Hopeless Wanderer (Hobbit Fanfic Story)

Chapter 6: Apologies & Stories

"Thorin-"

He cut me off. "Please allow me to explain, first I wish to say that I'm sorry, I didn't realize how hard your life was or what you went through. And I wish to tell you my story if you'll allow me to."

"By all means, please do." I insisted.

He sighed before speaking. "My people and I were from Erebor, a marvelous and beautiful dwarf kingdom. My grandfather, King Thror, ruled Erebor."

He then explained how they found the Arkenstone and how his grandfather was driven by a gold sickness. Then came the day that the dragon, Smaug, attacked Dale and Erebor. I felt awful, and the description reminded me of the destruction and loss of Doriath.

"The elves of Mirkwood arrived that day led by King Thranduil." He continued, causing me to widen my eyes. Thranduil?! "However he refused to help us, not wanting to risk the lives of his kin. And we were forced to look for another place to rebuild our lives."

I debated whether of not I should tell Thorin that I knew Thranduil, but when he spoke of him there was much hatred in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Thorin. I didn't know that your life was like that at all." I apologized.

"It's alright, I guess we both had similar experiences." He pointed out.

"I guess we do." I said in a hushed tone. "But where's your grandfather and father now?"

He tensed at my words. "There was a battle after Smaug took over the Lonely Mountain. My grandfather, King Thror, tried to reclaim the ancient dwarf kingdom of Moria. However our enemy, the orcs reached Moria before us.

"Moria had been taken by legions of orcs, which was all led by the most vile of all their race, Azog the Defiler, the giant Gundabad orc. He had sworn to wipe out our line, the line of Durin."

"He begun to do so by beheading my grandfather. My father, Thrain, was driven mad by grief, and he went missing, I do not know what happened to him." He continued. "Driven by anger I fought Azog on my own. My armor rent, and I wielded nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. He learned that day, that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. I rallied our forces ,and we managed to drive back the orcs. Our enemy had been defeated, but there was no celebration for our dead were beyond what we imagined. Only view of us survived. My brother, Frerin, also perished."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trigger a memory that harmful in your past." I said rather hastily.

"Think nothing of it. I'm fine." He assured me.

We were then silent, I tried to think of something to lighten the mood. I then glanced around to see fireflies flying around us and the flowers that had not yet blossomed.

"Want to see something?" I asked him.

"What is it?" He asked, intrigued.

I then grabbed the light of some of the fireflies, and used their light on the now beautifully blossomed flowers. All around us the flowers were glowing different colors, such as blue, purple, red, yellow, orange, green, magenta, and so forth. Thorin looked around in awe. "How did you do that?"

"I don't know, I've had these powers since I was a child. Whenever my father, mother, brother, or sister had a long day or they were simply down I would cheer them up by bringing them to our gardens." I confessed. "And I'd make all the flowers glow or blossom."

"It's beautiful." Thorin replied but he then quickly added. "Your gift, I mean."

I chuckled. "Thank you. I think we should return, it's getting pretty late."

"Aye."

"Thank you, for telling me about your past." I said as we began to walk towards the cottage.

"And I thank you for sharing your gift, it's a magnificent gift."

We then returned to the cottage where I apologized to both Dís and Balin. They were taken back by my sudden change of behavior.

"Apology accepted, lass." Balin said with his usual kind smile.

"Although I would like to know what caused you to change?" Dís inquired.

Mîlel, Dís, Balin, and Thorin all waited in anticipation for my answer. I wore a small smile as I spoke. "Well, I had a visit from my mother...and Thorin told me your story, and everything that happened. I'm terribly sorry."

"We've been through a lot, Líreth, just like you. But you mustn't be so curt, the only one you're truly hurting is yourself." Dís explained.

I nodded. "Now I know, you have all been nice to me...well except for Thorin."

Dís, Balin, Mîlel, and I laughed, while Thorin crossed his arms. "That was before." He protested.

"So do you still hate me?" I asked.

"That depends, do you hate me?" Thorin inquired.

"I don't, do you?"

"I suppose I don't anymore."

And that was the beginning of a friendship between two races, which I didn't think was possible until now.