A/N: Hello! :) Thank you for favouriting and following this story! It means a lot.
To shadewatcher, Guests, Mad As A Bloody Hatter, kdarnell2, and Eldrid Daughter of the Flame, thank you for reviewing! :)
I'm going on a holiday to Switzerland soon, so updates may come every fortnight. Terribly sorry, but it's getting more difficult to update weekly.
Reminders: I have no betas, so do let me know if you spot any mistakes! Sotry mainly follows movieverse. Characters are OOC, but if you find something is too unbearable, also please drop a message to inform me (and hopefully feedback as to how to improve it) :)
Reviews and constructive criticism are welcomed! :)
DISCLAIMER: I owe neither the Hobbit universe nor its characters.
Chapter 8
Lindir knocked on the door. Immediately, the dwarves were on alert, the previous celebratory mood gone.
"What do you want?" Dwalin asked suspiciously.
Lindir bowed slightly. "Lord Elrond is ready to meet Mister Oakenshield. Mithrandir is already waiting."
The dwarves exchanged glances. Without a word, Balin and Thorin stood. Dwalin made to follow them, but Thorin motioned him to stay. He whispered a few sentence in Khuzdul and Dwalin reluctantly sat down again. Thorin looked at Bilbo expectantly. With a jolt, he realised he was supposed to follow them. Bemusedly, Bilbo shrugged and followed them to Elrond's study.
Bilbo was bored. Thorin had been, and still was, in deep argument with Gandalf for the past few minutes, occasionally shooting Elrond suspicious glances that Elrond pretended not to notice. It had been barely half an hour since they stepped in, and not only were they going nowhere, it was getting tediously repetitive.
Occasionally, Thorin would consult Balin in Khuzdur, much to the ire of Bilbo - he knew a few languages, and the occasional phrase in Khuzdur, but had never actually studies that language before since it was a dwarvern language. Mostly, Bilbo was ignored. Why bother asking him along if he would have no contribution to this? He had better things to do, like read a book, or sleep.
Gandalf tapped his staff on the floor impatiently, but he was ignored by the dwarves. Balin nodded at Thorin and patted his arm, and a guarded and slightly hostile expression replaced his usually warm smile. Whatever Balin had said probably gave Thorin the confirmation he needed.
Thorin straightened, and clutched the map more tightly, "Our business is no concern of the Elves." Bilbo groaned. This again.
Gandalf thumped his staff impatiently. "For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map."
"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect, as are its secrets," he insisted. Balin nodded and crossed his arms defensively.
Gandalf rolled his eyes. "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."
Thorin hesitated.
"You either show it to Lord Elrond or have no other hopes of reclaiming back Erebor," Gandalf warned. The wizard had tried different persuasion methods for the past few times: coaxing, logical explanation, and even emotionally blackmailing ("would you want all these efforts to go to waste?"). None had worked. He had enough of the dwarves. He would not, could not, help them if they were too prideful and stubborn to accept help.
Thorin's jaws clenched. His eyes bore into Gandalf's, no doubt weighing the risks and searching for any hint of lies in Gandalf's words. He found none. Reluctantly, he slowly held up the map to Lord Elrond. Balin's eyes widened, and he grabbed onto Thorin's arm. He shook his head. Thorin's eyes flickered towards Bilbo, who gave him an imperceptible nod, and then at Elrond, who had his do-trust-me-I'm-wise-and-friendly-and-great-and-i-only-want-to-help smile. (Bilbo hated that smile, it always seemed patronising to him, but others always fell for it, so points for effectiveness.)
Thorin lowered his eyes, face riddled with guilt before becoming a blank mask again. Dismay flashed through Balin's eyes. Thorin shrugged off Balin's hand, straightened his back, and handed the map to Lord Elrond.
Lord Elrond inclined his head respectfully, approval in his eyes. Lifting the map delicately, he studied it for a moment.
The corner of his mouth tightened.
"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?"
Bilbo snorted at the poor fib Gandalf made - Gandalf probably guessed that Bilbo would have told Lord Elrond everything, and did not bother weaving a better excuse.
Elrond could read the runes, and also managed to "guess" the real purpose of possessing the map. Not that it was much of a mystery: map plus king plus small band of warriors equals to? Academic interest, obviously! It definitely isn't because they want to reclaim their old homeland. No, kings truly have so much time to be chasing old runes for academic interest. Of course.
Please, even a young hobbitling could see through that.
Elrond passed the map back to Thorin, who hastily kept the map, looking satisfied to have the answer, yet disgruntled to be owing the Elven Lord some sort of debt. Lord Elrond said cautiously, "There are some who would not deem it wise to try and enter the mountain."
"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked, leaning onto his staff.
Elrond stared at Gandalf evenly, his lips pressed tightly. "You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth."
Gandalf's eyes widened minutely.
Elrond turned to Bilbo. "Take a walk with me, Bilbo? I believe we have much to discuss."
They strolled around the garden, listening to the quiet of the night. Elrond was unusually sombre, looking more tired than usual.
Finally, Bilbo could not stand the suspense anymore. "Lord Elrond? What's wrong?"
Elrond sighed, tilting his head up and admiring the stars glittering in the sky.
"My elves have encountered a problem, Bilbo. Regarding your people," he said softly.
His pulse quickened, and he took in a sharp intake of breath. "My sister and my... Kin?"
Elrond nodded. "Some of the young under our care have been reported missing."
A dull pressure Bilbo registered as panic grew slowly in his chest. "How... The elves were supposed to keep them safe! Who took them? Where... Why?"
Elrond looked troubled. "It is unclear as to who took them. They had help from a higher being, someone older, more dangerous and powerful. I had the elves track the remaining tracks, but the trail ends in Dol Guldur."
"Dol Guldur!" Bilbo hissed in alarm. His eyes narrowed. "The Necromancer."
"We fear so. I have discussed this with Gandalf; this is no mere coincidence."
"Obviously," Bilbo muttered under his breath as he began pacing.
"Cyadhon, there is nothing we can do now," Elrond said gently.
He spun angrily. "They were supposed to be safe! Not taken, and possibly forced to serve and do evil deeds! Who knows what would happen to them! They're only children, Elrond. Children." A desperate plea entered his voice.
Elrond placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know," he only said, and Bilbo knew that he truly understood his pain. "We're trying our best, my child."
"I would help, but I have to continue on this quest. Smaug-"
"I know," Elrond cut in, soothing. "He has to be taken care of before he becomes a bigger threat. But, Cyadhon," Elrond knelt so that he was face level with Bilbo, "Are you ready to face him? He is your kin-"
"None of the accursed wyrms are part of the Dragonkin!" He snarled. Taking a deep breath, he stared straight into Elrond's worried eyes, determination filling his own. "I have to do this," he replied quietly.
Elrond looked sad, mournful even. "Oh, my child. Your burden is heavy to bear," he murmured. Bilbo snorted.
"Don't make it seem like I'm about to die," He grumbled.
Elrond smiled sadly. "We pray for the best," he whispered. Bilbo pretended not to hear it.
"Have you told Ryadher?" Bilbo asked as Elrond walked him back to his room.
Elrond shook his head. "We do not deem it wise to do so. She can be even brasher than you." The corners of Elrond's mouth tugging upwards into a fond but exasperated smile.
"I think you should consider it, Elrond. She's one of your warriors as well; does she not deserve to know?"
Elrond raised his eyebrow. "Are you saying all these because you've grown tired of her whining?"
"No. Well, partly," Bilbo admitted sheepishly, "But also because she has a right to know; it involves our kind, after all."
Elrond sighed. "It is considerable. I worry for her as well, Bilbo. I fear involving her to may not bode well."
"Consider it?" Bilbo pressed.
The Elven Lord sighed and finally agreed that yes, he would give it some thought. Bilbo bade Elrond goodbye and slipped into his room; Ryadher was, unsurprisingly, awake and waiting for him.
"Where have you been?" She asked, eyes shining inquisitively.
Bilbo grinned. "Not your business," he sang.
Ryadher growled and sprawled herself across her bed like a giant cat. "You were talking to Elrond. What did he say?" Seeing the beginning of a frown forming, she hastily added, "Not that I was spying, I simply happened to uh, saw both of you while plotting with Kili and Fili."
"Plotting? Should I be worried? When have you even become on first name terms with them?"
"No, no, we aren't planning anything bad. Just a few little tricks here and there, nothing to be worried about," Ryadher flashed Bilbo a toothy smile that did nothing to soothe his growing alarm. She definitely was up to something. He had a feeling he would not like it. At all.
"Plus, we bond quickly, once their great oaf of an uncle stops looming over us." She flopped onto her belly and dangled half her body off the bed, reaching out to idly strum her harp with one hand. She scrunched up her nose in distaste. "You were right. Their uncle may be handsome but he's so stubborn and stiff. No fun at all."
"Dont antagonise him, Ryad, he already disapproves of you," Bilbo admonished.
"I know, I know. I'll keep my distance from his darling nephews so I wouldn't corrupt them with my Elven ways or something," she scoffed.
Bilbo hummed. "What else did you do today, besides playing tricks on unsuspecting victims?"
Ryad waved a hand through the air languidly. "Oh, nothing much. Scouting as usual, and- wait, you've been trying to distract me!" She shot up, glaring at Bilbo furiously. "I saw what you did there, hanar. Sneaky sneaky, you. Don't think I'll let you get away with it." She flayed her arms to emphasize her point, before settling to glaring at him.
He smiled blandly. "Get away with what? Are you on scouting duty tomorrow?"
She firmly shook her head. "Stop trying to change topics. Answer the question, brother dear: what were you and Elrond discussing just now?"
Bilbo pursed his lips. "We discussed about Smaug," he reluctantly replied. Ryadher tensed instinctively. She pushed herself up and leant against the bedframe. Hugging her pillow tightly, with a blank expression on her face, she resembled a little girl, lost and afraid. Bilbo was momentarily reminded of a younger Ryadher, sobbing and shaking, her small frame pressed tightly against his side. He wrenched himself from that memory; he so did not need to go there now.
"What about him?" She asked quietly.
"He merely asked if I was ready."
"And are you?"
Bilbo smiled wearily. "I have to be, don't I?"
Ryadher said nothing for a few seconds. Her grip on her pillow tightened, left hand shaking imperceptibly, eyes hollow and expressionless. Previously, when Bilbo had mentioned his part in the quest, she flinched but changed the topic quickly, unwilling to give much thought about it. There were many distracting factors at that point of time. Now, however, with nothing to distract her, her fears and concerns manifested. Bilbo could see that she was straying towards delicate memories best left untouched.
"Don't worry, I'll whack him extra hard for you," Bilbo forced a light-hearted tone, hoping to gain a reaction from his sister. She shook the dazed look out of her eyes and smiled wanly.
"Anyway," she said in a strained voice, "I'm sure that's not all both of you discussed about. What else did he say?"
"Can't say, really can't, sorry," he said apologetically. "Maybe he'll tell you soon. If you behave yourself," he added.
Ryadher made an undignified squawk and threw her pillow at him. "I'm always well-behaved!" She protested, sounding more like herself.
Bilbo snorted derisively. "Oh, sure, since wire-tripping Elven ambassadors from Greenwood is a sign of being well-behaved."
She scrunched her nose in distaste.
"That was a few years back! And they were haughty and condescending. Maybe if they did not have their noses stuck so high up in the air, they would see the wire and evade it like Lord Elrond did."
He shot her an exasperated look. "He just happened to know your tricks, Ryad. Still denying that the incident was your fault?"
"Of course. I'm innocent. And well-behaved as always."
"Keep telling yourself that," he muttered. Snagging the pillow she had thrown at him, he rolled over and pulled his blanket over his head, resolutely ignoring his sister and her sputtering protests. She could get another pillow; hers was officially his hostage, and in no way would he give it up now. Too bad for her.
End of Chapter 8
This chapter is a bit short, sorry :P
Hope the characters are believable, and that their change of mood etc aren't too drastic/melodrama. Hopefully i havent screw up their personalities too much. Do tell me if i did!
I reread the whole story and realised i kinda missed out a chunk of conversation between Bilbo and his sis in Chapter 5, which would have shown her initial reaction towards Bilbo's mention of Smaug. But i don't want to edit Chapter 5 yet (may be doing a massive editing next year or something) so please just assume i had it established that Ryad is scared and loathe Smaug although she doesn't show it much at first.
Hopefully you readers like Bilbo's sis! I didn't want her to be a Mary-Sue; if that's the impression some of you have been getting, terribly sorry. and if you find that there's been too much Ryad-appearance, fear not! The Rivendell Arc ends soon.
Do leave a review! Feedback about this chapter/the characters/Bilbo's sis would be great :) Thanks!
-littlesparrowkeet