Preface: This scene is set a couple days after Amliri learns of Motgrouk’s death, late July of last year.
With Arlis off to the Blue Mountains for Motgrouk’s funeral. Amliri found herself lost once more without a purpose for herself. Endla never came back with the ale she wanted, probably got herself lost again.
Amliri groaned in her seat, a headache growing. Might as well head to the Pony again…
-----
On her way to the Pony, she spotted a familiar dwarf. She ran up to him and shoved his shoulder a bit. “I didn’t think I’d be able to see you again!”
Thorek turned around pleasantly surprised, “Oh, missing me now?”
Amliri blushed slightly. “Of course not! It’s just nice to see a familiar face around here.” She peered down at the cobbled road and mumbled under her breath. “One that isn’t dead…”
Thorek placed an endearing hand on her shoulder, sympathy in his eye. “Were you planning on drinking away your unhappiness again?”
She averted her gaze from him. “Maaybe…”
He chuckled softly, “I think I may have something better to help you out.”
Amliri squinted at him, not sure to trust his word. “And what would that be?” She asked carefully.
Thorek gave her a cheeky smile. “You’re gonna have to follow along if you wanna find out.”
Amliri groaned. “Of course you would say something like that!”
He grinned and held out his hand to her. “So… do you wanna drink your sorrows away or do you wanna have some real fun?”
Amliri glanced at his calloused hand and back to the Pony crawling with people. Against her better judgment, she slipped her hand in his, putting her trust in him. He smiled down at her and squeezed her hand comfortingly.
She pointed a finger at him as they began walking towards the East Gate. “Don’t dare to try anything while I’m with you!”
He tilted his head back and laughed. “Stop worrying! You’re in good hands, I promise.” He winked at her and started running up the steep hill.
Amliri begrudgingly followed after him, but as she noticed the wind flow through her hair and the sun heat up her skin. She couldn’t help the giggles that fell free from her mouth.
Thorek glanced over his shoulder, his own grin reaching his ears. He whispered to himself. “That didn’t take long… but the day’s not over yet.” He smiled mischievously.
-----
He ended up taking her to Staddle-- of all places. Hobbits strolled through fields starting the days’ work, pipeweed stalks waved ‘Hello’ in the wind, hounds snoozed by their owner’s hobbit holes.
“Uh… what are we doing here? This has to be the quietest and uneventful town in Bree.”
Thorek turned to her with a knowing look plastered on his face. “That’s why it’s the perfect place to…” He paused dramatically and Amliri rolled her eyes. “To start drama!” He tugged Amliri behind some bushes as they skirted around the outside of town.
Amliri looked over. “What are you looking for?”
He peeked his head over a few bushes trying to find a farm nearby. “Animals…”
Amliri giggled in bewilderment. “Why, animals?”
At that moment, Thorek decided to make a break for a farm nearby, making sure to avoid any watchful eye. Amliri followed after him, still confused. He leaned in close to Amliri and pointed out the cows’ and pigs’ pens. “You ready to start some mischief?”
Amliri nodded excitedly, this is the most she’s been out of the house in weeks.
“Okay… You go unlatch the pigs’ gate and I’ll unlatch the cows’. The farmers aren’t gonna know what hit them until it’s too late.”
They both waited until the coast was clear. A farmer disappeared into the house and both of them immediately charged toward the pens.
Amliri tried to stifle her laughs, the adrenaline giving her a sense of ecstasy. She reached the pigpen, her nose scrunched up as she took a whiff of the smelly pigs. She pinched her nose in an attempt to stop the horrid smell.
The pigs gathered curiously at the front of the fence just as Amliri set them free. The pigs raced out, sloshing mud everywhere-- even on Amliri’s clothes. She turned to find the cows trotting down the hill in freedom.
Thorek caught her eye just as she turned. Both of them smiled at one another.
Distant shouting startled both of them as a white-haired fat hobbit stepped out of his house overlooking the disaster at work.
Amliri, immediately, started sprinting downhill to where the cows were. Thorek caught up with her to where they were running side by side in their escape. They made a break for the trees once indistinct shouting could be heard by several farmers.
Amliri found herself giggling as she ran through the forest, however she didn’t realize the terrain change once passed through the treeline. Before she knew it, she accidentally tripped over a fallen limb. She landed with an “Oof!” Her face was planted in a pile of wet leaves. “Owww!”
Thorek halted in mid-sprint, eyes widening at Amliri. He retraced his steps and knelt towards Amliri, trying to stifle his laughter. “You okay?”
Amliri slowly raised her head. “Mhmm…”
Thorek peered back and saw several farmers letting their hounds loose. “Uhh, we need to go. Now.” He grabbed ahold of her arms and quickly helped her to her feet. Thorek continued running down the hill once he saw Amliri was stable on her feet.
Amliri sighed in misery. “I guess I’m fine on my own…” She waddled down the hill, no longer feeling the need to rush. She spotted Thorek already at the base of the hill.
“Let’s go!” Thorek called out.
Amliri muttered under her breath. “Leave me alone… I’ll get there when I get there.” She heard barks in the distance that made her heart pound nervously. She picked up her pace, yelling. “I’m coming!”
She reached Thorek and slowly looked around. “Uhh, we’re not going in there, are we?”
He nodded matter-of-factly. “Uh-huh. It’s the only way we’ll lose the hounds.”
Amliri cried internally. “Fine..” She trudged through the marshland, wary of her surroundings by keeping a hand on the hilt of her dagger.
-----
As they got deeper into the Midgewater Marshes, the atmosphere grew more foggy and dark. Shivers crawled up her spine. “I don’t think they’re following us anymore…” She gulped nervously.
Thorek wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “You scared?”
Amliri narrowed her eyes at him. “No.” She shrugged his arm off. “I’m just ready for a celebration ale at the Pony.”
Thorek hummed. “That does sound like a good idea.” He changed directions back towards Bree. “Let’s get out of here, but I have a better idea than drinking.”
Amliri tilted her head in confusion. “I’m sorry, did you just say there’s something better than ale because I don’t think that’s possible.”
Thorek snickered. “Oh, it’s possible.” He led her out of the marshes and around Chetwood.
Amliri noticed it grow darker as the sun was setting. Thorek found a plain of grass and decided to sit down. “Uhh… what the fuck are you doing?” Amliri demanded.
“Watching the sunset, of course.”
Amliri blinked for a long moment. “You’re telling me watching the sunset is better than ale?”
Thorek nodded.
“No fucking way.” She shook her head in disbelief but still plopped down into the grass.
Thorek chuckled quietly.
“What!?”
“You look so deranged…”
Amliri muttered. “Fuck you.”
Thorek laughed out loud. “Aw, don’t sound so butt hurt. I mean you still have leaves and twigs in your hair, and your clothes are covered in mud.” He leaned closer and reached up to wipe dirt off her face with his thumb.
“The mud was your fault for having me open the pig pen.” She watched his hand carefully, deciding to let the odd maneuver go.
Thorek’s eye twitched. “Eh… but you did decide to go ahead with it.”
Amliri started to brush off the dirt from her clothes but to no avail. Her clothes were completely stained. She pouted. “This will take days getting out…” She combed her fingers through her hair, pulling small twigs and leaves out. “...And this is gonna take several washings to thoroughly clean my hair.”
After sifting through her hair, she glanced at Thorek and found him staring at her with a far-off look. “What’s wrong?”
Thorek sighed absentmindedly. “I promised myself I wouldn’t do this…”
Amliri furrowed her brows in confusion. “What--” Before she could finish her question, Thorek had planted his lips on hers. She gasped in shock, which he took as an opening to further the kiss.
After a moment of sitting still, she finally pulled back and slapped the shit out of him. She rushed to her feet, taking quick steps away from him. She stared at him wide-eyed while covering her mouth.
Thorek held the side of his face, a guilty look clear on his face.
Amliri stuttered over her words. “I-I’m with Arlis…”
Thorek averted his gaze. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know…”
“Yes, you did. I swear I told you…” She narrowed her eyes.
Thorek shook his head. “You never explicitly said so, so I just assumed you were available…”
Her lips trembled. “Well, I’m not!”
Thorek stood up and hesitantly reached out for her. “Look, I really am sorry. Can we forget about this?”
Amliri didn’t think she could forget, especially now with the guilt she was feeling, but... It was her fault for not telling him. She can’t keep that against him. “Yeah…” Amliri muttered while facing the ground.
-----
Amliri reached for the handle on the front door, eager to get inside the safety of her home.
“Hey, wait…” Thorek grabbed her arm and twisted her around. “This isn’t going to change anything between us, right?”
Amliri wrenched her hand away and creaked the door open. “I don’t know…” She quickly peeked inside, hoping the house was vacant, and peered back at Thorek. “Can we just talk about this tomorrow?”
“... I just don’t want to lose you. You’re the only friend I have in this town.” He glanced up at her pleadingly.
Amliri heaved a sigh. I shouldn’t place all the blame on him. It’s my fault for not telling him in the first place. “...F-Fine…”
The corner of Thorek’s lips rose upwards as he grabbed her other hand, gently kissing it in appreciation. “Thank you, it won’t happen again.” He smiled once more at her before turning around and heading up the pathway.
Amliri quickly rushed inside, making sure the rickety door was closed and locked.
