The Viking's Bride

Chapter Twenty One - Salt On The Wound

[Edited]

Valin's pov...
I stood in the middle of Terni's bed chambers, she sat in a chair facing me. "How do you feel" she asked quietly and I took a deep breath; "I feel fine, my Lady" I said and she practically flew out of her seat. "Stop with the act Valin! Stop calling me that, you are my friend, not my slave! And do not lie to me, I know you were hurt when you saw Thorin and Mela together that night" she said in a heated rush. I looked down at my hands, she was right, I was hurt...I AM hurt. "I'm sorry, Terni" I said quietly, "I am angry, that is all" I told her and she sat back down. "Have you spoken to Thorin since that night?" she asked and I shook my head. "There is no need, I no longer care about what the Jarl does in his spare time, nor do I care with whom he spends it with; it is none of my concern" I concluded and she sighed. "Is that really how you feel...Do you truly not care for Thorin, as he cares for you" she asked in a low voice; "He does not care for me" I said, somewhat bitterly and she chuckled. "Trust me Valin, Thorin does in fact care for you, more than he's ever cared for a woman" she said and I looked at her before laughing humorlessly. "If he truly did care for me, why do what he did?" I asked and her shoulders slumped slightly. "I don't know" she responds solemnly. "Exactly" I said getting up and heading for the door, but before I could even turn the handle.
"What did you feel for Thorin before that night?" Terni asked and I stopped and slowly turned to face her. I thought about what to say for a second before answering. "I felt, something of an attraction to him, I like the way he treated me sometimes. He was gentle with me at times, he was protective and defensive when it came to my well being and I was always thankful for that. There were still some things that I wished could change, but that is how it is and that is how it would stay" I concluded and then I felt her touch my cheek, wiping a tear that had escaped my watering eyes. "You were beginning to love him" she said with a sad smile and I nodded weakly. "My brother is truly a fool" she muttered as she hugged me and I broke in her arms, she reminded me so much of my sisters and the weight of everything happening now along with about two moons worth of emotions, from my wedding day till now finally crushed me. I slumped into Terni's arms and cried. I held onto her as though my life depended on it. She comforted me with gentle words and a soothing touch, it was almost motherly. We sat at the edge of her bed and she comforted me through the pain I was feeling. She waited as my crying faded to sobs; then as my sobs faded to small sniffles, until I was quietly hiccupping.

"Are you alright now?" she asked, kindly and I nodded. "Come, it is already noon, the sun in at it's peak" Terni said as I sat upright before slowly standing. We were walking towards the kitchen when a servant girl stopped us. "Valin, the Jarl wants to see you" she said and Terni dismissed her as we head off to see Thorin. As we approached his den, I reached out to knock on the door but it opened silently and the sight before me, made me seal my heart again.
Thorin and the servant girl from this morning, Mela, was in the room, they're lips moving in sync with the others. "You fool!" Terni shouted, causing Thorin to break away and push the girl away from him. "Valin" he said and I stepped forward, bowing respectfully; "Jarl Thorin, you summoned me" I said, my eyes looking between the two. "Terni, Mela, leave us" he dismissed them and as the door closed behind them, he looked at me.

"Valin, I am truly sorry. What you saw was not to have happened. I do not know why I even agreed to see her privately, she claimed it was important but as the door closed she came over to me and kissed me; I don't even know why I kissed her back. Please forgive me, for this and what happened before, I should not have been so angry with you for wandering the village, or drinking so much, or branding you as a whore when it is clear that you are not. I am sorry that after you left, I moved to another girl so quickly, I am sorry you had to go through all of that because of me. Please forgive me" he said in pleading voice; but I did not answer him. "Please, say something" he begged and I glared up at him. "You want me to say something Thorin, fine" I said as I moved to stand before him.
"The truth is that I thought I could see you in a better light Thorin; see you as kind and caring, different from the monster that attacked my home and slaughtered my people...my husband" I said, running my finger over the thin wedding band, I still wore. "But I was wrong, you could never change. You will always be the pig-headed ass, who whores around with any woman, be she willing or not; drink, fight and kill all for the fun of it; raid villages and steal innocent girls from their homes to satisfy your own selfish needs...and I hate it...I hate you" I ended, tears threatening to spill, Thorin stood still as stone, making not move to approach. I sniffle once before turning on my heel and fleeing the room. I ran blindly towards the bed chambers, locking the door behind me, I lay on the fur covered bed and cried. Thorin did not come to bed that night.

Thorin's pov...
After Valin left, I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I stumbled out the main door and to the stables, saddling my horse, I rode to Thror's house. His servants were surprised by my unexpected visit but I did not care; going to his den, I saw Thrain and a still angry Terni standing there. "Brother?" Thror looked at me as I dropped into a fur covered chair by the fire. "She hates me" I said weakly, I could hear the vulnerability in my own voice. Terni came over and rubbed slow circles on my back; "She doesn't hate you Thorin" she said and I shook my head. "She said so herself" I said looking at her, tears streaming down my face and I could tell they were all surprised, I was never one to cry for anything, I guess even I can change.

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