Unexpected Guests

It is a beautiful summer's day and Kayley was out with her horse galloping back to the Homely House of Rivendell through it's trees, listening to the rhythm of her mount's hooves drumming against the forest floor, the whistling of the birds, and the whisperings of the leaves waving in the breeze. This was freedom. True freedom, and Kayley never wanted to go back.

She left her horse at the stables and departed for her chambers. But on her way, still outside, she could hear the faint sound of laughter from up ahead; not the melodious laughter of the elves, but more bellowing and loud, like her father. And as she rounded the corner to where a fountain stood she was shocked to find it occupied by dwarves! And naked too!

Kayley blushed and pivoted on her heel to take an alternate route to her chambers when she bumped into Lord Elrond and Lindir.

Swallowing her giggles, she bowed. "Excuse me, my lords. I didn't see you."

Lord Elrond returned the greeting with a bow of his head. "You had a pleasant ride this afternoon, I take it."

"Very much, thank you," she smiled. "Although I would very much have liked to have gone on the patrol with you."

Lord Elrond's eyes smiled and he arched a brow, "You are my ward and therefore you are under my protection until you return home."

"But isn't a ward too supposed to take part in certain activities?"

"Certain activities that don't require the sacrifice of one such as you, my lady," Lord Elrond added. It was followed by a roar, a splash, then an uproar of laughter.

Kayley turned around but remembering the cause for the ruckus were completely in the nude she sucked in her lips to refrain from laughing and eyed Lord Elrond with much curiosity.

"If you wish to be a part of certain activities, I suggest you meet us for supper."

Kayley smiled then bowed her head, "My lords," then hurried to her chambers where she asked for a bath to be drawn.

While getting ready, she over heard some of the talk between a couple of the elf maids about the dwarves and how they were the cause for the pack of orcs crossing through their borders.

*Why do you think they were chasing them?* Kayley asked in their language.

~*I'm not sure, my lady,*~ one answered in elvish. ~*But I doubt their stumbling across Rivendell was on purpose. Dwarves do not desire the company of elves. It's unusual.*~

Kayley made her way to where Lord Elrond and the dwarves were dining where she could hear much laughter, and singing. One dwarf with pigtails and a hat Kayley quite liked was standing on top of a table singing while others were throwing food everywhere! One dwarf even threw a pile of mush in her direction. She ducked and the young dwarf with the funny hair and knitted mittens instantly realized he almost hit a lady and clapped his hands to his mouth. The other dwarves noticed to and the laughter died and the singing dwarf ceased his song and all eyes were on the young lady dressed in a red and white dress that didn't look at all elvish, however her her was styled in an elven manner: loosely pulled back with a single braid centered down her raven hair.

Lord Elrond cleared his throat and stood up from his seat as an old man dressed in grey robes did the same. "May present the Lady Kayley daughter of Gideon, Lord of the North Downs." All the dwarves stood up at the mention of her title out of respect.

"Greetings, my lady," the old man began. "I am Gandalf the Grey."

"I have heard of you, wizard," Kayley smiled. "The Rangers speak of you."

Gandalf looked gave her a look showing he was flattered yet concern. He cleared his throat, "Excuse me, there's more to this introduction."

A dwarf with a white beard and velvet red tunic, bowed his head with a kind smile, "Balin, at your service, my lady."

"Bilbo Baggins at yours," the halfling bowed.

"You're a hobbit?" she responded. "Curious that a hobbit of the Shire should find himself in the presence of dwarves." She glanced at an enormous dwarf who quickly wiped his mouth with the back of both hands.

"Bombur, at your service," he said with his mouth full.

A young and handsome blonde next to the halfling bowed next, "Fili, at your service, my lady."

"Dori, at your service, my lady."

"Ori, at your service, my lady. And I'm terribly sorry, my lady. I didn't mean to almost hit you."

"There's no need to apologize, master Ori. I would not have mind to be a part of your fun."

The dwarf with the knitted mittens blushed in embarrassment as Kayley smiled at him. The blonde called Fili arched an eyebrow at him.

Down the table Kayley was introduced to dwarf after dwarf until finally, stepping forward, away from the corner was the last of them. He looked dark and mysterious, and yet oddly handsome. He bowed his head without saying a word, his icy stare connecting with Kayley's.

Annoyed the wizard, Gandalf spoke for him, "And this is the leader of our company, Thorin Oakenshield."

"Son of Thrain, King Under the Mountain," Kayley recited with a slight smile of amusement. "I've heard of you. The lost prince and heir of Erebor. The most majestic kingdom of all Middle-Earth that can even challenge the glory of Minis Tirith."

"You seem knowledgable for a daughter of man," inquired Thorin.

"You forget already, master dwarf, my people have a relationship with the Rangers of the North, who know of such."

For a moment Kayley held onto his stare lost in wonder of why Thorin Oakenshield has been found here in Rivendell. She was determined to find out.

After supper, Elrond met with the wizard, Thorin, the white-bearded dwarf, and the hallooing in private. So they thought.

"You're standing in front of the very few people who can read that map. Show it to Lord Elrond," the wizard scolded.

Thorin hesitated. He doesn't want to give Lord Elrond the… map? Kayley wondered if her guess was right. If the map was of what she was thinking. Thorin stepped forward but the older dwarf pleaded him not to. Thorin ignored him and handed the map to the elf.

"Erebor," said Elrond. "What is your interest in this map?"

"It's mainly academic," Gandalf answered. "As you know these sort of artifacts sometimes contain hidden texts."

Kayley turned back against the wall out of sight as Elrond turned in her direction with the map in hand.

"You still read ancient dwarvish, do you not?" came the wizard's voice again. Kayla peeked her head around the corner to see Elrond holding up the map to study it.

Elrond spoke in elvish, but Kayley could not catch it. "Moonrunes," Gandalf repeated and Kayley understood, though, not sure what moonrunes were exactly.

Elrond explained, "Moonrunes can only be read by the light of the same moon and the same season of which they were written."

"Can you read them?" Thorin asked, hope gleaming in his eyes.

"Come with me," said Elrond and they followed Elrond and just as they were passing, Kayley caught a glimpse of Thorin looking her way and she pivoted on her heel then skipped into a fast paced down the hall.

Something exciting was happening and Kayley did not want to miss out before returning to a life behind walls.

Meanwhile, the rest of the dwarves were by themselves chatting, joking and feeding pieces of elven furniture to a fire where Bofur was roasting a sausage.

He brought it up from the fire to inspect the delicacy he and his fellow dwarves were missing at supper then glanced up at his the fat dwarf sitting on a table with food in his arms; the table already creaking beneath his weight.

"Bombur," Bofur called and through the sausage which Bombur snatched in his hand. That little weight caused the table to give way finally and the fat dwarf dropped to the floor.

All the dwarves burst into hysterical laughter that all seemed to cease when the young lady of the North arrived and said, "You're on a quest." She wore a big smile that in the fire's light, many of the dwarves, the younger ones especially, found beautiful. "Do not deny it, I've overheard. You are all traveling to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim your home. Facing against dangers I can only imagine and have only read in books or heard the Rangers speak of."

"You seem awfully fond of dangerous quests, aren't you my lady?" the young brunette beamed.

Kayley took a step toward him, "Please, let me go with you. I've trained in the art of combat since the moment I could walk."

"Really?" the young blonde asked with amusement. "Let's see it." With a sly smile on his face he broke he picked up two legs that were broken off a chair and tossed one to Kayley.

As soon as she caught the chair leg in her hand Kayley took her stance and blocked the blonde's attack, binding it away from her leaving her chest open for the blonde to strike but she quickly tapped it away, advancing closer to him and hitting him with what would be the pommel of the imaginary sword.

The blonde let out a huff of air at the jab then winced as soon as he felt wood hit his side.

The dwarves laughed and the Brunetted jumped to his feet with a big grin on his face. He tapped the blonde on the shoulder, "May I cut in, Brother."

"By all means," the blonde insisted, stepping aside.

The brunette, now holding the chair piece his brother held swung up over his head, but Kayley was quick and blocked it just in time before it knocked her on the head.

The two went at it while the dwarves watched with much amusement, "C'mon, Kili! Don't let her touch you like that!" the bald dwarf with tattoos shouted with laughter following from the other dwarves.

Kayley raised her "sword" and Kili froze, his smile disappearing as well as the laughter from the audience and Kayley could feel a large hand grabbing her wrist.

She turned around and met the dark, icy eyes of Thorin Oakenshield.

"What are you doing?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Proving I can assist you on your quest."

Thorin's eyes darted over to his company and they all averted theirs from their king. "It was you eavesdropping on our business with the elf, wasn't it?" he spat.

"Indeed I was," Kayley spoke with much confidence. "Do you think Lord Elrond would have included me if I asked? Do you think a company of dwarves who have stumbled into a realm of elves would have told me of their adventure if I asked. And now that I know of your business and demonstrated to your company what I can offer to your journey, you might as well take me with you."

"How old are you?" he asked in his gruff voice.

"Doesn't matter, since you would only judge harshly based on that fact."

"Have you ever encountered orcs before?"

"You should know the North Downs borders the lands of the ancient King of Angmar, now dead."

"And have you ever fought in a battle before?"

His answers were one right after another and Kayley wondered if he was even listening to her answers. She narrowed her eyes as she continued to stare, not daring to drop her gaze in defeat. "As I've told your companions, I've been trained in combat skills since I could walk."

He took a step closer and then another. Unexpectedly he grabbed the chair leg firmly in his hand and Kayley felt a soft thud against her stomach and she let out a gasp as her body curved around Thorin's fist that stayed there.

Kayley met Thorin's icy gaze once more with hers filling with flames.

"You need more practice when it comes to keeping your guard up. If I had a dagger in my hand, you would be dead. Surprises like this will happen quite often, and it's nothing a princess from the North Downs will be able to handle."

Kayley glared at him for one more moment then let go of her grip on the chair leg, still held in Thorin's hand, and shoved passed him down the steps.

"She was very good, Uncle, for what it's worth." Thorin ignored the brunette's comment.

"Prepare to leave at dawn."