Disclaimer: I own nothing except Eva and any other unrecognisable parts of this story. Please don't sue, I'm not making money from this (even though I wish I were).

AN: I'm sorry this took so long to upload. I've been watching all of you since February, but I feel that I haven't had the time to breathe given what most of the year has been like after that upload. Remote learning has been an interesting experience with my young family. I haven't forgotten about you, I promise! Thank you for all the new favourites and follows. I appreciate every one of you!

Warnings:None in this chapter, I think….

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Chapter 21 - Legend in Progress

The morning dawned crisp as Eva woke, the sunlight falling sharply into her room. The slight chill on the breeze did not bother her though as she dressed for the morning. Even though the clothing was more form-fitting in places, and slightly longer in others, it was better than nothing. Eva was coming to learn that it was common for the Race of Men to be significantly taller than her, let alone the elves.

As she went about getting ready, Eva began to feel an increasingly uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. It was not common, but whenever she had gotten this feeling in the past, something had always gone wrong later in the day. It set her on edge, and as a result, she did not hear the footsteps coming up the hall.

She did, however, hear the sharp knock on her door that caused her to shriek in surprise.

"Miss Eva!" came the muffled voice of Dwalin "Are yeh decent?"

Pressing a hand against her chest in a bid to calm her heart down, she yelled in reply "I'll be out in a sec!"

"Pardon?" came the confused, muffled reply.

Eva huffed. Cultural barriers. "One moment!"

Grabbing a warm tunic and a piece of fruit, she opened the door to be rendered silent by the sight of Dwalin wearing what appeared to be full training gear. She blinked as he spun around to see her, his eyes full of hostility.

"Ready?"

Eva blinked "Whatever for?"

"Thorin's requested yeh." Dwalin replied shortly.

She paused, taking in the grim demeanor of the dwarf in front of her "I was under the impression that Thorin wanted nothing to do with me, if his behaviour when I last saw him was anything to go by."

Dwalin grunted "Comin' or not?"

Eva was taken aback by the abrupt response, wondering what exactly had happened "Do I really have a choice?"

"No." he replied shortly. He then turned his back and began walking stiffly down the hall. "Well?"

This is not going to end well.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Bifur hummed as he carved, low and deep, the knife biting into the wood to shave away at the vines he so lovingly created. Work-worn hands ran along the surface of the staff, smoothing over the wood and checking for imperfections in his piece. At the very top of the staff where the wood was slightly thicker, he carved a mother and baby bird in their nest. The mother's wing was slightly outstretched, providing a shield from which the young bird peeked out. He ran his hand over the carving, and gave a satisfied nod when he felt no imperfections.

"It is well-crafted, Master Dwarf." came the gentle voice of a woman.

Bifur looked up.

For a moment, all he saw was white and gold. Then as he blinked to clear his vision, he realised that he was staring at a she-elf. Blonde wavy hair fell gently to her waist as she knelt on the warm ground in front of him. Bifur looked at her in confusion before giving an almost bashful smile.

"It will be greatly appreciated, Master Dwarf." she continued, her gentle tone never wavering "Even an elf such as myself can see the love in your crafting."

Bifur's brow furrowed in confusion, but nonetheless gave a hesitant smile.

"She will need you, Master Dwarf."

Bifur's smile faded in confusion.

"Lady Eva has no-one left. She has been tasked to protect you, but there has been no-one for her on this journey to call friends, maybe even family. No man is an island. That is what they say in the Race of Men."

Bifur simply studied the she-elf, waiting for her to say something more.

"Your work and dedication will come to mean much more to her than even either of you ever imagined. Take care of her, for her loneliness is a dangerous thing."

Bifur gave a sharp nod and watched her rise. She regarded Bifur gently, and he got the distinct impression that she quietly approved of the dwarf himself. With a gentle incline of her head, she turned to leave. Bifur looked down to the staff once more.

"Master Dwarf?"

He looked up, surprised.

"The forge is to the north of the training grounds, should you wish to use it."

And then, the she-elf was gone.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Eva followed Dwalin in silence, not entirely sure of what was going on. Confusion warred with a rising sense of panic as she realised that Dwalin was leading her down to the training grounds that she had been to in earlier days with Lord Glorfindel. She tried not to think about any possible sparring matches with the dwarf escorting her.

Suddenly, the pair made a sharp right turn into one of the shaded pavilions. It was open-air and pleasant enough, but it did nothing to settle Eva's nerves.

"Miss Eva." came the voice of the one person she was dreading to speak with.

"Master Thorin." Eva returned as levelly as she could "You asked for me?"

"Aye." he said softly. But the softness in his voice did not reach the sapphire blue of his eyes.

Eva blinked and sat down on the bench opposite him, while Dwalin stood guard at the entrance of the pavilion. "Is there something you needed, Master Thorin?"

Calculating eyes studied her nervous form before replying "Aye, Miss Eva. I need answers."

Eva's back straightened "What do you mean?"

"You have not been entirely truthful with us, Miss Eva. I intend to find out why." Thorin replied calmly.

Dwalin watched the interaction between his One and the human woman and found it interesting that the look in her eyes belied curiosity rather than fear. He knew that something wasn't right, and as the Company's self-appointed protector he had every right to listen in on this particular conversation.

The guard watched Eva's face change from a look of curiosity to a look of satisfaction "You can ask all the questions you wish." She said as she leaned back to make herself comfortable, her eyes never leaving the dwarf in front of her "But I don't think you will like the answers to them. There is only so much that I can tell you too, so fair warning."

Dwalin saw Thorin's eyes spark with annoyance "You will answer my questions, woman." Thorin whispered, his tone icy steel "Or you will be left behind."

Thorin saw Eva lean back as he had leant forward in an attempt to intimidate her into answering, but she seemed to be considering her words as she studied him openly in return. He saw in her eyes the moment that she had made her decision to say her piece.

"I have been permanently left behind in the land of the Living while my little family was taken from me." Eva began quietly, her tone gentle, yet firm "Do you really think that your threats of leaving me behind in Rivendell scare me? When they were taken from me, I thought I lost my purpose. When I chose to come here, my purpose was given back to me. Do you really think that I would be held back by the threats of someone mortal?"

She drew herself up straight in the pavilion and took a deep, shuddering breath. Dwalin noticed the air around her change suddenly "I made a promise to them, and no mortal word will keep me from fulfilling it. Besides," Here, she had the audacity to scoff "you have no idea how to get out of this place without having to ask for help. And likely your pride will prevent you from asking anyone before you actually need to leave."

Thorin could feel the anger rise in him, not only because he would have dearly liked to have yelled at her, but also because she was frustratingly right. He set his mouth to a grim line as he debated what he would say to her, but she got in first.

"Yes, there are things that I know and that I cannot tell you. But that is because I swore an oath, not because I do not want to. I have no intention of harming anyone in the Company… you are far more likely to do that by yourself."

And with that, she stood straight with all the grace she could muster and silently exited the pavilion, leaving behind one confused and another seething dwarf.

.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.

Even in the warm afternoon sun, Eva felt cold. When she had been travelling with the Company, she was fine with being ignored as she was, but as she listened to Dwain and Thorin talking in low, rapid-fire Khuzdul, she knew something had changed. The quietness that had settled around her was eerie; foreboding in its heaviness.

She wandered.

In the distance, Estel's shriek of laughter could be heard, and Eva felt her eyes brim with tears again. She began to remember a time that was happier, where she would dote on her boys and have Liam-

Not going there. Not today!

So she wandered physically.

She was in a different world now. All that she had ever known had been taken from her. This world was simpler, but in many ways harsher than what she knew. The wilds were exactly that: wild. She was living her favourite story, but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The brutal reality was that, even if she wanted to, there was no way that she could go back now. Even if she wanted to, she could not leave until her task was done. There wasn't even any guarantee that she would survive the journey to Erebor, let alone complete-

"Nanith?" came a deep, gruff voice.

She looked up and was met with the concerned and confused gaze of Bifur, of all khazad. He gazed at her. She blinked and approached the dwarf unsteadily.

"Master Bifur, are you alright?" Eva asked softly.

His confusion deepened as he continued to stare at her in a way that she had never seen him look before. Something changed in his eyes shortly after, and he reached out to gently but firmly seize her by the arm and lead her up and away from the pavilion. Perplexed, Eva let herself be led by the axe-headed dwarf and followed him to a sight that Eva wasn't sure she would be seeing.

"Master Bifur, why are we at the Forges?"

He said nothing as he approached one of the fires, throwing some wood and poking into the flames so that the fire would surge around it. He wandered over to the bellows and placed a work-worn hand on it. Then, he looked back at Eva.

With a quick jerk of his head, she understood that he wanted her to work the bellows while he did … whatever it was that he wanted to do. Uncertain and slightly intimidated by the size of the bellows, she walked over and placed her hand beside his, waiting. He shifted his hands so that they were on top of hers, then pressed down the bellows. Once it was half depressed, he let it come up all on its own. He then turned his back.

As Eva continued, suddenly aware that she as a human would have to put much more strength into the bellows than Bifur had, she saw a glint of silver as he removed something from his pocket. She saw the hint of a lop-sided smile flicker across his face before a whole lot of clanging brought her back to the present and Bifur gestured sharply to the fire, her and back again to the fire.

"Oh! Okay. I didn't know you wanted it THAT fast. I'm human!" Eva replied with a smile.

Bifur huffed exaggeratedly, but Eva could see his eye light. She grasped the bellows handle with both hands and pushed.

I'm gonna hurt tomorrow!

Her shoulder twinged slightly as she worked the bellows the best she could, but she ignored the pain in favour of watching Bifur work. She still kept rhythm, but looked around to where the actual workstation was. She could see that Bifur was melting the silver thing she saw before, but his bulky body blocked out the rest of what he was doing. Sighing, she turned back to the bellows and hummed. That humming turned into quiet singing without her even noticing.

"Legends never die,

When the world is calling you

Can you hear it screaming out your name?

"Legends never die,

They become a part of you,

Everytime you bleed for reaching greatness,

Relentless-"

The clanking of a hammer on metal brought Eva out of her little song, but she still tapped her foot to the beat of the song she knew well. She felt that it was fitting in a way.

The forge...

The fire….

The loneliness….

Eva peeked over her shoulder and watched as she saw Bifur pouring something into a mould. Whatever it was hissed as it hit the surface of the mould, a thin stream of smoke rising into the air in its wake. She watched the face of this strange dwarf as it contorted into a look of intense concentration, his head tilting slightly as his eyes focused almost solely on the flow of the molten material as it flowed and settled into the mould.

It was curious watching Bifur work. He walked with a slight limp around the forge, muttering occasionally in the harsh tones of Khuzdul that Eva had no understanding of .But every move he made, every stroke he hit was deliberate and spoke of a well honed craft. He was extremely focused as he appeared to beat out something into a thread.

"Nanith?" he rumbled.

Eva started, jerked out of her observations of him while he watched her watching him. A meaty, scarred and work-worn hand haltingly beckoned her over to the creation lying on the work table. As Eva got closer, she gasped at the beauty of what lay in front of her.

"Oh, Bifur!" Eva whispered in awe, completely missing the way the dwarf tilted his head and beamed "It's breath-taking! May I?" she asked as she approached, indicating that she wanted to pick it up.

He shook his head violently, then made a gesture towards the staff before quickly withdrawing it and waving it about furiously, blowing on his hand.

"Ahhh! Still hot?"

Bifur gave her a single nod, but still beckoned her to come and look still.

Initially, Eva was in awe of the craftsmanship lying before her. The detail was beautiful in its depiction of nature, and she admired the way the cooling metal sizzled and smoked as it set into the wood. Then as she paid attention to the detail, she froze.

"Come, Glawar, wield again."

As Eva lifted the staff once more, the intricate metalwork shone in the morning sun. Vines creeped their way down around what seemed to be a core of oak, which seemed fitting for her. She stood and faced the elf.

"Whatever the darkness, I have my light…." she whispered in horror.

"Nanith?" Bifur began, worry colouring his voice.

Eva did not hear Bifur's cry of alarm as both of them reached out at the same time and touched the staff. As soon as they connected, the metal thread that had been inlaid into the staff glowed a bright white, lighting the staff from the base to the very tip, highlighting the vines and the mother and baby bird nesting at the top.

"What the hell?!" Eva whispered, staring at the silver metallic thread that was slowly beginning to lose its glow in the staff

"That's what I thought."

Her head snapped up in shock "What did you say?"

Bifur looked at her in confusion "Did you just understand me?"

"Yes!" Eva gasped "Is this really happening? Say something else!"

"Bofur's damn hat!"

This caused Eva to pause "What's wrong with Bofur's hat?"

Bifur gave a rather spectacular splutter before he reached out and touched her hand gently. Eva looked to him, back to the staff and then back to him again.

"Thank you," Bifur began wetly, tears gathering in his eyes.

Eva looked at the greying dwarf in alarm "Bifur? Oh, Heavens! Please don't cry! I didn't-"

Whatever she was going to say next was cut off by the axe-headed dwarf bringing her into a strong, almost too tight embrace, his strong chunky arms enveloping her small frame. She swore she heard him sniff a little.

"Daughter…"

Eva froze. She pulled away to look the strange dwarf in the eye "Do you really mean that, Bifur?"

Bifur stood proud, the staff temporarily forgotten "Aye. T'would be an honour, to have a daughter like you." He began.

Eva swallowed. She had been without a family to belong to for so long, and to suddenly be offered this was too good to be true.

"Do you know what you are offering? … Heavens, do you know what you're doing?" Now it was Eva on the verge of tears.

"Aye, Eva. I know what I'm doin'. I would not offer you offense knowing what you have endure for family.." Bifur paused, drew himself to his full, proud height and continued "Eva, Daughter of Man, do you consent to be taken in by the Broadbeam clan? To be a new life and hope to our clan and what we carry in our veins, Foundling though ye are?"

Eva gaped, silent tears running down her cheeks. For the first time in a long time, she would finally belong somewhere.

She swallowed "Does this mean I get to call you adad?"

Bifur nearly dropped the staff, its glow now completely gone. Slowly, he approached her and gently grasped the back of her neck, bringing her forehead down to touch his own while being mindful of the axe in his head. His cheeks were wet with tears, but neither of them cared.

"It would be the highest blessing," Bifur began wetly "to have you call me adad."

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Nanith - Daughter/girl that is young

Adad - Father/Dad

AN: Over the next little bit, I'm going to be doing tiny edits to previous chapters in this story, so if you see that this story has been updated but the chapters haven't moved, it's likely because previous chapters have been edited and re-uploaded. There was very good feedback in the reviews that I wanted to incorporate, and I hope that this will make the story flow a bit better.