A/N: Thanks to those that reviewed. Please keep it coming! If there is something you'd like to see in this fic or a companion fic (I've got ideas for a Bagginshield that will coincide with this one. Early stages of planning only currently), drop me a comment. I like being challenged to write different things, especially short fics. Bring on the prompts!
Violence (in self-defense) against very hungry predators driven to attack humans. Please read accordingly.
Chapter Text
Chapter 4
They met weekly after the midsummer festival. Magnus grew quickly and by Durin's Day, he stood as tall as the bottom of Fili's ribcage. He knew various commands for everyday behavior but soon learned that he was also to be a guard dog for Sigrid, ready to attack and chase off anyone she indicated, unrelenting until she called him off. They practiced with Fili and Kili in full armor and heavily padded clothing until they were sure the dog would guard Sigrid against anyone when she gave the command.
With the first snows of winter, the parade of suitors dried up almost entirely. Only one or two showing up in a month. Fili and Sigrid also had to call off their weekly meetings to train Magnus as the snows obliterated their paths and made the trek up the mountainside too difficult.
The weather was harsh in Dale and Erebor as well as the surrounding lands. Wolves started circling close to the cities. Extra guards were posted at the gates and people scrambled to secure their homes against all beasts.
One particularly wintery day, Sigrid and Magnus left her home to aid a local woman who had just had a child. Sigrid puttered around the much smaller house, cleaning and cooking while the young mother cared for her newborn until her husband could return from his duties on guard on the city wall.
When he finally returned, it was already dark out.
"Perhaps you should stay here for the night, My Lady," the woman said after she laid her baby down for the first part of the night. "It's getting late."
"It would probably be for the best," the man said. "The wolves are close to the city walls tonight. The winter is harsh for us. It can only be worse for them. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to enter the city tonight."
Sigrid smiled. "I appreciate the offer, but my home isn't far. I have my sword and Magnus with me. We'll be all right for the short distance."
"My Lady, are you sure? It's snowing as well."
Sigrid glanced toward the window. Indeed, fat snowflakes fell outside, limiting visibility. "I'll be fine," she insisted as she reached for her coat.
"Be careful, My Lady," the woman said. "If the weather is this bad tomorrow, we'll expect you to stay home or stay here for tomorrow night if you insist on coming again."
"I understand," Sigrid said. She snapped her fingers and Magnus trotted to her side. "Good night," she said, receiving the same wish in return before closing the door behind her and stepping into the cold.
"Well Magnus," she said. "Let's head home."
The large hound wagged his considerably fluffy tail and gave a soft but deep woof in return. Still a puppy in heart if not in size, the hound romped in the snow around her as they walked after she gave him the go-ahead to walk as he pleased as long as he stayed in sight. Sigrid listened, noting that the guardsman had been right. The wolves were near the city.
Magnus stopped in his romping suddenly, just a street away from her home. He planted his paws where he stood and started barking loudly, his hackles rising.
"Magnus?" Sigrid asked, her hand going to the hilt of her sword. The dog shifted, standing between her and the rest of the road back the way she'd come.
He snarled and lunged forward a few feet, still barking. She was about to call him back to her and to stop his barking when a pair of wolves slunk into her limited sight. She swallowed and drew her sword.
"Wolves!" She shouted. "Wolves in the city!"
The larger of the two beasts lunged toward Magnus.
"Magnus, Inkhir!" she ordered. The dog turned and bounded back to her. The wolf followed on his heels and Sigrid darted in, holding her sword with both hands. She slipped on ice and sliced the wolf along its side instead of stabbing it clean in the chest as she'd intended. It yelped and backed away, blood dripping from the cut but its eyes still fixed on her as she scrambled back upright. Magnus barked a challenge at them.
The second wolf attacked and the first followed right behind it. Grimly, Sigrid reset her feet in the treacherous snow. This time, when she brought her sword up, she hit true, burying it into the wolf's neck when it jumped at her. Its weight pushed her back, falling on top of her and sending her sprawling under its bulk.
"Magnus! Igrid!" she cried, trying to push the dead wolf off her even as the wolf she'd first injured bore down on her.
Her dog, though not full grown lunged to the attack, bashing into the side of the wolf and clamping his jaws on its neck and hanging on. He dug his paws into the snow and started jerking backward, trying to pull the wolf off balance. The wolf twisted and squirmed, trying to sink its teeth into Magnus.
Sigrid pushed the body off her and clambered to her feet. "Inkhir!" she shouted to her dog. He released the wolf and backed away. The wolf tried to follow but Sigrid swung her sword again, this time hitting true and cutting deep into the wolf's neck, partially severing its head.
"Sigrid! Sigrid! Are you alright?"
She looked up from where she stood, chest heaving and adrenaline quickly leaving her system.
"Da," she said as her father reached her side. "I'm fine." She turned her eyes back to the wolf she'd just killed. "They're so skinny," she said absently. "No wonder they came into the city for food."
"Come," Bard said, wrapping his arm around her. "Let's get you inside."
She nodded and barely took a moment to call for Magnus. The dog followed her and her father the rest of the way to the house. Dimly, she heard her father ordering others to take care of the corpses and to search the rest of the streets for wolves or anyone outdoors.
The next day, Bard ordered a curfew for the safety of his citizens, sighting the wolves that had attacked Sigrid the night before. That afternoon, a contingent of dwarves led by Prince Fili arrived in the city. The prince himself came to visit Bard in his home to discuss the quartering of dwarrow soldiers to help in the defenses, considering Dale's walls still weren't completely repaired and to check on Sigrid.
"I'm all right," she said for what felt like the millionth time that day. "I didn't even get scratched."
"Well done," Fili said with a grin. "You truly are a warrior for all you haven't trained long. Do you know your people have already started calling you Wolf's Bane?"
Sigrid looked to the side, not meeting his eyes. "I don't want such a title. I feel like I should train more after last night," she admitted.
"Then do so," Fili said. "There is nothing wrong with more training."
Sigrid nodded and vowed to stay at the guard post for extra training every day. It would take some rearranging of her schedule but she felt the need and so she would do it.
"Magnus did a great job," she said, turning the attention away from herself. She told him how the dog had warned her and then protected her and followed all the commands she'd given him. Fili grinned as she spoke and then scratched the dog's ears, complimenting him on his good work.
"I miss seeing you," Fili admitted once they'd exhausted the topic of her fight with the wolves the night before. "Would you mind if I wrote to you until the snows melt enough for easier travel between here and Erebor?"
'I'd like that," Sigrid admitted. "Not many people my age want to talk like we did when training Magnus."
Fili laughed. "I imagine not. Men don't seem to be as interested in running a kingdom as you seem to be."
Sigrid blushed. "My father is going to be crowned king," she reminded him. "I need to know how to support him but that's not all I meant. I miss the ease of talking to you. Everyone here is too conscious of my title."
Fili sighed. "I understand," he said. "I'll write you a letter as soon as I get back to the mountain. I'll instruct the raven to stay until you write me back. Just remember to feed them or they get irritated."
She smiled. "I'll keep that in mind."
Unfortunately, the title Wolf's Bane stuck. A few days after Fili left, leaving dwarrow guards to supplement Dale's own guards against the wolves and attacks from other dark creatures, Bard called her down to the sitting room. Someone had skinned and cleaned the wolves she'd killed and brought the hides to her as trophies. The pelts were warm and would be a nice addition to the blankets on her bed until she decided what to do with them.
To Sigrid, Lady of Dale, Daughter of Bard the Dragonslayer
Sigrid,
As promised, I'm writing to you my first moment of time away from others since I returned to the mountain. I'm sure you've noticed the falling snow and the severity of the blizzard outside. Due to the weather, uncle has closed Erebor for travel for the foreseeable future. No one is allowed outside the mountain unless on the most urgent business that must be approved by Uncle. He will be sending a letter o Bard shortly to inform him of the lack of trade coming from the mountain and will be urging him to do the same for the citizens of Dale. The squad I left behind with your guards will be staying until the roads are more easily traversed as well. They will be notified but if you were to go and speak with them, offer my personal thanks to them, I'd be grateful. Hopefully, they can help with your wolf problem.
There is a benefit to all the snow at least that I think you will agree with. With the roads unpassable, foreign dignitaries and thus prospective spouses will not be able to visit. I, for one, am glad for the reprieve of watching Dwalin beat dwarrowdams in combat. He beat the last one in under a minute and left her crying like a wounded orc child. It was rather pitying, to say the least. Perhaps it was a kindness though. In my experience, the ones that fight so poorly also offer up the poorest gifts of their craft. If this were true for this particular dam, I would have had to refuse her upon sight of the gift. It's always more distressing when I have to turn them down personally instead of Dwalin or whatever guard is with Uncle for the day. I don't understand why they always make crowns as their gifts as well. I already have access to more of those than I could ever need. I would much rather receive something useful, like a new sword or something.
But I digress.
I just received word from a trusted source upon my return. He looked into the suitor that you had Magnus chase off most recently (at least that I'm aware of. Have you had others since the one?). Apparently, you made the right choice. You're not the first lady of noble standing he's attacked. There have apparently been two others that reported his actions. Luckily, both were saved by passersby. We will be sending word to his people in order to inform them of his dishonorable actions and warn them that if they do not take action, we will and they will lose Erebor's support and trade.
Nori (do you remember him? He was part of the Company) was quite impressed with how you handled him and the wolves when he heard of it. He seems to have a soft spot where strong-willed women are concerned. I'd take advantage if I were you. He asked me to tell you that if you ever have another problem with a suitor again, he'll take care of them for you. I don't know if he means they'll meet their end in a dark alley one day or if he'll destroy their reputations. I'm sure you could ask him to do either and he would. I think he's bored in the mountain. He has been running Dwalin ragged with his shenanigans. He loves to make a point about only being a partially reformed thief.
I told Kili about your adventure with the wolves. He doesn't believe me. Please do us a favor when you visit and bring the wolf pelts with you. I want to be able to see the look on his face when you prove him wrong. Tauriel was more inclined to believe the story but then, I'm sure she has more experience with just how fierce Women can be, having had more personal dealings with them than Kili has. Speaking of whom, he's just entered the room and has asked me to extend his greeti (Hello Sigrid! It's me, Kili. Did you really kill two wolves with nothing but your sword and Magnus? I think Fili's trying to put one over on me. He's been awfully grumpy lately. Can you do something about that?) Please ignore him. Everyone else does when he gets like this. As I have nothing else to address in this letter, I'll send it off to you now. I hope you are well.
-F (and K!)
PS- I'm entirely serious. Fili's too gloomy. Cheer him up a bit, would you? Ignore him. Please feed the raven. She's a good sort but does get a bit crotchety when she's hungry.
To Fili, Son of Dis, Crown Prince Under the Mountain
Fili (and I'm guessing Kili as well?)
Thank you for your letter. I am glad to know you returned to the mountain safely, despite the blizzard. Da did receive a letter from the King Under the Mountain and has agreed that closing trade routes, for the time being, is for the best. However, we will still be sending out hunters. As we have lived our lives in these conditions (out on a lake no less!), we know how to survive. Our hunters will be fine and will hopefully bring in more game. They do not travel alone, always in small parties with hunting dogs for safety against predators such as the wolves or from wandering orcs and goblins. The rest of us will stay in the city and make do with the goods we have stored away for the winter.
Da has added a curfew for our people, requesting that everyone be inside within the hour after the sun sets to keep everyone safe from the wolves. People have also started making sure their animals are inside closed buildings. Not everyone has places in their own homes but much of Dale is still unsettled. People have started housing their sheep or goats or chickens inside some of the empty buildings. We hear the wolves at night, howling and prowling outside the city. There have been no more reports of them coming in the walls but there have been a few attempts. The guards have caught them each time. Luckily, none of either of our peoples have been killed in the attacks. I think a priority for reconstruction once the weather cooperates will be to rebuild the gates. The carpenters are already working on them as much as they can with our limited resources.
Your raven has been perfectly well-behaved since she arrived. I did feed her and that seemed to make her grateful. I've heard the Line of Durin can speak directly to them. Is that really the case? Can you? I wonder if it's some sort of magic or something that some people have, such as blue eyes or red hair. Da can talk to thrushes. Honestly, so can I. I couldn't tell anyone when I was younger. The Master of Laketown didn't like anything he deemed unnatural so Da and I had to keep it hidden, just in case. We didn't need anything else to set us apart from others. Now though, I speak with them frequently. Tilda, Bain, and I created a little shelter for them in our garden to keep them warm during the winter. Tilda puts fresh seed out for them daily. She chatters away with them for hours when given the chance. Bain has never indicated if he can understand them or not. I think he does but I've never seen him talk to them but he sure seems to listen.
I was at the guard house this morning where I took a few moments to do as you asked with the dwarrow there. They are grateful to hear your words and that you would take the time to remember them in your letter. When Captain Smytheson informed them I killed two wolves and often came to train among the guard, a few of your people offered to teach me some of their fighting techniques. I know your people can be secretive so I wanted to make sure such a thing was all right before I accepted their offer. I don't want to create any problems.
Please give Master Nori my gratitude. The few times I've met him he has seemed kind and clever. His offer is one I will think on. I don't feel well, knowing some of those that have behaved poorly with me are free to do so with someone else that doesn't have the protection that I do. Again, I thank you for Magnus and helping me train him. He is getting stronger and larger every day and is unfailingly loyal. I hope to always remain worthy of his loyalty.
It appears that courting for your people and for mine is very different. I'm afraid I don't quite understand what some of the things you mentioned entail. Someone must fight Master Dwalin before they can court someone? And they must make a gift? Our rituals do not require such, just the girl's parents' approval. Gifts may be exchanged while they court but are not required. If the couple desires to be married, the girl's dowry is discussed but that is the closest thing to a gift, other than the engagement ring. Is it very different for your people? Are you allowed to tell me or is that a dwarf secret?
I hope the snows relent enough for the midwinter festival. It feels like it has been many years since the last time we had the opportunity to celebrate it properly. Da is planning on inviting your family and the entire Company that retook the mountain as well as other local dignitaries. Will you come if the snow isn't too bad? Magnus misses you.
Tilda wants to go outside and build snow creatures which means Bain will instigate a snowball fight. I'll end my letter here so that I have something to write about next time. I hope you are safe and warm in your mountain.
-S
To Sigrid, Lady of Dale, Daughter of Bard the Dragonslayer
Sigrid (Hi! I'm here too!),
I'm glad the raven was well-behaved. Yes, I can talk to them. You could too actually. Our feathery messengers speak Westron. For some reason though, they are selective about who they will talk to (Crotchety creatures that they are). They'll talk to Uncle Thorin, Kili, and myself. They've spoken to various members of the Company (Except Bifur but he doesn't speak Westron either) but no one else that I'm aware. They can be rather irritable so we don't spend a lot of time just talking to them. We give them shiny things and food to entice them to help us (Manipulative little scavengers).
Thank you for talking with the guards. There is no secret to our weapons training. You are more than welcome to take them up on their offer. It may be interesting to see how our style differs from yours as well as how they are similar. I look forward to seeing your progress. Perhaps a rematch from the summer festival is in order? (Fee says you're good with a sword and I quite agree. I saw you almost best him over the summer. Ever try archery? Any other weapon?)
As for courting, yes, it does seem like our rituals are different (So glad I don't have to deal with this. I found my One so I only have to cover the basics which is fun. Who wouldn't want to give gifts to their intended?). Usually, a dwarf waits for a dwarrowdam to approach him. Only about one-third of all dwarrow are women so they initiate courtship so as to not waste her time by unwanted advances (Seems a bit backward to me. I'd think they'd like attention from multiple dwarrow so they know all the options they have). Usually, she presents her intended with a gift to show her mastery of a craft. If the dwarf accepts, they begin the actual courtship which consists of gift exchanges, negotiations, and time spent together (Rather tedious if you ask me). For the more old-fashioned families (Read stuffy) or the royal family (Again read stuffy), the dwarrowdam must challenge for courtship before giving her gift. She will fight a member of the family or, in the royal family's case, a representative (Usually Dwalin in our case. He almost always stands as Uncle's guard). This displays her determination and battle skills. More and more families are moving back to this tradition as times become more perilous and battle skills are becoming more and more important (Rather silly if you ask me. We all are trained to fight since we're dwarflings).
It's interesting to me that so little is needed for a courtship for you. Do you not have a say in it?
Is your midwinter festival like Yule? Or is it like your midsummer festival? Granted, part of Yule is like that with dancing and feasting (So much food. I wonder if Bilbo will help with the baking for our family), but it's also for families and other traditions. It lasts for twelve days. I will encourage Uncle to accept your invitation when it arrives if travel to Dale is possible (Even if the snow isn't great we may still try to come). Give Magnus an extra scratch from me. I miss him too (Me too! I miss the ball of fluff).
You were correct in assuming that Kili read your letter over my shoulder, as you can see (Hope you don't mind but I saw my name on it). He saw your words about Tilda wanting to build snow sculptures and it sparked his own desire (It was a great idea. I love snow). He gathered as many dwarrow as he could, including me before I could finish reading your letter, the twit (Oi!), and dragged us all outside the front gates. We built snow dwarrow and other things and then had a rather large snowball fight (So epic! You should have been there. We had at least twenty people involved). Bifur and Bofur put everyone else's sculptures to shame when they built a giant Smaug (It really was amazing). So many were impressed by it and others claimed they could do better that we're now going to hold a competition with ten gold coins for the winner. Kili thinks there should be multiple categories as not everyone is a trained artisan (Well it's true). He believes those with such training -carvers, masons, etc.- will have an unfair advantage over those that don't. I reminded him that he and I both have artisan training and to stop complaining (I wasn't complaining, just making a point). He threw a snowball at me for that comment (Got him right on the side of the head too. Snow in his ear and down his collar. Ha!). I shoved him into a drift. You should have seen him come spluttering out of it, snow clinging to his hair and what whiskers he has. Made him look as old as Balin but much more rosy-cheeked (It was horrible. Got snow down my trousers and everything. Some big brother he is, right?). Even Bilbo came out to join in the fun. He's not a big fan of winter (He doesn't wear shoes. No wonder he hates it. I bet his feet are always freezing in the mountain), but he is pretty good at throwing snowballs. I think he won that fight (I'm pretty sure he could take on the entire mountain and win). Then again, I remember him being a good shot with the flaming pinecones we hit the wargs and orcs with too before the Eagles came.
We hope you're still warm in Dale. Stay safe from the wolves.
-F (and K)
(PS- Your letter really cheered up Fili! Good job!) Ignore him.
A/N: Khuzdul (keep in mind Fili taught her a bit of a bastardized version to work around whole secret language thing. Also, if I got it horribly wrong and you can tell me, please do. I'd really like to get it all right. Current translations are from The Dwarrow Scholar as I can understand it):
Igrib: attack
Inkhir: Come away
Sorry. Kili has a tendency to get out of hand when I write. Hope you all enjoyed!
Happy reading everyone!
