Calm The Fire

05

"Just friends?"

"Excuse me?" Náriel turned and looked at Balin with a frown. "There is nothing more...that I know of." She paused and leaned forwards slightly. "What do you know that I don't, Balin? Are you insinuating that Thorin cares for me?"

Balin mumbled something under his breath. "Princess," he started and looked to her, Náriel's expression was blank, she was waiting for him to explain his earlier words. "It isn't my place to say."

"Bit late for that now, you've started this." She smirked.

Balin sighed and looked to the ground, then slowly up at the lanterns nearby. "Can we just forget this conversation?"

"Sure," Náriel said simply, Balin didn't look like he believed her, yet accepted the small polite smile and nod she sent his way. "Let's just say," Náriel said, Balin frowned lightly; of course she hadn't fully dropped this. She was silent for a matter of seconds. "Hypothetically speaking, Balin, that there were feelings which were being felt. How does that work? We've barely known each other a day."

Giving a sigh he patted his sides before shrugging, "Fate works in mysterious, bizarre ways." Was his answer. Náriel looked at him thoughtfully. He could see her thinking things over and through, for the most part she just looked confused. Pinning this to fate was a bit of a long shot. "Don't worry, my dear." Balin said, cutting into her thoughts. He reached out slowly and gave her a light pat on the arm.

Náriel narrowed her eyes and looked to the twinkling lanterns. "It's new to me, having someone I seemingly get on with quite well in a short matter of time."

"I can tell," Balin smiled. "You have plenty of time to figure everything out." Náriel looked at him with a sidewards look. "May I ask," he started to say, he didn't like how Náriel's eyes had dimmed slightly in the light and stared at him unblinkingly. Regardless he pressed on; "Do you care for him?"

"As I said: I am not used to forming a bond with someone so quickly." Náriel said in a hard tone, Balin took a step back and nodded, he suddenly felt like he may have offended her. Sighing, she hung her head, "I am sorry for being blunt with you, Balin." She apologised with her eyes shut. Slowly she opened them and looked around the cavernous space they were in. "I find that I like his company." She turned and looked at him. "Thorin is a kind and honourable dwarf." She said with a nod and looked rather confused again.

"And I can see that he sees you as a kind, spirited young woman."

"He has spoken to you then?" Náriel smirked at his words.

Balin shook his head, "No," he lied, Náriel's smirk grew even more, she could see through his lie pretty easily. "May I just say this; you both have the same content smiles on your faces whenever in each others' company." Náriel tilted her head to the side and looked at him. "Yes, despite your blunt, hypothetical words; I am suggesting you care for him."

"As you seemingly believe he cares for me." Náriel shook her head slowly. "Are you not just looking too into things, Balin?"

"Not much escapes your eyes, right? Well the same for my old eyes." Balin said with a quiet huff while giving a sure nod. Náriel raised an eyebrow at his sudden grouchy moment. Smiling slowly, she couldn't help it; she laughed. Her light laughter caused Balin to look at her strangely.

"You are getting irritated by this topic, I can see!" Náriel laughed, she put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile.

"You did say you were going to forget this conversation." Balin stated. "Yet you continued. So, excuse me for my moment."

Náriel shook her head, her laughter now under control. Putting a hand to her stomach, which suddenly ached from all her laughing, she smiled. Putting her other hand on his shoulder, she gave it a light squeeze. "I am most glad that you gave the small amount of odd advice as you just have." She leaned forwards and kissed him on the cheek.