Chapter 6 - Rivendell

"Enjoy yourselves," Ivy called over her shoulder her voice laced with sarcasm as she pulled an arrow the quiver strung onto her back, nocking it she prepared to keep watch.

Ivy felt no need to follow any into the grimy, smelling cave, though she did not mind the mountains random caves were out of the question, deciding she would be more useful keeping watch as they investigated.

Gandalf slowly emerged from the cave as Ivy picked up a noise rushing through the forest heading towards them, Ivy crouched low bow at the ready. "Hurry it up," Ivy called to the others, "Something approaches."

"Stay together! Hurry, now! Arm yourselves!" Gandalf commanded rushing into the clearing.

The remaining dwarves rushed from the caves pulling out their weapons when a man clad in ragged brown robes rode in upon an intriguing sled pulled by rabbits, of all things, burst through the bushes. Ivy was about to let an arrow fly when Gandalf spoke. "Radagast. It's Radagast the Brown!" Ivy glanced to the grey wizard, it was clear that they knew each other, lowering her bow she relaxed it once more in front of her but the newcomer did not put Ivy to ease.

The pair of wizards stepped off to the side speaking to one another, everyone put their weapons away but Ivy something did not sit right with her still, she was not convinced Radagast was the only thing out there.

"Relax yourself, Ivy." Thorin chuckled from her side, nudging Ivy as he passed, "It was only a wizard."

"For now," Ivy whispered beneath her breath, eyes scanning the trees, waiting.

"Elves," He breathed walking away.

Ivy gritted her teeth holding back the urge to shoot her arrow at him.

Time passed slowly as the two wizards talked, as the others relaxed Ivy stay prepared and at the ready her guard never faltered as she waited something wasn't right. Many of her dwarven companions teased her endlessly though it was Ivy who got the satisfaction of being right when a growling emitted from behind the trees unseen to any eyes but still the wargs drew near.

"Just a wizard, huh?" Ivy snapped at Thorin as he spun around gripping his sword tighter.

"Hmph."

"Dwarves." Ivy snarled in response.

"Was that a wolf? Are there...are there wolves out there?" Bilbo questioned, his eyes flickering around the small clearing his nerves getting the best of him.

"Wolves? No, that is not a wolf." Ivy answered Bilbo as another growl rang from behind Bilbo and Bofur, spinning on her heel Ivy let an arrow fly catching the warg mid air it landed with a thud. Kili shot another from behind the elf that came with soft padding footsteps. "Warg-scouts!" The two archers cried notching another arrow into their bows.

"Which means an orc pack is not far behind!" Thorin called sword at the ready, as he glanced around the clearing.

"Orc pack?" Bilbo cried.

"Who did you tell about your quest, beyond your kin?" Gandalf demanded angrily.

"No one." He sneered back.

"Who did you tell?!" Gandalf's voice grew louder and more urgent.

"No one, I swear! What in Durin's name is going on?"

"You are being hunted."

"We have to get out of here," Dwalin called coming to stand beside Thorin.

"We can't! We have no ponies. They bolted." Ori reminded him.

"I'll draw them off," Radagast said.

"These are Gundabad wargs. They will outrun you!" Gandalf tried to deter Radagast, it was a dangerous task and neither wizard wished to see the other come to harm.

"These are Rhosgobel rabbits. I'd like to see them try." Radagast stated determination clear in his voice.

Everyone was forced to follow the footsteps of Gandalf, putting their complete and utter trust in him at this moment, running into the open fields with nothing but rocks to hide behind. "Stay together," Gandalf called, never pausing in his running, he maneuvered the company through the fields behind large boulders keeping them well hidden

"Move!" Thorin screamed back at everyone.

Running alongside the rocks when orcs crossed their paths, "Ori, no! Come back." Ivy called out as he took off in the wrong direction, pausing they were forced to turn around taking a different direction.

"All of you, come on, come on! Quick!" Gandalf urged out, waving them along worriedly.

"Where are you leading us?" Thorin demanded to know as he got the sense that Gandalf was taking them a certain route, a plan in mind.

Gandalf turned around glancing at Thorin with no reply before continuing on his way a glimmer in his eye, a glimmer that was almost always there but shone just a bit brighter at times like these when he hid something of importance.

Hiding beneath a large cliff the company was forced to wait for Gandalf to direct them when a warg rider hovered endangering them and threatening to reveal their hiding spot to the orc pack just behind. Thorin nodded to Kili and Ivy confirming the silent order to use their bows to take the orc and his warg down. Together they nocked an arrow shooting the warg, Ivy sent a glare to Kili growling as they both shot the warg neither of them hitting the orc. It screeched and wailed loudly as the others killed it, quickly enough, however, not when its pack it an ear shot away. The others of the pack easily heard their comrade dying and followed after the sounds knowing now where they were trying to hide.

"Move! Run!" Gandalf ordered.

"There they are!" Gloin called, looking behind as we run away as quickly as we could.

"This way! Quickly!"

"There's more coming!" Kili called.

"Kíli! Ivy! Shoot them!" Thorin ordered.

Kili and Ivy paused turning to face the oncoming horde giving the others time to get ahead, shooting down the orcs and wargs, while still trying to keep a close eye on everyone.

"We're surrounded!" Fili worried. "Where's Gandalf?"

"He's abandoned us!" It was Dwalin, Ivy shook her head shooting down another warg, Ivy searched the fields for any sign of grey determined to believe that he would not abandon them.

"Hold your ground!" Thorin called, as more orcs began to close in and with only two shooting them down, they were approaching faster than they could kill them.

"This way, you fools." Gandalf appeared suddenly popping up from behind a rock.

"Come on, move! Quickly! All of you!" Thorin ushered everyone towards Gandalf. Shooting as many as they could they continued to run towards their escaped. Ivy gasped dropping her bow as an orcish arrow dug its way into her shoulder.

"Go, go! Kíli! Run!" Ivy screamed out as she hesitated all movement from the pain before collapsing to the ground, Kili was the last of the dwarves as he disappeared Ivy was sure it would be her death.

Horn blasts rang through the clearing as Ivy now lay struggling to fight off an orc with a single dagger the arrow stuck in her shoulder forcing herself to fight through the pain when an arrow came from out of the blue killing the orc above her and all others around. Shoving the now-dead beast off, a shadow loomed over her as a tall dark haired ellon appeared above blocking out the sun's rays.

Elrond leapt from his horse making his way over to the injured elleth he reached down to help her up knowing she would need some serious and quick medical attention.

"Stay away from me, elf." She cursed out, earning a strange look from all present.

"I am Lord Elrond, of Imraldis. You are known to us here, Laiqualassiel, daughter of Amoniel, or perhaps you prefer, Ivy, elf under the mountain. Needless, I offer you my help, you are in great need of healing."

"You knew my mother," Ivy demanded urgently, Lord Elrond nodded. Narrowing her eyes and with great hesitation, Ivy accepted his hand if only to get off this field for more orcs were sure to come, and possibly learn something of her mother from the elf.

Crashing over the rock a dead orc sprawled on the ground an arrow stuck in its body, Thorin leaned down yanking it away examining it for a moment. "Elves." he sneered out in utter disgust. Helping Kili up he glanced around noticing Ivy had not made it.

"She was shot, there was nothing I could do."

"We must leave her, there is no way back up she lays in the hands of the elves up there."

"Then she is lost to us all." Thorin cursed, throwing the arrow away.

"I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or not?" Dwalin called out from afar, his voice echoing.

"We follow it, of course!" Bofur stated following, not wanting to be stuck here.

"I think that would be wise." Gandalf nodded, with glimmering eyes.

A Valley that had a view beyond measure, was what met them at the end of the long winding pass through the rocks.

"The Valley of Imladris. In the common tongue, it's known by another name." Gandalf s said.

"Rivendell." Bilbo breathed as he took in the vast scene before him, admiring every detail of this great land.

"Here lies the last homely house, east of the sea."

Lord Elrond helped the injured elleth upon his own horse riding back to his realm as fast as he could. "Welcome, Laiqualassiel, to Imladris." Elrond greeted as they rode through the gates riding along a stone pathway rushing towards the company and a dark haired ellon that stood upon the stairs speaking with Gandalf.

"Close ranks!" Thorin called out.

"Gandalf!" Elrond greeted riding forward as he slowed his horse to a stop.

"Lord Elrond." Gandalf greeted in return. "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, where we happened upon a lone injured elleth." Lord Elrond eyed Gandalf suspiciously he was no fool he saw straight through his friend, he climbed down from his horse embracing Gandalf before he turned to helped Ivy down. "Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders. Something or someone has drawn them near."

"Ah, that may have been us," Gandalf admitted.

"I welcome you Thorin, son of Thrain," Elrond extended his greeting passing the dwarves with Ivy by his side helping her walk to ease the pressure off her leg. "Lindir, be so kind as to help Laiqualassiel to the healer's ward, I will be there soon to check on her."

"You will take her nowhere, Oin can heal her." Thorin sneered.

"She was pierced by a poisoned arrow she is going to need herbs, you will not have." Elrond eased out in a calm collected tone.

Lindir nodded, helping the elleth to the healing ward as instructed to do so. The further they walked Ivy became paler, her knees giving out on her as she stumbled along the poison seeping through her body and she was growing weak.

Unbeknown to Ivy as she lay in the healing ward, whispers were spreading through Rivendell as fast as could be. Dwarves had come, and the elf under the mountain and to all elves in middle earth that meant Laiqualassiel, daughter to Amoniel, a traitor.

"I will not heal her kind," an elleth sneered within the healer's ward.

"We will heal her by order of Lord Elrond himself," Lindir informed, a few elves were already at work while others slowly and begrudgingly got to work.

Ivy kept her face emotionless, a sneer upon her lips as they worked, she would not show them the pain their words brought. Her kind, the deeds of her mother had so many all across different lands hating her and still she knew nothing of it.

Lord Elrond entered the healing ward, dismissing everyone else from the ward as her shoulder was finished being bandaged.

"I know you know something of my mother, you must tell me," Ivy demanded as Elrond came to a stop at the end of her bed.

"Shh," Elrond smiled kindly to the elleth, holding his hand up signaling for her to relax. "I will not be the one to tell you of your mother deeds, that I cannot do for even I do not know the whole tale. What I do know is your mother has done many things in her time, she did much out of greed, and jealousy, that quickly turned into her own grief. Many who truly loved her, turned their back on Amoniel for all she did, things that we as elves stand for she tore apart."

"No…she…"

"Your mother chose her path, and ran when the consequences came back to her."

"That's not true! You lie!"

"I am sorry, but should you wish to know more the purest information can only be given to you by King Thranduil, himself."

"So he is my only hope," Ivy snapped, Elrond nodded.

"If anyone knew your mother it was Thranduil."

"Then it is all lost, he will never tell me."

"Do not be so sure, Thranduil though he is harsh and cold in many of his judgements, in not all he seems to be. He may yet tell you, sure you be willing to return the favour."

"Favour?" Ivy screamed as she clambered out of bed swaying on her feet, "Ha, I hardly call that a favour."

"Then you do not understand, yet, how serious her actions were against him," Elrond spoke firmly. "Thranduil is a dear friend of mine and while I will not judge you on your mother's actions, I cannot condone what she had done to him. Indeed it would be nothing more than a favour to you. Shall he give you the opportunity, it'd be wise not to allow to pass it up for I doubt you'll ever get a second one."

Ivy grasped her tunic pulling it over her head, "You speak of her the same way he does like she is nothing."

"She earned her title as a Traitor to not only Thranduil but our whole race,"

Ivy glared at this elven lord as she stormed from the healing wards shoving every elf out of her way despite the pain.

Traitor, the word followed her through the halls as she strutted passed.

"How…" Thorin began as she returned to the dwarves settling in by his side.

"Don't ask, we will not speak of it. Let's just finish up here in this realm and be rid of the elves already."

They looked at her curiously wondering what it was she could have possibly learned that had set her in such a rage, still though no one pushed the matter and allowed Ivy the peace in which she craved.

"Our business is no concern of Elves." Thorin bit out.

"That it is not, though I have a hard time believing this elf knows what is or is not his concern in the first place." Ivy snapped bitterly as she glared daggers at Elrond.

"It is the legacy of my people. It's mine to protect! As are its secrets." His voice did not grow angry this time.

"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond!" Gandalf snapped out, annoyed at Thorin and Ivy for he had heard of what had taken place in the healing ward.

Pausing momentarily Thorin reached into his cloak revealing the map, Ivy rolled eyes disagreeing with showing it to the elf suddenly, but nevertheless there was nothing left for them to do.

"Thorin, no!" Balin called out, reaching out to stop him though Thorin pushed him away gently handing the map to Lord Elrond.

"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?" Elrond questioned, as he looked over the map.

"It's mainly academic. As you know, these sort of artifacts sometimes contains hidden text." Gandalf offered up before Thorin could answer. "You still read ancient dwarvish, do you not? Gandalf questioned casually.

"'Cirth ithil'." Elrond breathed eyeing the map carefully.

"Moon runes. Of course. An easy thing to miss." Gandalf stated with a shrug of his own.

"Well, in this case, that is true. Moon runes can only be read by the light of the moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written." Lord Elrond elaborated.

"Can you read them?" Thorin asked hopefully, following Elrond as he wondered upon the stone cliff.

"These runes were written on a midsummer's eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight." Elrond breathed, glancing at Thorin and Ivy as they followed him to a stone table. Looking at the map he spread out the moon shining through the clouds, small runes appeared slowly as Lord Elrond began to read.

"'Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole.'" Lord Elrond read, picking up the map he turned it in his hands before passing it back to Thorin.

"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asked.

"It is the start of the dwarves new year when the last moon of Autumn and the first sun of Winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf answered.

"This is ill news. Summer is passing, Durin's Day will soon be upon us." Thorin sighed, giving up hope for the quest.

"We still have time," Balin spoke up, refusing to lose hope when, in reality, their true quest was just beginning.

"Time, for what?" Bilbo wondered.

"To find the entrance. We have to be standing at exactly the right spot, at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened." Balin encouraged.

"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain," Elrond spoke sternly his eyes jumping from everyone there with a great concern.

"What of it?" Thorin asked defensively.

"There are some who would not deem it wise," Elrond stated firmly.

"Who do you mean?" Gandalf said.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." Lord Elrond returned, leaving the room in a swiping motion. Gandalf following soon after.

"We leave tonight, we can not waste a minute. Let us head to get the others." Thorin turned to leave, Balin and Bilbo following close behind.

Ivy paused looking up at the moon thinking of Lord Elrond words earlier, he held his suspicion from the beginning it was clear in his eyes and yet he still read the map and when their intent was stated he gave the map back anyway, Ivy sighed, she sensed no ill givings from this elf. She shook her head firmly, spinning on her heel to follow the others out, no he was an elf, he had to be wrong about her mother.

Author's Note; New chapter, please tell me what you all think of Elrond, I'm dying to know.

Thank you

DracoMalfoysSecretWife- Lol, I felt like that before, best of luck and I hope you get them the way you want to!
Thank you! Thorin and Ivy begin to bicker and fight more as the story continues, guilty pleasure, I love it!
Lol

ExotikaHollow1379

Hannah Bowers