ELROND AND GANDALF SPEAK PRIVATELY

Bilbo had left Elrond and Gandalf standing in the Gazebo, while he departed and veered off the well-lit path to weigh his options under a dark sky and crescent moon; take Lord Elrond's offer to remain in Rivendell, or continue to aid Thorin who had little confidence in him? As he stands in the shadows, he hears Gandalf and Elrond walking on the nearby path, where they stop to talk privately, unaware Bilbo is within earshot of their conversation.

Elrond: "Were you going to hide this bold scheme of yours from me? Or were you planning to tell me sooner?"

Gandalf: " Of course I was going to tell you. I was waiting for this very chance." Then continues, " And really, I think you can trust that I know what I am doing."

Elrond: " Do you? That dragon has slept for 60 years. What will happen if your plan should fail, if you wake that beast?"

Gandalf: "What if we succeed? If the Dwarves take back the mountain our defenses in the east will be strengthened."

Elrond: "It is a dangerous move, Gandalf."

Continuing to listen to the conversation between Elrond and Gandalf, Bilbo catches enough snippets to learn the Dwarves quest was indeed in question, just as Thorin had feared. He goes to protest, when he feels a firm hand on his shoulder from behind holding him back. It is Thorin, who has also been listening from the shadows. The dwarf king gives him a look that tells Bilbo to listen and not say a word. They continue listening.

Gandalf: " It is also dangerous to do nothing. Oh, come, the throne of Erebor is Thorin's birthright. What is it you fear?"

Elrond: "Have you forgotten? A strain of madness runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind. His father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?”

Thorin listens intently from the shadows as Bilbo keeps an eye on him, just as Lord Elrond had asked, watching the noble face unable to hide the betrayal behind his eyes nor the anger behind his stare from words that cut deeply.

Elrond: "Gandalf, these decisions do not rest with us alone. It is not up to you or me to redraw the map of Middle-earth."

Bilbo looked at Thorin with an understanding more than he ever did. ~ Thorin waits until Elrond and Gandalf have moved on towards the Council Pavillion, before he tells Bilbo of the Dwarve's plans to leave before the 'self appointed guardians' of Middle Earth try to stop them from reclaiming their homeland.

Thorin: "Let us get back to the others quickly." he said to Bilbo, then turned in rage and disgust, going quickly to gather his things and alight his pony, to meet the others below the stairs to the hidden pass, readying to depart before the hour was up.

At that moment, Bilbo knew what his decision must be. Home meant everything to him and he missed his dearly. He could only imagine what Thorin's home meant to him, a King, after it being taken from him. Hearing that others might try and stop him from returning was an injustice he could not bare. “What rubbish!" He thought to himself following Thorin. "Any doubts as to his quest being ill advised faded when the 200 year old moon runes appeared precisely timed to this visit."

THE WHITE COUNCIL

Gandalf: " With or without our help, these Dwarves will march on the mountain. They're determined to reclaim their homeland. I do not believe Thorin Oakenshield feels that he is answerable to anyone. Nor, for that matter, am I."

Elrond: " It is not me you must answer to." (Gandalf looks to see Lady Galadriel there.)

Gandalf: “Lady Galadriel.”

Galadriel: "Mithrandir...... Qwenwe nenu'nui duie” (“It has been a long time.")

Gandalf: "Ni' nen Quis'tates fainith. Vamme i héri -o lorien" (“Age may have changed me, but not so the Lady of Lorien”)

(Galadriel smiles.)

Gandalf: "I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you." (A voice sounds out of the darkness.)

Sarumon: His powerful voice piercing the shadows "He did not, I did" and he steps out of the darkness into the council room.

Gandalf: "Saruman............." (Gandalf looks to Elrond and his face looks disappointed.)

Sarumon: Says in a stern voice "You have been busy of late my friend" then looks at Erlond and the Lady of Lorien.

Gandalf: Lowers his head, "Me? Busy?"

Sarumon: Then adds in a firm tone "Tell me, Gandalf, Did you think these plans and schemes of yours would go unnoticed?"

Galadriel grins slightly

Gandalf: Stutters a bit feeling caught off guard. "Unnoticed? No, I’m simply doing what I feel to be right."

Galadriel: Turns to Gandalf, and looks at him as her eyes slightly close "The dragon has long been on your mind."

Gandalf: "This is true, my lady. Smaug owes allegiance to no one. But if he should side with the enemy, a dragon could be used to terrible effect."

Sarumon: Looks at Gandalf with inquisitive eyes and says with a bit of anger in his voice "What enemy? Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished. He can never regain his full strength"

Elrond: Also speaks to Gandalf "Gandalf, for four hundred years, we have lived in peace. A hard­won, watchful peace."

Gandalf: raises his voice some. "Are we? Are we at peace? Trolls have come down from the mountains. They are raiding villages, destroying farms. Orcs have attacked us on the road."

Elrond: Feels doubt "Gandalf that is hardly a prelude to war. They are annoyances."

Sarumon: Looks at Elrond then Galadriel and then meet Gandalf's gaze and says with a bit of irony in his tone: "Always you must meddle, looking for trouble where none exists."

Gandalf lowers his head again to Sarumon

Galadriel: Interrupts "Let Mithrandir speak."

Gandalf: Raises his head again then speaks "There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug. Something far more powerful. We can remain blind, but it will not be ignoring us, that I can promise you. A sickness lies over the Greenwood. The woodsmen who live there now call it ‘Mirkwood’. and they say..."

Sarumon: Looks a bit impatient and says in a bit too rushed tone: "Well, don’t stop now. Tell us about what the woodsmen say."

Gandalf: Senses Sarumans doubt and sarcasm towards him, but he continues anyway... "They speak of a Necromancer living in Dol Guldur, a sorcerer who can summon the dead."

Elronds eyes widen and eyebrow raises.

Sarumon: Is bit irritated and speaks in a powerful voice "That’s absurd. No such power exists in the world. This...Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic"

Gandalf continues "And so I thought too. At first. But, Radagast has seen........." Gandalf is interrupted

Sarumon: Answers with an ironic smile upon his face: "Radagast? Do not speak to me about Radagast the Brown. He is a foolish fellow."

Gandalf: Slightly laughs "Well, yes Saruman..... I admit....he’s odd, I grant you. He lives a solitary life in the woods......."

Sarumon: Seems more a more annoyed by it all and speaks his mind "It’s not that. It’s his excessive consumption of mushrooms. They’ve addled his brain and yellowed his teeth. I warned him, it is unbefitting of the Istari to wander in the woods.......”

Galadriel focuses on Gandalf, and speaks to him in his mind.

Galadriel telepathically to Gandalf: (“You carry something. It came to you from Radagast. He found it in Dol Guldur.”)

Gandalf telepathically to Galadriel: ("Yes.....")

Sarumon: Continues "…or I’d think I was talking to myself…"

Galadriel telepathically to Gandalf: (“Show me….”) Gandalf places the morgul blade on table.

Elrond: Stands in surprise. "What is that?!!!!"

Galadriel: Looks at it in surprise and concern....... "A dark relic of Mordor. One that has come from the shadows back into the light".

Elrond reaches out to touch the package, draws his hand back. He then reaches for it again and opens it, revealing the sword Radagast took from the spirit in Dol Guldur. The White Council members look upon it in shock.

Elrond: "A Morgul blade!!!!! (his eyes grow wide and in concern)

Sarumon is quite shaken by the Mogul blade one display, what can this mean?

Galadriel: The lady of lights voice shows concern "Made for the Witch­king of Angmar, and buried with him. When Angmar fell, men of the North took his body and all that he possessed and sealed it within the High­Fells of Rhudaur. Deep within the rock they buried them, in a tomb so dark it would never come to light."

Elrond: Shakes his head "This is not possible. A powerful spells lies upon those tombs; they cannot be opened."

Sarumon: Is worried a bit but try to reassure himself and everyone by saying "What proof do we have this weapon came from Angmar’s grave?"

Gandalf: "I have none."

Sarumon: Has regained his assurance and says in a decisive tone: "Because there is none. Let us examine what we know. A single Orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen. A dagger from a bygone age has been found. And a human sorcerer, who calls himself the Necromancer, has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It’s not so very much, after all. The question of this dwarvish company, however, troubles me deeply. I’m not convinced, Gandalf; I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they’d come to me, I might have spared them this disappointment. I do not pretend to understand your reasons for raising their hope ..... "

Gļőrfïndęļ watches around Rivendell and notices the dwarves on their horses. He can't repress a smile and thinks good move Oakenshield, he cannot help but think it is the right call, he delays just a bit to tell the council allowing them to go further away.

Galadriel telepathically to Gandalf: ( “The Dwarves, they are leaving.” )

Gandalf telepathically to Galadriel: ( “Yes.”)

Galadriel telepathically to Gandalf: ("You knew....... (she has seen a vision). The dwarves, the little one, they have overheard things and Thorin is concerned.... This conquest will continue..... Luckily they have someone that will help them succeed. Mithrandir.... darkness rises...Thorin will be challenged by an old foe… Be ready to take flight.... You will know what I mean."

Gandalf seems puzzled by Galadriel’s comment about taking flight.

Sarumon: Unaware of Galadriel and Gandalf telepathic conversation adds ".... I am afraid there is nothing else for it." and stands up.

Gandalf nods just as Gļőrfïndęļ enters the council champers.

Gļőrfïndęļ: Looks at Lord Elrond and says in his musical and deep voice "My Lord Elrond, the Dwarves, they have left Imladris, I saw them on the road."

Elrond: "Did they?"

Gļőrfïndęļ then looked at Gandalf, whom he knew by another name in Valinor and thinks in such a manner that Olórin (fist name of Gandalf) can hear his thoughts. “I think you did the right thing my old friend, this dragon cannot be allowed to join the dark forces of Middle-Earth.”

Gandalf grins.

THE DWARVES DEPART

It was a long ride as the Dwarves and Bilbo climbed out of the valley and left the Last Homely House miles behind, before they made camp that evening.

Thorin: "We will camp here for the night. It is sufficiently distant from the Rivendell pass that I doubt the elves would find us, even if they wanted to."

As they unpacked their supplies and tents, Thorin talked openly about the conversation he and Bilbo had overheard between Gandalf and Elrond, as they walked to a meeting with other high ranking wizards, confirming Thorin’s worst fears that they might try to stop the Dwarves on their quest to retake their homeland of Erebor.

Thorin: "It is as I feared. Elrond meant to stop us. But he cannot know what this means to us. He cannot!"

Bifur In Dwarvish: “otho ascudgamln thorv frekk belard fûthmér ganaht ghastgar thorv ach zeithmen bahst grimstnzborith narho” ( “I knew those elves could never be trusted. Kill you with kindness they do!")

Kili: We need to do what we set out to do"

Thorin: "I cannot truly find fault with him, but this our homeland we seek."

Kili: "And we will fight no matter what it takes"

Dwalin: "I c'n find fault with him and I do." Dwalin spoke his mind.

Bofur: "He's an elf. What do you expect?" Bofur said with a chuckle and a smirk.

Kili: "Where is he, Gandalf..has he deserted us?"

Bofur: "At least Gandalf be on our side."

Dwalin: "Hmpf!" Dwalin was not yet sure of Gandalf's loyalties nor how independent he could be.

Bifur In Dwarvish: “aruna alfrell irânû beogh knurlcarathn harng astim alfrell ganaht feldûnost ascud rast ! narrvel irânû” (“Ya can’t trust elves, and even wizards less when it comes to magic mumbo jumbo.")

Thorin: "Gandalf got called to a meeting with Elrond and some other would be guardians of the world. But if I know Gandalf he kept them talking to give us time to leave."

Thorin: "Well let us pitch camp here under the trees and we can get and early start. I am sure Gandalf will catch up with us when he can."

Kili: Only nods. "Whose cooking tonight?"

Thorin: "You are Kili, since you brought it up. Go catch us an antelope or something."

Kili: Chuckles .."I catch, Bofur cooks"

Bofur: "Aye, be glad to" Bofur smiled, ever the optimist.

Bifur In Dwarvish: “estvarn jurgen isû nal formv egraz erôthknurl dûnost had gáld kilf grimstnzborith barzulegur ascudgamln estvarn ana grimstnzborith sesti ach ghastgar” (“Sounds like a good recipe for a meal, but it’s missing one essential ingredient. Kili catch, Bofur cooks, and Bifur eats!")

Kili laughs and turns heading for the area where he thought good game would be, pulling his bow to ready

Bilbo: “I am ready to spend another bad night under the stars if you all are.” he said feeling tired enough to turn in.

Dwalin: "Bilbo yue help Bofur build a fire and I will pitch the tents."

Bilbo went about gathering sticks for the fire before collapsing in his tent soundly asleep. He had felt a renewed sense of purpose that day; Not that he wouldn’t continue to dream of second breakfast, or teatime or the comfort of his hobbit home, or even the kind days in Rivendell sitting in his favorite place near the falls. No, it was the last words of Lord Elrond that played over and over in his mind like counting sheep, that he would dream of all the years of his life:

"You are also welcomed to stay here if that is your wish, but whatever your decision, I feel that I will indeed see you again."

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Thanks to RPers: Gandalf (MithrandirMaia); Galadriel (ladylothlorien): Sarumon (sarumanmaia); Bilbo Baggins (beedle.beedit). ELVES: Elrond (anthonytorino); Gļőrfïndęl (ophiel). DWARVES: Thorin (Borelek); Kili (Bloodshroudlord); Óin - Son of Gróin (stormalong.magic); Dwalin (tombombadillok); Bofur (drakealexander1).

PHOTOS: Ka’lyn (Kahlan Milena) & Bilbo (beedle.beedit). Photo enhancement & videos: Bilbo;

SETS: Gloin (Kavarek)

(Please contact Beedle Beedit with any additions or corrections).