Run It Back Again (Part 2)

Chapter 4

*Era's Pov-

As soon as I was clean and dry, I dressed in my most common dark green dress.  I brushed my hair back and braided it, letting it hang like a rope down my back.  Before long, there was a knock at my door.

"Era...?"  It was Father.  I swallowed hard as he entered the room.

"Yes, Father?"  He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked around the room, as if he had forgotten what he was going to say.

"I...  Well...  You see..."  He sighed and looked at me.  "It's not that I don't apprectiate you looking out and wanting to help out those in need.  It's just..."  He shook his head.  "I just can't have you running around, swinging a sword, and not knowing what you're doing."  I watched as he paced the room.  "To be a warrior, you need extensive training, not just the basics either.  Many of us have been training all our lives..."  I frowned a little.

"So, are you saying that you'll let me train?"  He looked over at me.

"No, I'm saying why I don't want you fighting."  I huffed a little.

"But, I've been training since I was 10, Father.  Fili and Kili have taught me everything they know, right down to how to build and repair weapons.  If you would just give me a chance, I could prove to you..."  He shook his head and looked away.

"That's out of the question, Era.  You are a princess, and princesses don't fight, end of story."  I felt my jaw drop.

"So what?  Most princesses don't want to fight!  All they care about is marrying and ruling their kingdom from the throne room, Father.  I want to be out there, defending my people and fighting beside my kin!"  He looked over at me with a stern expression on his face.

"I said no, Era.  Now drop it..."  I shook my head.

"No, there's another reason to it, isn't there?"  He shook his head.

"What makes you think that?"  I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Mother's a warrior!  Why can't I be one, too?"  He raised his voice as he came closer to me.

"You can't be a warrior!  I'm not risking losing you again!"  I flinched as I stared Father down.

"What do you mean?"  He froze, matching my gaze.  I realized he was hiding something from me.  "What are you not telling me?"  He sighed and shook his head.

"It's nothing."  With that, he left, leaving me to wonder what he was keeping from me.  As soon as the door shut, I sat down on my bed, anger raging inside me.  Whatever it was he was hiding, I'd figure it out myself.

*Thorin's Pov-

I stormed through the castle, not sure if I was angry with myself or Era.  Before long, I passed Skyrena, who frowned as she watched me go.  Soon enough, she was following me down the halls.

"Thorin?"  When I didn't answer, she started to sound worried.  "Thorin, what's wrong?"  I reached the throne room and stormed over to my throne.

"I couldn't get the words out...  I couldn't think of how to tell her, and, now, she's angry with me!"  I buried my face in my hands.  "I just...  I...  I couldn't bring myself to tell her."  I looked over at Skyrena, who'd seated herself beside me.  "What if she doesn't understand?  What if knowing the truth gets her hurt?  What if...?"  Skyrena patted my shoulder, attempting to calm me down.

"Era knows better than to let her anger get the best of her, Thorin.  All you have to do is explain to her what you're worried about..."  I shook my head and sighed.

"You're right..."  I looked over at her.  "Maybe you should do it, Skyrena.  That way..."  I sighed and shook my head.  "I don't want her to be angry with me.  I don't want her to hate me, either."  Skyrena nodded and rose from her seat.

"I'll do my best, Thorin."

*Era's Pov-

"Era?"  It was Mother, standing at my open doorway.  I sighed and tucked my chin to my knees.

"What is Father's problem, Mother?  Why won't he let me train?  What exactly happened to make him not want me to be a warrior like you?"  Mother sighed and sat down beside me.

"A long time ago, when we were in Bree, we met you..."  I frowned and looked up at her.

"What do you mean?"  She shrugged.

"I don't fully understand what happened, but you were much older than you are now.  Something had happened, and you ended up in the past."  I thought for a moment.

"But, that's impossible!"  She nodded.

"That's what we thought, too, but there you were.  We both knew in a few days that you were our daughter from a future timing.  And, you joined us on our journey to reclaim Erebor.  In a matter of time, Thorin and I grew fonder and fonder of you until Thorin decided he wanted you to stay in our timing.  However, you knew that, when the journey was over, you'd have to return to your own timing."  I remembered the images I'd seen when I found myself absorbing the energy from Mother's necklace.

"But, I didn't make it, did I?"  She didn't respond.  "Something horrible happened, didn't it?"  She nodded.

"During the battle at the end of the journey, you fought Azog the Defiler in order to try to save your father's life.  The two of you fought side by side, trying to destroy him.  However, he almost won.  He was about to kill your father, but you drew his attention away.  Before your father could reach you, Azog ran you through with his blade."  She swallowed hard.  "That was the only way he won.  As soon as Azog ran you through, Thorin flew into a rage and killed him.  However, you were fading quickly."  She looked at me with tear-stained eyes.  "You died in his arms that day, and he swore that, when you were born, he'd do everything he could to protect you."  I swallowed hard and looked away.

"That's why the energy...  That was my dying energy?"  She nodded.

"With all the memories from before you came to us."  Before I could say anything, Fili arrived.

"Uncle Thorin wishes to see you both in the throne room."