Chapter 29


Thorin got into bed with a feeling of contentedness that night. The Canna he had seen at dinner had been the one he remembered from before–loud, funny, and brighter than the moon.

He remembered Balin's words during dinner. The king had watched his subjects come up to Canna and offer their support, with a feeling of pride in his chest.

And then Balin had leaned over and whispered, "She is finally taking the first step to becoming a Queen."

"What step?" he had breathed.

"Loving the people."

And when he had looked closer, he could see the truth in Balin's words. Canna looked uncomfortable at the attention, but she had accepted it with a graceful nod and a lovely, gentle smile.

And when she raised her eyes and mug to his, there had been turmoil there, yes. But there had also been some strange sort of acceptance.

Thorin did not know what to think of her actions, but he felt almost happy as he slid under his sheets.

His happiness was short-lived, when a familiar voice called out to him. "Thorin, are you in there?"

Thorin huffed and reluctantly pulled himself out of bed, moving to the oak door and swinging it open. "What is it, Dis?"

"Thorin! Put on a shirt, for Durin's sake!"

"You do not get to order me in my own room, Dis!"

"Hmph." She swept in, as she usually did. Thorin rolled his eyes before shutting the door and turning to face his sister.

"What is it?"

"You know I spoke to Canna today."

Of course; how could he have forgotten? Feeling much more attentive, Thorin nodded.

Dis seemed to mull over what she was about to say, which worried him. His sister was not one to be so cautious with her words.

At last, she warily began. "Brother, did you have a fight with her?"

Thorin started. What had Canna said? How much did Dis know? "Perhaps. Why?"

"Well…she seemed unhappy with you. She did not say anything, so I cannot be sure. But she certainly seemed surprised to hear me say anything good of you. Clearly she is still upset with you. I thought you should know, so you may stop being so coal-headed and make things right with her."

Relief, concern, and confusion all took their turns passing through Thorin's head. He knew well the reason for Canna's anger, and he knew just how furious she was at him. But clearly she had concealed the depth of her hatred from his sister. For that he was grateful. He did not know what Dis would think if she heard the full truth, but he knew that it would only cause tension between her and Canna. Thorin did not want Dis to focus her wrath on his unwilling bride. If keeping secrets was the only way to make Dis Canna's ally, he would gladly continue to do it.

Still, "Do you approve of her, then?"

Dis scoffed. "I never disapproved of her, you fool. I still have my doubts as to whether she will be a good Queen–her expression when the maidens were taking her measurements was quite something, I assure you–but as I told her, it is mostly a ceremonial role. Playing the part is something that can be taught."

Yes, he knew that. "She will make a fine queen, Dis. You were not there at dinner, or you would have seen her. Whatever role she chooses to play, I will welcome it." It was the very least he could do.

Dis sighed, chatted with him on subjects of the kingdom for some time, and left him alone.

Feeling weary, Thorin dropped into bed with less content than before. He knew that things between him and Canna were truly bad. Try as he might, he could not think of a way to fix it; every conversation they had resulted in poisoned words, from both sides.

But being without her, without seeing her, hurt more.

He wanted her to love Erebor; he wanted her to love him even more.

Right now, it seemed like he could only have one.


Despite Canna's decision to speak to the king, she had delayed. Apprehension had filled the pit of her stomach as soon as she had returned to the solitude of her room, and so she had gone to bed with all her doubts.

The next morning, she was up early. But when she asked a maid in the hallways when the King would be awake, it turned out that he was already awake and seeing to business around the mountain. Canna cursed under her breath; she needed to speak to Thorin alone.

She decided to take her restless energy to the training rounds, where she surprised her men. They happily invited her to train with them, tossing her a sword. Again, the dwarrow was reminded of the dual blades she had lost. She adjusted to the sword well enough, but her hands still felt empty without her own unique weapons.

It also turned out that, despite her exercise after recovering from her injuries, her muscles had forgotten the strain of battle. Canna received more nicks than she remembered ever getting from these dwarves before, and decided she would need to come here more often.

Feeling much better as she left, Canna remembered her goal: she would speak to Thorin today.

But I do not plan on chasing him all around this cursed mountain. After a quick shower in the thankfully empty public baths, she raced to the library. The scribes no longer reacted with surprise to see her, but when she asked one for parchment and ink, they all scrambled to retrieve it. Canna watched fondly as they scampered around their own domain.

"Thank you," she said with a large smile, before sitting at a table and preparing herself. Writing was even harder than reading, and she did not want her lack od familiarity to be made public knowledge.

With slow, determined strokes, she wrote her note. For her own sake, she kept it as succinct as possible. Any mistakes or blots would have to be forgiven; the sight of her restarting a simple sentence would probably send these book-beards into a panic.

She turned to one of her four guards and placed the note in his large hands. "Could you see that this is delivered to the King?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Oh, how many times do–oh, never mind."

Her note finished, Canna went back to her laborious job of looking for information in Erebor about her own ancestors. Her incredibly slow pace was really bothering her now; this business was urgent, and she could not ask anyone to help her with it. Unless…

They cannot read for me, but maybe they can help me read.

But who was equipped for such a job? Her thoughts immediately went to Balin, but she dismissed them along with the pang in her heart. No, not Balin. Not anymore.

Darun, with his simple background, probably knew less than she did.

Then who wi–oh, I know now.

"Does anyone know where I might find Kili and Fili?"


"My King?"

Thorin turned to find a guard hovering by his throne. "What?"

"A note, from Lady Canna."

Thorin's heart suddenly picked up its pace. A dazed Thorin glanced around the hall anxiously. Most of the advisors were smiling indulgently, but Balin looked worried. Thorin did not know how to feel as he took the folded parchment from the guard's hand.

Cautiously he opened it, fearing and yet needing to see the words she had written.

We must talk today. Tell me where and when. Not my room.

Canna.

There was nothing intimate about the note's contents, but Thorin felt his ears go pink.

"Adjourned!" he called out, eyes still on the parchment. Without waiting, he rose and strode out of the great hall to his own study. There he grabbed his feather pen and jotted down a reply in his best handwriting.

Thorin was not surprised when Balin slipped in a few moments later.

"Thorin, what did the note say?"

The king mentally debated giving Balin the note or not; he knew things were not well between his bride and his advisor.

"She wants to talk today. That is all."

Balin frowned and took the seat across from Thorin at his large desk.

"What do you think she means to say?" the elderly dwarf asked hesitantly.

Thorin shrugged. "I do not know, but I have seen a lifting of her spirits these past days. For her to ask me to meet her, it cannot be bad." He thought to himself before continuing in a more dejected tone. "Every time we have spoken since the return has been for naught. We have both said things we should not have, but I do not know what to do! How can she be so blind? Never did I think that saving her would be cause for her to hate me. But I do not regret it. I understand that we both put her in this position without asking her, but she must know it was the only way!"

Balin rubbed his fingers together, watching his king fume in his own desperation. "I no longer have the ability to tell you what that lass will do, Thorin. Meet her. Talk to her. Most importantly, keep your temper in check. That is all you can do."

Thorin nodded. He anticipated and feared the meeting. Filled with restless energy, he growled, "Tell Dwalin to meet me at the training grounds." He needed to punch something.


Her hands were clenched as she entered the empty training grounds. It was dark; if not for the torches, she would be blind.

He was not here. Simultaneously irritated and relieved, Canna took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She had to remember why she was here; she would not let her anger overcome her. Her only duty was to discover if she had made a mistake with regards to Thorin Oakenshield. If she had not, she could clear her doubts with surety, and hold her head high in her justified hatred.

But if she had made a mistake…Canna did not know what she would do. These last few days, spent rediscovering her faults, had weakened the walls around her heart.

Canna heard his footsteps before he had even entered the grounds, but she did not yet turn to see him, giving herself one more moment.

Then she turned and saw him.

He was not wearing the heavy robes he usually donned in the mountain. Instead, he was wearing a simple blue tunic of a dark hue. There was no crown on his head, and no adornments on his beard or arms.

For a moment, Canna was transported back to the time when they were stranded by the river with only each other for company. He had looked much like this then. And she had felt differently then.

The dwarf dam shook her head to clear away such thoughts. His cold blue eyes did not look cold right now; they looked wary, yes, but they were open. She saw hope, intrigue, and something else. What was that? Oh yes; the familiar desire.

"You wanted to talk."

Again Canna was thrown off by him; she had expected to be the first to talk.

She steeled herself and nodded, maintaining the distance of about ten strides between them.

Well, there is nothing to do but jump into this. "I want…I want to know why you did this to me."

She saw the King's mouth open slightly, heard his quick intake of air, felt the stale air around them shift.

"Did what?" he breathed out, eyes fixated on her.

Canna frowned. "Why you lied to everyone. Why you trapped me. Why…why you saved me."

She took a deep breath and asked the most important question. "Who am I to you, Thorin Oakenshield?"


I'm sorry for ending it like that! But I felt that the conversation they're about to have deserves its own chapter. Clearly things are changing for both of them.

Thank you SO much for all the reviews I got last time! They pushed me to write this chapter as soon as possible, even though I still have a bunch of work waiting for me.

Let me know what you think! Reviews are appreciated more than you can imagine.