Thorin entered the room that would be Laurelin's bedroom in a few weeks, when she and the others would reach Erebor. He knew eveything was perfect – because he had prepared everything himself, and he had made sure there was everything she needed in her room, everything she loved. But it made him feel better to come here. He was so impatient, so eager to see her, yet he knew it would still take them at least two months to reach Erebor. Coming into her chamber made him feel closer to her, as if part of her already lived here.
Thorin had chosen her bedroom in the same aisle as his own, so she would never be far away from him. He had grown accustomed to living in her presence, during their years in the Blue Mountains, and after having been separated from her for so many months he never wanted to be far from her again. It was not the biggest of all bedrooms, but it was a very comfortable one. In the main room where she would probably spend most of her time, it had a huge hearth on the northern wall, and a heap of firewood was neatly stacked right next to it. Then there was a small corner with another hearth, a smaller one, but where she would be able to cook of course it would not be an obligation for her anymore, since there would be enough cooks in the main kitchens of Erebor, but if she wanted to she would have the possibility to prepare her own meals. Thorin was sure she would appreciate this. The storeroom was approvisioned too for now, it was only filled with non-perishable food, like bags of flour and dried herbes and kegs of salted meat, but as soon as Laurelin would be her Thorin would make sure there would be fresh food, too. There was also a big oaken table in the chamber, as well as six matching chairs with flowers carved into their backs. One of the walls was entirely covered with shelves. Thorin had filled on shelf with book from the library of Erebor – he was sure Laurelin would appreciate them better than any other Dwarf – but there was still plenty of room for Laurelin to add her own favourites, later. The bed itself was located in a small alcove carved directly into the wall it was stocked with big comfortable pillows, with heavy furs and woolen covers for the cold winter nights, and with freshly washed linens. Heavy velvet curtains could be drawn to give her more privacy while she slept. In one corner of the room, not far from the hearth, behind an ornate wooden parapet Thorin had placed a bathtub as well as a smaller basin, where Laurelin could wash comfortably. Several towels were already waiting there for her, and a small but pretty dressing table was standing nearby. Thorin knew Laurelin was not the kind of woman to spend hours making herself pretty, but she still deserved some of these things most women seemed to like so much : brushes and combs and pins for her hair, and a bit of jewelry, and a bottle or two of perfume... Of course, the dressing table was still empty, because neither Thorin nor any of the Dwarves he spent time with knew what kind of things Laurelin might want to have in this particular field, so he had left the drawers empty.
After a while, Thorin sighed and left the room again, feeling this dull ache in his chest like everytime when he thought about Laurelin.
Mahal be kind, and bring them here soon. He prayed for the umpteenth time.
He ate dinner with his nephews that evening, and for a while their happy chatter and their laughter kept his mind away from Laurelin, but when time came to go to bed he was alone again – and this loneliness was getting heavier and heavier. He didn't know how much longer he would be able to endure it. He left Erebor and walked barefoot in the grass and finally he sat on a large flat stone to look at the stars, as he used to do on warm summer nights with Laurelin. He wondered if she was looking at the stars at this moment, too.
Instinctively, his hand reached into his pocket and grabbed Laurelin's necklace. It was so familiar, now, that he would have felt naked without it. As his fingers slowly stoeked the polished black surface of anyx, Thorin wondered what Laurelin was doing right now. Was she thinking of him as much as he was thinking of her ? Was she all right ? Was she safe ? Even though he knew the answer to these last questions was probably « yes » - Dwalin himself was watching over her, after all – he couldn't help but worry.
He was still sitting there and clutching the pendant when he heard footsteps behind him.
« Uncle Thorin ? » Kili called in a joyful voice. « Oh, here you are ! We found you at last ! » He turned around and yelled his brother's name. « Fili, he's here ! I found him ! » His smile was beaming, and when Fili joined them, a few moments later, he proudly exhibited a rolled-up piece of parchment. « A messenger just brought us this. From Dwalin. »
Maybe there will be news from Laurelin written in the letter, Thorin realized. Dwalin knowing how attached his king was to the young woman, he always added a small bit at the end of the letter to tell him about Laurelin. Thorin wanted nothing but to jump on his feet and snatch the piece of paper out of his nephews's hands, but he forced himself to act with dignitiy : he git up slowly, and tried to hide his impatience behind a stern face.
« You dropped this. » Fili said, kneeling to pick up Laurelin's pendant. Then he exchanged a mischievous look with his younger brother, before giving the necklace back to Thorin.
« Thank you. » Thorin said gruffly, feeling a bit embarrassed. « It... it belongs to Laurelin, and I need to give it back to her when she and the others join us here. »
« We know it's from Laurelin. » Kili said with an impish smile. « We grew up seeing her wearing this necklace. »
« I never thought she would part of it someday. » Fili added, looking intently at his uncle, with a sparkle in his blue eyes. The corner of his lips twitched slightly, making his braided moustache flutter. « I bet you must be very important to her, if she did so for you. »
When Thorin looked at his nephews, they almost looked like they were rejoicing in making him so ill at ease. Thorin had never spoken of Laurelin to them, never, yet they had grown up looking at him like a father. They knew him well, and they had seen him around with Laurelin. Obviously, they had guessed everything. And now they were using this knowledge to torture their uncle. Thorin was not ashamed of Laurelin, but never before had he felt such strong feelings for anybody, and talking about it made him nervous.
And the lads know it, and they're doing it on purpose. Thank Mahal that I'm so fond of you, boys, or else I would have throttled you in your sleep for your impudence. Thorin mused, but in his heart he was happy to see them alive.
« I am eager to see her again. » He admitted. « And I hope she is just as eager to see me again. » He had tried to keep his fears out of his voice, but somehow the lads still perceived it. Fili was the first to talk.
« It's pretty obvious she likes you – not only because she gave you her precious pendant. Because... » He shrugged. « It's just obvious, that's all. Every time we saw you together, in the Blue Mountains, I already thought about you as une unseparable pair. Your lives were so closely entwined. »
« Mother always wondered when you would realize at last that you are made for each other. » Kili said, and then he chuckled. « Sometimes she even said that if you both keep on ignoring your feelings, then she would have to interfere to make you both see the truth. »
Thorin's cheeks were suddenly very red, very hot.
« You were talking about me and Laurelin, with your mother ? » He didn't even want to imagine what exactly they had been whispering to each other behind his back. Yet at the same time, he couldn't blame them. Had he not done the same with Dwalin, when Dis had started seeing the Boraìn so long ago ? Had they not speculated as well on how long it would take them to marry, or to have their first child ?
The brothers exchanged a smile, they they both laughed.
« We were neither blind nor stupid. » Fili said. « And we know you well. We saw things that no one else saw, not even you two. »
His smile was kind and friendly, and the boy's acceptance warmed his heart.
A few moments later, Fili and Kili walked away again, chattering happily and joking about Bofur, who had been drunk once more the night before. Thorin read the letter, and was pleased to read that the wandering Dwarves had not encountered any danger. They were tired, but eager to arrive in Erebor. And then, at the end, Dwalin added a few lines about Laurelin : nothing special, just a few words to tell Thorin that she was well, to reassure him.
Then he rolled up the parchment again. He felt relieved, after reading such good news. The wilds were a dangerous place, and many dangers could befall his people while they were on the roads even with Azog defeated and dead, there were other creatures, other dangers. Then he looked up at the stars again, and wondered what their lives would be like, once they would all be settled in Erebor again would they be able to bring the Mountain back to its former glory ? How would the other people react ? The men of LakeTown ? And the Elves of Mirkwood, what would they say ? And Dain ? For a long while he had been the greatest of all Dwarves, and his Iron Hills had been the greatest of all Dwarven kingdoms. How would he react now that Thorin was back as King of Durin's line ? Would he resent his cousin, or rejoice in his victory ?
Thorin sighed. So many worries, so many questions. And only time would bring the answers. He could do nothing but wait, and wait, and wait.