Saving Durin {Hobbit/Thorin}

Chapter 31: Saved by the Kili

Chapter 31:

Saved by the Kili

The dwarves quickly go about demanding food from the servants, who are more than willing to cower under the demands of the Master's guests. Soon enough, rich foods of meats and breads fill the table, leaving little room for individual plates and utensils. That is no matter to the dwarves, of course, as they eat with their hands and wipe their faces with their beards. I would be disgusted if I wasn't already used to such behaviour.

Thorin takes his seat near the head of the table at the Master's insistence. Wanting to avoid further contact with the unibrow and combover, I make to sit near the end of the table with Bilbo and my siblings. Thorin, however, thinks differently.

"Rue, sit by me," Thorin yells from the head of the table, deviating me from my path towards the other end. I turn my head around to look at Thorin, noticing the stare of the Master, Alfrid, and the remainder of the humans in the room. My eyebrows furrow at the sudden attention as my head falls to look at the ground. I shuffle my feet towards the king, knowing full well that it will be worse if I don't comply with his wishes. Thorin pulls out a large wooden chair for me, prompting me to sit on its hard surface. After pushing the chair in, Thorin returns to his chair by my side.

Looking up, I realize that the Master and Alfrid are still staring at me, so I send them a glare. Obviously, they don't take the hint as the Master addresses me:

"And who are you, my lovely lady?" I growl at him, noticing Thorin wince in my peripheral vision. Recovering, the dwarf king leans into my side in a way that can only be described as protective. Recognition flashes within the humans' eyes as they look upon the dwarf's stance and the braid in my hair.

"This is Erudian Houdart, Queen of the Phoenix," Thorin introduces me, his tone obviously lower than before. I can sense a growl coming from him as the two humans look me over, head to waist as the table blocks their visibility. My face still shines a poignant hatred for the two men, as well as the desire to be anywhere but here.

"And she's yours?" Alfrid asks, his eyes still raking my body.

"I am no ones!" I reply angrily, tired of men thinking that I am property. The Master and Alfrid shrink back in shock at my first words tonight. This, naturally, puts a smirk on my face at their sudden weakness. Thorin, sensing the flipped state of power, returns to leaning on his own chair, knowing I can deal with the incompetent men.

"And to answer your question, you are currently looking upon the future Queen Under the Mountain," Thorin responds casually as he piles food upon his plate. Unlike the other dwarves, Thorin actually takes the effort to express his manners, and for that, I am grateful.

The King Under the Mountain's words seem to deviate the humans' attention from me, as they now scan the table like predators. Their eyes stop on my sister, who sits by Bilbo and Typhon at the end of the table. As both my brother and I notice this, we growl in sync at their attention to her.

"You will not lay a hand on her unless you desire an inferno," I warn the two. They shrink back, once again, at my words. We all take to eating silently in the loud room. I nibble on bread, as per the usual, as others feast grandily. Despite my gnawing hunger, I cannot stomach food at the moment.

Eventually, the dwarves finish their meals, stomachs bulging from the sudden and large intake of food. The servants to the Master lead us away to our rooms, as the Master and Alfrid leave us to our own devices. At Thorin's insistence, I share a room with him and Sidel shares a room with Typhon. It seems as though Thorin witnessed the Master and Alfrid's fascination with my sister, as well as with me. The servants are slow to relent to such arrangements, due to their "lacking propriety," but eventually consent after a few threats on my part. Honestly, having fire at your disposal really helps sometimes.