The Gathering Storm. The Hobbit fanfic. A Thorin Oakenshield love story.

Chapter 20: Forever.

"Of course I will walk with you to the gardens," she said to Thorin with a smile as she rose from the chair.

She pulled the now closed book to her chest and turned to face Balin. "Thank you for spending time reading with me Balin. I will see you later this evening at dinner," she said to him with a smile.

Balin nodded his head, "it was my pleasure, I enjoy spending time with you Princess. Goodbye, I will see you later at dinner." He said with a smile and went back to reading.

Thorin said his goodbyes to Balin as Taryn wrapped her arm around his own right arm. They then made they way out of the huge library and into the halls of Erebor. They walked through the many halls, passing many dwarves as they walked. They both would be greeted with a bow or curtsy, a wave, and a hello. Then both Thorin and Taryn would greet them all back.

Soon they were out of the mountain and walking towards the entrance of the gardens. They stopped and greeted the guards stationed at the gardens. They then greeted the gardeners who took care of the many different kinds of gardens.

Once they were at Taryn's favorite part of the gardens (the water garden) they both sat down on the bench. It was the same bench under the big wisteria tree, where Thorin had asked to court Taryn. That day they were both nervous and after she had said yes he had braided her hair with his courting beads.

He had made the beads and clasps himself. They had the Durin sign on them and Taryn loved them. He had also given her a little locker and velvet bag to keep them in when she was not wearing them. Or if she had extras, for she wore her hair in many different braid styles.

Once they were sitting on the bench Thorin pulled Taryn closer to his body. He wrapped both of his strong arms around her slender but curvy waist. Taryn leaned back and rested her head on his chest.

"So what is my surprise?" Taryn asked Thorin curiously as she looked up at him through her eyelashes.

Thorin just smiled as he looked down at her, "you see that empty area with garden boxes over there?" He asked her as he gestured with his hand to an area right of pond.

"Um yes?" Taryn said in a questioning manner to him.

"Well that is your own garden from me and my family to do whatever you want to with it. You could plant beautiful flowers, plant vegetables and fruit, or you could plant all three." Thorin said to her with a smile on his fac

Taryn smiled as she sat up to look at him better. "Really my own garden?" Taryn asked Thorin.

"Yes really all for you, Amrâlimê. I know how much you love nature and thought you would love this," Thorin said with a smile.
(Means 'my love' in Khuzdûl.)

"Oh thank you Thorin, I love it." Taryn said as she wrapped her arms around Thorin's neck.

Thorin smiled to himself as he thought 'that is not the only surprise you will be getting.' "I am glad that you like it," he said with a smile as Taryn pulled her sketchbook out of her bag.

As Taryn pulled out her sketchbook and began to sketch ideas for her garden Thorin leaned against the tree to rest his back. He slowly undid Taryn's braids for he could re-braid her hair himself. He took out her courting beads and placed them on the bench beside him. He then picked up the comb he brought with him and began to comb Taryn's white blonde hair.

First he made the two front braids in front of her pointed Elf ears that were identical to his own front braids. Then Thorin sectioned off a part of her hair and made many delicate braids and hooked them together with the beads. Instead of using her courting beads Thorin had used new beads he made. They were like the courting beads, but looked a little different. He then placed her courting beads back in the locket he gave her for them and into the velvet bag.