Chapter Fourteen : A Clash of Clans
A clash of steel and the yelp of surprise made Narâ snort and roll her eyes at the hobbit, who just barely managed to wield his own short sword to deflect her blow. She stepped back and lowered her dagger, one hand resting irritability on her hip "Another lesson gultalut one must always be prepared to defend themselves" she smiled without kindness, her eyes gleaming with mischief teeth on display.
Bilbo swallowed hard and felt his muscles tremor as the dam looked at him, he too lowered his sword palms sweating on the hilt "I.." he stuttered, shaking his head he straightened up puffing up his chest "Again" he said firmly, he wanted to prove that he could protect himself, after what happened in Rivendell he was almost desperate to prove he would be useful, he had grown quite found of the dwarves.
Narâ nodded and began to slowly circle him, watching with a satisfied smile as he mirrored her movements, he had shown improvement since her last lesson, he seemed more confident with his weapon, and she was glad of it. She launched forward with a burst of speed slashing in a predictable wide arch aiming for his middle, snorting as his sword caught the blow and deflected her dagger "Good gultalut, again" she shouted not giving him a moment to correct his footing. Again and again, she attacked until she could see the slight tremor to his arms, the shake of the sword and the sweat on his brow. He wasn't bad for a beginner, but she was a seasoned warrior and had trained longer than he had been alive.
"Enough Narâ leave the hobbit" Thorin instructed standing off to the corner of the camp, he watched as she danced about the hobbit, wielding a single dwarven dagger. Her movements were fluid and precise while Bilbo struggled to hold the sword properly. He sighed and stepped up beside Dwalin who gave him a smirk as he approached "Seems our burglar might just learn to wield a sword yet, with the lass teaching him" he said. Thorin grunted crossing his arms over his chest "He needs much practice yet" he grumbled.
Narâ stepped back and nodded her head at her opponent "Well done gultalut, we shall train again tomorrow go rest for the evening" she smiled gently at him watching as he wandered away, rubbing his sore shoulders and she chuckled shaking her head.
Kili stalked to her side and threw an arm over her shoulders giving her a coy smile "While that was fun to watch how about a real match then" he said cheekily, and she frowned at him.
"And who Master Kili is a worthy opponent" she said placing her hands on her hips, smirking as his face fell cheeks dusted pink in embarrassment.
"Me of course" Fili laughed shoving his brother playfully looking between his narrowed eyes and the raised brow of the dwarrowdam.
Narâ sighed "If it please then so be it" she said unbuckling her dagger from across her chest.
Fili looked at her confused, she was going to spar with him with a simple dagger, surely, she was going to retrieve her battle ax, a small dagger would hardly be fitting, she would loose in a mere moment. "What are you doing?" he asked alarmed.
She rose a brow and shrugged "Thought ye wanted training practice lad?" she asked innocently cocking her head to the side.
Fili puffed himself up nose in the air "I'm hardly green like Bilbo and I require no training I want to fight you dwarf to dwarf, although I promise to go easy on ya" he added cheekily at the end with a wink.
She laughed heartily and smiled at him, bowing low sweeping her arms out "As you wish". She stood up and approached her bedroll grabbing her battle ax heaving it over her shoulder she walked back to the makeshift arena, looking at the blonde Dwarrow holding a sword and dagger.
Fili bowed his head to her, and she did the same holding the ax in both hands she balanced the weight and looked down proudly at her beloved weapon, she was a master with it, having trained endless hours it was an extension of her own arm. Fili came at her with surprising speed, and she lashed out to meet his steel, her weapon was slower but had superior reach and power. Fili launched several attacks in rapid succession, and she deflected them all, happy to be on the defense while her opponent tired himself out, he was skilled she would give him that, but he was young and brash in his fighting, eager to prove himself now that all the lads had gathered around to watch. She spun out of the way of his incoming attack, her long raven plaits fanning out around her, as she ducked low and brought her weapon up slamming it across his exposed back as he overstepped. "Point" she said cheekily blowing a loose strand of hair from her face. Fili round on her a frown on his face and dove toward her with a war cry, she snorted and dodged easily "Who taunt you to fight pup" she taunted side stepping as he attacked without thought, swinging his sword like a club. She swept low striking his leg with the blunt side of her ax "Point" she chuckled strutting away from him. He growled at her and threw a dagger from somewhere hidden within his armor and she yelped as the cool steel bit through the flesh of her upper arm.
"Point" he sneered, and she only sneered at him, ignoring the outraged cry of his uncle at their fight.
"Get her Fi" Kili shouted from the sideline, amazed that the dam was holding up so well, she seemed to be unfazed at the speed in which his brother attacked, she parried and dodged with graceful movements, bringing her weapon up to shield her body faster than Fili could swing his sword. His mouth hung open in shock as his brother unleased one of his several hidden daggers and threw it with all his might at the dam, slicing open her arm. She only hissed in pain, brining up her weapon to continue fighting as blood trickled down her arm and onto the ground. Thorin barged into the arena and grabbed Fili by the scruff pulling him away from the dam with an angry growl "This is not what I've taught you, we do not use cheap tricks to win a fight, you rely on yer skill, the match is over she won" he said through clenched teeth, his icy blue eyes like thunderclouds.
Fili only frowned at his uncle, shoving away from him he stormed back toward the fire, where Bombur was busy cooking, the fat dwarf oblivious to the younger's sour mood.
Thorin turned and looked at Narâ his eyes flickering to the open wound on her arm, then to her face to find not the normal smile but narrowed angry green eyes. He swallowed unused to the wrath of the dam "Are you alright?" he asked forcing his voice to remain calm.
She snorted "You shouldn't have stopped the fight" she said lowly her hand tightening around the hilt of her battle ax.
He looked confused why was she upset, surely, she should be grateful it ended, she had won fairly and fought with honor now Oin could see to her injury. He looked surprised as she eyed him over, green eyes settling on the sword at his hip. He opened his mouth to advise against attacking him, but she had already swung her ax, the sharp gleaming metal was headed straight for his middle and he unsheathed his blade in a split second and deflected the blow. "Narâ, I do not wish to fight you" he said stepping back as she recovered dropping back into a battle stance.
She smirked at him, as she began to circle, ignoring the pain in her arm, "The match is three points, I only counted two, you banished my opponent and now shall fill in for him" she said swinging her ax as she spun toward him, the clash of weapons was music to her ears. Now this was a worthy opponent, he was fast, faster than her even, and he deflected her blows with a powerful arm, the vibrations traveling through her ax into her hands. She pushed him harder and harder and yet he never faltered.
"I don't want to hurt you" he tried again speaking softly, loud enough for only her ears as she attacked him, with surprising vigor.
She smiled at him, eyes sparkling with mischief, long lashes batting prettily as she stalked closer, almost within arms reach "Come now my blue eyes birâtruk" she purred voice dropping into a sultry mew, watching with satisfaction as he lowered his guard for a fraction of a second, she lashed out, using her body she pivoted her foot and pushed causing him to tumble toward the ground. She yelped as a hand encircled her wrist and yanked her down, she crashed into something solid and warm looking up into his amused face "nice try mamâna" he chuckled the tip of his sword buried into her side as she lay flat across his chest "Point" he laughed at her reddened cheeks.
She tutted him and pat his chest with a free hand the other held firm to a dagger she had hidden on her hip, the one she pressed more firmly into the flesh of his upper leg "Not so fast" she cooed "Point" she laughed as she slowly drug her weapon across his skin watching his cheeks redden as she rolled off. She stood up and brushed herself off, turning to face the others who all watched her with shocked faces. She cocked her head to the side "What?" she asked as she sheathed the dagger and bent down to pick up her discarded ax, heaving it over her shoulder.
"What kind of fightin was that?" Dwalin roared out, unable to contain his laughter, his poor leader was left on the ground, outwitted by a dam looking like a damn youngling trying to control himself.
Narâ smirked as she approached them, snorting as a path was made for her, the Dwarrow stepping out of the way she stopped to look down at Bilbo "That master Baggins is winning by any means necessary, when ye face an opponent that is faster and stronger than you, you do what you can to win"
Bilbo licked his lips and looked back toward Thorin who was standing up a frown on his face as Dwalin and Balin harassed him, he looked back at the dam in confusion "I don't want to win like that" he mumbled cheeks red at the ridiculousness of it all. She pat him on the shoulder and threw her head back howling in laughter "Oh laddie, please don't try to seduce an orc it wont work, but it would be mighty funny to watch"
Bilbo shook his head back and forth so fast she thought it might just pop off, his poor little cheeks tinted so red in his embarrassment, his mouth screwed up into a fine line. She sighed "Nay lad, what I mean is, do whatever you can, in yer case maybe just kick him in the jambags if you cant win and run" she said with a chuckle.
Bilbo sighed twitching his nose, that sounded like a much better plan, he rather do the kicking and running than what she had just done, he opened his mouth confused "Wait what are jambags?" he asked innocently.
She smiled at him brightly showing off her teeth "balls Master Baggins" she whispered to him and he snapped his mouth shut and shook his head.
She walked back toward the fire, dropping her weapon off at her bed roll, she moved to sit beside the fire flopping down in an unladylike manner with a grunt. Eyes moving upward to watch Kili approach her "Do orcs even have jambags" he asked no one in particular.
"Let's not talk about it laddie" Balin sighed rolling his eyes moving to sit across from the dwarrowdam. His old bones aching for a moment of proper rest.
Kili frowned, he was curious by nature, he had seen orcs, killed orcs, but had never seen a female orc before "Maybe they just pop up out of holes in the ground, never seen me a girl orc before" he said poking at the fire.
"Why you fancy you'd like one brother" Fili said playfully sitting down beside him.
Kili grunted unimpressed "No" he said snappily "Just curious is all"
Narâ rolled her eyes, stretching her sore muscles "There are females to answer yer question lad, they uhh" she stopped scratching the back of her neck "they populate the same as dwarves, elves and men" she finished screwing up her face in disgust.
Kili looked confused for a moment before his eyes widened "Wait so they do have jambags" he said happily turning toward the hobbit "There you go Bilbo, just kick em and run" he chuckled as the hobbit frowned and shook his head.
"Let us talk of nicer things lads" Balin groaned rubbing a hand down his face watching as Oin approached the dam with a crude looking needle and some bandages.
"Let me see lass" Oin practically shouted at her, his trumpet was missing again, and he was speaking as if she was across the camp not by his side causing her to wince. She sighed and nodded removing her wolf pelt cowl tossing it on her lap, rolling up the thin bloodied tunic to expose her pale flesh. She caught Fili looking at her forlornly and she gave him a weak smile "S'right lad, nothing but a scratch, you fought well"
"Sorry I cut ye" he said softly, and she sighed "You fought well nothing to apologize for lad" she said wishing she was beside him to offer him a comforting hug. She chuckled softly "Sides sometimes we need to use trickery to win, I did with yer uncle" she winked at the blonde and he only rolled his eyes at her playfulness.
She winced as the needle dug through her flesh pulling it taunt as Oin worked quicky to close the small wound. she huffed it was hardly worth using up the limited supplies they had. She thanked him as he finished wrapping her arm and moved to sit beside his brother, who tended the fire like a small babe. She cracked her neck, and allowed herself to relax, the warmth of the fire soothed her bones, and she closed her eyes, content to sit and wait for her meal, she could smell the stew and her mouth watered at the thought.
"Here" Thorin grunted beside her, offering her a bowl of stew, she peeked through one eye, meeting his gaze before looking lazily down at the bowl, steaming rising from the contents. She smiled and held out a hand taking his offering "Many thanks" she said softly as he walked away joining Dwalin and Balin at the other side of the fire.
Soon only the sounds of slurping and spoons scraping against empty bowls filled the air, and she looked down at her empty portion with a frown, wishing for another helping, food would be scarce sooner rather than later, and her stomach knotted on itself not wishing to be empty.
"Who taught ye to fight like that?" Dwalin asked through a mouthful of food.
She smiled at Bofur who took her empty bowl and moved toward his cousin, apparently on cleanup duty, before looking over at the bald Dwarrow. Her smile fell as she looked away from him into the dancing red flames "Me brother" she said quietly.
Dwalin noticed her crestfallen face and felt tongue tied, he was never particularly good with talking to lasses especially when they got all moody on him. He looked to his brother for help and Balin rolled his eyes at him, turning his attention to the dam.
"Must have been a fine warrior then lass" Balin said offering her a genuine smile.
She returned it and nodded "He was, my axe it were his" she said thickly her eyes watering at his memory "I carry it ta remember him" she
"What was it like living in the grey mountains Miss Narâ?" Ori asked curiously, he had a large weather worn leather booklet splayed over his lap, a quill between his fingers that he twirled absentmindedly.
She shrugged "Same as any other dwarven settlement id reckon" she tried playing it off, talking about her home always left a sour taste in her mouth, there were certain things she loved about the mountain, certain people that made her feel at peace, but for the most part it was riddled with old memories and bittersweet moments.
Ori scratched away at his journal, the quill scrapping away at the paper, the black ink spreading out like water as he sketched her likeness across the fire, she was a fascinating dwarrowdam, the only dwarf that could ride a Warg, and he wanted to get as much information as he was able for his notes. He planned on documenting their entire journey to paper, a section about each dwarf that would reshape their history. He looked up at her with a sheepish smile as she watched him with a half-cocked smile, emerald eyes wrinkled at the corners "Would you be more specific" he said softly and she chuckled.
She tapped her nails against her lap "Well our fortune never came from gold or gems like Erebor, the mountain range is mostly iron and silver that we mine, we are well off enough for a settlement as large as my fathers, but life is tough, orcs are a constant threat, its colder there most of the year, food stuff and supplies are harder to come by, trade routes have been few and far between in me fathers older years" she said with a formality reserved for answering questions when asked my the citizens of her fathers house. She sighed looking into the fire, allowing the flames to lull her into a comfortable silence.
"Ye didnt like it there lass?" Gloin asked confused, he had only ever lived In the blue mountains, and while it wasn't always prosperous life was never bad, not like it had been when the mountain first fell to the dragon.
She pinched her mouth into a thin line and began to chew it in thought, finally sighing and shaking her head "Nay Master Gloin, I liked it well enough, I was the lord's daughter, but that wasn't always a thing to be jealous for, me father and I well we have a strange relationship, he avoids me and I am gone with Khimâ running the mountain ranges as much as possible"
Balin scratched at his chin and nodded "I didn't know Lord Narvi even had himself a daughter, until ya showed yerself"
She gave him a weak smile "Aye, he doesn't nary speak of me, the people of the mountain know of me, but that is about as far as my actual name travels, more dwarves have heard of the Warg rider, than the daughter of Grey Mountains"
Balin frowned, it seemed wrong to not speak of such a lovely young dwarrowdam, she was a rather intelligent and impressive creature, surely her father would be proud of all that she accomplished, but he wasn't privy to what went on in high status families "And why lass does he distance himself from ye?" he asked softly, he was curious but he didn't want to upset the dam by pushing her to far.
She gave a humorless chuckle "Oh Balin, surely we don't have enough time ta be telling that tale, lets just say I aint exactly the perfect example of feminine dwarven standards, dwarrowdam are expected to behave a certain way and I certainly don't fit the bill"
"Well I think you are a lovely dam" Ori blurted, ducking his head as his brothers howled out in laughter.
She smiled at him and winked "Thank you lad, sure I can dance, sew and sing like any dam, but I am old now, far to old for marrying and me father is always tryin to pawn me off on the next available lord he wants me out of his keep"
"You aren't old" Kili said confused, looking toward his uncle and Balin both of whom were far older than her and always welcome in their halls, in fact most of the dwarves that settled in the blue mountains were of an older age, why would her father want her to leave his halls just because she was unmarried.
She groaned, rubbing a hand down her face, eyes flickering from the young Dwarrow who couldn't possibly understand her predicament, over each confused face before settling on Thorin, surely he would understand the rules that governed their people, when one was from a wealthy home. He gave her a weak smile and she returned it with a huff "Lad things aren't so simple for me, I am a lady of the mountains, marriage is a way to secure relations between kingdoms, I am also a Blacklock, traditionally I am to wed the Lord of the Stonefoot clan, me father has been trying to arrange a marriage for me" she growled clenching a fist on her lap, letting the anger roll off her in waves before she sighed in defeat "Its part of the reason I left to find you all, I needed my freedom" she added quietly.
"What's this lords name?" Thorin asked his voice rough, he played it off by coughing to clear his throat, although Dwalin gave him a sly smile to which he only narrowed his eyes and frowned at his companion of many years.
Narâ groaned audibly "Lord Telchar" she said her voice laced with disgust.
Thorin racked his memory of such a lord, surely he would have been present when he called for council with the seven clans, he knew most if not all of them, suddenly he remembered, an older dwarf with hair the color of tree bark and skin to match, he was covered with tattoos and a large beard that went down to his mid chest, adorned with strange beads and gems "I have met him only once before, seemed a fine dwarf to me" he said trying to maintain a straight face, even as she glared daggers at him, before he could contain himself no longer and chuckled to everyone's surprise.
"Thorin Oakenshield I will murder you in yer sleep" she hissed playfully, glad at least someone was finding her horrid situation funny.
"I jest, surely yer father can find someone more suitable for you" he said with a slight shrug.
She rolled her eyes "How about I find someone more suitable, if its up to me father ill marry that dolt and be sent away to live back in the Red mountains of my forfathers"
"Have you been there before?" Ori asked looking up at her from his sketch smiling with excitement as she nodded her head.
"Aye many years ago now lad, but I was there for a time, me uncle rules but has no sons so my brother Nâr will go when he passes to the halls of waiting, as a youngling me father sent us to learn about the mountain and its customs, I was there for about fifty or so years before I returned home"
"What did you learn, is that were you were taught to read ancient dwarvish?" Ori asked sitting up straighter as he leaned toward her from across the fire.
She chuckled amusement shining her in emerald eyes at the young Dwarrow's interest "Aye laddie, I studied much while I was there, its where I learned to make this" she said sliding out her intricate horn many had seen her use to summon Khimâ. She ran her fingers gently over the smooth ivory horn, it contained several hidden chambers carved deep into the large intricate piece, it had taken her months to properly carve the channels needed to make the right sounds and pitches.
"What is it made from?" Thorin asked looking over at the dam as she held her horn like a newborn babe running her fingers gently over the inlaid iron fittings.
She smiled "Mûmakil"