*** Chapter Three: 'Auntie' ***
* Authors Note: Just wanted to say, I'm not wanting to do a really long story of the whole journey, just from this point on, and flashbacks. There will be more jumps in the story as I do not know how to write The Battle Of Five Armies! So please bear with me. Anyway, enjoy and please review! *
* "Bilbo, where did I come from?" My four year old sister asks me. We are walking to school and I had been wondering why she had been quiet for awhile.
"Mommy and Daddy have already told you the story of how you came to us several times. Why do you ask?" I say.
She scrunches up her face and says "I know how I was found by you an Mommy an Daddy, but where did I come from fore dat?"
I look at my little sister in surprise. She always amazes me with how intelligent she is at such a young age. "Well, we tried to find out why those people left you and why, but we never could find them." I say slowly.
"I have nightmares sometimes. I'm all alone, and so scared. I feel like, no one will find me, then you come, and I'm so happy and safe." She say giving me a smile at the end.
"Oh, Tamina! I'm sure those people had a reason for leaving you. Maybe they could not care for you. Now, who wants a piggyback ride?" I say brightly.
"Ooh! Ooh! I do! I do!" Tamina says jumping up and down.
"Well jump on!" I say bending down and taking her bag.
"Giddy up horsey!" She laughs once she's on my back. I can't believe how much joy this child has brought into my family's life. *
We walk onto the camp hand-in-hand and instantly all eyes are on us. Bilbo runs over "Tamina! Where were you? Are you okay? What took you so long? You had me worried! And when Thorin didn't come back right away, I thought you both had gotten attacked by some wild animal o-or something!" He says breathlessly.
"I'm fine, Bilbo." I say still holding Thorin's hand. I am aware of the other men mumbling to each other and I hear snippets of 'hair' 'look at how happy' and 'this is gonna be good'. I'm pretty sure that the last one was probably Fili or Kili.
"Well, then since your finally back you should eat your..." Suddenly his eyes widen as he sees our clasped hands and how close we are standing.
"I love your sister." Thorin says plainly.
Bilbo stands there, his mouth wide open.
"I want to court her." Thorin says.
Bilbo looks like he will faint.
"And marry her soon." Thorin says his mouth twitching at Bilbo's reaction.
Bilbo starts stammering.
"We want your blessing." Thorin says trying not to smile.
"Bilbo, I love Thorin so much." I say.
Bilbo takes a deep breath "I've known you two were in love longer than you did yourselves. I-it still is a shock thought to see my baby sister in love. I know Thorin loves you and will keep you safe and happy, so of course you have my blessing." Bilbo says gruffly but tearfully. "But no funny business until after you marry all right?!" His voice rising at the end.
"Oh man up ya big baby. It'll happen sooner or later, it doesn't matter if its before or after the wedding." Kili says clapping him on the back a little bit too hard. Bilbo stumbles forward and glares at Kili.
"Well uncle, you finally had the courage to tell her eh?" Congrats from all of us other gents!" Fili says.
"Yeah when will we be planning the wedding? We need plenty of time to freshen up before then. Some of us haven't had a bath in decades!" Bofur booms out laughing joyfully.
"Not until after we get Erebor back and things settle down." Thorin says. I know he wants to close the subject but we both know the men won't let us off that easy.
"Sooooo, you put courting braids in her hair, put your beads in, made her her very own braid, and then you put in the Durin family braid and bead. Pretty darn serious don't ya think boys?" Nori says.
The men all say "Aye." In response.
"Yeah, Bilbo remember we explained to you what all those braids mean when we were all making bets on if..." Kili trails off when he sees Thorin's darkening face. All the men begin shuffling their feet and refusing to look in their leaders eyes.
"Bets on what?" Thorin says angrily.
"On if you would ever tell Tamina what you feel for her. I, for one, knew that it would take this long." Dwalin's gruff voices rings out.
"And the rest of you?" Thorin says his voice rising.
"V-various answers." Ori squeaks out holding up his notebook and on it had the allotted time each man thought it would take, and what he bet. I notice the only one who did not partake was Bilbo. Beside his name says 'I refuse to partake in such a silly waste of time. They will work thing out when they are ready!'.
I giggle "It seems like I was the last to know about my feelings." I say trying to hold back Thorin's anger at the men.
"The very, very last one." Gloin says. "I for one, am a master of love and knew right away. Look at me and me lovely wife, we are so happy.
"Oh, stop yer gloating." Dori says whacking Gloin on the arm.
"Balin? Do you have any unmarked beads for Tamina to carve? I think it would be good for her to carve her own beads for our braids." Thorin asks sucking back his anger. The men whistle at what Thorin says and he glares back at them.
"Aye, laddie that I do." Balin says trying to cover his smile as he goes to his bag and he hands me nine beads.
"Bomber? A carving knife?" Thorin says."Right here Tamina!" Bomber says handing me a small carving knife.
"Thanks." I say smiling at him. The large man givers me a smile back.
"Try to do each bead exactly the same." Dori suggests.
"Do something you like or an initial from your name." Balin says interpreting for Bifur.
"Maybe a heart and Uncles name." Fili says winking at me.
"OK, I got it guys. I already know what I want to do,thanks." I say.
It takes me a long time, but I finally carve each bead exactly the same. The men finish cleaning up from dinner and begin charting the route for tomorrow as I carve. I have always enjoyed drawing, so I carved a miniature Bag End.
"There! All done. Its not near as good as all of yours, but I hope it is OK?" I say. I look around me and see that the sun is almost down.
"They are beautiful Lassie. Fili, Kili, put these into their braids." Balin says.
Fili is the one who puts the beads in my hair. "They suit you perfectly, Auntie." He says slyly.
"I-I hope they suit me." I say awkwardly at what he said at the same time Thorin says "Fili, Kili do not start that!"
"Awe but why?!" Fili and Kili say in unison.
"Maybe she doesn't want to be called that. You think to ask her?" Thorin says gruffly. The two boys look at their feet ssheepishly
"No, I don't mind." I say. "Um... its just they are about my age. It feels a bit weird." Thorin's face darkens and I instantly regret my words.
"Bilbo, do you want beads and braids of your own?" Balin asks quickly changing the subject.
"No no. I'm fine the way I am. I don't think beads are my thing. Besides, my hairs is not long enough." Bilbo says looking at me and Thorin worriedly.
"Shall we hit the sack then?" Nori says.
"It is getting late and tomorrow we should get up early. Everyone, scoot!" Dwalin says shooing everyone away.
Thorin leaves to go get everyone organized and soon it is only me and Bilbo.
"You need to talk to him." Bilbo states.
"I know. But what do I say?" I whisper looking at my feet, unable to look at my brother.
"You and I both know that he is older than you by many years, even if we go by his equivalent in human years. I also know that it does not matter to you, or me for that matter, as long as you love him and are happy it is fine. You'll know what to say." He says hugging me.
"Thanks. You always know just what to say to keep me on track." I say hugging back.
"Tamina, go with him tonight. Both of you need to be together tonight to talk." He says. I know that this must be hard for him to say as I have slept with Bilbo every night since we started this journey as we both needed the comfort.
"Oh Bilbo, thank you! And you can trust us. We won't do anything serious until we are married." I say out and hold him harder.
"I know. I trust you both. Go now, before I change my mind!" He says pushing me away.
I start looking for Thorin in the sea of men and as usual, he is a ways away from the rest of the men, leaning against a tree. I rub my arms suddenly realizing how cold it has gotten tonight.
I stand in front of him and say "It is very chilly tonight, is it not?"
"It is always cold on the mountain." He mutters not looking at me.
"It would be nice for me to have someone to share warmth with tonight?" I say awkwardly and shyly. Really, he must think I am pathetic, trying to sound calm and cool as I say that.
He looks at my face and opens up his furs and I settle up against him. He wraps his arms around me and puts his chin on my head.
"I knew that I am much older than you. Just hearing you say that... made me realize that you would be better off with one of my nephews." He says.
"Thorin stop. Don't you dare ever say something stupid like that to me or anyone else ever again. I love Fili and Kili very much, but that is a different kind of love. I love them like I love Bilbo. My love for you is very different." I interrupt angrily. " I don't care that you are older than me. I love you, nothing will change that." I say softly.
"You are just nineteen and I am over 200 years old. That is approximately thirty-four, in human." He says.
"That does not matter to me, and it should not to you either. We love each other, trust each other, and are happy. That is all that matters." I say.
"Tamina, I love you. I told you earlier that I was yours, heart and soul. I mean it, I will always be yours and only yours." He says kissing me on the forehead.
"I mean the same things to you. Thorin, I never, ever believed that I would be in love. I believed that it would be just me and Bilbo to the end of my life. It all changed when you and everyone else walked into my house, and my heart. Now I will have my brother, thirteen of the best friends you could ever want; including a wizard, and the love of my life." I say shyly.
He leans over and we kiss softly and that hot feeling spreads through my body again.
"No more tonight. Your brother will truly kill me if we do." Thorin says giving me a small smile, nodding his head to our left.
I look over and see Bilbo sitting up wrapped up in his blanket watching us intently. I wave at him and giggle.
"Come. Let's lie down and sleep. Durin's day is almost upon us and we need all the sleep we can get to defeat Smaug." Thorin says. I curl up next to him and fall asleep almost immediately. I push all my worries about the dragon out of my mind for the first time since starting this journey, and surrender myself completely to the comfort and warmth of Thorin. And, for the first time in my life, I am completely and utterly happy.