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A bunch of gems
A/N: Got two angels overlooking this story.
Thank you Julie-i-am for correcting my mistakes!
Thank you StephCalvino for sharing your wisdom!
A week had passed since the accident at the furnaces took the life of three men and caused the desolation of their families. A week since Thorin had realised that the small wooden dove had awoken in his heart a fiery tornado that could consume everything in it's passage to claiming what he wished for most…and this time his treasure was not gold or gems. A week since Eilin had confessed her love for Thorin with a faint whisper, without ever getting an indication that he had heard it. A week since Thranduil kept the King's envoys on purposeful limbo to make Thorin lose time and prove his point. That he wanted to take revenge against Thror's past dishonourable actions, through his grandchild. That he was not courageous enough to let go of the past in favour of the much needed peace between their realms. That despite being thousands years of age, he was not wise enough to prove himself above it all. Even though he had given Thorin a gift, he was not yet ready to let bygones be bygones.
When that morning Gandalf and Bilbo finally arrived at Erebor, they found the King overlooking an impressive progression of thousands of soldiers. The Firebeards and the Broadbeams had arrived and there were two delegations short of completing the picture, but still the King's gem was missing. Thorin was standing in front of the tall banisters, hearing the heavy flapping of Erebor's flags that were waving on their tall poles. He felt the freezing air thrashing his hair around his face and the coldness spreading in his heart when Gandalf's voice reassured him that Bilbo's words had been correct. King Thranduil accepted his sword, but he denied coming to Erebor to do the trade. He insisted that Thorin should come to his realm, or that they should set a new meeting at a neutral ground, like Dale. Bidding on time again. Time Thorin clearly didn't have anymore. When Gandalf told him that sending them over to try new negotiations would fail and that he was ordered to leave for Ithilien as soon as possible by the lady of light, Thorin felt his throat drying out at the finality of it all. He had hoped that his gift would draw out the Elven King from his egomaniacal trip. He had been so dead certain on it, that he was very calm and derisive when Balin sounded concerned and thoughtful. Apparently he had been very much mistaken and now he had to deal with the consequences.
Servin had stopped spreading doubt on his rule after their honest discussion, but now he was the one doubting his ability to sort things out. Maybe he was becoming as vain as Thranduil or his grandfather in this quest of his. The moment his heart wanted to take a step back and assess the situation calmly, his mind became as unbendable and stern as the elven King's, placing his pride before everything else. Even though there were more than two thousand extremely well equipped soldiers entering Erebor right now, and the heavy footsteps of their metal boots were creating an awe inspiring echo into the valley under him, he was still unwilling to give up any control to the elven realm.
"I have to go", Gandalf said regretfully.
"So you've said", Thorin replied coldly.
"I cannot remain here to advice you, and I cannot partake in a new negotiation", Gandalf leaned on his staff.
"No one is going to keep you here", his eyes thinned on the horizon, far beyond the Broadbeam banners at the end of the progression.
"The throne is not secure under you", Gandalf looked at Bilbo and Balin fleetingly.
The old advisor crossed his arms and looked at his boots. Bilbo pressed his lips.
"I know", Thorin's voice held a barely discernible tone of darkness.
"What will you do about the Arkenstone?" Gandalf asked.
"I cannot answer that which I do not know", he scowled.
Balin sighed deeply, "Son, you must address the new delegations."
"You can take care of that for me Balin", he said.
Balin looked at Gandalf and Bilbo distressed, "Aren't you going to meet with them?"
"I will eventually", Thorin's eyes looked grimly at the long progression.
"What must I tell them about the Arkenstone then?" Balin asked in a quiet voice.
"That it is not here", Thorin retorted flatly.
Balin nodded, "Very well" -he momentarily hesitated- "don't forget that it's Dwalin's birthday tomorrow and we arranged a gathering at Thror's library at night."
"I know", he didn't betray any real interest though.
Balin gave one last troubled look at Bilbo and Gandalf and then left in order to take care of the envoys that had arrived.
Bilbo approached, "Thorin, can you at least be the one to look at things a little less selfishly?"
Thorin's eyes fell on him demanding.
Bilbo smiled at him and then gave Gandalf an uncomfortable look, "I spoke the same words to Thranduil. Don't look at me with such aversion."
He turned at the grey wizard, "How about you? Weren't you ordered to Ithilien?"
"Indeed", Gandalf replied calmly.
"What are you waiting for then?" Thorin raised his brow.
"In a hurry to get rid of me?"
"I don't want you meddling", Thorin dismissed him, feeling truly bothered by how things were progressing.
"The Elven king wanted the same. I wish you two could realise how many things you have in common. Please lay the past to rest and do the trade. In any manner you can. Go to Dale and do it if you have to. Swear allegiance to each other for the sake of all the Gods up there, that pluck their beards out by the stubbornness of you two! His realm and your Kingdom can secure the north. United you stand, divided you fall. Your throne is in danger, from your pride. Be reasonable."
Thorin closed his eyes, "leave Mithrandir. Thank you for helping me, but I will rule on my own terms."
"You are not allowing me to do anything more to help you anyway", Gandalf said dryly.
"I have allowed you to do enough already", Thorin didn't turn to him. He kept his eyes towards the marching horizon.
"Very well. I must depart immediately. I can only wish that time will give you the opportunity to see things more clearly", Gandalf said, but Thorin spoke over him.
"Have a safe trip south, Mithrandir. You will always be welcome in the Lonely Mountain", his voice was solemn.
Gandalf pursed his lips and gave Bilbo a wistful look, "take care of my burglar, will you?"
Bilbo smiled and crossed his arms behind his back.
Thorin's lips broke into a ghostly smile also, "I won't try to throw him off the rampart, don't worry."
Gandalf nodded thoughtfully, "I hope you will manage to get the Arkenstone back."
"I both hope and fear the same", Thorin's face sobered up.
Bilbo cast his eyes at his feet.
"Goodbye", Gandalf offered them a lopsided smile.
Bilbo raised his hand at him, "I will see you in Bagshot row soon, right?"
"Of course my dear Bilbo, wouldn't miss the holiday dancing at the Party Field. End of spring?" Gandalf smiled.
"Correct!" Bilbo waved his finger wisely.
"I will be there. Be sure to have some barrels of Old Toby ready for me", Gandalf said.
"Always the best for you", Bilbo winked.
Gandalf offered Bilbo a sweet smile and a caring look at the back of Thorin before leaving. Silence befell between the King and his burglar for a long time as the marching boots of the arriving armies shook the ground in front of Erebor. It was Thorin that eventually decided to break the silence.
"Missing home master burglar?" His voice was quiet.
Bilbo approached and tried to lean his elbows on the banisters like Thorin, but he was too short to manage. "I do miss it a lot", he said and searched to find something to step on.
Thorin snorted and shook his head, "I don't mind Mithrandir leaving, but I will be sad to see you go."
Bilbo raised his eyes quickly at him, "You will?"
"Was there any doubt? You became an unexpected part of our company almost a year ago. Now I cannot even imagine us without you", Thorin said with breathtaking honesty.
Bilbo felt his eyes watering, "you know I have to leave soon too right?"
Thorin nodded, "Yes."
"Ι will not allow you to remain away from me too long though. You are invited in the dancing feast of Hobbiton Hill in the end of spring also", Bilbo said and wiped away his eyes with the back of his hand.
Thorin turned at him and smiled, "Am I?"
"Yes! We will have good wine, amazing weed, lot's of music and the best company west of Erebor! Everything that a dwarf wants in order to be happy, correct?" Bilbo smiled sadly.
Thorin looked towards the long road next to the River Running, "If I can steal some time away from this place, be sure that I will be there my dear Bilbo. I admit that my heart desires this greatly."
Bilbo's face fell, "I don't know if the chains that bind you had always been this heavy, or they became such when you arrived here."
Thorin didn't hesitate, "Erebor had always been my bane, whether I was close, or far away."
Bilbo nodded, "I do wish you can make it. I want to go back home, but I also want to share all the warmth of my village with you above all people."
Thorin looked at him long and hard, before grabbing him by the arm and pulling him into an unexpectedly warm embrace that Bilbo returned with fervour, "Thank you."
Bilbo tightened his arms around Thorin's wide shoulders, "I will plant an oak tree in the back of my house for you. Hope it will bring me shade during the summer and remind me of our amazing journey."
Thorin smiled sweetly, "I hope I will see it someday."
"Will you venture to my village alone or with company, if Erebor allows you?"
Thorin pulled back and quickly looked at the road, to avoid showing Bilbo his emotions, "I am not sure about that either."
Bilbo winced and coughed to clear his throat. He caught Thorin's attention who turned to him. Then he stuck his thumbs on his vest and tapped his toe impatiently. "I forgot to give you Thranduil's personal message".
Thorin raised his brow dryly, "which is?"
"The elven lake is for the enjoyment of the elves only and you have to find another place to take your romantic interests or else you will be arrested."
Thorin remained impassive for a few moments, before chuckling, "cocky fellow."
Bilbo smiled confused, "Am I missing something here? Romantic interest?"
Thorin raised his brow, "Well."
"Well what? You have barely risen from the grave. When did you have the time to get involved with a woman?" Bilbo smiled widely.
"Sometimes things happen unexpectedly, my dear Bilbo. They fall out of the sky into our lap and we'd be crazy not to hold onto them like treasure."
Bilbo tilted his head, "who is she?"
Thorin raised both brows.
"It's the maiden isn't it?" Bilbo's eyes grew wide.
Thorin remained silent.
Bilbo hit his foot on the stone floor, "I knew it! I bloody well knew it! I told you, didn't I? There was something going back and forth between you two! I knew it!"
"Keep it down", Thorin's eyes looked cautiously at the royal guards that were standing at the flanks of the rampart.
Bilbo grinned looking awfully pleased, "you did well Thorin, very well."
Thorin's face fell, "things are not as straightforward as you might think."
Bilbo shook his head, "Yeah, yeah a King and a maiden. Difficulties about rank and so on and so forth. Come to Hobbiton and bring her with you. We'll show you how hobbits deal with such hogwash. We don't care! When we love there is nothing you can do to stop us."
Thorin pressed his lips, "I don't want to belittle you my dear Bilbo, but expectations are far lesser for you."
Bilbo sobered up quickly, "I know, but a heart is a heart and love is love, no matter the lineage one has. Isn't that right?"
Thorin looked at him pensively for a few moments before nodding, "those are the simplest and wisest words I have heard in a long time."
"Good, the invitation for the end of spring goes out to you and your lady this time", Bilbo flicked a finger at him.
Thorin smiled sadly, "Thank you."
Bilbo sobered up then and cleared his throat, "I am not leaving yet. Tell me what to do to solve this mess with the Arkenstone and I am with you."
Thorin's face fell dark and he turned his eyes on the road again, "that part my dear burglar is something that I must solve on my own. It goes back to my grandfather and now the weight of it falls on my shoulders only."
Bilbo twisted his lips testily and came to stand next to Thorin. He remained a silent sentinel thinking and rethinking of ways to unlock these two Kings in some manner and help his friend, when Thorin told him that it was time to take a rest. They parted ways, but instead of going to his throne room and asking to meet the new delegations, Thorin decided to enrapture himself in the silence of the burial vaults. Before going down there he found Gloin and gave him specific orders for the treasury and then found Dwalin and asked him to find him the best jeweller currently residing in Erebor. Afterwards he walked contemplatively down to the vaults, entered the dark abode of his nephew and found a quiet spot in one of the benches to sit. There he reflected and grieved, interchanging between uncontrollable crying that came out of nowhere filled with the memories of his boy, or settling in quiet contemplation, that twisted around the mess with the Arkenstone. He lost track of time down there, not counting the moments, but his tears. Not minding the time, but his anger towards the mess that his grandfather had caused with the elves. A mess that he was once more called upon to clear up.
When the soft steps of his sister broke the eerie silence of the vaults he didn't lift his head up from the back wall. He kept his eyes closed, but his hand tightened above his bend knee expectantly. Waiting for her to address him. He hadn't talked to her since he called Eilin's name loud enough to alert the whole of Erebor, and ardently enough to declare to everyone their situation. He was not in a hurry for a confrontation.
"Hi love", her voice was soft.
He didn't open his eyes, "Hi gerbil."
"Came to see Kili?"
He nodded and felt his eyes overflowing with fresh tears.
"Brought him some fresh flowers", her voice was broken.
He opened his eyes to check on her through the shadows. She approached and cleaned the flower stand on the top of the marble grave. Dis wrapped the old flowers in a cloth and placed the new ones on it. She too a lot of time to arranged them beautifully.
"Are you planting the old ones in the grounds?" He whispered.
She nodded, "of course. I hope to see them take up roots. Then I will know that his soul is resting."
"Come, sit next to me", he offered and she approached.
"Do you talk to him often?" She whispered.
His arm came around her shoulder and drew he in, "No, I don't want to keep him imprisoned here with us."
She sniffled and rested her head on his shoulder. Then she brought her legs up to her chest and leaned on his lap, "I should try to do the same, for I talk to him every day before going to bed."
"Let him go gerbil", he encouraged her with a firm caress on her shoulder.
"I can't", she admitted with a painful sob.
He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, "You have to. We have to. Kili is free now."
She cried then and he cradled her with great pain in his heart, both for his nephew and for his sister. Thorin held her for a long time until she had emptied herself on him, caressing her hair gently and rocking her until until she had released all her grief.
He wiped his silent tears on his shoulder without wanting to alert her to his own despair. When he felt her hand drawing firm circles on his chest, he knew that she was starting to get a grip on her emotions. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, not in a mood to speak about anything. After a long time though she broke their blessed silence with her whisper.
"Thank you about Dongar."
"Did Fili place him in the royal guards?"
He felt her nod, "Yes, as commander."
He pressed his lips, "He's worth it. He proved his loyalty to me."
"You made his life hell", she accused, yet her undertone was not serious.
"For far less time than I did to your husband. Consider him lucky", he dared a smile that was not heartfelt.
"You know, talking like this makes you sound like a hypocrite."
"Why is that?" He frowned.
"We are siblings and therefore equal right?"
He humphed, "get on with it."
"I should make Eilin's life a misery to make sure she's worth it also", she said.
He sighed, "Do you really need to do that? She's been through hell since birth and she has already proven her loyalty to both you and me. Repeatedly."
She settled back into his arms, "Wise words."
He nodded.
"I cannot stop thinking how right you had been though..." she let the thought trail between them.
"About what?"
"When you told me that I have no idea what you need. I would have never bet for Eilin", she smiled.
He didn't speak and she felt the need to clarify, "You denied every woman that ever approached you. How could I have imagined that this service girl, so different in appearance, would eventually steal your heart. I imagine that is what she has done for you to risk everything in order to declare your involvement so ardently in front of everyone."
"She is very special", he said quietly.
"Special, or special to you?" Dis asked gently.
"Both gerbil. Are you going to make my life hard about all this like Balin? I don't think I can take it." He winced and closed his eyes again.
She found his hand and stippled her fingers through his, "if you think I am out for explanations you are mistaken. Thorin, you stood by my side when I declared my love for a simple miner. You fought by his side until he died in battle and you stood like a angel above me and my family when we grieved his loss. You raised my children as your own and made no attempts to find a woman and have your own babies."
He tensed, but she missed it.
"I almost lost you so many times and this last one up in Ravenhill feels like the worst of them all. Do you think there was even the slightest possibility that I would make your life hard about Eilin? If she was able to run off with the heart of the most difficult man of our kin, then she's good enough to be called my sister. I will do whatever I can to help you and her through this, for it won't be easy. Rumours are already flying free."
He tightened his arms around her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, "thank you my love."
"No doubt about my loyalty to you wolf and no doubt in my trust for your choices. When Eilin returned the diamond hair bead to me instead of taking it for herself, she proved her honesty and innocence of heart. I understand what it is you saw in her."
He sighed deeply in relief, but remained silent.
They held each other tightly after Dis' comforting words, until Thorin told her that he needed to get back up and face the music about everything. She declared once more her full support concerning Eilin, something that he rewarded by loving words in Khuzdul and several warm kisses on her head and hands. Before going up, he told her not to stay too long down there and to plant one of the old flowers at his balcony if she could. She nodded across the shadows as he walked pensively away from the burial vaults.
-.-
Instead of going to his office, he decided once more to hide himself in order to think. Thorin ended up in the top most rampart and the two guards that stood out there overlooking the valley retreated to the interior and stood at the flanks of the archway, discreetly. He climbed up the side of the stone embrasures and leaned his back on the very rocks of Erebor, like he had done so many times when he was a young prince here. The memories of that beloved spot flooded him and he felt instantly more serene. From that height he could overlook the valley, Dale, Ravenhill and a good part of eastern Mirkwood. He looked down at the road that was still animated with soldiers and newly arriving families. Then his eyes got lost into the grey clouds on the horizon and the snow that was falling heavily, covering his land with a heavy white blanket. He barely felt the cold, nevertheless he tucked his chin into his fur lapels, letting his mind drift, reflecting upon all the possible ways out of the complicated situation concerning the Arkenstone. Thorin needed results and he needed them quickly and Dale was certainly not the quick way out, as Mithrandir believed. So deep was he entranced into his thoughts that he didn't notice when Eilin neared him.
"Hey there handsome", she said with a smile.
He opened his eyes quickly. "You really took me by surprise."
"I can see that", she approached him.
He raised his hand to stop her and then looked back at the archway, "Take a break. All is well up here", he said to the guards.
Eilin turned to see them making a military salute to the balcony and then walking down the steps in a clear military tempo.
She placed her small palm on his thigh, "I wonder what's twisting around that pretty head of yours, causing you to become oblivious of the world around you."
He winced, "A lot."
"Figures. What's ailing you?" She said.
"Matters of state", he shook his head.
"That means I shouldn't try to wrap my small head around them, right? Too complicated to be shared with your dame?" She teased.
He raised his brow, "on the contrary, I'd feel deeply honoured if you were interested in my business."
She raised her brow and offered him her hand, "Help me up."
He pulled her up with ease. "I am glad to see the timid Eilin becoming more and more obsolete."
She settled behind him and opened up her legs around him. "Do you think I'd miss the opportunity to see this breathtaking view? From all the places you have taken me, this is the most impressive and it was all the time right in front of me."
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" he mused at the horizon.
She pulled him by the shoulders and he scooted back, until her bend knee was right under his armpit. His fingers caressed the fur on her boot. "Is this your hiding spot?"
A lopsided smile came to his lips, "One of them, yes."
"Good choice. Is everyone allowed up here?" she reached up and ran her fingers through his long wavy hair.
He shivered in pleasure, "Actually no. Only the royal family and the royal guards."
She tried to comb through his hair without a brush, the best she could with her fingers, "I suppose I was allowed because I am your maiden."
He nodded calmly, "Yes."
"You hair is a tangled mess. Wish I had brought a brush", she winced.
"Use your hands, it feels perfect anyway", he closed his eyes and sighed in deep satisfaction.
She run her fingers through his mane. From his head down to the ends repeatedly. She felt his physical reaction, "You love having your hair touched, don't you?"
"Mmmm, immensely. Your touch can send me to the undying lands", he nodded.
She laughed and continued her loving caress.
"You've been asking for information on courting rituals or taking notes?" he smiled. He couldn't deny that the moment her hands got intimately involved with his hair he felt his whole body breaking with goosebumps. The sensitivity he had in that particular place of his body was monumental.
She bit her lower lip, "Both, what did you think? That I was going to let the thing you love most go unexploited from my side? I've waited long enough to tell you the truth. I should have used these tricks much earlier. Especially judging by the ecstasy in your face right now." She loved to take care of him, as much as he loved to take care of her, and she appreciated deeply that he had introduced her to these beautiful rituals. They bonded her with this man in many unforseen ways.
His laugh gifted her with a soft exhalation of pleasure, at it's end.
"See? Look at you…you are in heaven already", she removed the two thick beads from the back of his hair. She gave them to him.
"I am…" he admitted and his hand came up to caress her shin firmly, to show her how much he appreciated her caring touch.
"Yet, behind your closed eyes, there are still worries that you need to communicate with your dame", she split his thick hair into three equal parts.
He frowned and his fingers curled around her leg protectively. She felt him tensing.
"Tell me what is worrying you", she said and peaked above his shoulder to look at his face. It looked serene, but the small twitch at the side of his mouth spoke of an internal turmoil that she needed to bring to the surface.
It took him a long time to answer as she was braiding him. "The Arkenstone."
She stopped and winced. "I've heard about that. Erebor is brimming with rumours. You are worried about the new delegations, aren't you?"
"The new and the old. They expect to find the Arkenstone above my throne. They arrived here to pledge their allegiance to the king's gem and it's missing", he opened his eyes and scowled at the horizon.
"Their allegiance to you", she corrected and resumed her braiding.
"To the king's gem", he repeated and shook his head, "they don't care about the king that sits under it."
"I think you are wrong", she frowned.
"I am not. It's the Arkenstone that united the families under a ruler. Not the ruler himself. More than one Kings have passed or will pass through Erebor. Only one had the gem above his throne and the power to unite the families. My grandfather. After the loss of the Arkenstone, we lost all hope of reuniting the dwarven race. My rule will be followed by others. My nephew, my cousin. Their children in the future. They might rule the Lonely Mountain, but without the gem they won't be able to unite the families", he said quietly.
"Well that might explain your ardent need to have it back", she raised her brow.
"Without it, this journey would have been for naught", he nodded, feeling the burden of it all weighing him down.
"For naught? What about us then?" Her hands stopped their toil and her eyes tried to find his.
His fingers curled under her knee possessively and he smiled back at her, "you are so right. Living without knowing you would have been the worst curse."
She smiled affectionately and felt warmth forming on her lower stomach, inside and out, "You saved it, just barely."
He smiled.
She showed him her palm and he placed one of the thick golden beads in it, "so where are we now concerning this famous gem?"
"The elves have it and are unwilling to part with it on my terms", his thick brows wavered with annoyance.
She placed the bead at the end of his long braid and turned him around. She looked at his face and cleared some loose tendrils around his temples. "On your terms?"
He raised his brow, "they have to come to Erebor, in order to do the exchange."
"And they don't want that?" She placed a finger on her lips trying to decide if she liked him with his hair free or with this braid.
"No they are adamant that I go there instead."
Her lips pursed, "why do you think they don't want to come to Erebor?"
"Because my grandfather used their last trade to rob and ridicule them", he said bluntly.
"That sounded painfully honest", she said impressed.
"It was", he agreed.
Her fingers glided over the rims of his thick braid, appreciating its softness "Why don't you go there?"
"Thranduil abandoned my people when they needed him the most", his voice became deep.
"During this battle?" she threw her arms around his shoulders and leaned her cheek on the back of his head.
"No, when Smaug took over Erebor."
She frowned, "you mean more than a century ago?"
He nodded.
"But in this battle he didn't abandon your people. He fought for you, as you did for him", she said feeling confounded by the way his mind was trying to work through all these moulded feelings of long ago.
His brows moved with indecision, "these words are true."
"So you are acting this way about something the Elven King did to your grandfather, who in turn had duped him in the worst way possible", she raised her brow and caressed his forehead.
He shook his head intending to say no, but slowly that shake became a hesitant nod, "I suppose so."
"Tell me, why do you insist so much that he comes here?"
"It is what Thror and Thrain would have wanted", he said without so much as a thought.
Her eyes took on a clear understanding of how things stood, "So you are trying to act like your forefathers would have expected you, right?"
He swallowed heavily. He didn't want to say yes, but it was the truth. He nodded silently.
"Has it ever crossed your mind that they are not in charge now, but you are?" she pulled him gently to lay on her.
He relaxed and pulled her bend knee onto his side, keeping her close. "I have been trained to think like them from a very young age", he said, remembering the old words of his sister that seemed so painfully true now in retrospect. That Thrain had moulded him as his exact replica in everything.
"You mean to think like the Mountain King?" She smiled and began a soft caress from his temples, towards the back of his head.
"Yes", his brow flickered.
"That brooding guy that always stays behind when you are with me?" She asked playfully, trying to alleviate his seriousness.
He was unable to stop the honest smile that curled his lips up, "Yes."
"I don't like him much, he scares me. I prefer you instead", her fingers burrowed into his silver locks, searching for his darker ones and something snapped free from his body. She felt it.
He sighed deeply.
"Have you ever tried thinking through this problem like Thorin? Like the man I am holding right now, instead of the King?" She said quietly and her fingers massaged his temples gently.
"No, never", he admitted, feeling deeply thoughtful and very relaxed.
"What would Thorin have done with this problem?" she whispered and leaned her head back to the rock, letting her eyes get lost into the grey horizon, as her fingers drew intricate patterns of affection onto his head.
"I honestly don't know", he frowned troubled by his inability to give her a certain answer. Her questions should have been easy to answer and yet they weren't.
She kissed the back of his head and wrapped an arm around his neck loosely. "If I tell you my opinion, will you pretend to care about it and then discard it as useless?"
His hand came up and enclosed her forearm gently. "I will listen to it with the greatest of care and if I feel that it is for the best of the kingdom I will use it. If not, you will forgive me for overlooking it."
"I am no wise advisor nor do I have any great experience with how one is supposed to rule these amazing cities of gold, but give this a chance", her voice turned serious.
"I am listening my sweet", he reassured her.
"Take Thror and Thrain out of the equation. Eliminate Erebor, your advisors, the delegations and that you are about to sit on that throne as King of the seven families. Forget how Thranduil betrayed your people and how your family betrayed him. Shut everyone out of your mind and quiet down the overwhelming thoughts. What would an unprocessed and raw Thorin have done to get the Arkenstone back? What would you have done before being touched by the influence of your forefathers? How would the Thorin that stole Thranduil's horse to piss him off, would have handled this negotiation? Can you answer these questions?"
"Maybe", he frowned.
"If you can answer like my Thorin and not the Mountain King, I think you'll find your solution. I believe that the uninhibited Thorin that I have come to know, holds all the answers for you", she smiled.
A ghostly smile appeared on his lips and he pressed her forearm, "Thank you for taking the time to help me, my beautiful Eilin."
Her fingers run through the greyish hair on his temple and forehead. "Will you take my suggestions seriously?"
"Of course I will," he frowned confused.
She sighed and snuggled against his head, "Thank you."
"You didn't expect me to?" He stood up and turned to her. His eyes bore into hers.
She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head, "No."
"You don't give yourself enough credit. You just gave me a unique outlook on this problem. A fresh point of view that no one from my close vicinity is able to have and I appreciate it deeply", he spoke with such warm candidness that she felt her heart sparkling up from happiness.
"You make me feel special."
His hand came up to stroke her cheek lovingly. "You are special. You don't only have my deepest respect, but also my solemn attention on everything", his tone gained in seriousness.
She shuddered, "even in royal matters that a simple maiden shouldn't get involved with?"
"A maiden shouldn't, the King's lady should", he muted her with his thoughtful words.
The word love got lodged in her windpipes again. Then she drew him back onto her body and commenced her gentle caress on his hair, until his body relaxed completely. As the heavy snow fell around them, she didn't feel any cold as she was mostly covered by his large frame. She didn't care about how heavy he was becoming as he was letting go more and more onto her. She continued her soft caress, feeling her shoulder in pain from the heaviness of his head, and his hand slipped away from her forearm. His other hand dangled useless on her shin and she heard his breath becoming steady and heavy. She smiled at the grey skies and leaned her head back, cradling him as he slept in her arms, without ever wanting to disturb his quiet repose. The feeling of wholesomeness for making him sleep so easily and the pride that drummed in her heart that he allowed her into his problems and also took her advice into consideration overflowed her with bliss. Nothing would have been able to move her right now and dislodge him. She could hold him as he slept like that forever. She wanted to be the arms that cradled his rest until the end of all time.
Several miles away from them, in the midland mountain ranges, not far away from Rivendell, Karunn was dismissing the escort of her uncle Dain.
"Is this the way to Bree?" she asked and pulled her hood down her face. Even though the cold here was more forgiving than in the north, she was still rather frozen and rather tired from all those days travelling.
"Keep on this road and once you clear out of the wilderness of Rivendell you will find yourself in a deep valley, between the Weather Hills and Eregion. Straight between these small mountains is the village of Bree", one of the soldiers said.
"We have orders from Lord Dain to remain with you my lady", another one said and bowed.
"I will manage, return back to my uncle", she said dismissively and took the reins in her hands.
"These places are crawling with vagabond orcs my Lady. You might need help down the way", one of them tried gentler.
"I will need no assistance. How long a ride you think?" she looked at them coldly.
"With the horses you have and this carriage no more than a week and a half, maybe a week if you push them to the limit", the soldier looked at his comrades.
"Very well, you are dismissed", she said and set her carriage in motion.
They remained behind speechless. Despite their arguments that it was impossible for a dwarrowdam to travel on her own in this wilderness, she was not only authoritative enough to convince them, but also seemed rather fearless. The soldiers remained behind waiting for her to gain some distance, before agreeing to follow her on foot until she reached some safe place at least without her seeing them. Returning back to Dain and revealing that they had left her alone in the middle of nowhere would equal their death sentence. When the soldiers finally began their quick trekking behind her, Karunn was not experience enough to understand it. She was concentrated on her task. On the only thing that could keep her focused ever since the Mountain King ridiculed her because of that fucking stable girl. It was the only thing that fed her hope that she could get her revenge on Eilin and in consequence on the vain and haughty King that belittled her. She kept her eyes steadily forth and a devilish smile was painted on her lips, as a shadow of darkness covered her brow.
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