Adventure of a Lifetime: VOL 1

Part 1: Chapter 3

            Fili hastily writes the note on a small piece of paper. He folds the stone inside, his hands shaking. "Fili, come on!" Thorin huffs. "One moment!" Fili calls, sprinting up the stairs towards Willow's room. He runs straight into Lindir, the elf who greeted them at the entrance a few days prior. "Where are you going?" He asks suspiciously. Fili holds out his hand. "Give this to Willow, please," he says, dropping the folded paper in Lindir's hand. The elf raises an eyebrow, but nods. "I will," he replies. "Thank you," Fili says, running back down to the company. "Did you do it?" Kili asks. "I gave it to that brown haired elf. Ran straight into him," Fili sighs. Kili slaps his brother on the back, the company quietly departing from Rivendell. Fili admires the scenery. It looks different in the faint light of the morning, the sun not yet over the mountains, the dew still fresh on the grass. They reach the overlook, pausing to look one last time. Fili stares hopefully at the elven house, his eyes scanning for any sign of the young woman. Bilbo stands beside him. "You'd better keep up, Master Baggins. It's a long road ahead," Thorin says gruffly. Kili turns around, placing his hand on his brothers shoulder. "She's not coming, is she?" Fili sighs sadly. Bilbo looks up at the dwarves. "I wouldn't give up just yet. She might still," Bilbo says. "Come on brother. We cannot delay," Kili says, he and Bilbo turning away from Rivendell. Fili stays a moment longer, looking over the beautiful valley, before tearing his gaze away, his heart heavy, and following the company away.

Willow wakes the next morning to utter silence. She sits up, straining her ears for any sign of the dwarves. There is nothing. She jumps out of bed, running barefoot through the halls. She runs straight into Lindir, nearly knocking him over. "Where have they gone?" She asks. "They left, early this morning. Without Gandalf," he replies. Willow shakes her head. "The blond one left this for you," Lindir says, handing her a folded piece of paper. She unfolds it, and inside lies Fili's stone. The paper reads "If you change your mind, you know where to find us. I will miss you, Willow. -Fili" Willow holds the note and stone tight in her palm, racing to find Gandalf and Elrond. She finds them talking in the library. "Mithrandir, take me with you," she says, nearly toppling over in her rush to enter the room. "What on earth are you talking about?" He asks. "The dwarves have left. I know you mean to go after them. So I beg you, take me with you," she pleads. "Willow, this is absurd!" Elrond protests. "Is it?" Willow counters. "They are my kin too. They have no home, no one took them in when they needed it. If I can help them get their home back, I must!" Gandalf and Elrond are taken aback at her sudden outburst. They look to each other, then back at Willow. Elrond sighs, placing his hands on her shoulders. "My child, I took you in, loved you as my own. I knew this day would come, when your dwarvish blood with the yearning desire for adventure would win you over. If this is what you truly want," he says, looking down at the stone in her hand. "Then I cannot stop you from it." Willow throws her arms around his shoulders. "Thank you, Lord Elrond," she whispers. "We must hurry, Willow, if we are to catch up to our friends," Gandalf says. "I will pack right away!" Willow exclaims, hurrying down the hall. "You knew that she could not stay here forever," Gandalf says to Elrond. "It is not in her blood." "Yes. I knew this day would come," Elrond says, staring down the hallway. "I just did not think that it would come so soon." Elrond turns to Gandalf. "She will change the course of the future."

Willow prepared a small pack, choosing a lighter armor for traveling rather than her normal patrol armor. With her weapons secured, she hurries down to the courtyard, where Gandalf and Elrond are waiting. "I shall send word to Mirkwood. If you are in need, King Thranduil and his son, Legolas, will be most welcoming to you," Elrond says. "Thank you, Elrond. For everything," Willow says, hugging him once more. "Are you ready, Willow?" Gandalf asks. Willow looks around the courtyard one last time, bringing her eyes back to Gandalf. There is no sadness in her, only determination and excitement. "More than ready."

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short, it's mostly filler content until we get to the main journey.