The Unconventional Misadventure of Sonia Perkins
Chapter 3: The floating Ale.
Gandalf had warned us both not to tell any of the dwarves where we were from. I knew all to well why and I had no problem being vague if they asked questions, not that it mattered much now considering the current state of our home.
Pebbles moved beneath my feet as I walked through The Shire. The evening held a soft breeze that played with my dark hair and sent shivers down my spine from time to time. Looking around myself, I hoisted my pack further up my back.
So much had changed in the past six months. Sometimes I'd wake up and expect all of this to be some sort of dream. I still had all my 'memories' from my time in Earth. I remembered all the books I had read, all the movies I had watched, school, friends and what I thought was my family. I felt like a traitor and I missed them more than my life.
I had started to gain some of my memories from growing up in Carasheim and I was copping well thanks to Renna. When she was seven years old her father was slain in battle, her mother, my mothers dearest friend, was found dead a few weeks after. Ever since she had been my sister.
A sudden strong gust of air reminded me of what I was doing. The winding paths and rolling hills of the shire were soothing. Trees rose up from the ground at random and leaves and conkers littered the ground between little fences where daffodils were scattered among the grass.
Abruptly, I let out a snort of laughter. Renna turned to look at me.
"What?!" she exclaimed suddenly self-conscious.
"Nothing that concerns you"
I had thought back to a few moments ago when I had smiled albeit overly enthusiastically at some poor unsuspecting Hobbit. His heavily crinkled eyes had squinted back at me irked. Despite my enthusiasm at being in Hobbiton having been rejected, I had trekked on unfazed.
Renna tapped my arm and indicated to something up ahead. Through the dim I spotted a glowing blue symbol etched into a round door only a few yards ahead. This round door belonged to a generously proportioned hobbit hole nestled beneath a large oak tree.
After making our way to the door, I knocked slightly. There was commotion deep within the house, my stomach flipped with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, but no movement was heard on the opposite side of the door. Dammit.
I turned to Renna defeated, There was a look of dry frustration on my face as she smirked back at me. Her pale pink lips curving up towards her eyes.
My knock probably wasn't loud enough. What if it was ? And then they all thought I was rude for knocking louder a second time. How many did Gandalf say would be here ? 12 or 13?
Before I could ponder the struggles of a socially inept Lady Dwarf, Renna knocked harshly.
"Renna!" I whispered through gritted teeth. She smiled smugly as the door opened to a miffed looking hobbit.
Warm light spilled out to the well-maintained patio I stood on as I caught a glimpse of his hobbit hole. No. No. That defiantly didn't sound right. His underground dwelling.
Which I was thankful to find out was not an overly glorified rabbit hole.
"Renna"
"And Sonia"
"At your service." We said in unison.
I smiled brightly to make up for my blunt tone while doing a little bow. My hair found its way into my mouth distorting my expression before I straightened up once again, I looked away momentarily mortified.
Let's just move on to second impressions.
He was only slightly shorter than myself, I had noticed as I took in his neat appearance. His ears were pointed and loosely curled mousey brown hair fell around his face.
Remembering my current state, I exhaled as I was suddenly overly aware of my sweaty, wind-blown face. I quickly rubbed my forehead with my sleeve. Of course Renna looked just as flawless as always. The Hobbit looked us both over and gave us a slightly pained smile before introducing himself.
"And Bilbo Baggins at yours" He stepped aside to let us both in.
I turned to observe his hole again-err nope.
Definitely not what I had expected. Smooth plastered walls curved to match the shape of the door, divided by dark brown stained wooden beams.
There was Elegant lighting throughout the hall in a variety of chandeliers and single standing candles. This accompanied by furniture littered with ornaments and parchment created a homely impression.
I unclasped my dark brown leather pack dropping it in the hall near some cloaks and many other packs. Weapons varying in size and shape were left lazily around. I nearly tripped over a large battle hammer but Wren caught my arm while she was placing her tan and fur pack down beside mine.
My conclusion was decided there and then that dwarves were a hazard.
I placed my bow neatly on top of my back with my arrows leaning against it. My long sword against the wall. I opted to keeping my hunting knives on rather than having to re do my belts.
Renna had strapped her two matching short swords to her pack before linking arms with me as she turned to talk to Mr. Baggins. In my opinion he looked to be on the verge of a mental breakdown as a fork clattered down that hall to his large feet. He picked it up, gave it a quick wipe and put in his dressing gown pocket.
My stomach growled loudly without warning. I hope he didn't hear that I thought while turning from Renna to Bilbo a sheepish look on my face.
Bilbo raised his hands in surrender. "Just go and Help yourself!"
I heard him mutter about being at his wit's end as I made for the kitchen cautiously, The short trip there was nice as I snooped around Bilbo's home momentarily. Renna practically skipped to the festivity.
With the way she had spoke to Gandalf you'd think she hated the dwarves from Ered Luin. Although from my last six months with Wren I had pretty much figured out her fondness for socialising. The memories were all still very vague but I was piecing things together gradually.
She had filled me in on the dramatic back story that had led to the separation of the dwarves while we travelled here. Personally I think it was petty but evidently it's quite serious among the dwarves, specifically the line of Durin, the hosts of our journey.
The babble grew louder and clearer as I neared. I pulled my sleeves further over my hands and soon realized the source of Mr. Baggins frustration. Dwarves were everywhere. Carrying chairs and emptying out the pantry at an unnatural rate. The place was anarchy!
A large red haired dwarf carried three slabs of cheese from the pantry. Bilbo mentioned a cheese knife and and another dwarf with a strange hat shouted back "He eats it by the block"
I held my hands up to my face as I attempted to muffle my laughter.
Wren was already in the thick of it. She was chatting with a white-haired dwarf with a sizeable beard as a larger bald dwarf, whose arms were covered in tattoos, handed her an ale.
How does she do that? I was never great at socializing back home, here in middle earth is even more complicated so I usually leave Renna to do the talking. I bit my lip slightly as I stepped back a bit only to catch Gandalfs eye. He called me over, "A very merry gathering aren't they" he commented looking down at me.
"A bit flamboyant for my liking" I muttered hoping I hadn't come across overly negative.
He laughed at my reply before continuing.
"You're far to timid for your own good my dear Sonia" He spoke handing me a fresh roll of bread. I was thankful for that, I hadn't exactly wanted to battle with some dwarves for a bit of food.
"Not always" I replied taking it with a wink, I had managed to wink successfully without looking like I had just figured out I had eyelids. I Sauntered off then proud of myself.
I took a bite from the roll. It was light and soft, with a golden crust.
I noticed that the dwarves were in fact very cheery. They created a warm and lively atmosphere, I thought to myself while exploring the hallways.
All of a sudden I walked into something very solid and hard, and fell firmly on the tiled floor.
I looked up to see a barrel of ale floating in mid-air. Nope, It was worse than that. Two dwarves were supporting either end of the barrel. Matching smirks on either of their faces at my place on the floor. The first one was blonde with numerous braids in his hair. I could tell he was struggling to contain his laughter. Dumb Dwarf. Who the hell braids their moustache am I right ?
My eyes travelled over to observe the second dwarf. Which only resulted in my cheeks pinking instantly as I struggled to normalize my breathing. He looked younger than the first. His gaze was slightly more intense than the other whose was more light-hearted. His hair was dark brown with eyes to match, unlike the other dwarves his beard was only stubble. After realizing how long I had stared my head dropped downwards instantly. Oh no, He's hot.
The darker one dropped his end of the barrel of ale, receiving an annoyed glare from the blonde as he was left to place it on the ground heavily.
He reached down and lifted me up with his warm hand effortlessly. I hope. I really shouldn't have made it a habit of eating so many cakes and pastries in my spare time. Oh God. Why am I being so self-conscious?
Taking the opportunity he placed a kiss on the back of my hand. Dumb Dwarf. My legs had successfully turned to jelly.
"Kili" said the darker one. "and Fili" said the fairer one as they gave me a quick bow and an "At your service" in unison.
"Sonia!" I quipped with a bow.
"Where do you hail from my Lady Sonia ?" It was Kili who spoke.
I groaned inwardly. Really?! I didn't ask them where they hailed from. Although I knew exactly where they hailed from thanks to Renna. This just got a whole lot harder.
"My home is far from here, you would not know of it if I told you. Besides it matters not, the city that I had once called home no longer exists the way it once had." Both statements were 100% true. They may not be about the same home but I definitely wasn't lying.
Fili looked up from the barrel of ale, a look of confusion and interest on his face. He seemed to think for a moment before patting his brothers back and indicating that they continue carrying the barrel of ale towards the dining room.
Kili hesitated obviously not as satisfied with my answer as Fili was.
"Forgive me if I offend you my lady, Do you mean to say that you no longer have a place to call home ?"
"I and my sister do not" I didn't care about the awkward atmosphere I had created as I allowed myself to remember what had happened.
My steps echoed through the otherwise silent throne room as I left slamming the great engraved wooden doors behind me. My father's head in his hands and my mother's face stern. Her eyes bore into the back of my head as I had stormed out. Usually I would leave what ever debate I had with my adoptive parents for more private circumstances. This was different, I had ignored the guards who stood on either side of the room with their long deep blue cloaks hanging behind them as I stormed in only minutes earlier.
Maids moved out of my way with kind faces and warm smiles only to gossip as soon as I walked on past them.
I saddled Deas hurriedly before riding out of the busy court-yard at a gallop. Her hooves clopping loudly. I didn't stop till I reached a grouping of pines. Deas slowed to a trot. I leapt from her back stumbling until I fell to the ground coughing out angry tearless sighs. I clutched tufts of grass in my fists as I knelt on the quickly freezing-over ground.
"Sonia! Wait!" Renna rode towards me and leapt from the back of her sand coloured pony, Sandy. I know, very creative. She had named her when she was 7 years old. I had waited a few years until I started riding leaving my pony with a slightly more decorous name.
I was in a valley, large moss green mountains rose all around me. The sky was a blue and vibrant bluebells were scattered through the high grass, they were each gathering a layer of ice that spread like wild fire all around me.
I stared at the earth mesmerized as Wren placed an arm around my shoulders. I saw ice form and flow rapidly covering grass, weeds and dirt; freezing them solid. It was a sinister bliss and I felt the hair raising on the back of my neck. I stood feeling dizzy. My ears were ringing. I heard Wren gasp beside me as my mouth fell open slightly.
"Come on Sonia, we should really go back" trying to comfort me she hugged me before standing "And we should tell someone about all this Ice"
Feeling anxious I paced before mounting Deas again. My pride gone as I decided to return back to the city. I nodded to Renna as I urged Deas back the way we had come.
The ringing in my ears was soon replaced by muffled screams and wails each stopping abruptly only to be replaced by more. Renna's face was white. I felt like a bucket of ice had been dropped on me. My stomach fell and my face turned cold.
I urged Deas on faster rubbing her speckled grey neck as her dark main whipped me in the face.
I inhaled icy cold air and my hands suddenly craved friction. The wind stung my ears as I began to slowly climb up the bank towards the high city walls that were now frozen with a layer of thick ice with large protruding spikes. An eerie and unnatural silence hung in the air. Everything was wrong.
Tears prickled my eyes, I fought desperately to prevent them from falling as I blinked them away. Turning from the two dwarves before me as they looked downwards. I was suddenly over come by the strong desire to tell them everything. I knew that they probably understood our loss better than most people else ever would.
Okay, I hope you enjoyed that! And there will be more Kili / Sonia in the next chapter along with my attempt at humour. Please Review if you want me to continue, have any ideas, or helpful criticism. I'm not going to publish another chapter until I get enough reviews for this one so please please please review!