How long have I've been a prisoner now? A couple of years? Decades? Centuries? Oh God, if I only knew...

My name is Valerie and I am a female dwarf of Erebor. I am no ordinary dwarf, far more different than usual female dwarves. Usual dwarf women looks alot like dwarf men; they sound alike, they have beards and are not so beautiful. They are very masculine; to make a long story short. Me, myself and I are not like them. I am more feminim; which means that there's no beard growing out from my face, my hair is not as rough and dry, it is waist-long and thick, I don't have a male voice and according to all dwarves in Middle-Earth I am the most beautiful dwarf that has ever existed. Dwarf women are just as filthy and dirty as dwarf men, not attractive at all. I am just as dirty when it comes to how I am; every one knows the reputation of dwarves. We are the least cleanest kin in Middle-Earth.

I love my people. I love my home. Oh my home... Has long been lost. I grew up underneath the mountain. My mother was Dertain and my father was Gadrin. My father worked as minor in the mines, he carved out jewels and gold in the deeps. He was actually the one who found the Arkenstone. Our King Thrór, the mightiest of all dwarf lords, took the Arkenstone of his own. He later labeled the stone as The King's Jewel, it embarked that his right to rule was divine. But the jewel made him greedy, he dug deeper and deeper into the mines and soon he had the deepest chamber of Erebor full of treasure. The people spoke of a sickness that had begun to grow within his mind. But as young as I was back then, I didn't care for that, I had so much else going on in my life.

Before the time when Smaug attacked Erebor and the king had gone insane, I was in my early years. I had a group of friends while I lived in Erebor, I spent the whole days doing shenanigans with them. Most of them were boys, but there were two girls that were my bestfriends. But they also looked like boys, so maybe it doesn't matter. We were a group of 9 youngsters that ran around in the city and made a mess. We were known under a name; The Ducklings we were called, but no dwarf in the whole kingdom knew that it was us that were the small pack of trouble makers, but one. The dwarf prince Thorin had caught us once in the Gallery of the Kings when we were painting the pillars with pig blood. Back at that time he was a very handsome young dwarf, he was popular around the women in Erebor because of his fine looks. He was unusually tall for a dwarf and muscular. He had long black thick hair that went down to his scapular with a beard in a braid and his eyes were blue-gray. I don't know what he looks like at this time, I don't know if he even is alive...

Backlash

Furgil: "Hey! I think there is somebody else in the gallery, I heard a noise coming from down there!" He pointed with his finger towards the gates as he whispered. It was so dark here at night that none of us barely saw what we were doing.

Dunhilda: "Are you sure? Cause if you are right, we have to get out of here quickly!"

Kimril: "Shut up and listen then you fools!"

We went silent for a few minutes, but there was no noise to be heard again.

Me: "I can't hear a thing, do you hear anything?"

Sigrid: "No me neither, let's just finish our painting"

But then it was another noise made that came from the gates.

Ketil: "Okay, someone has to go and check if someone is spying on us"

Furgil: "Not me! I already am in trouble at my house and if mother finds out that it was us she is literally going to kill me!"

Rúndin: "Me either! My father is already angry at me for the accident at the morning prayer.. Oh God if he's finding out"

The others started to protest and fight quietly about who's going to sneak up to the noise. I just stood there and shook my head and chuckled at them. Until Yorri looked at me and said my name.

Yorri: "Valerie! You can do it! You are so small and thin that you would not be heard!"

Dunhilda: "Yes! And besides you are the only one of us that won't tripp or fall when sneaking"

Some protested against her claim and grumpfed sourly.

Me: "No! Absolutely not! If my parents finds out about our pack, they will throw me down to the deeps and let me fall to death!"

Borgo: "Look we all are going to get in to trouble if any one of us gets caught, so it doesn't really matter who's doing it"

Me: "Exactly! That's why I'm not doing it!"

They all protested again and encouraged me into to doing it, some even tried to bribe me.

Me: "Fine! I'll do it! But if we get caught you have to wait for me and not leave me here alone... Unless I tell you to run, then run"

Dunhilda: "Of course we'll wait for you! Don't you worry at all!"

The others agreed and told me that I only had to be real quiet and it will be succesful. I took off my boats and undressed my cloak, so it would be easier to sneak. I turned to the gate and hesitated. But my friends were there for me in support, Dunhilda and Sigrid embraced me and kept on encouraging me.

Me: "Wish me good luck now fellas"

They petted my shoulders and wished me good luck.

I walked quietly past the pillers and walked down the small stairs to the big floor. I didn't even hear my own footsteps from my bare feet. I had to lift my dress so I wouldn't tripp. The floor was cold and smooth as I walked on it. I came closer and closer to the big gate and soon I was there. I searched through the small scrub on the left, but only found some purple colored jewels, I put them in my pocket.

Furgil: "Is there any one in there Valerie?"

Furgil kind of whisper-shouted through the great hall.

Me: "No not in here, let me search the other scrub"

I went over to the other scrub and peaked throught the keyhole. I didn't see a thing. I carefully opened the door, and I saw a tall sillhouette in the shadow. Oh My Lord! Someone was spying on us! My eyes narrowed to see more clear of who it was standing in there... Oh Sweet Apple Of The Tree, it was the prince of Erebor standing there; Thorin. I freezed in horror and fear grabbed my mind. He met my gaze and my eyes went wide open. I recoiled and stumbled on my feet.

Me: "Run! The prince is in here! Run! Run for your lives!" I shouted to my friends as I turned to them. I saw them panicking and they didn't know what to do.

Me: "Run! For the love of God save yourselves!"

I heard them howling back in fear as they ran away into the shadows. Why did I say that? Now I'm getting the whole blame for it.. I need to get out of here.

I glanced back at Thorin and started run away. I moved as fast as I could, but I was outrunned by him. He grabbed me and lifted me up like a fether and backed up against a wall. I resisted and struggled to get free from his grip, but he was extremely strong. I tried to scream for help but he put his massive hand over my mouth, so it was useless. I could barely breathe, held he so tight I almost passed out. I stopped resisting and he let me go. I fell to the hard floor and could finally breathe.

Me: "What is wrong with you?! I could've died for Godness sake!" I shouted as I lay on the ground.

Thorin: "Is that how you speak to the prince of Erebor?"

Me: "I don't care whoever you are, you still almost killed me!"

Thorin: "A rebellion, you must be one of The Ducklings I suppose"

Me: "Oh really? You don't mean that!"

I rose up on my feet and glared at him.

Thorin: "So much anger and resistance in you, why is that?"

Me: "There is no anger and resistance in me! It's called irony you fool"

Thorin: "You don't seem to realize that I have the power to put you and your pack into prison for eternity?"

Me: "You don't seem to realize that really I don't care?

First of all: we would've gotten out of the dungeons easily, have you ever tried to smash the locks of a door? And since the dungeon is old and rotten and our king has done nothing about it, we could've broken the metal into pieces with our own hands while the guards did not see.

Second of all: as every other criminal, we have the right to fair a trial. And after we'd killed you there would be no eye witness or evidence against us.

Third of all: as you realize now, we are not afraid of a fight. We will fight for ourselves no matter if it costs the life of a loved and dear one"

I paused and waited for Thorin's answer, but he didn't say a word. He just stood there and stared at me. His expression was shocked, surprised and... amazed? Then he smiled, the smile enrolled to laughter. He stood there laughed so loudly it echoed through the whole gallery.

Me: "Well it was no joke I told, why are you laughing?"

Thorin: "I never expected such an resistance in your soul Valerie!"

How did he know my name...

Me: "Okay fine, I am resistful, what of it?"

Thorin: "You, my dear, are going to be a great warrior!"

Me: "What has that to do with anything?"

Thorin: "I've always liked a rebellion.."

What? Oh, dear lord no...

Me: "Don't even think about it, cause it will never come to pass"

Thorin: "I'm offering you a way out of this mess, listen to me. There are a whole batalion of dwarf soldiers behind these gates, waiting for my cue to storm the place. I think they are as just happy as every other dwarf in this kingdom to finally catch you. Just let me take you to dinner in my household, I think my father and grandfather would be very pleased to finally meet you. They've admired your beauty for long, and so has I"

Fear grabbed my mind again. I knew he had something in the back of his head. And it just had to be an army of dwarves. And a stupid food invitation.

Thorin: "Think about it, it is just over a dinner. I just want to get the chance to know you better"

Me: "You've had that chance for a long time, why now for?"

Thorin: "Why not now?"

Was he always this annoying? Or is he just being a smarthead? I sighed.

Thorin: "Please?"

I hesitated and sighed even more.

Thorin: "I beg you, it will be-"

Me: "Okay fine! I'll come over, okay?"

Thorin: "Swear it"

I had enough. I turned and walked away, he was so stubborn! And it almost annoyed me to death. But he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. He pulled me close to him, too close.

Thorin: "Swear it" he whispered into my ear.

Me: "I swear! For goodness sake!"

I recoiled and pulled myself out of his grip. He smirked at me and winked. My cheeks blushed and I glanced down. Thorin chuckled and I couldn't help smiling. He lifted his hand and carefully took a hold of my chin. With his hand he lifted my head so our eyes met.

Thorin: "You're adorable"

He thought I was adorable? Oh my.. That's very- Oh for the love God! I pulled his hand off me, snorted and turned to walk away. He shouted after me:

Thorin: "Where do you think you're going? Get back here"

Me: "I agreed to a dinner with you, not a sweet talk"

He chuckled once again and I heard him open the gate and leave. Finally.

Okay I admit, he's handsome, but also very stubborn. Well, a dwarf who isn't stubborn is not a real dwarf. It seems like he has fancied me for a long time, cause he seemed eager to invite me to his table.

Backlash stops