Here is where is gets interesting.
Chapter 23
Fili kept a tight hold of her hand as they climbed over the rocks, Maia holding up the skirts of her dress as they slowly climbed down to reach the level of the river. The cliffs seemed steep, but the footholds were easily, if slightly slippery from the river's mist.
The trees surrounding the running water was starting loom above them, the cliffs smoothing into slopes. Fire flies started to appear from the shadows of the bushes and tree branches. Maia looked around in wonder.
"Almost...few more steps..." muttered Fili. Finally, he jumped down and landed confidentially on the ground, swinging Maia down with him, her dress floating before landing lightly in the forest soil. When they walked toward the edge of the stream, there was little grounding space. Waterfalls surrounded the little island, running from the rocky cliffs of Rivendell from above and adding silvery turrets along the smoothly flowing bend. From the ledge of where they stood, the mountains from where the Company popped out of loomed closely in view, displaying more pine forests and twisted narrow paths.
"Wow!" Maia commented, looking around them. This was pretty cool.
"Aye," agreed Fili, looking around with equal wonder. With the moon shining down on them and the fireflies flickering like little faeries. "I feel like I am back at home again."
"The Blue Mountains?" Maia looked at him, blushing when she felt the warmth of his larger hand in hers.
"Ever since we were little, Kili and I would sometimes sneak out at night, pretending we were on our adventures or seeing creatures of magic." Fili sat down and started slipping off his boots. "We would catch fireflies, play in the snow, or even splash around in the water. Where it was shallow, of course. Mother and Uncle would give us a real scolding whenever we're caught outside, past our bedtime." He dipped his feet into the water. "Anyway, we used to have a pond nearby our house, surrounded by trees, just outside the village of Men."
Maia kicked her slippers off and plopped down next to him, pulling up her skirts before dipping her feet into the water. Hissing from the freezing water touching her toes, the currents then swirling around her ankles, and then up to her shins. The water was so clear that she can see her feet under the surface, even in the dark. The rocks were pale white like the moon, seeming to glow from its radiance.
"That reminds me," she said, glancing at Fili, as the two waded their feet in the cold water, "where did you learn how to swim? When you dove in to rescue Lori and Kili, Thorin looked surprised. Everyone did."
Fili was quiet, studying the ripples of the water. "I had a friend once," he said. "It was long time ago. I was in my twenties, which is roughly Kyle's age in dwarf years. Anyway, she knew how to swim and found the time to teach me how to stay afloat."
"Was she another dwarf?" asked Maia.
Fili shook his head. "She was human. She was...probably nine or ten. Small, but very energetic. Adventurous. She was a fun playmate to have around. Her name was Alayne. You would have liked her. She was like Lori in many ways."
"She sounds pretty cool." Maia smiled a little, although deep down, she couldn't help but feel a little envious. Whoever this Alayne was knew Fili as a child, got to know him in a lifestyle that was most likely similar to her own. But then she noticed that Fili referred to the girl in past tense, not present. "What happened to her?" she asked.
Fili shook his head sadly. His eyes glazed with memory. "There was a sickness spreading," he said. "A plague, carried back from the East. Many were infected, including my family. I myself was ill. It was a terrible time for all of us." He swallowed. "My family survived. Alayne didn't. Kili and I were with her when she passed."
"Oh, my God," whispered Maia, not being able to comprehend the sorrow she felt for a little girl who died decades ago. Nine or ten years old. Far too young. She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it. "Fili, I'm...I'm so sorry."
"Aye, me too," he murmured. "She should have been a grandmother now, had she lived. The race of Men have a shorter life span than dwarves." Fili looked up to meet her gaze. Maia understood. The realization that she will be an old lady by the time Fili would be around Thorin's age-in which in his case was middle-aged-saddened her.
Maia looked around, watching the plummet of the falls connect with the river. The water seemed blue like sapphire compare the moon's silver light. She loved how the golden flickers of the fireflies danced near the trees. She liked to think they were fairies. Summer fairies, ruled over by Oberon and Titania.
"Tell me what you are thinking," said Fili softly, looking at her.
Maia smiled. "This all reminds me of a classic play, written by a man called Shakespeare. He called it A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's one of my favorites. I feel like we're living it right now."
"What is this play about?"
"Fairies, romance, a king and queen, a trickster called Puck, a man whose head became an ass'..."
Fili choked with laughter. "A what?" he said.
"I meant a donkey's head."
"I know what you meant, but how is it that a man's head became a donkey's?"
"It's kind of the symbolism of the man's personality. His name is Bottom."
"Odd name," Fili's mustache twitched.
"He's supposed to be this actor who is so full of himself that he's confident that he'll play every single part given to his friends, who are also actors, but very bad ones." She smirked. "They're all practicing this play that they're gonna perform for a wedding between this couple Theseus and Hippolyta, but while they're practicing in the forest nearby the kingdom, a goblin called Puck was hired by Oberon, the king of the fairies, to turn the man Bottom's head into a donkey's, while Oberon put a love spell on his wife Titania to fall in love with Bottom, who still has the head of a donkey."
Fili looked confused. "But why would this fairy king do such a cruel thing to his own wife?" he exclaimed.
"They were fighting over this Indian boy," explained Maia. "Oberon wanted the kid for himself, but Titania wanted to take care of the boy and was too stubborn to let her husband have him. Things got a little out of hand between them."
"So who got this Indian boy? And what is Indian?"
"I think Oberon got him. He got the upper hand, while Titania was making out with Bottom." Maia blinked. "Wow, that sounds weird coming out of my mouth!"
"Making out?"
"Kissing. Romancing. You know what I mean. Titania's still under the love spell."
"Wouldn't Oberon know that his wife was cheating on him?" Fili frowned. "Wouldn't he realize that her action and his own were the cause of the highest dishonor? I don't understand."
"Oberon and Titania are the king and queen fairies. They're like...gods, I think. They're supposed to be the trickiest couple ever, but that same time are fiercely in love. Titania is literally supposed to represent Mother Nature, and Oberon is a powerful king, but the two of them clashing with each other when they're fighting can get a little intense. In the end, when Oberon finally got what he wanted, he got tired of watching Titania throwing herself on Bottom, so he made Puck turn Bottom back into a human and Oberon removed the love spell from his wife, causing her to wake up and love him again. They pretty much made up after that."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
"What a strange couple!"
"Hey, it's a comedy, not a tragedy! And there's more to the story and a lot more characters, but I'd have to start from the beginning."
Fili shrugged and laid back, folding his arms behind his head while watching her. "What better time and place to tell a story about a midsummer night?"
"I'll keep it short," promised Maia, admiring Fili's relaxed position.
He shook his head. "Take all the time you need."
Maia then started telling him about A Midsummer Night's Dream. While she did, whatever worries and fears she previously had melted away to the fantasy of her storytelling. Fili's laughter lightened her heart as she told him about the love triangle-or love square-between Hermia, Lysander, Demetri, and Helena, whose mishap involved the mischief of a trickster named Puck.
The moon continued to shine through the night, breaking through a sky full of dark clouds that reflected the sapphire luminescence of Midsummer's Eve. On the highest summit of the Weather Hills, in the desolate region of Eriador, stood the ruins of Weathertop.
The great watchtower of Amun Sul.
The howls of the wargs echoed through the area, their numbers spread from the foot of the hill to the edge of the crumpled heap that had once been the fortress of Arnor.
It was know that he would be here. A good eve for hunting.
Fimbul cringed when slowly sidestepping the audience from the block of cragged stones: an audience of bloodthirsty wargs, growling with hungry and malice, eyes glowing like pale dots in the night, all pointed directly on the being that reeked with fear. The orcs stood from higher ranges, distrustful of their own breed and yet eager for a better view while expecting a show.
The largest of the wargs, the alpha of the pack, sat on the stone alter up front. Fur white like snow with gums as red as blood when its lips curled back over bared fangs, growled viciously down at the half-goblin from the deepness of its body. Behind the beast stood the pale shape of a giant orc, facing the view of the vast lone lands.
Standing on the far left, leaning against the pillar casually nearby the white warg, stood another tall pale orc with a mashed face and iron nailed into his flesh. Twirling his massive sword in one hand, his one good eye watched the scene hungrily with a permanent snarl etched on his face. Bolg, the spawn of Azog. Perched on the stone nearby on the opposite side, bathed as a dark shadow in the light of the crescent moon, the figure sat quietly, sharpening the long black blade of one of his twin swords. Cloaked and armed heavily with leather and steel, beneath the cowl glinted the white of bone.
He did not even look up, though even seated, the cloaked man looked devious from his appearance alone. Unafraid amongst the orcs, and that alone made every soul within his eyesight tread with caution.
Fimbul sneered at the assassin and gulped, shifting his jaw back and forth, before addressing the pale orc in a trembling voice, "The dwarves, Master...we lost them." He flinched away as the white warg continued to growl at him and Riti, but jumped away from the extended fangs of wargs at their backs. Fimbul continued slowly, "Ambushed by Elvish filth, we were-"
"I don't want excuses," came a low, menacing response. The large, muscular form turned around slowly, his pale scarred flesh radiating the shine of the moonlight and the color of his warg. From the stump of his right, his long metal claw was a dull but severe contrast to his flesh arm. Azog the Defiler walked down the steps, the fire of the lit torch transcending a devilish glow on his wolfish features. "Your orders were simple, Fimbul. The task straightforward. Bring me the head of Thorin Oakenshield, the one who took my arm." His flesh hand swept gently over the head of the white warg, who calmed from its master's touch. Azog glared down at the trembling Fimbul. "I want the head of the Dwarf King."
"We were outnumbered," pleaded Fimbul. "There was nothing we could do. I barely survived with my life."
From the shadow of his hood, the cloaked Ranger's lips twitched coldly at the half-goblin's weakness, but said nothing, nor did he look up as he continued sharpening the edge of his blade. Fimbul was a bully, but he had always been weak. The only reason he was selected as a captain was because of his direct descent of the Goblin King, Golfimbul.
"Far better you had...paid with it," said Azog, stroking the half-goblin's head with a gentleness that matched the softness of his tone, but not the coldness in his eyes. Fimbul stared up with wide eyes, holding a mixture of fear and adoration.
Then came a sickening crunch. Azog's mouth opened in a feral snarl as his long spike impaled the collarbone of the half-goblin's spasming body and held him up for all to see.
There were few things that an orc desired in this world, but nothing excited the Defiler more than turning his victims into trophies. It was the way of the orc. All must see, and then all will show fear and respect. The Ranger's head finally lifted upward to watch, the light seeping through his cowl to reveal a skull mask hiding half his face from the cheeks to the forehead, openly showing some beard growth along his jawline. Behind the hollow sockets, icy gray eyes gleamed while framed with black orc blood smudged around his glare.
He watched without expression as the Pale Orc, with a loud yell, threw the body of Fimbul into the pack of wargs like tossing a bone. They leapt upon the prize and tore the unfortunate orc apart from the limbs to the organs. The other orc, Riti, watched nervously in a low cringe as he watched his commander get eaten. Bolg was grinning, clearly enjoying the feast. The Ranger, pausing in his work, merely glanced toward the grisly display, before his eyes flickered to watch the Defiler, who turned back around and walked up the steps with seething rage and indifference. His claw soaked with black blood, dripping the stone steps.
"It matters not," spoke Azog grimly. "The dwarf-scum will show themselves soon enough."
He knew Azog was saying this to convince himself, but it was no lie that they were close. For many decades the Pale Orc had been sending attacks toward the dwarf colonies, invading their villages and attacking their brethren. He remembered those times, when Azog had sent him on certain missions to bring the highest of nobles to the level of the dirt, soaked in the blood he drew from his blade and eaten by the maggots that soiled their bodies. His kills were clean and silent, but no less violent and not left unmarked. He preferred his assassinations to be theatrical, even in the dark.
He had also been keeping track of Oakenshield for his master ever since Bree. It was him who learned of the dwarves' quest toward the mountain, intended to be led by the Dwarf King himself. Finally, away from the somewhat protected borders of Ered Luin and deep into the Wilderlands where no protection was guaranteed.
Until, apparently, they reached the elves. And not just any elves, but the borders of Rivendell, which was without question one of the most heavily guarded sanctuaries in Middle-earth. No orc, not even Azog, not even the Dark Lord himself, had any success in overrunning the home of Elrond Half-Elven. Not even the Ranger himself, who had snuck in more heavily fortified sanctums and then escaped with rarely any difficulty than he could count.
His falcon then swooped down while the wargs were still feasting on the arms and legs of Fimbul's body and orcs were hopping on the wargs, grappling their reins. Something dropped from his friend's talons and the man caught it. The object was soft and plushy beneath his gloved hands, though slightly hard in the middle. When he turned the object over, the falcon landing on his shoulder, his breath caught.
A child's toy. A teddy bear.
The falcon whispered in his ear. The Ranger kept staring at the bear.
"Send out word! There is a price on their heads," announced Azog, as all the orcs mounted. "Bolg will accompany me on the hunt."
Bolg smiled and sheathed his large sword while stepping forward. "It will be my pleasure," he growled.
"It will be your mistake." The Ranger stood up and approached the orc, sheathing his sword behind his back while crossing the other. Bolg's grin faded into an uglier scowl at the sight of the man. "Word spreads far and wide. The hunt for Oakenshield is no longer discreet from the dwarves' awareness. They will expect us. The Gray Wizard sides with them. Should things go wrong, it would not be seemly if the two pale orcs were to travel together, especially within the eye range of the elves, even more so from the Rangers of the North. Send me ahead for word of their whereabouts."
Bolg snarled. "You would like that, wouldn't you, you slippery cur? Trying to break the leash, are you?" His deformed face was so close to the Ranger's that his foul breath steamed.
The man didn't so much as flinch, but merely glared back with icy eyes from beneath the mask. Then he smiled wickedly. "Waiting for the opportunity, Bolg?" he breathed with a jeer. "Personally I would not lose sleep over your rotting corpse, but if you and Father wish to survive, you'd best heed my advice."
Bolg trembled with rage. "Our father says-" he shouted. He was cut off by a strong backhand in the face, yelping in surprise and bend over as the Defiler loomed above him.
"Do not speak for me!" roared Azog, while Bolg, wiping his mouth, peered up with narrowed eyes. "You will return to Dol Guldor, send word to the master." He then turned to the Ranger, looming above him by a whole foot. "Do as you will, my Deathstroke," he said more softly. "Lead the patrol of the hunt for the dwarf scum, but if you should engage without my consent..." Azog grabbed the back of the Ranger's neck, who grunted in surprise but didn't react as the arm spike was held under his chin threateningly, "...it will be more than your pretty human face that I will tear from your bones, and not even the face of death with hide your true image." He leaned closer to his face, breathing on him dangerously, "Do I make myself clear?"
Deathstroke's eyes flickered up to meet Azog's, hard and cold. "Crystal," he answered smoothly in the common tongue, before pushing the blade away with two fingers.
Azog slowly released him and the Ranger brushed past him without another word. The wargs growled and flinched back as the dark Ranger silently walked past them, unafraid and intimidating in their eyes. They all knew what he was capable of. His dark cloak trailed behind him, until he reached his own warg. One with a darker color and a calmer personality.
"You are actually falling for this?" snarled Bolg, stepping toward Azog, who was watching the human with a strange expression. "He is lying! You should have let me have him. Flay the skin from his back and put him back in his place."
"Even if he is," said Azog, softly, "he is not going anywhere."
Out of their sight, before mounting his warg, Deathstroke studied the teddy bear in his hands.
Lori, it whispered. Lori...
Lori.
Find her. Find them.
He gripped it momentarily, before tucking the bear into his belt, next to his hidden sheathed row of knives and gadgets. With one swinging leap, he was instantly on the warg, who perked with full attention to the familiar weight of his master.
He then shouted to the pack in Black Speech, before he and his warg leapt down the fortress, followed by the orc pack at their tail.
In his lead, they charged over the Weather Hills.
"You're fearless," said Fili, half-nervous and half-impressed, watching with caution as Maia stepped across the spare rocks in the running water, holding up her dress as she did. Her feet were bare, toes curling with excitement, and her carmel hair seemed to shine in the night. Her blue dress seemed to ripple like the waters surrounding her. "Are you sure you couldn't just recite it over here, on the shore, where it is safe?"
"I can swim, Fili," assured Maia. "And reciting a famous monologue out here seems more daring. It'll make the act more realistic." She hopped on the last stone out, making Fili take a step forward as she wobbled. She stood over the ravine, about seven feet away, the three stepping stones separated by two currents didn't look very strong, but Fili's protective instincts kicked in at the thought of Maia's dress dragging her down.
Guess she was right about the dress, after all, he thought with reluctant surrender. But Mahal, she looks lovely.
Right after Maia had finished telling the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which he thoroughly enjoyed (although most of it sounded mostly elvish, which disappointed him), an hour and a half had already passed into the night and it was getting late, but Fili didn't want it to end just yet. They were having too much fun. When he had asked her about this Shakespeare, a human who had written the play around 600 years ago in her world, she told him that the man had a way with words that intrigue people and throw them off at the same time.
She had even mentioned being a part of the play once. "My high school did for our fall play in my freshmen year," she told him, before briefly explaining that the word 'freshmen' meant first year student. "I played the fairy named Cobweb, who's one of Titania servants. I wasn't really supposed to have a big part, but since our cast was small, my drama teacher extended the lines for the fairies."
Fili, who had heard of plays but had never actually seen one, was intrigued. He knew Kili would have hated missing this conversation. "Do you still remember your lines?" he asked her.
Rolling to her feet, Maia stretched her arms over her head and started walking over to nearby rocks boring the river. "I definitely remember this one line. I rapped it with my friends so many times that I can do it my sleep. I one time kept repeating it in Kyle's face so many times, he exploded and wrestled me to the ground."
"What did he do for you to make him so miserable?" teased Fili.
Maia shrugged. "He put gum in my hair because he thought it would be funny. It's a sticky candy you chew, but don't swallow. He was ten, but I still had to cut my hair afterwards. Anyway, he thought Shakespeare was lame, so I took advantage and used it against him for revenge. It was stuck in his head for days," she added, looking sly.
At that exact moment he asked for a demonstration, Maia had already wanted to explore the river by hopping on a few stones set before them. So very like Kili, he thought, and her brother. Guess the pre-cautious Maia Dainson had a reckless streak in her, after all.
"Okay, ready?" called Maia. She lifted her heel until she stood on one foot, her arms held out for balance.
Fili nodded, chuckling nervously, his body tensed and ready to dive after her in case she fell.
Maia winked at him and recited in her most dramatic voice:
"Over hill, over dale,
thorough bush, thorough briar,
over park, over pale,
thorough flood, thorough fire.
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere.
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
to her orbs upon the green.
The cowslips tall her pensioners be,
In their gold goats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favors,
In those freckles live their savors.
I must go seek some dewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslips' ear.
Farewell, though lob of spirits. I'll be gone.
Our queen and all her elves come here anon."
She had moved her arms and hands as she had recited her monologue, causing Fili to laugh at her silliness. He wondered if this is how they would be sober, than it would be mayhem if they were drunk. But he was glad that he wasn't drunk. Though dwarves were good at maintaining their drink, Fili wanted to remember this.
When Maia finished, placing the back on her hand near her forehead while keeping her leg risen with a dancer's grace, Fili clapped with a beaming smile. "You are a true performer in the making, Lady Maia!"
Maia lowered her leg, only to extend it in front of her, and began to bow with a sweep of her arm. "Thank you, Master FiliiiiAGH!" She lost her balance and fell into the water with a heavy splash.
"MAIA!" Fili immediately jumped into the water, not bothering to don his jacket. The icy coldness of the splash shocked him, the currents splashing his face as he dove through and stroked his arms, gasping for air.
Maia's head broke from the surface with a heavy gasp, completely drenched, and Fili reached her by grabbing hold of her waist, pulling her away from the heavier currents. Her hair strands plastered to her pale, shocked face. "Fuck! It's freezing!" she gasped in a shrilled voice.
"Aye, you're telling me!" Fili replied breathlessly. Realizing they were standing on the ground full of pebbles, a laugh of relief escaped him. "Well, we're certainly in danger of drowning now!"
"Yeah, by three feet of water," commented Maia. They laughed. Fili splashed her, causing her to cry out. "Fili!"
Fili smiled at her slyly and was instantly overcome by a wave of water caused by the girl, who was giggling breathlessly and started chasing him around the currents. She caught him by pouncing on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and attempted to use her body weight to pull him down. Her slim weight compared to his dwarfish strength was light, but with the river pulling her soaked long dress down, Fili stumbled forward into the water, causing Maia to roll off with laughter.
He turned to face her with an amused expression. "Oh, so that's how you want to do it?" he challenged her with a smile, and charged forward. Maia let out a surprised scream when Fili caught her by the waist and tossed her over his shoulder with surprising ease.
"No, Fili!" she squealed, kicking her feet as he spun her round and round above the water. "Oh, God! Fili, don't you dare! GAH!" They both fell into the water with a splash, Fili keeping a firm hold on her waist while he pillowed her landing above him, but deep enough so that the water rushed over them both. Bubbles and blue light surrounded them underwater, followed by the roaring sounds of the falls pounding the ravine from the surface.
His blond hair floated with her light brown.
Then he brought them both out of the water, both gasping for air as Fili lifted Maia out in his arms like a child. Spitting water and feeling his clothes weighing down, he shook drops off his braided mustache, his blond hair soaked. When he smiled cheekily at her, Maia laughed at the sight the comical. Her long hair was completely drenched like her dress, brushed away from her face, her gray-blue eyes shining with happiness and her smile absolutely wide with laughter. Her arms were wrapped around him.
"Oh, God..." gasped Maia, shaking with laughter as her head bent over to bump Fili's cheek, her arms tightening around him, causing his heart to pound even faster. "That was...that was..."
"I know," agreed Fili, also trying to catch his breath from laughter as he felt Maia's head touch his face. "I should probably save your life more often, right?"
When their eyes met, sapphire blue meeting silver blue, their laughter slowly dwindled. Fili was entranced by the starlight in Maia's eyes, no longer full of laughter...but of wonder and mystery, a hint of fear and a window of tenderness, gazing back into his own. Their faces were so close that their noses brushed. He could smell her breath as it paced against his lips, mingling with his own, like the pounding of her heart that he could feel from her chest.
His blood burned with lust at the sight of her. He no longer felt the chill of the water. She looked so beautiful, and to be this close to him...all soaked and alive in his arms, so real and yet so like a dream...her eyes seemed to gaze into his very soul.
Maia.
Their lips slowly met and the spark exploded.
He knew not whoever was the one leaned in to kiss first, but Maia was kissing him back, increasing the fire as her lips moved with his, slow and wet. He felt a breathless moan in his chest, tasting her sweetness, not quite believing it. Her hand moved to cup his face, running gently along his jawline, tracing his short beard with her fingers like small trails of flame. His arms tightened around her automatically, feeling Maia gasp as their tongues locked and Fili bit her lip gently, his hand wrapping around the back of her neck to keep her in place.
Oblivious to the cold water rushing around them.
When Maia kissed Fili, her lips moving fiercely with his and her heart pounding with exhilaration, her blood burned with desire that it felt so right. His mouth fit right with hers, his body against hers, feeling his heart pounding with her own...her hand moved to feel the bristly hairs of his beard, feeling him shudder from her touch, while his own hand tightened around her neck to hold her in place in such a way that comforted her. When his breath gasped with her own, she shivered and locked on his tongue, closing her eyes with bliss as her arms tightened around his neck.
She did not remember who leaned in to kiss who...maybe it had been her...but she had let herself go and was soon lost in Fili's kiss. His touch, his taste...She sighed.
She wished she and him could stay like this forever.
Stay forever.
The thought suddenly occurring to her, Maia was the one who slowly pulled away, meeting Fili's dazed, twinkling eyes. She stared at him, breathless. He watched her with confusion, waiting for to say something. Even all soaked, he looked so handsome, so full of compassion. So full of love. She could see it.
Then Maia looked away, frowning. Her hand came up to touch the side of her face, as if in confusion. Her chest ached fiercely.
"Maia?" whispered Fili. His eyes then grew worried.
I can't. Maia swallowed, unable to look at him. It hurt not to.
Fili watched her for a moment, and then understood. His arms relaxed slowly, but didn't let her go. He looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Maia didn't say anything, biting her lip at she watched the river flow without seeing, but her hands kept hold of his shoulders. Her fingers entwined with his wet mane of hair. She felt like crying, but didn't. Whatever magic this night had provided faded away. Like a dream.
Hardening herself, she finally met his eyes, which were full of sadness and tenderness. Pain. It broke her heart to see him like this, but she was so confused. So torn.
Because I'm in love him. That was the truth. And it frightened her to the core, because now she felt lost.
What am I doing?
"We should get back," she whispered softly, barely able to hold his gaze.
Fili then nodded sadly and slowly released her, letting her stand on her feet, the river's currents rushing around her legs and dress. He looked just as lost she was. He must have understood. All too well. Maia almost wished that he didn't. She wished that she could hug him, tell him right there about how she felt, but she restrained herself. She didn't want to cause him any more heartache. But still….
"Walk me back?" asked Maia, in a small voice. She thought about climbing up the cliff and walking alone, not looking back, but she kept hearing her grandmother's voice about being mature and seeing things through to the end.
Fili looked up at her. Then, with a small smile that didn't match his eyes, he held out his hand. "Of course," he said softly. Maia took it gratefully, feeling the warmth of his hand as they walked out of the river, all soaked and heavy.
Fili squeezed Maia's hand. She didn't let go, not even when they started climbing back up the cliff, which proved trickier with their wet cloths and the chilly night air. The whole time, Fili held on to her.
It was not long before they reached the top and reentered Rivendell, all lit with torches and the night sky filled with stars. Water dripping the halls from their clothes, going some way up the steps, they finally made it to the bedroom. They stood at the door in silence, still holding hands.
With some conflict upon his face, Fili closed his eyes for a moment as though in pain, and then slowly opened them, breathing slowly. Maia knew she had to say something now.
"Fili-"
"I love you, Maia."
Maia's breath caught, her heart twisting painfully as the truth she probably knew for a long time came to surface. Glancing over, she found Fili looking over at her, his eyes full of pain and sincerity. As she had always thought, they seemed to gaze right into her soul.
"I needed to say it," said Fili quietly, "just once, before it is too late. I love you so much that it hurts. I have from the first moment I met you. You have made feel more alive than I have ever felt in my life, more sure of myself."
Maia's lip trembled. What can she say? Say something. "Fili...I..." I love you, too, but I can't do this. She hesitated. "I need to think." What the hell?!
Jaw clenched, Fili nodded. "Y-You're right, I'm sorry," he said, not meeting her eye. "I shouldn't have...I'll go." He started to leave.
"Fili!" He turned back around, seeing Maia's pained expression. Her hands opened and closed at her sides helplessly. "I really had fun tonight," she said, her eyes shining with sadness. "I didn't mean to ruin it, and I'm sorry...but Kyle and Lori...I have to think about them." Her voice cracked, pleading for him to understand. "Because..." She hugged her arms to her chest, shivering as though cold. She barely glanced up at Fili behind her drooping wet hair when she said very, very softly, "I think I love you, too."
She only managed to catch Fili's widening eyes, when Maia whipped around, quickly opening the door into her bedroom, and shut it behind her. Her heart racing and tears flooding her eyes, she leaned heavily against the door, shaking. She could feel Fili standing on the other side, unmoving. Glancing to the side to see Lori still sleeping in bed, her conflicting thoughts of going home and her love for the young golden-haired dwarf overwhelmed her.
She thought about their kiss, and how right it felt. And how painful it was to think about it.
What have I done?
Shutting her eyes, letting tears stream out, a small sob escaped her as Maia slid heavily down the door until she was on the floor. She pulled her knee up to her chest and hugged them, shivering as she stared ahead at the moonlight shining through the open balcony.
It felt like an hour had passed before she finally got up, struggled out of her damp dress and changed into her dry, warm yoga pants and T-shirt. Maia then buried herself under the covers, scooting closer to the tiny, sleeping form of her sister and wrapped an arm around her.
For a while, she stared at the dome-shaped ceiling, letting her tears dry as she thought about tonight over and over. Thought about Fili's twinkling eyes, the course feel of his hair, the way his braided mustache tickled her upper lip when they kissed…..
It was a while before she drifted to sleep.
On the other side of the room, after Maia shut the door, Fili leaned against the door as well and sat down, feeling the anguish of his One on the other side.
She loves me. The discovery was much to process, almost unreal. It overjoyed him, and yet pained him, but less so than it had before to keep it from her.
He knew how she felt, but he understood all too well her complications that were between them. He had meant to keep his feelings to himself forever, but instead he took Kili's advice and decided to let it free. Even though he knew Thorin wouldn't approve.
But did he make the right decision?
He thought about their kiss, and how right it felt. It was every bit as amazing as he imagined. Even better. But then he thought about how realization had hit Maia when she looked at him, of how the joy in her eyes sudden changed to pain and confusion.
Fili understood that look all too well, because he recognized those feelings in his own. He had the whole time he had known her. That voice in his head that sounded very much like Thorin.
You are heir to the throne. You have responsibilities.
She is human, not a dwarf.
She has no royal blood.
Her life is of little worth compared to yours. Now that had been said by Thorin, only this morning after the trolls.
But he's wrong. She is worth every step of the way, thought Fili. Even if he could never have her, because of either their different races or their different points of destination, he knew how he felt. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the door. He might have heard her movement on the other side.
"Good night, Maia," he whispered.
Heart aching, Fili sat at the door a while longer, until he reluctantly stood back up and started heading back to the dwarves' quarters.
Everyone will be wondering where he had been. And why he was all wet.
Fili will let them figure it out. He was too worn and tired to care.
Dreams were an illusion. It was time to deal with reality and see where it led.
And there it is!:) Fili and Maia finally confess their love, but with a kiss in the river, under the moonlight. Still, it doesn't mean that they don't recognize the complication now. Oh, what to do! Don't blame Maia too much for pulling back. She is thinking about Kyle and Lori, and her family back at home, just like Fili is thinking about his place as future king and Thorin's disapproval. She's torn between wanting to go home and wanting to continue her relationship with Fili.
Nothing is ever that simple, even in a place as dreamy as Rivendell. Life takes a hold of you and you have to read carefully, no matter what you feel.
Who do you think the assassin in the skull mask is? Cold and ruthless, isn't he? Guess why he's really called Deathstroke?;)
I loved putting one of my favorite plays A Midsummer Night's Dream in here. It seemed very right, since the night is Midsummer's Eve, and perfect for Maia x Fili time.
The monologue I actually did do, for the role of Cobweb.
Thanks for reading! I love your reviews!