Chapter Nine

Revelations

I watch Loki, waiting for him to continue. What was he talking about? There was no one there when I saw Elaina by the lake. Finally, Loki looked up and watched me and Bilbo. I was not amused by the continuing silence around the camp.

"Her father?" I queried, hoping he would at last explain himself.

"Perhaps it is time to tell you what we know about Elaina Baggins!" said Gandalf, somberly.

I glance at Gandalf then at Loki who was now kneeling down besides Elaina, watching her intently.

'Now what is he doing?'

I thought with disgust etched on my face.

"I would like to know what is wrong with Elaina!" remarked Bilbo, his blue eyes went to Gandalf then to Elaina in that order.

"Well." began Gandalf.

o0o

~~Elaina's POV~~

Where on earth was I? Had I died?

I walk slowly and look around my surroundings. Everything was hazy looking and white. As I walk on, it suddenly occurred to me, it did feel like I was actually floating up towards a...what? It looked like a cloud...Clearly confused that my breathing was fine, I walk (or float) past broken statutes of long forgotten relics.

I notice a light at the far right corner and seeing as there is no other way, I slowly edge my way towards the source of light. The light was getting brighter and I had to shield my eyes.

"As I said earlier, you really do look like your mother!" came that voice from before.

Spinning around, I look around everywhere, if it wasn't for the blinding light, I would have seen where I was but this light was to strong for me to concentrate on where the voice was coming from.

"Show yourself!" I demanded. "And turn the light down, it is starting to hurt my eyes!"

The stranger only laughed.

'How rude!' I thought to myself.

"Ah, but are you ready to see what I am?" came the voice again.

"I would like to know the face behind the voice." I retort, I was beginning to get angry.

"But would you be ready for me, little one?"

I was getting very annoyed now, just who was this person?

"If that is supposed to scare me, you are about to be very disappointed!" I remark to this voice "Show yourself, or are you a coward?"

o0o

~~Loki's POV~~

While Gandalf was telling Bilbo and Thorin about Elaina's heritage, I glance at her and she was know tossing and turning. I knew she needed help.

With a nod from Gandalf, who seemed to know what I was about to do, I quickly teleported away. I only hope I could reach her in time.

o0o

~~Elaina's POV~~

"I am not a coward, little one!" came the voice again.

"Then show yourself to me," I huffed "I prefer seeing a face to the voice. That and it kind of looks like I'm talking to myself like a lunatic!"

I heard a loud booming laugh. I didn't find anything here at all funny. This place was giving me the creeps. Then I saw a figure, slowly come towards me.

He was very attractive. medium blonde hair, with a gold crown on his head, bulging biceps around roman looking armour and piecing blue eyes. He looked very noble looking.

'Have I truly died?' I wondered, 'that would explain walking on a cloud.'

As he walked towards me, I suddenly felt a little scared. This person looked powerful.

"Relax little one," the roman man said "You are quite safe here."

"Relax!" I exclaim "I'm standing on a bloody cloud and you tell me to relax!"

"Calm down Elaina, you will not fall of the cloud!"

Easy for him to say, he looked like he was used to walking on the marshmallow cloud. Whereas for me, I was very worried that I would slip under and fall to oblivion. I suddenly frown, I don't remember giving him my name. In fact, I know I didn't!

"How do you know my name Mister?" I asked suspiciously.

"I know everything about you Elaina Baggins!"

Now I'm getting agitated and I try and back away from him.

"Do not be frightened, I mean you no harm."

Looking at a fluffy cloud, I whispered,

"Who are you?"

This strange man stepped closer, while I find myself stepping backwards.

"Elaina, I mean you no harm," he repeated "Isn't that right Loki?"

'Did he just say Loki?' I thought to myself.

I heard a sound and I turn my head and look in bewilderment as Loki causally walks up to the roman soilder man and myself. I was getting a little angry now. First the strange voice by the lake, then I find myself going lightheaded. Now I find myself with a strange man resembling a gladiator and here was Loki who actually looked relieved to see me.

Feeling bolder but not knowing if it was because Loki was now by my side or somehow my confidence never really left me at all, I repeat to this stranger,

"I'll ask you again, who are you?"

This strange roman man was really irritating me now, especially as he was just staring at me.

"You look so much like your mother."

I groan and placed my right hand on my temple.

"Great, back to square one again," I scoffed "Clearly has a memory span of a goldfish!"

I heard Loki laugh but my eyes were on this other man.

"What I meant was," he began again "you have her sassiness. As well as her power."

"Power?" I look at him in disdain "What power?"

All he did was smile at me. It was getting to the point, that I thought his man was a little forgetful. He starts having a conversation and few minutes later just stares at me, like I was one of his relics around this...cloud city place.

"Just tell Elaina who you really are," snapped Loki making me glance at him "Everyone is worried about her!"

'Everyone!' I thought.

This place was really creeping me out now, especially as this strange man seemed to know everything about me, which I hated!

"Look, now that I now know what a cloud feels like, upon my feet, I would like to go back to real world mode!" I politely say to this man.

"Just tell her!" demanded Loki, his face had hardened and was now glaring at the other man.

"Tell me what?" I asked, glancing at the pair of them.

The roman guard seemed to be glaring at Loki.

"Since when do you care for others Loki Laufeyson?" Loki remained quiet but I saw him tense up. "The last I saw," the other man continued "You tried to take over the world!"

Rolling my eyes, I was getting sick and tired of being here. I really wanted out of this place.

"Oi roman guy," I began, frowning at him "Whatever Loki has done, it is in the past!"

"He tried to take over th-,"

"At this present time," I interrupted him "I couldn't give a rat's arse on what happened in the past. As it is just that...THE PAST!"

By now, my anger was about to boil into motion lava. Whatever Loki may have done was in the past. Everyone deserved another change, did they not? Which I just pointed out to this weirdo! Taking no notice of the shocked look from Loki's face, I also demanded I wanted to leave.

"Very well," he answered "You may leave, but bear in mind that we are connected to each other."

I just raise my eyebrow, not understanding him. Loki grabbed my hand as the other man continued speaking,

"After all, it is not everyday, I meet my own daughter!"

"Do what?" I replied, not taking on board on what he has just said.

The man simply smiled at me.

"I Zeus, ruler of the gods, am your father."

Before Loki teleported us back to Middle-earth, I was in hysterical laughter, much to the amusement of Loki.

"You will realise soon that I speak the truth, little one!" remarked Zeus.

Taking no notice, Loki teleported us back to Middle-earth with a bang.

o0o

~~Thorin's POV~~

"As you can see, Elaina has no idea her father is really a King!" said Gandalf, glancing down at her sleeping form.

I just listened in complete shock. We have all been traveling with a goddess. I knew there was something intriguing about her but hearing that Elaina was the daughter of a god named Zeus confused me even more.

Hearing a noise, I arch my head round and saw Loki walking back towards us. I was most surprised to see him disappear so suddenly but Gandalf then explained who Elaina really was.

I was brought back from my thoughts, when I felt Elaina's hand move under my own. Looking at her I noticed she now had colour to her cheeks and was now warming up. She still had her eyes closed. I had no intention of leaving her, I knew she should not be alone.

Bilbo seemed to have read my mind and ran towards a bedroll, he then placed it next to Elaina and gave me a stern look.

"Y-You better not hurt her feelings!"

I was to stunned to answer him, I would never hurt her. All I did was give him a curt nod and watch him leave.

The others had now left, leaving me alone with Elaina now. I gently tuck her chestnut hair back that was shielding her face and I gently trace her cheek with my finger. She was getting to me. I had never felt this way around a woman before and it wasn't to do with her being a goddess now either. These feelings had arrived the second my eyes first saw her. Truth of the matter was, I was falling for her.

I lay down besides her and watch the stars in the sky, when my attention went back on her. Elaina had shifted nearer to me and had placed her left hand around my waist. She then settled down again and I found myself liking this position.

Even if this was the only night where I am this close to her, I would cherish this moment for the rest of my life.

o0o

~~Elaina's POV~~

I woke up to the sound of ponies neighing nearby but my mind went back to that peculiar night last night. I remember the strange voice, floating up to the clouds and that person who claimed he was really my father. My response was laughing in his face, but now all I felt was a numbness course throughout my body. I did not like this feeling at all.

Opening one eye, the sun hits my face, and I found myself shielding my eyes with my right hand, and shifted back into a warm embrace. Opening my brown eyes again, I turn my head and see a sleeping Thorin besides me. Well I assumed he was asleep. He had a hold of my left hand that was around his middle.

'What the!'

I thought, as I watch his sleeping form. 'Why was a future king near me and holding me like this? I thought he hated me!'

All I could do was watch him, how his long raven hair gleamed in the sunlight, his trimmed beard that looked soft and his partially open mouth showing me a glimpse of his white even teeth.

'His only looking after me as I'm part of his company!' I reasoned with myself 'He is the leader after all!'

I try and pry my hand away from him only to feel him tighten his hold on my hand. It wasn't painful, but did feel very intimate. I tried moving my hand again and I swore I saw him smile.

Sighing, I tried again and this time I heard him chuckle, meaning he was really awake. Now knowing he was pretending to be asleep, I realised, he had a playful side to him. I found myself smiling at that revelation but tried once again, to pry my hand from his.

To my surprise, he did loosen his hold of my hand, only to entwine his fingers through mine, confusing me. I watch as his thumb gently strokes my fingers.

"Elaina." breathed Thorin.

I glance up at him and his piercing blue eyes penetrate my brown eyes. The way he was watching me, sent butterflies in my stomach.

"You gave me quite a scare last night!" whispered Thorin.

I look away suddenly feeling lost and confused. What could I say to that?

"I'm sorry!" I finally say, still not looking at him.

Thorin shifted a little and I felt his free hand cup my cheek, stroking it.

"There is nothing to apologise for," said Thorin, softly "You were not to know what was about to happen."

~~Thorin's POV~~

The way Elaina looks right now, upsets me. She looks so downcast, just what did happen last night? I really wanted to reach out to her, telling her, she had someone who would protect her.

"If you ever want to talk," I began, looking deeply into her brown eyes before my eyes trailed down to her mouth "I will listen."

"I wouldn't want to burden you, Thorin." she whispered.

"You are not a burden," I reply softly to her "Far from it."

I found myself leaning towards her and very slowly, my lips went on hers. The instant our mouths met, I knew she was my one. I briefly broke the kiss and saw her flushed face staring back at me. Nudging her nose with mine, I kissed her again.

I was pleasantly surprised to feel her lips move in synch with mine and I realised this feeling that had been growing inside of me. Ever since I first saw Elaina, all I thought about was her.

I felt her right hand slowly trail up to my blue tunic, where it stayed. While my own hand gently pulled her towards me as the kiss deepened.

She didn't seem to mind when I playfully nipped at her bottom lip. I wish we could stay like this forever, being in each others arms, kissing and then later-

"Ahem!"

We both broke up the kiss with great difficulty on my part as I could not get enough of her and while Elaina placed her head on my shoulder looking anywhere but the person who made that sound, I however glanced up and saw Gandalf smirking back at me.

'Damm that wizard.' I thought.

"I was about to ask if you were alright Elaina," chuckled Gandalf "I can see that you are."

I watch Gandalf go and I tenderly kissed Elaina's forehead.

"That was embarrassing!" I heard her say.

I tensed up.

"What do you mean?" I whispered to her.

"Being caught like that."

I chuckled.

"So you aren't embarrassed on what we just did?"

Elaina looked up to me and I saw her blush.

"No."

I smile and placed my forehead on hers and wrapped my arms around her waist. At least she was warm now.

"Unfortunately, we do have to get up," I whisper to her, feeling her touch my hair "Not that I don't like this."

I took a change and kissed her again and was pleasantly surprised that Elaina responded back. I relished in this feeling of her being in my arms.

o0o

~~Fili's POV~~

Rolling up my bedroll, I glanced up and saw Hetti sitting on a stump of a tree looking forlorn. I went to my pony Minty and quickly tied my bedroll and my belongings back on her before I made my way towards Hetti.

Hetti was playing with her barely eaten breakfast of boiled fish and looked like she was in another place.

"You should eat something Hetti." I remark to her.

She clearly looked surprised to see me before she regained her bearings again.

"I'm not really hungry." she whispered.

I sat besides her knowing all to well, she was worried for her sister.

"Elaina is fine," I reply to her "Uncle Thorin will look after her."

Hetti raised her eyebrows.

"Uncle?"

I smirk at her watching her green startled eyes.

"Oh aye, Thorin is my uncle, as is Kili."

"Kili is your uncle too?" asked Hetti who then glanced at Kili who was at this second speaking to Dwalin.

I laughed, knowing I should have rephased what I had just said.

"No, Kili is my younger brother whereas Thorin, is my uncle!"

"Oh, I see!" replied Hetti, looking away again. "Sorry for not realising sooner, I can see the resemblance."

"And yet you and Elaina do not!"

"That's because we are not related, Fili."

"Whose not related?"

I look up and see Kili walk towards us. I noticed he was watching Hetti more than me and I rolled my blue eyes.

"Myself and Elaina!" replied Hetti, now mashing the fish to bits with her folk.

"You don't have to be related for us notice the pair of you are very close." grinned Kili watching Hetti.

'That's quite deep Kili.' I thought to myself, smiling a little at him.

"Or that your both beautiful!"

"If you say so!" remarked Hetti, getting up and walking of.

"What did I say?" asked Kili who for once seemed confused.

"I think Hetti is not used to compliments," I reply to Kili "that and the fact she barely slept last night as she was worrying over her adopted sister."

I continue watching Hetti who was with Bilbo. She now had a smile on her face and I found myself smiling at that. I then walked back towards Minty taking no notice of the laughter of my brother who had obviously been watching me, watch Hetti.