Halien decided to excuse herself and wandered through the halls. She saw smoke in the forge and went to see what was going on. Before she could reach the forge, though, Bofur came up to her and steered her away with conversation.
"Halien, lass! That was some fighting you showed us. I didn't realize you were so good."
"Bofur, you should know by now how skilled of a swordsman I am. You have seen me fight before."
"Aye, you were good, but I have never seen you fight like that. What I saw today would most definitely save our skins against the dragon."
Halien's smile faded away a bit as she remembered her nightmare.
"What's wrong?" Bofur asked.
"Nothing, I just had a nightmare the other night, and your mentioning of Smaug reminded me of it."
"What happened in your dream?"
Halien looked at her friend. "It was horrible enough to where you may not want to hear it. Do you remember how Bilbo first reacted when you described Smaug that night we met in his home?"
"Aye."
"Imagine that doubled. That is how my nightmare was. It felt so real..."
Bofur put a hand on her arm. "Whatever happens in Erebor, we will not fail. We will beat that fire-breathing lizard and reclaim what is ours. We will take back our home and I hope that you will stay with us. I hope you can make Erebor your home."
Halien bent down and hugged the dwarf. "I hope so, too. I have nowhere to return to otherwise. After the Grotsnev clan died, I tried to find a new home, but instead found myself wandering from place to place, trying to find work."
Bofur nodded and knew exactly how she felt. "Well if you hadn't, we'd have never met you and come to care for you like kin." He excused himself and walked away. Halien smiled and turned when someone cleared their throat. She saw Gandalf standing behind her.
"Mithrandir?"
"I watched your little game with the dwarves. Quite impressive, my dear."
Halien smiled. "Thank you."
"Will you walk with me? I want to show you something."
Halien nodded and walked side by side with the wizard. They walked to a part of Rivendell near the waterfalls, on the outskirts of the buildings. Gandalf pointed to a broken statue of a woman.
"Do you think you can use your magik to repair that statue?"
Halien shrugged. "Perhaps."
"Give it a try. I wish to see how good your elemental magik has become."
Halien nodded and went to the statue. She ran her hands over it, looking at it. Then, she focused her magik on the broken pieces and willed them to levitate. She guided them into their places and used the earth and stone magik to mend the broken pieces. It took her a while, but Halien was finally able to reconstruct the statue and when she stepped back, her eyes widened.
"Mother..." she whispered.
"Yes," Gandalf said. "She was well-loved here in Rivendell as much as she was in Mirkwood. Lord Elrond had this statue of her made shortly after she died. He wanted to commemorate what she did for Rivendell and monumentalize her importance. It is here that she is remembered. Your father seems to have forgotten her or simply does not wish to have any reminder of her."
Halien felt tears in her eyes as she touched her mother's face. She turned to Gandalf and hugged him. "Thank you for showing me this. I never thought to see my mother's face again. It may only be stone, but I appreciate it."
Gandalf hugged the young elf back and excused himself when she asked to have some time to herself.
Halien stood there, staring at the statue of her mother for hours it seemed until an elf servant came to tell her it was time for dinner.
With dinner ready, the company all gathered in the usual dining area and began to eat the food prepared, joined by Elrond.
As dinner began to progress, the dwarves began to beat on the table like drums. Halien recognized the beat and smiled. Bofur looked up at her and called, "Lass, you know this one. Care to sing us the tune?"
Halien smiled and began to sing. "Far over the Misty Mountains rise. Leave us standing upon the heights. What was before, we see once more as our kingdom a distant light. Fiery mountain beneath the moon. The words unspoken, we'll be there soon. For home a song that echoes on. And all who find us will know the tune. Some folk we never forget. Some kind we never forgive. Haven't seen the back of us yet. We'll fight as long as we live. All eyes on the hidden door, To the Lonely Mountain, borne. We'll ride in the gathering storm. Until we get our long-forgotten gold."
Halien stood and started to move to the center of the dining area as Bofur beckoned her over to dance. She began to move to the beat of the music, stepping lightly as she sang and the dwarves began to clap to the beat.
"We lay under the Misty Mountains cold, In slumbers deep and dreams of gold. We must awake, our lives to make. And in the darkness a torch we hold. From long ago when lanterns burned, Till this day our hearts have yearned. Her fate was unknown, the Arkenstone. What was stolen must be returned." She spun lightly on her feet and began to sing a soft note before the words came again. "We must awake and make the day, To find a song for heart and soul. Some folk we never forget, Some kind we never forgive. Haven't seen the end of it yet. We'll fight as long as we live. All eyes on the hidden door, To the Lonely Mountain, borne. We'll ride in the gathering storm Until we get our long-forgotten gold. Far away from Misty Mountains cold."
She bowed when the song ended and the dwarves clapped their hands. Even the elves who watched her dance and sing were impressed. Halien smiled and saw Thorin standing by an archway, looking at her.
'I have something for you if you can slip away.' Thorin thought to her, knowing she would be able to hear him.
Halien lowered her mind shield long enough to hear him say that and then she nodded, noticing that Elrond had disappeared somewhere as she raised her shield once more. She excused herself and walked over to Thorin.
