The Truth Beneath the Rose
A/N- Sometimes I really hate having to work...I appologize for not being able to update for too long a time. Work and life got in the way...I hope you all continue to stay with me.
Disclaimer- I do not own the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, but I do own my OC's and this storyline.
'Thoughts'
Khuzdul
Time for Thalia to figure out a few things.
=^..^=
Chapter 8:
Revelations and Runes
Year 2941 -Early Afternoon in Rivendell-
Thorin looked like he'd swallowed something foul as they moved into the main entryway of Rivendell. He'd made sure that Thalia had stayed right at his side the whole way, but Thalia had noticed that Gandalf had slowly but surely squeezed his way in between them.
After the horses and Lord Elrond had come riding in, he had looked over all of the dwarves. His eyes lingered upon her brother before coming to rest upon her for a long few seconds before he began speaking to Gandalf and Thorin. Once they had determined that they were going to be fed the others began following their host, Thalia stayed close to her brother all the way in.
"It's beautiful here, peaceful." Hearing the awe in Bilbo's voice Thalia smiled at him, "it is peaceful." That was all she would say about it though, she wasn't like her brother. She could see just what her brother liked about this place, but she was more partial to the mountains. Something that was explained by her memories of her other self.
They had been lead to a dining area, where everyone had already begun to seat themselves. She saw this and moved to do the same when someone called to her. "Thalia, come here please." Blinking she looked up at where Gandalf was standing, the wizard was beckoning her over. Moving quickly she weaved around the tables until she stood before the wizard and Lord Elrond.
"Ahh, then you are the hobbit Gandalf has spoken to me about. Please Miss. Baggin's follow me." Elrond then turned around and walked out, Thalia looked at Gandalf with wide eyes and he just waved her after the elven lord. She took a deep breath and followed after him. Behind her she heard several of the dwarves calling out to her, but she didn't stop she kept walking, making sure to do her best to keep up with Elrond.
It was like following a shadow through a winding trail for all the twists and turns that she was lead through. Finally as she turned one more corner she saw that Lord Elrond had stopped and was standing next to a chair in a rather office-like place. That was something she'd noticed about this place, it was all so...open. It made her feel rather uncomfortable.
Slowly she came forward, feeling nervous and unprepared for whatever the elven lord would discover or reveal to her. "Please take a seat and then we can talk." Thalia reluctantly tried to sit down, but the chair was up too high for her to sit upon. Seeing this Elrond smiled softly in apology, "Forgive me, I haven't hosted hobbits before. Here."
He'd taken the cushion from the chair and sat it upon the floor; once he'd done this he moved around his large desk like table and took a cushion of his own. Once he'd seated himself, Thalia followed suit and sat down, keeping her legs tucked up underneath her. She waited patiently for the elven lord to begin the conversation, she was rather nervous at the moment.
He started by smiling at her, "Miss Baggins, Gandalf told me that you needed to ask my advice." Thalia smiled at that before she shifted and spoke her mind. "Yes, I do. First off, I have a birthmark I wish to show you." Thalia stood and unfastened the buttons on her top, she felt her cheeks warm with a blush of embarrassment.
"A birthmark?" Thalia sighed, "Well, not a birthmark exactly. I wasn't born with this mark, I received it the day I met...Thorin Oakenshield." Elrond looked intrigued by her words; she moved towards him and bent over so he could see the mark clearly.
"How did it appear?" Thalia shook her head as she pulled away and refastened her shirt. "I felt a burning sensation on my breast and there it was. I believe some of it is in Khuzdul, but I am not sure of its meaning." Elrond looked contemplative as Thalia retook her seat, "it is definitely a Dwarvish rune, a name if I am correct. Not one I am familiar with, but it's a family name."
He then looked at her expectantly, "I will look into the runes meaning. Now, what else is bothering you?" Thalia scratched her neck as she responded, "well, I have been having these dreams and I am certain they are memories. Gandalf thinks they are from a previous life I may have had and I am inclined to believe him. Her name was...Rhean."
"When I am around Thorin...I feel different. I feel incomplete, like part of me is missing. I wished to know if there was a way to combine my other life with this one. I can't keep going as things are now; it's making it hard for me to be around Thorin. I have to know what he truly is to me, so I can truly know my heart." Feeling drained, Thalia shook her head as she looked at Elrond pleadingly. "Can you help me?"
The elven lord looked contemplated for a long moment before he finally shook his head, "As much as I would like to help you with your memories, you are already doing what you need to do. Remaining by Thorin's side is the best way to recover your lost memories, your memories of this...Rhean. Sorry Miss. Baggin's."
Thalia let out a sigh as she sank down a bit, "thank you for listening to me Lord Elrond, if you can figure out just what the rune means, I would be forever grateful." He nodded his head, "I will definitely try to find out the truth of its meaning."
He then got up and lead her from the room and back out to where the others were gathered. A nice fare of salad was being served and Thalia almost laughed at the looks on each of the dwarves faces. Most looked completely disgusted.
Thorin was looking at her with a questioning gaze, but she didn't react as much as she wished too. Lord Elrond went to sit at the table with Gandalf and Thorin.
Thalia looked once more over at the table where Thorin, Gandalf, and Elrond sat. They were discussing the swords they had found in the troll's cave, but she kept seeing the elven lord's eyes glancing at her. She couldn't help but wonder if either of them had spoken to Thorin about who she was before or not.
"...ia? Well?" Blinking she turned to look at Bofur, he'd been apparently trying to get her attention. "Sorry Bofur. What did you say?" He just smiled softly before speaking once more, "I was wondering if you were going to eat this green stuff or not."
Thalia looked down at the plate before her and almost laughed when she saw a rather large salad with plenty of vegetables. One of the elves must have brought it when she wasn't looking. She picked up her fork and stabbed several of the leaves, lifting it up she winked at Bofur who's eyes had gone big and ate the whole bit of it. She made sure to chew the greens slowly and almost laughed when Bofur grimaced and looked down at his own plate.
Once she'd swallowed the mouthful she spoke teasingly, "well Bofur, your turn. Are you going to eat your greens or not?" He let out a deep sigh at her words before he reluctantly doing as she had done, his face went a little pale as he chewed the greens and Thalia couldn't stop herself from laughing outright.
Bofur just kept chewing until he'd forced it all down completely; collapsing back on his haunches he let out a loud groan. Thalia patted him on the back with a smile, "I am a hobbit Bofur, and I grew up with greens. They might taste bad but they are very good for you."
He smiled back at her, "the taste is definitely bad, and almost the worst I've ever had too. For you though, I willingly sacrifice my sense of taste." Thalia snorted at that before she snatched his hat off his head and swatted him upside the head with it. He just grinned at her cheekily.
At the same time Thorin, glanced over to where Thalia was sitting with Bofur and wondered what they were laughing about. Not to mention why the other was so close to said female. He narrowed his eyes at how close they seemed to be at the moment and he knew what he felt was jealousy.
"Ehem! Thorin!" Turning his eyes towards the elf lord and the wizard, Thorin crossed his arms. "What is it?" Gandalf just shook his head, "you know what, the sword. Show it to Lord Elrond." Grudgingly Thorin pulled his new sword from its sheath and handed it to Gandalf. The wizard passed it onto Elrond and while the elf was looking it over, Thorin let his eyes drift back to where the hobbit lass was sitting.
She'd just swatted Bofur with his own hat and seeing this he felt a small smile quirk his lips. The lass had fire for sure. As if feeling his gaze she turned her head to look at him, her grey eyes softened and she smiled at him. The warmth he saw there made his gut do a strange twist even as his heart leapt in his chest, Thalia was something special.
"...in?" Turning back towards the elf lord and the wizard, Thorin saw that Gandalf had been speaking to him. "Yes Gandalf?" The wizard looked amused before he motioned to Lord Elrond, "our gracious host will let us stay here until we are ready to continue our journey." Thorin narrowed his eyes at the wizards wording before he bowed his head grudgingly, "My thanks for your hospitality Lord Elrond."
The elven lord nodded his head even as his gaze moved to where Thalia sat as well, "I look forward to seeing what new things will come from this...experience. Those in your company may very well gain a new perspective, especially on accepting ones past." Thorin crossed his arms and glowered at the elf, he knew there was a double meaning to those words, but he'd be damned if he could understand the mind of an elf.
Elrond then passed his sword back to him and he sheathed it. Hearing Kili speaking about some sort of nonsense that had the company laughing at him, Thorin turned his eyes back towards where Thalia was. She was laughing at his nephew as well and seeing her face light up so made him feel warm once more. It just drove home just how much he was being affected by her.
He really needed to find out just what she was to him.
Later that day while Bilbo had been out exploring, Thalia had done a little exploring of her own. It hadn't taken her long, but she'd found the library and seeing a few volumes in Khuzdul, she couldn't resist. She pulled one from the shelf and taking a seat in a rather large chair, she began to read.
This was where Elrond found her a couple hours later, her face buried in the book.
He approached on silent feet and to his surprise when he stopped next to her, she spoke softly, "it seems I can read Khuzdul without difficulty. Another thing my other life has granted me." Elrond placed a hand on the back of the chair and leaned down to see what she was reading.
"Yn roortys de steateyraght." Elrond paused, "a very dry tome." Thalia snorted at that. "Dry to some, but I actually lived this stuff, didn't I? If anything, it's bringing back more and more memories from my previous life. If I recall correctly, I could use a full sized sword rather well, my Adad even had one made especially for me."
Thalia paused as she pondered her own words, still baffled by how normal it seemed to have these memories. At least, how normal it was now. She was beginning to understand herself better and knew that she could never go back to her previous life in the shire. No matter the outcome of their Quest.
She had changed.
Elrond had sat next to her and cleared his throat to regain her attention, "I made you a promise, to try and find out just what the mark you carry means. Well, I believe I have found your answer. This book contains all you ever need know about personal family markings. It's a registry of sorts, Thorin's great-grandfather Dain I gave it to me for safekeeping. He died 157 years before Thorin was born; Thorin is a lot like him."
This surprised Thalia, Dwarrow didn't share something that personal with outsiders like elves, and unless something had happened way back that she didn't know about. "Why would he give it to you?!"
Elrond smiled at her question and Thalia blushed in embarrassment, she'd been a little harsh in the tone she'd used. "No harm done, there was a case of infighting at the time and Dain I wanted the histories kept safe. I'd assisted in a dispute when visiting my kin in the Greenwood, he remembered me and entrusted me with this task."
Thalia smiled, "so he wasn't opposed to elves and dwarves being commerades?" Elrond snickered at that, "it is very rarely know anymore, but Dain I married a second time once he'd passed the throne on to his son. He married an elven lass from the Greenwood; they stayed here together for a time before moving on. His first wife had been a political marriage; his match with Ilyan was one of love."
Jaw dropped at that information Thalia stared at him in utter surprise. He nodded his head, "yes, you heard me correctly. A dwarf married an elf for love." Thalia shook her head in reply, "that is amazing and hard to believe, but I know you wouldn't lie." He handed her the book, there was nothing on the cover. No title or sign that it was even a dwarrow book.
"The answer you seek is inside; you must discover it for yourself. I will leave you to it. Remember Thalia, no matter your discovery, you will always be welcome in Rivendell." He then got up and quickly left her alone, Thalia watched him go with wide eyes, not fully understanding his final statement. She turned her eyes to the book she held, once more marveling in the fact that the book held no sign, no proof of what it really was.
Taking a deep breath she steeled herself for what she might find and opened up the book. It was in ancient Khuzdul, an almost completely lost language to dwarrow kind. She wasn't sure she would be able to understand any of this but she knew she must try.
Kili was the one to find her, asleep in the library with a book in her hands. He and several of the others had gone searching for her once Thorin, Balin, Bilbo, and Gandalf went with Lord Elrond to look over the map. They'd grown concerned when she hadn't returned to the group after so much time had passed.
Looking at the book she held, he saw that it was their ancient language and understood why she must have fallen asleep. But then he saw a rune that he recognized and gasped. Thalia jerked awake her fist connecting with his face in a solid punch.
Flying back, his hand to his jaw, Kili blinked at the startled look Thalia was giving him. "Kili! Don't scare me like that!" He snorted and rubbed at his jaw. "What are you doing here?" Thalia sighed as she looked down at the book in her lap, "trying to read this blasted book. I thought I could figure it out, but so far no luck."
Kili pointed at the rune on the open pages of the book, "I can't understand ancient Khuzdul either but that one I do know." Thalia looked down at the book and the rune he was pointing at, her heart jerked in her chest when she saw it. She must have fall asleep before looking the page over, because this was what she'd been looking for. The rune was the same as the one on her breast, exactly the same.
She turned to Kili, "please Kili, what do you know of this Rune?! I must know!" He looked perplexed before he shook his head, "I cannot tell you as much as I wish I could. Only those who are of the line of Durin know that Rune, it's a private thing."
Knowing she didn't have any other choice, Thalia reached down and undid the fastening on her top. As she did this Kili slowly backed away, his face turning red with each step. "Wha...What are you doing!" Thalia let out a sigh, "it's not what you're thinking Kili. Please, just humor me. I need you to look at the tattoo you were so curious about before. Please Kili."
He looked at her like she had lost her mind, but he nodded his head and stepped forward. Thalia pulled open her top to reveal the marking, she felt her cheeks heat in her own embarrassment. Kili looked down at the mark and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head. That was all Thalia needed to know; she quickly recovered her mark and redid her fastenings.
"They are the same, are they not?" Kili's mouth opened and closed several times as he looked at her and Thalia was worried that he might not have heard her. She was about to ask once more when he reached out and gripped her shoulder. "Do you understand what that rune is? Why you have it?"
Thalia nodded, "yes, I was once a dwarf you see. In my life before this one, I was reborn a hobbit, but I am still Rhean as well. I believe Thorin is the key to why I received this rune, but not its meaning." Kili's grip tightened, "What was that name you used?" "Rhean."
"Then it's true." Kili closed his eyes and pulled her into a hard hug, one that had her almost unable to breathe. Once he released her she gasped out, "what is true? What does the rune mean? Please tell me."
"It means Knurl Dorniti, Thorin's personal rune. You are his Thalia; you are his chosen, his One. He spoke of you to me you know, told me how you died and took his heart with you." Kili's words made her heart clench even more; she knew every word he spoke was true which sealed her fate.
"I have to tell him, I know I do...I am just so scared Kili. What if he doesn't want my hobbit self? What should I do?" She felt so anxious that she couldn't make a final decision, for that is what it would be if she told Thorin the truth. There was no turning back from that, no changing her mind.
Kili took the book from her lap and placed it on the nearby table; he took her hands and pulled her from her chair. Gripping both of her hands tightly, Kili looked her in the eye as he spoke his next words. "Do not doubt yourself Thalia. You are exactly what he wants; the rune you carry proves it. He will accept you no matter what; he loves you, both parts of you. I will be honored to call you my aunt and I hope you will treat me and the rest of us well as our future queen."
Thalia was floored by his words, in this moment gone was the immature young dwarrow she'd come to know. This was a side of him she'd never seen before and feeling honored herself for him sharing it with her, she stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you Kili, for helping me."
He smirked at that before winking at her, "now then, enough of this serious stuff. The others are all worried about you; it's about time we headed back. We want to return before Thorin does anyway, let's go Thalia." He released her hands and held out his arm for her to take, which she did with a laugh, "lead the way."
A/N- There, done. Finally...sorry once more for my lateness in the update of this chapter. It just didn't want to be written. But finally here it is.
Khuzdul words-
Yn roortys de steateyraght- The practice of statesmanship/battle knowledge
Adad- Father
Knurl Dorniti- Stone Prince
Working on the next chapter as I update this. Thank you all once more for your continued support.
May the Fluff be with you!
=^..^=
