Everything happened so fast. Azog's descent onto the dwarves had driven them up into the trees, Thorin having no choice but to hold off the advancing forces on his own as the company clung to either the branches or each other. Arabelle's own heart had lurched as she heard the cries of the other dwarves when he fell, Fíli scrambling to find his footing to save him as it looked like none would make it in time. Then Bilbo attacked. Out of all the warriors and wizard it was the small hobbit of the Shire who defended the King, shocking even Arabelle with his bravery. Arabelle's hand began to slip, the sweat from her hands making the branches impossible to hold onto, she had closed her eyes when she began to hurtle towards a rocky death, the breath taken from her as feathers met her body instead. The eagles had come.
Magnificence. The morning sunrise over the horizon, the wind gentle in her hair as she sat upon the eagle's wings, she had always loved riding but as they dove over streams and flew amongst seas of white cloud Arabelle feared she would never be able to ride again. All cares seemed to have gone from her as the world appeared so small beneath them, but it was only a temporary escape as the eagles slowly began to drop each member of the company atop a great stone landing. How she wished she could cling on, perhaps never face the dwarves again, she had foolishly laid her heart out to Fíli in front of them all only to be rejected. Then again, she had rejected him first. Hers was the last eagle to reach the stone, perhaps it had sensed her hesitation at joining the others as she slowly slid off, she looked into its eyes, it seemed to pity her. Nodding a thank you she released the bird from its duties, knowing she had to face the others eventually.
Thorin, healed by Gandalf, had embraced Bilbo, startling everyone as he accepted the hobbit to the company, Arabelle felt a pang of jealousy in her, so harsh she could not even muster a smile for her friend.
"I know a place nearby we may find shelter." Arabelle grumbled a little as the dwarves seemed to have taken a vow of silence against her, she simply began to lead the way as they followed.
Beorn had been alerted to the presence of dwarves in his homeland, so it had not surprised Arabelle when he presented in his beast form angry and unpleasant, all the dwarves had drawn their weapons. Arabelle calling them all idiots as she walked forward, holding her ground and placing out a hand. Her familiar scent stopping the attack, she spoke with him and after a few gruffs Beorn allowed them to follow him back to his home.
Once inside the dwarves had huddled themselves in a corner, hushed conversation in Khuzdul occasionally their eyes would look up to Arabelle who shuffled awkwardly by the fireplace as anger bubbled in her stomach. Storming outside she made it to the edge of the field. She tore her fingers through her braids which were already half fallen out, the two beads clinging to strands she ripped them from her hair. Clenching her fist around them she went to throw them into the forest, fury streaming through her, she wished she had never left Rivendell, she wished Elrond had never told her. Hot tears streaked down her face, her arm unable to move, deflated she fell upon the boulder in front of her; she wished her mother was here.
"You should not be out here alone." Bilbo came up beside her, not sure she could face his kindness she continued to stare ahead and so he pulled himself up to the boulder beside her. "I liked the braids, look good on you."
"Bilbo-" Arabelle sighed out, she clasped the beads back to the silver chain around her neck.
"You know thinking on it now, lots of signs you were a dwarf. I mean the pigheadedness is a big one, not to mention the temper! Plus, I don't think I have ever been surrounded by so many who wouldn't know a marigold from a poppy gold."
"Bilbo." She now laughed a little, finally looking down at him, he sat with a rather proud smirk and she smiled at him knowing even if the dwarves did not accept her at least he would.
"I guess…I just thought it would make a difference, I just…" Arabelle sighed out, her anger dissipating as she realised it was not the company she was mad at. Foolishly she had announced a parentage she had only just learnt of, with the only connection a few beads and the word of an elf. They had no reason to believe her and even if they did they still had no reason to trust her; Fíli having no reason to forgive her.
"Come on let's go inside, it is getting dark." Bilbo put his hand around her arm pulling her inside, the dwarves apparently having moved themselves outside. Only Gandalf and Beorn remained, sitting by the fire Bilbo happily walked over to join them as he spotted Gandalf's pipe. Arabelle mused to herself, a good pipe and drink was exactly what she needed, she went to join them when she spotted Balin by the front door. Balin stood rather straight, his beard combed down and tucked into his belt, not a strand out of place, he summoned her over. His smile was gentle, a small sparkle in his eyes she cautiously approached, he put a hand on her shoulder to push her down to the stool in front of him.
"Now be still lass, we need tidy you up." Balin put a small pitcher of water in front of her, handing over a cloth as she took it he motioned to her face which as she began to scrub realised it must have been caked in a layer of goblin grime.
"Now lass, pass your hand let's get that cut sorted." Balin began tending the wound which she had only just cared to notice herself.
"What in Middle Earth is going on?" She huffed as Balin seemed not to care that the cut did in fact sting as he washed it out.
"Listen lass there are customs…Dwarven customs which we know you don't understand as yet, traditionally it would be your mother and father presenting you for the ceremony but well…We will make do."
"Ceremony?" Arabelle managed to say as he pulled her arms guiding her outside, all her confusion and previous anger flooded away and left only awe.
The sun was gone now, though only just as the stars had barely begun to appear, however, it was not dark. The company created an aisle they stood tall and proud as they each held a torch. They had all scrubbed up for the occasion, beards neatly combed, clothes straightened out as they all stood to attention. Thorin positioned at the end, Fíli and Kíli to either side both holding a torch while Thorin had Orcrist in front of him. It was a ceremony to be certain, Arabelle unsure for what but she knew that her earlier worries and anger had been misplaced. Balin gently pushed her from behind, giving a little wink before scurrying to join the others, Dwalin handing him his torch as he too smiled as Arabelle finally began to walk. Each step felt as though it took a lifetime as she made her way up, she would spare a look to each dwarf all meeting her gaze they would either smile, or nod and a few winked telling her to get a move on as she eventually came to stand before Thorin King Thorin and the Princes. The others had now formed a semi-circle behind her, she quickly looked to Kíli whose smile was threatening to burst forward and finally Fíli who was looking at her, just her and nothing else.
"We gather this night to celebrate a name day." Thorin began "Who here present's this dwarf?" Arabelle felt her breath hitch a little, the emotion welling up in her throat as she had been wrong, they had not even hesitated in accepting her. As silence fell she grew worried, unsure if she was meant to say something as Balin had not prepared her, she began reeling at what was next.
"I do. Balin Son of Fundin."
"As do I. Dwalin son of Fundin."
Slowly each dwarf came forward to say their name and finally it seemed to rest back on Balin who had yet to step back. "My king. I present to you; Ithtir."
"Ithtir. I, Thorin, son of Thráin, son of Thrór and Ruler of the Longbeards declare this name to be yours from this day until your last. May this dwarven name be spoken only in your heart and in the ears of those who have hold of it." Thorin put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up to meet him, a tear rolling down her cheek as he smiled at her. Thorin then stood to the side, from the corner of her eye she could see him grab Kíli by the collar and pull him along with him as Fíli now came to be in front of her.
"Belle." Fíli began searching his pocket, Balin coming to take the flaming torch which he had begun flailing around, he was nervous and Arabelle smiled a little at his fluster. He steadied himself, finding the small object he looked to her, their eyes connecting as everything else faded away and left only them.
"Arabelle. I, Fíli, son of Víli, Prince of the Longbeards wish to offer you this courting bead, so it may show my intention to join my house with yours, if it so be your wish." Arabelle's cheeks near closed her eyes as she smiled leaping into his arms, a loud cheer erupting from the company as Arabelle began to laugh looking down to Fíli whose smile out shone the moon.
"Let's leave the lovebirds be." "I smell food!" "Stuff the food I hope there is drink." "Fíli watch those hands!" "Ey no funny business lad!" "Yeah Fíli keep your hands off my future sister-in-law!" "Inside the lot of you."
"Sit with me?" Fíli motioned to the ground, a few piked torches keeping just enough light between them as he helped her to the soft grass below. "May I?" He indicated to her hair and she nodded as he shuffled closer.
"Can you do them all? I am terrible at it." Arabelle pulled out her mother's beads which hung around her neck.
"It is not proper." Fíli replied, her face dejected "But I can teach you." He began running his hands through her hair, so slow and tender she moved towards him instinctively.
"Fíli, I am so sorry for what happened in Rivendell, I just-"
"I understand." Fíli stopped her "You were right. I don't think I even realised what I'd be giving up… Almost losing Kíli in the mountains, seeing Thorin hurt, thinking him dead." Fíli let a shudder run over his body "Thank you for protecting me. But I need you to understand something." He pulled her hair a little so she would face him, collecting the braid in one hand as the other held her face "You are never again allowed to think my life better without you in it." She smiled for him and nodded. Fíli's attention went back to her hair, Arabelle's fingers played with the small wooden bead, it was carved with little stars, a few runes scratched into the edges she squinted to see them in the light.
"I know it is not much. I had so little time and I have never made one before, had the whole company looking over my shoulder too which didn't help. I promise when the quest is over I shall remake it in gold, Mithril if I can find it."
"Fíli." Arabelle looked up to him, a serious look upon her features "You ever try to take this from me or replace it and I'll cut off your beard." A moment of fear flickered in his eyes but as she smiled at him he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Amrâlimê." He pushed their foreheads together.
"What does it mean?"
"My love."
"Armaline." Arabelle spoke her first word of Khuzdul, completely butchering it Fíli's face scrunched up a little.
"Amrâlimê." He slowed it down for her, his voice thick and husky.
"Amrâlimê." She repeated, his face softening and a small smile gracing his lips "You will need to start calling me something else, for I claim this word for you, Amrâlimê."
"Very well. Ghivashel. Mudùmel. Kurdel. Hôfukel. Âzyungel. Lukhudel." Arabelle began to giggle as Fíli's list only grew, she loved listening to the words spoken in her mother's tongue, the dwarven language was grounded and hearty, spoken from the chest and throat and when coming from Fíli it sounded so good. Fíli could have gone on forever, but Arabelle pushed him to the ground, mounting him she hovered over him stopping at the sudden alarm on his face
"Did I hurt you?"
"No, it's not that. It's just…" He pulled himself up, keeping a distance between them his hands on her shoulders stopping her from fully retreating "Belle there are rules. Customs."
"Fíli we have already slept together." Arabelle rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Yes but that was before." Fíli lifted her chin forcing her eyes to meet his "I want to court you the same way my father did to my mother, I wish to stand beside you on our wedding day knowing I earnt your love just as much as Mahal earnt Yavanna's."
"How am I meant to say no when you say it like that." Arabelle's heart had melted to a puddle by his feet "So no kissing?"
"Nothing so direct as on the lips." Fíli pulled one of her hands to his lips, she blushed as his eyes lifted to her.
"Then I can do this?" She came to his cheek, pressing her lips just above the beard line the skin warm she felt it heat up in her presence "And this is all we can do?" She gave him a teasing smirk as his hand had snaked around the back of her neck tightening, just a little.
"Least while the others can see." He smirked back, motioning to the windows behind them which did in fact hold multiple silhouettes "I quite enjoy the idea of my head being attached to my body."
"I must agree with you there." Arabelle laughed "I suppose we should join them before all the food is gone."
As they entered the cabin hand in hand everyone cheered before skulling the drinks in their hands, flutes and drums began playing as Bofur began to serenade the couple; Fíli outright blushing as Arabelle laughed at the antics of them all.
"Soooo I've been thinking of uncle names. Cause we already call Thorin Uncle I am going to need something better, either that or Thorin will need to change." Kíli had a devilish grin on his face "Thorin how'd you feel about Ugmil 'adad? The beard is grey enough these days anyway!"
"Ey there will be none of that funny business just yet lad." Balin waggled a finger at Kíli who put up his hands in surrender.
"It's ok lass we will make sure this hooligan keeps his sticky fingers to himself." Nori laughed as Fíli rolled his eyes declaring Nori a hypocrite.
"But Fíli you said we could share a bed tonight?" Arabelle batted innocent eyes at him, a devilish smile hiding beneath as Fíli looked to his beloved with pure betrayal as the uproar began. "Over my dead body!" "Do you kiss our mother with that mouth?" "I'll take you here and now!" "I thought you better lad!" "Hand me my axe!" "Kíli, prepare to be an only child." "Lass don't you listen to such vulgarity."
Arabelle's laughter erupted, near out of breath she snorted as they all moved to tackle the poor prince "Thank you gentlemen but I can assure you all I am more than capable of protecting myself, especially against the dear prince." She slapped a hand on his chest, sharing a smile with him as everyone settled back down.
"Dear prince." He scoffed "Ten minutes. You have been a dwarf for the whole of ten minutes and they have turned on me like a pack of wargs!"
"Speaking of which we have made a list!" Kíli cleared his throat as he pulled himself to stand on the table "A list, nay commandments, nay a gospel!"
"Out with it Kíli!" An impatient Dwalin yelled.
"We have assembled the brightest Dwarven minds, and Master Dwalin." Kíli skipped out of said dwarves grasp "To compile a list of things which all dwarves must know. A check list of how to dwarf."
In typical dwarven fashion, in the brief time Fíli and Arabelle had been alone, not only had a list been compiled but an entire musical tune to follow. The night grew old as the company sang and danced, merriment and cheer in no short supply. Looking from outside none would suspect the dangers they had just overcome or the far more perilous journey ahead.
The 6 things all dwarves must know, as decided by the greatest, bestest and brightest minds of all the dwarven kingdoms of all time.
1. Khuzdul, because duh.
2. How to use an axe, properly, none of that stupid just swing it.
3. How to light a forge, it's an art you can't just throw in a bunch of oil and sticks!
4. How to finish a drink without a breath, essential unless you wish to be laughed out of a hall.
5. How to sing/play an instrument, seriously or else be named a world class bore.
6. How to wash and braid hair, and the braids need last more than one battle!
Khuzdul – Mostly sourced from DwarrowScholar
Ugmil 'adad (grandfather)
Ghivashel – treasure of all treasures
Kurdel – heart of all hearts
Âzyungel: love of loves
Lukhudel – Light of all Lights
Mudùmel–Comfort of all comforts
hôfukel – joy of all joys