Daughter of the Shapeshifter (A Lord of The Rings Fanfiction)

Chapter 2

*Skyrena's Pov-

I woke up the next morning, long before Era did.  Carefully getting up, I brushed her hair back and stood back.  With her raven hair and piercing blue eyes, she looked so much like her father, Thorin, it hurt.  As much as I loved her, it was hard to look at her and not see her father in her.  She is almost as reckless as him, but she wants to be braver than he ever was.  The thought of my daughter facing half of what her father and I faced while he was alive just made me shudder...  I started off to find Balin.

"Balin!"  He jumped from his desk and stood.

"Well, morning to you, Skyrena.  What can I do for you?"  I took a deep breath, trying not to sound upset.

"Have you really been telling Era stories of our adventures?"  He stroked his beard as he nodded.  I placed my hands on my hips as I swallowed hard.  "She's having nightmares about the Pale Orc and how he killed Thror, Thrain, and Thorin."  He hung his head.

"I'm sorry, Skyrena.  She begged me to, saying she wanted to know more about Thorin.  Have you told her anything about him?"  I sighed and sat down.

"I've only showed her his energy...  It's how I got her to go back to bed last night."  Placing my head in my hands, I shook it.  "Those stories would be more suitable for a young boy, not a little girl..."  He cut me off.

"Just like fighting is meant for the men, not the women..."  I glanced up at him as he continued.  "She's a lot like you, too, you know..."  I nodded.

"Well, we both know I've been a fool..."  Sighing, I shook my head.  "I just worry about her is all..."  He chuckled a little.

"Now, you know how Thorin felt about you before..."  I nodded as we heard a knock on the door.  It was Dwalin.

"King Hungrid will see you now, Skyrena."  I nodded and stood up.

"Tell him I'm on my way..."  Dwalin shook his head.

"He wants to see you now."  I glanced at Balin and shrugged.

"Would you mind watching Era for a little while?"  He shook his head.

"Not all..."

*Era's Pov-

When I woke up again, I was alone, but I'd stopped having nightmares.  Looking around, I realized that the room had gone back to normal, and the stranger who claimed to be my father was gone.  Ignoring the sadness I felt, I got up and dressed myself in my play dress and went out in search of something to do.

"Era!"  Turning, I saw Uncle Balin coming towards me.  "Good morning to you!  What are you up to?"  I smiled and approached him.

"Just walking around, looking for something to do."  He laughed, which made me giggle.

"How about some breakfast first?"  Before I could respond, my stomach growled, making me giggle even more.

"Okay."  I followed him to the kitchen and waited as he gathered an apple and a piece of bread with some cold meat.  Eating quickly, I realized that Mother must have spoken to him about the stories.  "I hope you didn't get in trouble with Momma."  He shook his head.

"No, she was just concerned about what I told you.  She...  She has a lot on her mind right now."  I thought back to what I had heard last night.

"Who was the stranger who arrived last night?"  Balin frowned.  "He was tall and had pointed ears?  I came across him talking to King Hungrid and Mother last night when I had the nightmare."  He sighed as I finished my breakfast.

"Before you were born, we promised that we'd take care of you and your mother.  Thorin...  Your father, I mean...  He made us promise we'd look after you guys.  Right now...  We have a bit of a problem...  He's here to help us figure out what to do."  I frowned.

"I...  I don't understand."  Before he could respond, Uncle Dwalin approached us.

"Era?"  He nodded to the door as he looked at me.  "Your mother wishes to see you."  I stood and followed him to the throne room, where King Hungrid, the stranger, and Mother stood.  Mother was currently argueing with the king.

"Era has every right to know what is going on!  If anyone can make the better decision out of all of us, it's her!"  King Hungrid roared in anger, making her flinch.

"I am the king!  All residents under this mountain obey me!  I say you go, no matter what that child says!"  The stranger turned and saw me standing there, frightened.

"My Lord...?  The child is here."  Both the king and Mother turned to face me.  Mother knelt down as I walked up to her.

"Mother?  What's going on?"  Her dark blue eyes had a sad look to them as she smiled at me.

"We are in trouble, Era...  Some bad creatures called Orcs are trying to get to us.  Our guest came to warn us of what's coming and request that we move to a safer place."  I looked up at the stranger.

"Why am I being told this now?"  Mother dropped her gaze.

"We are being left a choice...  We either go with our guest to a new home, or we stay here."  I looked at everyone present.

"At our new home, will we be safer than here?"  The stranger nodded.  I bowed my head as Mother looked at me.

"We don't have to leave...  We're safe here, still."  I noticed a few tears in her eyes.  "But, if we go..."  She looked up at me.  "If we go, we can't return."  I looked around at all the others in the room.  All were watching me, waiting expectantly at me.  Finally, I nodded.

"Then, I say we go."  Ignoring the sighs of relief in the room, I watched Mother's reaction.  She nodded and looked me in the eye.

"Very well..."