Chapter 5- Healing
Thorin woke squinting his eyes in the bright sunlight judging how far it had risen in the sky he thought it must at least be near the ten o-clock hour. As he sat up a felling of dizziness washed over him and he laid back down shutting his eyes. The movement caused Philicia to wake up also. She rubbed her eyes and bolted upright hearing Thorin groan. Last night came back to her instantly" Hey , you ok"? She said turning to face Thorin, her hand sweeping his hair out of his eyes." I will be once everything stops spinning." He squinted the light hurting his eyes. "You were really sick last night". She said putting her hand behind his neck checking for fever."You look as of you did not sleep well" His eyes met hers then the tiredness still showing on her face. "You need to get more rest Philicia". Thorin touched her cheek the tears she had cried still showing , her eyes were red and swollen."You really think so. Well just so you know Thorin I dribbled that tea down your throat every chance I got. Her eyes started tearing up again just from thinking about how bad he really was. "Please Philicia get some more sleep we must be going in a while." Oh alright"she sighed but only .."she stopped." "Only what " he asked ? "Thorin...just hold me close to you please" Her tears spilled over as she thought about how he could of turned for the worst and not been here now. " Do not cry I am here shh,shh. "Thorin put his hand on her shoulder and Philicia turned and let herself fall into the Dwarf Kings arms. He pulled her down with him and wrapped his huge arms around her but this time instead of her back to his chest her head was cradled there. She laid her tiny hand on his shoulder and the other one near his heart. The warmth coming off him was unreal even through his clothes she could feel the heat. "Thank you" she said yawning." Sleep now". He breathed in her scent and a feeling of contentment washed over him. Thorin ran through his head what he had heard last night and he held her closer .The things this girl from another world was making him feel. He let her red and gold locks slide between his fingers and kissed the top of her head while sliding his other hand over her back and down to her side then back up again . Thorin circled his arms around her once again and was awash with something he had not felt for many many years- happiness.
Philicia woke to Thorin humming a tune she reconized She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sat up smiling at the Dwarf King. "Baknd gheleckh , how did you sleep"Thorin asked while srirring something in the pan over the firepit. "What"? She asked the words sounded like a tounge twister to her."That means good morning in kazadul" Thorin gave her a slight grin."Oh awesome will you teach me more"she asked?"Perhaps someday" Thorin replied."That really smells delicious, what is it"?She asked getting up to warm herself by the fire. "This is where I miss heaters even the little electric ones ".Thorin gave Philicia a puzzled look ."What", he said his gazed focused on her instead of the skillet. "Oh sorry, she giggled" It is a small device that when power is put to it it blows hot air." Thorin was still not comprehending what she was saying and he let her know so." Maybe I can draw it for you one day" She sat down next to Thorin but all he could see was her long red gold locks tosseled from sleep and big beautiful purple eyes locking into his. Oh Mahal help me he thought to himself burying his face in his hands. "Philicia moved in front of him and covered his hands with hers pulling them away from his face. " What is it,are you ok"she softly asked him." All is well " he answered" let us eat these scrambled eggs before they burn." I mean after well you know" she stopped. "Feeling a lot better Philicia, akminruk zu, It means thank you" She tried to pronounce the strange word and after several tries gave up. Thorin scooped some eggs in a bowl and handed them to Philicia first." Ak-min-ruk-zu" she said slowly."Did I get it right" excitement in her tone." He gave her a quick nod and started eating the spoon stopped at his mouth tho then he started eating feriousley." Hey not so fast ok the idea is to keep it down" She reminded him. Thorin glanced at his wrist " What are these bindings" he asked? examining his other one also. "There are to help with the nausea" She said .Thorin rose to his feet swaying a little bit as he stood up. " By Mahal I pray to never be that sick again. After a while I..." He never finished instead he went out to scan the horizon taking deep breaths in the cool morning air. Philicia came up behind him and put her hand on his back" Are you alright" she asked ? "Yes I am fine just need some air that is all. I do not think I can eat yet tho" he was hoping the little bit of food he did eat stayed down, his stomach still churning ." Let's try some liquid first ok" Philicia went to her bag and grabbed a package of powdered drink mix adding a little salt to the mixture she took it to Thorin. " Here sip it slowly" Philicia watched as he did what was instructed." What is this? It taste funny sweet but salty." 'You got it I added a little salt to it to replace what was lost. You see when some one is as sick as you were the first things they lose are sugar and salt so this puts them back into the body." Philicia waited for a responce but he was quiet for a long time after. She stayed by his side for a while then went to go clean up and get things ready to go. Finding another hot pocket in her bag she promptly tossed it in the fire." Oh Hell No "she said. "I am never going through that again." Thorin hearing her swear instantly turned and stared at her curiously. Breaking the silence between them she answered his question from earlier " Come sit beside me " she said, patting the stone floor. Oakenshield did as she asked resting his back on the wall. "The bindings, you asked me about earlier here give me your hand." He held his hand out and very gently she took it in hers. What he had heard her say last night kept echoing in his head as she turned his hand palm side up. What was this strange pull he had to this girl . Thorin pondered it while Philicia touched her small finger tips to the pulse point on his wrist. Philicia then really seeing his hands up close realized that they were huge enough to cover half her head."See here" she said."There is a nerve right between the wrist bone that tells the tummy to be sick and when pressure is applied it is blocked. I put the pebbles there for pressure". She looked up at Thorin understanding showing in his eyes. He didn't let go of her hand but instead began to trace tiny circles with his thumb upon her palm."Whatever you did it has helped " He said not releasing her hand. " I spooned that tea down your throat every chance I got thats what I did." The dwarf king was a loss for words but still held on to her hand bringing it to his lips he kissed her palm and then let her hand drop. "Come we must get moving less the day be all spent." He helped Philicia up and making sure nothing was left behind Philicia poured water over the smouldering ashes and they were on their way." So you figured out my I pod I see" she said as they walked along The Great East Road. "Yes I did it was not that difficult since I have watched you with it ". "You're amazing you know that." She grabbed Thorins hand and twirled around him till she was in his other side. They kept up a steady pace heading east hoping to make it at least to the farming communities today. They stopped by a stream to rest the spring heat making them both break a sweat. Philicia gave him something light to eat and more of the sweet and salty drink . He eyed her but didn't protest but slammed it in one shot "This taste as bad as one of Oins potions" he said making a sour face . After a while Philicia started getting slower and slower she couldn't keep up with Thorin, he had to stop several times for her to catch up to him." We must keep going" he said taking her by the hand. " I can't Thorin I'm so tired I can't please I" she collapsed on the ground. "Philicia , he gasped kneeling beside her. She didnt respond so Thorin picked her up and carried her to a clump of trees off to the side of the road. After removing her pack and her purse he laid out the blankets under an overhang of rock and got a fire started all the while hoping she was alright. He laid his head on the rock feeling the lack of sleep strong upon him also. He sat and watched her sleep as he smoked his pipe and hummed a long ago tune . I love you, I love you so much her confession not leaving him alone. The dwarf king out of nowhere had this sudden need to hold her in his arms. He reached for his cloak and traveling coat and went over to Philicas still sleeping form. Thorin placed the girl between his thick legs and pulled her back against him. She wimpered as he moved her and so he lulled her back to sleep with a song he knew. While she slept Thorin studied her face carefully. She had a beauty that riveled the fairst of the elves. Her red and golden hair captivated him . Her eyes, they were enchanting I could get lost in those eyes he thought to himself. She had saved his life no doubt about that and when they got to Erebor he would make sure she was richly rewarded. Philicia woke to being encased in Thorins strong arms both were wrapped around her his clasped hands resting on her stomach. She knew he was in a deep sleep due to his steady breathing .She felt safe and protected within his arms. She moved to lay the side of her head on his chest listening to his heart beating the sound soothing to her ears. Thorin brought his hand up and held the side of her face against him. "Sleep Philicia for we both need to regain our strength." He entwined his fingers with hers and squeezed gently The other hand throwing the coverings back over them both again. When next they awoke it was morning and since most of everything was still packed there wasn't much to do. After tending to natures call both were on the move again. They walked for a time finally coming to a deep stream refilling their water bottles Philicia turned to Thorin." I should really get that gunk out of your hair"She said showing Oakenshield what she was referring took his long ebony locks in hand and frowned at the faint offensive odor. So Thorin bent his head over the stream and Philicia mixed the cold and boiled water together and poured it over Thorins head. "Will you hand me that green bottle please?"She asked. He gave the strange container to her "What ,is that?"He asked handing her the bottle." Its shampoo don't worry it smells awesome. "Philicia said turning the bottle upsidedown in her hand and squeezing it. She smeared the shampoo in Thorins hair making sure to catch the ends in her fingers." It has a scent of, I am not sure " Philicia laughed and told him it was called tirquoise seas and it was supposed to smell like the ocean. She lathered it up really good' Close your eyes real tight if this gets in your eyes it will burn really bad ok" Thorin nodded his understanding and she dumped the warm water over his head rincing it clean. "Stay there i'm not done yet" she twisted his hair and wrung out the excess water then grabbed another bottle and rubbed the conditioner in his black waves paying close attention to the ends again. "What is that wonderful scent" he asked sighing. "Conditioner it will make your hair soft and shiney and help to remove tangles." She had him close his eyes again and Philicia rinced the conditioner off . Giving it a good twisting she handed him the towel." Is that better?" She asked as he dried his hair"Very much so smells how do you say it awesome" Philicia laughed at the the otherworldly word slipping from his lips. Thorin reached for his comb " You can use my brush I don't mind besides as thick as your hair is it would work better"she said. "Very well. " Thorin sat on a rock in the warm spring sun as Philicia brushed his hair till it was soft as silk. "I can rebraid it for you if you, you like". Thorin went still at her offer."No" he said with a little more harshness than he wanted it to. "Oh ok thats fine " she left her brush with him and went to sit on a nearby rock. Thorin didn't fail to notice the hurt sound in her voice. He made a mental note to explain the meaning of hair braiding to her . Philicia sat on the huge bolder trying not to cry .Thorin had hurt her and she didn't understand what she had done or said watched her as he finished the last braid the one he wore hidden behind his head and the ones he wore on both sides just behind the ears. "Philicia" he called to her"Philicia" still she didn't answer. Thorin watched her closely and he could see her shoulders shaking and he knew in that moment he had hurt her more than she led on. So the king in exile went to her, a mere human girl and a stranger from another world and as he came to stand before her he finally spoke."Philicia What is the matter?" Thorin asked cupping her chin with his powerful hand. He raised her head so he could see her face and then wished he hadn't. Her cheeks were streaked with tears as she held back the urge to sob into his shirt. " I am so very sorry I did not want to hurt you."Thorin held her head between his hands as he let his apology spill out." There are some things you should know concerning the braiding of hair". Thorin kept his hands on her head and with a tenderness that shocked him he brushed her tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "Ok" was all she said. "In the dwarven custom the brushing and braiding is usually reserved for parents and children and close family clans and between courting and married couples. Do you understand"? he asked making eye contact. "Yes I think so."She was but a wisper with her answer. 'And if I was to let you braid my hair I would be publically declaring that you and I were courting" Thorin held his breath as he thought to himself what it could mean to be with someone like her. A human girl would never be accepted into the dwarven culture. And a king should know better. Philicia slid off the rock and stood in front of Thorin not saying a word for words were not needed he opened his arms and she closed the small gap between them both encircling her small limbs around his waist.
"Better now" he asked holding her close? "Yes" was all she said not wanting to leave the warmth of his arms. But they had to get going his hair was dry already and Erebor was calling.
