365

mar.16.22

Lord Elrond led the Company to a room with pristine marbled wash basins and crystalline cold water; thin marble slabs let natural light in, filling the room with a soft sunset glow. Mirrors of smooth and elegant make sat on the walls behind each basin.

The dwarfs entered the room slowly; it felt out of place for them to be there. They approached the basins cautiously, before washing their hands and faces with the clear water. Some scooped up handfuls of it, drinking the fresh cold water from their palms.

Lullaby stood at a basin beside Fili; she leaned the axe against the countertop, finally seeing her bare hands. They were speckled and spotted with dried blackish shapes, like thick paintwater. She remembered that Fili had said it was Orc blood. She washed her hands, then met her eyes in her reflection.

She recognized the grey eyes that looked back at her. Her sandy brown hair looked longer and more wavy, styled by nature. She looked like the dwarfs, she thought. Her skin looked healthy, tan. Her freckles stood out still, thanks to the sun.

But the black splotches of Orc blood scared her. It seemed to make her skin look paler than it was, sickly even. It covered her face like she'd been standing in a rainfall of it. This blood was there because she killed an Orc. She was the one that took its life. She killed like the dwarfs did, protecting their own to defend what they had to  take back what was theirs. This was the blood of her first Orc kill.

A human that killed an Orc.

Fili was beside her then; his damp hands gently washed the black blood from her face, allowing her skin to appear as it should, back to the light tan it was supposed to be. His touch was gentle and soft, and warm through the cold of the water.

Lullaby looked at the basin Fili dipped his hands in. It was dark water now, the Orc blood staining it. It looked like death.

Fili grabbed a dry towel, drying Lullaby's damp face. He held her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his blue eyes. He smiled softly at her.

"There she is," Fili said then, his thumbs against her cheekbones. "She's back."

Lullaby searched his eyes, and smiled back at him. She was so thankful for his strength, in his believing in her. The blood scared her to shock, and he helped bring her back out of it.

Her arms wrapped around him, her head against his chest. He kissed the top of her head, holding her tight. "Are you alright? Do you want to go someplace quieter?" he whispered in her ear.

She watched the dwarfs leave the room after cleaning the blood and grime from their own hands and faces; some even brushed their hair with their fingers. She was just like them.

Pulling back, she met Fili's bright blue eyes. She smiled at him. "I'm with you guys, remember?" She grabbed her axe from the counter.

He smiled back; Lullaby hugged his arm as they both left the room. Kili fell in step beside them, as he had been waiting for them outside. "Don't look so scary now," he commented jokingly. "Not covered in the blood of your enemies."

Lullaby laughed at the comment. "Wait until the courage finds my words again. Then I could be scary."

Dwalin walked in front of them; he turned at her comment. "Like I said before, you're as gutsy as a Durin."

Kili nodded, a wide smile on his face. "One of the Company."

Fili's arm tightened around her. "Always."

Lullaby leaned against Fili's arm, hugging him tighter. "Always."