Later that night, Halien went to put the equipment away. As she gathered up the training gear and went about organizing it, she sang softly to herself. Outside, Thorin had decided to go for a walk around the village and was passing by the schoolhouse as Halien was singing to herself. He stopped to listen, having never heard something as beautiful as her voice, and decided to go and talk to her.
Halien busied herself with polishing the swords and armor, then made sure that each of the weapons and armor pieces was in their correct spots. She had been so busy with putting everything away and singing to herself that she didn't notice when Thorin had come into the room and stood with his shoulder against the doorframe. She walked around the room, picking up anything that had been left out after the children had left, and when she stood back up after bending over to pick up a book, she noticed Thorin.
"Sire, how long have you been there?" she asked, a little shocked to see him.
"Only a little while. I heard you singing and thought I'd come to speak with you. That is if you are not busy?" Thorin replied.
Halien smiled and shook her head. "It's alright, sire. What is that you need?" she asked, grabbing a few more of the texts to put back on the shelf.
"I wanted to see how you have been these past years. We missed you in Erebor and when you left without another word last I saw you, I feared I would not see you again."
Halien smiled at him and replied, "I have been well, sire. I have been traveling the lands, helping those I could, and while I was exiled from Greenwood for defying my father and returning to help the Men and dwarves escaping the dragon's fire, I have found a purpose still as I aid those that cross my path."
"You came back?" Thorin asked.
Halien stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "Of course, I did. I take my duties very seriously. As the ambassador and the princess of my people, it was my duty to honor the alliance our people built. My father would not risk our soldiers to the dragon's wrath, not after what happened with a very close friend of the family's." She said, a sadness hanging in her voice.
"Why didn't you stop your father, then, if it was your duty?" Thorin asked, a sudden harsh tone in his voice. "When we came to your lands, seeking refuge and aid, where were you? Why weren't you there to stop your father from turning us away?"
Halien stared at him. He had gone from friendly and concerned to suddenly angry. "Thorin, my father had exiled me when I tried to return. I have not seen my family or my people in nearly forty-five years."
"You should have been there, Halien!" Thorin retorted, his anger growing and his hatred for her father and her kind showing. "You could have stopped all of it, yet instead you are off gallivanting about doing your so-called duties."
Halien had come to stand in front of Thorin and glared down at him. "Thorin, I was out there, helping your people! I came back to help the people of Dale and Erebor! I led those I could to safety!"
Thorin glared at her. "I did not see you anywhere that my people had gone. I had not heard a word of an elf wandering the lands, healing and aiding those in need." He said, spitting the word "elf" as it said it with such hate. "I had not heard anything of the sort until you spoke of it today. How can I trust that you were helping my people when your father did nothing to aid us and turned us aside, ignoring our suffering?"
Halien had had enough. She raised her hand, balled it into a fist, and punched him. "I am not my father, Thorin Oakenshield. I have never done anything, not even once, to make anyone think that I am. How can you even think that of me? After all that we have been through? Did my time in Erebor with you and your family mean nothing to you?" she retorted.
Thorin looked up and gaped at her, shocked that she had punched him- even more shocked at the force behind it- and saw tears slipping from her eyes. He didn't know what to do or say and didn't bother stopping her as she ran past him and disappeared into the darkness.
'What have I done…?' Thorin asked himself, a sudden rush of guilt washing over him. Halien had done so much for his family and his people and she did not deserve the hatred and anger he had thrown at her. He had only lashed out and tried to blame her because it was her father that had betrayed the dwarves of Erebor and abandoned the people of the Rhovanian Plains. He turned and ran after, but when he got outside, Halien was nowhere to be found.
Halien ran as hard as she could to reach Bofur's house. She gathered her things and went to the door, opening it silently. She looked behind her, feeling guilty, but she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Bofur." She whispered.
Halien closed the door silently and walked away from the house and to the stables. Torwen, her mare, was excited to see her again but could sense that it was their time to move on again and stepped out of her stall.
Mounting into her saddle, Halien faced Torwen away from the village and urged her forward. Torwen cantered away from the village and as they got further and further away, Halien turned and looked back, her heart heavy in her chest.
"I'm so sorry…"
