Rivendell
Gandalf and Thorin got into an argument about turning up on the elves doorstep.
"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy" Thorin wasn't happy.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only Ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself" Gandalf replied curtly.
"You think the elves will give our quest their blessings? They will try to stop us" Thorin was losing the argument.
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me" Gandalf spoke with a finality that even Thorin couldn't dispute.
We slowly made our way down the thin pathway and through the tall pillars marking the entrance to Rivendell.
A dark-haired Elf came down a flight of stairs in front of us "Mithrandir" he said when he reached the bottom.
Gandalf looked up "ah, Lindir" it was obvious our Wizard knew the Elf and the Dwarves weren't too happy, they all started murmuring to each other.
The Elf said something in his own language that we couldn't understand.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond" Gandalf said in reply.
"My Lord Elrond is not here" the Elf said with a slightly smug expression.
"Not here? Where is he?" Gandalf asked.
At that moment a horn sounded and a group of armed Elves on horseback rode down the pathway.
"Hold ranks!" Thorin shouted and we made a tight circle with Bilbo in the middle. We brandished our weapons as the Elves started circling us before eventually stopping.
One Elf spoke "Gandalf".
The Wizard bowed "Lord Elrond" Gandalf spoke more Elvish.
Elrond dismounted and hugged Gandalf "strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders" he said holding up an Orc sword "something, or someone, has drawn them near" he handed the sword to Lindir and turned around.
"Ah, that may have been us" Gandalf said turning around.
Thorin stepped forward and Elrond seemed to recognise him.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain".
"I do not believe we have met" Thorin said looking up the Elf with contempt.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain" I looked from Elrond to Thorin and could almost see the tension growing.
"Indeed; he made no mention of you" Thorin was being quite rude but Elrond didn't bat an eye.
He spoke in Elvish again and the Dwarves became even more uneasy.
"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin asked.
"No, master Gloin, he's offering you food" Gandalf replied exasperatedly.
The Dwarves discussed this amongst themselves "do you think they'll have meat?" Bofur muttered to Gloin.
Gloin shrugged and turned back around "ah well, in that case, lead on".
As we went past Elrond, I could feel his eyes intent on me. It was obvious that I was no Dwarf and I could almost hear the questions buzzing in his brain "why is there a human travelling with Dwarves? What is her purpose?" I ignored the nasty feeling in my stomach and followed the Dwarves into Elven courtyard. The Dwarves complained instantly when they saw the spread of food at a low table. I sat next to Oin and started picking at my salad. Ori was looking at a lettuce leaf.
"Try it. Just a mouthful" Dori coaxed his brother.
"I don't like green food" Ori put the leaf down.
I looked at Dwalin digging through a bowl of salad "where is the meat?" he looked around in disgust.
Next to me Oin stabbed a vegetable with his knife and looked at it in confusion.
"Have they got any chips?" Ori asked.
"I don't think they do Ori" I replied spearing another tomato with my knife.
The Dwarves were all looking at Bilbo and myself quite intently as we ate the salad. It was as though they expected us to drop dead.
"It won't kill you, you know" I said, glancing up at Elrond's table "Thorin's trying it too".
Most of the Dwarves spun around in their chairs and saw Thorin put a tomato in his mouth. That was good enough for everyone else; they all started eating their salad. An Elvish lady was standing nearby playing some flute music; I thought it sounded quite nice but Oin had other ideas. He shoved his napkin into his ear-trumpet and gave Bofur a thumbs up when he couldn't hear the music anymore. Over at Elrond's table, the Elf lord was examining Thorin and Gandalf's swords.
Bilbo looked at his little sword.
"I wouldn't bother, laddie. Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war" Balin said after we overheard the names and deeds of Thorin and Gandalf's swords.
"What are you saying, my sword hasn't seen battle?" Bilbo looked at the old Dwarf.
"I'm not actually sure it is a sword; more of a letter opener, really".
I laughed at the look on Bilbo's face.
The feast ended and the Dwarves made themselves comfortable in a secluded room. Thorin, Bilbo, Balin and Gandalf went off somewhere with Elrond and just as I was setting out my bed roll; an Elf came up to me.
He bowed slightly "if it would please you, you may have use of a hot bath and a more comfortable sleeping place" he looked at the Dwarves and sniffed.
The Dwarves were gathered around a fire they'd made from one of the Elvish chairs and seemed unembarrassed that most of them were in their underwear.
I looked at the Elf "no thank you" I replied "I'm happy sleeping here" I looked around at the Dwarves and smiled.
"But they are Dwarves and you are a human" the Elf wasn't understanding me "you don't have anything in common with them" my smile faded and the Dwarves all went silent.
I slowly turned around and glared at the Elf "what would you know of my reasons to travel with them?" I tried not to shout "they are my friends and if I wish to sleep near them I will" my face was growing hot "no pointy-eared bastard is going to tell me what to do!" the Elf stepped back surprised; he bobbed his head jerkily and hurried away.
After a few minutes of silence, in which I collected myself, the Dwarves started cheering. I sat down in front of the fire and took a huge swig of the wine Nori stole from the dinner table.
"Well, there's another elf I've made my enemy" I muttered once the Dwarves had stopped cheering.
Bofur was next to me roasting a sausage "another elf?" he asked.
"Yes, the first was the King of Mirkwood".
"What did you do to annoy that traitor?" Dwalin asked.
"I only refused to tell him who I was and why I was travelling through the area" I replied with a sigh.
The Dwarves laughed and went back to talking amongst themselves.
Bofur looked at his cooked sausage thoughtfully "Bombur!" he threw it to his brother.
The small sausage made the bench Bombur was sitting on groan and then collapse. We all thought that was hilarious and Bofur fell over sideways; the only one who didn't seem to find it funny was Bifur, who was roasting a pile of spinach. He looked around and seemed bemused as to what we were laughing at. Eventually Thorin and the others returned and we all settled down to sleep.
It seemed I'd only just closed my eyes before I was being nudged awake.
"What is it?" I asked yawning.
"Thorin says we have to leave now" Ori whispered.
I sat up and saw the Dwarves quietly rolling their blankets and organizing their packs.
Balin came up to me "could you try waking Master Baggins, lassie?" we looked at Bilbo's sleeping form "I've tried but…" Balin shrugged.
I knelt next to Bilbo and whispered in his ear "if you don't wake up you'll miss your breakfast".
The hobbit's eyes snapped open and he sat up quickly "I haven't missed breakfast have I?" he asked, I laughed and handed him an apple I'd saved from dinner the night before.
"Sorry, it's all you get" I said when Bilbo's face fell "come on, pack your stuff, we have to leave" I stood up and went back to packing my things. Once we'd packed everything, we quietly made our way back to entrance to Rivendell. I didn't feel comfortable leaving Gandalf behind but Thorin was our leader and he said that this was all part of the plan. What else could I do, I just hoped we wouldn't need him too soon.