Brilliant Disguise

Chapter Six

Someone was crying.

Thorin paused at the hallway before the one leading to his apartments and peered down to see Heather Asharm sitting on the floor, her back against the stone, her knees drawn to her chest, arms folded, head buried in them, her shoulders shaking from the force of her sobs. His gut twisted painfully as he sprinted down the corridor toward her.

"Mimûna?" He reached her in only a few quick strides and crouched before her. "What is it? What's wrong? What happened?"

She continued to cry, her entire body shaking now. Thorin caught her by the shoulders, gently running his hands across them, down her arms, over her hands, and back up. When she'd run off to come back here an hour ago, she was fine. What could have happened to her? Did she happen upon someone and they'd hurt her?The kink in his gut worsened, but he kept his voice soft and soothing as he asked, "Are you hurt? What is it? What's wrong?"

"Mama..."

His gut kinked as he looked up at the closed door. "Did something happen to your 'amad, mimûna? It's all right if you tell me. You won't be in any trouble, you know."

"She's gone..."

He scooped her up, cradling her against him as he rocked her and whispered, "Shhh.... Mimûna... what do you mean, she's gone?"

"I can't get in..." Heather threw her arms about his neck and squeezed, sobbing into his hair now, "I don't know where she is..."

"All right, easy now, mimûna. We will find her. Shhh..." He smoothed a hand along her back, up over the back of her head, then reached for the door handle. Locked.

"Mama..."

"Shhh...." He wrapped both arms about her now, not at all certain how else to offer any sort of comfort. Still, it felt like the right thing to do, and it came naturally to him. "I will find your mama, I promise you I will. But, for now, why don't we go and see if Miss Narnerra will let Gimli keep you company whilst I look for her?"

Her sobs quieted, and she just rested against him for a moment. Then, she lifted her head from his shoulder she said, her face tear-stained, with drops still coursing over her red cheeks. "He's in trouble, Mister Thorin. He wasn't supposed to have come with us before and his mama was red-faced, she was so mad."

"Oh..." He hesitated, then continued, "I imagine his 'amad wasn't happy to find out that he had, which means I am probably in trouble, as well. So then, perhaps we should not go see Miss Narnerra after all. Would you like to visit with my sister instead?"

"Lady Dís?" Heather brightened some.

"Lady Dís. Would you like to go see her?"

"She has such pretty beads in her beard..."

"Aye, she does, doesn't she."

Heather sniffed and rubbed at her eyes with both hands. Her eyes were red and swollen, but her tears at least were drying. "I wish I could wear beads like that, but Mama said I won't grow a beard at all."

"No, you probably won't. But, there's nothing wrong with that, either, you know. Perhaps your 'amad could weave some beads into your hair instead."

That seemed to cheer Heather. Her eyes brightened somewhat, brilliant blue beneath their veil of silvery tears. "I saw Lady Dís had something braided into her hair. Perhaps I could do that?"

"I don't see why not. I'm sure you'll look every bit as lovely as Dís does." He held her away, shifting her to one arm to smooth her damp hair away from her red, tear-streaked cheeks. "Try not to worry, mimûna. I will find your mother. I promise you, I will."