Elvish

Thoughts

My mouth dropped in shock. How could they have just left like that? I looked at Gandalf, expecting him to be just as shocked as me, but to my surprise, he was as calm as ever. So they planned this. I realized, Without informing me. Unless... I looked to Gandalf who was watching me as the others talked amongst themselves. His face was one of pity. He didn't expect me to be allowed to go. I decided to prove him wrong. Leaving the room, with only Gandalf and likely grandmother noticing, I made my way to my room.

Once there, I quickly slipped out of my dress and into black trousers and a dark blue tunic. Then just as I was slipping on my traveling boots, there was a knock at the door. Without looking up I gave my permission to enter. In came my ada who watched me with a stern eye. "Going somewhere?" he asked.

"I'm leaving with Gandalf." I replied as I began to refill my quiver with arrows.

"I think not." he said sternly, but I continued to get ready. "This is an extremely dangerous quest, which has nothing to do with us. Not to mention you lied to me."

I finally looked him in the eye as I said, "Let's be honest ada, you knew what the truth was this whole time however I'm sorry for that as well as my behavior tonight but you know Saruman is ignoring the evidence of a returning enemy! As Gandalf said, we are doing what is right."

"He said, what he believes to be right!" he paused to give himself a chance to calm down, "I will not risk my daughter. I can't lose you too."

This surprised me. I figured that he was only trying to keep me home because he was angry with me. I gave him a smile. "You won't lose me. You taught me too well for that, ada."

He returned the smile and then I continued, "I know you also don't believe in this quest but I feel that this is the right thing to do."

He studied me, knowing that my feelings are hardly wrong. Ada would be the last to ever doubt me, especially since he possessed his own gifts. He sighed in defeat and said, "Well you best hurry. You know Gandalf doesn't like to be kept waiting."

I grinned and gave my ada a hug before watching him walk out the door.

As soon as I had finished getting ready, I walked back to the pavilion armed with my weapons and fresh supplies. Gandalf had just finished speaking with my grandmother. He looked to me, surprise poorly hidden in his face. As always grandmother no doubt knew that I'd still be on this quest. She came over to me and said, "I wish you luck, my child. This is only the beginning of your destiny, and it will be a long, trying journey."

"Of course, grandmother, I understand." I gave her a hug and then continued. "I'll see you again, right?"

She smiled at me and said, "Of course, and when you do, I wish to speak to you about your gift."

I gave her a puzzled look. "My gift?"

Just then Gandalf came over to us and said, "We should go. There's no saying what trouble those dwarves will get themselves into."

I said farewell to my grandmother and then Gandalf and I made our way to the stables.

As we neared the stables I said, "So, you didn't believe I would come."

Without looking at me Gandalf replied, "I knew you would want to but when it comes to your father I couldn't be sure."

I nodded and then we walked in silence the rest of the way. To my surprise, Calylith was already saddled and ready to go. Ada must've had her prepared when I sought out Gandalf. I looked to see Gandalf's horse also ready. They were the only two to have come here. The ponies must've returned to their homes.

We mounted and then raced out of Rivendell. As we rode Gandalf told me that the dwarves were to wait for him in the Misty Mountains. I couldn't help but be doubtful of their obedience.

It was a long, but eventless ride. Not a single Orc slowed us down in the least but I knew that it was very trying for Calylith. Thankfully we reached the mountains by nightfall but there was still the task of making it through them. Gandalf and I dismounted and then I began to size up the task ahead. "Send the horses home."

I turned to him and asked why. "It is too harsh for them to make it through as well as the path may be too narrow."

I looked at Calylith who was already exhausted. "You're right." I sighed and then removed my supplies. Once that was done I gave her a quick rub down before sending her on her way. I watched them leave until they disappeared into the darkness before following Gandalf.

We made our way in silence as the cold, treacherous road took most of our focus. I don't know how long we were walking when Gandalf suddenly stopped. After regaining my balance from being caught off-guard, I followed his gaze to a large crack in the mountainside. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"There was a battle here."

I was confused. What kind of battle could have caused such a large crack? "A battle?"

"Giants." and then his voice lowered, "Let's just hope our company wasn't in the midst of it."

Silently agreeing, I once again followed Gandalf as we continued through the mountains.

We finally made our way to a small cave that appeared empty and yet, as I looked around, I swore I heard faint shouts coming from somewhere. After examining the walls and finding that there were no tunnels whatsoever, I was just about to declare it my imagination when I looked down. "Gandalf."

He broke out of the thought he was in and looked at the Dwarvish bag on the ground, surrounded by disturbed dirt. "Oh, dear."