Hey, look at that, 2 chapters in 2 days. It's a very slow day at work. Please enjoy.

Ch 11 And Through A Window

Thorin had seen something watching them when Bard let them aboard, or probably someone. He had seen Lapis and their children fighting through the currents of splashing water, killing the Orcs that were chasing them down. More than likely it was them hiding in the rocks above, but he was now in the middle of the lake, closer to his home than ever. The bowman had successfully smuggled them into Laketown and into his home, via the freezing water and up the loo, not that any of them were going to mention those details to anyone. Thankfully, the man and his family had clothes to spare and so there they waited, in borrowed clothes by the fire while thinking of a plan to get to Erebor since the weapons Bard had tried to bestow upon them were nothing but modified farm tools.

Looking out the window, Thorin glanced to the moon that shone above and tried not to think of the times past when he had flown closer to the stars than anyone on Middle Earth. So much had happened that confused him still, from Lapis and her words to his children and their One's, and it all jumbled in his head screaming for attention. His eyes dropped and caught a tower in the distance, one that held a dwarvish windlance, most likely the same one that had been used to try and stop Smaug. His sharp intake of breath drew attention from the others and Thorin pushed the thoughts of the family he would never have to the back of his mind.

Meio sat in her new room, one that was in the same hall as Thranduil's and Legolas's rooms, and took in her surroundings. The guards who had escorted her remained neutral, so she wasn't sure whose room she was occupying, or whose it had been. It had been a few days since she returned to Mirkwood and the look of surprise on Thranduil's face was almost worth being locked up again. Almost. She missed her family, they had always been a constant in her life and now… they were most likely at their home in Dale while she chose to return to the Elves in hopes her One might come to his senses. But he hadn't stopped by to see her since the evening she returned, it didn't help she wasn't allowed to leave either. This time, in addition to the guards, the door was locked. Not that she would've had any problem destroying the flimsy barrier, it wouldn't help her cause to get Thranduil to look past the fact she was just a dragon.

Lost in thought, the sound of metal scraping against the door almost escaped Meio's ears and she stood from the bed and faced the entrance curiously. By her calculations, it wasn't meal time yet so why would someone be entering? Her breath caught when Thranduil stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. Meio stared at him unblinking, waiting for him to say something.

"Why did you come back?"

The soft-spoken question took her by surprise, he was asking her politely and not demanding an answer. "I wanted to see what may happen, I feel you are Mate and I can only hold hope you would return my feelings."

His pale eyes bore down on her. "My son has disappeared with Tauriel, Captain of my Guards, do you know why?"

Meio shook her head, her long hair swaying behind her. "I only know what happened while we were with them."

Thranduil continued to stare at her, as though trying to solve a puzzle. "If that is true, and I could trust you, I would unlock the door. But I know neither." He took a few steps forward, "To give you an answer to what you hope for, I cannot give either. Although there is something that has been unsettling since meeting you, something that stirs memories and feelings I haven't felt in hundreds of years." He was in front of Meio now and a hand rose to her hair, dancing down the blue strands. "But it is impossible since I have already met my Soul Half and she died long ago, there is no possibility that you can be what she was." The hand dropped and Thranduil took a step back.

She lurched forward to try and follow his hand to keep contact, he felt so right to her, but he refused to give in to what his heart told him. "Then you feel something that you can't explain and that is why you won't acknowledge me?"

"There is nothing for you and I, the sooner you see that and I discover the truth, the sooner you will be free." He turned to walk away, but her hand grabbing his stopped him.

"Because you won't see the truth in our situation means I will never leave this room. Spend time with me, please."

Thranduil shook her hand away after a moment and drew himself up, cold mask sliding into place. "There is no time for such nonsense, there is a war coming and I must prepare my home and people for what is coming. Your dragon is going to rain down fire and destruction at the aide of someone else, I only pray that your family doesn't follow suit."

He opened and shut the door, the sound of the key turning echoed in the room where Meio remained where she was, stunned at his words. What had he meant?

Lapis sat on one of the rooftops in Laketown, watching the crowd gather in front of building where the company of dwarves had been brought to and listened to the voices that carried in the air. She hadn't planned on getting involved in whatever trouble Thorin had gotten himself into, but something wasn't right and she had to warn him. Smaug was still asleep when they returned to Dale, but the air had changed. A shift that warned her there was an event on the horizon and the birds returning to the mountain meant Smaug would be waking soon. She had read the prophecy, it was scribbled in a book in the library Thorin had taken her to before the city fell. As if someone wanted it to be remembered and found, a warning for the future. Watching the interactions below, it made her wonder if it was all coming true and what consequences lay ahead. Lapis watched as the townsfolk cheered and the dwarves were escorted inside an adjacent building. Apparently, whatever had been said appeased the seemingly agitated crowd and Thorin was leading his group with his head held high, as he had when she knew him decades ago.

The bowman was there again, having took part in the shouting, stood staring after the dwarves before bowing his head in defeat. There was something still bothering her about the man, something familiar, but that would have to be figured out another day since her mission right now was focused on a stubborn dwarf she wanted to hurt more than talk to still. When everyone finally made their way back to their homes, Lapis grew her wings and glided through the night air to the rooftop and listened for voices. Thorin's stood out amongst the others, though muffled, was commanding and rough. She listened at the instructions he threw out, assigning spaces to sleep before retiring to a room by himself. Following sounds and smells, Lapis used her clawed hands to scale the building, finding the window to the room housing Thorin and popping the latch.

Not a sound was made and only the cold breeze alerted the dwarf to her arrival. He spun around as Lapis landed in a crouch through the window, standing to face Thorin as the wind tugged their hair. The stunned expression on his face gave her a little pleasure knowing he didn't expect to see her and the shirt he had taken off fell to the floor. How he could've known was impossible, but still, she watched his face morph from shocked to blank and Lapis became curious. Was he angry at her as she was still with him? Not mad per say, troubled maybe, upset by the lost time and words exchanged between them, that she could relate.

"Why are you here?"

Lapis almost smiled, her time in Mirkwood had lessened her anger at him, more so after killing some of the Orcs after him and his company. The more she thought about it before, the unhappier she grew about the encounters they had after discovering the other was alive. While her children had the courage to go talk to their father, Lapis couldn't draw the strength in case he rejected her again. "I came to warn you, Smaug is waking up. Whatever plans you have of regaining your hope will only end in death."

"Do you stand with him?"

She cocked her head and gave the question some thought. "I cannot tell you what I will do, I'd rather not be involved in a war between anyone."

"You are involved, whether you want or not. If you stand with Smaug, you are against me and everything we had. If not…" Thorin didn't finish his words, he didn't know if he could tell her to side with him, to fight and reclaim the home they had been together in 170 years ago. "Do you still love me?"

Blinking in surprise, Lapis saw the hope and frustration warring on his face. The emotion was raw in his voice and she couldn't help but be drawn to it, taking a step forward. "Would my answer change what you felt for me?"

"No." He knew it wouldn't, the love and fire he had for his one all those years ago when they met had only cool in their time apart. Every time they had met, it resurfaced but he had been foolish, acting rashly as her. Thorin closed the distance between them, running the back of his fingers down her cheek and watched her eyes close. "I never stopped thinking of you and what could have been, I never laid with another after you, I missed you beyond reasoning and the hole in my heart never went away."

Her body sang as soon as he touched her and realized though they had seen each other a few times, they had never touch one another. Maybe if they had, the resentment wouldn't have set in and took more time from them. Lapis leaned forward to the heat of Thorin's body, unbothered by the cold fall air. Although she wasn't sure of the outcome of the dwarves interference with Smaug's residence in the mountain, tonight she could forget about it and relish in the company of her One before this battle broke. Her hand came up and pulled the silver streaked hair, tugging Thorin's head closer. He received the message and wrapped his hands around her waist, lining her body up with his as their lips met in a frantic kiss.

If you didn't guess, the next chapter is going to have some hanky panky. how in depth will depend how starved i am for sex. reviews are welcome.