Finding my way Home

Ruins of Dale

Melora's gaze focused back on Bard and the children. She hadn't had anyone to care about in a long time; no one she could remember corrected herself. She wouldn't count the before, she told herself; no one had come for the person she was before Melora Park was born. Melora Park struggled to make lasting connections, until Bard and his family. She laughed softly as she was making her way to her found family. It was funny to her that she should remember her social worker educating her on trauma bonds, and she could almost hear her cautioning Melora not to get too close. You're going to leave soon, the voice inside her head whispered. She shook her head, trying to get the voice to go away. As she was making her way to her found family, she heard Bard ask the girls where she was, and she could hear the worry in his tone.

She stood in front of them and immediately wrapped her arms around Bain. Then, she pulled back to look at him, her eyes scanning for injuries. "Are you okay? " She breathed out. "Never scare me like that again, " she demanded of him.

"Sorry, Melora," Bain sheepishly said, "Da needed the arrow." He added.

"You brave boy," Melora put a hand on his face, "You're a hero." Bain blushed, and Melora moved her hand and turned to look at Bard. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Bard assured.

Melora threw her arms around him, giving him a tight hug and letting go just as quickly. "You scared the children, " she told him in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

"I didn't me," Bard started, but Melora cut him off.

"We obviously can't stay here; will we head toward the mountain?" she asks. She had heard part of the conversation between Bard and the blond elf.

"Aye, we make for the ruins of Dale," Bard confirmed. It is a long journey." Bard looked her over, noticing the cut on her cheek and torn dress. Her face was streaked with ash and soot. "Are you okay, Melora?" he questioned.

"Nothing a good washing wouldn't fix." She smiled.

The large group started toward the ruins of Dale. Melora was exhausted by the time they made it. She was ready to fall over when they stepped foot in the city, but those thoughts were dashed when she heard Alfrid's cries for Bard. He left their side to see what the fuss was about. Melora sighed as if it could be anything with Alfrid. She thanked her elven hearing as she didn't have the strength to climb the stairs. While she and the children stood where Bard had left them, she heard him say Thorin's company survived. She knew she rolled her eyes; of course, they did. The pesky dwarfs had almost killed her family by pissing off a dragon, but they were holed up warm in the mountain. If she weren't so tired, she would make it to the mountain just to shake the king under it.

As he returned down the steps, Bard called to make camp and light fires. She had also heard him assign Alfrid the night watch. "Are you sure that is a good idea?" Melora asked when he made his way back to them.

"Alfrid likes his own skin; he should excel at this task," Bard explains. Melora does not have the faith that Bard did in Alfrid, but she has faith in Bard, so she keeps her opinion of how stupid she feels the choice is to herself.

"Come, children, let us follow your father and find somewhere to rest," she said softly.

It was a cold night, and the fire did little to ward off the chill. Food was slim, and Bard and Melora gave the children their shares. They huddled together for warmth, and Melora was sandwiched between Tilda and Sigrid. She started at the fire long after the family fell asleep; her family, she thought to herself. In the months she had been stuck here, Bard and the children had become her family. She fell asleep sitting up but with her heart at peace. When she fell asleep, she dreamed of a man with silver locks, his face hidden in shadow. He called to her, and a dragon flew overhead. She felt the flames on her face and smelled burning flesh, but it was not her own. She jerked herself awake, yelling, "Please," The girls stirred at her cry, and she blinked her eyes. The sun was just rising. "Shh, it's okay, girls," Melora whispered. Go back to sleep. "