A guard straightened to attention when Dóvad with Lord Balin at his side approached his new chambers. Balin rapped on the door and they waited.
Lióni was closest and answered, seeing her father last thing on her mind. She threw herself into his arms and felt his comforting arms encircle her back.
"I'll leave you to it," Balin cheerfully stated and departed while Lióni dragged her father into their new home.
"Look who is here," she called out and relinquished her place to her mother.
Kissing him soundly, Lári asked, "How come they released you?"
"I haven't had ah drink in days, so if ye don't mind, I'll wet my parched throat first."
Risári was already pouring ale when she saw him being dragged in and thrust it into his hand. They watched as he downed the first mug and belched loudly. Handing it back for a refill, he took a rocker before a large fireplace.
"Where is Tóvad?" Lári asked before he could speak.
"Cooling his heals in jail yet. He hasn't got the brains of ah gnat," Dóvad complained. "The lad wants ta test his mettle against one of the young Durin's before having ta take ah knee. I pledged loyalty an apologized ta the king this afternoon, so am restored as lord of Jötunheim."
"I'm relieved," Lári replied.
"I hope we get to see Tóvad wipe the floor with a Durin," Lióni crowed in delight.
"Ye are aware Durin's be graced with special physical strength?" Dóvad reminded her.
She harrumphed as if not caring and changed the subject. "Is the army going to meet the caravan?"
"Aye, Lass. We leave before dawn."
"Can I go in Tóvad's stead?" she pleaded, but tried to have a strong voice.
When Dóvad was silent a little too long, Lári filled the silence. "Don't you dare take her."
Dóvad shifted his gaze to that of his concerned wife. "She can stay beside me an get one real battle under her belt. I'm sure that will take care of her pleading ta join warriors in battle." At his wife's shocked expression, he added, "And it is partly my fault she is this way."
"There is going to be trolls and Ringwraiths and you let her play at soldiering. Any harm befall our daughter, you will return to Jötunheim alone." She was in shock, not understanding her husband and wondered if a stay in the dungeon didn't addle his brain.
"It won't matter then for I'll be dead before ah hair on her head is harmed," he assured her, but inside felt like a fool. He turned to his daughter. "Go and rest. Dress for battle, but don't don yer armor until I call for ye." He watched her hurry down a hall. Turning back to the dams, he asked, "Are ye lady's giving me ah tour?"
Thráin let Picket close the door to his private chambers late that night. He entertained elves until midnight and watched them ride into the night to their camp. His blood was warm with wine, but his thoughts on his son. Knowing sleep was far off, he grabbed a book Elrond sent and settled into his chair by a fire stoked by his faithful servant.
Little Sister
"Keep your fingers at the corner of your mouth and aim with your left hand. Line up and release."
The little arrow zipped across the room and into a stuffed rabbit.
"You will eat tonight," Ríllas exclaimed happily.
"When will I get to hunt real rabbits?" Fifteen year old Arwen asked, her blue eyes large in her pixie face.
"In a few years. It is much different drawing down on a real target and you wouldn't want to only wound it would you?" Ríllas wisely asked in return.
Arwen shook her head. "I guess I do need more practice." She beamed when her brothers entered the family chambers. Running to the rabbit, she held it up proudly."
Elladan, with a huge smile, took the ragged stuffed animal, with many holes already in its fur hide, looked at the hole with arrow still protruding. Handing it to Elrohir, he scooped Arwen in his strong arms. "You get consistent shots like that from various angles and distances and we will pull some fish from our stocked pond and place them in a barrel for you."
"If I get that good, I can shoot them in the pond," she cockily replied and looked at her rabbit proudly.
"And you will miss your first fish," Elrohir took her from his brother for his own hug.
"Will not."
"What do you want to bet?" Elrohir challenged her as he set small feet on the floor.
Arwen thought of something she could do. "It would be funny to see you embroider a handkerchief. If I win, you have to do an entire design, in the evenings in front of Ada and Nana."
Elladan started laughing.
"No you don't," his brother threatened, clearly reading his mind. "She can't be coached." He held his hand out. "Shake and It's a deal."
Ríllas smiled wickedly. In the making of the bet, they didn't swear her to honor.
Arwen grabbed her big brother's hand and pumped furiously. Grabbing her rabbit, she pulled the arrow. "When is our bet?"
"When you can shoot from the top of the stairs across the foyer and dining hall and hit a rabbit I will place on the edge of the balustrade. He grabbed the tattered stuffed rabbit back. "Right here," he showed where it had to be. "In fact, when you're ready, I'll make you a new rabbit to shoot so there won't be any holes. When you get that good, we will shoot fish."
Arwen's eyes went large. She never hit anything from that distance yet. "I need to practice outside then. That's the longest spans in the house."
Elrohir held out his hand for her to take. "Come, we will set up a target now. I know just the place with a like angle." He hurried her away, knowing Erestor would soon be looking for them to go with him and oversee the draining of the sewer pits. Elrond made mention it was time to insure winter's buildup was washed out. He was looking at the twins when he made the statement and I made an offhand remark that the twins never enjoyed that chore before and thus their education just increased.
Ríllas smirked at Elladan. "Sometimes your brother really is smarter than you."
"Elrohir?" Elladan snorted in disdain.
"Aw, there you are. Get your brother and we'll ride to the holding ponds," I ordered. I knew the twins were hiding from me so made a show of saddling my horse so they could sneak back into their chambers. A couple well placed spies confirmed my guess.
"I'll go get him right now," Elladan quickly responded and got all of three steps to the door when Ríllas stopped him.
"Elrohir is helping Arwen with her archery. Elladan is free to join you." She looked so innocent.
"I just rememb…," he trailed off when I grabbed his arm.
"You just remembered you are coming with me." With a grin to Ríllas, I escorted Elladan from the room.
"Orc," Elladan screamed and threw a bowl of greens across the table and doused his brother, who deflected the bowl and it flew into the middle of the dining hall and shattered on the stone floor.
Elrohir, looked at the mess and started laughing, tossing leafs of greens back in a playful manner. All around him on the floor were leafs for servants to clean up.
We were eating in the main dining hall and a meeting was in progress for trade over the Misty Mountains. King Thranduil and Queen Ríllas agreed to come because of Arwen's youth and Elrond didn't want a repeat of disaster that befell the twins at her age. Celeborn and Galadriel were still in residence and persuaded King Amroth to stop wooing Nimrodel for a summer and attend his kingdom's business. King Ostoher made a hurried trip up from Gondor and the dwarf, King Fróin, completed the list. He rode his ram with a small group in the company of Amroth and Ostoher, so they arrived together.
All talking stopped and Elrond's face went red in suppressed rage, although his countenance remained expressionless.
Fróin burst out laughing. "Lad, ye two are very adept at Khuzdul signing an this is the sign for orc." He held his hand up with thumb and index finger in a circle and then took the index finger and tapped down twice. "But jumping an shouting worked also for my amusement, as I was following your conversation with enjoyment."
Glorfindel was, as usual, grinning and Celeborn covered his mouth with his napkin once again.
"Do we want to know why two grown elves can't control themselves at my table?" Elrond asked in a tone that demanded an explanation.
Elladan knew he was going to be punished and glared, first at his brother and then his father. "If you hadn't entertained the idea of us learning all about cesspits, I wouldn't be doused in fragrant bathing oils."
"So your lack of control is my fault?" Elrond deadpanned and everyone at the table could see Elladan's punishment worsening at every word the youth uttered.
"I wouldn't be alone," he pointed at Elrohir, "but that one skipped out on the assignment. I insist you send him alone next time."
This time laughter rebounded around the table, except from the complaining elf and his father.
"King Fróin caught you both signing in the language of the dwarves. When I taught you, it was for silent communication if around a fell being like Sauron. I now regret doing so. You both will tell us your communication."
The smirk dropped off Elrohir's face. "I may have commented that Elladan smelled like that house in Bree we walked by where those three half naked women tried to proposition us."
"Exact words," Elrond commanded and all knew Elrohir just joined his brother in punishment.
Elrohir looked at his offending fingers. "You smell like a visit to a human whorehouse."
Celeborn didn't bother with the napkin to hide amusement and joined Glorfindel with a wide grin and dancing blue eyes.
I, Erestor, felt bad for the boys, but joined in the laughter.
"And you replied with?" Elrond kept the conversation moving.
"You would rather play dolls with our little sister than do an honest day's work."
Elrond's eyes shifted back to Elrohir, as did everyone's at the table.
"I find Arwen doesn't whine half as much as you and takes my superior shooting advice." Elrohir now glared at his brother.
Arwen laughed at that.
Celebrían placed her hand on the arm of the child sitting between her and I to stop her teasing her brothers and thus being also punished.
Elrond motioned with his hand.
Elladan reluctantly repeated his insult. "I'm making sure Arwen wins and you have to sit like a stupid elleth, embroidering rags."
Elrohir smirked, for he saw his mother take offense. "Beats, slipping into the settling pond and smelling like you rolled in orc dung."
Elladan looked at his father. "I lost my temper."
"We noticed," Elrond replied dryly. "What is this bet about?"
"Elrohir and I are having a contest. He says I can't hit a fish in water and I am practicing to show him I can," Arwen jumped into the conversation. "But I have to pass a test."
"This ought to be good," I muttered and threw my own glares at her siblings, lest they lead our little princess into harm.
"It is, Erestor," Arwen laid a small, white hand on my sleeve. "I have to make a long shot and kill a rabbit."
"WHAT!" Elrond thundered and Celebrían added her sentiments at the end of the sentence, "She isn't killing anything at her young age."
Galadriel smiled serenely and patted her husband's arm before he threatened his grandsons with corporal abuse. "I shall start work on the rabbit."
"Thank you, Daernaneth," Elrohir stated happily. "May I help?"
"Yes, you and I will go to the tack room and look for material after we eat, hopefully, without sacrificing another bowl of greens."
Elladan ducked his head, hoping his father's anger dissipated.
"And Elladan, you will help Erestor all day tomorrow as well," his father decreed.
Elladan's shoulders slumped and he nodded, not looking up.
'Make him miserable,' Elrond spoke narrowly into my mind, knowing only the older elves would hear us, but not the youths.
The meetings continued, but now everyone watched little Arwen shoot her bow and Elrond went so far as to move our place to the section of lawns where she practiced under the tutelage of her brothers.
"King Fróin, our scouts returned from the Lonely Mountain and are optimistic we can produce enough gold to pay our debt in ten years," Elrond read from a list that I meticulously wrote for him.
"We need it desperately, Lord Elrond," Fróin honestly declared and we could see his face brighten.
'I hope it keeps the dwarf from murdering us while we sleep,' Celeborn snapped into elven minds.
Thranduil laughed into our minds upon hearing.
Elrond raised an eyebrows. 'I don't think dwarves of the third age are as primitive or violent as their predecessors.'
'Don't tell them that,' Galadriel warned and they resumed listening to King Ostoher tell Fróin they found a seam of gold in the White Mountains and could part with a small amount.
"We owe Imladris fifty pounds and if Lord Elrond agrees, we will divert it to you and he can deduct that amount." Ostoher looked expectantly at the lord presiding over his kingdom.
"That would b…." he was interrupted by Arwen's scream of fear. All the elves jumped up and men and dwarves followed at a split second slower pace and looked to see what frightened the elfling so close to the house. She was obviously terrified and running as fast as she could to us.
The twins knocked arrows and raced just as quickly in the opposite direction and Glorfindel shouted, "Elrondiôns, cease or you'll be slaughtered. Let me fight it."
Galadriel swiftly looked into Arwen's mind. 'She saw a shadowy figure on the hill hiding in the bushes as if waiting for prey to blindly use that trail.'
Glorfindel flew on feet of wings to where the twins were pointing. A beast rose from its hidden location to challenge and everyone was stunned an animal could talk. "Twice born, you will die today." With a mighty roar it charged the Balrog slayer on the edge of the lawn that expanded to the high bluffs where it dropped hundreds of feet into the broiling Bruinen. The fight held everyone spellbound, for it was as if watching our beloved Glorfindel fight a Balrog all over again. The fight was fast and brutal, with sword lunging and parring against fangs and claws no mortal animal capable of growing. Glorfindel didn't hold back and Celeborn joined him, welding Faenrúth to slowly defeat this large, raging monster of a bygone age.
Only when it died did Elrond sheath his own unused sword and looked close at the black, hairy form. "I didn't know any still lived and thought all were killed in the First Age."
Celeborn still held his bloody sword and wasn't soon to sheath the weapon, for he had seen and fought these foul creatures in the First Age and knew they were almost as hard to put down as a Balrog. "It must come from the mountains of the far north. We never did fully vanquish their kind, but I never figured one would find us or venture this far south."
"What is it?" I asked and saw several warrior heads nod. They gathered to watch Glorfindel and Celeborn do battle and it appeared an even match for several long minutes.
Glorfindel pulled his sword from the cooling mass. "A pup of Draugluin no doubt."
Gasps were the only sound and then I noticed even birds had taken flight away from this beast.
"Why now are they emerging?" Elrond snapped, trying to hide fear that his sons now patrolled with them rampaging these lands again.
"I will ask Lord Manwë tonight when I visit Taniquetil for answers," Glorfindel responded and we could see he was taking this more seriously than anything since he came back to these shores.
If we are battling beasts of the First Age once again, I was going to suggest to Elrond that Lady Celebrían take the elflings and flee to the Undying Lands.
Nobody was in the mood to finish the meeting this day and Elrond's sons were tasked with disposing of the beast and of course skinned it for a rug to tan and hang on their walls. I knew elves would travel far and wide to view that hide and skull.
Elrond and I departed to check on his daughter. Entering the family chambers, we found her sitting on her mother's lap and the lady telling a story about a princess to sooth her frightened fëa. Elrond snagged the elfling from off her mother's lap and set her on his knee. He let his hands glow slightly and felt his strong, soothing fëa comfort her. He noticed Celebrían waited patiently for an explanation and before he could find a way to gently inform her, Celeborn and Galadriel joined us.
"It was old," Celeborn announced. "Teeth worn down to half their original length. I'm sure that went in our favor."
"What was it, Dearadar?" Arwen timidly asked and found herself once again shifted to a different lap.
Grandpa Celeborn wasn't letting her slip to another lap and glared at Elrond when he moved to reclaim the most precious among us.
'I will tell her,' Elrond snapped peevishly into our minds. He looked softly upon his only daughter. "What you saw, even I never witnessed in all my long years."
"I fought and killed them," Celeborn interjected and was given a thunderous look by his son-in-law.
"You see a long time ago before the Valar…,"
Elladan and Elrohir, smeared with blood from skinning their prize, joined us.
"Adar, that is an enormous hide," Elladan joyfully shouted.
'Maybe this is a good time to tell them they are sailing,' I quickly spoke into Elrond's mind.
Elrond threw another glare in my direction. Looking back to his beloved daughter, he tried again. "Melkor created many different foul beings and some still exist in our age."
"One less," Elrohir snorted.
Ignoring his second born, Elrond still focused on his baby. "What slipped in under my protection was such a creation."
"So much for a girdle at Imladris," Celeborn quipped.
Elrond ground his molars. "What you saw is the forerunner of Wargs."
"Bigger, meaner and faster," Elladan helpfully added.
"Even Glorfindel had to work up a sweat to kill it," his brother added, obviously impressed.
"We thought they were no more." Elrond's shoulders drooped in defeat when he realized he wasn't going to gently tell his daughter of this new menace without help from callous elves who should have known better.
"Maybe they are no more now." Glorfindel made his presence known. "That one was very old and weak."
"Ada," a small voice had everyone focused on her.
"Yes, my princess?" Elrond asked.
"What is everyone talking about?"
"Werewolves, little sister," Elladan whispered with glee, his eyes alight with mischief.
"Elfling eating werewolves," Elrohir echoed in the same tone. "It was waiting for you."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!," Elrond roared and stood to look his son's in the eyes. "You two will sail to your other daeradar, for I can't take you anymore."
Arwen's already large blue eyes grew almost out of her head. "I don't want to be eaten. That one was the scariest monsters I've ever seen."
Celeborn squeezed her tightly. "Have we ever let you come to harm?"
"You did my brothers when just my age," she spouted up at her grandfather and everyone saw and felt him cringe.
"We learned our lesson," Celebrían spoke and everyone turned to the mother. "Arwen, it was wonderful you warned us about what you saw. It might have harmed your brothers or another member of the community if not for your sharp eyes."
Galadriel smiled her approval.
Arwen straightened bravely in her dearadar's arms. "You think that, Nana?"
"I know it," Celebrían assured her and then turned a stern look to her sons. "I'm sure you won't mind taking turns at your sister's bedside for the next few months to undo your damage."
"We have to patrol, now that a new threat is upon us," Elladan quickly responded, while his brother nodded as if he head would roll off.
"Celebrían, I assure you both iôns will have patrol of the house until this is a memory," Glorfindel told her.
The twins whimpered and I actually laughed aloud.
That night, Thranduil and Ríllas joined the family in our lord's chambers. Elrond conveyed apologies to our guests and told them we would resume talks in the morning.
"We scoured within ten miles in all directions," Thranduil began.
"No sign of additional beasts were discovered," Ríllas ended.
"Thank you, my friends, searching for something that my powers cannot detect," Elrond replied with relief in his voice.
Glorfindel joined a late supper in progress. "I couldn't wait for night to come," he explained. "I went and sought an audience with Lord of all Arda. What I fought today was Meglomain, last werewolf in Middle Earth. He was one of the reasons I was sent back. For if an ordinary elf came upon that old werewolf, he and many more would have been slain. The lives lost would have tipped the balance of powers in Middle Earth."
"You mean he would have killed my daughter?" Elrond coldly extrapolated.
Glorfindel looked him squarely in the eyes. "Yes."
We all looked at the elfling sitting between her mother and grandmother and wondered her fate.
"He talked," Elladan remembered with awe.
"Yes werewolves could talk and Lord Manwë confirmed he was sent by Sauron specifically to kill me. Seems I have a small part yet to play in events unfolding."
"Try not to be too modest," Elrond snarked and everyone at the table laughed.
Meetings resumed on schedule….
Thráin placed the bookmark between pages and went to open his own door.
"Thrór never opened his own door," Balin groused. "I could be an assassin. You are getting a night porter."
"Father never opened his own door because I usually did that chore," Thráin quipped right back, but let his chief advisor inside and closed the door from prying ears of the elite guards.
"Dwalin called me to the rampart. From the reaction of the elves, it was a Nazgûl flying over both the camp of the elves and then south to Thorin's band."
"Muster the army. We leave in an hour," Thráin ordered.
Balin bowed his head in respect and quickly departed. Elite guards watched him run down the long hall and knew something big was about to occur. Soon a horn sounded that could be heard all along the halls of Erebor calling all warriors to arms.
Thráin, decked in the most opulent of armor and helmet swung on the boar, whose massive tusks were sheathed in razor sharp blades. He saw Dáin mounted much as he was and the army rolling weaponry pulled by rams. General Lötun was gathering intelligence and motioned over the roar of an army preparing to leave that all was ready.
"Open the gate," Thráin ordered and led several thousand dwarves into the warm night air. He noticed Dwalin never left his side and was riding a like boar.
Second to last detachment to leave was Lord Dóvad's. He was on a boar and instructed Lióni to keep her helmet on so their warriors couldn't tell she was a lass. He motioned for her to mount a ram and stay by his side. He motioned to his lords when they started protesting a warrior oughtn't be so close to the ranking lord. "I've been tasked with protecting young Ori of the Durin's."
That had the lords bowing and backing off. Lióni was glad they didn't know what Ori looked like, but figured they were close in build and coloring.
Thorin sat by himself in the dark on a rise overlooking one end of the long camp. Between wagons and the lake, animals grazed on verdant grass, resting for another long pull up the incline. They would leave the lake and enter rocky terrain where burned stumps still rotted into piles of wood chips. Now that Smaug was gone pine saplings were already pushing through anyplace their roots gained a foothold. He saw one lone flying object in the light of the moon. In the far distance the horn of Erebor sounded and he knew an eagle wouldn't have raised suspicions. Going with his gut instincts, he jumped up and slid on booted feet down the hill to where dwarves were snoring under wagons. He started kicking bodies. "Make no sound, but get the wagons moving…..silently," he ordered and ran to a ram, saddle in hand from where he placed it over a tongue on the lead wagon. Riding down the line, he gave orders, with the first being, "No, let the ponies pull the wagons. They are no good in a fight and spook too easily."
Within an hour, the long caravan moved with the creaking of wheels that needed grease and repair. Thorin was at the front with Garad at his side and Fili and Kili directly behind. He instructed his uncle Fárin to protect their flanks and rear and had warriors near most wagons on the side away from the lake.