Fili’s heart lurched in his chest. Did he offend Sigrid by touching her even in such a platonic manner? His keen eyes studied her movements, and he could see that she was obviously very upset and was trying to keep herself from exploding. Just from the way she carried her body, he knew for a fact that she was reacting not to him, but something far worse.
I hate him…
Those words reverberated in his mind. Immediately, he felt nothing but pain and sorrow for her. She was such a sweet lass and she did not deserve the kind of life that she had been cursed to live. How unfair it was for the daughter of a king, the one who had rebuilt Dale, to be treated in a way that was unworthy of a peasant.
The moment her eyes met his, he stood from the bed and rushed over to her. Strong arms encircled her waist as Fili allowed her to pour her heart out to him. “Oh, I am so sorry to hear about what’s happened to you…” he whispered against her, rubbing her back comfortingly.
What she had to go through was not right. As Erebor’s future king, Fili felt an overwhelming sense of duty to protect those who were treated unjustly—even those not part of his kingdom. There was a part of him just wanted to take Sigrid and spirit her away to somewhere where she could be happy, where she could experience the life she was meant to have. But where would that be? The Prince was fresh out of ideas and backed into a corner.
His hand stroked her soft tendrils of hair. He, too, would be trapped in a loveless marriage in weeks to come. How could that be? He was meant to love, meant to be free. Looking straight into her eyes, he wished that he could take her pain away. “You may not have love in your land, but know that you are loved by me…”
She could not help herself. As soon as she felt his strong arms wrap around her she fell against him, hands fisting in his tunic as she buried her face against him. Finally, after so long, she could let her tears fall. She had been holding herself back for so long, refusing to give in, refusing to cry in front of them.
But with him... with him she was safe. He knew she was strong and would allow her this moment of weakness. She had tried so hard. To love her husband, to find her place. Nothing worked. There was nothing she could do. She was a pretty girl on his arm and that was it. Nothing else mattered...
She missed her home. So much.
She looked up as he spoke, his words making her breath catch in her throat, her heart race. It had been much too long since she had been this close to someone she trusted so, someone she loved. She search his azure gaze. He was so dear to her. So warm and brilliant and wonderful. To think that he too might suffer the same fate as her, to live without love... it was unfathomable. She could not allow it...
Leaning forward, eyes fluttering, she pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss.
It was gentle, nothing like the heated kisses they had shared before, simple and tender. Still, it sent her heart racing, familiar as she was with the taste of him, the way he moved against her and she clutched tighter to him for a moment before she...
She pulled away slowly, eyes still closed, resting her forehead to his.
"Forgive me..." she whispered.
