So welcome to chapter 2. I appreciate your reviews and follows a lot and have included all your names at the bottom of a new chapter as usual. I'm sorry that I cannot answer your reviews on regular basis so I just gather everything and answer them when I post new chapter, I hope you will understand.
There will be some songs in this chapter, so please go to youtube and turn it on when you read this story, I assure you, that you'll feel better if you do that.
I do wish you a Happy Valentines day. Even though I don't have anyone to share it with, I hope to share my love for Thorin with you all ~
Chapter 2: Northern firestorm
Final Fantasy X ~ Suteki da ne ~
Wind, and my heart swimming in collected words
Moved by the wind, in through the world.
Clouds, like a voice that we all recognize
Carry the holding future.
Moon, on the sky as a trembling heart
Shown on the glass unsteadily.
Stars, shedding tears in an overflowing stream
I see the night all around me.
How wonderful
Being together, all alone walking hand in hand.
And I want to go to your city to your home, into your arms.
That soul inside your body from those conflicted nights
As from my dreams.
~x~
"Bravo! Bravo, Frija" Thror applauded "Come, come to feast with us now" He motioned her to a sit next to Thorin "Beautiful voice, Frija! A beautiful woman with a beautiful voice! You have really taken all the best from this world to yourself. Pity that Regin doesn't let you go out much. If I was him, I would be more than happy to boast you to the whole world!"
"You are too kind, my King" she bowed politely "However, it would be best if I return. My mother and father are waiting for me to come home for dinner."
"A spoilsport you are" Thror frowned "But it matters not, I'm happy today! I will entrust you in Thorin's hands then."
"Of course, grandfather" Thorin answered, standing up from his chair "I shall escort her back home safely. Shall we go then?" he offered his hand to her, and she happily accepted with a nod.
They got out of the dining room to the corridor when Thorin said "I have to thank you. It is only thanks to your beautiful singing that my grandfather's sanity is kept at bay. They hold such mysterious powers."
"I'd direct that gratitude towards my father if I was you. It was him who let me sing for the Royal chorus."
"Yes, he was furious when I first made that suggestion…" Thorin said, remembering the sudden punch right into his abdomen, which he had foreseen, but failed to react to. And he was supposed to be one of the best warriors in Erebor, a commander of its army.
"He is mad that I'm exposed to such a huge amount of people, but he is glad to be of service to his King, mind you." Frija explained "I'm glad too that I have some sort of powers to help other people, rather than stay protected by my parents and you for the rest of my life."
"I don't mind protecting you. I actually take great pleasure in doing it. That is if your father would actually let me do so."
"Don't go there again" she sighed "You know that he is overprotective of me." Thorin opened his mouth to comment, but was beat to it when Frija skipped ahead and turned around to face him. "But enough about my father and tell me the truths, something has been bothering you, hasn't it?" He looked at her in slight confusion "Something about my singing and keeping your grandfather's sanity at bay. You seemed troubled when you said those words to me just now" She looked into his eyes, reading his thoughts as her expression turned to sour "Is my voice, perhaps, not effective anymore?"
"No!" Thorin shouted almost immediately "That's not it… Your voice is really the only medicine for him now. However, I noticed that his condition has been getting worse. He loses his sanity more frequently and for longer periods. I didn't mean to hide it from you. I just hoped that everything I just said is just my imagination…"
"Thorin…" She took his hands in hers "Please don't bear everything yourself. I'm here for you. I'll try my best and perhaps strengthen my powers somehow and help your grandfather more properly."
"I know. Thank you Frija" he smiled and then frowned playfully "But really, I can never hide anything from you. I thought others described me as cold and expressionless."
"Well, I'm not exactly others, am I? I'm your best friend."
"No." he breathed as he pulled her closer, making her yelp breathlessly "You are not my best friend… You are much, much more than that…" he said as he leaned in to her parted lips, his mind going crazy as he heard her whisper his name softly.
"STOP IT RIGHT THERE!" Thorin and Frija pulled apart immediately "I turn my eyes away for one moment and this happens!" Regin walked towards them furiously "I trust you are ready for tomorrow, young man."
"Of course Regin, any time you want." Thorin grinned cheekily
Regin huffed as stood in between Thorin and his daughter "Arena, when the sun is right up from the horizon. I'd prepare myself thoroughly if I was you. We're going home Frija."
Frija followed her father, but turned back to mouth 'Good Luck' to Thorin. It was always like this. Regin would challenge Thorin on frequent occasions and especially on occasions such as this, to see if he is strong enough to entrust Frija to. Despite Regin's grumpiness, he trusts Thorin more than he would like to show. Ah, but he would never admit that, nor was he willing to part with his daughter anytime soon.
However, the peaceful times were not meant to last long. The days turned sour and the watchful nights closed in.
"I will have to leave for a week or two for sword delivery to Iron Hills again" Regin said to his wife and daughter "Frija, stay with your mother and refrain from going outside without any escort."
"You mean Thorin?" Frija teased
Regin cleared his throat and mumbled "Yes… Thorin" bringing a smile to both female parties in the room "However, refrain from going outside at all as much as you can" He huffed and turned to kiss them goodbye "I'll be going now."
"Be safe, Regin/father." Findis and Frija said
"I will."
~ 2 weeks later ~
"Mother, father is coming back soon, so I think we should go to Dale and buy some supplies to prepare a feast for him." Frija suggested
"That is a great idea, dear. Just let me prepare some things and we will go." Frija answered and her daughter agreed. However, the elf woman didn't get to prepare herself, when she suddenly heard the horn alarm followed by loud shouting and screaming. She immediately comprehended the situation and grabbed Frija's hand, pulling her to the door, but she was only greeted by scorching heat of fire and smoke.
"Why is everything burning like this?" Frija asked horrified at the sight in front of her
"Because… a dragon is here…" Findis answered grimly
Fire and smoke was everywhere, limiting their view as the made their way to Erebor's front door. Findis pushed Frija to walk before her, so that her daughter would be even a second earlier to safety. But suddenly… "Look out!"
Thorin brought his grandfather and father out of Erebor, when he looked around as so no sight of Frija and her mother. Findis was an elf, so she would definitely stand out from this crowd and he would have recognized Frija in a crowd of millions. Thorin didn't waste any seconds of thought before he rushed inside Erebor once again.
"Frija!" he shouted "Lady Findis!" he rushed through walls of flames to the direction of her house. The paths, which he had walked so many times, were now in ruins and rubbles. He was getting impatient and worried to say the least "Frija!"
And that was when he heard her voice.
~D' Gray Man~Lala's lullaby~
Lacrimosa dies illa
Qua resurget ex favilla
Judicandus homo reus
Huic ergo parce, Deus,
Pie Odin Domine*
Judicandus homo reus
Huic ergo parce, Deus,
Pie Odin Domine
~x~
"Frija!" he called as he finally saw her sitting down on the ground "What are your doing -" he came rushing to her side and went speechless at the sight in front of him. Findis lied lifelessly under a huge column of marble. However, he couldn't help but notice, how the elf lady held the most peaceful and fulfilled expression on her face. "I know what you may be feeling right now, Frija, but we need to get going." he said to her softly.
"I can't…" she answered
"Wha-" he was going to retort when he suddenly realized what she was talking about – her leg was trapped under the column as well. He was shocked, but immediately moved towards and grabbed onto the column, trying with all his strength to lift it up "Come on!"
Frija bit her lips, trying to forget the pain her food was experiencing and actually pulling her leg out "Just… a bit… More… Ah! It's out" it indeed was, but it was definitely in no condition to move around after having been crushed by such a heavy object.
Not wasting any more time, Thorin picked her up bridal style and told her to hold on tightly and try and not to bite her tongue. Frija obeyed him, hugging his neck, nestling her head into his neck 'Mother… goodbye' she thought as her tears dropped down to Thorin's neck. She whispered the song she sang to her mother again. It was a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her. But now, never was she going to her this melody from her mother's lips again.
Thorin's heart throbbed at how emotionally unstable the girl in his arms was right now. He hugged her closer, hoping to console her even just for a little bit. Thorin was aware that Frija was not the only one to be robbed of someone dear to them today. He knew that his kin was just chased out of their homeland. And he knew, how the elves have turned their eyes away and did not come to his kin's aid. But somehow, those things were the furthest away from his mind. Right now, he was just racing through the things he could do, to make her feel better. But to his misery, nothing useful really came to mind.
Finally passing by the gates of Erebor, Thorin placed her on a piece of rock and kneeled down to take a look at her injured leg. However, to his surprise, her leg was perfectly fine "What in Mahal's name -?"
"I don't know..." Frija wiped her tears and stood up to walk a bit "It feels fine too.." she looks at him and moved in to brush some dirt off his face "In fact, your injuries and burns seems to have healed as well…"
Thorin looked around himself and indeed felt his body as good as new. Refreshed. He thought about the things that happened before and something clicked in his mind. It was Frija's singing. However, she denied the possibility of that to happen as her voice had never been able to heal injuries before. Especially not an injury as major as a crushed leg.
"Frija! Thorin! There you are!" they turned to see Thrain limping towards them "I'm so glad you are alright. I wouldn't know how to face Regin again if something happened to you. But where is your mother?"
"She…" Frija blinked away the tears that threatened to overflow again and told Thrain that her mother has given her life to push Frija out of the marble column's way.
Thrain frowned and offered his condolences, patting her shoulders to comfort her. Frija shook her head and forced a small smile to assure Thrain that she was alright. Thrain didn't comment on this and turned to Thorin to talk about the tasks they had to do to take care of their whole nation.
That was when Frija noticed Thrain's injured leg and decided to test the theory that Thorin and her has just stumbled upon. She knew it wasn't appropriate, but she had to test it out now. If it really was true, then she would be able to help lots of people, lifting some of the weight from Thorin's shoulders. "Thrain, I know this is not the time or place, but will you please listen to me sing?"
Thrain looked puzzled, but agreed to her request anyway. Anything to make her feel better. Her voice was divine. It made him forget where he was for a moment. He just immersed himself in the melody as no other sound could reach his years. His body felt lighter as the pain in his leg gradually subdued. When the song was finished, he looked down to his leg and the large cut he had received from the dragon has been miraculously healed. He looked up to the maiden in front of him, his mouth dropped in amazement.
"You were right Thorin," she turned to him "I can finally be of use to you. I will gather all the injured and heal them as well as soothe their emotional pain with my voice."
Thorin nodded in answer, but got closer to brush a strand of hair out of her puffy red eyes and cupped her cheeks afterwards "Don't push yourself, alright? Come to me if anything happens."
"I will." she placed her hands on his noticing his over concern "I'll be alright."
That night was not a peaceful one. Sounds of crying, cursing, whining… were heard all over. However, this was a nation of dwarves as strong and hard as stone. Under strict guidance of Thror, Thrain and Thorin as well as mental support of Frija's songs, they could overcome this trial, holding the quest to reclaim their homeland clear inside of their heads.
* I used Odin instead of Jesus, just so that it will fit with the plot
Stay tunned for the next chapter~
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