The golden light of the morning sun lit the Valley of Imladris in a soft light, birds were chirping, bees were buzzing and young she-elves strolled through the hallways, corridors and outside through the gardens. It was one of the most peaceful atmospheres.
"You look like you could fall asleep right away" Dwalin said and patted Thorins shoulder as they walked along a cobble-stone path leading to the training ground.
"It was a short night—"
Dwalin watched him curiously. "Will you tell me more or do I have to beat it out of you?"
Thorin kept silent until they reached the training ground. He took Orcrist and gestured Dwalin to raise his battle axe.
They whirled around each other, the sound of clashing steel waved through the peaceful morning air.
Thorin stepped closer, used his full power and managed to push Dwalin back. They stopped sparring.
"We talked last night" Thorin finally said and could see a smile building up on his friends face.
"And with we you mean yourself and Lili?"
"Yes—"
"So, what did you talk about?"
He could see Thorin shifted quite uncomfortable.
"About— to be honest I can't exactly say what we talked about. Mostly about the stars and she recided a poem to me"
Dwalins jaw dropped slightly open, while Thorin tried to avoid his eye contact.
"You did star-gazing and she recided a poem? What else happened?"
"Nothing else. She—simply avoided to answer my question. I asked her why she's afraid of me. Instead she led me outside to a meadow, pointed out stars to me...she was so—so—" he was unable to find the right words.
"Fascinating?" Dwalin gave it a try and chuckled as he saw Thorins face soften a little.
"No—Yes-I mean..What I meant to say was that she seemed to be a little more relaxed in my presence than before"
"Is that so, huh?" Dwalin asked amused. Oh, he'd have some fun later during the sparring-lesson with Lili.
Thorin shrugged and raised his sword again and the two dwarves continued their sparring a while longer.
Liliana just got up and dressed herself. She wore a pale-blue dress and her white, light boots. She planned to meet Bilbo at the balcony for she had promised him a week ago to take a stroll through the Valley and the city.
Bilbo was already waiting for her and she saw he carried a basket.
"What's that?" she asked as she arrived the balcony.
"Oh, I thought we could hold a picnic somewhere in the Valley. Dwalin told me he'll do some sparring with you later and so we can enjoy the day a bit before you have to train" he explained.
Lili laughed softly. "That's such a wonderful idea, Bilbo"
He smiled and they left the balcony. Lili led him along several passages and down many steps. They reached a high garden right above the steep bank of the river.
"This looks like a fine place to rest and eat" Bilbo suggested and they sank down on the soft grass. The air was warm and the sound of running and falling water was loud.
Bilbo placed a small blanket in front of them and reveald some delicious food like that elvish bread. Lili explained to him that it was called Lembas-bread.
"It's so delicious. Is there some special recipe or would I be able to bake this as well? I mean when I'm back in the Shire someday?" he asked and munched on a piece of Lembas.
"Unfortunately it's a closely guarded secret and only on rare occasions it's given to Non-Elves" she explained.
"Hmm...maybe on my way back home I might be able to come back to Rivendell so I can take some of it to the Shire" he replied and Lili felt a heavy melancholy in his voice.
"You miss your home, am I right?"
Bilbo took a piece of carrot cake but simply stared at it for a moment. He sighed and nodded.
"I'm not that kind of companion these dwarves expected I guess. Thorin still doubts me and I've to admit I miss my armchair, my pantry, my books. I miss my home, Lili" he said and finally took a bite from the cake.
She kept silent, munched on a piece of apple roll and her eyes drifted along the valley. This morning was filled with a faint scent of trees and flowers.
"May I ask you something?" Bilbo said after a while.
"Everything" she replied and took a sip of water.
"How come you get along with these dwarves now? I mean, you mistrusted them a lot and...well, you seemed to hate Thorin but—I've seen you last night"
Lili felt her body tensing a little and she shifted uncomfortably.
"And?" she tried to sound not as nervous as she actually was.
"What happend that you put your aversion aside?"
Lili thought a moment before she replied, "Dwalin...he was the first dwarf I felt kind of comfortable around since the day I saved his life. After I saved his life, of course. And he was the one I could open myself to and tell him my story. I always feared that people would hate me, or even outcast me but he—he gave me courage"
"You seem to like him a lot" Bilbo said and waved a bee away from his nose.
"He's a realy good friend" she replied.
"And Thorin?"
He could see how nervous she suddenly was and smiled. Instead of answering she got up.
"I'd say we should continue exploring the Valley now" she said enthusiastic.
Bilbo sensed that Thorin still seemed to be a delicate topic to her. He took the basket and they moved on along a stone bridge until they reached what seemed to be a marketplace.
"Just look at all those elves! And there is Lindir!" Bilbo called in amazement.
"You're a friend of Lindir now?" she asked amused and Bilbo nodded proudly.
"Yes, we spent some nights in the Hall of Fire and played some riddle-games" he explained.
"The Hall of Fire? I guess I don't know that hall. What's it like?" she asked curiously and it was Lindir who stepped closer with a friendly smile.
"Arwen en amin. Oio naa elealla alasse' (My Lady. Ever is your sight a joy)" he gently took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it. The girl blushed and laughed softly.
"You asked about the Hall of Fire?" Lindir said and his hazelnut eyes gleamed in the light of the sun.
"Yes, so would you explain its concepts to me?"
Lindir smiled and took her by her arm, led her with Bilbo back to the main building and entered the northern wing at the ground floor.
"This is the Hall of Fire. Here you will hear many songs and tales – if you can keep awake. But except on high days it usually stands empty and quiet" he paused and watched her. Lili was amazed by its beauty. The falmes of the fire played with her red hair.
Lindir added, "People come here who wish for peace, and thought. There is always a fire here, all the year round, but as you can see there is little other light"
"Kind of romantic, don't you think?" Bilbo whispered and Lili smiled.
"Peaceful, and romantic.." she replied.
"If you'd wish to explore another quiet and beautiful place you should take the path leading north-east of the market. There is a lake. It's called Hidhuinen" Lindir said.
"Would you like to accompany us?" Liliana turned to look at him. The young elf seemed to be surprised but nodded with a warm smile.
Together the trio went outside again, down some spiral stairways until they reached the path again leading towards the marketplace and on to the north-eastern part of the Valley.
Soon a heavier silence surrounded them and to Liliana it was like being home again. They reached the lake which was bubbling a little in the middle. They sat down under a big tree and simply enjoyed the silence for a while.
"Tell me, Lili—it seems you're not from Rivendell. So there are just two possibilities where you grew up with elves. Mirkwood or Lothlorien?" Bilbo suddenly asked. Lindir watched her for he knew about her origin. Lord Elrond had told him about it a few days ago.
She sighed. "No, am neither from Mirkwood nor Lothlorien and yes, it's correct I'm not from Rivendell as well. If I tell you now, please promise me to keep it as a secret. No one else knows except Gandalf and Lord Elrond"
Her eyes found Lindirs and she felt he knew it as well but he kept silent.
"I thought Dwalin knows about you?" Bilbo said surprised.
"He knows—about me...but not where I'm from" she replied. Bilbo nodded and gave her an encouraging smile.
"I promise, Lili" he finally said.
She took a deep breath. "I was born in Gondolin and lived there until the age of five. From my fifth until fifteenth birthday I lived in Valimar. It's called the City of Many Bells in the east of Valinor. The city had golden gates and streets, and silver domes that gleamed in the light of the Two trees. Doors were made of polished bronze. Fountains played and bells rung, and it was a city where all was glad"
Bilbo had listened and suddenly a thought hit him.
"I've heard of Gondolin, but—Liliana ... Gondolin fell a long, long, very long time ago and not within the past twenty-five years. Are you making this story up or...what is your secret?"
She felt slightly ashamed, she knew he would ask these questions and yet she was unable to find a proper answer.
"To be precise Gondolin was build in the year 64 of the First Age" Lindir said and tried to help her somehow.
"That confuses me a lot more"
Lili replied, "Well, it started in the year 64 but it took them 52 years to finish it. So the city was completed in 116 of the First Age"
"Lili...you said you're twenty-five. How is this possible?"
She remained silent for a while, watched the bubbling water of the lake.
"I was born in the year 501 of the First Age, Bilbo" she finally whispered and could see his jaw dropping.
"I beg your pardon?"
She chuckled. "I said—"
"I know what you said, Lili. I just can't believe it. That would mean you're thousands of years old. Only elves can live that long!"
"Or someone blessed by one of the highest elves in the Blessed Realm of Aman" she explained and the hobbit simply shook his head.
"First Age...I can't believe it" he repeated.
The three of them fell silent again until Lindir decided to show Liliana the way to the training ground while Bilbo was still too perplexed and he wished her good luck with sparring and left to head for the library.
Lili was certain he would read every book about the First Age, of Gondolin and Valinor.
"There's my little star-gazer" Dwalin called as she approached him with Gurthang in her hand.
"What? How do you know?" she asked puzzled.
He smirked and stepped closer. "Oh, just had a little talk with my best friend" the dwarf replied and chuckled. "You're blushing, Lili" he added with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Stop it, Dwalin! It's just because I'm excited what there might come now" she tried to defend herself from his teasing and he winked at her.
"Fine, so let's begin. I can already see the first mistake. The grip is completely wrong. Here, let me show you.."
He stepped closer and placed her index finger and her thumb around the hilt.
"What about the rest of my hand?" she asked confused.
"Use the remaining fingers for additional control. Your grip should be securely enough so it does not fly out of your hand, but not too tight so you can't move it in your hand. Go on and swing it a little so you get the feeling of that sword in your hand"
She weighed it in her hand, the grip seemed to be perfect and she began swinging it around a little. Dwalin could see her movement was way too wild for the beginning. Too wild and with no control.
He laughed. "Stop! You're too wild. You may end up hurting yourself"
Her breathing was fast and some strands of her hair fell into her face.
"You have to relax a little. Just think about it like..reciding a poem. Calm and smoothly" he said and saw an angry flash in her eyes.
He stepped closer, positioned her right food forward and her left foot back. "I suppose that's the perfect stance for you. Now bend your knees and always remember your weigh has to be on your toes. Never on your heels! I want you to practise that position. Stance and grip are the most important things in swordfighting. A warrior who loses his footing or drops his sword is what?"
"A dead warrior" she replied and he nodded satisfied.
"And I won't let it happen that you die" he said and smiled at her.
She gave him a thankful smile as well and continued to practise her stance and her grip. She swung her sword multiple times until she felt her arm became weary and all in all she wished to stop, lay down and sleep until the next day.
While swinging her sword she was so deep in her own thoughts, concentrated on her practise and the hours earlier when she told Bilbo about her home. Dwalin was very quiet which confused her a little as she snapped out of her thoughts and she looked over at him just to see him standing withThorin.
Lili could feel that strange kind of heat in her cheeks again and her abdomen tingled a little again and she nearly lost her footing.
She slowly walked over to them, saw the dwarf king gazing at her.
"What are you doing here, Thorin?" she asked and tried to ignore that tingling. That sweet tingling that seemed to rush through her veins.
"I was curious about your training. You did well and can't wait to see you sparring with Dwalin in a few days"
She smiled, though she tried to force her body to stop it but to no use.
"And I'm here with a message from Gandalf. He wants to see you tonight. He'll pick you up at your room after dinner. He said it's from high importance that you meet someone"
She frowned. "Did he tell you whom?"
"No, but...telling of the urgency and your strange connection to elves I think he talked about that elf lady from the woods or whatever her name was"
"Lady Galadriel? She—she's here?" Lili whispered in disbelief.
"Already had a conversation with her last week. Very strange lady. No wonder—she's an elf"
"You talked to her?" Lilis eyes shot directly into his, tried to read any knowledge out of them but she sensed he still had no idea about her origin.
"It was confusing. And I don't trust her, so I just want to tell you to be careful. Even if Gandalf is with you"
Liliana chuckled. "I do know Galadriel well"
Dwalin watched them curiously, could see the immense nervousness between them. They acted so awkward and he really had to force himself not to laugh.
"Fine, Thorin. Now that you've been able to catch a look at our beloved wild lady I suggest you leave us for a while. Lili has to concentrate on her sword and you're only distracting her"
Lili felt the urge to slap him for teasing her and seemingly Thorin that much.
Thorin nodded, and turned to leave. Lili couldn't help but let her eyes drift along his backside, his long dark mane, that fur-coat, down to his-'Stop!' she yelled silently and sighed.
"Concentration, Lili" Dwalin chuckled and she continued to swing her sword.
There was that strange new feeling in her, and that feared her a little.
And why would Gandalf want her to meet Galadriel? What could be so important?
Yey finally! Took me a while to write this and I hope you enjoyed this. There will be one more chapter in Rivendell with some interesting facts again and a little more tension again!