Jeweled dolls of Durin

aprentice / only time [ pg]

As the years went by Tia and Bofur became closer. Each day she would skip down the corridors humming some melody toward his workshop and whenever she come around the corner he would slide a piece of candy across his table toward her while working on his newest project smiling at the delight on her face each time. She would always take the little treat and climb into a chair watching him work away holding onto the little doll he had made for her after the yeti incident. The doll was special to her ..he made it look like himself complete with the hat and braids that seemed to defy gravity and she loved it..never went anywhere without her Bo as she called him. In the beginning Tolhm would try to get her to stop bothoring Bofur , but everytime he tried she would scream and raise such a fit that he swore the whole mountain could hear her roar of disapproval. Bofur would always smile at this and just say "Its ok. Let her stay. Shes no bother and theres a sleeping pad near the fire..ill watch over her and keep her safe." looking into Tohlms eyes . Tohlm knew from the day of the yeti incident that Bofur would do as he said..he saw it in his eyes that day and knew no harm would ever befall Tia if Bofur had any say because he loved her. Tolhm finally gave up trying to force her away and let the little girl stay beside the fire where the sounds of the chisel scrapping across wood turning it into some precious new wooden toy would lull the child into slumber .

16 YEARS PASS

Tia grew up to be a very pretty dwarf with long dark locks that fell to her waist with small plated braids on either side of her head and green eyes that sparkeled everytime she smiled..but no beard..not even a hint of downy fuzz would grow on her face. Everyday her father would touch her cheek hoping for even a hint of hair and still nothing grew..he would sigh and shake his head at this wondering if maybe something was wrong with her. Was something wrong with her .. maybe she wasnt a proper dwarf...she was adopted but if she was proper then she should have a beard by now or at least some evidence of one..but still nothing. He loved her even thou she wassnt of his blood and no matter what she was his little girl. The other young dwarves would always pick on her calling her names when adults wernt around..teasing her about her soft hairless face.But they always stopped when an adult came around and would walk away before they heard or saw what was going on. This always left her in tears but she quickly would wipe them away before anyone saw them afraid that she would be thought weak.

One day on her 20th birthday she got a messege from bofur to come and see him around the lunching hour. Around lunch time she went to visit Bofur like she did most days..skipping down the hallways humming a song to let him know she was coming to see him. When she got close to the door she stopped skipping and peeked around the door to see him sitting there with a smile on his face waiting for her to appear and another dwarf was with him. It was one of the master jewelers . Tias smile faltered for a moment at the sight of him.. she remembered that day when she got loose in thier workshop when she was a child and left it in ruins...but she looked over at Bofur and saw his sweet gentle smile at her . That smile made her heart skip a moment but before she could think on it his voice inturrupted her thoughts.

"Tia.. Happy Birthing day.. please come sit down i have a surprise for you." it was only his smile that calmed her down and gave her the strength to enter the room calmly to sit down in the spare chair. " this is master jeweler Grieg. He's here to talk to you" upon hearing this tia suddenly jumped up her chair in a panic. Oh no he couldn't still be mad about that incident could he..could he really be here to punish her after all this time.

" look ..I was only a baby..its been 17 years since then" she shouted at him. Then her voice went soft and thick as tears started to trail down her cheeks. " please don't be mad..I'm sorry for what I did sir" her head hung low as she waited to him to start yelling at her but the only sound in the room was the scrapping of bofurs chair as he stood up and went to her. He wrapped his strong arms around her and gently pulled her close to his chest that smelled of pipe-weed that was rich and sweet in her nose. He held her closely in his arms and there was a feeling of rightness ..like this was where she belonged. Suddenly there was a chuckle coming from the master dwarf whom they both had forgotten was there, breaking the moment and letting it pass by to be lost for a time.