Thorin II Oakenshield (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
honorbound_heir) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
middlemuses2016-06-06 04:28 pm
honorbound_heir) wrote in middlemuses2016-06-06 04:28 pm
Entry tags:
When you come out of the storm
CHARACTERS: experting & honorbound_heir
DATE: Around September 14th
WHERE: On the edge of Mirkwood, near the Old Forest Road
SUMMARY: The dwarves have made it to the last major obstacle on their road to Erebor - Mirkwood. Unlike on Thorin's quest to reclaim the mountain, however, this time they're not to be left to blunder through on their own. A very uneasy agreement with the elves was struck, and part of it was mutual safe passage through each others' lands. Here, too, the group is to split up - with the majority going straight through, but Thorin has other plans.
WARNING(S): Do elves warrant a warning? Thorin would say so. But probably not.
[ It's no secret that Thorin has no love for elves, and perhaps even less so for their cursed forest that ever seems to stand between him and wherever he needs to go. He remembers the days of his youth when it was called Greenwood the Great, back when they were true allies with the Silvan elves that lived there, and is told that it has changed much since then. It's of little matter to him. Even though they are not enemies, as long as Thranduil remained their King, there would be no chance of resumed camaraderie as there had been in times past. They had mutual enemies now, and that was more or less as far as it went. The fact that Thranduil's son seems to have some sense of honor, and isn't a consummate coward like his father, is at least convenient when he has to speak to an elf.
He knew that the conversation with Bilbo wasn't going to be easy. Or pleasant. He is aware that he's going into what was not so very long ago a veritable stronghold of evil, a place so thoroughly corrupted that nothing green grows within miles of it. Gandalf told him that Necromancer had been banished, but an ill shadow still lingered over that place, one deeper even than the one that clouded the surrounding forest. That said, he suspected that things would once again begin to creep back in. It was all part of a slow, troubling turn of events that had been set into motion many, many years ago.
The point was, if Thorin was going to go, he needed to do it now. He didn't hold out much hope for finding his father alive - somehow, when Gandalf told him this time that his father was dead, it rang true in a way that it had not before. Even the vindication Thorin felt at being right, despite being the only one that still had faith, was little comfort when faced with the knowledge that he had been so close, and yet so far away, still. All this time, he had been so close...
This is about family, and there's no way around it.
There hadn't been any doubt as to whether or not the Company would come with him. His sister would stay with the rest of the group, and he trusted her to see their way through, perhaps all the way to Erebor should Thorin and the others not manage to catch up with them. While she's not pleased with this arrangement, she also understands, and is aware that trying to argue with her brother on this is an exercise in utter futility.
Thorin never doubted for a moment that Bilbo would insist to come with him. He would have preferred that Bilbo stay with the others, but Thorin has too much respect for him to dare make such a suggestion. Would he even listen if Thorin did try to order him to go anywhere? He's not certain, but that is very much a moot point here.
Instead he relays his intentions to Bilbo with a steady voice, and an almost defiant tilt to his jaw, his pony's reins grasped firmly in one hand as he flicks a glance behind Bilbo and to the edge of the forest just beyond him. There had been no set meeting time here, but he knew that the elves would be looking for them, as they were the last time they came through. It probably wouldn't take long before they reappeared - no doubt generally looking just as displeased with this arrangement as Thorin currently does. ]
As soon as our escort arrives, we leave. The others will stay here and make camp for the night.
[ The fact that he's forced to wait around on an elf still irritates him to no end, but he knows that it's the only reasonable thing to do here. ]
experting & honorbound_heirDATE: Around September 14th
WHERE: On the edge of Mirkwood, near the Old Forest Road
SUMMARY: The dwarves have made it to the last major obstacle on their road to Erebor - Mirkwood. Unlike on Thorin's quest to reclaim the mountain, however, this time they're not to be left to blunder through on their own. A very uneasy agreement with the elves was struck, and part of it was mutual safe passage through each others' lands. Here, too, the group is to split up - with the majority going straight through, but Thorin has other plans.
WARNING(S): Do elves warrant a warning? Thorin would say so. But probably not.
[ It's no secret that Thorin has no love for elves, and perhaps even less so for their cursed forest that ever seems to stand between him and wherever he needs to go. He remembers the days of his youth when it was called Greenwood the Great, back when they were true allies with the Silvan elves that lived there, and is told that it has changed much since then. It's of little matter to him. Even though they are not enemies, as long as Thranduil remained their King, there would be no chance of resumed camaraderie as there had been in times past. They had mutual enemies now, and that was more or less as far as it went. The fact that Thranduil's son seems to have some sense of honor, and isn't a consummate coward like his father, is at least convenient when he has to speak to an elf.
He knew that the conversation with Bilbo wasn't going to be easy. Or pleasant. He is aware that he's going into what was not so very long ago a veritable stronghold of evil, a place so thoroughly corrupted that nothing green grows within miles of it. Gandalf told him that Necromancer had been banished, but an ill shadow still lingered over that place, one deeper even than the one that clouded the surrounding forest. That said, he suspected that things would once again begin to creep back in. It was all part of a slow, troubling turn of events that had been set into motion many, many years ago.
The point was, if Thorin was going to go, he needed to do it now. He didn't hold out much hope for finding his father alive - somehow, when Gandalf told him this time that his father was dead, it rang true in a way that it had not before. Even the vindication Thorin felt at being right, despite being the only one that still had faith, was little comfort when faced with the knowledge that he had been so close, and yet so far away, still. All this time, he had been so close...
This is about family, and there's no way around it.
There hadn't been any doubt as to whether or not the Company would come with him. His sister would stay with the rest of the group, and he trusted her to see their way through, perhaps all the way to Erebor should Thorin and the others not manage to catch up with them. While she's not pleased with this arrangement, she also understands, and is aware that trying to argue with her brother on this is an exercise in utter futility.
Thorin never doubted for a moment that Bilbo would insist to come with him. He would have preferred that Bilbo stay with the others, but Thorin has too much respect for him to dare make such a suggestion. Would he even listen if Thorin did try to order him to go anywhere? He's not certain, but that is very much a moot point here.
Instead he relays his intentions to Bilbo with a steady voice, and an almost defiant tilt to his jaw, his pony's reins grasped firmly in one hand as he flicks a glance behind Bilbo and to the edge of the forest just beyond him. There had been no set meeting time here, but he knew that the elves would be looking for them, as they were the last time they came through. It probably wouldn't take long before they reappeared - no doubt generally looking just as displeased with this arrangement as Thorin currently does. ]
As soon as our escort arrives, we leave. The others will stay here and make camp for the night.
[ The fact that he's forced to wait around on an elf still irritates him to no end, but he knows that it's the only reasonable thing to do here. ]
no subject
Yes. How can he know that?
Bilbo hasn't been expecting to explain. It's not as though there isn't an answer, but picking apart the tangle of thoughts and perceptions Bilbo's acquired over their time together, and putting them into words, actual words that, when strung together, mean something, is a feat that he can't wrap his mind around. At least not immediately. In truth, he can't know for certain. He lacks the knowledge of every followed lead, doesn't know the circumstances of each search, can't imagine how grief may have stunted his drive… but even with all that true, he knows Thorin. He spoke once about Thorin's character. Gold sickness tainted such words all too soon, but it hasn't diminished who Thorin is. Headstrong, devoted, dependable, unyielding… he shoulders a personal responsibility to look after all those deemed under his care and that… that is a wide span. Even Bilbo found himself there, back when Thorin couldn't stand to look at him more than a moment. The point is… Thorin doesn't do things in halves. He may make mistakes along the way, but when the time comes, he puts his all into everything and so, Bilbo thinks, Thorin must have tried his hardest for his father. And that's what matters.
He's tripping up though and the words aren't forming just yet. Would Thorin even listen? Believe him? It's all so obvious in Bilbo's eyes, that he cannot understand how Thorin doesn't see the same about himself. So blind. So unbelievable. So… needlessly hard on himself.
Oh Thorin. He still aches. His chest feels tight and he swallows thickly, but even through that, there's that spike of… annoyance? No. He's not upset at Thorin – goodness, what kind of monster would he be then? – but there's that spunk, that spirit to him all the same. The kind that has him forgetting proper placement of hands and necessary distances in-between. Instead, he thinks of dwarven customs and comforting touch, and in the same breath, he offers as freely as he takes. His hands find the front of Thorin's tunic and he tugs down, coaxing Thorin to lean closer because he's too tall and even with Bilbo inching, just a little, on his toes, he still needs help. And there, his hands shift, slide higher and his palms press to either side of that bearded jaw, cupping his face to help tilt his head, just enough so Bilbo can shift, arch and bump their foreheads together.
It's ungraceful in the way he knocks them but he thinks there's meant to be something profound to all of this. A sense of comfort, of calm that words cannot carry. But after a moment, with his eyes squeezed shut, he sucks in a breath and tries anyway. ] Because I know you. You are the strongest, most caring person I've met. You refuse to quit, even with the odds stacked against you. Even when others have already given up hope. [ A short pause, a small frown. ] If there had been a way to save him, you would have found it. But some things are beyond us… you cannot measure yourself against the unfairness of life. Thorin, you can't. [ No one blames him, except Thorin himself; blaming oneself for unfortunate, uncontrollable, unanticipated events… what logic is there in that? Wouldn't they all be responsible for missed opportunities then? ]