The morning chill cut through my sleep and I woke with a start. It was almost as if someone had shaken me awake, but the room was empty except for me. I sat up, gathering my blanket around myself, and surveyed the room. I just wanted to go back to sleep but that wasn't an option. I had a living to make and it wasn't going to come by itself.
I shivered violently as I ripped the covers off of myself. The cave like room was drafty in the morning and I got dressed quickly to avoid any further chills. I grabbed my gloves, tools, and apron before checking myself in the mirror. I didn't look my best, but I was apparently a rare beauty among dwarves, so I didn't worry too much.
I raced out the door and down a series of long corridors lined with doors; doors to the rooms of my fellow female dwarves. It was still a bit of a mystery to me as to why we were so well protected within the fort, but it did ease my mind. I could feel something coming. I didn't know what, but I knew it would happen soon. Maybe our precautions would be for the best.
It was two staircases before I got to the main door. I opened it, letting in the warmth of the inner chamber as well as the roar of the already hard at work dwarves. I took a deep breath in before closing the door to the chamber and entering the main hall. Dwarves of all shapes and sizes (although mostly short and stout) bustled around. Men left and women scoffed, several of the older ones feeling underprivileged, but I knew that they were all grateful for the protection the men offered us.
I turned away from the great doors and made my way farther into the mountain, heading immediately for the armory and blacksmith district. Barely anyone looked at me; dwarves hardly ever looked at each other. We had more pressing things on our minds.
A loud whooping caught my attention as Tad and Ruro raced around a corner, bags of no doubt stolen goods in their arms. They whooped a greeting as they passed me and I laughed. They were a couple of idiots, but at least they were still courteous.
"Need any help in the armory Raena? I'm sure Ruro would love to help!" Tad jested, nudging Ruro in the shoulder and making him go red in the cheeks.
"Oh hush Tad," he said quietly and sent me a shy smile, his face still red.
I laughed. "Come by any time," I said, not sure what I was doing but having a feeling it probably should have been thought out a bit more. Tad hollered again and ran off. Ruro looked at me apologetically before chasing after Tad. I laughed again and continued toward the armory. Perhaps that day wouldn't be as crummy as I already had it worked out in my head to be.
I was right about my day. It shaped up to be a pretty good one; I didn't get any burns so that was a bonus. I worked in the metal works of Erebor making weapons of war for whatever time we might need them. I had one project in particular that I finished that day; a sword plated with silver and made with only the highest quality steel. It was a weapon I had made especially for the king on request. No sooner than I had finished it, a smaller than average dwarf whisked it away to present to the king. That's how it always seemed to happen. I wrapped up my tools in my leather sack and put out the fire, placing the bellows against the wall.
I stood up and turned around, almost letting out a scream but catching it in my throat. I gasped in surprise.
"Ruro! I didn't expect you to come," I said and he smiled, trying to hide this mysterious nervousness he had about him.
"I just wanted to apologize. Tad," he said, "doesn't quite know when to shut his mouth," he said, his soft tone laced with humiliated venom. "I'm sorry if he embarrassed you at all today," he finished.
"Why would I have been embarrassed? He was just poking a bit of fun, right?" I said and Ruro nodded.
"Can I help you with your things?" he asked, taking the heavy tool bag from me before I even had time to answer him.
"I suppose that would all be well," I said and walked past him through the door, closing it when he was through. "Did you have a pleasant day?" I asked, sympathetic for the poor dwarf.
"Oh you know, the usual," he said and I nodded. We walked in silence past the great marble pillars that adorned every hallway and made our way down the jade steps. "Have you got anything going on tomorrow?" he asked finally and I looked at him. It was clear that he had been very unsure of the question before he asked it. It had taken quite a bit of courage to spit it out.
I almost answered his question immediately. Of course I had work; that was almost everyday except that... tomorrow was Sunday. I only ever sat around and relaxed on Sundays so perhaps it was time for a change.
"Nothing at all," I said. Ruro smiled shyly, again trying to build up the nerve to ask me something.
"Could I keep you company? I mean, if you haven't got a problem with that," he said.
"Of course you can keep me company. I have a couple of errands to run in the morning but-"
"I'll come with you," he volunteered. "If it's not any trouble," he tacked on.
"No," I said and he smiled as big as a dwarf can smile.
I nearly ran into the door to the dormitories but stopped just in time. I took my tools from Ruro's hands and went to open the door when I remembered my manners. I turned to face Ruro again but I really was ready to just fall asleep.
"Thank you for stopping by. I'll probably start my errands around dawn, if you'd like to meet me here then," I said. Of course, it wouldn't be actual dawn; dwarves didn't exactly see daylight very often, but we had very keen internal clocks and all had a general idea of when dawn was.
"I'll be here," he promised and stepped back a smidgen before looking back at me. "Can I walk you to your room?" he asked and I knew it was all in good faith, but those were the kinds of words that got you into trouble. It was strictly forbidden for a man to enter the women's dormitories, no matter if they were the king's grandson or not.
I smiled and shook my head. "You know better," I said and smiled sympathetically. I didn't mean to embarrass him, but he knew the rules. Besides, it hadn't been that big of a deal that I'd called him out. There was nobody there to hear us speaking. I had left the armory late as usual so it was only Ruro and I outside the door at the time.
"I know, but, it doesn't hurt to ask," he said timidly, bowing his head. I cautiously patted his shoulder.
"Good night Ruro," I said and he nodded, bowing low to the ground before turning around and heading back to wherever he had come from.
I turned around and almost gasped again as I had earlier, but this gasp was held in by fear of being scorned. I curtsied low upon seeing the man before me, bowing my head in reverence.
"Your Majesty, Raena Marblefounder at your service," I uttered humbly before standing again to face him.
"And Thorin son of Thrain at yours," he said, returning my curtsy with a bow. "Has my cousin been bothering you?" he asked sternly and I had a feeling that this was going to be a very rigid conversation.
"Not at all. His aim is only to serve me," I said, my language immediately shaping up for the better.
"Good. I would hate to have to punish him," he said. I couldn't help thinking that the phrase could have been said in many different ways than how he chose in order to make it sound less menacing, but then again, it fit the prince's personality just right.
"No need for punishment there," I said quietly and kept my head slightly bowed. I was in the presence of royalty; the heir to the throne even. Respect was necessary. I could feel his eyes on my face, despite my failure to look at him. There was a long pause before he spoke again.
"I've been told you're one of our best blacksmiths," he said and I looked up. That surprised me. I'd never been told such in my life. I let out a nervous laugh.
"Hardly," I said, but regretted it as soon as it came out of my mouth. It wasn't wise to disagree with the prince.
"Then I shall I have to find another for this job. I can't have anything less than perfect," he said and walked away.
I stood perplexed in the doorway. He just walked away. He didn't even give me a second chance; he just... left! Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately; it remains to be seen), I don't deal well with firebrands and I actually really needed another job if I expected to make a living for the next month. I dropped my tools where they were, my temper running short. Who was he to disrespect me? Aren't leaders supposed to serve their people, not the other way around?
I turned about face and called, "Master Thorin," but he continued walking. I knew he had heard me. My voice had echoed throughout the vast, empty hall for a good two seconds from the call.
If he was going to ignore me then it was about time to take matters into my own hands. I went after him, walking as quickly as my dwarf legs could take me. Luckily, he hadn't gotten far his own self, taking deep, slow strides to show his authority.
"Master Thorin," I said again when I was right behind him. He didn't even flinch.
A sudden anger boiled over inside me mixed with a certain worry of really not getting the job. In a flash or irrational judgment and terrified anger, I reached out my hand and grabbed his shoulder.
He stopped walking and I almost ran into him, stunned at what I had just done. I withdrew my hand faster than you can say "blunt the knives" and hid it behind me, frightened of what my action's consequences might be. He turned around and I stepped back a bit. I didn't want to be within reaching distance, but I needed this job more than he realized. I didn't bother putting my head down this time and instead looked him straight in the eyes. For a moment, I could have sworn I saw something there other than anger; astonishment, or perhaps pleasant fascination? It didn't matter though. Thorin's eyebrows lowered like shelves over his eyes in a flash.
He glared at me a moment, successfully putting me back in my place. I bowed my head, aware that this situation hadn't very good momentum going for it. For a second, I could have sworn I heard him growling with anger, but it was only for a second.
"I apologize," I said, broken thoughts trying to make their way out of my mouth, "for my brash attitude," I stuttered, pausing, "and for... handling Your Majesty... in such a manner... but I am one of the best blacksmiths," was I really? Who had told him? "and I will serve you with whatever needs you wish met," I finished shakily.
He took a deep breath, blowing it out in my direction and watching me squirm uncomfortably as it seemed to reach every last inch of my exposed skin. I don't know if he realized that I was being so profoundly affected by what he was doing, but part of me thought that he had to know. He wouldn't have done those things if he didn't know what they would do to me.
"Fine. I'll need you in there at dawn tomorrow as this assignment requires as great of haste possible. I know you won't disappoint me," he said, making it clear that this project was one of utmost importance. I almost wondered though if he had meant the last phrase sincerely... Thorin son of Thrain was turning out to be a much more interesting character than I had imagined.
I looked back up at him as he hadn't yet insulted me. But how could I know he would insult me? I had only just met him. I suppose I was just assuming too much, as usual. He was looking at me rather smugly but still with a hint of curiosity. He had won this psychological battle but was walking away with more questions than answers, no doubt.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," I said.
"I think Thorin will do," he said.
I almost choked. I was to call the prince by his first name? Well, perhaps he did this to everyone. The prince himself rarely dealt with the common people, so how was I to know? I tried to write it off as normal in order to make my way through the rest of this progressively awkward conversation.
"I'll keep that in mind," I said.
"Good. Be ready at dawn," he said.
"Yes, Your-" I caught myself, "Thorin."
He gave me a farewell bow and I returned it with a curtsy. He turned again and strode back to wherever he had come from. I stood there for a moment, recovering mentally from what had happened, before I went back to the dormitory door. I gathered my spilled tools and opened the door, making my way to my room as quickly as I could.