Chapter 2: Fireside Reflections
The heavy rain outside had dulled to a soft yet constant tap on the roof as the brothers started a fire in the fireplace of their room. Fili blew on the smoking wood until a fire caught and began to spread. Kili moved to sit down by it, lighting up his pipe while Fili returned to the woman sitting in the chair near the window. He sat down across from her as she absently stroked her newly bandaged wound and watched her for a beat without saying anything.
"Does it hurt you still?" he inquired then, breaking her gaze away from the window.
"A little. It won't hurt for long. Thank you for taking care of it," she reassured him as she released her hold on her arm.
"I'm no healer, but it should do the trick," he nodded and settled back, letting his eyes scan the room for any entry points in case the mercenaries returned for any of them.
"Are you often this intense?" she asked the eldest.
"I have to be...for him..." he nodded discreetly at his brother, and she nodded in acknowledgement.
"Normal women do not walk around so heavily armed as yourself," Kili captured their attention, firing back what she had told them earlier. The dark-haired woman looked over at him with a smirk and a raised brow.
"Then it's a good thing I'm anything but normal," Torina answered, and he laughed in response. Her face started to slowly sober up. "I have seen the dangers of the world. As much as I wish I could still be an innocent, naïve woman, it's just not to be."
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking..." Fili glanced over at Kili, but the exhausted Dwarf was already fast asleep, his head resting against the wall next to the fireplace.
"When I was younger, my family was ambushed by orcs in our home...a night raid..." Fili heard that grief in her voice return and frowned.
"You don't have to tell me this," he told her softly.
"It's all right...My family tried to fight them. My older brother and father were incredibly brave and strong against such evil. My brother was slain...in front of my eyes..." Fili looked away to where Kili sat asleep, unable to even think of losing his little brother. He would rather be tortured for thousands of years before anyone touched a hair on Kili's head.
"I can't imagine it..." he whispered to her, his eyes finally raising again to meet hers.
"My...my mother told me to run. I wanted to stay with them and fight, but my father wouldn't allow it."
"He wanted to keep you safe," Fili reasoned with a nod of understanding.
"I've never been much of a fighter. I have these weapons, but I do not know how to truly use them. I know a few tricks here and there, enough to defend myself, but my father knew that. He knew that I would not last against the orcs..." she answered with a sigh.
"So you escaped...how do you know that your parents may not be out there, safe and sound?" Fili was optimistic, yet at the look on her face, he knew that that was not the case.
"I was running and was ambushed by two orcs outside. I managed to kill one of them, and I hid under him when I heard the orc pack leaving. The other one found and overpowered me. I would've died, but then he was there...it was like he came riding from the darkness knowing I'd need him."
"He?" the blonde dwarf leaned forward, intrigued.
"The man I was named after...our friend...he killed the orc. We returned to the house, but my family was already..." Fili lay a comforting hand on her lower arm.
"Go on..." he encouraged.
"The orcs had slaughtered them. My father was dead, my house was on fire...my mother died in my arms." Fili bowed his head, his heart aching for her as she covered his hand with hers.
"And your family friend?" he prodded.
"He made a promise to my mother that he'd keep me safe. And that's what he did. He taught me how to defend myself against orcs. He helped me get a job and work for those weapons you see. He could not stay though...when he knew I could handle myself, he was gone..."
"Duties, you said," Fili interrupted, and she nodded in response. "What duties?"
"He did not say. Seemed important," Torina shrugged and glanced to see that their hands were still touching. Fili followed her gaze down and swallowed hard, letting her go and moving back.
"I could not imagine losing my family...especially my brother. We are incredibly close. We lost our father years ago, and so it has been my brother, my mother, my uncle, and me since then." Fili twisted one of the braids on his chin around his finger in somber thought.
"Your uncle took over?" Torina smiled softly.
"He had his hands full helping our mother, that's for sure. More with Kili than me..."
"He got into trouble often?" They both looked at the sleeping Dwarf with smiles on their faces.
"Quite. One time he went out by himself and got himself hurt. Some woman brought him back and took care of him. She was in love with a good friend of my uncle's...it was unexpected but kind of her. My family was grateful." He noticed Torina had tensed up while he spoke, and his brows furrowed.
"Are you all..." he began.
"I'm okay. My arm is hurting a bit. Go ahead and continue..." she interrupted.
"That's all there was, really. Kili learned to not go into the mountains alone after that, so guess who he dragged into his adventures?" He chuckled and shook his head. "But as reckless as he is, he has such a kind heart."
"As do you," Torina's eyes searched his face, and he looked up to see her watching him.
"Thank you. I wish I could throw caution to the wind like him..." His gaze held hers for a few minutes. "It is why I am so protective of him. He acts before he thinks, and I'm afraid that it's going to be his death."
"I understand," she spoke, trying to suppress a yawn. The both of them drifted into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Why don't you try to get some rest, my lady?" he finally offered, nodding his head to the empty bed. He turned his gaze only to find that she was already asleep. He smiled softly, standing up to grab the blankets from both beds, placing one over his brother and the other over Torina. He paused after tucking it around her to lean down and brush his hand over her hair gently. The nightmare she had been through...no wonder she was an isolated and wary person. He sat back down across from her, keeping his sword out as he began his watchful night over the other two.
Torina was the first to wake, her slender legs stretching out in front of her as she yawned. Glancing across from her, she smiled at the sight of Fili asleep, his hands cradling his sword. Silently, she untangled herself from her blanket and stood, transferring the blanket to the blonde Dwarf's body before moving to the other brother, who was also still asleep. Something in his dreams must have pleased him, for he was smiling with his eyes closed. The woman slipped out of the room without making a sound and walked downstairs to the tavern.
"Good morning Torina!" She smiled warmly at the barkeep and patted her friend on the arm.
"That it is, Fenan!" she greeted as she took a single look around.
"They have not returned. You are safe," he knew what she was thinking, and she attempted a smile.
Safe...for how long? She asked herself. "Okay...you said I need to help you. Kitchen or stable?"
"The horses need to be fed," he responded, and she nodded. She walked past him and headed out to the barn. The sun was peeking out from the clouds that were clearing from the previous night's storms. She was thankful to be alone with her thoughts. Those brothers...it was them. They were Thorin's nephews, which made them princes. They were royalty of Erebor.
This quest they are on must be connected to Thorin and Erebor...why else journey so far from the mountains? She patted the necks of horses that poked their heads out at her as though asking for their food. She was picking up the hay in her arms when she froze in realization.
"Mahal...they're reclaiming the kingdom...the rumors are true..." she whispered breathlessly to no one. She shook herself and returned to giving the horses their morning meals. She gave her own pony a kiss on her nose before heading back into the tavern, her eyes closing as the smell of breakfast hit her nostrils. With permission from Fenan, she made a tray of three plates of food and brought it back to the room. She almost dropped the platter when the point of a sword met her at the door.
"My lady! I'm truly sorry!" Fili opened the door and let her in, dropping his arm down to his side. She couldn't help but smile at the look of sheepish worry on his face.
"I got some breakfast for us..." She walked over to the younger brother, who was awake as well and eagerly eyeing the food, and handed him a plate, and he immediately dug in.
"Mmm...fank you..." he spoke with his mouth full, and she laughed.
"You're welcome," she returned as she gave Fili his plate and then sat to eat her own, slowly and gracefully chewing like her mother had taught her so long ago.
"Where did you go? We thought something had happened to you," Fili inquired.
"I was helping Fenan with the morning chores as a thank you for helping us with the mercenaries last night." Fili nodded and relaxed as he picked at his breakfast and ate as much as he could.
"Fili, you said that the two of you are going to the Shire..."
"Torina...I cannot speak of our quest." He glanced at her with pleading eyes.
"I know. I simply wanted to know if I could accompany the both of you to Bree. I am on my way there anyway. It would be nice to not be alone on the way there," she suggested as she set her empty plate aside and began to braid her hair. He stared at her for a long moment, mesmerized by the method she was using to twist her hair into such an intricate pattern. He couldn't braid like that, and he was slightly envious.
"Fili?" He blinked and looked at her face, which was confused as it stared back at him.
"Wait one moment," he requested as he internally scolded himself and moved to sit with his brother.
"What do you think?" Kili asked him, placing his plate aside.
"We can keep an eye on her...make sure those mercenaries do not find her..." Fili whispered thoughtfully.
"And in case she's not who she claims to be? In case she tries to stop our quest?" Kili asked, his voice dropping low.
"I trust her," Fili responded. "Do not ask why. I feel like she will not betray us."
"Well...besides the fact that she risked her life for our escape...I do trust your judgment, brother." They both nodded at each other before turning to her.
"All right...you can accompany us to Bree...but then we must part ways," Fili decided, and he noticed a small smile on her face. She looked grateful, but there was something akin to relief there.
"Fair enough," she answered as everyone stood up and faced each other.
"We have to get moving if we are going to make it to Bree on time," Fili told them as everyone geared up and left the room. Torina walked over to Fenan to say her farewells.
"Remember. You are welcome anytime," he smiled down at the shorter woman.
"I will remember. Thank you for your hospitality." She bowed her head respectfully.
"Be careful with those Dwarves...who knows what they are doing so far from home...what trouble they bring here with them..." he warned.
"I know," she whispered with a wink as she turned to find the two others. She watched in amusement as Kili kissed the hand of the barmaid and Fili put his hand over his own face.
"Oi! Lovebird!" she called, and Fili smiled over at her. "Let's go! We are burning daylight!" The brothers walked over together and led the way to where the ponies were waiting for them.
"Beautiful," Fili said appreciatively as soon as he saw the shaggy chestnut coat of her small horse.
"Thank you. Her name is Myrtle," Torina answered as she lovingly stroked the mare's neck. "We've been through a lot together. She is the daughter of my old stallion, Sage. Looks just like him, down to the markings."
"This is Daisy and Minty," he introduced their ponies as the three of them began tacking up.
"They came from the mountains?" she guessed, as their coats looked heavier and better built for harder conditions. Kili nodded at her with a grin.
"They were a going away present from our mother," he answered.
"Was she worried about you?" the woman asked them curiously.
"She always worries about us," Fili smiled in response as they led their mounts out of the stable and swung up into the saddles. "It's her job as a mother."
"To Bree we go!" They took off at a canter, not noticing two sets of beady eyes watching their departure.