▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐎𝐟 𝐃𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎ELLARIA RODE BACK with her father and his men. When they arrived at their home, the men immediately began circling a group of people that were awaiting their arrival. A group of dwarves to be exact. Ellaria watched curiously before her eyes spotted Gandalf and she smiled brightly. She and Elrond moved their horses to the front so that the attention was on them.

"Gandalf!" Elrond greeted.

"Lord Elrond." Gandalf smiled back. He looked to Ellaria, giving the slight bow of his head. "Princess Ellaria."

Ellaria gave a small head bow back. "Gandalf."

Gandalf took a step forwards, his gaze focused on Elrond. "My friend. Where have you been?"

Elrond responded, "We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the south." He removed himself from his horse, holding out a hand to Ellaria who took it as he helped her down. "We slew a number near the hidden pass." He walked up to Gandalf and the two friends exchanged a hug. He went back to the normal tongue as he said, "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something or someone has drawn them near." He walked forwards, handing one of the men his weapon as Ellaria did the same.

"Ah, that may have been us." Gandalf said.

A dwarf stepped forwards, one that looked to be the leader of the group. He had long dark hair, a full beard, and a look to him that Ellaria couldn't quite decipher. She placed her hands in front of her as her father stepped forwards towards the dwarf. "Welcome, Thorin, son Thrain."

"I do not believe we have met." Thorin replied, his voice deep and untrusting.

Elrond smiled. "You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the mountain."

"Indeed." Thorin said, staring at Elrond. "He made no mention of you." The disgust in his tone made Ellaria straighten her shoulders. Her father responded in Elvish and Ellaria cracked a small smile, glancing down at her feet.

"What is he sayin'?" One of the dwarves ground, his red hairs covering his head and reaching past his shoulders. He had a fluffy beard and a mean look to him. "Does he offer us an insult?!"

Ellaria snapped her gaze towards the dwarf as he took a step forwards. Ellaria smiled dangerously. "Watch your tone, dwarf."

Gandalf stepped in. "No, Master Gloin, he's offering you food."

Naturally, Elrond and Ellaria watched in amusement. The dwarves talked amongst themselves for a moment before Gloin looked at them and said, "Ah, well, in that case, lead on."

"Ellaria, if you wouldn't mind showing our guest to their feast." Elrond said, glancing at Ellaria. Ellaria nodded before turning and walking up the stairs. The dwarves followed her and she lead them to their feast. When they were settled she went in search for her father and Gandalf, walking up to them when she found them.

"Kind of you to invite us." Gandalf spoke, Elrond glancing back at him. "Not really dressed for dinner."

"Well, you never are." Elrond replied, walking up the steps that lead to the feast. Gandalf chuckled.

"You didn't tell me you invited them." Ellaria commented, walking at her fathers side.

Elrond looked at his daughter. "You didn't ask." Ellaria scoffed but a small smile pulled on her lips. Elrond, Ellaria, and Gandalf all set down at a separate table with Thorin. Elrond grabbed the blade Thorin had on him, examining it. "This is orcrist, the Goblin-Clever, a famous blade, forged by the high elves of the west." He flipped the sword handle up, handing it back to Thorin. "My kin. May it serve you well."

Thorin gave a small nod as Elrond grabbed another sword. "And this glamdring. . . the Foehammer." He pulled it out to examine the blade before putting it back in its holder. "Sword of the King of Gondolin. These swords were made for the goblin wars of the first age." Elrond looked at Gandalf. "How did you come by these?"

"We found them in a troll-hoard on the great east road." Gandalf answered. "Shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs."

"And what were you doing on the great east road?" Elrond asked.

Thorin looked up, a dangerous look in his eyes. Ellaria glanced at the dwarf before looking at her father. "May I see the blade?" Elrond handed it to her. Ellaria took it, pulling the blade out fully, setting the holder in her lap. She ran her hand over the blade, allowing the light to glint off it before holding it up. "This blade has seen many battles, coated with many souls."

Thorin looked at her. "How would you know?"

Ellaria looked at him, putting the sword back into its holder and handing it back to her father. "I just know."

✧༺♥༻∞✧༺♥༻∞

━︎━︎━━︎︎"OUR BUISNESS IS no concern of elves." Thorin practically snarled. Night had fallen, the dwarves were standing there along with the hobbit that had traveled with them.

"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map." Gandalf sighed.

Ellaria smiled in amusement. "You do not like our kind very much, do you?"

Thorin sent her a glare before turning back to Gandalf. "It is the legacy of my people. It is mine to protect, as are its secrets."

"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves!" Gandalf scoffed. "Your pride will be your downfall. You stand here in the presence of one of the few in Middle-Earth who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond." Thorin reached in his vest pocket, pulling out the map and pushing away the white haired dwarf that tried to stop him.

Elrond opened the map and Ellaria furrowed her brows as she looked at it. "Erebor?" Elrond asked. "What is your interest in this map?"

Thorin opened his mouth to speak but Gandalf beat him to it. "It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text." Elrond turned and walked away, Ellaria couldn't help herself as she followed after him. "You still read in Ancient Dwarvish do you not?"

Elrond didn't respond, letting the moonlight hit the map. His eyes examined the map before he spoke out loud in Dwarvish, "Cirth Ithil."

Ellaria, recognizing the term, furrowed her brows. "Moon runes?"

"Of course," Gandalf breathed in realization. He looked at the hobbit saying, "An easy thing to miss."

"Well, in this case, that is true." Elrond agreed. "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."

"Can you read them?" Throin asked.

Ellaria exchanged a look with her father before they began walking towards and open area with a falling waterfall. "These runes were written on a midsummer's eve by the light of a crescent moon nearly 200 years ago." He placed the map on a glass stone sitting at the edge of the opening. "It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell." He looked to Thorin. "Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight."

Ellaria stared down at the map, watching as the runes revealed themselves in the moonlight. She could recognize some of the words, but most were unknown to her. Unlike her father, she wasn't completely educated in Dwarvish, but she knew enough to make conversation. "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole."

The hobbit turned to the white haired dwarf and asked, "Durin's Day?"

"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 him before looking at Elrond. "This is ill news."

Thorin shook his head. "Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

The white haired dwarf walked forwards. "We still have time."

The hobbit furrowed his brows. "Time? For what?"

"To find the entrance." The white haired dwarf---Ellaria really needed to learn their names---turned to Thorin. "We have to be standing 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?" asked Elrond.

Thorin looked at him. "What of it?"

"There are some who would not deem it wise."

Thorin took the map from him as Gandalf asked, "What do you mean?"

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-Earth." Elrond said before walking away. Ellaria frowned as she looked at the dwarves before her father ordered, "Ellaria, come."

Ellaria listened, turning and following after her father. He waited for her to join his side before they began walking. "They will leave tomorrow." Ellaria told her father. "I can see it in their faces. They do not like us."

"Dwarves and Elves have never coincided, you know this." Elrond explained.

Ellaria nodded. "I know."

Elrond stopped, turning to face his daughter. He examined her face for a moment. "You mean to leave with them?"

"I mean to help them."

They continued walking. "They will not take kindly to their presence."

"I know enough Dwarvish to understand and help, I can fight my own battles and can be an extra helping hand. But if they're going to the mountain, you know their journey. You know where they have to go."

Elrond sighed as he looked at his daughter. "If this is what you wish, then you may go."

Ellaria nodded. "It is what I wish."

"In that case, do keep watchful. You can not trust them."

"I know." Ellaria pressed a kiss to her fathers cheek. "Goodnight, father." Ellaria turned and walked away, heading to her room and prepping herself a bag for the adventure that was about to come her way.

AUTHORS NOTE: Just in case no one caught it, 95% of the time if they are speaking and their words are italicized that means they're talking in elvish!