Someone to Watch Over Me

Chapter Twenty-Five

Over the next several days, as Thorin began his recuperation, he found little could try his patience the way his torturer—er, Healer—Kenia tried it. She was a taskmaster and he learned that shredded muscles burned like fire and stomach muscles were needed for the tiniest bit of movement. The first day, he thought he'd pass out from the pain, sweating and struggling to draw breath, he was certain therapy was worse than being run through had been. By a lot.

Day after day, she had him walking, stretching, lifting (light at first, of course) until sweat poured from him to soak into his tunic, his leggings, until his wounds screamed at him in protest, as his muscles shrieked at him for the same reason. But, with each day, the motions became easier and the pain eased and he changed his mind about running Kenia through the first chance he had.

Three weeks after the Battle of the Five Armies, he sank onto the wide ledge out on the Healing Room terrace and leaned against one of the marble columns. The others arrived several days earlier, and now, as they'd done the last time the Company was in Erebor, the fountains had been made into amusements for them, and he smiled at the shouts of laughter rising from the corner of the courtyard.

"How soon before I might join them?" He looked over at Kenia, who came out to join him on the terrace.

"It shouldn't be much longer. You are making great progress. Amara is happy."

"Is she about? There is something I wished to ask her. Well, two somethings, actually."

"She is in with Elrond at the moment, but perhaps I might answer your questions?"

He sighed softly, letting the towel he'd used to mop his face drape over his thigh. "I'm moving better this last week."

"You are." She sank onto the ledge to face him. "I know Amara is pleased and we no longer think you so incredibly stubborn that you do not know when to rest."

"I'm impatient. I wish to return to Erebor and my life, but I apologize for anything I might have said in my impatience."

"Worry not about it. Now, what did you wish to ask me?"

A shout of laughter caught his attention and he turned to see Seren had joined the dwarves at the fountain. The sunlight splashing across the courtyard made her hair shimmer like spun gold and when Kili picked her up and tossed her over the side of the fountain, his entire body tensed. But then she laughed again as she surfaced and chopped at the water to send a wave crashing over Kili in return, so he relaxed and smiled. There were few sounds as silvery and beautiful as her laughter. It made him smile every time he heard it and this was no exception.

He leaned his head back against the column. "I wish to propose to Seren this evening. I spoke to Elrond earlier, and he was amenable to allowing me to have the terrace to ourselves so I could do so,"

"Ah, so that's what the servants were grumbling about. They have to set up two separate dining areas this evening."

He nodded. "Which I do appreciate, in addition to every other concession that has been made for me and the other dwarves while we're here. I know they—" he gestured to the fountains below—"can be a trying lot at times."

"They are—high spirited..."

Another shriek rose and this time, it was Ori being flung into the fountain. Thorin chuckled, then turned back to Kenia. "What I wished to know was, I already know Seren is going to say yes. Am I in any danger if she and I..." he hesitated, "if she and I were to... get physical?"

"No. There should be no danger at all. If it hurts, stop."

He chuckled again. "You know, there is a point that, once crossed, renders stopping impossible."