Wow! I didn't get any reviews but my inbox is rather flooded with all the favorites and follows and I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! But REVIEWS are MORE LOVED! So review if you want the chapters to keep coming :B Until then, here, have Chapter Two.
The next day came, Dis giving me the spare bedroom to stay in. I made my way into the kitchen where Fili and Kili where eating while Dis was cooking.
"Good morning," Fili greeted.
Kili grinned at me, his mouth full of bread. I sat across from the two, yawning before laying my head on the table.
"Mornings are never good," I grumbled.
"Didn't sleep well?" Dis asked, putting a plate of ham and eggs next to me.
"When the moon is awake, so am I," I sighed, grabbing a fork and shoving the whole slice of ham in my mouth, refusing to lift my head.
"Oh, Fili, since Thorin is away still, the town's master was hoping you'd be able to help lead in the celebration tonight," Dis said, sitting at the table.
"New moon celebration, huh?" I inquired, lifting my head to continue eating my breakfast.
"Yes, actually," Fili nodded.
"I might get some sleep then," I sighed, eating my food and drinking the milk Dis gave me.
"Thank you for the meal, Dis," I yawned.
"Kili, Fritillary, care to join me? I'm sure I'll need some help," Kili smiled, standing.
I looked up at him, still exhausted before blowing a raspberry at him.
"Aw, c'mon! It'll be fun!" Kili grinned, grabbing my hand and leading me to the door before I could reject.
"Wait! I need my cloak!" I protested.
"Why? It's the middle of summer!" Kili grinned.
I was able to wiggle my hand out of his but we were already outside and lucky me, Thorin was outside the door. I turned away, covering my ears with my hands and not making eye contact.
"What is SHE doing here?" Thorin demanded of Fili and Kili.
"Fritillary's just visiting," Fili said.
"Though she said she wants to help take back Erebor!" Kili grinned.
I glanced up at Thorin, his gaze full of hate.
"I'm sorry!" I cried out, running away, wings sprouting from my back and carrying me away.
I landed atop a nearby cliff, knowing that I couldn't go far. Not with Bell and my supplies still at their home. I looked back at my wings, lovely pale violet butterfly wings I got from a spell gone horribly awry a few years back. I focused all my energy to make them go away, but nothing worked. I was still far too emotional to get them to disappear again. I stayed atop the cliff, looking out at the view, for what seemed like hours, which it probably was since before I knew it, the sun was setting.
"I can't go back. Belle, forgive me," I sighed, standing and focusing my energy again.
I felt the wings flutter before dissolving into my back.
"Found you!" I heard a voice say.
Turning behind me, I saw Kili. Instantly, I was on the ground, curled up.
"Don't beat me too hard," I cried out.
"Beat you? Why would I ever lay a hurting finger on you?" he asked, walking up to me and crouching down and petting my long white hair out of my face.
I looked up at him, tears in my eyes.
"Let's go home," he smiled.
"Thorin will kill me, I know it!" I refused.
"No, he won't. And if he tries, I'll protect you."
"Fighting your own kin? Why? I'm a lowly mutt…"
"Why would you call yourself a mutt?" Kili was horrified at the name.
"Thorin called me that last I saw him. He said to leave him and his kind alone…" I said.
"Well then he'll just have to deal with it!" Kili smiled, helping me up.
We looked out at the setting sun.
"It's beautiful," I said.
"Very," Kili agreed, though he wasn't looking at the horizon.
I looked at him and blushed. He leaned in to try to kiss me, but I turned away.
"Let's go," I said, heading towards the village.
Kili followed behind me, keeping silent until about halfway to his home when he finally spoke up.
"Thorin's going to ask about the wings."
"I figured he would. It's not every day that someone sprouts wings and flies away, now is it?" I couldn't help but laugh.
I tuned to look at Kili who was looking at me with worry.
"He may kill me," I sighed in knowing.
"Maybe. I pray to Durin he doesn't."
We stopped outside the front door and I turned to Kili.
"Thank you," I smiled softly, kissing his cheek before taking a deep breath and walking through the doorway.
"Thank goodness!" Dis gasped, hugging me, "Are you hurt? Oh, you must be starving!"
"I'm alright, Dis," I chuckled lightly as she rushed into the kitchen.
I turned my attention to the den where I saw Thorin and Fili talking while smoking their pipes. I walked in, holding myself high and strong.
"Tell me, Mutt, what are you doing here, and how did you grow wings?" Thorin asked calmly but coldly, not even looking at me.
"I'm here by pure chance that I ran into Kili then Fili. They invited me to stay. I have wings because I absorbed the essence of a butterfly while trying to save it," I told him, keeping my tone even and my face flat.
Don't show weakness.
Thorin glanced at me and smirked.
"Where does your allegiance lie?"
"Within the Sky and Wind. I hold no allegiance towards any other creature, I merely go where I am needed. As I understand it, dear Thorin Oakensheild, I will be much needed," I answered, still flat and emotionless, glancing briefly at Fili who looked at me sadly. Sighing, I gave up the charade that I was cold and emotionless.
"I want to help reclaim my father's land. I want my existence to have meaning," I said, taking a step towards Thorin, "I want to aid the Dwarves."
Thorin looked at the fire in the hearth before him, smoking for a moment before turning to me.
"We leave in a month. Be prepared," he spoke as he stood from his chair and walked past me.
Almost immediately felt a strong pat on my back, turning to see Kili grinning his widest grin at me. I smiled softly back and then turned to Fili who stood from his own chair and took hold of my shoulders.
"Welcome to the Company, Sister Dwarf!"
My smile immediately faded, "I'm not a dwarf. I'm not an elf. I am nothing," I said, breaking free of Fili's grip and heading upstairs to my temporary room.
I looked out the window of the bedroom and smiled softly as I heard the birds sing a strange tune. I grabbed a piccolo from my satchel on my bed and returned to the window where I played with the tune. The birds continued to sing their happy but odd song. Opening the window, I sat on the sill before jumping out, my wings unraveling and taking me away. I flew to the center of the songbird's congregation where I saw her.
Elise, a very young dwarven girl, sat upon a rock, singing a soft song as the birds joined her and the animals of the forest surrounded her. She was a strange one, not only able to sense the thoughts of other animals but despite being a dwarf, she lacked a beard and was very petite. I landed in a tree and watched as her song came to a slow end.
"Good to see you, Lady Elise of the Earth," I smiled.
She looked up and smiled back, "Good to see you, Lady Fritillary of the Wind."
I fluttered down to her and embraced one another.
"Have you heard much of the others?" I inquired.
"Lady Dina of the Water is currently assisting a river town where the fish have vanished. As for Lady Aster of the Flame, I am not quite sure. Last I heard of her, she was hunting dragons?" Elise told me, brushing a bit of her short black hair out of her face.
"Sounds about right," I nodded, "Are you staying somewhere safe, Elise?"
"Oh! Yes, I found a lovely cave. It's very comfortable," she smiled.
"Maybe for you," I laughed, "There's a village nearby. They're having a new moon celebration. Care to join me?"
"I would love to," Elise nodded and joined me in making our way to the village where the festivities already began.
It occurred to me briefly that Fili and Kili didn't know I left the house, but the thought washed away as Elise grabbed my hand and pulled me into the crowd. We laughed and danced as the music played. We looked towards the makeshift stage and saw Thorin clear his throat. The music stopped and everyone turned their attention. Fili and Kili quickly joined him by his side. I turned to Elise to see her blushing which elicited a teasing laugh from me.
"You like one of them, don't you?" I smiled.
She looked away.
"The blond one is quite handsome," she admitted with a mumble.
"I'll introduce you," I offered, making the young dwarven lady look up at me like most would look at a unicorn, which only made me laugh harder.
"Is there something funny?" Thorin bellowed.
I looked up at him, realizing how loudly I laughed when most likely he was giving some super serious speech or something.
"Oh, Great Thorin Oaksheild of Erebor, I, Fritillary, have found thy eldest heir a suitor!" I bellowed back, taking hold of Elise's hand and dragging her towards the stage as a colorful array of dwarven curses spewed from her mouth.
Thorin raised his eyebrow at us, me laughing like an idiot and Elise redder than a beet and screaming obscenities at me. He ushered for Elise to get on the stage. When she refused, I picked her up and carried her on myself. Thorin looked her over.
"Where is your beard, girl?" Thorin questioned, "Or are you not of dwarven blood?"
"I am of full dwarf blood, King Thorin Oaksheild, I, um, I just never grew one. I'm not sure why…" Elise was very shy as Thorin interrogated her infront of the crowd.
"Why do you wish to be a suitor for my nephew, Fili?" Thorin almost demanded.
"She thinks he's handsome," I smiled teasingly.
Thorin shot me the nastiest of glares.
"You seem young. How old are you?"
"I am five and twenty years," Elise seemed ashamed of her young age.
Thorin walked around her, inspecting her further before turning to Fili who seemed baffled that his uncle would even consider this.
"Tell us your name."
"I am Elise of the Earth," she said with her greatest attempt at confidence.
Thorin looked at Fili only briefly before turning to the crowd.
"We have found a suitor for the heir of Erebor!" he bellowed.
"Wow, it worked," I said extremely nonchalant compared to Fili, Kili, and Elise's slightly panicked shock.
"I'm so sorry," Elise apologized to Fili who was blushing and trying to play it cool.
"Now, we shall feast!" Thorin announced.
The crowd cheered and turned to the array of foods put out, eating and drinking and being merry as the five of us conversed.
"You are on thin ice, Fritillary, but you brought a fine dwarven lady for Fili to wed so I will let your behavior slide."
"Uncle, I do not wish to disrespect you, but I am not yet ready to marry," Fili frowned.
"That may be, but you and Kili are the last of our line and we need an heir if we perish during our journey. You will marry Lady Elise and she will bare your child," Thorin spoke, leaving before even I could object.
"I'm sorry. It was a mere teasing gone awry…" I apologized, feeling responsible for possibly ruining Elise's life.
"You cannot predict the future, Fritillary, you are not like Dina. I do apologize to Fili though. If you do not wish to wed me then I will leave and ensure I am not found again," Elise said sadly.
"Though I am not familiar with you, Lady Elise, I will follow my uncle's wishes. I am quite pleased that he agreed to me marrying such a lovely and spry woman, though. It is a pleasure to be your betrothed," Fili said, bowing and taking Elise's hand, kissing her knuckles.
Elise blushed wildly as vines from the forest's edge crept towards Fili.
"Elise! Control your emotions!" I snapped at her.
She looked at me, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Wh-what was THAT!?" Kili gasped, staring at the vines as they retreated back to the forest.
"Just be happy it wasn't a stampede," I sighed, holding Elise in my arms, "Conception of that child will be fun," I rolled my eyes.
"What are you not telling anyone, Fritillary?" Kili was getting annoyed.
"We're both witches, Kili. I mean, if I got emotional enough the wind would blow so strong the whole village would be blown down," I stated, "Be grateful neither of us are Aster of the Flame."
Elise nodded in agreement, "Aster is quite terrifying as she has yet to control her emotions, despite being an elven hunter of nearly three hundred years."
"She just won't accept Dina's help," I sighed.
"Who are these women of which you speak?" Fili asked.
"We're all witches. The Witches Four to be exact," I told the brothers.
"You're not speaking of the four witches that if brought together could cause mass destruction and could take out full armies?" Kili questioned.
"Yes, we are such witches," Elise nodded, "Of course, it takes a full ritual to create the power you speak of, and to do said ritual would require all of us to be experiencing grand emotions."
"We should invite Dina to your wedding to give you and Fili a fate reading!" I said as suddenly as the idea entered my mind.
"I think this is getting out of hand, Dear Fritillary," Elise said, still panicked at the mention of a wedding, especially one so sudden.
"Fear not, Elise. Fili, though rather smug, is a fine dwarf. He will treat you well. And if he doesn't, well, I'm sure I can persuade him to treat you as the queen you were meant to be!" I smiled, hugging my dear friend.
"What do you mean, the queen she was meant to be?" Fili questioned.
"Hm? Oh, her parents were the King and Queen of the southern mountains, near the Great Sea," I said matter of fact.
Elise blushed as Fili and Kili looked at her in shock.
"This is too much for one day. I need some ale," Kili grunted and made his way to the kegs.
"Do you suspect Thorin knew of this?" Elise asked, looking at me as she fidgeted nervously.
"I do," I nodded, looking towards the Dwarf King, "I truly do."
Fili cleared his throat, "Well, I think it best I introduce my Mother to my newly betrothed, yes?" he smiled, holding his hand out for Elise who nervously took it and allowed Fili to lead her towards his home.
"She'll love you, just tell her you're my friend," I smiled reassuringly to Elise.