Time to Shine

Chapter 10- Get a Rythym 2

Apologies, I was out of commission for a bit due to a torn ligament (the mencius) in my knee, oh the agony, and I am pretty much lazy. (What, you say? She does not write with her knees!! Oh if only.)
P.S. Aria looks like a cousin to the Sand Snakes, they are all so good looking and have a tangible, strong beauty, and not some super model photoshoppy kind.
P.P.S. I'm using the Dwarrow Scholar Dictionary for translations, gods, I'm learning a new language. A PLUS SIDE is that I had a Dracula 2000 dream, so fun, I love Gerard Butler!! His hair is sooo...ugh....total hairporn for me! Anyways, I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
All rights to P.J. and Tolkien.
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Chapter 10- Get a Rhythm Pt. II

I look over to Balin who unravels the longest contract I've ever seen. He gives me a small smile and chuckles, "It's not the best I could have done, but it'll do for now, lass." I know the terms and conditions, death vs. survival, yadda yadda. Smiling a bit, I ask him to remove the part about having "1/15th of the treasure" which he promptly gives me an "are you crazy?" look but Balin does it anyways without any validation or explanation from me. "Well, now that it's settled let's go have a look at your horse. I see Gandalf made arrangements for you," he points towards the front yard where I see a giant black pony stomping it's hooves into the petunias. "Oh boy..." I mumble with a groan.

The first words out of my mouth when I laid my eyes on this beast was to question whether or not it was male or female (no way am I looking there, it's the polite thing to do anyways), and whether or not it would eat me. Honestly, I spent summers on a farm, but horses were not my forte.

Balin gave a little chuckle and proceeded to lecture me on the anatomy of equines and the 'equipment' they have. Of course my horse is male.  Imagine Balin giving me the birds and the bees talk relating to horses, totes unbelievable, especially since the rest of the Company were within snickering and guffawing distance. I actually am capable of figuring out things gender wise, I mean female and male bits are practically all the same, figuratively speaking.

"So, lassie, it all comes down to what you are going to name him," he states, "like most things, be it weapons, kingdoms, or people, a name is more than words, it gives a personality, a life, a meaning to whoever it belongs to." Then I think of Thorin, Darer, daring this quest, his life for his people. It's a legit name for someone so brave and determined. Thus thinking of Thorin, I draw similarities between him and my horse, the luscious raven locks, stoic stare, and broodiness to name a few. If I called my horse Thorin then I am as good as gone. Bye-bye Aria. I step closer to determine his mood, the horse not Thorin. Being careful not to move too fast to spook it, I give him a little ogling when a brillo name pops onto my noggin train!

"Cash," I say resolutely with a smile on my face, " Johnny Cash." His ears perk up at the name and he gives a little stomp of approval with a huffy snort. "Hey! Look, he likes it!" Apparently the 'Man in Black' is a super star, whatever the timey wimey dealio is!

Not hearing the applause and shouts of glee I was expecting, small wonder why, I spot a few confused clocks amongst the packing dwarves and a scowling King, when a large heavy hand lightly smacks my back, almost pushing me face first into a patch of clovers, in support of the christening of Cash. Finally!

Clearing my throat in surprise, I turn around to find Kili grinning at the horse with an apple in hand while Fili hovers behind him, you know, just in case. "Miss Aria, are you able to handle a stallion of this size? You're such a small thing and all, compared to him, no offense." Fili remarks, Kili sniggers and Cash munches happily.

This horse is huge, he is a pony and in addition he is whopping 3 hands bigger than the others, yet he is the perfect size for me. Yay me!

"Well, yes. My late grandparents used to have a farm and I spent my fair share with them. Mostly time spent with the cats and younger animals, i.e. not the horses, since they were always wild ones, my grandpa was a bareback bronc rider!" I say with my chest puffed in pride to a puzzled dwarf, oh boy this quest means I have to step up and become a walking encyclopedia. "I'm sure I can distinguish the difference between a gelding and a stallion well enough, probably," at this the boys wince in sympathy.