Thessa had fallen asleep on the eagle's back as the flock had been rescuing the company. Thessa awoke as the eagles began depositing the dwarves on the Carrock. She peered down to them and saw that Thorin lay motionless, blood staining his armor.
"Thorin!" she called out to him desperately. But from so high above them, there was no way for them to hear her. "Please, take me down there!" she pleaded, but the eagle only answered to Gandalf. The pain in her chest was mounting. She had to get to Thorin soon. She glanced down again, watching the company, and after a few minutes the eagle started to descend toward the stone pillar. He circled low and the eventually perched on a large rock, letting Thessa slip to the ground.
"Thessa!" cried the dwarves as they rushed to her. She tried to take a step toward them, but the pain in her chest made her crumble to the ground, crying out.
"Move! Make way," Gandalf said as he came to her side. "How can I help, my dear?"
"Thorin," Thessa whispered, holding her hand out toward the dwarf king. Thorin had been confused when Gandalf announced that he had brought a mermaid with him. This woman did not look like a mermaid to him. They called her 'Thessa' and he remembered that name from Rivendell when they had asked him where his courting bead had gone. He watched as her hand reached out toward him, and he eyed the woman warily. Who was she?
"Thorin! Come here!" Gandalf demanded. Thorin huffed and slowly made his way over to them. Gandalf yanked him to his knees in front of the woman. She had a pleading look in her eyes as she held out her hand to him. He was mesmerized by her eyes and leaned forward slightly. But her hand pulled against the front of his tunic, brushing over the pendant Balin had given him.
"The pendant, lad," Balin said, coming over to him. Thorin just looked at his friend, confused. Why would they want his pendant? Was this woman trying to take it from him?
"Thorin... please," he heard her whisper. She had tears running down her cheeks now and her breathing was becoming extremely labored. Her hand that was held out to him started to shake, and soon her whole body was wracked with convulsions. The company panicked, not knowing what was happening to their friend.
"Thorin!" Gandalf shouted. He whipped his head up to the wizard. He didn't know why the pendant mattered so much, but he pulled it from his tunic, handing it to the wizard. Gandalf took the little blue crystal and placed it on the ground, glancing up to Balin. The white haired dwarf quickly brought his boot down, crushing the gem into tiny pieces. The company watched the shards carefully as a low tune began to rise to their ears. Thorin heard a light melody that sounded similar to the one that haunted his dreams. It was a happier tune, filled with hope. He closed his eyes and listed to the sweet song. He gripped his head, however, when a searing pain took hold.
"Agh!" he grunted, slamming his fist on the ground, eyes clenched shut. He saw images of a brown-haired woman flash through his mind. He remembered rescuing her in Bree. He remembered kissing her by the pond and braiding her hair. He remembered her goodbye to him as she made him forget. He drew in a sharp breath as tears pricked his eyes. He remembered her. He remembered Thessa. He looked up to see Óin holding her seizing body. His eyes widened and he reached out to take her from him. Óin released her to their leader and Thorin cradled her in his arms, turning her face to him.
"Thessa," he whispered. "Thessa, it's ok, I'm here." He held her to his chest and felt the shaking subside. He pulled her back slightly to look into her eyes. She had tears still in her eyes when she looked into his.
"Thorin? You remember me?" she asked quietly. Thorin smiled down at her. He cupped her cheeks in his hands and brought his face down to hers. He kissed her passionately, not realizing how much he had missed her until now. There were hoots and cheers form the company around them, but Thorin couldn't bring himself to care. All he cared about now, was the woman in his arms. Thessa broke the kiss to look up at the dwarf king.
"Thorin, I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"Shhh," Thorin brushed the tears from her cheeks. "Let's not worry about that now." He looked up to the members of the company. "We need to get moving. We have a head start on the orcs, let us not waste it."
"Hold on there, lad," Óin said as he came over to Thorin. "You are in no shape to travel."
"I can help with that," Thessa spoke up with a smile. "Find me a stream and he'll be good as new." The company smiled at her, glad to have her back. Ori came over to her, wrapping her up in a tight hug. Thessa chuckled at the young dwarf.
"I missed you too Ori, and I'm sorry for leaving you all," she said, glancing around.
"No worries, lass, we got your letter," Dwalin said to her, a small smile on his lips. "Now let's get off this blasted rock!" The others shouted their agreement and made their way to the stone steps that led steeply down to the ground. Thorin and Thessa were both still very weak and needed the help of Fili and Kili to make it down the stairs.
After a few hours, the company reached the base of the Carrock. Nori immediately went to search for a stream and the others went about setting up a campsite. Fili and Kili set their uncle and his intended down by a fallen log, allowing them sit close together.
"So," Thessa said, looking over to Thorin. "Is there something you want to tell me? Perhaps explaining where your other bead got to." Thessa pointed to Thorin's hair where a silver bead was missing. Thorin blushed slightly. So she had found the braid then.
"I'm sorry," he said, looking down at their entwined hands. "I didn't want you to go." Thessa glanced over to him. So it was just a ploy to get her to stay? Did he even want to court her? She brought her hands up to her hair, angrily, moving to unwind the braid.
"No!" Thorin grabbed her hands. "Please, leave it there." Thessa looked at him warily.
"You only braided my hair to get me to stay," she said quietly. Thorin was shocked by her accusation.
"No, Thessa," he began. "I put that braid in your hair because you mean so much to me. It is customary for dwarves to court for at least a year before a proposal can be made. And I wish to court you, Thessa, if you'll allow it." He peeked up to her, hopeful. Thessa's eyes went wide. A proposal? That meant marriage. Marriage meant becoming trapped forever inside a mountain. A fearful look crept onto her face and she stood quickly. Her instincts took over as she turned toward the trees. She needed to be alone, to think about things.
"Thessa?" Thorin called, worried now. Was that her way of rejecting him? She traveled all the way back to them, to restore his memory, and now she throws his love back in his face? Thorin stood angrily, walking in the opposite direction she had gone. No one had ever rejected him, he thought bitterly. Dwarf and human women alike had always thrown themselves at his feet. He had let a few into his bed over the years, to stave off the cold of the night. But he had never developed any feelings for them. But now, the one woman his did want, didn't want him back. He punched the bark of a tree, and then again, and again, until his hands were bloodied and swollen.
"Thorin!" Glóin yelled, running over to him. "What's going on?" Thorin roughly shrugged him off, going over to the fire and sitting down. He was too angry to feel the pain in his hands or ribs, so he just stared into the flames. He could hear the others whispering behind him.
"Uncle," Fili asked. "Where is Thessa? And what happened to your hands?" Thorin ignored his nephew, accepting a bowl of soup from Bombur. Dwalin came up to the fire, carrying Thessa in his arms. Everyone looked up, startled. Thorin looked up as well, wondering what happened. Dwalin set her on the ground, a small cry coming from the woman.
"What's happened, lass?" Óin asked, coming over to check on her.
"Found her trying to run through the trees," Dwalin said. "Fell and twisted her ankle." Thorin jerked his head up when he heard that. She was hurt?
"I'm fine!" Thessa huffed, trying to stand. "Just let me find the stream."
"Will you be taking Thorin with you?" Balin asked, glancing over to the angry dwarf.
"No." She turned on her heel and limped toward where the stream was. The company looked to their leader. What happened between them? They were doing so well just an hour ago!
"Thorin Oakenshield!" Gandalf rebuked. "What have you done?" Thorin looked at the wizard, indignantly.
"What have I done?" he asked incredulously. "That woman rejected my offer of courtship." It stung a little to admit that in front of his nephews and company.
"Impossible!" Gandalf cried. "You are her soulmate, if she is parted from you, she will not survive." The company gasped upon hearing this.
"Is that why she was so sick when we first saw her again?" Ori asked timidly.
"Yes. She nearly died from the ordeal. We were racing against time to catch up with you all, Thessa was unconscious for most of the journey." Gandalf said, gravely serious. Thorin felt guilt rising in his chest. He hadn't know why she had been ill, and he hadn't questioned it either.
"Then why did she refuse me, Gandalf?" Thorin challenged.
"What exactly did you say to her?" the wizard pressed.
"I only told her of the courting traditions, and that a couple must wait a year before any proposal can be made." he finished.
"You fool!" Gandalf grumbled. "You should not have said that!"
"Said what?" Thorin growled.
"Mermaids do not marry, Thorin. She most likely associated the thought of marriage to you, with becoming stranded under the mountain for the remainder of her life." Gandalf explained. Thorin looked into the trees where Thessa had disappeared. He hadn't thought about that. That was why she was frightened, he thought. He had to make this right. Without a word, he stood and started off into the trees. He could feel the pain in his hands now, and something had to be broken with the way they were swelling.
He found her crying by the stream. Her legs tucked under her and her head in her hands, sobbing.
"Thessa?" Thorin asked hesitantly. He saw her shoulders tense.
"Go away," she said softly. He came to sit behind her in the grass. He put his hands around her waist and lifted her to sit in his lap, her back to his chest. She struggled to get up.
"Let go of me, Thorin!" she said roughly, but he held her fast.
"Just wait, let me speak" he said. Thessa calmed for a moment, giving him the chance to explain himself. "I'm sorry I frightened you. That was not my intention. I understand that your people do not marry, and I know that is what you fear most." He rested his chin on her hair, holding her tight against his chest. "You fear being stuck with me and having to live under a mountain. You are a mermaid, you belong in the sea." He turned her in his lap so he could see her face. He brought his hand to rest against her cheek, wincing slightly at the pain. "I love you, Thessalia, and if that means finding a compromise later on, we can. But I cannot bear not to have you in my life. I lost you once, and I don't not mean to do it again." Thessa looked at him with wide eyes, not knowing what to say.
"Thorin..." she whispered. Thorin pulled her against him again, letting her head rest against his chest.
"I will not leave your side, Thessa. A year is a long way away. We will figure everything out, I promise. But I ask that you keep my braid in your hair, to keep your faith in me, and I will not let you down." Thorin tightened his arms for a moment and then released her. Thessa looked up to the dwarf before her.
"Leth wimneh adure, Thorin," she said with tears in her eyes. Thorin smiled at her.
"You know I don't speak Sirenian, princess." Thorin lightly chuckled. Thessa lifted onto her knees, cupping his cheeks and running her hands through his short beard. She crushed their lips together, folding her arms around his neck. Thorin kissed her back with a fierceness he did not know he possessed, rolling them over in the grass until he rested above her. He pulled back from the kiss to look down at the beautiful mermaid. She smiled as she looked up into his sapphire blue eyes.
"I love you, Thorin," she translated, drawing him into another passionate kiss while the sun sank lower and lower in the sky.
Leth wimneh adure = I love you