A/N- So glad you all are liking where I am going with this. Thanks for all the reviews! They mean so much! Just a note about Thorin, I like pretty much all versions of our favorite Dwarven King, but I really don't see him being a very sweet and gentle sort. He's been through too much that I don't see him playing coy and courting her. I see a much rougher Thorin, one who has seen hell and is still going through it. But Ksenia has seen hell too. So its not like she is offended by his manner. Also, I'm trying to get as much Ksenia/Thorin time in between the actual Hobbit plot points as I can. Hope you enjoy this next installment.
Chapter 8
Ksenia snuck down the stairs, once again dressed in her red and black traveling clothes. Her pack was strapped to her shoulders and her cloak hung around it. The ruby given to her by Lord Elrond still around her neck. She tried to force herself to leave it, a personal test of her will, which she ended up failing miserably. A dragon just couldn't give up a treasure once it was theirs. Shaking her head, she approached the dwarves that were also gathering their things. Her eyes immediately searched out the dwarven king. Thorin was standing off to one side, eyes searching the nearby dwellings for signs of elves. Anything that would give him the impression that someone would try to stop their departure.
She caught his eyes and for a moment they stared at each other from across the room. Kili and Fili helped each other fasten their packs onto their backs. Bombur complained about the food they had packed. Ori was badgered that he wasn't moving fast enough by the older Gloin and Dwalin. But it was all background noise to Ksenia for the moments that Thorin held her gaze. It was like when she stared at a gem that was now hers. Finally, he broke the connection and turned sharply, as if expecting to see elven guards appear in order to keep them hostage. But nothing and no one came around the corner.
"You are going to be continuing with us, Miss Ksenia?" She turned and smiled down at Bilbo.
"Was there any doubt?" She asked, bewildered.
"There was a rumor." He stated with a shrug.
Ksenia shook her head. "No. I will be continuing with you until the end, Mr. Baggins." She smiled as she looked up at Thorin. "I signed the contract, did I not?"
"Well, if I may say so, Miss Ksenia. I feel better with you with us." One of the dwarves called him and Bilbo took off to finish packing up his things.
They snuck out of the valley with little incident. Single file, they emerged on the other side and began once again on their path. They walked the whole day. Thorin led the company along, followed by the rest of the group. He remained silent for the most part, despite the lively conversation that could be heard from the mouths of the younger ones. Ksenia couldn't help but smile as Kili and Fili told wild tales to the hobbit, who listened wide-eyed.
They were so full of life, it made her wonder about their uncle. What would he have been like before her father had stolen everything from him? What would he be like now? Was there a lively heart and soul underneath the stoic masculine demeanor that he exuded? She now knew first hand that passion lay under that hard surface and her lips still tingled at the thought. Her stomach did flip flops at the suggestion that it would happen again. She found herself lost in her thoughts as they walked, her mind rolling with 'what if' scenarios. Her imagination running wild with the thought of his hands on the rest of her body, wondering what it would be like to lay with her dwarven king.
There it was again. She could almost growl at herself. What was with this 'hers' thing? He most certainly wasn't hers. How could anyone belong to someone else? She most certainly didn't own him. She looked up and watched his back as he led them further on. Watching his dark head and fur coat in front of her she was struck with the very story that she had told them all those nights ago. Her father had strode into her mother's village and by all intents and purposes had claimed her as his treasure. He had to have her just as he had to have his gems and gold. Was that what she was feeling? Her dragon half wanting its treasure. She shook her head again and tore her eyes from the back of their leader.
So caught up in her thoughts, she never heard the command that they would be stopping for the night and she ran right into Bofur who had been walking in front of her. Apologizing profusely, she blushed at her incompetence and threw a glare at Kili and Fili who were laughing at her. Silent, her thoughts still haunting her, she settled herself by one of the trees, like she always did, and focused on sharpening her sword and boot dagger. Pointedly she kept her eyes on her task. The last thing she needed to do is look up and immediately search out Thorin… again. They were on a quest and she didn't need to be mooning over their leader, nor getting distracted by the thought of his lips and hands.
A fire was built and dinner was made. Most of the dwarves sat around the campfire and talked about their experiences with the elves. She smiled a little as she listened to them.
"What about you, Ksenia?" Kili called over to her.
"What about me, Kili?" She answered without looking up.
"Do you have any stories to tell of our time with the elves? You weren't with us most of the time?" He asked.
"Yea! Did they do some magic on you when you passed out?" Fili added.
"Surely you saw more of Rivendell than the rest of us!" Ori looked excited.
Ksenia took a deep breath and looked up finally, her eyes going straight past them all to catch Thorin's. He was staring at her intently, awaiting her answer. Finally, she shook her head a little, averting her eyes from the dwarven king's. "No. I wouldn't call it particularly interesting." She answered.
"Where did you get the necklace then?" Nori asked.
"Yea! I don't remember seeing it before." Fili declared.
"Do you have an elf admirer!?" Kili teased.
Ksenia shook her head and did her best to ignore the heated gaze of their leader. Dammit, was he trying to make her feel so uncomfortable? Why didn't he say something? "No. No admirer. At least, not that I know of…" She trailed off a little as she looked down at her sword. "It was a gift from Lord Elrond."
"Why would he give you such a gem?" One of them asked. She didn't look up, didn't answer. Because she didn't have an answer. Thankfully, Thorin finally chose to intervene.
"That is enough. Oin, take the first watch. The rest of you, get some sleep. You will need it tomorrow." With a few grumbles, the company wisely chose to follow their king's command. Ksenia put away her sharpening stone and sheathed her sword. Standing, she commented that she would return in just a moment.
Walking just a little ways away from the camp she leaned her back against an oak and looked up at the sky through the branches. She didn't truly know why their questions bugged her so much. But at the same time, she felt like she was telling them half-truths. Her mind was already so muddled that she didn't know what to do. Closing her eyes, she tried to relax. Being so distracted would only make her useless to the company and their quest.
With her eyes closed she let her senses heighten. She could hear the sounds of the woods around them. The animals that inhabited them, the wind in the trees. The snapping of foliage as someone walked up behind her. Acting on instinct she drew her sword as she spun. Her blade stopping an inch away from the throat of the very menace of her thoughts.
Thorin stood there, stoic as ever, with his eyebrow raised. His eyes were dark and stormy as he stared at her. "It is good to know that your reflexes are unchanged." He stated simply. With a deep breath, Ksenia withdrew her sword and slid it back where it belonged on her hip.
"Sorry." She mumbled before turning away again, leaning against the trunk of the oak tree. "Can I help you?"
"I came to check on you. It is not safe for anyone to be out here alone." He answered. His voice betrayed no emotion.
"I can take care of myself." She answered, willing herself not to look at him.
"Obviously." He replied. She couldn't stop herself anymore, she turned her head to look at him. It was most certainly her undoing. He might be able to show no emotion, but she was not so lucky. Taking a breath she ventured along that path.
"If I didn't know better, I would say you cared, Thorin." His name rolled off her tongue and she couldn't help but hold her breath as she awaited his response.
It took him several moments before he answered. "I do not pretend to understand, Ksenia. I should hate you. Should send you away. Do not take my actions for deep seated emotion for you. But there is no mistake that you call to me in a way that no other ever has."
She blinked at him several times. "Such the romantic you are." She stated dryly before turning her gaze away and once again looking up at the stars that glittered above them. Before she could react he was there, in front of her, pressed against her. His face mere breaths from her. His hands tangled into her hair as he looked into her eyes.
"I am no romantic, Ksenia." He ground out. "You'll get no pretty words from me. I have no heart left for it." Their lips met. Just like before, it was no gentle kiss. It was not the sweet kisses that young virgin maidens dreamed of having. No, the kisses they shared were full of passion. Each demanding from the other what the other was willing to give.
Ksenia's arms wound around Thorin's neck as he pressed her up against the tree trunk. His body ground against hers, drawing a moan from her throat. Her fingers tangled in his hair, tugging slightly at the roots. One of his hands gripped her hair at the base of her neck, his fingers tangled in her crimson locks. His other hand trailed over her torso, brushing against her leather covered breasts and down her waist. He gripped her waist and hip, bringing her closer against him. She could feel him, hard and masculine under his armor and leathers. It took her breath away.
He tore his lips from hers and she pouted a little, fearful that he would storm off again without a word, but no, his lips trailed down the edge of her jaw and down her neck. A cry ripped from her lips at the feel of his lips, teeth, and tongue on the skin of her neck. His beard brushing against her sensitive skin.
"Your skin is on fire." He growled at her as his grip tightened on her. His teeth grazing her skin with nips before taking a bolder move to sink his teeth into her flesh. She cried out and arched against him. It would leave a mark in the morning but she didn't care. She lifted her leg up and hooked it onto his hip in response. She could feel the bark of the tree trunk pressing into her back, but she didn't care.
"Thorin!" She cried out as she felt him grind into her. Her head flew back against the tree as his hands found their way to her breasts. She had to stop herself from tearing at his clothes and hers in a desperate need for flesh against flesh. What was wrong with her? She was acting like a wanton harlot. But all she could think was that this was the way it was to be. It was ok to act like this, because he was hers. Her treasure.
"Thorin!" A voice called. For a moment she thought it was hers. "Ksenia?" No. It wasn't her voice. It was one of the others.
She heard Thorin curse under his breath against her skin. With a growl he tore himself away from her, his eyes met hers and she could see his passion there. He hesitated for a moment before his name was called again. With another curse he stepped forward and kissed her again before taking her hand and dragging her back to the camp. "Might as well let them know," He declared as he pulled her along. "That way they know better than to interrupt next time."
She raised an eyebrow. "Next time?" She asked. He looked over at her. "Indeed."
So what do you think!? Please review and let me know!
