DISCLAIMER: Let's get this out of the way. I do not own or have any hope of ever owning the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to Tolkien and as far as I'm concerned he can keep them. For now. I do however, own my OC, Kidhuzel! So don't steal her. Please, feel free to leave any comments and/or questions that you may have. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known but be polite while you do it. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 13
Having attended to Kidhuzel all afternoon, Arwen easily discovers that the girl is not an ordinary dwarf. This is made obvious when she strips down for a bath. What stops the elleth from calling for aid after recognizng the dragonish traits is the girl's complete disregard of it. She is not ignorant of the origins of her oddities, admitting to them when asked, and she doesn't seem to care much if anyone notices. Having not perceived any immediate threat from the girl, Arwen spends the day sitting in the library with her at the half dwarf's request. El's love of knowledge is quickly made apparent as she all but devours the texts with her eyes. It is here that Arwen begins to question the wisdom in allowing the obvious half dragon access to the knowledge. With little way to compel El away from the books, the elf maiden begins her own gentle interrogation. Kidhuzel, for the most part, is willing to answer anything asked. So long as her bearer would not object neither that the question interrupts her pursuit for understanding, she is very amicable to the questioning.
"So…" Watching the dwarf-maiden finish her 8th book of the hour, Arwen summarizes their conversation thus far "You are searching for your dwarf friends-"
"To say we are friends would be an incorrect identification as they have no concern for my well being." Gold eyes flick up to meet grey ones as El reaches for the next tome. The half drake gazes upon the elf with a bit of envy, noticing how her brown hair falls untangled down her back. With a sigh, her eyes shift to the colorful wild mass that is even visible without turning her head "We are merely walking the same road; following the same dwarf."
"Who happens to be the dwarf king, Thorin Oakenshield." The elf only shifts slightly but her hair flows as if the breeze had picked it up, sending a flowery aroma in El's direction. 'She even smells nicer than I do. I have no doubt that a mate would prefer her scent over my fire and ice.' Sensing the other girl's distress, Arwen quickly tries to comfort her "Would you like for me to tell them-"
"NO! Tell them nothing! I must follow him as I promised but I cannot allow myself to been seen like this." The exclamation mentally startles the elleth out of her seat but years of controlling her reactions allows her to remain cool and collected on the outside. Blinking patiently, she waits for the distraught girl to finish her undoubtedly incomplete statement "He'd be devastated in my inability to follow such a simple command."
"Said command being?"
"… Not to grow too fast." Arwen gazes at Kidhuzel in wonder as fat tears drop into the girl's lap. Though she is indeed shocked by the display of emotion, she is even more surprised by the tears evident heat. The moment they meet the cloth of her dress, the material begins to steam as though it were fresh out of a pot of boiling water. Despite the heat of her tears, the room also has a sudden biting chill to it. Even so, all thoughts of tears are replaced with great sadness at El's next words "How can I face him in this horrid form?"
"Horrid?"
Looking at the girl, Arwen can find nothing horrid about her. Frightening and eccentric, surely, but not horrid. Her tri-colored locks speak with character of their own; refusing to be tamed as they curl around her spiraled horns. Her deep gold eyes show the last bit of her childlike features, as the face surrounding them is that of a budding young dwarrow. An thin neck leads flawlessly into the swell of her breasts that sit atop a trim waist before meeting hips that have flared out to support her sturdy legs. The elf can admit that even her odd qualities have some appeal to them, giving the maiden an exotic look. Instead of a beard, soft tawny colored scales are splayed across her cheeks like delicate freckles. Her black tongue is made all the darker as it sits against full red lips and glistening white teeth. Kidhuzel can no longer be called a child in body or mind, yet she is far from horrid.
"Who has told you such a lie?" The elleth can feel her temper rising that anyone would call the girl anything but beautiful yet she calms herself at knowing of whom Kidhuzel had been traveling with. It could not have been easy for the dwarves to travel with one who shares both their blood and that of a drake. They must have felt great fear in believing that with her advancing age, they could possibly be traveling with a threat "You are not a horrid creature, Lady Kidhuzel."
"Then why would he forbid me from growing if not to avoid this awful form?"
"From the state of the clothes you wore upon your arrival, one would guess expenses." Deciding that El would not react kindly to her explaining the company's fears, Arwen offers another alternative. It is the correct move as El immediately relaxes and Arwen mentally notes the room temperature returning to normal. Saving the information to later discuss with her father, the elleth presses on "You have simply matured, something all creatures do. Were you unaware this would happen?"
"I knew and I willed it away but…" Guiding her flexible tail in a sweeping gesture down her body, El returns to her book "My body rebelled against me."
"It would be truer to say that your mind rebelled against your body. No one can win a battle against nature itself and no one can fault you for that." The silence between the two stretches out with neither maiden wishing to push the other too far. Arwen crosses and then uncrosses her legs while she waits for El to finish her latest volume before persisting with the banter "I know it must be hard to trust an elf-"
"Why would it be difficult?" not lifting her head from the words on the page, El frowns at the statement. Am I not the one who attacked her people today? "It is you who should find it difficult to trust me."
"… Dwarves and elves do not always see eye to eye." Hesitation bleeds through Arwen's demeanor as she finds herself disagreeable to the notion of introducing the innocent being to the strife between dwarf and elf. Yet to deny it would surely be folly as it would be revealed through her companions, their travels, or the young drakes love of reading "I am especially aware of the Dwarf king's dislike for my people."
"This is true however, I have never been slighted by your people. Even now you aid my bearer and his kin. Much has been learned by me from your generosity in allowing me to use your library." An invisible sigh of release escapes the elleth in knowing she did not tarnish the young lady's purity. Her grey eyes twinkle at the wisdom of the young dwarf and she wonders of her origins, for she is nothing like any of the dwarves she has encountered before. Nor is she anything like she would imagine a dragon is "Hence, despite my bearer's dislike of you, I hold no ill feelings."
"I am pleased. Very Pleased. Still… You cannot hide from him. And my father must know of your presence." Having thought of this for quite some time but not knowing how to bring up the suggestion, Arwen leaps at the chance "Please, accompany me to welcoming feast tonight."
"… It is not my desire to be seen…"
"But you look so beautiful after a nice wash and a new dress." And it is true that she does. For Alda, Kidhuzel's mother, was a beautiful dwarrow, though her beauty did not save her from death. After being cleansed of the dirt of travel and out of the scraps of clothes, the young drakling looks more than ready to dazzle a court. Arwen, head strong elleth that she has always been, refuses to let the chance pass "You wouldn't want to deny your… bearer… a chance to see you in something other than rags, would you?"
"There is almost nothing I would deny him."
The surety in El's voice as she snaps her head from her book cause Arwen to smile softly at her companion and for a reason unknown to both maidens, El begins to grin as well. Wider and wider, their mouths spread until the quiet library echoes with giggling laughter. Arwen laughs at the joy on Kidhuzel's face whereas El continues for the sensation itself. 'I have never felt something that hurts so good.' Her stomach spasms and her cheeks ache but the new state is just too amazing to cease. For though she has smiled and even giggled, El has never laughed before. She never had a reason to; even now she has no reason but she wants to. Perhaps it is to alleviate her stress over having to admit her insubordination or just a response to the bubbly laughter of the elf before her. Either way it takes many moments for the two to quiet down.
"You are SURE he will not be angry for my growth?"
"Dwarves are strange creatures so I cannot promise a response in any direction but…" Making a visible show of viewing the girl before her, Arwen nods firmly "Thorin Oakenshield does not strike me as a fool, and only a fool would be unhappy with someone for growing up as well as you have."
"… I will accept your guidance in this. I ask only that you instruct me on how to brush my hair." Running a hand through her locks leads to the appendage disappearing into the frosty forest. Arwen gazes on in captivation, knowing better than to reach out and touch the girl based on both her blood lines. As if reading her mind, El proves her correct "It would be folly to ask you to do it yourself, as I know my carrier would object."
"That is no consequence, here." Presenting two bore haired brushed out of thin air, Arwen grasps El's arm and all but drags her from the archive "I will show you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~~~
The dwarves set themselves up for supper; their patience slightly at ease due to the snacks they received earlier in the day. While Thorin is of course directed to sit at the high table, the rest of the company make their way to the longer one. Muddy boots scuff the floor leaving a trail of mess in their wake and the elven maids sigh at what their night will hold. As a slight punishment to the unannounced visitors, the chef makes of point of serving a fully vegetarian meal. Bifur does not delay in shoving the greenery into his mouth, yet the other dwarves are less willing.
"Try it." Nudging his youngest brother's wool clad shoulder, Dori encourages Ori to test out the food. Nori flat out refuses, much to the elders annoyance and thus he puts his efforts into the youngest of the three. As if to demonstrate that it will not kill him, Dori takes a tiny piece of salad himself "Just a mouthful. It's good for you, brother."
"Hn... I'm not too sure." turning his nose up at the dull leaves, Ori's face twists up in a frown as he pushes away his plate "I don't like green food."
"You tell him, Ori!" Nori cheers his brother on, smirking at his elder brother's scowl "Don't trust anyone that doesn't serve meat."
"What?" Having been ignoring the company for the most part, Dwalin is pulled in by this statement. Grabbing the closest bowl, he shoves an iron clad fist into food to dig around "Where is it? Where's the meat?"
"They... they haven't got any." the usually shy dwarf would not usually converse with the burly dwarf but their shared disappointment in the meal temporarily breaks through their differences in rank and character. Looking around the table with a hopeful expression, the young dwarf searches for something to munch on that hasn't been directly pulled from the earth "Have they got any chips?"
The group is all but complete as Elrond and Gandalf enter the room. With the admittance of their lord, the elves begin to play with earnest. None more so than Esmina, a young harpest. Known as a slightly peculiar girl in her attraction to all things queer, it is no surprise that she catches the attention of one of the dwarves. Her smokey eyes bear into Kili and it is all he can do but to return the stare. Growing bold he winks enthusiastically before turning back to the table only to find all his kin staring at him with varying expressions of bafflement. Looking to his brother for aid, the dwarf only finds him silently cackling across the table. Clearing his throat in an attempt to save himself, Kili shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Cant say I fancy elf maids myself. Too thin." picking up his fork only to find his plate covered in greenery, he grimaces before taking a hungry bite "They're all high cheek bones and creamy skin."
"Ya seemed really interested not two shakes of a tail ago." Unsuccessfully trying to catch the young princes eye, Bofur strokes his curled beard as he leans on the table "What kind of lass are ya lookin' for if the elf you were starin' at is all 'creamy skin' as you said?"
"Elves. Too bare in the jaw." the youngest Durin says with a snort and an eye roll "Not enough facial hair for me."
"Oh?"
"Yes. But..." he confirms to the miner before arching his brow harshly at the approaching individual behind him "That one there is not bad."
"..." Eyes trained on the creature behind the dwarf prince, Dwalin leans in with purpose. His gaze never leaves the figure as he speaks"That's not an elf maid."
Kili quickly swings around, thinking he has made a terrible blunder only to realize the elf he complimented has morphed into his nemesis, Kidhuzel. Had her new form not knocked the words from his mouth, he would have offered a witty remark. Instead, he along with the rest of the company are left to stare at the mature dwarfdam before them. Her bountiful icy blue hair would sweep the floor if it were not pulled into a half style and tipped with bells. The black roots and red tips have grown into stripes that streak through the solid color; each strand glossy in the light. To Kidhuzel's own secret delight, regardless of how softly she walks on the cool floor, she jingles lightly from the accessories. For her part, Arwen saw the task as a way of belling a cat. The weight of eyes upon her person causes the girl to fist her deep blue skirts and seek her bearer. Finding him deep in conversation, there is little she can do to ward of the intense eyes but to face them on her own. Sparkling golden eyes that usually shimmer with curiosity search the room almost shyly, and settle on Dwalin.
"I present, Lady Kidhuzel." Arwen announces lightly before dismissing herself with a smirk
With Dwalin's intense attention on the newcomer, the elf is sure El would be alright. She is not privy to the war going on within Dwalin's own mind however. For this is she who he wished as far away from him and his kin as possible. While he did not wish the girl dead by any means, it was his hope that she would not return to torment them further. 'This is not something can accept. SHE is not someone I can accept.' The dwarf stares at the approaching girl harshly, willing her away with his mind yet those golden orbs hone in on him, uncaringly acknowledging what he refuses to believe. The rest of the room disappears and still Dwalin fights the battle that was decided before his birth. Kidhuzel too is aware of it, as she has always been, though what shall become of them she knows not. Should her bearer will it, the relationship will be built and if not, she will find a mate when the time comes. Thrusting his chair away from the table in anger, Dwalin storms out the room without a word to the half drake that is his One.
"Well I'll be..." Bofur, shaking himself free of his short speechlessness, offers a hearty laugh. Slapping the now glaring Kili on the shoulder, he points to El "Thats a dam if I've ever seen one."
"A dam… A strange one but I guess she looks the part enough. Guess you didn't die then." frowning softly, as he is still unsure how to progress now, the youngest dwarrow shrugs his shoulders stiffly and gives the girl his back "Uncle should be pleased. Now if only we can do something about your terrible personality."
"And what were you doing on the great east road?"
Having only been half listening to the room, as she was more interested in watching the ax wielding dwarf flee the dinner, El is surprised she caught the sentence. Yet as Elrond's voice drifts into her ears, she breaks her connection with Dwalin's retreating back and turns her attention to her bearer. Walking up to the high table, she greets the occupants with an answer.
"We were simply walking, your lordship, as many do." Kidhuzel offers the response, though the question was not directed towards her, with an intricate bow she'd read about this afternoon before raising her head and meeting the eyes of the elf "What were YOU doing on the east road?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey hey hey! I've been working on this forever but just couldn't get it right. I wantted to wait for the semester to end but when it did, I was so wiped out I could only write a little at a time. Still, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please review. Keeping me coming back for more! Thank you to for the reviews, you know who you are or rather you know who you aren't. I appreaciate each one when I get them! ~Shishi