Chapter 19
Ember lay on a bedroll sleeping soundly between the rolls of Kili and Fili. The dwarves had refused to let her out of their sight after the incident with Lindir, and she had agreed to sleep in their quarters. She had barely spoken as Lord Elrond had led her and the other dwarves on a tour of Rivendell, though they had coaxed a smile from her in the crystal caves. For the first time, Rivendell had been a place of danger to her, and her hand had been laced with Kili's throughout the tour. Although the dwarves had appreciated the beauty and fine craftsmanship of the architecture, they still felt nothing would surpass the elegance and splendor of Erebor once it was restored to its former glory. Once they had returned to the large chamber she had quickly fallen asleep. Kili brushed her cheek lightly, then joined the others at a fire made from the Elven furniture. He smiled grimly at the destroyed chest of drawers. A little revenge was sweet.
Thorin had quietly informed the other dwarves as to what had transpired. The shock and anger over the incident was wholly felt by them all. Dwarven women were few, and they were treasured more than the very gold and jewels of all the mountains. To think that someone would attempt to harm their beloved Ember in such a way infuriated them all. Bifur swore angrily in Khuzdul, Bofur had added an extra blanket to Ember's sleeping form, while Fili had touched his forehead with Kili in support. Gandalf sat with them all, looking worried.
"I still don't understand why the lass didn't just scorch the pants of that barathaz dekhel," Dwalin muttered.
"I don't know that she could, Master Dwalin," Gandalf answered quietly. "As we all saw earlier today, it appears that her powers of fire are accessed only when she fears for the safety of those she cares for. Those she feels she needs to protect. What concerns me…" he trailed off, deep in thought.
"She cared more for the elf than her own protection," Kili said quietly, glancing at her tenderly. "She didn't want to hurt him, no matter what he did to her." Gandalf nodded. "She told me that she tried to use her powers of persuasion, but he...slapped her and she lost focus." Kili's anger rose again at the thought that Ember had been struck. He bit his cheek at the thought of her guilt. "She said that she had used her powers on him so often…that there was no way to know what that would do to a person. She...she felt guilty." The other dwarves rumbled with dismay over this. No matter how the Elf had been manipulated, he should never have touched their lass. To think she felt guilt over this was almost to much for them to bear.
"If she is unable to wield these powers to protect herself, what good will she be on our journey?" Thorin grumbled. He had been deeply troubled by the scene he had witnessed today. Women could be distractions, that much was clear, and they couldn't afford any delays. Kili looked at him sharply. He would not be separated from Ember and he had made that clear to his uncle.
"I think her power and loyalty will be of great use on this journey, Thorin." Gandalf replied. "You can be comforted knowing that she will protect you at all costs, and I don't think I even need to point out that you will do the same for her." Thorin studied the wizard, before nodding.
"Very well, Gandalf, we will do this your way."
A knock on the chamber door startled them, and they all looked up warily as Lord Elrond entered the room. He raised his eyebrow at the burning fire of furniture then turned his eyes to the sleeping girl in the corner. He softened his gaze before he approached Gandalf. "Gandalf, I must ask that you accompany me." The wizard looked at his friend solemnly.
"He has arrived then?" Gandalf asked. Lord Elrond nodded as Gandalf took his leave of the dwarves.
"Who has arrived, Gandalf?" Thorin asked.
"The leader of my order. Saruman the White." Gandalf stared intently at the dwarf king, who nodded his head as if a silent exchange had occurred between them. As the Elf and the Wizard left the room, Thorin turned to the others.
"We will leave before dawn. Gandalf will meet us in the Misty Mountains." The others were confused, but quickly doused the fire heading to their bedrolls. Kili pulled a sleeping Ember into his arms gently, her head resting on his chest, her fingers reaching up to close on a lock of his hair. He met the eyes of his brother lying on his own bedroll on the other side of her. Neither had liked what Gandalf had said about her ability. Kili was filled with worry. The thought that Ember couldn't use her power to protect herself frightened him. It was worse knowing that she might put herself in harm's way to protect him. Fili's blue eyes burned with determination.
"I will protect her with my life, nadadith," Fili whispered. "With us on either side of her, she will be safe." Kili smiled warmly at his brother, kissed the top of Ember's head and drifted off to sleep.
As the other dwarves settled for the night, Thorin motioned to Balin, and they stepped out onto the balcony. "I have been thinking about our last discussion, my friend," began Thorin. "I do not see this young girl even attempting to take the throne."
"Nor I," Balin agreed. "But it is a remote possibility. There may still be dwarves loyal to the old bloodline, and we cannot..." Thorin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I think it best that we not say anything about this bloodline to anyone. There is no need to promote her dwarven lineage. Once we reclaim Erebor, that will be the time for politics." Balin hesitated, then nodded at his king. In silent agreement, they headed back into the room.
Hours later, in a chamber far from the sleeping Dwarves, a meeting of great importance was taking place.
"With or without our help, these Dwarves will march on the mountain. They're determined to reclaim their homeland. I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he is answerable to anyone. Nor, for that matter, am I." Gandalf grumbled to Lord Elrond, who had insisted the Wizard take a few hours of rest before the meeting.
"It is not me you must answer to, Mithrandir." Elrond replied grimly. Gandalf turned to see a beautiful Elf woman standing in the moonlight, gazing out at the stars. Her blond hair cascaded down her slim figure, an elegant white silk gown blowing gently in the night breeze.
"Lady Galadriel," Gandalf bowed.
"Mithrandir," she replied with a small smile, as she turned to her friend.
"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you." Gandalf seemed a little taken aback.
"He didn't," a deep voice spoke. "I did." The voice belonged to the Wizard seated before him. Dressed in white robes, with long silver hair and his coal black eyes burning at Gandalf, was Saruman. "You've been busy of late, my friend. Tell me, Gandalf...did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed?" The Head of his Order motioned for him to join the table.
"Unnoticed?" Gandalf asked in surprise as he sat. "No. I'm simply doing what I feel to be right."
"The dragon has long been on your mind," Galadriel spoke, as she elegantly joined the table.
"That 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." Gandalf replied.
"What enemy?" Saruman sneered. "Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength. Gandalf, for 400 years we have lived in peace...a hard-won, watchful peace."
"Are we? Are we at peace?" Gandalf retorted. "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. Always you must meddle…looking for trouble where none exists!" Saruman's eyes flashed.
"Let him speak," Galadriel's clear voice eased the growing tension. Gandalf looked at her thankfully before he continued.
"There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We can remain blind to it, 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..."
"Well? Don't stop now." Saruman said sarcastically. "Tell us what the woodsmen say."
"They speak of a Necromancer living in Dol Guldur. A sorcerer who can summon the dead." Gandalf said uneasily. The council looked at each other in disbelief.
"That's absurd. No such power exists in this world. This Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic." Saruman's protests seemed almost too prepared.
"And so I thought too. But Radagast has seen..."
"Radagast?" Saruman said grumpily. "Do not speak to me of Radagast the Brown. He's a foolish fellow."
"Well, he's odd, I grant you. He lives a solitary life." Gandalf admitted.
"It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms. They've addled his brain and yellowed his teeth. I've warned him. It is unbefitting one of the Istari to be wandering the woods..." Saruman's voice continued while Galadriel's soft tones spoke to Gandalf in his mind.
"You carry something. It came to you from Radagast," her voice said quietly. "He found it in Dol Guldur."
"Yes." Gandalf replied in his mind.
"Show me." Galadriel asked.
"...Listen to me. I would think I was talking to myself for all the attention that he paid. By all means..." Saruman had caught Gandalf daydreaming. The grey Wizard pulled out an item wrapped in cloth and laid it on the table in front of the council. Elrond folded back the cloth and gasped. "What is that?" Saruman continued.
"A relic of Mordor," Gandalf said.
"A Morgul Blade." Elrond drew back in disgust.
"Made for the Witchking of Angmar," Galadriel spoke aloud. "And buried with him. When Angmar fell...the 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 him...in a tomb so dark...it would never come to light."
"This is not possible," Elrond spoke up. "A powerful spell lies upon those tombs. They cannot be opened."
"What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?" Saruman said.
"I have none," Gandalf admitted.
"Because there is none!" Saruman shot back. "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 reason for raising their hopes…" Saruman continued on as Galadriel turned her eyes back to Gandalf.
"They are leaving," her voice whispered in his mind.
"Yes." He agreed silently.
"You knew," her voice smiled as he winked at her cheekily.
Ember and the company's supplies had been refurbished by the Elves in the night, and they quickly and quietly slipped from the valley of Imladris. Bilbo stopped to take in one last look at the beautiful valley that had been seemed so much like his own Shire. Ember stopped, reaching for his hand. "I wonder," he mused, "if I will ever see this place again." She smiled at him, she knew how it felt to leave Rivendell.
"My dear Bilbo, I know you will. I will bring you to visit again one day myself." He grinned up at her, squeezing her hand in thanks.
"Master Baggins, Ember, I suggest you keep up. We are about to step over the Edge of the Wilds. Balin, you know these paths. Lead on." Ember rolled her eyes in mock annoyance at Thorin and Bilbo chuckled. They paced themselves with Kili, who winked at his beloved.
"Truthfully, I probably know this area better than Balin," she whispered to Bilbo.
"Then why aren't you leading us?" Bilbo whispered back.
"Because then I won't be blamed by Thorin if we get lost!" Kili and Bilbo laughed as the morning sun rose on the horizon, and the Company disappeared into the wilds.
Gandalf stared thoughtfully out into the gardens of Rivendell, with Lady Galadriel at his side. She smiled at her friend. "You will follow them?" she asked.
"Yes." There was no doubt he would follow the Company. His worry for Ember, along with Bilbo and the others washed over him.
"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." Gandalf nodded in agreement, as she continued. "Yuula's power has awakened. I fear this shadowed presence will seek to use her as a weapon. She must be protected from all harm."
"My Lady, I will not allow harm to come to her. She is as much a daughter to me as Lord Elrond. But I fear she will choose to sacrifice herself, and the thought of losing her is too great to bear." His eyes closed with pain, and he shuddered at his dark thoughts. "Perhaps that is why I chose Bilbo Baggins. I have found that it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love. Because I am afraid, and he gives me courage." Galadriel took his old, weary hands in hers. He looked into her eyes, so blue and fair.
"Do not be afraid, Mithrandir. You are not alone. And neither is Ember." Her voice whispered in his mind. "Ae boe I le eliathon, im tulithon." Gandalf bowed his head. When he looked up, he found that she had disappeared. Gandalf smiled softly, his mind and heart comforted for now.
Ae boe I le eliathon, im tulithon - If you should ever need my help, I will come.
nadadith - little brother
barathaz dekhel - bloody elf
Kind of a filler chapter, but it is important for the future. Next up...the Stone Giants...and GOBLIN TOWN! So excited! I OWN nothing but Ember. Please rate and review! There will be come more adult scenes coming...love and stuff heh heh!