A/N: Apologies for the lateness of this chapter everybody, you know how RL goes.
Firstly, huge thanks to my betas NixNox and Tyren for proofing this.
Thank you also to those who've reviewed the works so far, without spoiling too much of the plot, your thoughts have been noted and some of the things you guys mentioned will come to pass. More action is coming soon, I needed to establish some things so that things in future chapters will make sense.
Chapter 7: The Rivendell Nexus, part 2
Previously: As the doors closed behind her, Elrond stepped over to her, "welcome, Master Linshara Thannis of the Jedi Order, we have much to discuss."
~Well, this escalated quickly~ Linshara thought to herself as she looked from Elrond to Gandalf for hints. Had the wizard told him, or did he know it on his own?
Elrond smiled gently at her, "I am a seer, Master Linshara. I had sensed your arrival." He said as he motioned over to a table with refreshments and seats.
Hearing him call her Master, brought a sudden and violent tug to her heart. The remnant of her old life reminding her, hurting with the memories. She blinked the thoughts away as she took one of the chairs.
"You'll pardon me if I'm a little surprised. This world in its entirety is nothing short of a shock. The Force being present yet not acting in the same manner as it does where I come from. Only a select few individuals capable of wielding it, the manifestation of it completely different to what it does for me." She said with a sigh. "Not to mention, wizards, hobbits, dwarves, elves...where I come from this is stuff of folklore and legend."
Elrond nodded slowly as he lightly paced, "it is highly possible that your journey was through time as well as space."
She nodded, "that was my thinking too."
"Lord Elrond, as I've told Linshara earlier, I do not know of a way her situation may be reversed, but you may be able to shed some light on the matter?" Gandalf said carefully, observing her more than the elf.
The look on her face, while she tried to keep it cool, ended up being half hopeful half defeated. Her emotions echoed the same. Though another thought had reared its head.
Elrond looked at her intently. "I do not know of a way, sadly. From what I understand of the event, it was an accidental event rather than a designed one."
"Which means there's no way to recreate it." Linshara sighed.
"You are concerned though," Elrond began, his expression that of understanding as she looked up. "If you do go back, what you may find, how long you will survive in an all out war."
She cursed herself silently, for letting her mental shields drop so easily here.
"There is no shame in feeling safe here, Master Linshara, that is the purpose of this valley." Elrond smiled again, kindly as ever. "I am correct though, no?"
She nodded slowly as she poured herself what looked to be wine. "I am wondering if it is simply better to accept my situation and focus on my task here. I am still a Jedi, maybe not in name, but in what and who I am, I am still one."
~I don't really know how to be anything else either~
Elrond nodded and moved to join her at the table, his purple robes swishing as he walked. He reminded her of the old masters back on Tython. Kind, wise, confident and very powerful.
The elf picked up an apple slice and bit into it. "Have you told anyone else? Bar myself, my daughter and Gandalf?"
"No," she shook her head, "I've kept it away from the dwarves for now. I am uncertain how they would take it. Especially Thorin with how tumultuous he is, tethering between light and dark."
Elrond nodded, "I would advise that you do tell them, before you leave Rivendell."
She glanced over at Gandalf. Had he told Elrond of the quest? Gandalf simply nodded slightly as if realizing her query.
"You need me to forge trust." She ventured.
Elrond nodded, "Gandalf at times tends to wander off." He looked to his old friend with an apologetic smile.
She couldn't help a chuckle at the look of mock indignation the wizard gave in return.
"You want someone to stay with the dwarves in that case." She finished. "You know of the quest."
Elrond nodded slowly, "I have known for a time that it would come to pass, yes."
She could see and sense there was more he wasn't telling her, but decided not to press the issue just yet. There was another more pressing question on her mind.
"I will tell them, just need to figure out the least shocking way of doing it." She said as she took a sip of the wine. "I have to ask, though I'm dreading it. How much of the events of my world did you see? If any?"
The ancient, regal elf took a deep breath. "I saw brief glimpses of several places. A long bridge with soldiers in white and a tall man with a pointed head,a long trail of white hair and a saber of light. He attempts to lead them, before he is struck down by the soldiers in white with coloured beams."
That could have been Ki Adi Mundi. Linshara bit her lip.
"I saw a woman with blue skin and tentacles on her head executed in a similar manner on a world full of giant plants." Elrond continued.
Aayla Secura. Thannis sighed.
"I saw a small green creature in the company of tall furred ones survive a similar onslaught." Elrond and Gandalf both watched her now as the memories played behind her eyes.
"Yoda...he survived." She whispered with a small smile, not realizing she was pretty much staring at the glass in her hand as she listened to them.
"The last image I saw...two men, similarly dressed only one in dark the other in light, waging battle on a world of molten rock, both wielding sabers of light. The younger man was full of hatred, the other, his mentor or brother, I cannot be certain, seemed as sad and resigned as you to the fact." Elrond finished his apple slice.
The description sounded like Mustafar, though it could have also been Malachor, she couldn't be sure. The two men, however. There was only one Padawan that was known to wear dark while their Master wore light. What could have happened to Obi-Wan and Anakin to battle each other? Had Anakin turned to the Dark Side?
"I also saw you combatting a red skinned man." This brought her attention back to the table.
"The Sith, Kallus Ruun." She supplied.
"I cannot see what happened after you passed through." Elrond continued, "I would not discount the possibility of the red one following you here. Though I do not know their motivations. I could be mistaken."
Gandalf leaned forward to pour himself a drink as well. "You rarely are, though."
Linshara observed Elrond carefully, "you fear if he did, he would ally with the enemies here. Endanger the quest. That's why you want me to tell them."
The elf nodded slowly.
"Alright, I will speak with them." She said with a heavy heart. "I knew the people you described. Knowing most of them fell…"
"Do you possess a saber of light, Master Linshara?" Elrond leaned forward.
She nodded slowly, "yes and no. It was damaged in the transition. I don't know if I can repair it, though."
"We do have some of the finest elven smiths in Rivendell, as well as some very good dwarven smiths. They may be able to help." Elrond offered.
Linshara nodded, "I have to admit you seem awfully calm about me being here."
"I sense in you a kindred spirit, one devoted to peace and betterment, a scholarly mind, Linshara Thannis. You are here for a purpose yet unknown, but you are here and as such I will treat you." Elrond took another bite. "Middle Earth can always use more allies of your kind."
She would normally feel honoured by his words, but given what she was told, she felt her spirit dampened.
"Could we...talk more later?" She placed the glass back on the table, "I need to reflect on things, settle with myself."
Both men nodded, "of course. You are free to roam Rivendell as you wish."
She nodded and stood up. Bowing a little, she turned on her heel and walked out, doing her best not to run and find a secluded spot. She snuck past the dwarves who were assembled now in the sleeping area and headed further up.
She'd found a secluded overlook that opened up over the valley, so she could see it all. It was quiet, peaceful. Beautiful in every sense of the word. The light breeze tickled the trees, the bird sang and even a group of elves sang a merry albeit unintelligible tune. She sat cross legged on the surprisingly warm stone floor, her hair flowing freely, her hands on her knees, thumb and middle finger pinched together.
Clearing her mind of all questions, opening herself to the Force permeating the place, helped her focus and recollect her feelings. The Force had guided her here, set up the events like it did. The path was unclear to her as of yet. She was however beginning to realize that this journey was more than just a quest to aid the dwarves. It was about her own growth and change as well. She couldn't help but wonder, did Ruun follow her? If so, where was he?
Unbidden, there was an image of the side of a completely vertical cliff, with a single door as an entry after a set of small stone steps, uneven and chipped. A cubical hole in the ground with a similar set of steps. A pair of glowing yellow eyes. Her head twitched a little to the side as she blinked her closed eyes.
Giant stone feet, a rock hurled in the air, thunder in the background. A giant piece of rock falling towards some of the dwarves. Bilbo alone on an underground lake. Fire, lots of fire.
Before she could wrap her mind against the onslaught of sudden images, she felt a timid presence next to her.
"Uhm, Linshara?" Came Bilbo's soft voice.
Blinking away the images and refocusing on her body, she opened her eyes and looked over at the hobbit. "Hello Bilbo, apologies for not noticing you sooner. I was meditating."
He nodded awkwardly, "that's alright. I've...gotten used to it. What is this meditating?"
She smiled at him and patted the place next to her. He seemed surprised at first at the invitation but took it quickly.
"It's…." how would she explain this to someone who probably had no concept of it?
She opened her mouth then closed it, then opened it again, "it's when you're alone with your thoughts, when you sort through them and your memories and try to understand, come to terms with them or reflect. Does that make sense?"
He steepled his fingers together and nodded. "It does, actually. I have been doing a lot of that since we left Bag End."
She looked over at him. He was terribly uncertain of himself, his purpose, his goals. Most of all, his worth.
"You doubt your purpose here." She offered gently.
He looked over at her, his eyes answering for him. "You have accepted me, most of the others have. But Thorin, most of his words to me cut like a knife."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently.
"I do not understand why Gandalf wants me along. I am neither a burglar, nor a warrior, nor am I experienced or knowledgeable of the world beyond my books." Bilbo sighed.
His misery was almost palpable. Linshara wanted to hug him and tell him everything would be alright. She fought the urge however, knowing it would be counter productive. He needed to be accepted and regarded as an equal rather than mothered by her to counter the dismissal received from Thorin.
~He wants you to counterbalance Thorin. Someone who's not a subject of his, someone to step up to him and slap sense into him.~ She thought as she watched the distraught hobbit.
"Do you trust Gandalf?" She decided on a roundabout route.
He nodded.
"To every action, he has a purpose. Most of us cannot see it, not even me, at times. But when the time comes, all is revealed." She squeezed his shoulder again. "Even when it seems hard to bear, trust that you have a purpose with the Company. Even if for nothing else, for life experience and friendships along the way."
"That seems a little underwhelming, if I were honest." Bilbo chuckled a little.
"All the more reason to await fruition of the true purpose, no?" She offered with a smile.
He nodded finally, "they are just so...coarse."
"And loud, and with horrible manners." Linshara added with a chuckle.
"Mmm, I do like the spontaneous singing though." He started then leaned to her, "don't tell them that though, I would never hear the end of it."
"Especially from Bofur." She nodded with a grin.
"Oh most certainly." This drew a genuine smile from him. "Thank you, Linshara."
She could tell his spirit was lifted some. It wasn't ideal, but a step in the right direction. Now she needed to help him believe it.
"Nothing to thank me for, my friend. I was merely telling the truth." She smiled back at him.
~Well, most of it.~
"I should leave you to it. I was going to look through Lord Elrond's library tomorrow, would you join me?" He offered tentatively.
She nodded gracefully at him. "I'd love to."
He gave her another genuine smile and a nod before he padded away quietly. She looked after him for a moment before resuming her meditation.