Chapter 8: Making Friends
Nyssa woke when the first rays of the sun began streaming through her window. At first, she wanted to pull the blanket over her head and fall back asleep, but then she remembered that the dwarves were going back to Erebor that morning. If she wanted to gain access to the mountain kingdom, she needed to be ready to go when they did.
Nyssa did not sleep well last night. The combination of the ale and dining with the dwarf king, whom she hated, had old nightmares revisit her throughout the night. The spirits of her family haunted her each time she closed her eyes until peace had finally come an hour before sunrise.
There was a knock on the door just as Nyssa rose from the bed and reached for her tunic. A woman's voice was on the other side asking for permission to enter.
"Yes, come in," shouted Nyssa while trying to put on her pants and tunic before the door opened.
The red-headed elf opened the door and stood in the doorway. She had a stern look as she briefly stared at Nyssa before she spoke.
"The dwarf king has requested that you join him and his company in the dining hall," she said.
"Thank you. I will be ready shortly," replied Nyssa.
Tauriel remained in the doorway and watched her like she was watching a lamb grazing in a field. Her behavior was making Nyssa uncomfortable.
What is she staring at?
"Is there anything else?" asked Nyssa with a little irritation in her voice.
"You were at the tavern with a dark-haired dwarf." She said.
"Yes, I went there for supper. I saw him there, nothing more. Why? Is he important to you?"
"You must hurry. You do not want to keep the dwarf king waiting." She emphasized the 'dwarf king' with what sounded like distain. "He has taken a liking to you, even though you are a known thief."
Tauriel turned on her heels and walked into the hallway leaving Nyssa in complete shock. Nyssa called out to Tauriel and hurried out the door to catch her.
"Why did you say that?" Nyssa's voice sounded breathless and anxious.
"I know who you are," Tauriel said in a hushed tone. "Your family's reputation is well known to the elves of the Woodland Realm. Fortunately for you, neither the men nor the dwarves know it."
"Why have you not said anything to anyone and have me arrested?" Nyssa asked trying to sound calm.
Nyssa's nerves were a mixture of fear and anxiety. She was so close to earning the dwarves' trust. Did this elf tell anyone about her? What will she find if she were to go to the dining hall? Would there be guards to escort her, not to the mountain, but to the dungeons?
"I have no love for the King Under the Mountain, so I care nothing if he were relieved of a few of his precious gold coins," Tauriel said with disdain. "Besides, it matters not. The king is not a fool. He would eventually discover your secrets. It would be wise for you to leave these lands now while you still can."
Tauriel turned to leave, but Nyssa called her name again. She stopped again and turned to face her.
Nyssa could not take the chance of the elf keeping her word. If she was like her woodland kin, Nyssa would expect the guards to be waiting for her in the dining hall anyway despite what she just said. Nyssa needed to play on her feelings for the dark-haired dwarf prince to get more information, maybe even a little sympathy.
"You say you have no love for the dwarf king. Is it because of your feelings for the dark-haired prince?" she asked.
Tauriel's expressions changed from defiant to surprised. She stood her ground and did not move. What was this human woman up to? She knew better than to trust a thief, and this person was not the first to be tempted by the riches of the mountain. Many had tried, but none were successful.
"The dwarf king is much like his kin, greedy, heartless, possessive and untrusting. Why do you think that I would have anything to do with a Son of Durin? You are wrong."
"I noticed the look on your face when you saw him in the street. That was not a look of contempt, and you are right. I also believe the dwarf king is heartless. He is the problem that stands between you and the prince," said Nyssa.
Tauriel listened carefully to Nyssa's rants but could not deny that she loved the dwarf prince. She gave up her home, friends, her life in the Greenwood, all for him. Yet, she gained nothing for it. She helped save his life at Ravenhill during the battle, and she was still living as an exiled elf.
She took up residence in the healer's house in Dale to be close to Kili. She even entertained thoughts that he would leave his uncle and his royal position to be with her. They would travel Middle Earth together and find a home of their own. But, as the days turned to months and years, Tauriel knew that her dreams were just that, dreams.
Tauriel had built a life for herself in Dale. She made acquaintances in the city and a useful position as a healer. She avoided Kili whenever she could. She knew that he spent most days in the tavern.
When she saw him walking along the streets or in the marketplace, she would turn the other way and hide. She had managed most of the time to stay out of sight, but last night was an exception.
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Tauriel.
"I can help you. The dwarf prince spoke of you last night. For a brief moment, he thought that I was you." Nyssa smiled. "He cares for you, a great deal."
"I do not believe you." Tears began forming in Tauriel's eyes. "Kili has had years to come to me, to prove that he loves me, and he did nothing. He made his choice, and I have made mine."
"You must still love him, or you would have moved on. Why do you stay if not for him?"
Tauriel really had no answer to that question. She did not know herself.
"As I said before, leave and do not come back to these lands." Tauriel turned and walked away quickly leaving Nyssa to stand in the hallway alone.
Nyssa said a quick prayer that Tauriel would not tell her secret and went back inside her room to finish dressing. After all, she must not be late for the king.
As Nyssa closed the door of her room behind her, another presence stepped from the shadows into the hallway. After witnessing the conversation between the two women, he smiled before returning to his own room.
An hour after her visit from Tauriel, Nyssa entered the dining hall and was welcomed with a lot of shouting and singing from the many dwarves who were having their breakfasts. There were dwarves and men seated all around the room, each to their own group. At the far side of the room, there was a long table with both dwarves and men seated around it. The kings and their advisors, as well as their Captains of the guard, were seated there.
Thorin's nephews were the first to see Nyssa as she entered the room. Fili and Kili waved for her to join them at their table. They were seated with the other dancing dwarves away from the humans.
Nyssa smiled and walked toward them. Fili stood from his chair and motioned for her to be seated in the chair between. Nyssa bowed to them and obliged, squeezing into the small space between the brothers.
"My Lady Analyn," said Fili. "How nice of you to join us."
Kili smiled at the way his brother teased the ranger. Nyssa laughed at Fili's antics as he sat down in his chair and passed the bread basket to her with a smile. Nyssa broke off a large piece with her fingers. She picked at it, pulling smaller bite-sized pieces to place in her mouth while she looked around the room.
Her eyes stopped on the King Under the Mountain at the far table. He had been watching her since she first entered the room. His stern sapphire gaze held her captive as they stared at each other for a handful of seconds until Nyssa tore her eyes away.
For a fleeting moment, she could have sworn that she saw a smirk on those lips as she looked away. She would give anything to wipe that smile from his face.
Nyssa ignored Thorin's watchful eyes and concentrated on the two princes, laughing and enjoying their stories and attentions, especially Fili's. She was so attentive in a tale he was telling about Kili, Dwalin, and a practical joke with a goat, she did not notice one of the dwarf guards walked toward her. He stood at attention by her chair and waited until she acknowledged him before he spoke.
"My lord, King Thorin, has requested your presence at the training field, my lady," he said and continued to stand beside her as if to escort her to the destination.
Nyssa leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms at her chest, and glanced over toward Thorin who was also watching what she would do. The dwarf king stared at her intently. It was almost intimidating which sent a slight shiver through her body.
The smirk on her face slowly fell and was replaced with a hard glare. She could feel the smoldering anger in the pit of her stomach. She could understand why. Perhaps it was the look he was giving her, like an alpha wolf trying to show its dominance over a new pup.
Nyssa wanted nothing more than to wipe that look off his face. If this were a challenge to test her strength to be worthy to grace the halls of Erebor, then she was happy to oblige him. She would even find enjoyment from it.
"Is that so?" asked Nyssa with her eyes never leaving his. "Tell his Majesty that I will meet him there as soon as I have finished my breakfast."
The dwarf guard left her side to inform his king her answer. The two princes stared at her in both shock and a little amusement. This human girl was quite a spitfire to agree to fight their uncle.
Thorin was an accomplished warrior with decades of battle experience. To fight him in a battle was suicide, and to fight him in training was embarrassment. Nevertheless, it would be entertaining to watch what she could do.
"Analyn, are you sure you wish to do this? There have been many warriors who could not bring down our uncle," said Kili.
"I believe your uncle wishes to see what I can do. If that is what he wants, than I shall be happy to give it to him," she said with confidence.
Nyssa picked up a piece of cheese with some bread and began to eat. She smiled before she stood from her chair.
"I shall enjoy this. Are you boys coming?" she asked with a grin.
Nyssa turned on her heels and left the room to fetch her weapons. The two princes looked at each other and followed her out. Thorin watched all three of them leave the hall and smiled. This girl was very intriguing, but he could fathom why. He had already decided it was best to keep her close in order to watch and study her more intently. She was a mystery he was determined to solve.
