The Viking's Bride

Chapter Eleven - The Feast Pt. 2

[Edited]

Thorin's pov...
As I closed the door behind me, I paused only to hear Valin's sobs quietly through the door and I felt a tug on my heart. I hurt her; with a sigh, I went back to the feast and took my seat at the head table with my brothers, sisters and Terni's mother. We did not share the same mother due to the fact that she (Terni) was actually a bastard child of my father.
My mother was a fair maiden of a far off land, like Valin, my father and his men raided her homeland and took her captive as a slave. She worked dutifully under my grandfather's rule and when it was time for my father to choose a wife he chose her; much against my grandfather's will. She bore him four children, my two brothers, me and my blood sister, Thistle.
But before Thistle was conceived, my father bedded another woman; the daughter of a merchant and she bore him a daughter; Terni. Both women lived in this house before my mother, Trudy, left to rebuild her homeland for her people. Terni's mother, Sheela, calls herself the mistress of the house once I am off sailing; although I have told her multiple times that my mother and sister is the Mistress of the house and for some reason Sheela is always looking for another reason for me to dislike her.
Thistle was only twelve years old at the moment and like the rest of us had beautiful blond hair. She came over and sat on my lap with a grin. "Big brother, where is the lady with the fiery red hair?" she asked me, looking around the room of people. "I have sent her to her room, Thistle" I told her and she frowned slightly, bowing her head; allowing her white rose crown to slip down. "Be careful little one, you flower crown will fall" I told her and she smiled fixing it atop her head.

"Thistle; get off of Thorin, it is not very lady-like" a sharp voice scolded my baby sister and my eyes narrowed. "She has a right to sit upon my knee, Sheela; be it lady-like or not" I turned my head to face the woman in question. She looked nothing like her daughter; where Terni has long, blond hair; she had longer dark brown hair and green eyes where Terni got blue eyes from my father.
While Terni was kind and helpful, the woman was proud and selfish and I despised her for it.  She was currently dressed in a fine silk gown and her jewels. "Thorin-" she started and I raised my hand to stop her; "It's Jarl Thorin to you, Sheela" I sneered and she quieted herself immediately. "Your sister will never find a husband if she does not have the proper training" she said haughtily and I smirked.
"If a man cannot accept her for who she is; he will never have her hand in marriage" I said and turned to face her completely. "And you're one to talk, you are forty-eight years of age, nearly fifty and you have yet to find a husband; because my father never married the likes of you" I spat and she looked affronted. "Ηοω δατε ψου, ινσυλτ με λικε τηισ" (How dare you, insult me like this!), she screeched at me.

Everyone in the dining hall stopped and turned to listen to our confrontation as I kindly asked Thistle to remove herself from the middle of this conversation and go to Thror; I stood and faced the woman who was currently losing whatever favor she might have once had.
"Ι δαρε βεχαυσε ψου ηανε νο ριφητ το ενεν βε ηερε; ψου αρε νοτηινφ βυτ α μερχηαντ'σ δαυφητερ τηατ μψ φατηερ βεδδεδ. Τηε ονλυ ρεασον υου αρε ηερε ισ βεχαυσε μυ μοτηερ πιτιεδ ψου ασ υου ωερε δισσοωνεδ βψ υουρ οων φατηερ" (I dare because you have no right to even be here; you are nothing but a merchant's daughter that my father bedded. The only reason you are here is because you bore my father a daughter and my mother pitied you as you were disowned by your own father!), I practically roared and she and just about everyone in the room flinched at the hard edge in my voice.
In a lower voice I spoke again; "You will do well not to cross me again Sheela or Terni's pleas will not stop me from casting you out, disgraced onto the streets".
The woman bowed her head and I turned my back to her, giving the order to continue the feast. I sat down and several servant girls brought out platters of meat and began serving the head table before the guests. The night went by without another interruption.

When the feast ended and all the guests had left and returned to their homes, I went to my room and frowned as I closed the door behind me. Valin was crouched in the corner, near my desk, her head resting on her knees; her red hair hid her face from my view. I walked over to her and touched her shoulder and her head flew up and I felt a pinch in my heart when I saw her face.
Tears were dried to her cheeks, her eyes red and swollen and her nose slightly red from sniffling so much. I reached down to touch her but she whimpered and scooted away from me. "Valin-" I began but she turned her head away from me, although I could see fresh tears pouring down her pale cheeks. "I am sorry, I did not mean to bring any harm to you" I said softly as I crouched down to her level. She turned completely away from me.
With a sigh I stood and walked over to my chest of clothes; opening it I took out my night wear and an extra tunic for Valin to sleep in. "Here, I had no time to procure any proper night wear for you, but I will see to it in the morrow" I told her as I lay it out on the bed. She stood up and took the garment before retreating to the darkest corner of the room and I turned my back and undressed myself before changing my own clothes.
Once I was changed, I climbed into bed and sat there waiting for Valin to join me; but when I looked back to the desk, she sat on the floor; like before and rest her head on her knees. "Valin, you need not sleep on the ground; there is space enough for us both; on the bed" I called to her; she raised her head to answer me. "I would rather sleep on the floor" came her reply and she put her head back down and I sighed. "Sleep where you wish" I muttered before turning away from her and falling into deep slumber; feeling almost relieved to be back in my own bed and not on the sea.

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There, chapter Eleven.
It took forever to write this but I hoped you liked it.
I tried to shed some light on Thorin's family.
Don't forget to vote, comment and share.

XxNikkyxX