Erebor's Guardian

Chapter 14

Elrond, Gandalf and Thorin joined the dinner party at the taller rounded table next to a stone statue. Dinner was served elvish style and the company complained about the selection. I nibbled on the rolls and potatoes sipping on the red wine. I sighed into my drink eating dinner gracefully as I could manage with everyone enticed into their own conversations. I risked another glance over my shoulder pretending to look over at the sunset, my eyes drifting over the dwarf king. Thorin was out of armor in his royal blue tunic and I blushed remembering the Khuzdul he spoke to me earlier.

"I saw that, lass." Bofur's whispered voice startled me and I nearly choked on my wine.

I swallowed my wine and gave the dwarf a crossed look. "What are you talking about?"

Bofur tilted his head, his silly hat emphasizing himself a little more serious than usual. "I see the way you look at Thorin."

My cheeks instantly flushed.

Bofur's western style mustache pulled up into a smile. "It's alright, lass. We dwarves may live underground but one thing we do have a keen eye on is someone in love."

"Love?" My voice cracked, betraying me. I knew I had feelings for Thorin but love? Was I really in love with him? I placed the wine glass to my lips but did not drink. The rim of the glass danced on my lips as I thought. I lowered the glass to my lap. "I'm not...I couldn't be...I just..." I trailed off and Bofur's smile grew bigger. He was right. My stomach fluttered with butterflies and my body heated up with a blush. I was in love with the king. A panic jumped in my heart. "Bofur, please don't tell him. I can't jeopardize this mission."

Bofur's jaw dropped. "Lass you wouldn't jeopardize the mission."

I thought about the moment I shared with Thorin in the healing room. His arms held me, his chin rested on my head, my forehead leaned against his broad chest and the whispers of Khuzdul he spoke. I looked over my shoulder in time to see the grimace Thorin gave Elrond when the lord was not looking. Doubt crept into my mind remembering Thorin's hatred for the elven kind. My kind. What if behind my back he was only being nice to get me to help his company? What if he truly despised me? I turned away from him, keeping my eyes in my lap watching the red wine swirl around rippling my reflection. "What does it matter anyway?" I sat the drink down on the table. "I'll always be an elf, nothing more to him."

My words broke his heart. "Lakota-"

"Excuse me." I left the table just as Thorin left his and I disappeared from the study when Thorin walked over to Bofur.

I walked through Rivendale listening to the song the dwarves sang trickling down from the study. I lingered through the gardens as the night crept through the city bathing it in a silver light with fireflies floating in the air like magical baubles. I just wanted to be left alone to get away from everything. I found an overgrown path leading towards the mountain side near a roaring waterfall. The narrow pathway twisted up behind the waterfall to a small hidden cave that overlooked the city. Moonlight danced through the waterfall reflecting against the cave wall. I sat up there sitting against the wall near the ledge with my knees pulled up to my chest and my chin on my forearms. I analyzed all the memories between me and Thorin picking at every doubtable detail in my mind. The bitterness of reality coated my tongue knowing that I had fallen for someone who I could never be with.

"There you are." Balin puffed leaning on the entrance of the cave. "I have to say you are very hard to track when you do not want to be followed." Balin made his way over and settled next to me. "Bofur told me about your conversation."