Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, favourited and followed for this story!
Also, if you like my style of writing, you might like to check some of the stories on Wattpad ( /AShadowRose )
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Disclaimer: Tolkien is the owner of all Lord of the Rings characters. I only own my OCs
*Glares from reader* Okay... On with the story!
Dining with Royalty
Rosalie sat between Bilbo and Frodo with Gandalf sitting next to Lord Elrond. Next to him was a beautiful elven lady; the kind that made you forget to breathe and made you hide inside, feeling pathetic to even be in the same room as her. A little way down was the elf from the courtyard earlier, chatting to some of his kin, sending glances down the table to the human man opposite the enchanting elven lady. Pippin was sat opposite Rosalie, side by side with Merry and Sam, both roaring at laughter over something the younger Hobbit said.
This was strange to the girl. Almost everything that had happened, everything in this world was weird and alien to her. Usually she ate alone, even at home and now she was in the thick of it. All around her were the sounds of happiness; laughter, the gentle clink of knives and forks and too many different languages for Rosalie to count. She was silent, slowly pushing food around her plate, her eyes glazed. From the corner of her eye, she could see some of the other guests whispering, slyly glancing at her, the strange mortal who knows none but the Halflings at the end of the table. Bilbo took her hand and squeezed. "Do not fret. They are only wary of new faces." He whispered when the others weren't listening. "And strange ones." Rosalie murmured, glancing back down the table.
Across the table, Pippin smiled, his cheeks big and chubby, stuffed with food like a hamster and Rosalie giggled with Sam, Merry and Frodo. Every so often, Frodo's hands went to his neck, fiddling with the links of a small chain and every time, Rosalie watched Gandalf track his movements. Slowly, the food got demolished and the chatter rose again. She saw a few of the dwarves laughing, their movements tipsy, their rough native tongue slurred so far sentences sounded like long words. Rosalie spaced out, gazing dreamily at the decorations, earning a few whispers and giggles from other guests and a smirk from Lord Elrond. There was a bunch of flowers on a table at the edge of the room, bright and stunning in a more natural way, like the simple elegance of Rivendell. Jade stems and full green leaves that flowed over the lip of the vase, holding up gigantic vibrant violet bulbs, engorged like they would pop if you touched them. In her mind, they would. They opened up their petals, greeting the moon and exposing their golden throats to the night. They would open and a violent cloud of pollen would burst from them, a gold haze that captivates any who see it. In her mind, this had happened. The cloud drifted lazily through the room, coming closer to the table. Though no one noticed it but her. The pollen was toxic, a beautiful killer, and no one knew it but her. It came closer and closer and Rosalie had to do something as it reared upwards like a horse, preparing to swoop upon its prey beneath it.
"ROSALIE!" The girl's head shot up and the pollen disappeared, becoming prey to the night breeze itself. Gandalf was looking down the table at her, an unreadable expression on his face. Any conversations had stopped, scared of what the wizard might do. His eyes were solely trained on Rosalie while the others flickered back and forth between the pair. Rosalie gulped, guilt filling her as the wizard stared at her. Did he see it as well? Rosalie wondered and suddenly Gandalf's face softened. "Are we so boring that you must see refuge in your mind?" He smiled and Rosalie let out a breath she hadn't known she had been holding. A few of the men tittered and Gandalf smiled but Elrond and a few other elves, including the blonde from the courtyard, continued to glare at her suspiciously.
The evening wore on, the night still reigning and the guests still talked. A few left, especially men and dwarves, one by one staggering back to their rooms and Rosalie started to get up when a hand shot out and grabbed hers. Despite his age, Bilbo's stronger that I thought...The hobbit got up slowly, clutching Rosalie's arm. "At least let me do the honour of escorting you back to your room Rosalie." Bilbo gave a smile and Rosalie returned a weary one. "I would appreciate it thanks." Pippin and Merry looked up and grinned at her, showing off bright white teeth. "See you in the morning Rosalie!" Nearer the end of the table, a couple of dwarves saluted her, beer slopping over themselves as they raised their cups, their drunken laughter ringing through the room. Gandalf grimaced and then nodded his head towards Rosalie and she waved back before trailing behind Bilbo as he took her back to her room. "Sleep well, my dear. I believe our young Hobbits have an adventurous day in store for you tomorrow." Rosalie couldn't control the groan that escaped her lips and Bilbo chuckled.
(Time Jump- sometime around midnight)
The night was dark and he knew that almost everyone had gone to bed, though he was kept awake. Unlike the dwarves, he hadn't consumed his weight in ale and had realised how important this meeting was. What was so important? This thought pierced his mind like an arrow, dark thoughts lingered, reminding him of bad memories from his younger years. Something Lord Elrond had wrote stirred something within him, a fear that the worst was coming. It kept him awake, stopped him from sleeping, his feet pacing the halls of Rivendell.
His feet stopped. He twisted his head slightly, his brows furrowing. The breeze had gone, holding its breath and the elf took off. His feet barely touched the ground and he followed the path his ears gave. He had heard a growl; it was faint, so faint he thought he dreamed it when he heard it again, sending chills down his spine. It was closer; he was closer, meaning the creature was in the West of Imladris. His heart dropped, remembering that many of Lord Elrond's guests were staying there. The elf paused again for a moment, looking at a small balcony with its windows open. In the still night, he watched the sheer curtains billow, twisting and turning with an impossible wind and his eyes widened. He could see a silhouette, dark and hunched, leering closer to where he believed a bed would be. He ran, urging his feet to move and as he ran, he heard that creature growl. The elf paused for a fraction of a second. A growl resonated through the door and he shoved against the door and the growls stopped. His heart quickened and he slammed the door again. He heard some movements behind the door and the soft patter of feet and his hands reached for his knives. He slammed against the door again, startled when the door opened easily. He looked up, his eyes bugging out and he flushed, startled at the sight.
Rosalie opened the door, her eyes half shut and she saw a hazy blonde head in front of her. She groaned and rubbed her eyes. "Whadda you want?" She mumbled, her eyes drooping again. It was the elf from the courtyard, she realised, and he was looking into her room, refusing to look at her. "I heard something... I saw something..." His dark eyebrows furrowed, still searching her room from the doorway while Rosalie leaned against it, still half asleep. "Well nothing's here and I'm tired." The elf glared at her and then looked away quickly, blushing faintly. "You know you never told me your name." The elf glanced at her, a brow raised and a small smirk, seeming to forget his urgency from earlier. "You think now is the time to exchange idle small talk?" Rosalie frowned. "You're the one who turned up at my door!" Rosalie shifted her weight and glared at the elf and he looked away from her again. "My name is Legolas, my father is a friend of Lord Elrond and I was summoned here. There was something in your room." Legolas looked at her straight in the eyes. "What was it?" Rosalie stared back at him, feeling a lot more awake now. "How should I know? I don't exactly invite weird ...things into my room. And before you say it, YOU'RE NOT coming in. Better not to add to the list." Legolas glared at her but Rosalie kept going. "Now that you've woke me up and been all crazy and stuff, I'm going back to bed. You should probably do the same. Goodnight Legolas." Before he knew it, Rosalie closed the door, leaving him stood there and he sighed and walked off, listening to Rosalie flop onto her bed and sleep.
Glamoreth walked into the room, shaking her head at the human all curled up in the bed covers like an overgrown cat. "Wake up. You have several gentlemen coming over to spend the day with you and at this moment, you are certainly not dressed appropriately." Rosalie groaned and turned over, hiding her head under the pillow and Glamoreth let out a small smile, certain the mortal wouldn't see it. Rosalie's head peeked out of her mountain of pillows, her green eyes big and pleading. "You're not going to force me into another dress, are you?" She murmured, silently hoping the elf wouldn't do that. At first Glamoreth said very little but slowly opened up, becoming more comfortable around Rosalie.
Glamoreth let out a beautiful laugh, gentle and soothing like a waterfall. "No, I do not want to go through that battle again. Just wear something over than that." She gestured at Rosalie's pyjamas, a faint flush on her cheeks. Rosalie looked down. She was wearing baggy trousers that came to her knees and the t-shirt she'd worn when she arrived in Rivendell with a Mario star on the front. "What's wrong with this?" She mumbled to herself but Glamoreth heard her. "It's so revealing! You most definitely cannot where that in front of other guests, especially male guests!" Rosalie frowned, forgetting where she was. "Where I come from, many people wore a lot less than this outside, in public. But I'll wear something else." She then flopped back onto her bed and Glamoreth glared at her. "Now." Rosalie groaned and got up, stumbling sleepily to the bathroom, grumbling like a dwarf about elves and Glamoreth smirked, and waiting for the girl to get changed.
"How come you were quiet at dinner last night?" Pippin asked, looking up at Rosalie. The girl shrugged. "Guess I felt kinda out of place. Y'know, everyone knows who their friends are and where they are and about the place. And... I just don't fit in, not really." Merry and Pippin both turned to her, giving her matching grins. "Well, we like talking to you. Who cares about what other people think of you." Rosalie smiled but felt a small pang of homesickness. He sounds so much like Zeke... "Also, everyone already thinks you're crazy with your blue hair." Pippin piped up and Merry glared at him but Rosalie laughed. "That's the way I like it."
Gandalf stood on a balcony overlooking Rivendell, chewing his pipe. He was so lost in thought he didn't notice the elf approaching him. "Never have I seen you look so melancholy." Elrond teased before growing serious. "What causes this, my friend?" Gandalf's eyes slowly moved to the young girl with vibrant blue hair and Elrond frowned. "There is something off about her though I do not know what it is." Elrond looked at the old wizard. "Mithrandir, what is she?" Gandalf didn't reply, continuing to chew on his pipe. "Powerful. And old. Something so old, the world has forgotten exists, as have I." His words were quiet; even to the elf had to strain to hear them. His face turned to stone and both elders turned to face the girl, sat amongst the hobbits, singing strange songs from her homeland. "My dear... What are you?"