Disclaimer: I own nothing except Eva, and the unrecognisable parts of this plot. While I would love to be able to make money from this, I am not - so please don't sue me.
Warnings: Some adult themes.
AN: It was hard to write this chapter. I did a lot of crying, particularly at the end. Some of it is a bit choppy, but I've hit a mental wall as to how to change it so it flows better. But I hope that you like reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it..
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Chapter 22 - Finding Family
Once the unusual couple dried each other's tears, Eva and Bifur sat down on the dirt-covered steps of the Forges and talked….
And talked….
Eva felt like she was home again. She hadn't minded Bifur's occasional nonsensical behaviour, mainly because she had always been quirky herself. She stood by the words that she had said to Bofur, and truly did believe that this strange dwarf just needed a bit more patience in order to shine properly. There was a completely unexpected ease to her long conversations with Bifur, and she soon forgot the depression of the morning.
She discovered that Bifur had always been a toymaker - an excellent craftsman of the intricate things required to bring joy to a little one's day. He had always longed for children of his own, had hoped and prayed to Mahal for so long for one, but after the axe incident many dwarrow and dams shied away from him. He spoke of the sudden all-encompassing loneliness that he found himself in, and how it nearly crushed his spirit were it not for Bofur and Bombur.
Bifur adored his nieces and nephews, and that they were the few beings in his life that saw his heart, rather than the injury to his head. She admired how Bifur shone as he told her of the many carved toys that he had gifted to them, and the joy that shone from them when gifted with each piece. Because they knew no other presentation of Bifur, they simply accepted him as he was. Eva had to smile at that, as she knew first hand how cruel, but also how kind children could be.
Eva sat on the step below him, not much minding that Bifur hadn't appeared to be able to take a breath as he had been talking to her. From her point of view, it was like a dam had broken and all the things that he had wanted to say could finally be said, and someone other than the dwarrow around him could finally understand him.
"What do you think happened, adad?" Eva began "You know, when we touched that staff?"
Eva saw Bifur's face twitch with a tiny smile. A small flicker of pure joy crossed his face every time he heard that title, as if he couldn't quite yet believe it, but wasn't going to complain.
"I do not know. But I was visited by a she-elf before I came to the Forges. She told me where to find it. And then … I found you…"
Eva's features lit up with a warm and gentle smile, and her head tilted gently. "All in white?"
Bifur's brow furrowed "How did you know?"
"That was Lady Galadriel. The Lady of Lothlorien. One of the most powerful elves to walk Middle Earth." Eva began "See has a gift that allows a certain … advantage."
"A witch?!"
"No, adad. An elf. A powerful one, but an elf."
Bifur looked upon Eva, studying her with a frown. His hazel eyes flicked up to her raven-black hair.
"Can you take it down?"
Eva threw him a confused look "What do you mean? You want me to take my hair out?"
"Aye." he replied "There's a bit of formality when a dwarf welcomes a child into the family." There it was again, that tiniest of smiles "Witnesses for one, but also a family braid."
Eva looked at the dwarf, a warmth spreading through her. "Well, why don't we get our witnesses first, then we can worry about the braid, adad?"
Again, a tiny smile flashed across his face at the title, and he saw the logic of her suggestion. He picked up the staff from the work bench behind them and reverently handed it to her. Eva blinked.
"If you are to journey with us, it is only fitting that you have a form of protection from your family."
A tentative smile crossed Eva's face as she took the staff. Lovingly, she traced the vines carved into it, inlaid with the now cooled mithril. It was exquisite, and she didn't hesitate to tell Bifur that. His eyes lost a little of the glaze that they usually had as he beamed again with pride, watching as Eva lovingly ran her small hands over the carvings..
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When Bofur and Bombur saw the way Eva and their cousin walked in with gentle smiles on their faces, something whispered in the back of their minds that something special was about to happen. Eva was leaning on a beautifully crafted staff, and Bombur, quiet as he was, recognised his cousin's hand almost immediately.
"Bifur!" Bofur exclaimed "Ye missed a grand lunch!"
To Bofur's confusion, Bifur's smile grew exponentially as he gently guided Eva towards them. She bent her head as she hung back, not making eye contact.
"Do you have an extra family bead, cousin?"
Bofur looked at Bifur in utter confusion "Ye're usually the one with all the extras, Bifur. Why are ye-"
"You have a niece to welcome to the Ur family."
Bofur froze as he looked at Eva. For a moment, she wore a shy, knowing smile. She looked up at Bofur, slightly embarrassed but happy all the same. The hatted dwarf looked dazed.
"It's a big deal, Miss Eva." Bofur began "When we welcome a new member of the family." Bofur approached Eva slowly, his large hands coming to rest on both of her shoulders. "I don't know how much ye understand, but I need ta know - ye're alrigh' with this?"
Eva smile trembled a little, but she smiled none-the-less. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Meaning no offense, lass, but ye're of the race of Man. For us dwarves, family is a very different prospect."
Bifur tugged at Eva's wrist, and the Ur family sat down together with Eva in their midst. She noticed the frown on Bofur's face as he struggled to find words.
"Wha' ye need ta understand, Eva, is that 'dams are scarce among us dwarves." Bofur began slowly, willing Eva to understand the depth of what she was about to commit to. "To welcome a daughter into the family is amongst one of the most sacred blessings Mahal can give."
"I've heard something similar from Master Gloin." Eva said in response "But why is it like that?"
"Only one in three dwarrow are born female, Daughter." The happy glint in Bifur's eyes did not go unnoticed by Bofur and Bombur. Neither did Bifur naming Eva as his daughter when the official parts had not yet taken place. "Many dwarrow end up craft-wed, dedicating their lives to their calling. So marriages, births and adoptions are cause for celebration."
"Bifur says-" Bofur began
"I understand, Bofur." Eva began. The dwarves blinked.
"What d'ye mean?" Bofur stuttered "Bifur just spoke in Khuzdul!"
"Remember," came Gandalf's voice from behind them as he approached the group of them. The dwarrow all jumped, and Eva gave a small 'Eep!' "Eva is Mahalmarkhel. Would it not make sense that she is blessed with the ability to understand your language? She just needed a bit of a push, hmm?"
The four of them considered the aged wizard, and Bofur and Bombur seemed to have no trouble accepting it. Eva turned and gave Gandalf a sharp look, one that was replied silently with a wink and a twinkle in aged but knowing eyes. She then looked to Bifur, who seemed equally as bewildered, but nonetheless accepting.
"Well, ye know wha' this means, nadadith?" Bofur began with a grin.
Bombur's usually quiet face broke into a smile beneath his red beard that would have put the sun to shame, in Eva's opinion. There was a joy in the faces of the Ur dwarrow that she had never seen before.
"We'll show ye what a real dwarven celebration looks like, iraknâtha!"
Eva blinked in pleasant confusion as Bofur roughly pulled Bombur aside and started whispering to him in frenzied Khuzdul. She noticed that as the more they talked, the more joyous they got until the very air seemed to hum around. Something else was said before Bombur immediately frowned and knocked Bofur's hat off
"Oi! Wha' was tha' for?"
Bombur was a dwarf of very few words, but as Eva learned, when he said something, it often contained a lot of heft.
"She is our iraknâtha. I will not have you corrupt her with that language!" Bombur rebuked lowly.
Bifur sniggered, actually sniggered at his cousins' behaviour
"Come, Daughter." Bifur rumbled "Let them argue amongst themselves. We have a little time. Is there anyone you would particularly like to have as a witness?"
For Eva, it wasn't a difficult decision at all, given that she knew so few people in Middle Earth. She smiled as she thought of her proper little friend.
"I have just the person, adad."
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Eva found Bilbo in one of the corridors close to the Kitchens, but far away enough to remain hidden if he wanted to. Eva's maps had been a boon in terms of being able to navigate, something that she had pointedly not shared with Thorin or any of the other older dwarves for that matter. She had not signed any contract with The Company, so felt they didn't need to know what she knew.
Bilbo, though, was another matter. He had been patient and kind with her. The fact that they shared status as outsiders was what drew them to be friends in the first place. Eva would always be grateful to him as a support to her when the dwarrow got too much for her. BIlbo's gentle reminders of manners and home made the journey just a little more bearable.
Besides, Eva was about to embark on one of the most important events in her life in Middle Earth, and she was not about to exclude her first friend from it.
"Bilbo?" Eva asked quietly.
He jerked up and out of his own thoughts "O-Oh! Miss Eva! You startled me!"
She sighed good-naturedly "Bilbo? We've been through this already. Just Eva. Please?!"
Bilbo smiled ruefully "Sorry, old habits…"
Eva hummed happily, and Bilbo seemed to notice "Did someone add extra honey to your meal?"
Eva giggled, choosing to brush aside the question "I actually have a favour to ask of you."
"Me?" Bilbo began in confusion "What happened?"
"Bifur has asked me to be his daughter." Eva began quietly. Bilbo's mouth dropped open "He asked me if there was anyone that I would like to have to witness my adoption into the Ur family… You were the first friend I ever had in Middle Earth, Bilbo. Would you stand by me?"
BIlbo was silent for a long time, even when he finally remembered to close his mouth.
"You… you want me to stand as-"
"My witness, Bilbo," Eva finished quietly. "It would mean so much to me, to have you with me."
Bilbo smiled then, joyous and pure "It would be my honour, Mi- Eva. Though I must admit, I'm a hobbit. I have no idea what I have to do."
Eva smiled sheepishly, "Don't worry, I don't know what to do either."
Bilbo straightened up "Well, then," he began, brushing himself down before rising "shall we find out?" he asked as he presented an arm to her
Eva laughed as she took his arm "I suppose we shall!"
By the time Eva had gotten back to the courtyard with Bilbo, the entire Company had gathered and were whispering with a sort of frenetic energy about them. Thorin and Dwalin, as always, seemed to have their signature scowls about them. Eva voted in favour of ignoring them as she spotted Bifur talking amiably with Balin.
"Ah! And here is the Lady of the Hour!" Fili cried
Eva groaned as she was swamped at Fili comment. That groan quickly turned into a worried squeak as she was slapped, clapped and squeezed by each of the excited dwarrow, her grip on Bilbo tightening significantly. She was used to the dwarrow's joyous ways, but at this point, it was quite overwhelming for her. Bilbo felt her grip on his arm tightened and he huffed in annoyance.
"Enough!" Bilbo barked as he came in front of Eva. "Can't you see you're scaring her?!"
The reaction was instant.
The younger ones recoiled as if they had been slapped, the elder dwarrow gave a look of surprise. They backed off with muttered apologies as she took a deep breath. She chanced a look at Thorin and saw a flash of approval before his mask went up.
"Hello, Lass," came Balin's gentle tenor "I hear congratulations are in order."
She smiled at Balin's words "Ever the diplomat…."
"Well," he began with a cheeky tone, clasping his hands behind his back "Somebody has to make sure these lads don't start a war-"
"Oi!" Nori and Bofur exclaimed. The dwarrow laughed.
"You might as well have," Eva began "considering that Bilbo is the grandson of the Thain of the Shire."
"Ye- WHAT?" Gloin bellowed in outrage. "Grandson of the Thain?!"
Both Bilbo and Eva flinched at the volume of Gloin's voice. Eva turned to BIlbo "You mean you didn't tell them?!" she exclaimed.
"Tell them what?" Bilbo stuttered "It's hardly relevant-"
"Hardly relevant?!" Nori hissed quietly "Ye're a Prince!"
That statement was met with thick silence. Thorin stared at the hobbit with newly-found meaning.
"We kidnapped a Prince…" Ori squeaked. "Oh, no!..."
"Oh dear…" Bilbo sighed.
Eva sighed too "We are talking about this later…." Eva hissed
BIlbo grumbled in response.
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It didn't surprise Eva that word about her upcoming welcome had gone around the dwarves. What did surprise her though was the fact that the news had somehow made it to the elves, and the elves were equally as excited. There were whispers in the hallways about the upcoming ceremony, whispers that were quieted if Eva went past. It was only when Eva had bumped into Lord Elrond that he explained that just as Dwarven children were rare, so too were Elven children. The welcoming of a child was something that was highly prized in Elven culture, and even though Eva was being welcomed into a Dwarven family, the elves had not celebrated something like this in a long time and were basically looking for an excuse to have a lot of fun. Children were revered in both cultures, and just this once it seemed that both races were willing to put aside their differences for this special event.
Eva noticed the large bowls that had been placed strategically around the main house of Rivendell, and Arwen had been the one to explain to Bifur that come ceremony day, coloured powder would fill each bowl to welcome and mark the child.
"Children bring so much vivid colour to life," Arwen had explained "and there hasn't been a birth since my own for over 2000 years."
"Adad," Eva pleaded "I'm going to be your Daughter, you know that, right?"
Bifur had grumbled his acceptance here.
"Is it so hard to believe that they want to help us celebrate this?"
Bifur had grumbled again, but reluctantly accepted the fact that the elves were wanting to support the Ur family in this endeavour.
A full afternoon of negotiations and plans went well into the evening, and by the time Eva managed to see the inside of her rooms, her feet and eyes were hurting and her mind was whirring with the litany of traditions she had only days to learn about.
She fell asleep that night without having changed out of her day dress, her thoughts resting on the fact that she finally had a family to belong to in Middle Earth.
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Eva was standing at the summit of a mountain with rock beneath her feet, the valleys of eucalyptus spread about below her. She breathed in the air and froze.
She knew this place.
"Ma Lassie."
Her heart clenched, the voice swamping her with memories.
"Oh, Ma Sweet Lassie." he crooned
She turned around slowly, her eyes unwilling to believe what she was seeing. Dark brown hair and warm grey eyes met her own.
"Liam?" she whispered. "Oh God… LIAM!"
Her feet were moving before her mind caught up, and she stumbled on the rocks.
Strong arms enveloped her, engulfed her, and his scent laced itself into her memory. Soap, damp earth, crisp fresh air and sundried linen melded together. She was dwarfed by the size of him, but she didn't care. Her husband was there, holding her, and for a moment, nothing else mattered.
Eva swallowed audibly "Liam…."
"Oh, Ma Sweet One," he murmured "Ye don' e'en realise how much they need ye…"
Eva blinked "They?... Liam what are you-"
"Yer khazad, Ma Lassie. Oh, they need yeh."
"Liam, what are you talking about?"
Liam breathed in a reluctant sigh as he brushed away a lock of her raven black hair "I will always love ye from the depths o' ma soul, Ma Lassie." he began softly "But ye've grieved fer so long. Ye love with the depth of a khazad, and I'll be eternal blessed to have earned tha' love."
"I know we've loved, Eva." Liam began gently "But it's time te let me go. It's time fer yer new beginnin'.""
Eva sobbed as her vision went blurry with tears. "Liam…"
"Yer heart was made to love, Eva. And ye love with great strength and passion. As do they…"
Eva wiped her tears away "They?"
"Yer khazad, Eva. Yer Company"
She looked up in shock "Those idiots- they're not my Company..." she choked..
Liam barked out a laugh "They may be idiots, Eva, but mark ma word, they'll become as dear to ye as I was."
"I don't want to say goodbye-" she whispered.
"An' tha's alrigh'." Liam began lovingly "But in order to heal yer heart, ye need ta let me go. I will not love ye any less, I promise ye tha'. Nor will I think any less of ye."
"But…"
"Ye were only livin' half a life, Ma Lassie, before ye came here." Liam began knowingly "Ye want to keep yer promise to me, then don't let ma mem'ry hold ye back. Ye were always made and meant to love."
Eva sobbed "Then what do I do? I don't want to forget you..."
"Share yer love, Ma Lassie." Liam counselled gently "Share yer love once more as ye did with me. Yer love was ma treasure, as it always should be. Yer on a grand adventure, Ma Lessie. You have a chance to love a new family. Show yer new family the way ye shine. Show that King the way ta love. Let it be their sanctuary, like it was mine."
"Is it okay…." Eva whispered
"I'll no' think any less o' ye, Ma Lassie. I was yer first, but I'll no' be the last. Yer going ta be alrigh'."
Eva nodded as she noticed the Eucalyptus forest begin to fade.
"Not yet-" Eva cried out.
"Ma Lassie, I'll always be with ye." Liam promised "But love like ye once did, and then ye'll fulfil our promise. Ye'll be alrigh'. I promise."
"I love you, My Prince…." Eva sobbed
"And I love ye too, Ma Lassie. Live yer life the way yer were always meant to… through love." Liam replied as the dream faded.
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Iraknâtha - niece
Nadadith - little brother
Mahalmarkhel - Mahal's Shield
Khazad - dwarves