The next few days went by in a similar manner, she and Bilbo, walked, rested, ate, but sleep evaded her each night.
When she lay there unable to sleep, she would go for a walk at night, but she didn't meet any other elves, although she knew they were about, moving silently and gracefully.
It had given her time to think things over, and over repeatedly! And mull over what Galadriel had revealed.
Each time she had concluded slightly differently. She was unsure what exactly Milla had intended to achieve, but she must have expected it would cause trouble on purpose. Knowing this, her next thought was that Thorin should have warned her about that crazy woman – that was wholly his fault. Then she wondered why he had hidden it from her? Was it possible that in between all his duties and the time he spent with her, that he truly was still having a relationship with his former lover too? How did she have one of his hair beads?
And then she wondered whether she should have left so abruptly without facing him and hearing what he had to say first? After all he had given her no reason to distrust him before.
Last night it had troubled her that perhaps she would never be able to fully trust another man after Mike. That she would always have that ounce of doubt at the back of her mind. It would make her jump to conclusions, or worse she would always have one foot out the door.
One thing was for certain, she would never fight another woman for a man! If Milla wanted Thorin so badly, she would be welcome to him. It was up to him how he safeguarded his relationship with his own conduct, but she would neither share him, nor fight her!
"Um Lady Shobha?" Bilbo's voice sounded quietly from behind her.
"Morning Bilbo…" She replied as he came to stand by the bench in the courtyard she sat on.
"Good morning, my lady." He paused a second, almost to gather up his courage in broaching the subject. "Perhaps you would feel better if you talked with someone about what bothers you?"
She huffed, the person she needed to talk to in that case was miles away! They sat together in silence for a few moments. Bilbo remaining silent to allow her time to feel safe enough to trust him, or so he hoped.
"Do you think Thorin was having an affair?"
"What?! – No! – I mean – is that what you think?"
"I don't know what I think."
"Is that why…" Bilbo didn't believe it, but he couldn't deny his own eyes the day they left Erebor. "Lord Imli?"
"No. Imli has only been kind to me… it's nothing more." She lied, she had felt it that day in the disused corridor. He had wanted to kiss her. Ironically that was as much as she was sure of. And it made her feel guilty because she loved Thorin, and she could never give Imli what he wanted. "I guess he was watching out for me…"
"I… um… I'm not so certain of that one, my Lady. I quite think he rather likes you."
"Ok can we drop the Imli thing please?" She grumbled.
"Very well, my lady. But no, I don't think Thorin is having an affair…" he looked at her again, as though she had lost her mind. "What made you think such a thing…?"
"He doesn't tell me everything –"
"He doesn't tell anyone anything. You are probably the only one he has even trusted to this extent!" Bilbo explained away.
"He's moody, seems unhappy, brooding –"
"Have you met Thorin? What you have described is him, exactly, as he would be normally. In fact I would say he smiles more when you are near, and dare I say it, he even laughs at times now!" He looked worried – as though she might have lost her marbles. "Please tell me these are not the reasons why you left…"
"I don't look like the sort of dam that would suit him. Or that he has liked in the past."
"He is Thorin, King under the Mountain. I doubt he ever loved before you. If he did, surely he would be married to them by now, and not you." Bilbo was certain of his answers, and there was no hesitation to be found.
"It's not as black and white as that." She sulked, still unwilling to share what Milla said. It felt intensely personal at the time, and she was still affected by it.
"My lady, may I ask you a very intimate question?" Bilbo inquired discreetly pausing. When she didn't overtly deny his request, he carried on. "The foul creature of a man you were supposed to marry… Did you truly love him?"
"I thought I did. But actually I don't think I have ever loved anyone like I do Thorin." She was certain about that. Even now, after the possibility that she was simply a passing obsession to satisfy his need for something different to his usual, she still missed him so much it made her ache. "I don't get the point you're trying to make here Mr. Baggins."
"Oh! Right. Yes. Well." He scratched his head and knitted his brows together himself in an attempt to recall the point he was trying to make before she had caught him off guard with her honest reply. "Yes. The point I was trying to make was, that no matter how much you believe you opened your heart up to that man – I mean really, calling him a man is quite an insult to men. That troll – in fact it's probably an insult to trolls…"
He drifted off in thought scowling again. Shobha gave him a sidelong glance as a small smile surfaced across her features – the sort that could not be helped.
"Yes. Well. No matter how much you thought you trusted that foul man, you probably never opened yourself up to him the way that you did with Thorin." He carried on. "It may have felt like a terrible leap of faith. But it was a good one, because, I have observed what you two have. The way that you put aside your fears for him, so that he can lean on you, in his darkest hour. The way that he watches you, like you are everything to him. The way you make him smile – even the simple fact that he actually smiles now! I honestly think he won't know what to do with himself now you are gone. He must be going insane..."
"That's not what I wanted Bilbo… it's just that, I put aside everything, not to mention a quite comfortable life that I knew – even if it was a lonely one. And I didn't realise how lonely I was, until after I met him and thought that he may return back, leaving me." She fiddled with her hands in her lap this time not wishing to make eye contact with the hobbit, who seemed to notice everything despite his outward bumbling manner.
"You know, he fell to the madness the first time round, after he believed you to be dead." Bilbo finally confessed what they had all agreed not to share with her. The dwarves had worried that she had been so unwell with the early stages of her pregnancy, and the trauma her body had suffered from falling into the lake and being hit by the strange lightning she killed the dragon with, that it would be too much for her to cope with hearing that. However, she was no longer so fragile. She had a right to know, particularly if she doubted the love Thorin bore for her.
She sat in silence, turning to face Bilbo, taking in what he had said to her. All this time she thought he came down with the dragon sickness after she arrived in Erebor.
"He was like a mad- dwarf after we watched you die using the viewing glass. After that he forced all to look for the Arkenstone day and night. He never rested." Bilbo carried on, so she fully understood. "He only got slightly better, when you arrived, and he stayed with you, away from the gold for the longest time, then, since he arrived in the Lonely Mountain. You were why he got the madness, and yet you were his cure..."
She didn't want to hear anymore. It was making her feel weak and wrong, when she knew she was not the only one to blame. Thorin should have at least told her about Milla, even warned her, then she would have been less inclined to hear what she had to say. But now those words couldn't be unspoken.
"Bilbo, I love him with all my heart. But I promised myself I would never fight over a man with another woman. And that is that." She concluded, glad to have said it out loud, because that made it more than a thought. That made it a pact. She had some amount of dignity left. She stopped herself before she revealed that she had been contemplating on returning home.
"Well, my lady, I think you'll find he will fight over you." Bilbo shook his head at her stubbornness. He hoped for their sake Thorin was swiftly on his way as they spoke if not nearing Lorien already.
…..
Later that evening as she explored further along some distant open walkways she found a larger courtyard. Truly it was the size of a large garden with a soft lawn and tended flower beds, she spotted in the far end a tall, elegant figure in pale blue silk, with long dark hair.
So far her stay had been quiet, and the only elves she had spoken to had been Galadriel and Celeborn, who had most welcoming. Their elven healer had attended to her daily, to check she was well with the pregnancy. It reminded her of Oin. But the elven healer only smiled with her, and reassured her, saying otherwise very little. Bilbo, having disliked Thranduils healer, had insisted he accompany her each time she was assessed, and sat to her side holding her hand as though she were ill. Until now, regardless of how busy he had been, Thorin would always join her each day, when Oin examined her, doing the same.
So she approached the elleth hesitantly, in case she was intruding, but as Shobha moved closer, the elleth turned slowly to face her, smiling as though she had always known her.
"I have been waiting to meet you, my lady," she regarded Shobha with beautiful big blue eyes and a warm smile. She looked younger than the others so far. "I saw you coming… I am only sorry it was under less happy circumstances."
"Oh…" all this time Shobha had thought it was Galadriel that had foreseen her decision to leave for Lothlorien.
"You are even more beautiful than they say. It is true, that the King under Mountain is indeed blessed." She moved closer and gently set her pale, cool hand on Shobha's arm. "Ada wondered why I wished to visit my grandmother suddenly, and then realised. I would have found no other way to meet you for many years if not for now."
Galadriel was her grandmother, and her father was clearly from another elven kingdom. Shobha thought for a moment, realising rapidly that this beautiful elleth could only be Arwen!
"Lady Arwen Evenstar!" Shobha breathed out in awe clutching her hands to her chest. She truly was the most beautiful of the last of the High Elves, with her long dark hair, unblemished skin, soft smile, perfect features and big eyes. She looked almost angelic!
She nodded, watching the small woman.
"You have seen my fate then? I can tell – I will meet the one who changes my life when I return home?" Arwen reached out again to take one of Shobha's hands in hers.
She could only panic that Arwen could read her thoughts somehow, or that she projected her thoughts. She had always found the tale of Arwen and Aragorn the saddest of those written by Tolkien, for they were perfect and yet doomed.
"Do not worry, I cannot see it myself. But from your face I wonder whether it is a sad one –"
"Oh no! I mean – we all experience some sadness, my lady. But you will also have so much happiness and love." Shobha clasped her other hand around Arwen's this time, watching a small smile return to her beautiful face again. It was not her place to interfere with their personal choices, when the elven Princess would be able to decide for herself in time.
"You worry my lady, but the King only has one Queen, who rules his heart completely." Arwen spoke seriously this time. "Allow your mind some respite from your thoughts. You are too critical of yourself."
Arwen watched her with great fascination.
"You have questions for me?" Shobha was surprised by her interest.
"Yes, I want to know what it is like to be mortal?"
"Oh. Well… I don't believe there is such a thing as being immortal, if we can all die or be killed. Life is life. We all feel happiness and pain. All experience sickness, and I suppose even elves must age in a much slower way…" she tried to explain. "In the end I think death for any of us is painful even if for a brief moment."
Arwen paused for a moment, deep in thought.
"How did you know the Dwarven King was your one true love? Had you loved before?" She asked with unabashed innocence.
"I thought I loved a man before. But in truth, I realised after it was all over that I always had doubts about him. And when I met Thorin, I think on some level deep down I always knew…" Shobha spoke honestly. Niggling thoughts of the mess she found themselves in, pricked at her chest, making her breathing feel tight.
Arwen continued to hold her hand, in silent support, for sometime.
"Would you willingly give up immortality if you had it?"
"I guess It depends on why you are giving it up. It's better to live one wonderful day than a thousand unhappy years, if you ask me." With that she made peace with her decision to come here with Thorin, even if there was a chance she might return now leaving him..
"Do you fear death?"
"I fear a long, drawn out, painful death. But death itself – not really. You see as a Hindu, I believe death is not the end, but the start of something new. A new life." She tried to explain as best as she could.
"I do not see such a death for you, my lady." Arwen looked at Shobha sincerely. "You will be loved by two Kings. One will give his life for you."
"I don't understand –"
But Shobha's question in reply to the elf maiden's cryptic prediction was cut short by a commotion in the distance. They both stood up.
"Orcs?" Shobha wondered. But Arwen only remained silent, slowly stepping back from besides her with the subtlest smile on her lips.
Her question was answered as a group of elven guards led a dwarf towards them. Arwen watched Shobha with concern. The dwarf that was led forwards, appeared to have been captured, his hands bound in front of him with a strange shiny elven rope. The dwarf itself, looked small, very thin to the point of malnourished and wore tattered clothes. He was brought to kneel before her by the elven guards and Haldir bowed his head before addressing her.
"My lady, we found this outcast dwarf skulking around our palace borders in an attempt to gain entry. He claims he was sent to look for you." Haldir began registering the lack of recognition on her face. "But he is not one of your subjects."
"Oh. I don't think I have seen him in Erebor –"
"Oh no my Lady. He will not be allowed to live in Erebor, he is one of the Outcast." Haldir explained. "A Petty-dwarf. A nameless one."
"Nameless?" She couldn't recall reading about them in the books.
"He speaks Westron well enough. Explain yourself, or we will kill you."
"No! Please Sir! I was only looking for the Queen on behalf of my master. He was willing to pay handsomely for any information… I mean no harm. Please my Lady, I beg for mercy." He plead lowering his head.
"Who sent you? And where are you from?" Haldir kicked him gently to urge him on. He already had several bruises to his face.
"Lord Imli sent me, I live in the abandoned settlements of Ered Mithrin with others like me, Sir." He remained with his head bowed low in clear submission. He showed none of the fight she saw from the Durin's folk.
"I once lived just outside the Iron Mountains, however I gave away my inner name. And so I was cast out. And we find work as we can."
She had heard about the inner name thing amongst the dwarves. Even Thorin had never shared his with her, although, she was now tied to him, and he knew everything there was to know of her. It made her wonder again, whether he really was not in love with her, but perhaps stayed with her for the sake of his unborn heirs!
Haldir pulled him back, onto his feet. The way in which this dwarf accepted the pain and imprisonment, together with his unkempt, malnourished look made her feel sorry for the wretched creature.
"No wait. Can you release him – I will write a note for money to be paid to you on my behalf. I will pay you double what Imli owes you." She nodded at the dwarf who at first watched her with secret fascination but immediately looked down at the ground when he saw her look at him, as though he were unworthy of even looking into her eyes. "You don't need to be scared of me. I would have given you money right now if I had any. But you have travelled a long way, I think you deserve a reward…"
She intended on giving him plenty so he could feed and cloth himself well for at least some time. She even wondered whether it was possible to give this outcast a name once more. If anyone could find a way around their archaic laws, Balin and Gloin could!
"If I write a note for you to take to the Lonely Mountain –"
"Begging my pardon, oh gracious and beautiful Queen, I will not be allowed back near the Great Kingdom of the north. I have no name and cast out for that – I broke the rules of our great forefathers." To her surprise and extreme sadness he then willingly lay completely prostrate before her, just stopping without touching her feet, as though he wished to do so but was somehow unworthy. "I thank ye for yer Majesty's kindness, but my life is all I can ask for."
Shobha watched him with sadness and then knelt down, looking up at Haldir.
"Please release him. Can he be given food? And something clean to wear please?" She asked, to which the elf warden nodded.
"He can be given a guard house to stay in just outside of the palace grounds for now, until he is ready to return to where he came from." Haldir pulled on the rope to lift him off the ground.
"Don't go anywhere yet. I want you to stay until someone is sent from Erebor for me." She commanded him. And still unwilling to look at her directly when she addressed him, he simply looked down at him feet, nodding emphatically and bowed low.
There was something about the outcast dwarf that resonated in her. At least when things ended with Mike, no matter how long it took to separate themselves fully from the tangled lives they had, she no longer had anything to do with him. Here, with Thorin, not only had he completely stolen her heart, but also with their children, she would forever be connected to him. Presumably if someone was coming from Erebor, they would arrive over the next day surely.
But this just made her realise that she needed more time to think. If Thorin still held any feelings for Milla, she would not stand in the way, or demand his love because she was the mother of his children. Rather she would opt to return back home. Whatever the prophecy may have predicted about her children, she didn't care anymore. If the dwarven nobility didn't accept her marriage to Thorin, there was no way they would accept a half-blood heir to the throne of Erebor.
Feeling more clarity in what she thought and felt. She didn't even care that Myra, her sister was right, and that she had once again jumped straight in to something, following her heart and completely ignoring her head. She had no regrets about her adventure so far or for loving Thorin.
…
Erebor was silent. The sea of dwarves that stood outside flanked by the many people of Dale had created a path that led through to a large platform of wood, that had been neatly stacked. It glistened as though the wood had been treated or soaked in some oil.
The envoy of Mirkwood elves steadily marched on towards the gathering outside the Lonely Mountain.
The mood was clearly sombre, with some sobbing silently, and the pin drop silence evidently maintained out of great respect.
As he approached closer, brightly burning torches had been planted around, what he now realised was a pyre, which had been decorated with a variety of flowers from the tiny blue periwinkles and white Athelas, to the many sprigs of golden honeysuckle and scented lavender. He struggled to think who it was that might have passed away, that would have been given such veneration from so many races.
A gathering of elves bearing banners from Imladris and Lorien also stood to one corner, where the Grey Pilgrim and the halfling stood, crying profusely for the little Hobbit was soft.
As they came to stand in the space remaining to one side of the pyre, the sea of heads turned towards the path, as movement occurred through the great gates in the distance. The low rumble of the Erebor Horn resounded through the mountain, sending resonating waves through the land. The golden armoured guard marched out, lining the path and standing to attention. And the great bell of Erebor began to ring. The sounds cutting through the silence made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Then once again there was silence. It was eerie after the prolonged sound of the horn.
And then the procession emerged from the darkness of the entrance to the Mountain.
Leading the way, Thorin, Fili, Kili and Dwalin emerged, carrying a wooden slab decorated with a multitude of flowers. It was hard to spot who lay on the platform from this far, but the body was clearly slightly built. Behind them walked the rest of the company. Balin and Dori carried two young babes, swaddled, in slings that lay against their chests under the warmth of their coats.
Even the air appeared to suddenly grown unseasonably chilly.
Looking around he noticed that the trees had not blossomed yet, despite being almost mid spring. It appeared even Yavanna was in mourning.
The procession made its way over silently and as the dwarves turned to set the platform of flowers on which the body lay on top of the wood pyre, to his horror he realised it was her!
Her skin, was pale, the warm glow of her dark brown skin having left her cheeks forever. Her hair had been brushed and laid out around her, while they had dressed her in a simple white silken gown that draped over the sides of the flowered slab on which they had laid her to rest.
She looked at peace, apart from the deathly stillness and the pallor. It was almost as though Shobha was asleep on a bed of flowers.
After laying her down, Thorin fell to his knees, where he remained for a while clinging on to the pyre as though he could avoid the inevitable. And then after a while, Dwalin and Fili arrived at his side to help him up, the young Prince handing his Uncle a torch, as each of them held. Finally Kili joined them with a fourth torch and each looking at the other then moved grimly to taking each side of the pyre where they stood with their torches held high.
The four dwarves stood either side of her body, then after another moment of solemn silence, chanted a strange vocalisation out loud together, their deep voices, sending a shiver down his spine as he listened.
"Om Namo Narayana'ya."
It was not Khuzdul, nor any language he had ever heard before.
And with that Thorin leading the way, lowered his torch to the oil soaked, flower-bedecked pyre on which she lay, setting it alight. The bright orange flames, hungrily shot up high, engulfing her small frame and the entire pyre in seconds!
"Nooooooooooo!" He screamed unable to control himself, as realisation finally hit him in a wave of agony, burning like the pyre itself.
Thranduil sat bolt upright in his bed, breathing heavily, drenched in sweat as the sheets clung to his lower abdomen. He rubbed his forehead, his heart still beating out of his chest. He felt weak, and attempted to make sense of what he had dreamt. Willing himself to stand he dragged the sheets off his naked sweaty frame and pulled on a robe, making his way to the door of his chambers and peering into the corridor where the royal sentinel stood.
The nightmare did not bode well with him.
"Call Captain Tauriel. I have an urgent task for her." He spoke. "I will be dressed and ready in the throne room shortly. Have her meet me there."
"Nin Aran." The Guard saluted and hurried off as he turned back to get dressed himself.
He could only worry that this implied somehow that she was in trouble. Sending his Captain was the only way he could find out more. Perhaps she had gone into labour early. Either way he couldn't ignore the dream he had.
….
Shobha lay on the cot in Arion's healing rooms, for her daily check up, but today Arwen sat with her instead of Bilbo.
"My lady, your young grow big and strong," the healer spoke quietly.
"But is this normal, Arion?" Arwen asked as she held Shobha's hand, squeezing it tight. "Our lady seems so worn out from her gestation."
"Lady Arwen, she is a child of man carrying not one but two children of a dwarven King. It will not be easy. But I do not believe there is much longer to go. I expect the birth will be fairly soon –"
"You didn't say this to me before!" Shobha tried to sit up, but Arion stopped her, helping her up instead to slow her down. "I thought I had much longer to go! So when am I going to give birth?"
"Perhaps three or four months but I doubt any longer. I cannot be certain. I have never seen a woman carry dwarven offspring. Let alone twins." Arion explained. "I say this to reassure you, my lady, and not to trouble your thoughts."
"Have you delivered half dwarf children before?" Shobha asked sitting on the edge of her cot.
"I have delivered some half elven children…"
"And?" Shobha pushed him, but he merely carried on clearing and tidying his work counters. So she tried to get his attention again. "Arion –"
But they were all interrupted by the loud commotion that emanated from outside.
"What the f –"
"Do not go out there my lady! You are in no condition!" Arion came to stand in front of her, picking up his sword which he simply left laying on his desk rather than wearing it. "Nor is it time for one of your colourful colloquialisms."
"Then your choices are two-fold, either bring your big old sword and come with me or let me go." She replied with equal sternness, as Arwen smiled.
"Very well." Arion grumbled as he hurried to move ahead of the heavily pregnant woman who was accompanied by the elven lady.
They had only made it partway along the corridor when they ran into Bilbo.
"Oh my! Shobha! They're here!" He clutched at her hands, having run inside looking for her, and still out of breath.
"Who's here Master Hobbit?" Arion interrupted him as he doubled over gasping for breath.
"Elves – Uh!Ah!... Dwarves… huh!" He puffed still. "Thranduil… Thorin… they're all outside!"
"Thranduil!" Shobha was shocked, but as she glanced at Lord Elrond's daughter the look she gave suggested that she had foreseen this! "Oh God! What are they all doing?"
"Fighting!"
Shobha rushed out past Arwen and Arion into the outer courtyard where a great argument had broken out. Apparently, somehow Thranduil had arrived in Lorien at exactly the same time as Thorin. The woodland king was dressed grandly with some light armour, and accompanied by Tauriel and his son, as they stood angrily to one side. While an exhausted looking Thorin, who appeared to be sporting two large bruises on his face, stood roaring at the others accompanied by Dwalin, Oin and Fili. Several equally tired looking elves stood in between the two parties, wearing worn out travel clothes attempting to calm both groups down while Haldir who had arrived with more guards circled the whole group unknown to them.
Shobha placed her fingers to her lips, and whistled loudly. The sound made them all stop immediately, and turn towards her, as Arwen and Bilbo watched with silent amusement.
Thorin strode over towards her in moments, despite the bruising and fatigue on his face, he still looked as regal as the first day she set eyes on him.
But he was stopped from reaching her by Arion, who now drew his sword, and had a second guard with him.
"No closer, my Lord." Arion warned.
"I will gut you, if you keep me from my wife." Thorin roared angrily.
"Laddie, ye all have to wait until I've examined her!" Oin called out.
"There is no need – I am the Lady's healer. I can assure you that both she and the babes both are well." Arion called back.
"But do ya listen to their hearts!" Oin called back waving his ear trumpet.
"No but they move often now! She will be due in three or four moons I imagine –"
"Ha! Yer wrong there it'll be more like two I expect!" Oin replied in triumph. "I knew ye elf healers don't know –"
"What!" Shobha exclaimed along with Bilbo. "Why didn't you say this before? Oh God!"
"It matters not you are surrounded by guards and more will arrive in moments before you reach our lady."
"Then I will fight to the last drop of blood in order to reach my wife!" Thorin shouted.
"A wife you do not deserve." Thranduil added in his cold tone, which led to another breakout of angry mutterings between the Greenwood elves and the Erebor dwarves.
"Ok! Stop this all of you! Right now!" Shobha cried out over the din.
"My lady, would you like me to throw them out?" Haldir came to stand by her side, a light smile on his face. "Our Lady Galadriel has instructed that when both parties arrive I am to do your bidding exactly as you instruct."
"Take King Thranduil to see Lady Galadriel please –"
"I will not leave you with this savage. I offered you my protection once, within the safety of my realm," Thranduil walked towards them, aloof. But truly he had trouble shaking the image he saw of her body as she lay engulfed by flame on a flowery funeral pyre. "You clearly left Erebor without escort for you wished to escape. You will be safer in my halls, my dear."
Thorin growled in reply as he heard the elven king.
"Please go with Captain Haldir, King Thranduil." She shot a sharp look at Thranduil. These last few days had made her feel exhausted and frankly fed up. She was heavily pregnant and the time had come to have a frank conversation with Thorin. She didn't need 'fifty-shades' turning up wanting to protect her, and beg her to return to the safety of Mirkwood, where he could then imprison her in a room and shackle her in gold, however kinky that might sound to some! "Please, Legolas…"
"My Lady," Legolas smiled, and nodded, placing a hand on his fathers shoulder as Thranduil finally accepted his instructions, as Haldir moved away.
"And the dwarves, my Lady?" the captain of Lady Galadriel's guard turned to her.
"I need to speak with the King alone…"
"Not without me Princess!" Dwalin came to stand near her this time, as Thorin shot daggers at his closest friend and ally.
"Dwalin. Leave us – "
"Baheluh, I don't mind sticking two more bruises on that handsome face of yers, but the Princess is my sister." He crosses his arms menacingly over his chest.
"Ok, look, Dwalin stay but give us some space, and the rest of you – "
"Why don't I get you some food and drink! You must all be tired and hungry after the journey…" Bilbo offered, already attempting to usher Fili and Oin away.
Arwen smiled at Shobha initially, and when she nodded in silent thanks, the elleth gracefully led Arion away. And then suddenly the busy courtyard was silent and empty, but for her, Thorin and Dwalin who stood some distance away but in clear sight.
"My lady, why did you leave me like this?" He moved towards her, no longer hiding the pain and worry on his face. "You aren't in any condition to travel…"
She stepped away from him before he could touch her, for she had started to miss him, and if he touched her all her resolve would melt. So he stopped after getting as close to her as she would allow.
"Please don't move back, I fear you will stumble, and hurt yourself. I promise not to come any closer – for now." He needed to hold her, but she was in control.
She watched him carefully, he was tired, and didn't wear his usual stony look. There was no point in holding back now, she would go straight in for the kill, and see how he reacted. Everything would depend on this – even her resolve to return home.
"Tell me a Thorin," she took a small step closer, which didn't go unnoticed by the dwarven warrior. "Who is Milla?"
…..
Dear All,
Thank you for being patient with my slightly longer updates. I will take a couple of weeks off (sorry for the cliffhanger), just as a rest, but please keep your thoughts/comments/reviews coming in – you lovely people really make my week ❤️
Special thanks –
UnaLouise – so true, Mike has indeed had a massive effect on her ability to trust anyone, and I think she is very much a leap first and then see what happens sort of girl, so I am not sure she realised it herself until now - otherwise she thought she was over Mike. So she def needed the space. But Thorin should have told her. And I totally love Dwalin too! As for Ulmos baby… I am not sure how she is going to broach that with Thorin. Lol! 😬
Redhouseclan – lol! It soooo was a bit of a crazy twist ;) hopefully he will take it well… but more angst this chapter for you ;)
ColdOnePaul -soooo true, we really could do with some help from the Valar these days. I think trust is one of those scary things that once broken is very hard to repair. And even if you do that relationship is never the same subsequently. Mike is her big bad wolf unfortunately :( its sad that sometimes that mistrust projects to partners who are otherwise trustworthy, and have not done anything wrong. But I really do believe we are all broken in some way, and yet we fight on. I think that's what really makes us all so beautiful.
Priya24626 - thank you so much, hope you enjoy this chapt too sorry for the cliff hanger...
