He heard her singing as he climbed the last stair that led to the airy veranda at the top of the manor. Dwimmer paused; this did not bode well. It wasn't that her clear, sweet voice wasn't pleasant on the ears ( he had always loved the sound of her voice) but the fact that she tended to sing when her heart was heaviest was what tugged at him. He took a breath and stepped into the room.
Fairlain was sitting at the far side of the room next to the window that opened out to the rolling hills beyond Arrowhaven. She wore a dress, which was unusual, and even more unusual was that her head was uncovered. As far back as he could remember it she had had some sort of cap plastered over those pretty ears. Her mother had feared for her, knowing that men might hate her child for what she was and elves might hate her for what she wasn't. But lately, since that bad time, she had seemed to move beyond that. The song ceased and Fairlain looked up from her thoughts. With a small cry she ran to Dwimmer, falling on her knees and burying her head in his shoulder as she had done when she was tiny. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"What's all this, then?' he asked softly. She wrapped her arms around him in turn and buried her head deeper into his robe. Dwimmer stood silent a moment, sifting through the thoughts of what he knew and what he could pretty well guess at.
"So your time with the elves wasn't so bad? That Elrond seems a good enough fella.." Fairlain's head moved up and down in assent.
"You must've come back Ost Guruth way?" again the head moved up and down.
"Hmmmm...I'm told that young hunter lad was sent out that direction. Did you see him then?" again assent.
"Heh...He's a tough lad. Made a pretty quick recovery after all those hurts he took. Perhaps there's a reason for that?" Fairlain remained very still, then again answered "yes" with a nod of her head.
"I see." He stroked the shining brown hair with his rough dwarvish hand. " Talked to the lad a bit up north. He was tryin' to figure out the forges up there. Burnt his fingers a bit but didn't do too badly...smithing a sword, I believe. Asked me some surprising' questions, I must say. He seems to have a good heart." The head moved up and down.
The time had come to ask a direct question.
"I notice that healing stone I made for you has found a new home. Did he steal it from you?" The head moved side to side in an emphatic "no".
Dwimmer considered a moment, then asked "Do you love him, lass?" Her arms tightened around the dwarf and she burrowed her head deeper into his shoulder. She drew a long breath and released it in a ragged sigh. The head moved up and down.
He said nothing but just stroked the silken hair for a moment or two. Leaning his head down he placed a kiss on top of Fairlain's head. His voice became very gentle. "My little lassie...you have the truest heart I have ever known. If it's telling you this is your path, then you can trust it. But mind this...If he does not ken that he holds a treasure beyond all the coffers of Erebor, I will send a lightning bolt up his backside."
At that Fairlain lifted her head from its hiding place and looked into Dwimmer's face a grin shining through the tears that stood in her sapphire eyes. Coming from anyone else those would be empty words.
Dwimmer smiled down at her and brushed a finger over the wet cheek. "Come now....dry your eyes and come downstairs. Milady has food laid out and a bit of ale to boot....mustn't let it go to waste."
And Fairlain laughed with joy.
