Beth opted to stay out of the troll cave, the smell making her stomach churn even though there was nothing at all in it. She wondered if they were planning on feeding themselves any time soon. Or sleeping for that matter. In fact, she was rather exhausted from chasing down Gandalf all night. In the meanwhile Fili and Kili kept her company, trying to play off their capture as more of an epic struggle than it probably was.
Beth held up a hand to stop their embellished story before they embarrassed themselves further. She was planning on doing it for them. "While I'm sure what I didn't witness was spectacular, all I managed to see from my arrival was you lot yelling about how big your worms are."
Their laughter was cut short by a figure bursting through the brush, screaming, "Thieves! Fire! Murder!"
The company had jumped into action, pulling out their weapons until Gandalf jumped in. "Radagast!" called Gandalf. "Radagast the brown. What you are doing here?"
The brown wizard was about to dismiss the company to tell Gandalf the important news when he caught a sight of Beth. "Gandalf," he asked, "Where did you get her?"
All eyes fell onto the hobbit woman as she shrank, willing herself to be as small and invisible as possible. There was no way he could have known anything just from one glance. Then again, she admittedly didn't know the extent of what a wizard could and could not do.
"In the Shire," responded Gandalf carefully. "Now what is it you came to tell me?"
The brown wizard seemed to snapp out of a trance and looked at Gandalf with a sudden clarity. The wizards turned to speak privately and Beth slunk over to Bilbo who was struggling to put on his new sword. A look of worry passed between them as Beth offered her help. She couldn't help but notice the shifting stares and curious glances out of the corner of her eyes.
And then to make matters worse a warg scout attacked.
The stitch in her side was unbearable, and the moment she flung herself into the cave she simply could not find the strength to get back up again. The last dwarves dropping in had to jump over her and she couldn't even find the strength to complain when Kili kicked her arm. The body of an orc falling beside her was enough motivation to scramble back, however.
Thorin ripped the arrow out of the offending body and spat, "Elves."
Beth wondered what on earth could be the matter with elves. For all the things she had heard about the species of Middle Earth, they were supposed to be a wise, wonderful race. There wasn't much time to dwell on Thorin's reaction before Dwalin called out, "I cannot see where the path ends. Do we follow it?"
"Follow it, of course!" exclaimed Bofur in response.
"I think that would be wise," agreed Gandalf.
By the time they all managed to squeeze through (some doing more squeezing than others) and come to a cliff, Beth gasped at the sight that met them.
"The Valley of Imaldris," announced Gandalf. "In the common tongue it is known by another name."
"Rivendell," Bilbo whispered in reverence.
It suddenly clicked for Beth exactly what they were looking at. For all of Bilbo's want of home and distaste for adventure, he had always been quite taken by the elves. And looking at the city in front of them now, Beth couldn't think of why anyone wouldn't want to see this. The mere sight of it brought peace to her.
"This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy," Thorin accused.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will you will find here is that which you bring yourself."
"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try and stop us," he spat back.
"Of course they will," replied Gandalf (almost cheerily, noted Beth). "But we have questions that need be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tack and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me."
Beth let a small laugh slip before offering an apologetic look to Thorin's glare. As they approached the grand city, Beth found her way to walk alongside their leader. "Gandalf is right, you know," she stated, grabbing Thorin's attention. "These are not the elves who did you wrong. Not all elves are the same, just as not all dwarves are the same."
Thorin stared her down. "Nor all hobbits."
That shut Beth up pretty fast and a pink flush settled on her face from being called out. Also nervous from the implications that he could figure out what was strange about her. Though, she noted, her words did seem to relax Thorin if only marginally. As they approached the grand entrance of the city a single elf man came to greet them and spoke to Gandalf as though he knew him in the most beautiful language Beth had ever heard.
She was spacing out from exhaustion until the sound of hooves and a war horn called the dwarves to action. She and Bilbo were shoved unceremoniously into the middle of the pack so that neither of them could see much of anything except for the riders sitting tall on their horses.
Beth couldn't figure out what was happening until she heard Gloin roar, "What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?!"
Gandalf sighed exasperatedly, "No master Gloin, he is offering you food."
Beth did all she could to choke down a laugh when he sheepishly responded, "Ah, well, in that case, lead on."
The dwarves broke formation and for the first time Beth was able to see the Lord Elrond. She found herself in instant respect and awe just from the very air around him. As the rest of the company was being lead off, Beth stopped to curtsy for Lord Elrond before running off behind her brother.
She could feel his eyes on the back of her head the whole way down the hall.
Elrond watched the girl until she disappeared around a corner and turned to Gandalf. "She is different," he stated to the wizard.
"I thought so as well," replied Gandalf.
"But you do not know how."
"You know if I did, I would have told you."
Elrond hummed and suggested, "Perhaps the Lady Galadriel could enlighten us."
And as though summoned, Galadriel stepped out from behind a hidden corner of her own with a smile on her lips that barley hinted at a sort of mischief.
"Gandalf, you have come upon an absolute treasure. A gift from another world. The King's Council."
The men looked at her with a mixture of shock and worry. "So soon?" questioned Elrond.
"Prophesy comes when it is time for prophesy to come. Never too soon. Never too late. She must be informed."
Gandalf cleared his throat. "Well, perhaps after a meal then? The poor dear has been put through much in these past hours and I'm unsure of how she'll handle the news on such an empty stomach. She is of Hobbit kind, after all."
The company was given the opportunity to wash before they ate. Many of the company turned down the offer but both Bilbo and Beth jumped on the chance to be clean again. Bilbo had turned down their offer of fresh clothes while theirs were washed but Beth simply couldn't resist. The anticipation of clothing that didn't stick to her body through a layer of sweat and grime was enough to keep her grinning even before she climbed into the tub of warm water.
Although looking at the dress she was given after her bath, she figured that maybe Bilbo had the right idea all along.
The dress was a sky-blue, gauzy, sleeveless number that draped around her neck and clung to her curves in a likely indecent manner. Granted, if she was back in her old world she would have simply called the dress sexy as hell and let the boys stare. Besides, she told herself, it was just until her own clothes were washed and dried.
And aside from that still, it wasn't like anyone was going to notice her enter the room. They never had before! And she would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for Lord Elrond announcing her presence as soon as she stepped foot onto the balcony.
"Miss Baggins," he greeted. "You look lovely."
All eyes fell on her and she could feel the heat in her cheeks rising. Some of the more modest dwarves looked away in a hurry while other eyes lingered. Thorin couldn't even reprimand his nephews for openly staring. He was having enough trouble himself keeping his eyes off her.
She did everything she could not to just flat out run to the table and the empty seat beside Bilbo (or back out through the door, for that matter). Keeping her eyes fixed firmly to the ground in front of her feet was her only solace. Beth only raised her eyes when she was seated. The first thing she saw was Thorin's heated stare.
To save herself from the embarrassment of acknowledging the look out loud (though her loins had already acknowledged the look) she turned to smile graciously at Lord Elrond. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Elrond. We're all grateful for your food and home."
Elrond and Gandalf shared a knowing smile before Elrond answered, "You are most welcome, Lady Beth. I insist you take the dress with you when you leave. You are as beautiful as a summer day in it."
"Oh, I'm no Lady," she replied blushing, "But I thank you all the same."
"You have the bearings and beauty of a Lady," piped in Kili, ever mischievous. "Uncle could grant you the title for your help in our…uh, journey."
"Yes, Uncle. I think that's a splendid idea!" added Fili.
"They'll sing songs of Lady Beth, The Brave!" cheered Bofur, winking at the two.
The company looked at Thorin expectantly and Beth scoffed and rolled her eyes dramatically. "While it's very kind of you to say, there will be no songs and Thorin doesn't have to do any such thing. Now shut up and eat your food. The green stuff is good for you." And with that she shoved a forkful of salad into her mouth.
Gandalf laughed at the statement and helped the conversation along. He already arranged with Elrond for the map to be read later, as well as Beth being enlightened on her new found status in this world. It would be a turning point, he decided; although he could not decide if it would be for better or worse.
They were summoned stealthily as the rest of the dwarves were having a bit of fun burning furniture and making games. Bilbo, Balin, Thorin, and Beth all followed Gandalf to a beautiful library with a balcony. Beth imagined that the group on the balcony were having much more fun right now, but contented herself with imagining instead spending afternoons with all the books in this vast room. Though she became slightly discouraged when she read titles only in a flowing script she didn't understand.
The runes on the map were revealed to them and Beth wondered if it could be prophesy or divine providence that made the timing so fortuitous. She was snapped out of her daydreams as the map was handed back to Thorin and Elrond's eyes fell directly on her.
"There is someone who would like to meet you," he told her.
She blinked dumbly. "Me?"
A melodious voice came from behind them. "You, my darling girl. I have been waiting many centuries for your arrival."
They all spun around to find the most beautiful elven woman standing there. Thorin stepped protectively in front of Beth and demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"
"You are allowed to dismiss your companions, Lady Beth," stated Elrond calmly.
Beth swallowed thickly. "And why would I do that?"
"Because what we are about to tell you will change your life forever," answered the pale lady. And then with a smile she added, "again."
Her eyes darted back and forth, and then to the three she had with her. If her life was about to change, she reasoned, she may as well have some moral support with her. And how bad could it be, really?
"They can stay," she said.
"Very well," Elrond replied. "This is the Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. She has foreseen your arrival many a century ago."
I have seen into your heart. Beth looked at Galadriel startled that she had not moved her lips. Be not afraid, child. You cannot afford the luxury of fear.
"In the last age, I looked into my mirror," said the elven woman for everyone to hear. "It showed me the coming of a pure soul from another world. This soul would bring peace to all the races so long as it lived in Middle Earth. And this soul would bring love and prosperity to the kingdom it favoured."
"The King's Council," whispered Balin.
Beth looked over her shoulder at Balin and scrunched up her nose at the reverence spelled out on his face. "Are…are you trying to tell me that I'm supposed to be this magical soul? The 'King's Council' or whatever?"
"You are the very soul," she answered simply.
Beth kept her eyes glued to the floor and tried to slow her breathing and heart hate. After a moment to compose herself, she nodded and put on a brave face…rather, a blank face as to not betray her internal panic. "Well, if it's all the same to you I don't want to know any more than that." She then turned to address Thorin and Balin. "And if it's all the same to you, I don't want to be treated any differently. I, um…I'm gonna go now."
And just like that she walked out of the room. And as soon as she thought no one could see her she made like a coward and fled.