“Hurry up! Come on, Dallie! Hurry up!”
“I’m waddling up as fast as I...” The lad paused, bending over, panting, struggling for breath. “Go on, I’ll catch up.”
“Dalbran Gurnisson, Honoured at Erebor, bested by a simple climb!” Bini chuckled and turned, placing fists upon her hips, her shadow looming and stretching over the other Dwarf. She threw her hair aside, and continued to mock Dalbran. “Come on, come on! Why’d you train for all those months, Dalbran?”
“Train for all tho- Why you little... You were not drilling the entire morning! No wonder you can leap and bounce like a mountain hare!”
“Pffft!” She snorted and took a few steps backwards. “All I hear are excuses, Dallie! Come on, march up, come on! One-two one-two! Ansaru Bekar!” Bini continued, giggling, and bolted up the winding mountain path again. “Bini? Bini! Wazzock’s kunk, come back here!” The young warrior resounded, then tucked in his beard, and sauntered up after her.
As the midday sun loomed and hung over the Lonely Mountain, it bathed the rolling hills and jagged rocks in sharp hues of white and gold. From The Mountain’s peak, the entire landscape seemed peaceful, washed out and untarnished, as if the fields were not littered by corpses of Dwarf, Orc and Elf alike. Bini breathed in heavily, taking in the fresh air, letting it fill out her lungs, reveling in its chill sharpness. Behind her, with huff and grumble, Dalbran clambered up the path, and nearly collapsed at the summit.
“Come on, spit it out, what’d I do, lass?”
“Uhmmm, what?” Bini cocked her head aside, the braids of her beard and hair alike drooping and dangling.
“Why’d you whip me all the way up here? I’m.... Durin’s Beard.” Dalbran breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling in heavy beats. “Why’d you drag me all the way up here? Must’ve had a reason.”
“Can a lass not wish to look upon the vast beauty of Erebor and the Dale-Lands?”
“Aye, aye, could’ve chosen a better day, I reckon.”
“Well....” The Dwarrrowdam shrugged, playfully kicking the other’s side. “Then I wouldn’t get this blessed sight!”
“What, the fields? There’s a fine watchtower from where we could have seen it.”
“No, no, you silly beard. I wouldn’t get to see you all huffed up and grumbling! Besides, Donnie placed the bet in your favor. I told him you’d never get up to the summit before me.”
“Donnie!? Baah, should’ve know...” He sighed, and thumped his head against the rock. “Boga. You two will never give me a break, aye?”
“Absolutely not.” Bini answered, her gaze already taken back to the sunbathed fields. “It is a lovely sight, though. The lands, I mean.”
“Aye, aye, worth seeing.” Another huff, and the lad was trying to heave himself up onto his feet again.
“So...” She pondered, turning back to look upon Dalbran. “You alright?”
“Mhm. A little huffed up and lacking breath, but I’ll leave.”
“No, I mean...” The lass took a step forward, tapping a finger against his temple. “Up here, I mean. Been a little quiet since the battle.”
Dalbran’s blood slowly began to run cold. Ever since the culmination of the Battle, he gave it his best to put the events out of his mind. Not that it helped, or mattered much.
“I’m... I’m fine. Just been a little tired, that’s all.”
“Right... That why you’ve not been sleeping? Cause you’re tired?” Her eyes narrowed. “Gurrni told me all about it.”
“Uh... It’s... complicated. Been busy, you know. Our business hardly concludes when the battle’s done.”
“Busy... aye. You know, you are many things, Dalbran Gurnisson. Stubborn, and oaf, and very dull at times. But a liar you are not. So, any plans to clue me in?”
Once again, Dalbran found himself breathless. His eyes darted back and forth, looking for any refuge from Bini’s. “I... just need some time, that’s all. Lots of things happened, lassie.”
“I know, I know.” She nodded, taking another step. This one more careful, as if walking over shattered glass barefoot. “But it’s not going anywhere if you keep dismissing it.”
“Dismissing it? Bini, there’s nothing to talk about, really. Tough fight, that’s all.”
“Mhm, mhm, tough fight.” Bini now stood inches away from him, lightly brushing the fabric of his tunic with her hand. “I know, I know, love. But... It’s even tougher for a lad like yourself, so...” She paused, and ran a few fingers through the thick mane of ginger hair atop Dalbran’s head. “I’ll wait, for however long you need me to. You’re in it now, Dalbran Gurnisson. You won’t shake me off that easily.”
Dalbran didn’t respond. Instead, he grasped Bini’s gentle hand with his, and placed in over his chest. They stood there, for a moment, upon the cold stone. Yet, to Dalbran, it seemed, the smell of burning flesh and the cackle of blackened voices withdrew for a moment. “I’ve no intention of shaking you away, lass.” He finally responded. “Until all is stone, eh?”
Bini smiled, softly. “Until all is stone.”
