Gandalf sighed as the rain fell. The dwarves splashed through the mud and rain puddles cursing the rain and grumbling through their beards.
"You know," said Megan. "Without rain, we would have a hard trouble growin food ya feel me? So, shouldn't we be glad for the rain?"
"Oh, be quiet lass," Bofur grumbled.
"Be quiet yourself," said Megan. "There are parts of where I come from that experience droubt, they would be damn thankful for this rain, farmers are havin trouble growin food and shit."
"Well let them have it," Dori grumped.
"All I am tryin to say is that it is good to be thankful for what we have." The dwarves grumbled in response. Even Bilbo was grumpy, worrying about the food stuffs in the bags getting wet.
Bifur patted her on the shoulder, a smile on his face. He grunted something in his tongue as the party rode on.
Gandalf had watched Miss Megan's training with Gloin. It has been wise of Thorin to get her training on how she could defend herself.
Bifur had carved some light weight training swords, sense Megan couldn't lift any of their weapons, some of the dwarves had grumbled about weak human women. Gloin himself hadn't been happy, but he knew he would have to work with what he could.
Kili had suggested archery, but Gloin had rightly put that down, knowing that she would be able to feel where her opponent would be due to the closeness of combating with swords.
Gloin had been impress in spite of himself as she picked up the body moves rather quickly.
'It reminds me of dancing," said Megan.
"Aye, it is similar," said Gloin. After she was able to do the foot work, Gloin taught her sword moves, blocking, parrying, and overhead, along with other important moves.
She had a bit more trouble learning the moves, Gloin had to place his hand on hers to show her how to properly hold the sword and let her feel the move he was showing her.
"Remember, think of it as a dance, only with a deadly blade," said Bofur's cheerful voice. Disarming was a bit difficult, he had to show her the arm movement several times before she understood.
There were nights when she had trouble, and Gloin would stomp off, cursing having to train the woman, it took adjustment on his end to teach a blind woman.
"I ain't no damn mary sue," Megan had grumbled. "I can't magically learn this shit." Bilbo gave her encouragement and a soothing cup of tea on these nights while Bofur distracted her with a funny story or a cheerful song.
They got through the difficult hurdles, and she continued to slowly improve under Gloin's training with Oin reminding him to be patient with her slower pace with the practice sword.
"She learned the foot work easily," Gloin snapped during one particular difficult evening where she just wasn't understanding. "I shall not work with one whom is lazy and refuses to learn what I am teaching." Thorin sent him a harsh glare.
"Aye, she did brother," said Oin. "May haps it is because it is akin to something she is familiar with, dance. May haps you need to adjust yer teachin. Try teachin it like dance, instead of drill instructions. Remember as well, you were once where she is now, learning how to wield axe. I know that we dwarow are not known for our patience, but you must try, she learns differently than we do, she has to come up with different ways of doing things sense she cannot see."
"It is hopeless," said a tearful Megan to Bilbo. "I am too stupid to learn this."
"No," said Bilbo in a sharp voice. "I shall not hear you speak about yourself in such a manner. You are not stupid. It is not always the fault of the student that they are not learning the information of their instructors, it is sometimes the way the instructor is teaching. Just give it more time, and you shall learn it."
In the end, Gloin had taken a couple days off in order to adjust his teaching. An unusual method was formed. Bofur and Bombur were called forth. Gloin would show her the sword moves with the foot work, and then he would have Bofur and Bombur play a song. Gloin would repeat the information in terms of a dance instructor while the song was playing.
"These nicety dance lessons will not work," Dwalin grumbled, watching the scene play out. "Orcs are not going to politely start playing music for her to remember what she must do." Balin sighed, rolling his eyes at his brother.
"It is simply a tool that shall help her memorize what she must know Dwalin."
"Aye, our Father would be rolling in his grave if he were see this, we never trained in this manner."
"Aye, we did not," said Balin, "For one thing, she is merely training how to defend herself, not march to war, and secondly, she learns differently than we do. This dance style of learning is clearly working. Let us be thankful that she is learning what she must know instead of grumbling at the manner of her learning. Besides, our Father is dead, he cannot see this." Dwalin had merely grumbled, arms folded across his chest as he continued to watch.
Gandalf had smiled as she began to vastly improve with the alternative instruction, and he could see that Gloin was enjoying it as well, though he would deny it to anyone whom would remark upon it."
"Aye, I believe you have it lass," said Gloin one evening. "If you keep remembering it the way we have been practicing, then you shall know what to do." Once she knew the footwork and sword play, Gloin had taught her how to work with moving opponents, to use her hearing as to where they may go.
She had done well with this part of the training, reacting quite well to when Gloin would sneak up behind her.
Gandalf smiled to himself as the rain continued to fall. Yes, Miss Megan was progressing quite nicely. Now, I shall ride ahead to see what I may do about our provisions.
Gandalf rode swiftly, hoping he could run into some of Lord Elrond's people. He reached a kops of trees by a stream, and was just deciding to rest his horse for a minute, when an elf leapt from a branch, landing gracefully on the ground.
He smiled as he spotted familiar long black hair under an elven helmet.
"Well met Mithrandir," the elf said, taking off their helmet to reveal feminism features.
"Avorniel my friend," said Gandalf, giving her a hug. "It is good to see you once more." He gazed at her, eyes sharpening with suspicion. "You have not come to steal my pipe and pipe weed, have you?"
Avorniel gasped dramatically, clutching at her heart.
"Mithrandir, how you wound my heart," she said. "That was over twenty years ago." A glint was in her eye that reminded him forcefully of Master Nori. The glint disappeared to be replaced by a more serious look.
"There are trolls that have come down from the mountains," she said. "My companions and I are fleeing back to Imladriss from a scouting trip. I would advise you and your dwarves take care when you make camp."
"Shall you inform Lord Elrond of our arrival?" Gandalf asked. "We are in need of supplies."
"It shall be done," said Avorniel. "Take care and farewell until next we meet." She bowed in elvish fashion before leaping onto her mount, riding into the trees in great haste.
Gandalf grew alarmed at her news, trolls were a serious matter. Sighing, he mounted, racing back from wince he came.
He frowned, spotting a fire with dwarves tied up in sacks, and poor Mr. Baggins in a bush. I can take care of this, he thought.
I shall distract them until dawn.
"No good roastin them now, or it will take all night," said Gandalf, imitating one of the trolls.
"No good boiling them, we ain't got no water, and it's a long way to the whale and all." The trolls continued to argue, while Gandalf gazed around. He was glad to find that Megan was not near this horrid mess.
He smiled when he saw the sun just beginning to rise.
"Dawn take you all and be stone to you!" he boomed as the sun fully rose, turning the trolls to stone.
He helped Bilbo down from the tree, and together, they helped the angry dwarves from their sacks, who had to hear the story twice over until they were satisfied.
"There must be a troll cave nearby," said Gandalf. "First, we must find Miss Megan." They went back to camp, quite relieve to find her safe, though fear was in her eyes, and she was shivering with cold.
Bilbo and Thorin went over to her, helped her to her feet, and lead her to Bifur's pony. The axe headed dwarf gave her a gentle smile, easily assisting her up.
The cave smelled absolutely terrible. The wizard grimaced, searching around for useful items. He and Thorin found a pair of twin blades, while Bilbo found an elf dagger, which he fastened to his belt. Gandalf smiled at him in approval, Bilbo smiled back at him.
They stepped outside where Bifur and Megan waited for them. Bilbo gave her a shy smile.
"I found these pearls, and I thought you would like them," he said to her. "I shall wash them before I put them on you." So, saying, he washed the necklace rather well.
'Master Baggins, that necklace is as clean as it is going to be," Gloin grumbled. Bilbo scowled.
"I am not taking any chances on her getting sick off of something from that cave," he snapped. After giving the necklace one last scrub with his bar of soap and a final rinse in the stream, he placed the pearls around her neck.
"Thank you, Bilbo," said Megan. Thorin came out of the cave with a beautiful diamond bracelet. Gloin grumbled in exasperation while Thorin repeated Bilbo's motions of washing the bracelet until it shone as new.
"Oh my, I am being spoiled today," said Megan as he gently fastened the fine chain around her wrist.
"This jewelry deserves to be worn instead of rotting away in a troll hoard," said Bilbo.
"Aye, he is quite right," said Bofur. 'I suspect a Gondorian lady once owned them, how they ended up here I know not. She would be honored you wearing them I am certain." With that, they buried the gold, placing magic spells to keep it safe, and then went to sleep, waking up at noon to journey on.
Gandalf lead them towards the hidden valley, the dwarves grumbling angrily all the while.
"You would dare take us to our enemies, the ones who betrayed my Father and Grandfather? Orc plundered Moria, desecrating our sacred halls, and the elves looked on, and did not lift their lily-white hands to aid us. I shall not go near that place wizard."
""You are neither of them," Gandalf growled. "I did not give you that map and key for you to hold onto the past."
"I was not aware that they were yours to keep and dice when I should get them as if I were some naughty dwarfling."
"Wait a minute," said Miss Megan. "Back in Beg End, didn't you say that you couldn't read the map, but there were others who could? Well then, you said Others as in plural, not singular, unless I have forgotten all of my English lessons, why can't we go to these others if this place stirs up bad memories for them?"
"Lord Elrond is the best at reading runes Miss Megan," Gandalf growled, eyes flashing. "Those dwarves are holding onto hatred, not bad memories. I suggest you keep silent on matters such as this. I do not have to answer to you about my dealings with others, I am not some conjurer of cheap tricks young lady."
Megan glared right back at him.
"I was raised to not take talk like that Sir," she snarled. "I am not a damn child to be chastised, no matter how long you have lived you feel me? Also, who are you to say what the dwarves are, and are not holdin onto? It ain't your place to dictate such things."
"I am not some mere old man Megan," Gandalf nearly yelled. "I shall not take such insolence from you." Megan threw back her head and laughed, though there was no mirth in the sound.
"You serious right? I am very sorry that you cannot take a little criticism Gandalf, you seem to take too much pride in your station. I know that you are used to being held in some form of reverence or whatever, but I do not treat people like that, especially leaders. Bad things have happened to countries in my world from leaders who dare not take criticism from their subjects. I ain't sayin you're a prideful man Sir, I am just sayin, that if you can't take criticism every once in a while, how are you supposed to grow as a person and as a leader? I'm not saying that Thorin is right or wrong in his thinkin, I just think you could have handled it better." Gandalf fought back his rising wrath. This woman had a lot to learn in conducting herself it seemed. Thorin noticed his look and gave Gandalf a hard stare, daring him to say more.
"You must learn how to conduct yourself in a better manner," said Gandalf.
"Oh right," said Megan. "I must learn to keep my mouth shut, sit on my hands, and become invisible like every other woman in this god forsaken place. No Sir, I won't have it. If you do not like my opinion, that is on you and your growth as a person. Hell, I ain't perfect, but I sure as hell will not sit on my hands and play the silent invisible woman this world demands of me. I ain't stupid enough to back talk every single person I meet, but I will say something if I find it is needed to be said."
" We are going to Rivendell, and that is my final word on the matter," said Gandalf. "We need food, rest, supplies, and we need to read that map and the runes on those swords, now come, they are expecting us." Thorin glared at him, clearly not happy. Gandalf knew that Lord Elrond and King Thranduil were different as night and day, but to Thorin, all elves were the same.
Sighing, he continued to lead on, carefully searching for the passage each day. He finally found it around the seventh day sense the troll hoard, and lead them down the path. Everybody was weary, the ponies stumbling over rocks. He saw Bilbo's smile as he heard the waters of the Bruinen. Elvish singing greeted them through the trees, singing a ridiculous song to welcome them to the valley. Thorin became annoyed as the elves insulted his beard, and Bilbo's weight.
"Hush good people," Gandalf admonished, climbing off his horse. "We must get to the house, for we are all weary, and are ready for supper." The elves lead them over the bridge. They walked single file, guiding Megan and the horses over the structure. Gandalf could see her relief at being across the narrow bridge.
The doors to the last homely house were thrown wide open. They were all shown to rooms where hot baths awaited them. Megan and Bilbo were very happy at a hot bath and a fine meal.
Megan sighed in relief as the hot water soothed her tired muscles and saddle soreness. The female elf had given her hair and body soaps, and the water had some sort of bath salts that had an immediate relaxing effect. It gave the water a scent reminding her of the ocean.
She stayed for as long as she could, leaving only when the water was beginning to cool. She could hear movement outside the bathing chamber. Smiling, she got dressed in the soft elven dress that was laid out for her.
She hugged it to her, enjoying the soft texture, which reminded her of soft velvet. Once it was on, she put on the necklace and bracelet given to her by Bilbo and Thorin.
"You look lovely," said the soft musical voice of the elf maid. "Shall I escort you to the evening meal?" she asked.
"I would love that," said Megan. "What is your name? I am named Megan Evans, daughter of Jenifer Evans." She had remembered Bilbo's lessons on how to address royalty and important folk.
"I am named Avorniel," said the elf maid. "Come and let us dine, my Lord Elrond sets a fine table." Megan smiled, allowing the lady to lead her from the guest room.
Avorniel as it turned out, was very good at describing things. She gave such excellent details to Megan that she felt like she could see them.
The smell of food hit her nose along with the soft chatter of elves, and grumbling of her dwarven companions. Avorniel hummed, clearly listening to the dwarve's complaints about the lack of meat upon the table.
"That is not usual," she whispered to Megan. "We elves eat meat. I shall have to have words with the kitchen staff to see what is amiss."
"Where is Thorin?" Megan asked.
"What does he look like?" Avorniel asked.
"All I know is he had black hair and blue eyes, along with a short beard."
"He sits at the high table with Lord Elrond and Mithrandir, or Gandalf as I am sure you are more familiar with. Do you wish to dine with him?" Megan nodded.
"Pardon me my Lords, Lady Megan wishes to dine with Lord Thorin. Is there not a seat?"
"She must dine at the table with the other dwarven companions," said Lord Elrond. Megan's face fell.
"Do you dare dictate where she can or cannot sit?" growled Thorin.
"Those are the rules of my house Lord Thorin," said Lord Elrond's polite voice.
"She is not worthy enough to dine by my side, is that what you are saying?" Thorin challenged, anger growing in his tone. He must not have liked something in my face, Megan thought.
"Thorin Oakensheild, mind whom you are speaking to," growled Gandalf.
"If my wife is not worthy of sitting at this table, nor am I," Thorin snarled. His wife/ Megan thought to herself. What was he on about?
She was confused, but a small part of her didn't mind at all Thorin's declaration that she was his, even though it was clearly false.
"She wears not a wedding ring," Lord Elrond countered.
"I have not forged it yet," growled Thorin, scraping back his bench.
"Same with me," said Bilbo, getting to his feet. "I have not found a ring that is worthy of her."
"She has two husbands?" cried a male elf, clear disapproval in his tone.
"Yes, I do," said Megan, tossing back her head.
"That… that is not proper," the elf spluttered.
"Do not mind him," Avorniel whispered to her. "My brother loves to put his nose in where it does not belong."
