Beside the Undying Fire

Chapter 13

I had a rough night of sleep, just as I knew I would. Night terrors of the battle haunted me, the pain did not help in the least bit.

My mother had warned me of night terrors. But told me a way to get rid of them. I'd always kept it with me, although I was exceedingly young, somehow this implanted in my mind.

"Happiness, it comes unexpectedly, like a butterfly in the summer, the more you chase it, the more it will escape you. But if you turn your focus onto the other good little things, it will slowly come to rest upon your shoulder. Truly, this is happiness. So shut your eyes and let the butterfly come to rest upon your shoulder."

All I could think of was Thorin. I had not many other things to be happy about.

My Father died in battle long ago.

And my Mother, well, she disappeared.

I was left alone for many years.

I was 14 years of age. Not at all old. But I seemed to age quite quickly, as did Thorin, that was the thing with being a Dwarf, a childhood or anything of the sort eluded you because of the increased aging. But it slowed down as you got older. It was a funny thing, looking quite old for your age. Thorin still looked like the battle-hardened warrior he always did.

But it had still felt like an eternity since I'd had any contact with my parents.

13 years was 13 years too many.

I looked around my home, it carved beautifully into the mountain. It wasn't much, but it was my home. My bedroom was the smallest of all the rooms, with my bed in the middle and a hand carved wooden dresser on the left side near the entrance. At the foot of my bed sat an old chest, with weapons. And on the right of the room was wooden bench, with my name carved into it.

I had a kitchen, a very small one, seen immediately when entering through the front door that entered into the great halls or Erebor, in the North portion. The kitchen had a big wooden table in the middle, a large bucket of water, a fireplace, and had doors all around it, the left, facing out, had the door to my bedroom, and the right had the door to a sort of library, living room combination, I had books upon books.

So after all that, I tried my Mother's trick.

I thought of the little things.

And thought about what had caused a smile for so long already. For years it had been a reason. The Prince of Erebor.

The butterfly had come.

And I shut my eyes, drifting off into sleep.

~

I awoke the next morning, stiff and sore. I got up immediately, sitting up on my bed. My head pounded and my side ached as it began to bruise.

I walked over to my dresser. And saw it. A necklace.

The one my mother had left me. I guess I didn't wear it on the journey, I didn't want to risk loosing it. I grabbed it and gently put it around my neck. It was a key, I had not the slightest clue on what it was for, but it meant everything to me. I clasped it in my hand, the sterling silver key had old Dwarvish engravings on it carved beautifully into the sides.

I clutched it and closed my eyes, hoping to clear my spiralling mind.

A while later, I'd gotten ready to go out.

I never really had to do my hair, unless I pulled it back but that was a rare occasion. Normally it was just down, and slightly wavy.

I put a dark, mauve dress-like shirt with long sleeves. It went down a bit above my ankles, and I wore considerably clingy pants under it. The front opened up, revealing the pants.

My side ached more, but I kept the ripped piece of dress wrapped on it from the night before.

I slipped my brown boots on and put Arvendel over my shoulder in it's holder.

I walked the halls of Erebor. Just for the sake of being on a walk. Until I saw Ariannell, my old friend, she was unaware I'd gone on the quest as well. She was the one who had taken care of me when my mother and father went missing in the unending land. She treated me like a friend, but loved me as a mother I never truly had.

"Where have you been Madeira!" She gave me a hug.

"I've been around." I laughed.

"Well you need to inform me! I haven't seen you in 5 days!"

"My apologies, Ariannell."

"It's fine. We'll have to catch up soon!" She smiled.

"Very well." I nodded.

We went our separate ways. I kept walking. Each step on my left foot shot more and more pain up to my side.

I walked near the King's room. Thrain stepped out and I stopped.

"Hello, Madeira!" He started, smiling. "It's lovely to see you! My my what on earth happened to you?"

I'd known Thrain for a long while, he had known my father and fought beside him in many battles, and unfortunately, had been there at my father's last.

"Oh, good day!" I started. "My coordination skills are quite weak." I joked

"I find that unbelievable, young lady!" He laughed. "I've seen your skills, they are nothing short of remarkable!"

"Well thank you." I blushed.

"Thorin was looking for you a while ago, I suggest you go find him." He said, gesturing to the King's room.

"Thank you, I shall find him right away." I said. "Good day."

I walked towards the King's room, Thorin stood near the end. I walked towards him, and again, the pain, the agonizing pain stopped. He spoke with Thròr, who sat on a Thrown. Thròr caught a glimpse of me and pointed me out to Thorin.

He began to stride towards me, he had a blue themed outfit on, it really highlighted his eyes, I couldn't take my eyes off of it. Until we came at army's length.

"Good afternoon, Madeira." He nodded.

"It is now." I joked.

We shared a smile as we began to walk out of the King's room.

"I've been meaning to talk to you, perhaps it slipped my mind last night, but we need to go out on a run. This needs to be discreet, and that's why I chose you. A pack of Orcs were spotted a few miles from here, and I need you to come with me to ensure it goes well. It's a small pack of about 5 to 6 and we should be back by tomorrow morning. But I trust you to help ensure it stays quiet, I don't want to alarm anyone in Dale or here." Thorin said.

"A small pack? This is a threat?" I questioned him.

"It will only grow if we don't take care of it." He started. " I would really be honoured if you came with me."

"And I would enjoy going." I smiled.

"Alright, we leave as soon as possible. Get what you need and meet back at the entrance."

"I have everything I need with me." I replied.

"Well, I have to retrieve my sword, you're welcome to come if you'd like." He insisted.

I nodded and walked beside him as we went to his residence to retrieve his sword.

He had a considerably nice home. It was cozy, I could settle here in a second.

It was nearly the same layout as mine, but with more rooms and space, and it was fairly close to my home.

"You have a very nice place, Thorin." I said, looking around.

He smiled and nodded his head as if agreeing.

He walked up to me after retrieving his sword.

"We should go." He coaxed.