Elin gripped the handle of her shopping basket as she neared the blacksmith's. As she had started to leave for the market earlier that afternoon, her brother had stopped her on the way out. The last payment for the work Kili and his shop had done on their horses was due and Brom did not have the time to deliver it.
"Why me?" Elin's voice pitched nervously as Brom handed her the pocket of coin.
Arching a brow, Brom fought a grin, "Because you're headed in that direction. They're just dwarves, Ellie, not trolls."
Elin cleared her throat, tucking the coin in her basket, "I just don't know the way."
"It's near the bakery where they made those tarts Mother liked so much." Brom turned back to the gown he was piecing together on his work table, "You won't miss it. It's the only blacksmith in that part of town."
The sun shone brightly through the thin haze of cloud that coated the sky. However, there was still a chill of early spring in the air. Wrapping her crocheted shawl over her shoulders, Elin held the basket close to her. She dreaded seeming like she was seeking him out first. It had been three days since Kili had called up to her window. After he had not returned to her home, she had begun to think he had lost interest and had moved on to an easier target.
Her mother had warned her of such men. She and her father had cautioned her that the ones seeking her attentions without her parents' permission were not to be trusted. If she wanted to maintain her family's reputation in the community, she should let her mother and father handle her romantic attachments. However, they had been dead for nearly five years, leaving Elin very confused on the subject of her own independence. She still battled the strong desire to please them, even if they were long gone.
Elin lingered longer than necessary in the market. She debated lying to her brother that she had lost track of time and the smithy had closed before she could reach it in time. However, she knew he would see right through her falsehood. Brom knew his younger sister was a terrible liar with a relentless conscience.
Taking a deep breath, she turned down the short street near the bakery that her brother had mentioned. A brief flash of memory burst through her thoughts as she breathed in the heavy scent of sugared fruit and cream which were used to make her mother's favorite tarts. The nostalgia pierced her heart, causing her to stop in the middle of the quiet street. Closing her eyes, Elin tried to recollect the pieces of that sweet time with her mother years before when they had walked that very lane.
Elin opened her eyes, peering down the dusty avenue now golden with sunset. A simple sign in the shape of an anvil hung outside the last building on the street. She recalled her parents' beliefs in propriety and the strict path they had planned for her. She was certain it would never have included a dwarf, much less one as brazen as Kili. She couldn't imagine why she had actually entertained the thought of sharing his company.
Steeling herself, Elin entered the smithy. The entrance was open to the elements, as the searing heat of the forge kept them comfortable even in winter. Peering through the smoky air, she spied two dwarves. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw that neither were Kili. Pushing away the warring sentiments of relief and disappointment in her heart, she approached the elder dwarf where he worked at an anvil.
He paused his work, looking up at her expectantly without a smile. Wiping his bare forearm across his smudged forehead, he gave her a pointed look. She could tell this would not be a long exchange.
"The rest of the payment from my brother, Brom Littlepointe." Elin held out the coin purse numbly and dropped it into his open hand.
The dwarf tossed it in his palm as though to confirm its accuracy. He nodded satisfied and turned back to his work.
"Tell your brother I hope to do business with him again soon." He grumbled picking up the hammer without another look to her.
Elin rubbed her forearm with her free hand, still caught off guard by the abrupt dwarf. She glanced over at the younger dwarf by the forge, the firelight bouncing off his blonde bearded face as he studied her. The older dwarf looked up from his work and arched a brow.
"Anything else, Miss?" He asked, his tone sharper than he most likely had meant.
Her gaze fell to the floor dusted with ash as she shook her head. As quickly as she could, Elin walked back into the lane in the coming twilight. She started to pick up her pace, holding her shawl close to her. Not watching where she was going, she bumped directly into a passerby. Her basket spilled, a few red potatoes, a small parcel of brown sugar and a couple cabbages started to roll away. Frantically trying to gather her things, Elin was surprised by a hand suddenly pulling her to her feet.
"I'll fetch them, don't worry!" Kili skirted by a man on a horse, managing to rescue an errant head of cabbage before it was lost.
He crossed the street towards her. Brandishing the vegetable like a trophy, he winked at her. Still reeling in embarrassment at her behavior in the smithy, she managed to muster only a halfhearted grin in return.
"Thank you," She replied, taking the cabbage from his outstretched hand.
"You're welcome," His tone had turned pensive as he studied her, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, but I really should be going. I must bid you good day." With that Elin started to turn away.
"Wait a moment there." Kili reached out and took her elbow gently, walking up beside her, "Have I offended you? I know calling up to your window was a bit brash-"
Elin couldn't help widening her eyes at him as he brought up the past evening. Kili shrugged, releasing his hold on her and crossing his arms over his chest.
"But I cannot help myself sometimes." He finished, catching her gaze and holding it, "Some things are worth taking a chance on."
Elin felt her inside start to squirm under his intense inquiry. She looked away, pulling her shawl tighter about her shoulders. She knew if she did not leave soon, she would not be home before the lanterns started to be lit. However, something about Kili broke through her good sense. He was more dangerous to her safely squared away life than anything yet to come.
"How about this, lass." Kili started to circle her, resting his chin on his scarred knuckles, "I do not want to keep bothering you if you truly would rather I leave. I understand. But if you are willing to take a chance on me as I am on you, meet me tomorrow morning at dawn in the market place by Gif's fruit stand."
Elin opened her mouth to speak but paused, unsure of how to answer him. Before she could stutter a reply, he took her hand.
"Elin," He drew close till he was nearly a hands breadth away.
Instinctively, her eyes dropped. Her heart started to beat rapidly as he reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. He was much too bold. However, she found she was unwilling to stop his advances. Her breath caught in her throat as he leant his face forward, just close enough for his nose to graze her own.
"I hope you find me worthy of the risk as much as you are." He breathed, pulling away.
He grinned boyishly as he let go of her hand and strode in the direction of the smithies, leaving Elin in the fading light to gather her splintered senses.
The slinking fingers of chilled gold slid over Elin's rumpled sheets. She had abandoned her bed hours before, taking vigil by the window as the glow to the eastern mountains had grown with the minutes. A breeze coming down from the snowcapped hills bit through her nightgown but she barely noticed it as she twisted a strand of hair absently.
Her parents faces contorted with fever burned in her mind. She recalled their last days, the darkness of that winter when the sickness had claimed them. Brom had almost died as well, but thankfully he was spared. Only she had remained healthy, nursing her dying family with Silia who had just become betrothed to Brom that autumn.
Despite their faults and high expectations of her behavior, her parents had loved her. They had only wanted what was best for her. However, a creeping realization had disturbed her rest as Kili's words had spun madly in her mind. What they had thought was best for her was only their opinion. They had wanted to see her respectable and staid; a domestic destiny with a brood of children fathered by a good man of their choice which she would most likely have to learn to love. Taking risks was never in their plans for her. Perhaps that was why she was so afraid of what Kili represented; a break from expectation.
Maybe Kili was her only opportunity to discover her own path.
Dawn had fully bloomed across the sky. Kili would be to the marketplace by now. Elin stood quickly, the chair crashing to the hardwood floor as she did. Thoughtlessly, she retrieved the gown she had worn the day before off one of the bed posters. She was still lacing the bodice over her nightgown as she tore down the stairs without her cloak.
Silia was up, chopping a potato at the kitchen table. The baby was due any day and she was bearing most of the weight high in her torso.
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?" She asked, bracing her back with her hand.
"Just out," Elin replied enigmatically, skipping across the floor as she struggled to put on one of her boots.
Kissing Silia on her cheek, she ran from the house without even her hair plaited. Her curls streaming behind her, she ran through the waking streets of Ered Luin. The vendors at the marketplace were just starting to display their wares. Dodging a cart of horse manure, she came around the corner where Gif's fruit stand stood.
A smallish crowd had already started to gather for the day. Elin could see Gif's broad back tense as she lifted a crate of melons. The woman spotted her and narrowed her eyes before looking away dismissively. Elin took a few steps forward scanning the crowd. A few villagers eyed her disheveled form, a few acquaintances of her family nodding to her curiously. However, all she could think of was the possibility that Kili had given up on her. It was much later in the morning than he had implied.
Suddenly, she saw the broad form of a dark haired dwarf walking away from the square. Pushing her way through the crowd, Elin started to sprint towards him.
"Kili!" She cried, the villagers' glances becoming more obvious and judgmental.
Elin pushed towards him as he stopped and turned. Arching a brow, he smirked as she came to a breathless halt before him. He wore a heavy leather coat over a dark green tunic with its hood trailing down his back. The air shifted, teasing a few strands of long black hair that had come loose from the copper band that held it back. He crossed his arms over his chest with a chuckle.
"You know," He said, reached out and brushing her wild hair over her shoulder, "I had hoped you would arrive this morning looking as such."
Elin shrugged finally catching her breath, "I'm sorry I'm late."
Kili did not reply but studied her expression fondly. Elin looked away, unable to hold his gaze for long from the rush of feelings that came with it.
"You will freeze only wearing that," Kili commented, tossing her a heavy leather coat of Dwarf making, "But your boots are good."
Elin ran her hands over the intricate stitching at the shoulders of the overcoat, "Where are we going?"
Kili cocked his head towards the hills, "Just on an adventure. I want to show you something."