Chapter Fifty Seven: Perfect for a Moment

My eyes flashed open from my deep sleep when I felt my blankets get pulled away. I grabbed onto Thorin who was still fast asleep and was about to start kicking my legs blindly but was quickly shushed. I squinted into the darkness of our room, not even a little sun was helping to lighten the room at all.

Then I saw Gen lean closer to me, almost like she was emerging out of thin air.

She grinned at me as she whispered, "It's the big day, big sister. Are you ready to get the fun started?"

I relaxed my grip on Thorin who didn't shift at all in his snoring. "Couldn't you have found a less terrifying way to wake me up?"

"Is there anything more terrifying than being legally and spiritually bound to someone for the rest of your lives?" She offered me a hand to help me out of bed. I took it and got pulled up onto my feet, my body still half asleep. "I'm joking of course."

"I don't think you're entirely joking."

She giggled as she grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the room. I caught one last look at Thorin sleeping away with his hair splayed out everywhere before Gen shut the door behind us. We went down to Dis' room, where all three of us were going to be getting ready for the wedding. There was at least one guard at each door in Durin Hall, and at Dis' door there were two we had to pass in order to go into her room. It felt excessive, but I knew it wasn't.

When I entered Dis' room, she had glasses of wine ready for us. She slid one into my hand and clinked her own glass against mine. "Don't worry, I just opened this bottle. Better drink up, this is going to be a long day."

I set the glass down, shaking my head. "As much as I really want to, I can't risk it. I hope you don't take offense, Dis."

She scoffed, "Of course not, more for me." She tossed back one glass then drank mine as well. Dis' hair and beard hung long, I think that was the first time I had ever seen her not looking put together and perfect.

Gen picked up her own glass and drank it back. "Oo, you didn't skimp out on the good stuff, Dis."

"Of course I didn't, I don't drink anything that's not exceptional. Now, Genevive you go finish the details on the dress while I work on the hair."

Dis sat me down at the vanity and intricately braided my dark curls. Her fingers moved like a machine, creating beautiful shapes as she secured the hair away from my face. I was so used to my curls being in my face and everywhere all the time, it felt strange to actually have it back and out of the way. I stared into the mirror, watching Dis twist and shape my hair. I felt like I could truly see my brown eyes for the first time in the light of the rising sun.

"You are incredible at this, Dis," I said breathlessly.

"I know I am." She left some of my curls down but handled them in a way that made them look perfect. She made sure my beaded braid that indicated Thorin and I courting was prominent as it laid on my shoulder. "Have you been practicing what you're going to say?"

"I've been practicing endlessly. Khuzdul is impossible to learn and even more impossible to speak, it doesn't feel right in my mouth."

She chuckled, "It's not meant to feel right to you, but you'll really solidify yourself here if you make your vows in our language. I can't wait to see Thorin's face when his pretty little hobbit starts speaking like us."

When Balin was explaining the ceremony and rituals to me he had said that Thorin was going to recite everything in Khuzdul but they were going to allow me to speak it in my own language. I immediately told him I wanted to learn what I had to say, just the same as Thorin. I knew the ceremony was important so I didn't want to deviate as much as possible. With things like the clothes and what we ate at the feast, who cares if there was some hobbit-ness to it. But the vows were something else entirely. I knew it was going to mean a lot to Thorin so I knew I had to do it.

While Dis kept braiding I whispered my lines over and over again. She would interject every once and a while to correct the way I emphasized a word or how I pronounced something. I appreciated the assistance because although I knew I wasn't going to sound perfect, I wanted to sound coherent and respect the things I was saying.

Gen let out a huge sigh and announced, "The damn thing is done!" She tossed the dress onto Dis' bed. "It's absolutely gorgeous, if anyone does anything to make it not perfect I will string them up by their beard."

"I'm just about done with her hair, if you want to get dressed yourself."

Gen rushed behind the changing screen and grabbed her garnet colored dress. What she was wearing was surprisingly dwarf with the draping robes that had been hand embroidered with geometric designs. Much different than the light, floral dresses that were always cropped at the shin that we would have recognized from Hobbit occasions. I knew she planned on wearing gems as well, though no one would be wearing as many as Thorin and I.

"There you go, Lydia. Absolutely lovely." Dis stood back and appreciated her work while I excitedly turned my head back and forth, wanting to see every angle I could.

I grinned, "You're a true master. I can't recall my hair ever looking so well-managed and beautiful."

"Since I was finding twigs in there from your first journey to Erebor, I think I can confirm that it hasn't," she teased.

Gen came out from behind the screen and gawked, "Lydia, I don't think Thorin is going to recognize you without that bird's nest!"

"Hey, this is no way to treat a bride on her wedding day!" I laughed, throwing the hairbrush at her.

She dodged it and snickered while she waved me over. Dis shuffled off to get dressed herself, she would be wearing red just like the entire family would be except Thorin and I who had chosen blue as our color.

Gen assisted me as I stepped into the dress and pulled it up, tying the back of it tightly but not to an uncomfortable degree. It felt so surreal to be putting on the dress I was going to be getting married in after thinking I was never going to get married. I went from never loving anything to thinking this sort of future didn't exist for Thorin and I. I never could have predicted this day ever coming.

"You're strapped in, Lydia, that thing isn't going anywhere," Gen said, patting my back and urging me to go look at it.

I lifted my head and stepped to the full length mirror. I had tried on the dress a few times, but seeing it fully finished made goosebumps rise up on my arms and legs. The light blue, flowery fabric wasn't juvenile looking, the embroidery was intricate and soft. The sleeves went down to my wrists and were lined in soft fur and unlike regular hobbit dresses the fabric went all the way to the ground. The neckline was shaped like a heart and the bodice was also covered in the same fabric of my sleeves and skirt.

"She's not done yet!" Dis said from behind the screen. "Don't forget the jewelry, it's on my nightstand."

Gen grabbed the wooden boxes and started draping me in the final touches. Sapphire and diamond earrings were put into my ears. I had Dis pierce my ears about a week ago just for this occasion. Luckily they had healed nicely but they still weren't ready for the heavy, dangly earring she normally wore. They were stud earrings but had a string of diamonds that looped to the point of my ears. I was also adorned with a matching necklace that was considered "simple" to dwarves but I thought would look nice with my dress. The final piece was the headband I had worn to the celebration, the one that was previously owned by Thorin and Dis' mother. Gen was careful to lay it on top of my head so the diamonds and sapphires laid out perfectly across my forehead. I think she held her breath since she knew Dis would have more than words with her if she messed up my hair.

When Dimila's gems were placed on my head, I felt a huge swell of emotion wash over me. I pressed my lips together, unable to look away from the mirror. Gen noticed how quiet I got and wrapped her arms around me, laying her head on my shoulder. We were not huggers in our family, but in the moment it felt right.

"You look beautiful, Lydia. What do you think?"

I took a steadying breath and ran my hands over the skirt of my dress. "This dress, Gen…thank you. I couldn't imagine anything more perfect."

"You better not cry, because if you start crying then I'm going to start crying and you know I do not look cute when I cry."

Dis came out from behind the shade, finishing the braid on her beard. "Aw Lydia, absolutely breathtaking. We're going to have to pick Thorin off the ground when he sees you." She came up and inspected my hair to make sure it still looked right. "Mother's jewels truly suit you." I could see Dis' soft smile in the mirror and it warmed my heart.

Gen pulled back and asked, "Dis, do you need me to do your hair? I know how to do some braids."

She chuckled and wrapped her shawl around her shoulders. "No offense my dear but I'm going to have one of my ladies do my braids. If you two are alright with it, I think I will step out for a little bit to go have that done."

I said, "We have guards outside, I think we'll be alright."

"I'll be right back. Use my weapons if you need them." She gestured to the shelves that held her personal daggers, swords, and her favorite hammer. Before leaving the room she added, "Do not let anyone in under any circumstances."

We nodded and she hurried off so she could return as quickly as possible. Gen poured herself another glass of wine before sitting down at the vanity to work on her own hair. She said she was going to add in a few braids but was going to mostly keep her hair down.

While she finished, I went out onto the balcony to get some fresh air. The snow crunched underneath my feet as I walked to the railing, feeling the early morning sun touch my skin. I sighed as I looked out to the view, my stomach growling at me, absolutely furious. I was too nervous to eat yesterday and I certainly wasn't going to risk anything before the ceremony. I was very eager to get to the feast part of the celebration.

More than anything though, I was eager to see Thorin. I had to hope that once we were wed all of this would be over. I just want us to live our lives together in peace.

I whispered my vows over and over again, closing my eyes to focus.

"Hey Lydia!" Gen called out to me. My eyes flashed back open. "Advisor Murin is here with a message from Thorin!"

I turned and looked inside the room and Murin waved at me. He said, "Good morning, my dear! Don't you look beautiful!"

I moved into the doorway, my stomach nervous as to why he would send Murin instead of Balin or Dwalin, or even come himself. I tried not to look wary of him. "Thank you, Sir. You have a message for me?"

"Yes, yes. We're all starting to gather for the ceremony. Are both of you ready to head to the throne room?"

I crossed my arms. "Dis said she would be back shortly. We're going to wait for her since we're all supposed to walk in together."

"There's no need, she's already been informed so she will meet us there. Let's not dilly dally, Lady Lydia," he urged.

My heart rate increased and my hands started to sweat. I walked into the room, moving towards Dis' weapons. Gen had gotten up and was putting on the last of her jewelry, not aware of what was happening.

I repeated, "We're going to be waiting for Dis, Murin. If Thorin wishes otherwise he can come to gather me himself."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I know you're probably on edge this morning, but I assure you my lady that if I intended on harming you I would have done so already."

I grabbed the sword off the wall. "Then you will allow us to wait for Dis. Gen?" She looked over her shoulder and did a double take when she saw that I was grabbing weapons. I tossed the sword over to her and grabbed the daggers for myself.

Gen barely caught the sword, nearly dropping it or grabbing it by the blade. "Damn Lydia, are you trying to kill me?!"

I ignored her and asked Murin, "If I went to Thorin right now, what would he say about you showing up unannounced? Perhaps I should go to him and see?"

He laughed trying to lighten the mood. "All of this is very unnecessary. If you do not wish to leave now that's entirely fine, but for time's sake we should really go join everyone."

Gen stood up from the vanity and put her hand on my shoulder. "I think you're just on edge, come on Lydia."

I refused, "No. No, I'm not going anywhere until Thorin or Dis are here."

Murin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You couldn't have made this easy, could you?" He turned and locked the door. "It's honestly a shame, I kind of enjoyed you but now we have to do this the hard way."

I pushed Gen back as Murin swung his concealed dagger at us. I backed both of us out onto the balcony, trying to dodge his attacks. He was surprisingly fast for a dwarf, especially an old one. Even in those circumstances a hobbit should be faster than a dwarf, but that didn't take into account the limits I had in my dress.

I dropped down and swiped at his legs, but he leaned out of the way and kicked me back into the snow. Gen leapt forward with her sword and shoved Murin back, throwing her shawl down. She leapt forward and clashed blades with him, trying to get him out of the doorway so one of us could run and get help.

I got back onto my feet and threw one of the daggers which luckily lodged into his leg. He shouted out in pain and Gen shoved him aside, his blood splattering into the pearly, white snow. He tried throwing his daggers at me but I ducked out of the way. I did hear the tearing of fabric, but I didn't dare look.

"Let's go! Let's go!" I shouted.

I grabbed Gen and rushed out into the hall. I was ready to send the guards in on Murin, but only found another advisor, Falur. We all looked at each other shocked in surprise for a moment before I yanked Gen down the hall, running as fast as I could.

Falur tried to rush after us, shouting, "W-What's the matter, Lady Lydia?! Please come back and speak with me!"

"That was a pathetic assassination attempt!" I yelled back.

From the look on their faces, they weren't expecting me to walk out of that room. All three of them were in on the scheme to kill me. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. From what I heard from Thorin he didn't tell them before the engagement that he was going to propose but there had to be signs he was going to do it at the celebration, which is when they put the wine out for us. They certainly had to have a friend or two in the kitchen if they were poisoning my food as well. But their downfall was having to do the deed themselves since no one else would have been allowed through those doors.

Gen gasped while we ran, "I-I can't believe that just happened! It was the advisors the whole time?!"

"We'll have to see Gorur's reaction to me when I actually show up to the ceremony, but I have a feeling he was in on it as well."

Gen didn't let go of the sword as we rushed through the halls, towards the throne room in the middle of Erebor. While we were running, I heard our names get called out which I initially ignored, being entirely focused on getting to Thorin. Gen was the one to grab my arm and make me stop when she said, "Hold on, it's Dis!"

I looked down the hall and saw her rushing towards us as fast as she could, her hair braided back. She shouted, "What in the world are you two doing out here? I thought you guys were going to wait for me."

I ordered, "Hurry! I'll explain everything on the way to the throne room!"

Everything started to come together in my brain. The advisors were probably hoping to lead me off somewhere to kill Gen and I somewhere private before the ceremony. Perhaps push us off one of the bridges, to fall to our death. Clean and easy to explain away.

They should have known it wasn't going to be that easy.