Brilliant Disguise

Chapter One

Sophie Asharm held tightly to the little hand in hers. "Please, stop fidgeting, love," she said softly, but sternly. "Mama's nervous enough, you know."

Large blue eyes blinked up at her. "I'm sorry, Mama."

The apology in the little voice made Sophie forget her nerves for a moment and she crouched before her daughter to smooth Heather's delicate dark ringlets away from her face before lifting the little girl in her arms to give her a squeeze. "No, you need not apologize. This is a big change for both of us. It's hard to fault you for fidgeting."

"Will we live here for always?"As she spoke, Heather tilted her head back, her eyes going wide as her gaze traveled the length of the massive labradorite façade that made up the main gates of the Kingdom of Erebor.

"We will for now, at least," Sophie told her, giving her another squeeze. "Are you scared?"

Those dark ringlets bobbed. "A little."

"Me, too. But, I think we'll be all right in the end."

Heather met her gaze then. "Adam said the king is scary. Is he?"

"I don't know, love. I've never met him. But, his sister is very nice, so I'd imagine he is as well. But, he has much to do and many responsibilities, so that might make him appear scary. Plus, he was very badly hurt not too long ago, which probably means he's still in some pain and probably grouchy."

"Like Papa used to be."

"Yes," Sophie tried to ignore the pang at the sadness in Heather's voice, "like Papa used to be."

Heather sighed and rested her head on Sophie's shoulder and without thinking, Sophie smoothed her hand over the silky curls. "It's all right, baby," she murmured.

A smaller door within the gates opened and a stern-faced dwarf with a full, heavy-looking dark beard and mustache and cold blue eyes glared out at them. "State yer business."

"I'm Josephine Asharm. Lady Dís has hired me on to work with Narnerra for one of your warriors who was wounded and lost the ability to speak Westron."

"He's regained that ability."

"I know, but his speech is very limited, according to her ladyship. And since speech therapy is what I do, she thought perhaps I might be able to help." She shifted Heather to her other arm.

Heather picked up her head. "Are you angry at us?" She directed this at the dwarf.

"Heather!" Sophie tried to keep her voice a whisper, then offered the guard a smile. "She's only four."

To her surprise, those blue eyes warmed some. "She's yer little girl?"

"My daughter, yes. Lady Dís told me we'd both be welcomed. Is she here, then?"

"It's her home," came the gruff reply, "where else would she be?"

"Well," Sophie cleared her throat, "if you would fetch her, she will tell—"

"She did tell. She simply made no mention of a little one coming with ye."

"Is that a problem?"

"No. There are plenty of children here for her to play with, if ye'll allow it."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Dwalin!" A stern, feminine voice floated out from the depths of the guardhouse, "stop giving Mrs. Asharm a hard time and let her and the child in already!"

"I beg yer pardon, yer ladyship."

Dwalin disappeared from view and a moment later, the gates rolled open. Heather lifted her head once more and just stared. "Mama... do you see this?"