An Experiment Gone Wrong

Chapter 4 - Rivendell (part 1)

The company had been running for a good part of the morning and Mara was exhausted. Her hair was horribly tangled and full of sweat, dirt, leaves, and Warg/Orc blood. She wasn't the only one that felt this way, as everyone else was - in some form - disgusting, but she wasn't one to complain either. All she wished for was a quick dip in a river or lake to rinse off. They had escaped the onslaught with the help of Radagast and his rabbits which she and everyone else was thankful for, but now Gandalf was leading them somewhere only he knew of. 

After what felt like miles of walking, the company could see light ahead of them meaning the ending of the tunnel they had been walking through. Mara had spent a good bit of her life digging through caves and the sort and she was glad that not one time did they encounter any sort of undead walking around, so she released the breath she was holding at the sight of the sunlight. 

After a few seconds of being in the sunlight, everyone stops and stares at the beautiful sight before them. Mara was especially moved. It was beautiful and it reminded her of somewhere far away, but she definitely couldn't put her finger on it. 

The company stopped walking in order to revel in the beauty, which was a welcomed sight to most, but focused their attention on the wizard when he exited the cave, "Valea Imladris," he said with such warmth in his face that Mara could tell he had a love of this place. "In common tongue it's known by another name." He said walking to the front of the group where a very disgusted looking Thorin stood.

"Rivendell," Bilbo softly uttered unable to bring his eyes away from the glorious sight. Mara smiled at him and placed her small hand on his shoulder.

"You seem very fond of this place Bilbo. Is this your home?" She asked trying to get to know more about the one she has become friends with on this short, but hellish, journey. 

Before Bilbo could answer the question himself, he was interrupted by a very angry Thorin. "Does he look like your kind girl?" He said almost spitting in her direction which caused Mara's blood to boil. The urge to say something nasty on the tip of her tongue, but she let it slide. Turning her head to face Gandalf's look of caution towards Thorin, she listened in on their conversation. 

"This was your plan all along? To seek refuge with our enemy?"

"You have no enemies here Thorin Oakenshield," he started while ignoring the incredulous look Thorin was shooting him. Mara couldn't help but think to herself how his last name was Oakenshield and wondering how he received such a name. "The only ill will that's to be found in this valley is that which you bring yourself!" Gandalf finished harshly to Thorin. 

Mara couldn't help but snicker at the thought of Thorin the Oh so mighty King being berated like a small child who was rude to their elders. She ignored the threatening look she received from the man himself and the look of 'oh shit' on Bilbo's face and continued to listen in. "You think the elves-" he paused to take a look at Mara, "- will give our quest their blessing?" He looked back at Gandalf, "they will try to stop us."

Mara couldn't help but wonder. Now that she thought about it, where were they going and what was their quest? There were so many of them, and if the elves would try to stop them from completing their quest, was it something that they shouldn't be doing? She couldn't help but feel a little guilty for not knowing about their quest but maybe she could ask Balin about it later. 

"Of course they will, but we have questions that need to be answered," Mara watched as Thorin sighed and lowered his head to the ground. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him. This quest must be of extreme importance to him. Maybe that's why he was so angry towards her. Maybe he thought she was going to try and sabotage his quest, and he wouldn't be wrong. There were many quests that she sabotaged back home but that was her job. "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." 

Mara snorted as Gandalf led the way towards Rivendell. It didn't take long to walk it and the whole time Mara was enthralled with the running water and beautiful landscape she hadn't even noticed when they passed through two statues into Rivendell itself and a well-groomed and sophisticated looking elf walked down some stairs to them and called out to Gandalf. 

She listened to their conversation but realized quickly that she couldn't understand what they were saying, it must have been a different language. She furrowed her brows. She knew another language but what was it... Clearly it was not this elvish they were speaking as Bilbo had informed her. 

"We must speak with Lord Elrond," Gandalf said with a respectful demeanor he rarely uses with the company. 

"My Lord Elrond is not here," the elf speaks in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. After saying this he very briefly made eye contact with Mara. Mara could tell that he was confused. She was an elf traveling with a lot of dwarves and the two races hated each other. It wasn't too far off from the dwarves and elves of her land, but that hate stemmed from a whole different reason.

"Not here? Where is he?" Gandalf asked, but before he or the other elf could say anything else, a horn sounds from the distance catching their attention. 

Mara, Bilbo, and the dwarves turned around to watch as a large group of - what she assumed to be elves - came galloping down the path they had just came from. This caused the dwarves to jump into action. Thorin shouting demands at everyone, he quickly side stepped to Mara and shoved her into their huddle with Bilbo. She was slightly offended that he didn't think she could protect herself, but she also understood. The biggest thing that confused her was the touch of his hand. It was warm where otherwise she had thought it to be cold. His hand was a lot firmer than she had originally thought and this took her off guard. This one slight touch made her heart beat in ways it had only beat once before and she absolutely REFUSED to believe that it happened. Before she could think anymore about it, she grabbed Bilbo's hand and held up her other ready to shoot fireballs as necessary when the horses started circling them at a slow speed.

"Gandalf!"

"Lord Elrond!" Gandalf smiled and stepped forward to the man with long brown hair and a surprisingly handsome face. Mara couldn't help but stare at how young he looked but her stare quickly turned to one shared with the dwarves when they started speaking elvish again. She hated not knowing what they were saying.

"Strange for orcs to come so close to our borders," he said, his voice as smooth as velvet. "Something, or someone, has drawn them near." 

Gandalf mentioned that it may have been us and Lord Elrond turned to size up the company, but his gaze held nothing but warmth until his eyes made contact with Mara's. Once that happened they flashed confusion. "Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain." 

"I do not believe we have met." 

'Well at least he's trying to be polite...' Mara thought to herself. 

"I knew your grandfather when he ruled under the mountain."

"Indeed?" Thorin started, growing slightly annoyed at the mention of his grandfather, "he made no mention of you."

Everyone was silent as they waited to see how this played out, but in return all Elrond said was a long sentence in elvish no one could comprehend except Gandalf who found amusement in the interaction. After he finished speaking Gloin stepped forward ready to punch someone.

"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult!?" He shouted earning roars of agreement from everyone else. 

"No master Gloin, he's offering you food." Gandalf said. The dwarves huddled up quickly and had a quick meeting with one another before Gloin cleared his throat and responded with "Ah, then in that case, lead on."

Mara sighed in gratitude as some food and rest would be dearly welcomed to her. She didn't get far though before Elrond placed a gentle hand on her arm that she barely felt, stopping her.