Announcement: What the Future Brings has been translated into French by Nimiria, which you can find here: s/10582317/1/Ce-que-le-futur-apporte. It's so well done, and I encourage everyone to please follow/favourite it, even if you don't speak French, just to show appreciation of this phenomenal work.
I own nothing but the Futurians.
Thorin, son of Thrain, King Under the Mountain, sat soaking his aching muscles in a steaming bath alone in his room in Rivendell, his long hair unbraided and floating in the water around him. There were lilac petals in the water, and he wondered where the elves found lilac petals in winter. The scent reminded him of Wren, who always seemed to smell like the sweet purple flower. Maybe she had pressed them into her clothes or kept dried flowers from summer.
They had arrived late that afternoon on their journey back to Erebor from Bree. It was the first time he'd found himself truly alone in weeks, and he disliked it greatly, which surprised him even more greatly. He found he missed Wren, the Healer from Bree, and his future wife. He'd thought he would enjoy having a moment to himself, but as soon as the door had shut behind him to his room, loneliness had set in. He wasn't accustomed to the feeling.
Regardless, he was enjoying soaking in the hot water. He was used to bathing once a week, and it had been several weeks since he'd been able to. The streams they passed on their road back to Erebor were frozen in mid winter, and so bathing opportunities had been few.
His thoughts strayed to when he last saw Wren, at dinner. She had been deeply engrossed in conversation with Elrond. It had been quickly established that while Elrond and Thorin had nothing to talk about, Wren and Elrond had a great deal to discuss. They discussed at length Elven healing methods, a topic of great interest to them both. They'd become engrossed to the point where they'd lost track of time over the dinner, and Elrond hadn't even acknowledged Thorin's presence during the meal.
Thorin had been horribly jealous the entire dinner, which was also uncharacteristic of him. He'd never been in a relationship where he would have cause to be jealous. His attachments had always been open ended.
He didn't know how to manage feeling jealous. He dealt with it by trying to calmly watch his future wife as she spoke with the Elven lord, while enjoying the excellent cheese the elves had served. He was tiring of observing without touching her, but there was nothing to be done about it. He noticed she had a voracious appetite. She ate small bites like a bird, but he'd been delighted by how much she'd eaten in her delicate and precise way. He'd smiled at the thought and was reminded of another meal on the road.
They'd been camping, and she'd been sitting with Balin and Thorin by the fire. Kili had been sitting off to the side, sulking as usual, which Thorin had been finding irritating and was glad he did not have to face directly. They'd been eating fish, and she'd suddenly pushed a water skin into his hand, her fingers stroking his wrist slightly before she pulled away. She clearly expected him to drink the water.
He'd looked at her in surprise, and she'd also seemed shocked by her own actions, clearly realizing she'd just treated a grown dwarf, King Under the Mountain no less, as a child. She'd blushed a deep red, something he was noticing she did quite a bit and which he enjoyed quite thoroughly, often doing things on purpose just to make her blush. She'd rushed to explain herself then. "Fish have dark blood," she'd declared hastily, "so you need more water," her face still flaming. He'd chuckled and had lifted the skin to his mouth, emptying it completely, dramatically shaking it in the air afterwards to show her it was empty, that he'd been a good boy and had done what he was told. He'd heard Balin's quiet laughter at the scene as Wren had dropped her head back to her own meal. Thorin had smiled at his old friend who grinned back at him, both equally enthralled by her.
He laughed again at the memory as he settled deeper into the water. He rather enjoyed this directive maternal way of being she had, the way she had of patting his shoulder or stroking his arm lovingly. He'd not been cared for in such a way except when he was quite young, having to grow up rather quickly after Smaug's attack. He didn't think he would like it, but somehow when Wren was taking charge of him he had no desire except to comply, if for no other reason than that it brought her such pleasure.
She truly delighted him. He loved her deeply, but he also genuinely liked her. She made him laugh and he was never safe from surprise when she was around, always making him take pause with an unusual perspective on things or her unusual treatment. She seemed much older than her years, although he was painfully aware that he was far more advanced in age than she was. He was starting to feel old, had aches that didn't go away quickly. He wondered if she felt as though she was marrying an old dwarf.
He realized that he'd only had two months to get to know Wren, and at that they were hardly courting. He had been her patient at the time, and she'd maintained a detached distance from him for most of the time he was requiring her care. His nephews had thought he was insane when he'd told them the story of their meeting and that he intended to seek out a healer he hardly knew seven years ago. Thorin then realized that the same could be said of her. When he'd been in search of her, he'd only hoped he would find her, unattached. However, he hadn't considered that she had been waiting for him after only caring for him for two months as her patient. He laughed again. They made quite the absurd pair indeed, both having faith that the other would return into their lives after such a brief encounter.
He noticed that she looked at him differently now. She'd always seemed cool and detached before, and he now realized she had been guarding her feelings. But now he caught beautiful loving expressions on her face, and her eyes truly shone with affection when she looked at him. He often couldn't help but wink at her at times like this, delighting particularly in how she would blush when he did.
His mind wandered as the image of Wren's blush lingered in his memory, and he recalled that Kili had not been at the meal that night. Kili had been shown to his chamber upon arrival and had not been seen by Thorin since. Thorin had to admit he was glad Kili had not made an appearance. He was beginning to look sickly and was causing alarm. Thorin wasn't sure if Kili would have been able to maintain any sort of composure that evening as he seemed hardly able to conduct himself appropriately at all these days.
Kili was like a son to him and might be the closest thing to a son he'd ever have. He wasn't sure that he and Wren would be able to have children. He'd never heard of a human and dwarf conceiving a child. He knew Wren likely had similar concerns, considering her experience as a midwife. It made him sad that he might not ever be able to give Wren children of her own.
But Kili really was like a son to him. Since Kili's father had died when Dis was still carrying Kili, Thorin had been the only father figure Kili had ever really known. Kili had looked to Fili this way as well, but a brother wasn't the same.
Being in the bath thinking of raising Kili reminded him of a time when he was bathing Fili and Kili as young children. They usually bathed together as keeping the two in the same place under supervision was the easiest way to prevent disaster. They loved their baths, and usually these times were filled with laughter and a large wet mess.
Kili had tended to play in the water more than Fili did. Fili understood he had a job to do when he was in the bath, which was to get clean, while Kili wanted to splash and play with toys Bofur had made them. Fili had been quite a serious child, and Thorin had always been secretly grateful Fili had his brother to lighten him up. Fili started to have more fun as he got older, but as a child he'd been very reserved, bordering on severe, although always gentle with his younger brother.
During this particular instance, Fili had been sitting in the water, as he always did, washing or playing calmly with his boat. This one time that came to mind, Kili had for whatever reason simply unable to tolerate being in the water. Thorin had tried everything to coax Kili into the water and was at his wit's end, resolving instead to bath the thrashing child as quickly as possible in whatever water still remained in the tub. It had been over a week since Kili's last bath, and he was completely filthy so there was no way they could skip the bath that evening.
Kili had been screaming and hollering, and Thorin had been sure that they could hear his wails all the way to Bree. This was something Kili had never grown out of, he'd always been loud, whereas Fili always maintained a quieter demeanor, patient, and soft spoken, although unlike his younger brother Fili had an intensity to him that needed to be checked at times.
During this bath, Fili had suddenly picked up the bath brush and smacked Kili's bottom with it. Kili, who worshipped his older brother, had been so surprised he'd stopped crying immediately. Thorin had been stunned and stared at Fili in shock. It was completely uncharacteristic of Fili to be violent. Even though he was excelling in his weapons training, which he'd begun as soon as he'd been able to lift a wooden sword, he approached it respectfully, seeing violence as a means to an end that should only be chosen if no other option existed
"Fili! Why would you do such thing?" Thorin had cried, meanwhile not missing an opportunity to quickly bathe the still stunned Kili, who was now sucking his thumb in silent shock.
"You told me when I am king to only use force when all else failed. You'd tried everything already. This was the next logical step, uncle." Fili had surveyed his brother curiously. "It appears to have worked."
Thorin's beard twitched at the memory. He was tortured seeing Kili go through what he was. He only ever did things to help Kili, to ensure his happiness, however misguided his efforts might be. No one knew it but he was worried sick about Kili. He knew he appeared angry, and he often was angry and annoyed with Kili, but at times he was aware that his anger and annoyance was a result of his fear that he was losing his dear beloved nephew, the boy he'd raised since infancy and had done everything possible to protect from harm.
Kili only ever wanted to be loved. Thorin had a hard time being careful not criticizing him, but hurting him was like kicking a puppy. Kili only wanted to please. Criticism seemed to roll of Fili's back, but Kili seemed to crumble under even the slightest weight. It was for this reason that Thorin had not wanted Kili to come on the quest. Kili had been heartbroken when Thorin had told him he would not be coming. Fili was going, and Kili assumed he would be too.
Dis had been pleased with Thorin's decision. She'd understood why Fili had to go, but she saw no reason for Kili to not stay home and stay safe. Not that Kili wasn't able to take care of himself. In fact, in battle he was deadly, beyond capable. He'd demonstrated his skill repeatedly in training, as an escort for merchants, and in small skirmishes they'd encountered.
His skill with a bow was unequalled, and he nearly rivalled his brother with a sword. His insecurity drove him to excessive perfectionism, always afraid he wouldn't be good enough. Few knew this about him as he outwardly came across as light, carefree, and even irresponsible. Thorin suspected many saw him as the reckless spoilt younger heir of Durin who'd been allowed to do whatever he liked, always getting into trouble, and getting the older heir into trouble with him. In ways he indeed had been over indulged and over protected. Dis and Thorin held Fili to such high standards that they almost made up for it with Kili.
Maybe that's why Kili had such a thirst to prove himself. Thorin remembered one argument with his youngest sisterson many years ago when Kili had angrily said that all Thorin and Dis saw was Fili, Thorin's perfect heir, and that Kili was just a disappointment, not good enough, so he had to be treated like a baby. Thorin had been a stunned and couldn't believe that Kili thought this. Thorin had tried to explain that he and Dis thought no such thing and only wanted to protect Kili. They couldn't with one child so why not with the other. Kili had stormed from the room, shouting, "I'm just as good as he is!"
Regardless, when the time for the quest came, Fili would hear none of Kili's staying behind. Where he went, his brother went, without argument. Thorin had been taken aback by his eldest nephew's sudden defiance of him. He saw the determination in him of the king he would one day become, standing strong for what he saw as right. His normally mild mannered nephew had been furious even at the suggestion that Kili stay back. If only he could for Kili. If only Kili had someone to show him how worthwhile he was.
It was worse that Kili knew exactly what was happening to him. Everytime Thorin looked in Kili's eyes he felt as though he was looking at a drowning man who had realized he was beyond saving, a chilling look of terror and sadness in his eyes. If only Reese hadn't left. Thorin was sure she would have been able to keep Kili safe, kept him afloat.
Reese Jacobson was even more complicated than Thorin had realized. Thinking of female dwarves, his sister was complicated. She was stubborn and angered quickly. But dwarves weren't usually complicated the way Reese was. He'd seriously misjudged how hidden she kept parts of herself. Reese had depths she'd protected everyone from seeing until she was pushed.
He had truly through that Reese and Kili would be bonded for life. They fit together perfectly. Watching them together was like watching a perfectly choreographed dance. They moved as though they were always connected, always aware of what the other was doing. It was beautiful. There was no other word to describe it.
He had been furious with her for her impulsivity and for just leaving without a word. It was a childish way to deal with things. She was a mother herself and there was no excuse to act that way. He'd been so angry with Reese he probably hadn't even seen to Kili as he should.
He had to admit to himself that he also missed Reese. He considered her a friend, and he had few of those. He'd been delighted about the possibility of her marrying Kili. And it was likely for this reason that he could see her point of view, understood how panicked she must have been. He'd actually been irritated with himself for not anticipated her move, but he'd been preoccupied with the quest and had assumed that she would stay her course, as a dwarven woman might have done. She'd been right when she'd told him their lack of commitment was the reason they worked together, and he should have known she'd take flight.
She'd been different when he'd seen her in Bree. There was a heaviness to her, a sadness, as though she was carrying a burden. Her gaze had been distant, guarded. She'd never looked at him that way before. And there was something else too. A cautiousness, defensiveness. He'd surprised himself when he overreacted when he'd grabbed her collar. He would never raise a hand to a woman, but his relationship with Reese was different. She was like family to him now, and in ways he treated her the way he would his nephews. But he'd been even more surprised when she'd cowered protectively over herself, clearly afraid of him, moving to a safe place in the room far away from him. The Reese he knew would have reacted angrily. She might not have outright fought him, but she would have at least struggled. Unable to determine the cause of this behaviour, or if he was just imagining things, he dismissed the thought disinterestedly.
He considered her words when he saw her and knew they held the weight of truth. He had put Kili in harms way. She had been foolish and childish, but she hadn't done anything that would warrant the type of reaction Kili was having. Thorin was supposed to protect him, and he hadn't realized keeping Kili safe meant emotionally in battle, not physically. Few dwarves reacted to battle the way Kili had, having nightmares and turning to excessive drink. But Thorin knew Kili wasn't typical. He'd been unprepared.
He wasn't sure he had made the right decision keeping them apart. Was he right that she would be harmful to Kili? Thorin had been so angry, so protective of Kili, and so riddled with his own guilt of Kili's state that he hadn't thought his decision through. But what was he to do now? If he told Kili now, Kili would be furious with him. But was it possible that even now Reese could bring Kili back from where no other could follow.
She seemed to want to be with Kili, though. She said she loved him. Said that it would be good for Kili to be with someone who loved him. Was she right? He doubted it. However, one thing he knew about Reese Jacobson was that she was no fool. She may be blinded by her own past and insecurities, but she wasn't stupid. But he'd made the mistake of interfering once before by forcing those two together, and he wasn't going to make the mistake again. He would do his best to undo what he'd done before by keeping them far apart from each other.
It was ironic to him, in a way, that he was trying so hard to keep them separate considering it was because of them that he'd begun to consider searching for Wren. Seeing Kili and Reese together, even deciding that they should be together, had made him wonder why he was being so rigid with himself if he did not have the same expectations of Kili. The answer of course was obvious that he had to hold himself to the highest standard as the future King Under the Mountain, which he hoped was a burden Kili would never have to bear . But seeing how well they fit together, how they made each other better, stronger, had made him second guess his decision to question Mahal in making Wren his One.
His thoughts remained on his future wife. His wonderful tantalizing future queen. He groaned as just the thought of her made his cock harden. He felt his skin stretch slightly as his cock became fully erect, standing above the water.
He realized for the first time in weeks he was alone and could relieve himself of some of the agony he'd been in since leaving Bree. His erections were starting to become painful, and he had to go to great lengths to hide them. He'd caught Balin smirking at him knowingly a couple of times.
It was important to him that Wren remain untouched until their wedding night. He had never cared about such things before, but everything was different with Wren. He'd never even thought himself to be the marrying kind, but the battle and nearly dying had changed that. He'd realized how lonely his life was, how isolated he was, and how being so closed off from others weakened him.
His erection was quickly becoming painful, worsened by the thought of his wedding night, as he brought his hand to himself for the first time in weeks, his bent knees falling open to give him access to himself. He knew he would be quick, grateful finally for the release. He was efficient as he palmed himself, not even bothering to touch his sac, and only needed three pulls before he was catching his seed with the towel he'd draped over the bathtub side. He barely made a noise, only whimpering slightly as he came. He hardly felt any relief as he tossed the towel aside and laid back in the tub, but some relief was better than nothing.
His future wife was the most enticing woman he'd ever seen in his life. She wasn't traditionally beautiful, but to him she was endlessly appealing. He never found her unattractive. The outfit she'd chosen to travel in was only worsening his state. A vision of her legs clad in her black boots and trousers, her thin but shapely thighs and her round pert bottom. The coat she wore was supposed to cover her bottom, but it clung to her in an enticing way. Often he found himself riding behind her on his pony, his eyes glued to her bottom as she chatted cheerfully with Balin.
He groaned as he thought of Wren's bottom. It was the perfect size to fit in his hand. The things he'd imagined doing to that bottom of hers. He'd begin by cupping it while she rode him. Then he'd explore her with his tongue. He particularly wanted to run his tongue along the little fold of skin where her thighs and bottom met. And then he'd put his mouth on her, from behind, tonguing her small nub, drinking in her juices, circling puckered hole. He fully intended to ravish her glorious backside when the time came for them to lie together.
Thorin shifted at the thought of his hands on her bottom, cupping and spreading it as she rode him, his fingers pressing into the folds as they stretched around his cock while it slid into her. He wanted to watch as he stretched her, as she widened to take in his girth.
He laughed aloud and stared astonished as his cock rose from the water again, stiff and already leaking precum as though he had not had a release only moments before. He brought his hand to himself. He stroked his balls lazily, neglecting his erection for now, intended to draw this climax out more enjoyably, as he allowed his mind to wander over Wren's delectable body, lingering on his favourite parts. Her collarbones. Her adorable tiny feet that he'd seen on occasion when she'd removed her boots to warm them by the fire. Her delightful breasts.
Her breasts were so small and perfect. His mouth actually watered as he imagined taking them into his mouth. He wondered if they were sensitive, if she would enjoy his running his tongue around small peaks.
He usually enjoyed larger breasts, but Thorin imagined Wren's small breasts could fit perfectly in his hand as he ran his thumb over the tips gently, and he craved to touch them. He had lost several nights of sleep wondering if her peaks were as red as her lips.
His movements quickened as he tugged at his engorged cock, imagining himself straddling her chest, his slick cock sliding between her small perfect breasts before he came, dusting her throat with his seed like pearls strung across her neck and chest.
He tried to imagine that his hand was hers, her cool strong hand stroking him gently. He couldn't convince himself, though, leaving him disappointed. His mind shifted instead to another image, that of her lying below him as he thrust into her, her wild orange hair splayed on the bed like a pillow, a red blush creeping down her neck and breasts as they swayed with each snap of his hips, as he lost himself in her burning gaze.
He was surprised that he found this image so powerful. He normally preferred taking a woman from behind, finding it endlessly arousing, but he wanted to watch Wren's face as she fell apart before him, wanted her to see his love for her. His desire for her was so great that if she only allowed him to bed her twice a day, so much less than what he truly wished for, he'd be satisfied. He knew those of the Race of Men didn't have the insatiable hunger of dwarves and had prepared himself, in fact wasn't even concerned, for having to curb his desires to such infrequent beddings.
His tastes and experiences were varied, but he found he had no desire to subject Wren to anything she might not expect. It wasn't that she was cold. He expected her appetite would be quite healthy for a woman of Men. He only felt no need to explore unique tastes.
He'd be more than satisfied simply happy being able to lie next to her each night, wake next to her each morning, rule his kingdom with her. She would be his partner in all things, and he could ask for no greater pleasure in life. It was with this thought that he finally climaxed the second time, unexpectedly, as he quickly grappled for the discarded towel. He collapsed back into the tepid water, still unsatisfied but feeling he could manage. For now.
Thorin rose from the bath. The room filled with the sudden thunderous sound of the water streaming from his body. Stepping from the tub, he decided it was too late to ask for it to be removed and would leave the water until morning. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he saw to his hair, drying it with a towel, carefully combing it, and weaving the braids on either side of his face. He would finish rebraiding the rest in the morning. He hadn't been able to engage in this ritual on the road, one he looked forward to sharing with Wren when they were married. For the first time in weeks he felt and smelled clean. Feeling sleep edging along the corners of his vision, he slid between the sheets of his bed, his hand snaking under his pillow to grip a dagger as he succumbed to the night.