The Park, Saturday Morning

[crimson_sister]

Lucille had recently begun to take an interest in botany, specifically in certain kinds of plants. This island offered more of those than the countryside around Allerdale Hall, which she anyway wasn't allowed to visit. Or she suspected there were more to be found here if only she knew which ones would suit her needs and where to find them. Perhaps

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[dwarvenswagger]

Thorin had been on his way to find materials to create more for Blue's Etsy shop, but he could hardly keep going upon seeing a child so young unattended. "Hello?"

[crimson_sister]

Lucille looked up, studying him. Then she smiled, a smile that might be a little familiar to Thorin. "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to talk to strangers, sir. My parents tells me that and one should listen to one's parents."

She would rather see them dead than listen to them.

[dwarvenswagger]

It was distressingly familiar. Just, you know, smaller.

"My apologies," he replied dryly. "But I am concerned for I see them see them naught."

Where were your crazy ass parents, child?

[crimson_sister]

Lucille eyed him suspiciously. "How shall I know you are telling the truth? You might want to lure me away and sell me into slavery."

Lucille had no reason to think well of anyone, stranger to not.

[dwarvenswagger]

...okay, that was fair.

"What might I say to reassure you?" Thorin asked. "That would not be thought false."

[crimson_sister]

"Well, I don't know. Perhaps you need to explain why you care about lost children."

Not that she was lost, but what reason could he have?

[dwarvenswagger]

"Why would I not?" Thorin asked, looking as confused as he sounded. Then sighed and rolled his eyes. "Perhaps that is common among Men, but children are a precious rarity among my people."

[crimson_sister]

"Your people? Are you a foreigner?"

That made her curious.

[dwarvenswagger]

"More than most in this land," he replied. "My name is Thorin, son of Thrain. At your service."

He even did a more exaggerated bow than his rank normally permitted.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille curtsied. "It is a pleasure to meet you Mr Thorin. My name is Miss Lucille Sharpe."

What an unusual name, almost like something from long ago.

[dwarvenswagger]

It was perfectly normal. For a Dwarf.

He looked surprised before remembering this island did so enjoy vexing the inhabitants. "A pleasure to meet you Miss Sharpe."

[crimson_sister]

"Is everyone among your people short? And where are you from? You do sound as if you are from England."

Lucille had, for obvious reasons, never met a Dwarf before.

[dwarvenswagger]

"I am considered tall for my people." If that was an answer. "I come from the Kingdom Under the Mountain, Erebor. It is very far from here."

[crimson_sister]

"So your people are generally of short stature," Lucille concluded. "I have never heard of Erebor so it must be very far away. It's not a colony, is it?"

[dwarvenswagger]

"No, it is not a colony," Thorin replied. "Though my uncle wishes to travel to establish one in the Iron Hills."

[crimson_sister]

"I have never heard of the Iron Hills either." He didn't seem that dangerous and besides she had a pen knife hidden in her pocket.

"I have lost my brother," Lucille continued. "Have you seen him? He is younger than me, dark haired, and I expect he is frightened by now."