Finally I have finished the second chapter! I apologize for not making this sooner. College and work can be potent combination in consuming time (And I admit I've been caught in Dark Souls lately). However, I hope you enjoy this and I look forward to writing the next chapter!

Chapter Two: Heaven on Earth

Rivendell, The Last Homely House East of the Sea, stood before the company. They rowed until they came at the base of the falls, where a simple but elegant dock awaited them. Three elves stood there on guard, looking rather bored until they caught sight of the boats. At first they raised their bows in alarm, then their eyes widened at the sight of Balrandir and Calithiel. They cried out in Sindarin and had them real their boats in, helping them step off and welcoming them with embraces and smiles.

"Min ind cin wer firn (We thought you were dead)!" one of them stated as they helped them unload the boats.

"ú- yet, a mín gar- hin Men na thank an mín cuil (Not yet, and we have these Men to thank for our lives)." Balrandir replied, motioning to William, Astrid and Ryouichi.

The elves took notice of the first two warriors, then they bowed their heads in respect. From what they saw of them, the tall man looked to be a Gondorian knight, whereas the woman must have been a Shieldmaiden of Rohan. Both were allies here, and they walked up to them while helping their own own baggage. Their noses crinkled at the smell of the warriors, which made Astrid tilt her head.

"Hvað, aldrei lyktaði alvöru stríðsmaður áður (What, never smelled a real warrior before)?" she asked with a cheeky smirk.

The Elves didn't understand a single word, which made Balrandir and William roll their eyes in response to the jest. Astrid's sarcasm and sass would surely get her in trouble one day.

However, as soon as they saw Ryouichi begin to step off, the warmth and smiles were gone, replaced by suspicion and growing hostility. That, and the sight of arrows being notched on bows were a dead giveaway at the mood.

"Whui na- ennas an Easterlias hi (Why is there an Easterling here)?"

Ryouichi looked up and saw the way the elves were looking at him, causing the samurai to slowly begin reaching for his katana. William noticed this and put a hand upon the hilt, shaking his head no. Ryouichi looked at the Warden's eyes then nodded, though he returned the cold glare of the Elven guards as he returned the blade to its sheath.

However, he looked over at the gaze of Calithiel, who had a rather worried look upon her face at the thought of bloodshed. She had seen the way he quickly slaughtered the Uruks, and the thought of that lightning-quick blade slaying her kinsmen was a horrifying thought. He could see her worry, and in response his gaze softened a little, calm showing once more as he faced the guards.

"Put cín peng awaui (Put your bows away). Ho na- er -o i neled i aid ammen (He is one of the three that aided us)." Balrandir commanded.

The Elves looked at each other with confusion, but they did as he asked and lowered their bows. Astrid couldn't help but chuckle a little at the exchange of hostilities before leaning on her spear and looking at Balrandir with a smirk.

"Nice little group ya got here." she jeered.

"You must forgive their distrust. Your samurai companion looks very much like a race of Men allied with the Enemy." he explained.

"Tell them I will not harm them so long as they do not do the same." Ryouichi replied sharply.

Balrandir translated this to the Elves, to which they began to speak back in a harsh tone for the briefest moment before the scowl of the elder Elf made all three stop in mid-sentence. He spoke a command once more before they nodded and picked up the remaining baggage, and they began to take a path from the dock that lead upward.

"What did they say, Balrandir?" William asked as he walked along, all three carrying their helmets.

"They thought that he was a prisoner we had taken, an Easterling warrior from Rhûn." the Elf explained.

"Never have I heard of such a place before." William commented.

"And you needn't not worry about it. For now, let us follow them. Lord Elrond will be expecting us, and I will hold true on my promise." Balrandir stated with a smile.

"Good, cause I need some liquor in me or I'm gonna go crazy. You got that here, right?" Astrid asked while looking over his shoulder.

"Why don't you be patient and find out for yourself?"


The path wound up the gorge and moved towards the top of the gorge's narrow edge. While it was a staircase and wide enough for three horses to ride abreast each other, it was no help for the three warriors, especially William. He could feel the weight of his armor bear down upon him as he walked up, gritting his teeth as he saw the backsides of his companions several yards ahead of him. Wardens were trained to have endurance, but they didn't seem to weigh in the factor of being a fatigued shipwreck survivor.

"Damnant armis (Damn this armor)..."

This and a few other Latin curses escaped his mouth as he climbed his way up the path. Balrandir lagged behind and helped the Warden walk up the stairs, seeing that he was growing rather fatigued.

"Come my friend. The view is worth the climb." he enticed as they climbed up.

"Better be...do you all climb this stair every day?" William asked as they were reaching the top.

"Every day of the year. This is child's play compared to the Woodland Realm's own trees. They have stairs that seem like they touch the sky." Balrandir reminisced with a smile.

William's only response was a groan of dismay, making the Elf chuckle a little more. the sound seemed to make the Warden look up, and he couldn't help but smile as well. Balrandir's laugh was infectious, which surprised him considering that the Elf seemed so deadly serious most of the time.

However, Balrandir was right about the view. When they both reached the top, they found themselves overlooking one of the most beautiful sights any of the three had ever seen. They could see Rivendell before them, a bridge crossing over the falls to the courtyard and main entrance, though a glance westward showed them the gorge itself, with the Bruinen river flowing down the narrow canyon. The sun's golden light shone brightly upon the river, it's crystal clear water catching every ray and reflecting it towards the eyes of the company.

"Quam sententiam (What a view)..." William murmured as he stopped to admire the view of the gorge.

When they were escorted inside though, its beauty seemed to expand greatly. The courtyard they entered was made of untarnished marble, gleaming statues along the walkways, beautiful green plants and small trees mingling with the stonework, not at all wild yet looking natural in the area.

The people themselves looked just as fair as their home, stepping out from different buildings at the sight of the company. William, Astrid, and Ryouichi could see the fairness of Balrandir's kind as plain as they could see the land's own: Tall beings with fair and unblemished skin, long hair of vibrant colors that seemed to gleam in the sun, eyes that were like gems upon a king's crown, and their clothing comprised of dresses, tunics and boots matched their beauty. Even in their current state, Balrandir and Calithiel seemed to radiate Rivendell. and they visibly brightened to see their own kin welcoming them. Many of the elves opened their arms and embraced their kin and friends, speaking in that melodious language that left the warriors standing there with confused glances.

"So...anyone else feelin' left out?" Astrid asked.

"Aye. I can't help but feel like we're freaks at the local circus." William commented.

"You're telling me..." Ryouichi murmured as he felt the brunt of the stares on him.

William was right, as while Balrandir and Calithiel greeted their comrades, the elves of Rivendell began to stare at them with mixed feelings of interest, disgust at the stench they bore, but then degrees of suspicion at Ryouichi. The guards that had escorted them seemed to join the crowd in staring at them, until one elf in a blue tunic spoke up in Elvish while pointing at the three.

"These are the men and woman that saved Calithiel and I. Without them, we would have been in Isengard by now being tortured by Uruk and Orc alike." Balrandir replied in the Common Tongue, stepping down and introducing the three. "This is Sir William Rayner of the Iron Legion, Astrid Vinnsluminni of the Warborn Clans, and Ryouichi Hayate of the Dawn Empire."

All three in turn bowed their heads in response and greeting to the elves, attempting their own forms of courtesy. The elf nodded, though some of the stares weren't lifted off of Ryouichi. The samurai returned the stares back with cold indifference, speaking a mantra in his mind over and over to maintain calm.

"I Easterlia tur- n- estel (The Easterling can be trusted)?" an elf in scholarly robes asked.

"Im aue estel hon eg nin cuil, a Calithiel eg ceri- i sae (I would trust him with my life, and Calithiel would do the same)." Balrandir stated openly with confidence.

This seemed to relax many of the elves, which allowed the company to relax in turn. Balrandir seemed to have sway here, and William felt relief come over him. He didn't wish to cause trouble, though he was concerned that it would be Astrid or Ryouichi's presence that would cause unrest. However, they had come here on a promise that they'd get repairs, food and healing here. He saw Astrid step forward and look at all of the elves, her face and tone rather blunt.

"Look, this is a nice little reunion, but we came here on the promise of food, repairs for our armor, healing for our wounds, and many other niceties Bally over here promised. Point the way to where the food is and we'll get out of your hair." she stated.

"And you shall receive all of that, young woman. You and your companions will." a new voice suddenly declared.

All the elves turned to the source that walked down a stairwell to the courtyard, and they bowed before him. Balrandir turned to the lordly elf that approached them all, and with a smile he embraced his old friend and comrade since the First Age.

"My friends, this is Lord Elrond of Rivendell, Lord of the Last Homely House in the East and of our people. He is the one I had told you about during our voyage up the Bruinen." Balrandir introduced.

The face of Elrond was ageless, neither old nor young, though in it was written the memory of many things both glad and sorrowful. His hair was dark as the shadows of twilight, and upon it was set a circlet of silver; his eyes were grey as a clear evening, and in them was a light like the light of the stars. He wore robes of brown and beige, looking simplistic yet royal with the etchings in the cloth that seemed alien to the warriors. Venerable he seemed as a king crowned with many winters, and yet hale as a tried warrior in the fullness of his strength. He was the Lord of Rivendell and mighty among both elves and men.

"You have done us all a great service here by aiding our kin, though I am curious about your tales. Not often do we see Men of foreign lands come to this side of Middle Earth." he stated.

"Elrond, you gimme something to eat with a stiff drink and I'll recite the Creations of the Cosmos to the Ragnarok if I have to." Astrid proclaimed.

This made the elf chuckle a little while holding his hand up.

"An amusing thought, but that won't be necessary. For now, just follow the caretakers to the bathhouses. They will wash you while your weapons and armor are repaired and polished. Then, you will dine with me along with Balrandir and Calithiel. You can tell me all about your adventures there."

The three looked at each other, then William stepped forward and nodded with a polite smile.

"Thank you, Lord Elrond."


Later on, William was sitting alone in the bathhouse, the hot water steaming the room and relaxing his muscles. The look of absolute pleasure was on his face as he seeped in the hot water, feeling his body be almost purified of dirt and grime. The elves had given him ointments and elixirs that aided in his body recuperating from the long voyage, but even they couldn't remove the scars that ran along his body. William was in his physical prime even now, but he knew that these old wounds would be a much greater burden than they are now.

The door opened and he turned to see Balrandir walk in with a nod. The elf wore a cloth around his waist that went down to his thighs, enough to cover his genitals. However, William saw that while his own body wasn't as bulky as his own, Balrandir seemed to be a balance of agility and power, making for a deadly combination. His body had recovered from the emaciated form he had when they first found him, but it would take a good amount of elvish medicine to restore him back to his former strength, and not even that would erase the brands he carried from Ishmoz.

"Enjoying yourself?" he asked as he sat down in the pool across from William, his own long oak-colored hair dipping into the water.

"Oh you have no idea, Balrandir." William replied while stretching his legs out under the water.

The elf seemed pleased, then he began to pour an ointment into his hands and began to wash himself as well. William saw the effects once more as he rubbed the substance into his skin: dirt and filth seemed to flow into the water out from Balrandir's pores, then it dissipated in the crystal-clear water. If William didn't know any better, he'd think he was bathing in water from the Jordan river.

"By the way, where is Ryouichi? I would have thought he'd be here by now." William asked.

"Ah...he's still arguing with the staff about them taking his katana." Balrandir replied after finishing.

William let out an audible groan as he sunk into the pool, cupping his face in his hands while slowly shaking it. He knew how prickly the samurai was about his blade, not even allowing Elrond to touch it. The Warden began to picture the arguments that were being thrown back and forth.

"That could be all bloody day..."

Moments later, the door opened and in walked Ryouichi himself, but to their surprise he didn't bear his ancestral blade. They could see the anger and spite within his eyes as he sat down in the pool, not even bothering to cover himself up. His culture had accepted nudity in the many tea-houses across the Empire, but here he ignored the flustered faces of the elvish staff members.

"Watashi ga watashi no ha o kizutsukeru sorera no osoroshī ikimono no tan'itsu no 1tsu o tsukamaetara (If I catch a single one of those damnable creatures sullying my blade)..." he muttered under his breath while sitting in the water.

"Everything alright with you, lad?" William asked.

"Hai, hai (Yes, yes)...just fine." Ryouichi replied flatly.

"Do not fear for your sword, Ryouichi. Elrond will ensure that no one touches your blade while it is away." Balrandir reassured.

"It's not even that, Balrandir-san. It is an act of offense for a samurai to have his katana taken from him, even in times of peace. Only my daimyo, or my lord, could order such a thing, and she is not present here. I understand that your kind does not know this, but it is still an insult to me and my people. And it does not help that they continue to think of me as an 'Easterling' or whatever they call those yaban hito (savages)." Ryouichi explained as he took a bottle of the ointment and began to wash himself with it.

"I understand that now, but as I have said you need not worry. Even if it were a sword of lesser quality, we would not dare interfere with it. Besides, when I saw you use your blade in combat, I knew it was a work of art. Elrond will have it safeguarded out of respect for you, I promise."

Ryouichi didn't seem convinced at the words, though he looked into the eyes of Balrandir and saw truth once again. It made him sigh out and shake his head, all the while unbinding his hair to wash it in the pool. It felt good to get the grease and grime out after three months of journeying. His mother would have had a fit if she had seen the condition they were in before.

"As for the whole 'Easterling' business, I have told you already that you bear a striking resemblance to them. Your facial features, especially the eyes, are the most common trait. Rest assured though, you have proved yourself not one of their kind by aiding us. You have my thanks again, as well as Calithiel's own." Balrandir added.

Here, Ryouichi looked up at that, a slight tinge of a blush appearing on his cheeks. He looked over at Balrandir, then at William who seemed to be preoccupied with a brush.

"Well...that's a comforting thought." Ryouichi said.

"Speaking of the lass, where is she?" William asked after the exchange was over.

"From what I understand, she's been sent to bathe as well, though we have a sense of privacy here between males and females. Some of the younger elves tend to get a little too..." Balrandir started.

"Oh I know exactly what you mean. I was the same in my youth." William replied with a chuckle.

"If that is the case, Astrid is with her, neh?" Ryouichi asked.

William and Balrandir blinked slightly, but then they both groaned in unison as they remembered the viking going into the feminine baths with Astrid. They all knew how she behaved, and the thought of poor Calithiel enduring her mischief was enough to make them cringe in embarrassment.

"Quod Infelix (The poor girl)...I wonder how they're doing in there."


In the women's bath, Astrid sat in the water completely naked and with her hair unbound, dipping into the water. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as she felt the warmth of the bath seep into her bones and loosen her muscles. Compared to the women here, Astrid was built like an iron wall. While nowhere near as bulky as a female Raider, the muscles on her body were thick and corded. Combined with the many scars and tattoos on her body, Astrid was like a crow among doves. The thought of that made her happy. Better to be an ugly raptor and at the top of the food chain than be a prized and beautiful bird of paradise.

Across from her, Calithiel had been washing herself with the ointments nearby, though she wore wrappings around her breasts and loins for decency in a bath. The filth from the journey was washed off of her body, and she felt her skin breath easier than before. The elf was glad to be back in a sanctuary she knew well, though she'd have chosen a different bath-mate. She looked over at Astrid and could tell from her movements that the viking wasn't a woman of grace at all. She belonged in Rohan, that was for sure. No way would she last here.

Astrid caught the visage of Calithiel, and she cocked her head while raising an eyebrow. The two held the gaze for a moment before Calithiel turned away with a flush of embarrassment. If she didn't know any better, Astrid would have seemed mad at the moment.

"Hey, álfur stelpa (elf girl). Eins og það sem þú sérð (Like what you see)?" Astrid asked with a chuckle, purposely flaunting her breasts out in the open.

Calithiel's mouth dropped open and her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as she saw the Valkyrie's lewd smirk and the bareness of her chest. She turned away out of shame for the woman, instead focusing on cleaning herself. In secret, she was slightly jealous that her own were not as full as Astrid's, but Balrandir had assured her that a chest too buxom would only get in the way of combat. She was like a deer, slim and quick unlike the busty tavern wenches that tavern patrons whistle and call out on.

"Go hionraic, gar- cin baw nàire (Honestly, have you no shame)?" Calithiel muttered under her breath.

Suddenly, she felt the water splash against her back lightly, then she felt that Astrid had gotten closer, stopping to her left a mere few feet away from her. She turned to see the Valkyrie leaning her back on the edge of the pool, breasts still bare, though she had that same impish smirk she had given Ryouichi hours before.

"Svo þú vilja menn þínir, japanska, ekki satt (So you like your men Japanese, right)?" she asked Calithiel.

Not understanding a single word, the elf turned back to cleaning herself, flustered in the face and wishing that Astrid would suddenly drop dead in the middle of the pool.

"Komdu, það er augljóst að þú vilt hann (Come on, it's obvious you like him)."

Still, the elf tried to ignore her, though it didn't help that Astrid had gotten closer, and she could still smell the stench of the road upon her skin.

"Viðurkenndu það (Admit it). Þú eins Ryouichi (You like Ryouichi)." Astrid teased.

At the mentioning of the samurai's name, Calithiel's face began to grow hot as she started to wash her hair. The thought of him had entered her mind many times, and the two had shared a glance before they parted to be bathed in separate rooms. She was interested in the Orochi, it was obvious enough. His language sounded beautiful, if only she could speak it. His grace was very elvish-like, his manners formal, his posture was confident...what elf woman wouldn't be enticed by a human like that?

"Hey, losa upp (loosen up). Ég er bara að fíflast með þér (I'm just messing with you)." Astrid suddenly said as she playfully punched Calithiel in the shoulder.

The elf turned with a frown at the Valkyrie, but that woman's smile got the better of her. Calithiel knew she meant no harm, despite not understanding a single word of her tongue. The elf merely shrugged a little with a soft smile before going back to applying the last of the ointments, only for her to feel a large splash of water upon her back. She gasped out and turned to see Astrid several feet away from her, a child-like grin on her face and a large amount of ripples around her.

"Cin anír- a dagr- (You want a war)? Cin'll gar- ha (You'll have it)!" Calithiel exclaimed as she put the ointments down and splashed water back at Astrid in a wave.

"ÉG RÍF ÞIG Í BITA (I'll tear you to pieces)!" Astrid roared with mock ferocity as she returned fire back at Calithiel.

The two were then at it with a splashing showdown, water flying up at each other's faces and torsos. Some splashed on the marble floor while small waves knocked over the ointment bottles on the side, but there was no hostile feeling between the two. Instead, one might see it as two siblings at play, releasing tension that a strenuous family event might have caused upon them. Their laughter echoed throughout the bathhouse, and for the first time since Calithiel had arrived at Rivendell, she felt truly safe.


After the bath, the two groups finally left their respective houses and changed into comfortable garments for the supper Elrond had called for them. Their garments that they had worn under their armor had been washed and laundered properly with no stain or sign of filth upon their clothes and looked as if it were freshly made.

William stood with his simple linen shirt, woolen pants, untanned leather boots, silver and brown leather belt, and a dark blue gambleson that bore his lion emblem upon his back. Astrid wore her simple brown corded trousers, wool tunic, simple boots, and a simple band in her hair that gave her the effective image of a shieldmaiden. Then there was Ryouichi in his dark red and brown yoroi hitatare (the snugger version of the kimono robes), simple tabi boots, and a silver clasp that tied his hair back.

Balrandir stood by the side of William, wearing a royal purple and gold set of robes with simple shoes and a silver circlet upon his head, unadorned with any gems save for a small sapphire in the center. Then there was Calithiel at his side, dressed in a cream colored dress that reached down to her feet, a golden amulet around her neck, a gold and crimson headband that gleamed in the sunlight, and a revitalized beauty that matched the radiance of the sun.

William thought he was looking at one of God's angels, who had a beauty as fair as the voice she sang with on the Bruinen. To Astrid, she looked like a painted doll, but then again her standards were much different. To Ryouichi though...he thought he looked at a noble lady of divinity, a being from another plane of reality that transcended the human mind. It was hard for the samurai to retain a straight face, but to his luck Elrond tapped him on the shoulder, bringing his attention to the elder elf.

To the Orochi's surprise, he had been given back Kobura by Lord Elrond himself, with no signs of tarnish nor blemish visible.

"Balrandir told me of what you said, and please allow me to be the first to apologize if we have offended you. I understand how much this means to you, but please also understand that we have seen war far too many times, and that this place is a sanctuary of peace. To carry a weapon openly here is a sign of hostility, and with the way you carry yourself as an Easterling, my people here could be distrustful." Elrond consoled.

Ryouichi was about to open his mouth, though Elrond spoke again before he had the chance.

"Do not fret though. I have cleared it up with my people that you are all friends of Rivendell, and that you are to be welcomed here any time."

"I...domo arigato (thank you very much), Elrond-san. Please forgive my rashness" Ryouichi replied, bowing his head to the elf lord.

"You are forgiven as a friend of my people, Ryouichi. Now come, let us dine together with our other guests."

"Other guests?" William asked.

"Yes. Surely you didn't think you'd be dining alone?" Balrandir asked.

"Oh who cares who we're dining with?! I'm starving!" Astrid declared.

"For once, I agree with Astrid. Come, let us dine." William declared.

They all then followed Lord Elrond down the hall, with Ryouichi bringing up the rear. His katana was fastened to the belt of his hitatare, and now he felt comfortable in the foreign land. His mind along with William and Astrid's own wondered what they would eat, who they would meet, and where they would sit. Customs here were certainly different than their own, and they hoped that would not prove to be too troublesome.


The hall of Elrond's house was filled with folk: elves for the most part, though there were a few guests of other sorts. Elrond, as was his custom, had sat in a great chair at the end of the long table upon the dais; and next to him on one side sat his son Glorfindel, the former's son who was tall and straight with golden hair, a youthful face fair and young, bright and keen eyes, and a voice that seemed full of wisdom and joy. On the other side sat an old-looking man with long white hair, a sweeping silver beard, broad shoulders, snowy brows, and dark eyes that all made him look like a wise king of ancient pagan legend with the dress of a simple gray wizard. The three companions found themselves gazing at him and (especially Astrid) nodding in acknowledgement of this old man. In turn, he nodded back, though his eyes focused directly on William himself. The Warden held the gaze for several moments before they took their seats and regarded the rest of the guests.

They could also see beings that were rather short in stature, but judging from how richly dressed they were, the thick and long beards, and the gruff noises they made talking to each other, William and Astrid assumed that they were either dwarves or gnomes from ancient legend. They took notice of the three staring at them, to which an elderly dwarf with a thick snow-white beard that matched his garments, silver belt, and a chain of silver and diamonds stood up and spoke.

"What? Y'three never seen the folk o' Durin before?" he asked in a voice as hard and old as the mountains they hailed from.

"Who's folk? We don't get around much." Astrid replied.

"Well, we haven't seen Men of yer kind before either. Where do y' hail from, lass?"

"Valkenheim. What, never seen a viking before?"

"Ne'er heard o' 'em. Judgin' from yer armor though, I'd assume yer a warrior?"

"Fight like one, kill like one, and drink like one too."

"Well then yer welcome to sit with us, viking! Anyone with a hear like that's good company to dine with!"

At this, the dwarf and his company let out a cheer as they moved a spot over for Astrid. She looked over at William and Ryouichi, who motioned for her to sit with the dwarves. They both knew the feasting habits of the vikings, and they figured let her gorge with others who they assumed would do the same.

"Ryouichi, I humbly ask that you join Calithiel and I on our side." Balrandir suddenly requested.

Both men turned to in response to see the two elves had saved a spot for him in between the pair. The Orochi was surprised at the gesture, being able to sit so close to Elrond and the other elves of which he assumed were nobility. He turned to William for advice, whom nodded and motioned for him to sit down there.

"Go for it."

"Arigato (Thank you), William-san."

With that, the Orochi moved quickly over to the spot, seeing the chair that was offered there. It was different than the tables he had back home, and sitting in a normal chair such as this was a new concept for him. Nevertheless, the young samurai approached and sat down in the chair, careful of his sword bumping into either Calithiel or Balrandir. Once settled in, he looked over at the she-elf, who was smiling with happiness. She was glad that she was among her own people, and it was even better with Ryouichi sitting next to her. Whether she knew it or not though, Ryouichi felt the same next to her.

When William was the only one left standing, he saw three young and rather short fellows with messy hair, simple clothing, and rather joyous-looking faces. They were shorter than the dwarves, and another peculiar thing he noticed was that they were bare-footed. Of course, one wouldn't know with how hairy their feet were. They seemed to gaze off at one of their companions who had sat next to the elder dwarf Astrid had conversed with, though he looked much paler than the other three.

"Oh, you can sit here if you like, sir! Plenty of room with us hobbits!" the one in a blue shirt said.

"Well I'm much obliged, young sir." William replied with a polite nod as he walked over and sat down next to the three.

"Begging your pardon, but are you a knight of Gondor? You seem like one, looking all proud and mighty-like." the rather stout but kind-looking hobbit asked.

"No, not from Gondor. Ashfeld's where I hail from. Sir William Rayner of the Iron Legion, at your service." William introduced.

"Well, Samwise Gamgee, Merriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrine Took at yours! Frodo Baggins is over there with your Rohirram friend there. You can call us Sam, Merry and Pippin for short." the third hobbit replied.

"Sam, Merry, Pippin and Frodo. You four look to be a merry band." William observed with a chuckle.

"Oh you have no idea. Give us a mug of ale and roast chicken on the side, and we will liven up any kind of party!" Merry bragged.

"Hmm, fortasse aliquis det mi amice competition (you might give my friend some competition)..." William murmured beneath his breath.

Soon, the feast began. Courses of food mostly varying in vegetable, fruit, cheese, bread and fish were made and presented to the guests. Water, wine, brandy, sherry, mead and other forms of drink were provided as refreshments. Throughout the feast, everyone exchanged tales with each other.

Astrid learned that she sat next to Gloin, a member of Thorin Oakenshield's company, and of their journey through the Wilderlands and across Middle-Earth to reach the Lonely Mountain. Smaug the Dragon, the Goblin King, the Battle of the Five Armies, and many more tales like so piqued her interest, and she listened with a grin as the dwarf went on. She traded stories with the dwarves as well, describing accounts of Valkenheim's own folk lore and adventures; The Tale of Beowulf, Odin's discovery of the Runes, Asgard, the dwarves of her people's mythology (which many of the Middle-Earth dwarves found themselves agreeing on many things), and the Ragnarok itself. It was evident that they listened intently, hanging on each word that came out of her lips like badgers on honey.

Ryouichi listened to the elves discuss simple things such as family and nostalgia, though to his disappointment they spoke in fluent Sindarin. At first he thought it was because of their habits and nature, but he could tell that the elves still did not trust him entirely. To them, an Easterling that came armed to the table was something of suspicion, but even so Lord Elrond had mandated that Ryouichi be allowed to carry his blade. The Orochi knew that these elves knew nothing about the relationship of a samurai to his blade, but it was forgiven. His own kind were guilty of robbing warriors of their weapons when they entered a daimyo's presence. A silver lining to this was Balrandir translating the words into Common Speech discreetly, which allowed Ryouichi to pick up a few words of Sindarin. He vowed he'd learn the language, not only for himself but to converse with Calithiel as well. After all, it was hard to do so even without the shyness on both their parts.

As for William, he told tales of legend that he himself grew up with to the hobbits. King Arthur and Robin Hood the Prince of Thieves, the Redcap Goblins, and of George the Dragonslayer. However, when he spoke of the Arthurian legends he noticed the old man next to Elrond listening with interest. Several times in an old but kindly voice he asked questions about each and every knight involved, especially about Arthur and the wizard Merlin. It made the Warden utilize all he had read within the stories to answer the old man's questions, and at that point he wasn't even sure if he was talking to the hobbits anymore.

Nevertheless, the feast went on until everyone was satisfied with their meals, and soon departed for their own schedules that day. Elrond gave William, Astrid and Ryouichi free walk of Rivendell, allowing them to explore and rest as they pleased. After all, it was their sanctuary for the time being.


William found himself wandering through the hallways of Rivendell with an elf servant as his guide. Previously, he asked Elrond if there was some sort of library in Rivendell that had books in the Common Tongue. To his relief, Elrond had said that there were thousands of scrolls and tomes here in that language. It would be in the Hall of Fire, where most beings would go for a quiet setting to study, think, ponder, and many other intellectual activities.

The servant let him into the hall and briefly stepped out, leaving the knight alone. William was astounded at the Hall. It looked so simple yet dignified, with cases of books lining the walls, tables and diases for those who wish to write, a fireplace that crackled brightly, and a view of the gorge that was just as breathtaking as he had first seen it. It was a scholar's haven, and for an educated man like William, he felt like he was in the reincarnation of the Royal Library of Alexandria.

"Unde hoc non est caelum (How is this not Heaven)?" he asked aloud while walking through the hall.

"Oh! So I am not alone after all!" he heard a familiar old voice say.

The knight turned to see it was the old man from the table, sitting at one of the chairs that looked over the view. He was smoking a pipe while simply staring out, though his dark eyes were kindly shining about towards him. William regarded the old man and nodded, though he walked over and sat in the chair next to him.

"You were the one asking me about the legend of Arthur." William inquired.

"Yes, I was. An interesting topic, the Knights of the Round Table." the old man replied.

"Indeed it was...but I don't know your name, sir. Who do I have the honor of speaking to?" William asked.

"Ah, I go by many names in the world. Here though, I am called Gandalf the Grey. I am a wizard, you see." came the introduction.

"Gandalf the Grey...interesting title. Perhaps you know Merlin the Wizard? He might be a distant cousin of yours." William jested with a chuckle.

"He is quite the interesting being, actually. Merlin is a close friend of mine, and could be considered a fellow wizard as well. I was wondering what he was dealing with, and from the legends you spoke of he has been busy of late." Gandalf replied.

William stared at the wizard for a moment, then he began to chuckle at the thought.

"Come now, it is just a legend Mr. Gandalf."

"Do you really believe that? What do you know of Merlin?"

Here, William stopped chuckling and looked back at Gandalf. He could see the old man was indeed not joking or poking fun at the topic, which caused the knight to clear his throat.

"From what I know, he was a wandering wizard. He was a son of a nun and grandson of the King of Demetia in southern Wales. As to his father, he was either diabolus (a devil) or incubus. Merlin is a paradox, he was the son of the devil, yet he was the servant of God. He was Arthur's consiliario (advisor) and his teacher, showing the young man his path to kingship."

"Yes, but do you also know that he once ventured here among Middle-Earth?" Gandalf asked.

"No, actually. Enlighten me sir."

"I will, but first would you like a spot of Old Toby? It's rather enjoyable." Gandalf offered as he took out a spare pipe for the knight.

"Of course! I wouldn't mind at all." William replied with a nod.

He took the pipe and filled it with the leaves, and with a small flint given by Gandalf William lit the pipe and began to smoke. It was different than the normal tobacco that was smoked back home, with the tobacco trade that went on before the disasters of the Continent. Old Toby seemed to taste a little sweeter and wasn't as harsh. He released the smoke out of his mouth in a smoke ring, to which Gandalf looked over and smirked a little.

"Impressive." he complimented.

"My thanks, master wizard."

However, when Gandalf took a puff of his pipe, he blew out his own smoke. William found himself blinking in amazement as he saw that the smoke cloud was in the form of a ship that sailed through the smoke ring and out into the gorge, evaporating out of the distance. The knight looked over at the wizard who casually went back to smoking the pipe, then he shook his head while setting his own down.

"Gloriator (Showoff)..." he muttered.

Gandalf chuckled at that remark, then faced the knight once more.


It was here then that both knight and wizard began to converse in depth about the legends of King Arthur and that of Merlin. William had learned that indeed the tales of King Arthur were true indeed. However, it was because of a gift that Merlin had brought from Middle-Earth to the isle of Britannia: An enchanted ring of Mithrill ring that bore the emblem of the Flying Lys, a golden eagle wreathed in fire upon the single ruby it bore. It was the sole source that had made Arthur into the legend he was and made him the king of Britannia, but it was also his downfall.

It was this ring that Arthur's nephew, Mordred, had betrayed his king and destroyed the Knights of the Round Table. He coveted its power and the authority it would bring him, granting him the rule over Britannia he so desired. He killed Galegantine the Welshman, Yvain the Valiant, and Sagremor the Foolish at the battle of Camlaan, and mortally wounded Arthur as well. Mordred perished at the hands of his uncle, but the king soon died from his wounds.

The ring was too dangerous for the hands of a mortal man, and before Arthur was buried it was taken by Merlin and returned to the land of Middle-Earth. It was one of three crafted by an elven aspiring smith named Damon, who was a student of the master smith Celebrimbor. The young elf wished to become a smith like his master, but try as he might, the elf had no talent for the craft. The rings he forged were nowhere near as mighty as he expected, and when presented to the intended wearers, his creations were laughed at, especially by Annatar (who was the Dark Lord Sauron in disguise), deeming they'd only be impressive to the simplest of Men. In the rashness of his youth, he tossed the Mithrill rings out of his forge in a fit of rage, even before they were inscribed with what ability they would harness.

Nature seemed to take the its course then, as the three rings took the element of which they landed in. It was a night of thunder and lightning unlike any other, with winds blowing harshly outside the forge of Damon. The first ring, gold-colored and furnished with a sapphire engraved with a hammer and anvil, was struck by a lightning bolt. The second ring, the one Arthur would eventually receive, was caught in a fire caused by the storm. The third ring, rose-colored and embedded with a pink emerald etched with the image of a flower, fell upon a chrysanthemum flower within a wild garden.

Damon, who now recovered from his rage, had seen the mistake he had made. In horror, he ran through the blaze, braving lightning and fire to find his own creations. He perished in the blaze, but he saved his rings by throwing them into the stream that flowed through. His body caught and charred, but the rings were safe, flowing down through the stream and into the connecting river, and then finally out to sea.

Gandalf explained that for over two ages the rings exchanged hands between the race of men. Originally founded by lesser men and scavengers with no knowledge of the artifacts they carried, they were sold off, traded hands, given to nobles of old, and then to the mighty heroes of folklore, most notably King Arthur, Beowulf, and Sakata no Kintoki. The bearers were said to wield great power among mankind, controlling the elements imbued from Damon's rage. In truth, Sauron was right to a degree; the rings were powerful, but compared to the twenty Rings of Power they were lesser and considered an apprentice's design. The rings continued to change hands until Merlin and other wisemen of their region decided the rings were far too dangerous for Men. They were returned to Middle-Earth, where they were scattered throughout the land so that not even the greatest treasure hunter could find them.

"And to this day, no one has found them. They faded into legend, then myth, and at last they were forgotten in all ways except for the children's tales that elven mothers speak of to their young." Gandalf concluded.

William had listened intently to the wizard as he spoke on about the rings, though he was surprised that the Arthurian legends actually happened. His deeds were indeed true, and the Iron Legion's records did not lie at all! He couldn't believe that at all, but he'd seen some strange things happen upon the battlefield and in this Middle-Earth.

"Well...that is certainly food for thought." he murmured as he took a drag from his pipe.

"Indeed."


William then took his leave and exited the Hall of Fire to explore Rivendell. The pathways were absolutely beautiful, as well as the stonework and masonry. Every stone and marble block must have been hand-carved and lain about by masters of their art, or to what he knew of the elves, they used the aid of nature to build such a haven. The falls off in the corner had not a single sound of frothing rage that he had expected, but rather sounded smooth, as if pouring water from a basin into a bowl. It marveled him how such a place could be built...but God created many things that man did not understand. All one had to do was look at the elves.

His thoughts were interrupted as the sound of hearty and coarse laughter echoed from the terrace next to him. The knight turned and entered the room to see several of the dwarves gathered around a table, playing with dice around a carved wooden pit. He saw Astrid among them, shaking five ivory dice in a cup and then pouring it into the pit. Several of the dwarves let out groans of defeat while Astrid whooped with victory, reaching out and taking sacks of coins and lesser gems.

"Hey, Warden! Where've you been?!" Astrid called out as she finished raking up her winnings.

"Going for a walk. I see you have your own little festum (carnival) going on here." He replied with a smile.

"Yes we do! Come on, join us!" She invited, holding a mug of mead in her other hand.

"Mmm...maybe next time. I don't have anything to gamble with." William replied.

"Aw come on, laddy! We'll give ya some ta start with!" a red-headed dwarf with a thick beard called out.

"Well...I suppose one or two games wouldn't hurt."

At that, the dwarves and Astrid cheered as he pulled up a seat and began to play with the dwarves, being handed a cup and his own set of five dice.

"Each game consists of one round unless a draw occurs. The round starts with you placing the bid. The opponent accepts or raises the bid and you are given the first option to take or to pass. You and your opponent roll all five dice. At this moment you can choose to re-roll any dice or none. After selecting the desired dice both you and your opponent have once again an opportunity to raise the bid, match it, or resign. You re-roll selected dice if any and can see the final result. Whoever has the better combination of dice after re-rolling wins the game. If both players have the same combinations, the highest roll wins. If both rolls are exactly the same it's a draw and another round begins with the same bid. Simple enough, yeah?" Astrid asked.

"I think I get the idea of it." William replied.

"Good. Here's a little sheet with the hands you can get."

A dwarf handed the sheet to William, written with the faces of the dice and which hand was the most powerful.

Winning combinations are (highest to lowest):

Five-of-a-kind – five dice showing the same value

Four-of-a-kind – four dice showing the same value

Full House – a pair and a three-of-a-kind

Six-high straight – dice showing II, III, IV, V and VI

Five-high straight – dice showing I, II, III, IV and V

Three-of-a-kind – three dice showing the same value

Two pairs – dice showing two matched pairs of values

One pair – dice showing a single matched pair of values

"Right! So who wants ta go first?" a dwarf asked.

"Let me test the good knight. I wanna see what he's made of." the red-headed dwarf declared, stepping forward with a grin that split his beard.

"Good on ya, Gimli! Be careful, master Warden. My son's quite skilled at this game!" Gloin warned.

"Well, even the best can be defeated by a novice." William retorted.

The dwarves and Astrid hooted at that remark, making Gimli laugh as he pulled up a chair before the Warden. He had his own set of dice ready, and soon all eyes were focused upon the game. Bets were exchanged as the players got ready. William had bet ten silver coins while Gimli bet a three small amethysts. Now, the game began, with the dwarf going first.

Gimli rolled a Three-of-a-kind, with three IVs, one II and one I. He selected the the three IVs and set them upon his edge of the pit. Dwarves patted him in the back with grins and grunts of encouragement. William shook his head softly as he rolled his own set. Two Vs, one I, one IV, and one III.

"Sed damnare (Damn it)." he cursed under his breath.

"Oh come on ál dós (tin can), there's still the second roll." Astrid stated with a smirk.

The Warden rolled his eyes as he selected the two Vs and one III then set them upon the edge of the pit. Next round of betting came, and Gimli raised the pot by putting in four gold coins. William matched the dwarf with a good-sized ruby. The stakes were certainly raised, and the dwarves could feel the competition rising between the two players.

"Ready ta lose yer fortune, knight?" Gimli asked.

"Never assume victory till the battle is over, master dwarf." William replied softly.

Here, Gimli rolled his dice into the pit, and all the dwarves let out a groan of dismay. One V and one III. He was now stuck with the Three-of-a-kind hand. They looked up at William, who looked absolutely concentrated upon the pit, and he shook his cup of dice before dumping it into the pit. He blinked as he saw an unexpected sight: two IIIs. He had a Full House before him.

"Partim iubentium, mate (Cheers, mate)." William replied with a smug grin as the dwarves collectively groaned out loud.

"Well I'll be buggered. Good hand ya got there, master Warden!" Gimli replied as he gave his bet to William.

"Well, you had me nervous there. Thought I was going to lose greatly."

However, he looked up and around at the room, and he felt like there was someone missing here.

"Astrid, where's Ryouichi?" he asked.

"Oh him? He's out on one of the overlooking cliffs meditating and such." she replied as she set up to play.

"Then it's best that we let him do so. Young lad like that takes his time seriously."


Before the samurai had gone to meditate, he had walked the halls of Rivendell alone. Balrandir had offered to guide him, but Elrond requested that he tell him of the Uruks that had captured them and interrogated them. Ryouichi understood the importance of that, and decided to venture on his own. He did not know where Calithiel had gone off to, but she probably had business of her own to attend to.

He came upon a hall in one of the many buildings that held a collection of books and booths for reading and quiet, but what instantly drew his attention was a statue bearing a small table upon it. There laying upon the cloth and marble was a sword broken into many pieces. The Orochi gazed at the weapon with interest, seeing that it was similar to that of a Warden's longsword, yet the blade was thinner. Whomever the bearer was before, they certainly were of the noble breed.

Turning, Ryouichi could see a mural behind him. depicting the battle between two armor-clad beings. One lay upon the ground clad in silver armor and winged helm, while the other bore full spiked sable armor that looked absolutely menacing.

"Yōkai (A Japanese demon or phantom)..."

The Orochi murmured with superstition as he looked on at the painting. He could see the silver-clad warrior holding up the same blade and hilt that lay upon the statue behind him, seeming to cut at the demon's hand. It looked to bear some form of ring upon it, but that was glanced over by the Orochi. he gazed at it for a little while longer before beginning to turn away to the outside, where he would begin to meditate.

The spot that he had picked was like Astrid had said: a cliff that overlooked the gorge and out to the shining sun, reflecting its light upon the Bruinen. He smiled a little as he untied Kobura and laid it at his side, then sat down cross-legged while closing his eyes. This was the art of Zazen Meditation, a tradition that dates farther beyond his ancestors. The act suspending all judgmental thinking and letting words, ideas, images and thoughts pass by without getting involved in them. It was a practice that the Nobushi monks had brought with them to the Dawn Empire, and the art was soon practiced by everyone, from the Kensei to the Orochi, and even the large and imposing Shugoki warriors could be seen meditating in the water gardens of palaces and villages alike.

"Buddham saranam gacchami (I take refuge in the Buddha)."

"Dhammam saranam gacchami (I take refuge in the Dharma)."

"Sangham saranam gacchami (I take refuge in the Sangha)."

He sat there for hours whispering the Tisarana (Triple Refuge) and the Heart Sutra in his native tongue, letting the calm breeze of Rivendell pass by him, the water flow by without a thought, and even the laughter and loud voices within Rivendell were far and faded from the samurai. Ryouichi's breathing was controlled, with long and drawn breaths that even an elf would strain to hear. He may as well have been a statue, for even while elves, men and dwarves passed by he still sat there, meditating.

In fact, he was detached from the world enough to not notice Calithiel approaching from behind, curious as to what Ryouichi was doing. She looked at his serene face with curiosity, but she had a feeling that he was not to be disturbed. What a strange man this was indeed! One moment he could be absolutely stoic, then he could become as fierce as a Caragor beast from Mordor! And his attachment to that blade...Calithiel began to wonder about the bond between Ryouichi and that sword. She would have to ask him when he learned their language one day.

The elf, now intrigued by this activity, attempted to mimic the samurai's posture. She sat cross-legged beside him, straightening her back and clasping her arms in her lap. She closed her eyes and began to sit there with the samurai, though she was not sure exactly what to do. Calithiel leveled her breathing along with Ryouichi's own, though it was difficult to do so.

Soon, Ryouichi opened his eyes as he finished meditating, smiling at the break from reality. His grandfather had taught him well in the art, though he still had so much more to learn himself. The samurai was about to get up until he turned and saw Calithiel attempting to meditate beside him. At first, the samurai flustered in surprise, but when he saw the sheer amount of concentration the elf was putting into her meditation, he couldn't help but smile in amusement. The scrunched up face and creasing eyes looked rather comical, but he knew it was wrong to laugh at a novice's mistakes.

"Anata no karada o rirakkusu sa seru (Relax your body)." Ryouichi suddenly said.

Calithiel suddenly opened here eyes with surprise, looking as if she were woken from an intense dream. She looked at him bewildered, but then it turned into a flustered blush as she felt his hands upon her stomach and back. Her first reaction was to raise her hand to strike, but the calm on his eased her tension. She allowed her body to be shifted, and when he had her back straight, he moved her hand over his stomach on the folds of his yoroi hitatare. Calithiel could feel no movement through the clothing, though it was obvious he was breathing. She squinted in confusion, until eventually she understood the meaning: he could breath without disturbance of the body.

She nodded in understanding, then they both smiled in unison. It was nice, spending time together like this. It was peaceful in Rivendell, and at the moment it was just Ryouichi and Calithiel, sitting in the sun underneath a great oak tree. They gazed into each other's eyes as Ryouichi began to loosen her hand, but to his surprise, Calithiel didn't let go. He felt himself grow warm at her touch, and from what he saw so did she. It was a feeling that neither of them knew that well, but when it had come...it felt like peace washing over their souls. Ryouichi didn't need to speak Sindarin to understand what was going through Calithiel's mind, and neither did Calithiel need to speak Japanese to understand Ryouichi. She found herself drawing closer to the samurai, eyes shining with the light of the sun. Ryouichi thought he looked in the eyes of a goddess, one of nature, beauty and vitality. He began to lean in closer as well, their hands now held tightly in anticipation...

"Hey, samurai! Why don't you take her out to the tavern first?!"

Ryouichi stopped and turned to look at both Astrid and William standing there, the Valkyrie grinning with delight. The samurai was flushed in the face, and thoughts of skinning that viking alive were not far from his mind. Calithiel on the other hand was embarrassed to the point of shyness, and she immediately stood up while not looking at any of the men. The samurai found himself feeling sorry for the elf, not even hearing the heavy hand of William cuff Astrid on the back of the head like a father disciplining a troublesome child. Ryouichi reached out and took Calithiel's hand, and she looked up at him for a moment before nodding softly.

"Betsu no jikan (Another time)." he told her softly.

She nodded once more, and then the pair approached William and Astrid, the former's eyes glaring daggers at the Valkyrie.

"What is it?"

"Elrond has called a council, and surprisingly we have been asked to attend. Something about a Ring of Power, though there are other matters to attend. Turns out...we're not the only shipwrecked survivors." William stated.

"Nani (What)?"

"Yeah, looks like we got some of our own spotted wandering abouts here on Middle-Earth!" Astrid chimed in.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go attend the meeting!"

Feel free to make suggestions as to which classes of the factions you wish to see! Thank you again for all of your support!