Thessa had finally made it back to her room after getting lost in the gardens for a while. She asked one of the elf maids to request a meeting for her with Lord Elrond while she slipped on the sky blue dress they had brought her. She put all thoughts of Thorin out of her mind, she couldn't get involved with him. She had to stay focused, her people needed her. A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Pardon me, my lady, but Lord Elrond requested your presence in his study. I shall escort you there if you wish," Lindir said when she opened the door.
"Thank you, Lindir. I probably would have gotten lost if you didn't escort me," she said with a chuckle. Lindir gave her a small smile and held out his arm for her to take. He led her down a few corridors before stopping at a large set of double doors.
"Lord Elrond is awaiting you inside, milady," Lindir said before he turned to walk back down the hall. Thessa turned to the doors and slowly pushed one open, peeking her head inside.
"Come in, my dear," Lord Elrond smiled to her. Thessa walked into the room and took a seat in the chair he gestured to. He stood near a large bay window, holding a small cup of tea. "I have been meaning to speak with you since you arrived, but have yet to find the time."
"I understand," Thessa nodded. "Was there something in particular you wanted to discuss?"
"Gandalf informed me after you arrived that you had not revealed yourself to the company, and that it was I who unveiled your identity. For that, I would like to formally apologize," he said with slight bow of his head.
"I accept your apology, but if it makes you feel any better, they would have found out one way or another," she replied with a smile. That was not entirely true, but he didn't need to know that. "I was wondering, however, if you might explain to me how you know my mother." Thessa looked up to see Lord Elrond give a wistful sigh as he gazed out the window.
"Your mother and I became acquainted long before you were born, my dear. I had traveled with a couple emissaries to discuss a trade agreement between our people." He gave her a smile and continued, "Your mother was naturally very cautious and it took many such meetings before a careful pact was made, and your mother and I have exchanged letters every so often since that day." Thessa was slightly surprised, but not entirely. She knew her people traded with Imladris, but she did not know her mother and Lord Elrond were so close. She wondered if her mother had told him anything about her father.
"Did my mother ever speak of my father in her letters?" Thessa asked hopefully. Lord Elrond was surprised for a moment, it seemed that Meveria had never mentioned the child's father.
"She did," he stated, watching her eyes light up. "A young man had been traveling by the sea of Rhûn when he came upon your mother in the tavern of a nearby town. The year was 2819 of the Third Age. A man named Argonui seemed to be bewitched by your mother." Thessa looked down sadly. She didn't want to believe that her mother had used the siren song.
"She did not sing to him, if that is what has you worried," Lord Elrond said, clearly reading her mind. "He spent many weeks with your mother, and even intended to marry her." He chuckled lightly when he remembered how Meveria recounted her tale to him many years ago. "She explained to him that they could never be together, despite his protests, and eventually duties of his own called him home."
"What ever became of him?" she asked.
"Argonui went on to become the thirteenth chieftain of the Dúnedain, who was then succeeded by his son Arador," he concluded.
"I have a a half-brother?" she cried excitedly. She had always wanted a sibling!
"No, my dear," Lord Elrond said. Her face dropped, disappointed. "But you did have a twin," he finished with a smile.
"A twin? That's not possible, I would have known, she would have told me."
"An extremely rare occurrence, indeed, but it occurred nonetheless. Arador was given back to Argonui, which was quite fortuitous for him as the woman he later married was barren." He glanced at Thessa to see how she was processing this information, and she seemed to be taking it quite well.
"Well where is Arador now? Maybe I can find him somehow!" she exclaimed.
"I'm afraid that will not be possible, my dear," he said sadly. "Arador, and his son, Arathorn, passed on many years ago."
"Is there anyone from his line that is alive today?" she asked hopefully. Lord Elrond smiled down to her.
"There is one. The son of Arathorn is journeying with my two sons. His father was slain by orcs and I took him in as my own. I have given him the name Estel to protect him, and he will not return from their journey for many more years."
"What is my relation to him?" she queried, trying and failing to remember all the names.
"You are Estel's great aunt it would seem," He concluded with a thoughtful look. Thessa processed that for a moment. She had a twin brother that she never got the chance to know, and now she had a great nephew too. It was hard to believe, but it also was very exciting to hear. She would find him one day, she promised herself. She watched Lord Elrond return to his desk on the other side of the study and begin to organize some of the letters there.
"Was there something else you wished to discuss beyond your father?" Lord Elrond asked politely. She had almost forgotten what she came to ask in the first place.
"Could you provide me with a map, and possibly an escort, so that I may return to the Rhûn sea?" she inquired.
"If that is your wish, my dear, then it shall be done," he answered, opening a drawer and pulling out an old scroll. "Here is a map of Middle Earth. And this," he pointed to a spot on the map, "is the Rhûn sea. I will have Lindir find you an escort and you may depart whenever you wish." Thessa let out a relieved sigh. Finally she was making some progress!
"Thank you, my lord!" she cried cheerfully. She rose out of her chair, eager to tell Gandalf and the company the good news. Lord Elrond stood as well and embraced her as her came around to the front of his desk.
"I wish you the best, my dear. But remember, the only journey that matters is the journey within," he said cryptically. His words confused her, but she chose not to dwell on it and excused herself from his study, thanking him for his time.
The company had been in their collective room all day, wanting to avoid the elves as much as possible. They had decided, though, that it was time for a bath. Neither of them wanted to track down an elf to find wherever it was that they bathed. Instead they had spotted a nice, large fountain from their window and decided it would do.
They had all climbed into the fountain and were splashing around, causing a ruckus and sending the elf maidens scurrying away in embarrassment .It was the most fun they had had in a while, even Thorin could admit he was enjoying their antics. Fili and Kili were chasing each other around and Ori was splashing water at Bofur, who returned the action with gusto. The dwarves continued to splash about when they heard Thessa's voice. They froze when they saw her come around the corner into the courtyard whilst chatting with an elf maid. She looked up to see thirteen totally or partially naked dwarves. Her face went beet red as she and the elleth quickly turned the other way, hurrying back into the main halls.
"Think she liked what she saw?" Kili asked the group, flexing his arms. They all erupted into laughter at Kili's question, returning to their merrymaking. Thorin, however, scowled at his nephew. He didn't like Kili talking about Thessa that way. Desiring to return to their rooms, Thorin finished his bath quickly and redressed himself. He left the courtyard with the other dwarves following a ways behind, heading back to their chambers.
Thessa had decided to wait for them in their rooms rather than speaking with them at the fountain, and so she sat down on one of the bedrolls she recognized as Thorin's and waited for them to return. She had been waiting for about fifteen minutes when she heard them coming down the hall. They swung the doors to the room open, surprised to see her again, but this time in their room. Many of the company filed in with red faces, looking anywhere but at Thessa.
"Where's Bilbo?" she asked the group.
"No idea, lass. Haven't seen him since this morning," Balin said, plopping down on his bedroll. Hmmm, she would just have to say goodbye to him later then, she shrugged.
"Would there be a reason for your being in our room, lassie?" Dwalin asked from across the room.
"Yes there is! I have finally found a way to get back home, and I wanted to thank you all and say goodbye!" she smiled brightly at them. She was excited to be going home soon and she wanted to share her excitement with the company. But when they all turned to look at her, she didn't see happiness on their faces. She saw sadness. Why were they sad? She found a way home, they should be happy for her, she thought.
"You're leaving us?" Ori asked sadly. Thessa saw Ori's pained expression and realized that they had thought she would continue their journey with them.
"I have to, Ori," she said, hugging the small dwarf. "My people need me."
"But we need you too," Ori said, giving a small sniff, letting her know he was trying to hold back his tears. She looked back to the rest of the group, but they were all silent, all looking to her with somber expressions. She felt a bit guilty now for making them feel this way.
"Yes, Gandalf, I realize that, but if..." Bilbo and Gandalf had entered the room whilst discussing something when they saw the sad dwarves. "What's going on?" Bilbo asked, looking around.
"Thessa is leaving," Thorin stated gruffly. He pushed passed the company and out of the room, everyone's eyes on his retreating form.
"Leaving?" Bilbo asked with wide eyes. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going home, Bilbo," she said with a soft smile. "Lord Elrond has found me an escort and a map. I'm leaving on the morrow."
"Are you sure about this, my dear?" Gandalf asked, eyeing her carefully. He did not see this coming, and that surprised him.
"I'm sure, Gandalf. I've been away long enough," she said, looking around to the company. "You have all become dear friends to me, so much so that I entrusted to you my greatest secret. I am eternally grateful for everything you have done for me, and I will find some way to return the favor, I promise."
"There be no need for payment, lass," Óin said as he came to give her a warm hug. "We'll be missing you, you can be sure of that!" he said with a sad chuckle. All the other dwarves and Bilbo came up to hug her and wish her safe travels. She turned to Gandalf, who smiled to her and drew her into a firm hug.
"The best of luck to you, my dear," he whispered, saddened she was leaving them so suddenly.
"Thank you, Gandalf," she said into his shoulder. "Would you happen to know where Thorin might have run off to? I want to officially say goodbye to him as well."
"I am not sure, but I would check the gardens first," the wizard advised. She nodded her head and left the room in search of the surly dwarf king.
Thessa made her way into the gardens and searched for a few minutes. Finding no sign of Thorin, she padded down to the pond where she had slept the previous night. Meanwhile, Thorin had let out his frustration on the poor oak tree that stood near the pond. He rubbed his bloodied knuckles as he sat by the water's edge and gazed over the pond.
"Thorin?" a voice called from behind him. He knew it was Thessa, come to say her last goodbye. He watched her take a seat beside him, glancing down at his hands.
"Oh, Thorin," she sighed softly. Thessa took his hands in one of hers and dipped her other hand into the cool water. She let the water form a ball in her hand and then brought it to Thorin's mangled hands. The water flowed over his injured knuckles and he watched the blood wash way, the cuts knit back together, and the bruises fade.
"When do you leave?" Thorin asked quietly.
"In the morning," came her soft reply, still holding his hands in hers. He looked up into her eyes and gave her a small half smile.
"Do you have everything you need?"
"Lord Elrond is collecting everything I'll need for the journey," she answered. Thorin just nodded, looking back out over the water. He remembered the passionate kiss they had shared in the water, and admitted that he was sad to see her go.
"I'm sorry, Thorin" she whispered, looking down at their hands. Thorin looked over to the mermaid beside him.
"If there is anyone that understands the need to help their people, it is I," he said, smiling sadly. "I do not fault you for wanting to return home, after all, that is the whole point of this quest we're on." Thessa chuckled softly, looking back up into his deep sapphire eyes.
"I'll miss you," she said. "All," she quickly amended. "I'll miss you all." Thorin gave her a lopsided grin.
"I'll miss you too." he said in a deep, husky voice. He knew it wouldn't change the fact that she was leaving, but he wanted to give her something to remember him by. Thessa watched as he reached his hand up to cup her cheek. She unconsciously leaned into the touch, closing her eyes. Thorin dropped his head down to hers and captured her lips in a soft kiss. His hand drifted into her soft hair and the other snaked around her hips, pulling her body tight against his. Thessa gasped lightly and felt his tongue slip past her lips, dancing with her own. He gave a slight groan when her thigh brushed against his growing desire and figured it was time to stop. He pulled away slowly, looking back down into her eyes. Thessa was breathing rather quickly as she tried to calm her heart's frantic beating. Thorin admired the way her freckled cheeks blushed and her slightly swollen lips parted when she took in a breath.
Thessa's heart felt torn. Did she have feelings for Thorin? She knew she couldn't stay, and she didn't want to lead him on either. She didn't know what to say to him, and Thorin could see the internal conflict in her eyes. He gave her a soft smile and stood up, holding out his hand for her. Thessa took it without hesitation and allowed him to lead her over to the large oak tree. He sat down with his back against the trunk and pulled Thessa over to sit between his legs. She rested her back against his muscular chest, letting her head relax onto his shoulder. They sat like, watching the sun slowly drift below the horizon, in peaceful silence. Thessa felt her eyes begin to droop as Thorin ran his fingers through her long hair, lulling her to sleep. Thorin followed soon after, drifting into a peaceful slumber with a beautiful mermaid in his arms.