“Thorin’s Dream of Love”, Ch. 11 (PG): A Remembered, Heartfelt Farewell, November 7, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #467)

“Thorin’s Dream of Love”, Ch. 11 (PG):   A Remembered, Heartfelt Farewell,  November 7, 2013 Gratiana Lovelace (Post #467)

(This is an original fan fiction story by Gratiana Lovelace; All rights reserved;  The characters from “The Hobbit:  An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” are owned by Warner Brothers, no copyright infringement is intended) [(1) story logo left]

[From time to time, I will illustrate my story with my dream cast of:  Richard Armitage as Prince Thorin Oakenshield, Lucy Griffiths as Lady Kiralin, Jeffrey Thomas as King Thror, Mike Mizrahi as Prince Thrain, Lee Pace as King Thranduil, Graham McTavish as Lord Dwalin, Orlando Bloom as Prince Legolas, Evangeline Lilly as Captain Tauriel, Ken Stott as Lord Balin, Hugo Weaving as Lord Elrond, and Adam Brown as Gralin, and Aidan Turner as Kili, 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:  After 96 years of marriage and longing for a child, King Thorin and Queen Kiralin’s dearest  wish was granted.  But Queen Kiralin’s lingering childbed illness kept her away from her son Kilorin who bonds with his caretake Aunt Princess Dis.   Baby Kilorin will eat and be happy with no other, but Princess Dis.  So King Thorin and Queen Kiralin make the heartwrenching decision to let their son grow up thinking that his aunt is his mother, and they are his uncle and aunt.  Though, they stay in his life, with him visiting often–with them loving him and guiding him to manhood.  However, it will still only be upon finishing his quest to reclaim Erebor that King Thorin will truly find resolution and peace of mind.

“Thorin’s Dream of Love”, Ch. 11 (PG):  A Remembered, Heartfelt Farewell

Nine months earlier as Queen Kiralin prepares to bid her husband King Thorin and her nephew/son Kilorin–as well as her father Lord Balin, her brother Gralin, and her uncle Lord Dwalin to begin their quest, she feels like she is losing most of her family [(2) right].  Only her mother Lady Helga will remain–all the women folk and children will remain.  Each leave taking breaks their hearts.

Everyone is gathered at the royal cottage home–the two story manor they were granted by their brethren Dwarves when the House of Durin fled from Smaug.

King Thorin: “My family and friends, we go to collect our other Dwarven brothers who will join us on our quest.”  King Thorin says portentously, hopefully.

Lord Balin:  Ever mindful of  practicalities, his father-in-law Lord Balin asks. “How many have committed to go?”

Lord Dwalin:  “Aye, we need strength of numbers if we are to win.”  Lord Dwalin nods.

King Thorin:  King Thorin dissembles.  “The number is not certain as of yet.  I await their final responses.”  Dwarves being known for wanting surety before taking risks.  “But I hope that more will join us.  We will need an army of Dwarves to fight the dragon Smaug and reclaim Erebor, our homeland, and our birthright.”

All of the men going on the quest cheer. The women smile resignedly, fighting back their tears.

For it is for his his people and for his son Kilorin’s birthright that King Thorin makes this last campaign to reclaim Erebor.  And Queen Kiralin knows that King Thorin feels that he must do this, even as she sees her husband’s and her son’s matching stances standing side by side as they wait to depart [(3) right] –father and son in her heart, or uncle and nephew to everyone else.  She wonders if everyone can really be so blind as to not see their resemblance–their common stance of hips and left leg, their regal bearing, their noble brows.  For she can only ever see her strong princely son Kilorin, Kili, standing beside his liege lord and father, her regal King Thorin.

King Thorin glances meaningfully at the eager faces of his nephews–well, his true nephew Fili and his nephew/son Kilorin.  Them being too young, they have not had fights to test their battle worthiness.  But this quest will test them–it will test everyone.

Fili: “I will fight for Durin until my last breath.  I will not falter.”  Grimly pledges the young 82 years old Dwarf, Fili [(4) right].

King Thorin: Patting his shoulder, King Thorin smiles solemnly. “I know that I can count on you, Fili.” Then he adds wryly in a loud and feigned cranky voice, to lighten the mood.  “But I would rather you make our foes have their last breaths, my nephew.  You, keep breathing.  Ha ha ha!”  And he slaps Fili’s back.

Everyone chuckles, for they know that King Thorin is attempting to make light of the gravity of what they are about to undertake, for the sake of those they leave behind.  He is fooling no one with his jests, and he knows it.  But they all pretend –for that is the only way they can make their leave taking bearable.

Kili:  “And what of me, my Uncle King?  You may count on me as well.”  Kili whines a bit owing to his still tender 77 years.

King Thorin: “My …”  He falters, but catches himself before he slips and says son.  “My nephew, your skill with a bow will serve us well.”  King Thorin and Kili clasp arms and he claps Kili’s shoulder.  Then King Thorin turns to all of them and says in a booming voice.  “The Orcs and Elves and anyone else who blocks our way will have to best my steel.”  He holds up his sturdy Dwarven sword.  “… and crush my oakenshield.”  KingThorin roars as he holds his oaken shield aloft–the symbol of his victory against Azog the Pale Orc, and the shield from whence King Thorin derives his legendary name.

Those assembled–including household staff and some friends from the city–cheer this small band of six Dwarves.

Then King Thorin gazes upon his wife, Queen Kiralin–her beauty not marred by time during the 172 years that they have been married.  She is a beauty still in King Thorin’s eyes–and in anyone’s eyes.  As they all begin to mount their ponies, King Thorin turns back for one last farewell with his wife Queen Kiralin [(5) right] who stands stoically beside her Mama, Lady Helga.

King Thorin opens his arms wide and Queen Kiralin rushes over to her husband and embraces him, drinking in his scent and making a memory of the feel of her much loved husband’s strength.  Then Queen Kiralin begins to weep.  Fighting back his own tears of sorrow at parting from his loving wife, King Thorin kisses her forehead and she looks up at him.

King Thorin:  Caressing her face [(6) right] , he asks tenderly. “What is this?  Tears on my lovely Kiralin’s face?  That will not do for the memory that I wish to take with me.”  He tries to tease her.  Then he tilts his head in curiosity and steps back to gaze upon her red gown.  “Kiralin?  I know this gown.”  He smiles in recognition.

Queen Kiralin:  She smiles at his sentimentality–and her own.  “You remember something like it, my husband.  For long ago, I wore a red gown as a Handmaiden of Durin for Durin’s Day.  And it became my wedding gown when you impulsively asked for my hand in marriage.”

King Thorin:  “Just so.”  His voice cracks in remembering their youthful hope 172 years ago.   “It was all before us then.”  Then his face clouds over.  “We had but three days together after we were married before our world changed forever.”  He soberly recalls the attack of the dragon Smaug and them being exiled from Erebor and their beloved city of Dale.    “I wish ..  I wish …”

But he cannot finish his sentence.  Nor does he need to–because as husband and wife, he and Kiralin have shared their lives and thoughts so completely that they are truly of one mind, and of one heart.

Queen Kiralin:  “Thorin, you are taking my whole life with you.”  She whispers in sadness, but not blame.  “You must keep each other safe and come back to me, My Love.”  Then she whispers so only he can hear.  “Please, I beg of you, do not let any harm befall Kilorin.  I could not bear it.”  Her tears fall, streaming down her cheeks.

King Thorin:  Resolutely standing up straight, he vows back to her in a whisper.  “I promise by all that we hold dear in Durin’s name, that our son’s welfare will always be more important than continuing this quest.  I will bring him back to you.”  She nods at him.  Then he looks at her teasingy with a mischievous grin.  “Now my wife. Though we had our proper good byes last night and this morning, …”  He smiles thinking of their ardent lovemaking, and she blushes.  “… let us share one last kiss until we can be together again, My Love.”  He embraces her.

Queen Kiralin:   “I love you with all of my heart, My Thorin.  I will wait for you to return to me.  And only then, will I live again.”

King Thorin:  “I love you with all of my heart, My Kiralin.  But you must promise me to live while I am gone.  We might be gone a year or more if we can succeed.  And I cannot bear to think of you wasting away while we are gone on our quest.  I want to hear all of your stories of the city and the people we know when I return.  And I will tell you my stories.”

Queen  Kiralin:  She nods.  “I will try.”  She smiles wanly.

Then they kiss one last time–sweetly, tenderly, adoringly, and passionately–before they reluctantly part, and King Thorin mounts his pony.

Queen Kiralin notices Kilorin lingering after his mother Princess Dis kisses him good bye. So she walks over to him.

Queen Kiralin: “I wish you success, Kilorin.” She hugs him and he hugs her back–like the little boy he was so long ago on his treasured visits to his Aunt Kiralin and his Uncle Thorin.

Kili:  “I will make you proud of me, Aunt Queen Kiralin.”  Kilorin [(7) right]  states pridefully with a determined gaze.

Queen Kiralin: “That you already do, my Kili.”  She smiles, for she gave him his nickname just as surely as she gave him life.  “Be safe,  and watch over him.”  She tilts her head toward her husband–Kilorin’s father.

Kili:  “I will.  It will be my honor to guard my Uncle King.”  His chest puffs up.

Then Kili mounts his pony and the Dwarven company begins their trek to find more Dwarven comrades to join their quest before heading to Bilbo Baggin’s home, Bag End, where they will meet the wizard Gandalf.

A little ways on but still in sight of the royal manor, King Thorin stops his pony and lets the others pass him.  Then King Thorin  [(8) right]  looks back once more at his love, Queen Kiralin who stands alone, silently watching them leave–the others having gone back into the manor.

She smiles at her husband, then she curtsies in a low bow to him–something that she has not done since before they were married–displaying her continuing deep respect for him.  For if this is the last time she and her husband are to see each other, King Thorin will know that she honors him and his decision to go on this quest–however much, their hearts are breaking.

Then Queen Kiralin stands and puts her hand on her heart, before holding her hand out to him.  And King Thorin does the same to her, before he slowly turns his pony to follow his comrades, as they begin their quest.  His head is held high, but a tear falls down upon his cheek. He leaves it there.  For King Thorin does not believe that it is unDwarvenly to cry.  Nay, for the Dwarves of Durin live life in full measure–joys and sorrows.

And when Queen Kiralin can no longer see the small contingent of men and their ponies upon the trail to the land of the Hobbits, Queen Kiralin looks up to the sky and makes a fervent wish.

Queen  Kiralin:  “In the name of Durin, keep them safe–my husband and my son, my father, and my brother, my nephew, and my uncle–and all who journey with them.  Guide them on their quest and give them that which they seek.”  Then she places her hands lightly on her stomach.  “And for me? I would ask the same.  And let my husband’s love grow inside me again.” For lo, Queen Kiralin’s fragile health after Kili was born and even since then has made she and King Thorin not seek to have another child–but it has always been her fervent hope.

To be continued with Chapter 12

“Thorin’s Dream of Love”, Ch. 11 References, 11/07/13 Gratiana Lovelace

1)     “Thorin’s Dream of Love” story 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)  Lord Balin’s Family image is a composite of: 1) Balin is Ken Stott and Dwalin is Graham McTavish images were found at http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/07/16/article-0-0D0953A600000578-734_638x622.jpg ; 2)  Lady Helga is unknown extra frommTHAUJ prologue (Grati’s cap);  and  3)  Gralin image is Adam Brown as Ori inTHAUJ found at  http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-488-488-90/66/6629/GKXE100Z/posters/nori-dori-ori-the-dwarfs-the-hobbit-movie-cardboard -stand-up.jpg
3) Thorin (portrayed by Richard Armitage)and Kili (portrayed by Aidan Turner) have matching stances. richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Hobbit/HobbitStills/album/77-Dwarves+PeterJackson.jpg

4) Fili is portrayed by Dean O’Gorman and was found at
richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Hobbit/HobbitStills/album/37-HobbitCharacterScroll.jpg

5) Lady Kiralin image is Lucy Griffiths as Lady Marian in Robin Hood found at  richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/RobinHood/album/seasontwo/Episode2/slides/rh202_048.jpg

6) Image representing Kiralin’s face is Lucy Griffiths portraying Lady Marian and the image representing Thorin is Richard Armitage portraying Sir Guy in the BBC’s Robin Hood (2006-2009) and was found at richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/RobinHood/album/seasontwo/Episode3/slides/rh203_135.jpg

7) Kili  was porrayed by Aidan Turner in THAUJ and THDofS found at richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Hobbit/HobbitStills/album/Dwarves-DoSBanner-16Oct13.jpg

8)  Thorin Oakenshild was portrayed by Richard Armitage in THAUJ and was found at  richardarmitagenet.com/images/gallery/Hobbit/HobbitTrailer/album/HobbitTrailer06.jpg

Link to the previous “Thorin’s Dream of Love”, Ch. 9-10:
https://gratianads90.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/athorinsdreamoflovech9-10imagesoct2713gratianalovelace.jpg