Khuz-dul Translations –

Gimlelul – My Brightest Star

Kurdu – My Heart

Elvish Translations –

A'maelamin – My beloved

Adar – Father

(Tivona isn't actually Elvish, its Hebrew and means 'Loves Nature', which I thought was fitting because Marissa's a huge nature lover and she communicates with the land and the animals a lot more than her kin does.)

'Some people get into your head and stay there,'

- Lauren Branning, Eastenders. (24/03/2014)

Two months had passed since Marissa's time in Erebor and the separation from Thorin had taken its toll on her, she lacked the energy and determination her kind usually had and she put barely any thought into her appearance any more, she would simply tie her hair back in a ponytail and throw a dress on—just so she would look semi-presentable should anyone come past her chambers, not that many did—they'd learned the hard way that she didn't want to be disturbed—because she'd thrown a candle holder at Elion the one time he'd been asked to fetch her for her father. No one else bothered entering her chambers, they would simply knock and wait there until she finally opened the door and begrudgingly agreed to go with them.

Her kin were utterly perplexed at her foul mood and rude behaviour, they couldn't figure out what had put their beloved princess into such a state. Many thought it was due to Thror refusing to give them back the white gems but others thought it was because she had to spend so long around the savage little mountain dwellers. Only three people knew the truth—one knew because Marissa had told her everything and the other two had received letters about her sudden decline in behaviour and they'd been sharing letters ever since.

Marissa's brother had decided to call in reinforcements in the form of Arwen, Elrohir and Elladan and the trio had arrived one fine, sunny afternoon in July and her female cousin tracked her down in the gardens, sitting beside the large pond and feeding the fish.

"Marissa," Arwen called out, strolling across the grass towards her cousin. Marissa looked up briefly in surprise before going back to throw fish food to the numerous fish gathered around her feet and ankles.

"What are you doing here?" she asked softly.

"Your brother asked us to come," Arwen replied, getting straight to the point. She sat down beside her, crossing her legs underneath her. "He's worried about you. We all are."

Marissa's heart clenched painfully at the concern in her cousin's voice and she snuck a glance at her. Arwen was staring at her patiently, a small smile playing at her lips.

"You shouldn't be. I-I'm fine," Marissa said quietly, turning her eyes back to the fish in the pond.

"We both know that's not true," Arwen told her disapprovingly. Marissa shrugged in response as she threw the rest of the fish food into the pond and the fish swam after it. "Everyone is trying to figure out what's going on, but you won't let anyone get close enough to help you."

"I… its Thorin. He's been sending me letters every week since we left the mountain," Marissa admitted, knowing she could trust her cousin to keep her secret.

"What has he been saying?" Arwen asked softly.

"He told me he didn't know what his grandfather was going to do. He keeps apologising and begging me to answer him. He wants to meet with me."

"You've been ignoring him?"

"I know it's stupid, but I just can't bring myself to write to him. What if he hates me for not writing to him? What if he knew about the gems and he's lying to me?" Marissa whispered, looking to her cousin for advice.

"Oh, Marissa," Arwen sighed and wrapped an arm around Marissa's shoulders, she tried to hold back a wince as Marissa's ice cold hands brushed against her skin. "I do not believe your doubt will persist. The dwarf prince cares for you beyond measure, I've seen it. I've also seen how you feel about him."

"We were meant for each other," Marissa smiled sadly, eyes stinging with the onset of tears. "I know it won't make any sense to the others and they'll think I'm crazy but it's true. I can feel it, in here," she moved a hand down and placed two fingers over her heart. "I know it's all so sudden and that our kin will just assume that he's a passing fancy of mine but he's not—I… I feel like I was only truly happy when I was near him and now that we're apart, my heart aches. Adar said it feels like you're dying when you're apart from your other half and it does. I feel like I'm dying."

Arwen hugged her cousin tighter, stroking her pale blonde hair as the other female began crying, her pain and sorrow filling the air. Arwen shushed her gently, rocking back and forth.

"He's your a'maelamin, isn't he?" Arwen asked carefully.

"Yes. He's my one," Marissa agreed tearfully. "I… I think I love him."

"Come," Arwen said suddenly as she stood up and started tugging at Marissa's icy hands.

"Where are we going?" Marissa blinked in surprise but allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and dragged towards the palace.

"You need a bath and a change of clothes," Arwen grinned mischievously. "And you have a letter to write."

Marissa didn't even try to hold back the stream of giggles that spilled past her lips. She hiked her skirt up and started running, leaving Arwen no choice but to run as well so she wouldn't fall.

Half an hour later, Marissa was lounging in her large bath tub while Arwen sat behind her and worked out all the knots from her hair. The two of them were chatting away, laughing as they recalled the shocked looks on Marissa's guards' faces when they caught sight of the happy grin on her face and the familiar sparkle in her purple eyes.

"T-they looked like they were going to faint," Marissa chuckled. Arwen nodded in agreement as she started rubbing the scented oil into Marissa's long hair. The violet eyed elf ducked obediently under the water a few minutes after Arwen was done to wash the product from her hair.

"I think they underestimated how much influence I have," Arwen smiled, politely turning away as Marissa washed her body before rinsing off and taking the offered towel from her cousin.

"I couldn't agree more, cousin," Marissa replied, taking Arwen's offered hand and climbing out of the tub. She walked over to her closet and picked out the first dress she saw before hurrying behind the room divider to dry herself and get dressed. "I do wish Legolas had been there though, he would've been the most shocked out of them."

"I don't doubt it," Arwen said in amusement. "Legolas is quite the drama queen when he wants to be."

"I think he gets it from our father," Marissa admitted. She walked over to Arwen and stood still as her cousin tightened the ribbons on the back of her dress before tying them.

"It's time to write your letter, Mari," Arwen told her gently, guiding her over to the desk. Marissa bobbed her head in the form of a nervous nod as she allowed herself to be pushed down onto the velvet-cushioned chair.

"I don't know what I should say." Marissa raised her head, staring at her cousin pleadingly. Arwen smiled softly in response, a fond look crossing her beautiful face.

"Write from the heart," she advised, placing a pure white quill in Marissa's hand.

Marissa nodded, her hand moving of its own accord towards the ink well next to her hand mirror. She dipped the tip in and wiped off the excess ink before she moved to the paper in front of her. She hesitated briefly before a small smile settled on her lips as she started writing.

Dear Thorin,

I know it's been a long time since we last communicated and for that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ignored your letters for such a lengthy period of time, but I just couldn't find the courage to write to you. It's only thanks to my cousin, Arwen that I've found my courage again long enough to finally write to you.

I am so sorry for not returning your letters. I couldn't help but think that you were involved with keeping the heirlooms of my people from us, even though you have sworn time and time again that you didn't know anything. I should have trusted your word. I should've trusted that you wouldn't lie to me.

I hope you can forgive me for my momentary lapse in trust, though I understand if you can't.

I just want you to know that my feelings for you haven't changed, nor will they ever. If anything, I think they will only grow. I hope the same goes for you.

If it is not too much trouble, I would like to meet with you, face-to-face so we can make amends with one another. I will be travelling to Rivendell the day after tomorrow with my cousins to spend some time with them, if you wish to meet me, we'll be passing through the Grey Mountains in about three days' time.

I hope you'll meet me.

Forever yours,

Marissa Tivona.

Marissa took a deep breath as she signed her name at the end of the letter and then put the quill down. Arwen squeezed her shoulder gently and offered her a reassuring smile.

"We'll have to let your father know you're coming to Rivendell."

"He won't say no, not as long as you're there to bat your eyelids at him," Marissa teased. Arwen chuckled and pushed Marissa gently.

"We will go and see uncle Thranduil, but first, I believe there is someone at your doors waiting to deliver the letter to a certain dwarf," Arwen said as she crossed the room and opened the balcony doors. A black raven with a white underbelly flew into the room, cawing loudly as it settled on the arm of Marissa's chair.

"Hello there, little friend," Marissa greeted politely, rolling up her letter as soon as the ink was dry and tied it securely to the raven's thin leg. The bird cawed again until Marissa reached for the small jar of bird seeds she'd taken to keeping in her room seeing as the bird had refused to leave until she wrote a letter back to Thorin—she just assumed that the dwarf had told the raven to stay until Marissa finally gave in, so she'd decided to just start feeding the bird so he wouldn't go hungry. "I trust you will get this to Prince Thorin as soon as possible… and that you'll bring a responding letter back to me."

The raven bobbed its head before stretching its small wings and flying towards the open doors. The two elf maids watched until the bird had disappeared from sight before they left Marissa's chambers and made their way to Thranduil's private study.

In the large library, deep in the mountain about two days' ride from the Woodland Realm, sat a young dwarf prince with deep black hair and piercing grey-blue eyes with two of his friends by his side.

The flap of wings had the previously-withdrawn dwarf prince sitting up eagerly, his expression becoming more alert. His friends glanced at him in confusion, wondering what had gotten such a reaction from him. Their silent questions were answered when a raven flew into the room, ignoring the indignant shouts from the librarian.

"Ronan!" Thorin exclaimed joyfully. The raven cawed in reply, bowing his head before holding his left leg out. Thorin untied the letter from the bird and eagerly unrolled it, his eyes skimming over the words carefully.

He felt his heart swell as he read that his elf-maid was worried that he was going to be angry with her and that she'll always care for him, no matter what happens.

"Thorin? What is it laddie?" Balin asked curiously, seeing the wide smile that covered his friend's face.

"She's replied, Balin," Thorin replied boisterously. "She's finally replied to me."

"Ah, I see… and she being…?"

"It's a secret," the dwarf prince explained carefully.

"Ye've landed yerself a secret bit on the side then?" Dwalin smirked, slapping Thorin's arm roughly. Thorin shook his head, glaring fiercely at the younger dwarf.

"She is not just a bit on the side," Thorin growled and Dwalin and Balin were quick to raise their eyebrows and their hands in surrender. "She's important to me."

"Can you at least tell us her name?" Balin asked gently. Thorin hesitated before nodding in acceptance.

"Her name is Mari," Thorin explained, knowing better than to give them her full name. He trusted them beyond doubt but one could never be too careful when it came to eavesdroppers and spies who would report back to his grandfather.

"Is she a local? Or is she from the Iron Hills?"

"She's a local… you could say," Thorin replied slyly.

"Ah, so she's either from Erebor or she stays in the city of Dale." Balin nodded thoughtfully, watching as Thorin pulled a handful of parchment towards him and dipped his quill in ink, preparing to write back to the mysterious 'Mari'. "I hope you know what you're doing laddie."

"Don't worry, old friend," Thorin assured him, looking up briefly with a large, happy grin before he dropped his gaze back down to the empty parchment. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

Dear Marissa,

Words cannot describe how relieved I am to hear from you after so long. I'm glad you're all right and have decided to answer me.

I'll keep this letter short. I would be glad to meet you at the time and place you've suggested, though I will have to think up an excuse for my father and grandfather. I do not think they would let me go if they knew I was going to you.

I will most likely be accompanied by my brother, Frerin and possibly two of my closest friends. If that is alright with you?

I also wish for you to know that my feelings for you will never change either. I cannot even fathom the idea of feeling anything but respect and, hopefully sometime soon, love for you, Gimlelul. My Kurdu.

Yours faithfully,

Prince Thorin II of Durin.