Time to answer a few questions I have gotten and some reviews:
For all those lacking in any geographical knowledge, Hegg is a fictional island. I watched a movie several years back called The Decoy Bride. None of the plot features in this story, just the fictional island named Hegg.
I am well aware that Scottish people are not just rural farmers without modern technology or healthcare however, being Scottish myself and having a Scottish psudeo brother, I was informed that many of the islands of the Outer Hebrides are small, not residential, and lack modern technology or medical unless you travel to the mainland of Scotland.
Hegg therefore is an island where people live off of the land and farm and fish, still living a bit behind the times in the fact that they are not glued to their phones.
While it may also seem like Adaira just accepts her new fate easily, she doesn't, but if I was in her situation, I would like to think that I would think logically. Logically I would understand that I am in a strange place, but at the same time, if I grew up on stories of Middle Earth, as I have, logically I would know where I am, just not who I was with.
There is no logical reason for me to freak out and become hysterical. There is only surviving until you figure out why you are there. I say this as if tomorrow I woke up in a foreign country with strangers as my only company.
Sorry this update is a little late. Now that, that is all cleared up, onto the chapter!
Chapter Eight- The Song of the Lonely Mountain
Adaira's POV
While Gandalf was off, trying to convince Bilbo to sign the contract, I had done my part in rousing him with smelling salts, the dwarves were looking about the house and settling in for the night. Thorin had sent me off and I wound my way through Bilbo's house until I found a second bathroom. The first was…horrifying.
I stared at myself in the looking glass that Bilbo had on the washstand. I didn't look any different from earlier, at least not physically. A few hours could change the rest of your life. I unbound my hair and looked to the bathtub. Bilbo had running water.
Might be the only time that I got to wash up in a while. I ran some tepid water into the tub, not enough to soak in, but just enough to clean the sweat off my body. I took a washrag, throwing it into the water before I quickly got undressed and climbed into the tub, sitting with my back to the door in case anyone came looking for me.
The soap that I rubbed on the washcloth smelt of lavender. I could almost be at home getting ready for bed. I washed myself quickly before climbing out of the tub and toweling off, putting on my only pair of clothes. That was unfortunate. I sighed heavily and picked up the brush that was on the washboard and ran it through my hair several times, getting out all of the knots before I quickly rebraided my hair, carefully working the beads and clasps back into it. I exited the bathroom and walked back to the front of the house just in time to overhear Bilbo and Gandalf's end to their conversation.
"That's what I thought. Sorry, Gandalf, I can't sign this. You've got the wrong Hobbit," Bilbo said as he walked towards me, down the hallway. "I'm sorry, I just can't," Bilbo told me before he awkwardly passed me, running off to a back room and shutting the door audibly. As I turned the corner, I found Balin standing with my uncle, obviously having overheard Bilbo as well.
"It appears we have lost our burglar. Probably for the best. The odds were always against us. After all, what are we? Merchants, miners, tinkers, toy makers; hardly the stuff of legend," Balin told Thorin, not having noticed me yet.
"There are a few warriors amongst us," Thorin told Balin with a soft smile as he nodded at the older dwarf.
"Old warriors," Balin said, shaking his head ruefully.
"I will take each and every one of these dwarves over an army from the Iron Hills. For when I called upon them, they came. Loyalty. Honor. A willing heart. I can ask no more than that," Thorin said, seeing me behind Balin and nodding once more.
"You don't have to do this. You have a choice. You've done honorably by our people. You have built a new life for us in the Blue Mountains, a life of peace and plenty. A life that is worth more than all the gold in Erebor," Balin pleaded with Thorin who held out the key which Gandalf had given him.
"From my grandfather to my father, this has come to me. They dreamt of the day when the dwarves of Erebor would reclaim their homeland. There is no choice, Balin. Not for me," Thorin told Balin and I could see how truthful his words were. This was his destiny. He would see this quest to the end or die trying.
"Then we are with you, laddie. We will see it done," Balin told Thorin, realizing the same as I did.
"Idad?" I asked and Thorin and Balin turned to look at me.
"I should not be allowing you to join us on this quest," Thorin told me with a pensive look and I nodded at that.
"You do know that if you try to leave us behind, we will just follow you," I told him and Thorin nodded slowly at that as Balin smiled softly beside him.
"I know. I helped raise your cousins. If you are anything like them…," Thorin told me with a soft smile on his face and I stepped forward and took his hands in mine.
"They are loyal, honorable, with willing hearts. As you said, you helped raise them. They look up to, idad. They only want to make you proud," I told him truthfully and Thorin frowned slightly at my words.
"I am exceedingly proud of them both," Thorin told me and I smiled up at him.
"As well you should be," I told my uncle with a small laugh. "I know that I'm not what you expected. This night was supposed to go much differently for you, but I am very happy to be here. I thought I would never find my family. We all believe in you, idad. This quest will succeed. We will reclaim Erebor," I told him resolutely and Thorin smiled slightly at that.
"Your optimism is most refreshing. The dwarven lords think that this quest is folly," Thorin answered me and I rolled my eyes at them.
"Do you see them getting off of their asses to do anything? No. They will be content with their cushy little lives while our people toil endlessly for their comfort. You have no doubt as Balin has said, made quite a good life for them in the Blue Mountains, but Ered Luin is not home for them. Erebor is their home as it is yours. All of you want the same thing. A home, your home, back. I have never seen Erebor, but…adad told me enough about it. I will help you in whatever way I can, idad," I promised my uncle. To return home would be a marvelous thing indeed. I just didn't know if I meant Hegg or Erebor yet.
"Adaira…Frerin was the eldest next to me. You are older than Fili by several years. You are a natural born leader even if you were not raised the same way as your cousins. You are my heir, the Heir of Durin's line as I have no children of my own," Thorin informed me suddenly, rousing me from my thoughts as he placed a hand on my shoulder and I shook my head quickly.
"But…I am a woman. Fili is the next eldest male in the Line of Durin. The crown must pass to him," I said in confusion.
"Your father would have taught you that our women are rare and precious to us, as precious as mithril itself," Balin told me and I nodded in agreement.
"A woman can sit the throne. As my niece and the eldest, you are my heir," Thorin told me and I sighed deeply at that.
"And what if I didn't want the throne?" I asked Thorin in a quiet voice.
"Then, you could abdicate the throne to Fili, but it is very rarely done. We must first do right by our people before we look to ourselves," Thorin told me and I nodded at him, understanding what he meant. Abdicating the throne would be like turning my back on my own people.
"Well then, we will see what happens when the time comes. You mister," I said, poking Thorin in the chest. "Better be around for a long time," I warned him, and he chuckled before leaning in and pressing his forehead to mine.
"Balin can educate you on what you need to learn about being a princess and my heir," Thorin announced and Balin nodded in agreement.
"We will see it done lass," Balin told me kindly.
"Come mizimith, the hour grows late," Thorin informed me before he led me into the sitting room where a fire was blazing in the hearth. Balin followed behind us.
The dwarves were sitting around, smoking their pipes by the fire. The air was thick with the acrid smelling smoke. Fili and Kili were sitting close to one another as Thorin led me over to the fireplace. I sat down by the fire, warming myself as Thorin took out his pipe and lit it, blowing out a cloud of smoke over my head. This…I remembered nights like this.
Dwalin's POV
Dwalin hadn't meant to make an ass of himself, but part of him needed to drive the lass away and convince Thorin that they were better off with her gone. He didn't dislike the lass; it wasn't about her exactly. She was nice enough, cheerful, helpful and a lot like Kili and Fili. His heart however was thrumming. He felt as if he had been struck with a heavy blow and looking at her made him feel like he lost all control of his facilities.
She was just a wee thing, but her voice, her anger as she spoke up for herself. It was a palpable thing and very…he didn't know what exactly. He could see Frerin in her alright. While he had been friends with Thorin more than Frerin, Frerin had trained with them. He was not much younger than Thorin himself.
Frerin had a bit of a temper, but he was kind. Fierce in battle and unendingly loyal. He had a knack for mischief, but he was somber when needs be. Dwalin was mulling over his thoughts with his pipe as the fire roared in front of him. He was bone tired, ready for some shut eye before he was forced to rise with the Dwalin. A few hours at the very least.
Thorin entered the room not long after, followed by the lass and his brother. She looked somber as if she was thinking on something. Her expression was not too unlike Frerin's. Her hair though. Thorin led her over to the fireplace and she sat down before it, warming herself. Her hair looked like it was in the fire itself. Her eyes lit up slightly as Balin and Thorin started to hum before the tune was taken up by them all. Dwalin's hum reverberated in his chest deeply and he managed to hear when Adaira's low gentle hum joined his own.
"Far over the misty mountains cold, To dungeons deep and caverns old, We must away ere break of day To find our long forgotten gold," Thorin began in a low voice that rose and fell and Adaira looked up at him before her eyes suddenly met Dwalin's. They stared at each other for several long seconds before he looked down, closing her eyes as the others joined in the song, one they all knew quite well.
"The pines were roaring on the height, The winds were moaning in the night, The fire was red, it flaming spread, The trees like torches blazed with light," The dwarves sang together before their voices faded into the night. Dwalin closed his eyes, drawing on his pipe as he recalled that day and the sight of dragon fire. The sound of a light lilting voice broke him out of his reverie, the feeling of her voice washing over him rendering him speechless as jolts ran through his entire body.
"Far over the Misty Mountains rise, Leave us standing upon the heights, What was before, we see once more, Our kingdom a distant light," Adaira sang in the same tune of their song and all eyes turned to her. Her eyes were closed, but she opened them, looking to the window where a large half moon was gleaming in the night.
"Fiery mountain beneath the moon, The words unspoken, we'll be there soon, For home a song that echoes on, And all who find us will know the tune," Adaira sang as they hummed the tune for her. It seemed to spur her on. She stood, Thorin helping her to her feet as he watched her curiously.
"Some folk we never forget, Some kind we never forgive, Haven't seen the back of us yet, We'll fight as long as we live, All eyes on the hidden door, To the Lonely Mountain borne, We'll ride in the gathering storm, Until we get our long-forgotten gold," Adaira sang, her eyes fierce as she shook her head and the wizard wandered into the room, listening to her.
"We lay under the Misty Mountains cold, In slumbers deep and dreams of gold, We must awake, our lives to make, And in the darkness a torch we hold," Adaira sang and Dwalin was slightly surprised. Durin himself was said to have slumbered under the Misty Mountains until Mahal himself awoke him.
"From long ago when lanterns burned, Till this day our hearts have yearned, Her fate unknown, the Arkenstone, What was stolen must be returned," Adaira sang, turning to look back over her shoulder at Thorin. "We must awake and make the day, To find a song for heart and soul," Adaira sang as she walked over to her cousins and nodded at them both.
"Some folk we never forget, Some kind we never forgive, Haven't seen the end of it yet, We'll fight as long as we live, All eyes on the hidden door, To the Lonely Mountain borne, We'll ride in the gathering storm, Until we get our long-forgotten gold," The trio sang together before Adaira walked over to Thorin and the fireplace and turned to look at them all in turn.
"Far away the Misty Mountains cold," Adaira finished her song before the wizard interrupted her.
"That song, is it yours?" Gandalf asked her and Adaira shook her head.
"Adad's. Now I know what he meant by the hidden door. He must have known. That is how I knew about the Arkenstone," Adaira answered him as she turned to look at Thorin. "I wish I could remember everything he taught me," She said with a heavy sigh.
"You might very well in time," Gandalf informed her and Dwalin frowned at that. Magic was wizard's work. And it was trouble.
"All of you get some rest. Dawn will be upon us soon," Thorin called to them all, drawing attention away from the lass. Dwalin grunted, extinguishing his pipe before he pulled himself to his feet. The halfling looked to have another sitting room that had a couch, small as it was. He made his way over to it, ignoring the others as he pulled off his coat. He fell down on to the couch, his heaving weight falling upon it hard before he covered himself with his coat. Sleep found him within seconds and the last thing he saw was the fire, the same color as the lass' hair, then blackness.
Idad- Uncle
Mizimith- Little Jewel
