Hello again! I forgot I wrote enough of this to make a chapter. Enjoy!
Ch 26 Awake Again
Why was she back here? Ildri looked around her, taking in the large, white stone castle before her. It looked to be the same area as her other dreams, but why? What was this place? It wasn't until she was back, did Ildri remember that she had seen herself here coming out of the water. Her thoughts were interrupted by the front gate opening and the same Valar female running out and towards her. Ildri quickly stepped to the side and watched the woman run into the arms of a man stepping out of the forest. She watched the man laugh as he caught his partner and swung her around.
"Hello my love, have you missed me?"
Ildri inspected the tall, dark-haired man. He was dressed plainly, but there was something about him, the presence that made her think he wasn't fully from the Race of Men. The couple walked closer and she saw her own blue eyes on his face. As they walked into the castle, Ildri remained where she was and continued to survey the land in thought.
"Is she going to wake up soon?"
Gandalf sat in a chair next to Ildri, who was in her bed at Bard's home. "I wish there was an answer I could give you. We will just have to wait."
"Not here," Balin cut in. "We need to return to Erebor now."
Kili glared at his advisor. It was nearing nightfall and though the older dwarf was right, it didn't sit well him. Ildri was the same as she had been the previous times, unconscious, not moving, and paler than ever. A hand settled on his shoulder and he looked up to see Tauriel.
"We will return."
He nodded and walked away before his people would have to carry him away to get him back. Tauriel and the other dwarves followed him out.
Gandalf sighed and looked down at his apprentice, "How is it you've caused more trouble in these few months than in hundreds of years."
Bard jerked from his place at the doorway. "Hundreds of years? How old is she?"
A grin pulled at the wizard's weary face, "I'm told that is an impolite thing to inquire."
He cleared his throat and looked around, "There is no one else here."
Gandalf gave a chuckle, "She was sent to me at the start of the Third Age."
"Wait," Bard rubbed his head with one hand. "You're telling me she's almost 3,000 years old?"
A cough escaped Gandalf and he rubbed his beard, "She's been alive a long time. Like the rest of us."
"Rest of us… how long exactly do you wizards live?"
"We have yet to find out."
Bard stared at the old man before walking away. He needed to check on Bane and figure out what to do about the events of today.
It was a week before Ildri woke. Sigrid was the one watching over her as she stirred and blinked her eyes open. When the redhead sat up suddenly, the young woman jumped to her feet.
"No, no. Lay back down!"
Ildri stared at Sigrid as she was pushed back into the mattress. "Um, what are you doing?"
Flustered, the brunette took a step back and twisted her hands together as Ildri leaned up on one elbow. "You should stay in bed."
"Why should I do that?"
"You've been asleep for about a week." A deep voice interrupted them and Bard stepped through the doorway. "Most people wouldn't be able to even sit up."
"I'm not most," Ildri sat up, waving Sigrid away from her. "I barely need food to survive, a few days asleep won't harm me."
Bard motioned for his daughter to leave and shut the door behind her when she left. He took up the chair she had been in and turned to face the redhead. "Do you remember anything?"
Ildri narrowed her eyes at him and rolled through her memories. "I went with you to inspect a building."
"Yes, anything else?"
"No." She eyed his form as Bard scratched at his beard.
"You fixed the structure," he told her slowly, "But there was an unexpected consequence."
"What?"
Bard crossed his arms, "A small quake, took down part of our wall and caused some injuries. My son for one."
She nodded and stood up. The man probably didn't want her here now, endangering the lives of his people.
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving."
Bard stood and moved in front of her, "For one, I wasn't planning on chasing you away. And two, I already promised your people I would take care of you."
Ildri stepped to one side only to have him copy her. "I can take care of myself very well, thank you," she huffed after moving again. "And do you really think you can stop me?"
"I expect you to think rationally, though just waking may have your mind addled a bit." He smiled at her indignance, "Come and eat something, take a walk. No one died from you helping and now most of my people have a safe place to live. We will figure out what to do later, concerning your magic." Bard opened the door and stepped aside for her to walk through.
She looked him up and down again, "You aren't frightened of what I might do on accident?"
"I'm confident we, and the dwarves, can manage whatever may happen. We've done it already, why not again."
Interesting man, very unlike others she had met in her travels. "If you insist." She took the lead to the kitchen area, noting the bright sun coming through the windows. It must be midday and Bard was home for some reason. A week. Kili and Tauriel must have been going frantic staying at the mountain. Ildri paused in her steps at that thought.
"Is something wrong?"
Bard was at her side and Ildri shook her head, "No. Just startled by a passing notion."
He hummed as they continued again, "You know, they visited you every night. I'm almost positive the Elf carried the King and ran here."
A sharp laugh escaped Ildri at the sudden picture of them doing such a thing. "And how did you come to that conclusion?"
"There were no horses or other dwarves, they would just appear. And I'm sure magic didn't do that," he cast a sideways glance at her.
They came upon the kitchen then and stopped talking, taking up seats on the other side of the table. Sigrid had already set places for them and herself. Ildri threw Bard a look upon seeing her plate just as full as his.
"I've already said I don't need as much food as you."
"But you have been unconscious for a week, and I assume whatever magic you did took a toll. Eat, if only half of it."
She stared at the man after he gave his order, looking over at Sigrid who was smiling at her. With a sigh, Ildri picked at her food. It wasn't terrible looking or tasting, but there really was no need. The man had the right idea and she should have been a little weaker from this experience, but instead, she felt normal.
"You said they came every night." Ildri pushed her plate towards Sigrid, ignoring the looks she received.
Bard eyed her plate before speaking, "Yes."
"And what of Gandalf?"
"He's come twice during the day, if he goes by pattern then he should be arriving today."
As though summoned by words, Tilda ran in and at her father. "Da, the wizard is here again!"
That was a lot of excitement for an old man, Ildri looked at the young girl without expression. Gandalf appeared behind her and smiled warmly at the girl. He didn't show any surprise to see Ildri sitting at the table.
"Good afternoon, my girl. How are you feeling?"
"Why are you here?" She ignored Bard's look thrown her way.
"Lively as ever I see, any side effects?"
"The urge to hurt something appeared a moment ago."
Gandalf laughed and patted Tilda on the head, seeing her worried look. "Come now, let me take a look at you."
Ildri just stared him down.
"Very well, as you wish." He walked around the table to her side and held a hand over her head, muttering words underneath his breath. It only lasted a minute, along with the glow rolling off her body, and Gandalf stepped away. "It would seem you are perfectly healthy, other than the additional effects."
He was talking about the Arkenstone lines. They weren't visible much with her clothes on, the lines on her skin were still blue so her hands and face were the only visible parts. Ildri thought back to her dream, wondering if she should talk to Gandalf about it. He might know what she was seeing.
"Does something trouble you?"
She shook her head at the other wizard. "Don't tell anyone in Erebor I woke," she wanted to see if Tauriel and Kili would show up tonight. And how. By the look on Bard's face, he knew why.
"Are you sure? There's no one you want to see?" Gandalf's face was merely curious.
"They will find out, but I'd rather not alert anyone."
"As you wish." He cleared his throat, "Now I must be getting back. It's almost time for the hobbit and me to depart."
Her head jerked towards him, "Wait, you're leaving?"
"Of course, I hadn't meant to stay this long but circumstances arose…"
"And are still active. What about…" Ildri paused at the eyes on her, "Everything going on over there? It can't have been solved already."
"I cannot stay here and oversee everything, you know this, it isn't our way." Gandalf walked away, "It will probably be in a month."
Quiet descended upon the kitchen and Bard looked the woman over. It was obvious there was something else going on, but the crestfallen expression was a new one. Not even when she had been locked in his house had she appeared as such. Then she was deadened, hollow, now she seemed more in pain. What exactly was going on between them?
"Would you like to come and see the town this time or stay here?" Bard asked softly.
"I'll be in my room." Ildri swept out of the room and down the hall.
She was left alone the rest of the day, watching the sunset behind the mountain.
Thanks for reading! Please review, I enjoy the notes.
