[Rivendell]
Within the calm beautiful guest halls of Rivendell, music of Harp and flutes graced the ears of those nearby as the host of Thorin are being given food and wine as guest.
"Try it, just a mouthful" Dori said to Ori.
"I don't like green food." Ori said while Dwalin looking at the contents of his plate.
"Where's the meat?" Dwalin looked at his companions as he asked.
"Grrghh" Oin grumbled as he looked at a piece of his food frowning.
"Have they got any chips?" Ori asked looking over the table but just in time for Paul, Gandalf and Elrond to arrive to the feast. Paul already took off his helmet showing his face.
His physical appearance a bit to about 6'9" with a strong build and grey hair reaching his shoulders with sideburns extending out of his cheeks like Wolverine's, this was due to his clone to have the base of a Wolf Demon Beast.
He looked like a man that has experienced years of battle and with scars to prove it. But these were just initial scars of the original owner of the body, Paul kept it along his clones so there is at least a variation in each one of them.
Paul was always worried meeting Gandalf as his technique is borderline similar to necromancy but he used his life force to restart the cells again as well as change the blood into that of special liquid metal and maintained by a formation that ties his soul to the puppet.
But on his way here he felt a sense of relief as Gandalf seemed to not realize his real nature. So he followed him and their arrival garnered the attention of some dwarves since others were busy eating. He was already clean since it would not be proper for the elves to let their guest be un-presentable during the feast.
"Kind of you to invite us, not really dressed for dinner." Gandalf said as he looked at Elrond and gave Paul an inquisitive gaze.
"Well, you never are my friend. It seems introductions are in order…" Elrond said as they arrived and walked to the main table where Thorin awaits.
"Thorin, son of Thrain, let me introduce to you the Iron Lord of Ettenmoor. Iron Lord this is Gandalf the Grey, I met him earlier earlier on my way back as the Iron Lord rode from the Troll Shaws hunting down Orc Packs with his famous Iron Tide Cavalry." Elrond said as he showed Gandalf his seat while Paul looked at the company of Thorin seeing Kili being teased by his friends of mistaking an elf man to be an Elf maid.
"The chained dragon banner? I have heard of them but they are mostly active in the areas of Arnor by the lands of Fornost. Their fame has reached Bree then when I met Thorin." Gandalf said as he looked at Elrond and then at Paul.
"I have heard you only started your adventurer group last year Lord…?" Gandalf looked towards Paul and asked as no one has heard of his official name yet.
"Egon, my family name is Egon Gandalf the Grey and I am no lord. There is no need for formalities between us as I bring grave news." Paul said in a stoic serious manner showing he cares not for long winded talks.
"I rather hear about that after the feast Lord Egon, and do not underestimate your fame as many had seen e feats of your group. To have both Dwarves and Elves ride together riding the Ettenmoors of Trolls and Orc is very commendable." Elrond was interested in Paul as he had never heard such a thing happening normally.
"Dwarves? Riding with Elves? Which Kin of mine has brought great dishonor working with the enemy?!" Thorin suddenly got agitated but Paul did not like his tone one bit.
"Dishonor? Since when does fighting to protect the weak and helpless a form of dishonor Thorin Oakenshield? Or is it the fact you hear dwarves riding with elves to fight evil irk your fragile pride?" Paul's words made the atmosphere chill as his words made the dwarven prince look like he was about to burst.
"Now now, let's not be hasty here in bringing ill will when there is none?" Gandalf stepped in as he saw even the others looked over hearing Paul's words.
"I have no ill will to the young prince wizard, but one day he'll find his pride will not worth anything once it comes at the price of losing something dear to him." Paul's words made Gandalf raise his brows at the words.
"You may find it that we dwarves value our pride more than anything else." Thorin asked seemingly ready to draw his sword while Gandalf and Elrond looked around sensing something was wrong.
"No one will hear the words spoken in this table Lord Elrond, the things I found out needs utmost discretion. But first eat or you might not find the strength to feel hunger once you hear what I am about to impart." Paul ignored the shocked elven Lord and wizard as they too realized the elves heard nothing since Paul spoken.
Thorin too realized this as well as his company with Bilbo looking at Paul with wide eyes and curiosity as they heard nothing coming from them. The elves too looked at Elrond as they also noticed but the Elf Lord just waved them away meaning everything is alright.
Paul did not eat as he just pulled out a clear bottle with 'water' inside it. Thorin and Gandalf was looking at him warily but they answered the inquiries of Elrond during the feast.
Then Gandalf talked a bit but ended up showing Elrond the swords they found first with Thorin's. This time Paul did not cover their conversation as he sipped vodka on the bottle from time to time.
"This is Orcrist, the Goblin cleaver. A famous blade forge by the high elves of the west, my kin. May it serve you well…" Elrond said as he gave the blade back to Thorin. He already had an idea what Gandalf planned so he did not give thought of anything when he returned the blade.
"And this is Glamdring." Elrond received Gandalf sword and unsheathed it. "The foe hammer, sword of the king of Gondolin. These were made for the Goblin Wars of the First age"
While Elrond was explaining the origins of the named swords, Paul looked imperceptibly to Bilbo who checked his sword while Balin dissuaded him that his sword probably is not that famous.
"How did you come by these?" Elrond asked.
"We found them in a troll-hoard on the Great East Road. Shortly before we were ambushed by Orcs" Gandalf said.
"I have come to find that cave you speak off, so you were the ones that turned those three trolls into stones. Then don't worry, if you want the treasure there it will be stored in my Keep at the cliffs of Ettenmoors. I rather not use gold that still stinks of Troll for trade, but the weapons there I'll keep." Paul said as he saw the dwarves flinch when he said he found the Hoard.
"The small deposit you made is still there, I placed more soil atop and made it look untouched as it is easily noticed by experienced hunters with the way you left things." Paul saw Gloin and Nori sigh in relief.
"The Great East road you say? And what were you and your company doing there?" Elrond asked as he looked at Gandalf a bit knowingly.
"Excuse me." Thorin felt uncomfortable and left the table to go somewhere else.
"Thirteen Dwarves and a Halfling. Hmm… strange travelling companions Gandalf." Elrond curiosly asked as he sipped his wine.
"These are the descendants of the House of Durin, they're noble, decent folk." Paul raised his brows at those words as Nori secretly pocket items in the table.
"And they're surprisingly cultured." Gandalf said while Bombur was eating plates of food barehanded. "They've got a deep love of the arts…"
"Change the tune, why don't you?" Nori asked the Elf maid nearby in irritation. "I feel like I'm in a funeral."
"Did somebody die?" Oin asked his friends nearby.
"All right lads. There is one thing for it." Bofur said as he stood up and climbed the table knocking down some cups and plates.
"~There's~…" Bofur suddenly started singing catching the attention of Elrond, the elves, Gandalf and Paul.
"~An…Inn
~There's an Inn~
~There's a merry old inn~
~Beneath the old grey hill~…"
As Bofur sang the dwarves pounded the tables in rhythm and clanged spoons and forks as well. And sang along with the tune.
"~ And there they brew so brown~
~The man in the moon~
~Himself came down~
~One night to drink his fill~
~OH~
~The ostler has a tipsy cat~
~that played a five sting fiddle~
~And up and down he saws his bow~
~Now squeaking high!!~
~Now purring loww~"
The elven maids looked at each other unsure of what to do as they do not seem to like the dwarven singing. The dwarves on the other hand were laughing and throwing food at each other in the table.
"~Now sawing in the middle~
~So~
~the cat on the fiddle~
~Played hey-diddle-diddle~
~A drink that'll wake the dead~
~He squeaked and he sawed~
~And he quickened the tune~
~And the landlord shook the man in the moon!!~
~"It's after three" he said!~"
Even Elrond was looking at the flying food all around him as the dwarves cheered and laughed at Bofur's performance.
"Hey!"
"haha!"
[Later that evening]
After the feast, Elrond prioritized Gandalf and Thorin's company to entertain but Paul followed in silence.
"Our business is of no concern of elves." Thorin said as he looked at Gandalf frowning.
"For goodness sake, Thorin show him the map." Gandalf looked at Thorin exasperatedly as he urged him.
"It is the legacy of my people, it is mine to protect as are its secrets and what right does this man to be in this room to talk as if we are equal." Thorin looked at Paul in the corner gaining a response.
"First of all, do not mistake me for a mortal Oakenshield. Secondly, you still have too much pride for a dwarf prince with no kingdom to rule so do not talk as if you are better than others as you are not. You were just born in a wealthy family that let their pride cloud their judgment." Paul walked out of the shadows and loomed over the prince who stood fearlessly at the large frame of Paul.
"And you seek the truth of that map yet the only man who can possibly read it is right in front of you. But your irrational hate for all elves just for the mistake of others places mist before your eyes, blinded to see and remember that Lord Elrond was a personal friend of your Ancestor Durin IV." Paul then turned leaving Thorin and Balin shocked as they looked at Elrond.
"There was no mention of such things in my family's history, even then where were they when my kin fought tooth and nail at the battle of Moria? Why should a commoner like you have any say in these conversations?" Thorin fumed as he looked at Paul.
"Thorin, as he said he is not mortal…" Gandalf picked on that fact as he looked at Paul closely even Elrond was curious at the revelation. The dwarf prince paused as Balin and Bilbo stood beside him.
"Yes, I am not. But that will be for later as my words are urgent and needs to be discussed with guest that are on their way." Paul looked at Elrond who raised his brows in surprise.
"Guest?" Gandalf was curious but he looked at Paul then at Thorin reaching out his arms. "The map Thorin, Lord Elrond might give us more insight on what is written."
Thorin just stood there silently but he still took out the map under the curious eyes of the others with him.
"Thorin no." Balin saw the determination of his prince and tried to stop him but Thorin just waved his hand as he gave the map to Elrond and looked at Paul standing nearby.
"Erebor." Elrond said as he looked at Thorin.
"What is your interest in this map?" Elrond looked at the others and saw their reactions with Paul being the least likely curious. Thorin was about to answer but Gandalf spoke first as he looked at Elrond.
"It's mainly academic. As you know this sort of artifact sometimes contain hidden text." His words made Elrond convinced as he turned to inspect the map, while Gandalf gave Thorin a knowing stare gaining a sigh from the young dwarf.
"You still read ancient dwarvish do you not?" Gandalf asked.
"Like our friend here said, I have been a close friend of their ancestor. He was quite upset when I did not visit for 20 years, I had to invoke Sigin-Tarag just so I could meet him. Hmm" Elrond looked at the map and hummed.
"Really? Who won then?" Balin was curious as he heard the ancient challenge of endurance.
"Durin did, so I was not able to talk in terms with him. If not for his wife Disa giving me a chance to make amends then I might have lost my friend them. Ah, kirth Isil…" Elrond said as he looked at the bottom part of the map while Thorin and Balin smiled smugly hearing their ancestor won over Elrond.
"Moon runes?" Gandalf said when he heard the last words of Elrond. "Of course."
"An easy thing to miss." Gandalf said to Bilbo who was curious by the side.
"Well, in this case that is true. Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and the same season as the day on which they were written." Elrond turned around and said to the five people listening.
"Can you read them?" Thorin asked as his eyes lit up with hope.
"Follow me." Elrond walked towards the exit and led them somewhere with Paul following behind them. Then they arrived in a picturesque place where water falls over head as the moon shined upon them.
"These runes were written on a midsummer's eve by the light of the crescent moon nearly 200 years ago." Elrond explained as he went to a pedestal made of ivory stone. "It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell."
"Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight." As Elrond said this the clouds dramatically parted while some fairy like BGM sounded out in the background making Paul look around but notice no instruments being played.
Soon the eyes of everyone was drawn to the map as moonlight shone on the pedestal making it shine light upwards showing the runes written appearing magically.
"Stand by the grey stone when the trush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole." Elrond translated the runes as they shone.
"Durin's Day?" Bilbo asked.
"It is the start of the Dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the night sky together." Gandalf explained.
"This is ill news." Thorin looked serious as said these words. "Summer is passing. Durin's Day will soon be upon us."
"We still have time." Balin said as he calmed Thorin down.
"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked.
"To find the entrance. We have to be standing in exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened." Balin said as he looked at Thorin.
"So this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?" Elrond said as he looked at the dwarf prince.
"What of it?" Thorin looked back frowning at the way the elf lord said his words.
"There are some who would not deem it wise." Elrond then gave the map back to Thorin.
"What do you mean?" Gandalf seemed to have realized something as he asked this to Elrond then looking a bit imperceptibly at Paul who was leaning on the wall behind them.
"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over Middle-Earth." Elrond said as he turned around to leave while looking at Paul who readied to follow the elf lord.