"Hello Uncle," greeted Kili. He was just reaching the room the company was sharing down the hall from the Phoenix when he ran into his uncle just outside the door.
Thorin glanced over at Kili from beneath knotted brows, and Kili knew something was troubling his uncle.
"Hello, Kili," Thorin said. "Where is the Phoenix?"
Kili fought off a frown. Thorin rarely ever sought out the Phoenix; as a general rule when he did it was so that he could yell at her. She handled herself very well under his berating, but Kili could tell that each angry word Thorin spoke hurt her. He could also tell that she didn't yet realize how much so.
"She's retired for the night," he answered cautiously. "Why do you ask?"
Thorin nodded and slipped silently into the company's room, pausing only long enough to clasp Kili on the shoulder. Inside the room the king stopped, glacier blue eyes sweeping over the inhabitants of the room.
"I thought you said she had retired," he grumbled to Kili.
"She has. To her room." Kili pointed down the hall.
"Why is she not in here with us?"
Kili frowned. "I didn't realize she was supposed to be. Do you still not trust her?" Disbelief colored his mind and tone as he spoke. The woman had taken an arrow for Thorin. She had nearly died! How could he not trust her?
"I don't trust these elves," Thorin corrected. "She should be in here with us, where she is safe."
A rush of emotions mixed in Kili's mind. Relief was forefront; at last his uncle was beginning to trust the Phoenix. Perhaps the others were as well. Second was concern and confusion.
"Safe?" Kili frowned. "I thought you said she was safe from the elves. That they wouldn't hurt her."
Thorin sighed. "That was when she was in dire need of their aid," he explained. "When we had no choice but to trust them. Now that she is recovered, I see no reason to leave one of our own open to attack."
He spun and stormed from the room, and Kili followed him worriedly down the hall.
"Uncle, I think she's fine. She's probably asleep by now."
Thorin ignored him, pounding on the door to the Phoenix's room. It took several long moments, but then the door swung open. The Phoenix stood on the other side, looking no worse than she had five minutes before.
"Hello," she said. Kili could barely detect surprise and pain on her tone as her hazel eyes flickered between the two dwarves before her. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes," answered Thorin. "Why are you not with the company?"
The Phoenix blinked. "My quarters are in here," she reminded him.
"You are safer with us."
The Phoenix snorted. "I am perfectly safe here," she argued. "Rivendell poses no threat to us."
Thorin ground his teeth. "Phoenix, you are wounded. You cannot defend yourself."
The warrior's eyebrows raised. "I can defend myself better than you think, Thorin Oakenshield," she reprimanded. "Either way, there is nothing to defend myself from here."
"Phoenix-"
The Phoenix let out an exasperated huff. "Thorin, allow me to put it to you this way. I have not slept in a proper bed for months. I've been on the road much longer than I've been travelling with your company, and I'm not about to go sleep on the floor of an already overcrowded room just because you have trust issues. Good night."
With that she slammed the door in Thorin's face, leaving him fuming.
Kili gulped and placed a hand on his uncle's shoulder. "There's nothing we can do short of dragging her from the room," he stated. "And I think she might object to that."
There was a part of him that feared his uncle might try to do just that. Kili braced himself, ready to stop Thorin should he try, but the king simply glared at the wood door before him. Then he sighed and started down the hall again, grumbling angrily under his breath.
Back in the room the company shared a quick conversation in Khuzdul, and then Gloin promptly strode from the room, axe in hand. When Bilbo wandered in a minute later he had a perplexed look on his face.
"Why is Gloin sitting outside the Phoenix's door?" he whispered.
"Because we don't trust the elves and she's refusing to join us in here," explained Nori. He tugged at the hobbit until Bilbo folded in a heap on the floor. "Speaking of which, you shouldn't go wandering around on your own."
Bilbo let out a squeak of protest, glanced around the room for help, and then, seeing the looks on the faces of the dwarves, shut his mouth.
The next morning Amelia rose in a foul mood. She had barely slept; her shoulder had kept her awake most of the night. What little sleep she had managed to claim had been haunted by nightmares of her ever growing fear of the fact that things were not going to plan.
Her foul mood only increased when she found herself without clothes to change into and unable to even lift her arm. While she didn't have any clean clothes to change into anyway, she couldn't even manage to put her hair into its usual ponytail, as it had come out of its braid during the night, leaving tangled, frizzy strands falling across her face. After meditating to little effect she sighed and made to leave the room, only to have a sleeping Kili fall on her feet when she opened the door.
"What the- Kili!"
Kili jerked awake, wrenching to his feet and turning to face Amelia. A guilty flush crept across his cheeks, though he did his best to hide it.
"Good morning," he began.
Amelia's glare cut off whatever more he had been about to say.
"What were you doing outside my room?" she asked.
Kili sighed. "We've been keeping watch on you throughout the night," he explained. "Uncle doesn't trust the elves."
Amelia sighed. "Yes, I gather that much. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with your uncle about his trust issues. And if you were keeping guard, why were you sleeping?"
Kili snorted. "Because I trust the elves not to slit my throat in my sleep. And speaking of trust issues; you're one to talk."
Amelia's glare quickly had him shutting up. She started down the hall, and Kili fell in step behind her.
"If it helps at all," he pleaded, "I purposefully took the watch at dawn. I knew you would be getting up, and I thought one of the others might annoy you."
Amelia nodded but didn't respond. She knew those weren't quite his reasons, but she would let him slide this once. Besides, he was a bit annoying himself.
"Where are we going, anyway?" asked Kili.
Amelia paused halfway down a random hallway. "To the kitchens. Thorin is ok with me eating the food, right? Or do I have to check with him?"
Kili snorted. "Even my uncle isn't that unreasonable. The kitchens are this way."
He started in the opposite direction, ignoring the look Amelia shot him that said she disagreed with his statement about Thorin. Soon they came to the kitchens, where Elrond and his two sons were already eating.
They all settled down quietly to eat, and while Kili was at first cautious of the noble elf and his bright eyed twins, he soon found himself relaxing. Elrohir and Elladan were much like he and Fili, and while Elrond certainly liked to tap dance around matters in that way only elves could, he seemed trustworthy enough. The Phoenix certainly seemed to trust him.
It wasn't long after that the rest of the company clomped down the stairs. Thorin and Fili were in front, and both visibly relaxed as they spotted Kili and Amelia seated safely at the table.
"Where's Gandalf?" asked Ori a minute later.
"Mithrandir has already eaten," Elrond informed him. "He's off attending to some personal matters. I do not know what."
Amelia stood. "If you'll excuse me," she said. "I have matters of my own to attend to."
She began to back away, but was stopped by Elrond's soft voice.
"Phoenix," he called. "If you would come see me later, I believe I can provide you with some medicine that will help to heal your shoulder faster."
Amelia smiled gratefully, knowing Elrond had been watching the slow, painful way she had eaten her breakfast. "Thank you," she whispered.
She slipped away before anyone could say anything else, pausing just around the corner to lean against the wall. There she closed her eyes and gritted her teeth against the pain in her shoulder, struggling to recompose herself.
"My lady?"
Amelia turned to see Anwë making her way towards her, a worried look on the elf's face.
"Are you alright?" Anwë asked.
Amelia waved her left hand. "Fine, fine," she said through gritted teeth. "Do you know where Gandalf is?"
Anwë nodded, frowning as Amelia pushed herself off the wall and wavered slightly. "My lady, you really should rest."
"No, I shouldn't." Amelia began to stumble forward, sighing and allowing Anwë to take her arm and help her walk.
"Fine then, allow me to aid you." Anwë carefully steered Amelia through Elrond's house, not giving Amelia a chance to refuse.
They went to the upper floors of Elrond's house, Anwë leading Amelia to a wide, stone room open to the air. There Gandalf stood at the round table in the center of the room, staring down at an object spread out over its surface. Even with his form blocking it, Amelia knew what it was.
"Thank you Anwë," she said. "I think I can manage from here."
Anwë looked doubtful, but nonetheless she slipped silently away. Amelia waited for her to leave before approaching Gandalf, who still had his back to her.
"You know what this is?"
Amelia nodded in response to Gandalf's question, surveying the sword sitting before her. It was simple in make, seemingly ordinary. However, Amelia could faintly feel a dark, unnatural sense emitting from the metal of the weapon, a sickly evil that reeked of Mordor.
"Do you know what you will do?" she asked Gandalf.
The wizard nodded. "Dol Guldor," he breathed. There was a worried frown set deep into his face as he gazed at the sword before him. After several moments of silence he glanced over to Amelia. "Are you coming with me?"
Amelia bit her lip. She honestly hadn't thought much of the sword and Dol Guldor over the past weeks. Her main priority had been seeing the company safely through their quest, stealing the ring, and taking it to Mordor.
Now though she recalled the events she knew would occur at Dol Guldor. She knew Gandalf would be captured, and that he would have to be rescued by Galadriel, Elrond, Saruman, and Radagast. A part of her was tempted to go with Gandalf, so that he might never be captured to begin with.
But that would mean abandoning the company. Which path was more important? She knew that both parties would in the end accomplish their goals, and that Gandalf would make it to the mountain in time for the Battle of Five Armies. But to go with the company meant leaving Gandalf to imprisonment and torture. Accompanying Gandalf, on the other hand, meant allowing Thorin to fall to the gold-sickness. To go with Gandalf might mean that she would be unable to save the line of Durin.
Somehow, above everything else, that possibility was unacceptable to her. Amelia's very heart rejected the idea, scorning it with a ferocity that both stunned and frightened her. Deciding she would have to work through her tangled emotions later, she sighed and shook her head.
"My duty is to the company," she said. She grasped Gandalf's arm with her left hand, hoping to convey just how hard the decision was for her. "You will face hardships on your journey, and while I would aid you with them if I could, I must save Thorin from himself. That is why I was brought here."
In her mind, she reasoned that her appearance at Dol Guldor would put Sauron on high alert, for surely he would recognize her and panic. It would speed up events and give them less time to destroy the ring. It was best that she remain hidden from his sight, least her intentions and knowledge be discovered.
Gandalf nodded. He looked disappointed but not surprised, and Amelia realized he had been expecting her response. She only felt worse for the fact, but steeled herself. She had a job to do. She couldn't fall prey to emotions.
"Elrond has summoned the White Council," Gandalf told Amelia. "But you know this already. Do you think we should attempt to leave before they arrive?"
Amelia blinked. She hadn't expected Elrond to have guessed their plans so quickly. After all, there hadn't yet been any mention of the map.
She quickly scolded herself. This was Elrond. It was impossible to hide the quest from him.
"Wait for them," she instructed Gandalf. "When they arrive draw them into a meeting; seek their council on the sword. While you're all up here the company and I will sneak out, so that they can't stop us."
Gandalf's bushy eyebrows lifted. "Would it not be easier to simply leave sooner, so that no sneaking is necessary?"
Amelia shook her head. "You know what happens at Dol Guldor?"
Gandalf nodded.
"Then you know that you will need the council's help. Unless you meet with them, they will never know to come for you. We will wait for you before the high pass of the Misty Mountains."
Gandalf considered for a moment, and then nodded. "Are you sure Thorin will wait?"
Amelia cocked her head to the side as she thought. "Once I tell him the dangers of passing so quickly he will."
Gandalf bit his lip. "If you change events on the mountain, you change the fate of the ring. Are you sure it might not be better to allow events to progress as they would?"
"You just suggested we leave early; that would be changing events."
"I had planned on taking our time on the road, so that we reached the mountain at the same time as we would have otherwise."
Amelia sighed. "Thorin will never trust me if I allow him to fall right into the jaws of a warg. Literally. If he doesn't trust me, how am I to help him? Events have a way of evening out. If Bilbo doesn't recover the ring on his way to the mountain, he will surely find it on his way back."
"But he will need it on the quest," pointed out Gandalf.
"I will see them through safely," Amelia argued. "There will be no troubles requiring the ring."
Even as she said it, she wasn't sure if she was lying or not. One thing she was absolutely certain of; she was not going to let Bilbo take the ring. She would not let it destroy his mind. She would end the foul creation, once and for all.
She didn't dare say that to Gandalf though, knowing he would try to stop her. Instead she all but held her breath, hoping he didn't call her bluff.
Whether or not he trusted her advice on the matter completely, Gandalf still nodded.
"So be it," he said. Carefully he rewrapped the Morgul sword, slipping it back into his robes. He began to leave the room, pausing at the entranceway and turning back to Amelia.
"You don't plan to change the outcome of this quest, do you?" he asked.
Amelia gulped. Whereas before she had been able to just skip around the truth, now she was faced with outright lying. Would Gandalf see through her?
"I will do the task the Valar have assigned me," she said at last. "If events change as a result; so be it."
Gandalf nodded and swept away, a musing expression on his face. As he disappeared around the corner Amelia let out a sigh of relief, leaning against the table.
Dinner that night was less awkward than the previous night, if only slightly. Halfway through the meal Amelia and Thorin switched places, and as Ori pulled her into a conversation Amelia attempted to keep an ear on what the king was discussing with Elrond. She couldn't make out as much as she had hoped, but she heard enough to realize they were discussing Thorin's map.
After dinner Amelia rose and slipped away in a moment when no one was focused on her. Instead of returning immediately to her room she trailed silently through the halls of Elrond's house, gazing out the windows to the wide garden that stretched below. It was several minutes later that she encountered Thorin, Gandalf, and Elrond walking together, engaged in a whispered conversation.
"Ah, Phoenix," greeted Gandalf. He offered a small smile in greeting and nimbly stepped away from Thorin.
Elrond did the same. "Good evening, Phoenix. Mithrandir, if you would accompany me, I would enjoy showing you a new species of flower I have been cultivating in my gardens."
"Of course, my friend." Gandalf allowed Elrond to lead him away, leaving Thorin and Amelia alone together.
Thorin snorted as he watched them depart. "How subtle," he muttered sarcastically.
Amelia chuckled in agreement. She moved to the railing of the hall she walked, one open to the air, and leaned against it. After a moment Thorin came to join her, and she could feel his glacier-like eyes watching her. When he finally broke the terse silence between them his voice was cautious.
"You've been avoiding me," he accused.
Amelia frowned to herself. Had she been avoiding him? She didn't think she had been, but come to think of it, she had seen very little of the dwarf over the past day.
"If I have it was unintentional," she soothed. "I've simply had a lot on my mind."
Thorin's eyebrows lifted. "Do you wish to talk about it?"
Amelia raised her own eyebrows as she turned to face Thorin. "You've never been much for talking with me," she commented. "What's with the change?"
Thorin harrumphed. "If something is troubling a member of my company it is only right that I know about it, so that I may help however I can."
Amelia blinked rapidly, then turned abruptly back to the railing. As she dug her way through Thorin's words she could feel the king watching her, but dutifully ignored him.
"So," she said at last. "I am part of your company?"
Beside her Thorin huffed out an irritated breath. "I may not be overly fond of your presence, and I may not agree with your methods, but you are as much a part of this company as Master Baggins."
Amelia slanted a look. "That fills me with so much confidence."
Thorin's eyes widened. "What does that mean?"
Amelia snorted. "You've barely said two words to him this entire journey. When you do speak, you are as demeaning as possible. Do you realize how much he is risking by joining you? He is risking his very life. His status among his people. I know you understand the implications of status and what it means to people, King Thorin."
Thorin was staring at Amelia with wide eyes, apparently unsure how to react. Amelia again returned to staring out over the railing, and this time, Thorin was silent.
Eventually Amelia sighed. Yelling at Thorin the one time he decided to be civil wasn't going to help her gain his trust.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. She risked a glance to her side, taking in Thorin's blank face. "I should not have said that."
"No. It- it is alright." Thorin sighed, looking like he had just bitten into a sour lemon. "I will consider what you have said to me."
Amelia nodded, and together the two stood in silence. She could tell neither of them were quite sure where to go from there. As the silence became unbearable she backed up, offering Thorin a small smile.
"I think I'll retire for the night. Goodnight Thorin."
Thorin nodded. He looked like he wanted to say something, probably a request that she sleep in the same room as the company, but he managed to hold his tongue. Gratefully, Amelia fled.
Thorin watched the Phoenix all but run from him, her unraveling braid flying behind her. As she disappeared from sight Thorin leaned against the railing, staring out over Elrond's gardens as he thought. So many things were whirling around in his mind; it seemed impossible to sort through them all.
His brooding was interrupted as he felt a prickle on the back of his neck. Thorin brought his hand to the dagger he kept concealed on his person, slowly turning. There was no one standing in the corridor behind him, but Thorin didn't relax. He knew he was being watched.
His eyes roamed up, to the higher tiers of Elrond's house. There. On a balcony a floor above stood Bilbo Baggins. The hobbit was silent as he stared at Thorin, frozen in fear at having been caught eavesdropping.
Thorin let out a growl beneath his breath. How much had the hobbit heard? He didn't think he had said anything that the little man shouldn't know, but he didn't like the thought of anyone- even his own company- spying on him.
Had he heard the words Thorin had exchanged with the Phoenix? Thorin felt his cheeks heat at the prospect, and he briefly averted his eyes from Bilbo's wide ones. It didn't matter, he decided momentarily.
He signaled for Bilbo to join him, then began to push back his emotions. Why, if it didn't matter if the hobbit had heard anything, did he care so much about it? Why did the thought of Master Baggins feeling hurt fill Thorin with such guilt?
It wasn't like Bilbo had done anything special. He'd whined the entire time they were on the road. He couldn't even ride a pony properly. And Thorin knew Bilbo had been sneaking apples to his pony at night, when he thought no one was looking. Thorin wasn't sure why he had never yelled at Bilbo for such a waste of food. He should have. But it was such a kind thing to do, and a part of Thorin had been oddly wistful at the gentle manner of the hobbit.
But it was still stupid. Thorin decided he was going to yell at Bilbo for it. And for nearly getting himself killed by trolls. He should have waited for help before going and trying to free the ponies. He wasn't a dwarf, he was a hobbit, and hobbits clearly didn't know how to hold a sword, let alone use it. What exactly had Bilbo been thinking?
Thorin frowned. The hobbit did have a few redeeming qualities, he admitted to himself. Bilbo had refused to admit to the trolls that he had companions, and he was rather quick witted. Thorin knew that without Bilbo stalling for time, they would not be alive. The trolls would have eaten them and returned to their caves by the time the sun had come up.
And he had risked a lot by joining the company. Thorin had no idea why the hobbit had ever agreed. Maybe some awakened sense of adventure. Or maybe a sense of pity for the ravaged dwarves. Thorin decided he didn't want to know the answer to that question.
He glanced up as Bilbo appeared. The hobbit moved slowly, silently. His eyes were wide and muscles tense, and it was clear he was ready to run. When he took in the hard look on Thorin's face Bilbo let out a small squeak and held up his hands.
"I- I'm sorry," he offered. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I swear. I was just enjoying the air when I heard you speaking with Gandalf and Lord Elrond. And then Phoenix came along, and well- I'm sorry."
Bilbo grimaced as he edged back slightly, clearly aware of how weak his explanation was.
Thorin kept his expression blank as he studied the hobbit. It would have been comical how afraid Bilbo was if it weren't for the fact that he was afraid. Of Thorin. Thorin had never meant for Bilbo to fear him. If anything, he had wanted the hobbit to respect him, the way a king should be respected.
The Phoneix's words echoed through his mind, and Thorin scowled and pushed them away. Yet he couldn't ignore her wisdom, at least on this matter. Something had to be done.
"Tell me, Master Baggins," said Thorin. "What do you think of Elrond?"
Shock flashed across Bilbo's face, but the hobbit did a good job of covering it up. He couldn't quite wipe the fear from his features though, and Thorin felt guilt stir in his gut.
"I- I think he is honest enough," Bilbo said at last. He glanced nervously at Thorin, clearly gauging his reaction. When he was satisfied Thorin wasn't about to attack him he continued hesitantly. "I don't think he is a danger to us, and I believe he would like to help us."
Thorin cocked his head ever so slightly. "You think he knows about our quest?" It was something Thorin suspected, but he couldn't be sure.
Bilbo nodded. "I believe he's guessed. I don't think he approves of it, but he knows he can't stop us. I believe he will help us, should we ask, so that we are less likely to get ourselves killed along the way."
Thorin's eyebrows lifted slightly. It wasn't quite like Bilbo to be so blunt about a matter such as death. Or so calm. Looking into Bilbo's eyes, however, Thorin could tell that the hobbit was anything but calm. He was just attempting to put up pretenses in a hope of earning Thorin's approval.
Something inside of Thorin softened.
"Thank you for your opinion, Master Baggins," Thorin said. He fingered the map tucked into his shirt pocket, watching Bilbo's gaze flicker curiously to it. "I shall weigh it into my judgements."
This time, Bilbo was unable to wipe the shock from his features. "Of- of course," he stammered. "Uh- you're welcome?"
Thorin couldn't help but laugh at the flush overtaking the hobbit's face. Somewhere in the back of his mind he found he liked seeing Bilbo flustered; there was a certain appeal to it.
The sound of Thorin's laughter seemed to shake some of the nerves loose from Bilbo, who let out a timid laugh of his own. Thorin found he enjoyed the sound of Bilbo's laugh even more than the sight of the hobbit. He endeavored to elicit a true laugh from Bilbo at some point.
"Come." Thorin gestured down the hallway, and after a moment Bilbo fell into step beside him. Thorin lead the way back to the company's room, where the others were already retired for the night.
"Well?" asked Balin. The dwarf didn't seem at all fazed by the sight of Thorin and Bilbo entering the room together. "Your talk with Elrond? How did it go?"
Thorin pursed his lips as he moved to his sleeping pack in between his nephews. "I must think over it some more," he said finally. "But I believe I might just accept the elf's help."
A murmur swept over the company, mostly conveying notes of disapproval. Thorin ignored them, shifting his gaze to where Bilbo was still lingering by the door. The hobbit looked surprised but pleased, knowing his opinion had been behind Thorin's words.
Movement caught Thorin's eye, and he looked toward where the brothers Ur had set their sleeping rolls to see the Phoenix watching him. They locked eyes, and she sent a single nod Thorin's way before lying down. Drawing her blanket over her shoulders, she settled down for bed with the rest of the company.
I am so so so sorry that it's taken so long for me to update. School's started, and I've been swamped. Not to mention facing writer's block.
Again, I am so sorry. Thank you everyone who has been sticking with me, and enjoy the chapter.