Chapter 20: Dinner Party

While most of the Dwarves could wait, Edyth had Bilbo show her where he bathed so she could be clean for their dinner. She has no idea how formal it would be but dirt, sweat, and grime has been building up for over a week without a good clean. She spends a good half hour in the water, scrubbing her skin raw and soaking her ankle in the warm water. It isn't swollen, so she assumes she is correct in her assumption of a twist rather than a sprain. It will heal in a matter of days.

Once she dries off, unfortunately, she has no other option but to return into her filth covered clothes, but it is still better than before. She could change into her spare set, left with her pack and wash them another day.

"I see I returned just in time," she says, seeing all the Dwarves up and preparing themselves to leave. Fili smiles, looking her over.

"You look better than you have in a few days."

Edyth nods in agreement but frowns as she watches the blonde prince tucking a knife into his coat. "Fili," she hisses gently. "You aren't really going to attend dinner with all of your knives, are you?"

"Just a few," he drawls. "I'm not bringing my swords." Edyth narrows her eyes, hating the idea that they are acting so untrustful of their host. "Fine," Fili huffs, seeing her expression. "I'll only bring one."

"Fair enough," she mutters, knowing her own dagger is under her shirt. She looks up at Kili while Fili takes a few blades out, packing them back away. She chuckles softly, reaching up to smooth his fringe down. At first, he flinches away, not registering her hand until it is covering half of his sight but lets her adjust it as she pleases. "You're not bringing your sword, are you?"

"No," he chuckles, closing his eyes as his hair keeps brushing over them. "Well, except my hunting knife." He pats the left side of his chest. "Are you done?"

Edyth huffs, returning her arms to her side. "Sorry, it was annoying me." Kili smirks, shaking his head to send the hair into disarray once more. She pouts crossly but makes no move to fix it again. "Rude," she mutters.

Kili's smirk morphs into a smile. "I'm sorry. Will you fix it for me again?" Edyth continues to pout, turning her head away. A finger hooks around her chin, pulling it back. "Please?"

She shrugs half-heartedly. "It looks fine. Besides, I think we're going." The finger drops as Edyth turns her head back around to watch everybody being to filter back up into the Halls. "Let's go," she says to Fili who is still searching through his bag.

An Elf has come down to guide them, though he says nothing but a direction to follow. Like most, he is dressed in a long tunic, only his is creamed coloured with a hint of blush. Edyth somehow finds herself walking next to Dwalin but not unhappy, she stays next to him.

They are led up to a platform, overlooking the Valley from a great height. There are three tables set up with stone seats on each side. Thorin had disappeared while Edyth was bathing and has not yet shown back up. Edyth takes her place next to Dwalin, opposite Bofur and Kili.

Food is already set at the table. Salads, fruits, vegetables. Edyth doesn't think much of it at first, beginning to load her plate. Soft Elvish music plays in the background – odd-sounding to her ears after only listening to the lively and loud Dwarvish tunes. Edyth smiles, glancing around casually but her brows drop in concern as everybody around her is scowling.

"What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Dwalin repeats. "Look at it. It's grass!"

Edyth takes a second, more scrutinising look at the food on offer and realises what exactly has their socks in a twist. "You might just have to broaden your taste pallets," she taunts, greedily biting into a tomato. The inside burst through her mouth, hitting the back of her throat. She tries to hold it in, but starts spluttering and choking, coughing into her elbow. Dwalin gives her two hard thumps on the back. Edyth glances around, looking at whose attention she has unwillingly drawn. Thankfully, Lord Elrond, Gandalf and Thorin have not yet arrived but the Lord's right-hand man, or…Elf… is there standing to the side of the empty table.

She ducks her head in shame, resting her uninjured cheek on the ball of her palm. Opposite, Bofur had been watching her and is now cackling to himself. "Making a great impression on the laddie there, lass," he grins.

Kili looks at Bofur then to Edyth. "Who are you trying to impress?"

Before any words can leave her mouth, Bofur speaks over her. "That Elf lad we met at the entrance." Kili blanches, staring at the brunette Elf over by the empty table.

"For goodness sake Bofur!" she hisses, gripping her fork tightly under white knuckles. "I am not! And they can hear you so shut your trap."

"That's who you were talking about earlier?" Kili questions, frowning at both her and Bofur. Edyth sighs into her hand, shaking her head. "I thought…You could do better."

"Bofur did say I'd be better off with Dwalin," she taunts, trying to make the most of her situation. The gruff Dwarf turns his eyes towards her with an odd look. Edyth winks, laughing to herself as she attempts to eat once more. She is met with Kili's expression which is mixed with disbelief and disgust. "What? I love the tattoos."

Dwalin smirks to himself, winking back at Edyth but it turns back to scowl as soon as he looks back at the food awaiting him. The conversation turns elsewhere, but Edyth tunes her attention to the three figures entering. Elrond, followed by Gandalf and finally Thorin himself. They saunter past, Thorin's eyes lingering over his company, ensuring that every member is accounted for and content. They sit at the empty table behind her so Edyth turns her head back straight, yawning.

"Where's the meat!" Gloin cries from the other table.

The Dwarves at her own table, mumble in agreement, barely touching their food. "Come on," she sighs. "They're vegetables. You eat them all the time!"

"Soaked in the juices of meat," Dwalin counters.

Edyth rolls her eyes, filling her mouth with carrot. It's not her problem if they won't eat. Not being able to help herself, she darts her eyes over her shoulder to the table behind her. She spends a second looking at its occupants before diverting to Lindir. Not wanting to risk being caught, she quickly turns back around, stuffing her face full.

She, along with Dwalin, notice's Kili's gaze turned away from the table. Then he winks. They follow it, the only thing they find is the harp player. Feeling their gazes, Kili turns back, becoming defensive. "Can't say I fancy Elf maids myself. Too thin," he says. "They're all high cheekbones and creamy skin. Not enough facial hair for me."

Edyth scoffs. "What? Like you have any?"

Kili's neck pulls back as he leans further away from the table at her snap. Her remark isn't unheard by the other guests and loud chuckles erupt. Kili sinks back into his chair in a sulking manner and Edyth only has it in her to feel guilty for a second. She's grown tired of the day and even she can tell her mood is becoming irritable.

"I'm done for the day," she mutters to Dwalin, not bothered to raise her voice to be heard by anybody else. She pushes out of her seat, nodding her head to Elrond in thanks before meandering away from the dining terrace.

She doesn't make it far, choosing to turn down another short hallway to a smaller terrace, overlooking a small group of buildings below. She won't be able to sleep just yet, not without the others around. There is only a minute of silent and peace before the short serenity is broken by a pair of footsteps coming from behind.

Edyth waits for them to come to her side before acknowledging them. Fili comes up next to her, leaning his arms along the top of the railing. "You alright?" Edyth nods easily, though she does wish it is another that came.

"Tired," she excuses. Fili only continues to stare at her, awaiting a better answer. "Honestly, it's just been a big day. But I don't want to fall asleep alone here. You can go finish your dinner."

"Do you want to be left alone?"

"I don't mind," she smiles, leaning backwards slightly while hanging onto the railings. "It's peaceful here. And I'll apologise to Kili later. I know you Dwarves pride your beards."

"I think you did hurt his pride a bit," Fili chuckles, turning to lean his back against the railing instead. "Probably couldn't hurt. Do you actually like that Elf lad?"

Edyth rolls her eyes. "I'm not answering that. Do you really find the Elves unattractive?"

Fili nods nonchalantly. "For the most part, yeah. They're too dainty looking. Dwarvish women are fierce and strong." Edyth hums in thought, reaching up to trace her fingers along her face. Dainty. That word has been used to describe her more than once in her life. Fili nudges her elbow. "Why don't you come back to dinner for a while and just sit with me? You can keep quiet; nobody will care."

Edyth shakes her head. "I'll stay here. But thank you."

Fili bows his head in submission, patting the railing. "I'll leave you to your thoughts then." He pushes off, begging to walk back but Edyth calls out his name, waiting for him to turn around.

"Thank you," she says again. "Really. It means a lot that you followed me."

Fili smiles out of one corner of his mouth. "You're a friend," he replies. "I like to make sure my friends are okay." He turns back around, making his way back to the terrace.

Friend. She smiles at the label. It's what she considered them but to hear him say it is a nice confirmation that he has the same thoughts. She hasn't got many friends within the company. Her brother doesn't count. Kili definitely is along the lines of a friend but he's friendly towards everyone so she can't assume any label in particular from him. Perhaps Bofur. But really everybody else is just a friendly acquaintance. They haven't made the effort to know her, and she's stuck by the brothers' sides out of comfort.

Singing floods the halls of Rivendell, much too rowdy to belong to the Elves and Edyth manages a small smile knowing the Dwarves have changed the dinner party to suit themselves. She turns around, leaning against the railing with the intention of just closing her eyes but another stocky figure is walking through the hallway. They sway slightly, a hand rubbing over their face.

Edyth frowns, walking forward slowly. "Oakenshield?" she questions aloud. "Are you alright?" Thorin leers at her, still swaying slightly even though he's stopped walking. "Are you drunk?"

"No," he snaps, growling and sounding as tired as she feels. "I haven't had anything to drink."

Edyth continues walking forward slowly, racking her mind for why her leader could be in such a disastrous state. The answer finally comes to her when she spots the bandage around his arm. "Oh," she whispers to herself. "It's the pain remedy."

She tries to reach out to him, but he swats her hand away. "Are they trying to make me weak? Or you? You're the one who gave it to me."

"No, no," she hushes gently. "I'm sorry. I was warned it was strong, but I forgot to tell you. Please, just let me take you back to the camp." She holds her hand out in offering, waiting for him to decide whether or not he wants her help. "Don't be stubborn Oakenshield." Slowly – painfully so – he extends his arm. Edyth smiles softly, wrapping her arm around his elbow.

"You burglars have been nothing but trouble," he slurs out. Edyth swallows, keeping her main focus on remembering how to return to their camp. "We'd be better off sneaking into that mountain ourselves."

Edyth doesn't respond simply because she doesn't know how to. It hurts but her task right now is to just get him back to his bedroll before he collapses on her. There is no danger of the slight overdose being fatal – his Dwarvish system can handle that – but it doesn't make it any easier when he swaps from resting his entire weight on her to leaning completely the other way.

It is an agonising trip, but eventually, the pair make it back to the empty camp. Belongings are strewn about, and Thorin steps on more than one pack but neither care. "Here," she grunts, kicking his pack off his bedroll. Thorin falls to a seat and Edyth bends backwards, stretching out her back muscles. With the task finally done, she looks over to her own bedroll, desiring nothing more than to lay in it. And she makes move to do just that but a firm hand latches tightly around her ankle.

"What are you doing?"

Edyth's mouth blubbers like a fish. "I'm going to go to sleep. Just over there," she says, pointing to her own roll.

Thorin shakes his head, not letting her go. "No," he whispers. Edyth frowns, turning her body back around to him. She crouches down, taking in every line on his face. Vulnerable. That's what he feels. She can see the twitch of fear in his eyes. And he is vulnerable in a way; not in his right mind, in strange lands without anybody else around.

"Okay," she agrees softly. "I'll keep watch then."

Thorin nods once, slowly lying himself down. Edyth takes a seat on the stone bench just to his left, drawing her legs up and leans against the wall it is pushed against. From their low spot in the Valley, she doesn't get to watch the sunset, only the fading golden light morphing into a blue hue then no light at all. It becomes dark, far too dark for her to see through but Thorin is well and truly asleep and she cannot be bothered to search for any wood to make a fire.

After an hour or so, the other Dwarves return, chattering loudly. Edyth looks down at Thorin but he does not even stir so she stays settled, letting them make a rifle through camp. Kili enters first, unnaturally quiet, and simply makes his way to his bedroll, sitting up against his propped pack. Dwalin and Bofur are singing joyfully together. The rest are a blur until one drops down in front of her face.

"Why aren't you asleep?"

Fili is crouching in front of her, barely distinguishable through her tired blurred sight but his voice is extremely distinct. Edyth shrugs, barely about to give away Thorin's sense of helplessness. "I wanted to wait for you lot."

"Well come on then, before you fall off the seat."

In agreeance, Edyth slides off the seat with drooping eyes, silently thanking Fili's arm around her waist. She barely even registers where she is walking, huffing to herself realising this is what Thorin must have felt like. As soon as Fili stops walking, she drops onto the bedroll below her, simply hoping it is her own rather than checking.

She tries to say thank you, but her mouth is muffled by the soft padding at the top of her roll for her head. Fili chuckles, understanding her message.