Chapter 13: Old Elves Meet an Even Older Smith

"I must admit I fail to see how 13 dead dwarves are going to change Middle-earth as much as you and Elrond believe," remarked Ithilel sourly, as she stuffed provisions and a spare change of clothes into her pack.

"I don't believe that it is their deaths that will drive change," answered Elenath as she packed her own bag, though with much more organization.

"Well, that is wonderful," snorted Ithilel, "because I was really hoping it was fate driving them to be such stupid and reckless fools, instead of them just being that way."

"On that, my friend, we agree," groaned Elenath, rubbing her forehead. "It would seem the dwarves are determined to get themselves—and Bilbo—killed."

"Fools, all of them, even Bilbo. His sense of honor and loyalty will get him killed on this journey," snapped Ithilel, tossing her empty saddlebag across the room with unnecessary force.

"Honor and loyalty, when tempered with prudence and wisdom, are not bad things, sister," remarked Elenath, observing the wood elf clenching her fists.

"Honor is a concept created by fools so that they have a reason to die for nothing!" shouted Ithilel, grabbing her pack and marching to the door, intending to fling it open and storm out. However, her angry progression was halted when she threw the door open and came face to face, or rather face to shoulder, with a tall, red-haired she-elf who had just raised her hand to knock.

"It seems I have come at a rather inopportune time," remarked the tall elf with a slight bow and smirk.

"Nemmirlië Maedhrosiel, it has been many years," greeted Elenath with a bow.

"Lady Elenath Fingonion, indeed it has, cousin," returned the elf.

"Is there something you require of us, Nemmirlië?" questioned Ithilel. "Because if not, I have an angry walk to take."

"Far be it from me to disturb your fury, Commander Ithilel, but I was sent by Elrond to see to your weapons before our journey. However, with the quality of your arms, I doubt my help will be needed," Nemmirlië answered with a wide, toothy smile that caused the scar covering her left eye to contract, while the milky eye itself seemed to move, as if trying once more to see.

"A help we will gladly accept, cousin. I fear we will have to pursue a group of foolish dwarves into the Misty Mountains," answered Elenath, unclipping her sword and grabbing her quiver.

"Are they trying to retake Khazad-dûm once more?" asked Nemmirlië, her tone dangerously close to a derisive laugh.

"No, Erebor," Ithilel replied as she too divested herself of her weapons. "They believe the dragon is dead, since it hasn't been seen in sixty years."

"If that is their intention and belief, then I would say the title of 'foolish' is not strong enough for them," remarked Nemmirlië, raising her eyebrows in surprise. "If you hadn't told me they were dwarves, I would have inquired where you found some lost kinsmen of mine, for this quest is worthy of the name of Fëanor."

With that self-deprecating reference to her lineage, Nemmirlië collected the proffered weapons and placed them in the bag she had brought for transport. Just as Elenath was about to turn away, Nemmirlië grabbed her hand with enough force to cause a gasp of pain. Before Elenath could extract herself from the fiery-haired elf's grip, Nemmirlië spoke with urgency:

"Cousin, beware of that mountain and the treasure it holds. What is in that mountain is not to be trifled with, and I do not speak of the dragon. It will drive those near it into madness, a madness that will spread to all who come near! And beware of what lies closer—something dark calls from the Misty Mountains, a contagion, a darkness that will devour all. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Before either elf could respond, Nemmirlië released Elenath and walked out the door, humming a tune as she descended the steps toward the forge. Both remaining elves glanced at each other in confusion and distress, but they did not call after her, knowing Nemmirlië well enough to understand that she would say no more on the topic, no matter how pressed.

"I am beginning to agree with the White Wizard that some things are better left alone," muttered Ithilel. "This quest seems cursed."

"You don't have to see it through," reminded Elenath quietly.

"No," sighed Ithilel. "But I will. While I may protest to hate honor and courage, I am foolish enough to emulate them."

"Weren't you about to go for an angry walk?" Elenath asked in amusement as her friend returned to her pack, reorganizing its contents.

"I must admit that Nemmirlië's appearance rather took the wind out of my sails," responded Ithilel. She turned back to the other elf. "I apologize for how I acted just now. I directed my frustration and anger at the dwarves, and fear for Bilbo, onto you, when you had done nothing amiss."

Elenath merely hummed in response as she finished the last touches to her pack and slung it over her shoulder. Ithilel quickly and much more sloppily finished hers, and both elves set off toward the stables where they were to meet Gandalf.

"Athelë Elenath. Sellon Ithilel," called out Elladan, as his brother brought out their horses from the stable.

"Elladan, Elrohir, are you going hunting so soon?" asked Elenath when they reached the twins.

"No, we are to be your guides," answered Elrohir as he patted his horse.

"Guides? We've been through the Misty Mountains more times than you, I'd warrant," remarked Ithilel.

"That's because you will have to go under the mountain, not over it," answered the voice of Elrond from behind them.

Both elves turned to see the Lord of Imladris approaching, with Gandalf at his side.

"What has Thorin Oakenshield done now?" groaned Ithilel, closing her eyes.

"In a dream last night, I saw the dwarves would run afoul of the goblins that live in the mountains and become their prisoners," replied Elrond. "When I shared my vision with Gandalf, he confirmed he had seen the same thing. My sons often hunt orcs and goblins and know many of the entrances to the goblin caves, though I have forbidden them from entering. They will guide you to the closest entrance, but from there, you will be on your own."

"Well, it's a good thing we have experience hunting those sniveling tunnel diggers," remarked Ithilel.

"Do you refer to the goblins or your wayward dwarven company?" asked Nemmirlië, reappearing with their weapons.

Ithilel merely laughed and accepted her sword and quiver.

"As always, you've taken great care of your weapons," Nemmirlië stated as she handed Elenath her sword. "Nor does my grandfather's craft dull as the swords of this age do. But your arrows are sharpened and replenished, and your swords polished. Gandalf, remember to keep your sword sheathed when sneaking into the goblin lairs. Like your companions' swords, it will glow blue when your enemies are near, which will reveal you to them."

With that reminder of Glamdring's power, Nemmirlië bowed and strode away without even a farewell.

"Be wary in those mountains, my oldest friends," added Elrond as they mounted their horses. "You have great skill, but even the greatest warriors can be laid low by a simple mistake or force of numbers."

"Many thanks for the warnings and the guides. We will see you again in the coming years," answered Ithilel as she swung easily into her saddle.

"We will return when this quest is ended," added Elenath. "I still have many changes to make to those records you found. The inaccuracies pain me."

Elrond laughed softly as the elves turned and rode out of the gates. He then sternly reminded his sons not to follow them into the mountain, as they were needed in Imladris.

The ride to the mountains was mostly quiet. Gandalf was not in a talkative mood, worried about the company and the outcome of the White Council. Elenath and Ithilel remained in mutual silence, occasionally breaking it when one of them had an idea about how to infiltrate the goblin stronghold.

Their greatest hope was that most of the goblins would be drawn away by their king to gloat over the captured dwarves, thinning the ranks running around in the caves. With their elven cloaks and Gandalf's magic, they were confident they could reach the dwarves. The real challenge would come afterward: the dwarves didn't have elven cloaks, and Gandalf's magic couldn't make them all disappear. It seemed the only way out would be to fight.

Elladan and Elrohir offered little advice since they had never ventured far into the mountain. All they could offer was their knowledge of the goblin king and the locations of exits they had found on the other side of

the mountain.

They had to leave their horses at the mountain's base and make the ascent on foot. The elves were, of course, much faster than the dwarves had been, being unburdened by fat ponies, a hobbit, or heavy provisions. They soon reached the mountain just as the sun set, covering it in shadow.

But still, the chasers were unable to catch up with the dwarves before nightfall, just as Elrond had predicted. Their travel was soon impeded by a great storm and falling rocks from a battle of rock giants above them.

After yet another close shave, the group took shelter under an outcropping, and Elenath dismounted.

"We cannot take the horses any further, nor do I wish to anger your father by getting them injured while guiding us in person. Tell us the rest of the way and then return home. We will send our horses the safe way to Beorn's house where we will reunite with them," Elenath ordered.

Ithilel and Gandalf also dismounted and took what they could from the saddlebags. Elladan and Elrohir seemed to want to protest, but a look from Elenath froze any protestations on their lips.

With a resigned sigh, Elladan directed them which way to go. Apparently, they were currently under what the goblins seemed to call their front door. The passageway that Elladan directed them to had once been the front door when the road had passed it by, but when the road was later diverted by the stone giants, the goblins had moved the front door and left this smaller side door practically unguarded.

With these final directions, both elven twins mounted and rode back the way they had come, disappearing quickly into the rainy night.

"If we had let them come any further," remarked Ithilel as she bid her horse farewell, "those little scoundrels would never have left us, and we would have had to explain that to Elrond."

"I mean, I would have to explain it to Elrond. You would wiggle your way out of it somehow, as usual," returned Elenath as she watched their horses disappear into the night as well. They were clever creatures, elven horses, and they knew where to go and that they would be taken care of by the skin-changer, who always provided the best food.

"Well, nothing else for it," stated Ithilel, hiking up her pack, pulling her hood down, and stepping back out into the pouring rain, followed by the other two.

way from the stone giants and toward the path that the twins had pointed out.

This walk was also accomplished in silence, but this silence was due to the fact that it was impossible to hear anything the others might be saying.

The walk seemed to last an eternity, trudging over slippery rocks and jumping over missing sections of road until, finally, they spotted a small section of the cliff that jutted out into the path, blocking the way and forcing any traveler to slip through the crevasse in front of it.

Elenath and Ithilel both drew their short knives and prepared for anything as they slowly crept toward the entrance.

"Why must we guard this little hole?" grumbled a voice from inside. "No one's come this way for years."

"If no one comes this way, then why do the guards keep disappearing?" snapped back another voice from inside.

"Goblins disappear all the time coming back from here; they fall off the causeways, or they collapse," refuted the first voice.

"Well, I hear it was elves poking around," the second voice hissed back conspiratorially.

"Elves?!" mocked the first voice. "Those pointed-ear bastards wouldn't dare come here. Besides, if they did, I'd slit their throats before they even saw me!"

This goblin's boast was either poorly timed or a joke from the Valar, as just after he finished speaking, Ithilel slipped through the crack and slit his throat, while Elenath dealt with the other.

After the two guards were dispatched, Gandalf also entered, glanced around the deserted tunnel, and then set off down the hall, followed by the two elves.