'Ello, 'ello! :D I'm back!
Took a little break there, but not a very long one. Hope everyone (if you're in America) had a great 4th of July! :)
Here is a new chapter for you lovelies, just in time for the weekend! And let me tell you...many of you, if not all of you, I'm sure, will definitely enjoy this one ;)
There are a couple small references in here...one LotR reference and one Game of Thrones reference (I don't watch the show, I only knew about this one cuz I saw a gif set of a certain scene on Tumblr xD It's not 100% the same, but about 95%)
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"Anything behind us?" Thorin cried out.
"Not that I can see!" replied Balin.
The company had gotten out of Mirkwood and the raging river had now calmed as it went on outside of the Elven realm. Their escape from Mirkwood had been nothing less than adventurous and trying. Just as they had thought, the Elves had known they were trying to escape and the Elves tried to cut them off by closing the river gate. However, as the Elves were getting ready to come for them...that was when things got worse. The Orc pack that had been chasing the Dwarves before suddenly arrived. Some of the Orcs stayed ashore to take care of the Elven guards while the rest tried to attack the company, who were all bunched together at the gate's exit and had nowhere to go. Kili then had escaped his barrel and hopped ashore to where the lever that opened the gate was, attempting to let the others out. He, unfortunately, was injured in the process; shot in the right leg just below the knee by an Orc arrow. As he had struggled to still open the gate, the Mirkwood soldiers had appeared and fought the rest of the Orcs. Kili managed to open the gate and the company continued onwards down the tempestuous river, being trailed by Orcs who were being chased by Elves. It was quite a pursuit down a good portion of the river; the Dwarves had to improvise in taking out any Orcs that tried attacking them, taking the creatures' weapons and using them against other Orcs. It continued that way for a good distance of the river until the company finally outran the remaining Orcs and the Elves had fought their fair fight and taken care of the rest.
Now the company was just floating along the river, letting the current take them as far away from Mirkwood as they could get. The river was beginning to slow down and they started to get the feeling that they needed to get ashore soon.
After spitting out some water he had accidentally gathered in his mouth, Bofur pointed out, "I think we've outrun the Orcs."
"Not for long. We've lost the current," Thorin said back.
"Bombur's half-drowned!" Dwalin pointed out, noticing that the very overweight Dwarf's barrel was filling with water and tipping over.
Thorin then ordered everyone to make for the shore and quickly. They all paddled their way over to the riverbank and tilted their barrels over in the shallow water so they could climb out. Every single person was completely drenched to the bone and dripping wet. They were more than grateful to be back on solid ground again.
As he climbed ashore, Kili moaned in pain and collapsed to the ground. He sat himself down, wincing as he put a cloth over the wound on his leg. When he noticed Aelin had come by and was looking at him with concern, he turned away, claiming, "I'm fine. It's nothing."
"That is not nothing, lad," she said back. "You need to have Oin take a look at it."
"No," said Kili. "I'm all right."
"Do you really think you can lie to me, Kili?" Aelin questioned him.
He said nothing as Thorin then told everyone to get to their feet.
"Kili's wounded. His leg needs binding," Fili told him as he came over to his brother.
"There's an Orc pack on our tail. We keep moving," Thorin replied.
Aelin shook her head. "What is wrong with him?" she wondered. "I know he wants to put distance between us and the Orcs, but why would he be so careless towards his own nephew's predicament for it?" She leaned over to Fili and said quietly in his ear, "Just go ahead and bind his leg, Fili. Thorin won't leave without either of you and I'll make him wait if he does try to go."
Fili nodded and proceeded to rip a part of his shirt off to use as a bandage for Kili's leg.
"A lake lies between us and that mountain," said Balin to the others after Thorin's suggestion to keep going. "We have no way to cross it."
Bilbo then suggested, "So then we go around."
"The Orcs will run us down as sure as daylight," Dwalin countered. "We've no weapons to defend ourselves."
Hearing the mention of the word weapons made Aelin's eyes widen and her hands instinctively moved up to her belt.
Thorin noticed her sudden reaction and approached her. "What is it?" he asked her.
Her face then fell. "I just realized the Elves still have all our weapons...including my mithril knives...and now I have nothing left of my uncle."
Thorin remembered how significant Aelin's knives were to her and, upon hearing her realization, he felt bad for her. "I am sorry," he told her. "I know those knives were important to you. I'm sorry we couldn't retrieve them."
She still looked sad briefly, but then she shook her head dismissively and said, "Well, there's nothing we can do now. They're gone now and I just have to accept it."
"Not necessarily," said Thorin. "You are a master thief, after all. You could easily sneak back into Mirkwood in the future and take them back."
Aelin stared blankly at him and replied, "You're making that sound a lot like what my father did. Because of which, I got thrown into a dark cell as punishment!"
Guiltily, Thorin lowered his eyes to the ground. "My apologies," he said. "That was insensitive of me to say."
There was a moment of slightly awkward silence between them. Then Aelin reached over and gently took his hand. "Well...that is in the past now," she said, "and you got me out of that horrible place. That is all that matters."
Thorin tenderly raised a hand to Aelin's face, lightly tracing over the four faint goblin cuts that were almost healed. "Aelin...I have to tell you—"
"Thorin…!" Aelin suddenly said quietly, her eyes looking past his head and wide with surprise.
He flipped around, as did the rest of the company, to find that a silhouette of a man holding a longbow and arrow had appeared just up on a ridge above them, poised for an attack. Dwalin however wasn't going to let him have the first say in a fight. He picked up a large branch and moved to confront him.
Whiz!
The archer was quicker than anyone the company had ever seen; he launched his arrow, which embedded itself into Dwalin's tree branch, stopping him in his tracks. Then Kili off to the side had picked up a rock and was standing up to throw it at the man.
Whiz!
Once again, the archer had fired an arrow so fast, Kili hadn't even stood up all the way by the time the rock was shot out of his hand. He looked to his empty hand in astonishment.
As he took out another arrow and aimed it at the company, the archer stated in a dark, slightly raspy voice, "Do it again...and you're dead."
The company stood still and silent until Balin took a risk and spoke up, "Excuse me, but...you are from Laketown, if I am not mistaken." The archer turned his aim towards Balin and the elderly Dwarf held his hands up in defense. Then he gestured to the side. "That barge over there...it wouldn't be available for hire, by any chance?"
The rest of them looked to where Balin was pointing and realized that there was, indeed, a big, wooden barge docked just off the riverbend.
"How did that get there…?" Aelin asked out loud.
Ignoring Aelin's question, the mysterious man said to Balin, "Why do you wish to know?"
Balin replied, "We are in need of transportation somewhere and, as you can see…." He gestured to all the barrels on the riverbank. "...the methods we have had to use have been...rather tedious."
The archer lowered his bow and put his arrow away in his quiver. "Those are precisely what I came to collect," he informed them. With that, he strode past the company and started rolling the barrels towards his barge. The company had all moved off to the side, deciding to let Balin handle things with the bargeman. The only one who remained in place was Aelin.
"Who are you all?" the man asked as he went back for another barrel, looking to Aelin as she was the closest one to him as he walked by.
"Give me your name, bowmaster, and I shall give you mine," Aelin simply replied with a snarky grin.
He gave her a curious, yet still amused glance as he picked up another barrel. "My name is Bard," he answered.
Aelin grinned, pleased, and gave the Dwarven customary greeting, in tandem with a bow, "Aelin, at your service." After nodding respectfully, Bard started rolling the barrel to his barge and Aelin spoke up, "It would mean a great deal to us, sir, if you would let us aboard your barge."
"I'll handle it from here, lass," then said Balin, laying a hand on her shoulder.
As he began negotiations with Bard, Aelin saw Fili and Kili sitting on a boulder off to the side. Fiil was finishing up binding Kili's leg and Kili was gritting his teeth in pain. She went over to the two boys. It seemed as though, if she was never with Thorin or Nori, she was always with Fili and Kili.
"How are you holding up, Kili?" she asked.
He grunted. "As well as can be expected, I suppose," he replied.
"That was very brave, what you did," she told him. "That took a lot of courage."
Kili grinned sheepishly. "Thank you, Aelin," he said. "I just...did what I had to do."
She smiled. "I know."
As Fili finished up with bandaging Kili's wound, he looked to Aelin and said, "Aelin, I must ask you something."
"What is it?" she replied.
He looked her intently in the eye and asked, "Do you love Thorin?"
Her breath caught and her throat tightened. She should've known such a question would be asked of her sooner or later, after what had happened in Thranduil's throne room. Suddenly she grew nervous and it took her a brief moment before she could bring herself to speak.
"Are you asking me because of what he said to Thranduil back in Mirkwood?" she asked, her gaze focused on the ground for the time being.
"Aye," Fili quickly answered.
Aelin took a deep breath. Then she lifted her head, looked at both of the young Dwarves and nodded her head in confirmation.
"I knew it!" Kili quietly exclaimed. "By Durin, I knew it!"
Aelin chuckled at Kili's response.
She looked to Fili, who was smiling brightly at her. "We both knew it," he told her.
"How did you know?" she inquired.
Fili shrugged. "In all honesty, it was not that hard to figure out. Since Rivendell, you two have been almost inseparable. There is much you have in common; you have helped each other bring down your walls. You have changed each other more than you may realize, but we all have seen it. We've seen how you look at him when he's turned the other way."
"Likewise, we've seen how he looks at you when you're not looking," Kili added.
Fili continued, "You and Thorin are a perfect match and you really complete each other. Both Kili and I can picture the two of you together and, if the truth be told, nothing would make us happier than to see that come true."
The smile on Aelin's face grew bigger the more Fili talked and a single tear fell from her eye to her cheek. "Fili, Kili, I do not know what to say," she said, feeling touched by their words.
"He has already professed his love for you," said Fili, "so we know now that there is a chance for that. All that's left is for you to tell him that you love him in return."
That was when Aelin's smile began to fade slowly away...and both Fili and Kili noticed.
"Aelin, what's wrong? We thought you would be happy about this," said Kili.
When Aelin was about to respond, Bard's voice called out, "Everyone come aboard the barge. I'll take you to Laketown."
As the other members of the company made their way towards the barge, Kiil quickly asked before Aelin could leave, "Are you not going to tell Thorin that you love him?"
"I...I—I...I don't know if I can," Aelin stammered in reply. Then, not giving either Fili or Kili a chance to say anything back, she turned on her heel and followed after the others.
Fili took Kili's arm, hoisted it over his shoulders and helped him walk slowly towards the barge. "Why would Aelin not want to tell Thorin the truth of her feelings after finding out that he feels the same about her? It makes no sense," commented Kili.
"Actually, it does," replied Fili.
Kili gave his brother a puzzled look. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"Back in the Woodland Realm dungeons, I overheard a conversation between Thorin and Nori," Fili went on to explain. "Thorin had asked if there was any hope for him of Aelin returning his affections and Nori said there was. However, he then told Thorin that, more than likely, Aelin would not be able to express her feelings to him."
"Why?" Kili inquired.
"Because Aelin has been abandoned many times by people she trusted and she's afraid, deep down, that it will happen again. She trusts Thorin completely yet she won't fully give herself to that commitment because, even though he says he won't abandon her, she's afraid that one day he still will. She doesn't want to let herself be hurt in that way again...especially by the Dwarf she loves, which would only destroy her even more."
"I suppose I can understand that...what if Thorin were to speak to her first? Maybe then she will feel more comfortable telling him how she feels and she'll have reassurance that she is safe and won't be abandoned again."
"It may have to be that way...and I hope Thorin can get through to her."
"So do I."
The two brothers were the last to climb aboard the barge behind the others. Once they were on, Bard untied the barge and pushed off. Then they all sailed down the river towards Laketown.
"Nori…earlier today, did I hear you call Aelin 'sister'?"
They had been on the barge for a little while and Thorin had just moved himself next to Nori, having had that question on his mind since he heard Nori call Aelin "sister" back in her cell when they were freeing her.
Nori wasn't sure how to answer at first, but then figured it was no good to lie to Thorin. "Aye, I did call her that."
"Do you call her that because she is like a sister to you?" Thorin then asked.
With that question, Nori realized that Thorin hadn't figured them out like he had thought. But, once again, he decided that he'd better tell the truth while he had an opportunity to.
"No...that's not the reason why," he answered. Thorin looked at him, puzzled. Then Nori told him, "I called her 'sister' because...in truth...she is my sister…my half-sister. She and I share the same father."
Thorin appeared very surprised to hear this information. His eyes widened as he responded, "You are serious?"
"I am," Nori said back.
"How long have you known?" Thorin asked him.
"Since before I even met her," said Nori. "When I found out I had a sister somewhere in the world, I went looking for her and that's how I came to find her all those years ago."
"Do Dori and Ori know?"
"No, they don't. One day, I might tell them, though."
"Does Aelin know?"
"Aye, she does. Although, I only just recently told her in Rivendell."
Thorin's eyes widened again. "You just recently told her in Rivendell? Why?"
"It tried telling her the truth many times before, but I could never bring myself to in fear that she would think I lied to her and be angry with me and before I knew it, years had passed. Eventually, I thought she'd be better off not ever knowing."
"What changed your mind?"
"Strangely, I found our father's ring in the troll-horde a while back and that reminded me of everything. That and almost losing her to the Wargs really opened my eyes and made me realize that I couldn't keep the truth from her any longer."
"A wise decision."
"She was overwhelmed, naturally, but she came around and was understanding."
"I am sure she was happy to hear you were her real brother."
"That, she was." Then Nori leaned forward, closer to Thorin, and said in a softer voice, "And now you see how I have all the more reason to be protective of Aelin and why I was adamant about knowing your intentions towards her."
Thorin nodded. "I understand," he said.
"Now, I trust you, Thorin," said Nori, "and I know that you would never hurt her, but...if ever you do hurt her in any way...King or not, I will not hesitate in coming after you. Mark my words."
"I believe you," Thorin affirmed. "I swear, I will cherish her always and no harm shall come to her as long as I live."
Nori gave him a nod and replied, "Glad we have an understating."
They both looked over towards the other end of the barge, where Aelin was seated, arms folded, next to Balin. Her head was hung low and her gaze was focused on the floor.
"Promise me, Thorin," Nori then said, turning back to Thorin, "that when you have a chance to be alone with Aelin, you will speak with her. I know Aelin and I know she won't come clean about her feelings on her own, even though she knows your true feelings now. She's afraid that, in admitting how she feels, she's fully committing herself and, after all the betrayal she has suffered before, commitment is not an easy thing for her. You have to be the one to go to her first...and I pray she'll tell you the truth. I truly believe you can make her happy and I don't want her to pass over the opportunity to have true love and happiness."
Thorin laid a hand firmly on Nori's shoulder. "I promise I will speak to her, Nori. You have my word," he told him.
Just then, they heard Bofur cry, "Watch out!"
The barge was headed for a large, rocky formation. The company braced for impact, but, at the last minute, Bard turned the barge and missed the giant wall.
"What are you trying to do? Drown us?" Thorin questioned the bargeman.
Bard answered, "I was born and bred on these waters, Master Dwarf. If I wanted to drown you, I would not do it here."
Dwalin groaned to himself before saying, "Oh, I've had enough of this lippy Lakeman. I say we throw him over the side and be done with it."
"Bard. His name's Bard," Bilbo reminded him.
"I don't care what he calls himself. I don't like him," Dwalin grumbled.
"We don't have to like him. We simply have to pay him," Balin then said in response. He then asked for everyone to turn out their pockets and give him what money they had to pay Bard.
Aelin took out a few coins that had managed to stay in her pocket even after the escapade on the river and handed them over to Balin.
"How are you holding up there, lass?" Balin asked her as he took her coins.
Aelin shrugged. "As well as can be, I suppose," she replied.
Balin started counting all the gold from all the other members and then stated unsurely, "There's uh...just a wee problem." He looked up at everyone. "We're ten coins short."
"Curses! I think I had about that much before I lost it all in the river!" Aelin thought to herself.
However, Thorin crossed his arms and looked at Gloin, sitting behind Aelin. "Gloin...come on. Give us what you have," he prompted him.
"Don't look to me," Gloin complained. "I have been bled dry by this venture...and what have I seen for my investment? Naught but misery and grief and—"
Aelin realized that Gloin and the others were all standing and looking in awe at something in the distance to the side of the barge. She too stood up and turned over her shoulder to see what the others were seeing. Creeping in through the misty air was a mountain peak and, within seconds, the mist cleared a bit more and before them, just right in the distance, stood the great mountain of Erebor.
A gasp of amazement escaped Aelin's mouth. She had thought Erebor was beautiful when they saw it a longs ways away from Carrock, but now that it was practically in front of her...it was more breathtaking than she could have ever imagined. The mighty mountain fortress that she had heard so much about was right within their sights. They were almost there.
"By Durin above…!" she quietly exclaimed.
"Bless my beard…!" gasped Gloin. Then he suddenly pulled a pouch from his belt and handed it to Balin, signalling that it was the rest of his money and for the older Dwarf to take it all.
It was then they heard Bard approach from behind them, holding a hand out towards them. "The money, quick! Give it to me!" he demanded, his voice sounding urgent.
"We will pay you when we get our provisions, but not before," Thorin replied with a stern tone.
"If you value your freedom, you'll do as I say," Bard informed them firmly. His eyes turned to the distance in front of the barge. "There are guards ahead."
Sure enough, when they all looked to the front of the barge, they were coming upon a checkpoint port just ahead where there were, indeed, guards walking up and down the dock.
"Anyone got any bright ideas?" Aelin asked with concern.
"All right, that is the last time I ask anyone for ideas because that...was the worst idea I have ever seen!"
Aelin was not entirely thrilled, to say the least, about the ordeal the company just had to go through in order to smuggle themselves into Laketown.
First, it involved them getting back into the empty barrels and hiding while Bard talked to one of the guards at the first dock. Then, the next thing they all knew, pounds and pounds of smelly fish were dumped on top of them to conceal them inside, which caused a good amount of them to almost gag at the smell alone. Once Bard was able to get them inside the town—after a narrow escape from a couple of guards and the Master's assistant, Alfrid, at the front gate—they escaped from their fishy confinement and tried to sneak through the town. However, Bard had been spotted by a suspicious guard and, when they were pursued, the Dwarves took it upon themselves to, while concealing themselves from other onlookers, take the guards out. There was a lot of tripping and banging the guards on the head for a good few minutes. Bard was able to get the guards to leave and they resumed getting to Bard's place. As their luck would have it, a young boy; Bard's son, Bain, found them and informed Bard that their house was being watched. Clearly, Bard was not well-liked by the authoritative figures of the town. The final straw for the lot of them was Bard had them sneak into his house...by coming in through the underwater toilet system. None of them were happy about that at all.
They came inside to find that Bard had two other children; two daughters, Sigrid and Tilda. They went and fetched some warm, dry clothes for the company to wear.
"They may not be the best fit, but they will keep you warm," Bard told them as he started handing out some of the clothes.
The littlest girl, Tilda, who looked around eight years of age, approached Aelin and handed her a long, dark blue shirt and a light brown jacket.
"Thank you, little one," said Aelin with a smile.
"You're welcome, ma'am," Tilda replied gladly.
Aelin then figured she'd better find another room to change in because there was no way the others were going to see her strip down out of her wet clothes. "Is there another room I could perhaps change in?" she asked Tilda.
The young girl nodded and pointed to a set of nearby stairs. "Yes, just go up the stairs and there is a room right up at the top there."
Aelin thanked Tilda again, took her dry clothes and went up the stairs. She caught Thorin's eye as she was going up, but quickly turned away. Just as Tilda had instructed, there was a door that led to an extra room at the top of the stairs and she shut the door behind her as she went in.
As she was changing, her mind went back to Thorin...and she remembered again what had happened back in Mirkwood. She could hear both Thranduil and Thorin's voices in her head.
"If you wish for someone to take as your personal prisoner, then take me. I am the one you want! Do not punish her for her father's transgressions against you. Spare her and take me! I just wish to protect her. Just let her go!"
"Such passionate pleading from you, Thorin Oakenshield. Why do you implore so desperately on behalf of this woman?"
"Because I love her!"
Those last three words echoed over and over in Aelin's ears, as if she was still trying to fully process that that had really happened.
She finished pulling her shirt on and she looked down at her arms, pulling back one of the sleeves to see the many white scars she had inflicted upon herself. It amazed her how Thorin was able to look past her scars and still feel the way he did about her.
He loved her and she knew it now...yet, instead of joy, she felt melancholy. She loved him and she should be happy knowing he felt the same...yet why did she feel that she couldn't tell him the truth of her feelings? She had told Fili and Kili that she couldn't and, deep down, she knew she and Thorin were going to have to talk about it soon...and she dreaded it. Nothing made sense to her in that moment and she didn't know what she was going to do.
"Why am I so afraid?" she asked herself in her mind. "Thorin knows me, he trusts me and he loves me. He would never abandon me."
But then another voice—still her own—answered back, "But everyone else you've ever cared about or promised they'd be there for you has abandoned you. Who's to say Thorin will be any different?"
"Nori hasn't abandoned me. He promised me he wouldn't do that to me and he's kept his word for a hundred and forty-two years."
"It could still only be a matter of time before he does. He's lulling you into complacency and, just when you're content, he'll walk away from you."
"No! I won't believe that. He's my brother; he's been true to me all these years. Even before he knew me, he protected me from my awful father. He was loyal to me before he met me. I refuse to believe he would leave me now or ever!"
"And who is to say Thorin will be the same?"
"He is in love with me...he is the only Dwarf to have ever loved me. I have seen his loyalty to those he cares about and to his family. That and he is a King...and Kings are known to be noble and men of their words."
"Yet you still fear telling him the truth. You are afraid to fully commit yourself to him because, despite what you want to believe, deep down, you fear will be like the others before."
"He won't be! He...he just can't be…."
Aelin's thoughts were interrupted as she heard a light knock at her door. "Come in," she replied.
Then she heard Thorin's voice say her name behind her.
"I should've known…," Aelin thought to herself upon hearing him.
Slowly, she turned around to face him. He had changed into some dark trousers and a red shirt that was a little too big for him. He informed her, "Bard has left for a while and the children have gone into town. It is just us and the others left here."
She gave an understanding nod. Then to try and avoid the inevitable subject, she asked him, "So are you feeling better now that you're in dry clothes?"
He nodded, but said nothing, the look on his face showing that he knew she was trying to avoid talking to him.
Of course, Aelin was aware that he knew and said nothing. Instead, she sighed in defeat and turned her head away. It was coming and she wasn't sure if she could even look at him when it did.
"You know why I'm here," said Thorin behind her.
Aelin stayed silent and nodded her head.
"Aelin...I meant what I said in Mirkwood," Thorin told her. When she still said nothing nor moved, he went on affectionately, "I have fallen in love with you...and I understand how startled and overwhelmed you must have been when I declared it in front of everyone, since I have not given any real sign of my affection before now. In truth, I did not know how to express to you how I felt. I am not always a Dwarf of many words...especially words of love and devotion. I did not know how to show you without being too forward, having never felt this way about anyone in my life. I apologize if my lack of fond emotion led you to believe I did not care for you or that you were unworthy of me."
Hearing Thorin's words was almost too much for Aelin to bear. She couldn't believe she was really hearing any of it. It all seemed to good to be true. Silently, a couple of tears fell from her eyes and down her cheeks.
She then heard him say, "Nori did tell me that it was possible that you could return my affections...but that you never said anything to me because you didn't believe I could ever care for someone like you because I am a King and you are a commoner, as well as a former thief."
Aelin bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out loud after hearing him say that and another tear fell.
"Aelin...I never cared about any of that! It does not matter to me that you are not of royal blood or that you were once a child of the streets. It does not matter anymore to me that you were once a thief. I know that you have put that life behind you. What does matter to me is what I see in you and what you have come to mean to me, status and life circumstances aside. You are a strong woman, physically, mentally and morally. Despite all that you fear, you remain steadfast, loyal, brave and kind. You have suffered so much yet you still find a way to live on and overcome the demons in your life. You inspire me time and time again. Never before have I known anyone as strong as you."
"Is this really happening?" Aelin asked in her mind, still trying to hold herself together and continuing to face away from Thorin. She was sure that if she turned around, she would lose all her normal composure.
"You and I are very similar, Aelin. We are as stubborn as Dwarves can be, yet we care deeply for what we believe in and those closest to us." There was a brief pause and then Thorin continued, in a softer voice, "There were times in Rivendell when I would see my sister-sons making you smile or laugh...and what joy would swell within me when I would see you that way. I would find myself wishing that your smile would never fade and you would always be happy. I want you to have a chance at real happiness; a chance that you so rightfully deserve and have earned...but I also hope, if you will allow me...that I could be the one to give you that. I love you, Aelin...so greatly that I cannot imagine my life without you."
Aelin continued to remain still and silent. She did not turn her head to look at Thorin. She gave no verbal or physical response to anything he said.
Thorin waited, but, within moments, took her silence as a sign that she was not ready to speak to him yet. In all honesty, he was a little disappointed, hoping that his words would coax her into telling him how she really felt instead of continuing to leave certain things unsaid. Nevertheless, he would do the right thing and respect her wishes.
"Very well," he said quietly, a bit downtrodden. "I will leave you be. Forgive me for disturbing you." He turned around and reached out towards the handle of the door.
"I am in love with you."
Thorin stopped and was still for a moment after hearing Aelin finally speak. She had said what he wanted to hear. Both unbelief and joy grew inside him as he turned back around to look at her.
She too was slowly turning around, at last, to meet his gaze, her eyes releasing a few more tears down her already tear-stained face. She kept her eyes locked on him, taking in his appearance in that moment.
When she could find the will to speak again, Aelin said to him, however in a sad tone of voice,"I love you, Thorin...I have for some time now...and it frightens me. I have been cast aside so many times and lost people I cared about that I'm scared it'll happen again." Her voice began to break as she was on the verge of crying again. "I'm afraid that you will still eventually abandon me or that I will lose you, like I almost did when you went up against Azog...and I can't lose you!"
"Aelin…," Thorin said sympathetically as she approached her.
She kept going, still with a strained voice, "I need you...I need you, Thorin. Please, I couldn't bear it if I lost you...!"
Thorin went up to Aelin and cupped her face in his hands. Looking directly into her eyes, he proclaimed, "You will never lose me."
Aelin released a tiny cry and then touched her forehead to Thorin's, closing her eyes. "Please...don't leave me," she pleaded with him. "Promise me, Thorin, that you will never leave me...please…I love you...and I can't be alone again."
Thorin softly nuzzled her nose with his and said in reply, "I swear, my love...I will never leave you. I will not do to you what others have done for I am not a Dwarf without honor. I love you and I will never leave you...not now...not ever."
Aelin pulled back a little and stared into his eyes, searching for the truth in his words. In them, she found nothing else but true sincerity. Her lips began to twitch upward into a smile of sheer joy. Inside herself, she felt, for once in her life, that there was hope for her; for the first time, she didn't question nor doubt someone's promise that they would always be there for her. Even Nori, she had doubted at the start, but Thorin...in hearing his vow, she believed him...which gave her hope for the rest of her future. A single, last tear fell from her eye and she leaned into one of his hands still on her cheek.
Smoothly, Thorin's other hand slid back into Aelin's ebony locks and he slowly leaned in towards her. Aelin, in turn, tilted her head up and waited for what was to come. Then the moment she had dreamt of for some time finally arrived: he tenderly pressed his lips to hers and kissed her ever so lovingly.
Aelin felt a surge go through her entire being as Thorin kissed her and she kissed him back. He was not being firm and demanding like he had been when they kissed in the Trollshaws. No, this time he was being gentle and affectionate. His lips moved on hers with great care and his arms slid down to around her waist, pulling her even closer against him. Aelin's arms themselves came up around Thorin's neck and she deepened the kiss.
A moment later, the two of them pulled away, their arms still around each other, and looked into each other's face, the both of them beaming with joy.
"Now...wouldn't you agree that was much better than our kiss in the Trollshaws?" Thorin asked, his smile turning into a sly grin.
Aelin was puzzled. She had not expected him to bring that up! "I thought you said you wanted to forget about that and move on?" she questioned back.
He gave a nod. "I did...but really, how could I forget something like that?" he replied. When she looked even more bewildered, he explained, "I only wished for us to not dwell on that incident because, at the time I said we should move on, I was beginning to develop feelings for you...but if there was to be anything between us, I did not want it to be built upon a moment of lust and hateful passion. No...if there was to be something between us, it was my wish for it to be something real; I wanted it to be built upon genuine moments of friendship and kindness shared between the two of us. We had a better understanding of each other by that time and I wanted it to continue that way. I was learning to care for you for who you are and I hoped it would be the same for you, if you returned my feelings."
After his explanation, Aelin found she agreed with him and his logic seemed sound. "I suppose that makes sense," she said back.
Thorin smiled and kissed her once again, deep and full of devotion. Then when he pulled back, he chuckled lightly.
"What?" she asked him.
He chuckled again and then answered, "You, my dear thief...have now committed the perfect crime."
Confused, she inquired, "What do you mean?"
Thorin softly caressed her face and said back, "You have stolen the once-stone heart of a King."
Aelin couldn't help but grin, amused at his answer.
"I was a cold and bitter Dwarf," he went on, "full of contempt for the hardships I've suffered, and you have brought a light to my life that I never thought I would see again. I cherish you and everything that you are." He then reached down and took hold of both of her hands. "Do not be afraid. There is no need to be afraid of me or the thought of me ever leaving you...because I do not ever wish to. Like the thief you once were, you have stolen my heart and it now belongs to you." He smiled at her. "I am yours forever."
Finally, Aelin couldn't hold back how overjoyed she was feeling in that moment. She jumped up and threw her arms back around his neck and hugged him tightly. Thorin responded in kind and enfolded her in his arms, kissing her cheek as he did so.
Then she said softly in his ear, "And I am forever yours...my King."
Thorin happily buried his face into her neck and embraced her even tighter. He remembered then, just before their passionate moment back in the Trollshaws, that what had finally broken him was Aelin had shouted at him that he was not her King and he never would be. Hearing her call him her King made him realize just how far they had come from where they had begun at the very beginning of the quest. They truly had changed each other.
Still clinging to Thorin's neck, Aelin said, "Surely, I must be dreaming...but if this is a dream...I will kill anyone who tries to wake me!"
With a light snicker, Thorin said in response, "This is no dream, my dear. All of this is real. At last, I am here with you and you are here with me."
Aelin smiled to herself and tightened her arms around him gladly. Then she said right away, "I do have one question."
"What is it?" he asked.
She pulled back so she could look at him and asked her question: "Who put you up to this: Nori or your nephews?"
Thorin couldn't help but laugh. "It was Nori," he answered. "Although, Fili and Kili were giving me encouraging looks when they saw me coming up here."
Aelin rolled her eyes and smirked. "Of course, they would," she thought. "They are going to be thrilled once we go out there," she then said, raising her eyebrows.
He nodded his head. "However, I am glad that Nori and my nephews told me to speak to you," Thorin then said, "because, if they hadn't, I do not know when I would've found the strength and courage to tell you the truth."
Gently, Aelin ran her fingertips over Thorin's beard and then rested her hand on his chest. "Well...I guess I can say I'm glad they did." Then she chuckled. "I still can't believe it. A former thief and a Dwarf King together...well, who'd have known?"
Thorin grinned back and replied, "Well, who, indeed…."
Then the Dwarf King tenderly kissed his thief once more, lifted her up in his arms and spun her around, the two of them feeling so in love and the happiest they had ever felt in their entire lives.
.
...told ya! ;)
YAAAY! Ya'll have NO idea how long I've been waiting and wanting to get to that chapter! Oh my gosh, it's been killing me not being able to write them actually together and professing their love and everything! I'm such a hopeless romantic xD
I hope all of you enjoyed reading this as much as I loved writing it :) Let me know what you thought in a review or a PM! I'd love to hear from my amazing readers!
See ya'll soon! :D