The walk down from the Carrock was a slow pace for Riswynn, the stony decline was a sharp drop at places and her new wounds flared up in agony as she stretched her muscles and dropped down. Once flat along the earthy ground again she felt the need to drop to her knees and thank Mahal, it was pure joy to walk a straight line for awhile. Oin had pestered her the entire walk down the rock face about checking over her wound, but she declined every time wanting to put as much distance between herself and the orc pack that was undoubtably still hunting them. They had walked well into the afternoon, the sun warm on their backs as sweat gathered on her brow. She groaned swiping her hand across her face, wishing for a stream or brook to wash herself off.
"How are you feeling?" Bilbo asked the dam quietly, he had been walking with her at the back of the company for most of the morning, watching as she huffed under her breath the longer Thorin made them walk. Her skin had lost some color she appeared paler than normal with a light sheen of sweat clinging to her skin. Her normally golden eyes were a strange dull amber color, her lips in a sneer as she cursed softly in Khuzdul, grabbing at her torn torso. Her once long lush hair that reached her bottom was cut short at an odd, jagged angle, just past her shoulder blades. Her many plaits frazzled at the ends as her beads and jewels no longer secured them.
Riswynn turned her eye toward Bilbo, not bothering to answer she just grunted with a nod, clutching her middle tighter, as small trickles of blood still oozed between her fingers. She hissed under her breath as her foot snagged on a root sticking up from the ground causing her to stumble and crash into the ground. She let out a gargled shriek as her hands shot out to stop her from impacting the forest floor, the movement sending rivets of pain up her arms and across her body as the ground came up to meet her. She groaned low in her throat, energy sapped and allowed herself to lower her body completely, the coolness of the ground was refreshing against her hot skin, she blinked her eyes lazily as she turned her head to watch several pairs of iron boots rush up to her, hands following them she found herself being turned over, and pulled to her feet.
"Lass, enough of this let me have a look" Oin growled out, his frustration clearly showing on his aged face, his eyes narrowed, and his mouth pulled into a grimace.
Riswynn could only nod, blinking her large amber eyes at the old Dwarrow, as his skilled hands pulled at the leather jerkin unfastening the strapping and pulling it off her shoulders. She shivered despite the warm air trying to cover herself from the group of Dwarrow huddled around her with worried faces. She bared her teeth like a Warg and snapped in pain and frustration "Mind yer business, look away" her voice deep and gravelly.
Thorin stopped when he noticed the lack of sound behind him, he looked over his shoulder to see everyone had stopped moving, they were in a huddle looking down at something. He sighed and turned on his heel marching back he pushed his sister-sons out of the way to look down at the injured dam laying prone on the ground, she was staring off at nothing, her once lively eyes a dull flat color, he pulled her to her feet, leaving his hand on the small of her back, frowning as his fingertips just barely brushed the tips of her golden hair. He trailed his eyes down the back of her head noticing for the first time, that her hair was no longer their, it was chopped clean off, causing his frown to deepen in confusion when did she cut her hair and how had he not noticed before. He turned his gaze toward Oin and gave him a subtle nod allowing the Dwarrow to step forward and examine the dam. It appeared she was only half with it, nodding dumbly as her jerkin was removed, and her wound exposed, the blood soaked clean through her cotton underclothes. She shivered as the air touched her flesh, leaning her weight slightly toward him, likely unintentionally he thought to himself. Suddenly a moment of clarity appeared in her eyes, and they flashed a violent crimson before returning to a muddied gold, her lips pulled back she snarled at the many pairs of eyes on her flesh, telling the rest of the company to not look at her. Thorin sneered at the others in agreeance, it certainly wasn't proper to have so many males looking at her flesh like that, although there was no sort of formality in the wilds, he still didn't like the others gapping at her, even if it was with only good intentions and worry. "Move" he snarled, taking a step away from her to usher the others away, his hand leaving the small of her back, a flash of surprise on his face when her smaller hand reached out and grabbed him by the wrist, her eyes flashing as she asked him to stay by her side.
Riswynn wasn't sure what came over her, but she didn't like the idea of him leaving, his warmth radiated off him and made her feel secure, and she knew that whatever Oin was going to do would likely hurt, as they had virtually no medical supplies left with them. She looked into Thorin's crystalline eyes and begged him to stay, no words spoken but she showed him her pain and vulnerability with a single look. He sighed and nodded standing at her side as Oin rolled up her tunic exposing her pale flesh, his eyes narrowing in rage as the fresh jagged wound was seen properly for the first time.
"Why would you not allow him to aid you earlier?" he grunted looking down his nose at her, frustration shining in his eyes.
Riswynn only shucked in a breath as her stomach was prodded with a damp cloth, she looked away guilty clenching her teeth in pain "Wanted to keep moving, orc pack is still hunting us" she hissed out, clutching the material of her trousers in one hand.
"What if your wound festers now" Thorin growled out, unimpressed with her lack of responsibility.
She shook her head and pinched her eyes shut as Oin prepared a needle and thread "Not to worry I'm tough" she said weakly trying to be humorous to distract her from the pain to come.
"You shouldn't have gotten injured at all" he said under his breath, his mood soured at the thought that it was his fault she was hurt in the first place, trying to protect him, the idea was ridiculous she should have stayed with the group. He turned his head to watch her as Oin threaded the needle through the tares in her flesh, her golden eyes were wide as she looked up at the sky, moisture gathering in them as pain washed over her. He felt guilt crawl up his throat choking him up, she had almost died saving his life, and he couldn't even express his gratitude properly, he only hugged her it was far from the emotions clouding his mind, she was such an amazing dam, brave, strong, stubborn, and loyal. She reached out blindly for his hand, threading her fingers through his own, her skin soft and warm against his rough palm and he looked down at their intertwined fingers, it was strange, but it made his head feel light. She squeezed hard puffing out a tiny breath as Oin stitched the deepest part of the wound, and Thorin found himself squeezing back his eyes never leaving the side of her face.
Riswynn groaned out in pain, glad for the support Thorin gave her, he was steady as the mountain beside her, his hand never pulling away from her as she squeezed in pain, she could almost feel his stare at the side of her face. She pried her eyes open and looked down as Oin pulled the final stitches through her torn flesh, she would have another long-jagged scar running from her just under her right breast to her naval, the skin pink and angry.
"There lassie, I cleaned it as best as I could, the stitches should hold for now, but you will have a sightly scar the rest of your life" Oin said sadly wiping her blood from his hands.
Riswynn only nodded sniffing, she gently ran her fingers over the raised scar "Thank you Oin, your mastery of medicine never ceases to amaze me"
Oin gave her a small smile, his cheeks tinted pink "Take care of yourself this time las, the lads and I are getting used to having you around"
She smiled at him and slowly pulled down her bloodied tunic "Of course Master Oin" she said gently.
She looked at Thorin, her cheeks tinted pink as she realized she was still holding his hand, she let go and smiled at him "Thank you Thorin"
He nodded and gestured to the others with his chin "Come along, the others will want to pester you with questions I'm sure" he said his tone flat, but his eyes looked down at her warmly.
He knelt down and grabbed her torn leather jerkin, holding the bloodied material In his hand he inspected the damage "This has seen better days, but I suspect it can be fixed, I'll have Dori sew it for you, he is the best mender in the company"
Riswynn raised her hand and shook her head "No no its alright I can mend it myself" she said embarrassed that someone else would be tending to her like some dwarrowling.
Thorin rolled his eyes and placed his free hand on the small of her back gently pushing her toward the others "Nonsense, he is perfectly capable, you need to rest this night"
Riswynn chewed her lip but said nothing as she was led slowly toward the others, her arm crossed gently across her chest, a smile splitting her face as the others shot to their feet and bombarded her.
"Are you alright?"
"How do you feel"
"Do you need anything?"
She chuckled and shook her head "Relax lads I'll be fine; it'll take more than Azog and his mutt to take me down" she smiled her eyes glittering like spun gold.
"That's our girl" Dwalin said, throwing his heavy arm over her shoulder and pulling her into an awkward side embrace, knuckling her hair.
"Why brother I thought you didn't particularly like Riswynn" Balin jested crossing his arms over his chest, a brow raised at his younger brother as he embraced the dwarrowdam.
Dwalin released her with a chuckle and looked at his brother "Nonsense, she is one of the finest dams I know, she saved Thorin and that makes her one of us isn't that right lads"
Riswynn felt her smile widen and tears rush to her eyes as the bald Dwarrow finally accepted her into the company "Thank you Dwalin" she said happily.
Dwalin turned and looked at her with a smile "Awe don't go crying on me lass I just started liking you" he teased, and she snorted wiping away a lone tear.
"What a strange little family we make up lads, but I wouldn't change it for the world" she laughed as she was brought to a small fire, a blanket thrown over her shoulders.
"Here, here" Bilbo shouted, between puffs of his pipe.
"Bilbo, I'm proud of you lad, you fought bravely" Riswynn said to him a warm smile on her face as the hobbit looked up at her and blushed a small shy smile on his face as the pipe sat between his lips, the smoke curling up into the sky.
"Course, we will have to train you up more lad, don't think I've forgotten now" she said a mischievous smile on her face.
"No training" Thorin grunted leveling his gaze on her, and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh, Thorin don't be so rash, of course I need to finish training our burglar if he is to steal from Smaug" she countered waving her hand at him nonchalantly.
"No, you will not, not while you are injured" he said with a note of finality his blue eyes boring into hers.
She sighed in frustration "Fine, as you wish your majesty" she said childishly sticking her tongue out causing Kili and Fili to snort out a laugh.
She turned her gaze toward the blonde Dwarrow and batted her long lashes at him "Fili" she said in a singsong voice "Would you please train Master Baggins in my stead; I know you are most proficient with daggers and his sword is hardly more than a dagger itself"
Fili scratched at his beard and smirked at the hobbit "Oh aye, I can train him, but just know I won't go easy on you lad" he teased pulling out a dagger tossing it blade end up into the air, before snatching it between his fingers.
The company spent most of the evening telling stories and at one point, Bofur got up to sing a jaunty tune, his lively nature rubbing off on everyone else, and Riswynn found herself laughing with joy. Her eyes glowing crimson as she snorted, wincing in pain for a brief moment.
"What's wrong Ris" Kili said alarmed at the glowing eyes, although the dam seemed in good spirits a loud laugh spilling from her lips.
Riswynn stopped laughing and looked at the young Dwarrow confused "Nothing lad, I'm just laughing, why" she said confused.
"Well, your eyes are glowing red" Kili said alarmed.
She shrugged "Oh, that, it happens all the time lad, you've seen it"
"Aye, but only when your angry it happens does it not" Fili said joining his brother in staring at her face.
Riswynn smirked and rolled her eyes "Not always lads, they glow whenever my emotions are high, just happens to be angry most of the time, relax I'm just happy so they are glowing"
"Strange thing your curse is" Dori said looking up at her from his sewing, her jerkin in his hand.
She yawned nodding her head "Aye that it is, I don't know much about it, other than what I found out on my own of course"
"Do you think you have a one" Kili asked curiously as he stared at the dam.
Riswynn frowned and shrugged her shoulders with a sigh "Can't say lad, I hope Mahal takes pity on me and gives me someone to love, but I can't be certain if the curse prevents me from finding him"
"Oh, I'm sure you'll have no problem finding your one, once Erebor is retaken lass" Balin interjected his wise eyes sweeping from her to settle on Thorin who was watching her closely.
Riswynn smiled softly "Thank you Balin, I just hope once we vanquish the drake that I will be free"
"I've never heard of such a curse before" Bilbo said looking at her closely, having not really given it much thought until now.
"They are exceedingly rare" Gandalf interjected with a smile, giving the dam a nod as her face fell.
"What say you Gandalf do you think I'll be cured when we kill Smaug" Riswynn asked her voice hopeful.
Gandalf swallowed thickly "I'm not sure my dear, but I believe you will find what you seek once we complete the quest" he said vaguely, glad the subject was dropped as the golden dam smiled so brightly at him.
"Riswynn what happened to your hair?" Thorin said staring at the dam, her golden tresses frazzled and jagged.
She looked up surprised to hear his deep voice, he was normally so quiet around the fire. She ran her fingers through it timidly greatly missing the long locks "Azog held me up with my hair while he stabbed me in the gut, so I chopped it off to get away" she said trying to sound indifferent.
She found everyone looking at her with pity and she looked down into the fire "I know I look a sightly mess, but it was either that or die, its only hair"
"It is still beautiful" Bilbo said softly patting her knee.
She smiled at him and sniffed "Thank you Master Baggins"
"Would you like us to fix it lass?" Gloin said looking at the tangled locks with pity, he knew how important hair was to a dam, his own wife fussed about hers enough.
Riswynn smiled him and nodded "If someone would please cut the length so it is at least straight I would be much obliged"
"I will" Thorin said standing up he ignored the sets of eyes on him as he approached the dwarrowdam offering her his hand, he gently pulled her to her feet and led her away from camp.