Chapter Two

The darker side of Man.

It was simply amazing how hot the city was during the day and how bitter cold it was once the sun set. There were very few people walking about, with torches in hand. They were all scouts, making sure that the city was safe during the hours of the night. Their scouts were no more than a few young men, armed with small swords and maybe a bow with some arrows. They had known nothing but peace all of their lives. Most of the time, the scouts only helped to break up arguments or disputes with people in the city over prices and goods.

She walked quickly through the street, trying to make as little noise as possible. Her cloak made her almost invisible in the darkness and she pray she could make it to the blacksmith and back without being seen. Her father would have an absolute fit if he realized that she was the one who snuck out this time. She was supposed to set a better example for her sisters. Her life was so much harder than she deemed fair, but she could not argue that with her father.

"Excuse me, stop!" A males voice called from behind her. She almost screamed as she turned around, being caught by surprise by the scout walking towards her.

He had long, brown hair that was tied back and tucked within his gray vest. His tunic was black with a white lace up the front. He was so much younger than herself, looking to be not even twenty years of age.

"Have I done something wrong?" Vera called tenderly as she pulled back her hood and smiled at him. Startled, he just stared at her for a few moments before bowing his head to show his respect.

"I do apologize, Miss Vera. I did not expect to see you wandering about so late at night. Where are you off to at such an hour? Do you require an escort, I could be of some service to you if you do." He said with a tender smile, standing up straight as he looked at her.

"That would be very lovely, lad. What is your name?" Vera asked tenderly as she offered a hand to him politely.

"Traven." The young lad said with a bright smile as he took her hand and tenderly kissed her knuckles, in the most polite manner possible. "Where are you off to?" He asked tenderly.

"I was off to see the blacksmith... More specifically, his knew worker. The dwarf. Do you know of who I speak?" She asked hopefully. "I know not where to find him, especially not at this hour."

"Ah, Thorin!" Traven said with a bright smile, obviously excited that he was going to be able to help the eldest princess. "Yes, I know exactly where you can find the dwarf. He does not have a home here and not enough money to really rent a room from anyone here. He is staying in the shed behind the smithing shop for now." Traven explained tenderly. It pained him to think of someone living in such conditions, but the dwarf had never uttered a complaint. He always seemed just more than happy to just have a roof over his head.

"He... He can not live in such a way!" Vera protested loudly as she shook her head. "Dearest Traven, please, take me to him. I would like to remain safe and as unseen as possible. There would be terrible rumors if people saw me visiting the man courting Anira in the dead of night."

"I do understand, my lady. Put your hood back on and we will take the shadows." He said with an excited smile. Vera did as he asked, lifting her hood over her head, darkening her face before the began to walk again.

Traven did know his way through the city. His movements were completely silent and he moved as if he were one of the shadows. She followed him as best she could, trying not to slow him down while still staying as silent as she possibly could. She tripped a few times, over cracks in the walkways and small rocks that matched the shadows. She always managed to catch herself without making much of a fuss. She found herself patting her pouch almost religiously every few moments to make sure that the leather bound book was still in her possession. If anyone else were to see the contents of this book, if it got into the wrong hands, Anira would be forever shamed and forced to leave this small city.

"Here we are, my lady." Traven said tenderly as he stepped aside, raising an arm to point towards the small shed that had glowing lights inside. The building was small, no more than a box. Peeling, rotting, haphazardly put together wooden planks were the walls and roof. Cracks of light shown through the breaks and holes.

"Surely you must be mistaken. This can not be a home for anyone..." Vera said sadly as she shook her head and stared at the sad looking little building.

"I assure you that I am not mistaken. This is the home which you sought." He assured her tenderly, trying to keep his voice down. He thought she was speaking too loudly. They were going to be found, but he did not know how to politely tell her that she needed to keep her voice down.

"Thank you for your services, Traven." Vera said quietly as she took a few gold coins from her satchel and placed them within his hands. He looked at her and was going to protest when she placed her finger against his lips, smiling tenderly. He nodded silently as he turned and walked towards the shack.

It smelled of cooking meat and a comforting warmth radiated from inside. She knocked on the crooked door that look as though it may shatter into pieces. Three times she rapped her knuckles against the wood before standing back and waiting for a response. She could hear movement from within, but there was no voice of response.

"I do apologize for intruding at such a late hour." Vera called softly, trying not to be too loud. The city was asleep and she was desperate not to alert anyone of her wandering about the city, especially not any of her suitors. She did not want them to get the wrong idea about what kind of woman she was.

"One moment." An angry voice called from within. There was the sound of movement again. Ceramic dishes clinking together and fabrics being picked up and tossed to the side.

That's when the dwarf emerged. He opened the door hastily and looked as though he was about to shout profanities when he looked up at her, taken back by who was standing at his door. He was wearing just his blue tunic now, which was hardly laced up the front. She could see the hair on his bare chest that was just starting to gray.

"Can I help you?" He asked as he looked up at her. What on earth was a princess doing at the door of his home this time of night.

"I must speak with you, Thorin." She said with a tender voice, lifting her hood back from her face, just enough to show her dull, blue eyes in the dim light. "It is about Anira..."

"Come in." Thorin said quickly as he stepped aside. Vera stepped passed him in silence and heard the door close behind herself. She unclasped her cloak and let it fall to the ground before she turned back to face him, her face looked as though she had seen a ghost.

"Thorin." Vera said as she walked to him, taking his large hands in hers and leading him towards the center of the shack. She sat down on a small stool and looked up at him. "There are things about Anira's past that I must tell you. Things that she herself, does not know and would never understand... If anyone were to find out about her, she would be forced to leave this place. She needs to leave, but not because of banishment." She said quickly, keeping her voice as quiet as possible. He did not pull his hands from her, but did give her a look of distrust as she spoke.

"Why tell me, then? Why tell a stranger whose been here no longer than a week and that you have not known of for more than a single day." He snapped bitterly.

"Because, her mother left this within my keeping. Even father has not seen this. He would kill me if he knew I had it..." Vera said quietly, biting her lower lip as she pulled her hands away from him. She looked down and pulled the book out of her bag. It had a thick, red, leather cover, with a bronze lock. There were some elvish letters on the front cover. She placed it in his hands and looked up at him again.

"Most of it is not written in elvish, and those parts that were, I had translated by travelers who had gone through Rivendell some years ago." She explained hurriedly before she stood up. He looked puzzled as he ran his large fingers over the elegant letters, a look of distaste upon his face.

"Why are you giving this to me?" He asked quietly, looking at her for a moment before focusing his attention back onto the book within his grasp.

"Because, you are the one who is going to save her from an eternity of hell." Vera snapped angrily as she stood. Thorin stared at her, unable to believe that she just spoke to him in such a manner.

"You are Thorin, Son of Thrain, Son of Thror!" She cried out angrily, trembling as she looked at him. "You are the rightful king under the mountain, are you not?" She asked quietly.

"How do you know such things?" Thorin growled angrily as he stepped closer to her. She did not cower or step back from him. She stood her ground and stared down at him, her eyes holding an intensity he did not understand.

"I know, because it is said in that book in your hands. I urge you to read it before coming to the castle for dinner tomorrow evening." Vera said sternly before she sat down again and looked up at him. "Her mother was an elf maid from the far north. Her name was Valessfaeniel." She started, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before she continued to speak. "She was captured by cruel men. She was traveling from the land of snow, to find a better life for herself within the keep of the Woodland Elves or the Elves of Rivendell." She explained. "The men... Did terrible, unthinkable things to her. Things that would make the strongest of men feel aches in their hearts. She escaped and made it to Mirkwood, where Thranduil took her in with open arms. He healed her wounds, both on her body and in her mind, but he could not fix everything. One of the men... Had left her with child." She said sadly.

"Anira..." Thorin whispered, staring at Vera with wide eyes. He held a deep hate for elves, but he could not imagine torturing any soul in the ways he knew were written in the book he held.

"Yes. Yes exactly." Vera said quietly as she looked up at him, tears swelling in her own eyes. "Thranduil... Loved the elf maid who fell within his grasp. He did not wish to raise her child, though he tried. He kept her long enough to see if she was going to age as a mortal or as an elf. The magic was deep within her soul and she aged as an elf. He was not going to keep the child. He saw her as a badge of shame upon his marriage to Valessfaeniel. He sent her away, here... Where our father took her in and did his best to raise her as one of his own. We all know this to be lies." She said, her tone growing instantly bitter and resentful as she spoke of her father.

"He took Anira in because he wanted his rule to last an eternity in this land. He is going to bring up every dark part of your history, Thorin Oakenshield. He is going to speak of the greed and sickness of the mind that Thror had, and then Thrain. He is going to say anything he can to make her hate you, hate everything about you. He is threatened by you, even after only one day of you knowing his daughter. He knows you are the only one who could steal her heart away from him, as Valessfaeniel wrote in her journal." She said quietly. "Our father is going to trick her into marrying him... And then he is going to put her through the same tortures that men forced upon her mother all of those years ago."

"He's going to make her give him an heir... An heir that would never die of illness or old age..." Thorin said quietly, shaking his head as he took a step back from her. He started pacing then, holding the book tightly. He thought of these things for himself. If he had her... He could have an heir that would never die of old age or illness. Perhaps, the child would even be strong enough not to succumb to the sickness of the mind.

"Precisely... This is why you must win her heart, Thorin." Vera explained desperately before she stood up. She grabbed her cloak from the dusty floor and threw it over her shoulder, clasping it around her neck with a smile as she looked back at him. "Read it if you-"

"No... I do not need to read it. You have told me all I need to hear. I do desire your sister, Vera. I desired her from the moment I first saw her, though I do hate elves and what they have done to my people... But I do not want her to suffer the way you describe her mother suffering. No being should be put through so much torture in their life, so much shame..." He whispered. He walked to her and placed the book back into her hands. "I will not let your father make a fool of me. I will make sure she hears none of his cruel statements about me." He said sternly as he looked up at her.

"You need to make me one promise, Thorin." Vera said tenderly as she cupped his face and made him look up at her.

"What promise is that, my lady?"

"I need you to promise me... That you will kill him..."

"Kill who?"

"Lord Elovere..." She said with a sad laugh. "I fear that I will not live passed this night. He will kill me as soon as he can find a way to make it look as though it's an accident. He is aware that I am not at home, and he has eyes everywhere... He will see me dead for telling you all of these things. I need you to keep this book." She said, handing the elvish book back to him with stern hands. "He will surely find it if it is within my keeping."

"Why have you come here if you knew that this would be your demise? Does your sister mean so much to you?"

"I'm already dying, Thorin. I have been ill with an illness without a cure since I was just a child. I am surprised that I am still alive. My life will be ended by the power of nature before my next birthday... Why not give my life for a cause worthier than my own? I would rather her live an immortal life... With you and your happy children." She said with a sad laugh, shaking her head before turning away from him.

"I promise you... I will kill him, first chance that I get. He will not harm a hair on her head." Thorin said deeply, looking up at her. The look in his eye was of determination and honesty.

"Thank you, Thorin. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night." Vera said tenderly before she covered her face with her hood again. She opened his door and slid quietly into the night, without a sound.

Thorin sat down on his broken down cot and breathed deeply for just a few moments. He looked at the red book for a long time. He wondered of the horrors that lay beneath the elegant cover, what darkness was hidden within its pages. He reached over and grabbed the book, tracing his fingers over the elvish letters on the cover for a few moments before grabbing a small piece of metal, and skillfully picking the lock. As he lifted the cover back, he could feel the magic within hit him like a hammer. He took a gasp, catching his breath as he looked at the first page. His heart sank as he read the first page in the book.

Thorin,

You do not know me, and will not ever meet me.

My name is Valessfaeniel. Anira is my child, brought to me by

nothing but grief, but I do love her and my heart weeps as I write

this story for you. I know what problems your family has faced

with the sickness of the mind, caused by gold. Anira will heal all

of your wounds, even your mind will be cleansed after a time with

my daughter. She is strong and will make you strong, keeping you

up strong when you feel your lowest.

The stories I have written for you will make you wish to

pity my child, but you must not. She knows nothing about her

past, I have made sure of it. She remembers nothing before she

entered the care of Lord Elovere. I know that he will harm her,

just as I was harmed, if you can not win her heart from her. You

must try, for not only your sake, but for hers as well. She will make

a wonderful wife and mother.

Thorin stared at the page, his hands trembling as he read. How much did this elvish woman know? Was she still alive? He would never admit it, but he was afraid to read the rest of this story, but he knew that he must.

He willed himself to turn the page and begin reading. He lost all knowledge of time then. He felt almost as if he was within the pages he was reading. Her words were so descriptive, he could see as she saw and feel as she had to have felt. He could see the stains of blood and tears upon the pages, smudging her words every so often.

That's when he reached it, the part of her story he had loathed to read. He shook with a rage he could not contain. The way she described the men tearing at her flesh, ripping her skin open with their blades, scaring her flawless skin for fun. He could not imagine why any creature would inflict so much unbearable anguish onto a being who had done them no wrong.

He threw it then, screaming in his own anguish as he heard the book crash against the wall of the shack, falling onto his table, breaking one of the dusty glasses he kept there. He looked up, blinking back tears from his blue eyes and took a deep breath. He could never get the images out of his mind. He assumed it was part of the magic within the book, forever scarring him with scenes that would break even the hardest of men down. That was when he realized the sun had long since risen. He groaned in anger as he stood and put on his pants, tucking his shirt in, though he knew it would never stay that way. He slipped his shoes on and tied them tightly around his calves before he ran out of his home and headed towards Markus' shop. He arrived and quickly started the fires within the forges, doing his best to make up for lost time.

"You are late today, Lad." Markus laughed heartedly as he walked over to Thorin, patting him on the back in a friendly manner.

"I had some troubles at home, I will stay later today to make up for-"

"Are you alright, lad? You look as though you have seen a ghost... Did you sleep last night?" Markus asked gently as he took a closer look at the dwarf. Thorin turned away slightly and brushed his hair back from his face before looking up at the man.

"I did not sleep last night, I could not." He said vaguely, not wishing to explain why.

"You do not need to stay late, lad. It's no bother to me, we do not have much to do today. How about once your forges are hot, you head on home to get some shut eye. I will pay you for the day none the less."

"That is very kind of you, Markus, but I can not accept such charity."

"But you must. How else are you going to provide for a woman brought up in such a high class family?" Markus laughed. "I saw how she looked at you while she was here yesterday, Thorin." He said with a bright, toothy smile. "I am glad that the lass finally found a man worth her affection. She's always looked so lonely, nothing more than a stone figure behind a shimmering veil."

"Thorin!" The light, lovely voice of Anira called as she hurried down the streets, her dress within her hands so that she would not trip over it. Thorin looked over at her and quickly left the shop. He smiled, unable to contain himself. She looked so vibrant and full of life today, so unlike the figure made of stone he had seen the day before. She wore a dress that was a light, pearescent pink, with silver thread weaving celtic knots around her sleeves. She stopped as she reached him, smiling down at him. She was wearing her necklace, which glowed brightly between her breasts, beneath her dress. It took him a moment, but he realized that she did not wear a veil now, and her ears were showing through her hair.

"Anira, I was not expecting you to stop by today." Thorin said with a smile. It was strange for him to smile. He never noticed just how rarely his emotions of pleasure showed on his face. Without her, happiness was so distant to him. Just having her near him was enough to change his mood entirely.

"I have done some thinking, Thorin." Anira said quietly as she stood before him, releasing her dress so that it would cover her ankles. "I was being selfish and foolish last night... I do not know what I expected from you after only one meeting. I should have understood that I am nothing but a lovely face to you... I do not care." She said with a smile as she dropped to her knees slowly, in the middle of the street. She smiled, cupping his face with cool, tender hands. He was already hot and sweating, but she did not mind. She actually found him rather attractive, shimmering with sweat.

"As have I, Anira." Thorin said tenderly before he took her hands within his, kissing her knuckles, one by one. This gentle affection made her tremble, a heat rising to her cheeks as she looked up at him, smiling nervously.

"Have you, Thorin...?" She asked timidly, enjoying the tickle of his beard against her tender skin.

"You asked me last night, 'what else?'. I have thought about it now. You have a radiant glow of kindness that surrounds you where ever you go. Your presence is enough to heal even the most wounded of hearts, even my own. Looking at you right now makes my own heart race within my chest. I would lay my life down for you, to keep you safe for the rest of your immortal life. I would defy my own death to stay by your side. You are one of the lights within our world now and nothing should ever take that away from us." He said with a deep voice, speaking loud enough that he knew others would hear him.

"Thorin..." Anira said breathlessly, not sure of how to respond to him. "Do you really feel this way about me..?"

"I do. These people that surround you prove my words. Not a single person dislikes you for any reason, not even I. The king under the mountain who hates all elves... Can not help but to love you as all these others do."

"You love me?" She asked while staring up at him with wide, green eyes.

"I do not know for sure that is what I am feeling, because I have never felt this way before, about anyone." He said quietly as he tucked a strand of silver hair back behind her ear before tenderly cupping her face. "But I beg you to give me a chance to find out."

"Thorin..." Anira whispered, smiling. "All you have to do is ask... and I am yours..." She whispered, leaning closer to him. He slid his hand beneath her hair, cupping the back of her head as he pulled her closer. He leaned down and could almost feel her lips against his own when a booming voice was heard over everything.

"Anira!" The voice of Krystoff rang over the noise of the market around them. Anira gasped and stood up, pulling away from Thorin and looking down at her shoes in shame. How on earth did her father guess her intentions so accurately? She did not expect him to introduce himself to Thorin for at least a few more hours. He must have been waiting for her to leave home, leading him straight to her new friend.

"Good afternoon, Lord Elovere." Thorin said, politely as possible, gritting his teeth. The hardest part of the story he had read, was reading what was going to happen to Anira if he was unable to rescue her. She would live a life of torment and shame, never again seeing the light of day after her marriage to Krystoff. He would lock her beneath his castle for the rest of her immortal life, making her nothing more than a worthless slave. He could not stand that happening to her.

"So, you are the man that this whole city seems to be talking about." Krystoff laughed tenderly as he walked closer, offering a hand to Thorin. The dwarf looked at him skeptically before shaking the mans hand, hard. His own hand made the man's look like a child.

"I do not believe that the whole city is speaking of me."

"But they are, Thorin." The king said with a bitter smile. "Talking about how Thorin, Son of Thrain, Son of Thror, has crept into my city and stolen the only thing of any value here, the heart of my Anira." He said, looking over at his daughter. "That is the only reason you want it, is it not? Her heart is nothing more to you than the largest, most valuable jewel to you, is it not? Just another prize to add to your hoards of gold."

"Her heart is the largest prize I have ever seen, but I do not want it so that I may keep it locked away from the light of day. I wish to cherish, and protect it for as long as I shall live."

"Which will be hundreds of thousands years less than she."

"Unless she gives her heart to me."

"What was that?" Krystoff asked, his tone surprised, and a little bit frightened as he stared down at the dwarf.

"Elves, should they love outside of their own race, get to decide how long they would like to live. They can give up their immortality in order to live one lifetime, with the one that they love most in this world." Thorin explained with a smile. This was knowledge that he had gained from Valessfaeniel's journal. He never would have guessed that elves loved outside of their race, or that they were selfless enough to give up an eternity of life for love. He did not know if he would be able to do it, give up immortality.

"Though..." Thorin said, looking over at Anira. "I would never ask such a thing of your daughter. I do not wish her life to end when mine does, it would be cruel and unfair."

"It would be more cruel." Anira said quietly. "To be allowed to love you for only one hundred years... And then have you ripped away from me for the rest of my life. I would rather die beside you than-"

"Enough! Anira, do you hear yourself?" Krystoff snapped angrily as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to his side. "I have not blessed this union, nor has he offered you a ring! Are you also forgetting that neither of your sister are married and that you may not marry as long as they do not!" He screamed at her, holding her by both of her shoulders now, shaking her. She was trembling and starting to cry, refusing to look at him.

"Let go of her!" Thorin shouted loudly as he took a step forward and shoved Krystoff away from Anira.

"How dare you defy me, dwarf!" The king shouted as he drew his sword from its sheath, aiming it at the dwarf's heart.

"Father, stop it!" Anira shouted angrily, standing between her father and Thorin.

"Step aside, right now, Anira." He hissed coldly. She could feel Thorin's hands on her waist, trying to move her aside. He did not want her to be harmed because of his own foolish ways.

"Never." Anira said angrily, tears stinging her eyes as she glared at her father. "You will not harm him!"

"What makes you think that your defiance will stop me?"

"Because I am the only reason that you treat anyone kindly!" She screamed. "I am the reason you run this kingdom as well as you do! These people love me and you wish they would love you the same way. You want me as your queen, not because you love me or care about me, but you desire the power I have and the strength of the children you wish to give me. I will give you nothing you ask for! You are willing to lock me away and make sure that I hate you, so that myself and your bastard children will live for eternity!"

"How dare you speak to me in such a way!" Krystoff shouted, the sword trembling within his hands as he watched her.

"I will never give you an heir." She hissed bitterly before she spat at him. He growled in anger as he wiped the saliva off of his cheek, his hands shaking with anger as he glared at her.

"You will not harm her!" A mans voice shouted from behind the king. When Krystoff turned around, he realized that almost every able bodied man was surrounding him, holding every means of weapon. From axes, to swords, to shovels and pitch forks, each man had a weapon he was ready to use on the king who had finally revealed his darkness to the entire realm he controlled.

"What is this?" Krystoff asked angrily. From within the crowd of men, Vera emerged.

"Father..." She said sternly. "All of these years... You have poisoned my mind and my body. Convinced me I was ill and dying, when in fact, you were the one who was killing me. It took me so much longer to realize it than I would like to admit. You will poison our minds no longer. I have taken a husband, within the secrecy of night." She said with a bright smile. "He will inherit your throne, whether you willingly give it up or not. Anira will not be your bride, not in this life time." She said sternly.

"So, all of you are against me, after all of the kindness I have shown you, after all of the prosperity! You're all willing to face me, for what? To save the life of one, lonely, pathetic dwarf who has found himself lost within my walls?" He laughed angrily. His laugh ended abruptly as he felt the blade pierce his back. He choked for a moment before blood began to ooze from the right corner of his mouth and down his chin. He turned his head, seeing Anira standing behind him, tears streaming down her lovely face, anger burning within her eyes.

"He is not just a dwarf... He is a king..." Anira shouted angrily as she twisted the sword within him. He cried out in agony as he felt the blade cut through his insides. He quickly turned around, wielding his own sword, he swung blindly. The blade that Anira had used, was quietly handed to her by Markus, who was able to get next to Anira while Vera had distracted Krystoff with her speech of anger.

Krystoff caught Anira across her right arm with his sword before he dropped to his knees. Thorin stepped forward and balled his large hand into a fist, catching the side of Krystoff's head. The sound of flesh against flesh and the cracking of bone was loudly heard before the once ruler dropped to the ground, motionless, lifeless. Anira whined in pain, covering her wound with her hand, the blood staining her lovely dress.

"Anira." Vera called softly as she walked towards her sister. She smiled and cupped the elf maid's face, kissing her forehead very tenderly. "I give you... All the blessings in the world and wish you nothing but love and happiness for as long as you choose to give your heart to Thorin, Son of Thrain... That is, should you still choose to give it to him."

Anira smiled, a tear sliding down her cheek before she nodded. She pulled away from her sisters grasp and looked back at Thorin, unable to stop smiling.

"I do chose him... Above all others... I choose Thorin." She whispered tenderly before she walked back over to him, wincing as she held her arm. She knelt down again and looked up at him. He was still trembling with anger, his eyes focused on the body of the dead king. She grabbed his face tenderly, forcing him to look at her. His face instantly grew soft and showed remorse. He could smell blood on her, but he was unable to see the blood on her arm. Her wound was quickly healing without any help at all.

"I did not... I did not mean to..." He said quietly. She silenced him, placing a finger against his lips, smiling as she looked at him.

"We all knew of the darkness that lurked within his heart, but none of us had the reason or strength to defy him. Those who have tried have always ended up dead." Anira explained tenderly. "The strength you carry with you made the rest of us strong." She said tenderly.

"Anira, will you be my bride? I know it has only been one day since we have met, but I feel that you are the one I am supposed to be with." Thorin whispered quietly as he placed his hands on her shoulders, smiling at her as best he could.

"I... Thorin..." Anira whispered quietly as she leaned forward and locked her lips against his. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, kissing her back with just as much longing and desire as she held for him. He had not realized how long he had denied himself. It had been so long since he had felt the warmth of a woman beneath his touch.

They were not allowed to enjoy their moment for long before the crowd around them began to cheer and shout with excitement. Anira gasped and stood up, straightening out her dress and wiping the saliva from her lips. The people of the city had already removed Krystoff's body and were now dumping buckets of water on the tone walkway to rinse away the blood.

Vera walked through the crowds of people again and smiled down at her sister.

"My dearest girl. You have free'd us all from the horrible greed and selfishness of our father. We owe you our lives." She said with a tender smile. "But now, you have a different journey ahead of you. I want you to go to your room and pack your bag. I believe it is time for you and Thorin to travel from this place and start a new life. Would you not agree, Thorin?" She asked, turning her attention to the dwarf who stood beside her sister.

"I do believe you are right." Thorin said with a small smile, raising a hand and smacking her playfully on the behind. She gasped and cried out slightly, reaching back to grab his hand and hold it away from herself, looking over at him with a playful glare.

"Go and pack your things, my dearest sister. I'm going to gather what I need for your wedding present before you leave us." Vera said quietly before she turned and walked passed her sister.

"Vera!" Anira called softly as she turned to look back at her sister, still holding Thorin's hand tightly within her own.

"Yes, sister?"

"Who did you take as a husband?"

"Ah, I was wondering when you would ask me." She laughed tenderly, holding up her left hand to reveal a golden ring with large red emerald in the center. "I married Markus, late last night." She said with a smile.

"I wish you both happiness." Anira said with a small smile. She never would have assumed her sister to marry the blacksmith, but she did see why it would be a lovely match. Markus was a skilled, kind-hearted man. He would treat her sister very well and provide her with a good life.

"Anira, shall we go?" Thorin asked quietly as he squeezed her hand. She smiled down at him and nodded, squeezing her hand back.

They walked back to the castle in a completely happy silence. She lead him into her home and up the staircase to her room. He laughed as she pushed through the hatch in the ceiling and crawled through.

"What on earth is so funny, Thorin?" She asked with a smile.

"I'm starting to think that climbing up the vines outside were less effort that trying to climb all of these stairs and crawl through such a tiny entrance." He laughed heartedly before following her through her entrance and closing the hatch behind himself. He sat on her floor and looked up at her, watching her as she quickly gathered the belongings that meant something to her.

"You do not have to sit here and wait for me, Thorin. You can go and pack your own belongings." Anira offered tenderly as she walked passed him, laying a couple of dresses in the bottom of a deep, black leather bag.

"My dearest Anira, most things that mean anything to me, I am wearing." Thorin said softly. "Many of my possessions were lost when Smaug claimed our home land, beneath the Lonely Mountain." He said, scratching at the wooden planks beneath him.

"I did not mean to upset you, Thorin. You have just gone through so much that I have never known and never experienced." She said quietly as she knelt down beside him, running a gentle hand through his hair. "You have endured much... I wish that I could undo the damage done to you. I wish I could fix the pain in your heart with my words of love."

"But you are, do you not see it?" Thorin said quietly as he rubbed her cheek tenderly with the back of his fingers. "With every word you say, my heart feels lighter."

"Thorin..." She whispered quietly as she leaned down and kissed him again, tenderly, giggling against his lips while his beard tickled her face. He groaned against her lips before he laid back against the floor, pulling her on top of him as he continued to kiss her, biting her lower lip tenderly as he did so.

"Anira... I do not want to press upon you..." Thorin spoke between her frantic kisses, trying to catch his breath. She was so young, vibrant, and full of life. Her enthusiasm was starting to make him feel like an old man. "But... If we have already agree'd to be married... What better a place to bind our love than here, in your room?"

"Oh, Thorin..." She whispered against his lips, kissing him again before placing her hands on the floor on both sides of his head, propping herself up to look down at him. "Not here... This home has too many ill memories within its walls... I would rather a place that is pure, a place that neither of us has sickening memories of." She whispered before she knelt on the floor, her knees on either side of him before she sat down. He groaned as he felt her weight and her heat against him. It took nearly all of his self control not to take her, but he knew that he should not.

"You are right, Anira." He said quietly. "I'm just being blinded by the needs of men. My needs have been ignored since I lost my home land almost sixty years ago." He whispered, groaning as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the floor. He sprawled his hands out against the cool wood beneath him, trying not to raise his hips against her. He did not want to frighten her or make her think less of him.

"Of course I am right." She said teasingly before she stood and went back to packing for her travels. She had placed a leather pack upon her bed and was filling it with clothing and a few other items. She grabbed her silver hair brush, a few pieces of jewelry, stuffing them into the bag quickly.

He laid there on the floor, eyes closed, trying to will the blood in his body to go back into the head on his shoulders before sitting up. He thought it funny. It had been so many years since anyone had gotten him that worked up, let alone, an elven child who did not even try.

"Thorin?" She asked quietly as she looked back at him.

"Yes, Anira?"

"I do not want to sound rude, but… How old are you, exactly?" Her voice was soft and timid, as if she were afraid he would yell his response to her.

"I wondered when you would ask. It's the gray, isn't it?"

"Well… I… Yes." She admit with a soft giggle. "I am sorry."

"Don't be sorry, it's alright to be curious. I am one hundred and sixty years old, Anira." He said quietly. She turned around and stared at him, her eyes wide with shock.

"I never would have guessed you to be anywhere over one hundred! I was thinking sixty or seventy!"

"You are kind." He said with a small chuckle. "How old are you, Anira? I know that once Elves mature much differently than dwarves."

"We mature between one hundred and one hundred and fifty years old." She said with a tender smile. "Women take longer to mature. I know I do not look like an adult woman quite yet, but I am one hundred and ten years of age." She said with a sweet smile.

"So you are just a bit younger than myself. I would not have guessed you were a day over sixty." He said with a charming wink. This brought a blush to her cheek and she turned away from him then. This was going to be quite an interesting union.