Do You Wanna Be My Friend?

Chapter 3: Bunny

Thorin walked back to through the market place so he could get to the training grounds, he knew Dwalin was there waiting for him so they could talk about Alyss. He wanted to know if Balin found anything when he visited the spot where they found Alyss, anything that was new to them would be nice.

"There you are Thorin." The bulky dwarf greeted as he watched some of the other dwarflings train. His session with the princes had already ended and he had no reason to still be there but he did enjoy watch some of the little one practice. It reminded him of when he was young and training with Thorin or Balin. "I was thinking you got lost again."

Thorin scowled at the joke before huffing, "Do you have anything useful to tell me or are you just going to make fun of me?"

Dwalin smiled a bit, it was really fun to tease Thorin. "Alright, don't get all high and mighty." Dwalin knew Thorin only let certain people comment on his sense of direction and he did his very best to not take too much advantage of it. "Balin said there wasn't much, just a few small foot prints and this."

Dwalin lifted up a small, once white, stuffed bunny; it's left button eye was missing and its light pink vest coat was cover in mud and crusted in dirt. "He said he found it sitting against a tree trunk, little lass must've left it there by accident."

Thorin took the toy, if she left it then she must have wondered at some point where it was. "I'll give it to her when I go back to Raella. Anything else?"

Dwalin nodded, "While looking around, Balin noticed that it didn't look like she came from anywhere." When the bald dwarf received a confused look from the king he explained further. "Her footprints just appeared near the main road, there was none leading away from the road or even on the road."

"People use that road a lot," Thorin reasoned, "her prints could have been covered-"

"No one but you and the boys left the settlement yesterday." Dwalin added, "Nothing could have covered her tracks Thorin."

Thorin remained quiet, he was at a lost of what to think or even do. He had to admit, Alyss was not like anything in Middle-Earth, she was charming in a way he had never seen and was not even wary of her. They all trusted her the moment she batted her eyes at them and that would normally infuriate Thorin, why was it he was so against abandoning her or putting any form of blame on her?

"By the way," Dwalin sensed the mood downshift and felt it prudent to fix the sudden draft. "Fili needs you to bring Alyss over to the library for lunch."

"Why?" It was not like Fili to demand visitation from anyone when the brothers received a break from Balin's lectures, that was actually Kili's job.

"Kili's been down since I took them from you this morning." Dwalin explain with a smile, "Fili said he was concerned over the lass and he accidentally promised Kili that she'd see them at lunch."

Thorin couldn't help but laugh, never had Fili found himself in that sort of predicament. Again, such a thing was were Kili would be at fault. "Well, I suppose it would be cruel to ignore his request. After all, he promised Kili.."

Dwalin nodded, "Aye, never had I ever seen Fili so worried before in my life." The memory of Fili's pale face and widen eyes tickled Dwalin to no end.

"I should make haste then," Thorin stood up from the bench he shared with Dwalin, he made sure not to forget the stuffed rabbit. "the boys' lunch is a little past noon and it's almost eleven."

Alyss sat on a small bench, swaying her feet about as Raella sewed together her first dress. Alyss insisted on having the she-dwarf make her clothes similar to Kili's but the lady refuse, stating that Alyss was a little lady and must wear a dress like other girls.

"My mommy always said I was never a lady" Alyss said in retaliation to the she-dwarf's statement. "Said I was a little monster like my brothers."

"Well I can certainly see why." Raella smiled, the girl was a bit of a handful and that was saying something considering that she's handled the princes' mischief.

Alyss didn't return an answer, she chose to focus on her feet as the lady worked. Alyss remembered how it use to annoy her mother when Alyss demanded attention while she worked and would much rather behave than possibly face getting yelled at.

"You know little one," Raella picked up the dress and held it up to Alyss before returning it to her desk for alterations, "you are very different from dwarf girls. Are you the child of a man?"

"Huh?" Alyss had no clue what she meant by child of a man? "My daddy's a boy-"

"No, no, no little one." Raella corrected with a giggle, "A man is a type of being in Middle-Earth. Elves call them mortals sometimes."

Alyss had heard the term mortal before though she wasn't sure what it meant. She was only seven for crying out loud. "In my science class, they said we're called Homo Sapiens."

"Hom-what?"

"We're also called Humans." Alyss added when Raella gave her a weird look. "Is a human a man?"

Raella didn't know what to think, she had never heard either terms before in her life. She was wrong to say she was different, she was not much like dwarf girls yes but not in the sense she had originally meant. Raella knew little of the magical realm, it was a subject she once was hellbent on learning but now was not all that concerned with, and if her memory served her right then she would honestly assume Alyss to not be of Middle-Earth.

"Perhaps little one." Raella finally answered, "I'm afraid I do not know but they do sound a bit alike if their names are anything to go by."

Alyss dropped the subject, she didn't really care about it to begin with as she figured it was not of great importance but it bothered her a bit to think that to the dwarves it might have mattered. Her mother always said that everyone saw certain matters differently.

"I do believe your first dress is done little one." Raella held it up, it was simple in design but it was better than clothing made among men. Raella handed the dress to Alyss and shooed the girl upstairs into a closed room so that she could change.

Alyss stood in the wooden room, she was not exactly happy at being forced to wear a dress but since it was made just for her she could not complain. She took off Kili's clothes and inspected the articles, they were a dark brown color with the seams coming off as black lines, there were small tears on the clothes that indicated that Kili constantly had a scuffle with Fili or someone, and there was small stains all along the clothes. Despite the fact that they were someone else's clothes, a boys no less, did not seem to bother Alyss; actually, very little of these dwarves' habits that she's seen so far have bothered. The only problem she had was that they swore too much, even in front of their children. She was use to swearing, her father did it way too much for her comfort, but that didn't mean she liked it.

Putting down Kili's clothes, Alyss picked up the dress and slipped it on before deciding she didn't want to see herself in it. She'd rather just wear it and not look at it on her, hopefully Kili won't mind some of his clothes going missing.

"I'm done!" she called down stairs as she pulled her hair out from under the dress. She hadn't expected anyone to answer but as she hopped down the stairs she bumped into Thorin. "Eek!" Alyss fell on her rear onto a step while Thorin managed to stay standing but stumbled back a few steps.

"Whoa there Alyss." he chuckled, he steadied himself using the stair's railing before helping Alyss onto her feet. "I'm sorry Alyss, I did not expect you to just hop around like that."

Alyss moaned a bit as she was lifted off her sore bum but replied, "I didn't think anyone was coming up."

Thorin led her down the stairs after the small brunette was steadied so that Raella could see her work. During their descent down Thorin also admired the seamstress's work. The dress was plain, even as royalty Dis and Thorin never asked for anything exotic or exquisite from anyone of the Blue Mountains, it was a pale dark blue with white lining the small collar. There were no designs on it and it was long enough to go halfway past her shins; now all they need to urgently get her were boots of her size and a cloak in case of rain. He knew Raella would keep making her new dresses since her measurements were recorded and it made him feel good that he was taking such good care of the little girl.

"Oh you look adorable!" Raella exclaimed as she caught Thorin and Alyss at the last step. "Does it fit well? Is it too loose?"

Alyss shook her head, "No, it's fine." she beamed innocently at the seamstress, although it was an innocent gesture neither Thorin nor Raella could mistake the sort of magical pull they felt. It was like she was fire and they were moths attracted to her light; it was strange but oddly welcomed to them.

"We must hurry Alyss," Thorin lifted the girl up into his arms, Alyss had not removed the boots she borrowed but Thorin was going to rush their shopping escapade so that he could bring Alyss to the princes at lunch. "we must get you your own boots and then we must get lunch so we can see the boys."

Alyss beamed even more, "I can see Fili and Kili at lunch?"

Thorin nodded, "Yes little one but we must hurry." Turning to Raella, he nodded, "Thank you for her dress and I will return tomorrow for the rest."

Raella nodded, "Of course my king, I am always happy to help you." Glancing down at the small girl, who was placed down so that Thorin could fish out the she-dwarf's pay, she smiled lovingly, "Goodbye little one, I hope to see you around the markets some time."

Alyss nodded and bid the she-dwarf goodbye as she and Thorin hurried to the next store on the border between the stands and shops.

Kili was impatient as he waited for Thorin and Alyss, true it was still well in Balin's lessons and not that long till lunch actually started for the princes but it was bothersome nonetheless. Balin's lessons on the history of Erebor were not all that appealing to Kili and he wished for nothing more to be outside roaming the forests of the Blue Mountains with Alyss. He blushed as he realized that his thoughts, no mattered what was going on around him, was always on the pretty little brunette girl they just met.

It was odd how he and everyone accepted the small girl of unknown origins. She just managed to win them over with her innocent eyes and sweet smile. Her voice, crackled from her previous coughing fits, was probably a wonderful sound to hear and he hoped that she'd return to her normal health state so that he could hear her in more that a strained whisper.

"Kili?"

The brunette dwarf jumped at he heard his name from the older dwarf, he was so in his own little world that he quite literally fell out of his chair in surprise. This was one of the few reasons why he greatly preferred to be taught while laying on the ground, at least when Balin surprised him he would not get hurt.

"Kili I would ask if you were paying any attention but I see that the answer is painfully obvious." the elder smiled. "Please quit dreaming Kili, you're lucky Dwalin isn't here."

Kili blushed in embarrassment, he was lucky Dwalin was not there for the harden dwarf would have chewed his ear off and that would have prolonged the lesson even further. By hours more at least. "I'm sorry Mister Balin."

Balin accepted the apology before continuing the lesson, Kili felt his brother's eye sneakily glance at him with a devious grin. Fili knew why Kili was not paying any attention and he, though he was nervous about the whole lunch scenario, found it too funny to ignore.

"We'll conclude here." Balin said after much lecturing and reading, "You may leave for lunch now boys."

Though extremely excited, Kili sluggishly closed his books and followed Fili out to the gardens near the large library where they held their lessons. The library was welcoming of all dwarves, anyone could go in there, but there were special rooms used by teachers to educate the young.

"Mister Dwalin said to meet him by the fountain." Fili said nervously, "He promised to bring us our food."

Kili nodded as he plopped himself on the stone bench, "M'kay." he laid on his back and enjoyed the sun as it heats his flesh. Before Thorin had declared him old enough to get lessons he was much more tan as he often spent his time roaming the forests and settlement. Now that most of his time was spent indoors rather than out his color faded and while he was still tan he wasn't as much as he was before.

"What are you thinking about?" Fili asked as he copied his brother on the small ledge of the fountain. "I know that it has to do with Alyss but what exactly is it?"

Kili shrugged, "Nothing special, I'm just wondering about her."

"Really?" Fili wasn't sure there was much truth in the statement but he had to admit that Alyss was a mystery. "What about her are you thinking about?"

Kili shrugged again, "Just...where is she from, you saw her and you and I both know she doesn't have a lot in common with many of the men we've seen."

Fili took in that point and agreed, most men were not as small as her and neither did they act like her. True, she was a child but even children of men were not as small as her and they were already taught of their place unlike Alyss. Alyss seemed to live freely in her own little world, the brothers saw that during breakfast when she occasionally stared at nothing.

"Yea I guess." Fili shrugged, "But still, she is of men I can promise that."

Kili sat up and looked at his brother, "How do you know that?"

"She's seven years old and can do everything a dwarf in their first decade are learning? She doesn't look like a dwarf to begin with and judging from uncle and mother's description of elves, she cannot be of the immortals' lineage."

Kili cocked his head a bit and asked, "When did you learn her age?"

Kili did not miss how Fili had tensed up and nearly stuttered his response. "She told me."

"And when was that?" Alyss had not been alone with Fili since she had entered their care, when could he had asked and not been heard by anyone else?

"Uh..." Fili blushed and hid his face. He refused to admit that he too shared his brother's worry for the girl and needed reassurance that she'd come through during the night. That was also how he found out that Kili left him in the night.

Kili was about to ask again, this time with some anger that his brother was avoiding his questions, when the brothers heard a happy squeal followed with Alyss tackling Kili off his bench.

"Kili!" she chirped, "I'm so glad to see you!"

Fili used this distraction to smirk down at his disheveled little brother, Kili did look absolutely ridiculous with the small girl on top of him grinning with joy. "Hey, you got a dress."

Alyss grinned up at the blond prince and nodded her head. "Thorin got it for me and he got me boots."

Kili, having been tackled so abruptly, had not noticed that Alyss was in actual clothing and took a minute to admire what was obviously Raella's work. "Miss Raella did a good job, I didn't think blue was your color."

Alyss nodded at Kili, a faint blush was on her pale cheeks. "Neither did I!" She hopped off of Kili just as Thorin came around with some food for the three children.

"I'm glad she found you two on her own." Thorin smiled a bit as he placed a sack of food on what was previously Kili's bench. "I would join you but I must speak with Dwalin and Balin, can you not get into trouble until I get back?" He spoke more to the brothers than to all three of the children.

"Yes sir." Fili smiled as he hurried to the sack, since Alyss was with them they would not get into any trouble for the sake of not humiliating themselves in front of her. Pulling out the food Thorin had bought them Fili asked, "This is all for us?"

Thorin nodded, "Alyss said she doesn't need to ea as much as we do so be sure to share evenly with your brother." The sparkle in Thorin's icy blue eyes said he'd punish Fili if he tried to get more food over his brother.

"Yes sir." Fili did as he was told and began to evenly distribute the food among the three. Thorin never specified how much Alyss would need to eat so he figured that she would eat until she was full and then give her leftovers to him or Kili. As he dug around in the sack, Fili pulled out Alyss's stuffed bunny. "What's this uncle?"

Thorin, who had stayed to make sure Fili did as he instructed, almost forgot about returning the toy. "That's Alyss's rabbit, I'd forgotten about it."

Alyss, perking up after hearing that Thorin say he had her rabbit, jumped up and snatched her toy from Fili. She squealed and giggled as she hugged it for dear life. "Minty!"

"Minty?" The three descendants of Durin repeated the odd name with amusement, the dwarves gave silly names for their animal companions but Minty was a adorably funny name to give an inanimate object.

Alyss glance up at the Durin folk and nodded her head, "He use to smell minty because my mommy would put mint leaves in his coat pocket to make him smell good." Alyss reached into the small pocket on the rabbit's vest and pulled out some old mint leaves. "I thought it was a good name."

"Tis odd." Thorin said after a moment of silence, "But it does suit the toy."

I'm BAAACK! I missed you all! Howdo you like the cute little twist with the rabbit? I wanted to name him Oz, again a PH reference but I figured it wouldn't be a good idea so I thought that it would be a cool idea to name the horse Minty. If my sources are correct Thorin's pony was named Minty so I thought it would be a fun idea for him to get the name from Alyss. Let me know what you think!