AFTER THE BATTLE

Hector trotted ahead as she entered the Houses of Healing, scattering Dwarves in his path. Dire wolves were not a common sight in Middle Earth and certainly not in the city of Erebor. Kaylea Wolf met Elrohir in the hall outside the room where the King was convalescing. The Elf smiled when he saw her, reaching to scratch her wolf under the chin.

"How is the King today?" Kaylea asked.

"He should be up and around by this evening," Elrohir answered, his eyes dancing. "I was just changing his dressings. Your Dwarf is almost healed."

Kaylea rolled her eyes. "Thorin Oakenshield is not 'my' Dwarf!"

"So you say. The King may think otherwise," the Elf replied. "You can go in. Balin is with him."

Shaking her head, Kaylea knocked twice and opened the door. Thorin was sitting up amongst the pillows on his bed, looking pale but better than he had the previous night. Balin was seated beside him holding a sheaf of papers which they seemed to be discussing. Thorin's face lit up when he saw her.

"My lady! Please come in!"

Kaylea stepped into the room and took a knee beside the King's bed, Hector followed her and sat by the door. "My king, it is good to see you looking so well," she said.

Thorin motioned her to get up. "I hoped you would come visit me today, you quite brighten up this room."

Kaylea smiled as she got to her feet. "I only came to see how you are healing. I can see you are busy, will not bother you further."

"Not at all! Please sit and talk with me awhile," he motioned to the chair on the other side of the bed. "Balin was just leaving."

The old Dwarf gave Thorin a surprised look. "I was?"

The King scowled at him. "Whatever it is can wait," he said. Balin hesitated, giving Thorin a skeptical look. "Surely you can give your King a few moments to himself."

Balin took a deep breath, getting to his feet. "Very well, but we have many things to discuss, laddie. I will be back soon." He gathered his papers and, after bowing politely to Kaylea, took his leave.

Thorin watched him go, then turned his attention to Kaylea, who had taken a seat in a chair next to his bed. "I feel every moment I am awake there is someone asking for my attention," he said with a wry smile.

Kaylea nodded. "Such is the life of a King. Have you given any thought to forming a King's Council to take over the simpler tasks and lighten your burden?"

Thorin nodded. "Balin and I were discussing that very thing," he looked at the door. "But I want to hear about you. Where did you go after we parted, and how did you come to Erebor? Hopefully you will have time to tell the story before Balin returns with another stack of papers!"

Kaylea smiled slyly. "I can have Hector lay in front of your door, that will keep him at bay, at least for a little while."

Thorin laughed. "Please do!" He watched as she rose to open the door, his eyes traveling over her worn travelling clothes. This morning her tunic was not laced all the way, the collar falling to one side to reveal a hint of her breasts. Her lean body, her long golden hair, her flawless features, just looking at her stirred his blood. When he met her eyes he again had that sense of finding something for which he had long been searching. As she came back to sit beside the bed Thorin patted the coverlet beside him.

"Please sit with me, my lady," he said. Kaylea took a seat on the edge of the bed, Thorin took her hand and brought it to his lips. "I am so glad you came to see me." Thorin still looked tired, Kaylea could see the fatigue around his eyes, but she found it very hard to stop herself from kissing him. She had to will herself to stay still. In the time they had been apart she had managed to push Thorin out of her thoughts, but being so close to him the past two days, the desire she felt for him had come back with a vengeance. She remembered every detail of the kiss they had shared when they parted on the Brunien, the warm, earthy taste of his mouth, the way his soft beard tickled her face. She ached to feel his arms around her again.

Thorin listened attentively as she told him of her journey. She had travelled west to the Ered Luin and south to Gondor, gathering much information about the whispers of darkness that were creeping into the land. Kaylea told him a little of her discoveries about the Necromancer, and bringing up Mirkwood gave her the opportunity to ask Thorin about his travels. As they talked, Thorin held her hand in his, feeling the spark of her touch on his skin. She was close enough now he could just catch the scent of her hair, he longed to pull her to him and kiss her but she seemed to be holding herself apart. He had been so sure of their mutual affection after the kiss they shared when they last parted, now she seemed to be drawing herself away again. Thorin had always found her nearly impossible to read, she seemed so practiced at concealing her emotions. As he told her about his time in the Woodland King's dungeons he watched closely for any cracks in her stoic demeanor.

They talked together for some time, just enjoying each other's company. Two hours had passed almost before they knew it. Suddenly Kaylea got an image from Hector out in the hall, Balin was holding up a meaty bone, trying to get him to move.

"I am afraid we have quite lost track of time, your majesty," Kaylea said. "I am sure there must be quite a few of your subjects out there waiting to see you." Mentally she told Hector he could have the bone. The door creaked as the wolf got up.

Thorin heard it and frowned at the door. "Let them wait. I am enjoying myself for the first time since I woke up."

"You have responsibilities," Kaylea said. "Elrohir said you should be out of these healing rooms by this evening. We can talk again soon." Balin was already knocking. She moved to get up, but Thorin gripped her hand tightly and pulled her to him.

Kaylea put her hand on his chest. "My king…," she began, but before she could go on, Thorin quickly reached up and put a hand behind her head, pulling her mouth to his. Their lips met for just a few seconds before Balin came through the door and Kaylea stood up.

"I hope to see you again soon, your majesty," she said. She bowed to the King formally to cover her arousal, her heart was pounding and she could feel the heat rising to her face. Why did she find it so hard to control herself with this man?

"The celebration feast is tomorrow night," Balin said, looking from one to the other curiously. "There will be a place of honor there for you, my lady."

Kaylea nodded. "I will look forward to it." She turned to go.

"I will not see you again before?" Thorin asked, looking disappointed. He could see the flush on her cheeks, to his eye it made her even prettier.

"You have many things to attend to, and when you are out of bed I wager you will be busier still," Kaylea replied. "I will see you at the feast tomorrow night."

Thorin watched her go, trying to calm himself. Just that brief touch of her lips had set every nerve in his body on fire. It was exactly as he remembered, the feeling of a current of energy traveling from her right into his core. He could feel how his touch awakened her whole body, the passion with which she had returned his kiss was undeniable. Licking his lips, he savored the taste of her mouth that lingered just for a moment on his tongue. Thorin closed his eyes and let his head fall back, if only he had acted sooner. He resolved that the next time they were alone he would not hold back.

"Now, where were we…," Balin was saying, shuffling his papers.

As Elrohir had predicted, that evening the Dwarven healers pronounced him well enough to leave his bed. The King had dinner with the members of his old company who had survived the battle, the loss of his nephew Kili was still hard to bear. They were all overjoyed to see him healed and most of all, cured of the dragon sickness that had so marred their months in Erebor together. Later that evening Thorin walked through the rooms of the treasury, finding himself astonished that it had once had such a hold on him. He had heard Kaylea used some kind of Dorsai medicine on him, had she somehow cured his dragon sickness as well? He fingered a length of mithril chain, thinking about a necklace for her. Maybe with some blue gems that matched her eyes. His mind went down a pleasant path as he imagined unlacing her tunic to find such a necklace underneath.

"Excuse me...oh, pardon me, your majesty! I did not know anyone was down here." It was one of the servants, pushing a cart loaded with golden cutlery, no doubt getting ready for tomorrow's feast. Thorin turned and nodded in acknowledgement. "It is good to see you recovered from your wounds, if you do not mind me saying, sir."

"Thank you," Thorin replied. "I have been in bed the last few days, I felt like a walk."

"Of course, sir," the Dwarf replied. "Let me know if you need anything," he added before turning to leave.

"Just Kaylea Wolf," Thorin whispered, smiling at himself.

"The warrior woman?" Apparently, the servant had sharp ears. "I am afraid you will not find her in the city tonight, she rode out this afternoon on her horse."

Thorin looked at him sharply. "Rode out? Are you sure?"

The Dwarf nodded. "Watched her myself, had that big wolf with her and everything." He looked down, as if embarrassed. "She is hard to miss."

Thorin put a hand on the Dwarf's shoulder as he walked past. He made his way quickly through the halls to the gallery were Kaylea had her rooms. He knocked on the door twice before going in. She was not there. The bed was made and a fire had been set in the hearth, but there was no indication she had ever been there. He looked around quickly for any sign that she was coming back, he could feel panic rising in his chest. Would she truly leave him without a word? When he opened the wardrobe he breathed a heavy sigh of relief, her clothes were still there. She did not have many, as she had been living for months on the back of her horse, she certainly would not leave them behind. Thorin fingered the fabric of one of the long-sleeved shirts, it looked like soft silk, but between his fingers it felt almost like woven metal. Impulsively he brought the garment to his nose, inhaling deeply. There was that scent he remembered so well, fir trees and a hint of cinnamon, sun on desert sand, the rosewood and lavender smell of her hair. Closing his eyes, he was transported back to the first night they had spent together, hunting orcs through the forest. Riding on the back of her horse, his arms around her slim waist. After a moment he came back to himself, realizing he probably should not be in her rooms uninvited. He very much wanted to just sit and wait for her to return but instead he made his way along the gallery to his own rooms.

The next day passed quickly in a whirlwind of meetings and inspections. As Kaylea had predicted, there were more demands on his attention than he could have ever imagined. Thorin started his day by choosing a council from members of his company and some of Dain's men who had declared their intention to stay. There was much work to do before Erebor could be habitable for a large number of his people, and winter was fast approaching. After his first council meeting the King spent his day inspecting the repairs that had been started in different parts of the city, he found the work was progressing even faster than he had hoped. Balin accompanied him, making notes in the little book he always carried. Everyone seemed overjoyed to see him so quickly healed, in fact the wounds barely bothered him now. Throughout the day he had often looked around for Kaylea, but had not seen her. She had said she would be at the feast, and so far she had not broken her word.

The grand dining hall in Erebor had been carefully cleaned, the long tables set with the King's golden service and groaning under every kind of delicacy. With all the lamps lit, the banners of the Seven Families unfurled, the fires roaring in the hearths, Thorin felt as if he had finally come home. How well he remembered attending formal dinners in this hall with his grandfather presiding at the King's Table. Now it was his turn. As Thorin took his seat he looked out at the full tables. Bard was there with some of his men from Dale, there were Elves from the Woodland Realm and Elrohir standing apart with his black hair. All the members of his old company were in attendance, including Gandalf and Bilbo. Dain was seated to his right, Balin on his left, looking down the table he saw Kaylea Wolf seated several seats past Dain.

He scowled at Balin. "I thought you would seat Kaylea next to me."

"That would not be proper, your majesty," Balin replied, giving Thorin a long-suffering look. "She is not a member of your house."

Thorin rolled his eyes. The King should be able to do as he wished, instead he was constrained by seemingly endless rules.

"We have much to discuss, cousin," Dain said, loading his plate with slabs of meat. "You can chase unattainable women some other time."

Thorin frowned at the King of the Iron Hills. "Are you implying I do not know how to court a woman?"

Dain chuckled. "No, I am implying you would be wasting your time. Look at her, what would a beauty like that want with you?"

Realizing he was being teased, Thorin punched his cousin in the shoulder then turned his attention to the meal before him. As the feast wore on, Thorin spent much time in conversation with Dain, and also with Bard, who took Balin's place beside him. There was much to be settled before the winter arrived. Throughout the night Thorin looked often for Kaylea, their eyes met briefly a few times but they did not speak. He saw her talking to Dwalin and Gloin, then she moved to the other table to sit with Elrohir. Dain asked him about why he had ended up hiring a hobbit and he got very involved telling the story. When he looked for Kaylea he saw she was gone. As he finished his story he continued to look around the room but did not see her. She must have slipped away.

Thorin leaned back, putting his hand on his side. "I am feeling this wound tonight."

"You have only been one day out of bed," Balin said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "No one will blame you for leaving the table early."

Thorin nodded and glanced up at the still crowded tables. The great hall was filled with music and laughter, there were many drinking games and lively conversations going on. Bofur was already dancing on a table. Nobody besides Balin even noticed when he took his leave. He made his way to the stairs that led to the gallery, his heart pounding. Tonight he was resolved to finish what he and Kaylea had started so long ago along the Brunien. He put his hand on his coat, inside his breast pocket was the flask she had given him, when they had parted on the road from Rivendell. She had promised they would finish the liquor together when they met again in Erebor, now it was time. Thorin meant to convince her to stay in Erebor with him, no matter what his cousins said.

Turning the corner onto the gallery Thorin saw Kaylea leaning on the railing, he paused in astonishment. She had clearly been waiting for him, her hair was loose, her tunic partly unlaced. In the soft light of the hall she was a vision indeed. He drew himself up, taking a deep breath he stepped up on the archer's step and started walking toward her. After this night Thorin's life would be changed forever.