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Disclaimer: I do not own "Space Oddity" by David Bowie.
Chapter Twenty-Two: Space Oddity
One second, Rue was in the middle of a street, panting hard, the big yellow headlights freezing her in place, and the next someone pushed her forward, fur bumping her back.
The car roared by. A car? Wait a sec.
She fell on sidewalk with―
Rue turned in a pair of arms, staring up and seeing―
"Thorin," she breathed.
His chest was rising and falling fast, arms locked around her waist. Eyes owlish, mouth parted in a silent O, Thorin was as unkempt as a scarecrow. Tangles of wild hair and smudges of dirt on his beautiful face.
Rue put a hand on Thorin's forearm. His grip slackened. She sat up slowly, meeting the topsy-turvy world. Rue felt like the sun watching the planets orbit around her. Except the buildings, the city―Stockton―were the planets spinning around her.
First thing to do: she had to scout ahead like Fili and Kili had taught her. Stumbling along, feeling dizzy and nauseous, Rue climbed to her feet. Thorin was up within seconds, unsheathing Orcrist on instinct, and scanning the car-congested street suspiciously.
Rue traipsed down the sidewalk for a few moments, Thorin right behind her when she realized―
She stood stark still, winded, lungs feeling heavy, like they were drowning from the air.
"What?" she asked herself breathlessly. "What am I doing? I don't―" She shook her head, staring at the city. This wasn't Middle-earth, it was the modern world. With cars and too many people. She didn't need to scout ahead.
"Where are we?" Thorin demanded hotly against her ear, protectively pulling her closer. "Stay here. Do not try to leave again."
Rue ran a hand through her crazy hair, trying to move her limp tongue. How could she explain the impossible to Thorin?
"Rue!"
Her eyes flew across the street where―
She gasped, stumbling back in surprise. Fili, Kili, Dwalin, Gimli, and Nori stood between a telephone pole and the crosswalk sign. Nori. The memories were foggy…but Rue didn't remember seeing his Snooki bump hairdo head for the light. Eh?
Gimli watched the flying cars with wide eyes.
First mission since being back here: teach the Dwarves how to cross a street.
Frantically, Rue waved her hands, shouting in an attempt to be heard over the speeding Stockton drivers. "Not yet! Wait until the person on the sign―"
Kili blurted, "What person?" For some reason, he peered at his feet in confusion, like the person was standing right underneath him.
"This person?" Gimli motioned to the sign.
Nori rolled his eyes.
"Yes!" She nodded urgently. "Wait until it turns white and when the cars stop―"
Without warning, the cars slowed down, some drivers halfway inside the crosswalk. The sign started blinking, giving the signal to walk.
"Go! Come on!" Rue encouraged.
Thorin sprinted, feet leaving sidewalk. He was trying to run across the crosswalk himself. Please no crosswalk confusion? Rue stopped him, reaching for his thick wrist.
"We wait for them to come over here," she explained hastily.
Thorin stopped, backtracking on the sidewalk.
Dwalin and Kili swung arms around Fili's shoulders, helping him walk across the crosswalk. Gimli raced ahead, eyes big as he took in the cars, the streetlights, the signs, and the buildings. Nori lagged behind, coolly observing everything.
"Stay between the white lines!" Rue warned with a squeak. Terror seeped to her very bones. She wasn't even acting like a twenty-first century civilized person anymore…she was acting brisk about everything when she should've been attempting stealthy. How in the hell had they even got here? Nothing made sense…nothing was making sense. Her heart beat like a war drum. Waiting and watching the Dwarves cross their first street ever was horrifying. Was this how parents felt when their kiddies crossed their first streets?
They hurried, throwing distrustful, curious glances at everything.
The first thing Dwalin said when he reached sidewalk:
"What are those beasts with yellow eyes?"
Suddenly, Rue noticed they weren't alone on the sidewalk: people walked by. It was something she should have realized sooner. But after being in Middle-earth for so long, traveling with only so many people and seeing more trees than beings, her mind seemed to have forgotten the simplest things.
They awkwardly stood on the corner, a couple giving Dwalin the stink eye. Rue waited until no one was in earshot.
"They're called cars and they go really fast and are made of steel. So don't cross a street unless I'm here," she said in a big rush.
"The beast was going to kill you," Thorin hissed, standing taller, clearly searching for the car that had been seconds away from running her down. If it hadn't been for Thorin, then she'd be dead. Rue was tempted to hug Thorin, to snuggle against the crook of his neck and give a million thanks for everything he had ever done for her, for all the times he'd saved her life.
Rue was trembling from head to toe, realizing with a jolt that this was the exact spot she'd been before falling in Middle-earth. How was that possible? Did time pass here? Or had it froze? She felt her backpack digging into her back, crushing her with the disturbing reality.
"Drivers here," she uttered, panting, clutching her stomach. "They're reckless and almost kill people all the time."
Apprehension flashed in Thorin's eyes.
"You―" He pointed at Rue accusingly before letting his hand fall by his side― "You once told me of such things. This is―" Thorin inhaled sharply, his voice low and husky― "Your world."
The Dwarves watched her with bated breaths, recognition flickering in their eyes.
"Yep, it is," she admitted, the words feeling pried from her jaw…because―Rue looked around―this didn't feel like her world anymore. It felt like someone else's.
Like a bat out of hell, Thorin bent down, nearly diving for the sidewalk in his haste. In desperation, he touched the sidewalk, pressing his weight down, rapid breaths ripping through Rue's eardrums like ominous bongs.
"There's a way back. There must be a way back," he growled. Turning to glare at the rest of the Dwarves, he bellowed, "What do you stand for? Start searching."
Rue covered her eyes, peeking between fingers to make sure they weren't sprinting into the street. But she let them look, and look some more.
Because there was no way back.
And that…that made Rue's entire broken world upside down all over again because the Dwarves―
They had lost it all.
Just walking down the street was an adventure in itself. Dwalin pointed at this. Thorin asked about that. Kili wondered if he could talk to anyone. Of course, Rue said no. Kili was smiling gawkily at people―probably looking like a creeper. There was one instance when Kili stopped to tug on Rue's sleeve to ask, "May I say, 'Hello, I am Kili from Middle-earth, the Blue Mountains. How are you?'"
Adjusting the easiest so far was Nori. He watched people like a hawk, scary observant, not bothered in the slightest by the sea of gray from the buildings they passed.
Fleeting moments of panic burst in front of Rue's eyes like stars. She froze. Everyone else stopped, Dwalin giving her the evil eye. What was up with Dwalin today? All right, she couldn't blame him for the bad attitude. They hadn't been exactly dancing on rainbows and riding unicorns before somehow being transported here.
Rue peered up at the street signs, thinking she had been going the wrong direction the whole time. Her apartment was―on Continental Way, which she could get to by West Lane and…hey, she had remembered the directions after all.
"What is wrong?" Thorin asked her quietly, inches behind her.
"Just thought I had forgotten my way around here," she murmured, feeling an onrush of emotions. Rue was here―in Stockton―with Dwarves who didn't technically exist here. What in the heck was she going to do? Too many complications. Shrugging, she kept walking, beckoning the Dwarves to follow.
They passed by some rundown buildings, the blinding pollution in the air making Rue's head ring. She had become accustomed to piney, untainted air, foolishly believing she would be inhaling it for the rest of her days. Fate must have been howling in laughter at her ridiculousness.
Buildings, pulsing sunlight, car horns beeping, and an onslaught of people plagued her line of vision. Buses roared past them. Route numbers flickered at them from the distance.
Awkwardly, Kili cleared his throat. "Rue, when―" He ventured a nervous glance at a man waiting at the bus stop― "I mean, are we going to discuss what h―"
At once, Thorin, Dwalin, and Nori were in sync.
"Be silent!"
The exigency behind their words reminded Rue of how insane this really was.
She swallowed hard, speaking for only Kili's ears, "We'll talk when we get to my apartment."
What were they going to do? What about the rest of the Dwarves and Bilbo trapped in Mirkwood?
They marched on in profound silence, the far away echo of a police siren their only companion.
Six months ago, Rue had never envisioned bringing Dwarves to her apartment―maybe bringing pepper spray or a pocketknife―but not Dwarves. Here she was minutes later, opening the door to her dank home, inviting her friends in. The thought of Thorin seeing her home terrified her. It was small, homely, and a little messy if Rue remembered correctly. Thorin was a king and―she gulped―all right, even if it sounded cliché, he was her dreamboat, her everything. His opinion was too darn important.
She fumbled with the keys, awkwardly peeking over her shoulder at the empty hall. Since it was the middle of the day―she was technically supposed to be in a practice room at school, reading over pieces for string quartet―the hallways in the apartment building were empty. Good. At least two good things had happened so far: no one had died crossing the street and there weren't people infiltrating the halls, throwing them suspicious glances.
The door clicked, opening. Rue sauntered inside first.
"Come on," she beckoned.
Gimli touched the doorway. "These homes are strange." He asked Dwalin, "Why do the race of Men gather in one home and then separate into different homes? It is strange indeed." He sounded insanely curious.
"How should I know?" Dwalin barked impatiently.
Rue entered the sad excuse for a foyer―not that she ever had a real foyer or anything. She had just seen them on TV. There was a lone dark, blue couch facing a television set on a small entertainment center. Inside the entertainment center's cubbyholes were a Wii and PlayStation 2. Yep, Rue was still having trouble moving on to the PlayStation 3.
Her boots struck a mess of a gnarled, old brown rug. And just like every day, Rue almost tripped over it. She stumbled forward, reaching out for the kitchen counter to stop her fall when―
Thorin was lightning fast. His hand was inside the crook of her elbow, stopping her fall.
Rue turned beet red. First, the unexplainable mess of somehow returning to her world, her crummy home…and then her stupid klutzy self…
"Sorry," Rue sputtered, standing up straight, trying to ignore Nori's snickers.
Kili watched everything with doe eyes, neck craning this way and that way in awe.
Rue turned around, hands behind her back as she said anxiously, "I'm not sure what's going on. I don't think any of us know what's going on." Here was the inevitable talk.
"I only remember following Kili and Fili into the light," Thorin grunted pointedly, giving his nephews accusatory stares.
"And I remember following you," Dwalin told Rue.
She looked to Nori just as―
He shrugged nonchalantly. "Aye, I thought you were going to trip over a tree root and kill yourself." Nori had followed her?
Rue nodded. "And I followed Gimli…"
Gimli blinked lazily, too absorbed in the functions of a toaster.
Thorin asked the question everybody was thinking.
"How do we return?" Seconds passed of silence. Then in a rougher, more determined voice, he spat, "We must return." They jolted at the sound of his voice.
Thorin's question reminded her of a rotting carcass: sickening, disastrous, and reeking of nostalgia because…there was no way back. Not that Rue knew of. Run into traffic and try to get hit by a car again? Jump off a tall office building and hope she was swept back into Middle-earth?
She put her hands behind her back, eyes lowering in fear. Rue's lips trembled, her voice a soft quiver.
"I don't know how to get back."
Her answer sucked the air out her lungs. That was the last thing Thorin wanted to hear. And she wanted to be the last person to deliver him such pessimistic, craptastic news. She might have well had just told him Thrain would never be found. Her words were murder. The quest. Erebor. It was all lost. Everything that meant the world to Thorin was gone…and all because they had been transported to her world. He was going to hate her forever. Resent her for the plague she was.
Rue felt clammy.
What were they going to do? Millions of more questions reeled her mind. Rue bit her lip, trying her best not to have a stupid breakdown. She should be calling Nat, pondering over how she was going to return to her life. The last thing she should be thinking about―Rue rubbed her cold forearm for comfort―was how to return to Middle-earth, how to go back to her life. When had her old life become nothing more than an illusion she didn't care to live?
Wearily, she met Thorin's eyes, expecting to see that one look in his eyes. The one that screamed betrayal, distrust, and resentment. Thorin had once given her that look all the freaking time. To her dismay, he was gazing at her in concern. The way he was standing, the way his eyes flickered over her face in question, Rue knew he wanted to speak alone.
"What is this square?"
Rue followed the sound of Nori's voice. He stood by the TV now, bending down, tapping both sides of the TV, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips.
Thorin gave her a slight nod.
Rue joined Nori.
"This is called a TV."
"What is it?" Kili asked, joining them. He cocked his head to the side, pacing back and forth in front of the TV.
She reached the couch, digging for the remote between the sofa cushions. It had to be there. It was always there. Rue found it, the feel of the remote so foreign, so unnatural. Pointing it at the television, she pushed the red power button.
The TV came to life.
Kili jumped back, notching an arrow in his bow in a blink of an eye.
Gimli shouted something that strangely sounded like "ahoy!"
Dwalin readied his axe while Thorin pulled Orcrist out.
Someone screamed this high-pitched, unmanly shriek. Rue suspected it was Fili or Kili.
"Weapons down," Rue cooed playfully, grinning. "TVs don't attack. Okay, maybe sometimes it feels like they're attacking you when Keeping Up with the Kardashians comes on." She snorted at her not-so-funny joke.
Dwalin and Thorin gave each other skeptical glimpses before lowering their weapons.
Kili let out a sigh of relief, nudging Gimli. "I thought the TV was an Orc in disguise."
"I thought it was a Warg or Troll." Gimli shook his head, sighing irritably.
Rue had no clue how you could get a TV mixed up with Orcs, Wargs, or Trolls. The kiddies must have had bigger imaginations than her outrageously stupid one.
Leaning against the sofa's armchair, Rue exhaled deeply, clutching her aching side. This was too much. The entire day was too much.
Suddenly, she noticed all eyes sweep over Nori.
One of his hands was on top of the TV as he watched The Jerry Springer Show in fascination.
"Is this true? Are there really women removing their strange tunics?" Nori wondered with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
Rue gasped. "No. No. Umm…that's not real!"
Waving her hands hysterically, Rue pushed past Nori, blocking the TV from view. Jerry Springer was not exactly what she had planned as introduction to TV. She had been thinking more along the lines of The Wiggles or clean-cut comedies. Kid friendly stuff.
Nori stood on his tiptoes in an attempt to see past Rue. "I was watching this strange magic."
"It isn't magic," she sputtered in panic, breathing hardening.
"Then what is it?" It was Thorin, still standing halfway in the kitchen, watching everything unfold with bright, curious eyes.
Rue twiddled with her fingers nervously. "You see―"
Bang. Bang.
Shit.
Who was knocking on the front door during a weekday afternoon?
Thorin jolted in alarm, hand instinctively trailing to the hilt of his sword once again.
Rue squeaked, doing an awkward run-half-hobble to the front door. She reached the door, standing taller to peer through the peephole and―
Gasp.
"My landlord," she whisper-yelled.
"The lord of your realm?" Dwalin assumed.
"No." Rue turned. "You guys have to hide. You can―" She took a looksee at the hallway, which lead to her bedroom and that was it. Having a one-bedroom apartment was pretty depressing― "Go to the door down the hall. Go inside my bedroom and keep quiet. Please?"
Kili and Gimli listened without question, scrambling toward the hall hurriedly. Dwalin and Fili even turned, preparing to go. But Thorin shifted his weight to his left leg in hesitation, eyes doubling in size―in suspicion.
"It is inappropriate for us to be in your bedroom when you are unwed―"
She interrupted desperately, "Thorin, please just go in there?" Her desperation became pleas. "Please?"
He nodded stiffly, whirling fast, ushering for Dwalin and Fili to follow.
Moments later, they were gone from the hall, stuck in her mess of a bedroom. Rue really, really hoped she hadn't left any underwear or bras on the floor. Um.
She brought a shaky hand to the doorknob, twisting it open.
Standing on the other side of the door was Brutus, a balding, old guy that smelled like bad bio. Her landlord. Was it that time of the month already? Rue could have sworn she had just paid the rent last time she remembered. Maybe she really had been stuck in Middle-earth for too long,
"Ruby." He smiled.
"Hi, Brutus, how are you?" Rue put on the fake smile she always wore with Brutus. He was the landlord from the seventh layer of hell: taking advantage of immigrants, never having anything fixed, ignoring the ant problem two stories down, and supposedly some rooms posed as brothels. Rue had heard it from the grapevine and seen some questionable people walking around here.
"One of my classes got cancelled so that's why―" Rue gestured vaguely behind her― "That's why I'm here." Damn, she was an awful liar.
"I'm here about the leak from your toilet that you called about."
Rue blinked stupidly. Eh? Okay, she had no idea what he was referring to, but she knew one thing for sure: the bathroom was connected to the bedroom, so…
"What leak…I don't remember calling," she sputtered, heart racing violently.
He snapped his fingers inches from her face. "Wake up, Ruby. You called two days ago." Further proof time had magically stopped. Had somehow frozen itself.
Rue nodded. "I think I remember now…"
Brutus threw his head back and laughed. "Maybe if you remembered things, you wouldn't have paid the rent two days late last time." He quirked an eyebrow, smirking condescendingly, making Rue feel two inches tall.
Awkwardly, she piped up, "Yeah, you're right. I'm really, really sorry." She had called him ahead of time, practically begged to pay late since her check had been delayed. Brutus had said it was okay, but now…now he was throwing it in her face.
"You gonna let me come in now―" Brutus took a step-forward.
Rue blocked him. "Uhh...it's a bad time right now. My…my cousin spent the night, and she has food poisoning." She gulped. "She's been in and out of the bathroom all day. Right now she's in there…you know." Rue shrugged.
Brutus placed his hands on his sides, chuckling, shaking his head. "This is what I don't like. Irresponsibility in tenants. You knew I was supposed to be coming―" His voice was steadily rising.
"I'm sorry, I mean―"
"I wasn't finished talking―"
"I meant to apologize―"
"First, I had to deal with your mother being a disturbance to the other tenants―"
"She isn't here anymore, please Mr. Parker―"
Brutus opened his mouth to start in on her again, but remained strangely silent, eyes traveling behind Rue―
"Are there difficulties?"
Oh, no. It was the first time Rue wanted to throttle Thorin. Slowly, she turned. He stood behind her, eyes dangerously honing in on Brutus. Rue had told him to wait in her bedroom. She was embarrassed; cheeks red in humiliation, feeling tears begin to form. Never had she cried in front of her freaking landlord.
"Who are you? I believe we haven't been introduced," Brutus said, his gaze scrutinizing Thorin's every move.
Rue opened her mouth to say "long-lost family member who is only staying one night," but Thorin beat her to it.
"I am her husband."
What? Oh, no. Rue felt sick. Really sick. Wrong answer, Thorin. It wasn't like he knew what he was doing. His interference was completely sensible to him. Rue was from the race of Men and in Middle-earth, women from the race of Men were treated like garbage unless there was a man around of course. Sexist pigs.
"Husband? You never told me you were married," Brutus told Rue airily, smirking.
Rue shrugged, backing up until she collided with Thorin's chest. "Just married actually. But he isn't living here―" Rue shot Thorin a quick glance― "He's living with his mom since it's closer to his job."
Rue thought Thorin was going to give her string of lies away.
He wrapped a tentative arm around her shoulders, inching her away from Brutus and stepping forward.
"My tenant was withholding information," Brutus pointed out, stepping away.
Rue peeked past Thorin. "No, no I wasn't. I―"
"Withholding information," Brutus uttered to himself, his back facing them as he marched down the hallway. The endless, hopeless hallway of doom…
No way. The world turned blurry. Rue wiped at the tears running down her face, closing the door, resting against the wood, trying to steady her troubled breaths.
Thorin towered over her, looking on with worry.
"You have no idea what you've done," she whispered. Must remain calm.
"He was dishonoring you, speaking to you as though you were nothing more than a dog," Thorin spat. "I did not mean to lie―"
"Your lie can cost me my home!" she cried, tears pouring down her cheeks.
Thorin was speechless.
Feebly, she wiped at her eyes. "I know you didn't know…and you thought you were helping―" She leaned even further against the door― "I can't breathe." Her chest felt tight, her breaths shallow.
"The race of Men do not respect their women unless there is a man to speak in her stead," Thorin spoke desperately, nearly panting. His eyes were big, his expression completely remorseful. Lowering his gaze, his voice dropped to a whisper, "I thought I was doing you just, Ruby."
Rue nodded. "I know you did." More tears trickled down her cheeks. "Thorin, things are―" She sniveled― "They are different here. Women can have their own homes. They don't need husbands to have respect, but I know women from the race of Men in Middle-earth…I know they have things harder." Rue hugged herself, shivering from head to toe. It looked like plan "get mad at Thorin" had evaporated.
He shook his head. "I did not know―"
"I know you didn't―"
Suddenly, Thorin closed the small space between them. His long nose was inches from hers, utter intensity screaming from his eyes. He pressed her against the door, big hands on her forearms. Gently, he slid his hands up and down her arms.
It took one second―their eyes meeting, his stare unflinching, and two words―for Rue's world to come crashing down.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
And then Rue broke.
She cried. For hours. First, she cried in Thorin's arms. His warm, strong embrace had made her feel safe. No matter how resentful she felt each time she took a glance at Thorin, Rue couldn't help but feel grateful. Never in her life had anyone―who wasn't Nat―stood up for her, defended her, made her feel safe, and thought―thought she had honor. In actuality, her having honor was like Dumbledore not being the greatest wizard of all time. But for some unexplainable reason, Thorin thought she was honorable.
Rue had finished her mental, physical, and emotional breakdown in the shower between pathetic body-racking sobs and pulling out pieces of hair. So pulling out pieces of hair made her feel like a melodramatic teenager, but Rue argued with herself than it was better than doing drastic self-harm like slamming her head against the wall or pitiful attempts to drown herself in the shower.
There had been so much dirt peeled away from her flesh that the drain had become clogged, her skin scrubbed nearly raw. If only she could scrub away all the questions, the unlikelihood of the situation, but she couldn't. She just couldn't. Dwarves were in her foyer. Middle-earth―Mirkwood and the rest of the company―were far behind them.
She blinked, rubbing the fog off the bathroom mirror. Her blurry image came into view.
It was the first time in months she had seen her own reflection. What she saw was someone else or the same person from someone else's eyes.
Dark circles curved underneath her eyes. Rue's bangs were long gone; so long, they had naturally become a part of her messy hair. With only a towel on, Rue sheepishly took a peek at her body. From days of hiking and living a caveman diet, Rue had lost some weight. Hey, she could see her toes while standing without leaning forward.
Minutes later, Rue was clad in a new pair of comfy sweatpants and a yellow sweatshirt. Damn, she wanted to sleep. But she had to be responsible and think about work and school and what in the hell she was going to do with six Dwarves in a one-bedroom apartment.
She left the bathroom, sauntered through her messy bedroom, stepping over bundles of clothes and textbooks and―hey, was that Chamber of Secrets? Ignoring the temptation to hunt for all her Potter books, Rue wandered out her bedroom.
When she nearly reached the tiny foyer, Rue stopped by the dimly lit hall, watching the Dwarves. Kili sat on his knees in front of the TV, completely fixated on…Law & Order. Nori, Dwalin, Gimli, and Fili were awkwardly squished on the couch, arguing over who was taking up all the room. She wasn't sure why, but Fili was blamed.
Rue was scanning the carpet, the doorframes, past the picture frames hung on the walls, searching for―
There he was―in the kitchen, standing by the corner. Away from the Dwarves, seeking the very little privacy her cramped home offered.
Thorin held the oakenshield, turning the oaken branch in his hands again and again. Rue grinned. He had finally taken the oakenshield back.
They hated being stuck inside the apartment.
For once, Rue got the chance to teach them a thing or two: how to use the toaster, microwave, TV, stove, to dial 9-1-1. She also taught them things not to do: don't leave the stovetop on, the door unlocked, don't answer the door, don't eat dish soap―Gimli―, and don't stand on top of the end table and jump off for kicks―Kili.
Thorin hated being here. He never said it, but Rue could tell by the disdain on his face every time she walked out the front door. Every time he'd accompany her out the apartment building to her newly fixed car, making comments like, "In the newspaper, there was a violent attack on a woman walking alone. Rue, you should not work―I told you once before I will find work."
She thought his overprotectiveness was adorable. Come on, he was from Middle-earth, Middle-earth the fantasy world. Not to mention he was a Dwarf. Rue had to keep him―keep all of them inside―like they were dirty secrets, when in actuality; they were the opposite of dirty secrets. Unfortunately, society wouldn't agree with her.
Rue had to go to work and school. It felt like the longest two days of her life. Sitting in a classroom, staring at her cell phone screen, anticipating phone calls from one of the Dwarves that something went wrong, anticipating Mom or Nat calling. That was something she should've done her first day back: call Nat. Prolonging the inevitable phone call seemed like the best solution right now…because Rue knew if she heard Nat's voice on the phone, she might emotionally break again. And if they saw each other in person, there was a big chance Rue would spill the beans like water bursting from a dam.
The third night back, she returned home thirty minutes late after making a trip to Barnes & Noble for―the bag was in her hand. Rue swallowed hard, nerves eating away at her hands as she got out her car. She could do this. She could finally read The Hobbit. No, it wasn't weird that the characters were currently her roomies. To Rue they weren't characters. They were―
Thorin was standing by her parking space in his usual spot, closing the distance between them right away, eyes wide in concern. He was out of place in his Middle-earth clothes. It was one battle Rue could never win with Thorin and Dwalin. They refused to wear men's clothing from here. The other Dwarves had happily obliged, throwing on a mixture of men shirts along with their Middle-earth clothes.
They were so much more.
"Are you hurt?" he asked quietly. "Where were you? Nori was preparing to call that strange number, 9-1-1, if you had not returned in another hour."
Oh, no.
Rue chuckled. "Good thing you didn't. I'm okay. I just had to go to the―you know, the store." She shrugged.
"The strange buildings that have markets inside?"
"Yeah, those kind of stores."
They walked side-by-side into the building. Up the flight of stairs, passing a woman and her cute kiddie. Thorin carried Rue's backpack and her Barnes & Noble bag. Something was off about Thorin. Instead of pondering over how to return to Middle-earth, about the well-being of the company inside Thranduil's walls, he was asking Rue about her day. Usually, Thorin did ask how her day went―if she was safe, if she ate, if she was cold at work―but that was usually after talking about finding a Wizard of Gandalf's status to take them back to Middle-earth. Rue had noticed one peculiar thing about their conversations of possibly returning to Middle-earth: he always said "we" as if Rue were going to. Half the time, she was onboard with the idea of returning if it were ever a possibility, but it made her feel guilty. For many months, she'd been pining to come home, pining to see Natalie, wishing for her old life back. Now…things were different. Too different.
Reaching the end of the stairs, they continued walking down the hall. Thorin opened door 69 for her―unfortunately, that was her apartment number.
She walked in first, Thorin close behind her as he shut the door. His breaths dusted the back of her neck, giving her goose bumps, making Rue realize that―
Hey, his breath smelled like…alcohol. Eh? Rue didn't have any alcohol in her home. What was going on?
"Look it what we found, lassie!" Dwalin called from the foyer, holding a bottle of tequila. Wait. This was starting to make horrible sense. Natalie drank tequila sometimes. She had moved out of here last month―or what had been last month―leaving behind some…remnants.
Thorin shook his head in disapproval, explaining to Rue, "I told them not to touch such things without your permission―"
Without warning, one of the couch pillows soared across the room, hitting Thorin in the back of the head.
Dwalin was the assailant, red-in-the-face as he guffawed. "Do not act mightier-than-thou, Thorin! You have been drinking, too. You just wish to impress the lass." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Rue groaned, bending down to pick up the pillow. Great. After a long day of school and dealing with adjusting to work at Wal-Mart again, she now how to deal with drunk Dwarves.
Hmm. Drunk Dwarves. It sounded hilarious in her head.
The only ones who appeared sober were…Gimli and Fili. They were sitting on the couch, watching everything unfold with both hilarity and annoyance.
And Kili was―
"Ra-ra-ra-ra! Caught in a bad romance!" He was standing in front of the TV, appearing to be watching Lady Gaga vevo or something. Swinging his hips in a very awkward way, Kili was trying to copy the "Bad Romance" dance.
Fili was shaking his head, looking torn between laughing and punching Kili in the face.
"How did―" Rue went to stand by Kili― "Hey, I'm always looking for Lady Gaga on here. How did you find her?"
Between panting from dancing, Kili explained, "I searched for La-dy Gaga like you said to do. You spoke of La-dy Gaga very highly, so I wished to hear her music. And I must say―" Kili twirled, nearly falling down― "She is a lovely woman."
He continued with his "ra, ra, ra" chant.
Nori slapped his knee from his spot on the couch's armrest, howling in laughter. "The Dwarf had too much to drink. He believes he is going to meet this Lady Gaga and marry her."
Kili stopped dancing, turning comically serious. "I do wish to marry her. We will rule Erebor one day. I was born this way like she says, born a Dwarf. We were born Dwarves, Fili―" Rue had no idea how Fili got dragged into the conversation― "Lady Gaga is wise, lovely, beautiful, and―"
Nori interrupted with a snort. "Ahh, this Lady Gaga does not look big enough to even conceive one Dwarfling. And have you gone mad, lad? If you were to rule Erebor, it would be the fall of the line of Durin."
Gimli nodded. "Mahal save us if the kingdom ever falls under the beardless whelp's rule."
"Say that again, Dwarfling!"
"Beardless whelp."
Rue rubbed her forearms, facing Fili. "Make sure they're not too loud if they you know…fight."
Fili nodded once, smirking. "Yes, my lady." Creepy smirk. Rue wasn't sure how to take one of his creepy smirks. Right now, Fili was the only sober one 'sides from Gimli, though. Creepy smirk or not, she had to trust him.
Rue idly walked down the hall―going into her bedroom with the intention of feeding her hamster, Mr. Scabbers, when the slink of a silhouette by the doorframe distracted her.
Thorin awkwardly stood there, holding her belongings out.
"If you wish for me to place them on the bed for you, I shall, but…" He trailed off.
Rue had learned over the last two days that Thorin had an apparent fear of her bedroom. Okay, not really. He was just too darn respectful and traditional and always made comments like, "You are an unwed woman. It would be dishonorable for me to walk into your sleeping quarters." The Dwarves had been sleeping on the foyer floor the last two days, except for Dwalin and Thorin, who were taking turns sharing the couch. Rue had offered the younglings her bedroom floor instead to sleep on―since Fili, Kili, and Gimli weren't as traditional―but one look from Thorin had shot down the idea.
She shrugged, going to her blue colored dresser, where Mr. Scabbers's cage sat. "You can set them on the bed. It's okay. Hey―" Rue opened the cage, touching Mr. Scabbers's pink nose― "You wanna meet my hamster?"
Warily, Thorin stepped into Rue's bedroom. Quickly, he set her backpack and bag on her flower-patterned bed sheets, on top of her quidditch blanket covering the bed sheets. Reddening, she "coyly" nudged books and clothes out the way with her toes and heel, hoping Thorin didn't notice the hoarder-worthy mess.
"Your hamster?" he probed. "What is a hamster?"
Rue suspected since he was under the influence, he was more open to being in her bedroom.
She felt him approach, the heavy thuds of his footsteps. Thorin wasn't trying to be loud, halting inches behind her. Sometimes, he just was loud thanks to his big feet. But when he did try, he was as stealthy as a fox.
His soft breaths ghosted the shell of her ear. Thorin's spring-like scent was strong, enthralling. Rue was tempted to lean against him, to inhale his scent like a stalker. She inhaled. Rue's eyes fluttered open. When had she even shut her eyes in the first place? Now she could smell the alcohol on his breath, feel his hands grip both sides of her dresser, Thorin's arms surrounding her.
Rue lifted Mr. Scabbers from his cage. His black and white form shyly attempted to scuttle away. Giggling, she turned to face Thorin.
He stepped back to give Rue some space.
"This is Mr. Scabbers."
He squeaked, nuzzling his nose against the palm of Rue's hand.
Thorin playfully smirked. "It is a rat."
"Kind of." Rue held Mr. Scabbers out to him. "Do you want to hold him?"
Thorin grabbed Mr. Scabbers, holding him at arm's length, uncomfortably petting the top of his head.
Rue grinned. "I've got to feed him. He's a hungry hippo."
Thorin gladly handed Rue the hamster back.
"He's so cute," she murmured, putting him back inside the cage, her back to Thorin when―
"So are you."
Eh?
Rue turned fast, her knee bumping against one of her unclosed drawers. "Ow."
Thorin bent down fast, bringing a hand to her jean-covered knee. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, just a minor collision," she joked, cheeks flaming red. Had Thorin just―did he just say she was…cute? Him kneeling in front of her brought back memories of her stupid injury, of the pressing moments when Thorin rubbed ointment on her thigh. Nowadays, her thigh was bothering her less except for the slight twinge of pain here and there. Fleetingly, Rue wondered how Fili and Thorin's wounds were doing.
Thorin met her eyes, slowly standing up, inching closer to her. Suddenly, Rue was cornered against her dresser, both of Thorin's hands on the dresser's edges again.
She kept her gaze lowered, trying to control her breathing. Hot damn.
Without warning, a smile tugged at the corner of Thorin's lips. "Come here." His voice was husky, breath dusting against her neck. Wow. Drunk Thorin was a million times friendlier than sober Thorin.
She neared him, swallowing hard. "Yeah?"
"Turn around. I wish to show you something."
That could totally be misinterpreted as dirty. Rue trusted him. She did. And so she listened.
Sluggishly, she turned, Thorin's chest meeting her back.
"What are we doing?" she stammered. All of a sudden, he was wrapping both arms around her waist, pulling her close, so close she could feel nothing but him.
"I am teaching you how Dwarves dance," he said hotly in her ear. Rue shuddered. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Thorin's eyes were smoldering―intense.
"Really?"
"Indeed."
He started to instruct her to fold her arms and to―
"Then you must stomp."
"Stomp? Okay, but it has to be quiet stomping," Rue said breathlessly. Being tangled in Thorin's arms was heavenly. Indescribable. Rue started stomping, listening to Thorin's instructions, his hot breaths brushing against her flesh, making her heartbeats erratic. Rue cast timid glimpses at Thorin―her eyes lingering on his beard, on his mouth. Imagining what it would be like to feel his lips against hers in a passionate kiss, the scratch of his beard against her jaw, made her heart skip.
Now, Rue felt guilty for her longings. It was stupid. Because what if…what if he could return to Middle-earth? Rue was back here, back "home." Her life was here while his life was out there.
Rue was trying to enjoy the dancing, loving the feel of husky laughter rumbling from Thorin's chest.
Too soon, he let her go, gently spinning her.
Standing face-to-face, Rue refused to meet his eyes. Because she knew once he saw her eyes, he'd know something was wrong.
"What is wrong?" Thorin asked gruffly, entwining their hands.
Rue shrugged, opening her mouth with the intent of lying, but the truth had a mind of its own. Everything spilled.
"I just keep thinking about―" Rue ran a hand through her crazy hair― "What if you can go back, Thorin. I mean, I'm here, and so…what would Ido?" Rue shook her head, tears pricking her eyes. Don't cry.
Very tenderly, Thorin caressed her knuckles. "That would―"
Rue interrupted like an overemotional asshole, "I don't mean to sound selfish. But I want to go back. I haven't even called Nat yet…and I hate myself for feeling this way. I know this is hard for you. Really hard for you. But I―I just can't―" Rue wiped her eyes― "It's hard for me to imagine us not being together―"
In a flash, Thorin was tugging her close, his arm around her waist. They were pressed together, chest-to-chest.
"I vowed I would not leave you again, and I stand by that vow," Thorin spoke passionately. "We will be together. And if not in Middle-earth―" He closed the small space separating them, letting his forehead fall on hers― "Then we will be here."
Rue turned fifty shades redder, trying to gather her scrambled thoughts. But with his breath on her lips, his wild eyes never leaving hers once, and the weight of his words, it was impossible to make her limp tongue cooperate.
Rue swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling hastily. What was she supposed to say? Thorin had just―he just said he would stay here. No. Rue couldn't let him do that. Maybe this was drunken stupidity talking? The real Thorin wouldn't give up the quest―Erebor―for anything.
"You are beautiful."
Rue felt the words before she heard them. Thorin was exploring the ends of her hair, softly smiling. One of his hands rested on the small of her back. One of the few times she could remember, Thorin's eyes weren't seething in bitterness and anger, instead they were…happy.
"I'm not," she mumbled inaudibly.
"Your hair, eyes―" Thorin's voice became huskier, falling to a whisper― "You are beautiful." Rue met his gaze. He was smiling, bringing his big hand to cup her face. "I cannot imagine how many suitors you must have. When I ponder over how many men wish to court you, I―" Thorin shook his head, gaze turning heated as he pressed her against the dresser again― "It will not happen. I will prove I am more worthy. I would take care of you, Ruby. Provide for you and give you Dwarflings. I would kiss you if you allowed me, I would…" Thorin's eyes captured hers possessively, a blush staining his cheeks. His next words were a throaty growl, "We would make love until first light if that is what you wished." Her knees trembled, heartbeats roaring erratically.
Rue felt the edge of the dresser dig into her back. The intensity―his words―Rue couldn't handle it. Have Dwarflings and…make love? Thorin must have been downing tequila for hours. It hurt. She wanted his words to be true. But they weren't. These words only spewed from his mouth thanks to alcohol. Nothing more.
"Rue, I apologize," Thorin continued hoarsely, "for my dishonesty with the lord of your realm. I am not your husband, but if I were…" It was fast, startling, and caused Rue to almost bump Mr. Scabbers's cage off the dresser. Thorin planted a feather-light kiss on her cheek, the feel of his beard dusting Rue's cheek leaving her winded and wounded. It felt incredible. Beyond incredible.
He rested his forehead on hers. "I would cherish you for the jewel you are. Mahal, you are mine. No other man's. Mine." Thorin nuzzled her cheek with his nose, Rue's skin on fire. Moments later, his nose met hers in an affectionate nuzzle. Their mouths were inches apart. Inches apart.
"Actually," Rue piped up in a high-pitched voice.
Thorin stopped nuzzling her nose, pulling away to peer in her eyes, deadly serious. "What is it, Ruby?"
"About that suitor thing…"
Author's Note: This cliffhanger was for znk99fg7, who's been enquiring about Rue's romantic past ;) I really, really hope this chapter wasn't disappointing. I attempted to address the emotional issues that would come with returning to the modern world first and foremost. Let me know what you think, so I encourage you to press that review button. Remember to follow me on Tumblr, pearlprimrose, for any "Heroes" info. I now have an ask box open if you'd like to ask questions about the story, Rue, the plot, my inspiration, etc. Also, I'm on the hunt for more songs to use as chapter titles in the future, so if you have any suggestions, you can send them via the ask box!
Guest: Thanks for the review :)
Not sure if drunk Thorin was sweet or not in this chapter, so I might have backslid, but hopefully you enjoyed! Awe, thanks for saying I got the situation in the forest. Actually, I found the whole Mirkwood scene very fun to write.
Thanks :D
Dearreader: Thanks for the reviews!
The changes were fun to write, and something my super-awesome beta helped me come up with in this particular scene. You like everything I write and just said it's never boring? I'm flabbergasted! Thanks so much! And now for your question about what I have against Stockton. I have nothing against it and honestly, I stay very true to the city. It'd be great if I was exaggerating, but I'm not. Stockton has a high-crime rate and has been ranked Most Miserable City in America. Stockton is by no means a peachy, happy place, my peep. You've got to have your guard up in the city.
Anxious for the kiss? :D I'm anxious to write it, but I'm waiting for the right moment. I'd hate to write it in the wrong place :p
Thanks again :)
Evil laugh: Thanks for the review!
Your drugs? Didn't mean to make you an addict or give you an unhealthy dose of ThoRue haha. Or maybe I did? ;)
Thanks again :)
Figrin: Thanks for the review :)
The feels? Awe, thanks so much! You're making me do a happy dance. So I've converted someone who doesn't read OC stuff and who usually reads graphic porn :D I'm currently taking a bow LOL. Glad you like Rue and deemed her "awesome." She likes you too :)
Thanks again :)