Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. They belong to J. R. R. Tolkien. Any Quotes seen in this are taken from the Peter Jackson movies and I do not own them either. I also do not own anything Charmed related either and anything related to the Camp Half-Blood chronicles belong to Rick Riordan.
Chapter Thirteen: The Reunion.
Thalia felt rather out of place in the dress that she had borrowed from one of Bain's daughters for her meeting with Thorin; she'd had a couple of days of rest but they had been filled with worry about what was too come. The light blue and silver dress had been modified a little for her to wear so that she wouldn't be uncomfortable while she was meeting with a King.
Everyone seemed to think that she should make a special effort for such a meeting and Thalia couldn't help but think of how she and Thorin first meet all those years ago. Thorin had been a King in exile and they had spent months together were how they had looked didn't matter only that they somehow managed to survive everything that was thrown at them.
Waiting in the entrance to the mountain, Thalia couldn't help but be impressed by how the damage had just disappeared; she could still see the destruction that had been caused by the dragon in her mind. The gate had been destroyed when Smaug when he had flown through it in his escape from the mountain and his destination that had been Laketown.
Someone cleared their throat making Thalia jump a little surprised, she turned around surprised that someone had come for her so quickly. It hadn't been long since she had arrived at the entrance to Erebor and had been left there by one of Bain's guards as she waited for someone to come and collect her for the meeting.
"Balin," Thalia breathed at the sight of the old dwarf, she suddenly felt a little lost at what to say to him; she was rather relieved that he was smiling at her right now. It seemed to ease the nervous that had built up as she prepared for the meeting that morning; she had almost decided not to come to the meeting and instead hide out in Dale for a while. Snow covered most of the landscape around them and Thalia doubted that she would be able to make the trip back to Rivendell wouldn't be plausible for another few months if this went wrong.
"I never thought I would see the day," Balin mused with a shake of his head, he had assumed that they had seen the last of Thalia and it pleased him that he had been wrong about that. The company had all been devastated when they had heard that she had taken off because of a lie that the wizard had told her; they wished that one of them could have been there when she had woken up to stop this mess. No one understood why Gandalf had done what he had, his lie had ruined everything and it had broken two hearts without considering the consequences.
"Neither did I," Thalia replied feeling a bit guilty for taking off like she had, she had been blinded in sudden grief that she hadn't been able to save Thorin and Gandalf had given her the out that she thought that she had needed. It had been a mistake that Thalia had always regretted before she had returned, she had wished for nothing more than to be able to have attended Thorin's funeral but there had been no way back for her on her own side. When it had come out that she had been lied to all those years ago, Thalia wasn't sure what she had felt more relief at that he wasn't dead or the guilt that he had been deprived of knowing about the twins.
"It's nice to have you back lass… you have been greatly missed around her," Balin said smiling, a warmth reaching his eyes that Thalia hadn't been expecting and he just hoped that this meeting wasn't going to be a disappointment. Thorin had been trying to figure out for months about what Thalia might be coming to discuss with him and he had practically driven Balin insane in the wait.
"This place is beautiful," Thalia mused following Balin through the grand halls that were now decorated the way that they should have been during her first visit; everything felt so much more alive. It was magnificent and Thalia was sure the rest of it was the same, everything felt different and the dwarves that lived there had certainly made the place grand again. She couldn't help but think about how much work must have gone into making the mountain like this; she doubted that it had been a short build considering the damage the dragon had caused.
"It is… took us about twenty years to get everything back in order," Balin told her with a nod while they continued to walk, he was sure a proper tour could be given to her at a later date. He couldn't imagine what had brought her back after all this time but from Gloin's letter, it had truly only been six years for Thalia and she had come back once she had learned Gandalf had lied.
Thalia nodded her head, so many memories seemed to linger under the surface and she couldn't help but think about the battle that had very nearly claimed this mountain. The walk to the throne room seemed to take longer than Thalia imagined and she was relieved that no one seemed to stop and stare at her while they made the journey.
The mountain seemed rather busy and Thalia wondered if it was like this on a daily basis, she would love to sit somewhere high and just watch all the dwarves dash about on their way to do their own business. Reaching the entrance to the throne room, Thalia's pounded in her chest and she felt a little sick at the sight of the huge door that she would need to pass through to meet with Thorin. There were a few guards stationed outside of the door but there was only one that Thalia recognised; his armour stood out against those around him and it made Thalia think that it meant that his rank was higher because of it.
"Dwalin," Thalia greeted with a small smile, it was nice seeing familiar faces and it relieved her that none of them seemed angry to see her after how she had taken off without a second thought. It was bound to have upset a lot of people and Thalia wished that she knew what she had been thinking in those moments after she asked Gandalf to send her back; if only she had waited to hear the news confirmed by someone else that she trusted from the company.
"Lass," Dwalin greeted with a stiff nod of his head, his eyes taking her in and he couldn't believe that she was actually here; he had worried that it was all some sort of cruel joke to hurt Thorin even more. If it hadn't been Gloin who had written about Thalia's return, then he wouldn't have believed it himself; but Gloin had known just how close Thalia had been with Thorin so had no reason to lie to anyone about it.
"He's waiting inside for you," Dwalin informed her stepping aside, he wasn't entirely sure what to make of this visit and he could see that Thalia looked nervous about the entire situation herself. He didn't entirely blame her and he just hoped that she didn't bring news with her that might further upset Thorin; his friend had been through enough heartache.
"You're not coming in with me?" Thalia asked looking between the brothers, she had hoped that she wouldn't be facing this alone but it did make sense that she was expected to speak with Thorin alone. There was so much that needed to be said between them and Thalia dreaded to think just what was laying beyond the doors for her to find.
"No lass…" Balin said gently, he understood that she might be worried but there was truly nothing to fear inside; it had been decided that it would be best for this reunion to happen in private. Nodding her head, Thalia took a deep breath and slowly made her way towards the door knowing that there was no way that she could put this off for a moment longer; if she did then she would not have the courage to enter.
The door opened and Thalia walked inside, she didn't dare look behind her as passed through the doorway and into the throne room; she felt her hands shake as once she was inside the door closed. The throne room was just liked Thalia remembered it and she couldn't help but feel rather nervous at how high she currently was from the ground.
Her eyes swept the narrow walk-way as she tried to spot Thorin; she was rather relieved that she still had a few moments to collect her thoughts as she slowly reached the two thrones in the centre of the room. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and Thalia came to a stop wondering what she was meant to do now; it didn't look like anyone was here.
"You look exactly as I remember you," whispered a voice that Thalia had never thought she'd hear anywhere in her dreams again; she closed her eyes tightly almost wondering if this was some sort of dream. Tears threatened to spill as the fight with Azog crashed into her mind, she had been so sure that she had lost him and Thalia had never thought that she would actually return to the mountain like this. Fingers brushed gently against her cheek catching those tears that did escape and Thalia squeezed her eyes tighter trying to make sure that no more did escape.
"Look at me, Thalia…" Thorin pleaded searching her face, he had never thought that this was how they would be reunited; he had thought he would have to die before he saw her in some form again. Never in his life-time had he felt such heartbreak at waking up to discover that the woman that he loved had been taken from him in such a cruel way especially by someone he had thought was an ally after the battle. Thalia slowly opened her blue eyes to meet Thorin's, her breath caught in her throat and she didn't have a chance to stop the tears this time; she barely caught the sob that threatened to escape her throat as she looked at him.
"I have pictured this moment often in my dreams…" Thorin whispered to her with a shake of his head, he had never thought that it would be so perfect and his fingers gently brushed away the tears that had begun to fall freely from Thalia's eyes. He had waited sixty years for this moment and he wasn't going to waste a second with her; Thorin had never thought that he would get this sort of chance with Thalia again. She hadn't changed a bit and if Gloin's letter had been correct then it had only been six years since she had last seen him; he found it cruel that time had been taken from them.
"I am so sorry," Thalia babbled before throwing her arms around Thorin, she buried her head into his neck as she cried feeling even worse for walking away when she had. Thorin closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, he closed his own eyes knowing that she had nothing to be sorry for. Thalia had been told that he had died and given his injuries that he'd had, Thorin was rather surprised that he was still alive; he had a feeling that Thalia might have had something to do with that. Thorin, Fíli and Kíli had been extremely lucky to come away with their lives even if there were some injuries that they still carried to this day.
His fingers brushed through her blonde hair, it was so soft and Thorin was so glad that he had been given this chance to speak with her; he was curious about why she had come back now. Thorin had never doubted his feelings for Thalia but with so much time passing since he had last seen her; he did fear that she might have found someone else.
"There is much we must discuss," Thorin murmured reluctantly releasing Thalia, he was had asked for lunch to be served for them.
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