It had been a long and hard trek to the inn yet we managed to reach the place before sunrise. The landlady was a pleasant enough woman, round in face and body but with a warm and secure welcome we were showed to our rooms where hot meals and good dark ale had been layed out. She had only three rooms available so had to share, myself, my brother, my uncle, Bofur, and Balin took one room, with the wizard, the hobbit, nori, dori and Bombur in another and our remaining kin in the last room. It was a tight squeeze with only two queen beds and a small seating area in which room, but it was safe and warm.
Once we got into our room my brother and I lay Talila down on one of the beds. She had not shown any sign of life all the way to inn, with the only way of knowing she was still with us through a faint heartbeat. The landlady had entered the room some minutes later to help clean her wounds and blood, a job for a woman to do so Talila could keep her honour. Once she had been cleaned the landlady called for us to reenter the room.
"Her wounds are deep and grave...I fear she will not make the night" the landlady informed us barley above a whisper
"There must be something we can do to help her heal" Thorin beged
"Rest is all I can suggest me lord"
"very well...leave us"
This Thorins cold reply she took her leave closing the door behind her. After some minutes of us all just staring down at the sleeping Talila on the bed, we pulled ourselves away and began to take our rest, eatting the hot pies and drinking the cold ale left out for us.
"WAKE UP...WAKE UP" Nori shouts excitedly the next morning crashing through the door
"What in seven hells is going on" Bofur gumbles
"Is it the Orc?" Fili suddenly asks with fear
"No..its good news..does the girl still sleep?" Nori smiles
"aye...no movement all night" Bofur mumbles pulling himself off the sofa
"Rabryn of Gondor...he's here!!" Nori calls out
"Rab of what" I ask puzzled
"Rabryn of Gondor...the cousin of Earnur of Gondor...the shaman and firece warrior of Gondor" he replies with shock
"Never heard of him" i reply slouching back down on the seat and turning my glaze to Talila
"You may not know my name, but I promise you will of heard the songs" I strange foregin voice comes from the door "I am Rabryn" The tall and handsome stranger smiles still standing by the door of our room.
After what felt like a Durins winter he moves his glance from myself and my kin and walks into the room and towards to the bed where Talila rests.
"It has been too long. But you must not die yet me sweet. Death is so final" he whispers leaning down to her face. "What have you been treating her with?" He asks turning back us
"Extract of ginger and nightshade flows my lord" Bofur stutters
"That will work to bring down her temperature. But the fever and infection from her wounds still grow. Leave me with her now please. I promise to return your sweet Lilly flower back to soon" he smiles moving his hand out to gesture our leave.
It was five hours later we were allowed back into the room, when he came down stairs to the bar with a smug smile upon his face and informed us she was asking for us.
"Kili...Fili..guys" she smiles jumping off the bed as we returned to the room
"You're okay?" I ask with shock
"Never better" she beams pulling me into a tight hug as the sweet scent of her hair fills my senses
"How did...what did you give her? This is truly a miracle" Bofur gasps
"No miracle my friend. Just a few spices and a dab of magic" Rabryn winks smiling over at Tilly
"Thank you my friend. You have saved my life again and again I am truly grateful and forever in your debt" she smiles back her cheeks turning a warm pink colour as we pulls from my hug
As I grab my mace n' walked the line
My enemies fell to face the old
As blood of red, black and gold
Mark my face
My warriors heart
"Aye the bards and fine whores were singing of his triumph the next three night they were" laughed one of Rabryn's men as he gulped down his mead
"Here. Wasn't the only thing them fine whore were doing" laughed another
"Not for old Rabryn though. He kept to his own all night. If I knew none of his warrior heart I'd think it strange" chuckled the other man
We had been sat in the bar drinking and eating our full for most of he night. Listening to Rabryn's mem tell their war tales and drunken nights. Thorin had taken to a table with Balin at the other side of the bar keeping his head down and his voice low, whilst Tilly and Rabryn took to a table to themselves.
"You lie...that can not be true" she laughs slapping Rabryn playfully on the arm
"It is all true my Lady. I have the scares to prove it" he smiles taking a large swig of this ale
"Oh Rabryn how I have missed you my dear friend. Your stories are truly the best in middle earth"
"I have heard you have a fair few to tell my lady" he smiles leaning close and whispering something further into her ear.
"Alright laddie" Dwalin calls over breaking my concentration on Tilly's and Rabryn's conversation
"Huh...what?" I mutter moving my glance back to my table
"You seemed to have quite a glaze on our fair lady of Gondor" laughed one of Rabryn's men
"Aye...you've got no chance with her laddie...the lady and lord go way back. I imagine she'll be resting her head in his bed tonight" laughed the other man
"Hold your tongue" Gandalf suddenly orders
"I...I..I meant no harm to the ladies honour sir...just the...the magic of Rabryn's charm is all...all..in good humour" the man stuttered spilling his mead down his leathers
Becoming bored and yet annoyed this the conversation at the table I turn my head back over to Tilly's table to see them both getting up and heading to the stairs. I quickly look over to Thorin to him also glaring at the couple, until he catches my eye and I quickly turn back around.