Chapter three -

"I thought your brothers would be asleep by now?" Lorna asked as they neared a door. The bad thing about Erebor is that everything looked the same, she knew that if Dis were to leave her she would definitely get lost.

"Oh, heavens no," Dis laughed, "my brothers are like warriors; they wake up at the break of dawn, fetch their breakfast by going out into the forest to catch wild boar, then they return to fight each other in the training grounds."

Lorna didn't know if she was teasing or telling the truth. She wouldn't be surprised if dwarven princes' did such things. The boys in Dale loved to hunt, together they formed groups where they would go out to the woods to see what they could kill. Bellaena and their father, Borin loved the idea and sometimes Borin would go out with them. Lorna however, never liked the idea of hunting animals, neither did her mother. But hunting for the royal family was hardly a surprising matter since they probably had annual dates for it.

Dis saw the look of confusion on Lorna's face and pushed her a little, laughing some more. "I'm only teasing."

"Oh," Lorna said, blinking multiple times to try and get over the fact she had fallen for it. "You do hunt, though?"

"Yes, but not as much as my brothers," Dis smiled, "do you hunt?" she asked Lorna. They made their way up even more emerald stairs where they could now see a balcony overviewing the training grounds.

"No, I'm a vegetarian," told Lorna, shaking her head slightly.

"That must be why you're so thin," Dis pointed out, but she was wrong - although Lorna never admitted it. The reason she was so skinny was because as part of an elvish tradition they would purge themselves to see how far they could endure. It was an awful tradition, but it extended their knowledge of survival. Lorna had gone through a full week with only just two bottles of water. It was something she was learning if she were to travel around the world she needed to learn how to survive without food or even water.

The girls walked through the doorway to the balcony where they both peered down to view the training ground. It was basically a grassy area with a square wall to show where you were allowed to train, and outside of it were wooden benches. "Do you come here often?" Lorna asked Dis.

Dis nodded, her gaze fixed on someone. "Whenever my brothers are here. It's what they do; train before breakfast," she told Lorna who raised an eyebrow appreciatively. "Come," Dis said, nodding over to the stairs that would lead down to the wooden benches.

They were still linked by their arms, and together they descended the stairs, both holding their skirts to make sure they knew their footing. As they did, Lorna couldn't help but glance over to the training ground where she saw four men sparring together in pairs. As they came closer, turning the corner towards an aisle that would then stopped - Dis and Lorna kept walking until they both reached the wall. Dis immediately relaxed, unlinking her arm from Lorna and resting her folded arms on the top of the wall. Since Dis was a dwarf, the wall was only a few inches smaller than her, and so she was only resting her two arms and chin on it - whereas Lorna who was taller just stood still, watching the fighting.

The first two pairs were older dwarves, one being very, very tall whilst the other was smaller, maybe even smaller than Dis. The smaller one had a long beard that reached down to her belt, which he tucked it under so it wouldn't get in the way. He was probably middle-aged since some of his beard was a mixture of grey and brown. The taller one had a large mohawk and beard, which was a dark chestnut brown. He looked angry whereas the other looked content. They were both fighting with dwarven swords, only slightly going hard on each other, sometimes the smaller one would politely ask the taller one to take it easy for him.

The other pair were two brothers, they both kept referring each other to 'brother' when they blocked one another. They both seemed the same size, but as the taller one stood still, Lorna realized how tall he actually was. Taller than even her. His face was emotionless, blocking his brother each time he would raise his sword high. He had two braids on either side of his beard, and more braids in his long dark hair. The other had light brown hair and stubble around his mouth. He looked younger, bouncing around to try and defend himself.

"Brothers," Dis cried out, the taller one stopped and looked over at Dis, but his eyes switched to look at Lorna who stood next to her. Narrowing his eyes he tried to think who she was, when suddenly the younger brother lashed out and sprinted over to him, trying to take him down. Immediately the older brother took one step to the side and left his foot out for his brother to trip on. He did, and like a tree being cut down, the brother fell hard onto the ground. Everyone stopped, the other pair instantly walked over to see what was happening. Meanwhile, the older brother stayed put, his gaze fixed on Lorna.

Lorna who was unaware of it looked at the brother who had fallen. Was he okay? She thought he didn't seem in pain. Like a spring from a box, the younger brother sprang up and looked up at his older brother, a smirk on his face. "Why did you do that?" He asked - he didn't look mad, just in shock that he was taken down so easily.

The older brother who's eyes were on Lorna, watched as she turned to look at him, immediately he looked away. Staring at his younger brother, Frerin, he smiled, "wanted to prove a point that you are too all over the place when fighting, if you had just stayed where you were you - possibly - could've taken me down," the older brother said. Being half-elf had many advantages and hearing from long distances was certainly one of them, she narrowed her eyes a little, understanding why the brother did so. He was right, obviously. "Also," the older brother added, "it was funny." He smirked, looking down at Frerin who squinted his eyes at his brother.

"Oh," he said, "funny is it?" Frerin spread his legs out in battle position, "I'll show you funny-" he charged at his older brother, thinking he had more of a chance, but the brother didn't realize how ready his older brother actually was.

The older brother automatically stabbed his sword into the ground and grabbed his brother by his collar and leg as he charged and threw him over his shoulder onto the ground. Lorna and Dis winced as they heard the clash of armor and cry out from the younger brother.

Meanwhile, the older brother reached out for his sword that was stuck in the ground and pointed it at his brother's face. "Do you yield?" He asked, panting.

The brother held his hands up and breathed out, "I yield, I yield!"

Lorna couldn't believe how strong the dwarf was, he carried his brother like he weighed nothing. "My brother," Dis said, her eyes pointing over at the older brother, "is a great warrior, but I've never seen him do something like that before. I wonder why," Dis said, "maybe he was showing off."

Lorna who's gazed was fixed on the older brother replied without turning her head, "which brother is that?"

"Thorin," the sister replied.

Lorna's eyes widened a little. Of course, it was Thorin, she should've known. Thorin held his hand out for Frerin to hold as he helped him up to his feet. Together they laughed over the fight and hugged, both clamping each other hard on the back.

Thorin, Frerin and the other two made their way towards Dis and Lorna, completely oblivious as to who Lorna was exactly. Stopping near them, it was the dwarf with the mohawk that spoke first, "good morning, my lady," he bowed, he didn't bother to look at Lorna - she didn't mind, she was too busy realizing that Thorin was taller than her, by a few inches. But not as tall as the one with the mohawk.

"And a good morning to you, cousin," Dis said. Cousin? Lorna thought, she turned to look at Dis who saw how confused she was. "Boys, this is my new handmaiden, Lorna Silverstone."

Lorna smiled at all of them.

"Nice to meet you, Lorna," the small long bearded dwarf said.

"Nice to meet you all, too," Lorna replied, bowing her head slightly.

"You're small for an elf," Thorin spoke up. Lorna glanced over at him, she was shocked at how low his voice was.

And you're an alright fighter, for a dwarf; Lorna thought, but she knew she shouldn't say anything. It was not her place. "Yes, my lord," she spoke up, curtsying a little.

"Her mother is Lilanna Silverstone, Thorin," Dis pointed out. Thorin raised his head a little, realizing who she was.

"Ah, so you're half-elf half- dwarf," Thorin said.

"Yes, my lord," Lorna said, again.

There was suddenly an awkward silence, something that made Lorna slightly uncomfortable especially since Thorin's gaze was stuck on her. It was like he was examining her, wanting to find out everything about her.

Frerin was the first to speak up, Lorna praising him in her head. "So, how long have you been here in Erebor?"

"Today is my first day as Princess Dis' handmaiden, but I've lived in Dale my whole life," Lorna answered his question. Frerin nodded, he seemed kinder than Thorin who was blunt and slightly rude.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" The small dwarf asked.

"Yes, I am, Mr-" she didn't know his name, and felt obligated to know so in case she were to ever see him again.

"My name is Balin, my lady," he bowed at her, he looked up at the tall mohawk dwarf, "and this is my younger brother, Dwalin." Dwalin just nodded at her.

Lorna bowed, "it's nice to meet you all."

Dis snorted, "oh please, I can tell you're bored, let's leave the men to manly activities and-"

"Dis," Thorin raised his voice, "maybe the lady likes the manly activities?" Everyone turned their heads to Lorna, she flushed.

"Um," Lorna tried to think of what to say, "if you want me to leave with you, your majesty, I'll go with you, of course."

Dis waved a hand at her, "no, no, I was just thinking you were bored that's all," she said, then continued, "are you enjoying yourself here?"

Lorna felt like everyone was judging her - hell, they probably were. "I do not mind, whatever you wish."

Dis smiled and turned to look at her cousins and brothers, "carry on gentlemen, we'll stay and watch until we get called for breakfast."

The cousins and Frerin nodded, walking away from the ladies while Thorin stayed - his eyes still on Lorna. "Which culture do you prefer, my lady?" Lorna couldn't believe Prince Thorin was trying to start a conversation. From the corner of her eye, she watched as Dis smirked a little, something sneaky on her mind. Nevertheless, Dis walked over to the wooden bench to sit down, leaving Thorin and Lorna alone.

Lorna observed from behind Thorin and Frerin, Balin and Dwalin fought together in threes. Surely, Thorin should go over and fight with them to keep it fair? "I prefer," she stopped, thinking that maybe she should just say dwarven culture than elvish since it would make him happy, but then she would be lying..."um," she gulped, clearing her throat, "I prefer elvish culture, your majesty."

Thorin cocked his head back, completely shocked with what she had said. "And what is it you love more than dwarven culture?"

"The way elvish people see the world," she immediately replied.

"And how is that?" Thorin asked intrigued, he walked closer to her. Lorna stayed still, frozen almost.

"Elves see beauty, wonder, and amazement in the world, they do not harm animals since they are all vegetarian. They nurture the world and do not think war is the primary objective to solve peace," Lorna said.

"But surely if an army is on your doorstep and they have wronged you - you would want them to know their place?" Thorin raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't start a war, I would talk and resolve with them," Lorna said, "I do not think that a war that can cause depression, poverty and make many women widows and many children orphans is a good decision."

Thorin was taken aback. From a young age he has always been told he will one day be King, and being a King sometimes means going to war. He knew it in his heart one day there would be a war and an army for him to command. But now, after what Lorna had just told him, he felt ashamed somehow.

Lorna saw the blankness on his face and instantly felt embarrassed, she cast her head down and fiddling with her fingers, "I'm sorry," she mumbled, "you probably don't agree."

Thorin took one large step forward, he placed his hands on the wall and lowered his head so he could still see her face. "No, I actually do-"

"Come on, Thorin!" Frerin shouted, both Lorna and Thorin lifted their heads up and looked over at Frerin who was waving him over.

Sighing deeply, Thorin turned back to Lorna and bowed his head, "until we meet again, my lady." Before Lorna could reply, he had turned and left.

Walking over to the bench Dis sat on, Lorna sat down and inhaled loudly. "I think he likes you," Dis said. Lorna snapped her head towards the princess.

"What?" she hissed, "no," Lorna said, "no he doesn't. He was just being kind."

Dis snorted. "What were you guys talking about, anyways?" she inquired. Lorna frowned a little.

"We discussed war," Lorna responded. Dis made a face that looked in pain - or confusion, whatever it was Lorna couldn't tell precisely.

"How odd," Dis eventually said. "Maybe you two are made for each other."

Lorna shook her head, "we talked for four minutes, maybe five. That doesn't mean I'm made for him. I've talked to a lot of people, am I married to them?"

Dis' face light up, "oh! And you've got his sass too, I can't wait to see what your babies are going to end up like." Lorna elbowed Dis to which they both laughed out loud.

Dis was right in some way - Lorna did think Thorin incredibly attractive, especially his eyes, they reminded Lorna of a storm. Despite his features, Lorna wanted to travel, she had no time for Princes' and she bet the Princes' didn't have time for her. She only took this job for her mother's happiness and for the money so in the future she could leave Dale.

Lorna repeated those words in her mind: 'she had no time for Princes' and the Princes' didn't have time for her'. But even so, she still looked at Thorin as he was fighting this time with Dwalin, and she felt herself feel all sorts of butterflies in her belly.