Chapter Eight: A Passageway, Rivendell & Elven Hospitality
Slowly we all made our way through the passageway, Bombur getting stuck a couple of times but Bifur easily pushes him out and they continue on. Walking behind me was Bilbo and behind was Gandalf. I walked through the passage while looking up at the air as I could sense the powerful magic, and as I knew Bilbo could sense it too.
"Gandalf? Where are we?" He asked.
"You can feel it?" Gandalf asked before Bilbo replied.
"Yes. It feels like... well, like magic."
"I feel it too, Bilbo." I said as I turned back to face the two.
"And that's exactly what it is. A very powerful magic." Gandalf clarified to the two of us, but of course I knew that it was powerful magic even before Gandalf even told us.
The Dwalin's voice called out. "There's a light ahead." And with that I turned and continued through the passageway until I came to the end where all the dwarves gathered and looked out over the edge of the cliff to see the one place Thorin did not wish to go near.
After Bilbo exited the pathway, Gandalf followed and spoke. "The valley of Imladris. In the common tongue, it is known by another name."
"Rivendell." Bilbo said as he gazed in awe at the city he was only told about by his mother or read in books.
"Here lie the Last Homely House East of the Sea." Gandalf said, Thorin then turned and stepped closer to Gandalf looking pissed off.
"This is your plan all along. To seek refuge with our enemy?" He snared at the wizard.
"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will to be found in the valley is that which you bring yourself." Gandalf clarified, 'No argument from me.' I thought as I looked at the two knowing that Thorin would have no chance of getting past Gandalf's logic.
"You think the elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try and stop us." Thorin protested.
"Of course they will. But we have questions that need to be answered." Gandalf said as Thorin sighed as he lowered his head in defeat at the wizard's logic. "If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact. And respect. And no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me." Gandalf then walked past Thorin, Bilbo and I and began walking off down the side of the cliff where there was a pathway. Thorin followed as did the others, I turned to Bilbo as we shared a look before joining the others.
The trek down the cliffs was much easier than expected and Bilbo was close by to help me due to my wounded leg, but the closer we got to Rivendell the more and more beautiful it seemed to become that in the movies or even the books described.
As we walked across the bridge that overlooked a raging river underneath, I looked around as the mesmerising scenery took my breath away. I couldn't believe I was standing in Rivendell and breathing the clean air as the elves. While the architecture was lovey and perfect for Tolkien's world, I couldn't help but imagine all of the elf kingdoms I had seen in many other movies and anime in my childhood. But then I recalled the elf kingdom of Lothlorien, how it was much similar to all those anime but still kept true to Tolkien's vision.
The dwarves were gathered around but they all looked weary at being in a city of elves, these ones they saw as their enemies. Thorin stood close to Dwalin as he looked around with his guard up.
However, soon enough a voice called out. "Mithrandir." We all turned as a young male elf that I recognised as Lindir descended the stairs.
"Lindir." Gandalf greeted him before the two fell into a conversation.
"We heard you had crossed into the valley."
"I must speak with Lord Elrond."
"My lord Elrond is not here."
"Not here? Where is he?"
Then all of a sudden, the sound of a familiar horn rang through the air causing the entire company to turn to see a company of elves riding upon horseback approaching. Thorin called out in dwarvish before shouting in common.
"Close ranks!"
And with that as the elves got close and then began to circle around the company as if they were in a performance show. Around and around, they went until coming for a stop.
"Gandalf!" Lord Elrond called out to the elderly wizard, looking quite regal in his elven armour.
"Lord Elrond." Gandalf greeted his old friend. "My friend! Where have you been?"
"We've been hunting a pack of orcs that came up from the south. We slew a number near the Hidden Pass." Elrond said as he got off his horse and walked up to Gandalf giving him a quick embrace before pulling away. "Strange for orc to come so close to our boarders. Something or someone has drawn them near." He handed the orc sword to Lindir who bowed his head, before he turned back to face the rest of us.
"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf motioned to the company, Thorin the stepped forward to which Elrond turned welcomed him.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain." He said in a polite and non-prejudice way, that I assume he used to all his guests.
"I do not believe we have met."
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."
"Indeed? He made no mention of you." Thorin remarked as I wanted to slap him upside the head for his stupidity at not showing proper noble etiquette in a host's home, but I kept my cool as I watched Elrond stared at Thorin before speaking.
"Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests."
"What does he saying? Does he offer us insults?" Gloin snarled, and before Gandalf could clarify what Elrond said I quickly butted in.
"No. He said: Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests. He's just showing us some hospitality as any good host would." I explained, the dwarves looked at me and muttered amongst themselves before turning back to Gandalf and Lord Elrond.
"In that case, lead on." Gloin said and so everyone else began to follow.
"Very well, we will also arrange a bath for you if you wish to bathe before dinner." Lord Elrond said before turning to his aide. "Lindir, please escort the young lady to an empty room and have the servants draw her a bath as well."
"Yes, my lord." Lindir said as he motioned for me to follow.
"Hang on." I said before turning back to the guys and pulled out bath supplies and then use replication magic to create a kit for everyone. "There, for your bath." I smiled as Bilbo and all the dwarves smiled before Bilbo turned to me.
"Amara, have I ever told you how much I love your magic?" Bilbo said with a grateful smile.
"Not recently." I said jokingly. "I'll see you guys at dinner." I turned and followed Lindir to a beautiful room that made me think that this was what the gods of Olympus were used to living in. Shortly after Lindir left, two elven maids came with water for my bath but before they could offer to bathe me, I asked them to leave as I preferred to enjoy my bath alone, to which I was grateful they complied with.
Using my magic, I summoned an antique wardrobe and placed it not far from my bath as well as a folded screen for some privacy, once set up I slowly sank into the hot bath with a sigh of pleasure. I enjoyed the soak before I began to thoroughly wash the smell of troll, sweat and dirt out of my hair and skin, after 20-30 minutes of extensive scrubbing and rinsing I finally got out of the bath and began drying
I wrapped my body in a towel before stretching my limbs, feeling the tension in my whole body had faded away with the hot bath. 'Nothing like a hot bath after a long day of fighting and running.' I thought as I pulled out from my magic wardrobe and pulled out a few items of clothing: A light brown leather corset belt with matching boots, a white long-sleeve shirt and a plain light blue skirt.
Once dressed, I stored the wardrobe into my item box and sat on the bed before I began to style my hair. I saw in a mirror I conjured to see that my hair had grown a lot due to my magic accelerated its growth, it now was now halfway down my back and I used magic to dry it and style it into a halo braid crown.
After that, I then placed a simple wisteria hair ornament in my hair and then a simple teardrop diamond necklace on my neck before hearing a knock at my door. I quickly walked over and opened the door to see Lindir on the other side, he looked at me and seemed mesmerised for a split second before regaining his composure.
"Lady Amara, Lord Elrond asked that I escort you to the dining hall."
"Thank you, Master Lindir." I said with a smile. "I heard Gandalf call you by that name, so I assumed it was your actual name."
"It is indeed, my lady." He said as he then led me to the dining area, I looked around and watched as every member of the company turned to see me enter. Their looks were almost surprised as I walked past them, their mouths gapping open before I giggled and then turned to them.
"Guys, close your mouths. We are not a raging orc." I said before all their mouths quicky shut their mouths. "Thank you." I smiled at Lindir as I sat down at the main table with Thorin, Gandalf and Lord Elrond.
Gandalf took this time to introduce me to his old friend. "Lady Amara, allow me to introduce our host. Lord Elrond." I bowed my head in a polite way as I did not wish to insult the host in his home.
"It is a honour to meet you, Lady Amara. I am told by Gandalf that you are a very talented young woman who possesses a great deal of magic." Elrond said staring at me curiously, I turned and glared at Gandalf.
"I'm sure he has exaggerated on a few of the details." I said as Gandalf tried to look away innocently, like a child who was just caught with their hand in the cookie jar. "But it is true that I possess magic, it's actually one of the reasons I ran away from home." I turned back to the dish in front of me and I could feel their gaze on me, from all the Tolkien lore I have read it was said that Lord Elrond had the gift of foresight that allowed him to see the future. I didn't know if that was true or not but I prayed that he didn't see anything that about me.
Soon enough, both Gandalf and Thorin showed Lord Elrond the swords that they had found in the trolls cave. Elrond explained the details of each one before handing them back to their new owners.
"How did you come by these?" Elrond asked as he handed Glamdring to Gandalf
"We found them in a troll hoard on the Great East Road, shortly before we were ambushed by orcs."
"And what were you doing on the Great East Road?"
"Excuse me." Thorin said as he then stood and walked away from the table and towards the company, I knew that he wanted the elves to know nothing or our quest and in a small way I agreed with him.
I bowed as I left the table and also walked over to the company, but I walked over and knelt between Balin and Bilbo who greeted me warmly, I looked around and smiled at the rest of the company before noticing Nori begin to tuck something away in his pocket before I got up and placed a hand on his shoulder before Whispering in his ear:
"Put it back right now, Nori. Or you'll wake up without any hair on your head tomorrow."
The look in Nori's face went from smug thief to scared little boy. "Yes Ma'am." Nori said as he took the item out of his pocket and placed it back on the table, after travelling with these guys for a while I learnt that a dwarf's hair and beard were very sacred in their culture and to save it off was taboo.
I smiled as I remembered that Bofur would most likely get up and start singing before the rest of the dwarves would begin a food fight, I knew that I had to do something to prevent that, so I stood up and turned to Lord Elrond and Gandalf.
"Lord Elrond?" He looked over at me with a curious stare as I asked politely. "With your permission, will you allow me to sing a few songs from my homeland to appease the dwarves?"
He seemed to look curious as he then nodded his head and spoke. "I too would not mind hearing you sing, Lady Amara."
I smiled as I then stepped up to the stage with the musicians who nodded politely at me, after a quick but polite nod back at them I turned to face everyone else and then pulled out my guitar from my item box which shocked all the elves but to Gandalf and the company it was nothing new to see.
"This is a song from my home, it's based around a tragic story about two star-crossed lovers from two feuding families. Hope you all like it." I explained before I strummed at my guitar stings before I began to play Taylor Swift's Love Story, remembering the words I began to sing.
We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standin' there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, "Hello"
Little did I know
That you were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was cryin' on the staircase
Beggin' you, "Please don't go, " and I said
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
Looking around at all those in the room stop and stare in awe as I continue to play my guitar and sing. I poured my heart into each note and word as I sang.
So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while, oh oh
'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
But you were everything to me
I was beggin' you, "Please don't go, " and I said
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
Romeo, save me, they're tryna tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it's real
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
I watched as I saw Bilbo looking slightly sad as I recall telling him the story of Romeo & Juliet and its original ending. I came up to the final part of the song and continued to sing with all my heart, imagining that I was Juliet and was able to have a happily ever after instead of killing myself to be with my love.
Oh, oh
I got tired of waiting
Wonderin' if you were ever comin' around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town, and I said
Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said, "Marry me, Juliet
You'll never have to be alone
I love you and that's all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby, just say, "Yes"
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
'Cause we were both young when I first saw you
Once the song came to an end, the hall remained silent for a minute or two before Elrond began to clap which then started a full applauds from everyone else, I smiled as I placed my guitar back into my item box and stepped down from the platform. I looked over at Thorin as I then saw a look that seemed almost like he was thinking deeply about something before Gandalf cleared his throat and motioned me to join him and Elrond at the table.
The rest of the meal went off without any other problems from the dwarves, after I promised then that if they behaved, I would see about cooking something special tomorrow just for them. Which, no surprise, worked like magic.