Chapter 11: Medleys

Brili was never a huge fan of other weapons. She had found her niche in swordplay for it was both elegant and deadly. Her throwing knives and her blade were the only weapons that she really used and almost everyone knew this. So, one can imagine how surprised Aragorn was to find Brili in the practice room wielding a hammer that was nearly her size alone, using both hands to bear the weight, on some defenseless wooden dummies. She would shout violently before swinging the mallet down where it would crash into the feeble shield made of wood. The sheet of wood would splinter and crack before falling off, oft with the dummy's arm in tow. This was the fourth victim in her ruthless attack. Aragorn shifted uncomfortably and cleared his throat.

"You really ought to give your enemies a chance, you know," he called out.

She stiffened before turning to him. Her eyes softened a bit and he noted the trails that previous tears had left on her face. She let the hammer thump to the ground beside her and she ran to him, throwing herself into his midsection. Her shoulders were rising and falling in earnest and Aragorn briefly worried that she would discover the surprise he spent all day working on. He pulled her away from him and knelt down in front of his friend. He had never seen her in such emotional upheaval in all his time knowing her! The presence of her kin must be truly unsettling to her!

"Hush," he soothed, bringing his hand to her face. "What troubles you so?"

She shook her head meekly before burying her face in his neck, leaving a trail of tears along his jaw. He let out a soft sigh of reproach before pulling her from his neck. She wiped at her eyes and her breath was trapped in her throat. He gently shook her shoulders and pushed her hair back from where it stuck to her face.

"I can't help in any way if you don't tell me what the problem is," he urged, pushing her bangs back from her forehead.

"I'm leaving soon!" she finally blurted out, her hands balling into fists by her sides. "I've convinced them to let me join their company!"

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "How is this a problem?"

She looked up sharply and narrowed her eyes. "Because I'm leaving!"

"My friend, since I have met you, you have wanted nothing more than to go off and see the world around you."

Her eyes looked a little lighter. "Well yes, but I don't want to leave everyone here behind."

"I have left you behind on countless occasions to tend to other ventures. Did you doubt me then? Did you doubt the friendship we shared?"

"No," she answered a small smile gracing her lips before fading away. "I don't think I will be coming back though. I fear they will trap me in the mountain until I am old and grey."

Her friend let out a sigh and reached into his pocket from which he pulled out a large chain with a medallion attached to the end. He held it out in front of the dwarf girl's face, letting it dangle in front of her doe like eyes. The chain was nothing to look at twice, being a simple thing made of brass, but the medallion was beautiful. It was carved as intricately as any trinket from the dwarves with lines that made flowers and water drops throughout. He placed the pendant in her hand, letting the less than perfect chain fall around her fingers. Brili knew this necklace as a gift from the Dunedain for their often absent leader.

"If that proves to be the case, then you know how to find me. I will give you sanctuary," he said calmly, reaching around his shoulder for his pack. "I've got something else for you too."

She looked up at him in surprise, as if just realizing he was there. "Where have you been all week, by the way? I spent most of it looking for you!"

He smiled as he watched her place the pendant around her neck and he pulled his pack off of his shoulders. He reached inside and pulled her belt with all six throwing knives attached. "Oh, I took a little time to gather some fresh medicines for the healers. Oh, and getting your knives. Hope that's alright with you, your majesty."

She took the belt gratefully and began to wrap it around her waist with a bit of a scowl. She knew that he used such a title in jest but it annoyed her all the same. She smiled in spite of herself and nodded appreciatively. Without further warning she wrapped her arms around his shoulders to embrace and thank her dearest friend. In fact, she could honestly say Aragorn was the person she trusted most on this earth. He had always been so kind to her and immediately giving. It was no wonder she adored him so and gave him so much affection. She knew it would break her heart to leave him, even though now there was a sliver of hope on the horizon. In theory, she could go on this quest, mend the rift between her family and if things didn't change from it, she could return to Aragorn and travel with the Dunedain. For the most part, things were looking up. His words brought her some comfort and solace which was certainly a good thing for she would need it in the days ahead of her.

"Brili?" Fili called from the entrance of the practice room. "Uncle wants you to come and rest with the company."

Her golden topped head poked out from around Aragorn's shoulders where she still clung, if not more so now, like a frightened dwarfling. Why would they want her there? She had no place amongst them yet. She had not earned their trust nor had they earned hers, so why would she be summoned? Were they going to leave so soon? No, Elrond had offered them several weeks of rest; she couldn't imagine they took such hospitality so lightly.

"We're not leaving yet, are we?" she asked suspiciously. Her eyes narrowed and she was ready to argue to the death to stay another few days.

True to form, Fili lied with grace and sincerity. He shook his head and offered her a comforting smile, knowing that his sister would be armed with a scene if he told her they were planning on leaving in secret tonight. "We'll be here a few more days yet, sister. Uncle just wants the company to adjust to the new face."

Aragorn pulled away from her and finally, to the relief of his burning thighs, stood up from where he had crouched beside his small friend. "Go with him, I'll follow shortly to stay with you for the night."

"I don't
think that's a good idea," Fili piped up, knowing his family, Kili especially, would not be pleased to watch Brili fawn over such a human. While he shared a similar distaste for the situation, he was much better at hiding it than his younger, less patient brother. "Thorin asked for her alone."

Brili brought her hands over her mouth and gasped, her eyes widening and her eyebrows getting lost in her bangs. "Oh please, Fili!" she cried out. "It will make me feel so much better!"

With a heavy sigh, Fili rubbed the back of his head self consciously. He reminded himself that he was sent to make her feel a little more comfortable with the idea of being around the company as she had seemed to take a bit of a liking towards him since her discovery. He had hoped this would give him the opportunity to reconnect with his youngest, less compliant sibling but knew that he had to pick and choose his battles. He nodded his head and began to usher her out of the practice room.

"Fine, fine," he agreed. "Your friend may join us. But only for a little while! Uncle will want him to leave after a short time."

"Thank you!" she cried out, clapping her hands in delight. It was a terrible thing but with Aragorn by her side she felt a bit more courageous.

~o~

When she had arrived where the company was stationed, she felt her courage draining from her. They all sat huddled together around little fires and not a single dwarf really noticed her presence. Aragorn had parted ways, claiming to need something from his chambers and promising to meet with her soon. With a great deal of fear in her heart, she clung to the pendant that he had given her not an hour before. It instantly became a source of comfort for her. She slunk away from her eldest brother with a halfhearted smile and sidled into a dark corner away from any eyes that might want to seek her out. She pulled her knees up to her chest and clung to her gift so tightly that for a moment she feared it would crack in her grip.

The crowd around her was laughing raucously as Bofur, whom she could barely look at without a blaze igniting in her chest, tossed one sausage too many to his fat companion who broke the finely carved bench he sat on and crashed to the floor. Ugh, she would never understand men, particularly dwarven ones. She looked to her left and spotted Kili, staring daggers into the back of her head before his eyes darted away when she noticed him. The sight of him made her shudder. By the looks he gave her alone, she could see that he was furious with her. How could she even begin to fix what she had done if he refused to speak with her civilly?

All the voices around her went silent and she looked up, wondering what all the lack of commotion was all about and spotted Aragorn approaching with a lute secured firmly in his grip. She smiled and shook her head at him. Did he really expect her to draw such unwanted attention to herself by putting on a show with him and his stupid lute? He made eye contact with her and steered himself past the prying eyes of every dwarf who stared to her. When he arrived he held up his lute in positive delight.

"Freshly strung! I thought some music might help a bit."

She smiled at the gesture for it was a truly sweet one. Aragorn was not really one for playing music but had learned the talent anyways. She knew that he hated playing the instrument quite passionately. He sat down behind her and they leaned against the other to keep upright. It had been one of Brili's favorite things to do with Aragorn after a day of practice. They would often sit silently in the dead of night and just stare out into the open sky, both needing the other not to fall over. Aragorn let out a miffed sigh and began to warily pluck the strings, trying to jar his memory for a tune.

"I'm not singing along," she warned.

Her friend laughed as he finally began warming up to the instrument that sat on his lap. Brili would often come to him for help when she had a song stuck in her heart. She would sing note after note, after note until the two of them had figured it out in both word and string. After a few moments of plucking he noticed his friend's resolve melt away and she began to hum an old composition of theirs. He smiled smugly knowing his plan to relieve her worries was working like a dream. Her voice began to sing the words he knew well, shakily at first as she was very aware of everyone around her and their stares. Aragorn began to strum with a little more confidence, encouraging her voice to carry along with him. It helped a bit but not much so he knew he had to pick a different tune. He began to pick up the pace and she sang in tow, knowing which song he was playing. It was one of her favorite songs to sing and it brought a wide smile to her face. She scurried around his back, which caused him to fall over just a little, to face him and smile, temporarily forgetting the crowd that was now watching them intently.

Kili felt his heart wrench in his chest at the sight. He never imagined his sister would ever smile like that him ever again. Her smile was spreading over to the human's face as well and both were focused on the other. He missed her contagious affection and the way her smile could light up his day. She began to sway a little and tap her fingers to her knees with the music; it reminded him of their days in Ered Luin when she would play in the woods with him and sing songs of a similar caliber. He didn't see a warrior sitting before him, he saw a girl who loved to sing pretty songs. She could very easily die on this quest! He should have fought harder with Thorin to have her sent home! He couldn't imagine what he would do if he lost her for good.

The song slowed but didn't stop and Brili stared at the sky with a look of peace on her face while Aragorn hummed the tune softly. Bofur watched the pair with a bit of envy filling his heart. She had captivated him since the first note he heard and to hear her sing so passionately to someone else hurt him deeply. He could see that it wasn't love that she held for this human but it was better than the contempt she had for him. He took comfort in the idea that she would be with him for a long time on this quest. Maybe he could get some time with her. She would be able to see past the enamored dwarf he had been and get to know him. He would love to get to know her and this was the perfect chance.

Fili watched the exchange with a good deal of guilt lingering in his heart. He had deliberately deceived her again. She was going to be furious when she found out that they had her room cleared out with her essentials and that they were leaving tonight. It wasn't entirely his fault, Thorin had requested that she be reacquainted with the company as best as Fili could attempt. If he had told her that they were leaving as soon as Thorin returned she would have resisted and begged to stay longer! Fili didn't have the heart to tell her. She would be broken hearted with the news without a doubt. What was he to do exactly? The duo had moved on to their final song together and Brili sang with clarity and delight in every note. Fili had missed the sound of her song throughout his home. Her entire life she had been a songbird and sang everywhere she went: in the kitchen, the forest, the halls of the Blue Mountains; everyone in the mountains could identify where Bri was by the sound of her voice echoing with joyous singing. It filled his heart with joy to hear that sound again, even if she wasn't directing it towards him exactly. He, very much like Kili, felt quite put out by the special attention her human friend got.

He and Brili had never been incredibly close growing up. As a child he had lost his father and had to bear the weight of being Thorin's heir to the throne. It hadn't left him with much time to spend with Brili aside from a few days here and there to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. He and Kili, being boys and able to play in the practice yard, had a good relationship but eventually Brili went from being a sister to a responsibility. He had always secretly longed for the relationship his younger siblings had shared but settled on being the eldest, and therefore more responsible, brother. He hoped that would change once she spent some time on the road with them.

Aragorn stopped strumming a moment after Brili finished their medley of music and set his lute down. He couldn't have had better timing for Brili sprang up from where she sat on her knees and flung her arms around his shoulders with a happy laugh escaping her lips. Aragorn returned the gesture, much to the distress to the other dwarves, and rest a hand on top of her head while she whispered praises in his ear.

"Thank you, my dearest friend!" she expressed with such emotion that she feared she would cry. "I've never known you to play so wonderfully before! Thank you!"

"What is this?"

Aragorn was about to respond when a deadly voice interrupted them. Brili could hear Thorin's boots rustling the grass beneath them as he approached and she winced in Aragorn's chest. She released her friend and stood up abruptly, her hands held out in a soothing manner.

"This is Aragorn, Uncle Thorin," she began slowly, sweetly. "He's the person who trained me to become a ranger. He's a good friend of mine."

Thorin regarded Aragorn coldly, with steady eyes that wouldn't waver. Bri swallowed nervously and waited for any sign of life from her uncle. At long last he stepped up to Aragorn, which was actually quite funny as he only came up to the man's shoulder blades.

"I understand I have you to thank," he began gruffly. Oh no, that was not a friendly voice. Bri cleared her throat and went to step between the two of them. "You are the one responsible for filling my niece's head with delusions of grandeur. I hear you are the one who taught her to wield a blade."

Aragorn matched his tone and added an extra layer of terseness to his words. "I assure you, it was no trouble. She is a fine fighter."

"Aye, so I've seen. Hardly the place for a princess now, is it?" Thorin crossed his arms over his chest and continued to stare down his current competition for his niece's affection.

Brili, however, was mortified. That rotten, filthy, selfish, stubborn goat! Who was he to decide what her place was?! Was she not a member of this quest? Was she not going to fight alongside him to reclaim his mountain? She balled her hands into fists and began to tremble with rage, which did not go unnoticed by either party. Thorin did not think of his words as regrettable even if he would have normally approached the human a little more civilly under normal circumstances. He simply needed this human to leave so that he and the others could disappear into the night without raising alarm. If Brili's pride got stung along the way then so be it.

"Mmm, if only she were one," Aragorn scoffed. Bri cleared her throat; she had forgotten to warn Aragorn that her family was technically royalty.

Thorin was about to respond with something both indignant and incredulous when the girl stepped between the two, thrusting her palms out into each of their chests (or in Aragorn's case stomach) with her eyes shut tight.

"ENOUGH!" she shouted and her voice echoed around them.

Both men looked down at her in surprise as if they had just remembered that she was still there. Aragorn's features softened a little at the way her voice cried out in distress. Thorin's remained quite belligerent and he set his niece aside, keeping a hand on each of her shoulders.

"I ask that you leave so that I might spend time with my family. You have taken enough of her time, I think," he ground out, eying her friend distastefully.

"Uncle, I asked him here!" she cried out angrily, turning from his grip and throwing her hands on her hips. "It's not your place to ask my guest to leave!"

Aragorn simply smiled and touched Bri's shoulder gently. "Relax, friend. Amin autien rath*."

She turned to him with sad eyes. "Amin hiraetha. Diola lle, mellonamin**."

She couldn't explain the feeling that was brewing inside of her chest but it felt like this was goodbye. With only a small whimper of warning, she wrapped her arms around his midsection and buried her face in his leather coat. She knew in her heart that she could not live in this moment forever but she wanted to enjoy it for as long as she could. Her heart swelled and then deflated like a waterskin that had a leak. What would she do without him?

Thorin watched the display with little interest. He had no time for the affairs of men and elves. He needed to prepare the company for their departure! With narrowed eyes and crossed arms, he watched as the man knelt to the ground to whisper something in his niece's ear. His ears had picked up some of the coarse whispering but he spoke little to no elvish (barely enough to get by really) and could not decipher what the two were saying. After a time her friend pulled them apart and with a smile and ruffle of her curls he sauntered off, his lute in hand. She seemed a bit more comforted with the words Aragorn had left her with and Thorin decided he would have to ask her what they had discussed at a later time.

With tear filled eyes, Bri watched her friend walk off into the distance and sat down in the exact spot she stood when he left. She had pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin against them, her arms wrapped around her shins. Her normally active eyes were drooping and staring into the distance where he had disappeared from. A grief that neither song nor food could cure had filled her heart and she had politely declined a member of the company's offer to join the throng. No, she would rather sit and wallow in her heartsickness. Maybe he would return? She was certain she would only sleep if he had!

"You should eat," a voice above her called out. Thorin.

She was about to protest when her growling stomach betrayed her and her needs. Without waiting for her response, he reached down and hoisted her up by her forearms, bringing her out into the firelight. He steered her towards the group of dwarves who were now merrily singing with bowls of hot soup in their laps. Bofur stood by the large cooking pot stirring his latest concoction with pride. Some of the dwarves, Fili and Kili amongst them, had tucked in for the night, using the safety of the Homely House to recover and store some much needed sleep. Bri watched all of this unfold with apprehension. She missed Aragorn already and the company hadn't even left yet. What would she do when she was so far from home? Her thoughts were interrupted by her uncle grabbing her wrist and forcing a bowl of stew into her hand. She looked up at him reproachfully and went to stalk back to her corner with the warm meal in hand. Thorin held an arm out to stop her.

"Sit with me," he instructed, pointing to a bench. "They are going to have to get used to you at some point."

"I'm not sure I… I mean… You don't have to," she faltered, unsure of what to say. She was still a little miffed by her uncle's harshness before with Aragorn. She still had so much to do to prove her worth to him and she was too tired to begin those tasks tonight.

His eyes softened in regards to her rejection. "Humor me, please, Brili?"

She nodded her head and followed him to the bench, however begrudgingly, and sat. She was still so unsure about her decision to work with the company. She should have agreed to go back and then just waited until they left to go with Aragorn to the Dunedain. Surely she would fare better with them? Aragorn already knew her strengths and weaknesses (the latter being archery, if you must know) and he would be able to use her to the best of her abilities. She watched each individual dwarf for a few moments. They were all so different yet they all had one thing in common: their unwavering trust in her uncle. Brili briefly wished she shared that faith.

The summer was drawing to a close and she took the opportunity to revel in the warmth the air provided. All the dwarves around them were all beginning to look around with sleepy eyes and yawns on their breath. All but Thorin, who sat beside his niece with watchful eyes that stared out into the distance beyond the makeshift camp that his company had made. Bri glanced up at him, her own eyes beginning to droop as she grew more and more tired.

"Eat your food," her uncle urged, still not looking at her but noticing her stares out of the corner of his eye. "You'll need your strength."

Bri giggled as she recalled a day in her youth when her mother had left her in her uncle's care. She had been a young dwarfling, about eight years old or so, and he had served supper. Brili had loved food as much as the next little one but she had been eager for dessert that evening and refused the food Thorin had cooked in hopes to get an extra plate of dessert. It hadn't worked and she couldn't remember many of the details but she could remember her uncle telling her over and over again to eat her food.

Thorin looked down at her. "What's so funny?"

Just like that the memory was gone faster than a whispering wind. "I don't remember," she admitted sheepishly.

Her uncle looked down at her untouched bowl and she took the hint to eat some of the contents before he had a conniption. She hesitated for a moment before jamming the spoon into her mouth. It reminded her of winter days back in Ered Luin. It was delicious! She began scooping the thick stew into her mouth, suddenly ravenous. It wasn't long before she was scraping the bottom of the dish looking for more. Thorin took the dish from her and placed it on the ground.

"You should rest like the others," he said plainly.

"Why?" she asked, feeling a second wind creeping up on her. "There is plenty of time to rest."

Thorin's eyes widened a little and he looked down at her. "You are aware we are leaving tonight, child, right?"

Brili felt her heart stop. It had, for the briefest moment in her life, actually ceased its thumping in her chest and remained very still. Leaving tonight? No, they couldn't! She still had so many people to say goodbye to! Lindir and Elrond especially! She needed more time to say goodbye to the city. She longed to pass by the homes of her friends and chase the sunlight in the garden of flowers. She thought she had more time! Her heart began to pound again and she seemed to be brought to her senses.

"We can't!" she gasped, turning to her uncle and placing a hand on his arm.

He narrowed his brows at her. "Yes, we must, Brili. Our quest has been jeopardized by these people. It is time we moved on. Now, I suggest you go lie down with your brothers and get some rest. As I said, you will need your strength."

With that he stood and left her sitting on the bench with wide and weary eyes. She pulled her knees up to her chest and looked around her. No one had noticed the exchange between her and her uncle for which she was thankful for. They were all settling in for a good nap before they left before dawn, only a couple of hours of sleep at best. Thorin was sitting off in the distance, ready to wake his company up at a moment's notice and watching her intently. It seemed like he knew Bri was going into panic mode, the part of her that ran away all those years ago. She looked away from him and lay her head down on the bench where he had previously sat.

How could she sleep now?

Phew, talk about writers block. I mean, really! This chapter is nothing crazy but the next one is where the adventure begins! Yippee!

Some translations:

*"... I'm going to bed."

**"I'm sorry. Thank you, my friend."

Some thank yous go out to DancingMirror77 for the favorite, and Twiggy31 and my guest for their wonderful reviews! I do appreciate the feedback, even if it does take me forever and a day to get a chapter out!

Feel free to drop a line with any thoughts or questions. I expect the next chapter to be most exciting! :)

until next time!

-kimmy