Sometime in the middle
The next few days passed quickly and it was not that hard to avoid the band of dwarves. The only difference was that Lindir, the minstrel who had gotten the unfortunate job to entertain the guests with music during the fateful dinner, spent a whole lot more time in the library than usual. That did however not bother Thaleth the least. It was nice not to spend all time there alone and Lindir proved to be very good company as he knew many songs and stories which he enjoyed sharing.
It was nevertheless not possible to stay in one room constantly and Thaleth was much too used with being outside to be confined in one place for too long. In the end she left the library with her current book to read elsewhere not really caring anymore if she met one of the dwarves.
As she walked outside and felt the sun on her face it finally dawned to her that a whole season had passed since she came. Summer was already here and now that she thought about it midsummer was perhaps only a week away. She wondered what Asgaron was doing back home and how he was doing. Ever since she had left a heavy weight had settled on her shoulders. She did not suffer from homesickness, but she was all too aware of the silent darkness that grew inside the forest and it was hard not to worry. Rivendell was a wonderful place, no evil came into the valley, but she wished she had come under better circumstances, a time when one could visit other settlements without fearing for the safety of one's home.
Sighing she dismissed her thoughts and continued walking until she reached a tree by the river and settled under its shadow. Calmly she opened the book and was just about to start reading the first poem when two feet appeared within her line of sight.
She looked up only to meet the gaze of Thorin Oakenshield's halfling companion. Bilbo Baggins, was it? "Yes?"
"Good afternoon Lady Thaleth!" he smiled cheerfully and gave her a small bow.
Thaleth was a bit confused for a moment before she replied, "Good afternoon, Mister Baggins. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Bilbo hesitated a little before he sat down on the grass in front of her, he seemed a little nervous. "I was simply wondering Lady Thaleth…" he began tentative, "if maybe, by any chance, you have ever been to Erebor? Before the dragon incident of course…" he stopped for a moment becoming flustered before hurrying to add; "Not that you look old, certainly not, but I was simply curious because the woodland is fairly close!"
Thaleth blinked a few times in surprise at the hobbit before letting out an amused laugh. "I am not insulted, Mister Baggins," she said with a smile, "compared to mortal lives, I am rather old."
"Please call my Bilbo," he said by reflex before repeating his question, "Then have you ever been to Erebor?" more eager than before, encouraged by her kind smile.
"Well then, Bilbo. I have never been to Erebor, no." She said, and as she saw his face fall she added: "But I once journeyed to Dale; that is however the closest I have come."
"It is still closer than I have ever been, Lady Thaleth," Bilbo replied with a smile.
The implication did however wipe the smile off her own face, "Is that where you are going," she asked, "to Erebor?"
The hobbit noticed her change in daemon and felt himself become a little insecure, but he answered the question nonetheless, "Well… yes, My Lady."
Her inside turned cold at his words. Did the greed of dwarves really run so deep they would risk crossing a dragon for treasure? "I see," was her only response.
Bilbo was uncertain how to continue and was nearly ready to take his leave, this fair elven maiden did not seem to be of the mood for company, but then he saw her book and smiled widely. "'Tom Bombadil's Adventures'!" he chuckled, "I have not seen one of those since I was a wee lad!"
"You know of this book?" Thaleth asked surprised. Daenir had jokingly tossed it her way a few weeks ago after a brief visit to Bree while teasingly commenting her obsessive reading habits. She had not bothered to read it since it obviously was a children's book and Daenir's childish way of getting back to her for not coming with him.
"Well of course!" Bilbo exclaimed, "Who has not heard of Tom Bombadil!"
"It is a Hobbit tale then?" She guessed. It would make sense, she thought, since Bree was close to the Shire.
The Hobbit laughed, "He is certainly not a Hobbit tale, good gracious –he has been on far too many adventures for that, especially outside Buckland! But the Poem is certainly written by a hobbit."
"Then where does it come from?"
"You mean the story?" Bilbo asked surprised, "I would imagine from him himself actually, he is a strange fellow that one, but as of who wrote it all down I would assume it was a Bucklander –if that is your question."
Thaleth stared at the hobbit in bewilderment, "Do you mean to say he is real?"
Now it was Bilbo's turn to look baffled, "Of course he is real! My mother met him herself once in her youth when she got lost in the Old Forest, and she is neither the first nor the last as several of my Buckland relatives also have met him. Strange fellow, like I said, we always assumed he must be an elf of some kind – he has been around for an awfully long time." he said thoughtfully, "Well either way I had better be going now, I promised Gandalf to have Afternoon tea with him! Good day Lady Thaleth, it was a pleasure speaking with you!"
"Likewise Mister Bilbo," she replied kindly though she was relieved to see his retreating back.
When she was alone once more she closed her book and read the cover: The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. It was a very thin book containing only one poem handwritten in the Common Speech with large letters. Bilbo had certainly given her much to think about, and she was not sure she wished to be burdened with more thoughts.
Unable to concentrate on the book anymore she left her place under the tree and walked to the pavilion nearby, staring needlessly at the water flowing below it. What if the dragon awakened, would she be needed home? Thaleth was uncertain. Her king did not usually involve himself in matters outside his kingdom though and that was a great relief, but bad things always followed greed.
She sighed.
"I hope you are having brighter thoughts than I, Asgaron," she murmured softly, "I will find my answers and then return home, I promise."
The sound of her voice and promise was drenched by the sound of the running water.