The group travelled through the hillsides along the east road, spirts dampened as sheets of rain began assaulting the small party. It was a cold rain that pelted them hard, she grimaced tucking herself further into the protection of her cloak, burying her face in Bofur's shoulders causing him to snort in laughter
"Easy lass, you'll push me outta the saddle" he chuckled peaking over his shoulder at her as she gave him a sheepish smile.
She shivered muttering over the howling of the wind and the pelting rain "Sorry Bofur, its freezing and you are warm"
He snorted shaking his head, water flying off his hat "It's fine lass"
"You can always ride with me Riswynn, I will keep you warm" Kili laughed wiggling his eyebrows.
She snorted peeking out from her cloak, her golden eyes shining with mirth "I want to be warm not pawed to death lad"
He shrugged winking "Offer stands my lady"
She laughed "You never give up do you"
He shook his head, shrinking back as his brother gave him a smack causing him to shriek out in pain "Hey what was that for"
Fili rolled his eyes "Leave Riswynn alone, she's not interested"
"Hey now how do you know, I'm a Durin all dams love Durin's" he said proudly puffing out his chest.
She laughed hard, causing Bofur to jump in the saddle, she patted him on the shoulder "I'm sorry Bofur did I scare ya"
He cackled rubbing his palm down his face "Aye, you laughed in my ear"
She chuckled quietly and fixed Kili with a devilish smile "All Dams love Durin's eh" she snorted and Kili smiled smugly with a nod.
She rolled her eyes looking at the brothers who both looked proud of their lineage "Well I've only had the pleasure of meeting three of the line of Durin, you are both fine looking Dwarrow and I'm sure the dams hung on your every word back home, however I'm much older than you both"
"You're not much younger than uncle" Kili said mischievously looking at Thorin who was leading the party unaware of their current conversation.
"Aye, that's right" she said narrowing her eyes.
"And what about uncle then hm" Kili teased.
She snorted rolling her eyes, if he was trying to embarrass her, she would not give him the satisfaction, she sat taller in the saddle and looked over Bofur's shoulder to stare at Thorin, she turned back to the young princes and smirked "Yes a fine looking Dwarrow indeed"
Kili and Fili burst out laughing, their eyes sparkling, and she shrugged "I find myself in the company of very handsome Dwarrow indeed, what would the other dams think" she said covering her mouth in feigned shock.
"Well, aren't you lucky to have us around then" Kili boasted.
She snorted "I couldn't find better company if I tried Master Dwarf, thirteen Dwarrow a wizard and a hobbit"
She peaked through the heavy rain toward the miserable looking hobbit, he was huddled down into his ponies neck, his little body shivering in the cold, his curly hair plastered to his face, his burgundy coat soaked through. She frowned he didn't have a travelling cloak like the rest of the company, he was soaking wet, more than herself and she felt sorrow for him, he was gentle and kind and likely to catch cold. She whispered in Bofur's ear to slow their pony, trotting alongside the miserable little hobbit she leaned toward him
"Bilbo" she called and he looked up from his pony, a frown on his face, she unclipped her cloak and tossed it toward him "Its wet lad, but itll keep the rest of the heavy rain off your shoulders"
He caught it and looked down at the heavy material, eyes meeting hers in confusion "I cant accept this, you'll be freezing cold Riswynn"
She shrugged a soft smile on her face "Think nothing of it Master Baggins, you are cold, and I am fine, I'll just snuggle into my riding partner isn't that right Bofur" she chuckled.
The other dwarf just blushed a small smile on his face and Bilbo sighed pulling the wet material over his shoulders. It was quite large, the hood concealing his face from the rain completely, he felt warmth slowly return to his fingers as the dense material provided some protection from the heavy onslaught of freezing cold rain.
"Gandalf can't you do something about this weather" Dori shouted in annoyance, trying to shield his head from the water.
Gandalf who rode in the front next to Thorin grunted, "Its rain Master Dwarf it will stop precisely when it means too, I have no control over the weather"
She smiled shaking her head as she watched the other dwarf slump his shoulders in defeat. They road in silence the rest of the day, the rain dampening even Kili and Fili's mood, no jokes or traveling songs sung as the sun slowly began its descent from the sky. They stopped near an old, abandoned farm, the building broken down roof caved in on itself. Thorin dismounted and told everyone else to do the same, Gandalf grabbed his large staff and inspected the ruins surrounding them with a scowl on his face
"I think it might be wise to move on, find different shelter" he said glumly facing Thorin. "We could make for the hidden passage, be in Rivendell before nightfall"
Thorin crossed his arms and glared at the wizard "I told you I would take no help from elves; we camp here for the night"
Gandalf grimaced "Stubborn dwarves" he grunted quickly walking away from camp.
Riswynn dismounted with the help of Bofur, watching the wizard stomp away and Bilbo stop to question him.
She frowned as his tall form eventually faded from sight, coming to stand beside the hobbit "Where is he off too" she asked confused.
Bilbo shrugged his shoulders and gave her a weak smile "He will be back I'm sure, come on let's get dry"
Soon a fire was blazing, and all were huddled around the warmth it provided, the rain finally stopped allowing them to try to properly dry themselves off. She moved to the edge of camp behind the cover of the trees and pulled off her outer tunic, wringing as much water out of it as possible, the fabric was drenched and wrinkled but it would dry eventually. She sighed squeezing out the rest of her clothing and redressing as quickly as possible before joining the others. She sat between Bilbo and Ori warming her hands over the lazy flame.
"Here you are Riswynn thank you" Bilbo said softly handing back the soaking bundle of fabric. She smiled and took it from him with a nod "Glad to be of service Mr. Baggins".
"Kili, Fili, go scout the area before nightfall the rest of you get that fire blazing, Riswynn tend to the ponies" Thorin said removing his heavy fur lined coat to dry it.
She groaned standing up, sad to be away from the fire and headed toward the ponies, Bilbo following along behind her, she turned and looked over her shoulder with a smile as the hobbit smiled sheepishly "I can help if you'd like" he said nervously.
She nodded "Very well, see to it that they are tethered properly and ill get to feeding them"
She hummed while she worked visiting each pony offering them kind words and pats, rubbing down their necks and scratching behind their ears, giving them a portion of oats to eat. She observed the hobbit as he approached the beasts with caution grabbing their reigns and fastening them around a rickety fence, she smiled when he allowed enough slack for the ponies to graze on the lush grass beneath them. Once they had finished with their task they returned to the fire, the sun just slipping beyond the horizon and darkness slowly overtook the small farm. She settled in by the fire as the cold night air whistled through camp, her hair was still damp from being held in so many plaits and she sighed wringing out the moisture wishing she could brush it out and re-plait it.
Bilbo watched the forlorn look on the dams face, as she struggled with her heavy hair, it appeared to be wet still and she looked uncomfortable as she ran her fingers through the unruly mass. "I could help you fix it if you'd like, my mother taught me to braid as a young hobbit"
She sucked in a breath and looked at him wide eyed, it was completely silent all the dwarves staring at him in horror, and he rose a brow "What did I say something wrong"
"Aye, I take it you've never heard of dwarven customs have you lad?" Balin said trying to remain calm and the voice of reason as the others glared at the hobbit.
Bilbo shook his head confused "Its only hair"
She pulled her plaits back defensively and shook her head "It is not, Master Baggins, to dwarves plaiting of hair is seen as an offer of courtship"
He paled and shook his head adamantly and she sighed pulling her plaits down in front of her, showing them off in the firelight "Alright lad, ill explain, this here" she gestured to the thickest seven strand elaborate plait "This represents my family lineage, as shown on the iron bead that holds my clans crest" "This one here, shows I am of age for courtship" she said gesturing to the one on the opposite side of her head a common three strand plait with a plain iron bead. "This one here, shows that I am not married and am available for courting" she finished gesturing to the thin plait just above her other on the right side of her head adorned with gems. "If a Dwarrow was to offer to court me and I accept then, these two plaits would be removed and twisted together with a bead from his family linage, I would receive another plait once we are joined together"
Bilbo twitched his nose in confusion looking at the other dwarves noticing their finely plaited hair on display, eyes falling on the common place plaits of Fili and Thorin "What about those, they look different than yours" he said gesturing to Fili.
Fili smile and tugged on his plaits "These are a representation of the house of Durin, stating I am from the royal line"
Bilbo snorted "This is confusing"
She chuckled "How do hobbits court one another?"
Bilbo became flustered and a blush tinted his cheeks "Well, we offer gifts either made by our own hands or gifts of food, but it is hardly so formal, hobbits can have multiple partners over a lifetime if it doesn't work out"
She rose a brow in surprise "What, surely there is only one that is your true match"
Bilbo shrugged "My cousin Angelica Baggins would disagree; she's been married twice"
Riswynn along with the other dwarves looked appalled by the notion and he frowned "Surely dwarves marry more than once in their lifetime, you live so long" he tried chuckling but stopped when Riswynn shook her head.
"No laddie, there is so few dams among us that marriage is a highly sacred thing, most dwarves wait until they meet their one before they begin courting" Balin said with a sniff.
Silence enveloped the small group as no one knew what to say to break the awkward tension. Riswynn sighed and slowly removed her plaits, untangling her hair as carefully as she could with only her fingers, brushing out the long curls and re-plaiting it, deciding it best to have it up and off her back incase more rain became them. She started with a high thick plait that ran along the top of her head giving it a mohawk appearance, two small thin plaits along the sides to keep the loose hair at bay, her family plait along her left temple started at her thin sideburns and around her ear to hang loose on her shoulder. On her right temple she plaited her thin courting plaits, fastening them with iron beads and gems and allowed them to be pulled into the higher main plait. She fasted it off with a thick golden ring, allowing the plaits and her free curls to tumble down her back like a horse's tail. Her hair was heavy but at least the dampness was off her neck, she could feel Bilbos eyes on her an embarrassed blush on his cheeks.
"I'm sorry if I offended you Riswynn, it was not my intention" he gulped nervously.
She smiled and reached over to pat him on the head "It's alright lad, I thank you for the offer"
He smiled "It is rather pretty to look at your hair, is it uncommon among dwarves to have golden hair"
She smirked looking at Fili who winked at her "Well thank you Master Baggins, Dwarves take great pride in their hair and beards, fair hair is considered lucky amongst our kin, so best be thankful you have two golden headed dwarves to look out for you" she said with a laugh.
Bilbo snorted rolling his eyes "Why don't you have a beard; I thought all dwarves did"
She grunted and pushed his shoulder playfully "I take offense to that Bilbo, I have a fine beard for a dam, I can't grow one as magnificent as Gloin mind you, but its there woven into my plaits"
"Thank you, lass," Gloin said proudly stroking a hand through his flaming red beard with a smirk.
"Of course, Master Gloin" she said with a bow of her head.
Kili came stumbling over to the fire with a yawn, giving Riswynn an odd look "Arent you supposed to be watching the ponies?" he said confused.
She looked up and rose a brow "Bilbo tethered them already"
Kili frowned "Well two are missing"
She jumped to her feet "Show me"