The Unexpected Journey and How It Actually Happened

Solace In A Melted Sword

I woke up in bed wearing the same clothes from the night before, the gorgeous blue tunic and the braids in my hair were untidy. The sun was peering through the windows but had just started rising, so I took my time preparing myself for the new day. The lavender oil and soaps helped me drift off to sleep the night before, and I opted to use them again. The swelling of my face from the crying had decreased significantly, but redness still lingered under my eyes. I let my hair down without braiding, one of the final steps in accepting the new me in this world, besides washing away my past life's memories. This new life was more me than I thought it would ever be, and it was a chance to renew myself. I'd take every opportunity I could get to remind myself of that. I dressed myself in another tunic, one colored dark forest green with gold embroidery on the edges, and the matching gold braided belt. Taking my earrings off so my hair wouldn't snag, I stared at myself in the vanity mirror, squinting away more tears as I looked into my green eyes. I looked like a true wood-elf, if a wood-elf had such pointed features and pale skin, not to mention my short height. Though the journey would continue for another month, I knew I had to find some resolution with the dwarf king to keep my life, and this was a life I would not bow down to, not again. A knock on my door paused my thoughts, and I called for whoever was behind it to enter. Fili gently unlocked the door and swiftly approached me, smiling kindly.

"You look better," He commented, "Not that you didn't look good before. I just meant that you seemed distressed last night."

I met his gaze through the mirror and turned around to him, smiling, "Thank you, but you barely saved yourself just then."

He got closer, lending his hand to me, and I took it, standing up, "As long as it was not enough to incur your wrath." His smile lowered as he stared at me a little longer. Though the silence was comfortable around him, he took a breath and continued, "Do you... want to talk about what happened?"

Nodding, I kept his hand in mine and pulled him to walk with me out of the room, "Yes, but only after I eat."

He smiled and allowed me to pull him to the bottom floor to the dining area, where all the dwarves had gathered at the table with piles of meat. As we approached, Fili led my hand to sit me down first, and he plopped right next to me, serving me a plate of ham, sausage, and eggs. I hungrily dug into the food, not paying attention to the wandering eyes of the dwarves, and it was hard not to moan from how delicious the food was.

I took a moment to breathe and looked at Fili, "Are you not going to eat?"

"I've already had my fill, and watching you is entertaining," he chuckled, "but if you're so worried, you could feed me yourself." Fili opened his mouth and pointed at it.

I laughed, "No, sir. This is my food, thank you very much."

Thorin watched us out of the corner of his eye as he ate with the rest of the Company, his usual glare feeling colder than normal.

"Too bad for me, I suppose." Fili sighed dramatically, "Now tell me, what happened that got you so upset?"

I put my silverware down and sat my hands on my lap, looking down at them, "Well... It's hard to explain." I brought a wry smile up to him, "And I don't want to bother you with it."

Fili smiled warmly at me, reaching up and placing a strand of hair behind my ear, "If I didn't want to know, I wouldn't have asked. Out with it." Did he just...?

My expression dropped as I blushed brightly. He just touched my hair... Oh my god, he IS in love with me... Thorin saw the interaction and slammed his palms on the table, pushing himself and walking away from the group in stomps. I watched him do so before I leaned into Fili and whispered, "You just touched my hair..."