Chapter 17: The Eyrie Encounter

The flight was long and went on through nearly half the night. As the full moon reached its apex, Fili found himself slowly waking from a doze. At first, he was disoriented, confused as to why he could be so warm with such a strong wind of cold air blowing around him.

Then he realized it was the heat of the soft feathers and Thyra's body that had provided warmth. With this realization he bolted up and away from where he had been laying over Thyra's back. As he sat up he cautiously watched her slumped form, awaiting a reaction from the violation of personal space. But she paid him no mind. An indication that she either did not care or she herself had fallen asleep. While Thyra remained slumped forward, he noticed she was still trembling despite the warmth radiating from the great birds feathered back.

His internal debate of whether or not to shed his coat and lay it on her went unfinished when the eagle took an unexpected dive. Instantly, Thyra shot up and leaned back into his chest. He heard her take a hissed breath but gave the sound no more thought as his body instinctively grabbed around her and leaned back as well.

The plunge was over as suddenly as it started when the eagle spread its wings and stretched its legs out to land on a jutted shelf of a cliff.

They landed with a thud and the sound of sticks cracking and breaking beneath the eagles heavy taloned feet filled their ears. The moment the great bird stilled itself, Fili took a moment to realize the reason for the breaking of twigs. The eagle had landed within a large bird nest. The ground and rounded wall surrounding them formed by various woven branches and grasses to create a bowl shaped roost. The eagle stood in the middle, its body taking up the majority of the area with a small space below its body and around the edges.

Thyra all but fell off the moment the eagle indicated that it was ready for them to dismount. With an ungrace she usually did not display, Thyra slide down and landed with a loud crunch as she collapsed onto the branched floor. Fili moved after but not before he noticed the glistening red that had dyed a small spot on the eagles feathers. That was when he remembered the injury he had spotted earlier on Thyra's side.

As soon as he dropped down next to her, he was nearly knocked over by the gust of wind as the eagle took off. Fili swiftly pulled Thyra to the branched wall just in time to clear space for the next eagle to land and deposit its passengers.

One by one the eagles that saved them landed, then took off. With each eagle's landing, the population of occupants within the nest grew until the entire company was deposited into the nest.

Sigurd and Kili came up to Thyra and Fili the moment their own eagle dropped them off. Sigurd took immediate action, squatting down to Thyra to check on her. Thyra remained sitting, propped up against the nests wall and holding her side where Fili had originally situated her.

"Help Thorin," Thyra urged through gritted teeth. Her voice was weak and she was struggling to hide a tremble as she clenched her eyes shut. "I wait."

Her words suddenly caused the other three to still. Fili felt his stomach drop with dread, he had forgotten about his uncle with the distraction of landing inside a nest and moving an injured Thyra out of the way. Sigurd hesitated when both Oín and Gandalf knelt down beside Thorin but with another insistence from Thyra, Sigurd left to aid Thorin while Kili followed after her leaving Fili alone with Thyra again.

Fili was torn. He was struggling with the decision between remaining with Thyra and checking on his uncle. Despite the amount of animosity between them, Fili knew that Thyra was a comrade, and one did not abandon their comrades when they were injured. But then again, Thyra was the one to insisted Thorin get aid first. So he thought perhaps she was not as injured as he suspected. But Thyra was the type to be dedicated to the survival of others than herself. She had certainly shown that when she yelled at Thrade.

In the end, he remained by her side, taking a seat for himself while keeping a small distance away from her. Silence fell over them as he faced the direction of his uncle and watched the two healers and wizard examine his uncle as the rest of the company circled around and watched closely.

"I not die, Feelig," Thyra grunted. "You not stay, seek your uncle."

Fili's eye twitched at the sound of the name that was becoming too familiar. She was not one to be ignorant, he knew she was aware of the proper pronunciation of his name. Therefore he knew she was doing it on purpose.

Why? he did not know, but at the moment, he let it slide.

Her words were spoken in broken Westron and he assumed it was because of the level of pain she was in that kept her from thinking clearly. He could tell she was not even trying to speak properly, just enough to get a discernible enough meaning but nothing more. And she had been successful. Her words, while broken, were understood perfectly by Fili, she was excusing him from his obligation to watch over her.

It could have been interpreted as a kind gesture but Thyra was not kind, at least not to him. So he snubbed that thought as the skeptical voice that had developed over the past month told him that she dismissed him because she did not want him to see her weak.

He glanced once more at his uncle and saw Gandalf whispering words as he touched his head. He caught movement as Thorin began to stir and it was enough to convince Fili that his uncle would be okay. Assured of his uncles well-being, the decision to remain with a comrade became much easier.

"I will remain," he said. "As a comrade I cannot abandon another for my own personal worries. Not until you receive the necessary care for your wounds."

He glanced toward Thrya to see her staring at him with calculative eyes. After a moment she shrugged and muttered some Régan beneath her breath.

There was no interpreting her words but her tone suggested his gesture of proper conduct went disregarded. Her eyes closed and Fili caught sight of her body beginning to slump forward.

"Hey!" he shouted as he shot to his feet and quickly moved to her side. Her nudged her shoulder which elicited a pained hiss from her lips as her torso moved.

Her head lifted back up as her onyx eyes glared up at him.

"Do. Not. Do. That." she threatened darkly.

"Then stay awake," he retorted. "You lost a lot of blood."

"I fine," she sighed out as her head fell back against the woven wall. Her voice contained less venom than before as a tiredness replaced it.

Fili let out a scoff but did not say anything. He knew there would be no point. So instead he sat silently nearby and waited for Sigurd to return.

Thyra embraced his method of waiting and remained silent and still herself.

Occasionally Fili would catch her eyes starting to close. Each time he caught her drifting off he would poke her leg with a stick he had loosened from the nested structure. With each prod he earned himself a death glare but he was beginning to become immune to it. He knew Thyra could hardly move and therefore could not retaliate.

After things settled down and everyone was assured that he was okay, Thorin found himself on the edge of the nest accompanied by Gandalf and Balin as they all spoke with Gwaihir the Windlord, leader of the great eagles that had rescued them and at the moment, their host.

Gwaihir had sent his brother Landroval to go out and collect food for the company. And it was not long after that the eagle had returned with plenty to feed the hungry company. Landroval had returned barring a large deer in his talons as well as a collection of uprooted berry bushes, heavily ladened with fruit for them to feast on. At the moment, the deer was currently roasting over a small fire that had been carefully lit on the bare stone of the protruding cliff that housed the eagle eyrie. The aroma of searing meat made Thorin's stomach growl, but at the moment he had to ignore the pain in his belly as he concentrated on the conversation at hand.

The eagle lord spoke to them in Westron but it was a challenge for Thorin to understand without paying close attention. His words were coupled with inbetween screeches that made it challenging to comprehend his words.

Gwaihir began by sharing his recent observations in orc activities in the recent months. He spoke about a gathering in the north and large groups traveling across the land. Once he learned of the intentions of the company, he gave Thorin a warning that he should expect more than just the slaying of a dragon to signify his success in reclaiming Erebor.

Thorin did not like his words but he was beginning to understand that perhaps his quest would prove to be even more difficult. With this thought, he was suddenly relieved to know that he already had a small army headed to meet him there.

At the conclusion of their discussion, Gwaihir offered the hospitality of his nest for them to rest for the remainder of the night, and in the morning, he would fly them as far as Carrock.

Thorin would have rather them take them the rest of their journey but Gwaihir proclaimed he was too fearful to near the lands where men dwelt. In past history they would send arrows at them in fear of the great eagles stealing their livestock. Therefore, Thorin was forced to be thankful that at least he would save nearly two weeks travel time of Gwaihir's offer to take them as far as Carrock.

Following their meeting, the company gathered together to feast upon the meal that had been provided for them. Thorin was happy to see all those of his company had survived with minor casualties. The only ones seeming to have really sustained noticeable wounds hand been himself and Thrya. At the thought of the Régínn, Thorin looked over to the girl as he watched her healer companion tend to her wounds.

As Sigurd slowly lifted Thyra's shirt she let out a grimace as she gently helped Thyra remove her arm from her right leave to fully expose the would. With a small request from Sigurd, Thyra gingerly repositioned herself sideways to allow Sigurd better access.

Fili cringed the moment he caught a glimpse of the wound. It was not just a cut as he previously thought. On her right side, just above her hips and below the fabric bands of her chest bindings, there was a large weeping wound that consumed the majority of her side. Chard flesh was surrounded by seeping boils where it was obvious that someone had placed a heated blade against her skin several times.

"Thyra how did this happen," Sigurd said quietly as she gently examined the wound before she began treating it.

Fili noticed Thyra's hands trembling and realized why she had been trembling earlier when they were in flight. It was not because she was angry or cold. It was because she was in excruciating pain. He looked at Thyra's face which was slightly turned away from the group. Her jaw was clenched tightly and she flinched when Sigurd prodded a particularly sensitive spot. When Sigurd repeated her question Thyra only clenched her eyes shut and shook her head.

Kili watched Sigurd carefully clean the burnt flesh on Thyra's side then gently prepare a salve which she smoothed over the raw and red skin. Occasionally she would ask for his help in passing something to her or holding something, but for the majority he mostly sat and watched her work. As he watched he could not determine which one was more brave, Thyra for enduring or Sigurd for having the stomach to look at the wound. He himself could only manage to catch quick glimpses before feeling like he would lose his meal of roasted deer meat and berries.

With a little coaxing in Régan, Sigurd had finally managed to get Thyra to finally speak with her. But it was only in her native tongue that Thyra would say anything.

While Kili knew nothing of the language, he listened to the quiet exchange of words as Sigurd gently cared for her companion. Their conversation was short and Kili could tell that Sigurd wanted more. But Thyra was quick to become quiet as Sigurd began to cover the wound with several long bandages that she wrapped protectively around the well treated burns.

All while Sigurd worked, Thyra gave out no cry of pain and hardly showed any indication of the level of pain the wound was causing.

She had done well to hide it earlier but now it was obvious that the injury had caught up to her. With the adrenaline brought on by her escape and their short battle now depleted, Thyra sat as her entire body shook. Kili was amazed by how well she was baring it all with hardly any other signs. That was until he noticed the wet hairs of her lashes, caused by the small tears that managed to seep out from under her tightly shut eyelids.

As Sigurd finished, he watched her say a few words to Thyra who shook her head in reply before waving her off. Sigurd frowned at the dismissal but eventually decided to let it go as she stood up to dispose of the bloody cloth she had used to clean Thyra's wounds.

As soon as Sigurd left, Thyra stiffly stood up as well and walked towards Thrade. As she neared him, she muttered something to him then continued walking towards an unoccupied area of the nest.

Sigurd returned not long after and settled back down beside Kili. Immediately she searched out where Thyra disappeared, only to frown when she caught sight of her with Thrade. Kili glanced in their direction as well to see them standing closely together and seeming to be in a lowered but heated argument.

"Is she going to be okay?" Kili asked, trying to distract Sigurd from the quarreling pair.

His question did as he intended as she peeled her eyes from the couple to look at him. Her blue eyes met his own soft brown as she took in the sight of his comforting and warm gaze.

"Physically yes," Sigurd replied after a moment. "There will be scarring and it will take time but eventually it will heal."

Kili nodded then processed her words.

"You said physically," he pointed out. "You are worried about her differently."

Sigurd gazed moved back towards Thyra who was now yelling at Thrade in a mixture of Régan and Westron.

"She blames herself," she said quietly.

"For what?"

"For the orcs attacking us. She says she was not paying attention when she was trying to catch up to us and got caught. They tortured her. She would not say why but she managed to get free. She blames herself for rushing to find us instead of losing them then meeting up with us."

Kili frowned.

"She cannot blame herself for that. She was injured, she needed help."

Sigurd nodded in agreement.

"I know that, but Thyra does not. She does not value her life, at least not right now while she is under a life debt. To be honest I sometimes wonder what kind of life she lived before she came here. She is tough and uncaring on the outside but if you really look, you see a more tender side to her."

Kili thought back to when Thyra had orchestrated the opportunity in which he was able to dance with Sigurd. It was a memory he still cherished closely and thought of often. He was always wondering when the next time he would have the honor to repeat such an activity again in the future.

"It is like she is afraid to care for others but cannot help it," Sigurd continued. Her head eventually fell down as she looked down at her hands. "I wish she would just talk to me. She keeps too many secrets and it is not healthy."

Kili lay a hand on her leg, causing her to look up at him, distress reflected in her eyes.

"She is lucky to have someone like you to care for her," Kili said tenderly.

Sigurd looked down at his hand and softly placed her hand on his as she looked back up at him.

"Thank you Kili," she said with a small smile. "You are a good friend."

Kili's smile faltered slightly as she looked away to watch Gandalf and Bilbo blow smoke rings into the night air. He appreciated their friendship, but with each passing day, things were beginning to become difficult to distinguish the intentions of his actions.

At first he meant everything in friendship. From his past history of a fickle heart, he had expected things to fade just like the other girls. But as time went on his feelings had only grown stronger. At memory of thinking had happened to her earlier, he knew that his feelings surpassed anything he had ever felt in the past. Now, he wanted something more substantial than just friendship and it was time to make it clear.

He glanced around and noticed that they were relatively alone. If they spoke low enough, no one would overhear their conversation.

Over the past weeks, privacy seemed to be scarce and there had been a topic in which Kili had been wanting to address with Sigurd for quite some time. Seeing his opportunity, Kili decided that it was time to address that certain subject.

"Siggy," he began, causing her to look up at him.

Her sudden attention made his stomach twist in nervous knots as he thought of what he was about to say. His throat felt dry and he almost believed he was incapable of producing words. He swallowed dryly and cleared his throat.

"I...I wanted to...my feelings…I like..."

He struggled and floundered for the right words that would express his heart. As she looked at him attentively, her face was expectant but then turned confused the longer he stumbled over his words. This only served to make his mind panic as he realized that he needed to convey his feelings clearly so there would no longer be any misinterpretation of intention behind his gestures. He wanted his meaning to be clear.

But before he could recollect himself or find his courage, Fili strolled up and took a seat next to them. At his brothers appearance, Kili was not sure if he was grateful or begrudging of his interruption. His opportunity was gone and there was no telling when he would receive another chance. But now he had the chance to better prepare himself and rehearse before he spoke to her.

Soon Sigurd became engrossed in conversation with Fili and as the pair talked, Kili sat silently as he struggled with himself in the confines of his mind. He had been a coward and Sigurd still did not know of his feelings. But most importantly, he did not know if she harbored anything more than just a simple friendship.

While it was obvious that Thyra had wanted to keep things quiet and discreet as she took Thrade away to speak with him, things had escalated quickly. Their conversation was not easy to follow as Thyra kept her voice low but it seemed the more Thrade continued to disagree with her reprimand, the less patience Thyra had.

Thorin watched the two arguing back and forth. He caught only bits and pieces of the argument before Thyra gingerly stomped away as she did her best to keep her torso stiff as she limited her movement to avoid more pain.

Thrade was left behind to kick angrily at an innocent twig that protruded from the woven bottom of the nest. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he wandered over to the edge and planted himself against the wall farthest from the rest of the group. For one moment, his hazel eyes flashed up to Thyra where he watched her settle in with the two princess and Sigurd. Thorin could see the tightness of the muscles in his jaw strain for several minutes before he finally let his eyes fall down and stare down at his feet with a downcast face.

Thorin accepted the fact that he would never have children of his own long ago. After he heard of the demise of the Brimir's main branch family, Thorin knew he would never have love between himself and another woman ever again. While he knew he would never share love for none other than Asha, he thought perhaps he could find a good woman that he could tolerate and even have a good friendship. A friendship that could perhaps result in a union of marriage and perhaps produce offspring.

It would be a loveless marriage but he had hopes that it could be a companionable union. But as the years progressed and things seemed to only get darker with the loss of his brother in law, his father, and his grandfather; Thorin realized it would never happen. Each time he even entertained the idea it felt like betrayal. It is why he named Fili his heir, knowing he would someday be a good ruler. He just had more to learn.

When Vili passed, Thorin knew that Dis would never remarry, and he knew that his nephews needed a father figure. So he took it upon himself to fill the role. He had been there for all the moments that Vili should have.

He had watched both of them take their first steps, taught them how to wield a weapon, and disciplined them when they missbehaved. He had lead Fili to be compassionate and strong and he had taught Kili how to be optimistic and proud of himself.

While there were many things he took upon himself to fill the void of an absent father, there were still a few things that Thorin had never done. Some were taken care of by their mother but some, he had never had to encounter.

Speaking to either of them in the matters of love went unneeded. Fili always did well when it came to his relationships with people, and while he knew the boy to have possessed some innocent crushes, Thorin was positive that Fili had never needed to speak on any deeper emotional topics. He was too preoccupied with becoming a leader to truly focus on any serious courtship, though he had plenty of hopefully lasses back in the blue mountains. But Fili was still young, and Thorin knew that when the time came, he would easily find himself a good wife without complication.

Kili's situation was different, almost opposite of his brother. But despite Kili's struggles, Thorin had never needed to speak to him. Fili had always taken it upon himself to aid his brother in the matters of wooing maidens. And when Kili failed in successfully executing Fili's advice, Dis had always been there to pick up the pieces of his heart and mend it back together.

As he realized his lack of knowledge in handling such matters, Thorin was confused as to why he felt the need to approach Thrade. He hardly knew the boy. And his history on the topic of love was messy and a failure. He was the last person who should be giving any advice on the subject. Yet he could not help it. It was instinctual. To see Thrade so defeated, he had to try.

With slow strides he finally came up to the distraught looking young man and took a seat beside him. The twigs and branches cracked and snapped beneath his weight but Thorin ignored the sounds as he focused on the young man beside him. Thrade cast a small glance his way, and seeing who was sitting beside him, quickly adjusted posture as he attempted to swipe at his eyes without any notice.

"I am sorry for the disturbance earlier, sir...err...Thorin," he corrected as he sat up higher. "I give you my word it will never happen again. It was inappropriate and I promise…"

"It is of no consequence. Your apology is in no need," Thorin assured him lightly.

Thrade watched him for a moment then nodded. Slowly, as if unable to keep himself from looking, Thrade's eyes slowly trailed back to Thyra. Thorin watched this action and pulled his mouth sympathetically. It was similar to the looks that Kili gave to the maidens he wished for.

"You know, they say love is the most painful thing one can experience in life. Yet, somehow it is what the majority of us spend our whole lives looking and hoping to experience."

At Thorin's words Thrade quickly snapped his attention away from Thyra.

"I am not…" he began but at the look Thorin gave him, he hunched over in defeat. "Is it that obvious?"

Thorin was tempted to chuckle but knew it would not help the young man's low moral. "Have you told her?"

Thrade looked down at his feet, his face turning red as he shook his head. "Not fully, but I know she is aware of it. Thyra is not oblivioius, she is perceptive and knows a person's intentions behind their actions. Sometimes I think she even knows before that person is aware of what they are doing themselves."

Thorin let out a slight chuckle and nodded his agreement to the statement. Thrade managed a small smile that faded quickly as a downcast expression overtook his face.

"She did not always push me away," Thrade continued in a somber tone. "In her first years, she at least treated me like a friend. She taught me a little Régan and spent time with me alone. But then something changed a couple years ago."

"Friendship does not describe our relationship anymore. It is more or less master and servant...at least that is how she treats it. She stopped accepting my help and began to get angry anytime I showed her any value or made an action to express…" he drifted off as his mind wandered for a moment before continuing with a different thought. "Things have gotten slightly better in the last year but she is still wary and hesitant to accept anything from me."

His head hung low as he shook it side to side.

"I just do not understand why she cannot let me take care of her."

Thorin thought back to their interactions in the last month that Thrade had been with them. He had noticed Thyra's hesitancy to Thrade's gestures. But she did not seem to treat him any differently than she would any other person in their group.

Though now that he thought about it, perhaps that was not the best comparison. Thyra had opened slightly to the rest of the company but she still held herself at a distance. She interacted with them, helped them, and occasionally offered gestures of what could be friendships, but she was still very closed off.

"Was there anything that occurred that would cause such a change?" Thorin asked, trying to deduce what insight he could give to ease the younger man's turmoil. "You said she acted differently until a few years ago."

Thrade looked pensive as he considered Thorin's inquiry. Suddenly a brightness came to his face as he reached a thought.

"She found out who Asha was."

Thorin looked at him in confusion and Thrade expanded his explanation.

"Most people who join the guild do not know who my mother once was. They only know her as Asha, leader of the guild not Rashava of the Brimir's. They are unaware of my mother's heritage, courtesy of the rules established by herself."

He let out a slight snort of amusement.

"But the rules do not necessarily stop people from whispering amongst each other. One night, Sigurd, Thyra, and I heard some people talking and we ducked down to avoid being seen. As a younger generation, we were always curious about the reason why we had certain rules. Specifically, the forbiddance of speaking about life before the guild. Sigurd and I had collected bits here and there but we were always looking for more."

"It was my mother's cousin and another distant relative we were listening in on. They spoke of family and how it was a shame that my mother would not take up the role she was born to be, they wanted her to establish a new kingdom. They had heard what you had done with your own people and they wished to do the same."

Thorin was not sure he could really be given the honor of having established a kingdom. Their home back in the blue mountains was nothing comparable to Erebor. But before he could correct Thrade, the younger man had already moved on.

"Most people who know her true heritage, especially those who are originally from Dhom, only stay because of an underlying dedication to the Brimir royal family," Thrade explained. "At least that is what I believe. I think many of the guild truly desire to settle down but they are too loyal in following the family line to leave."

"Anyways," Thrade said as he brought his side tangent to a close and continued on with his original story, "the information was nothing new to Sigurd and myself so we dismissed it. But Thyra would not let it go. She confronted me about it and asked if I was of royal blood. I confirmed that yes it was true that my mother would be queen making me a prince and heir to a throne," Thrade shook his head in puzzled frustration. "I do not know why, but she became distressed. Nearly bolted away from us after going ghostly pale. Since then things have always been different, distant. I believe the only reason why she even talks to me at all or treats me civilly is because of the sworn oath. She gives me respect as one would who is in service of another but I do not like it."

"Your mother informed me that Thyra has an aversion to power...or at least leadership," Thorin said. "I can assume that she is intimidated by your lineage."

Thrade shrugged.

"I do not see why," he said. "It is not as if I am really a prince. My title is nothing, my mother has declared the Brimir line dead."

Thorin pondered his words then let out a sigh.

"I know you did not grow up amongst a society of nobles and rulers. By what I know of the Guild you are all equals." Thrade nodded and Thorin continued. "I mean no disrespect to your mother, she did what she thought was right, but might I shed some hard knowledge and truth upon you?"

Thrade nodded in consent and Thorin proceeded.

"Your lineage will always follow you no matter what. Whether you are a pauper on the streets or sitting upon a throne. People will always see your blood right," Thorin said plainly. "I was once a prince of Erebor. I was raised and tutored to become a king but that throne was taken from my family. In the western mountains I am blacksmith. At least that is how I have supported my family after the failed reclaim of Moria. But my people never forgot who I was or who Fili will someday be. Your mother is no different, her people will never forget who she is. And someday you will fill that place in their eyes and hearts."

He gazed up at the stars, taking in their shimmering light as they watched over him and his small band of men.

"I lost my throne, yet here we are on a quest to reclaim it," he continued as he looked back down to Thrade. "Your story is no different than mine. If you wanted it, you could reclaim your right and no matter what your mother says, you would have followers," he said confidently. "You must never underestimate that people will not take it under consideration that you are of royal blood. No matter the lack of a throne, you are one of noble birth."

Thorin's face turned more serious as his tone took on a note of warning.

"People will try to always treat you differently if they possess this knowledge. Therefore you should always be wary of who you intrust this knowledge to. If a person should find out they could easily take advantage of it and will try to manipulate you. You will also have people who will follow you blindly, it is why you must be aware of your actions. Someone will always be watching you for strengths and weaknesses. Never," he said with emphasis, "under any circumstances, think your lineage no longer matters."

Thrade looked down at his feet, his face slightly strained and conflicted.

"I wish my mother was not so secretive…" He gazed out longingly at Thyra with a sigh. "I do not know what to do. She yelled at me for saving her life. Yet all my life I have been taught to protect the ones you love, no matter the sacrifice. I would do anything for her, yet she acts as if I have offended and brought dishonor upon her when I try to show her any level of worth."

"Love goes two ways. You cannot force it upon another if they do not want it," Thorin said, his tone was one of a slight sympathetic apology. "It is not easy, but you also have to consider the other person's happiness. I do not doubt you would do everything in your power to make her happy. But she deserves a say as well. I am sure she has her reasons and perhaps her coldness is her way of not hurting you."

Thrade's eyes looked confused at first but after a long pause, he seemed to form an understanding of what Thorin was suggesting. A comfortable silence fell between them as they each observed the group from afar and they let their minds wander with their own thoughts. After awhile, Thrade turned to Thorin and asked him a question that caught him off guard.

"Is that what happened to you?"

Thorin looked at Thrade, a look of confusion on his face as he failed to understand to what Thrade was referring to.

"Pardon?"

"I know you are unmarried and have no children of you own. Fili told me that you had named him heir," Thrade explain. "So I was wondering, is that why you never married? Because a certain woman did not want to be with you."

Thorin stared silently at Thrade for a long moment before he cast his eyes to the ground, a frown pulling at his lips. This was not a conversation he was quite ready for. It was a conversation he thought he would never have to discuss.

Those closest to him always knew not to bring up the subject and those not so close would never dare to speak of such personal subjects with him.

"I am sorry," came Thrade's quick apology upon seeing Thorin's reaction. "I should not have asked...it was intrusive of me."

Thorin quickly looked up at him and waved off his apology.

"No it is not. You are welcome to inquire anything of me," he assured the younger man. After a long pause during which Thorin collected his thoughts into a response, he began to speak. "I once fell in love when I was not much younger than you...perhaps maybe closer to Fili but…" he trailed off, not sure what to say. "It was not of the same situation as yours but it...ended poorly. I was young and circumstances were not in our favor."

"What happened?" Thrade asked as he listened intently.

Thorin was unsure of how much to divulge. He did not know what Asha had already said to him, if anything, about her past with the Durin's. So he decided to turn things around and do his own inquiring before he said anything specific.

"What history has your mother spoke to you about me?"

The question seemed to catch Thrade off guard, telling Thorin that he most likely did not know much. Or at least was unsure of how the connection of his lost love and his history with Asha were connected.

"Not much," Thrade responded finally as his hazel eyes searched Thorin's for answers of his motivation. "I know of the feud and the occurrence between your brother and the Brimir member."

"Ivor," Thorin supplied. "Do you know who he was?"

Thrade nodded slowly and swallowed.

"Yes. He was my mother's late husband."

"She told you this?"

Thrade shook his head.

"No. But as I said, we have the rules but people talk."

"Your tone suggests you have no curiosity or connection with him?" Thorin commented.

He thought it was strange that he would have such a nonchalant tone when speaking of his mother's previous marriage.

Thrade shrugged.

"I never knew the man, therefore he means nothing to me."

Thorin's brow creased.

"You have never wondered about the man who fathered you."

Thrade looked at him strangely.

"Of course...but that man was not my father."

A lump formed in Thorin's throat and he struggled to swallow.

"You know your father?" Thorin asked in a strangled tone.

Thrade's continence changed. Thorin could see the confliction and hesitation in his face.

"No...not exactly," he admitted with a slight tinge of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. When Thorin gave him a questioning look Thrade spoke on. "I know it sounds foolish but...I just know. There are only a few occasions that my mother has spoken of Ivor and even rarer occasions when she would slip out a comment about my father. Something I did or said that she would say reminded her of him. Everyone always says Ivor is who she is speaking of but I can tell a difference. When my mother speaks of Ivor it is out of respect for the dead...never sadness or heartache. Just...remembrance... for what he did when Dhom was attacked."

Thorin grasped onto every word that Thrade spoke. As Thrade continued, Thorin felt his heart begin to steadily beat faster and despite the cool breeze that blew up the high cliffs of the eyrie, he grew uncomfortably warm.

"When she speaks of my father t's always a sad fondness yet there is always a layer of hurt and betrayal." Thrade shook his head. "Does that even make any sense?"

Thorin nodded but found himself unable to speak. Thrade let out a sigh and looked down at his feet.

"I used to ask her all the time about him but when I was old enough to recognize the pain in her eyes, I stopped asking." Thrade continued. "Sometimes I hate him for causing her such pain but it never lasts and all that is left is guilt. Guilt for being ungrateful for at least having a mother. Ullike Sigurd," he commented. "She too only had one parent but it was brief and Sigurd was never treated with any amount of love she deserved yet she stays loyal to the memory of her mother, despite the lack of affection."

Thrade went quiet for a moment then let out a heavy sigh.

"I am sure he has a valid reason for not being in my life, alive or dead, I just wish I knew more of him. When my mother does speak of him, she always sings his praises. He must have been a great man for her to never waver or let anyone else into her life."

Thrade let out a small chuckle.

"Mahal knows I had to chase away enough suitors as a child. Though that was probably unnecessary given the fact she would never allow any attention from men."

Thrade smiled slightly as he gazed up to the sky.

"Is it strange to want to make a faceless and nameless man proud?" he wondered allow.

Thorin could no longer remain silent as Thrade's hazel eyes, the eyes of his mother, looked at him pleadingly to give him any words of wisdom.

"Any man would be a fool to not be proud to have you as a son," Thorin said honestly.

Thrade's face split into a grin.

"You know I used to pretend my father was off having adventures and fighting," he confessed, his face turned slightly pink as he spoke of his childish daydreams. "I used to imagine him like you. Gathering his people and building a new home. I used to imagine that he would someday come to the guild proclaiming that he had a home ready for us and he needed his family to finally join him."

Thorin could not help but smile in response. He liked the image of it and could not help but want to make that dream a reality.

"Perhaps one day he will," he said with a confident tone.

. . . . . . . . . . . .. .

So this chapter kind of followed the book version a little more. I know it is not certain that Gwahir and Landroval are not for certain the eagles that saved them but I am going to go with it.