Chapter Two: A Merry Tune Indeed
The days slowly blended as the company of Thorin Oakenshield rode on, at a pace too slow for a Warg. Narâ sighed leaning forward in her hand-crafted saddle, fingers brushing through the soft white strands of Khimâ's fur a bored expression on her face. She rested her head in between his great shoulder blades and listened to his breaths as he walked slowly beside the ponies, after so many days together the tiny horses seemed to tolerate his presence, no longer braying in terror at his approach. She blinked away the sleep from her eyes, and looked toward her traveling companion, it would seem despite his mount's acceptance of her Warg, a certain hobbit still was squeamish around him.
"Bilbo, why don't you just touch him, he wont bite you I promise" Narâ called out to him in a sing song voice, her emerald eyes sparkling with humor.
Bilbo frowned at the dam, his eyes scanning the white beast with distaste, it was unnatural to ride such a creature, she looked so small upon its back. The Warg was bigger than he ever imagined it to be, no such thing had ever ventured near the borders of the Shire, and no hobbit had ever seen one before. The first time he saw it he nearly ran back to the comforts of his home in Bag End. He twitched his nose, wishing for the hundredth time that he had his handkerchief, he knew that blasted Warg was causing him to have an allergic reaction. "No thank you" he stated firmly, turning his head away to stare ahead, his frown deepening as he caught sight of the dam moving her beast closer from the corner of his eye.
"Now I really don't think that's necessary Narâ, really I don't want to touch it" Bilbo huffed pulling tightly on the reigns of his pony, Myrtle whinnying in irritation at the harsh movement.
"Narâ Enough pestering the hobbit" Thorin called from the from the front of the company, he had enough of the incessant whining about the Warg to last him an age. He looked over his shoulder at the dam, who having heard him sat up straight her raven head, peaking over the top of her beasts. She had fashioned her long locks into a warrior's braid, her dark hair spilling down her back in a mohawk styled plait. The look suited her fine features, emphasizing her slender neck. He swallowed "Come I will have words with you" he grunted loud enough for her to hear, turning away he waited for the soft padding of Khimâ's paws alerting him of her presence.
Narâ rose a brow, unsure of his summons but nudged Khimâ forward, clicking her tongue he happily obliged in a few short bounds he was beside Thorin's stallion. She turned her eyes toward him waiting for him to speak.
"Bombur has expressed his wishes for fresh meat, perhaps you and your Warg can go hunt us some game" Thorin said not evening looking at her.
She frowned "Surely that is not all you request of me" she was sent away most days scouting ahead, as if she were some kind of burden to have around.
Thorin glanced at her briefly, not enjoying the sour look on her face, a flash of guilt appeared in his crystalline eyes before it was gone "Yes that would be all, unless you think yourself not up for the task" he said simply.
She chewed the inside her lip, desperately wishing to roll her eyes at him, but nodded "Of course, any particular game I should be hunting then?" she said with a hint of venom in her voice.
"Preferably something edible" Thorin replied a small smirk pulling up the corner of his mouth.
She sighed leaning down to whisper in Khimâ's ear "naitsî". The Warg let out a loud bark and sprinted away in great leaps and bounds leaving the ponies behind, his powerful paws thundering against the soft ground. Narâ laughed in happiness at the thrill of the hunt, the feeling that surged through her being as she rode. She could barely make out the passing lands as Khimâ refused to slow down, the wind whipping her long plait behind her head like the tail of a horse. She leaned forward, letting his body shelter her from the winds, his soft fur tickling her chest and neck. She allowed him to lead them both toward prey, his keen sense of smell would pick up a trail far better than her eyesight alone. He ran them into a dense patch of forest, the evergreen trees reaching high into the sky searching for sunlight. She cooed for him to slow rubbing her hand along the top of his head, fingers absentmindedly toying with his long ears. He huffed out a great breath in displeasure, swishing his long tail and shaking his shoulders at her instruction to stop running. Narâ smiled often her Warg reminded her of a pup in his behaviour, so typical it was of him to want to run forever, perhaps all this travel with the ponies was getting to her free spirited Warg, he was after all a wild animal.
She instructed him to stop near a brook, dismounting she waded into the small stream dipping her hands into the cold water she splashed some on her face and neck, the forests surrounding the Shire always tended to be so warm and the sun shone so brightly, she chuckled at the fitting image, hobbits were a sunny people. It was refreshing to be able to cool down, living in the Grey Mountains the temperature tended to be cooler and the high peaks often saw snow even in the warmer spring months. She cupped her hands and drank from the clear water, watching as Khimâ did the same, his red eye tracking her movements.
"Well boy should we go then, Bombur wants fresh meat don't you know" she complained, kicking at the water like a small dwarrowling. Khimâ lifted his head from the stream, water dripping from his muzzle as he cocked his head to the side. She smirked at him and climbed onto his back, she wasn't familiar with the area, having not traveled this far in a very long time, her father never liked traveling to Ered Luin from his halls, so he only did so when it was absolutely necessary and her being a dwarrowdam had to accompany him whenever he left. She sighed shaking her head from the thoughts of home and set herself to the task at hand. She instructed her Warg to walk so she could watch the forest and listen for any sounds, any animal of course that got within smelling distance of Khimâ would of course bolt at the impending danger but that was all they needed. A Warg was incredibly fast and there were few creatures that could outrun them save certain species of rabbits. It was a pleasant day for hunting at least, the air was relatively cool, and the trees gave her a much-needed break of shade, sunlight only trickling through the leaves casting shadows along the ground. A strange sound started to emerge from the forest as if it were singing to her, she stopped both her and Khimâ looking around for the source. She strained her ears and rose a brow in confusion it sounded like a man singing a rather nonsensical silly song. She pat Khimâ on the shoulder and he slowly stalked forward, his belly slinking along the ground as he walked near silent following the strange music.
Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!
Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow!
Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
Narâ shouted into the forest "Hello is anyone there?" looking around to find only the creatures of the forest around her, songbirds in the trees, small rodents scurrying away from her.
"I am here" someone shouted, and she whirled around to look behind her, hand on her chest as her heart threatened to burst in freight, she had never even heard him approach her. He was an odd looking fellow with a long brown beard, and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a bright blue jacket and strange yellowed boots. He had a whimsical smile on his face, not at all alarmed to find her and Khimâ in his forest.
"Who are you good sir?" she asked politely.
The man smiled at her and danced a small jig, causing her to raise a brow in confusion "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow! Bright Blue is his jacket, and his boots are yellow" he sang.
She sighed thinking this Tom fellow was crazier than anything "Yes I can see that, so I can assume you are named Tom then"
"He is" said Tom walking around her Warg inspecting him with keen interest seemingly unbothered by the predator that towered over his small stature.
"Who are you, and how did you come by me and Khimâ" Narâ asked a little impatiently, urging this strange man to make some sense, as he only seemed to speak in riddles.
"Eldest, that's what I am...Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn...he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless — before the Dark Lord came from Outside" Tom said merrily, plucking at the long tail of the Warg, running the fine white fur through his fingertips.
Khimâ growled softly, swishing his tail at the intrusion, and turned pulling back his lip to reveal his long white canines at the odd fellow. Tom simply laughed and bopped him on the snout, turning away from the pair he began to gather water lilies, seemingly uninterested in the newcomers now that he had examined them. Narâ sighed in frustration jumping down from her Warg's back she approached him again "Perhaps you can tell me where I am" she asked slowly.
Tom looked at her with a smile "Why you are here of course" he said simply.
She rolled her eyes "Yes and where is here, what forest is this?"
He gathered his water lilies and passed them to her, the wet plants soaking her fur cowl, as she took them confused, frowning as the cool water touched her skin "Now, now little fellow, where be you a-going to, puffing like a bellow? What's the matter here then? Do you know who I am? I'm Tom Bombadil. Tell me what's your trouble! Tom's in a hurry now. Don't you crush my lilies!" he tutted walking away from her with a spring in his step.
She frowned following him the lilies in hand, watching as ever step he took he seemed to skip and sing a tune to only he himself could hear. She cleared her throat "Tom I really must be going, I have companions I am to meet"
Tom turned and looked at her with a raised brow "Thirteen feet a stomping, one foot a stepping, you best get gone while the good is getting" he chuckled.
She shook her head not understanding a single word that came out of his mouth, she placed the lilies gently upon the ground and whistled for her Warg offering him a weak goodbye.
He clicked his fingers as if remembering something important and looked at the dam "Tom knows the path quickest to your fellow, over the hills through old forest, listen to his bellow, there you'll come across Bree under Bree-hill, with doors looking westwards. Hurry now and leave Tom he has his house to mind and Goldberry is waiting"
She shook her head at the strange man and his strange behaviours watching as he whistled a tune to himself, scooping up the water lilies cradling them like a newborn babe, he pranced away into the forest, seemingly disappearing into the greenery. Narâ blinked rubbing her eyes, perhaps this was all some sort of dream or maybe she had fallen off her Warg and bumped her head, she couldn't fathom what just happened. Khimâ gave her a gentle push with his wet snout, ready to get back to the hunt. She chuckled scratching his chin, clicking her tongue he knelt allowing her to mount him.
"Absunat" she cheered pointing forward, a smile on her face as Khimâ stood on four legs and raced away, passing fallen trees and small streams as the pair ran through the old forest.
…
"Why do you always send her away Uncle" Fili asked looking at Thorin from the corner of his eye, he was brooding again a scowl on his face, his blue eyes flickering toward the treeline subtly but not so that Fili didn't notice.
Thorin sighed looking to his sister-son, taking in the coy smile and the sparkling blue eyes of the line of Durin "She is simply better equipped for scouting and hunting than the rest of us" he said firmly refusing to look at the golden headed Dwarrow any longer. He knew if one of his sister sons suspected anything that they would both begin their scheming, and it wasn't needed or wanted on this journey.
"Oh, Uncle don't tell me you are afraid of her Warg" Kili teased, tossing a pinecone up and down in his hand, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief a smug smile on his face.
Thorin groaned cursing himself for bringing the younger of the two, Kili was rash and green, he tended to be more reckless and a general pain in the neck with his joking. "I'm hardly afraid of a Warg Kili, I've killed them before after all, there is nothing special about Khimâ"
"So, it's the lass then" Dwalin laughed sitting himself down beside his friend, bumping his shoulder good naturedly with his own.
Thorin closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation "I will make this perfectly clear I am not afraid of her nor the beast, I send her scouting because the Warg is faster than the ponies and she has proven to be most resourceful, more than I can say for present company" he grunted opening his eyes to glare at the two young Dwarrow, who only smiled openly at him shrugging their shoulders.
"Sorry we aren't old like you uncle" Kili laughed, picking at a large blade of grass.
"Who is old then" a female voice chuckled, causing the Dwarrow to turn their heads and watch the dwarrowdam approach, her beast trailing behind her a large buck held in its massive maw.
"Where should I put this then Thorin?" she asked holding up her hand to halt her Warg, who stopped looking at his master patiently.
Thorin smiled at the sight of her before he could stop himself, quickly steeling his emotions he gestured to the camp cook Bombur, the great fat Dwarrow waved her over eagerly his eyes alight at the prospect of venison. Thorin watched her nod with a smile, steering her beast away with the brush of her hand, her long black plait swishing behind her as she walked, hips moving in a hypnotic sway.
"Lovely lass isn't she" Balin said sitting down beside his brother a pipe in hand.
"Aye" Thorin said, clearing his throat he turned to look at his companions "She is a most talented huntress, the fresh meat will be a good change" he said clearing his throat his voice hoarse.
Balin smiled "Aye, the lads will love her for it, isn't that right" he said winking at the younger Dwarrow.
Fili rose a brow at the white haired Dwarrow in confusion, not catching the hint in the meaning of his words "Bombur likely loves her best Balin, Thorin sends her away so often I feel we hardly have spoken to her"
Balin frowned with a nod looking over the head of Fili to watch the dam brush down her Warg a smile on her face. "Narâ come sit here lass and join us by the fire" he called waving her over with a friendly smile.
Narâ looked over her shoulder at Balin who had a warm smile on his face, waving her over to them enthusiastically and she shrugged leaving Khimâ with a haunt of venison for his meal. She brushed her hands on her furred skirt wiping off the remnants of dirt and blood frowning at the new stains as she approached the others. Her green eyes alerted to the patting of the ground beside Balin, she danced around the legs of the other Dwarrow until she found her place and settled down crossing her legs.
"Thank you for hunting lassie, he is an impressive kill" Balin said warmly, patting her knee.
Narâ smiled and bowed her head in thanks "Khimâ is an excellent hunter, he finds the prey and I just shoot it" she said casually, looking at the small fire in front of her, she wasn't used to great amounts of praise and felt slightly uncomfortable being the center of attention.
"So, you can wield a bow then" Kili asked excitedly leaning forward to get a better look at her face.
She smiled at his enthusiasm "Aye lad, I can use a bow, mostly for hunting but I have put down a few goblins with it when necessary. I myself prefer the ax" she shrugged gesturing to the large battle ax strapped across her shoulders.
"Perhaps you can take me hunting with you sometime, all this riding is so dull" Kili said a hopeful tone In his voice.
"Of course, if Thorin allows it, more hunters mean more eyes and larger game, although we don't really have the means to properly cut and preserve it on the road" she said with a shrug.
"Oh, lass that will hardly be a problem with Bombur around, nothing will be left to pack up" Bofur laughed winking at her.
She rolled her eyes playfully and the teasing tone, finding it rather comforting that these Dwarrow seemed so at ease around each other, no need for formalities except perhaps Thorin.
"Mistress Dwarf, I've been meaning to ask about the story of the Warg, how did you come by him and how did you tame him?" Bilbo asked nervously, his curiosity getting the better of him now that Narâ was sitting with them talking.
Narâ swallowed and looked into the coming darkness at the edge of their camp "Well Master Baggins, that Is a long story, I will give you the short version as I'm sure most of it would bore you" she cleared her throat and looked at his curious face "Living in the Grey Mountains, as they are much closer to the Misty Mountains that any other populated Dwarven household, we take it as our duty to send patrols out to keep goblin and orc populations under check, my patrol was on the return mission home when I stumbled upon a dead Warg. She was heavy with milk, and I knew she had pups in a den likely not far from her carcass, I split from my patrol team and went looking thinking the pups likely dead. I heard whining coming from a small cavemouth and went inside and found three Warg pups, two females and the smallest little male I had ever seen. The females were dying, and I put them down may Mahal forgive me, but the male was a feisty little thing trying to pounce on me to protect his sisters. I collared him and brought him back to my fathers halls and fed him, we formed a bond you could say both needing someone"
"Shame you didn't kill the blasted thing, Warg are evil they have been killing our kin for centuries" Dwalin grunted stiffly.
Narâ sighed used to that response from most, having a Warg companion was difficult as he was so large and an apex predator most feared what they could not understand "Not everything is born inheritably evil Dwalin, he was just a pup, and to kill him would have shamed me"
"I notice you speak to him in a strange language, what is it?" Bilbo asked quietly, picking at the blades of grass at his large feet.
She laughed "Not strange at all, at least not to a dwarf Master Baggins, I speak to him in Khuzdul, although if I wished I could likely speak to him in Sindarin, or Black speech as I believe he understands both"
"You can speak in the language of orcs" Ori asked fascinated, a large tome sitting on his lap a quill in hand as he sketched the company and jotted down notes about their journey.
Narâ nodded raising a brow at him as he quickly put quill to paper "Aye lad, not so well mind you but I understand bits and pieces"
"Why would you learn and awful things like that" Dori complained, his face twisted in disgust.
She shrugged "Makes interrogation much easier, but it's a guttural language and I don't particularly enjoy using it, makes my skin crawl" she chuckled whispering the last bit.
"You seem quiet educated for a dwarrowdam" Balin pointed out, his interest peaked.
She nodded her smile fading "Aye, my amad was a scholar, I learned all that I know from her writings"
"What clan are you from?" Fili asked curiously, looking at her with clear blue eyes.
She grabbed her long raven plait and pulled it forward allowing the dark hair to spill forth over her shoulder "What clan do you think I'm from lad?" she asked with a teasing hilt.
Fili scratched his beard and looked her over, she was wearing her iron beads in her many plaits but from the distance he couldn't make out the symbols carved into them. She had dark hair the color of coal, darker even than his uncles, clear dark emerald eyes, angular features that gave her a sharp appearance, full red lips, and curvy figure. He huffed throwing up his hands "I want to say you are of Durin's folk because you hail from the Grey Mountains but that look on yer face tells me otherwise"
She smirked "Aye you are correct Master Dwarf, from the house of Durin I am not, my lineage is that of Blacklock's"
"That explains the hair" Kili said snapping his fingers.
She rolled her eyes "Indeed, we Blacklock's have the unruliest hair, darkest in middle earth hence the name of course" she chuckled twisting the smaller plaits at the sides of her temples.
"How came your family to live in the Grey Mountains then lass, I thought the Blacklock's lived far to the East" Balin said in between puffs of his pipe.
She sighed "Aye we did originally, my family hailed from Rhûn, in the mountains far to the east, you likely know them as the red mountains, but we called them the Orocarni, my great-great grandfather traveled and met his one in the halls of the Grey Mountains, there he became Swornshield to King Dáin, as did my father after him and my brothers, serving the line of Durin faithfully until Smaug destroyed Erebor"
"Why did your father settle in the Grey Mountains instead of following Thrain to Ered Luin" Balin asked confused.
She shook her head and swallowed hard a shadow passing over her face "After the battle of Azanulbizar he could follow no longer, he felt his duty fulfilled after the death of my brother and left to resettle the ancient kingdom of Thikil-gundu, that had been abandoned for hundreds of years. Being of Blacklock blood he claimed himself Lord over the Grey Mountains and has been ruling there for some time while Durin's folk reclaimed Ered Luin"
"Question" Kili interrupted waving his hand at her and she smirked rolling her eyes at his behavior "Yes?" she sighed.
"Why do you not have a beard? Is it that Blacklock dams cant grow them because that would be a shame" he said reaching out to touch her face.
Narâ smacked his hand away playfully and snorted covering her mouth with her free hand she tried to unsuccessfully stop her laughter from spilling forth. She exhaled and cleared her throat "No lad, I like most Dwarrowdam's am most capable of growing a fine beard, but it is customary to have a clean face until courtship and marriage, it shows of my availability to be wed"
"Wait I thought that's what courting braids were for?" Kili said scrunching up his nose in confusion.
She nodded and pulled down her plaits "Aye lad they are too, its an old tradition that goes back to the first age, some dams don't follow such trifle things anymore, but I follow my amads teachings and it is written in the ancient scripts she provided and to honor her I abide by them"
"You can read ancient dwarvish" Thorin interrupted clearly interested in the conversation for the first time that evening.
She looked at him surprised "Aye of course, can you not? Did you Amad not learn you of our culture and histories"
Thorin frowned at the disappointment and shock in her voice as a spark of anger ignited in his belly "Forgive me for I had better things to do that read scripts all day, I was being taught how to govern a people" he said bitterly.
She smiled at him weakly "Pardon, I meant no offence, I am able to read ancient dwarvish, although I am not nearly as well read as my amad was" she said holding up her hands.
"Would you teach me" Ori said excitedly shooting up to his feet, quill, and tome both falling to the ground in his excitement.
She chuckled softly "it would be an honor to pass along my knowledge, however I fear it must wait until quest completion as I have to return to my fathers halls and receive my mothers' belongings"
"And what of your amad, do you think she would offer to teach me as well" Ori said a huge smile on his face at the thought of learning so much.
Narâ swallowed hard and looked away "No she is in the halls of waiting now lad"
"I'm sorry lass" Balin said softly looking at her crestfallen face.
She gave him a weak smile and nodded "Me too, she died giving birth to me may Mahal and my aman forgive me"
"Could I speak with you a moment Narâ" Thorin said standing up offering his hand to her.
She looked up at his outstretched hand and nodded "Of course" she said placing her smaller hand in his, squeaking as he pulled her to her feet and let her away from the others.