CHAPTER 11 | MOON RUNES

SUFFICE it to say, Ygritte had been surprised when Thorin agreed to meet with Lord Elrond later that night to talk and to╶ hopefully╶ show him their map. He was being stubborn, as per usual, but Ygritte was convinced that Aninth had some how gotten through to him when they both left the table. She had narrowed her eyes in suspicion as she stared between Aninth and Thorin when they returned, wondering how in Middle Earth Aninth had gotten him to act ... pleasant. Or at least fake some politeness towards the Elves.

Ygritte had her assumptions, of course, but she kept quiet and simply observed them from afar. After all, they really needed to know what was hidden on the map.

"Our business is no concern of Elves," Thorin said gruffly, causing Ygritte to roll her eyes from where she stood next to her father.

"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map," Gandalf urged. Ygritte wasn't sure if anyone had heard it or not, but the tone her father spoke with carried hints of impatience and annoyance. Both of which were obviously directed toward Thorin.

"It is the legacy of my people," Thorin said, "it is mine to protect, as are its secrets."

"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves," Gandalf sighed and Ygritte couldn't help but agree. "Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few people in Middle Earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond."

Ygritte was fighting the urge to walk over and rip it from Thorin's inner pocket herself. She kept her arms crossed and pinched her stomach to stop herself from moving forward.

"You have to get past the parts you don't like, Thorin, or you'll never get to the parts you like," Aninth reminded him. "You may not like this part, but you will like it if we find that there is something useful hidden on the map."

There was a pause. Then Thorin reached into his vest and pulled out the map, standing from his position against one of the pillars as he did so. Balin protested, but Thorin brushed off the elder Dwarf's words as he approached Lord Elrond and handed him the map. Ygritte couldn't help but look to Aninth, whom was nodding in approval. Again, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion and wondered what happened between them. For days they've been acting as though they're mortal enemies, yet now Thorin was listening to her. Somehow she had acquired his attention. And not knowing what had happened was killing Ygritte.

Ygritte tore her gaze away when Elrond began to unfold the map and examine it carefully. Then his eyes widened in recognition. "Erebor. What is your interest in this map?"

Thorin opened his mouth to respond, probably to tell him it was none of his business, if Ygritte were to guess. So, as to save Lord Elrond from Thorin's sharp tongue, she decided to speak up.

"It's mainly academic," she said, speaking rather quickly.

Elrond met her gaze. She tried her hardest to keep her face emotionless and her eyes steady as she stated towards him. After all, he always could tell when she was lying.

It had began when she was a child. While her mother and Lord Elrond were speaking, she had decided to visit Isobel╶ a kind Elven women╶ in the kitchens, where she swiped herself a few treats. Her mother had spotted the crumbs on the corner of her mouth and proceeded to question her. She was able to lie so smoothly, but as soon as Lord Elrond questioned her, her lie faded and she succumbed to the truth. Young Ygritte had been punished with no more dessert for the rest of the day, including after they had supper since she hadn't asked. Since then, Elrond had learned to spot a lie in her eyes. He claimed there was always a gleam when she would speak falsely, a gleam she was hoping he wouldn't see right now.

Lucky for her, though, her father seemed to notice what she was doing. "Yes," Gandalf nodded, "exactly as my daughter said. As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text."

Elrond turned, map in hand, and Thorin gave Ygritte and Gandalf a grateful look.

"You still read Ancient Dwarvish, do you not?" Gandalf asked Elrond.

The Elf Lord held the map up to the moonlight streaming in through the open terrace and the ornately carved arches there. After a moment, he began to speak in Elvish, as though reading off the map, causing Ygritte's brows to furrow. She had seen the map many times before and never once noticed that Elvish was written on it.

"Cirth Ithil," are the words he uttered in the Elven language.

Ygritte immediately knew what they meant, though it was her father whom spoke amoungst them. "Moon runes?" said Gandalf, "of course. An easy thing to miss."

"Well, in this case, that is true," Elrond said, "moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as the day on which they were written."

Ygritte raised a brow and her lips parted. How could I be so daft? As she peered across the way to the moon runes that Elrond was speaking of, it suddenly all made sense. When she was such a small child, her mother used to tell her stories. One even included that of moon runes. In the pages of the story her mother had read her, there were even scribbles of them. Yet years later and when she had stared at the map countless of times, she didn't remember.

Her lips dipped down in a frown in that moment. Was she ... forgetting her mother? Her heart tightened at the thought and she was utterly thankful for Thorin's voice to interrupt her thoughts.

"Can you read them?" Thorin asked hesitantly.

Elrond gave them all a smirk and turned his back to them once more, walking away from them. Ygritte wiped at her eyes╶ that had quickly become glossy with her thoughts╶ before they all followed after him. She knew the smirk had meant that he knew how to read them. After all, Lord Elrond was the one who helped her mother study the symbols so that Melisandre could read her some stories and help Ygritte better understand what was going on in the novels.

Ygritte looked to her father as they walked. He seemed just as confused as the rest of the company, meaning her mother never told him about learning to read moon runes. Not that Melisandre would have time to, given how long Gandalf would be gone for from time to time. Ygritte could barely remember a time from her childhood where her father stayed at home for more than a year.

Lord Elrond lead them through Rivendell until they reached a lower cliff beneath one of the waterfalls in the city. The scenery was beautiful and one that Ygritte most certainly remembered. Her mother had brought her to this waterfall so many times when she was a child. They would often sit on the ground, have a quiet lunch and simply observe the beautiful view while their toes dangled over the edge. The memories that quickly invaded her brain brought a smile to Ygritte's face.

She was certain her father had noticed the teary-eyed smile, considering how he placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze while walking by her to stand closer to Elrond, whom was walking toward a small table that was made entirely of a translucent white crystal that appeared to be growing out of the rock. The table was new, Ygritte realized, as she couldn't remember it being there as a child.

"These runes were written on a Midsummer's Eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago," Elrond explained as he approached the table and set the map down upon it. "It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight."

Ygritte's eyes widened tremendously and she let out a small, quiet laugh in disbelief, unable to believe it. Were we really that lucky?

Aninth seemed to think the same. Her jaw dropped open and she said with wide eyes, "You are joking?"

"I am not, daughter of Alio," Elrond answered.

The clouds then cleared, revealing a crescent moon. It's beams reached towards them and hit the crystal table, causing it to glow. The light twinkled in Ygritte's eyes as she let out a breath, awestruck. The moonlight filled the crystal with its light, and as it did, bright runes shone through the map. Everyone took a step closer.

"'Stand by the gray stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole,'" Elrond read.

"Durin's Day?" asked Bilbo.

"It is the start of the Dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together," Gandalf answered.

"This is ill news," Thorin said, "summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

"We still have time," Balin assured him.

"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked.

"To find the entrance," Balin explained. "We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened."

"If we fall behind schedule, I will gladly take someone ahead. We can find the door and open it, then wait for the others to catch up," Aninth offered. Ygritte perked up at this idea. If no one would agree, she would happily take Aninth up on the offer. Her adventurous heart was suddenly thumping rapidly against her chest at the thought of getting the chance to ride Ryvniss.

"I may not seem it, but I am capable of travelling very fast," Aninth continued.

"You will not need to do that, lass. We can make it," said Balin, and Ygritte frowned in his direction, for how the chance had been taken away from her.

"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?" Elrond questioned.

"What of it?" Thorin asked.

"There are some who would not deem it wise," Elrond answered, handing the map back. Thorin took it back sharply.

"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle Earth," Elrond said simply, turning and walking away from them then.