Chapter Two
Village of Bree,
Winter, 2900
Lalina had been living in Bree for several years, working as a barmaid at the Prancing Pony Inn. She was used of the rough and loud behavior from its patrons. There were times, she would see a few dwarves stopping by for a visit, but she noticed none of the dwarves whom stopped by she knew, as she was hoping it would be. One night, Lalina was working her shift, and she overheard a group of dwarves talking about a birthday party they are going to celebrate for the Lord of Ered Luin. Lalina who wondered whom this dwarf lord they were speaking of.
Suddenly, the inn keeper, Aaron, approaches Lalina. "There is another group of dwarves arriving tonight for a birthday party. It is up to you to serve them. Are you ready to work this?" asked Aaron. "Yes, I'm ready. When will they arrive?" asked Lalina. "In an hour. They are coming from Ered Luin." replied Aaron. Lalina nodded.
An hour later, the Dwarves of Ered Luin arrived, and Lalina prepared herself to enter the common room of the Inn.
But she wasn't prepared for what was bound to happen next when she entered. Once she did, her eyes widened in surprise. There she could see familiar faces sitting at the table. And one of them was Thorin. Lalina approached the table. "Lady LALINA!" exclaimed Balin, and he ran to her and embraced her. "Long time no see, old friend!" said Lalina. "You are working here? I thought you would be at home!" exclaimed Dwalin. Lalina's eyes clouded, and she frowned. "Ered Mithrin had been destroyed. The orcs came and burned it, and killed everyone there, including my father, and my friend Torche." said Lalina.
Thorin stood up and approached her. "Lalina, I'm so sorry. Why haven't you written me and told me any of this! You know we would have came and helped you." said Thorin. "There was no time to write you, Thorin. And there was no way any of you would have made it there in time. Anyway, we'll talk more later, and focus on my work before the Inn Keeper throws a fit. I'll make a meal and some drinks for you." said Lalina, as she smiled. "Good idea!" chimed in Dwalin, and she walked away. Thorin smiled and watched Lalina walk away. "Thorin, we can't have her working here as a barmaid. She is still of noble blood. She deserves to live in a better place than this." spoke up Balin.
"I will go and talk to her and see if she is willing to come and live with us." said Thorin. "You have to wait until her shift is done, laddie. Right now, she's still working." said Balin. By the time the patrons went home for the night, Lalina, with the help of the Inn Keeper closed down for the night, an Lalina was about to go to her room, when Thorin stopped her. "Lalina, wait!" Thorin spoke up, as Lalina stopped and looked at Thorin. "Yes?" asked Lalina.
"You have a minute of your time, so we can talk?" Thorin asked. "Of course! After I promised we would talk after my shift this done." Lalina replied. "Lets go in the common room and sit by the fire, shall we?" said Thorin. "Of course." said Lalina, and she followed Thorin to the common room, as they took their seats by the hearth. "Lalina, Balin and some of the others, and myself had talked over some drinks, and we came to agreement, wondering if you could come and stay with us in Ered Luin?" asked Thorin. "You really mean that?!" Lalina exclaimed, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Lalina, you don't deserve to be out on your own like this." said Thorin. Then Lalina spoke up, and it made her regret for saying the words.
"Thorin, I've been on my own for some time, and quite used to it. And besides I really like it here at the Prancing Pony. I know it isn't much, but it keeps me busy." said Lalina. "So you're saying you don't want to come and live with us? Lalina, we don't have much either, like you, we have lost everything, and we're rebuilding everything again. Please, say you come and live with us." said Thorin gently. The thought of living with Thorin made her very happy, and finally she given Thorin her answer.
"Yes, I will live with you." Lalina replied. "Good. We will be leaving in two days to return home. Tomorrow, inform the Inn Keeper of your plans!" said Thorin. "Alright, I'll do that! Good night, Thorin!" said Lalina. "Good night, Lalina!" said Thorin, and he turned away. Lalina smiled as she entered her room, and flopped onto her bed. "YES!" Lalina shrieked softly. The next morning, Lalina went to speak with the Inn Keeper of her resignation, and that she would be leaving with the dwarves. "My place is with them, and not here. I'm sorry!" said Lalina.
"You're going to be missed, Miss Lalina. But its your choice, and I hope you will remain happy with your people!" said the Inn Keeper. "Thank you!" said Lalina, and she walked away. Lalina immediately packed her belongings that day.
Another day had passed, Lalina and the Dwarves had departed from Bree, as they begin their journey home to Ered Luin. "I'm glad you accepted to live with us Lalina. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what I'll do." said Thorin as they stopped to make camp, just hours after leaving Bree. "Me too. You and I had been friends since your stay in Ered Mithrin." said Lalina, as she took a sip of her soup. Suddenly, she could feel Thorin's hand touching hers gently. "Maybe we should take our relationship to the next level, Lalin!" said Thorin, smiling at Lalina.
"What do you mean?" asked Lalina looking up at Thorin. "Lalina, ever since we left, all I thought of is you, I felt so worried what would become of you after we left. I fell in love with you the day at your birthday feast, I just didn't know what I would say or do at the time, or how you would react." said Thorin. Lalina smiled brightly. "And it amazes me that the two of us didn't have to be forced to fall in love." said Lalina. "No, it doesn't." said Thorin. "I have to admit I felt the same for you, especially the night when you played your harp with the other dwarves. Your voice, and your presence, and the way you played the harp, sent shivers down my spine. You were simply amazing the night, my Prince." said Lalina.
Thorin suddenly took notice of Lalina shivering a little from the coldness of the night. "You are cold, my lady. Here-let me wrap you into my arms for warmth!" said Thorin gently, and he pulled Lalina into his arms. Lalina laid her head upon Thorin's chest and sighed. "If I died and went to heaven, I do believe I'm already there!" said Lalina softly. Thorin smiled, and without a word, Thorin leaned over, and planted a kiss on Lalina's lips.
Three days had passed, they arrived in Ered Luin. Dis had greeted them, and when she saw Lalina, she ran to her in a full embrace. "Its been years since I last seen you, Lalina." said Dis. "We have a lot of catching up to do, Lady Dis." said Lalina. "Oh yes we do. And by the way, there is a couple people I like for you to meet!" said Dis. "Oh?" said Lalina. "FILI! KILI!" Dis called out to her sons. And two young dwarves ran over to their mother's side. "Lads, I like for you meet our friend and Princess of Ered Mithrin, Lady Lalina. Lalina, these are my sons, Fili, and Kili!" said Dis.
"At your service, my lady!" said the young dwarves together. "It is nice meeting you two!" said Lalina, smiling at the young dwarves. "So, you are a Princess, eh? Are you the same age as our Uncle?" asked Fili. Yes, but Thorin is two years older than I am." Lalina replied.
"Lets go into the Great Hall, so we can talk more!" said Dis, and everyone followed the Dwarf Princess into the Great hall, and it was Lalina whom had done most of the talking, as she spoken her attack on her home, and losing her father and her friend Torche. And in exchange of Lalina's tale, Dis spoken of the Battle of Moria, and losing Thror and Frerin. Lalina's eyes widened. "Oh, I'm sorry, Dis." said Lalina. "It seems that all of lost our families because of orcs." said Balin sadly.
"Did you have time to bury your father and friend?" asked Thorin. "Yes, I buried them just a few yards away from the fortress." Lalina replied. After a little while of talking, Thorin helped Lalina get settled in her room. "Say tomorrow, about all of us have a picnic by the Lake?" asked Thorin. "I would like that, very much." said Lalina, smiling at Thorin. After saying their good nights, they went to bed. Several weeks went by as Lalina and Thorin became closer, but then after a while, Lalina noticed some changes in the dwarf prince.
Thorin had been preoccupied in his study, and the past several occasions she had asked what is on his mind, he would never tell her. It was finally one day, she got her answers she needed, from Balin.
"Thorin is wanting to reclaim Erebor, Lalina, and he's mapping out plans of the journey. The matter of when is wanting to do this, is a question." said Balin. "How do you feel about this idea, Balin? In my opinion, I believe this is a dangerous quest, as well as a suicide mission. I'm only saying this out of concern for Thorin." said Lalina. "I share the same sentiments, Lalina. You have never seen King Thror when fell under the gold sickness. And we're all worried that could happen to Thorin." said Balin.
Lalin bowed her head. "Is there a way you could change his mind? I enjoy it here in Ered Luin. We got all we needed right here." said Lalina. Balin nodded in agreement. "I share the same believes too. I am happy where we are now, and there is no need to change it. Thorin is doing a great job as leader here, and everybody is happy the way things are now." said Balin. The next couple days, Lalina noticed Thorin hardly had seen her, or spoken to her at all. Lalina decided once and for all, she is going to change that.
The dwarf needs to take some time for himself, and relax! Lalina thought. And she had an idea. A fishing trip. She used to go fishing all the time, and she missed it. And so, she made way to Thorin's study, and she knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" called out Thorin's voice from behind the door. "Its me, Lalina! May I come in?" Lalina called back. "You may enter." said Thorin. Lalina opened the door and entered the study. "I know you are busy at the moment, Thorin, but can we talk about something really quick?" said Lalina. "Make it quick, Lalina." said Thorin, grumpily. "Thorin, you've been locked up in your study for days, and none of us had seen or heard from you in a while. You could at least take a break and relax, and spend some time with your loved ones. Especially your nephews." said Lalina.
"How dare you? You have the nerve to tell me how to raise my family? Look! I don't have the time for this, and I will make time! Now if you don't mind, get out! I have work to get done!" snapped Thorin angrily. "What has gotten into you, Thorin? I never knew anyone whom is getting so obsessed over Erebor! Thorin, this is not my place to say this, but you are setting yourself and your own kin on a suicide mission! There is a dragon still in that mountain!" Lalina snapped back.
"You think I don't know that, Lalina? I already know that! And this really doesn't concern you, so get out!" Thorin bellowed. "Maybe I should have never agreed to come and live with you in the first place, jack ass!" Lalina shouted back.
Lalina stormed out of the study, slamming the door behind her, and she ran outside, tears running down her face. Her conversation with Thorin about him taking some time out to spend with her, and his family failed miserably. I wished I never discovered that amulet or my heritage. I wish I was back in California. I was much more happier there, Lalina thought. An hour later, Fili and Kili came out, and they found Lalina sitting underneath a tree, looking up at the sky.
"Are you okay, Lalina?" asked Kili gently. "No." Lalina replied. "You and Uncle didn't get into a row, did you?" asked Fili. "Unfortunately yes, we got into a row. I tried to convince him in spending more time with all of us, and he just snapped at me, saying he had quote, unquote, no time!" grumbled Lalina. "Lalina, our mother, and even Balin tried to convince him. There is nothing we can do, no matter how hard we tried." said Fili, gently as he sat down cross legged on the grass.
"Just give him some time, Lalina. He will come around." said Kili, gently, placing his hand on Lalina's shoulder.