Okay, so I am going to let you all know now that updates are going to be few and far between for the next two months. College is swamping me with homework, and life is getting hectic. So my plan is to work on the chapters for the Fellowship of the Ring as a collective. This will be the last update before the long wait for the others. Once I have the remaining chapters for the Fellowship typed, edited, and re-edited to where I want them. There will be two chapters posted a week. I will also be doing this for Two Towers and Return of the King chapters as well. It will be easier on me if I am able to have the movies playing and working on writing the chapters at the same time, on the same day. This will help keep things flowing together much better than I have done in the past.
On another note, I am in need of someone who can do some research for my Battle of Erebor chapters. These will be posted between the end of Two Towers and before the Return of the King chapters. If there is anyone out there who is willing to help me out that would be appreciated. The person, or people, who can help me will have some creative say in the chapter and will be allowed to create characters and battle scenarios for their characters in the Battle of Erebor chapters.
I have kept you all waiting long enough, so here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit or LOTR. I only own my OCs.
Rivendell...
It is mid-morning, and the sun shines brightly on the elven city of Rivendell. The trees in this great city have leaves that are turning colors with the changing of the seasons. The open courtyards allow the movement of the winds to flow in. Yet in one of the many courtyards, there is a large number of dwarves who are preparing to leave.
"I will be alright, adad. There is still much that I need to learn before returning home." Kelda says to Kili as he pulls her into a hug.
"I know." Kili whispers to her. "Learn what you need to learn so that you can be happy."
Kelda lets go of Kili, but he refuses to release her. The rest of Kili's family move towards Kelda to create a large family hug. The only ones who aren't joining in are Brea and the guards. They are standing near the bridge that crosses the waterfalls below.
Standing near the steps of the courtyard, is Elrond and Thorin. Both of them are watching the scene before them. In the years since Thorin's first arrival to the elven city, he has come to have some respect for the elf lord. This mutual respect is due to Inara's influence on Thorin, and with Tauriel's sharing of the elven histories.
"She will be well cared for here." Elrond tells Thorin as he looks down at the dwarf lord. "That you can be assured of. My sons have been helping with her weapons training, and my daughter has been teaching young Kelda when I am not available to do so."
"Thank you." Thorin says with a slight nod. "She is well loved by the people of Erebor. Already Kili has had to keep suitors away; even though a few are an advantageous match. Kili and Tauriel want Kelda to grow even more than she is now. Kelda is already as wise as Inara, and has the kindness of her parents."
"And their recklessness as well." Elrond says in a slightly serious, yet teasing voice. Never before has Thorin had such a conversation with Elrond. This has the elf lord wondering if something is troubling Thorin. So Elrond decides to change the topic of conversation. "Inara has not been afflicted with any more headaches since you all left the Shire?"
"No. But I worry if she is trying to hide them from me. She doesn't like to be seen as weak." Thorin replies.
"She is strong and stubborn for a woman." Elrond says as he looks back towards the courtyard to see Inara talking to Kelda. "I was surprised when Gandalf told me that she had been touched by the Valar. It is a rarity for any to be blessed by them as she has been."
"Indeed. When I first realized she was my One, I began to prepare myself with the thought of outliving her. Yet Mahal has blessed us. Not only with fertility to have many children, but in extending her life to match that of a dwarf's." Thorin says with a thoughtful look upon his face.
Placing a hand upon Thorin's shoulder, Elrond looks down at Thorin. "Your line has been blessed by all of the Valar. They gave you and Inara to each other for a reason. I do not know what is in store for you both, but I hope that you are able to stand strong together in the face of the growing darkness."
Thorin looks at Elrond before reaching into his traveling coat to pull out a certain cloth. He hands it to Elrond. "Gandalf was given this by one of the Rohirrim. It would seem that the darkness is hunting Inara once again."
Elrond accepts the cloth and opens it up to look at it. As the elf reads it, the look on his face starts to harden. "When did Gandalf give this to you?"
"In the Shire. Just before Bilbo's party." Thorin replies. Seeing Elrond's' reaction to reading the message, he begins to wonder about what is going through the elf's mind.
"I would recommend that while on your journey home that you move swiftly." Elrond states before folding the cloth and handing it back to Thorin. "I do not know what dark schemes Mordor is planning, but I would not chance Inara being captured by them."
"You need not be concerned over it. All of Erebor would fight to protect her at all costs." Thorin answers in a gruff voice. "She has become a treasure and we dwarves do not take kindly to those who steal from us."
Elrond lets out a sigh. "I do not question your resolve, Thorin. If Erebor is ever in need, all you need do is ask and we will come to your aid." Elrond then leaves Thorin on the terrace.
Watching the elf lord leave, Thorin makes his way down the stairs to where his family and their ponies await. He is surprised to find Bilbo standing near his pony.
"Safe travels, Thorin." Bilbo says with a smile. "I do hope that I will see you again."
Thorin pulls Bilbo into an embrace. "Before you or I leave this world, we will see each other again. Take care, Master Baggins." Thorin releases Bilbo and climbs up onto his pony. Looking back, he notices that Toril is speaking with Kelda, and has yet to get upon her pony.
"Toril." Tauriel shouts from her horse when she realizes to whom Thorin was looking towards. "It is time to go."
The two sisters embrace each other in a quick hug. Then Toril steps away and gets up onto her pony. By this point, Thorin has already begun to lead the group over the bridge that will lead them out of Rivendell.
Kelda makes her way to stand next to Bilbo in the courtyard as she watches her family leave. She gives the hobbit a soft smile before looking back to her family. Her hair ripples in the light breeze that is blowing.
"We will see them again." Kelda says to Bilbo when she notices that the hobbit's eyes were filling with unshed tears.
"I can't help but feel that this was our last goodbye. Between Thorin and I." Bilbo's bottom lip quivers a bit before he clears his throat in an attempt to mask it. One of his hands twitch at his side while the other is fidgeting with the small pocket of his vest.
"Who knows? Thorin is already passed the age of 250, which is usually when dwarves are called back to Mahal. Yet, he lives still and doesn't have the white beards that the old ones have." Kelda says to the hobbit as she places a hand upon his shoulder. "Come. Let us eat Lunch, and then I will take you to the library."
"That would be appreciated." Bilbo replies with a sigh.
A small valley at the base of the Misty Mountains...
Two weeks have passed since Thorin and his family left Rivendell. Even though Elrond recommended that they move quickly while traveling, several members of the family were having a tough time riding at a fast pace. So Thorin and Inara slowed down the pace to accommodate them.
Since it is growing late in the evening hours, Thorin has the group make camp for the night. In the morning, they will head up the pass that will lead them through the Misty Mountains.
"Frerin. Durin. Look after the ponies." Thorin says gruffly to his oldest sons while he dismounts from his pony. His limbs are stiff from ridding so long.
"Yes, Adad." Durin says as he too dismounts from his pony. With his feet firmly on the ground, Durin reaches out to take the reins of Thorin's pony.
"Just make sure that you tie them up properly." Kili jokes as he climbs down from his own pony.
Thorin looks over at Kili with a sour look upon his face. "Do you wish to join them? Let us not forget what happened the last time you and Fili looked after the ponies."
Aliena, Bofur, and Inara snicker as Kili's face turns red with embarrassment. The royal children, however, are confused by the comment and some of them are curious by it.
"What happened?" Kilian asks as he hands his pony's reins to Frerin.
"Do you not know lad?" Bofur chuckles out. "Did your adad not tell you?"
"Bofur." Kili growls out as a warning to the old, cheery dwarf. He quickly pulls his saddle bag off of his pony before walking to where Inara and Aliena are standing.
Bofur, however, is not one to let this kind of entertainment go. "He and Fili were supposed to have been minding our ponies when we had our run in with the trolls. Mind ya, this was when we were on our quest to reclaim Erebor."
Kilian and Toril look towards their adad, and can see Kili's body go rigid at Bofur's words. Even though they had heard the story of the quest multiple times, it was never fully explained how the trolls got the company's ponies.
"Will you tell us the story?" Elleon asks with interest.
"I will tell ya all once camp has been made and food is filling our bellies." Bofur chuckles at the young ones.
Thorin, who had overheard the conversation, begins to set each person with a task. For Kilian and Toril, he assigns them to help Bofur and Aliena with food prep duties. Since Inara has already begun to get a fire pit made, Thorin assigns Rìka and Balder to help with getting a fire started and to maintain it. Freya and Solen, he assigns to fetching anything that can be used for firewood. Elleon, Vân, and Tauriel, he assigns to scout the area for any edible plants. Tanis, Raina, and Bo are to help Maiti with setting up the sleeping arrangements for the camp. For Dori, Brea, and the guards, Thorin has them search for a water source to refill their canteens. As for Kili, Thorin decides that the two of them will go hunt.
"Kili. Grab your bow." Thorin says as he turns to take in the surrounding area. "We will be hunting for something to eat."
Kili gives Thorin a nod before pulling his bow off of his back. He hurries to Thorin's side as the older dwarf begins to head towards a ridge line to the right of the encampment. Being as quiet as they can, the two dwarves head out into the evening light. It takes them a half-hour to reach the ridge line, and they lower themselves to the ground to aid in their search for any prey that might be hiding. Slowly, they creep through the dense thickets, and tall grass covered meadows till Kili finally spots a few hares.
Notching an arrow and drawing it back, Kili takes a slow breath before releasing the arrow at one of the hares. The arrow hits the hare with a clean kill. As it drops, lifeless, the other hares take off in a hurry to hide. Yet, Kili sends another arrow out and is able to take down another hare.
"I see you still have your aim." Thorin says as he moves into a standing position. Yet one of his knees buckles for a moment, which causes Thorin to falter slightly.
"You alright?" Kili asks as he reaches out to try and help Thorin keep his balance.
"Old age is catching up with me. Nothing to worry about, Kili." Thorin says as he pushes Kili's offered hand away. "Bofur will be pleased to have what little meat the hares will provide."
Thorin walks away, though favoring his one knee, to go retrieve the two hares. He is not thrilled that Kili has witnessed his weakness and doesn't want to be pitied. Reaching down, Thorin picks up one of the hares by the back legs before walking over to its fallen kin. Once he has both hares in his hands, Thorin ties the back legs of both hares with some twine and slings them over his shoulder so that one is by his back and the other is in the front.
A rustle coming from the left, has both Kili and Thorin pulling their weapons into a ready position. However, a familiar ruff sounding voice has Thorin lowering Orcrist slightly.
Coming out from behind the thicket, a familiar dwarf looks around before spotting the two.
"Thorin. Kili." Gloin says with relief in his voice. "Over here, boys!" His voice booming as he turns his head to look over his shoulder.
Gimli and Fergys both emerge from where Gloin had just come from. Gimli looks pleased when he sees his cousins, but his companion has a hard look on his face.
"Gloin. Gimli. Fergys." Thorin greets with a smile. "What are you doing out here?"
"Fili sent us to find you." Gloin says as he pulls a pack from his back to set down onto the ground. "Erebor received a summons from the pointy-ear lord in Rivendell." Gloin pulls out a thick envelope and hands it to Thorin.
Thorin takes the envelope and opens it. As he reads the letter from Fili and a copy of the summons, he can feel dread building in the pit of his stomach.
"What's it say?" Kili asks as he approaches Thorin and his cousins.
Thorin doesn't reply to Kili, but Gimli does.
"There is to be a council." Gimli growls out to Kili. "Fili is sending adad and me to it, but Fili did ask that if we came across ya, to give Thorin the letter."
Folding the letter and summons to place it back into the envelope, Thorin looks at Kili and the other three. Even though Fili is sending Gimli and Gloin, Thorin is having a hard time not to take over Fili's choice of representatives.
"You will come with us to camp. I need to discuss this with Inara." Thorin states as he tucks the envelope inside of his coat pocket.
The five dwarves make their way back to camp, and everyone is surprised by the presence of the other three as they approach. Thorin hands the two hares to Bofur for him to skin and cut up for the stew. Then Thorin makes his way over to Inara, who is lounging on their shared bedroll.
"We need to talk." Thorin softly says to Inara before wondering a few feet from the camp.
Inara, intrigued by the commanding tone in Thorin's voice, gets up to follow after him. She isn't surprised to see his staring towards the Misty Mountains.
"I take it this talk has something to do with Gloin, Gimli, and Fergys's arrival." Inara says as she comes to stand next to Thorin. A shocked look appears on her face when Thorin pulls out the envelope from inside of his coat.
"Read it."
Inara takes the envelope from Thorin and opens it to pull out the letters inside. She scans over Fili's letter and then looks at Elrond's summons.
"So. Elrond is requesting for a few representatives for this council meeting." Inara looks up from the summons to watch Thorin's face.
Thorin lets out a sigh before running a hand over his mouth and down his chin. "Fili is sending Gimli and Gloin as representatives."
"Is that a wise choice? He could have sent anyone else. Why them?"
"Because Fili knows that Gloin would have searched for us instead of heading straight for Rivendell." Thorin replies with a hard voice. "Even though I have stepped down as king, Gloin still sees me as such."
"So Gloin was looking for your approval." Inara states with some irritation.
"Not just mine, but yours as well." Thorin says as he turns to face Inara. He takes her hands, which still hold the letters, in his and looks her straight in the eyes. "You are still Queen of Erebor, and have the power to correct or make a few changes to what Fili decrees."
Inara sees a light in Thorin's eyes, and finally comes to a conclusion as to where Thorin is going with this conversation.
"No. You are not going in their stead." Inara hisses at her husband. "You are not as young as you once were. I understand that you want to be useful, but your issues with the elves will not make you useful at this council. If anyone is going, it will be someone who is unbiased."
"None of our kin is unbiased, save for Tauriel. And she will not be representing Erebor at that council." Thorin growls out in frustration.
"Then I will go." Inara snarls as she steps closer to Thorin's body. "At least I can keep a level head when dealing with elves."
Thorin's face turns grim as he realizes that Inara plans to do exactly what she is saying. This doesn't sit well with Thorin. Especially since he is keeping Inara from knowing that there is someone out in Middle Earth who is looking to kidnap her.
"Out of the question. Your duty is to our family." Thorin says in a low, warning tone as his face inches closer to Inara's.
"And Erebor's people are considered our family." Inara huffs out before finding Thorin's lips pressed roughly to hers.
Even though she is angry by Thorin's need to keep her close, she can't help but feel a little turned on by his possessiveness. The need to breathe causes the pair to break their kiss, and their foreheads press against each other in comfort.
"Kili will go with you. I will not have my yâsith, my queen, to be lightly guarded on her emissary mission." Thorin whispers to Inara.
"You know that Tauriel will follow if Kili comes with me." Inara says with a chuckle at the pained look that crosses Thorin's face.
The next morning, everyone is weary as they pack up for their trips. Inara bids her children a quick farewell with the promise of returning soon. However, there was a small argument from Frerin who wished to go with Inara, but Durin and Thorin had to remind him that as Fili's Heir, Frerin is needed in Erebor.
Kili and Tauriel do the same with their children, and Kili makes Brea, Dori, and Gloin promise to see everyone safely back to Erebor. Toril promises her parents that she will look after her siblings while they are away. This makes both Kili and Tauriel proud seeing their daughter step up to the responsibility.
"It's time." Gimli says gruffly as he steps away from saying his goodbye to Gloin.
"Thank you Gimli." Inara says as she climbs up onto her pony.
Thorin pulls Kili aside before he can mount his pony. He pulls Kili to him, placing their foreheads together in a comforting gesture.
"I promise that I will protect Inara with my life, Thorin." Kili vows to Thorin with a serious voice.
"Watch over her. You know that she is being hunted, and by doing this she risks being caught." Thorin whispers before stepping back. "May Mahal watch over you all on your journey."
The royal families, their friends, and guards watch as their queen and three of their companions ride out towards Rivendell. None of them leave till they can no longer see the four ponies in the distance. Then they too, leave to complete their journey to Erebor.
Rivendell...
It has been almost three weeks since her parents and family left, and only two weeks since Frodo arrived in Rivendell. However, Frodo's means of arrival had caused Bilbo much worry, and it was Kelda who helped the older Hobbit keep him from working himself up into a panic state. It took Frodo a week to recover from his injury, and several days till he was up out of bed.
In the mid-morning sun, Kelda is watching from a white stoned balcony as Frodo and another young hobbit talk on a bench on a terrace bellow. Her auburn hair moves gently in the wind, as does her emerald velvet gown. She isn't exactly thrilled about wearing the gown, but Arwen had told her of the upcoming council. Already the emissary from Gondor, Boromir, had arrived before breakfast. She had been surprised that Elrond had invited the man to dine with them. Since then, Kelda had been told that all of her studies would be cancelled till after the council.
"Spying on our guests?" Elrond's voice says from behind her.
Turning to face the elf lord, Kelda dips in a shallow curtsy before rising. "Lord. I did not mean to spy."
Elrond chuckles as he approaches Kelda from the archway where he and Gandalf had come through. He glances past Kelda's shoulder to see the two hobbits walking together.
"His strength returns." Elrond says out loud.
"That wound will never fully heal." Gandalf says as he too watches the two hobbits. "He will carry it for the rest of his life."
"Like my adad." Kelda says as she hears Elrond move away from where the three of them are standing. She gives Gandalf a look before turning away from watching the hobbits.
"And yet, to have come so far while still bearing the ring." Elrond says as he enters the room while being followed by Gandalf and Kelda. "The hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil."
"It is a burden that he should never have had to bear." Gandalf replies as he watches Elrond fiddle with a few things on his desk. "We can ask no more of Frodo."
Kelda, silently stands between the two, keeping watch and listening with interest to what the wizard and elf lord have to say. She is thrilled that Gandalf is wanting to send Frodo back to the Shire, but she knows that Elrond doesn't want to place his people in danger. Kelda knows the truth about the ring after having to pigeon hold both Gandalf and Elrond when Frodo arrived injured.
"Gandalf." Elrond says in a dead-pan, serious voice. "The enemy is moving. Sauron's army is massing in the East. His eye is fixed on Rivendell. And Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin."
"His treachery runs deeper than you know. A foul craft, Saruman is crossing Orcs with Goblins men. He is breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that moves in sunlight and can cover great distances with speed. Saruman is coming for the ring. But there is more to it than that."
Gandalf looks over at Kelda for a brief second before speaking again.
"Saruman plans on kidnapping Inara. He plans to use her to create a body for Sauron to take possession of. And to do that, he needs her body to carry and birth the body."
"But you need two people to create a bairn. Who would the body father be?" Kelda asks now that the discussion has pulled her interest. She knows that Inara would never go along with such a plan, which means that Inara would have to be raped for this to happen. Kelda's hands turn into fists at the thought of someone doing such a thing to the Queen of Erebor.
"Saruman." Gandalf says with a concerned voice. "A child fathered by the strongest wizard and a women who has been touched by the Valar. If this were to happen, Sauron would truly be an unstoppable force once his essence were to enter that body. He would manipulate it into a fully grown man, and conquer all of Middle Earth."
Elrond's face pales with the thought of it. "Then we must warn Erebor. Even though Inara has been blessed with a dwarf lifespan, Thorin told me that her cycle is becoming less frequent. Her fertility of ever being able to conceive another child is almost finished. As for the ring, its evil cannot be concealed by the power of the elves. We do not have the strength to fight both the armies of Mordor and Isengard."
Gandalf walks back towards the balcony with his back turned to Elrond. Kelda looks at Gandalf, then to Elrond, and back to Gandalf. She truly has no idea what to say or do to help the situation at hand.
"Gandalf. The ring cannot stay here." Elrond finally says with great conviction.
Kelda takes this opportunity to speak up. "It can stay in Erebor. The dwarves of Erebor would proudly fight to keep it away from Sauron. We would also fight to keep our Queen from becoming a plaything for Saruman and Sauron's plans."
"Kelda." Gandalf says to silence the young one. "There is a flaw with that plan. Gold-sickness. The ring would use it against Thorin. The ring wants to be found, and if Thorin were to ever get his hands on the ring..."
Kelda's closes her eyes in defeat as she realizes where Gandalf left off. She knows the family history with gold-sickness, and after hearing about the one ring she knows that it would tempt her former king.
"This peril belongs to all who dwell in Middle Earth. It is up to them to end it." Elrond says when he notices both Kelda and Gandalf have gone silent. Slowly he begins to walk towards Gandalf. "The time of the elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we have gone? The dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches without a caring about the troubles of others."
"We do to care." Kelda growls out, but her comment is ignored by Elrond.
"It is in men," Gandalf replies as he turns to look at Elrond. "that we must place our hope."
"Men." Elrond says in an arrogant fashion. "Men are weak."
As Elrond and Gandalf leave the room, Kelda stays behind. Hearing the comment that Elrond made, is causing her to doubt why she is studying here. As her eyes begin to fill up with water, Kelda slowly walks out of the room and down the hall. She has no idea where she is headed, and can't seem to care where she will end up. It isn't till she hears someone calling out to her that pulls Kelda from her shock-like trance.
"Lady Kelda." Lindir calls out as he moves gracefully towards her. "Lady Kelda."
Kelda stops walking and quickly brushes her sleeve against her eyes before turning around. She clears her throat and stiffens her body as the dark-haired elf approaches.
"Yes?" She says while trying to mask her pain.
"Your parents have arrived with the envoy from Erebor. I thought you would like to greet them as they enter the city."
"Very well." Kelda gives Lindir a nod. "Lead the way."
Kelda follows the elf through several hallways and courtyards till they arrive at one of the lesser known entrances to Rivendell. It takes only a few minutes for Kelda to see her adad and naneth come through the stone archway on their ponies. Along with them is Gimli and Inara, which takes Kelda by surprise.
"Adad. Naneth." Kelda says as she approaches them once they have climbed down from their ponies.
She pulls them into a deep hug, and takes a deep breath to take in their scents. Kili smells like fresh, dug up dirt with a hint of spice, while Tauriel smells of a breeze that has blown through a forest. Against her side, Kelda feels a few trembles from Kili's chuckles.
"Missed us already?" Kili says as he brushes a few strands of hair away from Kelda's eyes once he has pulled back enough to see her face.
"I will always miss you. Why have you come back?" Kelda asks as she releases her parents from their joint hug.
"Fili received a summons from Elrond." Inara says as she approaches Kelda. She draws her into a quick hug before continuing on. "He originally sent Gloin and Gimli, but Gloin is ever loyal to Thorin. So he found us and gave Thorin summons. It was a tough choice, but I decided that I would take Gloin's place on this council. Then I will return to Erebor. Your parents are here as my sworn bodyguards courtesy of Thorin."
The family lets out a few chuckles before the sound of more horses alert them to another group that is approaching. Moving aside, so that they aren't trampled over, the group watches from near a bench as four horses come through the stone arches. One person in this group, takes Tauriel by surprise.
"Legolas." Tauriel whispers as she watches her childhood friend climb down off of his horse.
As he looks about the entrance, his blue eyes focus in on Tauriel and her family.
"Tauriel." Legolas says as he approaches the group. "It is good to see you."
"I take it your king was sent a summons?" Tauriel asks cautiously. Her left hand twitches slightly, and soon she feels Kili's hand take hold of hers. Gently, she squeezes his hand to let him know that she is alright.
"That is why I am here." Legolas says cryptically. His eyes stayed focused on Tauriel in an attempt to keep from looking towards where Kelda was standing with Inara.
"I shall show you to your rooms." Lindir says to the whole group. He had been watching the exchange and was completely fascinated by the exchange between Tauriel and Legolas. While Legolas was traveling with Aragorn, there had been talk as to why Thranduil would send his son away. Now, Lindir had an idea as to why.
After night has fallen upon Rivendell, many of those who have arrived that day are asleep. Except one who seems to be suffering from a bout of insomnia and wanderlust.
Dressed in an ankle length, cotton nightgown and a deep blue silk robe, Inara wonders the halls of Rivendell. The moon is bright in the night sky, and Inara smiles as she remembers her grandmother's words about how beautiful a full moon can be. She takes a deep breath of the cool air and her bare feet are warm thanks to the warmth the stones captured from the days sunlight.
She turns a corner and enters an open air room that she has only seen once before. Not in person, but on a TV screen back in her home world, oh so long ago. With a wistful smile upon her face, Inara can't help but remember her friends from her other world. They would have loved to have seen this place in person.
"Are you lost?" A male voice asks from the shadows in the room.
Inara turns abruptly, causing her brown hair to whip across her face since it was left loose for the night. Stepping around a statue in the center of the room, she sees a dark haired man sitting with a book in his hands.
"I didn't mean to startle you." The man says with sincerity as he sets the book down in his lap.
"Apology accepted." Inara answers with a small smile on her face.
"You came with the dwarves earlier today."
Inara lets out a small chuckle before speaking. "I did. That surprise you?"
"No, though you are from the race of men." The man stands up from his seat, and offers the hand not holding his book to Inara. "I am Aragorn. Legolas and I escorted the Lady Aliena to Erebor a long time ago."
"I know." Inara says as she takes hold of Aragorn's hand and gives it a quick, but firm, shake. "I am Aliena's mother."
Aragorn's eyes become big with surprise by the lady's statement. "Are you of the Dúnedain, lady?"
Inara chuckles softly before letting go of his hand. "No. I was blessed by Mahal to have the long life of the dwarves. That way I could spend my entire life with my husband. I am Inara, by the way."
"The Queen of Erebor." Aragorn whispers in astonishment. "I thought you had passed and that the new King had brought a woman from the race of men, his wife, as Queen."
"No. Thorin was king for a good long time, but his nephew Fili had to take over after a health scare. However, Fili asked me to keep my role as Queen, and who am I to refuse my nephew by marriage. Fili's wife, Lady Sigrid from Dale, passed on before he came to the throne. And so far, Fili hasn't shown any inclination into marrying another."
"His love is eternal."
"That it is. Even though he has lost her in death, she is still with Fili so long as his heart beats and her memory is in his mind."
Both Aragorn and Inara smile at her sentiment before hearing footsteps approaching the room. Being raised with decorum, Aragorn moves to sit back down in his seat. Inara makes her way towards the statue and pretends to stare at it. Both know that Elrond would frown upon either one being left alone with the other. With Inara as a reigning Queen, and Aragorn as a King in exile, being seen alone and standing near each other would bring gossip about them.
Entering into the room is a burly, blonde haired man wearing regal traveling clothes. He walks up to the painted wall with great interest. Sensing someone else in the open room with him, the man turns to see Inara standing by the statue and Aragorn sitting a small distance away with a book.
After looking at Aragorn with a quick once over, the man speaks.
"You are no elf?" the man asks Aragorn, while ignoring Inara's presence.
"The men of the south are welcomed here." Aragorn replies with a small hand gesture.
"Who are you?"
"I am a friend to Gandalf the Grey." Aragorn answers calmly.
"Any you?" The man turns to look at Inara. His eyes roam over her slowly.
"Also a friend of Gandalf the Grey." Inara replies with a bit of a harsh tone. She barely moves her feet into a defensive position. Her dark brown eyes stay locked with the man's face while trying to keep herself from shuddering in disgust.
Aragorn shifts his body position a little as he watches the man look at Inara like a rabid dog looks at a piece of meat.
"Then we are here for a common purpose, friends." The man finally says as his eyes shift from Inara to Aragorn. His eyes roam the room nervously before falling towards the statue.
As the man approaches the statue, Inara moves quickly away from it so that she is by the railing between Aragorn and the statue. Something about this man has Inara on edge, and she tries hard to remember who he is.
"The shards of Narsil." He says with amazement as he moves to lift the pummel of the broken blade. He holds it firmly in his hands as he speaks again. "The blade that cut the ring from Sauron's hand."
Inara and Aragorn watch the man carefully as he runs a finger over the edges of the blade.
After letting out a gasp, the man speaks again. "Still sharp." Looking over to where Aragorn is seated, the man looks at him before barely setting the blade back. "Nothing more than a broken handle."
As the pummel falls to the floor, the man leaves only to stop after hearing it land on the ground. Seeing this disregard for the artifact causes Inara's blood to boil. She charges the short distance towards the man, but stops just past the statue.
"Have you no respect for the blade that ended a war?" Inara shouts towards the man, allowing her anger to seem into her words. "A war that your own ancestors possibly fought in."
The man turns to look at Inara before letting out a snort and leaving the room. Clearly he isn't impressed by her or what she had to say.
"Arrogant prick." Inara says as she listens to the man's loud footsteps.
Turning back she sees Aragorn lifting the blade gently. It is at this point that Inara decides to leave as well. She doesn't want to intrude on Aragorn more than she already has. Plus she knows that she will need to quell any gossip that the man might try to say before he says anything. So Inara heads back to her room to try and get some form of rest.
The next morning, after having breakfast, Inara finds herself sitting in an open courtyard with emissaries from many places. This included the man that Inara had run into the night before, which she has nicknamed 'arrogant prick' when speaking of him to Kili. This had caused Kili to laugh endlessly during their breakfast, but he makes a note to keep a closer eye on the man.
Sitting in her chair, Inara is wearing a dark blue and silver trimmed, regal dress that has Erebor and Thorin's Sigil embroidered in a patterned design on the front of the bodice. Seated to her left is Gimli and to her right is Kili, who is dressed in his princely clothes that nearly match Inara's dress. Except his clothes have not only Erebor's sigil, but his as well. Tauriel is seated next to Kili then the elves follow, starting with Legolas. Past the elves is Gandalf before finally ending with Frodo who Kelda is standing behind. On the other side of Gimli starts the race of men who have come and ends with Aragorn. Elrond is seated before this horseshoe seating with Lindir at his side.
"Stranger from distant lands. Friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate. This one doom." Elrond says as he addresses the gathered races. Then he turns to look at Frodo. "Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
Elrond gestures towards a short pillar, which Frodo walks towards. As he sets the ring down and removes his hand, there are gasps and whispers among those who have gathered. This includes Kili and Tauriel, who have been wondering since that night in the Shire about what Gandalf had told Frodo. Inara, however, sits quietly and listens to all the whispers and has to hold back snapping at a few of the whispering idiots among the race of men.
As the 'arrogant prick' man rises from his chair, Inara gives him a deadly looking glare. Moving carefully, Inara moves one of her hands towards the hidden pocket of her skirt which houses a small throwing axe.
"In a dream," The man says as he addresses the others in the council. "I saw the Eastern sky grow dark. But in the West, a pale light lingered. A voice was crying."
At this point, the man was slowly approaching where the ring was, and Inara shifted as she gently took hold of the small throwing axe in her skirt pocket.
"Doom is at hand." The man continued to speak as if in a trance. "Isildur's bane has been found."
As the man goes to reach for the ring, both Elrond and Gandalf speak. Elrond shouts out a name, Boromir. While Gandalf shouts out some kind of spell as if trying to cast out something. Yet there is someone else who is being affected.
Upon hearing the words of Gandalf's spell, Inara just about doubles over as pain rips through the lower part of her abdomen. The pain is so powerful that it causes Inara to press a hand against her lower belly. She closes her eyes and bites her lower lip to keep from crying out.
Kili, who had turned his head towards Inara and away from the blowing wind of Gandalf's spell, notices Inara bending forward with a pain-filled expression on her face. He leans towards her and places a hand across her upper back.
"Inara?" Kili tries to say to her over the blowing winds.
Just as Gandalf's spell ends and the wind disappears, Inara feels the pain subside. She is gasping for air, but no one takes notice of it but Kili.
"Inara?" Kili asks again worriedly.
"I'm fine, Kili." She says as she begins to sit up again. Yet in her lower belly there is an ache that she usually feels when it is a certain point in her cycle. 'That can't be. The last one was well over a year ago.'
"Never before has the words of that tongue been heard here in Imladris." Elrond says to Gandalf.
"I beg pardon, Master Elrond." Gandalf replies as he gasps for breath. "For the black speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the west. The ring altogether is evil."
"Nay. It is a gift." The man named Boromir says. "A gift for the fall of Mordor. Why not use this ring?"
It is at this point that Inara pulls herself together as she listens to what she considers idiocy from the 'arrogant prick'.
"Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people have your lands been kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him." Boromir says passionately.
"And what happens if you defeat the enemy? Hmm?" Inara says from her seat. "Will you give up that kind of power once your task is complete? Or would you refuse to give up such power and become a dictator? Your kind of talk is what causes nations to fall into tyranny."
Boromir scowls at Inara. His eyes are full of contempt as he stares at her.
"You cannot wield it." Aragorn says as Inara finishes her peace. "None of us can. The one ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
Boromir turns to look away from Inara to stare at Aragorn next. "And what would a Ranger, or a woman, know of this matter?"
Kili growls as he jumps up from his seat and places a hand onto the pummel of his sword which rests at his waist. "You would do well to know to whom you speak to. She isn't just any woman. She is Inara. The Queen of Erebor, a dwarf kingdom. So be careful on who you insult."
Legolas spoke up next. "This is no mere ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance."
Boromir's face gets a surprised look upon it, and he turns to look at Aragorn. As does everyone else save for Inara.
"Aragorn." Boromir says with some surprise in his voice. "This is Isildur's heir?"
"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas says with conviction.
Seeing everyone staring at him, Aragorn look at Legolas and bids him to sit while speaking Sindarin.
Boromir looks back at Legolas before speaking. "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." He moves towards his chair with a confident look upon his face, thinking that he has bested Aragorn in a verbal spar.
"So Gondor is run as a democracy. Its people vote to elect their leader?" Inara quips in verbal jest to Boromir.
Boromir turns to look at Inara, as does everyone else on the council. All of them look at her as if she is speaking heresy.
"Well? Do they?" Inara verbally pushes in hopes of irritating Boromir.
"No. My father the Steward runs Gondor." Boromir replies with irritation.
Hearing the irritation, Inara gets a grin on her face. "So, your father proclaims himself king, when in fact he isn't a king. He is just a care taker? So what do you mean when Gondor has no king nor needs one? That your father is king and Aragorn isn't? Or that your father Gondor's dictator? Or does your father do the people's bidding as one does in a democracy?"
"Inara, quit winding him up." Kili says while trying to hold back his laughter at seeing Boromir's face turn to a sour expression.
By this point, Boromir sits down in his seat while looking at Inara with a deadly look. He isn't pleased to hear the Queen ridicule him or his father, but knows that if he says anything that he will dig himself into a diplomatic hole.
"If looks could kill, Inara would already be dead by the way Boromir is looking at her." Kelda whispers into Frodo's ear with a smirk on her face. She knows that Frodo is trying hard not to snort out in laughter at her words.
"Aragorn is right." Gandalf says after giving Kelda a frustrated look. "We cannot use it."
"You have only one choice." Elrond says as he rises from his chair. "The ring must be destroyed."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Gimli growls out before rising from his seat, his axe in hand, before striking out at the ring.
As Gimli's axe hits the ring, Frodo gasps in pain and places a hand against his forehead. Both Gandalf and Kelda watch Frodo, and Kelda kneels next to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. Yet he isn't the only one who gasped in pain. Inara too felt pain; not in her head like Frodo, but in her lower belly. The only one to notice Inara's reaction is Elrond, who tries hard not to show his concern for her.
Gimli falls to the floor, and Kili is quick to help his cousin up from the ground. Kili helps his cousin back to his chair, before seeing Inara's attempt at hiding her pain. But his eyes drift towards where her hand rests against the waist of her bodice as he walks back to his seat. Seeing Inara in that pose has his mind going down a path that has him worried.
"The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Elrond allows his voice to carry an edge to it as he speaks to the council. "One of you must do this."
"One does not simply walk into Mordor." Boromir says as he rubs his forehead.
'Only if you hold the button to an H-bomb and a ton of nukes that are aimed at it.' Inara thinks to herself while listening to the conversation.
"Its black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddles with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with 10,000 men could you do this. It is folly." Boromir says in an attempt to scare the council into seeing his choice as best.
Legolas stands up to confront Boromir. "Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond has said? The ring must be destroyed."
"And I suppose you think that you're the one to do it!" Gimli shouts at Legolas.
"And if we fail, what then?" Boromir says as he too rises from his seat. "What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?"
"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf!" Gimli cries out as he stands from his chair as well.
Shouting matches start between the council members, and even Aragorn joins in to try to calm everyone. However, Inara decides that she will end the petty bickering.
"Enough!" She screams at the top of her lungs, but somehow her voice has power added to it that makes her sound ethereal. This causes everyone to quiet down upon hearing her voice. "United we stand, Divided we fall. That is a saying from where I am from, and right now you all are squabbling like little children over a favorite toy. If we unite in a common cause we cannot fail, but if we allow ourselves to be divided against one another then we are doomed. We would cause our own destruction, not Sauron. Each person here has to get over their pride, and start to work with each other. Set your differences aside for once in your petty lives and work together."
Everyone stares at Inara with a mix of embarrassment, fear, and in some instances contempt.
"I will take it." Frodo's voice says suddenly. "I will take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way."
Gandalf moves away from the now silent council to stand before Frodo. "I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." He moves so that he is standing behind Frodo.
"If by my life or death if I can protect you, I will." Aragorn says to Frodo as he moves towards the hobbit. Getting down on one knee with his sword offered to Frodo, he speaks a vow. "You have my sword."
"And you have my bow." Legolas says as he moves towards the hobbit.
"And my ax." Gimli says as he starts to move towards Frodo.
"Gimli!" Kili says in shock to his cousin.
"You got your quest, this will be mine." Gimli replies to Kili before joining Frodo and the others.
"You will have the might of Erebor at your request, Frodo. Though we are but three, for now." Inara says as she too moves towards Frodo. "I am sure that if we need aid, that Fili or Thorin will send it to us. So you have my allegiance and blade."
Both Tauriel and Kili look shocked at Inara's announcement before joining Inara.
"My bow, sword, and life at your request, Frodo. I go where Inara goes." Kili says with a smirk as Gimli's face becomes rigid at knowing tha Kili will be joining.
"And I go where both of them go. You, Frodo Baggins, have my bow and my daggers." Tauriel says with a soft smile on her face.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one." Boromir says as he approaches Frodo. "If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."
Kelda hears a rustle in the palm ferns behind her before a voice call out. She turns to watch as the blonde hobbit, Sam, runs up to the group.
"Mr. Frodo isn't going anywhere without me." Sam proclaims to the council.
"No indeed, we can hardly separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Elrond says trying hard not to laugh in surprise at the young hobbit's audacity to stay with Frodo.
"Wait, we're coming too." Merry shouts out as he and Pippin come running out of their own hiding spots.
Kili can't help but chuckle at the look on Elrond's face as the two hobbit run over to Frodo.
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." Merry proclaims as he pulls Frodo close to him.
"Anyway, you need people of intelligence, on this sort of mission..quest..thing." Pippin says proudly to Elrond.
Kelda, at hearing Pippin saying that he is going, steps forward. "I am going too. If only to keep those two," she points at Merry and Pippin, "out of trouble."
Elrond nods his head in agreement with Kelda's offer of going. He knows that besides Gandalf and himself, she knows of Saruman's plans for Inara. She may yet be able to help keep Inara safe on this journey.
"So be it. You shall be the known as the Fellowship of the Ring." Elrond says before the council is dismissed.
Kili and Tauriel pull Kelda off to the side as the council members leave the courtyard. The three of them speak in harsh tones, but quiet enough not to be overheard. It is clear that Kili doesn't want Kelda to join them, but she shares with them what Gandalf had told Elrond and her the day before. Plus, she tells them something else, which causes both Tauriel and Kili to look over towards the four hobbits.
"We shall leave in the early morning light tomorrow." Aragorn suggests to the rest of the Fellowship before walking away.
"Come on Frodo." Inara says to the small hobbit. "It would be wise to see Bilbo before we leave."
"Of course." Frodo answers as he and Inara walk into the halls of Rivendell. "Why are you volunteering to join us? Won't Thorin be angry with you?"
Inara gives Frodo a smile. "You let me worry about Thorin. If he had his way, I would be shut away like one of the many treasures of Erebor. But I cannot standby and do nothing as this evil grows stronger. It has already taken a life from me, and I refuse to let it away this world that I have come to love. Besides, with me going with you gives Thorin and Fili cause to raise an army quickly. Perhaps even have some of the Iron Hills and Moria armies join in. Dwarves do love having a good fight. Especially when it involves Orcs. Now you run along and see Bilbo before you pack."
Inara pushes Frodo's shoulder to send him down the hall towards Bilbo's room. Letting out a sigh, Inara goes in search of a quiet area to think and pray. She finds a small, empty courtyard filled with grass and flowers. Deciding on that spot, Inara rushes back to her room to get one of her personal bags before returning. Finding the center of spot of the courtyard, Inara turns till she is facing the south. Then she removes a palm sized rock from her bag. She sets it down then proceeds to do the same with the other three rocks so that they are positioned at the cardinal points. Smaller rocks are placed between the cardinal rocks so that it makes a circle around her.
Pulling out a small blanket-like rug, she sets it down so that it faces east. Carefully Inara comes to sit with her legs crossed on the blanket-like rug. Once again she reaches into her bag and pulls out a hollowed out, polished stone and places it in front of herself. Pulling out of her bag a thick braid of sage, and a fire starter flint kit, from Gloin, Inara sets the braid into the hollowed out stone. Striking the flint against another stone, Inara sets fire to the braided sage before waving the smoke from the smoldering braid around her to cleanse the air. Then she gently sweeps the smoke in the air towards her face while mumbling the ancient words of her tribe before placing the braid into the hollowed stone.
Unknown to Inara, Boromir and a few others watch from different viewpoints of the courtyard.
"What is that witch doing?"
"She is speaking to the spirits of her ancestors, Boromir." Gandalf says as he approaches the man from Gondor. "Inara is a very spiritual person, and she shows her respect to those who dwell in the spirit worlds."
"Witchcraft." Boromir snarls out.
"What has you so against the Queen of Erebor? Is it because she showed just how intelligent she is or that her words have upset you?"
"She insulted my family."
"She did no such thing. Bated you into an argument, yes. However you made yourself look like a fool for allowing the power of the ring to cloud your judgement. She was only trying to get you to see how the others might see you. If there is one thing that is for you to learn about Inara before this quest, it is this. Inara thrives on debate, even if she has to show you the other side's arguments. That is why she is beloved by Thorin and respected by the dwarves of Erebor."
"I thought King Thorin and his wife were dead." Boromir states when he hears Thorin's name.
"No, they are not dead. Old, but not dead. Though Thorin looks more like his age than Inara does."
"How old is she? I thought she was from the race of men."
"She is from the race of men. But she has come into certain circumstances that allow her to have the lifespan of a dwarf. By now, she should be approaching the dwarf age of 195."
"She looks to be in her late 30's, possibly early 40's." Boromir replies in shock that Inara could be older than he is.
"Dwarves age different than men do." Kili's voice says from the other side of Gandalf. He had been listening in to the conversation since Boromir accused Inara of witchcraft. "And you would do well to respect Inara as her station is higher than yours."
"Master Kili." Gandalf says to the dwarf. "Have you sent word to Thorin about Inara's decision to join the quest to Mordor?"
"I have. Though I fear that Horus might lose his way back home. For being a descendant of Roac, that raven can sometimes become lost." Kili says wistfully as he looks out to where Inara is at.
"Let us hope that he arrives without issue then." Gandalf answers.
"Are you dwarves pack and ready to leave at first light?" Boromir asks Kili with contempt in his voice.
"We are. Though I am not pleased that Kelda will be joining us."
"She is a good healer, Master Kili." Gandalf says before pulling out his pipe for a smoke. "She would be an asset. Besides, having an extra set of eyes on young Merry and Pippin will be a great help."
Boromir leaves Gandalf and Kili in search for the company of his fellow men. This is not lost on either the wizard or the dwarf, and they give each other a worried look.
"Inara was affected by the ring, Gandalf." Kili whispers. "She was holding a hand to her belly like she used to when she was with child. Kelda told me about Saruman's plan to use Inara. But if she is already carrying another child, Thorin's child, would she be even greater risk?"
Gandalf lets out a small puff of smoke before looking down at a worried Kili. "What makes you think that she is already with child? From what Thorin had told Elrond, she hasn't bled in about a year. If her cycle has truly ended, then there is no way for her to beget a child."
"That is what was said about amad, but she still birthed a child. Twins actually." Kili says looking at Gandalf.
Gandalf chuckles at Kili's discomfort about the topic, but he knows that Kili promised Thorin that Inara would be protected till their return to Erebor. Which now will be delayed with her decision on joining in on the quest to Mordor.
"We can only hope that Saruman doesn't get a hold of Inara, and that she will be unable to produce a child anymore. As for if she could be with child now, we could always ask her to be seen by a healer before supper." Gandalf says as he places a gentle hand onto Kili's shoulder.
As the sunsets on Rivendell, each member of the Fellowship eats supper with their friends before heading off to bed for the night. Though Kili had gone with Inara to see a healer, who had confirmed that Inara is not with child.
Oh my, such a long chapter! Hope you all love the longer chapters. My plan is to have each movie broken up into five or six parts. Possibly seven if I have to break the movies down any more. Hopefully you all don't mind having to read longer chapters.
Reviews are loved and always welcomed. If you don't want to post a review, you are always welcomed to PM me.
Selene