Hummingbird Heartbeat

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Maranda jogged down the hall and came upon the Company and a hoard of women who were snapping at them in their underclothes. Maranda laughed uproariously as Bifur growled at some poor woman. Until she was grabbed by a younger woman and she started taking measurements.

"I will need pants, mind. I can't fly in a skirt," she said and the lady nodded.

"Yes ma'am."

"No, nope. I'm no more a noble woman than anyone in this town. I'm just Mara. No ma'am's or missus, okay?" she begged and the woman nodded with a smile.

"Right, Mara." She laughed and Maranda shuffled her feet. "Hold still," the woman snapped and she froze. She let the woman measure and pin fabric and was eventually released with the others who all adjourned to the feast hall for dinner. Maranda kept refilling Bofur's cup and he was soon roaring drunk and started singing loudly. Bard could only smile and shake his head as Bofur danced on the table, singing about the Goatherd's sticky love. He eventually toppled off the table and started snoring, Maranda smirked and buried her face in her glass of water.

"Mara has to sing!" Fili called out. He produced her guitar and she tuned it quickly as Kili told a poem that had everyone in stitches, even Bard.

"Okay, what shall we have? A ballad, a sonnet, a fist pumper, hair metal, love songs-"

"Play 'Hummingbird Heartbeat'," Kili piped up and she pointed at him.

"I do owe you," she nodded. "Alrighty then. Children leave the room." She pointed at Dwalin who threw a napkin at her. "Right, with a-one and a-two and a-three. You make me feel like I'm losin' my virginity!" Thorin couldn't help but smile as she sang, Kili harmonizing and banging the table. He had clearly been working on it without her. But Maranda was smiling and singing and his heart was pumping. And then she looked at him and she was flying up over head and rotating in air as she strummed out the last of the song.

"Get down here!" Dwalin called angrily.

"Can't. I'm stuck," she said sitting on the ceiling as her wings fluttered wildly. Kili whined at her and she shrugged as her tunic hung loosely around her neck. "What? Gravity's a bitch, kid. I'll be down eventually." She waved a hand and strummed on her guitar. The party went on and Maranda eventually did come back to earth, around the time Fili challenged Gloin to a drinking game. Bard stared in shock as they just. Kept. Drinking. Maranda laughed.

"Well that solves that mystery. Alcohol tolerance," she laughed as Fili flopped to one side, panting and eyes closed. Soon everything died down, slowly, and with lots of drunken murmurs. Maranda started humming a song she couldn't remember the words to and Thorin glanced at her, half drunk.

"No, don't," he warned and she cocked her head to the side.

"Why?"

"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," Kili sang lethargically.

"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," Fili murmured half asleep.

"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," Ori said, eyes out the window leaning on Dwalin.

"My lassy's a demon within the bed, she creeps her lovely into my head, hey rideloo ridela hey nonny hey, My darlin's a lover and that's all I'll say," Dwalin sang softly, eyes far away.

"My lad he be as brave as knight, I'll follow him to the end of the fight, hey rideloo ridela hey nonny hey, my lover is daring and that's all I'll say," Maranda sang softly, a smile touching her face. Thorin watched her, eyes wide and mind muggy. Was she singing about him? Probably not but he could imagine. Thorin smiled gently at her, about to speak up when he saw the tears on her face. She turned to him suddenly, her voice soft. "Thorin will you please stay here in Esgaroth? We'll find a way in and send for you once we deal with the dragon."

"What? No, Maranda, that is my Mountain. I have the right to be there. The only true right. It is my home, my responsibility."

"Yes, Thorin, I know, but I am begging you, please just this once, for me, stay back with Kili? I know how important this is to you, but that mountain is sick, and sickness spreads," she begged.

"No. I am going," he said stoutly, maybe even a bit angrily. Maranda sighed and tucked a stray hair behind his ear.

"I don't know why I even bothered asking you to stay back. I knew it was pointless," she said, tears still in her eyes. Thorin brushed them away and pulled her closer, pressing their foreheads together.

"Everything will be just fine. I told you I would be strong enough to fight it. And I am," he said softly and she pressed closer to his side.

"I hope so," she mumbled. "Thorin I'm scared. I don't know if I can do this. Save them. Save you, save Erebor. I don't know..." Thorin pulled her to his side and hugged her gently, cheek against her hair.

"I do. I know you will be amazing. Fantastic even," he said and she chuckled.

"Fantastic, huh?" she said pulling back and looking up at him. Her eyes seemed to shift for a minute, taking him in, and she wrinkled her brow. Thorin bowed his head slightly, intent on kissing her, when Kili gave a shout and toppled from his chair.

"Ki!" Fili said and everyone was up, blinking groggily.

"Alright. Bed," Thorin rumbled, a bit put out, but it was probably for the best. She might slap him if he upset her. She was helping Kili up, he could barely walk, the poor lad. She was whispering to him and Thorin turned to Bard who was rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Do you have rooms for us?" he asked and Bard nodded.

"You okay?" Maranda mumbled to Kili.

"Hurts," he mumbled.

"Yeah. Keep true love in your head, doll," she mumbled and passed him of to Fili who practically carried him down the hall. She pressed a hand to her head. She had almost kissed Thorin. NO! This was not going to become some stupid fanfiction and she wasn't going to fall in love with Thorin Oakenshield. She wasn't interested! Sure he was amazing and she couldn't talk to him without feeling starstruck and maybe he was mixing up her being playful for flirting, but well...wait, was he? Did he think she was flirting? He probably did. Oh creedy jeebus. This was not okay.

She followed them all down the hall and slipped into her room. She flopped on the bed, wings stretching and settling on her back, radiating warmth. She couldn't help but smile. She had her wings back and tomorrow began the true quest. Saving the line of Durin. She groaned and smashed her face into her pillow. She was fucked.