Sorry for the last chapter being so short, I hope it was enjoyable still. Please review and let me know what your think.
Chapter 7
Night was starting to creep up on the woodland landscape, the air was starting to become quite chilled as a new season was beginning to descend upon the lands of Middle Earth. Hobbit feet were designed well enough to endure such travels but even Bilbo was starting to feel warn down, sore and tired and in great need of rest. He looked over at Annora and noted that she looked far worse, her eyes were dulled with exhaustion and her step was not as spritely as it was when they first began their long walk to the great lake.
"Do you think now would be a good time to set up camp… p p perhaps?" Bilbo stuttered, stopping mid stride and turning to her fellow companions. Many dwarves agreed, even Kili admitted he could go no further, he had be leaning on his brother for the past few miles and there was little more distance that Fili could travel with the additional weight. Thorin was feeling the urgent need to keep going but he could not argue with everyone, especially when Annora pleaded with her beautiful sweet smile.
"Alright, we will camp here for some hours until all are rested. We must continue at first light" his gaze was focused on the setting sun in the distance, "the days are growing shorter and we are running out of time."
"Not to mention that Gandalf has yet to catch up to us" Balin pointed out, "and he was very clear about not entering the mountain until he arrived!" Thorin just gave the old dwarf a knowing glance and then finally nodded with acknowledgment. They unpacked the few blankets they managed collect before they departed the elvish kingdom and set up to fire pits. A few dwarves waited beside the river, hopeful to catch some fish for their dinners. Annora eagerly warmed up her hands near the flames, embracing the heat as she rubbed her hands up against her cheeks. She soon felt the presence of Thorin beside her, he sat down and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Kili and Fili winked at each other playfully causing the prince to smirk at his childish kin.
"So, you're really in love with a princess you barely know, aye?" Fili raised an eyebrow at his uncle, but he was sincere about his question. He wasn't entirely sure he trusted Annora, after all, she was Thranduil's niece and who knows what other secrets she was keeping from everyone. Thorin thought for a moment how best to reply. He gently took hold of Annora's chin and brought her mouth to his, kissing her tenderly and deeply, enjoying how she too embraced his mouth completely, and the connection they had was completely undeniable. As their lips parted Thorin opened his eyes and with a deep voice admitted "I love you, my wife".
Fili smirked and shrugged his shoulders "fair enough" he said, "but next time, maybe go hide in the woods before you start undressing your princess with your eyes!" He knew it was cheeky for him to say such things but he knew how find his uncle was of him. Kili sat there in silence, he was overcome by a feeling of sadness, it was as plain as day that he really had no chance at all with Annora and perhaps he never did but the little flame of hope he once had was now diminished. All that Kili could feel now was the throbbing pain in his leg and he noticed that the wound was starting to hot, the infection was settling in but he kept quiet.
"How are you feeling Kili?" Annora noticed that he was becoming very quiet, his skin was slightly pale and he was barely even moving.
"I'm fine, nothing I can't handle" he tried to laugh it off as best he could but Annora didn't fall for it.
"The sooner we get to Laketown the better, they will have weeds and herbs that I can use to help heal you up…I worry for you" her voice was soft with genuine concern for the young dwarf.
Dinner was soon served, seven large river fish were caught, much to the surprise of Annora, she appreciated how resourceful these dwarves could be in times of need. The fish were roasted over the fire, Thorin secured a whole one to share with his wife, it was the smallest one but enough to satisfy his wife's soon to be growing hunger. Annora enjoyed the crispiness of the fish's skin, the meat fell apart easily from the bones. Thorin ate less than half his share and offered the rest to Annora which she accepted without hesitation. She offered what little bread she had left to everybody else to complement their meals. Some were wary about their safety but there was nothing that Annora could sense that would indicate that they were in any immediate danger.
"How long have you been able to predict the future?" Thorin asked her quietly. Her gift made him very curious and he wondered what else she may have known, what possibilities that lay ahead in their quest to claim back their homeland. She had mentioned earlier to him that she thought she could see a great battle but not who was fighting or what they were fighting for. He knew that he and his fellow companions were not the only ones who had their eyes on the mountain and the riches within, it was clear there would be fight at some point, perhaps with the elves or even the tribes of men but she said a great battle… how great, he wondered, and where did the dwarves stand?
Annora thought carefully for a moment, to ensure she selected her words carefully, chewing her bottom lip as she did so. "It's a gift that was born with but my visions were never truly accurate, I've never relied on them before but…"she took his hand and cradled it in hers "since you have come into my life my visions have changed, things are becoming clearer and yet more confusing at the same time, it's hard to explain."
"Try to, I mean, if you can of course" all he wanted to do was kiss her but he felt it wasn't the right thing to do while the whole company was still awake and chatting away. Annora stood up and walked away from the group and headed over to the river bank, her chest was feeling heavy and her a feeling of sadness was descending upon her. She felt a new vision making its way into her mind and she almost felt the instinct to fight this one off, she could sense fear… a battle worn Thorin was walking towards her, a look of triumph on his face but within two strides his enemy leapt up from the ground and thrust his blade through Thorin's torso… and the prince's eyes became vacant as his body dropped to the ground…
Tears were rolling down her cheeks but the vision was gone but it felt so real, her fingers were trembling and her heart was aching. Thorin sat down beside her, confused and worried. "You've seen something else, haven't you? Please tell me?" He pleased gently.
"I can see the battle, you were fighting a great orc and you were victorious… but then you turned your back on him and he killed you…" Annora hesitated for a moment, "you were coming to help me, I was in danger… that's why you turned your back on him and it's because of me that you meet your end" she gazed up into his eyes but the prince showed little emotion or reaction to her words. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and tried to compose herself. She couldn't allow the others to sense something was wrong.
"That could happen" Thorin admitted and he leaned forward and kissed her tenderly on her mouth, his hands caressing her shoulders as he pulled her body closer to his, "but it hasn't happened yet. Your visions could change, yes?" Annora nodded but she seemed doubtful as this vision was particularly clear with accurate details, unlike other things she had seen in the past that were foggy and distorted.
"We can only continue on the path that we have set" Thorin kissed her neck as he spoke, nipping playfully at her ears and she tilted her head back, "I would die for you, I love you… but we will change both of our fates if we can". He lowered their bodies onto the pebbles and quickly took note that everyone else was asleep and quiet, they were far away that he was sure nobody would notice what he had planned. His hand smoothed over her stomach and he thought about the tiny life that was growing. He then guided his hand beneath her shirt and up and over her breasts. She tried not to moan, and arched her back with anticipation of what was to come. She hadn't realised that just after a couple of days she was already missing having his body so close to hers. Thorin rolled her body to sit on top of his and she felt his arousal rubbing up against her, electricity soared through her blood and she leaned over to kiss him passionately, her fingers gently clawing at his chest in an attempt to remove some of his clothing. They quickly undressed and then Annora resumed her position on top of her husband, guiding him into her gently, giggling as he mumbled out a low moan. Her hand rested against his chest as she shifted her body up and down, occasionally kissing his lips, his neck and his chest while he tried to lick at her nipples the bobbed just up above his face. Their bodies no longer felt the cold of the night, the heat of their lovemaking was becoming enough to push them both over the edge. Annora's body buckled on top of his as she climaxed, Thorin was still clasping onto her hips as he felt himself let go of all self-control.
In the moon light, she was truly beautiful, there was really nobody else out in the world like her and she had willingly given herself to him, to not only guarantee the freedom of his friends but to demonstrate that she truly did love him. Their betrothal was undoubtedly a fate that he couldn't deny and he thought perhaps, they had both suffered enough over the years that just maybe, he could change their fates. Maybe, he was not destined to die at the hands of his greatest enemy. His son would have a father, not just in spirit and in legends told, but a father to raise him and love him. He was determined, he was never going to leave Annora's side. They dressed each other, although they felt clumsy and were falling over each other in the darkness, and returned the campfire that was slowly burning out. They laid down and Thorin wrapped his arms around her protectively.
Though the couple couldn't see him, Kili could not close his eyes. Resentment towards his uncle was increasing, but he could do nothing. The pain was burning in his leg, but it was his heart that was aching more. If he could've managed it on his own, he would've thrown his body into the river and let the current take his body and his life away in the night.
