they were crossing the river, but he guessed that Bombour falling into the river and everything that had happened later had driven it from the Hobbits mind.

"I can." He replied carefully. "If you truly want to go home. And I wouldn't blame you if you did Bilbo. Gandalf may be very wise, but he never really asked you if you wanted to go did he? He just said you were going."

"No he didn't ask. He just said I was going on this adventure without even a 'By your leave.'"

"May I make a suggestion then?" Harry asked.

"You're going to suggest I continue."

"Actually, no." Harry said shocking the Hobbit. "I was going to suggest that you take a few days to think about it. I can take your letter as soon as you finish it, and we'll be here for a while until the Dwarves recover. If you still want to go home then, you have my word that Luna or I will take you."

"Alright, that seems fair." Bilbo said, and then after a few more moments added. "I guess I have a letter to write." And then after taking the parchment and pen from Harry, went off to a corner to begin writing.

-=ooo000ooo=-

Bilbo came back to Harry a half hour later with his letter finished. "I've finished my letter." he said, "But the only thing is that I've offered him six silver pennies to watch over Bagend, and I didn't get a chance to take my money pouch when we left."

Harry started fishing around in his pockets. He pulled out 2 Galleons and 3 Sickles. "Luna, do you have any sickles on you?" he asked.

"Actually I believe I do. Just a tic." She replied. And then proceeded to fish around in her own pockets. She came up with 4 Galleons and 7 Sickles, plus an odd number of Knuts. "How many do you need?" She asked.

"Just 4 Sickles." Harry answered, and Luna gave them to him. "Thanks Luna."

Harry turned back to Harry and asked, "Bilbo, are these close to the size of your silver pennies?" he asked the Hobbit, showing him the coins.

"They look about the same size. But I can't take yours and Luna's money." He said.

"Why? Is it the design on them?" Harry asked.

"No it's not the design. This is your money. It wouldn't be right." Bilbo said a little embarrassed.

"I think I see the problem Harry." Luna interjected. "Bilbo, are we your friends?" she asked him kindly.

"Well, yes. At least I consider you my friends." He answered.

"Well friends help friends Bilbo, but if it will make you feel better, you can pay us back when you get home, or when you get your reward from the Dwarves."

Bilbo thought about this for a while and finally said. "That would be acceptable."

"Good. Problem solved then." Luna said with a warm smile. "Harry can take your letter to your neighbor, and if he agrees to look after your home, pay him the money."

"Thank you both." and then turning his attention back to Harry asked "When will you go?"

"Right now if you like, I just need your letter."

Bilbo held out the letter and after taking it said. "I'll be back in a bit." And then with a soft crack, he disappeared.

Bilbo shook his head in amazement. "I saw that when you did that by the river Luna, and I'm still amazed. And you can really take people with you when you….disappear like that?"

Luna laughed softly. "Yes we really can take people with us, as long as we know where we're going."

"So how long do you think he'll be gone?"

"Oh not long." Luna answered. "Why don't we get something to eat while we wait? I haven't eaten since we got here."

"Well, I am a bit hungry…."

"Come on Bilbo." And they headed off to the table the Elves had set up with food and drink for the company.

-=ooo000ooo=-

Hobbiton

Had there been anyone looking at Bilbo's front door, they would have seen an amazing sight, and a medium height man suddenly appeared with a soft pop. Seemingly out of thin air. He was dressed in a dark cloak, with a hood that covered his head. The man walked looked around for a moment to get his bearings, and then started to make his way down the Hobbits walkway to the road.

He was walking at a gentle pace, just like he belonged there. Even though it was rare to see any 'big people' as they were called in the Shire, there in the first place. Most never left the Western Road as this was where all the Inns were located.

The man kept walking till he found himself at a sign that read simply "3" with the name "Gamgee" underneath it. He opened the gate and walked up to the round door and knocked.

After a few moments the door opened and a small Hobbit boy stood there. He was startled at the sight of the cloaked stranger, but managed to croak out a "Yes? May I help you Sir?" in his most polite, albeit frightened voice.

Harry smiled to himself slightly and said. "Good afternoon. Would Mr. Gamgee be here please?"

The lad looked up at this tall cloaked man, easily three feet taller than himself and replied. "My Da's in the back Sir. May I ask what you want him for?"

Harry pulled out the letter from Bilbo and said. "I have a letter for him from Mr. Baggins at Number Four. Could you please tell him for me?"

"From Mr. Bilbo? I'll get him right away," and with that, he closed the door, and Harry faintly heard running.

He didn't have to wait long before the door opened again, and a older Hobbit was standing there. Yes? what be you a wanting?"

"Mr. Gamgee?" Harry asked.

The Hobbit simply nodded a yes.

Harry held out the letter. "My name is Potter, and I have a letter from Mr. Baggins Sir. I met him in Bree some week ago, when he asked my employer, a Mr. Butterbur, if a letter could be taken to Hobbiton. This was the first chance I've had to deliver it."

Roper Gamgee slowly took the letter, still not too sure about this stranger. He opened it and started to read it. He 'knew his letters' as the Hobbits called the art of reading, but he had to take his time. Harry simply stood there, waiting patiently. Finally when he finished it he said. "Aye, I'd be happy to look after Mr. Bilbo's hole fer him."

"Excellent." Harry said, pulling out a leather pouch. He took the six sickles out of the pouch and handed them to old Roper. "He also gave me six silver pennies to give to you if you agreed, and one other thing." He pushed his hood down and removed a rawhide cord from around his neck. On the cord was a silver key. "This is the key to his home. He said you should have it in case you need to enter," and then handed over the key. "He also asked me to tell you that you can show this letter to anyone your think necessary to show them that he plans to return, and when that will be."

"Aye, there have been many that have been askin where Mr. Bilbo took off to and why. Some have said he's run off on some adventure, or some sort a thing. I tried to tell em that Mr. Bilbo was a proper Hobbit, and that none a that Tookish foolishness was in him. But ye know people start to talkin, especially after one too many tankards."

Harry smiled. "I do indeed. I see it all the time at the Pony," he replied, dropping the name of the Prancing Pony so that his story of why he was there would be more believable to anyone who heard it later. It would give Bilbo less trouble later on when he returned.

"Was there anything else he wanted me to know?" Roped asked him.

"No Sir, so I'll take my leave." Harry bowed his head slightly, and then pulling his hood back up, turned and walked back up the path to the road. Making sure to latch the gate as he had found it when he entered. He strolled leisurely up the road, back towards Bilbo's till he was screened from everyone by a large tree. Had anyone been able to see him, they would have seen him spin slightly and disappear with a soft 'Pop'

-=ooo000ooo=-

Roper Gamgee watched as the cloaked 'big person' walked away. He, like most of the inhabitants of the Shire was very wary of strangers, and even more so when they were some of the big people, as they were generally considered untrustworthy. But even he had to admit that this one didn't seem to like that. He had handed over to him six silver pennies. Not a fortune, but still a considerable sum in those parts. Add to that he also had the key to Mr. Bilbo's front door. He could have robbed the Hobbit blind as well at taken the coins for himself, but he didn't, and Roper, having been invited to Bag End many times by Mr. Bilbo, knew how many valuable items the Hobbit had in his home, and was both touched and proud that Mr. Bilbo trusted him to look after his home.

Suddenly he chuckled to himself. He knew it wouldn't be too much longer before Otho and Lobelia Sackville Baggins, Mr. Bilbo's horrid cousins, started sniffing around the hole, trying to see if they could get their hands on it. Something they had been wanting for some time now as it was considered one of the nicest holes in the entire Shire. He would take great pleasure in showing them the letter from Mr. Bilbo, saying that he would be gone for at least a year, maybe a year and a half, but that he would return.

He was also pleased that Mr. Bilbo had told his that he and Hamfast could take everything that was in his garden for their own, as it would spoil long before he would return, and he would rather someone made use of the large amount of vegetables that were currently growing there, and which were nearly ready to be harvested.

He didn't know if he had enough room in his pantry to store all the food that would come from Mr. Bilbo's garden, but since he had his key, he figured he could use Mr. Bilbo's pantry to store them if he didn't. This would be a good Yule for them.

-=ooo000ooo=-

Harry popped back into the hall the Elves had given the company for their use, and was immediately set on by Thorin.

"Where have you been Mr. Potter? I saw you disappear nearly a half hour ago."

"I just had an errand to run for Bilbo back in Hobbiton. He wanted a letter delivered to his neighbor." Harry answered.

"Back in Hobbiton? You went all the way there and back in a half hour?" Thorin asked in a stunned voice.

"Well actually, most of the time was taken up talking to the Hobbit I gave the letter to, but yes. Why?" Harry asked him, knowing full well what Thorin was on about.

"If you can go that far in so short a time, then why are we all walking to the mountain. Why don't you just pop us all there right now?"

Harry sighed, but resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He then proceeded to tell the story and theory of apparition again.

Thorin nodded his understanding, and clearly his disappointment.

"Now I don't know about you, but I'm hungry. What did the Elves leave us to eat?"

-=ooo000ooo=-

It was almost three hours later, and Harry and Luna had long since finished their meal. They were sitting with Bilbo when the door to the hall they were in opened, and Legolas, the Elf who brought Harry there appeared. "Miss Lovegood, could you come with me please? One of the Dwarves has awakened."

"Oh course." She replied and got up and started off towards the door. "I'll let you know as soon as I know how they are." She told Harry and Thorin, who had made his way over to them when he heard what the Elf had to say.

She soon disappeared, and the group had to wait nearly an hour for her to return.

When she did come back, she saw that everyone had stood and were now staring at her. She walked over to Thorin's group. "Bifur is awake," She said simply. "and other than a headache that the Elves say will pass in an hour or two, he seems to be alright. Nori was also showing signs of waking as I was leaving, and the Elven healers expect all of them to be awake within another hour or two."

"When can I see them?" Thorin asked.

"The healers want to wait till all of them are awake before they start getting visitors. They said they'd send someone to get you and up to one other. At least until they're stronger."

"Thank you Miss Lovegood." Thorin told her.

-=ooo000ooo=-

But it was almost four hours later when there was a soft knock at the door, and an Elf entered. "They are all awake." he said simply. Thorin and half the company started towards the door, but the Elf held his open hand up. "Only two at a time please. They are still weak."

Harry spoke up. "Thorin, if I make a suggestion?" he asked tentatively.

Thorin nodded.

"Why don't you and Balin go and see them first? You two are the senior members of the company after all." Harry suggested.

Thorin seemed to think this over for a few moments before replying. "Yes, excellent suggestion Mr. Potter. Excellent suggestion." And with that he and Balin headed off with the Elves to see their comrades.

-=ooo000ooo=-

In all, it took the Dwarves over a week before they were fit to travel again. They were out of bed by the second day and back with their friends, but they tired easily, though the Elvin Healers told them this would get better as the days passed.

And so it was that ten days later, the entire company found themselves in the throne room of the Elvin King.

"The Healers tell me you have all recovered sufficient to continue on your journey back to your home in Mount Erebor."

Thorin shot Harry a dirty look at this statement by the King. One the King didn't miss.

"Do not hold Mr. Potter in fault Thorin Oakenshield. I put him in a very difficult position. He had to choose between lying to me, which I would have known about instantly, and then not trusted him afterwards, or tell me the truth to get the best possible help for the sick." The King lectured Thorin. "And because of this, it won't cost you…much, if you regain the mountain."

"And just how much is much?" Thorin practically snarled.

"I only want one thing," the King replied, "The Emerald Necklace of Girion."

"You ask for a great deal." Thorin told him. "That necklace is made up of over 500 of the finest emeralds we have ever seen."

"Yes I am asking for much, but I have also given much. Pray tell me, how much value to you place on the lives of five of your kin?"

Harry could see that Thorin was struggling. He clearly wanted to say something that likely would not have been received well by the King and the other Elves, but the Dwarf held his tongue and simply said. "Agreed."

"Then you are all free to go. My people will guide you to the edge of the forest and leave you by the rivers entrance. From there, simply follow it till you reach Lake Town. We have also refilled your bags with food to last you seven days, though it should only take you five to reach the town. Fare well."

Thorin gave the King a very curt, and very short bow in thanks and recognition of the Elvin help, and Harry couldn't help but notice the Elvin Kings amusement at this. 'The old bugger is enjoying this' he thought. 'He knows this is pissing Thorin off to no end, and he just can't help but twist the knife a few more times.'

The Dwarves and Bilbo filed out of the throne room, some of them grumbling softly under their breath over the deal the Elvin King had forced Thorin to make, but none of them seemed to be willing to voice these complaints out loud.

Before he and Luna left though, and after the Dwarves were out of earshot, they both turned to the King, and after bowing respectively, Harry said "Thank you your Majesty for all the help you and your people have given our company. I'm sure the Dwarves are more grateful then they let on, but they're…well they're still Dwarves."

The King looked at Harry and Luna, a small smile on his face. "Fare you well Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood. Go in peace, and know that you both will always be welcome in anytime in my realm."

Harry and Luna gave the King another bow, and them turned to follow the Dwarves out of the hall.