Disclaimer: All recognizable (and copyrighted) characters and plots belong to their respectful owners. I'm just taking them out for a walk.

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to get out, but I had a horrible month and just didn't feel like writing, and I think you can really tell in some places that I had a hard time. I did my best, and planned on editing some more, but it's been such a long time that I wanted to get this out for you so you'd know I didn't forget about this story or your guys. Thank you so much for your patience, and please tell me about any typos you see.

This is the first chapter that we encounter any Elvish, so please be aware that the translations will come at the end of the chapter to avoid disrupting the flow. Most of my translations are from either or a quick Google search. Inaccuracy is inevitable.

Fans of the book may notice that things are beginning to line up a little, and as a matter of fact I borrow the odd quote (along with the chapter title) here and there. No copyright infringement is intended here; just a desire to have things fit the established cannon as best they can.

Chapter 9: Flight to the Ford

Those first three days were the hardest. With Strider pushing the group to their limit in a desperate attempt to put some distance between them and the no doubt infuriated Nazgul, it wasn't until evening the third day that they were finally allowed to settle and make camp. Sleep deprived and exhausted, they only took the time to have a brief, cold meal before they all settled right there on the cold hard ground and went directly to sleep, their blankets still packed. Strider remained alert, watching for any sign of Wraiths or intruders. Harry barely slept, and it seemed he had only just laid his head down when Strider was roughly shaking him awake again.

"Quickly, a rider approaches."

"A Wraith?" Harry asked, drawing his wand and kicking Malfoy awake.

Strider shook his head, dark eyes focused into the darkness for the intruder. "No. Not a Wraith, but someone or something approaches."

Hermione and Ron slowly sat up, peering into the darkness as Draco dug out his wand. "Should we risk a concealment charm?" He asked Hermione.

Hermione looked at him blankly, blinking owlishly as though the thought hadn't even occurred to her. Harry suddenly felt as though he could smack himself. "A concealment…?"*

"Or disillusionment?"

Hermione blinked at him again and then nodded dumbly. Draco immediately stood up and set about placing concealment charms around their camp, looking over his shoulder curiously at her when, rather than rising to help him, she remained sitting and looked at Harry, a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment on her face. Harry felt quite the same way Hermione did. Three days of panicked fleeing with little time to rest or eat a proper meal, and the answer was right in front of them the whole time? And then for Malfoy of all people to point out the most obvious solution? It was intolerable.

"Why didn't we think of this three days ago, Hermione?" Harry asked her, more annoyed than embarrassed.

She sighed. "I don't know Harry, but it can't happen again."

Hermione was right. This sort of slip up couldn't happen again. Not when they didn't know where they were or how to get home. He'd recalled Hermione's panic from their first year, her youthful inability to handle a crisis, and while she'd risen to the occasion more than once, she clearly hadn't completely abandoned the trait yet. And then there was himself, not even considering a concealment or disillusionment charm, just deferring to Hermione and hoping she had all the answers, just like he always had. They couldn't afford to be sloppy here; not when Dumbledore wasn't around to clean up after their mistakes. Harry knew what the consequences were if someone slipped up, he'd just lost Sirius for the same sort of childish stupidity. They had to be more careful.

Strider, clearly sensing tension, cleared his throat, "These charms will protect the camp?" His eyes were still fixed towards the trees surrounding their camp. Their camp was positioned at the base of a slope, with the Hobbits positioned on the interior of a circle formed by the others, but the slope wasn't so dangerous that a horse couldn't maneuver their way through the trees and in their midst.

Hermione nodded, "They'll keep us from being seen or heard, but we still have to be careful."

"We don't even know if they'll work." Harry quirked an eyebrow at Ron, who shrugged, "Half our spells didn't bother those Wraiths. The only ones that worked didn't really affect the Wraiths themselves, and we don't know what concealing charms will do."

"Sauron has many of his own spells on The Nine, his own protective enchantments and other dark magic. We can only hope these charms of yours will give us time to…" he held up a hand and everyone crouched down, drawings swords or wands.

A moment passed and he slowly stood, releasing the grip he'd had on the pommel of his sword. "That is no Wraith. Locien, lower the charms." Draco hesitated at the sound of his Elvish name, and then waved his wand, clearing the concealing charms again. A moment later a rider burst into the underbrush, but he was no Ringwraith.

Practically glowing in the darkness, the rider must have been an Elf. Tall and lithe, his handsome face was sharply sculpted and his ears tapered to a delicate, leaf-shaped point. His hair was long and flowing, golden in color, and his eyes were icy blue and clear. He seemed to glow with power. Strider rushed over as the Elf dismounted and the two greeted each other warmly.

"Ai na vedui Dunadan! Mae govannen!" (1) The Elf's voice was clear as a bell, and Harry was more than a little startled when Hermione actually sighed and smiled dreamily at him. He was distinctly reminded of their second year, when she'd had that crush on Gilderoy Lockheart and rolled his eyes.

Ignoring Hermione's swooning, Strider and the Elf talked quickly, foreign words blurring together in their haste. After a moment Strider finally turned to the others, "This is Glorfindel, an Elf from the House of Elrond."

Harry just resisted the urge to gape. This was an Elf? This tall, fair and clearly powerful being was an Elf? Judging by the equally shocked expression on Ron and Hermione's faces and the complete disappearance of Draco's eyebrows into his hairline, they were completely surprised as well. Glorfindel was unlike any being they had ever met, let alone like the Elves back home. Harry couldn't see any connection between this being and Dobby at all. What in Merlin's name had changed?

Glorfindel inclined his head with a small smile, "Well met." Hermione sighed again and Ron feigned gagging. "I have been sent by Elrond to look for you. We feared you met danger on the road." He said to Frodo, but penetrating gaze was fixed on Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco.

"Then Gandalf has reached Rivendell!" Frodo cried, standing up, but Glorfindel shook his head, looking back to the Hobbit.

"Not when I last departed, though that was nine days ago. Elrond received news that troubled him and sent some of my kindred to the north, west and south to find you. It was thought you might turn far aside to avoid pursuit and become lost in the wilderness. But come! There is no time for further news. There are five behind us, and where the other four are, I do not know. I fear the Ford may already be held against us." Glorfindel offered a hand to Frodo, "Come, I will bear you ahead to Rivendell."

Frodo hesitated, "I won't leave my friends here in danger."

Glorfindel smiled, "It is you, Frodo, and what you carry that brings them danger. Come." Frodo hesitated another moment, but with reassuring nods from Sam he finally agreed and was lifted into the saddle. Glorfindel mounted gracefully, eyed Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco a moment, then with a nod sped away into the darkness.

Draco glanced at Hermione and clucked his tongue. "Put your eyeballs back in your head, Granger, you're embarrassing yourself." He muttered, slinging his pack over his shoulder and shoving past her.

Strider clapped Harry on the shoulder and said, "Come, let us follow. We are still on foot and not out of danger. Wraiths are not the only dark creatures that wander the wilds."

Ron faltered, "And what else, exactly, is out here?"

Merry smiled at him and pointed, "Trolls."

Harry, Ron and Draco whirled around with a start and found three, monstrous looking trolls not dissimilar from the one Harry and Ron had defeated their first year, though these three were clearly made of stone and were so covered in undergrowth that it was no wonder Harry hadn't noticed them before. Draco let out a cry and stumbled, though Marry and Pippin steadied him. Hermione edged in closer to examine the stone trolls and frowned, but didn't say anything.

Sam smiled, "Mr. Bilbo's trolls. He'll love to hear about this."

Strider called them again, "Come, Locien, Hermione, cast your concealment charms. Let us make way."

"Oh! Should we have offered to do that Glorfindel and Frodo?" Hermione started, "Will they be alright?"

Strider shook his head and started off into the trees, "Nay, Glorfindel's steed, Asfaloth, has a speed that not even the Nine's mounts can rival. He will bear them to safety, and if that does not comfort you, Hermione, Glorfindel is one of few able to resist the Nine. Neither will come to any harm."

"Besides," Harry started, following Strider once Draco had cast a concealment charm, "I think you should be more worried about us. We don't have a horse." Sam shot Harry an affronted look and stroked Bill's flank, quietly reassuring their pony he was every bit as good as this Asfaloth, and a thousand times braver.

Strider led them into them trees at a much slower pace than the previous days. "While there is still need to reach Rivendell, the pace must not be so brutal anymore. We'll stop again in a few hours."

While it was true that the pace wasn't nearly as brutal as it had been, the next three days still weren't particularly easy. Strider kept them off the road to avoid running into Wraiths or anyone else and the trip was all the harder for it. The ground was soft and slick from rain and the group slipped and slid most of the way on damp leaves or stones hidden by moss. Harry wasn't surprised when, in loafers hardly made for hiking, Draco slipped and wrenched his ankle and was forced to limp along, using Bill as support, until it could be properly treated in Rivendell. This, of course, made the trip all the worse, as every so often Draco would whine, complain, or moan some combination thereof and usually to the tune of 'my ankle hurts, this is servant's work'. Strider, who only had so much patience, was usually quick to silence him with a stern look.

The group crossed the Ford on the third morning since meeting Glorfindel, and after an hour or so they finally saw Rivendell. Positioned across a valley from their position stood a series of low, white buildings that seemed to glow, much in the same way Glorfindel did. Framed from the back and sides by a sheer mountainside and tumbling waterfalls, Rivendell seemed precariously positioned on the edge of a cliff, and the only way for them to reach it was to pass across a long, narrow bridge. From what Harry could see, a great portion of the elvish outpost was completely covered with vines or cracked and damaged, much in the same way Hogwarts was; homey and comfortable, but still aged and more than a little mysterious.

A cool breeze swept down the mountain from the waterfalls and ruffled Harry's hair. Hermione inhaled deeply, "My Lord, it's beautiful."

Strider smiled, though somewhat sadly. "Yes. Imladris is quite beautiful. Come, we must press on."

Leading them onwards, it seemed that they reached the gates of Rivendell in record time. Several elves, mostly dark haired, gazed down from their positions on top of the gate, looking from Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco to Strider in curiosity, but opened the gate without complaint. Stepping through into a courtyard, Hermione sucked in another breath. Rivendell was beautiful; tree lined and aged it felt comfortable but old, as though the structures and elves had been here for such a long time that not even nature minded the buildings anymore. Much like Hogwarts, it felt comfortable and Harry smiled in relief at being off the road and somewhere safe at last.

Three elves stepped forward, two males and a female. The males were near identical in appearance, from facial features to the robes, and both had long dark hair and gray eyes. The lady elf was quite beautiful, with long, wavy black hair, fair skin and bright blue eyes. She wore an elegant gown of fine silks.

Strider inclined his head in greeting, "Elladan, Elrohir, Im gelir ceni ad lin. (2)" He was talking to the males, clearly, but his gaze didn't leave the lady elf, "Arwen," he said, tone wistful, and Harry suddenly felt as though they were intruding on something quite private.

Elladan, the male elf on the right, inclined his head with a smile, "We had grown concerned."

Elrohir continued, "The road is ever more dangerous these days… but we will talk privately." He smiled at Harry, Hermione, Ron and Draco "Welcome to Imladris, House of Elrond. I am Elrohir, and these are my siblings, Elladan and Arwen."

"Well met." Said Elladan, also inclining his head and Harry was startled to catch Hermione blushing out of the corner of his eye.

Arwen bowed her head and said, in a soft voice, "My brothers and I heard of your struggles to reach Imladris from Glorfindel. We are relieved to see you have arrived safely." Ron flushed right up to his ears, and Draco set about trying to straighten his robes while Harry tried to fix his hair.

Sam stepped forward, impatient to see Frodo, "Is Frodo here? Did Glorfindel get him here safely?"

The elves smiled at him, "Yes, of course. He is having a late breakfast and would be happy to see his friends." Elladan said "I'll show you the way."

Harry moved to follow him but Elrohir moved into his path, though not rudely. "Frodo explained to us that you are Istari, and, forgive me, but there are few Istari in this world, and none that I know of are young as you. My father asks that you remain in your quarters until he has spoken with Mithrandir." Arwen frowned at her brother, but he paid her no heed.

Harry's eyebrows shot up but Strider spoke before he got the chance, "Elrohir, I speak for these four, they are not dark wizards nor spies. They had plenty of opportunity to do Frodo or I harm, but instead saved and protected him and his companions from the Nazgul. They have more than proven themselves allies and friends."

"They are still strangers here, Estel, and clearly not Istari of our world, as Glorfindel said." He looked back to them solemnly, "Please take no insult, but times are dark and the world has changed. We cannot be so trusting to outsiders. You will be treated as guests here, fed, watered, given clean clothes and your injuries tended to, but we ask that you remain in your quarters for now." At Hermione's crestfallen look his eyes softened, "It will not be long, lady. Perhaps an hour or two?"

Strider clapped a hand to Harry's shoulder, "I will see Elrond about this, fear not. In the meanwhile, rest might do you good. Come hobbits, I will bring you to Frodo." He exchanged a long look with Arwen, before turning and leading the hobbits off.

Harry grit his teeth, but followed Elrohir quietly. Arwen stepped forward and gently took Draco's elbow, placing an arm carefully around his shoulders to help support him along the way, him blushing all the while. She paid him no heed, just patiently aided him up steps and along a path to a large room with double doors that faced inwardly towards a courtyard lined with trees and a softly gurgling fountain. Draco was seated in a plush chair that faced a balcony, and Arwen lifted his ankle and set to tending it. Elrohir pulled fresh clothes for them to change into, and had heaping plates of food brought. The room, more a cabin really, with four separate bedrooms with their own wash basins and a parlor, while lavishly decorated and surrounded by beauty suddenly felt cold and empty. After the elves left with Strider, Harry changed quietly into elf-made clothes that fit him perfectly, and the four ate their first proper meal in weeks, Hermione settling a table in front of Draco so he could eat without having to move. No matter how lavish the accommodations Harry was acutely aware of the fact that two guards were positioned right outside the doors.

No matter how beautiful the room, or how well the clothes fit or how comfortable the chairs and cushions were, there were still prisoners here.

* In the previous chapter the group couldn't cast a spell to conceal themselves because the transfiguration would be too advanced. CalcBoy91, pointed out to me that a simple disillusionment or concealment charm would work just fine. Hermione's reaction here to Draco's suggestion is near identical to mine upon reading the review he left, and I decided that rather than rewrite an entire chapter I would retcon things a little bit here. If it doesn't work out, or sounds too contrived please let me know and I'll try to do some editing.

(1) "Ai na, Dunadan! Mae govannen!" – "Ah, at last Westmen! Well met!" a direct quote from the book, (The Fellowship of the Ring, pg. 236).

(2) "Im gelir ceni ad lin." – "I am happy to see you again."