The King And The Dragon

The Map

Saphira's POV

"Saphira?" Lord Elrond called for me.

I quickly dried my already fallen tears before answering my uncle. "Yes?"

My voice sounds very strained, so I clear my throat. And just in time, because a second later, Elrond comes into view. He offers me his arm as an escort. I brave a fake smile as I take his arm.

"I may need you for something." Lord Elrond tells me in Sindarian.

"For what reason, Uncle?" I ask him in the same way.

"I do not know, but the Dwarves trust you, therefore I may need you with me."

"Anyway I can help, I shall."

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"We did not ask the help of Elves!" Thorin argues.

"Thorin, show it to Lord Elrond!" Gandalf almost shouts at him.

"It is the legacy of my people!"

"Save me from the stubbornness of Dwarves! Thorin, you are in the presence of one of the few people who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond!!"

Thorin look at me, a hint of sadness but mostly a gleam that says that he still wants to be my friend. His eyes ask me if it is the right thing to do. I slightly nod, relieved that he doesn't hate me. And he hands the map to Uncle.

Uncle unrolls the map and looks at it. "Erebor." he says, looking at Thorin. "What is your interest in this map?"

Before Thorin can say anything, Gandalf steps in. "Purely for academic use, of course. It's a part of their history, you understand."

Uncle says no more but merely looks at the map. Thorin looks at Gandalf and I and gives us grateful slight nods.

"You can still read ancient Dwarvish, can't you?" Gandalf asks Lord Elrond.

"Not as well as someone else in this room." Lord Elrond says before looking at me.

Then, everyone looks at me. "I can try." I say as Uncle hands me the map.

I take it and as it bends, I see a flicker of silver beneath the hand pointing at the Mountain.

"Ah..." I say in the Common Tongue, finally realizing the flicker, before speaking in Sinfarian. "Moon runes. . ."

"'Moon runes'?" Gandalf asks me, while translating for the others. "Of course. Easy to miss."

"Excuse me," says Bilbo. "But what are moon runes?"

"Runes that can only be seen when the moon on the time of day as they were written shines behind them." I explain to him as I carefully bend the map in the light.

"Can you read them?" Thorin asks me, his voice full of hope.

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