Lady of Rivendell || Book 2 ||

Ch 3 ~ The Company of Thorin Oakenshield

Fíli said nothing, backing down from the challenge in my eyes.

My story had rattled them all, defying the very principles they had been raised upon. For a dwarf to befriend an elf was unheard of, and yet here was one of their own, and a royal lady too, who had done just that. And then kept it hidden many years since.

I pin my gaze on Thorin once more, but the leader of the company has nothing to say. Still, his eyes flash, as if his mind is running a mile a minute; weighing the probability of my words against what he already knows. I watch as reluctant concession slowly steals across his face.

Breaking my stare, he simply motions for the dwarves to leave the room.

They shuffle out in silence, Gandalf following with a quick cautionary glance thrown my way.

The dwarf-king and I are now alone.

He slides a piece of weathered parchment across the table to me.

"A contract," he explains in that grave voice of his. "Sign it, and you are bound to the Company of Thorin Oakenshield."

I raise a brow at his to-the-point attitude, but my mind is already made up. Before I can reach for the paper, however, his hand falls heavily upon it, pinning it to the wooden surface of the table underneath.

That weighted grey-eyed stare finds my eyes once more.

"I do not know why my sister befriended you," he murmurs, eyes thoughtful as they study my face. "But I trust her judgment."

Surprise washes over me. Here was something Dís had failed to mention. Distant cousin I had expected, but sister- that was something else entirely.

"And I will heed Gandalf's as well."

Rising from the table, he continues, "But be warned, Lady Celebríel. The quest for Erebor will not be an easy one. The path to reclaiming the Mountain is a road full of dangers. Should you sign this contract, you are bound to see it through. To completion or death."

His stony eyes flare. "I cannot promise that even an immortal elf will return. At least not the same."

A chill races down my spine, warning bells pealing in my head at his unsettling gaze, but I ignore them.

Quickly summoning some of my typical bravado, I give him a lazy smirk that doesn't quite reach my eyes. "In that case, I sign with pleasure."

And taking the pen and parchment from him before I can give it another thought, I ink my name on the dotted line.

~~~

The dwarves are promptly brought back in and introduced to me, one by one.

First Balin, the older-looking chap with the snow-white beard who had been the only one not to pass hasty judgment on me earlier. I give him a thankful smile for that.

His brother follows, a moodier fellow who introduces himself as Dwalin. He is the tallest of the bunch, the twin axes strapped on his back catching the light menacingly as he crosses his arms across his broad chest. He looks me up and down with a critiquing eye but concedes a curt nod in welcome. I take it as a win.