As it grew darker Ginwyn excused her and Estel as it was his bedtime, to which the boy protested, but surrendered once he saw the look on her face. He said his goodnight to the company and followed his sister.
Thorin and Balin were on their way back to the rest of the company after a meeting with Gandalf and Lord Elrond. Both were in deep thought when they heard voices approaching. To their surprise Ginwyn stepped out of the shadows accompanied by a young boy. A human boy by the looks of it. As they drew nearer, Thorin couldn't help, but notice the striking resemblance between the two.
'' Oh'' she exclaimed when she saw them. '' Estel, these are Balin and Thorin they are also in the company. This here is my little brother Estel''.
The boy bowed to them and smiled at Balin, but frowned at the king.
'' a pleasure to meet you young lad, and where are you of to at such a late hour.'' the old dwarf asked.
'' I was just about to tuck my brother to bed, it is late and far past his bedtime I'm afraid''. To which the boy made a small sound of protest.
'' I shall be by the company after I have put him to bed''. With that she pulled the boy into a room on their right that they had not seen. They could hear the young boy protesting saying that he wasn't tired at all, followed by a great yawn.
Balin chuckled '' such a resemblance between siblings, though one should hope he doesn't have her temper''. Thorin had to laugh at that. Yes poor boy indeed if he had his sister's foul temper.
'' It has been a long time since I saw my king smile as much as he has done these last few weeks. One could think that it has to do with a certain young lady traveling with us?. I am not wrong now am I?.''
Thorin had to give to the old dwarf. He himself had only recently accepted his feelings for the ranger, but Balin had always been an excellent observer, and he had known him since childhood.
'' Is it that obvious? ''.
'' That you care for her?. No. But I have known you a long time, I know you Thorin. You have never gone out of your way to get the attention from a female, yet with this one you do. You seek her out when you know her to be alone, your temper rise beyond what is normal with her, but you are still lenient when it comes to her. I say, those are feelings one show to those they love.''
'' I would not call it love... not yet anyway, but perhaps one day.'' he replied, listening to her voice through the door.
'' perhaps you should walk her back after she is done with her brother. A little walk perhaps would not be out of place.'' Balin suggested walking back to the others himself, leaving Thorin to wonder. Yes he would wait for her and escort her back so they could have a little alone time. He placed himself beside the door and waited. He could hear her and the boy talking while she got him ready for bed. He marvelled at her patience with the boy, he never knew her to be patient, she was always the first to bud heads with him and their journey.
'' Was that Thorin Oakenshiled? The king under the mountain?''. He could hear the boy ask.
'' Yes my heart it was''. He could hear the affection in her voice when she spoke to her brother and couldn't help wish she would speak to him like that.
To say that the following conversation between the two was a surprise to him would be an understatement.
'' I do not like him''. The boy stated, shocking Thorin. He thought it a rather quick opinion formed by the boy, they had bare met for more than a few minutes.
'' Estel, that is not a nice thing to say. You have only just met him''. Ginwyn didn't know what had gotten into her sweet brother who like everyone he met.
'' I don't like him because he was mean to you''. At that Thorin thought that she had told her brother about their travel and that he had kicked her when they had been captured by the trolls, but alas if only it had been that simple.
'' What do you mean Little one?'' she was perplexed, having no idea what he was speaking about.
'' I heard Elladan tell Elrohir that he was mean to you. He said that you saved Thorin's life a few years ago and he treated you very badly afterwards. Or something along those lines.'' the boy was stubborn about it. Thorin was very confused, he had never met Ginwyn before their meeting in the Shire, why did the boy think otherwise?. And who was Elladan and Elrohir?.
'' Oh Estel, every my hero.'' she laughed lightly. '' If I tell you what happened will you go to bed then?''.
The boy nodded and obediently slid under the covers while his sister sat beside him as she always when she told him goodnight stories and sang to him.
Thorin paid sharp attention wanting to hear everything.
'' It was five years ago, I have been with a group of rangers for some months training. I had become separated from my companions in an orc attack and was trying to find my way back to them when I Heard sounds of battle. I crept closer so I wouldn't draw attention to myself. What I saw, I shall never forget. I single dwarf fending of six orcs, he had already slain one and as I drew nearer he killed two more. But then he was hit, he still continued fighting, but he was hit again this time deeply. I drew my bow and killed two. Then, they saw me and charged. He managed to kill one before they were out of his reach and he fell to his knees. I drew my blades and fought the last orc and in the end killed it.''. She paused thinking about that day.
Realisation dawned on Thorin then, he knew the rest of the story now, but wanted to hear her tell it. She continued her story, the boy listening with all the attention he could muster.
'' I made sure that there were no more enemies around before I went to help the dwarf. He could barely stand, but his pride and stubbornness refused to let me help him to shelter. I stated a fire and found my bad with my healing supplies. We argued for some time. He was not keen on letting me help help. And, it wasn't before I said that his wounds would get infected that he relented.''. She paused again remembering the stubborn dwarf king that had grown on her in those few days. She had to laugh, even then they argued and butted heads.
Thorin still stood and listened. He remembered. He remembered her hands on him, her breath on his skin as she applied those foul smelling salves on his wounds. He remembered her smile now, and thought himself a fool. How could he have forgotten her? He admitted that back then she had been nothing but a girl to him, an annoying girl who wouldn't shut up for the life of her. He chuckled a little. It seemed that fate had given him another chance. His smile disappeared. He also remembered how they had parted, Oh dear, he hoped she didn't remember everything, he had been very cruel. He paid attention as she continued once more.
'' Elbereth, Estel he was stubborn. First, he refused to let me heal him and then he wouldn't accept the food I cooked for him. At one point I was sure that he would sit up sew his wounds himself and be on his merry way. But in the end I got him to cooperate. It took days before he was in walking condition, and he had a long way home, so he had to rest a lot. As the days went on we started talking. He told me of his home, of Erebor and the dragon, he told me of his people and how they had found a new home in the blue mountains. I was very intrigued having never met a dwarf before, and there I was with what would have been a king. I told him most about rangers, I had discovered his hate for elves so I dared not tell him about being raised by them. I grew to like him very much. He was stubborn and harsh even proud, but he could be kind and sweet too. One night, I was keeping watch while he slept, he was almost completely healed...''
She paused then, not knowing if she should continue. Thorin prayed she wouldn't continue, but Estel wanted the entire story, and so she went on in her story.
'' I watched him laying there looking peace full. I thought him so handsome and knowing how he had handled all that had been thrown his way I respected his greatly. I crept closer to him to study his face. He was so guarded when awake, but not in his sleep. He looked peaceful. I had the urge to kiss him... And no Estel, before you interrupt it was not a goodnight kiss, but a proper kiss. So I kissed him. Had I known he would wake at that moment I never would have dared, and perhaps we would have parted on better terms. But he did wake, and he was noon to pleased I tell you. He was so mad I feared he would skin me alive. He told me in no certain terms would he ever willingly kiss a mere human girl pretending to be a boy, and that I should go home find a husband if any would ever have me and learn my place. The next day when I woke up, he was gone. And that's the end of that tale.''
Thorin thought it couldn't get any worse, how was he supposed to talk to her now, how was he to act around her now that he knew?. What were her feelings towards him?. He had so many questions and few answers.
'' But Narfëa, how can you travel with him, he was so mean.?''
'' My sweet little brother. I travel with him because it is the right thing to do. And, he was right to be angry with me, as I overstepped my bounds, but he should have handled it differently. But it doesn't matter, he doesn't remember me, and you better be nice to him in the morning, do I make myself clear?.
The boy nodded and she kissed him goodnight. As she went to the door the boy asked a final question.
'' Narfëa? Do you still like him? Like kiss him like him?.'' she looked at him then, those big innocent eyes and hoped he would never have troubles of the heart.
'' Yes Estel, I still wish to kiss him.'' she didn't mention that she wanted to strangle him with his plaits as much as she wanted to kiss him.
'' Goodnight my heart''. She went to open the door having no idea that the subject of her conversation was right outside having heard everything.
Thorin for his part was panicking, she would be out of that door within seconds and he had nowhere to hide. She would know he had listened.
