My apologies for the long wait for this update. I have been dealing with a serious health issue for the last month and a half. Then I've been fighting a writer's block for this story, which has suddenly disappeared after having two Hobbit & LOTR movie marathons with the extended editions.
Be warned this chapter is long, and I'm going to warn you now that there is mentions of rape in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hobbit.
For five years Shara has stayed away from the Blue Mountains and travels with Dwalin throughout Middle Earth. With a small band of their fellow dwarves from the Blue Mountains, Dwalin and Shara oversee the protection of much needed supply lines for the Blue Mountains settlement and the other dwarven kingdoms. Occasionally, when the need for money becomes too great to ignore, their little band will contract themselves to the settlements of Men as extra guards for their trade routes.
Their latest contract, as guards for a dwarven caravan, was to see a load of raw iron from the Iron Hills to one of the newer dwarven settlements of the Firebeard clan, which can be found in the small mountain chain west of the White Mountains and along the southwest coast. The settlement, Fîrgeä, isn't that hard to reach on pony or with a wagon. However, the so-called lord of the settlement has a reputation of following the ancient ways of the dwarven culture, and turns a blind eye to any dwarf criminal who has sought refuge in his settlement. Yet, on many occasions, this dwarf lord has used the criminals to help keep power over the settlement and all who live there.
As the caravan follows the path towards the settlement, Shara and Dwalin keep to the back of the eight-cart long caravan.
"I suggest ya keep your eyes open and stay aware of your surroundings while we're here." Dwalin says while keeping his chestnut colored pony at a slow pace. "Wouldn't want to bring any attention to ourselves, if you know my meaning. This settlement has a rough reputation, and can be called home by the unsavory of our people."
"Understood." Shara replies, making a mental not to stray too far from Dwalin and her fellow dwarves from the Blue Mountains.
"I'd also ask that ya stay with a member of our small company at all times. I wouldn't want ya getting lost, or harmed in any way." Dwalin tells her with all due seriousness in his voice and on his face.
"Is the place really that bad, Dwalin?" Shara asks, looking over to Dwalin for any sign that the gruff dwarf may be joking with her.
"Aye, it is."
Seeing that that her guardian is already looking a bit tense, Shara look ahead towards their destination. Already she can see movement upon the tall wooden wall that acts as a barricade between the settlement and any who would attempt to attack the inhabitants from the outside. Behind the wall, past the many makeshift buildings, is one of the small mountain peaks of this small mountain range.
It isn't long before the large wooden gates open before the caravan, and they proceed to go inside.
Once inside, the gates close behind them, and Shara can't help but feel like a trapped rodent inside of a trap. Her body muscles tense up and it takes her a few moments to climb down from her black pony. Not forgetting what Dwalin had told her upon their approach, Shara made sure that she climbed down on the right side of her pony versus the left side. That way she can be next to Dwalin as they begin to untie their small traveling packs from behind their saddles.
With their small packs now hanging over their shoulders Shara, Dwalin, and the rest of the small band of dwarves begins to see their ponies to a nearby stable, and hopefully find themselves an inn to stay overnight.
"Come on, lass," Dwalin says as they finish placing their ponies into the stalls of the stable. "I suggest we find a room to share for the night. I don't want ya sleeping in a room by yourself tonight. We should be leavin' in the mornin' with a new contract for work, hopefully."
"As long as the room comes with a bath, because we smell horrible." Shara teases with a big grin on her face.
"Aye, using only streams to bathe in for three weeks doesn't get one as clean as a proper bath does."
Both of them have been wearing the same set of traveling clothes for the past three weeks. Where Dwalin's traveling clothes are in different shades of brown, Shara's traveling clothes are navy blue under tunic, dark burgundy over vest, and dark brown pants, boots, and cloak. Even her bindings for her chest are navy blue, and on numerous occasions has led dwarves and men to think that she was male instead of female.
With a last check on their ponies, Dwalin and Shara leave the stable and make their way deeper into the settlement. Sticking close to Dwalin's side, Shara allows her eyes to take in the many buildings that are alongside the main road. Between these large buildings there are plenty of alleyways that lead to unknown places beyond. Part of Shara wonders if the main buildings are mostly for show and what lies beyond them is where the trouble spots are.
Halfway up the main road, the pair come across a dwarf that they weren't expecting to see in this type of settlement.
"Thorin?" Dwalin says softly to himself before quickening his walk to reach his king.
Shara, keeps up with Dwalin as he moves through the small crowds of dwarves that are in the road. She too is at a loss as to why Thorin would be here, and she doesn't have to wait too long to hear why.
"Dwalin," Thorin says in greeting to his kinsman. "it is good to see you. Five years in a long time to be away from home, even for you."
"Aye. We've been stayin' busy." Dwalin answers before giving a small glance towards Shara.
"Lord Thorin." Shara says while not giving him a curtsey nor a bow in a show of respect.
"Shara. I'm surprised you brought her here with you, Dwalin. This is no place for a young, single dwarrowdam to be." Thorin sternly tells his friend.
"I wouldn't have done so if I had a choice, but Dain had us under contract to see that his caravan arrived here safely." Dwalin replies while trying hard not to make his hands turn into fists.
Thorin only gives Dwalin a nod of his head in understanding of the situation. He isn't pleased that his friend, who is the guardian of this young dam, has allowed her to travel with him to this place. However, Thorin makes a mental note to keep Shara out of harm's way while they are here.
"What brings you here, my lord?" Shara asks Thorin. She is curious to know what has caused the great Thorin Oakenshield to leave the Blue Mountains.
"Personal business that is none of your concern." Thorin replies with a growl before looking back at Dwalin. "Where are you planning on staying for the night?"
"Hoping to find a room at the local inn, which the two of us will be sharing. I know better than to leave Shara alone in this kind of place. Even if this is a fellow dwarf settlement, I wouldn't trust three quarters of the folks here."
"Agreed. Targyn has set aside a room for me at her inn & tavern, The Golden Nugget. I suggest you go there and inquire about a room with her. She may seem a bit prickly, but I can assure you that she'll not allow thieves into her establishment." Thorin suggests to Dwalin while keeping his eyes focused on Dwalin.
Thorin offer to lead the way, and the pair are quick to follow him to where the Golden Nugget is located. The place rests right along the main road, closer to where the mountain side is. It is a three story, wooden building that houses the tavern on the first floor and the inn on the second and third. Targyn doesn't mind giving a room for Dwalin and Shara to share, and she places the pair in the room next to Thorin's.
With their rooms seen to, Dwalin and Shara join Thorin in having an early dinner in the tavern. Targyn's spouse, Ronên, sees that to their food and drink. Each of them is given a bowl of a thick beef & vegetable stew, a half loaf of fresh bread, and a small bunch of the local grapes used for the winery. Thorin and Dwalin are given a pitcher of ale to split between them. Shara, however, is offered some of the local wine to drink with her meal.
At the completion of their meal, Thorin heads towards the mountain entrance that leads into the local lord's halls for a meeting. Shara and Dwalin, however, go in search of the local smithy to have their weapons sharpened properly. Having left the main road, the pair head down one of the smaller side roads to reach their destination.
Remembering how shifty the local smith is, Dwalin tells Shara to stay outside, but near the door, and not to wonder off. Holding a hand out, Dwalin watches as Shara places her main and secondary weapons, a pair of throwing axes and four daggers, in his hand. Knowing that the lass has a few more weapons hidden away upon her person, Dwalin heads into the shop.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Shara keeps her eyes open for any signs of trouble. After ten minutes of waiting, Shara notices that the evening light is fading into night. The sound of shuffling and quick footsteps echo out from one of the alleyways across the road from where she is standing. Moving slightly to get a better look down the alleyway, Shara can't help but let out a shocked gasp at what she sees.
Halfway down the alleyway is a group of five dwarves who are half shoving, half dragging a human girl with them. The girl looks to be around 16 in the age of men. She has a gray frock that stops mid-thigh, no shoes, and her wrists are bound to a leash that is attached to the girls' neck.
Never before has Shara seen something like this among her own people. Even during the dark days of Sauron conquering the lands of Middle Earth, Shara had never seen something her people have slaves or take slaves. Yet seeing her own race do something like this sends fire through her veins, and without realizing it, Shara has pulled out one of her hidden knives from her boots. Making sure not to lose sight of the group, Shara crosses the road and heads into the alleyway.
Moving as stealthily as possible, Shara keeps to the left side of the alleyway in an attempt to follow after the group. She comes to a stop just a few feet away from a corner that the group had turned at. Pulling a second knife out from her hair, which was holding her golden bronze hair away from her face in a bun, Shara mentally prepares herself for a fight. She inches closer to the corner when a loud, painful moan reaches her ears. This is followed by a few grunts and laughter. Knowing what is happening to the young woman, Shara can't stomach the sounds or the truth of what is happening. So Shara takes a deep breath before charging out of the shadowed alleyway.
The group of dwarves are startled by Shara's appearance as well as her attack. The closest of the dwarves falls to the ground dead without even realizing that her knife had lodged itself into his forehead. The second dwarf, who happened to be standing near the one who was killed first, is able to flee the area with no injury. The third dwarf isn't so luck as he finds himself having to draw one of his own weapons to block Shara's knife from contacting his body. Even with his own short sword drawn, the dwarf is having a hard time keeping up with Shara's fast movements. The fourth dwarf has moved away from the fifth dwarf and the human girl, and has pulled out his own sword from the scabbard on his back.
Trying hard to stay in constant movement, Shara has lost her focus on her surroundings. Focusing more on the dwarf in front of her, Shara doesn't see the fourth dwarf coming till the swish of a blade moving through the air reaches her ears. Cursing at herself internally, she is able to judge the correct path of the blade and move in the opposite direction from where it was coming from. With this lapse, and changing of her focus, has allowed the third dwarf to wrap a muscular arm around her waist.
Feeling her feet lift off of the ground, Shara lets out a snarl before kicking her legs in an attempt to make contact with the dwarf behind her. She continues fighting and plunges her remaining knife into the arm that holds her. This causes the dwarf to yell out in and immediately release Shara from his hold with the knife still in his arm.
All of the commotion has caused the fifth dwarf to end his violation of the human girl, and seeing that his two fellow cohorts are battling a well-trained dam, he decides to end things. Pulling a dagger from his waist, he slits the girls' throat before tossing the dagger at Shara. His dagger flied true and wedges itself into the back of her thigh. This causes Shara to yell out in pain and her right leg buckles, sending her to the ground.
Before Shara can reach behind her to pull out the dagger, the fourth dwarf grabs a fistful of her hair and gives it a sharp tug. This causes her body to fall to the left and her hands reach up to take hold of the dwarf's wrists. With Shara only being partially subdued, the third dwarf pulls out the dagger from Shara's thigh. Before he can use the dagger to cause any other harm, the sound of several heavy footsteps echo into the dead-end alleyway.
Suddenly several sentries, who were patrolling the roads, rush into the area and begin yelling. What follows is mass chaos as the three dwarves drop their weapons, and the one relinquishes his hold of Shara's hair. The three dwarrows and Shara taken into custody and escorted out of the alleyway. From there they are taken towards the mountain, where they will receive their chance to explain themselves before going to the dungeons.
Shara, who is stumbling as she walks, isn't really focusing on where she is being taken. She's more concerned about getting her wound taken care of and dressed. Yet, by the looks of the sentries, getting her wound treated isn't going to be happening any time soon. The sound of a door opening brings Shara's attention back to what is going on around her. Before she can take stock of her surroundings, one of the sentries takes hold of her upper arm and nearly drags her towards the right end of the line that has been made with the other three dwarves. Then she is shoved towards the ground as a pair of footsteps enters the room.
Looking up, through her hair, Shara notices a familiar looking dwarf standing before the line-up. Thorin Oakenshield, dressed in his signature blue and black outfit that he wears when not in council meetings in the Blue Mountains. She can see, by the look upon his face, that he is surprised to see her. What's even worse, is that Shara can see in his eyes that Thorin is calculating something. Hopefully it is a way to help defend her against whatever is about to happen.
"What is this?" The red-haired, regally dressed dwarf asks as he moves to stand closer towards them.
"If I may, my lord." A voice says as dwarf, the one who fled the scene earlier, makes his way around where his friends are kneeling.
His blonde hair has been recently braided, and quickly by Shara's account. He has also added a long, green, billowing cloak to over top of his black outfit. Several rings adorn his hands, and a gold pendant hangs about his neck.
The red-haired dwarf, who Shara assumes is the infamous ruler of this settlement, gestures for the dwarf to continue.
"My name is Gruìn and I was conducting business with these dwarrow here when we were attacked. This wayward dam interfered in our business transaction, which has cost me my wares. I ask for retribution in the form of payment, my lord."
"Business! Your business was raping a human girl!" Shara shouts out in anger, locking eyes with Gruìn.
"Silence!" the red-haired ruler yells at Shara before backhanding her across the face with his left hand. "You will only speak when spoken to. This is my settlement and my rules will be followed, lass."
The ruler then turns to Gruìn and addresses him again. "I will agree with your terms, Gruìn. The dam will pay you what you are owed. What is the amount?"
"One thousand gold coins, my lord."
Grabbing hold of Shara's chin, the lord of the settlement forces Shara to look up at him. "Will you be able to pay? Answer."
"No." Shara growls out at dwarf holding her chin.
"Very well," The red-haired ruler says before releasing Shara's chin. Then he looks over at Gruìn. "She will become your servant till her debt is repaid."
Hearing those words causes Shara to let out a gasp, and before she can even say one word someone else speaks.
"Wait." Thorin sternly says loud enough for it to echo off the rock walls of the room.
The red-haired ruler turns to watch as Thorin approaches where the dam is kneeling. Seeing the head of the Longbeard clan placing himself in front of the dam, almost in a protective manner, causes the dwarrow to wonder.
"Are you questioning my judgement on this matter, Thorin Oakenshield?"
"I am, Nagmar. I will also remind you that I am the direct descendant of Durin the Deathless, which places me above yourself among out people." Thorin answers with a neutral look upon his face and his hands held behind his back.
"I recognize your lineage, though I shall remind you, that this is not Erebor nor is it your settlement. This is my settlement, and I am the one to pass judgement over those who are in it." Nagmar snarls at Thorin while approaching him.
"Not if she hails from the Blue Mountains, my people, which she does." Thorin counter back while keeping his eyes staring right into Nagmar's.
"Really? And just who is she, Thorin Oakenshield?"
"Her name is Shara, daughter of Dwalin, son of Fundin. She also happens to be my betrothed." Thorin states with such honesty in his voice that it causes Shara to gasp in shock.
Nagmar scrutinizes Thorin's face, looking for any hint of possible falsity to the statement. However, seeing none there causes Nagmar to become frustrated. For the dam, Shara, was a beauty and he would surely pay Gruìn handsomely for a night with her. Knowing that he has no other choice, Nagmar concedes to Thorin's request. Yet he will not do so quietly and lets out a belly rolling laugh.
"You sly dog, Thorin." Nagmar continues to laugh with a grin on his face. "The lass looks as if she's just reach the age of maturity. You're double her age if this is the case, Thorin. I never took you for one who likes his conquests so young."
Thorin grinds his teeth in anger over Nagmar's false comments about him. Nor does he like the way Nagmar is now leering at Shara with lust filled interest. It takes all of his self-control not to draw a blade against this lesser known ruler. It only takes Nagmar a minute before gesturing the sentry who is holding Shara to release the dam. Then he addresses Thorin again.
"I suggest you take your intended and see to her injury. Perhaps if you taught her where her place is; and kept her locked away in your bedroom, she wouldn't cause you so much trouble. I assume that you'll be paying Gruìn what he is owed for the loss of his merchandise?" Nagmar says to Thorin while watching the raven-haired dwarf help the dam to her feet.
"He'll get what he is due. Though a thousand gold coins seem pretty high for a human slave girl." Thorin says as he quickly lifts Shara into his arms, making sure that his arm pressed against her injured thigh.
"She was pretty, and many enjoy the company of an inexperienced girl in their bed." Gruìn says with a smug grin at Thorin. "Though, I am sure you'd agree if you've truly taken such a young dam to wife."
"Unlike you, Gruìn, I respect females and would do nothing to dishonor them or their families. I still hold true to the dwarven code of protecting females, unlike yourself." Thorin retorts, letting his anger vibrate with his words before turning his back to Gruìn and Nagmar. "Not a piece more than two hundred and fifty gold coins will I pay."
Being as careful as he can with Shara in his arms, Thorin leaves the room and makes his way out into the hallway that will lead them out of the mountain. Neither one of them says a word as Thorin carries her all the way back to the tavern & inn. It isn't till Thorin uses the back entrance, that is closer to the stairs that lead up to the second and third floor that Shara speaks.
"Why?"
"Why what?" Thorin gruffly replies as he begins to head up the stairs.
"Why did you tell that dwarf that I was your intended? Couldn't you have said something else?" Shara growls out as Thorin begins to head down the hallway towards the rooms.
"It was the only way to guarantee your immediate release and keep you from Gruìn's clutches. He'd have sold you off to the highest bidder, and your two guardians would never see you again." Thorin says as he walks past the door that leads to Shara and Dwalins' room.
It isn't lost on Shara that Thorin has passed the door to her room, and she soon finds herself inside of Thorin's room instead.
"What are you doing? My room is next door."
Setting Shara down onto the bed, Thorin quickly begins to pull together items from around the room that will aide in taking care of Shara's wound. As he does this, he answers her question.
"I would return you to your original room, however, I wouldn't put it past Nagmar to send several of his shadows to make sure that I didn't lie to him to secure your release. This means you and I will be sharing this room for the night."
Thorin walks back over to the bed with a bowl of water and two towels. He places the bowl on the small table that sits next to the two-person bed. One of the towels is placed next to the bowel while the other is being torn into several pieces by Thorin.
"You'll need to take off your trousers so that your injury can be attended to." Thorin tells Shara as he places one of the pieces into the water to soak.
"Excuse me?" Shara says, her cheeks turn a bright shade of red at Thorin's request.
"You heard me, Shara. The only way your injury can be seen to is for you to remove your trousers. Or do you want to risk infection and possible death."
With a deep breath, Shara begins to slowly remove her trousers with shaking hands. She doesn't understand why she is so nervous. There had been plenty of times, in her past, where she had old injuries tended to in mixed company. Yet being here with Thorin, alone, leaves Shara feeling unsettled. Moving to the edge of the bed, carefully, Shara lets her trousers slip to the floor with a resounding thud.
Thorin, having her the thud, turns around to face Shara and he has to remind himself to keep his eyes from wondering over Shara's legs. Swallowing a lump that had grown in his throat, Thorin has to mentally shake himself out of his stupor.
"I'll need you to lay on your stomach so that the wound can be seen to properly." Thorin suggests in a voice that is lower than normal.
Shara nods her head in agreement, and quickly does as Thorin suggests. She lays across the width of the bed, but not before taking hold of one of the pillows. She wraps her arms around the pillow and rests her chin upon it. She takes in a gasp as she feels one of Thorin's hands push the bottom of her tunic and vest up towards the lower side of her bottom. This is followed by that same hand settling just above the injury before something wet contacts her blood covered thigh.
"The wound doesn't appear to be infected, but it is deep enough that you'll be needing stitches." Thorin calmly tells Shara after cleaning the trail of blood that goes from her thigh to her ankle.
"Then you'd best get a healer." Shara hisses out as a sharp stinging pain shouts through her thigh.
"I will send someone else to bring you a healer. Like I've already told you, Nagmar will have eyes placed upon this establishment and on both of us. We have to keep up the appearance of being betrothed if you want to keep your freedom." Thorin says, leaving an ale soaked cloth over the wound.
Leaning back towards another short table on the opposite side of the bed, Thorin reaches to take hold of the mug of ale and offers it to Shara.
"You should drink this to help numb the pain."
"I'll be fine without it, Thorin." Shara growls out as the alcohol from the ale seeps deeper into her wound.
"Very well. Have it your way then." Thorin replies and placed the mug of ale back. "I'll step out for a moment to have Targyn call for a healer. I suggest you don't move till the healer arrives."
Thorin steps out of the room, but places himself just outside the door. This leaves Shara frustrated that Thorin hadn't thought to go ahead and bind her wound. Preferably she'd rather be wearing something other than what she is currently wearing. So, minding her wound, Shara carefully begins the complicated process of undressing. She is able to remove her vest and her tunic, which leaves her in only her chest bindings and under cloth. At this point, Shara comes to the realization that there is nothing for her to change into, and uses the blankets from the bed to cover herself while leaving her injury uncovered.
After a few minutes pass Thorin returns to the room and takes note of Shara's removal of her clothes. He tries not to focus on the barely clothed dam in his bed, though injured. This leaves the pair in uncomfortable silence for a time as they wait for the healer to arrive.
"So how do you know Nagmar?" Shara asks, breaking the awkward silence between them.
Thorin decides to move the small wooden chair away from the fireplace, where he had been sitting, and places it next to the bed where Shara's head is. He sits down again before answering her question.
"We met at the Battle of Azanulbizar. Nagmar is the youngest son of Lord Navir of the Grey Mountains. Navir, Nagmar, and Rimar came when my grandfather called for the dwarves to march upon Moria. Navir was killed in battle, which placed his oldest son, Rimar, to take his place as Lord of the Grey Mountain settlements. Unlike Rimar, Nagmar had always wanted to rule over the Grey Mountains. However, none of the council members or people of the Grey Mountains would back Nagmar if he attempted to go against his brother. So Nagmar went after his young niece instead, and there was a scandal by his deeds. Rimar, having no other choice, banished his younger brother. However, when Nagmar left, several of his followers left with him. They traveled here and made this settlement, which trades with more of the questionable folk from the world of Men and Dwarves. Slave trading, thievery, mercenary killings, and all other types of questionable business is only part of what makes the wealth for Fîrgeä. The rest of it comes from its black-market dealings in knowledge and weaponry."
"Then how did you come to be here then, and why would your cousin from the Iron Hills send supplies to Nagmar if he is so dishonorable?" Shara asks, curious about why such honorable dwarves would ever seek something from such a dishonorable dwarf.
"That business is my own." Thorin growls out in a quick flash of anger. He doesn't want anyone to know that he had come to seek answers about the whereabouts of his missing father, Thrain.
Before Shara can ask any more questions, a knock at the door pulls their attention to it. Thorin quickly goes to see to the door and Shara tries her hardest to think back to every story she had ever heard from her grandfather or her uncle's lips. As a child in Dain's court for the kingdom of Erebor, she had never heard of a dwarven settlement in these parts, or anywhere, that was ran by such an unsavory ruler. However, in her time the Firebeard clan was known for harboring secrets and keeping them well hidden from the other dwarf clans. So it wouldn't surprise her much if that was the reason why she had never heard of such a place before now.
Shara, having been so wrapped up in her thoughts, had missed the healer entering the room and checking her wound. It wasn't until a sharp pain from her wound caused Shara to return from her thoughts.
"You could have warned me!" Shara screeches out in pain as the healer continues to clean her wound better than Thorin did.
"We did," Thorin says to Shara from next to the female healer/midwife, Toli. "You just weren't paying attention."
"My lord, I suggest you distract her while I stitch this wound close." Toli tells Thorin with a scowl on her face.
The healer/midwife had seen many scenes like this before. The dwarrow worrying over his dam if injured or birthing their bairn. Oh yes, this plump dam with brown and silver hair had seen many scenes just like this. However, since having been approached by Nagmar's youngest protégé spy, she is taking in every movement and gesture between the heir of Durin and this young dam, who is supposedly his betrothed. Keeping her dark brown eyes on Thorin as he makes his way over to the other side of the bed, Toli notes that perhaps there is something between the two.
Slowly Toli begins her stitching upon the wounded dam and keeps her ears open to whatever might be said between the pain. Thorin whispers to Shara as she moans, groans, and lets out a few small screams, thought Toli notices that it isn't the type of coddling words that a lover may say to his distressed partner. It is words that would be whispered to a fellow comrade in arms. Yet, there is some emotion to Thorin's words. That is another piece of information Toli will keep in mind when she tells Nagmar's spy, Nori, about what she has witnessed.
For the heir of Durin to become enthralled with a dam, as young as she is, could cause a scandal larger than Nagmar's. Especially given that the heir is twice as old as the dam, and if they are trying to keep it hidden. Of course, Thorin would try to treat her as a fellow battle comrade, that way no one would realize his true feelings for the dam.
'Interesting.' Toli thinks to herself as she finishes up closing the wound. 'I may be able to get more gold out of this deal with Nagmar than what I thought.'
Once the last stitch had been tied off, Toli wraps a bandage and bindings around Shara's thigh before taking her leave of the pair.
With the door closing behind the healer, Thorin notes that Shara hadn't passed out during the procedure. It's just another thing to add to the list of things that Thorin can't figure out about her. Tucking this little piece of information away in his mind, he notices that Shara's hands are still holding on to his own and that they are shaking.
"Do you need anything, Shara?" Thorin whispers to her while giving her hands a gentle squeeze.
"Perhaps some ale?" Shara manages to say between clenched teeth.
Thorin, knowing that Shara won't be able to manage sitting up on her own with so much pain coursing through her body, gently helps her move up the bed so that she can rest against the rest of the pillows. Making sure that she is comfortable lying upon the pillows, that Thorin had quickly made into a pile for her, he brings the mug of warm ale to her lips. This causes the dam to give Thorin a scowl.
"I'm perfectly able to hold the mug myself, Thorin." Shara growls out, half in pain and half in frustration.
"I know, but you need to rest and recover for now." Thorin tells her with some irritation towards her for trying to save face.
"Fine. If you insist." Shara sighs out before allowing Thorin to tilt the mug so that she may take a sip of the ale.
Shara takes three long sips of the ale before she turns her head away from the offered mug. Lowering herself back on to the pile of pillows, Shara closes her eyes and feels herself begin to drift off to sleep. Just before sleep takes her into its dark embrace, Shara feels the mattress of the bed shift next to her and the covers that were partially over her moving to cover her up fully.
Reviews are welcomed, loved, and cherished.
Selene
