#never felt happier with timing like i did by taking my oath of vengeance before going there. i adore them. CAN ANYONE HEAR ME HELLO HES SO-

[thewarriorandtheking]

Fallout

For Prompt 13 of the Tale Teller’s 52-Week Writing Challenge: 

“Look at me, dammit.”

This is the sequel to last week’s Temptation, for those of you who are following along. Time for Thorin to face the consequences of his actions in the garden...

52-Week Writing Challenge Masterlist

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Thorin Oakenshield stood at the edge of the grassy slope, beneath his feet a sheer wall of rock descended to the sea that spread out before him. There was a slight breeze blowing in, full of the smell of salt and distant shores, the waves crashing on the rocks below him. It was a beautiful fall day, crisp and clear, the sun warm on his face. Thorin thought to himself he had never been happier than he was at this moment.

Just a few moments ago he and Kaylea Wolf had been married, again. This time it was in front of her family, this time it was Thorin’s turn to learn an unfamiliar ceremony. The Dorsai ceremony was quite different from that of the Dwarves. On Dorsai each spoke their own vows. Thorin had found himself nearly overcome with emotion speaking of his love for Kaylea, as she stood before him. When it was her turn, he could hear the emotion in her voice, saw the tears well in her eyes as she set the ring on his finger. It was a moment he would remember the rest of his life.

Thorin heard a step and half-turned his head. Kaylea came up behind him and slid her arms around his waist, nibbling on his ear. He looked down putting his hands over hers, their wedding rings sparkled in the sun. He realized suddenly this was the moment he had seen in the Lady Galadriel’s mirror all those long years ago. Although he had been afraid to believe it at the time, the mirror had shown him the truth after all. He turned and took his wife in his arms, kissing her deeply. Even after all these years, there was almost nothing he enjoyed more than kissing his wife. The way she tasted, the feel of her body against his, the smell of her skin. Once he started he never wanted to stop.

After a long moment, Kaylea pulled back. “What are you doing out here, husband?”

“Thinking I am the happiest man on this planet, my wife,” Thorin replied, with a wide smile.

“We need to go in and mingle.”

Thorin pulled her closer. “Do we have to?” He whispered into her neck. “I can think of several other things I would rather do.”

Kaylea laughed, she ran her finger down his nose. “Rules.”

“Ah, yes. Rules,” Thorin rolled his eyes, then took her hand and they walked together back to the Graham keep. The reception was already in full swing, there was a smattering of applause as they walked in. Thorin went to fetch drinks as Kaylea moved among their guests. He leaned on the bar, watching her across the room. He did love that dress. She was wearing the same gown she had worn at her coronation in Erebor, it had been fabulously expensive and worth every penny. Made of pale blue silk and real gold and silver threads it sparkled like a gemstone and fit like a second skin. She was wearing the necklace with the large sapphires he had made for her, to match her ring. It nestled perfectly in the wide heart-shaped neckline; with her long earrings and jeweled circlet she looked every bit the Queen of Erebor. It was a very different look for her here in her homeland, normally when you saw Kaylea Wolf at a formal occasion on Dorsai she was wearing a dress uniform. Idly, Thorin wondered if that dress had a proper closure now, the last time she had been sewn into it and he had to cut the seam. That was a pleasant memory.

“Here you are, your majesty,” said the young Graham behind the bar, interrupting his reverie to hand him his drinks. Thorin turned around to find himself looking into a very familiar pair of green eyes.

He had seen Lady Sinclair at the ceremony, sitting near the front. Today she was wearing an even more spectacular necklace made with one of the rarest jewels in the Empire. The only other khyrstone Thorin had ever seen was worn by the Emperor’s daughter, and this one was a smaller but finer stone. She was wearing a tight-fitting rose-colored dress, though it was long-sleeved and floor length it somehow showed off her body just as effectively as the short one she had been wearing the previous day.

“Did he call you ‘your majesty’?” She raised her eyebrows, her lips curled into surprised smile. “There must be a story there.”

Thorin nodded, carefully not looking at her necklace. “In my own country I am a king.”

“Really?” She moved closer, Thorin stepped back but ran up against the bar. “If you are a king, then you can do whatever you want!”

Thorn shook his head. “I am afraid not. Kings are restrained by a great many rules, my lady.” He could smell her rich, exotic scent, impossible to ignore. “If you will excuse me.”

She leaned in, looking up at him coyly. “What do you think of this necklace? I thought of your interest in gems when I chose it.”

He glanced down quickly, then met her gaze. “It is exquisite, my lady.” And indeed it was. Khyrstones were prized for their inner fire, for Thorin they always brought to mind the fabled silmarils of the Elves. He wondered if even those famous gems contained the same light as this stone. He wanted to take a closer look, but he was more interested in getting away from her. “Now, if you will excuse me,” he said again.

“What’s your hurry, your majesty?” Siann asked, stepping in and laying her hand on his arm. She ran her fingers over the jewels sewn into the designs. “Mmmm…I like your coat.”

“My lady, I would like to deliver this drink before it gets warm,” Thorin said patiently. As hard as he tried, he could not keep himself from admiring her youthful beauty. She had so many qualities Dwarves prized in their women: petite, voluptuous figure, pale skin, spectacular jewelry.

Before Siann could reply, Kaylea was behind her, speaking into her ear. “Find yourself another toy, little girl,” her voice was full of venom.

Siann glanced at her, then back at Thorin with a smug smile, not moving her hand. “How’s your leg?”

Kaylea’s eyes narrowed, she leaned forward slightly. “Run along now, before you get hurt.”

Lady Sinclair turned to face her. “You would start a war with Clan Sinclair over a bit of fun?”

Kaylea stared at her coldly, it was a look that would make even a Kzin back down. “Try me.”

Siann shrugged, rolling her eyes as if unimpressed, but she had turned a shade paler. She moved off to join her kinsmen on the other side of the room. Kaylea watched her go, then turned her gaze on Thorin. “We need to talk.”

“Right now?” Thorin asked, but Kaylea was already headed across the room to the door in the corner that led to Ian Graham’s office. He took a deep breath and followed her, wondering if he had enough time to down both the drinks in his hands before he got there, and if it would even help. He certainly did not have a good excuse for his behavior the previous night, he still didn’t fully understand how it had even happened.

Kaylea shut the door behind him and Thorin put the drinks down on the desk before turning to face her. He had an odd flashback to the last time they had been in this room, explaining their love for one another to her lord. Ian’s office was all dark furniture and paneling, with a beautiful portrait of his late wife behind the desk. It had the air of a place not much used.

“So, tell me about your leg,” Kaylea asked in Khuzdul, which meant she was doubly serious. She stood in front of the wide desk, arms crossed over her chest. Thorin could see she was angry in the set of her jaw, the way she held her shoulders. All he could do now was tell his wife the truth and hope she forgave him. He took a deep breath and told her the story. The meeting in the garden, how he had felt somehow bewitched, the almost kiss. And how Vuko had intervened. They had not seen each other since the previous morning, but Kaylea had certainly noticed the stiffness in his leg, she missed nothing.  

Kaylea was silent for a long time, looking at him expressionlessly. Thorin knew from past experience she was a master at controlling her emotions, it had taken him forever to puzzle out that she felt the same passion for him as he did for her. He wished she would show him some passion now. He almost wanted her to yell, rage and throw things. Instead, she stood in stony silence.

“This is the whole story?” She asked at last.

“Yes,” Thorin replied. He could not meet her eyes. “I am sorry, my love. I do not know what came over me.” He shook his head. “I have no excuse.”

She made no answer, instead turning her back and walking over to gaze out the tall windows. It was some time before she spoke. “I am disappointed, my king.”

Her anger he could face, her disappointment wounded him to his core. Thorin felt as if she had speared him in the chest and twisted the shaft. Quickly he crossed the room and knelt before her, bowing his head. “I have told you the whole truth,” he said. “Tell me what I must do to earn your forgiveness, my queen. I will swear any oath, do anything you wish.” He reached up to take her hand in his, but she seemed unmoved, still looking out the windows. At least look at me, dammit. Thorin thought to himself.

“You know what oath-taking means on Dorsai,” Kaylea said quietly. “When I disappointed you it cost me my braids. What will you give up for me?”

Thorin looked up at her, remembering that day. After he had questioned her loyalty she had cut off her braids that matched his to seal her oath that she would prove herself to him. It had been one of the worst days of his life, she was twisting that spear with a vengeance.

He bowed his head, speaking carefully. “If you ask for a finger, I will gladly give it. If your ask for my braids, you can have them.” He looked up just as she turned her head to look at him.

Kaylea regarded him silently for a long moment, then she dropped her eyes, smiling faintly. “I will have neither,” she said softly. “Siann Sinclair has…a reputation. I am well aware of the games she likes to play. But to be taken in by that girl, husband! I thought you were stronger.”

Thorin took a deep breath. That had really hurt, because she was right. He got to his feet, grasping her other hand. “And so I should have been. As I said, I have no excuse. Shall we call your weapons master?” Thorin was ready to face that round room with its center stone and waiting knife. If she needed him to swear, he would gladly give up a finger. He met her eyes, awaiting the verdict. He felt sudden stab of relief when he saw the rigid posture of her body just slightly relax. She reached up to put her hand on his beard.

“There will be no need for that, my king. I do not forgive you yet, but I understand. And though there was intent, all that passed between you was words – thanks to Vuko. Let us speak no more of it.”

“Your disappointment wounds me deeply, my love. What must I do for you to remove this spear from my chest? I would not have you leave it there.”

“Now you know my pain,” Kaylea replied. “When you told me you no longer trusted me, it was like a knife to my heart. It was years until you pulled it out.”

Thorin remembered when she handed him her braids and swore her oath. Afterwards she had gone on as if nothing had changed, he had not realized until now how hard it had been for her. Now he must bear her disapproval, and prove himself as strong as she was. “If that is your decision, I will not argue. I will do my best to earn your forgiveness,” he said. Feeling the discussion was at an end he picked up the untouched drinks. “I suppose we should go back to the party.”

Kaylea took a glass from him. “First, let us drink a toast,” she said with a soft smile. “To happily ever after.”

“Happily ever after,” Thorin clicked his glass to hers and drank. He could read her well enough to sense she had already come some distance toward forgiveness, she just wasn’t about to let him know yet. He reached around her waist and drew her close to kiss her. “Does this mean we will have a proper wedding night?”

Kaylea chuckled. “You wish. You will be sleeping alone for a week.”

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Now I am thinking of writing a third part to this...can Thorin charm his way into her bedroom on their wedding night, or will Kaylea stand by her decision? 

Read the complete adventures of The Warrior and The KIng on AO3 & FanFiction, links on my homepage. Books I & II also on Wattpad. 

@sdavid09  @fizzyxcustard  @soradragon

#tale teller's 52 week writing challenge #thorin and oc #thorin oakenshield #fanfic #writing challenge #fanfiction #true love