Sorry sorry sorry! I've been super busy with work and holidays and everything! Here's an update and I would like to warn everyone that the next chapter might get a bit "steamy".
I REPEAT! THE NEXT CHAPTER MAY HELP THIS STORY EARN THE "R" RATING!
Later that evening, after a long talk with Faline, Beorn had emerged from the bedroom. Once he spotted Thorin, Beorn simply gave the dwarf a look so cold it could freeze a river. Then his attention turned to the wizard as he explained in low tones that the dwarves would need to leave in two days' time. "Are we no longer welcome here?" Ori's small voice asked. He had overheard the conversation and felt shocked at the venom in the skin changers voice. "You, master Ori, are more than welcome to visit me any time you wish. The same offer goes to the rest of your Company except your leader." The dwarves and Bilbo looked extremely confused and someone asked Beorn why. "He is no longer welcome because he tried to force himself upon your female companion. I have not killed him simply because she asked it of me for she has her own way of dealing with his treachery. However, if he were to remain here any longer I would not be able to resist tearing him to pieces."
"And just where is your proof?" this question came from Dwalin who was possibly Thorin's best friend. "I will not allow you to say such things about my future King without proof. If you are just going with the woman's testimony, I'm afraid it won't mean much. We need physical evidence." Beorn nodded and turned before calling out for Faline who emerged into the kitchen moments later dressed in a new tunic and trousers that fit her quite well. In her hands she held the dress she had borrowed. It had multiple tears in the beautiful fabric and was covered in straw from the floors. However it wasn't the dress that made the Company gasp, it was the deep purple hand shaped bruise on her cheek. Faline quickly tossed the fabric at Dwalin before walking up to Thorin.
With an animalistic power and speed, the woman pinned him against the wall. "How does it feel to be the one pinned?" she murmured for only him to hear before lifting his hand and putting it on her cheek. Everyone could clearly see that his hand was a perfect fit to the bruise on her face. "Get off me right now, wench." Thorin spoke with venom in his voice and Faline let go immediately. Stepping back, she stood next to Beorn without saying another word. Bilbo seemed to be the only one to notice that they were close enough to have their arms brushing one another. "In order to avoid Thorin being killed for his transgression, as I know is one of the rules of your people, I have a different idea." Faline looked to Dwalin who was once a guard in Erebor.
Once he nodded, Faline cleared her throat and looked directly at Thorin. "I will challenge him in a battle for my honor. If he wins, he will get what he wanted in the first place. If I win, I will have my honor back and I will take whatever prize I see fit." Dwalin thought it over before nodding and announcing it a fair trade. Thorin rolled his eyes at the woman before grabbing his sword and marching out the door. There was still enough light left in the day for their fight. "There will be no dirty tricks and no magic. It will be considered an automatic loss if either of you cheats. Understood?" Faline nodded at Dwalin and smiled quickly while Thorin growled in the back of his throat. "Begin."
Without looking away from Dwalin, Faline pulled her sword out but kept it down towards the ground. Thorin suddenly charged the woman, his sword in the air while letting loose a loud cry. Just before he reached her, Faline brought her sword up and blocked the strike before dancing away from the Dwarf. "Oh you'll have to do much better than that if you wish to best me Thorin." Faline teased as she moved quickly around Thorin, giving his swords soft taps with her own. She moved so fast she was almost blurred and Thorin had almost no hope of keeping up. He struck his sword out in the hope to catch her but she simply slapped his blade away before tapping his wrist, shoulder, and back in quick succession. She was toying with him, like a cat with its prey, and they both knew it. "Enough of your games woman; fight me face to face!" Then Thorin yelled out a long insult in Khuzdul which caused several of the Dwarves to gasp and Faline to stop in her dance. She knew enough of their language to know that Thorin had given her one of the worse insults possible.
Before a smirk could even reach his lips, Faline was charging at Thorin who barely brought his sword up in time to block. Her sword was faster than lightning with enough force behind each hit to set the Dwarf off balance. Compared to her attack, his defense was slow and weak. In mere minutes his arms, legs, and hands were covered in small cuts. Finally, having vented enough of her outrage, Faline swung her sword one more time. This hit had enough power to knock Thorin over and his sword was quickly out of his hand and against his throat. Faline put one foot on his chest and held his sword in her own hand. "Do you admit defeat?" When Thorin didn't answer, she pressed the sword tighter to his throat and put more pressure on his chest. Finally nodding quickly and breathing out a yes, Thorin breathed in deeply as the pressure disappeared off his chest.
"Faline has won in a fair match. Now she may name her prize for winning." Dwalin said the words as though they were made of vinegar but the woman smiled brightly anyway. Then her gaze turned to Thorin who was being helped up by his nephews. Fili looked solemn but his eyes twinkled in amusement while Kili was trying and failing to hide his grin. "My prize. What should I take? Hmm, he wanted my virtue and honor; perhaps I should take one of his nephew's innocence?" A wicked grin graced the woman's face as Thorin paled before looking at his nephews. Kili looked slightly terrified while Fili looked much too happy with the idea. "No, I don't think I'll do that. Something worth more money but less sentimentally." As she spoke, she took slow sure steps in Thorin's direction. Once she was within reach, Fili and Kili still holding onto him, Faline reached into Thorin's coat and across his back. From its hiding spot, she pulled out a beautiful dagger. The blade was fiendishly sharp and made entirely from emeralds while the hilt was cream colored with diamonds laid into the hilt. It was Thorin's favorite but most hidden weapon, one that he thought none but his nephews knew about. "I'll take this, thank you very much. Beorn, will you walk me to the hot spring you told me about? I would adore a hot bath right now."