Author's Note: Yes, I skipped Thorin's whole 'this was your plan all along' thing. I was just getting tired of writing every scene from the movie, and this seemed like a good place to start the chapter, so I just decided not to write that scene.

Chapter 9-Rivendell Day One

As they walked down into Rivendell, Karra felt much of her exhaustion melt away. The place was beautiful, if a bit, well, expansive and open for her tastes. She still didn't quite understand the elf thing, but apparently whatever the elves were, the built pretty homes. Bilbo seemed to agree, as he stared about in awe of the place.

They walked across a little stone bridge onto some sort of platform thing. As they stood there just looking about them, a very tall, slim person approached, coming down some steps, and began to speak to Gandalf.

"Is that an elf?" Karra whispered to Bofur, who happened to be standing closest to her.

Bofur nodded. "Aye, lass."

"Wow….they're….different than I expected."

"What did you expect them to be?" he asked.

Karra shook her head. "You….wouldn't understand," she said, flushing slightly at the realization of how very different elves were from her imagining.

As Gandalf and the elf conversed, presumably about their lodgings here or something, Karra took the moment to look around her a bit more. Everything here was tall. She had to admit, as pretty and awe-inspiring as it was, she rather understood the dwarves' discomfort. She felt like she was standing at the bottom of a huge skyscraper looking up trying to see the top. The place was overwhelming. Apparently elves, whatever they were, didn't have a problem with heights.

Suddenly a horn sounded in the near distance. It sounded oddly familiar, but before Karra had time to think, the dwarves were forming a tight circle with their weapons drawn.

"What's happening?" she cried as she was pushed to the center. "I thought this was a friendly place!" Almost without thinking, she drew her own dagger. Whatever happened, she could at least try to defend herself.

An armored horseman rode around the corner, followed by a long line of others much the same. Karra gazed upward in surprise. Everything really was tall here! She felt rather insignificant next to these grand warriors. She clutched her sword hilt a little tighter as the elves formed a circle around the company. For a moment, there was tenseness in the air. And then one of the elves rode forward and greeted Gandalf.

Karra let her hold on the dagger relax a bit. If they knew Gandalf…..what was he saying? She strained her ears to hear. The words sounded strange. "What?" she muttered. The man (or elf, as she supposed he was) slid off his horse, and rather surprisingly, hugged Gandalf. Well, she hadn't expected that from one of these tall slim elegant people!

"Strange for orcs to come so near our borders," the elf said. "Something, or someone, has drawn them near."

Gandalf gave a little smile. "Ah, that may have been us."

The company's circle had dissipated slightly, and Thorin stepped forward, rather proudly. There were times when he really did look like a king, even when he was looking up at an elf who was probably three feet taller than him.

"Welcome, Thorin, son of Thrain," the tall person—Karra had heard the name Elrond or something like that?—greeted him.

"I do not believe we have met," Thorin said grudgingly.

"You have your grandfather's bearing." Elrond nodded. "I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain."

"He doesn't look that old!" Karra whispered to the dwarf closest to her.

"Elves are immortal," Balin explained. "You did not know that?"

"Immortal?" Karra exclaimed, a little louder than she would have liked. Thankfully, while some of the dwarves turned her direction, no one else seemed to notice.

Thorin was facing Elrond proudly. "Indeed," he said loftily. "He made no mention of you." Karra gasped a little. Well, that was rude. There went any hope of lodgings here for the night.

Surprisingly, Elrond didn't seem to mind. He turned to the company and began to say something, though no one was sure what. It was obvious he was speaking in another language. Karra wondered for one horrible moment if he was trying to put a spell on them or something. But then he was done speaking, and nothing terrible happened. She glanced around at the others uncomfortably.

Gloin stepped forward, axe raised threateningly. "What is he saying?" he growled. "Does he offer us insult?"

"No, Master Gloin," Gandalf said with a slight smile. "He is offering you food."

Everyone looked at each other. Karra suddenly realized that she was very hungry. "I say we take his offer," said one.

"I agree," Karra said emphatically. "I'm starving."

After a moment of discussion, Gloin stepped forward. "Ah, well, in that case, lead on," he said gruffly. The company followed the elf away.

It felt very good to sit down. The elves served them dinner, and that felt good too. But apparently, the dwarves were picky.

"I don't like green food," Ori complained. Dwalin rummaged around in his bowl (do dwarves ever learn table manners, Karra thought) and grumbled, "Where's the meat?"

"Have they got any chips?" Ori asked disgustedly.

"Come on, guys," Karra said in exasperation. "It's food! How would you have liked not having any dinner at all?!" A couple of dwarves just looked at her and continued picking rather unwillingly at their food. Karra had to admit, she would have preferred a bit more substantial meal herself, but as hungry as she was, anything tasted good right now. She ate what was given to her with a relish. Glancing Bilbo's direction, she decided he felt the same way. Although, it was a little disconcerting, having the elves watching them eat. And the music was a little too….mellow, somehow.

"What is it you have against elves, anyway?" she asked Gloin rather quietly. Just as he was about to answer, Gandalf, Elrond, Thorin, and the elf that had greeted them walked in and joined them at their meal.

Karra glanced over at Kili, who was sitting beside her, just in time to see him tossing a wink to the elven girl playing the harp. She kind of wanted to jab her elbow into his side, but giggled instead. Of course, Kili was a flirt. The way he has stared at her that first day when she was combing out her hair…some comments he had made, to her…..yes, he was definitely a flirt. She giggled again.

Dwalin took care of the jabbing-an-elbow-into-his-side thing with a harsh glare. Kili's grin faded slowly, and he tried to defend himself. "Can't say I fancy elf-maids myself," he said casually. "Too thin. They're all high cheekbones and creamy skin; not enough facial hair for me." Karra grinned and rubbed her hand over her cheek where, supposedly, a dwarf woman would have had a beard. Kili ignored her and glanced up again. "Although…." He continued with a coy grin, "That one there's not bad."

"That's not an elf maid," Dwalin said gruffly.

The elf turned slowly. Karra giggled again, and then began to laugh, when she realized that Kili had just tried to flirt with an elven man. Soon everyone was laughing uproariously. Karra now jabbed her elbow into Kili's side and said with a laugh, "Nice try, but your flirting's going to get you in trouble someday." He glared at her and took a rather large drink from the glass that was sitting in front of him. Karra took a sip of her own and made a face.

"What is this?" she asked, still holding the cup. "I've never tasted anything like it before."

"Premium elvish wine," Bofur replied, glancing into his own glass.

"Really." Karra quickly set the glass back down on the table. "Is it….strong?"

"Yes….very." Bofur took a large swig of his own.

"I see." Karra fell to eating again. She had never drank beer or wine in her life, and she didn't really want to start now. And….she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to feel its effects, whatever those may be.

She glanced up the long table to see Elrond and Gandalf examining the swords from the troll hoard. "This is Orcrist, the Goblin-Cleaver," Elrond was saying, handing the sword to Thorin. "A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well."

High elves? Karra thought. What does he mean by that? She pulled out her own sword for a moment and stared at it before slipping it back into its sheath. Nah….it wouldn't be anything special.

"Change to tune, why don't you?" called Nori to the harp player, interrupting Karra's thoughts. "I feel like I'm at a funeral!"

"Did somebody die?" exclaimed Oin, holding his ear trumpet, which was stuffed full of a napkin, up to his ear.

"Alright lads," said Bofur, standing up, "there's only one thing for it!" And, quite to Karra's surprise, he actually climbed up onto a little table thing and began to sing.

"There was an inn, a merry old in, beneath the old grey hill…." Here he stopped with a grin and held out his hand as if to say, come on everybody, sing it with me. Everyone began to clap as Bofur continued, "…..and there they brew a beer so brown that man in the moon himself came down one night to drink his fill….." Karra giggled and followed along, glancing once or twice at the confused faces of the elves.

Before she knew what was happening, someone had thrown a piece of food at Bofur. A moment later, everyone was picking up pieces and tossing them every direction. "Come on, Karra," Kili said, jabbing his elbow into her side (retribution….),and giving a hearty toss of a piece of lettuce.

Karra just glared at him. If everyone else was going to be horribly rude, at least she wouldn't. Clapping and singing was fun….but not throwing food. Just, no.

But then Kili pitched a piece of lettuce at her face.

Karra couldn't help herself. Picking up a piece of her own, she threw it right back in his face. Just once. Just for retribution. He picked up a handful and dumped it in her hair. She bit her lip.

"You're asking for a bowl of salad dumped over your head," she said threateningly.

"You wouldn't dare," he said saucily.

Karra just flipped her hair over her shoulder and began to clap again, 'accidentally' knocking part of the contents of her bowl off into his lap. Okay, now she was being rude….but it was oddly fun.

And then the song was over. The dwarves cheered, tossing bowls of salad in the air like confetti. Bofur gave a modest bow, as if saying, I know…I know…you don't need to tell me how great I am. Kili gave one last toss, almost hitting an elf in the face. Karra burst out laughing at the elf's flabbergasted expression. She flushed when everyone at her table stared at her.

"Nothing," she mumbled, hastily gathering up her mess, swiping lettuce out of her hair, and taking a sip of the elvish wine. It was dawning on her what the elves must think of them….but she wanted to burst out laughing every time she thought of that elf's face when the food hit the statue right beside him.

She was almost relieved when she saw that apparently the dwarves considered the meal finished and were getting up. She quickly caught up to Fili as they walked away.

"So…..how long do you think we'll stay here?" she asked casually, somewhat expecting an answer of oh, about a week, or something like that.

"Maybe one night," he replied. "Or perhaps more. At any rate, I think we are all anxious to keep going."

Karra was a bit surprised. "One night? But I thought this was a place to stop and get a good rest! I….I thought we would stay here a little longer than one night."

"As I said, we are all anxious to keep going." Fili shrugged. "And….I can't say I'm too eager to stay here much longer."

Karra shook her head. "I, for one, wouldn't mind staying here for a while. It seems like a good place to rest and….recover from the journey."

"I suppose," said Fili, "it is rather….peaceful."

"You don't like peaceful?"

"Well…."

"Whatever. I think I'm going to take the opportunity to explore the place a little. You?"

Fili glanced around a little uncomfortably. "You can explore as you wish."

Karra sighed. "I don't think I quite understand why you hate elves."

"We don't hate the elves," he protested. "We simply don't quite trust them. And….we have our differences."

"They seem pretty trustworthy to me."

"You have only known of them for one day."

"You got me there." Karra shrugged. "Whatever. Do what you want; I'm exploring when I get the chance."

"Whoa…." Karra stared around the chamber and back to the elf that had shown her there. "I…I get my own room?"

"Would you rather sleep with the rest of your company?" the elf maid asked gently.

Karra thought a moment. "Well…..now that I think about it….I guess it's nice to have my own room for once. And…." She looked around her again, "this is pretty nice! So, yeah, I'll keep it." She flashed a smile at the elven girl, who smiled back. Well, this elf seemed fairly accepting of Karra, even if she was kind of…different. She had gotten several stares and comments made about 'a dwarf woman' and things like that. They had only been here a couple of hours and she was sick of it. But the elf girl who had shown her to her chamber seemed relatively friendly. Not that the other elves weren't, but…..oh well…..it was really nice to have a real bed for once in the last couple of months.

As Karra plopped down on the comfortable looking bed, she realized how dirty she was. Everything in this chamber was nearly sparkling, and she suddenly felt grimy. "Hey!" she called at the retreating elf's back. She turned, all nice and graceful and darn elven looking, and Karra felt a little clumsy, sitting on the large bed with her legs dangling over the edge.

"Yes?" the elf replied.

"Where….where are your baths?" Karra asked, still feeling rather awkward. This wasn't supposed the awkward, for goodness sakes, she was talking to another girl! But still, she flushed slightly, realizing that the fact that she was asking about baths called attention to her messiness.

"I will show you," the elf said, motioning for Karra to follow her. Karra slid off the bed, rather clumsily, again, and followed the elven girl, pretty much taking two strides for every one stride of the elf's. She was out of breath pretty soon, but didn't really want to ask her to slow down, so she trotted along behind her, lagging a bit. They reached the baths soon enough, certainly soon enough for Karra. After a night of fighting trolls and a morning of fleeing orcs, she didn't want any more running to keep up with elves than was strictly necessary.

"These are our bathhouses," the girl explained, rather unnecessarily, Karra thought. But all the same, she flashed a grin at her and said, "Thanks." And then, after a slight pause, "What may I call you?"

The elf smiled back at her. "You may call me Alassiel," she replied.

"Alassiel," Karra fingered the name on her tongue. "That's pretty."

"Thank you," the elf replied with another smile. "You are able to find you way back to your chamber?"

Karra hesitated for a moment, wondering if she actually could. But her pride got the better of her and she replied, "Yeah, I can." The elf nodded, turned and walked away, leaving Karra to her bath. Karra waved after her, calling, "Bye….Alassiel." She then turned and walked into one of the bath chambers.

As she closed the door behind her, she reflected that a year ago, she wouldn't have had any particular reason to be excited about a bath. It's amazing what you take advantage of sometimes, she thought. She realized with a start that the elves actually had running water. Wow….she didn't even think such technology was possible in this place!

It felt very good to slip into the water. But what felt even better was actually using soap. With all the times she had bathed in streams, she hadn't had a chance to use soap. For the first time in forever, she actually felt really clean. And shampoo! Who would have dreamed that the elves actually needed shampoo? But there it was, and her hair felt deliciously clean afterwards.

After a good deal of lingering in the bath, Karra finally stepped out, let the water out, and slipped her clothes back on. They were still dirty, but she was clean! Karra felt that she was inordinately giddy over that fact.

Looking in the mirror gave her a bit of a surprise. Her hair, which she had usually kept to about shoulder length, had grown so that it fell to nearly mid back. It was also a bit redder than the auburn-almost-red that she had remembered it being. Perhaps being in the sun nearly constantly for a couple of months had lightened it. And, if possible, it was even thicker than it used to be, frizzing around her face in a large, rather tangled mass. It was nice to have a comb again, rather than just having to run her fingers through her hair. However, attempting to actually comb her hair took longer than she expected. When she was finally done with that task, she felt like she should do something with her hair, so she pulled a large section into a thick braid down the back. Finally feeling finished, she stepped out of the bath chamber into the sun outside.

She sauntered in the direction of her chamber, hoping she didn't look lost. As a matter of fact, she kind of hoped she wasn't lost. It was this way, wasn't it? Ummm…

Whatever. Maybe she'd just try to find the dwarves. She could find her chamber closer to bedtime. Couldn't she. She could. Of course she could. Laughing and trying to convince herself that she wasn't lost, she headed off in the direction she thought she needed to go to find the dwarves.

Suddenly she felt a presence behind her. Oh, no, another elf? She turned quickly and found herself face to face with….Fili.

"Oh….hi," she stammered. "I….I thought you were an elf."

Fili grinned at her. "Well, there's no mistaking you for an elf." Karra thought she sensed and odd sort of admiration in his voice. She stared at him for a moment before replying, "Was that supposed to be a complement?"

"Oh, of course," he said. He seemed to notice her running a finger awkwardly through her hair, for he asked lightly, "What did you do with your hair?"

"I washed it," she replied dryly. "Is that such an odd thing to do?"

"Not at all."

Karra began to feel a little irritated at his light, almost careless, tone. "It might be a good thing for you to do, yourself," she retorted. The sudden thought hit her that she would like to see what he looked like with his hair nicely cleaned and combed and maybe she could help put those braids back in after he'd washed it. That would be fun. She pushed the thought away a little embarrassedly. Where had that come from?

Fili seemed to sense her awkwardness. He gently looped his arm through hers and said, not lightly this time, but kindly, "I'll walk you back to our quarters."

Karra sighed with relief. Maybe he knew where he was going.

Kudos to you if you caught the Frozen reference! I'm only slightly less obsessed with that movie than I am with the Hobbit, lol.

Review? If you review….oh, yeah, if you review, I'll give you Elrond. Yes, I'm starting this again. :D