Hi guys! No excuse for this massive delay in the story. I have another chapter halfway finished which may be up tomorrow or Monday. Huge thanks to all who review/ fave/ follow, you guys keep my muse running. :)
We don't stay at the beautiful haven of Rivendell much longer. The company were happy to be leaving of course, apart from Bilbo who seemed as content to be here as a bee to a flower. Mind you- Bilbo was content anywhere. The young man- hobbit- had a near constant look of happiness on his face.
The night before we left, Gandalf called the company together, including me, and placed a small, aged map on the round table we were seated at. He talked mostly to Thorin, being the leader, and outlined the path he thought would be best for us to take.
"Over the misty mountains and to the High Pass," he rumbled in his deep baritone which I knew by now meant no one was to argue with him. He went on to say that it would be beginning to turn colder soon and to make sure we were packed ready for the journey ahead.
I doubted very much that the company of dwarves had ever even unpacked; they made no question of detesting this place.
Kilieth helped me pack, as she helped me unpack when we arrived. She had also fashioned some more leggings and tunics for me, in various colours and styles. There were some blacks and greens and a beautiful silver tunic I thought looked much too pretty and delicate to be used as day clothing and she told me it could be worn to dinners, as though I was expecting to be dining with royalty in the High Pass. The tunics were thicker than the ones that were worn by Male elves and Kilieth placed them at the bottom of the pack.
"For the winter-time." she explained and I wondered how long the journey was going to take. Winter was not for at least 5 more moons, but then, I had no idea how far away Erebor was; it was hard to dictate on a small map and no one had thought to mention to me any of the important details.
Another pair of boots had replaced my old ones, for which I was very grateful. The elves did nothing by halves and I suspected my new boots were made out of the best leather and the best furs they could find, I hardly wanted to wear them because they looked so lovely but accepted them as graciously as I could manage through my wet eyes. I hadn't heard much about Elves apart from what my father had taught me of them but they were far the most generous inhabitants of Middle Earth I had met so far, although I hadn't journeyed so far yet.
My trusty dagger had never left my room since I had been here, I'd had no use for it at all and I hadn't attended any of the vigorous training sessions the two younger Dwarves seemed to have been so often too. There wasn't much you could do with a dagger anyway, not in the way of fighting. Kilieth had offered more than once to replace the handle on it but I hadn't wanted to hand it over; the leather handle curved perfectly to fit my palm and fingers and this was my father's dagger and while the offer was very kind I refused to let anyone touch it, it felt special.
Kilieth said she fully expected to see me again and that Elves were not accustomed to saying goodbye, and left in the eve with a kiss to my brow.
The Company was kitted out in finery of their own, Elven swords and bows were aplenty, newly made and gleaming in the sunlight, old dwarven weapons were sharpened and cleaned and boots were mended by the dwarves themselves with the use of the Elvish shoemaking equipment; they refused the offer to have them mended by the Elves themselves but could hardly refuse the offer entirely when Ori's shoes were falling apart on his feet.
It was the morn before we left, the sun barely having risen when I was presented with the fact I still had Thorin's fur coat slung over the back of the arm chair.
The knock on the wooden door was harsh and demanding, much too loud to be an Elf, but I was still surprised when I opened the heavy door to reveal Thorin standing proudly on the other side of the door, his braids freshly plaited and his pack slung over his shoulder. My eyes widened when I realised what he was missing.
"My Lady-," He began, and I only then realised he had never addressed me in such a manner. The other Dwarves had used the title often, never once referring me to my name so I had become accustomed to it but certainly never from Thorin's mouth- he had barely addressed me at all.
"I'm sorry! I forgot," I blurted out, completely forgetting my manners. I could almost imagine my mother's frown. "You've all been so busy, it slipped my mind that you might need it!" The words were coming out of my mouth fast and I could barely believe I had been so selfish, I had kept Thorin's own coat from him for nearly a month.
I closed the door slightly, just enough so I could see the large fur coat handing innocently over the back of it and scowled at it and walked over to get it. I had no doubt that Thorin was as angry as I was that I had kept his own garment from him.
I clutched it gently in my hand and handed it over to him, the fur still soft and cool under my fingers. He looked at me and then to the coat before taking it from me, slipping the pack from his shoulders and putting the coat on and I daresay he looked even Regal than usual. The coat seemed to define him, he looked imposing and striking and handsome and- I was staring, probably open mouthed at him and had been for a few moments longer than was normal.
I cleared my throat. "I am very sorry Thorin, it completely slipped my mind." I said to him, hoping I looked as sorry as I felt. He held up a hand palm flat out and I couldn't help but cower away slightly from the oversized hand that felt far too close for comfort. He must have stepped closer while I was gawping and I hadn't realised.
"Do not torture yourself, I needed it , I had forgotten about it also," His voice was gentle, far gentler than I had ever heard it and he lowered his hand slowly. "I would have left it behind if not for you, thank you," he said as he put on his heavy looking pack again.
"I merely came to tell you we are to depart before mid-morning and would like to see you with the Company in the courtyard as soon as you are ready to leave," He shuffled on his feet slightly, at my silence. I was at loss on what to say because I thought he would be angry at me and he seemed to be in a happier mood. He cleared his throat. "Gandalf sent me." He concluded.
"Thank you," I eventually replied and he seemed more at ease that I had finally said something. "I will be there shortly, I am ready to go." I said.
He nodded, sharply once and looked at me for a few moments. I shuffled and my face felt hot as he cleared his throat again and gently stroked his finger over the fur coat before turning sharply on his heel and walking quickly down the corridor.
I closed the door with a small smile on my overheated face. It had been the longest and most pleasant conversation Thorin and I had had, and for a brief moment I felt almost glad that we would be travelling together for a little while longer.