Author's Note: Thank you my readers so much for the awesome response to the last update! Consider two updates this week your present from yours truly. I'm also going to be posting a one-shot soon concerning Thorin's very unusual circumstance in chapter fourteen. Haha, it will he hilarious for my readers to read about Thorin's feathers getting ruffled by the one and only Lady Galadriel. Thank you DwarvenWarrior, oninhagb, uno mega, Adeleidhis, SwanInProgress, cauldron-of-ceridwen, dearreader, THE WALKING sexy AMC, redhouseclan, Shadowsammy, WannaBeNinja, Guest, house of the falling sun, jorja85, jaoosa2, Just4Me, and UKReader for reviewing! Much love to you all, who performed a rugby tackle of reviews on me :) This chapter is for the Rue and Thorin shippers.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Fade to Black" by Metallica.
Chapter Thirteen: Fade to Black
"He's hurt!" Ori bellowed fearfully, pushing past most of the Dwarves, making a pathway for Nori, Dori helping heave his brother along. "Move! Move!"
"Move where?" Bofur sniped.
"Follow the pathway, idiot," Gimli grumbled, rushing ahead to help the Ri brothers.
"It is no big deal, merely a scratch," Nori said, snorting like the whole thing was some big joke. He waved a hand at Dori, which was code for, "Let me the hell go." Dori didn't listen, gently aiding Nori along anyway.
Rue felt like crap as they followed the rocky pathway. The space was way too small for comfort, so small she kept bumping against Bombur and Oin, who had the misfortune of being in front and behind her. Her breath reeked of the disgusting puke smell, she could barely keep her eyes open, could hardly think straight, and everything was so freaking confusing. Left felt like it was right, and right felt like it was left if that made sense. Worst of all, she couldn't tear the image out of her mind of Thorin taking Azog's eye out with his bare hands.
Gandalf and Thorin were behind the last of the Dwarves and Bilbo, bringing up the rear of the company. The farther they went along, the narrower the rocky space became, but vertically it was drastically different. Rue peered up, hardly able to make sense of the tower of rock, a slit between the rocks, and the open sky winking at her teasingly.
She stumbled along, wiping her mouth again, swearing she felt drizzles of left over vomit on her chin. Bilbo was two Dwarves away from Rue, holding his stomach, lips thin. Emergency, Hobbit looked seconds away from passing out. Hopefully, one of the Dwarves―Fili was behind him―would catch him.
Minutes later, the claustrophobic rock tunnel opened up even wider, the rocky walls echoing Ori and Dori's frantic voices from upfront. Ahead, Rue could see sky, the rock giving way to―to Hogwarts? The company froze as one on a rocky ledge. Dori and Ori impatiently climbed downwards first, while the rest of the Dwarves stared at―
"The Valley of Imladris, in the common tongue, it is known as―" Gandalf said coolly. Rue felt like crying wildly at him, "Hello, did you just see Thorin take out the Big White Bitch's eye? That thing almost killed him! Nori got bit!" 'Course, because she was Rue, she kept her mouth shut.
"Rivendell," Bilbo finished for Gandalf, voice slightly trembling. He gazed out at the otherworldly houses decorated by vines. There were ripples of water lingering inside the valley, from some kind of river or lake. Rue sucked at geological common sense, but she guessed it was a river. Eerily calm waterfalls cascaded down on the far side of the valley. The color of Rivendell was unearthly, too bright in some places, too dark in others. But still, the Elf place was undeniably beautiful, and judging from the look of awe on Bilbo's face, he was going to go AWOL on the quest and stay here. In Rue's humble opinion, the Blue Mountains outdid Rivendell any day. Maybe because the Blue Mountains was Thorin in some weird way, since he ruled there.
Gandalf ushered everyone forward, him and Thorin grumbling to each other about "Elves" and "The map."
The animosity toward the Elves was almost forgotten. Almost. They rushed down a rocky incline, which winded its way toward a bridge.
Rue saw Thorin casting wary glimpses over his shoulder, as if he expected Azog to come running out of the rock behind them. She fleetingly noticed her arms were shaking as she jogged, the company sprinting their way across the bridge now. Everything was a blur: the greenery and waterfalls becoming nothing more but passing sights. The urgency in the air became heavier and heavier with one weighty message: help Nori. Flickers of torchlight shimmered in the distance. They passed two regal Elf statues, one on each side of the bridge, the statues glowing in the bask of sunlight.
Dori held up a griping Nori, while Ori headed for a set of stone stairs.
Nori's blood was stained on Ori's cheek as he cried, "Help! Help!"
Ori jerked backwards as a figure glided down the stairs with a quick gait. He wore blue robes or a tunic or―Rue really sucked at knowing what Middle-earth clothes were called. She stumbled back, making a beeline for Nori and Dori.
The Elf's eyes were big, dark hair bouncing against his shoulders as he ran to Nori's side.
"What happened?" Pretty Elf asked accusingly.
"Do not tell me you really loathe me so much, that you are willing to leave me in the care of an Elf," Nori spat at Dori.
Pretty Elf blinked, clearly offended.
Thorin rushed to the Ri brothers, sticking out his chest as he addressed Pretty Elf.
Thorin pointed a jerky finger Nori's way. "Can you not see he is injured? Help him." All right, now Thorin really sounded like a king, demanding help instead of asking for it. His voice shook in rage.
Pretty Elf nodded, his eyes traveling over to―
"Mithrandir," he said, grinning at Gandalf. Okay, Rue always had known Gandalf was kind of quirky, but to find out he had a different name. He must've had like seven different identities when he wasn't going on quests to slay Dragons.
Gandalf nodded in greeting, way too nonchalant. "Ah, Lindir."
"Hey, Nori's bleeding!" Rue cried, for once not caring if she sounded rude. Okay, maybe she did care and was seriously regretting how she had interrupted their conversation, but―
Ori stormed after Lindir, glaring daggers at him, completely undaunted by their big height differences. He hissed viciously, suddenly Dark Ori, "My brother is bleeding. Now I suggest you start healing him or else I will have to force you to do it."
The entire company seemed taken aback, silence falling over everyone. Wow. This deranged look was on Ori's face, like he really would deliver on his threats if someone didn't start playing doctor to Nori this second.
The silence was interrupted by two voices: Gloin's and Lindir's.
Lindir shouted in Elvish, beckoning his arms toward the vine-covered houses shrouding above them. Hey, Rue might have been no Middle-earth Einstein, but she knew Elvish was what the Elves spoke.
"You will not only have to worry about him, but the rest of us!" Gloin roared threateningly, shoving his way through the company, Gimli right on his heels.
Fili gave a curt nod, which somehow made Gloin's threats seem laughable. Fili was just creepy, like he was The Conjuring film if it was a person.
The Dwarves joined in wildly, prodding their weapons toward anyone with pointed ears, shouting insults and threats. Rue covered her face, trying not to cry. Don't cry. Everything was just so overwhelming, with Nori's arm bleeding and Azog's eyeball juices on Thorin's beautiful hands.
Three Elves came running from the stairs, one woman and two men. They went to help Nori, one of the men slinging Nori's uninjured arm around his waist―thanks to the height difference―while the other man and woman remained on Nori's injured side. They walked him past the stairs, toward the nearest house. Ori and Dori followed without question. Rue was about to follow them, feeling all these crazy emotions―the Ri brothers were the first Dwarves she had met in Middle-earth, not to mention Nori was her friend―but then Lindir stood in her way.
"It is best if we allow only two people at once to tend to the Dwarf while the healers do their craft, my lady," he said evenly.
"Okay," Rue squeaked, bottom lip trembling. Tears trailed down her dirt-streaked cheeks as she stupidly cried. Why was she crying? Rue tried to inconspicuously wipe her tears away, turning around so Lindir wouldn't see her sobbing.
Thorin's intensely heated yell ricocheted off the nearby houses.
"You dare speak to her in such a way!"
"What way do you speak of?" Lindir asked coldly.
Rue gasped. There was a soft hiss. She spun around. Thorin's sword was halfway unsheathed, his hand gripping his hilt so hard his knuckles were white. He was scowling, lips curled in a snarl, facing Lindir. Gandalf's hand froze on Thorin's forearm, stopping him, looking annoyed as hell.
"You have no enemies here," he spoke impatiently like he was lecturing a preschooler. "Lindir was simply informing Miss Offerman that she cannot yet visit Master Nori. You seek out tribulations where there are none."
Thorin angrily shrugged Gandalf's hand away. He faced Lindir again, sword going back inside the sheath. "And why can she not visit?" Thorin stood taller, glaring murderously at Lindir, as if silently saying, "There better be a good enough answer or else."
Rue squeaked, "Thorin! Uh―it's all right―I didn't mean to cry! I'm sorry!" She waved her arms around hysterically, crying more, hiccupping between tears.
Lindir shot back, "Do you not want your kin to receive the best care because there are too many bodies in one room?" Oh, gosh. He had just made it so much worse. Bilbo was open-mouthed, as if thinking the same exact thing.
Thorin opened his mouth to retort when a blaring horn in the distance cut him off. Rue swore it was the same exact horn they had heard resound on the plains right before the Elf army had arrived like a Godsend. It was one of the first times Rue was glad she didn't have to hear Thorin's gruff, husky, becoming, attractive―wait, what?―voice.
Gandalf slowly turned, peering from beneath the brim of his hat. A trumpet of hooves knocked against the bridge as the same riders from before, came galloping across the bridge in a single file line. A flag was hoisted up above the rider in front, who looked really familiar.
Rue felt herself pushed toward the middle of a sudden circle, alongside Kili, Bilbo, and Gimli. All right, it didn't take her too long to figure out why she had ended up in the middle. Kili and Gimli were young. She and Bilbo were seen as useless.
"Form ranks!" Thorin commanded, standing in the forefront of their protective circle. Dwalin stood with his axe at the ready. Kili blinked up at the Elves, his mouth ajar. Fili had his two blades out, widening his stance. Bifur's spear was poised as Bombur hid behind his cousin. Bofur protectively stood in front of Bilbo.
The riders circled them. Damn, Rue had never realized how big horses were. These were Rapidashes while she was used to Ponytas.
The Elf with the long, dark, shiny hair got off his horse. The riders ceased playing musical chairs with them, whatever the hell they had been doing, and stood a little ways in a line.
"Lord Elrond," Gandalf greeted the Elf, who had garnier fructis commercial hair. Elrond. Hey, wasn't that Arwen's dad? She was the Elf chick who had a thing with Aragorn, right? Rue sucked.
"Mithrandir," Elrond said in his own greeting, closing the distance between him and Gandalf. "It has been too long, Gandalf." So was Gandalf one of those social butterflies? Did he know everybody in Middle-earth? Did he have a secret name amongst the Orcs, too?
Suddenly, it hit Rue like a thunderbolt. She remembered Gandalf's words to her weeks ago in the Shire, "On our way to The Lonely Mountain, we can pass through Rivendell and visit Lord Elrond, one of the other Guardians." Elrond was a Guardian?
Elrond continued on, "An Orc pack from the south came close to our borders." He then said something about the company leading the Orcs there and Gandalf affirmed it.
"That might have been us," he spoke coolly. In a flash, his expression was drastically different, sickeningly grave. He leaned closer to mutter in Elrond's ear, "Did you see what became of the pale Orc?" Oh, shit.
Thorin was right there now. Evidently, Gandalf's whisperings didn't fool him.
He stood tense, proud and tall in spite of the uncertainty flickering in his eyes at the mention of Azog. "What happened to him?" Thorin's voice was gruffly quiet.
"Welcome Thorin son of Thrain," Elrond said airily. "It is my greatest suspicion you were the one to leave Azog the Defiler without sight in one eye."
Thorin's expression was dark as he gazed at his boots before peering at Lord Elrond in the eye. Rue couldn't decide if Thorin was more angry, humiliated, or ashamed.
"No thanks to you and your kin," he growled.
Elrond nodded, ignoring Thorin's abrasiveness. "Azog the Defiler fled before we could slay him."
The news left the air tense, static-like in some weird sense. Every time Rue went to shift, she felt unnerved, scared shitless. Her joints squeaked in protest. The entire world squeaked in protest. Azog was out there. Still alive.
Lord Elrond cleared his throat. "I believe this would be best left to discuss over dinner, do you not agree, Gandalf?"
Gandalf grinned. "Yes, I am certainly most starving."
He waltzed up the stairs first, all happy with that damn staff by his side. Rue had no idea why, but Gandalf really had been irritating her the last twenty-four hours.
Thorin faced the rest of the company, grumbling in Khuzdul. To be polite, Rue drifted closer to Lord Elrond, trying to be anything but eavesdropping. She knew how secretive the Dwarves were with their language.
"Miss Offerman, you shall have a room and bath prepared before we discuss your most peculiar predicament."
Say what? Rue stared up at him, her mouth open in a silent O. That was weird. She had never mentioned her name to Elrond, let alone the fact that she was from another world. Was it that obvious?
Lord Elrond caught her eye, a little playful smirk on his lips.
Rue grinned, even though grinning was an extraordinary effort in itself. The memories of the Trolls, Naji, getting her lip split open, the Orcs, Nori getting bit, and Thorin ripping Azog's eye out played through Rue's mind like a reel of film on rewind.
"Awesome," she squeaked nervously.
After Rue had finished taking a bath, ―the water was filthy, murky, and very interesting looking―she was anxiously pacing back and forth inside the room Elrond had arranged for her. Was Nori okay? What about Thorin? Had all that crap really been on her body?
Her backpack was carelessly strewn on the floor. Rue stubbed her toe against it for the fourth time in a row.
"Crap," she muttered. "How many times do I have to stub my toe before I figure out I should move my backpack?" Rue bent down, prepared to move her backpack, when a sudden knock resounded on her door.
She stood bolt right, neck anchored high in alarm. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to remain calm. What if it was the Elf healers coming by to say, "Nori didn't make it?" All right, maybe Rue was being overdramatic with that one, since Nori hadn't exactly been dying, but still.
Hurriedly, she traipsed for the white-colored door, swinging it open, expecting to find Gimli, not―
"Thorin," Rue piped up, uncomfortably crossing her arms over her chest. With a little gasp, she dropped her arms to her sides, feeling like a complete idiot. "Sorry, I'm just worried about Nori. I'm just―" She awkwardly waved her arms― "What happened with the Orcs has left me kinda jumpy and on edge. You wanna come in?"
His gaze was heated, clad in his black tunic and chainmail, beautiful coat nowhere to be seen. Thorin's mouth parted before his jaw clenched at the mention of coming inside Rue's room.
She shrugged. "If you don't want to come inside, that's cool. I can go out there." Rue went to step outside, taken aback as Thorin slammed both fists on the doorway's edges, blocking her way.
He seemed to regret his―uh, gruffness―fists dropping by his sides.
Quietly, he announced, "I will come inside."
Rue stepped aside, letting Thorin pass her. She shut the door behind him, thinking that he probably didn't want the Elves eavesdropping. As the door shut, Thorin's shoulders tensed and he spun around, eyes widening.
Rue blinked in question, scared as hell. "Uh…uh, did you want the door open?"
Thorin shook his head. "If we were not inside an Elf realm, I would prefer the door open, for I do not wish for your reputation to be in ruin because of m―" He stopped talking at once, eyes awkwardly traveling from Rue's face to the door. Awe. Thorin had been seconds away from saying he didn't want Rue's reputation ruined because of him. At least that was what Rue thought she had heard. It was highly possible her mind could be playing tricks on her, since she had it bad for King Under the Mountain.
Clumsily, she made a beeline for the fluffy white bed, sitting down. Her gaze fell to her familiar sweatpants, the ones she had been wearing when she had first arrived in Middle-earth. Rue tapped her fingers against her thighs, wondering why Thorin was here. She didn't mind at all that he was here. Rue had been worried sick over him. Sure, she'd never tell Thorin this, but it was obvious his confrontation with Azog had shook him up pretty bad. He was more defensive, angry, and lonelier than ever, which broke Rue's heart.
"Elrond is supposed to talk to me after dinner," she said, miserably failing nonchalance, gently kicking her legs.
Thorin made a beeline for the front of the bed, the far side of the bedroom, going to stand next to the window as he gazed out at Rivendell. Underneath the reflection of sinking daylight, Thorin's eyes were beautiful, reminding Rue of that rare diamond Rose's fiancé had given her in the Titanic movie.
"Be wary," he growled softly, tone patronizing, yet defeated, like he couldn't summon enough energy for his usual, full-fledged Elf hate. Rue hated the defeat in his tone.
"Yep." She stupidly nodded, realizing it was stupid since Thorin couldn't even see her. "I was hoping that maybe another person could come with me―" Rue ventured lamely, getting all tongue-tied. How was she selfishly supposed to ask Thorin to go with her while he was emotionally and physically drained from confronting the fuck who had murdered his grandfather?
"Gandalf," he assumed roughly.
"No, I was thinking―" Rue swallowed hard, tempted to yank on her hair since she was so damn nervous― "You." She shrugged, the you sounding pathetic.
Thorin half-turned toward her, shock washing across his face. Then he nodded. "I will accompany you, Rue."
"Okay," she squeaked, grinning. "Thanks, but if you don't want to, that's okay."
"If I did not want to, I would say so," he shot back, leering out at the valley as he faced the window again. Rue was guessing he had just seen groups of Elves walk by or that her annoying personality was finally getting to him. Probably the latter. His hands were behind his back. Thorin seemed lost in thought, just so miserably lost, steely gaze lowering to his boots in―shame?
Rue rose to her feet, getting ready to say, to do anything to help Thorin break out of his sad spell, but then―
"I must disgust you." His voice was a defensive growl, marred by hurt and anger. Thorin's eyes were blue embers, burning the wonderland that was Rivendell.
Everything was instinctual. Rue closed the distance between them fast, heart racing like crazy. Her arms flew out as she swung them around Thorin's waist. The feel of her arms trapped around his sturdy middle left butterflies fluttering in her tummy. Damn, she was nervous. She pressed against his back, burying her head between his strong shoulder blades. He was rigid, completely caught off guard by Rue's hug. What the hell was she thinking? Thorin was probably going to knock her the hell out for daring to touch him.
He didn't move an inch, standing stark still. His arms awkwardly hovered above hers, the feel of his sleeves brushing against Rue's bare arms leaving goose bumps all over her body. She wasn't wearing her cloak or flannel jacket for once, clad in only her girl power t-shirt.
Okay, maybe Rue was being really stupid and an assuming asshole, but she thought Thorin could use a hug right now.
Strangely, as the seconds ticked by, as Rue felt his spring-like scent woo her and strands of his majestic hair graze against her forehead, his body slackened.
Rue tightened her grip, shutting her eyes, loving the feel of being so physically close to Thorin, loving the feel of ideally comforting him. In reality, Thorin probably thought she was a creeper. Her eyes fluttered open in horror. Rue gently untangled her arms from him, swallowing hard. Oh, gosh. Apologize. Apologize right now.
"I'm sorry," she murmured timidly. "I just―I got all emotional, you know." Rue sniveled, wiping her nose, putting a few inches between them. "You don't disgust me. You never do." It was the truth. Rue wanted to know why Thorin would ask that, but it wasn't too hard to figure out when she pondered over it. What he had done, courageously facing Azog and taking the fuck's eye out, was what Thorin assumed made him disgusting. And if Rue was honest with herself, actually watching Thorin take out Azog's eye had been gross, but that didn't make Thorin as a person disgusting. He was far from disgusting. He was strong, brave, relentless, loyal, and―
Thorin whirled to face her, anger flashing in his eyes.
She gave a little squeak of fright, stepping backwards.
"You speak lies," Thorin declared viciously, taking a step closer. "I saw you vomit, or were my eyes deceiving me?" His tone was accusing.
"I did," Rue explained, stepping backwards once again, overwhelmed by the intensity spilling out Thorin's eyes. "But I―uh―I've never seen anyone take someone's eye out before. I mean, I only saw that in Kill Bill. But I'm not used to seeing blood and guts, and―" She gulped. Oh, crap. What was she even saying?
Thorin glared, his voice becoming louder and louder. "If I disgust you, then do not dare lie to me!" Thorin's teeth were clenched tight, and he had that scary look on his face. "I do not need your pity." His face was deathly intimidating, fists clenched by his sides.
"I don't pity you!" Rue cried, tears spilling out her eyes. Meagerly, she wiped them away. All right, Rue was done with Thorin being too daft to see that she cared about him, done with being too scared and biting her tongue. That was it. Rue screamed, "I care about you, Thorin! I think of you as my friend and I'm worried about you!" Tense silence fell in the room. Thorin's chest rose and fell hastily, his eyes doubling in size. His lips were parted in dismay. Rue's words had left him…speechless. Eh? Seconds passed. Rue really started to mull over what she had said. Oh, shit. Her tone had been too reckless, and what―
She blurted, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean for what I said to come out that way!" Softly, she added, "Thorin, I'm really sorry." Rue crossed her arms over her chest, shivering. She just really wished Thorin would say something. His silent anger was fifty times worse than his red-in-the-face shouting anger. Gazing at the floor, she shifted her weight from one foot to the next, trying to gain the courage to look Thorin in the eye.
"You should stop apologizing for things you do not need to apologize for." What?
Rue met Thorin's eyes, expecting to find him pissed the hell off, but he wasn't. His gaze was guarded, but softer, body limp once again.
She bravely closed the distance between them, wiping more tears away. With trembling hands, Rue reached out, carefully taking Thorin's large hands in her own. Gently, Rue cradled his calloused palms, running her thumbs over the back of his hands. Forcing her stare to remain on his hands, she blushed like crazy. His hands were so masculine, faint lines from old scars covering them. These were probably scars from Thorin's days of working in villages of Men, scars from his days of mining. She found his scars beautiful.
Rue sheepishly mumbled, "Is this okay?" She cast a timid glimpse at Thorin.
His expression was oddly…gentle, eyes holding a soft intensity Rue had never seen in them before. She had seen many things in his eyes, but never this look. In answer, Thorin's thick thumbs grazed against hers, the gesture leaving Rue's breaths shallow, his fingers intertwining with hers. They were…uh…sort of holding hands.
Rue nervously piped up, "What you did was brave and no one can take that away from you. Everything you do is brave, is too amazing for words." Somehow, she held his gaze, catching the surprise flicker in his eyes. Why was it always so hard for Thorin to take compliments? Swallowing hard, she said with a slight tremor in her voice, "I know Gandalf has been…uh, not making things any easier for you and hasn't really been considerate of you, but the rest of the company, we all really respect and admire you. You should hear Gims talk about you. Anyway―" Rue's eyes dropped to her feet in sudden nervousness― "It's weird because Gandalf reminds me of my mom in some ways. I mean with the whole not-being-considerate thing. She acts like things don't bother her or get to her, like Gandalf does. And then she suddenly gets mad at me, like Gandalf does with the company. When things got really hard after my dad died, I was a kid and for a long time she acted like things didn't get to her. We moved a lot, since it was hard for my mom to hold down work. We lived in other people's houses, motels―these places like taverns, with family members. Sometimes, there would be days when our luck ran out and we were homeless. There would be a few months out of the year when we would finally get our own place, but then―" Rue's voice was resentful. Gosh, she hated the resentment she felt― "Mom would always make a mess of things. She'd act like everything that had happened to us didn't bother her for so long, with the help of drugs..."
"What are drugs?" Thorin asked softly, his thumbs stroking Rue's knuckles, the feel of his touch too distracting.
"They're these illegal substances that do funny things to your mind and basically take away the person you know, and replace them with this mad stranger."
Thorin stood tenser, the grip of his hands tighter.
Rue sniveled, shuddering. "Mom would always have these days when things would become too much. When she couldn't handle it anymore. And then that was when she would do really idiotic things, like fight my aunts, her friends, break windows, and get herself taken in by our authorities." She didn't really know how else to say, "Get thrown inside the slammer." Rue choked out awkwardly, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel things differently because of all that. I think uh―Gandalf doesn't realize you might feel things differently, too. Because of the things, you've been through. And he should be more considerate of you. I mean, I understand his side of things, but I understand your side of things, too." She ventured a glimpse at his face, turning crimson. "If I said anything wrong, I'm sorry."
Thorin slowly shook his head. "You did not."
Suddenly, the bedroom felt suffocating, too small of a space despite being the biggest bedroom Rue would probably ever have the privilege to sleep in. Thorin's spring-like scent was overwhelming, the feel of him leaving Rue under some lame dizzying spell. One of his hands left hers, the feel of her hand lonely without his touch.
Without warning, Thorin's hand was suddenly on her waist. Rue nearly gasped. His touch was cautious, fingers lightly brushing her lower back as if quietly asking permission to touch her. Thorin's eyes were on fire, his gaze penetrable, expression watchful as he tried to gauge Rue's reaction.
"If I am making you feel uncomfortable―" Thorin started huskily.
"No, no, you're not," she said clumsily.
With strange gentleness―Big Bad King Under the Mountain was never gentle―he wrapped a tentative, strong arm around Rue's waist, pulling her closer. She resisted the impulse to squeak. Their chests were inches apart, the closeness making Rue feel ready to pass out like Bilbo had at Bag End. They were inches apart. Inches apart. Hot damn.
Thorin's other hand left hers, moving to her shoulder instead. His hand was so big; her shoulder was pretty much buried underneath it. Thorin softly caressed her shoulder, his eyes never leaving hers once.
"If that filthy Elf makes you cry again, I will see to it his face is maimed," Thorin softly growled. "Gandalf will not stop me."
Okay, Thorin's threats weren't cute or anything, but Rue giggled for some stupid reason. "You don't have to call him filthy or threaten him, Thorin. It's okay. I'm just overly sensitive."
Thorin's eyes fleeted across Rue's face, his stare making her knees nearly buckle.
"I should have been there," he said regretfully, frighteningly intense as his strong fingers clenched tighter on Rue's waist and shoulder. "That Man should not have ever lay his disgusting hands on you. He is fortunate Gandalf travels with us, for I would have taken longer dealing out punishment." Naji.
"I stabbed him in the hand if that counts for anything," Rue spoke humbly, shrugging.
"It counts for everything."
His words echoed loud, their eyes meeting once again. Oh, gosh. Rue swallowed hard, resisting the temptation to look away and blush. His eyes were so blue, so heated, long wisps of his hair so beautiful underneath the waning sunlight. Rue sounded really lame.
Suddenly, a soft knock sounded on the door. Not even a second later, the door flew open. Rue and Thorin jumped apart, her heart hammering against her chest like hoof beats. Lindir stood there, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Thorin stood taller, puffing his chest out. He protectively stood in front of Rue, his stance pretty much demanding an answer for the interruption.
"Your friend is ready to receive visitors, but I must warn to take careful heed," Lindir spoke coolly.
A grin broke across Rue's face. Nori was okay. He was ready to have visitors! Thank goodness.
"Is that all?" Thorin asked loudly, coming off arrogant.
"It is."
"Then leave."
Rue jumped a little at the harshness behind Thorin's words.
Lindir pointedly looked at Rue. "I believe it would be inappropriate for me to leave a woman alone under such unusual circumstances." He held an inviting hand out. "Come now, my lady. If you are uncomfortable, Lord Elrond will see to it you are moved to another room." Eh?
Thorin opened his mouth to say something, looking positively offended, but Rue beat him to it.
"I'm not uncomfortable." She nodded in reassurance. "Thorin's my friend and makes me feel safe and―" Rue gave a tiny gasp― "Nori's waiting for us."
Lindir nodded. "Understood, my lady." He gave Thorin one final cold stare before shutting the door.
Her shoulders slackened.
Thorin's fingers curled inwards as he hissed, "You could have been indecent, and that Elf opened the door without asking for permission first. He has dishonored you. Filthy, tawdry―"
"Uh," Rue awkwardly interrupted. "I don't mean to interrupt your insults for Lindir, but I really, really want to go see Nori."
Thorin traipsed―more like stomped―across the bedroom, beckoning Rue to follow. "I do not trust leaving you in here alone with disrespectful Elves lurking in corners, willing to open doors whenever they feel is right…"
He continued to rant about Elves, but all Rue could think about was a certain Snooki bump hairdo. Nori, they were coming.
Author's Note: Don't worry. Rue will not be getting an Elf dress that will make Thorin magically drool over her ;) I will be updating again Saturday or Sunday morning. Most likely Saturday! Please review and let me know what you think? Once again, thanks so much for the overwhelming response last update. Remember to follow me on Tumblr at pearlprimrose :)
Dearreader: Thank you for reviewing! Rue didn't see the first or last movie. She remembers some of the second movie, since she watched it when she was a kiddo. So she knows about Frodo from pop culture and probably from Tumblr and Facebook. I agree Thorin is a tortured soul and a lot of fic writers tend to glance over it in favor of "cold" and "emotionless" Thorin. Thorin will be very happy *wink wink*. I feared using redundant phrases. Will make sure to use throw up or puke instead. Thanks again!
Redhouseclan: I was totally inspired by "Kill Bill." Thorin went all Beatrix Kiddo on Azog. Thank you for reviewing once again!
Guest: Thank you for the review :) Examining Thorin's vulnerabilities is a big part of the reason I love writing him. I love to see his vulnerabilities exposed, and then to write out how Thorin deals with them. You saying it feels REAL, even if it's in a fantasy world, is probably one of the biggest compliments I've ever gotten as a writer. That's what I love about Harry Potter. How real it feels, even though they live in the Wizarding World and perform magic. Thanks so much! My goal is always to get the humanity across in anything I write. Awe, shucks :)