Faedra was in the armory, polishing and sharpening her sword and daggers. She heard the shuffling of feet behind her and she twisted her body around. Thorin stood at the entrance, his arms crossed.
"Can I help you, Master Thorin?" Faedra asked returning to her weapons.
"I came to tell you that we will be leaving tomorrow before the sun rises," Thorin said.
Faedra nodded her head and thanked him for telling her.
"What is so important about you sword if I may ask?" Thorin said.
She picked up her polished sword and turned so she was facing him.
"This sword is a symbol," She started, "It's sort of like the arkenstone for you dwarves. It's to prove that my right to lead was meant to be, that it is divine. It's said that this sword holds great power and only a true assassin leader can wield it to its full potential. It hasn't been seen in ages though, so many have forgotten the tale or use it as a children's story."
"And do you believe such a thing is possible?" Thorin asked.
"At times I do, but it's hard to say. I have heard many tales that were said to be legends, but I find them to be true. So, I don't know what to believe any more," Faedra answered.
"How did you become the next leader?" Thorin asked, once again.
"My mother's best friend, Helin, was the last leader, because my mother left the assassins to be with my father," Faedra started, "After my home was destroyed I found a home in one of the mountains where Helin lived. She took in my siblings and me and taught us how to fight. When it comes to the next leader, the leader's children doesn't become the next heir. The leader chooses someone that they see fit to lead next. So after Helin was killed by orcs, she chose me."
"What if the leader dies before they can choose an heir?"
"It has never happened before," Faedra said, "So nobody know. Assassins are people who are hunted the most, but are able to stay alive. Since we are always hiding or on the run, we kind of know how to live in such a way."
Thorin just nodded and he looked at the elvish sword.
"I have never heard anything like that before," Thorin said.
"Well we don't usually announce it to all of Middle-earth," Faedra explained, "We like to stay hidden instead of drawing a lot of attention to us, because too much attention can draw the people or orcs who wish us dead. That's another reason why we hide our faces in our cloaks. When we remove our hood and reveal our face to anyone on our own free will, it's a sign of trust."
Faedra then held up the sword and asked, "Do you want to hold it?"
Thorin grabbed the blade and it felt unnaturally heavy for a blade, much less an elvish blade which are usually light. The blade dropped to the floor as he couldn't lift it for more than few minutes with one arm. Faedra chuckled and grabbed the blade from his grasp. She lifted it like it was a feather and put it into it sheathe.
"You have a good heart," Faedra said, "You held the blade longer than I expected before dropping it. The blade is able to distinguish between a pure heart and a heart of darkness. So those that appear good can only hold the blade for a second before it drops. My friend Amara is able to hold it for a good amount of time."
"Whoever created the blade must have use some serious magic," Thorin said, looking at the blade.
"That you are correct about, but I think that's enough story time for one day," Faedra said, gathering up her weapons, "I must go get my things in order before we depart. It was nice to talk to you again. I know that the past has put us in a position that we do not wish to be in, but I hope we can at least be friends. Like the friends we were before that arranged marriage our families prepared."
Faedra then turned and headed towards her room, leaving Thorin to his thoughts.
Tara sat on a bench in the garden, reading a book about healing herbs. One hand played with a necklace around her neck, while the other held the book. She was so engrossed into the book that she didn't hear Kili come up behind her, until he sat down did she notice his presence. She jumped with surprise and the book fell from her hand.
"I'm sorry," Kili said, reaching down to grab the book, "I didn't mean to startle you."
"No it's fine," After she took the book from his grasp.
His fingers brushed against hers when she grabbed the book, sending electricity through her arm.
"That necklace," Kili said, trying to start a conversation, "Who gave it to you?"
"It belonged to my mother," Tara said, looking down at the beautiful white gem, "She told me that it is a sign. A sign that she will always be with me no matter what."
"That's beautiful," Kili said, looking at her face.
"Yes well my siblings got something from each of my parents when we reached a certain age," Tara explained, "I got this necklace from my mother, as well as this healing book, and this dagger from my father."
She gestured to the dagger she kept on her hip.
"Faren got a bow from my mother and my father's most precious sword," Tara continued, "Faedra got my father's bow and my mother's wedding ring, as well as two daggers she straps on her back."
"I've never seen her wear any ring though," Kili pointed out.
Tara nodded and said, "Because she wears it around her neck. She won't dare to wear it. Said it isn't her right to wear the ring, only to keep it."
Kili just nodded and looked ahead. In front of them a river flowed and a little to their left a beautiful bridge curved over it. There were beautiful trees and plants on the other side of the river and birds chirped happily in the trees. A deer came out from behind a tree with a little fawn trailing behind.
"Want to see something?" She asked Kili.
He nodded and she took his hand, pulling him over the bridge. She put her finger to her lips to keep him quiet and slowly approached the doe. She looked at her and Kili wearily, as Tara crouched down and slowly walked forward. She spoke some words in elvish as she continued forward, her hand outstretched.
Kili watched in amazement as the doe slowly took a few shaky steps towards her. She continued to chant in elvish as the doe sniffed her hand. She looked like she was having a conversation with the deer, because the doe looked at her baby and the fawn walked forward. Tara looked at Kili and motioned him forward. He crouched down like Tara and slowly inched towards her so he was next to her.
The fawn walked up to him and started to sniff him. He pet it's little head and it seemed to like that. He couldn't help but smile at the little baby and the mother walked up behind him. She started nibbling his hair and Tara had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing out loud. Just then they heard loud laughter from ahead and it only got louder. The deer and fawn then ran away into the trees, startled by the new noise.
"Wow," Kili said, "I've never been able to pet a deer before, much less a fawn."
"Isn't it amazing?" Tara said, a big smile playing on her lips, "Though you need to be really quiet to pet them. It's quicker to approach the deer if you speak elvish, but you can still approach them by talking to them in the common tongue. Just don't speak dwarvish to them. They don't like the sound of your language. Sounds to harsh to them, not sure why."
Kili nodded and looked at the path the bridge led into the tree.
"Where does the path lead?" He asked.
"Let me show you," Tara put her hand out again.
Kili grabbed it without hesitation and they walked down the stone pathway. They came into a clearing where a beautiful garden was laid out. Butterflies and bees danced on all different kinds of flowers while hummingbirds darted here and there. Many different bird kinds sat in the trees, singing beautiful melodious tunes.
Tara went towards a sunflower and shook it a little. Seeds poured into her hand and she held it out. A few birds fluttered into her hands and started to eat happily. She handed some to Kili and birds sat everywhere on him, his arms, his shoulder, even his head. One bird pecked him in the ear after all the seed was eaten and Kili screamed 'ow,' making all the birds fly back into the trees. Tara laughed and walked towards a tree.
"You know how to climb, right?" She asked, pulling herself up a branch.
Kili nodded and followed her up the tree. They stopped to admire some baby birds in a nest, while the mother fed them some food. When they reached the top, the mountains were in view and the bottom tip of the sun was behind the mountains. Butterflies appeared out of the tree and fluttered around them. One landed on Tara's finger when she extended it and it flew off a second after it landed.
"If you come up here at night," Tara said, "You can see lightning bugs dancing at the tops of the trees. It makes you feel like you're in the night sky with beautiful stars surrounding you."
Kili smiled and looked at Tara's face. Her hair shined in the sunlight and her green eyes were full of happiness and love. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off her and she then directed her attention to him. They had only known each other for a few days, not even, but it has felt like forever.
Kili didn't realize what he was doing until he leaned in and connected his lips with hers. She didn't push back, but instead kissed back. Her hands snaked around his neck, while his went to her hips. At that moment nothing else mattered to either of them. A dragon could have attacked and they wouldn't have cared. They released for air and Kili put his forehead against hers. Tara then directed her attention to the sun and realized how much time had passed. More than half of the sun had dipped behind the mountains.
"We should go," Tara said, "I heard you will be leaving tomorrow morning."
She was about to go down, until Kili stopped her.
"Wait," He grabbed hold of her wrist, "Since I'm leaving tomorrow, I would like to spend this last bit of time with you."
He kissed her sweetly and Tara smiled.
"Ok," Tara agreed, "But when the sun disappears behind those mountains we are heading back and you are going to get some sleep."
"Deal," Kili said and kissed her for the third time.
