evankart: Trip to Shire. He is aware of the jests being made at his expense, that out of a mountai

evankart:

Trip to Shire.

He is aware of the jests being made at his expense, that out of a mountain, Thorin Oakenshield has the poorest sense of direction of any Dwarf ever born.  It’s a Durin trait that has thankfully passed over his sister-sons and most of his cousins but then there are, indeed, Certain Circumstances as to why Thorin was still blessed or cursed with this specific family trait. 

It doesn’t matter right now, anyway. 

It had taken him weeks of getting lost in his own bloody mountain to admit the truth that he’s tried to bury down deep, ever since a Certain Moment upon the battlements of Erebor - a moment that involved rage and betrayal and the look on a Certain Hobbit’s face.  It is a grief and pain he sees mirrored in his own face when Thorin allows himself the space to be alone, away from duty and responsibility and the rebuilding of a kingdom.  

There are also, of course, other memories that bring just as much pain.  Stolen kisses, an embrace, the warm weight of one’s beloved in his arms, soft laughter and gentle jests, the scent of curly auburn hair, the smoothness of skin against his rough hands.  It is worse when he dreams of these, because it will always end to him waking up in a cold bed and an empty room and two simple words.

I wish. 

A Dwarf will never get lost if he’s finding he’s way home.  And this is what Thorin Oakenshield is doing now, step by step, his own stone-sense unerringly steering him in the direction of the Shire, to the Hobbit that he now knows will mean home for him from now on.  The King Under the Mountain again sleeps on hard ground under the stars and the Moon and still he dreams and the dreams, while they bring back cherished memories, are all the worse upon his waking.  But this time, things are different.  He wakes to his companions, his sister-sons, who for once, have the kindness not to tease him.  And he wakes with two simple words etched in his heart.

I hope. 

****

I FICCED.  AGAIN.  BEAUTIFUL ARTPROMPT IS BEAUTIFUL.  PLS TO BLAME WANDERINGQUILL FOR INFLICTING HER PLOT BUNNIES ON ME.  ALSO ON KILI BECAUSE HE CAN’T RESIST THE CUTE AND THE FUZZY…..