"Our business is no concern of elves." Thorin grumbled. It had not been long after our rather musical meal, and we now stood in a large room, and the only light was the light of the moon. There were tall pillars and windows that were carved from stone. My eyes were turned on Gandalf when he spoke – letting the peaceful scene fade into the background.

"For goodness sake, Thorin. Show him the map." Gandalf ordered. We had only been at this for a few minutes. Elrond was ready to help us, Thorin was too stubborn to let him, and Gandalf was trying to convince the dwarf king to show lord Elrond our map.

"It is the legacy of my people. It is mine to protect, as are its secrets." Balin was pacing beside Thorin while my shadow sheltered Bilbo. I felt protective of this hobbit, feeling that I owed him a great deal for his kindness.

"Save me from the stubbornness of dwarves!" Gandalf sighed – completely exasperated with Thorin's antics –, "Your pride will be your downfall." Gandalf said and I found Elrond's eyes drawn to me. I stared back at him for a moment as he seemed to be measuring my every move, calculating my expression. Something I had not seen in the eyes of an elf before crossed his face and I narrowed my eyes. He was worried – not for me – he was afraid of me.

"You stand here in the presence of one of the few in middle-earth who can read that map. Show it to lord Elrond." Gandalf commanded Thorin – trying to provide reason – but Thorin hesitated still. Bilbo looked up at me, as if he were trying to see what I would do about this. No one breathed for a moment as I turned to Thorin. I willed him to look at me, and slowly his head turned. I met his cold blue eyes and trying to convey emotions to him that were better felt than spoken.

I willed Thorin to heed Gandalf and listen to his advice. He had led us this far and for that he was owed trust. Thorin slowly looked away from me – the wheels in his head turning with my thoughts as he possessed them. Thorin reached into his cloak and began to withdraw the map from within its folds.

"Thorin, no." Balin said quietly, but Thorin stepped forward and offered the map unto Elrond.

Elrond reverently unfolded the map – showing the dwarves he meant to truly help their cause –. "Erebor?" Elrond asked and looked at Thorin. "What is your interest in this map?" Thorin hesitated but opened his mouth to speak.

"It's mainly academic. As you know, this sort of artifact sometimes contains hidden text." Gandalf trailed off as Elrond turned away from us and Thorin exchanged a grateful glance with Gandalf. "You still read ancient dwarvish, do you not?" Gandalf asked curiously as Elrond walked towards a beam of moonlight and lifted the map at an angle to examine it.

"Cirth Ithil." He said – voice barely above a whisper.

"Moon runes?" Gandalf echoed in the common tongue. "Of course." He said and turned to Bilbo. "An easy thing to miss."

"Well, in this case, that is true. Moon runes can only be read by the light of a moon of the same shape and season as they day on which they were written." Elrond said and turned to us; this time his eyes passed over me, as if he would not dare to meet my eyes again. This worried me greatly.

"Can you read them?" Thorin asked in a low but hopeful tone.

We were lead through a few hallways and massive corridors before Elrond lead us down a flight of stairs that dove into the earth and into a cavern. Waterfalls thundered down, and mist filled the air. The stone was damp, but not slick. The smell of wet stone and water filled the air. My body relaxed and only then did I realize how tense I had been before. The way Elrond had looked at me – with that guarded fear – made me feel on edge and almost sick.

"These runes were written on a midsummer's eve, by the light of a crescent moon nearly two-hundred years ago." Elrond informed us as we all entered the open cavern that looked out onto the valley, cloaked with night, and bathed in shadow as moonlight reached out towards the first layer of the leaves on the thick canopy.

We stepped towards a table of crystal, shinning in the moonlight behind the veil of water and mist. "It would seem you were meant to come to Rivendell." Elrond spoke as he spread the map out on the table. "Fate is with you, Thorin Oakenshield. The same moon shines upon us tonight."

The moon passed behind a wisp of cloud before it shone forth again and I marveled at the sight from here. It was beautiful – like the sky was opening up for this momentous moment. "What are the chances of that?" I whispered and Bilbo nodded beside me.

Beams of moonlight passed though the mist and began to caress the crystal table with moonlight that grew to illuminate the cavern. The map began to shimmer at the bottom right corner as words began to bleed through. I didn't recognize the language or the runes in which it was written but lord Elrond did, and that was all we needed.

"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks... and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's day... will shine upon the key-hole." Elrond read and examined the map once more to be sure he missed nothing.

"Durin's day?" Bilbo echoed.

"It is the start of the dwarves' new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first sun of winter appear in the sky together." Gandalf explained and I nodded along, but I soon stopped when the skin on my chest tightened uncomfortably.

"This is ill news." Thorin spoke, "Summer is passing. Durin's day will soon be upon us." Thorin said and anxiety rose up in this throat; I could almost feel it myself.

"We still have time." Balin assured Thorin.

"Time? For what?" Bilbo asked.

"To find the entrance." Balin explained. "We have to be standing on exactly the right spot at exactly the right time. Then, and only then, can the door be opened." Balin said firmly. This mission became much more urgent than I had ever thought it could be. I didn't sign up for this... oh wait... I did.

"So, this is your purpose, to enter the mountain?" Elrond spoke and Thorin looked up at the elf his eyes full of icy daggers – he wasn't about to let anyone stop him now.

"What of it?" he asked bitterly.

"There are some who would not deem it wise." Elrond spoke in his reserved and relaxed fashion as he handed the map back to Thorin.

"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked.

"You are not the only guardian to stand watch over middle-earth." Elrond said and turned; walking briskly back up the stairs from whence we had descended. Gandalf's face twisted into one of thought and his eyes drifted to meet mine.

"That may be." I spoke quietly, but even so, everyone turned to me. "But he's the only one who does his dang job." I stated boldly and felt heat rise to my cheeks when Thorin arched a brow in my direction – surprised at my sudden brazen words...