Jorga rose with a start. The coldness of the room around her had woken her from her sleep. Bangs from the lobby downstairs echoed up through the floorboards.
It took Jorga a few seconds to realise where she was. Her heart had been racing, but now was starting to calm. The window showed Jorga that she had been asleep for too long.
The lobby downstairs seemed to be busy. Laughter and the odd scrape of a plate echoed up. Barliman seemed not to bother with the young girl. He had half forgotten that she was there.
Mugs of ale had been poured for many hours. Lunch had been and gone. Jorga smiled as she removed the duvet. Even though the heath had been full loaded with wood the night before, had now all but turned to red hot ashes.
The door to her room creaked open as she walked out. There was on one left upstairs. All of the travellers had either continued their journey or were now sitting in the warm lobby.
Jorga smiled as she washed her hand, face and hair. She had only washed her hair a few times since she had moved to Bree.
Everything had changed she since had been taken under Barliman's wing. She had been eating proper meals every days. A big breakfast would start her off, then a lunch that was just as big and finally dinner.
Jorga got dressed and made her way downstairs. She smiled as the noise from the lobby grew as she opened the door.
The smell of tobacco smoke wafted around the room. She smiled as she saw a very busy Barliman standing at the bar.
"My, my" he said, spotting her.
"I had completely forgotten about you" he told her.
Barliman was very forgetful at the best of times.
"Well, I'm here now" Jorga answered.
"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.
Barliman placed the large pint of ale on the counter.
"Well, you could find out if anyone wants food or drink" Barliman answered.
Jorga smiled and nodded. She liked walking around the lobby, secretly listening into to the conversations that were going on. Some of the conversations were very strange.
"If you don't believe me, go and look for yourself" said one of the bearded men.
His friend, who ha a greying beard as well, shook his head.
"I am not wasting my time with your lies and your rumours again" he said.
Their conversation was drowned by another.
"And no means no" said a woman.
She was young, but looked older then she really was. Her hair was thinning and dirty. It looked like quite dirty in the candle light.
"But why?" asked the drunk man, giving her an evil smile.
Their conversation was drowned out by a third.
"Oh, are you the waitress?" asked a man from behind her.
Jorga turned around to see a rustic, but very hansom, man. He was sitting by himself in the middle of the drunken crowd.
"Yes" Jorga said, quite flustered.
"Yes, I am"
The man had a small bit of stubble.
"What is the best meal you have in this establishment?" he asked.
Jorga noticed, near enough, right away, that this man was not from Bree.
"We have a nice lunch being prepared, its got everything you need" Jorga answered.
The man smiled.
"I would like that" he answered, lifting up his mug of ale and taking a swig.
Jorga smiled.
"Certainly" she said, walking away.
Meanwhile, in Hobbiton, Samwise was sitting down in his study. The smell of lunch lingered in nearly every room had the smell of cooked chicken. Samwise took a deep breath. His secret was out and about. Marigold had accidently found out that Rosie was expecting another baby.
Samwise knew that Marigold could not hold her secrets for long, especially if she had a drink or two in her. Marigold and her sisters were sitting in May's lounge. May and her sister, Daisy, were sitting near by.
"So, what was the news you had to tell us?" Daisy asked.
Marigold seemed very excitable today, more then before.
"Well" she said, making herself comfortable.
A big smile came over her face.
"Last night, Rosie accidently told me that she was expecting another baby"
Marigold squeaked the last few words. The three girls giggled.
"I hope its another girls, all their girls look very pretty" May said.
The other two girls agreed.
"I wonder how many more they'll have" Marigold said.
Sometimes, when Samwise and Rosie were very busy or very tired, some of the children would shipped off to their aunts. Elanor and Frodo would stay with Marigold, Merry and Rose would go to May and Daisy, who shared a house together.
Marigold lived by herself, for the moment. For she had her eye on a particular hobbit. His name was Tom. Even the thought of him made her blush.
"I hope they have lots more" May said.
She loved children. But she had not found anyone she liked. She was very fussy about who she liked. Unlike Marigold.
At the same time, Jorga walked back into the lobby.
"Oh, excuse me" she said, almost being run over by a large, taller man.
The man smiled and let her go first. Jorga walked over to the rustic man and placed the plate down.
"An, thank you" the man said.
Jorga started to blush again as she placed his knife and fork down.
"I need more ale" the man said, looking into his mug.
He drained it before handing it to her. Jorga smiled as she walked away again. Barliman smiled as the girl approached him.
"The man over there wants more ale" Jorga told him, looking around.
Barliman smiled.
"Certainly" Barliman said.
He took the mug and filled it to the top with ale.
"Be careful now" Barliman told her.
Jorga smiled as she slowly picked the mug up and walked back over to the table. She smiled as she placed it down.
"Thank you" the man said.
Jorga smiled and quickly turned around, she could feel herself blushing yet again. The young girl took a deep breath as she walked towards the kitchen.
She had not eaten since the night before and her stomach was rumbling, telling her that she had to eat. The door to the kitchen swung open, stopping her in her tracks.
"Oh, sorry love" said one of the maids.
Barliman employed both male and females to serve the locals and travellers. The men would help carry up any cases that the travellers had. The woman, including Jorga, would help get the rooms ready when its occupants had vacated.
Today, Jorga needed to wash the bedding and any cloths. That was what she needed to do. Jorga had eaten her fill and was now ready for second job of the day.
Jorga entered a very hot room. Steam seemed to create a fine, but hot, mist in the room. Another woman was standing at a large wooden dolly. Inside, a large amount of cloths had been submerged in soapy water for a few hours.
"Why, hello dear" said the old woman.
Jorga smiled. She loved this new life that she had. Everyone was so nice to her.
"Hello" Jorga answered.
"Did Barliman send you in here?" the woman asked.
Jorga nodded.
"Well, we best get you started"
Jorga was shown what to do and was left to do it. She was now holding a large paddle. The water sloshed around. At first, it was hard to get it moving. But, once it started to move, it became easier.
Rivendell was bright and airy. The air was clear and crisp. Mya was sitting on a large chair. Elladan and Elrohir had helped her into her chair.
"Thank you" she said.
A few seconds later, a small whimper came from the floor beside her. Mya looked down to see a puppy standing there, looking right back up at her.
Origo looked very adorable as he waited to be picked up. Mya smiled, feeling her heart melt. Ori was then picked up a few seconds later.
"Good boy" she said, kissing the top of his fluffy head.
Ivy zoomed around them as Elladan came into the room. he was carrying a trey full of wonderful food. Elrohir came in a minute later. He too was carrying a trey. Unlike Elladan's trey, Elrohir's trey contained only one thing.
Turkey.
This was for Origo and Origo only. Ori's little tail started to wag as he watched the trey being placed down.
"Eat up puppy, then you can go and explore" Mya told him.
Origo did not have to be told twice to eat. For his one and only love was turkey. Mya smiled as she started on her meal as well. But she did not eat at the same rate that the puppy did.
"You shouldn't eat so fast puppy, you'll make yourself ill" Ivy told him, landing near by.
But the puppy was not listening to her. In fact, this happened with every meal. Origo seemed to be too busy with his eating to listen to what they had to say.
Mya had just finished spreading the butter on her bread as Origo finished up his last piece of turkey. Warm, crisp rashers were placed onto the buttered slice of bread. Another slice of soft white bread was also buttered and placed over the rashers, creating a bed for them.
Mya smiled as she picked up the slices and took a big bite. Mya loved bacon. She had only discovered bacon when she had moved in with Pimpernel. But now, the taste of bacon made her miss her Pimpernel even more.
She could see her Pimpernel's face smiling down at her.
"Eat up, puppy" she said.
Mya, who's new name was Abira, wagged her tail. The smell of bacon lingered in nearly every room. But bacon was not the only food being prepared.
Pearl Took was standing at the stove. She was watching a pot full of bubbling water. A large pile of vegetables was sitting on a chopping board near by. Pearl smiled as she picked it up and placed it into the water.
A pinch of salt and a second pinch of pepper was put into the water as well. A metal lid was then placed over it. Pearl repeated this a few more times before all of the vegetables were placed in separate pots. Each pot had a flame flickering under it.
A large chicken was cooling on the work top. Pimpernel and Pearl were expecting a few more guests. Pervinca and Diamond had also been invited.
"Ah" Pearl said, hearing a knock coming from the door.
A few barks echoed down to them.
"That must be Diamond"
Pearl wiped her hands on her apron and walked out. A minute later, Origo zoomed into the room. Abira still did not look up. there were only a few pieces of bacon left to eat. But Origo was not as patient as Abira would have liked.
Pimpernel smiled as she picked up Origo.
"Hello puppy" Nelly said, holding the squirming puppy to her shoulder.
"Calm down, Ori" Pimpernel said, tickling his ear.
"Want to play" he whimpered, looking up at her.
Pimpernel smiled as she looked down at him. Abira had finished her bacon and was now ready to go and play. Nelly placed both puppies on the floor as Diamond entered.
"Hello, Diamond" Pimpernel said.
Diamond smiled as she nearly got run over by two excited puppies.
"Hello" Diamond answered.
She was carrying her little bundle of joy. Faramir giggled as he looked up at his mother.
"Lunch should be ready soon" Pearl explained.
Diamond took her seat.
"Would you like some tea?" Pearl asked, breaking away from the brown chicken that sat on the work top.
Diamond nodded.
"Yes please" she answered.
Pearl stopped what she was doing and walked over to the other end of the worktop. Luckily, the two girls had already had their cup of tea. But this did not mean that they would not have one.
Three large mugs were taken out. There was enough water in the kettle to fill all of the mugs twice over. It took Pearl a few minutes of preparation before the tea was served.
Pimpernel smiled as she was handed her cup of tea. A small bowl of honey had been placed out on the table. The spoon was still stuck in the honey.
Pimpernel smiled as she took it out. The honey was thick and sticky. Nelly twirled the spoon, making the honey stick to the spoon.
The spoon was then dipped in the tea and stirred around. Pimpernel lifted it out and saw that the honey had all gone. She repeated this a few more times.
Pimpernel smiled as she looked over at Diamond. Diamond was struggling to make her mug of tea the way she wanted it.
"Do you need help?" Nelly asked.
Diamond smiled. Of course, she needed it, but then, she did not want to look like it.
"Oh, that's very kind of you, Pimpernel" she answered.
Pimpernel smiled as she took Diamond mug of tea.
"How many sugars would you like?" Nelly asked.
"Six, as usual" Diamond answered.
Hobbits loved their tea sugary and their food plentiful. Even from a young age, they would be fed large meals. Even their pets, if they could afford them, would have just as much as their owners.
Origo and Abira were no exception. It was rare for hobbits to have dogs of their own, unless they worked on a farm.
Origo whimpered as he looked up. Looking down on him was another puppy.
"You can make it" Abira told him.
She was standing on Pimpernel's bed, willing Origo to get up so that they could play. Origo looked around. Unlike his Diamond's bed, there was no small box to jump of.
Origo tried yet again. A few times, he had managed to hold on. But he could not grip on.
"One more time" he told himself.
Abira moved back. Origo moved back, surveying the bed. The wall behind him prevented him from going back any further.
Abi watched as Origo ran as fast as he could and jumped.
He made it.
"Now we can play" Abira said, bouncing around on the bed.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Diamond was chatting with her two friends. But this was soon disrupted as a knock came at the door.
"That should be Pervinca" Pearl said.
She had started to carve the chicken. Bowls now lined the worktop. Each waiting to be filled with vegetables. Diamond smiled as she looked down at her son.
"Ah" she said, seeing his closed eyes.
Faramir had fallen asleep. Diamond knew that she could not hold him for lunch. So, when Pearl returned, she asked for a place to put Faramir down.
"Oh, I have clothes on my bed, I'm going through what I don't need"
Pimpernel, on the other hand, had space on her bed.
"Oh, thank you, Nelly" Diamond answered.
So, after drinking the rest of tea, Diamond got up. She knew where her room was. As she entered, she saw a very adorable sight. Origo and Abira were cuddled up on Pimpernel's pillow.
Diamond's heart melted as she walked over to them.
"Puppies?" Diamond asked, looking down at them.
Origo yawned as he slowly opened his eyes. Playing time had stopped for the two of them. Abira was rested her fluffy head on the back of Origo.
"Time to get up" she said.
Origo gave a little whimper and rested his head on his paws again. Diamond knew that she would get neither of the puppies to listen to her unless she had a treat to give them.
"Puppies, if you get up and let Faramir sleep there, I'll let you have turkey and bacon"
This worked a charm. For Origo and Abira both looked up. Origo tilted his head.
"Come on" Diamond said, patting her thigh.
Origo was the first to reach the edge of the bed. Abira arrived a few seconds later.
"Come on" Abira whimpered.
But Origo could not get down. It was too high for him. Abira nudged him. Diamond watched as Origo tried to gently jump off, but he could not do it.
"Puppy, come on" she said, lifting him up and putting him on the floor.
Origo's little tail wagged as he looked back up. Abira did not need Diamond's help. She simply hopped off the bed and landed on the rug that covered the floor.
Abira tugged on Ori's ear as they waited for Diamond. A strange sound echoed around the room for a few seconds, then stopped.
Origo noticed that something about his Diamond had changed. She was no longer carrying that bundle she had.
"Come on, Ori" whined Abira.
Origo looked around and bound towards her. A few minutes later, after a small wrestle, the two puppies entered the kitchen. Diamond knew that she needed to get Origo his turkey.
"Pearl, have you got any turkey in the cellar?" Diamond asked.
Pearl did not have to ask why.
"I'm sorry, but I don't" Pearl answered.
She looked around and saw Origo just feet away.
"I'll have to make a quick trip back to mine" Diamond whispered.
Pearl nodded. Diamond then turned around and looked down at the puppy.
"I'll be back in a moment, puppy, Diamond just needs to get something" she said.
Origo was now very confused.
"Where are you going?" he asked, watching her walk away.
"Ah, puppy, stay" she old him.
Origo gave a small whimper, but did not move an inch. Diamond smiled and walked down the corridor. a small part of her did not want to leave, especially with her son here, but she had to please her little pup.
Origo heard the door click.
"Where did she go?" Origo whimpered.
Abira gave him a small tug, making sure he was alright. Origo laid down and rested his head on his paws. The minutes that his were hard for the little pup.
But, the sound of the door opening made Origo's little head rise. Abira watched as her puppy friend scooted out of the kitchen.
A strange, but familiar smell reached Origo's little wet nose as he bound towards the front door. His Diamond had returned and she had brought something with her.
"And hello to you" she said, feeling the little pup tug her dress.
Both of them made their way to the kitchen. There, Pearl, Pimpernel and Pervinca were sitting.
"Got it" Diamond said, smiling.
Pimpernel was standing at the cupboards. She was getting plates out. She smiled as she saw the packet in Diamond's hand.
"Do you think he'll want it to be warmed up, my Abira loves her bacon warm" Pimpernel told her.
Diamond nodded.
"Although, I don't think he minds" she answered.
Two more bowls were taken out. One for each of the pups. Pearl took the packet from Diamond and ripped it open. Pearl could feel Origo's eyes on her.
"Does little Abi want her bacon?" Pimpernel asked, putting the last plate down and picking up the puppy.
Abira gave a small whimper and rested her head on her Pimpernel.
"I think we could find some in the cellar" Nelly told her.
The two of them then made their way into the cellar. Abira had lifted her head as she smelt her bacon. She gave a small whimper.
"What is it?" Pimpernel asked.
Abira looked around. She could smell the bacon, but she did not know where it was. Luckily, her Pimpernel knew exactly where it was.
"This one?" Pimpernel asked, picking up a small packet.
Abira shook her head and whimpered. She was getting very hungry now. Her Pimpernel placed the packet back and picked out another one.
"What about this one?" she asked.
Abira gave a little sniff of the packet. Pimpernel smiled as Abira squirmed and whimpered.
"Come on, lets get auntie Pearl to cook it for you"
Abira then went back to resting her head on her Pimpernel. A few seconds later, the semi-darkness and chill vanished. It was replaced with light and warmth.
"Did you find it?" Pearl asked.
Pimpernel nodded and handed the pack to her sister. A glimpse of the fire was enough to make Pimpernel look away.
"Shouldn't be long now" Pearl told her.
Diamond and Pervinca were talking between themselves.
"I just wish he could see that I need him, maybe one day he'll see sense" Diamond said, lifting her mug of tea and taking a sip.
"He will do, I've seen him grow up and he'll see what he has done wrong" Vinnie told her.
Diamond smiled.
"I thought he had changed, when he got back from his trip. But he had not. I thought, being a father now, that he would grow up. But that did not seem to change him. All I want is for Faramir to have a father that loves him and his mother"
"But, he does love you, it's just difficult for him because he doesn't trust other people enough"
The smell of turkey and the sound of sizzling bacon started to seep into the kitchen. Origo was waiting patently by his bowl. The smell of turkey grew stronger as it warmed up.
Minutes past before Pearl picked up his bowl and put the turkey inside.
"There you are, eat it all up and you'll be a big strong puppy" she told him.
Abira had been placed down on the cold tiled floor. She wondered over to her friend and watched him. A few minutes later, she started to eat too as Pearl placed a bowl, full of bacon, on the floor.
Bilbo Baggins felt unusual awake as he and the dwarves reached the valley of Rivendell. Curiosity got the better of the little hobbit. Which was more that could be said for Thorin and company. All they wanted was to eat and rest. They had no interest in the doings and goings on with Elves.
So, the thirteen dwarves wondered off towards the buildings.
"Oh dear" Thorin said, looking at the bridge that they had to cross.
"We can not cross that!" Dwalin said.
Thorin and company argued amongst themselves.
"I think Ori should go first" said Bombur.
They started to argue.
"If you make it across, then we're all bound to do so" Ori argued.
The other dwarves seemed to agree with his logic.
"Yes, you first Bombur" Thorin said.
Bombur mumbled, but did as he was told. He waddled over to the start of the bridge. The dwarf started to feel dizzy as he saw the cliff fall away either side of him.
His large belly blocked out his feet. Sweat started to run of Bombur's large forehead. Gandalf arrived at the back of the group of dwarves.
He saw Bombur holding everyone up.
"You could get an Oliphant over there quicker then that" Gandalf said.
Bilbo gave a small smile. A small part of him felt sorry for Bombur. It took a few more minutes for Bombur to pass over the bridge.
One by one, the dwarves made their way over. Thorin was the last dwarf to start his journey. He, like Bombur, did not like heights.
Thorin was a brave and noble dwarf. But heights were his one weakness.
"I would rather be in the mists of battle then on this bridge" he thought.
But, no harm came to him apart from the remarks from the elves that were watching. Bilbo followed next. He, unlike the dwarves that had made it over, was not so scared. He smiled as he looked down.
"It's a long way" he thought.
The hobbit made it over in good time. Gandalf was the last over. The fifteen adventures reached the house of Elrond.
Elrond smiled as he seemed to glide out into the threshold.
"My friends, welcome to my home. Please, do not fear, for you are in Rivendell"
Suddenly, out of nowhere it seemed, many elves came out of nowhere. The dwarves had their packs taken off of them. Dwalin seemed to be the only one who did not trust the elves as much as the others.
Dwalin gave the elf an evil look, but did not say a word.
"Come, I have prepared a meal for you all"
A mumble of approbation circled the gang of dwarves as they made their way inside. Bilbo finally saw the table ladened with the most food he had seen since the night the dwarves came to his home.
Rolls of fresh, soft bread, sticks of creamy butter, whole cooked chickens, more vegetables then he had ever seen. Mugs stood in the smallest of spaces left. They were full of Miruvor. Each dwarf sat down at the table. They did not need a second invitation to sit.
Elrond stood at the door. Bilbo noticed that he was secretly talking to Gandalf.
"He must be telling him what has happened so far" Bilbo thought.
Each dwarf, including the untrusting Dwalin, was piling food onto his plate. None more so then Bombur. In fact, his plate was still unused. For his hunger drove him to eat without filling his plate up first. In fact, he stood up, took a bowl full of roasted potatoes and placed it on his plate.
The other dwarves piled their plates with all the food that they could. Bilbo smiled as he did the same. Gandalf sat down near Thorin. There were no words said. Each and every being sitting at the table was busy eating.
For hours, the dwarves feasted. Bilbo smiled as he picked up his mug of Elven water. Every time he took just the slightest of sips, he could feel it seeping down into his stomach. Hunger seemed to flood back every time he drank.
"My, I've never eaten so much" he said.
Balin have a small huff.
"I would not have believed it if I were not as hungry as I am" he answered.
Bilbo smiled. His plate became empty of food, but, for what seemed the eighth time, was filled again. Food seemed to never end, but it did not need to.
Gandalf and Elrond sat at one end. Bilbo wanted to know what they were talking about, but Bofur and Bifur started to argue.
"Oh no I didn't!" said Bofur.
Bifur, with his beard of black and grey, argued.
"You stole some of my food, I saw you!"
For such small creatures, dwarves had a large, firry temper which was suited to the battles that fought. For many of the dwarves around the table had been involved in some wars, whether it be their fathers and grandfathers telling them or be it themselves.
Ori, seemed to be eating less then the rest. He had made a space on the table for a book and an ink pot. Bilbo watched as Ori wrote to the end of one page and started another.
The day wore on as the thirteen dwarves ate and sang their dwarfish songs. The air was cool, the stars twinkled in the cloudless skies above.
"My dwarves" said Thorin.
He had eaten his fill.
"May we thank our Elvish hosts for a meal, which I think, suited us nicely"
Thorin have a small grin and sat back down again.
"Not enough ale if you ask me" said Balin before he gulped the rest of his Miruvor.
Bilbo smiled.
"Yes, there had been a lack of good ale" he thought.
The night wore on. The small hobbit had finished eating, his stomach full. Bilbo yawned, it was very late and he was very tired.
"I think we should get to bed" said Gandalf, watching Bilbo slowly fall asleep where he sat.
Elrond, who was not in the least bit tired, stood up. He towered over the dwarves, the hobbit and Gandalf. Each of the dwarves started to make their way to their room. Three of them would share one room, Bilbo would share with Gandalf. Bilbo seemed more tired then Gandalf was.
Bilbo did not wash. he was so exhausted that he did not even take his coat off. The dwarves all settled down, Bombur being the first to fall asleep.
Bilbo shivered as he cuddled up. Thoughts started to run around his head. He thought of the Shire and his home.
"When I get back, I better have everything just the way I left it" he told himself.
The little hobbit had an uneasy sleep. The coldness seemed to dig into him every time a gust of wind blew. The dwarves seemed to have fallen asleep quite quickly, unlike the poor hobbit.
The first sign of a new day was the small inky blueness in the sky. The stars slowly vanished by a carpet of blueness which grew with the hours.
By that time, Bilbo had managed to get just a few short hours of sleep. But it could hardly be called sleep.
"Bilbo?" asked a voice.
It was Gandalf. The old wizard smiled down at him.
"Time to get up"
Bilbo gave a large yawn, having never felt like he fell asleep in the first place.
The rest of the dwarves had had an equally bad nights sleep. All except for Bombur, who could sleep anywhere. The elves had prepared a ravenous breakfast. Like the night before, goblets of Miruvor had been placed out.
Bilbo smiled as he slowly walked towards Elrond's home. He could see the dwarves gathering outside. Large clouds of smoke rose in the air.
"Morning Mr Baggins" said Balin.
The smoke that he expelled was as white as his long beard. Bifur and Bofur looked the most tired out of all of them. For they were the closest ones to Bombur. Neither of them had had a good bout of sleep.
Bilbo, who had borrow a pipe and some smoking tobacco off of Balin, filled his pipe. His own smoking pipe had been left at home.
"I wonder if I'll ever see it again" he thought.
For now, this pipe would have to do. After a few minutes of puffing, the tobacco had all been burnt. Bilbo joined the rest of the dwarves in the large dining room.
Piles of bacon, sausages, eggs and racks of toast lined the table. Bilbo smiled as he placed a bed of rasher, a battalion of sausages, and a tower of toast on his plate.
Looking around, he saw that Bombur, yet again, had the most on his plate. Tiredness seemed to just fall away as Bilbo drank the Elven water that had been placed out.
The day seemed to grow clearer the more Bilbo drank the water. Sounds seemed sharper and his joints seemed to loosen. It was clear to him that every dwarf was now wide away.
Breakfast finished and there was nothing to do until lunch and dinner. This repeated for thirteen more days.
Two weeks.
By that time, the dwarves had told all the stories that they could tell, the elves seemed to have an unlimited supply of them, having seen far more then the dwarves ever could.
On the night of the fourteenth day, the matter of swords arose. Elrond was very knowledgeable on runes of every kind.
A sword was past over, from Thorin. Thorin watched as Elrond served every inch of the blade and handle.
"This is Orcrist" Elrond told him.
"The Goblin-slayer"
There was a small murmur as the sword was handed back. It was now Gandalf's turn to have his sword served.
"Gandalf, this is Glamdring" Elrond told him.
Gandalf's bushy eyebrows raised just a little
"Oh really?" he said, half whispering.
"The king of Gondolin bore this sword, keep it well my friend" the elf told him.
Gandalf took it back and placed it back in its scabbed. All the while, Thorin had been looking at his sword intensely.
"But when did a troll come across such fine gifts?" Thorin asked.
As wise as Elrond was, he could not answer his question.
"The trolls that you have plundered may have plundered others. Or they might have robbed or found them, though the latter would be very rare as they would not have light to see where they lay. Though the most likely would be if they had ventured into the mines of Moria"
Thorin knew of what secrets these swords held.
"I will keep it in honour of our fallen comrade, maybe one day, a goblin will fell its coldness once more"
Elrond looked at the dwarf.
"Your wish may come true sooner then you think"
But Elrond was not finished surveying the items that had been brought. A map, folded in four, was handed to him. The paper rustled as it was unfolded. It bore a map.
A lone mountain stood near the middle of the map. On the left had side was drawn a hand, pointing towards the mountain. Runes had been written in red ink underneath the hand.
Neither Gandalf, Bilbo or any of the dwarves could read what they said.
"What is this?" Elrond said, looking closer at the paper.
His keen eye had spotted something even Gandalf did not. A faint trace of hidden words could be seen by the elf. He rose from his seat and walked towards the glassless window.
For a full minute, Elrond did not say a word.
"These are moon-letters" he said.
"Here, besides the plain runes which says "Five feet high the door and three may walk abreast"'
Bilbo, who was fond of map making and studied them when ever he got a chance, was intrigued.
"What are moon-letters?" he asked.
Meanwhile, some ninety years later, a girl was sitting exactly where Bilbo had sat that night. She had blonde hair that flowed past her shoulders.
Her left leg was propped up on a stool, a pillow made the hardness of the wood more bearable on her ankle. Held in her hands was a gorgeous little puppy. His little brown eyes were hidden.
Mya smiled as she held little Origo on her lap.
"I wonder if he's dreaming about me" she thought.
In fact, she did not know it, but she was right. But Origo was seeing them in very different circumstance. The land that they were in was dark and hot. The clouds were not made like normal clouds, but were made from ash that blew with the wind.
Mya and Pilith were sitting in the desolate plains of Gorgoroth. The mountain of doom could be seen with a red glow.
"I'm so thirsty" Pilith said.
His voice was dry and his lips were cracking. To the west lay a range of mountains. Unlike other mountains, they were not capped with snow, but with ask.
"So am I, we need to find some water" Mya told him.
But water was hard to come by in this deserted land. Though, rarely, a small stream would erupt between the jiggered rocks. Small ponds would form where the water could not escape.
But they were undrinkable at the best of times. But, due to Pilith and Mya's situation, they had to get as much water as possible.
For hour after hour, the two beings, who had changed to their human form, walked over the desolate plains. The mountain of fire, Mount Doom, grew smaller and smaller. The evilness of Mordor was yet to fall.