Flames

2.1

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Coins rattled. Hot breath moved the gold. Some fell into a pile as something moved beneath the rich ocean.

I am fire.

A large, orange eye popped open. The blue skin surrounding it slowly turned red as the heat of consciousness returned to its cells.

I am death.

-----------------------

Azalea jolted awake, the dream still vivid in her mind. She wondered what had said those horrible things. Her mind drew a conclusion before the question had even finished forming.

The dragon.

Why was she dreaming about a dragon? Why had it said those things?

And why did it scare her so much?

I am fire. I am death.

Those words terrified her. She knew she was awake, but her dream still swam before her eyes. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't see. She barely heard when a voice called her name.

I am fire. I am death.

"Azalea? I think you're still dreaming."

The dragon disappeared, and was replaced by...

"Thorin?" she asked.

"Are you all right?" he countered, his eyes full of concern. 

"I think so. I just had a...a frightening dream," she replied, forcing a smile. "I'm fine now."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, not really," Azalea replied, staring into a barely burning fire.

"Oh. Okay, then."

Thorin sat next to her and stared into the embers with her.

"Um...can I say something?" Thorin asked.

"You just did, but sure."

"I am...I...I apologize for being so horrible to you in the beginning. That was a mistake," he said. Azalea smiled.

"I accept your apology," she said. He smiled back at her.

"That's good. Do you think we could attempt being friends?"

"Yes," Azalea said with almost no hesitation. "I think we could."

"Good."

They sat in comfortable silence. 

"I really did want to hear you sing," Thorin admitted. "I think you would have a very lovely voice."

"I did, once," Azalea said. "Now, I can barely remember a single note."

"I can teach you an old Dwarven song, if you'd like," Thorin offered. Azalea cocked an eyebrow.

"If you want," she shrugged.

Thorin smiled and began teaching her the words to "Misty Mountains". 

"Okay, I think I've got it now," Azalea said after learning all of the words. "Far over, the Misty Mountains...bold?"

"Cold," Thorin corrected patiently. She nodded. 

"Far over the Misty Mountains cold, to dungeons deep and caverns old..."

Thorin joined her, surprised at how the song sounded in an alto range. After the last note had cut off, both of them stared at each other. 

"That was lovely," he said. 

"You weren't so bad yourself," Azalea commented. Another silence enveloped them. 

"I should probably try to sleep," she said.

"Yes, that would be a good idea," Thorin agreed. 

Neither of them moved. Azalea cleared her throat.

"Well, good night, Thorin," she said awkwardly.

"Good night, Azalea," he echoed.