The Fifteenth Member (Thorin Oakenshield/OFC)

Chapter 9

I went to the clearing the next morning to find Thorin waiting for me.

"How long were you waiting?"

"I only just got here.  I got this for you."  He held out a plate of food for me, which I grabbed and started to eat.

"You first, he said."

"No way Thorin, you suggested the deal so you get to start."

"Fine.  There are moon runes on the map and they can only be read under the light of a crescent moon in the summer so we have to wait here for three weeks for the moon to wane.  Lord Elrond promised to house us and make sure you are well enough to go with us when we leave, he was adamant that we take you now it's your turn to tell me why."

I repeated what Lord Elrond told me about my powers but I rephrased the 'soul mate' bit.

"Mermaids are like elves in some ways but in other ways, they are like dwarves.  I'm immortal and I can die from a broken heart but I can only love once in my life as well, and that's where my tears come in.  Should my soul mate die or be fatally wounded, I can bring him back and he will join me in his prime and we will be together until I die."

"So, let me get this straight, your blood can heal any wound or illness and that person will continue to live their lives as if that never happened but with the tears, it must be someone so close to your heart that when they die you feel like a part of you died as well?"

"That's the general idea, yes."

"And do you know who you soul mate is?"

"I think so but before I tell you who, you should know that after I admit it to myself, I will become more powerful and I should be able to converse with that person through my mind."

"Ok, but who do you think it is?"

"You must know, this is only a thought but I think it's-"  Shouts echoed through the garden.

"Come on!  I'll tell you later."  We ran through the foliage and saw a group of men walking over the bridge to the entrance.  They looked tired and hungry but they were not at all injured, but why were they here?  I looked closer and recognized my older brother in the group, as well and Rynry, the one who threatened to tell my secret if I didn't marry him.    

"Thorin!  That's him, the one I told you about!  I can't go down there!"

"Go to your room and hide, I will see what Lord Elrond does about this.  How much did you tell him?  Did you give him names?"

"I gave him my brother's name, Tunvan,  but no one else's.  He knows about Rynry though."

"Rynry?"

"The one who threatened me."

"Ok, good.  Come on, I'll escort you."

We made it to my room no problem but Thorin was abrupt and left instructions to wait until someone came to get me.  I waited for several hours, I decided to actually read the book Lord Elrond had brought me.  It contained more details about being a mermaid, including what moods all of the colors meant.  There was also a section about powers that he had not mentioned but the one I liked the most was that, with practice, I could make my voice go high enough to shatter just about anything but at a cost.

Around one, Balin came and knocked on my door.

"Come in!"

"Lassie, it's a wonderful day out and you are spending it inside, what's wrong?  Did Thorin hurt you?"

"No, he told me to wait here though.  Did you recognize the man who arrived here this morning?"