Someone to Watch Over Me

Chapter Eleven

When Seren opened her eyes, she was alone. Earlier, as the dawn streaked across the sky, Thorin untangled himself from her, brushed her lips with a gentle kiss, whispered, "We will talk later," and slipped from the bed.

Still, she didn't mind. There was nothing quite like having a cozy little secret, and this one was one of the nicer secrets she'd been tasked with keeping.

Amara came around. "Good morning, Seren. How are you feeling?"

"I feel like myself again." She sat up, stretching her arms overhead. "My face no longer hurts, my knee no longer hurts, and breathing no longer hurts."

Amara came over and sank onto the edge of her bed. Her long, elegant fingers brushed along Seren's cheek. "You might have a bit of a scar, but I think that's it. May I see your leg?"

Seren threw back the sheet and tugged up her nightrail. Her knee had been swollen the previous day, but now, it was back its normal size and she didn't so much as wince as the Healer manipulated it in different directions.

"It looks good. Can you stand for me?"

"I'd be glad to." She rose and padded across the room to the terrace. Down in the sun-splashed courtyard, the Company had gathered. She had a moment of panic, thinking they were preparing to depart, but then she heard a shout and couldn't hold back her smile as Bofur came shooting out of one of the tubes feeding the large marble fountain in the rear corner.

"Elrond would love this," she said to herself, turning to go back to where Amara stood.

Amara had her back to Seren, staring down at the bed and as Seren grew closer, her stomach dropped when she realized what it was the Healer stared down upon. The sheets were pure white, save for one rather good-sized rust-colored splotch.

"What time did he leave?" Amara asked softly without turning around.

Seren's tongue seemed welded to the roof of her mouth and her heart skipped a painful beat as she forced it free to stammer, "Wh-what time did wh-who leave?"

"I assume it was Thorin." Now Amara looked over at her, her eyes tranquil and her expression that of mild amusement. "Wasn't it? He seemed very concerned with your well being yesterday."

"I can pay you for ruining the—"

"That won't be necessary." A serene smile came to Amara's lips. "He's very handsome. I can see why you would sneak him in here."

"I didn't sneak him. At least, not intentionally. He just... turned up..." Seren looked back at the bloodstain. "And I don't think he knew it was my first time, either."

"Was he careful?"

"I beg your pardon?"

Amara's blue-eyed gaze met hers. "Dwarves and daughters of Man can reproduce. Was he careful?"

Seren swallowed hard, her eyes stinging as she said, "There is no need for him to be careful, Amara, for I cannot have children."

If her announcement shocked the Healer, Amara hid it well, for her expression never changed. "How do you know?"

"Mama told me when I was a child I fell very ill, with a very high fever, a rash, and she thought I was going to die. She never said was that illness was, but that it left me unable to bear children."

"I am sorry to hear that, Seren. It must have been a terrible blow."

"Yes and no. Children have never been something I wanted because I move around so much. It wouldn't be fair to drag them all over Middle Earth. And I like being able to go where I wish, when I wish. It wouldn't be fair to me to sacrifice that to make a man happy."