An Unexpected Journey

Chapter Sixteen: Waking in Rivendell

Thalia furrowed her brow slowly starting to come aware of her surroundings, she made a small noise of annoyance as she flexed her fingers; her shoulder no longer hurt and she wasn’t sure why she was laying on a comfortable bed, for a moment she wondered if she had been sent home.

Carefully opening her blue eyes, Thalia blinked looking around the room where she had been laying in rest; her memory was slightly foggy about how she had gotten there and what had happened after she had saved Kíli from the orc’s arrow.

“It’s nice to see you awake Thalia,” said a voice making Thalia scowl as she turned to glare at Gandalf, he was the last person that she wanted to see now that she had woken up; she had hoped that maybe Balin had stuck around since he was the company doctor.

Gandalf stared at Thalia in wonder as he thought about Lord Elrond had told him about treating Thalia’s injury, there was something more to her and he was sure that while they were in Rivendell he would be able to discover what.

“This is our host Lord Elrond, he is the one that healed you,” Gandalf said introducing the elf that stood just off to the side, he wasn’t the only one who had questions about Thalia that needed to be answered.

Thalia turned her gaze from Gandalf to look at the elf, she knew that the dwarves wouldn’t be happy to be in his home and she hoped that they hadn’t left her behind with the annoying wizard; she wasn’t sure that she could handle his curious ways.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Thalia said carefully pushing herself up, she was a little surprised to find that she was wearing her red check pyjamas; she wondered for a moment were her traveling clothes had gone and who had her bag.

“The pleasure is mine Thalia Graceful Hunter,” Lord Elrond said nodding his head at the blonde, his blue eyes watching her curiously as he pondered who she could be; he already had another from her world staying with him and he was curious if he’d be able to help them with her.

Thalia bite back a groan at her name, she wasn’t sure why people kept getting it wrong and no matter how much she had tried to correct the dwarves; they didn’t seem to understand where they were going wrong.

“Thank you for healing me,” Thalia said nodding at the elven lord, she had heard a lot about how much the dwarves disliked them but she wasn’t sure how to interact with one now that she was in the same room as one.

Lord Elrond shared a look with Gandalf, he wanted to know more about the mortal witch that the wizard had stolen from another world; he wasn’t too pleased with what the grey wizard had done and he was sure that the white council would want to know why he had done this.

“I barely did anything my lady… it was your strange ability with water that healed you,” Lord Elrond said watching her, he had never seen anything like it before and he wanted to ask her about her strange ability but he was aware that she needed rest.

Thalia swallowed shifting uncomfortably, the last thing that she wanted to do was to reveal all of her secrets to the two nosey men.

***

Thorin huffed annoyed glaring at another passing elf, he was far from pleased that he had yet to see Thalia; he had carried her to the city after she had passed out since the wizard had been determined that the seek help from the elves in spite of everything that had happened.

“She’s in good hands Thorin… Lord Elrond is a fine healer,” Balin said trying to calm his friend, he had been watching the dwarf king pace for the last half an hour and it was clear that he had grown attached to the blonde witch.

Thalia had slowly wormed her way into the heart of the company and they all worried for her now that she was hurt.

Thorin muttered under his breath as he wondered what was taking so long, he knew that Gandalf was with her while the elf lord treated her but that didn’t take away his worry; the wizard had barely blinked when she had passed out.

“I heard Gandalf say that they had someone else from her world here,” Bofur said sitting next to his brother and cousin, he watched Thorin knowing that they were all curious and worried for Thalia but he had never seen the king like this before.

“Then the sooner we leave the better,” Thorin muttered, he didn’t want the elves thinking that they could take their witch; she was part of his company and he wasn’t going to allow the elves to start a collection.

The company fell into silence as they wondered about why they wouldn’t be able to see Thalia, the elves were keeping her hidden away and they didn’t like it; there was clearly something going on and they wanted to know what it was.

“What do you think they want with Thalia?” Bilbo asked worried, he had been so excited to meet with the elves but only for the fact that they were now holding the blonde witch hostage was he not enjoying the trip; he looked around as everyone seemed thoughtful about his question.

“We don’t know lad… but whatever the tree shaggers want with her it can’t be good,” Dwalin said making the group mutter in agreement, he looked at Thorin wondering how they were going to rescue their witch and escape.

***

Thalia muttered under her breath annoyed glaring at Gandalf, he was ignoring her angry look since she had already tried to get out of bed and had been told in no uncertain terms that she shouldn’t.

“I have an old friend that is coming to see you… he is from your world,” Lord Elrond said watching Thalia, he was sure the other realmer that was staying with him would be able to help them with her; she wasn’t like the other humans that had come before her.

Thalia crossed her arms glaring at the elf, she had a sinking feeling that she was missing something right now and she didn’t like it; she hadn’t been allowed to see the dwarves and Gandalf had been asking her a lot about her life back on her world.

A knock at the door made Lord Elrond smile as he moved to open the door, he didn’t want any of the dwarves interfering since he wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery that was Thalia Graceful Hunter.

Outside of the door stood Edward Collins, he was wearing a set of elegant robes that indicated that he was a high ranking member of the elfish community.

“Lord Elrond, what can I do for you?” Edward said nodding his head in greeting, he smiled pleasantly as he stepped into the room; he wasn’t all too sure why he had been summoned but he stopped when his blue eyes landed on Thalia.

Thalia shifted uncomfortably as she felt a horrible feeling sweep over her, there was something about the man that had entered the room; he clearly wasn’t human nor was he elf.

“Thalia Graceful Hunter… this is Edward son of Athena,” Lord Elrond said proudly introducing the glaring demi-god to the witch, he could already see that Edward knew something that they didn’t.

Edward stared in disgust, he couldn’t believe that he had been summoned to stand in the same room as the woman before her; there was no doubting who she was.