365

mar.15.22

As the Company emerged from the narrow pathway in the stone, they marveled at the sight before them: a kingdom appeared, surrounded by waterfalls and the marbled stone walls, elegant in its appearance. The dwarfs gazed at it; Lullaby thought it was pretty, but apprehension sat in the pit of her stomach.

She heard Thorin's angry voice before she heard his words; they were directed at Gandalf. Lullaby turned toward Thorin, who was just behind her.

"–They will try to stop us," Thorin was saying; his tone suggested he detested the elves greatly; Lullaby knew his reasons.

"Of course they will," Gandalf replied.

Lullaby couldn't focus on the words that were being spoken. She got caught up on Thorin's venomous tone. She approached him, putting her hand on his arm. He turned his head to her slightly, acknowledging her touch.

"–Which is why you'll leave the talking to me," Gandalf finished, stepping past Thorin, leading the way down the mountain. The dwarfs and Bilbo began to follow him. Fili and Kili held back, watching Lullaby and Thorin.

"You alright?" Lullaby asked quietly.

Thorin nodded once. "I will be fine." He placed his hand on her back. "Come. Let us follow them."

Lullaby nodded, stepping forward; Fili took her hand, and Kili and Thorin fell in step behind them, following the Company.

They found themselves walking an elegant bridge, leading to the centre of the kingdom. Pillars of white stone surrounded them, statues of elegance amongst them. Lullaby couldn't help feeling so small.

The dwarfs huddled together, apprehension and caution amongst all of them; as beautiful as the new kingdom was, it was still new and full of the unknown.

She felt a squeeze on her hand; she looked up and met Fili's worried blue eyes.

"I'm okay, Fili," she whispered to him, hugging his arm. She felt his head lean against hers.

Gandalf was speaking with a tall man near a set of stone stairs. The man was elegant, as was the entire kingdom. He had long brown hair, dark robes, and a simple silver headpiece.

A horn bellowed then; all the dwarfs turned to the stone bridge they had just walked down. Horse hooves thundered on the stone; elves on horses approached quickly.

The dwarfs withdrew their weapons; Fili and Kili pulled Lullaby behind them. The dwarfs stood back to back, weapons drawn, with Bilbo and Lullaby in the centre of them, shielding them both.

The horses circled them; elves were poised on the horses. They eventually stopped; another dark haired elf climbed down from his horse in front of Gandalf.

"Lord Elrond!" Gandalf greeted warmly to the elf. They spoke quietly, in another language Lullaby didn't know.

She heard Gloin's voice next, but only the anger of it; the words evaded her.

She felt arms around her; Fili had pulled her against his chest. She looked up at him, but he was watching the elves on horseback around them.

Fili's arms tightened around her then. "You stay back," he said; Lullaby noticed the venom seeping into his voice. It reminded her of Thorin's voice. The tone of the line of Durin.

"Fili, Lord Elrond will not harm her!" Gandalf nearly yelled, anger in his own voice. "Bring her forth!"

Lullaby couldn't see much except Fili, and the anger on his face. "What's happening?" she whispered to him, her heart beginning to beat faster at the unknown.

"You stay close to me," he whispered back. With his arms still around her, the dwarfs parted to let them through. They emerged, and were met with the dark haired elf that Gandalf called Lord Elrond, with Gandalf himself behind him.

Lullaby looked up at him; she felt small next to the elf. She stood facing him, Fili's arms around d her shoulders. She placed the bottom of the axe handle against the stone, her hands holding the top of it like a staff.

"This is your human," Elrond said then, watching Lullaby. "The one who appeared out of nowhere."

Lullaby didn't know what to say; the elegance that accompanied his words intimidated her. She cleared her throat before speaking. "And you're the elf king. The one who helped us escape the Orcs." Lullany remembered Thorin's disgust at the elven arrow in the cave.

Elrond chuckled. "Indeed." His eyes looked her over from head to toe and back again. "Orc blood becomes you. And Gandalf had a human like yourself killing Orcs with the rest of the dwarfs?" he asked, his tone almost mocking. "Frail and mortal?"

Courage rose from her chest; she felt offended by the king's words. "I wasn't forced to do anything," Lullaby assured. "I am part of this Company. I do what the Company does." Her eyes narrowed at Elrond. "If that involves killing, I will do it."

Elrond was quiet a long moment, pondering her words. "Orcs, or in general?" Elrond asked. "The killing, I mean."

Her hand tightened on the top of the dwarf axe. "Whatever the Company needs."

She heard whispers around her, from the elves as well as the dwarfs. Fili's arms tightened around her shoulders.

Elrond's slight smile didn't falter. "Indeed." He gave Lullaby a little nod; she wasn't sure what it meant entirely. Perhaps respect, because she didn't think she had the power to instill fear in the king. "If you would all follow me, you may clean up before supper." He nodded once again at Lullaby before turning toward the stone staircase. Gandalf followed him, and gestured the dwarfs to do the same.

She felt Fili lean down to her ear. "That's my girl," he whispered, followed by a kiss on the cheek.

Lullaby smiled and looked at him. She hugged his arm as they followed the dwarfs. Kili patted her shoulder, as did Dwalin. The big dwarf leaned down to her and said, "Gutsy as a Durin, darlin'," before winking and following the others. Lullany s.iled at Dwalin's words, as Fili held her tighter to him as if he agreed.

Thorin walked beside Lullaby and Fili then. "Watch yourself," Thorin warned, his voice low. "Elves are tricky creatures."

Lullaby knew how Thorin felt about the elves: he seemed to loathe them entirely. She nodded at Thorin's words – the strong words of a king she trusted. "Yes."

Thorin's eyes lifted to Fili. "She does not leave your sight."

"Yes," Fili answered immediately.

Thorin nodded back to them both.

Fili leaned toward Lullaby's ear. "Keep showing courage like that, and nothing will ever hurt you."

She hugged his arm. "Don't leave me alone, though. I probably wouldn't have had the courage if you weren't behind me."

He kissed her cheek again as they walked. "I will not leave your side."