So, elf time!

Disclaimer: Me no own, you no sue

Arriah walked along quietly. The path was windy and jagged, rocks jutting out here and there. She was glad to have Bilbo behind her, directing her along.

A hand on her shoulder stopped her and the roaring sound of waterfalls reached her ears.

"Here already? We make good time."

"The Valley of Imladris. I the common tongue it's know by another name."

Can't wait for a bath.

"Rivendell."

"Here lies the last homely house, east of the sea."

Arriah took a cautions step forward.

"This was your plan all along. To seek refuge with our enemy."

"You have no enemies here Thorin Oakensheild."

Yes, think of the food, and the baths. Warm baths. With soap.

"The only ill will to be found in the valley is that which you bring your self."

"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us."

At this point Arriah stopped listening. Fili appeared beside her.

"Have you been here before?"

Arriah smiled. "Oh, yes, many times."

"Ah..."

"They still have that annoying bridge, that's thin and has no railing?"

"Right in front of us."

"Please don't let me fall."

The dwarf beside her chuckled. "Of course, I will carry you if I must."

Arriah blinked. "Please don't."

"I was hoping for that answer."

Arriah smiled.

"If we are to be successful this will need to be handled with tact, and respect, and no small amount of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to myself and Arriah."

"Mhm."

She imagined Fili rolling his eyes beside her before grabbing her hand and pulling her along.

"Mithrandir."

"Ah, Lindir."

Arriah leaned towards Fili.

"Hey, the elf, he a pretty boy? Brown hair, crowny thing on his head?"

"...Yes."

Arriah took her hand from Fili's and walked towards Gandalf.

"Lady Harmani, a pleasant surprise."

"Yes, it's been some time Lindir, may I go...?"

She gestured towards Rivendell.

"Yes, of course, your room is how you left it."

Arriah sighed and dashed forward, counting her steps as she ran up the stairs. She jogged through the halls, left, then right, every bit of the great city burned into her memory.

She entered a long hall and placed her hand on the wall, dragging it along and counting each door she passed.

"One, two, three...seven, eight...eleven, finally."

She felt around for the door's handle and pushed the door open. If everything was as it was the last time then the foot of her bed was in front of her. To her right a dresser and wardrobe and to her left a large door that led to a small garden surrounding a large fountain.

She breathed in deeply and smiled. She'd missed this place. There was a knock.

"Lady Harmani?"

Arriah turned and smiled. "Gwae! It's so good to see you. Well, I mean, you know..."

The elven woman gave a small laugh. "Yes, I understand."

Arriah smiled.

"Perhaps you would like a bath?"

Arriah's eye widened. "Oh, yes, please."

The elven woman glided as she walked. "I'll have your weapons cleaned and your clothes washed and repaired. I'll help you with you bath if needed, and then you'll be dressed and sent to the dining hall. That is where you dwarf companions are heading."

"Oh Gwae, I've really missed you."

And she was lead out of her room and down two halls, she remembered the way well. Gwae was taking her to a private bathing pool, the one she used most when ever she visited.

"The pool is ready. Do you need any help undressing?"

Arriah shook her head and began to undress. Removing her weapons first, then her black cloak, or at least she thought it was her black one. I took it off the right hook. Must be the black.

Her leather travelling pants were brown she knew, and they came off after her favorite boots. Knee high and black, they were sturdy and kept her feet warm. Next was her light deer skin coat, fox fur lining the inside and puffing out of the hood. It was light but warm. Gandalf had made it for her years ago. Following the coat was a blue cotton shirt and then her binds.

She sighed and stepped forward, her hand grabbing the railing as she stepped down into the pool.

"Soap is behind you, on the ground and I'm placing two towels on the railing."

Arriah nodded and sunk into her bath as the elven maid left. She hummed in happiness and reached for the soap. She applied it generously to her hair, scrubbing vigorously. Rinsing it was another task. She ran her hands through her hair and moved froward so she could lean back and place the back of her head in the water. She took her time washing out the soap and hummed quietly to herself as she did so.

After spending some time soaking she reluctantly got out of the bath. Drying herself and wrapping the towels around her. Gwae appeared.

"I have clothes for you."

Arriah smiled. "What you got for me this time?"

"The red one."

Arriah blinked and smiled. She did not wear dresses, the only exception was a red dress that she'd discovered in Rivendell years ago.

"Will you help me with my hair too?"

"Yes."

And the elf set to work. Giving Arriah fresh binds and undergarments. The the dress was pulled over Arriah's head and smoothed out. It was sleeveless. Arriah had asked Gwae to describe it to he when she'd first worn it.

"Bright red, like your hair. It has no sleeves, and come's with these gloves. It is trimmed silver, like stars against a Fire Moon."

The dress was exactly like Gwae had described it. And Arriah and Gwae had had a lot of fun turning the silver gloves into finger-less one's.

Arriah was quiet as Gwae ran a brush through her hair and braided it in a fishtail braid. Well, that's what Gwae told Arriah she'd done.

Now Arriah headed towards the dining hall. Ah, it's around here somewhere.

"Lady Harmani?"

Arriah turned. "Lord Elrond!"

"It has been quite some time. Come. You must be hungry."

Elrond led her quietly towards what she assumed was the dining hall.

"There are three steps in front of you."

Arriah walked up them slowly, not wanting to get a mouth full floor. She wanted a mouth full of food.

"Lady Arriah?"

"Mh, what?"

Silence.

"Just making sure my eyes weren't deceiving me."

"Ah, well, they're not. Tis I, Arriah."

Elrond led her forward and sat her down. She took a quiet sniff. Gandalf, Thorin, Elrond and herself sat at the table.

"Salad, with all the fixings."

Arriah smiled at Gandalf words and reached for where her fork should be. Grabbing it she stabbed the leaves on her plate a few times before shoving them in her mouth. They were fresh and she chewed them easily.

"That blade you carry, where did you get it?"

"In a troll hoard, if you would believe."

"May I?"

"Of course."

Arriah munched on her lettuce quietly, taking an occasional sip of wine.

"This is Orcist, the Goblin Cleaver. A famous blade, forged by the high elves of the west, my kin. May it serve you well."

Arriah smiled into her cup of wine. At least Thorin's behaving himself.

"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."

Arriah blinked. That's an old sword.

"You said you found these in a troll hoard?"

"Yes, on the great East Road. Shortly before we were ambushed by orcs."

"And what were you doing on the great East Road?"

Arriah sighed. It was going to be a long night.

Arriah leaned against the rails of a balcony. Staring out into the vast darkness that was her world.

"That elf called you Harmani."

Fili.

"Yes, it is a name the elves gave me when I was younger. It's similar to how they call Gandalf Mithrandir."

"Ahh. Does it mean something?"

"It is a combination of two Quenyan words. 'Wolf' and 'woman'."

"Huh."

"Yeah."

Silence.

"A week."

"Pardon?"

"It'll be a week before Elrond will be able to read the Moon Runes on the map. Then we'll likely stay for a few more days before we head out."

"Moon Runes, eh? An easy thing to miss."

Fili was beside her now.

"I do believe we made a deal earlier."

Arriah smiled. "Truly, they are boring tales. You'll probably fall asleep."

The dwarf gave a bark of laughter. "Indeed. But I still insist, we made a deal."

Arriah sighed. "Fine."

That's actually it, but have no fear, the stories are coming up next chapter! R&R!