Whew! So I have been working on more chapters and I have this one ready. I will just be posting them as soon as they are done. So here you go! Enjoy!
-Melodie xoxox
Before long, we found a narrow bridge ahead of us which had no handholds and crossed a large river below us. We walked swiftly and carefully across us and I could see ahead of us that a few elves were strolling about. Bilbo and I gazed in awe at the beauty of the place, but the rest of the dwarves looked uneasy with the situation. Almost immediately, a dark-haired elf walked down a flight of stairs and came to greet us, obviously waiting for us.
"Mithrandir," The dark-haired elf greeted Gandalf with familiarity.
"Ah, Lindir!" Gandalf greeted him happily and, Lindir and Gandalf greeted each other formally as the dwarves around me murmured amongst themselves in distrust. Thorin whispered to Dwalin then, the both of them standing in front of me.
"Stay sharp," Thorin ordered Dwalin as Lindir spoke in a flowing and light sounding language.
"Lastannem i athrannedh i Vruinen," Lindir said to Gandalf and I noticed that the language did sound a bit like Gaelic but shared no similar words.
"I must speak with Lord Elrond," Gandalf told the elf as the dwarves kept a close distance with one another as if waiting for an attack.
"My lord Elrond is not here," Lindir informed the wizard who raised one bushy grey brow curiously.
"Not here? Where is he?" Gandalf asked and behind us, a horn like the one I had heard earlier on the plains sounded and the dwarves turned around quickly. I felt dizzy once more as Dori turned and I tried to focus my gaze on the group of armed horsemen approaching along the bridge at a rapid rate towards us.
"Ifridî bekâr!" Thorin shouted to us in Khuzdul before repeating his words in Westron. "Hold ranks!"
The dwarves bunched up together into a tight circle with their weapons pointed outward, Dori in the middle with me and Bilbo as the Dwarves drew tight around me, obviously all protecting me. Dwalin stood in front of me with Thorin, Kili and Fili right behind me and Bifur, Bofur, Nori and Gloin, taking up each side of me. The mounted Elves arrived and rode in circles around us almost menacingly. Eventually, they stopped, and one elf separated himself from the others.
"Gandalf," The elf greeted the wizard and Gandalf bowed to him gracefully. So this was the Lord of Rivendell.
"Lord Elrond. Mellonnen! Mo evínedh?" Gandalf asked Lord Elrond in his own language.
"Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad. Dagannem rim na Iant Vedui," Elond answered the wizard as he dismounted his horse, he and Gandalf hugging one another. The dwarves around me began to get irritated at their use of a language they did not understand. "Strange for Orcs to come so close to our borders. Something, or someone, has drawn them near," Lor dElrond continued in Westron and he held up an Orc sword and showed it to everyone, then handed it off to Lindir.
"Ah, that may have been us," Gandalf told the elf lord apologetically and Thorin stepped forward then and Elrond looked down upon him with recognition.
"Welcome Thorin, son of Thrain," Lord Elond greeted Thorin formally.
"I do not believe we have met," Thorin said hotly and if I was close enough I so would have elbowed him in the ribs. This was not the time to be rude with our hosts.
"You have your grandfather's bearing. I knew Thror when he ruled under the Mountain," Lord Elrond informed Thorin, not even acknowledging his rude response.
"Indeed; he made no mention of you," Thorin continued rudely and Lord Elrond ignored this second response as he turned to us, his eyes flickering over each one of us.
"And who might this lady be?" Elrond asked as his eyes fell upon me and I saw the muscles in Thorin;s jaw twitch as he clenched his teeth, not willing to answer. I had remembered hearing him and Gandalf talking and that Thorin was adamant that the elves not know I was his niece and true heir.
"I am Adaira, daughter of Gloin, son of Groin," I spoke up in a clear voice and Gloin's head whipped around quickly to look at me as Thorin turned around, everyone looking surprised for only a second before they hid their surprise. It was most likely unnoticeable to all but me as their eyes only widened a bit.
"Aye, this is my daughter," Gloin spoke quickly and as he was next to me, he placed a hand on my good shoulder.
"Welcome to the city of Imladris. Lindir, ready the heading halls and escort this lady to them," Elrond ordered, his gaze still on me.
"Right away, my Lord Elrond," Lindir answered him and he tried to come towards us to no doubt take me from Dori's arms, but the dwarves closed ranks around me once then, all looking murderous. Lindir stopped where he was and Gandalf was shooting death glares at Thorin which were ignored as Lindir looked to Lord Elrond is askance and Lord Elrond raised one brow.
"We have our own healer who will see to her," Thorin all but growled at Lord Elrond and I knew that I had to do something to get them to calm down so I did the best I could at that moment, I leaned forward in Dori's arms and promptly vomited at his feet. The dwarves sprung away quickly from me in either disgust or worry and Dori looked rather green about the face.
"Adad," I said in a steady but weak sounding voice as I really laid it on thick and it took a moment for Gloin to turn and look at me, Thorin having been the first. Gloin looked at Thorin who seemed to have an internal battle with himself before he nodded at Gloin who reached to take me from Dori. He did so, holding me carefully in his arms before he turned to the elf Lord.
"Where she goes, so do I," Gloin told the two elves gruffly and Lord Elrond nodded in understanding.
"Nartho i noer, toltho i viruvor. Boe i annam vann a nethail vin," Lord Elrond said to us and to Lindir and Gloin bristled at that.
"What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?" Gloin demanded to know as the dwarves grew bellicose and gripped their weapons uneasily.
"No, master Gloin, he's offering you food," Gandalf answered Gloin exasperatedly and the dwarves quickly discussed this amongst themselves.
"Ah well, in that case, lead on," Gloin told Lord Elrond who smiled before Oin joined us, standing to my right side.
"I go with the lassie as well. She's my niece after all," Oin told Lindir who nodded, looking a little exasperated himself before he led us into the city. I looked back over my shoulder at the others and they were all staring at us as we left them. Thorin nodded to me then and I nodded back, glad that my quick thinking has paid off.
The winding paths through the city were lined with trees and flowers, some of which I had never seen before. It was tranquil down in the city and many elves passed by us, openly staring and some whispering to their companions. Lindir brought us into a large circular room which was filled with several beds and smelled of fresh herbs and something spicy. I was placed down on a clean white bed and I grimaced, a little embarrassed at how dirty and covered in blood I was as I would no doubt ruin the sheets entirely.
"Wait here. I shall fetch a healer." Lindir told us once I was set down and he promptly walked off, leaving me alone with Gloin and Oin.
"That was quick thinking on yer part," Gloin told me in a hushed voice and I smiled slightly up at him, feeling tired, dizzy, and sick.
"I figured I look more like you with the hair and all," I whispered back as Lindir returned, a dark-haired elven woman trailing behind him. She carried a basket with her and looked serine almost. She smiled as she approached us and said something to Lindir in their language. Lindir nodded at her words, bowed to us, and then left.
"I am Aredhel," The elven woman told us as she approached me without care, even though Gloin and Oin looked downright scary as they guarded me.
"Adaira, daughter of Gloin, son of Groin," I introduced myself, the words feeling strange on my lips.
"What caused your injuries?" The elven woman asked as she sat beside me on the bed, looking through what she had in her basket beside her on the bed.
"A Warg, it bit my shoulder and scratched my back. I fell into the hidden pass then and hit my head on a rock once it released me," I explained to the elven woman carefully and she nodded as she took out several packets of herbs and rose from the bed.
"Perhaps you might feel more comfortable if it is just the two of us," Aredhel said as her gaze flicked between the two dwarves who were standing guard. They immediately began to protest but I hushed them quickly.
"Adad," I said and Gloin turned to look at me. "Perhaps it is best if only Uncle remains," I told him pointedly as I shimmied out of Ori's sweater and he saw how ripped my tunic was for the first time.
"Aye," He said gruffly, looking to his brother and they shared a look, nodding at one another. Gloin departed to find the rest of the company, entrusting me to Oin, who I felt comfortable with helping me through this as he was after all a healer.
"My uncle is a healer also," I told Aredhel quietly and she nodded, smiling slightly, unfazed by everything that was happening as if she had dealt with protective family before.
"Then his help will be appreciated," She said, turning to Oin. "I will go get some hot water," She told us, and she rose, leaving us alone for a moment. Oin jumped into action rooting around in the elven woman's basket and either humming or frowning at what he found.
Then, Oin proceeded to help me remove my destroyed tunic. The scratches on my back had cut through my breast bindings and those fell away as well as he helped me sit upright. Aredhel retuned then, frowning herself as she took in my injuries for the first time.
"Time heals all wounds," Aredhel said and Oin hummed approvingly at her wounds as she placed a basin of steaming water on the small table beside the bed and began to dip a length of cloth in it. "Turn onto you back please," She directed me and Oin helped me to turn over.
I groaned and gasped as she cleansed my wounds both on my back and on my shoulder. Oin then grasped my hand firmly and held me down as a sharp pain sprung up on my back. I gritted my teeth, knowing that the elven woman was trying to stitch me back together. The process was long and several times I had to beg her to stop, once even retching over the side of the bed and vomiting up the last contents of my stomach.
Once the process was done, a poultice was spread over my back which began to numb the lashes and my back and my shoulder now cared for were wrapped tightly in lengths of cotton bandages. I was helped to turn over once more and My head was seen too. There was a small gash above my right eyebrow which was cared for with honey and herbs and left open to heal. Oin took a cloth and dampened it in the cooling water and helped to wash the blood off my face and skin, but some remained in my hair. Aredhel bade me drink a herbal mixture she brought over in a cup and the steam that rose from it invaded my nose and filled me with a sense of peace. I began to feel sleepy after I drank the mixture and I felt a blanket being brought up over me before I fell asleep, welcoming the grip of unconsciousness.
A warmth filled me, and I could feel that I was laying down on something soft. Somewhere near me a fire was crackling merrily, and the wood smoke permeated the air with a familiar smell. Course fabric slid under my fingers as I moved my hand and when I opened my eyes, I was looking up at a ceiling of grey stone. I knew where I was all at once. This was not the polished marble of the last homely house od Lord Elrond, but the Halls of the Stone Father. I sat up and turned to look to the side and was met with the sight of Mahal sitting in a chair near my bedside.
"Ah, awake at last nathith," Mahal boomed as the blankets pooled about my waist, a soft smile on his face as he rose to his feet.
"Mahal," I said, bowing my head to the Stone Father and he waved his hand.
"No need to stand on formalities lass," He told me as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "You've fought your first fights," He said as he looked down at me. He was a large dwarf, bigger than even Dwalin in terms of muscle mass and a bit taller as well. He was an imposing Dwarf, but there was nothing but fondness and fatherly concern in his eyes.
"And gotten myself hurt as well," I muttered, hating myself for being so stupid. Now my injuries would only slow us down. That and they proved to Thorin and the others that I couldn't protect myself or them.
"Injuries don't make yah weak lass," Mahal said as if he could read my thoughts. "You protected yer kin more than once. Sometimes the only thing you can protect themselves with in a given moment is yer own body. Yer scars are not a symbol of yer weakness, but of your strength. They're a thing of pride," Mahal told me as I played with my hands which were resting in my lap and he reached over and gently raised my chin so that I was looking at him. "The thing about fighting lass, is knowing when to fight and when not to. Now ye've had to fight, but there is more than one kind of fight. Do you know what I mean lass?" Mahal asked me and I shook my head in confusion.
"Fighting to protect yerself or yer kin, that is one kind of fight, aye?" Mahal asked and I nodded in understanding and he paused before continuing. "Now, fighting with yer kin, that's another thing mind ye. Sometimes yer kin hurts ye bad either with their words or with their acts. But most often it comes form a place of love," Mahal said, and I frowned deeply.
"So, you are saying that I shouldn't be hurt that they didn't trust me to protect them as they would me?" I asked Mahal, incredulous.
"No, I am not saying that," Mahal answered me before sighing deeply. "I'm saying that life is too short to let your anger get the better of you. Now, ye could be angry with them and hold a grudge, or ye can forgive them and move on from it see," Mahal said, smiling down at me fondly. "Ye have yer pride and no doubt ye can see how much they care for yah lass," He continued, and I nodded. I knew that each member of the Company would give their life for me and I knew that we had all grown close in the short period of time already. I felt like I had a family again. "Knowing when to fight, and knowing when not to," Mahal repeated and I nodded once more, understanding his words now.
"The wizard, Radagast, he claimed that I had been poisoned and that's why I was sent away from Middle Earth," I said, changing the subject and Mahal sighed heavily and nodded.
"Aye, that was the way of it. Ye see lass, as much as we try to help, not all of what we created was good. There are those who had only ill will in their hearts. Morgoth being one of them," Mahal began as I listened to him intently. "Many men fought and died to end this evil, but not all things can be defeated. Sometimes evil leaves it's mark and where darkness is, dark things may grow," Mahal explained, and I frowned deeply.
"Radagast seemed worried. Not to mention Gandalf said the trolls hadn't come down from the Ettenmoors for an age. The darkness is already growing, isn't it? That's why I am back. You said before that somehow I would be the one to determine the fate of my people," I said, pulling the pieces together.
"Aye, that is the way of it, lass. Ye've still got time yet until ye must do anything," Mahal informed me, patting my leg. "A battle can not be waged alone if you ken what I mean lass," Mahal said and I nodded in understanding.
"Allies," I said, and Mahal nodded in conformation, not saying it, but I knew already what he meant.
"Aye. Rest now lass," Mahal told me, and he tucked me back in and bent down, kissing the top of my head and I began to feel my eyelids droop with sleep. As I closed them, I heard Mahal humming a melody, the darkness enfolding me once more.
When I next opened my eyes, it was a bright light and I sighed out a breath as I saw the polished marble ceiling above me once more. I carefully sat up, wincing in pain as I did so. Despite my injuries, I felt remarkably well rested. I grimaced at the pain, but it was nothing compared to what I felt obtaining the injury. It was a dull ache with the occasional twinge of sharp pain if I moved wrong. I could smell pipe weed and when I turned to look, I found Gandalf sitting beside me, pleasantly smiling at me as smoke curled from the end of his pipe.
"I was beginning to think you would sleep away the day," Gandalf remarked, putting his pipe in his mouth for a moment and inhaling. When he exhaled the smoke, it turned into a moth and it flited around me much as it had done to Bilbo before I waved it away with my hand and it dissipated.
"How long have I been asleep?" I asked Gandalf and he smiled at me, amused.
"Three days, and I dare say Thorin was ready to wring some necks. I had to assure him several times that you only needed rest and would wake in your own time," Gandalf told me, and I rolled my eyes, of course they would all be ready to seek blood.
"Well, I am awake now," I said as I rolled my neck, getting out the kinks. "How are the others behaving?" I asked and Gandalf just gave me a look that told me the whole story. "I guess it is good that I am awake now then," I said, and Gandalf nodded.
"Indeed, if anyone can knock some sense into Thorin it would be you. Especially as his greatest concern at the moment is you," Gandalf said and I nodded determinedly before I threw back the sheets and swung my legs over the side of the bed, glad to find myself clad in a long, white tunic. It wouldn't be good after all to flash a wizard.
"I'll call for Aredhel," Gandalf told me, standing and patting my good shoulder before disappearing. I had just stood to stretch when Aredhel all but floated over gracefully to myside. I jumped as she put a hand on my arm, not having heard her walk over.
"Gah!" I exclaimed, jumping back in surprise and wincing as the action sent a jolt of pain down my back. "Warn a girl," I muttered as Aredhel smiled serenely back at me.
"Let's get you cleaned up and then I shall bring you to your kin," Aredhel said, not in the least bit affected by me and she gently steered me to a separate room which house a large steaming bath.
The bath was set into the floor and there were three steps set into the bath. It was less of a bath and more of a pool which fifteen or more people could fit into. There were neat rows of vials stacked beside the pool and Aredhel had already gathered what I would need. I sighed in delight ass I smelled the perfumed steam. It smelt of calming lavender and I was just delighted with being able to take a hot bath again to clean of the dust and dirt of the road along with whatever blood remained on my skin. I assured Aredhel several times that I could bath myself and she finally left me, telling me to call for her when I needed help dressing.
I dipped a toe into the water when she left, and I sighed once more before I quickly stripped out of my pristine tunic and my grubby leggings. I carefully removed my bandages, shocked when I saw that rather than having deep puncture marks in my shoulder, only bright pink marks of new skin, raw to the touch, remained in their place. Several deep, mottled pink scars ran down my right shoulder and I reached around to touch my back, feeling wider mottled scars there as well. Such a process should have taken weeks, but instead had happened in only three days. Not even back home could such a thing happen.
What exactly was in that drink Aredhel had given me. Before I lost my mind trying to figure out how it had all happened, I tossed off my underclothes and stepped into the bath. It was obviously built for the taller Elves and I ended up sitting on the second step, the water under my chin and just lounged in the hot water, sighs escaping from my lips as the heat sunk deep into my bones.
I knew that I sadly couldn't spend forever in this luxury so I enjoyed it now, knowing that once we departed from Rivendell, I would be back to living with my own stench. Hopefully the others would take advantage of the nice baths too. If I had to smell one more "manly" whiff coming from Kili I think I would just lose it and dunk him in the first river I could find.
The vials, I found out, contained different scents, all seemingly meant to act as shampoo and soap. Several were more like oils and others more soap like. I chose lavender and something that smelt like cedar and washed my hair, wetting and dumping the contents of a vial into a small towel and scrubbing at my skin until it was a fresh pink. I climbed out of the tub carefully and wrapped a towel around myself, feeling self-conscious as my hair dripped all over the floor. I called for Aredhel and she returned, seemingly no fazed.
She led me into a side room and sat me down in a chair before a dressing table and she found another towel and went to start toweling my hair dry when I put my hands over my hair and stopped her.
"Um, please don't," I told her, and she frowned at me in confusion. "Only my family can touch my hair," I explained to her quickly and she nodded in understanding. I took the towel from her and kind of roughly toweled my hair before I pulled my braids and beads from my hair, carefully setting them down on the table in front of me so I wouldn't lose them. I was a little self-conscious all the while. Where Aredhel was tall, graceful and beautiful, I was short, squat and clumsy.
"Your hair is magnificent. I've never seen a color quite like this before or such curls," Aredhel said in amazement as I picked up the comb on the table and ran it through my wet hair, pulling at tangles and grimacing when they wouldn't come out and I had to fight with them.
"Oh, uh…thank you?" I said, more like a question as Aredhel smiled brightly at me. "I have my mother's hair," I said and then I chastised myself as I was supposed to be acting like Gloin was my father and probably shouldn't offer up too much information.
"It's like fire," Aredhel told me and I smiled, my father having compared it to fire quite a few times when we were together. When I finished combing through my hair Aredhel held up a dress which had been laid over another chair. "I hope this is suitable. We didn't have much that would fit someone of your stature. Our finest seamstress prepared this for you while you slept," She informed me, and I ran my hand down the silken skirt of the gown. It was elven in fashion, made of blue and cream silk. One might call it simple as it was not embroidered like Aredhel's own dress, which was covered in a starch white apron, but it was beautiful to me.
"Can you thank them for me? It is beautiful," I told her honestly and she smiled at me, looking a little surprised.
"I will," Aredhel assured me before she all but ripped off my towel and helped me dress in clean underclothes and the dress. She said they had left a corset out due to the injuries on my back which I was more than happy to hear, not wanting to wear one of the torture contraptions. Instead, I had breast bindings once more.
The dress fell slightly longer than my feet, meant to trail around me and the sleeves were long, my hands poking out and long swaths of fabric hanging down past my knees. Seeing it on myself I felt like I looked stupid. Obviously, I was not an elf and though the dress was beautiful, I wasn't sure if it suited me. Aredhel seemed delighted though so I didn't ruin it for her as she sat me back down.
I quickly rebraided my hair and replaced my beads before braiding my hair and twisting it about my head like a crown, leaving my other braids to fall down in front of my face, framing it. Aredhel nodded and she led me away from the healing halls. I twisted my face up to meet the sun, smiling. It felt so nice to have a moment to breath, not wondering what might attack you on the road and time to just enjoy the sun and smell the flowers of which there were many.
I heard the others long before I saw them. There was burping, farting, loud yelling, and bawdy songs. It seemed as if the Company were doing everything they wouldn't in my presence. Aredhel seemed a little taken aback as she led me to the balcony that they were on, their bed rolls laid our in a circle. Apparently, they had refused rooms where they would be apart in favor of staying together. They were also close to the healing halls which I knew was Thorin's doing.
"Lord Elrond has asked that I inform him when you were awake. Your…family," Aredhel said, pausing as she tried to find a word to describe the ruckus that was behind us. "Has refused to dine without you and have been taking their meals together here. I will send someone to collect you for dinner," Aredhel told me and she turned to walk away, but I caught her on the arm. She turned back to me, slightly surprised.
"Aredhel," I said, hoping I wasn't butchering her name. "Thank you for all you have done for me," I told her, and her eyes widened slightly in surprise before she smiled and put her hand to her heart and held it out to me.
"Be well," She told me before she took her leave.
I turned back towards the ruckus and took a deep breath slowly letting it out before I squared my shoulders and walked slowly towards my new family. When I got closer, I could see why there was so much noise. Bofur and Nori were entertaining the others with their bawdy music while Dori tried to hush them. Ori seemed to look happy to be left alone for once and was writing in his book. Fili and Kili were sword fighting each other, Bombur and some of the others were eating and Dwalin, Thorin, and Balin were sitting together in one corner, their heads bent towards one another as they spoke in low voices.
They didn't even see me as I came to the outer edge of the balcony and I causally strode through the middle of them. No doubt they thought me another elf. I plopped down next to Ori and looked over at what he was doing, the scribe so engrossed in his work that he didn't even notice. Ori was drawing a portrait of Bilbo, the hobbit himself no where in sight.
"That's amazing Ori," I said, and the scribe hummed as his charcoal rubbed along the parchment.
"Thank you Adaira," Ori said then, lost in thought and then he squeaked in surprise, turning quickly to look at me. "Adaira!" He said more loudly, and I grinned back at him, everyone else too caught up in what they were doing to notice. "Shouldn't you be…well…healing?" Ori asked me in concern, and I pointed to one of the scars that was visible on my shoulder.
"I have no idea how they did it but there nothing more than new scars now," I told Ori who looked amazed at that.
"Are you really okay?" He asked me with a look of worry on his face and I nodded in confirmation before he pulled me into a tight hug which only lasted for a few seconds before he let me go.
"Have they been like this the whole time?" I asked Ori, gesturing around to the others and his face scrunched up in disgust and he nodded. "Well then," I said, and I stood up and walked into the middle of the throng. "Shazara!" I shouted, my voice echoing around the balcony and the dwarves fell silent as they all snapped their head around to me. A loud cry rose up and they all began rushing towards me with grins and good wishes.
"Enough!" Thorin shouted above the others as they all tried to talk to me at once and Thorin stood with Dwalin outside of my throng of well-wishers. The others feel silent and made a path as Thorin made his way to me.
"Mizimith," Thorin said as he gently held me by the elbows and pressed his forehead to mine.
"Idad," I said as Thorin pulled back and smiled down at me.
"How do you feel?" He asked and I smiled brightly at him.
"Never better. See, just about all healed," I told him as I pointed out the bit of scaring that peeked out from the neckline of my dress and Thorin frowned deeply.
"How is that possible?" Thorin asked me and I shrugged, holding back a little grimace of pain.
"You tell me," I told my uncle and he chuckled slightly.
"Come, we need to talk," Thorin said and Fili and Kili frowned, obviously having wanted to monopolize my time now that I was back. I let Thorin lead me to where he had been sitting with Balin and Dwalin who had exchanged a look as Thorin greeted me before they slipped away from the group. "Your quick thinking is to be commended," Thorin told me in a low voice after he helped me down to sit on the ground. Gloin sat nearby, not so near that he could hear us, but near enough that it would look like he was looking out for me.
"I overheard you telling Gandalf that you didn't wish for Lord Elrond to know that I was your niece. Master Gloin and I share red hair. I thought our similarities with him being also of Durin's line would only help to convince the Elves that what I said was true," I told Thorin and he nodded in understanding.
"I'm proud of you. As injured as you were, you though faster than even me," Thorin told me seemingly bursting with pride as he smiled down at me. "Do they pain you much?" He asked, his pride turning to concern, and I shook my head.
"Not very much. Only when I stretch too far," I assured him, and he nodded before reaching into his coat and pulling out a wooden carved bead.
"Forgive me. Wood is all we had on hand. I had Bifur carve this for you," Thorin told me as he handed me off the bead and I frowned as I took it from him, studying it closely.
"A Warrior's bead?" I asked him in confusion and Thorin nodded, humming slightly.
"You showed great courage and skill protecting your Kili and myself along with the Company," Thorin told me and I frowned, shaking my head.
"I got myself hurt, that doesn't speak towards skill," I told my uncle, still not believing Mahal fully. I trusted him to speak the truth, but I couldn't find it in myself to think the same.
"Scars are seen as marks of honor, mizimith. They show courage and speak towards the deeds you have done. None amongst your kin would ever see it as anything other than this," Thorin told me, putting one of his hands over my own and squeezing them lightly.
"They're ugly," I said, coming to terms with how I felt ass tears welled up in my eyes.
"Oh mizimith," Thorin said and he drew me close to him, hugging me tightly. "Though the scars mar your skin, no one will find them ugly," Thorin told me before he pulled up his sleeve and showed me his forearm which was mottled with scars. "During the Battle of Azanulbizar I received many scars. They speak to my past. They show any darrowdam I can protect and care for them. To your One they will show that you fought to save your kin, that you are as strong as them," Thorin told me and I nodded, wiping my eyes on the palm of my hand.
"I'll take your word on that one," I told Thorin with a dry chuckle and he gestured for me to hand him the bead. He unbound my hair and braided a new braid into my hair on the left side of my head behind my father's braid. Then he began braiding a long braid in my hair of five strands, my smaller braids hanging free. Then Thorin presented me with a hair comb which was made of wood and carved with flowers on it, roses and lilies. "I commissioned this from Bifur. I thought perhaps you might want something for your hair while we are here," Thorin told me as he slid it into my hair at the top of my braid.
"Thank Idad, truly. It is beautiful," I told Thorin before turning back towards the other dwarves and catching Bifur's attention. I signed to him in thanks and expressed my like for it and he signed back that he was glad I liked it. Bofur whistled then and jerked his head around towards the path leading towards us where an elf was coming, probably to lead us to dinner.
I scooted away from Thorin so that I was sitting next to Gloin and shot one last smile towards Thorin before Oin and Gloin helped me to my feet, both dwarves fussing over me. Dwalin and Balin returned just after the Elf did and Dwalin's eyes met my own across the balcony. I smiled at him and nodded, and he nodded back. I knew Mahal was right. Life was too short, especially now to hold a grudge. I'd find the right time to talk with Dwalin and let him say his peace on the matter. After all, I missed our conversations.
Dwalin hadn't noticed her at first, he had been deep in conversation with Thorin and Balin about what they should do in their time here, but then he felt her presence. It was like he could feel her standing there, like she was sunshine and he could feel her warmth and his gaze had flicked upwards and he saw her sitting beside Ori. Her hair shone and her eyes were filled with mirth. She was wearing a Durin's blue dress, an Elven style, but it fit her well. He could see some scars peeking through her neckline, mottled and a bright pink, but she looked happy. She stood then, looking around at them all, no one noticing her save him just yet and she shouted for the others to silence. A cheer rose up from the others and they all rushed towards her, blocking his progress towards her which made him growl. Dwalin hadn't realized that he was staring with his mouth open until Thorin bumped him in the shoulder as he made his way over to Adaira. Dwalin shut his mouth quickly his brother shooting him a sly grin.
Dwalin ground his teeth together and as Thorin spoke to Adaira, Dwalin strode forward and out of the throng, happy to get away from everyone for a little while. Balin followed him which Dwalin knew he would do, and the two brothers walked into a small garden, of which there were many in this place. Dwalin cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders, his back to Balin, but his brother decided to speak up.
"You should tell her," Balin said and Dwalin grunted, not turning around.
"To what end? She hates me," Dwalin told his brother who came to stand beside him, putting a hand on his broad shoulder.
"You don't know that," Balin told his brother and Dwalin grunted again. "You;ve never been one to back down from a fight. Apologize to her, tell her why it was you were so worried," Balin continued and Dwalin rolled his shoulder, pulling away from his brother.
"Stay out of it," Dwalin said as he turned around to his brother. "It's my life. Just leave it alone," Dwalin told him angrily and Baalin sighed deeply.
"Well you'll never tell her with the way you're acting," Balin said before he hummed an "ah" sound in understanding. "You don't mean to ever tell her, do you?"
"She deserves someone younger. Someone who can rule alongside her when the time comes. I'm all wrong for her," Dwalin said, bringing himself down and Balin shook his head.
"You don't know that. Would you deny her if she realizes that you are her One?" Bain asked him and Dwalin grunted, shaking his head.
"She's my One, but there is no way I am hers," Dwalin told him before he strode off back to the balcony as an Elf passed by them, heading towards the balcony. When Dwalin returned with Balin in tow, the Elf was announcing that they were to follow him to Lord Elrond's tables. When Dwalin looked across the balcony, Adaira's eyes met him and she nodded at him with a pleasant smile on her face confusing him entirely. She looked bonny, happy even. He wouldn't ruin that even and the expense of his own happiness.
Khuzdul
Ifridî bekâr- Hold ranks!
Nathith- Daughter
Mizimith- Little jewel
Sindrarin
Lastannem i athrannedh i Vruinen- We heard you had crossed into the Valley.
Mellonnen! Mo evínedh?- My friend! Where have you been?
Farannem 'lamhoth i udul o charad. Dagannem rim na Iant Vedui. - We've been hunting a pack of Orcs that came up from the South. We slew a number near the Hidden Pass.
Nartho i noer, toltho i viruvor. Boe i annam vann a nethail vin. - Light the fires, bring forth the wine. We must feed our guests.
