- Chapter 16 -
It didn't take more than a few seconds for Radagast to hop on his sled and for his over sized rabbits to take off into the woods. It also didn't take long for the orc pack to find him. The snarling from the wargs could be heard through the trees and Gandalf ushered them as fast as their legs could take them. The ponies bolted at the first sign of danger, including Shyloh and Gandalf's horses and Shyloh's heart gave a lurch at the thought of loosing the grey mare.
Now on foot much to the terror of the company, Shyloh ran side by side with Bilbo as Gandalf led them over the rolling plains before them. The terrain opened up to a hilly valley with tall, dried grass. Off in the far distance, the Misty Mountains rose up out of the horizon like sharp, snow capped peaks, reaching towards the sky. Huge boulders and dangerous rocky ledges cut the landscape up and offered the company with quite a few hiding places, but they didn't stay in one spot too long.
Gandalf pushed them forwards, and while they could plainly hear the howls and cries of the wargs and their riders, they could also hear Radagast's taunts and jeers; urging the foul creatures to follow him, allowing the company the opportunity to slip away. She had no idea what Gandalf's plan was, but she hoped he had a better one than just running from rocky covering to rocky covering.
Her lungs burned as they ran with all their might and the aches and pains she felt from being backhanded by a troll into a tree earlier jabbed away at her back. She stuck close to Bilbo, keeping her bow in hand instead of slinging it across her back so she could run easier. Kili had the same idea it seemed, and he cast her a wicked grin as they dashed out from under the cover of a pile of boulders. She shook her head, silently telling him now was not the time for games but his grin only widened.
Gandalf grabbed Ori just in time before the dwarf got too far ahead, and pulled him back behind him. In the distance, they got a good look at the orc party and she shuddered at the sight.
"This way!" Gandalf ushered, and he led them across the grassy plains as fast as their legs would carry them. The next rocky shelf they dived under, was where their plan started going downhill. It seemed they weren't quite in the clear as they hoped and they held their breaths as they heard the heavy padded paws of a warg above them. The shadow cast on the ground from above showed the beast had a rider on its back.
Thorin gave Kili a look and Kili drew an arrow from his quiver as quietly as possible. He shot Shyloh a smug look before he knocked his bow and with a deep breath, he lunged out from under the safety of the shelf and shot. With a loud yelp, the warg fell over the side of the ledge and tumbled down, rider and all, landing before them in a sprawling heap. Shyloh acted quickly, knocking her bow and taking aim as the wag scrambled to his feet, the shaft of Kili's arrow sticking out of the left side of its chest. Without hesitating, her arrow sunk into the skull of the beast, dropping it instantly. She felt a weird satisfaction grow within her at the sight of the dead creature, and she flashed Kili a look. He only grinned and rolled his eyes while Thorin and Dwalin finished off the orc, who unfortunately didn't go quietly.
With a final thrust of his sword, Thorin felled the orc but not before a fresh wave of howls erupted through the valley, answering their companions final pleas for help.
"Run! Run for your lives!" Gandalf cried and they sprang out from their shelter and ran with all their might.
Gandalf led the way, his long strides keeping him ahead of the company. It wasn't long before they were surrounded though, and they scrambled for their swords and axes as they were forced to halt. Bilbo drew his new sword nervously, his head turning this way and that as if he were trying to see everything at once. She knocked her bow and aimed at the closest warg. Its snarling mouth opened wide as it lunged and she shot it straight through the top of its mouth. It fell in a heap and went still but its rider went sailing through the air, and hit the ground rolling. He jumped to his feet and raised his blade, preparing to strike. Before she could knock another arrow, the orc fell suddenly, the shaft of an arrow stick out of its chest.
Spinning around, Kili gave her a challenging smile but she only scowled. How the dwarf could be thinking of playing games at a time like this was beyond her.
"Where's Gandalf?" someone cried and she whipped her head around, scanning the space frantically.
The wizard was gone.
"You've gotta be kidding!" she muttered.
"He's abandoned us!" Dwalin growled.
A fresh wave of panic filled her chest as she took aim and took out an orc. It fell off the back of its mount and Thorin finished off the wag before it could take a chunk out of him.
"This way you fools!" Gandalf's voice cut through the shouts and snarls and she spun just in time to see his head poke out from behind a jagged rock.
"Quickly!" Thorin shouted and he stood in front of the space Gandalf had just occupied, ushering everyone to follow. One by one they raced past Thorin, dropping down into the opening by sliding down the smooth stone as if it were a slide.
She shoved Ori towards Thorin and he took off as quick as he could as another wag advanced on them. She spun back around and shot an arrow but it narrowly missed as the warg twisted just in time.
"Shyloh!" Thorin cried and he dashed forwards, ax in hand. He swung his arms and the blade made contact with the wag's head before the beast's jaws could take a chunk out of Shyloh's arm. She drew her sword as the wag stumbled and the orc swung his blade at Thorin's neck.
Shyloh was quicker though, and the head of the orc fell to the ground with a heavy thunk. Thorin gave her a grateful look but they didn't have time to celebrate. More wargs were closing in and they made a run for it. He grabbed her arm and pulled her along behind him and they went down the smooth rock together. Their feet hit the dirt ground and they fell in a heap ungracefully as the others scrambled out of their way.
Before the two of them could stand, a horn blew somewhere above them. For a second Shyloh feared more orcs and wargs had come but then she recognized the sound.
Howls and snarls erupted and somewhere in the mix of noise, horses neighed and hooves pounded over the hard ground. Shyloh and Thorin exchanged a look before they were forced to get out of the way as a body came tumbling down into the small cave they were hidden in. The orcs body fell limp on the ground and one of the dwarves poked at it with the end of an ax handle. An arrow stuck out of the chest of the orc's body and Thorin reached down to pull it out. He only looked at the point for a second before tossing the arrow aside.
"Elves," he growled and he cast Gandalf an angry look.
"I can't see where the path leads," Dwalin called suddenly. "Do we follow it or no?"
"Follow it of course!" Bofur said, and the dwarves scrambled away from the dead orc as quickly as they could.
"I think that would be a good idea," Gandalf said quietly but Shyloh hesitated.
She looked back up towards the opening but Gandalf read her thoughts and grabbed her arm.
"Come," was all he said and he pushed her gently ahead of him as he brought up the rear. With another glance back at the opening, she reluctantly followed the company.
The cave was so narrow they had to go single file but once they went around the first turn Shyloh slowed her steps as a sudden feeling washed over her.
She knew that feeling.
It was the same feeling that filled her the first time she stepped over the Bruinen, and walked under the trees of a certain valley not so long ago. The same feeling that filled her with hope and peace, as if she stepped into a dream instead of a forest.
Elvish magic...
Apparently she wasn't the only one that felt it, because Bilbo walked in front of her and slowed his steps, too. He gazed up at the rock walls on either side of them, his face softening and eyes blinking in wonder, mouth slightly agape. It was as if the rock emitted a warmth she had come to miss during her travels that she didn't realize she'd longed to feel again.
It was the feeling of safety.
It was the feeling of home.
A smile played at the edges of Shyloh's lips as she turned to look at Gandalf. He gave her a knowing smile but didn't say anything until they came to a narrow ledge where they all stopped.
"The Valley of Imladris," Gandalf announced. "In the common tongue it is known by another name."
"Rivendell," Bilbo breathed, and he fell into stunned silence.
"Here lies the last Homely House east of the sea," said Gandalf.
Shyloh couldn't help the smile that spread over her face as she looked down upon the sprawling valley before them from their high perch. The late evening sun cast long shadows over the treetops, and the many waterfalls were cast in a dark, silvery hue. The rivers flowed through the dips in the mountains, draining into other waterways outside of their line of vision. The house itself sat as it had for many years, carved from the very earth with such beautiful skill that it took her breath away.
Moss covered mountains roared up behind the house, stretching towards the evening sky, the bared rock turned into a silvery gold as the sunlight hit it just right.
"This was your plan all along." Thorin's low voice cut through the silence that surrounded the entire company as he slowly turned towards the wizard. "To seek refuge with our enemy."
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will you will find in this valley is that which you bring yourself," Gandalf said calmly, eyeing Thorin carefully.
"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing?" Thorin hissed. "They will try to stop us."
"Of course they will," agreed Gandalf. "But we have questions that need to be answered."
Thorin sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging just a little.
"If we are to be successful this will need to be handled with tack, and respect, and no small degree of charm," the wizard said, looking down at the kingly dwarf. "Which is why you will leave the talking to me."
Thorin had no choice but to agree.
Shyloh wanted nothing more than to skip ahead of the company, excitement filling her at the sight of her uncles house, but she forced herself to walk behind them, bringing up the rear as Gandalf walked ahead of her with Bilbo. This way, the dwarves wouldn't be so quick to see the excited look on her face.
It was slow going as they made their way down from the rocky shelf by following a narrow and steep path to the valley floor. Once they reached the bottom, the dwarves followed Gandalf through the trees, following a path that would take them straight to the last Homely House. Aside from herself and Gandalf, Bilbo seemed to be the only one excited about their slight detour. The hobbits pace kept steady with the long strides of the wizard next to him while the dwarves cast eerie glances into the trees as if the branches themselves might come alive and snatch them up.
"You're not a bad shot you know," Kili said as he fell into step with her.
She gave him an annoyed sideways glance and he grinned.
"I wasn't competing back there Kili," she said calmly.
"Oh sure you were," he said.
She frowned at him and his smile faltered a little.
"There was nothing funny about any of it," she said seriously.
"Come on Snowball," he pushed playfully. "It was a little fun." He winked at her but she stopped dead in her tracks and fixed him with a hard look.
"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation," she said firmly, her anger starting to build. "When it comes to life or death, I don't play games. I've lost too many people in my life in a very short amount of time to take anyone's life for granted, even yours. So when it comes down to it, I'm not going to wager your life or anyone else's just to satisfy a bet."
It escaped her attention the entire company stopped to watch their exchange, but she didn't pay them any mind as she turned on her heel and walked off towards the house, letting them follow behind at their own pace. Biting back the anger that swelled in her, she figured she probably shouldn't have been so harsh on the dwarf, but her emotions were playing her like an accordion. Happy to be home and away from danger, terrified of the fact she'd not only taken the life of one creature but a few at that, and yet strangely satisfied that there were that many less foul beasts walking the earth right now.
She was no warrior; she was still afraid to fail and she felt very much unqualified for what the Valar was asking her to do. As irritating and stubborn and reckless as the dwarves were, and even though they'd dubbed her 'Snowball,' (which, to be completely honest didn't bother her that much), she'd grown to like the block heads for what ever reason.
She didn't walk too far ahead, but far enough that she couldn't hear their murmurs or whispers while they went. No one approached her, even Gandalf and for that she was thankful. It had been far too long since she'd had a few moments to herself so she slung her bow over her back and breathed in the free air.
Home.
She was surprised how easily the word came to mind, when only a few short years ago she never would have considered the valley her home. Now as she looked up at the tall green trees above them as they reflected the golden sunlight, she smiled again. Yes, she loved Rivendell and it certainly had become a home to her.
She waited for them at the foot of the bridge that would take them to the courtyard of the main entrance. They walked in silence over the bridge with its carved braided pattern on the smooth surface. As usual, the two guards stood at their post half way up the high staircase on the short landing, but there were no other elves around. The company gathered in the courtyard but the only one that looked completely drawn to the scenery was Bilbo, and he slowly turned in circles as he took it all in. She bit back a smile as Thorin's eyes came to rest on her, gauging her reaction to their new destination. It must have shown anyways because his eyes narrowed as he turned to Dwalin, who muttered something under his breath.
She stepped off to the side, away from the dwarves so that they stood by themselves. Bilbo continued to look around, lost in his own little world, his eyes seeking out everything that he could.
"Mithrandir," came a light voice above them and they all turned towards the steps. The elf that walked down towards them gave the wizard a welcoming smile, placing his right hand over his chest in a sign of greeting.
"Lindir!" said Gandalf with a smile of his own.
"We heard you had crossed into the valley," Lindir said as he came to a halt at the bottom of the steps.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond," Gandalf said, leaning on his staff.
"My Lord Elrond is not here," Lindir said, and his eyes sought out Shyloh from where she stood off to the side. She gave him a small smile but Gandalf was not done questioning him, so he turned back to the wizard.
"Not here?" asked Gandalf, and his eyes swept the house behind the elf. "Where is he?"
Before Lindir could answer, a familiar horn sounded in the depths of the valley behind them and the company turned to watch the mounted procession of elves riding straight towards them.
Thorin cried something out in dwarvish and suddenly the dwarves went into action. She blinked in surprise as Dwalin told his companions to close ranks and they began huddling together in the middle of the courtyard like a bunch of sheep under attack. Just before the first horse loped into the courtyard, a hand reached out to her and she was yanked forwards, almost tripping from the sudden force of it, and she found herself pulled into the mix of dwarves. Only briefly did it register in her mind that it had been Thorin that pulled her into the group. She scrunched her shoulders up and tucked her hands to her chest as she stood there awkwardly in the middle.
The host of riders circled the dwarves, trotting around them until two circles were formed. She couldn't help but feel silly as she stood there, scrunched in the middle of a bunch of dwarves as if she needed protecting and she thought it was a bit ironic, considering the fact that not too long ago they were calling her names and taunting her. Bilbo, too, had been drawn inside the circle and he gave her a worried look as the host came to a halt.
"Gandalf," the tall elf on the black horse said.
"Lord Elrond," replied Gandalf as he stepped forwards, bowing as he did. "Mellon nin. Where have you been?"
"We've been hunting a pack of orcs that came up from the South," said Elrond and then he dismounted. "We slew a number near the Hidden Pass."
Elrond stepped forwards and embraced Gandalf in a small hug and then stepped back. In his hands she noticed he held a strange looking item that clearly looked like it was made from orcs. Shyloh met the gazes of some of the riders, wondering briefly if she would recognize any of them but it was a mistake, because most of them turned out to be watching her curiously. She felt her face flush as she turned away, and shifted uncomfortably on her feet.
"Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders," Elrond said, holding up the makeshift weapon. "Something, or someone, has drawn them near." He handed the item to Lindir, who took it without a word, his eyes scanning it with disdain.
"Ah," sighed Gandalf. "That may have been us." The wizard turned to look at the company behind him, and the dwarves relaxed their stance only a little.
Thorin stepped forwards tentatively as Elronds eyes sought him out in the crowd but not before sweeping over Shyloh briefly, and she had a hard time discerning the expression in his eyes. If she had to guess she'd say he looked displeased. Her excitement at being back deflated just a little.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain," Elrond said evenly as he took a step forward to greet the dwarf.
"I do not believe we have met," Thorin said cautiously.
"You have your grandfathers bearing," said Elrond. "I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."
"Indeed? He made no mention of you."
Shyloh could have smacked Thorin on the back of his head for being so rude to her uncle, but Elrond just looked at the dwarf carefully as if he were assessing him. Then his eyes shifted back to Shyloh and he held out a hand to her.
"Welcome home, niece," he said gently with a small smile.
It took a full minute for the company to understand what he just said and slowly they turned to look at her in confusion, and she felt her face flush. Gandalf shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.
"Niece?" Bofur asked, looking up at her.
Sucking in a shaky breath, she stepped forward, pulling herself out of the circle of dwarves and closed the distance between her and her uncle. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and gave her a tight hug, then kissed the top of her head. As she stepped back, he kept an arm wrapped around her shoulder and looked down at her, his lips pressed into a thin line.
The riders around the company dispersed then, one by one, the horses hooves echoing on the stone as they left but no one seemed to notice except her.
"Niece?" Thorin asked, his eyes narrowing, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "I believe you failed to mention that." He gave her a hard look but before she could say anything, Gandalf came to her rescue.
"You did not ask," the wizard said, and Thorin's mouth closed slowly, knowing he was right. It did not dilute the sour look in his eyes though as they came to rest on Shyloh again. "There will be time to talk about that later."
Elrond spoke in elvish to the group, and the company of dwarves shifted awkwardly on their feet.
"What does he say?" growled Gloin. "Does he offer us insult?"
A harsh murmur went up among the dwarves and they quickly started protesting, and Shyloh frowned. Obviously no one in the company spoke elvish. Elrond looked as if he might smile from amusement but Gandalf cut in.
"No Master Gloin he is offering you food."
The dwarves instantly fell silent in surprise, and Gloin's eyes widened. Then, they tilted their heads together and spoke in hushed tones before coming to an agreement.
"Ah, well, in that case, lead on," said Gloin and Shyloh bit back a smile. Of course, the dwarves wouldn't dare pass up a meal, especially if it was free.
Elrond led the way with Shyloh in tow, his arm still wrapped around her shoulders as they went up the steps.
"I am pleased you are home niece, though I am curious about your companions," he said as they walked. Then he reached into the folds of his cloak and withdrew a broken arrow shaft. He held it lightly in his fingers before giving her a look. "I assume this belongs to you? We recovered it from the mouth of a fallen wag. An interesting shot, but effective none the less."
She pressed her lips together, wondering if he was going to tell her she did something wrong but he only squeezed her shoulders and gave her a kind look.
"Ever am I thankful you had the training you did before you left here," he said, and when she looked up at him she thought he looked proud, if only for a moment. "Especially since you seem to have fallen into an odd sort of company." Shyloh completely missed the look Elrond gave Gandalf over the top of her head, and the wizard looked away innocently.
"I'll always be grateful Glorfindel had so much patience with me" she said slowly. "Otherwise that warg would have swallowed me whole."
He gave a less than amused huff. When they reached the landing, he finally let her go and turned to his guests.
"You will be shown where you can wash up before we eat," he told them, and two ellons came forward just then. With tight lipped expressions on their faces, they gestured down the hall for the dwarves to follow.
Bofur turned to her just before they left. "You'll be joining us?" he asked, taking her by surprise. The others in the company didn't look quite as eager to hear her response though, and cast glances between themselves.
She nodded, not daring to meet the glare she knew was coming from Thorin and some of the others. Bofur and Bilbo at least looked pleased by her answer. Perhaps if Gandalf had been upfront with the company from the start about who she was, this wouldn't be so awkward now. Even Fili and Kili were unusually quiet.
When the company was out of sight, she turned slowly to look at Elrond. The displeased look was back in his eyes and she felt her heart sink a bit more.
"Uncle," she started but he held up a hand.
"You had best clean up before dinner," he said, and she snapped her mouth shut.
Nodding once, she turned on her heel and hurried away.