Natural || Dwalin x OC - A Hobbit Fanfiction

26 - Stray just a little

"Uncle!" Fíli busted into his uncle's study with his hands on his knees, puffing heavily. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

"What is it?" Thorín sat down at the small wooden box that had been brought to him earlier that morning. It was wrapped with a tarnished pink ribbon with wonky embroidered daisies. He didn't know what it was and he had been hesitant to find out.

That was Rurín's ribbon. For he knew she wore them every day after her birthday. She always wore it at the end of her braid, whether it matched her dress or not. He had suspected she had been wearing it when she was taken and that was why she hadn't been wearing it since found. When he came to wash and braid her hair for her, he had asked and she had looked disheartened at the mention of her favorite ribbon. He never asked a second time.

He could hardly get her to agree to him to wash her hair after that water incident with Dís. She only agreed to it so long as Balín or Dwalín was present. Thorín was surprised by her feelings for Balín. How quickly she grew to trust him as much as Dwalín when she was having trouble trusting everyone else. But he supposed it was a rather good thing. Balín was Dwalín's brother and was one of the most loyal and trusting kin of Thorín's. He would by all rights and laws be Rurín's brother-in-law should she and Dwalín wed.

Thorín might have been very sad to see she trusted them more than her own sister but he could hardly blame her for it. He was very angry with Dís himself. He had told her it was not a good idea. He had explained to her and she had not listened. He was just grateful for Dwalín being able to pull her from that dark place and give her the care she needed, even if he had been loathed to find out that consisted of him breaking the law to do so.

"Amad sent a letter to lord Elrond!" Fíli huffed. Thorín looked up sharply. "The Balrog slayer is asking for you in the throne room!"

It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. He felt his blood begin to boil for the third time that day. Lady Takît's home had been searched and Rurín's dagger had been found in her son, Tato's possessions, he had been arrested, and then this wooden box had come and he had confiscated it from Kíli who was on his way to give it to Rurín for he recognized that her name had been etched into the box. He thought Bifur might have made her something.

Thorín pulled his shoulders tightly back and left the study with calmness while a puffing Fíli followed him closely behind. He could only hope that Dwalín and Balín were still with Rurín for the evening and not have gotten wind of any arrest or arrival of elves but all hope was lost when he saw his loyal friend and guard standing stoically outside the doors, seemingly waiting for him.

"Who told you?" Thorín asked.

Dwalín grunted and gave a jerk of his chin in Fíli's direction. Thorín looked at his heir and found him looking a tad bit sheepish. "I said we've been looking everywhere. I thought you were visiting auntie." He said.

"I want the nobles to continue making assumptions without facts and you speaking of her so plainly and running about looking for me instead of keeping up appearances of grief are not keeping, Fíli."

"I know... I am sorry, Uncle."

"Why would Dís write to the elves?" Thorín grumbled after patting Fíli's shoulder, fondly.

"She wrote them the night Auntie was found," Fíli said. "She said she wasn't thinking..."

"Seems to be a reoccurring fault of hers," Thorín side glance Dwalín who had his knuckle dusters squelching from where he was clenching his fists.

Thorín waved his hand and the guard station by the door opened the door. He squared his shoulders, head held high with importance.

As soon as Elrohir spotted Thorín he made a leap only for Glorfindel to grab his tunic with one hand, holding on so tightly the sight of the strength of the Balrog slayer had Fíli and Kíli take a step back. Dwalín pulled his axe from his back and rose his chin. Daring the elf to try that again.