Hey everyone. Sorry I'm a day late getting this one out, I had to make a lot of last minute decisions with this chapter. If something is out of place or doesn't makes sense shoot me a PM - I hate it when I have to half ass edit everything. So this chapter is the reveal, but I think it's bit of a troll. The way I ended it just makes me smirk a little bit. More on the back story and a massive amounts of nudity in this one. Gore and butts as my dad would say…Which is why there will be a rating change, but I promise no smut stuffs till later. Anyway thank you so much everyone for your reviews on the last chapter it. All of your kind words really made my day and is getting me through some rough days.
angel897, MoonsHollow, SamanthaJane13, and shishiwastaken – Thank you for the kind words! And 'Yahoo!' back at you, BlackStar style.
animexchick – 0_0 You have no idea how right you are…
QueefCream – Not fully done with Tauriel in Rivendell yet. I got one more scene in mind. This time with both Fili and Kili. I think it will be both fun and adorable.
Outofthisworldgal – I love all of your questions! I want to tell you all of them, but I don't want to give too much away. I fully believe that this story is a bit of journey itself and I want to run its course. I hope to do you proud!
0x0UnderDog0x0 – I'm glad you like drunk Fili and Kili! They may make a reappearance later…
Kuroi-Akuma-no-Okami – I know that we PMed, but just so everyone know Namadith means little sister. I don't know why, but I always thought Kili would be an awesome older brother.
inperfection – Thank you for the birthday wish. It was amazing and now Halloween just passed and Halloween is my Christmas…any chance I could get one more ;)
Everyone please be sure to check out QueefCream's story: Lians' Contingency. She's just tickled my inner horror movie nerd with a new plot point, so excited!
It had been at least two hours since the initial wave and I had almost reached the city walls. I had been leaping from building to building, which became harder as the streets widened and structures were more damaged. I had to go around a couple particular buildings because they were ablaze, but now the gate was before me…only a few more meters. The rest of the buildings along my path appeared too unstable to use, so I had to return to the ground. I crouched carefully on the top of the roof's edge, looking for a way down. A frozen water barrel by a side door was the only thing nearby. As quickly and quietly as possible I dropped down and then crouched behind it. Despite the amount of time that had passed, there didn't really seem to be an end to the orcs in sight and most of Imelkane's soldiers had already been killed. From what I had seen there were hardly any bodies at the gate; why was that? If they had invaded from there they would have had to fight the guards off. Had no one been here?
Loud and angry snarls from the enemy permeate the air since the screams of my people had started to die out. I know I had to reach the gate, but what was the point if I just ended up being caught. So I made sure to look up and down the small alleyway before moving. Standing still wasn't a good idea, but moving into view for the orcs was no better. I saw one small grey orc run past one opening of the alleyway, but he was already focused on something else in the distance and didn't even spare my direction a glance. After waiting a moment or so more I finally made my move and ran to the end of the alley way. Once there, I looked along the street to see if it was totally deserted. Most of the orcs had already made their way to the interior of the city and even with the few stragglers the outer streets seemed empty. The gate was so close and the orcs weren't even guarding it. My heart lifted hopefully, only to drop when there was a familiar clanging of metal blades.
My hope of running to the gate was dashed when I saw a group of boys emerge from behind a small armory settled next to the stables. A few horses flee, some with small children on their back. In the orcs raid, they had forgotten about the horses and some children, who had likely hid before the evacuation to the tunnels, made use of them. The boys who allowed for the younger children to escape were fending off a small pack of orcs with swords from the armory. I recognized most of the boys from the training yard; particularly the baker's son who was my unofficial sparring partner. Three more orcs run past my hiding place to go after the boys, I hadn't even seen them near and almost shouted out in surprise. I saw Ayxis, who is fifteen and almost ready to complete his final training, leading the boys and positioning them into a better defensive position. They circled up and kept their backs to each other, unwilling to let the enemy get behind them.
I might have made it to the gate if I really wanted, the orcs were distracted enough, but these were my friends and would have one day been my brothers in arms; I refused to leave them behind like this. So with the training sword my mother had given me, I came up behind one of the three orcs that had run past me and ran it through. It was an odd feeling, having something twitch and drain out at the end of the blade and then having the weight almost drag you down. The rabbit was my first kill. I did it to provide for my family. The orc was my first kill in battle and the start of my vengeance.
Ayxis grabbed my arm and pulled me into the circle with the rest of the boys before the orcs realize I have even appeared. The force of the pull was strong enough that with the grip I had on my sword it yanked out the corpse rather easily. On instinct I started to block and try to time my thrusts to keep the creatures shrieking at us at bay. Once I missed a block, but one boy who is standing beside his twin blocked it for me and gave me the advantage to kill yet another orc. Slowly, we began to gain ground and as a unit we started making our way to the gate. If I'm entirely honest I was just glad that was not alone anymore. Along with Ayxis, there are the twins, Dorren and Tybin, the baker's son, Traehan, and three boys closer to my age; I recognized the last three as the sons of guards who fight alongside my father. We had begun to pass the burning stable when one of the boys cried out.
"Gaellyn!"
I forced back an attacking orc with Tybin's help once more and do my best to look in the same direction as the others. He was running towards us with his sword drawn, the look of concentration on his face brings me ease. We actually had defeated most of our attackers, but Gaellyn's sudden appearance still gives me hope; I had been worried that his body would have been among the dead and would have never known. We were almost free…my elation kept me afloat. When he finally reached us he went to Ayxis first since he was trying to hold off two orcs at once. However, my blood stilled in my veins as I watched Gaellyn move around the attackers and plunge his blade into Ayxis' chest.
For a moment I could not move and I left myself vulnerable to the remaining orc's attacks. It is only Dorren and Tybin who prevented my death when the orcs that had been fighting Ayxis surged forward. Gaellyn moved swiftly from his first victim to two of the guard's sons. They both release a scream before being delivered to the Halls of Awaiting. My heart seized as their blood stained his blade and he continued on, apathetic to the horror he just committed. The baker's son and the last of the younger boys scattered; the latter quickly received the end of an orc blade. Tybin pushed me back to the stable entrance telling me to hide before rejoining his brother who was fighting Gaellyn now. The rest of the orcs had begun to give chase to the Traehan, who was passing the gate.
I walked backwards slowly, too numb to feel the heat of the burning building behind me. I watched the orcs converge on the boy as they proceeded to eat him alive. His strangled cries of pain are silenced when one of the orcs ripped out his throat. I looked away from the scene with tears welling up in my eyes only to see Gaellyn finish off the twins without any mercy. When his blade withdrew and Dorren's golden eyes closed he stood up straight and surveyed the area. Maybe he didn't know I was there? I back in further, trying to hide from him when my arm accidentally brushed by a burning support. I let out a small cry and accidentally inhaled a large amount of smoke, causing me to cough. Despite that I cannot see him; I know that he must have heard me. So I made my way to the back entrance in hopes of gaining enough time and distance to try for the gate.
Unfortunately, the back door had expanded in its frame and it was impossible to open. I tried to throw a few thrusts of my shoulder into the wood in hopes of loosening it, but to no avail. I turned after a moment to see Gaellyn in the doorway, his eyes settled on my movement with an apparent look of surprise. I wanted to scream, but the sound became caught in my throat. His face kept a soft tone as he approached me, as if he were cautiously advancing on a wounded animal.
"Tahna," he called softly.
Now tears began to flow freely from my eyelids as I planted my feet and refused to move, regardless of my shaking legs. He would kill me, the man I once considered family, and I would die alone. This repeated itself in my head and my body could barely feel the heat of the flame as a cold fear settled in my body. I trusted him…my anger began to make itself known…I trusted him! My friend's blood stained his boots and steel, and for what? Why had he done this? I didn't understand!
"It's alright, Tahna," he cooed with the soft rasp that I had once associated with comfort. However, it now instilled an unsettling nausea in the pit of my stomach. His words allowed the fear of my imminent death to subside to anger.
"Liar!" I screamed. My voice cracked in the middle of the word. Looking into his eyes, I could see something akin to sorrow or remorse as he continued towards me. I started to cough again upon inhaling even more smoke, but it shook some of the fear that had left me paralyzed. This allowed my anger to take its place.
We were only feet apart. If he were to fully extend his sword arm it would have started to pierce my skin. His guard's uniform, which I had not noticed before, was covered in red blood; barely even a drop of black on it. The people he had slain looked to him for friendship, comradery, and protection. I had trusted him and so had many others, but he betrayed us. The bitterness I felt crept up the back of my throat, but I clench my teeth and held it there. By not allowing the harrowing sobs out it built a painful amount of pressure near my heart.
He slaughtered children just like the orcs around him…Even as a child myself, the horror of this fact did not escape me. I would join them soon, but not without a fight. Even as Gaellyn sheathed his broadsword, I brought my practice sword up to defend myself. Instead, he removed a dagger from his boot and looked up at my face with a pleading gaze.
"I can make this painless, Tahna," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt you." I see a shinning sincerity in his eyes and my earlier nausea nearly brought me to retch. Everything about him in that one moment was gentle, as if he didn't just murder a small party of children and was about to take the life of one more. I would have prayed for help if I thought it would do any good, but surly the Valar had stopped listening to our prayers.
I kept my sword up to defend myself, but I could not bring myself to attack him. My sword shook in my hands as I found myself conflicted. I would use the betrayal and hatred I was feeling to fight, but because of the ties I had with Gaellyn I couldn't bring myself to attack him. He's a monster…but I still loved him. How sick could I be? I realized eventually that it would be futile, him having greater experience as a warrior left me utterly defenseless. The only reason I haven't died yet is because of his mercy and he waited for my answer patiently, like a father watching his child have a tantrum before realizing they couldn't have what they want.
My parents trusted this man above all others; a trust I had also given him and he washed away in the blood of our people with a few strokes of his sword. I didn't realize it then, but he is the one who had let the orcs in, he was responsible for all of what happened that day. It made me hate him more, but also mourned the love and trust we had once shared. At least what I had thought we shared…How could he offer us up like lambs to the slaughter?
"I won't make it easy for you," I cried with the last of my courage. "I will die like Dorren and Tybin, with my true brothers. I won't let a gentle death ease your killing me. I WON'T!"
More tears flow freely down my cheeks as I watched him cautiously. I know it's useless, but it was all I could think of…the last thing I could do. Gaellyn's eyes show that he was hurt by my choice; it's one of the few things that I could allow myself to not give a damn about. He brought this upon himself – it was his choice and he had chosen wrong. I wouldn't be the one death that might ease his conscious later. I wanted to be another ghost that would haunt him when this day was done. I would not be spared just so that when he left the city he could tell himself he gave me a peaceful end.
There was a moment that the world seemed to stop spinning amidst the chaos around us. The fire which would soon consume the last of the air and devour us was almost forgotten. The sound of the crackling flames was drowned out by the sound of my own heart as I waited for the end. Beads of sweat began to roll along the side of my face and back, and my breathing became ragged and shallow. To my absolute surprise, he sheathed his dagger and held out his hand.
"I can't," he said, "Tahna, I'm going to let you make a run for it. I will keep them off of your trail until-"
His breath was caught when the tip of a blade protruded from his chest. It went right through his heart, which sprayed in a small spurt of blood onto my face. The strange sensation of the red, sticky substance hitting me in the face was enough to make me release a small cry.
When his body fell to the ground I could properly see the blade that killed him. My eyes travel up the steel and to the hilt. I immediately recognized the mithril craftsmanship. I had spent every year of my life admiring it. As I examined it I could feel the practice sword fall out of my hands. The tears blur the figure of my savior, but I didn't need to see him. The relief I felt was so overwhelming and I couldn't stop the sobs that ripped themselves from my throat. I found myself quickly encased in a pair of strong arms. I felt more blood from the figure's armor staining my clothes, but I didn't care. I threw my arms around him and I cried harder when I felt his large hand cup the back of my head.
"Papa…"I weep. I could feel his hold on me constrict.
"It's alright, Tahna. I'm here now. You don't have to face this alone."
Thorin rose early the next morning. While the others slept, Thorin took note of the missing wizard and Dwalin who is finishing his watch. After the incident with the elves Thorin decided to maintain the watch schedule, just in case. He puffs on his pipe, watching the sunrise from the archway leading to a small balcony. Balin was supposed to be the last one on watch, but it is no surprise that Dwalin took it from him. His old friend had been rather haggard after the amount of running the company did the other day.
The aged warrior is currently resting to the ranger's right, sleeping peacefully. After the lad had finished the tale of the decimated city and the kidnapping of his mother, Balin had gone to comfort the boy and ended up sleeping beside him. Thorin looks over at the ranger who is sandwiched between his nephews, breathing evenly. Prior to his slumber he returned the mask to his face, worried about the effects of exposure to elvish magic.
His eyes flutter behind his eyelids, indicating that he is dreaming heavily. Thorin genuinely hopes they are good dreams. An hour or so after the ranger had fallen asleep Thorin had still been mulling over the ranger's tale. He had been looking forward to learning more of the ranger's past, but he had not anticipated the sobering nature of it all. He hardly expected anything cheerful, but a child at the age of nine…He hadn't even been that young when Erebor fell. Dis had been ten…and that is hardly a consolation. It intrigued Thorin to learn more; what drove this child of men?
Thorin, while disappointed that his kin in the Iron Hills wouldn't join their quest, had never experienced the outright betrayal that Kalar had. He knew the sorrow and desolation that came with being without a home and losing the people closest to you, but the lad has felt pain unfamiliar to the would-be King Under the Mountain. Thorin shutters at the image Kalar had painted of slaughter of children, of his friends. The traitor got what he deserved in the end.
Every little piece of past the ranger offered him only enticed Thorin more. Thror had been the one who enjoyed a good riddle or puzzle, not Thorin. One of the few exceptions seems to be the golden-eyed ranger. Kalar offers him the broken pieces of his past with very little hesitation, but the pain in his retelling is obvious. The raw emotion the boy offers them is more reminiscent of the passion of a dwarrow then that of men. It makes Thorin's heart go out to the boy.
It also helped Thorin in his decision to ignore the ranger's queer nature. Kalar's helpful and capable temperament far outweighs the strange behavior he exhibits. Thorin watches the lad sleep as he joins Dwalin by the balcony. If he remains ignorant, he won't have to force the boy to reveal the possible truth and face a difficult decision that would question Thorin's honor.
"He's not so different from us is he?" asks Dwalin. For a moment Thorin doesn't answer and Dwalin fills the air with his musings. "He's lost his home and his way…He probably just wants to go home, but can't. Maybe we were meant to find 'im…"
"I never took you for one who believed in fate," comments Thorin.
"On a quest like this and with the things we've seen that boy do…It may not be fate, but I would go so far to say we have been very lucky," he says making a smoke ring. "Let's just hope we can keep it that way until we reach the mountain."
Thorin has thought very much the same. His eyes look back over to the ranger watching him curl once more into Kili's hair. It is the first time the boy has been able to sleep properly so Thorin plans to let him sleep for as long as he likes. Kalar has earned it.
"Wake the others, but leave the ranger," says Thorin. "He has earned his rest."
"Maybe we should wait a little longer," says Dwalin with a chuckle. "After the amount of wine they consumed, I don't think the boys will appreciate being woken up."
Fili currently has his arm wrapped around the ranger's chest plate. Originally it had been placed around Kalar's neck in hopes of starting another bout of wrestling, but he fell asleep before he could go through with it. When Kili came to he went to sleep beside his brother, but with Kalar in the way he just curled up against the ranger. The movement is what had caused the shift in Fili's positioning. Thorin's younger heir had started murmuring again as he fell asleep last night. He kept repeating the word 'little sister' over and over again in Khuzdul. Kili had always wanted to be a big brother; perhaps he was dreaming.
It also didn't escape Thorin's notice that as the light of day grew brighter, the more the boys shifted to avoid the light. Both Fili and Kili tuck into the ranger in hopes of dodging the sun's rays. It is likely that the boys would be nursing a bad hangover this morning, but it was their own fault and they should have known better. Waking them up would be a chore and Thorin is certain that Kalar would have a laugh at their expense, if given the opportunity.
"They will live," says Thorin good naturedly.
"So where to then?" asks Dwalin. "The wash room is in there, but I don' think all of us will fit."
Thorin sighs as he looks at the breaking daylight, eager for night to fall once more. Once the map is read they could return the road and be rid of the elvish magic permeating the air. As his gaze drifts he sees something through the railing of the balcony. He approaches the edge and looks over it to see a large fountain nestled in the side of the tree. It's a few levels down, but close enough to the camp that if anything were to happen they would be ready quickly. It would see to the company's needs and his men are hardly shy. Thorin smirks as he wonders if the elves would be able to handle it.
"How about there?" asks Thorin. Dwalin rises and comes to examine whatever has garnered his king's attention.
"Thorin, that's a public fountain," says Dwalin stiffly. "You sure you didn't drink any of that wine last night?"
"I am well aware of what it is," says Thorin cheekily. Finally realizing Thorin's plan, Dwalin shakes his head with a grin on his face.
"I'll gather the lads," he says as he puts out his pipe. After one more glance at the fountain, Thorin returns to the room in hopes of recovering his nephews without disturbing the ranger.
Despite that my body doesn't want to move, I can almost feel the daylight wasting away. So I begrudgingly start to move only to find myself extremely sore. I turn my head left and right only to discover that my companions have disappeared. Nothing suggests foul play and a resounding 'Woohoo!' from outside allay my fears. I sit up to find a plate of bacon, biscuits, and fruit beside my bed roll. Now that I have received proper rest I realize that I am famished.
Even after the feast Bombur provided the night before I'm extremely hungry this morning. I also feel the strong need to relieve myself, but since the food is still hot I decide to partake of that first. I relish the momentary silence as I remove my mask and take in the first slice of bacon. The salty treat agrees with my pallet and makes my stomach rumble with anticipation. The silence is broken by a loud splash from the open balcony. My curiosity gets the better of me and I decide to investigate. I walk to the balcony with a second piece of bacon in my mouth. As I move I can feel the muscles in my legs screaming from both yesterday's battle with the trolls and the sprinting across the plains. My shoulders also ache a little, but it's easier to ignore.
I step out into the light and turn my head towards where I hear yet another splash. I freeze on the spot upon seeing the dwarves frolicking in a public fountain. My pulse picks up and face burns as my mind slowly comes to the conclusion that they are, in fact, naked.
The first thing I actually zero in on is Dwalin who stands outside the fountain with his arms crossed. He watches the others, almost completely dry. At first I just admire the tattoos on his shoulders that match the ones on his head. Before I can look away though his arms move down and his hands settle on his waist, my eyes unconsciously watching the movement.
Before my eyes can wander any lower than where his hands settle, Fili and Kili run past him to the fountain's edge, giving me excellent views of their backsides. The flush on my face spreads to my chest and my jaw lowers, allowing the bacon to fall to the ground. I quickly cover my mouth to prevent any embarrassing shrieks growing in my throat to escape. My body is shaking slightly in embarrassment as I watch the boys play in the fountain. I slowly move back to escape their line of sight and return to the antechamber. However, I'm not fast enough. I catch movement farther up the walk from the direction Fili and Kili had been running from before. My ranger instinct kicks in and I look up. I should have known better…
Oh sweet, Aule! Thorin walks down the stone path to stand beside Dwalin, the latter now blocked from my sight. My entire body becomes inflamed with what must be dragon fire as I lay eyes on the bare king. While, Dwalin is taller than Thorin I can see that it is made up for in muscle mass. His pectoral and bicep muscles are slightly larger than his cousin. His chest has mat of what I would imagine to be coarse, black hair. Much like Dwalin, he appears to be dry and my eyes first go to his tattoos. He has a couple thin lines of dwarf ruins running up his upper arm and shoulder. In the middle of his bicep is a particularly interesting one. From the distance I can tell there is a sword surrounded by a semi circular arch while the sword passes through something. Beneath that, there are a few more markings that almost resemble a crown.
My mind had been blissfully occupied with the ink until he turned. At first I saw the chest hair, with two buds peeking out from beneath, but once I saw the trail of hair going down, spreading out again at his abdomen and reforming a thicker patch at…Oh, Mahal! I just stare at it for a moment before taking a step back, so unsteady that I actually manage to fall on my ass. Now the stone railing blocks my view, but the image of Thorin's sword in now burned into the back of my eyelids. Unwilling to stand and possibly be caught, I drag myself backwards along the ground using my hands to return to the antechamber. Once I'm back inside I release a ragged breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. My face still burns fiercely from the shame of stumbling on the dwarves in such a state.
I have seen many nude men before, the ranger camps made it near impossible to avoid. However, the nudity I had seen had been for the sole purpose of teasing me and thus, made them easy to ignore. Not that I didn't look – I did, if nothing than to stop blushing every time a fellow ranger had to bathe. The difference this time is that the company is entirely unaware of my gender as well as my presence. I had worked hard to not look when they were taking a leak, for their honor's sake. Now I feel as though it had all been in vain as the image of Thorin has been burned into my brain. Mahal had certainly gifted his children…
Trying to move on and forget what I had seen, otherwise I would never be able to face the company again; I make my way to the washroom. I abandon my breakfast in favor for relieving myself. I close the door behind me and pass by a large stone basin that resembled a natural pool. I head to the glorified chamber pot in the corner, vaguely wondering where the hobbit might be. I hadn't seen him outside and he clearly wasn't in here. At the thought of outside, I can't help wondering: Why did they have to do that in a fountain of all things? What in the name of the creators are they thinking?
Once my business is done I test out the water in the pool. It's cold, and likely that no one has used in a long while. I close my eyes, trying to decide whether or not I want to bathe, when another image of Thorin appears and I become uncomfortably warm. A small quiver travels from the tip of my ears all the way down to my toes. How could I not at least consider it? Thorin is…bigger than the men at the camp. I have never taken a lover – my lifestyle is too demanding and I will not allow anyone to touch me that I do not trust. Amongst the camps there had been a couple prospective men, but with the way things turned out it's no longer an option. This is the first time I've ever seen a dwarf in such a state, however. It's a wonder that the women didn't hoard their men in the mountain instead of the other way around. When another small shudder travels down my spine I make a snap decision.
I began removing my armor and clothes as if they were on fire instead of my skin. I can't imagine trying to face the dwarves in this particular state so an icy bath may be just what I need to recover. Once my wrap and under things are removed I practically jump into the pool. The cool temperature of the water is enough to give me gooseflesh on contact and I gasp when I resurface.
The water does little to soothe my aching muscles, but works wonders on my burning flesh. I release a small sigh of relief, but ultimately the thoughts don't leave me. I grab a vial of oil resting on a table beside the pool as I try to think of something else. I suddenly think of the day I met Morinehtar…I guess it's the cold water…
I had been lying there for what felt like an age. I had given up moving altogether; with both of my legs broken I couldn't make it past the pain. Where would I go anyway? So I watched as the sunlight peaked through the crack in the ice I had fallen through. I thought of my mother and father as I lay there dying slowly. I wondered if they would forgive me…
A small shuffle at the corner of the cave caught my attention. I looked over, anticipating an enemy, but when I turn my head I saw an old man dressed in dark blue robes and a staff in his hand. He had a long white beard and matching hair hidden beneath a blue hat. His eyes were a bright green color, like spring. He was watching me, surprised at my presence. He looked normal, but…what was an old man doing up here?
"Who are you?" I whimpered. I can now recall wondering if I was dreaming or if the fall actually killed me. If that was true then why was I in so much pain?
"I am someone that this world has left behind," he responded. "And who are you?"
"I'm afraid."
"What are you afraid of?" he asked curiously.
"If I die my mother will not welcome me into the Halls of Our Fathers, but if I live...," I said with small tears falling from my eyes. I tried to move my legs again only to experience shooting pain. "It really hurts."
"I can only imagine your pain little one. Not many can experience this much so quickly and still stay so strong," he commented as he moved to my side.
"I don't want to be strong," I cried harder. "I want to go home."
"But you can't go home…can you?"
"No," I sniffle. How did he know?
"I cannot return your home or your family to you, but if you want I can give you a gift," he said gently. He was looking over my legs now, realizing they must be broken.
"A gift?"
"Yes. It will take a little while to teach you how to use it properly, but what you do with it is entirely up to you."
"I don't know," I said. He sounded awfully vague, as if he's not telling me everything, but I'm so tired and hurt I can't think of anything else to say.
"It's alright little one. You don't need to answer just yet. First we will see to your wounds." He put his hands over my legs and the pain flares to near unbearable and I let out a scream, but it almost immediately subsides. The wizard then proceeded to pick me up and carry me back the way he'd come. I slept most of the way, enjoying the way he smelled of a spring rain and pipeweed.
I had been entirely unaware of the underground caves this far north and even to this day I haven't explored all of the caves. I wake again when we reach an underground pool. He set me down near the water and begins to leave after looking over my legs once more.
"Wash away your troubles for now, little one," he murmured. "Come find me when you are done so that you may rest. Tomorrow you can decide your future, little Tahna."
He left me alone with so many questions, but for now I don't bother to think. I disrobe for my first real bath in almost a year. The water is cold, but it felt good, being numb.
I remain submerged for a few seconds more before resurfacing. Despite the tension my body still holds, my mind is extremely calm now. The quiet of the room, my sobering thoughts, and the cold water put me in a comfortably numb state. Most of the oil has washed off at this point so I reach out for more when I hear a small gasp behind me, so small and so quiet I almost didn't hear it. An intruder.
I throw the bottle blindly in the direction of the gasp to buy myself some time. The 'thunk' of glass and a low groan are my reward as I leap out of the water. My vambraces are mercifully close and I remove one of my daggers. The sneak is still dazed so I tackle him and put my dagger at his throat. My knees pin his elbows and my shins put the rest of my body weight on his abdomen. One hand fists his tunic and pushes him down while the dagger rests above his artery.
My confidence and assured victory in having taken the intruder down, begins drains as I begin to recognize his features. First it was the thick, black mane of hair and then his short cropped beard. I already know who it is, but I'm not willing to look him in the eye yet so I stare down at his dark blue tunic with a blush on my cheeks. After a moment of silence I look up at his face. Unsurprisingly, he's not looking at my face and my blush begins to spread…again! I clear my throat to regain his attention.
"If it is any consolation, this is not the worst way anyone has ever found out about this."
I am a troll...also go to google and look up Thorin's tattoo in the images. You'll see what I'm talking about.