Though he would not show it, Thorin truly did feel a pang a remorse for little Lori Dainson.
He watched as Maia hugged her little sister and whispered comforting words in her ear, while his eldest nephew knelt next to Kyle and stroked the child's dark hair comfortingly, his blue eyes filled with silent compassion. Kili just stood there, swallowing hard with his expression filled sadness and distant memory.
Of course, Fili of all people would understand. Lori had lost a gift given to her by her father, whom Thorin had yet to learn about. Thorin remembered many years ago, when his nephews were two little dwarflings, Kili had accidentally broken a toy given to Fili by their father, Vili, when fighting over the object. It had been the last thing Vili had ever given Fili not long before he had died. He remembered how upset Fili had been and how guilty the toddler Kili looked, for he did not fully understand the relationship between his older brother and the father he never knew.
Thorin gritted his teeth when seeing the silent exchange between Maia and Fili, the affection for each other still clear as day.
Maia Dainson may be a gentle and shy young woman with an even temper and a witty tongue, giving him no real reason to dislike her so, but Thorin in his mind kept calling her weak and unworthy. A distraction and a danger magnet to his heir. His Fili. He couldn't help it, whether as a determined king or as a protective uncle. The stubborn part of his mind just refused to let go of the notion that Maia was a threat to him and his kin.
Thorin was almost certain his heated conversation with Fili had put some sense into his heir….though by the way things concluded, his gut strongly told him that it hadn't. Fili was naturally obedient to him, while Kili was considered the rebellious one, and his nephew's morals never surprised Thorin, never worried him so much…..until that human girl!
And Kyle...when the boy had given back his sword, Deathless, his face and black hair covered in blood with shellshocked stormy eyes, Thorin had almost seen Frerin. The notion made his heart shiver when thinking about how close this human lad had come to a brutal death by the jaws of a warg. The lad looked small and completely shaken, but holding Deathless in a fierce grip before the Dwarf King gave him the appearance of a fiery and hardened fighter.
For the first time, Thorin saw potential in the young and spirited Kyle Dainson.
Thorin sighed and gently called to them, "We cannot stray now. We must follow the path and get out of here."
Fili met his eyes, then nodded grimly. When Kyle looked up, Thorin turned away and followed the others.
While comforting Lori, Maia felt a swell of anxiety within her, thinking about all that had just happened to them in one day. Most of all––she met Kyle's equally disturbed gaze, who was no no doubt thinking the same thing she was––the orcs. The same ghoulish creatures that had attacked them back at their house, the night they were brought to Middle Earth.
Now there was just the problem of mentioning that little part to the Company: that they have seen orcs before and didn't even realize it until now.
And the other thing that distressed her: guilt. Guilt for not being a better protector. For leaving Fili, even when he told her to. The logical part of her said it was the right thing to do, that Fili was more than capable in taking care of himself and that she worries too much, but her heart rebelled. Especially when it concerned her brother and sister.
She felt that she should have waited near the hole until Kyle and Lori were both safe. That she should have stayed and attempted to fight, instead of being too damn obedient. Should have...
Looking down at her new daggers while hugging Lori, she sighed, wondering if she was never really meant to wield a blade as she had thought. That maybe she just got caught up in the moment and forgot that she was hardly considered a badass.
Feeling a rough hand touch her shoulder, she looked up to find Fili looking at her. His blue eyes shined with concern for her, just as they had for Lori. Maia just gave him a small, reassuring smile. Saying nothing, Fili nodded.
"We cannot stray now," Thorin had said behind them, his voice stiff. "We must follow the path and get out of here."
Fili nodded at Thorin, squeezing Maia's shoulder before standing up and moving to leave with Kili after their uncle. Maia sighed, rubbing her face with the heel of her palm to regain her composure, before standing, pulling a sniffling Lori to her feet. "You heard the man….or dwarf," she told Kyle, Lori, and Bilbo, who followed her into the pathway with Gandalf behind them. While walking, she sheathed her daggers and zipped them in her backpack, stuffed with her purse and clothes.
As they followed the dwarves down the narrow pathway, the tunnel began as more a crevice in a gorge made of white and pink sandstone, cut with some rough, crystalline edges on either side. The one-way trail continued as they walked through the enclosed walls, their closeness and limited space causing discomfort and a slight wave of claustrophobia over Maia.
She tightened her grip on Lori's shoulders and took a deep breath to calm her beating heart. Her shoulders and bag brushing the stone, she tried to ignore how loudly everyone's heavy breathing bounced off the walls, wrecked with anxiety and wariness, like they were about to drown in the crossing of the Red Sea. Dwalin in the lead, the Company squeezed passed a smaller crevice, Bifur shoving Bombur through when stuck in between.
Thorin looked up as the first sign of sunlight beamed from the crack high above them, its ledges shining a pearly white like the pillars of a great temple. Cheeks still damp with tears, Lori had finally managed to calm down at this new stretch of beauty.
Relief flooded her chest. While it felt as though the walls were going to collapse altogether, she was glad they weren't completely sealed in.
She closed her eyes as the sun hit her face. Her fingers ran gently along the smooth roughness of stone.
A tingling sensation swept over her as delicately as a brush of fingertips over her skin. The air felt cleaner and cooler, but thicker with a sweet, lively scent that made her feel light on her toes. It tickled, stirred, and thrummed like a beating heart. It felt weird and wonderful. A similar vibration to Gandalf's presence, but more peaceful.
A very faint sound like tiny bells seemed to catch her ears. Like a beautiful song wrapping her in a light, warm blanket. Her depression and anxieties washed away like clean water rinsing away dirt.
"Do you feel that?" murmured Maia softly.
"Yeah," Kyle nodded. "It tickles."
Lori seemed to cheer up a little more, her shoulder bunching up as a small giggle escaped her. The mysterious sensation seemed to let her forget her grief for the moment.
Ahead of them, Bilbo glanced at them, his expression full of curiosity, before looking around the walls with confusion. Bilbo feels it, too, Maia realized in surprise.
"Gandalf," said Bilbo, still looking around him. "Where are we?"
Gandalf looked at him in surprise. "You can feel it?"
"Yes," said Bilbo, turning to the wizard. "It feels like...well..."
"Like magic," finished Maia.
"Yes," said Bilbo, smiling a little sheepishly.
Gandalf smiled. "That is exactly what it is," he told them, obviously very familiar with what they were feeling. "A very powerful magic."
"What is it?" asked Kyle, waving his hand around as if the magic could move before his eyes. "Some kind of ghost barrier?"
"A warding charm," answered Gandalf, nodding, "in the form of a magical belt. Unwelcome to those who mean harm, but harmless to the good of heart. This is very old magic, Master Dainson, used commonly for the safest of sanctuaries, wielded by few of the most powerful guardians in Middle Earth."
Bilbo looked at him in awe, then at the Dainsons curiously, as though asking, 'Is this what you always feel around Gandalf?'
"We're going to a sanctuary?" said Maia. "Where?"
Gandalf only smirked.
"There's light ahead," Dwalin's voice echoed ahead.
Bilbo looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but glancing back, he decided to move on. Gandalf and the siblings followed. From the looks of things, with the way the walls seemed widen a little further down, they were almost out.
Once they reached the opening of the narrow passage, they heard the sound of water running over stones, before plunging far from a cliff. We must be near a waterfall, thought Maia, suddenly aware of how thirsty she was from all that running.
One by one, the dwarves exited the rocky tunnel, stepping into the daylight with flying dew floating in the fresh, pine-scented air. Once the dwarves were out, they all paused at the view before them, not saying a word. Thorin paused on the formed steps of the cliff, the hilt of his axe banging disdainfully on the stone.
Bilbo slowly stepped out next, but once he saw what was before them, he stepped further out with with a dropped outh and wide eyes.
Wondering what got Thorin in a sudden black mood and Bilbo into a speechless state, Maia stepped out into the fresh daylight with Kyle and Lori by her side. The rocks on either side of them were overflowing with trickling ravines that dropped over a huge chasm, revealing them to be on a mountain cliff.
Following everyone's gaze, their jaws dropped as they stepped into what they believed to be Heaven itself. Wind brushed back their hair in the flow of silence, as the breath left their bodies while beholding the sight.
Beyond and below their descent revealed a widespread valley, surrounded by mountains, pine woods, and ravines dropping into huge waterfalls down rocky precipices. In the center of its magnificent beauty, on the huge foothill that cascaded many waterfalls down the tumbling river below was a great formation of houses, like a small city strewn in house-shaped buildings, huts, towers, and pavilions interconnected with bridges, courtyards, sunlit terraces, and gardens that could be seen even from across this distance.
There were many earthly colors that shined upon this wondrous sanctuary, more vibrant than even the Shire itself. In the sunlight, reflecting over the floating mists of the waterfalls, everything seemed to glow in a blinding, golden light.
"Oh, my God," whispered Maia with a wide smile. Feeling the wind sweeping her hair strands, instant warmth and peace settled in her heart just by gazing at the view. Lori, still holding her hand, exclaimed in wide-eyed awe, "Wow!"
They could literally feel and hear the magic in the form of music, swirling in soft, flowing currents like the rapids of the streams down under. It tingled their skin, seeped through their pores like fresh soap, and cleared their lungs as they breathed into pine, dew, and maple-scented environment.
Kyle stared with a disbelieving shake of his head. "That's it," he said, "I'm dead."
Gandalf stepped out from behind them. "The Valley of Imladris," he announced proudly. "In the common tongue it is known by another name."
Bilbo gazed at the view with peaceful wonder. "Rivendell," he murmured.
Gandalf nodded, putting a hand on Maia's shoulder. "Here lies the Last Homely House, east of the Sea."
"It's beautiful," murmured Maia.
In that moment, all three of the Dainsons and Bilbo Baggins wanted nothing more than to run down the dangerous zig-zag path of the valley, just to explore the organic terrains and the sunlit "Homely House" of Rivendell, its very scent and beauty luring them in with enchantment. Maia thought the moment of admiring the view and breathing into its unworldly environment would never end...until Thorin whipped around and turned on Gandalf with a dark scowl.
"This was your plan all along!" accused Thorin. "To seek refuge with our enemy!"
Kyle was the first to blink out of his trance. "Enemy?" he echoed, glaring at Thorin. "What are you talking about?"
Maia frowned...and then it hit her. Gandalf brought them to the Elves! Elves in Rivendell.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield," Gandalf said, sternly. "The only ill will that you will find in this valley is that which you bring yourself."
Bilbo flicked his eyes sideways at this. Kyle snorted and Maia folded her arms, shifting from one foot to the other, lips pressing to fight a smirk. Lori just squeaked happily, "There's elves down there, right? Are we gonna see the elves now?"
Thorin shot a sharp glare at the little girl, who flinched a little, before hissing to Gandalf, "You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing?!" If looks could drill a hole into a person's face, Thorin's steely glare would do just that. "They will try to stop us."
"Of course they will," Gandalf said calmly, not denying it, but pointed out, "but we have questions that need to be answered."
Thorin looked away and didn't argue further at that fact. What was done was done, and there was no question that they needed answers to their enigmatic map. The map that supposedly had unspoken riddles about the Mountain's secret doorway that needed translating.
With a sigh, he silently nodded.
Satisfied, Gandalf straightened up. "If we are to successful, this will need to handled with tact and respect," he said, "and no small degree of charm." He gave Thorin a warning look before brushing past them all and started heading down the path, saying, "Which is why you will leave the talking to me."
Thorin stood there stiffly for a moment, before turning around and stomping after Gandalf. The dwarves looked at one another, some with furrowed eyes, others with silent reluctance, and few like Kili and Ori with some quiet excitement.
Fili didn't seemed as excited as his brother, however, the latter nudging him on the arm with a smile before heading down. He didn't look disgruntled either as he watched his younger brother.
Without warning, Lori had suddenly burst forward into a sudden whoop, was yelling excitedly in spite of the dwarves' obvious annoyance as she scampered forward, "YAY! We're gonna see elves! We're gonna see the elves!"
As much as she was glad to see her sister's sadness forgotten at the moment, Maia's nerves spiked when seeing the little girl trotting dangerously near the drop of the chasm. "Lori, hey! Be careful!"
She went to go after her little sister and grab her arm, but already out of reach, Lori was going to dart down the steep path past the dwarves when Balin caught her by the shoulders on the way, pulling her to a halt.
"Slow down now, child," the elder dwarf chided warningly. "This path is slippery and narrow. You can easily fall. One step at a time, alright?"
"Okay," said Lori. She took Balin's hand and the two descended together at a slow, steady pace.
Balin was right. The rest of the path bellow, connected with others, seemed to zigzag in sharp, twisting turns that run a car off a cliff in one careless steer. They were going to have to go down slowly.
Maia spotted her brother leap down a few stones. "Careful, Ky!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know! I'm not five," called Kyle, waving an arm without looking back. Maia rolled her eyes with a smirk.
While Kyle walked with Bilbo down the slope after the others, Maia started to follow when she realized that Fili was waiting for her at the edge of the precipice. It wasn't until he saw her that a warm smile lit up his face. His golden hair glowed more brightly in the light of the valley. He held out a hand to her.
Feeling her cheeks heat up, she gratefully took it with a small smile.
He also noticed that she was holding something back that was stressing her. He had seen it in the cave. "You alright?" he asked, frowning slightly.
Maia nodded, looking away. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said stiffly.
Fili studied her worriedly. "Was there something I did?"
"No, no, of course not! Just forget about it. I'm just recovering from….before, you know." She sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear, and tugged his hand. "Come on, let's catch up with the others."
Fili nodded, knowing it was best not to press her unless he really needed to.
He could tell that something was bothering her, hiding behind her obvious wonder and delight in Rivendell. He had a feeling it had something to do with the orcs and wargs. Though still a little shaken up himself, all that comforted him now was not the colorful view of the elf sanctuary, but the warmth of Maia's hand in his own, her steady pulse quickening his own.
As they descended with the others in silence, Fili gripping her hand as they slowly stepped over stones. Maia kept her eyes on Kyle and Lori ahead of them, aware of the roaring river running below them, extending far into the distant lands beyond the valley.
She had never seen anything quite like it. Not even in the European brochures that digitally exaggerated the flawless and colorful environmental foundations. She loved the mountains, the forests, the rivers, the wateralls, and even the dangerous zigzag path she was afraid of slipping from, because this definitely felt like a place where a magical kingdom can reside from the covers of her favorite books.
She felt as though they were walking in a living, breathing Thomas Kincade masterpiece with sound, movement, and smell.
In fact, thinking about it now, it felt like she had seen a drawing of this before. Years ago….
"This is amazing!" state Maia slowly, smiling brightly now. "I can definitely picture building a cabin here and working on some paintings! Acrylic, oil, watercolor...all three..." Glancing at Fili, he was chuckling while looking ahead. "What? Don't tell me you don't agree! I thought you said you like the open-doors."
"Aye, it's beautiful, without a doubt," agreed Fili, looking around him with a smile. Then he shrugged. "Erebor is better."
Maia gave him an incredulous look. "You've never even seen Erebor," she pointed out. "How would you know which one is better? And if you say it's because elves live here, I'm going to hit you!"
Now Fili laughed at that. "Well...alright, maybe that's partly the reason," he admitted, earning an eye-roll from Maia. Then he grew serious. "But I have heard tellings of the beauty and wealth of the great Dwarven Kingdom under the Mountain my whole life. Thorin can be very detailed. I have faith in the kingdom we are meant to reclaim. You'll see."
Actually, I have, thought Maia, recalling the dream she had nearly two months ago, since the night before they had set off from Bag End. It was a hazy memory now, but it was hard to forget how large, how breathtaking, and how luxurious the insides of the underground kingdom was, however dark some parts of it were.
In almost every way, it was the opposite of the Valley of Imladris, but with all the riches and population of finely dressed dwarves she remembered seeing in the dream, the kingdom was clearly one of a kind.
Then she also remembered the mighty roar of the fore-mentioned dragon and the fire that poured down in bright turrets from the night sky across the outdoor balconies...
"You know what? I believe you." Maia squeezed his hand and added slyly, "But I still can't wait to see what the elves look like."
Fili mock-scowled and Maia's laugh was loud.
The wide bridge they crossed was slightly arched like a rainbow, smooth and pearly white, creating a path high across the running stream at least sixty feet below, glittering like a million shiny crystals.
In twos and threes, led by Gandalf, the Company carefully crossed until reaching the entrance sided by two tall statues, leading into a wide courtyard, round and iridescent as the full moon and surrounded by the many elegant buildings of Rivendell.
While everyone gathered in the center, the dwarves clearly shifting around uncomfortably while surrounded by this pristine haven, Bilbo and the Dainsons were the only ones who looked around with glowing eyes and relaxed smiles. Lori was still in an exotic mood, looking around with wide-eyed wonder as a distraction from the loss of her teddy bear.
She wished desperately that she had her teddy with her, to have him look at the most beautiful place she had ever seen.
Something clicked at the back of her mind when she heard Gandalf call this place 'Rivendell.'
Rivendell. The name sounded so familiar to her. Was it in a bedtime story? Or a sketchy drawing?
Clearly Kyle was thinking the same thing, putting his hand on Lori's shoulder at he stared at the tall towers of the houses. "Rivendell," he murmured thoughtfully. "Hey, L, do you remember Dad's bedtime stories to you...or to us, sometimes?"
"I think..." said Lori slowly.
"I can't remember, but...didn't he make up a place called Rivendell once?"
Lori shrugged. "I think so. I don't know." Her daddy made up a lot of stories with a lot of names, but they were always so brief that Lori never concentrated on the names, but rather how the stories played out. Now the thought nagging at her memories made her curious.
Maia walked up to them, looking both awestruck and thoughtful like Kyle, though her face pinched slightly in the way it does when thinking hard. "Doesn't this all feel familiar to you?" she whispered. "Like somewhere in a drawing back at home?"
"Yeah," nodded Kyle, and then Lori. "But I was thinking about Dad's stories, back when we were younger...remember?"
Maia shrugged, staring at the pavilion nearby. "Yeah, a little," she murmured. "It's been a while, but...now you mention it..."
"Mithrandir!" a new male voice called out.
When everyone looked up toward the steps up front, a tall figure with long, straight brown hair, wearing dark violet silks and long robes, gracefully approached them. Gandalf exclaimed with delight, "Ah, Lindir!"
As he came closer, placing hand over his chest and nodding with a smile in greeting, his entwined silver circlet glittering in the light over his forehead, the Dainsons noticed for first time, peaking through the tresses of his hair, that his ears were pointed. Pointed as a leaf! His face was youthful and quite handsome, but his keen hazel eyes held a spark of wisdom in them that clearly indicated that he was much older than he looked.
"An elf!" squealed Lori quietly, covering her mouth with both hands in excitement as she watched. She bounced and pointed. "It's an elf! A tall elf, too!"
"Holy crap," whispered Kyle, and Maia nodded, wide-eyed and speechless.
Thorin leaned over to Dwalin, eying the elf. "Stay sharp," he muttered, and Dwalin nodded, glaring.
The tall Elf called Lindir came up to Gandalf. When he spoke, his language was different. "Lastannem i athrannedh i Vruinen (We heard you had crossed into the Valley)," he said in a melodic voice.
All Dainson siblings stiffened when hearing this graceful language. Something about it triggered in their minds. Normally either Maia or Kyle would try relating it to something like Welsh, Celtic, or maybe Latin...but Lori definitely recognized it! The little girl's jaw dropped in pure shock.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond," said Gandalf.
"My Lord Elrond is not here," said Lindir in English now.
"Not here?" Gandalf let his staff touch the ground. "Where is he?"
The blast of a howling horn answered his question, Lindir's eyes flickering in its direction. All of the Company instantly turned around at once toward the source in high alert. Satisfied, Gandalf turned around...only for his smile to drop when seeing a crowd of riders galloping across the gates, straight towards them in tall horses and shining armor. Practically charging, and armed for battle.
This alone sparked sudden action in Thorin. "Ifridi bekar!"* he shouted, holding up his axe, and the dwarves immediately started gathering together with readied weapons. "Close ranks!"
Kyle protested loudly as he, Maia, Lori, and Bilbo were forcibly pulled back and pushed into the center of the dwarves, who gathered into a tight-knit circle like hardened gladiators. The sound of many hooves galloping on the pavement drew their attention toward the horde of riders that rode swiftly from the bridge.
They instantly started circling the Company until they were trapped in the middle, leaving no gaps for escape.
The dwarves growled threateningly at the riders as they continued to swiftly circle them with grace and speed, their silken capes sweeping in the wind and their silver chest armor shining with pure light, armed with swords, lances, and archery slung on their saddles. Some even held tall white flags with silver-lined symbols bellowing in the breeze, and others had eight-pointed stars woven in gold.
They all had long dark hair, circlets, pointed ears, but it was the catlike keenness of their eyes from sharp, icy, and inhumanly beautiful faces never looking away from the Company members as they rode around them.
They were all Elves!
Dizzy from this continuous hustle, Bilbo bumped into into three human siblings as they squirmed under their many gazes moving around them, feeling their catlike eyes bear down on them as severely as arrows, all while feeling a mixture of breathless fear and fascination in these badass elven warriors. Hearts pounding aggressively, they just hoped they wouldn't be speared in the spot.
Finally, to their relief, the elven riders began to slow their pace in two formations around the huddled dwarves, who still looked like they were ready to tear the elves to shreds if so much as a blade swept in their direction.
Maia and Kyle, who were taller than all the dwarves, hoped it wouldn't be their heads first. Kyle looked soaked enough in Warg's blood as it was; a menacing clash to the beauty of their surroundings.
When the riders finally halted from a slow trot, one of them broke through and called out in greeting, "Gandalf!"
"Lord Elrond," greeted Gandalf, bowing his head to an armored elf who clearly held an air of higher authority among the riders. Thorin glared at them in his stance with fire in his eyes. "Mellonnen! Mo evinedh?"
'My friend. Where have you been?' Lori understood that translation. It was easy.
"What the hell?!" breathed Kyle in shock, when hearing the words and recognizing them.
Impossible! Maia gaped, now remembering why the language sounded so familiar. She hadn't used it much since she was a kid, but she definitely recognized those words.
"Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad (We've been hunting a pack of orcs that came up from the South)," said the leader, hopping off his horse. "Dagannem rim na lant Vedui (We slew a number near the Hidden Pass)."
"This is too weird," muttered Kyle as the dark-haired elf warrior marched up to Gandalf and embraced him.
"Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders," said the elf called Lord Elrond, pulling back to eye at his sword before pacing around in furrowed thought. He eyed at the wizard. "Something, or someone, has drawn them near."
"Ah," said Gandalf, before gesturing to the Company. "That may have been us."
When Lord Elrond turned around, after handing his sword to Lindir, the dwarves parted as Thorin stepped forward. His hard gaze remained unwavering, his majesty somehow matching that of the Elf Lord's, despite their obvious height difference.
"Welcome, Thorin, son of Thrain," said Elrond in a formal greeting. There was truly an awe-spiring power around him that was light-lifting, his tone smoothed from a roughness that was not unwelcome. He had long dark hair and gray-blue eyes like most of the other elves, but his face was somehow slightly different, containing less of the feline proportion that made him look more timeless and wise, his shoulders also broader in his slim frame. While he carried the same stature and glow of attractiveness as Lindir and his warriors, it seemed slightly less...elven.
"I do not believe we have met," replied Thorin, tilting his chin up in equal formality, but far less warmth.
"You have your grandfather's bearing," said Elrond, patiently. "I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain."
"Indeed? He made no mention of you."
Maia winced at the rudeness in Thorin's tone, while Kyle whispered, "Ouch!" And when currently surrounded by armed elves! She watched anxiously as Elrond's eyes darkened slightly, exhaling slowly as he stared down at the Dwarf Lord.
Just when she thought the Elf Lord was going to make a retort back, he instead said carefully in fluent Elvish, sharp eyes never leaving Thorin, "Nartho i noer, toltho i viruvor. Bo i annam vann a nethail vin."*
Thorin's eyes narrowed dangerously. Maia had absolutely no idea what he just said, but she had to smile at the elf's clever response. Glancing at Kyle, her brother crossed his arms, smirking with raised eyebrows, while Lori covered a small giggle.
The dwarves, however, were far from amused. "What is he saying?" growled Gloin, raising an axe threateningly. "Does he offer us insult?" The dwarves echoed in similar irritation.
"No, Master Gloin," said Gandalf exasperatedly, but patiently, "he's offering you food."
Oh, good! I'm starving! thought Maia, feeling her stomach rumble suddenly. She could honestly not remember the last time she had ate or drank anything. Yesterday? Kyle and Lori clearly felt the same, their faces drawn with sudden longing.
The dwarves, suspicious as ever, drew together and whispered among themselves in silent discussion.
"Oh, come on!" hissed Kyle in exasperation, next to Maia. "These guys are killing me! It's food, and I'm starving!"
"Me, too," whined Lori, leaning back against Maia, hugging her tummy, and Maia ran her hand through her hair reassuringly.
Finally, the dwarves broke apart, looking resigned but clearly hungry. "Oh, well," said Gloin in a calmer voice. "In that case, lead on."
When everyone started up the steps, following Lindir, who was spoken to by Elrond in Elvish before nodding his head and turning around (Maia assumed that Lindir was some kind of servant), the Dainsons and Bilbo were walking with the dwarves when Gandalf called them all over.
The dwarves turned around to watch suspiciously as the siblings and Bilbo shyly came forward. As Lord Elrond studied them, Maia was suddenly very self-conscious in what she was wearing, in her cutoff shorts with cowboy boots while not having bathed in weeks, and felt her face blister red.
God, I seriously have bad-timing for first impressions! she thought exasperatingly, recalling her first meeting with Bilbo, and then the dwarves in both her tank tops.
"Bilbo Baggins, Dainsons," said Gandalf to all of them, "I would like you to introduce you to Elrond Half-Elven, the Lord of Imladris and a dear old friend of mine."
Elrond nodded to them with a pleasant smile.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," said Bilbo, bowing slightly to the tall elf.
Elrond nodded. "Welcome to Rivendell, Bilbo Baggins," he said. Then he turned to Maia, Kyle, and Lori. "And you must be the young ones Gandalf had mentioned. I am very pleased to meet you."
"You knew we were coming?" asked Maia, surprised. She turned to Gandalf and raised her eyebrows. "When you were gone all evening..."
Gandalf smiled sheepishly in confirmation, and the kids gaped at him. "So that's where you were the whole time!" exclaimed Lori aloud. "You were talking with the elves!"
"He sent a message, little one," said Elrond to Lori, "to expect surprised visitors that would be led by no other than Thorin Oakenshield himself. He also mentioned a lovely young woman and two children among them. Children from another world, if I am not mistaken?"
Just looking at their clothing and hearing their accent was already a dead giveaway.
"Not a child," muttered Kyle through his teeth, and Maia elbowed him while Lori sniggered.
"Indeed." Elrond's mouth twitched, but when he stared at Kyle for a moment, taking in the bloodstains on his face, clothes, and messy black hair, he said gently, "I would assume that since you are neither faint or afraid that this is not your blood?"
Kyle blinked. "Huh? Oh!" He shook his head, gesturing to his face. "Nah, I just got run over by a warg and the whole thing got a little messy. I don't normally look like this," he said, smiling weakly. Then he added, bowing his head awkwardly, "I'm Kyle, by the way."
"And I'm Lori," said Lori, before quickly adding, "Are you an elf for real?"
Gandalf chuckled. Elrond smiled warmly. "I am."
"You're one of my favorite magical creatures!" exclaimed Lori. Someone among the dwarves laughed at that strange remark. They may not approve of Lori's love of elves, but they certainly thought her version of 'magical creatures' ridiculous.
"Uh," Maia chuckled nervously, pulling Lori aside when Elrond blinked at that. "What my sister meant is that she always wanted to meet the elves. We all did. It's a new thing for us."
"I see. You are the eldest?"
"Yes, sir...uh, my lord." Wincing, Maia forced a smile and bowed her head like the elves do. "I'm Maia. Lori and Kyle are my brother and sister. But you already knew that, of course. Obviously," she said quickly, feeling completely awkward in every way.
"Ah, Maia." Elrond only warmly offered a hand and Maia shyly took it, while the Elf Lord bowed his head in greeting. "Like the Maiar, spirits of the Ainur. Welcome to Rivendell, Lady Maia."
"Thank you, my lord," said Maia, feeling more relaxed and, at the same time, surprised about his mention of these spirits called Maiar. Like Rivendell and the Elvish language, those two names sounded familiar to her. It ticked at the back of her mind, like a very faint echo of a memory...or was it a dream?
Maiar...Ainur...
"As guests for dinner in my house, if you and your siblings would allow it, my people and I would like to give you a proper bath and some clothes before you rejoin your companions. You have had a long journey and I imagine you are all exhausted."
Feeling appreciated, Maia smiled and was about to reply, when the dwarves immediately started protesting, "They're not going anywhere!", "They're staying with us!", "You can't do that!" and somewhere she even heard Fili put in his denial, while calling out her name. There were even some growls among the dwarves. Gandalf looked frustrated and Bilbo only groaned to himself. Kyle looked furious and Lori crestfallen.
Weeks of dirtiness, danger, and exhaustion started to weigh down on Maia and her blood started to boil. Struggling not to lose her temper, she exhaled through her nose, stiffly saying to Elrond, "Excuse me," before stepping back and turning to the Company, "Guy! GUYS! HEY!" She didn't expect her raised voice to work, but it did; the dwarves fell silent instantly. Thorin just glared at her, not moving.
Then she said with forced calm, "Look, y'all are acting we're about to be snatch away by a bunch of thugs at any second. It's just a bath! I don't know about you, but that really sounds like the best thing in the world right now, and I would really like to look a little presentable to the people who are kindly hosting us." She shot a glare at Thorin, who didn't move.
Then, not helping herself, she found Fili, whose looked more worried than angry, and then said more gently, "Everything will be fine. Okay? No need to get worked up over a little split-up. Trust me."
"Yeah, you guys don't want me looking like a zombie forever, do ya?" joked Kyle, though the look in his eyes indicated that he was serious. He really smelled awful, like dirty dog and blood.
The dwarves grumbled among themselves, but they looked resigned. Fili looked like he wanted to protest, but Maia quickly turned around before another argument would start and nodded to Elrond. "I'm sorry about that, but we would really appreciate it. For Kyle, especially."
Elrond's ancient eyes twinkled, studying her and her siblings with a curious expression. The look somehow made her shiver and relax at the same time. "Not at all, my dear. It would be our pleasure. If you will follow me, I will find you those who be of service..."
As they were being led away, the dwarves and Bilbo led in one direction and the Dainsons, Gandalf, and Elrond in the other, Maia felt Lori half skipping while holding her hand while Kyle was just muttering, "Finally!"
Maia was looking forward to nice, warm bath, but she was also deep in thought of what the Elf Lord had mentioned before.
Like the Maiar spirits of the Ainur.
How am I suddenly named after something like that? And the language...how could elves' language possibly be our code-talk? That was just something we made up with Dad-
Then a thought that had never occurred to her suddenly shocked her, making her almost stumble in her steps, and she felt even stupider for not dwelling into it. It also chilled her to the marrow of her bones. The confusion sickened her.
Could Dad be connected to Middle Earth? Is he...oh God...
What did she know about her father's past, before he met her mother? Practically nothing, except that he came from New Zealand. How could he make up creative stories and not write about them? How could he make up a language that had been meaningless ten minutes ago and suddenly become a real language for elves?
His drawings, his love of horses, his hatred of monsters (like the ones in Kyle's video games), his sparring abilities...
The black muck in the crime scene...
The black muck on her hand, when she stabbed the orc in the eye...
Maia must have been really pale, because Lori tugged her hand as they walked along. "You okay, Maia?" she asked, looking worried.
"Yeah, just a little dehydrated," she managed to breathe, feeling dizzy, but kept walking with Lori and Kyle. She barely heard Lord Elrond introduce the elf servants near the next set of steps when the unbidden thought haunted her mind like a coil around her nerves. Around her brain. Around her heart.
Is it possible that Dad could be from Middle Earth?
Khudzul Translation:
*Ready weapons!
Sindarin Translation:
*Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests.