At this point I had thought it to be a trick of my mind. A long gone survival instinct kicking in and telling me that I had made a friend.Giving me the comfort I craved so much. I was satisfied whether or not I could see them.
See him.
He had been my hero ever since I was a little girl. Its what got me through the night when things got bad. Still does from time to time, pulling out the yellowed and dog eared book. Curled up underneath my covers with the flickering flashlight.
I had found The Hobbit purely by chance. Going through the box of books my Grandmother had left me. The only book I had been able to read.
But I’m getting off track here.
It was a nightmare trying to convince myself this wasn’t real. That he wasn’t real. It tore me apart.
Why would anyone care for me after all this time. Real or otherwise.
But it’s what helped. Although I’m sure its all in my head and I had finally cracked.
He told me about his nephews. The way Kili loved to torment Fili or how the latter has made another achievement in his fighting. His sister, Dis, who had dragged Dwalin by the ear all through town when she found out who had really raided the pantry for cookies when the boys had ratted them out.
Then it came from his homelife to the quest. I had almost stopped then. But he had told me of his fears. How he didn’t want to stop searching for his father.
I became his confidant as he had mine.
I let him go before he would me. Telling myself that this was all a lie.
No one cared.
I was wrong. Oh so very wrong.
.
.
.
It was worse. I couldn’t handle their screaming or the crashing and banging of furniture. Or the insults hurled my way.
“She’s old enough to be out on her own!”
“She’s barely even been an adult for one day and you already want your only child gone!”
“She’s a useless, good for nothing-”
Their words were swallowed by the slamming door.
.
.
.
The pouring rain had me soaked in a matter of minutes as I ran through the sloshing mud I cursed myself fot not grabbing a coat.
I ran blindly for a good amount of time. Not thinking about where my feet where my feet were taking me.
I should have known.
My head hit the stone wall with a quiet this as I threw myself against it and slid down. I drew my knees into my chest and cried.
Not the quiet sobbing that leaves you feeling tired aftef words. No. This was that body heaving, chest hurting, screaming your throat hoarse sort of crying. The kind that leaves you feeling exhausted and a thousand years older.
“Why did you stop Little One?” A deep rumbling voice carried over to where I was sitting.
“What?“I lifted my head up just as a dark haired man through a heavy fur lined coat over my shoulders. He kneeled down in front of me and places a finger under my chin. My own eyes found his blue ones, full of worry.
“Why?” His voice was low and gravely sound as if it were a far off thunderstorm.
“Thorin.” I breathed. I almost began crying again. “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!” I rambles over and over as he drew me into his chest standing both of us up as he did so.
He placed his chin on my head before placing a kiss on my hair.
“I want you to come with me.” His chested vibrate with each word.
I looked up at him. “Where?” He chuckled. A small smile on his lips.
“To Erebor. To home.” I grinned then frowned soon after.
“But my family-” His face darkened as he cut me off
“Care not for you nor your health Grehyth.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked at me sternly. Even rain soaked and with his curls all but plastered to the sides of his face he looked commanding.
“I want you to come with me. So I can learn more about you and why you quite writing to me.” His hand came up to cup the side of my face his calloused thumb wiping away the rain water.
“You had scared me, my Little One. I had thought the worst.” He looked almost desperate now. “So please. Tell me that you will come with.”
I gave out a watery laugh. “Yes. Of course.” He had pulled me in for a tight hug then one seeming to last hours.
And I had left everything behind for a new life with a new family. And I was happy in the end. I suppose that’s all you need in life. Is at least one person to love. I had over thirteen others as well. But that’s a story for a other time.
And I had learned not to let Thorin take the lead after the Bagend incident.
This is absolutely fantastic Darling! Thank you for sharing it with us. I love how sweet Thorin was with the reader.
Toad's Cave 