Chapter Text
"Ariya."
Ariya rolled her eyes at the brisk, commanding tone behind her, knowing exactly which dwarf in all of Erebor it came from, and paused in her walking from the market. Turning on her heel, she plastered a large, fake grin on her face and spun to face him.
"Yes husband-to-be?" 'Perfect sickly sweet tone' she inwardly congratulated herself. Her smile grew at the face of disgust Thorin made.
"Do not call me that." He growled out and glowered at her. She pointedly ignored the little flip in her stomach that the sight of his nostrils flaring in outrage and brilliant blue eyes flashing in temper caused. She loved antagonizing him, just to see him bristle, get worked up, and stalk away: he was just so... passionate.
And dangerous. 'This wasn't a marriage for love', she reminded herself, 'it was one for allegiance. Don't let your heart get involved Ariya, because Thorin most definitely will not."'
"My apologies, little Prince Thorin. How may I be of assistance to you today?"
Oh dear, he turned red awfully quickly.
"I had wanted to remind you to keep a guard with you at all times, but I find myself re-thinking that piece of advice. Please, continue to wander unprotected through the busy market, vulnerable to any assassination attempts." His response was ground out through clenched teeth. Ariya was touched (insulted!) that he felt he needed to warn her about possible murder attempts, however she knew how to defend herself and wasn't some helpless maiden.
Opening her mouth, Ariya was about to thank him (tell him where to shove his concern!) when he cut her off. "And never call me 'little Prince Thorin' again. I am not little. I'm a least a few years your senior."
Ariya smirked. "I wasn't referring to your age."
Thorin narrowed his eyes at her. "I am also much taller than you." He crossed his arms, as if to say 'So there!'
He was a magnificent sight. Ariya let her gaze wander over Thorin's body, taking in his broad shoulders and deep chest, his narrowed waist and strong legs. Raising her eyes to meet his, she was momentarily breathless as his gaze burned it's way into her soul. Her heart began to race and her throat felt dry- she began to wonder if this was how the rabbit felt when it realized that it was caught in the wolf's gaze. Clearing her throat, Ariya mentally slapped herself and allowed a slow, sly smile to appear on her face. "I wasn't referring to your height either, little Prince." Ariya flicked her gaze down to his groin and then dragged it back up to his face.
Smirking as Thorin's face turned thunderous (she didn't realize he could turn purple… perhaps she should inform a healer?), Ariya dipped into a small curtsey and wished him a good night before turning and walking away.
She headed for her bedroom, half worried that Thorin would chase after her and beat her to death and half overcome with disgust at her behavior. He had just been worried after all. Maybe. Or maybe he just wanted another reason to boss her around.
It was all so confusing and overwhelming! One minute they're arguing and the next minute he was looking at her like he wanted to devour her. Nevermind the fact that she may have started it by looking at him so brazenly. What was she thinking? Ariya was breathless and nearly in tears by the time she reached her room. Quickly slamming the door behind her, she crossed the sitting room and threw open the doors to the balcony. Climbing on the wall, Ariya laid back with her head resting in her hands and gazed up at the stars, silent tears streaming down her cheeks and blurring her vision.
She didn't see the silent figure in her rooms until they were leaning over top of her and placing a knife at her throat.
Thorin was furious. How dare she! How dare she! Insinuating what she did, smirking at him like that, and all the while looking at him like she wanted nothing better than for him to press her up against the wall and ravage her. Oh, I'd ravage her alright- I'd ravage that smirk right off of her face! He thought viciously to himself. This is not over!
He started after her, striding briskly through the hallways, his anger helping him move faster as images started blurring together in front of his eyes. Most of them involved Ariya being taken by him in various places. The library. His bed. The throne. That last one would have his grandfather cutting his beard off for sure, but he was tired of all of this. Tired of being told who to marry, tired of fighting with her day and night, and tired of knowing that nothing was going to come out of this marriage but an alliance. He wanted more.
Mahal she infuriated him! But she also made him think, made him be polite, made him want to be better, even if it was just to prove that she was wrong on something. And by the Valar, he was going to tell her tonight!
Maybe.
Turning the last corner before the hallway to Ariya's rooms, Thorin quickened his pace as more and more adrenaline rushed through his body. He barged into her rooms, throwing open the door and wildly scanning for her. "Woman! I was not finished-" His words became stuck in his throat as his gaze fell on the balcony.
Ariya was standing in the middle of it, her chin tilted up as a knife was lightly pressed against her throat. It's owner, an ugly looking dwarf with a patchy beard and more knots and tangles in his hair that braids, had an arm wrapped around her waist as he smirked coolly at Thorin.
Thorin decided that he was really getting tired of being smirked at.
"Ah, the little dwarf princeling comes to save his would-be-bride. How romantic." The assassin (Thorin assumed) snickered, pressing the blade a little harder into Ariya's neck, causing her to wince.
"Actually," Thorin began slowly, keeping his gaze locked with Ariya's, "I came to continue a discussion. And I really don't like to be called 'little'." He took a step closer.
"Ah-ah-ah, that's close enough little princeling. I've been paid good money to see this usurper here is finished and I don't need you ruining that. Now why don't you just leave? The whole kingdom knows what you think of her- why, you could even view this as me doing you a favor!"
Thorin crossed his arms and stood his ground. "No." He locked eyes with Ariya again. "And I hate being called little. It's a little aggravating. In fact, it makes me want to puncheveryone who calls me little."
Ariya scrunched her eyebrows, confused by Thorin's imprompt-to rant. He must have gone insane from having his face turn purple. She understood that he was offended by her insult as it's a source of pride for males, but to continue going on and on about it right now… oh. Oh!
She sent Thorin a quick smile of understanding before striking out behind her as hard as she could with her right hand. The assassin behind her grunted loudly as she made contact with (what she assumed to be) his groin but didn't entirely loosen his grip on her.
Instead it distracted him long enough for Thorin to lunge at him and wrestle the knife out of his hand while Ariya wiggled out of his grasp. With a swift punch to the head, Thorin managed to knock the would-be assassin completely out cold, and left him sprawled on the balcony floor as he hurried to Ariya's side. "Did he harm you?" He asked, concern lacing his voice.
Ariya shrugged. "Does it matter?" She responded, sounding more bitter than she intended to. Thorin was taken aback.
"Of course it matters."
Ariya's eyes shot up to search his for any sign of a lie or insult, her face completely open and vulnerable for the first time since he met her. Thorin could see how afraid she was- afraid and lonely, even with Dis and now Frerin for company. Thorin regretted his actions in that moment, the ones that continued to let her know how unwelcome she was.
"I've been angry at the situation." He tried to clarify but the tilt to her head indicated that he had failed. "I'm too young to marry so soon." He explained quietly. Ariya nodded in understanding before smiling gently at him. "Well, as we established earlier, I'm even younger than you. Imagine how I feel."
Thorin could. "Maybe... maybe we could start over? Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, Prince Under the Mountain, at your service." He gave her a low bow, looking up through his brow at her shocked face. Recovering, she smiled and curtsied to him. "Ariya, daughter of Soran, Princess of the Northern Tundra, at yours."
Thorin nodded his head and gave her a small smile, one that was capable of making her stomach do flips. "A pleasure my lady. Now, I should take care of the vagrant before he awakens and escapes."
"Of course, my lord." Ariya smiled shyly at him. "I will heed your advice about the guard from now on." Thorin straightened, having grabbed the intruder by his collar after tying his hands behind his back. "That, my lady, is an excellent idea. Until tomorrow then." Thorin gave her another little bow and smile, which looked awkward due to his burden, and left the balcony, dragging the unconscious dwarf behind him.
Ariya smiled after him. "Good night Thorin." She exhaled, feeling happier than she had for a while. So what if this marriage didn't start out the way she always pictured it would. And so what if he never grew to care about her the way she was starting to care about him. She would be fine and it seemed that Thorin was starting to be on her side. She couldn't wait for tomorrow.
The next day however, was that fateful day of dragon fire, blood, and death. That was also the day she went against Thorin's wishes and refused to return to her people. It wasn't just about alliances anymore or protection. It wasn't solely about making sure he and his people were helped either.
No, Ariya knew that it was because she cared for him and would follow him anywhere. Even to the ends of the Earth or into the middle of Mordor if required. Even if she could never speak to him again or hear him speak to her.
Even if he only thought of her as a wolf