The princess and the dwarf 6

chapter 31

Melda settled back into her chair and took a deep breath. "Well it actually starts a long time ago. As you know, my mother was very in tune with her surroundings. She loved to listen to the whispers of the wind and hear the stories of the birds. She taught me all she knew before...before she joined the great energy of the forest. After her passing, my father's mind broke. He stopped responding to anyone and now he's no more than a figurehead on a throne." As she spoke, Beorn nodded his head, remembering the great king and queen in their prime. Gamli say there listening to the hardships that his love had to endure. His heart broke for her but he admired her courage.

"...in the days following it all, I would run into the woods on my own. I wanted nothing to do with my people. I would practice what my mother had taught me and I had convinced myself if I got good enough I would hear her speaking to me on the wind. As I learned how to truly listen I started getting rumors. Story bits and pieces of great creatures like trees that guarded the forest and were ancient. I knew of the ents and had been raised on the stories of the entwives. The more I listened the more I realized that those stories may be true. I started to research all that I could find about the great beings. I consulted with my mother's old friend, Radagast the Brown. I found my mother's journals in the subject and decided to continue her work. But the council would not let me leave. They said that I could not be risked just to interfere in the lives of men. So I left in the dark of the night. After many days of travel I was accosted by huge spiders bred in darkness. And that is when this brave dwarf found me."

She gestured towards Gamli with a smile on her face. "Yes, he is a fat one isn't he, and if I have my way he will grow a lot fatter."

Gamli looked back at her, and something pleasurable twisted deep inside him. He tried to cover his reaction saying, "mostly dead spiders I should add, I just helped her clean up the mess she made of them." He cleared his throat and continued, "My story is simple, I don't fit with my kind. I am overly tall for a dwarf and do not care for the deep mines and cold stone halls of my kin. I grew tired of being talked about as a man-kin, or that my mother mated with men of the west. Those that I couldn't slay for uttering those words or catch and slay because of my dwarf-like girth you jest over, though ceasing their banter, made my life difficult and unenjoyable. So I left on my own seeking adventure and questing for a cause that was worthwhile. I found both in this beautiful maid sitting next to me."

Beorn looked at both of them, his eyes sparkling with laughter. "You two are well met then and suit each other most appropriately...both misfits of your race, both with good hearts and worthy goals. I have decided to aid you. My animal friends have rumored that our wizard friend Radagast has been seen roaming the banks of the Anduin west of here. Since both he and I can move faster than a fattened dwarf and a wounded elf maiden, I want you two stay here and watch my farm and my flock for a day or two while we reconnoiter and see if there is any truth to your tales of entwives."

He stood and as the couple turned to follow his movements they realized the table behind him had been magically arranged, groaning with a magnificent feast, fabulously set by unseen hands.

"The hour is late and I shall be off long before morning light. My home is your home. Please partake of this humble fare and replenish your spirits and your energy, for you will both need it. You especially dwarf," he finished with a wink.

"So goodnight my most welcome guests...do not depart until my return. The forest quickly grows dangerous for the unwary as you have discovered."

They bid the great man good night and turned towards the table laden with food. Melda had a twinkle in her eyes. "My dear, I think I'm going to greatly enjoy this night." She sat him down at the head of the table in a large chair. Leaning against the edge of the table she picked up a well cooked and flavorful piece of meat and held it to his lips. Surprised, he took the bite from her two fingers while looking into her eyes. Without saying another word she picked up another bite and offered it to him.

"I'm famished and you're obviously enjoying this," he sighed as he relaxed into the wide, comfortable chair and allowed himself to be fed. "I also think you have excellent taste in friends...he most certainly likes you. I believe our fortunes have turned for the better. Especially if..."

"Hush you, and eat for me." She replied cutting off his comment with another succulent morsel she brought to his lips. "I need to build up my dwarf's strength over the next several days." She kissed him as she gently massaged the slowly swelling upper crown of his abdomen. "Also I'm curious just how big this belly of yours gets after a long and steady feeding."