More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter Thirteen

Arielle tried not to think about anything. She didn't want to think. Because when she thought, she overthought and overthinking about Thorin and his kiss and the fact that he was now off once more with the perfectly perfect Miss Caisys was exactly the wrong thing to be doing.

"What are you doing here?"

She smiled, despite Kusela's cranky greeting. "Why didn't you go to the fair?"

"Do you see the piles of laundry?" She waved a chapped hand in the general direction of the room, where piles of aromatic clothing, with varying degrees of sweat stains and soiling, lay. "If I don't do this, we will have a city filled with naked dwarves and while I wouldn't mind seeing some of them naked, there are far more I'd rather not see."

"But you never get out. And the laundry never goes away, no matter how much you wash." Arielle caught her by a thin arm and gave a gentle tug. "Come with me and we'll go. Let's see if Erika and Brynne and the others are free as well and have fun."

Kusela eyed her. "What are you about, laddie? If you think you'll sweet-talk me into—"

"Kusela, on my honor," Arielle held up a hand, "I solemnly swear I only want us to enjoy ourselves for one night. I've already got permission from His Highness and I think he'd be fine with you taking one night off."

"What goes on in here?" Erika appeared in the doorway, then smiled. "Elen, what are you doing down here."

"I'm trying ton convince Kusela to live a little and come to the fair over in Dale." She smiled at the housekeeper. "And perhaps you and the others would like to come as well?"

At first, she thought Erika was going to say no, but then she smiled. "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. Kusela, you are coming with us for once and I'll not hear a word to the contrary."

To Arielle's surprise, Kusela actually smiled. "Thank you, laddie. It does sound like fun."

Arielle returned her smile and went to slip her arm through the laundress' but thought better of it. A man wouldn't do that.

But what would he do?

She grinned and playfully punched Kusela in the arm. "Think nothing of it."

"Ouch." Kusela scowled, rubbing her upper arm. "Why'd you hit me?"

"Oh, it's... it's a sign of affection among Men."

"Please, don't hit me again. That hurt."

Arielle's spirited lightened considerably as they all made their way across the plains toward Dale. In the distance, the city blazed with colored lights of red and blue and yellow, and the sounds of people having a good time floated out on the breeze.

She wondered if the fireworks wizard would be there, or if he was still even alive. The last time Dale hosted the fair was when she was but a toddler and all she knew of it was what her mother has told them. She didn't remember the fireworks, or the wizard, but perhaps one or both would return with the fair.

Lono, Erebor's butler, fell into step alongside her. "These are your people, are they not?"

She nodded. "More or less, yes. Why?"

"Dwarves have learned over the years Man cannot be trusted." He peered at her through narrowed eyes. "I've not decided whether or not you might be."

"Me? Do I strike you as so devious?"

He offered up a long look. "No, actually. And I know the others think well of you, as does His Highness. Although," now a slight grin came to his lips, "His Highness' intended does not share that opinion."