Chapter 14: Perception
Lily awoke the next day feeling quite miserable. The elf lord had offered her the most comfortable guest chamber, the finest clothes and best food, but she felt hollow. Her child was growing fast, and he insisted she stay until the birth. To add to her distress, she felt like his prized jewel, and found his behavior so odd compared to what she had experienced at Rivendell. She knew there had been elves who were more hostile, and some that even made not so savory alliances, and she worried deeply since she knew not much of the Mirkwood elves.
She could not deny that he was taking good care of her, but the way in which he regarded the dwarves created a deep discomfort. As she lay on the soft bed, holding her belly in a protective way, a knock came once more to her chamber. She closed her eyes and a tear rolled down. She did not want to open for Thranduil. Another knock came, this time faster and more urgent. That could certainly not come from the king?
Lily raised herself from the bed and quickly unbarred her door. She opened it slightly and looked into the dark hallway, there was no one there. Just as she began to close the door she heard a small voice,
"Lily, it's me! Bilbo! Let me in!" A familiar voice chimed softly.
"Bilbo! Why, but I cannot see you!" Lily said gasping, opening the door a little wider.
The voice continued then behind her, "Shut the door quickly."
As Lily did so and barred the door once more she turned to see the hobbit standing before her. She let out a cry of joy at the sight of him. She threw her arms around his tiny form and hugged him tight, weeping slightly.
"How?" Was all she could manage in her surprise.
Bilbo showed her the small ring, and explained how he had escaped from the goblin caves earlier. Lily listened in fascination. Suddenly the hobbit finished his tale and looked at her keenly.
"I have a plan." He said proudly.
"A plan to escape?" Lily asked, suddenly a little downhearted, "Bilbo, I cannot leave, I made a deal with the elf lord." She explained in melancholy tones.
"Well, break it! From the bits I heard he was going to keep you here! I also heard what he was telling Thorin about you in the dungeons." Bilbo added.
"What? What did he tell Thorin?" Lily asked wide-eyed.
"He said that you came to him willingly. He said that you asked for help, and asked to stay here with the child." Bilbo explained.
"But none of that is true!" Lily said confounded.
"Thorin knew that, he didn't believe a word. No one did." Bilbo stated, "I did hear that he was sending for some council to calm you down." Bilbo added, watching Lily's face.
"Council? Whose?" Lily asked with a concerned tone.
"I don't know." Bilbo admitted.
Lily stood up and began to pace the room. It could be any number of people. Perhaps Gandalf would return? Unlikely, he made it seem that his business could not wait. Her eyes cast about the room as she thought of who it might be. Bilbo was also speculating, but had no definite answer. Soon their thoughts were interrupted by a firm knock on the door.
"Quick! The ring!" Lily mouthed at Bilbo, waving him off into a corner. He slipped it on and disappeared without a sound. Lily then moved to unbar the door and allow the guest in. As she opened the door she gasped at the face before her. There stood lord Elrond, smiling gently at her, with Thranduil behind.
"My lady, may I have a word?" Lord Elrond said with his usual, calm demeanor.
"Lord Elrond, of course!" Lily said stepping aside.
Elrond stepped into the room and glanced about, casting an eye into the corner where Bilbo stood silently before coming to stand in the middle of the room.
"My lady, I understand that lord Thranduil has explained to you the choice of the elves in regards to your safety?" Elrond asked gently.
"Yes. However, my life is not under the control of the elves, lord Elrond, surely you cannot believe you can force me into anything?" Lily said in a questioning tone.
"No, indeed, I hope the choice was yours alone, my lady." Lord Elrond said concerned.
Lily then made her move, she gazed at the regal blond elf behind Elrond and stated in a steady voice,
"In fact, no, it was not."
"How do you mean?" Lord Elrond asked with raised eyebrows. Thranduil suddenly became uncomfortable.
"Thranduil would not let the dwarves go unless I offered to stay, and then he wanted to forbid me from bidding them farewell." She explained, her gaze firmly placed on Thranduil.
Elrond turned to face the blond elf, and spoke to him in Elvish, getting curt answers from the king. They conversed for a few minutes, of what Lily could only guess.
"The choice was yours to freely make such a trade." Thranduil began, "I merely accepted the terms with your safety in mind."
"Your aim was to spite Thorin! I was only a pawn in your game!" Lily accused the elf.
"Thranduil was working under my orders." Lord Elrond spoke stepping before the king.
"Your orders?" Lily said, stepping backwards in shock.
"I bid him to try and keep you here, away from danger. My lady, the next leg of the journey would bring far too many perils for someone in your condition. Would you risk losing the child?" Lord Elrond asked in his kindly way.
"Well, no, but the manner in which this was all done-" She began to rage, but was cut off once more by Elrond.
"Thorin...would surely fall in battle to defend you. You would be a fatal distraction." Lord Elrond said, stepping forward and taking her hands, "My lady, if you truly wish such a fate upon your king, you may go, but I urge you to stay. If Rivendell would suit you more we will take you there." Lord Elrond said in a soft voice.
Lily's mouth moved silently. Thranduil's gaze had been locked on her for some time. The expression in his eyes spoke ever so slightly of compassion, a truly new feature for him. Lord Elrond waited calmly, holding her hands in anticipation of her choice.
It was what Thranduil said next that seemed to shock Lily out of her stupor. He stepped forward gracefully next to Elrond and addressed Lily in a much softer tone,
"If it would calm you, my lady, you may travel with my camp into the valley. I fear it will not be long before the wrath of the dragon is unleashed on the people of lake town, and we have an agreement with them." He offered.
Lily blinked in confusion at his offer. She could not read this elf, his faces changed too often.
"There now, you have another offer on the table." Elrond said with a smile, "We only wish to help you, my lady. You are the last of your house, and we will do everything we can to keep you safe." He said with a squeeze of her hands.
Elrond turned for a moment and spoke once more in Elvish to Thranduil. Thranduil nodded and bowed out gracefully. As soon as he left Elrond continued in his speech,
"Thorin will try and return for you, I have foreseen it." He spoke in hushed tones, "When he comes for you, you must turn him away. You must stay with Thranduil, or you will put yourself and the baby in great peril. It is only you who can sway him off the path he will choose. You must save him" Elrond said gravely.
"What do you mean? Save him? From what? What will happen, tell me!" Lily demanded of the elf.
"I cannot, but I can guide you. Thorin will hate that you remained with Thranduil, but you must use your every power over him to pull him away from his death march." Elrond warned, "Do not run from this place, if you go with Thorin, it will be death to you all." Elrond said in a tone of finality.
He then released her hands gently and gave her shoulder a soft squeeze. He smiled at her comfortingly as he said,
"My child, you are not alone. You need only ask for help, and it will come to you." He said, glancing behind her shoulder at the corner where Bilbo stood, invisible, he then took her into a soft embrace, "I must leave you now. Do not fear Thranduil. There is a conflict between him and the dwarves that stretches back centuries, but it will not cloud his vision."
With that, Elrond stepped back, smiling at her one last time before exiting the chamber silently. Lily stood rooted to the spot, shaking quite violently. She knew Elrond to be wise, and he would never leave her in the lion's den, but she still could not fight the urge to run to Thorin. Bilbo suddenly reappeared and took Lily's hand as she sat down.
"What now?" He asked meekly.
"We do as lord Elrond bids." Lily said in a shaky tone, "We must save Thorin and the others...Oh Bilbo! What danger will he march into?" She wept into the shoulder of the small hobbit.
He took her into a comforting embrace, patting her back gently as he glanced about the room. Now would be a great time for an idea, he thought.