Return to the Blue Mountains

Chapter One

“Lost!” Thorin boomed, clearly unhappy with that answer. “How did you lose them?”

“I did not lose them, exactly, but they were taken from me by my father and burned.”

“Why?” Thorin sounded genuinely shocked.

“My family is not wealthy, my Lord, and I was offered the chance at a good marriage. Unfortunately I know the man in question to be cold-hearted and cruel and despite my fathers pleadings, I refused. Part of my punishment was to watch as he burned my books.”

Thorin had never heard of such a thing.

“Did he also make you shave your beard?”

“Yes.”

“When did this happen?” Thorin asked.

“Two days ago.”

“And you are certain that the books are lost?”

“Absolutely certain, I saw them burn with my own eyes.” Rori couldn't stand the idea of letting the king down so she summoned all her courage once again and looked up. “But I will translate what I can for you, my Lord, even though I have no books. And perhaps I might be able to replace or borrow books which will help me.”

Thorin nodded to Bifur, who came up to Rori and bid her to follow him. He kept his eyes averted from her bare face so as not remind her of her disgrace. Unfortunately that only made her more self-conscious, not less. They went down a short corridor off the main chamber and they entered a small room with only two chairs and table in it. Resting on the table was the Orcrist.

“Might I have some paper?” she asked Bifur.

“Yes, of course,” he replied, quickly backing out of the room. He found it hard to believe her family would have shamed her so severely simply for refusing a suitor and believed that there must be more to the story. He was glad to leave her behind while he sought out the paper and writing implements.

III

Even by dwarf standards, Cori was a very unattractive, he had small bead eyes set too close together, thin lips and a simpering air about him. As he was brought before the king, he bowed even lower than his daughter, his forehead almost touching the ground.

“How may I be of service, my Lord.”

“You are father of Rori, correct?” Thorin asked, not bothering to tell this man to rise.

“I am, sire.”

“And you burned her books and made her shave her beard off, is that correct?”

“Yes, sire.”

Cori suddenly felt a little frightened. He had over reacted when he had shaved Rori's beard, such an act was so shameful that it was very very rarely used as punishment. Refusing a husband was not even a punishable offence, many female dwarves remained single their whole lives, but Cori was sick and tired of his daughter's headstrong ways.

A union with Mar would have made the family rich; indeed Mar had promised Cori a great deal of gold if he could persuade his daughter into marriage. The thought of so much treasure slipping through his fingers had angered him and he had hoped that after losing her beard she would be much more inclined to marry Mar, who had agreed that even with no beard, he would still marry Rori. Indeed his eyes had taken on a malevolent glint as he considered her being so shamed.

“Why?” asked Thorin, pulling Cori out of his thoughts.

Cori finally looked up from his bowed position and slowly stood up, mainly to give himself time to think of an acceptable answer.