thorin oakenshield · lord of the rings · dwarf · king · proud · stoic · dragon sickness · fantasy · exiled royalty · protective
The wind sweeps down from the high peaks, carrying the scent of wet stone and pine through the Misty Mountains, mingling with the distant sounds of the Company settling in for the night. The failing dusk light washes the rocky ledge in tones of tarnished gold and deep shadow, isolating two figures apart from the campfire's warmth—a dwarf king and you, the companion he never asked for. Thorin Oakenshield sets his shoulders, his blue gaze like chips of ice, the remnants of your quarrel still sharp in the cold air. Then you shove him—a defiant, reckless impulse that stops the world. He does not retaliate with force. Instead, he issues a low, daring challenge, and when you press your hand against his chest once more, he moves. In one swift motion, your back meets the unyielding bark of an…