Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien

Chapter Seven

Secrets and Cities

Every inch of Claudia was drenched. It had rained the past week as the small company of the Valley of Girion traversed the Misty Mountains. In the years since her father's travel through the mountains, many had begun to move through the mountain pass as well and had created wayward points for other weary travellers. The mountains were not for the faint of heart, no matter how many people tried to tame them. This much was true as Claudia sat curled in clock staring out into the incandescent rainstorm that raged beyond the mouth of the cave they found themselves in. The glow of the fire warmed the cave and her sleeping companions. Night had come to its fullest point when Rowan woke Claudia for her watch shift. Sleepily Claudia marched over to a small bolder that overlooked the mountain side they sat on. Snuggling into the rock Claudia watched as her sister made her way to the fire folding out her sleeping pack. Rowan paused turning her head to gaze at the long river of kinky black hair. Claudia saw the faint glimmer of love in her eyes as her sister took in the sight of the sleeping she-elf in their company. Reaching over Rowan moved the hair revealing only a small patch tawny skin, pressing a soft kiss there.

There were few secrets among the Durin family, there were even fewer secrets among the Durin sisters. Among their secrets was Enna, the Mirkwood Advisor. Enna, like most elves, was statuesque. Her long black hair was highlighted against her dark brown skin. Her beauty was undeniable to anyone who knew her, and most undoubtedly Rowan. For someone who could stand before fearsome, Rowan blushed like a child when in any proximity to the she-elf. Claudia had met the young elf when Odette was going to Mirkwood for her apprenticeship in their forge. As an advisor to King Thranduil, Enna came to assure her parents that their daughter would be protected under the king's watch. Rowan had been enamored by the elf from the moment she met her. Their friendship began as correspondents, Rowan would ask genuinely about Odette's advancement and then dive off with questions about Enna. Claudia didn't really know when the relationship had turned romantic, but she was happy for the pair. Claudia didn't know how her parents would react to their relationship, though she suspected her Ama would embrace Enna as her own. Claudia witnessed the hardships of Kili and Tauriel's union first hand. She couldn't imagine what others would snarl at her sister. The union of an elf and a dwarf was unusual and unwelcomed in both races. So, Claudia was happy to keep the secret for her sister, if it allotted the pair the peace even for a brief moment.

Weeks ago, before they had reached the Misty Mountains they had gotten to Mirkwood. King Thranduil had greeted the Durin sister's with open arms, and Theodon with cold disdain. Thranduil had a warm affinity for their Ama and her for him, much to their Da's chagrin. It was very often the two shared letters littered with gossip and friendly banter. After a few days in Mirkwood, Thranduil had ensured the small company was packed well and their provisions were filled. And to their small company they added Enna and two guards favored by the elven king. Claudia watched a small thrill play in Rowan's eyes when Thranduil had mentioned over dinner that Enna would accompany them and sit on the council. It was a wonder that no one caught them, they were the least subtle couple she had ever met and she grew up with Tauriel and Kili.

The rush of guilt hit Claudia as she invaded the private moment. Rowan would shrivel up from embarrassment if she knew Claudia was watching her sleepless driven movements. So, she turned away and listened to the heavy thump of rain slapping stone and the rumble of thunder. Time seemed still during her watch, never moving as she sat upon that rock awaiting any threats that should come upon them. Her fingers wandered mindless to the long necklace that hung around her neck, finding the ring that was stuffed underneath her thick layers of clothes. Bringing the ring out she studied it in the firelight. She wondered,briefly, what Brand was doing at that exact moment. She had left him in Dale weeks ago with a sweet kiss and a hollow promise that she would have an answer when she returned.

"Go have your adventure," he smiled between butterfly kisses, "when you come back you will be ready." He promised her.

Claudia was not so sure.

Nevertheless she had accepted the ring. She brought her knee closer to her chest, hoping to find a little more warmth in the draft cave. She would be lying to say that she didn't miss home, that she didn't miss the warmth of her own bed. But Claudia found a great thrill in the small things on the road, like how the sky looked just before dawn broke or how she could listen to the soft melody of the breeze singing between trees. Claudia found that she liked traveling a great deal. When she passed wondrous views she thought briefly of her Ama and how she would adore the sights. Though this thought was quickly derailed by the angry words she had spoken to her Ama. Rowan had exchanged a few letters with their parents since their departure, and each time Rowan offered to write an apology on her behalf. But Claudia always declined. She was not going to apologize first.

Her thoughts slowly stilled as she concentrated on the beat of rain at the mouth of the cave. Her fingers rubbed the material of her pants, fighting to keep herself awake. It was the sound of shoe scraping against stone that banished all thoughts of sleep from her. She straightened her spine, sliding the dagger from her thigh holster. Her eyes looked over the piles of sleeping bodies and passed the line of their animals, deeper into the darkness of the cave. Sliding down the stone Claudia moved through the cave to the edge of the light. Narrowing her eyes she tried to make sense of the dark. Her body pulsed with fear at the sound of distant laughter.

Claudia

Her breath hitched watching as a hand reached out from the dark.

Come

The dagger lowered at her side. Her heart stilling at the familiar voice. Hesitantly, her hand reached into the darkness and she was pulled through.

The first thing she saw was pure white light. Burn and bleeding into her eyes. She blinked trying to find sanctuary from the light. Opening her eyes again she waited, slowly adjusting to the light. The ambiance of a city sounded in her ears; the paddling of feet off to their unknown destinations, the soft chatters of hundreds of voices, and lively beat of a living city. The outline of buildings darkened her view, and the soft breeze of people moving touched her person. Tall faceless figures raced through white structures Claudia couldn't quite make out. Reaching out she tried to stop one of the people, but the blurry passerbys didn't seem to know she was there.

"Hello?" She called out, her voice echoing in the strangely empty space.

Claudia

She spun on her heels, her eyes focusing on the edge of a black cloak as it weaved through the crowd. Claudia's feet began after them, following the distinct path they took. The concept of time and distance weren't grasped in her mind as she ventured deeper into the dreamy city. As she moved she saw flashes of strangers' faces smiling and enjoying their lives. She blinked, the pure city of light faded into a wide dark vault. Lines of blue light circled the vault giving Claudia insight into the room she found herself in. A dark lake of water surrounded the room with a platform at its center. Protruding out of the water, the platform held a singular thing. Blue light encased the dagger, her breath left her lungs as her eyes zoned in on the dagger. It called to her.

She blinked and she was there before the platform. It's yours. A voice spoke in her mind. Take it.

The ever fading blue that misted from the edges of the dagger called to the pads of her fingertips. The blue light kissed her kiss, making home in her veins. Magdalen jumped watching the veins behind her wrist pulse with a heavenly glow. Bulged eyes wandered from her wrist to the hanging dagger. A voice gasped inside her skull, like a first breath of life. Her hand reached out toward the dagger on its own accord. The sword was reaching out to her as much she was reaching out to it. The metal vibrated as in one brilliant moment her skin met the dagger. The sword became an extension of herself. Wiping the sword around a blast of the blue glittering light illuminated the room sending a tidal wave of energy spiraling from the point of the dagger.

She gasped, her skin vibrating with undeniable energy. A whirlpool of the blue energy swirled in front of her, figures moving within the blue mass. It's yours, Claudia. It's your destiny.

Take it, Claudia.

Do it.

Claudia

Take it.

Claudia

"Claudia!"

A scream slipped from her lips as her body came crashing back to reality. She blinked, finding the green depths of Theo's staring at her. A heavy hand rested on her shoulder. Taking a deep breath she found not only Theo's eyes on her but Dag's as well.

"You fell asleep on watch," Dag pointed out, his voice wasn't harsh but concerned. Claudia looked around searching for the city she was just in.

"I heard something, I wasn't asleep." Her voice frantic as she tried to make sense of it all.

Theo squeezed her shoulder, trying to ease her. "Claudia, it's okay. This trip is stressful. You are just tired." Theo comforted her.

Claudia closed her eyes, calming her wild heart. "Go and get some sleep. We will be heading to Rivendell in the morning. We're almost there." Dag commanded.

Claudia, still dazed, nodded slumping toward her sleeping pack next to her sister. Curling up in her blanket, she heard the light whispers of Dag and Theo. She knew they were whispering their concerns of her mental state. Anger pulses through her, sleeping on watch was one of the most stupid things she could have done. On the road they didn't know what danger laid at each corner. Because of her they could have died. Flipping on her side she faced the darkness that had once called to her. With wide eyes she tried to see the silhouettes she had once seen.

Her hand raised to curl around her Ama's necklace. She did not sleep that night

The faint flush of blush painted the sky and the rain slowed. Claudia was the last to rise, sluggishly she gathered her things packing on her ram. Life buzzed around her as her company began to discuss their plan to descend the mountain. Enna stayed closed to Rowan as she offered her insight on how long they had left until they arrived in Rivendell. Alma helped Dag clean up the campsite, and Theo fed the ponies and ram preparing them for the rest of their journey. Claudia quietly kept to herself, her mind wandering back to the dream she had encountered. This was not the first dream of the city of shadows she had. Since the day she left her mountain, nightmares had plagued her nights. She had seen that city over and over each night. Last night was the first time she had seen that dagger, and it had left her uneasy.

"Ready to ride?" Alma asked standing by her ram.

Claudia nodded, her lips pursed. Alma smiled hoisting herself up onto her ram. The rest of their company followed suit. They rode into the clear light of morning, sunrey warming their rain soaked clothes. The ride down the mountain was quiet and still. Claudia rode behind Alma and Dag, eyeing the ever close edge of the mountain. Her eyes were focused on the horizon, dull to the world around her. She didn't notice Dag slowed as he came to ride beside her.

"Good weather, we should be in Rivendell before the day is out." He commented breaking Claudia from her blank trance.

"The sooner we are off the roads, the better I will feel." She muttered.

Dag hummed. Growing up with Claudia, he could tell when something was off with the young princess. "What are you trying to escape?"

Claudia pulled her reins stopping her ram. "I don't know what you mean." She hissed.

"The last two months you wake as if you have been visited by a ghost. Each day you wake you are as pale as death. Something ales you, my friend, we can all see it."

Claudia picked her reins, ignoring the pointed look of Dag. "Sometimes, when we are hurt, we say things we don't mean. Those words we say haunt us, and feel like a burden that we carry with use," his eyes watching the first sight of the sun rise over the mountains.

Claudia knew he was talking about her Ama, and their fight before she left. In their nearly two month journey Claudia had refused to speak on the fight with anyone. "Burdens should be buried, then they would not trouble us so."

Dag shook his head, but did not press his friend any further. Hours passed as their descent evened out. The cool mountain air melted into the warmth of spring. Theo cheered when they passed through a stone tunnel, their quiet spirits were raised as the excitement of the end of their journey neared. Even Claudia smiled hearing the rush of waterfalls that echoed in the cave. Riding through the dark tunnel the clear light of day shone at the end. Breaking into the light of day, she squinted waiting for her eyes to adjust. When they did she was met with one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen. Earthy stone buildings created an open grand home that stood overlooking the falls of water from the mountain point above. Rowan rode next to Claudia, reaching out to pat her sister on the back.

"We did it, we made it." Rowan smiled at Claudia.

Claudia smiled back at her sister, before setting her eyes on the home. Something deep inside Claudia stirred. Perhaps it was destiny calling her name. Whatever it may be all Claudia knew was that they had made it to Rivendell, the last homely house east of the sea.