The Kings Jewell, The Queens heart (ON HOLD)

Chapter 4 Raven

Third pov

Raven kept her routines even during travel. She fell asleep easy and didn't complain when she had to take watch, then she woke whoever was after her and went back to sleep only to get up early in the morning to pack her things and quietly helped getting food ready.

It was much like her routines at home and she settled into travling easily. But she felt bad for Bilbo. Hobbits rarely left their homes and she suspected he wasn't getting enough food since he was starting to grow thinner about a week into their travels. She did what she could to get him a little extra to eat.

She doubted the rest of their companions would realize anything. She'd been lucky that the three youngest dwarves gave her a chance.

Otherwise she would be quite lonely. Not that the thought really bothered her that much. She'd spent the better part of three thousand years alone. Though she really could do without the glaring (cough Thorin cough) and the judging eyes looking for any possibility of betrayal (Dwalin). The rest just seemed either confused or weary of if they could trust her.

Fair enough, she supposed. She hadn't told them anything about herself, not even Gandalf knew much (even if he liked to think he did), while most of them spoke openly about themselves.

Four weeks into traveling the question she'd waited for came.

"Say lass, where did you get those beads from?" Balin asked as he saw her taking her braids out to brush her hair and re-do them.

She got her last braid out and began combing it. If she didn't take care of it then it would become wild and unruly. "They were a gift from my dâd when i had hair long enough to do something with."

Bilbo, (who hadn't noticed much of the dwarven traits his only female companion carried) felt some surprise show on his face. "Your father was a dwarf?"

Raven nodded. She couldn't really see what was so surprising, though she wasn't that used to interacting with people so maybe it was. "He was."

"So you're half dwarf?"

"Yes?" She finished with brushing her hair. The well made leather pouch she kept her beads in sat on her lap. "Why do you ask?"

Balin smiled. "We were just wondering. You have inherited many dwarven traits is all. Could i see one of the beads, if you wouldn't mind?"

Even Thorin was paying attention now. A dwarf would never let someone handle their hair beads unless they trusted them. The lot of them were practically holding their breath as she let Balin look at one of them.

Balin looked at it. "Very fine work. And quite old. May i ask what is your father's name?"

Raven's mind kinda went blank for a second as she tried to recall what her father's name was before she shrugged. "I.. Can't remember."

"How can you not remember your own fathers name?" Thorin narrowed his eyes at her.

Raven didn't like the tone of his voice and glared at him. "I've survived him by many years. Hard to remember someone that died when you were a child." Her voice was sharp and she put the only thing she had left of her father back in it's bag, deciding to leave her hair down for the night.

A few of the others visibly winced at her words. Back when Smaug took their home it was a rarity not to lose anyone, and most knew loss well.

Balin shook his head and gave his king a disapproving look.

Before anyone could say anything to eventually smooth things over Raven had stood up. "Wake me when it's my watch." She promptly went to her bed roll, making sure to not look at Thorin. This was one of the things he'd said to her, yet every time he said anything he managed to piss her off.

Thorin pushed down any feeling of guilt as he decided to take the first watch.

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