Chapter Eighteen

Singing and Truths Revealed!

~~Elaina's POV~~

While some of the Company are pretending to eat their salad, I glance around and see an elf maiden playing a flute. The way she was playing it relaxed me. It was a very pretty tune. Oin however, obviously did not appreciate this beautiful melody and I watch in amusement, as he stuffs a napkin in his hearing trumpet.

"How are you feeling Elaina?" asked Bilbo, across from where I was sitting.

He appeared to have calmed down from when I last saw him.

"I'm getting there Bilbo," I smile at him "thanks for asking."

"Of course I'll ask," grinned Bilbo "You and Hetti are my family and when I saw your unconscious form, I was panicking."

"Is that why you drank a lot of coffee?" I teased him.

Bilbo turned a shade of red and my smile broadened.

"I was really thirsty." he stammered.

I didn't press him any further, I knew Bilbo had been worried about me. Again I listen to the flute and now another elf was playing a harp. They fit perfectly together. It was just as shame the dwarves thought otherwise.

Thorin's hand slips from me and I glance at him as he reluctantly hands over his new sword to Lord Elrond who looks at it in wonder.

"This is Orcrist, the Goblin Cleaver. A famous blade, forged by the High Elves of the West, my kin. May it serve you well." remarked Lord Elrond, handing back Orcrist to Thorin, who nods his head.

I wanted to stretch my legs so I slowly got up.

"Where are you going?" asked Bilbo, watching me intently.

"Nowhere," I reassured him "I just want to stretch my legs."

I slowly walked to where a pillar was but could still hear what was being said.

"And this is Glamdring, the Foe-hammer, sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the First Age!" I heard Lord Elrond say.

I watch the elves play their instruments and didn't hear someone creep up behind me.

"I can play the harp with much more feeling!" purred Thorin, in my ear.

I snap my head and saw Thorin was mere inches from me.

"You play the harp?"

"Aye," smiled Thorin "I can play."

"I would love to hear you play." I smiled at him.

"All in good time my angel." whispered Thorin, slipping his hand in mine again.

"I wouldn't bother, laddie. Swords are named for the great deeds they do in war." I heard Balin say.

I turned my head and saw Bilbo looking at his own blade.

"What are you saying, my sword hasn't seen battle?" asked Bilbo, clearly not happy with Balin's words.

"I'm not actually sure it is a sword, more of a letter opener, really!" observed Balin.

Of course Thorin and a few others had heard that as well and were snickering at Bilbo. Which angered me. I let go of Thorin's hand and walked towards Bilbo.

"May I have a look at your sword Bilbo?" I asked him.

"Of course." replied Bilbo who hands over his sword.

I unsheathed the sword and knew at once, this sword was unique.

I momentarily saw Bilbo fighting massive spiders with this very sword before everything around me, returned to normal,

'Okay, that was strange!' I thought to myself.

"This in no letter opener!" I say absentmindedly.

"What do you mean Elaina?" asked Bilbo.

Unbeknown to me, Gandalf, Loki and Lord Elrond were watching me with interest.

"This sword will help you out, when you least expect it too."

I couldn't explain to Bilbo about those gigintic spiders. Mainly because, I had no idea what I had just witnessed.

"I don't understand!" said Bilbo knowing everyone was listening in to what was being said.

I gently resheathed and handed Bilbo's sword back to him.

"There will come a time, you will trust your sword Bilbo." I gently reply to him.

"So it's not a letter opener then?" queried Bilbo.

I smile at him and say,

"No, it most certainly isn't."

"How did you come by these?" asked Lord Elrond watching Bilbo.

I followed Thorin back to the table and I sat back down.

"We found them in a troll hoard on the Great East Road, shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs and something else!" replied Gandalf, watching me intently.

Why was he staring at me like that? It wasn't my fault that dark rider was there!

"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?" queried Lord Elrond.

No one answers him, but I do notice that Thorin looks troubled as he stood up again and went by the pillar once more.

"13 dwarves two ladies," Lord Elrond looks at Loki and smiles at him "a god and a Halfling, strange travelling companions, Gandalf!"

I look at Loki, I had no idea he was a god. He had certainly kept that quiet. Just who was he really?

"These are the descendants of the House of Durin! They're noble, decent folk." remarked Gandalf before a bread roll threw past Lord Elronds right shoulder.

I tried to keep a straight face at seeing the way Lord Elrond was looking at my friends. I stood up again and walked to where Thorin was, nearly getting hit by a stray roll that came from Kili's direction.

"Are you alright?" I ask him.

Thorin tilts his head and smiles at me.

"I'm fine, my angel."

I was not convinced and it showed as Thorin gently cups my right cheek with his hand.

"I'm fine Elaina."

I was about to say something when I heard someone start to sing. Turning slightly, I saw Bofur standing on a plinth next to the table Lord Elrond was using and was singing.

"There's an inn, there's an inn, there's a merry old inn

beneath an old grey hill,

And there they brew a beer so brown

That the Man in the Moon himself came down

one night to drink his fill.

The ostler has a tipsy cat

that plays a five-stringed fiddle,

And up and down he saws his bow

Now squeaking high, now purring low,

now sawing in the middle.

So the cat on the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle,

a jig that would wake the dead:

He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune,

While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon:

'It's after three!' he said."

I smile as every dwarf started singing alongside Bofur. I even saw Thorin stomp his foot in time with Bofur's song. I knew the elves were not amused but I wasn't worried. It was a nice change seeing everyone cheer up after what we all had been through.

"I love you." whispered Thorin, wraping his arm around my waist, pulling me towards his chest.

"I love you too." I replied, feeling Thorin kiss my neck.

I saw Bilbo get up as did Hetti.

"I think I shall have a look around," he glances at Lord Elrond "if that is alright with you?"

"Of course." smiled Lord Elrond.

"I'm coming too." Hetti said.

Bilbo smiled and I watch them both walk away from the balcony. In fact, nearly everyone went their own way. Apart from Lord Elrond, Gandalf, Loki Thorin and myself.

"Come and sit with us Elaina and Thorin," we both heard Gandalf say "You have plenty of time for showing affection for one another."

My cheeks flush at Gandalf's statement. I heard Thorin's growl and knew he wasn't impressed either. I felt his hand slip into mine as we walked back to the table and sat down again.

"It is an honour to finally meet you Lady Elaina." smiled Lord Elrond.

I was perplexed, how did he know who I was?

"Thank you." I reply shyly, not really knowing what else to say.

"I hear you've been living with Master Baggins," began Lord Elrond and I slowly nod my head wondering where this was leading "Lady Elaina, have you ever wondered why Master Baggins looked after you and your acquaintance, Lady Hetti?"

I furrow my brows, shaking my head.

"No." I admitted to Lord Elrond.

I felt Thorin's hand gently stroke my fingers, trying to reassure me that he was still here besides me.

"Have you always wondered who your real family were?" continued Lord Elrond.

I look at him and sigh, before saying,

"Until recently, I was content being Bilbo's adopted daughter but that all changed when I was astral projected on a cloud where there was a strange looking man who said he is my real father."

"Ah Zeus," smiled Lord Elrond "I have met him several times."

"I find him rather rude, especially towards Loki here!"

My brown eyes went on Loki, who was watching me back.

"I've heard much worse than that Elaina." grinned Loki.

I knew he was trying to relax me but I remember seeing him look so disant when Zeus questioned him about his own past.

"I think it is time you told Lady Elaina about her heritage Gandalf."

I returned my attention back on Lord Elrond, he had a somber look on his face.

"Very well," began Gandalf "Though I have never met your mother Alasse, I have met Zeus."

I listen and never interrupt him.

"You are a descendant to Varda."

My mind was completely blank and it was Thorin who brought me back to the present.

"What do you mean?" asked Thorin, watching Gandalf closely.

"Varda or her complete name is Varda Elentari and is one of the mightiest of the Valar." smiled Gandalf.

"Valar?" I asked him clearly confused.

"In the world you originally came from, you might have said things like 'Heavens above' that sort of thing." explained Gandalf.

"So Valar is like Heaven then?" I ask him.

"In a way yes," smiled Gandalf "Varda is your great, great, great, great, great grandmother and it was she that created the stars and was a true friend to all elves."

I listen in stunned silence. Was Gandalf telling me the truth?

"Soom claim, that when her husband Manwe sits next to her on their throne on Taniquetil, she is able to hear more clearly then any other ears. She can hear, prayers, laments of those in need from everywhere. Varda always helped those that needed help."

Until now, I had never heard her name before and for the first time I felt at peace with this new knowledge.

"In the drawings I have seen of Varda, she is too beautiful for words. She has passed her beauty onto you, Elaina." said Gandalf.

"I don't think that's true, but thanks all the same," I whispered, feeling embarrassed.

"I beg to differ." whispered Thorin, causing me to go even redder.

"Who is my great, greatfather? Do you know?" I finally ask

Gandalf looked at me wistfully then said,

"I did say earlier Elaina, His name is Manwe Sulimo. He was the greatest of the Ainur!"

"Ainur?"

"It means Holy One!" replied Lord Elrond.

I just nod my head.

"He is a king of Valar and lives atop Mount Taniquetil in Valinor, the highest mountain of the world. He was the greatest in authority and the greatest of the Aratar."

I just listen in complete silence to what Gandalf had said. Even more news that was confusing me.

"In time, you will understand Elaina," said Gandalf "and your power will grow."

Until that dark rider, I had no idea I had any power and it was scaring me.

"Elaina!" whispered Thorin but I took no notice of him, I was watching Gandalf.

"I never asked for this power!" I exclaimed.

"You have always had this power Elaina," replied Gandalf, softly "though it was dormont, until it was ready to show itself."

Thorin was watching me intently, with a worried look on his face.

"Your power saved us Elaina."

Again my eyes went on Gandalf's.

"No, you did all the work, that dark rider was to powerful."

Gandalf shook his head.

"No child, I only helped a little bit. It was you that pushed that rider back in the holy bubble."

My mind was going all over the place. The way I saw it, it was Gandalf who managed to put one of 'The Messengers' back, not me. I needed some time alone. All this new information was puzzling me.

"Please excuse me." I whispered, letting go of Thorin's hand before getting up and walk of away from the others.

When I was around the corner, I ran.

~~Thorin's POV~~

I look at the vacated spot where my angel was, then glared at Gandalf.

"You couldn't have waited a few hours," I huffed "Elaina was fine until you mentioned her power."

I got up but Loki stopped me.

"May I have a word with her first?"

I watch Loki, then nod my head.

"I will be with Elaina shortly." I remark to him.

Loki nodded and got up before walking in the direction Elaina had just vacated. Just because Elaina trusted Loki, I did not. There was something shifty about him. He really reminded me of Thranduil and that could be one of the reasons I didn't trust him.

Sighing, I sat back down but refused to talk to anyone.

o0o

~~Elaina's POV~~

I run into a room and look at the drawings of Sauron being defeated. I had noticed a broken sword and went up to it and a sudden feeling of someone watching me, made me turn my head.

On a chair was a young man, watching me intently.

'Great, I wanted to be alone and I bump into a stranger.' I thought to myself.

He had long dark brown hair, stubble beard and blue eyes and he was reading a book.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude." I say to him.

"No that's perfectly fine. Who were you running away from?" he asked.

'Ground, please swallow me up!' I thought.

"No one, I just wanted to be alone for while."

The man shut his book and placed it next to him.

"You are part of the new company?"

"Yes, that's right."

I was about to say something else when I heard footsteps and saw Loki approach me.

"There you are," Loki turned around and frowned "Estel!"

I look at them both in bewilderment.

"You know each other?" I asked Loki.

"On and of!" replied Loki, glaring at Estel.

I hated the way Loki was watching Estel so intervened

"Pleasure to meet you Estel, I'm Elaina Baggins!"

"It is an honour to meet your acquaintance Lady Elaina." smiled Estel, who was also watching Loki.

I watch him carefully and realise he was hiding something.

"You have another name," I whisper to him, seeing him look back at me. "Your real name is Aragorn."

"How did you know?" asked Aragorn watching Loki suspiciously.

"I have not told Elaina anything. She has the gift of foresight!" smirked Loki.

"It's true," I admitted to him "I see things in here!" I touch my forehead "I'm still getting used to seeing all these images."

"Elaina" said Loki gently "You don't have to explain."

"Yes I do Loki, as I somehow know that one day, Aragorn is going on a journey of his own."

"A journey," said Aragorn sounding curious "What journey?"

"Well that would spoil the surprise!" I remark.

"You sound just like Gandalf." laughed Aragorn, even Loki chuckled.

"No, he talks in riddles and mumbles gibberish when he thinks no one is not listening."

Aragorn noticed Loki watch me and said,

"I think I'll leave you two alone."

"You don't have to go on our account," I say to him "I'll go."

"No, I need to check up on something anyway. It was nice speaking to you Lady Elaina." said Aragorn walking of.

I thought it strange that Aragorn never acknowledged Loki then.

"Elaina," began Loki and I turn and faced him "We need to talk!"