***************************************...******************************************
***************************************...******************************************
One final chance
"Hey that is so pretty!" Celebriel admired Durin's ring.
"I know." -He smiled proudly and caught her arm pulling her behind a column- "Now silence."
Celebriel conformed to his wishes. "It's a bit big for your finger though. It might fall off."
"Master Nameless will make a necklace out of it for me until I grow older and be able to wear it." He searched down the corridor for any sign of his mother.
"Good idea. Who gave it to you?" Celebriel couldn't stop admiring either the ring or Durin's face.
"My dad, because I was very courageous and I protected him!" Durin bragged and his face lit up.
Celebriel tittered. "You are very brave indeed."
"I might give this ring one day to my future wife, like dad gave his ring to my mom." Durin murmured and his eyes darted around sharply.
Celebriel's face became crimson. "So you will give it to me?"
Durin stared at her. "Why you?"
"I might be your wife one day…" The Elfling rejoined emphatically.
Durin flinched. "Yack Celebriel…we are too young to think like that now."
Celebriel's drive got grounded hard. "Maybe you'd like to give it to that tom-boy Lis…"
Durin shuddered. "Yack times a hundred. Can you shut up with this nonsense?"
Celebriel crossed her arms. "Well if you talk like that I will never marry you."
"Good!" Durin spat and saw his mom appearing in the hallway along with Lord Balin.
Celebriel scowled at him. "If that is how you feel I am going home. I am tired and hungry. I am not in the mood to take part in your little adventures." She made to get up and blow their cover, but Durin was quick to yank her down again.
"Stay down, they are going to see us!" He shushed.
Celebriel peeped above his shoulder. "Why are we sneaking up on your mom by the way?"
"I fear she might tell master Nameless to leave." Durin sulked.
"How do you know?" Celebriel grasped his shoulder for support in order to see better.
"That's his room. What is she doing at his room along with dad's advisor? This is serious and I know they are going to tell him to leave because he is a Petty Dwarf and they don't want him to keep me company." Durin returned sourly.
"You really like that guy." Celebriel remarked.
He gestured for her to keep silent.
When his mom and Balin entered the rooms, Durin got up, took Celebriel's hand and led her to one of the adjoining rooms. "I like him a lot and I want him to stay. Now come on."
"Where are we going?" She tiptoed after him.
"To listen in on them." Durin knocked on the door of the adjoining room.
"This eavesdropping got you in trouble with your father. It is going to get you in trouble with your mom too!" Celebriel warned.
"No it won't. Now hush." He commanded and they both remained silent for an answer.
"No one is in." Celebriel whispered and looked fearfully at the corridor expecting someone to appear at any moment.
"Yeah…think so too…" He said and turned the handle. He opened the door and peaked inside. When he saw it was empty he drew Celebriel inside.
"My heart is pounding like mad." She exhaled and leaned against the door.
"That's what a friendship with a Dwarf feels like." Durin replied casually and walked to the wall. He placed his ear on it and closed his eyes.
Celebriel crossed her arms and humphed. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Listen in on them…" he stared at her.
"You think our walls are paper thin?" Celebriel uncrossed her arms and marched up to him.
"Dad says they are." Durin remarked.
She waved him off. "That's so silly. Our homes are very well build. Only a Dwarf would have diminished the ability of other races to build as well as your kin does."
"Can you keep it down? I am trying to listen." Durin gestured annoyed.
Celebriel opened the windows and looked outside. "Get away from the wall and come here you doofus."
Durin straightened up. "What did you call me?"
"Come over here now!" Celebriel called him.
Durin stomped over peeved. "What do you want?"
She grabbed his hand and pulled him out at the balcony. "The only way to hear in on them is to go there. Their window is open. We will be able to hear everything."
Durin grabbed the railing. "And how do you propose we do that? There is a huge gap between the balconies." He blurted.
Celebriel pushed him out of the way and casually climbed over the railing.
He yelped and grabbed her forearm. "Are you mental?!"
"First time I am seeing the mighty Durin afraid." Celebriel flicked her brow sassily and pushed him away.
"You are going to fall to your death!" He grabbed his hair and his eyes bulged in terror.
"I've done this a hundred times already. Do you think you are the only daredevil of the company? See how easy it is…" She said nonchalantly and stepped on the stony ledge. Then before Durin had the time to stop her she reached out and grabbed one of the thick tree roots that twisted around the outside walls. She stepped on a small overhang with her dainty feet and grinned at him.
"For Mahal's holy beard…." He muttered at a loss and regarded the impressive drop under Celebriel's feet in pure terror.
"If you want to hear what you mother says to Nameless, then follow me." She whispered and without waiting for him she gripped the railing of the other balcony, stepped on the ledge and then jumped inside.
Durin's mouth dropped open at that challenge. How was he ever going to do that without looking like a total wimp to this girl?
Celebriel stooped down next to the window and gestured at him to come over.
Durin steeled his heart and gritted his teeth. Then he prayed for some courage in order to try this leap of faith. It wasn't the legacy of his reincarnation that he asked help from, neither the Gods. It was his father. He tried to imagine his dad in a similar predicament. What would he have done in Durin's place?
Thorin Oakenshield never runs away from a fight and neither does his son.
Durin's face settled in determination. He inhaled deeply and pulled himself over the railing. It took him far longer than Celebriel to let go of one hand in order to grab the thick tree root and when one of his feet landed on the overhang he didn't dare look down as his heart was ready to jump out of his chest.
He gripped the roots and the vines tightly, hanging on for dear life and felt his feet numb and his stomach in tight knots. The more he feared the drop, the more unstable his legs became until finally his boot that was way too thick for the overhang lost its footing and for a few brief moments he found himself dangling above the chasm of death only by his hands. Celebriel saw his distress and made to climb over the railing to help him, but he managed to get his footing again.
Durin leaned his forehead on the branches and counted inward for his heart to calm down. His wounded pride was what set his hands and legs in motion again or else he would have remained frozen out there until a grown up came to get him off that bloody tree. When he managed to climb above the railing and his feet touched solid ground again he propped his elbows on his knees and heaved. "I am going to kill you for this."
Celebriel placed her finger on her mouth. "Hush. Come…listen." She grabbed his elbow and tagged him to the open windows.
Durin stooped low and took a quick glimpse inside. When he drew back his features were twisted. "That's not Nameless!" He gestured.
Celebriel nodded. "I know. Who is he?" she mimed.
He pulled her close and whispered in her ear. "Lord Durar. One of the Seven High Lords."
"We should go then." She gesticulated towards the other balcony.
"No! I want to listen!" He countered silently and kneeled down close to the window in order to eavesdrop on his mother and one of the most important members of the Seven apart from his uncle Dain.
"Close the door." Thorin commanded Dwalin and his eyes turned unyielding upon the crooked figure of his father-in-law.
Thorin felt his nape crawling with anger. "Is this the man?"
Dwalin raised his brow. "Yes."
Othin retreated more into the shadows in a futile effort to escape the inevitable. He would have preferred facing Balin's accusations, in the stead of facing the King's scrutiny anytime. He was not prepared for this….hell all he wanted to do was flee. Through the damn balcony if possible. He calculated how big of a drop that was and dismissed the idea. If he didn't die on the spot, he would most certainly be arrested. Both outcomes would break the heart of young Durin and Nameless didn't want to disappoint these children. His couldn't stomach the thought.
"Lift your head up and salute the King of the North as appropriate." Dwalin commanded.
Nameless made a feeble attempt to raise his head, which failed and then he knelt to the floor. He touched the cold tiles with his forehead and prayed inward that his sentencing would be short and vicious….like he deserved it. This encounter had been inevitable from the moment he decided to lurk in Mirkwood with the faint hope that he'd have a glimpse of her…and of her babies….Now he had no right to cower away from this. He had to stand up and face the overwhelming judgment that was preparing to be catapulted his way through the most powerful man that had ever ruled his kin besides Durin himself. His palms stained the tiles with their sweat as he muttered. "My King…"
Thorin took an unsteady shaking step forward. "Lift your head. I want to see your eyes."
Nameless found himself unable to move as the terror licked his spine.
Thorin pulled his arm from Dwalin's grasp aggressively and took another step closer to the man, feeling his heart bursting with unfathomable fury. "Lift your head …" The command was bristling with rage.
Nameless made a frail effort that ended up in a slightly askew head with most of his hair still covering his face.
A low growl rumbled through Thorin chest and in two wavering steps he was over Nameless. He seized his forearm and hauled him up with unexpected strength. "Look at me!" He demanded and their eyes locked.
What Thorin saw in those green eyes made his heart halt. "I know you…I've seen you before, in Erebor."
Othin pressed his lips and his eyes overflowed with tears.
"You've been in my presence recently haven't you?" Thorin's eyes thinned.
Othin closed his eyes and averted his head.
Thorin wanted to see Othin's eyes again…the ones that were so similar to his wife's. Instead he saw Dwalin making an attempt to come close and raised his hand. "Stop…" -He whispered at his best friend and then his eyes seared at Eilin's father- "I want to see the visage of the man who abandoned his only offspring to the vitriol of lesser men, uncaring for her fate. I want to understand if there is any trace of emotion behind those eyes or just plain old cruelty."
Nameless' heart fell to the darkest pits. "Please Sir…" His voice was muffled.
Thorin's strong fingers twisted brutally around the man's forearm, bruising him. "Please? Have you any idea what your daughter had to go through in order to survive after you left her in that bloody tavern you son of a bitch?!" Thorin thundered.
Dwalin tried to restrain him. "Stop Thorin…no!"
The King pushed him off with such strength that Dwalin had to grab the back of a chair in order not to topple over. He gazed at his friend with mild disbelief.
Nameless felt his knees unlocking and it was only Thorin's strong hands, which held him up.
Thorin lurched at him hard. "She was raped your filthy blood-sucker! The scum of Middle Earth defiled your daughter's womanhood repeatedly and she had to sustain through all that pain and humiliation because you were not brave enough to keep her safe!"
Dwalin tried to unclasp Thorin's deadly grip from Nameless' lapels. "Leave him Thorin…no! Stop it!" He shouted.
Another even stronger shove send Dwalin sprawling to the floor and Thorin's hands came around Nameless' neck this time, intending to throttle him to an inch of his life. "The gentlest woman I have ever met, who was worth to live alongside the Gods, was instead forced to sleep next to whores and bow her head to the worst villains just so she could survive, while you were out there living your life! She suffered because of you! She agonized all her life, questioning why she wasn't enough for her parents and now you have the audacity to appear out of nowhere and rock her world?! I am going to bloody kill you! I swear you are not going to get out of this room alive!" Thorin roared and his fingers squeezed Nameless' neck so hard his eyes rolled back into his head and his skin turned purple. He tried to clasp Thorin's grip of death, but it was impossible.
Eilin's father felt life leaving him and the world turning black around him and he was ready to accept this punishment from the King. He knew he deserved it for everything he had done to his daughter…..or more for everything he never did for her. The words of the King for the fate of Eilin had been enough to steal away any need he had for survival so his final gasps for air and feeble attempts to be released were half-hearted and initiated only by an instinctual need for survival. His mind wished for the King to put him out of his misery.
The only man able to stay Thorin's hand reached out and grabbed his wounded finger so violently the King howled in pain and Dwalin found the opportunity to pull him away from Othin. "In the name of your children stop!" He bellowed.
Othin collapsed on the floor, grabbed his throat and was overcome by a coughing fit that ended up with intense vomiting.
"Let me go!" The King howled and tried to get released from Dwalin's strong grip.
"I will not! What are you going to do? Kill Eilin's father just like that? Will you kill the grandfather of your children you bloody idiot?" Dwalin heaved from the difficulty he had to contain Thorin despite his ill state.
"If I have to in order to avenge what she went through because of him, yes!" Thorin snarled and fought Dwalin's arms to no avail.
"And you think Eilin will thank you for that?" Dwalin snapped.
That was the only thing that seemed to put a stop in Thorin's overwhelming wrath. He exhaled hard and felt his eyes overflowing with tears that he bit back furiously. His fingers wrapped around Dwalin's forearm so forcefully that the strong bodyguard yelped in pain like a little puppy. "Release me." He commanded.
"Do you think your children will thank you for killing their grandfather?" Dwalin tried to reason.
"He is not worth to be called either a father or a grandfather! Don't offend these sacrosanct words in this contemptible manner!" Thorin barked.
"He might not be worth the name, but that is not reason enough to do him in you bloody fool. I thought you told me you had the mental clarity to handle this!" Dwalin growled.
Thorin grabbed Dwalin's hands and pulled them apart. Then he staggered away from him.
Dwalin got on his feet quickly and pointed at him. "Don't make me tackle you again, for I swear to Mahal I am going to break your wounded finger if I have to!" He warned.
Thorin turned haughtily towards Othin who was still fighting to breathe. "Pull him up." He spat.
Dwalin walked over to Othin and grabbed his arm. "Hey mate, you alright?"
Othin nodded, but was unable to speak as his coughing hadn't relented.
"Pull him up!" Thorin barked and it was as if a whip echoed inside the rooms making Dwalin's body instinctively tense. He knew how much to push Thorin when he was in this kind of mood and he was reaching the limits of what he was able to do now.
"Can you stand up?" He asked Othin.
The man nodded and gripped Dwalin's forearm tightly for some support as the bodyguard helped him. He wavered on his legs and Dwalin had to wrap his arm under the man's armpit to keep him up.
"I don't like you at all…" Thorin's eyes thinned on him with malevolence.
"As if you had to state the obvious. You almost killed him…" Dwalin humphed and steadied Othin who was swaying back and forth ready to puke again.
"I deserve all the hate you have for me Sir….all the hate my daughter has for me…" Othin croaked.
Thorin wiped his tunic and flicked his long hair away from his face loftily. He gazed at Othin with enviable detachment considering that a few moments ago he almost choked him to death. "How much do you want?"
Othin looked up with a confused frown and rubbed his sore neck. "What?" He croaked.
"How much gold do you want to make yourself scarce?" Thorin's brow arched in apathy.
Dwalin cringed in confusion, but didn't try to intervene.
Othin shook his head and his blurry vision tried to discern the King's outline. "I don't want any gold your Majesty."
"Don't you? Why did you come here then? Why did you decide to appear after so many years? You weren't there when your daughter was sleeping next to prostitutes. You weren't there when she was sexually assaulted and she needed your protection. You were absent during all those painful experiences of her life and now that you learned your daughter married so high in rank and rules the golden city of Erebor you decided to make your grant entrance, didn't you?" Thorin spoke with unfathomable detachment.
Othin's eyes filled with tears anew. He pushed Dwalin away and crawled on his hands and knees in front of Thorin. He leaned down and kissed Thorin's naked foot. "I swear to you Sir that I never thought of your gold or your position. That is not why I am here. I swear!"
"Three chests of gold. Will that be enough?" Thorin crossed his arms and gazed down at Othin haughtily.
Dwalin cupped his forehead and averted his eyes. He didn't want to be witness to this, especially if Othin accepted the offer.
Othin shook his head and bellowed. "No Sir, it is not the gold. You have misjudged me….I suffered by leaving my child behind, but I had no choice…no choice…please…give me a chance…"
"Give you a chance…" –Thorin humphed contemptuously- "Three chests of gold, a healthy horse, new clothes and an opportunity for work in the Blue Mountains, but under one condition."
Othin's hands shook hard around Thorin's shin. "No…no…no…" He spluttered.
"You will leave and never return. You shall never reveal your name to Eilin and you will not attempt to have another meeting with any of my children. We in turn shall keep your identity a secret and you shall be employed under a new identity." Thorin continued unemotionally.
Othin shook his head. "No…no…please…no." He blurted.
Dwalin couldn't remain quiet any longer. "What the hell are you doing Thorin?"
The King lifted his hand in authority. "Silence!"
Dwalin blanched.
Thorin turned his arrogant eyes to Othin. "Think about my offer. A new life away from the dishonorable name you have created for yourself. No one will know who you are and you will have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your days."
"You are telling me to stay away from young Durin and young Thrárin?" Othin's words were garbled and muted by his heart-wrenching sobs.
"That goes without saying." Thorin rejoined coldly.
"Thorin!" Dwalin made an attempt to stop him again.
The King's burning eyes halted Dwalin's drive. Then he turned stonily back at Othin. "I am offering you the opportunity of a lifetime."
Othin stuttered unintelligibly.
"Your answer?" Thorin crossed his arms.
Dwalin backed away and sat at the edge of the couch unable to comprehend what his friend was doing. First he tried to kill Eilin's father and then he was bribing him away from his daughter. The first reaction was so much like Thorin, the second had nothing to do with him.
Othin's head shook uncontrollably and he gagged a few times before managing to speak. "You think I am an ignoble crook who saw the opportunity to gain money from his daughter, don't you?"
"Aren't you?" Thorin's eyes were unbearably icy.
"I will not bother my daughter or her children again my Lord. I will leave this evening if you will allow me…." Othin gasped and wiped the fresh tears that sprung from his eyes. Even the thought of betraying Durin was breaking him more than all the hostility or the disparaging words from the King today.
"Dwalin tell Balin to send the ravens in Erebor. They are to send over three chests of gold and a good horse….." Thorin began, but Othin's pained voice stopped him.
"I don't want your gold Sir. I will leave in the night like the criminal you feel I am and I will never bother you again. I will not disturb my daughter at all, but can I beg you for one last favor?"
"You have no right to beg me for anything…." Thorin's lips curled up in disgust.
"Please allow me to stay in Mirkwood. I will not bother anyone. I will hide in the caves like I used to and I will eat what I can hunt. Just please let me stay there…please…please…I beg you…" Othin closed his eyes and rivers of tears stained his wrinkled face.
Dwalin turned away, unable to witness this anymore.
"You refuse my gold and a life of plenty in exchange for a thug life that is below even the filthiest Petty Dwarf?" Thorin's brow arched.
"Yes…it will be the ultimate honor for me …." Othin exclaimed.
"The life of a Petty Dwarf an honor? Why?" Thorin eyes were hard.
"Because I will be close enough to catch a glimpse of my daughter and my grandchildren every once in a while….without bothering them." Othin whispered broken.
"Oh, give me a break." –Thorin humphed with a side-smirk of contempt- "You didn't care enough to sustain your daughter through her hardest times and you will make such a big sacrifice now in the hopes of seeing your forsaken family from afar once in a blue moon?"
Othin knelt to the floor and crossed his hands in prayer to the King. "I know I must seem like the lowermost filth to you, someone who is not worth even a thread of your compassion. I will not try to make any excuses for myself and for what I did to my child. I placed myself in exile all these years and denied to use my name as the least castigation for deserting her to the sick caprices of lesser men. You think I crawled to Erebor like a snake in order to take part of Eilin's fortune, but you are mistaken Sir. I don't want your gold, I don't want a place in your Kingdom and I don't want the security you are offering. I will take all the wrath you have for me happily and I will sustain through any torture or torment you wish to place me under if I am given the chance to admire her and my grandchildren from afar. They will never know my presence…I promise. Just allow me to stay close by until death closes my eyes. I know I don't merit any special treatment from you, but as a father to a father …I am beseeching you….please don't send me away from them….I don't want to leave them ag…." He was unable to finish as his tears choked him.
Dwalin shook his head and dag his fingers in his knees.
Thorin crossed his arms behind his back and started pacing calculatedly around Othin's shrunken body. "So you deny my gold for an opportunity to see your family…"
"From afar…I shall not bother them!" Othin eyes looked up with a readiness that made Thorin's brow lift an inch more.
"Isn't it too late to ask for redemption old man?" Thorin snarled.
Othin lowered his head and nodded. "Too late…that is why I will remain hidden."
"You made your plea as a father…" Thorin drawled.
Othin nodded and lifted his head. His face was contorted in pain. "Yes Sir…please…"
"It is a title you are not worthy off…." Thorin rejoined arrogantly.
Othin averted his eyes. "I know….Mahal only knows how right you are..."
Dwalin walked close to the windows and covered his face in order to hide how much this was affecting him emotionally.
Thorin sauntered casually towards the fireplace and observed a beautiful Elven painting for several tense moments. "I will offer the gold one last time…" He said.
"I will not take it Sir…" Othin wept silently.
"Fatherhood is a title I find more exemplary than any other and my heart bleeds for how indifferently you have taken that role when the Gods bestowed you the honor to bring a child to this world." Thorin's voice was stern.
"I was not indifferent Sir….please allow me to explain why I abandoned her. I did it for her own safety….your Majesty…I beg you." Othin stuttered.
"There isn't reason good enough for me to excuse what you did, so save those pleads for the ears of your daughter if she ever honors you with her attentions." Thorin spat vehemently.
Othin looked up at that and so did Dwalin.
"I insist that I dislike you to the core and I don't want you near my wife and children. I hold strong in the belief that you don't deserve to be called a father nor a grandfather, nevertheless you saved my son and I cannot overlook that. Besides before I close my eyes forever I don't want to reveal to Eilin that I killed you, even though I won't have any qualms for trying it out again if you cross her. I believe you deserve a methodical retribution for what you did. I hold you responsible for Eilin's grim fate all these years, but I shouldn't be the one to hand that judgment over to you, for I will be judged in turn as Dwalin said. Whatever is done, must be delivered by your daughter and her alone." Thorin's voice was unemotional.
"Thank heavens." Dwalin closed his eyes in relief.
Othin gazed up eagerly. "My daughter?"
"If she ever decides to honor you with her attentions, as I said before." Thorin pursed her lips.
"She will never have to see me again, Sir! I promise I won't bother her." Othin looked confused out of his wits. He was unable to understand what the King was telling him.
"My son Durin has taken a liking at you I am told." Thorin fingers twisted angrily behind his back.
"Not only Durin." Dwalin's voice held a tone of warning.
Thorin's nose flared at that interruption. "And my son Thrárin even more. He was bringing you food, correct? Actually I cooked for you unsuspectingly several times over." He sounded annoyed beyond reason.
"I never asked for food…it was because of Lord Thrárin's kind heart …" Othin mumbled.
"As much as I hate to admit it you must have done something right in order to gain such fierce protection from them. Especially Durin who was born distrustful." Thorin scrounged his lips.
Othin was at a loss for words. All his tears, fear, pain and bruised neck meant nothing in front of what the King was telling him at that moment.
"Durin is smitten with his grandfather. This man protected your children more than once. He deserves a chance, not to be throttled to death." Dwalin added gravely.
When Thorin turned back to the beautiful painting an imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. "Get him up and give him some water." He said calmly to Dwalin.
The bodyguard frowned in confusion, but did as he was told. When he helped Othin back on the couch and gave him the glass he noticed how unsteady his hands were and helped him take a sip which choked him at first. Dwalin looked at the angry red marks Thorin's fingers had left on this man's neck and cringed. "Do you need anything else?"
Othin shook his head and gave a fearful look at the King's rigid back. "No Sir, thank you."
Dwalin clasped his shoulder. "You fought next to my brother in the Battle of Azanulbizar bravely. Balin remembers you well. You protected King Thrór with your life until the moment he fell."
Thorin's hands tensed.
"I was not brave enough to keep him alive, as I was not brave enough to battle through life's hardships and the harsh laws of our kin in order to keep my daughter with me. I am dishonorable, that is why I have put myself in exile. I am not worth my name or the appraisal to belong to the brave clan of the Firebeards. The King is right. I am only worth death….but that card hasn't been dealt to me yet despite the fact that I chased after it for centuries." Othin's voice was diminished.
Thorin's brows met angrily. "I can do that favor for you easily anytime."
"Thorin!" Dwalin scolded.
Thorin gritted his teeth and inhaled deeply. "Beware. You shall not be allowed to live in Erebor close to my family if you intend to make a run for it whenever it suits you." He said flatly.
Dwalin looked up at that with a ghostly smile, feeling the first traces of relief.
Othin gasped. "In Erebor?"
Thorin swallowed heavily and his wide shoulders tensed. "If I bring you back with us, if my kids bond with you, if Eilin learns about you and decides to give you a second chance and you leave suddenly because it suits you, you die. If you break Eilin's heart, you die. If you break my children's heart, you die. I am going to trace you to the ends of the world and I will slash your throat with my bare hands. Is that clear?"
Othin shook his head and a deep moan erupted from his throat.
Thorin looked loftily above his shoulder. "Is that clear?"
Othin nodded quickly. "Yes…y-es Sir."
"If you remain in Erebor then you will pledge yourself to earn my trust, to reestablish your daughter's faith to humanity and finally earn my children's approval. I will not consent to anything less than that. Decide wisely, because once you choose Erebor there is not turning back unless it is in a casket." Thorin's eyes threw daggers at him.
Othin shuddered hard and his eyes flooded with tears. "You will allow me to stay close to her and the children?" He muttered and his face distorted in agony.
"If you double cross my family I will kill you on the spot. Don't doubt that." Thorin's skin crawled and his impressive voice reverberated in the rooms raising the hair on Othin's arms.
Othin collapsed on the floor overcome. "Tha-nk you …"
"Did you make your choice then?" Thorin raised his brow coldly.
Othin clasped his hands in front of his face in silent prayer and touched the floor with his forehead. "I will follow you to Erebor and I will try to do the best I can…."
"You will not try, you shall DO IT!" Thorin thundered.
Othin shook uncontrollably. "I will, I swear to whatever I hold dear now…I will….I don't want to see Lord Durin disappointed in me. I promised him I would stay. I don't want to break another promise, ever again."
"Isn't it too late to care about breaking promises? You should care more about the dissapointment that always clouds the beautiful eyes of your daughter…the ones that look so much like yours." Thorin's voice filled with unbearable bitterness.
Othin sobbed heavily in his palms.
Thorin walked over and grabbed Othin's lapel. He pulled him up and his eyes seared through him. "If you hurt my wife again I show you the epitome of pain."
Othin shook his head. "I don't want to hurt Eilin anymore. I want to try and make up to her for everything…."
Thorin brought his face down to his. "You won't just TRY…you will make it HAPPEN. Do you understand?" He roared.
Othin closed his eyes and nodded fiercely. "Y-es…y-es…. "
Thorin released Othin and turned to Dwalin. "Make sure you shape him up and inform Balin that he is to return to Erebor with us. He will be offered a home and he will be employed in the armory, making the arrows he so much likes. No one is to know his true identity and above all my wife and children…for the time being."
Othin looked up sharply at that.
Thorin gazed at him long and hard. "You have a chance to approach them on a clean slate. You will work hard to earn a few coins, but I will see you use them in order to provide for your daughter and grandchildren…anything even small things. If I see your earned coins going in your pockets only for yourself I will make you swallow them one by one. You have an opportunity to bond with your daughter and grandkids anew without revealing your dishonorable past. Eilin will not accept you appearing out of thin air just like that. If she learns who you are she will break apart. She has been deeply hurt by your rejection and the neglect she went through as a child. If you wish to have an opportunity to bond with her then approach slowly. Get to know her brilliant mind and appreciate and love her gentle soul. Learn from the start the beautiful child you gave birth to and absorb the true value of her exceptional character. Show her that she can trust you and give her the opportunity to see if she enjoys you as a person. Only then you might have the slightest chance to be accepted by her, not before. During this trial period you will be under my scrutiny, but I will not intervene on your interactions with my family unless I judge them dangerous in any manner. Your failure or your success will depend solely on you. Your failures in the past ended up in a catastrophe so I'd suggest you make a solemn effort to succeed this time for the sake of my wife's sanity and my children's emotional well-being. I couldn't give them a grandfather from my side of the family, maybe against all odds you will prove worthy enough to do that small thing for them….even if you failed to give a worthy father to your daughter."
Othin stood up abruptly and rushed over to Thorin. He grasped his hand and kissed it fervently. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Mahal shall never forget your compassion."
Thorin pulled his hand away. "What is your inner name?"
Othin didn't hesitate. "Urkar."
Thorin huffed sardonically. "Achiever…that is rather ironic, isn't it?"
Othin averted his eyes.
Thorin sighed. "That is the name you shall be known with from now on, until you prove worthy enough to carry your old name once again and reveal your true identity to your daughter. That moment shall be decided by you, but make sure you choose wisely, because I will be breathing down your neck."
Othin covered his face and wept. "Tha-nk you my L-ord. I shall ne-ver forget your benev-olence.."
"Nor his steel grip around your neck. I'd suggest you don't disappoint him. When he gets mad no one can stop him except from me and Dain. He can take on a Mûmakil without blinking and one thing that can make him go insane is someone hurting his wife and kids." Dwalin teased feeling rather amused and also unexpectedly pleased with the outcome of this explosive encounter.
Thorin gave Dwalin a glance of caution and placed his hand on the handle. He debated for several moments if he wanted to offer any words of support to his father-in-law after the berating he dealt out. He looked at Othin above his shoulder and shuddered at the realization that Eilin's father was only a few years older than him and they fought in the same battles as peers once upon a century. His face set in disapproval, he opened the door and left the rooms carrying with him an air of dismissal.
"What are you doing my Lord Durar?" Eilin called.
"I thought I heard a noise coming from the balcony. Shuffling of some sort." Durar scowled towards the windows.
Eilin took his hand in hers tightly. "Please my Lord, I don't have too much time. My husband has finally woken up from his oblivion and I need to return to his side. What I have to tell you is of the greatest importance."
Durar clasped her hand back and closed his eyes with a sigh of obvious relief. "Oh, thank the great Mahal." He whispered.
"Whatever for?" Eilin frowned.
"I thought you called me here to inform me that the King's health had taken a turn for the worse." Durar closed his eyes.
Eilin's lips toyed with a smile. "Oh dear heaven. I didn't want to scare you this way. No, the King is doing much better. He woke up twice since yesterday. He is feverless and even though he is still weak, he is on the road to a quick recovery."
Durar pressed her hand and took a seat. "Thank you my Lady. These news made my day. I will be sure to inform the Seven. The great Mahal has blessed us all."
Eilin took a seat across from him. "I should have clarified my reasons to call you here so abruptly."
"It would have been preferable your Majesty and I don't mean that as a reproach."
"I know how close your relationship with my husband has gotten the last decade. He sees you as a very near and dear friend. I should have respected the close camaraderie you two share and informed you beforehand that this meeting has nothing to do with my husband…." –At that thought she hesitated and looked at her stippled fingers- "…directly." She added reflectively.
Durar's brows furrowed. "It has to do with the King then indirectly?"
Eilin nodded slowly. "Yes."
Durar straightened his shoulders. "Then tell me your Majesty, what is wrong? Anything that troubles the King I make my business. I am here to assist you and him with my life if necessary."
Eilin felt her heart softening as she witnessed the loyalty of this High Lord to her husband. "I find myself in a difficult position to explain what is going on, as your love for Thorin might clash with the love you have for your family."
Durar's brow clouded. "My wife and my daughter?"
Eilin closed her eyes. "No…I meant more distant relatives."
"Who do you mean?"
Eilin didn't hesitate. "Lady Ith."
"Oh…What happened with Ith?" Durar looked slightly taken aback, but still relatively composed.
It took Eilin several moments of serious contemplation to come to the decision that she had to speak honestly and without any unnecessary diversions. What she wanted to do was risky and it didn't promise the results she wanted, but this man was her best chance to clear up Thorin's name. She inhaled deeply, gazed at him straight in the eyes without any fear and began talking. She was poised and calm as she described everything that had taken place since Ith's arrival and Durar listened unfazed until she revealed Ith's coercion towards the King. That was the moment that Durar's countenance turned several tones darker.
Eilin stared at him. "Her threats about revealing to the Kingdom what has presumably taken place in Thorin's office was instigated by my threat to reveal to you how intimate she was trying to become with my husband."
"An eye for an eye so to say." Durar responded.
Eilin inclined her head. "You can say that. Her despair partly excuses her hasty actions, but as you can understand I cannot allow such a preposterous threat to hover over the head of my husband."
Durar stood up abruptly and began pacing. "How can we know if what my niece says is true?"
"About the King being more forthcoming that appropriate?" Eilin raised her brows.
Durar looked back and nodded. "One cannot but wonder where she got all those ideas. Maybe they are true."
Eilin crossed her hands calmly and stopped her intuitive need to rebuke Durar's assumptions snappishly. "My Lord, you have lived close to the King for ten years. You have seen his valor and his impeccable ethics towards all his people, but above all to his family. You saw how he stood by me against all the High Lords and how he gave up his throne for me. That is not the description of a man who fools around, don't you agree?"
Durar nodded curtly. "Indeed."
"I will never believe that Thorin would ever stoop so low as to risk our love and our family in order to take a lover. This is the same man who lost his first fiancée in a terrible accident and mourned her loss for two centuries before meeting me and committing himself to our family body and soul. Does he seem like a double-dealer to you?"
Durar scratched his beard. "No, of course not."
"He is constantly being pursued by women wherever he sets foot and he always holds character. So much so that in the past he was considered a misogynist. Thorin not only lives by the high morals of our kin, he elevates them to unfathomable heights. What he preaches to his people, he exerts on himself every day. Our King is not an immoral man my Lord. He is the epitome of decency and nobody will convince me that he tried to take in a lover and moreover risk his precious friendship with you over a whim. Our King is a man full of wisdom that rules justly and astutely. He is not a man who is ruled by the passions of the flesh, neither would he ever brainlessly stain his rulership with such filth!" Eilin sounded austere.
Durar turned around. "I agree with everything that you are saying, but why would Ith speak with such ill will of him?"
Eilin stood up and approached him calmly. She touched his hand and smiled. "You are married to a woman, you birthed one and yet it seems you don't know us so well my Lord. Neither does my husband and that is what landed him in this unfortunate position."
"What do you mean?" Durar's brows furrowed.
"I believe that Lady Ith fell for my husband like many other women have in the past and will in the future, until finally our son Durin takes the lead from his father." Eilin smiled.
Durar's face softened with a cautious smile too. "I suppose that could be true. Nobody can deny the King's charm, not even my wife. I can see how Ith might have fallen victim to his allure. Still why would she lie so bluntly?"
"To cover up the fact that she was the one who longed for him from the beginning. The one who tried to become more intimate with him. She tried to twist the story around in order to appear the victim, when she was hunter." Eilin said calmly and led him back to the couch.
"Why would she ever try to do that?" -Durar frowned- "That doesn't sound like my Ith. She is such a quiet girl, minding her own business. After the death of her husband she never cared for any male company. Why would she act so foolishly towards the Royal couple?"
"Because no matter how wise and kind a woman is, when her heart starts beating for a man she can turn to the most foolish creature. I can understand her on that front. I acted as recklessly when I first fell for Thorin. She acted foolishly and she doesn't want you to learn, so she is trying to bend the truth and come out clean." Eilin smiled sweetly needing to lead Durar subtly to do what she wanted him to do, not anger him.
Durar rubbed his forehead. "My wife acted imprudently when she fell for me too I suppose. She did some pretty stupid things to see me and so did I."
"See?" –Eilin pointed at him- "You do understand women better than I thought."
"Well…" -Durar puffed up proudly- "I do have some experience with them, my Lady."
"Should have expected that from a man like you." Eilin looked at him amiably.
Durar blushed and looked away. "But my Ith….still I find so hard to believe that she is lying."
"I see you are very torn, my Lord and my heart aches for you. That is why I wanted you to come here so we could discuss in private, without the presence of my husband neither the influence of your niece." Eilin rejoined.
"What do you want me to do?" He asked emphatically.
"I want you to send her back home my Lord." Eilin's voice came down.
"Because she declares the King tried to become intimate with her? If that has even the remote possibility to be true then sending her away will be unfair. The King will have to apologize to her instead." Durar's face hardened.
Eilin smiled and remained collected because she had been expecting this reaction sooner or later. "Lady Ith was adamant that she was the one who stopped the King's advances both at his office and at the river shore before I appeared. She professed that she was not inclined to allow him to destroy his family so easily. A noble declaration don't you think?"
Durar nodded slowly. "Indeed, she acted honorably."
"If I prove to you that she is still eager and willing to meet secretly with my husband under our very noses, will you believe that she is possibly lying about what happened in his office too? She still longs for him despite declaring that she pushed him away to in order to protect his family. If she says the truth then she will deny any kind of private meeting with the King and she will prove her impeccable ethics to us once and for all. If she attends the meeting then things won't be in her favor anymore. Do you agree?" Eilin raised her brow.
"How can you prove that?" Durar scowled.
"You have to trust me, but you must also be willing to accept the proof that I will present you, even if it taints the immaculate ethics of your niece." Eilin added with composure.
"She said she stopped the King's advances twice?" Durar raised his brow sternly.
"Yes." Eilin nodded.
"Then she would never accept to meet him in private. I agree with that." Durar scowled.
"I know." She inclined her head elegantly.
"You seem so calm about all this." Durar's lips pursed.
"I trust my husband." Eilin raised her brow.
Durar exhaled roughly and looked towards the window. "You think she used that coercion in order to frighten you?"
"In order to keep me quiet. She didn't want me to reveal to you what she has been doing. You are her only relative and she thinks highly of you. She doesn't want your contempt because she allowed her heart to fall for the wrong man. I can understand how desperate she must be. You are her only support." Eilin said quietly.
"Indeed I am….what did that brainless child do for Mahal's sake? She's going to get us in a lot of trouble if she goes through with her threats. Truth or not this must be stopped." Durar scratched his bald patch and started pacing in front of the fireplace.
"What she said about the King is not true my Lord and I will provide you with the proof soon." Eilin came over and touched his shoulder.
"She doesn't know I am here?" Durar turned and looked at her.
"No. I am sorry for causing so much grief to you, but I had to reveal the truth. Your niece played a rather dangerous game and entered very deep and uncharted waters that she is not well equipped to sail, don't you agree?"
Durar nodded quickly. "Not equipped at all."
"If I prove to you her willingness to throw her precious principles out the window just for a secret meeting with the King will you take over for us?" Eilin pressed his shoulder.
"Send her away you mean?" Durar's eyes glared angrily.
Eilin tilted her head. "Yes."
"Of course I will. I am a man of honor and the last thing I want is to see the King violated by one of my family members." Durar thundered.
"When the time comes you shall do so quietly. Lady Ith shall not learn that I spoke to you, neither that I set up the trap for her. Yu will find a way to send her back home safely and explain to her that her silence is in the benefit of all parties." Eilin continued with the same unwavering control that she had through the entire meeting.
Durar bowed courteously. "I will, my Lady. I promise. Now can I see the King please?"
Eilin pressed his hand and gave him a generous smile. "Not until we clear up this mess with Lady Ith. The King is unaware of this conversation between us or the coercion that hangs above his head at the moment. I trust in your taciturnity until we have some valid answers to all our questions."
Durar nodded solemnly. "Very well, my Lady."
"King Thranduil will be your most gracious host until I call for you. It will not take long my Lord." Eilin inclined her head cordially.
"I will be waiting for news with bated breath." -Durar pressed his fist on his chest- "Until then I continue to pray for Thorin's health to keep improving."
Eilin smiled gracefully. "I thank you for the bottom of my heart."
He kept his head bowed and his fist on his heart until she opened the door. "Good evening your Majesty."
"Good evening, rest well and enjoy the food. It is delicious." Eilin threw carelessly above her shoulder and closed the door behind her.
That is when she met Balin's austere eyes. "Everything okay?" He asked.
She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. "I really hope so my Lord…I really hope so…" She muttered and got ready to leave when another door opened up close by and she came face to face ….
…with her husband.
Thorin stopped and looked at her lost for several moments.
"Huh?" Her lips parted and her eyes became a mixture of dread and confusion. She looked back at Durar's door quickly.
Thorin looked back at Othin's door.
"What are you doing here honey?" She murmured bewildered.
"Couldn't sleep. Was looking for you." Thorin said quickly and made sure Othin's door wouldn't budge.
"Oh…" Eilin tucked a long wavy lock behind her ear and looked at Balin who flicked his shoulders dazed.
"What are you doing here?" Thorin asked and looked at the door behind her.
She checked to see it was closed properly. "Uhm…I saw you were not in bed and I was searching for you."
"Behind that door?" Thorin pointed at it.
"Yeah well….I asked around and the Elven guards told me they saw you in this corridor. I was knocking around just to check you were not in any rooms. So were you searching for me behind that door?" She raised her brows and pointed behind him.
Thorin cleared his throat. "Yes, I was apparently doing the same thing as you."
She laughed nervously. "Well, isn't that what couples who love each other dearly always do? They synchronize, don't they Lord Balin?"
Balin smiled tensely. "I think so, right Dwalin?"
Dwalin crossed his arms. "I wouldn't know."
She stippled her fingers anxiously and gave Thorin a sheepish look. "So now that you found me what do you want us to do?"
Thorin leaned against the wall and grabbed his shoulders protectively. "Ask you to escort me back to my rooms, because this small excursion has exhausted me." He was apparently the first one to get composed quicker from the two.
"Yeah, he can barely stand." Dwalin said with pursed lips.
Eilin turned to Balin and leaned close to his ear. "Move Lord Durar from that room and keep your mouth shut to the King."
Thorin pulled Dwalin in quickly before she came over. "Move Othin to another room and keep your mouth shut about this meeting to Eilin!"
Dwalin nodded and raised his brow at his brother who reciprocated.
Eilin clasped Thorin's hands and felt how cold they were. "You are freezing." She looked up concerned.
He pulled her in and leaned his cheek on the top of her head. When he felt her arms wrapping under his armpits and clutching his shoulder-blades every single tension in his body evaporated. "Can we just go?" He whispered.
She kissed his exposed chest. "Sure my love, come on."
He allowed her small frame to take part of his weight and drew her head on his shoulder as she helped him gently towards their rooms.
Dwalin stood next to his brother and observed the Royal couple for several silent moments.
"Whom did she talk to?" Dwalin asked.
"Durar. Him?" Balin retorted.
"Othin."
Balin raised his brow. "How did that go?"
"Othin got away within an inch of his life." Dwalin yawned bored.
Balin nodded. "I was expecting that from Thorin. You did well to go with him. Eilin's father was lucky."
"What did she say to Durar?" Dwalin asked.
"Unfortunately I was excluded from that meeting." Balin scratched his ear.
"Those two are unbearable." Dwalin raised his brow towards the fading shadows of the Royal couple.
"They are so much alike it is uncanny." Balin pursed his lips.
"How about a drink?" Dwalin said.
"I sure need one…." Balin rejoined and they quietly moved towards the opposite direction.
***************************************...******************************************
***************************************...******************************************