Chapter Eleven: Moon Runes and More Meetings

Nine Days Later...

I sat with Thorin and the rest of the company to eat, after all cooking up dinner really stirred up my appetite.

It has been nine days since we arrived in Rivendell, during that time I had befriended many of the elves, taught Lúrëon a few recipes from my home, trained with the dwarves and managed to visit Wildfire in the stables in my spare time. I even began training Thorin in building better mental walls in his head so that the Dragon Sickness would have even less of an effect on him, Thorin and I meet in private to discuss more and more of plans for the quest and for rebuilding Erebor once it was reclaimed. Looking over at Thorin who sat between Fili and Dwalin, chatting away with either of them. I smiled as I was happy that Thorin and I were now in a better place of understanding with each other, I was right to suggest that Thorin be made aware of the outcome of his quest.

I also met up with Lord Elrond very often for tea where we exchanged books and stories with each other, I remained distant from Lord Elrond but I still treated him with respect as he was our host, and we were in his home. Lord Elrond showed interest in the medical books I exchanged with him, I even offered a few healing potions.

Wildfire has settled into Rivendell very well, in fact he had met a mare and now was expecting a foal. I didn't have the heart separate Wildfire from his mate and offspring so Lord Elrond promised that Wildfire would be cared for by the best.

A couple of hours after the meal and the sun had finally set, Thorin, Balin, Bilbo and I gathered with Gandalf and Lord Elrond in Elrond's study.

"Well then. Shall we?" Lord Elrond asked as he held out his hand to Thorin, as an indication for Thorin to once again hand over the map. Though hesitant, Thorin pulled the map out from the inside pocket of his coat before stepping closer to Elrond and handed the map over. Elrond bowed in thanks to Thorin before leading us through the halls and out on a cliffside under the waterfalls that acted like curtains, there at the edge of the cliff was a giant white crystal alter that overlooked the whole valley in a beautiful and tranquil nighttime ambiance. I looked to the side and saw a elven statue on each side before looking at the ground and saw a pattern carved into the cliffside floor, also of elvish design.

I caught up with the other as Elrond began to speak once again.

"It is as Lady Amara said. These runes were indeed written on a night just like this one." He said as he approached the alter and placed the map on it, looking up at the sky as the moon began to appear out from behind a cloud. The soft light of the moon shone through the waterfalls and down onto the crystal alter, which in turn began to glow a beautiful white light from under the map. It was this light that the moon runes began to appear on the map. 'So much cooler in person!' I thought as I stood by Thorin who was astounded to see the ancient runes of his ancestors appear on the map.

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the sitting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." Elrond read the runes on the map.

"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asked in confusion.

"It is the start of Dwarves New Year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together." I explained to Bilbo.

"Indeed, well done Amara." Gandalf praised at the fact that I actually knew a thing or two about the dwarves culture, but hey one doesn't spend as much time with a whole group of 13 dwarves and not learn a thing or two about them.

"This is ill news." Thorin said as he then turned to the rest of us and explained. "Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

"We still have time." Balin said as he stepped forward.

"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked, not understanding the situation.

"To find the entrance." Balin said before turning back to face Thorin and explained in easy terms to understand."We have to be stand in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then and only then can the door be opened."

"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?" Elrond asked looked over us until Thorin turned to him.

"What of it?" He asked, looking rather annoyed at the half-elf lord.

"There are some who would not deem it wise." Elrond said as he then handed the map back to Thorin.

"What do you mean?" Gnadlaf asked before Elrond then turned to Gandalf and said.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-Earth." And with that he left, Gandalf looked confused as the others and I then left. I bid my farewells to Thorin, Balin and Bilbo and retrned to my room, once there I got ready for bed but before going to sleep I reached into my item box and pulled out a beautifully crafted wooden box.

Lifting the lid, it was filled with crystal medallions that I had spent my evenings making for the dwarves. I had also imbued them with two very powerful spells that healed wounds and would cast protection barriers around the wearer, both mental and physical. And to ensure that the spells on the medallions were of the highest grade, I poured a sliver of my live essances into each of them. Not enough to make them a horcrux or anything like that, I wasn't that stupid.

I knew that the dwarves and Bilbo would have to go through the mountains and the goblin settlement where Bilbo will find the One Ring, and that the goblins would strip the dwarves of anything they deemed of value from them. So I had to wait until we all were at Beorn's house to give them their medallions.

I then closed the box and then stored it back into my item box, then I slipped into the soft sheets of the bed and laid my head down on their soft pillowed before falling asleep.

Later the Next Day...

I raced through the halls as I was in a rush to meet up with the dwarves for a training match, but then I crashed into someone and caused the two of us to fall to the ground.

"I'm sorry." I groaned as I got off the elf.

"No, my fault, my lady." The elf said, I then realised it was a male elf, but when I looked up I was stunned by who it was that I had crashed into... it was Haldir from Lothlorien, and in full armour. 'Holy crap! It's Haldir, Marchwarden of Lothlorien!' I thought as I struggled but managed to maintain a calm demeanor on my face, 'But wait if he's here then that means... Lady Galadriel's here too.' I then realised that tonight Gandalf would be summoned to a council meeting with Elrond, Galadriel and... Saruman.

I helped Haldir to his feet and apologized once more before realising that I was running even more late for my sparring session with the dwarves and then turned and ran down the halls, I made it to the training yards where Thorin was sparring with Dwalin... shirtless.

I almost swooned at the sight of Thorin's bare muscled chest as he fought Dwalin, but I snapped out of it as I saw Bilbo practising his swings with Sting in hand. I smiled as I walked over and offered to spar with him which he happily accepted.

We sparred for a few hours, trading partners with the dwarves and stopping every now and then for a short break before sparring again. I looked over at Thorin who was sitting on the side of the training ring, I walked over and placed one hand on his shoulder while reaching into my item box for a cold bottle of water then helded it out to him. He flashed me that dazzling smile as he took the bottle and drank it earnestly.

"Thorin, you need to know." I said as I leaned in closer to whisper in his ear. "Gandalf and Lord Elrond will be meeting with Saruman the white and Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien tonight, they will most likely call for me to join as well all the while trying to prevent you and the others from leaving."

"What do you suggest we do?" Thorin whispered back, making sure none of the other could hear us.

"While I'm attending the meeting, gather everyone else and sneak out before the sunrise. Put as much distance between you and here as you can. Gandalf and I will join you as soon as we are able."

"Are you sure?" He asked, looking at me for confirmation.

"Yes." I said with a nod before looking at the time with my status file, "I better go, gotta help cook dinner tonight." I leaned away and placed a hand on Thorin's cheek before saying. "Be careful, all of you."

The look of confusion and surprise on Thorin's face remained for only a few seconds before he smiled and nodded before replying. "Aye, we will." He said, my knees felt weak at the husky tone of his voice, I smiled before pulling my hand away and then with a snap of my fingers, my body was clean and fresh as if I just got out of a bath and I made my way to the kitchens to cook dinner with the staff.

Hours Later...

Bilbo's POV

I could hear the sound of the dwarves laughing as I climbed the stairs till I reached the middle, which gave me a perfect veiw of a large stone gazebo atop of a flight of stairs just on the otherside of the stream below. Then I heard the sound of Gandalf's voice.

"Of course I was going to tell you. I was waiting for this very chance. And really, I think you can trust I know what I'm doing."

I looked over and saw Gandalf and Amara walking along the paths with Lord Elrond, I saw that Lord Elrond seemed to be annoyed while Amara seemed like she was determined about something. I wanted to hear more so I stood where I was and watched them

"Do you? That dragon has slept for 60 years. What will happen if you plan should fail, if you wake that beast?"

"What if we succeed? If the dwarves take back the mountain our defenses in the east will be strengthened."

"It is a dangerous move, Gandalf."

"It is also dangerous to do nothing." Amara's voice then called out, "The throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright, it's his choice to face the dragon or not. What is it you fear?" I began to turn away but then saw Thorin standing behind me looking out on them too.

"Do you not know?" Lord Elrond said to Amara. "A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumed to the same sickness. Cna you swear that Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?" I was about to turn away but then...

"Yes I can." Amara's voice said, I turned back to watch as they all began to climb the stairs to the stone gazebo atop the hill. "Thorin is not his father or grandfather, he is his own person and I have faith that he will not fall to the sickness you speak of." I turned to see Thorin looking out at Amara in shock and what seemed to be gratitude in his eyes, then Lord elrond's voice rang out again.

"My dear, these decision do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or me or Gandalf to redraw the map of Middle-Earth."

I turned to Thorin who looked enraged at Lord Elrond's words before he then turned around to me and told me:

"Gather you gear, we'll be leaving soon." He said before he then made his way to the rest of the company, I knew what this was about and went to gather my gear. As I packed up and gathered with the other dwarves, Thorin then explained that Gandalf and Amara would catch up with us when they could and that we were to go on without them.

I looked to the stone gazebo where I believed Amara to be and prayed that she join us soon.

Amara's POV

I followed both Gandalf and Lord Elrond up the stairs, almost panting at the steepness of them as it reminded me of all the stairs that I had to climb at my boarding school back home. I knew who to expect and I kept my mental shields up as I did not want Lady Galadriel to snoop in on my private thoughts.

"With or without our help, these dwarves will march on the mountain. They are determined to reclaim their homeland." Gandalf said as we reached the top of the stairs and stood at the entrance of the Gazebo. "I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he is aswerable to anyone. Nor, for that matter, am I."

"Or me." I said with a raise of my hand as I stood by Gandalf's side.

"It is not me you both must answer to." Elrond said before turning his gaze ahead, Gandalf and I turned to see a female elf staning on the edge of the platform before smoothly and effortlessly turning around to face us. 'Holy cow, it's Galadriel!' I thought to myself as I struggled to maintain my calm composure, I wasn't going to go all fangirl on the ever wise and all seeing elven warrior/telepath.

Gandalf stepped forward. "Lady Galadriel."

"Mithrandir." Galadrien said before she then spoke in elvish, even though I could now understand it perfectly. "It has been a long time."

"Age may have changed me but not the Lady of Lorien." Gandalf said with a bow, Galadriel's lips then formed a soft smile before Gandalf then turned to Elrond as he said. "I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you."

"He didn't. I did." A voice from behind me said, I turned around and saw the one person I knew would betray all of Middle-Earth in the future. 'Saruman! Best be on my guard!' I thought as I clutched my fists by my sides, working to control the urge to kill him before he ever has the chance to betray anyone. but I knew I couldn't as he would be needed soon enough.

Gandalf turned and smiled at the white wizard that he currently called his friend and greeted him warmly. "Saruman."

Saruman looked at Gandalf with a neutral smile as he said. "You've been busy of late, my friend."