Loyalty, Honor, and a Willing Heart

Chapter 13 - Uphill

They rest of the day wore with no news; those of the Company that noticed the strange ongoings among grumpy uncle and his nephews were relieved to see Kili smile again. He and Ellen just rode side by side, talking small, but it was obvious that the strain that was there for some days already was gone. Even Thorin seemed more lighthearted, as if making up his mind about this issue freed him to go on with his own thoughts.

Several days later Lily and Iris were sharing one of the night watches. At first Thorin thought that the women should not, but then it came to his mind that if they were to be treated as equals by his men in warfare, then it should be so in everything else. The only exception he made was that they should not watch alone until he was surer about them.

They tried to be the quieter possible, so as not disturb the Company’s sleep, but Iris could not quite hold her curiosity on what Lily was doing next to the fire with the scabbard of the new sword Thorin gave her before they left Imladris. She came closer and whispered.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m pyrographing.”

“How? You don’t have a pyrograph here!” Said Iris, stating the obvious.

“But I have fire, and my Swiss Army switchblade. I’m heating the screwdriver and using it to mark the leather.”

“What is this design? I figure out I have already seen it somewhere.”

“It is a surprise. Now stay quiet, we should not disturb the others.”

It snapped to the hobbit-lass where she had seen that design.

“You should kiss him.”

“What?”

“You should kiss him. It is obvious you are in love, why else would you get into the trouble of pyroghaphing his personal knot into your scabbard?”

“Iris, I cannot simply kiss him, what would he think of my behavior?”

“And when in life did you care about misbehaving?”

Lily sighed, and Iris went on.

“Hear me, these guys cannot see the obvious even if you shake it in front of their eyes, you must be subtle as an oliphaunt in a crystal store to make them understand what you feel, ok?” She looked around to make sure she didn’t wake up anyone. “Kiss him, stupid!”

“Oh, shut up, Iris, why don’t you go and kiss Bilbo?”

“Why do you think I haven’t already?”

***

Next day it begun to rain, much to the Company’s disgust, as they were approaching the mountains and climbing that step slopes with wet ground didn’t sound at all a smooth ride. Thorin called for an early halt, deeming it better for them to start the mountain paths early in the morning rightful rested. There was no means for a fire to get started, and they huddled up together under the trees in small groups, for warmth and company. Thorin managed to sit beside Lily with the excuse of having a better view of the camp. They exchanged some small conversation, then he noticed Lily’s things beside them. His eyes grew wide.

“What have you done to your scabbard?”

“I...” She stammered, fearing of having done something improper. “I just made some decoration on it, I thought it would do no harm.”

He took it in his hands looking at the careful made fire markings on the leather. He remebered the day he made that sword, back at Imladris. He should have perceived something was going on along Kili and Ellen right then.