A Dragon's Heart

"I will take care of you"

Standing in the middle of the Gallery of the Kings, Thorin was seething with rage. His heart was pounding in his chest and his throat felt tight as the scene of Myra falling from the sky, a stream of blood raining down on them flashed behind his eyes and the cry full of pain echoed in his ears. Thorin took a ragged breath trying to keep him composed. Staring at nothing his gaze got blurry as he remembered the first time Myra turned into a dragon in front of everyone to fight against Smaug right here, in this very Gallery.

Now that he thought about it, every tiny little detail of that moment was burned into his memory like a cruel joke. Her arms and legs growing, extending, joints popping out of their places as she grew larger, taller until her dragon form filled the entire Gallery, the air shimmering in a pale blue glow. The thunderous heartbeat and powerful breathing still resounding in the walls as Thorin looked around the enormous pillars each side of him. Her ghost lingered in the air making his knees buckle as Thorin wanted to lose it, cry his pain out in the open not caring who might hear it. He really didn't care about his title as king of Erebor. It didn't mean anything when she wasn't there with him sharing the happiness of their new home.

Chuckling to himself, Thorin wiped the tear that was slowly rolling down on his cheek. After everything that had happened between them, it was like Mahal didn't want them to be together. As if even their creator thought it wasn't meant to be, a dragon and a dwarf in love living together as a couple.

Distant footsteps disturbed Thorin's thoughts earning an irritated grumble from him as he turned slightly to look over his shoulder who dared to bother him.

It was Balin and Dwalin, Dain walking between them while Bofur, Gloin, and Bifur walked behind them swords in hands. Thorin narrowed his eyes when he saw Dain who walked head held high toward Thorin. How he dared to look so smug in Thorin's presence after the sort of treason he had committed. It fueled Thorin's anger even more.

"Take him into the dungeons, and guard him," Thorin growled his sharp glare never leaving from Dain's face who returned the glare his mouth forming a thin line.

Dwalin and Bifur took the task of escorting Thorin's cousin into the dungeon to wait for his sentence while Fili and Kili stepped forward addressing their uncle.

"What you're gonna do to him?" Fili asked eyeing the three dwarves who walked toward the staircase leading lower levels.

"He committed highest treason possible against the crown," Thorin's voice was hoarse, full of emotion as he tried to keep calm.

"Punishment is always death," he growled earning glances between the brothers but they didn't dare say anything as they could see Thorin was hurting. Bofur, Balin, and Gloin sighed quietly glancing at the floor not sure if they should say something or not. Thorin was their king but right now, he was just a dwarf grieving the loss of his beloved. In the long term, was it right to execute his own cousin whose people waited outside? They would be outnumbered in a second if they decided to raise a riot.

"Are you sure Myra is dead?" Bilbo's voice came from the entry of the front gates making all six to turn around surprised to see the halfling approaching Thorin so boldly.

"What do you mean am I sure? Of course, I'm sure! I watched her taking her last breath before sinking under that ice," Thorin barked staring at Bilbo his eyes lightly reddish as he halted a few feet away from Thorin.

"She might have just lost her conscious, all we know. Think about it, she fought against Smaug who inflicted far worse injuries on her and she survived. I can't believe Myra would be killed with a sword that isn't much bigger than Smaug's smallest tooth," Bilbo huffed tilting his head as he tried to reason with Thorin who was glaring at him, clearly not amused of the thought that she might be alive under the ice. False hope was the last thing he wanted right now.