Forcing a smile back on her face, Mara completed that evening's duties with a heavy heart. Memories returned full force that night, even her meditation unable to keep them at bay as she wept silently into the dark. She recalled the faces of her family in horrific detail, no longer able to see them in any other way but the last time. She shuddered violently, rocking back and forth on the floor in front of the dying fire as images of blood and loss flooded her mind. Face after face went past in a kaleidoscope of ruin, everyone she had spent months burying, both physically and mentally. It was cold in the room, the embers of the fire shining on her tears as she fought to keep quiet the wracking sobs that wrenched their way out.
Thorin woke to a strange sound, the distant crying alerting him that something was not right in the house. He sat up weakly, feeling like he weighed a thousand pounds. Thinking one of his nephews was having a bad dream, he slowly eased his way out of bed, ignoring the shaking of his legs as he worked to get them placed on the floor. He was gasping by the time he got in the position to stand up, and knew instantly his legs would not hold. Grunting softly in annoyance, he let himself fall forward heavily, catching himself on his hands and crawling laboriously towards the open door. The sounds of distress continued, though now that he was at the hall he could tell they came not from the boys room but from the sitting area. Taking a moment to steady his breathing, he worked his way slowly down the hall. He felt his heart give a painful clench in his chest at the perplexing sight of Mara curled around herself in front of the dying flames, crying brokenly. The woman who had been nothing but cheerful even in the face of his horrible attitude, who had worked to comfort him, was now sobbing as if her world had fallen down around her. He found himself unable to reconcile the two images of her.
Dragging himself ponderously over the remaining distance, Thorin gathered the girl in his arms and leaned her against him. Her tears stilled, her head whipping around in surprise at the sudden warmth of a body pressed against her back and strong arms around her. Seeing Thorin, she gaped wetly, her eyes still haunted.
"You should be in bed," she protested softly. "Not bothering yourself over me. I'm f-fine," she stuttered, heaving a shaky breath.
"Shh sunshine," he muttered soothingly, using the nickname she had teasingly given him. She shuddered, her mouth quirking in a half smile for just a moment before she surrendered to his embrace. Thorin simply held her, keeping silent as she allowed herself to let her emotions escape freely. Her soft cries were the only thing to break the silence for a long while, until at last she subsided, burrowing her face into the solid chest of her comforter. Mara stirred slightly, grabbing a nearby cushion and gently urging Thorin into a prone position, the soft pillow tucked under his head. She knew she was too drained to get him back to bed, and he no longer had the energy to make the long trip back. Nudging the fire with the poker and adding a few chunks of wood, she felt warmth once again fill the room. She sat back down beside Thorin to keep him company, taking solace in his presence, only to be pulled back into his side despite her protests. "You need sleep too," he mumbled, drifting off into a light snooze before she could disprove him of the notion.
Mara smiled softly as his expression finally smoothed out somewhat. "Thank you Thorin," she whispered, leaning carefully against him and slipping into meditation, the closest to sleep she would ever get.
Author's note: I hope Thorin doesn't seem to OOC in this chapter. When I was writing it I pictured him comforting his sister when they were younger, and figured he might have the same reaction to seeing a young woman in distress. Plus he's still rather out of it, so a bit less grim than usual.