As Halien walked over to join Elrond, Thorin, and Gandalf at the main table, the dwarves stared in wonder at her. She was already a very beautiful woman, but the purple gown she wore was incredible and as they looked at her now short hair, they felt as if they were looking at a completely different person. They stared at her as she took her seat across from Thorin.
Kili had been looking at an elf maid with keen interest, but when he was caught by Dwalin, he tried to explain away that there wasn't enough hair on them and they had too high of cheekbones. He mentioned that an elf who passed behind him was "not bad", but Dwalin- with a straight face- pointed out that it was no elf maid that he was looking at. Kili blushed and tried to think of something else, but Bofur pointed out how beautiful Halien looked and asked if Kili agreed. Kili nodded and they went about trying to muster the courage to eat the greens.
Meanwhile, Elrond was telling Thorin and Gandalf the names of the blades they had found in the troll horde. Thorin excused himself to join the others and Halien felt uncomfortable sitting with them, so she excused herself as well. She felt very overwhelmed at being back in a home setting and needed to breathe. Before she could leave though, Bofur hopped upon the table and asked if she would sing with him. The other dwarves felt like they were at a funeral with the soft music the elves played, so Halien agreed and she and Bofur started to sing a tune from the Blue Mountains.
"There's an inn, there's an inn, there's a merry old inn beneath an old grey hill. And they there brew a beer so brown the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill. Oh, the ostler has a tipsy cat, who plays a five-string fiddle; And up and down he saws his bow, now squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle. So, the cat and the fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle, a jig that would wake the dead. He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune; while the landlord shook the Man in the Moon: 'It's after three!' he said."
As Halien and Bofur sang the old tune, the dwarves pounded their fists and feet. They laughed and threw food back and forth, but Halien managed to slip away before any of it could get onto her gown. Thorin had watched her dance with Bofur as they sang the tune and he smiled, glad to see her having fun and their companions enjoying themselves. They needed to blow off steam after what had happened that day. He took a swig from his flask and watched as Halien disappeared around a corner.
Halien walked through the halls to find a quiet spot to relax. She found a nice and secluded spot encircled by trees. She went over to the small fountain, sitting on the stone ledge, and touched the surface of the water with her fingertips. She took a deep breath and summoned a small bit of her magik, pouring it gently into the water. She lifted her hand and guided the water out of the fountain. She moved her hands back and forth, making the water dance as she passed it from hand to hand.
At the entrance to the alcove, Thorin came around the corner and spotted her. He stood nearby in the archway that led to the secluded spot, having sought out solitude himself. He watched as she fluidly moved the water in different directions, maneuvering it in front of her, around her, and above her. He stepped into the little alcove and startled Halien, causing her to lose concentration which in turn made the water she was controlling fall down on her head, soaking her.
"Sire," she said, wringing out her hair as best as she could.
"I must apologize that I could not reach you in time, earlier. I tried to, but you managed to escape on your own. I am sorry about your hair."
Halien smiled a little. "I do not mind. I will have to get used to it, but I rather like it."
"As do I. You know, you are quite skilled in this magik of yours." Thorin said, coming to a stop next to her. "When you can concentrate."
Halien sighed. "What do you wish of me, sire?" she asked.
"I simply thought perhaps you would like some company," Thorin replied. "I can leave if you would rather be alone."
"No, sire, it's alright. I have been alone for so long that I dare not turn away the chance for company," she told him. When he stayed, she asked, "Why are you so harsh with me, Thorin? I have done nothing to you and I am not my father. You said so yourself the other night." She looked up at him. "Have I not proven myself to this company? Have I not proven myself to you?"
Thorin looked at her, her emerald green eyes glistening. "Halien, you have done more than enough to prove yourself. You are a valuable part of this company."
"Then why, Thorin? What have I done?"
Thorin sighed and sat down. "It is nothing that you have done. It is hard to look past what your father did to my kin."
Halien put a hand on his arm. "I am not my father, Thorin. I have tried to be everything but what he has become. I do not know what my father could have been thinking. You have seen this!"
