Lady Red Cloak

Sickness To Us All

A few months later

"Many of the dwarrowdams fell ill to the heat, and the herbs only made them worse" It had been may two, three months since we'd left the blue mountains and panic had spread through the travellers like the plauge - somewhere within the last few weeks, the women of our group had gone down hill faster than any other sickness we'd ever seen. It was like a fever if none of us had ever developed antibodies as dwarflings, some were worse and some were better

We were drenched in our own sweat, both hot and cold yet covered in blankets to keep us hidden from the outside world as we moved but none of us had the energy to fight it anymore, it was death itself. Some other dwarrowdam had thrown up enough to refuse food and were now leaving themselves for Aulë to claim once again - it was a horrible decision to make, and for the healer's to handle...I would've helped if I wasn't among them

"Where's my lass?!" The older dwarf scanned the carts until he saw the hint of red he'd embroidered with his own hands many years ago, a immediate sense of relief washing over him "Oh my sweet darlin'" his hands cupped my face with such care, it must've seemed like I would shatter at any moment. My once pale complexion was painted with a slight red tint with gaunt exhausted eyes to match the turmoil of the journey in environments many of the dwarrowdams had never been exposed to before, and nor did we want to be again

"Did we reach the mountain?" My hand weakly stretched out until found what I assumed to be his cheek as he stared over the edge of the wagon in a shock of horror - this was never meant to happen! Sure, I'd had the cold and other minor illness as a child...but this was nothing like he'd ever seen, even Oin was baffled at the sight and descriptions he'd received. The mountain provided more experienced hands which I'd be safer in

"Aye, you did - you're home" his hand gently pressed against my forehead, Oin was currently busy having a real go at the healers who were assigned to transporting us - none of us had realised they were still in training and therefore had mixed up their herbs for something more lethal. We'd been taking the same stuff as supplements for weeks to replace missing supplies, and it must've finally taken its toll

Dwalin gently pressed his forehead against mine as a greeting, he didn't care what grime I'd been marinating myself in - he was my father. Not even for a moment did he let go as the carts were driven through the oversized door, his voice booming for dwarves to move out the way so we could be escorted to a destination of absolute safety...oh how glad I was to be behind walls again!

Great comfort came to me as the sound off mining echoed off the walls, this was the true home of our kin. "Dwarves...they're mining again" my eyes fell closed to which Dwalin began to panic signalling to unpack the dwarrowdams quicker - instead of waiting for healers, he swore under his breath and scooped me up with ease marching in a direction I didn't know

My hand double tapped his check quickly motioning to put me down, the second I hit the floor - what little food I'd eaten before appeared before me in a liquified state. The second I was done, I flopped to my left against his legs as Dwalin recounted where he'd seen this before in my childhood and what to do...except there were very few occasions where he actually helped as I was a stubborn person

"May you find kindness in my trajectory" with a slight chuckle, he scooped me back up and moved around to slop back on his warpath with a few healers chasing after us requesting delicacy in his movement. Balin was shuffling at the back trying to keep up with concern written over his expression as I peaked over Dwalin's shoulder, there was that little he gave me whenever I made a mess

My father's boot came into contact with a random door before he stormed through the chambers placed me down by the toilet while he ordered the healers to stay with me, it was just as his back was turned that my body lost all strength to hold itself up leaving me in a numb feverish state on the stone floor - one helper had mentioned that all the women were to be quarantined as they weren't sure if the illness was contagious...I was marooned in these chambers until I was healed

I could think of a worse state, but many of us had been so thrilled to explore our first proper dwarven mountain. Children of the blue mountains were told so many tales from those who lost their home, we wanted to see what they were once proud to call 'home'. I didn't think being bed-bound wishing for it all to end was the first impression they wished upon us...

But it was what we received...