Hello Lovelies! I'm so sorry that it's been almost two weeks since I last updated, I had hoped to publish a new chapter once a week if I could but I just got swamped with work.
BUT! First of all I'd just like to thank all who have favourited and followed my story so far. You guys have no idea how much it means to me and I'm really glad that you enjoy reading it because I love writing it.
Well here's the latest chapter, I hope you enjoy!
It was not until late morning that Orana finally did reappear. She slunk into the house like a wounded animal, shoulders hunched and head bowed.
"We need to talk"
She winced but turned to face the dwarf who was standing with his arms crossed in front of her, preventing any chance of escape.
Thorin scrutinised the woman. She looked terrible, pale and sickly with dark circles under her eyes while her dark hair was in disarray. She did nothing, in fact she ignored him. Orana's eyes hardened and she brushed past the dwarf into the kitchen where Thorin followed with a scowl.
"What in Durins name happened to you last night?" he demanded
"None of your business dwarf" the tone of her voice made it abundantly clear that she did not want to discuss it. But Thorin had other plans. As she turned to move around him again he grabbed her arm in an iron grip. Her head snapped down to him and she bared her teeth in a silent snarl.
"Unhand me. Now" she growled, bending down so they were at eye level. Thorin did not look away from her defiant stare but matched it with his own
"I will not, not until you have told me what happened last night"
"It is none of your business!" she all but snarled
"It does if it means you will transform into a beast and slit my throat while I sleep"
The woman jolted, stepping away from him in shock. Good Thorin thought to himself, he finally touched a nerve.
"Do not call me that" she snaps at the dwarf. He was trying to get under her skin, she knew it. He wanted a reaction but that word beast, oh she hated it, despised it and now the infuriating dwarf knew it.
"Seeing as you seem to be well enough to hassle me you should be well enough to make it to Bree and replace the supplies you lost. Then you can be on your way" a new clean shirt was shoved into his chest none to gently and afterwards boots thrown in his direction. Thorin growled at the woman but snatched up the clothes and stalked away to change. He knew better than to push for more answers now but he would not let this lie. They both knew that.
Still the nerve of the woman, he was a King! And she knew it, but still showed him no respect.
He pulled the shirt on carefully, then the boots, pleased with how his stitches were faring. He was not a healer and had never been good with a needle. Thorin absolutely did not want to have to go back to the woman to get the stiches redone should he tear them again. He didn't want to be more indebted to her than he already was. She was still dangerous and she grated on his patience. Yes the sooner he could leave the better.
"Hurry up Master Dwarf" he heard her call from outside the room "While some of us are still young"
"Insufferable woman" he muttered under his breath but left the room to join her in the doorway. She was wearing a long black cloak lined with thick fur, and with her a tall wooden walking stick. She beckoned for him to follow and for the first time since he had arrived at her home Thorin walked outside. The fresh air felt marvellous, he didn't realise just how stifled he had felt not being able to move about or step outside with his injury. He took a deep breath and savoured it before looking around the home of his host. It was in a large glade with the forest surrounding it on either side. In the distance he could hear the rushing water of the river. The house itself was nothing spectacular, in fact it was rather ordinary in design except for the fact that the design had been scaled up to account for the woman's seven foot height. Built off the side of the house was a small stable and a large fenced off area of the glade where a small herd of horses grazed. There were big and small ones of all different breeds from what he could tell.
While Thorin had been examining his surrounding, Orana had walked off and it was not until he heard the clip clop of horse hooves that he realised.
"This is Chestnut" Orana introduced, leading a shaggy haired chestnut (hence the name) pony towards the dwarf "She's a little spirited but I'm sure you can handle her Master Oakenshield"
Oh she was doing this on purpose. Thorin scowled at the woman but grudgingly accepted the reins from her, ignoring the mischievous glint in her eye.
Very carefully Thorin mounted the pony and released a quite breath of relief when she did not immediately buck him off.
"You are not riding?" he frowned at the woman, who simply shouldered her pack beside him.
"I have yet to find a horse big enough Master Oakenshield. But if you find one, do let me know"
His eyebrow twitched but the dwarf king said nothing. He would not take the bait, he was better than that. Orana looked away hiding a smile; it was rather amusing annoying the dwarf, mostly because it was so easy to do. He also deserved it, ungrateful man that he is, the way Orana saw it he could stand to be taken down a peg or two.
The odd pair continued towards the human village, the trip made much faster by the pony and Orana's long legs made it easy to keep up. Every step the pony took jostled Thorin but his pride refused to let him acknowledge the pain it cause. That was what the woman wanted and he would not give her the satisfaction.
"Are you any more inclined to answer my questions now woman?" Thorin asked as the pair journeyed.
"That depends Master Dwarf" Orana keep her gaze forwards as she spoke "Will you admit you have been an ungrateful guest?"
The dwarf clenched his jaw and released a slow breath. No he would not. It was perfectly within his right to act the way he had considering how close she had come to turning on him. As for being an ungrateful guest, she had not been particularly kind host either.
"That's what I thought" she smirked when he said nothing and the growled in frustration. Insufferable woman, he could not be rid of her soon enough.
As the midday sun came beating down the village of Bree finally came into view. It was nothing spectacular by any means but it was home to these people and that was good enough.
Thorin slowly slipped off the horse and tied the reins to the wooden post at the village entrance.
"Here" he turned to see the woman holding out a handful of coins "Take these and buy what supplies you can with them"
"I don't need your money" Thorin pushed the hand aside with a scowl "I do not need to be more indebted to you than I already am"
Orana matched his scowl with one of her own. She leaned on her staff and looked down at the dwarf
"And what money do you have hmmm? I am trying to help you, you infuriating dwarf"
"I do not need your help woman! Nor do I want it." Thorin thundered, finally losing his already non-existent patience "No one offers their help without expecting something in return"
The woman huffed "Very well, take the money and view it as payment of this so called 'debt'. You can buy your supplies then be on your way"
"I came to Bree for work woman, I cannot simply leave. I have a family to care for" Thorin finally admitted. He needed to work amongst the children of men so that he could feed his own family. Things had been hard for the dwarves and would be for the foreseeable future, at least until the the Blue Mountains was made strong again.
Orana eye widened at the dwarfs outburst before they softened with newfound respect for the dwarf. Insufferable and stubborn he may be, but he cared for his family deeply, she could see it in his eyes. It would have been a hard thing for the once Prince of Erebor to shallow his pride and labour amongst men to feed his family.
"Please, just take it Thorin" the dwarf's head shot up in surprise. That was the first time she had addressed him by his name before.
"For your family and see it as your 'debt' paid" she continued.
Thorin searched her eyes and was surprised to find that they were sincere. She did not want payment only to…help him. It seemed so strange to him that this woman did not expect or want something in return for her aid. Even in Erebor that was simply the way of things, the Elf King's alliance had been forged through the promise of jewels made of starlight. And he had left his people to burn when they had needed him most. But perhaps there was some good left in the world after all.
"I- Thank you" he rumbled quietly tipping his head in thanks. Orana smiled, happy to have finally made a break through with the dwarf. Maybe this would not be as painful as she had originally thought.
"Your welcome" she handed him the coins before stepping back, looking into the village "If you are quick you will still be able to catch the morning markets".
Thorin nodded and followed the woman into deeper into the village. The hustle and bustle of village life was oddly comforting to Thorin after having been confined to the woman's house. But soon all noise had ceased. The villages had all stopped in the middle of their midday work to watch as the odd pair walked by. Thorin grinded his teeth but kept his steely gaze fixed in front of him, ignoring the hushed whispers. If they affected Orana she hid it well; however she had been living here for a long time and may have simply grown used to it.
"I will see you later Master dwarf" she said "I have some of my own business to attend to but I will find you later".
Thorin nodded in agreement and watched as she disappeared into the maze of Bree, leaving him to his own devises. He glared at the crowd around him and they all quickly looked away, going back to their work and pretending nothing had happened. With a sigh he began to gather his new supplies.
It was an hour or so later and Thorin was still browsing the wares of the market. There were all kinds of things, exotic looking food and weapons. Even animals were on display. The dwarf had already filled his pack with new clothes and supplies as well as food that would last. Now he just hoped to find something to take back to little Fili and something for the new dwarfling. He would miss the birth of his new nephew but he was content to know that he could look after them and his sister here. He was also very grateful that Balin was there to look after them in his stead.
He had just picked up a small wooden lion when heavy footsteps broke his concentration. A shadow fell on the dwarf who turned to see a large muscled man standing behind him. Though he was still not as tall as Orana, he came close.
He man seemed to appraise him silently, looking Thorin up and down before nodding
"Dwarf, I heard you're looking for work. That true?" the burly man grunted, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Aye, it is" Thorin nodded warily
"Name's Henrick, I'm the blacksmith in the village" he offered Thorin a hand to shake which he accepted "I've been looking for a new hand to take on more of the workload. The wife's just had kids and I need to be with her to help" he told Thorin while he gestured for them to walk. "Dwarven crafting is among the greatest in Middle Earth, rivals the elves it does. Thought I'd come talk to ya, see if you were interested in working for me. I'd pay ya fair, but I've got no room in the house to house you, there's room in the smithy I suppose but otherwise you could hire out a room at the inn". The human scratched his beard as he thought then shrugged, looking back at Thorin
"You interested?"
Cliffhanger. Haha not really but this is it for the moment. I will update as soon as I can and don't worry I have ever intention of finishing this story, it may take a while but I will finish it.
Any reviews and feedback is always welcome and appreciated, I'd love to hear what you guys think of the story so far.
Hopefully there'll be a new chapter soon but until then, have a great day lovelies :).