Chapter Four
After breathing into the young dwarf a few times, Kili's eyes opened and smiled at Cyril. "You saved my life, Miss Cyril." said Kili softly. "Anything for a friend!" said Cyril emotionally, wiping a tear from her eye. Kili embraced the woman. "Thank you. You're forever in my debt!" said Kili. "And ours!" spoke up a deep voice from behind them. Cyril turned and she saw Thorin walking towards them, smiling at her. Thorin took Cyril hands.
"That means a lot to us, that you saved my nephew Cyril. Words cannot express my gratitude towards you! Thank you!" said Thorin gently. Cyril felt so overwhelmed by the praises that Thorin and the dwarves, and Bilbo had given her, she wept openly. Thorin pulled Cyril into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Don't think too much of the past, Cyril. Just let it go!" Thorin whispered in Cyril's ear, and suddenly to her surprise, he leaned into her, planting a kiss on her lips. She did not expect that.
Okay, where did that come from? thought Cyril. "Its time to move on, everyone!" Gandalf announced to the group.
And the Company pressed on. Two days later, the Company arrived in Rivendell. Much to the annoyance of Thorin and the Dwarves, the elves were singing and making funny songs about them. Cyril rolled her eyes. She had a feeling they'll probably make a funny one about her and Bilbo as well, in which they have. Lastly, they picked on Thorin. "Don't dip your braid in the foam father! Its too long for it to reach!" called out one Elf. "Well your mama's a broom maker!" called back Kili. Cyril couldn't help but laugh at Kili's come back.
"Your father, your father's fathers, are ballerinas!" called out Gloin. "Gloin, that is awful! You can do much better than that!" said Cyril laughing. "Well that's the first thing that popped in me head!" said Gloin. Thorin just growled. He wasn't in the mood for childish insults, especially from the elves. The very next elf who shouts an insult is going to get a rock thrown at them, thought the dwarf. "Is that your head, or did your neck throw up?!" Cyril called out. "Oh, Cyril, you too?!" moaned Thorin.
"Oh, Thorin, lighten up will you? Its just a little fun, sheesh!" said Cyril rolling her eyes. As they entered the courtyard, they met up with Lord Elrond, as Gandalf introduced the Company to the Elf Lord.
Gandalf shortly then introduces Cyril to Lord Elrond, also informing him of Cyril's situation with her curse. "It appears we have a lot to discuss this evening. I will talk with you Cyril privately after the meeting with Thorin and Gandalf." said the Elf Lord kindly. "Thank you, Lord Elrond!" said Cyril with a curtsy. "My daughter will come and escort you to a bath house for you to freshen up and dressed up dinner!" offered Elrond. Cyril smiled and she waited in the courtyard for Elrond's daughter Arwen to arrive, while the rest of the company went into the dining room.
Meanwhile, Thorin walked side by side with Dwalin. "You have something on your mind, old chap. You wouldn't mind telling me?" said Dwalin. "I would, but its complicated to explain, Dwalin. And if I tell you, you wouldn't like it." said Thorin. "Now, Thorin. You and I been friends for many years, you can tell me anything. What's on your mind?" asked the bald dwarf. "I'm developing feelings for a certain member of the Company, Dwalin. And I've been secretly in love with since the day I met her at her forge in Ered Luin." Thorin confessed to his friend.
"It took you that long to tell me that?! You've been in love with her that long, and you never once told her?" exclaimed Dwalin.
"Dwalin, its very complicated. If everyone in Ered Luin discovered my involvement with Cyril, they would oust me as their leader, and Dis would disown me." said Thorin. "Thorin, people can talk trash, but they shouldn't judge her once they know the woman. That is their problem. The big picture here is you telling her. Does she know how you feel?" asked Dwalin. "No. She hasn't. I've been a little hard on her lately, and I feel terrible for it." said Thorin. "Maybe tonight you can talk to her." said Dwalin. Thorin nodded, as they entered the dining room.
Meanwhile, Cyril was taking her bath, and she enjoyed her conversation with Elrond's daughter Arwen. "I have noticed something about you and that dwarf friend of yours." said Arwen. "What about us?" asked Cyril. "Thorin has taken a liking to you." said the Elf Princess. "Ha, now that's funny. He and I only friends. I have no time for the lovey dovey nonsense." said Cyril. "It couldn't be that bad, Cyril. Yes, he's a dwarf, and you are half dwarf/ half hobbit/ dragon. It doesn't matter. What matters most is how you feel for each other." said Arwen.
"Alright, if you must know I had a small crush on him, when I seen him in Ered Luin, forging his sword." said Cyril. Cyril explained to Arwen that dwarves are very particular about relationships and courting.
"Thorin's sister, Lady Dis, prefers her brother to court a full blood dwarf from a noble family, and refuses to allow any one outside that to court him. According to dwarven culture, it's a disgrace." Cyril explained. "That's horrible!" said Arwen. "It is. For many years I traveled village to village, city to city, and all I ever gotten in return is rejection because of my half bred heritage." said Cyril. "Cyril, I'm so sorry to hear that." said Arwen.
"And my curse isn't helping matters any either." Cyril added. After Cyril finished her bath, she got dressed, now wearing a light red and blue gown that Arwen had loaned her, and the Elf Princess even helped her with her hair. When that was done, Cyril walked out and headed towards the Dining Hall. As she entered, all the dwarves and Bilbo gasped as they looked at her. "Wow, you clean up rather nicely Miss Cyril!" beamed Bofur. "You look like a princess!" beamed Bilbo. "Thank you. So this is everyone's reaction?" laughed Cyril.
"That's because we never seen you in a dress before, lass. You look very, very stunning!" said Balin, smiling at her. Cyril approached the table where Elrond, Gandalf and Thorin are sitting. Cyril took her seat next to Thorin's. Thorin looked at Cyril and smiled, and he leaned towards her.
"You look very beautiful this evening, Cyril!" Thorin whispered to her. "Thank you, Thorin." said Cyril, as she blushed a little bit. During the entire conversation about Thorin's and Gandalf's weapons, Thorin couldn't keep his eyes off Cyril. Of course, some of the members of the Company have taken notice. Dwalin chuckled. "What's with Thorin?" asked Balin. "You don't know half of it, brother!" grinned Dwalin. "Tell me? Are Cyril and Thorin-?" began Balin. "Not yet." said Dwalin. Balin grinned.
Shortly, as Gandalf and Elrond continued to talk, Thorin excused himself and left the table. "Are you going to join me, Miss Cyril?" asked Thorin. "Of course." said Cyril, as she joined Thorin in another area of the dining room, sitting close with the Company. "Cyril, I have something to ask you." said Thorin, as the two sat down. "Yes?" said Cyril. "Would you mind meeting me in the courtyard later this evening after my meeting with Elrond?" asked Thorin. "Of course I wouldn't mind at all. But the only problem is Elrond is wanting to speak to me later about my curse." said Cyril. "Couldn't it wait until tomorrow?" said Thorin.
Cyril smiled. "You are right. It can wait until tomorrow. Yes, I will meet you in the courtyard later." said Cyril. Thorin smiled.
"Good." said Thorin, as he took a drink from his flask "What is in that?" Cyril asked. "Rum." said Thorin. "You wouldn't mind if I take a drink? I'm not a big fan of elven wine." said Cyril. Thorin chuckled. "Me neither." said Thorin. The two fell silent, as they could hear some of the dwarves complaining about the elves music. "Change the tune will you? It sounds like we're at a funeral!" said Nori. "Did somebody die?" spoke up Oin.
"Well lads, there is only one thing left to do!" said Bofur cheerfully, as he jumped up on top of a pillar centering the dining hall, as the dwarf started to sing, shortly joined in by the other dwarves. Thorin grinned, as he stood up, tapping his foot as well and singing with them:
There is an inn
a merry old inn
Beneath an old grey hil
And there they brew the beer
so brown
The Man in the Moon himself
down, one night to drink his fill
The ostler has a tipsy cat
That plays a five stringed fiddle
And up and down he runs his bow
Now squeaking high, purring low
Now sawing in the middle.
Suddenly, to Cyril's surprise, Thorin grabbed Cyril as they began to dance. Cyril laughed. "You could've asked instead of just taking me out of the blue, silly!" said Cyril grinning at the dwarf. "I wanted to surprise you!" said Thorin, as he spun her around. Suddenly, Fili and Kili doubled teamed on Cyril as they danced with her as well. Lastly, Bilbo came up and shared a dance with Cyril too.
When the song ended, the dwarves began tossing food at each other. Fili threw one towards Cyril. "In coming!" called out Fili. Cyril grinned, and dodged the piece of cake flying towards her, and it landed on Thorin's face. Cyril and the rest of the Company burst into roaring laughter. "You done that on purpose!" said Thorin, playfully. "That's my very intention!" said Cyril, grinning mischievously.
Later the Company is shown to another part of the palace where they could sleep, and Cyril joined them, while Thorin, Balin and Bilbo went to meet with Gandalf and Elrond to discuss Thorin's map. While Cyril watched the other dwarves continuing their party in the large room they are staying in, an Elf approaches Cyril. "The Elf Queen Galadriel wishes to see you, Miss Cyril." said the elf. "Oh?" said Cyril. Cyril stood up, and she informed the others she would return shortly after her conversation with Lady Galadriel.
After that, she followed the elf out of the room. The Elf led her to another room, which revealed the moon light. As Cyril entered, she could see the Elf Queen standing in front of her. "Welcome, Miss Cyril Firesilver!" The Elf Queen spoke through Cyril's thoughts. "Its an honor of meeting you, My lady!" Cyril replied back in the same fashion. Cyril didn't realize she could do this, as Galadriel moved closer to Cyril.
"There is a reason why I summoned you in here this evening, Miss Cyril!" began the Elf Queen. "There is?" said Cyril. "Yes, it involves with your part in the Company of Dwarves, Cyril. I know that you are half dwarf/hobbit, and of your curse. Elrond will be discussing this with you tomorrow morning." Galadriel continued.
"And what is you wish to discuss with me?" asked Cyril. "Your main reason why you are with the Company, Cyril. It is up to you to save the dwarves, and their home-but most importantly, Cyril, to save Thorin from the gold sickness, that same sickness that consumed his Grandfather." said Galadriel. "Wow, that's a lot to handle, not to mention having to face a dragon as well." said Cyril. "Yes, yes. And about that, you will be facing this dragon yourself. And you absolutely cannot let anyone stop you for fighting him." said Galadriel.
Cyril nodded. "You can do this, Cyril. You've been through so much over the years, and you are strong and courageous. Just have faith, and don't give up hope!" said Galadriel gently. "I'll do my best, my lady!" said Cyril. Cyril smiled. Galadriel reminded her a lot of her mother, but only in Elf form. "You may go and join your Company, Miss Cyril!" said the Elf Queen. "Thank you!" said Cyril, as she curtsied and left the room.