Cricket woke the next morning to a small body on top of her, quietly saying her name. It took a while for it to register, as she had been having a very interesting dream about Jon Snow that she didn't want to wake up from.
"Mama Cwicket, wake up!"
"Five more minutes." Cricket moans, pulling the covers over her head. Conner however has different plans, and starts bouncing up and down on her, voice louder and more insistent.
"Mama Cwicket, wake up! Wake up! It's bweakfast time, wake up!"
She sighs under the covers, smiling to herself, before throwing them off and grabbing him, throwing him down on the bed and proceeding to tickle him mercilessly."Breakfast time huh? You woke me up for breakfast time? Well I happen to think that its tickle the silly little dragon who woke me up time, what do you think?"
Conner is a mass of flailing limbs, giggling helplessly as tears run down his cheeks."Heehee, no Mama Cwicket! It's..heeheehee...bweakfast time! I'm...hahaha...hungwy!"
She continues to tickle him until he is nearly out of breath from laughing so hard, then sits there grinning at him as he lies there, recovering from the tickle attack. When he can finally breathe normally again, he looks over happily at her and jumps into her arms for a hug, squeezing tightly. Looking up at her he smiles innocently(a tactic he's already learned from Kili to try and get out of trouble), and utters a single word."Bweakfast?"
"Well, now that I'm awake, we might as well go down and get some." She says, and Conner lets out an excited yell."But, you have to wait until I have changed clothes, and put some back on you, all right? And we both need to brush our teeth. Just because everyone else smells like everything they ever ate when they talk, doesn't mean we should." She was exaggerating a bit, as most of the people did have a type of root they chewed on to help keep their teeth clean, and she had even convinced the company to starting chewing on mint leaves in the morning to help with their breath, but it wasn't quite the same.
"Ok!" Conner says happily, and jumps off the bed, running around in a nightshirt given to him by one of the innkeepers last night when he briefly woke up. Smiling indulgently at him, she climbs off the bed as well, going over to her bag and digging out the now dry dress she had been given in Rivendale, as well as fresh underthings, and changes into them after a quick wipe down of her body to feel a bit more refreshed. After she is done she does the same to Conner, putting him back into the clothes Bard had given him, then brushes both of their teeth. Conners hair proves to be as unruly as Bilbos, and the most she can do is constantly brush her bangs out of her face. She finds herself wishing she had a bobby pin, or a barrete, or something to keep them out of her eyes. Once they are both have fresh breath, she unlocks the door and heads out, Conners hand in hers.
As she locks the door behind her, the first thing she notices upon turning around is the smell of coffee, followed by the scents of bacon, and eggs fried in butter. Conner takes a deep breath in as well, inhaling the wonderful scents of food as well, and they both make their way down the stairs, her room being right in front of the staircase on the second floor. Everyone else had rooms on the first or second floor as well, with Thorin and the princes on the better furnished third floor.
Reaching the bottom and looking out on the dining hall, she sees that only a few of the company members were up and about. Only Balin, Dwalin, Kili, Fili and Bombur were up and eating, and once he sees them, Conner jerks out of her hand and runs to Kili, hugging him tightly around the waist and grinning up at him."G'morning Kili!"
Kili smiles back and picks him up, putting Conner on his lap."Good morning Conner, did you sleep ok?"
"Yes, and Mama Cwicket sleept too well. I hadta jump on her to wake her up. I tink she was havin a good dweam."
"Is that so?" Fili asks, casting an amused glance Crickets way as she pours herself a cup of coffee and sits down between him and Kili, grabbing a plate and loading it down. Dwalin and Balin do the same, while Conner steals a slice of bacon off Kilis plate.
"Yep. The little terror jumped up and down on my stomach to wake me up, so I proceeded to hold him down and tickle him into submission. How he can have that much energy, this early in the morning, I'll never know. I barely have the energy to function after a cup of coffee."]
"You and me both lass." Dwalin says, nursing his own cup."You're lucky he isn't a brat like some, and actually listens to you."
"Don't I know it. I have seen way too many kids in need of a spanking, whose parents just give them a sweet or toy to make them stop. I'll be damned if Conner turns out that bad, a spoiled 70 pound 3-year-old." She looks over to see Conner on the table now, with Kili tossing bits of food into his mouth, both of them looking like they don't have a care in the world."He is fine just the way he is. By the way, where is everyone? Last time I checked everyone seemed to still wake about the same time, and no one ever misses a meal."
"Those that aren't asleep from drinking too much last night, stayed up late worrying about Master Baggins." Balin says, buttering a slice of bread.
"What's wrong with Bilbo?" Cricket asks worriedly.
"That's right, you went to bed early, so you wouldn't know. Master Baggins apparently became sick from being in the water so long, and passed out last night here in the dining hall. Oin says his throat is inflamed, and that he has a fever, so we won't be able to leave until he gets better."
"That's horrible, will he be ok? Does he have enough medicine? I have some things in my bag that help reduce fever if that might help."
Balin smiles reassuringly at her."He will be fine lass. Oin is a skilled healer, and will have Master Baggins back to normal in no time at all. In the meantime, it will give all of us time to gather supplies for the remainder of the journey. The entire town has agreed to give us whatever we need, food, clothes, weapons, you name it. The little lad there could certainly use some sturdy traveling clothes, and a good pair of boots as well, don't you think?"
"Well, I did plan on getting him some more clothes anyway, and he can't run around barefoot forever. I kind of feel bad for them doing everything free of charge, though, I suppose if Thorin really does share the mountain treasure with the town, they will be paid back eventually."
"See? Why don't you and the lads go out after breakfast and get fitted for some new gear? As long as one of the lads are with you, they will know you as a member of the company."
"As long as they don't mind, I don't. I would rather have them with me in case Conner starts to get rambunctious anyway. Any chance I could see Bilbo before we leave?"
"I would wait until you get back lass, better chance he will be awake. Not only that, Thorin and Oin most likely wouldn't let you in this early."
She looks at him in confusion."Oin I can understand stopping me, but why would Thorin?"
"Because Thorin has kept a vigil over him ever since he fell ill. He even had Master Baggins brought to his room, to make sure he was getting the best care and rest he possible could, as well as privacy. He's become rather protective over our little burglar."
"I bet he has." Cricket says softly to herself, and Balin gives her a strange look."All right, no visiting Bilbo until we get back. I am going to talk to Oin about trying him out on some of my medicine thought, just in case he doesn't get better soon." She grabs a couple slices of bacon and bites them in half, closing her eyes and enjoying the greasy, crispy goodness of it.
"I'm sure Oin would enjoy looking into the effectiveness of your worlds medicine, lass." Balin says, then looks over at the princes."Would you lads be good enough to go out with Conner and Miss Cricket this morning, so that all of you could be fitted for some new traveling gear? Maybe go out and visit the various shop owners a list of things we will need for the quest as well? That way everything will be ready the same time we are."
"Well I don't mind." Fili says, finishing up his plate."It's not like we can do much else while we are here, and Conner does need his own things. Kee?"
Kili pauses from where he's taking a sausage link from Conner and looks up."What? Oh, yes of course. I'm getting tired of walking around in nothing but a shirt and trousers anyway, and it gets cold here at night, as well as on the mountain. What do you say Conner? Do you want to get fitted for some clothes of your very own?"
"Do I hafta?"
Typical little boy, wanting to wear as little clothes as possible, Cricket thinks to herself."Yes honey, you do, and you know it." She lowers her voice a bit and leans in closer to him so that only the people closest to her can hear."Even if we weren't surrounded by strangers, it can get chilly where we are going, and I'd rather have you prepared for whatever form you are in. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I undewstand." Conner says a bit sulkily, and she has to stop herself from laughing at his jutted out lower lip.
"I tell you what. If you are good at the tailors, maybe we will get you a treat afterwards. Deal?"
Conner perks up visibly, and she tells herself that it's not spoiling, it's rewarding him for good behavior, as he nods enthusiastically at her."Deal! What kinda tweat?"
"It will just have to be a surprise silly boy." Cricket says, bopping him on the node playfully. Everyone finishes their meals in good humour after that, listening to the toddler chatter and giggle in the background, between his own bites of food.
Once everyone had finished their own breakfast, Cricket made a quick trip upstairs to grab a belt and one of her knives, as well as a small pouch of coins Nori appropriated for her in the troll cave. After securing both to the belt now around her waist, she locks the door back and heads down the stairs to see Kili holding Conner, and Fili being handed a list by Balin. As they finish talking Balin turns and heads up the stairs, nodding at her as they pass each other. Cricket nods back and stops in front of her little group, ready to get going.
"Ok guys, where do you want to start?"
"Probably the shoemaker."Fili says to her after giving the list a quick look over."Conner can't run around everywhere barefoot, and if they don't already have any, we can get him fitted for boots and some plain leather shoes. After that we can go ahead to the tailors, and get the two longest lasting chores out of the way."
"Sounds like a plan. Hopefully we can get him some shoes today at least, so we don't have to carry him around all day. Even though he can't run off while we are holding him..."
"Which would be why my dear brother is holding him."Fili says smiling."Kee, are you two ready to go?"
"Yep, lead the way!" Kili says, Conner sitting on his shoulders with a big smile on his little face."Off to the shoemaker!"
"Yea, I needes boots!"
"That's right,boots and shoes and clothes!"
"Yea, and a tweat for being good!"
"Yea, but you have to be good first."Cricket tells him, and can't help but laugh at the two of them, excited and bouncing around like children(Which only one of them actually is), and takes it as a sign that it will be a good and productive day. And to be honest, it does start out that way.
The first stop goes by smoothly, with the shoemaker luckily having both boots and shoes already made in his size, both well made in a thick soft leather. After slipping the plain leather shoes on his ticklish feet, while Kili and Fili have theirs mended(Kili removing the now unneeded heighteners from his), they go ahead and have Conners boots sent back to the inn, thanking the shoemaker as they leave and heading to their next stop.
Conner was actually very happy with his new shoes, enjoying the sensation of the soft leather on his feet. Holding Crickets hand this time instead of being held, he would stomp and jump around in them, testing them out on the walk to the tailors, and she had to keep him from jumping in three puddles, as well as one small pile of poo. They all seemed to be followed by curious eyes wherever they went, and even had a couple of children trailing them at one point, hoping to get a good look at the few members of the company out and about.
The stop at the tailors ended up taking just as long as they thought it would. Cricket went first, only needing to be fitted for a long cold weather coat, as she still had all of her elvish traveling clothes. Once that was done, she helped to keep Conner still while the tailor took his measurements, hard as it turned out to be, as every time the measuring tape touched him he squirmed and giggled. Luckily the tailor was used to taking the measurements of hyper children, and was very patient with the two of them, even giving Conner a piece of soft candy to chew on when he was done. Conner sat on Crickets lap enjoying the candy while Kili and Fili took their turns, Kili making silly faces at Conner the entire time was up there, while Fili kept up a serious, princely expression, striking up a pose every time the tailor turned away.
She often had to stop and think, how these two ended up dubbing themselves her official protectors, when at times it seemed like she was babysitting them. Though, to be honest, she had came a long way since being dropped unconscious in front of the two of them. She had gone from a who collected sharp point objects for fun and had a backpack for an emergency that might not ever happen, stranded in a place where she didn't know anyone or anything, to a far more confidant woman who could now actually use those sharp pointy objects, and whose emergency backpack was actually a great help. Along with that, she now had some of the greatest friends in the world(this one or any other), one who considered her an adopted sister, a couple more dubious in their feelings about her, all of them prepared to fight for her as hard as she would for them. Not only that, but she now had a little one that relied on her for love and protection, to teach him right from wrong, to keep him safe from those who might harm him. It didn't matter that Conner wasn't actually hers, or that he wasn't even human. She loved him like he was, just as Conner did her, and she would protect him with everything she had, as long as she can, no questions asked.
The only problem was, that haunted her almost every night, what would happen to Conner if she was eventually sent home.
As all of this runs through her mind, she feels a gentle tug on her sleeve, and she looks down to see Conner staring at her, eyes wide and searching.
"Mama Cwicket, awe you ok? I was tugging fow a wong time."
She smiles reassuringly at him."Yes sweetie, just lost in my thoughts, sorry for worrying you."
"It's ok. You just wooked sad." He said, a serious look on the face of someone so young."Awe you sad?"
"No Conner, I'm not sad." She says, leaning down and putting her forehead gently to his."I'm just thinking about important things, things I really don't want to, but have to."
"Can I help?"
"Not yet, but thank you for asking. Did you need something?"
"Oh yea, Fili said he is awmost done, and you should tawk to the nice man who gave me candy."
She looked up and saw that the tailor was indeed done with Fili, so after asking Kili to watch Conner for a moment, she made her way to the front of the sore, where the tailor was making sure he had all the measurements done correctly. He looks up and sees her standing there patiently and gives her a toothy smile."Oh good. Since I have the the numbers, I need to know exactly what you need for yourself and the young boy." He walks her over to his material supply, and she starts digging through for ones that she likes.
"Well, Conner needs a good set of traveling gear, and the only clothes he has are on him now. He needs two shirts, two pairs of leggings, a pair of trousers, a belt, along with an over tunic, a regular by itself tunic, and a cold weather coat."
"How about I make most of it out of the same material I am using for the dwarves gear, and you pick out the colors for the shirts and leggings?"
"That works for me. I want his two shirts to be made out of this one, and the leggings out of this." She says, handing him a dark blue and a light bluish grey for the shirts, and a dark grey for the leggings. She also hands him a blue that matches Conners eyes for his regular tunic, which the tailor seems to very much approve of.
"Very nice, all colors that will match him well. Now, what about your coat? I have a couple of examples here if you would like to look through them."
She takes the pages from him and glances through, stopping at one she likes and showing it to him."I want this one, only with a hood added on, as well as a belt to keep it shut." She pulls out a soft rich brown she had found and fell in love with, and shows it to him."Can you make it out of this? It's beautiful, and so very warm."
He glances at it and pales a bit."That is a very expensive leather that the Master keeps in stock for his own use. He may not like me using it for someone other than himself."
"Well, he did say that the town would supply anything we need." she says, understanding his feelings."But here, so he can't get too upset, take this, and order some more when you can." She hands him 4 gold coins, and he looks astonished at it and nods.
"That will be more than enough, thank you miss! If you like, I will make the little ones coat out of the same thing."
"That would be great, thank you! Everyone here is being so kind to us, you have no idea what that means to the company. Do you have a lot of help here?"
"A couple, not too many. Why?"
She digs into the pouch and brings out two more coins."Here, you may want to hire a couple more to help you, the rest of the company will most likely be here to order from you as well. Unless there is another tailor in town?"
"Not as good as me, but I may ask if she wants to split the job a bit, me doing the heavy leather items while she does the lighter shirts and leggings, that way we can have your items ready when you need it."
"Smart idea, you don't want to overwork yourself. Will that be enough?"
"More than enough miss, you didn't need to give me any coins to hire people."
"I know, but I want you to be able to have the help you need, and I'm sure there are a couple of people who could use a job here that know what they are doing."
"Too true miss. It will be a great day when we can rebuild Dale, and return to the lives we held before the dragon attacked. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long."
"Hopefully not. Thank you for all of your help, and I will see you again very soon."
She heads back over to where Kili and Fili are sitting with Conner, both of them standing when they see her coming."Did you get everything settled?" Fili asks, pulling out the list Balin gave him as she once again pushes her bangs out of her face.
"Yep, colors and materials all chosen, even gave him a couple of coins to get him some help, that way he finishes everything in time. Are you two done here?"
"Yes, all that's left is to go by and give the various shopkeepers the list of things that Balin wants, which means we need to go into the main marketplace."
"Could...you hold on one moment?" Kili asks, holding Conners hand."I forgot to tell the tailor something."
"That's fine, do you want me to take Conner while you do?"
"No, I can take him with me. Be right back."
The two of them quickly turn and go back into the tailors, while Fili and her stand outside waiting for them. Cricket hears a noise behind her and glances back to see a small body hiding behind a building."I think we have a stalker." She says to Fili, and he glances over as well.
"We actually have a couple." He says back to her."Many of the children here are curious about us it seems. I suppose any time something new pops up it would be interesting to them."
"Maybe they have never seen a dwarf before?" Cricket suggests, and he shrugs at her.
"I'm not sure. Kee and I spent most of our lives in the Blue Mountains, and when we did get out it was too the towns close to us for trading. They probably havent, seeing as the dwarves of the Iron hills don't like coming this way often, and there has been no reason to go near the Lonely mountain until now."
"Should we tell them to stop?"
"I don't think so, they aren't causing us any trouble. Just investigating something interesting, like children tend to do."
"Oh boy, I'm interesting. That's what every girl loves to hear. Right after 'It's not me, it's you', and 'Can you hook me up with your sister'."
He gives her a strange look."I think you're very interesting, and that's a good thing. An interesting woman is far more fun than a boring woman, and you are far from boring. As well, any man who would choose your sister over you, when they know you, is a fool."
"That's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to me." She says, a bit surprised at how serious he sounds."Thank you, I needed that."
"You don't have to thank me, it's the truth." He says, though his cheeks turn a bit red."Males must be idiots where you come from."
"That they are my friend." She says as Kili and Conner come back out, conspiratorial looks on their faces."Did you get what you needed settled?"
"Yep, just needed to ask a question. Should we go?"
"Yes, lets get this done, then maybe we can head back and check on Bilbo. I know Cricket is worried about him."
"I am. He must have had a pretty bad fever to actually pass out from it. Lets go and get this taken care of."
*
The market turns out to be not quite as bustling as she imagined, but still pretty busy. There were stalls up and down the long row of wood buildings, with vendors yelling out their wares, and a small man-made area with trees and flowers in the middle. Cricket notices the man that Bard gave the fish to when they arrived, and gives him a wave. He waves back with a big smile, his stall doing very well as people constantly stop and buy from him. There is a stall selling cheese and butter, as well as pies of all sorts and loaves of bread. There is a stall next to what looks like a blacksmithy, selling small knives and other metal items, as well as a stall selling all sorts of leather goods. There is a stall selling dried foods imported from the lands around them, like jerky and fruit. There is a stall selling wooden goods, such as childrens toys, boat oars, bowls and plates and cups, eating utensils and offering services to build furniture.
The stall that catches her eye, however, is a stall ran by a plump, merry looking woman, selling baked goodies such as muffins and cakes and cookies. She smiles, knowing she has found a good place to get Conner his treat, and turns to Fili and Kili."Why don't you two start going and asking the stallkeepers for what you need on the list, while I get Conner his treat and sit with him in that little flower filled area? He has been good enough for one, and those cookies smell amazing from where I'm standing."
"That's fine, go ahead and rest a bit. Kili and I can finish up the rest, then meet you there when we are done. Come one Kee."
"Just a moment Fee." Kili says."Meet you at the first stall, ok?" When Fili nods and starts towards the leather goods stall, Kili turns to her with a grin on his face."All right Conner, do you want to give her your gift now?"
"Oh, yes pwease!"
"Gift? What gift?"
"Conner wanted to get you something special, and I mentioned you might like this, so we went back inside the tailors and asked him for it." He pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to Conner, who in turn hands it to Cricket with a big smile.
"Fow you Mama Cwicket! Fow taking such good cawe of me, and to make you not be sad anymowe!" He holds out his hands to her, and from then she takes a long piece of embroidered, ivory-colored lace.
"Oh Conner, it's beautiful, thank you!" She cries, bending over and giving him a big hug."Why did you want to get it for me?"
"Your hair." Kili says, and Conner nods happily."Conner told me you kept having to push your hair out of your eyes, and that you were sad earlier in the tailors, so I suggested you might want something to help keep it out of your eyes. That, and a gift from him might make you happy again."
"Does it make you happy?" Conners asks seriously."I don't want you to be sad anymowe, it makes me sad."
"It makes me very happy Conner, thank you, thank both of you." She says, pulling Kili into a hug as well.
"Does that mean I can have a cookie too?"
"You can have three cookies."
Kili laughs and hugs her back, then turns to follow his brother to the leather goods stall, in very good spirits. Cricket places the lace in her pocket, to put into her hair as soon as she sits down, and looks down at Conner, his hand in hers."What do you say, do you think that cookies are a good treat? You have definitely been a good boy."
"I love cookies! I want lots and lots pwease!"
"Lets go see what all she has first, then go from there." Cricket says to him, then leads him over to the stall. It turns out she has chocolate chip, oatmeal and a gingersnap type cookie, and was very happy to sell to a member of the company of Thorin Oakenshield(her words exactly). Cricket ends up getting 6 of each, as well as 1 chocolate muffin and 1 cinnamon sugar muffin, as well as a bottle of warm lemonade to share with Conner, and takes it to the small park like area, sitting with her back against a tree and Conner half on the ground, half on her lap. She gives him a chocolate cookie, taking a gingersnap for herself, and enjoys watching the marketplace bustle with people, sitting around doing nothing. After she finishes her cookie, she takes the lace out of her pocket and examines it closely for a moment, touched that Conner wanted to get it for her to make her happy. Stopping herself from crying, she takes it and winds it once around her head, finally able to keep back her bangs, and ties it at the bottom right next to her feather.
As she does, she hears a noise to her right, and looks over to see a small boy and girl looking over at her, half hiding behind a tree."You don't have to be shy, you know. You can come say hi if you would like." She smiles gently at them, and it prompts them to come slowly closer, eyes wide and shining."Hello there, have you been following me all day?"
"Yes miss." The girl says, the boy nodding beside her."Are...are you really part of the company going up into the mountain?"
"I sure am. My name's Cricket, and this is Conner." Conner gives them a happy grin, mouth full of cookie, and the girl giggles at him.
"But, all of them look like warriors, miss. Why are you two traveling with them as well?"
"Do you want to know a secret?" Cricket says, and they both nod, two more children slowly walking up beside them, and she is sure there is another one she can't see at the moment."I'm a warrior too!"
The children all let out shocked gasps, and she leans back against the tree, pleased at their reaction."But miss, my father said women can't be warriors, they are meant to be wives, and take care of the children."
"Well, I'm a warrior, and I know plenty of other women fighters." She says to the young girl who asks, and all the children around her look extremely curious."Would you like to hear the story of the goblin mountain we were captured in, and how I had to cut my hair to escape?"
All the children nod, sitting around her in a packed circle, and after handing them all parts of cookies to nibble on, she shares the story of their capture, about the gruesome Goblin king, the orcs that chased them into trees, and finally ending on their escape on the back of eagles, leaving out no fight scene, elaborating by swinging her hands about wildly. She had always enjoyed entertaining children, and knew how to keep their interest when telling a story. It was proven in the way all the children reacted as she told it, gasping in horror at the right times, cheering when a foe was defeated, feeling bad for her when her hair had to be cut to escape from the dying goblin king. By the time she was finished, all of them were gripping either something or someone tightly.
"You see this feather in my hair?"She says to them as she ends the story."The Lord of the eagles gave it to me in friendship, and said that if I ever needed their help, all I had to do was blow on it. Still think that women can't be warriors?"
"No miss!" Almost all of the children yell, energized from the story, as well as Conner, who hadn't been there for it and was just as amazed by it as they were. One of the little boys hands her a white flower shyly, and she takes it softly from him, placing it in her hair. The boys looks extremely happy that she does, and the rest of the children, noticing this, jump up and begin to run around grabbing flowers.
"What are you doing?" Cricket asks, watching them with an amused look on her face.
"A great warrior like you deserves a crown!" A little girl informs her, and indeed, as she watches, the children all band their flowers together, weaving them to form a flower crown, walking over to her with it once they complete it. Smiling, she leans down and lets them place it on her head, and as she leans back up the other children cheer and start jumping up and down around her, causing Conner to get excited as well and jump up and down with them.
"Looks like you made some friends." A voice behind her says, and she looks over to see Kili and Fili looking at her, amusement all over their faces. The children notice them standing there and run over to question them excitedly.
"Did you really escape on eagles?"
"Are you princes?"
"Did you kill lots of goblins?"
"Can I see your sword?"
"Aren't you a little tall for a dwarf?"
Cricket laughs as they are bombarded by the curious children, shrugging when they look at her, mouths agape."All right, that's enough questions for today." She says, causing the children to sigh and back off."We will be here for a couple of days, so you will have plenty of time to ask them questions later. If you want, I will come back tomorrow and tell another story, same time as today. Does that sound like a deal to you?"
"Yes Miss!" They yell happily, and all run off to wherever they had came from, eager to tell their parents about the warrior woman in the dwarves company. Cricket shakes her head and stands up, picking up the remains of her baked goods, then facing the princes.
"Did you get everything done?"
"Yes, they should have us everything we need by the time we leave. What was all that about, asking us about the eagles and goblins?"
"They came up to me a few at a time while I was sitting with Conner, curious about us, and I thought I might tell them a little story about our exploits so far. I didn't think that many children had been tailing us, but by the time I finished my story they were all there. It's wonderful how no matter where you are, children will always appreciate a good story."
"And the flower crown?"
"They said that a great warrior deserved a crown, so they weaved me one out of flowers. I think it's sweet to tell you the truth."
"Is that why Conner has one as well?" She glances over at him, and sure enough Conner has a flower crown as well.
"He just looks cute in it."
Both of them shake their head at her."You know, everyone is going to have a cow when they see that on your head." Fili says with a smile and a strange gleam in his eye."Especially Dwalin."
"Why? For cripes sake, it's just a bunch of flowers, what harm could they do?"
"With our people, one of the stages of courting is offering the female a crown of flowers, usually roses, but other types aren't unheard of."
"Basically, to them it will look like you accepted a courtship from someone without letting them know." Kili says to her with a grin.
"Oh, whatever. I'm not taking it off, and they should know better to think that. Come on, let's head back, I want to check on Bilbo."She takes Conners hand and walks towards the inn, both of the princes laughing to themselves and following behind her.
*
The rest of the company is up and about when they get back, and though she does get a couple of questions about her flower crown after all, she tells them where she actually got it and they seem to back off, though Nori does tease her about it a little longer. Eventually, after grabbing Conner's boots and putting them in her room, she does take it off and set it on the table next to her bed so it doesn't get messed up. Conners is already missing a couple of flowers so she isn't too worried about it, and after asking Dori if he can watch him for a couple of minutes, she heads up to the third floor to check on Bilbo.
Opening the door up a crack to see who it is, Oin sees her standing there and opens the door the rest of the way, tired smile on his face. Walking in the room, she sees Bilbo sitting up in bed with a bowl of soup on the table next to him, and Thorin in an arm chair next to the bed. Bilbos face lights up a bit when he sees her, but it is cut short by a wet sounding cough.
"He has been doing that since he woke up." Oin tells her, pouring a packet of powder into the soup."His fever is still up there as well, and he is spitting up green and yellow mucus all morning."
"But that's good, isn't it? Doesn't that all the stuff in his lungs is breaking up and finally coming out? I know that was always considered a good thing when I got sick."
"It is, the problem is keeping his fever down now, as well as getting food into him. He won't be able to get anything solid into him for a couple of days, so we have a pot of soup on standby in the kitchens."
"I have a cold compress if that will help." She says, holding up the compress she took out of her emergency kit while in her room."All you do is shake it and put it to your forehead, and it instantly provides cold to the affected area. It's really for injuries, but it should help keep his fever down I think."
"Show me." Oin says, and both Thorin and Oin watch her, frowns on their faces as she opens the packet up and shakes it, then places it against Bilbo's forehead. The moment it touches, Bilbo sighs in relief, feeling the cool immediately.
"That feels amazing." Bilbo croaks to the three of them, and she takes it off for Oin to examine.
"I have about four more of them, but this one should last the rest of the day if you keep shaking it. I would let him lie down after finishing his soup, then put this back on his forehead to see if it makes a difference."
"Thank you." Thorin says to her, looking extremely grateful as Bilbo slowly starts spooning soup into his mouth, along with Oin's little extra whatever it was."He worried me when he passed out." His face then takes on a look that reminds her a lot of Kili."I heard you came back with a flower crown."
"Yes, from the children. No, I haven't accepted a courtship from anyone. Did they tell you that part as well?"
"Yes, and they also told me you were telling a story about us in the marketplace. You have a way with children it seems."
"Kids have always liked me. I can be around a baby a couple of minutes and it usually starts smiling at me. It comes in handy when you have to calm down an entire group of hyper kids."
"It's a good talent to have." Thorin says with a small smile, looking over at Bilbo."It means you will make a good mother someday."
She leans in closer so that Oin can't hear them, and says softly to him."And you and Bilbo...how are you two doing?" She says, winking at his shocked face."Come on now, who do you think finally convinced him to finally come clean to you about how he felt? You two have been making secret googly eyes at each other almost this entire trip. I was halfway convinced I needed to lock the two of you in a room until you both finally admitted your feelings to each other."
He shakes his head at her, still not quite believing what she is saying."If that is true, then I owe you another thanks it seems. It can be hard for me to express the way I feel...and with Bilbo making the first move, it broke down a wall for me, making it easier for me to do the same."
"Does anyone else know how you feel yet?"
"Balin might, but I'm not sure. I would like to wait until the quest is over and court him properly if I can, but until then...I don't know. I'm not sure if hobbits have any special courting rituals, or if he even wants to be courted by me, being royalty and all."
"Will you not need to marry and have a child?"
"No. Fili is my heir, so I have no need to have another one."
"Well, that's good at least. Why don't you ask Bilbo about hobbit courting, that way you don't accidentally insult him if he tries one with you, and go from there, maybe tell him about a couple of yours as well? You can find out if he actually wants you to court him that way."
"I..may do that. That way I can relieve some of my worries."
"Besides, I hate to say it, but if Smaug is still alive, there is a chance none of us will make it out of the mountain. Wouldn't you rather let him know before hand, just in case?" Thorin goes silent, looking off into the distance, and she sees she has made her point."Just an idea. None of really know what will happen once we make it there, so it might be better to go ahead and let him know." She stands up and places a hand on his shoulder."I'll come by later to check on the two of you."
Bilbo is already slipping into sleep as she goes to leave, Oin placing the compress on his forehead, so she leaves without bothering to say goodbye to him, heading downstairs to find some food.
Only about half of the company are there when she makes it to the dining hall, many of them having gone to the tailor as well for there own fittings. She goes to sit next to Dori and Conner, grabbing what looks like a plate of venison for her own meal. Dori had finally taken the flower crown off of Conner, with only a few petals littering his hair now, and it looked like he was about ready for a nap."Did you have any trouble with him?" She asked Dori as she started in on her food."I know he can be very hyper at times."
"Not at all. I'm quite used to hyperactive little ones. You wouldn't know from looking at him, but Ori was quite the rascal himself, and I helped to raise him. Not only that, but you have met Nori..he is still like that at times."
"You have a very good point there." She says with a laugh."Well, anyway, thank you for watching him for me, I didn't think Bilbo needed the added stress of a a bouncy toddler along with him being sick. All he needs to do right now is focus on rest and healing up. It looks like Conner could use some rest himself, now that I'm back."
"Aye, he could. Once you went up to check on Bilbo, he ran around for a bit before deciding he was hungry, then proceeded to eat until he was stuffed. The mix of a full belly and energy crash finally got to him, I suppose."
"I think it has a lot to do with the change, honestly. He hasn't kept this form up for this long before, and while it's good training, it means he needs a lot more food for energy while he is getting used to it. The good news is that once he is finally used to it, he should be able to keep it up with less and less energy, in case we end up some place where there isn't a lot of food on hand." Dori nods in agreement, and they both hear a soft snore from his side. Looking over they both smile at the sight of Conner fast asleep with his head on the table, a loaf of bread inadvertently ending up as his pillow.
"Poor lad, guess he was farther along than I thought."
"Yea. I guess I will take him up to the room and finish my meal later, I don't like leaving him alone, in case he accidentally switches forms, or pops up with horns."
"You go ahead and grab your plate, and I'll carry him to your room if you like." Says a voice from behind them, and she turns around to see Dwalin standing behind her, back from his trip into town.
"That would be great, thank you." She says to him."Thank you again for watching him for me Dori."
"No problem lass, try and get a nap yourself, you look a bit peaked a well."
"I will." After throwing a couple more food items on her plate and picking it up, Dwalin gently picking up the sleeping Conner, they both head up to her room, Dwalin looking around suspiciously like he believes someone will jump out at them. Once the door is unlocked she heads in and places her plate on the table, while Dwalin places Conner on the bed. Once they are sure he isn't going to wake back up, they both sigh in relief and face each other.
"What's the matter Dwalin, you keeping looking around like you expect someone to jump you. Thanks for carrying Conner by the way."
"I don't know, I guess I'm not used to people being so happy and excited to see us. I keep expecting to be thrown back in jail for something or another. It's unnerving to say the least."
"Nah, the Master is too excited about the prospect of gold to throw you in jail. Not only that, everyone hopes to be able to rebuild their own home again. That alone keeps you guys safe."
"I suppose you're right." His face hardens a bit."Have you seen that weasely little man again? The one who kept leering at you?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure I will have to at some point."
"Stay away from him if you can, I don't trust him further than I can throw him, and I can throw him a long way."
"Dualy noted, I dont want him near me."
"By the way..." He says perking up a little."I did a little asking around, and the soldiers said we can use the training grounds to spar a bit if we like. I haven't had a good one since we left the skinchangers house, and you promised me one."
"That..actually sounds really good, I could use a good training session myself. That, and even though I can't do too much, I'd like to show you some of how I have improved since the palace. How about we get Kili and Fili to come as well, keep them out of trouble?"
"It's a plan, I'll tell them they have to to keep from getting rusty. We'll all leave for the training grounds tomorrow morning as soon as we finish breakfast, and have ourselves a good old fashioned brawl. Maybe the little weasel will show up and see what you can do to him if he tries anything."
"Heh, I might even try and make sure he does. I will probably have Conner sit on the sidelines while we do, that way I can keep an eye on him and still have a bit of distance while we touch on the bond."
"Why don't you let me get the boy a little wooden sword of his own, and he can play fight with one of the lads while we spar? It might not hurt for him to eventually learn as well, that way he can defend himself no matter what form he takes."
"How old are dwarflings when you start training them?"
"Around his age, though nothing big, and nothing that will get him injured. He will probably enjoy it, and it will give him an outlet for some of that hyperness he has."
"Ok then, deal. I trust you to not try and teach him anything he isn't ready for, and you're right, it will probably be good for him."
"Great!" He says, smile lighting up his usually gruff face."About time I get to do something productive, I hate sitting around doing nothing, twiddling my thumbs. Finally some action!"
Anyone catch the star wars reference? Find it and you win a prize.