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 Nineteen
Dori wasn't stupid, he wasn't as smart as his baby brother or as cunning and keen-eyed as Nori but he couldn't miss the subtle fidget his new sister had while he finished off the Ri braid nor could he miss the flicker of her eyes to the door with each twitch of her hand to the dagger at her side.
Nori's smirks at each twitch had him sighing in exasperation. "You might as well tell me what you want to tell me Namad, I am not stupid nor am I blind."
Bella stiffened at Dori's words and cast a wide panicked looked towards Nori that was leaning on a confused Ori laughing silently at her expense, the traitor. She turned her wide-eyed gaze over to Dori who had finished the braid and tucked it neatly behind her ear and began to redo her other braids, tisking at each weapon he found in return.
"I… uhm…" She stammered out earning another sigh.
"I know that the King is your One," Dori said matter of fact. "And I also know that he won't be the one to offer courtship first as it is usually the Dam's choice. So show me what you made him as a courting gift."
In a blink the dagger was within her open palm, it was probably from the length of her forearm and the hilt was carved in one of the strongest woods of middle earth the sheath was carved ivory that she had Samuel hold for her for a special occasion. The hilt of the blade was carved in the familiar knot work of Khazad and lined with Mithril (she had stolen it from Edward's family after what happened) while the sheath was vine work of her father's people and lined with Mithril knot work.
Her new brothers inhaled sharply at the blade and Nori, once asking permission, picked it up and tested it.
"This is perfectly balanced, where did you even get this much Mithril?" he asked as he spun the blade in his palm and sheathing it once more.
"It's a secret." She chuckled while placing the dagger at her hip once more. She knew that secret would bug Nori to no end.
Dori hummed and cast a look at the closed door before facing his sister. "I cannot deny the suit as it is your choice but there will be no more unchaperoned meetings till the courting rituals are complete, do you agree?"
"I agree with you Nadad; I know that traditions must be kept." She replied seriously earning a nod of approval from the silver-haired Dwarrow.
"Very well, is there a particular Elvish way of courting you wish for him to follow?" He asked after another moment of thought, she was a child of two worlds and both of them had different courtship rituals.
Bella felt her brows rise at the question. "No beyond celibacy, elves wed the moment they cleave together. I follow my father more in biology and we think it will be the same for me but for the courtship I would prefer the Dwarrow way."
A blush was easily seen on all their faces as they realised what Bella meant.
"Very well, Nori go fetch the king," Dori told his brother who for a change didn't argue and left with a nod of his head.
Thorin glanced up and stopped pacing the moment he heard someone coming back down the stairs and hoped it was his One except it was not his One but Nori who was glancing at him with raised brows as Thorin felt his shoulders slump.
"My sister wishes to speak with you Thorin," Nori stated firmly, narrowing his eyes down at Balin and Dwalin who moved to follow. "Just Thorin."
Balin raised his brows while Dwalin scowled. "If something needs to be discussed with…"
Thorin raised his hand to silence his advisor as he paused at the bottom of the stairs and shook his head. "No, I will not need you or Dwalin this is not a discussion between one of the Company and their King but between One's." He explained.
There was a tense silence as the others watched Balin raise his brows and then sigh. "Very well."
The sons of Fundin watched as their king followed Nori back up the stairs with wariness. They didn't know if the topic of discussion would be a good one or not, Thorin had been pacing since Bella had left them and then even more so when she said they had to talk but neither could get a read on the lass about her intentions or thoughts.
"Oh no you don't," Dwalin growled as he caught the two princes by the scruff and hauled them away from the stairs they were trying to sneak up. "Thorin will have my hide if ye eavesdrop their private conversation an' I don't wanna risk the wrath of 'Zerker."
Fíli and Kíli whined as he hauled them to the kitchen where Bombur and Bilbo were cooking. "But Dwalin the Ri's are there too!"
"Don' matter, the Ri's are kin an' must be in the room to chaperone Bella and Thorin as is custom," Dwalin explained while shoving them in their seats.
Bilbo paused what he was doing and faced the three with surprise. "Thorin and Bella are talking… and you caught them trying to sneak up."
The disappointed glare Bilbo shot the princes after Dwalin gave the affirmative had them slumping in their seats, each accepting their punishment as Bilbo had them cleaning every pot they used while also peeling and cutting the vegetables for dinner for the company and those that had housed them over the last few days and if either of them tried to sneak off or eat a pastry found their hands smacked by a spoon from Bombur and a sharp ear tweak and glare from the hobbit who was steadfast to make sure his Kin's talk with Thorin went undisturbed.
Meanwhile, Thorin felt his heart leap into his throat as he saw his One standing beside Dori without her face scarf and looking serious. The door clicked shut behind him as Nori stepped through and the sound seemed to cause Thorin to dread what this was about.
"Relax 'Ukradê, bujbelê it is nothing bad," Bella reassured as she saw her one's panic begin to build and smiling in amusement as her one startled at her term of endearment.
"Thorin Oakenshield son of Thrain, Son of Thror. Bella, daughter of Belvola Swanstrike and Elrohir of Rivendell, house of Ri, Baggins-Took, Swan, and Pack has asked if she could start a courtship with you and has presented me with her item of suit for approval." Dori started watching as his King straightened and stared at his sister with awe.
The permission was backwards, usually it was the male who went to the head of the Dam's family and asked permission and then if accepted would inform the Dam of the male's intentions or if both were male then it would be the same as well… it was rare that a Dam started a courtship not because they couldn't but because they preferred to be craft bound or liked to see what their One would create for them and how they would approach.
Once Dori had finished his speech Bella stepped forward and held the dagger up for Thorin to inspect. He inhaled sharply as he took in the exquisitely made blade, his hand closing around the hilt carefully as he picked it up and blinked in surprise at the surprisingly light weight till his fingers ran curiously over the silver metal design and realised it was Mithril.
She had given him a blade made by her own hands from… "What material is this?" He asked as he fingered the Elvish designs.
"Gabilkhagrmuzm," Bella replied with a smirk as Thorin's eyes snapped up to hers in shock while Nori nearly choked on his tongue by the door.
"Âzyungel you truly are a wonder of all wonders. I have not seen such material before nor a blade so fine, I am honoured by your gift." Thorin replied in awe with a tilt of his head while he sheathed the blade once more and clipped it to his belt.
"Do you accept my offer of courtship?" This time the confidence in her voice was gone and replaced with uncertainty. "I know the timing is not ideal but…"
Thorin held up his hand up to stop her from continuing and took her hands in his own. "The timing is not ideal, yes, I would have liked to have time to woo you properly and show you how much my devotion to you is Kurdel without the burden of my people's lives weighing heavily on my shoulders but I accept your offer of courtship Bella Braveheart."
The smile that Bella gave seemed to light up the whole room as she gently pressed her forehead to her One's, her free hand rising up to cup the back of his head and tangle in his hair in a way she had always dreamed of doing. She could hear her brothers shuffling and leaving the room to give them privacy but she could still hear Nori and Dori outside the door guarding it while Ori went downstairs.
"You have made me the happiest Dwarrow on this day, Amrâlimê. I never thought I would be able to court my one let alone find them but here you are and offering me the courtship." Thorin murmured with a soft laugh.
Pulling back Thorin let his hands drop and fish out the hidden pouch he has for his beads and pulls out the bead he had been working on since she had left to curb her need to craft. "It is simple in design but I hope once we take back the mountain I can make you a bead that you deserve along with the courting gift I planned."
The bead was indeed simple but it was beautiful nevertheless. It was a silver bead with the blessing of Mahal carved around it and the familiar sigil of Durin specifically used by the Royal line.
"I love it, will you braid it in?" She asked while tilting her head to the side.
Thorin's smile was wide and beautiful, it lit up his whole face and for once Bella could see the Dwarrow he was before he became king. "Of course if you braid mine in return."
She felt her eyes close as Thorin pulled a section of her hair free and began to braid with gentle tugs, his knuckles brushing over the tip of her ear and sending a shudder of warmth down her spine.
"We cannot stay here for much longer; Durin's day is nearly upon us." She murmured with a sigh when he was done, her fingers trailed curiously over the small braid that pulled back the hair that hid her ear and raised her brow.
"I wanted the braid to enhance your features and yes, I've arranged with the Master for a boat to take us to the edge of the lake for tomorrow. I am sorry it is such short notice." Thorin replied with a sad frown, he knew that it was short notice for her to say goodbye to her friends here.
Bella gave her One a reassuring smile as she began her own braid in his hair; it was in a familiar design as the one her mother braided in her father's hair but with her own twist. The bead she had always carried with her, one she had designed for if she ever found her One and carried for decades clasped with a soft snick and stood out amongst the black and silver of his hair. It too had the blessings of Mahal around it with pearl and opals scattered across it.
"I will have to see them tonight then and inform them, they need to know we intend to reach the mountain and wake a dragon. Bard has a Black Arrow and there is a wind lance still in town but Samuel needs to get his Pack out of the town and those that are willing to follow them just in case we do wake the dragon and he seeks to cause more destruction." She told him and stepped back as Dori opened the door with a stern look, their time for private discussion was over.
"Very well, but take Nori with you, we can't trust the Master or his men. They've been watching us when one of us leaves and I am concerned that they are watching you." Thorin stated while he watched Bella place her scarf back on once more, chuckling as she realised that her ear was now exposed and tried to rearrange the material to cover it. With a fond smile, he reached out and lifted the braid to cover her ear for her.
"The Guards won't harm me even under the Master's orders. Not only have I taught many of the guards lessons over the years when I visit but they know if anything happens to me or those under my protection word will be sent to Dain and Legolas and the trade here will cease." She explained as they made their way down the stairs. "Legolas and I have come to an agreement that if the Master does not abide by that simple demand then he will deal with Bard only. It helps that Bard and Legolas have met and are friends as well."
Bella came to a halt as the fresh scent of freshly baked egg and cheese muffins and her favourite roast chicken and garlic potatoes. "What...?" She asked turning her eyes to Bilbo who raised his own brows in reply.
"Mahal!" Bella cursed as she realised the date after a long moment of Bilbo staring at her. "I'm so sorry Bilbo."
The laughter that escaped Bilbo was bright and bubbly, it was a laugh she hadn't heard since before Belladonna had died and it warmed something within her to see it.
"This will be the first year where my traditions will be met with you and we won't have the same argument like always. I win!" He crowed delightedly while the others watched the two with baffled amusement.
Spluttering Bella reached out to grab the taunting hobbit who danced out of her way with ease. "That's not fair Bilbo! Your culture's traditions are backwards on this day and you know it! It should be I who gifts you not you who gifts me! Come back here you blasted hobbit!"
"Not by the hair of my neatly combed feet!" He yells back in delight as they race around the kitchen in laughter. "Plus you gave me a present!"
"And what is that!?" She demanded while coming to a stop near where she started panting.
Bilbo chuckled as he gestured to Thorin. }}Did you not offer courtship?{{
}}Yes?{{ She replied with a frown.
"Finally!" He shouted exasperated and moved to shove her down into the chair, gesturing for Thorin to sit on her right and muttered: "Been dancing around each other since Beorn's, honestly."
"Dinner first and then we can sort out the plan for leaving here," Bilbo stated sternly as Thorin and Balin went to talk. "Tonight is my Birthday and I didn't slave all afternoon in the kitchen with Bombur to talk about business. So, enjoy!"
Bella snorted as she dug into the food, smirking behind her scarf as the others began to splutter and yell and demand to know why Bilbo didn't tell them something so important sooner. She'd leave it be, for now, and enjoy this last bit of joy before going to see Sam and Bard.
Tomorrow will be another day.
Author Note: Short but Merry Christmas!
Âzyungel - Love of all Loves
Gabilkhagrmuzm - Oliphaunt
Amrâlimê - My Love
'Ukradê - My Greatest Heart
bujbelê - My Choice of all Choices
