Sorry this took so long.

Took last week off and then this week I've had tests and haven't really been home to do anything.

This one is short, sorry, but I got tired of Sidney bothering me (3) so I just uploaded what I've been able to do...

Another will be up this weekend... I promise!

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT WISHED ME A FUN SAFE TRIP! AND FOR THOSE WHO REVIEWED AND SENT ME PM'S!


Chapter 9: Âzyung?


Ahvain awoke with a started, but was confused at why Thorin was in her room and shaking her from sleep.

"They have returned, Kars has spotted them gathering in his field. Grab your bow and sword." Thorin's face was held in a grim expression, the worry for the woman evident in his eyes.

"But…"

"We haven't the time for anything else Ahvain, they could be any minute, and Durin be damned if anything happens to you again." He pulled her from her bed and to her feet. "Hurry!"

The fact that she was in her night clothes hadn't crossed her mind. If Ahvain was going to leave this place, her home, behind, she was not going to leave without a few items.

Thorin had followed her out of the room; Ahvain stopped at the room formally occupied by her parents, it was still unlocked from Thorin's naked escapade (if the situation wasn't as dire as it was she would have laughed at the thought). Once inside, she went to a large trunk and jerked open the lid and threw out all the clothing and pulled out a long rectangular case.

"What are you doing?" Thorin hissed urgently.

"Leaving, what does it look like?" Ahvain turned and jogged from the room and into Thorin's.

Said dwarf let out a long breath, trying to keep the panic away. The limp in Ahvain's gait did nothing to help. She was still in pain and it showed.

The wolfhound was standing guard at the beginning of the hall, pacing back and forth, waiting for something to happen.

Ahvain burst from his room, familiar twin blades crossing in a holder on her back.

"What'er yeh doin` just standing there? Let's go!" She was adjusting a strap that had been clipped onto the case as she briskly made her way over to the forge door (Thorin now following) and out to the stables.

Kars was there, just finished with saddling the ponies. "You must hurry, they will be here soon."

"Thank you Kars." Ahvain embraced the old man.

"Good luck Ahvain, be safe."

"Thank you. You should leave too; they will know you helped us."

He nodded and mounted his horse (he was nimble for an old man), "Good bye Ahvain, Thorin."

"Good bye" both said.

Ahvain turned towards the door and let out a short whistle. "Sie"

The huge hound bounded from the home and stood in front of the half-elf. Thorin got up onto his pony, Ahvain followed suit and nodded for him to lead the way. He didn't need to be told twice.

Two ponies and a grey dog ran down the road, through the town, and out into the wilderness on the other side. Once completely out of the town Ahvain turned to see a dark cloud of smoke raise into the pink morning sky.

~karak~

They kept at a trot for another few hours before they took a break.

Thorin brought the reigns over his mare's neck tied her to a tree branch next to a pond. Ahvain did much the same except she just let her horse roam. While the ponies drank (and the dog who had to catch up to them), Ahvain sat down at the base of a tree. Now that they were relatively safe, the reality that she'd been forced from her home by men who had earlier kept her prisoner, tortured and raped her, and who were now out to kill her, all hit her.

The dwarf king heard her gasp behind him and he turned to look at her. At first he thought she'd been injured somehow when they had escaped. She sat holding herself, rocking and taking deep breaths.

"Ahvain?"

She didn't respond.

In just a number of strides Thorin was by her side a hand on one shoulder trying to comfort her.

"Are you hurt?"

She shook her head 'no'.

"I… Everything I know is gone. My home… My life…" She spoke between sobs.

Thorin wasted no time. He pulled her against him holding her close as she cried. In the days since he had brought her home he had seen her cry more than he had ever wanted to have seen her do so; not that he wanted to ever see her cry.

"I'm sorry Ahvain."

He held her, whispering soothing words in her ear, switching from Common to Khuzdul, managing to keep the harsh tones of it calm and comforting.

When her breathing became more regular Thorin pushed her from him to examine her. Her eyes were red and puffy from her crying. Her hair disheveled from the events of the morning and the frantic ride out of town. Using the rough pads of his thumbs Thorin brushed away the tears still making their way down her face.

"No more tears, they do not suit you."

She took a deep breath, "What am I to do? I have nowhere to go."

Thorin brushed back a group of stray hairs that had fallen in front of her face, "You can stay at my home in the Blue Mountains until Erebor is reclaimed. My sister will look after you."

She shook her head, "I cannot do that. Your people will not be as accepting as you and I wouldn't want to burden your sister."

"Dis will be glad to have company; if the wizard is sure of this quest, as my heirs Fili and Kili will have to accompany me. She will become lonely."

"You don't understand." The half-elven maiden refused to meet the dwarf king's eyes.

The King in exile moved both his hands to the sides of her head, holding her gaze with his. "What don't I understand, Love?"

Ahvain's heart fluttered at the name; yes she knew his feelings from his confession yesterday. But with all of the commotion about Gandalf, Erebor and her finding out Thorin's lineage; The King under the Mountain expressing his feelings for her, a half-elven woman robbed of her purity, felt more of a dream than reality.

Pushing the feelings aside, not daring to look at him, she spoke.

"What if Dis hates me? What if she cannot overlook the elf in me? Thorin, you may have been able to see past my heritage, but others will not be inclined to do the same. They will outcast me or throw me out. I will not be welcome."

Fresh tears started to build up in her eyes. Thorin moved and pulled her to him so she could lean against his chest rather than the tree. He held her like this, arms wrapped around her comfortably, head resting on her shoulder.

"Don't think like that! My people will be told not to disrespect you; and Dis will happy enough that I'm courting someone she will-" Thorin was cut off

"I don't want them to be forced to like me! They will think I've bewitched you and…You'll leave for Erebor and… I just don't want to lose the only thing that really means anything to me…"

"What's that?"

.

.

"You."


Ehhh...?

Not much to it... sorry again

Happy Sidney?