Quick Note: If you haven't read chapter sixteen: Arriving in the Elvish City, please quickly hop back to read it. This is the extra chapter I promised concerning getting some extra reviews. A huge thank you to those who reviewed. And please enjoy this early chapter.
It was hardly an hour after their arrival that Bella found herself seated on a balcony dining room surrounded by the dwarves. Yet it seemed that she and Bilbo were among the few who appreciated elvish hospitality. Based on her experience, she thought that dwarves would never say no to any food. But apparently they hated anything that was green.
To his credit, Fili was being mature about it and eating the salad and fruits with only a slight grimace. "Would be a little better if there was even a few tidbits of meat," he quietly commented.
That tended to be the complaint rippling among the two low tables the dwarves and hobbits occupied, the lack of meat. But it seemed as though no one was willing to make a scene about it.
They also had their opinions on the dinner music. While Bella found it to be soothing and relaxing, the dwarves detested it.
She caught sight of Kili winking at a harp player, an elf maid that Bella guessed was young in elven years. She lightly elbowed him. "You don't go around winking at every girl that catches your fancy," she scolded quietly. "You're sure to leave a trail of broken hearts that way."
Kili turned to her in amusement. "You mean that you'd have fallen for me if Fili hadn't asked for your courtship?"
"Hmm," she mused, with joking consideration. "Depends on if you would have been able to stand my brother's wrath."
On cue, Bilbo leveled a scowl on the young dwarf.
Kili jumped, shifting nervously before turning a wounded puppy look on her.
Bella chuckled. "Paid in full," she said. "You walked into that one."
Kili chuckled in return. "Funny," he said. Then he gave her a genuine smile. "But it's good to know I'm in your favor again."
She smiled. She wasn't about to admit just yet that she was seriously believing that she had made her final decision. She wanted to wait a couple days just to be sure it wasn't based on the emotion of the moment. "Though seriously," she said in a whisper. "Are you interested in elvish maids or are you just being a charmer?"
Kili shifted a bit before whispering, "Promise to keep a secret?"
She nodded, curious if he was being serious or meaning this to be a joke.
The young dwarf glanced around. "I'm not entirely sure yet," he admitted quietly. "I mean, I'm not interested in any of the dwarf girls back home, and now that I've seen them, I can't deny that elf maids are lovely. But I honestly don't know if I will end up discovering my One among them. Though you have to admit," he added with a shrug, "if my brother's One can be a hobbit lass from the Shire, it may be possible for a dwarf's One to be an elf."
Bella slightly nodded with a smile. "Just be certain that you are completely sure that she is your One before saying anything to your uncle. I doubt that I'll be able to change his prejudices that much."
Kili smiled before turning back to his own food.
Bella then noticed Bilbo looking down to his lap.
"You got an elven blade?" Fili asked, also noticing.
Bilbo nodded. "I'm wondering if Lord Elrond may know anything about it, like he does Thorin's and Gandalf's new swords."
"I wouldn't bother, laddie," Balin said. "Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war."
"What are you saying?" Bilbo asked. "That my sword hasn't seen battle?"
"I'm not actually sure that it is a sword," Balin said. "More of a letter opener, really."
Bella offered her brother a smile. "I personally think that letter openers don't regularly need sheaths. We can always imagine its history." A fresh thought came to mind. "Or," she said, grinning, "it will discover its destiny in the hands of Bilbo Baggins of the Shire, and become known as the sword of Thorin Oakenshield's Company burglar."
Bilbo chuckled. "Perhaps," he said. "Just don't count on it."
"I'm now wishing that I had searched that troll hoard further," Fili said, turning to his brother. "It seems as though potentially three of us four will have fine elvish weapons."
Kili shrugged. "I doubt that any elven bow could fit a dwarf, no matter how fine it was. The arrows would also be all wrong even if I tried to use them with my own bow."
Bella lightly bit her lip in thought. "Excuse me a moment," she said. She got up from her cushion and approached the table where Gandalf and Lord Elrond were sitting, just barely missing Thorin as he left. She stood before them, fighting back nerves. "Lord Elrond?" she ventured, causing the elven hero of legend to turn his gaze on her. "Might I ask if a favor could be made?"
"Certainly, Miss Baggins," Lord Elrond answered. "I'll see what I can do to fulfill it."
"You see, my brother and I have become good friends with Fili and his brother, Kili," she explained. "Three of us were able to find fine elven knives, or hobbit-sized swords, among the troll plunder, but to our knowledge there was no bow and arrows of similar make suitable for a dwarf." She took a deep breath. "I was wondering if you may have smiths willing and able to make Gondolin quality bow and arrows for Kili?"
Gandalf chuckled. "Is this an indication for whether or not you'll accept Master Fili's courtship?" he asked, eyes twinkling.
Bella glared at him even as her cheeks warmed. "I am almost certain of my final answer, but I intend to wait a few days. And you shouldn't have just spouted such things off like that."
Lord Elrond smiled gently. "I'll keep my thoughts to myself on the matter of your relationships," he promised. "I will also see my smiths later this evening about your request. I believe that we may even have a small store of mithril to make it special for your friend."
"Thank you, Lord Elrond," Bella said with a curtsey. She then returned to her seat, refusing to respond to the curious looks of Bilbo or the royal brothers. However she had hardly seated herself when chaos began.
"Alright, lads," Bofur said. "There's only one thing for it."
Bella turned to see the dwarf climbing atop a stool, just before he started singing a drinking song that she'd heard a few times in both the Green Dragon and the Prancing Pony. It wouldn't have been so bad if the other dwarves hadn't started a food fight. Seeing the disturbed, bewildered, and horrified faces of their hosts, she buried her face in her hands. Oh, this was far from what she imagined any visit to Rivendell being.
As the first verse wound down, Fili touched her forearm. He gave her a knowing smile. "You and I both know there's someone who can whip things back into shape if they so wished," he said with a wink.
As the second verse started, Bella took a deep breath. Oh, yes. She knew what he meant. It just meant that she'd have to create a bit of chaos herself. But a quick look at all the dwarves and their deplorable behavior silenced any Baggins tendencies that would keep her silent. She enjoyed some good music and fun as well as any of them. But this . . . this was worse than anything she'd witnessed at the Prancing Pony, and Rivendell was no tavern.
She sent an unnoticed hard look Bofur's way as he started the third verse as she pushed herself up from the table. She pulled a dagger from her pocket and flung it into the pedestal, just between the dwarf's dancing feet.
Bofur released a most impressive yelp as he stumbled off the pedestal. He turned wide eyes from the knife to Bella. "Ah, Miss Bella," he said. "I wasn't aware it was usual for hobbits to throw knives at performers."
"Only when those performers are treating their honorable hosts with such disrespect," Bella snapped. "Lord Elrond was kind enough to give us a place to stay and feed us from his own table, after we so rudely led a pack of wargs and orcs onto his doorstep." She met the gaze of each dwarf. "Honestly there are maybe only one or two of you that I am not feeling ashamed of right now. You treated Bag End with better respect."
"Well," Dwalin started.
She glared at him. "I'm still miffed about my stolen meal, Master Dwalin. Not enough to hold a grudge, but still miffed, so unless it is to apologize for your abhorrent behavior, don't say anything until I am finished."
Turning to the rest she continued, "I have had enough of this behavior. I've never seen such wretchedness even at the Prancing Pony in Bree, and I have seen plenty of bad manners there."
"Maybe they were holding back cause you're a lady," Nori suggested.
"If that was the case, I know that you lot have enough manners to extend that same courtesy not only to me, but also our hostesses who were doing their best to make us comfortable," Bella replied. "Now, I would very much like you all to apologize to our host, the Lord of Rivendell, and behave like the proper dwarven gentlemen I know you to be instead of uncultured beasts."
She briefly turned to Lord Elrond with a slight bow of the head. "My apologies in adding to the disturbance of the meal, my Lord," she said. "But there is only so much a gentlewoman of the Shire can tolerate."
"Gentlewoman indeed," Bofur muttered, grasping her dagger. He attempted to pull it out, but half-fell when he couldn't. He tried again and still couldn't. He half-growled, "No gentlewoman could do this."
"What about a hobbit ranger?" Fili asked, casually walking over and plucking the knife out. "All about the angle and force needed. You're fortunate that you didn't fall down and hurt yourself." He then turned and bowed to Lord Elrond. "On behalf of my uncle's Company, since they have apparently lost their tongues, I apologize for our unseemly behavior."
"I, as well, Lord Elrond," Kili said.
Gradually, each dwarf uttered their apologies, some more reluctant than others.
"Your apologies are appreciated," Lord Elrond said with a deep nod. "Though I feel that I also owe you an apology. It has been so long since I hosted dwarves I forgot their inclination toward meat and livelier music. I will ask the kitchens to prepare some more suitable food."
"And the music?" Gandalf prompted.
"Maybe some of my guests would like to share some musical pieces so that the musicians can have some ideas of what to play," the elven lord suggested.
"I believe I know the perfect piece to start," Fili said. He went to a pack near the entrance, withdrawing his violin. "I knew I should keep this with me this evening."
"What are you going to play?" Kili asked, joining him in collecting his own violin.
"Perhaps the latest chapter in The Lost Maiden of the Shire," Fili answered.
"I've never heard of any such legend," Lord Elrond mused.
"Well, then, Master Bilbo can fill you in as the maiden lends her voice," Fili said. As the rest of the dwarves settled down again, and nudged the two hobbits up and out of their seats, Fili stationed himself beside the pedestal Bofur had commandeered earlier.
He drew his bow sharply across the strings, creating a sound that was discordant and dreadful, yet not wholly unpleasant as there was just enough musical quality to realize he was setting a scene.
"Do you hear that?" Bilbo asked, his narrating voice taking over. "That was the cry of the Lost Maiden of the Shire. To some, she is the greatest calamity to befall them, but to others, she is the greatest boon."
Thus set to music, composed on the spot, Bilbo related the tale Bella and he had concocted. Then, he told of their own journey which led them into the clutches of the three trolls. To the amusement of all, Kili momentarily carried the melody as Fili and Bilbo reenacted their banter that distracted the trolls until Bella's big moment. She was introduced when Kili made his violin scream much like Fili had at the start.
Bella then sang the Shire song as hauntingly as she had done during the predawn hours of that day. She took some small pleasure in seeing the awe and pity in the eyes of the elves as she made her voice as woebegone and haunting as possible. When the dwarf princes and her brother reached the climax when the sun broke forth, she proclaimed the sentence she had given the trolls, reveling in the rising, rolling notes being played.
"And then she vanished in the brilliant flash of sunlight," Bilbo said, "having completed her task of rescuing yet another company on the road. But be sure, that if ever you are in need, do not fear the Maiden's cry. Unless you are the tormentor."
All the audience clapped as the performers bowed. Well, the boys bowed, Bella curtseyed.
"Quite remarkable," Lord Elrond said.
"It was merely one of two escape plans we devised if we should find ourselves in trouble," Bilbo answered. "Well, so long as it was not the both of us."
"What would have happened if Bella was the one in trouble?" Ori asked.
"Do you lads know the anthem of the Green Dragon Inn?" Bilbo asked.
"I believe we heard it in Bree by a couple hobbits there," Kili answered.
"Alright," Bilbo said, rubbing his hands together. "Ready, Bella?"
"Whenever you are," Bella said, grinning.
Bilbo created a hollow around his mouth with his hands and proceeded to make a horrible, guttural sound like some monster.
"Oi, laddie!" Balin cried. "Are ye sure you never heard orcs and wargs before today?"
The siblings only exchanged smiles as Bella started, "What you just heard is a beast so terrible none dare utter its name, so it is known as the Unspeakable Terror."
"Oh, you can search far and wide," Bilbo ground out, rumbling through his hands like some rock monster. "You can drink the whole town dry, but you'll never find a beer so brown."
"The beast was first heard on the outskirts of Bree. Though none could honestly say it caused any trouble aside from some frights, some men sought to find and slay the beast."
"Oh, you'll never find a beer so brown."
"Unfortunately, they discovered that you must never pursue this beast for once you see it . . . you will not live for a second meeting."
"As the one we drink in our hometown."
"Time passed, and people learned to ignore the horrible cries. That is until something . . . unusual happened."
"As the one we drink in our hometown."
"A lone boy was walking on his way home from tending his family's herd when suddenly he was set upon by ruffians. The boy trembled, doubting that he'd ever make it home when he heard the beast. The ruffians stilled, even as the boy curled up as tight as he could. He trembled as he listened to the beast's strange song before the ruffians started screaming in terror and agony."
"You can drink your fancy ales, You can drink them by the flagon."
"The boy dared to peek out in the silence and what he saw froze his heart. A black shape against the moonlight. It wasn't a man, a hobbit, a dwarf, or an elf. Though it appeared to walk on two legs, it was hunched over as though it ran on its hands as well as its feet. Its eyes gleamed in the moonlight as it turned to the boy. Then it nodded and ran away into shadows.
"Shortly afterward, similar reports started coming in. Though the beast was still considered a danger meant to be left alone, for those who found themselves victims along some road, the roar of the beast came to be a welcome song, a song of rescue. But, whenever they heard the beast, they followed the example of the first boy, for how else could they possibly survive the tale?"
"But the only brew for the brave and true . . . Comes from the Green Dragon!" Bilbo ended with a greater roar then his first, like a beast coming in for the attack.
Another round of applause as Bilbo and Bella bowed, and Bilbo gulped down the entirety of his glass. "Another please," he said, voice raspy. He tried to clear his throat. "Always hurts afterwards."
"I'll make sure to give you a special draught that quickly eases sore throats before you leave," Lord Elrond said, as a servant poured Bilbo another glass. "Just in case you truly need to perform this feat on the road."
"Thank you, Lord Elrond," Bilbo said, slightly saluting him with his glass.
"How about performing those songs properly now?" Dori asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Bella said.
"Let's give our burglars time to rest their throats and catch their breath," Fili said. "We have our own jaunty tune to share." He winked at Bella.
She half-laughed as she shook her head. "You wouldn't."
"All in good fun," Fili said. "I will only say that no dishes or cutlery was harmed during the first performance of this song."
"What song?" Bilbo asked.
"Composed and performed in Bag End on the eve of our grand adventure," Fili said. "Gentlemen?" He swept his bow towards some of the dwarves, the very dwarves who had been playing the silverware all those weeks ago. As they started their rhythmic clangs, Fili led into the song saying, "All inspired when a flummoxed and distressed hobbit lass worried that we'd blunt the knives."
Of course Kili and Fili started off the singing then joined with their violins on the second verse. Bofur suddenly had his flute out, joining in just as he had that first time. Bella discovered that her assumption was right. Her brother appeared horrified.
During the musical bridge he fearfully whispered, "They didn't do any of that did they?"
"Of course they didn't," Bella answered with a smile. "Though they did manage to wash and dry all our silverware and Mother's East Farthing crockery in record time without so much as a crack or chip in any of them."
"That's what Bilbo Baggins hates!" the entire company cried.
Bella and Bilbo led in the applause for this performance.
The dwarves performed a few more songs before they finally convinced Bella and Bilbo to join in once again. Fili claimed Bella as a dance partner for "The Green Dragon," though it took some convincing before she agreed to dance so freely before their elvish hosts. Then as a transition to settle everyone down again as the fresh dishes were set out, Bella and Bilbo sang "All Shall Fade" accompanied by Fili, Kili, and Bofur.
As they all sat down again and began eating the new food with gusto, Bella smiled at her brother. Once again, even though the dwarves started off horribly, they managed to make the evening a bit more enjoyable. Now, she relaxed with her new friends as the musicians started playing the ballads of heroes and various festival songs.
"Strange traveling companions, indeed, old friend," Lord Elrond commented to Gandalf.
Gandalf met Bella's eyes with a smile. "They certainly keep things interesting."
Author's Note: When I saw the extended scene where Bofur led the dwarves into a food fight before the generous elves, I knew that Bella had to do something to fix things. Thus, this followed.
I think that it was about this time in my writing that it really hit me: the Baggins siblings and the royal brothers had become their own tight-knit group within the Company. That realization prompted the idea of Kili potentially getting his own elvish weapons. We'll see what happens on that front.
So what did you think of Bilbo and Bella's alternate plan for getting out of trouble? "The Green Dragon" (to my current knowledge) is from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King film. I don't know yet if it is from the books or not, since I am only barely getting to the halfway point in The Two Towers (but I'm getting closer to finishing, I am).
Any thoughts on this chapter? Anything you particularly liked? Anything that made you laugh? Are there any theories for the next few Rivendell chapters? One person shared a theory/hope of what was to come. Are there any others? See you all Monday. :-)