Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

It had been three hours since anyone had seen Maranda and Thorin was panicking. What had the Elves done with her? He could still hear her song in his heart so she was alive, but dear Mahal where was she? He suddenly heard the shattering of glass and screams of fear. They all looked up, having been waiting in the garden the whole time, and saw something plummeting towards them. They all dove for cover and there was a huge crash. The upper body of a statue was headfirst in the ground, crushing a bed of peonies and Maranda was crouching on it, wings buzzing furiously and hands glowing blue.

She looked half dressed, in white shorts and a sort of halter top made of white cotton. She looked light as a feather, but her eyes were dark and the wind she was picking up with her wings made her hair flail wildly. She was in a rage. Kili dashed out and yanked her into a hug.

"We were worried sick about you!"

"Hide me!" she hissed and yanked off his coat, tugging it over her lithe body. That was the first time Kili noticed the scars along her body.

"What's happened?" he asked as the dwarves drew weapons.

"If they think for one second I am wearing this all the way to Erebor they have another thing coming," she snarled. Several lady Elves dashed out red faced and worried, followed by Lindir.

"My lady, your garb-"

"I LOOK LIKE A SKANKIFIED PIXIE!" screamed Maranda as Kili leveled his sword at the Elves. "How am I supposed to climb a mountain in this?" she snapped, hands glowing blue. Lindir frowned.

"I was under the impression you would be remaining here to study magic with my Lord Elrond," he said and she stared. Everyone just stared. Thorin shot Maranda a hurt look that she missed.

"Stay...here?" she said.

"Yes. My lady you are the first Fairy seen in over a hundred years, this is a momentous occasion," Lindir said practically bubbling with joy. Fili shot Maranda a look.

"Why?" he asked and Lindir glared at him.

"Fairies are the highest level of royalty in Middle Earth," he said and the Company stared at Maranda, the fiery, spiteful shrew they all adored so much. She battled Wargs and Orcs and Trolls and sang and laughed and joked, but she was...royalty? "She should be treated as such," Lindir took her hand and Maranda was too shocked to fight. He dragged her away and Kili's cloak slipped from her shoulders, crumbling on the ground. Kili picked it up forlornly as his best friend and fellow hero left with the Elves, a race he was sworn to hate. Did he even know her?

They didn't see her again until dinner. It was a dull event, much like the previous night, except no one protested or interrupted dinner with song. The dwarves sat, stoic and silent, as the Elves brought out the meal. Everyone had arrived but Maranda and Gandalf. The wizard swept onto the terrace as the others began their meal and smiled kindly at Thorin who glared at him from across the table. Elrond glanced between them and sighed. It was going to be a long night. There was sudden silence from the Elf musicians and Maranda appeared in the doorway.

She was in a long, white lace dress that had a low sloping back and trailing sleeves. Her hair had been carefully curled and dusted with some shimmering dust that made her look like gold and silver in the twilight. She looked perfect and delicate and beautiful and miserable. She glanced around, face and ears pink and walked, almost gliding towards the tables. Kili looked at her in horror. She looked at him and froze. He looked hurt and angry. She took in a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut. She sat next to him and the Elves grew tense.

"My Lady," one said bending slightly to speak with her. "Would you care to sit at the high table?" he asked politely. Maranda's jaw clenched and the fork in her hand glowed blue and started twisting in her grip.