The Ties That Bind

Chapter Thirteen

 Thorin swallowed his irritation as he strode back toward what had been his chambers, but then he caught himself and pivoted to go left instead of right where the corridor came to a tee, and made his way to Dwalin's chambers instead.

Only Dwalin wasn't there.

With a soft groan, Thorin leaned back against the door, thunking his head lightly against it. He knew where Dwalin was, and his stomach twisted at the thought of knocking on Dís' door and interrupting whatever they might be doing.

The kink in his gut worsened. He knew what they'd be doing. It was the same thing he'd rather be doing right then as well.

Or at least, what he'd have rather been doing before he'd caught Eirlys with the smug, prissy elf.

He knew elves—especially Mirkwood elves—lacked honor, but he hadn't expected Eirlys to betray him the day after the were married. He hadn't expected her to betray him at all. He expected her to as faithful to him as he would be to her and up until that morning, he hadn't thought that would be a problem.

But now... each time he closed his eyes, he saw them. Saw his wife in the arms of another.

He didn't realize he'd curled his hand into a fist until his fingernails dug into his palm. Tension wound through him, but it wasn't that same sensual, delicious tension that had threatened to crush him the night before. No, this was hot and spiky and uncomfortable and made him want to hit something.

Or someone.

Preferable a prissy elf who thought it a wise idea to kiss the Queen of Erebor.

His faithless queen.

"Thorin?"

He started at the unexpected sound of Dwalin's voice coming from behind him. He turned and tried not to notice how tranquil his usually always-ready-for-a-brawl friend was as he said, "Where've you been?"

Dwalin's heavy gray brows shot up. "Oh, were ye worried about me? I'll set yer mind at ease then and tell ye I was with Dís."

"Wonderful."

"Oh, and ye weren't doing the same with yer new bride?"

"We are not speaking of her."

Those heavy gray brows lowered now. "What happened? Because that is not a refusal to speak in order to protect her modesty."

"I've no wish to discuss it. I'm here to tell you we are leaving in thirty minutes. Meet us at the front gates."

"Thorin, are ye sure all is well?"

"All is fine. But since you're here and Dís is still in her chambers, I'll go tell her as well."

"I can—"

"That won't be necessary," Thorin broke in sharply.

"If yer certain."

"I am." Thorin turned to go back the way he'd come. "I'll see you at the gates."

"Of course."

Thorin strode away from him, heading toward Dís' chambers, which were down back by the chambers he'd shared with Eirlys. He paused outside Dís' door for a moment, but then rapped on it firmly.

"Who goes?"

"It's me, Dís."

He heard a flurry of movement, his sister's light footsteps, and then the door opened. "Thorin? What is it? You look ready to take someone apart."

"Worry not about me. We're readying ourselves to go, and I plan to leave in thirty minutes. I've already spoken to Dwalin, but didn't know if you'd be seeing him, since you already spent the night with him."