Born from Stone (A Thorin Oakenshield story)

Divergent fires

Several days later, at the break of dawn and as the city was beginning to wake up from it's deep slumber, two figures were walking at the King's halls, in quiet companionship. One was the imposing ginger-head lieutenant with the bright green eyes and the handsome smile that Thorin had labelled as Dis's greatest threat. The other a dark haired stout dwarf, that had a rather attractive face and a distinct military bearing. He had his hands crossed behind his back and his eyes cast thoughtfully to the floor as they passed under the restored wall drapes that still had the claw marks of the dragon on them. As the bell stroke once to call upon the new day, they stopped and looked at each other with brotherly love.

"Dongar, I am so glad to be here", Nyrthrasir said.

"I am happy you are here too. Was it a difficult journey?" Dongar's hand landed on Nyrthrasir's shoulder.

"No more difficult than what me and my wife had to go through back in the IronHills", Nyrthrasir cast his eyes to the floor again, feeling distressed at that memory.

"What happened to you was the work of a devil. You didn't deserve such cruel punishment, even though you've made several very serious mistakes to end up in that dire position", Dongar raised his brow.

"Don't you think I know I messed up bad? I've been trying to find a way out of the IronHills ever since I was torn down. We barely had enough money to eat, Dongar. We were struggling everyday for the basics. No one wanted to employ me", Nyrthrasir shook his head and his eyes filled with tears.

"Here you have a second chance. Just please...please don't mess up again. Opportunities like these don't come thrice in a lifetime. You used your first chance in the IronHills. Don't destroy your second one", Dongar's voice had a tone of warning that made the other man gaze up gloomily.

"I'd rather die than blow our chances here. When I learned that there were openings in Erebor's new army I told Myrna that we had an opportunity to build a new life here" Nyrthrasir shook his head, "We travelled alone, deciding to keep away from any kind of company on purpose. When we arrived here and saw the walls of Erebor getting rebuild that hope flourished in our hearts. We joined the long lines of all the newcomers and patiently waited our turn to register. There was a sweet red headed girl that took our names that day and showed us in. When my eyes fell on the she-demon, I felt all my hopes crumbling to ash within the blink of an eye. Myrna was right next to me, poor woman, but thankfully she didn't understand my distress", he blanched at the memory of that accursed morning.

Dongar crossed his arms, "Did she recognise you?"

"Most certainly. She had arrived with all her court and her sister a few moments before we were allowed in. It was a just a strike of bad luck that we entered at that moment. Five minutes earlier or later and she would have missed me. She wouldn't have ever known that I was here. She'd be following the princess around and the King's court and I'd be out training with the rest of the soldiers with a heavy helmet on my head, practically unrecognisable".

Dongar raised his brow, "It was unlucky indeed. Did she speak to you?"

"She had the audacity to approach me and my wife as if we had always been family friends. She assumed that benevolent smile you know well and wished us the best of luck in our new life", Nyrthrasir rubbed his forehead. "At that moment she made me question my decision to relocate".

"Did she make any attempts to approach you again?"

"Thank heavens no. When I put down my name for the trials and they recruited me as a lieutenant, I thought she was going to repeat her usual antics, like she had done at the IronHills. I cannot suppose without error what is going on through that demonic mind of hers. Maybe she has found other victims, much more interesting than me".