Title: Braveheart
Pairing: Thorin/Bella
Summary: There was another to add to the company from in the Shire, one no one expected, Isabella daughter of Elrohir Son of Elrond and Belvola. Will they accept Bella as the warrior they know of or will she hide the fact that she is both Elf and Dwarf.
BTW I should mention Italics are the elves speaking in their native tongue Sindarin. Bold Italics is when they are speaking in Khuzdul. All words translated at the bottom. {{Between these is green speech}} aka hobbit talk. Between and Italic '–' is Iglishmêk
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot! No matter how much I wish it to be so.
Chapter Eighteen
Bella stormed past the others and down the familiar path that leads to the Pack's house. It was really just a cluster of homes that they connected together with a small square in the middle for Pack gatherings.
Her hands clenched and unclenched with her fury, muttered curses in both Khuzdul and Sindarin. She tore the scarf from her neck and pulled up her hood to breathe the cool air easily as the others began to set up around them. She reeked of coal, fire, and metals, a bath would be fantastic but now was not the time to clean…
"Bella," Sam's voice jolted her from her paced ranting. "Calm down and eat before the others come to fetch you."
With a sigh, she pulled her scarf up once more, lowered her hood and nodded. "Sorry, I just…"
Sam placed his hand upon her in understanding. "It is fine my friend, come and eat. Did you finish what you needed to do in the forge?"
At the reminder of her task over the last couple of days Bella paused, her hand reaching to the pockets where the trinkets for her brothers lay with the coming of age gift for Sigrid and her other hand went to the dagger at her hip that as to be her courting gift. "I had just finished the last of them when Emily and Reyna came to fetch me. Are you all alright?"
"Besides what you saw nothing else happened when they dragged us to the square." Sam supplied instantly, they agreed not to mention the harsh words or the slight punch to the stomach or face to her. "Come, Bella, eat with us but you best take off the apron or Emily will bar you from the table until you do."
Slight laughter escaped Bella's lips as she saw his grimace, removing the apron quickly. "Speaking from personal experience?"
A snort caught her attention as Embry stepped to Sam's side, munching happily on an apple. "Of course, he and Paul both have come home with their aprons on for dinner. Em can deal with the soot and grime but refuses them to wear gloves, goggles, and aprons to her table."
"Embry!" Bella greeted with a smile, pulling the young man into an embrace. "I was told you; Quil and Jake are fishermen with Jared now."
"Yeah, we can't do what Sam and Paul do and the huntin' and trading not been good since the crackdown on trading from the Master," Embry replied, his grin turning a little more strained.
Bella's face twisted into a scowl, her hands clenching the worn leather of the apron at the reminder. She took several breaths before releasing such rage and turned her attention to the boys before her, giving them a reassuring look. "Come, I have gifts to give and food to chew before my brother comes looking for me."
The others gave Bella a smile as she joined them before returning to their tasks or conversations, she couldn't have felt more grateful for that as she knew they heard every word but gave her some semblance of privacy. Her eyes scanned over her boys and categorized their injuries before turning to Bard, muttering curses at the bruise forming across his cheek.
"I am well Bella," Bard reassured softly. "Looks worse than it is."
"It really is, he took a glancing blow." Reyna supplied as she placed a basket of small bread loaves on the table. "Kim's looked them all over."
Nodding Bella turned her eyes to Sigrid who was making her way in with jugs of water. "Sigrid, I have something for you."
Everyone paused and turned to watch as Sigrid blinked and made her way to Bella's side. A smile twitched at everyone's mouths as Bella pulled out two things from hidden pockets and held them out for Sigrid to take.
"I was not here for your coming of age and like your mother, before you, I have made you these," Bella explained as she held up the delicate hairpiece made out of silver and iron and a bracelet that looked like a snake.
Sigrid took them with a look of awe, "They're beautiful."
"And can be used for our protection as well," Bella explained. "The hairpin can be used to pick locks if needed as well as to stab someone if needed. The snake you need to be careful with."
In a blink, Bella had pulled the head of the snake away revealing a very small and sharp blade.
"But…"
Shaking her head Bella replaced the blade. "You are getting older Sigrid and the world is not a kind place, you may never need them but if you do… you will have them on hand. Your mother carries the twin hairpin with her at all times and she has a pendent with a small blade, as far as I know, she's had to use them twice in her life against rogue hands."
Sigrid snapped her head around to her mother in shock. "Really?"
"Yes," Reyna chuckled as she pulled up the small leaf pendant on a leather cord that rested around her neck.
Bella smiled softly as the young girl turned her attention back to her. "Keep them on you at all times my dear."
"Okay, enough talking it's time to eat!" Emily exclaimed as she placed the last plate on the table, chuckling as the boys' dove onto the food with ravenous hunger.
Laughter filled the air as they teased one another, Kim, Emily, Reyna, and Bella chuckled to themselves as they watched the boys squabble. Reyna and Kim making sure Bella ate more than the little chunks of bread and cheese she snuck under her mask while Emily pushed other little portions onto her plate when the other two were distracted. It was a routine they had down pat and they knew that Bella knew about it but said not a word against it.
Not after the first time.
"So have the company behaved for you all?" Bella asked once the laughter died down and the food began to settle.
The girls shared a look which had Bella sighing. "Which ones?"
"They've helped yes, the one that likes to cook helps and the healer has worked with me to further my knowledge." Kim states. "The young ones have broken a chair and little things that were easy to fix but it was the broody one and the silver-haired one that gave most problems. That king paces and paces and sleeps little; the other has nearly tossed all of them out the house windows in ire."
"The silver hair one? He likes tea?" Bella asked having to make sure that Kim was talking about the right dwarf.
All three nod.
"That would be Dori, he's usually the mild-mannered one…" Bella trailed off with furrowed brows. "He wouldn't be like that."
"Well to speak the truth kurdunamad… Ye have put us through a lot over the last month, more so once ya basically threw yerself in with us'lot." Nori's voice rung out before he dropped down from the balcony above. "Ya disappeared again and sent not a word to any of us, iffen it weren't for these ladies… Dori would have had to do somethin' drastic."
"Oh, and what would that be?" She asked while standing to greet her brother, pressing her forehead against his fondly.
Nori cast her a small honest smile before laughing, the smile turning sharp in his glee. "Coming to me for help."
Laughter escaped Bella's lips at that outburst and the wicked gleeful smirk Nori was giving her. The sound brought smiles to those remaining in the room, some with wide eyes; they hadn't heard her laugh so freely before. For the elder of the Pack, it eased them that their Bella had found a family, that she was no longer alone...
"Best you get back to your company Bella. Did you not have gifts for them as well?" Emily hummed as she began to gather the empty plates. "Go be with your family, you can see us again tomorrow."
"Thank you for dinner, thank you," Bella replied instantly, locking her eyes on each and every one of those before her. "Let me know immediately if that Barathgalt does anything over the next day or so."
Sam stood his back stiff as he eyed the small woman before him with a seriousness he only displayed when it was Bella Braveheart that spoke to him and not Bella his friend and saviour. "We will, I will make sure that we contact you immediately."
"Sam, Bâhaê you do not need to take all the responsibility on your own shoulders," Bella explained softly, switching to the language he grew up with. "Just because you are the eldest does not mean you need to be the only protector."
No other words were spoken as Sam dropped his eyes from her before taking leave of the room. None of the others said a word either to what was spoken or explained further when those in the room gave inquiring looks to what language was uttered. Only Jared and Paul were old enough to remember the language of their people and Leah if she had stayed with them and not gone onto Rohan with her now husband.
With sad eyes Bella bid her farewell and led Nori out of the homes, taking a deep breath of the cool night air and the familiar scent of ocean and rot. "How bad are the others?"
"We're all fine Namad. Perhaps a little edgy without you and what we have seen… many of us are not happy with the place that has been given to us to stay in before we leave." Nori reported with a scowl, his eyes shifting over everything around them looking for any sign of danger or prying ears. "The master has large coffers and the house reflects it."
"This I knew already… he must have placed you in the guest house." Bella sighed and came to a stop, letting her head tilt back and eyes slip closed.
Nori's frown deepened as he placed a comforting hand on his sister's shoulder, he knew how much this topic bothered her. "I heard something about gifts, has the itch been dealt with?"
Laughter bubbled out of Bella's mouth as her hands dug into her pockets and pulled out a leather satchel. "I have made gifts for my kin; these are for you to help aid you in protection and when you are in a tricky spot."
Confusion swept over Nori's face as he carefully took the satchel from his sister and opened it, his eyes widening and watering at the same time when he took note of what was inside. There was a lock pick set, small enough to hide within his hair if needed and had the ability to attach to a bead if needed as well… they were lovely but it was the small set of hand blades that rested within the middle, glinting like molten silver and the ring that rested with it.
The blades themselves were short, easily spanning his palm with a curved bottom that would rest comfortingly in his palm while the neck of the blade rested between two of his fingers. The blessing of Mahal twisted around it in runes while swirls of Elven tongue twisted with it. The ring was not like anything he had seen, ornate but not overly so and had his sisters seal etched into the side.
"Press the lip here." Bella pointed out, gesturing to the small nib on the side.
"How in the name of Mahal…?" Nori breathed out as two small little daggers flipped up with a soft snick. They wouldn't do much damage unless he punched someone in the throat but it would be a deterrent.
"I've made three, one for each of you," Bella explained. "Hidden blades that no one would suspect and with enough force behind your brothers punches they can do more damage than you…"
"I will treasure these always Namad, come we must speak to Dori and Ori…" Nori explained before pausing, his eyes snapping back to his sister suspiciously as her hand fiddled with a dagger. "What else have you made?"
"I have made a courting gift." She explained softly, "I wish to court Thorin."
BB
"Pacing isn't gonna make her appear faster," Dwalin grunted as his King, friend, cousin, walked past him once more. "Ye frettin' like an expectin' father."
Thorin paused mid-step and shot Dwalin his fiercest scowl, he knew he was fretting, Nori had left nearly two hours ago to fetch Bella and they had yet to return. It wasn't as if he was worried about their safety, Nori was the best Spymaster in his kingdom and Bella was well known in all lands they've travelled through… it's just he had not seen his One properly since she had left to settle the itch for her craft. The small moment before he spoke to the Master notwithstanding.
We must speak… Those words haunted him and from experience, nothing good came of those words.
Dori was just as bad as he over the last few days, muttering under his breath and on several occasions went to his brother only to turn away and leave without asking what everyone else was wanting to ask. As much as the Ri family were excited to add a sister to their clan, they didn't wish to pull her away from her craft.
"Uncle," Fíli's voice rung out effectively pulling Thorin from his thoughts. "I see them."
It took all of Thorin's willpower to not race over and push his sister-son from the window just to see her three seconds before she entered the door. At the moment both Nori and Bella entered everyone could see that the itch and pull to her craft had settled and she seemed to be more relaxed, a twinkle in her eyes as she laughed at something Nori was telling her.
To Thorin the world seemed to slow down and narrow in on his One as their eyes locked, crinkles forming around her eyes in the familiar tell of a smile, pulling one at his own lips in reply.
"I must speak to my brothers before you and I speak," Bella whispered to Thorin as she stepped to his side while Nori went to gather Dori and Ori.
The stone settled into Thorin's stomach once more at the reminder. "Very well then."
"It is nothing bad Thorin, trust me on this." Bella chuckled softly, her hand brushing against his own and easing his worries but increasing his curiosity.
"Very well, go to your brothers," Thorin instructed, giving her a soft smile and stealing another touch as she walked past and up the stairs.
Ori, Dori, and Nori stood at the top of the stairs in a cluster, pulling Bella into a tight embrace between the three of them, each pressing their forehead to her crown. When they all took a step back Bella cast Nori a look who returned it with one of encouragement, both completely ignoring the confused looks of Dori and Ori.
Though the confusion turned into one of surprise as Bella began to unravel the scarf that was always twisted around her mouth and covered a good chunk of her hair and head. It took all but a moment for the scarf to be free and held tightly in Bella's hand for Ori and Dori to blink in surprise.
"…I don't understand." Ori stammered out as he took in the bare cheeks of the dam before him. This was not what he expected and it alarmed him how she got her cheeks so bare, though the alarm faded and transformed into anger at the reason as to why she would have a shaven face. "Who did this to you! Did someone shame you?"
"No Ori… I–I cannot grow a beard… My mother could but my father could not…" Bella stated slowly, cautiously.
Frowning further in thought it was Dori who inhaled sharply as it began to click together, he may be uneducated but the Eldest Ri was not stupid by any means, his smarts hidden behind a carefully crafted mark. No, Dori was not as cunning as Nori or as smart as Ori but they had to learn some things from somewhere. "Your father was an Elf… that's why the elves in Rivendell were so protective of you, welcoming of us… why your name day doesn't happen until many months later… so many things that now that I know…"
"You don't know how you missed something so obvious?" Nori finished his brothers' sentence with an air of exasperation. "The style of the blades, the fighting, the fluidity of her motions."
"But I didn't think that was possible!" Ori blurted, his cheeks flaming red as he realised what exactly was spoken.
Bella chuckled. "No, it can. Rarely but it has happened. Not since I have been born and not a few decades before that."
The amusement didn't last long and it melted into uncertainty and wariness as she faced Dori head on once more. "If this bothers you, you need not claim me…"
"No, it's a shock yes… but you're our sister now. I've felt this such way since leaving Rivendell and you of all know that once a dwarf claims kin there is not anything but death or shame that could remove that bond. You are not dead, nor will you be dying anytime soon… and your mixed heritage will not shame the Ri clan." Dori stated firmly leaving no room for argument and bringing tears forth into Bella's eyes. "We're strange enough as is, a fussy hen tea seller, a thief, and a scribe… you are only going to enrich our line more."
Wiping the tears from her eyes Bella embraced her new eldest brother and pressed her forehead to his own. "Then I have something for you."
Dori pulled back with a raised brow and blinked as in a flash Bella held three items in her hand, a ring and two thin wooden sticks that were simple and yet held an intricate design. Confused he took one of the wooden items, blinking as he saw a join and pulled it gently to reveal a hidden blade.
"The blade won't break, both of them can be used as hair pieces or knitting needles, the ring I made for all three of you are hidden blades as well," Bella explained, demonstrating the ring for Dori and Ori like she had done for Nori, smiling at the surprise and awe on their faces. "To keep you safe. This is for you Ori."
The ring was handed over promptly to the youngest as well as a silver pendant half the size of his palm, a small square cut sapphire at the end and rested on a strong chain of silver as well. Though he could tell that it was steel with silver mixed in for strength and shine… "It's beautiful."
"It's also a blade." Bella pointed out, showing him how it was put together.
Dori tutted and shook his head in mock despair. "I have two of them. Why Mahal?"
A startled laugh escaped from Nori's lips at the realisation and cast his sister a look. Both of them had a habit of giving weapons to people, things that could be easily concealed as well as overlooked. Thinking back on it, he didn't know if it was a trait she passed on to him or he her but either way they were both the same in that aspect. Something settled within Nori at the realisation, yes he was loved by his brothers and though his ways were not what Dori wanted him to know or be able to do, Nori always felt alone… but now… now he had a sister who had been through the same amount of torments as he, who mirrored his habits and aided in them. He loved his brothers but they could not fill that wound of being outcast by family and race, now he didn't stand alone, he had a rock to hold him up that was just as unbreakable as he.
And as he watched his brothers and sister argue over the braid and Dori relenting to make the proper Ri braid next to his original one… he felt at peace… for this moment because he was sure going to run when Bella explained her desire to court Thorin with Dori…
Yeah, he was going to take Ori and flee back to the others for that conversation.
Author Note: I hope this was worth the wait, I was going to do the courting process between Thorin and Bella but I'll save that for the next chapter cause the Ri's took over.
Bâhaê – My friend
Barathgalt - Pig
