11This is my first Hobbit (or rather Middle Earth/ Dwarf) fanfiction.
I'm grateful for every feedback, critique, review - so please tell me what you liked and what not :)
Enjoy!
Chapter 1 - Different
The first time she saw them was in Orcfeste, a wealthy town settled at the gentle slope of a mountain, surrounded by light forest. A clear stream from the mountain top passed by the town, cascading a little more downhill before making its steady path into the valley. Orcfeste, once a small village surrounded by heavy walls and ruled by its castle, had turned into a town with flourishing merchandise after serving as a good defence station in the hard time of war. By now, a well known trade route was leading money and goods into the walls of the inner and outer district along with the people who brought and exchanged it. And this specific morning two of the passing people were dwarves.
Now, that is nothing too unusual as dwarves frequented the town quite often, delivering and selling their quality-goods. However, those two dwarves didn't come here for business. They were indeed simply passing through, perhaps thinking about a rest in this town for the night, looking around more or less interested while walking down the main road which ran through the town in soft turns. The older one of the two brothers – for brothers they were – was walking ahead, looking only for anything there might be needed (an inn, a food-store, whatever useful shop there might be). The younger however didn't seem to be as absorbed in finding what they'd need quickly; he walked a few steps behind his brother, enjoying the warm sun and watching the colourful people and buildings around him, spotting one or two funny scenes and some spots it must be nice to relax and enjoy your pipe in.
It was then that he caught glimpse of a girl, partly hidden in the shades of a passage between two houses, staring at him and his brother with big eyes. At first he thought it was only coincidence, that the girl had simply looked at something behind them. Not stopping in his track he curiously turned his head, meeting the girl's gaze head on – Bingo! She WAS really looking at him. Being in a good mood, he grinned and winked at her.
When their eyes met, the girl seemed to freeze for a moment and at his wink she quickly disappeared into the passway out of his sight. A little surprised at the sudden draw-back, the young dwarf stared at the shady spot for a second more before shrugging it off and following his brother, finding it funny how strange and shy girls sometimes react.
Some corners further away the girl stopped from the short run and pressed her hands against her drumming heart. Just what on earth had gotten into her? She usually avoided dwarves at all costs and when she spotted those creatures, the least she would do is to stare at them like she had now. Frantically she shook her head and blonde strands of hair freed themselves from the green scarf covering it. Why had she acted like this? Just when she had wanted to cross the street, she had spotted the two appearing at the top of the road and had quickly withdrawn into the shadow. But then there was something that made her observe those two wanderers, especially the one walking a bit behind the other. Somehow he seemed... different than the other dwarves she had met so far. But unfortunately that guy must have noticed her peering at him, and all of a sudden she had drawn attention to herself from one of the creatures she didn't wish any contact with. Thankfully that dwarf hadn't come after her. Or had he? She didn't hear any steps coming her direction and let out the breath she had unconsciously held back. The least she wanted was to run into any trouble. Tightening the grip on the basket she held, the girl straightened and quickly paced into the opposite direction, away from the busy main road.
Malithrá let out a sigh and leaned against the finally closed door. She was home. Safe. Not to be bothered by anyone. Her free hand pulled the scarf from her head and blonde locks spilled over her shoulders. Free at last! Inside the house was no need to hide her true identity. Now she could be just the way she was. A relieved smile found its way to her lips, and when she picked up her filled shopping basket it didn't seem as heavy as before.
"I'm home, mother!" she called and headed for the kitchen. "Oh, dear!" A slender woman with long blonde hair appeared in the hallway and welcomed the girl. "It took you quite a while. I was almost getting worried." Malithrá smiled at her mother and handed her the basket. "I know, it's dark already. Some goods weren't available at the usual places so I had to look around a little more." "Well, good to have you back safe and sound", the older woman replied and carried the basket to the kitchen table. Together they unpacked the groceries and sorted them before filling the empty places at shelves and in boxes. Several times the girl received praise for well picked fruits and vegetables and happily she returned the praise for the wonderful meals awaiting them.
After a simple dinner mother and daughter sat together at the kitchen table, each with a cup of steaming tea in front of them. Both were in thought, enjoying the familiar presence of the other and the cracking fire from the oven. It was in the middle of spring and so, while the days were gentle and warm, the nights could still become very cold. Malithrá gazed at the reflecting surface of her tea, finding a play of shade and light at the ceiling and her face. How different things seemed in different light... She gently blew over the liquid and the surface rippled, distorting the reflection. Then she looked up and gazed at her mother. She was beautiful. Her long hair seemed like golden silk and her face was delicate and noble. Long, sleek fingers traced the rim of her cup in fluid motion. Whenever Malithrá's mother Èthra moved it seemed flawless. The girl admired her mother and loved her deeply. Also because she knew how much pain she had endured and was still carrying – yet one didn't notice it in any of her behaviour. Only sometimes a glimpse of the sadness inside her broke through and gave Èthra's eyes a distant expression, as if she was reliving a carefully locked away memory. The lessons she had learned from them she had passed unto her daughter, wishing to avoid harmful mistakes to be repeated.
Now she was in thought, too. But her deep blue eyes didn't show any sign of disturbance. Malithrá bit her lower lip, took a sip from her cup and gazed into the reflection, avoiding to look at her mother. "Today... I had a strange experience." Èthra blinked and focused her gaze on her daughter, guiding her attention towards her. "A strange experience?", she asked. "What kind?" "An unexpected kind. You see... I was taking care of the street as usual and when I saw two of THEM coming, I went out of the way." Èthra nodded. A good reaction, keeping out of trouble, she thought. But then a slight fear rose in her heart when she noticed her daughter fidgeting. "Usually I'd have simply walked past them in great distance, ignoring them... but today..." Malithrá bit her lip again and paused for a moment. Her mother waited. "... today I stayed in my hiding place and observed them. I don't know why I did that! Something... somehow... I don't know... somehow they... that one... seemed different..." The girl gazed to the side, slightly troubled. Èthra tried to calm her alarming thoughts and kept listening in silence. "Well, through my stare... observing... that one guy seemed to notice it. And... he looked my way and saw me! … That's when I ran away..." she added a little more quiet. Then she looked at her mother and saw the unrest in her eyes. "Did they follow you?" "No. And I haven't seen them anymore. But, mother, what I find strange is... when that guy saw me looking at him straight away... he didn't react angry at all." Confused the girl scratched her head. "He... grinned. He didn't seem to be bothered at all. … he... he even winked at me..." A little insecure she sent her mother a shy glance. "Is that... bad...?"
Èthra sat in her chair for a moment in silence, mustering her daughter. Then she nodded and her gentle eyes turned hard. "Yes, it is. You know how they are, what they do. Don't make the same mistake as I did, Malithrá! Remember what they caused. Remember why we are here!" The two locked eyes for a moment, then Malithrá lowered her gaze, nodding. Èthra's expression softened and she reached out, stroking the girl's cheek. "Just take care of yourself, sweet heart. Don't let them fool you..."
Later that night, Malithrá couldn't sleep. Finding the world outside covered in the silver light of a full moon, she left the house and went to her favourite place, down by the river. A path led from the road into the light forest. Shortly before it reached the riverside it took a turn and ran alongside it. Here the girl left the path and crossed the stream by balancing over a fallen tree, struck by lightning last summer. Below her feet roared the water over the stones, filled with freshly molten snow from higher up in the mountains. Silver drops sprayed through the air and danced around the girl. Having reached the other side of the river, Malithrá followed its course until she reached the waterfall and the cascades. A big rock at this side of the river blocked the water's path and pressed it through a single small opening on the other side to spill into thin air. There, in the middle of the stream, the girl sat down and gazed into the nightly scenery of the valley below her. Trees covered the hillsides like dark waves and the silver band of the river separated them in gentle turns. Through the roaring and splashing of the falling water, the wind carried a wolf's long howl and once in a while the sound of a nocturnal bird.
Malithrá sat on the rock for a while, absorbed in the scenery and her thoughts. Her long white dress and the dark coat shielded her from the fresh night breeze which let her long hair dance like silver threads in the moonlight.
Suddenly a shudder went through her body and the girl instinctively drew the coat tighter. It must be very late already, she thought and blinked at the moon. The night had gotten chilly. Carefully the girl stood up and stretched her stiff limbs. She shivered again and turned to leave the rock and return home, when she froze in her movement.
Just a few steps away, on her side of the river, a big gray beast moved soundlessly through the trees, heading in direction of the town. This wasn't a wolf. It was bigger and of more brute appearance with rugged fur and a vicious face. Malithrá stared at the creature in shock. A warg! What on earth was a warg doing in this area? There hadn't been sightings of wargs since the last war against orcs. This couldn't be a mere coincidence. She had to return and warn the town!
Although the girl hadn't moved in the slightest, the wolf-like creature suddenly turned its head and stared at the girl. Glowing eyes met wide fearful ones and a low growl could be heard. The warg changed its direction and slowly headed towards the girl, obviously ready to jump at her every moment. When the menacing creature drew closer, Malithrá took a step backwards and stretched out her hand. There was no way she could outrun this beast, but maybe she could get out of this danger in some other way. She mustered all of her courage and met the warg's glare head on. Then a firm voice sounded through the night: "Stop right there."
Surprised the warg froze in its track and blinked. It was as if a gentle but firm hand had hindered it to move further. The creature shook its head and fixed its gaze at the girl in front of it again. She had seen the warg, she couldn't be left alive. Despite that fact, the beast was hungry. Whatever had held it back just now, it didn't matter. Anew the warg set out towards the girl.
Malithrá could see the confusion in its eyes but then the deadly glimmer had returned. She took another step backward, her hand still stretched out in a stopping gesture against the warg. "Stop right there." Her voice was firm and didn't let any of her fear through. "Turn around and leave me alone."
Again the warg stopped in its movement. Somehow it felt like obeying that voice. But then a hateful flame flared up in its eyes and it let out a threatening snarl. No chance!, the girl thought as the warg dashed at her in a clear attempt to kill her. As it jumped, she quickly ducked and ran for the shore, making the beast's claws hit thin air. Furiously her attacker spun around and charged at her again. Malithrá tried to dodge but stumbled and a burning pain exploded from her side. She glanced at the warg, its lips and teeth covered in a dark liquid, two steps away from her and ready for the next assault. In a desperate attempt to save her life, the girl ran unto the rock again, closely followed by her growling hunter. If she could jump over to the other side of the river, maybe the warg wouldn't follow her this way. Malithrá gathered her left strength, sped up, reached the chasm and jumped. Something ripped at her foot, her hands reached for the saving rock in front of her and for a moment she could feel the cold sleek surface under her fingers. Then she fell into the roaring abyss.
Note: Since English isn't my first language, please tell me if you find something that doesn't make sense or sounds strange.
I'm sometimes using words that I think I know but am not sure... ^^;