So here's the next chapter of my little spamming spree. There's another reason I have posted this because I am currently carrying the biggest headache on earth. OK, I'm exaggerating but it's still bad. Not to mention I had to collect money from my classmates for graduation and I panicked. I thought I lost six hundred pesos since one of my classmates also signed another's place and my records got mixed up. And 600 pesos is a huge sum of money for a student that doesn't and can't have a job (yet) and refuses to ask for more from their parents.
We fixed it up eventually. Still, it didn't help my headache.
We've been having too much of the main characters so I've decided to use Balin as my muse today. He seems to be the appropriate choice, aside form Thorin anyway, to get this many headaches in such a short span of time. OK, maybe not short span of time, but I'm sure you guys know what I mean.
Anyway, news on my personal life: I don't have any community service despite being late to some classes a couple of times, because of me collecting the money for graduation. Apparently it's a legit reason according to my homeroom teacher. So that means I can continue writing my stories. Yay!
Leona2016: Huh, I'm surprised you reviewed so early. That is a nice surprise. I'll try to not overstrain myself, which wouldn't be a problem since I absolutely have nothing to do in school. And for the record, Thranduil is blushing. Either from rage from getting hit with the cabbage or from the 'pretty' comment. Nice throw, by the way!
Disclaimer: I own nothing literature wise except for the pathetic attempts of stories I am posting/ trying to write. And The Hobbit counts for that.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I.
Balin had a migraine the day Smaug took Erebor from the Dwarrows. He had spent the morning refereeing a political match between two nobles arguing about the treasury and kitchen and other mundane matters when the drake attacked. It was a miracle (shh!) that the meeting ended. He thought that, perhaps, the nobles wouldn't take notice of all the rumbling and roars from outside the mountain and would have continued the argument regardless of an attack.
(He still remembered that day. He doubted anyone could have forgotten it. Pain pounding into his temples as he stumbled around to the barracks, trying to find his way to Prince Thorin, and nearly getting killed because of it. Dragon fire blasting near his body with the addition of a vicious migraine was not the best experience in the world.)
Over the years, the son of Fundin wondered if he could have made a difference and saved more lives if he didn't have a headache and could have stalled the dragon.
(He knew it was foolish thought, thinking he can stop a bloody creature hundreds － thousands － of times bigger than he was. That didn't mean he couldn't stop thinking about it. Balin was an adviser for a reason; he could have thought up a plan that would, at the very least, stall Smaug! But no, he almost got burned to a crisp and would have, had it not been for Thorin at the time.)
II.
Balin's position as adviser/scribe often gave him migraines. He didn't mind that. It was a hazard, honestly. However, he had to work with pig-headed 'nobles' － Dwarrow who believed that they can take nobility and act superior to others (HA! He studied the lineage of nobility since he could go to lessons, as a hobby no less. There was no way 'Grimjaw' was a real name) － and idiots who mishandled the books. That was a pain.
He enjoyed teaching them their rightful place.
(He really enjoyed watching the fakes look horrified for getting caught in the act and the idiots cringe in fear as he tore into them. They never came back nor destroyed the books again, but more did come in their place. It was always a joy to teach them some manners.)
III.
The song － which was catchy, he had to admit － gave him a headache. It reminded him too much of the time when he, Dwalin and Thorin made up 'That's What Notol Hates,' when they had too much ale.
(They really hate Notol, who acted so superior and mighty. Even Thorin's grandfather wasn't as proud as that dwarf. It was quite fun breaking his things even though they didn't need to.)
Balin hoped no one will know his involvement. Maybe if he stuffed Dwalin with the ale Master Baggins has, Dwalin would be too drunk to even talk.
…No, they needed to rise early the next day and he didn't want to deal with a Dwalin that was too grumpy and had a hangover.
(He was young, foolish, and drunk! Even if it became a tradition over the past decades, Balin didn't want to be known as a creator of that drinking song!
…Not that he would admit he liked the thought of it.)
IV.
Interacting with elves will always give any Dwarrow a headache. Unfortunately, as the adviser and the oldest, he had the responsibility to talk to Lord Elrond (even if Thorin was the de facto King of the Dwarves).
The pain behind his eyes grew worse when Thorin handed over the map.
(Yes, he knew that the elf was the Company's only hope in reading the moon runes, but that didn't mean he had to like it! What Dwarf in their right mind would trust an elf to not lead them astray?)
V.
Balin, son of Fundin, had a constant migraine blooming behind his eyes for the past days. It started right as they crossed into Laketown but steadily increased as they journeyed to Erebor. It spiked up after Thorin ordered the search for the Arkenstone.
He didn't mind, not really… They needed to find it fast. But with all the stress and nonstop searching, he wanted a break from everything… Wait, why was he stopping? They needed the Arkenstone… Thorin was right; thieves could steal it… That couldn't happen. The Arkenstone was theirs to keep!
(Everything was fuzzy and all he could think was about the Arkenstone. He vaguely knew that he had to rest and eat and drink, but the Arkenstone was more important than any of those things. Besides, Bilbo was there to help them do those things when it was necessary.)
They have to find it… Before it was too late.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Shadow: Ugggghhh
Balin: You too, lassie?
Shadow: Yup. How's your head, Balin? Sorry I chose you as my guinea pig...
Balin: I've experienced worse. Though, you are surprisingly on point with the elves. Any dwarf will agree with me that they are a pain to deal with.
Shadow: Yes, I suppose if I have to interact with elves, it would be rather awkward. I'm already socially inept; I don't need elves' stiff behaviors.
Balin: Word of advice, lassie: avoid them if you are feeling as bad as you do now.
Shadow: Thanks Balin. I have to go; I'm going to sleep off this headache and get some rest for tomorrow. Bye..