For the Sake of Kings (Thorin x OC x Aragorn romance)

4. And so it begins

Thorin's POV

I stood near the fireplace of the hobbit's home, mind wandering as I took a puff from my pipe.

Materia.

I hadn't thought I'd see her again. Yet here she was, at the will of Gandalf. I should have known he'd further complicate this quest; beyond the burglar with no skills of burglary.
My company had settled for the night, laying around the hobbit hole on their bedrolls. They'd gone to sleep after I'd discussed the state of our company with Balin and shared in the song of our homeland with the group.

I ran a hand over my face, then turned from the flames, stepping over Bofur as I headed towards the front door. I opened it and moved into the cool night air, going to sit on the bench that lay in front of the hole, allowing my mind to wander to memories as I continued to smoke.

I was young when I met her, still just shy of being an adult by the standards of dwarves, but old enough to know my heart and the ways of being a man. When my grandfather had tasked me with guiding the elf around our mountain, I'd jumped at the chance.
Perhaps too quickly.
She had an ethereal beauty I had to force myself to look away from, and a sweet heart within her; one that made my own heart race.
At the time I'd scolded myself, saying that it was foolish to fall for the elf. And maybe I'd been right.

When Smaug attacked, I'd run back into the mountain to try and help my kin get out, while also praying she'd been spared from the wrath of the dragon. But I couldn't find her, or stay to look further. Exiting the mountain, I'd pointed everyone in the direction we'd make our escape in, scanning over the stream of dwarves for the elf.
On the overlooking hill, I spotted that wretch of an elf king, watching as my people fled for their lives.
I'd shouted to them, "Help! Help us!", but he turned his men away from our plea. My hand lowered as I realized they wouldn't come to our aid, and a sensation like ice formed around my heart.
Damn them all to hell.
Turning back to my people, I scanned around, trying to find the face I had started to feel longing for in recent weeks, but she wasn't there. My heart told me she hadn't fallen to the wrath of Smaug.
But then where was she? As my people ran from their home in fear, where had she gone? Why was she not helping the people who'd housed her that past year?

A part of me cursed her for not being there, but another thanked Mahal that she'd likely escaped a gruesome death.
Then, at Moria, after the death of my grandfather and so many of my kin, she'd reappeared. She'd offered help to those of us that remained, but my grief had taken over and become anger that I'd lashed at her, telling her she was not welcome among my people; her or any elf. I tried to ignore the shock and pain that had crossed her face as I turned her away, but a small chip had appeared in my heart's armour at the sight of her hurt expression.
'Cursed emotions.' I'd thought as I turned away from her and rallied my people, urging them on, continuing on our search for a new home and leaving her in our dust.

I sighed as her pained face flashed before my eyes again, the depths of green swimming in my vision. I blinked, returning to the present, and found myself looking up into those depths. I flinched, startled, and sat straighter. She looked at me with worry.

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Materia's POV

I hadn't tried to sneak up on him, but the pained expression on his face drew me from the place in the garden where I'd been laying in wait for my mind to relax and allow me rest.

"Are you alright?" I whispered. He stared back for several moments before clearing his throat, masking the hint of sadness that flashed in his gaze.

"What's it to you?" He grumped, looking away from my face.

With a soft sigh I shook my head, and without answering, went back to my place in the grass, sitting and leaning back on my hands, gazing to the stars.

"Why help us..?"

My gaze flickered to Thorin at the question. "Why shouldn't I?"

"You didn't when Smaug attacked us, what is the point in helping now?" He said, his cold blue eyes meeting my green ones.

I swallowed, looking back to the sky. "I couldn't have helped you then. I want to make up for it now."

He stood, stomping heavily towards me. "Remember, I didn't ask for this. You'll get no thanks from me."

"Nor would I expect it." I said simply, getting a huff for a reply before the dwarf went back inside. Warmth rolled down my cheeks once he was gone, and I wiped the tears away, internally scolding myself for hoping for anything kinder from him.

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As dawn came, Thorin came outside again. He nudged my side with his boot roughly to bring me out of my relaxed state, making me flinch and roll away from the attack, fingers moving to grip the toe of his boot.
"No need for violence so early, Thorin.." I mumbled.

"Get up."

I sighed and sat up, brushing away some leaves that had fallen into my lap from the tree above. "I take it we leave soon?"

"You have half an hour." He replied curtly, before leaving me alone again.

Balin came out shortly after with my sword and cloak in hand.
"Here you go, lass." He offered with a kind smile, placing them down beside me. I gave him a nod in thanks as I stood, pulling the cloak around my shoulders and securing the sword to my hip. I checked that nothing had rolled out of the pouch I'd kept on the opposite hip before I stepped out onto the road, Balin trailing behind me with his travel bag slung over his shoulders.

"Materia.." he started, bring my attention back to him as I stopped outside Bilbo's gate. "What happened to you when Smaug came to us? Why couldn't we find you?" He asked, a hint of sadness in his tone.

I bit the inside of my bottom lip as I studied his face, thinking of my answer. After several seconds, as a few of the other dwarves came outside and pushed past me to go down the path out of the village, I sighed, shifting further out of the gate to avoid another shoulder bumping me.
"It's all in the past now, Master Balin. My answer won't change anything. So no need to bring up such memories."

He frowned, looking as though he meant to push the subject, but Gandalf emerged and took my attention away from the dwarf, leading me along with him down the path.
I heard the old dwarf sigh, but kept my gaze ahead, to where the other dwarves had started loading their provisions onto ponies. Two horses stood among the shorter steeds.

"I brought you a horse to travel on." Gandalf said kindly. He gestured at a dark chestnut coloured horse who had black on his lower legs, and a white mane and tail. I approached the horse with a slight nod of my head to it, before climbing onto his back.

"Thank you, Gandalf. He's beautiful." I said, giving the wizard a half smile as I removed the rope that was tied to the horse's reins. Letting the rope drop down beside the tree the stallion had been tied to, I urged him away from the ponies, getting a slight feel for the strength beneath me. Several minutes later, Thorin appeared, climbing onto his pony before calling to the group and urging them to start moving.

I waited as the others passed before taking up the rear.

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We'd travelled for nearly an hour before shouts could be heard from behind me. I pulled my horse - who I'd quietly named Alan due to his noble gait - to a stop and turning on his back to look at the Hobbit that was trying to sprint after us. The rest of the company paused, watching as he passed them. Some said quiet curses at his appearance as they'd lost a bet I'd heard them placing earlier about the hobbit's likelihood of coming.

He talked to Balin and Gandalf near the front of our group, passing the contract to the former. My eyes strayed from the trio to the very front of the herd, looking to Thorin at the same time he glanced back at me. His expression hardened as his eyes met mine and he looked away.
When the others began moving again, I waited, letting myself fall behind by a few paces before urging Alan into a gentle walk.