Chapter 25: The bitter Taste of Revenge
Borin was not one to hide his emotions and after his declaration it seemed as though a dark cloud settled over him. Thorin was furious and he would have thrown all of those women in the dungeons if his sister did not insist that it would be a bad political move. Not that she was any less furious with them.
He was not the only one concerned, his young nephews and nieces refused to let him go anywhere on his own. He longed for things to go back to normal. He was a King and yet he felt so powerless. He uncorked a bottle of wine and poured some for himself in a goblet. A knock on the door interrupted his musing.
"Come in," he called out.
His sister walked in dressed in Durin blue and in all the finery fit for a princess. She poured herself a glass of wine as well and with a sigh sat next to her brother.
"We should have told him the whole story," she muttered.
"And what good would that have done," he snapped, not really in the mood to listen to his sister's 'I was right' moments.
"But," she continued, shooting him a look, "I should have tried to divert the conversation in another direction."
"It's not like you to admit that you were wrong," he said looking at her in surprise. She took a gulp of wine and did not answer immediately.
"I told Rallia about what happened, she was furious."
Thorin snorted, as though he expected anything else. The Dwarrowdam was very protective over Borin. She probably broke out in a ranting fit about everything that happened, her eyes filling up with fire as she threatened them with violence.
His sister was looking at him mischievously. He actually did not like that look on his Dís' face.
"What?" he questioned.
"Oh it's nothing," she replied, smirking gently at him, "it's just I know how you feel about her, that's all."
Thorin's mind came to an abrupt halt, feelings what feelings? He was a King not some Dwarfling and so he reacted in a way that was suitable, he scowled at her.
"I would not invent stories Dís," he snapped defensively.
"You know it would not be the worst thing to let someone in, brother," she murmured, knowing how closed off her oldest brother was. She also knew that he never once took a change for happiness, putting his people as his top most priority.
"There would not be anything wrong if your claims are true."
Seeing that she was not getting anywhere with the subject, she let it go, though that did not mean that she was dropping it. Her brother was not the only stubborn one in their family.
Thorin had his family tree drawn on the wall and her eyes lingered on Frerin's name. Her older brother was a beacon of hope during their exile and his loss hurt her the most, along with her husband.
They had lost so much and yet here there are, standing once more in the halls of their forefathers. She saw her brother rise up as king at a young age. She saw his smiles become less frequent and she saw responsibilities weigh him down.
She had watched the last remainder of her kin march off to fight a dragon and reclaim a mountain through blood, sweat and tears.
An oak tree stood next to the base of the mountain as a reminder of the sacrifice that free folk made. Her brother did not have a green thumb and he refused to tell her how the tree came to be there, nothing could withstand Dragon fire but at times she saw him standing next to it with a faraway look on his face.
Yes she wanted her brother to be happy and perhaps her interference might be considered useful after all.
The Shire was known for its peace and prosperity.
While Kingdoms fought Orcs and even Dragons, Hobbits knew not of these threats. Rarely did Orcs venture there, the only known attack that ever happened where wolves crossed the Brandywine river.
Yet when Orcs turned their sight towards the green fields he had no choice but to protect his home. He was not experienced in sword fighting, but he had no choice, he had a wife and his children to think about, he wanted to give them a better world to live in.
He did not know when things started to go wrong. They had won every single battle…..but they lost the war.
He lost everything.
His beloved wife.
Five of his children.
His only surviving child was taken away from him.
He has been locked up for years. Finally, he was going to get his revenge.
"I will always have your back," a whisper in the wind.
A memory.
The is no going back only forward.
When he saw that smial destroyed and their bodies, he felt his world crumble beneath him. He was told that he could be rash and that was what got him locked up in the end.
All because they trusted that rat.
Nothing can bring back the dead but he will avenge them. In the distance he saw Erebor.
The Lonely Mountain.
He needed to find Borin and warn him.
The wars have only just begun.
He knew that his friends were worried.
He could see it on their faces, in the way they treated him. It bothered him to an extent. He did not want their pity.
He was in the training grounds, whenever he was frustrated, he preferred to vent it out instead of taking it out on his friends.
Strike.
Parry.
Block.
And repeat.
That was his constant motion and he did it over and over. Beads of perspiration appeared on his brow. He was tired but he did not want to stop. His strikes were even blunting the sword.
"I believe that I might be a worthy opponent," said that familiar baritone of the King Under the Mountain.
Borin ignored him. He did not want to vent his frustration against those who have been kind to him, but he was still annoyed with Thorin for not telling him the whole story. With a sigh Thorin grabbed a tight hold of his wrist, halting his movements.
"I've been told that you have barely spent time away from here. You have barely eaten and hardly slept."
"Have they been spying on me now?"
"I would like to think of it more as being concerned about you." Thorin eyed him with his expressionless façade. "Seeking revenge never gets you anywhere Borin. I learnt that when it almost cost me my whole family."
"You're asking me to let this go? To forget the fact that he betrayed my father?"
Thorin clenched his jaw and his eyes darkened at the memory of what he learned. Knowing that his friend met his demise due to his trusting nature left a bitter taste in his mouth. "No I want you to be smart. Going after Hamfast will not change the course of events nor will it help you find your peace. Someone very wise once taught me that true courage is not knowing when to take a life but knowing when to spare one."
At these words Borin felt his anger seeping out. He dropped his sword and for the first time in days he let his tears seep out.
Thorin who was known for his fierce personality gathered the Dwobbit in his arms. He was not used to offering comfort to others, his sister was so much better than him. For some reason Borin brought out this side of him. He could not help himself, Borin brought out this soft side that he has obscured for most of his life. The boy endured more than anyone else at such a young age, if this Hamfast wanted to harm him he would have to get through 13 over-protective Dwarrow.
He would make him a head shorter before he could get anywhere close to this boy.
This was no petty threat.
This was a promise.