Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

At breakfast everyone was hungry, and since eggs and sausage were being served, they shut up and ate without criticism. Thorin and Maranda were missing and Kili was getting worried when the two walked onto the terrace.

"You would be atrocious in a kitchen," Maranda was snorting at him playfully. She was in brown pants and a new shirt, her wings still bound but wearing a grin all the same.

"I am a very good cook, thank you. I fed Fili and Kili when Dis was away," Thorin snapped back, but anyone who knew him could tell it was playful.

"Oh yes, and how often was that?" Maranda said with a smirk. Thorin fell silent for a second.

"I could still beat you in a duel," he snapped and Maranda laughed as they sat down side by side.

"Oh yes, you can't beat a woman at one thing so you fall back on another," she said in mock disgust.

"It has nothing to do with you being a woman and everything to do with me being a warrior," Thorin was with undisguised pride. Maranda rolled her eyes and turned to Kili.

"Can you believe this guy?" she appealed to him and Kili just gaped. It took her a second to realize the whole company was gaping at her and Thorin. "What?"

"You...made...You made uncle Thorin...smile," Kili said, aghast. Maranda rolled her eyes.

"It's not that hard if you catch him in the right mood. Oh and Bofur, pay up," she said and spooned eggs onto her plate. She glanced up when no one spoke and caught sight of Balin beaming happily at Thorin, Dwalin and Nori were shaking with suppressed laughter. Bifur, Bombur and Gloin were wearing matching grins of pride, as if something great had been accomplished and Bilbo looked a bit lost but excited all the same. Dori and Oin looked very pleased and Ori, Fili, Kili and Bofur were staring wide eyed at her and Thorin. "What?" A cruel smile leapt onto Bofur's face.

"My lassy be a white lily flower, I'll love her with all of my power, hey ridee radoo hey ridee raday, my lovers a darlin' and that's all I'll say," he sang with a grin. Kili and FIli picked up the tune as Nori curled in on himself shaking dangerously fast.

"My lassy sings like a lark at night, she woos me with her bonny light, hey rideloo ridela hey nonny hey, my lovers a darlin' and that's all I'll say." Maranda stared at them. Had they gotten sunstroke? But now Ori picked up voice high and sweet.

"My lassy dances light on her feet, she keeps in time with my heart beat, hey ridee radoo hey ridee raday, my lover's a darlin' and that's all I'll say." Now even conserved Dori was shaking with laughter as Bofur picked up the last verse.

"My lassy's a demon within the bed, she creeps her lovely into my head," he warbled the note until the whole Company was giggling and the four sang together. "Hey rideloo ridela hey nonny hey, My darlin's a lover and that's all I'll say!" Then there was an explosion of laughter as the whole lot of them laughed and laughed. Thorin was bright red, having understood the meaning of their song from the get go, but Maranda was lost. She stared at Kili and Bofur like they had gone mad until several Elves walked out onto the terrace with trays of food. The Dwarves fell silent as they placed the trays before them. Then one caught sight of Maranda and paled.

"My Lady, we were unaware you had awoken. Our humblest apologies." He bowed and his two fellows followed suit. "How may we be of service?" he inquired and Maranda gaped at them.

"I'm fine...thanks," she said in a shocked voice. They three bowed again and left quickly, speaking in hushed tones about clothing. She stared after them. "Thorin you are absolutely right, they are stuffy, high nosed, pricks," she said and shoveled a fork full of egg in her mouth. A laugh went around the table and everyone went back to eating. Bilbo was humming that cursed song, but Maranda didn't seem to mind, so Thorin let it lie, if you can call glaring at the burglar letting it lie. They had just finished when two lady Elves swept onto the terrace and bowed.