It was several days before the full story was circulated through the settlement. King Thror had gone off to Moria, intending to reclaim the city for his people. He and his companion had found the gates standing wide open. Ignoring his companion, the king had marched in with his head held high. Several days later, the companion saw the king's body being tossed outside. The head had been severed and the name "Azog" branded in dwarvish runes across the king's forehead. The king's companion had been paid—yes, paid!—to deliver the orc's message to the dwarves.
The orc's name was spat out like a vile poison whenever any dwarf spoke of the defiling of the king. The humiliating blow Azog had dealt to the dwarves would not soon be forgotten. No, never forgotten. He would be made to pay for his crimes.
Lina was constantly busy now. Her forge burned from long before dawn and well into the night. Some nights it never went dark. Armor had to be repaired, refitted, or made anew, and quickly. Thrain, after a week of silence, had declared war upon the orcs. His messengers were sent to all the dwarf clans, save for one which held an ancient grudge against Thrain's line. Lina was kept busy making armor for all the fighters in her small settlement. This now included four other females, all of whom were archers.
The armor of King Thrain and his two sons was the most important project Lina had. Their helms and shields had to be made anew. The metal scales for their tunics and the bands of their gauntlets and boots had to be replaced. These projects took Lina the most time. While all of her work was done to the best of her ability, she checked and rechecked the armor she made for the royal family. She would not allow their lives to end in battle through some fault in her armoring of them.
Her hammer rang against the metal she was pounding flat. The scales for the tunics would be cut from this material and attached to the appropriate garment: chainmail shirts for the melee warriors and leather for the archers. Many of those who would do battle with short swords, the smaller battle axes, and the single-handed war hammers and therefore be in closer proximity to their foes would wear a chain mail shirt over which a leather tunic with heavy metal scales attached would be worn.
The tanner appeared in the forge carrying the cured leather for Lina's use in the armor. She jerked her head at the work bench she'd cleared for it. The dwarf set the leather down and left without a word. He too was busy, tanning leather as fast as he could, but there was only so much he could do. The leather he was just bringing her had originally been intended for crafting into smaller objects to sell and had begun tanning two weeks earlier. Now it was being used for another purpose.
This leather was specifically for the royal family's armor. Lina had a special set of designs drawn up for them. She was going to make two different layers of scale leather armor and cement them together. The initially testing on a small scale had shown the four layers of metal and leather to be very strong while still maintaining optimal flexibility, even when worn over a chainmail shirt. She was not taking any chances with the safety of Thrain, Frerin, or Thorin.
Thorin. Her thoughts regarding armor were quickly diverted. She had barely seen the prince since the messenger had brought his terrible news. No sooner had the dwarf gasped out his message before Thorin was striding toward his father's dwelling. The messenger had left just as quickly, leaving Lina behind.
She was confused, and angry. Lina wasn't really sure why she was angry, she simply was. Perhaps it was Thorin's ability to simply forget about what he'd done to her that day. As soon as she thought it, Lina felt guilty. He had far more important things to think about right now. A kiss with the armorer was not as important as the preparations for war. Yet he still should have said something, anything. But what would he have said? Thanks?
Lina laughed bitterly to herself. Here she was, having been kissed one time, acting like a jealous wife because the one who kissed her was now involved in far more important matters. Perhaps the kiss meant nothing. After all, she'd seen more than one couple kiss in a far more passionate manner and then go their separate ways, eventually marrying someone else. Maybe he'd simply been curious about her, the only female head of a family.
But she was far more confused than angry. She could not make sense of what had happened, and was still happening, to her. She had no reason to desire the prince beyond the simple desire she had for a mate who was strong in both body and will. He was handsome, certainly. But that was no basis for the kind of marriage she envisioned having with someone one day.
Again Lina gave a bitter laugh. Marriage? She was thinking about marriage? Marriage to whom? Thorin? For one, they could never be. Even now, with their society so broken down, they were in two totally different worlds. Lina had earned no name in addition to her given name. Even as the head of a family she was no one. Her father had given her no name to carry with honor. No one even remembered his given name. For another, who would she marry since she could not marry Thorin? Half the males in the company did not approve of her, regardless of the Mark she carried. The other half were wary of her at best, absolutely terrified at worst. She supposed that kind of reaction was what one got when they brained a goblin with a shovel, especially when that someone doing the braining was a female.
"You have the armor ready, Lady Smith?" A voice broke through Lina's thoughts. The voice belonged to one of the young recruits in Thrain's army. The weapon master must have sent them to retrieve the practice armor she'd recently finished repairing.
"It's in the chest," she replied, gesturing with her hammer. Lina paused for a moment to help the two younger dwarves heave the chest onto their shoulders.
Watching them go, Lina was glad Thrain had given a three year period in which the dwarves would simply prepare for war rather than fight. To fight now would be devastating; costing far more lives than the battle would be worth. That was assuming they could even win at their present strength and state. The army was still too young and weak to survive long in a fight. They could barely hold their own against raiders. Few of the old warriors had survived the coming of the Dragon. Those who had were often too battered to be much use in a fight. A few were still fit enough to serve as trainers or officers. Most of the army now was made up of young dwarves in still in their minority, Lina among them.
The army consisted of a number of fighting units. Most of the new or the least skilled recruits were placed in the archery units or phalanx units. The phalanx allowed members of relatively equal skill, usually low when compared as individuals, to fight in a formation that prevented most of the deaths that would have resulted should any of those fighters try to do battle independently. The young ones often had the best eyes and best aim made excellent archers. There were, of course, those who wielded short melee weapons like short swords, axes, and single-handed war hammers. These were individuals who were strong in solo combat. The final group of dwarven warriors included fighters like Lina who carried massive two-handed weapons and no shield. Their weapon was their shield. In regular combat, the two-handed fighters were usually able to take on and successfully defend against three or more opponents.
In open field combat, the phalanx units were placed to either side of the solo fighters. This stabilized the line. Enemies coming in from the flanks were run into these sturdy and virtually immoveable units. Archers protected by the phalanx units could and did deal massive damage to the enemy long before the enemy could make a dent in the phalanx unit. The solo fighters were those leading the charge into battle. The two-handed users were fewer in number and so were interspersed through the group to make them more effective. Single weapon wielders could protect the two-handed wielders if the odds grew too great. Similarly, those who used the larger weapons could reach out, without breaking from their own battles, to rescue another before swinging right back into the fray.
Lina was especially adept at breaking through lines and creating paths to either advance or retreat through. Her weapon of choice, a war hammer longer than she was tall, had been used in smaller scuffles with goblins and bandits to devastating effect. More than one of the enemy's dead sported a crushed or split skull, depending on which side of the hammer he'd been on the receiving end of. Apparently the shattered skull of one goblin had inspired another of the younger dwarves to learn how to wield a two-handed war hammer.
Young Dwalin was one of the few male dwarves who were neither wary nor afraid of her. In fact, he had come to her of his own initiative to learn how to use the long war hammer. Lina had learned to use a two-handed battle axe in addition to the single-handed war hammer when she'd first begun her training. But as she grew more adept, she'd wanted to combine the length of her axe with the weight of the hammer. A weapon smith who had left the company long ago had obliged the young female dwarf by tailoring a weapon to her desires and her needs. He'd gone the extra step, teaching her to forge this one weapon herself. Now she was passing that knowledge on to Dwalin. He was nearly as skilled with the hammer as she was. However, he did prefer shorter weapons and throwing knives.
The sheet for the scales finished, Lina moved it aside to cool. She took a moment to draw a cool drink of water and stretched slowly. A vertebra in her neck popped. She drew her shoulders back, stretching her chest and felt relief as two ribs slid back into place.
From across the settlement, Lina heard the bell summoning the fighters who had no set jobs to the practice arena. It had been a few days since she'd last tried her skills in the practice arena. Lina glanced about the forge. She had no truly pressing projects as most of those had been completed already.
Her mind made up, Lina banked the forge fires and headed for the arena. The weapon master smiled when he saw her approaching. Lina knew that look. It meant she'd be up against a handful of fighters who were just learning teamwork.
A slightly sadistic smile tugged at her lips. This was a practice she would truly enjoy. For one, she was getting her frustrations out. For another, fighters who didn't know teamwork were worse than useless, and the weapon master encouraged his older fighters to beat the idea into them during a bout.
The weapon master nodded to Lina as she entered the arena and directed her to grab her practice hammer for this bout. The smith did as she was instructed, placing her heavier and far more deadly weapon in the rack, and retrieving a wooden weapon of a similar weight and size, but without the wicked spike on one end of the hammer head. This bout was only to teach some younglings a lesson, not kill or maim them. She pulled on the light armor used for practice only.
When Lina reappeared, the weapon master singled out three young warriors. All three had received extensive training in their weapons of choice, short swords for all of them. Now they were learning to work as a unit, being able to quickly find and defend their companions' weakness while exploiting those of the enemy. Only one group in Lina's memory had ever managed that feat, but they were unable to replicate it when the three were split up and placed in other groups for other bouts.
These groups never won a bout, most of them would be lucky if they learned their lessons with only a bruise or two. At least one dwarf had received a concussion from Lina's hammer, two others had fractured ribs from a fighter with a long axe, and another had received a broken wrist from a long sword. These injuries were relatively minor and usually avoided if the recipient did nothing incredibly stupid. Lina frequently had to pull her blows to avoid doing severe damage, even with her practice hammer.
Lina smirked as she watched the three chosen to face her. The weapon master had just given the command to begin, and they simply remained in their defensive stances. Individually and against another weapon of similar length, they likely would do very well, but against Lina, they were toast.
When the three remained motionless, their eyes darting back and forth between each other and their opponent, Lina decided to go on the offensive. This was a move she rarely had to make as most fighters, sure of their own skills, went up against her without hesitating and without thinking.
Wielding her hammer for the moment with only one hand, Lina brought the head around in an arc, smashing into the shield of the one on the far right. The blow sent him stumbling into the dwarf next to him, who in turn fell over, his helm rolling off and tangling in the feet of the third who was trying to keep from being knocked over by his companions' bodies. All three ended up on the ground.
Lina glanced at the weapon master who jerked his head sharply. She took that as her cue to make one final move that would drive home the weapon master's upcoming bellowed lecture. This time, using both hands, Lina raised the weapon above her head and smashed it down on the already battered helm rolling loosely on the ground between the legs of one fighter.
The helm ceased to be a helm with a sickening crunch as her hammer demolished it. The face of the young male dwarf between whose legs the helm had been went pale. His companions stared up at her with wide eyes.
"Get up, you idiots!" The weapon master stalked toward the three on the ground.
"There wasn't a single thing you lot did right! First, you were too close together. All it took was one swing and down you all went. Second, always be aware of your surroundings. At least one of you could have stayed on your feet if you'd been paying attention. That helm was simple to spot and avoid even with your companions fall down around you."
The weapon master sent the first group back into the ranks of fighters and summoned out three more. This group lasted slightly longer than the previous batch. However, the end result was the same. One had his legs swept from beneath him. The second was down with a blow to his midsection. The third, a female axe wielder, seemed so fascinated by Lina's gender that she simply forgot to parry an easy blow and found herself knocked end over end.
Lina wondered if all her bouts were going to be this quick and easy today. She was beginning to get bored. Other groups had, on previous days, at least been able to get a few blows of their own in before being knocked on their backsides. These groups weren't challenging in the slightest.
"Perhaps the Lady Smith would like a challenge." Lina, the weapon master, and his current batch of pupils turned to face the one addressing them. King Thrain was standing to one side of the arena, his two sons flanking him. Two more dwarves about the same age as Lina stood just behind the royal family.
Lina felt her breath catch as she observed the intensity in Thorin's eyes.
"Who did you have in mind to be her challengers, My Lord?" the weapon master asked, giving the king a bow.
"My sons and one of their companions. Live weapons."
The weapon master looked over at Lina for her approval of this idea. She gave a curt nod of agreement. The fighters excused her for a moment to retrieve her regular weapon and to change into her full armor. This armor was much heavier and far sturdier than the armor she'd been wearing previously. Where the practice armor was leather barely fit to practice in, her full armor had been designed and built up over the years to withstand most blades and absorb most blows.
Lina returned to the practice field, nervous butterflies fluttering about her stomach. This bout would be a true test of her strength as a warrior and as a smith. It would also give her a chance to find any weaknesses in the current armor of the royal family.
Thorin, Frerin, and their companion stood talking softly together as Lina approached the weapon master. She took the opportunity to size them up. Each carried a heavy round shield on their left arm, their right hand free to wield their weapons of choice. Their short swords were sheathed currently. In addition to their swords, each had a number of smaller hand axes tucked into the loops of their belts.
Lina knew her armor could easily handle the axes thrown at her without much fear of damage. It would still be wise to stay out of the way of the flying weapons though. As part of her own arsenal, Lina carried a smaller and lighter shield across her back and a smaller war hammer hanging from her belt. A number of throwing knives were tucked into various parts of her armor, easily accessible, but impossible to accidentally dislodge.
The three male dwarves spread out a bit, each ready to begin the bout. Lina readied herself for anything, balancing her hammer in her hands. Frerin came at her the fastest. He was the youngest of the three and by far the most impulsive. Thorin and the other dwarf flanked him, protecting his weaker left side and attempting to catch Lina off guard.
Lina's hammer crashed against the younger prince's shield, knocking him slightly off balance but not knocking him down. His companion lunged at his opponent, forcing Lina to deflect his attack rather than capitalize on the prince's momentary weakness. The head of her hammer took the dwarf's sword blow while Lina swung the lightly weighted end of her weapon out behind her to force Thorin to block her blow instead of striking at her as he was moving to do. Lina leapt backwards and Frerin and his companion charged at the same moment. As she did so, she thrust the head of hammer forward, catching the companion squarely in the chest. He fell backwards and was immediately defended by the two princes.
The bout continued, each one of the three dwarves skillfully attacking and defending. Their superb teamwork kept Lina from demolishing one of them more than once. She did see that her blows were beginning to take their toll on her opponents. Frerin was favoring his right leg after a blow she'd delivered which had knocked him to the ground and was unable to hold up his shield thanks to a swing that had likely dislocated his shoulder. A trickle of blood ran down the side Thorin's brow and was soaking into his beard after one blow of the hammer head had taken off his helm and a second with the butt of her weapon had split the skin on his skull. Their companion was getting a slightly cross-eyed look and staggering slightly under his own weight.
However, the bout had not gone entirely in Lina's favor to this point. Frerin had scored a strike across her chest, possibly cracking a rib with the power behind the hit. The pain made wielding her hammer effectively difficult. The companion had scored a number of smaller and lighter hits which had bruised her legs severely. The worst blow had come from Thorin. He'd used his shield like a battering ram at one point while defending his brother, slamming it into Lina's head, hoping to stun her long enough to end the fight. She'd managed to parry his sword and knocked him away from her, but the blow she'd received had done damage. Her helmet had cracked, the jagged metal edges biting viciously into the side of her face and neck. To keep the helm from doing further damage, Lina had knocked it off herself. The blood now caked one side of her face and the ring in her ear made detecting movement outside her hammer's reach nearly impossible on that side.
If she was to have any victory, she needed to take out at least two of them. Frerin and his companion were the obvious candidates. Thorin couldn't guard them both and still go after Lina. Frerin was the first to fall and not rise. When he overextended a lunge, Lina simply brought her elbow down on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. His companion took a bit longer to down with Thorin able to focus on protecting him only. It turned out that Lina only needed to chase him in a circle a few times while deflecting Thorin's attacks before the companion collapsed in a dead faint from whatever damage Lina's earlier blows had caused.
Thorin leapt clear of his companion's body and drew away from that of his brother. Lina followed, both silently agreeing to allow someone remove them from the arena and further damage. The bout regained its former intensity once the wounded were taken from the field.
Lina tightened her grip on her hammer as Thorin came at her, trying to get under her blow and strike at her core. His strike failed to connect, but sent Lina stumbling back a few paces to get her weapon back into position to strike. He rolled to avoid the first blow, but lost his shield to the second. The heavy wooden disk bounced and spun across the ground. They both went for it. Lina reached it first and knocked it out of the prince's reach, out of the arena.
The young female tried to capitalize on her momentary advantage and swung her hammer in a rapid arc. The prince was ready, pulling a throwing axe from his belt and using it at the very moment her hammer had reached its peak velocity. If Lina did not release her hammer from her grasp, the axe would do her serious injury. The massive hammer soared through the air, slammed into the ground, and slid a fair distance, creating a deep furrow in the earth.
Lina spun once free of her hammer's weight, her shield receiving the axe with a dull "thunk." She rolled to avoid Thorin's sword swing, and came up quickly. Her shield was dislodged and in place, her small hammer in her hand before the prince could come at her again. A second axe sailed toward her. She knocked it away with her shield and swung at Thorin.
For what seemed hours, the pair traded blows. Occasionally one would connect. One of Lina's throwing knives had found a chink in the prince's armor and had cut his arm. Thorin's sword found the vulnerable place at Lina's side where her armor laced together and made a deep gash before she could retreat. But Lina's advantage with her massive hammer had been negated, and she was now fighting on borrowed time. Thorin was easily the more skilled in this style of combat. Lina was fast, but Thorin was far stronger. Even blows she managed to parry sent painful jolts running through her bones. One strong blow had forced her shield from her arm, leaving her to rely on her hammer and few throwing knives.
Lina's did not hear him coming, her ear still muffled with blood and ringing from the earlier blow. There was a sharp pain in her side, followed by a heavy blow to the back of her right leg. Unable to do right herself, Lina fell. Her hammer fell from her grasp and came to rest beyond her reach. Lina grabbed for a knife, but found she had none left. She felt the edge of Thorin's blade against her neck, and she froze. The blade forced her to look up at her conqueror. His blue eyes were devoid of emotion as he gazed down at her bloodied face. The tip sank slightly into her throat when she said nothing.
"I yield," she whispered finally. Those words tasted bitter in her mouth, but there was nothing more she could do.
Thorin pulled his blade away from his opponent's throat and sheathed it. Instantly healers were on hand to take the fighters from the arena. The weapon master collected Lina's hammers from where they had fallen while two others retrieved her knives and shield. The female recruit Lina had knocked end over end earlier helped support Lina as she hobbled out of the arena. But they did not escape fast enough.
"Taught that uppity girl her place," someone sneered from somewhere in the crowd that had gathered during the bout.
"She thought she was as good as a male," another smirked, "guess she's not."
Lina tried in vain to find those speaking, but could not. Her eyes caught Thorin's. He had heard the remarks as well. He turned his head away, ignoring what some of the dwarves were saying about Lina.
Anger boiled up within her: anger at herself for losing, anger at those chauvinistic old dwarves who still put her down, and anger at Thorin for agreeing with them by his silence.
Pain momentarily distracted her from her anger, causing her to sag against the girl holding her up. They reached the healer's chambers at long last. Lina barely made it through the door before she fainted and knew nothing more.
Author's Note: This was supposed to be posted this morning, but when I reread what I'd written last night I hated it the way it worked out both timeline wise and relationship wise for Thorin and Lina. I spent a full nine hours at work, wracking my brain for ways to fix it. This is the result of those long hours of thinking. It's fully 3000 words longer than what I was originally going to post. I hope the wait was worth it for you guys. Let me know.