Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien
Chapter Ten
Into the Unknown
The warm breeze kissed her skin standing at the cliff's edge. Sweet songs that the birds sang carried on the wind and into Claudia's ears. Closing her eyes Claudia turned her face toward the warmth of the first morning sun. Gold beams spilled over the peaks of the surrounding mountains.
The sight rang in a distant memory of Claudia when her Da would wake her and her sisters in the ungodly hours of the morning, only to drag them out of their mountain and down to Ravenhill. The still morning clinging to them with glistening dew, Odette would cry while Rowan slept curled up against one of the rocks. Eventually, Odette would settle down in their Da's arm leaving only Claudia and Fili to revel in the approaching light. She could still remember how the sun would crown their mighty home in brilliant colors of pink and tangerine. It had always reminded her of her Da's crown. Her Da would wrap his free arm around her small shoulder and whisper how he fought for that exact moment. It was as the light touched her Da's face that Claudia truly understood how important he was. He wasn't just her Da, no he was a warrior, he was a king. Sometimes she wished she could go back to those days.
"Are you going to jump?" A voice interrupted her thoughts.
Surprised by the voice she glanced over her shoulder. Glided in the gold light of morning stood Lord Glorfindel leaning against one of the tall council chairs. He wore traditional silver elven robes, his long blonde hair adorned with a thin silver ringlet.
"It would be so devastating to my calendar, if you did. Such long paperwork, and schmoozing to reassure your family and their allies that I did not push you myself." He sighed.
Her jaw tensed, she didn't enjoy his teasing tone. Elves were supposed to be ethereal creatures, most of which thought themselves better than other inhibitors of Middle Earth. But their most legendary warriors seemed to break this stereotype as he was just a cocky bastard.
Claudia turned toward Glorfindel and smiled. "You first. Age before beauty, you know," she gestured toward the cliff's edge.
In one short stride he was upon Claudia, only inches separated them. Claudia held her ground, staring up at the elf with a bored expression. She grew up with two sisters, she was not so easily intimidated. A boyish grin tugged on the corner of his lips as Claudia's expression went unchanged. He reached down, capturing her hand in his.
She ignored her heart spiked as his thumb danced over her knuckles. "Your charm is undeniable, Claudia."
Her eyes narrowed at his forwardness. She was not a silly child with a crush. She would not go weak in the knees when he showed her the smallest piece of affection.
"Princess Claudia, my lord." She corrected him, snatching her hand away from his touch.
Glorfindel straightened his, his arms tucked behind his back.
"Have you considered my proposal," his eyes scanned the mountains, "Princess Claudia?" He emphasized.
Claudia swallowed the unladylike words that burned the tip of her tongue.
"No more than I've thought of you, Lord Glorfindel." She answered.
He only smiled. "Ah, so have thought of it then?"
A hot flush illuminated the tip of her ears to the tops of her cheeks. He was far cockier than she remembered. The doors to the council chamber came to her recuse as they opened. The quietly babble of chatter filled the hall, consuming the small space around Glorfindel and Claudia. It was Claudia that broke their intense stare. She looked over to find Rowan's curious eyes set on the pair, Claudia knew this would cause an intense investigation later.
"If you'll excuse me, we have a meeting to attend, my lord." Claudia gave a deep curtis just as her grandmother had taught her. She looked up at the amused eyes of Glorfindel from behind her curtain of hair. Standing up straight she moved past the towering lord, her shoulder forcefully pushing past him. His toned arm pressed into her arm as she did so.
Rowan only watched suspiciously as Claudia came to sit beside her sister. Claudia forced a reassuring smile. Lord Elrond stood silencing the room, his ancient eyes looking over everyone.
"We are at the precipice of the unknown. The wizard that plagues these lands has their eyes set on bigger prizes. One that could destroy Middle Earth. Today a fellowship will be formed, to stop this wizard. You will head west toward the Grey Havens and bring word to our kin of this monster." He paused. " I will not lie before this council and say this will be an easy journey. The hardships you will face cannot be done alone. This fellowship must work together in order to win."
He took in a deep breath, "who will stand for Middle Earth." Silence laid over the room.
The high lord's eyes settled on the March Warden of Lothlórien.
"Haldir?" Lord Elrond called.
Golden haired March Warden, Haldir, tensed in his chair, his fingers running over his face pensively. Haldir stood, "I cannot lose anymore men, my lord. Lady Galadriel has disclosed to me that this is not a quest for Lothlórien."
"Then why isn't your Lady here with the council?" Glorfindel interrupted.
Haldir snapped his head in Glorfindel's direction, surging toward the unphased lord. "You dare to question our Lady of Light?' He roared, his hand touching the sword at his hip.
Glorfindel lazily held up his hands in innocence.
"I'm merely asking why the woman gifted with foresight would refuse to come to such an important meeting."
Haldir lunged at Glorfindel, sword in hand. Rowan gasped beside her, Claudia inched forward, interested to see how Glorfindel would react. Though his blade was crossed with another, frozen as his eyes wildly stared down at the still unimpressed Glorfindel. Lord Elrond heaved as he held the blade that stopped Haldir.
"That is enough!" He shouted.
Slowly Haldir retracted his blade, sliding it back into his scabbard. "Forgive me, my lord."
Lord Elrond only nodded, he glared openly at Glorfindel as he longued back in his chair. He bowed his head, turning to Rowan. "And what of Erebor? Will we not have the support of the dwarves?" All eyes were set on the small dwarven council.
Rowan stood, her head held high like a queen. "I'm afraid my sister was correct yesterday. Erebor is finally at peace, we cannot afford such a risky quest. I am the future of my kingdom, and will not go."
Claudia stared at the ground but felt the heavy gaze of Glorfindel watching her. Her eyes lifted from the floor to his evergreen eyes. His finger pressed into the line of his lips, his eyes daring her to do something.
"I understand." Lord Elrond turned to move on.
Claudia swallowed her fear, and stood."That is why I'm going in her place."
Rowan stood immediately, her hands on Claudia's arm to pull her back down. But Claudia stood her ground. Lord Elrond glanced over his shoulder in surprise. "Is that true." His eyes turned to Rowan to confirm this news.
Rowan's fingers curled painfully on Claudia's arm. "I would like a word with my sister, Lord Elrond."
Rowan didn't wait for permission from the High Lord, dragging Claudia out into the hall. Sunlight hair whipped Claudia's face as Rowan began her tirade.
"You have done many stupid things, but this, this Claudia Rosemaire is by far the stupidest." Rowan spat.
Claudia flinched at the use of her middle name. Her Ama and Da only used Claudia's middle name when she was in serious trouble.
"Rowan, listen to me."
Rowan continued berating Claudia. "You don't have the right to make the decision. How could think this was even in the realm of a good decision? " Worry consumed Rowan, as she began to pace in front of Claudia.
"Da is not here, Rowan. You're in charge, you said it yourself last night" Claudia poked Rowan's arm.
Rowan sighed aloud, pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes.
"Claudia, Da and Ama would kill me when I came without you."
Claudia blinked.
"Of course, they will. That was a stupid statement, Row." She chuffed. " But they will come to understand. Row, Lord Elrond is testing you right now. He and his stupid council want to shee how you will play their game. You are going to be seen as stubborn, and set a bad precedent for your future relationship with the elves." She stepped forward gently laying her hand on Rowan's shoulder giving it a light squeeze.
"I have to go, Rowan, not just for you. But for the future of our kingdom."
Rowan snorted, "so you were paying attention in Balin's lessons when we were younger."
"Only when he was saying something interesting."
"What about Da and Ama? I can't believe I'm saying this -but I agree you should go, Ama and Da will think other ways."
"I'll write Da a letter, that I'll send home with you. I'll be long gone, that he can't send a party after me."
"And Ama? She will tear Middle Earth apart to get to you, if you don't write to her."
Claudia sighed. "I'll write them both a letter."
She looked at her sister, "So, I have your blessing then."
Rowan clamped her hand around Claudia's elbow, Claudia followed the gesture grasping at Rowan's elbow. "You have the blessing of the crown."
They returned to the council, Claudia settling back in her chair. Lord Elrond's eyes on her with great interest.
"My sister will take my place in the fellowship."
A pleased expression graced the face of the High Lord. Before he could ask for any other soul that would join the fellowship, a voice boomed, "I would also like to join."
From beside Claudia the hand of Theo raised, Rowan glared at Theo who only smiled at his eldest cousin. "We will send my cousin, and two of our personal guards as well, my lord."
Claudia's heartwarmed, Dag, Alma, and Theo would be on side her. This left her more reassured in her decision.
"Excellence. We will remember Erebor's answer in our time of need."
"I will also volunteer, my lord." Another voice to Claudia's right spoke up.
Enna stood, the brows of Elrond raised in surprise once again.
" Enna, is this what Mirkwood wants?" He asked.
Enna looked over Theo and Claudia to Rowan, eyes pleading. " Yes, my lord."
Lord Elrond clapped his hands together in joy. His robes bellowed behind him as he turned to the rest of the council.
"Would anyone like to step forward to represent Rivendell on this quest?"
"I will go, my lord." A golden hand raised in the room, all eyes fell on Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower.
Claudia's eyes narrowed at the smirking elven lord. His long golden hair flowing behind him, looking every bit the hero. It made Claudia so irrationally mad.
"Lord Glorfindel I don't think-" Lord Elrond was cut off.
"Such a young party needs the guidance of someone far older," he paused looking over the assembled party, "and far wiser."
Claudia pressed her fingers into her crossed arm, biting back the words she had in mind for the elf.
Elrond closed his eyes briefly, pinching the bridge of his long nose. "It seems that our fellowship has formed.."
Claudia didn't have much of an appetite. Dinner had slipped by her in glimmers of watching her new fellowship, assessing how they were processing what lay ahead of them. Theo drank elven wine dragging Alma to the dance floor, doing a traditional dwarven dance. Dag didn't seem to change, standing on the edge of the on going party- if one could even call it that. Rowan and Enna had slipped away from the wandering eyes, Claudia suspected that Rowan wasn't happy that her sister and cousin were going on this quest in the first place. Enna's leaving didn't help. She had eyed Glorfindel when he entered the party worried that he would come and seek her out.
The evening slipped on and eventually a soldier came to collect the small fellowship, quietly leading them to Elrond's chamber.
It, like the rest of Rivendell, was carved like petrified nature with branches woven together creating an encircling library around them. The ceiling above them opened to the moonlight above, which provided the room with light. On a circular platform in the center of the room stood Lord Elrond leaning over a pedestal, reading something she could not distinguish. Lord noticed their presence in the room quickly pushing away whatever he had been reading.
Claudia glanced at the solemn faces that surrounded her. Alma stood at her side, her armour long abandoned. She wore a simple tunic that showed off the lines of her muscles formed from years of training. Alma had always been the head of their small trio and as they had grown older she began to train under Dwalin, quickly growing into the role of the warrior. To her other side stood Theo, who took in every word of the high lord. If Alma had been the head, Theo had been the heart. Theo had this way of making everyone smile. He never thought, he only acted. They were a balance.
Dag stood at attention behind Alma, still clad in his armour. He was like a brother to the Durin sisters, always there to support them no matter how much trouble they were in. Claudia knew Dag was secretly thrilled when Rowan ordered him to accompany her. She had seen the corner of his beard lift. On the steps stood like a laurel tree was Enna. Claudia had been aware of Enna through her sisters, but had never known her personally. Rowan wasn't one for sharing much of their relationship. So Enna reminded a mystery.
Claudia's mind wandered to the missing member of their party. She hoped that Glorfindel had withdrawn himself from the company, he was an influential and she had no doubt that he could easily convince the high lord that his volunteering had been a mistake. Deep in this thought she felt the air shift behind her, sending a shiver racing up her spin. Slowly twist each vertebra in her neck, she found behind her the solid chest of the irritating lord. Green eyes flashed down to met hers. She panicked looking back at where Lord Elrond stood.
"Welcome, fellowship. You will depart on the first morning light. But you must be prepared for what lays ahead of you all."
"I can't imagine anything that dangerous," Theo offered, laughing.
Lord Elrond was not assumed by this. "This wizard is not to be underestimated. Their power they have displayed is unlike anything I've heard of. He cannot be allowed to reach the Great Gulf."
The smile disappeared from Theo's face. Elrond scanned the rest of the party.
"And what exactly is this thing after? If we are to risk our lives to make sure this wizard gets a hold of this 'thing', then we should have the right to know what we are protecting." Claudia questioned.
Glorfindel wedged himself between Theo and Claudia, pressing past them. His eyes flashed to hers as he spoke.
"It is a dagger by the name of Zolniara, it is made of Osvent. That is all we need to know." Glorfindel said. "Unless you want an hour-long history lesson on things that are irrelevant."
"Lord Glorfindel is correct," Lord Elrond said begrudgingly. "Your time is limited. We need to prepare you for the journey ahead. This 'wizard' is dangerous and the quest you face won't be an easy one.
"Haldir has agreed to escort you to the borders of the Shire, beyond that you are on your own. We believe the wizard will not be too far behind you, so it is of the utmost importance that you get to the Grey Haven as quickly as you can. The wizard must not be able to reach the Great Gulf, if they retrieve what I believe they are after then there will be no stopping them."
Elrond gathered the scroll from his pedestal, carefully rolling it up and tying it with a leather cord.
"You will deliver this message to the Lady of the Grey Havens, keep it safe and out of the hands of the wizard."
Elrond began on a tangent on the supplies that would be provided for them and what routine they would take. Claudia was focused until in the shadows behind Elrond something moved. Ice crawled over her skin encapsulating her. Eyes of gold stared back at her, calling to her. The eyes looked from her to the scroll. A chorus of bells rang loudly in her ears as the eyes pulled her in. She didn't know how long had passed until a hand placed on her shoulder. Alma squeezed her hand gently, making Claudia come back to reality. She looked from Alma and registered the deep tones of Elrond's voice.
"Rest tonight, you will leave in the morning."
The fellowship bowed, each draining from the room. They were silent as each drifted off down the hall to return to each of their beds, knowing this could be their last night of comfort. Claudia slowly wandered the halls of Rivendell, a small part of her wished she would stumble upon Thallian. She wanted answers. Claudia wanted to believe that this quest was what she meant to do, however it would be nice if Thallian could confirm this fact.
"You think you can handle this?" A voice called out.
Claudia sighed. She only had a few more blissful hours to avoid the lord, couldn't he bother her in the morning. She turned to find the tall lord leaning against one of the pillars.
"You think you can handle going that long without a drink?" Claudia said, rolling her eyes.
"I think I can manage." Glorfindel grinned, reaching into his robe he pulled a thin silver flask. "Till morning, Princess Claudia." he brought the flask to his lips.
Her eyes narrowed, Glorfindel simply smiled, continuing to saunter down the grand hall sipping from his flask as he went.
A familiar presence came beside her, "I still can't believe that's the same man Kili used to tell us stories about when we were babes."
"Some fiction is better than reality, Dag." She muttered, her arm wrapped around Dag's marching away from the High Lord's chamber.
"Better get some sleep, adventure is calling our name."
