In the wee hours before dusk, Thorin began to toss and turn as another nightmare of the Battle of Azanulbizar began to plague him.
Around him, hundreds of dwarves fought thousands of Orcs, death was all around him, and much of his kin fell to the Pale Orc. He watched again as his grandfather's head was thrown to his feet. He remembered the fear and anger he felt, but he stood against Azog the Defiler and fought him back, wielding only a sword and an oaken branch. He watched as he and his kin charged the Orc ranks, but as the battle ensued, he felt a sudden pain that woke him up, his chest heaving. He looked around, gathering his surroundings. It was only a dream and he was thankful for that.
Looking to his side, Thorin smiled when he saw Halien next to him. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then slid out of bed and went to the window. He leaned against the frame and looked at the moon, the very moon that had revealed the moon runes that would lead them to the hidden door into the Lonely Mountain. He tried to shake the memory of that battle, and after he gathered his thoughts, he went back to bed and tried to sleep some more.
Come morning, Thorin woke to the sunlight shining in through the window and a knock at the door. Balin opened the door, asking if he was awake. When Thorin sat up, Balin bid him a good morning.
"What is it, Balin?" Thorin asked.
"Well, we were beginning to get worried when we didn't see you for breakfast. Halien wasn't there either, though I think she may still be in bed."
Thorin got out of bed and walked over to the wash bin to splash some cold water onto his face. "She is," he said, looking at the elf maiden still slumbering in his bed.
Balin looked at him and sighed. "Thorin," he said in a hushed tone. "Are you certain about the lass? You're from different worlds, even if she has become more dwarf than an elf at this point."
Thorin looked at him and nodded. "Balin, she is everything I could hope for in a woman. She is strong, brave, an experienced warrior, and a skilled healer. She cares for this company like no one else. She is beautiful, a great hunter, highly intelligent and wise- perhaps as intelligent and wise as you- and, she has an amazing voice. Her gifts make her special and set her apart from all others. She has given up everything to aid us in this quest."
"Do you love her?" Balin asked.
Thorin nodded, looking over at her. "Aye, I love her."
"Well, at least you have looked past her elven nature and the actions her father took. I can see how much you care for each other, but I had to be certain." Balin said.
Thorin put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Thank you, Balin."
Balin smiled and left the room, mentioning that he would think of something to tell the others. He also said that the elf maiden out in the hall had some extra breakfast waiting for him. Thorin went to the door, taking the tray from the elf who waited patiently. He thanked her and brought the tray over to the bed. He sat on the bed and ate breakfast, looking out the window at the beautiful day. He hoped that Halien was alright after what happened the night before.
"Mmm..."
Thorin smiled as Halien stirred. "Good morning, Halien. It's time to get up."
"Already?" she asked, sitting up.
Thorin nodded. "Aye, and someone brought us breakfast."
Halien smiled and ate breakfast with him, then went to her room to get ready for the day. She slipped into a beautiful black and blue gown with white accents that had been laid out for her and found that the purple gown had been cleaned and put on the side table- folded and ready to be packed away. She pinned her hair back as best as she could, holding it in place with a beautiful leaf hairpin. With her hair being shorter, her bangs hung around her face, framing it on either side. She ruffled her hair a bit and tucked the longer portion behind her ear. Smiling, she left her room and walked through the halls.
As the day progressed, Thorin had excused himself and went to find Elrond. Halien watched as he walked away, but she turned back and managed to duck in time as a fist full or two of muck came flying at her. She used her magik to redirect it back to Fili and Kili, who had thrown it, and laughed when it smacked them each in the face. The other dwarves laughed, some falling over, as Fili and Kili looked at each other's faces, covered in muck.
"Let me get that for you, lads," she said and guided some water from a nearby fountain towards them. She positioned it above them and threw down her hands, letting the water drench the brothers much like the water she controlled the other night when Thorin had startled her. The dwarves roared with laughter as Fili and Kili smirked before they grabbed Halien and tossed her into the fountain behind her. Halien was soaked, her gown thankfully not ruined, but she accepted the brothers' hands as they helped her out of the fountain.
"Fair is fair, Halien, though we have no magik," Kili said.
"I know, but if you had, what use would there be for me?" she replied, laughing.
The dwarves and the young elf maiden decided to find something a little "cleaner" to do, so they went to a small courtyard and decided to have a sparring match.
They decided that weapons and hand-to-hand combat were welcome, though archery weapons were not allowed. They agreed to do two-on-two and one-on-one rounds, with Balin keeping the scores.
Dwalin and Nori were up first. They chose to fight with their fists, grappling with each other, and ended up turning things into a wrestling match. Halien watched as the two rolled around on the courtyard floor. She clapped and cheered with the others when Dwalin had Nori pinned down, forcing Nori to tap out.
Next was Bifur and Bofur versus Fili and Kili. They chose to use their swords and hammers and axes, the usual weapons they carried. They dodged each other's attacks, managed to nick each other a few times, and finally, it was decided that Bifur and Bofur won that round. Halien healed the small nicks, cuts, and bruises and looked up when Elrond came up.
"You seem to have found another way to pass your time by," Elrond said.
Halien stood and bowed to the elven lord. "It is better than having a mud or food fight."
Elrond smiled and nodded at that. "Perhaps I can test your skills, Halien."
"My lord?"
"I would like you to have a duel with me. I have heard your skills have become quite excellent over the years, as they should with a teacher like Tauriel. I wish to test them."
Halien smiled and nodded. "If that is your wish, my lord, then I gladly accept." She stepped out into the center of the courtyard, drawing her sword.
Elrond took his own sword from its scabbard and took a stance. Halien mimicked it, then with fascinating speed, the dwarves watched as the two elves lunged at each other, swinging and slashing their swords. The elvish metal sparked with each fluid strike and the dwarves watched as the two elves spun and seemed to dance in this sparring match. For a while, it looked as though Halien was weaker than the elf lord, but Dwalin was beginning to see that she was biding her time and analyzing his movements. He grinned when Elrond lunged and Halien parried his attack, sliding her blade against his and spinning it out of his hand. She caught it and stopped him in his tracks, both swords in her hands as she pointed them toward his neck.
"I concede, Halien," Elrond said as the dwarves cheered. "Your skills have indeed greatly improved. I am proud of you, you have become quite the warrior."
Halien smiled and bowed, handing the sword back to him. He excused himself and the dwarves gathered around Halien, congratulating her. She smiled and laughed with them as they began to challenge her to a match. Halien accepted, beating each of them. They knew that she could hold her own and they knew that they should never mess with her for they would meet their end at her hands.
