Elvish - Translation

Tolo - Come

Mellon - Friend

Noro lim - Run fast

Chapter Twelve: A Hunting We Will Go

Fili woke up, still a bit tired from their wild game of tag. Lina was fast, and he supposed that came from her Elvish heritage, although Dwarves were excellent sprinters over short distances.

He chuckled to himself when he remembered how her face had lit up when Kili tagged her.

'I wish she would look that happy all the time. She seems to be cheering up, though. That's good.'

He checked his schedule for the day. More dratted diplomacy lessons with Balin that morning. He was getting tired of the lessons and meetings he had to attend.

'Anything to please Uncle, though.'

That evening was the tryouts for the fighting instuctors, he found out from Balin, who said Lina was going to give it a try.

"That's wonderful! It will give her something else to do throughout the day, and she should enjoy it." Fili said.

'I really must go watch. It will give her some extra support, and I'd like to see her sparring.'

"Aye, she should keep herself busy. Take her mind off things." Balin said.

"She told you?" Fili asked, surprised.

"No, but Dwalin said the lass had lost her family. I know what that's like. She seems like a right good person, but reserved. While reservation isn't a bad, it can lead to brooding." Balin told him. "She admitted she thought her skills were not good enough to become an instructor."

"Did she? Well, knowing her, she's probably underestimating herself. She is a fine person. I'm glad she's my friend." Fili said.

"I've taken quite a liking to the lass." Balin said.

"I'm not surprised. She's easy to get along with when you can get her to talk to you. She's reserved, as you said, so I think it might put people off of being friends with her.'' Fili confided. "She needs friends."

"Well, I might could do something about that." Balin said thoughtfully. "You'd best go now, or you'll miss your luncheon."

"Alright, then, I'll see you soon!" Fili said as he left.

That evening he went down to the training arena and saw a few Dwarves come in from different directions. Dwalin stood off to one side, sizing people up as they entered.

Lina came in, dressed in a new green tunic and matching leggings, armed with her bow and sword. She nodded and smiled to Dwalin, who returned the nod, not as gruffly as usual.

"Alright, then, let's get this over with. I want each of you to find a partner and duel. Winners stay put, losers can go." Dwalin said. The Dwarves paired up, leaving Lina without a partner.

"You'll try out with me, Lina." He said, readying his axes.

Fili wondered how Lina felt about the fact that Dwalin fought with axes. He remembered her telling him that Doni's weapons had been the same. She looked determined as she squared her shoulders, braced her feet, and swung her sword up in front of her.

Lina eyed Dwalin carefully, anticipating his move. She blocked his axe easily and dodged the other, using the momentum to jump over to his side, lunging to knock the axe out of his hand. He blocked her and they circled, Lina darting around him lightly as she attacked and dodged his blows.

Fili felt a surge of pride as he watched her. She was doing very well, and never gave ground. The determination in her eyes intensified as the fight went on, and soon they were the only ones left fighting in the arena. The other Dwarves watched as they caught their breaths.

Dwalin looked pleased as she spun out of the way of his axe, held the other in place with her sword, and pulled her dagger out, leveling it in front of his face. Doubtlessly he had gone easy with her, but she had done very well. He nodded to her, admitting defeat.

They stepped apart, catching their breaths.

"The rest of you pair up now. I'll watch this round." Dwalin said.

Fili went over to Lina, who was panting slightly.

"Lina, that was wonderful! I'm very proud of you." He said, hugging her.

"Thank you, Fili, but he let me win." She told him.

"I went easy on you, lass, but I didn't let you win." Dwalin said, coming over to where the two stood. "I take it you're more of an archer, though."

"Yes, I am." Lina said, nodding.

"Well, let's see your shooting." He said. He pointed to a stick driven into the ground at the other side of the arena. "If you can hit that, you've got yourself a job."

Fili put a hand on Lina's shoulder.

"Good luck!" He said, and backed off to give her space.

She nodded in reply and pulled an arrow from the quiver, fitting it to the string slowly, watching the target the whole time.

She drew the bow and fired, swiftly notching another arrow and firing it as well. They both hit the stick.

"Well done, lass! As long as you're here two nights a week it doesn't matter what days they are. An hour each day you work should be enough." Dwalin said with an extremely pleased expression as he clapped Lina on the shoulder.

Lina grinned.

"Thank you, sir." She said.

"Just Dwalin to you, lass. And don't mention it." He said.

Fili walked the smiling Lina home, and they chatted about the tryout as they walked. Lina insisted that she had not done that well, but Fili knew better. It was Dwalin, after all, who trained him.

"Well, Lina dear, I'm free for the next two days. What do you say to a hunting trip?" He asked, once they were sitting in the comfortable chair of Lina's living room.

"That sounds lovely! What all should I bring?" She asked.

"Just a bedroll and your weapons. We won't go too far, and I can get the supplies easily enough. Or better yet, Kili can." He said with a grin.

"Alright then, I'll meet you at the paddocks in the morning?" Lina asked again.

"Yes, that should be perfect. I'll see you then!" He said. "Oh, Mum sends her regards."

"Tell her I said hello and thank you for dinner, if you would." Lina said.

Lina rose the next morning and prepared to leave. She couldn't wait to go hunting.

She took her pack and walked quickly to the paddocks. She saw Whisper in a far paddock and Thalion by the barn. Lina saw Fili and Kili coming up the path not too far away and waved. Fili waved back, but Kili seemed to be busy in conversation and didn't see her.

"Thalion!'' She called, and whistled. Thalion trotted up to her and blew warm air in her face. "Hey, cut that out! Tolo, mellon. We are going on a hunting trip with Fili and Kili today."

She led him into the barn.

"Good morning, Miss! Can I get your tack for you?" The young groom asked.

"Yes, if you would." Lina replied.

He went into a room at the back of the building.

"How do you know she won't mind me tagging along?" She heard Kili say outside.

"I asked her, naturally." Fili replied.

"What!" Kili yelped as they came in.

"Hello, Lina! It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?" Fili said.

"Oh yes, it is." Lina replied. She finished grooming Thalion just as Naki returned with her tack.

"Your Highnesses! Can I get your horses ready for you?" Naki asked with a low bow.

"No, thank you, we'll get them ourselves." Fili said.

"As you wish. If you will excuse me?"

"Of course!"

The groom disappeared into a stall at the other side of the barn.

"I do wish someone would stop doing that just for once'." Kili grumbled.

"Well, Lina hasn't ever called me 'Your Highness'." Fili said.

"I appreciate it." Kili said.

"Pray don't mention it, Your Highness." Lina said with a mock bow.

Kili groaned.

"Well, we'd best go and catch our ponies, brother." Fili said, snatching two halters from the wall and throwing one to Kili.

They left and Lina finished strapping her pack to Thalion's saddle while they were gone.

Fili returned with Whisper at the end of the lead rope. She stood quietly while he saddled her.

"She's a timid little thing, isn't she?" Lina said.

"Yes, I think her previous owner was a little rough with her when she was little. I got her as a yearling and Kili and I trained her." Fili said.

Kili came in a few moments later leading a solid grey pony with a long black mane and tail. He was roughly the same size as Thalion, and just as arrogant looking.

"This is Timberwolf. He's about six years old now, right, Fili?" Kili said proudly.

"Yes, that should be right. He was three when you bought him." Fili replied from the other side of Whisper.

"He's beautiful." Lina said thruthfully.

She whispered to Thalion.

"Don't worry, I still like you."

They mounted up and began to ride north at an easy trot. Lina collected Thalion again and held the pose for longer than the last time. Eventually she could get him to tuck his head in almost all the time. Timberwolf trotted alongside them, his long strides playful. Kili grinned.

"Race you to that tree?" He asked, pointing to a large oak ahead of them.

"Not me, Whisper and I both know we don't stand a chance against your stallions." Fili said.

"Well, I'm up for it." Lina said.

"I'll start you then. Line up." Fili said.

Lina held Thalion ready, leaning forward a little. "Noro lim, Thalion!" She whispered when Fili shouted,

"Go!"

Thalion leaped forward, skimming the grass with steady, three-beat strides. Lina held him back, reserving his strength.

Kili and Timberwolf came up alongside them, running all out. Lina maintained her steady speed and let them get a bit of a lead.

The oak tree was getting closer and Lina let out a few inches of rein, sitting still in the saddle. Thalion went even faster, his ears laid back and nostrils flaring. His competetive spirit kicked in and he passed Timberwolf with ease. Lina stood in the stirrups, brushing a branch of the tree as they rode under it.

"Well done, Lina! I thought we'd had it for a while there." Kili said, pulling his mount to a halt.

Lina walked Thalion in circles to cool him down. "Well, maybe we can race again sometime."

"Wonderful! Fili doesn't ever race me, not with his mare. He's convinced he'll loose every time, and he doesn't want to break her spirit." Kili said. "I've just had an idea! Why not have a horse race on the day of the Durin's Day festival next year?"

"That's a good idea! Count me in." Lina said.

Fili trotted up just then.

"Splendid riding, Lina! You too, Kili." He said.

They thanked him and told him about the idea of a horse race. He agreed that it was a good idea.

"We'll need a track, though. How long, do you think? A quarter mile?"

"Yes, that sounds good." Lina said.

They discussed the possibilities for some time, and soon came to the foot of a low mountain and started up it, heading into the trees.

They found a good camping place and stopped there. Lina found some branches and made a make-shift corral between three trees. She separated it into sections to keep the ponies apart and they let them graze inside.

Fili and Kili made a fire-ring and gathered a lot of wood while she worked on the corral a bit more, and they had a finished camp before long.

"Well, the sun's starting to go down. Lina and I can try to shoot something for dinner while you get the fire going." Kili suggested.

"Yes, go on ahead."

They split up in opposite directions and Lina made her way carefully to the nearby stream. She heard sticks cracking and stilled behind a tree.

A buck deer came into view, stepping delicately with slender legs. Lina notched an arrow and drew her bow, steadying her breath. She shot, and the deer fell.

She skinned him as quickly as possibe and wrapped the meat in his hide, carrying it back to camp. Kili had shot another deer, and they set most of the meat aside to take back to town.

After a delicious dinner of venison stew, Lina went to see Thalion.

"You ran well today, my friend. I'm proud of you." She told him.

"As I am of you."

Lina turned to see Fili standing nearby. She gave a small smile and looked down.

"Thank you, Fili." She said.

He hugged her, and they walked back to camp together.

Lina fell asleep quickly, worn out from the day's ride and carrying the deer back to camp.

They spent the next day hunting and made their way home innthe afternoon. Lina had enjoyed it tremendously, and looked forward to many more such trips.

Thrain disappeared soon after, leaving Thorin to take over ruling the people. Fili had more responsibilities now, as well as Kili, but they still made time to hang out with Lina, who wondered how long it would be until she finally worked up the nerve to reveal her history.

'I just can't, not yet anyway.' She sighed.

At least she had the two best friends anyone could wish for.