Chapter 9: Settling In

The next day she woke up very early and set off up the passageway to the marketplace. She found her way easily, as there was a slow stream of people coming from that direction, admiring newly bought items.

Pale smoke curled out of the chimneys of the houses outside. It was easy to see against the dim, rosy sky. The clouds were fluffy and promised good weather.

She found a stall selling clothing and looked over the goods from a distance. There were a few girls oohing and ahhing over an especially fine-looking red dress, with embroidered designs and trim in golden thread.

'I wonder how much that costs. Seems like a waste of money for such a fancy, delicate item. You couldn't wear it without fear of hurting it in one way or another.' She thought.

Not that she disliked dresses, they were simply impractical for fighting and hunting, and long skirts were easily torn if you were walking in the woods.

A fairly plain dress caught her eye. It was a blueish grey with darker grey trim. It looked like it would fit her, and the price should be reasonable, as it wasn't exceptionally fancy.

However, she needed food first of all, and new boots.

'I doubt I can afford new boots just yet. I haven't got a lot of money.' She thought, and grimaced to herself.

She found a stall selling meat and bread, and bought enough to last her a few days. She then found a stall selling boots and inquired as to the price of a used pair that looked in fairly good condition.

"That would be three silver pennies, Miss. However, yours don't appear to be in too bad condition, I could repair them for you." The cobbler replied.

"Thank you, what would the cost of that be?" She asked.

"Two silver pennies, Miss."

They still fit her, which was not surprising, given the fact she was full grown. It was a silver penny cheaper to get hers repaired, but she didn't have any to wear in the meantime.

"It won't take me any time at all. You can even wait right here." The cobbler said.

Lina nodded.

"Thank you, sir." She handed him the silver pennies and the boots and sat down. The cobbler took them to the worktable at the back of his stall and within half an hour the boots were mended.

Lina thanked him again and set off down the street. She had not gone far when someone called, "Miss!"

She looked over her shoulder in surprise and saw the merchant at the stall selling clothing waving to her. She went to his stall, slightly wary.

"Excuse me, Miss, but I couldn't help seeing you admiring this dress earlier. Would you be interested in buying it?" He asked, gesturing to the grey-blue dress.

"Thank you, sir, but I'm afraid I can't afford it at the moment." Lina said, and started to turn away.

"A silver penny only, Miss." The merchant coaxed.

The boots she had started to buy had been three silver pennies, and she had saved one by having her boots mended. She could spend it, but she didn't really need a dress.

She bit her lip.

"I...Oh, alright.'' She said, digging the coin out and handing it to him. She took the dress and started home.

After putting her things away she went back up to the entrance cave and approached a guard.

"Excuse me, I'm rather new here, and I was wondering if I could find employment as a huntress." She said.

"Probably, Miss. There's always a call for more meat. You'd have to speak to Balin, though. I can take you to his office, if you like." He replied.

"If it wouldn't be any trouble..." Lina said.

"Not at all, follow me."

He lead her up another passage that slanted ever so slightly upwards. There were more carvings on the walls, and a few small holes that let in light from outdoors.

The doors on the sides of the passage were further apart here, she noticed. They passed a few Dwarves muttering to themselves about excavation or carrying stacks of parchment.

They turned a few corners and down several hallways, until at last they stopped before a large door.

"I can wait here and show you the way back, if you want me to." The young guard said.

Lina nodded and thanked him before knocking.

"Come in, the door's open!" A kind voice called from inside.

Lina went into the large room several bookcases lined the walls, full of thick volumes and stacks of parchment. A kindly looking Dwarf dressed in red with a white beard and hair rose from his desk to greet her.

"Balin, at your service, Miss." He said with a bow.

"Lina at yours." Lina returned the bow.

"How can I help you, Miss Lina?" He asked, motioning for her to sit down opposite him.

"I'm looking to find a job. As a huntress, preferably." She replied.

"Ah, good. We're short on hunters and huntresses. For some reason most lasses don't take to the job." He said, and rifled through a stack of parchment on the desk. "Here we are. If you'd just sign here, please."

Lina took the proffered parchment and quill, and signed her name after glancing over the paper. It stated simply that she would be working as a huntress and instructed her to return to this office for her wages. She looked over the chart of payment. Two silver pennies per deer, three coppers per squirrel or rabbit, etc.

"You read before you sign, I see. A necessary precation many overlook." Balin smiled at her. "I believe you are the new lass from Rivendell, are you not?"

Lina blinked.

'How did he know that?' She wondered.

"Yes, I am."

"My brother, Dwalin, told me about you." He said. "I'm sorry to hear about your family. Losing loved ones is hard. I lost my father in the Battle of Azanulbizar. It's hard, but the pain eases with time."

She trusted his word and nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"Balin, please. And don't mention it. I'll see you soon, I hope!"

She left and the guard escorted her back to the entrance hall. She then made her way back to her rooms and jumped into the air in triumph when she had closed the door.

"Ha!" She said.

She had a very well paying job doing something she enjoyed, she had a nice house, what more could she wish for, given the curcumstances?

Quiet laughter from by the fireplace startled her, and she whirled around, knife in hand.

Fili was leaning against the mantle, chuckling. She put her knife away and let out a breath.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. What has you in such an exuberant mood today?" He asked.

"Well, for one thing, here I am in the Blue Mountains at long last, and for another, I have a fine house, good friends, and I just got a job." She said.

Fili smiled again.

"You did? What sort of job, may I ask?"

"Hunting job. I suppose I can trap animals for now, and when I save up enough I can buy a bow." She said.

"Ah, well, that coincides with my reason for visiting quite nicely. I've gotten you something."

He held out a long package wrapped in a cloak.

She took it, surprised. When she unwrapped it she gasped, eyes wide. Inside was a bow, a quiver, and several arrows. Not just any bow, this one was polished cherry wood, delicately curved, with carefully carved geometric designs along the sides, and strung with rawhide. The quiver was leather with a wooden base, dyed dark brown and tooled. The arrows were of fine quality, fairly long and straight, with steel tips and black fletching.

'It must have cost a fortune! How on Arda can he possibly be giving this to me?' She wondered.

"Thank you, Fili. It's beautiful." She breathed, and hugged him.

He returned the hug with a smile.

"You are very welcome, Lina. We'll have to go on a hunting trip soon.'' He said.

"Definetely! Oh, Fili, it's so beautiful!" She exclaimed, hugging him again.

They talked for a little while about the upcoming festival. Lina decided not to show him her new dress and surprise him.

"Which dances do you know?" Fili asked.

"Well, my father taught me the Ovdolgak and the Kaz'ängler." Lina replied. "Doni and I used to dance them in the evenings."

"The Kaz'ängler is a difficult one! Do you still remember them?"

Fili looked impressed.

"Oh, yes! I could do them in my sleep." Lina said. "I never did learn any others. Maybe you could teach me a few sometime."

"Of course! I'd love to." He said with a smile. "By the way, your secret is safe. All they know is that you had three brothers, and you'd rather not talk about yourself. I didn't mention any names."

"My thanks, Fili. I appreciate it." She said.

They chatted for a bit longer and Fili went to dinner, promising to come and get her sometime after breakfast.

Lina tried on her new dress. It fit beautifully, with a full skirt that fanned out when she twirled, and long, slightly droopy sleeves.

The cuffs, neckline, and hem were all embroidered with little zig-zag patterns in a smoky-grey color. The waist was a little snug, showing her figure off even better than the Elven dresses she had worn in Rivendell.

She took a walk out of the cavern to watch the sunset, going up a nearby hill where she could look down on the little town. People were beginning to set up tables and clear huge areas, presumably for dancing purposes.

'I can't wait to see Fili tomorrow. I miss him already. A hunting trip sounds like quite a lot of fun. I wonder what I should wear? I don't have any clothes other than this tunic and trousers and the dress. Maybe I'll go hunting early and buy some more.' Lina thought. 'Why I am I worried about what Fili thinks of me? I'm not in love with him. Or am I?'

She realized that she did care for him. Fili was very kind to her, and he was easy to get along with. He was a generous, friendly person.

She turned her thoughts to the pony and made a mental note to find out where he was kept. She realized she hadn't named him, always thinking of him as someone else's pony. She tried to think of a fitting name for a while and eventually gave up. Flame and Thunderbolt didn't fit.

The sun had set, leaving just enough light for her to see where she was going. She made her way carefully down the hill. She entered the cavern, lit up by lanterns now, and went down the passage that lead to her rooms.

She ate a quick meal of meat and bread and bathed again, taking extra care to wash her hair. She found herself wanting to look pretty, something she'd never really tried to do before.

Excited at the thought of going to the festival and dancing with Fili, she pushed her nagging worry about the crowds to the back of her mind, and fell asleep.

Well, this chapter isn't as interesting, I know, but Lina had to go shopping sometime.

The Ovdolgak dance is my own creation, but I am using ThatOtherWriterGirl's Kaz'ängler from Little Son of Durin, with her permission. Hope you like the festival in the next chapter!

Oh, and Lina thinks she might, just might, be in love with our handsome Fili...

In response to the reviews:

Awesome update!

I'm so glad you think so! I'll keep them coming, and oh, have I got some great ideas.

I love that you update so often it so rare nowadays since many authors leave for a week or even up to a year between chapters! As always looking forward to the next one! Thanks!

Yeah, I'm going for every other day, but please keep in mind I do have school and the dreaded writer's block occasionally strikes.

Thoronsul Belegmegil