The Navigator

Imaldris

First, it was mountain trolls. Then, Warg scouts. Now the whole pack was on the Company's heels and Vistial was starting to make a mental list on who she was going to punch later.

"Come on. Stay together. Move!" Gandalf beckons the Company forward. Kili grabs Vistial's hand instinctively and pulls her after him.

"I don't need your help! I can run just fine." Vistial says, pulling her hand out of Kili's grasp. To be honest, Vistial actually ran better when she had the use of both her hands, instead of one. Kili didn't know this and looked slightly hurt as Vistial races ahead of him.

"Ori, no!" Thorin pulls the dwarf back before the Orc pack could spot him. Vistial, who had caught up to the front of the group, steadies the young dwarf as the leader roughly pushes him behind.

"You alright?" She asks. Ori nods, whispering a thanks before the Company is off again.

"All of you, come on. Quick!" Gandalf orders.

"Where are you leading us?" Thorin demands. Vistial notices that Gandalf worriedly gazes at Thorin before running once more.

"This way! Quickly!" Vistial shouts, taking the lead of the group. The countryside was familiar to her. Now that she knew where she was, she knew Gandalf's plan. The Company stops in a clearing and Gandalf suddenly disappears.

"There's more coming!" Fili shouts, running towards the rest of the group.

"Kili! Shoot them!" Thorin shouts. Vistial does the same, pulling her bow off her shoulder and notching an arrow.

"We're surrounded!" Vistial hears Dwalin shout.

"Where's Gandalf?" Vistial shouts, shooting an Orc down in the process.

"He's abandoned us." Thorin shouts back. "Hold your ground!"

"This way, you fools!" Vistial turns for a moment to see Gandalf at the entrance of the hidden passage.

"Come on, move! Quickly! All of you! Come on! Go, go, go!" Thorin jumps into action, shoving dwarf after dwarf towards Gandalf. Soon, it was just the two archers and Thorin.

"Kili! Vistial! Run!" Thorin shouts.

"Go!" Kili yells, shooting another Orc.

"I run faster. You go first. I'll cover you." Vistial orders. Kili nods and starts to run towards Thorin, Vistial following while still firing on the Orcs. Thorin and Kili slip down into the hidden passage. Vistial shoots one more Orc before diving down into the entrance. She rolls in, colliding with Kili on the way, and the two stop in a heap.

"Sorry." Vistial says, wiggling out from under Kili. The dwarf thankfully doesn't notice the blush that crept onto Vistial's cheeks and he simply nods. A horn sounds and the Company draws silent as the sound of fighting continues above. An Orc falls down into the entrance and the dwarves back up quickly. Thorin leans down and pulls an arrow out of the Orc's neck.

"Elves." He spits angrily, throwing the arrow aside.

"I cannot see where the pathway leads." Dwalin appears from the back of the cavern. "Do we follow it or not?"

"Follow it, of course." Gloin says instantly, quickly followed by the others. Kili walks over to Vistial's side as the Company walks along the path.

"I wanted to thank you for covering my back out there." Vistial smiles.

"You would've done the same for me." Vistial answers. "And you're welcome." Kili smiles brightly before running after his brother. After walking for a few more minutes, Vistial's keen hearing picks up the sound of a waterfall. She smiles as the Valley finally comes into view.

"The Valley of Imladris. In the common tongue, it's known by another name." Vistial says.

"Rivendell." Bilbo mutters in awe. Vistial nods.

"Here lies the Last Homely House East of the Sea." Gandalf says.

"This was your plan all along. To seek refuge with our enemy." Thorin turns on Gandalf, but Vistial intervenes.

"You have no enemies here, Thorin Oakenshield. The only ill will to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself." Thorin glares at Vistial before looking back at Gandalf.

"You think the Elves will give our quest their blessing? They will try to stop us."

"Of course they will." Gandalf says. "But we have questions that need to be answered. If we are to be successful, this will need to be handled with tact. And respect. And no small degree of charm. Which is why you will leave the talking to me." The Company follows Gandalf, who walks into the Valley.

"Mithrandir." A brown-haired elf walks forward and Vistial recognizes Lindir.

"Ah. Lindir." Vistial smiles as the two friends hug.

"Stay sharp." Thorin whispers. Vistial simply rolls her eyes at him.

"I must speak with Lord Elrond." Gandalf says.

"My Lord Elrond is not here." Lindir replies.

"Not here? Where is he?" Vistial turns around as a horn is blown, the same as before.

"Close ranks!" Thorin shouts. Kili and Bofur both grab Vistial and push her into the middle of their defense circle along with Bilbo. Vistail huffs at their behavior and simply crosses her arms. A dark-haired elf dismounts his horse and Vistial recognizes Elrond.

"Gandalf." Elrond smiles. His smile broadens upon seeing Vistial. "Lady Vistial."

"Lord Elrond." She bows. A couple of the dwarves look at her in confusion, including Thorin.

"You know him?" Thorin demands.

"Of course. I've been here several times during my travels." Vistial replies calmly. The Company is brought back to the elf and wizard as Elrond approaches.

"Welcome, Thorin, son of Thrain." Elrond greets, bowing.

"I do not believe we have met." Thorin says harshly. Vistial rolls her eyes. Dwarves.

"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled Under the Mountain." Elrond explains.

"Indeed? He made no mention of you." Thorin replies coldly. Elrond straightens then talks to Gandalf.

"You are all invited to come to dine with us. Dinner time is almost here."

"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin demands.

"No, Gloin, he's offering us food." Vistial says.

"Well, in that case, lead on." Elrond looks at the girl.

"Would you like to freshen up in your old quarters?" Vistial nods at the elven lord.

"That would be nice, thank you."

"Woah, lassie, you're not going anywhere." Dwalin says, grabbing the girl's arm. Vistial, angry at the dwarves' behavior, twists her arm out of his grasp.

"I have the right to freshen up before dinner if I decide to. You can't control what I do just because I'm a girl." Vistial says.

"That's not what he meant, lass." Bofur says.

"I'll be fine. I'll meet you all in the dining hall." With that, Vistial storms off. Kili looks at Fili, who nods.

"I'll go talk to her." Kili says, running after Vistial into the halls.