That night, the moon shone brightly and it's light slipped through the curtains and windows and cast shadows inside Edyta's magnificent chambers. Her room was filled with beautiful white curtains and desks loaded with papers and maps and her chamber opened up to a balcony with a full view of the valley. Everything was finely carved and the light of the moon helped everyone see better and gave the room a gorgeous blue lighting.
Edyta as currently in the room with Gillian, Traude, Barbara and Brianna. The discussion on the other hand wasn't going that well.
"How do I know I can trust her?" Traude demanded.
"Goodness, Traude." Gillian said exhausted "For once in your life will you just listen to reason? You are standing in the presence of one of the few in Middle-Earth who can read that map. Now, show Lady Edyta the map, please."
Traude sighed in defeat and then brought out the map, unfolded it and looked at it. She then nervously handed it to Edyta who gracefully took it and observed it.
"Gillian, why are you interested in Erebor?" she asked.
"It's mainly academic." Gillian responded "As you know, these sort of maps contain hidden texts. You can still read ancient dwarvish right?"
"Of course I do." Edyta said.
She then glanced to the maps bottom and noticed something. A particular set of sentences Gillian had missed were just at the bottom right near where a tear was. She then read it aloud in dwarvish and Gillian got a surprised look on her face.
"Moon runes." she said before turning to look at the other three girls "And easy thing to miss."
"Really?" Brianna asked.
"Yeah, it happens." Gillian responded.
"Well, in your case this is true." Edyta replied "Moon runes can only read by the light of the moon of the same shape and season as the day they were written."
"Why?" Brianna asked "This sounds rather absurd."
"I didn't write these moon runes, young lady." Edyta said "Dwarves did."
"Can you read them?" Traude demanded.
"Of course." Edyta said "But not here."
"Well, then where?" Barbara inquired.
Edyta chuckled softly and looked towards the room exit and then back to her friends.
"I'll show you." she said.
Edyta led Gillian, Traude, Brianna and Barbara to a secluded part of Rivendell. It was a ledge which right at the end of it had a huge square crystal block. Waterfalls rushed just feet away from the edge of the ledge and created a soft mist around them. Edyta then put the map on the crystal block and put her hands on each other the maps edges to make sure it wouldn't blow away.
"What exactly are you doing?" Brianna asked.
"Well, miss Brianna, allow me to explain." Edyta said "These runes were written on a midsummer's eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly 200 years ago."
"Really?" Brianna inquired.
"Oh yes." Edyta responded "It would seem you and your friends were meant to come to Rivendell." she then turned to Traude "Fate is with you, Lady Oakenshield. That same moon shines on us tonight."
When she said that, the clouds moved back and the moon shone brightly and it hit the crystal block. The crystal block then began to shine like a newly discovered diamond. Everyone then looked at the map and noticed that on the lower left corner of the map, glowing blue words appeared. It was in dwarfish so Brianna couldn't read it.
"What does it say?" she asked.
"It says: 'Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks.'" Edyta replied "'And the last light of Durin's Day while shine upon the keyhole.'"
"Well, what's Durin's Day?" Brianna inquired.
Edyta sighed and looked towards Gillian with a look of boredom.
"She's just full of questions, isn't she?" she asked.
Gillian chuckled. "Yes she is rather curious."
"Brianna, Durin's Day is the start of our New Year." Traude replied "But I don't think we'll be able to make it. Summer's fading. Autumn is coming."
"Traude, we still have time." Barbara said "But remember, we have to be standing at exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can we get inside."
"So that's your intention." Edyta said looking directly at Traude "To enter the mountain."
Traude raised an eyebrow. She felt this elf was asking too many questions.
"What is it to you?" Traude demanded.
"There are some who would not deem it wise." Edyta said.
"Trust me, my friend." Gillian responded "The girls have their reasons."
Brianna yawned and shook her head, much to everyone's surprise.
"You alright, lass?" Barbara inquired.
"I'm terribly sorry. But I'm going to bed." she said.
"Well, then you shouldn't be up so late." Edyta added as Brianna yawned again "I think it's time for you to...hit the sack as the common people say."
"Indeed." Gillian replied "Can't have our burglar in poor health can we?"
And with that Brianna walked up the staircase with Traude having grabbed the map and following along with Barbara as they tried to contain their laughter with Gillian and Edyta behind.
"Please don't say hit the sack, Edyta." Gillian whispered "It doesn't suit you."