Chapter 13

Bilbo swallowed his juice and then spoke quietly. "Lord Elrond, I was wondering if it would be possible to speak with you after breakfast?"

Thranduil and Legolas both looked up at the same time in the same way. Dwalin swallowed a curse at how similar they looked without all the ostentatious robes.

Balin was watching his prince with interest. Elrond smiled and nodded. "Of course. Would now be alright? I am finished."

Standing up, Bilbo smiled. "Thank you." He motioned for Dwalin to stay. "It'll be alright." Nodding to the Elf-King and Prince, he bid them and Balin a temporary farewell and disappeared into the halls leading to Lord Elrond's office.

Balin looked at Dwalin with a frown. "You know what he's going to be talking about?"

"Aye."

"Well?"

Shaking his head, Dwalin gave a glance at each occupant at the table before replying. "It's of no concern to us, unless Lord Elrond makes it a concern to us. We'll find out soon enough."

They didn't seem to satisfy any of them, but they didn't mention it again. Balin excused himself and migrated over to the libraries. Dwalin challenged Prince Legolas to a fight. The boy that the Elf-Prince was teaching joined them to learn. Thranduil sat on the side with Lady Arwen and talked quietly about how the trees were doing in Imladris and Lothlórien. The twins of Elrond's were doing patrols.

~meanwhile~

Bilbo watched as Elrond stared at the pouch with shock. "And you found this in the goblin tunnels, you say?"

"Yes."

"Is the creature you stole it from still alive?"

Bilbo bristled at the word 'stole' but shook it off. He coughed and nodded. "As far as I know."

Elrond frowned. "Thranduil will need to hunt it down so it won't try and steal it back. It would surely fall into Orc hands after that." He circled around the pouch on his desk warily. A thread of exhaustion weaving into his countenance.

Standing up, Bilbo smiled. "Gandalf told me to get it to you. And I have done so. The Dark Lord has yet to even know where it is. As he is still alive, then I suspect he knows it isn't destroyed."

Elrond snorted. "Yes, but his ignorance to it's whereabouts…that is our only chance of success. A quest to destroy it…"

"Mount Doom? Gandalf told me it could only be destroyed by what created it. A bit a conundrum that."

Elrond nodded with frustration. "Yes. Much do I wish that any forge could destroy it, but Annatar was as clever as he was deceitful."

"Who?"

"Annatar was a guise that Sauron used to trick us into submission. He created those other rings under that guise and almost succeeded in conquering all of Arda." Elrond sounded tired. "I must alert the White Council. We must destroy it before Sauron knows of its location, before the ring wakes completely."

Bilbo swallowed. "You speak as if it's a living thing?"

"It may as well be. It is a connection to the Dark Lord, an extension of his own being."

"Ugh. I've been using Sauron to turn invisible."

"You've used this ring?"

"I thought it only a magic ring! I had no idea. It was when I started craving it that I began to worry. Father's sickness was, still is, too fresh in my mind." Bilbo shivered.

Elrond gave him a curious look before turning away with a nod. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I hope you safe travels to the Shire, Bilbo Baggins." He smiled at the Dwobbit.

Bilbo smiled back and left the Elf-Lord's study. He knew he would have to return to open the pouch, but he could only do that with Gandalf present so he would have to wait and keep an ear out. He had already told Elrond of the precautions the wizard had put into place. Elrond seemed very relieved.

Bilbo was waylaid by Balin and Dwalin. Well, it was mostly Balin. Dwalin was sitting on the rim of a nearby fountain, looking over his weapons.

"Anything I can help you with, Prince?"

Chuckling, Bilbo gave Balin a pointed look. "Is that Balin speak for 'what were you and Lord Elrond speaking about?'"

Dwalin barked a laugh and put his weapons away to follow Bilbo down the hall. "Aye, you've got it in one, Bilbo. Balin's snooping again."

Huffing, Balin spluttered at his brother, trying to defend his pride, but Bilbo waved that away. "Whatever Elrond and I had to say in that room will not be disclosed unless absolutely necessary." Bilbo turned and looked Balin in the eyes. "And it's not absolutely necessary." With that, Bilbo walked down the hall and into his room. "Enjoy today. Tomorrow, we're leaving for Bree." He gave them a pointed look. "And we're traveling past the Trollshaws this time."

Dwalin snorted and nodded. "Sounds reasonable." Balin was slightly put out that Bilbo had not taken him into his confidence, but he settled on waiting until Bilbo was ready to talk to him. He had won Thorin's trust over, not the Prince. He was okay with that.

~the next morning~

Thranduil and Legolas, Elrond and Arwen, and Estel all gathered around the exit of Imladris to wave the Dwarves and Dwobbit off.

Erlond smiled sadly. "Travel safe, Bilbo, and stay here for a few days on your return trip." Arwen stepped forward to hug her cousin of the heart.

"The Twins will be sorry they missed you."

Bilbo laughed. "Well, maybe I'll see them when I come back. One never knows." He smiled easily and nodded to Estel. "Train hard, show these Elves that Men are not weak." He winked as the boy puffed up his chest and grinned. He turned and nodded to Thranduil and Legolas.

"Will you be here still on my return, Elf-King?"

"I plan to leave Imladris when the Spring Thaw ends." Thranduil smiled. "If not here, then I shall see you again when you pass through my lands."

"I look forward to it." Bilbo nodded to Legolas. Seeing as how Kíli was his cousin and Legolas didn't seem to approve of the Dwarf Prince marrying his best friend, Bilbo didn't know what to say to his friend. Legolas noticed his awkwardness and sighed. Moving forward, the Elf-Prince knelt and embraced his friend.

"No matter who does what around us, I will view you with the utmost respect and love, Bilbo. You are my kin in heart, and I would follow you into Mordor itself." Legolas smiled at the Dwobbit, heedless of the shiver that his words caused.

"Thank…thank you, Legolas. I too, hold you in very high regard and love." Bilbo hugged him again and then mounted his pony and rode away with his two Dwarf escorts.

Elrond closed his eyes and murmured a prayer of protection over the Dwobbit. He felt a cold chill spread through him as he recalled Legolas' words.

Looking at her father with concern, Arwen took his hand. "Ada?"

Thranduil and Legolas looked over at the same time. "Elrond?" Thranduil stepped closer. "What's the matter?"

"I…had a glimpse…it…showed me emotions…" Elrond shook his head and stumbled a little as he moved to sit down. "Terror. Grief. Exhaustion. Hopelessness." Elrond looked up at his friends, taking Arwen's hand on his shoulder and squeezing it gently.

"War."

Thranduil stepped back a little as he saw the desolate look in his old friend's eyes. Legolas cursed. "Another war?! Why can we not have peace?!" Arwen gave him a pained look. Estel looked up confused.

"When will this war come, Ada?"

Elrond looked at the boy. "I don't know, Estel. I don't know."