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I will never let you forget
"Thorin can you please slow down? I don't know what you are thinking, but what you did back there...that was totally uncalled for!" Dwalin said and walked quickly behind his friend's quick stride.
"You have no idea what's going on...", Thorin dismissed him
"Stop and tell me what the hell is going on then!" Dwalin's hand fell on his bicep and stopped him.
"I am getting out of there before I do something I will regret," he turned his murderous eyes on his best friend.
"More than what you already did? You just came head to head with the King!" Dwalin didn't released his arm.
"He was lucky you were there, for I swear I wouldn't have stopped..."
Dwalin tried to jerk him back to reason, "What more would you do? He is your grandfather and the King of Durin's folk! You love him, you bloody fool and he adores you!"
Thorin pursed his lips and his eyes thinned angrily.
"The only thing you managed is your father hearing about all this and getting back at you!"
Thorin shook his head, "Oh no, Thrain won't get in the middle of this".
His certainty made Dwalin pull back a little, "you sound dead certain".
"I am", Thorin pulled his arm free.
"What is going on here Thorin?" Dwalin crossed his arms, "do you have more authority over your grandfather than I had originally thought?"
Thorin shook his head, feeling truly pissed off, "you shouldn't have intervened the way you did. This has to be addressed before it gets out of hand", his voice was deep and austere.
"Don't you think Thrain knows that your grandfather wants to reclaim Moria?" Dwalin threw his hands in the air.
Thorin's jawline tightened, "Not only does he know but he also endorses it! He is always planning on grandad's ideas ahead, but he is not thinking straight. Neither are".
"You underestimate your father and the King," Dwalin tried.
"No, you underestimate how much greed is powering up both!" Thorin snapped and grabbed his head. He closed his eyes painfully.
Dwalin drew back, "The ring of power…"
Thorin turned around so fast that Dwalin took an unwilling step back, "that bloody thing is going to be the end of our line -mark my words-! Moria is crawling with Orcs! There are beasts that have been awoken from the deep, walking in the shadows. Beasts of fire and ash! Moria cannot be reclaimed. My grandfather's grant schemes for a war that will include all the seven armies will blow up in our faces!"
"Having the odds against them is surely no reason to stop the Longbeards…" Dwalin said mischievously.
"When the odds are against certain death, a Longbeard must think first of his family and people and then of his greed!" Thorin said and emptied himself on a bench carved skillfully out of rock.
"King Thror has been ruling our people wisely for centuries and so does your father. Thorin, I think you are overreacting in all of this," Dwalin sat down next to him, "He has advisors. Don't you think that my father would have advised against such a folly if he saw the danger?"
"Fundin cannot butt heads with Thror the way I can. He is bound to my family by blood and oaths, but that doesn't make him the most impartial judge. Even if he sees the errors of their ways, your beloved father cannot curse their stupidity to hell, now can he?"
Dwalin sighed, "I suppose not, no".
Thorin gave him a curt nod, "Thror is not thinking clearly. The ring of power is causing him to become restless. It carries evil in it, I can feel it. I need to take it out of his finger and back to Mount Doom. Then throw it in that lava and get rid of it once and for all, exactly where it was made".
Dwalin raised his brows, "The Longbeards will be the only ones of the seven families without a ring of power then".
"Good, it's absence might knock some sense into us," Thorin looked at him tiredly, "Dwalin you know I don't fear a battle, but this is leading our people into slaughter. Most of us will die for a lost cause".
Dwalin crossed his hands thoughtfully.
"Next time you see me brawling with my half demented grandfather, don't intervene!" Thorin's voice held a tone of warning.
"I did it to protect you…" Dwalin looked up regretfully.
"I am not the one in need of protection you fool, but my people and I cannot do anything to stop this, apart from trying to knock some sense into the King's head. Tough luck apparently", he lowered his head defeated. He already knew that there was practically nothing he could do to turn this around. His grandfather was decided, his father was backing him up, all the generals of the army were behind the royal family and he was their commander. Even Frerin was hyped up about this noble cause. He was the only one seeing things under their true grim light...or was he maybe the only fool here?
"Tell me what you want me to do, and I shall do it for you," Dwalin's voice deepened with emotion.
Thorin offered him a defeated look, "I want you to be there to protect Frerin If I cannot".
"Do you think it shall come down to this?" Dwalin frowned.
"Just be there for him as you are going to be there for Balin, if I am not, please", his voice broke.
A hand landed on his forearm, "You know I'd give my life for you and your family. You are not my cousin, you are my brother".
Thorin's hand grasped his and he squeezed, "Thank you".
They remained like that thoughtful for a long time. Silent. One man wary and the other woeful. Each knowing that when the time came they'd stand tall no matter their current concerns. Just when Thorin was ready to tell Dwalin that they should go and get something to eat, the later elbowed him urgently. Thorin turned and saw his sister walking indignantly towards them. Her hair was all lose from her intricate braids, a dark see flowing around her. Her eyes were spitting the very fires of the aforementioned Mount Doom and her lips were thin arrows of wrath.
Kilskjald was running after her with his hands raised up in a desperate need to stop her. Thorin's brow clouded and he sprang up. Dwalin's hand fell restraining on his shoulder, "steady, you are not calm from Thror yet…."
"Dis please wait!" Kilskjald called behind her.
Thorin walked onto the path of his sister, thinking that it was Kilskjald's fault that she was running away, "what the hell is going on here?" His voice was deep and darkly dangerous. His eyes fell on Kilskjald with an undertone of warning that stopped the man dead on his tracks.
His sister was not as convinced by his authority though. She pushed him aside and tried to bypass him, "get out of my way!"
He gritted his teeth calling on patience and grabbed her arm making her span around and crash on his shoulder blade. His other hand grabbed Kilskjald by the lapels of his coat and drew him onto his face, "what the hell is going on here?"
"Steady Thorin," Dwalin tried.
"Dwalin not now…" Thorin hurled at him.
Dwalin pressed his lips and crossed his arms silently.
"Why are you chasing my sister?" his voice dropped even lower if possible.
Kilskjald lowered his head and brought his fist onto his chest respectfully, "I was trying to stop her my Lord."
"Why does she needs to be stopped?"
"Thorin, let him go, it's not his fault!" Dis cried and punched him on the shoulder.
He turned his head at her and glowered, "Shut up!"
"My Lord, she is not running away from me", Kilskjald looked at a loss from words. Like he didn't want to divulge the information and that made Thorin even more mad at him.
He pulled the lapels and Kilskjald's body crashed on his. The man averted his eyes, "Who is she running away from?"
"Dad! I am running away from dad! Leave Kilskjald alone! He didn't do anything! He is a victim in all this, as I am!" Dis cried and punched him hard on the shoulder again.
He frowned and released his sister who backed up and rubbed her crying face "What?" He looked confused.
Dis looked up and with renewed fervour now that she was free she fell on Kilskjald with mad possession. She bit Thorin's wrist so hard that he released the man and pulled back surprised, "Leave him alone! As if he didn't get enough ridicule from our precious daddy, he needs to be pushed around by you also!"
"Dis what the hell are you talking about?" He cupped his wrist and looked at her bewildered.
Dis after making sure that Kilskjald was fine turned to her brother angrily, "Dad? Daddy dearest? The one eyed manic egotist that's been running things in grandad's stead for a long time now?"
"You don't have to be choleric," Thorin cringed distastefully.
"Oh, get off your high horse!" She waved him off, "you and him are too much alike! Actually you, him and Thror are one of a kind. They shaped you up to be as short sighted and blunt as they are!"
"Oh, now I am your problem! Why don't you put your petty insults aside and tell me what happened with dad instead?" He crossed his arms.
Dis took two steps and brought her face close to his. Her eyes were red and teary and her mouth began trembling visibly after speaking the first few words, "Me and Kilskjald…we went there to ask him to bless our union. You knew this was going to happen. You had no problems with it".
Thorin's brow raised, "Of course".
The admittance that left him so easily broke her down then. She cupped her face and tears released into violent sobs. Kilskjald embraced her from behind, "Dad refused us! He refused our union…"
Thorin's face sobered up slowly and his annoyed look, turned first despondent and then a grave darkness began dawning that she missed.
"He refused to allow us to marry and I don't know what to do. It hurts me so bad Thorin..." She wailed and he wanted to push Kilskjald aside and embrace her instead, but he stayed put and crossed his arms coldly.
Kilskjald hushed her, "Please my darling".
Thorin felt a new rush of adrenaline pumping into his blood so close to the first one and tried to reason through all this as much as he could, "Maybe you can try again later. Maybe you should both wait a bit longer. Patience is a virtue".
"We have been dating for a year! We love each other! We want to bind our lives together!" Dis looked up from Kilskjald's shoulder.
"Love is not a game... wait a bit longer. Give Thrain time to settle with the idea", Thorin said gravely.
Dis's eyes threw arrows of fire at him and she pushed Kilskjald away. She reached Thorin and pushed him back with hatred, "How can you know what love is! You've never been in love!" She spat on his face.
That was the first time in his life he physically felt the blood draining from his face and he instantly closed up.
Dwalin gathered himself and checked on Thorin with a worried look that everyone else missed, "now that was totally uncalled for!" he intervened.
"Thorin's lackey in for the rescue?" She dripped venom.
Thorin gave her murderous look she missed.
"I don't care about you, or him or any of you!" She pointed vaguely everywhere, "all I care about is that I am not allowed to marry the man I love, just because dad thinks I am marrying too low in rank. He doesn't accept that I am in love with a miner. Do you think that's fair Thorin? How am I supposed to deal with this? How am I supposed to balance dad's overbearing personality? Haven't you been oppressed by him enough? Hasn't Frerin? Well, at least he didn't ruin your chances in love, like he does with me. I swear to you Thorin, that I will find a way to wed Kilskjald and if that means that I will have to renounce my name and legacy and leave Ered Luin, be certain that I will! I told him and I am telling you now! You shall not stop me and I am not acting childishly. I am acting like a woman in LOVE!" She spat with hatred.
Kilskjald was simply trying to calm her down with soothing words of comfort.
Thorin's murderous eyes, got tinted by immeasurable sadness slowly and he felt his stiff shoulders deflating.
"At a loss for words my famous brother?" She bit.
"Yes", he plainly admitted.
She smiled sadly and cleared her burning face, "How can you know what to say, since you have never felt anything like this...I am asking too much of you..." she let that thought trail off and turned around. With no more words she left her brother behind more bruised than she could have ever aimed for.
"I am so sorry my Lord," Kilskjald said respectfully.
Thorin turned his crestfallen gaze on him.
"You know that I love your sister and that I will honour, protect and value her with my life," he continued.
"I know".
"I would never do anything to hurt her and I would never agree with her grant plans to leave your family for me. I will make sure I leave Ered Luin within the next week without her knowledge," Kilskjald bowed his head and kneeled down defeated.
Thorin inhaled deeply feeling his hands painfully tight at seeing history being repeated in the worst way possible. Through his beloved sister.
"I am doing this to protect her, so please don't tell her anything. It's best that she believes I left her because I didn't love her enough. It will be easier for her to get over all this," Kilskjald said and Thorin saw the tears edging his eyes and felt his heart touched deeply.
"Go after her", he said quietly.
Kilskjald bowed and then ran after Dis, "Thank you my Lord".
Thorin mused after them for a few silent moments.
"That didn't go very well," Dwalin reminded him of his presence.
"Little girl has grown up. She doesn't need me anymore Dwalin", Thorin felt his eyes welling up.
"She's a fiery woman in love."
Thorin looked at him sadly, "she is…"
Dwalin flicked his shoulders, "I've always admired her, but today she surpassed my expectations".
Thorin pressed his lips, "and mine".
Dwalin hesitated for a few moments, "Don't take into consideration her hurtful words Thorin. She doesn't know the truth and she is in pain".
"I know", Thorin's eyes slowly turned savage as he looked towards the city.
Dwalin noticed, "Going against Thror and Thrain in one day is looking for trouble".
"Then pack up your best mead, because after tonight I won't be coming home for several days," Thorin raised his brow meaningfully.
Dwalin's lips twitched, "Should I ready two ponies?"
"Horses and get several days of food also," he said and began walking towards the city.
Dwalin slapped his thigh, "Damn have I missed life on the road! On it immediately! Don't make a racket in there!" He raised his hand warningly at Thorin.
"No more racket from me today," Thorin whispered at himself. It took him a deliberately long time to go up to his father, just in order to calm down his anger and put his emotions and thoughts in order.
The silent sentinels pulled away from the door and kneeled down. He entered without knocking like he usually did. His father was in the middle of a meeting and everyone looked up when he made his calm, but always majestic entrance.
"Ah, Thorin, what news?" Thrain asked with a proud smile on seeing his son.
"May I have a word with you my Lord?" He asked respectfully.
Thrain's brow rippled cautiously, "Can't it wait? As you see I am in the middle of a meeting with our generals".
Thorin closed his eyes briefly, "I am afraid it cannot".
Thrain looked around him with a heavy brow, "My Lords please wait for me outside".
When everyone left Thrain stood up and rounded his desk to meet his son in the middle of the room, "What's going on?"
"I came across Dis just now", Thorin's voice was way too quiet for what he was about to do.
Thrain's face settled in controlled annoyance, "Did she send you? Did you stop my meeting about Moria for this idiocy?"
"Moria is an idiocy of magnificent scale on it's own," Thorin threw the first dagger calmly.
Thrain's jawline settled, "So are you here to defend your sister's hysterics or talk strategy?"
Thorin raised his brow.
"I want to know so I can take on the appropriate attitude," Thrain said coldly.
"You are taking this far less seriously than you should," Thorin's voice had a steely undertone.
"You mean to tell me that you take her love affair with that miner seriously?" Thrain's voice rose. He was unable to control his anger on that.
"Kilskjald is a good man…" Thorin began.
"I knew she send you. As always. You being here won't change my decision against this. She will not marry a miner! The end!" Thrain yelled and cracked his hand on his office.
"…he respects and loves her deeply…" Thorin continued totally unruffled with his eyes peacefully closed.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Thrain turned around angrily.
"…he will marry and honour her to death…"
"Thorin stop!" Thrain cried and looked at him with disbelief, "you are acting as if I am not here. As if you have already decided for me! …."
Thorin opened up his eyes and spoke over him, "I have already decided for you".
That gave Thrain pause. He pulled back, "what?"
Thorin took a step and towered over his father darkly. His brow clouded with controlled hostility and Thrain felt the change of the atmosphere around them palpable. Thorin's hand grasped his father's upper arm tightly and he brought their faces close, "You shall bless this union", his voice held a low and deep rumble that raised the hairs on Thrain's neck.
Thrain straightened his body imposingly against his older son "Why should I?"
"Because of Siv" Thorin replied and his heavy stare settled to his father, unyielding.
Thrain's mouth opened up slightly and a flicker of fear appeared in his eyes.
"I sacrificed her life to your cause and to this family, but my sister shall be spared" Thorin continued with the same unbending tone of authority.
"Or else?" He father flicked his head up in defiance. Taking orders from his son was not something that he was used to.
Thorin met his eyes again coldly "I shall never let you forget what you did to me".
Thrain's jawline twitched angrily but he didn't reply.
Thorin pulled back and released his arm, "That's not an order father. I cannot order you. I can only advice and that is what I am doing. Sit here and think. Look at your city and at your wealth. Think about your family and your priorities. I am sure in the end you will decide what is best for your daughter, just to balance out what you decided for me by bestowing the unbearable weight of Thror's fading sanity on my beloved".
Thrain paled when he heard the speech he gave Thorin ages ago, thrown back at him in the most grim of ways. He walked back and sat on the edge of his desk already knowing that he was defeated in this game. His son may not have come to talk strategy about Moria, but he cornered his father with a cold blooded strategic move, his generals would have envied, about his sister's impending wedding. Thrain looked up to his son vacantly.
"I am sure in the end you shall deliver what is best for your family…." Thorin said bluntly and raised his brow, "as you always do".
Thrain swallowed a dry throat but remained quiet.
Thorin walked to the door and placed his hand on the handle. For a few moments he looked at the wooden panel, "I am leaving with Dwalin tonight".
"Where to?" Thrain's question was quick and clearly worried.
"Heard about Orcs roaming the villages at the flanks of the Blue Mountain. Had it in mind to check this out for a long time".
"So why now? Because of all this?" Thrain asked.
"Maybe I just need some time away from all of you. Ever thought of that?" He looked above his shoulder.
"Thorin, let's discuss this over a bottle of mead. I have some here. It's from out best barrels," Thrain walked quickly around his desk to find his best bottle, but his son's cold voice made him stop.
"You owe me a drink when I return", he said and turned the handle.
"Take the first division with you," Thrain sounded apprehensive.
"For a couple of Orcs? There is no need father", he said and opened the door. Everyone saluted him respectfully and he kept the door open for them to enter. That is when he saw the teary eyes of his mother looking at him from a distance. He released the door and walked up to her.
"My boy?" Her hand came up to cup his cheek.
"Hi mom," he said unable to stop a sweet smile.
"What happened in there?" Durís asked and he felt her fingertips cold and trembling.
"Had a heart to heart".
"About Dis?" His mother looked up to him eagerly.
He nodded.
"What did he say?"
"I am sure he will think about her wedding much more seriously now," Thorin reassured her.
She pulled him over and embraced him. Her head rested on his wide chest and he caressed her grey hair softly, "thank you my boy. I was coming to talk to him myself. Thank you for taking over this for your baby sister", she whispered.
"Dis is not a baby anymore mom", he smiled bitterly on her hair and exhaled as he squeezed her tight, "Now calm down. Everything is going to be okay".
"I love you," Durís reciprocated his hug with as much love as only a mom could give to her child and he felt it deep in his heart.
"Me too," he whispered and then pulled back, "I have to go".
"Where are you going? Dis will come back and she will need you", Durís frowned.
Thorin's lips turned in a side smile, "She doesn't need either me or you anymore mom. She's got the one she needs already".
Durís smiled sweetly at him and wiped away her tears, "so there is no need to talk to your dad?"
Thorin flicked one shoulder, "go and share his good bottle of mead that he hides under the desk. No need to do anything more than that".
-.-
"No need to do anything more than what you have already done! You've given him the third degree! With what right might I ask?" Dis placed her hands on her waist.
"I am your brother," his voice dropped by degrees.
She heard the warning and pulled back, "Thorin, I told you before that there is nothing going on between us. The man is simply trying to help me through all this with the meagre allowances that I offer him. He is just a friend. As for what you said…being my brother doesn't give you endless control over my life…" she tried.
"When did I ever have control over your life Dis?" He looked up pissed.
She frowned, "Wait a minute.."
"When did I have control over any of your decisions? I tried to advice several times but my words went unheard. When was the last time you listened to me? I told you to stay in Ered Luin to be safe. You didn't even do that!"
She frowned, "For some reason you are turning this into something more serious than it is and I don't know why. I told you lieutenant Dongar is just a friend, not my love interest...but you cannot understand…"
He spoke above her with a deep authoritative voice that boomed inside the closed doors of his office, "Don't you dare tell me that I cannot understand because I don't know what love is…"
She paled and her mouth dropped open.
He covered his eyes and rubbed his forehead, "I will give him the fourth, the fifth and the sixth degree if I judge it appropriate. As long as he keeps sniffing around you I will be the monkey on his back. You don't like it? Turn on your heels and go back to Ered Luin. As long as you remain with me, you will abide by my rules", his voice didn't sound as commanding as before, but it was serious nonetheless.
She inhaled and frowned worried, "Where did that ancient skeleton pop up from Thorin?"
He gave her an indifferent side look.
"Where did that come from? I've only said that to you once, ages ago, when I was in despair. How did you remember that?" Her voice was confused, almost careful of not triggering him with a similar explosion that seemed to derive out of nowhere.
He cringed under his fingers, "It was so bloody pointy, I've never been able to forget it".
She waved her hands, "that was over a century ago!"
He raised his brow but remained silent.
She exhaled and looked at him for several moments trying to gather her thoughts. Then deciding, she approached him and leaned over his back. Her hand slithered around his side and touched the bandage above his over-tunic protectively, "what is ailing you my darling? This isn't normal -Thorin broodiness- I am witnessing is it? There is something else eating you up inside?"
"Dis, get off my back," he tried to shake her off obviously annoyed.
"Mid-life crisis?" She bit her lip playfully.
He snorted and rubbed his eyes, "could very well be".
She leaned her head on his shoulder blade and caressed his temple, "I am sorry for what I told you back then. I was young, foolish and blind from love. I didn't think that I was hurting you with my words and it isn't as if we hadn't spoken hurtfully towards each other before. For some reason that stuck on you all this time. I cannot take it back, but please accept my apology…"
He bend under her soft approach, "It's okay".
"Is it truly okay?", she frowned.
He closed his eyes and his body deflated, "be careful with Dongar. He seems like a decent man, but it's too soon. Everything is raw, open and bleeding still and you are vulnerable. Don't make important decisions when you feel so vulnerable after Kili's death. You are not alone in this. I am here. Have I ever let you down?"
She pressed her forehead on his shoulder and shook her head, "No my darling, never".
"Have I ever given you a reason to feel vulnerable?" He continued.
"Never", she pressed her lips and felt her eyes welling.
"Give all this some time to settle down and let me do what I know best. What I have been doing since you were a baby. Let me protect your interests", he said and clasped her forearm that was around his neck. He leaned his head back onto hers and closed his eyes.
She huffed and kissed his shoulder, "you'll become that lieutenant's worst nightmare…"
"If he is interested in you, then he will sustain through my trials like your husband did. If time proves him resilient then…" he hesitated.
"He'll have to ask me if I am interested, and currently I am not", she smiled.
"at least all this will be out of my hands and onto yours, gerbil".
"I get where you are coming from", she nodded thoughtfully and caressed his long hair softly.
"Then stop fighting my every decision, please".
She sighed, "I am sorry I am making your life hard sometimes. I know you have my best interests at heart".
"I am the only one who does…" his voice turned darker slightly.
"I know.." She frowned.
"For now…" a small ghostly smile appeared on his lips.
She chuckled, "You deserve your nickname to the outmost. You are scaring away people left and right. First poor Dongar, who cannot even say your name without casting his eyes down, and then that poor girl Valdis".
"What did I ever do to her?" He frowned.
"Abandoned her in the middle of your conversation. You just disappeared on her, didn't you?"
"She was lucky I didn't commit suicide next to her," he shook his head.
"Was she so boring then?"
"More than…why do I have to listen about hair fashion, please tell me that?" He said dryly.
Dis facepalmed so hard it echoed into the office, "silly little girl was talking about hair to you?! She just blew her chances".
"That's what you were expecting when you shoved her into my presence?" He grumbled.
"No my darling. Just pleasant company. You need one", she caressed around his wound.
"Don't even pretend to know what I need," he warned.
"I won't pretend that I haven't thought of becoming a middle woman in many cases, for there were more than plenty of opportunities around you, but I always respected your closed up nature. That doesn't mean though that I won't look after your best interests, like you do mine", she became serious.
"And my best interests are learning hair fashion from the Iron Hills?" he teased.
"Nah, but they might include having some company of the opposite sex for once in your life," she smiled.
"You assume too much…" he shook his head.
"Maybe I believe that the proper female company will alleviate all that broodiness from your handsome face," she winked at him.
"Valdis is not the proper female company," he darkened.
"You made that pretty clear to all that night," she pressed her lips and walked around his office, "nevertheless you cannot blame me for trying. More for her sake than yours. Your reaction was expected, but I couldn't stand listening to her constant jabbering about you".
His lips pursed, "I prefer to wait for that little girl to grow up and marry her instead".
Dis smiled, "You'd be long dead then!"
"I'll marry her from the grave," he looked up slyly and she laughed. It was the first time he heard a clear and honest laugh from her since he saw her again and his heart rejoiced.
She cupped her chin and looked at him happily, "You know what I think is going on with you?"
"Do enlighten me…" he raised his brow and stood up.
"I am going to become serious, so wipe that silly smile off your face," she warned.
"I am terrified…" he teased.
She looked at him for several moments as he was making a bow on a velvet sword cover and sobered up slightly, "I think you've taken so much responsibility for our family on your shoulders all these years that you forgot there is also Thorin that needs care and attention".
He offered her a derisive look, "and you've thought of that only just now?"
"Don't turn bitter. I've always been thinking about that, but it was a decision you've made long ago. No one could turn that stubborn head of yours around. Have I talked to you few times about taking care of your personal life?" She frowned.
He shook his head.
"You are still carrying on you, myself and my sons…" she eyes cast to the floor and her face paled, "my son…"
He looked up at her worried.
"…Frerin, grandad, dad, mom and all of Durin's folk. So where does Thorin fit into all this?"
He crossed his arms and sat at the edge of his desk, "Thorin is standing on a slippery mountainside several miles south of Ravenhill, gerbil. Let him rest there and let me continue my job here".
She frowned confused, "what?"
He shook his head, "you are grasping at straws. Things have been this way for centuries. They won't change now. I am not going to change now".
She pressed her lips, "Maybe then for once in two centuries you should think about yourself, before you fade into the same miserable greyness our father and grandad had".
He looked at her with a soft smile, "They were chased by far more dangerous demons than the ones you are suspecting. Demons that have been on my trail also".
"I know very well about grandad's sickness that also diminished our dad…and that almost killed you", she felt her eyes welling.
He reached out and grabbed her forearm, "Come here gerbil".
"I am only trying to help you", she said and embraced him.
He covered her whole body with his arms and leaned his cheek on the top of her head, "The only thing I need right now is for you and Fili to be safe and close to me".
She nodded, "So will Thorin remain in that mysterious slippery mountainside?"
His lips twisted, "I don't know".
"Will you ever explain what the hell you are talking about?"
"No…" his face sobered and he looked up as the door opened.
Balin led in Gandalf. "The grey wizard is here to see you laddie".
"Thank you Balin," then he looked down at Dis that had pulled away slightly, "Do you have anything to do today?"
"I will help down at the resident houses of the midland vaults. Fain's daughters will come with me. Gandalf," she acknowledged with a lofty tilt of the head.
"My lady…" the grey wizard bowed.
"Give yourself a break alright?" He advised softly.
Her face opened up, "You too".
When the door closed behind them Gandalf turned to the King, "I came in at the wrong moment?"
Thorin sighed, "No".
Gandalf approached, "What did you need me for?"
"For this…" Thorin pointed at the red velvet sword cover.
Gandalf raised his brow in clear interest.
"Open it up", Thorin sat down and stippled his fingers under his chin.
Gandalf did so and revealed the sword that Thorin had been forging. His fingers run at the runes on the shiny blade and ended up at the dragon on the hilt. Then he looked up, "this is brilliant craftsmanship. Worthy of Celebrimor himself, dare I say".
Thorin eyes smiled up briefly, "Maybe the only Elven craftsman that I would agree to compare myself with".
"Self confident as always Thorin, not that you shouldn't be with such an exceptional creation", he caressed the pommel of the sword.
Thorin's face fell solemn instantly, "Oh, my confidence ends at the borders of the Elven realms, Mithrandir. My skill falls short to many brilliant dwarven craftsmen and I still have a lot to learn from them".
Gandalf tilted his head, "Wisely spoken".
"Now let's concentrate on what's important", Thorin pointed at a very intricate heavy chest at the side of his desk.
"What is this?" Gandalf leaned over with slight apprehension.
Thorin placed his hands on the sides and pushed on a small hidden button that blew the locks away all around it. Then he opened it silently. Gandalf's eyes grew larger than life as they feasted in the amazing and unique jewels that were so much coveted by both races. After a few revering silent moments were the need to put his hand and touch them was only too great he lifted his eyes back at Thorin, "The White Gems…"
Thorin tilted his head loftily and a small knowing smile appeared on his lips.
Gandalf pulled back and sighed, "They will be traded for the Arkenstone…"
Thorin nodded and rounded the desk.
"You want me to take the White Gems to Thranduil?"
Thorin's brow rose darkly, "They don't leave the premises of Erebor, unless I have the Arkenstone in my hands".
Gandalf frowned, "how will that happen may I ask?"
Thorin pointed at the sword "Hopefully with this".
Gandalf raised his brow, "tell me".
"You master Gandalf along with Bilbo are going to be the ones to deliver the -Black Blade- to its new owner", Thorin leaned back majestically making Gandalf's originally confused smile to blossom knowingly.
"I don't know why I agreed to come, honestly," Eilin said discouraged and looked at the arrow that had hit the end of the circular target. A common dwarf that was training next to her, snickered at her poor aim. She offered him a murderous look, which was cut sort by Bofur's happy voice.
"Don't get so easily discouraged. How many times have you practiced archery before?"
"A couple of times at the tavern. I told you I am tolerable, but I don't have a particular talent in it", she exhaled.
"That is why you are here. Training in order to become better. No one in Erebor, woman, man or child can be left without some basic weapon training. The forests around us are not safe yet. Not even Mirkwood. You need to be able to protect yourselves. All of you!" He cried to the row of men and women that were aligned along with Eilin.
"Taking this a bit too seriously?" Dwalin chuckled.
Eilin turned to the large dwarf that was overlooking the targets with his arms crossed and his face clearly amused.
"Why shouldn't I? Don't they need to learn how to shoot a partially straight arrow?" Bofur placed his hands on his waist annoyed.
"Half of them shoot as if they are cross eyed!" Dwalin pointed at an arrow that was shot by a large ginger-head dwarf. It ended up in the middle of the bark, at least a foot away from the target, "Care to give that one the same attention you are giving Eilin?" Dwalin teased.
Eilin blushed down to her toes.
"That one is hopeless. She isn't!" Bofur smiled brightly.
"I bet she isn't…" Dwalin pursed his lips judgmentally.
"You won't give them a break, will you?" Nori walked casually next to him.
"Of course I won't. He is so obvious in his pursuit that I cannot help myself," Dwalin said in a low tone.
"Truth is everyone is onto him by now. I don't know if the girl is though. She looks totally unaware," Nori offered her a critical look and sipped some of his mead.
Dwalin took the bottle from his mouth and downed almost half of it, "Oh, she knows alright, but I am not sure she is as open to his bold advances. I think her eyes are pointed to another direction that stands a bit too high for her…." And with that he walked a little further off.
Nori frowned and followed him quickly, "Who?"
Dwalin huffed and drank some more before pushing the bottle back into Nori's hands with a silent smile.
Nori pointed an angry finger at him, "Do you know something I don't?"
"Only too many things…now lay still, they are trying again," he said and pointed at the trainees. They all shot their arrows one after the other. Five of them missed completely, three hit the target at the borders, two didn't even manage to release the bow and one shot straight in the air and hit a flying goose from the nearby river. It crashed down by the feet of Bofur who looked at it dejected.
"I am sorry!" The man who managed the impossible shot, cringed.
"If that was on purpose you'd already be signing up for the new army of Erebor," Bofur told him. The man looked down embarrassed, "my friend, what's your name?"
"Ganskjald", the middle aged man replied.
"You Ganskjald, will be my lucky star at the card game tonight. You shall sit next to me and I will not part with a single coin!" Bofur said proudly.
"No, that's unfair! I am paying you 20 coins now to sit next to me Ganskjald!" Nori cried.
Ganskjald looked from one to the other bewildered and Eilin chuckled.
"What are you laughing at? I invite you to come along and see me win every single match with this lucky bastard by my side. Have you ever seen anyone shoot a bloody flying duck out of the sky without knowing how to aim the arrow correctly to begin with?" Bofur winked at her.
She covered her mouth and shook her head, "No".
"There you have it. Now Ganskjald, you won't leave when the training ends. You'll wait for me. As for you my lovely lady, you did a little better this time", he checked on her targeting from afar with a critical gaze.
"It's in the same place it was before!" She said.
Bofur came around her and took the arrow from her hands, "Look at my stance. At my legs and at my arms. Now see I aim much higher than the target", he shot and his arrow hit the bullseye easily.
Eilin exhaled defeated, "I'll never be able to do that," she muttered.
"Not with this kind of mentality. Did you see my stance?" Bofur gave her back the bow and arrow.
She nodded and got ready.
"No pull back a bit, yeah, there, do you want me to align you?" Bofur offered.
"He is going in for the kill," Dwalin smirked at Nori who nodded and drank some mead.
"No, no thank you. I've got it," she muttered quickly and bit her lower lip in deep concentration as she tried to remember how Bofur had been standing.
Nori cringed, "Girl is harder than steel…she just floored him".
Dwalin raised his brow and looked behind Nori.
Bofur pulled back and yelled, "Now ready, aim, fire!"
They all shot and it was a pretty similar disaster to the previous. Only Eilin managed to come a few inches closer to the target but it was not good enough.
"Not good enough!" Bofur noted and she closed her eyes exhausted. This was not going anywhere. She's been practicing with him all morning and she hadn't managed to be more accurate than she was before she even began, "Your stances are all wrong!"
"I think I need to give up for now," she told him.
He grabbed her arm, "you are the only one with a slight chance of getting this right. I'll bring you a cup of ale. Will that help?" His need to keep her there was so painfully obvious that she agreed feeling guilty of wanting to get away.
"Sure"
"Try again, I'll be back in a moment!" Then he turned to the others "Fix your stance, load, aim and fire again! No one rests until you hit the first inner circles!" He cried with authority.
That is when the heavy voice of Dwalin made everyone freeze in place, but most of all turn Eilin's blood to ice, "Everyone in attention for the King!" He hollered.
Eilin began muttering a prayer in Khuzdul and closed her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to have him witness her pathetic tries at archery.
Everyone in the line stood in complete attention except from Eilin that had leaned on her bow resigned to her fate.
Nori chuckled, "this will be interesting…"
Dwalin raised his brow and pursed her lips testily as he saw his best friend talking with the grey wizard. The hobbit was with them. They were not even minding the practice it seemed. They were enveloped in deep conversation.
-.-
"Don't you think your gift is a tiny bit more valuable than his?" Bilbo looked at Thorin.
He winced silently and looked at the target practice area. Instantly his eyes focused on Eilin that was leaning on her bow while the others were shooting.
"Shut your big mouth Baggins!" Gandalf chastised, "The King is making a try, that should be enough for both of us! We don't ruin this rare chance of altruism from either side!"
Thorin chuckled, "You worry your burglar is going to change my mind Mithrandir?"
"I worry his mouth is sometimes too big for his size" Gandalf wised with a soft smile.
"I am just stating the obvious, that's all," Bilbo crossed his arms defensively.
Thorin crossed his arms behind his back and looked majestically at the trainees as they shot another round. Eilin gave it a feeble try that ended up outside the target completely this time. He pursed his lips testily, "Tomorrow you leave for Mirkwood. Offer the sword as a gift from the Dwarves of Erebor to King Thranduil. My only request is that he comes to the Lonely Mountain to discuss the exchange of the Arkenstone for the Gems of Lasgalen".
"Might be a hard request. Last time he did that your grandfather double crossed him," Gandalf said musingly.
Thorin's brow darkened, "I am not Thror".
"Does he know that though?" Gandalf looked at him fixedly.
"He has to risk in order to gain", Thorin rebuked.
"Your risk is equal if not greater," Gandalf wised.
Thorin gave an indifferent look at Gandalf and Bilbo and turned his attention to the field, "My orders are clear. You leave tomorrow".
Gandalf rested his body on his staff and cringed, "very well Thorin. Let's see where this leads us then".
Bilbo scratched his head, "I can't believe I got drawn into this once more".
Thorin's gaze was inscrutable as he observed the try of the archers, "You didn't leave when you had the chance Bilbo, therefore I am going to use you".
Bilbo's lips twitched, "I hope I can help, but this undertaking feels almost impossible to me".
"Everything remains to be seen", Thorin mused and they observed the training for a couple of minutes silently before Gandalf noticed.
"They are a mess aren't they? Most miss the target completely".
Thorin pursed his lips and uncrossed his arms, "I shall test the sword today and leave it at your room when I finish," he said absently and walked slowly down to the archery line.
"Alright," Gandalf frowned.
"Where is he going?" Bilbo placed his hands on his waist.
Gandalf scrounged his lips, "I don't know, but this should be interesting to observe I think master Baggins".
Bilbo crossed his arms and looked at his friend, "why so?"
"Because we might be witnessing a shift in the flow of history as it would have been written, had not events taken this turn," the grey wizard said mystically.
"You are not making any sense again," Bilbo frowned at him.
"Am I not?" Gandalf smiled at him and they both looked at Thorin that had reached the line, but seemed to be interested only in one of the archers.
-.-
"You don't seem to be having any kind of luck", he towered behind her, with his arms crossed behind his back.
She nodded with her eyes closed, "I am so tired of trying. I've been here all morning and now you came along to witness my failures". She sounded as disheartened as she felt. She didn't even want to open her eyes to see him, but she felt the energy emanating from his body.
"Show me how you shoot", that should have been a command, but it sounded more like a gentle request.
She inhaled and took the stance that Bofur had showed her. With eyes that were pooling with fresh tears of desperation she sucked in her runny nose and shot her arrow. It fell even further away from the target, "Happy?" She told him and feeling defeated in front of the only man whose opinion really counted for her, she turned around and made to leave, feeling hurt and double-crossed by her body.
His hand wrapped around her upper arm gently, but kept her in place with a steadiness she didn't want to push against. She stopped and looked at her boots, "No, you don't ran away from a fight", his voice was carefully controlled.
She wiped her nose with the back of her hand, "I never stay for a fight, my Lord".
"Use my name", he whispered and pulled her closer to him.
She felt electrified and instantly obeyed, "Thorin…"
His lips played with a smile, "Time for things to change then. Come in front of me, my Lady".
Her eyes opened up shocked and looked at his. He returned her intense stare calmly, "My lady?"
"Today we shall switch roles. You are my lady and I am your assistant. Does that sound good?"
She swallowed a dry throat and shook her head at a loss for words.
He pulled her carefully and brought her in front of him, "Take out one of your spare arrows and place it in front of your feet perpendicular. The pointy end should be facing the target".
She did as she was told silently and then felt his heavy boot coming between her feet and kicking them gently apart, "Don't keep them too close together".
She closed her eyes and nodded quickly, "Okay", was the only thing she was able to say.
"Keep your eyes closed and raise the bow…good now pull the arrow back to your cheek…no…that's too low. Elbow must be higher up.…". He observed her tries for several seconds before sighing resigned.
Then suddenly she felt enveloped by his immense body that came around her without any questions or hesitation. Overtaking her personal space with an ease that consumed her. One hand came up to steady her elbow and his fingers wrapped around hers on the arrow. The other closed up tightly around her hand that was holding the bow. He pulled back the arrow with a steadiness she couldn't have ever had and placed it on her cheek, "Don't open your eyes. Feel the stance of your body before looking at it," he whispered right next to her ear and the whole left side of her body broke out in goosebumps. She gasped in need of more air, "hold your legs and body straight. Don't slouch," one of his hands left the bow that began trembling under her unsteady grip and pulled her stomach in and then her shoulders. His body created a wall for her to align against and she bit her lower lip. Then his hand wrapped around hers once more, "how does it feel?" He whispered and she felt his hot breath scorching her cheek.
"perfect…" her reply came quick and unbidden and she felt his smile.
"Now open your eyes".
She did and she could see straight into the target.
"There are three stances you can take. Neutral, open and closed. The stance you are in now is the neutral and you always start with that. Your toes must be perpendicular to the arrow. The arrow pointing at the target. Feet and shoulders equally apart for perfect stability and body proudly straight. How do you know which of the three stances to use in each shot?" He asked with the same deep voice that vibrated all over her body making it hard for her to breathe calmly.
"I have no bloody idea," she admitted, not really caring about her target practice by that point.
He chuckled and she shuddered, "Do you see your target?"
She nodded.
"If it is off to the right, you pull your left leg back a bit and that is opening up your stance. If it is off to the left you bring you left leg forth a little and that is closing your stance. Most of the times you shall be aligned on neutral, and closing stance is very rare. Where is your target?"
"To the right," she said feeling her heart palpitating.
"Adjust your stance," he said.
She swallowed but didn't move.
His boot came forth and nudged her left leg back, "Open stance Eilin".
"Okay", she tittered.
"Now where is your target?" He repeated.
"Straight ahead".
His hand raised the bow up steadily but on a straight line from the target, "always aim higher as the trajectory of the arrow will be curved downwards".
She bit her lower lip and nodded, "steady the tremble in your hands and shoot straight, my Lady", he whispered and she felt the roughness of his beard on her cheek.
She almost melted against him, "don't speak to me like that when I am about to shoot or I will mess everything up," she whispered back, unwilling to hold her thoughts from him anymore.
He turned his face slightly until his lips were touching her soft skin close to her ear and she felt a thundering tightness that run down her spine and ended up to the pit of her stomach, "release it," he exhaled on her and she released the arrow hoping that she wouldn't fall apart in his arms in front of all those people. The arrow found the target dead centre and tore Bofur's arrow in half. Everyone around them applauded.
He pulled back to a safer distance and she looked mesmerised at her achievement, "I didn't do this...you did", she muttered.
"I just showed you how to do it. Now you try," he offered with a calm smile.
She looked at his azure eyes and had to restraint from jumping on him and planting a kiss on his cheek like she had done so unexpectedly on their night at the elven lake. He had made her happier than she had been the whole damned morning, "Thank you," she beamed at him.
He pointed at her with his chin, "Now, wipe those tears away," his eyes darted around them and his lips formed a coy smile that made her heart beat faster, "because I cannot do that in front of them, even though I want to".
She bit her lower lip and felt her cheeks catching fire, "I don't know if I want to laugh or cry", she admitted.
"I'd advice practice", he wised.
"I will!"
He hesitated briefly before speaking in a low tone again, "I will be at the royal training grounds today after lunch".
She looked at him wide eyed.
"Do you remember how to come?"
She nodded quickly.
"Then if you want me to help you further with your archery, you know where to find me", he offered with an appealing smile.
Her mouth dropped open.
"Good morning my Lady", he said and bowed his head slightly, leaving her behind mesmerised.
At a distance Bofur stood with a bottle of mead in his hands looking down at the field rather bewildered. Nori came up next to him with Dwalin, "Well that was more interesting than I was expecting…" Nori said thoughtfully.
"What was?" Bofur pretended to look at the label on his bottle.
"Didn't you see that?" Nori pointed at Eilin that was musing at her bullseye.
"I just saw Thorin assisting his maiden in archery, what did you see?" Bofur spat and placed the bottle down.
"Formidable competition. You need to amp up your game in order to win this one," Nori raised his brow.
"No way can Thorin be interested in her," Bofur frowned with uncertainty.
"Them sparks were hot enough to light the fires of Erebor's monstrous furnaces, I tell you," Nori looked at Dwalin playfully.
Dwalin pursed his lips, but didn't speak.
Bofur crossed his arms and frowned as Thorin walked back to the city and Eilin remained there musing for several minutes, before deciding to try a shot again. She followed his advice and her aim may have not been as perfect as his, but it was pretty close to the centre. She clapped happily at seeing some results. They could have been even better, but her stomach was in tight knots, her heart was palpitating, her legs were shaky and her arms terribly unsteady...and how could they not be, after what he just did with her, or after what he just told her? Her mind was already trying to remember the route to the royal training grounds and she was planning ahead which pony to ask for, before the King was out of her sight.
Not even noticing the troubled looks from Bofur, Dwalin and Nori. Totally missing that Karunn was standing several feet behind Dwalin, her eyes dead cold upon the maiden that had risen from cleaning horse shit in the Iron Hills, to having the King of Erebor at her service. Eilin didn't feel the dark energy coming from that side of the river. Her mind was already travelling far ahead after lunch as she shot again and again with renewed fervour each time she hit the target one step closer to the bullseye. Each shot causing several events to set off in motion…for and against her on equal terms.
She just wanted to show him how much she tried to learn…from him…and for him…..or plainly...egotistically to admit that she wanted to have him to herself once more.
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