Well, here's chapter 7. It's sort of a filler chapter I guess. I dunno, things happen. I could be happier with this, but I've got it as done as I'm ever going to have it unless I want to take the next three months going back and changing and fixing and just no. It's done.

So, I've posted the last chapter or two about my pinterest account. Yes, I have a pinterest account for my fanfiction. It has pictures of what Divan, Suva, Kijo, Tezo, Kixi, and Rata look like. It also has pictures of other characters, like some you'll meet in this chapter, that may or may not actually appear again. It's got pictures of weapons and outfits and other things. So please, check it out. The link should be in the authors notes of the previous chapter. Please, please check it out, and if you do, leave a comment and tell me if the pictures match up to your mental image of what everyone looks like. That's always a fun thing. :)

Anyway, here's chapter 7. Enjoy. :)

"Elvish" - 'Thoughts' - 'Mental conversation'

Chapter 7

"What do you think you are doing, Kijo? Do you not understand the dangers of this quest?! It is no place for you!"

"Lady Suva, please, you must reconsider. This journey will be dangerous. There is a large chance that you would not come back."

"Lass, ya cannot think that this is a good idea. It will not be like the trip from Erebor. There are things far worse than just a stray pack of orcs. Ya cannot go. My father will not let ya risk it. I will not let ya risk it."

"And yet you fail to realize that I do not care!" I snarled, turning suddenly on Gimli who adopted a startled look on his face. Elrond and Legolas fell silent in their attempts to change the minds of Kijo and Suva, and I could feel the fellowship members turn to stare at me.

After Elrond had dismissed the rest of the council, leaving no one save Elrond himself and the fellowship, Elrond, Legolas, and Gimli immediately began trying to convince Kijo, Suva, and I that we were making a horrible mistake. I had expected this, I would have been an idiot not to, but the more they talked the less control I had over my temper. I hated when people tried to tell me what I could and couldn't do. It was insulting, degrading, and a major blow to my pride that they thought I couldn't decide for myself what I was and wasn't capable of. In the end, they were always the ones nursing a wounded pride, because I had a habit of doing the exact opposite of what I was told. If they told me I couldn't do something, for whatever reason they came up with, I proved them wrong.

"I will not let you, or anyone else, try to tell me what to do. You have no say over what I can and cannot do. I decide my fate, and the actions that I take in life. If I wish to go on this quest, and Master Baggins allows it, then I will go. You are not my master, or my caretaker, and while you may be like family now, even my own family does not have the power to keep me from doing what I set my mind to." I thundered. "You will not stop me, you will not change my mind, and if you have any semblance of intelligence, then you will stop trying!"

I was panting, having run out of air about halfway through my rant. I clenched my jaw, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself down. I shut my eyes, counting to ten, and then counting to ten again so I didn't punch someone.

"Lass…" My eyes flashed open and I saw Gimli reaching for me. I took a step back, and on my shoulder Rata let out a warning shriek which caused Gimli to jump. She hadn't shrieked at him like that since the day he'd found us in Erebor, and I could see a little bit of hurt flit across his face. Part of me felt bad, because he really was like family now, but the more dominant part of me was too pissed about him trying to tell me what to do to care. I leveled him with a glare, backing away at the same time. I was well aware that I needed time to cool down, or I knew I'd do something stupid like I'd done just the day before with Kijo and Suva, and I didn't want to lose the friend I had in Gimli, or the trust given to me by Frodo. With one last look that bordered between regret and anger, I turned and bolted, Rata leaping from my shoulder and flying just ahead of me to direct me away from anyone wandering around.

I ran until my lungs burned and my legs ached. I didn't have any set destination in mind, just somewhere far away from any elves or dwarves that had decided I was a child that couldn't make decisions for myself. By the time I finally stopped running, I was on the outskirts of the city and the sun was burning high in the sky to announce midday. I doubled over, my hands bracing on my knees as I tried to catch my breath. I didn't stay in this position long, instead moving so that my hands rested on the top of my head. My Martial Arts instructor years ago had told me it was the best and quickest way to catch your breath, and I found through experience that it was true. I paced around in a small circle, taking deep breaths as I calmed down. I caught sight of Rata sitting in a high branch in one of the trees. She was watching me, perked up, though none of her feathers were ruffled.

"Are you alright?"

I let out a sound somewhere between a bark of laughter and a huff.

"Alright? I suppose, if you do not count being treated as a child that cannot make their own decisions." I growled. "Honestly, you would think me five by the way they talked to me. As if I do not realize the dangers traveling to Mordor bring. I may not be a centuries old elf or a battle worn dwarf but that does not mean I do not know a few things about danger."

"Gimli only does it because he cares for you." Rata tried to sooth.

"If he cared then he would let me make my own decisions without his input!" I exclaimed irritably.

"He only tries to hinder your decisions because he cares and does not want to see you hurt." Rata retorted. "You cannot tell me that you would not try to talk him out of something you knew was dangerous and could hurt or kill him."

"I did not try to talk him out of going on this quest!"

"Only because you know that the very sake of Middle Earth depends on his involvement in this quest."

I turned to glare at my white bird. "Whose side are you on?" I grumbled. There was pealing birdy laughter as Rata laughed at my distress.

"I am only trying to get you to think rationally Divan. You know as well as I that you barely think at all when your temper flares." Rata stated. I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest in my equivalent of a pout.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." I muttered. More laughter. I sent her another glare, but couldn't find it in myself to be mad at her. In all honestly, Rata kept me out of trouble more often than I was willing to admit. She was my rational mind, my calm presence. She was usually the only thing that could keep me semi level headed when someone pissed me off. "…Thanks, Rata."

"You are more than welcome. You know I am always on your side, Divan, even when I do not seem to be. You are as much my companion as I am yours." Rata answered gently. I smiled up at my bird. Despite the fact that she wasn't human, Rata was the best friend I had.

I strode to the tree Rata was sitting in. I made a slight running jump, placing my foot against the tree and using the sturdy trunk to push myself up so that I could grab the lowest hanging branch that was probably at least half a foot above my head. I latched onto the thick branch, using the muscles I had from many years' worth of farm work to pull myself up. I continued to do this, pulling myself higher and higher into the tree until I was sitting on the branch beside Rata's. I made myself comfortable, lounging back against the tree trunk as I stared out over the visible portion of the city. The elves truly did have a beautiful home.

"I do not think that I will ever get used to the beauty of Middle Earth." I murmured, crossing my arms over my abdomen. "It is so similar and yet so different to that of Earth's."

"They are very similar in structure. One might even say that they are identical and that Middle Earth's people are the ones that have changed the landscape." Rata answered. "We did not have Mount Doom or Mordor, or if we did then it certainly did not look like this one."

"…Do you miss it, Rata? Earth?" I asked quietly a little bit later. "There are certain things I don't think I'll miss. I won't miss the cities, the corruption, the daily dose of lies and murder and rape. But… I'll miss the mountains, the hills, the trees. I'll miss waking up every morning to the horses and chickens. I'll miss home…" I mumbled, having given up speaking as those from Middle Earth did for a moment.

"Home will be the hardest thing to let go of. Home… and family." Rata replied sadly. "I will miss Bash and Elliot, family dinners every night. I will miss sitting in the rafters of the barn while you brush Dusty. I will miss open fields of hay and summer berries."

"Mom's raspberries cake." I added in with a smile. "Summer evenings spent out on the porch with a glass of sweet tea."

"Winter nights passed curled up by the fire under a blanket with a new book." Rata murmured. I smiled wistfully. "Do you think we will ever get used to it, Divan? This new life that we will lead?"

"Perhaps, one day." I rumbled out quietly. "One day, when this quest is done and we have saved the world from the wrath of Sauron; when we can finally settle down and live life. Maybe."

"That day is a long way away." Rata grumbled. I chuckled.

"Yeah, it is."

"Will we make it that far?"

"Of course we will." I said with a cheeky grin. "If anyone will survive this, it will be us. I am too proud and independent to let either of us die. We will survive, if only because of my stubbornness." Rata laughed.

"If that is not the truest statement you have ever uttered, then I do not know what is." Rata said. "Truly, if there was any reason that we would survive, it would be because you would just refuse to die."

I chuckled, my lips turning up in a smile. We had a long road ahead of us, filled with many dangers and many things that would want to kill us. I had no doubt our strength would be tested, but I wouldn't go down without a fight. If there was one thing I did, and did with any amount of decency, it was fight.

For a long while we sat in silence, just looking out over the city. My thoughts drifted to my family. I wished that I could see them one last time, tell them not to worry about me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought back through all the years I'd spent on a Tennessee farm with a younger pair of twins and loving parents. I tilted my head back against the tree, trying not to let the tears fall, because I didn't cry. I hadn't cried since I was a child, long before even my little brothers were born.

"Divan?" Rata asked quietly. I sniffled.

"I'm alright. I… I just miss them, Rata. So much." I murmured. "I can't believe we'll never see them again."

"I know." Rata replied. "I know."

There were no words of comfort that could be given, for how could you really comfort someone when they'd lost everything they'd ever known? "It's gonna be alright" was not a good thing to say, because in a lot of ways, it wasn't going to be alright. We would never see them again, and there was nothing anyone could say to make that better.

"My Lady? Are you alright?"

I let out a yelp as I toppled over in surprise. I let out another yelp when I realized that I was no longer sitting on the tree branch but falling through the air towards the rapidly approaching ground. I heard Rata call out my name and the new voice mutter something in elvish that might have been a string of curses. I narrowed my eyes, reaching out suddenly to grab ahold of the nearest branch.

My hands circled around the branch but I couldn't keep my grip as gravity brought me down full force and my fingers loosened and palms slipped. I continued falling until my back hit the ground hard, and I felt all the air leave my body and I smacked the ground and then bounced and hit it again, this time cracking my skull against the ground.

I groaned, already feeling the ache in my head and back. Rata called my name worriedly, and I registered the sound of wings as she flew down. I heard the voice from before mumbling more words in elvish, and picked up on the light footsteps hurriedly making their way towards me.

Rata landed on my left side, between me and the strange elf if I heard right. She began shrieking, and I knew without seeing her that she was puffed out, her feathers standing at attention as she stood as the barrier between the elf and me. I let out a pain moan, my head pounding. Rata's screeching wasn't helping, and I could just barely make out the sounds of the elf muttering under his breath. I wasn't sure what he was saying, probably something in elvish that I wouldn't have understood anyway, but it definitely wasn't helping his standing with Rata.

"Rata, for the sake of my hearing, please, shut up!" I shouted. The noise stopped abruptly. I blinked several times, staring up at the trees before I pushed myself up into a sitting position. My neck and shoulders ached, my back hurt, but I could already tell that nothing was broken and I was relatively sure nothing was cracked or fractured as well. I'd stoved half of my body pretty badly, and I'd probably have bruises and hurt for days, but much like my brother when he'd fallen from one of the top rungs of a high ladder (when he was only five, nonetheless) I'd live.

"Divan?" Rata asked worriedly, still standing protectively between me and the dark haired elf. Said elf also had a look of worry and concern on his face. I waved my hand dismissively.

"I am fine, Rata. Do not terrorize the poor elf." I mumbled, debating on whether or not I should attempt standing.

"But –"

"No buts. I am sure he did not mean to startle me. It is not his fault I had a momentary lapse in hearing and balance." I told her. She deflated, her feathers falling flat against her once again as she waddled over to me. She nudged my arm with her beak and I lifted a hand to pet her. I looked up at the dark haired elf, ready to tell him not to worry, I wasn't mortally wounded and I'd be alright, but interjected hurriedly.

"I am terribly sorry, m'lady. I did not mean to frighten you or your bird. I could hear you, on my way to my workspace, and I thought you sounded awfully sad. I simply wished to see if you were alright. Truly, I meant no harm. Please, m'lady, forgive. I meant no –" the elf rambled on.

"It is alright. I am fine, if not a little sore. No harm was done, except to my pride." I interrupted. The elf's ears were pink and he still looked shameful. I offered a small smile. Unlike many of the elves I'd met so far, this one didn't seem as judgmental of me as the others. Either he didn't know I was with the dwarves, something I found extremely hard to believe, or he didn't hold the prejudices that most of his kin did.

He offered a small smile of his own, bowing his head respectfully. "I am Nostalion, my lady."

"Divan. And this is Rata." I replied, gesturing to the white ball of feathers still nuzzling against my arm. "She is not nearly as bad as she seems. She is just protective." The elf, Nostalion, let out a small chuckle.

"I can understand, my lady. You are her mistress, and I did not make a good first impression." He stated. My eyebrows furrowed at the word mistress.

"I am not her mistress. I am her companion, and her friend." I explained seriously. Nostalion back pedaled, a look akin to fear appearing on his face, no doubt because he thought he'd offended me. While he hadn't offended me, the word mistress didn't sit well. "She is my companion as much as I am hers. We do not control each other. We give guidance and advice. A mutual relationship."

"I meant no offense." Nostalion hurriedly addressed. "I simply meant –"

"I know, and there was no offense taken, truly. The word just did not sit well with me. I do not like that word, mistress. It seems too controlling, too dominating." I muttered. "I do not fault you, though. Think nothing of it, milord."

"Oh, please." Nostalion said, his ears going pink again. "I am no lord. I am a simple crafter's apprentice. Hardly anyone of status." I regarded him for a moment. Perhaps all elves were not as bad as I had thought. This one certainly wasn't.

"Everyone deserves respect, and you have earned mine. Few elves have regarded me with anything save contempt since I arrived, and those that haven't do so simply for political reasons." I told him. The elf's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

"Why would they –" a dawning of understanding passed over his face. "Because you travel with the dwarves of Erebor?" I nodded.

"Elves do not like dwarves, and dwarves do not like elves. It is no secret. I have formed a relationship with the dwarves of Erebor. Many are like my family now, the only family I have besides Rata. I am protective of my family. The elves I have met so far are not so pleased with my alliances. You are the first to overlook them for more than the sake of political peace." I explained. "You have my respect, for doing what your kin cannot." I bowed my head, a slightly awkward position as I was still sitting on the ground. I really needed to get up.

"I have never truly understood the tension. Perhaps it is because I am so young. As one of the youngest elves to walk Middle Earth, I have not experienced what many have. The dwarves are a gruff, rather grumpy race, at least by observation, and perhaps, if the stories are true, they are a greedy race as well, but they have done me no harm. I do not feel the hostility most do for them." Nostalion shrugged, as if it was no big deal, and perhaps to him it wasn't. To me, it was a blessing.

I had always liked the elves. They were graceful, and strong, and beautiful. They were skilled at basically everything, probably because of their long lives, and were most definitely the wisest of the races save for possibly the wizards. Elves had always been my favorite race, but that was before I ended up in Middle Earth. Before I heard the stories straight from the mouths of the dwarves, and before I experienced first-hand how cruel elves could be. Now, they were my least favorite race. This elf, though, was changing my opinion, if only slightly. At least not all elves were so cruel, even if it was only one.

"Well, you have my gratitude." I told him, smiling. Nostalion smiled back, sticking out a pale hand. I accepted it, grabbing his hand and letting him help me to my feet. I crouched down, offering my arm to Rata who climbed up to my shoulder, before standing again. "So, a crafter's apprentice?" Nostalion brightened, a large smile adorning his face.

"Yes! A woodworker's apprentice, actually." He elaborated. Then he adopted a sheepish look. "I ought to return, actually. I was on my way to the shop when I heard you."

"Do not let me keep you then." I told him. "Go on, I have taken enough of your time." The elf nodded, bowing at the waist and muttering a farewell. I returned the gesture with a smile as best I could with Rata on my shoulder and the elf then turned to leave. He took three steps before pausing.

"Unless… you would like to accompany me? I could show you the around?" Nostalion offered. I smiled gently.

"I would be honored." I told him. His face brightened again and he extended his arm.

"My lady." He grinned. I rolled my eyes, but stepped up and took his arm, allowing him to lead me towards the woodworking shop.

The walk did not help my bruised and aching body, but I didn't say anything. No need to make the one nice elf I'd met feel even worse. It hurt, but I'd been through worse breaking colts to ride. That didn't mean it was pleasant, but it did mean that it was tolerable.

The workshop seemed surprisingly small. It was probably bigger than it appeared, but at first glance it appeared small. Nostalion opened and held the door for me, allowing me to enter first. I did so, but not without a small eyeroll and a smile. The inside was, as befitting of a woodworking shop, filled with wood. Some was already crafted, hanging up on the walls or set in display stands, but other pieces were uncut and waiting. The others in the shop, other crafters or apprentices if my guess was correct, looked up when Nostalion and I stepped through the door.

It didn't take ten seconds for me to realize that coming with Nostalion was a bad idea. As I'd told the young elf, every elf I'd come in contact with so far had been openly hostile with me. It stood to reason that these elves would be no different. I sighed quietly, hoping I didn't cause Nostalion too much trouble as one of the elves stood to greet us.

"Nostalion, you are late." The elf that approached us intoned. Nostalion shrunk a little, and from my spot I could see his ears tint pink once again.

"I am sorry, Master Bregolien. I stopped to help lady Divan on my way here." Nostalion explained. The elf, likely one of the master crafters of the shop judging from the way Nostalion addressed him, turned a pair of fierce blue eyes on me. I met his gaze evenly, not about to back down from this elf's judgment or criticism. I felt Rata tense on my shoulder, but thankfully she didn't move, not even to raise her feathers.

"My lady." Bregolien acknowledged stiffly with a bow. I bowed my head, really all I was capable of with Rata on my shoulder.

"My lord." I replied, watching as Nostalion hurried off to his workstation. Several of the other elves were whispering to each other (and doing a very poor job of it), and I noticed one lean over to speak with Nostalion as he sat down. "You have a good student on your hands, Lord Bregolien. He was quite ashamed to be late for his work, but felt the need to help me as I ran into a bit of trouble getting down from a tree." I defended the young elf, only lying slightly.

"Dwarves were not meant to climb trees." One of the whispering elves sneered. I tried not to roll my eyes, because here came the hostility I had been expecting. Rata hissed on my shoulder, but I reached a hand up to stroke her side.

"I am not a dwarf, Master elf." I stated. The elf rolled his eyes.

"Whether you are a dwarf by blood or not does not matter. You have taken refuge with that horrid race, adapted their lifestyle. You are no better than a dwarf." He snarled. My temper flared, and the only thing that stopped me from lashing out at him was my teeth digging into the inside of my lower lip.

"It is the dwarves that you claim are so horrible, and yet I have seen nothing good from your race." I said, nearly vibrating with concealed anger. "You call them greedy, and barbaric, and yet they were the ones to show me kindness and offer me refuge. Your race has done no such thing."

"That is because there is no place for the likes of dwarves in our home." The elf growled. "Go back to the pits from whence you came." Rata hissed louder from my shoulder, and this time I wasn't going to stop her. If anything, I was going to help her.

"Barathon, leave her alone." Nostalion commanded. I blinked in surprise, because I hadn't expected the young elf to come to my defense. "You know nothing of her, or the dwarves with which she travels."

All elves in the shop turned towards my newfound elvish friend. He was glaring at the elf, Barathon, his arms crossed over his chest. Had he not been across the room and surrounded by other elves, I might have hugged him.

"Are you siding with the dwarves, now, Nostalion? You always have been rather strange." Barathon taunted. Nostalion deflated a little, and I realized that he had been subjected to words like this before. He was used to being put down and teased. My eyes narrowed.

"Elves are the ones told in stories to be kind, forgiving, and accepting. Yet here I stand witnessing as you berate one of your race for doing what is proper and kind." I snarled. "You have nerve, to harass Nostalion and to call the dwarves lesser than yourselves. You are no better than any other evil that walks this earth."

The elf spat something at me in elvish, and though I didn't understand it, the gasp that came from Nostalion and the slightly shocked looks on the faces of the other elves told me that it was likely an insult, and not a very nice one. Rata hadn't quit hissing, letting out a continuous stream that didn't show any indications of letting up any time soon. My eyes narrowed. My fingers twitched, and I itched to reach for a weapon that wasn't hanging at my hip.

"Barathon that is enough!" All heads whipped around to look at this new elf who was standing in an adjacent doorway, his steel colored eyes narrowed dangerously. "You are a disgrace to my workshop. You are lucky that I do not recall your apprenticeship." Barathon's eyes widened in distress. "Begone, all of you, until you learn some manners."

All the elves, even the older elves like Bregolien hurriedly gathered up their things and made a dash for the door. I barely managed to move off to the side to avoid being trampled as they pushed their way out. Nostalion was hurrying to gather his things, but the tall elf, one of the tallest I'd seen in Rivendell, held out a hand.

"Not you, Nostalion. Stay. I wish to speak with you, and your friend." The elf stated. Nostalion, if it was possible, paled. Rata and I shared a look, and I could see the wariness in her small eyes. This could end very badly.

"Master Aradan?" Nostalion asked hesitantly.

"You spoke boldly, Nostalion." Aradan, stated. "I have never known you to speak so." Nostalion ducked his head, his ears pink as he wrung his hands.

"Barathon was passing judgment, judgment he had no right to pass." Nostalion muttered. "He assumed the worst of Lady Divan and of the dwarves without ever having met them before."

"So you sought to defend them." Aradan stated. "Why?" Nostalion's head snapped up, and the young elf's eyes narrowed.

"Why? I defended them because they deserved it!" Nostalion exclaimed. "They have encountered nothing save hostility since they have been here, and if it was not hostility then it was scarcely given tolerance for the sake of political peace! Lady Divan is right. If we cannot even put aside the differences we have, how are we any better than we claim the dwarves to be?"

The steel eyed elf was quiet for a moment. Nostalion took the time to calm down, leveling out his labored breathing and reigning in the anger he seemed to feel. I was grateful to this elf, immensely so, for he was kind and respectful.

"Is what Nostalion said true? Have you encountered nothing save hostility?" Aradan turned to me. Rata let out something that might have been a scoff, as if to say "You expect different?"

"The elves I have encountered so far have not been kind to me, or my dwarves. The closest we have come to kindness is tolerance for the sake of peace, and even that dissolved into nothing. The only act of kindness bestowed upon me by any elf was that of Nostalion when he helped me. What you heard is the response I normally receive." I told him. "Already I have come to expect nothing different."

"Then you should know that not all elves share the same misgivings about the dwarven race. Even I will admit that most do, and that pains me, for as Nostalion said, we are not any better than what we claim of the dwarves." Aradan stated. I blinked in surprise, Nostalion's eyebrows raising almost to his hairline. "I will not tolerate what I have witnessed today. I knew many dwarves years ago. I was friends with many. They are not what everyone claims, but when you have few against many, changing opinions is a hard thing to do."

"I…" my eyebrows furrowed in shock. "Thank you, Master Aradan. It means much, to know that there are some who do not feel such hate, and to know that Nostalion is not alone. He is a good man." Aradan, for the first time since this talk had begun, smiled.

"He is." Aradan agreed, reaching out to clasp a hand on the young elf's shoulder. "He is hard worker, a willing student, and a kind heart. He has been teased for it, but here, at least, he has a place free of it. Today is the first time Barathon has spoken against him in my shop since their first days of their apprenticeships. I made it clear then that I would not tolerate such behavior."

"You are good man, to have done such a thing." I murmured, bowing my head once again. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me yet. I was unable to stop the assault entirely, and for that I am sorry. I hope you will accept a piece of my craft as payment." Aradan stated. My eyes widened and I shook my head.

"That is not necessary, my lord. You intervened before the situation got out of hand. That is payment enough for me." I assured. The older elf smiled, chuckling lightly.

"Nonsense. It is the least I can do for the troubles you have endured in my shop. Besides, if you are going on a quest, I believe there are a few things you will need." The elf said with a knowing smile. My eyes narrowed slightly, because no one was supposed to know about the quest. How had he found out? Unless…

"You were there." I accused, which wasn't really an accusation but an observation. "The elf seated not far from Lord Elrond. That was you." Aradan grinned widely, nodding.

"Lord Elrond and I are long friends. He comes to me for counsel, on occasion, and he wished me to be present." Aradan explained. I could see Nostalion looking between us, his face contorted in confusion. The poor elf had no idea what we were talking about, because true to Elrond's word, none knew about the ring or the counsel. "What you did was very brave and noble. The Halfling is lucky to have you among his ranks."

"I only did what I believed was right." I argued. "When I met Master Frodo, I had not known him more than ten minutes before he told me about the burden he carried. He trusted me with information that others would not have. Most would have called him foolish, for trusting a stranger, but he told me that to see a person's heart, you need only look into their eyes when they are vulnerable. He told me he saw in me pain, and struggle, and loss. 'I believe you have seen things, and know what it is like to hold secrets. If anyone should keep the one that I bear, I believe you would.' He told me. He put faith in me. I still do not understand why, but he did, and I would not let him travel that road without a friend to lean on."

"It is still a noble deed. One that I respect greatly." Aradan said. "He is lucky, for I believe he was right. I have met many people, in my years, and have become quite the judge of character. I can see why he trusts you. You are kind, and loyal, and brave. You stand for what you believe is right, and you do not falter."

"I just try to do what is right." I murmured. Aradan smiled gently this time.

"And you are doing a fine job. But anyhow, as I said, there a few things you will need for your journey, one of which I can supply." Aradan grinned. "There will be many dangers where you are going, and to go without a good weapon, well… One can imagine how well that would work."

Nostalion, Rata, and I watched as Aradan moved about his shop. He disappeared for a few moments, returning with a quiver full of arrows. Then he approached one of the many, frankly magnificent bows hanging on the wall. They were all large and well crafted. Most were made of dark wood with designs carved into them. Aradan stopped in front of a selection, seeming to ponder for a moment. He removed one, the quiver not slung over his shoulder, and tested the draw. He shook his head slightly, deciding against that one, returning it and pulling down another. Once again he returned it, and continued until he'd almost run out of bows to test. Then, like a light bulb had suddenly turned on, he brightened and headed for the other room once again. He disappeared, reappearing a few moments later, holding in his hands a large bow made of dark wood and what appeared to be a pair of arm guards.

Rata hissed questioningly as Aradan approached, the bow, quiver, and arm guards in hand. "I do believe this should suit you." He said, extending the bow and arm guards towards me. The quiver was still slung over his shoulder.

"My lord, I cannot accept these." I said, holdings my hands up. "I have nothing to offer you in return, and I fear that I would not do them justice."

"You need not pay me anything. They are a gift." Aradan said. "Please, take them. They have sat in this shop for years, collecting dust. It is high time that someone put them to use." I sighed.

"I suppose it would be wrong of me to refuse such a gift, even if I do not believe myself to be worthy of it." I muttered. "I am grateful, Master Aradan." Aradan smiled, gesturing to the objects in his hands.

Hesitantly, I reached out and took the arm guards. They were made of brown leather and would probably reach almost, if not to, my elbow. They laced up with string on the top, and were close fitting so as to provide the best protection and not get caught on anything. The strings were lose, so I slipped my right arm through its arm guard, flexing my fingers and forearm inside the lose leather.

"I can tighten them for you, if you wish." Nostalion offered. I nodded carefully, slipping my other arm into the leather and letting Nostalion step forward to do up the strings. He made quick work of them, tightening them so that they were snug but not too tight. When both arms were done, Nostalion stepped back. I flexed my fingers and arms again, feeling the way the leather moved with my muscles. They didn't hindrance any movement, but moved completely with me. I looked up at Aradan, who didn't say a word but simply offered me the bow and quiver. I took them gently.

The arrows were fletched with red feathers, the wood dark to match the bow. There were gold and silver carvings in the wood, elvish designs. I carefully slung the quiver across my shoulders, tightening the chest strap so that the arrows were peaking over my right shoulder and were easily accessible.

The bow was beautiful, and something I was hard pressed to accept. Nonetheless, I lifted the bow up and drew back the string, finding that despite the largeness of the bow, I could pull back the string with relative ease. It was more weight than the bow I'd had back home, which was tightened about fifty-five/sixty pounds. I guessed this one to be close to seventy, perhaps even seventy five. Nothing a little bit of work couldn't fix.

"They are beautiful, Master Aradan." I murmured. "Thank you."

"They will serve you well for the journey ahead. I hope, one day, to see them and you return with stories to tell." Aradan said kindly.

"I promise that I shall do my best to return, with these in tow." I smiled softly, gesturing to the bow and quiver. "Hopefully I will have many stories to tell." I slung my new bow across my shoulders, settling it carefully into place.

I knew I needed to go, because there was something I had to do. This conversation, as well as the one that I'd had with Rata, left me with a slightly sick feeling in my stomach. I needed to talk to Gimli. I needed to fix the mess I'd made at the end of the counsel.

"I am eternally grateful, Master Aradan, and I hope you will forgive me, but I must depart." I apologized. "I have an apology to make to a friend, for I realize now that I may have overreacted to something he said to me."

"Go." Aradan said. "But do please return and visit some time. I am sure Nostalion will miss you, and I must say that I believe I will as well. You have heart, Lady Divan." I bowed my head respectfully to him, then turned to face Nostalion.

"You are a strong man, Nostalion. Do not let others drag you down." I told him, extending my arm out. "This if farewell for now, for I do not know if I will see you again before I depart."

"Thank you, Lady Divan." Nostalion murmured, grabbing my forearm in an elvish handshake. "Be safe on your journey. You and Rata." I smiled.

"We shall try, Master Nostalion." Rata said. There was a second of shock for both elves, before they both broke out into wide grins. I smiled back, and I knew Rata bowed her head just as I did.

"Good day, to you both." I said, turning and heading for the door. They both called goodbyes, and then I was stepping back out into the fresh air of Rivendell. I felt lighter, knowing that not everyone hated the dwarves, but there was still that heavy feeling that told me not everything was well yet. I still had to find Gimli.

"Alright, girl." I muttered to Rata. "We have a dwarf to find." Rata let out a little noise of agreement, launching from my shoulder and flying ahead. I took off after her, jogging in and out of trees, sliding down a hillside only to dash back up the other side. Rata had disappeared from view, but she returned when I stopped about halfway to the Last Homely House.

"He is at the training grounds." Rata stated. I nodded, gesturing for her to go. I followed behind her as she led me to there, and sure enough Gimli and one of the other younger dwarves were training. I watched them for a few minutes, or however long it took them to finish their match, before I called out to Gimli. Rata was sitting in a nearby tree, watching as well.

Gimli turned when I called out his name. When he saw that it was me, he quickly excused himself and hurried over to me. "Divan, lass, what is wrong?" He asked worriedly.

"Nothing, I just… I need to apologize, Gimli, for the way I acted earlier. It was uncalled for." I said. Gimli, much to my surprise, just chuckled.

"Oh lass, it is alright. I may have been a wee bit overprotective." Gimli smirked. "You are like a sister to me, lassie. I just do not want to see you hurt. But you were right. I am not your keeper, and it is your choice. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me." I shook my head.

"I was in the wrong as well. I did not need to shout, or run off." I said sheepishly. Gimli just waved a hand.

"Ye needed time to cool down. I know, lass. No harm done." Gimli eyed me, then his bushy brows furrowed together. "Where on earth did ye get that thing, lassie?" Gimli asked, gesturing to the bow and quiver I now had. I grinned widely.

"Would you believe me if I told you I met a pair of elves that do not suffer from preconceived ideas of how dwarves really are?" I asked slyly. Gimli's eyes widened. "Oh yes, it is true. Actually, the last few hours have been quite interesting…"