I am back! Hello again everyone. I am on Thanksgiving break a bit early since I finished all my homework so I have no idea what to do with myself besides write and continue with this story. So, here is the next chapter of this story, it's gonna be good.
Anything that comes directly form the Hobbit belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.
Enjoy!
Mels xoxo
Adaira's POV
Erebor
The voice urged me on only this time I did not stop following it. I heard Bofur call to the others in alarm as I navigated the halls and soon Dwalin was at my heels calling for me to stop but I ran on and on through the halls of Erebor, descending even lower into the mountain, a torch carried in my hand. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew what the siren-like voice was now. It was Erebor itself, the mountain calling out to me, leading me somewhere.
I came to a long hallway made of smooth stone, now deep in what I saw were tombs, Khuzdul runes carved into pillars telling the story of our creation as I passed into the sacred place. My breath hitched in my throat as a chill made me shiver. The torch light casted shadows upon the stone around me, rows and rows of tombs carved into the stone on either side of me, names of those who rested there carved in Khuzdul, stone carved Dwarves acting as the tops of their tombs.
The siren-like call spurred me on down through the tombs and I finally came to a stone wall that looked completely smooth upon first glance but then I saw it, the lines that showed something carved into it. I slid the torch I carried into a bracket nearby and frowned as I gazed at the wall as the Company came to a halting stop behind me and I approached the stone wall and ran my hands along it, rubbing away grit that had accumulated in the carvings by the ages it had stood here untouched, revealing intricate carved work in the stone.
"Amrâlimê," Dwalin said behind me as he approached me slowly from behind and I turned to look at him. His hands we held up in front of him and I frowned at this before I realized that he was trying to show me that he was not a threat to me as he looked down at me in worry. No doubt I looked half mad.
"The mountain," I said by way of explanation as I looked at him and the Company beyond him. "It led me here. There's something here I was meant to find," I told my husband before I turned back to the wall and began to follow the grooves of whatever was carved into the stone, working free what had been stuck into it.
Dwalin stepped forward then and began to help me and soon we stepped back and gazed upon a familiar sight, a carved Oaken tree in the stone. I reached into the pocket of my breaches and pulled out the Oaken brooch that I had carried with me since I had first arrived here in Middle Earth and I held it up into the light of the flickering torch. The two were an exact match.
"This Oak tree was in the place I found in the Misty Mountains, where Durin woke when he first walked on Middle Earth," I said as Balin walked closer to inspect the wall and the brooch that I held up.
"Why would it be here?" He asked me, shaking his head in confusion. "I've never seen this before," He added and I frowned as I tried to piece it together.
"Because it was hidden. It wasn't meant to be found until now," I answered Balin before I took a deep breath, trying to think. "When I found the Oaken symbol it was only after I began singing of Durin. When I did these runes appeared in silver script, that's how I found the prophecy," I explained to Balin and he and Dwalin both looked to me.
"Sing amrâlimê," Dwalin told me and I nodded before turning to look at the wall.
"The king he was on carven throne, in many-pillared halls of stone, with golden roof and silver floor, and runes of power upon the door," I sang, but there was no difference to the wall. I stopped singing but Dwalin urged me on and I nodded before I continued singing. "The light of sun and star and moon, in shining lamps of crystal hewn, undimmed by cloud or shade of night, they shone forever fair and wide," I sang before huffing out in frustration as still nothing happened.
"It doesn't make sense. It worked the first time," I said, shaking my head and Bofur was the one who spoke up behind me.
"Maybe a different tune then, lass," Bofur said and I turned around to look at him frowning in confusion.
"What do you mean?" I asked him and he shrugged and I turned back to the wall, thinking.
I had found the brooch on Hegg. That's what brought me back here. The Oak tree obviously was a symbol meant to represent Thorin as I was brought back to take part in his quest to reclaim Erebor. My song about Durin had revealed the prophecy about the mountain or the Fate of Durin's Line in Durin's resting place. Mahal had meant for me to find it as he always knew I would wind up there. The Mountain, Erebor, had led me here to this very spot. A different tune Bofur had said.
It all started on Hegg. While I had been born on Middle Earth, my fate was to be sent to Hegg and from Hegg I had been brought back to Middle Earth. Hegg was still a part of me and maybe it was because I grew up on Hegg that I could decide the Fate of Durin's Line. I hadn't been raised like the others and maybe because of what I had learnt during my time on Hegg, I had the skills to do what needed to be done now. I sighed heavily before turning back to the wall, my hands on my hips as I stared at it. Finally a song came to mind, one that had to do with Hegg and I figured it couldn't hurt.
"Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling," I sang as my arms fell to my sides and Dwalin and Balin stared at me as the Dwarves all looked at me surprised at the unfamiliar song. "From glen to glen, and down the mountain side. The summer's gone, and all the roses falling, it's you, it's you must go and I must bide," I sang and I was surprised when I heard a loud sound like a tumbler being turned in a lock, the noise echoing around us.
"But come ye back when summer's in the meadow, or when the valley's hushed... and white with snow," I continued to sing as we continued to hear noises as if some great lock was coming undone. "It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow, oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!" I sang the song that my father sang to me often, one my father had grown to love during our life together on Hegg.
"But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying, if I am dead, as dead I well may be, you'll come and find the place where I am lying, and kneel and say an Ave there for me," I sang as the wall in front of us began to move and lift up slowly as a grinding sound like gears turning resounded through the walls.
"And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me, and all my grave will warmer, sweeter be, for you will bend and tell me that you love me, and I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!" I sang a tear slipping down my cheek as I thought of my father and how I sang this above his empty grave on Hegg.
The wall in front of us had completely lifted into the ceiling revealing a dark tunnel. I reached up and wiped the tear away from my face as Dwalin reached over and picked up the torch before he offered me his hand. I slipped my hand into his and we started forward into the now opened passage way. At first it led into a dark tunnel but then it opened into a cavernous space, very much like the place I had found in the Misty Mountains. Dwalin raised his torch high to cast his light around and I gasped as on a stone table in the middle of the room there was a body.
The others filtered into the room behind us, carrying torches as well and they fanned out, lighting the torches covered in cobwebs that were placed in brackets on the walls and soon the room was washed with light. From where I stood all I could see were legs and boots and I was too afraid to approach the stone table any further, not wanting to see what or who it was, but then I heard Balin and Dwalin gasp as they stepped closer to the stone table.
"Frerin," Dwalin said in a strangled voice and in an instant I flew across the room and was at his side, standing by my father's head. Laying on the stone table, was my father.
He looked exactly as he had when I last saw him, his beard cut short like Thorn's, but slightly longer than my Uncle's and his brown hair was long and wavy, falling past his shoulders. He wore different clothes than the last time I had seen him, but this man was indeed my father. Tears sprung to my eyes and I choked out a sob and flung myself at him, clinging to his chest. All these years I had thought him lost at sea and he was here, here in the halls of Erebor. I pulled back from his chest and clutched his cheeks as Oin approached him and Dwalin held onto me as I cried without restraint.
"He's alive," I heard Oin say and my knees buckled under me at the news and Dwalin caught me before I could fall.
"How?" I choked out as I saw my father inhale with my own eyes.
"I don't know lass," Oin told me with a shake of his head as Dwalin whispered words of love to me as he stroked my back, trying to comfort me as I hyperventilated slightly.
"Adad," I said in a small voice as I clutched at my father's tunic. "Please," I pleaded with him, hoping for him to wake up.
"Adaira," Balin said as he came to stand by my side. "The prophecy you found in the Misty Mountains. What did it say?" Balin asked me and I turned to look at him, blinking without really seeing him.
"The prophecy?" I asked him as I sniffled and tried to control my breathing and Balin nodded. I screwed up my face as I tried to think before the words began to come back to me.
"The Lady of the Mountain, the Queen of Carven Stone, the Savior of Durin, shall come into her own. And the Mountain will sing in gladness, at it's Daughter's return, it's Halls shall echo from within, a defining noise of Broken Curses," I recited and Balin frowned at my words as Ori who had been looking around the tomb came over to the three of us.
"That happened," Ori said before I could recite any more of the prophecy and I looked at him, frowning in confusion. "When we were fighting Smaug, that noise that came from the mountain," Ori pointed out and Balin nodded in agreement, his eyes widening in surprise.
"He's right lass," Balin told me as my face screwed up in confusion and I thought back to our battle with Smaug and realized Ori was right. There had been a noise that echoed from the mountain several times, a sound so deafening that it had been physically painful to Smaug, one that made me think at the time that the mountain was fighting back. "Was there more to the prophecy?" Balin urged and I nodded quickly.
"Find the Glowing Stone, hidden deep within, all that glitters is not Gold, nor Gifts of Named Kings. A Sacrifice must be made, heed these Words well, for more than Dragon's slumber under its Spell," I recited and Balin frowned deeply at my words.
"The reference to a glowing stone must be the Arkenstone no doubt," Balin said and I nodded in agreement as I reached towards my pocket where the Arkenstone still was before stopping myself. "Nor gifts of named kings. Again that means the Arkenstone," Balin reasoned as he hummed slightly."
"More than Dragon's slumber under its Spell," I said under my breath before I looked at my father, tears still threatening to fall from my eyes though I had managed to compose myself a bit. "Adad is alive, but he won't wake. The first part of that line is, "a sacrifice must be made". It's literal. A sacrifice has to be made in order to wake him," I reasoned before I looked up at Balin. "What sacrifice? Haven't we already sacrificed enough?" I asked the older Dwarf and he shook his head.
"I don't know lass," Balin told me honestly.
"You should take a look at this," Nori said then and the four of us looked in his direction. Nori was pointing to where there was an inscription written on the wall in ancient Khuzdul directly behind the stone table on which my father lay. We walked over to it and Nori stepped to the side as Balin leaned in, trying to read it. Above the inscription was a deep recess in the stone in the shape of an oval.
"In slumbers deep, he dreams of old. Brothers bound, their fates entwined. A Gift of Named Kings holds them under its spell," Balin read from the inscription on the wall and I frowned deeply at his words. "For one a gift, another a curse. Heed these words well. A choice must be made or else all will fall to its spell," Balin finished reading the inscription and he frowned as he leaned away from the wall.
"What's that supposed to mean?" My husband asked as I bit my lip and looked back at my father.
"Brothers bound, their fates entwined...Thorin and my father," I answered my husband who looked down at me, his face screwed up in confusion and I walked over to my father as I mulled it over. "When the Arkenstone was found, did Thror become worse, did the Goldsickness become worse?" I asked Balin as I looked down at my father.
"Aye lass. Not to say it wasn't bad before, but he became suspicious of his own kin then. He spent much of his time amongst the gold. Had to be dragged away from it. I feared for him," Balin answered me as I casted my mind back, trying to remember my history.
"Adad told me that Thror brought our people back to Erebor. That Thror was living in the Grey Mountains when they were attacked by a cold drake. He and his brother Gror survived the attack and Gror and him divided our people. Gror led some of our people to the Iron Hills while Thror led our people back to Erebor. Erebor prospered for the first time under Thror's leadership," I said as I rubbed my temples with both hands, thinking.
"Aye lass, that's the truth of it," Balin confirmed and I nodded to myself before continuing.
"Now at some point Thror began to change. The Goldsickness started with him not with his father, possibly because Erebor prospered and there was so much treasure. Then the Arkenstone was found and Thror got worse," I reasoned, frowning deeply and I turned away from my father and found the Company all standing behind me, watching me. "This started with the Arkenstone, with the mountain. What if it never was a gift? Never a good thing?" I asked Balin who frowned at my words.
"What are you getting at, lass?" Balin asked me in confusion.
"Thror brought our people back to Erebor. We were doing well, our people were prosperous and then all of a sudden Thror began to suddenly go mad. What if it was because for the first time we were mining deeper into the mountain," I said shaking my head before continuing.
"When the Arkenstone was found everything went to shit. I don't think that it was ever a good thing. Stone Sense, we all have it, some of us stronger than others. What if Thror started to go mad because he could not only feel a darkness in the mountain but the Arkenstone, this stone?" I asked as I pulled the Arkenstone from my pocket and held it up, the others gasping as they saw it for the first time.
"You've had it all this time?" Nori asked me with a sly smirk on his face and I shook my head at that.
"No, Bilbo had it. He gave it to me earlier," I answered the Dwarf. "A Gift of Named Kings holds them under its spell. For one a gift, another a curse. Heed these words well. A choice must be made or else all will fall to its spell," I recited as I looked at the Arkenstone. "All will fall to its spell," I said as I looked at the Company.
"It was never a gift, it was a curse to our line. This is what is making Thorin sick. As soon as we got to the mountain and he could reach out with his Stone Sense he felt it. He could feel the Arkenstone. My Stone Sense probably isn't strong enough yet as I haven't lived in a mountain my whole life. Not like all of you. That's why all of you started to change too. Dwalin became more possessive of me," I pointed out and Dwalin frowned deeply at my words.
"You all became snapish with one another, more quick to anger. It's the Arkenstone. It couldn't affect Bilbo because he's a Hobbit," I said gasping in surprise as the pieces fell into place and I figured it out. I pointed to the recess in the wall above the inscription.
"The sacrifice," I said as I frowned, shaking my head as I smiled bitterly. "No doubt the Arkenstone is needed to wake my father. Some spell lies on it that is holding him in this Snow White like sleep and I doubt a kiss is going to wake him up," I said bitterly as I turned back to look at him, the others frowning in confusion at my words.
"But if I were to place the stone there no doubt I would be unable to help Thorin. The choice is my father or Thorin," I said as I came to the realization that the inscription and the prophecy were leading me to. "Because the only way to possibly help Thorin would be to destroy the Arkenstone, to break whatever curse or spell lies on it," I said and Balin stepped forward towards me.
"Lass, we don't know that," Balin told me and I shook my head as I looked at my brother in law.
"Balin," I said as I looked down at my feet. "Don't we? Isn't this what I was meant to decide?" I asked him and Fili and Kili stepped forward and stood in front of me.
"It's not a choice you have to make alone, namad" Fili told me then as he placed a hand on my shoulder and I sighed deeply and let him draw me into his arms.
"I would have to trade one father for another," I told Fili in a small voice, shaking my head as I clutched the Arkenstone to my chest. "Thorin is like a second father to me. I promised to do everything in my power to help him," I told Fili as I drew back from his arms.
"This is too much for one person to decide," Kili said as he looked at me, a deep frown on his face.
"I've already gone through the pain of losing my father once," I said as I looked at my father, tears welling up in my eyes as my husband came to stand beside me before he drew me into his arms. "I don't know if I can do that again," I admitted and Balin sighed.
"You don't have to make the choice now, lass," Balin told me firmly and I looked at him as tears fell down my face freely.
"I need to help Thorin," I reminded my brother in law.
"There still might be another way. Lord Elrond might know of a way to help Thorin too," Balin reminded me and I nodded at that looking at my father and reaching out to touch his face, gently rubbing my thumb over his cheek.
"Ori lad, Bilbo should be back soon with an answer from Thranduil," Balin said then and he asked Ori to return to the barricade to help Bilbo back inside.
The rest of us remained in my father's room. I didn't want to call it a tomb even if this secret room had been discovered amongst the tombs of the dead. I couldn't bring myself to pull myself away from my father even though I knew that it was fruitless. He wouldn't wake, not without the Arkenstone and I couldn't make a rash decision. Dwalin, Fili, and Kili remained at my side as the others moved about the room, cleaning up anything that had been touched by time.
Before long I heard footsteps in the tunnel leading to us and voices and I frowned as I heard a voice I didn't recognize. I stirred in Dwalin's arms, pulling my head away from where it was nestled into his chest just under his chin and I looked towards the doorway and I stared in shock as Bilbo and Ori entered the cavernous room trailed by a Dwarf I did not recognize. He was dressed in rags and his beard and hair were white, streaked with grey, both very unkempt. His face and hands were tattooed and he had a wild look in his eyes. He walked with a limp and he seemed very jumpy. I patted Dwalin's arm and he released me before instantly going on the defense as he himself noticed the strange Dwarf who was approaching the stone table.
"Frerin," I heard the Dwarf breath out in a choked voice as he walked around the other side of the stone table and he placed a hand on my father's chest, his face filling with tears. "Inùdoy," He said and I frowned in confusion at that. The Dwarf suddenly looked up, our eyes meeting from across the stone table. He gasped loudly in shock and he reached slightly towards me over the stone table and Dwalin pushed me back slightly away from where I was standing.
"Mizimelûh?"The strange Dwarf asked me as I stared at him strangely and I shook my head not understanding what he was asking.
"Who are you?" I asked the Dwarf who had called my father his son, Bilbo who was nearby overheard my question and approached the Dwarf.
"Adaira," Bilbo said and I flicked my eyes over to the Hobbit. "Gandalf found him in Dol Goldur," Bilbo explained as he looked at the strange Dwarf who had tears running down his cheeks as he stared at me. "This is Thrain," Bilbo told me and my head snapped back to the Dwarf, to Thrain in shock.
"Thrain?" I asked, not believing it at first, the Dwarf nodding his head as the rest of the Company drew closer to us. "Ugmil'adad?" I asked and I reached out a hand to the Dwarf who reached out to me as well, our hands meeting over my father's chest and Thrain let out a loud low keening sob.
"I thought you were dead," Thrain cried as tears flowed freely down his face. "I thought you were both dead," He said as he looked between me and my father, his other hand coming up to rest on my father's chest.
"Is it?" I heard my husband ask his brother beside me. I heard Balin tell him that yes, it had to be Thrain for this Dwarf had the same tattoos and buried in his hair, beads of the line of Durin. I let go of my grandfather's hand and quickly walked around the stone table and wrapped my arms around the man.
He sobbed into my shoulder as he clutched me tightly in his arms, clinging to me as if he was afraid I would disappear. When at last his tears seemed to slow he pulled back and looked up at me, reaching up with both hands to touch my face. He studied me, eyes watery a small smile finally creeping onto his face.
"Beautiful," Thrain finally managed to get out as he looked up at me. "You've grown so much," He continued as he looked me up and down. "You were just a wee babe when I last saw you," He added and I smiled at that, tears of my own threatening to fall now and Thrain reached up and patted my cheeks. "Don't cry," He told me, frowning deeply. "I've missed you," He told me and I hugged him once more as tears flowed freely down my face.
"How?" I asked him as I pulled back after a few moments.
"By the grace of Mahal Gandalf found me," Thrain told me before he looked to the rest of the Company, searching through every face. "Where is Thorin, where is my son?" He asked me then as he looked back at me.
"We had to lock him up for his own good. It's the Arkenstone. It's cursed. It's what caused Thror to go mad. It's affecting Thorin too and keeping adad asleep," I explained to Thrain quickly, looking up at Bilbo who frowned at the new development.
"I want to see him," Thrain told me firmly and I nodded, understanding after what he must have gone through, all he wanted to do was ensure his family was safe.
"I'll take you to him," I told my grandfather before I looked over at my husband who was hovering closely to us. "I don't know the way," I told him and Dwalin nodded in understanding.
"I'll take yah, lass," Dwalin assured me he joined Thrain and I and the three of us set out to the dungeons to see Thorin. I was interested in seeing Thorin myself to check in on him. I knew he was going to be furious once he was awake. Especially since our actions would just confirm that his kin had betrayed him.
"Who is this?" Thrain asked as he looked at my husband suspiciously as we walked. I smiled as I looked up at my husband and I slipped my hand into Dwalin's.
"Oh, um, this is Dwalin son of Fundin, my husband," I told my grandfather whose brow shot up to his hairline at the news.
"Husband?" He asked me gruffly and I nodded in confirmation. "Fundin did you say?" He asked and I nodded once more. "Good Dwarf Fundin," Thrain said as he looked Dwalin up and down, appraising him before he harrumphed. "And Thorin approved of the match did he?" Thrain inquired and Dwalin looked down at Thrain with a raised eyebrow while I sighed heavily.
"Yes, in fact he married us himself," I told my grandfather who hummed slightly and finally nodded his approval. I patted my husband's arm, glad that he had taken the interrogation in stride.
Before long we came to the dungeons. I frowned deeply upon seeing them. They were a dark and dreary place, obviously meant to break the most spirited of Dwarves. I could hear Thorin before I saw him. He was roaring in rage and his banging against the bars of his cell echoed through the cavernous space. Dwalin led us up to his cell and warned me to stay as far back as possible given that I was the one who had directly attacked Thorin. As soon as we came into view, Thorin stopped throwing himself against the bars to his cell. He growled lowly and stepped back, a murderous glare on his face as he stared at me.
"So, the traitorous snake comes to what, see me laid low? You who lack all honor, betrayer of your own kin, of your KING!" Thorin spat at me as I stared at him, raising an eyebrow.
"I did not betray you adad," I said to Thorin calmly and he growled at the familiar term. "I'm trying to help you," I told him and his eyes flashed with rage.
"You are lucky these bars separate us or I would squeeze the life from you with my bare hands," Thorin threatened me, sounding possessed and I flinched. I knew that it wasn't him speaking, but it still was hard hearing him say such things.
"Adad," I tried again. "There is someone here who wishes to see you," I told Thorin and Thrain moved a bit closer to Thorin's cell, still out of reach of his arms in case Thorin tried to reach for him. I figured my grandfather had a better chance of reaching Thorin since he had not been amongst our Company.
"Inùdoy," Thrain said calmly and Thorin turned his dark eyes on his father. "Please son, come back to us," Thrain said to Thorin who only looked at his father coldly.
"I am not your son," Thorin said in a cold, unfeeling voice. "My father is dead. I will not listen to the words of a pretender. Those who consort with betrayers will share the same fate!" Thorin spat and Thrain's face fell. I put a hand on my grandfather's shoulder as my own face fell.
"I think we should go," I told my grandfather lowly, knowing that it wouldn't do Thorin any good to work him up nor would it do my grandfather good to hear his son talk so violently.
"Coward!" Thorin screamed at our backs as we walked away from his cell and I flinched as I heard him throw himself at his bars behind us. "You're weak!" Thorin shouted, his insults and rage growing fainter the further we walked away from him.
"That is not my son," Thrain said his head in his heads and his breath hitching in the back of his throat as he sagged against a wall as we left the dungeons. I knelt in front of him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll help him. I promise, I won't abandon him," I assured my grandfather who angrily rubbed tears away from his eyes with the heel of his hand. "When's the last time you've eaten? Or slept?" I asked him worriedly as I took in his haggard and ragged appearance. He looked weary and in need of a bath and a belly full of warm food. Thrain frowned as he tried to think of an answer. "Come on," I said, gently guiding my grandfather forward. "We can try to figure this out later," I said as I remembered that I still had to ask Bilbo about Thranduil's answer.
I led Thrain to the royal wings and ushered him into the King's rooms. While Dwalin helped him into the bathroom I searched through the chests and the dresser for clothes that might fit my grandfather, coming back with a tunic and breeches which I handed off to Dwalin. Dwalin assured me he would help my grandfather and make sure nothing happened to him as I was worried he might get hurt and I left them to it. I went and found Bombur next and asked him to send food up to the KIng's rooms before I sought out the Hobbit. I found Bilbo up at the top of the barricade, staring out at Dale.
It was late into the night now and the moon was high overhead. I was tired beyond belief, but I knew there was still much to be done before morning. Especially if Thranduil had given an affirmative answer. We would need to create an entrance into the mountain and clean up a meeting hall. There was too much to be done and too little time. I didn't want Thranduil to think little of us.
"Bilbo," I said in a gentle voice as I approached the Hobbit from behind and he started slightly before turning around. "Did Thranduil give you an answer?" I asked the Hobbit as I stood beside him, staring out at Dale.
"He agreed to meet with you," Bilbo informed me and I sighed in relief. "How's Thorin?" Bilbo inquired, sounding hopeful and I snorted.
"The same as before only now his suspicions about his kin betraying him have been confirmed. He basically threatened to kill me," I told the Hobbit who frowned deeply at my words. "I know it isn't really Thorin saying those things, but still…," I said and Bilbo put a hand on my arm.
"We'll help him. Everything will be okay in the end," Bilbo assured me and I smiled at his optimism.
"You should get some sleep if you can find it," I told the Hobbit who I was sure hadn't slept in quite some time.
"There's still quite a bit to do before tomorrow isn't there?" Bilbo asked me and I hummed, nodding in agreement.
"You've earned it though," I told him and Bilbo shook his head.
"I want to help," Bilbo told me firmly and I looked down at the Hobbit.
"Only if you're sure," I told him and Bilbo nodded in confirmation and I sighed. "Scout out a hall for our meeting then. It'll need to be cleaned for tomorrow," I told Bilbo and he nodded before he began to head off.
"Maybe you should get some sleep," Bilbo said as he turned back to look at me and I turned away from the sight of Dale.
"A Queen's work is never done," I told Bilbo with a chuckle before I walked away from the ramparts and followed him. "I should find Balin and coordinate with him. We haven't much time," I told Bilbo and he nodded before hurrying off.
I found Balin and we got the others together. I was so grateful for them as all of them forewent sleep in order to shift stones in the barricade in order to create an entrance into the mountain. The barricade was so well made that they were able to remove stones without it falling and they used these stones to create stepping stones of sorts over the moat. Balin ushered me away to Dis' room to ready myself for the meeting as the sun began to peek over the horizon.
I was told to bathe and as I sat in the tub, scrubbing off layers of dust and grit, Balin was apparently laying out another dress for me. It was far grander than even the blue velvet dress had been. It was long, the sleeves and the train made of blue silk which was embroidered with golden flowers and leaves and the bodice and skirts made of cream colored silk, also embroidered with the same pattern. I knew it was a dress fit for a Queen and in essence it was meant to make me look the part. Dwalin had been waiting in the bedroom to help me into the dress, lacing it tightly.
This dress included a corset which I was not happy about, but sometimes you needed to do what must be done. Balin was waiting in the receiving room with jewelry that had been hand picked from amongst the treasury and while I did not want to wear it, not wanting to appear as if I had a lust for gold as well, I also knew I had to play the part of a Queen in front of Thranduil. The hardest part of this charade was when Balin presented me with a crown.
It was studded in many diamonds which glittered in the light and was inlaid with sapphires that were as deep blue as the color of Durin's line. Balin informed me that it was the crown of the last queen of Durin's line which had not been worn in hundreds of years. I allowed him to place it upon my head and as I rose to my full height I sighed deeply feeling like a doll that had been made up for show.
"It's only for a little while," Balin assured me as he patted me on the arm and there came a knock on the door.
"Enter," I called and Nori popped his head into the room.
"We have visitors," Nori informed us and I bit my lip as I looked back at Balin, suddenly unsure if I was able to do this. How could I speak for our people and negotiate with Thranduil?
"You'll do fine lass," Balin assured me as he laid a hand on my arm as if sensing my fears.
"Yah know what yer doing," Dwalin told me and he kissed the side of my head and I nodded to myself as I smoothed down my skirts, fidgeting slightly.
"I shouldn't keep them waiting," I said and I strode to the door, the train of my dress trailing behind me and I sighed deeply as I tried to hold my head up high to keep my crown from sliding off. I could do this. All I had to do was negotiate peace with Thranduil and Bard. That shouldn't be so hard. I inhaled deeply and let the breath out slowly before opening the door and walking out slowly. I could do this.
Khuzdul:
Amrâlimê- My love
Adad- Father
Namad- Sister
Inùdoy- Son
Mizimelûh- Jewel of all jewels
Ugmil'adad- Grandfather
