Chapter 10 - Erebor's holiday (Alternate Ending)

Thorin did not want to leave my side next day. But he had a high sense of duty, which is one of the many drawbacks of being a leader.
"Help me dress, Wyenne." He said.
"Where are you going?" I asked, for I was not informed.
"To battle." He said no nonsensically.
"But I thought you made peace with the elves and men..." I said with concern.
"And that I did. But elves and men were not my only enemy. The orcs are headed towards us in great numbers." He said. My eyes widened.
"Thorin, I have a bad feeling. Please don't go!" I began to wilt.
"Listen to me, Wyenne.." he said, seizing me gently by the shoulders with his eyes fixed on mine, "I am a king and a warrior. My responsibility is to lead my armies to victory, as well as to defend all that is sacred to me. And that includes you." He said gently, "Only Mahal knows how hard I struggle. Only he knows how I would love to stay here and touch you again. If I had the choice, I would. But I do not. I have to go, Wyenne." His eyebrows frowned as he spoke to me. His tone was desperate.

I lowered my head with sadness, but he placed his hand under my chin to lift my face back to him, "Never forget that I love you. I will always do what is right for us, even if at times it does not seem that way. Now help me dress. It will give me the courage I need to fight well." That was more of a plea than an order.
It was pointless to argue because he was right. I married a King, not a common folk. He was perfectly capable of dressing himself, but asking me to help was his way to delay the moment. So I helped him dress for battle. He extended his arms and closed his eyes, as I put his battle accessories on him. He kept inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. My heart was pierced with every button I adjusted. Last was his armor, made of pure gold from the forges of his forefathers. It was the armor of all armors, fit for a King. Once he was all geared up for battle, he took me in his arms and devoured my lips with intense passion.

His lower lip was quivering when he broke from the kiss. He pressed his lips firmly together for a moment and then he exhaled some words, "We will meet again, one way or another. Until then, promise me you will take good care of yourself. I need to hear it before I go."

I nodded to him with a lump in my throat that prevented me from speaking. Finally I exhaled the words "I will" to ease his soul. He smiled at me, caressing my jawline once more. His intense blue eyes gazed into mine. He kissed my forehead, pressing his lips to it longer than usual. Then he turned around, took his crown and wore it. He sheathed his sword and left the room without turning back so I would not see the tears in his eyes...

Many hours passed and still I had no news at all. Every battle noise had ceased and all was silence. Anxiety was burning me from inside out. Ever since my husband left the room, I began to write in my journal to calm down. The moment came where I could write no more, for my hands were shaking nonstop. That's when I heard some hasty knocks at my door. When I opened it, the presence of my visitor surprised me.

"Bilbo! It's great to see you here again! Does this mean Thorin forgave you?" I said with a wide smile.
He nodded, "I have news; We won the war.." said Bilbo with a forced wide smile. Blood stains were all over his face and his Mythril chain mail shirt.
"Those are great news!" I said with excitement, "Where is Thorin?" was my immediate question.
Bilbo lowered his face, pressing his lips shut and taking a deep breath.
My smile vanished, "Bilbo, what has become of him? Please tell me. Is he hurt?"
Bilbo sighed, "Worse than hurt. He is not going to make it, but he wants to see you."
I did not hesitate to follow Bilbo outside the stronghold and along the battlefield, for it could be the last time I saw my husband and every second counted.

All around there was corpses of friends and foes, with mutilations of all kinds. I lifted my hand to my mouth with gestures of disgust. The bloodshed was so excessive it made me gag with nausea. Finally, Bilbo leaded me into a tent where my husband was. Oin was beside him, cleaning his wounds and stopping the bleeding when I arrived. The whole view was heartbreaking, for I never saw him so wretched as he was now. I ran to his side with tears nonstop, taking his hand on mine.
"I am here, love. I am here beside you."I said between sobs.
Thorin opened his eyes lazily to look at me once more, past beyond the point of exhaustion with a lost gaze. His chest was heaving up and down vaguely, lips parted and pale like he was struggling to breathe. The corners of his lips curled slightly when he saw me.

At that moment, Tauriel broke into the tent, "I came as soon as I could. The princes are stabilized. Let me try to save the King, I can do this!" She said. Her overall appearance was not good at all, with blood stains all over from both friends and foes, a few scratches on her cheek and quite worn out for an elf. She sat by Thorin's side as Oin made way for her. She imposed her trembling hands on Thorin's chest and was getting ready to chant her miraculous healing when one of her shoulders was abruptly pulled back..
"I will not allow you to do this." said the booming voice of the Elven King.
Tauriel widened her eyes, "Even now you are incapable of mercy! We are losing him and I can save him!" she said with indignation.
Thranduil smiled peacefully to her, "You have done enough already. I will not let you work yourself to exhaustion. Allow me to do this." He said.
All of us were astonished, for we did not expect such reaction from the Elven King. Tauriel looked at me dumbfounded, then back at Thranduil as she rose to make way for him.

Thranduil imposed his hands on Thorin's chest, chanting his ancient Sindarin words. Thorin groaned, clenching his teeth and pressing his eyelids shut while writhing with pain. His body was reacting to the treatment. The miracle was performed before my very eyes, my lips parted in disbelief. Soon as the last words were pronounced, Thorin opened his eyes and sat on the stretcher bed totally recovered.
"Thranduil? I don't understand... Why did you save me?" Said Thorin at a loss for words.
"I realized there would not be true peace until I did my part. I cannot return your grandfather, but I was hoping you can forgive me. A favor for a favor, one king to another..." Said Thranduil nodding reverently with a straight line smile.

Thorin looked at me, raising an eyebrow, and back at the elven king with disbelief. All of us were tense, silent as graves. Thorin gave him one of those piercing unreadable stares of his for a moment. He looked down, letting out a sigh.
"It comes too late.." He muttered under his breath, "It comes too late.." He had a lump on his throat, misty eyed as he remembered all of his kin that had to die before he would see this day coming.
"I know. We cannot change the past, but we can mend the future. I think this belongs to you" Said Thranduil as he handed Thorin the sword they call Orcrist.
Thorin took the sword in his hands, scanning the edge of it with his sight. He was at a loss for words... "How can I know you will not betray me again?" He said.
"You don't. Only time will convince you. I am patient, I can wait." Responded Thranduil.
"Fair enough!" said Thorin with a humbled gaze and a slight smirk.
Thranduil extended his arms, as a sign of honest intentions, to offer Thorin a hug.
"Not so fast, hideous elf. But I forgive you!" Responded Thorin.
Thranduil laughed, "I accept that!"

A year has passed and the city of Dale was reconstructed, more beautiful than before. The place was prosper and all old grudges were mended. As part of the garden decorations of Dale, there was this wall monument with all the names of men, elves and dwarves that fell in the battle of Five Armies to commemorate the Erebor Holiday.
Thorin and I visited the memorial statues of his father and grandfather to leave some flowers at the feet of each. I was holding Prince Thorin the Third in arms. My beloved King husband wrapped his arm around my waist with his eyes fixed on the statues, "This is the legacy I leave to my people." He said.
"And you achieved it with honour, loyalty, and a willing heart." I said with pride.
"Big words, you are starting to sound like me." He said, raising an eyebrow.
I chuckled, "Yes..."
He pressed his forehead against mine, thankful for my unconditional support, smiling truly for the first time.

The End