Angels on the Moon (A Hobbit Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

None of them were overly fond of the food or music. Thorin was at the main table along with Gandalf and Elrond, there were three empty seats, between the elven king and the wizard, on the other side of Thorin, and one across from him. I sat next to Balin. They were talking about the swords they’d found in the cave, I looked down at mine, pulling it out of its scabbard a little.

“I wouldn’t bother laddie.” Balin said looking at me. “Swords are named for the great things they’ve done in war.”

“So you don’t think my sword has seen battle?” I asked.

“I’m not really sure it is a sword, more of a letter opener, really.” I looked down in my lap, a bit disappointed, then sheathed my ‘letter opener’. When I looked to my right, past all the dwarves, I saw two girls in the distance. One of them I recognized, the other I didn’t.

“Is that Vivianetta?” I heard someone ask.

“Who’s with her?”

“Where’s Ali?” I looked at the direction of the voice, Kili, I should have known. The two girls entered, the newest one, looked around then her eyes met mine, a small smile crept to her lip, winking a peridot eye. Vivianetta did not smile. Her eyes were on the floor, head hung slightly, I may have been wrong, I could have sworn she wiped a tear away when pushing a hair out of her face. She sat next to Thorin, he looked at her out of the corner of his eye, a bit worried. Elrond looked at her as well, his face straight, emotionless.

“My lord, thank you for inviting us to dinner. Please excuse our lateness.”

“It is alright, Jayceeael, there is no need to apologize. Now, where is...”

“She will be coming shortly. Her… condition…” She shot a look at Vivianetta, who wiped at her cheek and looked up at her. “It’s been giving her trouble.” The new lass, Jayceeael said, with a slight nod. Elrond bowed his head a little, leaning forward slightly, and then straightening up. The five of them continued to talk for a while. The company looked at one another mumbling things along the line of ‘Condition?’ and ‘Did you see it to?’. Kili looked very annoyed at these comments, actually elbowing Fili once when he asked if someone had seen Ali’s wings. Indeed, we all were a bit… shaken up, by what happened this afternoon. Then it became silent. Everyone had taken notice that the music had stopped, the elves were bowing. Elrond, Gandalf, Vivianetta, and Jayceeael had also stood and were bowing, everyone looked down towards the entrance, and there she stood, Alissyanna.

She walked with silent yet heavy steps, barefoot on the cool stone floors. Her scratches were deep, deeper than usual and ran down her neck to her chest. Dark circles had formed black under her beautiful blue eyes, which now looked like those of a tired old woman, half lidded. The dress she wore was scarlet red, bringing out both the red of her lips and her cuts. I didn’t notice the bruises till she got closer… or the profound cuts on both wrists. Ali’s hair was pulled back and fell straight down her back, a few strands fell on either side of her face, I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or just an accident. The atmosphere instantly became sorrowful and dark when she had entered, and it had not yet passed. She looked at all of the bowing people. Slowly she blinked, drawing a deep breath.

“You bow not to me.” Alissyanna spoke, her voice raspy. She winced after that, placing her finger tips lightly on the hollow of her throat. Everyone stood, slowly, all except Vivianetta. Thorin looked from her to Jayceeael, then to Gandalf as if looking for someone to explain why the woman next to him was still bowing low. “I said, stand up, Vivianetta.” She did so, looking at the ground. For some reason, my eyes had wandered over to Kili, to see his reaction. He looked both utterly amazed, and entirely troubled. I wondered why then her light footfall brought me back to my senses. She took the seat to the left of Gandalf, between him and Lord Elrond. She leaned back, letting out a long sigh, then looking back at Elrond, who had a concerned expression on his handsome face.