"Food!" Dwalin smiled as he rubbed his hands together.
The Elves brought the company to the stone courtyard. Everyone was looking forward to a big meal. After weeks of stew and mutton, they were finally going to have something fresh and filling. The Dwarf picked up their knives and forks, watching as a group of Elves came to their tables, carrying trays of food.
"Food!" Kili smiled as he stood from his seat.
He and Fili sniffed, trying to get a waft of their meals. The Dwarves cheered, ready to dig in, only for their joy to end. The Elves laid plates of vegetables and salads on the table for eveyone to eat. The Dwarves lived in the mountains for their whole lives. None of them ever ate vegetables in practically their whole lives. Everyone started grumbling, being picky about the food.
"Well, this is a plentiful meal", Clill said trying not to be rude in front of their hosts.
She looked at Thorin who walked to the table with Elrond and Gandalf.
"Everything alright, dear?" she asked as she put her hand over Thorin's.
"Just making sure everything is set for us to stay for a while", he answered.
He looked up at the Elves, pouring everyone a chalice of wine. Others were playing music on the harps and the flute, helping everyone to relax. Unfortunately, due to their nature, the Dwarves seemed to be more interested in ignoring whatever the Elves had to offer, foor or music.
"My lord Elrond", Gandalf said. "Perhaps you can shed some light on these weapons we have discovered?"
The Wizard looked at Thorin, telling the Dwarf to hand over the sword they found in the troll hoard. Thorin looked at Clill and looked down at the sword on his belt, before pulling it off. He handed the large sword to the Elf lord who looked at it.
"This is Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver", Elrond said surprised to see a sword like that in the hands of a Dwarf. "A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well."
He handed the sword back to Thorin who looked at it almost in awe. He never thought in his life he would receive an Elven blade to keep, complete with blessing. Thorin nodded a thank you, probably for the first time to an Elf. Clill couldn't help but smile as she watched her husband.
"What?" Thorin asked.
"I never thought I'd see the day", she smiled. "The king under the mountain taking an Elven blade as his own. I told you Elrond wasn't as bad as you thought."
He shifted his eyes away from her, almost trying to avoid the conversation. Thorin still had his pride and didn't want to admit his wife was right and he was wrong. Clill raised her eyes when Elrond looked at them with one single question that Thorin did not want to answer.
"What were you doing on the Great East Road?"
"Excuse me..."
Thorin pushed himself away from the table, not giving an answer. Clill looked at Elrond before standing and bowing to him.
"I extend my apologies", she said. "I should tend to my husband."
She turned and walked into the direction of where Thorin wandered off to.
"Thorin? Thorin?"
Clill found him standing at the edge of the courtyard with his arms crossed. She sighed and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"Why do you brood?" she whispered in his ear. "You know you are among people who only want to help."
"We do not need the help of the Elves", Thorin mumbled.
"Lord Elrond has been nothing but kind to us. He's offered us food and shelter. You can see he is not Thranduil. Elrond is someone we can trust."
Clill rested her head on his shoulder as she kept her arms around him. Once he felt better, they would go back to the others to see what advice Gandalf would give them next.
