AN: I don't own any of these characters. I am merely borrowing them from Tolkien.
Wishing you all a happy Yuletide.
Advent Day 22.
A frozen mirror.
She had a day free from all duties, from any expectations of her. Dis snuggled further into her newly gifted cloak as she trod the frost silvered paths. Alone for the first time in many a month she relished the quiet of the frozen air around her. The snow had been falling lazily, on-and-off for several days and the cold snap had lasted long enough that reports had reached even to the heart of the dwarven kingdom that the great lake had frozen solid and so on her first free day she had escaped the confines of the walls to visit the lake.
Knowing she was unrecognisable dressed as she was, she allowed herself to dawdle and take in the sights of a winter touched land. After all the colours, and styles she was affecting was completely different to her norm. Dove-grey lambs-skin breeches, man-styled, knee-length boots of grey fur-lined grey leather. An undershirt of the finest dove-grey, lambswool, high around her neck and with sleeves tucked into her rabbit skin lined, grey, leather gloves. A shorter sleeved tunic of the deepest dusky-rose velvet, figure hugging, just barely peeking out from a grey-fur lined, damask gillet of a dusky purple. The few weapons she had chosen to carry held in place by grey leather, the straps sitting snuggly over a grey, suede, knee length jacket, lined with purple-pink silk. A cashmere scarf of the softest grey hung loosely from her neck, and her cloak; Was made of a dove-grey wool, embroidered with a dusky rose pink all around its hem and cosy hood. The hood itself was lined with grey ermine.
Soon the sounds of happy laughter reached her and she fingered the leather-bound blades she carried with her. Cresting the final hill, she allowed herself to grin widely at the sight of the children of Dale, Laketown and Erebor attempting to skate on the frozen lake, she even spotted an elf or two mingling in the crowd. Quickening her stride, she made short work of the snowy lands and called a greeting to Balin, who was sketching diligently at the lake side. Loosening her cloak, she forced her friend to sit on the warm material, before flopping gracelessly next to him.
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Balin's attention had been on the groups of brightly dressed children of men and dwarrow who were attempting to skate. Soon though he was distracted by a lithe figure dressed in greys, purples and pinks. His journal pages were soon filled with sketches of the darkhaired Durin princess who had won the heart of his youngest brother, as well as the hearts of every child she had ever met. Pages were covered in images of her careful teaching of the children, showing them how to move across the slippery surface.
Balin allowed himself a wide smile as the two daughters of Lord Bard joined Dis and the trio began a graceful dance across the frozen water. Bard's eldest, blonde haired and blue eyed, dressed in silver-greys and the palest of purples. The youngest daughter, dark ringlets tied with ribbon and brown eyes sparkling dressed on while fur and red velvet. He allowed himself one final sketch as the trio of females were joined by Bard, Thorin and Vili. All males dressed in deep shades of blue and green.
As the six began a complicated weaving on the ice, Blain put down his sketch book, and joined the crowds in watching the beauty of the dance.
Notes:
Skaters did not actually skate on the ice, but rather glided on top of it. Skating as we know it today emerged when a steel blade with sharpened edges was used. Skates now cut into the ice instead of gliding on top of it. Adding edges to ice skates was invented by the Dutch in the 13th or 14th century.
AN: What do you think then? I love to hear your thoughts.