I feel a searing pain in my stomach and I splutter awake, trying not to throw up. I sit bolt upright, looking rapidly for a window or somewhere to relieve my aching stomach. My eyes meet Pharom's. I silently plea, too scared to talk, lest I heave all over myself and my sleeping husband. He seems to understand, "there's a nightsoil basin in the corner." I nod gratefully and rush over. I gag over and over before I finally stop, my breathing ragged and my stomach settling to its normal placidity. I turn to my captor. He has a smug look on his face, "what, no thankyou?" he earns my most furious glare as I refuse to talk to the sadistic sorcerer who found pleasure in my first night with Azog.

I tear my gaze away from him as I hear Azog stir into consciousness. He mumbles something and I move over to him, forgetting our nudity until I see his pale back. His eyes open and he sees me sitting to his left, wide awake but looking to him in a concerned, loving way. He sits up and shuffles towards me, wrapping an arm around me as he settles down in the pile cushions. He leans in to kiss my cheek, but stops when he catches a whiff of my previous upheaving, a scowl on his face, "Are you okay Tahlia? What did he do to you?" he clucks over me, much like a mother hen over her chicks.

"Its fine Azog, I must have eaten something iffy yesterday," I say, although the thought of my old newfound life threatened to bring tears to my eyes. No, Tahlia, you have to keep it together. Be strong, he can't break you, I think, controlling my emotions. A sudden clap snaps me out of my thoughts. I feel that forced itch cover my body and I look over to see a dark red light shroud Azog's body as he changes shape into whatever form our captor saw fit. I squeeze my eyes shut as I try to block out the itch and reopen them as the itch fades. The first thing I notice is that I am not a bird like I was yesterday, but in fact, I find myself in the shape of a large, red-orange feline, more specifically, a tiger. I look over to Azog, who was a magnificent white tiger, with piercing blue eyes. How do you know we won't attack you or run away? I growl at Pharom as he clips a chain and collar around my neck.

"Put it this way, if you even try to get away, I will kill you," he states aloud. He proceeds to do the same to Azog, who didn't say a word, but I could feel the anger seeping from him. The sorcerer straightens and leads us out of the room and through a series of long, winding corridors through to a room much like the dining hall in Greenwood, but, simultaneously was almost a morbid paradox, with what would be elegant patterns were twisted and dark. He approached a throne, again, every similar to what one would find in Mirkwood, but twisted like a trees corpse. He moved over to it and sat down gracefully, clipping both myself and Azog to the throne, thankfully beside each other. I lie down next to my soul mate and lick him affectionately, as close to kissing as I can in my feline form.

We are forced to stay there all day, and we are fed only once, the hind quarter of some game animal. I talk quietly to Azog, fearful of angering your captor. We talk about small things. Azog and I already know about each other, everything from our childhoods to our favourite colours. Instead, I opt to talk Tenebrae and Lunam. Azog? I begin.

Mhmmm… he hums in reply.

How long are wolves in-pup for? I ask, unsure of where I really wanted the conversation to go.

About sixty days, my pet. Why? He looks over at me, curiosity written all over his face.

Well, I think she wanted it as a surprise, but Lunam is in-pup, she has been since the night we lifted your curse, they figured we would be married and start a family anyway, so they – um – started their own. She must be due soon. I say, stifling a yawn, I had not realised how fast the day had went. I suddenly hear Pharom yell, "IF YOU ARE LYING TO ME, I SWEAR I WILL BRING UPON YOU SO MUCH PAIN YOU WILL BEG FOR DEATH!" I grimace at the thought of such a cruel punishment and feel Azog shift uncomfortably beside me. I rumble reassuringly to him, before I realise who Pharom is threatening. It is none other than Zargulg, the orc who nearly made my life a misery, had it not been for Azog. "No your highness, I would never lie to you," he says, his calm façade cracking. I decide to stir him up, oh really Zargulg, never? He jumps, startled by my voice.

"What's wrong, cat got your tongue?" Pharom asks, his face twisting into a sadistic smile.

"Nothing your majesty," Zargulg stammered. I chuckle, causing him to look at me.

Why Zargulg, what. A. Surprise. I say. He lunges at me and you stand up quickly, baring my teeth. "You. Are. Dead. So is Azog. The elves killed you," he screeches, anger seeping out of him. I move forward as far as the chain allows. I feel as though I want, no, need to tear out his throat. You nearly made my life a living hell. You wanted to use me and you just assume your own leader is dead without any proof! I say with an ear-splitting roar. I see Zurgulg back away, and I feel more confident. "Now look you worthless pile of ossa. You've made my pet angry," Pharom says, but I feel as though the anger is directed at me as opposed to him, "Go drill your soldiers or something, just get out of my sight." The orc scurries in fear of either myself or Pharom, although I'm not sure who. I settle back down next to Azog, Why did you do that? He asks.

I don't know, I – I was just so mad and I just did, I say, chuffing at my own stupidity. I know there will be hell to pay but for now, I lay my head in my paws.