The next morning, once the sun had risen just above the horizon, Bilbo was spending his waking hours wandering the candle-lit halls of Rivendell. The hobbit was busy soaking in the majesty of this place as he strolled through one of the great halls, eyeing the many paintings that had decorated the marble walls. Some of them were of great battles, others of different times far from his own.
One thing that did catch his eye as he explored was a large statue, made of dark brown stone, holding what appeared to be a large slab with a teal-colored silk blanket draped over it. And on that blanket lay a broken silver sword, shattered into six shards. Bilbo guessed that this blade must have been quite an important heirloom for such a level of decoration. It was almost respectful in a way.
Another painting that Bilbo gazed upon detailed an ancient battle from long ago, depicting an armored man slumped against a rolling hill of black stone while wielding a broken hilt of a sword, with the remaining blade glimmering against the darkness around him, facing off against a towering figure made of burning shadow, readying itself to strike the other warrior down.
On the shadow's right hand that clutched a mace, perfectly coiled around the pointer finger, was a golden ring. Bilbo wondered if he had seen this painting before somewhere, but he decided to leave it as it was before he left the hall for other places to explore. If all of Rivendell was like this, then the hobbit believed he was in for a treat. He descended a winding metal staircase into the library where he came across something peculiar.
Slumbering head-down on a table in front of him was Augusta, surrounded by several small stacks of books and burnt-out candles. The conqueror was totally asleep, slumped over an open book whilst she softly snored. Bilbo instantly stopped once he saw he wasn't alone, but eased up once he realized who it was, easing his nerves. Looking around to check if anybody else was here, the hobbit carefully stepped closer to the sleeping mercenary, curious as to what she was doing here in the library. Thankfully the curious little homebody lived up to his kind's reputation for being light on his feet and quietly reached the sleeping Augusta, taking a peek over her shoulder, wondering what she was doing here napping in the library.
Augusta must have fallen asleep while doing some heavy reading as Bilbo found out, the hobbit taking note on all of the books, maps and other tomes scattered around her. She had certainly amassed a pile, that was for sure. Bilbo also noticed that there was a map of Middle Earth as well, pushed aside but kept open thanks to some inkwells placed at the corners. Augusta hadn't just been reading, she'd been studying as well.
For some reason, it made Bilbo smile as he let out a short, humored hum.
Not wishing to be rude and wake her up from her slumber, the hobbit turned around and quickly tip-toed his way out of the library without making so much as a peep. Sure enough, the moment he stepped out of the library and back into the pavilions of Rivendell, Augusta's eyes slowly peeled open as she began to wake up, blinking several times to clear her vision before she arched her back and stretched, yawning as she did along with rubbing her tired eyes before the memories of last night came back to her. That and the stacks of open books around her, which she quickly noticed along with the rest of her surroundings.
"Never slept in a library before." She mumbled to herself, scanning the rest of the library for a certain elvish bookworm. "Huh, Tolthiel's gone too."
"A ha! There you are!"
Augusta heard a voice call out to her, and she turned her head to see Theodore enter the library. The Viking was still out of his thick leather armor, instead wearing some sort of plain elven shirt that must have been given to him for the night, revealing his brawny, scar-covered arms. He seemed to be in a jolly mood today as well, evident with the bright smile on his bearded face.
"Morning, Theodore." Augusta softly, politely said to the burly man as she stood up from her chair and popped her sore back joints with loud cracks, giving her some much-needed relief from sleeping up straight. "Ooh, that felt good."
"We were wondering where you'd slunk off to last night, girl." Theodore remarked as he neared the waking conqueror, stopping once he reached her to taka look at where he'd found Augusta among the shelves upon shelves of books. "Found your way into the library, huh? Figures. You read anything interesting or decided to drown yourself in more fairytales?"
"Yeah, mock my childhood some more why don't you," Augusta dryly said to the Viking, "And if you must know, I just so happened tofind out some interesting things about Middle Earth's ancient history. I'll tell you all about it later."
Augusta ran a hand through her hair, feeling the slick sensation of her unwashed mop. She inwardly grimaced as she brushed her greasy fingers together. The last time she'd cleaned herself was the morning prior to the besiege of Hallowed Bastion, all the way back in Heathmoor before she fell in the ocean. Augusta didn't want to know how badly she reeked at the moment, and such a thought made the conqueror feel a little queasy. She prided herself on being a healthy mercenary, hygiene included.
"You're lookin' a little green there, knight." Theodore stated, the sudden change in her mood catching his attention, wondering if she was just really hungry after she'd woken up. "Hey, how about you and I get some breakfast? Elrond sent me to come fetch you, he's set up a nice platter for us in the dining hall. You should come! Your samurai friend's there as well."
"Thanks Theodore, but right now I just really need a bath." Augusta replied, quickly raising her arm to take a whiff of her pits. She near instantly recoiled from the stench. "Yep. Definitely do. Tell Ryuma and the others I'll be there soon!"
The conqueror hastily left the warlord alone in the library to find the bathing rooms, or at least something of an equivalent. She didn't want to linger in this place any longer with this smell that clung to her body. Theodore could only watch as she scurried out, taking a moment to wonder what the big deal was. Vikings bathed at least once a week, a common practice among his people. It surprised the warlord with how urgent it seemed for her to get clean as he stood there watching Augusta find her way to a bathhouse, a confused look on his face.
"Must be a knight thing." He shrugged to himself and left the library for breakfast.
…
Meanwhile, at the bathing houses located in Rivendell's eastern wing near the water docks, in a small tower built right next to one of the flowing rivers, a certain elf was getting herself cleaned. Tolthiel had arrived at the house not too long ago after she'd woken up, and had come here to start her mornings with a quick, cool shower. It was empty at this hour, which the elf preferred, despite privacy being a granted given here at Rivendell.
The bath room itself was quite spacious, with several tubs built into the marble floor along with a line of open showers at the opposite end. The walls were painted a soft beige, with coiling vines from the nearby trees reaching around the window sills, which gave a clear view of the docking bay to the west. Such a gorgeous place had once been used for both socializing and washing, but as the elves of Middle Earth began to emigrate away from this world to the Undying Lands over the seas, such festivities had faded away with time.
But such things were not on Tolthiel's mind at the moment. Right now, she was currently thinking of one gold-plated foreigner that had taken a visit to her library last night. There was something about Augusta that made her so alluring. Perhaps it was due to their shared love of books and stories that drew her in, or maybe she was just lonely. It had been quite a long time since her library had received visitors from outside the borders of Rivendell. Any new faces, even ones such as Augusta, Ryuma and Theodore, were a welcomed thing.
"I do hope she found the answers to her riddles." She happily said to herself as she continued to bathe underneath the showers, all without realizing that a familiar face had just popped in.
"Morning, Tolthiel."
The elf nearly fell over backwards from terror at the sudden voice that echoed behind her, before she whipped around to see none other than a smiling Augusta standing at the center of the room bare naked as the day she was born, a towel in her arms.
"M-M-My lady Connolly!" Tolthiel squealed, covering her blushing face in an attempt to be decent and to cover up the raging red color that had stormed her cheeks. "I-I did not hear you enter, please forgive me! I would have made myself decent for you!"
"Hey, don't worry about it, I'm just here to take a shower," Augusta dismissively said, stepping forward to an unused shower head, twisting the knob to unleash some refreshing water before continuing to talk to the elven librarian, "Besides, we're both girls, aren't we? Not like it's nothing we haven't seen before. And I really didn't want to take a bath with the dwarves, thank you very much. I think they hijacked a fountain or something like that for a pool, I saw them while I was heading up here."
Tolthiel couldn't help but scrunch up her face.
Oh dear, Lord Elrond will be quite displeased with that.
"Yeah, nothing like seeing a dozen naked dwarves early in the morning," Augusta visibly shuddered, trying desperately to forget that little encounter while she had been looking around. "Kinda wish I'd taken a different route here. That's gonna be stuck in my head forever."
Yes, definitely displeased. While Tolthiel might have rejoiced in having such foul-mannered, rude dwarves booted from Rivendell for such actions, it would also mean that Augusta and the other two warriors from her lands would have to leave as well, as they were part of the company. And she certainly didn't want them gone. The elf had so many questions to ask of them regarding their realm, this "Heathmoor", that they called home. Such a study would be a great addition to her library for others to read, but the thought of having guests in her library only sullied Tolthiel's mood. When would the next Augusta come by? More than likely never.
"Oh, this is heavenly." The conqueror gushingly said while she was finishing with scrubbing her hair with some creamy white soap, relishing in the sensation of feeling clean again. Yet once she opened her eyes to see how her shower mate was doing, she noticed that the elf was acting far quieter and more reserved than before. Augusta couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt in her heart, believing that she had offended Tolthiel somehow with her sudden arrival.
So, not wishing to tarnish her fellowship with the elf, Augusta spoke up with an idea in mind.
"Hey, Tolthiel?" She asked.
"Y-Yes, lady Connolly?" The elf responded, still averting her eyes to not stare at the woman's naked body. It would be incredibly rude to do so, not to mention prudish to divulge her sexuality with the knight. Still, she kept her pointed ears open to what Augusta had to say.
"I'd just like to say thank you for your help last night. It was really thoughtful of you." Augusta politely said to the elf librarian. It was enough for Tolthiel to turn her head and forgo her shyness for relief, look at the other female in the showers and return such politeness with a graceful smile. It was a visible improvement in Tolthiel's morning to hear that she had done a good job with helping a friend. Seeing that the elf's mood had changed for the better, Augusta gave a welcoming half-smile back, coupled with a soft chuckle.
"You are most welcome, lady Con - I mean, Augusta." Tolthiel said, lightly bowing to the mercenary, this time using her first name, something that elves did only with close friends or newfound allies. Tolthiel, however, could now consider Augusta to be a good friend of hers, and so deserved the title change.
As Augusta went back to showering, relieved that things between them were settled, Tolthiel began to feel her wandering eyes take in the crystal-clear view of Augusta's bare body. The elf couldn't help herself but look. Slowly the blush that once adorned her cheeks returned once she saw the conqueror's arms stretch upwards whilst she washed her face under the gentle stream, seeing they were muscular yet feminine, a perfect balance of both. She trailed her eyes further from her gorgeous face down to her large, full breasts, finally finishing with those soft abs on her stomach, a result from a lifetime of fighting all the way down to her derriere, which was as curvy as the rest of her body. Decorated over her body were the marks and scars of countless battles, mostly around her arms, stomach and freckled face. Tolthiel had to turn away, lest the conqueror accidentally see the steam billowing out her scarlet-red ears.
Manwë give me strength! Help me resist these primal urges of mine!
Such lustful thoughts however were immediately cut short once the two of them heard the familiar sound of a wolf whistle behind them, and they instantly reared their heads to see the smirking faces of both Fili and Kili peering into the bathrooms. Tolthiel's arms were there to cover her privates in a split-second, but Augusta was too stunned to do anything other than see who had dared to peep on her.
"My oh my, Augusta, I didn't know you had it in you!" Fili laughed as Kili wiggled his eyebrows, both of them with big, dopey grins on their faces. The two brothers had overheard the conqueror and the elf librarian's talk while walking down to get some breakfast with the rest of the company, and despite the warnings from concerned dwarves such as Bofur and Nori, they just couldn't resist the temptation of seeing both a fair elven maiden and the attractive mercenary completely naked.
"Yeah, we didn't know you were into elves! I would have gone and put a good word in for you!" Kili added on, which served to finally snap Augusta out of her stunned trace and feel the burning sensation of rage bubble up her to her face.
"FILI! KILI!" Augusta roared; murder written in her eyes. "GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE!"
"Uh oh, gotta run! Bye!" Kili playfully waved as they fled the scene, leaving the steaming Augusta and embarrassed Tolthiel behind, giggling like naughty schoolboys. The conqueror let out a tight-jawed growl through her clenched teeth.
"Please excuse me, Tolthiel. I have a pair of dwarves to hunt down and eviscerate." Augusta angrily muttered as she snatched her towel, wrapped it around her chest and gave chase to the two brothers, spitting out curses in both common and her native Latin all the while. And soon enough, after a couple silent moments of watching the warrior woman leave, Tolthiel could hear familiar voices coming from below the tower right outside the bathroom.
"Aw c'mon, Augusta! It was just a bit of fun!"
"There's no need to be upset, now! My brother and I are very open-minded when it comes to all relationships, even between women!"
"Oh, you two are unbelievable."
As the argument faded away as the distance between them and the bath house grew, Tolthiel couldn't help but wonder what was happening, taking a moment to open the window shutters to witness Augusta, somehow once again clad in her undergarments, walking off to the main hall while holding both of the troublemaking dwarves up by the scruff of their shirts. Augusta didn't seem to be as angry as she was before, probably more annoyed now with her fellow company members after she'd managed to calm herself down to a more manageable state. The elven librarian couldn't help but let out a soft titter as she watched Augusta manhandle the dwarven brothers with little effort.
Quite a spectacle for such a fine morning, indeed.
Despite all that had happened over the past day, Tolthiel found herself forever grateful that the Company of Thorin Oakenshield had decided to visit Rivendell, for it had given her some wonderful company and brand-new friends.
…
The day passed on to night, and the blue sky faded into the starry black with the crescent moon hanging overhead like a glowing white gem. Rivendell had gone quiet as the dwarves and Theodore managed to settle in around a campfire, cooking food that they had brought in or taken from the kitchens. All except for the dwarf prince, the knight and shugoki were gathered, chatting and talking to one-another over past events or current ones.
Not far from where the dwarves were residing, Augusta and Ryuma descended up a stone staircase along a cliffside path towards the foyer where the dwarves and Viking were, attracted to the sounds of the company still active at this hour, along with carrying something important for their fellow Heathmoor native. As they did, Augusta had begun to regale Ryuma with the stories she had read about last night, and the large shugoki was nothing short of amazed.
"So, this Morgoth, who was once known as Melkor, snuck through the faraway lands of Valinor and destroyed a pair of light-bearing trees alongside a giant spider? That's surprisingly not the most insane thing I've ever heard." Ryuma verbally wondered to the mercenary, the samurai astonished by what he was hearing.
"Yeah, Ungoliant was her name. Could you imagine having to deal with giant spiders back in Heathmoor? I'd never leave my house." Augusta laughed as the neared the campsite.
Both of the warriors had reequipped their armor during the waning hours of the day. The armorers of Rivendell had taken good care of them and then some, much to the thanks of the mercenary and the daimyo. Augusta's golden helm and spike-covered arm plates glimmered with a fresh polish, and her Demetra shield and flail had been given some minor repairs. Ryuma had his wooden armor plates repainted along the more worn edges, his bright blues and yellows standing out even more in the moon-lit darkness. His massive Anbei kanabo, an absolute monster of a weapon, gold-plated over forged steel with large black spikes and a hilt encrusted with turquoise gemstones, lay securely slung against his back.
In Ryuma's arms was none other than Theodore's red leather armor, and like Ryuma he had also been gifted with a fresh coat of white and teal paint. Augusta had done the honors of carrying his Golden Bruin sword and shield, and both pieces of Viking equipment had been gifted small upkeeps.
The shugoki and the conqueror continued onwards, still traversing the staircase to meet with Theodore.
"How many other legends did you read about?" Ryuma asked.
"Oh, plenty of them. You wouldn't believe how many smaller stories connect to one-another, so I just stuck with some of the bigger ones." Augusta replied, and once the two of them reached the top, they rounded the corner and were greeted with the sight of the dwarves sitting around the campfire while listening to Theodore give a dramatic and boisterous retelling on one of his people's own folktales, much to the surprise of the two latest arrivals, who had just been discussing the same topic. The dwarves seemed to be completely engrossed in whatever the Viking was telling them, which seemed to be quite a humorous tale based on the bearded man's large grin.
"…but Thor wouldn't have it! Oh no, the mighty hammer Mjolnir belonged to him and him alone, so he devised a sneaky plan with his brother Loki to take it back from the giants, right from under their big noses!" Theodore said, getting into his tale with expressive hand motions.
"And what would that plan be?" Ori curiously asked.
"The giant wished to marry Freyja, but instead, Thor dressed himself up as Freyja, wedding gown and all!" The warlord laughed, and so did the dwarves. "Now you can imagine the strong, burly son of Odin hiding in a dress, but it worked! He kept getting them all drunk so they wouldn't be none the wiser! And so, he managed to keep his disguise up just long enough for him to find his hammer inside the wedding altar right before he was to be 'married' and then killed his would-be husband, and every other giant in the party!"
The dwarves of Erebor couldn't help themselves but let out bellowing guffaws at Theodore's utterly ridiculous folktale. It was quite the spectacle to hear from the Viking. Bofur, after some time, had managed to spot something rather keen where he sat in front of the fire. Behind Theodore was Bombur, snacking on top of a table. Even with everyone around him laughing, he could hear the creaks and groans coming from the piece of furniture. The wooden table must have been on the verge of cracking under Bombur's massive weight, the fat dwarf cook continuing to eat without a care in the world.
Looking down at the sausage he held in his hand and then back at his girthy red-bearded brother, Bofur suddenly grew a devious idea in his head.
"Bombur!" He called out, and tossed the sausage to the fat dwarf. That small piece of food was all it took for the table to finally break into splinters, and causing the already laughing party to turn into hysterics. Theodore was laughing up a storm before he noticed Augusta and Ryuma silently watching him by the side entrance, holding his armor and weapons. Knowing something was up, he made his way to them, stepping over any dwarf still rolling around on the floor.
"I suppose that it's time for us to face the music?" He asked once he'd reached the other two warriors. Ryuma handed him his hefty leather armor, to which the Viking began to reequip right after.
"We're needed. Gandalf's been summoned to some sort of secret meeting up at the top of Rivendell, and he asked us to attend." Ryuma answered as Theodore finished gearing up with a quick adjustment with his winged helm, making sure it was securely fastened to his head. Augusta silently gave him his sword and shield, which he placed upon his back.
"Couldn't he have just informed us beforehand?" Theodore wondered as the three Heathmoor natives decided to start walking along the stone paths towards where the council was supposed to be, guided by the lights of the night lamps decorated around Rivendell. "This just feels like we're being kept in the dark for some pointless reason."
"Maybe this is where we finally get the answers to our problems." Augusta offered, and the warlord gave a grunt in response. The conqueror had a point to make in regard to both them and their situation here in Middle Earth. They still had to find a way back home, nevertheless what the hosts of Rivendell wished instead. Speaking of which, Theodore remembered that Augusta had told him that she'd been reading about Middle Earth last night when he'd found her this morning in the library snoozing away, and that made him curious.
"Hey knight, I've been meaning to ask. Those books you read, where they of any help?"
"Oh, that. Well, I did manage to study a couple maps here and there to learn some names of the places we're gonna be visiting. Erebor, Dale, the Grey Mountains and whatnot." Augusta responded, and Theodore nodded. Maps and locations were important after all. Augusta continued in a slightly more disappointed tone, "But I couldn't find anything related to what got us here."
"Damn." The warlord cursed.
"At least you tried, Connolly. Sometimes that's all you can do." Ryuma calmly stated.
Eventually, after some time walking around, the trio headed up a flight of softly-lit stone stairs up towards a circular, cathedral-like structure made of columns located at the edge of a cliff overlooking Rivendell, surrounded by overgrowth with a gentle streams and waterfalls flowing beneath and around where it was built. Walking nearby towards the entrance in front of them, still conversing with one-another, were Gandalf and Elrond. They had not yet noticed the three warriors making their way up the stairs as the wizard spoke to the elf lord regarding the Company of Thorin Oakenshield and their quest.
"With or without our help, these dwarves will march on the mountain! They're determined to reclaim their homeland!" Gandalf said to Elrond in what appeared to be a foreboding tone. "I do not believe that Thorin Oakenshield feels that he is answerable to anyone. Nor for that matter am I!"
It was then that the two of them heard the clambering of heavy footsteps and chainmail behind them, revealing the conqueror, shugoki and warlord making their way up the stairs towards them.
"Ah, our latest guests." Elrond humorously quipped.
"Lord Elrond," Ryuma gave a respectful bow.
Theodore opted to remain silent.
"Hey Gandalf," Augusta said, giving a friendly open hand to the wizard, "This is a nice place. What's the occasion?"
"It is here that we shall convene as the White Council, a gathering of Middle Earth's most keen guardians that have watched over this world for many years, Augusta. Though mostly, you can say it is to keep in touch with some very important friends of ours." Gandalf responded, giving a brief overview of what the five of them were about to step into. The conqueror and the shugoki didn't seem to mind. Though Theodore couldn't help but roll his eyes after hearing the wizard. To the Viking, this was just more boring politics but with fancier words. He'd had his fair share of such events beforehand as jarl of the White Islands. Unpleasant memories of dealing with stubborn delegates from the Warborn Clan after they had become the most dominant power in Valkenheim began to seep back into his brain.
"Relax, Mister Ulfarson," Elrond playfully said, having noticed the Viking's abrupt and soured change in mood, "I highly doubt that you will suffer greatly at this assembly. And, Gandalf, it is not me you or our newest guests must answer to."
The elf lord took a moment to look forward as the five entered the council room, and to Gandalf's surprise someone was already here, someone that he knew very well. The conqueror, shugoki and warlord all stepped inside, and were immediately greeted with the sight of an elven woman standing before them on a smooth stone platform hanging over the edge. All three of them couldn't help but stand there in awe of her beauty, almost like she was glowing in the moonlight. Her silken sky-blue dress lay spread out like a blanket, and her braided hair hung like weaves of gold streaked with silver. Like Elrond, she too wore a tiara on her head, made of woven silver. It was Gandalf who approached her, just as amazed as the Heathmoor natives.
"Lady Galadriel." He said, revealing the elf's name.
"Mithrandir." She said, speaking in her strong, feminine voice to the wizard in her native Sindarin. "It has been a long time."
Gandalf responded with a gracious bow, and replied in her tongue as well.
"Age may have changed me," he said, "but not so the lady of Lorien."
Galadriel smiled, and her eyes then shifted to the three newcomers, as if she were assessing them. It was clear that she wanted to see them for their entirety, not hidden behind Elrond and Gandalf like cautious children. Not wishing to be rude to the clearly important and powerful elf woman, Augusta decided to make herself more visible and stood to the left side of Gandalf next to Elrond, with Theodore and Ryuma following her example. Galadriel then spoke again, this time formally addressing the three newcomers.
"I welcome you to Middle Earth, heralds from the lands of Heathmoor. It is here that your fate among us shall be ultimately decided. But do not fret, for you are with allies and friends here." She warmly said to the trio, who were not expecting her to speak so clearly at them, nor were they to hear the name of their homeland coming out of her mouth. This was their first encounter with Galadriel, so how or why she knew Heathmoor was quite a shock to them. Either she knew more than she let on, or something else was in play here.
"Decided?" Theodore parroted, wondering just what she meant.
"Something tells me she didn't come alone." Ryuma leaned down and whispered into the other two heavy's ears.
"What makes you say that?" Augusta asked.
"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you!" Gandalf cheerily said. It had been many years since he and Galadriel had last talked.
"He didn't. I did." Another voice, one that sounded as elderly as Gandalf, but richer and more exquisite, spoke up from the other side of the room. The three Heathmoor natives were instinctively drawn to the voice, revealing another old man wielding a staff clutched with his right hand, only his was made of forged black stone with a crystal ball placed at the top, and his robes were colored white. His long, ashen gray beard was pressed flat unlike Gandalf's wavy hair. Speaking of the gray wizard, he seemed to grimace once he heard that very familiar voice, knowing that he was in some trouble, but he turned around anyway to face this person with a respectful smile.
"Saruman." Gandalf said, bowing before him. Augusta almost instantly recognized the name, for this was the White Wizard that Gandalf had spoken of during their long trek through the wilds. To her, this made Saruman Gandalf's boss, in a sense.
"You've been very busy of late, my friend." The white wizard said, with a tinge of foreboding wit.
…
Dawn came quite quickly for the White Council and its guests, the first rays of the morning sun peeking over the horizon to the west. Saruman the White, as he was appropriately called, greeted the three foreigners with swift hellos before he took his seat at the end of the table. Unlike the white wizard, who was more focused on getting things going between him and Gandalf, Galadriel seemed more interested with the affairs of the trio.
"Your names, if you may. I wish to hear them from your own mouths." Galadriel said, her footsteps so gentle it seemed like she was gliding over the stone floor. Augusta, Theodore and Ryuma all shared concerned looks with each other, wondering if they should honor her request, before the conqueror decided to be the first to answer.
"I am Augusta Connolly, from Ashfeld, miss." She clearly said, finishing with a nod.
The other two shortly followed suit.
"Theodore Ulfarson, jarl of the White Islands. Valkenheim." The Viking was far blunter than his knight comrade. He just wanted to get this over with.
"My name is Ryuma Tamaharu, daimyo of the Mire's Whispering River Fortress." The shugoki bowed before the elf lady, his well-mannered actions drawing a bright smile from Galadriel. It was obvious that she was enjoying this, before she went back to slightly more pressing matters.
With that out of the way, the meeting began, with the two wizards and elf lord doing most of the talking. As time went on, Augusta, Theodore and Ryuma began to take their own places around the room, though out of relief from standing up for so long. Theodore had propped up his shield as a seat while he listened on half-heartedly, occasionally twirling around his sword out of boredom, and Ryuma was leaning against a stone pillar, arms crossed and ears open. Augusta stayed closer to the center near Gandalf, for she was quite interested in what these wizards and elves had to say.
At the moment, Gandalf was trying to save face in front of Saruman, who was busy scolding the gray wizard for his actions prior to the company's arrival to Rivendell. Elrond stood close by, his arms behind his back as he watched for Gandalf's reaction.
"Tell me something Gandalf, did you think these plans and schemes of yours, would go unnoticed?" Saruman asked.
"Unnoticed?" Gandalf repeated, and began to sputter, "No, I-I… I'm simply doing what I feel to be right!"
"The dragon has long been on your mind." Galadriel said, and if she noticed, Theodore instantly perked up with the mention of a dragon, and so did Ryuma. Only Augusta remained indifferent, for she knew beforehand.
"That is true, My Lady." Gandalf said back. "Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the Enemy, a dragon could be used to terrible effect."
"What Enemy?" Saruman exasperatedly asked. "Gandalf, the Enemy is defeated! Sauron is vanquished! He can never regain his full strength."
"Sauron?" Augusta piped up, that certain name bringing her chills again.
"Yes, the second Dark Lord of Middle Earth. Chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord Morgoth, and has been destroyed for many centuries by now. It is fortunate that your world has never suffered his wrath." Saruman replied to Augusta. For some reason, Saruman's dismissive attitude towards Gandalf's worries was ringing some alarms at the back of her head, but she chose to remain silent.
"Does it not worry you that the last of the Dwarf rings should simply vanish, along with its bearer?" The gray wizard suddenly asked with a very concerned voice, going back to explain some deeply troubling past events. "Of the seven Dwarf rings, four were consumed by dragons. Two were taken by Sauron before he fell in Mordor. The fate of the last Dwarf ring… remains unknown, which is the ring that was worn by Thrain."
"Without the ruling Ring of Power, the seven are of no value to the Enemy!" Saruman shot back, essentially removing Gandalf's argument from the table. "To control the other rings, he needs the One. And that ring was lost long, long ago. It was swept out to sea by the waters of the Anduin."
"Gandalf, for four hundred years, we have lived in peace," Elrond stressed, "A hard-won, watchful peace!"
"Are we? Are we at peace?" Gandalf shot back. "Trolls have come down from the mountains! They are plundering villages, and destroying farmlands! Orcs have attacked us on the road!"
"Hardly a prelude to war."
"Always you must meddle," Saruman said, "Looking for trouble where none exists!"
"Let him speak." Galadriel, ever gently, said for Gandalf's sake.
"There is something at work beyond the evils of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We can remain blind to it, but it will not be ignoring us, that I can assure you." Gandalf went on to say. "A sickness lies over the Greenwood. The woodsmen who live there now call it Mirkwood and they say… u-um, they say…" Gandalf seemed to stop himself from explaining further, either out of embarrassment or fear, they did not know.
"Well?" Saruman demanded. "Tell us what the woodsmen say."
"They speak of a necromancer living in Dol Guldur. A sorcerer who can summon the dead!"
"That's absurd. No such power exists in this world! This… necromancer, is nothing more than a normal mortal man, a conjurer dealing in black magic." Saruman responded, not at all believing what he was hearing from the lesser Istari.
"And so, I thought too, but Theodore and Radagast have seen…!"
"Radagast?" Saruman interrupted after hearing the name of the brown wizard. "Do not speak to me of Radagast the Brown. He is a foolish fellow." The white wizard didn't bother to hide the disdain he apparently held for the woods-loving wizard. Theodore, sensing that the strange hermit that had saved him back in the old fortress was being insulted, stood up to confront Saruman for his choice of words, but was held back by Ryuma putting his hand on his shoulder.
"Well," Gandalf said, "he's odd, I grant you that much. He lives a solitary life."
"It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms!" Saruman argued, which in turn eased Theodore's mood. At first the Viking was about to give the white wizard a piece of his mind, but after hearing that Saruman's main issue was Radagast's diet of all things, he decided to just let the issue go for now.
"They've addled his brain, and yellowed his teeth!" Saruman continued on. "I've warned him. It is unbefitting of one of the Istari to be wandering the woods…"
And yet, as Saruman went on to talk, Galadriel sensed something on Gandalf's person hidden in his robes. It was a cold, deathly presence, very unlike what Gandalf would usually have on him. Behind where the gray wizard was currently sitting, the Lady of Lorien ushered in a psychic connection to Gandalf as to not verbally interrupt the white wizard, and to be sure of what the object could potentially be.
You carry something. It came to you from Radagast. He found it in Dol Guldur with Theodore Ulfarson.
Yes.
Show me.
With the command from her clear, Gandalf wordlessly reached into his heavy gray robes and pulled out what he had been carrying on the table, all while Saruman continued to rabble to Elrond about how much Gandalf was apparently spacing out in the middle of his talking. For Theodore, the object, a small package wrapped in tan leather and string, brought back some rather haunting memories of that dark fortress he and Radagast had escaped from. The Viking took a very clear step back, which Ryuma noticed.
"What is that?" Elrond asked, reaching over to open the package, but was stopped by Galadriel, who seemed to finally realize just what the object was.
"A relic of Mordor."
"Mordor…" Augusta said under her breath, just out of their earshot. She knew, thanks to the maps she read during her library visit, that Mordor was quite a distance away from Rivendell. What this was doing all the way here was a mystery. Both Ryuma and Theodore stepped forward to get a better look at what Gandalf had revealed.
Elrond, with some level of nervousness, opened the leather folds to reveal a dark gray short-sword, with a pointed tip, a curved hilt and a black, rippled grip. From Augusta's perspective, the blade looked like it was not made of metal, but stone, based on the color and texture. The conqueror felt her skin crawl at the sight of it, and she could hear Ryuma muttering a prayer to the gods for protection against such an evil item. Only Saruman remained undeterred, merely raising an eyebrow.
"A morgul blade." Elrond breathlessly said, instantly recognizing the sword.
"You've been carrying that thing this whole time?" Theodore turned to Gandalf with a horrified expression on his face, for that weapon was the very same one that the murderous ghoul in the fortress had almost slain him with. Seeing it here only made the Viking more queasy. "What in the utter Hel."
"The blade was forged for the Witch-King of Angmar," Galadriel spoke up, getting their attention, "and buried withhim."
Hearing that this weapon had been entombed with the former wielder's corpse served to create more fear among the group, the Heathmoor trio especially. How could a sword that was buried alongside the man who used it, and died with it on him, somehow find its way back out of its crypt? Theodore remembered the words that Radagast had spoken to Gandalf beforehand, back in the forest where he had first met the gray wizard and the conqueror.
"…that is not from the world of the living!"
"When Angmar fell," Galadriel said, "the Men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried him, in a tomb so dark, it would never come to light."
"This is not possible. A powerful spell lies upon those tombs, they cannot be opened!" Elrond stressed, knowing the High Fells were meant to be untouched and undisturbed by any outside hands.
It was Saruman that expressed his doubts with the credibility of this sword's origin.
"What proof do we have that this weapon came from Angmar's grave?" Saruman asked, not once believing that this was a legitimate morgul blade, the very same that the Master of the Ring-Wraiths, the Nine, had carried with him.
"I'll say it did, because that sword right there almost killed me." Theodore stated, pointing down at the dagger lying on the table, and getting the white wizard and everybody else's attention. The Viking went on to continue his talk, taking a step back away from the thing, like it could rear up and attack him without warning. "Look, I'm gonna be frank with you lot. This whole concept of spells and necromancers is something I'd never thought I'd be talking about, but I swear until the golden halls of Asgard that there was something evil in that fortress, and it wasn't human. At least not anymore."
"Would you like to add anything else to your associate's claim, Gandalf? Or perhaps you have more proof to present." Saruman pressed on, even with Theodore giving his two cents into the conversation, he still remained obstinate.
"I have none." Gandalf responded.
"Because there is none!" Saruman shot back. "Let us examine what we know, other than supposed first-hand accounts. A single orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen. A dagger from a bygone age has been found. And a human sorcerer who calls himself the Necromancer has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It's not so very much at all." From Saruman's perspective, and perhaps from anybody else, his resulting argument sounded very logical. All of Gandalf's conspiracies, and even Theodore's encounter with the Necromancer, could all be chalked up to blatant overreactions and falling for well-made theatrical tricks. There was also another matter that Saruman found very concerning in regards to Gandalf's adventures.
"The question of this dwarvish company however, troubles me greatly, along with you three." Saruman said, briefly gesturing to the conqueror, shugoki and warlord standing before him. "I'm not convinced Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest, nor allow these warriors to continue onwards and blindly venture wherever they wish. If they'd come to me, I would have spared them this disappointment. I do not pretend to understand your reason to raise their hopes."
And yet, as Saruman continued to talk, Galadriel once again sensed something, or rather she felt the absence of a certain group within the borders of Rivendell. Using the same psychic talk, she reached out to Gandalf.
They are leaving.
The gray wizard slowly turned his head to Galadriel.
Yes.
Of course, Galadriel had a sinking suspicion that Gandalf was already on it.
You knew. From her half-face visible, a small, proud smile grew on her lips. Gandalf could only give a sheepish pursing of his lips, like he'd been caught doing something naughty.
The sounds of footsteps stopped Saruman's rambling as Lindir approached the White Council with some grave news for the seven occupants.
"My Lord Elrond," he said, "the dwarves, they've gone!"
…
Far away from the White Council, armed and ready to hit the road once again, the Company of Thorin Oakenshield traversed their way along a hidden stone path cut across the slopes of the Valley of Imladris towards the mountains of the east. Under the cover of the morning sun, the thirteen members of the company had successfully snuck out of Rivendell without getting caught, either by the elven guards or by the White Council. They had a quest to fulfill, and they had no time to wait for permission in order to get ahead. However, this meant that they had to leave behind Gandalf and Augusta.
"Be on your guard!" Thorin shouted from the front of the pack, briefly stopping to make sure everyone was accounted for, even their burglar, who had also come with them even as they left the wizard and the conqueror back in Rivendell. "We're about to step over to the edge of the wild! Balin, you know these paths, lead on."
Bilbo, now realizing that he was about to reenter the outside world without Gandalf and Augusta by his side, took a moment to look back at Rivendell, the gorgeous waterfalls and homely halls of the elven town that he had grown to enjoy. He could not deny that his time in Rivendell, as short as it was, could only bring him gentler memories of his home back in Hobbiton, of Bag End. He would be going it alone this time, no wizard or mercenary to fall back on for comfort.
"Master Baggins," Thorin said, getting the hobbit's attention, knowing well that the homebody was drawn to the luxuries of Rivendell, "I suggest you keep up."
With that said, Bilbo took one last look at Rivendell before he too departed for the greater world of Middle Earth alongside the rest of the company, wondering when he would see Gandalf, or even Augusta again.
…
Meanwhile, back in Rivendell, the White Council had gone and disbanded once again. With the company gone and with no doubt too far away to retrieve them, they had no other choice but to let them go. Saruman had left the valley shortly after the news broke, as he had no reason to linger in Rivendell afterwards, returning once more to Orthanc, the black tower of Isengard that he called home. Elrond had gone to speak with other members of his house regarding the departure of Thorin Oakenshield and his members. Only Galadriel, Gandalf, and the warriors from Heathmoor remained in the meeting room.
"You will follow them."
"Yes."
Both elf maiden and wizard stood at the balcony talking to one-another, leaving Augusta, Theodore and Ryuma to themselves. Augusta seemed quite upset that the company had left her and Gandalf behind, and reasonably so. She had fought and traveled with them for some time, and she'd grown attached to the company. Hearing that they'd simply packed up to continue on their quest to Erebor without her help cut into the conqueror, even with the warlord and shugoki trying to cheer her up as Galadriel and Gandalf talked.
"I mean, I'd be mad too if I got left behind." Theodore said with his arms crossed.
"They didn't say a goodbye or anything, just gone to the wind. Like they didn't even think about telling me." Augusta said, sounding as discouraged as she felt.
"I'm sure there are greater reasons than simple absent-mindedness, Connolly. They have a quest to fulfill, even if it means continuing on without us." Ryuma stated, gently rubbing her shoulder while he turned to listen on to what the elf and Gandalf had to say. The shugoki knew that they would be tagging along with him on whatever next journey they went on.
"You are right to help Thorin Oakenshield, but I fear this quest has set in motion forces we do not yet understand." Galadriel said to the wizard. "The riddle of the morgul blade must be answered. Something moves in the shadows, unseen, hidden from our sight, it will not show itself. Not yet. But every day it grows in strength. You must be careful."
"I will."
"Take the heralds of Heathmoor with you for your journey." Galadriel also said, briefly looking back at the three behind her. "I believe their part to play has yet to come. They must know why they have been brought here. The answers they seek will not reveal themselves to them on their own. It is something you must guide them towards, for their arrival may bring about stranger evils than those we know."
"I understand." Gandalf nodded, and went to leave. Galadriel, however, had one last question.
"Mithrandir!" She called out, and Gandalf stopped. "Why the halfling?"
"I do not know," Gandalf truthfully responded, going on to explain his lack of reason as best as he could, "Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keep the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love."
"Why Bilbo Baggins?" He chuckled, thinking on about his memories of the hobbit, fond and shining as they were. "Perhaps it is because I am afraid… and he gives me courage."
It was the best that the gray wizard could come up with, and possibly the only reason. He had spent so much time around the little people and men of Middle Earth, bearing witness to the normality and sweetness of a simple life and what it could bring. For this, Gandalf could say that someone as meek and small as Bilbo Baggins had the potential to change the course of the world, which gave the gray wizard all the bravery he wished.
The three warriors had also overheard the wizard's little speech, and the formerly sorrowed Augusta could feel the genuine words of Gandalf touch a deeper part of her soul, pushing aside her gloom. She too had once been a nameless person in the crowd many, many years ago, a brave young squire who felt like she could make herself known across the lands of Ashfeld. Those times were long gone, but the sensation of trying to be more than what she was still remained, even when she was now a well-known mercenary throughout Heathmoor. It lingered in her, still waiting for that special day to come.
After hearing such a moving statement, the Lady of Lorien gently grasped the hands of the gray wizard, to which Gandalf looked at Galadriel directly.
"Do not be afraid, Mithrandir. You are not alone." Galadriel gently said, brushing a thin lock of hair from Gandalf's head, before she spoke again in the elvish tongue.
"Ae boe I le eliathon, Im tulithon."
"(If you should ever need my help, I will come.)"
And with that said, the gray wizard gave one final bow as she released him, and when he looked back to see her face again, she was nowhere to be found, much to his surprise. And he wasn't alone.
"How did-? W-What in-?" Theodore sputtered as he stumbled back, eyes wide in shock after having witnessed the elf lady straight up vanish from his sight in a single blink. Just when he'd thought he had seen it all, Middle Earth threw him another surprise.
"The wonders of this world never cease to amaze me." Ryuma breathlessly said, simply amazed at what he had seen. Behind him, the conqueror stood up from her stone chair and marched over to Gandalf, a sense of determination in her footsteps.
"So," she said, "where do we go now?"
All Gandalf did was chuckle at the ready conqueror, for he already knew where.
…
Soon enough, after some time gathering their belongings and some supplies for their newest quest, Gandalf and the Heathmoor Gang, as they had taken to calling themselves now rather than their individual titles, were about to set foot out to the lands of Middle Earth yet again. Ryuma would be joining them, the shugoki now taking part in their quest alongside Augusta and Theodore on their journey to find a way back home. Standing at the front gate of Rivendell, the four were once again armed with their respective gear and weapons. Gandalf had donned his pointed hat and wooden staff again, along with Glamdring hanging on his hip. He would need it for where they would be going to explore.
Before they left, there were still some things to say. Elrond had passed by to say goodwill to them along with some of his house, standing at the top of the stone stairs wishing them all a fruitful venture.
"Farewell, Gandalf!" He called out, raising a hand to the wizard and his new party. "May your quest bring light to the dark corners of our home. I have great faith in all of you."
Gandalf bowed, and so did Augusta and Ryuma. Theodore silently stood beside his fellow Heathmoor brethren, with his Golden Bruin sword limply dangling from his fingertips. He did not wish to be rude, but the warlord was getting antsy. They still had to try and catch up with the dwarves, for who knew where they were at now.
Truthfully, Theodore had started to get used to hanging with the company. The dwarves were so similar to the folktales of his own kind, and he wished to know more about this 'dragon' that had destroyed and occupied their home. To go forth and slay such a mighty beast, and earn the name of dragon slayer among the Viking clans, would bring great honor and glory to his home.
"Arigato, Elrond-san." Ryuma said, forever grateful for the elf lord's support. Ryuma had been a lost stranger to them, and still the elves of the Hidden Valley let him in with open arms, offering food and shelter, like they were friends. The shugoki would never forget Elrond, nor the house of Rivendell, for as long as he lived.
"Take care, Elrond!" Augusta waved, the last one to say something before the party started to head out on their next adventure to find Oakenshield. However, before they could even step foot out the gate, a sudden and very familiar voice called out from behind Elrond.
"Wait! Please wait!"
Everyone stopped the moment they heard it, and Elrond stood aside as a panicking Tolthiel made a quick appearance, running as fast as her legs could take her. The four stopped to see the young elf hurry down the stairs to them, none so more surprised than Augusta.
"Tolthiel?" The conqueror said as she made her way over to the elf librarian. She'd forgotten all about her, and she couldn't help but feel like an idiot for doing so. Thankfully Tolthiel had come by just in the nick of time. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to give this to you, Augusta. As a symbol of our friendship." Once she was able to catch her breath from running all the way from the library to the front gate, the elf stuck her arms out for Augusta to see what she held, for in Tolthiel's hands was a small, brown book, something that could easily fit into her knapsack. The title of the book, Rivendell, layemboldened on the center of the cover, and was written in shining silver, along with a silver string that dangled from the spine. No doubt it was a book about the history of this elven town.
Augusta however, could only balk at the gift. Her heart was telling her to take it out of goodwill and honor the elf's wish, but her pride as a mercenary, one who earned their rewards rather than being gifted them, acted differently. But even the hardiest of mercenaries are suspect to the might of friendship, and so the conqueror slowly but surely took the book with trembling, gentle fingers from Tolthiel's ever-soft hands, staring down at the soft cover with reverence before looking back at the elf.
"Why?" She asked.
"Well, I assumed since you enjoyed reading about our land's ancient history, that you would like to read more on a local place." Tolthiel began to say, not completely understanding the meaning.
"No, not that. Why would you give me this?"
The elf paused for a moment before she answered the mercenary, a smile gracing her lips as she raised her brown eyes to meet Augusta's dark blue.
"You are my friend, Augusta. You always will be. Is it not custom for friends to give each other gifts where you are from? Please, keep it with you, for your time here has graced me with some of the fondest memories in my life." The elf jovially said, not realizing just how much her words were impacting the conqueror in front of her. Augusta could feel her fingers shaking as she held the book in her hands. The elf was too kind to her, a random mercenary who just so happened to be here in this world, and she had been rewarded with something truly special.
A genuine friend, brought together by a shared love of stories. How many people could have the same where she was from? Little to none, the sad reality for most of Heathmoor's history, including her own. And how starved she was of it.
Augusta took one last look at the book before she wrapped her arms around Tolthiel in a surprising hug, to which the elf gracefully returned. The two stood there, embraced in each other, their hearts filled with happiness over their newfound friendship. Theodore and Ryuma, who had been watching the whole thing, were stunned to see the gold-armored conqueror embrace the elf with such passion. The Viking let out a chuckle from the smirk on his face, his thoughts on the matter clear as day, while the shugoki smiled behind his face mask.
Even Gandalf couldn't help but beam at the sight, knowing that this was only the beginning of how much Middle Earth would change them all.
"Thank you, Tolthiel. I'll never forget you." Augusta whispered into the elf's ear.
"And I to you, Augusta. Take care." The elf said back, and released the conqueror from her arms. With one last nod, the knight walked back to her comrades before they started to head out to the open world, leaving Rivendell behind them. As they trekked on through the trail into the majesty of Middle Earth, Augusta stared down at the little brown book she'd received, smiling behind her helm as she did.
"A book, huh?" Theodore leered over to the conqueror. "Eh, can't say I'm surprised. You two seemed to get along pretty well."
"Friendship is a mighty power, master Ulfarson. Perhaps you will experience it yourself in the coming days!" Gandalf shouted from the front.
"What he said." Augusta said, playfully nudging the Thor-worshipping warlord.
Back down at the gate, Tolthiel watched on with yearning eyes, arms placed over her heart as she witnessed the three warriors and Gandalf leave the elven town to fulfill their next adventure. She was already missing them, and the gallant excitement they brought to Rivendell. Her memories of the past day would be with her even until the day she would leave for Valinor, but she could not lie to herself as she wished to see them once again, letting out a despondent sigh as they disappeared from her sight, perhaps never to be seen again. Tolthiel couldn't help but let out a solemn sigh. Sensing that the librarian was in a despondent mood, Elrond stepped over to her side and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder.
"You did a wonderful thing just then, Tolthiel." Elrond said to her.
"Thank you, my Lord." She replied, feeling a little better that she had at least made an impact on the one warrior that made her life a little brighter. Elrond could only remain in silence before he spoke up again, feeling a little mischievous with her. He knew a surefire way to cheer her up.
"She was quite gorgeous, wasn't she? I always knew you had a thing for blonde hair." He chuckled, and Tolthiel reared back with a blush lighting up her cheeks.
"M-My Lord Elrond! I assure you I only see Augusta as a newfound friend!" She squeaked with a side of laughter in her words, feeling a rush of both embarrassment and relief upon her. Of course, he knew about her preferences, that was clear as day, but Elrond would never use it against his own kin like a cudgel. He was far too kind for such acts. The occasional tease, however, was not out of the question.
The master of Rivendell laughed alongside her as he led her back into town.
"Fear not, Tolthiel." He said to her. "I have a feeling that we have not seen the last of them just yet."