Well, thank you very much for reading this far. We've got to the last chapter of this particular story and I hope you enjoy it! Will we find a resolution and are promises (especially those about sexual behaviour) made to be broken, LOL?

.o00o.

Chp III

Outcomes

The young prince of Erebor had been right on the cusp of finding out what sexual intimacy was all about when an unwelcome and familiar voice rang in his ear, a strong hand engaged with his collar and he was forcibly removed from Brangwyn's pliant body. Frustrated in his purpose, a blind rage swept through him and he came back fighting.

Thorin's fist in his face immediately brought him to his senses. "How many times do I have to do that, lad," sighed his king, "before you acknowledge your bad behaviour?"

This time it was a bleeding nose and not a bleeding lip that he found himself nursing. Then Brangwyn applied a sweetly scented handkerchief to his nostrils and tutted at the dwarven king. "Well, I don't think that was quite necessary, Thorin," she complained.

"Oh, but I think it was," replied the dwarven king. "The punishment for rape – or even attempted rape – in Erebor is very severe."

The young heir to the throne looked appalled and stuttered: "But you've got it wrong! I wasn't raping her nor did I have any intention of doing so!"

"And what is Brangwyn's opinion of the matter?" asked Thorin, turning politely towards the dishevelled dwarf woman.

She paused for a moment but knew she couldn't condemn him. Finally, she said: "I'm not quite sure. Things happened very quickly."

The prince stood with his mouth open. He wasn't so sure of his intentions either.

"Well, things looked pretty bad to me when I entered the room," said Thorin softly. "But, I suppose it's always difficult to fully grasp a situation if you only witness a fraction of what is going on." And he turned and stared at his heir.

The prince's shoulders sagged. "I understand the point you're making," he finally said. "And I would like to apologise to you all for misjudging what was going on in your bedroom yesterday, Thorin, and for causing so much trouble." Then he turned to Brangwyn and continued: "And I would like especially to apologise to you, Brangwyn, for my unforgiveable behaviour a moment ago. I just misread the signals which were apparently being sent out to me by a very beautiful woman whom I like and admire." And he bowed his head humbly to her.

Brangwyn coloured slightly, then patted his arm. "That's all right. All is forgiven." Then she turned to Thorin and said sharply: "Did you hear me, Thorin? I forgive him. So, no further action is needed."

And Thorin gave her a grin and said: "As you wish, my lady." But, then he turned to Young Thorin and added: "But, I'm not finished yet." And the prince's hackles rose as if he expected another lecture after he had done his best to humble himself. However, Thorin's hand went to his shoulder and he added: "I think that Thranduil and I need to apologise too for the way that we have treated both you and Legolas. I'm hoping that the two of them will soon appear and we can do our best to resolve any outstanding issues."

.o00o.

The elven king and his son turned up a few hours later and everyone had the opportunity to apologise to everyone else. By this time, each of them was vying nobly with each other to take the biggest share of the blame.

"It was all my fault," claimed Young Thorin. "I tried to stir things up by telling Legolas a bunch of lies."

"And it was just as much my fault," retorted Legolas, "for trying to provoke you because I was jealous of the power and riches of Erebor."

"And," said Thranduil, "if we two kings hadn't been so selfish, none of this would have happened in the first place."

"Or perhaps," laughed Thorin, "we should stop blaming ourselves and blame Brangwyn for being so beautiful. A good-looking woman always causes trouble." And Brangwyn blushed again. How unlike her, thought Thorin. But, he noticed that both Brangwyn and the prince of Erebor were casting sidelong glances at each other. Good, he thought. At least there's some hope of a relationship developing there.

But Brangwyn, having been put to the blush, now reasserted herself. "And you are going to keep those promises, aren't you?" she asked the two kings.

"What promises?" asked the princes with interest.

Thorin sighed. "As our contribution towards peace and harmony, we have promised Brangwyn that we shall not touch or kiss or – umm – do anything else untoward when we are in each other's company, but save all our affection for when we are in bed at night."

"And I should think so too," said the uptight Legolas. "Your behaviour can sometimes be so embarrassing."

"And," added Thranduil, "every week in three will be spent apart from each other and then we shall devote all our time to our heirs."

Good intentions, thought Brangwyn, but I wonder how long they'll be able to keep it up?

And then the three young people made a happy exit from Thorin's apartments, chattering together and feeling content that so much had been resolved.

Thorin locked the door firmly behind them, then turned towards Thranduil with a seductive smile on his face. But the elven king held up a warning hand. "No, Thorin. We've made a promise," he said righteously. "No touching until we're in bed tonight."

"Well," said Thorin, backing Thranduil into a corner and pinning him against the wall, "you can be good if you wish and obey the rules. But, I'm of a mind to break them." And he swiftly undid Thranduil's shirt and planted numerous soft kisses on the silken skin of his chest whilst at the same time plunging a hand down his breeches. Thranduil gasped but did his best not to respond, splaying out his hands against the wall behind him.

Thorin grinned against his lover's throat. "You're just too good for this world," he said, delicately stroking the elf's arousal in the most tantalising way.

Thranduil succumbed very quickly. "Do you think," he asked in a strangled voice, "that our promise counts if they're not around to see us?"

Thorin considered this for a moment whilst sucking and biting the elf lord's ear.

"Probably not," he finally assured him.

Then, with a gasp of relief, Thranduil thrust his hands down the back of Thorin's breeches and squeezed the dwarf's delightfully rounded buttocks. "And," Thorin continued, "it's nearly dark and we could go to bed now, thus fulfilling our side of the bargain."

"But, of course," grunted Thranduil. "I hadn't thought of that." And he lifted Thorin high off the floor so that the dwarf could wrap his powerful thighs around the elf's slender waist before he walked swiftly with him into the adjoining room.

"After all," murmured Thorin as he was thrown none too gently down upon the feather mattress, "what are promises for, except to be broken?"

"That's so true," the elf king muttered, ripping off Thorin's breeches and scrambling out of his own. "I'm so glad that we can agree." And then he knelt across the dwarf's hips and settled himself firmly down upon his erection with a long, long sigh.

"We'd better make it a quick one," groaned Thorin, rhythmically moving his hips and grasping the elven king's swollen member, "or we shall be late for dinner."

"And then they're bound to guess," gasped Thranduil as his lover hit the spot.

"And we'll never hear the end of it," grunted Thorin, as waves of pleasure washed over him.

"Just shut up for a moment," exclaimed the elf lord as ecstasy began to overtake him and he moved his hips even faster, "and let me come."

The orgasm exploded through them and Thranduil collapsed into Thorin's arms.

"Don't nod off," warned Thorin sleepily.

"Just five minutes," murmured Thranduil…

Of course, they were late, but they managed to keep very straight faces when they apologised and said that the auditor from the Treasury had been consulting with them. And, by Mahal, everyone believed them! Because, after all, kings always keep their promises.

Don't they?

.o00o.

New story: The Kings and the Contract. In this, Dain comes to check out the way that Thorin is treating his son. The lord of the Iron Hills is difficult and irascible, and we begin to see why Young Thorin is the way he is. He disapproves of the relationship between the two kings and, with Thranduil obliged to return to Mirkwood, will the pair survive without each other or will Thranduil ride through the night to be at his lover's side? Hope to see you all next week.