"I think this one is more your color..." I examined the green gown Skyrena held out to me. It was silky and plain, but I thought it was beautiful. I couldn't contain my smile as I nodded.
"Green is my favorite color." I accepted the gown and tried it on. It was a little big, but it seemed great. Skyrena stood beside me, examining the gown, dressed in her own blue gown.
"It seems a little big..." She went over to the dresser and looked around. "Hmmm..." Snagging something from the dresser, she came back and held up a needle, some thread, and a few pins. "I'm just going to adjust this gown for you." I turned around and let her. Pretty soon, the dress fit perfectly. I smiled as I turned towards her.
"Thanks, Skyrena." She smiled back as she picked up a brush.
"Now, for your hair..." After awhile, my hair was tamed and pinned back in a casual and simple way. I smiled as I glanced between my reflection and Skyrena. She smiled at me as she shook her head. "I still can't believe you're my daughter..." I blushed and smiled as I turned to face her.
"Why is that so surprising?" Before she could answer, there was a knock at the door.
"Skyrena?" We both turned and saw Bilbo standing at the door. Skyrena smiled at him as she answered.
"Hey, Bilbo." Gathering the skirts of the common blue dress she was wearing, she walked over to greet him. "Do you need something?" He shook his head.
"No, actually... Thorin requests to see you both." I swallowed hard as her gaze dropped.
"Oh..." He frowned in response.
"Is something wrong, Skyrena?" She shook her head and turned away.
"No, no... Everything's fine." She brushed off the old dress and smiled. "Thanks, though." He smiled at us and puffed out his chest.
"Care for an escort, ladies?" I laughed as Skyrena curtsied.
"Why, thank you, kind sir." Skyrena let him link his arm with her's and smiled at me. "Shall we, Era?" I smiled as I linked arms with Bilbo, and we started down the hall to the throne room.
He was having so much fun that he actually skipped every so often. However, when we reached the throne room, he cleared his throat as he unlinked his arm. I followed him in and saw Thorin, who was dressed in some grander clothes than he wore earlier. Bilbo cleared his throat as he stopped in the doorway.
"I've fetched them, Thorin." Thorin motioned for us to enter. I swallowed hard as I followed Bilbo into the throne room. Thorin nodded to Bilbo.
"Thank you, Master Baggins. You may go." Bilbo nodded and left without another word. Thorin turned to us. "I see you've cleaned yourselves up. You're as beautiful as ever." I lowered my gaze as Skyrena tried not to blush.
"I found that my old chambers had been left untouched. It wasn't hard to find my old clothes." He humphed as he started to circle us, reminding me of Lord Thraudril back in Mirkwood.
"Tell me: are you happy again, Skyrena?" She frowned.
"I've always been happy, Thorin. Whether we were camped under the stars or hiding from the rain, I've been happy. As long as we were not fighting for our lives, I have been happy." Thorin stopped.
"I mean, are you happier here? In our old home?" She swallowed hard, trying to think of her answer.
"Well, I suppose... I mean, we're all here, and I will admit I missed how life was here, but it's not the same as before the dragon." He nodded and continued to circle us.
"I am, now, king under the mountain..." He ran his hand through her hair, toying with it. "And, every king needs a queen." I looked up and met his gaze as he stood before me. The strange cloudiness was there, blurring the color of his eyes. "What say you, Era? Am I right?" I swallowed hard.
"I guess so..." He raised an eyebrow at me, prompting me to continue on. "I mean, I think it's a reasonable thing to request of a woman. I'm sure finding a wife won't be that hard." I silently hoped he was alright. His character was constantly changing, and the cloudy look in his eyes didn't help matters any. If anything, he frightened me. He chuckled a little as he nodded.
"I don't doubt that it won't be difficult..." He smiled a little as he turned back towards Skyrena. "What say you to being my queen?" In any other given situation, I know she would have said yes with no hesitation what so ever. However, something didn't feel right about this. I stood straight and lowered my gaze as she swallowed hard.
"That is a rather large request, Thorin." I glanced between the two of them as she responded. "May I have a chance to think it over?" Thorin bit his lip.
"Is something lacking?" He was yelling now. "I have waited 60 years to ask you that question! What is missing?" He grasped her shoulders and shook her hard. "Tell me!" She cried out, causing him to freeze. He released her arms and stepped back. I fought my tears as I watched her rub the now tender spots on her arms. "I'm sorry, Skyrena. I didn't... I just... I will allow you until sunset to answer." She nodded and ran out of the room, trying not to cry. I froze as Thorin looked to me, his eyes filling with tears. "I don't know what came over me..." I swallowed hard, hoping I wasn't in over my head.
"It's this place, Thorin... It's clouding your train of thought. It's making it impossible to think clearly." He shook his head as he took a seat at his throne.
"I never wanted to hurt her..." He looked up at me. "Are you happy?" I swallowed hard and shrugged.
"I'm not quiet sure... I mean, it still feels like I'm forgetting something." He nodded.
"Of course... You're future." He stood up and looked towards the darkness. "Fili..." Out of the darkness, Fili approached us. I swallowed hard as I realized what was going on. "Fili has asked for your hand..."
YOU ARE READING
Run It Back Again (Part 1)
FanfictionFor 45 years, Era has been alone. Upon reaching the Grayhavens, she found that she really was the last shapeshifter. When the elves leave her behind, Era decides that things were better long ago, when she had her mother and her friends. But, she...
