Chapter 35

Next day, Rory was in no hurry to get out of bed, and the only reason she got up before lunch time was Bilbo and Gloin woke up her to tell of some strange happenings on the borders of Rivendell, reported by some Rangers who arrived just after dawn.

'Elrond is with them now, trying to figure out what all this means', said Bilbo excitedly.

'It isn't good, I'm sure', said Gloin, wagging his beard as he spoke. 'So we came to wake you up, because we are sure that Elrond will want to see you soon'.

'Thanks you two! I'll get dressed, and meet you for lunch?'

Both the dwarf and the hobbit agreed to this, dwarves being nearly as keen on good food as hobbits.

Rory decided to dress in the now clean clothes she had been wearing when she arrived in Rivendell, as she a funny feeling that she had to agree with Gloin, something very not good was about to happen.

Bilbo waved to her as she entered the Dining Hall, he had saved a seat for her next to him.

'You should drink beer, lass, it's good for you, not that dreadful tea', said Gloin, as he drained his mug.

'I would agree with you, but if Elrond does want to see me, I'd best have my wits about me'.

Jessryn now appears, carrying a plate. He sits down across the table from Rory, who having decided last night that he is not as awful as she thought, greets him pleasantly.

'What have got on your plate?' asks Bilbo

'Chocolate cake,' he replies

'Chocolate cake! Where did you get that?' exclaims Bilbo.

'Over there', he says pointing.

Bilbo shoots off at high speed to get himself some cake. Gloin followed him a slower pace and as Rory considers getting herself some cake, Jessryn offered her some of his. Feeling bad for the way she had treated him the day before she agreed, but drew the line at allowing him to feed her.

As Rory and Jessryn finished their cake, one of Elrond's twin sons came to their table and informed Rory that Elrond did want to see her, and Jessryn too. Obediently they followed the twin, who they now knew was Elrohir, to Elrond's council room.

Many Elves and Rangers are already there, and once again Rory finds herself at the centre of attention as she and Jessryn were filled in on the events of the previous night.

'Describe again how these mysterious men were dressed?' she asked one of the Rangers.

'Very like you, and they carried weapons of the like we have never seen before'.

'Can I be excused for a tick, Elrond? I want to get something from my room to show these Rangers, to see if they recognise it', asked Rory.

'Yes, but do not be long, for we will be going to see the site of these strange occurrences.'

Rory was quick, and returned with her automatic rifle, which when she showed the Rangers, who agreed the mysterious men carried similar weapons.

'Shall we see where these happenings took place?' asked Jessryn, who was keen to see if something could be unravelled.

On one of the high mountain tracks that lead into Rivendell, so close that it is constantly patrolled by either Elves or Rangers, footprints were seen by the group who rode out from Rivendell to see.

'Father it is five hundred years since enemies have come so close to Rivendell,' said Elrohir, as he and his twin examined the ground.

'You say you were shot at, but not by arrows?' Elrond asked the leader of the Rangers.

'Yes, and then the men fled back that way', he said pointing southeast.

'What are these?' asked Glorfindel, holding out some metal objects to Elrond.

'I have no idea', Elrond replied, taking the things from Glorfindel.

Rory took a look. 'Well, the Rangers were shot at!'

All heads turned in her direction. 'These are the spent cartridges from a gun like mine. When you shoot a gun, these casings which hold the projectile, are left in the gun, and have to expelled before you can take another shot.'

'There are lots of them', remarked a dark elf Rory didn't know.

'Which makes me think they weren't trying to hit anyone, just scare the Rangers away'.

'The boot prints are exactly like yours', said Jessryn to Rory.

'These men are from your time?' asked Elrond.

Apparently. But I don't like it, they're up to something, and I think patrols should be increased, and all paths into Rivendell examined to see if there are signs of any more of these men about,' answered Rory.

It is a great pity that a couple of the mysterious strangers had managed to get right into Rivendell, for what happens next could have been prevented.