A Prince and A Slave

As the early morning sun streamed through the trees any passers-by would have clearly noticed a huge camp of a dozen or so dwarves. A small dying fire sat in the middle of the camp whilst thirteen small figures slept in a circle around it. What might have seemed slightly strange was that two of the figures slept a few feet away from the others. The piercing sound of bird song rang through the sky and one by one the figures began to turn and moan as the warm sun shone onto their faces – giving them no choice but to wake up. The two figures that slept furthest from the others were the first to wake up. They were both young men, one had a mane of dark blonde hair whilst the other was a brunette. Both were the same height and both were covered head to toe in furs and leathers. All around them the others were starting to rise and both of them moved a little away from the main campsite. The brunette rubbed his hands nervously whilst the blonde brushed his clothes down.

"How did you sleep Kili?"

Kili sighed – the bag clear under his eyes, "Better than before," he allowed himself a small smile.

"The nightmares weren't too bad."

The blonde nodded, "This is the first time I've not woken up screaming."

Kili's eyes brightened at this and he rubbed the blonde's shoulder.

"That's amazing Fili. That's really good."

Fili sighed before running a hand through his thick blonde hair. Even with the braids it spilled past his shoulders. He shook his head.

"I don't know how long I can keep this up Kee. These aren't just normal nightmares. It's like I'm back there; surrounded by orcs. Waiting for Azog to throw me over the cliff…"

Kili rubbed his arm reassuringly, "I know how you feel brother. Every time I go to sleep I know I'll see Tauriel again. Her pale face. Hear her screams…"

Blinking back his tears he stopped and shook his head. Fili pulled him close for a hug.

"It's okay Kili. It's only been a year, you'll get over it in time."

Kili sighed, "I'm not saying she was my One. But I did care for her and she cared for me. She saved my life and all I could do was watch as Bolg ripped her apart."

To stop him from upsetting himself Fili shushed his brother gently.

"Kili look at me. Everything will be alright."

As Kili forced a smile onto his face Fili sighed. Maybe everything would be alright. But he couldn't keep having those dreams each night. Even closing his eyes brought it all back. He kept expecting Azog to lunge at him again. Beat him and mangle him.

"Fili, Kili?"

At the voice both shared a look before turning and walking towards the others. A slightly taller dwarf stood by the fire. His dark hair fell to his waist and the scar running across the bridge of his nose stuck out more than his bright blue eyes did. The dwarf nodded.

"How did you both sleep?"

"Fine Thorin," Kili replied. Fili just shrugged and took the offered bowl of stew from Thorin who rubbed his shoulder.

"I remember my first battle. I had nightmares for almost a year afterwards. Nothing can prepare you for it. But you're both strong and I know you'll get better soon."

Nodding Fili sat down by his brother and began picking at his breakfast. Thorin sat down on his other side and Fili wondered if he should bring up the question that had been bugging him all day. Had this been a year ago he wouldn't have hesitated about asking his uncle. But now…now he was a different dwarf.

"Thorin?"

"Yes Fili?"

Fili glanced round – noting that only Kili was paying attention – before inching towards his uncle.

"Why exactly are we going?"

Thorin pushed his breakfast aside, "Because we have been asked."

Fili nodded, "No I know why we're going. I meant why are we going?"

He gestured to himself and Kili. Thorin chewed his bottom lip before risking a glance at the others. All of them were busy engaged in their own breakfast and Fili smiled slightly to himself. Over a year ago these thirteen dwarves had been little more than miners, blacksmiths and toy makers. Now they were part of Thorin Oakenshield most trusted circle. Where he went. They went. Thorin ran a hand through his hair.

"Officially we're going to discuss new borders now that Erebor is ours once again."

"And…unofficially?" Fili couldn't help but be a little worried about how that sounded.

"Queen Elessandra has two children," Thorin said softly, "Her son Kehal and her daughter Kessandra. There has been some interest on her part in seeing her daughter married."

Fili dropped his spoon and he noticed Kili was staring at Thorin in horror.

"So, you're just going to marry one of us off uncle!" Kili hissed. Thorin shook his head.

"Absolutely not! However much I told you about doing your duty for your kingdom I won't see either one of you forced into a marriage. However, I believe Elessandra is hoping one of you may just be the right person to marry her daughter to. As for me I see no reason why you can't test the waters. After all, if one of you does find an attraction to her…

Fili looked down at his breakfast – appetite suddenly gone.

"You should have told us."

Thorin nodded "I know. But given how…fragile you've both been recently I didn't want to risk another relapse."

Fili tensed. He hated the term 'fragile'. It made him sound like he would break the second someone glanced at him. He was aware of Kili squeezing his hand and as Thorin got to his feet and moved away Fili let out the wobbly breath he'd been taking. Kili scowled at his uncle.

"This is unbelievable. It's barely been a year since Erebor was reclaimed and now he wants to ship us off."

Fili shook his head, "I don't think he does want that Kee. But Thorin is our king now and we're princes. Our lives…they won't ever go back to how they were."

Kili nodded nervously and Fili forced himself to smile.

"Anyway you heard him. This isn't going to be a forced marriage. It might not even turn out into a marriage of any kind."

"But what if it does?" Kili whispered.

All Fili could do was shrug.

"Lysa? Lysa! Lysa!"

At the voice Lysa pushed her hair from her forehead and forced herself not to snap back. Mornings were never her best time on any day and having been through several nights with hardly any sleep Lysa could feel herself being pushed to breaking point. With a small sigh she looked down at the floor she was scrubbing. Already her knuckles were rubbed raw from having scrapped along the floor and twice she'd slipped on a wet patch. Her stomach gave a small rumble and Lysa forced herself to ignore it. She'd had breakfast – if you could call a few scraps of bread and a tiny spoonful of porridge breakfast – and she knew in a few hours she'd be having to serve Princess Kessandra. At least then she could get some food.

Rubbing her aching back Lysa sat up on her heels – pushing several loose curls of auburn hair behind her ears. With a satisfied nod she glanced around the room. She could still remember Morag's voice in her ear at dawn – telling her that Queen Elessandra would be having guests and that the bedrooms needed to be cleaned. Even though she had only been given two to do Lysa's body still hurt. It's not like she'd even get a rest after this. Grabbing her brush she chucked it in the bucket before forcing herself to her feet – making a mental note of everything. If she had missed anything..?

"Floor cleaned, bed aired, fire done, bathroom cleaned," she mumbled each one under her breath. Happy she had done everything that needed to be done Lysa nodded and turned. Straight into the path of Morag. Lysa dropped her bucket and clasped her hands behind her back; lowering her eyes as she was supposed to do. She could still remember her first few days here. How she had always looked people in the eye. How she had been beaten until she stopped doing it. Morag cleared her throat, indicating Lysa could look up.

"There you are you stupid girl! What have you been doing?"

"I was preparing the rooms like you said miss."

Morag nodded and began moving round the room. Lysa held her breath as she did so, knowing that any scrap of dust or speck of dirt would be noticed. Even though the inspection only took a few minutes it felt like hours. Finally when Morag voiced her approval Lysa allowed herself to relax. But when the woman stood before her again Lysa could feel herself quailing. Morag's sharp grey eyes bore into her face and Lysa prayed she wasn't accidently smiling. The woman nodded.

"Very good. Princess Kessandra will need you now."

"Yes miss," giving Morag a small curtsey Lysa picked up her bucket again and moved towards the door. However, at the last second Morag grabbed her arm.

"These guests that are arriving later; they are dwarves from Erebor."

Lysa nodded even though she had no idea what that meant. She hadn't even known there were any other dwarf kingdoms other than this one and another one further north. Snapping out of her thoughts she nodded again at Morag who shook her.

"Her majesty intends to give each dwarf a slave when they arrive. As a sort of welcoming gift."

At the very last second Lysa stopped herself from snorting. Welcome gift indeed.

"Elessandra has decided you will be given to one of the princes during their stay here."

Lysa froze, aware of Morag's growing smile.

"Princes?"

"Indeed, her majesty believes you will be able to service them better than most."

Lysa knew what the other woman meant by that and she gave a small shudder. She could still remember the last guest she had been forced to serve. The bruises had taken over a month to go down. Biting her lip Lysa shook her head ever so slowly.

"No."

Morag's smile froze and she tightened her grip on Lysa's arm.

"What did you say?"

"I said no. I don't want to do it."

She should have been expecting the slap. Quick as a flash Morag's grip on her arm vanished and Lysa gasped as the woman struck her across the face. She had learnt after all these years not to cry out and instead lowered her gaze. The woman grabbed her chin and forced her head up.

"I do not believe you have a choice in the matter. In fact you should be on your knees in gratitude. Elessandra could have given you to one of the older members of this company. But instead she has given you the honour of serving a prince."

Lysa wanted to spit in the woman's face. To tell her that there was no honour in what she would have to do. When it came down to it a prince was no different from a beggar once they wanted a woman in their bed. But all the fight had gone and she gave a meek nod. Morag narrowed her eyes before stepping away. Lysa nodded again.

"I'm sorry miss. I am very grateful."

Morag nodded before stepping aside and ushering Lysa towards the door.

"Very good. I will have a dress laid out for you when you have finished this morning."

Lysa didn't even listen to the woman. Instead she hurried down the corridor as fast as her sore feet would allow her.

When she reached Kassandra's room the mark on her cheek was now a vivid shade of red. Rubbing it nervously Lysa knocked on the door before entering. The room was much like the one she had cleaned earlier except it was bigger and slightly grander. By the window there was a huge desk with a young woman sitting at it. Dark blonde hair trailed down her back and Lysa sighed wistfully at the dark purple dress Kessandra wore. She'd give her right arm to have her own dress of silk and furs. Instead she was stuck in her thick slave dress. Rubbing her arms Lysa cleared her throat and when Kessandra gave her a small smile she felt her chest loosen. Curtsying Lysa hurried towards the desk.

"I'm sorry I'm late my lady I…I was delayed."

She had learnt a long time ago not to tell tales on Morag. Kessandra gave a small wave of the hand before slipping a letter into the desk drawer and getting to her feet.

"It doesn't matter….Lysa what happened to your face?"

"It's nothing," Lysa lowered her head, "In the rush to get here I walked into a door."

Kessandra 'hummed' at this before moving towards her bed. Lysa followed carefully, making sure not to muddy the train of the dress with her mud caked boots.

"Do you know when these dwarves will be arriving?"

Kessandra stiffened and Lysa could feel her hands shaking. Maybe she wasn't meant to know about it until later. However Kessandra simply sighed.

"At lunch time. Mother wants us all to go out and meet them. She insisted I wear that thing."

Lysa followed her gaze and her eyes fell on a dark red dress with sheer arms and a very tight waist. It was clear it was meant to draw a man's attention to Kessandra's sleek body and once again Lysa looked down at her own clothes. A dark blue dress with a maroon apron and matching over sleeves for when she was cleaning the rooms or laying the fires. The bodice of the dress had been laced tight to keep her rather ample chest covered and more often than not Lysa found herself undoing the laces towards the end of the day just so she could breathe.

Kessandra began unlacing her own dress and Lysa moved forward to help her.

"Do you know why these dwarves are coming?"

It wasn't her place to ask such questions. But if she was going to have to play whore to a prince then she didn't want to be kept in the dark. Kessandra bit her lip.

"Apparently it's an official state visit. But I know what mother wants."

Lysa gave a small nod and watched as Kessandra stepped out of the dress. Folding the old one up carefully Lysa took the other dress and held it out for the other girl to step into.

"I expect you know two of the company are princes? Well it seems mother wants to get me engaged to the eldest as soon as possible."

"And…you don't want that?"

Kessandra shook her head, turning round so Lysa could lace up the back of the dress. As her sore fingers rubbed against the thin string Lysa tried to keep her focus.

"I'm not going to marry the first man that walks my way. Prince or not."

"At least you have a chance of meeting your One," Lysa said before she could stop herself. At eighty years old Kessandra had more than enough time to fall in love. Kessandra smiled.

"You might Lysa…one day."

Stepping back Lysa looked Kessandra up and down. She looked every inch the princess and they hadn't even styled her hair or chosen her jewellery yet. The princess's bright blue eyes twinkled whilst her long hair was now swept over one shoulder – perfectly set against her creamy skin. Lysa then looked down at herself; plain, filthy and painfully thin.

"No…no I don't think so. Who'd want to love me?"

So here is my brand new Fili/OC story. Even though I do like doing quest type things I thought I might try something else so this is going to be basically a love story of sorts. Hope you all still enjoy it either way xxx