a/n: welcome to the new follower and favoriter simplyxlovely.
Gyromice89, it's quite possible it was 60 kilos, they didn't weigh it. Needless to say, the next day after they'd gone, the elves were scratching their heads about the missing tp.
"Holly?" came Fili's disembodied voice in the darkness of the room. And his hand on her shoulder, shaking her awake.
"Aye?" she asked. She wasn't sure when she started using that word in a serious manner and not mocking.
"It's almost light out," he said softly.
"What's your point?" she asked.
"If you want to bathe and dress, I suggest you wake up," he said. "Uncle says we leave at first light. Remember?"
"Damn," she said and sighed. Even though she'd tried to go to bed early, she had been persuaded to stay up a little bit later.
She pulled that persuasion a little bit closer to her and ran her hand down his naked back. Fili squirmed and chuffed under her hand.
"Are you sure it's bathing and dressing you're thinking about, Love?" she asked as she moved her thigh. She could feel his erect member pressed against her. Fili chuffed again and moved against her.
"I might be thinking of something else," he purred. "Something more exciting than a bath."
"I'd beg to differ," she said and gasped as Fili's palm came in contact with her breast. Then his warm breath against that same flesh. Holly moaned. His tongue flicked her nipple, then warm lips closed around it.
"Damn it, you're a fast learner," she said softly.
"Thank you, Love," he said and grinned up at her. He kissed his way to the other breast and then up to her collarbone.
He settled between her thighs and she opened them wider for him.
Fili had also learned that coupling was much easier for him if Holly was dwarrowdam-size, which she was now. Holly had learned that being dwarrowdam-size was better for sleeping with Fili's arms around her and snuggled up tight against him.
A little clumsily, Fili positioned himself and slid in slowly. Impaling her, sinking in. He chuffed softly and withdrew. Holly moaned and wrapped her legs around him, holding him tightly. Her arms wrapped around him and her hand slid into his hair.
Fili had taken his braids out sometime in the night and his hair fell wild around them. Surrounding them in a curtain of gold. Holly pulled him down to her and kissed him hard and deep. Her tongue matching the thrust of his hips. Fili groaned and quickened his pace. Panting. Reaching for completion.
When it came, he collapsed on her, breathless. Holly held him and traced her fingers on his hot sweaty skin.
"I love you," she whispered into his hair.
"I love you, too," he said softly.
They lay there for a few minutes. Fili reluctantly moved from her, his softened flesh leaving her and she was sad to feel its absence. A void.
"We should bathe," Fili said as he sat on the edge of the bed and absently scratched his stomach.
"We should," she said. "Do you think we can make it through without making love again?"
Fili chuckled. "Probably not," he said and grinned down at her. "You go first."
Holly sighed and swung her legs off the bed. She leaned into him and kissed him a final time before leaving the bed. She gathered the white tunic and buff trousers she'd been wearing and put them on.
Fili watched as she dressed and left the room with a final look back at him over her shoulder. They shared a smile.
Holly got to bathe alone for approximately four minutes before Fili joined her. He sank into the tub without permission. A grin on his face and an erect piece of flesh between his legs.
"You just couldn't control yourself," she said without anger. Fili grinned and stole the soap.
They shared another round of passionate coupling. Water splashed out of the tub. And it eventually got cold before they climbed out and dried off.
The two couldn't seem to part long enough to get dressed.
"I don't want to get back on the road," Holly said between kisses.
"Ah, nor do I," Fili admitted again for the thousandth time. "But we must."
"At least we'll be sharing the same pony again," she said as she parted from him and slipped on a pair of the loose underwear she'd been given.
"Aye," he said and nodded. He did the same but watched while Holly dressed. She'd gone back to being her own size again. Much to Fili's chagrin. He would like to ride with dwarrowdam-Holly one day. But today was not the day.
A big breakfast had been set out for them, to which Holly and Fili had arrived late. But they still ate well. Holly gathered what was left of the bacon and biscuits into a couple of napkins for later.
The elves had given them supplies. Dried meats and fruits, flour, salt, sugar, and spices. Anything that wouldn't spoil.
They had also put out some odd bread for them, but Bombur didn't take any of it. Holly had asked what it was, since it lie untouched on the platter.
"It is lembas," the elf nearby said when asked. "Travelling bread."
"Oh," she replied and frowned, eyeing it. It was cut in large squares and wrapped in leaves.
"One bite can fill a grown man's belly for an entire day," the elf mentioned when Holly didn't say anything more.
"Well... it's better than not eating, I reckon," she replied as she continued to eye the bread.
"Much better," the elf replied. "Shall I help you?"
"Yes, please," she said and nodded. They had put all ten squares of the stuff into two sacks.
And that is how her backpack had become heavier and fuller than was probably comfortable. But she had strapped it onto the pony's saddle. She knew she would have to do a little more finagling of her belongings to make it comfortable.
"Lass, yer wanted," it was Dwalin that brought her attention around to what was happening and not Rivendell. She would miss it.
"Wanted?" she asked as Fili looked down at Dwalin, too.
"Aye," Dwalin nodded. "Thorin wishes te speak ter ye. Come."
Holly sighed and nodded. Dwalin turned, not helping her down. Fili took her hand to help her down. He squeezed it before he let it go. "It'll be okay," he said. "He hasn't said anything..."
Holly nodded and patted Fili's thigh before she turned to follow Dwalin.
Thorin turned from his pony when Dwalin arrived, Holly approached hesitantly.
He noted her unsure steps. The darjuna, Holly, was dressed more normally than usual. Heavy boots, brown leggings that were at least one size too large, a white shirt with lacings at the collar that was one size too small. But covered with her odd hooded short coat she always wore. [darjuna: strange woman, stranger, outsider]
He suspected the clothing came from the troll hoard.
Stepping forward he looked around. Too many ears. "Walk with me," he said. Holly knew it wasn't a request. She nodded and followed him, catching up to him a few paces later. Dwalin silently followed behind.
"I am hesitant to allow you to come on this journey," he said. He didn't look at her.
"I figured as much," she said and glanced over her shoulder at the silent Dwalin.
"Gandalf has told me that you might be useful yet," he said.
"Oh, he did?" she asked. "That's reassuring." It came out more sarcastic than she had meant it to sound.
Thorin began a chuckle and his face split into a grin, but he squelched both and schooled his features into his implacable mask of grump and he cleared his throat. Dwalin growled low in his throat, a somewhat menacing sound and Holly glanced back at him again.
"He tells me you will be most useful if you will allow yourself to be trained," he said.
"Ummm, about that," she said and Thorin looked up at her. "Gandalf has been saying that he would train me since I joined you. He has yet to do anything. We've shared about twenty words with each other."
"I see," he said and nodded. Dwalin humphfed his agreement.
"So if there's any resistance, it's from him, not me," she said. "I really would like to learn more about what I can do. So maybe I don't almost die next time."
"Yes, that would be of benefit to you," he replied.
"Or kill someone," Dwalin suggested.
"Only the bad guys," Holly said and shrugged.
"Even so," Dwalin said softly.
"He also hasn't been here very much, if you'll recall," she said. "He keeps going off and doing wizard things."
"I have noticed," Thorin said and nodded. He stopped walking and looked back over his shoulder down the path, beyond Dwalin. Then he turned, Dwalin stepped aside and waited. "Now let us speak of my nephew."
"Kili?" Holly asked and smirked as she turned to face the group down the path from which they'd walked.
Thorin chuckled. Actually chuckled. He also shot her a glance from the corner of his eye.
"I am fully aware of your relationship with Fili," he said.
"Oh, good, then I don't have to break the news," she said and bit her lip. He'd probably order her beheaded or something.
"I cannot say I fully approve, but I don't wish to interfere any more than necessary," he said. "He is my nephew but he is not my son. I do not know what Vili would have done."
"Vili?" she asked. "Fili's father?"
"Aye," he nodded. "I am also aware of the nature of the Baram. In that they do not have Ones and it is left up to their own desires."
"Oh, good, I don't have to tell you that part, either," she said.
"It's amazing what one dwarrow knows," Thorin said softly.
"Indeed," she quipped.
"Back to my point," he said. "What are your intentions toward Fili?"
"Ummm... whatever Fili's intentions are towards me, I reckon," she said and shrugged.
"If you live long enough to see the day, will you see yourself married to him?" he asked. Very straightforward was our Thorin.
"Yes, of course," she said and bit her lip. "I'd... had brief thoughts in that direction when I first saw him." She smiled and thought Thorin might have a small smile flick across his face, too. Dwalin had a frown, but then he was always frowning.
"Did you," he said and nodded. "That is good, then. I was afraid you'd need to be coerced."
"No coercion necessary," she said and sighed. "I'm a goner."
Thorin chuckled.
"He's really very handsome," she confessed.
"Is he?" Thorin asked. "He's considered on the runty side. Among dwarves, that is."
"No, he's... very nice to look at," Holly said and tried to find Fili at the back of the group, but she couldn't make him out. "Size isn't everything, it's what's inside that counts."
Thorin nodded. "Another thing..."
"Yes?" she turned to look at him.
"Balin has mentioned to me about your age difference between you and Fili," he said.
"Oh, that," she said and sighed.
"He has considered that you could possibly be worried," he said.
"I... I guess I am," she said.
Thorin cleared his throat. "I know very little of dwarrowdams," he began, looking a little uncomfortable. "But my sister, Dis, was ninety-nine when she birthed Fili."
"Holy Moses!" Holly blurted.
"It is not so old," Thorin said. "And she birthed Kili when she was one hundred four."
"Ugh," Holly said and shook her head.
"She lives, still," Thorin said. "She is one hundred eighty-one this year."
"Wow," Holly said and sighed. "Unbelievable. My own grandmother is eighty-seven."
Thorin smiled and looked down. "A mere child," he said and chuckled. "But you may want to speak with Gandalf on such matters as age. I do not know how old a wizard grows to be." He frowned. "We go back now."
"So... are you giving me permission to come?" she asked bringing them back to the original topic.
"Aye," he said and nodded. "As long as you're compliant to Gandalf's wish to train you."
"Of course," she said.
"Then you may come... as long as you don't cause trouble," he said. "And you must swear to do as I, Dwalin or Balin tell you. And you must say nothing of the quest to anyone we meet."
"Of course," she said and nodded. They reached the others.
"Balin," Thorin said and motioned to Balin. Balin nodded and reached into his bag and pulled out a folded piece of something that looked like paper but was thicker. He also pulled out a small pot of ink and a short quill. He brought them both over to Thorin and Thorin gave the paper to Holly.
Taking it, she unfolded it and eyed it. It was fancy writing, unlike any font she'd seen. She strained and looked up at Thorin.
"Can ye not read, lass?" Balin asked, eyes wide.
"I can read," she said. "But this is odd, give me a moment." She bit her lip as she tried to make sense of it. Words looked familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Dots over the 'A's. Odd 'D's and 'L's. Very flowy and flowery.
It was a contract. It said they would not be held responsible if she should die on the journey or the end quest. Death by dragon was a threat. Also goblins and wargs.
"What's a warg?" she asked as she looked up from the contract.
"Big nasty beasts," Dwalin said. "Like a giant wolf but with more teeth and not as smart. The orcs ride them."
"Oh," she said and nodded. They hadn't seen any wargs in the attack. She continued reading.
Death by incineration, etc. She frowned. "Well, at least you'll see to my funeral services," she said and shook her head. "So very thoughtful. I'd like a pyre or a Viking funeral boat, if you would." She took the quill from Balin and he uncapped the inkpot.
"Viking funeral boat?" Dwalin asked and frowned.
"Ah... put me in a boat and shoot flaming arrows at it," she said and shrugged.
Dwalin looked thoughtful as he nodded. Holly went back to the contract and quill.
"With all the magic and stuff that goes on around here," she said eyeing the quill and pot. "I'm surprised no one's invented a ballpoint pen."
"A what?" Balin asked.
"It's a pen... that you don't have to dip into the ink," she said. "It's got the ink inside it." And she ran her finger along the shaft of the quill.
Balin blinked up at her and his mouth formed an 'O' as he thought about that.
Holly shrugged and sloppily put the quill to the contract and signed it. She flapped it around to dry it before she handed it back to Balin.
"Anything else?" she asked.
"Nay, lass," Balin said. "That will be all." Thorin nodded and turned. Balin went back to his pony, Dwalin followed and headed to his own pony.
"Rude," Holly muttered softly and walked back to Fili.
"What was that? What happened?" Fili asked as Holly mounted behind him.
"Oh, not much," she said. "We went for a little walk. He said I could come along if I would train with Gandalf."
"But you'd planned to do that," Fili said and frowned.
"Aye, I told Thorin that," she said. "So I signed a contract."
"Aye?" Fili asked and smiled. "Is he cutting you in to the share?"
"Oh, I don't know, probably not," she said and shrugged. "I didn't read anything about a share."
"Oh," Fili said. "Well, I'll give you some of mine."
"You'd better," she said. "If we... if we survive, I'm sure you'll expect me to marry you."
"Well, of course," he said and squawked when Holly hugged him tightly from behind.