Chapter 4
Quickly realizing their lapse the musicians immediately beginning to play again as Nymeria took the steps one at a time surveying the scene. The dwarves had returned to eating, but every now and then she could feel their eyes stealing glances at her; she could feel the apprehension in some of them, like she was a great weapon that could go wild and kill them all, while others looked at her in fascination, aware of the threat she posed or not they were intrigued. One long table stretched the length of the veranda and seated the entire company, on the raised dias closest to the edge was a small round table, Lord Elrond, the wizard, and Thorin sat there. The seat next to Elrond was empty, as she came down the steps he glanced up at her and then at the chair, she quickly took the one empty spot at the long table. In front of her was the hobbit and on her left was an exceptionally burly dwarf with tattoos on his head, on her right was a young looking dwarf, glared skeptically at a bowl of greens.
"Good evening masters," she smiled taking her seat.
"Good evening," the hobbit replied looking quite startled at her appearance. Nymeria smiled warmly at him before reaching out to grab an apple, from the platter of fruit in between them. The burly dwarf to her left grunted as he shoved his fingers through the lettuce in a bowl, Nymeria bit into the apple enjoying the satisfying crunch as she watched him search,
"Where's the meat?" he mumbled to himself, snatching another bowl he began to search through that one as well, up and down the table the dwarves were all doing something like the dwarf next to her; some looked up and down the table quizzically as if they had missed a dish, and others were searching through the bowls.
"You will not find any meat here," she stated swallowing, "The elves are vegetarians."
"Why in Durin's name would they not put any meat on the table?" the burly dwarf next to her dropped the bowl on the table and scowled at her.
"The elves share fell a connection with the animals that live here; eating an animal to them would be like eating another elf."
"What?"
"It's just what they believe," she finished taking another bite of her apple.
"So, there's only green food?" the young dwarf next to her asked looking at the salad bowl in horror.
"I'm afraid so, but the fruit is nice," Nymeria offered plucking a ripe looking peach from a platter and handing it to him. "It's sweet, you'll like it,"
The young dwarf took a tiny bite out of the ripe fruit and grinned as some of the sweet juices rolled down his chin, she couldn't help but grin at the dwarf as he began to wolf down the fruit with relish.
"I believe you are the one who came to our aid out on the road. Am I correct?" an elderly dwarf with a great white beard who sat next to the hobbit asked.
"That is true," Nymeria replied
"May I ask your name?" he questioned further.
"Nymeria," she replied, "May I ask who I dine with tonight?"
"Certainly," the dwarf replied, he then began to point at each dwarf in turn, "My name is Balin, the one to your left is my brother Dwalin, the one to your right is Ori. Then there is his two brothers Nori and Dori, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur. Oin is here on my right, Gloin, and the two youngsters down there are Kili and Fili." When her eyes fell on him she could feel the world coming to a stop around her, he was smiling and joking with the blond dwarf Fili. His face seemed so accustomed to that smile, his dark hair tossed around as he dodged his brother's jesting punch. She wanted to run to his side, to get as close to him as she could, the same irrational feeling swelled in her chest making her heart feel as if it were about to burst...
"At the head table is the leader of our company, Thorin Oakensheild," Balin's voice pulled her from her reverie.
"It's wonderful to meet you," she said, "But who this is remains a mystery," she gestured to the hobbit.
"Oh, how foolish of me," Balin said placing his hand on the hobbit's shoulder "This is our hobbit Bilbo Baggins,"
"How do you do?" She asked extending her hand. Bilbo smiled in surprise at the greeting, shaking hands was something that only hobbits and men were fond to do, it must have been a while since he'd last experienced such customs.
As the meal passed through Nymeria became more familiar with the dwarves, they were unlike anything she'd seen before, they yelled curses and obscenities at each other, spoke with their mouths stuffed with food, and had contest to see who could drink the most ale. They were loud and impulsive and free, she couldn't help but love their way of existing, it called on everything the elves had taught her to suppress. When they grew tired of eating each dwarf filled a goblet with ale and leaned in close to hear the stories that his comrades had to share, each boasting of a different adventure, each story was more lavish then the next. Nymeria tried to listen to Dwalin's story of how he defeated a ten foot bear with his bare hands but Kili and Fili had moved closer to hear the stories, Kili had taken a seat on Ori's other side, she tried not to stare but she could not help but look at the wonder in his eyes as Dwalin unveiled the tale.
"And I cracked the beast's skull right open with a boulder that lay nearby." Dwalin finished triumphantly.
"That is a lie!" Gloin shouted. "You couldn't defeat a kitten if you had too!"
"I could defeat you!" Dwalin rose from his seat grinning jovially.
"Is that a challenge?" The rest of the dwarves ignored the two as they began to squabble.
"So, Nymeria," Fili began leaning on the table "Do you have any stories?"
"I fear not," Nymeria lied, except for following you.
"I wouldn't have expected you to have any, elves are not famous for willingly putting themselves in danger," Nori explained, sipping lightly from his goblet of wine.
"I am not an elf," Nymeria laughed, reaching for her glass of water. Nori's goblet stopped halfway to his lips, all around her the dwarves looked to her in confusion, a light tap on her shoulder interrupted her potential reply.
"My lady, Lord Elrond awaits you at the head table," Lindir whispered in her ear, she glanced up to the head table, Lord Elrond looked down on her from his seat, barely masking his aggravation.
"If you will excuse me, I am needed elsewhere," she sighed, rising from her seat. She struggled not to look at Kili as she passed him, forcing her eyes to remain on the steps in front of her but she could of sworn she saw a sadness in his eyes at her departure, she forced herself to keep walking before she could stop to be lengthened her stride to cover the short three steps up to the head table. She stood behind the empty seat, waiting patiently for Elrond to invite her to sit. Elrond ignored her, sipping gently at his goblet, to his right the wizard looked at her with a bright quizzical interest, Thorin looked at her, his face was stiller and sterner than any mountain.
"Why you did not join us first?" Lord Elrond finally questioned, gesturing to the seat.
"I thought the dwarves looked a livelier crew," she simply stated, taking her seat.
"Perhaps, but you're place is here,"
"Perhaps I like it better down there." Elrond inhaled deeply before taking another sip from his goblet."
"May I present, Nymeria. Nymeria, this is Gandalf the Grey and Thorin Oakensheild." Elrond introduced, she offered a brief nod to both of them.
"I thank you once again for assisting us out on the road," Gandalf offered smiling.
"You're welcome, but it was of no consequence,"
"Good," Thorin interrupted. Nymeria closed her mouth, feeling her teeth click together, no one had ever spoken to her in such a curt fashion, the dwarf moved to drink from his goblet as if nothing had occurred. Gandalf's friendly eyes filled with heat as he glared at the dwarf. "Though we did not need help from an elf," Thorin continued scowling at her.
"It certainly appeared that you did, seeing as how you were outnumbered, surrounded, and about to be killed, but forgive my oversight I'll remember this the next time I come across a group of dwarves in peril!" she snarled, "Besides, your aid did not come from an elf."
Now it was Elrond's turn to glare, she could feel his gaze like a hot iron on the side of her head; Gandalf's stare of anger at Thorin turned into pure fury. Nymeria kept her eyes on Thorin waiting to gauge his reaction; his stone face had cracked, he was as surprised by her outburst as she had been, but beneath it she could fragments and glimpses of curiosity. Casually she turned her head and pushed a curtain of hair behind her ear, revealing the lack of a slender pointed tip.
"What are you?" Thorin asked, his stone face cracking even further to reveal surprise.
"That is none of your business, Thorin Oakenshield," Gandalf murmured, the warning clear in his voice.
"I am of the Lovari," Nymeria answered leaning back into her chair.
"Nymeria!" Elrond hissed.
"Impossible, they all died," Thorin scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "From either old age or battle it does not matter they are all extinct, have been for hundreds of years." She could not have said whether it was the words themselves that infuriated her so much or if it was the dwarf's uncaring tone.
"How dare you?" Nymeria growled, almost leaping out of her chair. "How dare you be so ignorant?!"
"Nymeria," Elrond warned, he wasn't angry, if he was he was hiding it well.
"I agree with the Lady Nymeria," Gandalf declared. "Thorin, for once in your life you could stand to set aside your prejudices and learn something." Nymeria felt her heart contract in her chest, if Gandalf pushed for the story she would have to hear the history of her people's downfall again, it was never something that she looked forward too.
"I've grown tired of this story," Nymeria groaned, hoping that her words would deter Elrond from the telling.
"Then perhaps you would like to be the one to tell it," Lord Elrond hissed,Nymeria looked to him out of the corner of her eye, his eyes were focused steadily on his wine goblet, which he clenched in long white knuckled fingers; she could feel his anger radiating off of him like a heatwave, she had never seen him so furious.
"The Lovari, were a mighty people, like the elves we could live until felled by a mortal wound." The words made her tongue feel thick and slow. "Our Kingdoms stretched great distances, though we kept to ourselves, any of our kind were always a welcome sight in any court. When the time came for us to play our part in the defeat of the darkness rising from the black lands our casualties were barely enough to count while our enemies suffered many defeats at our hands. One day, a wealthy lord was housing one of our people, who had lost his way and sought shelter with him," The knot in her chest tightened but she pushed on."While he slept his host chained him up in his dungeon. There he tortured the traveler, through his tests he discovered that lead could burn our skin, and weaken our powers. After much time the Lovari cried, revealing another-weakness," Now her throat felt thick, like it was closing, keeping any air from passing through. "The Lord collected the tears and learned that they could heal almost any wound. The changeling died soon after but the world of men had realized our weakness. Men from all over turned on us, torturing us, throwing us in cages, and soon none of us remained." When the final words left her mouth she collapsed into the arms of her chair, it felt as if a great weight had been placed on her chest, crushing the air from her lungs. She could feel the eyes of everyone at the table on her, bearing down and pressing in. Laughter from the lower table drifted through the air filling the empty silence at the table, Nymeria's eyes drifted down to see what merriment she could have been a part of. They seemed so happy and carefree, together they were all guzzling down ale as one, Bombur slammed his goblet on the table first, hollering in triumph; she watched as Kili's head turned to look to the table, she caught his eye and felt her heart begin to beat the crushing knot away as heat rose up into her cheeks, he looked away as quickly as she did.
"So as you can see, Nymeria's story is not much different from your own, Thorin," Gandalf ended the silence, settling back into his chair. Thorin face was still stone, but she could feel his eyes pinning themselves on her.
"I'm afraid I've lost my appetite," Nymeria stated, surprised at how cold her voice was in comparison to the warmth pumping through her. She rose and made for the house as quickly as she could, but she was certain it looked like she was storming.
Kili looked up at the head table where his uncle, Gandalf, and now Nymeria sat, she was saying something but was too far away for him to hear. He had enjoyed her company at the table, she didn't act like any other elf, in fact she didn't act like an elf at all. She was kind and she looked so delicate, but she lacked that glass like effect that he'd noticed in all the other elven women, normally he would have preferred a woman with more hair but she was beautiful without any kind of the intricate beards he'd seen the dwarven women weave their hair into. Above all she made his heart beat so fast there were times he was sure it was going to fly out of his chest. The voices from the head table fell silent, completely, he looked to the table again, everyone stared at her while her normally perfect posture was slumped in the chair. Suddenly, her eyes flashed up to look at the table, he felt them connect to his, even from this distance he could feel the discomfort and pain she was feeling. His legs longed to stand, walk up the steps, and return her to the table at his side where he had seen er smile so beautifully, his arms itched to embrace her until the pain she felt left her entirely. He tore his eyes away, knowing he shouldn't stare, she looked away as well. She passed through his vision again as she stormed out of the veranda, passing the long table without a second look. Kili's head whipped back to look at the head table, everyone was still silent but he could see the gears in his uncle's head turning.
"Kili, what's wrong?" Fili asked, drawing Kili's attention away from the table.
"Nothing, I was wondering where Nymeria was going."
"Who knows, the elves do as they please," Fili offered with a shrug of his shoulders, "This was the fruit she said was sweet, right?" He asked, snatching a pinkish colored fruit and taking a huge bite out of it.Kili picked up another of the small fruit, he cradled it in his hands, the skin was fuzzy the fruit itself squishy and delicate. Just as he was about to take a bite from it, Thorin came thumping down from the head table, all conversation around the table ceased.
"Balin," he called the elderly dwarf looked up from his plate, "Do you have any spare contracts?"
"Yes, but just one," Balin answered surprised
"Go get it and meet me in the west-wing office in 10 minutes," Thorin commanded before striding up the stairs and out of the verandah. Balin rose unsure of what to do; he looked around as some of the servants came through and began to clear the table.
"I guess supper is over," Fili mumbled as Balin left for where they had left their bags.
"Kili why were you paying so much attention to that… Elf." Fili asked snatching the peach from Kili's hands.
"I wasn't paying any attention to her, and that's mine give it back!" Kili protested reaching for the peach as his elder brother danced away
"C'mon Kili; yes she was beautiful but she is an elf, so tell me what was so fascinating?"
"Nothing," Kili hissed stealing the peach back from his brother.
"I'm going to find out, brother, I know you too well," Fili smiled putting his arm around Kili. He returned the smile and followed his brother back to their campsite.
The campsite was under a roof yet Bifur had insisted that they build a fire. Kili rested his back against his pack and as he watched the flames dance he mulled over his situation. She's an elf, Uncle would never approve, and if Fili finds out then Uncle most certainly will… The solution is simple if I ever see her again I must act like she is nothing to me. A part of him grimaced at the thought of it; that was the part of him that always urged him to sit closer to her. It was the part that insisted it could work. After all she is an elf, and all elves are alike, to her you are some dirty smelly dwarf. A darker side of him pushed, but still the other half stood strong. You don't know that, it whispered, you heard her before dinner; she defended you and all the other dwarves in the face of that prejudiced elf. She could have eaten with Lord Elrond and Gandalf but instead she chose to sit with all of us. Kili smiled at the memory; she had seemed so vicious at the beginning but then she became so sweet and kind.
The controversy held him until Thorin and Balin returned, but they did not come back alone. She's with them! Why in Durin's name is she with them?!
"Gentlemen, may I introduce the newest member of our company. The Lady Nymeria," Uncle Thorin stated clapping her on the shoulder. Many of the dwarves remembered her from dinner and moved forward to congratulate her, but Kili felt a great sigh leave him as he fell back on to his pack.
Nymeria removed her boots and set them next to her as she let her feet dangle over the edge into the water. She was sitting on one of the less traveled bridges; it was a good place to come when she needed time to think. It framed the sunset with the trees on either side of the bank. She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there when she heard the sound of boot heels clacking on the stone.
"I bet you're wondering how I found you." Thorin said moving to stand next to her.
"Lord Elrond told you didn't he," Nymeria replied not moving her gaze from the sunset.
"He said this is where you come to pout."
"He's not right nor is he wrong; I come here to think but it's easy to confuse that with pouting."
Thorin chuckled, it was a deep throated one but he seemed almost surprised by it. Like he hadn't laughed in a very long time.
"Whilst I sat here I came to the conclusion that we are not so different. I lost my people and you lost your home. We both want those things back," Nymeria stated finally turning to look at the dwarf.
"I have been doing some thinking myself," Thorin mused making eye contact with her, "I would like for you to meet me on the west wing balcony, Lord Elrond said you would know where that is. Bring your weapons." The dwarf then turned on his heel and went striding off back into the house.
She sat in her place and waited for a good while before jumping up, pulling her boots on over her wet feet, and running for her room. As she reached the door she pushed it open grabbed her bow and quiver before dashing once more from the room and down the hallway. She weaved through the corridors almost running into several elves, but as she neared the west wing she slowed her pace to a nonchalant walk.
Out on a balcony overlooking the valley Thorin sat behind a desk with Balin standing next to him. Thorin looked up at her as she strode over to a chair across from the desk.
"I'm pleased that you came," Thorin said gesturing for her to sit, "Please place your weapons on the table," she quickly undid her belt laying it out on the desk so that the handles of her sword and knife pointed towards Thorin, she placed her bow and quiver next to the belt.
"May I ask why I am here?" Nymeria asked as she sat in the chair.
"You're here to answer the questions I ask," Thorin stated rather bluntly, but then again dwarves were never known to dance with pleasantries.
"All right."
"I was told that you had been following us for most of our journey so far is that true?" He asked leaning back in his chair,
"Yes," Thorin looked rather surprised at her returned bluntness. He reached for the handle of her sword removing it from its sheath. The blade was a beautiful sliver color, but the metal instead of being smooth had many swirls flowing through it, like the metal was still liquid. She watched as the dwarf's eyes widened at the sight, it was something he had never seen before.
"This is an amazing sword," he gasped running his hand over the flat of the blade which was smooth to touch.
"Thank you, I crafted it myself as was the custom of my people," she stated, Thorin's eyes widened even further.
"You made this?"
"My people believed that if you are the maker of your own sword a bond is formed between the wielder and the sword that enhances your skill," she watched a frown take over Thorin's face at the superstition, but all the same he simply sheathed the sword and pulled out her knife.
"Did you make this?" He asked inspecting its curved blade.
"No, I found it and I liked it so I took it."
"What about the bow? Are you a decent marksman?"
"I was taught by the best elves. I can hit almost anything I want, as for where it came from it was a gift," She watched him silently as he turned and whispered something into Balin's ear. The elderly dwarf pulled a piece of paper out from his pocket and handed it to her.
"If you would," the dwarf said as she un-folded the paper, "Sign this paper and become an official member of this company and adventure." Nymeria felt her heart leap at the sight of the contract such a thing would keep her from having to return to Thranduil. I can be free, she thought. Smiling, she grabbed a pen from the desk and quickly signed the paper.
"I would be overjoyed to join you," she smiled returning the contract to Balin. The elderly dwarf smiled and Thorin returned a slight grin before hiding it behind his stony expression.
She followed the two back into the house to the dwarf's campsite. As the others welcomed her Nymeria felt warmth grow inside her, a feeling of belonging. Something she had not felt in a very long time.
