Dawn (A Hobbit Fanfic)

Chapter 11 - The tension is tangible, or so I'm told.

I quickly went to my chambers and got rid of the corset. "That's enough of you," I mumbled as I cast it aside. I also loosened my hair-do, as it was giving me a head ache.

After some wandering around, I found Thorin in the gardens, with an expression on his face that I could not read.
"Elrond told me to give you his condolences," I told him as I leaned on the handrail next to him. I had startled him, but he quickly realised it was just me and regained his composure.
"What for?" he asked.
"I told him we're going to the funeral of a close friend of yours in the Iron Hills."
"He didn't question your presence at a Dwarfish funeral?" He turned back to look out over the garden.
"He must have thought I was someone's wife," I joked.
He chuckled. "Your friend might not be too happy about that."
I turned on my heel very quickly to face him. My dress swished around my feet because of the speed. "We were NOT flirting!"
"You might not have been, but the looks he gives you are a different story."
"Psh, as if. Remind me to kill him later."
"You just kill anyone who shows slight attraction to you?"
"Usually, no, but he made me wear a tight corset. And he absolutely does not like me that way! We were friends when were kids."
"In that case, go ahead," he feigned a shocked expression.

Turning back to look at the gardens and the night sky, I sighed. "I'm sorry that I lied to you."
Thorin took a while to answer, but eventually, he did. "In hindsight, I'm glad that you did. I don't think we'd taken you with us if we knew from the start."
"Even if I did kick your ass?" I side-eyed him with a smirk.
"The sword is still one handed." He turned his face to mine with a smile.

Thorin seemed to have at least come to terms with my being Elvish. We stood in silence for a long time, but it wasn't awkward. It was quite comfortable actually. I listened to the sounds of dusk. The bugs chirping in the garden and Elves pouring each other drinks.

Thorin suddenly cupped my face and covered my ears with his hands. It startled me a bit and it also tickled. "What are you doing?" I asked. I made no move to get his hands away from my face. Even when he slid his fingers along the shells. Which did cause a small gasp on my part.
"Your ears move slightly when you hear things," Thorin explained. "It's- kind of endearing."
I was very certain that the heat from my flushed face burned his hands.
"I- uh- thanks. They're very- very sensitive," I wasn't sure if it all came out in approximately the way I had meant it to, but Thorin seemed to understand what I said.

"You're ticklish?" Without waiting for my answer, he tickled behind my ears. My legs immediately gave way and I crumpled on the floor. The ears weren't sensitive in a ticklish sense, but more in a pleasure sort of way. I wanted desperately to tell Thorin that so that he'd stop, but I was gasping for air because he was also tickling my sides. I was a laughing, gasping mess. Eventually Thorin helped me get up.
"Ahem, yes. I am ticklish. Very." Dawn, you idiot.

I yawned and Thorin ordered me to go to bed. I ordered him to do the same and completely ignored his orders.
I found Lindir walking down a corridor with a human child trailing behind him. He spotted me. "Kahlahari, I've been trying to find you. There is someone I want you to meet."
The boy hid behind him and peeked timidly around his legs. Lindir gently put his hand on the back of his head, as if to encourage him. "I'm Estel," The boy squeaked. I crouched down to his eye level and extended my hand.
"Hello Estel, I am Kahlahari, an old friend of Lindir's." He took my hand and tried to shake it, but I pulled him into a hug. He was startled at first but quickly hugged back.

"Do you want to play tag?" he asked with a confidence that I hadn't seen in him before. Lindir gave me a pleading look that said he had other things to do. I accepted, but not only because of Lindir's puppy eyes. I had energy left and running around chasing eachother would help me fall asleep sooner and get a good night's rest.