The pathway was not easy to get through. It was a narrow road that laid between two stone wall and few times, Dwalin and Thorin had to push Bombur, to get him through. However, the road soon turned one last corner and opened up to a beautiful city that sat in the valley below. The company stood on the steps as they looked at the sight below them. Maura was always taken by the beauty of this peaceful valley. The hobbit joined his aunt on the step she was on and was in awe. " The Valley of Imraldis. In the Common Tongue, it's known by another name," Gandalf explained as he stood behind the group along with Thorin.
"Rivendell," Bilbo young lad had dreamed he would one day see this great Elven land. However, he wished it was under different circumstances. The dwarves were against this - especially the leader and Thorin glared at the elven cursed city with such hatred and finally turned around to look at the wizard and demand to know why.
"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy." Thorin growled, making his distaste for this race very clear.
" You have no enemy here, Thorin Oakenshield," Gandalf replied, remaining completely calm, but Maura was not impressed with the way Thorin was accusing her friends that he had never met.
"The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself." Maura sneered at him, and he turned to look at her with a serious face and he approached her, and she took a step back from him.
"You think your friends will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us," Thorin growled, his eyes looking at her with such rage.
"Of course they will." The wizard interrupted before things got out of hand between the two of them. "We have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to myself and Maura." The wizard advised.
"Absolutely not." Thorin said. " I will not have her interfere with our affairs."
"Well, then. I think I'll be heading into Rivendell now. Bilbo, come with me please." Maura instructed and motioned for the hobbit to go on a head and she shot Thorin one last glare before disappearing down the steps.
" Thorin, Maura's influences with the elves would be of great use to us right now. Having her presences, might just persuade Lord Elrond to give us the answer we seek. We need Maura more then you realize." Gandalf argued.
"Funny. I'm still not convinced she's the greatest asset, your making her out to be. The only thing she has proven is that she is a cheeky, insolent distraction." Thorin spat and he stomped passed the wizard, before he could say anything else. The other's followed close behind leaving the wizard the last to follow but not before he let out a grumble.
"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves."
"As the company reached the city, they saw the young healer standing on a platform with the hobbit, who was looking at everything, even smiling a little. Only the dwarves remained tense, holding their weapons just encase, as the elves started to emerge from their homes to see who their new arrivals were.
"Mithrandir," An elf said, walking down the stairs towards them.
"Ah, Lindir," Gandalf replied back happily. Thorin was at the front of the group, with Dwalin by his side and Maura looked over when Thorin whispered something to him.
"Stay Sharp," Thorin whispered.
"Lastannem i athrannedh i Vruinen," Lindir continued, speaking in Elvish.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond," Gandalf informed the elf.
"My Lord Elrond is not here," The elf replied.
"Not here? Where is he?" Gandalf asked, narrowing his eyes. But their was no need for him to answer, for a horn was blown; the same horn the company had heard, when they were in the cave. The dwarves all turned to see at least a dozen of armed elves heading in their direction.
"Hold ranks!" Thorin shouted to his men. The dwarves all bunched together. Maura and Bilbo were the only to remain calm when they were each pulled into the center of the circle the company formed. The woman, felt this was unnecessary. The elves were a civil race.
" Gandalf,"
"Lord Elrond," The wizard said graciously. " Mellonnen! Mo evinedh?"
"Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad. Dagannem rim na lant Veduil," Lord Elrond, said, dismounting from his horse and walked over to the wizard. " Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near."
"Ah, that may have been us," Gandalf confessed.
Thorin shot the old man a suspicious look, stepping forward to the elf. Lord Elrond turned to face him. " Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain."
"I do not believe we have met," Thorin stated defensively.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain," Elrond told him.
"Ineed; he made no mention of you," Thorin retorted rudely. Maura turned to her side. Not at all surprised that the dwarf King would go as far as to insult the elf. But Lord Elrond remained just as calm and ignored the insult. He turned slightly and stopped when he saw a familiar face in the company.
"Lady Maura, it's wonderful to see you again."
"It's good to see you as well, Lord Elrond." Maura stated, giving the elf a bow. Thorin glanced at her and shot her an annoyed look.
"I did not think we would see you back so soon, you didn't run out of supplies already? And your not alone this time." Lord Elrond indicated, raising an eyebrow at her with a smirk.
"Unfortunately, I did have a curious individual who rummaged through my belongs and let my supplies get ruined, but I'm sure they'll all behave while their here."
"Don't you worry. Lindir will make sure you have enough supplies." The elf declared, turning to the other elf who nodded and smiled at the young healer. Thorin couldn't believe this. She was talking to him as if they kind got along together and Lord Elrond turned to address the entire company." Nartho i noer, toltho i viruvor. Boe i annam vann a nethail vin."
"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin snarled, glaring at the elf. The entire company began to mutter ungrateful things, raising their weapons in protest.
"Oh for goodness sake. No, master Gloin, he's offering us food." Maura explained in exasperation. The young woman saw the dwarves starting to relax and lower their weapons, and remained silent for the longest time.
"Ah, well, in that case, lead on." Gloin told him. Lord Elrond, held out his hand for Maura to take it and he led her up the stairs with the dwarves following behind; Thorin glaring at the back of the healers head.
The dwarves all took a seat at the tables that were already set with plates, cutlery and a glass of wine each. Maura had been invited to sit with Gandalf, Thorin and Lord Elrond. Maura was enjoying her dinner, as she took another bit of her salad. Thorin was sitting beside her and found incredible odd to see a dwarf enjoy green food, when dwarves were fond of mainly meat. Leafy foods were not filling at all.
"Try it. Just a mouthful," Dori suggest to his little brother. Ori looked down at his plate in front of him and shook his head.
"I don't like green food." Ori complained. Dwalin, too was not impressed by his meal. He sifted through the bowl and found no meat at all and was completely disappointed.
"Where's the meat?"
"Have they got any chips?" Ori wondered, looking at the elves. Maura looked to her side, to see how Bilbo was doing and she saw him speaking with Balin. She was thankful that Balin at-least seem to have faith in the young hobbit that he could be of help to them, like the wizard had promised. But it was the leader that was the one who need convincing. He didn't trust either of these two and he wasn't giving them the chance to show it.
Thorin scrutinized the elf cautiously as he looked over the sword Thorin had found in the cave. " This is Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver," Elrond explained. "A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well." Elrond handed it back to Thorin, who accepted it with a nod. Then the elf took the wizard's blade in his hands and turned it over. "And this is Glamdring, the Foe-hammer, a sword of the king of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the First Age."
Maura drowned out the conversation when, Lord Elrond began questioning how they came by these extraordinary weapons. Not long after, Thorin abruptly got up from the table, taking Orcrist along with him and he wandered over to where the others sat and he pulled out his flask and took a drink. The dwarves soon broke out in song and finished it off by throwing their uneaten food up in the air making a big mess everywhere.
Lord Elrond, then instructed Lindir, to show the dwarves where they would be resting tonight. In the meantime Gandalf, Thorin, Balin, Maura and Bilbo followed Lord Elrond down another hall where they could speak alone and hopefully get the answers they needed.
"Our business is no concern of elves." Thorin sneered, glaring at Elrond as he said it.
"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map," Gandalf sighed.
"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect, as are its secrets." Thorin pressed, his voice only growing more angrier. Bilbo glanced over at his aunt. Feeling the awkwardness that had settled in around them. Thorin was being overly protective, over a map.
"Thorin. Please. Lord Elrond can help," Maura said, looking at the leader and Thorin just glared at her for having so much faith and trust in elves.
"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond." Gandalf ordered, not impressed at all with Thorin's behavior. Thorin shot the wizard a glare and looked at Maura for a second and finally took a step towards the elf.
"Thorin, no!" Balin advised, resting a hand on his shoulder but it was quickly brushed aside and reluctantly handed the elf the map.
"Erebor," Elrond said after glancing at the map for only a second. "What is your interest in this map?"
"It's mainly academic," Gandalf quickly interjected, knowing Thorin would probably say something he would regret later on. "As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text. You still read ancient Dwarvish, do you not?"
"Cirth Ithil," Lord Elrond spoke, after a moment of realization.
"Moon runes." Maura guessed. The healer had spend a lot of time in Rivendell on her usual visits and enjoyed learning their language but she still had difficulties with certain words.
"Of course. It's an easy thing to miss," Gandalf admitted.
"Yes, Maura. Moon runes, which means. Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written." Elrond explained.
"Can you read them?" Thorin asked.
Lord Elrond, motioned for the five of them to follow him outside. They left the hall and entered onto a large balcony covered in the light from the moon and waterfalls on either side of the cliff. They approached a tall crystal table, where the elf placed the map. " These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a cresent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield; the same moon shines upon us tonight."
They all looked to the sky where the clouds quickly cleared up and the moon shined down on the table. " Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon a keyhole." Lord Elrond revealed.
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo questioned.
"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf elaborated.
"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us," Thorin stated.
"We still have time," Balin encouraged.
"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked, narrowing his eyes curiously as his aunt furrowed her brow.
"To find the entrance," Balin explained. "We have to be standing at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."
"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain," Elrond said, figuring it out. He looked from the wizard to Maura; a little disappointed that she had failed to mention this, even to him. He then looked from Balin to Thorin.
"What of it?" Thorin growled at the elf, taking back his map.
"There are some who would not deem it wise." Lord Elrond warned.
"What do you mean?" Gandalf questioned.
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth," The elf simply informed before turning and walking back inside the hall. Gandalf stood their for a few minutes, thinking and finally followed his friend inside.
Maura let out a yawn and saw Bilbo was doing the same. Thorin and Balin were discussing things quietly amongst themselves; deciding what they had to do next. The two of them finally agreed that, rest was in order for everyone. They have had quite an exhaustion day. Maura and Bilbo left to their quarters to enjoy a nice peaceful nights sleep, where they wouldn't have to worry about something going bump in the night on them.
