Chapter 8: One I could Follow - Balin

"I should have warned you, Wyenne. But I was not sure if you were still mad at me" said Bilbo, "Thorin is infamous for getting lost. You were gone most of the night, but at least you are back and in one piece."

"I heard that!" responded Thorin to Bilbo's statement, as he passed by our lot.

Bilbo froze, while I looked down with a hidden smirk, knowing better.
"It's ok, I needed out anyway. Thanks for your concern" I smiled at Bilbo, letting out a soft sigh.

My eyes followed Thorin until he sat on a boulder, away from the crowd on his usual habit of smoking his pipe. This time, I chose to share with the merrier dwarves, as advised by Thorin. Bofur noticed my gaze was lost in Thorin's direction. He waved one of his hands up and down in front of my face.

"Hey, are you with us?" He asked.
"Oh yes, I am here. Sorry, but I cannot help to notice our leader always seeks solitude as soon as we stop to rest" That was a nice save line.
"Yes, you are right! He always does that!" said Bilbo in agreement.
"That's because he is a bitter granny!" Exclaimed Kili, still upset at the quest for useless items the other day.
"Shhh, he could hear you!" Whispered Fili.
"But it's true. Don't you see he always reprimands us every time we try to have some fun?" Kili exhaled with exasperation.

Old Balin joined into the conversation, just seconds after...
"Bitterness has nothing to do with it, lads" he said, "He has more reasons than any of us to seek solitude. In fact, he rarely rests!"
"I often worry about that, he could get sick." I said with concern.

Old Balin smiled at me, reading more in my eyes than I cared to admit, "Wyenne, he is a leader at heart. The well being of those under him comes first. Sometimes even at his own expense. Granted, not always he will make the right decisions. But I can guarantee you he has the best interest at heart of those he rules."

"I have yet to see that!" said Kili imprudently, silenced by an elbow to the ribs from his brother. "OUCH!"

"Both you and your brother owe him your very existence, you shouldn't be so ungrateful. Back when we lost our home in Erebor, and our King in the battle of Moria, Thorin assumed the responsibility of those of us who survived. He was only a young Prince when all this burden was laid upon his shoulders alone. For months, we roamed without a path to follow, or a place to call home. And he leaded us safely to the blue mountains, where we settled down. That's where the two of you were born. Also, when you lost your father, Thorin assumed the role. He has helped your mother to raise the two of you, sacrificing with it his chance to make a family of his own. No one awaits him home, other than a widowed sister with a pair of ungrateful nephews. Shame on you both!"

Fili and Kili stared at each other with gloomy faces, lowering their heads in shame for even thinking ill of their uncle. The more Balin spoke, the more I admired Thorin. A radiant smile drew on my face, one I was unaware of. Again my eyes sought him, sitting at his boulder still with pipe in hand.

Old Balin kept going on, "He has no heirs of his own. Therefore, he expects any of you to succeed him at the moment of his passing. He needs to make sure both of you will be able to bear the load that has been his, up until this present day. I have been blessed to live and see him become the man I could proudly call King!"

As soon as old Balin pronounced those words, I connected the facts. Only then Thorin's deeply engraved sadness in his empty stare made sense to me. A feeling of longing and compassion grew in me, with an unbearable urge to embrace him tight. I sighed deeply again.

"Although, I must admit, I have never seen him in such great spirits before as he has been lately..." Said old Balin, while looking at me. As an old man that has lived enough to know better, my sighs and gaze did not escape him. I was dumbfounded at Balin's ability to read me.

"Bilbo, you should allow your girlfriend to get lost in the woods more often with our uncle. You will do us all a great favor!" said Fili, cackling with glee.
"Enough of that! Wyenne is not my girlfriend! Will you cut it, please?" said Bilbo irritated.
"Laddie, I highly doubt Bilbo is Wyenne's object of affection." said old Balin.
"He is right, it is me!" Responded Kili, while wrapping his arm around my shoulders, uninvited.

I removed his arm from me faster than a blink, feeling awkward and very uncomfortable, "Kili, do that once again and you will lose your jewels!" I said, glaring at him.
"Isn't she pretty when mad?" he said with an ear to ear mischievous grin.

Suddenly, the booming voice of Thorin from behind us startled us both...
"I think Wyenne said it's enough, Kili. Or do you want me to send you out to fetch me stones and pine cones again?"
"Um.. no. I was just being silly, that's all.." he responded, composing himself quickly.
"Good! Come with me Wyenne" said Thorin.

I followed him away from the crowd, far enough to loose them from sight, but not too far to get lost.
"You have made a point to rescue me from awkward situations" I said in jest.
"Not really. Let's say I take advantage of every given chance." Said Thorin, caressing my jawline gently with the back of his hand. Those intense eyes melted me... Not hard to imagine what happened next.

Through Balin's tale, I finally got to know the man behind the façade of bitterness, and it made me respect and love him more.