⪼𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧⪻

They stood post on the stone arches outside the gate. The large Mytholonian guards standing as still as statues. The sun gleaming off their silver and gold armor with their large white wings protruding from their backs. I remember seeing the various Mytholonian of the mountain as a child. I can see the colorful feathers of their wings in blue, green, white, yellow, and on occasion red. As my mind fills with the hues of their bright colors I see the bright feathers begin to change into a dark brown and golden hue. An unknown feathered wings of their people. Then, the large wings before me begin to mault and fade into an oncoming wind. Like the sound of a hurricane from the north. The pines roaring. I see them flying. The Mytholonians fly as high in the sky as they can. The guards coming down onto Erebor. Descending with their glimmering armor and weapons drawn like the man tales of the Valkyrie. Just before they can reach Erebor, a wave of fire pours from the mouth of the mountain and nothing but bodies and ash fall from the sky.

"SHRIIEEEKKK!"

I gasp jolting awake. The company sleeps upon the edge of the stone cliffside. A frightened Bilbo scurries back towards the light of the fire where my nephews sit with Mary awakening from her cot. 

"What was that?" Bilbo sputters taking a hesitant seat.

"Orcs." Kili says ominously with his eyes searching above.

Bilbo looks bewildered "O-Orcs?"

Fili takes his pipe from his mouth "Throat cutters. They'll be dozens of them out there."

Kili nods adding on "They come in the wee small hours of the night. Quick and quiet. No screams." just lots of blood his voice dropping along with the color in the Hobbit's face. As the brother laugh Mary stands. I look at her and see the anger and distraught in her face. 

"Is that funny to you?" she asks sharply as the brothers look up at her "You think Orcs burning down villages, killing children, taking countless innocent lives, is humorous?"

The brothers grins still remain but Kili holds his hands in defense "No need to get so dark love. It was only a joke."

As they both giggle to themselves I glance back to Mary. Her fists clenched in anger but the look of her. The look in those beautiful eyes are filled with such contempt, guilt, and all the sadness in the world. 

I narrow my eyes and stand glaring at my immature nephews whose giggles silence "Do you think that is funny? That a night raid from Orcs is only a joke? A joke at the expense of those who died."

I take a sideways glance to Mary who glances back as I mutter "And to those that survived."

The boys look at me then to Mary. Their heads hang, Kili mutters "We meant nothing by it."

"No you didn't." I hiss walking past the four of them "You know nothing of the world."

"Don't mind him Laddie." I hear Balin say from behind "Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs."

Standing on the cliffs edge I look out into the night. The light of the moon barely illuminating the forest below. I hear Balin speak of the battle of Moria and my mind takes me to that fateful day.

"After the dragon took the Lonely mountain King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf Kingdom of Moria, but our enemy had gotten there first."

I hear the clashing of swords. See the countless Orcs fighting against us on the blood stained battle field. 

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs... ...led by the most vile of all their race: Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin. He began...by beheading the king."

I wince feeling the sting in my throat still from my cry as Azog held my grandfather's head above him for all to see. The look of his thirst for our blood evident in his eyes as he threw my grandfather's head to me. It rolling disrespectfully on the ground. 

"Thrain, Thorin's father, was driven mad by grief. He went missing. Taken prisoner or killed. We did not know. We were leaderless. It was then that clouds in the sky above opened. The grateing of a familiar horn filled with sky as a battle cry called. From above a golden light show as the last of the Mytholonian came from the sky. The warrior younglings to be the next and now last generation of their people coming to the aid of our people."

My eyes reflect remembering the golden light parting the grey clouds above. I wiped the blood from my eyes as the young warriors came fighting back against the Orcs. Clammoring as their swords, armor, helmets, and bodies clashed. Their wings taring through the pale Orcs troops. They slaughtered half of the Orc army. Brushing back the second line of Azogs defeances and general leaders. Bringing what we thought was the end of our defeat leading to victory. Then everything changed. 

"Something had happened after the dragon took the Lonely mountain. The Mytholonian that had lived through the fire were no longer like their kin. A curse had befallen their remaining people, and with that the strength of their wings and their magic failing them. Without their magical defenses and strength, the Orcs overcame what was left of our Mytholonian allies."

The Mytholonian fell. Their once strong wings having limits to how far they could go. How high above the enemy they could fly. The Orcs shooting nets and cast irons in the sky befalling the rest of their people. The last of them. Bringing them down to behead them, rip off their wings, and tare them to shreds. Male and female Mytholonian alike. Even now I can see the golden hue of their blood flow from the cuts of their throats only to turn crimson red at the loss of their magic.

"The Mytholonian now wiped out. Gone for all time. Defeat and death were upon us. That is when I saw him. A young Dwarf prince facing down the pale Orc. He stood alone against this terrible foe. His armor rent wielding nothing but an oaken branch as a shield. Azog the Defiler learned that day that the line of Durin would not be so easily broken. Our forces rallied and drove the Orcs back. And our enemy had been defeated. But there was no feast... ...nor song that night... ...for our dead were beyond the count of grief. We few had survived."

The only solace in that battle was the defeat of Azog as I took his hand for taking my father. For taking what family I had left. If it had not been for my hate and had it not been for our last line of defense, there would no longer be any of us left. 

"And I thought to myself that day." Balin states "There is one that I could follow. There is one I could call King."

I turn to return to the group to only see all of the company standing in adoration of me. All their eyes set on where I stand. I nod to them all and walk past them to the secluded part of the cliff.

"And what of the pale Orc?" Bilbo asks Balin "What happened to him?"

I growl "That filth crawled back into the hole from whence he came. He died of his wounds long ago."

"What about the Mytholonian?" Fili asks "You never told us about them uncle. We thought they were only tall tales. They came and gave their last for our people?"

Dwalin chuckles angrily "Another fairy story lad. They came for Moria just as we all did. They no longer wanted to help us. They only wanted another home for themselves."

Fili looks back at me confused and seemingly unconvinced "Uncle?"

My eyes look to him then to Gandalf who stares at me waiting to hear my reply. As the others look on as well I growl "Get some sleep. We leave at first light." and I leave them standing there not noticing Mary's eyes that watch me leave as her nails dig into the earth below her.

❖❖❖

"Your majesty?" 

I turn to my right seeing Mary standing alone. Her arms cross over her chest as she warily stands a couple feet from me. I nod motioning her to come closer as she approaches "Forgive me my Lord, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You did not." I mutter.

She softly smirks standing next to me looking out to the view. As we both look out together she sighs "It is a beautiful night."

"Hm." 

I feel her glance at me "You're a man of very little words, aren't you?"

I look back at her contemplating "I talk."

"Hmm?" she replies mockingly with a smile and sarcasm in her tone. 

I laugh a little under my breath as she giggles "I'm glad to at least see you smile a little."

Quickly I wipe my smile away but a smirk lingers "Do you really think this is the kind of quest to be smiling in?"

She shrugs "You're going to reclaim your homeland. I believe that's something to smile for."

"We haven't accomplished that yet. When we do I will smile then."

Mary's once happy face fades as her eyes look back out from the cliff at a loss for words. The sadness that her eyes held before returns and I can't help but to say "Forgive them."

Her brows furrow as she looks to me "My Lord?"

"I mean-" I clear my throat "My nephews. I apologize on their behalf. They meant no harm. They're only-"

"Boys." she states with a gentle smile.

I nod "Yes."

"No need for apologies your majesty. I should never have spoken to them like-"

"No." I place my hand on her arm holding her "No, you don't have to call me that. Not here."

Mary's eyes widen as little as she tenses at the feel of my hand "What do you wish for me to call you?"

I smirk for a quick moment stepping a little closer "I'm only Thorin Oakenshield. Nothing more."

Mary's eyes look to me as they arch up in an almost worried gaze "You are more than Thorin Oakenshield."

I sigh offering her a gentle gaze as she gazes back. When I notice how close we are and that I have yet to release her I let go and we both step back.

"May I ask you something?" she looks away almost regretfully.

I nod giving permission as her words hesitate in her mouth. Biting her lip she contemplates before asking a seemingly long awaited question "Do you believe the Mytholonians came in the name of your people? In the name of your family? Or do you think they came only for themselves?"

Taken back by her question I think on her words. Her question should be simple to answer. For many dwarves and men in that time the answer would almost all had been the same. When it comes to me I do not find the answer so easily.

"I do not know, my lady." I reply truthfully "After my grandfather's decree outcasting them as enemies in his anger and grief, I would not have blamed them for siding with the pale Orc himself, but..."

"...But?" she mutters leaning closer.

I look back at her thinking of one moment in that battle amongst the rest. The young Mytholonian descending from the sky. Striking the Orc looming above me, digging his heel in my throat, his blade descending a fatal blow only stopped by her attack from above. I remember sitting up on the battlefield. In the blur of my vision watching as she entangled with the large Orc. Taking his head for her own only before her to be ambushed by others. Pinned down as her screams shrieked whilst her wing was torn from the flesh of her back and her body limp as they cast over the edge of the valleys cliff. 

When I come back to Mary's eyes looking into their calming blue I sigh "I knew the loyalty of one among them all. One who sacrificed their life for me. It is that I know and am indebted to never forget it."

At my words I see the shine of tears in Mary's eyes. She takes a step back from me as I reach out to grasp her confused by her saddened state "What troubles you?"

"I must go back." she says shakily walking from me "Gandalf will wonder where I am. Goodnight Thorin." and she leaves me standing alone on the cliffside.