- Chapter 7; That's when my life begins! -

Belinda hurriedly untied the dwarf prince, who couldn't help but to stare at her hair. It was so long! It was several times the length of her body. While dwarves didn't like cutting their hair, they didn't keep it so long it would be a hindrance. Anybody could just grab it and use it against her. But remembering her first questions to him about her hair, he guessed it was better not to ask why she kept it that way. Though he had to admit it was quite mesmerizing, like a waterfall of liquid gold, seeming to shine of a light of it's own. Once he was free, he rubbed his wrists and looked at the woman.

-The road will be dangerous, and I doubt a frying pan will be a very effective weapon. Do you have anything else? He asked.

Belinda though for a while and then hurried to open the windows. The new light revealed the tower to be far less gloomy than Thorin had first believed it to be. Practically every wall was covered in colorful and happy paintings. Thorin suspected Belinda to be the artist, for they seemed to fit her personality. He observed her as she went to a closet and pulled out two beautiful swords. Well, one of them was a sword, the other looked more like a dagger, but in her small hands, it could be called a sword.

-My father had them in there for some time and never used them. He simply takes them out sometime to polish them. She explained. The larger one is Ocrist, and the small one is Sting.

-These are fine blades. He said after examining the larger sword. How did your father acquire them?

-He got them during one of his trips. He said they're magical.

-If you do not mind, I'll take Ocrist and you shall keep Sting.

-M-Me? B-But I've never used a sword before... She stuttered, looking at the small blade.

-Take your frying pan with you if you wish, but it would be safer if you had a real weapon just in case. He explained. And you should probably change your attire. A dress is not the best for travel.

-I'm afraid I only have dresses. She told him.

Thorin frowned at how unprepared that woman was. Did she choose to go on an adventure on a simple whim? He was risking his life for a spur of the moment desire! He could just hear his ancestors pulling their beards in their grave! At least, there may be a chance for me to see underneath that skirt... He mentally punched himself for that kind of though. Mahal, what is this woman doing to me? He wondered, then saw the girl pack a small bag with food and blankets. It seemed she wasn't completely unprepared. When she was done, they headed to the window, after the girl made it plain that it was the only way down. Thorin grabbed his arrows and the bag containing their supplies and began to descend. He looked up to see the nervous face of the woman, and pushed down the desire to comfort her to replace it with irritation.

-Are you coming? He urged her.

Belinda gulped. This was it, she was doing it. She was going to leave the tower! In her father's back... With a stranger... A very handsome one, but a stranger none the less... She was going into unknown territory.

- Look at the world - so close, and I'm halfway to it! She sung softly, looking backwards to the home she had never left. Look at it all - so big - do I even dare?/ Look at me - there at last! - I just have to do it. She hesitated then. Should I... No! Here I go.

She took a deep breath and looked on her shoulder to see Gandalf had tied himself to her with a lock of her hair. She giggled and threw down her hair, past the stunned dwarf. Thorin gasped again when she slid down towards the ground, laughing. Belinda felt overjoyed at the feeling of being out in the open but clutched on to her hair when she was but an inch over the ground. Eyes wide in frightened excitation, she gently set her bare feet on the ground and felt a rush of excitement such as she had never felt before. She felt as if she had been born to walk on the grass.

- Just smell the grass! The dirt! Just like I dreamed they'd be! She began singing, laying down on the ground. Just feel that summer breeze - the way it's calling me. She then chased a butterfly only to freeze when she stepped in a clear pond of water. For like the first time ever, I'm completely free!

A blue bird flew past her and she stared in awe at it as it flew into the sky that had never seemed so big inside her tower. She looked forward and saw the exit of the canyon, and her feet began moving on their own. As she sang, she went faster and faster towards the real world, leaving her tower behind and not bothering to look back.

- I could go running

And racing

And dancing

And chasing

And leaping

And bounding

Hair flying

Heart pounding

And splashing

And reeling

And finally feeling!

She bursted through the mossy wall that hid the entrance and twirled around, taking in the sight of the forest she had only read about in her books. Feeling as if she might implode of all the sensations, she poured her joy and delight in her last verse.

-Now's when my life begins!