Erebor's Guardian

Chapter 4

 After Balin's story I had a hard time sleeping despite the whole company who were fast asleep. Thorin was the only one awake who had taken up the duty of the second watch.

"If you keep sighing like that I am going to find it harder to believe that you're asleep." Thorin said quietly to me, careful not to wake the others.

I rolled over and glared at him which according to him was not very threatening because he smiled at me. "Do I amuse you?" I asked him, giving up on sleep.

Thorin was polishing his knives with a cloth. "Not at all." I stretched and began to pace the camp with Thorin's eyes following me. "But not sleeping is making it hard to keep watch."

I put my hands on my hips. "I'm sorry but could you sleep after your first fight with orcs?"

Thorin's hands became very still as he gave me an annoyed look but then lightened up. "I suppose not. Come, sit with me here." He threw me off guard but still I longed for the security of his company and I settled next to him. I could feel his body heat chase away the nip of the night cold and he handed me one of his knives and wet stone. "Ever sharpen a blade before?"

"Um, no not really. Kitchen knives yes, but they had a different technique."

"Then I will teach you." Thorin took my hands in his rough and calloused ones in a gentle hold. His hand tightened my grip on the hilt of the knife as his other hand guided my hand that held the whetstone down the cold steel at a sharp angle, shaving away old steel and putting a new edge on the knife. "You want to keep it in one fluid motion to keep from adding nicks in the blade."

I nodded, mimicking the motions he showed me. "How long have you been working with weapons?"

Thorin's hands let me go feeling confident in my work. "I was close to Fili's age when I had started my training in Erebor with my Brother. After the fall of Erebor and Moria I took work where I could and perfected my skills over the years."

"So, you're telling me you're an old dwarf?" I grinned jokingly.

With a tug on the corner of his mouth and a breath of air from his nose was the only indication of his humor to my comment. "I suppose I am. Working on 195 years now."

"So, do you have any ideas of what I am?" I handed the blade to him, rubbing out the soreness in my hands.

Thorin took the dagger back and wiped down the blade. "I do."

"Well?"

"Balin and I think your traits come from the elves that lived on the base of Erebor."

"Mirkwood elves?"

Thorin grimaced at their name. "No. Not them. The forest north of my home was filled with magic and a very special race. It's said that these elves were the descendants of an ancient alliance between elves and dwarves. Half breeds if you will."

"Is that why you're being nice to me?"

Thorin gave me a cross look.

"Since I'm not a true elf and you hate elves?"

Thorin leaned close to me, our faces inches apart. "I'm being nice because of what I saw in you today. You're not a coward when it comes down to sacrifice like the Mirkwood elves. You starve yourself to feed others unlike the Rivendell elves." He handed me a dagger sheathed in a leather scabbard that he was sharpening himself before I sat next to him. "Keep this with you in case you need it one day."

I took the dagger and tucked it into my boot behind my shin shields. "Thank you."

Thorin settled back onto the rock and tucked me close under his arm. "Rest now. I will be keeping watch."

"And the nightmares?" I looked at him, letting him see the small fear in my eyes.

He smiled down at me and drew his sword. "They will soon subside, but I will keep watch for those as well. Sleep now Lakota."

I relaxed and laid my head on his chest putting my full trust into the dwarf king. Before my eyes closed I locked my eyes with Balin who gave me a smile of approval. I curled up and let the darkness of sleep take me without any dreams to haunt me.