Chapter 10: A special visit

Allie had completely lost track about how long she had been sitting there with Bilbo on that bench in the elven garden, enjoying the warm spring weather. They had been talking for quite some time. Eventually they grew hungry and Allie heard Bilbo's stomach protest. The Halfling still wasn't used to the lack of food on this journey. They then went to eat lunch with Gandalf since they still were in no mood to return to the dwarves.

After lunch Allie went to another walk with Bilbo. This time they went further away from Rivendell and had ended up in a wooded area near the border. They sat down in the pleasant sun, feeling quite content. Bilbo now told Allie some stories about his life back at the Shire, which he hadn't done before, and she listened intently.

"So, you did steal something when you were a child?" Allie asked amusingly. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so free and cheerful, despite what had happened earlier with the dwarves.

Bilbo chuckled. "Well, yes. If you count those two cabbages I stole from the nearby farmer. I don't think that qualifies."

"It sure counts," Allie agreed with a wink. "You are going to steal something far more interesting than cabbages when we reach Erebor."

"From a dragon you mean?"

Allie nodded. "Yes, but that's a long way from now. We best not worry about yet."

They stayed there for the largest part of the afternoon. Around sunset they went back to the elven court. This time the company was gathered there as well around the tables and when Allie entered with Bilbo at her side there fell a silence. Everyone was waiting in anticipation about what was going to happen next.

At first no sound came from the dwarven side and Allie was tempted to sit down with Gandalf and Bilbo there, but then Kili and Fili got onto their feet and approached them.

"We are sorry for how we treated you this morning," Kili began, his head hanging low.

"It was cowardly done," Fili agreed.

Bilbo eyed Allie for a second before he nodded. "I accept your apology."

At that the dwarves at the table cheered. "That must be celebrated," Bofur exclaimed excitedly.

Allie and Bilbo were guided to the table and took their places amongst the dwarves. Allie felt relieved that this matter was resolved. The only one who hadn't made his apology had been her father, but she hoped he would come around sooner or later.

The dinner went by peacefully and the dwarves sang more songs and shared more tales. After dinner Allie retired to her room, she still felt incredibly tired due to her injury. Some sleep sounded like something she really needed.

Allie let herself fall onto the comfortable mattress, wearing her nightgown, and let her eyes fall close. The imagines of the last couple of days played out before her eyes. She saw more about her encounter with the warg who had bitten her.

Eventually after what seemed like a long time she drifted to sleep and was wrapped in bright light.

Allie raised her hand before her eyes to try and shut the light out, but it seemed impossible. It took a couple of seconds for her to adjust her sight to the light that surrounded her. She opened her eyes once more and saw that she was not in her room. Instead she stood somewhere outside on a carved white bridge.

She recognized this place as one of the bridges she had seen in Rivendell, only this time it was brighter. There were birds singing everywhere and the air felt nice against her bare skin. Allie decided to follow the bridge to see where it would lead her.

It surprised her that there was no one there. It was almost as if all the elves who were usually outside, had fled back inside. Allie was still determined to keep going. Whatever was going on she was filled with questions and she wanted some answers.

The bridge she walked on leaded her further up and across another path. In the end she came across a round balcony that had looked similar to the training ground the dwarves had used. Allie frowned when she saw this was a dead end, thinking that she had taken a wrong turn.

But when her gaze froze on something she knew that she had come to the right place. At the center of the balcony stood a woman wearing clothes as white as the moonlight. She was tall and had an elegant figure. Her long blonde hair flowed like a river of gold around her head. On her head she wore a silver circlet.

This woman was by far the fairest woman Allie had ever seen, there was no doubt about that. There was something magical about her which made it impossible for Allie to look away, especially when the elf woman turned around and their eyes locked. Her face looked as if it had been carved by one of the finest artists that Arda had to offer.

"Allie Fairchild," she greeted with a voice that was pleasant to listen to. "I was expecting you."

Allie was skeptical about all this. "And who may you be then?"

She smiled. "I am Galadriel, Lady of Lothlorien," she introduced herself.

At that Allie could only bow slightly. "I have heard of the fair elven witch from Lorien," she admitted. "Still the tales of elves aren't that known amongst the dwarves."

"That doesn't surprise me," Galadriel said and she sounded amused. "I summoned you here for a reason."

"What do you mean?" Allie asked, watching how the elven queen walked around the balcony in an elegant manner. Allie was convinced that she couldn't look as graceful if she would walk alongside her.

"You are not really here, Allie Fairchild. This is only a dream," she explained. "This is the only way that I could contact you and that we could talk in private."

Allie bit her lip. "So you mean to say is that you're not really here?"

"I currently am at Rivendell for a meeting of the White Council later, but I was able to talk to you before that," Galadriel enlightened.

Allie looked at the waterfalls that were everywhere in the valley below them and then stared back at the elven queen. "But what can you possibly want from me? I'm only a simple girl."

"And that is where you are wrong. You made right choice by joining the company towards Erebor. You have every right to be here," Galadriel corrected her, addressing her a friendly smile. "The road to the mountain is a dangerous one and you will face many foes along the way. Even there it does not stop."

Allie paused for a second. "I've heard that you have the gift of foresight. Is it something that you've seen, Milady?"

Galadriel continued to pace across the balcony. "There are many things that I have foreseen. I do not come here to burden you with the future. I only wanted to let you know that I am willing to help you."

"Help me with what?" Allie asked quietly.

"To make the way easier for you," she clarified. "You have no enemies here." Galadriel came to a halt in front of her and held out her hands. On it lay something underneath a dark green fabric. She nodded at her, allowing Allie to pull away the fabric. She had two daggers in the palm of her hands. They glittered in the moonlight. The daggers were beautifully made with inscriptions on near the metal hilt, which Allie assumed were in Sindarin. "These daggers are forged by the High Elves a long time ago. They have served their purpose in a war before by some important elf lords. Now it will aid you, Allie Fairchild."

Allie frowned as she took the daggers and felt them in her own hands. "These are very fine daggers and are nicely balanced. Why are you giving it to me?"

"Because I believe it will be of great use to you on your journey. By keeping this with you people will see that you go with the blessings of the elves, and that you are Elf-Friend, a title I have just bestowed on you," Galadriel explained. "Only elves or people with that name are able to use such a daggers."

"I am sincerely flattered by everything that you're doing for me, Milady. Still I can't help but wonder what you could possibly want in return for it?"

"There is nothing that I want that you could give me, and that's fine. I only want to know that I deem you worthy of these daggers and that you use them well."

Allie smiled. "I can promise that they will serve me well," she said. "I'm just curious as to why an Elf Queen would aid the daughter of the King Under the Mountain?"

"You are far more than that. You are also your mother's daughter and her memory lives on in you," Galadriel indulged. "Besides you shouldn't be held responsible for the rivalry between the dwarves and the elves, for you take no part in that. You are destined for amazing things and this quest will obey your desires."

"My desires?"

"Oh, yes. Everyone has them. You search for a good and stable home for your people and to restore Erebor to its former glory. There is more you seek. You yearn to be accepted. Even now you still feel like you're worth nothing because of your blood, but you're more honorable and courageous than most people. The last thing you seek is love, to be adorned with love and to return it to someone worthy. I will give you one tiny glimpse of what you future holds and you will find love."

Love? Allie repeated inside her head. She would find love? She couldn't imagine that someone would love her, but she kept quiet about the matter. This wasn't something she should dwell on.

"But what about the rest of the quest?" Allie asked. "Will that go well?"

Galadriel continued to pace further around the balcony. "It's best to keep my lips sealed about the matter and not to burden you with it. You have to experience it all for yourself."

Allie felt weary from all the information she had just received and wasn't sure how to process it all.

"The connection is growing thin and it's best that we part ways now," Galadriel said. She stood still before Allie, addressing her a warm smile. "Go with all the good will of the elves and you shall succeed. Don't ever doubt the courage of your own heart and you find the happiness you so desperately desire."

Allie could only bow, showing her respect for the Elven Queen. "I owe you for the kindness you've just showed me, Milady."

"You don't owe me anything. Focus on the journey ahead of you, Allie Fairchild. Be strong and brave and listen to your heart."

All that Allie could see was Galadriel smiling at her before the image faded and then there was only darkness. The connection had broken and she had drifted back asleep.

~~0~~0~~0~~

The sound of someone repeatedly knocking on the door caused Allie to wake from her sleep. Slowly, she sat up right and rubbed the sleep out of her blue eyes. She hadn't been able to sleep too much that night and the strange dream she had as well, had given her lots of questions

There came more knocks, which reminded Allie that there was someone at the door. She got out of bed and by how her dark her room was she figured that it wasn't even dawn yet. Allie opened the door and was completely surprised to see her father standing there. He was wearing his travel gear.

"Allie," he greeted as if he hadn't showed up at her doorstep before dawn. "Were you still sleeping?"

She nodded. "I kind of was. The sun hasn't even risen yet," she pointed out with a yawn. "Why are you here so early? Shouldn't you be with the others?"

"I came to tell you that we leave within an hour," Thorin made clear. "The rest of the Company is almost ready to depart and we want to get a move on."

"We're already leaving today?"

"Yes, Allie. I know that you're still not your old self yet, but we shouldn't waste too much time here amongst the elves," Thorin responded. "We have to make it to Erebor before Durin's Day. We plan to make a head start."

Allie couldn't disagree with that last matter. "Alright, that's understandable. Is Gandalf coming along as well?" she asked.

Thorin shrugged slightly. "Not quite. He's told to meet us in the Misty Mountains."

It brought some relief to know that the wizard would come along with them. They were going to need all the strength that they could along the way.

"I will come to the encampment whenever I'm ready," Allie said.

Thorin flashed a smile. "We will wait for you." With that he turned around and walked away. Allie watched until he was out of sight before she closed the door behind her and went back inside her room.

Yesterday Arwen had left more clothes in the closet despite the usual dresses. It seemed that the elven maiden had even left some warm, comfortable gear for Allie as if she had known that she would need it soon. She put on the grey shirt with long sleeves. Over it she put on a corset with an olive green print. It was similar to the one she had worn when she had left Bag End, but because of the different color it looked new. She put on black breeches with it and long, brown leathered boots.

Her entire outfit was new and gifted by the elves, but it felt like something she had worn before. Allie then untangled her messy hair, making it knot free and then decided to weave it into a simple side braid to keep it in one place.

Allie's gaze then drifted to the beautifully made eleven daggers that lay on the table and it confirmed that her dream last night had been reality. She really had spoken with the elven Queen from Lothlorien and had been gifted by her. Thinking of it made Allie smirk as she tugged those daggers into her boots. She then walked out of the door to find her dwarves.

Oh that surely was a special dream. From now on things are going to get pretty interesting.