I was sitting in my offered room. I was packing my bag, and the dresses that had been lent to me lay flat on the bed – which I had made up moments before –. I wanted to get out of here as soon as possible; I had to be ready at a moment's notice. I dressed in my own clothes, a pair of black trousers with my long-sleeved maroon shirt and olive colored canvas jacket. I buttoned the front of my jacket and tied up my boots tightly.

I was stressed – more so than I had been in a long time – and my head was swimming. I wanted to help the company, but I couldn't stay here. I closed my eyes; trying to breathe.

"Valerie." I looked up at the sound of Gandalf's voice and I turned to look towards the door. No one was there. My brow furrowed, and I turned, looking around the room. No one was here, yet I could have sworn I had heard Gandalf speak.

"Gandalf?" I whispered. I looked out at the small balcony and inside the bathroom.

"Valerie. You need to warn Thorin. You all need to leave Rivendell, now." Gandalf's voice echoed in my head. Telepathy, of course. I was momentarily caught off guard, but I nodded slowly.

"Where are you? Will you meet us somewhere?" I asked internally through thought, tracing the connection to Gandalf.

"I'll join you in the mountains, but you must hurry. The elves are intent on stopping the company. Elrond and the council are determined to let that dragon stay there." Gandalf informed me.

"Unlikely." I added. "I feel that you are right about this... ridding Erebor of the dragon." I clarified and felt a surge of pride.

The pathological window Gandalf had opened worked in strange ways. If the connection were strong enough, feelings and thoughts could be conveyed through the link.

Gandalf – with all his strength and power – could open the most magnificent telepathic gateways I'd ever experienced. I was only a young witch, with the experience levels of an amateur. My windows lasted long enough for me to blurt out whatever message I had planned, but Gandalf could subconsciously hold a window throughout an entire two-sided conversation.

"I need you to warn Thorin. Elrond is sending Lindir to escort the dwarves to their rooms. Do all you can to get the company out of Rivendell." Gandalf informed me urgently. I nodded, looking over at my bag – which was packed and ready.

"I wish you safe passage, Gandalf." I whispered internally. I felt something then. It seemed as though Gandalf felt fondness towards me. The connection shattered with an almost imperceptible touch of coolness that swirled around my burning head.

I grabbed my bag, throwing it over my shoulder. I didn't have time to clip my swords onto my belt. It would have to be done later, after the company was secure. I briskly walked towards my door, pushing it open with both my hands. With every step, my body shook with anxiety. If I were any faster, I'd be running. My bag bounced on my back, and my swords were in my hands. My white hair bounced around my shoulders and caught on the buttons that kept my bag's contents from spilling out over the floor.

My footsteps echoed – padding sounds resonating within the hallowed halls – as every step I took carried me towards a possible fight, and or imprisonment here in this valley. Gandalf never said that I'd have to take drastic measures, but it was surely implied through his thought. I needed to get to Thorin and the company. I felt as though the hall was fluctuating in length, growing longer as I neared the end.

It seemed an eternity before I exited the hall and turned into the moonlit courtyard. My eyes were focused on the southern wing of the palace, across the grassy courtyard. If I wanted to be successful in my conquest. I had to get there first. I set off, my legs pumping as I built up a run. I was speeding across the courtyard, my eyes locked on the firelit balcony. I could see the shadows of the dwarves moving about inside, and as I turned up the staircase, I could hear their voices.

I carried myself up the stairs and turned, leaping off the steps and over the stone railing into the balcony. I landed beside a startled Bofur who looked up at me from his seat on the ground.

The fire was still burning, and it looked like an armchair had fallen victim to an axe in order to be repurposed as firewood. Thorin was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes darted towards me. His brow furrowed as he saw the desperation and urgency in my eyes.

"Valerie lass, what's happened to you?" Bofur asked standing up. At the sound of my name Bilbo emerged from the room adjacent and found my eyes.

"We have to go." I said, trying to sound as calm and clear as possible, "Gandalf says the elves aren't planning on letting you leave if your quest is for Erebor." I said, urgently looking from Thorin to the others.

Thorin went still and pushed off the wall, walking hurriedly towards me. "What is the wizard's plan?" Thorin asked.

"We have to leave, go into the mountains – like we had planned – Gandalf has promised to meet us there." I informed Thorin.

There was a knock on the door, and I started, looking up as the back door opened and Lindir stepped in. He wore his plum purple robes and his brown hair fell like a curtain over his shoulder as he leaned in. I could almost see his intent to imprison us in his eyes as he stepped into the room. All eyes turned from me, which gave me the opportunity to grab one of the unburnt logs from the pile of – what used to be an armchair – beside me.

"Fine guests," Lindir spoke with a sickly-sweet voice as he let the door drift open beside him while he folded his hands in front of him. "Lord Elrond has asked me to escort you to the cellar. He says we have far too much wine and ale for us to drink and has offered it up to you before you continue your journey." Lindir said and grandly gestured to the door that led down the marble walkway towards the heart of the palace.

"A grand idea." I spoke up. Thorin turned to look at me with a creased brow but I let my gaze remain on Lindir. "Would you show us the way? I do fear that my memory of these halls has yet to settle in." I said with an apologetic smile. Lindir looked me up and down before his eyes landed on my bag.

"Going somewhere?" Lindir asked with pursed lips. I didn't take long – floundering for an excuse before inspiration took hold of me.

"Here, mellon nin," I said casually, my cheeks reddening as the lie fell from my lips, "I have found that it is difficult to sleep without the close capacity of my companions." I spoke, strategically sending a brief glance towards Fili. Lindir took note of my blush and glance towards Fili before he smiled and nodded.

"Of course. Understandable." He nodded and stepped out the door with a brief wave of his hand; asking us to follow him. I looked to the dwarves and nodded once before I followed Lindir. There was a rustling behind me as the dwarves got up to follow. I could hear the clatter of their bags being thrown onto their backs and their footsteps as they joined Lindir and I as we walked down the hall.

I swayed side to side with the weight of my bag dragging me down. But I remained stoic as ever, next to Lindir. The dwarves followed close behind, no doubt questioning my sanity and retention. I had just warned them against the elves, and it was only natural that they should wonder why I was following one.

I scanned the walkways that split off from the one we sauntered down, looking for the nearest exit to the mountains. My gaze wandered to my right as we passed a third corridor and my eyes found exit into the cool night air. This was it; my moment to be as drastic as I wished.

"Lindir." I spoke and as the elf began to turn towards me, I whipped the wooden weapon out from behind my back and swung it across the back of Lindir's head. The blow wasn't hard enough to kill Lindir. And it most certainly wasn't a bloody blow. All my little display had done was knock Lindir to the ground where he groaned and lay there.

The adrenaline in my body was intense and my markings glowed like the embers in the fire we had left behind. "Go." I ordered – surprisingly calm in tone – and pointing towards the exit, I began to back away from the unconscious elf.

"Valerie, what the –"

"No time. We've got to go. Someone will be down this hall soon enough." I interrupted Nori and turned, jogging down the hall. The dwarves didn't hesitate to follow, and I could hear Fili and Kili chuckling at my erratic antics. "I'm just pure adrenaline right now; I feel like I swallowed bees." I panted. "There. We have a clear shot from here to the bridge. Don't stop till we reach the mountains." I panted as we jogged down the hall.

The lavender dawn light began to bleed into the velvet blue tapestry of sky and stars overhead. We were on our way out; we were leaving Rivendell...