Chapter 07: Bonding

The following night, you acted like nothing had ever happened and was eating and drinking richly with your fellow dwarves since it was the last night of everyone spending in Rivendell. Tomorrow morning, at the faintest light of dawn, you and the company would leave. Gandalf has specifically told the group not to notify anyone of our depart, since they would probably try and stop us, whilst he would be talking and distracting Elrond, whom seemed to disapprove of Thorin's plans. Despite that, he helped everyone by deciphering the moon runes on the map; there was a secret entrance to the mountain, which could only be opened if they stood on the exact place at the exact time. Tricky, but Thorin didn't seem fazed by it.

But, thank the gods that he was not part of this dinner where the sweet food was melting on your tongue as you practically gorged yourself in Bombur-style. You had been starving for the past days and were determined to catch up!

Dwalin filled your cup once more with wine and also with the rest. The liquor wasn't as strong as you were used to, but the absence of alcohol for a long while still made you a bit vulnerable to it. The rest of the dwarves had rosy cheeks of the warmth, merry songs and –finally- good food.

"Hey Bifur! Play us a tune will you!" Dori called from his end of the table. In just a very short moment you heard a sweet and merry tune drifting in your ears and set your limbs on fire. Bifur had somehow managed to make his clarinet appear out of thin air –or were you just losing track of time?

A violin and three other flutes followed Bifur's example. You turned to see Balin playing the violin, joined by the three brothers Ori, Nori and Dori with each a flute, but they were all the same. Some dwarves had stood up, singing a song and with that you downed your wine in a quick swig and stumbled a bit away from the table on an empty place of floor.

You posed, like a ballerina and froze for just a few moments, waiting for the violin to catch up. Fili and Kili seemed to notice your intentions as they slammed on the tables with every "Dance! Dance!" they yelled. Then the violin had finally found your limbs and you started to move.

-

Bilbo walked in to the party and was just in time to see Ayne take the first, awkward dance paces before she turned in a rhythmic, but graceful being. Her hair, now with small braids here and there, was flowing with the movement as her feet placed themselves skilfully and knowingly on the ground. The whole ordeal was mind numbing and beautiful to every sense.

'I had no idea dwarves could dance like that..' the little hobbit thought to himself as he turned on his heels and walked away. Deciding that this should be a party of their own. On his way to the gardens, he walked past a briskly looking Thorin that heeded the hobbit no glance. Making our little fellow wonder what the hell his problem was.

-

The dwarves almost gasped in unison when you performed a sudden and outstretched ballerina-like jump and landed skilfully on both feet, using the moment of the jump to make a pirouette and slowly ended it in a deep bow, announcing the end of your dance. At least that is what you expected.

"Laddies! Our turn!" Bofur yelled, jumping up and placing an arm around your shoulders. Everyone followed his example, forming a long big circle of entwined dwarves. Finally a genuine and heart-warming laugh left your lips when you performed, alongside with everyone, an old and traditional dwarrow dance.

Side-step, side-step, KICK! Your right leg flew up along with the rest. Side-step, side-step, KICK! Your left leg almost knocked Nori on the head, leaving you laughing almost uncontrollably. Your hands gripped the left shoulder, of Bofur on your right, a bit tighter as well as the right shoulder of Fili, whom was on your left –to keep yourself steady. Then everyone suddenly let go, twirled, stamped and jumped back in line as the dance continued.

A sense of kinship settled in your heart when it had finally ended and everyone yelled victorious with sweat beading on their foreheads. Your own breath was heavy as your heart was pumping furiously against your ribcage. Almost immediately a tankard was pushed in your hands by Bombur and Kili. When everyone had a tankard, the younger dwarf shouted with a hoarse and deep voice: "TANK UP!"[1]

The music stopped for a moment as everyone threw back the tankard, drinking the dark red and sweet beverage inside that was warming your throat as it gently streamed down. Little drops escaped the sides and dripped down your chin, leaving crimson marks in their wake.

The dwarves belched when they finished downing their tankard, wiping their mouths with the back of their hands. You stammered back slightly when a belch left your own lips as the world was getting slightly hazy. A pair of hands settled on your shoulders, keeping you steady as you laughed and giggled, your cheeks flustered red from the warmth and liquor.

Bofur twirled you around when the music was staring to play again. The dwarf took you in another dance, one that was unknown to you, but not hard to follow. You breathed deeply, trying to keep the intoxication at bay, when you two stood in front of each other, matching Bofur in height if you were just a few inches tall –he also wore the damn hat again!

Both of your right hands raised and placed the palms on each other as the two of you danced around each other. There was something intense about this dance, something that was also portrayed in the movements of the dwarf as in his eyes, whom now held a seriousness that you had never seen before.

As the dance progressed you found yourself completely engulfed in the music and noticed that the dwarf's eyes that were not just an ordinary brown; but had lighter flecks here and there. Then, out of the blue, Bofur twirled you around, eliciting a gasp and giggle from your lips. His right arm encircled your waist, keeping you from falling when your lower body was pulled against him and your torso set to lean down and allowing you some freedom and ending the dance by this single move.

A grin conjured on Bofur's lips as he hauled you back on your feet and patted your shoulder. "You did wonderful! I didn't know you were familiar with the dance!" His thick accented voice roared above the thundering sound of hands smashing together. You bowed at the rest of the company, cheeks flushed and your vision slightly swimming.

"I wasn't! You were just easy to follow," you chuckled and stroked the dwarf's cheek for a moment, in a sign of appreciation, before you joined the rest of the company. You noticed that you had a hard time of walking straight and that it was time to go to bed.

You straightened your back and with a dramatic and poetic voice you spoke, "Alas, my dear kin, I shall announce my leave. Since the alcohol has risen to my brain and fatigue had settled in my limbs. My bed calls me and I bid you all a very good night, may the dawn greet you gently like a feather grazing the skin! Good night!"

-

Balin watched Ayne leave with staggering feet and a defining smile on her radiating face. He had watched you and Bofur dance; it had been like watching two snakes performing a battle. You two matched each other completely in movement, though you claimed not to know the steps.

The old dwarf watched the hatted one stare at you back -till you had completely vanished- before he retreated back to the rest of the company and sat down, downing the drink that Dwalin had just poured in for himself. Earning him a swat on the head and laughter rose up from the merry company.

Bifur growled something in Khuzdul at the white bearded Balin, the moment they decided to stop the music. Balin nodded slowly, his brows furrowed and his forehead wrinkled with thoughts when he gently set his violin against a pillar. "Yes Bifur, I suppose you're right. Though Ayne may not notice it herself, but let's dwell on that later. First, a good stiff drink!"

What they all hadn't noticed, was that Thorin had been watching from a distance, his stormy eyes dark and mauling.

-

The dark hall ways of the Rivendell almost seemed endless. Here and there you spotted an elf or two, one time residents, the other time a lone guard patrolling around. Aside from the occasional elf, the halls were abandoned and basking in the silver moonlight.

"Were you having fun?" A voice barked from behind you, its tone so familiar that you had to roll your eyes at it when you turned around and quirked up an eyebrow.

The almighty Thorin walked out of the shadows, the silver light of the planet high above the star scattered night enlightened the few grey strands in his raven black hair and his armoured figure. His hands were resting on his belt with the crest of Erebor as he took long and powerful strides towards you.

Your eyes narrowed, as his intonation was not to your liking. "Yes, in fact, I did. What, is that forbidden too now?" The voice from the back of your throat seethed as you straightened your back when the prince stood before you and halted his strides. His steel eyes took in your weary face, a nerve pulling at his lips before he turned to the side and glanced past the pillars to the beautiful sight of the Imladris valley.

-

Thorin's mind was frustrated about this woman before him as he folded his arms behind his back. A soft evening breeze caressed his face, causing the hairs on the pelt he wore around his shoulders move in the change of air. "I have been wondering about your motivation, Ayne. About why you keep trying to be one of us, since it's so evidently clear that you are not."

His eyes shot from the valley to her form beside him. He noticed the slight twitch in her delicate fingers and a tendril pull at the side of her gorgeous face as she evidently clenched her jaw. "It has seemed that you have captured anyone's heart and now I am the only one left to see the schemes that you are planning."

The woman groaned, taking a step towards him and the prince's shoulders tensed immediately. Thorin was very away of the distance between the two of them that was now about five feet. He was also very aware of the distance from his hands to his sword hanging on his belt, which were a few mere inches.

"I can't believe it! You are so blinded by your pride and grudges that you aren't willing to see the truth! I did not betray you, nor even participate in the treason of my father!" She barked at him, her brilliant blue eyes shining with passion and the will to prove herself.

"Do you think it was a joke when I pledged myself to you yesterday?! Surprise, it wasn't! I have been truthful the entire journey, trying to make you see my part of the battle, that wasn't about victory but about torture and betrayal by my own kin. Yet you keep rampaging like some mad boar, blind to everyone except yourself."

Thorin could feel an anger boil up inside him, as the woman lectured him. She lectured him! Her voice was fierce at first, but then slowly it was dwindling in volume, yet upholding its strength as it past her wavering lips. Suddenly her eyes met his with a blazing intensity that made every sign of intoxication disappear as he could see her sober up completely in an instant.

"You want to know the story? Follow me."

She then turned on the heels of her black boots and strode off with powerful paces. Did the prince want to follow the woman whom lectured him, unwavering and unmoving, yet stayed respectable? Thorin found that his curiosity was piqued to a certain degree, but his proud heart was growing heavy with each step he took when his body followed Ayne.

Was he willing to give up his prejudiced thoughts about her, the battle and her father Aynúr? His mind was sealed when the woman closed the doors of her humble chambers when he entered it and started to light the candles. His right hand slowly closed around the sheathed handle of his sword Orcrist as his grey eyes watched the woman walk up to him, her golden blond hair flowing like liquid around her shoulders and the candles illuminated her face in a warm orange glow.

It appeared he did.


Author's notes: [1]: Remember the scene from the movie?
Forgive the 'dance' scene. I suck at writing ;_;

I won't be posting until 2013. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and enjoy the final days of 2012!