~Fourteen~
~Memories of the Mountain, Part II~
"I mean, is it really that difficult for him? And he's certainly not making it any easier - he's only making it all the more difficult for me!"
Dahlia hadn't spoken to Thorin since meeting his nephews after the slingshot incident, over a week ago - she still had a slightly-sore bump on the back of her head, but wasn't about to tell Fili that. This whole situation of being back in Erebor was turning out to be much more difficult than she ever would have imagined.
"Give it time, Lass," Balin kept urging her. He was clearly much more patient than she was.
"Aye," agreed his brother Dwalin. "Thorin always puts a lot on his plate."
"Speaking of, would anyone like anything else to eat?" piped-up Bombur, apron over his robes, a large platter stuffed full of carefully-prepared food held proudly in his arms. "There's certainly more where that came from - lots more!"
Dahlia sat in the royal tavern, along with Balin and Dwalin, Bomur, Bofur, and Bifur, Dori and Nori, Gloin and Oin. Fili and Kili were also there, sneaking bits of food from behind Bombur's back, and more than once trying to steal a sip of Dwalin's drink.
"Uncle is very nice," chimed-in Fili. "He looks a little scary, but he's very nice. He likes to talk about you."
"Really?"
"Uh huh. Right Kili?"
"Ncle!" squealed Kili.
"He can just be a little grumpy sometimes. That's what Mama always says," continued Fili.
"Well that's certainly true now, isn't it?" Getting an idea, Dahlia spun around so that her back was to them, twisting her hair over her face and braiding it beneath her nose. When she turned back around to face the others, they saw that she had fashioned her hair into a kind of beard over her mouth and down her chin. This caused laughter to erupt throughout the tavern - especially loud snorts of laughter from the young princes.
She dipped her hand in the ashes of the oven, smearing them across her face, darkening her pretend beard to resemble that of Thorin.
She stood with her shoulders back and her chest puffed out, creasing her eyebrows and narrowing her eyes into a firm scowl, arms crossed over her puffed-out chest. Then she cleared her throat and spoke in an exaggerated low voice: "I am Prince Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, future King of Erebor, future King Under the Mountain! I may look like I am very busy, but really I just stand here brooding all day and all night!"
Soon the group was roaring with laughter - Fili and Kili were sprawled out on the floor holding their bellies and with tears in their eyes they were laughing so hard. Even Balin couldn't help but chuckle at her act. Bombur drank some ale while still laughing, spluttering the drink everywhere, making everyone laugh more. Dahlia was laughing too herself, breaking her composure.
"This could do with a little music, don't ye think?" Bofur got up onto the table, flute in hand, and began to play a merry tune, the others cheering and clapping along. Dahlia gladly added a little jig to her act. She was pretty sure Fili and Kili were crying with laughter by now.
It was all fun and games until Thorin himself appeared in the doorway, clearly summoned by their howls of laughter. Dahlia, who had her back to him and was still putting on her exaggerated act, spun around. The laughing immediately ceased, everyone staring at Thorin in horror.
"What in Durin's name is going on here?" he demanded, in much like the brooding manner Dahlia had been joking about and mocking mere moments before.
All the dwarves were looking guiltily around at each other, seeing who wanted to answer first.
Balin was the brave soul. "Uh, Thorin-"
"It was my fault," Dhalia stepped in, trying to unravel her hair-beard, though struggling to do so. It seemed she had knotted her braids quite tightly. "We were just having some fun and it got out of hand. That was my fault."
Something flickered in Thorin's eyes - something mischievous perhaps. "Are you supposed to be me?"
"Uh, well-" There was no use hiding it. "How could you tell?" She gave an uncomfortable chuckle.
The long moment of tense silence that followed was broken by more laughter, beginning as a chuckle, this time from the prince himself.
Soon Thorin's chuckles gathered into full, hearty laughter. No one else laughed, they were all too shocked.
"Do you really think I'm so grumpy and brooding all the time?" he asked in between laughs.
"Well..."
"It's true, I know I am." He was smiling, genuinely smiling.
He was smiling.
A large smile now spread across Dahlia's face and she began to laugh again as well, and soon everyone was laughing together.
"Trust me, it has nothing to do with you," Thorin assured her, continuing to smile. "I am glad that you are back in Erebor, Dahlia."
And for the first time since her arrival, she was beginning to feel glad too, and feel hopeful that this would all work out for the better. "Now there's that smile I know and love."
Perhaps they could make this work.
It's been a little while, but I watched BotFA again, so I'm feeling Middle-earth inspired! ;)
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :) (sorry for the long wait with this chapter!)
