Brand new chapter yay!
Now we are half way through the first movie and I have to decide if I want to make this a continuous story or break it down like the movies.
Thoughts?
The next day, Kelsey found herself in the training grounds staring at a table full of different swords. She was preparing for her duel with Kili and hadn't chosen the right sword. Each one she had picked up was either too heavy or unbalanced for her; she grew frustrated as she could hear Kili playfully taunting her.
"You aren't backing out, are you Kels?" he smirked, twirling his sword around in a show-off manner. The other dwarves stood around eager to watch the fight unfold. Bofur, Nori, Dwalin and Fili had begun a wager on who would win; Fili was the only one who bet on Kelsey winning. He knew that his brother usually spent his time showing off instead of calculating his opponent's moves so Fili had a feeling that Kelsey would show her fights skills perfectly.
Kelsey simply stuck out her tongue in a childish manner before proceeding to examine the swords. She trailed her fingers over the hilts until she stopped at one that had intricate star patterns. It was slightly smaller than most of the other swords but it radiated with power. Slowly picking it up, Kelsey could see a faint sparkle of starlight on the blade and she knew that this was the one. It felt balanced in her right hand and it hummed, like her necklace. She felt a familiar presence above her, up on one of the balconies. It was the Lady Galadriel and she was smiling and nodding her head in approval.
"I will go easy on you, Kili," smirked Kelsey, as she stood in front of him, anticipating his first move. He snorted before lounging, his sword clashing against hers in one quick motion. That was his first mistake; without warning, she grabbed onto his wrist and easily flipped him over onto the ground with a loud thud, his sword lying a couple of metres from him.
"Hey!" he shouted, looking up at Kelsey who was holding her side in laughter. "That was dirty."
"Oh I'm sorry, Your Highness. Did I hurt your feelings?" smirked Kelsey as she watched Kili pick himself up and grabbing his sword. "I didn't know there was a rule in not being a little dirty."
"I see how it is," he said, lashing out again; this time Kelsey fought back. Her moves, swift and with such grace, looked like she was dancing. Her feet moved with unison with her sword and she had a newfound strength that was never there before. Kelsey realised that her strength was coming from the ancient power of Star Guardians and used that to her advantage.
Soon enough, both she and Kili found themselves panting and slowly growing tired. Kelsey knew she needed to end the fight and proceeded to swing her sword close to his cross guard, causing Kili to let it go flying out of his hand and in the air. She swiftly kicked him in the chest where he found himself back on the ground on the second time that day and performed a backwards one hand cartwheel to catch his sword, before landing a half crouch with both swords in each hand. Everyone stood there, gaping like a fish, then gave a round of applause.
"I guess I underestimated you, Princess," smiled Kili, taking Kelsey's outstretched hand to be helped. Their hands lingered before letting go when the others came up to congratulate Kelsey.
"It seems we all underestimated you, Miss Rose," said Thorin, patting her on her shoulder with a small smile. Kelsey's face broke in a huge smile and nodded as a thank-you.
"I would hate to get on your bad side," laughed Dwalin, ruffling her hair. That was a huge compliment coming from the intimidating dwarf and Kelsey found herself blushing from all the comments.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" asked Ori, shyly.
"I convinced my parents to take me to sword fighting lessons throughout my childhood. I continued going when I got older and also learnt hand to hand combat through martial arts," explained Kelsey, her smile growing smaller as she reminisced on her Earth memories. "Well my adoptive parents that is."
"I'm sure you will see them again, Kelsey," said Kili, slinging an arm around her shoulders in comfort. She just nodded and lightly punched Kili in the ribs.
"Come on, I'm hungry."
And with that, she took off with Kili running after her, laughter once filling the open corridors. All of the dwarves looked at each other and begun a new wager – how long until Kili and Kelsey get together.
…
Walking up a flight of stairs that led to a beautifully designed pavilion, Gandalf and Elrond conversed about the dwarves.
"With or without our help, these dwarves will march on the mountain. They are determined to reclaim their homeland. I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he's answerable to anyone. Nor for the matter am I," stated Gandalf as they reached the top of the stairs.
"It is not me you must answer to," claimed Elrond before glancing over to the tall, female elf standing framed against the moonlight. Gandalf glanced over to the beauty that stood before him.
"Lady Galadriel."
"Mithrandir. It has been a long time," she smiled, descending from the steps leading towards the centred table.
"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you," Gandalf questioned before regretting looking back at Elrond when a voice echoed out of the darkness behind him.
"He didn't. I did," exclaimed Saruman, stepping out of the shadows; his long, white hair swaying with the wind. He leaned heavily on his staff and his eyes narrowed at Gandalf. "You've been busy of late, my friend."
With the White Council now in session, Gandalf and Saruman sat on opposites of the table while Elrond stood to Gandalf's right and Lady Galadriel paced around the pavilion.
"Tell me, Gandalf, did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed?" questioned Saruman, his back straight and his hands rested in his lap.
"Unnoticed? No, I'm simply doing what I feel to be right," said Gandalf, feeling disbelief from Saruman's words.
"The dragon has long been on your mind," claimed Galadriel as she glanced over to him.
"This is true, my lady," nodded Gandalf. "Samug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy, a dragon could be used to terrible effect."
"What enemy?" asked Saruman, in confusion. "Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength. And the Darkness has not been seen or heard from in centuries."
"Gandalf, for four hundred years, we have lived in peace. A hard-won, watchful peace," said Elrond, hands clasped together in front of him.
"Are we? Are we at peace? Trolls have come down from the mountains. They are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road. Even Miss Rose has been returned by the Void," explained Gandalf, placing his hands on the table in frustration.
"Hardly a prelude to war."
"Always you must meddle, looking for trouble where none exists. And the Void works in mysterious ways; Merilwen must have been accidently sent back," claimed Saruman, annoyance running through him.
"Let him speak," said Galadriel, siding with Gandalf.
"Yes, the Void works in mysterious ways, but I do not believe it would make a mistake like that, bring Miss Rose back when she is the child the prophecy speaks about. There is a reason she is back, and it is not good news for us," explained Gandalf, speaking with worry. "There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We can remain blind but it will not be ignoring us that I can promise you. The Darkness lingers in the shadows, waiting to for the perfect time to strike. A sickness lies over the Greenwood, which now being called 'Mirkwood' by the woodsmen. They speak of a Necromancer living in Dol Guldur, a sorcerer who can summon the dead."
"That's absurd. No such power exists in the world. This…Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic," said Saruman, a slight laugh wavering in his voice.
"And so I thought too. But Radagast has seen…"
"Radagast? Do not speadk to me about Radagast the Brown. He is a foolish fellow," huffed Saruman.
"Well, he's odd, I grant you. He lives a solitary life," agreed Gandalf.
"It's not that. It's his excessive consumption of mushrooms. They've addled his brain and yellowed his teeth. I warned him, it is unbefitting of the Istari to be wander in the woods…"
Saruman's voice faded away as Galadriel focuses on Gandalf and speaks to him in his mind about a certain object that he held in his hands that came to him by Radagast. Gandalf lifts the package from his lap and placed in on the table with a dull thud.
"What is that?" questioned Elrond, reaching out to it.
"A relic of Mordor," claimed Galadriel, an unfamiliar look of fear flashing on her face. Elrond snatches his hands back quickly before once again reaching down to unfold the fabric. There, lying in a hum of darkness, lied a Morgul blade.
"Made for the Witch-king of Angmar and buried with him. When Angmar fell, men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High-Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried them, in a tomb so dark it would never come to light," said Galadriel, looking down at Gandalf, now believing in him.
"This is not possible," claimed Elrond, placing his hands on the table in a confused manner. "A powerful spell lies upon those tombs; they cannot be opened."
"What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar's grave?" said Sarumn, still not believing that their enemy is once again rising.
"I have none."
"Because there is none. Let us examine what we know. A foolish child has wandered into Middle Earth. A single Orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen. A dagger from a bygone age has been found. And a human sorcerer, who calls himself the Necromancer, has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It's not so very much, after all. The question of this dwarvish company, however, troubles me deeply. I'm not convinced, Gandalf: I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they'd come to me, I might have spared them this disappointment. I do not pretend to understand your reasons for raising their hopes…" wonders off Saruman, interrupted by footsteps of Lindir, coming to find his lord.
"My Lord Elrond; the dwarves and the Lady Kelsey, they've gone."
Please review on what you think of the story so far and I might be able to bring out another chapter in a couple of days.