Lunar Calendar New Year has come and so I wish you a Happy New Year.
This is not a happy chapter, but there are some moments that will make you feels.
Read and enjoy~~~~
No need for reviews if you think it is a waste of your time.
Chapter 3: Ancient kingdom
Regin reached Erebor the next day and couldn't believe what he was seeing. Dale – in ruins and rumbles - deaths everywhere. He ran up to a high building to search for any signs and saw a large camp of dwarves outside of Erebor. He rushed to the camp and grabbed Thorin as soon as he came into Regin's eyes. "What happened here? Where are my wife and daughter? Are they alright?"
"Regin…" Thorin said solemnly "Come with me, I'll lead you to Frija."
He led Regin to a healer's tent as Frija's singing voice slowly reached Regin's ears. He barged into the tent calling her name.
Frija leaped into her father's arms and the tears that she held back came out again. "I'm sorry father…" she sobbed "I… I-"
"It's alright, Frija. It's alright" Regin consoled quietly "Your mother and I would be happy to give up our lives if it means we can save yours. You are the best thing that could have happened to us, who have defied the laws of nature and came together as husband and wife. Giving birth you is a miracle, blessed upon us by Goddess Frigg herself. Thank you for being born, Frija." He stroke here hair as she continued to sob quietly in his arms "Now stop crying and show me your best smile after 3 weeks of not seeing it" he cupped her face. She wiped her tears away and smiled to her father. "Now that's my girl. You were left with a wonderful gift of power. Use it and make your mother in Aesir proud" seeing his daughter nod, Regin kissed her forehead "I'll leave you to your tasks now and I will see what I can do as well. Just don't push yourself, okay?" he said and left the tent with Thorin.
"Regin, I'm sor-" he began, but was interrupted by the older man
"No, Thorin, you have nothing to be sorry about. If anyone who should be sorry, it would be me. I wasn't there when my family needed me the most. I wasn't there when my nation needed me the most. And that fact will stay with my conscience for the rest of my life. So now, I'll do whatever I can to help the nation stand up on its feet" he smacked Thorin on his back "No time for chit chatting, we've got lots of work to do!"
Despite his cheerfulness, Thorin knew that Regin loved his wife very much and how he must be hurting from the inside right now. However, no matter how fake Regin's cheerfulness was, Thorin was grateful for it. There were more than enough of grieving faces around already and he hoped that this would somehow cheer the people around as well, even just for a little bit.
And thus began a long journey for the dwarves of Erebor. They went through rivers, forests, mountains; stopped at any village of men to do odd jobs and earn money… Until they had finally made a home out of Ered Luin… But they knew this was not their final stop…
Frija stood on the hill looking over the whole city of men and dwarves in Ered Luin, humming to herself her mother's melody. The dwarves of Erebor have stayed here for a few dozens of years already. They seemed to have gotten used to a life full of peace and happiness.
Seemed…
Because in fact, they were now getting their weapons and armors ready for their quest to reclaim the Moria Underground realm…
"So you're here after all," a voice too familiar to her came from behind "You're always here when you want to avoid everyone."
"And it didn't occur to you at all that I really did want to be alone right now?" she turned to face him and fake pouted
"I thought I'd best not leave you alone today." He let out a small smile "You heard the news, didn't you? And that is why you are here." picking a small leaf that was stuck in her hair away
She got closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder, placing her hands on his chest "I'm scarred, Thorin. The peaceful life that we have finally achieved might just disappear like a puff of smoke. Do we really have to do this?" she could still the sadness from that day, when she had lost her mother. She couldn't even imagine how bad it would be if she lost her father and especially Thorin as well…
"Yes, yes we do Frija. Moria and Erebor are our kin's land and we have to take them back." he hugged her closely
His words cruelly crushed her hopes as she closed her eyes tightly in disappointment "You are just as stubborn as any other dwarf…" she whispered
"I'd like to think that I'm more stubborn than any of them" he chuckled "Am I not the Prince of Dwarves?"
"Is this really the time for jokes, Thorin?" Frija said a bit irritated at how incredibly thick skulled he was being.
"No, it's not. But anger in the right moments is the best way to cheer you up. I've learned that through experience." he patted her head
Frija bit her lit as she realized he was speaking the truths. She calmed herself and wrapped her arms around his waist "Promise me you will come back safely, along with father, Thrain, Thror, Balin, Dwalin…." She continued on and on as he patiently listened and finally said "You know as well as I do that I cannot promise you that. But that is definitely what I aim to do. Reclaim our homeland with everyone still in piece and come back for you."
She chuckled lightly "That is really what I love about you. You could have just lied to me and get over with it, but you always choose to speak the truths…"
"Well, you would have seen through my lies anyway – something I have also learned through the years – but that is one of the things that I love about you, so I guess we will just have to live with it" he looked down into her eyes. They looked at each other for a few seconds, not noticing how their lips gradually got closer until they met each other. The kiss was soft at first, but Thorin's hands slowly pulled her closer as he nibbled on her lower lip, begging her to let him in. She granted it as her hands moved up his back, clinging on his shoulders for support. Their tongues wrestled in a battle, which Thorin obviously won and he smirked at the chance to explore her whole cavern. Mahal knows how long they were at it, but Thorin only pulled away when he sensed Frija's need for air. He, however, had yet to have enough and was leaning in for more.
He frowned when he felt a tip of her finger stopping his lips midway to hers "If you want more, you'd better come back safely to me."
He was going to open his mouth to retort, as it has been ages since they last kissed. First, he didn't want to make a move on her when she was hurting, then they were too busy traveling and settling in and not to mention her father constantly getting in the way too! He could literally count the times they have kissed on his fingers! However, he decided against it. He knew he wouldn't win when she looked at him like that. "Alright…" he sighed "But at least allow me this." he kissed her forehead "Wait for me."
"Forever" She smiled
However, the outcome of the battle was not what all would have expected. Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs, led by the vilest of the entire race – Azog the Defiler. King Thror was the first to fall by Azog's hands, beheaded and shown for all to see. Thrain went mad from grief and went missing along with Frija's father – Regin, who was seen to have fought side by side with Thrain during this battle. Taken prisoners or killed… no one would know. The dwarves were leaderless. Death and defeat were upon them.
And that was when Thorin stood up against Azog with a single Oak branch as a shield. At this sight, the dwarf forces rallied and drove the Orcs back. The battle was won. But there was no feast nor were songs that night, for the dead were beyond the count of grief…
Coming back home was indeed not an easy thing. Thorin himself was grieving for his family loss. But he was a warrior, mentally prepared for such sacrifices. However, the same thing could not he said for the woman waiting for him back in Ered Luin. He never forgot that day, a hundred of years before as he would never forget the look of grief adorning her face. He had never wanted her to have to experience such feelings again. "Frija, I -" he hadn't had the chance to finish his sentence as she leaped onto his neck.
"Thank you, Thorin" she sobbed "Thank you, for coming back to me."
He closed his eyes and put his arms around her "I'm home…" and it pained him to think, that this was yet to be his final journey…
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