Chapter One
No One's POV:
The next morning, Torche had been busy preparing Lalina for her birthday feast. "It seemed that one of the Princes of Erebor has a liking for you, my dear." said Torche. "You're not speaking of Prince Thorin are you?" asked Lalina. "Yes, Prince Thorin, my lady." Torche replied. "Torche, he doesn't even like me. He got a little rude with me last night when I shown him to his room." said Lalina. "He was tired my lady. Maybe he'll treat you better at the feast." said Torche.
What is she trying to do, play match maker? I may have the hots for him, but he got rude with me, and that's where it stands, just mere acquaintances and nothing more, Lalina thought. Lalina had spent the remainder of the day exploring the kingdom until the time the feast started. Later that evening, Lalina entered the Royal Dining Hall, and she could see many dwarves gathered, and as well as the royal family, Thror, Thrain, Dis, Frerin and Thorin. Narin gave a proper introduction of the family to Lalina, and she curtsied to all of them.
"And lastly, this is Prince Thorin." said Narin.
"Yes, I know. We spoke rather briefly last night." said Lalina icily and she walked away. "Lalina, darling, that is no way to treat your guests! Aren't you going to say something?" Narin scorned. "No." Lalina replied as she sat down and began eating her food rather quickly, almost animal like. "Good heaven's above, she's eating like she's never eaten before!" exclaimed Frerin. "Slow down there lassie, you're going to a race!" joked Dwalin.
"Bite me!" Lalina snapped. "LALINA!" bellowed Narin, and he blushed and he turned to the family. "You must excuse her. I have no idea what's got into my daughter this evening." said Narin, glaring at her. "Excuse me." said Lalina, and she stood up and left the dining room. Narin shortly followed, and he gently and firmly rests her hand on her shoulder, turning her around to face him. "I don't know what your problem is, Lalina, but this little attitude of yours needs to stop, now! That is no way of you disrespect your guests like that!" Narin scorned her.
"Well, they were being rude to me! Especially that stubborn, arrogant jack ass of a Prince, THORIN!" Lalina shouted. "He never meant to be rude to you, Lalina. He was tired! Now come back and enjoy your birthday. I don't like seeing my daughter miserable!" said Narin.
Lalina sighed. "Very well. Let's go." said Lalina. And they walked back to the Dining Hall. After supper, they gathered in the Great Hall to socialize as Narin continued talking to Thror and Thrain. Lalina felt a little out of place. "My son Breg is due back from his hunting trip today." said Narin proudly. When Lalina heard that, it surprised her. I have a brother!? Lalina thought. "You should go talk to Lord Narin's daughter. She's sitting there all by herself with no one to talk to." said Dis.
But Frerin and Thorin didn't move. "Fine, I will! I don't understand the two of you sometimes." snapped Dis, and she walked away, and she approached Lalina and she down with her. "My brothers can be real idiots sometimes." said Dis. This made Lalina smile. "I have a brother, Christopher, but I haven't seen him in ages. He's two years younger than I am. But very loud an obnoxious though." said Lalina. "Don't be too hard on them. All of us had been through a lot since we lost our home." said Dis. Lalina nodded, and she looked over at the brothers.
"But your name rings a bell though, because it was Grandfather whom been wanting to ask your father to marry Thorin. But that was long before Smaug attacked, and that's when you turned up missing." said Dis. When the words 'marry Thorin' was mentioned, Lalina's eyes widened.
"You mean to tell me I was set up with an arranged marriage even if I wasn't here?" asked Lalina. "Yep. My brother even sent out a search party to find you, because he really wanted to meet you, Lady Lalina." said Dis smiling. Well, that explains why he was rather rude to me the other night, thought Lalina. "Alright, who's up for some music?!" called out Narin, has he took out his fiddle. "We're for it!" chimed in Dwalin. "Belnir, bring out the instruments for our guests, and bring a harp for Thorin, here!" said Narin. The dwarf nodded, and several other dwarves followed to help him bring forth instruments.
Lalina smiled as she sat down and prepared to watch her father, Dwalin, Balin, Frerin and Thorin play music. When they started, it was Thorin whom led in the singing. And Lalina mostly focused on Thorin at the harp. The song was so beautiful, it moved Lalina to tears. Dis took Lalina's hand. After that one was played, they begin to play a more merrier song, and the dwarves gathered encouraged Lalina to dance. "I don't dance!" said Lalina. "Come on sugar, I know you can dance! Get off your arse and dance, birthday girl!" said a dwarf approaching her, and her grabbed her arm and began dancing with her.
"So tell me, my lady. Are you married?" asked the dwarf dancing with her. "Thankfully no. I wish to remain a single status." Lalina replied.
"Why?" said the dwarf. "Because its my choice, and I'm happy with the life I'm in right now!" said Lalina. "For a princess, you're quite an old fuss pot!" joked the dwarf. "Yeah, yeah, whatever!" grumbled Lalina. She felt this birthday party was quite boring. She wanted to spend her birthday party by herself, trying to adjust her new life. "Excuse me, you don't mind if I cut in?" said a deep voice behind the dwarf whom is dancing with Lalina. "Why of course!" said the dwarf, stepping aside.
Lalina noticed it was Thorin who decided to cut it. "Oh, hello." said Lalina. "I wish to apologize for my actions the other night. I felt tire of traveling." said Thorin. "No, no, there is no need to apologize. I know what happened, your sister told me. I'm so sorry." said Lalina. Thorin nodded. "She also told me that I could've been married to you." said Lalina. "Yes, its true, but you disappeared." said Thorin. "My father sent me away because of the orc raids that happened here. He didn't want me to get killed." said Lalina.
"Apparently, you father did the right thing. But its nice you have came back." said Thorin. "But Thorin, there is something you need to know. I had no idea that Narin was my father until my Great Aunt told me. You see I lived in another world long before I returned here. I really shouldn't be telling you this." said Lalina.
And they stopped dancing, and she quickly turned away. "So you are saying that you just recently discovered who you are?" asked Thorin. Lalina nodded. "Oh, I didn't know. So what have you been doing in that world before you came here?" asked the dwarf prince. "Studying to become a registered nurse. It's a really song story, actually." said Lalina. "I wouldn't mind hearing it." said Thorin. Lalina and Thorin sat down as Lalina told Thorin about Kansas, and its modern technology. Thorin seemed quite interested.
"We also have books, and movies too but I really don't want to get into that." said Lalina. And the two sat in silence. "You look very beautiful tonight, in case anyone hasn't told you." said Thorin. Lalina smiled. "Thank you, but wearing corsets isn't my mind. I feel like I'm being suffocated." said Lalina. Thorin laughed. "What are you used to wearing then?" asked the dwarf. "Pants and a blouse." Lalina replied. "I don't see any wrong in that." said Thorin. "I'm a princess, however, I have no other choice but to wear dresses." said Lalina with a shrug.
"You don't have too all the time, Lalina. I'm a princess, and I only wear gowns on special occasions like this one!" spoke up Dis. Several weeks after the birthday feast, Lalina became very close with the Royal family that had been staying with them for a while.
But it was one night, Thror had decided they needed to leave. A part of Lalina didn't want to see them go, because she became good friends with Thorin, Frerin and Dis. It was Thorin whom promised he would send letters to her, through a raven. "Don't worry, Lalina. If we ever come by this way, we'll stop for a visit." said Thorin. "You have your word on it?" said Lalina. "You have my word on it!" said Thorin, smiling at Lalina, and he kissed her forehead. "Farewell, Lady Lalina, until our paths cross again!" said Thorin. "Farewell Prince Thorin!" said Lalina, and she watched the family, and their people leave.
Spring, 2899
It had been several years since Lalina's arrival, and her friendship with the Royal Family. Lalina hadn't done much in her home, except for helping her father run the kingdom. It was one day, Lalina was in her chambers, when she smelt something burning. "What is that smell?" Lalina asked loudly. Suddenly, she could hear a loud scream from Torche. "My lady! We're under attack!" Torche screamed running into the chamber. "WHAT?!" cried out Lalina. "Orcs have attacked us, setting the kingdom on fire! We must go at once!" said Torche "But what about my father?! I must find my father!" Lalina shouted.
"There is no time for that now my lady, you'll meet up with him once we evacuate!" said Torche as she packed Lalina's belongings. "But I am unarmed! I don't have any weapons to fight with!" Lalina protested. "Take this, this was in your wardrobe!" said Torche, taking out a sword from Lalina's closet. "This was yours, your father made this for you." said Torche. Lalina too the sword and hilt. "Come! We must hurry!" insisted Torche, grabbing Lalina's hand, as they bolted out the room.
It was a heart breaking sight once Lalina and Torche left her chambers seeing her home on fire, which was started by the orcs. "Torche, go on and leave! I must find my father." said Lalina. "But my lady!" protested Torche. "JUST GO, TORCHE!" Lalina yelled. And Torche ran off. Picking up her belongings, she went to search for her father. By the time she entered the Throne Room, the place was already raided, as the Throne was broken, and pieces of glass everywhere. "Father?! FATHER!" Lalina called out.
But there was no response. Suddenly, she could hear a dark ominous voice behind her. "You will never find your father, dwarf scum. He's dead! And you, princess, will be next!" the voice sneered. Lalina spun around, and there stood a tall, pale orc standing in front of her.
Lalina took out her sword. "Don't even think about, creep! You will keep your filthy hands off of me!" shouted Lalina. "Think again, princess your time is come to die!" hissed the orc as he charged at Lalina. Luckily, Lalina ducked before the orcs weapon had reached her. Suddenly Lalina struck back, at the orc, leaving a scratch on him, and she bolted. She needed to find her father. By the time, she left the dwarven fortress, Lalina gasped, as she could see many dead dwarves on the ground.
And to her shock and horror, the first body she seen as she continued walking further away from the fortress is Torche's. "TORCHE!" Lalina cried out as she ran towards Torche's body. "No, no, no, no! You're my best friend, please don't leave me Torche!" cried out Lalina, shaking the dwarf woman. But there was no answer. Then a feeling of dread clouded over Lalina as her thoughts immediately turned to her father.
Lalina stood up as she continued to look for her father. Finally, she did find him, on the ground, lifeless in a puddle of blood. "FATHER!" screamed Lalina, as she knelt before him, and cradled her father in her arms, weeping hysterically. This cannot be happening to me, why is this happening to me? thought Lalina.
Lalina mourned for hours of the loss of her family and her closest friend, Torche. But there was no way she could do all this alone, so she decided to bury only Narin and Torche, placing them in a makeshift pyre, and she sat around the fire, watching, as she continued to mourn.
Now Lalina was left with no other choice but to leave Ered Mithrin. But the problem is where she would go? All this crossed her mind as she looked into the flames. I will avenge your deaths, father and Torche. I will seek my revenge, and kill those bastards who done this to you, Lalina thought.
After sitting for a while, she picked up her belongings and she begin her long journey of traveling alone. She had thought of heading for Bree first, an make her stay there temporarily.