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

12. Into the Woods

I stared at Thorin blankly. He stared back, his awkward expression turning to concern, and his face paling slightly.

"They were all very respectful, I promise you. All looked away the moment your shirt was off." he tried to reassure me.

My hands lifted and bunched the fabric of the tunic across my front, as though trying to secure it on my body. Thorin dropped his hand from my arm to cover my fists.

"How much did they see?" I whispered.

Thorin frowned. "Everything waist up I suppose..?"
His hand tightened over mine. I pulled one of my hands out from underneath his and lifted it to touch my shoulder, brushing over the scarring, staying quiet. He seemed to realize the concern I had and he shook his head a couple times. "No no, not that. You were on your back when we tore your shirt. And we wrapped you in my coat when I picked you up. Oin may have seen your scars, but nobody else." He said, gesturing to the fur that was draped over his shoulder when he mentioned the coat.

I felt relief wash over me, and I pried myself off of his lap, hopping down to the ground.
He came down behind me, still watching me with some concern as I turned to him.

"I'm sorry if I seem odd.. worrying more for people seeing my scars than... well.. other things.. but other than Arla and Lord Elrond seeing them, my scars have been a secret of sorts. A reminder of what happened. I'd intended only for a spouse to see otherwise."

Something flickered in his eyes at the mention of me having a spouse. "And what did they think of it?" He said in a low voice.

"Elrond and Arla..?"

I could see he was trying to keep his face passive. "No, your spouse."

I couldn't help the laugh that came out at his serious expression. "Oh, no, Thorin. I haven't had one. I've been too lost in wanderlust to find one. I just meant that he'd be the only one I'd allow to see it other than Elrond and Arla, who helped me in healing."

"What..? You went all the way to Rivendell to get healed? Why not back to Thranduil?" He asked, the topic of my spouse forgotten.

I shrugged. "Turns out.. if you get burnt by dragon fire, but don't die, the burns kind of just.. get closed over from the heat. So even though I was in enough pain to want to die, it wouldn't happen right away. I knew Thranduil wouldn't help the dwarves out of Erabor, so I had no desire to go to him for help."

Thorin cut me off. "You knew he wouldn't help us?"

"I guess not so much knew as supposed he wouldn't. When we first came to Erabor, when I'd asked to stay, remember he left empty handed? Without those gems your grandfather showed him?"

Thorin nodded, face darkened by a rage I could see growing.

"He was angry. Almost wouldn't allow me to stay with you. So when the dragon came, I had a suspicion that he would not send a rescue party. I tried to do what he wouldn't, in assisting you. But when I finally got out, I couldn't bring myself to go to him. Knowing I was in there, he still didn't come, even though I held a sliver of hope he would. He talks of loyalty and honour at times, but bears no such morals. So I went to Rivendell for help. It almost took too long. Even closed, the burns tried to fester. Arla and Elrond saved my life."

Thorin had his head bowed, hiding his expression from me as I finished speaking. I reached out to place a hand on his shoulder, but he spun away from me and walked back to the house, leaving me speechless by the garden.

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He hadn't spoken to me again after that. The next day we were preparing to travel to the forest, and he stood away from me, preparing his pony as I saddled the horse Beorn was lending to me.