The 16th Companion
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this fanfiction besides Valadhriel and the plotline.
I'm really really really sorry about the wait, but here's the second chapter. Thanks to everyone who followed and favourited!
Chapter 2: Friend or Foe?
For a couple of heart-stopping moments, every single soul in the room stood petrified: Horrified, disbelieving, rooted to the ground. The oh-so-smooth, oh-so-silky voice trailed icy fingers of dread down the party's backs.
Thorin was the first to unfreeze."Who are you, and what do you want from us?! Show yourself!" he barked, leaping to his feet and drawing a dagger from its hidden sheath, "And how did you get in here without any of us noticing?!"
The voice laughed, a cold, mirthless laugh that only chilled the company more. "Oh, there is no need for that, Thorin Oakenshield. It was a simple enough task to enter unnoticed even after you so courteously attempted to fool me into thinking nobody was home," the voice drawled, dripping with derision.
A ripple of movement from the corner of the room drew everyone's attention, and fourteen pairs of hands fumbled clumsily for concealed weapons. A lithe figure melted out of the shadows and slipped into the room, one slender hand reaching back to draw back a hood. "and I am Valadhriel Elradiriel, and I wish only to join your… quest."
Valadhriel was beautiful, perhaps, in a dangerous way, with sharp features, fierce emerald eyes and sharply contrasting raven hair and chalky skin, if you looked past the cruel smirk twisting her lips. She radiated power, an air of cold, aristocratic menace and glowed with the silvery light that all her kin possessed.
Stunned silence reigned in the room for several heartbeats, in which Valadhriel smirked, the dwarves spluttered, Bilbo gaped and Gandalf put on his best thinking/constipated face, until it was shattered by thirteen outraged voices, all complaining about 'betraying, backstabbing elves, contemplating 'killing the scum where it stands' and the ludicrosity of one joining their 'noble expedition', as Dwalin very eloquently put it. Gandalf ceased his thinking/constipation and peered at Valadhriel some more.
Gloin scowled. "And anyway, why're you, a lying, two-faced trai- Er, elf, even interested in this venture?"
Valadhriel scowled right back. "Believe me, if I had to choose between Sauron and you, Sauron would win, no contest. But my lord wishes it, and what my lord commands, I do."
There commenced another energetic round of spluttering.
Gandalf took advantage of the pause and pulled himself to his feet, still staring at the elf. "Sauron, you say. Hmmm. Tell me, who is this lord of whom you speak? And you wouldn't by any chance be Erestor or, um, Maedhros's kin?"
Valadhriel glared, chin coming up and eyes blazing. "Mithrandir. My people think you wise, but you are but a fool to think my lord, who is none of your business, to be the Enemy. Elbereth, I am an elf."
"Exactly," Nori muttered, and the now thoroughly exasperated Valadhriel scowled and gave him her Death Glare™. Nori whimpered and shrank back into his seat. Valadhriel smirked, huffed self-righteously and after much belligerent glowering continued: "Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, no I am not, unfortunately, related to Lord Erestor or Maedhros the Tall."
Gandalf hmmmed doubtfully. "If you say so. Why is your lord interested in this, then?"
Valadhriel smiled thinly. "For the same reason why you are, of course. The riches of Smaug's hoard are legendary, and there are several items from his treasure trove my lord desires."
Thorin narrowed his eyes. "What items?"
Valadhriel sighed. "Not the Arkenstone, I assure you. Now before you start muttering about my trustworthiness, will you let me join, or will I have to follow you and kill you in your sleep?"
"Friendly."
Valadhriel sighed. "I know. Now get to the point."
Thorin pretended to consider. "Hmm, let me think… No."
"Why not? I'm an elf, not an orc."
"Exactly."
The wall mysteriously developed a gravitational field to the back of Valadhriel head.
"And you're a dwarf, but you need me."
Thorin folded his arms. "No we don't."
"Oh really? You need someone who can read the map. Who can get you through Mirkwood. Who has connections everywhere that matters. Who has elven sight, hearing and speed. Who can actually fight."
Valadhriel seemed to have a talent for making dwarves splutter.
Gandalf sighed, and admitted "She's right."
Valadhriel smirked. "Of course I am."
I shall attempt to update more frequently, but that's it for now.
