So then! How will the company react to Freya's magic? How do you think! This is the first of three Rivendell chapters I have planned, and I hope you enjoy it!
This chapter is dedicated to my lovely reviewers from the last chapter; Sweet Sprinkles, Angel9507 and elbereht - I really appreciate your feedback guys!
I had a question about why Freya is always getting hurt if she has trained with Haldir. This is a really good point, but I would like to emphasise that it is important to the plot I have planned as it gives an opportunity for Freya to grow as a character after concealing the extent of her Gift. She is also human blessed with magic; I have no Star Wars style revelations about her parentage planned that would make her a half elf or anything like that (sorry!)
As always the disclaimer- I own nothing except Freya! (Boo!)
We have some conversations taking place in elvish from here on, I have denoted these in bold, but being a bit of a dunce with Elvish, I have not attempted to type the elvish words! I have also tried to make them obvious by using this ~ to bracket them, as we still have one or two italicised bits to refer to denote Freya's internal monologue and her mental conversations with Gandalf. (I hope this does not get confusing!)
~ G
Chapter 11: Revelations, Rest and Relaxation
"I cannot see where the pathway leads, do we follow it or no?" Shouted Dwalin from a little ways off where he had gone to take a look ahead.
"We follow it of course!" Answered Bofur with barely a moments hesitation. Freya cast Gandalf a smile who quirked a bushy brow and answered.
"I think that would be wise!" Bilbo glanced at Gandalf and Freya as the others moved on. He quickly looked away from Freya looking slightly guilty. Freya sighed taking up the rear of the company with her head down. Had he seen too, or had he sensed it? How many of them now knew her secret? How many would be as angry as Thorin had looked? To Freya, it felt like she was standing on the edge of the abyss waiting for all hell to break loose.
Freya stopped and turned to watch her friend and mentor walking towards her. She decided now was as good a time as any to raise her concerns. Tentatively Freya pushed her consciousness out to Gandalf and he responded, welcoming her in as she slowed so that Gandalf was just behind her as they squeezed along the narrow ravine.
"Freya?" His mental voice questioned.
"They know about me now… I cast a freezing spell on a Warg that was attacking Thorin." She said her emotions seeping out and washing over Gandalf; regret and fear of rejection strongest amongst them but all with an undercurrent of confusion, she did not know how she truly felt.
"I warned you of this my dear. I thought they might find out eventually." His mental voice was sympathetic. "I sense there is a reason they will not suspect the spell came from me. Who knows?"
"Thorin and Fili both saw. I think Kili may have seen too, Bilbo too perhaps. I didn't just freeze it, I … got a little carried away and shattered it with an energy push!" She stated, imploring Gandalf to offer wise words of comfort. There was little comfort in his answer however, just the smallest hint of pride mixed with sympathy.
"I believe Bilbo suspects, we must be cautious regarding how we handle this. They may not be from the race of men, but that does not mean they will not react badly to a female magic user who has concealed her gift from them… though I believe they may surprise you. I will talk to them, do what I can, the rest though you must do yourself. I sense many difficult conversations for you in Rivendell, one in particular." He counselled casting a glance at Thorin at his position near the front who, as he was looking back at them raised an eyebrow in question at Gandalf and hardened his gaze when he noticed Freya looking up again
"I know, Gandalf my friend… and… I am dreading it already! All of it." Her emotions escaping again over the mental link, sadness and nervousness bubbling on on the surface, but chief among her emotions was still fear. Gandalf rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder as he fell into step beside her, the ravine having temporarily opened enough to allow them to walk side by side for a time. He did not answer but projected his sympathy towards her as he withdrew from the contact. Freya sighed, believing that her adventure was about to come to an end.
To give her something to do with her hands, Freya ripped a section of her tunic off and hastily tied it around her arm to try to stem the bleeding a little. She risked sending a little healing energy into the wound and grimaced as she found a festering feeling. Poison. Gandalf risked stopping for a minute to examine Freya's arm and tighten her bandage.
"It is a good job we are so close my dear. We need to get that wound seen to the blade may have been poisoned." Freya nodded, indicating that she agreed.
The company continued on through the narrow crevasse, Dwalin in the lead. At one point the crevasse became so narrow again that Bombur almost became stuck and the company members behind him needed to push him through.
As light shone ahead Dwalin sped up, and then stopped to take in the view stretching out before them. A great city was hidden in the valley, surrounded by trees, sheer cliffs, and waterfalls. The city had many levels, the company could see houses and well appointed gardens with verandas and gazebos.
One house stood out higher and more lavish than the rest. The closer to the city they got, the more clear it became that it had been built by the elves. The architecture was impossibly beautiful, yet seeming to blend into the valley seamlessly in a perfect balance of beauty and homeliness.
"The hidden valley of Imladris," Gandalf informed the company "In the common tongue it is known by another name." He added
"Rivendell!" Bilbo added in an awed voice. Freya knew he had always longed to see where the elves lived. She patted him on the shoulder on her way past him, deciding that after the hour long trek through the hidden entrance she needed to get into Rivendell to tend her wounds without much further ado.
She took the lead as Dwalin was staring so dumbfounded at the city before him and nobody else seemed to want to move. As she got further away she could hear Thorin exchanging angry words with Gandalf. She could not hear what Thorin was saying, but Gandalf's voice carried clearly to her.
"You have no enemies here Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will you will find in this valley is that which you bring yourself." She smiled to herself, knowing that her friend and mentor had meant to include her in this statement, even if Thorin and the rest of the company would not see it that way.
Gandalf's voice then sounded in her head and she knew he was giving this same speech to the rest of the company.
"If we are to be successful this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. That it why you will leave the talking to me!" Freya shot a glare over her shoulder, but she knew very well that she may not be the best person to reason with the elves of Imladris; one in particular.
Freya made her way down the path, she was shortly joined by Gandalf as he led the way into Rivendell. She was distracted as her arm throbbed and she felt blood trickle from her finger tips, the bandage having soaked through and confirming to her that something was amiss with this wound. She would probably need to stitch her arm, as the poison meant that she was unable to heal it fully with magic. She didn't think she would be able to see to it by herself though, so she would have to seek healing before she passed out from blood loss.
"Freya, have you still not been able to heal yourself?" Gandalf asked in a voice loud enough that Thorin could hear from his position behind them.
"I cannot seem to close the wound. the blade was definitely poisoned as we suspected." Freya responded innocently and quietly in a tone meant only for Gandalf, though Thorin could hear.
"You must do something my dear, we can't have you dripping blood all over Lord Elrond's finest carpets now can we?" Gandalf responded gently. Freya snorted at her mentor's jest and risked sending a little more healing magic to her wound to slow the bleeding. She was already light headed and could not focus very well. If only she had thought to bring the blade with her, they could have studied it to find out what the poison was.
Thorin, who was closest to her faltered in his step, his eyes widening as he watched Freya touch her injured arm and a cool turquoise light snake from her fingertips to her wound slowing the bleeding. They kept walking however, Freya staggering slightly as she walked and Thorin had to stop himself reaching out to her to steady her steps, reminding himself that she was a dangerous witch.
The company entered the city, crossing a bridge and stepping into a courtyard flanked by statues of elven guards; permanent sentinels both welcoming and warning to visitors, testament to the craft and power of those residing in the valley. A tall elf with dark hair appeared and greeted Gandalf, the rest of the company remained tense.
"~Mithrandir!~" Called the elf jovially placing a hand over his heart and bowing his head in a polite gesture. Freya had been dreading this moment, but she could not help notice Bilbo's awe at being among the elves. She smiled at him as he gazed around in wonder, delighted to be in Rivendell.
"Ah! Lindir!" Replied Gandalf, bowing slightly. The dark haired elves scanned the company and fell on the only woman in their midst.
"Freya?" Breathed Lindir. Freya repeated his gesture but said nothing. She was starting to feel even light headed from the blood loss and she just didn't think she had it in her to cope with seeing Lindir at the moment; not that she had thought she could escape this meeting.
"~We heard you had crossed into the valley.~" Said Lindir in Elvish, snapping his attention back to Gandalf. Freya swayed next to Gandalf causing them both to look at her in alarm.
"I must speak with lord Elrond." Gandalf said seriously and urgently in the common tongue casting a concerned glance at Freya who was looking paler by the moment.
"My lord Elrond is not here." Replied Lindir in an apologetic tone using the common tongue in turn.
Freya swayed again feeling her legs starting to buckle, she felt a strong arm supporting her and turned to see it was Fili who she had not realised had moved closer. She cast a thankful glance at him but did not speak, he frowned at her, taking in her pale complexion but moved away as Lindir stepped forwards offering his arm to Freya.
"Not here? Where is he?" Questioned Gandalf. As if in answer the same horns they had heard before sounded heralding the return of the lord of the city and his patrol.
Thorin shouted something in Khuzdul and the dwarves formed a tight circle, weapons drawn, thrusting Bilbo into the middle. Freya, who was being supported by Lindir, stood away from the dwarves with Gandalf. The elves poured over the bridge and into the courtyard on their mounts, circling the dwarves until one elf, with long dark hair and a regal baring broke away from the patrol.
"Gandalf!" He called in an amused tone.
"Lord Elrond! ~Melon nin! Where have you been?~" Freya, now being fluent in the elvish language Sindarin was able to switch seamlessly and follow the conversation, while the other members of the party were unimpressed and some even grumbled. "Ha! now they know how it feels when they chatter away in their secret language!" Freya thought to herself distractedly, causing Gandalf to turn and raise a brow at her.
"~We went hunting an Orc pack that had come up from the south. We slew a number of them near the hidden pass.~" Replied Lord Elrond, dismounting and greeting Gandalf with a brief embrace. "~Freya! How are you child? You look as though you are in need of healing?~" Said Lord Elrond placing a hand on her shoulder and giving her a kindly but critical look, concern etched on his features.
"~I was not quick enough and took a wound to my tricep. We think it is poisoned or perhaps already infected. It will not close.~" Freya replied quietly feeling a pair of sapphire eyes boring into her and trying not to look. She did not want to see the growing anger on his features that she had so recently been admiring as he smiled at her. Elrond nodded at her and sensed it was time to switch to the common tongue as they were not alone.
"Strange for Orcs to come so close to our boarders. Something, or someone has drawn them near." He stated handing an orc blade to Lindir.
"Ah that may have been us." Gandalf said as Thorin stepped forwards. Freya rested against a wall, feeling weaker than she would like. She avoided looking at the dwarf king as he he spoke with Elrond, though that unfortunately meant that Lindir hovered nearby after taking an Orcish blade that Lord Elrond had handed to him.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain!" Said Elrond bowing his head slightly at the exiled dwarf king.
"I do not believe that we have met." Replied Thorin rudely. Freya rolled her eyes at this trying to remain upright but also trying to ignore Lindir as he started to fuss over her arm.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew him when he ruled under the mountain." Replied Elrond. They exchanged a few more words, Thorin remaining aloof, while Elrond remained his usual welcoming self. He issued a command in elvish, which his people hastened to obey. The dwarves however took this to be a bad turn of events and were on the defensive again.
"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Demanded Gloin. Gandalf sighed rolling his eyes.
"No master Gloin he is offering you food!" After a brief and somewhat comical moment conferring with each other the dwarves clearly decided that their animosity towards the elves was not so great they could not break bread with them and decided to follow the elves into the last homely house.
They proceeded to climb the stairs where Lindir showed them to guest rooms where they could refresh themselves and leave the belongings they had managed to bring. Freya was helped along by Fili, who took her uninjured arm in a concerned, if gentlemanly fashion. Lindir showed her to a comfortable guest suite next to Gandalf's and only two doors away from where Thorin was accommodated, Fili and Kili would be sharing the room next to Thorin's and Bilbo was to have a room to himself not far away. There was a comfortable patio and small private garden which most of the rooms the dwarves were accommodated in could access, while Freya and Gandalf's rooms, being slightly around a turn in the corridor had private balconies.
Fili took his leave of her when Freya reached her guest room, giving her a small smile but avoiding looking her in the eyes. Freya sighed as the door closed behind Fili, gingerly removing her coat careful not to further hurt her wounded arm.
She removed her corset with difficulty and was interrupted by a knock at the door. Without even thinking she called out for whoever it was come into the room. She turned and was surprised to see Lindir stood there carrying medical supplies.
"~You need to tend that wound Freya, it has gone long enough without attention.~" He said in Sindarin.
"~I know. Thank you Lindir~" He stood and stared at her a moment, she turned and looked questioningly at him.
"~I missed you… my friend~" He said.
She had not seen Lindir in almost two decades and unsurprisingly he had not changed since the last time she had seen him. Their last meeting had been in Lothlórien while Elrond and his daughter Arwen had visited the Lady of Light.
She smiled at him in reply, but was cautious. The last time they had met had been awkward and filled Freya with regret. Lindir had told her that he wanted to be more than friends with her, though she had reacted badly. Freya had said some things she now regretted for she had missed his friendship. He was always busy in his role as Elrond's second, but he was kind and thoughtful and always tried to make time for her.
It had hurt her that she could not feel for him what he felt for her and she had been disappointed that she could not have simply remained friends with him the way she was with Haldir and his brothers, for that matter many of the other Ellon in the Golden Wood. But Lindir's confession had changed that forever. He had even gone to her adopted brother Haldir, asking his permission to court her in the custom of the elves.
That had been what rilled Freya the most, she probably would have looked on him kindly had he understood her enough to not speak with Haldir before he had spoken with her. Asking her adopted brother's permission to court her was a custom she could neither understand or agree with. She was her own person after all, she could make her own mind up on matters of the heart and asking permission to fall in love seemed a ridiculous notion to her. Haldir for his part however had understood Freya enough to advise Lindir to speak with her, refusing to give an answer until he was sure of Freya's mutual regard. She did not know why, but her thoughts drifted to Thorin at that moment, but she brushed them aside focusing instead on the Ellon in front of her.
Haldir had teased her mercilessly about the way Lindir had looked at her, but she had been determined to ignore his teasing as unfounded. Haldir had come upon her after she had fled Lindir's advances to go to the talan she called home and comforted her, assuring her that he would make sure that she remained out of Lindir's way until they returned to Rivendell. Haldir's solution had been to take her with him to check on the outposts of the wardens, this kept them busy for many weeks and proved a welcome distraction as well as an excellent way for Freya to train her body and improve her weapons skills as she went.
This had also reaffirmed something to her that her anger after disastrous conversation with Lindir had almost broken; Haldir was like a missing piece of her life and the bond she shared with him was entirely different to all others. It was that unconditional love one has for a sibling, and had the lady of light not pared them together, her adjustment to her time with the elves would not have been so easy.
She for her part forgave Haldir for his part in the debacle, how could she not when he had done so much for her. Returning to the present, she looked into Lindir's worried eyes and put him out of his misery.
"~I missed you too Lindir.~" He smiled as she said it, the worry lifting from his eyes. "Lindir, how steady is your hand? I think my wound may need stitching and do not think I can do this myself, I cannot reach." He motioned for her to sit and she hastened to obey. Lindir cut away the arm of the now ruined tunic, but left the rest of it on for the sake of modesty, though the breast band she wore did show through the tear where the trolls had cut away her corset. She tensed as he touched her and he appeared to hesitate momentarily. She hissed with the sharp pain as he started to clean the wound of its poison.
Thorin called the company, save Freya, together for a serious discussion in his room before their meal was to be served. They had bathed and the elves had been gracious enough, at Gandalf's request to bring ale to them in Thorin's rooms. Thorin called their meeting to order silencing the low mutters in the room.
"Gentlemen, I have called you together because something has come to my attention and we have questions that need to be answered, this affects each of you and I would hear your opinions before I make any decision." The assembled company looked grave and Thorin turned to look at Gandalf before he continued to relay to them one of the things that had vexed him so.
"We have been deceived, it seems that we have more than one magic user in our midst… I witnessed Freya freeze then shatter a Warg as though it was nothing more than a plane of glass!" The dwarves who had not seen gasped and started muttering. Bilbo bowed his head, a frown on his brow and his suspicions confirmed.
"Gandalf I demand an explanation, is she a danger to our company?" Continued Thorin, turning an angry expression on the Wizard.
"Well really!" Started Gandalf "That depends on how much you anger her! The same could be said for everyone in this room!" Gandalf looked at Thorin hoping his jest would defuse some of the tension. It had seemed to work on some of them, the young princes included, but Thorin looked just as angry as before. Growing serious Gandalf sighed.
"She will not thank me for telling you this, but you have a right to know who you travel with. What I am about to tell you does not leave this room, it is of the utmost importance that it remains secret. Just remember however that I know Freya is fond of each of you and what I am about to tell you does not change who she is, she is still Freya." Gandalf said pointing his pipe at Thorin for emphasis before taking a breath and plunging into the long explanation and inevitable sea of questions.
"Freya… is blessed by the Valar by magical abilities. She was born to a family of the race of men and her abilities have been notable since birth. She is what some might call; a witch."
Angry muttering broke out and Gandalf held his hands up for silence.
"I will need to tell you the whole story… I first met Freya when she was twenty, oh, I don't know, it must have been one hundred and twelve years ago now. It was two weeks before her twenty first birthday which by the standards of men is when women come of age. She was being forced into an arranged marriage by her parents who knew something was different about her and wanted to hurry her into a respectable marriage as soon as she was old enough. They did not know what else to do with her in their defence."
Gandalf paused lighting his pipe with magic as if to make a point and continued.
"She ran away from home. I came upon her and took her to be trained." Thorin interrupted at this point, his voice sceptical.
"You are seldom anywhere without purpose Gandalf, I will not have it that you happened upon her by happy coincidence." Gandalf raised a bushy brow.
"That is true Thorin. I was sent to find her."
"By whom." He interrupted again.
"It does not matter whom, suffice to say that those who blessed her with magic made it known that it was time for her to be trained. I think it is also worth mentioning that I was not the only one looking for her. It seems that though we thought they had stopped looking a century ago, they have not."
"Who else was hunting her?" Asked Dwalin.
"A far darker power." Replied Gandalf seriously. "In addition to the guards from her town. It seems that when she made her escape, she was tracked by a guard and she wounded him in her attempt to escape."
"Alright then, but you said that had been resolved." put in Balin
"We had thought so, until she was attacked in the shire. To all save a select few, myself included, she simply vanished after her escape from her home. After a while they gave up searching and presumed her dead."
"You trained her yourself?" Asked Thorin in a brittle tone
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Confirmed Gandalf.
"Who else?" He demanded.
"Lady Galadriel. And don't look at me like that, she is no evil elf witch as you dwarves are so fond of assuming. She is wise, kind and powerful, she has helped Freya who by the way is now almost as powerful as I am." Gandalf defended as the dwarves looked shocked and broke out into low murmurs.
"She was trained by a known elf witch, she is in league with them and I must assume that she is therefore my enemy." Growled Thorin.
Gandalf threw his hands up in exasperation. Before he could retort Bilbo interrupted.
"What kind of magic are we talking about here? Are we talking dark powers? I have seen nothing to suggest she is dangerous yet." Gandalf indulged the hobbit with a smile, proud of his logical mind.
"Right you are mr Baggins. Of course she knows no dark magic nor would she ever be inclined to use any. She is a brilliant student, a very talented healer and can cast some offensive and defensive spells as some of you have seen. She has a good heart and she would do anything to protect those she cares about."
The company had fallen silent. It was Balin who broke the silence then.
"I agree with Bilbo, I have detected no malice in her so far, she seems a very kind lass with a keen mind. She has not indicated that she would interfere with this quest. But we need to think about this, we already know she is being hunted and we must assume that there are therefore risks to having a witch with us. Even if they do not come from her."
At this point the room descended into argument. While the company argued, nobody noticed the exchanged thoughtful look between Bilbo and Fili. Bilbo rose and slipped from the room, followed by Fili who tapped Kili on the shoulder, and motioned for him to follow.
Thorin, who had been thinking about the other implications of having a witch in their company took the distraction as an opportunity to lean over and speak to Gandalf.
"Witches can control men, you have brought danger among us Gandalf. My nephews have spent much time in her company, she could already have them enthralled." Balin leaned in to listen as well a frown on his brow.
"There is only one power that can enthral and control men to that degree Thorin; the one ring, and that was lost long ago. You have no risk of Freya controlling you or any of the company against your will." Thorin and Balin frowned remaining silent. Gandalf shrugged before continuing.
"It is true that men are often attracted to her because she is a handsome woman and has spirit, but it is not her that creates that desire through malice or cunning. You saw in Bree that the men watched her, for she is unusual. I know what you speak of Thorin, but she has not artificially created whatever bonds or attachments you… or anybody else in the company may… or may not be feeling."
Throin shot Gandalf a sceptical look and continued to quiz him on the ways of witches assisted by Balin. He was surprised to find how rare they were and that Freya was possibly unique. The company continued to debate for some time, various questions making Gandalf chuckle such as Dori's question about whether Freya could turn them into toads.
In the end, with their stomachs growling and many arguments still unsolved, Gandalf advised that they had kept Lord Elrond waiting long enough and must return to the debate another time. Bofur and Bombur readily agreed that ale and food would help them make a decision so they rose and went to their dinner, Gandalf and Thorin breaking away to seek Lord Elrond as they neared the gazebo where dinner was to be served.
