Brabant - Guus Meeuwis

https://youtu.be/myPDjxPeAms

"Daddy, daddy! Are we almost going to be there?" Gwendolyn asks as she turns around a few feet away from you.

Thorin chuckles. "Be careful dear or you will fall." He pulls you a little closer to him.  

The three of you are trudging throw the snow in your home town. After all this time away from your own world Gandalf revealed that he could send you back on more time.

Your husband was more than supportive as long as him and your daughter could come with you. Once the day of the trip finally arrived you already knew for two days now that it would be the four of you travelling to your old house.

Thorin had been as excited as he was when you told him you were carrying Gwendolyn. 

He didn't talk about it much but you could guess that he had been afraid to find out whether he could or couldn't get you pregnant at his age. It turns out he was just fine.

First you thought that it would feel strange to walk in your old streets again. Now that you were here it felt like coming home. Through time your home had become another place. It was with Thorin and your little family now. 

Yet this place would always be in a league of it's own. 

Your high school was located in this town, your primary school was a few feet away from your old home. 

The places had become nostalgic to you. 

The last time you walked here was around three years ago now. Had your parents moved on since they discovered you were missing? Maybe they had moved out of your old home... That would possibly be easier than having to be careful not to be spotted.

You sighed. Once again you forgot that they couldn't see you anyway. 

Gandalf knew that most people would recognise you in your own world. So he had given you an old amulet that would make you invisible. At least to most people.

Some people who called themselves 'psychics' were able to see a part of you. But they thought they had powers and that you were dead so you were safe. 

"Where are we going mommy?" Gwendolyn asked for the twentieth time that day.

All you could do was laugh. You never thought you would have such an adorable little girl with a loving husband like Thorin by your side. "We are going to see my old home" you explained again. "You will see where mommy grew up."

Gwendolyn's face brightened. "Can I meet your mommy and daddy?"

Your heart sank. 

"Another day perhaps ghivashel. Tonight we are just on an adventure to unknown lands" Thorin said. With his hand he rubbed your back. "Are you alright love? We can always go back if you want" he whispered in your ear.

You shook your head, digging your hands deeper into your pocket. "No, it is fine. Besides, this is the only chance we have."

He nodded making a mental note to keep a close eye on you. 

Gwendolyn hopped along the path, now walking behind you. "Why did you live here mommy? Was daddy not always kind to you?" she asked after a while.

You looked back over your shoulder. "I didn't know your father back then. We grew up in different worlds sweety." Thorin and you decided that was a part you had to be honest about. So Gwendolyn 'knew' the truth.

"What did you do here mommy?" Gwendolyn ran up to you to hold your hand. 

"I lived here, went to school and played with friends. Just like you do in Erebor." You came across your old high school. "Here, this is the place where mommy learned a lot of stuff just a few years ago."

Gwendolyn's eyes grew wide. "Only a few years ago?" She counted in her head. "Then you are not much older then me!" she exclaimed.

You and Thorin shared an amused expression. "But if I would be a dwarf, then I would be a lot older than you" you pointed out.

"You are not a dwarf mommy, you are human" Gwendolyn said confused.

"That is a good point" Thorin said, picking Gwendolyn up. "We have to continue my loves. Or night will have fallen by the time we get there. And you want to see the goats here, don't you?" He tapped your daughters' nose.

The rest of the way was cold but yet comfortable. The first thing you saw were the lights that appeared far before you could see the house.

Like your parents always did once the night started to fall sooner so that you would always find your way back. 

Your hand clenched tighter around your husbands'.

"What are those lights mommy?" Gwendolyn asked.

"That is my old home" you answered softly. And sure enough, once you crossed the street the neighbour's dog started barking. He couldn't see you but apparently he did sense your pressence. The dog always barked once he saw you.

Whether he was excited or aggitated, you never found out.

"What a big dog" your daughter said in awe. "Does he bite?"

Thorin turned his body slightly so she couldn't look at him anymore. "We are not going to find out if he does."

You didn't comment. Emotions were about to burst inside of you.

There was grief for the life you had lost. The life that belonged to this world. Maybe you could go up to the window to see if your parents were happy. It wouldn't be a good idea but maybe it wouldn't fill you with the despair that Thorin predicted would come.

There was also happiness when you saw old places in which your memories played a part. The old tree that partially hang over the lake. You and Kim used to jump down from the branches, landing in the water beneath. Summer used to be your favorite season.

Now it was winter. Thorin used to hold you tighter during the cold winter months. And now with your daughter walking the earth, there was a third edition cuddling up in the bed. 

Your baby moved in your stomache. "And soon it will be the four of us" you mumbled.

Home was now two different places in two different worlds. But both of them meant the same to you. Just for different reasons. 

It was the people in those places that made it home. 

"I will always love you two" you said, looking from your husband to your daughter. 

Thorin squeezed your hand. "And we will always love you." He leaned in to kiss you passionately. 

"And I love you so much that the world can't hold me!" Gwendolyn shouted. 

All three of you laughed. This was your new home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Rough translation of song;)

A wool hat on my head

My collar is up

It is ice cold

But luckily it is dry

The days are short here

The night starts early

The people are rigid

And there is only one pub

As I walk towards my hotel

after a dark day

I can feel my house key

deep in my pocket

Chorus;

I walk here alone

In a town that is too quiet

I have never

really been homesick

But the people they are asleep

The world ends the day

And then I think of Brabant

Because light still shines there

I miss the warmth

of a local tavern

The talking to people

with a 'Soft G'

I even miss the complaining

about everything, about nothing

If only people were as proud of Brabant

as the Frisians/Friezen(?)

In the South filled with sun

I live together with you

That is why

I love Brabanders so

Chorus

'De Peel' and 'de Kempen'

and the 'Meijerij'

But the most beautiful in Brabant

Is you, that is you

Chorus

And then I think of Brabant

Because light still shines there (2x)