Chapter Five
Bree,
Beginning of April, 2941
Lalina now stood in her room as she put on clothes that Gandalf had purchased for her, and she also had to place a bandage around her breasts as she agreed on disguising as a male dwarf to join Thorin and his company. After that, she put on a wig, and a beard (she praying it would stay on her). After getting dressed, she had to think of a new name to come up with for her disguise. At first, she wanted to use her father's name, but she realized she couldn't since everyone in the Company knew her father. "My brother! Breg! I can be him! He hadn't came home yet, and he's still alive!" said Lalina loudly.
"And Breg, it shall be." said Gandalf. Lalina sighed as she looked in the mirror. I look frikken ridiculous, but its worth it until I decide to reveal my true identity to Thorin, which is going to piss him off big time, thought Lalina. "Are you ready?" asked Gandalf. "Ready as I ever be, Gandalf!" said Lalina, changing her voice into deep tone to sound like a male dwarf's. After that, the two departed from Bree, making their way towards the Shire.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the Shire, they met up with several dwarves. "There you are, Tharkun! What in Durin's name is taking you so long? I thought you said a wizard is never late!" said Dwalin. "The reason why I'm late because I found our fifteenth member." Gandalf replied. "And who is he? Who is this fifteenth member?" asked Balin. "My dear dwarves, allow me to introduce you to Breg Silver Fire, son of Lord Narin." said Gandalf, and the dwarf stepped forward. "Hey! You must be Lalina's brother! Wow! You two sure do look alike!" said Dwalin.
"Thank you." said Breg. "Well since all is here, lets head on to our hobbit's home!" said Gandalf, and so they followed Gandalf. Breg decided to with Dwalin to enter the Hobbit's home first. Bilbo opened the door, as Dwalin and Breg both introduced themselves, and entered. Breg decided to stay quiet, as he took his seat by Dwalin at the dining room table. Soon, it didn't take long for the others to arrive. The poor lad, they are giving him a hard time! Maybe I should help him out, thought Breg, and he stood up. "Mister Baggins, you look as if you need help! You don't mind if I help you?" asked Breg. "That will be nice, thanks!" said Bilbo, smiling at the new dwarf.
At least that's one dwarf here that has some manners, but there is something about him that is striking odd, Bilbo thought.
Soon as everyone is inside, it was quite a merry gathering. Breg decided to leave, and went into a guest room that Bilbo offered. Shortly Lalina decided to get out of her disguise for a while, and relax in her room. I haven't seen anyone this happy in a long time, not since the wedding-Lalina thought sadly, and she could hear the dwarves singing a lively song from outside the room.
Suddenly, the singing quickly stopped and she could hear a familiar voice in the background. "Thorin!" whispered Lalina. "So! This is a hobbit! So tell me Halfling, do have any skills in fighting? Weapon of choice, axe or sword?" asked Thorin, circling around the hobbit. "Well, I have skills in conkers, but I'm afraid that's irrelevant." said Bilbo. "Thought as much! He looks more like grocer, than a burglar!" smirked Thorin, and the dwarves laughed quietly, as they walked back into the dining room. Then Thorin stopped Gandalf before entering the dining room.
"Where is our fifteenth member? You said there would be a fifteenth member?" asked Thorin. "Breg! Where are you?" Gandalf called out. "Breg went into his guest room. He says he's tired." said Dwalin. "How can a dwarf be tired already? Gandalf, how young is this dwarf you brought along? Go get him, so we can meet him!" Thorin demanded.
And so Gandalf went to the guest room and knocked on the door. "Who is-ahem-who is it?!" Lalina called out, and she quickly changed her voice. "Breg, Thorin wants to meet you!" Gandalf called out. "Can it wait until tomorrow, I'm very tired!" the voice called back. "I'm afraid he wishes to meet you now, Breg." said Gandalf. "Very well, I'll be out in a minute!" the voice called back.
Damn it, Thorin! Why are you making this difficult for me? thought Lalina as she changed back into her disguise, and she left the guest room. Breg followed Gandalf into the dining room. "I am here, Your Majesty." said Breg. "Tell me your name, and your weapon of choice." Thorin demanded. "Breg Silverfire, son of Narin Silverfire. I am Lalina's brother." Breg replied. Thorin raised his eyebrow at hearing this. "Yes, I do remember Lalina mentioning having a brother. I never met him until now! Welcome to the Company, Master Breg!" said Thorin with a nod.
Breg respectfully nodded back, and took his seat at the table, while the meeting began. Soon as the meeting ended, Gandalf took Bilbo to his study after his fainting spell in the dining room. It was Nori whom eyed Breg suspiciously. "There is something odd about that one, Dori. Look at him! His beard and hair don't look right." said Nori.
"I don't see anything wrong with him. Maybe he forgotten to brush his hair this morning." said Dori. "You don't get it, brother! Look at him! Look at him close!" snapped Nori. "Yes, I do see something odd about him." said Dwalin, darkly. "Go find out about this dwarf, Nori! You're the pick pocket here." said Dwalin. Nori nodded. Nori stood and waited for Breg to leave his sitting spot, as he went back to the guest room to retire. What Breg didn't realize, he left his belongings in the living room where people can get.
Now's my opportunity! Time to see why this dwarf is so odd! thought Nori as he went to Breg's bags, and began rummaging through them. "Nori! Get away from those bags! Its rude for you to go through other people's belongings without their consent!" Snapped Balin. Suddenly the room got quiet, when Nori discovered something in Breg's bag and he held up the amulet. Balin's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that-!" exclaimed Balin. "That's Lalina's amulet! How did Breg managed to get Lalina's amulet?" asked Dwalin.
"Here's another thing-courtship beads. Isn't she married?" asked Nori. "Let me see that!" snapped Thorin approaching Nori, snatching the belongings from Nori. As Thorin looked through the belongings, he realized that this wasn't Breg at all.
Holding on to the bags tightly in his arm, Thorin stormed towards the guest room, as he barged down the door. "YOU! HOW COULD YOU!?" bellowed Thorin angrily, when he saw it was Lalina laying in bed, in her nightgown. "Thorin-please let me explain-!" Lalina stammered. "You know it's a crime to pose as another dwarf, do you? Especially when its someone related to you? DO you realize that?!" snapped Thorin, angrily. "Thorin, I wanted to come with you! You don't understand we never parted ways on good terms, I wanted to fix our situation before it gotten worse!" cried out Lalina.
"It already gotten worse, you foolish woman! You are fool for pulling such a stunt as this! You will not be going with us, and that's final! Go back to Ered Luin and stay there!" screamed Thorin. "NO!" Lalina screamed, tears running down her face. "You leave now, or you will regret it!" hissed Thorin, as he clenched his fists. "You wouldn't dare to strike a woman, Thorin." said Lalina icily. "Then, you pack your belongings and go home, now!" Thorin demanded.
"Thorin, I'm not going to lose you. You are my husband, and it hurts me to see you go, especially without saying goodbye and telling me you love me! Do you have any idea how much it hurts when you left, leaving me there alone!" screamed Lalina. Thorin stood frozen, looking at her.
"We had our argument-and we never made after that-we never got a chance too, because you had to leave-!" Lalina continued, with a choke of a sob, and she looked away from Thorin. "Lalin." said Thorin softly. Suddenly everything hit him, as he remembered that day back in Ered Luin, and their little argument. He felt terrible that he had started the argument in the first place.
"Lalina, I'm so sorry-!" began Thorin. "Do you love me Thorin, as you said in our vows on our wedding day?" asked Lalina. "Of course I love you, Lalina! What makes you think that I don't?" asked Thorin gently. "The day that you left, like I said before, without a word of farewell. It torn my world apart, Thorin. It was that day I decided I wanted to track you down and fix things. Two days later, Gandalf showed up at my door, and accepted his offer as the fifteenth member of the Company. Please, forgive me for causing any wrong to you and the Company." said Lalina.
"No, no. It is I whom should apologize. I was fool for leaving without kissing you goodbye! I'm asking you to forgive me!" said Thorin gently, as he sat on the bed next to her. "I forgive you, my love!" said Lalina softly. Thorin pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "You know how to fight do you, Lalin?" asked Thorin.
"Yes, I do, Thorin! You must remember I single handedly fought orcs when they attacked Ered Mithrin, by myself." said Lalina, smiling. "I love you, my brave strong princess!" whispered Thorin, brushing his lips over Lalina's in a passionate kiss. "Uncle? Is everything alright?!" called out Fili from behind the guest room door. "All is okay now Fili!" Thorin called out. "Do you wish to join us in the sitting room?" asked Thorin. "Yes, I like that." said Lalina. And the two left the guest room.
It took all the dwarves by surprise when Thorin and Lalina entered together. Lalina confessed to the dwarves, it was her the whole time in the disguise, and she closed her eyes hoping it wouldn't anger them. But it was Balin who spoke up first, and he hugged her. "I wouldn't blame you for tracking us down. You had every right too, especially our leader here who had not the decency of kissing his beloved Farewell." said Balin. "I lost my home too. And I believe in never giving up. And I'm going to help all of you to get your home back." said Lalina.
"Its good to see you again, lassie!" beamed Bofur. Nori smiled. "Our future queen stands before us! We are forever, at your service, my lady!" said Nori, as he bowed to her. Lalina smiled as the others done the same.
"Bring out your harp, laddie! We're in mood for a song!" spoke up Balin, as he took his seat nearby the fireplace. Thorin smiled and nodded, as he reached into his bags, and took out a wooden case and opened it, and removing the golden harp from its case, and placing the harp on his lap. Soon Thorin placed his large fingers on the strings as he began to pluck and strum gently, and soon he started to sing, shortly joined in by the other dwarves.
Far over the Misty Mountains cold
To dungeons deep and caverns old
We must away, ere break of day
To find our long, forgotten gold.
The Pines were roaring on the height
The winds were moaning in the night
The fire is red, it flaming spread
The Trees like torches, blazed with light.
With a final sweep on the harp strings, the song ended. Lalina wiped a tear from her eyes as she heard Thorin and the dwarves sang their song.
She remembered hearing Thorin singing this before in Ered Luin, as he sat alone in the parlor at his harp. Breaking her thoughts, she looked up as she saw Thorin putting his harp back in its case, and taking out his pipe. He wasn't tired, and he sat cross legged on the floor. "Care to join me, love?" Thorin asked. Lalina smiled, as she sat upon his lap on the floor, leaning back against his chest.