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Chapter Two
Bella led the party across the bridge that led to the entrance of her home. She smiled warmly at Lindir as he made his way down the stairs stopping at the bottom. Closing the space between, Bella embraced the tall Elf with a smile.
"I am glad you are back safe, your father has been worried when he caught word of the Orcs at our borders.
Bella stepped back out of his hold with a smile but said nothing. "Mithrandir," Lindir greeted Gandalf.
"Lindir," Gandalf responded cheerfully.
The Dwarves looked at Lindir with distrust as he and Gandalf spoke. "We heard you had crossed into the Valley," Lindir told Gandalf. Bella frowned, she moved behind Lindir to the bottom of the stairs. She leaned against the bottom of the stairs trying to appear unaffected but she was desperate to speak to her father. Why would he send her out on patrol if he knew Dwarves were about? Did he intend for her to meet them?
"I must speak with Lord Elrond," Gandalf said.
Bella sensed eyes on her and she raised her eyes instinctively. Her gaze met the deep brown eyes that she had got lost in once already that day. A smile spread across Kili's face when Bella looked his way. Bella blushed looking down just as Lindir answered Gandalf.
"Lord Elrond is not here."
"Not here? Where is he?" Gandalf enquired.
The Elvish horns sounded again from behind the Dwarves. Thorin and his Company turned around to see a group of armed Elves riding horses across the bridge. "Ready weapons!" Thorin ordered, as they formed a circle with Bilbo in the middle. "Hold ranks!"
Elrond dismounted his horse while the other Elves circled the Dwarves. "We thought you were lost, Isabella, when we did not find you." Lord Elrond approached Bella, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"I am safe, Papa."
"Gandalf," Lord Elrond greeted the wizard.
Gandalf bowed before Lord Elrond. "My friend, where have you been?"
"We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the South. We slew a number near the Hidden Pass,"
Elrond informed Gandalf.
Elrond stepped forward and embraced the wizard. "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near."
"Ah, that may have been us," Gandalf told him, sounding apologetic.
Thorin stepped forward and Elrond looked upon with recognition. "Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain."
"I do not believe we have met," Thorin told him.
"You have your grandfathers bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled over the Mountain."
"Indeed; he made no mention of you." Thorin's words were innocent enough, but there was no mistaking his tone.
Elrond smiled but chose to ignore the insult. "Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests."
Bella smiled at her ever kind father. "What is he saying?" Gloin asked angrily stepping forward. "Does he offer us insult?"
"No, master Gloin, he is offering you food," Gandalf told, the smile in his voice evident.
Gloin stepped back and the Dwarves quickly discussed his offer. "Ah well, in that case, lead on."
"Would you introduce me to the rest of your company, Thorin?" Lord Elrond asked.
"Of course. This is Dwalin, Ori and Gloin," Thorin began, gesturing to each one in turn. Bella tried to appear disinterested but she was looking up through her eyelashes, curiosity burned within her to know who the dark haired Dwarf was that had captured her attention so fully. "Balin, Bombur, Dori, Nori. This is Fili and Kili…." Bella did not hear any of the names spoken after that, her gaze had been captured once again by the dark haired Dwarf. Kili. She smiled, repeating his name over and over in her head.
"Lady Isabella?" Lindir appeared in front of her, offering her his arm. Bella's cheeks burned with her embarrassment when she noticed everyone else had moved away, leaving just Fili, Gandalf and her father to witness her staring.
As the Dwarves made themselves comfy to eat Bella escaped to her room to change. The clothes she had worn to patrol would not appropriate for dinner. She quickly removed her leather vest and shirt before slipping into a dress. She tidied up the braids in her hair and was about to leave when someone knocked on her bedroom door.
"Come in," she answered the knock recognising it. "Papa." She smiled at him, standing. "Did you know there Dwarves near when you sent me out this morning?"
"I confess, I did. I thought you should meet some of your own kind, my daughter."
Bella nodded. "Perhaps some warning of events like these in the future, Papa."
"Are you okay, Isabella?" Lord Elrond asked. "You have not been yourself since you came back."
Kili's face flashed across her mind. What was it about this Dwarf? An unconscious smile had settled on her face. "The Dwarf?" Lord Elrond spoke again.
Bella looked up in surprise. "Are you sure you are not a mind reader, Papa?"
Lord Elrond smiled. "You were but a baby when you came to me, Isabella. Fifty Six years you have lived with us in Rivendell. I knew one day you would leave, I just had not thought it would be so soon. I hope he deserves your love, my daughter, if you chose to bestow it on him."
"Leave?" Bella questioned confused. "Love? What are you talking about?"
"Come, Bella. Let us go meet our guests."
Bella followed her father down the stairs her head still spinning with questions. Leave Rivendell? Why would she do that? Gandalf was waiting at the bottom with a smile.
"Kind of you to invite us," Gandalf told Lord Elrond as they reached the outside hall. "Not really dressed for dinner."
"Well, you never are," Bella quipped as they passed the table where the Dwarves were sat. Kili raised his head to look at Bella as she passed. He thought she had been beautiful earlier but seeing her in a dress, walking beside Lord Elrond and Gandalf he thought she looked like a princess. Why would she ever take notice of him? The Beardless Dwarf? Bella gazed his way and smiled before continuing on to the other table. Fili nudged his brother with a smirk, to which Kili grinned giving his brother a shove. Bella sat herself besides Gandalf listening intently as he and her father talked.
"This is Orcrist, the Goblin-cleaver," Elrond told them as he examined the blade. "A famous blade forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin." He handed the sword back to Thorin. "May it serve you well." Thorin bowed his head in thanks. "And this is Glamdring, the Foehammer. Sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the Goblin wars of the First Age. How did you come by these?"
"We found them in Troll-hoard on the Great East Road shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs," Gandalf told them.
"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?" Elrond asked. Thorin did not looked pleased by the question. Bella was burning with curiosity to know where these Dwarves were headed and why they had a Hobbit with them.
"Perhaps we should talk about this in private?" Gandalf suggested. Gandalf, Thorin and Lord Elrond stood.
"Come Balin, and you too Master Baggins," Thorin told the Dwarf and Hobbit who also stood.
Lord Elrond walked around where his daughter sat and pulled back her chair. "You should be there too." Bella nodded, standing. The Dwarves watched with interest as the party left. Bella yet again caught Kili's eyes on her, this time she blushed. Fili laughed at her expression from beside his brother who simply continued to smile at her. Bella hastened to catch up the party to avoid any further embarrassment. What was this Dwarf doing to her?
"Our business is no concern of Elves," Thorin said stubbornly.
Gandalf let out a frustrated sigh. "For goodness sake, Thorin, show them the map," the wizard snapped.
"It is the legacy of my people. It's mine to protect as are its secrets."
"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand in the presence of two of the few people in Middle-earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond and Lady Isabella.
Thorin took out the map. "Thorin, no," Balin attempted to stop him. Thorin approached Elrond, but turned once he had reached him and handed the map over to Bella. Even if she was raised by Elves, she was a Dwarf. He felt he could trust her.
Bella looked up at her father before unfolding the map. Her father had been teaching her for the last thirty years, she hoped she did this right. "Erebor," she whispered.
"What is your interest in this map?" Lord Elrond asked.
"It's mainly academic," Gandalf said before Thorin could speak. "As you know, this sort of artefact sometimes contains hidden text. Your father has taught you to read ancient Dwarvish, has he not?" Bella smiled at Gandalf's words, then turned away to look at the map in the moonlight. She whispered something in Elvish that only Gandalf and Lord Elrond caught. "Moon runes? Of course. An easy thing to miss."
"Well, in this case, that is true," Lord Elrond said, peering at the map over his daughters shoulder. "Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written."
"Can you read them?" Thorin asked Bella and Elrond.
"These ruins were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago," Bella told them as she led them up a set of stairs and to a small alter made entirely of transparent stone.
"It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell," Elrond said. "Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight."
The six of them looked up as the moon appeared out from behind a cloud. They all watched as Bella placed the map on the stone, the light of moon refracted through it showing up words that had not been visible before. Thorin looked at the map in wonder, before smiling at Bella. Bella returned his smile before she began reading. "Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo questioned.
"It is the start of the Dwarves new year," Gandalf explained. "When the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together."
"This is ill news," Thorin said, and Bella turned to face him. "Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."
"We still have time," Balin said stepping forward.
"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked.
"To find the entrance. We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."
"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?" Bella questioned.
"What of it?" Thorin asked.
"There are some who would not deem it wise," Lord Elrond said.
"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked.
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." Elrond walked away. Bella smiled at Thorin, handing back his map before she headed after her father.
A short while later when her father had left to go talk to Gandalf and Saruman, Bella had changed out of her dress back into her clothes from that morning which she was much more comfy in, and headed down to where she believed the Dwarves were still feasting. She had picked up her sword, bow and arrow along the way. Her thoughts about Kili were still making her anxious so she had decided another patrol may be in order.
When she reached the Dwarves she was not surprised to see them packing up. "Planning on sneaking off?" she questioned and they all stopped what they were doing to look at her. Thorin appeared from behind a post and stood but a foot from her.
"We all saw the white wizard, Lady Isabella. They will try to stop us."
"Yes, they most certainly will. You do risk unleashing the wrath of a dragon," Bella said. Thorin thought for a moment she would reveal their attempt at leaving quietly. A smile spread across her face. "Come, I will show a way out that you will ensure you are not discovered."
"There is a place for you on the Company, if you want it Lady Isabella. A place among your own kind."
Bella stopped turning back to him. "Why would you offer me this? Would you not think me a burden on this quest?"
"I have no doubt, after this morning, that you will be able to defend yourself. An extra archer can not be a bad thing either," Thorin said, both he and Bella looking at Kili.
"Very well," Bella told him. "I will accept your offer, Thorin Oakenshield."
Bella hurried to her room, leaving a good bye letter for her father in which she stated that she hoped she would see him again soon. She did not need anything but her weapons, which she already had, and a travelling cloak which she quickly put on. It took her mere minutes to do what she needed before she returned to the Company, which she was now a part of.
Thorin gestured for Isabella to lead them out. When they were on the outskirts of Rivendell, Bella paused looking back to silently say good bye before continuing on with no idea what this adventure would have in store for her.
A/N: Posted on 10/05/2015. All outfits are on my profile. Violet x.