The Investment
Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. *sighs* If I did own 'The Hobbit' (the book and/or the movies), I'd make it soooooo yaoilicious. Really I would. OH and more Thrandy-Leggy father-son fluff. :3
Warning: Multiple P.O.V's. I tried to keep it clear. Sorry if it seems confusing. ^^;
AN: Hello again! I'm so excited. I'm VERY excited. This is the last chapter to my overtly long intro. And four chapters of intro is saying something! XD. Umm...anyway. NOW will come the juicy bit. From next chapter, we will see the investment being made. It's gonna get uuuuglyyy. Mwahahahaha...Or...you know, just plain old drama. Or...awkwardness. O.o
ANYWAY. On with the story! But first, thank you everyone who've reviewed/faved/followed. You guys really really are a moral booster. Thanks! :D
Chapter 4
Thorin Oakenshield let out a huge sigh of relief after he had finally reached his palace. The journey was taxing and riding on Minty—no matter how gentle she was—always put a great strain on Thorin's body. Particularly the bottom of his body.
Once he reached his chambers, he practically lumped on to his favourite chair, thankful that whoever designed it had the common sense of putting space for a nice cushy cushion. He leaned against it and the comfort and the strain gently lulled him to sleep—
"Thorin!"
-which didn't last very long as he was jerked awake by the frantic voice of Balin who had barged into his room.
Thorin, seemingly perplexed at Balin's uncharacteristic behaviour, sat up and quirked a brow the other.
"Thorin, where have you been? I feared the worst and was about to send a search party!"
"I am fine, Balin. There is no need for worry." He tried soothing the other but Balin was too frantic to care.
"But of course I must worry! You set out in the morning and now look at the hour and the day! It is nearly dawn, two days after you set out. What on Valinor happened to you?"
Thorin opened his mouth to reply but he paused just before doing so. He didn't know whether it'd be right to tell Balin the whole account at that very moment, although it was justifiable and expected that it be done so.
However, the magnitude of the whole situation let him give in and re-enact the day's events to the elder dwarf whose eyes— with each and every word uttered— widened till they became as large as an orc's shield.
"WHAT?!" Balin's shriek made Thorin wince. "W-what were you doing in Mirkwood in the first place? You were supposed to turn the other way! By Aule, Rivendel is to the right, Thorin. To the right!"
At that, a slight reddish tinge crossed Thorin's cheeks. There were some things that he couldn't answer and then there were some which he chose not to answer. This—however—was one of those things which he couldn't answer and so he chose not to answer.
Balin seemed to understand that as he shook his head and blinked quite a few times while grasping a more unanswerable point of the whole ordeal.
"What was his response?"
"He refused it." Thorin stated flatly.
"Thorin Oakenshield, are you out of your mind? You— you demanded Thranduil to marry you? Thranduil?"
Thorin pondered a while before shrugging, "Basically."
"You hate him!"
"Obviously."
"He hates you!"
"Nephariously."
"So then why? What were you thinking? Why didn't you just accept his offer?"
"Because!" Thorin finally snapped, fed up with all the panic stricken questioning. He growled as he did, his anger towards the elf king resurfacing while the account of him turning his back flashed in his mind. "I don't trust that elf. I don't trust him to keep his word. He stood there just watching, Balin. He just stood there watching as my people fell, my kingdom burned and he turned his BACK! He turned his back on us!"
"But Thorin, I'm sure he had his reason. No, no. Listen to me. I know how devastating it was but we do not know what explanation he has on his part. And he did aid us afterwards, did he not?" Balin reasoned quietening his tone as the other began to get agitated.
Thorin looked away, heaving a few times before he calmed down once again. Balin still waited for him to respond. The elder dwarf was very patient and Thorin really respected him for the logic the dwarf kept in him.
"He came in action only when the people of Laketown were in danger. He came to Bard's assistance, Balin. Not ours."
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Balin stroking his beard thoughtfully. "But he offered us help before, did he not?"
"In exchange for white gems!"
"Still he offered help which you refused."
At that, Thorin drew his breath in while his eyes narrowed slightly. That escaped his mind!
Balin wasn't done. He approached the king and pressed on with a disapproving voice, "You thought him succumbing to your eccentric demand would land you with great power? You thought you could be satisfied by having control over him?"
"Yes. Yes I did," came the other's stubborn response. "A prude like him would never acknowledge others' greatness over his own. If by this method, I could impress upon him of him being not as great as he thought he was, if by so I would have the satisfaction of knowing that a prude has been brought back on ground, then YES. I shall do it again. Again and again AND AGAIN!"
"Listen to yourself talking!" Balin raised his voice, clearly not at all accustomed to what Thorin had to say. "Take my advice. There's still time. Take this condition off from the table. Make the alliance."
Thorin sneered, shaking his head. "No."
"Look at you! You are obsessed with him!"
"AM I?"
"WELL, ARE YOU?"
Throin stepped back with widened eyes, unable to contain another gasp that escaped his mouth. He frowned deeply, his eyes widening further as Balin's words pounded in his mind.
He was not obsessed with Thranduil. He could never be! He did not think so often about the haughty elf. It was because of the immense betrayal on the other's part that replayed in his mind. That conjured anger in him and that alone compelled his want of satisfaction over the other's defeat!
The haughty elf didn't invade his thoughts. His eerie and ethereal silhouette crossed his mind only when that moment replayed repeatedly in his head. The image of Thranduil turning his back on him.
He was not obsessed. He was betrayed.
Soon his shock wore off as his expressions hardened once more. He turned towards the other and said in an uncanny whisper, "It was still unpardonable."
"Thorin."
"The proposal stands. If he wants my help, he'll make himself my asset and I shall provide my alliance."
He eyed the elder for some time with imminent focus and stubbornness. Balin looked disdainful. He shook his head slowly and let out a sigh.
"Of all the qualities you have Thorin," he stated in a hushed and disappointed voice, "Your pride is one that can make you great and it will be your downfall. Here, I see no escalation, Lad."
With that, he slowly walked out of the room, leaving Thorin Oakenshield to ponder and seek revelation.
Legolas moaned as he staggered into the palace. He was beaten and bruised badly and was in excruciating pain as his left thigh throbbed. He disobeyed his father's orders and had headed for the southern territory, where the spiders lurked.
He didn't need Oakenshield's men to fight off the ghastly beasts. He didn't care for the number. He cared for his father. His father's pride. So he ventured alone, his bow and arrow and twin blades in place, he ventured alone.
Battle ensued. Some spiders were killed easily by swift aim of his arrows. Some put up a fight but the nimble elf had no problem slashing them with his blades. He leapt from tree to tree, soaring over the spiders, swooning in from under them—stabling, piercing, slashing them apart one by one. He was faring quite well. He hadn't broken a sweat.
He was enough. His father wouldn't have to go through that embarrassing ordeal just to keep their forest safe from these abominations.
The battle ensued and luck was in Legolas' favour. He eyed the ruin and felt satisfied when no spider sprang back up. However, in that moment he had let his guard down. One of the dastardly beasts ambushed him from behind and raised its venomous fangs. Thankfully, his sharp ears were able to pick up the quietest of scuffling sounds coming from the beast's legs and was able to get away from its way. He saved himself from being devoured by it but he wasn't too lucky.
For even though he had leapt out of the way, the spider struck down and one of its fangs slashed against Legolas' thigh, injecting it with small amount of potent venom.
Legolas was able to draw his blades and stab it at the side of its head, killing it instantly. He dropped on to a branch, then another and another, finally reaching the ground with a huge 'thud'. He was badly injured.
Though, he finished them off. Each and every one of them. Had there been more, he would finish them off too.
He was enough.
Thranduil was in his chambers resting when Galion had burst in.
"My Lord," he sounded extremely frantic, "The prince...he- he's hurt."
Doors flew open and Thranduil strode off towards Legolas' room. Galion was heard saying something about venom but Thranduil's ears registered none of it. His heart sunk and his mind was spinning completely out of his control.
He barely registered what Galion had to say. Words floated around Thranduil's ears but not in them. From what he had gathered, Legolas completely misinterpreted the situation! He thought Thranduil asked Thorin's help to fight off petty spiders. He didn't understand the essence of what Thranduil truly dreaded!
A gathering of all the dark forces. A total carnage!
Elbereth Legolas! What have you done?
He rushed towards his son, ignoring the healer calling him. His son was hurt...he was poisoned. His son...he lay there unconscious. So frail...so much in pain!
Thranduil was scared.
He slumped down beside his son, gently stroking his elfling's cheek. His head bowed and eyes closed as he dared not look at his boy for fear of not handling the scene that he'd see.
"My lord."
He heard Galion calling him. He didn't want petty assurances. He wanted Legolas healed and safe.
"Galion." He whispered in a trembling voice. "Send the messenger. Send him to Erebor."
And for that, he'd do anything.
"Tell him...I accept."
AN: Well, now you know why Thorin was in Mirkwood. Him and his awesome sense of direction! Somebody should really invent a compass for him. ^^; And hopefully, this explain a little bit about Thranduil's decision and Legolas' reaction. If not, feel free to ask me! I know this sounds confusing at times. Please review. :)