Star-Crossed

Chapter 5

“What did you do to her this time?” Dis snapped.

“Nothing! This time it is her fault!” Thorin laughed, Beuren smirked and looked at the adoring Dis. Dis had always looked up to her, adored her, she never understood why, but she didn’t mind the attention.

“What did you do?” Ferin asked, he was only two years younger than Thorin and Beuren.

“Landed funny on it.” He nodded. Balin and Dwalin entered the room. Balin set down an armful of supplies and took Beuren’s arm again. He gently rolled up her sleeve, then started to feel around for the broken area. Beuren again lost all color in her face, her jaw clenched eyes squeezed shut.

The brothers set her bone back and wrapped her arm tightly. They made her a splint, consisting of several thin flat boards that weren’t very wide, and yet more wrappings. Dwalin tied a square piece of cloth around her shoulder and helped her get her am inside.

“That sling must be worn when you are awake. Keep it up on a pillow when you sleep, and try not to roll around too much. And absolutely no fighting till it heals!” Balin instructed. She nodded and sighed, by now it was about three in the afternoon, Thorin’s father would be expecting the children home early tonight, for the feast in honor of the guardsmen.

“We should be going.” Thorin said looking out the window.

“Mama said that you had to…”

“Sh.” Ferin silenced his sister and held the door open.

“Are you coming?” Thorin asked, looking at Beuren over his shoulder. She thought about it then shook her head.

“They don’t want a lowly elf like me siting at the table. Go on, have a drink for me.”

“Unlikely I’ll be able to get away so, good night.” Elendil smiled and looked down at her boots. The princes and the princess left, all hurrying to get to their rooms and ready themselves before they were late.

Beuren, with Balin’s help, tied her cloak around her shoulders and started for home. It was cool, the wind blew slightly, causing the trees to rustle a bit. The full autumn moon shone in the sky, all the pale stars surrounding it. Beuren pulled her hood up and smiled at the stars. Her name truly did fit her, Elendil, Star-Lover, she loved them more than anything in the world, well, except one thing.

She let her mind wander back to Thorin. He treated her like she was normal, he never treated her like an elf or like an underclassmen, only like a normal being. That was what she liked most about him, his ability to ignore social class and wealth and look at the person for who they were.

Several times in the past months she had been asked by a few people (i.e. her mother, Ferin, and Dis) if she had feelings for the dwarf, true feelings, deep feelings. She had done much thinking about it; maybe people were starting to get the wrong idea.

It was easy to see what they might think. Young girl, without much money, lower class in society. Attractive young man, lots of money, prince for Mahal sakes! It was easy to see where they could take that the wrong way. But it was nothing like that. They were just friends, he didn’t love her and she didn’t love him… did she?

Upon opening the door to her small cottage outside of Dale she found that a single light flickered in the middle of the dining table. Her mother sat, fingers laced together, leaning forward with her elbows on the table, head resting on her knuckles. Confused Beuren looked around, she didn’t immediately see anyone, as least not till she saw the shadow move in the corner.

The shadow drew closer, cloaked, she could not see his face. Once he was in the light of the burning candle, he pulled his hood back, revealing his face. He had dark hair, green eyes like hers and a sad smile on his lips.