Thank you for the feedback guys. I apologize for this chapter being lengthy as well. Enjoy!
Note: I have Aspergers Syndrome - a form of autism! So I apologize if they are confusing in anyway or written in a way that makes you guys feel lost. My brain has a different way of working than others.
Etherweil I hope you enjoy this chapter. I remember what you said about you wanting more of my characters past to be written so I delivered. I hope this chapter and the next chapter is satisfying. I also sure am enjoying your story The Best Of Intentions! I keep re reading the chapters you have published so far. I'm eager for more!
Morning fell over Middle-Earth once again! I woke up in the tiny room I had been roughly shoved in by the suspicious Dwarf Guard I had encountered at the front gate.
I sat up and rubbed my face of sleep. The door to my room was suddenly opened. The Dwarf Guard stood in the doorway with a familiar Dwarf standing beside him, holding my adoption papers and necklace in one hand. I stood up as Balin smiled warmly at me as the Dwarf Guard spoke while throwing me a suspicious look with a hint of a glare. Great!
"Are you sure about this, Lord Balin? We don't know if this woman is lying or telling the truth about who she is. This might be best handled after the king gets back."
"You have become narrow minded from being overly cautious, Brorin." Balin gently countered while holding up my adoption papers and necklace. "Ayla has given proof of who she is. Plus she will be with me during the day. I will handle the outcome when I talk to Thorin after he gets back with more food. Now get. Shoo!"
The Dwarf Guard took his leave and Balin turned his attention to me. The Elder Dwarf walked up to me and I slightly stiffened just for a moment when he pulled me into a hug that I finally returned.
"You have grown up beautifully, my dear." Balin told me tenderly after letting go all too quickly. He framed my face between his hands to get a better look.
"You believe me?"
"Of course I believe you. Why would I not believe you?"
"Because I have been gone for a long time."
Balin led me outside and we strolled through the village while enjoying the nice crisp cool morning. "I suppose it would make sense of why you would think that."
Balin switched topics. "I'm sorry for the rough treatment Brorin gave you last night. Had I known you were coming, I would have made sure you were treated with a more gentler care."
I waved my hand. "It's alright, Balin. I can't be mad at him for doing his job. After all, our people have suffered and lost a lot." I give an apologetic smile. "I am sorry for not sending word before showing up out of the blue. I was all too eager to come to Ered Luin that I forgot about how untrusting and suspicious our people have become."
Balin patted my hand. "It's alright lassie."
"What were my parents like?"
Balin's brown eyes lit up with joy at the mention of my parents. "Oh, lass! Your parents were the most wonderful Dwarves I had ever met! Elmador was a lot like Zayne: always full of stories and jokes with a lot of mischief. But he was also kind and loyal to a fault. He adored your mother very much! A very sensible Dwarf too. Ester - your mother, was kind and compassionate. She always helped where help was needed most. Your mother loved your father with her whole being. But your mother was also a lot like Thorin and Dis: fearless. And she didn't put up with any crap."
I gave Balin a sideways glance to find him grinning behind his fingers tapping his lips. I returned the grin.
"You didn't hear that."
My grin grew slightly. "Here what?"
Balin's grin grew. "Exactly."
"Would you like to see their house?" Balin asked, changing the subject. "You might find the answers you seek among their belongings."
I lit up with joy. "Yes, please." I answer with so much joy and excitement; filled with a lot of hope.
Balin steered me up a lush green grassy hill. In the distance, near the foot of the mountain underneath a lush green pine, stood a small hut that looked big enough for only one person. "What other answers are you searching for?"
"I just want to know who I am exactly. I'm known as Ayla among our people, I'm known as Lyrian among the Hobbits in The Shire, but I don't know who I was before Ester and Elmador adopted me. On my adoption paper Elmador and Ester signed, I'm only described as the strange little girl with a pearlescent white blood diamond, black hair and purple eyes. But I don't remember how I went from that description, to a grown girl with brown hair and matching eyes. My memory is a blur when I try and remember."
In understanding: "I can see why that would be upsetting." Balin patted my hand again. "I wouldn't be surprised if the Wizards had anything to do with your situation. Wizards do tend to meddle in other peoples' business. Nosy is what they are."
I let out a laugh that rang off of the Blue Mountains as Balin and I neared the hut-like-house once belonging to my parents. But no sooner had we arrived, a Dwarf with the same hair and features as Thorin's stepped forward.
Dis! The princess greeted us with a smile, but her blue eyes silently asked Balin who I was.
"Good morning, my lady."
Dis sighed. "Balin, how many times must I tell you not to call me that?"
Balin chuckled. "Apparently once more, my lady. You will always be my princess whether you're a proper princess or not. Plus I want you to meet someone special."
"Special you say?" Dis' interest was caught. "And who exactly is this special person?" Dis' dark eyes turned to me as Balin introduced me. "Dis, meet Ayla, daughter of Ester and Elmador. Ayla, meet Dis, daughter of Thrain, Thorin's little sister." Dis took my hands in hers.
"Good morning, Ayla. It's so good to finally meet you after all these years."
"As it is to finally meet you."
Balin gave Dis a rundown of their conversation thus far. "I was about to show Ayla inside her parents hut so she might be able to have her questions answered far better than what I can."
"Lady Dis!" A Dwarf Guard ran up the hill and bent over to catch his breath.
"What is it?"
"The king has returned."
Dis furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Why so soon?"
The Dwarf Guard's reply was blunt, but not mean, when his eyes shifted to me. "The king heard news of her arrival."
"Our guest has a name, Threrin." Dis' reply was curt.
"I meant no disrespect, my lady. I only just learned about our guest from a very frantic Brorin."
Dis rolled her eyes. "Of course Brorin is on edge. He's always chomping at the bit when it comes to my brother."
"Well the king can be a bit intimidating, my lady. Only a fool would be stupid enough to cross the line with him, and Brorin is always sweating bullets because the king's wrath is never pleasant."
"That's very true indeed." Dis agreed.
"What is your order my lady?" asked Threrin.
"You and Balin go meet my brother while I stay with Ayla. If my brother has a problem with me not being at the gate to greet him, tell him I said he can use his own two feet to march his sorry hide up here to scold me himself. If he doesn't like that idea, he is more than welcome to go take a nice swim with the fish and freeze his balls off!"
Balin and I suppressed our snickers a bit too late as Threrin's face turned a bright shade of red at Dis' statement.
"I will um...gladly relay your message to his majesty, my lady." Threrin turned and skirted down the hill. The back of his neck was a bright red too.
Balin placed a gentle kiss to the back of my hands. "I am happy to see you after all of these years, my dear. You are in good hands with Dis." He quickly pressed another kiss to the back of my hands then followed after Threrin.
"Come, Ayla." Dis gently commanded. "Let's see if we can't dig up some answers to your many questions."
I gave Dis a nod. "Thank you my lady." I gratefully thanked the princess as we pushed open the door to my parent's hut. "Please, just call me Dis." Dis hooked my arm through hers as she led me inside. "Welcome home, Ayla."
I let my eyes swivel around the hut. My heart swelled because the hut reminded me of Bag End on a smaller scale. In one corner there was a hearth that hadn't been used in ages. A small table with a couple chairs sat near the window to my left with a cook stove and wash basin behind. Dirt and dried leaves crunched underfoot. The wood floor hadn't been cleaned in a long time.
I walked past the cook stove and wash basin toward the back of the hut where the room opened up a bit more. An end table sat between two sitting chairs. To the left of the small sitting room was a small bedroom. A bed big enough for two Dwarves had been pushed against the wall. A smaller bed was pushed against the wall near the head with another hearth built in the opposite wall. The sitting room and bedroom were divided by nothing but the single window displaying a beautiful view of The Blue Mountains overlooking the small hut.
My attention caught sight of the journal sitting atop the bed. A single bookmark peeked out of the journal as an indicator of the last page where its writer had left off. I flipped open the journal to the marked spot and gasped as I read my 'Amad's neat handwriting. Dis perched on the bed beside me when I sank down onto the bed in sobs. She wrapped one arm around my shoulders while using her free hand to help keep my 'Amad's journal open.
Dis gently read my 'Amad's words out loud, her voice so tender my tears fell harder.
"'Words don't fall from my quill with ease as I write this. They are hard to come by since there are no words to describe the inner turmoil I feel. My dear Ayla - should you ever stumble upon this letter, know this: Elmador and I love you SO VERY MUCH, SWEETHEART! You are and always will be OUR little girl. A daughter should never be without her mother. Sweet Ayla, what I write next is not easy. You see, sweetheart, you are a Mage - not just any Mage, either. You are Princess Raven Vascov, last of your line: The Line of Vascov. Your mother died just before you turned six. The Vascov Line has a bounty on its head. The Wizard's of Middle-Earth decided the best way to keep you safe was by altering your appearance. I can hardly blame you for being upset and angry now, sweetheart. One thing is for sure, Elmador and I love you sweetheart! You will always be our baby girl! And you will grow up safe and beautifully with your Hobbit brother, Bilbo. I only wish we could be there to watch you grow.'"
Ered Luin was filled with very loud wailing that has never been or ever will be heard of again. The mountains rang with the deep, overpowering wailing that sent chills down the spines of every Dwarf living in The Blue Mountains!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!!!! Be safe out there!!!! I look forward to all of your guys' feedback and reviews when you all log back on after The Fourth!!!!!!
Note: Unexpected: Kiss My Butt is the first book in the series! Unexpected is the second book I am putting on hold until after Unexpected: Kiss My Butt.
I'm going to finish writing and typing out the rest of this book before I continue publishing chapters. I have an idea of how to tie this book in with my second book Unexpected. Because I'm making this a series. When I get the chance, On my profile I will publish the series in the order of which the books are going to go.
