Idunn wasn't one prone to listening in when she happened upon a heated argument between her uncle Gloin and her cousin Gimli or anyone really but something about this particular argument caught her attention. She finds herself leaning agains a wall just out of sight as their argument continues and once she understands what they are talking about she wants to jump out to demand to go.
Luckily, she holds off long enough for Gimli to storm off before coming out; upon seeing her, Gloin groans knowing that he is about to have another argument. while this makes her a bit worried he might still disagree to let her go, she is certain he is relieved to be having the discussion away from Gimli who would have helped her wear him down.
"Uncle Gloin, Please can't i go on the quest? I can help, you know i can." Idunn says earnestly as she looks at him. she continues when she sees the obvious refusal heading her way. "Kili is going and I am the same age as him! I trained just as hard, if not harder, with the many different weapons i learned. I am skilled at them all too. Throwing daggers, Throwing axes, swords, axes, bow and arrow, spear, Glaive, and Halberd. plus i a decent enough at picking up whatever I'm handed. i can help with carrying things and with whatever else needs doing, if only you let me go." Idunn pleaded.
Gloin gave a tired sigh before he spoke "Lass, Idunn, you can't go. yer a dwarrowdam an' yer too young. you will be safer here and Lalin would never forgive me if i took you along." Gloin wanted to comfort his niece when he saw that she was looking upset but knew she wouldn't appreciate it at the moment. He added "he left you in my care when he took Glain and Edain with him to one of the farther away towns. he only took Glain with him because there was a need of her skill in the town."
"There are two other Dwarrowdams going, i heard you mention them and Kili is younger than me by at least a month! why does he get to go but not me?!? i would be just as useful on a quest but because i am a dwarrowdam i get told i can't go?!?" Idunn found herself unable to keep a cool head about the situation.
"it is the combination of too young and being a dwarrowdam. the other two dwarrowdams are older with no relatives nearby to refuse them leaving and the princes have a right to go because it is a part of their families past that the king wants to share with them." Gloin said loudly in annoyance at having to deal with a second argument especially by the one of his family that he was certain wouldn't take it sitting down despite appearances.
Idunn found herself storming off as well and heading toward her home that she hadn't been staying at while her family were all away. she needed time and space for thinking. she found the topic wouldn't leave her mind; once she had eaten what would be her dinner for the night, Idunn began to plan.
she packed a bag from memory of watching her father, sister, and cousin pack for their journey. she also packed a few more bags to hold her weapons and food for the journey. she knew she couldn't leave before her uncle or he'd notice soon enough to catch her and send her back. she paused a moment to center her racing mind and beating heart.
She knew she would be in for a fight later from most of those going on the quest and her father might never forgive her for sneaking off to go on a quest at such a young age especially after having lost Idunn's mother not that long ago but Idunn felt in her very soul that Mahal wanted her on this quest. she needed to be there and no matter the consequences, she was going to be there. it was with that thought that Idunn drifted to sleep that night.
The next few days passed in a blur of avoiding her uncle Gloin. hours spent in the forge crafting weapons for something to do; eavesdropping on people she knew were going on the quest until she had the base for a workable plan. She knew her uncle was leaving the same day as the princes but that they were using different pathes to get to wherever they were meeting up.
she thought she had heard something about the Shire but she wasn't completely sure so she would focus on meeting up with the princes after they had separated from her uncle. she was sure she could convince them to let her come especially as she had spent the last few days coming up with more reasons she should be allowed to come.
When the day came for Gloin, Fili, Kili, and secretly herself to leave, Idunn went to see her uncle off hiding her intentions behind the emotions she had felt when he had refused her. She probably could have stayed away but it would have been too suspicious for a girl who had just lost her mother and who was being left behind. if idunn was really staying behind, she would have come and would have probably cried or begged to go again.
She embraced her uncle whispering "be safe" even as she felt the tiniest bit guilty that she was deceiving him. She turned away when he went to say goodbye to her cousin and aunt. She ran off before her uncle could leave as she didn't want to see. despite knowing that she was following him soon, seeing him leave hurt just as much as watching Glain, Edain, and her 'Adad leave.
Hours later, Idunn got ready to leave. putting her weapons on her person, Idunn swallowed a bit nervous about the coming journey. she was going to leave using one of the exits that she learned about with Runa and Bodil from Nori. She had everything she could think she might need and she knew she had more than enough food. she was strong enough to carry it all and now she simply had to leave.
she froze hearing a knock on the front door of her father's house. Not even a minute later, She heard the door open and close before footsteps headed her way. Idunn bit back the panic of being discovered before she could leave. the footsteps stopped in front of her bedroom door and it was only a second later that she remembered she hadn't closed her door so she was being seen.
"Yer following after them, right?" she heard the familiar voice of Gimli say sounding both resigned and about to argue.
"Yes Irak’Nadad" Idunn replied as she turned to face him. there was no point in lying to him as they understood each other about this though there were parts he couldn't understand.
"because yer older than me? older than Kili even?" Gimli asked and Idunn nodded as she watched him carefully. "My 'Amad won't be happy about it." he said thoughtfully and found himself grinning when Idunn seemed to tense hearing that.
"I really want to go... promise that next time you plan something like this that you'll take me with." Gimli demanded and Idunn found herself grinning in understanding.
"I promise nadadith. though, i think if there is another quest; i might end up locked away so i can't do this again." Idunn told him and they both fell into a fit of laughter. They knew that Idunn would find a way if she really wanted to and Gimli would let that be enough for now.
"Sides, it might be a quest of yer own next time with me following on yer trail." Idunn teased and Gimli puffed up with mock pride.
"Course it would be my quest. there ain't any better for a quest than me." Gimli said arrogantly as they joked back and forth. Idunn felt warmth in her chest at their banter knowing that it was proof that they cared and that they were close.
"I should be going now, Gimli." Idunn told him when they quieted down. Gimli became serious as he pulled her into a hug. Idunn returned the hug feeling better than she had in months since her mother died.
"Be safe, bring them all home, and kick some arse." Gimli told her when they pulled back and they both found themselves grinning.
"I will, if my 'Adad, Namad, and Edain come before i return.... tell them I love them and I'll come back to them. Alright?" Idunn asked and Gimli nodded.
"I'll watch yer 'Adad and you watch mine." He swore and Idunn ruffled his hair with a grin even as he squawked in protest.
Idunn shouldered her packs before she lead the way toward her exit with Gimli on her heels. She wasn't worried he would follow as their talk was enough proof and his 'Amad would be keeping a close eye on him to prevent it. he just wanted to watch her go which she felt an ache about. an ache of remembering doing that herself and an ache of appreciation knowing that someone saw her leave who would miss her.
Idunn took one step toward the exit before turning back around again. she walked until she was in front of Gimli again and before he could ask anything, Idunn pressed their foreheads together. "I'll miss you nadadith and be sure to gain many tales to tell when i come back. Men lananubukhs me, Gimlelul." Idunn whispered before pulling back.
she ignored the tears growing in her eyes and pretended not to see the same in Gimli's. She offered him a small smile before she started walking out the exit and toward the direction she had seen the princes go.
