She remembered the first time she saw him in the Blue Mountain's elegant banquet halls. All she could do was look around in awe. It was her first trip to the Blue Mountain and her first time being inside the beauty. She was still a young lass, only forty-five visiting with her father, Rahvo Dragonfighter, when she first spotted him. He, unlike all of the other dwarves she had encountered in her years caught her attention. He was handsome and beardless besides some dark scruff on his face. Anyanka, unfortunately being half elf and half dwarf left her with very few courting options in any dwarven kingdom (or any elven kingdom for that matter) and with him being a prince of Erebor she decided that keeping her distance and her dreams to herself. But Anya's older half brother Rhar could see her like for the young dwarven prince and would taunt her endlessly how a full-blooded dwarf in the right mind would want nothing to do with her tainted blood. Thankfully Rhar left only after a one night stay saying that the Blue Mountain was not fitting for someone of the Dragonfighter bloodline. Rhar was a failure in the eyes of any dwarven warrior. He failed to master any sort of blade, instead always in his hand was a pint of ale. Likewise instead of armor he worse a large gut from indulging himself on dwarven mead. Anya was the exact opposite of Rhar, she knew all the dwarves looked down on her because of her Elven mother and she believed that her father should have at least one child to be proud of. So Anya from a young age made sure she was skilled with all weapons; though, she was only a true master of dual swords. Anya walked with her tall Elven mother, Anthriel and spoke softly.
"Am I a blight mother?" Anthriel looked down to Anyanka sharply.
"No, who said this to make you think so?" Anya looked around with a frown on her face.
"Everyone?" Anthriel sighed taking her much shorter daughter's hand.
"Even the young dwarf prince?" Anya blushed as she played with a strand of her straight golden hair and shrugged.
"Perhaps but not that I have heard." Anthriel smiled softly.
"Did your brother say something to you before he left? I'll tell your father if he did. Rhar is only good for spending your fathers money on unsavory objects."
"It's not just him mother. They look upon you differently too but they don't say anything because you're the great Dragonfighter's wife." Anthriel sat on a nearby bench and motioned for Anya to sit next to her.
"Do you know why your father is Rahvo Dragonfighter?" Anthriel asked as she slipped her long nimble fingers into her daughters hair to braid it.
"Of course, dad fights dragons." Anya replied with a simple shrug.
"Not just any dragons, your father was the only dwarf to make Smaug spill blood at the Lonely Mountain."
"He obviously didn't spill enough." Anya sassed back as Anthriel smiled softly.
"Your father is a very fierce and noble warrior but he is no miracle worker. That is how I met your father, Smaug had spilt much more of his blood then he had spilt of Smaug's. I came upon him near the edge of the forest clinging to life so I took him home and tended to his wounds and I fell in love with the most unlikely of creatures." Anthriel stroked Anya's chin and tied off a braid.
"And I would not change it for the world for look at the divine creature I created because of it all."
"This divine creature will be the last of her line." Anthriel laughed softly like the sound of tinkling bells.
"You are so young my child, do not rush love it will come to you."
"What if it comes too late?"
"Love is like magic, my dear Anyanka, it is never early nor late but precisely on time." Anya smiled as she played with the braided plait in her hair.
"Thank you mother it's beautiful." Anthriel smiled and rose as if she was floating.
"Your father is waiting for us to join him for the feast." Anya smiled and rose and resumed her walk to the banquet hall.
"Father said that at Erebor they had grand feasts almost every night." Anya gushed and Anthriel just smiled.
"I have a feeling one day you will set your eyes upon the kingdom of Erebor my dear."
"Think I'll be like father and make Smaug bleed?"
"You are a Dragonfighter are you not?"
"Of course I am, Valar knows that Rhar's only use would be throwing his mug at Smaug." Anthriel laughed softly.
"You are a fierce little thing my dear."
"Ah there you are, I thought I heard that musical laugh of yours." Rahvo talked loudly walking up to his wife and daughter.
"Come we have seats with Thorin."
"Thorin?" Anthriel asked.
"He'd allow Anyanka and I at his table?"
"Wouldn't have dinner with him any other way. You're welcomed."
"Come along dear." Anthriel took Anya's hand an guided her to the dining hall and to Thorin's table.
Anyone else excited? I'm ecstatic. So this is obviously before the adventure begins, Kili will actual be introduced properly next chapter.