More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter Nine

Arielle scowled at door. Sent to her room as if she was a wayward child and for what? Because she dared call Thorin on his foolishness? Hardly a reason to be punished, as far as she was concerned. And besides, what was the worst thing he could do?

He could sack you.

She sank back into the small sofa with a sigh. He could, but the real question was whether or not he would. Somehow, she didn't think he would, but then again, she didn't honestly know him at all. Not after only two days, she didn't.

So she sat there, scowling at the door for a few minutes longer, flexing her hand to let the pain take her mind off her aggravation, for all the good it did.

Then her stomach growled.

Food was worth the risk.

Even so, she opened the door to her chambers very slowly, as if he'd hear the grinding of the handle and come barreling down the corridor at her like a madman. She rolled her eyes and forced herself to just open the fool door.

The corridor was empty and by the time she reached the Great Hall, she didn't care if he did catch her and sack her on the spot. A very delicious aroma wafted on the air, which made her stomach growl louder, and she sniffed her way into the Great Hall.

Just in time to see Thorin escorting an absolutely beautiful dark-haired woman from said hall.

Arielle's appetite faded. The delicious aroma now turned her stomach. She stopped just inside the Great Hall, her stomach knotting as the dwarf woman slipped her arm through Thorin's and he smiled down at her.

That had to be the woman Lady Dis wanted him to court. Somehow, Arielle didn't think Thorin would be all that adverse to taking this woman as his wife. From what Arielle could see, she was absolutely perfect in every way from her perfectly coiled blue-black curls to her dainty little feet. Just as she'd imagined. Lucky her, to be so spot on.

Of course, Arielle didn't know if she even had dainty little feet, but she probably did. Everything else about her was perfect, her feet had to be as well.

"Elen? Are you coming in from breakfast?"

Arielle jumped as Dori appeared as if from nowhere beside her. "Oh, good morning, Master Dori. You move so quietly."

He smiled. "Come in and have something to eat. I thought we'd see you earlier."

"I was... I was helping His Highness dress." She bobbed her head toward Thorin and the perfect dwarf as they passed through the doorway.

"Ah, Lady Dis would love nothing more than to see him marry and start a family of his own." Dori looked from the doorway back at her. "And not only because of line of succession, either. He's seen a lot of sadness, you know. We'd all like to see him find some happiness. And, from the looks of it, perhaps he has."

Her stomach curled. Thorin did actually look rather happy to be in the lady's company, and Arielle knew it was wrong to be unhappy about that herself, but since when did emotion listen to reason? All she knew was that she wanted to throw something big and heavy, and quite possibly lethal, at Belle.

"Everyone should be happy," she nodded, even as her throat tightened at the thought.

"So, come along and have some breakfast. I'm certain His Highness has you busy the rest of the day so I won't keep you."

"No, actually, he—" The words died on her lips as Dori took himself off and joined several other dwarves in the far corner.

But she had no desire to eat now. Instead, she turned heel and left the Great Hall to find her way back to the laundry room, where she tackled the rest of Thorin's mending. The pain in her fingers hadn't subsided from the day before and her hand still ached like mad, but she found she didn't mind it so much. It helped take her mind off what Thorin was doing.