CHAPTER 36

I looked over at the now bright sunlight streaming in through the gap in the curtains and sighed hugely, not wanting to leave this room and the accompanying post-coital bliss. At the same time, I was also very aware that if we didn't surface soon, people would come looking for us and then everyone would know that I'd been banging one of Durin's heirs. Out of wedlock, I might add.

Holy motherfucking crapola, I'd completely forgotten about that. Fili was a prince. So what does that make me?

Meh, there'd be time to talk about that later. Fili sat up, stretching and sighing, chest muscles rippling, hair all messy and cascading down his back. Oh, my god.

He relaxed and placed a hand on my thigh, rubbing gently. 'Would you like me to braid your hair again?' He asked almost shyly, cheeks turning a little pink as he smiled tenderly at me, eyes boring into mine.

'Yes, I like it when you braid my hair.' I said quietly, remembering fondly back to the first time he braided my hair, in Rivendell. It seemed like an age ago.

'I'd like to place one of my beads in your hair, too, if I may. My father made them for me when I was a dwarfling, so it would mean a lot to me if you wore one.'

I momentarily forgot how to breathe. He'd never mentioned his dad before, but I sensed that he didn't want to talk about it – I knew it was a sad story. Whatever he wants, I thought. I don't care what it is, whatever he wants, he gets. 'Okay,' I whispered.

He pulled me on top, to straddle him, and sat himself back against the bed frame. Wordlessly, he dragged a small amount of hair from just behind my left ear, working deftly but stopping every now and then to stroke my skin – my arm, my collarbone, my cheek. He pulled one of his own metal beads from his hair and threaded it onto my new braid, once again securing the braid with a hair-knot, before turning me to face away from him and braiding my whole hair again.

I felt the bead, which now sat just behind my ear, sliding my fingers over it and feeling for the first time that I truly belonged in Middle Earth, with him, now that I wore something that was his, something that was precious to him. I smiled hugely and he smiled back, grabbing onto my sides with his wide hands, running them up and down my flanks. The feeling I got when he touched me - that hot, tingly rush – I hoped to never stop feeling that feeling.

I watched furtively as Fili got dressed, guts squirming at just how bloody hot he was. He cradled my head in his hands and kissed me gently, before leaving to go downstairs, shutting the door quietly behind him, and I sat for a moment to reflect. This whole process of betrothal was simpler than I had imagined, but maybe that's just what it's like when you meet someone that you just know is special right off the bat.

Getting up, I found some clothing in the box at the end of the bed that I assumed was meant for me. A dress; pretty enough, but made obviously for a child of the race of men. It fit, though, hem falling to just below my ankles, and I also took a shawl to wrap around me to ward off the cold. I grumbled to myself. I hated dresses, but buggered if I was going to put my still damp travelling clothes back on. I pulled some socks and my boots on, and emptied my bag of all the wet items, placing them out in a patch of sun to dry. The Elvish healing book was in surprisingly good condition considering it had been for a nice long swim, but hey, that's how good elves make their shit.

I took a deep breath as I left the room, feeling nervous for some reason. The dining room from the evening before was mostly clear, with a table set up to the side with food for breakfast. The sun shone through the stained glass windows, an opulent abode considering it was Laketown. I was only one of a few from the company who were there in the dining room – Fili, Kili, Gandalf, Thorin, Dori, Balin and Dwalin.

'Morning!' I said brightly, stopping next to Kili, who turned to me and grinned wickedly. 'You're very happy this morning, did anything special happen last night?' He asked loudly, feigning ignorance. Every eye in the room was now on me.

Buggering hell, Kili. I promptly turned purple, so even if I did manage to keep a straight face, it didn't freaking matter. Kili guffawed loudly, shoulders hunched and face screwed up. I took a moment to notice that his skin looked rather grey…

Thorin walked up to me, wordlessly turning my head to the side and inspecting the bead. My heart started to pound. I looked at Fili, silently begging him with my eyes for some help. He just looked at me and shrugged, a hint of a grin on his face.

I didn't need to worry. I flipped my eyes back to the king, but his expression was gentle. Thorin placed both hands on my shoulders and leaned forward, kissing me on the forehead. Behind him, Fili folded his arms and smiled as he watched the exchange, the moment when Thorin's approval became official. I grinned like a loon.

The Master of the Town and his stooped assistant entered the room later, as we sat having breakfast not long after. 'Good morning, king and company.' He bellowed, arms aloft. I recoiled slightly in my chair as his gaze turned to me, and he ran his tongue over his teeth. He turned to Thorin, asking bluntly, 'you'll be off on the morrow, I suppose.'

'Yes,' said Thorin, 'once we have taken rest and gathered supplies.' It was a subtle request, and I definitely didn't imagine the Master looking displeased at having to cater for us and kit us out, even if it was, politically, the necessary thing to do if he wanted his 'share' of Erebor's treasure.

'You will want an early departure, to reach the Mountain in time.' He said. 'Boat would be the quickest.' Every word he uttered spoke just how much he wanted us out of his greasy hair. No such thing as helping people in need, at least not in the Master's eyes. I wondered how this scumfuck of a human being ever achieved such a lofty position. Poor Laketown.

He clapped and servants entered, carrying wooden boxes packed with supplies – food, weapons, clothing. 'We hope you will find things in here suited to your tastes, my soon-to-be-wealthy neighbours.' The Master boomed jovially, pulling his belt up over his belly and marching out. He was smug, and I hated it.

And I hated having to accept his help, because it all came with obvious strings attached. I reluctantly joined the rest of the company in sifting through the Master's gifts. He had certainly spared no expense. I took another set of clothing, fur-lined cloak included, some female undergarments that I would probably need, a quiver of arrows and a crossbow. Fuck yeah. I left the dresses and jewellery. Some consort I was going to make…

Fili looked a little disbelieving at just how happy I was with my new crossbow, but he didn't say anything. I had asked one of the servants if there was a place to practice with the crossbow, and they'd shown me a long courtyard with a man-sized target made of reeds and grass at the end. Perfect.

I placed my new possessions on the ground and got to work figuring out how to load a crossbow. I'd only ever seen one in movies, but turns out it wasn't that hard, especially with the mechanical draw. The hardest bit was hitting the target. The first arrows flew past the reed-man, embedding themselves in the wood that walled off the courtyard. It was only when I relaxed, softening my grip on the stock and breathing deeply, releasing the arrow on the exhale that my accuracy started to improve.

I stayed for a long time in the courtyard, firing arrow after arrow, collecting them when my quiver was empty and doing it all again. It was important to me, to have a skill other than healing, especially since swordplay never really came to fruition. Balin said he would teach me, but we hadn't really had the opportunity. And so I practiced, alone, with my new crossbow.

Snow had begun to fall again, but I didn't notice until I started feeling cold. One more round, I said to myself, and loaded an arrow, lifting the crossbow to eye height.

'Back arm up higher,' I voice sounded behind me, suddenly, making me jump, crossbow almost slipping out of my arms. 'Jesus,' I let out, feeling my heart beat violently inside my chest.

Fili chuckled and walked over to me, turning my body physically back towards the target. 'Your back arm, well, your elbow, actually, it needs to be higher,' he said softly, placing a hand under my upper arm and lifting it further skyward. 'And shift your body sideways,' he added, gently grasping my waist and turning my body. 'Now you're ready.'

It was hard to concentrate with him lightly pressed against my back, breath dancing on the side of my neck, but the arrow found its mark in the centre of the reed-man.

'Very good,' Fili said as I turned to him, crossbow now dangling from one hand.

'Thankyou,' I said with a wide smile. 'Crossbows are fun.'

He sighed. 'Only ever a hobby; you will never see battle with your crossbow. I will never let that happen. I couldn't stand it.' His face was creased and full of angst.

'See, that thing that you're feeling now, that's how I would feel watching you go into battle.' I said, almost accusingly.

He looked at me and nodded. 'But it's what I do, Bonnie.'

'Yeah, I know.' I said, voice flat but resigned, bending down and placing the bow back with the rest of my new things.

I straightened up and looked at him. His dimpled, chiselled face still took my breath away, and the snowflakes glittered in his hair. He silently placed his hands on my waist and turned me around, pressing my back into the wooden wall before pressing himself against me. My breathing quickened.

'I've never seen you in a dress before, Bonnie. You look beautiful.'

What is he saying? That I look like crap every other day when I don't wear a dress?

Shut the fuck up, brain.

His hands roamed south, gripping the sensitive part where my legs joined my ass through the fabric. 'I really wish you weren't bleeding.' He whispered wistfully into my ear.

'So do I, Fili, so do I,' I murmured, as he kissed my neck, the scratchy feeling of his beard bringing up a flush of heat on my skin.

'Come. Let us rest. Tomorrow is an important day.' He said, pulling back.

Yes, Durin's Day. The day we've been waiting for. Onward and forward, Home awaits us.

Right, the next chapter it's off we go again.
I've been quite curious - about how you all picture Bonnie. I know I've given a basic description but it would be interesting to hear how she has 'manifested' inside your heads.
Thankyou and please review!