Dawn (A Hobbit Fanfic)

Chapter 15 - Following Gandalf's orders correctly is for Elves! Oh, wait.

[Warning, awkward intimacy.]

"Dawn, your hair still looks terrible," Kili commented as he stood on the creek bank next to where I sat on my knees.
"I'm working on it!" I said as I leaned forward to better see my reflection as I moved my dagger to cut a bit off my hair. "Why don't you help me, no good has ever come from cutting one's own hair," I asked.
Kili's cheeks turned red for some reason. It wasn't such a strange question as far as I was concerned. Nidalin, an old friend of mine, had done my hair many times when we were children because there were always twigs and leaves stuck in it. That had never meant anything more than him saying that if I'm not going to act the part, I should at least look like a princess.

"Me, I could never. I'll ask Thorin for you." Kili quickly walked away, since the rest of the company weren't far away, I could hear Kili asking Thorin if he'd help me with my hair. For some reason, all conversation fell dead. I heard someone clap Thorin on the back and some coins clink as he made his way over to me.
I didn't know what was so significant about Thorin helping me fix my hair, or why Kili wouldn't do it, how it would be translated into a bet least of all, but I was curious to find out. Kili getting Thorin specifically to do it was rather suspicious in my opinion.

"What needs to be done?" Thorin asked as he entered the clearing. His face was redder than Kili's before he left.
"I chopped it after a Goblin got hold of it. I'm trying to make it look presentable but I can't see it. Can you help?" I asked, holding out the dagger for him to take. There was still no conversation at the camp, which I found very odd, given that my friends were the loudest group of people I had ever met.
"Yes, of course," Thorin said, taking the knife and kneeling behind me. He gently moved his fingers through my hair. He occasionally touched my ears. At first I thought he did it by accident but by the fifth time, I was starting to think that he did that on purpose.
Accidentally or not, it was making me quite flustered as I struggled to not move too much.

"Thorin?"
"Hm?"
"I asked Kili to help first, but he got flustered and went to get you. I'm curious as to why."
"Oh uh- he seems to think I'm better suited."
Better suited for what? Was there some meaning behind doing someone's hair that I didn't understand?
Thorin took my ears between his thumb and his finger and traced them from the beginning to the tip. It sent a shiver down my spine that I didn't hide well enough. Thorin chuckled at my movements.
"It still tickles when you do that," I said. It came out as quiet whisper.
Thorin took a few strands of my hair and started braiding it so my ears were fully visible. When he was done I leaned into his touch as he poufed it all up a bit.

"Turn around," he asked me. I didn't get up, but I did snap my head around so my hair swished and made a funny face at him. His face was still red as he smiled at me. My face was red too now. "It looks nice," he told me as he gently pressed his forehead to mine again.
"Thank you," I said awkwardly. I suddenly felt the need to be among the others again because I felt like I walked face first into a cultural barrier and broke my nose. I got up and offered my hand to Thorin to help him up as well. For some reason he looked a bit disappointed before he took it. He let go as we walked back to camp.

"Yep. Better," said Kili quickly without looking at me. Murmurs of agreement sounded across the company, but no one would look at either of us. Not even Gandalf.
"Is there a cultural meaning I don't understand?" I asked, perhaps a bit bluntly. Thorin's hand fell from my back.
"None at all." I had reason to believe that this was not true, but I decided it was making everyone including me very awkward, so I dropped it. Bofur handed a few coins back to Oin and looked the most disappointed.

"Is Bilbo back yet?" I asked in an attempt to change the subject.
"I bet he won't be for another hour," Bofur said, finally looking at me.
I saw Bilbo climb down the ledge, back from his spying mission.
"I'll take that bet, ten minutes," I offered.
Bofur eyed me suspiciously but agreed anyway.
Not eight minutes later, Bilbo burst into the clearing.
"He's here!" I called, catching the coin pouch that flew my way a little too aggressively.
"Knife-eared shit," Bofur muttered under his breath in Khuzdul. He seemed to have forgotten that Fili and Kili taught me a few swears, or that I was perfectly capable of hearing someone talk two miles away.
"Well, excuse me, you fuck."