From this point on, certain sections and chapters will switch from Eiranna's to Thorin's perspective. Here's hoping my writing is clear enough that you're able to make the distinction :)

Eiranna was sweeping up behind the bar, when Shanna approached her. "Your husband waits outside," she stated, holding out her hand to take the broom. Eiranna's head shot up in surprise, confusion upon her face. "My, uh, what?" Shanna motioned towards Thorin, who stood waiting outside the entrance of the Inn. Eiranna followed Shanna's gaze. She scoffed and shook her head, fiercely. "No, he is not my husband. I am unwed." "Really?" Shanna's eyebrows shot up, surprised. Leaning upon the broom she still held, Eiranna muttered, "Shanna, if I was married, I believe I would know." "I am surprised, is all. He is here nearly each evening you work. What other reason could he have for such behavior if you are not his mate?" the Innkeeper mused. "It is his nature," she offered, as she passed the broom she held into Shanna's hand.

"I have seen the way he looks at you, Eiranna," Shanna said. "A man does not demonstrate such behavior because it is his nature. Forgive me, but judging from the emotions etched upon your face this moment, I believe you feel far more for him than you are admitting to."

Eiranna gasped in shock at Shanna's words. "I do not appreciate the boldness of your tongue. I do not wish to discuss personal matters, particularly if there is nothing to discuss." She took a deep breathe to calm herself. Shanna was silent. "I overstepped my boundaries. I apologize. I will not mention it again." She paused before continuing. "Tomorrow, yes?" Eiranna met Shanna's eyes and offered her friend a small smile. "Of course."

Weeks passed and Eiranna continued to work in the Inn. This particularly night, the Inn was especially busy, almost full up. The tavern, itself, had almost reached its capacity of patrons leaving barely much room to even walk. Thorin sat, in what had become his regular spot, at one of the small tables by the tavern entrance. Eiranna had greeted him quickly, not having time for much more. She sped around the tavern as quick as she could, attempting to keep things as organized as possible, all the while counting the minutes before she could leave. It was nights such as these she disliked, when it grew rowdy and so noisy she could barely hear her own thoughts. On this particular evening, there was group of men who were being particularly rowdy. They sat in one of the corner tables, far from the entrance to the Inn, hidden from view from the entrance and main bar area. One man appeared to have a particular interest in Eiranna, and she could feel him leering at her wherever she walked. It was made worse when she needed to approach the men. She felt that man's eyes upon her and it made her skin crawl. Eiranna did her best to avoid the table altogether.

As Eiranna made her rounds, distracted as passed by their table, she felt a rough hand grasp her wrist and pull her backwards. The man who had leered at her earlier held her by the wrist, forcing her against him. "You are a pretty young thing. Surprising, for a Dwarf." Eiranna could smell the foulness of his breathe as he spoke. He brought a hand to her face and trailed a finger along her jaw to her chin. She turned her head away from his touch. In response, he grasped her hard by the chin and forced her face to his. "Please, Sir, leave me be," she pleaded softly, attempting not to anger him. "Do not speak any more. It will make this all the worse," he whispered into Eiranna's ear. His eyes scanned the surroundings around them. The table they were at was hidden from view of most other patrons. The fingers of the hand which still clasped her chin moved to the edge of her mouth and began to move over her lower lip. He brought his remaining hand to rest upon her thigh, just above her right knee, and began to push her dress aside as he ran his hand upward along the inner part of her leg. Eiranna squirmed in an attempt to pull away, but the man was far stronger than her. "No," she managed before the man's hand pressed upon her mouth. Amidst her panic, she thought heard what sounded like the scuffle of chair on floor. The man who held her was abruptly pulled backwards, freeing Eiranna from his grasp. She lost her footing and fell onto the floor. Wondering what had caused the man to fall from her as he did, Eiranna looked to find Thorin standing between herself and the man. She heard a growl rumble up from deep within his throat. "You would do well to keep your hands from where they do not belong," he hissed at the man.

Eiranna saw the man was now kneeling on the ground with blood upon his face and realized Thorin must have hit him. Her gaze moved to Thorin, studying him for injuries, but not seeing any. The man stood, and wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. "Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you, Dwarf," the man challenged, as he attempted to step around Thorin to get to Eiranna. She flinched and recoiled backwards as she saw him move towards her. Thorin matched the man's movements, keeping himself between him and Eiranna. The man stopped and regarded Thorin, curiously. "Ahh, does the Dwarf whore have a mate? Is that what this is? How sweet," he said, chuckling. Thorin's eyes narrowed into slits and he sneered at the man, before charging towards him. The man stumbled onto his knees. He struck his fist towards Thorin, and she gasped as it connected with Thorin's jaw. It did not appear to faze him much for Thorin suddenly had the man's head in his hands and she saw him thrust it down hard upon the brick floor. "Thorin!" Eiranna cried, as she struggled into a standing position. The remaining tavern patrons had heard the ruckus and had begun to crowd around the violent display. Erianna could hear Shanna's voice over the other voices, demanding to be let through. Thorin slammed the man's head into the floor, once more, and was readying himself to do it again as Eiranna reached him. She grabbed him by the elbow, and she could feel the tenseness of the muscles within his arm. "Thorin! Stop!" she shrieked, in near hysterics, pulling at his arm in an attempt to loosen his hold upon the man. Thorin started at her touch and turned to look at her. She was startled by the rage she saw within his eyes. Thorin shrugged her arm from his, a bit too roughly, for she stumbled backwards and collapsing onto the floor. Shanna, who had finally made her way through the crowd, has seen Eiranna fall and was kneeling at her side.

Thorin turned back to the man, who now lay crumpled upon the floor. "If I find you near her again, I will kill you," he warned, spitting on the man. He could make no reply other than to groan meekly. Thorin turned his focus to Eiranna, who, with Shanna's aid, had returned to standing. "Gather your things. We leave," he ordered. The shock of the events she had been involved in and witnessed had her frozen in place. She stood, stunned. "Now! I will not tell you again!" he roared at Eiranna, startling her out of her shocked state. The wildness and rage upon his face frightened her. She hurried off, slowing briefly to address the Innkeeper. "Please accept my apologies, Shanna," she managed to stammer, before Thorin took hold of her elbow and led her out of the Inn.

As Thorin and Eiranna exited the Inn, Eiranna twisted sharply away from him in an attempt to break his hold on her arm, but to no avail. Thorin held tight to her as they made their way through the city, though she continued to struggle occasionally. Her struggles against him ceased after a bit. He sensed she did not wish to call more attention to them than was there already. Thorin could feel the eyes upon them as they moved through the town, but made no mind. He only wanted out of this wretched place as quickly as possible. Thorin led Eiranna through the main entrance of the city and walked her a bit further before releasing his hold on her. She pulled away sharply from him and staggered blindly ahead for a few steps before collapsing to the ground.

Thorin kneeled beside Eiranna where she lay crumpled, and placed his hand on her back. She flinched and recoiled from his touch. On her face, he was dismayed, but not surprised, to see fear. He knew he had allowed his anger to overtake him at the Inn. Despite himself, he could feel the rage within him grow as each day passed. Thorin watched as Eiranna bowed her head to the ground and suddenly began to sob. She made wretchedly, loud sounds as she continued to cry, and it was as if Thorin had taken a knife to the gut. He wanted, desperately, to find some way to ease her sorrow, but he knew not what it could be. He brought his hand to rest, once more, on Eiranna's back. Her head shot up and she shoved his hand away. She remained on the ground, sucking in huge, gasping breathes of air, and staring off into the trees. Thorin stood awkwardly above her, unsure of what to do. Should he leave her be until she was ready to walk on her own, or should he force her onwards? It was already dark and unsafe to remain where they were. There had been talk of Orc attacks of late, and Thorin was not anxious to find out if the talk was, in fact, true. Eiranna offered the solution when she stood slowly and started to walk, shakily, towards the Dwarves' settlement. She did not look back to see if Thorin followed.