Disclaimer: I don't own any familiar characters, and or anything pertaining to the world of the Hobbit. All, but my ocs, are owned by J.R.R Tolkien
Chapter 15
The Troubles of Monsters and Men
Claudia rolled the chain of her necklace between her thumb and pointer, the gaudy lavender gem imprinting its shape into the skin of her palm. She stared at the calloused walls, willing herself to remember the mountain kingdom she had visited as a child. She had only been six the last time she was within these walls, and Claudia had hated every minute of it.
Her handmaidens quietly worked to prepare her for meeting with the Lord of Ered Luin. Their eyes were set on the floor and their demur face muttering to Claudia only when necessary. The bandages – soaked in browning blood and green muck – were replaced with fresh linen. Claudia bit into the soft gums of her inner cheek, metallic tang swirling in her mouth. The handmaidens brought her a traditional Ered Luin dress, which was torture to her skin. The gown was made of beads of black, gold, and blue. It outlined the shape of her body, the slit coming to her upper thigh. Just as the Stiffbeards of the north had adjusted to the cold climate of the mountains, the Fireabeards had mastered life on the tropical coast.
"This should be considered an act of war," Claudia whispered to Alma, tugging on the plunging neckline.
Shortly after the arrival of the handmaidens Enna and Glorfindel were escorted to their rooms, where Claudia was unsure. Dag had disappeared after sharing hushed whispers with Theo, who left with the healer's wing with a tight hug for Claudia and a kiss upon Alma's brow.
"It's a dress, Dia," Alma replied with her eyes watching the last of the handmaids retreat from the tiny healing room.
Claudia glanced at Alma, still dressed in her guard's uniform. Her kinky cooper curls framed her umber skin. For the first time in weeks, they were clean, not a trace of dirt painted their beads dug into her skin, bothering the bandage around her middle. Shifting on her feet, she glanced at the door where the handmaids had disappeared.
Lowering her voice, she spoke to Alma. "Any words on our masked friends?"
Alma pushed herself off the wall, walking closer to Claudia.
"The people hardly speak in these halls, they have moved all non-court members out into the mountainside city. When people are under constant surveillance." Paranoia filled her voice, her eyes staring at the door as if someone might be listening.
Claudia brushed her hand over her slicked-back hair, "what about Lord Arone?"
"Throne has been naturally uncharming himself and has given us little entail on his father's business. He has had the pleasure of reminding Theo that he is ruling in his father's stead." Alma ticked.
Claudia sighed, her hands running over the front of the dress – the beads moving, but never breaking from their pattern. There was a knock on the door, Alma stood up straight with her hand going to the hilt of her sword. With the twisting of the knob Dag stepped through.
The tension in Claudia's shoulder's dropped at the sight of her friend.
"Theo is waiting for you at the bridge, Glorfindel and Enna are with him."
It had been nearly two decades since she was last in the mountain, and much had changed. The vibrant kingdom was now quiet, with only the pounding of metal echoing in the halls. The ribs of gutted mines gaped at the bottom of the shaft long abandoned. Bone dry garden decayed on a dark cliffside, and heat boiled under stone from the forges far below her feet. Apartments and shops built into stone were boarded, or abandoned altogether. Theo stood on the edge of the bridge speaking with Glorfindel, both still in their traveling clothes. Enna leaned against the end of the hall, sad eyes searching the desolate city.
"They didn't provide you with a pretty dress?" Claudia asked behind them, coming to her cousin's side.
Theo turned to Claudia, his brows shot up. "It seems that 'pointy-ear bastards' aren't worthy of fresh clothes as you are, Princess."
Claudia hummed, taking in the information. The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach only worsened as she looked at Glorfindel studying her. Their eyes locked for only a moment before Glorfindel looked away.
"Has he returned then?" She asked, still standing at the edge of the step.
"He will be waiting for us in the great hall," Enna replied, drawing back from the depressing scene.
"Then we shouldn't keep the lord waiting." Claudia sucked in a breath, taking her time down the steps.
Theo stretched out his arm to Claudia at the bottom of the steps, which Claudia gladly took. Glorfindel and Dag led the pack across the bridge, guards waiting from on the other side of the cavern.
"Something dark lingers here, Theo" She whispered her eyes on the thinning stream of water falling from the cliffs.
"Lord Arone has always been a disagreeable man, but this…" he nodded toward the decaying city, "this is something else entirely."
"We need to leave these halls as soon as possible. I'll be fine on the road, the more distance we put between us and Lord Arone the better I will feel."
Theo squeezed Claudia's arm, pulling her to a stop. "Arone's guards have been watching us non-stop, Claudia. Dag has heard their whispers, this is more than just the disagreeable dwarf lord we knew as children."
Claudia studied the creases on her cousin's face, how deeply the worry ran. Before she could probe him anymore the sound of rhythmic steps approached them. The brass shapes of fully armored guards approached the group. They came to her shoulder, and we were burly. Long beards were covered in iron beads, customary to the Firebeard clan. The harsh click of their boots as they bowed before Claudia.
"Princess, we are here to escort you to Lord Arone." One of the dwarves addressed her.
Claudia bowed back to the dwarves, "please lead the way then."
The dwarves didn't move. "Lord Arone has requested your presence, Princess. Not your…" he looked at the elves and dwarves surrounding her, "company" he supplied finally.
Biting her lips she looked at her feet. She hadn't even seen the man and he was already testing her. She wanted to run as far as she could from this place. To hide in a small hole where no one could ever find her again. Where no destiny called to her. Where she did not have to face these men.
"Your princess said to the lead the way. Are you willing to defy her orders?" Enna spoke, a sharpness in her tone that Claudia had never heard.
A low growl came from the guard, but he turned and barked in khuduzl for the others to move. She could have sworn one of the dwarves whispered "elvish bitch" under his breath, but Claudia was so surprised she thought it had only been in her mind. Claudia looked up to the elf, now beside her, in thanks. Enna placed a hand on her shoulder giving her an encouraging squeeze.
They walked along the ghastly halls for what felt like hours. Pins pricked her skin, numbing the side of her body. Descending yet another set of stairs, Claudia noted just how empty the mountain was. In Erebor the halls had always been filled with people living their lives, the noise of the joys and sorrow filling the mountain. But in Ered Luin, the silence was deafening and screamed in her ears. A few handmaids had scurried by quickly a few times, but there was no other sign of life in this place.
This was not like the place in the stories her father or her uncle Kili told her as a child. Ered Luin was their birthplace, and home for most of their lives. It was where her grandmother had married her grandfather. The place where Thorin's Company of Thirteen had emerged from. Now it was nothing more than a shell.
The corridor filled with deep whispering voices as the walls around them opened into a great hall. Smoked meats, and ale burst forth from the room and set in her stomach. A low rumble came from her stomach, and she realized since the first time she woke up how hungry she was. She wondered if the rest were just as hungry as she was.
"Princess Claudia of Erebor, of the line of Durin the Awoken, daughter of High King Fili, the Lionheart, and High Queen Magdalen, the Champion of Erebor."
Embarrassment flushed through her at the announcement of her parents' titles and her very apparent lack thereof.
At the bottom of the steps in front of a large glittering stone table stood a long gray beard dwarf. Pure gold shimmered from his beard and a sharp angular crown sat atop his wild brow. He wore a tunic of the finest blue and gold threads. A plate, signifying of his high stature, encircled his neck and could be seen just under his well-trimmed beard. A blue tattoo marked the angular face, an echoing circle over the right eye – a common sight among the Firebeards. This was Lord Arone, of the Firebeard Clan, one of the lords of the High Dwarven Council.
She paused waiting for Theo's introduction, though it never came. Bowing her head she angled to look at the dwarf with a threatening glare. Theo had equal power to her, he had just as much of Durin's blood in his veins as she. And Glorfindel, even among the dwarves, should be honored in the proper way.
Yet he said nothing. A smug smile appeared on his face, his hands open to the princess. "It is so delightful to have the presence of the Durin line in these hallowed halls again." He looked back to the gaggle of dwarves seated around the table. "Isn't, my lords."
A rouse of cheers came from the dwarves. He turned to beckon one of the lords from his table, and a young dwarf stood and came to his side. Long black was clipped into a ponytail at the back of his head. Silver cuffs, which were most likely unearned, dotted his hair. Beady golden eyes stared up at her.
"You remember my son, Lord Throne."
"My lords," she said with the same bored voice she reserved for nobles.
Throne bowed to her, he had the same nasty smile as his father, like a predator that just caught his prey.
"Please join me, my princess." Lord Arone asked.
She paused waiting for one of the guards to escort her down as was tradition for a dinner such as this. But none. She realized Lord Arone was waiting, daring, for her to make the first move toward him. It was another act of torture. Releasing her hold on Theo, he reached out to stop her but she held up her hand telling him to hang back. She began down the steps.
With every step, a new nerve ending frayed, but she would not yield before Lord Arone. Mimicking her mother's stance, she folded her hands over one another before the dwarven lord. He paused a minute, having the audacity to look her up and down before bowing to her.
"Princess Claudia, my how you've grown." There was a sickening tone in his voice.
Claudia inclined her head, "Lord Arone, Lord Throne. I must give you my deepest gratitude for coming to my company's aid."
"Only a fool would not come to the aid of a princess." He emphasized. His eyes were like a nail dragging across her skin.
"Yes, well, my company is grateful for your services and this dinner."
Theo and the rest came to stand behind her. Lord Arone's eyes narrowed at the company.
"I did not ask to dine with the likes of elves." His eyes were like flaming embers burning on Enna and Glorfindel.
Claudia shifted her weight as she willed her body between the dwarf and her elves. With her head high, she looked down at Arone from the tip of her nose.
"When you asked to dine with your princess, you asked to dine with her company." She insisted.
At the sight of her, all of the malice drained from his face, and a docile smile reappeared. "Of course, my princess. Pardon my tone, it has been an age since an elf has stepped foot in these halls. Though I should expect nothing less from the line of Durin." The last part dug into her skin.
"Please take a seat," he turned to find his seat at the head of the table, shooing a few of the dwarf lords from the table to make room for the company.
Claudia took her seat next to Lord Arone, noticing a woman already sitting opposite of her. Raven hair was braided into a crown of gems on top of her hair, and though a veil covered her face Claudia could still recognize the sharp features. Lady Helena, Lord Arone's wife. She noted the black and gray beaded dress Lady Haelenla wore, traditionally the colors of mourning. Though Claudia did not recall any deaths in the Firebeard clan. Her stare was glossy as if her body was there but her mind was far from this mountain. She simply bowed her head to Claudia and said nothing else. There was one missing member of the family head of the Firebeards, Claudia realized.
She felt a pressing presence beside her, and turning her head she found Throne had taken the seat beside her. She wanted to spit at, scream, and tell him to keep his eyes to himself. But they were in a tight situation, and she didn't want to push the bounds of Arone's hospitality.
The pouring of wine caught her attention. Beside Lord Arone, stood another dwarven woman wearing a golden plate decorated with lapis gems fashioned into a faux beard along her jaw. It was the same style of aserag her mother wore during times when the council of the seven dwarven clans met. The same aserag Rowan had worn when Arone had bent the knee as she was named heir.
The woman went to each cup around the table, pouring rich wine into each.
"Lady Maesa, well met," Claudia called to the woman as she neared.
Maesa had been the saving grace of their once horrible visit to Ered Luin. The oldest of Lord Arone's children, Maesa had welcomed the royal children with open arms on their holiday. She had given Claudia and her sisters a tour of the mines, making it a point to answer all of Odette's thousands of questions about the forges.
The room stilled when Claudia addressed Maesa.
"Well met, princess." She addressed Claudia quietly, before moving to stand behind her father's seat.
Maesa's hands curled around the bottle's neck, her knuckles white from her strength.
"It has been nearly a decade since we last saw you, Princess Claudia, or your family in these lands. So it was shocking to me when my advisor came running to me telling me some outpost is transporting the Princess to Ered Luin for medical aid. Tell me what has brought you out this far, and what caused such a wound? Surely King Fili would not send one of his precious daughters out on that foolish elf's task."
Claudia bowed her head, trying to keep the slew of curse words in her mouth.
"King Fili was kind enough to send both of his eldest daughters to Lord Elrond's call, to which the elves are deeply grateful," Glorfindel spoke.
Arone sat back in his seat, his sights on Glorfindel now. "And tell me, elf, what exactly would warrant the king to send his daughter out on a quest with the likes of elves."
Claudia spoke up. "The matter of quest is our own, Lord Arone since you failed to heed the call of Lord Elrond."
A deep chuckle came from Throne. "My father is no green lord, he knows better than to make deals with the elves. " A hand came to the shoulder of her chair, Throne angling his body toward Claudia as he leaned in. "Tell me, did you trade in your human whore for an elvish one?" His breath warmed her skin.
"Lord Throne, I suggest you back away from my cousin." Theo roared on the other side of Throne.
"And what are you going to do about it–"
The two began a screaming match, the dwarven lords cheering them on. Glorfindel, on the opposite side of the table, watched the fight unfold. He looked as if he was waiting in the wings, waiting at just the right moment to attack. Theo and Throne came closer to each other, exchanging insults. Claudia grabbed the steak knife as Throne became distracted by Theo. As she was raising it toward Throne, a hand stopped her. She turned to find Maesa above her, shaking her head. Claudia's hand retreated staring up at the woman, her eyes were so sad and tired. She looked as if she had aged a thousand years in the ten years Claudia had last seen her.
"ENOUGH!" Lord Arone said finally putting a stop to the madness.
Silence came swiftly as all eyes were on the dwarven lord. He stood at the head of the table. "We will have peace as we eat. Now sit." He commanded.
Throne lowered beside her, and Theo followed. Satisfied, Arone nodded before taking his own seat. Clapping his hands, more handmaids appeared at their sides placing plates in front of them. Claudia piled her plate full, though she was not hungry she knew to play into tradition. Claudia followed the hands of the handmaiden before her, watching as the dwarven woman went about her work. They were all women, not a man helping in sight.
"Much has changed in these halls, Lord Arone," Claudia noted, poking at her food.
Arone hummed, "Yes, after the discovery of pyre in Erebor and the Iron hill, we have been using new techniques to try to find our own source. Experimenting with the limits of pyre."
"Own source? I doubt that Ered Luin has the conditions in which pyre can be created. Though if you wish, you could ask Lord Dane to send Pyre Workers to help." Claudia supplied.
Arone let out a hard laugh, a few low chuckles followed by his lords. "I would rather have a raven claw out my eye than ask Lord Dane for help. Ered Luin is one of the most powerful mining kingdoms in all of the dwarven kingdoms. I will not be looked down on by that lowly dwarf."
Claudia was taken aback by the harshness Lord Arone was taking with her. "Lord Dane is a cousin of the crown. His aid helped Erebor control the conduction of Pyre when it was first discovered, Lord Arone." Enna reasoned from the other side of the table.
"Princess Claudia, please control your elves. I wish for them not to speak at my table."
Claudia couldn't help but laugh. She felt as if she had stepped into another reality.
"Lady Enna and Glorfindel are not things to be controlled. I understand you don't care for my or my cousin's princesses here but we are still your Prince and Princess. I would ask you to show the elves the hospitality of our people. Lady Enna was Princess Odette's tutor during her studies in Mirkwood's forges. She is an ally and friend, and will be treated as such, Lord Arone." She thought she might break the stone table underneath her death grip.
Arone began nodding, the juice from the meat he stuffed in his mouth wetting his beard.
"I've heard all about your sister galavanting from her home to the city of men to the kingdom of elves learning about ironwork. Tell me the true reason your parents let her pursue something as sacred as ironwork outside of your halls. Are they whoring her out to any lord that might aid them?"
Claudia snapped her head to the Lord. "I suggest you watch your tongue before I cut it out myself. I will remind you–"
Arone slammed his hand down on the table, cracking the stone. "And I will remind you, little girl, that you are on my land now. And the Firebeard clan has enough of the shame your family has brought the dwarven folk. From your fathers bringing in a woman, not even a full dwarven one, into the council. To your Great Uncle's spitting on the tradition by crowning your father before his time. To your cousin's mere existence," Theo shifted in his seat, his eyes trained on the table. "To your sister's perversions." His eyes flickered to Enna. "And then there's you, Princess Claudia. I knew you were a rotting fruit in the family tree. The girl that talks to ghosts, who whispers to things that aren't even there. Is that why your father sent you away from Erebor because you're mad? Or was it you that ran away?"
Claudia stood from her seat. "I've had enough of this disgraceful scheme you've brought before your princess."
Arone met her stance, "You are no princess here." He took a step toward her.
Alma and Dag stood their hands on their weapons. Claudia held her chin up to the lord, never breaking his stare. "Are you regretting my father's claim to the throne for your own?" She asked cooly.
"For far too long we have been led away from the path of our ancestors by your family. We have been damned by the Valar. "
"My mother has the blessing of Aule."
"Your mother is a lying whore."
The cracking of his skin echoed in the hall as Claudia's hand slapped across Arone's face.
"How dare you speak of my mother, I should have your beard for that." Her eyes were wild, and her heart pounded against her chest.
Arone rubbed his cheek blood etching the lines of his teeth as he smiled. He held out the blood that stained his hand. "The truth has been revealed to me, the age of the elf is over. It is for the dwarves to rule Middle-earth."
"And you will lead them?" Theo asked.
"I already have the support of Broadbeams and Stiffbeard clans. I sent out a message when you first arrived. In two months' time there will be a meeting of the dwarven council, and I will lay claim to the throne."
"My parents will never agree to these terms, you've gone mad."
"They will agree if they want you to ever leave this mountain alive." Metal screeched in her ears as guards appeared at every exit of the room around them.
A bubble of laughter rose in her chest. "You are keeping me hostage now?"
Lord Arone leaned back in his seat, his hands bracing the table.
"You swore loyalty to my parents and my sister. Are you an oathbreaker now, Lord Arone?"
"There is no honor among Durin's Folk, and without honor, there is no oath."
"Lord Amrus lost his family's right as head of the Stonefoot clan because of treachery, you are going down the path as him." Claudia tried to plead.
"The difference between Lord Amrus and me is that I will not fail to stop the reign of a stupid woman."
The slice of a blade being called from its halter came from her right. The elvish blade held to Lord Arone's throat.
"You will hold no one hostage in this company." Glorfindel's figure darkened Arone.
"Glorfindel, the mighty warrior. I never cared for your stories. Do you think I am thick, elf? I knew you were among the company. Go ahead, kill me."
The sword edge cut into Arone's beard. Arone didn't seem to mind, pressing into the blade as he stood. He came only to Glorfindel's middle and looked up at the elf without a trace of fear.
"But if you do, know that Lady Claudia and her bastard cousin will die with me."
Glorfindel did not waver at the statement, but his eyes narrowed. Claudia backed away from the table, going to Theo's side.
"Explain yourself."
"The wine given to them was poisoned, to which only I can give the order for the antidote. If you and the rest of your company are corporate and allow us to escort you to the dungeons then I will give the orders for the antidote. Or if you truly don't care for the prince or princess you could just let them die. You already have so much blood on your hands, elf, what's the blood of a useless princess to you."
Glorfindel looked back at Claudia and Theo. Enna came to Claudia's side checking over her vitals. Alma did the same as she reached for Theo. Claudia noticed the sharp pounding in her chest, but could not distinguish between the adrenal pulsing through her veins and the effects of the poison. Glorfindel drew his blade and placed the table.
"I would be quick to make a decision, they only have twenty minutes for the antidote to work."
Claudia's lungs tightened, the itch on her skin becoming unbearable.
"How will we know that you've kept your word?" Alma asked.
"Theodon will be with you in the dungeons."
"And the princess?" Glorfindel asked.
"I need the lady alive to ensure her parents will listen to my terms. No harm will come to her as my ward."
Claudia grabbed Theo's arm. "Listen to him. We will find a way out of this, I promise."
Theo stared at her, before enveloping her in a tight hug. "Stay safe."
Claudia smiled up at Theo and then at Alma. She patted Enna's hand in reassurance and nodded to Dag. They would all have to play along. She finally turned to Glorfindel. She saw he was struggling with what to do. He was angry, she realized, that she once again was the source of his ire, another reason she was the weakness in the group.
"They will go."
"Good decision, my lady. Take them away."
Throne's hand clamped around her arm, yanking her away from Theo. Guard flanked the company pushing them out the door. Glorfindel kept his eyes on Claudia as he was swept away. The great doors closed behind them, and Claudia was alone in the dragon's den.
