Honour For Bastards

Chapter 13 - I Can See My House From Here

As the dawn broke over the mountain ranges, the Company were carried safely on the backs of the great Eagles. Thorin was held limp in the talons of an Eagle, his lack of movement worried the Company greatly. The Dwarf King was laid gently on the rough surface of the Carrock, the place were the Eagles made their home. Gandalf landed not moments after him and ran to his side.

"Thorin! Thorin."

There was no response from the unconscious Dwarf and others were beginning to fear the worst. As Bilbo, Laire and a few others that had already landed made their way closer, Gandalf placed his hand over Thorin's face and uttered a spell under his breath. A few moments passed before Thorin's eyes fluttered open and he gasped in heavy breaths. His blurry eyes looked around wildly for a moment before settling on Gandalf.

"The halfling?" He asked weakly.

Gandalf smiled in kind,"It's all right. Bilbo is here. He's quiet safe."

Thorin heaved to his feet with the help of Kili and Dwalin, but once grounded his shrugged them off. He stalked towards the Hobbit who for a moment, felt fearful. 

"You! What were you doing? You nearly got yourself killed! Did I not say that you would be a burden? That you would not survive in the wild and that you had no place amongst us?" 

Laire darken as she moved forward, full intentions of tearing Thorin a new one. But his next words were a shock to all. 

"I've never been so wrong in all my life!" Thorin grabbed the small Hobbit into a deep embrace as the Company cheered and clapped one another one the back. Bilbo stood stunned for a moment as he registered what was happening before he returned the embrace. 

"I am sorry I doubted you." Thorin apologised. 

Bilbo smiled and shook his head, "No, I would have doubted me too. I'm not a hero or a warrior...not even a burglar."

The comment drew chuckles from the Company as Thorin looked beyond Bilbo to a lone mountain that stood high against the eastern sunrise. The Company followed his gaze as they moved closer to the edge of the peak. 

"Is that what I think it is?" Bilbo murmured, he moved to Thorin's side.

"Erebor—The Lonely Mountain. The last of the great dwarf kingdoms of Middle-earth." Gandalf narrated as the Dwarves gazed on in longing.

"Our home."

"A raven! The birds are returning to the mountain." Oin announced as the small, winged creature flitted by chirping happily. 

"That, my dear Oin, is a thrush." Gandalf corrected.

Thorin smiled, "But we'll take it as a sign - a good omen."

"You're right. I do believe the worst is behind us." Bilbo sighed, content with the world.

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Come nightfall, the Company had taken the day to rest at the Carrock under the protection of the Eagles who provided them with food and shelter. Some were sitting around the fire, others were off to the sides dozing lightly and enjoying food in their bellies. 

Laire was leaning against a rock while Oin poked and prodded the large, purplish bruise on her ribs. 

"Yer in luck, lass, nothing's broken or cracked from what I can tell. But I'll wrap it to help with the swelling and bruises." Oin assessed. Once satisfied with his bandaging abilities, Oin left the woman to redress herself.

Laire had been sitting with only her under shirt on that hung around her neck to give Oin a better look at her ribs. She wore a chest wrap that thankfully kept her modesty. As she pulled her undershirt back over her torso, she noticed a golden haired Dwarf watching in the corner of her eye. 

Fili, who had just returned from filling his water skin was greeted with a sight he wasn't about to complain about. He wouldn't lie, he'd often wondered what was under her tunic and he was pleased with what he saw. Pale skin that looked as smooth as silk from even at his distance, lean and taught with a scar here and there. He wondered what it would feel like to trace them, follow ever one with his fingers until they were memorised in his mind. He didn't realise how long he'd been staring until Laire walked towards him fully clothed again. He shook his head and attempted to make like he wasn't watching, but the smirk on Laire's face said he was guilty.

"Stop undressing me with yer eyes, love." Laire paused at his side and leaned in so close that her lips brushed his ear. "Use yer teeth."

Laire walked away with a satisfied chuckle, she knew full well the effect she had on him and Gods did she love to tease him. Fili could feel the blush spreading over his face and neck as his heart beat ever so quicker. She was so unfair.

Laire wandered over to the fire and climbed onto a boulder. She used her coat as a pillow and lounged back and stared up at the stars. The Dwarves were happily reminiscing and talking about the family they'd left behind. Gloin was talking about his wee lad, Gimli and his wife that he loved dearly. The conversation carried on when Bofur turned to Laire who was twisting her red curls around her finger.

"What about you, Lassie?"

"What about I?" 

"Is there someone special waitin' for you?" Bofur asked, this caught the attention of most of the Company.

"Nay, fallin' in love isna exactly high on me list of things to do." Laire replied.

"Come on, surely a Lass as pretty as you has a man in 'er life?" Bofur pried. 

"Nope, I'm afraid I'm all on me lonesome."

"So you've never been in love?" Ori asked meekly.

"Now I didna say that, there was this one lad, it wasna exactly what ye'd call love, but it was something." Laire had a far off look in her eyes as she recalled the closest she came to feeling in love.

"How did you meet?" Kili asked, part of the question was out of sheer curiosity, and the other to make his brother just a little bit jealous,

"He saved my life, it was years ago now but I was runnin' from an Orc pack that I'd not been entirely prepared for. I took a hit to the shoulder and was loosin' far to much blood to be healthy. I ran into his kingdom without knowin' and he and a squadron saved my skin. Anyway, I passed out and when I woke up I was healed and healthy thanks to him, turns out he was the Prince. He told me to stay as long as I liked, turns out I stayed far longer than I should. We got to know each other and before I knew it we were stealin' kissing in empty corridors and sneakin' out late at night to see each other. It never went past a sweet kiss or two, but the things he could do with his tongue," Laire grinned at the thought and giggled at the Company's expression. "Oh calm down, I'm teasin'!" 

The Dwarves relaxed again as Laire continued her story.

"His father ye can guess didna approve of his son and heir taken a likin' to a bastard, half-breed  and it didna take long for him to notice the looks and disappearances. He caught us in his chambers one night and threw me in the dungeons. Called me a whore too if I remember right. I'm fairly sure the King wanted to execute me for adultery, but I managed to escape with the Prince's help before he could. It's been more than 10 years and I've not seen him since." Laire sighed and paused for a moment. "We both knew it wasna really love, it was just passion and rebellion."

Laire didn't say much after that, but thankfully the conversation turned to other topics. The Ranger let her mind drift, she said falling in love had never been a priority for her, but that didn't mean she wasn't already tumbling down that steep slope and into the arms of a Dwarf Prince below. But really, in what world would a Prince ever want a bastard, half-breed?