Disclaimer: I own nothing but the characters not in J.R.R. Tolkien's world and works.

"The universe is big, its vast and complicated, and ridiculous. And sometimes, very rarely, impossible things just happen and we call them miracles. And that's the theory. Nine hundred years, never seen one yet, but this would do me."

~Doctor Who

CHAPTER SEVEN

T.A. 2768

The sword in her hands clanged as it met with Frerin's. Her arms shook as he pushed her back, making her feet slide in the dirt of the arena floor. Her brow was furrowed as a bead of sweat dripped down the side of her face and only one thought was on her mind: 'he was not holding back today . . .'

Indeed, Prince Frerin was not holding back at all. He too, was frowning as Nuil blocked his blows with seeming ease, standing only a few inches shorter than he. Nuil was only five years his junior, a girl, and yet she was winning. Frerin was giving this fight his all, putting everything he had learned so far on the table. But with every parry, strike and swing, she blocked him. He was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with her quick jabs.

As Nuil swung at him once more, Frerin swore he felt the tip of her blade graze his chest plate. Barely. But he knew she saw it; her eyes widened and a sudden fire erupted in the hazel depths. Nuil found a small part of her gleeful at almost getting a good blow on Frerin. Always she had hit his arms and legs, but never his chest, or anywhere near his throat.

She lunged forward with new fervor, ducking and rolling. Frerin tried turning as she rolled out of his line of vision, but froze when he felt her sword snake around his throat. How . . ? Frerin tried turning, to knock her arm away when he felt the tip of a long knife jab into his side. His eyes widened as he panted.

He had lost.

Lost.

"Do you yield?" Nuil panted from behind him. He could tell that there was a smile in her voice.

Frerin nodded, out of breath, " . . . yield."

Nuil released him and he turned, staring at her with wide eyes. She was beaming and bright eyed. Shining and lovely. Nuil felt elated. Never before had she bested Frerin in any of their matches, yet, here she was. The victor. Before she could stop herself she was laughing.

Frerin frowned.

"I did it!" she breathed, eyes shining. "I really did it!"

Frerin tried not to let his anger run away with him as she preened over her win. He was five years older than she was, he should have won. He should have been able to beat her, no matter her skill. Where had he gone wrong? Frerin clenched his jaw as his older brother entered the ring, his eyes on Nuil.

"She beat you," Thorin said, a hint of a smirk on his face. Frerin scowled at him. Great, Thorin was going to rub it in.

"And?"

Thorin watched as Nuil sheathed her weapons, turning to them, eyes shining with happiness. "You are older than her."

"I know that!" Frerin snapped frustrated. Thorin placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"You spend too much time not practicing, while she spends all her free time here," Thorin stated simply. "Nuilweyil works harder than you."

Frerin shrugged off his brothers hand. He knew that. He knew that he spent too much time with Nuil's older brothers, and less time on his duties. But to have Thorin come and say it was like a slap to the face. Thorin was right, as usual. It didn't stop his anger, however.

"Frerin?" Nuil asked, a shy endearing timidity in her voice, "another duel? To see if this one was a fluke?"

Frerin admired her want to make the situation lighter. She would willingly set aside her pride to let him have his . . . she really was too kind. But Frerin knew she had won fair and square.

"It was no fluke, Nuilweyil," Thorin told her, saying what Frerin was thinking. Nuil's eyes snapped to Thorin and a frown appeared on her face. It was not lost on any present that she disliked the eldest Prince using her given name.

"But, Frerin always beats me. It was luck-"

"Nonsense," Thorin stated. "I saw it with my own eyes."

Nuil felt her cheeks color. If that was not praise, she didn't know what was. Thorin said she had won. It was no mere chance of luck. It was a true and deserving win.

"Thank you."

"You deserve it," Thorin told her, approval in his eyes. "Many have noticed your hard labors."

Nuil beamed at him, making the older brother of Frerin give one of his rare smiles. It made her feel lighter. It was not often that Prince Thorin smiled and meant it. Frerin cast a frown at Thorin. With a quick bow to the two she hurried to her home; barging through the front door and startling her mother, who was by the fire reading.

"What- Nuil!" Meldamar scolded as her daughter came to a stop at her feet. Nuil was red faced, breathing hard and dirty. "Explain yourself! This is no state for a young lady to be about in."

"I won, mama!" Nuil exclaimed. "I won!"

"Won?"

"I bested Frerin!"

"Frerin?" came Nilwe's voice from across the room where he was bent over a map. "Our Frerin?"

Nuil nodded, beaming. Nilwe's eyebrows rose as his mouth opened in shock.

"Frerin was bested by my little sister," he murmured. "What is the world coming to?"

"Nuil can do anything she puts her mind to," their mother reminded him. "Including her sewing." Nuil groaned, shoulders slumping.

"Mama!" she whined.

"Go wash up, Nuil," Meldamar told her sternly. "Then bring your work."

Nuil stomped to her room, as she entered her mother called out, "well done!" She knew it was meant for her win, and it brought a smile to her face.

oOo

"You were bested by mimel Nuil?" Thrain asked in disbelief as he gazed at his second son from across the table. Dis was snickering at him from behind her hand, doing a poor job of hiding it as Thorin smiled down at his plate. Frerin looked anything but happy his cheeks gaining a rosy hue.

"Yes father," he replied stiffly. "She did."

Thrain hummed, pressing his lips into a thin line. "That should not happen, Frerin."

"I know that!"

"Then it will not happen again," Thrain said simply. "Master Nolen's children are skilled with their weapons, but it will not do to have my youngest son beaten by his daughter. No matter her skill."

"Then why does Thorin not challenge her?" Frerin mumbled stabbing his food with his fork.

"It would hardly be a fair fight," Thrain replied. "He is ten years her elder, a far superior swordsman."

Frerin scowled at his brother, knowing that his father was insulting his own skills and praising his brothers. Thorin merely offered him a smirk behind a sympathetic glance. He did not lift his head for the rest of the meal, or respond to Dis's taunts as they went to bed that night. He was thoroughly humiliated, but he couldn't bring himself to be angered by Nuil.

Nuil did not win another one of their duels for many long years.

I do believe little Nuil got her wish. Miracles do happen. Alas! Another short chapter, ugh! BUT one more chapter and THEN you will get to read about Smaug! Yay(or not if you like dwarves more than dragons)! If anyone has been paying attention to the dates you will notice the countdown to T.A. 2770. Oh yeah, I'm so crazy that I've even got the dates for everything.

A big thank you to IceheartsChill: it makes me feel better knowing that this back story stuff isn't totally boring. I know I'm withholding much juicier stuff.

Anyways please Review and let me know what you think. Thank you to all my followers as well, let me know what you think too!

~filimeala