The Unexpected Journey and How It Actually Happened

Not A Single Choice and All The Choices At Once

The hum from the pulled strings of the harp played a slow, melancholy melody. I stayed as quiet as I could as I listened to it, and Thorin began singing. His rough and deep voice rumbled out soothing lyrics, lyrics I didn't understand—the language unknown to me. I could hear my heart beat out of my chest from the sound. It was so loud I worried that my cover might get blown. I kept my body stiff and still on the bench, hoping he couldn't catch that he wasn't alone. The only light came from deep in the corridor and the moon, so the garden was not lit properly.

Shadows danced in the corridor, and the mossy grass and fallen petals reflected it. The shadow of Thorin's hair covered his face, and I was hidden by the shadow of the stair railing descending from the hallway. The moon's light peered through the leaves and blossoms of the tree above us, sprinkling the floor with blue specks. The garden was another platform that held itself up by the mountainside. Thorin's singing eventually faded to humming as he plucked the strings, and the melody became more upbeat but kept the same tempo. My face blushed at the sound of his breath as I daydreamed of him speaking kindly to me, courting me, and kissing me. I held my breath as the realization of what I was thinking about dawned on me and covered my face with my hands. No choice in anything, I swear. What are the chances he chose this garden out of all the others?

This new tune interrupted the fireflies' sleep as they rose from the bushes and planted flowers, dancing along the air and filling the area with enough light for Thorin to spot me. His strumming halted when he did, and the sudden silence made me flinch. It was a clear indicator of my noticed presence.

"I didn't realize I wasn't alone. I'll leave you in peace," Thorin grunted, preparing to stand up.

"No! No, it's ok," I stood up, brushed my dress around my legs, and took one step up the stairs as I held the railing. I turned my face halfway to his, "What were you singing?"

He took a deep breath and looked away, "A lullaby."

I turned to face him, "What were the words?"

"Nothing you need to know about," he snapped as he turned to face me. His knotted eyebrows relaxed when he looked at me. Then he turned away again.

I held my hands up defensively, "My bad, I didn't realize that was a boundary I couldn't cross. Good night–"

"Would you like to try?" Thorin tried to soothe his voice, but it became a growl as he spoke, "The harp, I mean."

I planted a foot back on the grass, and the other remained on the step. I smiled at him victoriously, "I'd love to."

He quickly gestured for me to come to him, and I obeyed, sitting next to him on the bench. After the revelation of my lack of choices in this world, my body became aware of Thorin's and the space between our bodies. Our shoulders barely grazed, and he man-spread himself on the bench, making me twist my knees away but keep my torso facing the harp between his legs.

Thorin gently plucked the string closest to him, opened his mouth, but quickly closed it as he seemed to be contemplating something. Then he looked at me, "Have you ever played an instrument before?"

I smiled, "I have, yes."

"What instrument?" he pulled himself back to look at me better, somewhat shocked.

"Uh... I believe it would be a fiddle?" I questioned, realizing that violins may not be a part of this world.

"You believe?" He scoffed, "And you wonder why I don't trust you."

"You didn't let me finish again," I crossed my arms, my face tensing. Thorin gestured for me to continue, sighing annoyedly, "I play a different version of the fiddle with a different set of notes. I believe it is a fiddle because it has the same shape, but the strings are tightened in another way. The notes can be changed, and I play a version called a violin. My knowledge of music is enough to play a harp."