Chapter 28: Unexpected Allies
There was a knock at the door just as Torvi finished the final stitch to mend the hole that Jorra had noticed in her game bag this morning. She looked up at the clock that sat on top of the mantel and frowned. It was only a half past noon, she was not expecting Fili for another half hour. Despite this slight oddity, she was not about to complain in having him earlier than expected.
Not bothering to put the bag away, she flung it onto the empty chair beside her and nearly skipped over to the door. Her hand firmly wrapped its fingers around the latch and swung the door open, her face smothered in a happy grin.
The instant her eyes settled on the person before her, the smile was replaced by a wary and hardened look. Ferin stood before her, his hands clinging to the front of his tunic. He looked nearly nervous and she would have believed it if it had been anyone else.
"Why are you here?" Her tone was harsher than she had meant but she felt no remorse when she saw his eyes flinch at the brashness of her voice.
"I was hoping I might be able to speak with you," he said in a soft tone that Torvi had a hard time believing it was his voice that produced such a sound.
Torvi studied him with a hard expression as she contemplated on whether or not to grant his request. She looked behind herself, the house was empty and she was not about to let him inside while she was alone. She then surveyed corridor. It was empty but she could at least hear others within their homes and voices echoing down from other areas nearby. At least out side she could be heard if she called out. Slowly, with hesitation she moved to take a step forward but was stopped as Torvi stuck an arm across the doorway, blocking him from entering.
"Outside," she said firmly. "You may speak with me, but you are not welcome into my home."
Ferin frowned.
"This is a matter that would be best spoken privately and not in such a public place," Ferin contested.
Torvi did not hesitate as her arm stayed firmly across the doorway.
"Then you may as well be on your way," Torvi countered, her voice staying firm with conviction. "You may either speak with me outside or not at all. I will heed your concerns under my terms and my terms only."
It was obvious that this was not what he was wanting by his dissatisfied look but after looking to his left and right and seeing the corridor empty he relented with a nod. Torvi stepped out from the doorway and securely latched it shut before folding her arms and looking at him expectantly.
"Well," she began when he failed to speak immediately. "What did you want to speak with me about."
"I am sure it comes as no surprise to you if I told you that my father is planning to take the power from the Durin's?" Ferin asked.
While of course the news was not surprising, hearing it being confirmed from the lips of Ferer's on son was. Torvi did well to hide the majority of her surprise brought upon by his statement but given the twitch of a single eyebrow, Ferin detected that he had her interest.
"Aye," she said before crossing her arms across her chest. "And are you here to bid me an offer? If so, you might as well save your breath. I believe I have already made my position of which side I will be taking to your father. But feel free to pass the message on again, I will not take part in anything that would oppose the line of Durin. Now please remove yourself from my doorstep and never return."
With her dismissal firmly said, Torvi moved to reopen her door, not taking any regard as to whether or not Ferin was listening to her words. She was stopped when his hand wound itself around her wrist.
"Wait," he said hurriedly.
Torvi paused and looked down to his hand clasped around her appendage. It was not a tight grip like the last time he had his hands on her. It was loose enough that she would have been able to easily pull herself free. It was a gesture to pause her departure, not stop. She looked up from his grasp to meet his eye. There was no malice in his face, only a faint look of pleading desperation. The expression was only there for a moment before he quickly looked down at his feet and released his grasp.
"My apologies," he said with a stiff bow before looking back up at her. His face now one of renewed conviction. "I know you have strong reasons to distrust me, but I must ask you to at least believe me when I say I have not come here on my father's accord but only of my own reasons. I have not come to ask you to join against the Durin's but instead, I have come to offer my own services. I wish to extend an entente between us."
Torvi stared at him, her mind blank as she was at a loss for words. Ferin was standing before her, offering his services, offering an alliance. She searched his face for any hint of deception or trickery on his part. But his eyes, while still holding their usual dark hue, where soft and innocent. Everything about his stature and composure confirmed his aback by the change in his usual continuance, Torvi let her arms fall down to her sides from her earlier guarded stance as she looked at him. He stared at her, his chest moving steadily in and out as he waited for her answer. Despite the honesty that seemed to emanate from him, Torvi knew better than to promptly give him immediate trust. She had learned her lesson already.
It was like standing at the edge of an unfamiliar river passing. The water looked smooth and calm but there was no telling of what lay beneath the steady flow. Traitorous undercurrents that could sweep a person off their feet, sudden dropoffs that could find someone submerged under dark waters, or harsh rocks that could cut deeply into the soles of a crossers feet. There was only on way in which a person could cross uncharted waters. Slowly and cautiously. Torvi took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes and contemplated the decision before her. As she let out the breath, she slowly let her eyelids lift as she looked at the dwarf before her. Her mind was made up and as she opened her mouth she felt as if she were taking the first step to ford that unfamiliar river. With one word, she dipped her toes into the water.
"Why," she asked.
"Why?"
"Why would you go against your father? Your own blood?" she clarified.
"Because I have other desires for my future than what my father plans," he said matter factly.
Torvi let her eyes move back and forth for a moment as she contemplated her next question.
"Why are you coming to me?" she asked, her voice one of genuine curiosity. "If you wish to pledge yourself to the Durin's then why are you not seeking out the Durin's yourselves?"
Ferin seemed to contemplate her answer as he stared blankly at her. It was a valid question, but he had his reason for not seeking out the Durin's. He knew approaching Torvi did not seem to support his cause, but when it came down to it, there truly was no other option. He looked at her and caught the distinct look of wary distrust hidden under her placid expression. He had to admit, she had changed a lot in the past few months. A feat that he had not anticipated in dealing with when he made the decision to seek her out. It was that underlying look that told him complete honesty was his only chance of success.
"If I were to approach King Thorin, it would not go unnoticed by my father. He would have his suspicions and I cannot risk him thinking I am going against him. My father would see to it that dire consequences would be enacted."
Torvi contemplated his reasoning when the implication of his words dawned on her. A look of pitied shock came across her face. But despite her feeling sorry for the man, she was not about to accept this as a full answer.
"Why not Fili then?"
At this, Ferin released a skeptical snort of bitter amusement. "You really think Fili would have even given me even a moment of his time?"
Torvi grimaced at the truth of his words. "I suppose not," she agreed.
"And even if he were to let me speak with him, it would still be took risky. I cannot take any chances." His tone was more solemn than before as he spoke with his eyes cast down at his folded arms. A small gap of silence filled itself between them before he looked back up to her, his dark eyes connecting with her own. "That is why I sought out you first. I offer my service to them, but I need you vouch for me."
Torvi tilted her head to the side as she stared at him.
"And you thought that, I would be the first one to trust you?" her tone had a sharp bite of bitterness that caused a look of doubt come across Ferin's face. "Why, of all people under this mountain, am I the one you would think would vouch for you? After what you have done? After what your father has done and plans to do?"
A familiar darkened look of contempt came to his face at her last words.
"I am NOT my father," he growled sternly.
His tone caused Torvi to visibly startle and he could see the slight fear cast across her face. Seeing this, Ferin quickly softened his face and uncrossed his arms to look less threatening. His shoulders sagged as he let out a heavy sigh.
"I apologize," he said in a strained tone as he attempted to keep his voice soft. A practice in which he was still learning.
Torvi witnessed his change in contenance, noting his effort and his quickness to defuse the tension that had seemed to so easily build within him. When he looked back up to her, his eyes had lost their hardness as he looked at her. It made her nervous and uneasy. Was he struggling to keep calm because this was merely an act and he was slipping? Or was it only because he was truly trying to change his ways and he was struggling to keep from falling back into his old ways?
"I came to you because I know you see the goodness in people. I know I am undeserving of your good word of me. But I was hoping you would give me a chance. I do not deny that history does not play in my favor nor does reputation but I have found that I wish to wash myself of such things. I am seeking out to cleanse myself and become a renewed person. I know I do not contain a pure heart and I doubt I will ever have a heart as clean as yours but I do know I am not like my father. If he has a heart, it would be one of blackness. One so dark that it consumes anything that is light. I do not wish to have such a thing confined within my chest. I already know it is tainted but I have hope that not all it lost."
Ferin's tone was that of a man before his maker as he pleaded penitence from his sins. As he spoke, Torvi found nothing but sincerity in his face. Despite this, she kept her own face passive as she acknowledged his words with calculation as Fili instead of emotion as she usually found herself doing. However, her attempt failed when he made his next move. Slowly, he kneeled to the ground his face bowed and eyes cast down to her feet.
"I believe you to be a forgiving person Torvi, so I ask you," he began humbly as he slowly raised his head but remained on his knees. "Will you look past our differences and past struggles and let myself prove to you that I wish for change."
Silence followed his words as they stared back at each other. Torvi's eyes were wide with shock and she was completely oblivious to her mouth hanging agape. Minutes passed as Torvi stared down at him in shock by his action. Ferin was bowing before her in humility, an action she thought he was physically incapable of doing or feeling. Her mind ran wild and frantic while she strived to find a response. As her mind began to settle, Fili came to her thoughts and his many warnings. Her natural instinct told her that his actions were genuine but she knew Fili would not be so easily trusting. She needed more. Slowly she reached out and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Get up," she said in a neutral tone.
At her touch he looked up at her, his face searching for a hint to what her response would be while he slowly rose back to his feet.
"You are correct in your assumption of me being forgiving. I do grant forgiveness to those who earn it," she stated clearly causing a glimmer of hope to come to Ferin's eyes. "However," she continued, "Fili is not, and while Thorin will always do what is best for his Kingdom, he is cautious in trusting those who have wronged him."
The glimmer of hope that had reached his eyes dulled and faded at her words. He lowered his head.
"I see," he said quietly before looking back to her. "Then I suppose I will take my leave, thank you for your time."
He gave her a small bow before pivoting to walk away.
"Wait."
At her call for him to stop, Ferin froze and slowly turned back around to face her. Torvi chewed at her lip, her mind in deep thought as she crossed her arms. A minute passed before she finally looked up to meet his eye.
"I did not say they would not accept you. I will speak with them. But I need to know why you have changed your mind," she demanded.
"If what you say of your father is true, why would you go against him. From what I know, you are a selfish person, you yourself admitted that you are not wanting to follow your father because his desires are not yours. However, preserving you life seems out of character. You implied dire consequences for going against your father and I would not put it past him to destroy his own kin and heir. So why not take a more neutral course, Thorin would not punish you for actions of your father. He is not that kind of a King."
"So I ask you again, Ferin son of Ferer, why are you really doing this? What is in it for you? What do you expect from Thorin as payment?"
Ferin listened all the while she spoke and while her words were true about his father he could not agree that her words of truth did not apply when regarding himself. Yes he was going against his father because it was not what he wanted but it was more. For the first time in his life, he was making a decision for the sake of another not his. He could care less about what happened to him at the moment just as long. At the end of her assessment a long pause of silence passed by before Ferin finally began to speak.
"While I would agree that many of your words are ones of truth, I cannot agree with all" he began quietly, his voice mild. "I have always made my decisions based on what was always best for me. But for this decision I have made it completely with only the wellbeing of another in consideration."
He looked at her, looking for any sign that she understood his meaning before he continued on. As he looked at her, a thought came to his mind. A thought that had been running through his mind quite frequently in that past weeks.
"May I ask you a personal question?" he prompted.
Torvi thought for awhile. It was obvious he was taking a detour in giving an explanation but her curiosity cause her to allow it. "You may ask," she said.
"Do you—is Fili," he struggled to find the right words as he rubbed the the back of his neck and kicked the ground lightly with his toes. "Do you believe in having a One?"
Torvi's head tilted to the side as she looked at him up and down. She was trying to figure out why he was suddenly acting so nervous. For a fleeting moment she thought he was about to confess to her, then her mind changed course as a red flare warning popped into her mind as this could be a trick. Had his father sent him here? Was he here under false pretenses? It would not be the first time. But everything about him seemed genuinely hesitant and it reminded her vaguely of one other time he had seen Ferin like this. It was that night at the restaurant she had gone to with Jorra nearly over a month ago. Keeping this in mind she decided to proceed but with high caution.
"Yes," she said honesty.
"Fili." He said firmly, not as an accusation but more of a confirmation.
"Aye," Torvi confirmed. "Fili is my One."
Ferin nodded but still seemed as if he wanted more. Torvi felt as if she where looking at a book written in elvish that suddenly changed into Khazad. She had never been able to read Ferin before but suddenly it was as if everything made sense as she looked at his face.
"You met your One, haven't you," she said as a surprised statement rather than a question.
Ferin's head popped up from looking down at the ground, his eyes wildly looking at her in desperation.
"I—I have absolutely no idea," he admitted. "I grew up being told it was only a myth, I always believed it to be only a myth. But then—"
"It's the cook's daughter, isn't it?" She asked suddenly cutting him off.
Ferin looked at her in confusion. "How did you—"
"I saw you awhile back at the restaurant. I saw the way you had spoken with her father and your reaction when he had mentioned her." Torvi explained. "I thought it was odd how you had interacted with him, it was just…different."
Ferin gave a shrug. "They look at me differently. I suppose it is because they are new to the mountain and have not learned or heard of the reputation that seems to proceed my family. Their mistake in my character made me want to be that person."
Torvi thought for a moment as she recalled the interaction she had seen what felt like so long ago.
"You're wrong."
At her words he gave her a confused look. Her green eyes bore into his as she spoke truth.
"The person they see is your true character. You cannot fake what I saw that day, it was genuine," Torvi quickly spoke.
Her words took not only Ferin off guard but herself as well. It worried her that she was already easily seeming to fall back into allowing him into her inner circle. A sense of trust had been what made her do it so easily. But she had spoken what her mind and heart had said was truth. Ferin's face which had been full of just a much surprise, slowly morphed into one of gratitude. He gave her a soft smile, one which she recognized to be the rare genuine one she had only ever seen once before.
"Thank you," he said quietly. Slowly he put a hesitant hand on her shoulder. It felt awkward and by the look on his face, Torvi could tell that he too felt uncomfortable about the gesture but he continued to bare his smile as he nodded to her. "You really were meant to be a queen."
They stood there for a prolonged moment. Each of them unsure as to what to do or say. However their quiet moment was abruptly broken when footsteps sounded from down the hall. They each looked to the side to see who was approaching. Dread pooled and flooded Torvi, she felt Ferin's arm quickly retract from her shoulder but it was too late.
Fili stood frozen as he stared down the hall to where they stood near the entrance way of her home. While his feet were frozen and planted to the floor, his entire body quivered as his muscles tightened. Torvi noticed his hands clenched tightly, his knuckles already turning an ashen white while they shook with tremors. Her eyes wandered up his shaking arms to his tense shoulders and strained neck muscles. His jaw was clenched forcing his cheeks to flex and twitch as he ground his teeth together behind the deep frown that adorned his face. The last thing her eyes settled on where his own. The once bright blue orbs that she had always had a fondness for where gone as they were consumed by the black abyss that shadowed any other color as they dilated to their maximum capacity.
Torvi swallowed. Fili's eyes were locked on Ferin and they spoke nothing other than murder. She needed to act quickly. They were in too public of a place and she could not risk Fili losing control now. Not here, not where so many prying eyes could witness. He had been doing so well the past month that she was beginning to believe that the sickness was gone, she had even changed the thought that it had all been her imagination. But at this moment, it was very real and very close to taking over.
Faster than she thought she was physically able to move, she standing in front of him. His eyes and attention did not even register her close proximity and when she called out his name he only continued to glare past here head to where Ferin was still standing. Torvi reached her hands to his face and tentatively placed one on each side of his face as she tried to coax his attention to her.
She called out his name several times again but still his attention remained locked on Ferin. Torvi slowly looked behind her shoulder to where Ferin was standing, his eyes curious as he watched them.
"Ferin," she called gaining his attention. She knew him being here was not ideal but she could not let him leave. At least not yet. They still had things to discuss and he had already seen too much to just let him be on his way.
"Go inside, the door is unlocked," she instructed as she cast her eyes in the direction of her home's door.
Hesitantly, Ferin finally moved toward the door as Torvi turned back to look at Fili. His eyes for the first time moved but only to follow Ferin's movement and the moment she heard the door close, his eyes stayed glued to the point were Ferin had disappeared. His eyes narrowed just slightly as of straining to see past the thick wood to where Ferin was now being hidden from view.
"Fili," she said softly. When he made no show of casting his eyes downward she pulled more firmly on his face to angle it towards her as she spoke more sternly. "Fili!"
His heavy breaths seemed to quicken as his head slowly lowered but his eyes remained unwavering from the door. Torvi let the pad of her thumb slowly caress his cheek.
"Fili," she said softly in a plea.
Finally, Fili's eyes slowly moved down to look at her. The moment his attention was pulled to her she could sense the tension ebb away if only at miniscule proportions. The thin ring of blue grew thicker as his earlier consuming pupils shrank and the tension in his body relaxed just enough that he no longer felt as if made from granite. Torvi let out a small sigh as she sensed the attack receding. It had been awhile since he had one that bad.
"We need to get you inside," she said.
The amount of worried concern in her voice seemed to be enough to bring Fili back over the edge just enough that he was able to give her a slow, but stiff nod. Torvi gave him a faint strained smile before taking his hands and began to guide him towards the door. Fili followed her in a stumbled trudge, his face pulled in concentration as he tried to concentrate on calming breaths as he knew what would happen the moment he saw Ferin inside of Torvi's home. He would have another strained attack. He hated that knowledge but it was the bitter truth. As anyone with knowledge in battle and war, he prepared his strategy for the next wave of mind altering emotions.
Ferin was standing awkwardly in the space that transitioned from the front sitting room to the kitchen as he was unsure as to what to do or why he was still here. His mind was not given enough time to really contemplate as to where he should sit and wait before the grinding sound of wood against stone sounded and Torvi entered the house with Fili in transic tow. He watched Fili closely noting the purposeful avoidance of Fili's eyes as he kept his attention plastered to Torvi as she looked behind herself to keep from bumping into anything.
Torvi guided Fili to the kitchen table where she forced him to take a seat. It was only when he was sitting that Ferin noticed his entire body shook with tremors and his breathing was ragged and fast as if he had just finished a prolonged spare. Ferin could not help but watch with awe as Torvi gently let the back of her hand run down the side of his face as she took a seat next to him. Fili looked strained as he kept his eyes glued to the wooden table and focused closely on breathing in and out. It was as if he were oblivious to the world as he seemed to be preoccupied and focused on something that neither he nor Torvi could see. Fili closed his eyes tightly as his hands clenched tightly to the edge of the table.
"So it really is true! He is sick!"
The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop himself. But what he was witnessing was unexpected. When his father spoke of Fili having the sickness he was skeptical. He had never seen anything that would truly hint to madness but seeing him now he realized. The Durin's were good at keeping things hidden.
Fili's eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice. Ferin watched with fascination as his eyes wavered between black and blue as his pupils seemed to expand and retract uncontrollably.
"I am not sick," growled Fili through clenched teeth. "What are you doing here anyways!"
A gentle arm on his shoulder cause him to flinch as Torvi tried to sooth his anger.
"Fili," she said quietly. "Ferin has a proposition to make with you. I think that you should listen to what he has to say."
At her words he snapped his head around to look at her in shock.
"Are you serious!" He shouted.
Ferin was taken aback by Fili's harsh words directed to his fiancée but Torvi seem unperturbed. Either because she was used to such reactions or she knew better than to take it to heart when he was in this state of mind. Which ever the reason, Ferin was intrigued by the interaction.
Torvi let her eyes flash to Ferin for a moment as she re-evaluated his words. It was but a moment before she knew it would be worth it. She looked back to Fili who was looking at her with an odd expression. A halfway point between hunger and weariness.
"You just have to listen," she said in a calm whisper. "He has an offer that could ultimately let us bring down this usurping."
His eyes moved back and forth between hers as he contemplated her words. He was worried that Torvi was yet again failing to see dangers that others could bring but this was something different this time. He could see it. Her eyes had been calculative and guarded.
"Very well," he said begrudgingly.
Without looking at Ferin he pointed to the chair opposite of him and Torvi.
"Sit," Fili commanded.
Ferin moved across the short distance and pulled out the chair indicated by Fili from under the table. It made a horrible screech as the legs ran across the floor but the sound only seemed to bother himself and Torvi has Fili kept his eyes locked onto Torvi. He sat down and with quiet reserve, he waited patiently for Fili to acknowledge him.
It seemed like an hour passed by in utter silence as Ferin watched Fili, who stared at Torvi and avoided him, while Torvi looked between himself and Fili nervously. Finally Fili moved, disrupting the silence as he situated himself to face forward and ever so slowly, let his eyes lift up to match Ferin's.
"Speak."
With Fili's command, Ferin opened his mouth and proceeded to speak.
"I would like to propose a deal," he began. "I will give you all the information and future information of my fathers plans in exchange for protection."
Fili snorted.
"What you can't protect yourself from daddy?" Fili remarked snidely.
Ferin's jaw tensed but he ignored the bitter comeback and continued to speak calmly. "The protection is not for me…"
Fili listened to Torvi exchange a few promises of confidentiality between herself and Ferin before closing the door after they each swore to keep the things seen and discussed disclosed for the time being. Fili remained seated at the kitchen table but no longer sat rigid nor upright. Instead he slouched in his chair while he let his head bend backwards over back of the chair. He ignored the slight discomfort in his neck as he stared up at the ceiling.
He felt exhausted. While their discussion may have seemed less strained by the end, it was not because the ache in his head had gone away. The entire time Fili was preoccupied with staying calm while still trying to keep up with the conversation. He was grateful for Torvi speaking most of the time, giving him the task to only listen. But it was not until he heard the door latch shut that he felt any real relief of his struggle.
It had been awhile since he had fought with anything that strong. While he knew it was just a misunderstanding of interpretation, the image of Ferin standing by Torvi with his hand on her shoulder, touching her, smiling at her...it had just been too much. He had completely lost control for that moment and he could barely recall how he had even gotten to be sitting at the kitchen table across from the other man.
Smooth cool skin brushed against his face and he opened his tired eyes to see Torvi standing above him as she let her fingers move to the side of his head and rub at his temples. An exhausted sigh passed through his lips as he relaxed further and took a moment to only think about the relief he was receiving as his eyes fell closed again.
"Do you think it is a trick?" Torvi asked, disrupting his momentary lapse of forgetting his worries.
Fili opened his eyes when Torvi let his hands drop from his face and moved back to the empty chair next to him. Slowly he sat forward and looked at her. He let out a sigh.
"I don't know," he admitted. "Everything he says seems to match up with what we ourselves have discovered and predicted. However, he did not give us a lot anything we did not already know and there is no way of knowing if the new information was legitimate or not."
"But he really does seem to have changed," Torvi said. It was not in defense but more of an observation. "I know of the girl he spoke about, or at least the father. I have been there, I even saw how they interacted."
"It could still be a ploy. Did he know you were there? I would not put it past Ferer to have everything intricately planned out months, if not years in advance. It could have been staged."
Torvi bit her lip as she tried to recall. It had been too long ago. The details of the event seemed to have blurred together. She faintly recalled him looking at her and acknowledging her but she could not remember if it was before or after she had watched him interact with the cook. Torvi shook her head in discouragement.
"I do not recall well enough to be definite," she sighed.
Fili ran a hand across his face and looked at her.
"Then we don't trust him, at least not yet. We will use the information and put him under a probation. We will take but involve him and give him nothing until we see more proof of this changed integrity."
Hey Guys! I will be honest while writing this chapter I was not happy with it but as I went back and did some editing it seemed to come a bit closer to what I had first imagined. Hope you guys still enjoyed it.
Valerenofgondor-thanks so much for your review I always love hearing what you think and how you feel about the events. I really helps me and guides me to find direction. I will be honest this story has drastically changed from my original plans because of them! And it has been for the better. This story has become a lot more in-depth than originally planned.
purple-pygmy-puff16-thanks for the reaffirmation on the Ferin chapter I was glad to know you liked it.
Sunnysides-I have to sadly say that the bold spots in the previous chapter are not any more important that the rest. To be honest I don't know why they were bold but I went back and changed it in Chapter 27. I am assuming it changed the format when I copied and pasted from the original document. I have found that Document Manager does that sometimes. I am curious though, has it been like that in all chapters or just that one?
To everyone else who have gave their input thank you! I also welcome everyone new who added this story to their follow/favorite! I am back in the writing mode (had a spot of writers block) so hopefully my next chapter will be up more quickly than this last one.
