Bloodstained (Thorin x OC)

Of Treasure and Dragons

Everyone looked on in silence after the door was opened, awestruck and amazed that they had, in fact, made it this far.

"Erebor." Thorin said softly.

"Thorin?" Balin began welling up with tears. He grew up in the mountain, this was his home. And they were finally there again after one hundred and seventy years. Thorin placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and stepped inside.

"I know these walls, these halls, this stone." His voice held so much emotion, making Agarwaen's heart ache for them. She backed up even further and sat down on a rock, knowing that this moment was not hers to share.

"Do you remember it, Balin? Chambers filled with golden light?"

"I remember." Balin replied, following Thorin in. Everyone else fell in line behind him, and walked in one at a time.

Agarwaen smiled, glad that the dwarves were finally home despite the hollow feeling in her chest. She sat there, looking out at the starry night sky, wondering what would happen now. She'd promised Bilbo she'd take him home, but his contract wasn't up yet. He still had a job to do. Maybe she should return to Laketown now? The dragon still slept, so maybe there was some time to prepare laketown for the latter half of the prophecy or evacuate it. After a few more minutes, she heard footsteps leaving the mountain door.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Thorin asked.

"I...this is your home, Thorin. One of the seven dwarven kingdoms, and I am an elf. It would be intrusive and I do not feel that it would be...right...for me to walk your halls." Thorin sat down beside her.

"It would be anything but intrusive. We could not have done this without you. You are a member of the company."

"Not anymore." She shook her head. "My contract is complete, my purpose on this journey fulfilled. You don't need me anymore."

"It's not about needing you." He looked up at her. "It's about wanting you with us. You are more than just our guide. You are our friend, you're like family. The first elf in all of history that I am willing to call kin." Agarwaen stood up abruptly.

"Don't...don't call me your kin. I am undeserving of that title."

"Agar, you've been with us through thick and thin, never failing, never wavering. Your loyalty and honor are that of the greatest I've ever known." She clenched her jaw to try and keep herself from tearing up.

"You may think so, but what about every other dwarf from the blue mountains to the iron hills? You are a king now, Thorin. You will have an image to uphold, and calling an elf kin will put that in jeopardy."

"Your friendship is worth more than my image. Everyone else here will agree with me." He stood up, and took her hands in his. "Once this is over, once we've fully reclaimed Erebor, I want to extend an invitation to you. An invitation to stay for as long as you like, and be rewarded for your bravery, honor, and friendship to dwarrowkind." She couldn't help her mouth dropping open at his statement. Did he even know what he was saying?"

"I agree." Dwalin stepped out of the door, followed by the other dwarves except for Balin and Bilbo. Thorin dropped her hands. "You've come all this way with us, I wouldn't dream of leaving you on the doorstep. Not to mention you haven't even been paid yet."

"I care not for treasures." She shook her head. "I am a wanderer. I have no use for excessive jewels or sacks of gold."

"Then what can we give you?" Thorin asked.

"Your companionship and this whole venture has been plenty. I could never have asked for anything more." Thorin was clearly unsatisfied with her answer. One of the only ways dwarves knew how to express extreme gratitude was through riches, so her denying such things was strange to them. "Please, accept my denial of treasures." The dwarf king nodded, and stepped back.