Chapter 11

"My Lord?"

Thorin lifted his head at the female voice, and I opened my eyes from where I laid and watched the woman walk in, holding a plate. Asta was a kind dwarf lady, and for the past several weeks now, I noticed she had been trying to catch Thorin's attention. It was highly amusing to me, because Thorin was flat out refusing any advance she'd given him. I had taken the form of a wolf earlier and had kept him company while he worked in the study on a few bills and other things.

"Asta," Thorin greeted, his shoulders tense. "What brings you here? I am busy."

She bobbed her head, her long red hair moving with her. I noticed her cheeks turned red at the sharp tone of his voice. Asta sported a fine beard that didn't fully cover her face and instead was braided back to join her hair. Her green eyes shined nervously as he dismissed her with a few single words. I could only imagine that Thorin didn't even think twice about what he had said.

"I know, and I apologize, I just thought I'd bring you lunch," she said softly. "You've been in here for a while."

Thorin sighed quietly, almost in irritation and it took all of my control to stay silent. He motioned of Asta to come forward to set the plate down and when she got to him, he lowered his head to look at her.

"I've refused your advances for some time now," he rumbled, getting right to the point. "And it is nothing against you. You are beautiful, but you need to set your sights on someone else."

"My Lord you haven't even tried," she smiled, her eyes glittering stubbornly.

"I'll put this in plainer words then," Thorin sighed deeply. "I have my eyes on someone else."

Asta drew back from him, completely surprised. "Oh...oh I am...apologies my King," she bowed her head. "I didn't know."

I pricked my ears forward as I watched the dwarf woman retreat from the room after bowing to Thorin. He sighed quietly, and started to turn so that he could look at me. I turned my gaze to him from where my head rested on my paws and wagged my tail lightly.

"Not a word," Thorin muttered, making my tail thump harder.

My mind worked for a moment as curiosity had me searching for who he might possibly like. When I had teased him, he had said he had no desire to take anyone. Now, he was saying otherwise and for a moment I grunted. Who ever she was, I was sure I didn't know her. I blinked after several minutes when thoughts of Thorin wrapped around some other woman popped in my head. I growled to myself, and then snorted when I realized I was jealous. Why was I jealous!?

It dawned on me then, and had I been human I would have blushed and turned as bright as a tomato. Covering my nose with my paws, I grumbled to myself and looked up when Thorin turned back to me to see what was going on. I kept my nose in my paws and wagged my tail when he raised an eyebrow at me. My whole body gave a slight twitch when he continued to stare at me, obviously amused by something.

"What?" he asked.

Jumping to my feet, I gave him a wolf smile and brushed against his legs before I trotted out of the room to go off and be alone. I turned human before I got out of the mountain and walked out into the sunshine. Letting out a happy breath, I lifted my face to the sun and went to sit up on one of the large rocks nearby. Closing my eyes as the sunshine warmed my skin, I thought things over in my head.

I couldn't possibly be who Thorin was talking about, and I'd feel even more foolish if I wasn't while sitting here thinking about it. I couldn't deny I felt something for him, something stronger than usual. It had been different between us ever since the battle of Moria. We had done things for each other that usually one didn't do unless they were married. While it had been in the privacy of his room, it still was the same. Brushing and braiding his hair was something that was reserved for the one he was marrying. Tending to wounds was simple, but I had taken care of him instead of sending him off. We bought each other things, which was resolved for courting and my face paled. Oh god, had we actually been courting? Thorin knew his customs didn't apply to me, but I wasn't uneducated. I had been schooled while in Erebor and during some of the times here in the Blue Mountains. How had I not seen that?! Was I right in thinking it was me?

"Arina?"

Turning my head, I watched Dwalin walk over to join me. His brown hair moved in the wind and I couldn't help but smile at the warrior. He jumped up on to the rock next to me and sat down, and took in the look on my face.

"What's troubling you?" he asked not bothering to wait.

I sighed and looked at the land in front of us. "Can I ask you something?" I asked, keeping my voice quiet.

"Aye, you can," Dwalin nodded.

"When I go away...does Thorin show interest in any of the dwarven women around here?" I asked.

"Ahh," Dwalin smiled. "No, he does not. I think you know the answer to that anyway."

I sighed and hung my head. "I guess I had to hear it out loud to believe it," I murmured.

"And I'm sure you return the affection right?" Dwalin glanced at me, holding nothing back.

"Well since I got extremely jealous earlier, I would say yes," I muttered.

Dwalin laughed at me and patted my shoulder roughly making me wince. "Lass, I think he realized it the last time you left. You two have been inseparable, and even time away doesn't change that. Sooner or later you two would end up together."

"But I'm not even a dwarf," I hissed.

"No, you're not," he agreed honestly. "But I doubt that matters to him. We see you as family. You are one of us."

"Thanks, Dwalin," I sighed as he hopped off the rock when Gloin came to fetch him.

Watching them leave, I sighed to myself in irritation and leaned back on my hands to stare up at the sky. If I decided to stay here and make a home for myself here, what would that mean? Picturing it in my mind, I felt my cheeks grow warm at the thought of staying with Thorin. The longer I sat outside, the more I found that this was what I wanted. It made me sad, because I knew I couldn't have it even if I wanted to. I assumed that was why I didn't pursue it, because I couldn't stay here. It wouldn't be fair to either of us.

yea this one is real short, but the next one is real long. But goodness I loved this one!