PROLOGUE
Vana hurried towards her and her husband's chambers, her joyous smile growing wider as she left the main hall of Erebor, near to where the physician's chambers were and entered into the smaller halls where the housing chambers rested. As she slid around a corner, she crashed into a familiar guard.
"Careful mi'Lady," he stated, placing a soft hand on her shoulder to steady the rushing woman.
"Yes, of course. Thank you Brogal," she replied, grinning sheepishly up at the dwarf. The dwarrow was a little smaller than her husband but a lot wider.
"And what has you in such high spirits on this fine day, hmm?" he asked curiously, deciding to walk alongside her for a moment.
"Can't say, sorry, it is but a surprise," she twinkled up at him. She was such a pretty little thing, he thought to himself, simply huffing in response.
"And again, I am terribly sorry, but I must find Dwalin. Have you seen him by any chance?"
"Ah, yes, I believe I saw him making his way towards your particular stretch of houses not too long ago actually."
She was off before he even finished his sentence, yelling over her shoulder a, "Thank you Brogal! We will have to have you around for supper sometime!" before she continued towards her home. The dwarf only shook his head and resumed walking to his post on the watchtower.
OoOoOoOoO
Vana managed to catch her warrior brute of a husband as he was leaving their home.
"Dwalin!" she called, running almost full speed towards him, no intention of slowing her pace.
Hearing her familiar voice yell out, the massive dwarf turned around only to see his wee little wife running his way. Bracing himself for her impact, he caught her as she plowed into him easily lifting her into his arms so that they were face to face. As he opened his mouth to ask why she was so excited, she wrapped her arms around his thick neck and pulled him in for a searing kiss, not that he minded the interruption.
"And what was that for, may I ask ye lass?" he asked in his thickly accented voice when they finally parted, his tone more husky than usual. She giggled before answering.
"I have news!" she yelled breathlessly, hiking herself up higher on her husband, "I went to see the physician about the stomach cramping, dizziness and vomiting like you suggested an-"
Before she could finish, Dwalin had lifted her, hands under her armpits and was looking her over for any injuries, "Are ye alrigh' lass? It's nothing serious is it? You're alrigh' aren't ye?" he exclaimed worriedly.
She laughed lightly in response, her hearted warmed over his concern and she gestured for his to take her into his arms again.
"Of course I am fine, it wasn't anything to do with me. Dwalin, I am-" she was cut off again from a voice shouting down from the watchtower, the shout echoing throughout the hall of Erebor;
"DRAGON!"
Vana immediately huddled closer to Dwalin, her hand instinctively shifting protectively over her lower abdomen as a mighty roar followed the yell. She was suddenly chilled to the bone with fear, when her shoulders were grabbed.
"Lass, listen tah me. Ye have to get out. Go straight tah the servant exit through the kitchens. I'll find ye when we get out alright?" His voice was firm and solid, the only thing stopping her form losing control, but then the meaning od his words hit her like a warhammer to the head.
"Wh-what? What about you?" she practically whimpered, and tried to steel herself."I'll be fine lass, now go!" he ushered her towards the kitchens, knowing that if a dragon was here, it would be for the gold and most likely take the most direct entry the riches. He moved to go to the Great Hall to make sure that the King got out safely when his name was called, he turned back to his wee wife, his One, to be met with a bruising kiss.
"I love ye too lass, now go," he urged her again, this time watching her until she was out of his sight then continued onward to the Great Hall, praying to Mahal that she would stay safe.
OoOoOoOoO
Vana searched through the scattering crowds. There was utter chaos reigning, surrounding her, suffocating her. She had managed to help some people out, now, however, she was searching for the towering form of her love. A horn broke through her frantic search and she looked up towards the slopes to be greeted by the sight of the Great Elven King Thranduil, his army of elves armed and ready for battle behind him. However, they made no move to help. No move to help stop the burning city, no move to help stop the screaming of children. She stared at them, how could they do this? She thought, just stand there and watch people burn and flea without lifting a finger to help.
"HELP US!" She looked towards the owner of the shout and saw Thorin waving and pleading for their aid. And she watched as Thranduil turned away, leaving them all here to die. She moved forward, laying a comforting hand on his shoulder, but as soon as he turned and saw who was touching him, he forcibly shoved her from him.
"I need no help from you elf! Why don't you leave with the rest of your kin?" he stated, and then stormed past her, leaving Vana standing there hurt and wondering. How could Thorin had said that to her? He was one of her oldest friends, they had grown up together, and their fathers had been friends. Thorin had never had a problem with her half-elven heritage before; she could only hope that others would not hold her blood against her because of her elven kin's betrayal. She was shaken out of her thoughts when the sounds of a child sobbing met her sensitive, slightly pointed ears. He newly acquired motherly instincts kicked in and she turned to find a little girl crying and screaming for her "Mama!" As she picked up and consoled the frightened child, she only wished that someone could have warned her of what events would happen later that day.
OoOoOoOoO
Vana finally managed to spot Dwalin after the colony of dwarves made camp for the night. He was sitting by a fire with his elder brother Balin, a little ways away from the main camp. Balin looked up as she walked closer.
"Are you alright? Are you both alright?" she looked over to Balin, who nodded in answer. Returning her focus to her husband, Vana noticed the shaking of his body and the clenching of his fists.
"Brother." Balin warned. Vana looked to him in confusion, but her gaze was quickly drawn back to Dwalin when he suddenly stood, grasping her elbow in a bruising grip and walking away, forcing her to follow.
"Ow, Dwalin, you're hurting me!" the grip lessened for a fraction of a second before he tightened the pressure, making her wince.
"Dwalin? Dwalin, what's wrong? Dwalin, love?" she asked, confusion and hurt warring in her eyes, she barely took notice of Balin's demands for his younger brother to let her go, that is wasn't her fault. Dwalin, giving into his demands, shoved her to the ground, standing tall and firm over her, while Balin just turned his head in pity, knowing that there was no way of stopping his brother from making this mistake.
"How dare you call me that elf! I will not allow myself to be called that by such filth!" his thundering voice hurting her more. He had never yelled at her before, she didn't understand. As she heard someone approaching and when she spotted Thorin walking towards them, she finally did. He was blaming her, just as Thorin blamed her and her kin for Thranduil's misdeeds.
"Y-you would reject me? Your One for the actions of one selfish elf?" she asked as she dragged herself from her position on the ground. However, his answer to her question made her want to cower on the ground once more.
"My One! My One? How could elvish filth be the one destined for me. No, I don't believe that Mahal could be that cruel. I can't even stand looking at you. I will never take you as my One," he thundered down at her. Looking up into his eyes and seeing only coldness and hatred, no part of the Dwalin she once knew, she looked to the ground at her feet and made her decision.
"V-very well, I will not burden you any more," she pronounced, her gaze fixed firmly on the ground, missing the flash of agony in Dwalin's eyes and the pity in Balin's, all the while Thorin looked on proudly, "You will not have to look upon us any longer," she stated firmly, her gaze hardening. She turned away from them all and walked away before any of them could realise her slip. She was gone. Thorin went to clap his friend on the shoulder in pride, but Dwalin dodged the limb and walked in the opposite direction. Thorin and Balin watching him go, feeling the pain of him rejecting his One flowing out of him in waves.
OoOoOoOoO
Vana walked through the camp of dwarves, eyes to the ground, trying to avoid all of the glares of the people around her. A couple even had the courage to spit or throw things at her, making a mess of her clothes and hair. But she just took it all in stride and continued to walk. The familiar cry of a child drew her attention once again, and she looked to see the little female dwarf sitting down whilst her mother tended to a scrap on her knee. When she had returned her daughter to her, she had discovered that they were the wife and child of her friend Brogal. The small girl noticed her gaze, then smiled and waved. Vana started to walk over, hoping to see if they were alright and had found Brogal, but a large mass stepped in her way, preventing her from walking any further. She looked up and saw the dwarf in question himself, but instead of the kind and welcoming expression she had grown to value, she saw only hatred.
"Stay away from my family, elvish filth!" his voice like a crack of a whip, bringing silence over the camp, the hard shove that he gave her, knocking her onto the ground to exercise his point. Vana looked up from her position in the dirt, her eyes tearing as she looked up at one of her few friends form the Mountain, then moving to the circling dwarves around them. Meeting the worried gaze of the mother and child, she nodded, then got up and ran, pushing her way through the crowds, though her small stature getting more battered than anything else. Vana ran until her body forced her to collapse in exhaustion. Only then did she let her pain show. Vana cried and sobbed for all she was worth, her hand moving to her lower stomach and a sense of warmth coursed through her.
"Don't worry baby, Momma will look after you." She managed to get out, before the painful heartbreak became too much, and all she knew faded into black.