A chapter coming out on time? More likely than you think. I'm running off of Halloween candy and anxiety because Nevada's votes still aren't in. In other news, if any of you guys are Fullmetal Alchemist fans, I'm putting out the first two chapters of my new fic today. It centers around a "what if" where Kimblee turned against the Homunculi while he was in prison. admittedly, it's just an excuse for me to write Heinkel/Kimblee fanfiction, and then have a legit reason for post-promised day FMA crossover fanfiction with Kimblee in it.
Li had caught up with the Company easily, knowing the way to the Valley by heart. He appeared behind Gandalf in a shower of golden sparks, making the Dwarves startle as they waited at the front of the Last Homely House. Lindir, who was well used to his antics from the years prior, didn't seem all that startled, though his displeasure was shown through a slight scrunch of the nose— especially when his eyes took in his form.
Blood dripped from down his arms and a few cuts littered his face— his bangs just slightly shorter from a dodge from an Orc's axe. He was, admittedly, a bit of a mess.
Lindir's examination was over within a split second and then a bemused smile graced his face.
"My Lord Elrond is not here," the Elf said and Gandalf frowned, seeming a bit put out as he glanced at Li. Li just put his hands behind his back.
"Oh, not here?" the Wizard asked, though his gaze staid on Li, "Where is he?"
Before either of them could respond the telltale sound of hoofbeats reached their ears, followed by an Elven horn. Li turned, standing still as he watched Elrond and his hunting party round the bend at full gallop— heading directly towards them.
"Ifrindî bekâr!" Thorin barked and the Dwarves instantly started forming a circle as they drew their weapons. "Close ranks!"
Li did not miss the exasperated look Elrond shot him as he rode past, he and his party circling the Dwarves and Bilbo. It might have looked threatening, but Li knew the Elves were simply cooling their horses down from the trip from the Eastern Road to Rivendell. He had seen Georgios do the same with Beyard and Iskandar with his own steed.
He didn't know the full details, but Chiron— being half-horse— had explained that it was better for the horse to cool down by decreasing speed, rather than pulling fully to a halt after a canter. Or something like that.
As the horses drew to a halt, Elrond dismounted from his steed, walking over to where he and Gandalf were standing with Lindir.
"Gandalf! And Li," he greeted and Li tensed just slightly.
Ah, the emphasis of his surname. Something that Elrond only did if he was very annoyed with him. Elrond was one of the few people who was allowed to— and easily did— call him by his given name, and had been for the past year, now the last name was emphasized if he was irritated.
Gandalf didn't seem to notice the Elven Lord's momentary ire as it was quickly masked. The Grey Wizard smiled, bowing a bit.
"Lord Elrond! Mellon nin, Mo evínedh?"
"Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad," Elrond answered and Li tilted his head. So that pack wasn't the only one in the area. That or he was only referring to the one the Company had brought. "Dagannem rim na Iant Vedui."
From his side, he drew an Orc sword, embracing Gandalf briefly before he held the blade up for Gandalf to see. "Strange for Orcs to be so near our borders," he said calmly.
He walked past Gandalf, lightly patting Li's shoulder as he brushed past the Lancer and handing the blade off to Lindir. "Something, or someone, must have drawn them near."
He raised a brow at them and Gandalf ducked his head, having the decency to at least look a bit abashed. Li only raised a brow back. In his defense, he at least killed a number of Wargs before Elrond and his party arrived.
Thorin and the rest of the Company moved forwards as Elrond turned to them. "Welcome, Thorin, son of Thráin," he greeted and Li saw Thorin's jaw set just slightly. He silently circled around behind the Dwarf.
"I do not believe we have met," he said though Elrond was undeterred as he nodded slightly.
"You have your grandfather's bearing," he said, "I knew Thrór when he ruled under the Mountain."
"Indeed?" Thorin asked, raising a brow just a bit. "He made no mention of y—"
Li smacked him on the back of the head. "Cūlǔ de rén shì bù míngzhì de," he said flatly as Thorin staggered forwards. "It would be unwise to be rude, Xiǎozi. One can forgive a murder— but never impoliteness."
Kíli and Fíli made attempts to hide their snickering (the two certainly knew the word 'Xiǎozi' after both of them had been called such before) while Thorin simply glared at Li. The Lancer moved back around to stand by Gandalf and Elrond, as the said Elven Lord watched in amusement. Elrond inclined his head slightly after a moment of watching.
"Nartho I noer, toitho I viruvor," he said and Li perked a bit. "Boe i annam van a nethail."
Lindir simply nodded, turning and heading up the stairs as Glóin surged forwards.
"What does 'e say?" he snarled, "Does 'e offer us insult?"
And like that, the company burst into chatter, weapons ready but Li held a hand up, fighting down a bark of laughter. "Before you gut my friend," he said, voice steady. "I would like to bathe, heal, and eat, as he offered."
That quieted the Dwarves and he and Elrond exchanged an amused look.
"Very well," Glóin said after a moment of conversing with the others. "In that case, lead on."
Elrond seemed satisfied at that, turning and walking up the stairs, though he grabbed Li's arm in a vice grip as he did. He all but dragged the Servant with him as Gandalf followed, and then the rest of the Company behind him.
"Do not think you are out of trouble, my friend," Elrond said as he pulled him along. "Your injuries are more than I would tolerate for a few skirmishes."
Li resigned himself to being dragged off to Rivendell's bathing then healing chambers by his Elven friend.
Gandalf was unhelpful, offering only the smallest of grins when he glanced back at the Wizard.
(x)
Though Elrond's ire and worry was not something Li enjoyed having aimed at his person, it was good to know that the Elven Lord cared.
Li was quite used to dealing with the pain from countless fights, though it hardly made it comfortable. Washing the blood and grime off in the Bathing Chambers had been a painful experience, as his fight against the Orcs had only made his Troll-Made injuries worse. He had caught the concerned and worried looks from the Company when he had removed his Changshan before he washed off. The ugly bruising on his sides was hardly something that could go ignored, anyway. Though he had been a bit startled (and touched) when he heard Bilbo and Dori gasp at the scars along his leg. He had forgotten that those were there, in truth, since the injury from his human life had happened so long ago. But it was touching to know they also cared.
As soon as he left, Lindir had all but dragged him to where Elrond was waiting for him. And as soon as Elrond healed the first of his ribs, he felt like he could breathe again.
The said Elven Lord was currently grumbling as he walked to and fro, gathering potions, balms, and bandages. Li sat on a stool, watching.
Elrond smacked his hand as he walked past, making Li hiss, but he dropped it from where he had been poking at his still-bruised side.
"Why must you be so reckless, mellon nin?" Elrond sighed and Li shrugged a bit as he walked back over.
"Because of this form, most likely," he admitted as he gazed up at the ceiling. "But we have gone over this before."
"Indeed we have," he said with a sigh, circling back around Li and gently pressing a hand to his side. Li hissed lowly as he felt his ribs shift back into place slowly. "But that does not ease my worry more, Shuwen."
"Elrond," Li sighed, "It will only get worse. If I am to fight a dragon, I will come out with more than broken ribs and cuts."
He grunted a bit as the Elf began wrapping bandages around his chest, scowling. "I had hoped you were abandoning that."
"Smaug is a Calamity in the making— a catalyst to a larger one," he said lowly, "Please, my friend, you know as well as I do that I have a job to complete."
"And you know as well as I do that you are not invincible," He said before he shook his head. "You do not speak with me over the link we established to tell me where you are, so you leave me with no choice but to worry, Shuwen."
"Kaha! That is what you are angry about! And here I thought you had fallen over your heels for me!"
Elrond rolled his eyes as Li chuckled, head tilted back and hair spilling over his shoulders.
"You're too troublesome for that, mellon nin," he said back with a soft chuckle as well.
Li stood, cracking his back before, with a shower of golden sparks, he was dressed in a white tunic and an unripped set of pants. Elrond shook his head.
"The convenience of being one of the Servants," he said dryly and Li snorted.
"If only everyone viewed being a Servant as you do, Elrond," he said as he stretched and the two walked out of the Healing Chamber and down the hall. "Then maybe I could get a decent fight from someone who wasn't a Troll or an Orc."
"Your brain is filled with nothing but fighting it seems."
Li lightly punched the Elven Lord in the arm, just as Thorin and Gandalf joined them in the hall. Thorin's eyes widened momentarily as Elrond gave Li a glare— though not out malice as the Elf rubbed the spot where he was hit.
Lindir, who was waiting for them, hid a smile before he led them to the outdoor dining pavilion.
"I do say," Gandalf said, "It is kind of you to do this, though I'm afraid I'm not dressed for dinner." "You never are, my friend," Elrond said with a chuckle as they climbed the stairs to a raised platform. A table with four chairs had been set there, along with a few others for the rest of the company.
Li, Thorin, and Gandalf sat with Elrond, separate from the rest of the Company. Lindir stood not too far, keeping an eye on the Dwarves as they ate. Elrond's devious streak had shown its head again, and both Li and Gandalf shared a knowing look before mentally shrugging at the strictly vegetarian meal.
"How are your children, Elrond, I saw Elladan and Elrohir earlier, but of Arwen? Estel?" Li asked after he set down his glass. He wasn't one for drink, and even then, he made sure to investigate first,— once again, being poisoned a second time would not be fun— but Elrond was a friend and had no ill will towards him. Aside from his ire that was born because of Li being reckless and never communicating (the Elf's words, not his).
Besides the wine Elrond served was good. He would be a fool not to indulge.
"They are all well," Elrond said, "My sons do miss their fights with you. And Arwen has not returned yet, though she laments on not being able to meet with a legend. Glorfindel and several others have missed the moments of interaction with you as well."
"I'm sure Erestor does not miss those moments," he said with a slight smirk.
"Who can say? Perhaps you should ask him when you see one another again, though he might hunt you down instead— I admit that he now knows who left his office in such a state. I personally have missed the debates that last into the night, however one-sided they might be with your restless self," the raven-haired Elf teased lightly and Li felt the ease of being in a place like home return. He always enjoyed being in Rivendell and around Elrond.
Li chuckled softly at the "restless" comment while Elrond gave him a bemused smile. Though it quickly changed to a quizzical look as Thorin set his cup down loudly. The Dwarf had been quite moody the entire time they had been at the table— so Li kicked him under the table.
Gandalf cleared his throat before Thorin could do anything in retaliation.
"I believe we have found some weapons you might recognize," he said, placing his sword on the table. Thorin reluctantly put his on top as well and Elrond grabbed that one first.
"I can assume that Shuwen is still using that spear of his?" He asked with a light tone and Li just hummed in response.
Elrond took that as a yes before he unsheathed the blade, gazing at it with a wistful smile. "This is Orcrist the Goblin Cleaver, a famous blade forged by the High Elves from the West. May it serve you well," Elrond said before he gave the sword back to Thorin. The Dwarf took it, gazing at it before he put it back on his belt.
Li swallowed another mouthful of lettuce.
Elrond took hold of Gandalf's sword next and unsheathed it. "And this is Glamdring the Foe Hammer, once belonging to the King of Gondolin. It will do many deeds in your hands, Mithrandir."
He eyed Gandalf knowingly and the Wizard took the sword back solemnly. "And how did you come by these?"
"We found them in a Troll horde on the Great East Road," Gandalf explained as Thorin looked up. "Shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs."
Elrond's eyes flickered over to Li and he looked up as well, just giving him a slight nod. The Elf had put together what had caused so much damage to the Lancer, it seemed.
"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?" He asked instead. Thorin glared in silence and Li swallowed his food.
"I was heading East so I could punch a dragon, so there's my piece."
"Eru save me from your idiotic plans, Shuwen."
"The only plan I have is to go to Erebor and call Smaug a coward until he comes out to fight me."
Had it only been the two of them, Gandalf, and Lindir in the room, Li was certain that Elrond would have certainly put his head in his hands because of his answer.
Thorin just looked angrily confused as he glanced at Li.
Li just gave him a grin in return.
I don't have any bonus notes aside from some translations:
Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad. Dagannem rim na Iant Vedui— We've been hunting a pack of rocs that came up from the south. We slew a number near the hidden pass.
Cūlǔ de rén shì bù míngzhì de— Rude people are unwise
Xiǎozi— Brat
Nartho I noer, toitho I viruvor, boe i annam van a nethail. — Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests
Reviews:
RunOnSentances: Thank you! I'm feeling a lot better sickness wise, so I think it was just a small thing, but I'm not looking forwards to finals week when everyone's health just goes down hill, whoops.
Ulttoanova: Yeah, Li's evil alignment comes from him literally not caring about who he killed in fights as long as he. got a fight. IIRC, the only real reason he shows up as an assassin is his high body count or something.