She had immersed herself fully into work. Even breaks were filled with paperwork, for when she stopped even for a coffee, all she saw were those icy eyes that bore into her, from the darkness.

There was no sign of her having been attacked, so who could she tell? Even the dress she wore that had been torn by the creatures claws had vanished!

Staring at the computer looking through blood test results, she sipped at her tea, when interruption came from another stranger walking through the office door.

"Hi! You must be Shobha?"

Peering past her monitor, she spotted a dark haired young man, dressed very similar to Fili, standing in the doorway to her shared office. He smiled softly at her before coming all the way in and taking a seat on the small couch that was set to one side.

"Hi… Yes, I'm Shobha…" she wasn't certain what to make of him. He certainly was not a patient. She remembered all their faces, usually. But everyone in Erebor seemed to know her, even if she didn't know them. "I'm sorry… can I help you in in some way?"

"I'm Kili, council public relations, at your service, my lady." He smiled tilting his head. "I hear that you tend to work through your lunch and often stay late…?"

"Oh! Who's been snitching on me…" Shobha frowned. It made her sound terribly boring, which she was most certainly not!

"It's not snitching, when it's to help ya lass." Aileen her secretary came through with another pile of letters, which she placed in Shobha's intray. "You're up to date with your paperwork. And it'll all be there tomorrow. You need to go out and see our town. Mix with some of the young people, like our Kili here. He's a good lad – will show you around."

She smiled at Shobha. Aileen had been rather motherly from the day Shobha first started, which was much appreciated. She had organised the housekeeper for her shared house with Gorin, so the kitchen was kept stocked as well as cleaned. It also meant Shobha didn't have to go out in search of places to buy food around here, which was useful as her first three weeks were fully packed, and she had worked a weekend! It was also Aileen who kept her going with regular cups of tea, sneaky cookies, which tasted completely yummy, and even picked up dinner for her on some evening before leaving, knowing Shobha had some late days. That had been a total blessing, since if not for Aileen's meal she would have gone home to a slice of toast or cereal!

"She's got the afternoon off, lad. Don't let her come back here. And the cleaner said she left here after nine last night!" Aileen looked at Kili over her half-glasses, her face cracking again with her smile. "Which is dangerous on yer own lassie! I know yer house is nearby but those roads aren't lit well. And even that fancy BMW of yours won't do well if it crashes into a stag or something…"

This was a warning Shobha had heard a lot. But she had never spotted a single dear or stag to date! And the farm land was much further down the valley! It made her wonder whether people knew about the beast she ran into last night, but kept it secret…

"I can't believe you've been here for three weeks and not seen our markets! And my brother tells me you rather like reading…" Kili smiled, his chocolate eyes crinkling with youthful charm. It was clear he held an important role, presumably in the council, and so much have been at least in his thirties. But he could have easily looked younger. "He said you had already made some changes around the hospital already! Was very impressed!"

"Your brother…?" And then she realised he meant Councilman Fili! "Oh! Yes! Yesterday…"

"Now he's a good lad too!" Aileen winked at Shobha, her softer smile widening into a bigger grin. She had passed a few hints at them yesterday, suggesting that he should ask Shobha out, much to her embarrassment. She had even implied that if she had a son, she would have set him up with Shobha already. "Pretty, little lass like you, won't stay lonely here in Erebor for very long… you just need to get out and about – we have a marvellous library too!"

"Come on, my lady." Kili stood up offering his arm out to her. "Or I fear you will end up like the grumpy Lord Oakenshield!"

The old markets of Erebor turned out to be rather large. With a whole host of different stalls. The Ereboreans seemed to enjoy various foods. But there were also stalls selling trinkets, soaps, perfumes oils, toys, books, jewellery and furniture.

Kili had turned out to be a rather eager host, showing her around the multitude of stalls. He had also carried the bags of the few items she had picked up, including some items that had been given to her by some patients she met along the way. So Kili had ended up carrying a host of bags, including soft blankets, bathrobes, slippers and several large bunches of flowers!

After stopping for a delicious batch of honey muffins and coffee, she suddenly spotted a row of tailors! Several of which looked busy with hosts of people. And so she opted to pop in.

Inside was strangely quiet, but all the same large and well lit, with a host of fabric rolls on all walls, leading through to what she presumed were fitting rooms.

A middle aged lady suddenly appeared from behind a counter, where she must have been crouching.

"Hello, love, what can I interest ye in today?" She smiled, cracking at the edges. In truth she seemed perhaps a little too old to be sewing modern fitted clothing.

"Hello there," Shobha suddenly wondered whether there was a reason for this tailor lacking in custom compared to the others. "Um… I kind of lost a dress recently… I um was hoping for a replacement –"

She was suddenly having second thoughts, wondering whether she could just find or order a dress.

"Aye lassie, What sort of dress would ye like? I can see ya in a nice pencil dress perhaps…"

"Oh, actually I had a fitted shirt dress with a flared skirt to just below the knee…"

Just then the seamstress suddenly disappeared behind the counter and pulled out a large book which she set on the counter, rapidly flicking through the pages to open it on to two pages.

"Like this lass –" she pointed at several pages. "They've all got a few variations, so have a look. I think this one would suit ya well. And I can fit pockets into the skirts for ya…"

She disappeared again, as Shobha looked through while Kili set the bags he was carrying on a side table before flopping into a chair.

"See I knew there was something you needed!" He smiled at her, as she gave him a look of uncertainty.

The patterns were thorough, and looked better styled that the Ted Baker dress she had lost to this creature, or whoever was conversing for it! Finally deciding that she would just give this poor lady some custom, she found the seamstress reappeared at the counter with several rolls of rather beautiful, soft materials in a few hues of blues, patterned tastefully.

"I think these would suit ya lass."

"I like the blues!" Kili called out from behind.

"Let the lass decide…" the seamstress had worn her glasses and was pulling out a tape measure and small notebook, as she eyed the pattern that Shobha was carefully looking over. Then leaning towards her whispered. "He's not yer betrothed is he?"

Shobha merely looked up briefly at her and smiled.

"I like this, and I love the sound of pockets… I love all these fabrics!"

"Let's get ya measured up then lass." The seamstress spoke softly. "Maybe not in front of the lad though."

After fussing about in the dressing room taking her measurements for a bit, and paying, they both set off leaving the stall. Shobha carried several of the bouquets and a few extra books, while Kili carried the remaining bags. As they turned the corner they were both distracted by a grinning Fili, leading her to bump straight into the large, muscular frame of another stranger!

"Ooh I'm sorry…" she knelt down to gather the fallen flowers.

The man she had collided with, had joined her in kneeling down to help her gather what she had dropped. He was unusually tall for the Ereboreans, while also being just as broad. He wore a well tailored navy suit, in a light fabric, which also looked rich, with a dark shirt underneath. Cradling her flowers, she looked up at him to find his masculine face, framed by black hair, streaked with silver watching her carefully. He had a stern, almost irate look, and she almost fell back when she found herself under the scrutiny if his ice, sapphire gaze.

Her heart pounded in her chest, as the memories of the creatures strange, almost human eyes flashed before her in that moment. The stranger reached out to steady her, as she pulled her arm away from him, picking up a nearby book and rising to her feet again. She was certain, between the look of irritation he displayed, that she had spotted a flash of recognition in his eyes as he sternly bore into her. It made her feel rather nervous suddenly, as she straightened her skirt, and tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear again.

The stranger, picked up a book that had landed near him, and assessed it with a hint of a snigger in his voice.

"Her nights on the fens…" he smirked at her having read the title as he turned the book over and continued to read. "I didn't realise our brilliant new doctor enjoyed idle, erotic, literature…?"

"It's light romance actually!" She frowned, holding her hand out for the book. And then suddenly she changed her mind, pushing the book back into his hands. "In fact, I think you might need it more than me! So keep it."

"I beg your pardon?" He looked quite taken aback, a flash of anger creeping into his features.

"You seem like you could do with some romantic comedy in your life… it was a gift from the book seller for treating him well." She pushed the book back into his hand. "So now it's my gift to you…"

"And do you make it a habit to give gifts to men you have never met before?" He grunted back at her as he moved closer, towering over her clearly irritated at what she might be implying about him.

"No more than you interrogate or pry into the personal property of ladies." She replied back calmly.

"It is my duty to know all the goings on in Erebor, especially when we allow an outsider to live among us –"

Fili and Kili who had been watching on with amusement interrupted hastily.

"We should have introduced you, it is entirely our fault. Shobha, this is Lord Oakenshield, and uncle, this is Doctor Seth." Fili smiled, attempting to diffuse the situation. "That's actually a rather funny book, if I can admit to it…"

Now she understood what Kili had meant when he referred to the Lord as a grumpy man! She held out her hand, which he shook with a rather firm grip, that almost hurt. It was a surprising revelation to hear Fili and Kili were his nephews. They neither looked nor behaved anything like him!

"So, Uncle, is the date set for the summer ball?" Kili asked hoping for some positive news.

"Aye, the first Saturday of June." The lord of Erebor confirmed, before returning his gaze to her again. It was like being in receipt of a cold blast of wind. "I think that should give you three weeks to ready a gown, my lady…"

"Not if my clothes keep disappearing at the rate they do." She muttered under her breath, with the brothers had not heard, but it seemed Lord Oakenshield had! He raised a disapproving eyebrow at her. So she nodded and looked over at Kili, desperate for escape.

"Perhaps I should be escorting you back, we can't take up all your time for rest, my lady." Kili nudged his brother.

"Aye, and we have to meet the tailors today, and we are already running behind Uncle." Fili tapped at his portfolio, watching his Uncle clench his jaw in anger.

"Well, nice meeting you…" she nodded turning to join Kili as they began walking away.

"Oh, and Miss Seth," Lord Oakenshield called out, his deep voice halting them both in their tracks.

She spun around to catch him partially turned to them, his icy gaze penetrating her once more, making her feel like a rabbit in the headlights.

"I wouldn't make it a habit of staying late at work. These lands are wild, and the roads near the hospital are poorly lit, at best." His tone was almost a warning.

After another moment of feeling his sapphire gaze boring into her, he turned and left, leaving her standing there, Kili watching her closely. Her heart pounded in her chest, and his stare had made her feel completely naked.

"Are you alright my lady?" He whispered, as though rousing her from a trance.

"Um… yeah…" she clutched her things to her chest, as she slowly turned to Kili. "That sounded horribly ominous…"

"He's dramatic like that. I mean, it's better not to wait till dark just because there is no lighting around there. But no one would hurt you, my lady." Kili attempted to reassure her. He too seemed puzzled by the warning.

She thought about the attack and wondered whether he knew somehow. Surely if people around there knew about the wolf like creature they would have warned her. Aileen and Oin had been so caring towards her – at least they would have mentioned it. Spotting Kili observing her carefully, she decided against mentioning it to him this time.

...

"I think you should just come home, darling." Her mother tried to reason again. "You must feel lonely there. And what do you do for fun? Any bars or pubs or gyms..? How will you meet a nice boy tucked away in the middle of nowhere?"

"I've made friends already mummy. And I'm just getting to know the town..." She wasn't ready to meet anyone just yet, but she wouldnt risk another lecture by admitting that to her mother. Her father was speaking up in the background, although it was clear her mother was not going to let the phone go anytime soon.

"Your father says he will send you details of someone, go to Dale and meet them in around a week…" she trailed off as thought trying to listen. "Ok, Arun, now let me speak – he says he will email you the details."

"Ok mummy, I'd better get going –"

"Oh darling – I'm still not happy about you being there… no mobile phone reception, no real contact with people… you're a pretty girl. You shouldn't be locking yourself away – ok Arun we don't need any of your smart comments. She gets that from you!" Her mother carried on with her two way conversation.

"What did daddy say?"

"He says Erebor was a mining town, and traditionally with men outnumbering women three to one, a pretty girl like you should have your pick of several husbands – but don't listen to him darling. You need to get time off around the long weekend at the end of August for your cousins wedding! We need to get you out there again…"

Shobha groaned inwardly pulling the receiver away from her ear again as her mother chastised her father for his latest comical reply.

"I'll call you soon. Love you."

She sat there staring at the phone after putting it down. Until arriving in Erebor, she couldn't recall when she last used anything other than a mobile phone, laughing at the irony. She had sorely missed her mobile at first, it had emphasised her feeling of loneliness. But rapidly she had discovered the advantages, like not getting alerts from Facebook! It had made her task of staying clear of social media much, much easier!

It would be interesting to see who her father wanted her to meet or why. In the meantime she would use the weekend to rest and try out the various soaps and scented oils in a nice long bath.

….

Her heart raced as she ran through the uneven scrubland. Although it was dark, the light of the full moon was bright, helping her pick her way through. The howling was still close behind, a chilling sound that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Although she didn't dare look back in case she lost her footing, she was certain it belonged to the creature she had previously come face to face with. Sharp rocks, jagged roots and uneven ground made her escape much harder, and the nearest trees were still some distance. She had planned to reach them and climb. But to make matters worse she only had soft boots on. They were suited to town living not frank cross country running, as she found herself doing now!

The low growling was nearing despite her best efforts to escape from her pursuer and she was now tiring. The limbs burned, as well as her lungs, but the tree line was desperately close.

Stumbling a few times as she neared, she finally reached the trees, finding a large one to hide behind, as she caught her breath before climbing. She pressed her hand to her mouth, trying painfully hard to silence the sound of her harsh air hunger. The creature was nearby, she could sense it, even hear it as it sniffed the air for her scent.

Quickly assessing the tree, she spotted a firm branch that she could hold onto in order to hoist herself up, and peered around the thick trunk she clung to. There in the eerie moonlight, she could make it out well. This was no ordinary wolf. It stood on its hind legs like a human, and was tall. It stood there silently, sniffing the air, a predator, mid hunt.

And then to her horror, it's cold, blue gaze found her. It stared at her through the darkness, it's strange human eyes registering her perfectly, letting her know it had found her.

She doubled her efforts to climb, her tired limbs struggling with the task. But before she could reach a higher branch she felt clawed hands grasping at her ankles, and she fell into its arms as it lowered her to the ground.

She lay there, eyes shut, feeling it's hot breath on her skin, waiting for pain. Her robe having fallen open long ago, all that remained between her and the sharp teeth was the thin silk of her nightdress.

The noise of material being torn, made her open her eyes, as it carefully tore her nightdress open, kneeling over her. She could feel the cold air hit her naked skin, making her nipples peak and her skin prickle with goosebumps.

Her chest heaved as her breathing quickened.

The creature was clearly taking its time, raking its strange blue eyes over her naked body, it's own breathing now heavy.

At this close distance it looked less like a wolf still, and even more like a man.

Instinctively she held her arms out to push it away, her hands sinking into its black fur, that was strangely soft. It lowered itself on her, as though it expected this, but was taken aback by her hands.

Pinning her lower body down with its weight, it grasped her wrists and pinned them above her with one clawed hand, before grasping her chin with its other to force her gaze up to meet its again.

She stared at it, sheer fear keeping her from looking away. It licked her, beginning from her thighs, moving up her legs, and over her core. The sensation of its hot tongue on her was strangely arousing.

"Give yourself to me." It spoke in a deep voice, which was clearly that of a man!

Her big dark eyes widened, it didn't intend to eat her – at least not yet!

"Please…" she tried begging for her release from its grasp, but the words were not forming.

Whatever the beast expected, it was not this! The surprise clearly visible in his own deep blue eyes, as it held her face in one of its hands.

"You are really here…" it growled, at first boring into her eyes, then pulling her body, pressing it up against his. The soft fur warming her cold body. "But how…"

She remained in shock, her hands now buried in its soft fur, unable to comprehend anything.

"Explain yourself woman!" It snarled impatiently, it's teeth just centimetres away from her neck.

She opened her mouth ready to scream but no sound came out!

She awoke, in her room, gasping for air, and her heart pounding out of her chest. Inside everything was pitch black, except for the pale light that escaped past the edge of the curtained window.

She remained still for a while, thinking about her vivid dream.

She didn't dare peer out of the window in case she saw it again! And then she heard it – the howling! It was not far.

That thing could easily break in, if it desired. And it turned out Gorin was away for a few days, so she was alone. After contemplating moving a chest to barricade the door, she decided it would do little to prevent it anyway, and so pulled the covers over her head and shut her eyes.

….

So there you have it – Thorin is a bit of a grumpy jerk…

Thank you so much for the reviews – please do keep them coming, to let me know your thoughts xx

Special thank you –

UnaLouise – thank you so much – they will all wear tweed/cords country attire at some point lol! ;) it won't get much scarier than this. But I can give you a warning at the start of the chapters that are scarier

Felsong7 – thank you so much – I just can't pair Thorin up with anyone else but Shobha anymore lol I love these two together too much! Lol! Hope you enjoy this chapter :)