Chapter Twelve: Braids and Bobbles
The halls remained mostly deserted and Narâ was glad of it, the elves it would seem were either enjoying a feast by the sounds of the delicate and soft music that reached her ears, or they were just avoiding the dwarven pair, she hid a smirk likely the latter. She felt Thorin's arm flex beneath her fingertips, at each corner they turned going deeper into the halls of Rivendell. Lord Elrond despite being an elf was a very relaxed and gracious host, something that surprised her greatly, he tended to leave the Dwarrow alone for most of their stay, providing them with copious amounts of food and ale. The food was not to her taste, but it was food none the less, she only really saw Lord Elrond during the evening meal, and she had heard little from his mouth concerning the Dwarrow roaming his home freely. She felt Thorin twitch again and huffed
"Relax Thorin, surely you don't think I'm secretly leading you to your death" she teased a small smirk pulling up the corner of her mouth, eyes crinkled with mirth.
He looked at her from the corner of his eye and blew out a breath "I don't like places I have never been before, its hard to defend myself when I don't know the layout, the exits, anything really that would be advantageous in battle"
She snorted unladylike and shook her head, long raven curls falling across her shoulders as soft chuckles escaped her mouth "Are you expecting an ambush"
He squeezed her arm closer to his side and grunted "Wouldn't put it past the elves lass"
She chuckled loudly and pat his arm with her free hand "Don't worry I'll protect you" she teased batting her long lashes at him, causing him to roll his eyes at her antics.
"I swear you are just as bad as my nephews" he grunted under his breath.
She sighed, slowing her pace as they descended the stairs that led to the platform she required, the cooler night air prickled her skin and she shivered as the wind blew past her softly. She inhaled, this was her favourite place in all of Rivendell, the sounds of the water flowing above them cascading ever downward, the smell of fresh air, the absence of elves, it was rather lovely. "Come its just ahead" she said softly releasing his arm stepping down the stone stairs with caution, it tended to be damp in this area the waterfalls above causing a fine mist to be permanent in the air. She picked up the silk of her skirts and walked down stopping to just admire the stonework before her. it was spectacular, the largest she had ever seen, a slab of translucent moon stone, like a giant crystal sat along the edge, the glow of the crescent moon above reflecting off its many surfaces, making It come to life.
Thorin sucked in a deep breath, this surely wasn't what he was expecting, she had told him it she required a moon stone, but he assumed it was something small in hand not a literal stone. His eyes scanned the area with interest, the moon was shining brightly above them, the soft glow filtering through the spray of water from the falls above, light scattering as it hit the majestic stone that Narâ now hovered over. She held out her hand for him to join her and he took a cautious step forward, eying the stone and the surrounding ground, while the stone flooring seemed to be dampened from the heavy mist in the air, the moonstone sat untouched, glowing softly in the darkness.
"The map if you please" she smiled extending her hand further toward him.
He swallowed his stomach in knots, he wasn't sure what to do if she wasn't able to translate it, was the journey thus far all for naught, would he have to confront Elrond tail tucked between his legs and seek help from his enemy. His icy blue eyes watched his hand move of its own accord, slowly placing the map into her palm, her skin was warm and soft, he flicked his eyes toward hers and found she was also staring at him with a gentle reassuring smile. "You. You're sure you can read it" he said clearing his throat.
She nodded once "Aye I think I can manage" she said with a small smirk, taking the map and unfolding it gently across the surface of the moonstone. It was cool to the touch and smooth as glass, her fingers running the surface around the edge of the map, she turned and looked over her shoulder at Thorin, smiling as she found him a step behind her looking keenly over her shoulder, his eyes glued to map.
"Mahal guide us" she said softly looking down at the map, breath catching in her throat as the paper seemed to come alive as the soft glow of the moon reflected off the stone, ancient powerful magics at work, the words appeared glowing just as brightly, she brushed her fingers over the words and read
"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole" she finished slowly looking to Thorin, who had a pensive frown on his face, his eyes still focused on the map and its ancient runes, lost in thought.
"Durin's day" he said looking to meet her eyes and she nodded. "And you are sure that's what it says" he asked, he needed her to be certain, there was no room for error, a breath of relief leaving his lungs at her confident nod "Yes I am sure"
He spun on his heel and began pacing "This is ill news, summer is passing Durin's day will almost be upon us"
Narâ stopped him from pacing placing a hand on his shoulder "We still have time, surely we can make it to the mountain before then" she said trying to sound encouraging.
Thorin went to open his mouth to respond when footsteps alerted them to someone's presence, both of their heads snapped to the stairwell looking at Lord Elrond, Gandalf and Bilbo who refused to look them in the eye.
"Have you been spying on us?" Thorin raged fists clenched, he wanted nothing to do with the elf and now it would seem he had heard them speaking about the quest. Narâ looked over the unexpected visitors with distaste, her eyes settling on the hobbit, she felt as if the wind was knocked from her chest, he brought Gandalf and Lord Elrond to them, knowing Thorin's wished to have only the company know about the quest.
"So, this is your purpose, to seek the mountain?" Lord Elrond asked looking down at Thorin, his eyes searching past the two stout dwarves to his moonstone, a small, withered map was still spread out evenly, his advanced sight allowed him to see the softly glowing runes.
Gandalf frowned "I told you to seek Lord Elrond's advice and you would not listen, thank goodness Bilbo found us when he did" he turned his sights to the dwarrowdam and leaned down "Are you certain you translated the map correctly, ancient dwarvish is very complicated" he stood up and gave Lord Elrond a polite smile "Perhaps you should take a look now that you are here, make sure she has read it correctly"
Thorin held up a hand "She has, and I have learned everything I need to this night" he growled out angrily, glaring at the wizard.
Gandalf huffed out a breath of air, clutching his staff tightly "Don't be a fool, Lord Elrond is an expert at translations, surely he is better suited for this than she is"
Narâ crossed her arms over her chest narrowing her emerald eyes at the wizard "Tharkûn I am more than able to translate something written in MY native tongue, the map is written in dwarvish of which I am, I am not some dimwitted female only capable of spreading her legs to produce offspring"
Gandalf snapped his mouth shut with a grunt "I never implied such a thing" he said a little embarrassed to be dressed down by a little dwarven women not even a fraction of his age.
Lord Elrond failed to hide his amused smile, looking between his old friend and the dwarrowdam, she had a liveliness about her that he found most amusing. "To ease your mind Mithrandir, I will let you know that she was in fact correct with her translation" he said folding up the map holding it gently in his palm.
Narâ grunted "Naturally"
Bilbo looked up at the dam, but she wound not meet his eye, a feeling of dread forming in his stomach "What, is Durin's Day?" he asked quietly wishing she would look at him.
She could feel his eyes on the side of her face, and she sighed allowing her eyes to settle on his frowning face, he looked like a kicked pup, shoulders drawn in on himself "The start of the dwarves new year, when the last moon of autumn and the first moon of winter appear in the sky together"
Bilbo nodded glad that she would at least speak with him, he looked to Thorin opening his mouth to speak but the Dwarrow would hear none of his words "Narâ come, we need to ready the others" he grunted stepping away from the others.
Lord Elrond stepped forward slightly blocking his path, and Thorin grit his teeth, fists clenched so tightly he knew his knuckles likely blanched from the grip "Do you mean to stop us?"
The elf lord simply handed the map back to Thorin with a sigh "Some would deem it unwise to enter the mountain"
Gandalf swallowed hard looking at his old friend "What do you mean?" he asked concern in his voice.
"You are not the only guardian to watch over middle earth" Lord Elrond replied vaguely turning on his heel he left them standing there watching his retreat.
Thorin did not wait making haste behind the elf, looking to his right he saw the dam catching up with him, her elven skirts held tightly in one hand as she ascended the stairs to walk in stride with him. She chewed her lip a habit he found she did often when in deep thought. He too was thinking of their journey ahead, of the days to come that would eventually lead them to the mountain, they needed to make haste, Durin's day was only a few short months away and he wasn't sure how long it would take to cross the Misty Mountains.
Narâ chewed her lip until she tasted iron hissing in pain she released it, swiping her tongue across the tender flesh, the taste of her own blood lingering in her mouth. She sighed and began to fidget with her skirts, the material was too soft for her touch, slipping through her fingers, too light and airy, to elven. She couldn't settle herself now that she knew they needed to reach the mountain in such a short time she felt sick to her stomach, pondering how Thorin could appear so calm beside her. "Speak dammit, this is driving me insane, do you have a plan?" she asked exasperated throwing her hands up.
Thorin could only smirk at her behaviour "Aye, we leave at first light, the more distance between us and the elves the better"
She snorted and nodded fully in agreement "That is the smartest thing ye have ever said" she chuckled looking at him from the corner of her eye.
Everyone stood up as they reappeared, apparently no one had gotten any sleep yet save for Oin, and Bofur who were both currently sprawled out across the stone flooring, mouths hanging open louds snores interrupting the silence.
"Where have you been?" Dwalin huffed in annoyance, arms crossed over his wide chest as he stormed toward Thorin.
Narâ rolled her eyes "Just got back from ravishing each other" she grunted with narrowed eyes as the bald Dwarrow stopped in his tracks and stared at her opened mouthed.
"Truly" Kili asked astonished, his eyes raking over them curiously and she groaned rubbing a hand down her face "Mahal's balls no laddie, I only jest"
Thorin shook his head in amusement "Narâ was able to translate the map for me, we are to leave tomorrow morning at first light, I suggest you all get some sleep"
Balin stepped around his brothers grumbling form standing next to Thorin "What did it say lad" he asked eager to know.
Thorin sighed "We have to reach the mountain by Durin's Day, the last light of Durin's day will shine upon the keyhole" he said looking to the dwarrowdam for confirmation, she nodded.
Balin scratched at his thick white beard "Durin's day, why that is almost upon us" he mused aloud, pacing the floor just as Thorin had.
Narâ sighed "Aye, we have to be standing at exactly the right place at exactly the right moment to find the keyhole"
"That seems impossible" Fili groaned from behind her, and she gave him a small smile "Aye I know it be daunting lad, but we can do it, the map speaks of the hidden door, and the path that leads to it, there is only one so there is only one keyhole to find"
"We find the door we find the keyhole" Kili says softly, and she nods "Exactly"
"Everyone gather what you need tonight, Gloin since Oin is asleep see that we have medical supplies on hand, Bombur, Bifur go find us some rations, Kili to the fletchers get us arrows, Fili get enough flint to last the journey anything to help start a fire, the rest of you gather tools, blankets, supplies, we will our packs and depart first light" Thorin commanded his eyes scanning over the small dwarven party.
"And me?" Bilbo asked quietly as he rejoined the party, his face still crestfallen as Thorin spun on his heel and glared down at the hobbit moving away "Stay out of the way" he growled moving to sit at the fire with Balin.
Narâ gave the hobbit a soft smile patting him on the shoulder "Its alright Bilbo, he will come round, he is just upset"
Bilbo frowned "Isn't he always" he mumbled to himself.
Nara stretched her tired muscles "Tell the others I will be back, tonight I will move my things and join you all here, but first I would enjoy the last bath I can for many days to come, I suggest you do the same" she winked at the hobbit, before strolling away.
….
The bath was over to quickly for her liking, the hot searing water turning her skin a bright pink, her fingertips wrinkled and pruned from staying in to long. She sighed stepping out allowing the cooler air to kiss her skin, causing her to hiss out, grabbing a soft plush towel she dried herself quickly, picking up her repaired and laundered clothing she pulled on her thin chemise, the white cotton fresh and crisp against her skin. She pulled on the thick leather leggings with difficultly, hoping up and down to fit her plump behind into the material. Once clothed she fastened her armor in place, her leather jerkin, wolf skin skirt, cowl and boots to keep herself warm. She felt herself again, gone are the days of fancy elven dresses, she was not one to wear them and was more than comfortable now that she donned her things. She ran her fingers over the white fur that decorated her skirt, it was bright and clean, soft to the touch, stopping at the carved wolf head at her hip, it had been polished to perfection, she could almost see her reflection in its sharpened maw. She grabbed her meagre belongings stuffing them into her pack, tossing it over her shoulder, she moved to her weapons, strapping several long ornate daggers into the folds of her jerkin, a short sword at the hip and her treasured battle ax along her free shoulder. She looked dwarven again something she was proud of. She closed the door gently and walked through the halls toward the others, smiling as she spotted them mostly bedded down for the night, save Thorin, Dwalin and Balin who looked to be in deep conversation.
She stepped toward the fire lowering her burdens onto the ground with a soft plunk, looking sheepishly at the trio of Dwarrow who watched her enter, a small smile on Balin's face "Welcome back lass" he said softly nodding his head in greeting.
She smiled and gave a polite nod back, turning toward the small fire before her, palms outstretched to warm them.
"Yer wet" Dwalin grunted, looking over the dam, she must have just returned from bathing, her long tresses still clung to the white cowl on her backside.
She snorted "Excellent observation Master Dwalin" she chuckled running her fingers through her wet locks, brining them forward to dry them with the fires heat.
Bilbo who could not sleep listened in on the conversation, he turned his head watching as she hummed to herself, running her fingers through long black locks. She had longer hair than anyone he'd ever met, so used to seeing her with it tied round her head he was shocked to see it down freely without plaits or beads. Curiously he sat up and cleared his throat "Your hair, does it hold importance to you?" he asked softly loud enough for only her ears.
Narâ looked up from her mindless fiddling with her locks toward the hobbit, surprised to find him watching her with keen eyes, interest seemingly peaked. "Aye, it does"
Bilbo frowned when she did not elaborate, he cleared his throat trying again "What I meant was, does the length hold importance, I've never seen hair so long before"
She blinked confused "Do yer women cut their hair then?" she asked.
Bilbo was confused now, cocking his head to the side "Of course, if they feel the need too, is that strange to you"
She nodded slowly "Aye, a dwarrowdam with short hair has done something to disgrace her family, long hair is a symbol of age, health, status among dwarves, can tell a lot bout a dwarf by their hair"
Bilbo nodded sitting up straight "And the beards, I thought female dwarves had beards?"
She felt her lip twitch in annoyance, she had gotten far too many comments about her bald face than she was comfortable with "Didn't we have this conversation already laddie" she huffed raking her fingers more aggressively through her hair removing tangles.
Bilbo licked his dry lips "We did, you said you shave it on purpose for courtship, what else do you do?"
She snorted and narrowed her eyes playfully "Why you interest in courting Master Baggins?" she teased.
He shook his head, cheeks tinted a healthy pink "No no, its just strange to me is all, you're the only dwarves I've ever met, and your customs are so well strange"
She looked over her shoulder at her other male companions "Hear that laddies, our customs are strange" she chuckled turning back to the hobbit.
"Aye lad there are many customs you must find strange, what would you like to know" she asked resting her head in her open palm against her knee forgoing her hair care.
Bilbo twitched his nose looking over the dark hair that pooled around her "The hair for instance, why do you put little pieces of metal in it? What do they mean, why do you all seem to have a different number of them?" he said in rapid succession.
She sighed shaking her long tresses out "Easy lad, one at a time, they are not little pieces of metal, they are our history, some bare the names of our clans, others show our statuses" she said grabbing a thick section of hair she began plating it "This is my courting braid, I will decorate it with emeralds, the colour of me eyes, at the end will be a bead of iron with the crest of my clan" she finished the plait tying the long hair off, it ran along the side of her temple and down behind her ear. "This be the one that shows the crest of me fathers house, me family, we wear it lower than the others because it is the closest to the heart" she finished with a smile looking at the iron bead.
Bilbo watched in fascination as she plaited her long hair, so many different beads and plaits meant so many different things, she was in the middle of a large set of plaits down the center of her head, one large plait that had several smaller ones weaved through it, she looked fearsome with hair that reminded him of warriors he had seen in literature "And what is that one?" he asked curious.
She sighed finishing it off, it had the largest crest of all, a large metal clasp held the hair together, a rune carved deep into the metal "This here is my warriors braid lad, it shows the battles I've fought it, and I wear it to honor those that have died alongside me"
Bilbo snaped his mouth shut, quietly counting out the smaller woven plaits, she had so many his head throbbed, and his mouth dried "Battles, but you've so many braids" he whispered.
She gave him a sad smile "Aye lad, more than I care to admit, life in the mountains is not for the soft and kind-hearted folk like you from the Shire,"
Thorin watched her from across the fire, he hadn't heard of plaits being worn to honor the dead, he himself had no such a thing in his hair, he only wore the plaits typical of the house of Durin, his courting status, his status as a royal, and his lineage, nothing that would display his status as warrior, perhaps it was common among the Blacklock clan. His eyes scanned her dark hair, she had seen many battles, her hair twisted into a thick plait, and he felt a new respect for the female, she was intelligent beyond most that he had met, fierce and loyal and battle hardened, a perfect dwarrowdam. The idea of plaiting his hair to honor those lost in fires of Erebor and the battle of Azanulbizar had never crossed his mind, he had his own way of showing his grief and honoring them, but the idea of a plait was far more appealing than keeping his beard short.
Bilbo spotted one that was so different from the rest, it had the appearance of a wolf's head on it, similar in shape and style to the one on her belt, it was tucked behind her left ear, opposite her family braid "And that one? with the wolf head?"
Narâ gently picked up the braid, running her fingers over the glossy black hair until she reached the iron wolf head, staring at the open mouth, it was tricky to craft, but she had done it by her own hand "This is worn to honor Khimâ and his siblings sacrifice"
"Sacrifice?" Bilbo asked confused.
She nodded "Aye they died so he may live, such little things they were, I don't enjoy killing for the sake of it Master Baggins, but It needed to be done" she said no more dropping her hair allowing it to fall with the rest of her neatly plaited hair.
"Do you make them all yourself?" he asked softly, unsure if she still would allow him to pester her with endless questions.
She sighed closing her eyes "Yes, each and everyone is forged by my own hands"
"So, you are a blacksmith?" he asked with wide eyes.
She chuckled shaking her head "Enough questions lad, get some rest" she said standing up cracking her sore back turning around she walked across the small makeshift camp to her bedroll and crawled inside, dropping an arm across her eyes blocking the soft light of the fire, praying sleep found her unaware of the pale blue eyes watching her with interest.