Hi all! Hope you're all doing okay. Haven't got much to say here, except that I hope you enjoyed the prologue and hope you will continue to enjoy this story. Xxx
Review Responses;
Qoheleth - Yes, Yannah's children are the Ents, but she is also known as the Queen of the Earth, Fruit Giver or the Giver of Fruits, I thought that it would make sense if the Arcani were her children as well, especially with what they do. So, Yavanna would have sent them down to help her look after the Earth. I hope that explains things more for you xXx
Arwen the Storyteller - Gotta say first of, love the name! And Thank you, I hope you continue to enjoy this story xXx
'Speaking Arcanian'
Chapter 1
I gasp as I bolt up. Looking around, I see I am still at the camp my adopted daughter, Shana, and I had set up the night before. I can also see that the sun is just beginning to rise. I lay my head back against the tree behind me and sigh as I realise I dozed off while on watch. That could have been a disaster, especially in these parts where bandits roam.
"I've not had that dream in a while." I say to myself as I think about it.
Wincing, she looks down to the deformed and scarring of her right arm. After that day, there was nothing much anyone could do, except to maybe remove it. But since the arm was still functional, it was still kept and the agonizing healing began. It took many, many months for it to heal over and living in the wild with the survivors of the Arcani and Erebor, I was prone to infections, which I did get a few of. Luckily, I was able to pull through and my arm did heal. Although, I still suffer from quite a bit of nerve damage. I'll get pain shooting through my arm every so often, especially when remembering that day, and it'll sometimes spasm.
As I got older and father began teaching me how to use a bow, I managed to work around the disability and can use it just as well as any trained archer, luckily. Stretching my arm and my fingers, I stand and make my way to the fire, which has died down during the night. I feed it to get the fire going again and begin making breakfast.
I look over to Shana as she stirs, lifting her head, she smiles as she sees me.
I chuckle at her tussled hair. 'Good morning, my sparrow.' I say to her in our native tongue.
She smiles back. 'Good morning, mother.'
She yawns and stretches before making her way over to our bags, picking up the bowls we used for dinner last night and allowing me to dish out the porridge I made for us. We sit on a fallen log together and eat.
'How did you sleep?' I ask her.
'Pretty well. And yourself, did you sleep well?'
'Somewhat.'
I wince as my arm spasms again as I remember the dream, spilling porridge on the ground. I curse to myself as I do my stretching exercises again. I notice Shana watching me with concern.
'That dream's come back?'
Sighing I just nod as I finish and continue to eat my breakfast in silence. Shana takes the hint and also continues to eat, though she does sit closer to me. I just smile warmly at this, turning to place an affectionate kiss upon her head.
Once we have finished eating, we clear up out bowls, utensils and the pot before packing everything away, dousing the fire and attaching the bags onto our horses. Strapping my bow and quiver onto my back, I pick up my staff and mount my white horse, Snowflake, Shana mounting Starlight and then we set off.
We are currently on our way back to Rivendell after spending some time travelling. After the death of my sister and her mate, our people had settled in Rivendell, making a home for ourselves there. Ever since I was a child, I had always longed to be out in the wild, longed for adventure, and I suppose after the dragon came, I did get that and then some. But I wanted adventure I could enjoy, one that wasn't life threatening.
However, I had grown content while in Rivendell, raising Shana. I have always hated that she would never get the chance to meet her true mother, my sister, and felt so guilty when Shana began calling me mama for the first time. I tried to get her to stop, but Lord Elrond had helped me to heal and move on. Saying that I could never replace my sister as her mother, but I could still be a mother to her nonetheless.
As Shana got older, and could understand things a lot more, I told her everything I could about her mother. Her birth, our childhood, how brave, strong and kind she was and that she would have loved Shana every minute of her life.
When I told Shana my fears of replacing my sister as her mother, I will never forget what she told me;
"She may have given me life, and while I wish I could have known her, you are my mother. Thanks to you, I will keep her memories in my heart forever. I'm lucky, I have two mothers who love me, not many girls can say that."
I smile to myself as I remember those words. She gave me the opportunity I needed to release my guilt, release the grief I had been feeling over taking my sisters place in her life. That was never brought up again, but I made sure Shana would never forget the woman who had longed to meet her, the man and woman who gave their lives so their daughter could live.
When Shana grew up and became of age, the wonder lust began to appear it's head, for the both of us. So, after making sure my people would be okay, we left. That was almost two years ago. We had travelled almost all of Middle Earth. The only place we stayed away from was the East side of the world. Where IT happened.
We continue riding, laughing and talking away with each, and we don't stop until and hour or two before dinner where we came upon a clearing next to a cliff edge. Two sides are blocked off by rocks and boulders, so the only way in or out is the way we've just come from, so we won't get any surprise visitors from travellers, bandits or worse orcs.
As we dismount, we untack our horses and allow them free roam, knowing they won't go far from us before we make up our camp, with me getting the fire going. Once we have made camp, the two of us go hunting.
….
The two of us have a good hunt this night; a couple of rabbits, a pheasant and even a buck. We're going to eat well for the next few nights, possibly even till we reach Rivendell. We tie the feet of the buck to the staff, as well as the rabbits and pheasant and we carry it back towards our camp.
As we're lugging our haul, we both suddenly stop. My ears are picking up on shouting not far away, and I know Shana's are doing the same. That's when we hear the chink of metal against metal as a sword fight begins. Dropping the haul, I tell Shana to go on ahead while I use my knife to cut the ropes before following close behind.
Reaching the fight, we find a large group of travellers fighting off against another group of bandits. My heart jolts as I see most of the group are dwarves. Shana release an arrow, hitting one of the bandits, causing him and some other to turn their attentions onto us. Using my staff, I swing it hard at the one Shana shot, just before he can hurt her. The two of us fight side by side, working as a team. One ducks and swings while the other fires and then we swap.
Soon enough, the ground is littered with the bodies of the bandits. I turn to Shana and check her over.
'Are you alright?'
She nods. 'I'm fine, mother. You?'
I smile and nod as we touch foreheads. We pull apart as a familiar voice speaks up.
"Ah, I thought I heard the woosh of a staff."
Looking up, I smile as I see the Grey Wizard, Gandalf.
"Gandalf, it's been a while, mellonin."
He smiles as he walks over to us. "Too long, my dear Shakana."
I open my mouth to speak when another voice speaks up, one that causes my heart to stop.
"Kana?"
The company of Thorn Oakenshield had left the human village of Bree a few days ago and are now riding through the wilds of the East Road. Thorin can feel the pang of longing, longing to be home. He's on his way, at last. He had thought about doing this for so long, since his father had gone missing. When his grandfather had talked about retaking Erebor, he first thought it was a fools journey, to take a mountain back from a dragon, what could he have been thinking? And then he came up with the plan of taking back Moria. His father had reluctantly gone with it, knowing there would be no stopping him with it. That was the day he almost lost everything; his grandfather, his father, his brother. . .the love of his life.
Kana didn't die that day, but he knows a large portion of her did when her father died in battle, and then returning to find her mother dead. He had wondered what caused her death, she had been perfectly healthy when they left the week before. That was when Kana had explained the link between mates; if one dies, so does the other.
Just like he did, she became the ruler of her people that day. She decided that the best thing for her people was to leave. It was a heartbreaking day for him, and a day he remembers far too well.
The morning came when Shakana would take her people away, to find a new home. He didn't want her to go, he had already lost his grandfather, his father and his brother, he couldn't bear to watch her leave him.
Shakana had just finished saying a teary goodbye to Balin, Dwalin and Dis before turning to him, allowing Shaylee to say goodbye to the others.
She looks at him, her eyes full of unshed tears. "Thorin, just know, this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I don't want to leave you, but. . ."
"I understand Kana. Just like I want what's best for my people, you want the same for yours. I just wish it didn't come down to this."
She gives him a watery smile before she looks down. He knows she wants to say something, but can tell something is holding her back. He sees her open her mouth a few times, before clamping it shut.
"What is it, Kana?" he asks gently.
After a few more moments, she looks up at him. "If this is my last chance to say this, then I will. I know we are young, younger than others in this situation, but I have to tell you. . .I have fallen in love with you, Thorin."
His heart stops at this piece of information. Kana is in love. . .with him?
"Y-You are?" he stutters, feelimg dumbfounded.
She nods. "I have for a long time. It started as a crush when we were kids but grew and grew." she smiles. "it Bloomed."
Bloomed. . .he had heard that saying before among the Arcani clan. He had asked Makani what it meants and when he found out, he had realised something. Those feelings were the same as what he was feeling, though to him,as a dwarf, he would call her his One. He didn't think it could happen to someone so young, but it did. He thought at first maybe it would just go away and he could put it down to a childhood crush. As he got older, however, he began to realise those feelings were growing and growing. . .blooming.
He uses his finger to tilt her head up, causing him to stare into her beautiful green eyes. "Shakana, if I told you I'm also falling in love with you. . .would you stay?"
Kana gasps as she looks at him. "What?"
"I love you too, Kana, I have for a long time like you. Stay with me, Shakana. We will find somewhere for both of our people to live and be happy, with you permission, I will court you for as long as you need to be ready for us to eventually marry. Just. . .please, don't go."
Kana looks at him, the tears falling, looking down, she gives a small laugh. "You've made my decision so much harder Thorin." she looks back at him. "I do love you, more than I can ever say, but I can't stay. I have to do this." as Thorin looks down, she places a hand on his cheek to lift his head to look at her. "This is not goodbye forever, Thorin. One day, when I'm ready and my people are safe and happy, I will come find you and we can do all of those things you have said, because. . .that is what I want. You're my mate, I want to be with you, but right now is not a good time."
He looks at her as she talks, placing a hand on hers that is still upon her cheek. "You promise you will return?"
She smiles as she reaches down and unclips a bracelet from her wrist. He recognises it as one her father had gifted to her mother. Knowing it won't fit his, she takes some twine, ties a knot around the bracelet before tying it around his neck.
"This is my promise to you, Thorin Oakenshield, I will return for this and when I do, we will do all you just said. I will allow you to court me, we will marry and begin the rest of our lives together. Can you accept this?"
He nods. "I can, and I will. Go, take care of yourself, your sister and your people, and I will wait for your return with anticipation. But know, you take my heart with you."
Kana smiles at him. "As I leave mine with you. Take care of it."
He also smiles. "I will." he just looks at her, moving a stray hair from her face before glancing down at her lips, those red full lips that he had often thought what it would be like to kiss.
Seeing what he's thinking, Shakana blushes, but smiles. "You can do it if you want."
His eyes snap back to hers. "Are you sure?"
As she nods, they both lean into one each other and share their first kiss. Although it is just a short innocent kiss, Thorin can feel a warmth run through his entire body, a warmth he does not want to lose. Her lips felt better than anything he could have ever imagined; soft, warm and able to express so much love.
After what didn't seem like much time, they pulled apart, both of them smiling.
"I have to go. I will return, I promise." Kana says, giving him another kiss before turning with Shaylee.
After giving an order in her native tongue, her people gather and they leave, the dwarves saying their goodbyes. Thorin sees Kana turn back to him once more before they are soon out of sight.
That was the last he saw of her. She didn't return like she promised. He didn't know how he should feel about it. It had been a hundred and sixty four years since that day. Many reasons go through his head to have kept her away from him; have they still not found a home? Does she no longer love him? Has she found someone else? And the worse thought. . .is she even still alive? No, she couldn't be dead, if she was then so would he. . .or does it only work when you are mated? He wish he knew, because then he wouldn't have to worry if she still lived.
He was brought out of his thoughts when the ponies were suddenly getting agitated, not wanting to move on.
"Hey, what's going on with the ponies?" he hears his youngest nephew ask.
"Something is wrong, they can sense it." Gandalf says.
It doesn't take long to find out as there's a sudden shout before they are surrounded by bandits. The company quickly pull out their weapons, and while still mounted, they fight. As he's taking care of a bandit, an arrow suddenly hits his arm, causing him to cry out and turn towards where it was fired and run. He's going in the direction the company were heading. Before he can see what he is running too, he is suddenly accosted by another bandit. As Thorin kills him, he suddenly hears the woosh and a sickening thud before a body hits the ground. Whoever is helping them, he is thankful.
Not long after, the bandits are finally taken care off. Thorin goes through his men, making sure they are alright. He is relieved that Mr Baggins is safe. He may think that he is a burden on their company, but he would never want any harm to come to the hobbit.
"Ah, I thought I heard the woosh of a staff." Thorin hears Gandalf say.
Before he can see who he's talking too, a voice speaks up.
"Gandalf, it's been a while, mellonin."
He pauses for a moment. That voice. . .he know that voice. . .
"Too long, my dear Shakana."
He heart stops and his blood runs cold, Shakana. . .she's here? He quickly turns and sees her. She's there! She's here! After all this time. . .she is here in front of him. . .she's alive! She's definitely grown during the time they've been apart. She still wears the same clothing, exposing her stomach, arms and toned legs. Her hair had gotten longer and had decoration to it; feathers, beads and such. She was even more beautiful than ever. . .
"Kana?"
There we have it, Chapter 2 for you all. I didn't want to draw out the time between the Sacking of Erebor and the Quest like I did in True Love Conquers All, but I still hope you enjoyed this chapter and will continue to read on xXx