"Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
-J.K. Rowling
Sorry for the wait! I have a strange work schedule, and can usually write more on Sunday/Monday. Hope you like it! Thanks SO MUCH for the encouragement! Love to you all.
Elenna's house was buzzing with chatter when she heard three short knocks at the door. Collin continued in his loud exclamations, her grandfather laughing at his excitement. Seeing the knock make no impact on her family, she slowly moved to the edge of the room and slipped out the door, taking Finn by surprise.
"Walk to the marketplace?" she asked.
"No hello? No invite in? No offers of tea?" he asked dramatically, clutching his shirt to his chest. "If I wasn't your best friend, I'd be offended."
"Lucky me then," she grinned.
"I suppose your haste means you've heard," he said, his green eyes twinkling like stars.
"Yes," she said. "And speaking of luck, lucky for me my best friend is the Master's son."
"I knew that was the only reason you're in this friendship. Forget my stunning looks and amiable personality, it's all about the political connections with you—"
"Have you seen them?" she asked impatiently, for once not playing along with Finn's humor. "Did your dad let them stay?"
"I could get us near the great hall," Finn said, pausing a moment. "Or if you're not feeling adventurous we can ask Row the story."
"You're joking." Elenna could hardly believe Finn would rather ask someone details over seeing them himself.
"He's the guard. Surely he has some information."
"He's hardly the most credible person to ask," Elenna pointed out, starting to walk briskly toward the center of their town. Row, nick-named for the swiftness of his oars, could outdo even Finn in tales. "He once told us he got into a brawl with a group of wood-elves."
"Well they did argue about the river toll," Finn laughed. "But I don't think even Row could exaggerate about this one. It's hard enough to believe as it is."
"How did everyone find out so fast?" she wondered, hearing a song rise up in the air as they weaved through the houses.
"Small town," Finn pointed out, grabbing her hand. "Run for old times sake?"
Elenna laughed as they began to jog toward their destination.
"When did everyone get so...excitable?" Elenna asked as people blurred past her, their songs mingling with bits of high pitched conversation.
"It's the first time I've seen Old Lady Wick smile, that's for sure," Finn said with a wink as they jogged past one of the oldest ladies in Lake-town. She muttered something as Elenna's braid almost hit her in the quite-wrinkled face.
"And?" Elenna asked with a bright smile.
"You were right. No teeth." Finn shuddered, before pushing her forward.
She tried to move with grace and not tumble off a platform or down a ladder into the water. She had lived here her whole life but was still not as agile as she wanted to be. They slowed down as the hall came into view, and the crowd grew dense.
"Are you nervous?" Elenna asked. Finn was her oldest friend and she felt she could voice her hopes to him. "This town used to be wealthy and great. Can you imagine if the old dwarf city rises to power again? It could help us too."
A thrill of excitement rose in her chest. She had been surrounded by the same people doing the same thing for most of her life, and she was about to meet people who had been to places she hadn't even heard the names of before.
"Rivers running with gold!" Finn said, crouching over to imitate the old men who foresaw the dwarves coming.
Elenna rolled her eyes. Finn covered up his hopes with jokes, but she knew he was excited. They were at the great hall steps now. The lights spilled over and dappled against the water nearby. Sometimes on still nights she would sit there with her friends or her sister and listen to them lap against the supports.
"C'mon, let's go inside," Finn said, pushing her forward. "See what our heroes really look like."
Elenna took a breath. People had the same ideas as them, crowding to look in the two great doors. The only difference was that Finn's father was the Master, and they could walk in without too much trouble.
They slid in past two men at the front doors—guards who were usually on the bridge but now stayed to keep an eye on things. Neither of them were tall or lanky, so Elenna knew that Row was left behind and probably not happy about it.
She took a deep breath as they walked through the tables. The dwarves were in the highest seats. Although everyone had their own drinks and food, their eyes were on them.
They were dirty from journey, but much different than she imagined. The one who appeared oldest had some gray hairs running through his head, but seemed confident if not a little harsh. The other two were smiling and laughing, hailing the men behind them to fill their mugs. She caught glimpse of a smaller man too, but he didn't look much like a dwarf, especially with his beardless face and curly hair.
"Thoughts?" Finn asked, his mouth caught in a half smile, partially exposing the tops of his teeth.
"Younger than I pictured," Elenna said thoughtfully. "And more..."
"Drunk?" Finn asked, laughing at the dark haired one who was swaying to the songs being sung about him.
"Finn!"
Finn's eyes turned his father who was walking toward them, a wary look on his face.
"Yes father?"
"The dwarves are our guests now. The people seem pleased, don't they?"
"I would say so," Finn said, hearing songs echoing from the half open front door.
"They will be assigned rowers and other people to take care of them," he said, looking around the room. "I'd like you to be one of them. Maybe it will keep you out of trouble this week."
"I don't get into trouble—"
"So you'll do it."
Finn paused, his sour look morphing to a smirk.
"Only if Elenna can help."
Elenna froze in her observations, looking back to Finn. It was no secret that he didn't get along with his father, and for that she had always been awkward and slightly afraid of the Master. His thin lips froze into a pursed line, his eyes flitting toward her. They were blue, but more like ice than the color of water.
"Alright. Maybe she can keep you in line."
Without another word, he turned away, already finding another matter to attend to. Elenna waited until he was out of earshot before turning to her friend.
"Finn!" Elenna slapped his elbow. "What did you do that for?"
"You're always reading about adventures Elenna," he said, frowning and rubbing his arm. "Time to actually be in one."
"Fetching water is not an adventure," she grumbled, already feeling nervous. She wasn't very good at speaking with strangers, especially dwarves. Well, not especially, since she had never met one before...but she could only imagine.
"Elenna, everyone outside is singing of dwarves, but probably won't talk to any of them. And guess who will be? You."
Elenna kept frowning, but her stomach did turn in something that perhaps wasn't all anxiety. Finn had always pushed her, had been present at every moment she would consider fun...maybe it was time to trust him.
"Let's go introduce ourselves," she said, mostly to surprise him, straightening her shoulders.
He smiled widely, his hair falling in his eyes as he bowed and gestured her forward.
"After you, my lady."
Elenna moved forward, wishing she wasn't wearing one of her plainest dresses. She silently eyed the hem, hoping it wasn't dirty from hauling in firewood or hoisting up water for her mother's bath. She conceded that it was the best she could do to smooth it out and hope the dim lighting was enough to cover it up.
When they finally got to the high table, Elenna wasn't really sure what to do, or how to address them. The three seated were busy talking to the people next to them, and one was missing entirely. She started to turn away when Finn's voice rang clear.
"Excuse the interruption, but I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Finn Barrows, and I'm here to help you during your stay. So if you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."
Elenna frowned, knowing he didn't introduce her on purpose. It was his life mission to make her speak up, but he didn't realize it was hard to do when your best friend spoke so boisterously and so often.
"I am Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain," the gruffest looking one announced before turning to the men next to him. "This is my nephew Fili and our companion Bilbo Baggins."
"And who are you?" the younger dwarf asked with a hint of a smile, looking at her.
"Elenna Waverton," she said, doing something between a bow and curtsey and almost blushing with her lack of grace. "I'll also be helping Finn."
"Excellent," he said, hoisting his mug into the air. "A toast to our new friends!"
Elenna thought no one would answer until a voice rang from behind her.
"A toast!"
The missing dwarf stood behind her now, raising his mug. He took a hearty sip before turning to her. Due to her unusually short stature, they stood practically eye to eye.
"Hello miss," he said, bowing. "Kili at your service."
"Elenna...at...yours too?"
"Elenna, how would you like to hear a story?"
His eyes were bright, and the ease in which he invited her to speak with them made her stomach fill with warmth.
"I'd like that," she said, smiling.
"Let's get some mugs of our own and we'll join you!" Finn said, clapping her back gently.
She felt the familiar protests rise in her chest, that it was too late or her family would worry, but then she remembered Finn's words. No adventure would come to her unless she let go of her complaints, at least sometimes. And if tonight wasn't a good night to celebrate, she didn't know what was.
"After you."
