"Would you like to dance?" Kili offered his hand to Tharwen who was sitting in a chair quietly while the others ate and danced.
"Sure thing, Kili." She said, sliding her sword down underneath her chair.
"Bofur pick up the pace a bit." She called.
Bofur started a faster tune and Tharwen held Kili's hand, leading him into a fast paced dance.
"Shouldn't I be leading?" He asked as Tharwen twirled herself around him.
"Don't be too sure." She said smiling. "Tharkens let the girls lead."
"Well I think it's time for a change then." Kili said, pulling her closer and turning her to press her back against him.
*A Few hours Earlier.*
"His name is Beorn, and he is a skin changer."
Riìkan let out a sharp cry and ruffled the feathers on his back as he perched himself on Tharwen's right shoulder, which had armour plating on it.
"What does he change into?" Ori asked.
"A bear, a huge black bear."
"Tharwen, I think you'd like to be the first to talk to Beorn, you two know each other, if I remember correctly." Gandalf said, pushing her forward.
"Who are you?" Beorn asked.
"Tharwen Karewin, daughter of Karin, son of Farin, I am a princess from the Tharken lands, North of Rhovian."
"The same Tharwen that helped my people, kept the borders off my home safe and lent us the As-kharthi that helped me and my fellow skin changers communicate?"
"At your service my friend." She bowed and Riìkan let out a polite squawk.
"You are welcome here. Although I'm not sure about the company you keep." Beorn said.
"They're cause is noble my friend," She paused. "The risk they take could easily cost them their lives, but I am willing to help them see their quest through. Will you help us?"
"What about this bunny?" Beorn asked, pointing at Bilbo.
"I am Bilbo Baggins from the Shire. I'm here to help them." Bilbo said confidently.
"Well, you have to brave companians with you wizard, I think I might let them stay the night."
"I'm not too fond off dwarves... but I hate Orcs more." Beorn said to Thorin.
"You can stay, but only for a week at most, I fear the Orcs will not stay off your trail forever." Beorn said to Tharwen and Gandalf.
"Thank you Master Beorn."
"I'm willing to help a Tharken, you are a fellow skin changers after all." He says and the chatter stops.
"You're a what?"
"Did he say a skin changer?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Were you ever going to tell us?"
"How could you not?"
"Yeah yeah, Tharkens are skin changers too alright!" She said before sending an apologetic glance to Beorn.
"Go outside, take some time, I'll handle them." Gandalf said.
"Yeah I will."
"What is wrong with you all? You knew nothing off Tharkens and obviously she won't tell you everything if you continue to act so foolishly!" Gandalf scolded.
"The wizards right. How long have you all known her for?"
"Since she came onto our journey, but she mostly talks to Nori and I, Master Beorn." Bofur said.
"And do you know her well?" Beorn asked
"Some what." Bofur said.
"Well, see." Beorn left it at that and went outside.
Tharwen sat outside against the foot off a tree resting her chin on her knees, the sun was setting slowly and Beorn sat next to her when she gave a small nod.
"Tharwen are you alright?" Beorn asked.
"Yeah, I guess." She said.
"I mean, are you really alright? After Dharwen and Darien, and Fharwen going blind. Being asked to rule in Fharwens place."
"I didn't think it could get any worse after we lost Darien and Fharwen lost his eyesight, but then Dharwen... died and I felt so lost. Fharwen tried, he tried so hard to pull me out off the darkness, but some nights I feel like I'm falling back in." She said, hugging her knees.
"You have people to help you?" He said, more off a question than a statement.
She shook her head, paused, then nodded. "Fharwen, Lindir, Elladan, Elrohir, Bilbo, Bofur, Nori, you." She listed.
"Any among the Mirkwood eldar?" Beorn asked.
"Yes, three or four among the royal guards for the king." She said.
"If you encounter them on the journey, I wish you all the luck, Thranduil has become colder in the past years. It will take a while and I doubt that dwarf of yours in there can hold his temper very well."
"Dwarf of mine? What?" She looked at him eyebrows furrowed.
"Yes, I expected you to notice, playing matchmaker all the time, but he looks at you, he watches you, he desires you, but he will not make a move because the bunny, the dwarf with the hat and the thief are protective off you."
"Haha very funny Beorn, you know I love Dharwen, and him alone." She said.
"You know that's not true, even if your Tharken side calls for Dharwen, you know your shift calls for it's own kind. You know how dangerous this quest is for you, emotionally especially." He scolded lightly.
"I know, but, they're cause is noble, they want their home back Beorn, am I to turn them away and be compared to those who turned their backs on them in their lives."
"No and it's very noble off you to do that. Just be careful. And I think we should go inside now, the sun has set, it's not safe now." Beorn said, getting up and holding his hand out to Tharwen.
"Keep those wings off yours hidden." He whispered and lead Tharwen inside.
"Would you like to dance?" Kili offered his hand to Tharwen who was sitting in a chair quietly while the others ate and danced.
"Sure thing, Kili." She said, sliding her sword down underneath her chair.
"Bofur pick up the pace a bit." She called.
Bofur started a faster tune and Tharwen held Kili's hand, leading him into a fast paced dance.
"Shouldn't I be leading?" He asked as Tharwen twirled herself around him.
"Don't be too sure." She said smiling. "Tharkens let the girls lead."
"Well I think it's time for a change then." Kili said, pulling her closer and turning her to press her back against him.
"You're a good dancer." He complimented as they moved across the wooden floor.
"So are you." She replied, stepping up onto the rise off a platform and letting Kili wrap one arm around her waist to swing her back down.
"Do you dance for people?" He asks as they twirl.
The others are clapping and singing along to Bofur's song, Fili brought out his fiddle and was playing a faster backing tone.
"I used too, when I was younger, my father would hold balls for me, to find me a suitor and anyone who managed to keep up with my dancing, who could mirror my every move, would have a possibility of becoming my partner, thats how our ones work, through dance." She said as Kili leaned her back.
"But isn't that?" Kili didn't know what to say.
"Bonds are formed through dance when it comes to Tharkens, so you have nothing to worry about, I've already been bonded Kili." She says and Kili blushes bright red to the tips of his ears.
"Although you'd be able to find a bunch of Tharken lasses with dance moves like these." Tharwen teased and just when she thought he couldn't go any redder, he turned almost beetroot.
"Well, I'll show you something Dwarvish." He says and changes the pace. Bofur and Fili pick it up and the song slows down catching Gandalf, Beorn, Thorin, Balin and Dwalin's attention from the other side off the room and they see Kili leading Tharwen in a semi-slow dance, hands guiding her to move in time with the music. He guides her feet and lets her lean against him and Thorin can feel a burn of jealousy in his chest as Kili whispers something to her and she replies with something that makes Kili smile.
"So, how good is my dancing now?" He whispers to Tharwen as he lets his hands slide to her waist as she gets the hang off it.
"Almost as good as Dharwen." Kili grins and he his eyes pick up a brightness.
"What does that mean?" He asks.
"It means your brilliant." She compliments and Kili is already blushing again.
"You should see Fili then, he dances way better than me." He says and then calls Fili over to them.
"You called brother."
"Dance with Tharwen." He says, leaving Fili with Tharwen.
"Milady." He says, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it.
"Dramatics, Master Fili, your brother says your better than him at dancing."
"Really? Last I checked I couldn't dance to save my life." Fili chuckled and wrapped his arm around Tharwen.
"Well show me then." She says and they're off, twirling around, their feet moving in perfect sync, bodies moving like a mirror and their hands placed lightly against each other as if they were feeling a wall.
Kili was on the fiddle taking his brothers place and setting the perfect pace for their dance, not to fast, not to slow, Tharwen melted into Fili hold, letting him lead the dance, leading into a dip and a turn, spin and she soon found her back pressed against Fili's front, one hand holding her waist, another holding her hand, hips moving in sync.
Thorin hated it, to see his nephews dancing with Tharwen, they had no right. He had made his choice first, he wanted her, he loved her. Then he thought off how he never spoke to her, how she never gave him a second thought, how he treated her.
"You can desire her but you cannot have her." Beorn's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Why do you say that I desire her?" He scoffed.
"I can smell it on you, you desire her like the gold in that mountain, but trust me when I say this Thorin Oakenshield. If you love her, she'll out live you, she would not fall for you, she's bonded to Dharwen, and her shift would only seek it's own kind, there's nothing from you she's already been given or had since birth.
"I am a king."
"And she is a queen." Beorn retorted.
"I could give her treasure."
"She has no care for gold."
"I could love her."
"And she could never love you, even if she tried, her fate, and her kind are not like that... and she will tell you in time." Beorn said.
"Her kind, half elf isn't she?"
"Much more than that. She looks fine doesn't she? Not a scar on her. Nothing?" He says.
"Aye she's perfect."
"That's where your wrong. It's called glamour, you can't see them. Of course you, I'm sorry, but she isn't as perfect as you think. She's scarred Master Dwarf, you may not see it but she'll show you... in time of course." Beorn left him there with his thoughts.
"You can dance." Tharwen practically giggled as he spun her around the room. Bofur and Nori were dancing too, although it looked like Nori was trying not to trip and land on his face.
"Well thank you. Your dancing is amazing. Who taught you?"
"I learnt myself, all Tharkens can dance, I just took it more seriously than others." She replied.
"That's brilliant. You're brilliant." He says.
"Not really Master Fili." She gave a shrug.
"Nope no, none off this Master business, you're a part off this company and a part off this quest, and I think Kili and I could consider you as family, so has Nori and Bofur. So just Fili is fine." Fili says and twirls her again.
"Fine of course, I think you'll get along with my brother Fili. He's quite like you." She says and they move to a different dance.
"What's this called?" Fili asks as he picks up the footwork as easily as he knows how to use his swords.
"Krywn, named after a Tharken princess, who was going to get married to a man she didn't love, so her and her bonded crashed a masquerade ball, danced with him infront off everyone." She said and Fili catches her mid turn with ease.
"That's so, noble." He said.
"No, that is love Fili, your quest, your cause is noble. Love is an entirely different thing." She shook her head.
"Oi some people want to dance with her too!" Nori shouted from a chair which he claimed after giving up on dancing.
"Well come and here and dance!" Fili shouted back and Tharwen laughed.
"Come on boys, there's enough off me to go around, seriously. One dance for all off you, promise." She says and Fili lets Nori take over.
"You know Thorin looked like he's about to kill the boys right." Nori whispers as he focuses on his footwork.
"You don't think I realized, one off the reasons why I continued dancing with the two in the first place." She whispered back. "He's fun to annoy."
Nori gives a chuckle before Tharwen catches his arm mid trip.
"I'm no good at foot work." He says. "I'm a thief, not a dancer."
"Haha well then. I'm going to take a break. I haven't dance this much since Dharwen and I snuck to a festival in Thranduil's palace. Never again we did that." She said and Nori let her go back to where she left her sword.
"An ale Tharwen?" Beorn asked.
"Nah, some off the Tharken stuff Fharwen brought last time we came here, do you still have any?" She asked.
"Of course you brought a lot just for me." Beorn says and turns too a barrel that's on one off the higher shelves.
"Here you go." He says, passing a clear mug with red liquid in it to her.
"Haven't had this in ages." She said, drinking the liquid, it burned as it went down her throat but she kept drinking.
"Hey Fi, I think she can out drink you!" Kili called.
"Oi just cause I like a good drink does not mean I'm interested in drinking games." Tharwen said as the dwarves sent knowing glances to each other.
"Please?"
"Just this once?"
"We won't do anything, promise."
"We won't even prank anyone in the morning."
"You can have our money." Kili says.
"Or you could get a little kiss." Fili randomly says.
Tharwen just shoots him a weirded out look.
"Really?" Kili asks slapping Fili's shoulder.
"Fine, fine, I'll join." She says.
"Let the games begin Bofur says.
Bofur, Nori, Bifur, Dwalin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Gloin and Oin all joined in the drinking. Tharwen still ahead. They all decided to try Tharken drinks because Tharwen had already started.
"Come on, I'm so winning." Dwalin slurred as he thumped his mug on the table.
"Nah, Mister Dwalin, I think Tharwen's way ahead of you." Ori said, pointing at Tharwen who was easily downing the drink as if it was water.
"I'm out!" Kili announced.
"Me too." Dori said.
Bifur signed something and Bofur translated. "Bifur says he's out."
Ten minutes later Dwalin, Nori, Gloin and Tharwen were drinking away.
"Oh come on you're not getting beaten by a woman." Bofur says to Dwalin and his movements become more sluggish.
"I've seen Tharwen drink, she beat her own brother once." She heard Bilbo whisper, to whom she didn't know.
"Hey where's my support?" Tharwen asks and Beorn, who is watching the unfolding scene gives Tharwen a pat on the back.
"I'm guessing the drink is too strong for dwarves." Beorn says.
"Strong?" Tharwen said in disbelief. "This is one of our weakest drinks."
"How is this weak?" Fili says motioning to the drink.
"It's weak for us." Tharwen says and Dwalin announces he's out off the game.
"Come on Nori, Gloin." She teases and Nori and Gloin ask for a refill.
"Way ahead off you my friends." Tharwen says and she's pouring another mug for herself.
"Oi just give up you two, she's winning easily." Bofur calls and both Nori and Gloin send a string of curses in both Khuzdul and Westorn in his direction.
"Now now watch your language." Bofur taunts.
Nori just makes rude gestures at him while Gloin takes another drink.
"Eh, I'm out." Nori says and Bofur starts laughing at him, causing Nori to, instead of slapping him like he expects, plops into his lap like a giddy girl.
"Woah." Bofur gasps and Nori starts playing with the flap off his hat.
"That is..." Tharwen trails off, mug raised to her lips, she takes a sip and smiles. "Quite cute actually."
"Give up Gloin." She laughs, refilling her mug.
"You win lass." He manages to say and Tharwen raises her glass.
"Woohoo! To Tharkens and their apparently to strong drinks, and my friends, I swear, this was a good game." She cheers, slightly drunk.
"Oh come on, I'll give you a taste of Dwarvish ale when we reclaim Erebor." Dwalin says.
"Right, Tharken ale is stronger than The Elven Kings wine. Trust me I know." Tharwen jested and Dwalin let out a laugh.
"Get to bed." Gandalf interruppted. "It's getting quite late."
"Yeah I think so." Bilbo yawned.
"I won 't be sleeping for a while." Tharwen muttered.
"Yes I forgot about that." Bilbo says.
"Yeah so did I."
Tharwen leaned back and winced when her shoulder rested against the chair.
"You never got that checked out did you?" Bilbo asks as the other dwarves clean up the mess they'd made.
"What?" Tharwen asked.
"Your shoulder, you never got it looked at." Bilbo asked.
"Nah, didn't have time, and Lindir said it'd be fine, well, he said it'd be fine if I didn't use it and kept it's wrapping on. But um... as you can tell, I didn't really listen."
"Now whose the irresponsible prat." Bilbo scolded.
"Master Beorn, could you take a look at Tharwens left shoulder. She hurt it earlier in the journey." Bilbo asked Beorn.
"Sure thing, you lot get some rest, I'll look after this little one."
"I ain't little."
"By Tharken standards your only a child Tharwen, don't get into this argument again."
"But Beorn." Tharwen whined.
"Now you're acting your age. Tharwen! Behave for once and stay still." Beorn rebuked.
"Sorry." She muttered with a childish scowl. She stopped moving and watched as the others headed to their bed rolls, Bilbo following them.
"Tharwen, come one, off with your cloak. Stop being so stubborn!" Beorn tried not to raise his voice.
"Listen to Beorn, Tharwen." Gandalf scolded. "That shoulder off yours will seriously affect your performance."
"Ugh... fine." She took off her cloak and long sleeved vest, leaving on a sleeveless training shirt. "There." She said.
The old injury was worse than she thought. The distorted skin was blistering and the wrappings were already soaked red.
"Tharwen, those are your burns, I thought they healed." Beorn said, severly chastising the Tharken.
"No, it's mostly glamour, it covers the damage." She said, bowing her head.
"Now, nothing to be ashamed. Remember that Thranduil has to do the same, and majority of your kin uses glamour too." Beorn comforted.
"I know."
She winced as Beorn dabbed the salve on gently and wrapped her shoulder tightly.
"Don't strain your shoulder anymore." He warned sternly.
"I won't"
"Promise me." He insisted.
"I promise Beorn." She said softly. She recognized the tone and softened her scowl to a small smile. He was only trying to make sure she got to go back to Fharwen. "I promise."
"Good now off to bed Tharwen. No buts." He ordered and she got up, grabbing her sword that was stowed in the corner.
"Right. Good night." She said, going to where the others had set up the bedrolls.
"Good night." Gandalf called.
"I fear for her safety." Beorn said to Gandalf after she left.
"I know, it is a dangerous quest."
"It's not just that. Thorin Oakenshield is her biggest threat, her Tharken form will not allow another bond, and her shift may be their downfall. I fear, when she comes to see that dragon, she may not be able to resist it anymore." Beorn tells Gandalf.
"Smaug will not be a threat unless he feels the pull as well."
"If he shifts into human form and confronts her, she'll be lost, Tharwen will react to the shift and we may not get her back."
"I see." Gandalf said, feeling the weight of Beorns words.
"Watch her. Just don't let her become one of the chained." He said, lifting his hand that had a metal bound on it, half a chain attached. "Once it's on, it'll never come off, and she belongs to him."
Gandalf nods and Beorn leaves his home.
Gandalf can hear the growl and roar of the great black bear he's become and the bounding off his paws as he leaves the area.
"Oh Tharwen, this quest, I fear for your heart." Gandalf whisperes to himself as the candles in the hall flicker out.