It was late when Eiranna and Thorin finally returned to the Dwarven Settlement. Most homes were silent and still, with only a few still showing candlelight from the windows. Eiranna had calmed herself while she walked, but the memories of earlier still troubled her. She could not shake the feeling of that man's hands upon her, on her leg, pushing aside her dress. She felt so invaded, and it sickened her. Eiranna could not help the thought that crept into her mind of what would have happened if Thorin had not intervened.

Thorin. That was an entirely different matter. She, of course, felt grateful, but there was fear. She had seen wildness within him she did not care for, that scared her to the core. It was entirely likely he would have killed the man, there within the tavern, if she had not stopped him. It terrified her when she realized she may not have minded too much if he had. Eiranna knew that Thorin's attempts to comfort her outside Morfeth came only from a place of kindness and caring, but she could not have his hands upon her. It frightened her too much. The roughness he had shown to her at the Inn had hurt her. She knew he meant not to shove her from him as he had, and it was not what troubled her. The way he had raised his voice and shouted at her had. If he could hurt her so effectively with only his voice, she wondered what other actions of his might have an even greater effect.

Eiranna entered the small structure that served as the Royal Family's home and made her way towards the small room she shared with Dis. There was nothing more she longed for, in that moment, than sleep. Eiranna heard Thorin's footsteps as he followed behind. "Eiranna!" he whispered, but she did not slow her steps. She stopped abruptly when she saw Prince Thrain. She had not noticed him previously as he hidden himself among the shadows of the room. In his hand, he held a small candle, which he raised to illuminate his view of Eiranna and Thorin.

"What reason is there for such a late return?" he demanded, concern and anger evident in his voice. The candlelight spread across Eiranna's face, and Prince Thrain noticed the tears that still stained her face. "Why have you been crying?" he asked, moving towards Thorin. The light caught the blood and newly forming bruises upon Thorin's face and Prince Thrain froze. "What is this?!" he said fiercely, yet keeping his voice hushed so as not to wake Dis who lay sleeping in the next room. "One of you will speak," Prince Thrain warned.

"There was an incident at the Inn," Thorin replied. Erianna noticed he kept his eyes averted from his father's as he spoke. "What sort of incident?" Prince Thrain pressed, coming within inches of Thorin's face. Thorin met his father's eyes and stared stubbornly, not speaking. After a long moment, Prince Thrain sighed. "I wish to speak with you both in the morning. Off with you, now." Eiranna turned and retreated into her bedchambers, leaving Thorin with his father.


In the morning, Eiranna rose early and prepared herself to meet with Prince Thrain. Her thoughts remained troubled, her emotions still jumbled. She attempted to push both aside as she dressed, and made her way towards Prince Thrain's chambers. There she found him and Thorin awaiting her arrival. Eiranna stood beside Thorin, as Prince Thrain regarded them quietly.

"I have been told, this morning, of a fight that occurred this past evening at the Inn involving a man and a Dwarf. It is safe to assume that the Dwarf in question is yourself, Thorin?"

Thorin nodded in response. "Please. Illuminate me as to what occurred," Prince Thrain pressed.

"A man attacked Eiranna, and I intercepted it before he was able to hurt her further."

Concern fell upon Prince Thrain's face. He turned his gaze to Eiranna. "Eiranna, are you alright? Were you hurt?"

"No, My Lord, I am unhurt. Shaken, mostly," she admitted, dropping her gaze to the floor as the memories of the previous evening flooded her mind.

He nodded. "For that, I am grateful. I wish to speak with my son, alone. I trust you will keep yourself occupied?"

Eiranna nodded and made her way towards the front of the house, but stopped at the sound of Prince Thrain's voice. "Eiranna, I do ask something of you though." "Of course," she replied. "Would you stay close to the settlement. For today, at least?" he asked. "As you wish," she consented, nodding. She turned and made her leave.


Thorin saw his father make sure that Eiranna had made her exit before he returned his focus and rage upon Thorin.

"We are on precarious ground with those that live in this region, as it is. We need not exasperate the situation by causing trouble in their taverns," Prince Thrain bellowed.

"So it would have been best to leave it be? To allow that man to continue pawing at her? To defile her?!" replied Thorin fiercely.

"I have been informed as to what went on last night. I am not saying that I condone what those men attempted to do, quite the opposite. But it was not your place to interfere. There is separate law in Morfeth, a law that is there for a reason. You cannot stomp in and deal out your own definition of the law. I worry by taking justice into your own hands, you may have placed a target upon your own head," Prince Thrain explained, worry and strain etched upon his features.

Thorin ignored his father's words. "She will not return to that place," Thorin stated, his eyes darkened as he spoke.

"Boy, listen close to my words," said Prince Thrain, his anger ignited. "You have no claim on her. You are not her husband, and therefore cannot forbid her to do anything." Thorin glared at his father, but made no reply.

Prince Thrain came close to Thorin and eyed him closely, his eyes softening. "I am not a stupid man, Thorin. I know you feel for her. If you wish to change the situation, I implore you to act. She will not remain free forever."


It was grew late into evening when Thorin sought out Eiranna. He found her in her bedchambers. The door lay open and her back was to him. She held her long braid and her hands worked at undoing it. She wore a simple cotton dress, maroon in colour, which swept down to the floor and covered the full length of her arms. It hugged the length of her body beautifully, and Thorin marveled at the sight. It continued to surprise him how easily her beauty stilled his heart. It had always been so from the moment he had first laid eyes upon her, years before. She was small, much smaller than he, with only a wisp of hair upon her face. Thorin knew it was as a result of the human blood which flowed through Eiranna's veins. It did not bother him much that her blood was not pure Dwarf, although sometimes he wondered if it should.

Eiranna seemed to sense someone watched her and turned. The maroon of her dress contrasted magnificently with the darkness of her hair and the Jade within her eyes. Thorin thought he noticed her eyes darken fearfully, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. "May I enter?" he asked, softly. She nodded in response, but kept her eyes averted from his. He entered, slowly, and peered about the room. It was sparsely decorated, adorned mostly with trinkets of Dis's, but Thorin still saw Eiranna there, mostly evident by the books she possessed. Since they had arrived in Morfeth, she had accumulated a small collection of written works. It was rare to see her without one in her rare moments of leisure.

"There is a matter of some importance that I wish to discuss with you." She turned to regard him curiously. "I feel it would be pointless, at this point, to deny that I do not care for you." Thorin's words were abruptly cut off as he saw her raise her hand.

"I do not mean to interrupt your words, but I must stop you." He nodded for her to continue.

"Do not misunderstand me. My gratitude to you is beyond measure. I fear what may have happened if you had been there." Her eyes cast downwards as she spoke. "You must leave me be. At least for a bit. Please do not come to meet me at the Inn anymore. I am uncertain if I will return, but if I do, that is my request."

Thorin opened his mouth to offer protest, but closed it again at the sight of Eiranna's troubled, pained eyes. "Please," she pleaded. Thorin was unable to offer more than a nod.

"I am so very tired. If it does not cause much offense, I would ask you to leave me now," she said, turning her back, once more, so it faced him. Thorin stood, momentarily, frozen where he stood, before, accepting defeat, retreating from Eiranna.