I love Thror. *wibbles*
He’s not had a very happy life, poor thing. Father and brother killed by a dragon in the Grey Mountains, then his wife and his daughter-in-law by Smaug in the Erebor he worked to rebuild, and then Azanulbizar… just. What a life. He created glory, just as his dark-name predicted – but ruin followed, and he blames himself (wrong or right, he blames himself for everything. He was the King of Durin’s Folk – their travails are his responsibility. OH THESE DURIN MEN, says Hrera).
I consider him to be wry and self-deprecating and rather quiet in manner when he doesn’t have his King-face on. He is fond and proud of Hrera’s way of bossing-to-show-love. I think he shows his affection in small, gentle, quiet ways: a cup of tea placed by an elbow, sharing a silent tankard in solidarity, reaching out to clasp a hand and squeezing briefly, warm and dry and full of meaning. I think he would have a very dark sense of humour. He would be a superb deadpan snarker.
I think Thror will be helped by seeing his grandson’s journey. He’s not all unhappiness, not at all, but he’s still not in a good place. He’ll find his way.
Still, in the meantime, Hrera will chivvy and boss him in her most imperious manner until he smiles in amusement and pride at her, private and loving, and say gently, “yes, my dear.”
