Raven's POV
I had spent the entirety of the following week cleaning and restoring my parents house to its former glory. When I wasn't doing that, I was spending time with Selena and Dwalin or accompanying Dis during her duties as princess or with Balin.
As of late, however, I found myself spending time with Fili and Kili whenever I was by myself. The two princes - Thorin's two nephews, as I had recently discovered, took a joy in having me accompany them during the day - by that they drug me into whatever activity they decided their interest would be suited with. Fishing, swimming, sparring, hunting, pulling pranks - mostly them and not me, since I knew pulling pranks wouldn't probably go over well - especially when the whole of Erebor had its eye on me - including my very stubborn, pain-in-the-butt best friend who was especially keeping his distance so I could adjust.
I was grateful to Thorin for giving me space, but my heart pinged with hurt whenever he turned his attention away from me and onto someone close by. I desperately tried to feel grateful, having found out that I was a Chameleon when I found evidence hidden in the false bottom of the bottom drawer of my parents dresser. I had no doubt that Thorin himself was wondering what was going on with me due to the glimpses of surprise I caught in his cobalt blue eyes when he briefly looked my way - when he did look my way. He was curious and concerned of what was going on with me, hence I had never had my hair and skin - and even my eyes, change color depending on my mood.
Speaking of my mood, I had managed to get my hair and skin and eyes to turn back to their original color: brown and ivory - or pale. Didn't really matter what color my skin was, really. I was just happy to have my original appearance back to being original due to feeling uninterested when it came to Thorin - or tried, anyways, since I had to constantly fight the raging war within my own heart whenever I caught sight of the Dwarf King. Though it wasn't hard for me to keep my eyes off of him, since Zara purposefully went out of her way to throw herself all over Thorin in front of everyone whenever dinner rolled around. While I was told repeatedly by both Dis and Balin Zara was doing it just to be a pain and to get underneath my skin - other than the fact that she loved showing just how much she 'loved' Thorin, I had to fight to keep my irritation down and to keep my mood in check. Which I decided to busy myself in my free time - especially in the evening, to try and break the fracking riddle of the short message scrawled across the thin piece of parchment.
As of right now, I was reading the piece of paper with the very short message written across the now-yellow-parchment from years passing by. Over and over I read the short message, trying to figure out what the words could possibly even mean besides the obvious. Inhaling a deep breath, I began reading out loud from under my breath. "'For our beautiful Chameleon. Evil magic binds the curse, only true love's kiss breaks the curse.'" I growled in frustration.
"Couldn't have made the riddle much more easier to figure out?" I snapped. "Would it be so hard to even explain exactly what the riddle means? Oh wait, yes it would, since all I get is a fracking riddle that is doing nothing but boggling my fracking mind!" The words had no sooner than left my lips, when a knock sounded at the door.
Turning my head in that direction, I frowned. Well I definitely wasn't expecting any one. The knock came again - louder, this time. Letting out a frustrated huff, I rose from my sitting position to go greet my unexpected guest. The knock came a third time. I lost my patience. "Yeah, yeah! I hear you! Hold your horses and don't get your underwear tied in a knot!" I called angrily as I reached for the door handle to pull open the door of my parents hut. But the Dwarf standing on the other side took me by surprise.
Thorin, wore only a green vest over a dark tunic tucked into matching dark trousers. Those deep cobalt blue eyes filled with shock and humor from my outburst, one hand placed against his hip while his opposite arm rested against the wood of the doorframe. "What do you want?" I snapped as a way of greeting him.
Amusement pulled at his mouth when he spoke. "Can I come in?" At my raised eyebrow, he added, "please?" He fought to keep a serious face even though his shoulders were slightly shaking from the amusement he found of my outburst. I complied - if only to get him on his merry way as soon as possible, I complied; further opening the door and stepping to the side.
I watched awe fill Thorin's face when he took in the sight of the newly restored house. "So this is what you have been up too for the last week - week and a half? I thought you have just been purely avoiding me." He scanned the detailing of the house while I shut the door behind him.
"Thorin, what are you doing here?" I approach the small pantry I had carved out of the wall near the table - swiping an empty mug from the makeshift wood shelving I had built underneath the barrel of ale and holding the mug underneath the tap, pushed down the little lever so the honey colored liquid poured out and spilled into the mug. "What, I can't just come and say hi to my best friend?" His tone was masked to hide the hurt, but his eyes slightly betrayed the innocence of the question while I handed him the ale-filled-mug when I walked back to him.
I arched an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware you and I were still on that playing field. After all, we haven't spoken in almost two weeks. And there is the fact you only talk to me when you need something - or want…."……I eyed the Dwarf King suspiciously. "I'm not really sure anymore." I watch him take a sip of the honey brown ale, his eyes twinkling with pleasantness. At least he was pleased with the drink. However, I was masking the growing tension protruding from my guarded heart.
Setting the ale-filled-mug down on the nearest counter, Thorin reached out and gently clasped both hands over mine. His eyes held mine with a gentle regarding look while the wheels in his head carefully turned from the careful thoughts running through his brain before uttering what he wanted to say. I was glad I had drawn the drapes over all of the windows; carefully letting my guard down, I patiently waited for the handsome Dwarf to speak. Did I just really think him to be handsome? I knew his looks to be of that category with his rugged facial features, but I had never personally labeled him with that word.
'Geeze Raven, get a grip.' I mentally chided myself. I had no sooner thought that sentence, when Thorin's hand was now cupping the side of my face - surprisingly, making me flinch. His eyes bore deep into mine while I froze to the spot I stood; eyes blown wide and unable to mask the surprise and curiosity. While looking straight into my eyes, I heard his heart felt words push up his throat from his heart and out through his lips. "I miss my best friend, Raven. I'm tired of you and I being at odds."
"Thorin-," I began but the Dwarf held up a hand to silence my words.
"Please let me finish?" He asked, his eyes earnest and full of an emotion I couldn't name.
I nodded and he went back to cupping the side of my face, my walls beginning to crumble just from his gentle touch. I wanted to pull away - to step back and take a deep breath and talk to the Dwarf at arms length, but my feet felt like lead frozen to the floor. My heart pounded against my chest and my mask was slipping - all from the way he gently caressed the side of my face with his thumb, causing a line of fire to streak across my cheek from where his calloused flesh met the soft texture of mine. 'Get a grip, Raven.' I mentally chided myself again but the chiding was forced - brown locked with deep cobalt blue! I couldn't even bring myself to shut my eyes. All I could do was listen to his next words while fighting to keep myself from melting.
"I miss my best friend, Raven." He iterated. "I'm tired of you and I being at odds." He sighed. "We have been best friends for a long time - whether you are here or not - our friendship has always remained strong because I have always thought of you everyday. Not once, have I stopped. You mean the world to me, treasure of treasures, and I can't keep fighting this. I don't want to keep fighting this." Taking in a deep breath, Thorin continued as tears threatened to fall down my face. "Ever since you came back home, I've begun to think differently about you - not that I have quit seeing you as my best friend - because I still do….."
Now I was trying to fight a growing smirk by biting my lip at his words. It wasn't funny at the moment and I was trying to hide it because I knew he was being serious and I didn't want to embarrass the poor Dwarf since he always had a hard time expressing his inner emotions.
"Ever since you came back home." He iterated, "I have begun to think differently about you because I see you as more than just my best friend." In a whisper only meant for my ears, my heart was rang like a bell by Thorin's next words. "Raven, I'm in love with you, and I can't stop thinking about you."
WHAT!!!!!
I kept silent while Thorin continued. "I have been fighting this because I thought my One died the day the stupid Dragon robbed Erebor - granite I was only a child then, but I always had a deep notion that I would find my One back home in Erebor - until the day Ester and Elmador brought you back to Ered Luin all of those years ago. I knew you were different - unique and special in your own way, but I had no idea you were my One until the day you left home when Ester and Elmador took you away from me - to The Shire. The day you fought to stay with me - strongly refusing to leave with them while clinging to me, I knew you were my One - just as I'm sure you probably realized it, too; holding me tightly while I tightly hugged you in a near bone crushing hug because of not bearing to part from you?"
Now I was starting to cry. Out the corner of my eyes, I spotted my hair change colors again - as well as my skin: black. I recalled that day so painfully I fought to keep the memory at bay. "You don't want me, Thorin. I'm-,"
"Don't you dare say you're a freak, Raven. I wont stand for the words you speak of yourself." Thorin cut me off, now holding my face between both hands. "You're unique, Raven, not a freak."
"You don't want me Thorin." I iterated. "I have been withholding information." I closed my eyes against the pain that protruded from the deepest parts of my heart. It was only fair I tell him what I found out - why I have been holed up in my parents house. "I found out more about who I am about two weeks ago, and…." I took a pause to inhale a deep breath while slowly opening my eyes to take in the shock on Thorin's face. "I have been trying to deal with the information by myself because of us being at odds - not knowing who I could trust with the information other than Balin and Dis since they were with me the day I found out the new information." If he was hurt he didn't show it. Instead, he pulled me closer to his person.
Thorin pressed his forehead to mine, our faces only inches apart, his lips hovering above mine. "What did you find, Love? Please tell me so I can put your fears and tension at ease. It pains me to see you deeply suffering because of me."
Letting my eyes lock with Thorin's again, a single tear fell down my face as I revealed the gut-wrenched truth. "I'm a Chameleon: someone with the ability to change skin color according to my moods." Thorin's eyes widened with shock, but he quickly recovered himself. "I'm cursed, Thorin. I was just a normal girl at one point, but two weeks ago, I found a short note from my parents in a false bottom of the last drawer of their dresser; untouched by the passing years in a sterling silver jewelry box with a beautiful red rose etched into the metal and a beautiful red rose with a nubbed end holding down the short note."
"What did the short letter say?"
While another tear fell down my face, I painfully quoted the written words. "'For our beautiful Chameleon. Evil magic binds the curse, only true love's kiss breaks the curse.'" Two more tears fell down my face while I finished quipping the short message to Thorin. "I don't know what else it could possibly mean besides the obvious." I huffed. "And I am about to just give up trying to figure it out because I get a headache every time I think about it." I iterated my earlier words. "You don't want me, Thorin. I'm-,"
Thorin placed a finger over my lips so I had no choice but to fall silent. I gave him an incredulous look but only saw a sad smile paint his mouth. "Raven Elmador, don't you dare say anything negative about yourself. I won't bear it if you do. It doesn't matter what you are, or what you aren't, I don't care. You are my One, Love, and I love you for you, not what you are. I'm in love with you - we both know we're meant to be together." He sighed.
"Sweetheart, I also came to tell you I am about to leave for Bree soon and to ask if you will accompany me. You and I both need a break from home - especially you - don't think I didn't notice the discomfort of you feeling like an outsider." Thorin chided when I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "I saw the discomfort on your face - and though you fought to keep your emotions sealed, I caught some of the black hue of your skin before turning back to ivory along with your eyes and hair turning back to brown when you all but forced yourself to act as if you didn't care about anything - when in fact, I could see right through your facade - and don't think I couldn't, either; having known you since we were children." He nuzzled my nose with his. "So, amralime, will you accompany me to Bree; get out of Ered Luin for a while with me?"
"When?" I let out a tiny whimper when Thorin kissed my tear streaked face between breathing and talking.
"Tomorrow." Chills shot down my spine from the goosebumps peppering my skin where the Dwarf's lips peppered kisses. I couldn't keep in the deep, pleased sigh from the feeling of Thorin's lips against my face. "Will?" (Kiss) "You?" (Kiss) "Go?" (Kiss - lingering) "To Bree?" (Kiss - really lingering) "With Me?"
I tilted my head up just slightly so Thorin's lips ghosted a brush against mine when he came back down for another kiss. I saw surprise fill his eyes, but he held his head back - only slightly, waiting for my answer. Closing the space, between our mouths, I gently pressed my lips against his, despite the urge to deepen the kiss. He stiffened when my lips gently pressed against his, but relaxed and allowed himself to sink into the kiss.
Soft yet firm, enjoyed the feel of his strong warm lips against my cold ones - cold because I felt so cold on the inside from my soul and heart being dormant from this kind of feeling. But the warmth of his lips set my heart and soul ablaze and I felt like I was trapped in a forever flame emitting heat all throughout my body; blood singing from the warm blissful feeling. I always wondered what kissing Thorin would be like. I DEFINITELY was not disappointed! The Dwarf King wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer so our bodies melted together.
After a joyful moment of utter bliss - before resuming my kissing, I answered. "Yes."
"Yes?" Thorin asked, smiling against my mouth when he captured my mouth again.
"Yes." I confirmed - but only barely, since Thorin was a bit impatient right now. He deepened the kiss as his reply. I wasn't about to complain. I was on cloud nine and I was going to enjoy every minute just kissing the Dwarf who stole my heart! After all, many years ago on the eve of when I was pulled away from Thorin, he too just confirmed my realization: I love him; he is my One! And now I would never ever leave him again. When the time rolls around, I wouldn't be able to go back to The Shire by myself now! I was in too deep with Thorin and I would just hurt myself and him.
Tears fell down my face while we kissed! I poured all of my love and emotions into the long kiss so Thorin could feel exactly what was storming around deep within my heart and soul! My message was clear to the Dwarf, feeling him going from kissing me passionately to kissing me assuringly - and lovingly, while pulling me closer against him. I couldn't take it anymore. I rocked the kiss and just buried my face in his shoulder to do nothing but let out everything I felt! His arms protectively wrapped around me - one even sliding up to grip the back of my head while I wept. When I was done, Thorin moved his hands to hold my face between them. Through moisture-filled-eyes, I took in the deep, vast, unending love dancing across the beautiful cobalt blue irises of his eyes while looking deep within to see how far his love reached; endless. I let out a sigh.
"Raven, I'm almost two hundred years old now. I have spent the majority of that time fighting my way through life while trying to figure out what I want for myself." Thorin gently cupped the side of my face, causing a red streak of flash across my face where his thumb touched. "Now that you have come back home, I know that you are meant to be mine - my One Mahal has ever so graciously crafted for me." My eyes grew wide when I watched Thorin pull out a courting bead with the runes of the line of Durin engraved into the bead. "This was my mother's my father carved for her." He met my gaze again. "I have fallen madly in love with you over the years and I have fallen deeper madly in love with you the morning I saw you in the throne room. You are mine, amralime. And I don't want to spend anymore time away from you. Will you do me the honor of wearing this bead in your hair, so the whole world can finally see that it is you who is meant to be my wife - and someday, my queen? Will you do me the honor of letting me court you?"
My hands flew up to cover my mouth when I took in the courting bead - ever so beautiful and carefully crafted. "Yes, Thorin, I would love for your to court me."
"Yes?" Thorin asked, eyes sparked alive with a glimmer of hope.
"Yes." The single word hadn't escaped fully past my lips yet, when Thorin scooped me up and spun me around, laughing and smiling.
"Then may I braid my bead into your hair?" Thorin asked once I was back on my own two feet - reflectively clutching onto him so I could regain my balance.
"You had better." I grinned. My smile broadened when Thorin laid a kiss against my lips before parting a section of my hair and weaving different pieces into a beautiful, ornate braid that fell down to rest against the curve of my breast. I retreated to my bedroom to take in the reflection of the braid in the mirror. A beautiful fishtail with half of a reverse french braid met my eyes. My hands flew up to cover my mouth while tears fell down my face. I wanted to say something, but reality hit me really hard! I knew things would change the second Thorin and I deliver the news to everyone. The smile fell away from my face. Thorin must've noticed because he was instantly at my side. "What's wrong, Love?" He tenderly trailed a finger down along my jaw. "Please tell me what's wrong."
Tears began falling down my face. "I'm nervous, Thorin. Once everyone learns of the news, things will change - I will have to change, and I don't know anything about being royalty."
Gently turning me towards him, Thorin now had my face cradled between his hands, his thumbs wiping away the tears. "I will help you figure it out, Love. I promise you that much. If you want, we can wait until after we get back from Bree before we tell everyone the good news. Would waiting until after we return make you feel better? So you can take some time to adjust?"
"If you're okay with waiting."
Pressing his forehead to mine once more, Thorin tenderly kissed the bridge of my nose after nuzzling his against mine. "I will be happy with what you want, Love. We can wait until we return. For now, you and I both need sleep and you need to pack. We have a journey to begin tomorrow."
I nodded. I was suddenly tired, but I didn't want to pull away from Thorin. I had just got him back after all of these years and I was reluctant to let him go just yet. "I have missed you, Thorin." I muttered into his neck. "Mahal only knows how much I have missed you! And I don't ever want us to be apart again."
"I have missed you too, Love." Thorin scooped me up into his arms and carried me over to the bed and gently laid me down after pulling back the covers with one hand then laid down and turning me so I was facing the wall, tightly wrapped his protective arms around my torso and spooned me so my body was flush with his. "Goodnight, amralime. Sweet dreams."
Note: For anyone who doesn't know what spooning is, it's when someone curls up behind another person and practically cuddles them from behind. The act is usually done by either a boyfriend and girlfriend and or a husband and wife. It's also a way of letting the person your with know that they are safe and well protected because it's a very deep intimate act.
Thank you for reading my first book! Stay tuned for my second book: Chameleon: Commoner To Royalty. Thorin and Raven's love story will grow more in the second book. Stay tuned.
