Bloodstained (Thorin x OC)

Gifts of Honor

Bombur and several others had been working busily, preparing food that was brought by the elves and dwarves. It wasn't exactly a feast, but it was something. After Agarwaen had eaten, and Thorin finished speaking with Bard, Thorin pulled her aside, away from everyone.

"There is something I need to ask you. It is something of a quest of your own, I suppose." He started.

"What do you mean?" She asked before Thorin pulled the Arkenstone out of his pocket.

"This jewel...It drove my grandfather mad. It drove me mad..." He looked down at it, seemingly at war with himself. "Will you take it from me?"

"I..." She wasn't sure what to say. She knew this was of importance, but she could not take it.

"When you leave here, I want you to take it with you. I...I never want to see it again. I never want to see Fili or Kili fall to its beauty like I did. Please."

"Thorin, when I leave here, it will be in shackles into Mirkwood." Thorin shook his head.

"Thranduil no longer has any claim over your life."

"What?"

"Your debt has been paid."

"With what? What did you give him? What did you promise him?" She began to panic, worrying that he'd done something brash. Surely Thranduil would not release her so easily.

"An alliance, trade, and his gems. That is all." He assured her.

"There has to be more." She shook her head. "He wouldn't have..."

"He did. And I am not one to question that which is in my favor. You are free." After a few more moments of shock and confusion, she finally forced herself to return to the subject at hand.

"What will I do with it?" She gently took the Arkenstone from him, her fingers running over its smooth surface as it shone brightly between them.

"Keep it, bury it, drop it off a cliff, I do not care so long as it never reaches the hands of another dwarf again." He tore his gaze from it and finally looked back up to her.

"You're serious?"

"More serious than I ever have been in my life. Agarwaen...it drove me to break my word. It stripped me of my honor and in my blindness, I hurt those I care about." He reached up to touch her cheek and ran his thumb over the forming scar across her face. She leaned into his touch and looked down at the stone once more before tucking into her pocket.

"I will make sure it is taken care of." His hand reluctantly retreated back to his side.

"Thank you." He smiled. "I also have something else for you." He pulled out two other objects, though these were much smaller. He held them out in the palm of his hand. Two beads. "It symbolizes honor, and will show that you are a war hero, someone to be respected among dwarves." She took them and examined the runes and design etched into it. It looked new. They were rectangular, the runes on two sides of each bead, with a symbol and design on the other two sides.

"What does it say?" She asked in reference to the runes.

"Aet'manan Khuzi and Azbad al Silfdor. Moonlit warrior and Lady of Mithril. I made them myself over these past few days."

"I...thank you." Her voice was quiet in wonder and gratitude. "But..."

"What?"

"I cannot imagine your people would want me to wear what is sacred to your kind."

"That is why I give them to you. As a gift from the king, it demands that respect be given to you, no matter your race."

"How should I wear them?"