More Than Meets the Eye

Chapter Twenty-Six

The sun had already set as she and Thorin set out across the plains to the road leading into Dale. It was a beautiful night, with thousands of stars spattering the jet sky. A full moon glowed to light their way and as she tucked her arm through his, Arielle bit back a sigh. She would have to clear the air with Erika and Brynne, just as soon as she figured out exactly what she wished to say.

But for now, she concentrated on just being out in the warm summer night with Thorin, and as they neared Dale, she smiled. The last time she was there was only just about two weeks earlier, when the fair was in town. And that night, she'd seen Thorin with Bell Caisys, had gotten drunk, and pleaded with him to stay with her when they returned to Erebor.

And now? Now, Belle was gone, thank Mahal. She was gone and Arielle smiled as Thorin eased his arm free to catch her by the hand. As he laced his fingers with hers, she rather marveled at how quickly everything could change. She had been so convinced there was no way Elen's silly little plan would work, no way that anyone would think she was him. And yet, it worked—to a certain degree.

With the fair having moved on, Dale was mostly quiet. Several shops were still open at this hour, as were most of the cafés and taverns. There were still a few people buzzing about along the walkways, and several women stopped dead in their tracks as she and Thorin passed them by.

She gently squeezed his hand. "Thorin?"

He glanced over. "What, mesmel?"

"Do you remember the night of the fair?"

His eyes danced with mischief. "Do I remember it? I'm fairly certain the question is, do you remember it?"

Heat crept into her cheeks. "I do. Well," she amended with a smile," most of it, that is. Anyway, do you remember my telling you how probably every woman in Dale would sell their soul to sleep with you?"

His teeth flashed in a lupine smile. "I do. And as I said that night, you flatter me."

"Thorin, just watch every single woman we pass. They all stop and do a double take."

On cue, two more women passed and right as they did, one stopped short enough that the second one plowed into her. Thorin stared, eyes wide as if in disbelief, while Arielle bit back a smile as she leaned in and whispered, "See? You thought it was the mead talking when I said how handsome you are. How is it you don't know just how handsome you are or what sort of effect you have on women? One just collided with another because she was ogling you."

"I know exactly what I look like and it's the same as all the other dwarves. And as for having any effect on them?" He glanced back at the two women, who still stared after them, then back at her. "It's because I'm something foreign to them. Or because they know who I am, or they feel a bit rebellious in lusting after a dwarf. Either way, let them stare. I pay no attention to it. Daughters of Man hold no interest for me."

"Thorin," she held his gaze, "I am one of them."

"No," he shook his head, "you aren't. I mean, yes, of course you are, with a nice bit of Elf thrown in for balance, but you are not the same as they are." He jabbed a thick forefinger toward the two women, who finally resumed their strides. "If I was to approach one of them, they would giggle and simper and try to flirt with me. And they'd boast to their friends about how the dwarf thought he was good enough for a daughter of Man and—"

"Do you honestly think that about yourself? Because, if so, how? Have you seen you? Because, trust me, you do not look like all of the other dwarves."

"Because Men and Elves feel themselves above everyone else, that's how. And before you take offense, you know I don't mean you. And you know, from your own dealings, that I am not wrong."