Saving Durin {Hobbit/Thorin}

Chapter 12: A heart-to-heart

Chapter 12:

A heart-to-heart

That night we spend in Rivendell never seems to end. Gandalf, Thorin, Balin, Bilbo, and I decide to discuss the map with Elrond, following dinner. For all Gandalf knows, Elrond is the only living person who can translate the ancient language of the dwarves. However, Thorin is, once again, being stubborn to his own detriment, as he will not "relinquish his secrets to the elves." So there we sit, within a secret chamber in Rivendell, Gandalf and I reasoning with the dwarf king, Bilbo looking around in awe, Balin sitting idly by, and Elrond trying to discover our intentions. You can say that Thorin has an amazing talent to get the company into very awkward situations.

"Our business is no concern of elves," Thorin claims, causing both Gandalf and I to roll our eyes. It's as if the dwarf does not want to reach his home.

"For goodness sake, Thorin, show him the map," Gandalf says, finally losing his temper to the dwarf's stubbornness. I am surprised that it took this long, for I lost it on arrival.

"It is the legacy of my people; it is mine to protect, as are its secrets," replies the dwarf king.

"So you plan to wander Middle Earth without direction for the coming months? Honestly, Thorin, if you do not show Elrond the map, that will be our fate!" I shout at the dwarf, losing my composure for the second time that day. I blame the dwarves, for I have never been this irritable.

"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves. 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," Gandalf commands the dwarf. Thorin finally takes the time to ponder our words as the group stares on at him. Deciding to take the logical path, Thorin goes to hand the old map to Elrond.

"Thorin, no!" Balin shouts at his king. The exclamation startles me as I would never expect the old dwarf to yell, nevertheless at his ruler. I hold Balin back as Thorin finally hands it over. Elrond takes a moment to look the map over, pausing slightly when he realizes the focus of the map

"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?" the nosy elf asks our company. Thorin goes to make a comment (probably rude) when Gandalf interrupts him, to my own relief.

"It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text. You still read Ancient Dwarvish, do you not?" Gandalf tells Elrond, effectively moving the subject of the conversation away from the purpose of our journey.

"Cirth Ithil," gasps Elrond as the light from the moon trickles down from the airy ceiling onto the dark map. From where I stand, I can see faint calligraphy glowing at the map's center.

"Moon runes. Of course. An easy thing to miss," Gandalf translates. I roll my eyes at him.

"You only say that because you missed them, Gray Wizard," I say, to which he nods.

"Well in this case, that is true; 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," informs Elrond as if reading from a textbook.

"Can you read them?" Thorin asks, getting to the point of the matter. His patience is clearly wearing thin and I expect him to snap from his politeness at any moment.

Elrond gestures for us to follow his long footsteps as he traverses down a multitude of similar passages through Rivendell. The air is saturated with the rich moonlight of summer nights, though we lose contact with it as we pass under arches and trusses. Soon enough, we reach our destination on a cliff overlooking magnificent waterfalls. If we were not here on official business, I might just feel relaxed.