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Fear is prudence
A/N: Forgive the small -by my standards- chapter, but this was part of a bigger one that became so huge it would difficult to follow if I posted it as one.
Rhiannon searched around her for the leaves that Eilin wanted feeling mildly troubled. She said they were near the training grounds and Rhiannon had been out there gathering for a long time. She had managed to find several bunches, but she didn't know if they were the correct ones. Eilin mentioned to Rhiannon tersely that these herbs were Thorin's favorite for a tea, so she had to be careful to pick up the best ones. The austerity the Queen used in order to speak about those herbs to Rhiannon, made the maiden recognize that her best friend was putting too much effort in something that seemed so trivial. She was making an extra attempt to please her husband for some reason.
The Queen may have not expressed her troubles with words, but Rhiannon knew her better than her own self. They grew up together like sisters. It wasn't difficult to understand that something was going on with Eilin's marriage. She had witnessed Eilin going through another troubled period when she thought the King didn't want any more children, but that ended up relatively painless with the birth of Thrárin which made the King happier than he had ever been.
Whatever was bothering the King and the Queen now though was not so subliminal. Eilin carried on her countenance a leaden concern that was painful for Rhiannon to witness. The maiden always asked if everything was okay whenever she saw Eilin coming out of the Royal chambers with bloodshot eyes and pouting lips. Eilin labeled every argument with her husband as nothing more than expected differences about the children. Nevertheless Rhiannon knew that something was amiss.
The morning she attempted to question the King at the kitchens, she had done so on purpose. She wanted to acquire information that would calm down Eilin who had been rather annoyed about her husband missing all night long. Rhiannon tried to figure out what the King had been up to just to quiet down the Queen's suspicions. Unfortunately she didn't do a very good job, because the King scolded her out of his sight. Nevertheless she related to Eilin everything Thorin told her, along with the promise to tell her everything she noticed about the King whenever she got the chance. Eilin's response was a tight hug and the words. "Thank you sister. I am counting on you." So Rhiannon became the Queen's unofficial spy and she was damned proud of the trust Eilin was showing in her, but that didn't eradicate her main responsibility, which was to serve the Royals.
So today she wanted to make Eilin happy by managing to bring back the King's favorite tea leaves. Just as she was searching the forest bed with intense concentration some movement at the clearing drew her attention. It took her several moments to recognize Brunar's mom in the middle of the training grounds, playing around with a huge sword. A wide smile appeared on her lips, she raised her hand and called out. "Good afternoon my Lady!"
The lady tucked some long sweaty tendrils away from her face and turned around. She squinted against the setting sun whose rays were passing through the trees. "Oh, hello there…" She said.
Rhiannon walked in front of the blinding rays allowing Íth to see her face clearly. "Am I bothering you my Lady?" She curtsied.
Íth lowered her weapon and smiled. "No, not at all. I am just a little bit surprised. I thought I was alone."
Rhiannon lifted her basket. "I was just gathering some tea leaves for the Queen. They are in abundance here."
Íth pressed her lips. "I was… training…well at least somewhat." She sounded mildly apologetic.
Rhiannon raised her brows. "Don't worry I am not going to remain long. I just saw you from afar and wanted to say hi."
The corners of Ith's lips up-tilted. "I am alright, thank you for taking an interest in me dear girl…."
Rhiannon curtsied again.
Íth licked her upper lip and took a step closer. "Uhm did you by any chance see Brunar?"
Rhiannon smiled broadly. "Sure, he was still with the Queen and the children by the river."
Ith's eyelids fluttered. "He didn't ask for me at all then?"
"No, he seemed very happy and content where he was." Rhiannon rejoined.
Íth nodded softly. "You cannot imagine how relieved I am to hear that."
Rhiannon gazed at her curiously. "You are not used leaving him with other people, are you?"
Íth inhaled deeply. "Never."
"Well, he is doing fine without his mommy! Don't worry!" Rhiannon grinned.
Ith's lips turned down and her face filled with dissapointment.
Rhiannon reached out and cupped her shoulder. "That wasn't agreeable to you."
Íth raised her eyes at the very perceptive maiden and shook her head. "No."
Rhiannon smiled proudly. "All mothers are the same. They cannot wait for their children to become more independent but when they do, they don't like it. The Queen is not much different from you although she sometimes tries to act above it all, especially with Prince Durin."
Ith's lips ghosted a smile. "I can understand her…" –she stopped and looked at the ground. Then she reached out and clasped Rhiannon's hand- "Can I ask you a favor?"
Rhiannon reciprocated the touch. "Sure, anything."
Ith's eyes filled with dread. "Can you please keep him away from the waters? He doesn't know how to swim well and I know the Queen's children are adept swimmers…he might want to mimic them. I have already informed the Queen, just…please…keep an eye too. The more the people know the safer he is, right?"
Rhiannon pressed her hand. "Don't worry, the Queen is a mother of three. She knows what she is doing and besides she's barely alone. Princess Dis and Lady Valdis are constantly with her. So Brunar has many people to look after him. Me too now that I know! I will keep an extra eye on him."
Ith's sigh was full of relief. "Thank you, it means a lot."
Rhiannon smiled musingly. Then she looked at the tall trees. "Listen it won't take long for the sun to set. You sure you don't want to come back with me? You are all alone out here."
Íth pulled back and raised her sword. "No, really I am fine. I need to do this…alone…with no spectators. I am not afraid of the dark and I have a good horse with me. Go to my boy please, look after him and tell him I won't be long."
"Are you sure you are going to be okay here my Lady?" Rhiannon insisted.
Íth brandished her sword. "I am quite certain." She sounded determined and the fear Rhiannon noticed in her voice when she spoke about her son, was nowhere to be seen when she spoke about herself.
Rhiannon's mouth formed a small smile. "I'd better be going then. The Queen and the children must be waiting for me to return."
Ith's face softened. "You are a very good maiden Rhiannon."
The girl curtsied. "I am not just a maiden for the Queen. I am her sister…"
Ith's brows furrowed in confusion, but she remained silent.
Rhiannon smiled kindheartedly. "Good afternoon my Lady."
Ith's mouth cracked a ghostly smile. "Take care…"
Rhiannon left the dwarrowdam behind and sauntered up to the path that led to the high road in good spirits. Just as she was turning the bend she saw a patch of leaves that drew her attention near the base of a tree. She smiled brightly and went close to them. "Hey. Eilin would love these too…" She muttered and began pulling them from the roots in order to preserve and plant them in a pot later. She didn't even know how long she remained there plucking out herbs, but when she heard the unmistakable sound of horse hooves she frowned and looked above her shoulder.
There between the thick tree barks she saw a black steed and a brown thoroughbred stopping at the borders of the clearing. Lady Íth didn't seem to have noticed them as she was too concentrated at her training. Rhiannon's eyes shadowed suspiciously when she saw the King accompanied by the newly arrived Ranger standing there discussing, seemingly oblivious of Lady Íth. When the Ranger bowed to the King and set his horse in a trot leaving the King alone, Rhiannon frowned feeling even more concerned. When she saw the King's horse approaching the dwarrowdam, Rhiannon's stomach twisted uncomfortably and her brow arched. She stooped at the base of the tree not intending to miss a single thing from what she was seeing, despite the fact that she was too far away to hear what was being said between the King and Lady Íth.
Thorin leaned his elbows on the saddle and held the reins loosely between his fingers as his eyes scrutinized Lady Ith's attempts against her invisible enemy. As he counted her attacks, her parries and her counter attacks and while he judged with the most critical eye the steadiness of her legs but above all the confidence of her sword hand, the whispers he had head back in Dol Guldur lingered at the edge of his reality. They were a shadowy nothingness, that was barely heard and hardly understood…but the tone of that otherworldly voice was too vivid still. If he allowed his eyes to drift from the sword in the lady's hand and closed his eyes then this dark voice threatened to return and destroy his sanity. He closed his eyes and shook his head angrily. He didn't want the words he heard revisiting him now…he didn't want them revisiting him ever.
Durin told me he hears whispers…maybe you should ask him as this thing seems to run on your side of the family….
What kind of voices did his son hear? Were they a figment of his imagination or reality? Did Thorin even know how to discern what was real for himself and for his son? He was not so sure after what happened today in Dol Guldur. Did he truly hear Black Speech? If he did, the meaning of those words was utterly terrifying and he dreaded what they could be predicting for the future.
Maybe returning to the place that claimed your father…to the very place that almost claimed you, had been a bad idea...His mind reminded him.
Did Durin hear the same whispers when he came close to the Bald Hill? Was there even a remote chance his boy heard Black Speech also? Thorin could repeat the words he heard to Durin and observe his reaction to them, but he didn't want to taint Erebor and above all his boy's ears with that accursed filth. He didn't want his children to be in Mirkwood without escort, never mind approaching Dol Guldur as much as Durin did when the Ranger found them. Finding that Petty Dwarf that Thrárin had been trying to feed became a secondary concern in Thorin's mind. Whoever that man was –if he even existed- he certainly was less important than keeping his children away from the Hills of Dark Sorcery. He thought Thranduil and he had cleaned up the place well ten years ago, but was that true? Would it ever be possible to counter the dark magic that hid behind the veil? Not even the Lady of Light was able to see beyond it unless she ventured in. Who knew what was going on hidden inside the emptiness of these ruins? Not unless they demolished it to the ground would they ever be able to counter its malevolence sufficiently. He had discussed this plan with Thranduil several times and the Elven King insisted that even if they pulverized it to the last stone, the lands were saturated with a darkness that could return there whenever the Necromancer wished. It was his foothold between the North and the South and especially now that the Northern alliance had become so strong and overwhelming, he wouldn't allow this place to be overtaken by the forces of the light easily.
Knowing that the Necromancer had been actively trying to kill him for many years didn't settle down Thorin's concerns. The shadows didn't want Durin's heir alive….so they most certainly didn't want Durin the Deathless alive either. The birth of Durin the Seventh must have become a thorn at the side of the Eastern Darkness and Thorin was always vigilant of his children's safety. He was well aware the evil of this world would try to get rhem in some manner…especially Durin.
He never shared those fears with Eilin, because he didn't want her to raise their children under a shroud of terror. He didn't wish for his wife to live in constant fear. Nevertheless for him it was different. Even though he felt safe enough under the protection of Erebor's formidable army, the Mirkwood shield around them and his alliances with Dale, Rohan and the Northmen, he was still keeping a tireless eye over his children at all times.
Whenever they left Erebor without escort, his heart died a little and got revived only when he saw them return unharmed. However he didn't want to imprison them under the hawk eyes of the soldiers. His fears about the safety of Durin and his siblings had been shared with the Seven and special orders had been given to the Royal guards. Despite all that his formidable older son had managed to get away from everyone the other day, dragging along Thrárin with him.
That wouldn't have mattered much to Thorin as the boys didn't get out of Erebor's protection, but the fact that Durin started hearing whispers coincided too much for comfort with his visit in Dol Guldur. The moment Thorin heard –or thought he heard- whispering also when he approached those damned ruins, his suspicions became even more acute and the fear in his heart painfully icy.
Just because his kingdom was not actively engaged in war and just because his rule of the North was unconditional and prevailing, didn't mean the darkness wouldn't try to hurt him in some manner. What was the best way to destroy the King of the North and secure that his mighty heir wouldn't attempt to reclaim the Dwarrowdelf?
A strong shudder cascaded down Thorin's back and his brows knitted resolutely. He had to keep Durin away from Dol Guldur at all costs. "Keep your arm steady and your legs further apart." His mouth offered the advice without his mind being fully behind it as it was occupied with the apprehensive thoughts about the safety of his oldest son at that moment.
Lady Íth cried, took a sharp turn, lost her footing and fell down with a groan of pain.
Thorin cringed regretfully. "Damn…" He said and alighted quickly. He walked over and offered his hand.
She looked up panting without making an attempt to take it. "I almost died of fear…" Her voice was clearly accusing.
Thorin's face assumed an honestly apologetic smile. "Really I am sorry. I didn't even mean to interrupt you. My mouth decided for me." -He shrugged and kept his outstretched arm as a peace offering. She inhaled deeply and grasped it. He pulled her up and then quickly drew back to a more appropriate distance- "I thought you heard the horse." He added with a regretful tone.
Íth smiled uncomfortably and wiped the molded leaves away from her breeches. "I didn't my Lord. Forgive my biting manners, but you just took me by surprise. I chose this place in order to be alone and I was anything but that today."
Thorin pressed his lips and looked around them. "Well, these are the Royal training grounds so you made a good choice for isolation, nevertheless they are not private. Anyone can pass through at any time. I am sorry I scared you."
Íth cleared several long blonde tendrils away from her cheeks. "I cannot accuse you for riding through your lands, my Lord. Don't apologize."
Thorin crossed his palms quietly and looked at the forest. "I should have kept my mouth shut at least. You seemed deeply concentrated at your task, but unfortunately the swordsman in me couldn't keep silent."
Íth closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "I was so ghastly that you had to correct me, right?"
Thorin's head tilted slightly. "I wouldn't call your performance ghastly….."
Íth raised her hand. "Don't try to be nice to me. I haven't trained for years. I am appalling and that was the main reason I chose to hide away in order to try this. I didn't want anyone to see me and I ended up performing for the best swordsman in the land...Ha!" She harked.
Thorin's lips curled up. "I don't think I hold such a formidable title."
Íth shook her head. "Don't fish for compliments. Everyone knows you are prevailing over everyone and that means I am dreadfully humiliated right now."
Thorin looked at his hands and smirked. "I never meant to become an unwilling witness to your first attempts in sword training again and make you feel bad. Forgive me."
Íth inhaled deeply and scrounged her lips. It took her several moments to speak. "You are forgiven!" Her tone was teasing.
He smiled. "Well thank you. That is a relief."
A few more silent moments before Íth continued. "So tell me…." She lingered, waiting for him to take over.
Thorin frowned. "Tell you what?"
Íth waved her hand in the air. "How terrible I was…."
Thorin raised his brows. "I wouldn't call you terrible, but I did notice a few things that need improvement."
Íth leaned down and picked up her sword. "A few…" –She snorted- "You are attempting to be polite with me again. I'd appreciate the truth."
Thorin crossed his arms and sighed.
She pointed at his body posture. "And you are also becoming defensive, which means what I said was pretty close to the truth..."
Thorin raised his brow. "Don't start with that again."
She gazed at him for several moments and then chuckled. "Is it annoying as hell?"
Thorin nodded quickly. "More than."
She pointed at him. "See? That is what my husband used to tell me."
Thorin smirked. "Cannot blame him."
Ith's shoulders slouched. "You are right. I will stop immediately. Besides I don't want to scare you into closing up tight. I want you to express yourself freely so I can interpret what you are wordlessly relating to me…"
He exhaled calmly. "I don't have anything to hide from anybody. Ask and I shall answer. You don't have to map out my body every time we talk. Besides who told you I cannot assume a body posture just to fool you?"
The Dwarrowdam raised her brows. "I thought you knew nothing about these things."
Thorin shook his head. "I don't, but I am very quick to learn. Picked up a few things already from you, so be careful not to give out all your tricks on a silver platter if you want to have an upper hand with this ability of yours. Besides as a King I am supposed to be engaging in politics and diplomacy, so I have to own some general idea of how to interpret someone's silent signals…generally speaking." He shrugged indifferently.
She smiled and rubbed her forehead. "Fine. I admit defeat my Lord…"
"Forget defeat and let us do a deal. You stop scrutinizing my postures and I will stop taking them on purpose just to see how good you are with them." Thorin added cleverly.
Íth looked at him sharply. "Did you try to test me?"
He tilted his head. "Yes."
The Lady sheathed her sword. "Never saw that coming."
The King smiled silently.
She looked at him amused. "So, what was the result of that test?"
"You have an acute ability to understand the moods of your interlocutor, which makes them feel uneasy at times and you desperately need to stop showing off." Thorin raised his brow calculatedly.
Íth smirked and crossed her arms. She looked at her boots. "Oh, that hurt a bit."
He placed his hands on his wide belt and looked at the tree tops that were moving slightly with the soft breeze. "Good, now you might stop with all this."
She snorted. "Damn, I must have annoyed you really bad."
Thorin's face mellowed. "You really haven't. I am just making some friendly observations."
Íth lifted her arms in the air in a signal of surrender. "My Lord and King, I will never try to act like a wise-ass with you ever again. Although I have to admit that all this began that evening at the staircase when I used it to make you smile a little bit. So originally it was for a good cause."
Thorin smiled quietly. "I remember. I was feeling rather dreadful that day."
Ith's arms fell defeated on her sides and her smile melted in a solemn gaze that engaged his. "You were a very concerned father. What can be sweeter than that? As a mother I empathized with you deeply."
"Well, thank you for doing so." Thorin tilted his head.
Ith's lips curled up amiably. "And thank you for helping me that day when Prince Thrárin tackled my son to the ground."
Thorin's brows came together as he pretended to recollect. "Oh, you mean the day your son beat the reason out of mine?"
She smiled remorsefully and gave him a quick nod. "Yes…"
"You helped me and I reciprocated. Now we are even." Thorin rejoined quietly.
The lady's fingers twisted around each other and she took several moments to speak again. "Not even per-se."
Thorin frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Now I owe you. You did more than simply help me overcome the fear for my son's safety the other day. You forced me to come out here today in order to train and that is a major step for me."
Thorin pulled back with a deep scowl. "How do you mean?"
Íth pointed behind her at the path that led out of the training grounds. "The day our kids fought playfully, you made me realize that I have to do the best I can to allow my boy to blossom and not suffocate him like I always did after his poor father died. I kept him under my wings all the time, allowing nothing to happen to him, because I fear losing him too. Do you understand?"
Thorin looked at his heavy boots and gave her a solemn nod. "More than you can imagine…" How many fears had taken over his reason for the safety of Durin all these years…How many times had he imagined -death contracts- on his son's head being signed every single day? How he wished wholeheartedly to keep him locked in the safest dungeon of Erebor until he came of age and then release him. But whom would take over the Throne of the North then? A man-child that hadn't been tested, that hadn't felt pain and dissapointment. A man-child that hadn't been allowed to grow up, to be hurt and to carry out trials against the roughness of the world. Someone who would have been denied the opportunity to fail repeatedly and grow stronger until he could become victorious against adversities. Oh, he understood only too well what this mother here was telling him. Much better than Eilin would ever understand and that was because he never allowed his wife to experience the fear that his heart was going through day after day. The fear this lady here shared with him against all odds.
"Did you hear me?" Íth frowned.
He shook his head, trying to clear it from all the consuming thoughts. "I…am sorry. I got lost for a moment. What did you tell me?"
She pulled back and crossed her hands. A serene smile appeared on her lips and she looked at him sweetly. "I was saying that your astute guidance persuaded me to allow Brunar some freedom to test himself and get hurt. But also it influenced me to pick up the sword again. I need to remember how to be fearless in order to make him fearless too."
He pinched his nose. "You are doing very well. I suppose this leap of faith needs a lot of mettle."
Her countenance filled with remorse. "It is certainly not easy, but I have to recover in order to allow Brunar to improve."
"Very prudent choices." Thorin nodded gently.
Íth heaved a sigh. "I made a mistake, which you made me recognize. I just hope I am not too late to change things."
Thorin's countenance filled with kindness. "He is young yet. He can be molded easily. Didn't you notice how quickly he changed the game with Thrárin?"
She nodded excitedly. "That is what prompted me to start this senseless endeavor, my Lord."
His features filled with serenity. "It is not senseless. You should try your hand with swords again first for your own benefit and then for your son."
Íth smiled enthusiastically. "If I can remember how to do it properly then maybe I can train my son too, right?"
"You don't trust your uncle Durar to do the job for you? He is one of my best commanders. Few will be better to train Brunar than him." Thorin raised his brow.
The lady pulled back and looked at her hands for several speechless moments. "I know he will take over eventually, but this is a trial I have to put myself through first and foremost. If I cannot get over this fear, how can I ever allow my boy to do so?"
Thorin's eyes fell on her deliberately for several moments, before glimmering with well-hidden admiration. "I understand my Lady and I respect your efforts to the utmost."
Íth rubbed her forehead. "My silly efforts you mean that need a lot of improvement, even though you were too kind and too discreet to tell me so before."
The King chuckled. "Well, truth is you could benefit from a tutor yourself."
She looked up at him sadly and it took her a few moments to express her thoughts. "I never had one after my husband. He always trained with me."
Thorin looked at her abruptly and his demeanor closed up. The thought of Eilin's beautiful face came to haunt him and he felt his heart twitching painfully. The past rolled like the heaviest boulder to bury him under its immense weight. He inhaled deeply and tried to stop himself from tearing up. "Did you end marrying the one who trained you in the art of war also?" The bitterness was ever so slightly discernible in his voice.
Ith's lips parted. "Yes. You and the Queen too?"
A miserable smile spread on his lips. "Yes."
"That is so sweet my Lord."
He huffed. "I suppose training and romance carry between them a mysterious bond that my mind cannot comprehend."
She laughed and nodded. "I think so too my Lord."
Thorin remained silent and his demeanor fell at the memories this conversation awoke in him. That first archery lesson with Eilin, which led them to these very same training grounds. Then their first kiss and the first skirting of their hearts. How he missed those early days now that everything felt so overpowering. He turned around trying to locate the tree she had pushed him on when she gave him that kiss. A first touch that should have been bashful and reluctant, but ended up becoming furious and all-consuming, much like their whole relationship was after that.
Ith's gentle voice intruded his senses once more. "So then I suppose asking you for some tutoring would be imprudent my Lord, correct?"
Thorin tried to clear his mind and looked at her with a frown. "Come again?"
"Because of that mysterious bond between romance and training?" Ith's brows rose and a playful smile formed on her lips.
Thorin resolved to partially confused silence and a blunt expression.
Íth drew back and blushed. "That was an attempt at a joke Sir, which apparently didn't echo nicely with you. I am sorry."
Thorin exhaled in relief and his lips ghosted a smile. "Don't worry, I seem to be out of sorts today. It is not your attempts for a pleasant conversation that are failing. It is my weird mood."
She nodded. "So you are not available for sword training then?"
Thorin looked at her deeply.
She raised her hand. "Without any inappropriate jokes. Just asking as a friend."
Thorin drew back and his hand touched his forehead that was beginning to form a throbbing pain. "I fear that would be rather impossible my Lady…forgive me."
The lady cringed and looked away visibly embarrassed. "I have to apologize for offending you. I didn't mean to sound insolent."
Thorin closed his eyes and felt the traces of those terrifying whispers edging his thoughts, teasing him once more. Why did they appear again out of bloody nowhere? He forced himself to reply. "You didn't offend me, truly. Listen, I am torn between my family and ruling the North. My time is rather limited. You should really ask Durar for help. He is the best man for the job, I assure you of that." His voice sounded diminished.
Íth heard the change in his voice and her eyed narrowed. "I will my Lord, but…are you alright? You seem rather pale all of a sudden."
He raised his hand and shook his head. "Yes, perfectly fine." He hurried through.
She took a few steps and grasped his bicep. "You don't seem all that well …" She repeated genially concerned.
He heard her voice coming from afar this time…muted and muffled. A sharp pain tore his head in two and he frowned as a sudden bout of dizziness swept him off his balance. He took a deep breath and grabbed the saddle for support. He observed the forest that surrounded them with a foggy stare. The whispers were too far away too be heard, too obscure to really exist, yet for some reason he knew they were still there. Just waiting to bust through the doors of his consciousness and become a scream that would be loud enough to make his ears bleed. He felt her firm fingers circling around his arm, trying to keep him grounded.
"Hey...can you hear me?" She asked.
"My head is rather heavy, that's all. I didn't sleep well last night." He tried to sound convincing.
Ith's worried eyes remained on his face. "Do you want me to help you?"
He patted her hand gently. "No, thank you" -He pulled himself on the horse and took hold of the reins- "I really must return to Erebor. You want me to accompany you? There are places there you can train in privacy. Don't ride so far out alone."
She looked around her and crossed her arms. "But this place is under the protection of Erebor and Mirkwood, isn't it my Lord?"
Thorin looked at the forest and felt like a complete fool. The sudden wave of fear that had overtaken him and the dizziness seemed to be slowly fading away, allowing him to see things again more clearly.
Fear is prudence in the face of danger….The voice of his father reminded him.
He swallowed heavily and looked at her. "Indeed it is…" –He humphed, trying to laugh away the confusion in his mind- "I must sound completely crazy to you right now. I am sorry. I don't know what came over me. Of course it is safe to remain here and train for as long as you wish." He tried to force himself out of that weird mood that took over him after his visit at Dol Guldur. This lady was not in any danger. This place was part of his kingdom. His troops were keeping his lands secure. He'd do well to pull himself together and stop scaring his court like that.
Íth smiled restlessly. "Are you sure everything is fine? It seems like something has overtaken you all of a sudden."
Thorin nodded quickly. "Yes, all is well and I know I will sound ill-mannered right now, but I have to go."
"Will you please forgive me for making you feel uncomfortable a few moments ago?" Ith's face was crimson from shame.
His eyelids fluttered in confusion. "About what?" He felt honesty bewildered.
She nibbled her bottom lip. "About asking your assistance with sword training."
Thorin closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. "Of course you didn't offend me." -He still felt partially disordered and out of place somehow. What the hell had come over him all of a sudden? This woman's words just happened to innocently remind him of those beloved early days with Eilin. Then all of a sudden a wave of terror gripped his guts and drenched him in its totality and these whispers returned with the ultimate threat to overthrow him. Maybe he just needed some rest plain and simple- "Do you wish me to accompany you back?" He choked the smile out of him.
Íth shook her head nervously. "I was hoping to train a while longer if you don't mind…"
His lips were smiling, but there was darkness in his eyes. "Stay here and do so then. You are perfectly safe."
She gave him a hesitant smile. "Thank you for stopping by."
The King inclined his head inattentively. "Good evening."
Íth curtsied deeply. "Good evening your Majesty." She whispered and looked at him disconcert as he set his horse in a fast trot that ended up to a full blown gallop when he left the path that led to the High Road of Erebor.
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