Hi, new chapter! This one is longer than the last. Our two heroes learn a bit more about each other.
Reviews help me work harder, so review!
I don't own either stories, nor the characters.
- Chapter 16: It doesn't just glow... -
They both swam down and began pulling the rocks away, as the light from Belinda's hair faded. As the darkness finally took over, they felt the rocks shift in front of them where suddenly pulled forward as the wall of rocks gave in. They were sent into a small river, gasping for air in the few seconds they were falling before they hit the water. Thorin grabbed hold of Belinda's waist and dragged her up towards the shore. His hand shot out and grabbed the grass, then he heaved the both of them out. They slumped on the ground, both panting, Gandalf wriggling out of Belinda's hair and laying down, exhausted as well. They all simply laid there for a while, getting over their emotions.
-We're alive... Belinda breathed out as if she could hardly believe it.
-Her hair glows... Thorin said, sounding just as shocked.
-We made it... Thorin, we're alive! She exclaimed, giggling as she stood and began pulling her hair out of the river.
-Mahal, her hair glows... The dwarf mumbled, rubbing his hands over his face, taking deep breaths. Her hair glows... Why does her hair glow? He asked, his eyes wide with a small hint of panic in his voice.
-Thorin?
-What? He asked, looking up at her.
-It... Doesn't just glow... She said with a soft smile.
The dwarf looked down at the lizard, who simply smirked at him knowingly. I don't know what's the most troubling. The grin or the fact the lizard is grinning. He thought. Since apparently no one was going to explain things to him, he stood up and helped the young woman with her hair. He then gathered wood and started a fire, ignoring the sharp burning of the cut on his hand. As he sat down next to Belinda, he took a deep breath and turned to ask the question that had been in his mind for some time.
-What do you mean, "It doesn't just glow"?
-It's hard to explain. Is it alright if I just showed you?
-No for I am most certainly going to pass out if anything else magic-related happens. Hew thought, but his curiosity made him say... Yes.
Belinda smiled at him, (His knees did not feel weaker at her smile. It was simply the oddity of it all that made him a little dizzy.) and took his injured hand in both of hers. As they had been traveling, he had grabbed her hand a few times but didn't have the opportunity to observe them. They were small. Oh so very small. And despite knowing she could easily move him around without breaking a sweat, they felt so soft and delicate, as if he could break her with the softest of pressures. They were gentle and velvety, so unlike his own large, rough hands. He was startled out of his musing when he felt something else touch his injured hand.
Belinda had been having similar thoughts about how different their hands were, but had snapped out of it and began wrapping her hair around his hand. She almost wished he had injured himself on the arm, only to feel those thick muscles without seeming strange. She had watched him a lot when he had helped set camp, and boy had the sight of him made her feel bothered. His clothing had been completely drenched, and he had removed it except his shirt and pants. The soaked garments clutching to his body had her very red, and she had to stop herself from staring many times.
-Uh, may I know why you are wrapping your magical hair around my hand? He asked, and hissed when she tugged a bit harder on her hair.
-Sorry! She said, but he assured her he was fine. Alright, now... I need you to promise me you won't panic, alright.
-Saying this kind of things makes me want to panic right now. He said to himself, but nodded to the woman. She looked at him in the eyes and, seeing he was sincere, she took a deep breath and began to sing.
-Flower gleam and glow.
Let your power shine.
Make the clock reverse.
Bring back what once was mine...
As she softly sang, her hair began to glow from the root and the light of the magic ran down the long strands of gold. Thorin would've liked to focus only on her lovely voice, so beautiful and soothing, but his attention was held by the glowing stream that ran around them. His eyes caught the grey lizard who gestured at it's paw. Thorin looked at his own hand as the light reached the hair wrapped there. He felt a warmth spread inside his palm and run down his body as the woman continued to sing.
-Heal what has been hurt.
Change the fates design.
Save what has been lost.
Bring back what once was mine.
What once was mine...
As the last verses rang into the night, her hair stopped glowing and she looked up to the dwarf with her large green eyes. Thorin's hand came up and unwrapped the hair from his other hand. His own eyes widened when he saw the wound was completely gone, no scar. He felt his head become a bit fuzzy, and he must have looked much more panicked then he meant to for the woman suddenly said:
-Don't panic!
-I... I was not going to panic. He forced out. I was simply... Surprised, that is all. How-How long hair it been doing that?
-Always... My father said that when I was little, people wanted to cut my hair to have it's power. But when it's cut... She gently lifted her hair to show the short curly brown lock. It turns brown and loses it's power. That's why I never...
-You never left your tower before? Thorin realised, understanding now why she behaved the way she did. I'm very honored that you would share this secret with me.
-Well, you told me your own secret, so it was only fair.
-Now, telling you I play the harp is hardly even with admitting you have magical hair. He said. If there's anything you wish to know, then I'll gladly tell you.
-Well... She hesitated... I would like to know why you were banished. You seem like such a devoted man, and I can't understand what you could've done to deserve such a punishment.
-... Do you remember what I said about the Arkenstone? He asked, and she nodded. Well, I have been feeling that way for a very long time, and I kept speaking my mind, too loudly it seemed. I kept speaking about reclaiming it, and the King was displeased with it. During a particularly heated argument, I embarrassed him in front of the entire court and, such a crime is punishable by death. But the King chose to banish me until I had found the most precious of treasures.
-Why didn't he kill you? She asked, and quickly added: Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he didn't but why did he treat you specially?
-Because he's my grandfather. Thorin said, deciding she deserved to know the truth.
-Wait, what?.. Y-Your grandfather?.. Y-You're a prince?! Oh, Yavanna! I-I'm sorry, I didn't know...
-There's nothing to apologise for. You couldn't possibly have known. He told her, slightly amused at her sudden nervousness.
-You're obviously not the one who nearly brained royalty with a frying pan! She exclaimed, and he let out a booming laugh. Oh! Stop laughing you insufferable dwarf! She growled hitting him with her small fists, which only made him laugh harder.
She kept hitting him until Thorin grabbed her wrists and held her in place. She struggled for a while before breaking into a laugh herself. She laughed so hard she had to lean against him for support. The two laughed for a while before they managed to calm down. She raised her head and their eyes met. They had to take deep breath to keep from laughing again, and managed to relax. Thorin released her hands and drew and arm around her shoulder, holding her closer, and Belinda nuzzled against his warm chest, closing her eyes. She sighed, loving how warm and strong he felt, and he smiled at the feeling of peace she gave him and how soft she was in his arm. They stayed like this for a while before they realised what they were doing and they both promptly backed away from each other, blushing furiously.
-I... Ah... I'll go get some more wood for the fire! He said, standing. B-Be right back.
Done for now! Review and tell me what you thought!