A.N. I cannot thank all of you enough for your response to the story, especially to the past two chapters. It's been awesome. I've been really trying to focus on this story not only for you lovely people, but as a nice distraction from current events. I know most of the rest of you out there probably need the mental vacation too. So here we are!
hettledettle: Thank you! So happy I could provide some shock and awe. That's always been a difficult one for me. Hope you continue to enjoy!
Kelly: I'm glad you're enjoying it! Thank you so much for reading.
Angie: All will be explained in time ^_^ I hope this chapter satisfies.
For the rest of my incredible readers, I hope you enjoy, and leave your feedback. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The welcome Thorin received at Ered Luin was warm, enthusiastic, and full of subliminal sympathy. There were encouraging smiles and pats on the back followed by, "It's so good to have you back safely my Lord." It was a relief to get to the end of the welcome feast. He wanted some peace and quiet. The quest needed to be planned, and he still hadn't been able to get his mind off of Danica. Their last dream encounter had been a couple days ago, and he had no idea if she was alright or not. It had been a blessing and a curse to wake up and remember everything. There was so much he could learn from these dreams, but the constant worry was distracting.
"Where have you been?" his sister Dis took the seat next to him as the celebration began to break up.
"What do you mean?"
"Your mind has quite obviously been elsewhere ever since you got back. Perhaps before?"
"I never could hide anything from you," he shook his head as she smirked. "On my way back, I helped a young woman get to Bree. She ended up injured, and I had to leave her with Gandalf the Gray. I still don't know how she is,"
Dis blinked a couple times, frozen in disbelief. "A woman? Thorin, I cannot think of a single time you have given a woman a second thought,"
"It is not what you think," far more complicated actually. "And it is not only the woman who has kept me distracted,"
"I was about to ask why you left this strange woman with a wizard," she said incredulously. Her view of wizards had taken a turn for the negative after their father disappeared. They both knew Gandalf had been a friend of their father, and she saw Gandalf's lack of help as a failure.
Thorin spared a moment to send her a long-suffering look. "I had a meeting with him at the Prancing Pony,"
"What could you possibly want with him?"
"It's what he wanted with me," there was a dark irony that he didn't even try to hide. When he continued, he lowered his voice so only she could hear. "He had a quest in mind which I plan to reveal to a select few tomorrow,"
Dis' shrewd eyes grew sharp with suspicion. "What kind of quest?"
Trying to be patient, he took her hand. "You knew this day would come, would have to come eventually,"
She snatched her hand back from his, eyes blazing furiously. "Don't try to soften me up," she growled. "You are going to get yourself and whoever goes with you killed. And don't you dare rope my son into this suicide mission,"
"I couldn't keep them from this any more than you could. They are my heirs and two of my best warriors. That mountain is as much theirs as it is mine,"
"That mountain. Our heritage. How many more kin must we lose to 'our heritage?'" her eyes watered, but Thorin knew it would take much more for the dam to break. "Our grandfather to that gold and then a quest for Moria which also took our father and brother. Would you have me lose the only family I have left?"
"Dis…" he reached for her again, but she stepped away.
"Their lives are your responsibility," with all the dignity she had, which was insurmountable, she stood and stormed away.
All Thorin could do was stare after her, then into his tankard. Once again, he was relieved to see more and more dwarves excusing themselves. He wanted nothing more than to drop his head in his hands, but had to content himself with pressing two fingers against his throbbing temple. At this particular moment, he would have gladly taken Danica's panic attack over his sister's tantrum. A small groan escaped his lips at the thought. Since when did he take preference for one emotional female over another? Since he had more than one female in his life.
"What did ye do this time?" Dwalin's voice slurred into Thorin's ear, which only made him sigh in exasperation.
"You will find out tomorrow. I'll be calling a council together," his voice sounded tired, even to his own ears.
"Sounds serious,"
"It is, but I believe it will be good for all of us,"
Dwalin nodded then clapped his friend on the back. "You had better get some sleep then. Besides, it looks like yer nephews are about to bestow upon us another song,"
Knowing how Fili and Kili got when aided by vast amounts of alcohol, Thorin stood. "I'll send word tomorrow about the meeting," with that, he snuck out of the hall as quickly as he could.
His quarters were a warm and quiet reprieve from all the excitement, and stress of the evening. As he dressed down for bed, he thought of how he would present the quest, and who exactly he would call upon. He already knew he needed Dwalin, Balin, Fili and Kili. He thought about his cousins Oin and Gloin. They could use Oin's medical knowledge, and Gloin was a fine warrior. Though he wanted to bring many of his other warriors, he and Gandalf had both agreed that getting into the mountain was a job for a smaller group. Perhaps Nori, his kinsman along with Dori and Ori. They were loyal and had many talents that would serve well on this quest. A few more came to mind, and he made sure to write them all down to send with a servant in the morning. There was, however, one more problem at hand.
Once they had the Arkenstone, which Gandalf said he would take care of, they would need an army to defeat Smaug and defend the mountain. A summit would have to be called for all of the seven kingdoms. How could he possibly convince them to risk their lives and follow him before he had the jewel? A headache began to pound behind his eyes. So much for a reprieve from stress. He went to his bedside table and poured a glass of the strongest ale he had been able to get his hands on. There were some nights that he needed the peace that only quality alcohol could bring. To pass the time until his eyes would droop, he picked up his harp and strung a few tunes. Perhaps, if he ever saw her again, he could play for Danica while she sang. It was that thought, and the memory of her sweet voice that lulled him to sleep.
"You'll be alright. I've got you now," Danica's face swam in and out of his vision for a moment before it finally cleared. Her recently cut hair was falling free of a braid, yet his braid remained, hanging in front of her ear.
He lifted a hand and touched it, an overwhelming sadness filling him. "I am sorry," he said, the words causing him to cough wetly. "I've broken my promise,"
Danica's face crumpled, but she grabbed his hand and held it to her cheek. Hot tears slipped between his fingers, a stark difference to the bitter cold settling in his bones. A flash of green drew his attention to the emerald ring on her hand. With difficulty, he smiled and stroked her skin with his thumb.
"I will always…be watching over you,"
A stifled sob to his right reminded him of Bilbo's presence. He turned his head to the hobbit, smiling.
"Farewell, Master Burglar. Go back to your books, and your armchair. Plant your trees, watch them grow. If more people valued home above gold, this world would be a merrier place," he choked on his blood. Knowing he didn't have much time left, he looked at Danica.
"Continue on living. Find some peace," another cough.
"Shh," tears flowing freely, she stroked his brow. "I will. I promise," unable to contain it any longer, she sobbed. "I love you,"
"And I you,"
Smiling as best he knew she could, she leaned down and pressed her lips to his. He could feel his warmth leave him with her lips. "Rest now, King Thorin," her words were like the brush of wings, and he relaxed into sleep, embracing the dark.
It was dark that Thorin saw when he woke, his fire having burned out. His heart was beating wildly in his chest, as if reassuring him that it still worked. He ran a shaky hand through his hair and tried to control his breathing. That dream had been as real as any of the others he'd had about or with Danica, but so different. His first dreams, he had been a mere observer of her life. After that, an equal participant in a shared experience. This…this had been both, and yet neither. It was his body, and he felt everything that happened, but had been restrained by the path of the dream. To feel the pain, and then the release of death…his death…
Shaken, he threw the covers back and lit a torch so he could see to pace. Even once he put his mind off of his possible demise, he was plagued with the portrayal of his and Danica's relationship. Yes, she was important to him, and that in and of itself was a mystery, but she was like a niece; like Fili and Kili. Thoughts of the dream caused knots to form in his stomach. The whole thing deeply disturbed him, but then, his dreams, and entire life had been abnormal since meeting Danica. Knowing he wasn't going to find any rest, he went into his study and began planning for the months ahead, and perhaps send a letter of inquiry to a certain elven kingdom.
Excruciating pain tore Danica from the dream, throwing her into the same semi-reality she had drifted from before. Beneath her own pained cries, she heard a smooth, soothing voice, but was unable to focus on it. Every fiber of her felt like it was on fire while being filled with lead at the same time. She writhed in what felt like satin sheets. Satin sheets? Rivendell? Then perhaps that was Elrond's voice she was hearing, except every now and again she could swear the words were in a feminine voice. Her mind skittered in every direction, passing in and out of rational thought.
"Her body is rejecting it," the same, soothing voice cut through the white noise. It spoke again with words Danica couldn't understand. She worked to focus on it, finding some comfort in the foreign words.
"Breathe," a woman's voice, the other voice she had heard. "Breathe and let it happen,"
'Let what happen?'
"Healing,"
Unsure she could really control her body, Danica took deep breaths, hoping her body was obeying. A warmth, far less intense and more relieving than the earlier fire seeped through her limbs, chasing the pain away. Consciousness coming back, she sighed and tried to open her eyes. At first, all she could manage was a slight flutter.
"Do not force it. Your body has been through a great ordeal,"
Her small moan of response was neither acquiescent, nor protesting. However, she did as the voice told, waiting until her body woke up fully. Once all pain had subsided into a dull ache, she opened her lids, blinking at the bright light.
"Welcome to Rivendell Madame MacKay,"
"Madame?" even in her groggy state, the title sounded old and formal.
"You were married, were you not? Would you prefer something else?"
Danica looked at the elven male, so much more beautiful than ever depicted on earth. "Where I come from, a young widow can still use 'Miss.' If that doesn't work, 'Ms.' is appropriate,"
"Ms. MacKay then," he smiled and nodded.
"Are you Lord Elrond?"
"Indeed I am," his eyes were warm but curious. "Gandalf told me your rather unusual tale. A woman from a different world who knows both our past and future,"
"Well, to be honest, the history is a little fuzzy," Danica said sheepishly.
"As it is for most young people," a gleam of amusement lit those warm eyes. "If you wish to refresh your memory, the library is well stocked with many books you may enjoy, and you are welcome to them,"
"That sounds wonderful. Thank you," she gave a grateful smile, but something began to nag at her. "Were you and Gandalf able to find a way for me to return home?"
His face gave her the answer before he opened his mouth. "Whatever magic brought you here was very powerful and, as of yet unknown to us. However, we plan to consult with Saruman and Lady Galadriel. Perhaps we all can come to a solution. In the meantime, you are to remain here, if you wish, as my ward,"
"Your ward?" her head, which had sunk in disappointment, snapped up. Stunned, she gaped at him. She was no one of any importance here, and he had only just met her.
"You are quite a rarity," Elrond said, as if reading her mind. "You could be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands,"
Though she knew he was right, his words caused her spine to straighten. "I would never put the good of this world in jeopardy,"
"I do not doubt your intent, but this world is quite unlike yours. Anyone who wants to use you will stop at nothing to do so. Their methods will be barbaric, and will tear at every part of your soul until there is nothing left," he stood from his chair and sat next to her on the bed. "You seem to be incredibly pure and kind-hearted despite your hardships. A fate such as I have described would be worse than death, and one I could never allow for you. Besides, I doubt Thorin Oakenshield would forgive me if anything were to happen to you,"
Knots tied themselves in Danica's stomach at the mention of the dwarf. Knots she tried to ignore. "What do you mean?"
"He sent a rather…stern letter that arrived yesterday, demanding to know if you were alright," disdain and amusement were waging a war on Elrond's face. "If he did not receive an answer within a fortnight, he would send a company of his warriors to ascertain the truth,"
"Oh dear," Danica sighed, unable to withhold a smile. "Dwarves aren't very good with subtlety, are they?"
"It is not something they are known for, no," Elrond grimaced. "I asked Gandalf to send a reply as quickly as he could,"
Danica figured this wise considering Thorin's distrust in elves.
"As for you, you seem to be recovering well now, but there were a few complications," without her needing to ask, Elrond got up and poured Danica a glass of water. "The dragon magic was deep in you, and conflicted with my healing. In the end, your strength overcame. Unfortunately, you came to me too late to reverse all of the damage,"
"Scars?" she asked, not completely surprised, but dreading just how bad they would be. Elrond opened a drawer in the bedside table and pulled out a hand mirror. After a brief admiration of the beautiful work on the back, Danica turned it over and prepared herself.
At first, she thought Elrond had made a mistake. She turned her head to the right, then the left, seeing no puckered or vivid signs of burn scars. Then, as the light hit the right side of her neck, she saw it. Strange, faint, weaving lines, looking almost like plants caressing her neck then disappearing beyond her shoulder. She brought a finger to the pattern, feeling the soft, raised skin. It was still slightly tender, but didn't hurt nearly as much as it should.
"The conflicting magic, as well as the pattern of one particular burn have left you with rather peculiar scars. They extend down most of your spine. I did my best to heal what I could so your skin would not be marred. I am afraid I failed,"
"No," setting the mirror down, Danica smiled at him. "It would have been much worse without your help. Thank you. I've had my fair share of scars. These just have a better explanation,"
"I appreciate that," the elf lord smiled. "Now, you should probably get some rest, and tomorrow we can see if you are ready to walk,"
"Perhaps you could help me figure out why I'm here and having these dreams?"
Elrond paused. "It will take some time," he said, then saw the disappointment on her face. "But you can explain more of your predicament to me, and we may be able to work something out,"
With the sun setting, he bid her good night, letting her settle into the comfortable sheets. For the first time she got to Middle Earth, she felt like she could finally make some progress toward putting together the puzzle her life had become. The only slight concern she had was the vain thought of having these scars for the rest of her life. Thoughts of Thorin's letter chased the worry away, allowing her to sleep peacefully.
P.S. Whew. This one took me a little longer. I had a couple doctor's appointments for the baby this past week, so I didn't have as much time. I re-read the chapter and made my corrections, but if you spot anything I missed, please let me know! Reviews would also be lovely. ;) Thank you!