An Unexpected Journey

Chapter Thirty-One: Growing Closer

Thorin sighed walking over to where Thalia was resting, he smiled a little relieved that she didn’t look so ill anymore; she had started to get some colour back into her face after a little bit of rest.

Balin and Oin had made sure that they had cleaned out the claw mark and had bandaged it up as best as possible; they would have to keep an eye on the injury so it didn’t get infected.

“How are you feeling?” Thorin asked handing Thalia some dinner, he sat down next to her wanting to keep her company while she ate; he was relieved that she had been able to get some sleep when they were so far off the ground and the temperature was dropping.

Thalia nodded her head looking at Thorin, she knew he had come to speak with her for a reason and she hoped that he would understand that she didn’t really have an answer right now.

“I’m feeling better,” Thalia said carefully eating some of the stew that she had been given, she was grateful to have something to eat even if it didn’t have much taste to it.

Thorin watched her as she ate, he hadn’t eaten himself and he had wanted to ensure that she had something to eat before he had something himself.

“I’m glad… you worried me,” Thorin admitted as he watched Thalia eat, his blue eyes lingered on her bandaged hand for a moment; he couldn’t believe that he hadn’t noticed that she had been hurt.

“Why did you save me?” Thorin asked making Thalia look at him, she swallowed as she stared at him hoping that he didn’t remember her small chat with him before she had stabbed Azog; she didn’t think she would be able to handle the embarrassment.

“You said that I was important… then you kissed me,” Thorin said amusement filled his eyes as he watched Thalia blush, he had wanted to ask her about what had happened but hadn’t been able to get her alone until now.

Thalia looked at him trying to swallow the stew that was in her mouth, she had really hoped that he hadn’t heard during that fight.

“I kissed you on the head… it’s a sign of protection,” Thalia said trying to keep herself calm, she nibbled on her lip as she hoped that he wouldn’t push for more details; she wasn’t sure now why she had done it but it was clearly coming back to haunt her now.

Thorin raised an eyebrow at her, he didn’t believe her for a moment and he knew that it was a good sign for him; he wasn’t going to waste any more time with the blonde when he knew what he wanted.

“You still kissed me,” Thorin mused hoping that when he tried to win Thalia’s affections that she was prepared for what would happen; he wasn’t going to allow anyone to come between them if she agreed to court him.

Thalia opened her mouth to argue back before she closed her mouth and focused on eating her stew, she doubted that he would believe her if she told him that she hadn’t meant it like that; she didn’t believe it herself.

***

Balin smoked on his pipe watching Thorin return to his bedroll, he knew what his friend was going to do and he had to say that he approved; right now he couldn’t think of anyone better for the role as his friend’s consort.

“So how are you going to do it?” Balin asked watching Thorin sit down, his eyes filled with curiosity knowing that as king, Thorin had a responsibility to follow the old ways.

However that fact that was hampered by the fact that Thalia wasn’t a dwarf woman, she was a demi-god and this fact changed everything alone.

Thorin didn’t know how courting rituals were handled back in her world and he didn’t want to ask the blonde in case she felt embarrassed about them; he knew that he had to do this his way.

“Give me time… I will think of how to show her that I am the one,” Thorin said glancing around the camp site, he knew that while the other members of the company were not a threat to his chances of winning Thalia’s affections, there were other men in the world that could become a threat to his chances.

Balin chuckled and nodded his head looking over at Thalia, the blonde’s strength was slowly returning and they would be able to continue their trip without further delay.

***

Thalia rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she started to wake up, she yawned feeling better and she knew that today would be a better day.

Thalia glanced at Bofur who was on watch as she moved to stretch before she realised that something was wrapped around her.

Thalia looked down wondering what it was before she found Thorin asleep beside her, she racked her mind wondering when he had gotten there; the blonde didn’t think that he had been there when she had fallen asleep.

“Morning,” Thorin greeted opening opened his blue eyes, his voice was thick with sleep and made Thalia swallow as she tried to focus; she couldn’t believe that he looked so good when he had just woken up from a rough night’s sleep.

“Morning,” Thalia replied running a hand through her hair, she winced at a couple of knots that had formed when she was asleep; she couldn’t understand how she hadn’t noticed that he was sleeping next to her.

Thorin sat up as he eyed her, he tilted his head as the blonde tried to untangle her hair with her fingers; he watched her confused before he realised what she was doing.

“Would you like me to do your hair for you?” Thorin asked stopping her, he knew that she wouldn’t be able to do it herself with her injured arm and he didn’t wish for her to injure herself further for something so simple.

Thalia stared at him before she nodded her head, she didn’t trust any of the other dwarves with her hair while she doubted that Cornelia would be any help to her right now since she was still asleep.

Thorin smiled pleased turning around so that he could brush her hair for her, he carefully collected a hair brush before he turned his full attention to her golden locks; he hoped that this was a good sign for the two of them.

Thalia sat still as she allowed the dwarf king to sort her hair out for her, she watched as slowly different members of the company woke up; a couple of them grinned as they spotted Thorin brushing the blonde’s hair for her.

Thorin swallowed nervously as he thought about putting in the courting braids now, however he doubted Thalia would be pleased if he put them in without winning her consent to court her first.

“Thank you,” Thalia said completely unaware of what she had just allowed Thorin to do, she knew nothing of dwarf customs and his offer to brush her hair; she just knew that it had saved her a painful struggle of her own.

Thorin nodded his head watching Thalia, he wouldn’t put the courting braids into her hair yet but he hoped that one day soon he would have the privilege to do so.

Thalia carefully puller her hair back into a messy bun, she knew it was best kept out of her eyes until they were completely finished with their climb down Carrock; there was a little way still to go and she knew that they didn’t need anyone falling to their deaths right now.