Chapter 4 To Run Away

Dinner with elves was nothing Maliah had ever experienced. It was quiet, light music in the air, with mostly fruits and vegetables to dine on. Although meat was provided for her, what animal she wasn't entirely sure and was positive the fare was caught by Gandalf. Maliah told the group why she felt the need to leave home and the pull towards the Shire, also what she had done to get this far. No one interrupted her and waited until the end of dinner to speak. She sat waiting, playing with her cup in her nervousness.

"I must say, you've had quite the adventure so far."

She looked to Lord Elrond slightly confused. "But nothing has happened."

He gave her a small smile. "Just because there wasn't danger to be found doesn't mean it didn't lurk in the shadows." Standing up, Elrond let his smile fall. "I am not sure what to do with you yet, whether to send note to your parents or not is still not settled. But for now, you will stay here, where it can be assured you are safe. Arwen and Mirari will show you where you can stay and get some rest." With that, he left the table with Gandalf who followed after giving her a wink.

"Come, you can sleep in the room across from my own." Mirari stood and held out a hand for her cousin to help her down from her tall seat.

Walking between the two tall females, Maliah felt more a child than she had in a long time. Thankfully, she was talked as a grown dwarf on the way to the room. After a distance, she was stopped and Mirari gestured to a closed door to the right.

"This is my room, Arwen is next to me there, and this is yours while you are here."

Maliah was turned to the left and looked through the door Arwen was opening. It was open and beautiful, nature making its way into the room. The bed was massive, she was probably going to need a stool to climb onto it, a desk with a chair, a few lounge chairs next to a fireplace, and a wash bin next to a changing screen. Opposite the door was a full wall, open balcony which Maliah went over and saw it looked over much of Rivendell. She wasn't used to having a room connected to the outside world so much, her own room in Erebor not even having a window.

"We had your baggage brought to this room earlier, if you need anything come and seek one of us. Don't want you becoming lost." Arwen bid the two goodnight and left to her own tasks.

Mirari looked to her cousin who was still looking around the room in awe. She had felt the same way coming to Rivendell the first time, the elves had a way with beauty that none else had. For a brief moment, she wondered about telling Maliah about her and Gandalf leaving for the Shire the day after tomorrow. Lord Elrond would know what she should do since he was the one deciding whether or not to contact Aunt Râlia.

"I have work to do, studies to give over tomorrow and so I will be retiring to my own room. Why don't you try and sleep, Lia? You must be tired from going over the mountains." Mirari walked over and kissed Maliah on the cheek who returned the gesture and left the room.

Looking over at the bed again, Maliah internally agreed with Miri; she was tired and should go to sleep early. Ignoring her bags by the fireplace, she picked up a footstool by one of the chairs and placed it by the edge of her bed before taking her shoes off. Climbing onto the giant bed, she sank into the silky sheets and soft mattress and fell asleep within minutes; not knowing she was the topic of conversation not far away.

Gandalf blew smoke towards the sky, admiring the stars above with his Elf companion standing next to him. Lord Elrond's focus was across the way, where the sleeping quarters were, deep in thought about his newest guest. The wizard had to admit himself he was surprised to encounter the youngest of Râlia's children at the stronghold and even more so she had come the who way without an adult dwarf. A disturbance in the air behind the two had them turning to see Arwen joining them at their overlook balcony.

"Are you going to send her away father?"

Elrond sighed, knowing what he should do wouldn't please his daughter. "Her parents must be very worried about her."

"But you know where her future lies, and it isn't with the dwarves."

Gandalf's interest peaked and he looked at his longtime friend while inhaling from his pipe again. "You saw something?"

"As vague as 'something' could be. Her future is hazy, as if it has no direction or isn't even here. The same happened with her mother, I could see nothing that would or could happen with her. It is as if they weren't supposed to exist here." He paused before stepping away from the balcony. "I will sleep on the decision. Gandalf, don't say anything to her about your trip to the Shire; Arwen if you could tell Mirari the same. Sleep well."

The Elf Lord departed, his daughter after him, and leaving Gandalf alone with his thoughts.

Maliah woke to the sound of a bird chirping in her ear and swatted at the familiar sound. She froze and slowing opened her eyes to see Daemyn hopping on the mattress next to her head. Oh no, her mama now knew where she was and her journey was threatened by the ability of their instant communication. Sitting up abruptly, she jumped off the bed and edged towards the door while Daemyn watched her from the bed still. She knew there was no need for him to follow her since he had found her already and it was easier for him to follow her now. Finding the door handle, she slipped through the door and shut it quietly behind her. It was still dark and she doubted Mirari would be awake. She had to leave, she didn't want to be stopped and the pull was just as strong as ever to get to the Shire. Something was there and Maliah had to get there and ease her suffering.

Sliding down the door to sit on the floor, she considered her options. She could wait for Lord Elrond's decision, although Maliah doubted he would help her, or she could leave now while it was dark. A light breeze found its way down the hall and brushed her hair as a word whispered in her ear. 'Leave.' Yes, she should leave. The way to the shire was burned into her mind and she was already about halfway there, the rest of the road had less danger than before. Taking a deep breath, Maliah reopened the door and peeked inside. Her mama's robin was nowhere in sight and she took his disappearance as a sign. Slipping her boots on, she buckled the knife at her waist and her bags across her back. Maliah took a half-step before spying a bowl of fruit she hadn't seen before. She had been smart enough to take some coins with her, but the more she could save more if she took food with her. Hastily packing the fruit atop her other rations of bread and honey from Beorn and dried meat from Erebor, she once again slipped from the room again.

Remembering the way from her room to the main courtyard, she quickly found her way to the front entrance of Rivendell she had come through yesterday. Maliah stopped and looked back at the magnificent home of the elves wishing she could have said goodbye to her cousin. They would see each other again; she was sure of it. Adjusting the strap on her shoulder, Maliah face forward again and made her way back into the wild and away from those who would stop her.

An hour later brought Mirari to Lord Elrond to turn in her studies before leaving for the next day and stopped abruptly at the sight of the robin of Erebor perched on his shoulder. The Elf himself was reading over some parchments and ignoring the chirping in his ear.

"Should I assume she is no longer here?"

Elrond lifted his head to his young charge, feeling relief when the bird flew over to her. "It appears your Aunt's bird is smarter than many would have thought. No, she left in the dark of the morning near sunrise after our feathered friend woke her up and startled her."

"Are you going after her?"

"There is no need, something I have ask the robin to relay back to the Queen. There will be someone to intercept her path but won't be returning her home, instead will lead her to Bree where she can find the route to the Shire by herself."

Mirari looked at him curiously and Daemyn gave an angry chirp, no doubt trying conveying what her Aunt was saying back in Erebor. "If you believe she will be safe."

"There is no one better, have no fears; Maliah will arrive whole and hale to the Shire." This was said not only to the princess, but the Queen many miles away.

Maliah flopped to the ground, her legs tired from going jogging to get further away from Rivendell. She could only imagine the anger her mama was probably trying to vent through her familiar but the thought didn't stop her, only pushed her further. A short distance away was a tree line and she was determined to make it there before night fell. Pushing herself to her feet, Maliah huffed and continued her path praying there wasn't anything dangerous lurking in the trees. Hours later and after a short break, she finally reached the edge of the small forest. Leaning against one of the tree trunks out of breath, there was nothing more she wanted to do than to lay down and sleep right there but the little voice in her head told her to go just a little further.

It was already dark and the moon barely provided enough light for her to maneuver between the trees. Stumbling upon a clearing, quite literally, Maliah moved the bags from her back to her side and curled up against the cluster of rocks; too tired to spread out her bed roll. Sleep came almost immediately and nothing interrupted her through the night until the next morning when someone came upon her clearing and looked down at her from a horse in the morning light. The rider looked down curiously at her, his gaze flickering to the edge of the trees not far from them, wondering where a dwarf had come from since there wasn't any colonies nearby.

Dropping from his stead, he cautiously approached the curled-up dwarf not knowing if it was armed. A hand went to the shoulder to nudge the dwarf awake and the reaction was almost instant. Eyes flew open and the body tried to roll away but was stopped by the rocks. It was a female dwarf, even stranger for her to be out here alone. He crouched down and held out a hand calmly.

"Good morning, my name is Strider."

Maliah looked through bleary eyes at the stranger who had woke her. "Maliah." She replied after a moment.

"Are you lost?"

She glanced around her, remembering where she had stopped last night. In that moment, she wasn't sure what answer to give. "No?"

He gave her a look at her questionable answer. "Do you have companions?"

"No." A hurried answer.

"Where are you headed?"

"The Shire."

"That is some distance away, do you plan on walking the entire way?"

Maliah shifted her belongings around to sit up properly. "Well since I don't have a pony, yes."

"Which dwarf kingdom do you hail from?"

She hesitated. There wasn't any way the man could know her parents. "Erebor."

He nodded. "A grand kingdom from what I have heard. Why did you leave?"

Sigh. "There is something for me in the Shire and I am travelling alone because of it."

"It is dangerous in this part of the land still, perhaps you should find shelter and a companion to assist you. I can take you to Rivendell and you may ask Lord Elrond for a pony to lend at the very least."

Shifting uncomfortably, she looked away. "I have already been there."

"And he knows about your journey?"

"Yes."

Strider stared down the dwarf, something here wasn't adding up but if Lord Elrond let her leave alone it was because he knew she would be safe in her travels. "I will take you to Bree, only a couple days ride from the Shire, and there you can buy a pony. Do you accept my offer?"

Looking over the man, Maliah saw no threat in him. "Do I get to ride on the horse?"