Oda watched her husband as he made ready to depart for Ered Luin. He planned to ask the dwarves of all seven kingdoms to support him on his quest for Erebor. His nephews and Odas best friends, Fili and Kili, would travel to the Shire with ten other dwarves, Balin, Dwalin, the brothers Ri, Gloin, Oin, Bombur, Bifur and Bofur. Dis has let them leave with a heavy heart, but she knew how much it meant to Thorin and also to her sons.
Oda felt lost. She wanted to accompany Thorin on his quest, but she also knew that she had the responsibility to stay with their people in the Blue Mountains. With a last intense kiss Thorin and Oda parted with heavy heart. Thorin felt his wifes eyes on his back until he was out of visual range and hoped that Mahal would bring them together again one day.
Oda found Dis standing in the smithy by her house, alone in the dark. Dis had not been the same since her sons and Thorin had left the Blue Mountains. It pained Oda to see her friend like this. She missed Thorin so much herself. It had been weeks since her left the Blue Mountains for Ered Luin. He had sent messengere to his wife, telling her that he and his company of twelve dwarves were on their own. The wizard Gandalf the Grey helped them, but Oda worried deeply for her husband. Thirteen dwarves and a wizard were no match against a dragon.
'If the dragon kills them all I will have lost my whole family. All I have loved are gone and I have to stay behind.' Dis murmured as she was aware of her friend standing behind her. 'Get them back for me, Oda.'
'Excuse me?' Oda stared at her friend in disbelief.
'I cannot fight, but I am the last in the line of my family.' Dis knew that what she expected of Oda was incredibly selfish, but it made sense. And she knew that Oda wanted to accompany Thorin on his quest more than anything, only her responsibility made her stay behind. 'Bring them back to me, please.'
'I cannot leave my people.' Oda told her quietly. 'I am still the ruler of the men of Duath.'
'I thought we were one kingdom now, Oda.' Dis stated dryly.
Oda sighed. She was torn between her duty and her heart. Dis would lead the people of the Blue Mountains well, she had no need to worry. The remaining knights of Duath were all dead only Ours was still alive. He would support Dis and represent the men of Duath in the royal council.
'I do not even know where he is right now.' Oda sighed. As she had spoken the words she suddenly knew. Rivendell. In his last letter Thorin had been furious about the wizards plan to visit Rivendell. The wizard had provided the dwarves with a map and a key to enter the mountain. Only Mahal knew where he had found them. There was only one problem. Nobody could read the map. Lord Elrond of Rivendell was the only one who could. Oda had already been to Rivendell, long ago. One of her kin, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, lived there in asylum waiting for the moment to regain his throne of Gondor. As the plan formed in Odas mind she prepared to leave. She trusted Dis and Ours. They would take good care of their kingdom.
Oda arrived in Rivendell the same time her husband and his company did. She shook her head as she heard how impolite Thorin was towards the elves who had obviously rescued him and his dwarves from an orc pack. In the years of their marriage she had come to now and love the dwarf Thorin was. The burdened king had only been a shadow in their relationship. Now she could see the darker side of her husband.
As Thorin saw Oda stand behind the lord of Rivendell he first paled and then Oda could see the furios gleam in his eyes. She was prepared for his fury and waited silently until he had finished yelling at her lateron.
'I trusted you to stay behind and care for our people while I am away! You are my queen you are to do as I say!' Thorin snarled at Oda.
'And I trust Dis and Ours. Yes, Thorin, I am your queen. And this means that my place is at your side.' Oda stated calmly.
Thorin sighed in defeat. He was happy to see her and to take her in his arms again. He had missed his queen more than anything. Although he was still angry at her for opposing him he led her to dinner. Oda sat down at the table with lord Elrond and Gandalf after she had greeted the other dwarves. She grinned as she saw Kili blink at the beautiful elf maiden sitting at a huge harp. As the other dwarves teased him he tried to play the hard and macho dwarf.
'Can't say that I fancy elf maids, myself. Too thin. High cheek bones, creamy skin…..' Dwalin and Bofur looked at the young dwarf and smirked. 'Too little facial hair for me. Although - that one is not bad.' Kili leaned backwards and gestured towards an elf just passing them.
Dwalin looked at the elf and commented dryly. 'Thats not an elf maid.'
As Kili and Bofur turned around they could see that it was indeed an elf male. The whole table exploded and poor Kili grumbled into his light beard. Oda chuckled at Kilis shock and heard the other dwarves complaining about the dull music. It was indeed dull, but theey were guests at Elronds home and she just wished that they would behave.
Elrond inspected the swords of Thorin and Gandalf which they had found in the goblin cave near the East road and asked for their purpose on the East road. Thorin had enough of the elfs questions and excused himself from the table. Oda closed her eyes at his impolite manners and shot a glare at Gandalf. The wizard had brought them into this, now he had to get them out again.
'They are descendants from the house of Durin. They are noble and decent folk.' Gandalf told Elrond.
In this moment Bofur decided to cheer up the dinner by standing on a table and sing. The whole company sang along and Oda could even see Thorin dance to the merry song. Her husband was smiling and moving like a dance bear and Oda fell in love with him even more, if that was even possible.
Meanwhile the dwarves started throwing with food and Oda had to chuckle as she saw the shocked expressions of the elves present. With an excusing smile towards Elrond and Lindir, Oda left the table to join her husband at the rim of the cheerful company. She could tell that he was still angry at her, so she left for her rooms. Later that night she walked through Rivendell and overheard Elrond and Gandalf talking about Thorin.
'Of course I was going to tell you, I was just waiting until I had the chance. An I think you can trust me, I know what I am doing.' she heard Gandalf say to Elrond. That sneeky wizard, Oda thought with disgust. How dare he talk about this quest behind Throns back.
'Do you?' Elrond replied. 'That dragon has slept for sixty years. What will happen if your plan should fail?If you wake that beast?'
'And what will happen when we succeed? If the dwarves take back the mountain our defenses in the East will be strengthened.' Gandalf retorted. Oda clenched her teeth, that wizard only thought of others, not of her husbands quest.
'It is a dangerous move, Gandalf.' Elrond told the wizard.
'It is also dangerous to do nothing. The throne of Erebor is Thorins birth right. What is it you fear?' Gandalf challenged the elf lord.
Oda suddenly felt her husbands presence behind her. As she turned around she saw Throns sad expression. She wanted to take him in her arms as Elronds next words stopped her.
'Have you forgotten? Durins curse runs deep in that family. His grandfather lost his mind, his father succumbed to the same sickness. Can you swear that Thorin Oakenshield will not also fall?' Elrond asked Gandalf with a worried tone.
Oda saw Thorins expression change from sad to pained and the doubt in his eyes grew stronger. Thorin turned his back on his queen and walked back to the dark of Rivendells corridors. Oda stood where she was, shocked and paralysed. What was Durins curse? What secret had her husband kept from her, yet again? But his sad face had almost broken Odas heart and all she wanted right now was take her husband into her arms. Oda followed her husband to his room. As she entered silently she saw him ist by the fire. Thorin had not heard her enter and jumped slightly as she touched his shoulders.
'Is there anything you wish to tell me?' Oda asked him softly. As Thorin turned his face away from her, Oda grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. The sadness in his eyes was almost as big as twenty years ago when they had lost their first child. Only this time she had not been involved. Oda could see that Thorin doubted himself, that he doubted his right to be king under the mountain.
'Thorin….' Oda leaned down and softly kissed her husbands lips. To her surprise and shock Thorin pulled back.
'Don't do this.' he croaked and stood up, leaving Oda by the fire.
'Don't do what? I am your wife, Thorin.' Oda was scared and worried. 'I stand by your side no matter what. Why don't you tell me whats bothering you?'
'You would not say that if you knew the truth. The truth about me and my family.' Thorin told her with a pained expression.
'What truth?' Oda started to get angry. 'We have been married for three decades now, Thorin. I have the right to know. What is Durins curse?'