Warrior's Heart

Chapter Fifteen

For Thorin, recuperation tried his patience unlike anything else ever had. He wanted to simply have it over and done and be fully healed, but that was not how it went. For every step forward, he seemed to take three steps back. As a result, he grew more short-tempered by the day.

He understood the seriousness of what had happened. Of course he did. He was neither stupid nor a fool. How could he forget? Nightmares plagued his sleep. He saw the flash of steel in the pale sunlight. Felt the icy sting of Azog's blade as it pierced the bottom of his foot. And that was nothing compared to the numbing sting of that same blade, already sticky with his own blood, piercing his side. It didn't hurt at first, but then...

The burn came vicious and hot, spilling through him as if someone poured boiling water on him. His insides burned as well, the fire unyielding, the agonizing pain unlike anything he'd ever felt before. It stole his breath. It made a hot sweat prickle across his entire body. It made him want to vomit, only to find himself unable to move in order to do.

As the steel sliced into him, his life unfolded before his eyes. He saw his younger brother, cut down decades before the dragon came. He saw his younger sister, Dis. He saw Kili and Fili as infants, as toddlers. He saw the Company. Master Baggins as he launched himself at the Orc about to behead Thorin.

He saw Arielle the first time he laid eyes upon her. He saw her bathed in sunlight as he undressed her for the first time, as he made love to her for the first time in the bed they shared. He saw her on their wedding day. Their wedding night.

He heard Tiriana's cries as she took her first breaths after her birth. He saw her in her mother's arms. He saw Arielle as she walked away from him for the last time. And as the images faded to black, he cried out at them to stay.

He saw Arielle on the battlefield for the first time after he'd banished her. She was amazing to watch, confident and skilled, showing no fear as she saved his skin yet one more time from Orcs. He knew they needed to talk, knew he needed to beg her forgiveness, and yet, there she was, looking out for him, protecting him once more.

Arielle came up behind him, shouting, "Dwarf! Take care! It's a trap!"

"What?" He spun around, his eyes wide as they alit on her. "What are you doing here? I told you, it's not safe!"

"And I told you, I am not leaving you." She reached for another arrow, only to find the quiver empty. She stowed her bow and withdrew her sword. "It's a trap, love. Bolg is coming from the north, Azog is here. They have you pinned."

"You need to go back, Arielle."

She shook her head. "I am not leaving you. Remember? No matter what happens, I will not leave you."

He'd hurt her, threatened her with divorce, with death, with rape, and yet, there she was, at Ravenhill, bleeding and wounded herself. Pregnant, no less. But there she was, ready to defend his life with her own if necessary. No one ever offered such a sacrifice for him before. Only his bashert would do something so nobly foolish.

But, unlike him, she trusted those around her. Legolas. Tauriel. She knew they'd come and they did. One saved Kili's life, the other Fili's, and they would have saved his as well, only he wasn't about to let them. He knew what he was doing. He was a warrior, and knew his redemption for how he treated his people, how he treated his wife, was to give his life. He didn't want to do it, knew it meant he'd miss out on seeing his daughter grow up, would miss out on Kili and Fili falling in love and starting families of their own one day.

Knew it meant giving up Arielle to another man one day.

They were all worth the sacrifice, however. He loved each one of them enough to do it, if it meant they would be safe. And if his plan went as he hoped, Azog would be gone and they would most definitely be safe.