𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐭

Chapter 50

Omg I can't believe I reached chapter 50!!

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"(Y/N)..." I heard the heavy footsteps from behind me, Thorin followed me to the forests out of the kingdom, where I was sat on the green floor. He did not demand me to rise, or expect me to cease the crying, nor did I think I could think of a single thing to make any of it stop. Instead, he knelt down next to me and lifted my chin gently with his thumb. The hand was calloused from years of hard work that had led him to this very moment, to his success. Callouses to remind him, and anyone he touched, of his dedication.

His other hand wiped a few tears, though there was little to be done to get rid of all of them. "Forgive me for my nephews actions, you do know this is hard for us." It was not his fault, I knew that too well, but I didn't feel like a woman next to them, I felt more like a trophy. "It's not your fault... I just... I wish I could do something to stop this." For a moment everything around us was silent.

"Do you love Fili?" My puffy eyes looked at the king, whose face was too closer for his own good. I saw the redness around Thorin's own eyes. It was his nephew, someone he had seen as his own son, his heir. A brother in arms. A friend. His own blood. His own gaze dropped, and his hand fell from my chin, instead squeezing my shoulders in support. "I... I don't know. Not anymore." I spoke, my voice small and uneven.

"Do not worry about us, (Y/N). Family marriage is not common, but if it's necessary... Then it will be done." My hands covered my face this time as I cried, and I cried hard, for longer than I had ever done so in my life. I had never hurt this much. But Thorin continued, his voice firm and all-knowing, every bit the King he now was. "We will always be here for anything you want, amrâlimê." Thorin's grip tightened and he shook my shoulders to get me to look at him. "Even if it means not being able to touch you ever again."

"But I don't know what to do. I had never-- Everyone told me--" I paused. "I can't just choose one of you..." I admitted, my fears and the feelings my own words stirred outweighing the unbearable urge to keep crying.

"It's been 2 days since you arrived. You do not have to choose now." Thorin said gently. 1 month in coma. Another month to arrive to Erebor. And 2 days here. Most of the people in the kingdom had probably not even met me, I realized, I had not met the miners, who now made the Lonely Mountain breathe. I had only met farmers, traders, young smiths with too firm a livelihood to leave it all behind for a forgotten kingdom. "As for what you'll do in the meantime... Well, look around you. There's a city to run, and I'll need my family to manage a good bit of it."

I must have shown my surprise, because Thorin's sternness faded into watery territory, as if he was afraid of causing me to cry more. "You are my family, (Y/N). Married to any of us or by blood. You have been apart of this family for a long time, even since you were born. You are a Durin, and a Durin lives on through the hardships. None of us want you to have no place, and nor would I."

His words brought more tears, once more. And he let out a sigh, before pulling me into one of his rare hugs. And I cried, the pain wouldn't go away, because it was still raw, but I knew Thorin spoke true. I had to do something for myself, learn to be a princess, learn to use my magic wisely and help my cousins in the process, they need me. And I won't dare to fail them.

// Timeskip //

A week passed since that day, well, night, and since then I practiced and fought against my cousins to increase our stamina and improve attacks and defenses. A new dwarf has been training with us since yesterday, his name is Gimli, the son of Glóin. The only one who has not been practicing with us is Gabi, who is with Dwalin, Brute and brute, defending the kingdom. We are tall to be Durins but we resemble both dwarves and elves, in appareance and personality. It was funny to Balin that the dwarves of the kingdom didn't believe us to be descendants of Durin until they make them see the Family Tree book.