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Chapter Text

"You have to stop now," The older man frowned deeply at the girl who was currently making a mess of the cabin.

A wadded dress flew passed his head, followed by a single leather boot and then another dress. He ducked in time from getting hit by the second boot.

"Seriously, you need to stop." He stressed, rubbing his palm to his forehead to try and relieve the ache that was beginning to take place.

Untameable curls of wild raven hair were the only thing that let him know that it was his granddaughter who was currently wreaking havoc in the home and not his flighty daughter. Though this was new. Normally Rurìn was the essence of organized and calm but now she was disheveled and far beyond the contrary of calm.

"Rurìn!" He yelled, making her drop the bag she had dug out from the back of her wardrobe. Her shocking deep blue eyes that always felt like falling into an abyss of a roaring sea met his.

"Come now. What happened today?" He asked calmly. She was like a baby deer, easily spooked. "Did Joni say something?"

She gripped the frizzy ringlets in a tight fist, shaking her head.

"Then why..." He directed around her bedroom. "What has gotten into you?"

Her lip quivered and then she just plopped down on the ground where she stood. Her face buried in her hands, shoulders heaving. He held his breath, and her sobs came silently. The only tell was her shaking and rubbing at her eyes repeatedly.

"Rurìn... My darling, girl," He hobbled over to her on his cane and placed his withering hand upon her wicked hair.

It still got him sometimes that his daughter had copulated with a dwarf. His very human daughter went with a dwarf and his poor granddaughter had gotten hit with every dwarf gene apart from a beard. He was grateful for that at least. It was bad enough these blasted insane raven mop of curls for a head was stared at and the horrible relentless taunting she had to tolerate over the piercing gaze of eyes.

"What happened? Was it Perrie? Rowen? Was it the Pon brothers?" She never responded. Making him even more worried than before. What had happened to make her terribly heartbroken?

"My... My Da... Necklace..." She whimpered. "S-S'gone."

"Oh... Sweet child. Where did you last see it?" That makes sense why she was upset. It was the only thing she had of her fathers. The only thing to hold on to.

"I was in the market with Nana..." She sniffled. Good her tears were slowing down. "There was a cavern that was coming through. There... There were many... And I was... You know, curious..."

He pushed her mess of clothes off the bed and sat down. Patting his knee for her to climb up and sit. He pushed the frizzy mess away. He wished she had normal wavy hair. This was too much of a curse to even be considered beautiful but he loved her nonetheless. An abyss for hair or not. She was his little angel. She got settled on his lap and sighed heavily.

"Pops, I swore... I had it when I went to the market with Nana. I never take it off..."

She was too young to understand she had been swiped in the market. Someone picked her and they were none the wiser about the meaning of that silver necklace. Those piercing blue eyes tore into his soul, big, watery, and fresh tears were starting to fall.

"It's all I had left of him... Of my heritage."

Her pops went to fix her clothes, his fingers brushed down her frock. "What's this?"

He dug under the frock that was getting too small for her. Something shiny caught the light. When he pulled his old fingers out, he held the pendant up to the light. Her face broke out into a wide smile. He grinned down at her.

"Whoever took your necklace, child... Lost the most prized piece." He held it in his palm for her to take. "At least you still have your father's sigil. Your house name."

She held it in a tight fist, close to her chest. She vowed she would never lose it again.

Rurìn had learned over the years that people were cruel. Since the day she was twelve years old and some spineless jackass chose to pickpocket her. If it wasn't her hair, it was her soul-thieving eyes, it was her height, or perhaps her very bookish ways or her love for all things yarn and tea. Rurìn wasn't welcomed and it was made clear the very day her spinster mother returned to Hollin, unwedded and very pregnant. All she had to give her child was a silver necklace with a rune pendant that she never could grasp what it said, even years later, no one could read the dwarvish text.

Her mother liked to tell her she was a hidden-away princess... which was total poppycock because why would someone hide a princess?

Now at twenty-two, she really got the kick out of it. Her mother up and vanished completely from her life when she was sixteen. Her grandparents were the only ones who had been there to take care of her and then they died a few years ago. They had begged her to settle down, to marry a nice man but she couldn't settle. Not now, at least not here.

Hollin was a town of men and she just couldn't fit there, not with her lineage, her bastard stamp. Everyone knew she was some bastard child of a savage dwarf who couldn't even do the honorable thing and marry her mother. Or take her in and raise her. He abandoned her just like her mother did.

Rurìn sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day. On her horse, the cabin she grew up in was sold and all its belongings left her with a few sacks of gold coins tucked nicely under her clothes and the jewels sewn into the inside of her corset. She's learned to hide her valuables properly now. Her family sigil was treaded into a leather binding that always stayed on her wrist, hidden under her knitted fingerless gloves. Never again would someone steal her most treasured possession.

She looked back once more at the end of the path towards her old childhood home. Her grip tightened on the reigns.

"Come on, Raìn, we have a long journey ahead of us," She tapped her horse into a trot.

The damn thing was much too large for her but a pony would never make the journey she intended to do. At least, Raìn was trained to kneel for her to climb up on the saddle. The horse nagged softly and walked along, leaving Hollin far behind them. Where her past stayed behind her and her future before her. She was going to learn about her heritage. She was going to find her place in this world, and it wouldn't be with the race of men. Perhaps not even with her fellow dwarvish kin. It was somewhere and she would find it.

Rurìn's journey had started out rocky and it was not an easy experience. She was only grateful that she had begun using a bow as a child, so she didn't starve. Also grateful for her pops teaching her how to skin and gut those animals and how to dry her meat properly. And for her nana taught her how to forage for medicinal plants and how to take care of injuries.

She had been preparing for this journey long before she knew she would take it. Her grandparents made sure she could survive and for that, she was even more grateful to them.

The only thing she learned from her mother was how to use an axe and a bow. Teaching her to throw blades and build snares and nets. Her mother was hardly there but when she was, she had the grandest of stories of battles, long hunts, and all her travels from every corner of Middle Earth. Her grandparents didn't have the heart to take that away from her so when her mother was off traveling, her pops carved her some wooden swords and battled with her, letting her live her mother's stories.

He gifted her a short sword of her own, it was all he could afford for yule when she was seventeen and it never saw more than straw dummies and wooden surfaces but at least she could hold it for long periods of time.

Her second week on the road had caused her to use it on a wolf that tried to take a bite out of her in her sleep, she ultimately ended up learning how to sleep in a tree... Just to be safe.

Rurìn never kept Raìn tied up, he stayed close, and if he ran off in the night from danger, he always returned in the daylight or found her on the trek through the lands. He was a loyal friend and she would never part from him if she could help it. He was truthfully... Her only friend.

After a month on the road, through several cheap inns and many new bundles of yarn for socks because she was always getting her feet wet... She was now in the Dunlands. Wildmen scared her and she soon learned that perhaps she would be better off taking a less traveled road after she barely escaped being killed by three old scraggly men.

Maybe it was her younger agility and Raìn's hardy kicks that saved them. Killing a wolf was one thing but having to take not one but two human lives? Rurìn had learned that courage was not when to take a life but when to spare one.

She spent a long few weeks mourning her innocence before she stood taller and accepted that she had no choice... They intended to kill her.

The Misty Mountains were quite beautiful, and she enjoyed the journey through them, at least that was until she got too close to Moria. The chills were not thrilling and that lead her to really shoot for a hard and fast ride to get as far away from them as she could. Her luck would eventually run out at some point because her troubles on the road were extremely light compares to the stories she heard. Wolves and Wildmen were fine compared to Goblins, Orcs, or Wargs. That was something she wanted to keep far from as much as possible.

In a golden field full of poppies, Rurìn met her first ranger, Teragorn. He had been shocked to hear she had traveled for four months all on her own and encountered very little danger. He brought her to the ranger watch tower to rest for a few days before having her travel with him and a few of the other rangers to an elvish home for safety from the harsh winters.

He and his companions were the first humans who didn't treat her like scum on their boots. Even more so the two Elvish twins who weren't bothered at all for her painfully staring at their pointy ears. They laughed it off, and tugged and joked all over her obnoxious curly hair. They were extremely nice and since the moment they met, they never left her side.

Elladan and Elrohir were jokers, loving, and playful and they never treated her differently for her size or her gender. They encouraged her to sword fight them, to train her for actual combat and not just fighting air. She enjoyed herself immensely with them. Under their wings, they swore to make a warrior out of her because apparently, she reminded them of their own little sister. She had courage, ambition and so much strength in her yet discovered. Or perhaps they just loved her expertise in making over-the-fire cakes that were always gooey and sweet, never dry, nor hard but perfectly moist.

Two months later and Rurìn found herself in Rivendell. The Elvish twins didn't once leave her side until they made sure she met Lord Elrond. They tracked down an elf maid to help her with a bath and to find her a new dress. The one she ended up with was meant for elflings. It was a bit tight but she made do while they washed up. When they returned, they took her to the kitchens for a warm meal before the twins brought her to their father's private study.

"Ada!" Elladan banged open their doors and Elrohir dragged in Rurìn by her hand, picking her up like she was just an old sack of feathers, and deposited her on a plushy chair.

Her mouth was wide open and her mind unable to catch up to what just happened.

"Elrohir..." The Elf man who looked not much older than the twins chided. He did not look pleased with his son's antics. He turned and smiled down at her. "I am Lord Elrond, who might you be?"

"R...Rurìn..." She said suddenly feeling extremely shy again.

She wasn't bold. It was surprising how fast she took to the twins given her poor people skills but that's not really her fault. She never got the chance to have good encounters before.

"Miss Rurìn, welcome to my home." He placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head to her.

She botched the Sindarin greeting that the twins taught her but Elrond's wide smile made it all the worth it for trying.

"Will you be staying here for the winter?" He asked, coming around the desk and holding a hand out to her to help her down from the tall chair that his son plopped her on so carelessly.

"If you, don't mind..." Her ears burned. "If-- If it's not a burden... I can pay! It's not much..." She word vomit in stutters and pauses, making herself turn red.

He chuckled and took both of her hands. "You need not worry about payment. You are welcome here as long as you wish to stay, Miss Rurìn. My home is a house of healing and reprieve. You are welcome to help around the place if you wish to do so. I am sure we can find you something to do--"

"She needs a tutor!" Elladan jumped in. "She has an aptitude for languages!"

"I do not..." She mumbled.

"You do," He insisted. "You think you are dreadful but truly you are adequately better than most."

"And she needs to keep up with her training," Elrohir pressed his palm to his brother's face. "But we can do that."

"Oh! And she needs new clothes! Those human fabrics reek. Not nearly enough blue or green." Elladan shook his head.

Rurìn didn't think she could get any redder. She didn't want to be a burden. This is too much...

"I think we should find her a good elvish blade too," Elrohir hummed.

Elrond rose an eyebrow at them. "Is that all?"

"No!" They shook their heads. "We'll think about it and make a list!" Elladan grinned.

"Come little Raven! Let us ruffle your feathers some more!" Elrohir picked her up like a child once more making her squeak and tossing her around his back like she was nothing.

She clung to him, scared she fall and get hurt. Green mother knows she would get hurt in this dress. "Elrohir..." Elrond frowned at him. "She is not a child. She's a young woman. Put her back down."

"No." He said and jumped up so he could place her higher on his back. "Let's go find you a nice elvish-made blade. It will be lighter and more suitable for your stature. You'll last longer in battle too!"

If you could put thumbs on a golden retriever, Elrohir would be it.

Chapter Text

Winter was upon them in Rivendell. No longer was it safe to spend more than a few hours outside in the biting cold. Rurìn didn't mind staying bundled up under a heap of covers in the grand hall by the hearth, listening to the elves tell stories or play their instruments. She normally could be found there with her nose buried in a book that Lindir brought to her or even Elrond. Sometimes the bookkeeper Hedithrus or Hedi as she called him, would bring her stacks of books she may find interesting.

Her Sindarin improved greatly where she could now hold a light conversation but more often than not she messed her up pronunciation or got a word or two backward. The elves were very patient with her and more than happy to ease her into the correct way except for Elrohir, he was just a giant arse about it. He teased her so much but she knew he didn't mean any harm by it.

If she wasn't reading or studying, she could be found in the tailoring chambers. Tucked in a corner, crocheting, knitting, or even sewing. She was mostly found with a hook in hand or quill. Elrond kept an abundance of yarn on hand just for her to have her way with it. At first, she was timid and even guilty about not paying him for the yarn but he brushed it off and told her it was perfectly fine. He did ask for a new throw blanket if she was inclined to it.

So that's how Rurìn ended up making a bit of coin. The elves quickly caught on that she was gifted in tailoring. Her shawls, blankets, and scarfs even socks were far more detailed than they thought could be possible. Embroidery was believed to be the only way to get picturesque details but her talent greatly fascinated them.

Elrond now had an Elven tree of stars telling a story of his father through the vines on a large blanket that was displayed in his office for all to enjoy. He didn't want to ruin such beauty by using it. She was able to pay him back for the yarn with the coin she was making, like an investment but she ended up finding the coins back in her pouch during the week. She had a feeling the twins were slipping it back in there or Lindir.

Her training continued through the grand corridors and in the dining area, where her balance had been tested and improved as well as her agility. Jumping from tables, benches, and stools while avoiding being whacked by heavy sticks all without touching the stone tiles had been a bane of her existence. The twins did not let up. Many of the other elves had joined in and made a game out of it, they would chase her around trying to hit her with something at the most random of times. There had been many incidents where she ended up in the healing house with cuts and harsh bruising that needed tending too.

Just before Yule, Rurìn had gotten a rib broken from a nasty surprise attack that ended up with Elladan and Elrohir getting a loud reprimanding from not only their father but a few of the other elves. Especially, Hedi, he was very displeased by it but was more than happy to let her hide away in the nooks of the library for safekeeping.

She had been in Rivendell for five months now, and despite the injuries, she was enjoying herself for the very first time in her life. She found friends and a family in the homely house. Her first Yule with the elves had been a grand experience, and she had been gifted with the best Elvish-made weapons and traveling clothes. Elrond thought it was time for her newly acquired battle skills to test and have her on border control when spring came. Much to her timid nature, she was actually excited. The twins promised that the most dangerous thing she would be fighting was a goblin because she wasn't nearly ready enough for an orc. She had never seen a goblin but she had an idea of it from the descriptions.

Just as the snow was beginning to melt away, and the air grow crispier, Rurìn sat outside in the courtyard bundled under one of her many blankets with her father's pendant in hand. Flipping it over and over again from the Rune to the emblem on the back... She wondered if she would ever find its meaning.

"Rurì," Elrond came to sit beside her, covering her with another blanket. "You will catch a cold out here, child."

She smiled up at him. "I just needed a bit of fresh air."

"What's that in your hand?" He asked looking down at the pendant she was still flipping. "I've seen you playing with that since you came to my home."

"Oh, it was my father's. I'm not sure what it says, honestly."

"May I?" He asked, holding his hand out for it.

Rurìn hesitated. She almost lost it once before. It was her favorite thing in the entire world. She had kept it hidden and close for so many years, never allowing anyone to take it. Elrond smiled encouragingly down at her.

"I promise I will give it right back," He didn't sound condescending or reprimanding for her weariness.

This was Elrond, he had been nothing but kind to her. Never asking for anything in return. He was sort of like a father to her if she was being entirely honest. He had even given her a room in his family wing. She ate her breakfast with him every single morning and had tea with him every day!

She let out a heavy breath and put the pendant in his hand. He covered her hand with his other.

"I can see this means a lot to you, Rurì. Thank you for trusting me," He released her hand a swiped at her chin, fondly.

He held the pendant up to the light. His brows were furrowed. Surprise took over his normal mask of indifference when he was hiding what he was thinking.

"Where did you say this came from?" He sounded shocked, his blue eyes wide in wonder.

Rurìn was confused. "You know what it says?" 

"Yes." He flipped the coin over and blinked a few times down at it. "Rurìn where did you acquire this?"

"It was my father's. My mother left it with me when she brought me to my grandparents. She never told me what it meant just that my father gave it to her to give me." She took the pendant back and slipped it back into her knotted bracelet before putting it back on. "What does it say?"

"It says; Thraín son of Thrór," Elrond stared down at her closely as if he was examining her in a whole new light.

"What's the emblem?" She asked quietly, starting to feel shy again. She didn't like when people stared at her.

"Line of Durin."

"Durin?" She scrunched her nose. "Is that my father's name? My lineage?"

Elrond crossed his arms and tilted his head at her. "I do see a resemblance. You look like your father but your eyes are a slightly different blue and your hair has a ruggedness that his didn't-"

"My mother's hair was curly."

"Yes... I do believe you are in fact of the line Durin." Elrond covered his mouth and sighed heavily, sitting up straighter once more. "You said you were twenty-two," He was frowning again.

She nodded her head. "Well, I'll be twenty-three in a few weeks..."

"Where did your mother meet Thraín?"

Rurìn scrunched her nose again, thinking about it. "I think it was near Greenwood. He was on a quest from what I remember. He got lost from his companions. She claimed he had been lost for longer than he thought. He was sort of deranged like he had been tormented. She nursed him back to health and apparently fell in love. They lived together in a small shack not far from the borders of man. She got pregnant not long after and he told her to take me to my grandparents. Said it wasn't safe for me to be with him.

"He was awfully paranoid from what I remember what she said. He never quite healed from the mental torment he had endured in the forest or whatever had held him captive. He gave her the pendant and she took me to her father. When she returned to the shack, she said he was gone again, the place was a wreck like he had been captured again. She never stopped looking for him, occasionally she would return to me. Told me her stories of traveling and about my da but she couldn't tell me much. He never told her who he was. Claimed to be a merchant."

"Your father was not a merchant," Elrond said sternly. She huffed.

"I figured as much. Who was he?"

"He was the prince of Erebor. The next in line for the throne but the dragon Smaug took the mountain and exiled the King under the mountain, Thrór and your father and your brothers and sister."

Rurìn's jaw dropped. Her breath left her in one big whoosh, leaving her in need of air but unable to get it. A prince? King? Brothers? Sister? She couldn't believe it. She had siblings! She was... Did that make her a princess? Green mother, she couldn't believe it. Her mother had called her a hidden princess all her life and she laughed it off! So her mother did know! She knew!

"Pardon me?" She finally was able to suck in some air making her voice squeaky. Her hands began to shake.

Elrond grabbed them and held them tight. "Rurìn, I understand this is a huge shock. I promise I will help you."

"Are... Are my... I have siblings?" She couldn't think properly.

"I wouldn't know, child. Dwarves have gone mistrusting of my kin. Elves are just the same. Years of hostility and war have made us suspicious and weary of each other. I am sorry, but I will send an inquiry. Perhaps someone might know and we can see about finding them? If that is what you wish."

"I do!" She said quickly. Her face heating up. "I do... I've always wanted this. To find them. I... I have been in the dark all my life feeling like I never fit anywhere..."

"We will find them. Last I heard, Thorín, your brother now the exiled King was residing in the Blue Mountains. I will send a raven as soon as I can. Perhaps if you will allow me, to charcoal your pendant to the parchment it will find him."

"Yes!" She was already fumbling to get it off with shakey hands. Elrond steadied them by placing his hand over hers.

"Peace, Rurìn. There is no rush." He smiled at her.

⚒️

A few weeks passed and spring was finally here. Rurìn had spent countless hours during her free time with her nose buried in any books she could find about the line of Durin. There was hardly anything considering how secret the Dwarves have become. Elrond began teaching her ancient Khudzul before the language became a secret. He didn't know how much help would be but it was better than nothing.

She also began spending time with the smiths to learn the basics of forging metal. It didn't really call her but she was surprised when Elrond had her brought her to the caves around the valley and made her sit there and focus on the stone. She had always felt like she knew the stone, had some sort of connection to it but there were no caves where she grew up. So when she felt the life in the stone of the cave... She had been in awe. It hummed through her, making her at peace. She could feel its happiness and its sadness. It had been alone for so long.

"It's sad..." She whispered, holding her hand to the damp wall. "She's been so lonely..."

"I wish I had brought you here sooner," Elrond hummed. "Had I known you were a half-dwarf..."

"That's my fault," She pressed her forehead to the wall and shushed the wall, pressing her hand firmer into the wall. "You are not alone... I am here now..." She spoke softly to the cave.

Rurìn was aware she might look insane to any other person for talking to a wall but she didn't care. The stone held life. This cave was alive and the emotions and sensations coming from it made her feel something almost ethereal. The small rocks and pebbles around Hollïn never felt like this. Their humming was almost non-existent but this... This was huge and it was like touching the stars.

Rurìn closed her eyes, absorbing the sensations, hee mumbling was soft like a mother consoling her child. Elrond watched her carefully. Durin once told him it could be dangerous for Dwarves to get too deep into the spirit of the stone and since Rurìn had not grown around caves or the mountains, he would have to ease her into it carefully.

He put his hand on her shoulder, lightly pulling her from the wall. She was half delirious, with clouded eyes and arms of jelly. He lead her carefully out of the cave, where the air became clearer and warm, waking her from the trance she was in.

"What happened?" She asked quietly, rubbing at her eyes.

"You must be careful, Rurì. It is easy to fall into the comfort of the stone. One of your ancestors once told me the dangers of the trance of the warm embrace, you will come here every few days for a few minutes and build up a tolerance. I do not want to send you to the mountains unprepared for what you will find there."

Elrond kept his promise, Rurìn spent many minutes that turned to hours over time. When the day came on the spring's first shower, Rurìn turned twenty-three. The elves made her a cake for her begotten day taking into consideration of her human side and that day she got to meet the famous young Aragorn that the twins talked so much about. He was only six years old. He was excited to make a new friend and begged Rurìn to climb trees with him and sword fight.

Aragorn could be found trailing after Rurìn during her training sessions, begging to be included or sat near while she read and she read aloud because she knew the boy was close by even if he thought he was being sneaky about it. Elrohir liked to joke that he had a little crush on her but Elladan thought it had more to do with the fact that looked more alike.

Which made Elrond even more curious about Rurìn's lineage because she and Aragorn did share a lot of similarities. They could be mistaken for siblings at first glance.

"Where did you say your mother was from?" Elrond asked one afternoon.

Rurìn was teaching Aragorn how to fletch arrows. She sat the jar of resin down and beckoned Aragorn to continue to wrap his twine around the shaft.

"Hollin but originally my grandfather was the north. He was a child when he left and moved to the Gondor for a time before he met my nana, they settled in Hollin before they had my mother."

"How was he when he passed?"

She thought it was a strange question but now that she thought about it, it was fitting because her grandfather was rather strange himself. She opened her mouth and closed it, thinking about it. "Well... He lived for a very long time..."

"How long?" Elrond tilted his head.

"190," She whispered. Her grandfather said to always tell everyone who asked that he lived to be a hundred but she knew how old he truly was. He had such stories.

"And your grandmother?" He asked, keeping his emotions masked.

She had such tales too...

"157..."

Elrond smiled at her, crossing his arms before looking down at Aragorn who held up a wonky arrow. "Look, Rìn! I did it!" He giggled. "See!"

"Very good," She praised him. "I am proud but... See here--" She pointed to his feathers that weren't aligned properly. "This is why we use resin but this is very good. You should be so proud of yourself."

"I believe you are part Dùnedain," Elrond said after a few moments. "Like young Estel here."

"Dùnedain?" She wrinkled her nose in confusion.

"Follow me, I think another History lesson is needed." He stood up and held his hand out to Aragorn. "Estel, come child, and go find Lindir. I think I remember him mentioning making honey cakes."

Aragorn jumped to his feet and giggled running away and calling out for the elf, where Lindir popped his head around the corner and lifted the boy in his arms.

"Honey cakes!" Aragorn cheered.

Chapter Text

Rurìn quickly caught on that patrol duty was no walk in the fields. The Twins did try and make the job easier on her, especially after the whole 'You're a hidden princess that no one knows about but Ada would kill us if you even got a scratch. You've become a daughter to him and he is rather fond of his daughters, just ask Arwen' It was a conversation all with the eyes and none of the lip movements. 

She did not get to go on Patrol duty until the summer due to the fact Elrond wanted her to be better trained but mostly because she quite literally had a mental breakdown not even three days after being told she was a Daughter of Durin. She had the suspicion that Elrond knew it was coming and that's why he canceled her Patrol duty the day before. The Twins didn't mind, they weren't too confident in their teaching skills so Glorfindel stepped in when he came back from his patrol. 

The Golden Hair Ellon was extremely hard on her during her training, he was brutal and harsh and left her with so many bruises by the end it was a miracle she could even stand up. That is not to say that outside of the wicked early grave sessions he was becoming a dear friend and could be found hovering over her with sweet requests. Teragorn had told him all about her gooey chocolate cake, which has been dubbed brownies by the Rangers who came to rest before going back out. 

But back to the present, Rurìn hated patrol. Killing Orcs left a bitter taste in her mouth. They were hideous creatures. They made her feel small and weak with their size and strength. She, however, found she could quite hold her own weight, and due to the fact she was small even by dwarven standards, she was fast. All of the Elven games of 'Catch Rurì' had paid off because those hulky beasts couldn't. 

She was speed, she was like lightning and her sword had hit so many groins that had them screeching on their knees they could not stand. They bled out through a place... that the Male Rangers and Ellons in her Orc hunting party couldn't look her in the eye anymore. And if they did but it was only briefly, Rurìn thought it was awesome. She had been declared the 'Eviratior' for her ranger name. The twins named her swords geldring and bowlering; two names Elrond did not find as amusing as Glorfindel did...

The elven blacksmith, Nàrdir put the names on her sword and chiseled in the dwarven runes for her with such excitement. 

She was now fond of her height, it no longer bothered her that she had to look up to meet the tall people's eyes. She was the sterilizing master, the quick nicker, the pecker cutter, and the owner of the blade that ensured orcs couldn't have children if they somehow managed to survive having their member hacked off. 

Soon summer did too pass and fall was setting in, she had been in Rivendell for almost a year now. Speaking Sindarin with ease, Khudzul wasn't nearly as hard as it was when she started, she could read the text just fine though she struggled a bit at phrasing her meaning but at least she could understand perfectly when hearing it. Elrond managed to procure her some texts in the up-to-date language and he kindly asked her not to ask him how he managed to do it. Elladan mentioned something about a blow to pride and a smirking mam. Apparently, Lady Galadriel had her hand in it and Elrond had to endure whatever it was she said to him for it. 

Rurìn was touched that he did it for her and she would forever be grateful for all that he had done for her. 

Rurìn had put off finding her brother and sister in the Blue Mountains for another year, her courage was not as bold as she had claimed to be. She was not brave enough to go trekking through Ered Lindon to look for her exiled king of Erebor brother holding their father's sigil when she was just a beardless bastard child. She would have her head cut from her neck with nothing but thief, lies, and deceit slewn at her and probably some very creative insults in Khudzul. No, she would wait until a message was returned to them. 

It didn't happen until her third year in Rivendell and when it did, a raven came mimicking the sound of a soft and coarse Darrowdam with the words; "I await your arrival."

The raven had a scroll of parchment with the most delicate scripture that would rival even Lindir's; Who had been miffed that a darrowdam who was supposed to be heavy-handed outshined his three-thousand-year-old self. 

The scroll was given to Rurìn the morning of yule, the raven oddly did not leave to return to the mountain, he had stayed by Rurìn the moment it met her gaze. He was given a beautiful perch in her bed chambers once Elrond realized the raven had bonded to her. He said it was one of the most fascinating things about Dwarves and ravens. His old friend Durin from long ago had a bonded raven that lived just as long as he did, a forever faithful companion. 

Rurìn found comfort in the raven, she began to call her Wàyenda the Quenya name for 'heart of the wind' 

The raven appeared to love the name and listening to her speak Quenya that Glorfindel refused to only speak to her in - forcing her to learn it. Wàyenda would nuzzle her beak to Rurìn's neck or peck lovingly at her braids and crow softly in her ear, ruffling her feathers, perched on her arm or shoulder, sometimes lounged in her lap for scratches. Glorfindel and Elladan were the only other two people who Wàyenda allowed to hold her but she would never say no to a caress from anyone willing to give her one. 

The scroll that Wàyenda brought had sat on Rurìn's desk for several weeks, untouched and still sealed. Rurìn was a coward and could not open it. She was scared of what may be written in it. She didn't think she could cope if had horrid words. Though Wàyenda mimicked the Darrowdam who claimed to await her arrival, the letter could have something else entirely. She brought the scroll to the Twins and Elrond at breakfast the day spring arrived. She had waited the winter out and now it was time. She had to get it over with. 

Wàyenda came with her for moral support. As usual, the raven could feel her ache and her distress and continuously cooed in her ear, rubbing her beak and her feathers under her chin, her wings swished around her head a bit as if she was trying to hug her in a way, blocking her a vision every single time she did so. 

"Your pet... is blowing dust in my porridge," Elrohir said wistfully. Rurìn glared at him. 

"She isn't my pet. She's--" 

The twins interrupted her with a shrilly voice; "-- my child!" 

Elrond shook his head at them, a slight smile on his face when Rurìn huffed, crossing her arms. He was used to their bantering, their teasing of her and her familiar. Wàyenda crowed before flapping her wings rapidly making more dust go into Elrohir's porridge. The Ellon frowned deeply at the Raven. "Aiyais, Wàyenda," Elrohir muttered. (Thank you \ in Quenya)

Wàyenda tilted her head and gave what would probably be a raspberry in raven fashion. Rurìn scratched under her beak making her coo softly.

Elrond picked up the scroll from the table once they were finished eating. He gave her a pointed look and waited for her to give him her permission to open the scroll. She swallowed and nodded. 

Elrond tore the Durin seal - His eyes scanned the letter but gave nothing away as to what was inside. Rurìn felt like her hands could not sweat any more than they already were as they trembled. She felt like she hadn't drank water in years as she shakily picked up her cup and drank it greedily. It was nerve-wracking. The entirety of it. 

"Would you like me to read it? " Elrond asked, switching to Sindarin. They hardly ever spoke in the common tongue. He only used Sindarin because the twins were present. Normally it was ancient Khudzul or Quenya, mostly Khudzul. 

"Please," She whispered, taking more water to drown the nerves. 

Elrond did not translate the letter, speaking clearly and softly in common as the letter was written. 

"King greetings to you Miss Rurìn daughter of Floris. I have received a letter from your host, Lord Elrond with ill news bearing that you claim to be a relative of Durin Folk but had been lost to a village of man. He said you were not a full Darrowdam but a half-dam. It is very uncommon for Darrows to procreate with the race of Men. Forgive me if I do not entirely believe it. However, due to the dwindling of darrowdams of my race, I will give the benefit of awaiting proof of your heritage. One in three births are Darrowdams, we are in fact a dying race and my heart can not in good conscience dismiss your claim so easily. 

"My name is Dìs, I am the daughter of Thraìn, son of Thròr, the passed King under the mountain or Erebor. We reside in the Blue Mountains now after our ill fate to Smaug, the terrible who stole our kingdom from us. Durin's Folk was forced to split and we were scattered for many long years. I am forced to believe that a scattered Darrow may have found refuge in a Village of Man despite their ill treatment of us. I would like to believe he found comfort there, and you were the product of a better life without sorrow and grief. 

"I do not atone for the dealing of Elves, we are a race with much grief for Elves but I will at least admit to being grateful that the Elves of Rivendell have taken you in after your orphaned status. I have been told you traveled alone for quite some time. Through the wilds and the Misty Mountains unscathed until you were found by a few Rangers who then brought you to the Elves for rest. 

"Since you are a supposed Durin Folk, I would ask for you to come to the Blue Mountains, to Thòrin's Halls, and ask to speak to me. If you are in fact a Half-dam, and you have the proof for it, I will grant you a home here in my brother's halls until you can provide for yourself. We care much for our kin, we are a loyal race and you will want for nothing. 

Should you accept my request; bring this letter and my waxed sigil, show the guards at the gates and you will be escorted directly to me. 

I await your arrival, most graciously and with a full heart, 

Princess Dìs."

Elrond held the letter out to Rurìn. Her eyes were shining with tears. Had she known it was from her sister... she wouldn't have waited so long to open it. 

The waxed seal was not Durin's sigil but another, by the name of Lì. It was a bow and a sword surrounded by four stars, a house of a well-established warrior, a king's guard as Elrond put it. The house of Lì was a good house apparently, and to be given the stars meant it belonged to Durin's folk, the Longbeards or Ironfoots. 

Rurìn left the family chambers to sit in one of the many gardens with Wàyenda. She had been there for several hours, to ponder in silence. This was where Glorfindel found her. He did not speak to her, letting her sit in the silence as he just sat there with her and then took her hand, squeezing it before bringing her closer so she could rest her head on his arm.

"Melenya," He began in Quenya. "You are sad... This is good news. You are being welcomed by your sister. Why do you shed such tears? " (My Friend)

She wiped at her eyes with her sleeve and sighed. "It may be fine for them if I were another's child, Glorfindel. However as it may be, I am still the bastard beardless daughter of a Dwarrow who ran from his duty to his people as the next King." 

Glorfindel scoffed. "You are not a bastard beardless child. That is not the title I want you to name yourself as, Melenya. You are Rurìn, a kind and gentle, Half-dam who is a brave and true friend, a warrior who has endured much more than battle. You had to grow faster and learn to get by in life that many would never understand. You are much more than you give yourself credit for. Do not say such cruel things about your faë, for it hurts my heart to hear it." 

She let him take her hand again and kiss her knuckles. "You remind me of my sister, such a soul of pure heart and courage beneath a blanket of snow. Your nature is good, it is true and most beautiful to gaze upon. I only wish you would allow yourself to see how beautiful it is, the way you shine without trying. You are forever welcomed where I may be, and to show how much I care for you, Melenya... allow me to prove it? "

Glorfindel reached into his pocket and held out a small wooden box with a large golden celandine flower in the center of a bursting sun. His house sigil. 

She took the box with shakey hands and opened it to find a necklace carrying the sigil, two beads, and several little golden stars on hoops. He took the necklace out and spoke once more. "Sister of the Golden Flower " The necklace clasp popped open and he held it out to her. "Allow me to put it on you, Lady Rurìn of the house of the Golden Flower." 

Rurìn pulled her hair to the side and let him clasp the necklace once more, speaking the phrase once more. He brushed her hair back down and patted her shoulder. "It will only come off if you speak the phrase. Wear it always and it will protect you. Should you not find a home with your siblings - you will always have a home with me, osellë." (Heart-Sister)

Rurìn threw her arms around Glorfindel and cried. He was like the brother she had always wanted and knowing he felt the same had made her extremely happy. Even if she could not find a home with her blood kin, at least she knew her heart kin would always be there. 

She straightened her shoulders after some time of drenching his robes in her tears. He wiped them away, kissed her brow, and helped her to her feet. "Shall I help you pack? " He asked. 

"You shall."

Chapter Text

Rurìn was sitting crossed-legged on Raìn, bowed over knitting while she journeyed towards Ered Luin. Elladan and Elrohir along with Teragorn were by her side. The four of them laughed, joked, and talked all while keeping the atmosphere full of love. The Elf Twins were sad that they would be saying; see you again, towards their little daman as they were calling her. 

Teragorn was just disappointed because he might never see her again. He was human, nor was he Dúnedain - he was not gifted with long life. She promised to that she wouldn't stay away for too long. He had responded by; holding her to that promise. Before they near Bree, Teragorn bid her a fond farewell and kissed her cheek as an older brother would do. Leaving her with a corded bracelet with a little wooden carved horse on it for her to remember him by.

She continued her travels with the twins passing the Shire and staying off the main roads as they slowly descended into bandant-infested lands. This part, between the Shire and the Blue Mountains you had to proceed with caution and to remain off the main roads for a time. 

They had been traveling for a month at this point, sleeping under the stars, and playing their instruments. Well, the twins played their flutes and Rurìn went between her fiddle, flute, or lute - gifts given to her by Elrond, Hemi, and Lindir before she left along with a brand new cloak and travel wear. The elvish friends she had made spoiled her; Raìn had a few packed parcels of gifts on him as well. From jewelry to clothes and even art supplies, as well as a small painting of her with the Rivendell residents who would forever have a place in her heart. She had spent years living with them, growing, training and bonding. Friendships that would forever last a lifetime and then she would become just a fond memory when her friends would sail to the west.

Before they got to the first gate of the Blue Mountains was where Rurìn must say her farewells to the twins. They were not allowed to go any further due to the conflicts with the Dwarves. They would have dared it but Elrond would kill them himself should they cause any offense and force him to come all this way to plead for their case. 

"Don't worry, our little daman," Elladan held Rurìn in his arms while she sniffled. "We will see you again! Wàyenda will bring us the letters that you promised and we will keep our word and reply to every single one with haste!"

"We will see you again our sweet Raven sister!" Elrohir kissed her forehead before getting back on his horse. 

Elladan helped her back up on Raìn and fixed her ribbon in her braid, and placed a small silver ring on her thumb. 

"We had it made for you," He explained, she looked down at it to see Sindarin script with 'Where the wind blows, we shall meet again' 

"Thank you," She placed her hand on her heart. He smiled up at her, patting her cheek. 

"Take care and remember there is no shame in not staying. We will come for you if you want to return even if it's only a week from now. We care deeply for you. All of us do, Rurì."

"And I you, muindor," (Brother)

He grinned up at her and turned away to get on his horse. The twins waved and turned their steeds before galloping away, leaving her to travel alone. She tighten her quiver straps and adjusted her bow on her shoulder before tapping Raìn gently on the sides. 

"Let's go home, boy." 

He neighed softly and went in a gentle trot. It wasn't long before they came to the first gate where she was allowed to pass through without so much as a glance. The first part of the lower pastures around the mountains were fields of grain and few wandering farm animals. The second gate held the farmsteads and as the terrain began to decline upward, the fields held more dwellings with dwarflings running around in the wildflowers, dwarrowdams were hanging laundry and the dwarrows were sharpening their weapons or working on the ground doing a little bit of everything. There were a few elderly Dwarrows shucking corn or stripping tobacco. They all looked up at her with narrowed eyes, some of the small dwarflings ventured near her only to be called back by their mothers. 

Rurìn felt even more like an outsider than before despite her being one of them. She forced a smile on her face and continued on, only moving a little faster than before. 

As the fourth gate came into view, she traveled in more of an incline steep. One of the guards called for a halt, pointing an arrow at her. Tugging gently on the reigns she tilted her chin up to meet the eyes of the wall guard. 

"What business do ye have here!" He growled.  

He could have been a little more friendly in her opinion. There was no reason to be so hostile with her. She hadn't done anything to warrant that tone in his voice. 

"I've been invited by the Princess, Lady Dìs of the House of Durìn!" She held a firmer voice that was almost foreign to her.  She rather not talk at all or be put under a spotlight. Rurìn will always prefer the shadows for her safe space. 

"Do ye have proof!" The Gaurd growled two more arrows were now directed at her face. Honestly... She really hadn't done anything to now have three arrows pointed at her. 

"Of course, Master Dwarf! I would gladly get it if I weren't so concerned about having three arrows embedded in my head!" She snapped. 

The guard looked momentarily stunned and looked as if heat bloomed upon his face. The arrows were lowered and he gave a sheepish smile. "Apologies, mi lady... Can't be too cautious with the world. Dark times upon us, you know..." 

She huffed. "You are forgiven. May I show you my invitation? Or should I direct you to it and one of your guards pull it from my robes? I am more than willing to place my hands in the air to ease your wary minds if it pleases you." 

The guard chuckled and disappeared from the wall, a gate opened and he stepped out. "Lift your hands, Lassie. Tell me where the letter is." 

She did as she was told, watching the Dwarrow step towards her. "It's in my pocket on my right leg, the larger one closer to the knee." She said quietly. He looked a bit bashful when he reached to touch her; having to stand on his tippy toes just to reach her knee and pull the letter from her pocket. She kept her eyes on him, refusing to look away. He scanned the letter and then held it out to her, which she put back in its place. He whistled and rolled his wrist in the air, the gates opened all the way to let her through. 

"Yòlun! Show the lass in!" 

A younger guard, looking a bit clumsy met her at the gate. He was on a smaller pony, stumbling a bit as he held the reigns. He hardly had a beard, more of an after shadow scruff, nor did he have beads or braids in his hair. He was also a bit on the chubby side than stout. 

He nodded his head at her. She nodded back. "Follow me..." He said quietly and nudged his pony. 

Raìn cantered slowly beside the pony, she had to look down on him as he lead her through a small path filled with stalls and out of another gate. They had a lot of gates, a testament to how secretive they were. 

Overly cautious more like it... 

"This is the Maker's Hall, as ye can see this is where all the dwarf craftsmen work and share the huge forge for their crafts." Yòlun continued through the second half of the gate and through another door.  "This here is The Forge's hall, it is only lit in the mornin' and will be put out few hours after sundown. If yeh want to use it, yeh have to talk to King Thòrin." 

He climbed off the back of his pony and held a hand out towards her. She whistle lowly and Raìn kneeled down enough for her to climb off him gently. Yòlun lifted his eyebrows in shock and grinned at her when she took his offered hand to help steady her. She smiled. 

"Yeh have to leave yer steed in the barn 'ere. Once settled, yeh can collect 'em. Lady Dìs will put 'em in the Durìn stables with theirs. You can leave yer stuff on 'em. Nobody will touch it."

"Thank you," She bowed her head. He walked off for a moment while she got her horse settled in a stall. Wàyenda crowed lowly from above and when she came out of the barn, she swooped down to land on her shoulder, nuzzling her neck and ruffling her feathers. Yòlun returned with another guard. 

"Ye have a raven..." Yòlun gaped. 

"Wàyenda," Rurìn said softly, brushing her beak with care. " She brought a letter from Lady Dìs. She did not leave and chose to stay with me. We've become attached to one another." 

"A mighty fine gift... to bond with a Raven. Must be special for Mahal and Manwë to bound yer souls." He hummed. He then looked to the guard. "This is me bruder, Mòlun, he will escort yeh to m'lady."

Bowing once more, he left her and got back on his pony. She looked to Mòlun who in turn, bowed. "Welcome to the Halls of Thòrin Oakensheild," He said. "Home of Durin's Folk. The place of Dwelling for those who survived and were exiled from Erebor, the Lonely Mountain by Smaug the Terrible."

Rurìn gazed around her. There were many market stalls in the process of being restocked for the morning, and the tavern were just beginning to be open to be aired out. She could hear grunting and metal clanging from close by followed by cheering and several thumps. A line of many men was carrying Mattocks and whistling as they chatted and moved towards an entrance on the side of the mountain.

"That's the City Mines, yer not a Miner from the looks of yeh," He said, looking at her closely. "What is yer craft? Do yeh have one?" 

"I'm a musician but I've been dabbling in medicine."

"We could always do with more Healers," Mòlun said. Then he sighed. "If yeh continue down the Great Hall, ye will find yerself in the Throne Room at the end. Ye will know yer in the Great Hall when you find the main building of the city, the largest one." He started walking off towards it. 

Rurìn thought it was a bit odd that the dwarves didn't live inside the mountain like she thought they would have. Though there was some housing placed in the mountainsides, it was more like carved passes, pathways through the mountain inside with the sun beaming down on them from above. She followed Mòlun closely, neither one speaking as they got closer to what he said was the throne room. 

He bowed to the guard's station outside of the double doors, speaking quietly to them. One of them bounded off behind the door before returning to where she had to wait. Mòlun bid his farewell to her, leaving her with the two stoic guards who were currently leveling her with suspicion and hatred. Looking at her garbs with distaste. The Elvish style of her clothing was like a beacon here. She didn't think about that at all... well, too late now.

"You will address her Lady and the Lordships with proper respect. You will speak only when spoken to and not a moment more. You will not make any sudden movements or I will kill you on the spot. Any suspected ill intent and you will lose your head. Do I make myself clear?" One of the guards growled. He glared so ferociously at her, it made her back up a bit. "Now, hand over the letter!"

She wasn't expecting that...  She may have done well in battles with her elvish family, and she may have done very well on patrols but she was still the very same girl from Hollin. She was quiet, shy, and reserved.  She was kind and did not like conflict. The dwarves here were treating her much like her counterparts did. Like she wasn't even fit to clean their boots. That she was nothing more than trash to them. It made her regret coming. At least Glorfindel promised her a forever home should she fail here. 

She scrambled for the letter from her pocket. He swiped it from her hand roughly. The guard didn't wait for a response before he opened the doors. Two young Dwarfs were standing beside her, one had golden long hair that glimmered in the torchlight, looking as if the sun itself was made from him with piercing blue eyes much like the Dwarrowdam that he stood beside. The other had short dark hair with only two small braids with a scruffy beard. His eyes were like molten chocolate. They were very young looking, both grinning with crossed arms, emitting a careless light attitude versus a princeling one of stuffiness. She could tell they were brothers from the facial structure, eye shape, mouth, and even the stoutness of their bodies. Only, the brown hair dwarf appeared much too pretty to even be considered one. His nose was small, straight, and narrow with a childish lopsided grin that was too pure for the world. The golden hair dwarf was quite handsome but nowhere near how pretty the brown hair one was, his nose was still rather small for a dwarf though. 

"Princes Fìli and Kìli and Her Royal Highness, Princess Dìs,"  The guard bowed. "This is Lady Rurìn." 

Rurìn gave a rather awkward curtsy causing the boys to stifle their laughs and amusement to flash in the dam's eyes. She felt a bit mortified by it, she was so nervous enough as it was. "She claims to have been invited to Ered Luin by you, m'lady." The guard came forth with the scroll that came to Rivendell for her and passed it to the Dam. 

Princess Dìs took the scroll and opened it, looking closely at Rurìn with a piercing gaze. She smiled lightly when she read the letter and then rolled it back up, stood up, and stepped down from the throne. Rurìn stood very still as the dam began to inspect her like a prize mule, humming lightly as she did so and then fingered her wild locks, and brushed her bare cheeks. 

"You're as smooth a babe..." Dìs chuckled. "So you must not be a full Dwarrow..." 

"Uh... no, m'lady. I am part Dúnedain."

"Truly?" She rose her eyebrows. 

"Yes, m'lady." 

Princess Dìs looked at the guard. "Have her items taken to the guest room in my family's wing. Lady Rurìn was indeed invited by me, she will be under my protection until further notice. If she has a horse, bring it to my family's stalls. You may leave us now." 

The guard bow and left the room with the door closing behind him. The dam smiled warmly at Rurìn. "You must be hungry. Come. We will have supper in our shared space."

⚒️

Rurìn did not speak while they ate. Only the two boys joked and laughed. Dìs was observing her and only once the table was cleared off of the hardy meal did she finally ask the question that had Rurìn sweating with a dry mouth. 

The moment arrived. 

"How do you know you are part Dwarrow?"

Rurìn never wanted to part with her father's token, the only thing that belong to him. It was weird that before her; were her half-sister and her nephews. They had no idea who she even was. 

The boys stopped their playing and grew silent, staring at her like their mother. Waiting for her to answer the question. Rurìn brushed her fingers under her knitted fingerless gloves and slowly undid the knot that held the bracelet in place. 

"My da gave my mother his family emblem to give to me when I was older. I never met him, only knowing the stories that my mother told me whenever she came around from her travels. I was raised by my pops and nana. They had no idea what it was. It was only until I found myself in the company of Elves in Rivendell did the light shine upon my hidden heritage..." Rurìn began to stutter on her words as she pulled the pendant from the binds of the leather braids. "It was just as a surprise to me... as I am sure it will be for you..." 

Dìs held her hand out for the pendant and once she took it and looked down upon it did she gasp loudly with wide wild eyes. 

"Amad... what is it?" Fìli asked quickly, coming to her side. 

Dìs looked from the pendant to Rurìn and then back down at it. Her wild gaze slowly brimmed with tears. She stumbled to her feet and came around the table to stand before Rurìn, taking her wrists; to make her stand. She grabbed Rurìn's cheeks, turning her head this way and that way. Staring deeply into her eyes which reflected her own shade of blue. The Durìn blue...

"Oh Mahal... truly... I do see it. You look just like Thòrin did as a dwarfling..." She whispered. 

Rurìn covered Dís's hands that still held her face. "I have been alone all my life...  Never fitting in anywhere and wondering if I would ever find my family. I only wish to know you, nothing more than that. Even as a bastard, I just want to know you."

Dìs scoffed and then slammed Rurìn into a tight hug, knocking foreheads with her. "You are not a bastard, Bunnanun. You are a Durìn. My Namad..." (Tiny treasure. Sister)

The two princes standing behind their mother, jaws dropped. Rurìn held Dìs, tighter. Perhaps she had spoken too soon... this was easier than she thought.