The Split Horizons: The Love Of Two Dwarves

7

The next morning, Shadelia decided she would tell Dwalin. How, she was unsure. But she would tell him.

She was sitting outside the gates once again watching the sunshine and playing flute. She was playing music from home, various folk songs and official royal music as well. She was more homesick than she ever expected.

When Dwalin came to join her as he always did, she put her flute away.

"Good morning Dwalin," she said.

"Good morning Teresa."

He tried to give her his cloak again.

"I... I'm actually not that cold this morning, but thank you."

"It's colder than last night!"

"Dwalin, I haven't been completely honest with you about who I am."

"You are the princess of your country."

"How did you..."

"You mentioned your father arranged for you to marry a noble. And your cover story wasn't the best. And you seemed to be afraid of Ava, which makes sense if your countries are at war."

"Oh."

"But is Teresa your real name, or an alias?"

"My name is Shadelia."

"That's a pretty name. So how does any of this lead to you not being cold?"

She held out her left hand and summoned fire to her palm in an instant, startling him.

"Fire? That's your ability?"

"One of them..."

"What are the others?"

"I can control Shadows and Sound. And the Sound thing helps me learn music. So that's how I learned so quickly."

"That's amazing. Does Ava know?"

"I told her last night. I'd come to the conclusion she would not kill me for who I am. Actually, she wishes to work with me to stop the war."

"We should go get breakfast."

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Allow me, your majesty," he said teasingly as he offered his hand to help her up.

"Oh you goof," she said. "Just call me Shadelia. Or Teresa. I don't care which."

"Why would I call you Teresa if it isn't your name?"

"It's my middle name."

Later that day, Shadelia was in her room alone. She was thinking about home once again and wondered if she should return. Ava had mentioned that she would return to her kingdom at the end of the week to present her parents with the treaty with Erebor.

But Princess Avantika would be welcomed at home. Princess Shadelia on the other hand... who knew how her father would respond...

But maybe she would go with Ava. Help end the war. Maybe then her father would appreciate her.

The princess in question entered Shadelia's open door and sat beside her, startling her from her thoughts.

"So how do you like Erebor?" Ava asked.

"It's wonderful... but I miss home. I miss my brothers. But... I do not know how my father or the kingdom would react to my return."

"You can stay here if you wish. I will be returning after the treaty is settled. My twin brother will take my place in line for the throne. There was a plan in place for if I marry one whom already had a kingdom, and Thorin proposed last night."

"That's wonderful. Actually, I planned on accompanying you. I want to stop the war. Maybe... maybe then my father would accept me. Maybe then I can go home."

Neither girl knew it, but Dwalin had been outside, about to knock, to see if Shadelia would accompany him to dinner. He heard that she would be leaving Erebor. He had finally found some light in his life from the princess and she was leaving.

Ava and Shadelia continued making their plans for a while, and then went to get some dinner.

Meanwhile, Thorin found Dwalin in the tavern alone, several tankards in to the night already.

"What are you doing, old friend?" He asked the balding dwarf.

"She ish leaving..." he replied.

"What?"

"Shadelia ish leaving with Ava at the end of the week.."

This was news to Thorin. He was unaware that anyone would be travelling with his fiancee. And he thought the girl's name was Teresa.

He found the princesses in Ava's room, discussing the journey ahead.

"May I have a word?" he asked, looking at Shadelia. Once in the hallway, Shadelia seemed worried. What could Thorin wish to speak to her about?

"First off, what is your real name?"

"My name is Shadelia and I am princess of my kingdom. I'm sorry, i only told Ava last night and Dwalin this morning and I meant to-"

"This isn't about that. I was just curious. Take him with you."

"What?"

"If you must leave, please take Dwalin with you. He's drunk out of his mind right now but apparently he heard you and Ava talking. You're the only person who has gotten him out of the tavern for any decent amount of time in three years."

"I didn't realize he heard, I was going to ask him to come anyway, so he... so he could see Powerna."

"Thank you."