A/N There is a character being introduced in this chapter that speaks a different language. For plot reasons, there are times when the reader is not supposed to know what is being said. I have used Icelandic to indicate when they are speaking in the language and it will be italicized and bold. I chose Icelandic purely because I felt like it was a language most people would not know. (And it looks pretty awesome and I am sure I could never learn it but hats of to those who can) For those who do speak it, I copied and pasted in google translate so if it does not make sense don't blame me. As I said, I do not speak Icelandic. If they are speaking it, and it is necessary that the reader knows what is being said, I will just wright it in English but keep it italicized and bold.
Dialog Key for other languages in this chapter
Régan (Languageof Régínn) Bold/Italicized
Khuzdul (Language of Khazâd) Bold
Chapter 2: The First Encounter: Part II
At Gandalf's words, Asha froze as a slight look of panic washed over her. Her eyes immediately darted to Thorin who had spun around from retreating to the camp when he heard Gandalf's remark. She swallowed the moment she saw his eyes darken with fury.
"I thought you said there wasn't anyone else in you group," he growled lowly through his clenched teeth. "You lied!"
Asha flinched when his voice rose in volume and bellowed the last two words. But it was just that, a flinch. Before most could sense the slight uneasiness, she straightened her back and lifted her chin.
"Technically, you asked me if there was someone else I was expecting," she replied slowly as she spoke with emphasized words. "And I was not expecting Thyra until I gave a signal."
Dwalin let out a low grumble. "Deception is not innocence. Then again I would expect nothing less from a Brimir."
Asha snapped her head towards him. "Do not speak ill of that name."
Dwalin took a step forward.
"Or what?" he challenged.
"That is enough," barked Thorin, cutting off any retort that Asha had. He set his glare to Asha. "Call your companion, or signal, or whatever it is you do. And if there is anyone else in this vicinity that you have lurking around, call them as well because if hear or see anyone else I will not hesitate to cut them down."
Asha's eyes narrowed. "Since when did you become so bloodthirsty?"
Thorin lifted a finger in warning. "Do not test me Asha, call them now or so help me."
"Thyra is the only one," she cut in.
Thorin took several steps forward until his nose was nearly touching her own as he leaned forward.
"Then. Call. Her." He said slowly.
Asha stared at him, he watched her eyes dart back and forth and he cursed internally as he found himself being lost in the hazel color of her eyes. It bothered him that his mind unconsciously noted they had more green than brown in the mixture at the moment. His attention was drawn away from her optic depths to her lips as she licked them and gave out a short, modulating whistle.
The sound of her tune echoed out into the surrounding forest and was quickly covered over by the rustling of leaves. Not two yards away from where his nephews were standing, a small feminine figure stood to reveal herself.
Fíli startled the moment he heard the rustling behind him. He quickly spun around in time to see a hooded figure stand. Immediately, he berated himself for being completely oblivious to the presence of someone within such close proximity.
How long had she been there? Did she sneak up after he and Kíli rejoined the group? Or did they completely run right past her as they emerged from the brush? Whichever it was, Fíli was annoyed with himself for being so unaware of his surroundings. This person could have attacked them at any moment.
As she walked forward and came into the dim light cast down by the silver moon and flickering fire light, he noticed her slowly lower a loaded bow before cautiously replacing the unused arrow into a quiver hanging awkwardly at her side. A large broadsword was secured to her back that gave a faint thud with each step as its sheath gently tapped against a round wooden shield that clung to her back. With her free hand, she slowly pulled the hood of the green cloak down to let a mess of light hair fall free. She took one last cautious step from the barrier of brush to fully reveal herself.
At first he had thought her to be another hobbit like their own burglar and he felt a small comfort in this thought for not having spotted her earlier. The creatures had a strange knack for being awfully light footed for a species with such large feet. Of the few he had seen in the shire, and the example Bilbo had given them thus far, he knew them to be hardly worthy of a considered threat.
But the more he took in her figure and build, he realized that she was not a hobbit, but an extremely short dwarf. While the fairer gender of their race were usually shorter than their counterparts, they were never that short. Fíli automatically began wondering if she was even as tall as Bilbo.
Despite her lack in stature, she carried herself with a distinct air that Fíli had trouble identifying. Every movement was calculated and trained to move in a certain way that was not natural. She advanced with a treacherous grace that was deceptively innocent. Each shift of movement was slow and smooth. Like a snake, just before it struck out with blurred speed and a venomous bite. Such a small animal was always seemingly harmless until it brought out its fangs.
Yes, a snake, that is what she reminded him of.
And like a snake, her eyes matched this identity perfectly. They were inky. Like pure obsidian, they contrasted darkly with the fairness of her hair. And as if this was not enough contrast, her eyes were also outlined with a thick circle of kohl, making the whites of her eyes seem to shine brightly in the darkness of night. It was both beautiful and menacing.
Immediately, Fíli did not trust her. There was something off. Something foreign about her.
Her eyes scanned around the group like a predator stalking a herd of prey would decide which poor creature will be its kill. She stopped when she caught sight of Asha.
"Af hverju hringdi þú ekki fyrr? Ég var tilbúinn, við gætum verið farin núna," she said in an unfamiliar tongue.
Her tone sounded almost annoyed as she wildly gestured with her arms. As soon as the strange words left her lips there was a thick tension that coagulated in the air from the rest of the company. But the girl seemed unphased as she continued to speak directly to Asha.
"What kind of black speech is this," growled Dwalin with alarm as he interrupted the newcomer. "No trustworthy dwarf speaks with such an accursed tongue of the enemy! Only an orc spy would learn such a language."
Fíli watched as Thorin silenced Dwalin with a calming hand on his shoulder before looking to Asha for an answer.
"Asha, explain," Thorin instructed.
Asha walked over to the girl. The girl opened her mouth to speak again but was silenced as Asha lifted a hand.
"Talaðu ekki og ekki spurðu mig," she said in a stern tone to the girl.
The girl quickly silenced any words that had been forming in her throat and quickly bowed her head respectfully. Seeming content with whatever the girl had submitted to, Asha turned back to Thorin.
"This is Thyra," she said gesturing a hand to the fair haired girl. "And she is no orc spy, nor speaking in any accursed tongue," she added while shooting a dark look in Dwalin's direction.
Dwalin continued to look just as displeased with her answer than before she had given it. Instead he continued to glare suspiciously at the girl. A gesture in which Fíli could not give more in agreeance.
"She comes from Valhil on the eastern side of the continent, she is Régínn," Asha clarified.
Her answer caused several of the older generation within the company to let out several hushed whispers of astonishment as they looked back to Thyra. Even Dwalin looked slightly taken aback as he looked at the girl with a new expression that broached on more curiosity instead of suspicion.
Fíli watched as the girl retracted slightly as she was placed under heavier scrutiny. Her dark eyes darted around the group like a cornered wild animal. When they landed on him, the slightest widening of her eyes occurred. But before Fíli could decide if it had really happened or he had imagined it, they had narrowed into small slits.
Fíli felt himself mirror her actions as he crossed his arms over his chest. While the word Régínn may have been a good enough answer for what seemed to be everyone else, he himself had found no clarity in the name and it irked him. He chanced a glance around and was relieved to find Kíli still looking confused as well but it seemed that they were the only ones. He had even heard Ori, who was standing behind him give out an exclamation that was full of a surprised curiosity.
"But how is that possible?" Questioned Balin. "No one has seen anyone from their race in over a century and it has been nearly half that time since anyone has even heard whisper of any news of Valhil." He looked at the girl with appraisal. "You are a long way from home aren't you lass?"
Thyra looked at the white haired dwarf who had addressed her in a sympathetic tone. She stared at him for a long while with no sign of acknowledgment to his words.
"Ég þarf ekki samúð þín gamla mann!" She growled in his direction.
Asha put a hand on her shoulder causing her to move her attention.
"Ég þarf ekki samúð þierra," Thyra muttered to Asha while pointing at Balin.
Asha patted her shoulder. "Ég veit. En mundu eftir leiðbeiningunum þínum," she replied in a calming tone.
"What are you saying?" Demanded Dwalin.
Asha looked to him and a smirk glimmered at the corner of her mouth.
"I suppose after not hearing a language for over a hundred years, one would forget a few words. But then again, Erebor dwarves were never welcoming to outsiders not of their race or inner circle. If you had, then maybe you would have been more familiar with the language of the eastern dwarves. It's a pity, perhaps if you opened your trade to the Régínn, not only would you know what was being spoken, but your armies could have been trained well enough to defeat one measly dragon."
There was a shift in several within the group. Dwalin sneered at her.
"A whole lot of good it did for you when some puny goblins decided to knock on your door," he seethed back.
The amusement in Asha's face was eradicated and replaced with a haunted darkness. Her eyes glazed over for a moment as she stared blankly at nothing in particular.
Eventually, a chilled breeze seemed to wake her from her thoughts. She blinked, and her eyes became focused as she flashed her attention around before looking back at Dwalin. When she addressed him, it was as if the last few exchanges of conversation had never happened.
"I was just clarifying some things for her," Asha calmly assured him with a stiff smile that did not reach her eyes. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"Asha," came Balin's voice of inquiry. "How did she come to be in these parts? Are there others?"
Asha shook her head. "I am afraid there is not enough time for that." She looked to Gandalf. "You said you would take no more than a half hour, already we have nearly used half of that allotted time."
Gandalf moved forward. "Yes, yes. I apologize." He looked to Thorin. "Would you be so kind as to let Sigurd and Thyra wait with you? Perhaps share in some food while I speak with Asha?"
Thorin was hesitant to give an answer. He looked to Sigurd who stood cautiously in her original place by the tree. She looked so timid with wide eyes that failed to meet anyone else's as she cast her gaze about, constantly moving. There was no threat to come from her.
He looked to Thyra, who met his gaze unblinking with a firmly set jaw. It was she that he was unsure about. She was armed too heavily and there was something about her that seemed to exude a strange power. But then he took in her size and realized the impossibility of her being a true threat. If she were to try anything, she would be easily overpowered by even Ori with his tall wiry frame.
"Aye they will be ok," he said with a nod.
Satisfied that all arrangements were finished, Gandalf motioned to Asha.
"Asha," he said, waving a hand for her to follow him away from the rest of the group.
While Gandalf and Asha walked away, the rest of the group slowly began to meander back to the main camp. As always, Kíli was eager to introduce himself to the newcomers and was about to take a step towards Sigurd when he came to an abrupt stop.
She had turned to Thyra and started to make her way over to the other girl while speaking a few words in the Régínn tongue.
He watched as Thyra handed over the bow and quiver to Sigurd before backtracking to her hiding spot to procure three small travel bags and a few other weapons. Sigurd fastened the quiver to her back before struggling to accept one of the packs and a few of the weapons Thyra shoved towards her.
Thorin did not fail to notice these actions as well.
Despite his desire to keep their interaction as limited as possible between the two and his company, he knew the proper etiquette of hosting.
"Fíli and Kíli," called Thorin.
Kíli turned his attention towards his uncle. Thorin pointed at the two girls.
"Help them," he instructed.
Thorin noticed Kíli's more than eager eyes light up as he immediately moved to approach the girls. Fíli however, was not in the same mindset as his brother. With a disgruntled obedience he backtracked to the girls.
Kíli beat Fili to help Sigurd. So he left to aid Thyra who was preoccupied with balancing everything in her hands while relatching a buckle that had come loose on one of the bags.
With the intent to help, Fíli reached out to relieve her of the other bag. The moment his hand touched the worn leather fabric his arm was abruptly yanked forward as a sensation of vertigo overtook him as he was twisted around. His footing faltered and he struggled to regain his balance as a painful foot collided with the middle of his back. The force pushed him forward and he fell flat on the ground. His heavy grunt was drowned out by the shriek escaping Sigurd's mouth.
"Thyra! No!"
In one painful heave, the air fled from his lungs, stunning him for a few moments before his body moved into action. He rolled over onto his back to spring into an attack. By the time he had reoriented himself, it was already too late. His moment of hesitation and recovery to regain his breath had cost the few precious moments he had to counterattack.
A heavy boot landed on his chest as Thyra planted her foot firmly and applied weight. Dark eyes bore into his as she looked down at him. However the pressure on his chest did not last long as Sigurd came into view and forced Thyra off of him.
"What in Mahal's name is going on?"
All four of them turned in the direction of the voice as Thorin stomped towards the dissarey. Behind him, the others in the company stared wide eyed at the spectacle. The spectacle being, Kíli standing alone looking stunned while Sigurd struggled to push Thyra farther away, and Fíli laying splayed out on the ground.
Despite her taller height, Sigurd did not manage to move Thyra an inch as she remained firmly planted. Sigurd's eyes widened at Thorin's barking and quickly let go of Thyra who, only then, took a single step back.
Sigurd turned around and positioned herself between the smaller dwarrowmaid and the fair haired prince lying on the ground as a safety precaution.
"I am sorry," she said giving a quick, apologetic bow to Thorin. "It was a misunderstanding," she said more to the ground at her feet than to him as she continued to bend forward. "She was just startled, she did not mean anything by it."
From his position on the ground, Fíli glanced to Thyra who was looking the opposite of not meaning anything by it as she looked down at him with a glimmer of satisfaction set in the undertone of her face. He scowled at her which only seemed to bring a triumphant spark to her eyes. Irked, Fíli quickly moved his attention back to Thorin who was still deeply focused on Sigurd.
When Sigurd finally managed to look at him, Thorin lifted a finger and pointed it at her.
"Keep her under control," he said sternly. "Otherwise I will have her restrained until you are all on your way."
Sigurd nodded frantically as she stared wide eyed at the dominating figure. Satisfied that nothing would happen again, his eyes glanced down to Fíli on the ground before looking to Kíli.
"Kíli, assist your brother up then help these girls find a spot to wait." He said before turning around to rejoin the rest of the company, waving to them to signal that everything was settled.
When Thorin was gone, Kíli reached down to offer a hand to Fíli who accepted, but not without flashing another dark look towards Thyra who was still planted behind Sigurd. Once back on his feet, he accepted the bag he had originally tried to grab but this time offered to him by Sigurd who had taken it from Thyra's hand. It was passed along with an apologetic smile as she handed the satchel to him. The gesture was innocent enough that he could not help but feel bad for scowling at her and he tried to soften his face as best he could.
With everything distributed amongst the four of them. Fíli led them to the fire while he heard Sigurd and Thyra seeming to argue back and forth behind them while Kíli brought up the rear.
The instant they reached the vicinity, Fíli dropped the bag with a heavy thud before stomping off without a word. Knowing his brother's pride was hurt, Kíli gently handed his own bag off to Sigurd with a smile before leaving her side.
He had hoped he would be able to settle down and perhaps speak with them but he knew he needed to check on his brother. He was already positive his pride was wounded but that was not what he was worried about. Thyra's kick had been strong and he was more worried about the actual physical harm of blow than the emotional hurt.
They all sat around in small groups around the fire. Thorin gathered with Balin and Dwalin. They whispered quietly with each other in discussion while Oin struggled to listen in with his ear trumpet. Bombur and Gloin sat around the fire pit, putting the final touches to the stew while Dori sat on a log near them and made seasoning suggestions that went ignored. And Bifur stood on the outskirts of the camp watching the ponies and keeping a watchful eye.
Fíli sat in the largest of the groups with his brother, Bofur, Bilbo, Nori, and Ori. While sitting with them, Fíli failed to participate in the discussion as his attention was better engaged with something else. He sat on the ground next to Nori with knees bent and his arms propped up as he leaned forward to watch the two dwarf maidens sitting separately from the members of the company.
They were each situated on the ground. Both with their legs crossed and backs straight, they sat in silence with each other.
With her shoulders drawn back and hands folded gently in her lap, Sigurd's posture was more poised and elegant . She looked well mannered and pensive as she stared into the flames of fire, only lifting them occasionally to glance shyly around at the group. She seemed gentle, and there was a calming aura that seemed to emanate from her.
Unlike her companion, Thyra did not look as kind nor gentle. Which was the reason why Fíli was keeping such a close eye in their direction.
Her posture was more rigid than Sigurd's relaxed stance. She sat with her shoulders rolled forward as she leaned forward with her hands gripping tightly on her knees. Her eyes moved in restless movements as they darted from one group to the other, never staying long on each group before moving onto the next. It was as if she expected an attack from them at any moment.
It made him uneasy.
She made him uneasy.
His only source of comfort was the fact that even in his own shorter stature, he was still nearly a head taller than her. He had no doubt she would be easy to bring down should she try anything.
His back suddenly had a twinge of pain in the spot he had been kicked. It felt like a mocking reminder of how easily she had thrown him to the ground. He gritted his teeth and ignored the pain while reassuring himself that he had been caught off guard earlier.
Thyra's aura was not the peaceful tranquility that Sigurd released either. Instead hers seeped nothing but savage hostility. His eyes moved down to where her sword now sat in the grass. It had stayed beside her since being removed from her back when she sat down. It looked heavy and he wondered if she could even proficiently handle such a weapon.
As he watched them carefully, the conversation being held around him was nothing but muffled noise in his ears as he kept his focus solely on watching the girls. It was not until a certain topic came up that he removed his eyes from the pair and refocused his hearing when a certain word came up in a question Bilbo had posed.
"What are the Régínn dwarves?" Bilbo asked looking around their circle with curiosity in his voice.
Fíli immediately looked around to the older dwarves for an answer. He too had been curious about the Régínn. It had a familiarity to it but he could not place it. Suddenly he was regretting having not listened as intently as he should have during his history lessons growing up.
Obviously if so many in their group knew of the name, they had some sort of importance. Perhaps a family name? A significant bloodline that had died out over the years, maybe? Or it could have been a faction that seceded from one of the main kingdom's. Perhaps Dhom, considering Asha seemed more familiar. The last theory would explain why he was not as familiar with them since his lineage never had good relations with Dhom. He knew of the rivalry between the two houses though had never fully experienced the famed hostility until tonight. The main reason being the fact that the main family of Brimirs had been dead. Or until tonight, presumed dead.
As he let his mind wander and contrive conspiracies as to who these Régínn were, it was Bofur who answered the hobbits question.
"Ah the Régínn. They are an ancient species of dwarf that according to myth lived in an unknown continent far away," he explained. "They are seafarers; crafters of boats and voyagers of the sea. In the early years of the second age, they left their lands and came to Arda, settling somewhere in the northeastern region."
"What part?" Asked Bilbo who always had a fascination of maps and yearned to learn more geography of the east.
Bofur shook his head. "No one knows," He answered. "They are a secretive folk. When they arrived on the shores near Dhom they merely said they came from the east to see the west. Over the years it was just assumed it was the northern part from what little they revealed. They opened up some trade with a few of the Kingdoms near the coast. Dhom was the most successful in creating a connection with them. Dhom gave them knowledge of the west, and traded resources that are not found in the East in exchange for Régínn's abilities."
"What kind of abilities?" Kíli inquired curiously.
"You have all heard of the famed army that Dhom possessed?" Bofur asked. Kíli as well as Fíli and Ori nodded. "It was courtesy of the Régínn that they had such fighting skills. Things are not quite so peaceful in the east as they are here in the west. There is a reason why there is not much known about the east. They are wildlands. Vast deserts filled with dried lakes, and wastelands. Treacherous mountains, stormy coastlines. And the forests, made up of trees that are more dangerous than the fanged creatures that reside in them. It is where they say the foulest of beasts wander and feast upon each other. Harsh country breds harsh people. For a race to thrive in such land, it says a lot of their people. They are skilled fighters, fierce, and conquestive. Rumors say the reason the Régínn survived so long before trading was because they went on raids. Conquered other lands, took what they wanted, then went back to their home."
Bofur looked over to where the girls were sitting and looked over Thyra. His eyes looking at her as if she was the effigy of myths that had come to life.
"Would not mind having a few of them on our side when the time comes for battle," Borfur mussed. "Although, I remember them being a lot bigger than that wee one over there. I was just a young lad when my family was making a visit near the coast. One of their trade ships happened to be there and I was able to see their kind. They were all massive, some nearly as tall as a human."
"Why haven't I ever heard of them?" Fíli asked, causing Bofur to wake from his ponderings to look at him. "And how is it possible that we never knew about them until they showed up on the western shores?"
"It's like what Balin said earlier, no one has seen them in more than a century. So most of your generation are not familiar with them." Seeing that his answer did not satiate Fíli's thirst for an answer, Bofur explained further. "It is said in some legends they were never even created by Mahal, but created by a different Vala. Which one, I do not know. But either way, they have never been associated with our circle of Kingdoms. Therefore they have never been involved with any legends or histories of our race. They are their own kind of our kind. If that makes any sense at all."
"And how are you familiar with them?" Fíli asked turning to Ori who was younger than even his junior brother.
"I came across them in some old scrolls in my first year of apprenticeship," he supplied. "Unfortunately there was not much provided so I asked around." He explained with a shrug. "However, I found that most people were vague with their knowledge or their stories contradicted with the others."
Fíli thought over what he had learned then recalled something Balin had mentioned before. "So what is that girl..."
"Thyra," Kíli cut in.
Fíli looked at his brother in confusion. "What?"
"Thyra," Kíli repeated. "Her name is Thyra."
Fíli waved off the correction with a lazy hand before looking back to Bofur. "Why did they stop coming?"
Bofur shrugged then looked at Nori.
Nori shrugged as well. "No telling."
"The last record I could find was the summer before Dhom fell," Ori said. "From my theories, they must have come back, seen the devastation, and moved on to find other places to trade with."
"And no one else ever questioned why or went to check on them to see if they were ok?" Kíli asked sounding appalled.
"No one knew where to look." Bofur said with a shrug. "Even if we did know the exact location of Valhil, it would be too dangerous and not worth the manpower to march across the continent. Even the Régínn never did that. They stuck to the coast and traveled by sea."
"So why not take the sea and travel around the coast to look for them?" Kíli pressed.
"We are not a race of seafaring people." Nori chimed in. "Some would say our species was meant to venture only in the mountains and earth but it seems the Régínn proved that wrong."
Bofur nodded in agreement. "Aye, I myself prefer to always have solid land beneath my feet," he said looking a little green with seasickness at even the thought of sailing.
Fíli looked to Thyra then back to Bofur. "So a century has passed by with hardly any word about these people, the only way to travel the thousands of leagues is by boat, and that one just shows up out of the blue?"
"Thyra," Kíli whispered causing Fíli to roll his eyes but gave no more notice to the comment.
"She doesn't even look like she is of age. Hardly sixty years old. How did she manage such a voyage by herself?" he said pointing to fair haired Régínn.
Bofur gazed out to where Thyra was seated. "That is a story I would love to know as well."
At the sound of supper being called and their rumbling bellies, all members of the company ceased conversation and broke away from their groups to gather around the fire to eat. It had been awhile since they had a well cooked and filling meal. Due to the downpour for the past couple of days and failure to light a fire, they had to resort to rations of dried salted pork and a few stale pieces of bread left over from the looting of Bilbo's pantry. Hungrily, they all took turns grabbing a bowl and thrusting it forward for Bombur to fill with his ladle.
In no time, they were all sitting around the fire eating vigorously. For several minutes there was nothing but the sound of the fire crackling and noisy slurps as they all focused on filling their empty bellies as quickly as possible.
Once Kíli felt the hunger pains fade away, he began to slow down enough to become aware that both Sigurd and Thyra were still rooted to their spots as they continued to sit quietly. He noticed Sigurd looking around hesitantly and more alertly than she had been earlier.
Fíli had not been the only one to be watching the two girls earlier. Kíli had also been more preoccupied with observing them than truly listening to the conversation that had taken place.
His mind had been looking for an opportunity in which he could easily approach the girls and introduce himself without looking conspicuous. He had a feeling that not only would Thorin disapprove of his interaction with them, but he had a feeling Thyra would not be so welcoming as well. However, as he watched them, an opportunity to approach them came to his mind. One that would give him a reason that would hopefully avoid earning any hostility from Thyra as well as delay any objection from others of the company.
Setting his empty bowl aside, he moved back to where Bombur was dishing up himself a second bowl. Spotting two clean bowls laying on the ground near the fire, he collected them and presented them to Bomber without a word. Bombur looked at him curiously at first but after a glance in the girls direction, understanding came to his face. Happily, he took each bowl and filled them with hot stew.
With each bowl filled, Kili then grabbed two spoons and tore off a few morsels of bread to rest on top of the thick broth. Too preoccupied with his small quest, he failed to notice the frown that Fíli cast towards him as he walked over to where Sigurd and Thyra sat.
While he had been fixing their bowls, Sigurd had looked behind herself to watch where Gandalf and Asha were still talking. She was still turned away from him when he started to travel in their direction and failed to notice his approach.
Thyra on the other hand had immediately noticed his inclosing proximity.
Immediately she tensed up and Kíli did not fail to see her right hand move from her knee to the grass where it stayed an inch away from the hilt of her sword. Her movement caused Sigurd to turn back around and see what had caused her to shift. Then she followed the Régínn's direction of attention. Not wanting to cause alarm, Kíli sent a toothy smile at them before coming to a stop a few feet away from them.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, raising the two bowls in indication.
Thyra looked to Sigurd and frowned as Sigurd gave a demure smile in his direction.
"Yes," she said with a gentle nod.
Seeing this as an invitation to come closer, Kíli bent down and held out a bowl to each girl. Sigurd immediately accepted the one offered to her with another small smile and a few meek words of gratitude. Thyra, on the other hand, only looked at the bowl held out to her as she leaned back and crossed her arms.
Sigurd looked between Thyra and the bowl being held out to her. When Thyra's dark eyes moved to look at her, she tilted her head towards the bowl and gave her a reassuring smile.
However, after several more seconds passed and Thyra moved her dark eyes to Kíli. They narrowed slightly as she continued to frown and her head moved the smallest fraction from side to side. Sigurd let out a heavy sigh and gently took the bowl from Kíli's hand. Then, not so gently, she thrust it towards Thyra. The Régínn was forced to uncross her arms and take the bowl before it spilt into her lap.
"Borða," Sigurd commanded in the Régan.
Thyra frowned at the word but not as much as when she turned her attention to the bowl now held in her hand. She slowly lifted the bowl to her nose and sniffed at it as if she had never seen rabbit stew before. Her dark eyes flashed back to Kíli and narrowed for a moment as she sent him a silent accusation and suspicion that he had poisoned her food.
"Borða," Sigurd repeated, giving her a reprimanding look for being ungrateful.
Finally after taking one last sniff as if to assure herself that it was not in fact poisoned, she lifted to spoon and took a small bite. Chewing quickly, she made a show of swallowing the bite before looking towards Sigurd and giving her an unnaturally sweet smile that seeped with mocking sarcasm. It was a silent statement of 'are you happy'?
Content, Sigurd turned back to Kíli and gave him a smile.
"Thank you," she said before taking a dainty bite of her own food.
There was no longer any need for him to stay but plagued with his small infatuation of getting to know them better, Kili found himself settling down on the ground in front of them. An action in which Thyra did not miss as she was now watching him again instead of eating. He had only seen her raise her spoon one more time since her first bite and he was positive it was to only spit that same bite back out without Sigurd noticing.
"It is Sigurd, right?" Sigurd nodded and Kíli turned to Thyra.
Sigurd nodded with a faint smile. Kíli grinned and held out a hand to her.
"My name is Kíli, son of Vili," he offered.
Sigurd took his hand. Immediately he relished her smooth skin and the warmth in which it gained from holding her bowl. Before he could appreciate the sensation fully, she had retracted it.
Trying not to let himself feel slightly disheartened, he turned to Thyra and held out his hand again.
"And you are Thyra, right?"
Like the bowl of soup, Thyra only looked at his hand as if it too were poisoned. Then finally, after a few moments, she looked away with a bored expression as she watched the others in the group, seeming to now have determined he was no longer a threat.
"Sorry about that," Sigurd apologized to him as he dropped his hand back down to his lap. "It has nothing to do with you, Thyra just doesn't take well to strangers. Once she warms up to you she can really be quite一"
Her words were cut off when her name was called by Asha. Instantly she lost her relaxed posture that she had seemed to gain while speaking with him and turned to face Asha. Thyra turned too, her posture becoming more alert as well.
Kíli looked past Sigurd to see Asha still standing next to Gandalf but beckoning with a hand.
Both girls immediately set their bowls down and shot to their feet. Without a farewell to him, Sigurd began briskly walking towards the older woman and wizard. Thyra moved to follow Sigurd as well but had only taken her first step when Asha addressed her.
"Thyra," she called. "Bíddu þarna. Vertu eyru mínir."
A look of panic quickly filled her eyes as Sigurd looked back to her apologetically as she shrugged, then walked away. While Kíli had no idea as to what had been said, it was obvious by the look he saw on Thyra's face when she turned back around, she was not pleased. However, it seemed she would be obedient as she heavily sat back down on the ground, this time bending her legs and leaning forward as she rested her arms against her knees.
From afar, Fíli watched Thyra closely as she continued to watch her surroundings and ignore her food still sitting on the ground next to her. He had not stopped watching carefully since his brother had approached them.
It was odd how structured they were. The way Sigurd had snapped to attention so quickly and the way Asha commanded them. It was as if they were more soldiers than travel companions.
He watched as Kíli now sat awkwardly facing Thyra as Sigurd was no longer there to act as a buffer. It was obvious that Kíli was feeling conflicted between not wanting to leave the girl without any company, and feeling uneasy about being alone in the strange girls presence.
Fíli admired Kíli's dedication but it did not take long before Kíli began to slowly stand. With peace of mind that Kíli was coming back to rejoin the group. Fíli looked away to listen in to the story Nori was sharing amongst the group. But instead of hearing his brother's footsteps come near, he heard Kíli extending an offer to Thyra to join him closer by the fire. Turning his attention back to his brother, he immediately let out a snort of amusement.
Kíli was currently speaking louder and slower than he normally would in Westron, as his hands gestured and pointed wildly. All the while, Thyra only looked at him as if he were mad.
He would have found the show even more entertaining if the unexpected had not occurred.
Slowly, Thyra stood as she watched Kíli still pointing and looking over to the fire. She took a step towards him. As Kíli turned back around to look at her, he staggered back a step, taken by surprise when she was closer than he had expected. She looked at him expectantly. Waiting for him to lead the way.
As they neared, Fíli felt himself stiffen. When they reached the circle formed around the fire, Kíli began to lead Thyra towards Fíli himself. Fíli frowned at his brother as he silently warned him to not do what he was doing. However, his warning was not needed. For the moment Thyra realized their destination, she instantly stopped midstep.
Kíli looked back to see why her steps fell silent and noticed her gaze focused past him, to his brother. He beckoned for her to continue following but she only shook her head once and sat down on the log she was standing by. Kíli loitered a few moments as he debated on trying to get her to keep following. He decided it was best not to push it too much. Giving a shrug he continued on alone and sat down in the vacant spot next to Fíli who instantly turned to him with a dour expression.
"What are you doing?" Fíli hissed. "Why did you bring her over here?"
Kíli frowned at the sharpness in which Fíli said the word to identify Thyra.
"I did not want to be rude and just leave her alone."
Fíli grunted. "I think she would prefer solitude." He replied glancing back to the girl with a distrust in his eye.
"Why are you acting like she is going to just start attacking us at any moment?"
Fíli gave his brother a pointed look, his bruising back already reminding him why he did not trust her. But apparently his brother needed reminding.
"Because she did attack me." He deadpanned.
Kíli rolled his eyes. "That was just a misunderstanding," he said, waving his brother off.
"She knew what she was doing. You didn't see her face, she was pleased with herself."
Kíli laughed at this. "Well I would be too if I were her size and managed to take you down so easily!"
Fíli glowered. "She caught me off guard," he mumbled as if to assure himself more so than Kíli.
Kíli heard his brother but chose to ignore him. Perhaps when his pride was restored Fíli would not be so harsh towards Thyra. Even still, Kíli did find it odd that Fíli was acting the way he was.
It was no like Fíli to be unkind. He had always been so diplomatic and while not always genuinely happy with everyone, Fíli was always at least civil to them, no matter what their sins. In fact, in their younger years, it was Fíli who often reprimanded Kíli for getting into fights.
But apparently Thyra was an exception to Fíli's rule of law.
Dwalin moved over to Thorin as supper finished as they all settled around the fire in a closed circle. There was only a small break in spacing where Thyra sat with a wide berth between the others as quietly watched.
Initially Thorin interpreted it as suspicion but the more he watched the girl, he realized that it was just a trick of the dim light mixed with her dark irises that made her look threatening. Instead he deciphered only curiosity as she looked about. However, it was obvious that she did not let her curiosity get away from herself as she kept her body tense and alert.
He glanced back over to where Asha was still speaking with Gandalf, now with Sigurd in addition to their discussion. They seemed to be speaking longer than the half hour Gandalf promised to only take up. But by the look on her face, whatever Gandalf needed to discuss was worth her time.
He let out a slow sigh, feeling a heavy want to be able to have a reason to detain her for a short amount of time as well. If only for a few moments. Just long enough to get answers and say things he was unsure sure of. But alas it was not to be. The moment she would finish speaking, she would leave and there would be no telling when or if he would ever see her again. He found himself being drawn from his unvoiced wishes when Dwalin finally spoke up since filling the empty space beside him.
"Thorin what are we to do about them? You can't honestly be fine with just letting them waltz out of camp," he questioned.
"Then what would you have me do?" he asked in a tired annoyance.
He looked to Dwalin with his eyebrows raised, awaiting an answer from the other dwarf. Dwalin opened his mouth, let out only air, then shut it again.
Thorin nodded pointedly. "As I thought," he mumbled as his body sagged.
"We could ask them to help us regain Erebor."
Both Thorin and Dwalin looked towards Kíli who had made the suggestion. His eyes lit with hope.
"Keep your voice down boy!" Growled Dwalin as he cast a glance in Thyra's direction to make sure the girl had not heard.
Thyra still sat quietly on the opposite side of the circle. Her eyes had seemingly grown tired from constantly moving as she now sat staring at the fire. Dancing orange shapes moved about in her eyes as they reflected the fire's flames. Judging that she had in fact not heard Kíli's suggestion he turned back to Thorin.
"It just seems odd to me at how quickly they are to be on their way. What if Asha was not the only Brimir royal that survived. How many more escaped that mountain range? There could be more and they too could set their own eyes towards the mountain with the idea of them reclaiming it as their own," he counseled with conspiratorial tone.
"What would the Brimir's want with Erebor?" Balin interceded, giving Thorin a break from Dwalin's paranoia.
"They're Brimir's," Dwalin stated as if it was enough of an answer. "They would do anything that would hurt Durin blood. And besides, they have no keep of their own anymore, or as far as we know. Why wouldn't they take the chance to earn one with a hefty treasury?"
Thorin let out an exasperated breath. "If I were given the choice to battle a swarm of goblins or a dragon, I would choose the goblins." Throin stated. "The Brimir's were not stupid. If they had the forces, they would have reclaimed their own home long ago."
A sad, sympathetic expression came over his face as he looked towards Asha. Finally he shook his head and looked to Dwalin.
"I do not think she is the sole survivor of those who were trapped, but I am certain that if there were more than only a handful, we would have heard of their existence a lot sooner than now. More than likely they all integrated like the others who were saved by King Gror. The Brimir were a proud clan, they would not let themselves fall so lowly if they had more," he continued with a sad tone in his voice.
Dwalin shook his head. "I still do not like the idea of just letting them go without at least knowing where they are going."
"Do you suggest that we lock them up and torture them for their answers then?" Thorin growled as his annoyance came back.
"Of course not," Dwalin replied. Then more lowly, muttered under his breath, "we don't have the time."
"Then it is settled," Thorin said firmly, not hearing Dwalin's last remark. "They will go on their own business when finished with Gandalf."
Dwalin turned away from Thorin and let his eyes settle on the girl sitting across from him, an edge of resentment on his face. Her eyes flickered up to him and slited as she caught him glaring at her. They stared at each other for a long moment before he raised his voice loud enough for her to hear him.
"Where is your destination girl?" He asked briskly.
She offered no verbal response but continued to glare back at him in silence, making him even more angry. After a short standoff, she broke eye contact and looked down to her feet as she leaned forward with her elbows on her knees. Dwalin's face turned crimson as his blood boiled. He picked up a rock and tossed it at her feet to regain her attention.
"Are you deaf girl?"
Thyra looked up from the ground and glared straight at Dwalin. Her dark eyes gleamed with unspoken threats but she did not move her lips.
Fíli watched closely as he observed her. He thought about Kíli's earlier struggle with getting her to join them by the fire and resorting to only hand gestures. Then he thought about any other previous interactions and realized that she had only ever interacted with Asha and Sigurd. In every case they were speaking it had always been in Régan, the name he had come to learn that her people spoke. As he pondered this, a realization came to his mind. She did not speak Westron.
It seemed Kíli had come to this conclusion as well as he interrupted Dwalin.
"I don't think she understands you," he said slowly.
Fili watched as Dwalin glanced at Kili then looked back in the direction of Thyra. Kíli move around to look at her. The movement caught Thyra's attention and she moved her eyes from Dwalin to the younger prince.
"Do you understand me?" Kili questioned in Khuzdul.
Her face remained blank as he searched it for some sort of reaction to the ancient dwarven language.
"I do not think she understands that either laddie," said Balin softly.
There was an annoyed huff that escaped Dwalin.
"Another reason why they should not be trusted. What kind of dwarf does not know Khuzdul?" He said with venom in his voice. "How do we know she is even a Dwarf, she could be a hobbit spy raised by goblin's for all we know. And that could be black speech that she is speaking!"
Balin rolled his eyes in annoyance to his brothers paranoia.
"Dwalin the girl is not a goblin spy and that is not black speech she is speaking. Asha said so herself." He said in a tired tone. "And while I am limited in my knowledge of the language, I can verify that it is Régan that she speaks."
His brother did not even spare him a glance when Balin looked at him. Shaking his head, Balin moved his attention to Thorin and surveyed him with a curious face.
"Thorin, why did you not tell Asha of Erebor?" He finally asked.
Dwalin let out a loud shush and pointed at Thyra.
"Oh calm down Dwalin," said Bofur. "Like Kíli said, she does not understand a word we are saying."
Dwalin let out a grunt but did not argue his point. Thorin slumped forward and buried his face into his hands.
"Because there is no point," he sighed.
Balin shrugged. "I don't know about that laddie, perhaps Kíli was right, we could use their help on our journey. She is a Brimir after all, feud aside, they are great warriors. And for her to have survived being locked away with hordes of goblins, I have to say she must be skilled."
"Or just resilient," suggested Thorin.
"Or perhaps both," Balin counter suggested. "I know you care nothing for the feud, that feud died with the fall of Dhom and Erebor. There are only those who are thick skulled and small brained that still truly hold onto the resentment." Balin gave a pointed glare to Dwalin. "So what matter if a Brimir fights alongside a Durin to regain Erebor."
At Balin's words, Kíli perked up and looked eagerly at his uncle. Thorin struggled internally again for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past hour.
A Durin and a Brimir side by side.
It was an idea he once often thought about but it was not a war in which the two would be united. As he gazed out to where Asha was standing, he let out a deep sigh. He could see the change in her and he doubted she shared the same ideas as they both had in the past. Be it battle or other means, he was sure Asha would not stand by him. Not after what had happened. What he did, what he had said. Her absence in his life for the last hundred years was proof of that.
"As small our numbers may be, I do not think two full sized and one half sized dwarrowmaid would make a difference. We need an army, not a handicap," Thorin concluded.
"Oh I don't know," Balin started in a reflective tone. "That one you refer to as half sized seemed to not have a problem with your nephew."
Balin sent Fíli a teasing wink, letting him know he meant no harm by his words. Unfortunately, Fíli did not share in the humor as he glowered at him.
"She caught me off guard," Fíli defended quickly, yet again. "All I did was try to help her and she attacked me."
Thorin let out a small chuckle but shook his head before becoming more serious. "No; they will not be coming and that is final. And no one is to mention anything of our real objective while they are with us," he added sternly.
His blue eyes gazed around the circle challenging anyone to dispute him but no one spoke up. Kíli looked downtrodden but nodded his agreement to follow his command.
The group fell into another silence only to be broken by the footsteps of Gandalf followed by Asha and Sigurd. At their approach, Thyra quickly stood and looked at Asha expectantly awaiting their announcement to leave.
"I take it you have finished your discussion?" Thorin asked, looking between Asha and Gandalf as he stood.
Gandalf looked to Asha for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes, I think we have settled all that is needed to be taken care of for the time being," he answered.
Thorin looked to Asha, his eyes wandering across her face before speaking again.
"And you will be leaving now?" he asked trying to sound indifferent but found his voice sounded more aggressive than he meant it to be.
Asha nodded in response to his question. "Aye, we will be on our way now, you will not have to endure our presence longer."
"That is not what I meant," defended Thorin with a frown. "I only meant to clarify if you will be staying a little while longer or not."
Asha nodded in understanding, she stood silently for a while as she merely stared back at him as if truly debating if she would linger or not. Thyra broke her out of the spell as she walked over to her side speaking quickly and quietly. Asha tore her eyes away to nod at the girl and waved a finger towards their belongings. At her gesture, Thyra moved towards the pile, followed by Sigurd where they immediately began strapping and securing their belongings. Once finished they returned to Asha's side, each holding out her belongings.
Thorin watched as Asha slowly took the pack from Thyra and secured it to her back before accepting an axe from Sigurd and strapped it to the loop that held it securely to her waist.
"Are you sure you do not wish to rest with us for the night?" He suddenly asked as the overwhelming want to keep her near overcame him. He would grasp onto whatever he could, if only but a few more hours until dawn.
It was a meager attempt to satiate that want but it was crushed as Asha gave a small shake of her head.
"No, I am afraid I have to decline, as tempting as the offer is," he found nothing in her voice that gave indication if she was speaking the truth or not. "If we travel through the night we should reach our destination by sun up and there we will rest from our travels."
Thorin nodded in acceptance, albeit with a sinking disappointment.
"Then safe travels go with you," he wished her.
She smiled. "And with you, Thorin Oakenshield," she responded, a slight humor in her voice as she tried out his newly acclaimed name since they had last seen each other.
They were moving not a moment later.
As they disappeared into the brush Thorin watched as some of the members, more specifically Dwalin and Fíli, physically relaxed at their departure. Feeling the opposite within his chest, Thorin settled back down and listened to their footsteps fade away until he could no longer hear them. He turned to the wizard of their company who had taken his own seat next to him.
"What is it that you discussed with our guests?" Asked Thorin.
"Oh this and that. Nothing of the journey ahead of us as I assume you wanted," he said calmly.
Thorin nodded. "Indeed."
"However I do not understand why. Perhaps they could have been of use to us," Gandalf surmised.
"Perhaps," Thorin agreed. "However, I would not expect a Brimir to concede to help a Durin. If a Brimir had an eternal fountain of water, and a Durin that was lost in the desert begged for a mouthful, they would not give him a single drop."
"Ah," Gandalf sighed. "The fabled feud of two houses. And here I thought you were an exception even before its so called demise. But I suppose like a phoenix, it will rise again now that both main houses are represented in life."
Thorin shot him a glare, a fire of rage burning within him. "You have known all this time she was alive," he growled.
Gandalf shrugged.
"I did not think a Durin would care," he said, looking in the direction in which the three women had departed while watching Thorin bristle from the corner of his eye.
Thorin grunted but made no other further acknowledgment.
In truth there was only one time, one day, one night specifically, that he ever felt a part of the feud. It was a moment of weakness and vulnerability that came out in a time of grief. But ever since that night, he found it was easier to move on and accept their separated lives if he hated her instead of loved. When he heard of her demise, it was easier to think he relished her death instead of feeling guilty blame on himself.
He had forced his ill opinions of the Brimir's because it made it easier to live in a world without her existence. But in reality, there was still only the one night that it was ever true. The rest had always been faked.
It was a cowardly method, but effective. It had been decades since he felt the need to use it but seeing her tonight undid years. But now it was worse. She had been living in existence for so many years yet she had never made herself known.
Instead she had remained hidden. Kept away from him. It was a cruel move on her part. Asha had never been a cold person, not to anyone. Yet he had suffered and he was certain she had known.
He hardened his expression and focused on the one time he ever felt he truly hated anyone who carried Brimir blood. He hated to do it, but he had to. It was the only way he could keep from letting his emotions make decisions that ended in heartache.
He had done it once. Let his feelings blind him from the realities of life and look where it had gotten him. Heart broken, brotherless, and bitter. He needed to focus, to keep his mind distracted. She had always been an itch throughout his life, constantly making itself aware by the annoying yearning to scratch. But like an itch, it was sweet relief when scratched but the more you scratch, the worse it became. And tonight, he had just scratched that long forgotten itch.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .