Run It Back Again (Part 1)

Chapter 4

The dwarves were a lot merrier than I'd imagined they had been.  All around me, the dwarves were laughing and helping each other set the table.  I couldn't help but laugh along until I noticed Skyrena standing away from all the commotion.  I frowned as I approached her.

"Are you alright?"  She smiled and nodded at me.

"Yes...  I'm fine."  I swallowed hard as I thought about how distant she had always been around the dwarves.

"You don't think they accept you, yet, do you?"  Her eyes darkened slightly as she shook her head.

"I know they don't accept me...  Most of these guys I've known for 60 years, yet they don't consider me one of them."  I looked around at each and every dwarf, shaking my head.

"No, Skyrena...  They all love and care about you."  She glanced around at the dwarves, who were currently cleaning up and singing as they went, and couldn't contain her smile.

"They seem to be warming up to you as well...  I know, when you actually come around, they'll love you."  I couldn't help but smile a little.

"You really think so?"  She nodded and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I don't know what happened that made the elves leave you alone in the Grayhavens, but I know that, if I were there, you'd never have been alone."  I smiled a little more.

"You always told me you'd be there for me..."  I glanced down at her necklace and picked it up.  "It's just...  I never thought you would have meant it like this."  She frowned as she examined the necklace.

"Looks like Balin's work..."  I smiled a little.

"Thorin had Balin fashion it out of some of the wood from his oaken branch when he married you and gave it to you as a gift."  I sighed and shook my head.  "I almost wonder if I'm about to ruin everything by being here..."  She pulled me into a hug.

"No...  I think you're making things better.  If Thorin and a few of the others aren't going to make it, I'd want to know just so I can save them."  I sniffed and tried to fight the tears that welled up in my eyes.

"I know...  But, what if you get hurt?  I'd...  I..."  I shook my head, unable to bear the thought.  "I'm going to fight for them...  I'm going to save them.  I don't care if I die trying."  She looked down at me and brushed some hair back from my face.

"You have to be mine and Thorin's...   I know that no one else in all of Middle Earth could pass on such stubbornness."  I blushed a little and shrugged as Gandalf came over.

"He's here, Skyrena."  Her face dropped as she nodded gravely.  Soon, Thorin was in the house.

"I thought you said this place would be easy to find."  He looked over at Skyrena and I.  "No trouble waiting?"  I shook my head.

"We're clear for the night.  We can rest at ease."  He nodded as he turned to the hobbit.

"Era...  Skyrena...  Why don't you two go tend to other matters.  We men need to tend to these matters."  I started to protest, but Filli beat me to it.

"Come on, Thorin...  Let the girls join in.  They're both part of the group."  I watched as Thorin looked between Skyrena and I while Killi stepped up.

"They may be women, but they are shapeshifters.  They can handle it, can't you?"  He winked at me, making me blush.  And he was my cousin?  Ugh...  Skyrena ignored them and tugged at my arm.

"Come on, Era...  Let's leave these "men" to their work."  Thorin sighed and shook his head.

"Fine...  But, I will not guarantee good news."  I nodded as Skyrena followed Thorin to the table, where his meal waited for him.  As I started after them, Filli and Killi came up, smiling.

"It's so nice to have another woman around to keep Skyrena company, shapeshifter or not."  I smiled politely, trying to ignore how my heart pounded in my chest.

"Well, thank you...  Please excuse me."  Before I could pass, Killi frowned at me.

"Just how long have you been around?  Like..."  He blushed.  "I'd say "How old are you," but Skyrena gets annoyed when asked that because shapeshifters age differently than dwarves, so how many years have you seen?"  I thought for a moment.

"Over 100."  Filli smiled as he and Killi exchanged looks, making me nervous.

"So, in the eyes of a shapeshifter, that'd make you about as old as us, right?"  I thought for a moment.

"I don't know.  I've never really considered it.  After all, shapeshifters stop aging after 20 years.  That's why you shouldn't ask how old one is."  With that, I brushed past, hoping they could take a hint.  Even if marrying cousins was okay and all, they were going to be way to old for me when I return to my own time, if they lived.  However, I will admit they are charming in a really attractive sense...

"Will you sit with us?"  I looked over at Filli, who motioned towards some chairs.  "There's no sense in sitting off by yourself."  I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Very well then..."  They both grinned and shoved each other in a silent race to see who could get me seated first.  When I earned a stern look from Thorin, I lowered my head and remembered that they were over 60 years older than me and swallowed hard as Filli, who'd been the winner, pulled out my chair.

"Here you are..."  I smiled politely and took the seat.  I'd explain later, I guess, if Thorin would allow me.  However, he seemed to have something better in mind.

"My friends, our kin in the west will not help us, so we are to 13 dwarves, 2 shapeshifters, one wizard, and a hobbit.  So, I request that the shapeshifters be guarded at all costs."  Killi stood up before anyone could speak out.

"Skyrena can stay by your side, uncle.  Filli and I will watch over Era."  I saw a bit of a smirk come over Thorin's face.

"Very well then..."  He looked right at me, his smile widening.  "I think all 3 of you will have your hands full."