Arwen practically ran to Ember when she saw her coming. Both hugged each other greatly. Arwen had always been Ember's best friend. But when she ran away Arwen was heart broken.
"I am so glad you're alive." Arwen said as she hugged her.
"It is so good to see you again." Ember said.
"You outfit looks terrible." Arwen flat out said.
"Thanks for holding back." Ember replied sarcastically.
"Come on, you can't go to dinner dressed like that." She grabbed Ember's hand a dragged her to her room.
Ember looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a tight fitting blue green dress, it had no sleeves just straps. She had never felt so pretty in her life and she loved the feeling. Her hair was down and flowing over her shoulders, her ears were still hidden. Arwen had her take off her gloves off and Ember reluctantly agreed. Her legs were badly bruised from the troll's hold, but she was still able to walk.
The dwarves were sitting around tables in the Elven court, eating. However, they were not very appreciative of the Elves' vegetables.
"Try it. Just a mouthful." Dori tried pleading with his brother.
"I don't like green food." Ori said defiantly and pushed it away. Dwalin looked through a bowl of greens.
Ember stepped around the corner slowly, careful not to step on her dress. The dwarves became completely silent. Fili saw his brother's mouth hang open in awe. Ember shyly sat down next to Kili.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" She asked, embarrassed.
"Because you're beautiful." Kili answered out loud, even though he meant to say it to himself.
"You think so?" She asked calmly. Kili nodded, he had never seen anyone as pretty as her. She smiled at him, her lips were bright red and her dark brown eyes sparkled.
"Where's the meat?" Dwalin asked out loud. Oin held up a vegetable with his knife and looked at in disgust.
"Have they got any chips?" Ori asked.
"You don't have to eat any of it if you don't want to. Trust me some of it is completely vile." Ember said.
"How do you know so much of this place?" Thorin asked.
"I guess I would have to go back a bit to answer that question. When I was ten my entire family other than my brother and I were killed in an orc night raid. Gandalf found us and brought us here for ten years. Then I ran away."
The dwarves looked at her almost in shock. No one said anything, the silence was almost eerie.
An Elf maiden played a harp in the background. Elrond and Gandalf walked through the halls of Rivendell.
"Kind of you to invite us. I'm not really dressed for dinner."
"Well, you never are." They both laughed, and they arrived at the courtyard where the dwarves were eating. An elf maiden played a flute; Oin, not liking the sound, stuffed a napkin in his hearing trumpet, and looked happy that he could no longer hear the music.
Still at the feast, Elrond examined the swords Gandalf and Thorin found in the troll's hoard. He looked at Thorin's first.
"This is Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver. A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well." He handed Orcrist back to Thorin, who accepted it with a nod. Elrond then examined Gandalf's.
"And this is Glamdring, the Foe Hammer, sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the First Age..." Bilba pulled out her sword and looked at it.
"I wouldn't bother, lassie. Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war."
"What are you saying, my sword hasn't seen battle?" Bilba asked offended.
"I'm not actually sure it is a sword; more of a letter opener, really."
"How did you come by these?" Lord Elrond asked.
"We found them in a troll hoard on the Great East Road, shortly before we were ambushed by orcs."
"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?" Lord Elrond asked rather skeptically. No one answered. Thorin looked perturbed.
It was night. Gandalf, Elrond, Thorin, Balin, Ember, and Bilba were standing in a hall in Rivendell. Arden had given Ember her clothes back, they were clean which made Ember smile. Arden had also given her a new cloak hence she had lost hers.
"Our business is no concern of elves."
"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map."
"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect, as are its secrets."
"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 began to hand the map to Lord Elrond, and Balin tried to stop him.
"Thorin, no!" Thorin brushed Balin aside and handed Lord Elrond the map. Elrond looked at it.
"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?" Thorin was about to speak, but Ember interrupted him.
"It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text. You still read Ancient Dwarvish, do you not?" Ember looked at Thorin who smirked and nodded. Lord Elrond walked a little bit away, looking at the map. As the moonlight hit the map, Lord Elrond realized something.
"Cirth Ithil."
"Moon runes. Of course. An easy thing to miss." Gandalf said in awe.
"Well in this case, that is true; moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written."
"Can you read them?" Lord Elrond led them all to an open area outside, on the side of a cliff, with waterfalls all around. The moon was behind some clouds. They walked toward a large crystalline table.
"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 looked up, the clouds covering the moon floated away, and rays of moonlight hit the crystalline table, causing light to flow through the map which had been laid on the table. Ancient runes became visible on the map, and Lord Elrond translated 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?"
"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf explained.
"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."
"We still have time."
"Time? For what?" Bilba asked.
"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."
"So this is your purpose, to enter the Mountain."
"What of it?" Thorin asked.
"There are some who would not deem it wise." Thorin took back the map gruffly.
"Who do you mean?"
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle Earth." As Elrond walked away, Gandalf turned slowly, thinking deeply.
The Dwarves were having a late night party in their quarters. They roasted sausages over a fire made by burning the Elvish furniture when the others returned.
"Way to destroy the mood guys." Ember said with a smile as she sat on the bench Kili was sitting. He smiled at her widely when she sat down.
"It was ugly anyway. We were doing them a favor," Bofur retorted.
"No argument here. It was rather ugly." Ember replied as she pulled her hair back over her shoulders.
Bofur, seeing a heavy Bombur sitting on a bench and eating a large bowl of food, looked at his sausage thoughtfully.
"Bombur!" As Bombur looked up, Bofur threw him the sausage. Bombur caught it; the weight of the sausage was just too much for the bench, and the bench broke; Bombur, shrieking, fell to the floor, along with all his food. The dwarves laugh uproariously. Ember couldn't control her laughter and leaned on the wall. Kili laughed and looked at her. The butterflies in his stomach were aroused tenfold when he saw her laugh. Her skin was illuminated by the fire and her smile and eyes were the most beautiful parts about her when they were put together. When she was done laughing she let out a sigh of content and smiled at him.
Gandalf and Elrond walked up a flight of stairs and into a pavilion.
"With or without our help, these dwarves will march on the mountain. They are determined to reclaim their homeland. I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he's answerable to anyone. Nor for that matter am I."
"It is not me you must answer to." Gandalf looked and saw a tall, beautiful, female Elf standing framed against the moonlight. She slowly turned around. It was Galadriel.
"Lady Galadriel."
"Mithrandir. It has been a long time."
"Nae nin gwistant infanneth, mal ú eichia i Chíril Lorien." [subtitle: 'Age may have changed me, but not so the Lady of Lorien.] Galadriel smiled.
"How is the child of fire?" She asked him.
"Not so much a child anymore. She has become just like her mother." Gandalf replied and bowed his head.
"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you."
A voice sounded out of the darkness. "He didn't. I did." Gandalf turned and saw Saruman the White; he bowed to him.
"Saruman."
"You've been busy of late, my friend." The White Council, composed of Saruman, Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf, were in the pavilion. Gandalf and Saruman sat at a table; Elrond and Galadriel stood or walked about. Dawn was slowly breaking.
"Tell me, Gandalf, did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed?"
"Unnoticed? No, I'm simply doing what I feel to be right."
"The dragon has long been on your mind." Lady Galadriel said.
"This is true, my lady. Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy, a dragon could be used to terrible effect."
"What enemy? Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength."
"Gandalf, for four hundred years, we have lived in peace. A hard won, watchful peace." Lord Elrond said.
"Are we? Are we at peace? Trolls have come down from the mountains. They are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road."
"Hardly a prelude to war." Elrond responded.
"Always you must meddle, looking for trouble where none exists."
"Let him speak." Galadriel replied forcefully.
"There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We can remain blind, but it will not be ignoring us, that I can promise you. A sickness lies over the Greenwood. The woodsmen who live there now call it 'Mirkwood'. and they say..." Gandalf said.
"Well, don't stop now. Tell us about the woodsmen say."
"They speak of a Necromancer living in Dol Guldur, a sorcerer who can summon the dead."
"That's absurd. No such power exists in the world. This...Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic."
"And so I thought too. But, Radagast has seen "
"Radagast? Do not speak to me about Radagast the Brown. He is a foolish fellow."
"Well, he's odd, I grant you. He lives a solitary life."
"It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms. They've addled his brain and yellowed his teeth. I warned him, it is unbefitting of the Istari to be wander in the woods..." Saruman's voice faded away as Galadriel focused on Gandalf, and spoke to him in his mind.
"You carry something. It came to you from Radagast. He found it in Dol Guldur."
"Yes."
"Show me."
Gandalf lifted Radagast's package, which he had in his lap, and placed it on the table. It let out a dull thud.
"…or I'd think I was talking to myself…"
"What is that?" Lord Elrond asked.
"A relic of Mordor." Galadriel replied harshly.
Elrond, who was reaching out to unwrap the package, drew his hand back. He then reached for it again and opened it, revealing the sword Radagast took from the spirit in Dol Guldur. The White Council members looked upon it in shock.
"A Morgul blade." Lord Elrond said.
"Made for the Witch king of Angmar, and buried with him. When Angmar fell, men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried them, in a tomb so dark it would never come to light."
"This is not possible. A powerful spells lies upon those tombs; they cannot be opened."
"What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?"
"I have none." Gandalf admitted.
"Because there is none. 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 a ruined fortress. It's 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 this disappointment. I do not pretend to understand your reasons for raising their hopes…" Saruman's voice faded away again as Galadriel focused on Gandalf. She spoke to him telepathically.
"They are leaving."
"Yes."
"You knew." Gandalf slyly smiled at Galadriel who smiled back.
"…I am afraid there is nothing else for it." Gandalf nodded. Galadriel smiled slightly again. A step was heard, and they all turned around; Lindir come up and bows.
"My Lord Elrond; the dwarves, they've gone."
It was morning; the dwarves were hiking along the path away from Rivendell.
"Be on your guard; we're about to step over the edge of the Wild. Balin, you know these paths; lead on."
"Aye." Bilba turned around and looked back at Rivendell, longingly.
"I know I'll miss it too." Ember said when she put her hand on Bilba's shoulder. Bilba nodded and took another look. Ember tried to put away the guilt in her soul for leaving her brother again without telling him.
"Mistress Baggins, Miss March, I suggest you keep up." Thorin commanded and they both turned around. The dwarves, Ember, and Bilba continued on their journey.
Back in Rivendell, Gandalf and Galadriel were the only ones remaining on the pavilion.
"You will follow them?"
"Yes."
"You are right to help Thorin Oakenshield. But I fear this quest has set in motion forces we do not yet understand. The riddle of the Morgul blade must be answered. Something moves in the shadows, unseen, hidden from our sight. It will not show itself, not yet. But every day it grows in strength. You must be careful. She grows stronger every day, there are forces that wish to claim her power for their own use. She cannot be contained, she needs your protection."
"She is strong, in her power and will. I fear that if something does happen to her I will not be able to stop her."
"Her power feeds off of her emotions, if something could happen to her or someone she cares about, bad things could happen. But, in one situation it can be used for life."
"Yes." Gandalf turned and started walking away. When he had gone a short distance, Galadriel spoke again.
"Mithrandir? Why the Halfling?"
"I don't know. Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Why Bilba Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid, and she gives me courage." Galadriel suddenly appeared in front of Gandalf, and she took his old, weary hands in spoke to him telepathically one more time.
"Do not be afraid, Mithrandir."
"You are not alone." She then spoke aloud.
Galadriel tucked a loose strand of Gandalf's hair back.
"Ae boe i le eliathon, im tulithon." [Translation: If you should ever need my help, I will come.] Gandalf bow, and Galadriel gently moved her hands away from his. Gandalf looked up, and Galadriel had disappeared.
The Company was crossing the Misty Mountains; the trail was narrow and dangerous, with a cliff on one side and a sheer drop on the other. There was a fierce storm in the air, with lightning and rain all around.
"Hold on!" Thorin yelled.
As Bilba walked, the stone beneath her feet gave away, and she started falling into the chasm; Ember managed to pull her back in time. When Bilba was safe, Ember held her close to her body, she was afraid for her small friend. Bilba was frantically breathing.
"We must find shelter!" Thorin yelled.
"Watch out!" Dwalin screamed. The Dwarves looked up and saw a massive boulder hurtling through the air; it hit the mountainside above them, causing rocks to fall all around them as they pressed themselves against the mountain.
"This is no thunderstorm; it's a thunder battle! Look!"
A stone giant reared up from a nearby mountain; it ripped off a massive boulder from the top of the mountain.
"Well bless me, the legends are true. Giants; Stone Giants!" Bofur yelled. Ember had always read about them, she had always dreamt about them, but never wanted to see them this close.
"Take cover: you'll fall!" Bilba moved so Ember was by herself next to Kili.
"What's happening?" Kili asked her.
"You don't want to know." The first stone Giant threw the boulder far in the air; another stone giant, appeared from behind the Company, and it was hit in the head. The dwarves yelled at each other to brace and hold on, and the rocks beneath their feet began to give way from all the vibrations and from the impact of the falling rocks. The ground between some of the Company members split; part of the group is on one side, and part on the other.
"Kili! Grab my hand! Ki..." Kili began to grab Fili's hand, but Ember held him back.
"Why did you do that?" He asked her angrily.
"I didn't want to see you fall to your death." She admitted softly, Kili's face softened.
"I'm sorry, thank you." He said. She smiled and nodded as rain poured down on her face. But they both snapped back into reality when they began to shake again.
As the two stone giants fought with their fists, the dwarves held on tight as they were flung around. One of the groups managed to jump to a different spot. A third stone giant appeared, and it threw a boulder at the head of one of the first two. That one fell over; Ember saw the cliff coming sraight for her and Kili. There was a large point that would have impaled Kili, and she definitely didn't want to let that happen. She pushed Kili out of the way and when the stone hit stone, she felt a large stinging in her side. As the first group watched, it appeared to them that the other group of the Company had been smashed to bits. The hurt stone giant lost its footing and fell down the chasm.
"No! No! Kili!" Thorin yelled. The group rushed to the spot where the others appeared to have been crushed, but they were safe. Ember saw why her side was stinging, the stone had left a large gash in her right side. She quietly moaned in pain as she pressed her hand to stop the bleeding.
"We're all right! We're alive!" Balin cried.
"Where's Bilba? Where's the Hobbit?" Bofur yelled.
"There!"
"Get her!" Bilba was seen hanging onto the edge of the cliff with just her fingertips. She was so scared, and it took all of her strength to not look down. Rain pelted her face and her fingers were starting to slip. Ori dove onto the ground and tried to grab Bilba's arm, but Bilba slipped and fell another few feet before she caught another handhold. As the dwarves tried to pull her up unsuccessfully, Thorin swung down on the cliff next to Bilba and boost her up, where the others pulled him to safety. Once Bilba was safe she was pulled into Ember's arms. Bilba saw her side bleeding heavily.
"Your side." Bilba pointed out. Ember pressed her hand harder into it.
"Let it go." Ember whispered.
Dwalin tried to lift Thorin back up too, but Thorin lost his grip and began falling too; however, Dwalin, with much effort, was able to pull him back up.
"I thought we'd lost our burglar."
"She's been lost ever since she left home. She should never have come. She has no place amongst us. Dwalin!" They went off and find a cave.
"It looks safe enough." Dwalin said.
"Search to the back; caves in mountains are seldom unoccupied." Bilba held Ember close, hurt at Thorin's harsh words. Dwalin searched the cave with a lantern.
"There's nothing here." Gloin dropped a bundle of wood on the floor and rubbed his hands.
"Right then! Let's get a fire started."
"No, No fires, not in this place. Get some sleep. We start at first light."
Kili looked at Ember and saw the crimson liquid on her side. Her rushed up to her and helped her sit on the floor.
"You're hurt."
"It's just a scratch I'm OK." She lied. But her face said otherwise.
"That is more than a scratch."
"I'm fine. Just leave me alone." She said much more forcefully. Kili was taken aback at the harshness in her words.
"I'm so sorry. I just don't want Thorin to know."
"I hope you know I'm going to help you bind it." She smiled slightly.
She lifted her top slightly so the gash was visible. He helped her bind it but his eyes were drawn to the three large scars on her left side. Then his eyes adjusted to the burn marks, other scars and cuts that littered her body. He lightly ran his fingers down the biggest three.
"How did you get these?" He asked and looked into her eyes. She pulled her top down and stood up, not answering his question.
"Thank you," she said lightly before walking away.
"We were to wait in the mountains until Gandalf joined us. That was the plan." Balin said harshly.
"Plans change. Bofur, take the first watch."
Ember sat on the side of the cave when Bilba sat next to her.
"I don't belong here." Ember said plainly.
"I agree, Thorin was right I should have never come."
Unknown to them Thorin was still awake listening to them. Bilba's voice was soft and almost like velvet in his ears. He regretted what he had said to her. He needed to apologize to her, the guilt was eating at him.
"Why do you not want to be here?" Bilba asked Ember.
"I just don't fit. I'm dangerous for various reasons. I don't want to hurt anyone here." Ember said with grief in her voice. She then looked longingly at Kili who was asleep.
"I can take you back to Rivendell. I can drop you off, and then I'm gone."
"Where would you go?"
"Back to the Ithil, face the consequences and live my life, no matter how short it is going to be."
Thorin wanted to object. He didn't want Bilba to leave.
"So when everyone is asleep we leave?" Bilba asked. Ember nodded and looked at Kili.
"You don't want to leave him do you?" Bilba asked.
"Who?"
"Don't play dumb please, Kili of course."
"You don't want to leave Thorin either?" Ember threw in her face before she gave a playful smile.
"I don't want to leave Kili, at all. But I think it would be best if I did leave."
"He doesn't care about me. I don't even know why I ever thought I could care about him."
Thorin perked up at her words. She cared about him.
"Go get some sleep, it'll take about a day to get back to Rivendell."
Bilba stood up and looked back at Ember.
"Thank you for everything."
"Of course." Ember smiled at Bilba one more time before she walked away.
The Company was resting in the cave; all the dwarves were asleep. Bilba, only pretending to be asleep, stealthily opened her eyes and looked around to see Ember who was still awake. She nodded toward Bilba with a slight smile. Seeing that no one was watching, she quietly rolled up her blankets and packed her things. Grabbing her walking stick, she started to leave the cave with Ember, tiptoeing over the sleeping dwarves.
Bofur, who is standing watch, saw Bilba and Ember trying to leave. He jumped up and tried to stop them. They all whispered so as not to wake the others.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Back to Rivendell." Bilba answered.
"No, no, you can't turn back now, you're part of the Company. You're one of us. Both of you."
"I'm not though, am I? Thorin said I should never have come, and he was right. I'm not a Took, I'm a Baggins, I don't know what I was thinking. I should never have run out my door." Thorin,, stared thoughtfully at the wall as he listens.
"You're homesick; I understand."
"No, you don't, you don't understand! None of you do you're dwarves. You used to to this life, to living on the road, never settling in one place, not belonging anywhere. She wouldn't even understand, she lost her home. None of you understand what I feel."
"That was low." Ember whispered, hurt.
Bofur looked offended and so did Ember, and Bilba was repentant.
"I am sorry, I didn't..." Thorin listened on.
"No, you're right. We don't belong anywhere. I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do. But, what I don't understand is why you're leaving." He asked Ember.
"I don't belong here. I'm dangerous, and I don't want anyone else getting hurt. So I think it would be better if I left." Bofur understood. He hugged Bilba first then Ember.
While Ember and Bofur were hugging she said something in his ear, "Protect Kili for me."
"With my life." Bofur squeezed her before they parted.
"What's that?" Something was glowing; Bilba pulled her sword partway out of its sheath and saw that it is growing bright blue, meaning Orcs are nearby. Ember took out two knives prepared for whatever was to come. Thorin raised his head as he heard strange machinery noises and saw cracks form in the sand on the floor of the cave.
"Wake up. Wake up!" He yelled.