The Truth Beneath the Rose

Cursed

Thorin bolted out of his room, not bothering to put on a shirt. His heart beating frantically. He rounded the corner and found a young Elf maid covering her face. She noticed him and stumbled over her words. "I j-just came f-for the linens and-and..."

He nearly slammed into Nevaeh's open door. Glancing about, his eyes finally focused on her. She was standing there with a look of disbelief planted on her face. At her feet was a fair sized doe lying in a pool of its own blood. It was plain to see why the Elf maid was shaken. The doe had been mauled and it's flesh was viciously torn. Suddenly, Dwalin came barreling into Thorin. "What is it?" He panicked. "What's happened?" He looked between Thorin and Nevaeh.

"Well, I knew you'd all be unsatisfied with the Elvish food. So, I brought Bombur something to cook with." She explained and grew quiet. "I didn't do anything wrong." She sighed, looking at the floor, knotting her fingers together. She was biting her cheeks again. She was worried that they might be angry with her, that she had actually done something wrong. Dwalin and Thorin stared at her while the Elfling cried outside the door. "Oh will you please shut up?" Nevaeh groaned at her. She ran off down the corridor. And the three of them were left alone.

"Is that it?" Dwalin asked.

"Well, yeah." She shrugged.

There was silence for a moment and then Dwalin began to laugh. "How...thoughtful." He said. Then Thorin began to snigger, as well. Nevaeh was confused but the sound of their ridiculous laughter made her giggle as well.

"Come on, sweets." Dwalin walked over and threw an arm around her. "Anyone who makes an Elf cry is a friend of mine." He chuckled and she smiled.

"What should we do about the mess?" She asked, looking at the mangled carcass and then at the two Dwarves. "Its just a little blood, really. I don't know why she cried."

Thorin and Dwalin giggled. "She'll be fine." Dwalin assured her.

"I'll have Bombur come and fetch the deer." Thorin told her. Realizing he had forgotten to dress in the chaos, he returned to his room.

Dwalin and Nevaeh joined the rest of the company. Most of them were relaxing and enjoying their stay with Elves. There was food to be eaten and merriment to be made. Dwalin told them of their rather eventful morning and they found it rather entertaining as well. Once lounging became boring, the Dwarves began thinking of ways to occupy themselves. Their idea was not one that Nevaeh or Bilbo wished to take part in. Skinny dipping in one of the Elvish fountains with a hoard of Dwarvish men sounded less than thrilling to Nevaeh. So, the Dwarves left her and the Hobbit behind. Nevaeh was laying on the stone railing of the balcony and Bilbo sat cross-legged on the floor. Soon, Bilbo grew restless. "Err...Nevaeh?"

"Hm?"

"Would you like to explore with me?" He asked. She began to look unsure. "It's just, I've never been to an elvish city before and I imagine sharing the experience would be more fun." He explained. Nevaeh thought for a moment. Bilbo was sure that she'd refuse.

"All right." She sighed and grinned. "Just don't be a bore." Bilbo beamed at her. He was really warming up to the cold-natured girl.

They travelled through the rooms and corridors, marveling at different forms of art and statues. The Elvish art told stories of the History of Middle Earth. Nevaeh educated Bilbo on the bits that she knew and Bilbo did the same. They came upon a broken blade, Bilbo examined it curiously. "...and the sword of Elendil filled Orcs and Men with fear, for it shone with the light of the sun and of the moon, and it was named Narsil." Nevaeh said with reverence in her voice. "It was the sword that cut the One Ring from the Dark Lord's hand."