My Own Star In The Sky

Chapter 9: On our way

Dakota's POV:

I was making a pot full of tea, because while I was making tea for Bilbo some of the dwarves asked for a cup of tea as well and I was fine with making some more. I was waiting till the tea was fully boiled when Balin walked into the kitchen. "You can never stop taking care of others, can you?" he remarked making me laugh. "It's my job to take care of someone so I might as well put it to use. Why else am I here? When I got to hear my punishment I wasn't a great fighter, I am no burglar, so what else was to be my purpose?" Balin sighed. "Without being rude, Dakota. I honestly have no idea. I don't know what Thorin was thinking. I mean taking a woman on a quest like this... isn't the usual thing to do. It's too dangerous. I just hope you can prove that I was wrong, that women are able to go on a quest like this." I looked at him. "No you're not being rude Balin. Really you aren't, besides I think the exact same! I also hope I can prove you wrong. Not because I want or need to be right. Just because then I'll have a chance of making it to the end." I said.

I checked on the tea and saw it was boiling and ready. "Hold on a second. I have to serve the tea." I said and quickly readied the tea. I first brought all of it to the dwarves and then walked to Bilbo who was talking to Gandalf. "Excuse me. I have Bilbo's tea." I said politely. Gandalf nodded and I gave Bilbo his tea. "Thanks Dakota. I appreciate it." I smiled at him and walked back to the kitchen were Balin was waiting for me.

"Dakota can I talk to you about something serious?" "Sure, of course you can!" I said to him. "You and Thorin have been best friends since who knows how long and I have talked with your mother. It has come to our attention that the both of you have behaved a little different than before and I just want to tell you, even though it hurts me dearly, that you and Thorin can never be together. And it's not because I don't like you or because you're not good enough. I often think you are the only one that is good enough for him but he needs a princess. Someone that grew up being a princess." I nodded at him. My heart ached because of his comment but I stayed strong. "Dakota... I truly am sorry. I should've told you years ago when Thror and Train were still alive but when they died... I thought it would've been too much for you to handle. They were the closest thing you had to a father after all." I nodded again. "I know that you wouldn't want to hurt me Balin. You are the closest thing I have to a father now and I have always loved and respected you. I know what you are saying is right." He nodded but I could see it still bothered him that he had to tell me. He walked back to the hall and I went to the little living room and sat in the chair Bilbo had sat in minutes ago. I sat in front of the fire and it was nice and warm. I wanted to cry so badly but I heard a voice behind me. "Balin really has your best interest at heart." The voice remarked. I could hear it was Gandalf. "I know, and I respect his opinion but having to hear something like this... it's just difficult." He stood up and placed a chair next to me and we watched the fire. "Gandalf you said you knew more about me than I thought." He nodded but kept silent. "You are not going to tell me?" I asked a little impatient. "Have you ever known your dad?" he asked me carefully. I stared into the fire. I never talked about my father with anyone not even Thorin and here I was starting a conversation with someone I barely know. But when I considered it, Gandalf already knew more about me than I thought so why wouldn't I tell him this. "No, I have never spoken to him or seen him. I never wrote him a letter or the other way around and I know practically nothing about him." He lifted his head. "What do you know about your father?" I thought for a moment. "I know he's an elf. A Sindarin elf to be exact but that is where my knowledge stops." He lifted his head again. Gandalf was about to talk but I stopped him. "Gandalf... I don't need to know more about my father. My father hurt my mother and me so I don't want to know more about him. He's my father by blood but he didn't raise me, he didn't teach me anything and Thrain and Thror did." Gandalf nodded understanding. "Well then, I'll go ahead and take my leave and smoke my pipe." He said standing up and I gave him a warm smile. "Goodnight, Gandalf." "Losto vê, Dakota." {"Sleep well, Dakota."}. He said to me and walked away. How did he know I could speak elvish? Only my closest friends know I can. I learned elvish only because of my background otherwise I wouldn't even consider it.