Chapter 3

"Majesty our prince has been gravely wounded by the orcs do you have a healer who can tend him?" Groin asked as he carried Thorin into the mine he would not suffer anyone else to take the prince.

"Aye that we do Edda fetch Folki and you go to," the king had spoken to a pretty dwarvish maiden who had her hand over her mouth, she ran quickly to fetch the Chief Healer of Moria.

Gently Groin laid Thorin on his side and rolled him onto his stomach, the bandage on his back was leaking blood and did not smell right. He gagged a little as Folki cut away the bandages and examined the wound it was rimmed red and there was obvious infection.

"Edda my dear go and get some boiled water, my sharpest blade, the drain pot, the fever wound poultice and some bandages."

The little dwarf maiden again tore off, even through his worry Groin grinned at her all dwarf men had a soft spot for the few womenfolk. When she returned Folki began by cutting through the stitches Borgar had made releasing a rush of blood and infection, Groin decided to leave at that point wounds he was used to but this was healers work.

"Ahh mother it hurts," Thorin was muttering and fussing.

Edda came over to him and held his hand stroking his forehead she spoke soft words.

"It's alright my dear I am here I will make it better for you," her words seemed to soothe him, and Folki was able to finish draining the wound and then using his poultice packed and bandaged but did not restitch it.

"Edda will you stay with him my dear girl I will go and prepare more tonics and poultices to help him rest, like all of us I believe he finds your presence calming and he must stay calm."

"Of course Folki if you think it is a good idea I will stay with him," she looked at the young prince he was sturdy but not overly muscular with dark black wavy locks and piercing blue eyes. He seemed a most comely dwarf to her for all his youth she herself was only twenty so did not judge his young age too harshly. And he really did have a rather wonderful pointed nose which she liked very much as opposed to her own slightly upturned one.

Later in the evening Groin walked in surprised to see the flame haired dwarven maiden holding his princes hand and speaking soothing words to him.

"Ahh my lady I am grateful to you I will stay if you wish to rest."

"I think not sir at this stage the prince needs to stay calm and when I leave he becomes fretful, but this should soon pass," she replied with a whisper.

"My poor prince he really did not wish to make this journey and now his life is at risk." Groin shook his great beard.

"Oh he does not wish to be betrothed to the princess?" She asked arching an affronted eyebrow at him.

"Now I have put my great foot in it, please my lady do not mention what I have said I am sore tired and should not speak again until I have slept," Groin groaned to himself.

"Very well Master Gloin I will not say anything, but I will tell you I have heard the princess in not overly keen on this match either. And you may not mention this to anyone as well."

"Ha sounds like a match made well to me both must be stubborn, still now I believe I must go to bed before I drop my lady," Groin bowed his head and left.

"So you did not wish to marry Magthilde princeling well well," Edda smiled to herself indeed this was an amusing match she well knew how stubborn the princess was indeed she did. And smiling she sat and held the prince's hand through the night.