Young dwarf girl sneaked out of the palace as she heard her maid called after her. She quickly pressed herself on the wall where big green bushes made her unnoticable as older dwarf woman ran out of the castle with a book in her right hand.
"Princess Melia!" short and chubby redhead called out, looking around desperately trying to find young girl. "You have to come back and have a history lesson!"
After calling her name a few times, she left and returned the palace with a defeated look on her face. Melia bursted out laughing and walked out of her hiding spot. She really wasn't into learning and becoming as educated as princess should be. She wasn't nonintelligent or something like that, she just thought that learning those things was a wasted time.
Melia smoothed her beautiful long grey dress with right hand before walking the opposite direction away from the castle. She was young dwarf princess, but even she always tried to act like a one, she never fitted her role. Melia was the fairest of all from their kind, with her long brown hair, high cheek-bones, cat-like green eyes and creamy skin tone, she looked more like an elf, not the dwarf. But with being stubborn, fierce, brave and yet kind, caring and loyal, nobody never doubted her dwarf origin. As typical for princess, she was well educated in history, law, languages, dancing, horse-back riding and yet she still forced her parents to teach her all fighting techniques. Melia was trying to make her parents proud, so she acted like a heir to the throne should. But her curious nature always longed only for an adventure.
"Running away again, my princess?" male voice made Melia winced a little, since she was deeply in her thoughts, but relaxed immediately after realizing to whom the voice belonged.
"It is the only way how I can see my favorite dwarf," she smiled and turned around to face her friend who was sitting under the big tree, hiding in its shadow from the sun. "It's wonderful to see you Bofur."
Bofur was good friend of Melia, she first started to talk to him mostly because she was not allowed to. He was a toy maker and definitely not someone, Melia's parents would like to see their daughter with. But they built strong friendship, more like sister-brother relationship. She admired him and loved his stories from the times before he was driven out of his home, Erebor.
"I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my favorite princess," Bofur said and for a second the twinkle in his eyes disappeared before the goofy smile returned on his face.
"What are you talking about?" Melia frowned after she made herself comfortable on one branch.
"I must go, but I cannot tell you why. I need to try seek my fortune and I was also told the beer will be free," cheerful dwarf chuckled while looking up at his friend.
"B-but..no, you cannot leave me. I want to go with you!" young brunette shook her head.
"Your place is here, princess, you are the heir to the throne, you are going to get married and be happy. But I must away," Bofur carefully explained.
"I don't want it. I don't want to live in a cage, I want to be free," Melia admitted in a quiet voice.
"Here, I made this for you," Bofur stood up and handed small wooden dove to his friend, „try not to forget about me."
"Oh, Bofur!" Melia cried out and jumped from the tree to hug him tighly.
"I haven't even gone out of this place and I already miss you.
"Be careful, my friend," young dwarf stroked his cheek softly as a single tear rolled on hers.
"Good bye, my princess," Bofur smiled and bowed before slowly walking away from his friend.
Melia sighed and watched him until he was out of the sight. She situated herself on a tree branch again and smiled at small toy in her left hand.