CHAPTER THREE
"Elvish Language"
"Dwarvish Language"
It was a great shame for a dwarf to reject the one they were destined for, the other half of their soul. To save Dwalin of this shame, a elaborate story was created in that Vana had been seriously injured during the dragon invasion of Erebor and had died from her wounds some days later, the dwarves who knew the truth were more than happy to help rid themselves of the 'abomination'. The guilt plagued Dwalin everyday. That night, the instant he had walked away from the small camp, he had circled back around to find some sign of Vana, any sign that she had the mind to continue travelling with the dwarves until they reached a settlement. However, no matter how hard he looked he found no sign of her, he had given up and made his way back to the small fire that he and his brother made earlier, Balin and Thorin not in sight. Dwalin had walked to the log and sat on it, head in his hands, regret and misery flooding his soul. After a time, Dwalin had felt a tugging on his clothes and looked to see a little dwarfling girl smiling up at him with a flower in her hand.
"Please give this to the pretty lady for helping find my mother. Mother said that you and her were in love, so that means that you know her."
It took all Dwalin had not to break down in front of the wee lass, above all else, dwarf children were to be protected and Dwalin didn't need the child's angry mother coming after him with all her power making for making the girl upset. The pair looked up when they heard calling, and saw the girl's mother not far away. The little girl suddenly kissed his cheek.
"Please don't be sad sir, please give that to the lady for me? Thank you!" she yelled the last part over her shoulder as she ran towards her mother. After they were out of sight Dwalin slowly looked down to the flower, he then reverently brought the flower to his lips.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into the night.
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Everyone stared at Caldin in shock. Most of the dwarves look aghast that he would even suggest that one of them could do such a thing. Dwalin, Balin and Thorin gawked at the boy; all thinking how could he possible know this. Before Dwalin could stop it the memories rushed to the surface and his being was suddenly filled with a deep, gut wrenching guilt and pain, his eyes watered and he avoided eye contact with the others in the room. Thorin and Balin stood in shock, wondering at how the boy could possibly know this, Thorin had been sure that word of her death had reached every corner of the land, he had believed that she probably wouldn't have made it one night outside the camp so it did not matter. However, dragging his gaze from the boy to Gandalf and the elf Lord, he knew that his assumptions were wrong. Before any more words could be said, Lord Elrond intervened.
"Valadhiel, please escort Caldin to his chambers, I will speak to the both of you soon."
Vala, who was gaping at the bald dwarf snapped out of her trance-like stare and looked up to her father figure looking lost. Elrond gazed deep into her eyes and saw the same innocent and naive child she had been as a babe. He placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort then looked at her brother. Vala followed his gaze and noticed Caldin's shaking form, he was barely controlling his rage. She moved quickly, placing her hand on his back, between his shoulder blades just as she always did, and while the effect was not as strong as it was in the courtyard, he had stopped shaking at least.
"Caldin" he head snapped to the side to look at her over his shoulder and she winced at the undisguised fury on his face. Caldin, seeing this, tried to soften his features. Vala tried again.
"Caldin, come, let us leave," when he did not make any move, she added softly, "please."
Knowing that he could deny her nothing, Caldin stared down each of the dwarves before swiftly turning, grabbing Vala's hand and walking from the room, the guard at the door only just able to stop them from slamming shut. As soon as the room was once again closed, Gandalf gave a weary sigh and rubbed his eyes.
"That did not go as planned."
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Vala walked briskly after her brother, having trouble keeping up with his fast pace.
"Caldin, Caldin wait." He slowed, but did not stop walking. "Caldin, please" he spun around suddenly.
"How are you doing it Vala? How are you not bursting what rage? Seeing him here after what he did to us?" the words weren't yelled, but nor were they softly spoken.
"I know it hurts, but who is he to affect us in such a manner, a man who has never been a part of our lives, who didn't want to be a part of our lives. Why would I care for a someone who means nothing?"
Caldin looked deep into his sisters eyes, he knew she was lying and trying to make him calm, but she was really hurting as much as he was, she just didn't have the heart to show it. Caldin suddenly grabbed her hand and started walking again.
"Come with me, it is time. We need to see her." He stated, pulling Vala along.
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After the twins had left, the dwarves had gone into an uproar, shouting and demanding to know what the lad had meant with his accusations. It had taken some time, but Thorin and Gandalf had finally gotten them to calm down and to wait in the chambers they had been given by the elves. Meanwhile, Thorin, Balin, Dwalin and Gandalf followed Lord Elrond into his study. Once they where all comfortable, well as comfortable they could be in such a situation, Dwalin spoke up.
"Explain." He said gruffly. Elrond sighed and looked at Gandalf before nodding, then started his story.
"Nearing 40 years ago, there was a disturbance on the eastern border of this valley. A pack of roughly a dozen Orcs where camping close by, after they had been slain, a woman with two small children were found in the wreckage and they were brought to the healing quarters here immediately. Once they arrived, I began treating the woman, however, she refused treatment, forcing us to check the children first, she kept saying that 'they were the only things she had left'.
Elrond paused while Dwalin took a deep breath, the dwarf then gestures for him to continue.
"The children were not badly injured, just beaten to a small degree, the boy must have taken the beating more often though, as he had the majority of cuts and bruises. When I finally got to the woman, I was in shock. She had been beaten and raped repeatedly, with infected wounds covering most of her right side and inner thighs." Elrond sighed.
"It is know that while elves are immortal, they can be struck down just as any other, however, their healing rate is slightly above the other races of Middle Earth. In her case, the wounds were so severe; they were healing slower than that of a man. I tried everything, stayed by her side days, even weeks, on end, but it was all for naught. She was fading, her heart didn't have the strength to heal."
Elrond paused again to gauge the dwarves reactions, most of their faces were full of pity, the exiled King attempting to look indifferent, although the pain could be seen in his eyes. But even his pain had no place against the pure agony that was painted on Dwalin's brutish features. Elrond knew what was going through the dwarf's mind, that the woman Vana, was dead. And Elrond knew that while Dwalin's thoughts were not far from the truth, Vana was still with us on Middle-Earth.
