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*Innik dê**
"I can't believe it." Bilbo's eyes thinned warily.
"Good evening." Tauriel said quietly.
Balin approached calmly. "Does King Thranduil know that you are here my Lady?"
"My King send me over to honour King Thorin's family tragedy and to check on his health." Tauriel's eyes were full of grief and she was visibly making an effort to keep herself together.
Bilbo pursed his lips. "One of them is making a try at least."
A dark shadow fell on Tauriel's beautiful countenance. "King Thranduil wanted to send over other emissaries to check on you, but I insisted to be the one to come. My King understands that after this hellish battle we are all mourning. Dwarves, Men and Elves...the pain of grief is equal for us all."
Balin's eyes turned to his hands thoughtfully. "You are right. All of us who lost someone in this battle hurt the same."
She gave Balin a despondent look. "Will I be allowed to see Prince Kili?"
Balin sighed deeply. "Things are not easy for us lassie. I don't think Thorin will have a problem, but Kili's mother has arrived in the city and she is far less empathetic than the King."
She pressed her lips and tightened her hand around the reigns of the magnificent black stallion she was pulling behind her own horse. "I am not here to cause trouble. I am here to strengthen the bonds between Elves and Dwarves."
"But for your own means" -Balin noticed and she looked up hurt as he continued- "that are noble and true, but nonetheless might not be appreciated by Princess Dis much. You must understand that things are rather grim in the royal family at this moment."
"Can I request a hearing from her?" Tauriel's voice vibrated with a bleak hope.
Balin crossed his arms. "I wouldn't advise it. Better announce your presence to Thorin and let him handle his sister. He is the only one with authority over her."
"Shall I go tell him?" Bilbo offered eagerly.
Balin stopped him. "I'd rather not do it now. Oin just left his rooms. He is in a very bad mood this morning."
Tauriel looked around her defeated. "Shall I return to Mirkwood then?"
Balin shook his head. "No…," but he was not allowed to continue as the brusque voice of Dis reverberated upon the massive gilded columns.
She was standing on the golden stained floor of the King's Halls, solemn, regal and as beautiful as ever. "Who is the newcomer?" Her eyes were betraying contained sadness, but her lips were thin with disapproval. Her maiden was by her side, once again covered in a long cloak with the hood drawn low over her face.
Balin looked above his shoulder sharply and then bowed, as did everyone else in her presence. "My Lady." He said respectfully.
Dis' eyebrow arched and her critical gaze fell on Tauriel. "Who is the Wood-Elf?" She repeated.
Tauriel opened her mouth to reply, but Balin forestalled her. "She's an emissary from the Elven Realm of Mirkwood. She brings this majestic gift for Thorin with the request to attend the funeral of your son, my Lady."
Dis' nose flared and her eyes became cold and unreadable. It took her a few tense moments to reply. "Very well, let her follow Eilin. She will offer the Wood-Elf food and lodgings."
Balin bowed slightly. "My Lady, surely it would be wise to lead her to the King first?"
Dis looked at him hard and long. "Thorin is in a terrible mood this morning. He looks like he has a hangover of some sort, but neither he nor Dwalin are giving any explanations as to his dire state. He is grumpy and rough. I suggest you don't bother him at all with such unimportant matters." The tone of her voice was not willing to take any objections.
Tauriel alighted from her horse and bowed respectfully. "I offer King Thranduil's deepest condolences for your loss, my Lady." Her tone broke at the end of the sentence and Balin looked worried to see if the Princess had figured out Tauriel's deeply disturbed emotional state.
Dis bit the inside of her mouth in order to keep any nasty retorts from spilling out and nodded curtly. "Very well." -She snapped and turned to her maiden- "Eilin, take care of this Elven maiden."
"I am Head of the Mirkwood Elven Guard, my Lady." Tauriel rejoined with a slight frown.
"I don't care…" Dis rebuked, but Balin was quick enough to detain her ferocity.
"King Thranduil honoured the death of Prince Kili by sending the Head of his personal guard to attend this funeral, my Lady. Surely your grief can be set aside momentarily in the face of such a friendly gesture from our close neighbours."
Dis' eyes turned loftily to Balin. "Keep your advice for my brother when he is in the mood to listen." -She said dismissively and Balin pressed his lips annoyed. Then she gathered herself and thrust her chin to Tauriel's direction, but addressed her maiden before turning her back to them loftily- "Eilin take over."
When she was out of sight Balin exhaled in relief. "Told you this was not a good day for visits. Neither of the royal siblings are in a good mood."
Tauriel pressed her lips disappointed. "I can see that."
"I think it's best if you follow Eilin at the kitchens. She will make something for you to eat and offer you a warm bed to rest. You look like you need it." Balin offered her a considerate smile.
"Thank you." Tauriel bowed her head and her lips broke in a sad smile.
Balin looked at the immovable maiden. "Eilin remember the secondary hot springs that I have shown you in the first residential cavern?"
Eilin looked up and nodded. "Yes Sir."
"Take Tauriel there in order to have a bath." Balin ordered.
Eilin curtsied.
"Very well…now let's see." Balin searched with his eyes through all the people that were occupying the main chamber that morning, which were not few since repairs to the main gates had already began. Suddenly his eyes got animated. "Nori, get your ego out of your overloaded beard-locks and come here!" He grumbled.
Bilbo looked as the hooded maiden led Tauriel away and then turned to Nori who walked over to them.
"Don't yell like that Balin, I haven't slept all night. I have a headache." Nori chastised.
"No one has slept well since the war ended, now take over this steed." Balin gave him the reigns of the beautiful black stallion with the shiny coat.
The moment Nori's hands touched the reigns, the horse felt his reluctance. It neighed and backed up, trying to break free. "Hey hey HEY!" Nori yelled at it.
The horse as if intending to show it's disobedience stood on its hind legs and lifted Nori off the ground, but his weight drew him down once again and he landed on his behind with a groan of pain. "Hey! You bloody devil!" He yelled.
Balin intervened just on time. "Hold on, hold it!" -He said and the steadiness of his hands relaxed the horse. It neighed a couple of times angrily towards Nori and then settled down once more- "Steady my beauty, steady." Balin spoke to it and caressed it's neck.
"Why did you give me that monster for?!" Nori stood up angrily and cleaned himself.
"Because I want you to take it to the stables and …" -Balin paused in a sudden afterthought- "Wait...are the stables open?"
Nori looked at the stallion, positively fuming. "A couple of soldiers opened them up this morning. I think they are stable masters by trade."
Balin sighed in relief and smiled. "Very well, take this beauty to them and tell them to take good care of it. Take also Tauriel's horse."
Nori approached and took the reigns more firmly this time. "Whose is this black, hellish looking beast anyway?!"
Balin raised his brow and offered Bilbo a playful side-smile. "Thorin's."
Nori's mouth dropped open, but he didn't say anything to that.
"Close your mouth and take it to the stables." Balin dismissed him.
Nori took the horses way more carefully than he would have led any pony or war ram, mumbling under his breath something about being no one's servant.
Balin turned to Bilbo and pointed up with his head. "I need to talk to Thorin. Wish me luck master Burglar."
Bilbo pursed his lips and crossed his arms. "Good luck to all of us..."
Balin caressed his beard and looked thoughtfully at the golden archway with the Longbeard runes carved upon it, which led up to the royal corridors. "We are a right old mess, master Burglar. We will need a ton of luck to get all this back together or maybe patience...unlimited patience."
Bilbo gave Balin a troubled look, but remained silent.
Balin exhaled through his nose and walked decisively to the archway, mumbling under his breath. "For this won't be easy..."
Thorin's tired eyes looked towards the door of his bathroom with dread. He pushed himself away from the faucet and took two experimental steps towards it, which ended with his stomach gawking in anguish, his knees buckling and his right elbow catching the latch on the door at the last moment, saving him from falling flat on his face. His lips contorted stubbornly and he heard Dwalin's worried call. "Are you alright Thorin?" He cursed silently, pulled himself up straight and turned the door handle.
"I am fine." He spat and was assaulted by the stillness of the air in his room. Something that made him dizzy and caused his stomach to twist in disgust.
"Balin is here to talk to you. Apparently we have news this morning." Dwalin rejoined dryly.
Thorin tried to walk back to the bed alone, but his knees unlocked for the umpteenth time.
Dwalin dipped quickly under his armpit and pulled him up with ease. "You are not well enough yet." Dwalin whispered.
"Don't you think I know?" Thorin hissed.
"Sit down, rest for a moment." Dwalin's voice was soothing and quiet, but did little to calm Thorin down.
Balin smiled towards his brother. "Wish you sounded as caring to me sometimes."
"I do when you need it, but most of the times you don't!" Dwalin rebuked and settled Thorin down carefully.
"That was a compliment you bloody fool." Balin hurled back to his brother. Then he turned to Thorin who was sitting up straight with his arm extended to his knee and his eyes closed.
"I need to talk to you laddie." He crossed his arms and waited patiently for Thorin to notice him.
A tired side glance was the only thing the King could manage. "My head is killing me this morning, so make it fast Balin."
"King Thranduil send you a gift to honour the death of your nephew." Balin said, feeling like he was treading on broken glass.
Thorin raised his eyebrow in question.
"A black stallion. Very proud animal indeed." Balin continued.
Thorin's reply was blunt. "Send it back."
Balin frowned. "That means that you are willing to break any possible truce between us."
Thorin frowned deeply. "No, it means I won't have to reciprocate the gesture. I prefer to keep things typical with that Elvish demon."
Balin cringed impatiently. "Your pride will be your downfall. You need that demon as much as he needs you!"
"Don't patronise me!" Thorin's heavy voice rumbled upon the stone walls.
Balin gritted his teeth and inhaled sharply. He tried again, commanding his voice to remain calm and collected. "Rethink your answer Thorin. Tauriel brought the horse for you."
Dwalin looked up at that and the King felt the air getting trapped in his airways.
Balin raised his brow knowing what an impact his words had at that moment.
"You don't have to do this now." Dwalin clasped Thorin's shoulder and looked down at him troubled.
He didn't even hear the voice of his friend. He turned his pained eyes at Balin. "Did she come for Kili?"
Balin nodded quietly. "I wanted to bring her up to you, but Dis stopped us at the entrance. She was not too happy to have Elves in her son's funeral. You know how stubborn your sister can be. She beats you easily in that department and that is saying a lot. If it was in her hands she would have thrown Tauriel out that very same moment. You need to set things straight and offer the Wood-Elf official lodgings until and possibly after the funeral. You don't want to have a diplomatic episode with the Elven King so soon after collaborating with him against the armies of darkness. More so about the woman who loved your nephew and almost sacrificed herself in order to save him…"
Thorin's fists clenched and he closed his eyes. "Enough..." He hissed.
Balin's lips thinned, but he remained quiet.
It took Thorin several moments to speak again. "Offer Tauriel lodgings and inform my sister that the Wood-Elf will remain for the funeral."
Balin shook his head satisfied and went at the armchair that stood next to the fireplace. He retrieved an impressive golden cane that had the sigil of the Longbeards carved on it's handle. "Very well, everything will done according to your orders. By the way I found this. It might help you." Balin offered the ornamented cane to the King.
"That is Thror's." Thorin spoke with a hushed tone and his eyes burned with uncertainty.
"You need it in order to get around until you feel better." Balin placed it at Thorin's knees.
"Where did you find it?" The King asked coldly.
"At the vaults..." Balin observed him calmly.
Thorin's blazing gaze tore through Balin who instantly understood the heaviness of the King's mood. "You think I will lower myself to walking around with a helping stick in front of my people?!" He thundered.
"Balin this is not the best time." Dwalin glowered at his brother.
"When shall it be the best time? He needs to walk outside and speak to his men. The city is already flooding with emissaries and more will soon come. Are you going to carry him around like an invalid?" Balin rejoined, feeling exasperated at Thorin's stubbornness.
Thorin grabbed his grandfather's walking cane with his good hand and threw it back with such force that it dug a hole on his studded door panel and then clanked at the floor. It rolled back close to the bed and remained there defeated by Thorin's boiling fury. "I will manage without it!" His voice held a frightening undertone that no one in the room dared question.
"This is not what he needs right now!" Dwalin thundered and stood up.
"Sit down brother, why do you come to his defence? I am not attacking him! I am always on his side! Whatever I do is for his own good, even though half the times he will not listen to me!" Balin rebuked.
"Both of you silence!" -Thorin's grunt of pain was louder than his voice and managed to break the brother's from their bickering. They both looked at him worried- "Balin instead of playing nurse to me ask Dain to gather a small brigade and send it off to Dale. Do we have any food available?"
Balin's hard expression softened up as he tried to forget the last thread that fired up his spirits. "We have hunters working as we speak. The need for the soldiers to be fed was great so they went hunting at the break of dawn."
"Take half the hunt and send it to Dale." Thorin closed his eyes and ventured to take another deep breath, which failed.
Balin closed his eyes. "Very well laddie…" -then he stopped momentarily and feeling overly emotional he tried to get through to Thorin one last time- "…Will you let Thror's cane lay defeated on the floor like that?"
Thorin shook his head, feeling truly wasted and overlooked Balin's question. "Are there any masons amidst the army?"
"Surprisingly we have a lot of masons and blacksmiths. They are already trying to clear up the entrance as we speak." Balin drew back defeated and crossed his arms.
"Send one third of them to Dale in order to help them clear up the town." Thorin continued with his eyes closed and his body barely able to stand straight.
"Very well." Balin nodded quietly.
Thorin's thick eyebrows furrowed when he offered his advisor a long look that started off as annoyed and ended up as mildly concerned. "You look like you are overdue for a good meal and some more sleep."
Balin waved him off. Apparently Thorin's rough dismissal had left him rather raw and bruised. "I am no more tired than the rest of the crew. I'll be fine, don't worry about me. How about Thranduil's gift son? Are you going to return it?"
Thorin looked at him long and hard. "Take it to the stables. I will check on it when I manage to stand up unassisted." His voice lost some of it's assertiveness upon those words.
Balin's countenance brightened up a little. "Already done that laddie. How about the men? They are very worried about you. They keep asking to see you..." He let that thought float in the air between them.
Thorin swallowed heavily, but remained silent.
"Will you see them?" Balin rejoined eagerly.
Thorin shook his head. "No...not now..."
Balin spoke over him. "They need to see that you are doing better...It's going to uplift their broken spirits..."
Thorin's eyes blazed and his demeanour shadowed. "I said not now!" His deep voice rumbled in the closed chambers, raising the hair on Balin's neck.
The old advisor closed his eyes and gave him a quiet nod. "Alright son. Can I do anything else for you?"
Thorin's brow darkened. "I've had enough of everything and everyone. Let me rest."
Balin walked to the door dejected and when it closed behind him several tears sprang from his eyes.
Eilin's hand grabbed the edge of the table as the need to steady herself became suddenly overwhelming.
"Are you alight?" Tauriel asked.
Eilin nodded and looked around her in foreboding. The kitchens this morning were anything but empty as she had originally hoped. Many angry looking soldiers had taken over several tables and the door kept opening up as more soldiers were coming in, emptying their hunt purposefully on the counters. Dead rabbits, boars, pigs and two deers were occupying every available surface. The smell of blood and sweat once more attacked her sensitive nose and Eilin gritted her teeth against a raise of nausea that overtook her. She had lived in the worst conditions all her life and she was not skirmish in the slightest, yet this morning everything around her felt too much.
"I am fine my lady, please sit down." She said politely even though she felt flustered. With a dismissive tilt of her wrist she threw back her hood and pulled the cloak away from her sweaty body. At that moment her need to breathe some fresh air clashed with her need to hide her hairless features from all those strangers.
Tauriel smiled and just as she was taking her seat, a rough looking, bloody faced soldier who was carrying a boar bumped into her. "I am sorry." The tall Wood-Elf whispered, but his response was only a grunt of annoyance.
"Shall I make you some tea and a couple of eggs to eat?" Eilin forced herself to smile.
Tauriel leaned her forehead on her palm exhausted. "Anything would be nice."
For the first time Eilin noticed that someone else looked and sounded as weary as she was. She took four eggs and a pan and made it for one of the circular fire-pits. She asked for some flint and stone from the Dwarf closest to her in fluent Khuzdul and for a few moments they simply held each other's gaze, but in the end he gave her what she wanted silently. Skilfully she cleared up the remains of a long dead fire and put some dry logs in. She build up a fire quickly and efficiently and began cooking the eggs and also warming up some brew. "Do you have a preference? I don't know how many different kinds of leaves we have, but I don't think there are too many." She looked at Tauriel above her shoulder.
"I really don't mind." Tauriel's eyes were downcast and pooling with tears.
Eilin frowned deeply. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
Tauriel shook her head dejected, but didn't answer.
The eggs popped in the pan and Eilin turned her attention to them. When the breakfast was ready Eilin brought it over to her. "Here, eat some. You'll feel better."
"Thank you." Tauriel smiled sadly.
Eilin turned to her fire-pit not knowing what to do with herself. She wasn't able to leave the Wood-Elf alone. She had to wait for her to eat and then lead her to her rooms. In order to make herself useful and shake away her awkwardness she took the pan to a faucet and tried to rinse it, but the water that came out of the unused pipes was black and smelly. Deciding to leave it on until it cleared up, she turned to the counter were a dead boar was. She could also try to clean this animal up, so the men would find it prepared and ready for roasting. She had barely extended her hand on the dead animal, when the angry voice of one of the men stopped her.
"Keep your filthy hands away from our food!"
She jerked back and her stomach tightened at the offence. Not that she wasn't used to it, but right now she felt exposed both physically without her cloak and also to their guest. "I just wanted to help you clean it up." She rejoined quietly.
"We don't need your help!" The same soldier barked at her.
"I know her, she is from the IronHills. She was working at the stables." Another soldier intervened indifferently.
"I don't care. Have you seen her hairless face? What kind of devilry spawned her? She looks like a shrunken She-Elf!" The first man spat dismissively at her.
Eilin felt her chest welling and averted her eyes. She clumsily returned to the table and tried to wear her cloak and hood, but the laughing response to the man's comments rang clear in her ears. She bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
"I could use some company." Tauriel's voice came soft and inviting.
Eilin lips broke into a shy smile and she moved hesitantly to the table where Tauriel pushed a chair towards her. Eilin took a seat and kept her head bowed low. Her hands were crossed on her lap so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
"They sure can make a compliment sound like an insult, can't they?" Tauriel asked after a few silent moments.
It took Eilin several moments to process what Tauriel said, but when she did warmth began spreading in her hands and feet. "Yes, they sure can." She agreed quietly.
"Name is Tauriel." The beautiful Wood-Elf offered her hand.
Eilin remained in two minds for several moments before grabbing it gingerly. "Nice to meet you."
"What's your name?" Tauriel's fingers pressed her hand firmly.
"Eilin, my Lady." She cast her eyes down again.
"I don't stand on etiquette and I would like to see your eyes." Tauriel smiled.
Eilin looked up.
"They have a very beautiful and rare colour. These Dwarves are right you know...well kind off." Tauriel released Eilin's hand and cupped her tea mug.
Eilin frowned. "About what?"
"You do look like an Elf, I just don't find that an insult." Tauriel smiled kindly.
Eilin lowered her head. Then she gazed briefly at the soldiers who had apparently forgotten all about her and where taunting each other. "It most certainly is not an insult." She agreed wholeheartedly.
Tauriel gave her a sweet nod. "Then don't act so defeated. People have a tendency to reject what's different and it matters not which race you belong to."
Eilin's large green eyes this time flew quickly to Tauriel's. Yes, she could understand that only too well, but what did this Wood-Elf know about her troubles? She didn't look different from her kin. As a matter if fact she looked like the perfect Elven Maiden. Eilin remained respectfully silent, waiting for Tauriel to continue.
And so she did. "It doesn't matter if that difference is in appearance, in tastes or in your choices. It still scares them to know that you don't really belong."
Eilin nodded. "I was born different. It was never a choice for me."
Tauriel cast her eyes to her tea. "Then harder it is for those who choose to be different."
Eilin felt her throat painfully tight. "Like you?" She whispered with surprising perception.
Tauriel's eyes gained a dark shadow. "Like me." Was the only thing she offered.
Eilin's hand landed on the old table. Her finger found a splinter on the wooden panel and began pulling it out. She didn't know what to answer to that.
Tauriel sighed heavily. "I suppose this trek I undertook is going to backfire on me, but the choices were made long before everything came to an end. I just have to finish it now."
Eilin looked up confused.
Tauriel took out something from her pocket and placed it on the table. She withdrew her hand and Eilin frowned.
"That's a Dwarfish rune..." Eilin whispered mesmerised.
Tauriel's eyes watered and fell eagerly at the maiden. "I cannot read it..." A ghostly shadow of a plea overlapped those simple words.
Eilin shook her head.
"I don't know what it says…he never told me..." Tauriel spoke under her breath and a lonely tear escaped her eyes and cascaded down her cheek.
Eilin pressed her lips.
Tauriel closed her eyes and her hand around the moonstone. "He said that anyone who isn't a Dwarf will be cursed if they spoke the words out loud. It was a parting gift from his mother."
"He is a Dwarf?"
Tauriel pressed her lips till they turned white. "Was...he was a Dwarf..."
Eilin cringed and rubbed her hands nervously. "He died?"
Tauriel closed her eyes and nodded softly.
Eilin exhaled and it took several moments to speak with a quiet voice. "Dwarves are very secretive of their language. They are not in a hurry to share it with outsiders. That is why they speak the common tongue more than Khuzdul."
Tauriel's shoulders slouched. "I know."
Eilin looked at her hesitantly for a few moments. "I can tell you what it says."
Tauriel's eyes flew up to her quickly. "Then please do...I have nothing to offer you...but maybe I can find a gift..." She began searching about her person quickly with shaking hands.
Eilin reached out and cupped Tauriel's hand steadily. "I don't need anything..."
Tauriel's eyes held all the appeal her mouth couldn't utter at that moment.
"Innik dê." Eilin said quietly.
Tauriel's eyes seared into hers.
"Return to me..." Eilin explained.
A small breath released from Tauriel's lips as they trembled with suppressed emotion. Then she nodded softly in understanding and her eyes closed.
"It is not a request. By the arrangement of the vowels between the consonants, this is an order." Eilin continued thoughtfully.
"I returned to him..." A strong sob shook Tauriel's chest and she leaned her face on her shaking palm.
"Do you need some water?" Eilin asked concerned.
Tauriel shook her head quickly. "No, no..." Suddenly her long fingers reached out and cupped Eilin's back.
The timid maiden wanted to draw back, but she remained frozen looking at their joined hands. She delayed the question that lingered in her mind, but in the end she felt unwilling to keep silent. "How come did a Dwarf gave you such an important love token?"
Tauriel looked up with a bitter smile. Her eyes looked broken and lined with the pain that had saturated her soul.
"Did you love him?" Eilin's brow furrowed.
Tauriel nodded softly.
Eilin's other hand fell on Tauriel's and she squeezed them firmly. "Are we talking about the dead Prince?"
Tauriel answer was a barely audible exhalation. "Yes..."
Eilin bit her lower lip and withdrew her hands as if she was touching fire. "Then you must hide this rune!"
Tauriel looked up dazed. "Why?"
"Hide this rune unless you want my mistress to see it and take it away from you!" Eilin didn't want to sound urgent, but she couldn't help it.
"Why would she?" Tauriel frowned, but nevertheless hid the moonstone in her pocket again.
"She doesn't like Elves and learning that her dead son was in love with one won't sit nicely with her. Seeing you with the rune she gave him will most certainly end up in a disaster. Don't let her see that you have it!" Eilin said curtly.
"I understand." Tauriel nodded quickly.
Eilin opened her mouth to tell her not to worry and that as long as she didn't say anything about her feelings for the dead Prince or show the moonstone they should be fine, when the same rough voice called at her once more from the other side of the kitchens. "Hey, you hairless love-dove!"
Eilin closed her eyes feeling tired to the bone "Yes?" She drawled.
"Ha! See? She knows she is a hairless beast!" The soldier taunted.
"You called her a love-dove not a beast. That's hardly an insult brother." One of the other Dwarves rejoined.
"Well, hairless or not she's a pretty little thing, isn't she?" The rough one chuckled and that caused Eilin's stomach to twist with anxiety as adrenaline began flowing in her veins.
"That's why you keep on bugging her? Shut up and drink up! Don't search for trouble. Haven't we had enough already?" Another one grumbled.
"I keep bugging her, because she tempts me...by Mahal's beard I swear I'd like to kiss her cherry lips, but I am not sure she wouldn't taste like a frog, like all Elves do!"
Tauriel looked up annoyed.
"How can you know how a Wood-Elf's mouth tastes? Have you kissed one?" Another voice rejoined and they all laughed.
Eilin felt her eyes welling again and kept them closed. Tauriel was trying to tell her something and even addressed them, but the taunting and the laughing continued. Eilin was consumed by the embarrassment she felt from being ridiculed so nastily by these soldiers that she didn't even hear the door open.
"Now, now brothers! What is all this?"
Eilin opened her eyes quickly and saw Bofur winking at her.
"We are just having some fun, what's it to you?" The soldier who started the joke hurled angrily.
"Are you having fun with the two ladies or are you having fun at their expense?" Bofur asked casually and picked up an apple from the dusty counter. He cleaned it roughly on his tunic and took a large bite. The door opened up again and Bombur came in, followed by Bifur.
"What's going on here?" The ginger giant asked.
"These men are having fun at the expense of these wonderful ladies here." Bofur rejoined nonchalantly.
"Why do you care what we do?" The soldier squared his shoulders.
"I am bothered by your lack of manners. Why don't you try messing with someone your own size?" Bofur took another bite off the apple.
"Who the hell are you!?" The soldier stuck his thumps on his belt and straightened.
"Bofur from Oakenshield's company, you?" Bofur thrust his chin at them.
That name drop made it's impressions accordingly. The rough soldier raised his brow and his shoulders relaxed fractionally. "You are part of the King's company?"
"The best part of it!" Bofur smiled widely and Bombur laughed.
Bifur crossed his arms and muttered a few curses in Khuzdul just for good measure.
"Look, we don't mean any harm to the hairless creature." One of the other soldiers tried to ground the tension.
"That's good because you must know that talking down to women was never an attitude tolerated by the King in the Blue Mountains nor by his father Thrain and grandfather Thror here in Erebor. That tradition, dare I suspect, will live on so you might want to be careful about the fun you choose to have within these ancient walls." Bofur winked at his interlocutor playfully.
"That sounds more like a command than a request." The original soldier who first stirred up the pot hurled back at him.
"That's because it possibly is" -Bofur raised his brow- "and might I suggest that you call this delightful lady by her name and not by some ill meant nickname that points rudely towards her appearance."
Eilin bit her lip and frowned.
"If she honours us with it, of course I shall." The snarky soldier bowed, but everyone could see the sarcastic smile that dawned on his lips.
Bofur looked at Eilin and she shook her head in negation.
"Oh, you turned her off and I don't blame her. She doesn't want to share her name. Now...out." Bofur pointed above his shoulder towards the door.
"Another command?" The soldier raised his brow.
"Most definitely..." Bofur tilted his head and Bombur crossed his arms darkly.
The brash soldiers gathered their things and walked past them. The Dwarf that started all this bummed his shoulder on Bofur's purposefully and barked before closing the door. "Until this maiden gives us a name, hairless beast she will remain. I take commands only from the King or Lord Dain, no one else!" With that they marched out of the kitchens and the doors crashed behind them.
Bifur shook his head and muttered under his breath in Khuzdul.
"They smell like troll armpits." Bombur scrounged his nose disgusted.
"Thank you." Eilin exhaled and forced herself to smile at Bofur.
His clever eyes sparkled under his bushy brows. "Couldn't let you get tangled in such a mess. Took a liking for you last night."
Eilin lowered her eyes and blushed from head to toe. "Me too." She dared.
"Now you promised to come find us this morning with news about Thorin, yet you never did." Bombur sounded accusing.
"I am so sorry, I got caught up." Eilin tried to explain.
Bofur laughed and so did his brothers. "Listen to her. She believes we are chastising her. I told you she is delightful."
She frowned more out of awkwardness than anything else. "The King is doing much better this morning, but he is rather moody."
Bofur waved her off, slightly disheartened. "We know. Just bumped into Dis having a very loud discussion in the King's Halls with Dain."
Eilin caressed her face feeling exhausted both physically and mentally. "The Princess came in full of spunk this morning against everyone and the King was not in a mood to hear her. Things only took a nastier turn after their discussion."
Bofur leaned his hands on the table. "I think today we all need a break. All of us...from Kings to paupers. Do you agree?"
"I do..." Eilin's mouth twitched.
"You look way too tired and a little bit too scared for my liking." Bofur said with a side-smile.
Eilin rubbed her forehead and smiled. "I am not worse that anyone else in here, believe me." Her eyes fell on Tauriel's broken countenance.
"Don't think I forgot your fainting spell last night. I think this girl needs to learn the value of a good drink. What do you think Tauriel?" Bofur winked at the Wood-Elf.
Tauriel closed her eyes and huffed. "You haven't learned anything since I last saw you back at Lake Town."
"Nope and that's my charm!" Bofur laughed and so did Bombur.
Eilin looked surprised at the mild reproach between them. "I shouldn't be surprised that you all seem to know each other," she thought out loud.
"That sounds regretful." Bofur winked at her.
"Maybe it is. I don't really belong here." Eilin frowned.
"You are in Erebor young lady." -Bofur waved his hand around him vaguely as if he could show her all the majesty and depth of this Kingdom- "Therefore you belong here as much as we do."
Eilin's lips curled down, but she felt her heart warming up. "Thank you." She muttered.
Bofur's eyes darted at Tauriel. "And that goes for you too my Lady," he bowed.
Tauriel's smile was reserved, but her gaze was kind. "I'd prefer to hear that from the royal family. No offence intended."
"None taken, but today I don't think you will have such luck..." Bofur rebuked.
That is when the door flew open with an urgency that made everyone jerk back and Dwalin stormed in. The strange gathering took him by surprise and he paused for a few moments, but Tauriel was the one his eyes stayed upon the longest. Then he turned towards Bombur who was frozen still with a long knife buried in a boar's belly. "Thorin needs some food!" Came the command and it took everyone several moments to process it.
Bombur was the first to speak. "He actually asked for food? His stomach is sliced through and through."
"He's good enough to drink two bottles of ale so he's good enough to eat something to sustain his body." Dwalin barked.
"So he didn't ask for it, you are probably forcing it on him." Bofur concluded.
"What if I did? He cannot even walk without assistance. Have you seen his state? He cannot live only on water!" Dwalin went off and pointed at the door.
Bofur took two exasperated steps towards the taller Dwarf-Lord. "Have we seen his state? How can we see anything from him?! You are all keeping him behind locked doors since Oin butchered him up at the King's Halls!"
"I am not the one keeping him behind locked doors!" Dwalin crossed his arms angrily and spread his legs.
"Don't remind me of that part of our recent adventure. It took me and Nori two days to clean the golden floor from his blood!" Bombur joined in with eyes full of dread.
Eilin looked at him and shuddered hard at the image that popped in her mind.
"So who is keeping him from seeing us? Dain and Fili told us not attempt to go up to him at all! So did Dis." Bofur sounded accusing.
"Dain and Fili have orders and so do I!" Dwalin snapped.
"From who!?" Bofur stuck his fists on his waist.
"THORIN HIMSELF!" Dwalin thundered and dead silence fell all around them.
Eilin exhaled quietly and gazed at some dust specs which fell back at the clean counter.
Bofur pulled back and gazed dejected at his boots.
Bifur sat at the edge of the table and crossed his arms thoughtfully.
Tauriel cast her gaze on her crossed hands upon her lap.
Dwalin flayed his heavy arms once more, just to drive his point home.
"What kind of food? We cannot feed him a boar" -Bombur was the one who broke the awkward silence- "what do you feed someone so seriously wounded?"
"Cram would be good for his condition, but we ran out ages ago." Bofur said with a hushed voice.
"If we had some petty-dwarf roots or some rice, I could make him some porridge." Eilin looked around at them.
Bofur shook his head. "Our provisions are all finished. We have only the hunt and some spare eggs."
"Find me something!" Dwalin snapped, running low on patience.
"Wait for it! I am going to conjure some rice out of thin air and the girl will cook it for us. Wanna share some ale while we wait?" Bofur spat sarcastically.
"You looking for trouble now?" Dwalin came up to his face.
Tauriel's soft and collected voice was what stopped them. "I have some lembas bread with me, will that do?"
They both turned to her and Bofur frowned. "That's a nastier version of cram, isn't it?"
"Better version." Bombur raised a finger and attempted a smile.
"Similar version." Tauriel flicked her shoulders. She took out the bread and offered it to Dwalin who took it uncomplainingly.
"Thank you. Any milk left?" Dwalin looked at Eilin.
Eilin scattered to the back of the kitchen and brought over a wooden bottle that was full with fresh goat milk. "Here, I will make you a tray." She offered.
Dwalin nodded. "That would be nice."
Eilin hurried to make a very poor tray with a tumbler full of milk and Tauriel's lembas. Instinct told her that it was her job to take the tray up, but Dwalin's hands were already open and waiting for it as she turned around. He took it without another word and soon the door closed behind him.
Bombur exhaled and looked at the sliced belly of the boar. "Don't know if I feel relieved that Thorin is well enough to take food or terrified that Dwalin is so tense. What do you think is going on up there?"
Bofur sat down and crossed his arms. "I don't know, but I feel angry that Thorin chooses to hide himself from us. We travelled far and wide like brothers for almost a year and now he acts like he doesn't want anything to do with us."
"Just give him time. He's battling through some very rough moments." Eilin gazed at him calmly.
Bofur's brow wrinkled. "He is doing it all alone, without asking for anyone's help. That's hardly the Thorin I know."
Eilin leaned her hands on the counter and remained silent.
Bofur gazed at her for several moments before smiling. "Don't look so down, I am just worried. That's all. I'd like to see and talk to him."
She nodded in understanding. How could they not be worried? These men were the legends of whom so many people were talking about back at the Iron Hills. The company that travelled for so long and through so many perils. The ones who came so close to perishing before achieving their goal and now their head had isolated himself from them and they didn't know why. Neither did they know how to get any news from him. Apparently his bodyguard was as reserved as she was about spreading news and her mistress was even worse than her and the bodyguard combined. She began scrubbing the benches in order to keep herself occupied as Thorin's company and Tauriel got involved in a deep conversation about the final battle.
Eilin's place was not to intervene, but to listen closely at the events as they unfolded from the mouths of the ones who fought for their lives and for their comrades a few days ago. She scrubbed and cleaned as her ears feasted at the bravery of Men, Elves and Dwarves, but above all at the sacrifice and bravery of the King. The more she heard the more her eyes got lost into the polished black stone of the counters and her mind kept repeating that this must be a dream.
It must be some kind of a dream...
She couldn't be there amongst these men and women. Her days in that sleazy tavern and at the wilderness of the Dunlands still felt too vivid...too close for comfort. The gutter ethics of the men that came to that tavern seemed so far away from the courageous conduct of the legendary figures of these great Dwarven halls and everything in between these two worlds made no sense to her whatsoever.
No sense at all...
A/N: **Return to me
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