“Thorin’s Dream of Love” (ficlet), Ch.2 (PG-13): The Elven King’s Tribute, September 29, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #451)

 “Thorin’s Dream of Love” (ficlet), Ch.2 (PG-13):  The Elven King’s Tribute,  September 29, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #451)

(This is an original ficlet by Gratiana Lovelace, All rights reserved;  The characters from “The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey” are owned by Warner Brothers, no copyright infringement intended)

 [From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, Luci Griffiths as Lady Kiralin, Jeffrey Thomas as King Thror, Mike Mizrahi as Prince Thrain, and Lee Pace as King Thranduil, etc.]

Author’s Mature Content Note:  “Thorin’s Dream of Love” is a story of romance and intrigue set amidst the backdrop of Middle Earth.  As such there will be some passages in this story involving heartfelt love scenes (R rated) and some passages involving highly dramatic moments.  I will label the maturity rating of those chapters accordingly.  Otherwise, the general rating for this story is PG or PG-13 due to some mature situations and topics.  If you are unable or unwilling to attend a movie with the ratings that I provide, then please do not read the chapters with those labels.  This is my disclaimer.

Author’s Recap from the previous installment:  On their quest to regain Erebor, Thorin Oakenshield slept and remembered an earlier time of ease–before the dragon Smaug devastated their town Dale and claimed their fortress Erebor, and all the gold that lay within.  Thorin dreamed of Lady Kiralin, of the night when she came to him as their secret romance blossomed.   His dream continues.

“Thorin’s Dream of Love” (ficlet), Ch.2 (PG-13):  The Elven King’s Tribute  September 29, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace

Prince Thorin knew that Lady Kiralin would be gone before he  would awaken the next day.  But expecting a thing and wanting a thing are very different.  Prince Thorin knows that  it would not do for him to be seen favoring her, nor her to be seen favoring him.  Erebor court protocol is such that Kiralin as his servant–or as the sister of his manservant–Prince Thorin should not trifle with her.  And yet their meetings in secret are not trifling at all.  Thorin stretches out his hand over the indentation in the bed where she had lain cuddled up to his side when their lovemaking had finally abated–having sated their love, for now.  The bed is still warm from her presence and from their lovemaking.  He knows this is how their meetings must be. Though a Handmaiden of Durin as an unmarried woman, Kiralin is not of noble blood–her brother is his man servant, afterall.  He must accept that it is the way of things.

Thorin rises from his bed naked and puts on his dressing gown before the early morning servant will enter with his breakfast.  Walking over to the window of his bedchamber, Thorin views the landscape of Dale in a hazy mist that seems to engulf it–only the roof tops of the taller homes can still be seen.  It is as if Dale is not even there–their beautiful city [(2) right] and its hardworking people are hidden from his site as if they did not exist anymore.  He shudders at the thought.  Being of royal blood, Prince Thorin has always known that foresight was a gift bestowed upon some. But the haze eradicating Dale before him disturbs him–in a way that he does not understand as of yet.   This is not a good omen for The Elven King Thranduil’s visit today.   What a tedious thing that will be, thinks Prince Thorin–the Elves will make a begrudging show of respect and he and his father Thrain and his grandfather King Thror will pretend that they do not notice.

There is a soft knock at Prince Thorin’s bedchamber door.

Prince Thorin:  “Enter.” He sighs without turning from the window, his back is still to the door.

Two women enter–one young and one much older.  They are mother and daughter.One woman carries with her a pitcher of warm water for Prince Thorin’s morning freshening and the other woman carries a tray of food.  Smelling the food, Prince Thorin turns around–a bit taken back by what he sees, the old woman Dwarf named Helga and the young  Dwarf maid, Lady Kiralin.  Helga carries the tray of food, stooped over as she sets the tray on a nearby table.  Kiralin’s eyes are firmly cast downward, not looking at Prince Thorin–though his eyes cannot be removed from her face and from her form.

Helga: “My Prince, the food is covered to keep it warm should you wish to bathe first.”

Prince Thorin:  Now turning his attention to the old woman, he says.“Thank you.”  He looks at her quizzically, not quite placing where he has seen her before.   “And you are?”

Helga:  “I am Helga, your manservant’s mother.  And this is my daughter, Kiralin.”  Helga smiles benignly, unaware that her daughter and Prince Thorin have already met and are on familiarly intimate terms.  “My son was injured and cannot attend you for several days as he recovers.  So we will serve in his place until then.”  Helga does not want to lose the prestige of her son being a servant to Prince Thorin, so she attempts to hold that position for him by serving in his stead.

Prince Thorin: “I heard of his injuries.”  Prince Thorin replies obliquely, but his attention has returned to Lady Kiralin who is laying out his bathing items and his clothing.

Helga:   “He will soon be well and back to you, Milord.   Depend upon it.”  She states anxiously.

Prince Thorin:  “And I will welcome his return.  Please give him my well wishes for his recovery.”  Though Prince Thorin had asked Kiralin to convey his wishes last night, he feels it best to have the mother do it.

With Helga present, there is no chance for Prince Thorin and Lady Kiralin to speak–nor dare to even glance at one another, lest their true relationship be uncovered.  So, they each play their parts.  Thorin washes his face and body as the women turn away to give him his privacy.  Then he dons his first layer of clothing–leaving the rest with ties and buckles to be done up by Lady Kiralin, which she does without comment.  Then Prince Thorin sits at his small table and eats his breakfast while the Dwarf women stand to the side–again looking away to give him his privacy.  Again, court protocol is such that most of Prince Thorin’s waking moments are under the watchful gaze of some person or servant or other.  Then they remove the remainders of his food tray and leave the room.  There was no chance for he and Kiralin to speak–let alone, touch or kiss.  And yet, in an unguarded moment when her mother’s back is turned, Lady Kiralin [(3) right] looks up to gaze upon her prince.

***

Walking down the corridor toward the throne room, Prince Thorin looks regal in his blue velvet tunic with silver embroidered Dwarven symbols for good luck subtlely stitched around the edges of his sleeve and hem.  All are assembled awaiting the entrance of the Elven King Thranduil.   Prince Thorin [(4) right] goes to stand in his spot on the opposite side of his grandfather from his father, and he bows to the king, his grandfather.

King Thror:  Leaning over to his grandson, he asks.  “What delayed you, Thorin?  The wretched Elves are nearly come.”

Prince Thorin:  “My apologies, my King.  I slept rather longer than I intended today.”  Prince Thorin’s face does not betray the reason for his long sleep, even as his eyes search the room to see if Lady Kiralin is present.

King Thror:  “I could not sleep myself–wishing this farce were over.”

Prince Thrain:  Gazing at his son intently, he asks. “Thorin, what cause  have you to need such sleep?  You did not train yesterday, nor exert yourself in any way.”

Prince  Thorin: “Kkkhh!”  He coughs at spying Lady Kiralin at just that moment.  “My mind was quite engaged with matters pertaining to the Elven visit.”  And he thinks that his body was also engaged with Lady Kiralin–much more pleasantly.

A horn sounds announcing the Elves entrance to the Throne Room.   A retinue of young Elves who appear to be guardians enter first and stand in a single line of eight Elves. King Thror raises his eyebrow at the Elven King showing such a display.  Then the Elven guards part and the Elven King Thranduil walks serenely toward the Heirs of Durin, stopping at the base of the five steps leading up to the thrones.  The elevated  throne platform has the effect of putting the smaller sized Dwarves at eye level with the statuesque Elves.

King Thranduil is well over 800 years old–but barely looks past a man in his prime–such is the nature of  Elven longevity and immortaility.  King Thranduil [(5) right] bows his head slightly–very slightly–to King Thror. King Thror merely raises his eyebrow in ennui–having experienced Elven disguised disdain before.

There is a silence, because King Thranduil may not speak until King Thror speaks.  King Thror smiles at keeping their guests waiting.   As the minutes tick by, everyone’s faces remain placid, though King Thranduil is seething inside for the slight.  Finally, King Thror smiles and speaks.

King Thror:  “King Thranduil, we are honored that you have journeyed far to pay your people’s tribute to us in person this year.”  He wonders why the king’s young son Prince Legolas–his usual emissary–does not seem to be in their party.

King Thranduil:  “I thank you.  The journey was far.  But every decade or so, I prefer to see for myself how the neighboring kingdom of Durin fares.”

King Thor:  “Are your spies not good reporters to you?  And what of Prince Legolas?  I do not see him with you.”   King Thror the old master statesman insults then asks a question which must be answered–not leaving time for their guests’ indignation to flower.

KingThranduil:   King Thranduil’s eyes narrow slightly–the only acknowledgement of their traded insults.  “My son finds politics boring.  So he is out hunting today.  Are your woods sufficiently stocked with game to make his efforts worthwhile?”  Again, an insult is given with a quick question after.

Prince Thorin would roll his eyes if his self discipline would allow it.  He finds these exchanges between kings churlish.  He would do it so differently–essentially dispensing with sovereign to sovereign meetings, let underlings take care of it.

King Thror:  “Perhaps my grandson Prince Thorin will agree to show Prince Legolas where the best hunting is to be had.”  He does not order Prince Thorin to do this–he merely points out to King Thranduil that perhaps Prince Legolas could not find the forest for the trees.

Prince Thorin:  Bowing, he intones respectfully to his grandfather, King Thror.  “My king,  I will be honored to show Prince Legolas how to hunt in our woods.”  There.  Prince Thorin [(6) right] made his own attempt at disdainful insult.

King Thranduil: “I thank you, Prince Thorin.  For young men, be they Elves or Dwarves, seem unsuited to politics before they reach their 100^th year.”  Again, another subtle insult–for the nearly immortal Elves live ten times longer than Dwarves should injury not befall them. And King Thranduil’s reign is already 800 years old, him having ascended to the Elven throne before King Thror was even born.  Hence King Thranduil’s feeling of superiority.

King Thror: “Prince Thorin will leave now and see if Prince Legolas might yet make a kill yet today.”

Prince Thorin: He bows to his grandfather.  “My King, I will do as you bid me.”

Thorin leaves the Throne room by walking down the steps–not pausing nor acknowledging as he passes King Thranduil.  Prince Thorin strides purposely forward and the Elves and Dwarves in attendance part respectfully.   Then Prince Thorin catches Lady Kiralin’s eye and tilts his head at her to follow him to help him change into his hunting gear.  She follows in step behind him with her head down in obeisance.  Haze or no–omen or no–Prince Thorin will best the Elves today, even if it is only their young Prince Legolas.

To be continued with Chapter 3

“Thorin’s Dream of Love”, Ch. 2 a ficlet, References, 9/29/13 Gratiana Lovelace

1) Cover Graphic original image link: Richard Armitage portraying Thorin Oakenshield in “The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey” was  found at
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=177921775727384&set=pb.140357729483789.-2207520000.1379123868.&type=3&theater
2)  Dale and Erebor—THAUJ Dale-and-Erebor-Facade-vlcsnap-2013-03-26-19h40m54s129-GratianaLovelaceCap-crop-hi-res
3)  Lady Kiralin is Lucy Griffiths as Lady Marian in Robin Hood found at http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/RobinHood/album/seasontwo/Episode3/slides/rh203_116.jpg
4) Thorin-and-King Thror-THAUJ vlcsnap-2013-03-26-19h44m36s94-GratianaLovelaceCap-crop-hi-res

5) Elven King Thranduil– THAUJ–Thranduil-bows-to-Dwarves-vlcsnap-19h52m32s24Mar2613GratianaLovelaceCap-crop-hi-res
6) Prince Thorin-THAUJ vlcsnap-2013-03-26-20h00m59s193GratianaLovelaceCap-crop-hi-res

Link to the previous chapter 1:
https://gratianads90.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/sexy-saturday-thorins-dream-of-love-september-14-2013-gratiana-lovelace-post-448/