Chapter 3 Entering Rivendell

The next few days spent with the twin sons of Lord Elrond opened Maliah's eyes to more of the world and her mama than before. While Elrohir was saddened by her lack of stories at first, it was made up by exchanging true stories about the Queen of Erebor and of their own homes; more so on the twins part than her own. From Maliah's perspective, she was sharing stories of a person who had raised her and was impartial in her story telling and the two elves told her of the time the company spent in Rivendell plus their visit to Erebor. She listened eagerly about her family's escapades during their time in the Elf safe home, only wondering once why she had never heard any of these.

The fourth day after they left the mountains and were traveling across the plains to one of the entrances to Rivendell, Maliah decided to ask the question that had been on her mind since meeting the elves. The brothers were on either side of her, humming a song and keeping an eye on the surrounding terrain.

"Why was it just the two of you in the mountains hunting Orcs?"

The humming stopped and the brothers looked to each other before turning to her. She rode her pony in silence and waited for an answer of some kind while they walked next to her. A few more minutes passed until the twin on her right spoke. She still hadn't figured out which one was which without them speaking.

"A long time ago, our mother was traveling and was attacked by Orcs, imprisoned. The damage inflicted upon her change her spirit permanently and she left our family for the Grey Havens because all joy was gone from her. It is because of her we ride and kill Orcs in this land."

Maliah said nothing and they continued through the plains not speaking for some time. She wasn't sure where they were leading her but she trusted them since it seemed right in her heart. Looking at the twin who had spoken last, she surveyed his face for emotions although finding none as his expression was blank as the twin on her left.

"Your hatred for Orcs must be strong to battle them with just the two of you."

"More than you could possibly imagine."

It was the twin on her left who spoke this time. Having nothing to say in return, Maliah returned her focus forward and looked over the landscape. Nearing the end of the day, the brothers led Dama to a cluster of rocks and looked at Maliah expectantly.

"What?"

"This is one of the entrances to Rivendell, a secret one, and was used by the company your mother traveled with before. She never told you about this?"

One more item about the past she didn't know. Maliah shook her head and gained a depressed air about her. Why didn't she know anything about her mama's past adventures, mostly the little details she had come across with old acquaintances who assumed Maliah knew.

"No matter, you get to experience it all."

Hands went to her waist and Maliah was plucked from her pony and set to the ground in a blink of an eye. She didn't even have the time to protest when her baggage was removed just as fast, leaving Dama with a blanket and the same side bag on her back. Both elves took a knee before her to put them eye level with her.

"We are leaving you here, it is quite simple to get to Rivendell from here. Just slide down the rock behind you and follow the path; we promise there is no danger on your way."

Sadness bloomed within her at the loss of the two humorous brothers. "Will I see you again?"

"Of course shorty." A hand ruffled her hair and she knew it was Elrohir speaking. "Tell our father we said hello and if you see your mother before us, the same. And don't worry about Dama, we will see the pony returns safe to the shifter's land."

Elladan and Elrohir stood and ushered her to the hidden opening. Looking back to them once more, Maliah tossed her baggage down the rock before taking a deep breath and jumping down herself. The brothers waited until they could barely hear her moments from the tunnel and looked to one another.

"You are really hoping not to run into the Queen aren't you?"

Elrohir arched a brow. "And you want to tell her we found her daughter wandering infested mountain's and didn't take her home? I don't feel like tempering the lovely maiden's anger when she finds out because I don't believe she would let us leave without injury.


The tunnel grew more and more narrow but wasn't an issue for Maliah since she had inherited her mother's slight build. Finally, she saw the opening and stepped out onto the same landing as her family had 60 years ago and her breath was taken away just the same. There were no paintings of elven dwellings so Maliah had no idea what to expect, but what she was gazing upon now was nothing she could have imagined. The city seemed to gleam in the setting sun, light bouncing off the trees and the small amount of snow lingering on the grass. It must have snowed lightly recently for it to still be on the ground. Shaking herself out of awe, Maliah looked around for a way down and spotted the land bridge not far from her.

Tightening her grip on her bag, she went over to the start of the bridge and looked down at the distant ground beneath. Gulping and taking a deep breath, telling herself she was a dwarf and not afraid of heights, she carefully walked over the narrow land. Slowly. Maliah followed the path leading from the land bridge and it brought her up to a gate of sorts with statues of an Elf on either side. Crossing the stone bridge over a river, she saw ahead of her stairs and a single Elf waiting for her. She must have been seen walking down. Maliah stopped a short distance from the Elf and waited cautiously for him to speak.

"You have the look of your mother."

There it was again, another Elf saying how much she resembled her mama. But how she wasn't sure since their colorings were different and Maliah has a half beard, her sideburns extending to the curve of her jaw and were braided up into her hair.

"I am Lord Elrond, Welcome to Rivendell."

Maliah dropped into a bow the best she could to the Elf lord. "Thank you Lord Elrond. I am Maliah, second Princess of the King and Queen Erebor. Your sons send their greetings."

He took a step towards her. "You met my sons?"

"Yes, they stayed with me the rest of the crossing in the Misty Mountains and led me to the secret entrance."

A smile graced his face and a hand extended towards her. "Come, I'm sure you would like a bath and I would hear why a daughter of Erebor is crossing Middle Earth alone." He ushered her up the stairs in front of him and when they walked side by side, he spoke again. "Your mother and her company showed up the same way just over 60 years ago, I am glad to see you haven't arrived the same way she did. Tell me, how did my sons appear?"

She wasn't sure how to answer. "They are well I believe, I saw no injuries."

"Thank you."

They rounded a corner and sitting on a bench in the hallway before them was Gandalf, smoking his pipe. The old wizard exhaled, the smoke taking shape of a bird and fluttered around him before turning to them and drew his attention to his observers.

"Either my eyes are deceived or one of the youngest of the Durin line is standing in the hall before me."

Maliah laughed and ran to Gandalf who caught her in a hug, holding his pipe away from her. "I've missed you Gandalf! Why haven't you visited Erebor in so long?"

Gandalf looked at the Princess between adulthoods with a smile as she was sitting on his knee like a dwarfling. "Wizards are always busy my dear. Did you come with your family for Bilbo's birthday?"

She looked away uncomfortable, if there was one person who could alert her mother where she was more quickly than the others it was the wizard. Their shared communication abilities through animals made such a feat possible. "I am here alone." Maliah didn't see his bushy eyebrows raise and the two males share a look.

"Well, it must be quite a story then. Why don't you clean up and we will talk afterwards?"

Nodding, she slid to the floor and Lord Elrond guided her away with a hand at her back. Maybe she wasn't going to make it to the Shire after all, a thought which had pain in her chest bloom. There was something in the Hobbit filled hills drawing her and she didn't want to stop until she figured out what. They stopped before a set of double doors and Maliah looked up at the elf.

"This is the bathing hall, I will have someone come with a set of clean clothes for you." He gave her a smile and walked away.

Watching him walk away first, she then turned to the tall doors and hesitantly place a hand on the nob. Surprising, the door swung open with ease and Maliah couldn't help but stare at the room in awe. It was

enormous! The largest bathtub was a swimming pool to her and the furnishings were gorgeous, it had to be the size of her parent's rooms. With a squeal and her worries temporarily forgotten, she threw her bags to the side and stripped as she walked to a smaller tub and jumped into the waiting water. Floral scents filled the air from the water she presumed was from oils added earlier and gave no thought about the water being for somebody else. Splashing around without care, Maliah enjoyed herself with a luxury she hadn't had since leaving home. Sure Beorn had a pond and a small bath house, but nothing compared to the one she had at Erebor or this one. Hanging over the edge of the tub, she watched leaves fall by a small window and enjoyed her temporary peace as it was about to be interrupted by someone opening the door.

"Maliah?"

Her long hair whipped around, sending water across the floor as Maliah stared wide eyed at the doorway with her cousin standing at the opening. Yes, she knew she would run into Mirari soon but not just after arriving. "Um, hi?"

The tall half-dwarf looked out of the door and reached one arm into the arm, returning with a bundle of cloth before shutting and barring the doors. "When Lord Elrond told me we had a guest, I would have never imagined it was you. What are you doing in Rivendell?"

Still submerged in the water, Maliah debated on what to tell her cousin. She was sure Mirari would understand on some level since she had left home very young because the troubles she had fitting into the dwarf lifestyle. "I don't know if you would believe me."

"Did you come alone? Is Aunt Râlia here?" Silence once more, something Maliah was becoming more and more familiar with after being asked questions. "You left by yourself didn't you."

The statement hit home and Maliah nodded as her eyes dropped to the water. "I don't belong there."

Mirari sighed internally. That was an emotion she could relate to, even if she was three years younger than her. "Since you took my bath water Lia, you can tell me about why you left and what has happened since then." She held out a towel to her cousin half her size so she could climb out of the tub.

Maliah did as silently requested and dried off, adorning the clothes set aside Mirari had been handed. She watched as Mirari emptied and cleaned the tub, refilling it with water and scented oils before tying up her blonde hair with a pin, revealing her pointed ears. After sitting herself into the tub, Mirari pointed out a small stool for Maliah to sit on and talk.

"Uncle Bilbo came to visit us around a year after you left and instantly I felt a connection to him even though we had never met before. There was something about him that drew me and demand him to tell me stories of his life, hobbits, and the Shire. After he left, nothing felt right. Everything was the same but felt like a piece of me was missing and had left for the Shire. It wasn't Uncle Bilbo, but something in the rolling green hills he had described to me. The feeling wouldn't leave and a few years had passed before I started getting the sensation of something tugging me, a piece of my soul, away from home. I tried to ignore it, but it never left. When his invitation arrived a year ago and Mama said no one was to go, I began making plans to leave on my own." She continued telling Mirari about how she waited and planned, leaving at the right moments with the caravans as her cousin bathed. Maliah told her of the search, Hissaelon finding her, the trip to Beorn's and to the Mountains where she met Lord Elrond's sons, to then. "Everyone keeps asking me the same questions, why am I alone and where am I going."

"I'm jealous you have met his sons, they have not returned since I have been here." Mirari picked up another towel and stood, drying off. Maliah waited as she dressed, noting how lovely her cousin was in elvish clothing compared to dwarvish. Thinking that, she looked down at what she was wearing.

"Whose clothes are these?"

"I'm not sure, they were given to one of the other elves to come with me to the bath house. You would have to ask Lord Elrond." Her damp hair flowed down her back with a single chain around her forehead to decorate her hair. "I am not sure what he will decide about your situation but I can't imagine Aunt Râlia being calm then or now about you traveling alone."

"But I haven't really been alone, not longer than two days."

Mirari gave her a smile. "Come, I'm sure you are hungry." She held out her hand for Maliah to take so she could lead her to the dining hall.

"I'm older than you, I don't need to hold your hand."

"I know this, but I don't want you to get lost and I thought you would appreciate the contact. You were always clinging to people when I lived in Erebor."

Maliah blushed, not much had changed. She was a bit dependent on the touch of others to sooth herself, something that had only gotten worse after Bilbo had left. Mirari was right about wanting skin to skin touches since she hadn't had a familiar face after leaving Erebor and her soul was a little anxious. "You are different Miri, living with the elves has changed you."

The two walked out of the bathing hall and Mirari led her cousin down a hallway. "They do tend to have a certain effect on a person, being half-elf doesn't help either. Besides, Rivendell hold home to a world of knowledge with its elves, it would be impossible for me to not change." Mirari changed the subject, pointing out different spots and details to Maliah as they walked the halls. They were so engaged in their talk, neither noticed Lord Elrond watching them come down the hall to the dining area.

"I was afraid one of you may have drowned."

"Good evening Uncle." Mirari kissed the Elf Lord's cheek in greeting.

"I see you have found your wandering cousin. Are you feeling better?"

Maliah nodded, wondering at the title he had been given since it was an honor to be given such a name among dwarves. Behind Lord Elrond, Gandalf came down the stairs and stopped next to the Elf and looked down at Maliah in surprise.

"You look lovely and if I'm not mistaken, those are the same clothes your mother wore while here."

"All but the shoes and shirt."

Everyone turned to see Arwen gliding up to the group. The Elleth kissed her father on the cheek, then Mirari and Gandalf before returning her attention to Maliah. "I was unsure if they would fit you the same as her, I'm glad they do. Is it true you saw my brothers on your way here?"

"Yes."

"I can only imagine the stories they told you. You will sit next to me and I will tell you what they did not and more." She led the group up the stairs, Mirari giving Maliah a little nudge to go ahead of her and the two males.


I know, it's taking forever to get to the shire. But I like updating the chapters for everyone. Please review!