Chapter 1
1677
Spring
Solstices and equinoxes were an excellent reason to throw a ball. In the northern climate of the nation of Erebor, the spring equinox was not yet too warm for the upper classes to flee the city. So the first flowers of the season were gathered into garlands and strung up in the gilded ballroom of the royal palace. Anyone who was anyone was in attendance.
The beauty of the season gathered them, and the fact that anyone who was anyone coveted an invitation to the glamorous events held by the much beloved royal family. Such events were always held early in the evening and went on sometimes until dawn. Fireworks were often the showcase, as the engineers of Erebor were as ingenious as they were secretive in their art. Music floated down from a huge golden balcony above the ballroom, harps and flutes delighting the ears of the dancers below. A massive feast was to be had, as it always was, in the room across those festivities. Hundreds of dishes had been prepared, course after course of sweets and savouries mixed on the long tables. Decanters of wine and mead, the national drink, never seemed to empty. It was a glittering, expensive, and very populated affair.
Being a forward thinking country, even those not of the aristocracy and nobility were present. As Erebor was a nation whose wealth was built upon their vast resources found both under the earth and upon it, the merchant class was far more established within the royal court than others in neighbouring nations. Rare gems, silver, gold, and mithril filled the coffers of tradesmen and bought them entry into the highest circles which depended upon them for their jewels of state. Hardy Erebor wool clothed the royalty of distant lands against the harshest of winter and inflated the esteem of those who bought and sold it. So, it was no surprise that the nobility and gentry were seen to hobnob with the princely merchants at any given event.
Which was how Laraga Byrd found herself here. Her family, owners of the prestigious Battlebeard Trading Company, were some of the wealthiest merchant clans in the nation. That and they had known the royal family for ages.
At one-and-twenty years old, Laraga was in what some might call the flower of her youth. Although she never really felt like much of a flower, not anymore. Still, she had to attend this party at her parent's insistence, and had been dressed up just for the occasion. With a mane of wild, auburn-red curls, creamy complexion with a smattering of freckles across her button nose, and a fashionably plump figure, some might call her pretty. Pair her striking colouring with the fine, mint green gown chosen for her tonight and some could even dare to call her lovely. Not that she had much inclination for compliments. She moved about the ballroom, fluttering her fan and observing the faces and listening to the gossip.
Having been away from home to attend boarding school for so long had left her out of the loop in many ways and done her few favours apart from an education. Gossip nigh six years old fell on her ears for the first time, including some fanciful tittering by some society matrons about a missing heiress and the pirates. The pirates Laraga was more familiar with, her father's letters had mentioned some trouble with their trading ships running afoul of the criminals in the Misty Sea. The missing heiress? Laraga was entirely nonplussed.
"Head out of the clouds, daughter."
"Sorry, Father."
Her mother reached to touch her daughter's hair exactly once, straightening one ribbon, and asked, "And where did your mind wander off to this time?"
"The missing heiress those women mentioned," Laraga asked, watching the gossiping matrons, "Who is she? What happened?"
"I didn't tell you when it happened?"
Laraga privately thought that she had been rather more focused on someone else's letters, or lack thereof, but she said, "Not that I recall?"
"Terrible tragedy, that," Ludovica said as she gestured a server with a tray of good champagne from Gondor over, "You remember the Lokka family?"
Oh yes, her boarding school had made a point to ensure the young ladies there learned all of the great and noble families and which ones had sons of a marrying age. The Lokka family was a noble one, old money, nearly as old as the Royal House of Durin though not as widespread, it was a family tree with few branches but that only consolidated the family's fortune onto their designated heir. Laraga frowned, she remembered the tree that her instructors had hand-drawn on the slate board. Lord Glaeron Lokka, his wife Lady Runomi Lokka, and their two sons. Both in the Navy and both potential bachelors for the ladies to consider marrying.
"The Noble House of Lokka," Laraga recited dutifully, "Family estate, Tor Malasul. House words are 'Give Not, Yield Not'. Two sons, Lamli and Laeki, both enlisted in the Royal Navy of Erebor."
"Glad to see that school was worth the money I paid for it," her father sniffed. Laraga forced a smile.
"Well done," Ludovica praised her daughter, "All correct, except for one thing. The Lokka family had three children. Do you remember the daughter?"
Laraga had a vague memory of a blonde girl from her childhood with a wicked smile but that was it.
"Quite the shock when it happened," Ludovica said calmly, sipping her champagne, "But it was her, the eldest, the designee of the Lokka legacy and heiress to the family fortune that vanished. They say her room was found overturned and the girl gone in the night. They say she was kidnapped but no ransom has ever been demanded. Almost six years later, I expect that poor family has all but given up hope. The grief certainly drove Lord Glaeron to an early grave."
"Mother, please," Laraga fought a chill, "This is a party."
"So it is," Rolo said, handing off his drink to a passing waiter, "Daughter, are you prepared for your formal presentation?"
"Of course, it is why I am here." Not that she could forget. She had been sneaking glances at the royal dais all night, anticipating and dreading this next moment. Would he remember her? It had been years since they had seen each other but he had only grown more handsome.
It was hard to miss the Crown Prince. Even if they hadn't been childhood playmates, and she would never forget those glacial eyes, he stood out from the crowd. Thorin, in his crisp uniform displaying his medals and his proud service, the sash of Durin blue across his chest marking him as a member of the Royal Family, stood at a casual, military rest, hands clasped behind his back. Laraga fought another shiver as those blue eyes swept across the ballroom, scanning all of the nobles and merchants, wealthy and ambitious alike, who danced and drank and conversed in the never-ending court game.
A movement to the side and Laraga had to hide her disappointment as the Crown Prince excused himself from his place at his father's side to greet his old friend. Dwalin Fundinul, Commodore of the Royal Navy and Hero of the Realm, grinned at his friend and immediately started comparing the medals they both wore to see who had more, a contest he won that still made Thorin let out a quiet laugh. It was not the bright and joyous laugh of the boy Laraga had once known. The responsibilities of his title weighed heavily on his shoulders.
But the expectations of court were clear and Esquire Byrd escorted his daughter to the King, his old friend, reacquainting his child to the court. Laraga made her curtsy expertly, the boarding school accepted nothing less than perfection in their students, the pale green skirts of her gown fluttering brightly in a sea of jewel tones.
And the Commodore said to the Crown Prince, "So, have an eye on any particular wench tonight? I see some new faces amongst the herd."
Prince Thorin glanced at his oldest friend, "I hardly see any wenches here, Commodore. Each of these ladies are fine daughters of fine families. And all their parents are looking to make advantageous matches for them too. You'd better look out, old friend, ladies all like a man in uniform. And a hero like you is just tempting enough to sweep them off their feet."
Dwalin snorted a laugh.
"A flock of vultures more like," he corrected. "Circling like bejewelled buzzards, waitin' for one of us to fall."
"As if the pride of the Royal Navy would settle for one of these court ladies," Thorin allowed himself to tease slightly, "There'd be no adventure in that."
"How about the lass walking away from meeting your father?" Dwalin took a swig of his sherry, "Might want tae get your hands on her massive tracts of land, eh?"
Thorin shot him a sharp look at his cavalier way of speaking about the lady in question, "I have plenty of estates to my own, Dwalin, I don't need to marry into more property."
The Commodore considered thumping the Crown Prince and decided he liked his hand attached to his body. So he settled for rolling his eyes and saying, "I dinnae mean literal land. I mean that ye could take a walk in that bosom and get lost."
"That is hardly an appropriate thing to say about a lady," Thorin said stiffly and Dwalin reached for another drink.
"Mahal's eye, Thorin," he hissed, noticing the lady in question turn their way with her father, "It's a party, would it kill you tae have fun?"
Rolo bowed before the Crown Prince and gave honours to the Commodore as was appropriate, which the gentlemen returned.
"Your Highness, I hope I find you well. For once I bring more than sugar, silk, and spices to you. My daughter has just returned from her schooling. Might I present her," he motioned and brought her forward. "Miss Laraga Byrd."
The Crown Prince greeted the merchant, "Mr. Byrd, you know your gifts of silk and spices are always welcome. Fortune is kind to be so generous with you. Gifts from your ships and a lovely daughter, you have every reason to be proud of your successes."
His blue eyes flicked to the lady as she curtsied and his smile turned more genuine, "Miss Byrd. I remember your face, boarding school seems to have agreed with you. My sister will be quite envious, she hated her school days. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance again."
He took her hand and bent over it in a brief courtly bow, giving an entirely appropriate kiss to her knuckles before straightening.
"A pleasure indeed, Highness," she replied with a bright smile. "It has been too long. School, though enlightening, was not home. You seem to have done well for yourself since I left," her fan gestured to the medals on his chest. "Lots of stories to tell, far more interesting than perpetually staying on the wrong side of the Headmistress as I was."
He squared his shoulders, the candlelight glinting on his medals, "I have distinguished myself as is to be expected by my family and station. The true hero of the kingdom is the Commodore. His stories are far more impressive and heroic."
Rolo was pulled away by a business partner, which did not bother him in the slightest. He bowed to the Prince and went to discuss investments. Laraga certainly didn't mind this, she had enough of people hovering. Besides, she was with old friends.
Dwalin stuck out his chest to flaunt all of his medals and grinned cockily.
"Aye, for King and country and all that," he chuckled. And reached out to ruffle her fiery curls like when they were children. She was always too small to escape that. And got a crack on the wrist from her fan.
"Very heroic," she observed.
"Commodore," Thorin admonished, "Please contain yourself and treat the lady with some respect."
He gestured a server over and took a fresh glass of sherry. "How were your studies at school?"
Laraga wondered where the adventurous little boy she had grown up with was hidden. Duty and honour weighed heavy upon him, that was clearly seen. As easily seen as his striking good looks.
"I would call them a success," she replied. "Even if my methods of studying did not always match the curriculum, I still managed to graduate with honours. Which is coming very much in handy, since my brothers are both in the army. One of my father's children has to assist in the company."
A thick brow raised up at that, and the Commodore asked, "Ye are helping Esquire Rolo run his company?"
"What, as though it is too difficult for a lady?"
"Unorthodox," the Prince said courteously, "But I admire your desire to contribute to the success of your family company. I can imagine the ladies at your school were less than supportive of your plans when they found out. But you have ever wanted to do as you wished, I hardly expected that to change."
"They were not very fond of me at first, tis true," she answered easily and honestly. "But when I exceeded their expectations of academics, then I started to win their respect. And that was enough to achieve my goals. So now I am home again, intent on making my mark on the world."
"And quite the mark I am sure you will make," Thorin said politely. "Determination will take you far and will bring more success to your family, which I'm sure is any child's best wish."
The musicians announced a dance and gentlemen began asking for the hands of ladies. It was almost impossible to ignore the many pairs of feminine eyes searching the Prince for any hint of a desire to dance. Laraga felt like a deer surrounded by pumas. How did he manage day to day with such an audience? Thorin certainly felt the eyes and interest on him and ignored it with the same composure and patience he had always had. He weathered the stares and fluttering fans with his same royal air, it had served him well for years and had yet to fail.
Instead, he inquired of Miss Byrd what ideas she had for the running of her family's company. And she told him, laying out her ideas, her thoughts about new trading agreements and new investments she wanted to make. Dwalin stopped listening, he didn't have the same obligation to pay attention to the lady as Thorin did.
But eventually Laraga managed to change the subject, "Does your family still retreat to the old summer house? I missed those holidays while I was away."
"My sister and her sons do," Thorin said, his posture as impeccable as ever. "I stay in the palace with my father to assist with the ruling responsibilities. With the news of pirates on the Misty Sea coming ever more frequently and more worrisome, we have to ensure the strength and safety of the Empire as much as possible."
"Ah, yes," Laraga nodded, "Even in my locked dormitories we heard about the pirates."
"Aye, since the only daughter of the Lokka family was kidnapped by pirates some years ago, the people have been obsessed," Dwalin's fingers were itching for more liquor.
"The brothers joined the Navy, if I remember right," Thorin said. "Lady Lokka has been widowed. I'm surprised not to see her here, actually. She's always been very aware of societal expectations."
His raven-dark head turned to scan the ballroom and Laraga glanced at his profile before offering carefully, "Poor Lady Lokka, that is entirely too much for a heart to take. I wouldn't blame her if she wished for some quiet peace at home."
Dwalin was determined to save some of Thorin's face for him in this conversation, so he asked, "Have your merchant vessels encountered any of the sea dogs, Miss Byrd?"
"Oh they always have some sort of sighting," she replied. "But we haven't lost any, thank goodness. It's a risk of trade and I am trying to add more trained personnel to our ships."
"Commodore Fundinul is the better man to talk Naval matters with than I," Thorin said, making his excuses as he offered her a short bow, "I will leave you in his capable hands. Commodore, madam, please excuse me." And he crossed back to his father's side, a safe retreat behind the mask of responsibility.
If Dwalin rolled his eyes any harder, they were in danger of rolling out of his head. But he just sighed and shook his head. He would certainly show the lady a better time than the Crown Prince and his mouth was open to continue doing just that when she spoke quietly, "His letters stopped coming after a while. I kept writing to him and kept looking for his replies but...they never came. Dwalin, did he forget about me?"
The Commodore cleared his throat, never the best at these delicate things, but he was able to say gruffly, "No, lass, he didnae forget about ye. But these last years...the King has expected more of him as he has grown older. And the responsibilities of the Crown are many."
"And with the King's health."
Dwalin looked down at her serious face before nodding, "Aye. Thorin has needed tae take on more and more duties as of late. But, if ye won't think it too bold of me, I think having ye back will be good for him."
There was a twinkle of the mischievous girl she had once been in her green eyes as she fluttered her fan with a, "Oh?"
"Dinnae give me that look, woman, it willnae work on me."
