I would like to send a special long overdue thank you to everyone that reviewed and to those that are following this, my first story, I am excited that you all are showing interest. I have other stories that are based on the Silmarillion that reflect how the other world was created so a few of those themes are included in this, just so no one thinks I am trying to cover all books, just tying up some ends with what I have. Should you have any questions or such, please PM me. Here is the latest chapter :)
Upon finding a relaxing position in his large bed and once the jeweled rose had calmed down at his return, Thorin's solitude granted him enough time to contemplate on the previous events and unscramble his observations of the two companies together. Dalon seemed to be all right, and he handled himself rather well with the dwarves, although they did not always appreciate his rationale in things. He was one of those smart-mouthed scamps who did something brilliant once in a while, and you could not be entirely mad at him. Dyani was an enigma, a lady, and not one to make angry, for once that elf woman did, she handled her business until the battle had a winner. That much he granted, was a plus for him. Although, Fíli seemed to be keen on her, and being a stickler for tradition, he was already told that a dwarrowdam was only fit for the Prince of Durin to continue the line. He would have to keep a tight watch on those two, to which Balin already addressed. Beolel was a sassy little pest with her quips and being a know-it-all, to which infuriated Dwalin although she did distract Kíli from talking to the elves too much. Also, Kíli's every attempt to sneak up on her ended in hilarity, the youngest dwarf prince would not give up, much to Beolel's gentle teasing. 'Maybe best to have them together but only in increments', he thought.
The others were still in minor talks with them, as they were waiting for their leader to make it so that they would be traveling together. A few days ago, he was ready to find Ramlin and gut him for not coming back only to find the reason was that upon his return, he was ambushed by orcs at the foot of the Misty Mountains and had lost his memory of who he was. He did not see Ramlin as a traitor anymore and would relinquish all thoughts of such, for if it had not been for him, Avalair would not be there and if the King's Jewel was coveted by someone else, at least his company had knowledge of it and had to be grateful. Even though the Omnien of long ago insisted that the stone be given up or hidden away for it along with the gold hoard would attract evil, but not just Smaug, but anyone that knew from widespread news of its location. He had to find out why. Then his thought returned to Avalair and how he was going to handle her the next time their paths crossed, which would be sooner than he wanted. Her last words to him cut him deep, stung at him like hot blades from the anvil, and he had to admit that her loyalty to Bilbo was genuine and that was one thing dwarves highly admired. He was not falling for her, but her presence and spirit, her going on a dangerous quest of her own with a few in her company was a rarity for him to witness and take in as real. True, she was very beautiful in the face and her sideburns adoringly framed her square-shaped face and high cheekbones, but that does not guarantee that good will follow. He took notice of her jewelry on her small dwarven ears that were concealed enough by her volumized large tight waves of hair. It was clear that she was a bit self-conscious but carried herself proudly and with confidence and a fierce protectiveness of her family as she had with Bilbo. He didn't have to be so harsh with the halfling and would try not to say anything unless he did something stupid. Did she have to be so fussy over him? Did she not realize that he was a grown man although of gentle folk that had no experience in battle or even burglary? Why did she not want to learn more about him, the Heir of Durin, or what he required of her in this quest? Then he took into consideration that they had lost a member of their group and they still made it to a safe haven. That had to take a lot of will power, just as he had witnessed so much wrongdoing over the years and he hid away his pain and having to give up on so much for the well-being of his people.
He noted how funny it was for something such as a duel could awaken your being. He was adventurous and athletic as a young dwarfling, always getting outside when he could and wanting to explore. He felt that feeling again and it was almost unrecognizable. She had stunned him as he fell into a trap of playful banter during the beginning of their duel to which he knew he could play along with well. He wore an occasional smirk that accented his pale ice blue eyes with mystery and at times caught her looking into them. The feeling was unfamiliar to him as he never thought he would use such charms to win a fight. She seemed to snap out of the trance and then she did the most unbelievable thing - she fluttered her long dark red lashes at him and she most certainly used it to her advantage, creating more tension and dire need to avenge his majestic place before the onlookers. That was another thing he made a note to avoid, starring at her only to hope to find an amethyst mine in her head. He had to laugh at this thought, for he wanted to know why she, all of them had eyes that captured the light of the stars. Between switching to the platform and the ground to running around trees, rolling on his back to spinning around on her arm to aim her sword for his leg, she had a counterattack and counter dodge for him. More voices in his head told him that his quest was what he came here for and he would not allow room to shroud his goal.
'We are only bonded by our tasks', he thought biting back any chance to tell himself anything leading to a distraction, 'and once all is well, I hope, she will return and carry on her purpose.' His felt his heart lower within as a pang surged throughout his rock-hard frame, but he cast it aside as he found a few more hours of sleep.
He arose that morning to see the sun peak through the window but not quite in its full fiery brightness, and groaned as he knew that repairing the hedges in Rivendell would be a grueling task and it only made him detest his duel with her even more. He washed up, dressed in his other black shirt and extra sleeveless vest, trousers and boots and went to get his chores over with, but found a folded note on the floor addressed to him. He picked it up and went back inside his room to read it in private...
"Prince Thorin, do not trouble yourself with the hedges as I have already tended to them after the sleep enchantment. I have explained to Elrond that it was mostly my fault and with that, he is simply glad that his home is no longer demolished. He also wanted me to inform you that we will be having meat for dinner as the deer have felt it safe to return after no sign of orcs on their lands. May your day be restful and if we should duel again, I suggest chess in a large stone room."
Yours,
Avalair
He rolled his eyes at that last part but his lips could not help but curl in appeasement followed a rumbling chuckle from his husky voice. She did not have to do that, but he was still happy not to have to suffer being called 'Little Father' by the elves. This new addition was going to be a challenge for him should he play into any more of her declarations of war and feeling the need to be a part of games or tricks. Then he analyzed the handwriting more closely. If he didn't know any better, he could swear on his fathers soul that the writing was identical to those two notes that came with the seed. He could ask her of course, but it would have to be another time, when stakes to get to the hidden door in time were not on the top of the priority list.
After a satisfying meaty dinner, Elrond held council with Gandalf, Thorin, Balin, Bilbo and Avalair at his observatory. "I just do not understand why our business should concern, elves", growled Thorin for he was clearly not in a jovial state as he was apprehensive of handing over the map, but Gandalf was not about to allow him to turn back now. "For all that is good and numbing of the mind Thorin", the grey wizard stressed, "the thought of slapping some sense into you will soon become action before the night falls away! Why would I bring you here unless it were to help in this quest?"
Thorin stood not budging before the elf and wizard. Balin provided in backup even if he thought it was dangerous. Bilbo wondered if this would amount to anything useful and Avalair only stood close and most curious of the conflict.
"Well, this is not getting us anywhere", she said trying to redirect the task at hand, "Either you show him the map, or hope to stumble upon a way to travel back in time and ask a dwarf ancestor what the map reads." Avalair could ask one of her past lives if they knew of the language, but she was not one to interfere unless there was no other way.
"The legacy of my people, these secrets…are mine to protect."
Avalair turned her body away from the stubborn dwarf with her hands on her hips as she sighed out of impatience.
Gandalf felt the same all too well. "Let not your downfall be something as trivial as pride, Thorin. Now please, show him your map." Thorin held his head high in defiance to which Avalair thought he had his bottom lip stuck out. Balin stood by as his bodyguard should anything dare happen.
Thorin was still reluctant although the thought crossed his mind of this blood-witch that Avalair spoke of and now there was more at stake instead of just a dragon and now was the time for him to get the help that he needed. Thorin slowly handed the map to Elrond, a look of uncertainty on his face as he refused the warning from Balin.
"Erebor", swiftly noted the elf, "What is your interest in this map?" The question was for Thorin more than anyone. It was not that Avalair did not have time to explain her situation to Lord Elrond or she forgot or was being lazy, but she did not want to be rude and felt that Thorin should get his answers before she would know what to do. "Academic purposes," Gandalf saved, "there may be hidden text in it, making it a most valued piece of history." Bilbo was glad that Gandalf was here to assess the situation. He failed to see the reason for hesitation in reading that confounded map, but after all he was just 'the burglar'.
"You still read ancient dwarvish, do you not?" Gandalf included. Elrond placed the map higher in the light.
"Cirth Ithil", he muttered. Gandalf's eyes lit at the final clue to the map.
"Moon runes. Of course. An easy thing to miss." Balin's mood was lifted as he was relieved that the mystery was solved. "So that's what luck feels like." Avy teasingly lowered her eyes at him as she nudged Bilbo's shoulder.
"'Be thankful and bask in your blessings', my father used to say, didn't he Bilbo?"
"He did indeed", he replied beaming.
Elrond half smiled at the Omnien as he spoke of the map. "These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve under the light of a crescent moon, nearly 200 years ago."
"What are moon runes?" Asked an excited Bilbo.
"Moon runes are rune letters, but you can not see them", said Elrond, "not when you look straight at them. Yes it is true, moon runes can only be read by the light of the moon of the same shape and night on which they were written. The dwarves invented them, and wrote them with silver pens, as your friends can tell you. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight." The clouds unveiled a brilliant crescent moon, providing the unfolding of the runes translation. They glowed blue, almost similar to Thorin's rose.
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks", Elrond translated, "and the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo wondered. "Durin the Deathless, the father of the fathers of the eldest race of dwarves, the Longbeards, and my first ancestor: I am his heir", said Thorin proudly.
"And Durin''s Day?" Bilbo asked intrigued. "That is the start of the dwarves new year, when the last sun of autumn and the first moon of winter appears in the sky together", Gandalf answered.
"This is wonderful, thanks for your help Elrond", expressed Avalair. "This should help us tremendously. You will have your kingdom back in a hummingbird's flap."
"No, no, I'm afraid that this is ill news", Thorin stated. "If summer passes before we reach the mountain, Durin's Day may approach before we reach the grounds. Should we stay here too long, it will soon be upon us."
"If your purpose is to enter the mountain, I'm afraid it may prove fatal. Even the wisest will tell you that it may lead to disaster."
"What do you mean?", Gandalf asked.
"I mean, that you are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." Elrond said.
"What of duty? And setting an example? There is wisdom in that as well, Lord Elrond", Avalair declared. Elrond stopped in his tracks and turned to the half-blood. "Avalair my dear, I understand that you are ready to charge into this as one of your missions but it is far too dangerous."
"Elrond, if I don't do this, the entire world will be left in ruin. I can not let Xai'Yn use that stone to become a dark Omnien."
Paused at hearing this, Elrond turned to look at Gandalf who along with Balin comforted her.
"I'm afraid it is true", Gandalf stated, "Avalair fell from great heights after a battle with Xai'Yn Bloodbath. She wants the arkenstone to bind it with the voidstone and harness its power to become a dark Omnien. And the fate of the world will be multiplied in chaos."
"What is the voidstone?" Bilbo asked excitement replaced with concern.
Avy sat down on a bench near Balin as she explained the history of the marvelous sparkling jewel.
"The arkenstone was the jewel of all jewels, more valuable than the silmarils when they were created, as a part of one stone was given to an elf to make years ago, from what I've heard. When the first Omnien came about, the star called Silmestel, a spirit star that is the guiding force behind it all, saw to it that the arkenstone created four stones that represent the elements - air, water, earth, and fire. All as glorious but not without the light of the arkenstone to keep them sanctified. Those stones are older than dirt, basically. A little more then 2600 years ago, the arkenstone, or Vardmirë, as I know it, was stolen by an escaped necromancer of the ancient world. During a struggle between him and a former Omnien called Beimo, it separated in two. The necromancer got away with one half and poisoned it with ill will and deed. The purpose was to create an army of dark forces with Omnien connections. It appears harmless in its appearance, but is imbedded with ruin and discord and contains tormented souls spoiled by war. No one had been able to locate it until Xai'Yn found it on her own. If the stones should be put together, the struggle of the two forces will unleash evil as it feeds on the arkenstones power. After defeating him, Omnien Beimo would hide the arkenstone inside the Lonely Mountain, where it remained away from those that knew of its true power."
"And where are those stones?" Bilbo continued.
"Kept safe in different locations by ancient guardians. Luckily, Xai'Yn could not find them when she rampaged the sacred lands of our bending masters. I hope my dear Thorin, that you now understand what such a plight can happen should I not go to Erebor and stop her."
Thorin's shocked expression was evident; to think if his ancestor had known that he found a stone of such importance he would have danced around Dale with anyone he had met. He had no idea it had such power and to think that they fashioned it all those years ago made him wonder if the gods were angry but how could they have known?
"Our ancestors, uh, may have fashioned that stone a bit." Balin said.
"That is fine then. It probably enjoyed a day of pampering", she sweetly assured although she was still unnerved by what she would face.
"This is most dire news. I can't express my sympathies enough dear Elevalwen", Elrond consoled. Bilbo and Gandalf noticed Thorin appeared sour when her elven name was used and tried to suppress a laugh. She looked up at him and sniffed the air in collecting herself. She bowed her head before gracefully approaching the balcony.
"I may be stilted in energy but she has taken away so much from me. So much from many others. I'm not going to allow this world to be destroyed by the likes of her. She is ruthless, egomaniacal, deranged. Oh, and she killed me on my birthday!" she exclaimed with sheer distaste in her voice. "I don't even know if I'm technically any older!" Avalair raised her arms and turned with her hand on her forehead. Elrond and Gandalf understood her slide of humor although she did not mean it as such. She had been through a lot in the past few months. "I do not mean to give in to hysterics as it is not that important. I am as serious about this as you are about reclaiming your rightful home." Thorin appeared to understand as their separation became tied with the stone being something precious to each other.
"Killed you? How did you come back?", asked Elrond.
"Dyani used sacred water to bring me back, but Shadowlord Ulrik put my broken legs back into place. I came back to find that I cannot bend a lot without tiring myself."
"And you still about to venture to stop a force such as Xai'Yn? Are you mad, Avalair?…..
"Yes, if that is what it takes", she said.
"You truly are Ramlin Swiftsilver's daughter", praised Elrond, "If you still have that stubborn warrior spirit within you, then you will need this", the elf softly said as he pulled out a clear vial with shimmering translucent liquid inside. It shined with brilliant and dazzling light, as soft as a mist at dawn and with power granted from the hand of Varda. "What is that, may I ask?", Avalair spoke with wonder.
"This is your remedy. You take it now and the Omnien state will find you in time. Your guardian", he said with a sly wink, "provided me with the last remnants of exalted stone from your world to make it."
Avalair jumped with elation, she thanked him by giving Elrond a tight embrace to which she shared with the others. Balin reddened more in his cheeks to which Thorin shot a bit of a glare. Balin shrugged with a smile on his face and made Thorin ease up.
Avalair then retired herself along with Bilbo and they were led back to their rooms. Thorin and Balin were to leave as well but were stopped by Elrond. "Just a moment, if you will", Thorin intervened between Gandalf and Lord Elrond, "I have been more than deserving to know why it is that you are so fond of her. In her father's good name, I will do what I must to protect her. But my mind will not rest until I understand." The taller of the four looked at each other and exchanged upon cues that would lead to Elrond, in all his wisdom, to tell the stubborn dwarf as to why Avalair was so dear to them.
"It is clear that you are concerned for her, and it will alleviate your mind if I told you a little bit about Avalair, at least why she is dear to us here. After all she will be going to Erebor. It is important that you know what kind of person she is" Thorin and Balin's curiosity got the better of them as he took Elrond's invitation to sit down on the bench. Gandalf then joined them as the wizard was essential in keeping peace with the elf lord and dwarf prince. "Are you well to tell him, Lord Elrond?", a concerned Gandalf asked him.
"I am, Mithrandir", he assured the grey wizard. Whatever it was that he would tell Thorin, it was a sensitive subject and he listened intently despite it was not what he originally wanted to learn. "We are listening", he said containing his patience.
"Long ago when Avalair came back for a short visit to the Shire and here before going back to Other Earth, she took on her own task of exploring a part of the mountain range where her and her earthbending master were captured by goblins. They finally escaped but soon Avalair was lost to an orc raid off the Redhorn Pass. There she", he shuddered for a moment as Gandalf lent a hand to his shoulder, but he held in his emotions, "found a circlet, and a necklace of fine Elvish make. They were made for my wife, Celebrían." Thorin's mind jolted for he had just noticed that there was no sign of a wife, although they had briefly met his sons and heard of his daughter. "She was not killed, but she was captured and tormented, and, rescued by our sons. I healed her of her wounds...but she could not find happiness here anymore. The pain was too much to endure. She is safe in the Undying Lands now. As for the circlet and necklace, Avalair went back to those horrendous caverns years later, just to get them back and return them to me. All other orcs had been destroyed by the one that brought her to Mithrandir when she was an infant, all except one. The one that led the entire attack and torment. The one that Avalair had finally killed." At this, the dwarves looked at each other in surprise and awaited for more of Elrond's story, "She had no intention of killing him, but his disrespect to my wife's memory set her off. When I asked her why she did this despite the terrible danger she could have suffered, she said that she could not bear for them to have them any longer. That innocent, adorable, little partially bearded girl, face smudged with dirt, and eyes gleaming with hope that she did something right, having no idea that she was doing more than her purpose, did not have to go back at all.
"She could have died!", Thorin belted out which alarmed the others in the room, "She could have been subjected to...unspeakable things", he said in a lower tone of frustrated worry.
"She does these things", Elrond coolly continued, "thinking no one will know as she prefers to remain anonymous. I still would not have advised her to go there just to get them back as they were only items, but she did. She told me and my children that they belonged here and no where else. If she knew, it would have delighted my wife so."
Thorin and Balin took in what they were confided, and this lightened their perspective and humbled the way they viewed the Elf Lord just enough to know that Elrond was not an enemy. Still an elf, but not an enemy. "So sorry to hear of this milord", bowed Balin, "Sometimes it is easy to forget that even those we do not see eye to eye with may have suffered something a great deal. Just because we have no knowledge of it, doesn't mean it does not happen."
"Forgive me Lord Elrond", said Thorin, "I am sorry for your wife and what she endured. I understand that it must have taken a great deal of trust for you to confide in us, but am glad to know that there is some justice in this world. I and my people have yet to be granted the same."
"You two do not have to become friends, just understand one another. She has her own uniqueness that I'm sure you will know if you appreciate or not. Should you need any other " It could not be more obvious to Gandalf and Elrond when Bilbo pointed out Avalair and Thorin's similar qualities, and that he wanted the Arkenites to come along with them on this quest.
"Indeed. We shall see. Come Balin, we have more to discuss. I thank you, Lord Elrond. Please excuse us."
"Please continue to make yourselves welcome, Thorin", Elrond replied. Thorin thanked him once again before they left.
Outside of Dol Guldur......
At the abandoned fortress, a new company awaited their leader to come out from her meeting with a dark and powerful figure, whom they knew only as Dark Leader. Low rumbles of unknown things in the distance befall silent, eerie, fallen hope to those of good nature, should they dare enter upon lands of evil. But for Xai'Yn Bloodbath, in her arrogant pride and mad brilliance, she felt it awaken her chance for glory. "Are all of you aware of your tasks?" she presented before her band of Arkenites of glorious power of their own. There was Tegrok Quickchar, whom when he finally awoken from the battle in the desert, he would be found by Xai'Yn and taken to a meeting place of others who were brainwashed in hopes that their common purpose was to rid the world of others believing in good and ridding the world of injustice. It was her lies and deceit that created followers out of those that listened for she was the one, using the voidstone, that had taken the bending powers from others before they met a tragic end.
They nodded to her in their allegiance as Xai'Yn made her way out of the dark fortress. "Excellent", she loudly hissed, "You all are well aware that we may be tracked by those filthy wretches from the Water Empire and from the Other-Earth dwarf armies, but fear not. Use what is around you, exercise your abilities. I want their heads should they be found, and don't skimp out because they are not that do-gooder half-dwarf. Their fate will be met, should we not convince them of a greater path."
"What word from the dark leader?", a nasty-minded earthbender with a sallow face and a snaggle-toothed mouth gruffly asked the graying Arkenite.
"Not to fret, Groko", she said a bit of far-fetched triumph in her voice, "he will reward us handsomely."
"When are we to be rewarded of this, then?", interrupted a young fire Arkenite with black hair, dark soulless eyes with remnants of dying twinkle, and a bright ivory complexion, "Can you assure that these miserable, pretty elves would not be a nuisance in our plans? The elves from home have ravaged us enough!"
"My privacy matters, Daiyún as I will rightly tell when I wish! Be of clear mind and low of ego if you want this to work, and for your sake, you had better want it to work", she expressed with warning, "I have set this in motion, and should you put one toe out of line, I will have you back in the harlot shack where I found you where your next firebending trick will be courtesy of hot rash bumps from ill-planned customer selection!"
The pale firebender hissed in frustration while Groko attempted to grope her, only to meet a flame to his backside causing him to fret and wail in prickling discomfort.
"But rest assured", Xai'Yn continued capturing them in her reddened hazel eyes, "Once I bring back Avalair's body to Sauron and I will be in the place as his right hand, I will be the most powerful force that this world has ever quivered to! Now go on and post where you can!" They all took off in their bending fashions according to their element as Xai'Yn smirked her way to the edge of the fortress gates. From behind her a whooshing sound gave force to the dead leaves on the ground but there was no possible source when she turned her head. A few more were sound and the crow's feet on her once brightened face deepened with disgust. She shouted and cursed at what this strange presence was until before her was a cloud of whitish-grey smoke ribboning in a helix and encircled by black cloudy looking snakes and demonic shrieks. It could not be Sauron, for he was not of full strength. She would not give in to her shivering, and was ready for any fight that encountered her. One side of this towering form of a man was all that good was in rugged and last chance for mercy while the other merged in utter black and dark red fire as wolf heads could be made out of the fiery half that eventually formed a...man. A man of one half being old and once darkly handsome, while the other half was scarred and mangled and a whitish dead eye that could see danger more than five leagues - Ulrik the Shadowlord. His history is golden, although it regrettably shines nothing of the sort. He stood just under a horses' ear, dressed in robes and armor from before the First Age of Middle-Earth. He wore on his left scarred arm, a knuckleduster of dwarven make, and had a staff of dragon bone and onyx, that held past remnants of his fallen brothers armor. He was a master of hiding just like Xai'Yn, although he was better at it. He knew of her foul purpose and was not going to allow her to think that she would win so easily.
"Who are you?", she sneered.
"I", he began coolly, "am someone who has just lost my way. Tell me, is there a new village idiot here by the name of Xai'Yn Bloodbath? You may have heard of her, or just heard her forgive her endless cackling. Should she lay her eggs of self-pity, we would all save our ears!" He ended with a sarcastic laugh. Not bad for a crotchety 50,000+ - year old sorcerer. Ah yes, Ulrik had a lot of nerve and rightfully so for the one that he swore to protect was being threatened and her company were in danger.
"You best be on your way old ugly codger! For I am not one to insult so easily. My associates have already departed, but as for you and me", she produced a ball of fire in her palm, "allow me to show you the light", and shot it to Ulrik's face. One, two, three, up to thirty seconds of him just standing there on fire, and it made Xai'Yn antsy. He cleared his throat and dusted something off of his shoulder and...he was still standing there! He wiped his face with one of his robe sleeves and gathered all of the fire that engulfed his face and torse, held the fire in his hand, and it went out. No burn, scar, peeling of skin, flinch, flank, or frantic action of any kind. He stood as cool as an icicle before she had a chance to taunt.
"So you are Xai'Yn", he said with mock eagerness and even bowed to her. She warned him more of her intentions to which were avoided as well. She was steaming with rage inside, but it would not be over just yet. She in one last effort to establish her power, held out a clawed, ruby and jet-adorned hand as her bloodbending took a turn for him. He writhed and panicked and she thought that she had made her point. His hollers turned into laughter and his writhing limbs then began to dance in place. "Dee- dah dee dah dee!", he melodically dabbled as he pretended to dance. Confused and appalled by his apparent mockery, he began to sing a high-pitched and off-key tune to match his dance steps on the rocky hillside before he would stop to say, "Nice trick." Her eyes widened with bewilderment as she could not understand what just happened. In one final attempt to escape, Xai'Yn tunneled through the earth to anywhere that did not place her in range of this cryptic being. She would not get far, as with one stomp on the ground, Xai'Yn was shot out of the ground like a cannonball and sent flailing in the air. She shrieked one good time before landing on the ground with a loud thud. Stunned and a bit disoriented, Ulrik held her down with one of his large feet which covered her entire hip area, as Arkenites were all naturally small at the height of dwarves. "Our Queen of the Stars is gravely disappointed in you. Hear me now, I leave you to think on what you have done to fail in defeating me. It is not my destiny to destroy you, but mark me, you best be blessed that I have not gone too far with you." With that he lifted his foot and vanished in a swirling dark cloud, leaving Xai'Yn to seethe in the settled dust.
Silmestel - Quenya variant meaning 'starlight hope'
Vardmirë - exalted jewel
AN: There will be one and a half chapters of Rivendell before the companies depart.