Chapter 14

"You're still mad aren't you?" I asked slowly.

Thorin didn't say anything as he signed a few papers, and then gave them to Balin. He had called me to him, which I couldn't refuse. Now, he was making me stand here while he ignored me and continued his work. I looked over to Balin as he gave a little smile, and quickly turned away. This was my punishment, it was obvious. Thorin had spent the last two days ignoring me and his nephews. Fili and Kili weren't too heartbroken over it since this was normal for them, but for me it was slightly irritating. I was used to getting into trouble, so this punishment wasn't a surprise. It was a good one actually, because he knew I hated being ignored.

Making a face as I stood there, I watched as Thorin finished signing a few more papers that Balin put in a separate pile. Groaning loudly, I looked up at the stone ceiling for a second and then tilted my head. A little while later, I finally had enough of his punishment.

"I can be just as bad as you, ya know," I said flatly. "If not worse."

"Or really?" Thorin finally asked, looking up at the challenge. "You do realize what you put me through not two days ago right?"

I grinned at him. "It really wasn't that big of a deal. I mean come on, no offense but Frerin and I got in to worse trouble then that. If I recall, you used to join us as well."

He frowned at that, and rubbed his eyes so that he could pinch the bridge of his nose for a moment. "Ignoring you is a good start," he muttered darkly.

"Yes and I imagine that if I decided to retaliate then it wouldn't be pretty," I mused.

"And what would you do?" he asked, arching a brow.

"I have any animal to choose from. Which do you think I'd pick to be an absolute terror?" I grinned. "Better yet I could change it up. I could wreck havoc on this place you know."

"I dare you," Thorin growled.

"Fighting words, Thorin," I warned him with another smile. "Don't tempt me."

Thorin got to his feet slowly after Balin left the room and I noticed the dwarf was shaking his head and chuckling softly to himself. I turned so that I faced Thorin fully when he came around the table. He stood just inches from me, and he crossed his arms in the way that I knew he was contemplating what to do next, or he was just that upset. I arched my brow slightly and took a small step back to get some space.

"You have been more trouble over the last week then you are worth," he muttered.

"The Orcs were not my...okay, I might have been the reason they were there. But it wasn't my fault," I said defensively. "If I'm so much trouble then perhaps I'll take my leave."

He had been in a foul mood over these two days and it had also tested me. I spun around on my heel to walk away. I got maybe two steps before he suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. Thorin yanked firmly, making me spin around with his pull so that I was facing him. I went to glare at him before I noticed a look on his face.

"What is it?" I asked quietly.

"It is getting worse," he rumbled. "Orcs are patrolling around here in heavier numbers than usual since the attack on us here last week."

I felt my jaw clench as I swallowed quietly as I quickly pieced it together. They were starting to slowly figure out that I was here. "I've been here for such a short time," I said quietly, as his hand clenched on my arm.

Except for this time, if I left I would not be coming back and part of me refused to believe that. Lord Elrond had made it clear what he expected of me this time and I wasn't able to refuse the elf lord. I looked at Thorin for a moment, trying to figure out another way but I couldn't find one.

"I have to leave then," I whispered, and a pained look swept across his face. "At least until they are drawn off maybe."

"No, not yet," Thorin replied.

"Thorin," I shook my head at him.

"Not yet," he repeated, making me sigh.

"Fine," I murmured.

"I would have it be just us tonight," Thorin rumbled suddenly. "I have dinner being brought to my chambers if you are hungry. I'm done for the day."

I gave him a suspicious look, but nodded my head. "I can give you that," I said softly.

Thorin drew me forward, and wrapped his arms around me without a word. I couldn't help but press my forehead against his chest quietly and relax in his hold.

"I won't let them touch you," he promised. "You have my word."

"I know you wouldn't," I replied sadly. "But...this is much bigger than us, Thorin."

"Give me tonight then," Thorin rumbled, pulling back and framing my face with his hands. "If you have to leave, at least do this."

"I said I would," I murmured.

Nodding his head at my answer and obviously comforted by it, he took my hand and looped it through his arm. We left the room and went back to his chambers and I suddenly gave a triumphant smile.

"I won that round," I said smoothly.

"Yes well don't let it get to your head," Thorin replied bluntly.

I laughed as we walked and we soon found ourselves back in his room. The dinner had just arrived and was set on the table near the corner. He always had one there incase he ever did business or if he needed the privacy. Thorin sat down with me and I was surprised that my stomach growled in hunger at the sight of the food.

"I'm not used to this," I admitted, making him grin. "It's been awhile."

Thorin took a drink of his ale and gave me a look. "It cannot be that bad. I didn't feel like being around everyone tonight. I wanted something quiet. You are usually useful in that department."

"Don't tempt me," I said, after taking a bite of my food. "With your luck I might prove to be very useless."

Looking at me unimpressed, Thorin dug in to his dinner. I followed his example and found that I enjoyed the comfortable silence. We weren't bombarded by his nephews or the shouting that usually followed when we had dinner with everyone. It was a nice change of pace, and from the looks of it, Thorin was enjoying it just as much as I was. When we finished our meal, he got up and stoked the fire that kept the room warm. Getting to my feet, I joined him on the couch after he sat down.

"This is a nice change," I smiled as I tucked my feet under me. "I can hear myself think."

"I figured you usually can't even when it's silent," Thorin replied, making me glare slightly at him.

"Don't ruin it," I grumbled.

We enjoyed the fire for a while, before I decided to draw him to his feet. It was starting to get late, and I wanted to see the stars. I was going to give us both tonight, because I knew what I had to do next. We walked from the mountain and this time we kept close to the entrance so that we wouldn't be caught off guard. Taking in a big breath of fresh air, I looked up at the clear night sky. There wasn't a single cloud in my line of vision and the stars were bright tonight.

"You always enjoyed the stars," Thorin rumbled. "Why is that?"

"It's freedom," I said softly. "Even if it has been years since I was brought to you, I still look up at the stars and feel such joy at finally being free. I never saw them when I was held in Gundabad. To be able to see them for as long as I have now...it is one of the most precious things in my life."

Thorin's lips turned up in a smile at my words, and he turned his gaze up as well. "You should stay," he rumbled. "You don't need to leave."

I sighed, knowing that this talk was going to surface whether I liked it or not. "Yes, I do," I murmured sadly.

He turned to me then and reached out to take my hands tightly in his own. "Why?" he demanded lowly.

Looking down at our hands, I found my fingers gripping his back as I searched for what I had to say. "You've always been apposed to me leaving," I murmured. "And I've always told you that I do it to protect you and your kin. Thorin if I stayed, I'd bring war to this mountain."

"We can handle that, Arina," Thorin replied. "We are not useless."

"No, you are not," I agreed. "But this is different. I'd bring you death. I've been shown what would happen if I stayed. The scouts that you've encountered would be but a piece of it. I don't know why the Orcs are so bent on capturing shifters but I know it's not good. I will not put us both in that position. I'm begging you to understand that."

Thorin glared at me, but I knew it wasn't directed toward me but at the situation at hand. He knew that I was right, but it was also an insult to him and his people. To be told that they would be useless in a war or any fight was a direct blow to their pride as warriors.

"I have no doubt that you'd give them a fight fit for legend," I said softly. "But it'd end in your death, and I won't allow that. They want me alive Thorin, not you or anyone else I care about."

"I know that," he growled, struggling with the choice we had. "I would wish nothing more than to have you stay here..."

"I want the same thing you do," I said squeezing his hands. "Exactly the same."

His eyes found mine for a moment as he realized the answer I had just given him. My heart could ignore it no longer. I loved him with all that I was worth and more, but I'd rather part from him knowing he'd live. I wouldn't stay just to get a few good years with him, that was selfish. From the look on his face, he came to the same conclusion that I did. Thorin let go of my hands then and cupped my cheeks. He tilted my head up so that I had to look at him and he drew me forward.

His lips met my own in a kiss that would have had tears streaming down my face, but I had more control than that. I returned it, letting our lips move together and my arms wrapped around his neck while his left my face to go to my waist. When I finally had to pull back, we were both flushed and my own heart was pounding. I laid my forehead against his when he leaned back down and I closed my eyes tightly.

"If my life wasn't what it is now," I whispered. "I would follow you wherever your life was to take you. I would never, ever leave your side."

"I know," he rumbled sadly.

Tears gathered in my eyes, but I fiercely blinked them back and leaned against him for a moment. His arms wrapped around my body quietly and his chin rested on top of my head. I couldn't stay another day after this.

"I have a request," I said softly.

"What's that?" he asked.

"Will you spend the night with me?" I asked. "Just...be there?"

"You don't need to ask that," Thorin rumbled.

We walked back to his room so that we could get ready for bed and I slipped into something I could sleep in. Going over to the bed, I joined Thorin when he laid down and I spent the remainder of my night pressed against his chest.

This was such a hard chapter to write. :(

The story is also almost complete sad to say, unless I decide to go further into her time with humans. Should I? It would be very easy for me.