The Split Horizons: The Love Of Two Dwarves

11

When they made camp for the night, Shadelia made a delicious stew from the provisions Ava's parents provide. Dwalin ate the most by far, although Ava and the accompanying guards ate quite a bit as well.

Ava's father insisted on providing an escort. With two princesses in the party, he believed.

Dwalin, stomach full, quickly laid out his roll before returning to his seat beside Shadelia.

"Well I'm going to get some sleep," Ava said after completing  the same task.

"Sleep sounds good," Dwalin agreed. "What about you, Shadelia?"

"I am going to stay up just a little bit longer," she said, staring at the glowing embers of the fire.

"Have you determined what is home to you yet?" Ava asked.

"I'm getting there."

Dwalin was confused by the exchange, but said nothing as he laid in his roll.

Shadelia thought about Ava's question once more. What was home? At this point, Ava was like the sister she never had, but so desperately wanted. Maybe that was home, around Ava, someone who felt more like family than her actual family.

But was that really home? Ava's presence comforted her, but it didn't feel... right.

Her loneliness began overtaking her once more and that's when it hit her. Dwalin was her home. Why else was he able to ease her worries so swiftly?

As she finished the thought, she heard him snore, knowing that meant he was asleep. As if it were a cue, she stood to lay out her bedroll. She was careful not to bump in to him for fear of waking him. She was afraid of anyone knowing she wanted to sleep next to the dwarf. She didn't even want to tell Dwalin.

Pushing her stupid paranoia aside, she laid next to him, this time facing him, and snuggled up with her face pressed against his chest. The familiar smell of wood smoke and a hint of bacon and ale that lingered around him helped to lull her into sleep. Yes, safe in his arms was home.

The next morning, Avantika was the first one up. A smile crossed her face when she saw her companions, still sleeping deeply in each other's arms.

She had know the answer to her question about home before she had even asked Shadelia. But the girl needed to come to the conclusion for herself.

Once the sun began to rise, she woke them. Shadelia awoke looking quite embarrassed, but Dwalin was unfazed.

The sun had mostly set by the time they reached the Gratician army. Shadelia's fears had reignited as the mass of soldiers came in to sight.

"Lady Ava!" One guard exclaimed, setting off a string of similar words. Soon, the imposing man who Shadelia could only guess was the general appeared in front of them.

"News from the castle, my lady?" He asked, quite stunned at her presence. Normally, the royal family would have sent forward notice if one of them was to visit.

"Joyus news indeed," she said. "Run up a white flag in the morning. This is Princess Shadelia of Powerna and we are negotiating a treaty."

Silence fell over the Graticians before someone yelled "She's a witch! We must kill her now!" This angered Shadelia quite a bit.

"Now exactly why must you kill me? My power has done you no harm, and I come seeking to relieve you of war. Perhaps you would like to continue fighting? In the hopes of extinguishing something that does not exist in the Powernian common or noble blood?

"The royal family are the only ones to possess the power you fear, and we fear it just as much. But hear me on this, if you continue to wish to kill my people, you will not leave where you stand in one piece.

Your king and queen have decided on peace, to continue the fight is to betray your country, and I'm sure Princess Ava will have no qualms with me burning you to a crisp if it comes to traitorous acts."

Even Dwalin and Avantika were surprised at the strong words from the small, terrified princess, but she was right. If any men betrayed her parents and continued to kill, they would be sentenced to death. And death by Shadelia's fire was likely to be much more painless then anything Ava had in mind.

"Provide us with a two-sectioned tent for the night," she ordered, and men jumped to fulfill the request.

Once they were provided adequate place to rest, Shadelia went straight to her bedroll. She was still very nervous and had surprised even herself with the speech earlier. She wasn't hungry.

Ava and Dwalin remained by the large fire of Ava's army.

"She will return to Erebor with us," the princess said simply.

"But... what about her kingdom?" Dwalin was shocked. Shadelia hadn't said anything of the sort to him.

"Her kingdom is not home for her any longer. Her parents have alienated her more than even she knows. I have a feeling they will accept peace, but not the daughter that ran away from them."

"How do you know?"

"Are you truly that clueless? She has quite obviously found her new home and it does not involve Powerna."

"Then where?"

"Not where, Dwalin. Who."

The dwarf was speechless. He had no response to the confident princess. Yes, he had come to love Shadelia, even in their short time together, but to think she would consider him home was...

"She will return to Erebor because that is your home and she has no wish to be royalty. She truly rejects it." With that statement, Ava disappeared, heading to their tent to rest.

Dwalin dwelled for a few moments on this knowledge, but then decided to follow.

Upon entering the tent, he discovered each girl has chosen a different section to sleep in and smiles. He'd have the beautiful woman by his side again as he slept tonight.