Disclaimer: I own only Eva and any unrecognisible parts of the plot. Please don't sue - not making money (even though I sometimes wish I were).
AN: The concept that this chapter is built around is actually something that I've come across in many other fanfictions on this site, but it is valuable in its own right. As I said in the disclaimer - I own only Eva and the stuff that you don't recognise.
AN 2: Enjoy the chapter… (cue salivating!)
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Chapter 25 - New Understandings
Amongst the yells of surprise and cries of alarm, Eva heard someone yelling for Gandalf. Her mark glowed a brilliant gold for all to see against the tan of her skin, all the while searing into her skin. When she thought she couldn't take the pain any longer, it settled back down, transforming to the midnight black of her hair as the pain abated as suddenly as it had appeared.
"Lady Eva!" came Gandalf's voice as he entered the courtyard "Are you alright?"
Eva traced her freshly seared mark; from the wreath of lavender, to the book, and finally the shield filled in with the crafting hammer, anvil and the Crown of Durin. She noted that unlike tattoos that she had seen on her girlfriends in her old world, there seemed to be no inflammation or redness around the site of the tattoo. She felt a tingle shoot up her arm of its own accord as she traced it once more and her brow furrowed.
"It… it feels as though I've been … branded somehow." Eva began in quiet confusion.
Gandalf wordlessly asked for her arm and she gave it to him, the fresh tattoo staring him in the face. He looked at it for a short while before he looked down to Eva, her face a mixture of dread, anticipation and confusion before he gave a small smile.
"You appear to have sealed your promise." Gandalf began thoughtfully, "And it appears that the Valar approve of your choice."
"What promise?" Nori interrupted "She hasn't made no promises that we know of-"
"Her promise to Lord Aulë, Master Nori." Gandalf replied as he looked back at Eva "Whatever you have just done has sealed the promise that you made to the Valar before you came here." He paused, his eyes flicking back to the fresh tattoo "This is the physical reminder of the oath you made to them."
"You mean the oath that makes her a Mahalmarkhel?" Ori piped in curiousity.
"It would seem so." Gandalf replied "It seems that the Valar approve of your Adoption, Lady Eva."
Bifur slowly walked over to Eva and took her trembling hand in his own work-worn one. Gently, he brought their foreheads together and he closed his eyes, listening to the way that Eva's breathing went from shallow to deep in just a few breaths. He smiled gently as he pulled away.
"Come, my daughter," came his rough but soothing baritone. "Let's get you to bed. Tomorrow is a new day that we can discover together."
Eva looked into the face of her new dwarven father and smiled "I couldn't agree more, adad."
Surrounded by her new dwarven family and with Bifur's eyes crinkling with a small smile at his newfound title, Eva allowed herself to be led over to the bedrolls that had been set up by them. She let them fuss over her, Bombur touching her hair for the first time and remarking how fine it was. Soft murmurs and gentle words were exchanged as Eva allowed herself to be lulled into a sense of safety that warmed her soul. She let herself be taken by the feeling as the other members of the Company settled around the new family.
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Eva's eyes snapped open in the grey light of the pre-dawn. She lifted her head slowly from the bedroll and smiled as she spotted the rest of the Ur family sleeping in a protective barrier around her. Snoring could be heard beyond her family to her left, and she spotted Gloin shifting and snorting before he went back into slumber.
Still dressed in her clothing from the previous night, she got up as quietly as she could and navigated the corridors clumsily to her own chamber. As she gently closed the door, she spotted a clean set of shirts and pants on the bed; much more practical for walking around in. Changing out of her ceremonial garb, she donned the soft pants and shirt and quickly braided her hair back, taking care as she braided her new Ur clan braid into the main part of it. As she walked towards the door, she glanced at her pack, which had fallen over at some point during her absence. She noticed that some of the spices that she had packed before her Jump had fallen out.
Gently, she picked up the little packs and put them into the lid of her pack. Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, dried ginger….
Eva was suddenly struck with an idea. She shoved all of the little packs into the lid of her bag and hurriedly swung it up onto her back. Without a backwards glance, she hurried as quietly as she could to the nearby kitchen. Swinging the door open, she stopped short when she heard the clatter of a spoon falling to the ground in fright.
"By the Valar! What is the meaning of this intrusion?!" an elleth exclaimed.
Eva snapped her head to look at the elleth and paused. She was tall like all of the elves that she had encountered so far in Rivendell. Having said this, her brown hair was styled into a tight braid down her back, held secure by a single hair bead. Her apron was already dusted with flour as she took in her new intruder with sharp brown eyes.
"Ohh…" the elf began as she began to understand. "You were the Lady the dwarves welcomed!"
Eva blinked in surprise "Yes… you didn't come yesterday?"
She shook her head in the negative "Someone had to bake all that bread…"
Eva cringed as she realised her mistake "Sorry, that was a stupid question…"
"No harm done, My Lady." she replied "I am Anniel, and I help to run this kitchen, ensuring it is stocked with appropriate ingredients for guests."
Eva nodded in understanding "That actually makes a lot of sense, seeing as Bilbo was cooking in here the other day." She paused "I was wanting to cook for the Company today, if I can. To show them how grateful I am to be welcomed by them."
"You want to … I beg your pardon?" Anniel began in confusion. "But you are a guest in my Lord's home…" she trailed off, her tone uncertain.
"Yes," Eva replied "and I've just been made a part of a dwarven family. I'd like to return the favour, if I can."
Anniel gave a soft sigh "No harm done, Lady Eva. You just interrupted me while I was restocking the flour. The Kitchens are yours for the day, should you wish it."
Eva gently dropped her pack by the door "Let me help you then, seeing as I scared the living daylights out of you." The elleth smiled as Eva walked slowly into the kitchen space, guided by the other female.
They made quick work of the bags of flour first, then Anniel showed Eva all of the shelves, where the equipment was stored and how to adjust the fire so that she could cook on different flames. Eva thanked her, apologised for scaring her again (to which Anniel gave a soft laugh) and donned one of the spare aprons that were hanging by the door.
And so it was that Thorin was woken the later that same morning not to Rivendell's birdsong, but the soft clang of a ladle stirring something in the corner of the balcony space that Lord Elrond had assigned them. Slowly, he sat up in his bedroll and studied the scene in front of him.
Eva was standing in the corner hovering over a solidly built cauldron of something that was put above the fire that the elves had provided. Her hair was braided away from her face, tied off by what Thorin now associated as her signature red and gold ribbon, as she softly padded around the cauldron to access her bright orange pack. He saw her taking out some things from the lid of the pack, but had no idea about any of it. She dumped the contents of at least two of the little packs into the cauldron and stirred, making the Ur family bead glint in the light of the morning sun as she worked.
Thorin's brow furrowed in confusion before a scent unlike anything he had ever encountered before hit his nose. It was sweet and spicy, and reminded him very faintly of the sweet buns that Bombur's wife had made before they had left for the Shire. He watched her as she added what looked suspiciously like black tea leaves and two entire pitchers of milk to the cauldron.
What in Mahal's name is she doing?
As Thorin scanned the balcony, the smell of whatever was cooking on the fire had roused his Company one by one. They were all sitting up and studying Eva with unconcealed curiosity. Even gruff Dwalin was intrigued, albeit with a good mix of confused as well.
Eva hefted the ladle with ease. Thorin had seen the way that she had slowly improved with her daggers when she had trained with Nori, but seeing Eva step gracefully around the cauldron with the ladle in her hand was like rediscovering an old childhood haunt. He saw comfort and familiarity within her movements; a practised ease that reminded him of his dear namadith at his family hearth…. He hoped that Dis would not hate him too much….
It was at this point that Thorin saw a tray tucked to one side, covered with what looked like several cups, alongside what he thought was a strainer. If it were a strainer, he had absolutely no idea why it was there. Then he heard Eva mutter quietly to herself.
"Damn stupidly tall elves." she muttered darkly "Where's a-" She looked around and froze as she realised she had an audience. It was awkward for a short moment before- "Do you know where I can find a stool or chair or something?"
"Will this do?" called Fili as he produced a rough three-legged stool, nicks in one of the legs.
Eva nodded "Perfect!"
Once Eva had retrieved the stool, insisting that Fili didn't need to get up, she climbed onto it and picked up the ladle. She plunged the ladle into the cauldron with a skilled hand and brought it out, pouring the milky concoction from the ladle's scoop and back into the cauldron itself. Her movements were fluid and rhythmic, comfort and ease oozing around her. The repetitive movement was almost hypnotising as the smell of spices wafted through the warm morning air.
"That should do it." Thorin heard her say to herself as she hopped down from the stool.
"What is tha'?" Nori asked
A smile bloomed across her face in a way that the Company had not seen before. "This, Nori, is chai. One of many, many traditional teas from my world."
"Tea?" Dori squeaked with poorly concealed excitement "That's tea?"
Eva's face shone with accomplishment "Yes. Would you like a cup?"
Dori's face lit up with unrestrained joy "Yes, please, Miss Eva!"
Eva took the strainer in her free hand and began to ladle out portions of tea, putting the strainer over the cups. Strands of hair began to escape her braid, but she seemed unfazed as she bustled around the cauldron. She stopped at the first five cups, then began to hand them out herself as curious dwarves began to crowd her.
The first cup of chai went, unsurprisingly, to Bifur. He held it gently, inhaled deeply, but remained silent until he saw Thorin, Balin, Oin and Dori had received their own serves. He raised his cup to his fellow dwarves and sipped.
Eva heard a soft but satisfied moan emit from Dori as all of the elder dwarves took their first sips together. It was creamy, sweet, spicy, smooth and slightly bitter, all wrapped up in one mouthful. Dori took a larger gulp and allowed himself to temporarily lose himself in the satisfaction of the taste.
"I swear," Balin murmured "this tastes like Dis' apple cakes…"
"Mmmmm….." Dori sighed "I've never tasted anything like this. All I'd need is a sweet roll and I'd call this breakfast!"
"Hey!" exclaimed Nori "Where's ours?!"
A full and hearty belly laugh met their ears as Eva huffed "Ever the impatient one!" Still though, she began the task of filling their cups with steaming hot chai.
For the 15 minutes that followed, all that could be heard were quiet sighs of satisfaction and polite requests for refills, which Eva gave in silence with a smile. As soon as the little cauldron was empty, Eva took it from the fire with a satisfied smile and quietly hauled it with her while the dwarves were too lost in the chai. When they finally realised that Eva was no longer present, they were a little startled as to how easily that had forgotten her presence, but put that to one side in favour of finishing their cups and promising to find her later.
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It wasn't until near morning tea that the Company had any inkling that today was going to be different from the other days that they had had in Rivendell so far. The elves had been intrigued when Eva had asked that a table be dressed for a shared morning tea in the Guest courtyard, and even more curious when she personally invited the elves that she had asked to help dress the table to dine with them. A few of the dwarves spotted her as she flitted here and there to set the table, not really knowing what she was doing but not really being concerned by it at this point in time. Then Eva disappeared completely.
About an hour later, Eva came back into the courtyard hauling a very large basket ladened with food to the point that Bombur had offered to carry it for her for fear of re-injuring her shoulder. She gratefully accepted his offer and as they laid the food on the table, Bombur studied his newly welcomed niece.
She was flushed, but there was a shine about the newest member of their family that Bombur observed as she set her portion of the table. An extra spring in her step. A little turn or spin here and there, her braid lifting slightly. She was constantly humming, a welcome contrast to the pain she appeared to be in a few days ago. Occasionally, Bombur caught her fingering the Ur braid and bead, smiling softly in thought.
"Where did you get all o' this?" Bombur began.
"Prepared them myself from the kitchen nearby." Eva said softly "Consider it a show of my appreciation for my new family. Also, you're not going to be here for very much longer. I thought a feast before you left would be fitting."
Bombur studied her for a moment, touched at the consideration and thought she had put into what she was doing, before an unreadable look across his plump face before he said "Yer don't have ta do this, iraknâtha."
Eva walked slowly over to Bombur and encouraged him down to gently touch foreheads with him, as she had seen all of them do at some point or other during their Quest. "But I want to, idad. You're family." she began gently. "Please?"
Before too long, Bofur and Nori had made their way to the courtyard just in passing when they spotted the table ladened with little nibbles. Nori stared while Bofur licked his lips, his mouth beginning to water.
"Ohhhh, tha' looks mighty good." Bofur quipped "I'm going ta fetch the others..."
It didn't take long for the word to get around the dwarves that there had been a spread put out just for them. The mere mention of food had gotten the attention of the younger dwarves and they had raced back to the courtyard without another word. The older dwarves had ambled back simply out of curiosity.
Of course, you could count on Bilbo to always be in the presence of food. After all, he knew that when he left Rivendell, food would be far scarcer. Bilbo's eyes widened with joy as he beheld the table in front of him.
Platters of fruit, cheese, dips, slices of different breads and baked goods - both sweet and savoury - lined the table. There was a stack of napkins to one side and the cups from breakfast had been washed and set near the napkins. Eva smiled from the side-lines as she saw the elves from earlier approach the courtyard.
"Come and join us!" Eva exclaimed "You're just in time too!"
Thorin, who had been one of the last to arrive at the courtyard, pulled her aside and murmured to her "Who are they?" while jerking his head to indicate the elves that were also taking from the table.
"They helped me bake some of the food." Eva replied "It is only fair they get to share a bit." she then approached Thorin and dropped her voice "It will also do well for your reputation if you allow them to come. You mightn't know when we may need them."
Thorin was annoyed with this little statement, but knew that as a guest in an Elven hall - one that had provided safety and housing to both him and his Company, objecting to this statement would be counterproductive despite his more prideful judgement.
Eva had a sunny smile spread across her face as she stepped back from the table, her arms wide. In silence, she invited all that were gathered there in the courtyard to dig in. The dwarves crowded around the meat-based nibbles and bites, while the elves held back, uncertain.
"MISS EVA!" squealed an all too familiar voice, before a pelting rhythm of footfalls were heard.
Eva's dark eyes turned to the entrance of the courtyard and Bifur witnessed one of the most honest smiles that he had seen Eva give in the time that he had known his new daughter. She saw nobody else in that moment as she spun on her heels and met Estel's loud and enthusiastic greeting by holding out her arms and having him run full speed at her.
"Estel-" began one of the elves.
But they weren't heard as Estel bodily collided with Eva. She stood surprisingly strong as she wrapped her arms around the child's waist and hoisted him into the air with a joyous laugh. Estel's joy at seeing her escalated as he realised that she had managed to lift him clean off the ground, spinning him and eliciting a bright shriek of childish elation.
At that moment, Eva didn't realise that all eyes in the courtyard were glued to the two of them, watching with varying degrees of interest and happiness as the scene in front of them unfolded. Bifur felt a deep contentment settle in his bones as he looked upon the scene, smiling. He watched his daughter in that moment spinning the young boy on the spot as he squealed in delight, then felt sadness touch him as he realised that when she had said that her sons had been her world, she had told no lie. The look in her eyes and the stretch of her smile said it all.
Bifur swallowed the sudden lump in his throat as he thought about how hard it must have been to hold a child that would have been so close to her own son's age. Even now she guided Estel to the table and watched as he picked out what he wanted, then deliberately sat down next to Oin who was more than happy to shuffle over and make room for the over-excitable boy.
Thorin watched on with Fili by his side. Even he could not stop the small smile spreading across his face as he watched Eva seat herself quietly beside Estel. Estel did not seem to draw breath as he sat down next to the Company Healer. His near constant chatter was a welcome distraction from the presence of the elves that he had to tolerate at the same table. Thorin watched as the boy occasionally sought out Eva as an anchor point in his apparent monologue with Oin. She would smile at him and nod her head at him in order to get him to keep talking. He was so engrossed with the scene that he started slightly when Fili said softly-
"She reminds me of amad."
Thorin looked to his nephew, then back to Eva as she reached out to touch Estel reassuringly and encouraged him to eat the food that he had gathered. The boy ate with gusto, though he did make sure that he finished his mouthful before he started talking at the elves' instruction.
With morning tea done, dishes were packed away and the table cleared.
Bombur and Bilbo followed Eva to the kitchen that Eva had said serviced the courtyard. The moment they opened the door, they were bombarded with the smell of something roasting and Bilbo moaned.
"Is that pork?" he asked dreamily "Oh, I haven't had roast pork for ever such a while…"
"Yes." Eva replied "It's nearly done though. That's part of lunch."
"Why do I get the impression that you intend to fill us to bursting today?" Bombur began.
Bilbo inhaled deeply once more. "Oh, that smells wonderful!" he groaned.
Eva smiled at the hobbit wistfully, and nobody saw the sadness that crept into her gaze. It lasted only a moment before Eva got a hold of herself.
"I thought I would do something in return for my family and the Company." She began "I know that there is not a lot of time left before we may need to leave, so …. make the best of the situation."
Bilbo and Bombur were silent as they beheld the kitchen. It was neat and functional, if needing a little bit of a considered touch. Baskets were neatly stacked beside shelves as the unlikely group looked around. Eva saw Bombur smile.
"Come, iraknâtha." Bombur rumbled contently, "Let's give these beanstalk elves something to remember us by."
Bofur laughed heartily as he reached out and grabbed the nearest basket and started picking random things from the pantry, gently elbowing his niece. She turned to him and gave a quiet laugh before joining him.
Something to remember them by, indeed…..
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Mahalmarkhel - Mahal's Shield
namadith - younger sister
Iraknâtha - niece
Idad - Uncle
Amad - Mother