Chapter 5: The House of Elrond

Darkness. Nothing but darkness. Then I heard something. The soft rustling of leaves, the clashing of metal on metal, a horn crying far off. The horn cried again and a long, deep cry followed. Then I woke up. I sat up straight and tried to catch my breath again. I started to turn my head, for I wasn't sure where I was. Then slowly everything came back: the slippery road yesterday, the singing elves, the handsome guard who took us to our quarters. I stretched before taking a deep breath and giving a big yawn right afterwards. As I shifted, my hand touched the soft fabric my pillow was made off and I thought to myself: "This bed makes up for every uncomfortable night out there!" But what was I excepting? To sleep bad in the house of Elrond Half-Elf, Lord of Rivendell? The way Gandalf described it, this place was a safe haven for kind and good people who were befriended with the elves. It was still dark but I knew that I wouldn't get any more sleep this night. So I swung my legs out of the bed and got up. The stone floor felt cold to my bare feet as I tip-toed to a curtain on the far end of the room, which was shifting softly. I pushed it aside and quietly slipped past it, onto a small balcony. I put the curtain back into place once I was outside and turned, only to gasp. Before me lay a mystical land, still in slumber. I think I will never see anything more beautiful in all my life. I could see shapes of many trees along the hillsides all around, as well as houses and terraces, some lit by the soft light of the full moon. Judging by its position midnight lay about 2 hours past and as the wind blew some leaves around my feet, I decided to go back inside. When I entered my gaze immediately fell onto the second  bed that stood close to mine - I could hear the soft breathing of Bilbo and had to smile. Looking to my left I noticed a big booksheld and went towards it. It was filled with loads of tomes and books and one caught my eye in particular: Fine, golden letters on a light green field read "The Song of Beren and Luthien". Curious, I lifted it off the shelf and carried it back to my bed, where I laid it onto the matress, before settling myself in as well. Just as I wanted to cover myself with my blankets again, I saw a slight movement in the corner of my eye. As I turned my head, I saw Bilbo sit up and look at me with sleepy eyes. "How late is it?", he asked. "A few hours before dawn, I think. You can still get some sleep before the sun rises." "A shame...", he yawned, "I could do with a breakfast just fine." I smiled and settled myself in, looking at the book again, opening it. "The Song of Beren and Luthien" indeed was a song, telling the story of Beren, son of Barahir, and how his fate was connected with Luthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian. Luthien was the fairest of all beings every to walk the plains of Arda and Beren fell in love with her, but they had to master several difficulties until they finally could be together. After reading the first few pages I heard a soft voice next to me: "Ithiniel?" I looked up and saw Bilbo standing next to my bed and I knew exactly what he was up to. I smiled at him and threw my blankets back, opening my arms. He crawled onto the matress and huddled close to me, snuggling against my torso. I closed my arms around him and leaned my head  against his curly hair. With my free hand I turned the next page and continued reading. Once I shortly trailed off, as I realized that Bilbo's breathing had gone quiet and regular again. I couldn't stop myself from smiling and had to think back several years ago, when it was common practice that Bilbo would come to me in the middle of the night, frightened  because of a nightmare or noises coming from outside. Of course he was a small Hobbit-boy at that time, but somehow we haven't quite lost the habit over the years. Especially after our parents' death he would often come to my bedroom and cry himself to sleep in my arms. These memories rushed through my head when the sun finally started to come up behind the hills and started to lighten up the sky. I didn't notice this because I couldn't take my eyes off the book in front of me, my arms still wrapped around my little brother.  

That's how the elvish girls found us in the morning, when they opened the door to our bedroom. I heard a noise coming from the door and when I looked over I saw a young elven girl popping her head into the room. She smiled at me as she spotted me and Bilbo and waved me over. I motioned her that I would come over in a second and closed the book. I tried to slip out of the bed without waking Bilbo, which luckily went well enough, and after tucking him in again I tip-toed over to the door. The elven girl had impossible long brown hair, that was braided and arranged most beautifully. She ushered me out of the room and silently closed the door before asking with a smile: "I was wondering if you would like to take a bath? We have some hot water ready and still some time until breakfast is set!" I was so baffled that I didn't answer for a few moments. But finally I managed a "Yes! I would love to... But please, don't put yourself out on my account!" She laughed and answered: "Lord Elrond asked me to look after you in every way I could, so I thought a hot bath would be a good start." I smiled shyly and nodded, and she led me off to a room not far away from the bedroom. As she opened the door for me to let me in, she asked: "I trust you slept well tonight, my Lady?" "I did, it was an absolute bliss! But please, just call me Ithiniel." She smiled and bowed her head in approval while closing the door again behind me. I turned and observed the room before me: It was smaller than our bedroom had been: A tub stood in the middle, some shelfs were lined up against the right wall and a chair stood next to a tall mirror. The girl led me over to the chair, where she offered help undressing, but I thankfully refused. Luckily she sensed my uneasiness and collected some supplies from the shelves whilst I undressed. I felt a bit embarrased for I have never been naked in front of others before. The elven girl waited until I had freed myself of my underclothes and had slid into the steaming water. I let out a content sigh as the hot liquid touched my skin, engulfed the feeling that ran through my whole body and sunk deeper into the water. The girl helped me wash my hair and finished by putting some divine smelling oil over them, making them glistening and shiny, whilst I cleaned myself with a sponge. As soon as my skin was red and raw, I lifted myself up and stepped out of the tub carefully, where she wrapped me into a blanket and asked me to sit down. I placed myself on the chair in front of the mirror and the girl started brushing my hair whilst I dried myself. "Thankfully you were awake already my lady, otherwise you most likely would have bathed with the other later.", she said after a few moments of silence. I looked at her reflection with a bit of a shocked face before answering: "Thank you for coming to collect me then! I mean... don't get me wrong, I am really fond of the lads... but I think I am not ready to share a bath with them yet." At that the girl let out a laugh. "I understand that!" I smiled at her as I heard a knock on the door. She called out something elvish and another girl entered, bringing a green dress with her. She placed it on a stool nearby and left again. Once my hair was dry and brushed out, the girl began braiding in my bangs and let the rest fall softly over my shoulders, all the way down to my back. Then she helped me into the dress and when I  turned to face the mirror again I was speechless. The dress was made of a sheer fabric and had a soft, green colour, that almost matched the colour of my eyes. It was long and reached down to my ankles but had no sleeves, except some mint-green silken patches to cover the shoulders. I've never worn such fine garments before and I am not going to lie: I felt like a real lady! Especially after wearing the same clothes for several days in a row, only changing my shirt when it got really dirty. The maid smiled at me and said that I was ready now. I thanked her a thousand times and made my way back to our bedroom to collect Bilbo. After all I just left without telling him where I went. After a short walk I opened the door to our chamber, only to bump into a tall figure and stumble back a few steps. My heel caught the end of my dress and I nearly fell over, if it wasn't for the elf in front of me catching my hand. He lifted me on my feet again and looked worried as he said:
"I am sorry, I didn't hear you coming! Are you alright?"  

I nodded, too baffled to say anything in return. His features were soft and he looked wise and gentle. My gaze got caught especially by his flashing dark eyes. I don't know for how long we stood there but for some reason I couldn't take my eyes off him. Our eyes were locked for what seemed an eternity when I finally managed a quiet: "I am alright and I am terribly sorry for... what just happened!" He smiled and blinked at me. Just now he said something, as if realizing that he came here for a reason. He cleared his throat: "My lady, I came here to tell you that breakfast is served. Your companions are already waiting for you. May I accompany you?" "Yes, thank you very much." Only now he let go of my hand with the sudden realization, that he still held it. He smiled again shyly and motioned me to follow him. The padding of my bare feet on the stone floor echoed from the painted walls as we went along. At first I was just looking on the floor ahead of me, too embarrassed to look up, but by now I had to look at all the paintings and tapestries which were manufactured in the most incredible way. At the foot on a set of stone-steps he halted and turned to me once more: "Your friends are up on the terrace waiting for you my lady. If you excuse me, I have matters that I must see to." "Of course, I... Thank you for bringing me here... I ... hope we meet again someday..." He smiled at that, took my hand and placed a soft kiss on it: "I do hope so my lady." With that he turned on his heels and with one last look into my eyes he went away. I blinked several times and smiled sheepishly to myself when I turned to face the steps. I picked up my skirt to climb the stairs more easily, once I reached the top I straightened it again and looked up. I nearly fell off the steps again, because for the second time this morning someone stood in front of me unexpectedly. This time it was an older elf, although it was hard to describe his features. He looked young, but aged by many years of wisdom; merciful, but lethal when enraged; loving, but merciless if threatened. He caught my hand before I could fall and asked: "Sorry if I startled you, Ithiniel!" I steadied myself and replied: "I am the one to apologize!" Looking up at him, I saw that he was smiling at me. It was only now that I realized who was standing in front of me. "My Lord Elrond... I should have watched my steps." "Nevermind, nevermind." Still holding my hand, he took a step back and looked me up and down before he said: "You look very beautiful. I am glad that my  daughters' dress fits you." I immediately had to smile. "This is your daughters? It's beautiful!" "Yes, although she outgrew them a while ago. Please, don't let me hold you from your friends any longer, you must be hungry!" With that he led me onto the terrace that overlooked the whole valley and let go of my hand at the entrance to talk to a servant just coming around the corner. I turned towards the open space and heard the chatter of many dwarves and the clattering of many forks and knifes. I stepped out from under the archway into the sun-flooded terrace and blinked a few times before I got a clear image. The chatter had almost stopped completely and everyone was looking at me. I stared back at them, not quite knowing how to react. I slowly turned my head to see if anything was behind me worth looking at, but I couldn't see  anything. Suddenly a small hand grabbed mine and when I looked down I saw Bilbo next to me. "Strange seeing you in a dress.", he chuckled as he led me to a table at the far end of the terrace. The noises picked up again as I followed him to a table at the far end. "You are not the only one I surprised with this, it seems", I replied smiling. "We joined Gandalf and Thorin, who were just finishing their breakfast. Some servants now brought a new plate for me, already filled with scrambled eggs, some cross baked bacon and fresh bread, along with crispy vegetables and a glass of sparkling water. I don't think I ever had a better breakfast than this!