After the Fire ~ Chapter Forty-Four
Summary: Following the Battle of the Five Armies, a grievously wounded Thorin is brought back to the kingdom of Erebor, which is still mostly in ruins. Although he’s survived the wounds he received at the end of Azog’s blade, his recovery is far from complete. Grief, regret, anger, all are making his journey that much more difficult and the physical recovery isn’t quite the most difficult challenge he faces.
Jasna Stoneham is no stranger to loss, as she is a survivor of Smaug’s wrath upon Esgaroth. When she is asked to help the dwarves healers of Erebor, her instinct is to say no, but she needs the job, and so agrees to it. However, no one told her that of all the patients, she would be responsible for the king himself, Thorin Oakenshield.
Unfortunately, the road to recovery isn’t necessary a smooth one, but if there’s one thing Thorin will learn, it’s that Jasna is just as stubborn as he is and for every step back he takes, she is there to push him three steps forward. And Jasna will soon find out that there is a gentle, softer side to the dwarf king, one that very few people have ever seen and one he fights to keep hidden from her as well. But like his recovery, that is also easier said than done.
Summary: In Dale, Thorin grows jealous of the attention Bard pays to Jasna…
Pairing: Thorin Oakenshield x ofc Jasna Stoneham
Characters: Jasna, Thorin, Óin, Bard, Sigrid
Warnings: None
Rating: T
Word Count: 2,785
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Previous chapters can be found here.
“Miss—er—Yer Majesty? Might I have a word with ye?”
Jasna rolled her eyes. “Óin, please, for the last time, Jasna is fine.”
“Oh, I couldn’t be so bold.”
“You can and you will if you wish me to answer you.” She turned toward him, hands on her hips. “I promise you, I don't mind. Thorin won’t mind. Neither one of us will mind, so please… use my name?”
He smiled then. “I have your final grades.”
Her belly did a slow flip and her mouth went dry. “Do I want to know?”
“Ye are now officially qualified to see and treat any body that comes through that door, whether Narnerra or I are here or not. Well done, Mrs. Durin.”
She smiled and without thinking, wrapped Óin in a tight embrace. “Thank you!”
“Thank you? Why are ye thanking me?” he carefully untangled from her and held out the long stiff envelope in his hand. “Ye did all of this yerself, you know. I told ye how ye had gift. Perhaps now ye’ll believe me?”
She took the envelope, her hands shaking as she opened it and her eyes filled with tears at the certificate proclaiming her as a healer. “Oh, I don't know… it still seems too good to be true.”
“Ye’ll still need to just run things by us, let us look over yer work when ye finish, but I daresay, there will be need for that for only a short while. Ye’ve done excellent work and I am as proud of ye as if ye were my own daughter.”
She hugged him again. “You have no idea what that means to me to hear, Óin. I know you w-w-w-weren’t exactly th-th-thrilled to have me here last winter.”
“I admit, I was hesitant but we needed a body. And I am not too proud to admit I was wrong about ye. We are lucky to have ye. Just as Thorin is.”
“Would you mind if I went to tell him?”
Óin offered up a long look. “Yer the Queen, Yer Majesty. I think it safe to say ye outrank me.”
“Óin!”
“Is he giving you a hard time, mesmel?” Thorin asked as he came into the infirmary. “Because if he is—”
“He’s not at all. In fact, he’s doing the opposite and killing me with respect.”
“As he should.” Thorin winked.
“Oh, no. Not you, too.”
“What is this?” He reached for the envelope, which she let him take, and as he slid the parchment from it, he smiled and nodded. “I can hardly say I’m surprise, amrâlimê. You are good at what you do.”
“I guess perhaps I am.”
He reached for her, drawing her into his arms. “You are. Now, I’m on my way to Dale, and while I hope to be back before sundown, it’s entirely possible the bowman will have me there far longer.”
“I can go with you, if you like. He doesn’t seem to give me any trouble.”
“That’s because yer far prettier than this old goat,” Óin broke in.
“Oh, that’s not nice, nor is it true.”
“It most definitely is true,” Thorin told her, grinning as he eased an arm about her waist. “You’re absolutely prettier than I am. And if you wish to come with me, I’d love the company. Let me just tell Dwalin and we’ll be on our way.”
“Did you have a chance to speak with Mr. Baggins before he left?”
“I did and he was a little hesitant at first,” Thorin admitted somewhat sheepishly, “but then invited us to pay him a call, should we find ourselves in the Shire.”
Jasna frowned. “That isn’t very encouraging.”
“No, it isn’t. And I don't suppose I might fault him, but at the same time…”
She sighed softly. “We don't have to visit the Shire. I’d rather not make him uncomfortable.”
“He has no cause to be uncomfortable. He and I were but friends.”
“Well, that’s how you saw it. He, however, saw it differently. It would be as if you and Shael had come to pay my mother a visit.”
“But, mesmel, Bilbo and I were not lovers.”
“I know that. But he still is in love with you and it does not matter that you have never felt the same way toward him.”
A pained look crept across his face. “Perhaps then we should avoid the Shire. At least for now. In time, his feelings might change.”
“They might, true.” Even as she said it, though, Jasna did not believe it. Somehow, she had the feeling Thorin was far more difficult to get over than he imagined himself to be. “I would like to see Rivendell, though.”
“And you shall. Rivendell and Mirkwood. And hopefully no spiders.”
***
Jasna tucked her arm through Thorin’s as they made their way along Dale’s main street. It was a beautiful day, although the summer’s heat crept in early and reminded her of why she preferred the colder months overall. But, autumn was only a short time off and then winter would return and she smiled, thinking of the leather bracelet she’d bought to give Thorin the day she and Narnerra ventured into Dale.
She glanced up at him. That day had ended so terribly and when she’d left Erebor that night, she was positive she would never see it—or Thorin—again. But the universe had a way of righting itself and now there she was, with him.
“What’s on your mind?”
His murmured question jolted her from her reverie. “I beg your pardon?”
“You looked up at me with a very serious expression. Am I in trouble?”
“Should you be?”
“I should hope not, but I’ve learned in dealing with my sister, women don't always tell you right away.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’ve much to learn about women, you know. Trust me, if you’ve angered me, I will definitely l-l-let you know.”
“I wonder if I should be glad or dread it.”
“I think it safe to say you will eventually find out.”
He chuckled as they made their way up the steps of the Provincial House and he rapped the brass knocker against the door. “I wonder if the older daughter will be her usual warm and friendly self to me?”
“Thorin, she’s not necessarily out of line to be upset with you.”
He offered up a long look. “Perhaps she needs to learn to let the past lie.”
Jasna gave his arm a squeeze. She certainly didn't want to fight with him, even if she understood exactly why Sigrid refused to warm up to him.
The door opened and Jasna bit back a smile as Sigrid said, “Miss Jasna! It’s wonderful to see you! How are you?”
“I’m good, Miss Sigrid, and how are you?”
“I’m fine. Da is in a bit of a mood, but otherwise nothing much changes here.” She slid her gaze to Thorin and her smile faded. “Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Sigrid. I have a meeting today with your father and I hope neither of you minds that Her Majesty has come with me.”
“Of course not. We like her.”
From the corner of her eye, Jasna saw Thorin’s jaw tighten, and she cleared her throat, “Might we come in?”
“Oh, of course.” Sigrid stepped back to allow them room, then called, “Da! The King and Queen of Erebor are here!”
The Queen of Erebor. Jasna’s belly fluttered at the sound of it. She wondered if she would ever get used to hearing in in reference to herself. Somehow, she didn't think so.
“Ah, Thorin, Miss Jasna,” Bard smiled as he came down the main staircase, “or would you prefer I call you Your Majesty?”
She laughed, shaking her head. “Don’t you dare, Bard. I hear enough of th-that in Erebor from Narnerra and Óin.”
“They respect you, mesmel,” Thorin said, his voice low.
“I understand that and appreciate it,” she told him, shaking her head, “but I’ve assured them it’s quite all right to use my given name as they always did.”
“They won’t, though.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Bard looked from her to Thorin and back. “I’m sure they wish you to know they respect you.”
“I know they do. But it sounds so strange still.”
“You’ve only been the Queen a day,” Bard reminded her with with a chuckle, “it won’t always sound so strange.”
Sigrid looked from her father to Thorin. “Shall I fetch coffee or tea?”
“Tea would be lovely, Sigrid,” Bard replied with a nod. “And we’ll be in my office. Miss—Your Majesty, will you be joining us?”
“If you wouldn’t mind having me.”
“Of course not.” Bard glanced at Thorin. “I would be more surprised if you didn't wish to sit in with us. I know how your mind works.”
“Do you?” Thorin replied slowly. “For I am still learning.”
“Well, Jasna and I go back to childhood almost.”
“Almost.” Jasna replied with a grin. “You are still older than me.”
“Only by a few years. Not enough to matter.”
Sigrid smiled. “Wait, you knew Da when he was my age?”
Jasna nodded. “Oh, I did, indeed. And he was a tr-tr-troublemaker.”
“Da?” Sigrid stared up at him. “Are you serious, Miss Jasna?”
“Very much so, yes.”
“I was not nearly as bad as she likes to make it seem,” Bard broke in with a low chuckle. “In fact, you should only know what I could tell you about her.”
Thorin cleared his throat. “If we might…”
“Oh, right.” A hint of color showed along Bard’s cheekbones. “Of course. Right in here.”
Jasna bit the inside of her cheek as Thorin marched into the room ahead of her. If she didn't know any better, she’d swear he was jealous of Bard. Which was funny, really, as surely he couldn't think there had been anything between her and Bard. He knew for a fact he was the first, and only, man she’d ever been with.
So why would he be jealous?
And yet, he couldn’t look at Bard without a glare and Jasna knew Thorin well enough to recognize the tension in his jaw, the tension in his broad shoulders. He looked over at her and when she smiled, his eyes softened and she didn't know if it was intentional or not, but his hand came to rest atop hers, his thick fingers tightening slightly.
“So, are the first inspections ready to begin?” Thorin asked, his thumb brushing along the side of her hand.
“Yes and no.”
“Yes and no? How is that even possible?”
“Some of them are, but some are not. The pilings have been set, and are ready, but the contractor ran out of lumber before finished the docks and walkways.”
“Ran out?” Thorin shook his head. “You mean to tell me, the man whose job it is to know how much lumber he needed to build what he knew needed budding, didn’t know how much he needed?”
“Yes and no.”
Thorin scowled. “Again with the yes and no.”
“You and I need to pay Mr. Walters a visit. I have a feeling one of his men is trying to pad his coffers by pretending to run short on supplies. He has a yard here, in the northern part of the city, and I think that is where we will find his surplus.”
“So, you hired a man who in turn is attempting to cheat me?”
Jasna winced at the cold undertone of Thorin’s deep voice. “Thorin, I doubt Bard—” she began.
Bard interrupted her. “No, I hired a man who I’ve dealt with before, but who has hired an overseer for this project. The overseer is the one I think is trying to swindle us.”
“Us?” Thorin let out a thoroughly humorless laugh. “What us, Bard? I am the one being swindled. Erebor’s coffers are the ones being stolen from. If this man is stealing from me, I most assuredly wish to speak to him. Now.”
Bard’s eyes widened. “Now?”
“Yes, now. Should I wait for him to steal even more from me?” Thorin pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “So, shall we?”
“Very well.”
Jasna watched them both stand. “If you don't mind, I think I will stay here. Perhaps Miss Sigrid might catch me up on the gossip that I’ve missed, being in Erebor all this time.”
“Of course,” Bard said warmly, smiling as he added, “Make yourself at home, as always. Miss Jasna.”
Jasna didn't miss the way Thorin’s jaw tightened, and she held her breath as she waited for him to say something. But, instead, he just looked from Bard to her, and leaned over to capture her lips in a kiss that went from light to deep in the blink of an eye. He slid an arm about her waist, bending her back slightly as his lips parted and his tongue swept along hers to steal the breath from her lungs.
When he finally drew back, he smiled, his eyes soft as they held hers. “Behave, mesmel.”
“You as well. Make no trouble, Thorin.”
“I promise nothing. Especially if this man is truly trying to steal from me. I will not take kindly to it, you understand.”
She glanced at the sword on his back and offered up a silent prayer he didn't think to draw it on anyone. “I mean with Bard, too.”
“The Bowman would do well to watch his tongue where you are concerned. He seems a bit too friendly for my liking.”
“I’ve known Bard most of my life, Thorin. You’ve nothing to worry about.”
“Be that as it may, he is a bit too friendly for my liking.”
In the doorway, Bard paused as if he’d heard them whispering about him, and turned. “Are you coming, Thorin?”
“Yes, yes.” Thorin bent and brushed her lips once more, his kiss not quite as deep as before. “Do not gossip too much.”
“Go. And try not to hurt anyone in the process.”
“I promise nothing.”
***
“I admit, I am surprised you didn't send one of the others in your stead.”
Thorin glanced over at Bard as they made their way down Oak Street, toward the northeastern corner of Dale, where the lumber yards were located. “Why?”
“Well, your wedding was but a day ago.”
“And my bride understands that some things will not wait. Not even for a king. Or especially for a king.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“What is your interest in Jasna?” Thorin asked bluntly, stepping before him and halting him with a hand to the man’s chest.
Bard seemed a bit surprised by the question, stopping suddenly, his eyes wide. “I beg your pardon?”
“I believe I was quite clear, bowman. What is your interest in my wife?”
“She is but a friend, Thorin. An old, dear friend, is all. Why?”
“You just seem to be quite at ease with her and I am not at all certain I care for it.”
“So, she is not allowed to have friends?”
“Friends?” Thorin snorted without thinking. “Am I to believe you have women friends, Bard? I’ve not seen you with any other than Jasna.”
“Just because you’ve not seen it, does not mean they don’t exist, my friend. And you’ve seen me with Jasna but once. And if I recall, you had another woman with you, didn't you?”
Thorin’s gut tightened at the quiet confidence in Bard’s low voice. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Bard shook his head and shrugged at the same time. “But I think it odd that you seem to be all right with having women as friends, but your wife is not afforded the same.”
“She can have all of the women friends she wishes.”
“You know what I mean.”
Thorin stared at him. “Miss Whitbow and I are friends and have been since we were much younger, and Jasna knows this. Miss Whitbow is also very nearly betrothed to my nephew. Unless things have changed, you are still unattached, are you not?”
“I am, yes.”
“So, again, I’ll ask you—what is your interest any my wife?”
“That of a friend alone, Thorin.”
“Good. You would be wise to keep it at that.”
“So I gathered,” Bard replied dryly. Then, he gestured on down the road. “Might we continue?”
Thorin bobbed his head, but as Bard moved on ahead of him, he continued to glare at the bowman’s back. Somehow, he didn't trust the man where Jasna was concerned. The sooner Esgaroth was rebuilt, the sooner Thorin would have no need to deal with Bard and the happier they’d probably both be.
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