Thorin's Heart ~ Chapter 2

Chapter 2 ~ Safe & Sound

She could not sleep that night as her thoughts raced of visions of him. She wanted more. More conversations, more of his warmth that still lingered on her skin, more of his shy smile, and most importantly more time! She walked to the window and stared up at the moon, the same one that had just been smiling upon them and blessing them with its light, and then she whispered her words of prayer. She prayed for her father, brother, and kinsman, and the new company that had come to visit, especially Thorin, the one with the sad eyes and perfect smile that held her heart in his hands. What was happening to her?

“Please, let him stay,” she pleaded, looking up to the heavens.

The following day grew hot as the dwarves made their way from their borrowed rooms to find food. As always the food was laid out in nice rows on long tables: leafy green salads, hearty soups, wild fruits, and vegetables. Where’s the meat, each dwarf thought to himself, but settled down content and thankful that something was once again filling their bellies. They were thankful for the rest that this quiet place offered, but even the most sound and protective of nights could not give Thorin rest as his mind raced with anxiousness to see her again. Even Balin noticed Thorin's preoccupation after calling his king's name several times. He was left wondering what Thorin’s thoughts had turned to today.

Balin and Dwalin were brothers and Thorin’s oldest and dearest loyal friends. Balin had become administrator and Dwalin bodyguard to Thorin’s grandfather and father so many years ago in Erebor, while Thorin was still a young prince. They had sworn their allegiance to the line of Durin and had never left their rulers' side until one by one their kings were taken from them. Along with the rest of their company, they would fight to keep Thorin and his nephews, the last heirs of Durin, alive to restore what was rightfully theirs.

Balin knew something was holding Thorin in this place but could not yet put his finger on what. A couple of days ago Thorin would have passed right through Rivendell, barely socializing with the likes of elves. Balin, knowing they all needed the rest and food, did not question him. He only hoped that Thorin wasn’t secretly wounded or hurt in a way that prevented him from moving on. Balin sighed as he thought to himself that Thorin would quietly carry so much pain, never complaining.

Thorin ate his fill, without tasting, and then quietly went to rest on one of the benches in a lovely garden overlooking another waterfall. Where was she, he thought? Surely she was not a dream or a ghost sent to torment him, was she? He closed his eyes, remembering the whisper of her voice, the chime in her laugh, and the touch of warmth that made him weak.

A short time after, his nephews Kili and Fili found him. They quickly encouraged him to go hunting, tired of the elves' plain and dull food. The young dwarves always sought him out for his guidance and to simply be with him. Each was always trying to outdo the other for his praise in his presence. Thorin always offered them quiet nods of approval but they always sought for more. He was more than an uncle, he was the closest father figure they had and they loved and admired him dearly.

The elves were not opposed to their hunting and enjoyed it themselves, but requested that there be no killing in Rivendell. So they journeyed outside the realm and out of their domain, hoping more danger would not find them. He took the time to be with his nephews and escape away from the spirit she seemed to have left behind. She had absorbed his every thought. The day turned up nothing good as they wondered through the ancient forest. Little grumplings scurried the ground and a few baskens flew overheard but nothing that would satisfy the hunger that made their stomachs groan. Deciding they better return by nightfall, they headed back.  Then suddenly, he saw her standing at the meadow’s far side. The wind blew her scent to him as he held her gaze.  He heard her call his name from within his soul and then she was gone.  He blinked quickly, heart racing.  She had come upon him like a strong unforgiving storm drowning his mind with thoughts of her and flooding his heart with a hope of love.  Kili and Fili carried on ahead of him never noticing anything and Thorin smiled longing to see her again.

That night, a celebration of the elves' new friends was being held in the grand pavilion up on the highest arches of the cliffs. The night was filled with enchanted music and laughter as the crescent moon shown high above them. Thorin would have never attended such an event hosted by elves, but he made his way to the celebration in hope of seeing her. As he walked, he noticed owls and small night creatures oddly making their way in the direction of the lights, and then he stopped short, as his soul began to stir. His breath caught and he knew the voice he heard. It was hers, the one that whispered in his dreams and he was finally able to experience in person. Her laugh and soft sighs still lingered in his mind from the night before. It gave him chills as he made his way to her song.

She sang with Elrond’s daughter, Arwen, and time seemed frozen as everyone stopped to listen. Even the animals had come to hear her and he felt a sense of pride at how she awed everyone. She seemed so shy, but sang on. Then her eyes found him and he knew her song was for him. He would’ve sat there all night watching and listening to her, but he somehow knew this was something she didn’t do often with her shy grace. When the song was over and everyone clapped, she blushed and hid in the arms of her friend. Arwen laughed, kissing her head, and then pulled her to the dance floor as young elves played louder flutes, fiddles, stringed guitars, and harps.

He stood in a corner out of the light and watched her dance around laughing, listening to the elvish music that filled the air. It seemed like such strange magic that put everyone in such good and giggly moods. He even began to smile as he watched Balin and Dwalin attempt at dancing around the floor. Kili and Fili had already grabbed some instruments and made a terrible attempt at playing and singing. This had to be awful noise to the elves, but they seemed entertained at having their perfection interrupted. The laughter and singing filled the air as everyone's happiness grew. Thorin's eyes followed Kale as she danced and twirled, laughing, clad in a material that seemed to float around her. His heart skipped as she would stop and find his eyes, just to make sure he was still there, and then continue dancing. He loved to hear her laugh, a sound that could beat the finest of all instruments. Everyone seemed to notice her grace, as they would stop their conversations and eyes would follow her. She had grabbed Bilbo and was twirling him around and his face couldn’t have been any redder.

Thorin noticed a pair of elves that watched her like hawks, arms folded, and chest bowed. They were obviously unhappy with her carefree spirit. They looked strong and tough, not as thin and lean as most elves Thorin had encountered, and their hair was short and spiked, adding to their impression of firmness. Thorin thought to himself that they were probably guards for her. Someone so small and fragile must’ve needed protection, especially someone everyone seemed to value.

“She’s quite something isn’t she?” A voice came from behind him in the darkness. It was Elrond himself holding a chalice of their most beloved wine. Thorin nodded and then turned back to the excitement as Elrond joined him.

“She was the most unexplainable of the unexplained,” the elf said, smiling. “No one knows where she came from or why she was left for us, but I have a feeling she has a larger destiny than we realize.”

“She’s not elvish?” Thorin said quickly, his curiosity piqued.

“Some sort, I believe. The elders called them sprites or nymphs, a small race that was believed to have been wiped from the face of the middle earth hundreds of years ago. That is the unexplained, my friend,” he said taking a long swallow of his wine. “The sprites kept everything in balance completely intertwined with nature,” he continued. “Something that has been long interrupted by time. I believe she is an animal whisperer.”

“Animal whisperer?” Thorin questioned.

“Or healer,” Elrond added. “It seems she has many qualities. Love, friendship, happiness, beauty. One would be very blessed at her hand.” He cleared his throat and then turned slowly to meet Thorin’s eyes and added, “Many are hoping for her hand.”

Thorin eyed him suspiciously but did not speak as Elrond continued. “She does not ever really show us but my God how the birds stop to listen to her sing!” Elrond seemed to glow. “Her father Brakin and brother Rafe could not contain the joy as they came in with a baby girl from their hunt. Brakin had lost his wife the year before and I thought the grief would tear him apart. He was left with a motherless child that he knew not how to comfort. Somehow, Kale filled his life. She was a helpless baby lying under a bed of kale lilies. She wore a crescent shaped moon around her neck that gleamed like the stars and was surrounded by all the forest animals imaginable. It took two hours to coax the wolves to let them have her and yet they followed them all the way back here. Not completely trusting them with her, but not yet knowing what to do with her themselves. They find her every time she leaves our borders. That may have been what happened to your happy hunting party today,” Elrond said with a big grin.

Thorin looked at him baffled remembering seeing her at the edge of the meadow and having no luck with the hunt. Had she followed him the whole time? Did she want to see him as much as he wanted to be in her presence again? He found it too hard to believe. She could have anyone her heart desired. Could she want him too? His sense of hope was extinguished by his lack of confidence, not allowing himself to think he would be worthy enough. Many years ago, when he was a young prince under the mountain, he was proud and life was good to him, and he would’ve had so much to offer. But when the dragon struck, and hope was lost, his pride had been tainted and he became nothing more than a blacksmith, working for men and trying to help rebuild a home for his people. He was brought back as his thoughts were quickly interrupted, and Elrond continued.

“They scooped her up and have not left her side since. She was the hope that Brakin needed to fill his life and that hope led him to be a father to them both. Rafe was a small child himself at the time, and his eyes never seemed to leave her. One would have thought Brakin would have given her to one of the she-elves or some elder that had more experience caring for little ones. Even the great elvish Queen of Lothlorien, Galadriel herself, was so taken by her that she did everything in her power to persuade Brakin to let her care for her and teach her the magic of their ways, but he would never let her go and Kale refused to be parted from them, never letting anyone else even hold her. She was his, a gift perhaps he thought his wife had sent to him.”

“And you tell me all this, why?” Thorin growled. The more he heard, the farther she seemed from his grasp as he watched her dance around gracefully, now grabbing Balin.

“I’m old Thorin, but I am not blind. I can tell she has fallen for you. Our dear shy Kale would never sing in front of anyone except her father and brother and perhaps my daughter. I have always had to stand outside her door to hear her song, just out of sight. She has always been just out of reach for anyone else to have a relationship with, except one other from another realm that she had grown close to. To let him go has really opened my eyes to her feelings for you. As for her shyness, yes, she has definitely thrown that away these last few days,” he smiled. “She has rambled on and on about it to my daughter and anyone else who would listen. Brakin and Rafe will not be so easily convinced, their world revolves around her, but I can feel her heart as she looks at you and it is as quick and as fragile as the most delicate of fairies’ wings.”

Thorin quickly looked back her way and their eyes met again. He could swear he felt faint.

“The question is, Thorin Oakenshield,” Elrond said solemnly by his side. “What will you do about it? I know you have much on your plate, per se, and a mission that cannot have any obstacles. This is something that has crossed your path for the good, and may help guide you on your journey. I think she may be the Arkenstone you have been searching for Thorin. For I know she holds more power than it ever will.”

At that Elrond held up his chalice and walked away. Thorin looked at Kale again and knew he spoke the truth. What he valued in Kale, the elves valued also. In her was more than any treasure’s worth; she was the treasure. He could not wrap his mind around the past conversation. Had Elrond just blessed such a union? Or was he cautioning him that she would not be so easily taken away? Would he have to stay here to be with her or could she come live with him if he had a home to give? When he turned his attention back to her again, she was smiling her shy grin, staring into his soul, and the next thing he knew she had grabbed his hand and Balin was watching Thorin twirl around the dance floor.

He was light headed, and knew he couldn’t dance, but he let her twirl him around and around until he realized she was in his arms. As the music slowed, he held her closer and closer, feeling the warmth of her body against his and getting lost in her eyes. She rested her cheek against his as he lowered his head to hers, then pulled her closer and swallowed the lump in his throat from the intoxication of her scent. Everyone seemed to blur and fade from around them leaving only her in his sight. The feelings he felt for Kale would hold him captive here with a race that he could not stand. He had grown cold toward elves after they did not aid them against the dragon the very day he lost his kingdom. All he knew now is that whatever was going to happen he could not live the life that was being laid out before him.

He closed his eyes and realized she was his life now, and he said a silent prayer that somehow it could work out. As the music stopped she didn’t let him go. Quiet whispers, smiles, and cold stares, radiated from around the circle. All eyes seemed to have found them as they walked quietly away from the party, the most piercing, her brother and father. They would fight for her, no doubt; they would be her most impenetrable shield.

The night did not take long before impatience got the most of Rafe. He found them sitting on a rock by their waterfall bathed in the moonlight. Quiet whispers and soft laughs could be heard as Rafe made his way closer to the clearing. His father demanded that he let it go, the dwarves would not stay long, but that did not stop his son as Rafe pushed by him and made his way through the woods. He was a tall and handsome elf, one that all the maidens would love to be mated with, but his eyes were only for Kale. No one else existed in his world. She was the one that would sneak into his bed at night, hold his hand wherever they went, and sing him to sleep when he could not find rest. Even now, he would give his last breath for the one that made his soul sing. The one whose cry would break his heart. Kale's absence would be the death of him. He was bonded to her and refused to let her go especially to a dwarf passing through on a hopeless mission of madness. Thorin had nothing to offer her, no promise he could make or keep. His Durin name was just a legacy and even that had crumbled day by day leaving him no more than an iron smith for men.

At the sight of Thorin's hand in hers, Rafe quickly pushed his way through the hedges that surrounded the opening. Kale looked at him and smiled as if to introduce them, but her smile quickly faded as he did not return the favor.

“It’s time to go, Kale,” he said angrily keeping his eyes on Thorin.

Thorin knew that was her brother and to interfere could cause them both many problems. He quieted his anger, looking at her sweetly and whispered, “I will see you tomorrow.”

Her smile sadly reflected and Kale did not refuse. She knew the temper that Rafe had inside and she refused to let it be unleashed on Thorin. Something told her, though, that he would gladly reciprocate.

“Goodnight, Thorin,” she answered and released his hand.  She stood slowly and smiled apologetically before she grabbed Rafe’s hand and headed back. This time she did not look back as they entered the woods but Rafe did as a warning. Thorin knew that this was not right. She belonged here and he did not. He could not promise her a home, comfort, or stability but neither could he leave her. He would spend the rest of his life trying to get back to her if he left. Thorin decided then and there he would do his very best to try, so that somehow they could be together. He sat in their little place for sometime, thinking and hoping of a future they could have together. As he stood to leave he could not feel the bruised and cracked ribs that he thought he had, or the pain in his knee from a fall while trying to escape the orcs. He quickly thought of their dancing and the warmth of Kale's body that radiated against his, healing him from the inside out.