Thorin's Forgotten Past

Chapter 8: Persuasion

-Thorin's POV-

It has been a few weeks since I left Bree so far the trip has been most uneventful. I've encountered just a few lone travelers, mostly merchants peddling their goods to nearby towns. To my surprise there have been no orcs. The Rangers have been guarding the land well.

I made a few stops, just long enough to rest my pony and to give him food and water. On the first day of the third week of my journey I finally saw the great entrance of the dwarven kingdoms or Ered Luin not far in the distance. I choked back my emotions. I had forgotten how much I missed my fellow dwarves.

It took the greater part of an hour to reach the great wooden gates that surrounded the city. As I traveled through the city I looked around at the grand architecture carved by the dwarves. The dwarves were expert masons. Their exquisite stone work was renowned throughout the lands of Middle Earth. Although this was not the city I left on that dreadful night, I did feel quite at home.

I passed many dwarves, some that I recognized. I greeted them with delight. It was good to see familiar faces. After I left with Eva I did not know what happened to my fellow dwarves. I was so glad that so many of them had survived the dragon's fiery attack but I mourned for all those who were lost. This only made my resolve to train the dwarves even greater. I would make sure that my people would never again be left at the mercy of an enemy.

In the middle of the city sat the new grand throne room, a monument to the perseverance of dwarves. I dismounted my pony and handed him over to the stable boy. I paid him a fair fee to make sure he fed and watered him. I turned towards the throne room eager to tell my grandfather King Thror about my plan. I walked up the great staircase that lead to the upper level. It didn't take long to get to the doors of the throne room.

King Thror was talking with my father, Prince Thrain. They stopped their conversation when they heard the giant doors open.

"Thorin, my son," my father said with a hint of surprise in his voice, "You've been gone for two years. We had given up any hope that you would ever return. We heard that there orcs have been prowling around in the woods. After not hearing from you we assumed that you had fallen victim to them. Tell me son, where have you been and why do you return to us now after being gone for so long?"

"I have been traveling throughout the land training with the Dunedain Rangers. After the defeat of our people, I vowed that I would find a way to prevent that from ever happening again. I teamed up with the rangers and they taught me to fight in exchange for helping them get information on the orc," I answered. "I trained to fight and now I wish to train my fellow dwarves to defend themselves against the growing evil that has entered our land."

"What about the half-blood?" King Thror asked changing the subject.

"I left her in a mortal village where she will be cared for," I answered, annoyed that my grandfather seemed unconcerned about the greater issue.

"Why did you even bother? You know she is a disgrace. I was hoping that you would have left her in the woods to fend for herself. It would have been better for her and us," my father said.

Anger welled up in my chest, "Because it is my duty as future king to take care of my people, whoever or whatever they are. Her father was a friend and a brave dwarf. He did not run when the fire drake attacked our home and for that he lost his life. I honored his bravery by tending to his child. I am ashamed that it took me so long to remember our childhood bond and you too should be ashamed of how you treated Golther's daughter."

"Do not speak in such a way in our presence Thorin!" my father commanded.

I wanted to argue but knew that would go nowhere. I would not get into an argument about something so trivial when there were bigger things to discuss so instead I said, "Grandfather, father I'm here to ask if I could raise up an army to begin preparations for war. I now have the skills necessary and as I said before, there is evil lurking all around and we must be ready for it when it comes. The orcs know about the ring of power you hold and when they discover where you now dwell they will come to take the ring and we will not be able to fight them unless we raise an army and train."

"What war? You are talking nonsense my son. We are safe here deep in the mountain. Let men deal with the orcs we will not get involved. We lost too many good dwarves to the fire drake and I will not risk anymore on foolishness," Thrain answered angrily.

I began to pace. I was losing my patience at their stubbornness, "While training, I came across many orcs. They spoke about capturing the heirs of Durin. One particular group finally revealed what they were after, the ring given to Durin by Sauron." My grandfather grabbed his hand which bore the ring. I continued, "We are the only ones who still bear one of the seven rings. You must listen to me. The orcs will eventually come in great numbers. We must be ready."

"Thorin, did you not notice that these walls are the sides of mountains? They are impenetrable." King Thror said dismissing me, "Let them come they will never get inside."

We dwarves are a stubborn race so I knew there was no point continuing the discussion. I had to think of something else. I quickly bought up another argument appealing to my Grandfather's love of his home and his treasure, "What about when we return to Erebor? We are going to need a strong army to destroy the dragon if we want to reclaim our home and stolen gold one day."

The king and elder prince thought for a moment. They mumbled a few words between them before they turned their attention back to me.

My grandfather said, "I am growing tired of arguing with you. You are as stubborn as the rest of us. Do as you wish. I will let you train an army but I think it is a waste of time. It may be years before the dragon dies and we attempt to return to Erebor. I will not risk taking our home back without assurance that the dragon is dead so you see what a waste of time raising an army will be but it is your time not mine."

His lack of concern about the dangers around us exasperated me but at least he was going to let me go through with my plan.

He turned away from me and with a wave of his hand, dismissed me.

I did as he wished and left the throne room. I had a lot of work ahead of me.

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-JFDragonFire