Chapter three: The tale of being on the road again
Del was woken by the smell of frying bacon. He blinked sleep away and dressed himself before getting up. When he entered the kitchen he found Belladonna preparing the breakfast and Thorin seated at the table in front of the fire. They stopped their conversation when Del entered the room.
"Mornin'..." he mumbled and let himself fall on another chair.
"You are late." Thorin stated crossly but smiling. Belladonna looked up from her work and frowned.
"He had been preparing the ponies and your supplies during half of the night. Don't be too harsh on him..." she shot a look in Thorin's direction before placing eggs and bacon on his plate.
"Leave it, Bella. He is right. I slept far too long. We should have been gone long ago... Did I interrupt you talking?"
"Belladonna told me some more interesting things about you..." the hobbit huffed behind them and glared at the dwarf.
"A prince you may be, but you surely have to brush up your negotiation skills... Did you have to tell that? I'm sorry Del..." Del wondered briefly what Bella had told about him but did not want to pry. He shrugged and chewed his bacon. Through a mouthful of it he answered:
"I an't elp t now, an I?"
"And you should very much brush up your manners, love!" Del grinned and looked down to his plate. "You know you could stay a little longer. My lord, you could rest for a while and relax your shoulder."
"Thank you for your kind offer, Bella. But I have been away for months and I desire to see my kin again. I'm grateful for your hospitality, but I need to go. And my injury is far better now... As you said, Del has quite a healing talent..." Del blushed again at his words and shook his head.
"If you allow me to, I would like to check your wound again before we leave, my lord." Thorin nodded his consent and after finishing breakfast they left the kitchen for Thorin's chamber. When he had went to bed the first evening he had taken a good look on Del's handiwork. He had made fine stitches and neatly sewn the cut, pink flesh around the edges and as clean as could be. It would heal rather nicely. The boy had undressed him while he was unconscious, he had but little choice. He had seen him already, maybe that was why he trusted him without really knowing him. There was something Thorin liked about him. He could not put his finger on it, but it was there. And what Bella had told him only enhanced this trust. He sat down on his bed and Del waited patiently for him to undress. Del focused on the cut, nodding contently.
"It heals quite fast, yet you should not move too much or carry heavy things... or fight. You will leave those things to me, is that understood... my lord..." Thorin couldn't help but chuckle. Del took up a little box and started putting a salve on the wound. Thorin felt Del's slim and rough fingers on his skin, causing him to shiver. "I'm sorry." Del whispered and finished his work. "I should like to leave it open, a bandage only hurts and does not help in the healing process... if that is alright with you." the dwarf nodded. "Well, then we should be off, don't you think?" and he got up, rubbing his hands on his trousers.
"Indeed. We have a long road ahead. Let's move." and both left the room.
After thanking Belladonna and her hugging Del fiercely they mounted their ponies and left for the Ered Luin. Thorin had loosely checked their luggage and was pleased to find everything in order. He had expected no less. To his great surprise he was looking forward to travelling with Del, he was pleasant company. The boy knew exactly what he was doing, spoke little when not asked and had never complained about something so far. Thorin reminded himself not to think of Del as a boy any more. That was disrespectful and he deserved better. Still he was not sure why he had asked him to accompany him in the first place. Of course it was safer to travel together, and Del was one of the best fighters he had ever seen. He just liked him. That was scary, he had to admit to himself, he did not trust easily, nor did he like humans or elves. Truth be told, he only liked few of his own kin. Normally he could rely on his judgment of others, and he sincerely hoped he was not mistaken this time. The week at Bella's house had been uneventful, Del had been out a lot, Thorin had never asked what he had been doing.
They rode next to each other in companionable silence until the sun reached its zenith. It was warm and a light breeze made the leaves of the trees around them flutter. Thorin stopped his mare.
"Shall we have a break, Del?" the Dunedain just nodded and jumped to the ground.
"I prepared lunch, my lord." Thorin got off the pony and slumped to the ground with a huff. "Here you are." he sat down next to Thorin and started eating, handing some water over and solemnly chewing on his slice of bread. Suddenly he looked up, a strange glitter in his eyes. "May I ask you a question, my lord?" he waited for Thorin nodding his approval. "Why did you ask me to come along, my lord? Don't get this wrong, I am pleased indeed that you would have me. And I would love to see the Ered Luin. I was just... wondering..." Thorin saw his eyes lighten up as he talked about the Ered Luin and felt he was really pleased to be allowed to see them. Few strangers were welcomed there, and never uninvited. Dwarves liked to be on their own.
"Selfish reasons, Del. And a bit of gratitude. Without you I would not be here, and I definitely would not enjoy this food... or a mended shoulder. And I don't like hunting for food... as it is... it's a comfort for me to have you with me." if Thorin had expected a fiery reaction he did not get it. Del snickered silently and smiled.
"I will not disappoint you." and with that he fell silent again and smiled to himself. Thorin stared at him in shock. His answer had been close to an insult, though said with a smile. But Del had taken it as it was, and he even made fun of him. For the first time in quite a while Thorin allowed himself to smile. It was a real smile, one that reached his eyes. Ever since the dragon had driven them out of Erebor, his home, and after the deaths of many of his kin he had not felt at ease. But now was the time, even if it was short-lived. Del saw him smile and did not look away. He did not shrink under Thorin's gaze. He did not have to. Though he knew how to show him the respect he deserved he did not fear him.
They moved on after eating, making good progress and soon leaving the Shire behind. When the sun was about to sink Thorin ordered them to halt and prepare camp for the night. Del left him caring for the ponies to collect firewood. After some minutes he returned and dropped the wood. It was more than enough for one night and he knelt down to get the fire going. "Are we going to sit watch, Del?" Thorin asked after finishing his task with the ponies. He sat down and examined Del's work. Slowly a spark sprang to life and nourished flames on the wood.
"Only if you insist, my lord. We are still close to the Shire. We should be save. I have a light sleep out here and I don't think there is anything we need to fear..." he got some food ready and stuffed his pipe. "Bella provided me with Old Tobey. It's the best leaves in the South Farthing. I'd share..." and he offered Thorin his purse. The dwarf took it with a nod.
"It is about three days to our residence. There you will meet my father, Thrain. And my sister Dis. She had boys not long ago."
"What about your grandfather, Thror?" Thorin's face darkened and he shook his head, sadness in his eyes.
"He was sick for a long time. Now he is travelling along the Misty Mountains, I think." Del felt he would not like to talk about it, so he dropped it. "What about your parents?" Del shrugged. He did not know nor did he care. He had been alone most of his life and the memories of his family were distant and blurry.
"I left them when I was ten. I grew up with my cousin Arathorn and his family. They cared..." he produced a big smoke ring and watched it fade. "I like it here."
They did not talk further and both felt that they had no need to bring up this theme again, when the sun had faded they prepared for the night. It was still warm outside and Del lay on his roll, staring up at the night sky. There were no sounds except for Thorin's steady breathing. "How is your shoulder, my lord?"
"I'm fine." Del smiled. He knew that the wound, as well healed as it was already, still pained him and would make sleeping a hard task. So he got up again and placed his little kettle on the fire, heating up some water. Thorin watched him from the corner of his eyes. Some minutes later he came back, holding his mug and offering it to Thorin.
"I thought maybe you would like to have a tea." Thorin knew it was something to lull the pain and to make him sleep better. Del did not make him show weakness, so he gladly accepted the mug as a simple herbal tea. Sleep took him right after he had finished the drink. "Good night, sleep tight, Thorin, son of Thrain..." Del rolled to his side and watched Thorin as his breath rose and fell in a slow motion. He snored softly, creating a rich and deep rumbling sound down in his chest, very much like when he spoke. Del liked his voice a lot and liked to listen to him. It was one of his best features according to Del. It implied strength, power and pride.
