𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf

❝︎CHAPTER THREE❞︎

▌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."