Fire Moon (The Hobbit LS)

Feast?

The setting sun cast a lovely golden glow over a newly cleaned Coalbi. It made her curly hair shine and her pale skin practically glow. She followed the path to Arwen's dining balcony that she had taken so many times in the past. It was several halls away from her own room but overlooked the dining area of Elrond.

Stepping out onto the balcony caught Arwen's attention and drug it away from the feast below her. Coalbi smiled at the dark haired elf as she sat across from her. Neither said a word at first as they looked to the dining hall under them. All of the dwarves sat at a table with plates of salad in front of them. Thorin and Gandalf were sitting at Elrond's personal table. When she was young, Coalbi would join him and his children. But eventually she and Arwen moved to the balcony above when he had company.

"You look lovely, Coalbi." Arwen started, turning back to the woman across from her. Bright blue eyes swept down Coalbi and studied the outfit she was wearing. "I haven't seen you wear your people's jewels since you first arrived. It must be a special occasion."

"I figured it was time to bring my heritage back into the light," she laughed. Gold eyes looked down to her attire then down to the dwarves with a thoughtful look. "I found most of my Lord and Lordess's jewelry in a troll cave. I took what I could here, but I will go back for the rest. They deserve to be shown off."

She turned back to Arwen with a soft smile upon her face. Being with the elves made her more relaxed than she had been in a while. It eased the tension building in her muscles and lessened the strain on her emotions.

"They do, they look nice." Arwen agreed, glancing at the headdress.

"You're distracted, what happened while I was gone?" Coalbi asked, concerned for her long time friend. It wasn't often the elf got distracted. She watched a dazed smile make it's way onto her lips and a sparkle enter her eyes.

"I met someone. A young man that Ada brought in a few months ago. He's so nice and gentle. A bit dirty but that's a ranger. Beautiful blue eyes and almost black hair." Coalbi smiled at Arwen, never before had she seen her look so invested in someone.

It made her forget about the stress of what she was embarking on. Talking about what Arwen had been doing took her mind away from the secrets she had to keep. The two of them hardly touched the salad in front of them as they caught up with each other. Only pausing once to watch the dwarves as Bofur started singing.

Coalbi let Arwen speak first before confiding in her about what she was doing. She talked about having to help Thorin's company and how she wished to help them more. She asked for advice about what to do about little Ori, and her own broken past. If she should tell them what she was and who shared her soul. Wondered if they would accept her or if they would shun her and turn her away. Through it all Arwen sat and listened, wanting to get all the information before answering.

"I think you should tell them who you are. You don't have to say who shares your soul if you don't wish, but getting it out in the open would probably help settle some things. I don't know how to help you with the young dwarf. That's not my place." Arwen said, trying her best to ease the worry on the woman's face.

Coalbi looked away from her and down to the dwarves. They were talking and throwing leaves at each other. At Elrond's table they were discussing something in hushed voices. Golden eyes strayed to the lone dwarf sitting on the table, taking in the way he was tense and on edge. Then glanced at Gandalf across from him.

His eyes lifted from the conversation up to where she was sitting. A knowing look was on his face that had Coalbi sighing. As if drawn by an invisible force, Thorin looked up as well. Gold and blue eyes met, one unsure and the other unreadable. When she felt the moment went on too long she turned back to where Arwen was watching her.