"OUCH!"
"Sorry lass, just a bit longer and we'll be done." Oin gave her the best consoling smile he could before prodding her bottom two ribs, checking for any breakages to her bones and then punctures to her lungs. That was the last thing that they needed, that she needed. He squinted in the dim light of the small cavern they had slid into, he was not going to find the injuries he was looking for in here.
He moved to examine her left ribs and huffed in relief, her skin around her ribs was blush red, with touches of blues or purples, but he couldn't be sure. His eyes weren't as sharp as they once were, but he trusted in his sense of touch which was telling him that her wound was tender and not severe.
"You can put your blouse back down now."
The grey haired Dwarf relaxed onto his haunches in satisfaction folding his arms as he did so. "Well lassie, you don't seem to have broken anything, maybe a fracture on your right side. But you have lots of bruising. It's not too serious, but I will check that again when we make camp. It's too dark in here for me know what's happening."
Lostoriel pulled her browned dark blue shirt down, the movements making her chest to throb and burn. She nodded at Oin through gritted teeth, "Right. That does not sound so terrible, but it hurts like hell. How long do you think it will take to heal?"
"I know lass, I'll fix you up a tonic when we're out of here." He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, "Well, depending on how bad your injury is it should take one to two months. But for now we have to keep moving. Thorin's orders. Are you going to manage the walk?"
"May we turn around now please?" interrupted Kili from the corner of the cave.
The rest of the Company had left Oin, Kili and much to Thorin's chagrin, Bilbo, who had insisted on staying with her on account of just wanting to make sure she'd be alright. When in fact he needed time to collect himself after his first, but not last encounter with the orcs. He also did not feel like being anywhere near Thorin, the Dwarf was radiating fury like it was his job.
She nodded vigorously, "Yes you can Kili." The young Dwarf spun around with a mischievous grin. Lostoriel rolled her eyes and laughed which quickly turned into pained groans.
"I …" she gritted her teeth, "I should be alright, hopefully. Where exactly are we going?"
"I'm not sure lass." Responded Oin, "Gandalf has got us going to who- knows-where."
Lostoriel attempted to rise from the rock she was perched on and fell back down, hissing from her clenched jaw. "You know I take that back." Oin, Kili and Bilbo moved to steady her in case she tried to get up again.
"Here we've got you." Cooed Bilbo as he gently pulled her up from her back and elbow, with Kili doing the same on her right side. Lostoriel hissed and groaned as she felt muscles she had never known she'd had before sharply pull and burn as she stretched them.
"You alright?" asked Kili once she was up on her feet, he handed her thick, black coat to her. Lostoriel nodded and bit back her groans as the pain re-emerged when she attempted to put her coat on. Kili's soft brown eyes softened, in his short lifetime he had broken and bruised his own fair share of ribs from falling from trees, ponies and being thrown to the ground by his brother whilst they were sparring or just wrestling. He understood her pain.
"Yup. I'm alright, it just feels like someone set fire to my chest." she grimaced as Oin led the way down the pathway.
"You'll survive don't worry." Kili patted her shoulder reassuringly.
The pathway between the two rock walls was narrow, just wide enough for them to walk in single file. It seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky when they looked up from below. The sunlight shone thickly and shimmered white towards the edges of the rift that snaked through the land.
They caught up with the Company fairly quickly. Gandalf led them with Thorin following not far behind. The wizard had not answered him during their escape from the orc pack and he was beginning to understand why. The Elves who had fought the orcs had to have come from somewhere. He knew that Rivendell was not far off from where they were. He hoped Gandalf had enough sense to not lead them there. Thorin had no time to be stopped by the very people who refused to give them aid.
Rounding a corner in the Valley, Gandalf beckoned Lostoriel to come walk with him. Turning a concerned eyebrow to the Elleth he asked, "How do you feel my dear?"
The elf adjusted the bag on her shoulders that she had taken from Kili, "I'm alright. Oin suspects it's nothing more than bruising. But the pain in my chest begs to differ."
"That is good, when we reach our destination we can get you seen to." A twinkling began in the wizard's blue eyes, he was up to something.
"Where are we going?"
"To safety and rest my dear."
Ah, there's your ever-so delightfully vague statements again Gandalf. Of course he had not told anyone of his plans. She was beginning to think that the wizard had no sense of what a plan actually was and took action on a whim.
The wizard turned back to the passageway and picked up the pace, they were losing daylight. Not that it mattered, where they were going was where time seemed to waft away at its own leisure. He chanced a glance at Lostoriel behind him. She did not notice that she was beginning to glow. A soft, pearl white light began to emanate from her body. It simmered and radiated in the flickering sunlight.
He did not say a thing about her glow rather he internally rejoiced. All hope was not completely lost for the She-Elf. Yes, perhaps this will do her some good at last. Thought the wizard as they rounded a soft corner and the sound of rushing water became apparent. It began as a slight trickle but had turned into a quiet cascading that grew louder and louder with each weary step.
"You feel it too, do you not?" he asked cryptically
"Feel what?"
"That lightness in the air and the tug in your belly." piped up Bilbo from beside Gandalf as he began to feel something strong and almost fantastical in the air as they drew nearer to the ending of the passageway.
"You can feel it?" came Gandalf's reply, he was impressed, but not surprised that the Halfling could feel it settling into his bones.
"Yes. It feels like…" The Baggins within Bilbo did not want to admit that there was more to the strange fluttering feeling in his body. That sort of nonsense only existed in the fairytales he had been told as a child. But the Tookish part of him arose and captured the fluttering with two hands, "well, it feels like magic." The conservative Hobbit could hardly believe that the words had come out his mouth.
"It does." Agreed Lostoriel, "Is it real Gandalf?"
Lostoriel felt the pull too, it originated from the slight butterflies in her stomach and spread a warm wave throughout her body, like the warm settling in ones tummy after a sip of hot tea. The pain in her chest had subsided a little, she would not understand it now but that was the Elven magic settling over her.
No one had noticed as yet, most of the dwarves were preoccupied with stopping Bombur from picking off the sprouts and mushrooms which grew within the cracks of the rock.
"That's exactly what it is…A very powerful magic." A knowing smile quirked at the side of Gandalf's lip as his gaze moved from Lostoriel to the path ahead of them.
Vilya. Lostoriel recalled the name from her early childhood. The power of the Elven ring protects the Last Homely House east of the Sea… she remembered the story from her childhood as the line repeated itself in her head until excited murmuring broke out amongst the Company.
Bilbo craned his neck in a futile attempt to see where they were going as the distant calming sound became more apparent. All their spirits seemed to be uplifted at the sound
All of a sudden out of the shadows the sunlight greeted them with an orange glow. The sound and sight of hundreds of waterfalls encompassing the high walls of the valley filled their ears. Gandalf hung towards the back of the group as the rest of them dotted the natural stairway and inched down onto the overlook in awe. Silence filled the air as they took in the breath-taking site before them.
Down below under the white spray, nestled into the mountain side was a city of white stone.
"The Valley of Imladris." Proudly stated Gandalf. "In the Common Tongue, it is known by another name."
"Rivendell." Bilbo breathlessly answered as his face beamed with awe and wonder at the indescribable city.
Lostoriel knew where she was. The realisation dawned upon her as she observed the city from afar. The path through the forest that they used to take to climb the waterfall to the east of the valley was visible from this height. With her elven sight she could see the archery fields and the market ground in the distance. She smiled quietly to herself.
"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea." The she-Elf released a heavy breath with a small smile, she was correct. Lostoriel the worry within her seeped from her bones and fell down into the valley below .The disorientating pain from her shoulders and neck dulled as comfort spread into her being.
"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy." Growled Thorin. His blood boiled over. Lostoriel kept her eyes firmly focused on the spectacular city below them, but her ears tuned into their conversation.
And it's back. Thought Lostoriel. The pain was working its way up her spine again, she wished she had treasured the brief respite more. And found herself wondering why Thorin felt such animosity towards the Elves.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield." Came Gandalf's firm reply. "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? They will try to stop us." Thorin threateningly took a step towards the wizard, leaning on his axe for support.
"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". Called Gandalf from over his shoulder whilst he led them down the descending mountain path. "Which is why you will leave the talking to me."
The mountain path zigzagged down the rock face and sloped into a grassy hill that looked over the River Bruinen. From here one could see the mouth of the Valley with the crystal blue and white water rushing and then waltzing through the land. The birds sang in tune with the trees and the wind. And for a moment never ending peace seemed to blow the worry about their quest away like the wind on their brows.
Lostoriel's brooding expression masked the growing anxiety with her mind. The Last Homely House. Her muscles around her shoulders and neck were already beginning to ache and pull.
The image of the dark-haired Elf kept playing on her mind. Tori. They had never called her by her full name for as long as she could remember. Whenever she had asked why, they had merely replied with a grin that her name had far too many syllables to be legal.
But it was not him who troubled her heart so greatly. It was his younger brother. The one she had left. She was sure it had been his older brother that had saved her. But doubt nagged at her mind. Was it him? No Lostoriel it could not have been, when you left were they not still in the North? But what if it was him? Would he remember me? What am I going to do?
Questions tackled her peace while a throbbing pain crunched at her shoulders and penetrated her temples and left eye. Breathe Lostoriel. In...And out... In...And out...In...
She withdrew into herself. Lostoriel did not know what was going to happen and she hated it. The unknown had always terrified her, it made her want to run, to leave it all behind for peace and solitude. She lost herself in the landscape, in the cascading white falls, the golden-brown leaves that blew in the wind, the kaleidoscope of flowers and birds which danced and sang with the wind. And the strangely comforting and haunting voices which just touched the air in song as they wound their way into the valley. They reached into her memory and caused her memories to dance in her mind.
"Riel…Here before?" an uncertain voice tried to penetrate her silence.
A hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks, her hand immediately reached for her sword but stopped when she saw that it was only Balin behind her. She gave him an apologetic look.
"You alright there lass? You seem distracted." concern flooded his being.
"Sorry about that, I'm just… in my head."
He smiled at her as they kept moving, "No need to apologise, a place such as this allows for such."
"What is it you wanted to ask me?" she turned her gaze forward as they descended a steep patch of ground.
Balin considered his answer as they trekked down onto a smoother path, "A few of the lads were wondering, given that you're of elf-kind, if you've travelled here before?"
It was Ori who had been wondering. His fascination with the she-elf had been growing since she had first cut him loose from the spit. He had never met an elf before in his young life, he had never made a trip outside of Ered Luin until now.
The Elleth nearly toppled over the hill into the river below. "I uhmm..." his question seemed to come at the wrong time as she bit her lip considering it. Memories had been trickling into her mind the moment they had stepped foot off the mountain and into the Valley.
"I have," A sure smile broke her usual blank expression. "Many times over my lifetime. This place became my second home." Her smile disappeared, along with the twinkle in her eyes which grew hollow with her years and full with her long life. "But I fear that I have not stepped foot into Imladris for many years."
A solemn air hung over them. Ori felt incredibly guilty for prying into her life. His poor jersey sleeves paid the price for that as he unravelled more of it as he mulled over what she had said."I did not mean for my curiosity to upset you M'lady."
Stopping their trek Lostoriel turned to give the young Dwarf a reassuring smile. "You've done nothing to upset me in any way Ori. Also, please don't call me My Lady, Lostoriel is fine. There's nothing ladylike about me. " She laughed. Ori thought that it sounded like the first rains of spring pattering on the trees and flowers, or that her laugh was what the stars sounded like when they sparkled. Silver and light and wafting like the very earth was laughing with her.
"Alright Lostoriel." He drew out every syllable of her name with a smile, feeling it on his tongue like the ancient texts that he had studied. It dawned on him then. He had read of an elf with the same name many years ago when Balin taught them history during his studies. But he was not entirely sure if it was her, nor did he confident enough to ask her.
Their walk down into the Valley lasted until the sun gleefully drifted towards the horizon, painting the Valley deep shades of red, orange and yellow. Gandalf halted their march just before the marbled, stone pathway.
"If anyone has anymore grievances about the Elves then please bring them forward so I can knock some sense into your skull." Gandalf gave a pointed look towards Gloin, Dwalin and Thorin. He earned a few glares and fearful looks from the Dwarves and Bilbo included. Nodding in satisfaction he led them on.
They stepped onto a circular platform outside a grand staircase. Above and around them the city of Rivendell stretched and glimmered like pearls in the sunlight all along the mountain range. Waterfalls dipped and sprayed under and around walkways, the bridges led to various levels of the city, each one higher and more intricately carved than the next. Grand statues and fountains dotted the landscape, mingling with the waterfalls and pools around the Valley. Graceful, slender beings strolled the halls with no specific agenda.
"Mithrandir!" Came a smooth voice from a dark-haired elf pacing down the staircase. He had a childish look about him with ears that stuck out from beneath his hair. His shimmering blue – maroon robes danced around him when he walked towards them.
"Ah Lindir!" Gandalf raised his staff with a merry smile in greeting. The Dwarves clustered together in unease as they observed the Elves milling on about their daily routines.
"Mithrandir." The dark-haired Elf halted with a smile and put his hand to his heart in the traditional Elvish greeting, Gandalf followed suit. "We have been expecting you."
Lindir's voice trailed off into silence as gazed directly at Lostoriel when he saw a face he had not seen in many years. "Welcome back to Imladris, Princess Lostoriel Daughter of Thranduil Elvenking, and Voice of the Wood." It took every fibre of his being not to rush up to her and sweep her into an embrace. "Your presence is received with much joy." Instead he dipped into a deep sweeping bow, his left hand resting above his heart.
The Dwarves stared at them both, eyes racing from one Elf to the next trying to piece together the puzzle. Concerned whispers broke out amongst the group, Lostoriel felt just as clueless as them. Her memory may have been returning, but it was a slow process. Princess, daughter of Thranduil.
White star and moonlight illuminating the greenery, a deep voice singing a slow ancient melody. Her feet on his booted ones. Dancing across the clearing. "Little one," early morning light streaming in through her bedroom windows, "the sun is up, so must you be!"
"Someday you will lead our people…" the memories flooded her mind, her stomach turned, the ground moved beneath her feet. It all came rushing back, her father, her brother, her mother.
"Please Lindir that is not necessary."
The murmuring did not stop until, "Lads!"
A harsh whisper came from Balin followed by a muffled thud and a following "ow! Brother!" from Dwalin. She felt rather than saw the look of betrayal that had come upon the dwarves. Balin turned to her and bowed first, followed by the rest of the Company. Lostoriel's stomach turned at the sight, but more so when Thorin's steel blue eyes locked on hers as he rose with a mix of anger, deep grief and something else which she could not place.
"Lastannem i athrannedh i Vruinen." She heard Lindir in his mother tongue, he had not noticed the presence of Thorin Oakenshield as yet. She was too distracted to pay attention to him. Lostoriel wanted to become one with the very stone they stood on and remain there forever.
Whilst Lostoriel prayed for the ground to swallow her whole, Bilbo felt out the elvish words in his mind. Turning every syllable around again and again until it became a melody in his ears. The words rolled off the Elf's tongue like butter melting onto hot toast, he thought this was what liquid silver must sound like. His words were a tantalising dance in his ears. Bilbo could have listened to the rhythm of the Elf's words for hours on end.
He was pulled out from his daydreams by Lostoriel's arm brushing against his as she stepped backwards further into the cluster of dwarves. He caught the expression on her face, it seemed to be her resting face. Confused, weary and overwhelmed.
"Do you understand what he's saying?" inquired Bilbo hoping to distract her from
"I- "the She-elf shook herself out of her troubles, "I do Bilbo. He is simply saying that they had heard that we had entered the Valley." Lostoriel smiled to herself as she watched Bilbo's awestruck expression.
The pairs' distractedness was broken as a horn ran clear across the Valley, Lostoriel recognized it as the same one from the battle earlier that day. The thundering of hooves against the stone causeway grew closer and the unease from the Dwarves spilled over.
"Ifridî bekâr! Hold ranks!" came Thorin's shout to arms. Lostoriel didn't have time to think about what it meant before Bilbo and herself were pulled backwards into the middle of the tight circle of Dwarves. The Company stood back to back, their weapons poised in front of them to the Elvish warriors that circled them on their horses. The sound of clinking weapons and clopping of horse hooves was overwhelmingly loud to Lostoriel's ears. Though she thought that the Dwarves were acting irrationally for she knew that the Elves of Imladris would do them no harm.
As they circled them Lostoriel searched the faces of the warriors for Elladan or Elrohir's face. They circled the Dwarves three times and each time she missed them. Much to her disappointment and relief neither of the twins were with the group of warriors. Perhaps I had imagined it…Her heart fell into hopelessness once again, maybe her memory was playing tricks on her. Hot tears welled at her eyes, she cast her face downwards in a futile attempt to school her features.
"Gandalf!" Came a call from atop a mount as the circling ground to a halt.
"Lord Elrond." Began the wizard, bowing in front of the Elf-Lord. "My friend! Where have you been?" he conversed in the elvish tongue with the armoured Elf.
Lostoriel's head jerked up at the mention of his name. She resisted the urge to grin when she recognised the ancient elf before her. He had not changed. His eyes still glowed with wisdom and kindness and the wrinkles on his forehead as he smiled reminded her of happier times.
"We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the South for two days. We slew a number near the Hidden Pass." Lostoriel stared at him, he was still lean and still wore his dark-brown hair in the same style. Pulled back at the top of his head and in front of his ears he wore two braids which were twisted into lose knotted loops that fell to his shoulders. Most importantly he reminded her of her Adar.
The Elf-Lord dismounted and engulfed his old friend in a short embrace, "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near." He held up an Orc sword, its hilt an iron fist and hanging from the cross piece was a filthy string of beads and other unsavoury items.
"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf's rough voice did not hide his guilt well enough. His eyes betrayed what his voice sought to conceal as he turned his gaze towards the Company with a sheepish smile. That was retuned with a raised eyebrow and slightly exasperated smile from Lord Elrond, who was by now used to, but not overly fond of, the wizards antics.
Thorin took this as his cue to come forward, "Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain." Lord Elrond greeted the Dwarf in a reserved but not unkind manner. The troop of elves disbanded as their leader found no danger with their unexpected arrivals.
Thorin was taken aback by the fact that the Elf-Lord knew him, "I do not believe we have met."
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain."
"Indeed; he made no mention of you." Thorin was filled with pride at the compliment given by Lord Elrond, but the insult flew from his mouth without a second thought. He may need the Elf-Lord's help and yet, it did not mean that he had to enjoy the process.
Elrond paid his rudeness no heed. The elf simply stood, mouth pressed in a thin line, eyes watering and heart unbelieving. Whatever hostility he had felt towards the Dwarf fell away when he saw a face he had not seen in almost a century.
"Lostoriel…" at the mention of her name the elleth stepped out of the circle as Elrond came towards her. He simply could not believe that she was standing in front of her. "By Earëndil it cannot be!" he quietly exclaimed. "How…How is this possible?"
Lostoriel struggled to keep her composure, "I…am not sure. I've been asking myself the same question for a few days now to be honest."
She was interrupted by Lord Elrond engulfing her in his arms, her tears clinked ever so slightly on his silver armour. It was all too much, too much to hold in, too much to not feel and to not realise. She couldn't remember who she was, or why they had sent her back or why she had a slow recollection of her life her. And he represented familiarity and home and her life before she had left.
Lostoriel gasped as his arm touched the spot of tender flesh on her ribs. Pulling away from the hug he held her at arm's length, his eyebrows furrowing together in concern. "I suspect we will have to discuss this at another time."
Fixating his soft but withering gaze, depending on who one asked, on the Dwarves, Lord Elrond sent out a command to Lindir, in Elvish, to prepare dinner for their guests.
Lostoriel and Gandalf shared the same exasperation on their faces when the Dwarves began to grumble wearily about the Elf-Lord's words. He had no intention of offending them. But they of course felt differently when their faces grew dim and they clutched their weapons.
"What is he sayin? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin's voice rose in fear induced anger.
Lostoriel rolled her eyes, sighing with her hands on her hips, "No Master Gloin, not all the Elves want you dead. He's offering us food and shelter."
They drew together to discuss the prospect of food and provision, "Very well then, in that case, lead on!" came Gloin's reply.
They had been on the road for almost a month, their food supplies would soon begin to run short and the prospect of a warm bed and a roof over their heads set their stomachs grumbling.
"Lindir and Aerlinniel will guide you to your rooms." He gestured to his butler and the auburn haired she-elf who had quietly come to stand beside him. Lostoriel studied the elf Aerlinniel from where she stood. She stood at least half a head above Lindir, a dress of deep blue cascaded over her thin frame, its long sleeves catching the wind. Lostoriel the excited and astonished look that passed over the Elleth's face, but did not however miss the lingering gaze of Kili and Fili upon the elf.
"There you may wash up and rest a while until supper."
The Dwarves were led up the grand staircase by the two Elves. The Dwarves avoided looking at her. as they marched past them. They may have begun to trust and grow fond of her, but the revelation of her being royalty and the Elven Kings daughter no less, had broken any chance of further friendship with most of them. Bilbo squeezed her hand reassuringly with sad eyes as he followed the Dwarves and the wizard.
"Lostoriel, come let us get you seen to." Elrond led her away from the courtyard. "There is much we must discuss."
Hello Everyone!
A huge thank you to everyone who has favourited, followed and commented on this story. it means so much to me that you're enjoying this fic!
I know I said I'd be updating more often, but I struggled a lot with this chapter. It should be easier now as I have a lot more planned.
Lancelot 2.0 Thank you so so so much for beta reading this chapter and allowing me to throw my ideas at you.
And to ro781727 I know it's not all the answers, but you'll get the rest soon ..
I hope that you're all keeping yourselves safe during this time! it's terrifying, but there is always hope.