Lady Red Cloak

The Thirteenth Hour

Laughing, that's what was about to fill my home. The smell of fresh stew and various vegetables wafting throughout my quarters as I prepared to lend it to my uncle for the night, for the sake of the company. I'd offered to cook as my token of gratitude for reclaiming the mountain - it seemed only fitting as Dwalin was apparently in the middle of shifting through which axes he actually still needed and it wasn't a quick cleaning job...thus the offer came for mine

I had the same amount of space and plates although if things got smashed as they usually did - well, the mountain provided many things but crockery wasn't one of them. Balin had reassured me that he'd attempt to keep too many things from being broken since they were guests in my home but there was no guarantee. I was expecting to see a shattered array of everything at the end of the night

Balin's POV

"No foul speak of elves and try to keep the chambers clean, the lady is very particular at first" I kept up the fast pace of our feet as the smell of hot beef stew and roast escaped what I assumed was my niece's suite, it was only a little head of where we currently marched but a repeat of what happened to our poor burglar wouldn't be a first impression she'd settle well with

"Is the lass an elf lover?" I halted trying to think of an explanation, there was no telling the reaction if I outright said she was half of one. Bofur smiled never faltered as he awaited an answer, at first my hand patted his shoulder with a warm smile before we continued moving down the stone halls in a little cluster - anyone who peered to look down the hallway simply chose another route

"She just doesn't wish upon anyone unless she sees reason with her own two eyes...it's a subject to be approached with delicacy" I hadn't expected Kili to have known so much about the girl. She usually kept to herself even in social situations, our prince due to his reckless nature would've normally been one of the last people I'd expect her to associate with

"Oh so you've spent time with our host?" Suddenly the young dwarf was at loss for words, mouth opening and closing repeatedly as sentences failed to reason why he knew such information. I couldn't help but chuckle lightly as we reached the door, my eyes took in one last glance at the company before me as I knocked gently and pushed it open letting the smell fully hit me

Myrnis' POV

I turned my gaze a little to see the group usher in immediately spotting the table full of food before them, with tankards of ale all ready for their lips to grace. Each took their seat in turn although the one I was concerned about the most had yet to arrive...our king. The muttering as they saw my face for the first time, but once again - Fili had resorted to small glances when he thought I wasn't looking

"So, my lady if I may ask - you features are quite fair in comparison to our friend's, would you say you take after your mother?" The comment was supposed to be a jab at Dwalin's dwarven facial structure but caused a few members to hiss at the hatted dwarf before silence fell into pure interest. No one wanted to ask but they'd all seen the lack of beard and small pointed nose

"I couldn't say - The story goes that I was stumbled upon accidentally while Dwalin and a few others were attempting to keep orcs away from the blue mountains. I believe I would've been handed off to an orphanage if Balin hadn't convinced his brother otherwise" my hand gently rested on my uncle's shoulder whom sat at the head of the table nearest the fire where I was stationed

"And there has yet to be a day I've regretted such words" his hand squeezed mine "one of the sweetest babe's I've seen to this day - lass, you sure that was 80 years ago?" I hummed confirmation in response as I returned to the fire stirring the pot "do you still brew your own ale?" My eyes gestured to the mug in his hand signalling that the contents wasn't bought from a merchant. The hobby originated from my teenage self not being able to handle the taste of the regular stuff

Amongst the conversation, my heart panicked as the door swung open and the king under the mountain sat himself opposite Balin with a nod. I simply curtsied "you must be 'Myrnis' - I don't believe we've met but I read your work. Truth be told I never expected it to be someone so young" Kili who sat in between his brother and uncle seemed all to excited to have more youth near the courtroom, perhaps he was bored of the strictness of older company?

"Aye, as a wee dwarfling - the lass only stepped away from books for puppet shows from the merchants. She's determined to be near fluent in every tongue possible" just how many of my baby stories was he going to tell tonight? This was supposed to be an event for catching up since the mountain was reclaimed - not a reading of my life story, maybe he was just excited? There wasn't many occasions where I'd allow people to show me off

"Not 'near' fluent, or I would be of no service to our king" out of the corner of my eye, I spotted my pile of books I had been learning from - they were put away without anyone's notice as the laughter grew and a few bread rolls were thrown as expected but nothing too messy - Balin seemed to glance back at me asking for permission that this event was allowed, in return...I just smiled and shrugged. Dwarves wouldn't stop being who they were for my sake, and why should they? I was one of them

Slowly the evening lulled into gentle candlelight and hushed songs, most of the plates were scraped clean by Bombur who then came for a few more helpings

It was then that I heard that deep hum of his voice, the one thing that could chase away the shadows without failure. Two hands were placed on my shoulders as I slumped in the rocking chair, they were calloused but still soft enough to bring me all the comfort in the world. They'd never done this before, but maybe that's because he'd never touched me? If so, then I wanted him to touch me again - then it hit as to why this was...Fili had found his 'one' in me

Although I too had found this in him, the whole concept of doing so terrified me to the core. I'd promised myself never to love, as long as there was time left in my years - my craft was left unfinished. He was a dwarven prince as well, which meant that if I let this fantasy continue, it would likely lead to be one day being his queen...I wasn't even a full dwarf, how would I be accepted? Forever would the line of Durin be tainted by their so-called enemy

It seemed like a fate Thorin wouldn't allow once he's discovered it. Maybe my connection with Dwalin would be my salvation? We were everything but blood itself but perhaps that was enough? I doubt it but for the moment, we were nothing but hands on shoulders...that's all we had to be, and it wasn't even required we had to be that. I could remove his touch very easily, the point was I didn't want to...

And I feared I ever would...