Iron Forged Brotherhood
Chapter 10 - Ingrained Race Traits
Dale, a week after...
Each night, Kalvis escaped the stronghold to visit The Shaggy Dog tavern with the excuse of having a drink or two, when in reality his purpose was to seek comfort in the arms of Eva Bowman, making a habit out of it. He was not seen until the morning after. This particular evening, he was heading there with flowers in hand for the one that made him feel alive, whistling a happy tune. He slammed open the doors of the tavern as usual, smiling as the various scents of exotic platters invaded his nostrils, and the vivid music greeted his ears. Eva was nowhere to be found, which surprised him.
Kalvis stopped a busy waitress that passed him by, grabbing her arm abruptly, "Have you seen Eva? I have something for her."
"Oh Sir Kalvis, M'Lady is upstairs resting from her injury. Twas struck by a bear this morning" she said.
His smile erased completely to those words. The flowers he brought fell to the floor, as he fled upstairs with no second thoughts. Without even thinking, he slammed open the door of Eva's bedroom with a lump in his throat. He was about to lose composure… "No, not again, Mahal help me!"
"Keep it down, I have a splitting headache you fool. Is the tavern ready for tonight?" said a groggy Eva, until she realized who came to her aid, "oh?! Its you. Why is your face so clouded with worry?" She sat on bed with pain written on her face, "There is nothing to worry about, I'm fine, as fit as a fiddle." She rotated her shoulder and winced in pain.
"Fit as a fiddle you say… no one winces with pain over nothing" Kalvis ignored her words, checking her body invasively to realize she was not only badly wounded, but also it was severe. He gasped, wide eyed and lips parted, "Don't move! I'll take care of you"
One of the girls followed Kalvis upstairs to try to stop him. He turned and seized her abruptly by the shoulders, "You will go to Erebor right now on my behalf and bring the healer. Tell that rukhsul it's urgent! Understood? Now go!" The girl nodded and fled downstairs to do as told.
"I'm fine Kalvis, this isn't even the worst wound I have had. I have a friend who is a druid that has been looking after me. She should be here soon. You don't need to worry so much."
As the girl left, Kalvis carried Eva to the tub where he tried to clean her wound gently, pouring water on her back. "You'll be alright, you'll be alright. I'm here" He sounded extremely aggravated, deep in thoughts.
That's when Eva realized what was really going on. It was not her he was taking care of, but his late wife, "Kalvis, a little scratch like this isn't going to kill me." she caressed his cheek and kissed his lips gently.
That peck brought him back to reality. He felt dumb when he realized he placed her on the tub with her clothes on, "Um... of course, I knew that. The wound needed cleansing and I .. um.. rather prevent than lament" His cheeks flushed a deep red, making his sea blue eyes more noticeable. "How long does it usually take you to heal from a wound like this one?" he whispered.
Eva smiled, "About a week or so with the herbs my druid applies. Now, can you give me a little hand here?" She placed both hands to the borders of the tub to stand, wincing with pain as she did. "I need to get out of these wet clothes and replace the bandages"
"Of course" Kalvis held Eva by the waist to help her up, "It is decided, you are coming with me to the stronghold. That way I can watch over you while you heal. It's not like you can do much anyway while you are like this. I will not take a no for an answer."
"No I'll stay here, I'm not going to your keep, I can't, I won't. There are people I must avoid!" She practically scrambled to get away from him, opening her wound in the process but the sheer terror and adrenaline kept her from noticing the pain.
"There is room for only one stubborn, and I am stubborn enough for the two of us" His stern gaze indicated that he was serious, "Allow me to help with your clothing…" Before Eva could protest, Kalvis was already stripping her from the wet clothes and searching clumsily in her wardrobe for something she could wear. After selecting a chemise that looked comfortable enough, he removed her wet bandages gently, "Where do you keep your clean bandages?"
Eva did not answer his question right away, "I cannot go with you because there is one of my own family who seeks after me. I have eluded his gaze for years. I fear coming with you will draw him to me again." She winced with pain again, three droplets of blood ran down her back from her wet bandages.
Kalvis turned to her, caressing her face gently and peering into her eyes, "No man has ever been able to get past the security of the stronghold, unless by direct invitation of the king himself. You will be safe within those walls far more than you are here. Besides, my mind will not rest, knowing you are wounded and out of my reach to help. I promise to return you as soon as you heal. If needed be, you can have my room and I move to another. Erebor is full of them."
"Please do not insist, please!" The terror in her gaze denoted she was undergoing some deep trauma.
"Eva, listen to me! How do you expect to fend for yourself about this person you speak of while being like this? At some point, I would like to know more about this relative of yours so I can help you better. Now come here." Kalvis replaced her bandages as best as he could and helped her into the chemise he selected for her. Then he took off his cloak to wrap it around her body as he gazed softly into her eyes, "I know you are strong and independent. But right now you need a man to protect you. Allow me to be him, at least for the time it takes you to heal." His sea blue eyes were pleading her for a yes.
She took a moment to think, "OK, I'll go with you but not as Eva Bowman. Call me..." she took some time to think, "Call me Kathrine Stark, that will do. If no one knows my real name, word won't get out that I'm there!" her eyes beamed with her clever idea as she looked up at Kalvis.
"Woman, you make things hard for me. I have a hard time remembering your name as it is. Besides, if the man has the audacity to get close, I can assure you he will be sliced in two before he can get past the gates. I would like to see him try." With an air of satisfaction, Kalvis carried her in his arms, ready to take her with him.
"You can't let my name reach his ears, you can't" she rested on his shoulder choosing to trust him.
"Hush woman, save your energies and rest. I promise you will be well protected." He walked out of the bedroom with Eva in arms, when a bunch of portraits along the walls got his attention, particularly an oil portrait of a long haired man with bow and arrow. Looking at it twice, he could see a slight resemblance with the woman he carried now in arms. "The man in the portrait... one of your relatives, I suppose…"
Eva looked up to see what he was talking about, "That is my great grandfather; Bard Bowman, the slayer of the dragon under the mountain."
Their little conversation was interrupted by a familiar female voice downstairs who was arguing with one of the waitresses, "What do you mean a man is with her?"
"Oh, she did say she would be back." Muttered Eva.
The female rushed upstairs, meeting them on her way, "What on Middle Earth are you doing out of bed, Eva?" Said the female, lowering her hood to reveal a pair of pointy ears and long straight platinum hair fixed in elven braids. The aura of innocence in her timeless beautiful face contrasted highly with the danger her cerulean eyes reflected. She was all clothed in green, like the elves of Eryn Lasgalen, formerly known as Mirkwood. Her glare met Kalvis, "And who exactly are you?"
Kalvis returned her glare with a cold and stern gaze, "It is not safe for her to stay here like this. I am taking her with me to Erebor. So if you make way, I might be able to pass."
The elf blocked his way, not willing to give in so fast. Eva, knowing both their tempers, tried to avoid a fight, "It's ok Rimes, he is, a.. a.. friend."
"A friend is he... And how long have you known this friend, Eva?" Her silence gave her away. Not to mention that Rimes could tell emotions, "Eva, can you trust someone you only just met a week ago?"
Eva gulped after being read like an open book. She looked at Kalvis and then back to Rimes, "I feel like I can. Please Rimes won't you support me?"
Rimes sighed in exasperation, "Fine, but let me fix your bandages first," she then glared at Kalvis, "And you," the elf poked his chest near Eva's face, "if anything happens to her, I'll make you regret it."
"Look lass, I will not have anyone launching threats at me, alright? I do not deem it wise to provoke a new feud between elves and dwarves. Besides, if I meant ill, I would have performed it by now. Do you have any idea of who I am? I will not be stepped over by some commoner for wanting to help. She is coming with me and that's that." Kalvis placed Eva on her feet while still addressing the elf. "However, I will allow you to check her wound. Do it quick because I do not have all day!" said a very irritated prince.
Rimes gave him a sarcastic smile, "How very dwarf of you to threaten war over a gesture. Know that nothing will keep me from her side and if it means I have to cross you for it, I will!" Without even waiting for Kalvis to react to her words, she began to undo the patch work from Eva, "What in the world? Who did these bandages? They are terrible" That added more log to Kalvis's fire, which was already boiling. He murdered her with his glare.
"Hey, hey guys no reason to fight." Eva tried to appease both sides, "Everything will be alright, I'm sure Kalvis would never keep you from seeing me, Rimes. And Rimes would never betray me, Kalvis. She is like a mother to me."
"Then tell your pointy eared dog to stop barking at me or she will not get past the gates of Erebor. Friend of yours or not, I will not have anyone threatening my life for wanting to save yours. She doesn't seem so bright when she is willing to start a new feud between elves and dwarves over nothing. LESS WISE and more dangerous, she must be from Mirkwood because she fits the description perfectly!" He kissed Eva's forehead without taking his glare off the elf, passing her by with disdain on his way out. "I'll be down taking a few pints if you need me."
Eva did not wait for Rimes to finish bandaging her, when she ran downstairs after Kalvis, "Don't serve him a single glass!" Kalvis turned to Eva in disbelief, just to see a very angry woman, "First, you are the one who threatened to go to war over nothing. Secondly, she is my dearest friend. If she is out to hurt you at any point, you probably deserve it. Wouldn't you threaten a person who would have harmed Fariwyn?" Eva received no answer other than a silent glare, "Maybe I shouldn't go after all."
Kalvis saw red to her fueling words, "Fine! Stay here then and be found by that relative of yours who means you harm while you are wounded and vulnerable. See if your elf dog can make it on time to save you then and be as menacing to him as she was to me! I'm done!" With that said, Kalvis slammed open the doors of the tavern on his way out.
Eva began to shout from the tavern entrance, "And that's the one that was willing to protect me seconds ago?! If that's all it took for you to abandon me, then you are no real protection!" She ran upstairs, slamming her bedroom door shut behind her.
"Eva, Wait!" Rimes looked angrily back at the dwarf, "I hope you are satisfied!" She ran upstairs after Eva, knocking at the door but there was no answer.
Right then, the healer of Erebor arrived with the waitress, but Kalvis passed them by with anger in his eyes, "Where is the injured lass, M'lord?"
"Nowhere. She can lick her wounds clean for all I care. Come, we are never to return here." Both the healer and the waitress looked at each other with confusion before the healer decided to follow Kalvis back home.
"But M'lord, when you summoned me, the message you sent sounded like a life threatening matter. What triggered the sudden change of plans?"
"She has her own healer, who came launching threats at me. She is in no real danger when she has someone that can actually care better than I could. Besides, she has forbidden her employees from serving me anything. This is what I get for wanting to help." No more words were said.
The healer sighed, "This is why we dwarves keep to ourselves. You will get to understand more things about our reasons behind things as time and experience goes by…"
Kalvis did not let him finish, "Don't even mention it! I don't want to hear it! I was far better forging swords in Anórien and keeping to myself..." Kalvis muttered those last words under his breath.
When they were about to pass by the guards at the gates to lock themselves in, a horse blocked their entrance, "Wait dwarf, Wait!" It was the elf Rimes.
"What in Durin's name now?! First I am threatened, then I am banned from a seedy tavern, and now I am denied entrance to my own home?! I have had enough insults in one day… Guards, arrest her!"
Rimes got off her horse and knelt down in the mud placing her head to the dirt, "Please forgive me, your highness. I need your help. Eva locked herself and is not answering. We cannot break the door, it's made of old oak and none of us is strong enough. But maybe a dwarf can. Please help us if you care for her..." Her voice cracked as she spoke.
Both guards approached to seize her and do as Kalvis told them, when he lifted his arm in the air. "HALT!" The guards paced back, "Stand up, elf, and speak slowly."
Rimes repeated herself, "We have been trying to break the door down, And during all that racket not once has she said a thing. That isn't like her. Please hurry, before it is too late."
"So you are telling me an elf that was willing to murder me not two minutes past cannot defeat a wooden door? Such protection you turned to be. Besides, it's not like I was taking her across Arda. We are neighbors to the point that I can make it to your seedy tavern on foot." He said resentfully.
"Please!" Rimes looked up with tears in her eyes.
"If I do this, I will never be denied a drink there again. That's my condition" Kalvis turned to the dwarf healer and whispered something in Khuzdul. The midget nodded and rushed into the stronghold. The rest of them waited outside until Sir Fundin joined them with a hammer, an iron crowbar and some weapons just in case it was an ambush. Only then, Kalvis gave the order. "Lead the way, lass."
They followed the elf hurriedly to the tavern, where a boy stopped them at the door. "Throw down your weapons, they are not allowed in."
"Get out of my way, boy, if you want to save the life of your boss and keep your job!" yelled Kalvis with zero patience. The boy widened his eyes and paced back. Kalvis and Fundin made it to the staircase, which was crowded with hysterical people, all of them rather useless.
"Move! All of you! Allow room to the experts!" Yelled Fundin with a booming voice that echoed in that narrow hallway. Kalvis looked at the elven girl, making a silent gesture with his head to move forward and tell the crowd to make way.
Rimes stepped forward hurriedly, "Everyone it's ok, out of the way. They are here to help." The crowd began to dissipate. Rimes called out once more, "Eva can you hear me?" but she got no answer.
"Allow me." Kalvis looked at the door hinges and smiled wickedly, "All too easy..." The hinges were kept well oiled, which made their removal easier. All he had to do was pull the hasps with the crowbar and done. "You know, if anyone was malicious enough to harm her, it would be as easy as this. Sometimes I thank my lucky stars I was a blacksmith first." After his small dose of bragging, he and Fundin carried the heavy wooden door out of the way with their bruit force, leaning it against the wall. "Next time, be more careful of who you offend, elf" A slight smile of victory drew on his lips.
Rimes was dumbfounded. Her impression did not last long when she saw Eva bleeding profusely on the floor, unconscious. She rushed down to her, slapping her face lightly to wake her, "Eva! Eva, answer me! Eva!"
Fundin moved forward impulsively to try and aid, but Kalvis stopped him with a hand to his shoulder, "Let the elf handle it. Medicine is beyond our capabilities and she needs room to perform." Kalvis seemed cold, but he had his reasons for such reaction.
Fundin looked at him in disbelief, "M'lord, the lass is unconscious!"
"We will not be the cause for her last breath. If we move her, she will die too. Let the elf handle it unless told otherwise." With that said, Fundin refrained from clueless aiding. He sighed with impotence, but Kalvis was right. They limited themselves to watching from afar, ready to act if needed.
Eva's eyes began to open lazily, "Oh Rimes, what happened? Why are you covered in blood?" her voice was weak.
Rimes put her hand on Eva's forehead, "She is burning up!" The elf used one of her household remedies on Eva's wounds to stop the bleeding, "You have lost a lot of blood, Eva. Save your energies and rest."
"Where is Kalvis? Has he left me?" She asked with a single tear that ran down her face, her sight was blurry, "He really is a nice man, Rimes. Please don't hate him." Those were her last words before passing out from exhaustion.
Kalvis fought the lump in his throat, misty eyed, feeling a dejavu with the present scene. Her words softened what was left of his anger. Finally he approached, swallowing the lump in his throat before speaking, "Will she be alright?" He whispered.
Rimes finished wrapping the wound before responding, "She will live, but she will be weak for a few days." Shame could be read in her eyes, "I'm sorry about earlier, clearly you don't mean her any harm. I was a bit harsh. I think it's best if she goes with you, she will be safer there." The elf handed Kalvis her household remedy, "Apply that to her wounds once a day to prevent infections. Make sure she eats lots of red meat for the next few days."
"Is it safe to move her?" His eyes were fixed on the peaceful face of his fainted lover. With the back of his hand he caressed her face gently as he sat on the floor to contemplate her. Gently he placed a kiss on her forehead, taking her hand on his and watching in silence as he thought to himself, "This is a strong and independent woman, unlike my late wife. She has survived a lot on her own. She will make it out of this one too"
"Carry her and she can travel, but she will not be able to resist a bumpy horse ride. It would only risk opening her wounds." Her eyes met his, "I'm counting on you, Sire."
With no more words, Kalvis nodded to the elf maid and gently picked up Eva from the floor. He removed his cloak to wrap it around her as he carried her downstairs.
Fundin watched the elf maid for a few minutes in silent contemplation before picking the tools they brought, to follow after Kalvis.
By recommendations of the elf, Kalvis took Eva to his place on foot, instead of horse, until they were by the gates of Erebor. The necessary arrangements and plenty of heated arguments were made for King Dain to allow a Bowman inside of the stronghold to be taken care of. The King was not a happy camper to learn his removed nephew had a thing for girls of the world of men, when he had hoped that Kalvis laid eyes on a dwarf maid finally.
