Hidden Beneath

Chapter 5

Kili looked back up through the crack, he heard the screams and growls of the Wargs above. "Valisilwen!" he shouted, moving to try and climb back up the crack, fearing the worst for the Lady Ranger.

"Leave her!" Thorin growled, grabbing Kili and dragging him toward the rest of the group.

"We can't just leave her up there to fight them all off on her own, they'll kill her!" Kili objected as Thorin released him and continued towards Gandalf and the rest of the company.

"She read the contract, she knew what she was in for," Thorin replied gravely over his shoulder. He glanced meaningfully at the hobbit before him.

"But she –" Kili went to argue again.

"She is not our concern!" Thorin shouted. Kili fell silent, looking to the ground.

Ahead, Dwalin looked toward the back of the cave. "I cannot see where the pathway leads. Do we follow it or no?"

"Follow it, of course!" Bofur exclaimed, ushering him on.

Gandalf nodded. "I think that would be wise." He looked sympathetically at Kili, before urging Bilbo on. Kili looked back to the light shining through the crack in the rock, he still heard growling above, but knew he could not disobey his uncle.

They continued to follow the pathway, it was narrow with sides that rose far above them, nothing more than a slight crack in the rock. At times they had difficulty moving through, not so much that of Bilbo, Fili, Kili and Thorin, but the larger dwarves and Gandalf struggled on occasion.

The pathway eventually opened out onto a cliff's edge. Down below was a valley, beautiful to Kili's eyes. A majestic waterfall flowed down the opposite wall to them and a river flowed from the bottom. Everywhere he looked he could see greenery and flowers. Kili looked around in wonder, he had never seen a more beautiful place.

The thought of its beauty brought Valisilwen to mind, he thought of how she might have enjoyed seeing such a place as this.

"The valley of Imladris. In the common tongue, it's known by another name," Gandalf said, cutting through Kili's thoughts of the Lady Ranger.

"Rivendell," Bilbo breathed in wonder from beside Kili. So this was Rivendell.

Thorin marched up to Gandalf angrily. "This was your plan all along, to seek refuge with our enemy."

"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill-will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself," Gandalf replied, seeming nonplussed by Thorin's anger.

"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us."

"Of course they will," Gandalf said. "But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact and respect and no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me."

The company walked across the bridge and entered Rivendell, Kili looked around in wonder, although he still felt slightly uneasy, his brother soon appeared beside him, he could tell from one look at him that he too was not entirely comfortable in this beautiful place.

As they approached a large building across the bridge, a dark-haired elf walked down the stairs and approached the company.

"Mithrandir."

"Ah, Lindir," Gandalf responded to the elf, stepping ahead of the company to greet the elf.

The dwarves huddled together, murmuring amongst themselves, trusting elves was not something that came to dwarves easily. Kili and Fili stuck close to each other.

"Stay sharp," Thorin whispered to Dwalin.

"We heard you had crossed into the valley," the elf, Lindir said to Gandalf with a slight smile on his face. Of course, Kili had no idea what it was the elf said, for all he knew it could have been a threat or insult. He grew more anxious and on guard, holding tight to his bow.

"I must speak with Lord Elrond."

"My lord Elrond is not here," the elf replied in the common tongue. Kili looked at Fili with raised eyebrows.

"Not here? Where is he?"

Suddenly, they heard a horn sound, it sounded a like the horn that sounded before Valisilwen had sent Kili and Thorin through the crack. They turned to see a group of armed horsemen crossing the bridge at speed.

"Ready weapons! Thorin shouted in their own language. "Hold ranks!" Kili pushed Bilbo behind him inside the protective circle the dwarves had formed once again. The mounted elves rode in circles around the dwarves, who held their weapons pointed outward.

Eventually, the elves stopped and one of their number urged his horse forward.

"Gandalf," he greeted the wizard who now moved before him.

Gandalf bowed gracefully to the elf who addressed him. "Lord Elrond. Mellonnen! Where have you been?"

"We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the south. We slew them near the Hidden Pass." He dismounted his horse, removing his helmet before he hugged Gandalf as only old friends would. Kili raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near." The elf said with a meaningful glace at Gandalf as he held up an Orc sword and showed it to everyone before handing it to the elf named Lindir, who took it before hurrying away.

"Ah, that may have been us," Gandalf replied apologetically. Kili itched to step forward and ask if they had seen Valisilwen, surely if they took care of the Orc pack then they must have saved her.

"Yes, I heard on the ride back," he said turning to look behind the company of dwarves and hobbit.

Kili followed his gaze, to find Valisilwen making her way through the horses of the elves, not a mark on her, her cloak blowing behind her as she walked. "Valisilwen..." he breathed as she walked past. In the light of Rivendell it was as if her skin glowed and her hair shone its own light. She showed no evidence of having just fought off an Orc pack. She glanced sideways at him and gave him a small smile as she walked toward Gandalf and Lord Elrond.

"I was wondering where you had got to," Gandalf greeted her.

"I got bored with the lack of action, so I decided to lend a hand," she replied simply.

"It is good to have you home, Valis," Elrond said with a chuckle, placing a hand on her shoulder, while Gandalf gave her a disapproving look. Kili looked to Fili who looked just as puzzled as he felt. All the dwarves looked from Valisilwen to each other with confused looks on their faces.

"Thank you, my lord. It has been a long time since I have crossed into the Valley of Imladris. I feel refreshed already."

Kili stared at Valisilwen.

oOOo

Bilbo stared at Valisilwen. She had said she was no elf, yet Lord Elrond welcomed her as if she were one of them, as if she were one of his kin. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment, until he saw Thorin step forward, he looked as if he wished to say something to Valisilwen, but Lord Elrond addressed him first, a look of recognition on his face.

"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain."

"I do not believe we have met," Thorin replied snidely.

"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain," Lord Elrond replied warmly.

"Indeed, he made no mention of you," Thorin retorted. Elrond smiled all the same, ignoring Thorin's attempt at an insult, although he earned a glare from Valisilwen, although Bilbo suspected at this point Thorin could care less what the Lady Ranger thought.

Elrond turned to the group of dwarves. "Light the fires, bring forther the wine. We must feed our guests."

Bilbo couldn't understand a word the Lord of Rivendell said, but it certainly sounded pretty to him, whatever it be.

"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin asked indignantly, causing Bilbo to look at him in alarm. The dwarves grew uneasy, gripping the weapons firmer and looking warily at the elves around them.

Bilbo looked to Valisilwen and saw her roll her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. He's preparing a feast for you all," she admonished impatiently. "Although I personally, would have been inclined to throw one of you off the bridge myself." She looked to Thorin, throwing him an icy look that made even Bilbo nervous for Thorin's well-being.

The dwarves quickly discussed amongst themselves before turning back to Valisilwen and Gandalf. "Ah, well in that case, lead on!" Gloin said with a sheepish grin.

Gandalf and Valisilwen looked at each other and sighed. "I'll be along in time for the feast. I'm sure Lord Elrond will scold me if I were to attend dinner dressed as such." She looked to Lord Elrond with a knowing glance, to which he grinned in return as if silently agreeing with her. Gandalf gave her a nod and ushered the dwarves away.

oOOo

Gandalf and Elrond walked through the halls of Rivendell toward the banquet where the dwarves were already seated and eating.

"Kind of you to invite us. I'm not really dressed for dinner," Gandalf said sheepishly looking down at his robes.

"Well, you never are." They both laughed heartily as they continued towards the banquet hall. "So, why is it that Valisilwen travels with your company of dwarves?"

"She is simply lending us her skills for a time. You know well her sense of adventure, rarely can she turn down an opportunity to travel and extend further her knowledge of the world," Gandalf answered lightly.

"And the Hobbit?"

"He is has a streak of Took in him."

"Ah," Elrond replied knowingly with a smile. They heard light footsteps behind them, turning to see whom approached them. "Well, Valis, you look much better."

"Thank you, my lord." Valisilwen said giving a slight bow. She was dressed in a dark dress, fitted to the bodice, but flowed from her waist, her skin shone against the colour of her dress and it really brought out the colour of her one blue eye. Her hair had been seen to by the handmaidens, plaiting it in places to hold it back from her face, while the rest flowed freely down her back. Gandalf couldn't help but wonder how such a beautiful creature could look so uncomfortable.

"Come, we should join the dwarves."

"Yes, before they destroy the banquet hall," Valis murmured.

oOOo

Valisilwen sat at a table with Lord Elrond, Gandalf, and Thorin, the latter of which kept throwing her dark looks. She knew why, he suspected her an elf. He could not be more wrong, but she refused to respond to his glares, although she was tempted to throw a spoonful of her meal at him.

Elrond was currently inspecting one of the Elven blades that Thorin and Gandalf had found inside the troll cave. "This is Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver. A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well," he explained, handing it back to Thorin who accepted it with a nod.

Elrond then inspected Gandalf's sword. "And this is Glamdring, the Foe-hammer, sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the First Age..."

Elrond continued to talk, but Valisilwen tuned out. Many a time she had endured history lessons from Lord Elrond, now that she was of age, she avoided it as best she could. She looked around the banquet hall, wondering where the twins and Arwen might be. She knew the twins couldn't have been there, they would have already accosted her if they had.

She was brought out of her thoughts by Elrond questioning Gandalf. "Where did you come by these?"

"We found them in a troll hoard on the Great East Road, shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs," Gandalf answered.

"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?"

Valisilwen looked from Gandalf to Thorin, neither answered and Thorin looked rather perturbed.

oOOo

Bilbo stood in a hall of Rivendell surrounded by Balin, Thorin, Valisilwen, Gandalf and the Lord Elrond. Valisilwen was dressed in a fine dress, she glowed like the moon on a dark night, yet her face was dark as she watched Thorin and Gandalf.

"Our business is no concern of elves."

"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map," Gandalf hissed in frustration at the dark haired dwarf.

"It is the legacy of my people, it is mine to protect, as are its secrets."

"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-Earth who can read the map. Show it to Lord Elrond," said Gandalf looking down at Thorin with a severe look.

Thorin thought for a moment, glancing at Balin before going to hand the map to Lord Elrond.

"Thorin, no!" Balin argued moving to stop him, but Thorin brushed past him.

Elrond looked at the map in his hand. "Erebor. What is your interest in this map?" he asked looking at Thorin with a raised eyebrow.

Thorin went to answer but Gandalf interrupted. "It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artefact sometimes contains hidden text. You still read Ancient Dwarvish, do you not?"

Elrond walked a short distance away, looking at the map. He stopped, before speaking again. "Cirth Ithil."

"Moon runes. Of course," Gandalf exclaimed. "Of course, an easy thing to miss."

"Well, in this case, that is true. Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as they day on which they were written," Elrond explained. Bilbo was absolutely fascinated. Moon runes, such a thing existed!

"Can you read them?" Thorin demanded eagerly.

"Indeed, but first, Valisilwen, might I ask you return to the banquet hall to keep an eye on the other dwarves?"

"Of course, my lord," she replied, bowing slightly before gliding from the room. Bilbo looked from the door that she left back to Elrond. He found it odd he would send her to do such a thing. He had left other elves to cater to the rest of the company's needs, there was no real need to send Valisilwen to watch them.

Elrond lead them to an open area outside, on the side of a cliff with waterfalls all around. The moon was hidden behind clouds and they were led towards a large crystalline table. "These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell."

Gandalf looked to Thorin meaningfully, but he ignored him.

"Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield, the same moon shines upon us tonight." As he spoke those words, the clouds parted allowing the moonlight through. The light hit the crystalline table, causing light to flow through the map which had been laid on the table. Ancient runes appeared and Elrond began translating. "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."

"Durin's Day?" Bilbo queried with interest. He had never heard of such a day.

"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together."

"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us," Thorin said turning to Balin.

"We still have time."

"Time for what?" Bilbo asked of the two dwarves.

"To find the entrance. We have to be standing at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened," Balin explained. Bilbo looked thoughtful, considering all he had heard.

"So this is your purpose, to enter the Mountain?" Elrond spoke up, looking from Thorin to Gandalf.

"What of it?" Thorin asked defensively.

"There are some that would not deem it wise," Elrond replied, still holding the map. Thorin grabbed the map gruffly.

"Who do you mean?" Gandalf asked innocently.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-Earth," Elrond said as he began to walk away. Gandalf followed, deep in thought.

xo

Krayzee