It's a Hard Knock Life for Us (Thorinduil AU)

XI • : Fixings : •

papa's back, bitches.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Thorin's POV

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Breakfast wasn't easy. The entire time I was supposed to be chowing down on maamr's food, my mind kept panicking, telling me that somedwarf was going to go inside my room and find Thranduil. Even though I shouldn't have been worrying so much (because after all, he did successfully hide from maamr, and she doesn't wait at the door for long after knocking), I couldn't help it. The thought of someone discovering him and—what would happen? He'd go back to his kingdom, but... he had to run away for some reason. It was apparent something else besides the passing of his mother brought him to leave, and the more time I spent with him, the more I began to wonder. Why was he so timid? What were those bruises?

"Thorin, dear, you've barely touched yer eggs! Is everything alright?" Maamr spoke up once the conversation between her and Dìs had died down.

I was a little surprised at her words. It wasn't alarming that she was asking if I was alright, but I had been off in my own anxious world thinking about Thranduil, so the shove back to reality was a harsh one. "Huh?" I dumbly questioned before allowing her words to process, "Oh–yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little tired I guess."

She didn't seem convinced. Mothers had that extra sense about them, and my maamr's was getting too accurate for my liking. If she just happened to get an itch... An overly curious feeling and walk in my bedroom—

"Alright... Well, yesterday I bought some apples from the market, just in case you get hungry before lunch." She added with a pat to my hand. She looked concerned, and I felt a tinge of guilt for worrying her. I gave her a forced but well-played smile and she accepted it graciously. She withdrew her hand from mine and started up another conversation with Dìs.

Taad and Frerin had already gone to work at the gold mine, so it was just my sister, maamr, and I. If taad had been there, I wouldn't have been slacking with both my posture and eating. He would have most definitely complained about it, and that would've been torture for all of us.

After what seemed like forever, Dìs and maamr finished their meals, and rose from their seats.

"Are you done?" Dìs asked, ready to grab my plate if I agreed. However I simply shook my head and stood up, "You two can go do whatever. I'll do the dishes. I don't have to work until much later. I might as well." It may have sounded like a genuine, sweet offer, but really I just wanted to bring my left overs up to Thranduil to eat. Usually I could sneak whole meals past, but maamr had been acting awfully suspicious of me lately, and I decided I wouldn't take the chance of her stalking up into my room to find him.

Dìs seemed mighty pleased about what I said, but maamr whipped her head around and stared at me, "Are ye sure?" She queried aloud, her brows furrowed. I had a feeling she was getting pretty wary of my odd behaviour, and frankly, it scared me.

"Yes ma'am." I nodded slowly, trying my best to look unsuspicious but I had a feeling I only made it worse.

Her eyes were like emeralds, sharp and green as they scanned me over. The woman could probably smell the panic radiating off of me, but instead of storming up the stairs to my room and unmasking all of our shifty plans and secrets, she shrugged and let out a sigh, "Alright, sweetie... I'll be in the sewing room." She gave me a kiss on the forehead and wandered off to her workspace in the very back of the house. Dìs bounded out of the house with a skip in her step, no-doubtedly going to see her beloved. When everyone was gone, I fixed up a plate for Thranduil using the food I hadn't touched and the bits that were still in the pans.