#and i think frerin is taller than them both

[sylveongender]

love to headcanon dís as being taller than thorin, she may be the baby but, i think she deserves to be the tall one

[d3-iseefire]

Princess of Shadow Chapter 5

Note: I keep forgetting to mention that this story is basically an AU of Little Swan Lost. When I sat down to write it I had two different plot ideas that, unfortunately, contradicted so I couldn't write them both. I really loved them, though, so I finally decided to just write them as separate stories. SO, what that means, is you may notice similar themes and ideas as they're both born from the same story, so to speak, but with very different plots! :D

 Bilba thought she might pass out and, for once, not because of her clothing.  

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The guard that had tried to kill the Durin was still back at the pavilion, which was patently unfair. He was the one who’d decided to enact his own stupid plan, not her. She’d even tried to explain this to the Durin but had been roundly ignored.

At least they’d untied her hands. Trying to march her across the plain in her gown without allowing her to lift the hem had been next to impossible. Now she held bunches of the heavy fabric in her hands as Bard and the Durin held her arms and pulled her inexorably toward the front lines.

She really didn’t want to go over there.

It was all that guard’s fault. If he hadn’t decided to go rogue, then she’d already be back safely in Erebor and…

Her brow furrowed as she recalled the order of events. The commotion at the front lines had drawn the attention of everyone at the pavilion. Even without the guard, would they really have let her just up and leave without first finding out what was going one? Especially when she’d been expected to engage in negotiations?

And what about that arrow? The Durin claimed it had been intended to kill her, but that couldn’t be right. It had to have been a mistake. An overzealous guard, frantic to protect her and overly aggressive when he’d let his arrow fly.

That had to be it. Just a list of unforeseen complications that, together, had led to things going terribly awry. The Durin, Frerin, as he’d introduced himself, was lying to her to try and throw her off balance. Why he would ever expect her to believe him, rather than her own people, she had no idea.

Her thoughts turned to Ingram. He must be beside himself with worry. Maybe he’d launch a rescue for her? She held onto that thought and used it to try and rally the tattered threads of her own courage. Just hold on, she told herself firmly. Ingram wouldn’t leave her to suffer at the hands of the barbarians, she was sure of it.

Images of what could happen to her in the meantime flashed through her mind and she fought back a wave of nausea. She risked a short glance toward Bard, who had his own gaze fixed ahead. There was a set look to his face that she recognized from when Sigrid was dead set on getting her way, and he was just as dead set on the opposite.

Sigrid was as headstrong as they came, but when her father had that look, she usually didn’t win. Bilba couldn’t fathom what the look might mean now. She’d always looked at the man as a father figure of sorts, but he had utterly betrayed her grandfather. He’d utterly betrayed her. He’d fought alongside the barbarians who, even now, were starving her people. If push came to shove, would he help her or leave her to rot?

She had a feeling the answer was the latter.

The front lines were nearly upon them and Bilba’s stomach began to churn. Row upon row of humans, dwarves, and elves stared at her in silence. She could only imagine what they must be thinking about her, and none of it was pleasant.

Almost subconsciously, she held herself taller and raised her chin imperiously. She was a princess of Erebor. She represented her mountain, and its people in everything she did. The least she could do was show these barbarians, and the traitors who helped them, the strength and fortitude of the hobbits of Erebor.

Maybe if her grandfather heard about it, he’d be a little forgiving over the fact that she got captured to begin with.

Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she felt sick, but refused to let it show. Her grandfather had drilled her on keeping her emotions under control. He’d berate her ruthlessly, in front of his councilors and in private, all with the goal in mind of ensuring she could face anything without so much as flinching.

Princess did not flinch, and they certainly did not cry in public. Crying was a sign of weakness as well as unattractive. Princesses were intended to be beautiful, and crying was not beautiful.

She focused her eyes on some distant place past the heads of the soldiers she was being led into, and hoped that if anyone did notice her shaking, they would simply attribute it to the cold.

She might not have managed to singlehandedly save Erebor, but she could at least present herself as a proper princess.

***

The woman was pure ice.

Her entire plan, whatever it had even been, had fallen apart and she was being marched into the midst of the enemy camp. Frerin would have expected anger, tears, possibly even hysterics. Something.

Instead, he and Bard might as well have been escorting the woman on a daily ritual of greeting her supplicants for all the concern she showed. She walked between the two of them as if they were little more than her vassals, rather than her captors.  

As they reached the first rows of troops, he half expected her to demand they kneel. Thankfully, she stayed silent, proving she did have at least some semblance of common sense.

The strategy tent came into view, a massive structure that Frerin always felt just announced to their enemies where all the important people were, and he pulled the princess in that direction. He saw the flap move, and then Thorin stepped out followed by Thranduil and Gandalf.

“Here.” Frerin tossed the ring he’d taken from the princess. “Thought you might want that.”

Thorin caught it with ease and went still, eyes fixed on the object in his hand. Frerin heard the princess inhale, as if planning to speak, only to suddenly cut off as, on her other side, Bard made a short noise. It was becoming increasingly clear there was some sort of relationship going on there, though what exactly it was, and whether it could be used for or against them, was unclear.

“Finally,” Thorin said, his voice hoarse. “An heirloom of our people has been returned.” He looked up and fixed red rimmed eyes on Frerin. “The first of many.” His eyes darkened as they settled on the princess. “Everything you wear is stolen. Remove it.”

Frerin bit back an oath. He loved his brother, and he’d be first in line to extol the kind of king Thorin was. Before him, the dwarves had largely been scattered, nomads wandering the land and finding work and food as they could. Thorin had carved them a home from barren rock in Ered Luin and ruled so well that it had lasted far longer than it should have.

He was a great king, but he had his flaws and the worst one was his penchant for doing and saying things when angry that he would later regret.

The princess hadn’t reacted to Thorin’s words, but Bard and Thranduil had both startled while Gandalf looked exasperated. Before any of them could properly respond, Thorin took a threatening step forward, only to find his way blocked by Bard.

“Really, Thorin,” Gandalf’s voice cut through the sudden tension. “That is hardly the way to treat a princess.”

Thorin snorted in disgust. “She is no princess, merely the spawn of a usurper.”

“Bilba Baggins is as much royalty as you are, Thorin Oakenshield.” Gandalf said sternly. He sounded as irritated as Bard looked. Even the usually unflappable Thranduil appeared annoyed.

Frerin sighed and, for not the first time, wished Jayde had been able to make the trip. When his brother was angry or under stress he tended to act like an asshole, and she was the only one who could get through to him in such times, usually loudly and with dramatic gesturing.

“Her bloodline comes from a usurper,” Thorin refuted, “with no more royalty in it than—”

“Than your forefathers had,” Gandalf interrupted. “Every royal bloodline, eventually, is traced back to one who had no more claim to a kingdom than the hobbit who took your throne.”

“In other words,” Frerin said quickly before his brother could say something that would permanently alienate their allies. “She’s a princess. Now that we’ve got that settled, let’s move on to more important things, shall we?” He frowned. “Where’s Vili? Is he all right?”

He seriously doubted that whatever harebrained scheme the princess had come up with had been successful but there had been some sort of commotion at the front lines. It was always possible his nephew had sprained a rib laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of things.

“He’s fine,” Thorin said, his voice a low growl. “The hobbits barely made it inside our ranks before they were stopped.”

Frerin nodded. “We had our own fun back at the pavilion. It would seem the princess never had any intention of honest negotiations.”

Thorin snorted. “Is it really surprising? She’s as false as her kin.”

“Better false than a tyrant.” The words were soft, but clear, lacking the harsh notes Frerin had heard her speak back at the pavilion. “At least our presence improved lives. Yours has only taken them.”

Thorin looked about a step away from having her assassinated.

“That’s enough,” Bard’s voice held steel, and Frerin felt his heart sink at the confirmation that they were absolutely going to have issues with him over the princess. “I’ll take custody of her—”

“Out of the question,” Thorin interrupted. “I won’t make the same mistake her ancestors did. She stays in our control.”

“I’m afraid I have to agree.” Frerin felt the princess try to pull away from him and tightened his grip, holding her in place. “Those idiots got here without being seen, and an arrow was sent at us from seemingly out of nowhere. The princess implied she knew how.”

The princess shifted beside him, and he saw the slightest widening of her eyes. It was the first true reaction Frerin had seen from her and it was strangely gratifying to see that she wasn’t completely carved from ice.

“She spoke out of turn,” Bard said quickly. “She wasn’t privy to her grandfather’s plans. She has no idea how the hobbits made it to the front lines.” As he spoke, Bard shifted, his stance becoming more aggressive as he stood in front of the princess. “I’m not just going to hand her over to you.”

“I didn’t know you had the authority to dictate her movements,” Thorin growled.

Gandalf heaved a sigh and cast his gaze upwards. “Might I suggest we place the princess under guard, and then discuss the matter like civilized folk?”

“Fine.” Thorin glowered at Bard. “We’ll place her in one of my tents, under guard.”

“We can put her in one of my tents,” Bard countered. “Under guard.” The way he parroted Thorin’s words sounded mildly insulting, and a glance at his face strongly suggested it was absolutely intended that way.

Thranduil let out a exasperated sound and said something in elvish that Frerin guessed was also probably insulting. “We’ll put her in the strategy tent,” he said in a tone that said he was done with the lot of them. “We can post all post guards, while we discuss what comes next.”

It was surprisingly diplomatic of the usually caustic elf, and probably a testament to how utterly done he was with the lot of them. Thranduil had wanted no part in the war, not from any loyalty to the Thain, but more because he had no desire to embroil his people in a war that, as he said, did not concern him. It had been Gandalf who had pointed out that the victor, no matter who it was, would not look kindly on his inaction. It was in the best interest of his people to have peace, and that would only be gained by supporting a side and hoping that side came out the victor.

Thranduil had agreed, begrudgingly, and while he had been a staunch ally since, he’d also wasted no time in making it abundantly, and repeatedly, clear that this was the last place he wanted to be.

The fact that Thranduil had offered his own guards in addition to theirs registered and Frerin bit back a groan. Apparently, they were going to have issues with the elves and men over the princess.

Great.

“Fine,” Thorin growled. He nodded toward Frerin. “See to it that she’s restrained.”

Bard made a noise like he planned to object, but then bit it back. Frerin tightened his grip on the ice queen’s arm and tugged her toward the entrance of the tent. “Let’s go, Princess.”

The woman didn’t resist as he led her past the others and into the shadowed interior of the strategy tent. Inside maps and other papers were laid out across a large table that dominated the center of the large space. Several chairs were scattered about, and a handful of weapons and other random items lay strewn about.

Frerin snagged a chair with a hand and pulled it over to the center of the tent. “Sit.”

The princess preformed a motion that caused the voluminous layers of her skirt to swirl about her body before gracefully sinking into the chair. Her skirts somehow ended up lying in a perfectly smooth layer about her as if she’d sat down and spent time adjusting them. She folded her hands on her lap, fixed her gaze straight ahead and proceeded to aggressively ignore him.

Realizing he didn’t have rope, Frerin drew a knife from a sheath at the small of his back and dropped to one knee. “Hope you don’t mind losing part of your dress.” It probably wouldn’t even be noticeable, given the sheer amount of fabric.

“Your brother might.” Her voice was still surprisingly soft but held ice.

Frerin raised his eyes to hers and flashed her a rakish grin. “He’ll get over it.” His eyes caught on the wide sash layered around her waist. “Change of plans.”

He stood and leaned over her to cut through the sash. The princess turned her head away and leaned back, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. Frerin did his best to hold himself back as he unwound the thick fabric. He wasn’t in the habit of intentionally making women uncomfortable, no matter his personal opinion of them.

He managed to free the fabric and dropped into a crouch again, this time behind her. He grabbed her arms and was mildly surprised when she resisted. “Come on, Princess. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

She pulled against his grip but couldn’t break it. Her arms were slender, contradicting the idea that she’d been binging during the siege, but he would hazard to guess she was still more well fed than most of her people. Typical, spoiled little princess who felt her blood made her superior to those she was meant to serve.

An idea suddenly occurred to him, and he couldn’t help the slow smirk that spread across his face. If it failed, no harm done, but if it worked it could end the standoff immediately. If they hoped to have their people come from Ered Luin before the first snows fell, they would need to leave as soon as possible. Given the time it would take for someone to travel back and tell them to come, it was imperative that they win the mountain as soon as possible.

Frerin released her arms and looped the sash around the woman’s body and arms, before tugging it behind the chair and securing it with a quick knot. He stepped around to see the woman giving him a look that, by all rights, should have dropped him on the spot. Frerin bowed as sarcastically as he could. “At your service, Your Highness.”

He spun on one heel and exited the tent. His brother was embroiled in yet another argument with Thranduil and Bard while Gandalf stood a few feet away looking like he was regretting ever setting out on this endeavor.

Thorin glowered at him as Frerin approached. “Is she secure?”

“In a manner of speaking,” Frerin said cheerfully.

Thorin’s eyes narrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Frerin clapped his hands together. “What it means, dear brother, is that if all goes well, we may find ourselves dining in Erebor tonight.”

Follow on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20593031/chapters/48890984

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Next Caller Pt 26

Sunrise brought with it the same slow stream of customers allowing the guys to watch your show on Thorin’s laptop propped on the end of the counter easily to enjoy and pause when groups arrived on the steady usuals each stealing glances at the old show surely sparking more to search for clips or even their own copies. Every so often they could catch hints of voices similar to those on the radio show subtly turning Dwalin and Balin’s heads among others who took notice of it as well.

“Is that the Adrianna?” Dwalin turned his head looking at the Hobbitess on the other side of it pointing at the laptop Thorin was leaned against a counter watching while finishing off his own cup of tea. “From the Bunny Show?”

Dwalin said, “Sounds like it doesn’t it. One of our friends is on the voice actor crew and she worked on that one as well.”

“What show is that?” She asked and copied down the title into her phone browser looking it up with a spreading smirk on her way out into the breeze she used to slide her way back to her car parked across the street after years of being used to the heavy winds this time of year.

Back to Thorin’s side Dwalin rumbled, “Told you she voiced Adrianna.” All Thorin did was chuckle to himself and that had Dwalin’s eyes narrowing at him wondering what he knew. Smirking at the thought he asked, “I heard you were made some soup and homemade bread.”

“She had bread, didn’t make it for me.”

“Still, you know what a home cooked meal alone means.”

“That was not the intention.”

“Still counts and you know it.” Only making Thorin rumble in the back of his throat sipping on his tea again.

Once his mug was empty he rumbled back, “Well she doesn’t.”

“One way to fix that,” Balin teased.

“Don’t you dare.” Thorin rumbled back making the pair chuckle.

 *

In a trip just into your mailbox you decided to wait on it at the much heavier winds than the day before. Usually you had little mail but the daily check was becoming a sort of enjoyable trot back and forth with little to no results from the ritual. An alert on your phone however had you fetching your laptop to go and check on the Venture Publishing’s website, across the front of which sat the sketch turned ad for your book racking up comments on their board they had attached for that just flooding with the question of when the book would possibly be available. Though questions soon rippled around on how large it would be to fit all the epic scenes they had already heard in hopes of having it filled out even more. Hopes for a series were evident with more people demanding more sketches and even maps detailing hints and trips previously mentioned in the show groups had wished to mirror when summer break came.

Grinning to yourself you shut off the laptop at the sound of your doorbell. Hurrying to the door you could hear the delivery team on the other side of it who turned and grinned at you when you had opened the door. “Hi.”

“Hello,” they both replied, “Delivery for Miss Pear.” The taller one stated.

“Yes, that’s me,” you said and they split apart once you had signed the offered sheet on the clip board and passed it back again for the other pair who were lowering the heavy tree trunk desk on the metal platform from the back of the truck on a heavy duty cart. Through the gate they carefully wheeled it and all four helped it over the bottom lip of the door frame into the hall for a much easier albeit wandering path to your study where you moved the trunks aside and turned over your notepads. Gripping the desk they unwrapped they eased it off right where you wanted it and smirked in helping you lay out the mat underneath before your grin flinched a moment and you muttered, “Now I have to shop for chairs.”

In a groan you trudged out behind the chuckling four who went to load up the smaller tree like table that at how short it was you had settled into the atrium to hold your phone stand. Lastly was the davenport and stand you had settled along the wall in the parlor with no idea where you wanted it to go exactly just yet. Heavily thanking the men you said goodbye wishing them safe travels as they grinned saying to enjoy your furniture. Turning around you sighed and pulled out your phone getting to snap pictures of the trio of gifts you sent to Frerin with thanks for them.

Back to the stack of magazines you had left by your bed you curled up and got to digging again. An odd find, not an office chair per se, but a round chair similar to your round lounger in your study you drew a star next to and drew a copy of into the study sheet in your journal for your home and added to the itemized list of things to buy. With a ghost of a smirk you crossed off the two tables and davenport and felt a momentarily lift of weight at the few thousands taken off the list even after adding the new chair.

Smaller details were noted in new sketches as a sort of ‘find later’ list to discover if what you wanted was already sold by someone. Down to random pillows and possible trinkets ideas of what each room outside your already detailed guest rooms filled with lists of blankets and pillows you had purchased already crossed off above the bed sets, storage, tables, stools and minor touches. The shelves you had built already were crossed off and next would be a few dresser and shelf kits for the other rooms easily painted. Little by little it was coming together, at least in your mind, with paintings to be added for decorations you could handle yourself saving that hassle of finding the right ones later on.

Finally the winds died down and you went to the mailbox managing the trip only to find another delivery arriving that you had ordered full of self building kits for simple tables, shelving units, stools and nightstands for your guest rooms. More thanks and waves later you smirked bringing your journal out to cross each off while you completed assembling them. In the open garage you worked to the sound of the neighborhood around you with a few people milling around about their days stealing glimpses to try and figure out just what else you had been adding to your home. All the stools, both with hammer on cushions included and hidden storage cubes with the same additional easy kits already in the colors you wanted were added to their intended rooms. For the table above two storage cubes between two of the beds in the orange and blue room in the white you wanted it was added as well where it was intended.

Nightstands were next with each topped with post it notes to mark the colors needed and where they were all going. Payday was Monday and the new paint would have to wait until then. By dinner twenty kits were finished off and the cardboard sliced up into a neat pile you left by your rolling green trash can with barely a bag to add to it yet. With what little you could afford in your former apartment you really didn’t create much waste that couldn’t be reused in one way or another. More stew was made and you smirked crossing off more things from your list to complete or purchase. Post cleanup however you were back to your study making more notes to add to your notepads on the new book until bed.

.

Post shower in a fresh set of clothes you braided back your hair and stepped out your front door seeing Dwalin and Bilbo’s car there waiting for you. The wind was tolerable compared to most of the week and climbed in beside the napping toddler you settled listening in while the adorably hushed bickering of the couple had rose up again after a pleasant greeting for you. Out on the curb you stepped closing the door and sliding a little until Dwalin hurried around to use a hand guiding you to the door he unlocked to help you through before hurrying out leaving you a bit confused in his hop back into the car. And Thorin more so when he arrived next through the front door from parking behind the shop halfway lost in thought from a dream about his planting herbs in your greenhouse for his own little section of the gardening haven almost making him blush in seeing you.

Waving at the confused grump you said, “I think Dwalin’s dropping off Bilbo and Frodo.”

He nodded and got to readying the counter top and got to heating up your cider. “Sleep well?”

“Ya, got some more kits in yesterday, so put those together now I just have to paint the ones not the right color next week.”

“Why next week? Is it that big of a job?”

“No, just, Monday’s payday.” When his lips parted you pointed at him, “No. It’s a few days, keep that wallet of yours in your pants.”

“If you need help painting at least-,”

“Shouldn’t really need help, though most I can brush on, two would need to be spray painted for the coating that I want.”

Dwalin was back within a few moments and said, “Back,”

You grinned at him saying, “I can walk-,”

He swatted his hand in the air, “No you won’t. I knew by the time I got back Thorin would have gotten your drink ready for you.” He glanced between you asking, “Ready to go?” In accepting the mug you nodded and passed Thorin the bill he nearly gave back to you so you could put it towards your paint he didn’t want you to wait on. To Dwalin you were running late already and thankfully you had gotten there early to have the time to get up all the stairs. Leaning against the wall across from your booth you caught Mal’s panting entrance to the floor bringing her to plop down on the ground beside you.

“Looks like the lift repairs ran late.”

Wryly Mal let out a chuckle and replied, “Oh ya. Well they have five hours to fix it.”

“Well I’m not a fan either of sliding down stairs but things happen. I guess I’m used to it after the one in my old place being shut off when I got home from the hotel every night.”

She looked up at you, “No wonder your legs are amazing. 17 floors of stairs every night.”

You shrugged, “Had to get back to my birds somehow.”

“How are they?”

“Belly’s happy, loves Darling, Dot is settling I think, Kuu has more owl friends so he’s good, and the couple in the yard have three eggs and have said if their daughter and Kuu hit it off they would be leaving her with me since there are so many girls in their home. Even let me touch their eggs.”

“Wow, that’s huge.”

You nodded, “Yup, of course it’ll be at least a couple years by the time till their girl and Kuu would both be ready for nesting and such, so no telling how long they choose to stay, but they said they’d visit often. However often often is.” Making her giggle before you asked, “How was your night?”

“Just finishing off my costume. Parents get in today.”

“Ooh, they staying in a hotel?”

She chuckled again, “My place. Set up the air mattress for me and they get my bed.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Not really, hate that mattress, but Adad needs a better bed for his hip and shoulder, and Amad just prefers beds.”

“Sounds familiar,” you teased and your hand dipped to help her up at the sign off of the group before yours.

 .

Durin the Deathless and Ents. That was what had the world buzzing. Against the hideout the Ents struck and flooded Holm’s lands sending him scurrying for his life in time for Durin the Deathless to swoop down in a shark shaped flying craft that lifted the culprit from the lands below and soar off to the unknown. Miles below however Bunny was still left in the hand of her savior Ent taking her off to who knows where while the Tibelt came up on an endless force they did not expect. All hope was almost lost until a shark ship came out of nowhere and to the Durins’ amusement his voice sounded eerily like their late Great Grandfather, who would have been eternally honored to have been the inspiration of their ancestor’s voice.

 *

Out of his office Thorin walked hoping that after his lunch break he might be able to find some room to aid in the next round of refills only to have Balin’s hand settle in his head forcing him down out of sight. “Wh-,”

“Shh,” Using his legs Balin ushered him to the back hall out of sight of the customers when Thorin popped up only to hear, “Zeqbe. Go, now.”

Thorin, “I’m not hiding-,”

Balin replied, “No, you are buying tea for your Mafioso. You’ve been sighing about it all day and you should go now before you get into a mood before this weekend.”

Thorin, “Balin,”

“I am older than you and my foot is down, the Lass is probably bored out of her mind after work, you mentioned she needs paint,”

“She wants to buy her own paint.”

“Then bring her tea and maybe ask her to a film.” The last half of the sentence more of a gritted order making Thorin roll his eyes and grab his coat on his way to the tea shop listening to your show on the radio smirking proudly at how your story was turning. With another full basket of tea he pulled out his phone at the alert of someone using his gate code in the garage at his apartment. Across the screen of his phone he saw the picture of his ex and hit the decline button on his screen blocking her entrance into the garage and sending her picture to the front entrance in case she got out that would have security escorting her off the premises.

 *

 Dwalin, “Sorry, some trouble at the shop.” You nodded and watched the shop pass by on his way to take you home again. A few streets later and you spotted Thorin’s car in your driveway making you look at Dwalin with a brow raised. “Oh look, Thorin’s here.”

“Uh huh, and here you are clueless.”

“Exactly.” You rolled your eyes and climbed out of your door that Thorin opened for you to help keep you from sliding away. Taking hold of his arm you waved goodbye to Dwalin in his pull away and turned to the mailbox he stayed close while you checked the empty box then led you to the door.

“Did a bird go crazy with your blenders?” he looked at you when you stepped into the front entrance blocking you from the winds. “They said there was trouble at the shop.”

Shaking his head he said, “Apparently I was told to hide, an unfortunate guest.”

“Ah, Muffin Lady again.” At that he chuckled and you said eyeing the bag in his hand, “I see you brought tea.”

“Yes. With plenty for a cup for you.” When you let him in he hummed out, “That was my Great Grandfather’s voice,” Your brow inched up peering up at him, “For Durin, sounded just like him.”

“Ah, politician?”

“Yes.”

You nodded and said, “I remembered the voice from speeches playing at one of my old jobs. Must have just, stuck.”

Lowly he chuckled guiding you in through the parlor to the kitchen where he stopped smirking at the davenport. “Did you build this?”

You shook your head, “No, Frerin snuck a peek at my list, got me this, a small table and my desk I wanted.”

“Ooh,” you giggled and he said, “After your tea is ready I hope you don’t mind my being nosy.”

You smirked at him, “You nosy, never.” Making him roll his eyes.

A few minutes of showing you what everything was he had bought you while the water boiled and the tea seeped later and you snapped a picture pocketing your phone nodding your head to the side. Guiding him from the kitchen through each of your guest rooms passing the atrium he smirked in seeing your new table to hold your phone stand. “This is what you meant by tree table,” he all but purred adoringly loving it already and kept on going to the next room seeing the bits and pieces of the rooms coming together.

The desk in your office and the twin modern baroque nightstands for your mother’s bedroom in rectangle contrasting your more curvy pair in your room you paused at showing your odd but adorable blend of tastes used to fill each space.

“I can’t tell if they fit or not, but I do like them.”

Smirking at you he hummed back, “They fit just fine.” He said eyeing the trunks that used to by your bed as a nightstand now at the foot of it. “It’s all lovely, what else needs to be painted?”

Out to the garage you went showing him each piece and the rooms they would go in complete with sketches to complete the ideas. “So not bad,”

“No, not bad at all. What was your next step, on payday?”

“Well the bunk bed company is seasonal, so I was thinking maybe starting with that. It’s expensive, but, it would get that out of the way, and I’d have to get the mattresses too, they say they’ll add the mattresses if we have them through the build if not I’ll have to figure out how to do that on my own.”

“How expensive?”

“With mattresses 6k.” He bit his lip and you said, “Which after that I could maybe get a couple bed frames too.”

“Frerin mentioned you got 40 k a month for your show, surely-,”

“35 after taxes and I wanted to save 17.”

“That’s not unreasonable. Then you have 12 left,”

“Ten-ish,”

“Again with the ish,” he hummed with a smirk your way.

You rolled your eyes, “For the scooter.”

“Alright, ten-ish, you can do a lot with that, just bed frames or mattresses too?”

“The others can wait.” He huffed and you said, “Then you can focus on searching for more for your own place.”

“My place is furnished to my needs already.”

You fake gasped deepening his smirk, “What a coincidence, so is mine.”

Making him chuckle. “How about a movie then?”

“Are you asking to take me or to hide yourself?”

“I am asking. Have some fun.”

“Fine, but you’re buying snacks.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” He said as you finished off your tea, the mug from which you took to the sink then joined him out to his car.

Keeping a hand on your back he helped you to his car and started the drive to the theater. One film on a jungle adventure had you both giggling and murmuring about the ridiculous gliders used and rock climbing turned to endless plummet scene. Boneless chicken bites and dipping sauces to large supplies of fries solved your hunger and allowed Thorin reason to lean close to you, at least until they were gone and he simply refused to shift the other way for the rest of the film.

.

“I knew I saw your car.”

Turning around you smirked saying, “Muffins Galore, right?” That had her grin flinching as you asked, “How’s your husband?”

The breeze picked up and his hand settled on your hip with his arm around you holding you in place, “He’s fine.” She said curtly, then looked to Thorin, “A Hobbit seriously?”

“Careful, he’s a quarter Hobbit. Plus if Dis hears you say that she’ll pummel you. I’ve seen her protective rage over their lineage.”

“I don’t need you to tell me they’re part Hobbit! I know them! I’m here to talk to Thorin!” She said with a stomp of her foot.

“Ok, you’re bigger than me you don’t need to stomp like a two year old. And he’s right here,” you said waving a hand in front of his chest making him try not to crack a grin at your game show prize introductory like motion. “Go for it.”

She looked at you, “Alone.”

“Well, I see a very big problem with that, I happen to be aerodynamic and the car is all the way over there and cuddlekins here is keeping me grounded, so, I can plug my ears if you like, but I warn you I’m about 2/3 Elf and a quarter Maiar so, ya I have exceptionally good hearing so you’d be better off just saying it without the charade.”

At that her eye twitched in your grin and Thorin said, “Miss Marne,”

“You know my name, Thorin!” She barked back.

To which he repeated, “Miss Marne, we are no longer on familiar terms and I will not address you in such a manner. What was between us has been dissolved for some decades and I suggest you accept your choice, which seemed to be an acceptable one up until this last expo. Give my best to Mr Grenald I wish you and yours the best.”

In his step away you grinned and pointed at her, “And congrats on the baby.” Her grin dropped entirely and you looked up at Thorin, “Did I say something?”

Lowly he chuckled rumbling back, “Hobbits catch on to pregnancies earlier than others.”

“Oh,” you said then flashed her another grin, “They have lovely cakes down the block if you wanted to surprise your Hubby with the news!” Turning to face the path to the car leaving her stuck in place wither hair blowing into her face still after her hands dropped from holding it to her chest. “I think that went well.” You said a few feet away making him chuckle again.

“Cuddlekins?” He rumbled to you and you smirked at him.

“What would you have preferred, Schmootseypoo?”

“No, a million times no.”

“Cuddle Monster?”

“No.” He said fighting a smirk and his creeping blush.

“Oh come on, you would make an adorable Cuddle Monster.” Making him chuckle again at his cheeks prickling to pink. “What about Pookie? Classic, even Garfield had a Pookie!”

“Cuddle Monster is fine.” Making you let out a squeak and him chuckle at your awkward flinch of a hug around his middle, “Just don’t tell the boys.”

In pulling back to climb into the car door he opened for you he chuckled as you said, “Oh trust me, they have no grounds for what she could call them.”

Rolling his eyes he closed the door and walked around, muttering, “Cuddle monster.”

Once inside he looked at you when you asked, “Do you know any fabric stores?”

“Yes, why?”

“Curtains. We don’t have to but if you know where one is I can go later.”

“We can go.”

Looking at him you said, “Sorry if you think I crossed a line.”

He looked at you asking, “About my ex?” You nodded, “You did me a favor actually.” Wetting his lips he looked you over then asked, “Are the curtains for the guest rooms? The big window in yours has the internal ones, right?”

You nodded, “Ya, they only have those small windows, but Naneth and Cirdan’s have that one huge set. Shouldn’t be that much I don’t think. Some good thick striped materials and some teal for hers, peach for my sisters’. Then I have that back room, not really sure what to do with that yet, living room and parlor have internal blinds. I don’t mind the others with the windows aiming into the back yard, and I know Naneth would love her view of the garden half of it but still, I wouldn’t want to make Cirdan imagine he couldn’t linger in his towel if he wanted.”

“Ah, free spirit?”

“No, just, who doesn’t linger from time to time and he’s got a lot to get caught showing off.”

Thorin chuckled and hummed, “Normally that would be said with irritation or a hint of reluctance.”

“He’s a very good looking male in Elven standards. And probably Dwarf standards for some.” That had his brow inching up, “He has an amazing beard, and hair. He’s not round though, muscular,”

“And nearly ten feet tall.”

“That too. But he gives amazing hugs.”

“I bet. If I can poke a sleeping horse for a moment, I am glad to hear you love him so much.”

“Hard not to when he loved her so amazingly while I was gone. Plus he was, one of the most intimidating and the least threatening men I’d ever met. I’m hers, and he wanted to love every part of her, even me. He is also absurdly patient. Like one of those Elves that could sit near wild horses and they would break first and come closer to check him out. That’s how he won me over, like a wild horse, let me come to him. I mean, I was an adult, or at least considered to be. He let me be a kid again, no doubt my size didn’t hurt that.”

“Well we all certainly can’t wait to meet them when they come to visit.”

Resisting the urge to buy fabric was hard for him but he grinned seeing you copying down the info for the fabrics you wanted so that you could come back another time along with rings that you could stitch into them that you would pair with the right curtain rods.

Pt 27

[fountainsofsilver]

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves - Chapter Two

Thorin brings his elven consort back to Lonely Mountain where she is given the difficult task of choosing her Royal Guard. Difficult because, without any guardsmen, she is restricted to the Royal Halls where she meets only with Thorin’s mistrustful kin, none of whom will accept the appointment.

Status:  COMPLETE

All of my works have adult content. This particular one contains dubcon.

Read the prequel: Snow White and Rose Red here.

Read Chapter One here.

She had a long road ahead of her. Snow was used to being loved by her mother and sister and people in town and even the little woodland animals would come sit in her lap or on her shoulder and be pet by her. The Dwarves looked at her with suspicion and distrust. Neither Thorin’s brother nor sister cared for her and Dis would keep Fili, the only one who loved her unconditionally from the start, away from her as much as possible.

“Shall I play with Fili while you rest, Sister?” Snow had offered, seeing Dis rubbing her own back and looking weary after having carried the child within her for almost the full two years before a dam gave birth.

The look Dis had given her at being called sister was enough of an answer without the scathing reply that followed.

Snow supposed it was because she had been pregnant for so long and she had heard that will sometimes make a woman irritable. She thought perhaps dwarves were not so different from humans if that was the case she could just continue to make an effort and try to not take it personally.

“Would you like me to make you some tea?” She offered.

“ACK! I’d like a beer if you must know. Beer, ale, mead, whiskey, anything to make your company bearable! You and Dori always underfoot and ever on about the tea!” Dis growled and said something in Khuzdul that Snow could only imagine at seeing Dori cringe.

“Would you rather I left you alone for a while?” Snow asked.

“A VERY long while.” Dis muttered.

“Then I have found one thing I can do to please you today.” Snow said with a smile and made her way to the door. “Please send for me if you have need of anything.”

Dis said she’d rather take tea with orcs than call an elf to help her with anything. Fili begged his mother not to send Snow away, that he wanted to play with her. Dis insisted Fili would soon enough have a little dwarfling to play with which only made Fili furrow his little brow and say nothing.

Dori excused himself after Snow and they both heard Dis mutter, “Traitor.” This shook Dori to his core because that was the one word that never described him. He was utterly faithful to his family and people.

“Don’t take it personally, Dori.” Snow said quietly in the hall seeing how upset he was by it. “It’s me she doesn’t like. I think she is just irritable with you because she is so far along. Would you like to have some tea?”

Dori started to turn her down, but Fili came running out and Snow turned and dropped immediately to her knees to collect him in the inevitable hug. Dwalin who had been patrolling the hall as was his duty stopped near the two royals and gave Dori a stern look that stopped him in his tracks.

“I don’t like this new dwarfling.” Fili confessed with tears. “It’s all everyone talks about. Adad is too busy to play because of it and Amad is so angry she sends away the only person who will play with me. I think when it comes they will forget all about me!”

“Oh Fili!” Snow hugged him tight and stroked his back. “That is not at all true. Your mother is right, when the little one comes you will have someone closer to your age to play with.”

“But not at first.” Fili insisted. “Amad says the dwarfling will be too little to play at first and all it will do is sleep and eat and cry. That does not sound good at all.”

“Well I’m sure a very few years ago you were not much different. But the good news is you will be the big brother and you will teach the little one how to play and talk and everything that a good dwarf needs to know. You will be the most important person in its life.”

“I will?”

Snow nodded. “If you do a very good job of being a big brother the dwarfling will always look up to you and love you with all its heart.”

“It will look up at me like everyone looks up at Mister Dwalin? Except… Mister Dwalin has to look up at you and… do you think that’s why he doesn’t like you? Because you’re taller than him?” Fili asked.

Snow laughed. “There is no good reason for Dwalin to not like me, but I have you and Thorin so you’ll just have to make up for his lack of care. But that’s not the kind of looking up to I mean. I meant someone who is admired. I’m sure Mister Dwalin looks up to his big brother.”

“Mister Dwalin is the little brother?!” Fili asked.

Snow giggled and nodded. “No matter how big Mister Dwalin gets, he will always be Balin’s little brother.”

They both laughed at Dwalin’s frown and even Dori couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle.

“And you will always be the big brother.” Snow said.

“Do you look up at Master Balin?” Fili asked Dwalin.

“He looks up at me, but aye, I will always look up to my brother.” Dwalin answered.

“Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like you. He loves his brother so much there is no more room in his heart.” Fili suggested.

“You are so smart, Fili, and you explain things so well. I’m sure that must be it.” Snow agreed. “You are going to be such a good big brother and be able to teach the little one so many things. Dori’s a big brother too and he can tell you it’s a very important job.”  

Dori nodded. “It is very important and you must take it very seriously. Thorin is a big brother too.”

“Everyone looks up to Uncle Thorin. Everyone loves him too!” Fili connected and then looked at Snow a long moment. “Maybe that’s why Amad doesn’t like you. Her big brother loves you more than her.”

“Oh, it’s not that, darling.” Snow stroked Fili’s hair. “I’m sure he loves her just as much. It’s just a different love for a wife than a sister.”

“I love you like a wife.” Fili snuggled up against her. “I’m going to be the Queen’s Guard.”

“Well, you’ll have to practice a bit yet for that. Maybe Mister Dwalin will let you practice patrols with him if you ask nicely.”

“Oh, you don’t have to ask at all. Mister Dwalin will do anything for a cookie.” Fili confided.

“Here now, you little rascal!” Dwalin picked up Fili and flipped him over onto his shoulder. “Don’t be tellin’ all o’ my secrets! Now let’s go get your sword and my cookie.” Dwalin entered Dis’ and Vili’s outer chambers. He’d go into a dragon’s den to get away from Thorin’s bride and being anywhere near Dis at this phase of her pregnancy was about the same.

It had not gone away. The desire waxed and waned, but never truly left him. The feeling in his chest did nothing but expand though. Seeing her kindness with Fili and how easily the love flowed between them and how she just accepted his innocent professions of loving her as a wife made him wish he were a lad of five. Seeing her furtive glances at Thorin that were so full of desire that he couldn’t help but fantasize about being her King when he was alone and the need overtook him. His thinking since Thorin had taken her had been nothing but shameful and Dwalin suffered inwardly with his guilt.

It didn’t help that Thorin continued to push for Dwalin to become one of the Queen’s Guard. “Our people will not see her as their Queen if they never see her.” Thorin said that evening before dinner in the library with Balin, his apprentice Ori, Dori, Snow, and Dwalin. “And the lack of even a single guard is sending out the wrong message.”

“Fretting over it will not change the course of events.” Snow said. “I will not accept anyone who is only pursuing the position for the rank and you know you will not trust them, Thorin. In time we will find these guards you insist upon me.”

“But if…” Thorin began and saw his wife frown and shake her head and could not miss Dwalin clenching his fists.

“Leave him alone.” Snow said quietly. “You already know both our positions on that and both of us are too hard-headed to give way just because you keep pressuring us.” They’d only been wed for two weeks, but this was their only argument. She would not have Dwalin or any other unless he would call her his queen and she would not allow Thorin to force the matter. She would continue to attempt to befriend Dwalin, but what more could she do?

Dori thought to offer his services, but Ori was still under adult age and the other restrictions were that the Queen’s Guard be a bachelor or widower with no underage children. Dori was sole guardian for his brother and therefore did not qualify. For the Queen’s Guard, first and foremost must come the Queen. Dori didn’t know why he would offer anyway. Only earlier that day he had hardly had any use for Thorin’s bride. Seeing her with Fili had changed his heart and talking with her over tea had changed his mind. She had asked him to teach her their customs and he could feel her genuine interest in learning as well as a desire to please Thorin and be accepted by their people.

It was tearing Thorin up to see his once free-spirited love so confined and so isolated. Only two weeks, he thought, and such a change has come over her. He had hoped that Frerin and Dis would welcome her at the very least and when that didn’t happen he was certain she could change their hearts with a little time. They were more obstinate than Dwalin in the matter.  Frerin was not overtly rude to her, nor did he make any effort at friendship. He kept himself out of her company as much as possible. Dis was outright cruel, but they were all certain that was her pregnancy for she was snapping at everyone these days and Snow insisted for Thorin to leave her be.

He didn’t concern her over the attempted poisoning. It had been largely the work of a dam from another kingdom who had taken the yearlong journey to meet Thorin with the hopes of attaining a courtship, only to find him already wed and to one not of their kind. He had been more upset that she had used one of his own people to deliver the poison to his Queen. The dwarf lord beside Snow at dinner one evening had been so rude to her that she had excused herself early for the evening and that same dwarf had taken up her glass of apple wine that she would not be drinking anyway and promptly fell over frothing at the mouth. Thorin had flashed a look at Dwalin who had quickly removed the Queen without her knowledge of the incident.

The ensuing drama had taken much of Thorin’s first two weeks of married life. The lady had been quickly sent away with a messenger who would let her King know of her actions. She was never to be allowed in Erebor again. Until reparations were made all trade with them was ceased. Any supplies sent by them were returned and Thorin sent messengers to of his own people en route to return to Erebor. Many did not return, but made their way on to the other kingdom and made themselves exiles in their own kingdom rather than have an elf queen.

Of his own who was involved Thorin debated with Balin and other dwarf lords at length. Thorin wanted to kill him himself in a public execution, even though it had been unknown hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of years since a dwarf had been killed by another dwarf.  The dwarf lords also wanted this criminal killed as the murder had been a little too close to them. Balin counseled discretion. He suggested that this was not something to be announced. He found it difficult to believe one of their people could be convinced to do such a thing, but it was not wise to give anyone else the idea given the uncertainty of Thorin’s new wife’s position. The dwarf was imprisoned indefinitely and swept under the rug as best as possible.

Snow was the only one in the room who didn’t know about the attempt on her life. Even Ori knew as he had been sitting beside Balin and had seen and discussed it at length with him.

“The only one you can really trust to guard the Queen is a husband.” Ori said innocently.

Thorin turned to say something and then stopped when he saw the thoughtful expression on Balin’s face.

“Lad’s right.” He said simply.

Thorin and Balin had been raised and schooled together. Balin had been his confidant before Thorin became King and then he became his high adviser. Sometimes only a simple statement, subtle gesture, or a look would pass all the information needed from one to the other. Balin was always calm and rational and Thorin trusted his counsel implicitly.

There was silence in the room a long moment before Thorin said, “So be it.”

Thorin glanced at Dwalin. Dwalin frowned. He too had been raised with them and grasped their brief, sometimes unspoken communications. They had to be joking, except Thorin seemed to have lost that part of his sense of humor when he became king.

“What’s wrong, love?” Snow asked Thorin seeing that something had just happened that passed her understanding.

Thorin took her hands in his and stepped aside with her.

“Brother.” Balin said.

“Don’t even start.” Dwalin said refusing to make eye contact.

“He trusts you more than any other.”  Balin continued.

“Other’n maybe you.” Dwalin suggested.

“I’m his High Adviser and can easily double as King’s Guard, but not as the Queen’s.”

“You’d call her Queen.” Dwalin said.

“Aye. I have from the beginning.”

“Why?” Dwalin asked.

“She is Thorin’s wife. More than that, she is a good match for him. Because I can see she will make him a better King I would call her Queen.”

“Dori and I call her Queen too.” Ori said, trying to be supportive yet not understanding the full implication of his words. He was young yet and though very quick with book learning, he didn’t yet comprehend some of the more subtle communications that occurred between King and High Advisor.  “Don’t we, Dori?”

“There you go!” Dwalin insisted.

Balin shook his head. “They are both ineligible due to Ori’s age. Perhaps when he is older, but we cannot wait to put guards in place. You know why this is so important right now. You know why Thorin must have someone he can trust implicitly. You are like a brother to him.”

“You know who else is like a brother to ‘im? His brother. Why ain’t that lad here havin’ to put up with this nonsense?” Dwalin  grumbled.

“Frerin would never.” Balin said with a frown.

“Aye, and I would never either.” Dwalin insisted.

Balin tilted his head and looked at Dwalin knowingly. Dwalin looked away. His brother knew him too well. He had seen right through him. Maybe he was a little attracted to her, but that was all.

“Not enough for that.” Dwalin said cryptically and low so only his brother would understand, though Dori was starting to catch on to the gist of the conversation at this point. Ori never quite understood what he himself had implied. “Not enough for that.”

Balin’s expression didn’t change. “Enough to do what needs to be done.”

Dwalin looked at him with a pained expression.

“I will be leaving for Iron Hills in two weeks.” Thorin cut into their silence looking into Dwalin’s eyes. “I will expect you to defer to your Queen before my departure.”

“Is there anyway for me to say no?” Dwalin asked, all but saying no.

“You have two weeks to find your One or a suitable replacement.” Thorin replied.

In other words, no. Dwalin dumped the remaining contents of his pipe in the ash bucket. That wasn’t going to give him any consolation tonight. “Fine.” He growled as he stepped passed Thorin’s pale Queen into the hall and returning to his own chambers in the Royal Wing.

There would be no jerking off tonight. Dwalin threw his pipe against the wall, shattering it. He was going to have to save it all up and do it for real in two weeks.

Thorin had started by asking if she was lonely and Snow honestly thought he had a care for her emotional state and poured her heart out over how much she missed him. She had whispered in his ear so the others wouldn’t hear that she was already addicted to his touch and that she would do her best to get by on that alone when he got home late or early in the morning before he left to his kingly duties. She did have to confide that it was wearing on her that no one short of Thorin and Fili actually caring for her. “I am not one of you and it breaks my heart every day to think I will only ever have the love of a husband who does not have time enough for me.”

Thorin had pulled her into his arms and she had cried a bit. This was not at all the wildly happy girl he had wed and it was the fault of his and his people, not hers. She tried so hard and he couldn’t bear to think of her lonely and alone, much less in peril. He told her of his departure, but not that it was because of an attempt on her life that he had to go to Iron Hills and renegotiate trade agreements with his cousin, Dain, in an effort to make up for what would be lost to the other kingdom.

“I feel your heart breaking.” Thorin whispered against her shoulder. “I feel it because our hearts are one and mine is breaking too.” He sighed and then told her he had to go and would be gone for at least two months. He could feel her shoulders slump and the air leave her lungs in a silent sob. But she pulled it together for him.

Thorin couldn’t feel worse. She had told him she didn’t want to marry a king and how foolish he had been to think everything would be fine. Balin said she was good for him and she was. She could anticipate things like that and saw other’s point of view where Thorin believed the entire world worked the way it did in his own head. She made him better and what did he give in return? She was right. His people would not call her Queen and love her as he did. He had thought marrying him would make her life easy and delightful. She had been all but prisoner in her own home and even his family could not be bothered to make an effort to like her. Why couldn’t they see what he saw in her?

That wasn’t the end of it. Once he felt she had gotten hold of herself he explained that the only way to be certain she was safe would be for her to have at least one devoted Royal Guard. And as Ori had so innocently said, the only true way to make certain a dwarf was devoted was to make a husband out of him. Thorin said he would not apologize for what must happen because it would not only make her safe but it would ease her loneliness, both of which were states caused by Thorin’s inability to be the husband she deserved. It was the only way he could remedy the situation.

Dwalin had been there when they were made one and Thorin assured her would come to love her. He explained that as attracted to her as he had been, as endeared to her and enchanted to her as he had been, when he made love to her it was the truest sense of the phrase. They had made Love. What had been a spark in his heart at meeting her had turned into a flame hotter than all the forges in Erebor, one that would never burn out. Every time they made love he loved her more. He told her that Dwalin might be reluctant, but it would be the same for him and how much better that she would be loved by two husbands than one.

“It’s not like you to share.” She said. Even after knowing him for such a short while she was insightful into his true nature.

“Believe me, amrâlimê, I would share you with none if I thought I could do so and not hurt you. I would lock you up in our chambers like a treasure more valued than the Arkenstone to me and I would do nothing but make love to you day and night. But I was a King before I was your husband and cannot give you the one thing you would ask of me and that is my time. But I did promise to provide for you what you desire and I will do so in whatever manner I can. I cannot bear the thought of your heart being neglected. It will be a painful but necessary sacrifice to share you with Dwalin. We will all grow accustomed to it in time.”

“Can’t you just lock me up until you return?” She pleaded.

Thorin closed his eyes. He would worry about the food and drink she was receiving. He would imagine his beautiful love wasting away without his love. He imagined what would happen to her future if something were to happen to him on the road to Iron Hills. He could not risk any of it. “I cannot. Dwalin will care for you and be able to give you that which I promised you.” This too broke his heart. “Let us retire for the evening. I will love you as long as you please.”

She smiled at him, wanting nothing more than to curl up in his warm embrace and just sleep. She moved to the door to wait for him. Dwalin brushed past her with a dark look in his eyes a moment later. She sighed as she watched him walk away resenting his duty and resenting her. She sighed wearily and turned to the others. “Good evening, gentlemen.”

[The End of Chapter Two]

Chapter Three is coming soon. Until then, why not check out my master list for my other Hobbit/LotR writings? :)

[blankdblank]

Secret Scarves Pt 1

(re-written version)

Tags –

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…

To say you had been sheltered was an understatement, you finally managed to get away from your restrictive parents, staying with your Uncle Theoden who had been fighting for years to get you away from your parents, finally succeeding at fourteen, just in time for your freshmen year at high school. You had a lot to work through when he got custody of you, severely injured with little mobility, barely able to talk to anyone but him and your Cousins. For months your Uncle and Cousins in turns sat with you during your therapy until you were able to talk to the therapist on your own. For nearly a decade you’d been a well known name in the world as you rocketed to the top of the competitive swimming world and having reached the prestigious Olympic levels at just 14, just months before your freedom was finally achieved.

But for each emotional and social drawback you were also physically broken, having been freed but left without any sensation below your ribs. But sure enough you struggled through any and all obstacles to find your own sense of normalcy finally. For your sake at least you would fight through all, but most of all for your baby Brother’s sake. Little Jax just born and joining you under your Uncle’s custody from the moment of his birth placing him mainly under your watchful eye as you ensured his every happiness. Through your struggle, you had found knitting a good way to relieve your stress and quickly made a mountain of sweaters, scarves, hats, socks and started on a blanket.

Through High School you had no friends, other than Theodred, Eowyn and Eomer your cousins. With them being the only people who would spend time with you, everyone else thinking you were out of your mind. Including your teachers, who still did their best each day to dig their heels into your back to get you to talk at least once each class. Even against Theoden’s continuous speeches to them about letting you go at your own pace only hearing from them that you should just get over it and talk, you were making their days more difficult. Even though you made straight A’s they still demanded you speak to them and the class each day and in each and every class you had.

With your grades you had been accepted to Gondor University, a few hours distance away from your Uncle’s Rohan house by train, at least until he moved to Greenwood at the offer of a better teaching position near an old friend. Through your time in High School you had become introduced to Professor Denethor, who now worked with your Uncle in his new position. Their years of firendship allowing your quickly becoming friends with his older Son Boromir, who you had lived with when you attended your University, and staying with your Uncle on the weekends where the small coffee shop that you worked in part time was located.

In Gondor you had managed to make a few friends, not anyone you could purge your soul to or count on for a ride for a last minute trip to the airport, but they were nice to you and small talked with you through your day filled with classes. In school it wasn’t uncommon to find you spending nearly every moment with your arms and bag full of books and notes. Thankfully there was next to no participation demanded of you, easing your relationship towards teachers except a short few who disliked how quickly you worked through their textbooks and flooded them with questions not anywhere close to their syllabus, wishing you would just attend the classes and leave your work quietly. After three years you switched to your Uncle’s University for your graduate classes. You hoped you could work your last two years of school into one.

…

Your Uncle being one of the History teachers in Greenwood University, after they met for their first meeting before the semester started, he made sure to speak with the teachers of the classes you had signed up for. Informing them that you were shy and asking them not to force you to speak, letting them know a few things about your time in your High School with your teachers. Truthfully you were mostly normal now, just had a slow start when speaking with new people, unless you were speaking about something you were familiar with. But he would not risk the chance of your being pushed too far out of your comfort zone sealing his urge to share the gist of your timid nature with the teachers all curious about their new transfer student with perfect scores to begin with.

After he had left the meeting three of your Professors stopped at a diner for lunch, each of them trying to figure out why Theoden had told them about you and wondering if it was really that bad or if he was overreacting. With a sigh Dwalin relaxed against the back of his chair saying, “Surely he’s just being over protective.”

Thorin shrugged, “No doubt we’d have done the same if one of the boys was like that. Remember when you went after that teacher of Ori’s that made him cry forcing him into that play?”

Dwalin smirked back at him, “Not any worse than you and Frerin when Fili nearly got forced to repeat a year when that teacher didn’t like his year end project.”

Thranduil chuckled claiming a sip from his mug before Thorin told him, “Oh and don’t even get us started on you and Leg.”

Thranduil replied, lowering his mug, “I’m certain he has good reason to be protective.”

Dwalin nodded, “We’ll just have to treat her as one of the boys.”

Thorin chuckled softly thinking back to their rough yet protective nature with them, “Perhaps not exactly like one of the boys.”

Thranduil nodded, “Somewhere between them and Dis should do nicely.”

Dwalin, “Hopefully she won’t be as overbearing as Dis.” Earning a round of chuckles from the trio.

…

On your first day you had woken up under the giant pile of blankets you had sprawled across your bed messily, dropping into bed after a long shift at work the day before, having spent your few weeks off working in your lawyer Elrond’s firm helping with their new filing system. Slowly you rose, brushing your long black curly hair out of your face as you crawled out from under the covers heading for your bathroom. There you brushed your teeth and hair before pulling your loose curls back into a long ponytail, leaving your bangs hanging over the left side of your face. After you headed to your closet, pulling on your favorite pair of jeans and knee length socks under with your new black high heel black booties before choosing your shirt. For a few moments you stood staring at your choices before settling on a tight plain black t shirt with one of Boromir’s pale grey cardigan he had given you after it got too tight on him. Buttoning it as you grabbed your things and headed for the kitchen, where you ate quickly and grabbed your snacks and joined Theoden as he headed for the car. He had insisted on taking you to school, but since he was a teacher he need to get there early, as you parked you got out grabbing your bag in your exit and pulled it over your shoulder and hugged Theoden when he pointed you in the direction of your first class.

….

Thranduil Greenleaf - Art History

The room was empty when you got there, quietly you chose a desk in the second row near the wall and settled in. Quietly pulling out your snacks and your bottle of juice you had brought as you pulled out your new book, crossed your leg and propped the other on the chair in front of you, leaning back against your chair. A short while later you noticed two men, one of them you had assumed was your teacher, both continuing their conversation as the taller of the two spread out his things over his desk. He turned as the other spotted you, checking his watch before looking back to the other man and continuing their conversation, glancing over at you every few minutes curiously giving you a chance to sneak glances of your own when you recognized him.

After a bit the shorter man left as the taller one started setting out papers on the desks, still glancing over at you as he moved through the rows of desks, working his way forward from the desks behind you. As he moved closer he spotted you grab one of your snacks and slip it into your mouth when you turned the page in your book with your other hand. When he came up behind you, you grabbed the small container you had your small cinnamon rolls and orange slices in, and without looking as he came up next to you offered him one. He accepted one of each saying, “Thank you.” Quietly he slid the sheet on your desk saying, “It’s for the slides I have for later.” You nodded as he peered down at your book, quietly reading the page you were on trying to guess the title, “You’re reading about Stonehenge?”

You laid your book down upside down on the desk and looked up at him as he sat in the desk next to you. His eyes locked directly onto your bright purple eyes, making his heart skip as he remembered you from one of his stops in at the coffee shop you worked at last year before smiling and offering his hand, “Thranduil Greenleaf.” Your blank face broke for a quick moment as you gave him a quick smile accepting his handshake, “Jaqi Pear.”

Your eyes ran over his face, noting his brown shaggy hair that was brushed back and his silvery blue eyes with a light green button down shirt with a dark green sweater over it with jeans on under.

His smile grew as he leaned in a bit closer, “So you’re Theoden’s Neice?” You nodded and his eyes skimmed across your book reading the title before looking back to you, “If you like reading about the Stonehenge, I have a few books you could borrow if you wanted.” Through this his heart pounded while he relished the chance to finally speak with you fully out of the packed coffee shop where he’d so painfully missed what he imagined as his only chance to speak with you before your sudden vanishing.

He looked over your face carefully while you gazed back at him as if you were waiting for him to say something. Finally he saw another quick smile slide over your face again as you answered, “It was a gift, one of the last on a long list of books on the Stonehenge I got from one of my teachers last year.” He smiled again as your smile stayed a little this time rather then disappearing, his eyes lit up showing the silver streak running through them as you continued, “Large Chocolate Caramel Macchiato with double shot.” His eyebrow raised, “The last drink you ordered from the coffee shop I worked in last year.”

He chuckled, “You remembered that?” Dropping his eyes to the snacks he still had in his hand, before popped the small cinnamon roll in his mouth quickly to try to hide his smile as he chewed. Losing the battle so he popped the orange slice in his mouth, chewing it and looking up at you with another kind smile as you said, “Hard to forget the day someone nearly drove into the shop.”

He chuckled again, making his eyes light up again, “I nearly forgot about that.” His eyes darted to the copy of his text book on the desk below your other book, reaching out and gently pulling it out as he spotted the several sheets of notes through the book. He held it in front of him as he flipped through it, his smile grew as he flipped through it. He skimmed over the notes you had made and the summaries of each chapter and notes of the full summaries of each section with notations from other books. When he made his way to the end of the book, closing it with a soft chuckle he caught your gaze after you had placed your other book and the empty food container back in your bag. “You read and summarized the entire book. I’m going to have to break out my second syllabus for you to teach you anything new.”

You bit your lip quickly before releasing it as you let out a slow breath as his eyes sparkled at you again, “My teachers at my old school didn’t like my study habits, you don’t have to go to any extra efforts.”

He chuckled and leaned in a bit closer as he set the book down on your desk again, “I didn’t mean it as an imposition, I’ve been dying to have a student force me to pull out my extra work, normally my students barely scrape through my course. Since you’ve done the work already and laid out the groundwork, it’s my job to find something you haven’t learned yet.” His eyes darted to the door as he spotted the first of the other students walking through the halls, he took in a deep breath as he pulled away and stood as one walked through the door, before leaning down quickly whispering, “I enjoy a good challenge, I look forward to seeing what you can do.”

You smiled at him again, this time larger making his heart skip again as he saw a spark through your eyes, “I can’t wait to see what you’ve been holding back from your other students.” He smiled and chuckled again as he nodded his head turning and biting his lip in a failed attempt to keep his smile hidden. He finished laying out the papers before heading to his desk and waited for the rest of his students to arrive, eying you occasionally as you pulled out your notebook and pen, and dropped your foot from the desk in front of you as a student tried to choose the desk in front of you.

Through his class he tried as best as he could to focus on his lesson, trying to keep his eyes off you. Even going as far as throwing in a few of his hidden facts, confusing the other students as they didn’t see them on the sheet he had given them, leaving him smirking at their reactions and at your small smile that still hadn’t left since he spoke to you. After his class when you passed his podium he offered you directions to your next class then sat down against his desk as he watched you walk out of his classroom. Quietly admiring the bounce in your step, followed by the slight sway in your walk as best as he could from under your large shirt while your curly ponytail bounced and swung side to side as you walked away.

…

Thorin Durin - History (Not specific on which, couldn’t choose.)

You took the shortcut that Thranduil had given you. When you reached the door you spotted the last of the large group of what could only be perceived as depressed and irritated young adults rushing out of the door to freedom. Slipping inside quietly, avoiding one of the last of the students you slammed into something, you took a quick step back as you spotted the obstacle. Turning to face you was a tall solid Man in a dark blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black jeans over a pair of black boots, as you looked him in the eye you caught his soft gasp as his mouth opened a little catching your eye color. His sparkling blue eyes ran over your face quickly trying to place how he knew you as you noted his black hair tied back with a short black beard, his face softening a bit as you quietly said, “Sorry.”

He gave you a soft smile as he reached out his hand with a hint of pride in his posture as he said, “Thorin Durin.”

You gave him a small smile as you took his hand, noting the paw of a hand with a few calluses on it, “Jaqi Pear.”

His head titled to the side as he recognized your name speaking again in a lower gravely voice as he smirked, “Theoden’s niece.” His smile grew a bit as you slid your hand out of his grip gently, grabbing your bag strap again as he looked down at you before spotting the students behind you hesitating to enter his class having heard from the last class what he had said about the workload. While he watched them you quietly slipped around him choosing a seat in nearly the same spot you always chose, where you pulled out your book, notebook and pen before he had noticed you were missing. Curiously he turned to see you in your seat already, causing him to smirk slightly as he looked over you again.

After a trip to his desk he grabbed the stack of packets he was going to hand out to the desks, heading for yours first. Dropping it down gently he noticed the papers in your book, as you noticed his inspection of your book you held it out for him. which he accepted with a smile that grew as he flipped through your book. He eyed the summaries and notes you had made, including several references from other books on certain topics most of his students barely noticed. He set the book down as the first students in your class were pushed through the door and others hesitantly followed, he gazed down at you with a soft smile, “I think I’m going to enjoy having you in my class very much.”

You glanced from the other students to him, “I take it you’re a tough teacher, I look forward to seeing your worst.” This caused a spark to fly through his eyes as he smiled, and turned to pass out the rest of the packets, starting his lecture with a loud stern voice with a face to match until he glanced at you, causing a soft gaze to flash across his face before going stern again.

Through his class you saw exactly why the others had been so upset. He had assigned two essays on the first day and said there would be at least four due a week, with a workload nearly double every other History course, the students, who unlike you, didn’t choose his class were placed in it because the others filled up much quicker. As he was going through his explanation for the yearly workload he spotted the small smirk on your face at the other students groaned before catching your gaze again, quickly softening before forcing himself to look away to start on his first lesson. After his class he also gave you a shortcut to your next class, eyeing you closely as you left, with his heart still pounding halfway through his next class.

…

Dwalin - Calculus (Just picked one)

As you entered his class, once again you were met by a mob of depressed students making you chuckle quietly as you slipped inside. On the path to your desk you saw the large broad shouldered Man with salt and pepper stubble over his head with a short matching beard in a maroon sweater rolled up at the elbow with black jeans and boots, laying a packet down on each desk. His actions paused as he spotted you choosing the seat in front of him, dropping your bag on the desk as you pulled your book for that class out with similar notes through it. He stepped beside your desk as you grabbed your notebook and pen for that class out of your bag. Quietly he set his stack down and lifted your book examining it with a similar grin as you asked, “Are you related to Professor Thorin Durin?”

He glanced up at you as he reached the last section of the completed book, closing it as you spotted the same striking blue eyes with a matching gasp at his notice of your eyes reminding him of someone he’d seen in a picture somewhere before. In a rough voice he replied, “Yes.” Holding out his hand, “Dwalin Durin.”

You smiled at him slightly, accepting his giant paw of a hand, “Jaqi Pear.”

You caught a spark in his eyes as he recognized your name and you continued, “Just how many of my teachers has he spoken to about me?”

He chuckled and smiled as he said, “All of us.” Chuckling again as you rolled your eyes and sat in your seat, crossing your left leg over the other, making a smirk slide across his face as he leaned down to ask, “You went through that entire book?”

You nodded, “Of course.”

He smirked, “I’ll have to work twice as hard to teach you then.” Shooting you another quick smirk as he caught a spark in your eyes as you laid your bag across your lap and he kept passing out his packets while your mind went blank at any response at all. Once again a class of groans sounded as he laid out his lesson plan and work load, crushing the hopes of the students who had wished for a simple Math class.

…

After his class you had Denethor for Physics and Minnas for Photography then your lunch and four more classes before heading back home. In your photography class you met another Durin, Ori Durin who introduced you to his brother Nori after class as they let you eat with them.

Quietly you eyed the set of long tables with untrustworthy looking stools formed from spiraling legs stirring an uncomfortable twinge in your stomach. Under slightly furrowed brows you eyed them all, and chose a spot closer to the projector board not far from the teacher’s crowded desk and eyed the other students entering after. All chose their own seats to be nearer to some item they wished to inspect further, until a thin cardigan clad Dwarf walked in eyeing the few empty seats. Avoiding the pair near the boisterous band of Elves admiring the crystal horse statues and followed the intuitive little tug in his heart leading him closer to the fellow cardigan clad student. A flashing smile eased onto his face as he gave a soft “hi” as he set his bag on the desk beside yours and sat down. His first glance at your face directly earned a common gasp as he took in the face of an Elleth, in his mind, far more likely to be a model for this class than to be one of the students. A weak smile flashed on your face as you repeated his simple greeting then turned to look to the Professor when she began speaking.

Moments after class had ended he had turned to you at the news that the students in similarly colored stools beside one another would be yearly partners for any group projects coming up. With a weak chuckle he smiled at you again catching the flash of an expression of your seeming wish to hear any and everything he had to say mingled with your same stoic yet soft resting expression, “I suppose we’re partners then.”

You nodded and his smile inched up at your flashing smile, “I suppose so.”

After a look around the near empty room he continued, “Which class do you have next?”

“It’s my lunch now, I guess.”

“Well I’m meeting my Brother over in the eastern courtyard for lunch if you wanted to join us?”

Quietly you nodded and joined him wishing you had anything at all flashing into your mind to say to him to break the awkward silence on the walk. Finally at the table you eyed the fiery haired brother with three thick braided spikes along the sides and top of his head almost looking like the top of a star who eyed you curiously and smiled when you sat across from him on Ori’s left. Without a word you sat as they shared their days so far after your trading of names. At least until you looked up as Ori asked you, “I noticed you’ve got my Uncle’s books in your bag?”

Glancing between them you asked, “You’re related to the Durin Professors?”

They nodded and Nori replied, “Our Uncles, well, more like Mum’s Cousins but Uncle is easier to have understood by others.”

Ori, “You like their classes?”

You nodded, “They seem nice.” Their brows rose curiously unsure if you were trying to make a joke. “My Uncle teaches here too, sort of told them to be.”

Nori inhaled softly, “Ah, Theoden’s Niece. Ya, the warning came up over breakfast. We sort of had bets on how you’d be. Though our Cousins were all imagining another blue eyed blonde.”

“Ya, Grandpa was a twin, both Uncle and my Mother took their Mother’s hair and eye colors.”

Ori, “You’re really close with him then?”

“He took me and my Brother in when I was 14.” After this a few more rounds of questions were asked and answered as they both eyed your blank reactions and forced soft expression as an uncertainty remained in your eyes. When lunch was over you were invited back again the next day as well before they walked off to their next class assuring each other you had been given a warning flag of being shy, so that could just be the reasoning for your stand offish-ness with the pair.

…

After their shift at work the Teachers had agreed to meet up after school, choosing the same diner as before. All agreeing that you were an amazing student, noticing your shyness but also your willingness to learn, each sharing that you had gone through their textbooks and hearing from the other teachers that you had done the same with their classes again. Each of them eager to see your first homework assignments and tests they had planned.

…

After school you had returned to your apartment finalizing the details for your upcoming essays and assignments as your mind reeled at your floundering attempt at befriending the pair, something you hoped to achieve to pull yourself more out of your shell. Though your sleep came difficultly you managed a nap before the sting of not having your usual knock on your door signaling your Brother being left in your care when your Cousins headed off to a late shift at work. Quietly past midnight you sat up relenting to your inner pain to change into your gym clothes and make the short trip to a nearby gym you had signed up for when you wished to work out your inner turmoil in a healthier way instead of repressing it.

Around you the empty gym you spied the random men mid workout stealing glances at the new face among them. After locking your bag up you made your way to the first set of pull up bars to warm up. Slowly you worked through a few sets of those before moving on to a bench press station where you caught the same brunette from Thranduil’s class earlier sneaking glances at you through the wall of mirrors as he did his own sets nearby. In the middle of your adding on the weights from the corner of your eye you spotted his approach with his lip tucked between his teeth anxiously nipping at it through his obvious mental rehearsal of what he was going to say.

His eyes sank over your knee length sweats and tank top that cut low on the sides in different shades of green matching your shoes contrasting your black sports bra, tighter spandex shorts and socks. Behind his back he wiped his hands on the back of his shorts and white t shirt with the sleeves removed in his attempt at subtly hiding evidence of his nerves. “Need a spotter?”

“If you like.” His flicker of an awkward smile flashed on his face through an even more awkward chuckle stirring your smile out only making his nerves worse until his near pleading glance to hear anything you wished to say when your lips parted again. “Professor Greenleaf’s class right?”

He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck and fumbling with a stray section of hair from his loose ponytail he undid and started pulling back tighter again. “Ya, Ada mentioned he talked to you. Didn’t think you were as worse off as your Uncle said.” You weakly chuckled as you secured the final weight lock as his face straightened as he realized what he said, then rapidly fired out, “Not that he said you were terrible or anything. Just not to pull too much attention to you. But I mean Ada certainly won’t do that.”

Your next giggle silenced him, “Breathe, just take a breath. My Uncle told all the teachers about it, his way of making me feel more comfortable I’m assuming.”

Awkwardly he chuckled again watching you walk around to sit on the bench, “Well that’s good. You certainly do need to feel comfortable, Miss Bunny.”

Your eyes met his as he rested his hands on the bar through your smirk back at him, “You’re the first to call me that. The ears gave it away huh?”

After a glance at your slightly pointed ears matching his he chuckled through your growing smile as you giggled again, “I have your posters on my wall. And one of your old bunny charms, for luck.” His face dropped again, “That sounded less creepy in my head.”

You giggled again, “Not creepy. No where near the worst I’ve heard.”

He smiled again as you turned and laid back and readied to begin your set, “You still keep up with swimming? I mean, I know you’ve retired, but um, do you still watch competitions?”

Lowering the bar again you replied, “Yes and no. For one I didn’t retire.” His brows rose curiously, “At least not officially or anything.”

He wet his lips, “But, you just stopped.”

“My Parents died, and um, I was injured. Had to go through rehab for a while.”

“Oh, anything serious? I mean, you had to go through rehab…”

“Broken ribs, the doctors thought I had a herniated disk in my back but the swelling went down and it healed. Um, after, I just needed a break, besides my baby Brother was sick and needed surgery so swimming sort of got pushed back. I watch occasionally.” You racked the bar and sat up turning to him again, “Used to go to Uni in Gondor, my Brother’s out there, he loved watching it and asking all about it when I watched him after classes. You swim?”

He nodded, “Got a place on the school team, not very high, but, hoping to get higher. Seventh actually.”

His expression sank as you stood up and he went to take his turn, “It’s just the first day, you’ve got time.”

“I was first in high school though. Just hard being up against so many first placers and struggle to get the full attentions I had back in my old school.”

Your smile inched up watching his ease with your weight choice even though his sets were shorter, when you traded again you asked, “Pool here any good?”

He nodded, “Part of why I’m here, they lock up the one at Uni at sundown. Used to come in with Ada but he goes in the day and the pool’s always crowded then.”

Laying back again you asked, “Your Ada, he didn’t mention knowing me, at least not past the coffee shop I used to work in he went to.”

His smile inched up realizing you must be the woman he wouldn’t stop talking about from back then, “He played rugby in school, so my swimming sort of knocked him sideways. Never really got into it, but still supportive. He’s seen the posters, just, didn’t give them too much attention I guess. He still comes to my meets when he can.”

“Doing laps today?”

His eyes met yours rapidly, “I, yes.”

“At least I won’t be alone in it then.” Your response drawing another awkward chuckle from him. After your sets there you switched stations then made a stop at the mats training with your own body weight continuing your conversation as he both exercised beside you and sat through his resting watching you in awe at the sheer strength and size you had gained in your eight year break. But going from your formerly starved figure to your size now wasn’t as large of a change as some would imagine, simply eating and training healthier finally allowed your body to fill out as it was intended at least physically marking you as closer to your true age, unlike your near child like appearance back at 14 before you were freed.

At the pool side Legolas shifted on his feet then decided on simply starting his first lap in his wait for you to join him. A pair of legs sinking into the water beside him as he neared the wall signaled your joining him. He surfaced with a smile and you began your own laps matching his pace easily, feeling your body relaxing comfortably back into the motions before you started inching faster testing if he could match you. After your final lap you both sat on the pool’s edge removing your goggles and caps before you eyed his thin barely defined form and said, “How far are you wanting to go in swimming?”

He smiled at you, “As far as I can.”

You nodded, “Well, you’re not at a bad starting point. Few easy tweaks to your form and you could be first soon enough.” His expression lit up as you suggested you could work out together when you ended up there in your shared sleeplessness. To which he eagerly agreed and joined you in showering and changing, on your walk outside you stole another glance at him as he asked, “Live far?” He pulled the keys to his Father’s car from his pocket, “Ada let me use his car.” His smile alone made you giggle again and nod in reply.

“Not far, but I would not mind the ride.” Outside your apartment you swapped numbers and headed to your warm beds again, both sharing a growing eagerness at your new friendship as he grew more excited and fired off an email to his oldest friend, “Ta, you are not going to believe who is training at my gym!!”

After learning you had two classes together, the next day he started sitting closer to you, slowly becoming another of your friends, both bloodlines of your friends made it damn near impossible not to focus on anything but the gorgeous Men around you. With your late nights with Legolas and your early mornings spent with Thranduil set your days off to a great start, and your classes with the Durins easily lifting your mood and easily helping you through the rest of your day.

…

As each day passed you shocked your teachers with turning in assignments early and taking the extra credit your three new favorite teachers along with Denethor had given you. The three Professors kept a good eye on you during class to see your reactions during their lessons, within a few weeks you were known as their best student and all the other students sent you jealous glares as you got back perfect scores as they failed with flying colors.

Each day settling the fact that they were absolutely too attractive to be teaching, each of them tempting in their own way, making you sure that you would very much enjoy this school over your last, tempted to force your learning into two years but your course list refused to let that happen now. So you forced yourself to try to talk more, to them and your two new Durin friends.

After his class you walked over to Thorin as he dug out his next classes packets, “Who would you rather hit, Napoleon or Caesar?”

A smirk ran across his face as he glanced up spotting you, letting out a quiet chuckle, setting down the stack of packets and straightening up as he raised and lowered his eyebrows as he pondered for an answer, “Napoleon, after I saw the first Bill and Ted movie I wanted to hit him.” As he saw your smirk he asked, “You?”

You gave him a large smile as you gave a quiet chuckle, making his heart stop, “Caesar, no doubt. Mostly for changing the calendar, just to prove how great a guy he really was he just had to go and make up three new months to name after himself and his family, I would have sided with Brutus too.” Your words made him laugh loudly, partially scaring his next group of victims as he handed you your extra work assignment and headed out the door.

…

At lunch again you joined the Durin pair, who once again tried to mask their growing discomfort at your near silence around them leading them to believe your disinterest in being their friend. But as they pulled out their lunches you clearly stated, “I, was home schooled until High School.” Their eyes rose to meet yours, “I’m still not, very good with talking to people near my age.”

Ori’s brows rose as Nori replied waving his hand, “Oh it’s no trouble. Just figured you’d still be warming up to us.”

Looking between them you said, “It’s easier answering questions. My mind goes blank when I’m expected to ask them.”

Ori smiled, “Shouldn’t be too difficult to find a common interest or two after a bit.” Your smile flinched back and they traded turns asking questions they both answered as well for you then were simply floored when the mention of a book you all loved triggered a massive smile on you the more you delved into that world giving them a glimpse of just what your friendship could be after you had relaxed more. Through your meal you were completely oblivious to the crowds around you unable to keep from staring at you and the rare beaming expression from you.

Pt 1a