Chapter 2: Line of Durin
Winter was upon them in Rivendell. No longer was it safe to spend more than a few hours outside in the biting cold. Rurìn didn't mind staying bundled up under a heap of covers in the grand hall by the hearth, listening to the elves tell stories or play their instruments. She normally could be found there with her nose buried in a book that Lindir brought to her or even Elrond. Sometimes the bookkeeper Hedithrus or Hedi as she called him, would bring her stacks of books she may find interesting.
Her Sindarin improved greatly where she could now hold a light conversation but more often than not she messed her up pronunciation or got a word or two backward. The elves were very patient with her and more than happy to ease her into the correct way except for Elrohir, he was just a giant arse about it. He teased her so much but she knew he didn't mean any harm by it.
If she wasn't reading or studying, she could be found in the tailoring chambers. Tucked in a corner, crocheting, knitting, or even sewing. She was mostly found with a hook in hand or quill. Elrond kept an abundance of yarn on hand just for her to have her way with it. At first, she was timid and even guilty about not paying him for the yarn but he brushed it off and told her it was perfectly fine. He did ask for a new throw blanket if she was inclined to it.
So that's how Rurìn ended up making a bit of coin. The elves quickly caught on that she was gifted in tailoring. Her shawls, blankets, and scarfs even socks were far more detailed than they thought could be possible. Embroidery was believed to be the only way to get picturesque details but her talent greatly fascinated them.
Elrond now had an Elven tree of stars telling a story of his father through the vines on a large blanket that was displayed in his office for all to enjoy. He didn't want to ruin such beauty by using it. She was able to pay him back for the yarn with the coin she was making, like an investment but she ended up finding the coins back in her pouch during the week. She had a feeling the twins were slipping it back in there or Lindir.
Her training continued through the grand corridors and in the dining area, where her balance had been tested and improved as well as her agility. Jumping from tables, benches, and stools while avoiding being whacked by heavy sticks all without touching the stone tiles had been a bane of her existence. The twins did not let up. Many of the other elves had joined in and made a game out of it, they would chase her around trying to hit her with something at the most random of times. There had been many incidents where she ended up in the healing house with cuts and harsh bruising that needed tending too.
Just before Yule, Rurìn had gotten a rib broken from a nasty surprise attack that ended up with Elladan and Elrohir getting a loud reprimanding from not only their father but a few of the other elves. Especially, Hedi, he was very displeased by it but was more than happy to let her hide away in the nooks of the library for safekeeping.
She had been in Rivendell for five months now, and despite the injuries, she was enjoying herself for the very first time in her life. She found friends and a family in the homely house. Her first Yule with the elves had been a grand experience, and she had been gifted with the best Elvish-made weapons and traveling clothes. Elrond thought it was time for her newly acquired battle skills to test and have her on border control when spring came. Much to her timid nature, she was actually excited. The twins promised that the most dangerous thing she would be fighting was a goblin because she wasn't nearly ready enough for an orc. She had never seen a goblin but she had an idea of it from the descriptions.
Just as the snow was beginning to melt away, and the air grow crispier, Rurìn sat outside in the courtyard bundled under one of her many blankets with her father's pendant in hand. Flipping it over and over again from the Rune to the emblem on the back... She wondered if she would ever find its meaning.
"Rurìn," Elrond came to sit beside her, covering her with another blanket. "You will catch a cold out here, child."
She smiled up at him. "I just needed a bit of fresh air."
"What's that in your hand?" He asked looking down at the pendant she was still flipping. "I've seen you playing with that since you came to my home."
"Oh, it was my father's. I'm not sure what it says, honestly."
"May I?" He asked, holding his hand out for it.
Rurìn hesitated. She almost lost it once before. It was her favorite thing in the entire world. She had kept it hidden and close for so many years, never allowing anyone to take it. Elrond smiled encouragingly down at her.
"I promise I will give it right back," He didn't sound condescending or reprimanding for her weariness.
This was Elrond, he had been nothing but kind to her. Never asking for anything in return. He was sort of like a father to her if she was being entirely honest. He had even given her a room in his family wing. She ate her breakfast with him every single morning and had tea with him every day!
She let out a heavy breath and put the pendant in his hand. He covered her hand with his other.
"I can see this means a lot to you, Rurì. Thank you for trusting me," He released her hand a swiped at her chin, fondly.
He held the pendant up to the light. His brows were furrowed. Surprise took over his normal mask of indifference when he was hiding what he was thinking.
"Where did you say this came from?" He sounded shocked, his blue eyes wide in wonder.
Rurìn was confused. "You know what it says?"
"Yes." He flipped the coin over and blinked a few times down at it. "Rurìn where did you acquire this?"
"It was my father's. My mother left it with me when she brought me to my grandparents. She never told me what it meant just that my father gave it to her to give me." She took the pendant back and slipped it back into her knotted bracelet before putting it back on. "What does it say?"
"It says; Thráin son of Thrór," Elrond stared down at her closely as if he was examining her in a whole new light.
"What's the emblem?" She asked quietly, starting to feel shy again. She didn't like when people stared at her.
"Line of Durin."
"Durin?" She scrunched her nose. "Is that my father's name? My lineage?"
Elrond crossed his arms and tilted his head at her. "I do see a resemblance. You look like your father but your eyes are a slightly different blue and your hair has a ruggedness that his didn't-"
"My mother's hair was curly."
"Yes... I do believe you are in fact of the line Durin." Elrond covered his mouth and sighed heavily, sitting up straighter once more. "You said you were twenty-two," He was frowning again.
She nodded her head. "Well, I'll be twenty-three in a few weeks..."
"Where did your mother meet Thràin?"
Rurìn scrunched her nose again, thinking about it. "I think it was near Greenwood. He was on a quest from what I remember. He got lost from his companions. She claimed he had been lost for longer than he thought. He was sort of deranged like he had been tormented. She nursed him back to health and apparently fell in love. They lived together in a small shack not far from the borders of man. She got pregnant not long after and he told her to take me to my grandparents. Said it wasn't safe for me to be with him.
"He was awfully paranoid from what I remember what she said. He never quite healed from the mental torment he had endured in the forest or whatever had held him captive. He gave her the pendant and she took me to her father. When she returned to the shack, she said he was gone again, the place was a wreck like he had been captured again. She never stopped looking for him, occasionally she would return to me. Told me her stories of traveling and about my da but she couldn't tell me much. He never told her who he was. Claimed to be a merchant."
"Your father wasn't a merchant," Elrond said sternly. She huffed.
"I figured as much. Who was he?"
"He was the prince of Erebor. The next in line for the throne but the dragon Smaug took the mountain and exiled the King under the mountain, Thrór and your father and your brothers and sister."
Rurìn's jaw dropped. Her breath left her in one big whoosh, leaving her in need of air but unable to get it. A prince? King? Brothers? Sister? She couldn't believe it. She had siblings! She was... Did that make her a princess? Green mother, she couldn't believe it. Her mother had called her a hidden princess all her life and she laughed it off! So her mother did know! She knew!
"Pardon me?" She finally was able to suck in some air making her voice squeaky. Her hands began to shake.
Elrond grabbed them and held them tight. "Rurìn, I understand this is a huge shock. I promise I will help you."
"Are... Are my... I have siblings?" She couldn't think properly.
"I wouldn't know, child. Dwarves have gone mistrusting of my kin. Elves are just the same. Years of hostility and war have made us suspicious and weary of each other. I am sorry, but I will send an inquiry. Perhaps someone might know and we can see about finding them? If that is what you wish."
"I do!" She said quickly. Her face heating up. "I do... I've always wanted this. To find them. I... I have been in the dark all my life feeling like I never fit anywhere..."
"We will find them. Last I heard, Thòrin, your brother now the exiled King was residing in the Blue Mountains. I will send a raven as soon as I can. Perhaps if you will allow me, to charcoal your pendant to the parchment it will find him."
"Yes!" She was already fumbling to get it off with shakey hands. Elrond steadied them by placing his hand over hers.
"Peace, Rurìn. There is no rush." He smiled at her.
A few weeks passed and spring was finally here. Rurìn had spent countless hours during her free time with her nose buried in any books she could find about the line of Durin. There was hardly anything considering how secret the Dwarves have become. Elrond began teaching her ancient Khudzul before the language became a secret. He didn't know how much help would be but it was better than nothing.
She also began spending time with the smiths to learn the basics of forging metal. It didn't really call her but she was surprised when Elrond had her brought her to the caves around the valley and made her sit there and focus on the stone. She had always felt like she knew the stone, had some sort of connection to it but there were no caves where she grew up. So when she felt the life in the stone of the cave... She had been in awe. It hummed through her, making her at peace. She could feel its happiness and its sadness. It had been alone for so long.
"It's sad..." She whispered, holding her hand to the damp wall. "She's been so lonely..."
"I wish I had brought you here sooner," Elrond hummed. "Had I known you were a half-dwarf..."
"That's my fault," She pressed her forehead to the wall and shushed the wall, pressing her hand firmer into the wall. "You are not alone... I am here now..." She spoke softly to the cave.
Rurìn was aware she might look insane to any other person for talking to a wall but she didn't care. The stone held life. This cave was alive and the emotions and sensations coming from it made her feel something almost ethereal. The small rocks and pebbles around Hollin never felt like this. Their humming was almost non-existent but this... This was huge and it was like touching the stars.
Rurìn closed her eyes, absorbing the sensations, hee mumbling was soft like a mother consoling her child. Elrond watched her carefully. Durin once told him it could be dangerous for Dwarves to get too deep into the spirit of the stone and since Rurìn had not grown around caves or the mountains, he would have to ease her into it carefully.
He put his hand on her shoulder, lightly pulling her from the wall. She was half delirious, with clouded eyes and arms of jelly. He lead her carefully out of the cave, where the air became clearer and warm, waking her from the trance she was in.
"What happened?" She asked quietly, rubbing at her eyes.
"You must be careful, Rurì. It is easy to fall into the comfort of the stone. One of your ancestors once told me the dangers of the trance of the warm embrace, you will come here every few days for a few minutes and build up a tolerance. I do not want to send you to the mountains unprepared for what you will find there."
Elrond kept his promise, Rurìn spent many minutes that turned to hours over time. When the day came on the spring's first shower, Rurìn turned twenty-three. The elves made her a cake for her begotten day taking into consideration of her human side and that day she got to meet the famous young Aragorn that the twins talked so much about. He was only six years old. He was excited to make a new friend and begged Rurìn to climb trees with him and sword fight.
Aragorn could be found trailing after Rurìn during her training sessions, begging to be included or sat near while she read and she read aloud because she knew the boy was close by even if he thought he was being sneaky about it. Elrohir liked to joke that he had a little crush on her but Elladan thought it had more to do with the fact that looked more alike.
Which made Elrond even more curious about Rurìn's lineage because she and Aragorn did share a lot of similarities. They could be mistaken for siblings at first glance.
"Where did you say your mother was from?" Elrond asked one afternoon.
Rurìn was teaching Aragorn how to fletch arrows. She sat the jar of resin down and beckoned Aragorn to continue to wrap his twine around the shaft.
"Hollin but originally my grandfather was the north. He was a child when he left and moved to the Gondor for a time before he met my nana, they settled in Hollin before they had my mother."
"How was he when he passed?"
She thought it was a strange question but now that she thought about it, it was fitting because her grandfather was rather strange himself. She opened her mouth and closed it, thinking about it. "Well... He lived for a very long time..."
"How long?" Elrond tilted his head.
"190..." She whispered. Her grandfather said to always tell everyone who asked that he lived to be a hundred but she knew how old he truly was. He had such stories.
"And your grandmother?" He asked, keeping his emotions masked.
She had such tales too...
"157..."
Elrond smiled at her, crossing his arms before looking down at Aragorn who held up a wonky arrow. "Look, Rìn! I did it!" He giggled. "See!"
"Very good," She praised him. "I am proud but... See here--" She pointed to his feathers that weren't aligned properly. "This is why we use resin but this is very good. You should be so proud of yourself."
"I believe you are part Dùnedain," Elrond said after a few moments. "Like young Estel here."
"Dùnedain?" She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
"Follow me, I think another History lesson is needed." He stood up and held his hand out to Aragorn. "Estel, come child, and go find Lindir. I think I remember him mentioning making honey cakes."
Aragorn jumped to his feet and giggled running away and calling out for the elf, where Lindir popped his head around the corner and lifted the boy in his arms.
"Honey cakes!" Aragorn cheered.