Lady Red Cloak

Heart Of Stone

A week later

"Slow down, lassie - Oin said 'wander', not 'sprint'" there had been enough waiting, I had to see it all! Who knew when such a demise would strike again?! My hands ran across the cold stone walls embellished with our history as I moved faster than Balin could keep up with, Oin had said we were no longer required to be confined to our chambers but to ease out 'easy'...Erebor waited for no one, and nor did I

There was that scent I longed for, damp and musky halls filled to the brim with a hint of metal- and that glorious chime of axes carving through ore deep below so out of sink you would believe it was an echo! The faint whiff of various well cooked meats and tankards of all almost hit my lips as I caught sight of the great hall bustling, pausing only for a moment - so this is where they'd been gathering? Amazing!

In amongst the lines of dwarves sat at the benches, I caught sight of Dwalin, however his smile didn't seem as bright as it was back in the mountains. It seemed a tad strained but still giddy, it felt so strange to lurk there but comforting to know he was safe however my stationary pose had given my uncle enough time to both catch up and spot whom I'd seen "That's his third one this morning, Aye - he has not taken too kindly to your absence"

The scene was like a perfect puzzle with one piece slightly faded, bread rolls still flew from his hand with the same velocity as a hammer would nevertheless his mind was on something other than the lyrics "Am I to assume it is I who has caused his heart of sorrow?" The small dwarf's hand rubbed my shoulder as his expression fell into a frown at the sight of his younger brother in such a low place "go be with him, a bringer of good news may lift his spirits yet?" My hands plucked a stray bread roll from my feet and studied the texture of each grain, I couldn't take much more of this waiting around for fate to give me permission

"I fear you may be right, but alas - that would leave you unsupervised and alone. Oin was very clear-" Balin didn't miss the look I shot his way, family meant more in this moment and he knew very well I was capable of walking a few more steps without a safety rope tied to my waist. As much as I respected Oin's opinion, there was nothing that ailed me except for lack of strength in my body - I was healed yet still banned from venturing more than twelve feet from my chambers...that great hall was waiting for me!

"Don't get any funny ideas, lassie - or I'll request for Oin to keep you under watch for longer due to signs of 'resurfacing infections'" I pressed my forehead gently against Balin's, indulging in the little skin to skin contact I'd had. How my hands longed to hold the iron of forgery let alone feel the embers of creation kiss my skin in such a sensation that coursed pride to spread through my veins - I wanted to feel like something bigger than myself again, like the whole mountain was our forge

"Thank you! I am in your debt, uncle - I will only journey as far as the throne room's doors and straight back" his hand waved as those little feet wandered towards the feast, my father's eyes lighting up immediately when his brother joined his side. They'd been through so much together, it felt so odd to watch them interact without me there with them almost like I was watching a time where I never entered their lives. Their faces wore a careless mask I'd never known before, perhaps because they were always watching me? Now the two had the safety net of their community to breathe under...how refreshing that must've been

It seemed like hours that I sat there against the freezing surface mesmerised by the commotion that seemed a world away, once I was healed - it would be me speaking in that hall, perhaps some other girls too as that was now an opportunity! Of course there would be regulations that weren't in the mountains, perhaps one such as 'never speak of Smaug the terrible' which is understandable as he was the ruin of our people, but I'd never broken any of the old ones to jeopardise my position here

"What did I say about going this far?" Oin hurried down the hall swatting his hands in my direction however it all paused once again when he realised I longed for the company of my own kin "Ah, I see. Well once we're certain it won't spread to the rest of Erebor, you will be the first to be free from my torment" a small smile spread across my lips, apart from the medical hounding - Oin wasn't so bad as people made him out to be, in fact...he was one of my favourites which made him all the better of a healer.

He offered me an arm up which I gratefully accepted "Come, my little poet of the night - we will make a well woman of you yet" it was a steady stroll back to the chambers full of small talk and wishful thinking which would only come true if I stayed where Oin told me, a rare occasion indeed. We both knew that, so if anything - I'd be the last out...

And maybe that was okay...