Again, thank you to all who put this story on your alert! And on your favorite, too! I am most grateful!

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Coming Of Age – Chapter 25

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Dwarves were resilient creatures, they were known to heal fast and swift, of course, love and care helped quite a bit as well.

Two days after the fateful event saw our dear friend ThoraLee up and in the saddle of her new friend Grakarbor. Accompanied by Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Oin, and Gloin they made their way to Dale to pay a visit to her father Erimm and his brother, the former Royal Valet Crimm.

They set off in the early morn hours, having preferred to arrive before most folks in Dale began to stir and went about their day. Lee did not want to create any excitement their arrival would cause.

The trip was uneventful as those bullies were gone; they were on their way to the deep bowels of the Lonely Mountains to work the mines.

When the citizens of Dale heard of the heinous crime committed by Crudd, Shia and their cronies, they were appalled. They all liked ThoraLee, despite the fact that she and her twin had been mischievous growing up in Dale but they were harmless fun and pranks, whereas the Cimbollis were a different set of bullying; it affected many businesses. The elder Cimbolli had turned out many hard working merchants because they did not want to abide by his bullying tactics. Thus they found themselves with lesser to no business, thanks to the Cimbollis.

Now that they were gone, life in Dale was better again for business prosper. Merchants were able to conduct their businesses without the fear of the Cimbollis' and their threats. Yes, Dale prospered once again.

Little Nuin's parents were merchants and now they lived in the biggest house in Dale and soon they became the richest family but they remained good friends with Bels whose mother still sew for a living although she had to hire more help in her booming business! Bels loved her new big house and her own big room. She and Nuin became inseparable as they grew up.

The news of Lee surviving the attack was nothing short of a miracle for the people of Dale. She was their heroine in all their eyes if she was not already when she saved Bels from drowning. News of her secret union to Prince Thorin spread all over the city, faster than the news of her attack by the Cimbollis and company. Of course, for the next two days, the talk around the city was of Lee and Thorin and her attack and the conflicting stories of how she confronted Crudd, Shia and company. In each story, Lee was shown to be the heroine, fighting off from six to ten to twenty attackers! With just a broken oak limb and a dagger. It was also intermixed with plenty of fighting, Crudd suffering from broken to severed limbs, Shia also suffering the same fate as well as her losing her hair!

Soon in the city, little girls were seen welding little oak sticks, playfully whacking their friends, pretending to be Lee confronting pretend Cimbollis and company. These stories went on for years come; ThoraLee and her Oak Limb! Many decades later, it became a favorite bedtime story for all little dwarven children in Dale.

Of course we veered off in our story here…

Back to our current story, as soon as Grakarbor stopped in front of her old house, Lee hopped down and rushed to the door and banging it opened.

"Father! Uncle Crimm! It's me Lee! I'm home!" She looked about her in the living room. The room she had lived since she was about ten. Since she had left the wood elves and reluctantly lived here but grew to love this house.

As Thorin entered the room, he saw her disappointment and felt her sorrow for her, "Perhaps they are in the workshop."

Her eyes brightened instantly as she nodded, wondering to herself why she did not think of it herself. She quickly ran out of the room, through the kitchen, the back door, the back yard and to the work shop. She smiled when she saw the black smoke billowing out of the chimney, indicating the forge being fired up.

Opening the work shop, she peeked into it and smiled widely. Her father was bent over and frowning over a piece of metal as he was about to strike it with a hammer over an anvil. Her uncle was holding another long piece of metal in the hot fire. They were not aware they had visitors.

Thorin and the other dwarves had arrived by then, the workshop was crowded so the guard sensibly stood outside the workshop.

Lee silently bent down and retrieved her dagger and was about to throw it at her father when Thorin touched her shoulder and shook his head.

Lee smiled and shrugged and once again, before he could react, she flicked her dagger and threw it like a dart as it landed near Erimm.

To the old dwarf's credit, he didn't flinch as he continued his work as he said, "Good morning, my dear. I see you are better, not much, your throwing is still a little off to your left."

He set aside his hammer as he pulled the dagger out of the wall and gave it a cursory glance handling it back to Lee, "That wrist needs a little more work here. Took a week off to work in the palace and you've become soft." Thorin saw the old dwarf grinning in the corner of his mouth that was not covered by his beard. That old devil!

Lee bowed her head but she peeked up at her father and said mischievously at him, "My apologies dear father. I was quite indisposed for the past few days."

Erimm looked at her and nodded, "Yes, His Majesty paid us a visit when it happened and explained to us all about the whole thing. You are now well, my daughter?"

Lee went over to him as he hugged his daughter as she leaned into his neck and beard, "Much better, thanks to Thorin's cousin, Master Oin."

Erimm nodded, overcome with emotions. He knew how close he came to losing his only daughter.

As they separated, Erimm hastily wiped his eyes with his sleeves, Crimm came over and gathered her into his arms as well.

"Ah my dearest niece, I too am glad you are well. When your father heard from Shoshin the other day, he was…" her uncle shook his head sadly. Then he continued. "But His Majesty's fortunate arrival stopped your father going after the Cimbollis."

Lee turned to look at her father in awe. "Father?"

Erimm shrugged his aged shoulders as he toyed with her dagger and looked at her, "Yes, Curran can consider himself fortunate he wasn't home that evening, as well as that son of his."Then Erimm hefted the dagger and threw it across the room, landing neatly at the wall near Crimm's head. Crimm did not flinch as he nodded approvingly at his brother.

Gloin and Oin was stunned as their eyes were as wide as saucers while Balin, Dwalin and even Thorin shook their heads; Erimm was nearing 250 years old and he still had the strength of a middle aged dwarf.

Erimm walked towards where the group of dwarves was standing, Thorin introduced them to his father-by-law and Crimm.

Erimm graciously thanked Oin for saving his daughter's life.

Oin waved his thanks, told the elderly dwarf that it wasn't a big deal as he quickly came over and talk about Erimm's metal crafting.

Balin and Dwalin was talking to Crimm about his latest sword making.

Lee looked at Thorin and smiled, "It seems we are being left out."

Thorin nodded, "It seems your father and uncle took to your ordeal much better than I had expected." He held her as they watched them busily talking around the forge, not minding the heat of the fire.

Lee turned her face to him and said, "When you lived as long as they have, and put up with Jor and I, nothing surprised him much anymore." Then she said, "Come to the house with me rúzín, I have something for you."

Thorin grinned as he nodded willingly. They slipped from them, thinking they had left undetected.

Erimm smiled, "How are they, really?" he glanced at the new comers, Oin and Gloin.

Oin shook his head, "Like a pair of quarrelsome dwarflings, if you ask me."

"Aye," Balin nodded. "Never a dull moment at the palace. The queen wanted to give them a whole palace of their own, on the other side of Lonely Mountains, they way they argued every minute."

"Me wife and I didn't argue half as much as they do." Gloin commented as he looked closely at the metal before him.

"No, brother," Oin shook his head. "Your poor wife threw that iron pan at you when you told her the pork was not salted enough."

The others began to laugh.

"Well it wasn't! And my head still hurts!" Gloin was rubbing where she had thrown the pan at him, several months ago!

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Back in the house, in Lee's old bedroom;

Lee was rummaging in her dresser and pulled out small wrapped linen. She turned around where Thorin was standing near her by the bed and handed it to him.

Thorin took the package but did not open it, "What is this Lee?"

"A belated wedded present," she smiled.

"Lee…there is no need for this…"

"Just open it, Thorin. It's not much but I want you to have it."

He nodded as he removed the cloth layering and saw that it was a gold chain necklace. He looked at her in askance.

"Look closely at it," she prompted.

He picked it up and did as she bidden, and saw that it was interlocked thrice so that if a loop was broken, it was still connected by two more loops. It would never break.

"It is a really fine workmanship, Lee. You made this?" Thorin asked, knowing the answer anyways.

She nodded as she pulled him down to sit with her on the bed, "I made this when I first learned about gold crafting. It was fun to do."

"Fun?" Thorin chuckled. "Only you, my dear," He shook his head. "Placing little value to something many people valued much. Do you know what this necklace with this craftsmanship is worth?"

Lee shrugged.

"You really don't know?"

"I don't care, I enjoyed making it, and now I am giving it to you as your wife. I hope you will wear it and treasure it." She said it as she watched him.

Thorin handed the chain to her, "If you will, dear wife, put it on me, I would be honored to wear it and I swear on my death that I will never remove it from by body."

Thora nodded as she teared at his touching words, put the gold chain over his head and leaned in and kissed him deeply, he held her tightly.

It was a long time before they returned to the workshop holding hands.

Balin and Dwalin, upon seeing ThoraLee wanted her to show their cousins how the she did her etchings within the sword.

Lee was only too happy to show them her work and soon presented two new dwarven made long swords with finely dwarven etched kudzul battle cry along the edge of the swords. Oin and Gloin were duly impressed.

As the sun began to set, it was time they took their leave. Lee gave all four dwarves daggers she had made. The dwarves, their eyes shining with gratitude and admiration, accepted their gifts eagerly. The daggers were put away into their boots.

As they bid the elderly dwarves a good evening complimenting their fine work, they began riding away.

Lee's goodbye to her sire and uncle were as quick as well as sad but she knew she could visit them whenever she could. Erimm nodded and hugged her hard and advising her to be more careful of herself and Thorin as well. Crimm gave them the same advice, although he gave Thorin a certain look and Thorin nodded in understanding; Thorin knew that they loved Lee above all things they held precious and if something happened to her, Thorin would be held accountable to them. Message received, Thorin nodded.

Crimm nodded, satisfied by his assurances.

Their way home was a sad and quiet one but Lee was contented as well, she saw that her father was still the same, her homesickness pangs had dissipated, and she was ready to return home with Thorin.

As their ponies plodded along the dirt road towards Erebor, Lee heard noises behind her. She looked back, she saw a long line of procession of more ponies and carriages.

"Thorin look, what is going on?"

Thorin looked back as he squinted his eyes, there was a banner flag waving in front of the procession. He frowned and muttered; he recognized the insignia; Nogrods.

Why were they doing back here again? Thorin wondered.

"The Nogrods are back." He looked at Lee.

Lee returned his looks and shook her head worriedly, "You don't think they knew about Durin's gold and the Arkenstone?"

Thorin shrugged, "I'm not sure Lee. News certainly travelled fast." He trotted to catch up with his cousins who were ahead of them and relayed the news to them. They looked behind them and frowned. Lee joined them soon and they decided to quicken their pace to reach Erebor and informed the King and Queen of the news. And braced themselves of the arrival of the dreaded Nogrods.

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End of Chapter 25