Chapter 06: Rivendell
Peaceful.
That's the exact word you would describe yourself now at this very moment. Peaceful and quiet.
As you enjoyed this pleasant feeling, a heavy feeling slowly weighed itself down on you, almost crushing you by its sheer magnitude. The heavy feeling seemed to also pull you eyelids shut, unrelenting in its hold on you, you struggled. You tried to free yourself from it and managed to lift the small piece of skin -that covered the soft, squishy organs of sight- just a bit. Only to screw them back shut as a blinding light penetrated them, hurting your brain.
Your lungs gulped down delicious oxygen and as a few moments passed, the heaviness was slowly fading, allowing you to explore your limbs like a new born baby. At the same time, memories flooded your mind; memories of Wargs, crushing bites, long hair tickling your face as strong arms held you up on strong shoulders and calloused hands pressing down your ribcage.
Ribcage.
Weren't you supposed to be dead?
Your eyes took in the blinding light, but you were now determined not to close them again. Slowly the blinding light faded a little bit as the rest of your surroundings gradually took the shape of a sun lit room with beautiful ornaments on the high ceiling and tall windows. Everything, including the furniture in the room, seemed to be quite tall and big, it also felt quite.. Elvish.
You ordered your body to sit up, despite the dull throbbing pain that now seemed to be originating from your right arm. Your eyes took in the white bed sheet sheets that covered the lower half of your body and the oversized white gown of an unknown –but pleasant- fabric you seemed to be wearing.
Tearing your eyes from the surroundings, you focused them on something closer to home. Namely, yourself. You examined both of your hands and arms; they were cleaner than you could remember. With your fingers as your guides, you touched your face and mapped it out. Your skin was smooth and clean, your hair was out of its usual bun and the long golden blond locks cascaded down your shoulders like a waterfall as your bangs on your forehead, were quite messy up by the mapping of your fingers.
Finally your left hand touched your right shoulder and instantly the memory of the Warg attack flooded your mind. The feeling of how its jaw closed around the whole right side of your torso was still fresh in your mind, but there was no hint of pain or any sign of discomfort as you pressed here and there. Just scarred skin tissue. They must have used magic to make your injuries heal so fast and so clean, no matter how long you have been lying here.
You had been so busy, feeling around your right shoulder trying to find any evidence of the Warg bite, that you didn't hear a visitor come inside your room until he almost sat down next to you one the bed. Your brilliant blue eyes met those of kind, soft grey as it owner lowered himself down, causing the giant bed you had been laying in, to sink in a bit by his weight.
"Gandalf." Your voice weakly croaked, making you almost sound like some old and weak granny.
"Ayne, how are you feeling?" The old man muttered, his hands feeling around your right arm, pinching here and there for no reason as his grey eyes shot from your shoulder to your face. Slowly you pulled your arms out of his soft grip and folded your hands on your lap.
"Oddly.. well-rested. Where am I? What happened?" You immediately bombarded the wizard with the questions that burned the most on the tip of your tongue, though many would soon follow. A grey bushy eyebrow of Gandalf rose up slightly as he cocked his head.
"What do you remember?" He softly asked, his words cleverly chosen as he watched you think. In his opinion you already looked better, for a moment he had been afraid that you were no longer in the land of the living. Thank the gods that Rivendell had been so close.
"I.. remember the Warg bite," you absently rubbed your right shoulder, that was completely functional for some reason, "and that I was carried, but after that..." I muttered softly, my mind breaking over the vivid memories, causing a nasty headache to surface.
"Try not to exhaust yourself, too much. You are now in Rivendell, safe and out of harm's way for the time being. The Warg-bite was a particular nasty one. Lord Elrond managed to heal you up quite nicely though." You looked up to the tall wizard, your brows furrowed together.
"Rivendell? You mean elves? Where are the rest, are they safe?" You hastily asked, your memories reminding you that the elven-folk were often not quite as hospitable as one would think, hence the reason you were worried about the rest of your company.
"Everyone is safe and enjoying a good meal, as should you. Your clothes are sown, washed and your armour patched up." The wizard stood up, gesturing to the small bundle of clothes lying neatly folded on the end of the bed. But you weren't finished questioning him, thus you grabbed his grey robes to keep him here.
"Gandalf," you hesitated to ask your question, but the caring grey eyes of the ancient man before you made you ask it anyway; "Did I die?"
The man smiled and one of his large hands stroked the bangs out of your face in such a caring way like a grandfather would do to his granddaughter. "No, you did not, thanks to the great stamina and good thinking of Thorin Oakenshield himself. But I have to remind you that it was quite a scare you gave us. Even though it has been a few days ago, you still have to recover; Listen to your body, but to your mind even more."
The grand wizard had letten go of you and so did you let go of his robes. He walked to the door on the left side of your bed and glanced over his shoulder momentarily, still smiling warmly at you. "I will see you at dinner in an half an hour." He then disappeared after giving you a thick fat wink and left you with more questions than before.
'Why on earth was Thorin involved?'
In protest your stomach growled loudly, making you fluster and chuckle.
"I can think about that later, but first: dinner!"
-
Bilbo was seated between the dwarves as they ate from their plates. The elves had –due to constant complaining- finally provided some meat for the company and still they complained of how it was too much 'prepared' with herbs and not 'raw' and 'simple' enough. The little hobbit sighed as he took a bite from the deliciously spiced pork that almost melted on your tongue the moment. How could they not appreciate this perfectly prepared pork! Oh, of course!
They were dwarves –aka; barbarians- compared to the elves, really.
The dwarves were conversing quite enthusiastic with each other; Ori was engulfed in a deep conversation with Fili, whilst Kili was laughing his ass off about Nori, Bofur and Dwalin, slamming on the table with laughter. Dori, Òin and Gloin were complaining about the preparation of the meat, whilst Bombur just practically ate everything that was near his plate, gorging himself.
The only two whom were whispering was Balin, sitting right next to Thorin whom was seated at the head of the table as their respective leader of the group. Suddenly Balin looked up to the exit of the dining room and Bilbo could see his face light up.
"Ayne!" The old dwarf gasped, immediately getting the attention of the others dwarves and Bilbo himself. Then everyone turned around to the door frame, filling the room with the sound of squeaky chairs and there she stood in the door frame.
The female dwarf wore her old dark red slightly over sized tunic, her black baggy trousers and strong, sturdy boots, brimmed with a silverish fur. For once her golden blond hair wasn't tied up in a bun, but flowing in thick waves down her shoulders, stopping at around the height of her breasts/shoulder blades. Her bangs framed her face perfectly as she seemed to radiate with something in the candle light, making her bright blue eyes shimmer and her smile more captivating.
She slowly stuck up her hand, embarrassed by the attention, and waved awkwardly at everyone.
"Hi." She whispered a bit hoarsely.
...
"Ayne! Thank the gods!"
"How are you feeling? You look amazing!"
In the blink of an eye, almost everyone had gotten up and walked towards her. Bofur threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in a tight hug, causing her to smile warmly by the way everyone was welcoming her back as she was hugged also by Nori, Ori and even the grumpy Òin!
Dwalin stayed seated at the table, gnawing on a nice piece meat whilst grinning approvingly. The only one who didn't seem to show any emotion was the one and only Thorin Oakenshield.
-
You had given more hugs than you could count and more compliments than your brain registered. Somehow, even after the warning of Thorin just mere weeks ago, the merry group seemed to have grown on you and vice versa. You were, after all, part of the company.
As everyone was slowly settling and a brief hug to Bilbo, you walked to Thorin, whom was still seated and staring at his glass of wine that stood in front of him. You hesitated, sucking in air for a few times to build up courage that you desperately needed. Somehow the group had noticed the tension and the conversation died a bit, the attention turning to you and Thorin.
Slowly and hesitating, you sank down on your left knee, your hands resting on the right and head bowed to the ground. It almost felt like bearing your neck to an almighty bear, ready to devour you the moment you gave yourself to it. You took another deep breath as you felt the prince's eyes on you. With your own eyes staring intensely at the crevices in the floor, you managed to speak somehow –despite the nerves.
"Thank you, for saving me. I know it isn't earned and never will. I owe you a debt, that debt being my life and thus I give you my sword, tongue or wit, to do with it as you please. For you are my prince, my king and I pledge myself to you."
There, you said it. The nerves were starting to take a slight toll on you as your lips were starting to quiver. The movement of the chair before you, made you startle slightly and two pair of heavy black boots came into your vision and stood still before you.
Thorin's gaze felt like a crushing weight on your lithe form, as you knew that he was thinking about his answer. Then his spoke and his words were as ever harsh as always and they made you close your eyes and anger boil in your veins.
"I do not need the sword, tongue nor wit of a traitor. I saved you not because of the kindness of my heart, but because I need your skills, nothing more and nothing less."
You swallowed and stood up, nodding but not looking at him. You felt like a fool as you turned around on your heels with quivering movements. Your eyes were still focused on the floor in front of you as you walked away fast, bursting out in a run the moment you exited the dining room.
A few moments later, strings of terrible curses tainted in the beautiful moonlit palace garden as rocks, which were thrown in the fountain, disturbed the gentle water crudely. A frustrated groan erupted from your throat when you slumped down on a bench, yelling to yourself with your head buried in your hands. "WHY WON'T HE LISTEN?! THAT STUPID, STUBBORN BULL!"
"Well, because he still is trying to figure you out, you know?"
The unexpected voice caused you to freeze and in the corner of your eyes you saw someone sit down next to you with a very distinctive white future. Your eyes met those of bright hazel, a caring smile and a snow-white beard. "Thorin isn't sure what to make of you. You are quite the puzzle to him." Balin chuckled and gave you a slight wink.
"Why? It's not that I have two different personalities or something." You muttered softly, your blue eyes focusing on your folded hands on your lap. A small breeze coursed through the garden, playing with several strands of your hair.
"He has a certain prejudice about you, but you have proven him wrong every single time again and again. He is slowly accepting you, if he hadn't, he would have never agreed to carry you nor wouldn't be frantic to save your life, lass." The wise and old dwarf muttered, looking amused at the fireflies that coursed through the air, performing complicated dances with kin alike.
"Give him time lass, or take matters in your own hands," Balin smiled and patted your knee encouragingly, before pushing himself off the bench and stretched his old back and limbs. "Well, I must be off. It's been long time to go to bed for old men like me. Good night, lassie." He gave you a caring ruffled through your bangs before taking off, whistling the nicest tune you have heard in years.
A small smile tucked on your lips.
Perhaps you should take matters in your own hands.
Author's notes: Well that was a bummer :( The next chapter will be a lot happier!
Thorin's such an ass.