A Priestess For Middle Earth

Chapter 12 Rivendell And Thorin's Confession

They had finally reached Rivendell. Kagome and Bilbo were in awe at the sight before them. Kagome had never seen a more beautiful place in her life. Not even in the Feudal Era. She stared at the Valley of Imladris while Thorin and Gandalf argued. Kagome could finally understand the bitterness that Thorin had toward the Elves. If an ally had turned their back on her in her hour of need, she would feel the same way.

But these were not the Woodland Elves that betrayed him and his people. From her conversation with Gandalf about the Elves of Rivendell, they were less savage than the Woodland Realm. They were more enlightened than their cousins. Kagome thought that had it been *these* Elves that had been there when Smaug attacked, things would have been a lot different.

"Do you think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us." Thorin tells Gandalf.

"Of course they will, but we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful this needs to be handled with tact and respect. And no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me."

Thorin narrowed his eyes at the Wizard. He felt like a chastised child when Gandalf spoke to him like that. Gandalf turned and headed down into the Valley the rest fall in behind him.

Kagome comes to stand next to Thorin. Her hand brushes up against his very lightly. He looks down at their hands as Kagome briefly and shyly squeezed his hand. "Thorin don't take it so hard. Gandalf is only doing what he thinks is right. Though he should have told you first."

Kagome looks up at him almost getting lost in those magnificent blue eyes of his. Thorin closes the distance between them still holding her hand. Kagome clears her throat and turns away from him.

"Besides Thorin, you need to give these Elves the benefit of the doubt. They are not the Elves that betrayed you and your people. You can't judge an entire race by the actions of a few."

When Kagome turned around Thorin was frowning. His eyes held anger in them and a little hurt as well. Thorin just grunted a response and followed after his Company. Kagome sighed and followed after him.

Once they reached the entrance of Rivendell, Gandalf made inquiries as to the where Lord Elrond was to an Elf named Lindir. As they spoke the Elves arrived and circled the Dwarves, immediately Bilbo and Kagome were pushed in the middle of the group. Thorin standing directly in front of Kagome. Kagome, desperate to see what an Elf looked liked began hopping up and down trying to see over Thorin. He turned and glared at her, she glared back but stopped jumping.

After all the introductions were made and insults hurled. The Dwarves, Bilbo, and Kagome made their way up the winding stairs to the guest rooms. Kagome's and Bilbo's progress up the stairs was slower as they kept gawking at everything they saw until they finally just stopped to admire. Dwalin noticing the dark look on Thorin's face, went back to retrieve the lagging priestess.

"Come on you two, we don't want to get separated from the rest," Dwalin said as he placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder. Kagome came out of her trance, smiled at Dwalin then followed him back to the group. Thorin let out a sigh of relief.

The Dwarves were each given a room which they refused to take instead chose to sleep outside. Kagome, Gandalf, and Bilbo on the other hand gladly took the rooms the Elves offered. One Elf maiden showed Kagome to her room. Kagome nearly fell over when she went into the bathroom and saw the bathtub filled with hot scented water. Kagome thanked the Elf maiden who said would be back with a fresh set of clothes.

She got undressed and lowered herself into the bathtub. The hot water felt so good to her tired aching body she sighed and sat lower in the tub with her nose just above the water. She sat like that in the tub for quite a while then began to scrub herself clean of all the travel grime. Using the scented soaps the Elves provided, Kagome scrubbed until her skin felt raw. Finding another soap that smelled like honeysuckles, Kagome thoroughly washed her hair making sure to get the knots out using her fingers. Once she finished washing she rinsed off, stood up, wrapped a towel around her and got out of the tub.