Ellendil

A most peculiar company

Ellendil charged toward the bridge still on horseback, the Rivendell watch mounted on steeds all around her as they neared the kingdom. Rivendell was built into the valley as if it belonged as much as the lakes and trees did to the earth. It was beautiful, and Elle longed to see it from time to time so she returned with the watch on this day. She wouldn't miss this. Elrond rode with them, and led the watch toward the nearing bridge that would take them to the gates, and apparently to the dwarves that had chosen to stop on the other side. 'Ahenna drenathra!' Lord Elrond boomed and the elves of the watch drew out their long intricate bows and knocked in arrows. Elle did too, not that she didn't know they wouldn't be using them on this peculiar company. She predicted they would instead have a good old go at each other with insults, as was the usual between the two races. The dwarves started to protest and draw weapons at the elves approach. 'Mallen pelu n'allaquel en sen' Lord Elrond commanded, as his horse slowed an passed into the middle of the group. They reached the bridge and passed across three horses abreast until they were all gathered on the other side circling the dwarf company. Gandalf had his back to them, but stopped his conversation with the baffled gate keeper and turned to see the arrival of the elves. Gandalf didn't seem too startled to see the watch at all. When he saw Elrond approach he smiled warmly, as Elle had once remembered. How she had missed him. 'Lord Elrond, it has been a great many years since I have saw you my friend.' said Gandalf, respectfully lowering his eyes as Lord Elrond dismounted.
'I believe it has, I am most happy to see you...but I may have to inquire about your choice of company.' Lord Elrond replied with a hint of amusement in his voice. Gandalf let out a quick smile and began talking again swiftly.
'My lord Elrond, it is my pleasure to introduce the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield.' said Gandalf, signalling to the dwarf prince who emerged from the centre of the huddle the dwarves had made.
That's where the tensions arose, as Elle has suspected and Thorin replied to Elrond's well intended points of knowing his father to be honourable with remarks of Thrain never mentioning him. Elle didn't listen to this much, she knew very well why these ill greeting were taking place, and was instead more closely inspecting the members of the company. Her inspections were interrupted by Gandalf's booming voice.
'Im afraid we are in need of your help, all will be explained when we are in surroundings more fit for what I have to tell you.' Gandalf declared gravely and Elrond immediately nodded and spoke to Gandalf in elvish tongue, speaking of prepared food for the weary dwarves. One grey haired stout dwarf with something ridiculous sticking out from his ear boomed from the centre of the tight circle the company had made when the elven watch arrived. 'What does he say? Does he offer us insult?!' This particular dwarf shouted and was soon joined in uproar from the others.
'No master Oin, he offers you food.' Gandalf chuckled to the party and the mood quickly changed as the dwarves decided this would fit them quite well and they all started to head inside the gates of the glorious Rivendell.
Gandalf hadn't seen Elle yet, she'd made sure to stay near the back. Gandalf was bound to know she would return to see him, perhaps he had recognised her arrows in the fallen wargs and orcs by the pass. He had once warned Elle of those in Thorins company who would not be keen of her knowing of the oncoming quest, most especially Thorin himself. Elle swung from her saddle and slipped silently away to the stables knowing she would reveal herself soon enough after talking with Gandalf, but for now she was to linger in the shadows to watch these most intriguing of guests. There was one in particular she was most interested to speak too. Ellendil had seen his arrival, she knew his name. A hobbit of the Shire named Bilbo Baggins.

The dwarf company had been gathered around in the west tower with tables and woven chairs set out for them, along with Gandalf and Lord Elrond who sat with Thorin Oakenshield as they spoke somewhat uncomfortably. They were given a 'feast' of green lettuce leaf from the gardens and other sorts of food deemed awful by the dwarves. Ellendil smiled as she saw them pick at the spread, looking terribly out of place. Their surroundings were beautiful, the tower in which they feasted looked out into the lush valley of Rivendell and onto waterfalls and the oldest of trees. The music the elves were playing around them sang of the never ceasing beauty of the kingdom, yet the dwarves paid it no heed, except a couple of grimaces at the flute playing. Despite this, they seemed brilliant company to her. Instead they found beauty in the merry times shared with each other and of course in the meat that comes right from the bone. Many times Elle wondered about the fact she believed she was more like a dwarf or any other middle earth race rather than the elf she was. Elegance didn't have a place with her yet hearty laughter did, graceful words and flowing speech hadn't fallen from her mouth without force. No, Elle had more of a sharp wit and a smart tongue that got her into extremely undesirable situations nearly all of the time. She was wise but incredibly foolish. She was not what the elven community expected she would be, so she didn't feel like she belonged. A gift like hers was better suited to someone like the high elves of Lorien, Elle figured. She was often alone, which was better she supposed. She preferred solitary rides along mountains and through forests. She was a ranger, daughter of the wild was her only title out there, she was who she wanted to be out in the wilderness. Elle watched the dwarves from the above balcony of vines and arches that connected the two uppermost turrets of the kingdom. She recognised the dwarf she had fought beside at the hidden pass, looking terribly embarrassed as his comrades laughed hysterically, clearly at something he had done. Damn she'd missed it. She saw what caused their laughter as it came from their mouths- bright swirling mist that painted the events that had passed that had caused their friend so much embarrassment. She wanted to see. She followed the mist painting. Oh, oh dear. Definitely not a dwarf maid, nope. The images the mist brought to life told her that this poor thing had commented on the particular beauty of what he thought was a breath taking elf maid, that in fact turned out to be a perfectly male elf. God this dwarf was something foolish. Her gift as it was called allowed her to see things that were hidden to others, she could see feelings and experiences, thoughts, people, things yet to happen and the like. Elves could do this better than other races but she could do it to an incredible level, they all called it a beautiful gift, she called it intuition, but whatever. She had not yet mastered it and so figured there was much to learn. Suddenly a high pitched laughter sounded out through the light air and interrupted her thought. It took her a moment to realise that it had been her laughter. She must of found Kooli's embarrassment more funny than she'd thought. The dwarves had been talking too loudly amongst themselves to hear her outburst but the dwarf with the apparent like for elf men sharply looked up and met Elle's eye and immediately stood up and continued to look right at her. She looked back, not knowing what to do. He wanted to talk with her and thank her for saving his life, she saw it in the way he looked at her. Elle could here the faint whispers in his head. She let out a quiet groan, she didn't handle these situations well. She tore herself away and stumbled quickly toward the left tower and opened the nearest door and stepped into the room beyond and closed it shut. She then proceeded to just stand there on the other side in the almost darkness. The room turned out to be a cluttered cupboard. 'Excellent plan, half wit.' Elle muttered to no one in particular.