The Split Horizons: The Love Of Two Dwarves

3

It had been a week since Shadelia began traveling with Avantika. They had visited two villages and were now traversing through a heavily wooded area. She still had not told the other princess her true identity.

Avantika had no reason to doubt the other girl, and was quite pleasantly explaining her country's history. She knew that Graitica had been at war with Powerna for a while. Several generations ago, Ava's family decided they were not okay with the powers that the people of Powerna were rumored to possess. This led them to declare war on the other country. However, in the decades of war, no one had seen these powers. But at this point... no one was willing to take the risk of backing out, despite the only risk being a blow to their ego.

"Is it true that people from your country possess magic?"

The question caught Shadelia off guard.

"Um well... a couple generations before the war, the royal family decided that it was too dangerous for everyone to have the powers. They prayed to our goddess for her to remove all powers, but she left the royal family blessed with powers. So... the war is pointless because the king is too old to fight, and the princes are too young."

"What about the princess?"

"Her father will not let her learn to fight. Claims it's not ladylike. And that she must be the perfect princess."

Ava noted the unintentional venom in the other woman's voice, but did not press the subject. Perhaps she was friends with the princess.

"Ava, do you recognize this area?"

The Graitican princess was caught off guard by the question, and even more so by her own answer.

"No... I don't. I have no idea where we are. I've never seen plants like this in my kingdom." They heard two male voices and instinctively hid in the underbrush.

"What should we do?" Shadelia asked.

"Well, we don't know where we are. If they pass us and don't seem too dangerous, then we will talk to them."

As they finished their hushed conversation, the two males in question came into view. They were rather short and riding atop ponies.

Following Ava's queue, Shadelia stood and walked over to them. They seemed quite surprised to see their path suddenly blocked by two women.

"Who are you?" the one with more hair asked.

"You first," Ava demanded, hand on the hilt of her sword.

"Very well then. I am Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain. This is my loyal friend, Dwalin. Now I will ask again, who are you?"

"I am Princess Avantika of Graitica. This is Teresa from Powerna."

"I have never heard of such countries. Are you from over the water?" Dwalin asked.

"Water? No, we crossed no water to arrive here. Actually, we are unsure how we even left my kingdom."

"Then accompany us to Erebor, as we do not have adequate supplies for a party of four on our journey." Thorin told them.

"What is your destination?" It was the first time Shadelia had spoken during the encounter. Her calm, quiet voice drew Dwalin's attention.

"We departed in search of wives. Some believe we are... running out of time. But I am content to remain single and drink my sorrows in the local tavern," the bald dwarf told her.

"Very well, we will travel with you," Ava agreed. Shadelia was content to allow the other woman to make the decisions as Ava was more attuned to the workings of life outside a castle.

The next morning when they set out for Erebor, Ava was telling the dwarves of her kingdom and its war with Powerna.

"So Teresa, as a commoner, does not possess any such powers?" Dwalin questioned.

"Apparently not. I was actually hoping to return to my home and have her explain this to my parents and their general. But then we ended up here."

Once they arrived in Erebor, Shadelia was quite nervous. She did not like being in unfamiliar areas alone, and Ava went off with Thorin to discuss her kingdom, leaving the other girl in a quite crowded marketplace.

That's when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She had forgotten about Dwalin.

"I can show you around, lass," he said. "If you'd like."

"That... That would be nice."