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THE COURTSHIP OF THE SPARROW-HAWK
Chapter 7 – Joy and Grief
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"Open Your Eyes" Andrew Belle
"Someone looks happy with himself." Nur winked at Kili as they passed each other in the hall.
"Not myself so much as someone else," He grinned, daydreaming about the honey-brown eyes of his wife and the way they'd greeted him that morning.
"I'm glad you two finally broke the ice," She laughed.
If Kili were younger, he might have blushed at the implication, but he was much too pleased with the way things were working out that he laughed right along with her.
"It warms my heart to see you so happy," Nur leaned forward to embrace him. "I had no idea it would be this soon that you both would find so much joy in each other."
"Joy, yes," Kili nodded, sobering a little. "But also a little grief."
"Grief?" Nur's smile dropped into a frown. "Why do you speak of grief? What's happened?"
Kili took a moment to glance down either side of the hall to make sure they wouldn't be heard. "I'd appreciate this if you'd keep this to yourself, but I have a matter I need to bring to Fili."
Nur crossed her arms. "You mean to say that you'd like me to bring it to him." She shook her head at him with a quirk of her lips.
"You know me too well." He winked at her.
"And why should I fight your battles for you?" Nur raised an eyebrow at him, brushing away a strand of her blonde hair as it fell into her face.
"Because this is a strange battle I'm not sure I'm equipped for and I'm certain you can soften a few of the blows for me."
"That doesn't sound good. All right then, do we speak of it here or would you prefer somewhere more private?"
Kili considered for a moment and then shook his head. "Here's well enough…" He sighed. "Eila told me that Lord Morbruk isn't her true father."
Nur nodded. "Her mother remarried, we knew that much."
"But what you didn't know was how far he was willing to push her into this match." Kili added with a growl, his jawline tensing as he took a moment to calm himself. "Yesterday… I found a bruise on her arm."
Nur blinked.
"A hand-shaped bruise." Kili reiterated.
Nur's curious expression melted into anger and her brows pressed together.
"Eila says that her father did it. And last night… I can't…" Kili blew out a breath to control his temper. "I found other marks on her. Apparently he was fond of using a cane on her whenever she stepped out of line."
"How long has this been going on?" Nur scowled.
"Close to a year." He answered quickly.
"Well, he won't be coming near her while she's here." The Queen said adamantly.
"That's why I need to bring this to Fili. Lord Morbruk is supposed to be visiting next month as a traditional accommodation to the bride of royalty, but…" Kili shook his head. "Nur, I don't think I could look him in the eye without imagining him beating her."
Nur nodded as she looked at her crossed arms, her mind obviously working over something. "Fili will want to see for himself. Do you think Eila will speak to him about it?"
"I honestly don't know, but I can ask her."
Nur sighed and held her forehead in her hand. "I had no idea something like this could pass through all the meetings we went through. That someone would stoop so low—"
"That doesn't surprise me." Kili cut her off. "Not nearly as much as the idea that he thought he could get away with it."
Nodding, Nur fixed him with a determined expression. "I'll speak to Fili about this immediately. Be sure to give your wife some warning, though—he's going to be livid."
