Hello all,
Well here is chapter 35 I do hope you all enjoy
"Now then I will be back when I have done all I can and not a moment before! Here is what I expect: I expect your attitude Thorin to improve, and I expect the company to get plenty of rest. Until then you know where I will be."
Without another word or glance back, Veirra headed for the ruins of Dale ignoring Thorin's shouts to come back, with threats that she would regret her actions. Regardless, Veirra continued until the shouts were little more then noise that echoed all the way from Erebor to Dale. As she stepped into the shadow of the ruins she could hear the people ahead, then heard Hilda ask. "What is that dwarf yelling about?!"
It was then Veirra stepped into view holding the bags. "Oh that would be me. Apparently he is mad because I do not follow orders well. Now he cursing in Khuzdul things that are not fit for children's or ladies' ears."
"Veirra!" Hilda said coming up and hugging the ranger, then turned to another. "Fetch Bard quick. He will want to know Veirra is here."
Immediately a lad rushed off to inform Bard and the others while Veirra set down the packs. Many of the people of Dale were surprised to see her as she set the bags down. "Are there healers about?"
"I am a healer, milady." One of the villagers spoke up stepping forward.
"Ah good, in these bags are the herbs we gathered from inside Erebor's storerooms. Most of the herbs were no good, save for the ones dry preserved. They are not much but hopefully they should help." Veirra said gesturing to the bags at her feet. Then Bard and his children came into view, and she noticed the big grin on his face.
"I had not expected to see you so soon, Veirra." Bard said coming closer.
"Well I did warn you that you would not be rid of me for long." Veirra joked.
"It is good to see you again, Veirra." Sigrid spoke up then her smile faded as she looked around the ranger, "Where is lord Fili?"
Veirra sighed, "I am sorry Sigrid. Unfortunately we met with an 'unforeseen obstacle'." As she spoke she gestured behind her and that was when Bard moved past as did many others to find the entrance to Erebor walled up.
"No wonder we heard yelling, you escaped." Bard chuckled.
"Yes well if it is all the same to you I think I will wait until Thorin's temper has cooled before returning." Veirra replied.
"Returning? You would go back?" Bard asked concerned for the reckless woman before him.
"I have to." Veirra said firmly.
"Of course she does sire." Alfrid said snidely and Veirra turned to glare at the slimy weasel. His nose looked to have recovered from Fili breaking it in Lake-Town, yet it still looked crooked. 'I think I can fix that!' Veirra thought viciously. However as he neared, which was his greatest mistake, Veirra looked to Sigrid.
"I promised to teach you how to throw a punch did I not?" Sigrid nodded, and before anyone could react Veirra's fist came up and connected with Alfrid's nose and he fell to the ground clutching his bleeding nose. "Alfrid the next time you lie to my friends or lie to Thorin about the fate of his nephews or myself, I will do a lot worse than re-break your nose!"
"Veirra? What are you talking about?" Bard asked confused.
"Shortly after we left Thorin and some of our companions came looking for us. They found Alfrid and asked after us only to have him lie and claim we all died in Lake-Town." Even as Alfrid shook his head still clutching his bleeding nose many in of the villagers glared at the slimy weasel.
"Get out of my sight Alfrid!" Bard said too angry that he would lie like that.
"What you are believing her over me?!" Alfrid shrieked, "She is just some travelling dwarf lord's w-"
"You are a spineless deceitful toad!" Hilda called out, "Of course we believe her over the likes of you!" A number of the people nodded in full agreement that Veirra was to be trusted over Alfrid, but then again no one trusted Alfrid. Moments later Alfrid was chased off and Veirra glared after him.
"I apologise for what he said and the pain he must have caused." Bard said, and Veirra smiled up at him.
"No need to do that, you did not know what he had done." Veirra said softly as many got back to work, "Now then you have me for the entire day to help however I can."
"Indeed, many of the healers will need aid and we are looking for more clothing, blankets, firewood. Unfortunately there is little food to be had..." Bard said trying to think of the long list of jobs to be done.
"Well first thing's first, how stable are the injured?"
"We have several injured that are severely burnt. Many more suffer with minor burns. I do hope you brought some herbs to to treat burns." Bard said making Veirra cringe.
"Unfortunately the primary plant used for burns was one Erebor preserved in water, and after sixty years it well—it rotted." Veirra said gently making Bard sigh. At least she was trying to lend aid and do good. "Hopefully the other herbs will help though."
"Of course."
"I will go do what I can to tend to the wounded." Veirra said then picked up one of the bags along with another healer and followed him to the injured. After that it became a very long day of working to make the people of Lake-town comfortable and ease their pains. However before Veirra fully realized it, the sun was setting, and so she returned to the makeshift home that Bard's family was staying in, or at least that was the direction many pointed in. By the time she reached Bard's 'new home' many of the people had settled as best they could for the evening.
Like most of the ruins in Dale, the door and shudders were burnt away, reminders of Smaug. Yet somehow Sigrid managed to make the place more homely. They had cleared away the old furniture and dusted, and to give some privacy and protection from the cold they hung old sheets and blankets to make doors and shudders. "Hello?" Veirra called before pushing the blanket aside and entering.
Inside there was some old furniture, a large table, four chairs, and some makeshift beds in the corner. Across the way they burnt other old furniture that would be unsafe to sit in or use. To the right was a large window covered by a sheet with a windowsill large enough to sit on.
"Make yourself at home." Bard said coming in behind her and putting some fire wood and old furniture down that would be used to keep the fire going.
"I cannot stay long. I will need to return." Veirra pointed out.
"True but before you do I do believe you mentioned to teach my eldest to throw a proper punch." Bard pointed out with a smile wanting to keep the ranger longer. As if on cue Bard's eldest walked in and smiled at Veirra.
"I hope you are not leaving so soon. You still have to teach me to throw a punch." Veirra nodded her agreement and while Sigrid tucked Tilda in Veirra tied some old pillows and cushions to a post outside. By the time she was done Sigrid came out and eyed the post curiously.
"This is going to be our practice dummy, after all we cannot have you practice on Alfrid as fun as that would be." The comment earned her a few chuckles from Bard and some of the people still awake. As Sigrid came up Veirra asked which was her main hand and had her make a proper fist. "The key thing is to never tuck your thumb inside your fist otherwise you risk breaking your thumb and doing more harm to yourself then your intended target."
Coming to stand behind Sigrid as she continued, "Next you want your knuckles to hit first. To do this tilt your wrist down and try to keep it aligned with your forearm Veirra said gently guiding her wrist to the proper place, "Like that, okay?"
Sigrid nodded as she tried to memorize what Veirra was teaching her to do. "Last whatever you do not lock your wrist, you could break it." For good measure she let Sigrid practice throwing punches then continued the lesson. "Now how to throw a proper punch is all well and good but to be able to defend yourself you need to know where to strike."
Veirra said unaware that Bard watched her with a smile on his face. "Now for a man like Alfrid or well any man that threatens you, you want to disable him long enough to get to safety. So if he is taller then you the first thing you must do is not throw a punch but bring him down to your level. Meaning your knee meets his groin which usually brings any man to his knees."
Thus Veirra first showed Sigrid how to practice kneeing a man between the legs. "Very good, now you kneed him between the legs the next thing is he will be on his knees holding himself. With your offhand you grab the back of his head, yank back and punch right here."
Veirra said pointing to her throat. "Right at the Adam's apple. Both blows are meant to knock the wind clean out of your opponent giving you enough time to get away."
"Mahal I hope you are not going to use those moves on me!" A familiar voice said making the pair turn to see a certain blond haired dwarf grinning at them.
"Fili what are you doing here?" Veirra asked shocked.
"Kili is covering for me, I had to slip away..." Fili said softly, then his eyes fell on Sigrid and he blushed. "However now that I have seen what you have taught the Lady Sigrid I am afraid to cross her." He teased lightly then sighed. "I cannot stay long, but I..."
Again Fili blushed and peeked at Sigrid. "I um well that is if it alright and the lessons are over, I have a gift for...Lady Sigrid."
"Of course." Veirra said stepping away to give them some relative privacy as she came to stand by Bard who had his arms folded across his chest watching the pair with eagle eyes. "Relax Bard Fili is only giving her a gift."
"You know him best, Veirra. What is he like?" Bard asked concerned.
"He is a good dwarf, but you do not need me for this. Consider what he has already done, his actions should speak loudest and better of him than I can." The pair watched as Fili gave Sigrid a small velvet pouch and she opened it to reveal a small tear shaped sapphire on a silvery chain. Bard smiled at the look on his daughter's face before she quickly darted in and placed a lingering kiss on Fili's blushing cheek. Then the pair darted apart remembering that they were being watched before moving back towards Bard's 'house' and both Bard and Veirra.
"I am sorry but I will have to get back before I am missed." Fili said and the smile slid from Sigrid's face.
"We both will have to go." Veirra pointed out, but Fili started shaking his head.
"No it is best you stay here. Uncle is still too angry, and has not been himself for a while." Fili said worried that if she returned what Thorin might do.
"And if I stay away that anger will only grow. Also you are right he has not been himself, but I am certain I can reach him. However, I cannot do it from here." Veirra said, "So I must go back just not at the same time as you. I do not want to get you into trouble, go I shall not be far behind."
Fili gave a long sigh then looked to Bard and Sigrid. He bowed to Bard, and kissed Sigrid's hand before slipping away back to Erebor leaving Veirra with Bard and Sigrid. "He is right you should not go. It is not safe there."
"Regardless Bard I must go back." Veirra said firmly. The group said their goodbyes, and Veirra also said goodbye to some of the other people of Lake-town before eventually heading back to Erebor herself. When she did reach the wall she located the rope left for her and began her climb back up the wall hoping to have time to think of what she would say to Thorin that would not dissolve into a screaming match. However as she climbed over the wall and landed on the battlements someone was waiting for her. For a moment she thought it Thorin until the bald head was a dead give-away.
"Lass you should not have come back." Dwalin said worried and peeked back at Erebor, "Go back I will pretend I did not see you."
"You know I cannot do that Dwalin. If I leave and let Thorin get worse I will not only have abandoned him but all of you. How fair would that be?" Veirra said, and Dwalin only nodded. He had obviously been asked by Thorin to keep watch for her return and now wished for any other job, then he straightened.
"Before I tell anyone you have returned, I owe you an apology." Dwalin said.
"An apology? Whatever for Dwalin?" Veirra asked confused as she thought back trying to find where she might have argued with Dwalin.
"I doubted you," Dwalin confessed, "I always knew you were capable and a warrior. Your skills were never in question, but when Thorin decided he was going to make you his queen I questioned it and wondered if he had gone mad. I am sorry, all I could see was a human. It was not until Thorin, Gloin, and I thought you and the others dead that I saw it. I had been a fool up until you returned to him on the beach. You complete him, and I can not see any other as my queen."
Veirra stood there stunned as she stared at the gruff short tempered dwarf. She had known there was bound to be some opposition to her as Thorin's queen, but to have Dwalin apologise. Finally she blinked and regained her ability to speak. "Dwalin you do not need to apologise for that, I understand."
Still Dwalin looked worried as he peeked back towards Erebor and she could guess why. For the hot tempered dwarf to accept her as his future queen meant protecting her, but how would he protect her from his friend and king without betraying him? Veirra wanted to reassure Dwalin that she could look after herself, but before she could the dwarf sighed.
"Come along lass if I cannot convince you to go back where it is safer, best to have this done with." With that the dwarf led her down the ramparts and back into Erebor. Perhaps facing Thorin would not be so bad. 'Yeah hold onto the daydream.' She thought sarcastically.
Author's Notes:
Well for this chapter I had to do a bit of research into how to throw punches. Took some digging, but now Veirra could teach Sigrid properly. Aside from that I also enjoyed writing a scene with Dwalin where he gets to talk one-on-one with Veirra. Like with previous chapters where I pick a specific dwarf she has not interacted with much, I felt it high time she interacted more with Dwalin. I also kind of pegged him as the one that might doubt the most the idea of Thorin choosing a human woman rather than a dwarf woman for his queen.
That aside I still recommend 'Welcome Home' by Killthepain62. Especially chapter 18 BEST CHAPTER EVER featuring Dwalin! By the way Killthepain62 I am still laughing *Wink*
Anyway hope you all enjoyed the chapter and please review away.
Lesliezin