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Dwalin barely slept that night. The haunted look in Thorin's eyes kept looming into his dreams. When morning finally came, Dwalin felt even more exhausted then he had been the night before. He wondered what would happen, now that it was morning. Would Thorin tell them what happened? Would he tell them anything at all?
Dwalin sighed, then sat up slowly in bed. The palace rooms were graciously large and spacious, furnished with luxury silks and velvets. Dwalin turned to his left and saw Frerin laying on his bed, but he was awake, Dwalin could see the glint of his eyes as he looked around the ceiling, deep in thought. Dwalin once again wondered what Frerin had seen, and for his desecration.
Dwalin cleared his throat, and Frerin startled.
"Ah! You scared me! Did you sleep well?" he asked, sitting up in his bed. Dwalin nodded, "You're living the life, Frerin. I could get used to this." he said with a smile, tossing up a red velvet pillow.
Frerin shrugged, he was always so modest about his heritage. He stood up and stretched, and then folded down the blankets on his bed. Dwalin, following his lead, did the same. He straightened out his clothes and then started shifting around for his boots. Once he found them, he stood back up and looked at Frerin.
"Thorin?" he asked softly.
Frerin nodded, a sullen expression on his face. "did he say anything to you last night?" he asked.
Dwalin shook his head. "not a word. Did he tell you anything?"
Frerin shook his head, "No, bit his injuries spoke for themselves. Someone beat him-badly. He had bruises everywhere and I think-I think-" Frerin paused, a pained expression on his face.
"What?" Dwalin asked
But Frerin shook his head,
"Nothing, its nothing, just-I've never seen anyone so scared, Dwalin. He wouldn't let me touch him at all, and he would say anything. Something happened to him, something bad. I want to find out who-or what did this to his so we can make it right."
Dwalin nodded in agreement, "I want to catch the creep who did this and...and teach him a lesson! Aye if it was one of those tree loving, skinny assed elves of the greenwood. I'll show him, I'll give him a taste of dwarvish iron right up his jacksie!"
Frerin laughed a little, "Don't worry, I'll help you." he asked
Dwalin nodded, "Come, let's go see your brother." and he pointed towards the door.
Thorin was still in bed when Frerin knocked and opened the door, but his eyes were open. When he saw them, he shuddered slightly and pulled the covers tightly around his arms. Dwalin hesitated at the door. Did Thorin really want this right now? Even from a distance Dwalin saw the paleness of Thorin's face, and the tear tracks that stained his cheeks.
"Good morning, Thorin" Dwalin said softly, touching the bed with his hand. Frerin walked past him and sat down so he was eye level with Thorin.
"Thorin?" he asked in a soft voice, he waited until Thorin was looking at him, and then continued.
"How're you doing? Are you feeling better?" Frerin asked. Thorin shrugged his shoulders and then pushed himself up to sitting, wincing slightly. He clutched his right side and pulled his knees up to his chest and shuddered, then he closed his eyes.
Dwalin gently sat down at the foot of the bed. He wanted to help, but he wasn't sure how to.
Thorin took a couple of deep breathes, then opened his eyes again. He let out a little sigh, then gave a slight nod.
"Are you ready to tell us what happened?" Frerin asked, in the same gentle voice.
Thorin shifted and then winced again. He looks up at Dwalin, their eyes meeting for a second and then he glanced away with a slight shake of his head. Dwalin suddenly know what Thorin was telling him; he wasn't ready to talk, not now, maybe not ever. As much as Dwalin wanted to know what happened so they could catch the guy that did this, Dwalin knew that they could wait until Thorin was ready.
"It's okay, you can tell us when you're ready." Dwalin said softly, and then asked "Are you hungry? We should get some breakfast."
"And a healer. Can you tell us what hurts? We don't want your injuries to go unattended." Frerin added in.
Thorin shrugged his shoulders, then winced and clutched his right side.
"Healer first?" Frerin asked, looking at Dwalin.
"Healer first." Dwalin confirmed.
Frerin stood. "I'll get the palace healer, she should be up by now. Can you-?"
"I'll stay" Dwalin finished for him, and Frerin smiled.
"I'll be back. Don't go anywhere." he said, and then he trotted out the door, closing it softly behind him. Once he was gone, Dwalin sighed a little, then turned to the prince.
"I havn't been here that long, but you know I'll always be here for you, right?" Dwalin asked gently. Thorin gave him a small smile and nodded.
"I want to make sure you are safe, and that we catch whoever did this to you so he can be judged for what he did. I know it's probably the last thing you want to think about, but can you try to tell me what happened? Who did this to you?" Dwalin asked, trying to make sure his voice remained soft so he wouldn't scare Thorin.
Thorin lowered his head and clenched his hands into fists. He shuddered slightly then shook his head again. He wasn't ready, Dwalin could tell that.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me right now. Only when you are ready, Thorin. I promise I wont pry." Dwalin added, hoping to calm him. But Thorin seemed to be lost in his memories of last night. His hands came up, and his fingers tangled into his long hair.
"no no no no no no, stop, please stop. No no no."
Dwalin heard it as a bare whisper. He looked at Thorin, trying to fathom who could have scared his so badly that the mere memory of him triggered-whatever this reaction was. Dwalin had never seen anyone so scared-traumatized. He didn't know what to do, or how to fix it. Frerin seemed so much better at but then again, he was Thorin's elder brother.
"Thorin?" Thorin I'm sorry. Please, please stop. It's okay, you're safe now." Dwalin pleased, but Thorin ignored him. Dwalin scooted closer to his friend, who in turn flinched away from him. Dwalin wanted to grab hold of Thorin, to embrace him and tell his everything was going to be okay but he couldn't; Thorin wouldn't let anyone touch him.
Dwalin quickly grabbed the hands that were pulling at Thorin's hair.
"Please don't do that." he asked softly, and he felt them tremble and shake underneath his firm grasp.
Thorin froze, then finally looked up at him.
"Dwalin?" he asked in a small whisper.
Dwalin smiled, "Yes, yes it's me. You're safe now." he said, but Thorin's face crumbled he twisted his wrists in Dwalin's hands but Dwalin didn't let go.
"It wont stop. He won't stop. Please please, make them stop." Thorin pleaded in the same desperate voice, his eyes rimming with tears.
"Make who stop? Who did this?" Dwalin asked, but Thorin only shuddered and flinched his head away.
"I promise it will stop. Just tell me what happened and I will fix it. Please, Thorin." Dwalin asked softly. His vision went blurry as his eyes filled with tears, he hated seeing the prince like this, Thorin was usually so proud and composed, eyes always full of mischief and laughter. It made his heart ache to see him in such a state. He would anything to make things right again, to have them go back to where they were smiling and laughing again.
"Stop, stop. No, no no no no no." the mantra continued from the vicinity of Thorin's knees. Dwalin brought his hands, still holding his friends wrists together and squeezed them gently.
"I'll make them stop. I promise." he whispered. And then finally-finally Thorin reached for him. He grabbed Dwalin's shirt collar and pulled him in close, bowing his head down into his chest.
"Please, please make it stop. I can't-he wont, he wont-" Thorin muttered softly.
Dwalin let go of Thorin's wrist and gently patted his back, he felt Thorin tense but he didn't flinch away from his touch.
"You will be okay, I promise. You're safe now, he won't ever hurt you again. I promise." Dwalin told his softly.
There was a soft knock on the door; Frerin had returned with the healer. Immediately Thorin stiffened, and he moved away, out of Dwalin's grasp. Dwalin let him, not wanting to startle him any further.
"It's okay, it's just Frerin and the healer." he told Thorin, and then he turned towards the door.
"Come in." he called softly. He felt Thorin shudder under the covers.
Frerin came though the door, followed by the healer, and Dwalin's older brother, head adviser and Thorin's dearest friend, Balin.
Balin's usually cheery face looked grim as he silently entered the room and approached Thorin, who kept his head bowed, hiding his face behind his hair. Balin acknowledged Dwalin with a quick nod and a sad smile, and Dwalin returned the nod. It had been Balin who had recommended him for the captain of the guard position. Dwalin owed almost everything he had to his elder brother. Balin gently placed his hand on top of Thorin's head, and Thorin shuddered slightly at his touch. Balin's brow furrowed as he though, and then he lifted his hand up. He shook his head sadly and sighed, then he spoke:
"A great warrior has been wounded, but the greater would is in his soul. But fear not, with the help of those who love him, he will heal in time."
He then nodded at Dwalin, and then bowed at Frerin before turning to leave. He opened the door, but then turned to Frerin.
"I will excuse both you and Dwalin from your duties today, I believe you will all need the rest. You will join us again after the weekend."
Frerin nodded, "Thank you, sir." he answered for the three of them. Balin bowed his head, and then with a swish of his dark maroon robes, he left.
The dwarf healer, who had been setting up her bandages and ointments stepped up to the bed, holding a tin of salve in her hand. She greeted them with a soft "good morning" and smiled.
"My name is Tamara, I'm the palace healer. Frerin has informed me on what has happened, I will try my best to make sure you're comfortable." She said, mainly to Thorin, who nodded but didn't look up.
Frerin tapped on the bed lightly.
"Would you like us to step outside?" he asked. Thorin looked up, eyes lighting on Frerin, Dwalin and then the healer before he nodded. Frerin frowned, but stepped back respectfully.
"Alright. We will be in the next room if you need us." He said and then gestured for Dwalin to follow him outside. Dwalin stood up and put a hand on Tamara's shoulder,
"Thank you." he said softly, and then followed Frerin out the door.
Once they were in the hallway, Frerin turned to Dwalin, his brow furrowed in worry.
"Do you think he'll be okay?" Frerin asked
Dwalin nodded, "After some time, yes. He's really scared, Frerin. We have to find out who did this to him." he said.
"Did he say anything to you while I was gone?" Frerin asked as they walked towards their room.
"He didn't say much, but-"
Frerin stopped and turned around, eyes glinting in the morning light.
"He spoke to you?"
Dwalin nodded, "Yeah, he did but it wasn't much-"
"What did he say?"
"It was-I don't know- he was coming out of a trance. He recognized me, finally looked me in the eye but then something came over him. He started pulling his hair, and he kept asking me to make it stop, to make him stop. But that was it, that's all he said." Dwalin answered honestly, looking up at Frerin.
Frerin nodded, "He said that last night too. Don't worry, Dwalin. We'll figure this out." He said as he sat down on his bed and fumbled with an orange he had picked up on the breakfast try.
"I wonder why he wanted us to leave." Dwalin asked as he picked at his breakfast. "doesn't he trust us?"
Frerin shrugged, "I don't know, Dwalin. Everything seems different now."
"What are we going to do?"
"Wait, I guess. And keep watch, and be there for him. That's all we can do." Frerin answered, a sad look in his eyes.
They sat in silence for a few moments, picking at the breakfast that had been brought to them. Dwalin sighed, he remembered the first time he had met Thorin, just a few months ago. He had a cheerful, but mischievous glint in his eyes as he gallivanted down the hallway absolutely thrilled to meet a new dwarf. Since Thrain had closed the gates to outsiders, it was rare that a new face appeared in Erebor. Thorin had smiled at him, and then pulled him through a side door into a spare room.
"Look, Cookie will never know they are gone!" he had said, showing him a bundle stuffed full of pastries and laughing.
"You're new here." he had said after a pause.
Dwalin laughed, "Yes. My name is Dwalin, I'm Balin's brother and the new captain of the guard."
Thorin laughed again, and then saluted him. "Thorin at your service, Sir!" he said
Dwalin smiled again. "And I am at yours. Now that that is established, my first order of business is to make sure half these pastries make it back before Cookie notices"
Thorin's face fell, "Oh, do we have to? Wait? Only half?" he asked
Dwalin smiled again, "I'm not going to let a good theft go to waste, am I?" and then he plucked one of the pastries from the bundle and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Go be a good lad and find a clever place for these, and then find me. I'll be in the King's quarters."
Thorin smiled and laughed, "I like you, Dwalin. You're a good dwarf."
Dwalin laughed, "Now scat, young Thorin. There'll be plenty of time for other acts of mischievous here."
Thorin tossed him another pastry before disappearing behind a corridor, his laughter ringing through the room.
A knock at the door jolted Dwalin out of his memories. Frerin jumped up to answer it, revealing Tamara on the other side.
"Please come in." he invited politely. She walked in, her heavy bag hanging from her shoulder.
"How is he?" Frerin asked, as he pulled over a chair for her to sit. She declined it, but set her bag down at her feet.
"Do you know who his attacker was?" she asked
Frerin shook his head, "No, we don't know anything. He hasn't said much yet."
"This wasn't a just random act of violence, this was an act of hate. Whoever did this was skilled in the means of torture." She said, a grim look on her face.
"He has bruises, and cuts that were put there purposefully to cause pain and distress. Whoever did this wanted information from him." Tamara continued.
"He also has a few broken ribs, but I wasn't able to do a full examination. He wouldn't let me look at his legs, or his back. I would like to come back later, maybe when he is more relaxed and finish. Is that all right?" she said calmly, looking back and forth between them.
Frerin nodded, "Of course. Is there anything else we should be doing?"
"Let him rest, and make sure he eats something today. Would you like me to file an official report?" she asked
Frerin and Dwalin exchanged looks. Thrain, Thorin's father was a very busy dwarf. Would he truely have time for his youngest son?
Frerin nodded, "You can send the report to Balin."
Tamara nodded, "I'll fill out a report to hand him. I will be in my quarters if you need anything else." she said and picked up her back.
"Take care now." she said softly, then she bowed to Frerin, turned and left, shutting the door softly behind her.
Once Tamara left, Frerin turned to Dwalin.
"I want you to start an investigation. I want to find whoever did this. I will start by finding out where Thorin was last night, can you go down to the market and see if you can pick up on any rumors, anything that speaks ill of Durin's heirs?" Frerin told him. Dwalin nodded.
"And what of Thorin?"
"I'll have Balin sit with him for a time, I think he will want to rest today." Frerin answered.
Dwalin nodded, and then reached for his cape. Pulling it on, he looked at Frerin.
"Fear not, I care about your brother just as much as you do. We will find out who did, I can promise you that."
Frerin smiled a sad smile, and a tear ran down his cheek. He reached over and touched Dwalin's arm.
"Thank you."
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So I know that Thorin seems a bit out of character. He is young in this fic, the human equivalency of 20 or 21. In my canon, Thorin was very much like Kili when he was younger, and then something happened (something else besides the loss of Erebor, and Frerin and Thrain dieing in the battle of Azanilbizar) to make his so serious and angry. Dwalin and Balin basically grew up with him, so they would still be able to remember a time when Thorin was more carefree.
Please read and review! Reviews are my full, the more I get the faster I write :)