Sigrid

     —-“Sigrid, wait,” he said firmly, rolling himself from the bed and crossing to her quickly. He slid an arm about her waist to support her, not wanting her to fall and hurt herself further. “I know you don’t wish it, but let me help you.”

           “I don’t want to risk your being hurt worse. Your ankle needs to heal. It will only do so if you allow it to rest.” He bent, scooping her into his arms easily. “Just a few days, Sigrid. That’s all.”

Sigrid knew, despite her best efforts to keep him out of this, he wouldn't listen to her. She certainly got her stubbornness from him. "I know you don't, Da." Sigrid said, wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifted her into his arms. "A few days." She said in agreement.

Father Son bonding

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+bonus Daddy Daughter bonding

"We could, I like that idea. And I don’t think anyone would mind that, but if they did mind, they would have go through me," Tauriel said pushing her chest out and chuckling lightly as her chest fell back to its usual position.

As she was looking down a small seemingly golden rock caught her eye. She picked it up and carefully looked at it. It looked like amber. “Here, take this. I want you to have it. This would look very good in a necklace or a ring,” she said putting the small piece of amber in Sigrid’s hand. “It’s as beautiful as you,” she smiled at her.

Laughing at Tauriel's burst of confidence, Sigrid shook her head lightly in response. "I fear for the person who would dare try to stand up against you."

Gaze falling to the elf's hand, Sigrid reached out to carefully take the small rock from her. Turning it over in her hand as Tauriel gave her a suggestion as to what to do with it, she felt her cheeks turn red at her compliment. "I fear that is not true. Especially when I am in your company." There was magical quality to the elves, something the race of Men did not have.

Thranduil’s smile matched Sigrid’s, and there was a familiar fondness in it despite how grown her features had become. “I would greatly welcome your company,” He assured, for he was indeed eager to see how Dale fared, and it would be good to see it alongside good company.

"I must profess myself curious," Thranduil admitted as he joined her, allowing her to take the lead of the tour, "As to how you and your family in particular have fared."

Walking once he was beside her, Sigrid did her best to not feel bothered by the guards that followed them. That was a part of this whole change she had not grown used to. Despite it being quite some time since this had all started.

Looking up to the Elven King, Sigrid felt her smile grow again. "Very well. Although-" Sigrid looked down at her outfit. "Some aspects of this life are taking more time to grow accustomed to."

He nodded in response. "It is good to see you as well Princess." He gave her a small smile. She had definitely grown into her new life and position and it was obvious.

"What brings you here? It is not often we are visited by the King."

In the darkness of the room it was not hard for Bard to confirm her suspicion. It was morning. He knew it in the subtle change of the light that announced the sunrise that would sun light up Dale and probably fetch him away from here again on another endless round of duties placed upon him as the newly appointed king of the people here. They placed their trust in him and he refused to let them down, but more than that: He refused to let his children down. Mainly for the three of them he really wanted to make Dale a safe place, a home for all of them. "Yes, it is morning. The sun will rise soon." His eyes focused on his little girl, her hand extended to him. In the course of the stress he remembered the little things easily, like how her tiny hand extended to him for the very first time. He almost lost them or the other way around, but they made it, all four of them against all odds. "That is very kind of her." For a moment he considered not getting up. He shouldn’t. He should stay there like that, because once on his feet he didn’t know if they could support him and he did not want to scare his daughter. Then again him staying there would scare her as well, probably. Sigrid had always shared her mothers caring nature. "Just give me a minute." The dragon slayer slowly got up, testing his legs while still supporting himself on the wall. It worked. It worked, thank god. "Okay. So you three think this is our new home? It’s good, I think." It needed repairs like most of the other houses, but it would serve them well. It was just enough for all of them, even a bit bigger than their former house. Not because he felt faint, but simply because he missed them, Bard flung his arm around Sigrids shoulder to walk with her. "I heard you were helping the wounded."

Retracting her hand, Sigrid wrapped her arms around herself tightly. Watching her father regain his bearings, Sigrid tried not to notice the wounds he had gotten during the battle. Desperately she was trying to forget about all of that, but it was hard to. Especially when their world had been turned upside once again. The only other time she had felt such a way was when her mother had passed away. Bain had been too young, and Tilda had only just been born. This was only something that was shared between Sigrid and her father. She remembered the look that took hold of his features for months, which is why she didn't try to look too closely at his face in fear of seeing it again. Despite them all being alive.

Her gaze fell to the ground until he asked her about this house and she finally looked around. She had been so desperate for sleep and in such a hurry to get into shelter that she didn't really look. "Aye. I like it." Sigrid said in agreement, doing her best to sound positive. Their home had been destroyed, and now they were already moving into another. Sigrid didn't do well with change.

Leaning into her father when his arm wrapped around her, Sigrid wrapped her arm around his middle in return. Instantly feeling less tense now that she was so close to her father for what felt like the first time in days. "I did what I could." Sigrid said, tilting her head up to look at him. "Tilda helped too. So did Bain."

‘They weren’t meant to comfort you. They’re facts. Life is cheap. You were lucky, you lived, you didn’t lose anyone this time.’

                                      ’You could have.’

Sigrid felt a knot form in her throat as all the emotions from the past few days resurfaced yet again. Never in her life time had she imagined something so horrific to happen.

"I may have not lost anyone today. But do not think I don't know what it is like to lose a loved one." She barely kept her anger in control, an emotion she rarely had and much less one she let bubble to the surface. However she felt as though she was being attacked, that she was naive to death. Her mother died when her sister was born, and it left a permanent hole in her heart. One that could never be repaired, nor filled.

“I know the emptiness that accompanies the death of a loved one, and the loneliness.” Inhaling deeply, Sigrid did her best to reign in her emotions as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. “I am sorry for your loss.” She told the dwarf genuinely.

❦ | | |          The hobbit rocked on his heels giving his pockets a gentle pat-pat before he turned his attentions to the soupy mixture she was making. That was clever, Bilbo could tell she was used to making her ingrdients go as long as they could. He had been there once before. But the Shire had always been plentiful, and his family large and wealthy. Food was in abundance, considering how often hobbits ate - though Bilbo’s eating habbits had curbed on this journey somewhat. He turned his attention to a tied stack of roots to one side, he stood on his toes and reached for them. “I wouldn’t normally suggest this, these aren’t much for taste but they’re good in warding off a sniffly cold, I think it’d probably be useful here, considering the cool weather.” Bilbo did a little demonstrative shiver, as if to support his words. He then turns his little button nose down to look at the other ingredients she’d assembled, scooping up some of the vegetables and a twig of herb, he then toddled over to the pot and took the spoon she offered, gradually adding the vegetables to the boiling mixture. “I wanted to say.. well, sorry and thank you. Actually.” Started Bilbo, “I know that we weren’t the most hospitable… when we stayed in your house, but regardless, thank you.”

Despite growing up on the Lake, the cold weather such as this was not something Sigrid was accustomed to. In such a hurry to leave the house, Sigrid only had time to put on her coat and as such her fingers were left exposed. She didn't dare ask to see if anyone had a spare pair, as she was sure someone else would need them more than she did. Hands pulled back in order to be covered by the sleeves of her coat, Sigrid watched the hobbit place the ingredients in the pot curiously.

Some things she would've added herself, but maybe more of some and less of others. Turning her attention to him rather than the pot, the smallest of smiles twitched at her lips. She didn't dare say it aloud, but she couldn't help but feel as though if the dwarves, and the hobbit, hadn't come to Lake Town, it would still be standing. So many lives wouldn't have ended, but she would never dare say such a thing. Surely the guilt they all felt was enough, and it wasn't just the lives of those who lived in Lake Town that had been lost in this battle.

"My Da is the one who took you in." Sigrid reminded, shifting in her spot a bit as she tried to keep near the fire that kept the water hot. "Why were you with the Dwarves?" She asked before she realised how rude it was of her to ask, and certainly not her business. "I apologise, it is none of my business." Sigrid said as she dropped her gaze from his.

@dragxnslayer !

    ♔     Path had drawn him far eastward, for though the dragon was defeated,               or so whispers claimed, and all returned, yet was there darkness in               Mirkwood, and whispers from the south… And though some had told               him to remain Westward, where his people were tasked to guard and               protect, yet could he not deny a curiosity to see further. And when near               Dale had his path brought him, and in shadows did he think to slip about               unseen ere he came to the town itself, then did small footsteps behind               draw his ear, and with uneasy gaze did he turn.

                   Then smile creased his features, for what had he to fear from                      a maiden such as she?

                               ” Greetings, though I hope I disturbed you not? “

Dale was still relatively a small town, and it was easy to tell when someone new had come to town. Not only from the gossip, but also the faces. Sigrid, being the Princess of Dale had seen many faces pass the castle but also come within the castle as well. The man she came across after her late afternoon walk was not a familiar one.

"Not at all." Sigrid said, although she was wary. "What brings you to Dale?"

"I hardly find comfort in your words." Sigrid hadn't meant to come off as rude.

"I am only thankful my family is alive, but that doesn't change the fact that so many others lost their own."

              He trips a bit in order to detach               himself without harming the girl.                Releasing grip, he causes himself               to fly onto the ground, face up —               fearing h may have sent the girl                reeling.

"What are you doing!?"

Despite knowing he was right, there was a part of Sigrid, a stubborn part, that refused to believe she was sick. Even if her whole body was aching and her throat felt like it was on fire. "But I can't rest, Da. I have so much to do around here."

Sigrid had been trying to comfort her sister, and apparently she was not doing a good enough job of it. To be honest, she had said the words with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. Which, really, wasn't very much. She had been doing her best to keep her chin up, if only for Tilda's sake. However, her sister, while younger, was not blind. If anything she was wise beyond her years. Kneeling down to get at eye level with her sister, Sigrid reached out to pull her into an embrace. "I promise, things will be better for us now. Da is working with the other Kings of nearby Kingdoms. Dale will be resurrected once more."

Sigrid was doing her best to help some of the other women make food with the supplies they were given by the Elves of Mirkwood. Some of the things they were given were things Sigrid was not familiar with in her cooking, but so far everything tasted rather well. It was chilly with such little protection from the elements in the ruins of Dale, but Sigrid was trying to stay positive. Her family was alive, that's what really mattered. Turning when she heard a voice approaching her, Sigrid brought her gaze downwards and smiled in return of the hobbit's offer to help with the cooking. She did not know much about hobbits, but she did know they enjoyed food. A slight portion of the reason behind her offering to help with the food was that it was one of the warmest spots to be standing without a hoard of people sitting around the fires. Still, she offered the wooden spoon to him willingly. "I am curious to taste what you can make, Master Hobbit. I have only added the basic ingredients."

daleprincess liked for a starter

Slowly the work was done. Most of the wounded were taken care of. Most of the dead were brought together and burried, some have gone back down to Esgaroth to take care of the burials there. The elves and dwarves had done the same. After a few lengthy discussions that lasted through nights a deal has been struck between the three kings: They would all aid the men in rebuilding Dale and Esgaroth, with Erebor pulling the heavier cost of things and the heavier load with the aiding. The elves would give both kingdoms food and supplies to last the winter. It was the first time Bard found a little time to himself in days. He hadn’t seen his children in over 24 hours either and now he knew at least Bain and Tilda should sleep. According to Hilda his children were settled in a makeshift house to which she guided him. Bard immediately noticed the silence in the house. The kids were probably asleep. The newly appointed leader didn’t bother to go through the house to find something akin to a bed, they wouldn’t have something. Instead he just sat down - or rather fell - against a wall. Now, once he rested without a burden on his shoulder, he felt the pain. He felt the bruises on his body, but they were safe now. He mussed have dozed off, the next thing he registered someone in the room with him. The shape of the person gave away who it was. Sigird, his beloved oldest daughter. "Good evening - or morning, Sigird.", he greeted her softly, reluctant to move from his somewhat comfortable position. "Did I disturb your sleep? Do you need something?"

The stress of the past few days had worn Sigrid out so much, that despite her instincts to take care of her family she found herself unable to stay awake. The last thing she remembered before waking up with her younger sister curled into her was Hilda putting a blanket over her. Despite her body feeling like it needed more sleep, Sigrid couldn't get her brain to shut off. Carefully getting up from the floor, Sigrid adjusted the blanket on Tilda. Despite being in shelter, her body immediately felt colder and she wrapped her coat around her before making her way out of the room. Finding her father fast asleep and slumped against a wall, Sigrid felt relief wash over her. Despite knowing her father was busy trying to work things out, it was times like this she yearned for her father to be around her. This whole thing stirred panic within her that could possibly be an orphan, along with her younger siblings. Looking around for something to place over him to warm him up, Sigrid jumped when she heard him speak up. Fingers gripping a blanket, Sigrid turned to face him and smiled. "Morning, I think." Sigrid said quietly, not wanting to wake her siblings. "No, I woke up on my own." She explained as she made her way over to him. "Hilda set up a makeshift bed in the other room, it is more comfortable than a wall at least." Sigrid said, offering her hand to him.