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Coming Of Age – Chapter 32
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ThoraLee opened her eyes and looked out the tall windows outside her room, dawn was approaching, another day was breaking.
Images of the previous day came flooding in her mind, unbidden tears leaked from her eyes as she continued to stare outward but she was not seeing what is out there, she was thinking of her beloved father. Another set of images overtook the ugly ones of yesterday, these were happy ones, they were all of her father when they were younger, Jora and her were still little, so many laughter, so many happiness…
Thorin grunted in his sleep broke her happy memories as she came back to the present and watched him turned over so now his bare back was facing her.
Sleep eluded her as she slipped out of bed and dressed quietly. She wrote quickly on a piece of paper and placed it on her pillow and slipped out of the room silently.
Lee headed to the stables and prepared Grakarbor's saddles and reins. Soon, she was riding out of Erebor and towards Dale.
By the time she reached her home, the morning sun had just peeked out of its horizon.
As always she looked up at the small chimney above the workshop behind the house; it was not lit.
A small panic rose within her as she thought; not again!
But she remembered what Thorin had told her of her Uncle's condition; he would be in no fit state to fire the small forge this morning, his wounds were too severe…
Besides, it was still quite early, he might be still abed.
She opened the door and walked in, breathing in the familiar scent that was her home and felt deep pangs of missing her father; the realization of never seeing him ever again was hitting her hard as she stood before the main door and looked in, recalling that day when she was in her first dress, the one with the ridiculously large sleeves for her Coming of Age party. How she had fussed about it and her father had laughed at her. And Jor with his fitted shirt teasing her and those oversized sleeves. It seemed so long ago! But in truth, it was only a few months' since…
"Who's there? Lee? Is that you?"
Lee heard her Uncle's raspy voice called out from the bedroom, his voice sounded weakened and …labored!
She hurried towards the room and saw him lying in the bed, looking so small, so alone!
"Uncle!" She dashed up to him and gently hugged him. "I'm here!"
"Hey!" He lifted his heavy lids and looked at her and smiled. "Why are you here?"
She smiled as she gingerly sat by him on the edge of the bed. "I missed you, and I wanted to see you."
He nodded weakly and said, "Where is that husband of yours? Does he know you are here?"
"I left him a note. Uncle, why did you come back here? Why didn't you stay at Erebor and let Master Oin look at your wounds?"
He shook his head, "These old bones are done for my dear. There is nothing Master Oin can do about it." He wheezed as he tried to breathe, his brows a shiny sheen of perspiration appearing.
"Uncle, please let us help you!" She pleaded.
"Lee, my time here is ending. Let me go see my father," his eyes were wet as he was not seeing her anymore.
"No Uncle. I want you here with me. You are my family."
"You have Jora. And besides, you are now a Nogrod as well as a Durin."
"Jor is so far away, you are all I have here, please stay with me, Uncle." She climbed into the bed and lay next to him.
"You are a good child, Lee. I am very proud of you. But it is my time to go join your father. Be a proud Nogrod. I love you Lee," his voice a faint whisper as his breathing slowed.
"I love you Uncle." Her tears continued to flow as they stopped talking, she held his hand.
…..
When Thorin, Balin, Dwalin, Oin, and Gloin arrived at Erimm's house later that afternoon, they saw smoke billowing out of the chimney of the workshop.
They found Lee working in the workshop by herself. She was working at the forge.
She was working on gold which was soft and pliant when melted at a high temperature.
When the door opened, Lee looked up and saw Thorin's concerned face poking in so she waved at him assumingly and beckoned him into the room. It was then she also saw his cousins were with him as well as they all entered within, she smiled her welcome at them.
She put the tools down and walked up to them.
"Hello!" She smiled at them.
"Hello to you," Thorin said. "Your Uncle…"
She stopped smiling and nodded, "His wounds were too much." She said softly.
"I'm so sorry, Lee. Master Crimm was a great man." Balin said.
"Thank you, Master Balin. I will miss him much."
"Aye, lassie." Oin said solemnly.
"What are you working on, Lee?" Dwalin asked as he tried to peek over her shoulders to the forge.
She turned to the direction and walked to it, "Come and see for yourself."
They followed her and saw her work.
"Well, this is some work here indeed. The Nogrod insignia. For your father and your uncle?"
She nodded. "They will not have any crowns like kings or great swords as a warrior would have. They shall meet Aulë together with more than their daggers, and with these insignias on them, Aulë would know who they really are. That they are true Nogrods."
"Well said, Lee well said." Balin nodded.
"Hear! Hear!" They all shouted!
….
Erimm and Crimm were laid on two halves of a hollowed out oak trees, elegantly carved by the carpenters of Dale who were good friends of the two elderly dwarves. When they and the rest of the citizens found out about their passing, they felt great sorrow for they were very well liked. They laid them gently into the boat dressed in their simple brown shirt and pants, with black boots. Their hands were crossed and rested on their chests holding their daggers with elaborated etchings done by Lee. Right above it rested on their breasts were the gold necklace pendants Lee had made with the Nogrod insignia proudly displayed.
Everyone from Dale came to pay their last respect to Erimm and Crimm along the river and the beach.
What astonished them was the presence of the entire Royal family in attendance!
No words were spoken on this occasion as Lee looked on at the two boats where she watched her father and her Uncle seemingly lay asleep, they were to take their last voyage from this world to the next.
As the sun began to set, as the last ray held its last beam before it disappeared beneath behind the Lonely Mountains, Thrain and Thorin watching Lee who gave them a nod stepped forward and walked towards the boats. Thrain stepped behind Erimm's boat while Thorin behind Crimm's and together they pushed the boats off until the bottom caught on with the current and they began to glide towards the direction where the lake ends and the river began as it meandered down past Dale, past Erebor and into the great sea.
Thrain nodded to his two archers who had their arrows ready with fire at its tips.
They raised their bows up in unison and released the arrows into the air where they landed separately into the boats, soon the boats were engulfed by fire as it continued its watery journey.
As Lee watched she heard something; it was singing!
She looked at Thorin who had heard it too and was looking around. Then they saw people pointing across the lake and looked in the direction.
It was Eluin and the wood elves. But to their surprise, there were over 50 elves gathered over there!
When they were with the elves a few days ago, there were only about ten to fifteen. Where did they come from?
"Eluin is the leader of the Anduin Wood Elves of the Lonely Mountains. The elves had grown much since I was brought up when I was little."
Gloin asked her what they were singing as the language was apparently in Elvish.
Lee explained to him. "They are singing a mourning song, a requiem for the passing of life or lives into another world where they will be received with welcoming arms of their ancestors."
After a moment, she continued, "They are now mourning for my Uncle who was Uncrowned in this life but in the new life, he will be King. The people, his people will receive him and embraced him, giving him honor as a King will be honored, and my father will be honored by his side."
As the boat carrying Crimm passed the Elves, they bowed low in respect and honor.
Lee, Thorin and his cousins, as well as the rest of the Durin family did likewise, bowing low as the boats passed them as they flowed past. The Dale citizens bowed as they saw their King bowed, not knowing the true reason…and they never would.0
When they straightened up, the boats had turned around the bend and were now out of their sights.
The singing had ended, the elves began to depart one by one, they disappeared from view, Eluin being the last one to go.
The people from Dale also began to leave, heading back home as darkness fell.
The royal family with their guards also prepared their departure as they mounted their ponies when they heard a fast clopping of hooves approaching on the dirt road.
They stepped away from the road and into the grass just in case whoever the rider was didn't have the time to stop, they didn't want to get run over.
It was dark so it was hard to see the hooded rider. But whoever he was had thankfully stopped before the Durin family as the now tired pony blew hot breath out as it shook its mane.
The rider came before Lee but Thorin moved close to her, as did his cousins in a protective stance.
"Lee?" The rider sounded familiar to her but it couldn't be?
"Jor?" Lee tried to gaze up at the rider.
He dismounted hurriedly and turned to face her as he pulled his hood back to reveal his face, "Lee! What is going on?" He glanced at everyone surrounding her. "Was that smoke I smelled?"
Snapping out of her stupor she gave a yelp as she ran the short distance and jumped into her twin's arm "JoraLee! You are a sight for sore eyes!" she cried out.
He stumbled as he tried to regain his balance while holding both of them, thanking Mahal that she was not heavily built like most female dwarves!
"Oof! Oi! Lee, um, yeah, it is good to see you too!" he pushed her off him after a while.
She straightened up and looked closely at her twin and grinned, "I see you're sprouting some man beard under your chin, Jor. Now, everyone can really tell us apart."
He returned her grin with an identical one as he rubbed his chin, "Yeah, I'm feeling much grown up now."
Thorin cleared his throat as he said to him, "It's good to see you, Jor." He extended his hand.
Jor nodded as he took it and shook it, "Likewise, your Highness."
Thorin arched a brow at him, "Just Thorin."
Jor nodded, "Thorin."
Lee turned around to see Thorin's cousins waiting as well as Thrain, Nur and Frerin. Dis was left behind in the palace at Erebor.
Nur quickly suggested to Lee that they waited till they all gotten to Erebor before she introduce her twin to everyone as it was dark out here with just torches lighting their way, Lee immediately agreed and asked Jor to ride with her and Thorin and his cousins.
Jor looked at them with consternation, he remembered Balin and Dwalin but Gloin and Oin were strangers to him and they looked quite intimidating with their stern looks, hesitated.
"Don't let their looks fool you, they are really harmless." Lee whispered to him."
Jor frowned as he nodded slowly and got back on his pony while Thorin made sure Lee got on Grakarbor before he mounted his and together they all rode forth to Erebor.
Jor saw how attentive Thorin was to Lee and wondered just how close they had gotten to be.
He had been gone for a few weeks and it seemed as if he was gone for a long while! And much had changed!
Lee was riding in the middle with him on the left and Thorin on her right. His cousins were following behind them.
Jor noticed Thorin was riding quite close to his sister and…hang on…were they holding hands?
His eyebrows shot up! The last time he saw them, they were tearing at each other's throats!
He slowed his pony and let them rode ahead of him while he waited on Balin and Dwalin to catch up, he certainly had some questions for them and he knew they would answer truthfully.
The two older dwarves saw Jor trailed behind and exchanged looks; how much should they tell him? How much did Lee wanted to tell him herself?
"We'll just tell him what he asked us to tell him, that's all." Balin said to his brother who nodded in agreement.
As Jor maneuvered his pony between them, he nodded his chin at the two in front of them and began, "What is the story with my sister and him?"
"The story?" Dwalin asked?
Jor glared at him, "You know what I mean, when I left, they were certainly not holding hands; more like trying to kill each other. What is going on? If you said they are a ...a…couple I won't believe you at all. I know Lee and she would not fallen for the likes of that hot tempered fellow, Prince or not."
Balin's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline as Dwalin began to choke on his laughter.
"What? Come on, speak up." Jor said as he began to feel impatient with them.
Balin held his hand up, "Ease up, young man. First of all, you have to really believe us when we tell you and um…hang on, are you armed?"
Jor narrowed his gaze at Balin as he nudged his pony closer to him, "I have a few swords in the bag. Why? What does that have to do with my sister and him?"
"Give them to me," Balin extended his hand out, palm up.
"Look, just tell me what is going on, I promise I won't hurt anyone…or will I?"
"Just give me the weapons." Balin insisted.
Jor frowned as he bent down and retrieved his swords from the bags by the saddle and took out six swords and handed them to.
Balin swallowed hard as he looked at the amount weapons and he was glad he asked for them as he glanced over to Thorin!
Then he looked down and happened to see a glint at in his boot…
"Your dagger, Jor." Balin pointed at his leg in the stirrup.
Jor arched his brow as he was about to ask him how he knew about his dagger but then he just shook his head and stacked his dagger on top of his swords.
"Hmm, well yes all right now. Here's the thing, Jora...your sister is wedded to our cousin Thorin."
Jor was speechless at first as he gazed at Balin then at Dwalin who nodded enthusiastically.
"She wouldn't! She hates him!" He muttered to himself at first then as anger slowly built from within his eyes began to grow bigger and bigger as he became louder and louder.
"She wouldn't!"He repeated, this time more forcefully and louder.
"Now, look here, this is her choice and she is very much in love with him and he is too. They really do make an excellent couple, if you ask me."Balin tried to reason with Jor as they tried to keep up with his pace.
"I think he seduced my sister! He is too old for her! Look at the length of his beard, how old is he? 50? 60? Lee is only 21! A babe in the woods! Seducer! I will teach him not to…give me my swords back Master Balin!" Jor glared at him.
Balin clutched the weapons tightly to his chest mindful of the sharp blades as he tried to move his pony away from Jor.
"Very well, my dagger then." Jor tried to lean over but Balin moved further more as Dwalin leaned out to catch the reins of Jor's pony to prevent him from nearing his brother.
"Stay away from Balin, young man!" Dwalin called out but Jor tried to shake the reins from Dwalin and they began to argue heatedly.
Lee and Thorin turned around when they heard the commotion and saw the three of them struggling in their ponies.
As it was dark, it was hard to make out what was happening so they turned their ponies around and rode back to them.
"What is going on?" Thorin said in his raised voice.
They all stopped struggling as Jor glared at Thorin, "YOU! You are what is going on, seducer!"
"JoraLee!" Lee exclaimed loudly at him. "What are you talking about?"
Pointing at him, "Why did you marry him? Did he force you to do it? Wait a moment, are you…" he stared at her stomach in a disgusted way and back at Thorin. "You are too old for my sister!"
"What are you talking about Jor?"
"You got her in that…that way, didn't you? You forced her!"
"JoraLee! Enough!" Lee rode up to her twin and punched him square in his nose and knocked him out cold as he slumped over his pony.
Rubbing her fist, she turned to Balin and Dwalin who looked completely guilty, "What started this?"
They pointed at each other at the same time.
Lee pursed her lips when she saw Balin with the weapons, "What did you tell him?"
Balin nodded, "He saw the two of you holding hands and asked."
"And?"Thorin demanded as he held her bruised hand tenderly.
Balin shrugged, "That you two were wedded."
"And he didn't take the news too well, was quite violent about it in fact. Was a good thing Balin had the foresight to take his weapons. He could have hurt you Thorin! " Dwalin nodded at the armful of swords in his brother's hands
Oin and Gloin who had rode up to them when the commotion began, picked up one of the sword and hefted it, "Nice sword, very sturdy," Oin said as he began to slash it by his side, testing the its agility.
Gloin also picked another and did likewise, " Indeed, fine sword. Did that lad made this?"
Balin nodded, "His specialty. In fact the whole family is quite talented with this specialty with sword making."
Oin and Gloin nodded, "Must be a Nogrod talent as well."
"Must be"
"Ahem," Lee was watching them with raised brow. "I'm still here, in case you had forgotten."
Luckily for them, she couldn't see their reddened faces in the dark and thankfully they had arrived at the gates of Erebor.
Jor was stirring at the moment when they dismounted, "Lee, where are we?" He was rubbing his face as he looked about him.
"The stables. Come on, Jor. We are meeting with the King and Queen Nur." Lee handed the reins of Grakarbor to a young dwarf squire who received it happily and guided the aged pony back to his stall.
"The King and the Queen?"Jor repeated.
"Yes, there are many things to talk about that concern you as well but we are to dine first. Move it!" She gave him a shove out of the stables as the dwarves were waiting for them. Jor was eyeing angrily at Thorin.
Lee leaned close to her twin, "Listen Jor, do not be angry at Thorin. He is my husband now. I love him and no, he did not force himself on me," then she smiled at her twin as she patted his scruffy beard, "Besides, I lay a claim on him first, so you could say I married him, not the other way around." She smiled as she walked on.
Jor narrowed his eyes at her as he shook his head; only his twin would pull a crazy stunt like that! He quickened his pace as he caught up with her and playfully shove at her shoulder causing her to stumble.
She giggled as she turned to him and shoved at him but he was able to dodge her. They both began to chase around Thorin and his cousins as they made their way to the palace.
Thorin eyed them as he shook his head and turned to look at his cousins who shrugged their shoulders as they let them be.
"They are still only 21 years old in truth, "Balin said in their defense.
"They are Queen and Prince Regent of the Nogrods." Thorin shook his head in disbelieve and when Lee caught his eye, she winked playfully at him as she gave Jor a hard push causing him to fall on the ground hard.
Balin and Dwalin stopped walking and helped him up, "I think play time is at an end for the both of you ere one of you really gets hurt!" Balin glared at her.
Lee stopped and walked beside Thorin, looking properly chastised as she was catching her breath, "Yes, Master Balin sir. But my brother owed me a few beatings, and I just collected a few."
"Seriously you two needed to be separated for the good of all of us!" Balin shook his head.
Jor came to walk beside him and laughed, "Our father had said that many times too!"
They all stopped walking and looked at Jor who was still laughing and walking until he realized they had stopped.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
Lee looked sad suddenly stepped away from Thorin and moved next to Jor, "Come with me Jor, let's walk to the gardens."
"But I thought we are to have supper?" Jor pointed to the palace. The others had moved along again, separately from Lee and Jor.
"Lee, what is going on exactly?"Jor asked.
She led him to the gardens and set him by the stone benches where she knew they would have privacy.
She then began, "Jor, father and Uncle Crimm have passed into another life…the smoke you smelled earlier by the beach in Dale was the funeral you had just missed."
Jor was quiet as he sat looking at her, gauging her emotions.
"Is this one of your tricks Lee? If it is, it is not funny, not one bit." Jor said quietly.
Lee shook her head, "No tricks, no pranks Jor. Father was killed, as was Uncle Crimm…only he died of his injuries."
"Who? Who would kill our father? Lee, what is going on here? When I left Dale, you were entrusted to take care of our father. Instead, you had gone and married that Prince!" He spat angrily at her as he stood up.
Lee snapped her head at him, "No! It was nothing like that! Sit down and listen to me."
"I'm going to kill him!"
"No! Jor, if you lay a hand on Thorin, you will be killing me as well."
He turned to look at her, "Why are you protecting him? What has he got on you? Some kind of spell? Is he a...a…wizard of sort as well as dwarf?"
Lee shook her head in anguish, "No, just someone I love very much. Please Jor, sit down and listen to me. I have so much to tell you. You don't know half of everything. That...that...we are not who we thought we are."
Jor frowned, "What do you mean? You're speaking in riddles sister."
"Sit, and all will be explained to you." She patted at the space next to her.
With an exasperated sound, he sat by her.
Lee nodded as she began her tale, beginning with the translation of the text script to the discovery of the Durin gold and the Arkenstone, Eluin's tale of their grandmother's death and the birth of the twin, of their father and their aunt's unfortunate death, the traitorous betrayal of Gul Mored, their father's death and her revenge, Uncle Crimm's death and who the real Nogrods were.
Much later, when she was through, Lee sat back and let Jor absorbed her tale, her words.
He was shaking his head in disbelief, "A Nogrod? Me? You? Us? Impossible…" he muttered to himself.
Lee than gave him the Nogrod ring their Uncle Crimm had given her upon his passing. Jor looked at it, "So it is real." She showed him hers, as she was wearing their father's.
"Wait, you are the oldest, shouldn't you be the Queen?" he asked her.
She shook her head, "I'm a Durin now. And I have no desire to be a Queen. You'll make a much better King than I a Queen, Jor."
"But I don't know anything about being a King!" His eyes were big as saucers!
She laughed, "I think his Majesty King Thrain will be more than thrilled to assist you."
Jor scratched the back of his head boyishly, "Yeah, didn't think about that."
Then he looked at her and leaned forward until his forehead touched hers, "Will you forgive me for being utterly an idiot? For accusing your Thorin as a seducer."
Lee laughed, "Certainly. I did agree with you, he is quite old though. Not as old as you think, he is only 34 years old."
"Oh, only 34, I thought about 60."
"60! Jor!" Then they laughed together as they hugged each other tightly.
"I miss father. And Uncle Crimm." He said.
"As do I. But they had led a wonderful life each and now father is with mother and Uncle Crimm…and his twin sister our aunt, and Grandfather and Grandfather."
Jor nodded, "And the rightful Nogrod ancestors." He slipped the ring into his finger and held it out, Lee held hers next to his, and as one they exclaimed, "Nukgruds!" in Khuzdul.
.
…
End of Chapter 32