DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Kidhuzel! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 13

The elvish minstrels play on despite the obvious tension rising between the members of the high table. Thorin, while relieved by Kidhuzel's safe arrival, is greatly amused by her handling of the elf lord. So pleased is he in fact, that it takes him quite some time to even notice the physical changes that have occurred with the girl. 'She has grown well. It will be easier to fit her into permanent clothes should she continue with us.' Nodding to the drake, the dwarf turns back to Elrond, awaiting his response.

"You must be the young half dwarf that caused such a stir this morning." the elf eyes the girl with a curious but also critical stare. It is clear that her presence brings him some worry "I trust that my daughter has done well in providing you with all that you may need?"

"Lady Arwen has been an excellent host in your absence." Despite her cool demeanor, El is highly nervous of Thorin's possible anger. Her tail twitches beside her legs, thankfully hidden by her long dress. Though... It does little to hide her true self, as her wings and horns are still on display "You avoid my question, Lord Elrond."

"Perhaps." setting his goblet of wine aside, the elven lord gracefully rises from his seat with a gesture for the others at the high table to follow. Bofur has burst into a song that includes him climbing on the common table and the elf would rather not watch the dwarves destroy his dining area "Come. Let us talk in private."

Kidhuzel holds her ground, even as the others move forward until Thorin gives her a nonverbal command to follow. Dipping her head, she pads after the small group; being sure not to lose sight of any of them as she memorizes the twists and turns of each corridor. Large stone columns reach up to the massive arches that create each doorway. Had she not been wearing the slippers provided by Arwen, El would not have had to wonder about the feel of the floor beneath her feet. It is not long before they arrive at a large circular room; filled with tables that are piled with books, El can guess it is someone's personal study. Elrond does not offer anyone a seat, though the neglect is understandable with there being no seats in the room to be given.

"Now." Glancing in El's direction only to be sure she has not disappeared, Elrond begins his questioning "Would you be so kind as to explain your presence at our borders?"

"Our business is no concern of Elves." Thorin snorts in ill concealed contempt "A fact you are very aware of without dragging us away from our kin."

"For goodness sake." Fed up with having to listen to the pair exchange blows like children, Gandalf aims to move the conversation forward. 'It is late and I wish to retire soon.' Facing the dwarf king, the wizard admonishes him for his behavior "Thorin, show him the map!"

"It is the legacy of my people." lifting his head in defiance, the dwarrow glares at his adversaries without an ounce of hesitation. El watches the display with glee, reveling in her bearer's strength. Though he is barely half their size, he does not back down from either male "It is mine to protect! As are its secrets."

"And the dragon at your side?" surprise fills the half drake at having so suddenly being brought into the conversation. From her readings, she knows the havoc her sire's kind has caused to the world and understands the scents of anxiety and fear that roll off of others when she is around. Thus, she is unsure why the elf would risk earning her ire "Is she part of the legacy of your people? I would have thought one such as you would avoid her kind as a goblin does sunlight."

"I kindly warn you, Lord Elrond, to watch your words." glistening teeth flash beneath a frightening smile as El steps forward to defend Thorin's honor if needed "Do not compare my bearer to a lowly goblin."

"Kidhuzel, come." immediately the girl returns to Thorin's side, immensely pleased as he ruffles her hair just as he did when she was in her smaller form "She concerns you even less then this map." addressing the elf lord, the dwarf lightly strokes El's horns to distinctly draw attention to her eccentricities. His eyes gleam with joy at the power beneath his finger tips and all within the room shiver in fear at the display "From what has been revealed of her arrival... you should know to be wary of those within my company."

"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves. Your pride will be your downfall." Without the gift of foretelling Gandalf can see the ruin and destruction that will rain from the skies if Kidhuzel is handled incorrectly. He fears she will either cause Thorin to stray from his path or force him to remain on it. There is only so much guidance the magic charmer can do but he aims to direct the conversation back on track "You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-earth who can read that map but goad him with childish threats. Show the map to Lord Elrond!"

"No. Keep your map if you will." pointing to the purring drake beneath the dwarrow's palm, Elrond keeps his face blank. Never has a dragon been known to follow a master other than he who created them "I find myself more worried about your pet drake."

"I am no pet for my carrier has no need for tricks nor a bed warmer; I am a weapon. Luckily I have not been ordered to kill you, Lord Elrond." not opening her eyes to break the calming spell her carrier has brought with his hands, El flippantly tries to put the elf's worries to rest. Though completely unsuccessful in the endeavor "Thus, you have nothing to fear from me for now."

With such a powerful being at his command, Thorin feels almost invincible. 'And why shouldn't I?' El is even more capable than he expected without any formal training and shows no signs of betrayal, though that is still a possibility. Her acceptance into the roll of weapon cements his faith in her trustworthiness for there is no reason for such a creature to lie to this point. Patting the hidden pocket he carries the map in, the dwarf partially removes it from his cloak. Looking into El's golden eyes, he asks her honest opinion, knowing she will be truthful.

"Do you believe giving the elf this map will help us?"

"... The wizard has not lied. If the map needs to be read, you must find one to read it." Nodding to Elrond softly, the dwarf maid continues "He can read it; his race notwithstanding. It would be a waste to have come here needlessly."

"... A good answer, Kidhuzel." fully pulling out the map Thorin steps away from his charge

"Thorin, no!" Balin calls out desperately but the dwarf has made up his mind and hands the parchment to Elrond

"You'd rather show me this than explain your companion?" receiving no answer, the elf resigns himself to finding answers elsewhere. Peering down at the map, he quickly identifies the final destination. With a swish of his robes, he turns to face the company leader "Erebor. What is your interest in this map?"

"It's mainly academic." El's mouth had opened to answer the obvious question but Gandalf wisely beat her to it, glaring at the creature. 'What interest do most dwarves have in Erebor, especially if they have a map of how to get there and enter in secret?' Such as obvious thing it was, that El feels it was a waste of a lie "As you know, these sort of artifacts sometimes contain hidden text."

"This map is of course one of them, if the writing in the corner is anything to go by."

Having been Thorin's shadow for a significant portion of the trip(and life), El has seen the map a numerous amount of times. It now bothers her to no end that the portion of the world that is dubbed east, is always marked at the top of maps; this one included. She gleaned from countless conversations that the map was originally Thror's, Thorin's grandfather, and was given to Thrain at some point. El knows Thrain well, as he is the one who truly rescued her from the frozen lake. She is forever unable to give him her gratitude, as he disappeared. When Thrain went missing, the map was also lost but was eventually recovered by Gandalf and given to Thorin. Though she never mentions it, El has a feeling her bearer would have preferred the return of his father over the map.

"I believe Gandalf mentioned a secret entrance in Bag End" Bilbo speaks up before his shoulder's sag from the melancholic memory "Is that what you mean?"

"Yes. Though he didn't go into much detail, the writing is clearly there." with a huff, El begins reciting the words she has read countless times. Though she did not know what they meant until she arrived within Rivendell, she has each curve carved into her mind "It reads 'Five feet high, the door, and three may walk abreast.' A clear description if one knows exactly what it describes."

"A shame."

"Pardon?" Thorin growls in suspicion

"I only mean that Lady Kidhuzel is quite the young scholar." His explanation does nothing to calm the dwarf, yet he knew it would not. While the elf has no intention of purposefully offending the dwarf king or his kin, he is not ignorant of the king's dislike for his kind. Nor is he unaware of the danger in educating a being like Kidhuzel. Turning to the drake he sighs lightly "It is a shame you did not acquire the skills to read the hidden portion of map in your time with my daughter."

"Oh worry not." she replies with a chuckle and a sly grin "I will do my utmost to learn all your library has to offer before my bearer decides to depart."

"You still read ancient dwarvish, do you not?" Gandalf interrupts with a prompting sigh

"Of course. It reads 'Cirth ithil' on this part here." Gesturing to the side, Elrond drags a hand along the page; holding it up for the room to see "Here. Do you see?"

"Moon runes. Of course." chuckling at those in attendance, the sorcerer breathes deeply in relief "An easy thing to miss."

"Moon runes?" Bilbo questions, speaking up for the second time since departing the dinner table. El smiles at his curiosity even as Thorin frowns at the interruption. Bilbo frowns himself as he was quite enjoying the music and food; thus he is not all that content with understanding very little of the conversation "What are moon runes?"

"Moon runes are ordinary runes created by dwarves, with one simple addition to make them special." El's smile grows in magnitude as the hobbit's attention falls fully on her. An earnest desire to learn confirms the girl's choice to befriend the Shirleing "Ithildin."

"Ithil... din?"

"It's made from mithril and is often used to make secret doorways. It can however be inserted into silver pens for writing." secretly slipping her shoes off to feel the cool floor beneath her toes, El sighs contently. She much prefers to feel the earth directly beneath her toes than through cloth "Writing in this way hides the runes; shielding them from our gazes only to be revealed under a similar moon to which they were written."

"Ithildin is also a Sindarin word meaning 'moonlight' to show their source." Balin adds his bit to the history lesson even as Thorin's frown deepens significantly. One can imagine it is his way for punishing the monarch for showing the map to begin with "It was harnessed by the elves."

"Therefore..." tapping his chin, Bilbo brightens in surprise "Moonrunes are the evidence that despite current relations, elves and dwarves once got along. What-"

"Enough of this." Thorin growls in annoyance before turning to face El. His expression softens a bit as he addresses her "You have done very well in your studies, Kidhuzel. It is very useful. Continue to do so."

"Yes!" she affirms with a bob of her head

"...The creature is correct. In this case of moon letters, she spoke true." Examining the parchment to be sure nothing was missed the elf nods his head at the near completion of the reading "Moon runes can only be read by the light of the moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written."

"That is all very interesting." Thorin heaves with a heavy sigh of annoyance. His muscles ache from battling orcs, trolls, and wargs. He would prefer the reading be done, rest for the night, and be gone by morning "Can you read them?"

"These runes were written on a mid-summer's eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell." Studying the moon hanging over head, the elf hands the map back to the dwarf king who takes it without hesitation "Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon will shine upon us in 14 nights."

"May we trouble you to house our merry group until then?" Gandalf chuckles good naturally

"You may stay as long as you desire." the elf returns with a bow

"Two weeks shall be more than I can bear." Thorin snorts lowly, turning to leave "Kidhuzel."

"Coming!"

"... Then we shall request your aid in 2 weeks time." Balin swiftly offers the farwell in place of his king before taking his own leave "Good night."

Quickly ordering Balin and Bilbo to return to the company, Thorin pulls El aside. Still nervous that he could be angry with her for growing, the half drake follows him meekly. For long moments, he says nothing as they walk. They pass garden after beautiful garden, El taking note of each one as she knows how often her bearer can get lost, yet still he says nothing. So worried is she that she nearly runs into the dwarf when he finally stops. He doesn't turn to face her; keeping his back to her with his shoulders stiff.

"Did you mean what you said?"

"I never lie; I have no need to but I have said many things since my birth." deeply saddened at being unable to discern which of her statements her carrier is referring to, El tries to read him "Might I request that you be slightly more specific?"

"In Master Baggins' home. With the trolls. With the elf."

Still the dwarrow refuses to turn around. He refuses to face the now adult dwarfdam as he once did when she was a child. For if she lies now, he will surely kill her if only to save his oldest friend the heart ache. Though Dwalin hid it quite well, there is no doubt that he found his One in the flames that night in the Shire. Each day she aged was like a pile of rubble being piled on the stoic dwarf's will; for how could he desire her and how could he not? Thorin decided immediately upon seeing her at dinner that one of two things would become of the girl tonight. She would die or she would be born again.

"I need to know. Did you speak the truth?"

"Though I grow tired of repeating myself, I will answer as often as you ask." she left her shoes in the study. ' I hope Lady Arwen will not be displeased.' Having pledged herself to the dwarf many times before, El has no trouble doing so again. So much so that it no longer takes up her entire mind "I always speak the truth. I will follow you to the end of the world and jump if you will it. Neither Smaug's flame nor my ice nor time itself can break this oath. Please accept it."

"... I do." Finally turning to face his Mahal given weapon, Thorin places his hands on her shoulders to peer into golden eyes. "It is why I will this union to happen."

"... You refer to the matter of the souls of Mister Dwalin and I being One." there is no question in her voice, as it is the obvious truth. Even so, Thorin nods and awaits her reaction. There isn't one, as the half dwarf was prepared for this possibility since she met the dwarrow "If that is your will, it shall be done."

"See that it is, Kidhuzel. Goodnight."

Departing from her side, Thorin makes his own way to his quarters. While he would have much preferred to keep the company together, he also wishes to make use of the private rooms provided by the elves. 'Do not fight too hard, Dwalin.' The king feels no remorse for his choice, as Mahal has already deemed them as one. There is no use in Dwalin fighting what has already been made so. His choice is not without a bit of selfishness though; of which the king can admit to himself. Dwalin would never betray him and with El bound to them both, she is effectively contained. Essentially, he has just given his most trusted guard his most useful weapon to utilize as he sees fit. Entering his room after roughly an hour of searching, the lost king leans against his door with a sigh.

"Gift or curse, do not turn her away old friend."

~~~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ohhhhhh. Amazing. I know, I know. I'm kidding. Thank you YMR for your review. The only for the last chapter, so I'm glad you are around. ~Shishi