The three of them sat like that for a while longer before anyone ever came to get them for the feast. And when they did, it had been an elf. Who had also mentioned that Randrial had taken his leave. Also informed Sephira that she would have to soak her ankle later tonight as well, orders of her healer. Like Sephira was actually going to do that one. Now, they were headed towards the balcony, trailing along behind the elf that had come to fetch them.
"It is a shame really, that I share so many qualities with that race." Sephira said lightly, smokey eyes on the elf. They were far enough behind that the elf would not be able to pick up easily on their soft spoken conversation. And even if he did hear them, Sephira did not care. She did not like the race. Kili sniggered, obsidian eyes sparking with mischief.
"You certainly do not have their height." he said. Sephira jabbed him in the side, scowling at him. She was not that much shorter than them. Maybe by an inch or two, but that was it. She was still taller than the hobbit!
"But she has their ears." Fili interjected with a smirk. Sephira smacked him.
"At least I have manors. Unlike certain dwarves that I know." she grumbled. Fili chuckled, throwing an arm around her shoulders and sending a smile down to her as they walked forward. She was simply adorable when she was angry.
"There is one spectacular difference between you and the Elven race Sephira." he said kindly. Her brows furrowed, confusion shinning in her eyes.
"What is that?" she asked, looking between the two. Kili's grin grew as he exchanged a look with his brother. He knew exactly what he was getting at. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side, which in turn caused Fili to stumble into her other side again.
"We like you." he said solemly before dropping a wink. Sephira rolled her eyes, moving her arms up so they were wrapped around both of their waists as they walked.
"Well that is one blessing I will cherish." she said sarcastically.
"Hey!" they both yelped simoltaniously. Sephira just gave them a cheeky grin, unphased by their upset. Even if she had said it with as little feeling as she could, Sephira had not lied.
That was one she would cherish until the day she died. If the dwarves did not like her...Sephira did not know what she would do. They were her family. Had been from a young age, and she was happy that she had Thorin as a sort of father figure and Fili and Kili around her as she grew up. And Balin and Dwalin as a sort of uncle. And Bofur and Bifur, and all the others. They had all played a part in Sephira's life in some way, and she was thankful for each and every one of them. Sephira would work to her last breath to protect them all, and would not hesitate to jump to their aid if need be.
"If you three are quite done being inconciderate towards your hosts, you are welcome to have a seat at the table and join your fellow dwarves." the elf said, looking down at the three of them. It was just then that Sephira realized they were standing in the arch doorway leading to the balcony the feast was at. There were elves gathered around, playing music and pouring whine into the empty glasses. The dwarves were all gathered around, giving distasteful looks to the foods on the table. Some where poking fun at the music the elves played, while others where shifting through the bowls of leafy greens in search for something better.
"I am not being inconciderate." Sephira said, pulling away from both Fili and Kili and turning an annoyed expression on the elf. She liked the last one she spoke with much better. This one was a stiff, and very intolerable. When he turned hazel eyes on her, brow arched, Sephira gave him a stiff, false cheery smile.
"I was being honest. I thought that is what you Elves stand for." she sneered the word Elves before turning and limping towards the table. Fili and Kili swallowed their sniggers as they followed after her, but not before sending the distressed Elf an amused glance.
"There ya are lass!" Bofur exclaimed as Sephira came to sit in the free seat beside him, plucking a small, round tomato off his plate and popping it into her mouth. "We were beginning to think ye got lost." he continued. Sephira allowed a smile to light up her face, despite the hard stare she was receiving from Thorin. She purposely kept her attention away from him, and instead focused on replying to Bofur.
"This place is not that grand. I could find my way through it blind folded." she replied in an arrogant manor, nose upturned in the air.
"You would have got lost had that elf not showed us the way." Fili said, slidding into the free spot beside her.
"Aye, and even then, you almost took a wrong turn." Kili added, taking his usual place beside his older brother. Sephira turned towards them- still keeping sure that she did not look at Thorin. He was still giving her a hard look, one that she had received many times. The "You will talk to me and you will not lie this time" look.- and glared.
"Fili did take a wrong turn, so i am not the directionally challanged one here." she said in a sniffy voice before turning back to her plate.
"Who said anything about-"
"Sephira." It was a rumbling voice that Fili's response off. A deep sound that rang with authority and demanded to be answered. Sephira's stomach sank into an abyss, and her attention suddenly became raptured by the leafy green mass on her plate.
She had been hoping Thorin would leave it be. At least for a little while. Just long enough so Sephira could plan out what she was to say so it would go over smoother. A nudge to her both sides- one from Bofur and Fili both- had Sephira holding down a sigh and lifting her gaze to Thorin. It would do no good to ignore him. Not only would it get her in some serious trouble, but she would also make a scene. And that was not something she wished to have in front of the Elves. This was a family matter, between her and the dwarves- and Gandalf, seeming as how the wizard already knew- not a matter for the Elven breed.
Thorin's gaze was hard, one not easy to read. But she could see the demands in his eyes. Demands that could not go ignored. And if ignored, would be met with a punishment far scary than than waking Dwalin while he was clutching his battle axe.
Something Sephira had done once, due to a fevered nightmare she'd had while Fili, Kili and Thorin had gone to the market for her medicine. Dwalin was watching her, and had fallen asleep a short time after she had slipped into a feverish sleep. Why he had his battle axe in hand, Sephira did not know. But it was not something she ever forgot, and still refused to wake Dwalin at any point unless his axe and weapons were far from his grasp.
"Yes?" she asked, not quite faking innocence. But her eyes were widened just a small degree, a curious look mixed with a small amount of nerves and her slim brows pinching together just a hint.
It was look that Sephira mastered long ago- as with the puppy dog eyes- and it made it hard to be angry at her for anything she had done. And it was a safer route, since the puppy dog eyes were used so very much when she got caught doing something she shouldnt have. This look said; I know what you're talking about, please dont kill me. Thorin was a sucker for it. And it still seemed to work now, because she saw a small amount of his kingly presence leave.
"You have something to explain. To all of us, not just me." he said. At this, Sephira finally seemed to take notice of the silenced dwarves around them, and she sent a quick glance to everyone around the table. Each one was looking at her, a look mixed between curiosity and expectance and affirmation on their faces. It took alot for Sephira not to shrink into Fili's side at the stares. Even Bilbo was looking at her curiously, but his was not as...demanding as the dwarves' were.
"Can we discuss this later?" she questioned. At Thorin's suddenly thunderous look- for he thought Sephira was trying to wriggle her way out of explaining- she threw her hands up quickly, smokey eyes wide and pleading.
"This is a family matter Thorin!" she half squeaked half shouted. She understood his anger. If someone she had raised and taken care of since they were but a small child had hid something like this all their life- and that child's parents keeping it seceret as well- she would be absolutely furious if they tried to get around explaining it. But that was not what she was trying to do.
"I have no desire for the Elves to know my business any more than they already do. We can discuss this later tonight, when they have gone, and it can be discussed as a family matter. As it should." Sephira said, tones taking on a tone that none had heard from her before.
One that a royal leader would use while addressing another. One that demanded to be followed. And if her tone was not enough, the calling of the dwarves family had certainly softened each one of them enough that they were willing to wait until that night, despite their burning curiosity. Thorin held her gaze of a moment longer, searching her eyes for something- a hint of desception, a fraction of hesitation, anything to show that she would back out on her word- before nodding his accent.
"Very well. But it will be explained tonight." he said, his voice firm and demanding. Sephira bowed her head, and kept her eyes glued to her plate as the chatting picked back up around the table.
"That went..." Fili trailed off, looking down at the top of Sephira's head as she stirred around the food on her plate.
"Well?" Kili imput, giving a pittying look to Sephira that went unnoticed. At that, Sephira looked up, her smokey gray eyes light with incredulity, and a startled laugh escaping her lips. And the laugh only grew at the innocently startled look, his obsidian eyes wide.
"If you think that went well I would hate to see what would qualify as bad." she said breathlessly. Kili's confusion cleared up, and he reacted very maturely. Well... maturely for him. He stuck his tounge out, and then humphed before leaning back so he was hidden by Fili's profile. Yes, that was definitly mature. Far more mature than anything else he could have done. Like throw the tomato that was currently pinched between his forfinger and thumb. Or get up and decidedly tackle her from her current seat. All of which, Kili had done before. The tackling option just a few nights before they left for the Shire. Sephira had pummled him for that, since she was trying to learn how to sew up patches. All her life, that was not a skill Sephira had ever mastered.
"I wouldnt bother laddie." Balin was saying, pulling Sephira from her own thoughts and drawing her attention towards the old dwarf and Bilbo, who was seated beside him looking down at something in his lap. "Swords are usually named for their great deeds they've done." he continued. What were they...Ohhhh. That little sword that Gandalf had given to Bilbo, the one found in the troll cave. Bilbo looked perplexed, and even a bit offended.
"Are you saying that my sword has never seen battle?" he asked. Sephira tilted her head to the side, eyes going back and forth between the pair as they spoke. It was highly entertaining, surprisingly enough, than any other conversation going on around the table.
"I'm not even sure it is a sword." Balin said. "More like a letter opener really." he added with a friendly smile to the hobbit. Sephira snorted, a hand slapping over her mouth to muffle the laughter that followed. But it wasnt quick enough, and Bilbo turned towards her with a wounded expression. Sephira waved her hand in front of her, swallowing laughter and gulping in a breath; all in a manor to try and calm herself enough to speak.
"Do not worry Bilbo, i am sure by the end of this journey, you will have earned your-er- sword- a proper name." Sephira stated helpfully, choking out the words through her surpressed laughter. That had to have been the funniest thing she'd heard the elderly dwarf say in quite some time.
The last she could accurately remember was back when she was fourteen, watching a twenty year old Fili flirt with a dwarf girl that was a few years older than Sephira, and had her beard growing in. Sephira could not remember what exactly had been said by Balin, but she knew it had been funny. She'd laughed so hard that it caught Fili's attention and he abandoned the dwarf girl and came trotting up to her like a loyal pup, brow cocked and smile to his lips. Sephira had not missed the saddened look the dwarf girl got.
"Dont get the lad's hopes up lassie. Ye don't know that fer sure." Bofur reprimanded, shooting her a grin. The rest of the feast went much like that.
The dwarves complained about the green foods some more. Oin continued to complain of the Elve's music, and made very rude- highly comical- changes to his ear horn so he would not hear it. Thorin conversed with Elrond in gruff tones, not unfriendly but not warm either. Sephira, Fili, Kili and Bofur entertained themselves, even partaking in a small four way food fight that had Thorin giving them an outwardly disaproving glance. But the three young ones knew him well enough to see that amusement and even the small glimmer of approval in his steel blue eyes. At some point, after the feast was over, Thorin, Bilbo, Balin and Gandalf had all disappeared with Elrond. Sephira's curiosity had been peaked, and she wished to go and look, but Fili had taken her wrist, spun her around, and then promptly lifted her off the ground and slung her over his shoulder, carrying her out of the room and out to the balcony the rest were gathered on.
"That's improper laddie!" Bofur called in an effervescent voice. Fili's only response was to jolt Sephira slightly, and she bit down a chuckle before thumping him on the back, growling.
"Let me down Fili, or so help me I will-"
"You know, I do not think that I will. What do you think Kili, should I let her down?" Fili asked loudly, speaking over Sephira's threat. She huffed indignantly, blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes before looking imploringly at the dwarf in question. He had been trotting along behind them, eyes dancing with laughter and lips pulled into a wide grin.
Sephira couldnt help but notice how attractive he looked just then. With the light of the fire the dwarves had started flickering across his face, his obsidian eyes twinkling with delight and cheeks flushed with laughter. Sephira couldnt remember when she first started having thoughts like that.
Small little side notes in her very boisterous mind that would always make her want to blush. What Sephira could remember was the day that she had fled from the market quickly and instead went to the forge, where Thorin was working that day. He had been surprised, to say the least, when she had all but ran into the forge and placed herself firmly on top of a free table, legs crossed and arms folded tightly over her chest as a scowl fixed on her little face. She wouldnt say what was wrong other than Kili, and Thorin left it at that. He had found out later, after questioning Fili what his younger brother had done that day in the market, that Kili had been speaking with a young human girl. Thorin may be older, but he knew what had troubled her with that display.
Kili pursed his lips in thought, tilting his head to the side as he looked at her. The gleam that entered his eyes needed no desiphering, and Sephira narrowed her eyes at him angrily as that oh so familiar smirk stretched across his face.
"Nah. Leave her be. She looks comfortable enough." Kili said in a buoyant manor, skittering back as Sephira flung an arm out to smack him. He just laughed as he moved around Fili and took a seat in a small alcove of an area, eyes not leaving Fili or the squirming girl on his shoulder.
Kili would be lying if he said he was not just a bit jealous of his brother at the moment. Kili would love it if he were the one to have a wriggling Sephira drapped over his shoulder, small hands gripping at the fabric of his tunic as to keep herself upright, front of her thighs pressing up against his chest and his arm locked on the bend of her knees. He could just imagine the warmth of her body radiating off of her as she squirmed, her body shaking with laughter even as she huffed in annoyance and demanded to be let down. Oh yes, Kili was most definitly jealous of his brother's position. Kili watched with an amused smile, pushing the feeling aside, as Fili spun around with a wide grin on his face. He was stopping every now and then, locking gazing with an on watching dwarf and questioning them if he should put her down. When they would shake their head, Fili would make a great show of spinning all the way around again, back and forth and sending Sephira's golden hair flying about before he'd stop and ask again. The only dwarf that took pity on Sephira was Ori- sweet, ever polite Ori that had grown to like Sephira in the short few weeks that it took them to get where they were now- and he sent her an apologetic look as Fili ignored his comment and spun back around.
"Fili, I swear to Durin if you spin around one more time I will personally make sure that-" Sephira's threat was cut off once more as Fili spun around again, only to stop dead, eyes widening.
With Sephira's back to whatever he had seen that made him stop so abruptly, she had no clue what caused his sudden change. Fili lowered her back to the ground and released her so quickly that Sephira uttered a small umph as she stumbled back. Her ankle twinged in pain, and she would have fallen over had it not been for the sturdy chest and the thick arms that she happened to fall into, and she did not have to look behind her to know who it was. That would explain Fili's sudden change.
"Now would be a good time to discuss the matter of your family heritage, Sephira." Thorin's rumbling voice said, the words reverberating through Sephira's back. She dislodged herself from Thorin's limbs and turned around, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and smokey eyes wide. She had not prepared anything at all. Sephira did not want to anger him by explaining the situation in the wrong way, but she had gotten side tracked. His face was impassive, an expression that obviously notified everyone that he was not going to allow the matter to drop anytime soon on his stoney face. Sephira gulped.
"What...uh, what would you like to know first?" she asked in a small voice, eyes flashing to the other dwarves' faces before resting back on Thorin's impossing posture, his large arms crossed over his equally large chest.
"You could start from the beginning." he offered, arching an imperious brow as he looked down at her. Sephira shrunk backwards some, eyes dropping to the stone floor as she manovered her weight to her uninjured foot.
"Right. Well..." And so she began explaining it once more, overly aware of every pair of eyes on her as she spoke. Sephira felt a small twinge of anger as she noticed the hobbit was still standing amongst them listening, but she was not about to send him away. Sephira did not mind him all that much, and he was as much a part of the company as the rest. He had a right to know, even if he was not concidered family to her. He was a friend.
She watched as Thorin's expression ranged in emotion. Everything from anger, to understanding, to pity, back to anger. She saw remorse and a gentle expression on his face every now and then, and his steely eyes softened greatly when Sephira's voice hitched as she explained about the distant relatives of her's that had been charged with the responsibility of raising her, and how Sephira did not want to live with them but wanted to instead stay with Thorin. Sephira held nothing back. She told him about her feelings; of how she thought of him as her father, even more so than her actual one, even though she did love her real father with all her heart. By the time that Sephira had finished explaining everything, down to the last detail, she was gazing down at her fingers as she nervously fiddled with a frayed strand of her tunic.
It was silent a long while after that, the only noises that of the dwarves' breathing and Sephira's own heart beat pounding in her ears. Occasionally a shuffle of fabric was heard, along with a clearing of a throat every now and then. The silence was almost getting too much to bear when Balin spoke up, his tones kind and not at all angry or upset.
"Well, we're happy you've chosen to keep us as your family." he said warmly, a smile to his voice. Sephira's head jerked up, eyes landing on his face to see the warm, gentle smile he used to give her when Sephira would accidentally break something and feared Thorin would be angry at her. It eased the knot in her stomach slightly, enough so she was able to breath easier at least. The other's were giving her smiles of the same sort, eyes twinkling happily. But her nerves were replenished when Thorin spoke, his tones deep and rumbling.
"You should not have kept this a seceret, Sephira." he said, tones clipped and gaze hard as Sephira looked up at him. And just when Sephira thought he was about to yell at her, his tones and gaze softened; a rare, almost vulnerable expression appearing on his face. "But I am glad that you did. It would not have been the same if you were not present in our lives."
The relief Sephira felt was so great, washing over her like tidal waves, that she actually stumbled back a step, a breath she hadnt noticed she'd been holding escaping her lips shakily. Sephira knew the gravity of the situation, having to tell Thorin that something so monumental had been kept from him, his father and his father before him. But she had not been able to guess just how much she was relying on Thorin to not be angry at her. How important it was for her that he not be angry about this. She almost lunged forward and hugged him, but held herself back. He was not big on affection, especially public affection, and with the Elves so near, he would not want to appear weak. And Sephira had no doubt that the hobbit and the wizard being present would play into it as well. Instead she fixed a smile on her face, trying hard to make it look cheery, even though it felt more hopeful to her.
"You're not upset?" she asked.
"I'm furious." Thorin growled, but there was no real meaning in the tone. "I do not feel that this should have been kept from me, nor from Fili and Kili. Or the rest of us for that matter. But had you told us, then you would have been taken back to Frenthrial and raised amongst your own people, not us dwarves. I do not feel that Fili and Kili would have survived so long without you." he said, turning his eyes on the two.
"You missed her just as much as us when she left!" Kili yelped defensively, eyes wide. Fili nodded his head addimantly, and Sephira just stood in between them, eyes going back and forth as they spoke.
"And it was not us that-"
"Enough. Get some rest. We leave before dawn." Thorin growled, cutting off Fili's words and leaving Sephira utterly confused. Surely that was not a blush that had appeared on the dwarf King's beard covered cheeks? Fili and Kili were sniggering, ignoring the warning glare from Thorin before he turned and strode off to where his makeshift bed was at.
"What was that about?" Sephira asked, looking back to the two brothers. Fili and Kili shrugged.
"No idea. You know how moody Thorin is." Kili said, arm immidiately going around her waist as he walked next to her.
"Now come get some rest; we only get a short rest tonight." Fili added, leading them over to there the pallets had been made in a small alcove area of the balcony for the night. The healers words to soak her ankle was completely forgotten about, and Sephira sank between the two on either side of her, purposely ignoring the words of an elf that were running through her head. It is improper for a woman to be sleeping near so many...dwarves. You shall sleep in the room tonight. Just thinking about it made Sephira bit down a snort and roll her eyes. She'd been sleeping near to these dwarves for quite some time now, and she'd been sleeping between two of them her entire life. Sephira was not about to change that now. Not to mention, the poor girl had a difficult time sleeping if she did not have either Fili or Kili beside her. Sephira had tried, while she was away in Frenthrial, to sleep. But it would not come to her those nights. Not without the warm bodies of her two favorite dwarves on either side of her.
"Stop squirming so much Seph, I'd like to get just a little sleep before we take off." Kili whispered, his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her to him. Improper or not, Sephira was grateful for it, and it sent a warm swell to her stomach. What that feeling was supposed to be, Sephira had no idea, but it was a pleasing feeling, if not just a little uncomfortable.
"It'll be a short sleep, whether she lies still or not." Fili mumbled, voice already on the brink of sleep. Kili just grunted in response, his face burrying into Sephira curled, golden hair and his eyes shutting tightly. He was determined to get at least a little bit of sleep this night, more importantly with Sephira held tightly in his grasp. Even if only for a small while.
And a small bit of sleep it was that night. Kili had fallen into a deep sleep shortly after Fili, while Sephira had stayed up long after them, unable to close her eyes and lose herself to sleep. When she had finally managed to fall asleep, it felt like only minutes had passed when she was being awoken by Fili and Kili. The dwarves had packed up quickly, getting dressed once more and packing up their bed rolls before setting out as planned. Bilbo seemed to be fairing the same as Sephira when it came to having caught any sleep, and the two walked side by side for a while as they followed the group of dwarves out of Rivendell and up hills.
Eventually, Sephira had fallen behind even Bilbo, having to take a moment to rewrap her ankle. None had seemed to notice, and it was a good thing too. Had someone noticed- say, Thorin, for example- Sephira would have earned herself a long winded lecture and been forced to travel alongside Dwalin the rest of the journey, to ensure minimum mischeif and problems. Not that Dwalin's presence alone would have been enough to stop Sephira from doing something, but it certainly would make her think twice. When Sephira had wrapped her ankle and replaced her boot, she'd hopped up and began jogging back towards the group of dwarves. They were not too terribly far ahead, and Bilbo had stopped behind them, his eyes staring longingly at Rivendell.
"Come on Bilbo, don't want to be left behind." Sephira said, slowing her pace as she neared him until she stopped completely. Bilbo sighed.
"It's so...beautiful. Do you think we'll ever see it again?" he asked. The place he was leaving behind was so peaceful. So tranquil and welcoming. It made Bilbo miss his home far more than anything else had, and it was taking a lot for him not to run back.
He could stay with the elves for a while, and then begin his journy home. Forget about the dwarves and them reclaiming their home; Bilbo was not even a burglar to begin with. Gandalf had lied about that, and the dwarves believed him. Not to mention the fact that none of the dwarves- save for a few- even wanted Bilbo along with them. He was a hinderance. So why not just stay behind with the elves and allow the dwarves to go on without him? Everyone would be happier that way. A warm hand being placed on Bilbo's shoulder had him pulling away from his thoughts and looking up at Sephira. The rising sun was dancing along her golden hair, setting it aflame in the early morning. She had a kind expression on her face, a smile to her petal pink lips.
"I have no doubt that you will see Rivendell once more, Master Baggins, after our journey is done with." Sephira said, a wisdom to her tones that made Bilbo feel as though he were talking to someone far older than herself. Bilbo did not miss the fact that she had only mentioned himself seeing Rivendell after all this was done and over with, and his brows furrowed.
"What about yourself?" he asked.
"My home is with the dwarves, as it always had been. I have no desire to return to Rivendell." she said. Then added, in a soft tone that was full of sadness, "And I doubt that they will give up on this quest for any reason. There will be no return journey for us. They will reclaim Erebor, or they will die trying." It was silent between them as Bilbo cast his eyes back towards the home of the Elves.
"Come on Bilbo, we do not want to get left behind." Sephira said, voice lighter and back to its usual tone.
"What of Gandalf?" the small hobbit asked, almost pitifuly.
"He will be joining us before too long. He's been called to a meeting, in which we have our time to escape before the Elves realize it. Wouldnt want them putting a stop to it now would we?" she asked lightly.
"No. That would be horrible." Bilbo muttered darkly. Sephira laughed, patted the hobbit on the shoulder, and then turned her back on the Elven place.
"Come Bilbo, or you shall be left behind." she said before walking off. Bilbo stayed just a moment longer, staring longingly at the peaceful place before turning and hurrying to catch up with the Fae and the dwarves. As much as he wanted to stay behind with the Elves and return home in a few days time, Bilbo did not fancy being left behind. He wanted to see this adventure to the end.