Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Warning: This chapter earns the "M" rating. There is some smut at the end. It's my first time writing smut, so it's probably not very good, but whatever.
When the barge drew closer to Lake-Town, Bard told the Company to climb back into the barrels, so that they could be more easily smuggled into the town. While the others began to do as ordered, Gwyn stopped Fili, Kili, and Bilbo from also doing so. Gwyn huffed at the impatient looks she got from Bard and Thorin, but Balin and Oin seemed to already have an idea of what she was up to.
"We'll not be riding in barrels," she said. "He's injured, being cramped in a barrel would make the injury worse by impeding healing," Gwyn gestured to Kili, before pointing to Bilbo, "he's ill, being in a barrel would be risky because he could sneeze and then we'd all be found out," she pointed to Fili, "he won't go anywhere or do anything that would get in the way of his ability to protect his brother," and at Fili's look she added, "or me, and I'm the only person here smart enough to be able to come up with a plausible enough story to get us in." Bard scoffed at that, and Gwyn raised here eyebrow at his disbelief. She could hear the barrel-bound dwarves taking wagers on how embarrassed the smuggler would be when Gwyn was proven right.
"Fine, you four stay out of the barrels, but it's on your heads if you're tossed into the town jail," Bard snapped. Steering the boat to a small dock on the outskirts of the town, Bard quickly disembarked and spoke in hurried, hushed tones to the man who appeared to greet him. Before the dwarves could gripe too much about the delay and perceived betrayal though, fish from the lake were being emptied from a net into the barrels, concealing the dwarves.
"That, my love, is another reason why you shouldn't have been in a barrel," Gwyn whispered to a pale and shaking Kili. As Bard began to maneuver his barge slowly towards another dock, Fili, Kili, and Bilbo were astonished at the change that came over Gwyn. She huddled into herself, shuddering with cold, her eyes wide and scared. Noticing the others' concerns, she flashed Bilbo a quick wink and squeezed her dwarves' hands, attempting to reassure them that this was part of her plan.
As the barge and its passengers approached a second dock, Gwyn heard a voice call out from inside a ramshackle shelter.
"Goods inspection! Oh, hello Bard. Anything to declare…" the man trailed off as he caught sight of the four figures huddled together on the deck of the barge.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Master Bargeman, I didn't think you would get in trouble for helping us!" Gwyn said in a wavering voice. "My companions and I are merchants from the Blue Mountains on our way to a market in the Iron Hills. We were attacked by orcs as we came down the river and our boat capsized. We lost everything! One of my companions is ill from the cold," here Bilbo coughed pathetically, "and one of my beloveds was struck by an orc arrow. We need shelter so that I can tend to them! Please, won't you help us?" The inspector balked when a second man, clad in black appeared.
"Not so fast. Bard, you are only to have a consignment of empty barrels from the Woodland Realm, but these barrels are full of fish! And what's more, you carry passengers as well? You are licensed as a bargeman, not a fisherman or a ferryman, you would do well to follow your license!" the man threatened.
Gwyn stepped forward, "Please my lord, do not fault Master Bard for helping those who have lost everything! My companions and I are merchants from the Blue Mountains on our way to the Iron Hills for a market. We were attacked and our boat with our goods and supplies capsized! We lost all of it! What's more, one of my companions is ill," Bilbo gave a large, painful sounding sneeze that time, "and another is injured. We need shelter so that I can tend to them. Please my lord, take pity on us!" Gwyn implored in the same weak, wavering voice.
"We have enough beggars in this town without bringing more in!" the man said.
"We are not beggars, my lord! We merely seek shelter for a few nights, and then we will be on our way," Gwyn allowed a desperate look to pass into her eyes, "I am a seamstress! If you or the Master of this town have any clothes that need mending, I will gladly do it in exchange for shelter! You'll not find neater stiches than mine. Please my lord, we beg you, take pity on us and give us shelter!"
"Fine, but you are to be on your way as soon as you are able. I will have the mending you will do sent to the inn," the man then turned to Bard, "there is still the matter of your illegal fish." The man turned to the armed guards standing at hand, "Dump them into the lake," he ordered. The guards began to obey, but Bard was able to maintain the dwarves' cover through the use of threats of rebellion when the population of Lake-Town heard that the Master was ordering fish thrown back into the lake. The man, Bard had called him Alfrid, angrily let Bard pass, but not before making one last threat.
"The Master has his eye on you. You'd do well to remember: we know where you live!"
As Bard began steering his barge through the toll-gate he shot back, "It's a small town, Alfrid. Everyone knows where everyone lives."
As soon as Bard had steered the barge well clear of the toll gate Gwyn dropped the wide, teary-eyed look of fear she had worn during her little "act" for Alfrid. She once again wore a look of smug confidence, especially when she realized that everyone on the barge who was not in a barrel was staring at her.
"What, surprised that a little girl like me could be such a good actress?" she snarked.
"I do believe we were wrong to doubt you, even for a moment, mizimel. For that, I apologize," Fili said, pressing a kiss to Gwyn's hair.
"That was brilliant!" Kili said weakly. Bilbo nodded, before sneezing loudly several times in succession.
"How much longer until we reach our destination, Master Bard?" Gwyn asked, casting concerned looks at Kili and Bilbo. "I hope it's not too much longer, I really would like to get these two out of the cold."
"Only a few moments more, miss," the bargeman said, "I, too, apologize for doubting your decision to ride out in the open. I was merely concerned about Alfrid. He and the Master are not overly fond of me," the Man continued.
"Never would have guessed that," Gwyn muttered to herself. Out loud she said, "Thank you for your apology, and your help. You are a kind and generous man."
When Bard docked his barge and the dwarves who had hidden in the barrels were freed from their fishy hideaways, a teenaged boy approached the group.
"Da, there's men watching the house!"
Bard had the boy, who turned out to be his son Bain, lead Gwyn and her group up to his house openly, while Bard himself showed the rest of the Company a secret way into his house – via the toilet. While the other dwarves were climbing into the house, Gwyn was approached by Bard's eldest daughter.
"Miss, here are some old clothes of mine that should fit you well enough. If the skirt is too long I can easily hem it, if you'd like?" the taller girl said, handing Gwyn a soft, clean shirt, a skirt, and some petticoats as well. Some woolen stockings completed the pile, meant to keep Gwyn's feet warm on the cold wooden floors while her own boots dried in front of the fire.
"Oh, thank you very much…" Gwyn trailed off, realizing that she didn't know the other girl's name.
"My name's Sigrid. My little sister is Tilda, and our brother's name is Bain," Sigrid supplied.
"Thank you very much, Miss Sigrid. You are very kind. My name is Gwyn, and the three others that I arrived with are Fili, Kili, and Bilbo," Gwyn said, pointing to each of her companions. She would let the others introduce themselves, if they wished. Gwyn quickly snuck off to a side room Sigrid had directed her to and changed her clothes. The skirt was only a bit long, thankfully, but not quite long enough where tripping over it would be a problem. Gwyn rolled up the sleeves of the shirt, which were quite long on her, and walked out of the room carrying her wet clothes.
Once the whole Company had reassembled in Bard's house, Gwyn and Oin set about tending to Kili and Bilbo. Oin examined the patients, and Gwyn prepared a warm meal of chicken soup, using various vegetables that Bard's daughters helped find, for everyone, both as repayment for Bard's help and to help her friends avoid catching Bilbo's cold. While Gwyn was busy bustling around Bard's kitchen with the help of the Man's daughters, she had given Oin free rein of the supplies in her satchel from Lord Elrond. The apothecary dwarf immediately set about rummaging through the satchel identifying its contents. Occasionally, the dwarf would let out exclamations of surprise when he found plants that were particularly hard to come by, and each time he shouted Gwyn would chuckle at the old dwarf.
While Gwyn and Oin had occupied themselves in caring for the Company, Thorin, Balin, and Dwalin were speaking with Bard, trying to negotiate the procurement of proper weapons, instead of the makeshift ones Bard had. Checking the soup on the hearth once more – it was simmering nicely, considered she had come up with the recipe on the spot using the ingredients at hand – and wandered over to the increasingly loud voices of the four negotiators.
"We paid you for proper weapons, iron forged! Not these pieces of shit!" Dwalin argued.
"Well, that's all I have!" Bard argued back.
"Gentlemen, I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement," Gwyn said, wedging herself between Bard and the dwarves. Glancing at Dwalin's face, which was an alarming shade of puce, Gwyn estimated that the "negotiations" had been less than two minutes away from coming to blows. The cracking of Dwalin's knuckles only reinforced her estimation.
"What do you know, girl?" Bard spat. She rolled her eyes, before turning to the Man.
"I happen to know a lot. For example, based on my observations of Alfrid, the Master must be a real piece of work, because that's the only kind of person who would willingly deal with him. Secondly, based on the state of Town Hall, where I'm assuming the Master lives, he enjoys his wealth generated by trade with the Woodland Realm, as you said, while the rest of the town languishes in squalor. Your discussion with Alfrid contained veiled threats of rebellion, which must be something the Master fears, indicating tyranny. A tyrant in fear of rebellion would, sensibly, keep proper weapons out of the hands of the general populace, who would use the weapons to rebel. Therefore, I'm guessing the real weapons are kept locked up in the City Armory. Am I correct?" Gwyn finished her speech with a raised eyebrow directed at Bard.
The Man looked astonished at Gwyn's easy summary of the situation. The dwarves looked a bit smug, Dwalin more so than Thorin or Balin, at their host's discomfort.
"Yes, that's right. And the Master has spies watching this house, and probably every dock and wharf in the city," Bard said.
"So, that would indicate the need for a strategy to acquire these weapons, and that will take a bit of time. It's been a rough few days for us, so I recommend that we take tonight to rest, and regroup tomorrow to try and figure out how we're to go about getting the weapons," Balin said, after pausing for several moments in thought. Thorin looked like he wanted to object, but he couldn't find any flaws in Balin's plan. Gwyn could see the conflict passing over their leader's face though, so she tried to reassure him.
"If you're worried about making it in time, we still have several weeks before we have to reach our destination. By my calculations, today is the 22 of September, and Durin's Day isn't for another month," Gwyn's eyes suddenly lit up in realization. "Today's the 22 of September, it's Bilbo's birthday!" the assembled dwarves were rather stunned that Gwyn knew that tidbit of information, but did not question it. Her original plan worked though, Thorin had relaxed slightly knowing that they still had time before Durin's Day.
Just then, a small breeze wafted through Bard's home, bringing a very unpleasant smell to Gwyn's nose, which she wrinkled in response. She tried to step away from Thorin, Balin, and Dwalin, but she bumped into Gloin, who had tried to join the conversation about the weapons. Her eyes began to water from the stench.
"What in the name of all the Valar is wrong with you girl?" Dwalin growled.
"I can't decide what smelled worse, the trolls, the goblins, or you lot right now. I have to say, I'm leaning towards you," she coughed out. Turning to Bard and his children, who had also noticed the pungent odor, she inquired as to bathing facilities.
"There's a small room, downstairs, where they can bathe," Sigrid said.
"Alright you lot, you heard the girl, head downstairs and get cleaned up. When you come back, the soup will be ready," Gwyn barked, before trying to chivvy the disgruntled dwarves downstairs. Once they caught a whiff of themselves though, they were much more obliging. Fili sat close to the cot Oin had set up for Kili, a tight smile on his face. Kili, for his part, was already looking much better, less pale than he had been when they arrived in Lake-Town. Gwyn walked over to them, giggling a bit when Fili pulled her into his lap. Kili smiled tiredly, happy to see Gwyn sitting still for a few peaceful moments. Since he had been injured, Gwyn had barely stopped moving, from fighting orcs, to tending to his leg, to bustling around Bard's house making sure everything was running smoothly for the dwarves.
"We never did get a chance to thank you," Fili murmured against her neck. Casting worried glances around them, Gwyn noticed that Bard and his children had scarpered off somewhere, Bilbo was dozing by the fire, and the other dwarves were still bathing.
"Thank me for what?"
"For saving my life. If what you said was true, then you have just given my brother and myself the greatest courtship gift we could have hoped for – more time with you," Kili said with a tender expression. Gwyn's heart leapt into her throat, and she had to take several deep breaths to maintain her composure. Fili could sense her struggle, so he held her tighter, pressing gentle kisses against the bared skin of her neck. Kili sat up and gingerly swung his legs off the cot so that he could face Gwyn and his brother. He gently took Gwyn's hands in his own and placed soft kisses on her knuckles.
"As we explained at Beorn's house, the first courtship gift represents what your beloved is to you. The second gift is something needed to create a happy union. There is nothing needed for our happiness more than life and time with each other, which is what you have given us. It will be difficult for us to match your generosity, mizimel, but I'm sure Kili and I will find a way," Gwyn could hear the smirk in Fili's voice, and feel it against her skin.
"I should check on the soup," Gwyn said quietly. She needed to stay busy, otherwise panic over how close she had come to losing her dark-haired prince would consume her. Somehow she knew that if Kili died, his brother would follow soon after, and she did not want to think of that.
"Please pundurîth, won't you just sit with us for a few moments? You have hardly sat down since we arrived here, and we know you must be tired. Please, just sit with us?" Kili asked, brown eyes pleading. Behind her, Fili tightened his grip around her waist, anticipating her trying to make a break for it. Fili knew what she was trying to do, how she was trying to distract herself, but he also knew that he wanted to enjoy the feel of her in his arms a while longer.
Gwyn sighed softly, before nodding her head ever so slightly and settling back against Fili's broad chest. While she had been changing into Sigrid's clothes, apparently Bard had found dry garments at least for Fili, Kili, and Bilbo, which made cuddling with her dwarves infinitely more enjoyable. And Kili had been telling the truth, she was very tired. Now that she had stopped to take a moment and sit down, she could feel all of her nerves and adrenaline seeping away, leaving exhaustion in their wake. Kili saw this, and he leaned forward, kissing Gwyn tenderly. She smiled into it, pleased that the dwarf was well enough to kiss her. After a few moments of languid kissing with Kili, Gwyn felt her head being turned and her lips met with Fili's. His kiss was decidedly hungrier than his brother's, and Gwyn gasped. Fili took advantage of her open mouth and swept his tongue in to tangle with Gwyn's. Kili, from his position, could see the flush creeping down Gwyn's neck from her cheeks, and he longed to see how far down the rosy pink went. He groaned quietly at the thought. Once again, as in the dungeons, the sound snapped Gwyn back to reality, and she broke away from Fili, chest heaving as she panted. Just then, the three heard a very distinctive throat being cleared, and as one turned to see Thorin Oakenshield glaring disapprovingly at them. Gwyn flushed even more deeply, before jumping up to tend to the soup. Fili and Kili leveled glares of their own at their uncle, angry that they had been disturbed.
Meanwhile, Gwyn was dishing up the chicken soup into bowls, which Sigrid then passed out amongst the assembled dwarves. Ladling up two last bowls, Gwyn took them over to Bilbo and Kili. She handed the soup to Kili first, before gently shaking Bilbo awake. The hobbit gazed at her blearily, and she handed him the bowl.
"Here, you need to eat this. It will help you feel better. Whenever I was ill as a child my mother always made me chicken soup, and I always felt better for it. Eat up. Oh, and by the way, happy birthday!" she said gently. The hobbit nodded, too dazed from his fever to realize that it was indeed his birthday, and obediently picked up his spoon before beginning to eat. Looking around, Gwyn noticed that Bard and his family were looking through their cupboards for something to eat themselves.
"I made sure there was plenty of soup for you and your family as well, Master Bard. I hope you don't mind, but I thought it would be nice to do something for you, since you have all been so kind to us," Gwyn said. The Man and his children murmured their thanks, before getting some soup for themselves. Seeing that everyone was settled down eating, Gwyn finally scraped the bottom of the pot to fill her own bowl. As she tucked in she was very pleased at how good the soup was. She had been rather nervous, having improvised the recipe with things she found in Bard's pantry, but everything had come together nicely.
Once everyone was finished eating, and Gwyn had received many compliments on her cooking, she began collecting the dishes to do the washing up. Everyone assembled was rather surprised that Gwyn was refusing to let someone else care after the dirty dishes. Catching his uncle's eye, Fili quickly pulled Gwyn away from the sink, where she was replaced by Ori.
"Mizimel, you were practically asleep in my lap earlier. You must rest, or else you'll fall ill, and neither Kili nor myself make very good nursemaids. At least, not nearly as good as you. Please, just sit with us," Fili said, before sitting in his chair and pulling Gwyn back onto his lap.
Kili was dozing on the cot, and Fili began untangling the rat's nest that Gwyn's hair had become. He quickly unbraided her courtship braids, and asked Bard's daughters if either of them had a brush or a comb. Sigrid told him that she did, and she hurried to fetch it. Once Fili had the comb in his hands, he began gently working the teeth through Gwyn's hair, much like he had at Beorn's house. Gwyn relaxed against him, enjoying the sensations of his fingers in her hair. Once her hair was free of knots, Fili deftly replaced the courtship braid that he had placed in her hair, telling her quietly that Kili would have to replace his own braid. Hearing his name, Kili groggily sat up, noticing what Fili was doing. Shifting Gwyn gently onto the cot (she was all but asleep at this point), Kili began plaiting his courtship braid back into her hair. When he was finished, Gwyn was completely asleep. Looking at his brother, Kili indicated that he would need help shifting Gwyn. The cot was small, and in the middle of the common room of Bard's house, near the fire. Kili knew that if he gave up the cot for Gwyn, she and Oin would both scold him. However, he also knew that his other option was to lay her on the floor nearby. Neither brother really knew what to do. Finally, Fili decided to simply move her back into his lap, and they would both sit by Kili's cot.
As the rest of the Company watched on, Bard turned to Thorin and Balin.
"What is she to them? I have watched the three of them all night, but I cannot figure out what would make them take such pains to care for her," the Man said, confusion evident in his voice. Thorin and Balin exchanged a look, before the elder dwarf began speaking.
"She is their One," he said simply.
"Their 'One'? What in Eru's name does that mean?" Bard asked.
"Dwarves love only once in their lives. Fili and Kili are exceptionally lucky to have found their One at such young ages. Many dwarves never find theirs," the white haired dwarf explained.
"So, they love her. And what are the braids they were putting in her hair?"
"Those are courtship braids. Those three have been courting for a couple of months now. When their courtship is completed, they will marry."
"Are they not brothers? If I understand you correctly, they will be sharing her. Would that not cause strife? Isn't it wrong that the three of them will marry?"
"Yes, they will share her. It is not unheard of for very close siblings like Fili and Kili to share a One, so it will not cause any strife. Mahal would not have given them one One to share if He thought that it would cause strife between the brothers," Balin said. Before the conversation could continue though, he bid Thorin and Bard goodnight, before walking away to see to his own sleeping arrangements.
"How long have you known the girl?" Bard asked Thorin.
"We met in April. She has been with us since then, and she has saved all of our lives quite a few times. She might not look it, but she is a fierce warrior, and a cunning strategist, as you have seen, while still maintaining her ability to care. She is very loyal, and protective of those she cares about. My nephews are indeed lucky to have a One such as her," Thorin said quietly. He was quite surprised at how easily he had been able to talk to Bard about Gwyn, but he did not linger on it too much.
"You speak very highly of her. From what I have seen, your nephews care for her just as much as she does for them. I think they are lucky to have each other," the bargeman replied. "It is a father's only wish that his daughters find someone to care for them as much as your nephews care for her. Goodnight, Master Dwarf," Bard said, before walking to the room he was sharing with his children while the dwarves stayed with them. Thinking about Bard's last words, Thorin settled himself down for the night close to his nephews and their One.
The next morning, Gwyn woke up long before anyone else. Her neck and back were knotted tightly from sleeping sitting up all night, and she knew that Fili would be worse off than she was, because at least he had been her pillow. She knew that she would not be able to fall back asleep, so Gwyn tried to stand up. Fili roused and tightened his arms around her. Kissing his forehead, she gently pried his arms open so that she could extricate herself. As soon as she was free though, Fili's blue eyes opened blearily.
"Where d'you think you're goin' miz'mel?" he slurred.
"Just getting up to stretch, my love. I might step outside to get a bit of fresh air. It's a bit cramped with 19 people under one small roof. I'll be back soon. Try to get some more sleep," Gwyn said quietly. Fili nodded a bit as he promptly fell back asleep. Smiling fondly, Gwyn grabbed a shawl that Bard's daughters had loaned her and opened the front door, stepping out into the cool early morning air. Looking north, she could just see the Mountain in the weak light of the lightening sky. Turning her gaze skywards, Gwyn could still see a few stars twinkling, and she sighed contentedly. They might not have been her stars that she knew in her own time, but they brought her comfort, just the same. Gwyn was leaning against the railing in front of Bard's front door, when she heard something moving slightly behind her. Before she could call out or run back inside, she felt a sharp pain at her temple, and she fell unconscious.
Later, the dwarves and Bard's family began waking up. Sigrid set about making breakfast for everyone as they roused. Fili woke up, wincing at the pain in his back and shoulders. He really shouldn't have fallen asleep in the chair, but it couldn't have been helped. Looking around, Fili saw no sign of Gwyn. He didn't worry too much though, thinking she might have just snuck off to bathe. When there was still no sign of her once the breakfast dishes were cleared away, then he truly began to worry.
"What's wrong Fili?" Thorin asked, noticing his nephew's distress.
"It's Gwyn. She got up very early, before dawn, and said that she was going to step outside for some fresh air, as she was feeling crowded. She said she would be back soon, but I don't think she is. I'm worried that something might have happened to her!" Fili said. All of the other dwarves heard the fear in the blond dwarf's voice, and so they began to fret also. Thorin quickly called on them to calm down, but he could see the angst on the faces of both his nephews.
"Well, we need to find her. Split up, stay in small groups. Try to remain unseen," Thorin ordered. When Kili moved to stand up, Thorin gently pushed him back down onto the cot.
"Stay here. Your leg is still healing. Gwyn would be angry at all of us if we let you injure yourself further. We'll find her quickly, and bring her back," Thorin said.
"I need to help look for her! I can't just stay here, and wait for word! I need to be out there with all of you!" the young dwarf insisted.
"You need to let yourself heal. Wouldn't Gwyn say the same thing if she were here?"
"If she were here we wouldn't be having this discussion!"
Before the argument could escalate further, Bard let out a shrill whistle, similar to the one Gwyn frequently used to get the dwarves' attention.
"I think I know where she is. Bain said that he got up to use the toilet around dawn, and while he was below he heard heavy boots and he saw the red cloaks of the City Guards. I'm fairly certain the Master has her," Bard said.
"Very well. Where would he be keeping her?" Thorin asked.
"Probably at Town Hall, that's where the town jail is," the Man said, "I'll show you the way."
"Thank you. Oin, stay with Kili and Bilbo. The rest of you, come with me!" When he barked out that last order, Thorin honestly did not expect Bard's three children to join him, but from the angry looks on their faces, he knew it would be foolish to try and convince them to stay at their home. One glance at Bard's face showed that he recognized the same futility. Every member of their ragtag bunch was scowling fiercely as they set off for Town Hall to confront the Master, even sweet little Ori and jolly Bofur looked as though they wanted to tear the Master limb from limb.
Gwyn woke up with a groan. Not only did her back and shoulders still ache from sleeping sitting up, but now she had a fierce headache to boot. She sat up slowly, holding her aching head, feeling sticky blood under her fingers. Looking around, she saw she was in a damp little cell, and through the bars of the door she could see several guards playing some kind of dice game. Their boisterous laughter was grating, to say the least, and it did nothing to alleviate Gwyn's headache. That, combined with the fact that she was in a cell, again, resulted in a spectacularly bad mood. Glowering at the backs of the guards, she shouted at them.
"Oi, shit-for-brains! What the hell am I doing here?"
Before the guard could answer, Alfrid stepped out of the shadows near the doorway.
"You'd do well to remember your place, bitch! You shouldn't talk to your betters like that!" he said.
Gwyn rolled her eyes, headache increasing ten-fold with the appearance of the slimy little Man in front of her cell. If people keep calling me a bitch, I'll show them how much of a bitch I can be! she thought angrily.
"Listen here you misogynistic little worm. None of you are my 'betters'! You obviously have some sort of complex involving women showing you for the foolish little toe-rag you are, and I can't change that. And you lot," she turned towards the guards, all of whom looked nervous at the confrontation, good, let them be nervous. They should be, she thought, "You're willing to take orders from those who obviously wish harm on those who cannot defend themselves! Your people are left to freeze and starve, while this piece of nothing and his Master live in luxury? How can you abide their mistreatment of your families, your homes?" several of the guards looked highly uncomfortable at Gwyn's speech, which only served to enrage Alfrid further.
"You little whore! I'll make you pay for speaking to me thusly!"
Recalling Radagast's words at the Trollshaws, Gwyn smirked coldly. "I'd like to see you try." Before he could do anything though, they could hear a commotion outside. Fuming, Alfrid turned away to investigate the noise.
"Don't even think I'm done with you yet, bitch," and he disappeared up the stairs. He reappeared a few minutes later, even angrier than before. Pointing at one of the guards he snapped, "You there! Get the girl and bind her hands. It seems as though her 'friends' want to try and rescue her! When you've finished, bring her up!" and the Man stormed back up the stairs. Taking a piece of rough rope, the guards tightly bound Gwyn's hands in front of her, before leading her up the stairs. Gwyn blinked a bit in the sudden brightness of the Town Square, and she quickly saw her friends once her eyes had adjusted, surprised even that Bard and his children were there. Looking around, Gwyn also spotted a red-haired Man with a bad comb-over and blotchy skin standing near Alfrid. Ah, that must be the Master, she thought, stumbling a bit as the guards tugged on the rope around her hands.
"Who are you to demand this whore's release? We do not allow that kind of business here in my town, and as Master it is my duty to lock her up!" the balding Man called out in an oily voice. The dwarves all looked furious at Gwyn's treatment. Fili looked like he wanted to charge the guards and savage them to free Gwyn. Catching her blond prince's eye, she gave him a small smile and minutely shook her head. He nodded in understanding, but he didn't look happy about it.
"I am Thorin, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain! This girl is no whore and we demand she be freed!" Thorin bellowed. The Dwarf King continued, "We are on a journey to reclaim our homeland. If we are successful, I would see Lake-Town returned to its former glory!" He went on to promise a share of the wealth of Erebor to the Men, in exchange for weapons and supplies. During his speech the people of Lake-Town began murmuring excitedly amongst themselves. By the time he had finished, everyone was cheering the Company. The Master raised his hands for quiet.
"Be that as it may, we cannot release this girl. She is a danger to our society. She will remain in the town jail, and the rest of you will be given a house for your stay here," the Master replied. Gwyn decided she had had more than enough of the pompous windbag and his slimy little assistant, who was smirking at her. Reaching up to her cleavage, she withdrew her small bodice knife, grateful that the guards had not searched her. Working quickly, Gwyn sawed through the rope binding her hands, and she quietly started to sneak away from the guards, towards her friends. The guard holding her lead, however, felt it go slack and he and the other guards tried to grab her. She dodged them easily, relying on her smaller stature, and she came to rest near Fili. The blond dwarf put his arm around her waist, and drew her closer in an attempt to shield her.
Gwyn stepped forward, smirking at the open outrage the Master and Alfrid were displaying, seeing her free herself and the guards' inability to recapture her.
"How am I a danger to your society, my lord? Is it because I have outsmarted your minions or is it simply because I am a woman who does not need to rely on a man? Are you worried that I will encourage the women of your town to stand up for themselves against your guards? Your guards attacked me without provocation, taking me prisoner when I had done nothing wrong! How the good people of this town haven't unseated you yet is entirely beyond me! Now, seeing as I would be well within my rights to demand the lives of the guards that attacked me, I recommend you let me go with my companions to the house you promised us. Do this, and I won't make your life especially miserable," Gwyn called out loudly. Behind her, she could hear several townspeople snickering at the Master, and most of the dwarves smirked at his impotent rage, clearly enjoying the Man's struggle between his desire to have Gwyn killed for her impudence and his desire for the gold of Erebor. In the end, the thought of the gold won out, and he smiled superciliously at her.
"Very well, my dear. I apologize for any mistreatment at the hands of my guards. Alfrid, show our esteemed guests to their new quarters," the Master said before sweeping back into his home above Town Hall.
Grumbling the entire way, the greasy little Man showed the dwarves to a relatively grand house, telling them that the house was theirs to use, and that maids would be by later with food and bedding. Thorin coldly thanked Alfrid, and Gwyn was pleased to see the Man cower before the King's cold rage. Once Alfrid had scurried back to his Master, though, Thorin grabbed Gwyn away from Fili and hugged her tightly. Gwyn, as well as several of the dwarves, were quite surprised at the King's sudden display of affection, but it made her happy to know that he had worried about her. When Thorin released her, Gwyn was passed around to the other dwarves, who clucked over her like fussing hens.
Their inspection of her complete, Gwyn turned to face Bard, who was eyeing the group cautiously. However, when she caught the bargeman's eye, he smiled at her. Seeing their father relax, Sigrid and Tilda rushed over to Gwyn, excitedly babbling about her performance in the town square with the Master. Gwyn smiled at their enthusiasm. Before the girls could get too carried away though, Thorin and Bard could be heard arguing loudly about the dwarves' purpose in Lake-Town. Giving her apologies to Sigrid and Tilda, Gwyn quietly made her way over to the two men.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Gwyn stood next to the arguing men, glaring at the both of them with a raised eyebrow until they noticed her. After several moments of waiting, Gwyn rolled her eyes and cleared her throat, finally getting the attentions of Bard and Thorin.
"Master Bard, we are grateful for the kindness you have shown us and the help you have granted us. That being said, I don't think it would be wise to try and turn us from our purpose, especially not when we are so close to achieving our goals. We do not ask for you to condone our quest, only that you do not hinder it. Is that an unreasonable request?" Gwyn asked. Several of the nearby dwarves, including Balin, breathed a sigh of relief that Gwyn had enough sense to try and stop the arguing.
Grudgingly, Bard replied, "No, it is not unreasonable. I still think it is folly, though. You will bring the dragon's wrath upon us all!"
"Perhaps, but it will also give you a chance to redeem your family, Bard, descendent of Lord Girion. The stories are true that there is a scale that was loosened by the Black Arrows your ancestor fired, and you are a superior archer. You will succeed where Lord Girion failed," Gwyn said with a quiet intensity. Before anyone could question her words though, she spoke again. "Shouldn't we return to Bard's house to fetch Oin, Kili, and Bilbo, in addition to the few belongings we managed to hang on to?" Everyone nodded, and they set out for Bard's.
While they were walking, Fili noticed her staggering a bit. He quickly wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Are you alright, mizimel?" he asked quietly.
Leaning into his embrace, Gwyn responded quietly, "I will be, but right now I am tired, hungry, and I have a headache that I would not wish on my worst enemies."
"We'll ask Oin if he has anything to help your headache, mizimel. From the look of that gash, they hit you quite hard," Fili quietly seethed. How dare they hurt his One! he thought fiercely.
"Don't worry, my love. After my little 'display' in the town square, they'll not be coming anywhere near me. Not unless they want to incur your uncle's wrath," she said before kissing his cheek. They had arrived, finally, at Bard's house.
As soon as they were through the door, Gwyn was being herded over to Oin, so that he could tend to the gash the guards had given her. Gwyn was forcefully reminded of the Carrock, when Oin and the others had practically held her in place so that the apothecary could tend to a wound received courtesy of a goblin. She chuckled quietly at the similarities. Nearby, she saw Fili and Kili watching her and she gave them both a smile, even though she winced when Oin rubbed the same stinging liquid against her cut as before. Luckily, there were also some loose herbs to be brewed into a tea to fight headaches, which was promised to her once everyone was settled in their new accommodations.
Once Oin had finished tending to her, he let her go to sit with her dwarves. Kili looked even better than he had the night before, which pleased Gwyn greatly. The two brothers were seated side by side on Kili's cot. When she reached them, they parted enough to allow room for Gwyn to be tugged down between them. Each brother wrapped an arm tightly around Gwyn, protecting her from any who would wish her further harm. She grinned at their possessiveness, but gave each of her loves a chaste kiss.
"How is your leg, Kili? You look much better than you did when we first arrived here," she asked.
"It aches a bit, which is to be expected, but Oin says it is healing remarkably well. It's probably the elvish medicine you used, pundurîth. Oin even says there is no sign of infection, thankfully. He said I should be able to walk on it without any help within a week or so," the dark-haired prince answered.
"Thank goodness! You have no idea how worried I was for you, my love. I'm very glad that you will be fine," Gwyn said.
"I do know how worried you were for me, for that is how I felt when I heard that you had disappeared. I am glad that you are safe now, though I wish I could give those that took you a taste of dwarvish iron right up their jacksies!" the three began laughing, remembering Ori's words back at Bag End, before the quest had even started. They calmed down though when Thorin said that it was time to leave for the house they had been loaned. As they filed out of Bard's house, each member of the Company thanked Bard and his children for their hospitality.
While they walked, more slowly than the rest of the Company because of Kili's leg, Fili told his brother what had transpired in the town square, and Gwyn told both brothers about her time in the town jail. They laughed at the tongue-lashing she gave Alfrid, and at the one she gave the Master.
Eventually, they reached the dwarves' house. Entering, the three saw Bombur making use of the kitchen preparing dinner, while the rest of the Company was occupied determining the sleeping arrangements. There were several rooms in the large house, but not enough for each member of the Company to have their own. They would all have to share
"Bofur, you'll bunk with Bombur and Bifur. Dwalin, you and Balin are together, Oin and Gloin share a room. Dori, Nori, and Ori, you three will stay together, and as for you three," Thorin turned to the newly arrived trio, "you'll have to share a room. Be warned though, if I hear of anything untoward happening, you will not like the consequences. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Fili, Kili, and Gwyn replied, but no one noticed the glint in Gwyn's eyes.
"As for me, I'll share a room with our burglar, assuming he does not mind," Thorin finished. Turning to the hobbit, who looked much better as well, he raised a questioning eyebrow. Bilbo sneezed a couple of times, before muttering that he didn't mind. Gwyn pitied the hobbit, he might look better, but he still sounded dreadful. Gwyn's eyebrows, and those of several of the Company, rose at the thought that King and the burglar would be sharing a room. The Company then dispersed to claim the respective rooms they had all been directed to.
When Fili, Kili, and Gwyn entered the room they had been assigned Gwyn was pleased to note that there was a large bed taking up a significant amount of space. There was a carved wardrobe in the corner, which upon further investigation, held several new outfits for each of the room's occupants. A fire was already crackling in the hearth, and there was steam rising from a small wash basin in the corner. Fili and Gwyn's first order of business was to help Kili to the bed. The injured dwarf groaned at the sensation of sinking down into the comfortable mattress. While Fili was helping his brother get situated on the bed, Gwyn went over to the wash basin, where she set about cleaning her face and neck of the blood that had trickled from the cut on her temple. That taken care of, she joined her dwarves in the bed, sighing when she felt how comfortable it was.
The two dwarves and their girl were sitting together quietly on the bed when there was a knock at the door. Before any of them could answer, Oin came bustling in carrying a small tray with a mug of something steaming, as well as bandages and a few jars of elvish medicine.
"Here's the tea for your headache, Lassie. It's got mint and a few other things in it, should put you to rights quickly. And you, Kili, I need to have a look at your leg. How's it feeling?"
"It aches a bit when I move, but right now it's fine," the younger dwarf answered. Miraculously, Oin heard him clearly, even without his trumpet, which led Gwyn to start believing his hearing loss was an act. She took the proffered tea, and inhaled the steam. Gwyn could easily identify the mint, as well as cinnamon, ginger, lemongrass, chamomile, and a few others. It smelled very much like a tea she had frequently drunk at home when she was stressed. She could even detect a bit of honey sweetening the brew. Taking a sip, she felt immediate relief and she smiled. Fili noticed her contentment, and pulled her closer. Gwyn watched as Oin tended to Kili's leg, glad that the apothecary dwarf knew what he was doing. Indeed, even though the wound had been inflicted only a few days prior, it already looked nearly healed. Gwyn sent up a silent prayer of thanks for Lord Elrond's help.
"There's a washroom at the end of the hall, if you three want to get cleaned up before supper. Kili, if you bathe, you'll need your brother's help keeping your dressings dry," Oin said, finishing up with Kili's leg. The old dwarf took his leave of the three, closing the door behind him.
"What do you think, Fee? Should we let our rose have the first bath?"
"I think it would be rude if we didn't! What would Uncle Thorin say if we went down to dinner all fresh scrubbed while our girl was still grimy? Indeed, I daresay he'd yell loudly enough to frighten Smaug!"
"Laugh all you want you two, but if you're serious, then I will avail myself of a hot bath," and scrambling over to the wardrobe and grabbing a clean dress and necessary accouterments, Gwyn hurried to the aforementioned bath. She and her dwarves were the only members of the Company housed on that floor, so she was glad that they did not have to share a washroom with anyone else. Gwyn unwound her courtship braids, setting the beads in a hidden pocket of the dress that she had grabbed from the wardrobe. Sighing, she lowered herself into the warm water and began washing away sweat, blood, river water, mud, and who knew what else. When she felt sufficiently clean, she stepped from the tub and wrapped herself in a soft, fluffy towel. Drying off, she began squeezing the water from her hair, which reached well past her backside at that point, before redressing in the clean clothes.
Returning to her room, Gwyn was surprised to note that her princes had also bathed, but they had not yet finished dressing in the clean clothes. They were both naked from the waist up, leaving Gwyn to admire their strong backs and shoulders. Fili's shoulders were broader than his brother's but they were both very well built indeed. Luckily for Gwyn, they both had their backs to her, which allowed her to stare as much as she wanted. Letting her gaze trail downwards, she noticed with a thrill that both brothers had fantastic butts. After a few more minutes of unabashed ogling on Gwyn's part, she made her presence known.
"Turnabout's fair play boys. You've both gotten several looks at me, this is the first time I've seen either of you, and I have to say, I quite like what I see!" she declared. She laughed when the brother's startled, and closed the door behind her at the predatory looks in their eyes. Smirking, she added a bit of extra hip action to her walk when she placed Sigrid's borrowed clothes in a hamper to be washed. Turning around, she saw Fili standing behind her, Kili leaning against the bed. Walking over to her dark-haired prince, she allowed one of her hands to trail across Fili's chest, thrilling at the heat of him. Leaning against Kili, she kissed him deeply, pouring out her worry for him into the kiss. He kissed her back just as hungrily, his tongue winding around hers. Breaking the kiss with Kili, she tugged Fili closer and kissed him as deeply as she had kissed Kili. She was startled by the lack of Fili's mustache braids, and she found herself missing them. Breaking away, Gwyn struggled to catch her breath, seeing the darkness in her dwarves' eyes, which she was sure was mirrored in her own.
Once she had calmed a bit, she allowed herself to admire the well-defined physiques of her princes. Walking over to a small vanity she saw in the corner, she allowed an extra sway of her hips to creep into her walk. She could feel her dwarves' gazes following her as she sat down in front of the mirror, before beginning to comb out her hair, which was tangled from Kili's fingers. Catching the brothers' eyes in the mirror, she smirked at them, quite pleased with how riled up she had gotten them. Before she could do much more than smirk though, both brothers prowled towards her. Gwyn's breath caught in her throat at the predatory smiles on their faces.
"It isn't nice to tease, mizimel," Fili whispered hotly in her ear. Gwyn's eyes fluttered closed when he nipped at her earlobe lightly, before taking the comb from her hands.
"It's only teasing if I don't intend to follow through," she purred.
"What about Uncle, pundurîth? He warned us against doing anything 'untoward'," Kili whispered.
"He said if he heard anything untoward we would be in trouble,"
"I like the way you think, pundurîth!"
"Tonight, after everyone has gone to bed, we'll see how quiet you can be, my loves," she teased.
Kili had dragged a chair over to be near the other two, and there was a heat in his eyes that made Gwyn flush. Kili's eyes followed the pinkness as it disappeared below the neckline of her dress, which was much lower than anything else he had seen her wear. While Fili worked to put his braid back into Gwyn's hair, Kili began peppering her neck with small, nipping kisses that had Gwyn biting back moans. When Fili was finished with her hair, the brothers exchanged challenging looks with each other before changing places.
"What about you, mizimel? Won't you have to be quiet as well?" Fili said between light, tickling kisses against the other side of her neck.
"Oh, I'm sure I can manage to be quiet. After all, I've had plenty of practice on this journey," Gwyn smirked. The brothers exchanged startled glances before the full meaning behind Gwyn's words hit them. But when it did, it was like a hammer to the gut and their eyes darkened. Gwyn laughed lightly at their expressions.
"Now, both of you should finish getting dressed, before they send a search party up to look for us. When you're done, you can help me replace my braids in your hair," Gwyn said, standing and moving away from the brothers. They both huffed at her teasing, before moving quickly to dress. While Kili was occupied finding a tunic, Fili was busy re-braiding his mustache and his hair, except for Gwyn's courtship braid. When both dwarves were dressed again, she had each brother help her plait her courtship braid into the other brother's hair. Just as they were about to leave, Kili leaning heavily on Fili, there was a knock on the door. When they opened it, Ori was there. He announced that dinner was ready, and he helped Fili get Kili down the stairs safely. Gwyn followed behind, making sure they did not fall. When they rejoined the others in the large dining room, Gwyn saw that Thorin was watching them carefully, and she was very glad that she had taken the time while her dwarves were dressing to calm herself, although she was sure her lips were still a deep red and her cheeks a rosy pink. Having gotten his brother settled, Fili was quick to pull out Gwyn's chair for her, before taking his customary place on her other side. She smiled gratefully at him.
Soon, everyone was enjoying the hearty meal Bombur had managed to put together, and they were all in high spirits. Even Bilbo looked to be enjoying himself, between sneezes and coughing fits, that is. As they finished eating, Bilbo passed small packages out to each member of the Company.
"In the Shire, when a hobbit celebrates a birthday, the one celebrating the birthday gives gifts to his friends and family. Gwyn reminded me that yesterday was my birthday, so I apologize that I am a day late in my gift giving. Go on, open them!" Bilbo said, before dissolving into another coughing fit. Each person opened the packages to reveal gifts that were unique to each of them. For Bofur, a new pouch of pipeweed, Ori got a new bottle of ink, Dori got some tea, Bombur received a small book of recipes, Oin was given a new ear trumpet, Gloin was gifted with another locket for portraits of his wife and son, Balin was given a book of history, Dwalin received a new whetstone for his axes and knives, Bifur was given some flowers which he promptly started munching on, Nori was given a new pipe, and Thorin and his nephews were each given simple silver rings, each with a different stone. Kili's had onyx, Fili's had topaz, and Thorin's had sapphire. Gwyn's gift was a hair clasp in the shape of a rose for the end of her braid. Each of the Company exclaimed over the extravagance of their gifts.
"How did you get these items? You didn't leave Bard's at all!" Kili exclaimed.
"I wrote up a list last night. I woke up coughing and I thought to write down what kinds of gifts you all might like. Then I gave the list and the last of my coin to Sigrid, and she bought everything. I hope you like them," Bilbo said hoarsely.
"Thank you for your generosity Bilbo, these are all so thoughtful," Gwyn said, smiling. The others all agreed with her, thanking Bilbo for their gifts.
Somehow the dwarves had managed to get a hold of some musical instruments, which several of them took up. They played them well, jolly tunes that set toes tapping. Fili bowed before Gwyn, offering her his hand.
"My lady, I believe you were promised a dance once your ankle had healed. It is healed now, so would you do me the honor?" Fili said.
Laughing, Gwyn stood, taking the offered hand with a graceful curtsy. "It would be my pleasure, my lord." Several of the dwarves began singing as Fili led Gwyn around the improvised dance floor. Even Thorin had cracked a proper smile, rather than the slight upturn of his lips that he usually wore. After Fili and Gwyn had danced through several songs, she begged for a rest. As she sat, laughing and trying to catch her breath, she saw Dwalin hand Kili a fiddle the larger dwarf had procured. Tucking the instrument gently under his chin, Kili began to quietly test the tuning. Satisfied, he began a soft song. The other dwarves quieted down, leaving Kili's fiddle the only instrument playing. Gwyn was vaguely aware of Fili sitting next to her. The song lasted for several minutes, sometimes slow and melancholy, other times trilling happily, but always with a strong undercurrent of something intangible. When the last notes faded, Kili looked over at Gwyn, surprised to see tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Pundurîth, what's wrong? What have I done to make you weep?" Kili asked, concern heavy in his voice.
"You've done nothing wrong, my love. You played beautifully. That's why there are tears in my eyes, the beauty of the song touched me. I had no idea you could play the violin,"
"Aye, we both do, mizimel. We wrote that song for you. It's meant to be a duet, but we only had the one fiddle, so I danced with you and Kili played for you. We'll play it properly for you someday. Did you like it?" Fili asked quietly.
"I loved it. The violin is my most favorite instrument. To hear it played so well, it makes me happy," Gwyn said, wiping away the few rogue tears that had slipped down her cheeks. Smiling, she gave Kili a chaste kiss, knowing that his uncle was still watching. Not wanting to seem neglectful, Gwyn also bestowed a kiss upon Fili, as thanks for the dances he led her through.
Loudly, Fili and Kili both called out to the other dwarves present. "Gwyn has accepted our second gift! She gave us the gift of time when she healed Kili, we have given her the gift of music. Both are needed for happy unions!" A great cheer went up from the others, and soon they were being congratulated at having reached the next step in their courtship. Eventually though, the impromptu party began to wind down, the dwarves peeling off from the Company to go to sleep in their comfortable beds. Before he went to bed himself, Thorin was the last to congratulate them, before saying something in Khuzdul to Fili and Kili. Clapping them both on the shoulders, he turned and headed to the room he was sharing with Bilbo, the hobbit having retired shortly after dinner.
Fili banked the fire in the common room, and the trio slowly made their way back to their room. They were all very tired, none of them having slept well the night before, but once they reached their room, Fili and Kili seemed to get a second wind. They herded Gwyn over to the bed, before gently setting her atop it. Each brother knelt before her, Kili a bit more gingerly because of his injury, and they gently unlaced her boots, before pulling them off. Climbing onto the bed behind her, Kili began deftly unlacing her dress, and Fili lifted it over her head, leaving Gwyn clad in a linen shift. Before they could undress her further, Gwyn stopped them with a hand on each of their chests.
"So, what did your uncle say to you?"
The brothers exchanged shifty-eyed glances with each other, which prompted Gwyn to raise an eyebrow. "Well, we're not going any further…unless you tell me what he said." To emphasize her point, Gwyn began scooting away from the brothers, to crawl under the blankets. Before she could though, Fili and Kili each grabbed one of her ankles and tugged lightly, pulling her back to them. She laughed, before urging them to tell her what Thorin had said to them. They still refused though, and so Gwyn decided to play dirty. Looking up at them through her lashes, brown eyes large and pleading, lower lip protruding ever so slightly, she pouted.
"Won't you please tell me? I don't like that you would keep secrets from your rose." She could see their resolve crumbling, and finally they gave in.
"He told us to make him proud tonight," Kili mumbled.
"What does he mean, 'make him proud'?"
"In case you did not know, there are only two official courtship gifts given in dwarven courtships. They are meant to represent the start of the courtship, and when the couple is ready to marry. When we announced that you had accepted the second gift, we essentially announced that soon we would plait marriage braids into your hair. Uncle gave us his blessing to, um, make good on your promises about 'following through'. The whole bit about 'making him proud' was his reminder to us to not be…selfish," Kili said nervously. Gwyn nodded a bit, face unreadable.
"So I suppose we wouldn't have to be as quiet as we would have to be, without having declared the acceptance of the second gift. Right?" Gwyn asked with a sudden smirk. Before she could finish her thought though, she was practically tackled by Fili, who kissed her deeply. She felt the bed dip as Kili joined the other two near the head of the bed. Breaking away from the kiss, Fili was quick to divest himself of his boots and tunic. Kili also removed his tunic, having already taken his boots off. Moving quicker than the brothers anticipated, Gwyn flipped positions with Fili, so that she was straddling him. Slipping a hand around the back of Kili's neck, she drew the dark-haired brother into a deep, hungry kiss.
Watching his brother kiss their rose, Fili slid his hands from their position grasping Gwyn's hips up her body to gently cup her breasts through the linen of her shift. As he began kneading her flesh, Gwyn broke away from Kili to gasp brokenly. Seeing Fili's smirk, she raked her short fingernails down his chest, eliciting a deep groan that sent a thrill through her. Kili, meanwhile, had busied himself plucking at the laces of Gwyn's shift. Gwyn felt the fabric loosen and shrugged her shoulders, the shift sliding off. Fili's hands on her breasts were the only things keeping the shift from pooling around her waist. Realizing this, Fili quickly tugged the fabric away, baring Gwyn to their scrutiny. Just as she was about to get self-conscious, Fili lunged up and claimed her mouth in a bruising kiss, while Kili attacked her neck and shoulders. She could feel the heat pouring off both of them and Gwyn could feel a heat of her own pooling low in her belly.
Gwyn pulled away from the two brothers, stepping off the bed. They watched her with dark, hungry eyes. Once she was standing away from the bed, she let the rest of the shift drop, completely baring herself to them. Gwyn could not remember the last time she had been so nervous. She closed her eyes, and fought the urge to cover herself. However, she felt Fili come to stand in front of her. Opening her eyes slowly, she let him lead her back to the bed.
He gently tossed her up among the pillows, both brothers smiling at her soft laughs. Kili, feeling neglected, rolled atop her and whispered in her ear, "You are beautiful, âzyungâl, never doubt that for a minute!" He began placing soft, teasing kisses along Gwyn's neck and shoulders, before slowly making his way down her body. He paused at her breasts, simply hefting the flesh in his hands, before one clever hand began rolling one of her nipples, while his mouth descended on the other. Gwyn gasped, back arching into the contact. Gwyn heard the brothers chuckle at her responses. After several long moments, Kili's mouth switched breasts, and he placed biting kisses all around it, before drawing her nipple into his mouth.
While his brother was occupied with her breasts, Fili moved between her legs. Pulling back slightly, Fili admired her womanhood. The flesh was a rosy pink, and Fili could just see hints of moisture hidden in the folds. Gwyn became nervous once more, and Kili swooped in to distract her, his kisses languid, as he stretched his body out next to hers. Noticing her attentions diverted elsewhere, Fili gently moved closer before swiping his tongue through Gwyn's folds. Gwyn broke away from her kiss with Kili to gasp at the sensation. Smirking up at her from his position between her legs, Fili once more moved to lap at the moisture gathering at her womanhood. He hummed at the taste, and the vibrations sent jolts of pleasure surging through Gwyn and she moaned quietly. Her back arched as Fili busied himself licking, nipping, and sucking at her folds, before drawing the little bundle of nerves at the top of her womanhood into his mouth. Kili had occupied himself with Gwyn's breasts, clearly enjoying them, and Gwyn was left to writhe under the onslaught of sensation. It wasn't long before she was gasping and moaning in equal measure as the pleasure in her belly coiled tighter and tighter. With one last reedy whine, the coil sprung loose, pleasure flooding through Gwyn's body. Her back arched as she convulsed around Fili's tongue.
When she came down from her high, she saw Fili and Kili smirking at her.
"What was that earlier, âzyungâl, about your ability to stay quiet?" Fili teased.
"Shut up, you," she grumped, panting.
"Oh âzyungâl, surely you know we only jest. Truthfully seeing you, hearing you fall apart like that was most, shall we say, provocative," Kili said. Both brothers grabbed her hands and brought them to the tents in the brothers' trousers. The hardness that she felt there sent another wave of arousal coursing through her.
"How is it, I am as bare as the day I was born, and yet you two keep yourselves covered?" Gwyn asked with a quirk of a brow.
"We did not wish to be selfish, âzyungâl," Fili said.
"Well, right now you are being selfish by remaining dressed," Gwyn pouted.
Getting her meaning, the brothers quickly divested themselves of their trousers, leaving them as naked as Gwyn. Both brothers felt a jolt at the heat in Gwyn's eyes as she scrutinized them, and their cocks jumped in response. Gwyn smirked before drawing the brothers to her. She slowly made her way down Fili's body, pausing every so often to nip at his skin. Whenever Gwyn found a particularly sensitive spot, a soft groan would escape Fili's lips.
When she reached her destination, Gwyn was level with his cock, which she paused to admire. It was thick, like the rest of him, but not more than average length. Smirking up at the brothers, she began placing wet kisses around his crown. She began alternating with soft licks up and down the length of him, occasionally wrapping her dexterous tongue around him. Fili's eyes were closed in pleasure, but they shot open when Gwyn finally took him into her mouth. Meeting his eyes, Gwyn saw that the beautiful blue was only a thin ring around black, so lust-filled was his gaze. The thought that she was the one to cause that lust send a sharp spike of it through her, and Gwyn could feel herself dampening again. Gwyn continued to bob her head along the length of Fili's prick, applying light suction. One of his hands had come to tangle in her long hair, which hung around her like a curtain. Groans and moans emanated from deep within Fili's chest, and Gwyn chuckled at the sounds. Fili gasped at the vibrations from Gwyn's laughter, and she renewed her efforts. One last look up at him told Gwyn that he was close. She began taking him deeper down her throat, breathing through her nose to quell her gag reflex. When she swallowed around his cock though, he broke, coming with a hoarse shout. She swallowed his release down before gently pulling away from him.
Fili was panting heavily, golden skin shining with a sheen of sweat as Gwyn crawled up to join her princes. Gwyn chuckled at the expressions on their faces, Kili's one of lust, and Fili's one of exhaustion.
"Don't worry, my love, I've not forgotten about you," she said to Kili, moving to straddle him. Before she could though, he flipped them so that he was above her.
"I'd certainly hope not, pundurîth," he growled, placing himself at her entrance. Leaning down he kissed her hungrily, tasting his brother on her tongue. Distracting her, he finally plunged into her, drawing a broken moan from her and a rumbling groan from him at her tightness and heat. Kili waited several long moments, regaining control of himself. When Gwyn began squirming beneath him, Kili pulled out, before slamming back in. Kili began to set a slow, tortuous pace, intent on driving her mad. Her hands scrabbled for purchase in his hair, on his back. He moaned at each scratch of her nails, pumping himself deeper inside of her.
Gwyn moved one of her legs to wrap around Kili's before she flipped them, like she had that day in Rivendell, managing to keep him inside of her. Kili looked up at her in surprise, until his eyes slammed shut when she began rolling her hips. She undulated above him, her hands running through her own hair. Both brothers watched her raptly, enjoying her seduction of them. Kili's hands rose to play with her breasts, which had Gwyn leaning back towards Kili's feet. She had bent almost completely backwards, head touching the bed between her dark-haired prince's legs. He gasped at the sensation of her walls fluttering around him, and he sat up drawing Gwyn back up to face him. Reaching between them, Kili began rolling her clit between his fingers. Kili quickly captured her lips, muffling her cry of pleasure. The fluttering of her walls around his cock was growing stronger, indicating that Gwyn was close to her peak. Kili redoubled his efforts, desperate to make her come before he succumbed to his own pleasure. Gwyn clenched tightly around him, pleasure coursing through her, drawing a broken cry from her mouth. Mission accomplished, Kili pumped into her furiously until he too reached his peak. Hips stuttering against her, Kili came, lips pressed against her neck.
The three lovers flopped back against the pillows, Kili and Gwyn breathing hard. Fili swept Gwyn's damp hair away from her neck.
"See, I'm not a tease if I follow through," Gwyn said breathlessly, snuggling into her place between her princes.
"So that's what you call following through. I guess I should have expected such a performance from a minx like you. How many times tonight, brother, did our rose have you aching in your trousers? For me it was no less than half a dozen times!" Fili teased. Gwyn stuck her tongue out at him, before letting herself be drawn into a lazy kiss. She felt Kili pressing light kisses between her shoulder blades, and she rolled them at the ticklish sensation.
"Well my loves, I am quite certain your uncle would be very proud of your performances tonight!" Gwyn said.
"I'm sure he would be. I'm also quite sure we'll hear about it tomorrow at breakfast. We weren't exactly quiet, especially you pundurîth," Kili whispered. Gwyn groaned and buried her head against Fili's shoulder.
"I don't suppose there's any use hoping they just happened to have not heard us, is there?" Gwyn asked, voice muffled.
"I'm sorry âzyungâl, I'm fairly certain even Oin, without his ear trumpet, will have heard you," Fili said.
Gwyn paused for a moment, "I shudder to think that that wasn't even as loud as I have been known to get. Hopefully the walls of Erebor do a better job of keeping our noise away from unwanted ears, because I would very much like to see how loudly you two can make me scream. I have no doubt in my mind that you'll both rise to the occasion admirably," she teased, laughing lightly at their expressions when they realized she had said she could be louder. Both brothers groaned simultaneously.
"Mahal, woman, are you trying to kill us?" Kili asked.
"Of course not, I just thought I'd issue the challenge now, to prepare you for later. By the way, how is your leg, my love? I hope we didn't aggravate it."
"It's fine. A bit of a twinge now, but I'll be fine."
"Good," Gwyn stifled a yawn and her princes chuckled at her. "It has been a very long couple of days, so I recommend we get some sleep. Good night my loves." Each brother wished their rose good night, and soon the three lovers were sound asleep in the most comfortable bed they'd had for quite some time.
A/N: Hoo boy that was a long chapter! Gwyn felt like being feisty in this chapter, hope you liked it! Please review, reviews make me happy! The tea that Gwyn drinks for her headache is based on Celestial Seasonings Tension Tamer Tea. I've posted a poll on my profile about what kind of story I should write next. I have two very different outlines already, but I can't decide which one I want to write for my next story, once Take Me Home is done. Vote and let me know! Reviews are appreciated!
