A short but sweet chapter before the plot thickens

I just wrote this little morsel last night and spent the day reading and tidying it up as best as I could.

I hope you find it worth the wait. I am already started on the next couple chapters.

Thank you again for your support and I hope you enjoy!

Happy reading trails. 3

Thorin knew she wouldn't be in their room, or in any other public space where anyone could happen upon her by mistake. Daruuk had shaken her to her core, he knew that without a shadow of a doubt. So soon after the battle with Valinn, when she had barely just accepted the death of her Adad and all the doubt that had been drudged up amid everything.

He knew he had barely scratched the surface. Her entire kingdom had been built upon strictly kept secrets born of betrayal and hurt. However, he would be lying to himself if he didn't act like discovering the Blacklock's had been close to the White Kingdom, forming marriage alliances and treaties with a kingdom of legend.

It disturbed him. He didn't like being caught off guard.

He had known Daruuk and his brother since they were children, and the White Kingdom had never been mentioned. King Thror's connections with the Blacklock's had been feeble at best, but he knew from a young age that his Gamul'adad preferred to keep those he distrusted close.

How had anyone else not known about Mistlynn's kingdom? Did other Dwarven clans know of their existence? Were the Longbeards purposefully kept in the dark about the White Kingdom?

Too many questions with no solid answers.

"Always keep your enemies close, and those who claim to be allies even closer. Those are the ones who will turn the quickest. No one is truly your ally." That had been drilled into him from the very beginning. King Thror had trusted no one, a trait he had learned from a young age that he still fought against constantly. Distrust had been a product of Thror's greed and paranoia. He would not honor or carry on those dark and twisted parts of his families legacy.

He wanted to be better. He wanted to build a kingdom full of peace and plenty. He wanted that for his children, his grandchildren, his people.

He wanted that peace for Mistlynn. He wanted it so desperately, he would rip the world apart and put it back together just to see her smile again, to unburden her from the pain of her families past.

He would find an end to this web. She was no longer a prisoner of her ancestor's darkly kept secrets, a pawn to be used in her Gamul'adad's and Adads twisted games. He didn't care that she possessed magic, not really. And he would make damned sure that no one would use her or shun her for what was beyond her control. Her own Adad had done that to her.

Never. Again.

Driven by his thoughts, his feet led him to the observatory above the library. He found the torches in the winding stone stairway lit.

What used to be his and his Amad's sanctuary was now hers. His heart swelled at that realization. He wouldn't have it any other way.

He made his way up with steady steps, each passing second the air grew colder and fresh as the wind carried down the brisk mountain air. The massive door that led out to the observatory deck was open wide, Luna was guarding the entrance. She was as still as a statue except for her tail, sweeping the floor quickly as he approached her.

"Good girl. Keeping her safe for me." He brushed the top of Luna's massive head fondly, his fingertips rubbing her velvety ears just the way she liked. Luna tipped her nose up so that she could lick his hand with her warm tongue.

"You found me." He heard Mistlynn's voice whisper on the breeze. It was soft. Resigned.

"Did you doubt that I would?" He looked over to where she was sitting on a bench, her arms wrapped around herself as a shield from the crisp air. She wasn't looking at him, rather, she was looking up at the sky, studying the cloistered star scape before her as if she was seeing it again for the first time.

He watched her lips twitch, a ghost of a smile at his words. "No."

He gave a final scratch under Luna's muzzle before he approached her, his eyes not leaving her face as he studied her. He noticed her eyes were rimmed red, her cheeks ruddy with dried tears and the brisk temperature of the evening. His jaw clenched as his heart twinged. It was an uncomfortable, listless feeling to recognize and feel the phantom pain of her aching heart. Seeing it with his own eyes made the connection stronger. It had nearly driven him mad the past couple months. Feeling it all, yet unable to fix any of it.

He sat directly across from her, bracing his elbows on his knees as he scanned her face. His chest ached in tandem with each beat of her heart, every shaky breath that escaped through her lips.

"You are looking at me as if you can feel me." Her chin dropped as her eyes flicked to meet his own.

"That's because I can. But I need to hear your words." He clasped his hands together so that he could rest his chin atop them, his gaze not once leaving hers.

He watched her the muscles of her throat clench as she swallowed. "Why is it that you can feel me, but I cannot feel you?"

"Why do you think, Mistlynn?" He returned, his tone patient and steady.

Mistlynn let out a small, self-depreciating chuckle as she placed her palms on either side of her thighs, bracing herself as she rocked slightly back and forth. "I dont know why. Truly. You are the only one I have ever bared my soul to."

"It's not about baring your soul. It's about letting yourself feel." He watched as frustration made her nose wrinkle.

"I am trying Thorin." Her voice became quiet, her gaze set firmly on the stone floor beneath them. "I feel as if I can at moments, and I can grasp that essence of you with my fingertips. Then, without warning its gone again. As if I was imagining it."

"I know you are trying." He leaned forward more, hoping she would look back up at him. He wanted her to look at him on her own, without the encouragement of his touch.

He felt her emotions surge, all interwoven and overwhelming. He hated seeing her struggle. "It will come. For now, all I need is your words. Spoken aloud."

She shifted again, her grip tightening than releasing on the edge of the bench as she tried to find the words to fully describe what she was feeling. "I feel as if I am adrift, lost on the outgoing tide." she states, voice soft.

Thorin nodded, not surprised at her description. He had suspected as much. "Tell me what you need."

She looked at him after a moment's silence. "I need to speak with Valinn. He said some things…when we fought. I need to know what he knows."

Thorin inhaled sharply. "I would prefer it if you didn't. I want you nowhere near him."

"He's my brother." Mistlynn began.

"He nearly killed you." Thorin voice cracked as if it pained him to utter the words.

"He is in a cell. He can't hurt me anymore." She gave him a pleading look. "I need to know, Kurdun. I dont want to be kept in the dark any longer."

He sighed deeply, looking up at the sky as if it held the answer he was seeking for himself.

"Come with me to speak with him." Mistlynn pleaded as she scooted closer.

"How can you be sure he will not lie to you?" Thorin gave her a pointed look. "He has nothing to gain by telling you anything."

"If he thinks the truth will hurt me, he will tell me."

Thorin shook his head, not bothering to hide the disgusted look on his face. "It's inconceivable, the depth of his hatred." He stood abruptly and began to pace. "There has to be another way, to find what you're looking for. Your people are here now, someone else must know."

"It is only women in my family who carried this …ability. I doubt anyone else knows any more than I do. My Adad made sure of that." Mistlynn stood, placing a hand on his chest to stop his pacing. "Come with me, if it will put you at ease. But I will be speaking with him. I have no other choice."

"If he steps out of line just once …" He warned, his eyes dark and menacing as the starlight flashed in their depths.

Mistlynn nodded. "We will go. I promise."

Thorin pursed his lips in thought, his head cocked slightly to the side as he studied her. "If I were to say no, you would go the very moment my back was turned." He stated matter-of-factly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Mistlynn bit her bottom lip, the corners of her mouth curving down into a pained grimace "Please do not make that my only option. It is rather stressful to go against you, I would rather us be a united front."

"Could have fooled me." His eyebrow quirked up before he snorted.

"Contrary to what you may believe, I do not relish you being upset with me." She poked his shoulder playfully with her finger. "When you are being a brute, you dont give me much choice."

Incredulous laughter escaped his chest as he shook his head. He reached for her hands, unwrapping them from around herself so that he could thread his fingers through hers as he pulled her closer. "You act as if your life holds no meaning; that you are not the holder of the heart that beats inside my chest." His forehead rests against hers. "When it concerns your safety and wellbeing, you cannot fault my brutish tendencies."

"I suppose not." Her lips curled into a rueful smile for a brief moment. "I am sorry … for overreacting."

Her gaze flitted up to look him in the eyes, her smile turning into a grimace of regret. "I dont remember much … from my childhood. Seeing his face … hearing his voice … brought back so many confusing emotions, flashes of memories I wasn't aware I had…" she trailed off, dropping her gaze from his before squeezing her eyes tight as she fought to find the words. "It caught me off guard. After what Valinn did I just … lost myself."

Thorin hummed lowly, the low vibration coming from his chest comforting her. "It is … understandable." He agreed. "What I find odd is that no one seems to remember what truly happened. Daruuk connection with your parents was … unexpected."

Mistlynn bit her bottom lip. "I feel like those who would have stood up against the uprising, or what my Adad was doing …." She shook her head, "Daruuk said they came across thousands of bodies Thorin … just left there. Why do I not remember that?" her voice began to shake with frustration.

"You were young, you had just lost your Amad."

"You remember your childhood." She ground out. "You survived Smaug destroying your home, murdering your people, you lost your Amad and Gamul'amad, and yet you remember everything so clearly!" Her eyes were almost wild as she searched his gaze, desperate for some sort of explanation that just made sense.

Thorin's expression grew somber, sadness making his eyes soften as he looked down at her. "I've never run from my past, M'eudail. I never wanted to escape it." He spoke softly.

Mistlynn flinched as if his words had struck her. Her fingers flexed, as if she was trying to pull away from him as his words continued to sting.

Thorin sighed gruffly, his hands gripping hers tighter as he pulled her closer so that he could wrap his arms around her. "I didn't say that to be spiteful. There is no need for you to be ashamed. It's how you survived, and I will never begrudge you that." His lips brushed against her cheek softly as he nuzzled her, trying to soothe the hurt. "That was then. We have to face it now, and I am here with you. There is no need for you to run from your past any longer."

"You make it sound so easy." Her voice wobbled. "What of Daruuk's brother? If he finds out …"

"Let him try to take you from me." His voice deepened, low and menacing while he spoke with a deceptive calmness. "I've been looking for a reason to dethrone his pompous arse." His hand traveled up her body to grasp the underside of her jaw. Her heart skipped a beat at the feeling of his unyielding grip holding her in place, so that he could trail a path of soft kisses across her jaw and down the other side of her neck.

Her eyes fluttered shut as she surrendered to his touch, losing herself to the feeling of his arms holding her up as he kissed her under the dark blanket of countless stars.

His fingers slid to the base of her skull, his fingers sinking into her silky curls before they tightened their grip. A faint moan escaped her parted lips at the sensation, her free hand grasping his coat tightly in an attempt to ground herself to him.

"I …" his lips were tracing back up her neck, his words reverently whispered into her skin. "…will never …" His lips traced over her racing pulse, following the sharp line of her jaw back towards her lips. "…let you go." A fierce promise, spoken softly against her parted lips as his tempest gaze bore into the star dusted pools of her eyes.

"Never." He whispered, the sensual gesture making her short of breath as she nodded.

For a moment, she felt the ferocity that raged through him to protect her with every fiber of his being, his unyielding love and devotion rushed through her. Her innermost shadows retreated instantly, as she allowed herself to feel him fully, just for a moment before it became too much for her to bear.

"Good." She breathed against his lips, a final confession before she was lost to his ravenous kiss. It was under the stars she allowed herself to be swept away by him, becoming lost in one another in the only place she ever felt close enough to touch the heavens with her fingertips.