Druda had enjoyed many days in the Valley of Imladris, listening to the music, song and stories, riding her pony through the glades and relaxing in its beauty. Her thoughts had once again returned to the necklace in her room. She removed the box from its place on the shelf and eased open the lid, the necklace shimmered in the light but there was also a new radiance to it that had not been present in Bree, a translucent blue sheen now played across its surface. It must have been a trick of the light. Druda decided that the time had come to show the necklace to one of the Elves here in Rivendell.
Druda tucked the box under her arm and made her way down the path that followed one of the many tributaries of the river towards the thin plumes of smoke that marked the location of the forges. A small group of Elves were gathered round the forges and anvils all busy working on a variety of arms and armour. But sat at a table one Elf was finely chipping and cutting away at a fine gem. Druda waited patiently for him to break from his work, not wishing to distract his delicate work.
“Mae Govannon, Druda of the Shire” said the Elf as he placed his tools down on the table. “Do you require my assistance?”
“I have an item I would like you to cast your eye over” said Druda placing the small wooden box on the table before him. The Elf opened up the lid and lifted the necklace to the light.
“This is old, very old indeed. And that is from the lips of one who has seen many centuries pass” the necklace was turned over and over as he inspected it intently.
“It is of course made by the hand of my Kin, but not here. I believe the craftsmanship is more akin to that of the realm of Lothlorien. How did one from the Shire come to posses such an item?”
Druda told her story of the necklaces appearance in the Prancing Pony and her journey from Bree.
“It would seem that Druda of the Shire has done a great service to the Elves once again, I thank you for recovering it but I admit that I do not know the reason for the necklace being made in a design more familiar with the Periannath. I feel that the answer may lie beyond the mountains in the realm of its making”. The Elf returned the necklace to the box and closed the lid.
“Then that is where I shall go” announced Druda as she picked up the box.
“It is a long and dangerous road even in quieter times. The mountain passes have been blocked by heavy snows and it will be many weeks or even months before they are clear.”
“Then I shall travel south and circumvent the mountains where they are narrower and less elevated”
The Elf sighed at his failure to dissuade Druda.
“I see that you are determined to undertake such a journey. Please at least rest a while longer, eat plenty and enjoy your time in Rivendell a little while longer. Your journey will require food to be gathered and you will need to prepare yourself”
Druda nodded in agreement, the Elf was right such a journey would take time to prepare and there was no urgency in her quest, she would stay a little longer.
Druda decided to go and see the infamous Bilbo Baggins, who had been living at Rivendell for many years now. Druda had often visited him on her trips to Rivendell, he was something of a legend amongst the Burglars of the Shire and even a seasoned Burglar like Druda could learn something new from Bilbo Baggins.
