Kelwtim2spar - As always, thank you for your support and comments. Hope you enjoy.
Walking through the narrow passageway I felt a sense of familiarity, almost too familiar. Heading out into the opening, I followed on behind the dwarves, the wizard and Mr. Baggins until we all stopped, taking in the vast and spectacular views.
"The Valley of Imladris. In the common tongue, it's known by another name." Gandalf all but smirked.
"Rivendell…" Bilbo sighed, the sighs taking his breath away.
"Here lies the last homely house, east of the sea."
Thorin gritted his teeth and stormed over to Gandalf, whom looked quite pleased with himself. "This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy." I couldn't help but feel hurt by his words, like they were spoken just for me to hear.
"Did you know of this!?" He spat.
I furrowed by brow, "Of course not." His face wasn't giving much away as he looked at me, hoping for an answer that I just could not give him. "Do you think I'd choose to come here, let alone agree unknowingly?"
In a scowl, he turned back and craned his neck backwards to meet Gandalf's eye, as betrayal and hurt was held from within them.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself."
"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing?" Thorin shook his head defiantly. "They will try to stop us."
Gandalf scoffed, "Of course, they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful this will need to be handled with tact, and respect, and no small degree of charm, which is why you leave the talking to me."
"Gandalf," I called after him as he made his way to Rivendell. "I cannot go with you. Not to Rivendell."
He frowned, "But you can, my child." He looked to Thorin briefly, "You're part of the company."
I faced Thorin who was deep in thought, his eyes narrowed before speaking, "If she wants to leave… let her." He turned on his heels and made for Rivendell with his kin.
"Shall we?" Gandalf looked down upon me.
I was hesitant, very hesitant. This wouldn't go well at all, and I could feel it deep from within. The uncertainty and unknowing that awaited us… me.
Walking through the gates to Rivendell, all were tense as we stopped in the center in front of large, marble steps before we were met by some Elves.
"Mithrandir." One of them greeted as they descended the steps.
"Ah, Lindir." Gandalf greeted back.
I stood between the Dwarves and behind Gandalf as to blend in a little. However, the slight height variation between the dwarves and I wasn't that vast, me being only slightly taller than the few.
I listened as Thorin spoke to Dwalin, "Stay sharp." He whispered and he nodded in agreement.
As Gandalf and Lindir spoke to one another. I listened as I heard hooves fast approaching from behind before the bellowing of the hunting horn sounded. The dwarves all turned around and closed in on each other.
"Close ranks!" Thorin yelled, and everyone huddled into one another, now with arms and blades at the ready.
The galloping from the horses as they circled us would almost make you dizzy. The shining armour from the steeds and their riders was blinding as the sun reflected from them.
"Gandalf!" A familiar voice greeted the wizard. I looked up from where I stood as he hopped off his horse and approached him.
They began to speak in Elvish to one another as the Dwarves looked on in wonder before returning to the language we all spoke and understood.
"Strange for orcs to come so close to our boarders. Something or someone has drawn them near."
"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf admitted.
Elrond turned as Thorin made his way through the others and approached Lord Elrond.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain." He greeted.
"I do not believe we have met." He clarified.
"You have your Grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."
"Indeed? He made no mention of you." The slight dig came from Thorin.
Elrond spoke in Elvish, causing the Dwarves to mutter among them.
"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin yelled, as the others grunted and
I smirked, "No, he offered food." As the words left my lips, I noticed my sudden mistake. His eyes fell upon me instantly.
"Lady Gaylia…" Lord Elrond spoke; a shocked expression clouded his face as he approached me.
I inhaled deeply before making my way out from within the cluster as they muttered to each other in wonder.
"Lord Elrond." I greeted with a dip on my head.
"Where have you been?" he asked. I heard the dwarves muttering to themselves from behind as he continued, "Your father has been looking for you for many years."
I sighed, "I'm well aware of what my father has been doing." I looked up to him, "Many have come in search of me, however, they have no choice but to leave empty-handed." A slight smile spread on my lips as he smiled to me also.
"He will not be pleased to know that you were here, Gaylia."
"Then he will not find out."
He dipped his head, whether that was in agreement or just courtesy, I'm sure I would find out sooner or later.
As we seated for our meal, Thorin, Gandalf, Lord Elrond and I all sat separate from the other Dwarves as we spoke to one another. Looking over the sword that was found in the Troll cave, he was entranced.
"This is Orcrist, the Goblin-cleaver. A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the west. My kin," he handed the sword back to Thorin. "May it serve you well."
He then went on to look over another sword that Gandalf had on his person, speaking of its past also.
"How did you come by these?" he asked curiously.
"We found them in a troll hoard on the Great East road, shortly before we were ambushed by orcs." Gandalf said.
"And what were you doing on the Great East road?" his interest was piqued instantly.
Later that evening, Balin, Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin and I met with Lord Elrond in a private meeting to discuss the map, among other things.
"Our business is no concern of Elves." Thorin spat.
I could truly see that his hatred for my kind ran deeper than I thought.
"For goodness sake. Thorin, show him the map." Gandalf pleaded with the king.
"It is the legacy of my people. It's mine to protect! As are its secrets."
"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond." Gandalf commanded.
Unsure of what to do, Thorin looked around the room, gauging the others that stood in it with him.
"Thorin," I whispered lowly, and he turned to face me, "You can trust him."
He looked at me unsure as what to do. After all, why would he take the word of an Elf from another?
"Thorin, no!" Balin croaked as he took out the map and handed it to Elrond.
Elrond looked over it, "Erebor. What is your interest in this map?"
Gandalf shrugged, "It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifacts sometimes contains hidden text." I saw as Thorin looked to Gandalf, grateful that he didn't mention about the quest. I too was grateful. "You still read ancient dwarfish, do you not?"
"'Cirth ithil." He said.
"Moon ruins?" I asked from beside him.
"Of course, "Gandalf reflected, "An easy thing to miss."
I smiled as he looked at me.
"Well in this case, that is true. Moon ruins can only be read by the light of the moon of the same shape and season as they day on which they were written."
"Can you read them?" Thorin asked becoming inpatient as he had to wait.
"These ruins were written on a mid-summer's eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight." Lord Elrond confirmed.
He walked closer to a slab of stone, right under the moons light. As the moon shone down, it revealed a scripture that only Elrond could read.
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last lights of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." He read from the map.
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asked.
"It is the start of the dwarves new year, when the last moon of Autumn and the first sun of Winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf informed Mr. Baggins.
Thorin groaned to my right, "This is ill news. Summer is passing; Durin's Day will soon be upon us."
"We still have time." Balin tried to reassure him.
"Time, for what?" Bilbo asked.
"To find the entrance. We have to be standing at exactly the right spot, at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."
Elrond sighed, "So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain."
"What of it?" Thorin snapped back.
"There are some who would not deem it wise." Lord Elrond handed the map back to Thorin.
"Who do you mean?" Gandalf asked.
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." Elrond replied. He turned and looked to me, "May I suggest that you do not go any further, Lady Gaylia. Your father would not be pleased if something were to happen to you, and that I knew you were here."
I sighed, catching the fleeting gaze from Thorin as he fiddled with the map between his fingers. "I appreciate your concern, Lord Elrond… but this is my decision, you'd do best to respect that."
He smiled, "Very well." Then he left with Gandalf.
Later that night, I stood overlooking the valley below, not realizing that Thorin was a mere few feet to my side, also listening into the talks from Gandalf and Elrond below as they were depicting how Thorin's grandfather had been driven mad whilst under the mountain, that has father had fallen to the same illness and that Thorin was likely to fall too.
I walked over to him and stood at his side.
"Do not let him deter you." I told him.
He turned to face me, "You said I could trust him."
"And you can," I replied, "But that doesn't mean he won't try and stop you."
He acknowledged my words, groaning and tapping his foot off of the ground. "What would you have us do"? he asked.
I was taken aback by his words. I had never thought he'd ask me of all people for advice.
I thought over my words to make sure I was making the right choice before I answered him, "I believe we should go… now."
He bowed his head ever so slightly and without another word, we set off for the wilderness ahead.