Durjel- Khuz-dul for 'curious'
Courtesy of Dwarrow Scholar!
The stranger at least wasn't an enemy. Curious brown eyes roved over the sleeping She-Hobbit's form and then lowered when they saw the body of her companion. The stranger looked from Belladonna to the East and seemed to make a decision. Gently sliding slim, yet strong arm under the small Hobbit woman, she lifted her with no more difficulty than if she were lifting a small youngling off the ground. Placing the other female safely on the saddle of the horse that she'd been riding before discovering the two, the stranger jumped herself onto the saddle, sitting close behind Belladonna, softly clicked her tongue and once again they were on the move.
Belladonna dreamed that she was safe in her ma's arms. Bright blue eyes shone down at her, warm arms circled around her protectingly, and a gentle voice told her everything was going to be just fine.
"Mama, I've lost everyone."
"Maybe so, but that's not to say that things will end as badly as they've started."
"I'm scared, Mother. I don't know what I'm going to do without him."
Gently brushing back her curls- how many times had Adamanta done that when she needed comfort?- the older woman softly said, "aye, he was taken too soon, my love. But remember, though you may lose people, to death, they will never lose you to it. We'll all be looking out for you and my little grandson here."
"I haven't lost him."
"No." Adamanta agreed. "He's alive and you're alive."
"We're alive."
"You're alive," Adamanta repeated. "Stay that way for as long as you are able."
"I will," Belladonna replied. "I'll do that."
A pleased smile lit up Adamanta's face. "That's good. Now, dear, wake up."
"What?"
"Wake up."
The stranger had been slightly afraid for the little one when she still refused to awaken. She'd tried talking to her, brushing her curls, telling her that she was still living, but she barely even stirred and out of nothing other than desperation, the other woman resorted to simply asking her to awaken.
And it was working. Eyes of a light turquoise fluttered open and stared into the deep brown of her finder.
Belladonna could see lots of long, thick red hair, brown eyes and spotted the tips of pointed ears through the impressively long locks falling from the other's head. She'd never seen a redheaded Elf before.
"What's your name?" the Elf questioned.
"Belladonna Baggins. What's yours?"
"Tauriel."
"How did you find me?"
"I was passing through," Tauriel answered. "I had business in Rivendell. You know, I've never seen one of you this far East."
"I'm visiting kin."
"Where do your kin live?"
"I don't know where they live. A kingdom by somewhere called Dale."
"You're visiting Dwarves?"
"I'm visiting kin," Belladonna reminded.
"You have Hobbit kin in Dale, or Erebor?"
Belladonna shook her head. "No Hobbit kin anymore. Goblins attacked our home. Bungo and I barely managed to escape."
Tauriel looked horror-stricken. "That's terrible. I'm sorry for your loss."
Belladonna nodded, before looking around the thicker trees that surrounded them. "Where are we?"
"I didn't want to risk staying by the Mountains when there were Goblins close by, so I rode fast away from them, taking the paths I know to get to my home faster. We're safe here, and we're closer to Greenwood."
"Greenwood?"
"My home. If you wish, I'll take you through it to the borders of Dale."
"How far are we from Greenwood?"
"Several weeks."
Finding Tauriel (or Tauriel finding her) was the most fortunate thing to happen to Belladonna in three and a half months. The Elf kept her warm, safe, fed, and often gave her bump an affectionate touch. One thing, Tauriel told her, that nearly all races have in common is a fierce love of not just their children, but any child.
"It's a love that unites us," Tauriel said one evening. "Take Elves and Dwarves as an example. Both races agree that children are most precious."
It turned out Elves rarely had more than four children. Tauriel was astounded to hear about Belladonna's eleven brothers and sisters. Dwarves had even less than that.
"Their heads would spin," Tauriel said, "if they found out one of their own had so many children.
By the time they reached the gate into Greenwood, both knew more than enough about the other. Belladonna frowned uneasily at the forest.
"What is it?"
"It looks like it's sickening. As though it's getting an illness of some kind."
Tauriel laughed. "It's fine, it's just got different trees to other forests."
That may have been so, but the forest was dark, sunlight barely filtering through the leaves and branches of the trees above. It was almost suffocating in there, and Belladonna felt certain that there were eyes watching her every move, though she never saw any. She stayed close to Tauriel's side, the fear she felt quelled with the Elven warrior so close by.
One night, Tauriel spotted Bellladonna twisting her grandfather's ring around her finger. It was of a dark gold and the sparkling red gem gleamed as the younger being absent-mindedly played with it.
"Is that your engagement stone?"
"Hm? Oh, no! It was my grandfather's. He gave it to my mother and she passed it onto me."
"May I look?"
Belladonna extended her hand to the Elvish woman who looked at its sturdy design, at the 'claws' holding the jewel in place and wondered if Tauriel would be able to tell her if she recognised the ring.
"I've never seen a design like it before," Tauriel said, releasing Belladonna's hand. "Perhaps there are Dwarves who will recognise it."
"Maybe."
Soon they were safely out of the accursed forest (Belladonna swearing to herself that she never again would enter it) and heading towards a large bustling city floating on the silvery surface of a colossal lake. Literally colossal. Belladonna had never seen anything quite like it in all her life.
"Aren't they afraid their homes will drift away?"
"No, it is quite secure," Tauriel assured her. "I would have us stop there. You need rest in a decent bed."
Belladonna sighed, "very well. But I'd like to be as close to the land as is possible."
The wooden planking beneath her feet creaked at moments, making Belladonna very tense as she walked across the pier. Tauriel seemed remarkably unconcerned about it as she led her horse to a nearby stable, murmuring something to the Man working there. Belladonna could see a Dwarf standing by a stall selling knives, picks and other tools. She started walking to where the Dwarf stood, not noticing the shining patch of water lying over the planks and skidded, landing on her hip, pain exploding through her small body. The Dwarf turned around.
The Dwarf in question, she could now see was definitely a male a thick, dark beard seemingly about to split into two parts falling onto his chest. He wore a red tunic with a silver pattern etched on the hems,and black trousers , a pair of leather boots covering his feet. Tucking a lock of dark brown behind his ear, he walked over, his hand outstretched.
"Took a nasty fall there. You alright?"
Nodding her head, Belladonna took the hand offered. "Thank you."
The Dwarf noticed the ring on Belladonna's hand. Staring at it, he asked, "Where'd you get this from?"
"It belonged to my grandfather. His name was... Durjel, I believe. He came from these parts." The Dwarrow kept staring at the ring, his kindly blue eyes wide. Belladonna started to worry. "Did you know him?"
The brunette nodded. "Aye. He was my father's cousin."
Actually, it was revealed, Durjel had been this Dwarf's father's third cousin.
"But no less wonderful," the Dwarrow added. His name was Balin and he was Royal Advisor or something like that, to the King, Thrain. "He was completely mad, I remember my father coming home one night muttering that Durjel had lost the plot." Balin's gave Belladonna a warm smile. "But he never stopped loving him. Durjel was like a brother to him."
"Did your family ever meet my grandmother?" Belladonna asked.
"Our family, you mean. And, yes, my father did. I never got to, unfortunately." His blue eyes narrowed slightly as though in thought. "What brings you up here, if you don't mind my asking?"
"There was.." Belladonna cleared her throat, trying to ease the words out. "We were attacked by Goblins. I have no other kin left alive."
The statement she'd thought she needed to say, didn't need saying. It hung in the cool evening air like the mist on the mountains the Goblins resided in.
I need somewhere to stay.
"Come back to Erebor with me," Balin gently requested. At Tauriel's somewhat sharp look, he added. "After you've gotten rest, of course."
The proper bed that Tauriel had so highly recommended was, as the Elf predicted, what Belladonna needed the most. The mattress was soft, the pillows were warm and she spent a few minutes blinking her eyes which were burning with sudden exhaustion, sleepily thinking about the baby that was currently curled up inside her womb.
She would protect him, she thought to herself groggily. She would protect him from anything and everything that may hurt him.
He would be safe.
But would she?
Would she, indeed? Hey, this is actually getting along alright so far! So, Belladonna's about six months gone, nearly seven, if that helps any of you. I couldn't resist putting Tauriel in there, could I? *shakes head at self*
Originally, I was going to have Bofur and Bombur's mother being Belladonna's relative. But I thought, you know, 'I love Balin. Balin's awesome. I'll have Balin in there, not a person whose everything I'm making up.' And Dwalin will be there too, naturally!
So, we'll be meeting Fundin and Dwalin next chapter!
Hope this was enjoyed, thank you for the reviews and I'll answer questions and other things here.
Anime Princess: That is an excellent point! Yes, some Hobbits will have survived, Bungo, Belladonna and Bilbo weren't the only ones able to escape (I'm not quite that evil. Yet) However, Bilbo and Belladonna may end up being the last descendants of the Took clan. Unless...
Say YO-SARIEL: Here it is!
To the Guest who liked it despite the changes: I'm so glad you liked it!
So, yeah, here's the third chapter and I hope it will be enjoyed :)
Love from Shania. xx