Chapter Six: By the Light of the Moon
Bilbo, much to Thorin's disappointment, seemed to be avoiding the Company . While he still slept and ate meals with them like he promised, the only other time they really saw him was when he trained Ori with his weapons.
The next time Thorin saw him with less than 10 other people around was when they brought the map to Elrond. It was night, and Gandalf, Elrond, Thorin, Balin, and Bilbo were standing in a hall in Rivendell.
"Our business is no concern of elves." Thorin said. Gandalf scowled.
"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map."
"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect, as are its secrets!" The wizard snorted.
"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond." Thorin thought quietly for a few seconds, with everyone looking at him. He begins to hand the map to Elrond, and Balin reaches out to stop him.
"Thorin, no!" The king brushes Balin aside and hands Elrond the map. Bilbo and his father look at it. The lord of elves frown and the hobbit takes a step back.
"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?" Thorin opens his mouth to speak, but Gandalf interrupts him.
"It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text. You still read Ancient Dwarvish, do you not?"Elrond walks a little bit away, looking at the map. As the moonlight hits the map, Elrond realizes something.
"Cirth Ithil." He whispers. Gandalf nodded.
"Moon runes. Of course. An easy thing to miss."
"Well in this case, that is true; Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon with the same shape and season as the day on which they were written."
"Can you read them?" Thorin asks the elf. He snorts.
"Most elves can read them. In fact, I'm surprised that you didn't ask Bilbo to read them; he's very good with languages." The hobbit smiles sheepishly.
"It's true. One of the only languages I don't know is Khuzdul; I've known iglishmek for a while now."
"Well," Balin remarked. "That will make Bifur very happy. He's been wanting to talk to you."
"To answer your previous question; yes, I can read them." Elrond leads them all to an open area outside, on the side of a cliff, with waterfalls all around. The moon is behind some clouds. They walk toward a large crystalline table that is on a balcony overlooking Rivendell. "These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield; the same moon shines upon us tonight." As they look up, the clouds covering the moon float away, and rays of moonlight hit the crystalline table, causing light to flow through the map which has been laid on the table. Ancient runes become visible on the map, and Elrond translates them out loud. "Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."
"Durin's day is the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf explained. Thorin frowned.
"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us." Balin patted his shoulder.
"We still have time to find the entrance. We have to be standing at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened." Elrond stared at the dwarves.
"So this is your purpose, to enter the Mountain."
"What of it?" The elf raised his hands placatingly
"There are some who would not deem it wise." Thorin takes back the map gruffly, but Gandalf looks intrigued.
"Who do you mean?"
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." He replied. As Elrond walks away, Gandalf turns slowly, thinking deeply. This could cause some problems. Bilbo starts walking to the door, but Thorin calls after him to wait. Catching up to him, they walk side by side down the hall an awkward silence in the space between them.
"Why are you avoiding me?" Thorin suddenly asked. Bilbo looked up shocked.
"What makes you think that I'm avoiding you?" The dwarf scowled and looked around, before grabbing Bilbo by the arm and pulling him into an empty room, closing the door behind them.
"You know exactly what I am talking about, Bilbo Baggins-Took! Ever since that fourth day, you've been distant with everyone in the Company, and I want a reason why!" Bilbo glowered.
"It wasn't my intention to shut anyone out," he lied. "I simply needed some space." At least that was the truth. But when he turned to leave the room, Thorin pulled him back and pushed him against the wall. Their faces were only inches apart, and both could feel the other's breath against their faces.
"Is it about what happened in the training area?" Thorin whispered, looking into Bilbo's eyes. He shook his head.
"N-no," he stuttered out. "I had a lot of fun that day. The most fun I've had in awhile. It's just that." Bilbo sighed deeply, slipping out of the hold the dwarf had on him. "I find myself falling for you every time I see you. I want you, that's the problem. You are a king - a dwarf king at that, and I am a hobbit. We can not be together, even if you wished it. Now I am just rambling." Thorin reached out and placed a hand on his cheek.
"You are no normal hobbit. I would love you, if you would allow it." Bilbo found himself leaning into the dwarf's hold, before he came to his senses and jumped back.
"You can't. There are things about me that you don't know about, things that I can't tell you, or anyone else, no matter how much I wish I could. I-" Suddenly, Bilbo froze, and tilted his head as if listening to someone talk. His eyes grew dark. "We have to leave. The white council has been called into session. Even if Gandalf and Adar would give their blessing to our quest, the latter grudgingly, Saruman has never been one for change. He will try to stop us: we must leave before he gets that chance. Something about him creeps me out and I am not in the mood for him to learn about my powers if I have to fight him." Nodding at each other, they both ran out of the room to meet the others. After getting all packed up, just before they were about to leave, Bilbo quickly wrote out 6 letters for his 'family' and left them, along with a wooden crate that held everything that he would hate to get lost or ruined, in the room that the dwarves had previously occupied. And, silent as ghosts, they disappeared into the dawn.
*IN THE WHITE COUNCIL MEETING ROOM*
"What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?" Saruman said. Gandalf shrugged.
"I have none."
"Because there is none." The white wizard argued. "Let us examine what we know. A single Orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen. A dagger from a bygone age has been found. And a human sorcerer, who calls himself the Necromancer, has taken up residence in the ruined fortress. Not so very much, after all. The question of this dwarvish Company, however, troubles me deeply. I'm not convinced, Gandalf; I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they'd come to me, I might have spared them..." Saruman's voice fades away when a step is heard, and they all turn around; Lindir come up and bows.
"My Lord Elrond; the dwarves, they're gone." The dark-haired elf stands up immediately.
"What of my son?" Lindir looks down.
"He has left, as well. There are letters for all of us, your family and I, in the room that had been given to the dwarves, along with a box of which I believe to be things of great importance of him." Lindir eyed the lord meaningly, who sucked in a breath. Galadriel looked downcast.
"It has started." She whispered sadly, for she had grown fond of the young hobbit during the many times he had visited Lothlórien. Saruman and Gandalf watched confused as Lord Elrond excused himself and practically raced out of the room, with his lieutenant right on his heels.
"Bilbo…" Elrond whispered as he stared at the letter in his hands. His children; the twins, Arwen, and Estel, were crying as they read their letter, Lindir leaning against the wall with tear streaks but no tears on his face, for he had already read his letter. Elrond nodded his head before tucking the letter into his robe pocket. He would read it later, in private, but now he had to comfort his precious children. He would worry about his second youngest later, where he could cry in peace.