Coming Of Age - Chapter 11
ThoraLee found herself seated beside Balin and Dwalin, across from Thorin, the King and Queen on the opposite end of the table.
It was, as the queen stated, a simple affair. They were served basket full of freshly baked yeasty bread, freshl and succulently cooked deer meat that was plump and juicy with cooked vegetables on the side. There were fresh fruits served as well as jugs of wine and ale.
As the queen was seated to Lee' left, she was able to ask her many questions, many domestic questions. In short, Nur was able to learn that Lee was motherless from when she was a baby, she was more or less brought up by elves until the age of about ten, back to living with the dwarves in Dale, she grew up being the only female in the household, learning how to cook, wash, and clean, as well as work on her main love; her etchings and metal work.
The queen was delighted with her, Thorin could see. She had monopolized Lee most of the evening and he was glad his mother liked her. As they ate, he was able to watch her talking animatedly with his mother: her pretty mixed eyes sparkling in the reflection of the torches from the fireplace near the dining table.
He couldn't stop watching her. Balin and Dwalin saw that Thorin was distracted with the young lass all evening; the two were smiling all evening.
"Thorin, do you know Lee learned how to swim at a tender age of three? Oh my, I don't even know how to do it. I'm afraid of the deep water myself!" Nur was appalled when somehow they got to the subject of the lake in the elves' woods.
Thorin smiled and said, "Not only that but did you know she saved a little girl a few days ago from drowning?"
Nur's eyes were as wide as saucers as she looked from her son to her and then her son, and then to Lee again, "No…you mean you swam into the deep water, and you saved a little girl…Oh my, tell me all the details, I must hear it…wait…Thrain!" She yelled at her husband who was conversing with Balin when she interrupted him.
"Yes, my dearest?"
"Thorin was saying ThoraLee saved a little girl from the deep water, she can swim!"
Thrain arched a brow at the young female dwarf who was blushing deeply at this time; Thorin was watching her…proudly.
"What is this? What happened?"
Thorin then told them what he saw, from the time little Bels slipping into the deeper part of the lake to Lee rescuing her, and giving her the breath of life.
When he was done, everyone was silent except for Balin and Dwalin who had heard the story before and were nodding their heads in agreement, and then Thrain stood up and held his mug up and toasted to her, the others stood up as well, except for the queen. "Well, let's hear it for our pretty heroine! To ThoraLee for saving a little girl's life! ThoraLee!"
Lee, feeling deeply red, tried to hide her face was not used to the attention being centered on her.
Fortunately, the sound of a crying baby took everyone's attention from Lee as a nurse entered the halls with a Dis.
Nur held her hands for her daughter, "Oh, I see someone did not want to retire for the night. I guess she wants to join in the festivities."
But Dis was fussy, she kept crying as her mother held her, Lee was fascinated with the new princess.
"ThoraLee, meet Dis, my newest love," the queen smile as the baby continued to fuss, her chubby face red with anger, eyes barely opened filled with tears, and her hands flailing.
To everyone's surprise, Thorin stood up and went to her, "Mother, may I?" He thought he could calm her as he had done it before.
"Of course, my son," the Queen nodded at him as she smiled in delight.
Thorin bent down and picked up his little sister carefully.
Lee was smiling despite herself, to see a big man like Thorin going soft on a little baby.
Dis became quiet as she did before much to the delight of the queen but a few minutes later, Dis became discontented again and began to squall at the top of her lungs.
"Quite a set of lungs, she has, takes after her old man," Thrain said proudly as he looked at his daughter in awe.
Balin and Dwalin laughed with him.
Lee could tell Thorin was getting frustrated, so she stood up and went to him, "May I?"
Thorin looked at her skeptically and then with a shrug, "Sure, you can try it but she's a fighter, just like her brother."
Lee arched a brow at him and they exchanged hands, their hands brushed lightly as they looked at each other; Lee' s heart jumped a few paces too fast at his touch. Then Lee, holding the angry baby in her arms began to gently rock her, and baby-talked her as she walked around the halls. Soon, Dis became less fussy and began to coo'ed and gurgled back to Lee and became sleepy, rubbing her eyes with her chubby hands. Soon, the gently rocking lulled her to sleep, along with Lee's soothing humming.
Nur was impressed, "Well, ThoraLee, that was quite impressive. I'm impressed."
"So are we." Balin and Dwalin said together, quietly.
She shrugged, "The rocking helps, I guess. And I got lucky. Might not the next time."
The nurse, who was standing aside, came to take the baby back to her room, thanked her gratefully and left.
"What other miracles can you do?"Thorin asked her his expression almost sour.
"What?"She said as she sat down in her seat.
"Thorin!" His mother almost yelled at him. "That was rude of you."
"Well, it seems she can do everything," he flung his hands about him.
"I wish, Thorin." Lee said. "I can't fight like you. I can't go to battle like you." She was leaning forward.
He did likewise, "So, you want to be in the battle? You want to fight against those orcs? And those nasty wargs? You have no idea what it's like to see those nasty stinking animals tearing your friends' limbs to pieces as you…
"Thorin! Not at my table you are not discussing this here!" His mother smacked her hand down hard. Startling both of them.
Thorin pointed it at her, "She started it first!"
"You were sounding almost jealous!" Lee yelled back at him.
"Jealous? In your dreams!"
Balin, Dwalin and Thrain shook their heads as they ignored them as they began to drink more of their beer. The queen, however, had not seen them quarrelling did not know what to make of them as she stared from one to the other as they volley harsh words back and forth.
"You were being jealous, Thorin! Admit it! You can't stand it that I am better than you!"
"Ha! You're a female! You are not any better! I can squash you like a bug anytime!"
"A bug? I am not as weak as a…a…bug. You…you… scum!"
"Gnat! You are nothing but an insignificant gnat I step on and not think twice about it!" He smirked at her.
"Are they always like that?" the queen yelled at the top of her voice to Balin and Dwalin.
"Worse!" They nodded, only this time, Thrain added his voice as well. The queen stood up and moved away from them and stood beside her husband, holding his hand. The other two continued to argue.
"They will make a perfect couple." She observed calmly.
Thrain nodded, "Aye."
"Indeed, they will," Balin nodded.
"Just needed to knock their heads together first."
"Aye." Balin, the queen and king said together.
"They do look good together." Dwalin said after a long pause as the two continued to argue.
"They'll have pretty children," the queen commented, as she smiled softly.
"Provided they can stop arguing long enough to …you know…" Thrain raised his eyebrows and grinned.
The queen blushed; Balin and Dwalin guffawed as they took another drink, "Indeed!"
As their arguments ran its course and they ran out of things to yell at, they realized they were by themselves at one end of the dining table and then glancing to the other end, they saw the others at the other end watching them.
"What are they talking about?" Thorin asked as he saw the others watching him and Lee.
Lee shook her head, "They probably have had enough of our arguments."
"Were we loud?" He frowned.
"Quite. I'm sure your mother is quite shocked."
Thorin shook his head, "You should have seen, she and father used to argue as loudly as we do."
Lee raised an eyebrow at him, "They do? Wow."
Thorin nodded, "Not as much but back then when we were little, it used to frighten Frerin."
Lee frowned, "Frerin? Oh, he's your younger brother. Where is he, anyways?"
"Father had sent him for more battle training."
"I see."
Over to the other side;
The four dwarves observing the two saw that they had stopped arguing.
"Look, they are not shouting at each other anymore." Balin said.
"I guess, they ran out of things to argue." Nur smiled at Thrain, remembering those old days when they used to argue a lot.
Thrain smiled at his wife, "Yes, they must have."
"Or a temporary truce," Dwalin suggested.
"Whatever it is, let's hope it will last long enough to get to our business about the translation."
"Agreed."
"Shall we get to it now before they get their second wind?"
Thorin looked over to his parents who nodded to him and Lee and they all sat down.
Thorin sat beside her this time, the king and queen took their seats and Dwalin and Balin excused themselves as they still had much to prepare themselves for their forthcoming trip to the Misty Mountains.
Before they began, the servants were dismissed for the evening, after they had cleared their dinner leaving the drinks behind.
As soon as they were alone, Thrain began;
"ThoraLee, did my son explained to you the sensitivity of this situation?"
Lee nodded.
"Good, and you have not spoken to anyone about it? Aside from your father and brother?"
She shook her head, "My father knows to be discreet, as is my brother."
He nodded, "Now Thorin also told you about how fragile the text is? That the room is made specifically for keeping the text's longevity, so there will be no windows and a very small door. And I do apologize that my rule is you're not to be left alone in the room by yourself."
Lee nodded, "I understand, your Majesty but I still don't understand, I am not going to steal the text, I assure you. This is your family's heritage and I know that it is very important for you. I would not do anything to hurt you or anyone in your family."
Touched, Thrain said, "I'm thankful. But there is something else in the room that needs to be protected and that's where Thorin comes in, so whether you'll take them or not, he's still has to be there to protect it. I'm sorry my dear, my word is final."
"Oh."Lee said. "I understand completely, your Majesty. I told him that as long as he keeps out of my way, I'll be fine working on the text."
Thrain stared at his son who shook his head slightly and looked away, he was grinning.
"Well I see, very well. As soon as the text is translated, I'll read it and take care of the rest," Thrain said.
She smiled and nodded.
Thrain then continued, "Now, I'm going to ask you again, what do you want in return for translating this work for me?"
ThoraLee shook her head, "Your Majesty, as I had said before, nothing. I do not want anything, sir."
"Wait!"Thorin held out a hand as he looked at her. "You mean you agree to do this work without payment?"
She nodded.
"I don't believe you."
She glared at him, "What is your problem?"
"You are doing this work for my father, for the Durin family, for free?"
She nodded again.
He shook his head. "I don't believe it. You must have a hidden agenda. No one in their right mind would volunteer to do this without compensation. I find it hard to believe. Come on Lee, tell the truth. What do you want? Some jewel? Gold?"
She shook her head, "Thorin, I'm not that kind of dwarf or female. I don't desire gold, or jewels." Then she held her ring and said, "I love this ring, and I do not want anything else."
Thrain saw the ring and asked to see it, as well as the queen.
Lee took off the green diamond and gave it to Thrain.
"An unusual emerald."
Thorin shook his head and explained quickly that it was a green diamond and that her twin brother possessed the other.
Nur looked closely at his son; he seemed to know about the family a lot more than he led on.
"I agree with my son, to a degree," she held a hand up when she saw Lee was about to interrupt her. "Let me finish, child. You are not asking for any gold, nor more jewelry, what else is there but the Durin kingdom?"
ThoraLee shook her head vehemently as she stood up, "Why can't you all believe me? I. Don't. Want. Any. Thing." She looked at them one at a time, saving Thorin for last. "I like to help. I was brought up to help others. I was taught to help others. I don't know what else to say to convince you, to make you believe in me that I am telling you the truth."
Taking a deep breath, she sat down and waited.
"Well," Thrain announced. "If there are no more objections, shall we begin?" He looked around him.
His queen and his son shook their heads. Thrain smiled, "Show her the rooms son, and ThoraLee, good luck."
Nur nodded as she held out her hands to her which Lee took them, "ThoraLee, forgive me, I didn't meant to sound suspicious. Of course I'd love for you to help us, and thank you so much, my dear." Without warning, she hugged Lee.
Startled by her gesture, Lee stood slightly stiffly until the queen whispered in her ears, if my son gives you a hard time, just knock him hard and he'll straightened up.
ThoraLee giggled and whispered back; I have done it to him already, your Majesty.
Nur pulled her out of the hug and looked at her than she burst out laughing, a very unqueenly laugh.
Thorin and Thrain stared at them curiously. ThoraLee shrugged her shoulders as she grinned.
."Oh, Thrain!" Nur said when she regained her composure. "I do like this lass, yes I do." She wrapped her arm around Lee and squeezed her as hard as she could before her release her. "Go, go with my son, Thorin, my dearest, please treat her kindly or you'll have me to answer to."
Thorin nodded to his mother, "Yes, mother…I will."
Lee nodded and stepped over to where Thorin was waiting for her, holding a lit lamp.
She stopped Thorin, as she touched his shoulder slightly before she pulled away, "My things, I need my bags, the books and the papers."
He nodded, "I'll tell the guards to have them down to the basement.
They passed a guard before heading down the basement stairs, Thorin quickly told the guard to retrieve her belongings and set them in the basement.
"Basement?"
"Less air."
She nodded, beginning to feel nervous. "Right, less air."
He turned to look at her, "Are you regretting your decision?" He was puzzled; usually dwarves had no problem being underground as they worked in mines, in the underground, so far Lee seemed to show some fear for the underground; unusual.
She shook her head, "No, not at all…just a little bit nervous."
He stopped walking suddenly, Lee not watching almost ran into him as he quickly caught her, "Look, there's nothing to be afraid of, it might feel as if you're in a tomb but after a while it will pass."
"T...t…tomb?"
Wrong choice of word, thought Thorin as he shook his head. "Um, In a windowless room. You'll see when we get there, I'll be with you all the way, Lee."
"ThoraLee? We can leave and go back upstairs and …forget all about it," he tried not to sound disappointed, but she heard his disappoitment.
And she didn't want to disappoint him.
Straightening up her shoulders, she took hold of his arm, "Come on, let's go before I lose it again."
Looking down at her arm in his, and liking the feel of it, he smiled and nodded, "Aye, let's."
Smiling back at him, "Okay, lead the way, sir."
They descended five more levels before they reached the bottom rung of the steps and came upon a wooden door, he said, "This is the first room, a bed and some things in there that might make you feel comfortable."
He opened the door and led them through.
As they stepped in, Thorin lit a torch with the lamp he was holding and then set the lamp down on the shelf. The soft glow slowly brightened the room as ThoraLee looked about her;
The room was big and the air was stale but not very oppressive. There was a small bed neatly made against the far wall as well as there were a few empty shelves placed against the walls, one shelf was next to the small bed. As she looked around the shelving units, she decided that she would store some of her books of runic translation there.
Then she saw a small door, it was wooden with a gold handle, the top of the door barely passed the top of her head, for Thorin, he would have to bend down to pass through.
He opened small door, holding the lamp, "Ready?"
Lee passed through the door first into a dark area and Thorin ducking through the door, moved passed into the room and when he straightened up, he saw her standing close to him, a slight look of fear in her eyes.
He gave her an encouraging smile as he moved the lamp around looking for the …torch! Spotting it across the room, he moved towards it and lit it as well as another one he saw about twenty feet to his right.
Lee could now see the room clearly which circular in shape; indeed no windows but wooden walls all around. In the center of the circular room was a wooden pedestal where the transcript was kept. A glass encasement covered the pedestal, preventing further air or dust from degrading the text. The text, Lee could see was very old, the color was very yellow, its print almost faded but was still legible, thank Aulё.
"What do you think?" Thorin said softly.
Not taking her eyes off the text, she nodded, "You're right, it's in Cirth."
He grinned at her when she looked at him in defeat; she almost gasped! His features, despite the bruises still marring his cheeks, changed entirely. Maybe it was the play of the lights reflecting his face or it was his smile or perhaps both but ThoraLee suddenly found herself drawn to him. He was so…handsome? Princely? Good looking? Her inner voice was teasing her. She was attracted to him! Her heart skipped a couple of beats.
"Lee?" Something wrong?" He asked.
No answer.
"ThoraLee? Are you all right?" He was getting concerned, he was wondering if the lack of fresh air in the room was getting her.
He reached out and shook her, "ThoraLee! Hey!"
She blinked a few times and shook her head, "Yeah, I...I'm fine. What?"
"You kind of looked funny for a moment, are you sure you're all right?" He asked again.
She nodded again as she looked about her, not meeting his eyes.
Unaware, he picked up the glass encasement and lifting it completely out of the pedestal, he moved it away and set it down on the floor. Then he gently picked up the script and brought it to a table near the small door and set it down. ThoraLee did not see the table until now and saw that it had a chair with it. Thorin then brought the lamp and set it by the corner of the table, he didn't want to chance the lamp spilling over, thus destroying the text.
"Here, have a seat, you can take a closer look at it," he pulled the chair out.
She nodded as she did as he asked.
She looked at the cover of the text and read the page; it was indeed a very rare written Dwarven language called Cirth. Not many dwarves alive used this language to write anymore preferring the simpler form of Elvish written language or the Sindarin, some eldar went so far as to practice the Tengwar.
"This script was written at the start of the Third Age; wow! It was very old, more than two thousand years old, Thorin!" She said excitedly.
Thorin grinned at her, he could hear the infectious tone in her voice, just like a child opening her very first present.
"Yes, that is what we have determined," he nodded.
Lee blushed deeply, "Oh yeah, of course you have, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overstep you. I'm sure you have figured out most of the text already," feeling shy.
Thorin wanted to run his hands on her blushed red cheeks, to feel the warmth on her skin, "No, not everything, or else why are you here?" he said softly.
"That's right. Um, I do need my books and papers before I can begin."
Thorin nodded, "Yes but it's getting late, why don't we begin in the morning. Get a good night's sleep and we'll begin in the morn. How's that?"
She looked around, "I'm going to sleep here by myself?" her eyes big as saucers.
Thorin chuckled as he shook his head and placed the text back on the pedestal before putting the glass encasement back on the pedestal. As he was replacing the glass encasement, Lee spotted a wooden box placed next the pedestal on the floor.
"What's that box?" She pointed at it as she caught a glimpse on the lid; it was a simple runic word that said; DURIN
He nodded at it, "It's the private matter I mentioned, that's in the box."
She nodded and went to the small door and waited for him.
"And no, as guest you'll be spending the night in the guest rooms upstairs tonight but starting tomorrow onwards, we'll be staying here." He led her out of the small room after he had extinguished the torches, and then he did the same to the first room and closing the door, they climbed back upstairs. She stopped them from walking further, "Wait, you said, we. But there's only one bed?"
Thorin nodded, "I have a bedroll, so nothing to worry about."
"I can't let you sleep on a bedroll!" She looked shock!
He looked at her and then said, "Are you offering to share your bed with me?"
She blushed instantly, "I…I…no…I …mean…they, um can bring another bed down here or something."
Thorin shook his head, "Where, might I ask, are they going to put the extra bed?"
Again, she blushed deeper, "Never mind, I guess the bedroll will have to do."
He nodded as he continued up, "That's what I thought."
She was silent the rest of the way.
As they looked around, they saw that his parents must have retired back to their chambers.
Thorin asked her if she was tired to which she shook her head, "No, it's kind of early actually. But if you're, um, if you could show me to my room, I can do some reading there till it's bedtime."
He shook his head and told her that it was early for him as well and asked her if she would like for him to show her the palace, Lee nodded enthusiastically and hooked her arm within his elbow and together, they took a walk around the palace; Thorin showing her the various Halls of Erebor.
They took their time as they walked slowly while he told her the rich history of his ancestors, some of them with very colorful past that rendered her into fits of laughter, some were sad. Of course they were all brave and valiant.
As they approached the vast gardens of Erebor, Lee was enchanted to see the old trees bent with ages, dipping their branches onto tiny riverlets that flow beneath them. In the center of the garden there was a huge flower bed where Thorin had told her his mother had lovingly tended various flowers growing and blooming emitting all kinds of fragrance.
"It smells so beautiful here, Thorin!" She had her eyes close as she breathed in the smells of the bloom.
"Yes…beautiful," Thorin repeated, his voice was soft.
She opened her eyes and looked at him and saw that he was not talking about the flowers and the garden; he was staring at her with a strange look.
She felt shy all of a sudden as she looked down at the ground, her chest was pounding as if she wanted to run but she found she couldn't as she was rooted to where was standing.
Thorin walked close to her until he was standing directly in front of her, her eyes were still cast down and she saw a pair of boots in front of her.
"Lee?" He said softly."
She didn't respond as her eyes were still down, her chest heaving nervously..
He lifted her chin up with his hand until she was gazing into his eyes; he was stroking her chin softly as he smiled at her. Then he leaned in and kissed her sweetly and lightly on her lips.
And then he kissed her again, this time he continued kissing her, deepening their kiss as he gathered her in his arms.
They kissed long and passionately under the glow of the full moon.
…
As they continued to kiss, unknown to them, the King and Queen were watching with approving looks.
"Come dear, I feel like voyeurs," Thrain was tugging on his wife's long sleeve.
Nur was smiling indulgently at her oldest son, "It's about time they're doing something other than arguing."
Thrain stopped tugging as he peeked over and glance at them; they were still kissing; atta boy! He thought.
"She will make a good queen for him; young, smart, honorable, true, virtuous. Yes, she'll do." Nur declared wisely.
"Oh yes. She is very much like you; smart, young, pretty and rebellious." He agreed, teasingly.
Nur turned to glare playfully at her husband as she smacked him, "I'm not rebellious!"
"See! You just hit me, just proven to me." He smiled indulgently at her as he pulled her lovingly into his arms.
She wrapped her arms around him, "Careful, husband. I just might lock you out of my bed…again."
Thrain huffed at her, "Try that, wife, and watch what happened the last time you did that!"
She laughed as they retreated into their bedroom and closed the door, "Oh yes, I remembered, you broke down the door, frightened the guards and Dis came months later."
He kissed her lovingly, "Yes dear, bear that in mind, if you don't want me to break down another door again…" as he nuzzled her neck.
Later…much later as they lay in bed, Nur glanced up at her husband who was almost asleep and decided to shake him, "Thrain, wake up, I have something I want to talk to you."
Sleepily, he held her, "Can't you wait? I need sleep, my dear."
"Well, I can't, not till we talk about this, come on," she shook him again, this time a little harder.
"Okay, okay, I'm awake...stop, stop…I'm awake," he opened his eyes wider to show her his blue eyes. "Now what is it that's so important it can't wait?"
"It's about Thorin…and ThoraLee. And if I know my son, and I know him well, and how impulsive he can be. I'm afraid he will rush this whole thing."
Thrain shook his head, "Nur my love, you're not making sense…"
"What I'm trying to say is, they are in love now, and they will rush into this relationship and not think things through and…and…want to marry now!"
Thrain was now wide awake, "Hmmm, I see your point my dear, yes, they will want to make this a union. No, they're too young."
Nur nodded, "Exactly."
"What shall we do?"
"Just like what our parents made us do when we were young; wait."
Thrain nodded, "It's going to be hard on them, my dear."
"We did it. We persevered. We were strong, and we became stronger."
"Yes, we did. We can guide them. If they will let us."
"We'll help only if they need help, let them grow on their own, we did."
Thrain yawned hard, "Now, can we go to sleep?"
His wife nodded sleepily, her eyes drooping as she muttered, "Yes husband, go…get to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day, mark my word; our son will want to ask to wed the lovely ThoraLee…"
But Thrain had already drifted off to sleep dreaming of grandchildren, a slew of them with thick chubby legs and arms, flailing about in happiness as their parents running about trying to catch them, they were all laughing happily; one big happy family.
…..
On the other side of the Royal chambers, Dwalin and Balin were nodding their heads with approval as well, "Well brother," Balin said to Dwalin. "Pay up, I believe I won the wager this time round."
Dwalin frowned at him as he dug deep into his pockets and pulled out a bag of gold coins and tossed it at Balin, "I knew I shouldn't have bet with you."
Balin hefted the bag, eyeballing the weight of gold inside and nodding with satisfaction, pocketed the bag into his pants, "It's nice doing business with you," he said as he made a slight bow.
They were watching Thorin and Lee who were sitting close together on a stone garden bench their hands held together.
"It's about time those quarrelsome two got together. Maybe there will be some peace and quiet about us finally," Balin said as he took out his pipe and after putting an amount of tobacco, lit it and puffed it. Dwalin did likewise.
"Aye, there will be peace finally among the two and maybe they will stop hitting each other…accidentally."
Balin looked at Dwalin and then they laughed quietly, "I don't know, some part of me is going to miss it, I kind of got used to them arguing, it made for an interesting time spent around them."
Dwalin nodded, "You may have something there. Have no fear. They might still have the fire in them to fight and argue once in awhile, to keep their relationship afire."
They laughed at their own jokes.
…..
End of Chapter 11
