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Post by Kili on Jan 13, 2013 16:09:01 GMT -5
Kili moved through the crowded streets with caution. His dark eyes scouring the vendors and the shops for something of interest. He needed to get his bows and his arrows back, but he needed whatever currency they used to do so and he wasn't sure if gold would suffice here. Instinctively his hand trailed to the small pouch on his waist while his other hand danced on the hilt of his sword. One could never be too cautious in this...world? Extension of middle earth? Kili had no idea where he was or how he had gotten here. He would kill an army to find Kili, and he would take on two to ensure that Thorin had succeeded in taking back Lonely Mountain. He almost growled, he was useless to all of them here.
With a grunt of annoyance he glanced up at the humans walking about, a few cast an odd look or two, but Kili paid them no heed. He was used to abnormal stares, it was rare dwarves ever left their caves to begin with so even if this place had dwarves it was probably doubtful that a vast majority of these people had ever seen one. He tipped his head as he nudged past them trying to be as civil as possible. He needed to find someone who could explain to him exactly where he was and, if possible, explain to him how he had gotten here.
Ah well! He would have to make the best of things, he had never let immeasurable odds get him down, why should he let this new land? Surely there were fights to be had, food to be slurped down, and beer to be guzzled? Fili would be shouting something about pulling the orc spear out of his arse if he saw how miserable he was, and if some off chance Fili was here, there was no way he was finding out that Kili actually missed him!
With a playful glint entering his chocolate eyes he stopped dragging his heels and turned on his usual charm, smiling brightly at the pretty woman and moving out of the way of the armored guards. A flash of red caught his eye and he turned, his widening slightly at the vision of beauty that stood before him, and for a second, he thought to turn angry. She was absolutely stunning, long red hair with pale, flawless skin and for a split second he thought her to be an elf. Only the elves had such a captivating presence, but a quick glance at her ears reassured him, she was merely a human.
He had to meet her, he needed to know her name. And if I didn't have the courage, Fili would surely be rammin' me in the hindquarters with that bloody hammer of his. He could almost feel the sting of the aforementioned hammer. He moved swiftly between the crowds, ducking under goods and items and reached her side in a few moments flat. She was browsing through a collection of various inks, of differing shades and colors.
"Scuse me miss, might I have the pleasure of purchasing one of these for ya?" He bowed to her, smiling a crooked smile that Kili was always complaining about because it got Kili a great more woman, he would see if it held true in this strange world.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 13, 2013 22:27:03 GMT -5
Flanna, whose inspiration was running low and whose self-esteem even lower, was determined to find a way out of the hole she'd crafted herself. She was a playwright, and probably not a particularly good one, but she made some money from it and it served her well enough. Most plays she sold under a psuedonymn: Seamus MacLeod. She dared not sell them as a woman--that would be utterly laughed at. And Flanna was not one for laughing or, matter of fact, any sort of social thing. It was her flaw. Well. One of them. She was, she knew, somewhat smart, but she also knew that her intellect paled in comparison to some of the writers of the texts she often studied. She was thankful more than anything for an education--Celts were good for that--and that she had writing as her emotional pillar of strength. What would she be without?
It'd been a long way here from her former home, and lots of trials and new thinking had been able to get her here. But she often wondered if there wasn't more in store for her. Writing was good. But living alone in a city she was too afraid to talk to was something that she did not want. She could never find the words to speak outside of the paper, and she was so terribly shy to know so much about the workings of others and of society. Really, though, she was still a scared little girl whose daddy ended up being the monster in her nightmares. And she would never get over him.
She had come today to the market to browse for new ink and new parchment, two things that were staple to her craft. The parchment she'd found; she had it stowed away in a large leather letterbag at her side. Now, to find the right ink. Blue, Green, Black... Which to choose? The play she'd been so dryly working on was a tragicomedy, but her jokes were not properly funny. Green, then, for creative initiative? Or blue, for--Her thoughts were quickly interrupted by a voice and a face that she at first did not believe could be directed to someone as plain as she was. Really. Was he mistaken? Her face held a confused and bewildered gaze for a moment before it finally registered that yes, he was talking to her.
She collected her thoughts. Flanna rarely spoke. "For me?" she said, a lilting Celts accent and a light giggle in her voice. She blushed then, too timid for any good. He was a nice looking man, she saw, and her eyes fluttered in frivolous fluster.
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Post by Kili on Jan 13, 2013 22:47:52 GMT -5
Kili was in the habit of greeting gorgeous creatures... although in the dwarven caverns, it was sometimes difficult to tell beauty from brawn, not because of their lack of curves, but because a vast majority of the women seemed to delight in growing beards and they tended to block the most.. ahem... noticeable areas. Not that Kili was complaining, those creatures were sometimes so ferocious behind closed doors that even he was limping for a few days, but that was neither here nor there.
Kili smiled handsomely and made of show of glancing both this way and that as if seeking some other fair maiden to no avail, the rest paled in comparison to the creature before him, and Kili had always delighted himself in noticing things of beauty, whether it be made of steel or flesh and bone he took great pleasure in all things. She seemed timid and unsure, as if she couldn't truly believe he was talking to her, that simply would not do.
"I see no other gorgeous damsels about do you?" He laughed then a genuine rumble that vibrated up through his chest, it seemed almost whimsical as though he had not a care in the world. He spread his arms out and bowed deeply. "Kili at your service miss... now please tell me what I can get for ya?" He motioned to the display of inks, a bit entranced himself. In the darkness of the caverns, such things were rare, they usually carved their stories into the stone, it was so terribly dark such instruments were not needed. Genuinely curious as to why such a thing of beauty was interested in mere ink when a thousand other trinkets lay nearby, he did what any dwarf did, he asked.
"Tell me, why has the ink caught your eye, when thousands of trinkets lay about this market? Are you a writer?" It never crossed his mind that she could have been buying such things for someone else. On middle earth, it mattered little what gender you were, if you could fight, you fought in an army, if you could write, you recorded history in tomes, if you could sing you became a bard... there were no stipulations where he had come from, and not even in his wildest dreams could he imagine it being different anywhere else.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 14, 2013 17:41:52 GMT -5
Flanna was a timid thing, never confident or proud enough to speak forth her mind. She was smart, she supposed, and she knew that there was some good sense behind her fiery hazel eyes, but she would be loathe to admit it to anyone, including her brothers. Her eldest brother, Carson, had long been her closest and best confidante, but even to him she was quiet, and only talked of her emotions. Her education shone only in her dramas. She'd long written of the exploits of infamous antagonists--like her father, who she never spoke of--but sometimes, it was too close to home and she had to write else.
Of course, that was now what she was looking to do, to compose a comedy of some sort. But this man here, what was he looking to do to her? She drew a shy breath and let her hands be busied with the goods afront her. At his inital comment she let out a timid giggle, not loud and not even very obvious, and blushed again at not knowing how to respond. How charming, but what did he want? He bowed to her and she instinctively courtsied, her mind not even running through the process of response. When she stood again, she realized to her dismay that she'd engaged in conversation.
"Kili," she repeated, mainly to herself, to commit it to memory. Then to him, she said in a near-whisper, "You've no need to buy me anything, sir. I've funds enough." She smiled gently in reassurance and her hands began to fidget in anxiety.
He asked on, and she feared he would continue questioning should she not answer. Her reply came slowly, her accent too thick for her liking. "I've the funds for my trade and no more," she started. "And, ehm, yes. Of sorts." She did not want word getting out that she was the one who wrote some of the town's most beloved plays, when they all believed it was some man named MacLeod. She smiled timidly at Kili again and nodded, saying, "Oh, and pardon me. I'm Flanna Kelly." She dared never use her true surname.
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Post by Kili on Jan 14, 2013 18:17:45 GMT -5
Kili watched her nervous fidgeting with something akin to wonder. How could such a gorgeous creature be anxious? Did she not have men practically tripping over their beards to greet her, or were they dumb as well as blind? It seemed preposterous that she should be left unattended. She should be showered in jewels and diamonds, topaz, if possible to make the gold specs in her eyes pop and since when had he noticed such things before? Ahh well it was a beautiful woman! He could not be blamed for his mad thoughts!
She seemed flustered and perhaps a bit standoffish as if she wished for him to leave, but Kili was ever the backbone of persistence and even the toughest of dwarves had difficulties deterring him when he set his mind to something, and right now his mind was set solely on the woman before him. She was a thing of grace and beauty, the likes of which had never graced middle earth and he intended to get to know her, one way or another. She repeated his name and his smile only broadened. He listened intently to her words, giving her time to gather her thoughts and not rushing her. Kili had all the time in the world here, he had no where pressing he needed to be.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Kelly. What sort of stories do you write? Comedies, tragedies, romances? I must admit you have me intrigued." He delicately placed his lips to her knuckles and released her. "Very well m'lady but if you refuse to let me buy you your ink, at least allow me to treat you to a bit of lunch, I yearn to know what about writing has overtaken the urge to purchase fancy baubles and jewels. Won't you say yes my lady?" His usual charm and sultry voice came naturally, like air or water, he hoped to charm her away from her writings long enough to indulge him in a meal, and perhaps maybe in the process, he could earn the trust of such a beautiful creature, along with discovering exactly where he was.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 14, 2013 18:36:41 GMT -5
Flanna had long understood that her attraction to any man, regardless of station, wasn't something to share. She was too shy to attract handsome men, and too poor to attract wealthy men. No, she wasn't absolutely poor--she did have a loft above one of the glassblowing shops--but her trade was not that of a forward-thinking businesswoman. It was for pleasure, it was for herself. And she had been lucky enough to make a life of it.
Och, but this one was nice. Was attractive. Was handsome. And above all, was absolutely stunningly charming. He left her blushing more than most people ever did, and even as she was certain he noticed, he did not mind. How curious of a fellow. "Please," she requested quietly, "Flanna." She did not care to be addressed as a Kelly, even as it was better than MacDowell, because she did not like to think of her family. She'd left them with good reason and the best of intentions, but did not know if they still cared for her because of it. Surely, Carson did?
She giggled once more as he kissed her hand, charmed but still shy. Her eyes danced with more bravery than her voice. "Tragedies, mostly, but I suppose.... others." She lost he courage halfway through the phrase and ended up letting her words trail. Flanna was only eloquent on paper, not aloud. She could speak her heart in ink, but not in tones.
After a moment, and after handing the coins to the vendor for the bottle of green ink--yes, she supposed she'd try for a comedy--she turned back quietly, swiftly, and smiled loosely. She gave him the slightest of nods and agreed, "If you desire, then yes." She was still in awe that someone would take such quick interest in her, in a poor playwright of an Irishwoman, whose father had been infamous and whose words came only on paper. And why he, of all people, was to notice her was beyong her fathoming. He was so charmingly handsome.
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Post by Kili on Jan 14, 2013 19:19:01 GMT -5
Kili was not in the frame of mind for doing things for other people. At least not anyone outside of Thorin, but he had never really thought of serving Thorin as serving his people. His loyalties were to Thorin because Thorin was the only family he had besides Fili, and his loyalties to him were absolute and nonnegotiable. His own family he had lost along the way and Kili knew no other life. It was, perhaps, the toughest obstacle of this new world, without family, Kili had nothing.
He watched with amusement dancing through his dark eyes as she finally plucked the green ink out of the offerings and paid for it with seemingly embarrassment. She was a peculiar creature, gorgeous and beautiful nut a delicate thing. It was for reasons like her that they had left to regain Lonely Mountain, not only to reclaim their lost city, but to give peace to all of those lost to that bloody dragon. Kili sighed softly, forcing the thoughts from his head. Now was not the time to broad on the lives lost that fateful day.
"Flanna it tis then... such a lovely name, where do you hail from?" Being the gentleman that he was, he offered her his arm. Let these other commoners stare at them all they will, his attention was solely hers for the time being and little short of spying Fili, could drag him away. "Why tragedies? Feel free to speak your mind, my lady, I promise you shall not offend me, and I wish to hear your thoughts." He was not accustomed to such timid behavior in women, all the women he knew were hardened warriors... or elves and neither of those showed an ounce of timidness. It was...endearing to meet a fair lady so shy.
"Oh! I desire a great many thing my lady! To beat my brother in a match of arm wrestling, to outwit my leader in a game of strategy! To out drink Bombur, lunch with a beautiful woman to engage in lovely conversations with! The list continues but I shan't bore you." He winked at her, hoping to gain another soft laugh.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 14, 2013 20:01:33 GMT -5
Flanna had never done anything unintentionally, nor without the proper time for thought. Sure, when she'd been little, with not a care in the world and no idea of what her father was, she'd been free and thoughtless. But her father's demise had coupled with her coming of age and Flanna had introverted into a careful, quiet thing. She was never caught doing something she was unsure of--until now.
What was this? Curiosity overflowing? Och, but this man intrigued her beyond her walls of guarded inhibition. She did not know what possessed her to allow him to take her somewhere, and she hoped that she was strong enough to withstand any temptations he might try to offer her. She closed herself to everyone else, did not let them know her. Because she was, somewhere inside of her, afraid to become her father. Afraid to gain his cruelty and lose her innocent benevolence. Did she dare let someone see that? Did she dare ever let anyone in?
"Why thank you," she answered, a bit flustered. No one ever complimented her and she was still not used to him doing so. "I'm a... euh, a Celt. From Ireland, I suppose." She took his arm in turn, a spontaneous act that was very unlike her, after she tucked the ink in her bag with the parchment. She did not like his next question; it put her on edge. All she could answer was, "Humankind." It was a radical answer, and a true answer, but not a specific answer. She did not speak of her father. Alexander MacDowell was Satan.
She did let out another short giggle at his words; they were very charming and very entertaining. "You must have lovely friends, then, Kili." She smiled. "And I should delight in having lunch with you." Her openness startled even herself, and she chided her voice.
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Post by Kili on Jan 14, 2013 20:21:40 GMT -5
Kili walked with her briskly, letting her set the pace. He was enjoying listening to her slight accent, he couldn't place it, but it sounded rich against his ears, like velvet. Ireland... he had never heard of such a place, which only served to confirm his thoughts that this was not, in fact, his realm. For the first time in a long time he had the decency to offer her a sheepish smile as he nervously scratched at the back of his head, with his free hand.
"I must confess my lady, I have never heard of such a land. I was born in a place referred to now as Lonely Mountain, a fierce dragon by the name of Smaug, killed a great many of our people and chased us from or home. Of course... this all took place on a realm quite different from this one. We called it Middle Earth. I'm not sure how I ended up here, because the last thing I remember was being a part of a fine group of warriors to reclaim the mountain." He had never minded explaining their stories. He left out the blood, the gore, and the treachery of the elves, such things should never reach her ears. He was surprised at her obvious displeasure for humans... speaking she was one.
"I can't say I have encountered too many humans, certainly not enough to pass judgment. In fact you are the first I have ever had the pleasure of conversing with, and you most certainly do not inspire tragedies, at least in my mind." Kili grinned again, hoping to wipe the tension from her shoulders at the obviously touchy subject, all he wanted was to make her laugh. His smile only broadened at the eager acceptance of his invitation and her laughter of his friends. He held open the door of some upper class restaurant he did not bother to remember the name of and he waited until they were seated to answer her.
"Clearly, my lady, you have never had the displeasure of meeting drunken dwarves. They are most assuredly the most rowdy and obnoxious group you will ever encounter, I my brother is the absolute worst. Once he got so drunk, he choose to fight the mighty bar stool and somehow ended up with a black eye and a bruised kidney!" Kili had laughed until he cried when he had gone to visit his brother in the infirmary the next day. Oh yes! Such good times back then, and a quick glance at the red headed beauty before him had other thoughts swirling through his head. Such good times now.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 14, 2013 20:39:19 GMT -5
Flanna might have been quiet, but she was very observant. Her grasp of behavior and nature was unmatched, as she'd been given quite the test by the only man who'd ever truly decieved her--her father. Since, she'd been afraid of people, afraid of everything. But she'd written about it and she had not lost faith, thanks due to her brother Carson. He was a doll. Kili was unlike Carson, though. Kili was light-hearted and adventurous. Carson was like Flanna; quiet, reserved, intelligent but meek. And it fascinated her.
She knitted her eyebrows. What? There was no such place. Not, at least, that ever she'd heard of, and she'd heard of many. "You speak of lands with which I am unfamiliar. What tide might cause such a thing?" She spoke her mind, albeit quietly, and her eloquence returned when she stopped thinking so hard about presence. Maybe she was loosening up to Kili.
"You're not... What then are you, not to have encountered us and look so like us?" She asked, then apologized. "Och, sir, pardon my tongue. I am never so forward." She flushed a very bright red, all the way down her neck and chest, and reminded herself that she was the daughter of a terrible man. It was all she could do to keep humble. "And I thank you... But may I say that there are many you would be loathe to meet? Our race is a corrupted one." She attempted a smile to make up for the depth and melacholy of her words, but felt as if she failed. He was too happy for such speak.
Flanna was a melancholy person, anyway. Almost as though she liked sadness, wanted to find a reason to mourn, so that she could write. The two were seated and Flanna wondered how he could have the funds to afford such finery, being from elsewhere and not living long in this realm. But she did not ask. "Dwarves," she repeated. Ah, alright. "You must have a nice family," she commented, and then not to sound deprived added, "I have a brother, too. Three, actually." She smiled at him and tried to rid the tension from her shoulders. It was sure nice to have someone around that did not see straight through her, even if there were moments she wished that Kili could.
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Post by Kili on Jan 14, 2013 21:07:29 GMT -5
Kili took her question to heart, leaning back in his chair and scratching at the stubble that was his mockery of a beard. He had grown one once, but it only had only taken one fight with the orcs to realize he never wanted the pleasure of pulling their entrails from its confines ever again and so, much to the shock of his fellow dwarves, the thing had been cut away. Never to see the light of day again. He sucked in a large breath, inhaling sharply, before meeting her gaze once more.
"I don't believe it was a tide m'lady, we dwarves hate a great many things, but at the top of that list lies heights and great open spaces. If you ever glimpse a dwarven army on a ship I would gladly eat my sword. The last thing I recall of my home was a forest, quite dense and thick if I recall correctly, I had just finished my round of the nights watch and was turning in for the eve... and the next thing I knew, I woke up here. Surrounded by direwolves as I later learned their name." He wondered exactly how such a thing could have transpired, of course he knew of the existence of magic... but could a wizard be so powerful?
"I am a dwarf my lady. I build my home in mountains and live beneath the surface, never let it be said that I have divulged such information freely, but a vast majority of us have a fear that if we leave our caverns we will simply fall into the sky, a bit ridiculous if you ask me, and yet they swear it to be true!" Kili smiled, answering her question with a flourish. "Ah... but are there not evil beings in every race. I can tell you not even half the dwarves that I know are even as close to being as witty and charming as I!" This time laughter burst from his chest and it took him a moment to settle back down.
"Oh forgive me my lady, I have been around warriors for so long that I fear my etiquette is lacking, and never apologize to me for speaking your mind, be it good, bad, or otherwise, if you are silent, how will I get to know what wondrous thoughts tick behind your pretty eyes?" Kili flattered her, wondering if she had ever been out with a gentleman before, romantic setting or no.
"Three brothers? My lady how do you remain so sweet? I have only one, and it's amazing that I am not as sour as rotten milk! But enough about me! Tell me about these mysterious brothers? Tell me what originally got you started in your writings!" His excitement and his curiosity glittered in his darkened eyes, such a dark brown they were almost black. He leaned forward eager to hear what she would tell him.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 14, 2013 22:02:00 GMT -5
Flanna could not stop her blushing and she chided herself greatly for it. She wondered what Kili thought of it; how red she turned at each one of his words. Why did he flatter her so? What did he want of her? She knew of men who were charming so that only they may have their way with whatever woman caught their eyes... But she could not be pretty enough to be fished for like that. She'd always thought herself rather plain.
And anyway, she liked his compliments. She liked to watch him and to take in him and his words. He was stunning, he was handsome. And he was sweet. So sweet. His figurative language lit up her eyes, made her laugh, and she found herself with an answer. "How fearful! I don't understand, but I fear I don't want to... I suppose I'm very glad you're here now." She smiled genuinely at him, looking at his eyes for the first time and truly noticing how dark they were. How gorgeous.
She grinned, then, for the first time in years. "That's preposterous!" she cried, laughing. "I apologize, don't let me offend you. I just find that... funny. I fear that if I leave my home, I should be attacked by wolves but... Och. You're tall for a dwarf, I think. But I'm very small for a human." She could not help the smile plastered on her face. Kili was so genuine and so loving. His compliments lodged in her brain and she began to lose the worries that had been there previously. He was not so bad. And he couldn't hurt her. "You flatter too much, Kili, you do." She dropped her eyes and her face flushed red again.
Och! How to address her family... "Kili... You need to understand something: my family is far from me now and I rarely speak of them." She sighed. No one knew about them. Why divulge now? "My brothers are wonderful. They practically raised me... And my writing is a hobby. Keeps me from falling upon dark times... As I think you may be good for also. You've such good spirits." She smiled and wondered why on Earth she was sharing this with Kili.
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Post by Kili on Jan 14, 2013 22:22:37 GMT -5
Kili smiled widely at her fast assessment of middle earth, it had never been the most welcome of places, dragons, goblins, wrags, orcs, trolls, wizards, witches, warlocks... so many beasts constantly fighting for prestige, honor, more land that they could thrust a flag into. Dwarves for the most part avoided the wars until they came too close to their caverns and then... hell hath no fury like dwarves scorned. They could be terribly nasty buggers when they wanted to be. Drag them away from their brew and their endless buffets? No... it wasn't pretty to see an army of dwarves unleashed, they were small and packed a powerful punch. Especially in large groups.
"You are too kind my lady! Tis I that should be thanking you for agreeing to join me for lunch! I was dreadfully lost before I glanced at you from across the market! You have made this place a great deal brighter already." Kili smiled widely at her, his own eyes reflecting the same joy and excitement he felt down in the depths of his soul. He wasn't usually one to cast his lots in with fate but it seemed peculiar that the first face he chanced upon happened to be such a figure of grace and beauty... and if her speech was anything to go by, a vast amount of intelligence. Such a rare creature he had chanced upon. Lucky indeed. He laughed with her, finding her laugh rather contagious and he found himself willing her to make the noise.
"Oh... you have no idea! On the rare occasion that they witness the sky, they shake and cower, cling to trees like lifelines, flinch constantly... it's quite humorous to watch, they quickly learn that they are in fact just as grounded as in the caverns, but their mutterings bring us quite a few laughs for several days thereafter." Kili chuckled, it was a prank often played on those who had never left the caverns and who was Kili to ruin a bit of fun? "Wolves are the least of our worries, orcs and dragons tend to plunder our caverns more than anything, the wolves can be tamed given the right master, the orcs however... well suffice it to say that they are a nasty lot." She did not need to hear of their special breed of filth.
"You needn't speak of your family if it upsets you m'lady. I merely ask to get to know you a bit better before I ask if I may treat you to dinner a second time." He grinned wickedly at such a sentiment. "I have never been much of a writer, as nephew to the king, I took it upon myself to train to become his right hand, should he ever have need of me. I never got too much of a chance for anything else. I never knew my mother and father and my brother, Fili practically raised us both, with my uncle of course bashing us over the head when we got into mischief." Kili mused with a smile, it seemed nothing could dampen the dwarfs spirits. "My lady... you may call upon me to lift your spirits any time, I am enjoying your company indefinitely."
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 14, 2013 22:44:25 GMT -5
Flanna shook her head and wondered at how he spoke. She met many people, and usually chose not to converse with them because she knew her own words weren't worth hearing. But he embraced them, answered them with great strings of his own. She smiled. "I am glad we've been found then." her plural use was subconcious, and she realized her slip a couple of seconds later.
Flanna, everything but a bold person, did not understand what Kili made her feel. Love was beyond her, she thought, due largely to the capacity of love that her father never had. And his smile... it escaped her. Made her want to find the adventure that seemed to follow him. And she very much liked his laugh.
She liked his stories, too. Of some Lonely Mountain. What a curious place, and what a curious people. Especially him.... Oh! She dare not think that. Silly girl, caught up in conversation. Finally, she grounded herself and took her head from out of the clouds it had been in. Flustered, her response was not as tailored. "That's... that's g--very funny. I think your home was... a lovely place. Tell me more of it." She chided herself again for the poor speech, and felt slightly disheartened. "And scary," she added, engaging her fear of the unknown.
She blushed bright red. Again? "That... That would be nice." she finally declared, dropping the subject of her family entirely. It was not as though she could simply tell him her father was the most hated criminal in the land, that he'd been killed and rightly so. She disliked him, and she feared more than all else she would end up like he did. She did not wish to be bad.
"King?" she asked, intrigued. She was not one to romp in the affairs of the royalty, and rarely ever saw anything of the court; although sometimes her plays were sent there. "I enjoy your company as well. You are a very spirited man, Kili, and I expect we should be... good friends. I shall write a p--" She froze. Spoken too much.
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Post by Kili on Jan 16, 2013 16:52:47 GMT -5
Kili did not miss her slip of the tongue and offered her a crooked smile, one packed full of mischief and intrigue. He wisely choose not to tease her, lest she get too flustered and decide to leave him. He wasn't quite ready to bid adieu to his new found lady just yet, she was a lady of class and self respect, it would take much more than a casual lunch and some idle chit chat to win her over... and Kili had always been a sucker for a good challenge!
"Here's to being found my lady!" He lifted his mug from the table offering it up in the air too her. Just enough to let her know she had neither offended, nor put him off by her comment, he imagined she was sensitive about such things. Kili was rather enjoying this ladies company, she was neither biting nor harsh, nor did she tease her mercilessly about a lack of beard, she had yet to strike at him, whether through physical punches or words... he had never come across anyone so timidly shy and she made him quite curious. She was gorgeous, there was no mistaking that, all soft and gentle lines, no hardened edges of a warrior. She possessed a gorgeous laugh, and a smile that could make even Thorin turn away from... so why was she so timid, surely she must have glanced into a mirror as of late? She should be brimming with confidence and trying to shake men like him off of her.
"My land is a great deal different from this. Dragons the size of mountains, elves that live hidden away beyond reach, human villages that stretch for miles, dwarven caverns deep within the mountains, hobbits, smaller even than I, that live on the hillsides... there are so many races, so many kinds of people, some get along and some hate one another. Trolls, orcs, giants, trees that walk and speak, eagles large enough to lift several people straight from the ground..." He shuddered quietly as he recalled flying. If he never had the "pleasure" of flying again it would be all too soon. " My home is quite large, what would you like to know?" Kili tilted his head to the side, eyeing her curiously, he would not do all of the talking, he wanted to bring her from her shell, to make her think, and actually speak what it was she was thinking.
"While I am honored to have your compliments and your praise and of course at the chance to charm you once again..." He trailed off a moment, giving her time to accept his compliment and his excitement at the prospect of her agreeing to his proposal. "I must make an amendment to my original statement. Around me, my lady, you must speak what is on your mind. Do not think it over, or think it through, merely speak, you will not offend nor deter me, of that I can promise, I only wish to hear your thoughts,,, do we have an accord?" He was not frustrated with her. Her timid nature told him she was more than likely not used to speaking to much of anyone, and if the way she tensed up at the mention of her family was any indication, relationships were not the best in that category either. Regardless, Kili was determined to make her forget societies stipulations, at least around his person, he wanted to meet the Flanna behind those big innocent eyes.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 16, 2013 18:51:53 GMT -5
Every time that Kili smiled, it was all that Flanna could do not to smile herself. He was so enthralling, so engaging, and Flanna loved the feeling that sent itself reeling through her core every time she glanced at him, though she was unsure of what the feeling was. It felt like anxiety, which was common to her, and yet it was stronger and more noticeable than that. What was he doing to her?
Flanna giggled and looked away, deflecting her eyes from his, but quickly came to. She smiled bashfully and raised her glass coyly to meet his. Her eyes did meet his dark, warm ones, and she shivered inside. There was some dark force that was working its magic on her, that he was captivating in her. Their glasses met lightly and Flanna declared quietly, "And shall we ever be found again." She wondered what was going to happen now; and she wondered why he was so easy to speak with. It was like therapy, conversing with Kili, yet it made her feel nervous as well.
She laughed and her lilting voice answered with some great wonder in it. "Your land sounds a great deal more interesting than this my own," she giggled, "but I've never had to deal with dragons and I don't know that I'd like to." It crossed Flanna's mind to comment on the interesting little hobbit-creatures, but she did not like to talk and this was not going to be too much of an exception, as much as she was enjoying her time with Kili. "I'd like to know..." she mused as curiosity won her over, "If there are quite as many charming dwarves in your land as there are ignorant men in mine." Her tongue was a double-sided blade, always condemning a society that had crowded and outcast her.
But her social comments were not always so sharp. She smiled again at Kili and gave a deep sigh at his request. No, she never spoke her mind because it scared her. But so long as she did not think of her father, she could promise him that much. And charm you have." she whispered. Then, continuing, "I can agree to this. If you must know, then, Kili, I think you are a terribly, devilishly charming person and I would be honored to share some of my work with you."
All that she said even scared her. Was she really ready to be so open to someone? Was she ready for him to see her words at work?
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Post by Kili on Jan 16, 2013 19:34:08 GMT -5
"But I suppose we should have toasted to being lost... it would seem that had I not been brought here, we never would have met. So here's to untold adventures and unsolved mysteries." Kili nodded gently and tilted his goblet back, drowning the last of its contents and setting the goblet back down. He was well enjoying her company, her easy tones, and her witty banter proved to make him think with his brain rather than his sword, a feat he had not had the pleasure of accomplishing in the past several months.
"My land is quite exciting, there is rarely a dull moment, especially when you live amongst dwarves, but it's a great deal more dangerous. You trade safety for danger, in exchange for excitement over repetition, and on some days, it's not worth such a swap." Kili could still hear the terrified screams and the smell of burning flesh as Smaug destroyed lives as a boot destroyed a trail of ants. The dragon had been merciless, and their supposed allies had done little more than watch, that would eat at Kili until his dying day, the look of betrayal that had chanced upon Thorin's face... it still haunted him even now. He quickly snapped back from such miserable thoughts as she smashed the two words "charming and "dwarves" all in the same sentence. "Clearly you have never met a dwarf before if you are bold enough to place the words charming and dwarf all in the same sentence. The majority of us are in bar fights, eating their weight in some form of meat, or throwing the most garish of insults across a bar, we have never been known for etiquette my lady." His eyes sparkled with hidden humor as he imagined some of his brethren amongst her company.
He blinked, taken aback by her sudden bold speech, where had his timid mouse gone? Surely he could not have had such an impact on her? Or perhaps she was merely a siren in disguise, waiting until the proper motivation to unleash her powers upon the world? He almost laughed at his own thoughts and shook his head slightly, a wide smile encompassing his face.
"You are far too kind my lady, you think too much of me! I would be honored to read some of your writings, perhaps it would give me a better insight as to what I might purchase to woo you." He grinned at her with all the charm his beardless face gave him, if she was a siren, he would fall willingly into her spell.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 16, 2013 19:54:41 GMT -5
She thought over his comment for a second, reconsidering the toast she'd agreed already to. It was true; the little things were those that made the vastest differences. Was this a sign? Was it that Kili was meant to do something important in her life? "No man could be found who wasn't lost," she sleighted, sending him the smallest of smiles as a hint of her admiration. No one yet had mastered her, charmed her as he did. How curious a predicament.
She nodded, a distant look in her eyes. Her land was here now, but it had not always been. She was a Celt by race, a Celt at heart. But now she lived in Aldeon and allowed herself to be identified with those others who lived here. "I think it will suffice to say that my land might be beautiful, but extremely plain and paling in comparison. What do you call your land?" Her words flowed like poetry, and her mind was at ease. "And would you think that I had? As you describe them, had I known at first that you were dwarf I should have turned up my nose and fled." She smiled at her first stab at wit, then blushed in apology, for she could not use wit without feeling guilty for potential offense.
Flanna knew that she should not fear offending Kili; he'd said so himself. But all the while, she still felt affrighted that she could say one thing wrong and he might up and leave her. She did wonder, though, what he was thinking of. He had a family, she thought she saw, that he missed dearly. Her quiet eyes reflected it like a mirror.
She upturned her pale lips, raising her eyes to him from her contemplative face's downcast position. He was quite the mystery. The shy Flanna returned in opposition to her earlier words, and she did not answer immediately. Her coy words were somewhat still bold, though, in her trust. "I would think I do not, as you think so highly of my quiet self." Here she smiled sweetly. "And you need purchase me nothing, Kili. Your time is a gift enough to me. I... never spend much time out, speaking with others."
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Post by Kili on Jan 16, 2013 20:26:24 GMT -5
Kili nodded to the statement, the woman had a point. He would forever search for Fili, even if he forgot every other member of his world, Fili was a dwarf his life force was a direct extension of his own, he could still feel Fili with every breath the dwarf took. He would miss him until the end of days, of this he was certain. Sure he would live his life to its fullest no matter what magic he was sucked into, but he would never be able to replace Fili. You could not replace a lost piece of your soul it simply wasn't that easy. No man could be found who wasn't lost. It was truer to Kili's life than she realized, but regardless he smiled.
"My home is called Middle Earth... I can't say they were the most creative when creating a name for it, but it is what it has always been called. Tell we about this world. Were you born here? What races belong to your world?" Turn about was fair play. She did not have to speak of anything that made her uncomfortable. If she wished to tell him of her family she may, and if she wished to only speak of the types of vegetation that grew in her backyard, she could do that too. He had left the door open for interpretation. She could pick and choose what she told him. It seemed that she felt better when she wasn't being forced. Challenges... challenges... challenges...
A loud roar of laughter left his mouth at her comment about the dwarves. He had to wipe the tears from his eyes, and was forced to inhale numerous large breaths to regain himself, but heavy amusement sparkled in his dark eyes. So his mouse had a quick tongue? It seems now that she realized he meant her no ill will, he had cracked her skittish shell, at least by a small bit. Of course, just as quickly the wild fire, the flicker of mischief dried up in her eyes, and she regained a bit of composure, still speaking her mind, but not near as wickedly as before. All Kili wanted was to bring it back.
"I think highly of a great many of your traits my lady. From the vibrance of your hair, to the light that you try to hide so well in your eyes. You are beautiful my dear and I do mean that in every sense of the word." She had the face of a queen, regal and kind, flawless but not unapproachable, she deserved to be swathed in the richest of clothing, and if Thorin had still claimed Lonely Mountain... he would have done nothing short of that.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 16, 2013 20:52:56 GMT -5
There glittered in Flanna's eye an ignited curiosity that she was having troubles keeping wrapped. She had never--aside from Carson--opened up to any man. Carson was her brother, though, and her conscience when times grew too hard for her taste. But she'd not seen him in a couple of years, and she did miss him bitterly, the quiet recluse that he was. Carson was her best friend.
"Middle Earth," she nodded, to remember. What to say about her world? She was being honest, she'd sworn to, but honesty did not always mean entirety. No; she'd not think of her father or anyone bearing the MacDowell name. She smiled to hide her oversights and responded with careful word choice, "Earth; yes. I am from the North, in the Celtic lands, where our religion differs and our land is much more beautiful. Green beyond imagination. Lochs blue as the summer sky. I have my mother and my brothers; we lived together until I chose to away. We are a world of only humans and beasts, though I wonder often if there ought be more? If there is?" It was the most she'd said to him today. He was getting good at this, wasn't he? Charmer to a T but all the same genuine. What a curious man.
His dark eyes lit up and Flanna felt something; it was a mixture of triumph and of coyness. His laughter erupted through the room, touched her heart and made it skip a beat. Her core flooded with a rush of feeling, but she settled it with a quick sip of her drink. Kili was too intriguing for her to study in so populated a place. "You're a fool, Kili, but a wonderfully mysterious one." She smiled.
She blushed and blushed and her face would not let go the compliments he showered on her. "Do you win many women this way?" she half-teased, part of her truly worried. But another part told her that she should let him say what he would; let him prove that he was genuine. "You charm me so, Kili; I should like to see more of you in my future. That is, if you are unattatched otherwise... I find you... well..." she was too shy; she could not finish.
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Post by Kili on Jan 16, 2013 21:35:59 GMT -5
She spoke of her world and Kili listened. Greens to match the emeralds lying within the blackened caverns of Lonely Mountain, blues the likes of which he had probably never seen, it sounded like a paradise, and he was both intrigued and horrified by such a place. He wondered if such a utopia actually existed, seemingly free from war, and feminine, death and decay, disaster and plague. He wondered if it was fear of demons like Sauron and orcs, or if it too had its demons, just in a lesser form. He wondered what life would be like without these constant dangers and it scared him.
Kili's life had always revolved about a blade. Whether it was defending Lonely Mountain, attempting and failing to kill a dragon, defending the little remaining dwarves that were left, or fighting immeasurable foes back to back with Fili or Thorin. He could not imagine a life without bloodshed, without loss and without pain, it seemed to perfect, to wonderful to ever be a life belonging to him. He scratched his chin thoughtfully, contemplating how best to answer her, he has asked for honesty from her... should he give her no less.
"Your world sounds far to lovely for the likes of dwarves. Without an axe, a brew or a weapon, I'm afraid the lot of us are quite useless. Dwarves were not created for their gentle or kind ways. Etiquette and class are rarely traits associated with my kind." Came the rather dry response. It was true with every word, they were calloused and crude, drunkards and axe men... Kili was one of the few who wielded arrows. It would seem some of Thorin's regal countenance had rubbed off on him after all.
He loved the fierce lights that graced her eyes, sparks of excitement, flares of hidden emotion! She was a fierce creature, at least beneath the surface and one that he looked forward to seeing more of, if only she would let him. Her fiery words surprised him, but even the small insult did little to surprise him, an easy smile and a light chuckle were the only noises that escaped him as he shrugged muscular shoulders.
"Oh... my lady, I would rather be a fool to a beautiful charmer such as yourself than a kings jester any day." His eyes glittered teasingly, he had often danced a jig to pull a smile from Thorin's ever impassive face, and perhaps that goal was the reason for Kili's easy countenance. He grinned at her accusation of winning others, did he detect just a hint of hope? Jealousy? Bah! He had never been good at analyzing such things, but he had the ability to chuckle and chuckle he did. "My lady, when you can offer little less than the promise of a traveling group of nomadic dwarves and the clothes on your back... you have little time for such things, and even less do you think of it. I have had a few, but mainly they had come to me with their sorrows, in hopes that my charm might distract them for a few hours time."
His home had been taken prison by a vicious, angry, fire breathing dragon. Thousands had been slaughtered, only hundreds had escaped and with nowhere to go, dwarves did not thrive well above the ground and as the weeks went by their numbers dwindled, only the strong remained. Her next words however absolutely floored him, out of all the things to escape her pretty mouth, that was the last he expected.
"Don't you know you silly girl that I'm supposed to ask you, if I might court you? Now you're trying to take my only job from me? What have I done by asking you to speak!" He laughed lightly, dropped a few shillings upon the table and rose to his feet, offering her his arm once again. "Might I have the honor of courting you my lady?" His eyes sparkled with excitement and anxiety, hoping beyond hope that she might say yes.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 16, 2013 22:42:26 GMT -5
Kili's eyes held wonders that she wanted to explore; he seemed so contemplative right now but he would be carefree and light again in a moment. He was the kind of man, she thought, that could understand more than he knew, and that could touch someone else more than ever he dreamt. She stared at his chocolate eyes and it melted away her fears; what had she to worry about?
Her heart nearly dropped when her land sounded somewhat disapproved of in his eyes, but she knew the genuine tone in his voice and she wondered if perhaps he was as hesitant to believe her world as she was to believe his. She countered his dry response sweetly. "I think not. I think nothing's too lovely for you and I think... that you, Kili, must be the exception." She smiled at him across the table as a flutter shot through her stomach from looking at him. He was so... handsome.
What was it of this man... this dwarf? He was a charmer. She giggled. "Fool me, then, Kili." she played on her own words. They were what fired her soul, words; they made her and built her up. He might understand that soon, if he found haven with her, because she would have such a hard time keeping her writings from him. They were meant to be shared and she had held them in a long time.
His grin and chuckle lit up her eyes and she was more than glad to hear them. They inspired her to speak more. "You're good, you're genuine. Why should no woman fall prey to your charm?" She smiled bigger at him, trying to let him know that she was teasing again, though her cheeks rouged once more. Her gaze did not stray from him, as she could not beg her eyes to move enough now that he'd bestowed upon her enough confidence. He drew her in. He was a mysterious one, Kili.
She thought she caught a hint of despair in his eye but it went away as quickly as it had come. And she blushed more and more with every centimetre his smile grew. "I'm sorry," she said shyly but she was glad for him to go on. Her eyes, down but looking up, never left his. He stood and she stood after him with coy but graceful motions, taking his arm when she met him, beaming for the first time in what felt like a lifetime. She turned more to face him once they were outside the establishment, blushing already. Flanna took her free hand and lifted it to his face, taking in her hand a strand of his hair that she'd been longing to touch.
"I would be beyond delighted, Kili."
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Post by Kili on Jan 17, 2013 18:39:30 GMT -5
He watched her carefully, noticing the subtle twitches of her mouth, a frown and a smile, her laugh, the twinkle in her eye when they discussed something pleasant, and the sudden coldness of her gaze when they spoke of something that wasn't. Kili watched and memorized it all, his uncle had once taught him to take notice of every shift in a enemies movements, and what better enemy could a man face then gaining a woman's affections?
He noticed the drop in her vision as he spoke of her world and the lack of dangers it presented and at her kind words, he could not help the laugh that bubbled free of his chest, she found a great deal of enjoyment in swelling his ego didn't she? If Fili was here he would be having a panic attack, begging the lady to cease her comments because surely that was all he would speak of for the next several weeks... and he would be right.
"Please my lady, if you offer me any more compliments I fear my ego may simply burst. I fear I am no extraordinary dwarf, nor am I an exception to any rule, and I cannot compare with the beauty that rests before my own eyes." Kili wished she could see the honesty in his words, she really was an exceptional woman, both in beauty and in brains, and the fact that she was even speaking to him made his heart swell with hope. The same hope that had brought smiles to Thorin's face when he had spoken of reclaiming Lonely Mountain, the same hope that lifted Fili's spirits whenever he got to thinking about their dead relatives.
'Fool you? My Lady I shall count myself lucky if I can merely entertain you! I do believe your wit is far too strong to be fooled so easily." He chuckled once more. He had found himself quite a rare creature and he didn't intend to let her slip through his grasp, as long as she would have him. He wanted to be the reason such a bright smile lit up her face and such a beautiful laugh escaped her. "My charm? Why, my lady, that's because I reserve it for such fascinating women as yourself and I have already told you never to apologize for speaking your mind, it is only fair that you are allowed the same freedoms as I."
She allowed him to lead her from the establishment, his nerves fraying and tearing in his anxiety of her saying yes. She was silent clear until they had left the small restaurant and even after they had gotten outside. Finally her thin fingers toyed with a lock of his hair and a smile lit his face as she accepted. He paused in his stride, pulling her to a stop with him.
"Well in that case..." Fili bent her backwards in an exaggerated dip, and as quick as a fox, darted forward to taste her mouth. He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips tasting her for the first time, before pulling back and away, grinning down at her with all the mischief in the world.
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Post by Flanna Kelly-MacDowell on Jan 17, 2013 19:27:19 GMT -5
Kili was by far the most impeccably interesting man--dwarf--that ever Flanna had met. He was smart but he was humble; he was handsome and he knew it; he was charming but deflected praise. What a curious man he was! How strapping, how darkly handsome. But... she dared not let him see these thoughts, so she had to stop thinking them. She did not need him to know how pliable she could potentially be in his hands, how fragile her heart was and how close it had once come to being broken.
Damn her father. Harsh, yes, but she couldn't hate him so words were all she had. Flanna quickly turned her attention back to her courtier. She smiled at him, her eyes laughing, and wondered if he was really that egotistical. She did not think, by how already he had acted, that he was so egomanical, or that he thought too highly of himself. She thought him humble, but apparently if she said that, then she would be in the wrong. Hmm. "You ought cease your flattery, then, sir, before I proclaim you a liar and leave you alone," her eyes danced with wit. She was glad to have someone that could understand the wit at her intellectual level. It was wonderous.
Her eyes flashed orange for a minute, remembering her father, then returned to normal. She brushed it off. "I rather revel in matching wits with you, Kili. I think you'll have no trouble keeping my attention; I do find you facinating." She smiled, realizing that perhaps she'd bestowed upon him another compliment. Ah, well, one more couldn't hurt. And she was speaking her mind.
"Oh, quit, Kili!" she said sotto-voci, deflecting his compliments as he did hers. She shied her gaze from him and they were soon outside. It was a beautiful day; she hadn't noticed earlier when all she'd focused on was her melacholy and her plays. He was so tense, so nervous, but as she accepted, he seemed to melt with relief. Curious man. Handsome, curious man. He paused, and she looked around anxiously. What did he mean by stopping?
And oh! She could not think in time to react, and when she realized what was going on it was too late and his tongue was upon her lips. She flushed redder than she'd ever flushed, knowing she was in the eye of the public, and when he'd finished she felt her mind go numb and her eyes close. The last she recalled was his beautiful, wicked smile.
When she came to, it had only been a couple of seconds. She looked up to see Kili, and she worried. "Kili, what..." She looked at his lips and remembered. "Oh."
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Post by Kili on Jan 17, 2013 19:55:52 GMT -5
How intrigued he was by this damsel! How long had he been separated from his own kind, a few weeks? A few months? Perhaps longer? Had long had he scoured the lands outside of this kingdom, searching for some semblance of civilization? Even longer perhaps? Gods only knew how long it had been since he had spoken to anyone aside from himself and his memories. He had chanced upon Aledon by sheer, dumb, luck, and somehow amidst all of these hundreds of civilians, his eye had caught hers and Kili had set off determined.
He, at the very best, had hoped to gain her attention for a few scarce moments, to provide her a laugh, a good natured flirtation, to make her day by purchasing something lovely for her and then being dismissed. He was a dwarf, and currently a homeless one, who even on the best of days were mocked and ridiculed, women like her simply didn't waste their time on dwarves, and now, scarcely an hour or so later, he found himself agreeing to court her... what did he get himself into?
"Consider my compliments halted my lady until you imply otherwise." Kili answered her back, quick and fast, his wit, or so it had seemed, had not dulled since his separation from Fili. "No flattery and no poems of undying beauty shall spew from my lips unless you command it." He teased her right back, swooping low into a mock bow as though he served her and only her. His laughter was loud and boisterous at her mentioning battling his wits.
"I suppose I should find it better that you find me fascinating rather than revolting, I do believe my lady, I will take the compliment for what it was!" He had been called a vast number of names and many were derogatory and from Fili, rare were compliments given in the dwarven society lest they be returning from a successful mission, like the one Thorin and his band had been on. He laughed at her reprimand for his compliments, the poor girl had no idea what she was in for by agreeing to court Kili. He would shower her in so many gifts, so many surprises... she would be turning circles and still that wouldn't be enough to see all he would do.
A wicked mischievous grin danced across his face and lit his eyes like stones as it seems he had found a way to keep her brain from functioning properly, he chuckled low in his throat at her bewildered expression and barely stuttered words, he held her strong enough to keep her from falling but loose enough to the point where she could free herself, if she so choose.
"Do not tell me I have robbed my lady of her speech? Such a wicked thing I have done! I shan't do it again!" Oh Kili was cruel, cruel enough to make her want to reach for what she wanted. He wanted her to speak, he wanted her to want him, he wanted to hear her. For some reason she was subdued and shy, but all throughout their conversations he had seen those fiery embers of light shining through her eyes. He knew, beneath the surface, she was a wild and untamed thing, he just had to crack her open piece by piece until he got to meet her.
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