I do not own the Hobbit. If I did there would be several things that I would change. This is my way of doing that.
Thorin and his company stood in front of Lord Elrond, barely resisting the urge to leave. The urge only gave way to the urge to fight when Elrond spoke in Sindarin to them. Thorin became defensive, convinced that Elrond was insulting them. Gloin began yelling, the other company members lending their voices to the complaint, when Gandalf informed them that Lord Elrond was offering food. The dwarfs seemed more keen when horses could be heard approaching.
"Don't tell me, more elves," grumbled Dwalin.
"This place is already crawling with them," complained Nori.
"This is their home master dwarf," injected Gandalf.
The dwarfs glared at Gandalf as Bilbo stared at the rider.
"That rider seems a bit short to be an elf," pointed out Bilbo.
Everyone turned to look at the rider atop the white stead who looked to be leading a group of horses, carrying packs, behind him. It was true that the rider seemed a bit short for an elf, but he would still be slightly taller then the dwarves. The rider was dressed in red and was wearing a silver helmet that covered part of his face.
The rider and his horses came galloping towards the group and the dwarves braced for the inevitable collision. However, just as it looked as if the dwarves were to be trampled the horses turned and stopped. The rider gracefully jumped off the horse and removed their helmet, revealing a long braided mane of brunette hair. It was only when the rider turned their face to the dwarves, that they realized the rider was female. The dwarves stood in shock for a moment before they turned to look for an explanation. They were met with small smirks on the faces of their host and Gandalf.
"And who might this be," asked Thorin with a bit of a sneer.
"Beautiful," muttered Fili unknowingly.
"What," asked Kili.
"Nothing," said Fili, quickly looking away.
"This would be who you owe your lives to," stated Gandalf, frowning at Thorin and ignoring the brothers.
Thorin and a few of the dwarves gave him a suspicious look, while Bilbo and the rest looked confused. The rider gave Gandalf an incredulous look before heading over to him and giving him a hug. When they began to speak in Sindarin most of the dwarves rolled their eyes while Fili let out a small sigh of disappointment.
"Great another elf," complained Oin.
"Hardly," said the rider as she turned to face the group.
Fili thought he caught a glimpse of a mark on the back of her neck, but it was quickly blocked by her hair. Besides her words had captured most of his attention.
"Then what are ya lass," demanded Dwalin.
Balin elbowed him hard.
"What my brother meant, dear lady, is if you are not an elf, which people do you belong to," asked Balin politely.
"I am a friend, that is all that matters," said the woman before turning swiftly around, leaving the dwarves confused and the horses pacing.
"Well, that was rude," muttered Kili to Fili.
At the top of the steps the rider paused and Kili feared that she had heard him.
"The meat is for you. Take as much of it as pleases you. They will not eat it here," said the rider before disappearing into the depths of Rivendell.
"What meat," asked Dori.
"I suppose she meant this," said Nori.
Everyone turned and found him inspecting the horses, all of whom carried the corpses of several animals, and yet none had saddles.
"Why no saddles," asked Bilbo.
Ori gave him a confused shrug.
"They are gorgeous and no doubt valuable mounts," said Nori with a suspicious gleam in his eyes.
"They are not mounts. They are of the Mearas," revealed Lord Elrond.
"But those are said to be unruly," stated Bilbo.
The lead horse stomped his hooves close to Bilbo's feet. Bilbo yelped and jumped away, several dwarves pulling him behind them.
"It is also said that they understand the language of men," said Gandalf with a smile.
"Come friends," said Elrond as he signaled the dwarves to follow him as multiple elves descended the steps to remove the game the female rider had brought.
As Fili watched the elves unload the horses and the horses start to leave on their own, he paused.
"What was her name?"
"Pardon," said Elrond as he turned toward the dwarf prince.
"The rider. What was her name," repeated Fili, watching as the last horse galloped away.
"Her name is Skuld. Now come," said Elrond and this time all the dwarves followed.
The dwarves did not see Skuld at dinner. In fact, most did not even notice that she was lacking. However, Fili noticed the empty seat at the main table where his Uncle sat and he put two and two together. So, of course, did Kili.
"Do you fancy her," asked Kili as he reached across Fili for more pork.
"Do I fancy who," asked Fili, finally focusing on dinner.
"That female rider, Skuld?"
"How can I fancy someone I don t even know," asked Fili.
"I don t know," said Kili with a shrug as he reached across the table for another piece of chicken.
"Too much like an elf that one," said Gloin with a scowl and a shake of his head as he ate.
"Pointed ears and tall," grumbled Dwalin.
"She couldn t control that brother," admonished Balin.
"No, but she lives with elves," said Kili with a sneer.
The other dwarves all nodded in agreement except for Fili, who just couldn t make himself think anything bad of her.
"She did provide the meat," pointed out Fili.
Everyone stopped eating and stared at him. Fili sat up tall and returned each of their stares. One by one each looked down with a nod. After all, Fili had inherited the patented Durin stare.
"Aye she did," grunted Dwalin as he took another bite of pork.
"And her name is Skuld. That is hardly an elvish name," pointed out Fili.
"That is because it is not elvish, dwarf prince," said a voice behind the dwarves.
All the dwarves turned to see Skuld standing behind them in a navy blue dress with silver trim and sleeves that brushed the ground.
"Then what is it," demanded Oin.
"Dwarfish," said Skuld simply with a small smile as she went to sit at the main table.
The dwarves were whispering furtively amongst themselves, which prompted Thorin to leave the main table and talk to them.
"What's wrong," demanded Thorin, looking among his men for an answer.
"That non-elf says her name is dwarfish," barked out Dwalin.
Thorin's head whipped around to see Skuld get up from the main table and head into the halls of Rivendell. Thorin quickly went after her and caught up to her in the doorway. He grabbed her arm and turned her around. Skuld looked down at the hand and then calmly looked into Thorin's eyes.
"Remove your hand, King Under the Mountain," said Skuld.
"How did you come by your name," demanded Thorin.
"It does not matter," said Skuld as she pulled her arm from Thorin s grip.
"It matters to me," growled Thorin.
"It was given to me. By a young dwarven prince many years ago. I saved him from an angry merchant,"explained Skuld.
"My nephews were never in trouble with a merchant," argued Thorin, growing angry again at the lying.
"I never said one of them was the prince I met," replied Skuld.
"It was not me. Frerin," whispered Thorin in shock.
Skuld lowered her head in sympathy.
"I was not fortunate enough to have met your brother."
"You are barely old enough to have met myself as a youth much less one of my ancestors," said Thorin.
"You are surrounded by beings that look less then their years. Do not presume that my face reflects my age," pointed out Skuld.
Thorin looked at her incredulously.
"How old are you," asked Thorin speculatively.
"Such a question is rude to ask a lady," said Skuld with a sly grin.
She began to walk away and Thorin gave her a suspicious look.
"You never did say the dwarf prince's name," pointed out Thorin.
"You never asked. You simply guessed."
"What was his name," growled Thorin, irritated.
"I knew him as Durin, but legend and history has come to know him as Durin the Deathless," said Skuld as she left Thorin speechless.