Chapter 21: Sword Training

"Put that away! You're going to cut me in half!"

"I'm not going to cut you in half! Watch this." Quinn brandished her sword. Nothing happened. "Look, I'm no sword expert, but I'm pretty sure mine only does the lasers when it's exposed to sunlight. Or moonlight."

Fíli sighed and relaxed a little. "In any case, we should start with a practice sword." He lifted the blunt sword in his hand. "Your blade would shatter this thing."

"So why don't you just use a real sword, too?"

"Because I don't want to hurt you." Fíli twirled the blade. "Too badly."

"If you say so." Quinn walked over to the weapons rack against one wall and traded her sword for a practice one.

They were in the training hall, a wide, low-ceilinged room with racks of weapons—swords, axes, maces—off to one side. Fíli had offered to teach her some basics in case she ever ran into more orcs.

"Okay." She turned back to Fíli and raised her sword in a Jedi pose. "I'm ready."

He made a face. "Who taught you that stance? You're leaving yourself wide open." Before she could even blink, he darted forward and jabbed her in the ribs with the tip of his weapon.

"Ouch!" She jumped back. "How do you even move that fast? You weigh, like, six hundred pounds."

"And most of it's muscle," he replied, looking way too smug.

"Fine. What's the correct pose to have when I'm swordfighting?" She lowered herself into a crouch and held up her sword. "Like this? I can come from below real fast."

Fíli's mustache twitched. "Focus, Quinn. Stand with your feet spread apart—not that far. Keep your sword up, ready to parry."

She stopped sliding into a split and followed his instructions. "Got it. So now what? You're gonna attack me?"

"Right," he said, and lunged.

They trained for about a half hour. Quinn could see why the dwarves preferred this method—she was better at learning by trying things out, anyway, and Fíli gave her room to experiment while they sparred. He did not, however, completely refrain from hitting her, so she had several bruises by the time they were done.

"All right," Fíli said when he finally lowered his sword. "I think that's enough for today."

Chest heaving, Quinn collapsed to the floor and feigned coughing up blood. "Then...just...end...it…"

He walked over and held out a hand. "You did well, for what I'm assuming is your first time."

"Doesn't feel like it." She accepted his hand and stood up with a grimace.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Kíli said from the doorway. "You'll probably be battle-ready within the next fifty years or so."

Quinn glanced at him, then went to retrieve her actual sword. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough to know that sword-fighting is not a strength of yours," he said, walking into the room. He turned to his brother. "It's your turn on watch, by the way."

"Already?" Fíli placed his practice weapon back on the rack and made for the door. "I'm off, then. Don't want to keep Óin waiting."

After another two tries, Quinn finally managed to slide her sword back into her sheath. "Well, I never was good at fencing in Wii Sports anyway. Maybe you could teach me how to use a bow."

Kíli smiled. "I'd be glad to. Come on, let's go find some food."

They set off down the hall together. Now that Erebor had been occupied for a while, it was looking a little less abandoned. Huge braziers had been lighted at intervals around the general area where they spent their time, and helped make the place feel a little more homey.

"Quinn, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"You said earlier that a couple of elves appeared in Lake-town and helped you fight off the orcs. One of them was Tauriel, right?"

"Yeah."

"Did she...say anything about me?"

"No. I mean, she just helped me fight the orcs, but then she had to run. So we didn't really talk. Oh, and I saw her after Smaug attacked, but she had to run off then, too."

Kíli nodded slowly. "I see."

Quinn turned to look at him. "Wait, do you have a thing for her?"

"I-I don't know what you mean."

A smirk started to grow on her lips. "I think you do. How do you guys say it in medieval speak...do you fancy her?"

His ears turned red. "I still don't know what you're talking about."

"I mean, I don't blame you. She's super hot."

"Hot?" Kíli turned to her, sharply. "Do you—I mean—"

"Yeah, but probably not in the same way as you." Quinn shrugged, hoping it wasn't going to be a problem. "I mean, we could always make it a party of three, if you're picking up what I'm putting down."

"What?" He looked genuinely confused now.

"Never mind." Quinn stretched her arms above her head, then rolled her shoulders. She was definitely going to be sore tomorrow—apparently even ancient warriors had their limits. "So, what are you planning on doing once we get Erebor up and running?"

"Well, I suppose once Thorin is crowned king, I'll be a prince. And there are various duties that come with that."

"You know, I totally forgot about that," Quinn said. "That's pretty cool, though."

"I suppose."

She gave him a sympathetic grimace. "Not your dream job?"

Kíli shook his head. "I'm just glad I'm not next in line to be king. It's Fíli that gets most of the pressure, really."

"So, if Thorin needs the Arkenstone to become king, I guess you guys needs it too to become princes."

"It's not so much that he needs it to become king. It's more necessary for the other dwarf lords to recognize him as such. And yes, that would apply to us as well."

"He needs a stone even though he's the son of a king? That's kind of dumb." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she mentally facepalmed. "I'm sorry. That was disrespectful."

"It's fine." Kíli shrugged. "I don't fully understand it either, honestly." He stopped and fell silent for a moment, glancing up at a blocky staircase that spiraled up and out of sight. "There are so many things about Erebor—traditions, legends, beliefs—that I haven't experienced yet. I've never been here before, but I feel as if I already know the place. It's home, but...not, at the same time."

"Wow," Quinn said after a few moments of silence. "That was deep."

He reached up to scratch the back of his head. "Well, this place has been making me more introspective lately. I don't know what to make of it, really."

"I think this was a good talk," she said as they started walking again. "Do you wanna play Would You Rather again?"

He grinned. "Aye, I'd like that."

They went back and forth for a few rounds while they walked the rest of the way to the room where all the food was kept. They reached the doorway just in time to see Dwalin, Dori, Bifur, Glóin, and Bombur walking out.

"Not that way," Bombur said. "Thorin needs us all at the front gate."

"What? Why?" Quinn asked.

"An army of elves has occupied Dale," Dwalin said, scowling more than usual.

"Elves?" Kíli asked, then pointedly ignored Quinn when she raised her eyebrows at him.

"We need to start setting up defenses," Glóin added as they began walking out of the room. He nodded to the two of them. "We could use a couple extra pairs of hands for when we build the wall."

Quinn blinked. "Hold on, we're doing what now?"

Kíli gave her a weird look as they started walking with the others. "The front gate is the only way into Erebor—well, the only known way. Since Smaug broke it down, we'll have to rebuild it in case the elves attack."

"Yeah, that makes sense," she half-mumbled. "I don't have anything against walls…"

Quinn was surprised to see that the sun was setting when they reached the front gate. She hadn't realized how easy it was to lose track of time inside a mountain. The rest of the Company was already there, piling huge slabs of rubble onto the entrance. Bilbo was standing off to the side, looking a little bored.

"Maybe you could put some smaller stones into the gaps," she said, walking over to him.

"They don't leave gaps," he said, crossing his arms.

She glanced over to the wall-in-progress and realized he was right. It was actually a little weird how well the stones fit together. Maybe this was another dwarf talent.

"You could be our moral support, then." She turned back to Bilbo. "Tell everyone how great of a job they're doing."

"I'm sure everyone would appreciate that." He rolled his eyes. "I'm just trying to keep an eye on Thorin right now. He's been on edge ever since he found out about the elves."

Said dwarf was standing on top of the makeshift wall, looking out towards Dale. Even from across the room, Quinn could see the tension in his shoulders.

"Yeah, I think I'll steer clear for now. I'm gonna go see how much stone I can deadlift in this body. I'll catch you later." She patted him on the shoulder and went to go help the others.

They were still working a few hours past sunset. Quinn was pretty impressed how fast things were moving, considering they only had thirteen workers and no construction equipment, but it wasn't easy work, either.

"Oof." Quinn let out a big breath as she helped Dwalin pick up a slab of rubble and move it onto a wheelbarrow they'd been using to move pieces to the wall. "Lift with your legs, not your back."

"Are you telling that to me, or yourself?" Dwalin asked, then pushed the wheelbarrow away without waiting for an answer.

Quinn sighed and leaned against the wall, shaking out her arms. The whole elf army thing had been weighing on her mind for the past few hours. Was Thranduil really that mad that they'd escaped his dungeons? Did he still have a death grudge against her (or rather, Belekur)?

She hoped Bard and everyone else were okay.

Nori sidled up to her, shaking her from her thoughts. "You look like you want to leave."

"Yeah, I'm kind of over this."

He cocked a brow at her. "Well?"

"Right now?"

"The others should be able to finish it on their own. And if Dori criticizes my stone placement one more time, I just might tear my beard out. Or his."

Quinn cracked a slight smile. "Okay. Let's get out of here."

They left the room, and made it halfway down the hall before a voice made them freeze: "Where are you two going?"

Fíli was walking towards them, looking equal parts suspicious and curious.

She exchanged a glance with Nori, and a silent agreement passed between them. Screw it.

Quinn turned back to Fíli. "Why don't you follow us and find out?"

"Man, I could really smoke right now."

"I've got some leftover pipeweed in my bag," Nori said. "I could go get it right now. Move your legs."

"I don't want pipeweed," Quinn said. "And I think you're gonna have to give my legs another few minutes."

"I could go for a pipe right now," Fíli said. He turned to Nori. "Also, I liked that thing you did with your tongue."

"Thanks. Most people do," Nori replied.

Quinn yawned. "You guys got any big plans after this is all over?"

"Well, it's not going to be truly over for a while," Fíli said. "There's reconstruction, reestablishing trade, settling migrants from the Blue Mountains…"

She smiled to herself. Out of the two brothers, at least one of them had the whole 'prince' thing covered. "What about you, Nori?"

"I think I might try and make an honest living once I get my share of the treasure. Become a merchant or something."

"That's a noble thought," Fíli said. "So what are you actually planning on doing?"

Quinn snorted, while Nori just shrugged and said, "Haven't decided yet."

"Quinn?"

"What?"

"Do you have plans?"

"Uh...I haven't decided either, actually." She turned to Nori. "Maybe we could become drug dealers."

But the question made her uneasy as she remembered what Belekur had said. After the quest was finished, they were supposed to leave Middle-earth. She wasn't sure what the exact terms of that were, but there was the possibility that she'd just disappear at any random moment.

If the dragon was dead and Erebor was reclaimed, what was keeping that from happening?

"Quinn, are you all right?" Fíli asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." She shook off her melancholy. This was a stupid time to be bummed out anyway. "I was just thinking...can we call this round two of sword fighting practice?"

"...All right, I should go."

They all rearranged their limbs so Fíli could get out of the bed.

"So that's what those bruises are from," Nori said, propping himself up on an elbow. "I thought you were having fun without me."

"Jesus, what kind of freak do you think I am?"

"So you didn't enjoy it?" Fíli asked, bending down to collect his clothing.

"Those are my pants, not yours. And yeah, getting beat up with a wooden sword isn't really a turn on for me. But we should definitely do this again sometime."

"We'll see." He finished dressing and left the room.

Quinn rolled over. "I know this is your room, but I'm gonna crash here, if that's okay with you."

"Of course." He lay back down. "Though you never struck me as the type to spend the night."

"Well, I seriously doubt I could make it to the door, or I would actually go. Same thing happened with Beorn, actually."

If Nori had been drinking something, he probably would have spat it out. "You slept with—"

"Yeah, in his human form."

"Why would you feel the need to clarify that?"

"I don't know!" Quinn threw a pillow over her burning face. "I'm going to sleep now."

"Don't let yourself suffocate," Nori said, then rolled over.

After a few minutes, Quinn realized she wasn't actually asleep. She was somewhere else, lying in an inch or so of water, and standing above her was a familiar face.

"Not you again." She stood up and backed up to put some space between herself and Belekur. "Also, do we have to always meet like this? I couldn't be walking out of an elevator, or something?" She turned and wrung the water out of the back of her t-shirt.

"We don't have long," Belekur said. Fortunately they seemed a little less snappish than the last time they'd met. "I've managed to connect our minds for now, but it won't last."

"Right, well, give me the Twitter version, then. What do you want?" Now that she was confident she wouldn't be getting strangled again, Quinn was more concerned with when she'd be able to get some actual sleep.

Belekur started pacing. "I have not yet been called away from this world, which means my purpose is not complete. I was not called here to help the dwarves reclaim their homeland, as the wizard thought."

Quinn nodded slowly. That was reassuring, oddly enough. "So, what do you think your true purpose is?"

"War is coming to these lands. The elves will march upon the mountain soon, and the dwarves stand no chance of winning against them."

"So we defend the mountain," she said, unable to stop a shiver that ran down her spine at the thought of thousands of elves marching towards the gates of Erebor.

Belekur shook their head. "The dwarves have no hope of surviving an attack from the elves. It is what comes next that is the real threat. With the mountain free of dragons or dwarves, the orcs will move in and try to take it."

"Okay, you just lost me. Legolas and Tauriel already killed like, half the orcs. Why would they be a threat?"

"If what the wizard says is true, Sauron has risen once again, and he is doubtless gathering an army as well. Your elf friends have killed only a fraction of those that will attack once the elves have finished with the dwarves. That army is the true threat to Middle-earth."

Quinn sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Putting aside the fact that you are assuming all my friends are going to die, how is this an ancient warrior problem? The elves would just be able to take care of it, right?"

"The threat of the orcs must be such that the elves will require my help. This is why you must stand with their army against Erebor. To side with the dwarves would be a mistake, and you've made enough of those already," Belekur said, punctuating the statement with a glare.

She let out a sigh and glanced away. "Well, I think that's enough shitty advice for one night. You seriously think I'm gonna betray my friends because they have no shot at winning?"

"There is more at stake here than the lives of thirteen dwarves!"

"And a hobbit." Quinn looked around at the gray mist surrounding them. "God, is there any way to leave this place? Exit chat room? Because I'm really just about to leave you on read."

"Your love for the dwarves and the halfling will condemn the others of this land."

"Alexa, end conversation."

There was no fading light as there had been before—Quinn simply woke up. She pushed the pillow off her face and took a deep breath. "Holy shit, that worked?"

Next to her, Nori grunted and rolled over.

Quinn sat up and sighed. She was really hoping that dream-visit had been a one-time thing. She didn't need a mean, annoying conscience bent on telling her how not to be a good friend. Her stint as an "ancient warrior" was over, and she wasn't even going to try to pretend the fate of this world was on her.

It wasn't her choice. It couldn't be her choice. That wouldn't be fair to anyone.

She got out of the bed and started throwing on her clothes. Screw the Ask Belekur column. If there was a way out of this, it was going to be her way.

Can those of you who have read my other fics tell I have a thing for training scenes...

And I know this isn't often the characterization people usually do, but I think we could all use a little more cocky Fili in our lives, hm? Speaking of...I hope I'm not pushing the envelope with the T-rating here. There were a couple lines I had to take out just to be on the safe side.

I'm putting a good amount of foreshadowing for a Thing that's gonna happen later, some of it more subtle than others. Any ideas?

Also, check out the poll in my bio, as it pertains to this story!