Chapter 31

I joined him after a moment and smiled as I looked over Rivendell. It had not changed much over the years, and it was still fresh in my mind from the last time I was here. I watched Thorin place his hands on the railing, and lean forward a little, his hair falling forward and hiding his eyes. Pressing my lips together, I leaned against him, giving him a slight hip check. It brought a slight smile to his face.

"Hard to think...that almost half a year ago we laid eyes on each other for the first time in thirty years," I mused softly.

"Indeed," he agreed. "I'm glad you had arrived after what had happened."

"What do you mean?" I asked, and he gave me a small smile.

"I was sitting with the elf and Gandalf and he was taking a look at the swords that we had found in the troll caves," he started. "He told us the names of them, and then wished that they serve us well. Elrond then questioned what we were doing out there, and I couldn't sit there and let Gandalf reveal everything. It was like a nightmare. So I rejoined my kin, and Bofur jumped on the table and began singing."

"That sounds absolutely wonderful," I laughed.

"It gets worse. They started dancing and throwing food and I couldn't help it...had to get in on it," he suddenly laughed, and the sound was unexpected. "I was sure we had scared them, but it was a much needed break from the journey."

I smiled at the story, and looked at him with a tilt of my head. "Thorin dancing. Am I not lucky enough yet to take part in that?"

He chuckled, "You've seen me play the harp. That's good enough for now. One step at a time."

Wrapping my arms around his, I pressed my forehead against his shoulder with a sigh. He leaned toward me and I stood like that until I heard someone approach. Looking up, I watched an elf maid walk in and bow to us.

"Dinner is ready, if you'll follow me," she spoke soft.

I turned with Thorin and slipped my arm through his as we walked after her. He always carried himself in a certain way that always had my chest swelling with pride. Thorin had all the royalty of a king, complete with the grace and poise of a warrior. He was both, and he knew it in the way he walked with his head held high and his shoulders slightly back. Thorin was always sure footed, never missing his steps. One would almost call it a strut, but he didn't want to impress anyone. He didn't need to.

Following the elf maid, we came into the area where dinner was held and I almost faltered in my step when I saw who was there. Lady Galadriel was standing off to the side, and Gandalf was seated smoking his pipe which was not uncommon. Thranduil had arrived, and I resisted the urge to narrow my eyes at him. Even though he had honored his word so far, the elf always made me uneasy. We had come to an agreement with trade, but relations were as tense as usual. Lord Elrond turned when we walked in, and he smiled at us.

"Ah, good, we are all together now. Please take a seat," he said graciously.

Thorin said nothing, and observed everyone in silence as he pulled out a chair for me. I took my seat and watched him sit beside me. His expression didn't change, but he kept it easy. I was sure he was making sure he could still get out if he chose to, and also how long it'd take him to kill everyone. There was no music this time, as there usually was during a dinner, and there was also fish served tonight. That almost surprised me, but I was guessing that Elrond didn't want to displease anyone at the table.

"It is good to see you, Arina," Gandalf smiled from across the table. "And you, Thorin."

"And you, Gandalf," I smiled back at him, as I cut into my fish.

"Gandalf," Thorin said, his voice rumbling deep.

"I suspect that everyone had safe travels?" Elrond asked, as he took a drink of his wine.

"There was no problem on the road for us," Thranduil commented.

"Easy," I said, giving Elrond a knowing glance that had him smiling.

Thorin took a drink of his wine, and I quietly reached to brush my fingers over his knee. He was tense, and I could feel it from sitting next to him. He tilted his head to see me out of the corner of his eye. I hid my smile from them all. He had been a King for so long, but I was sure dealing with elves was leaving a sour taste in his mouth. One could only ask the King under the Mountain so much.

"So, why are we here?" I asked, turning to look at Elrond after I finished my plate.

"It is never long before you cut right to the chase," the elf chuckled in amusement.

"She has a point," Thorin replied, his voice calm and collected.

"It was Lady Galadriel's idea to bring you here to discuss an important matter," Elrond sighed. "It is one I feel we cannot put off."

I watched Galadriel turn so that she could join us, and she came to stand behind Lord Elrond when he finished speaking. I looked at her for a moment, and then felt Thorin come to attention beside me. His jaw tightened, and his hand clenched to a fist as it rested on his leg. She had to be speaking to him for him to react that way. I couldn't help but give her a hard look.

"So what is it?" I asked sharply, drawing her attention.

"You'll have to forgive her, My Lady," Thranduil said suddenly. "Ever since she started living with the dwarves her manners have gone slightly down hill."

"I don't think I ever great manners," I said flatly, glaring at him.

"So," Thorin spoke first, surprising us all. "You want to form an alliance. For what purpose?"

"Thank you, King Thorin," Lady Galadriel smiled.

Elrond put his glass down and looked over the table. "Since we have changed the outcome of the battle, Lady Galadriel and I feel that it would be a good idea to push back against the Orcs. Go right back to their source. Gundabad."

"And what makes you think that is possible?" Thranduil asked calmly.

"If all of us agree now, and form this alliance," Gandalf said. "We will be more powerful than we can imagine. Especially with Arina on our side as well, it would be easy for us to put an end to the Orcs in that mountain. Or at least push them back enough that we'd have many more years of peace."

"And what about their master?" I asked looking up.

"That has yet to be seen," Galadriel replied. "He cannot take physical form; we have an advantage over him now."

"Driving the Orcs back to Gundabad will do what?" Thorin asked. "Do we follow them and try to kill them in their hold? We just lost huge numbers a mere seven months ago."

"You forget, Thorin that you hold the Arkenstone. The dwarves will honor their oath," Gandalf pointed out. "We need all the help we can get."

Thorin bristled at my side, and I dropped my shoulders, knowing what was about to be said. "Help," he began slowly.

"Not now," I hissed to him, grabbing his hand.

He looked at me angrily from where he sat at my side, and clenched my fingers back as he shut his mouth. I looked back over at the others that sat at the table.

"If the dwarves were to help, it'd be an extremely delicate process," I said for him. "Beside Thranduil, they can hold a grudge that will go with them to their graves. I doubt any of them would want to."

"Then we have to make them see," Elrond said. "Orcs are our common enemy, and we cannot risk them over running Middle Earth again. This world would be plunged into darkness. If we can attack them at Gundabad, we can take them."

"They are weak in numbers there, and vulnerable. The sooner we can strike, the sooner we can take them out," Gandalf agreed.

"He has a point," I said, slowly looking at Thorin.

"My people are not ready for war," Thorin finally said. "As of now they are traveling to Erebor. They will take till summer to get there. Dain is the only one who would have the numbers right now. After the first battle last winter, I doubt he is willing to help right now."

"Well then convince them," Gandalf demanded, making me jump in surprise as his voice boomed. "If you want Erebor, and your people to flourish then this is what we must do. We've been blind for so long about what has really been going on. This is our chance. When you reclaimed the mountain, we already gained the upper hand. This would only further our cause. If Sauron comes back, it'll be in numbers far greater than our own. We need to strike when he is still weak."

Looking at him, Thorin sighed a little and took a drink of his wine. "I will try to consult with my cousin."

"I'm sure he's not less agreeable than when I saw him," Thranduil commented.

"Do you want me to throw you from this table?" I suddenly hissed, pushing myself to my feet. "You are not helping."

I tried to ignore Galadriel's smile from where she stood behind Gandalf. Thranduil looked at me and arched his brow at my outburst. I laid my hands on the table and glanced at Thorin and then to Elrond. I let out a calming breath so that I could think better, and try to come up with some solution.

"I will help to see if we can consult with Dain. I will fight if need be," I assured them. "I will also make sure that Thorin's people make it safely to the mountain. I would rather see Gundabad as a hole in the ground instead of gathering more Orcs."

"Thank you, Arina," Galadriel said softly, and then looked at Thranduil. "And you?"

He looked at the Lady for a moment, and I was sorely hoping that he'd take her on only so I could watch him squirm under her power. After a moment, he bowed his head lightly. There was no fighting her, and satisfaction swelled inside of me to finally see him bow a little to a higher power.

"If you are in need of my people, then they are there," he said, though he was clearly unhappy about it.

"Thorin, if you can rally the dwarves, we may finally be able to put this threat to an end," Elrond said looking at him. "We have some time, and I understand that you are cautious, but we need to do this."

"Like I said," Thorin spoke low. "I will see what I can do. Excuse me."

Surprised, I looked up and watched him push his chair back and walk off. I shouldn't have been caught off guard that he was leaving the table; I knew he had needed to get away. He needed time to think things over. This war was not something that would be taken lightly if we were to go into it. Having an alliance with elves was extremely unstable. The dwarf King still harbored ill feelings toward some of them. When he disappeared, Thranduil suddenly smiled from his spot across the table.

"Cannot even handle talking about war, and you pledge yourself to him. He will turn out to be a great King," he said with a smoldering look.

He was taunting me and I knew that, but I still fed into it. I wasn't about to let him get away with that. I glared at him from where I had sat back down. All Thranduil wanted me for was my power. He had taunted me back during the meetings in the winter to get trade going, so this was no different. Any chance he got behind Thorin's back the elf would say something. It was petty, but the elf lord saw himself above all others. Including several at this table, though I knew no one gave him the time of day.

"Thranduil," Elrond said lowly.

"No," I said with a smile. "It's okay. I'd rather pledge myself to a King who doesn't enjoy talking about war, but will fight anyway. Rather than pledge myself to an elf who only came out of hiding for a few precious jewels. You may have been honoring your word, but that doesn't make me think better of you. Insult him again, and those around us will not stop me."

"My, my, you've become so confident," Thranduil smiled, tilting his head slightly.

"Thranduil," Galadriel said softly. "Do not tempt her."

"My Lady," Thranduil dipped his head. "With all do respect...she is one of those who needs to realize where her place is. She is not superior to us, especially not to me."

Arina. Galadriel said softly in my head.

When I looked at her she gave me a sigh and turned her back gracefully to us. For a moment, I almost beamed in front of them all. I was picked as a favorite that the Lady of Light was turning her back to us so I could handle it. It was probably a bad idea. Looking back at Thranduil, I arched my brow at him.

"My place and where is that? On my knees bowing down to you? I know all you want me for is my power," I said softly, venom dripping from my voice. "The only King I will ever bow down to is Thorin. You are no King. The fact that you are immortal means nothing to me. You still bleed."

"It will be easy to make you," he hissed. "Shifter, that's all you ever will be. All anyone will ever see you as, including your beloved King. He sees you as nothing more than a tool. That's all you will ever be to anyone, is a tool. A piece to be moved about as they see fit."

The insult hit me deep; causing a flinch to run through my body and suddenly the ground shook when I didn't do anything. What surprised me even more was the knife that was suddenly thrown past my shoulder. It buried itself in the wood right in front of Thranduil, making his eyes widen, but he didn't move otherwise.

"Well, there went that," I heard Elrond rumble.

Thorin suddenly came into view and was yanking Thranduil's chair back so fast that I barely had time to realize what had just happened. It surprised everyone at the table, except for Galadriel who had a soft amused smile on her face. Thorin wrapped his hand around the hilt of the knife and yanked it out, before staring at Thranduil who was still sitting.

"If you ever," he said, his voice deadly. "Threaten my Queen again; I will have your head on a platter."

"Arina," Gandalf said softly, appearing at my side. "Go with Lady Galadriel would you?"

"Yes," I said, rising to my feet and turning to go with her as she went to walk away.

The moment I got to my feet the ground stopped shaking, and I realized it had been me who had been shaking. Thranduil surged to his feet as we left, ready to take on Thorin. I followed her till we were in silence and I let out the breath that I had been holding. She looked at me gently, as she glided along next to me.

"Sometimes, the insult goes to deep," Galadriel said softly. "I admit I can be quite awful as well. I wanted the dagger to hit him."

"I'm sure Thorin would have appreciated that," I replied quietly ,and looked over the courtyard below us.

"He did," she mused. "You're alliance with us will make things much easier for the dwarves. We will try to hold off as long as we can, but we must strike soon."

"I understand," I nodded my head. "It will be tough on them...but if Dain is with us, then it will not be so bad. What about Moria? Is there any hopes of taking that place out?"

"No," she shook her head slightly.

Sighing quietly, I walked with her for a while through the halls and down to the courtyard below. Looking at some of the flowers, I stayed with her as she continued walking.

"Do not be afraid, Arina," Galadriel said suddenly. "If we can win this, it will never start again."

"I hope we are so lucky," I said softly.

She smiled at me gently, and touched my hand for a moment before she turned her head at the footsteps of someone. I followed her gaze to see Thorin approaching us. Looking back down at me, Galadriel gave my hand one last squeeze before she walked off. She passed by Thorin and laid a hand on his shoulder. I wasn't sure what she said to him but he nodded slightly.

Turning from them, I looked at the fountain that we had stopped at and then sat down quietly. Thorin walked over to me, and reached out to brush his fingers down my cheek gently. It was such a surprising gesture that I looked at him, only because I wasn't expecting it. His eyes glittered, as he struggled to keep a soft expression. Beneath it all, he was furious.

"Had I been allowed, I would have separated his head from his body," he growled.

"Should I say thank you for the thought?" I asked uneasily.

Looking down at me, Thorin reached for my hands, so I let him grab them. He pulled me to my feet, and wrapped me up in a hug so tight that I almost had tears come to my eyes from the surge of emotion I felt.

"You are not just a shifter, or a tool to me," he said in my ear. "You are the one I pledge myself to. The one I see fit to rule by my side; my queen. I have asked much of you over these last few months, and for that I am sorry."

"I don't feel used, Thorin," I murmured against his chest. "If I did, I wouldn't be here. Thank you for coming to my aid."

"A certain elf said it was getting a bit heated," he rumbled. "Told me to come back and deal with it how I saw fit."

I couldn't help the soft giggle that left my lips and he slowly pulled back from me so that he could see my face. Thorin kissed my forehead, and then held onto my hands tightly.

"You are not useless," he whispered to me. "You are the most important person in my life. You hold my heart."

"As you hold mine," I answered softly.

"Then let there be no doubt," Thorin said softly, pressing a kiss to my lips. "We will see what we can do about this war, and if Dain will help us. I will keep my people safe. I will not back down if there is a threat out there."

"And I am with you," I agreed. "As always."

"I would have it no other way."

Reassured, I walked with him back up to where the others were and approached the chairs that were put around a fire. It was dark out, and the stars were out in all their glory. Elrond looked over at us when we approached, and Galadriel smiled warmly at us.

"Sit, enjoy the evening with us," Elrond smiled. "We will finish up what needs to be done tomorrow."

"Thank you," Thorin nodded slightly and took a seat on one of the couches near the fire.

I followed him, pointedly ignoring Thranduil and sat next to Thorin and watched Gandalf start blowing smoke rings after he offered Thorin a pipe and light. He started out with rings, and then some turned into butterflies, and there was a ship that went through the ring. I smiled watching what he made and made myself ignore them when they started speaking about war. Thorin at least made it clear that he would seek council with Dain to convince him to help, and that those he could gather would be with this alliance. They smoked for a while, and Gandalf asked how Erebor was doing now that we had a few months to finish and clean it up.

"Wonderfully," Thorin said proudly. "The halls are all fixed, and many of the mines are safe again. The mountains of gold are either put away, or have been given in their share and the forges are lit once more. It is starting to look like the city I remember."

"Good, that's good," Gandalf beamed. "I'm sure I'll be seeing it soon for myself."

"You are more than welcome," Thorin nodded his head.

I watched the sky, and listened to a few elves distantly playing music. It was a soft lovely tune, which had us all relaxing and forgetting about the disagreement from earlier. After a little while, I got to my feet and had to bid everyone good night. Thranduil's jaw twitched slightly, but he forced himself to nod as well. Thorin rose shortly after I did, and walked out, keeping himself between me and the elf.

When we were out of sight, we made our way to our room and were welcomed to a hot bath which made me perk up slightly. I was tired, but I didn't want to go to bed dirty. Thorin took off my long sweater for me and I laid my weapons on the table in the room before kicking off my boots. I almost skipped to the tub, I was so happy to see it. The water was fresh and steaming so I removed my clothes and stepped in.

It was a large tub, easily fitting two so Thorin joined me shortly after. I sank up to my neck in the hot water and gave a happy sigh making him chuckle. I relaxed for a little bit until I washed myself and then also helped Thorin wash his hair, even though he gave a slight protest.

"Hush," I sighed, quietly running my fingers through his wet hair. "The royalty and warrior in you make you extra stubborn."

"It does not," he rumbled, as I rinsed it out.

"Yes, it does," I disagreed, finishing what I was doing.

Pressing a kiss to his shoulder, I moved back once I was done and watched him turn to look at me for a moment. A giggle escaped my lips before I could stop it as I rose out of the tub and grabbed a towel. Thorin followed shortly after, and we dried off and dressed for bed. I brushed his hair out, and in return let him do the same for me. Closing my eyes, I sighed happily as he gently untangled a knot, and then ran the brush through it. He braided it off to the side for me and then kissed the inside of my neck when he was finished.

"Done," he murmured.

"Thank you," I hummed softly, and got into bed with him.

Thorin turned on his side to face me, so I reached out to lace our fingers. Smiling, he brought them to his lips and kissed them before laying our hands back on the bed.

"It's funny," I smiled. "I never thought that I'd end up here, with you. Not that I'm complaining, I just figured that you'd want to marry a woman of higher rank. Maybe a dwarf woman. And well...given the past..."

"At one point yes," Thorin said plainly, as he looked at me. "I was scared of the feelings that returned when I saw you. I fought them. But it changed for me in Mirkwood..."

"In Mirkwood?" I asked lifting my lashes to look at him.

"After I had insulted Thranduil, and we passed each other...I grew very afraid," he admitted quietly. "I promised you I'd protect you, and you were getting dragged away to the one person who I was sure would try and keep you. I felt so helpless...and I realized then, that I wouldn't have you anywhere but by my side. Not again."

I felt my cheeks burn and I couldn't find my voice so instead I just squeezed his hands and leaned forward to kiss him. He met me, and leaned over me as our lips moved together. His hand left mine, to feather down my cheek and neck before he pulled back.

"That kiss we shared back in the Blue Mountains had been the only one I had taken," he rumbled. "I didn't seek out other affections, but I did get very angry with you for leaving. When I finally was told why, it helped. The anger went away, and I found that I still felt exactly the same as I did all those years ago."

"My feelings never changed," I whispered.

Thorin looked over my face for a second, his fingers squeezing my own gently. I hummed and leaned down to kiss our hands, and pressed my forehead against his.

"You've always been the one I can be myself with," Thorin rumbled softly.

This one was a lot of fun to write. I wanted Thorin to actually SPILL blood, buuuuttt obviously didn't fit the story. Which is okay, cause this turned out nice too.

So many follows, and so little reviews. Do you enjoy the story!? :)