Elves Of Autumn

Chapter # 9 - Last Light.

Zarneleane and her guard was standing in front of Bilbo as he was looking down to think about what they told him.

"What do you feel like when you are here at Rivendell?" Zarneleane asked him

"I feel like I'm home in Bag End. This place feels like home to me."

"Well, if you decide to come back then we will gladly welcome you here again."

"Uh, thank you, Lady Zarneleane."

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Elsewhere in Rivendell, Fili an Kili were walking around. They were thinking about something and one of them stopped to think about Zarneleane.

"What do you think about the green haired elf that came behind the war party?"

"I do not know what her intentions are but she shouldn't threaten Uncle like that."

"I know but I wonder if she's related to him by blood."

They continue to walk around until they stood near Gandalf. He was sitting there for some time with is thoughts as he turned to them."

"Fili and Kili. How are you feeling?"

"I'm not sure what we should be here in this place despite of the history of Thorin and the elves." Fili said.

"I see but what about you, Kili?"

"The elves here are too pretty." he answered back.

"Gandalf, what can you tell us about the elf that came after the war party?" Fili asked him while standing there.

"You mean Lady Zarneleane?"

"Yes."

"Well, she's not related to Lord Elrond by blood."

"But she has different hair color than the rest of the elves here."

"That's because her kind are from the northwestern sea of the Undying Lands. There are the wisest ones but they are the most dangerous. Zarneleane's apart of that line of elven warriors but she is also a princess. She's one part wise and two parts dangerous."

"How is she dangerous?"

"You saw how Thorin had a threatening tone to his voice when they met?"

"Yes, he did have a hint of a threat there but what does it mean?"

"That means she doesn't take threats easily. I would be wise not to threaten her again. Including when Shikoba is around."

"What do you mean by that?"

"All I'm saying I that he could feel how she's feeling and he can react to it. Think about when Thorin came up to Zarneleane and Shikoba screeched out in anger. Shikoba reacted to him as he was close to her. He could sense that she felt threatened at that moment when he had a threatening tone in his voice. "

"So he acted out in protection of her?"

"Yes, he did. He had to rear up to get him away from her for a moment to have her say something."

Later on that night, Gandalf, Bilbo , Thorin and Balin met privately with Elrond.

"Our business is no concern of the Elves."

"For goodness sake. Thorin, show him the map!"

"It is the legacy of my people. It's mine to protect! As are it's secrets."

"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. Sow it to Lord Elrond!"

Thorin reluctantly takes the map out of being hidden in his pocket.

"Thorin, no!" Balin exclaimed to him as he reached for his arm.

Thorin gives the map to Elrond, he opens it and takes a look.

"Erebor. What is your interest in this map?"

"It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifacts sometimes contains hidden text."

Thorin looks at Gandalf gratefully for not giving their quest away.

"You still read ancient dwarvish, do you not?"

Elrond moves the map to the moon as there was something that was interesting to him.

"Cirth ithil."

"Moon Runes. Of course."

Elrond turns back to them as he has the map in his hands.

"Well in this case, that is true. Moon runes can only be read by the light of the moon of thee same shape and season as the day on which they were written."

"Can you read them" he asked in referring to the map."

They walk to a certain area that is overlooking Rivendell as there were a few patrols in the sky. One of them was circling around and then headed downward to a place.

_____

Zarneleane was on Shikoba's back as they were patrolling the skies. They had complete trust in each other as he moved through the sky with grace but it was a thrilling experience. Her green hair moved behind her as they were around the area but soon got lower to an area. His wings lightly closed as he landed there not far from the dwarves. She dismounted as she had a smile on her face.

"Thank you for giving me that ride into the sky."

He nudged her cheek as if to say 'you're welcome.' She smiled more as she rested her hand on his neck.

"You hungry?" she asked him as he nudged her once more.

He placed his beak to her cheek as she grinned. She moved away from him to get him something to eat. Zarneleane trotted off and he soon followed her to where she could feed him something after that flight. Bofur watched as she trotted off with Shikoba.

____

Back at the overlook, Elrond was continued to look at the map that was given to him by Thorin.

"These runes were written on a mid-summer's ever by the light of a crescent moon nearly two hundred years ago. It would seem that you were meant to come to Rivendell. Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight."

Elrond places the map on the stone stab right under the moon, as the clouds move of the way and the moon's light shines down onto the stone. Elrond translates what the words begin to show.

"Stand by the grey stone when the Thrush knocks, and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole."

"Durin's Day?"

"It is the start of the dwarves new year, when the last moon of Autumn and the first sun of Winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf told him.

"This is ill news. Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."

"We still have time." Balin said.

"Time for what?" Bilbo asked.

"To find the entrance. We have to be standing at the exactly the right spot, at the right time. Then and only then the door can be opened."

"So this is your purpose to enter that mountain." Elrond said while standing there.

"What of it?"

"There are some would not deep it wise." he said as he gives the map back to Thorin before walking away.

"What do you mean?"

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-earth." he said as he turns to leave them there.

Gandalf turns while holding his staff and he knows who else stands watch besides himself.