paradisa | Quest 5: Reflecting on recent turns of events -Written-

Aye, that's certainly true...

[Between the encounter with the Gentlemen and the One Ring surfacing, Thorin's had his share of unpleasant encounters as well.]

[He does not shrug away from Ashura's arm, he merely glances up with a weak smile.]

Agreed, but at least we're celebrating her properly here today.

_{[ He nodded his head and motioned for the other to come with him,
walking with him and around into the quieter, more secluded parts of the
garden. ]}

Celebrating.... I like that. It is better than a "parting" or a "farewell".

[Thorin follows in relative silence as Ashura speaks. He gives a slight nod.]

"Parting" and "Farewell" make it sound like we're attending her funeral...

Aye, that it does. And she should not be buried in this place.

_{[ They came to a more secluded place and Ashura took a spot on a
bench, the bushes and flowers around them offering privacy - in so much as
one might get in a garden. He waved his hand and a small table appeared
along with two glasses and a wine bottle. ]}

Do you care to do the honors?

[Thorin nods silently as he sits down beside Ashura and reaches for the bottle, filling the two glasses. He sets the bottle down and picks up one glass, lifting it and staring into the deep red liquid.]

M...you were-...no, you are indeed a fine woman. I was lucky to have made your acquaintance - I only wish that I had known you better before your escape from this place.

May we all follow your trail, and find the path that leads us back to our homes.

[He glances to Ashura, giving him the opportunity to speak as well.]

_{[ Oh, he wanted him to speak did he?}

Ashura was quiet a time, considering what to say. But Thorin had said many of his own sentiments, and Ashura's words of platitude for this sort of thing had run out a long time ago, in the letters he wrote to the families of fallen soldiers, whose bodies had been left behind - and never reappeared on the field.

Finally - ]

The stars guide your way, M, and the fire bird light your way in the dark. We hope you feel our love from across the span of worlds and draw courage when you face the wolf in your night.

_{[ That said he raised his cup and sipped. ]}

[Thorin nods silently an mimics the motion, raising his cup to his lips and taking a long sip.]

This place...truly is full of nothing but wickedness and pain.

[You grow attached to people, only to have them disappear or have a change of heart. Thorin knows Ashura will sympathize with this.]

Do not say that, Thorin.

_{[ He reached out and took his hand, slender fingers wrapping about the
thick palm of the dwarf. ]}

For all that it has its wickedness and its pain, it has its joys to. I have had the joy of knowing you as a friend, for one.

[Thorin glances up to Ashura as he speaks. He is silent; while he agrees and does value their friendship, in the back of his mind he wonders how long it will be before Ashura leaves the castle as M did, or how long before his own Middle Earth calls him back to it.]

[Still, he smiles; indeed valuing their friendship.]

We agree on that much at least.

And more, I should think, but that most certainly.

_{[ He smiled warmly at the dwarf, glad to find this glimmer in a dark
moment.}

He paused to let them take in the moment, to sip their wine and offer more personal, private wishes to M, wherever she might be. He hoped that James had found her back in their world, that they were safe from the Silva man.

Finally, though, Ashura spoke, deciding to choose a topic that had nothing to do of leaving - or so he hoped. ]

Do the braids in your hair mean anything?

[The question snaps Thorin from his reverie. It's almost startling, really - no one's ever questioned him about his hair in this place.]

[He reaches up and idly drags his fingers along one of his braids.]

They can mean different things for different Dwarves.

But for myself, the braids themselves have no meaning. They are merely a gesture of respect to my culture, my people.

The beads-

[He tugs one of the blue beads at the end of one braid.]

-are another matter. They represent loved ones lost. They are a rite of passage, earned in battle.

Many Dwarves also tattoo themselves, or pierce their bodies with jewelry to pay respect to lost loved ones.

[Thorin has enough piercings and tattoos alone; but Dwalin was almost covered from head to toe.]

_{[ He listened, both polite and fascinated. He enjoyed learning of new
cultures, other people's traditions and their stories, and he enjoyed
sharing his own. To hear Thorin speak of his was a small delight, even in
such a sad moment. But then, perhaps that was why they shared them. ]}

Will you add one for M?

I may...

[Thorin hadn't really thought about it. He should though, it was right, after all. Usually such ceremonies were saved on Dwarf comrades, but...as there were none here...]

That, or I may pierce my ear again.

[Thorin reached up and trailed a finger along his lower earlobe, which only had a gold ring or two in it. His other ear though, had a rather large metal cuff in his cartilage. A tribute to his grandfather.]

_{[ He had seen them, they were rather hard to miss, but he had never
made much of a connection between them and honoring the lost.}

It made his own earrings pale in comparison, though his entire wardrobe was a cultural nod, and even here he carefully monitored it like he expected to attend court. He supposed he could relax it some, but it simply never occurred to him. ]

I would be honored to help you pick the jewel for it, if you would let me.

[Thorin is quiet, considering the idea.]

Typically we Dwarves stick to rings of metal for our piercings. Jewels are for women, in my culture.

[Another long pause.]

But, perhaps a jewel would be more fitting for M...do you suppose?

I think so. She was a classy sort of woman, so perhaps a jewel more demure - a pearl? I think she might like that.

[Thorin's fingers run over the dark blue and silver beads in his hair. He thinks silently for a moment.]

Yes. That seems only right.

[The only way to properly pay tribute to M.]

Where am I to find such a thing, Ashura?

_{[ He cocked his head at Thorin, his own ears sparkling with precious
gems and gold, laid along the length of them - decoration and protection
for the sensitive external organs. It was not as if he had come with all of
then mind.}

Quietly, he held out a fisted hand and there was a pause, waiting - then he opened his palm, revealing a perfect, creamy white pearl that on Earth would have been classified as "pink". ]

Will this do?

[Thorin reached out and took the gem. He examined it carefully, with a craftsman's eye. After several minutes, he smiled.]

Yes, this will do fine. I need a setting for it though, preferably in gold.

Shall I wish that up too? I think my tastes might be more flowing that you prefer.

_{[ He had noted the dwarf seemed to prefer geometric patterns in his
jewels and clothing, blockish to Ashura's own more fluid style. ]}

[Thorin glances to Ashura's jewelry. He chuckled and shook his head a bit.]

Nah, it's uh, not quite Dwarvish enough for me. But you have my thanks all the same.

[Thorin grips the pearl and wishes quietly. He opens his palm and there is gold setting around the pearl. There are bold lines carved into the gold, making it look very Celtic and very much like the proper jewelry for a Durin heir.]

Good enough?

[He's legitimately asking Ashura's opinion.]

I think it suits you and her.

_{[ He smiled gently and reached up, pushing some of Thorin's hair
behind his ear gently with those slender fingers, surprisingly strong.
]}

I could do the piercing for you. I can get the needle hot enough.

[Thorin stared at the earring. Yes. A needle did sound better than forcing it through with his fingers like he usually did.]

If you would be so kind?

_{[ He nodded and wished up a thin needle - iron to better take the heat
and retain shape.}

He held it between his fingers, focusing his power into it, his fingers glowing with the force of it, and soon the needle glowing too. Eventually, the tip glowed the bright, searing yellow of a smith's forge and he looked at Thorin. ]

Which ear? We will need to be quick.

[Thorin gathered his hair and pulled it to the side and indicated his left ear, pointing to a particular place halfway up from the lobe and into the cartilage.]

There.

Quest 5: Reflecting on recent turns of events -Written-

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