Chapter 35

Anne stood outside of Erebor at a discrete ledge midway up the mountain. It was a spot she and Fili had discovered during a walk. She looked over at the horizon and couldn't help but smile at the beautiful sunset, her curly golden locks were blowing around in the breeze freely. However there was much more behind her smile: namely her growing affection towards a certain Durin heir.

After the Ball, Anne and Fili had spent quite some time together by going for walks. While Anne did not wish to read too much into his quiet attentions towards her, her imagination still got carried away. Did he feel the same? Was he her One? Would they get married and have a troop of dwarflings? She knew she was thinking way too far ahead, however she couldn't help it. She had never felt like this before. Her over exuberant nature seemed to calm down in Fili's presence and he seemed to balance her out in the most perfect way.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Fili who cleared his throat upon approach. The moment Anne saw him she could tell something was wrong.

She stepped forward and looked on with concern. Of course her mind over reacted and went straight to the possibility that he wished to end their contact.

"Fili" she merely spoke his name scared of what he was going to say, nervously tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

"Anne" Fili replied, the simple name bringing a smile to his face.

"I am glad you came" she stated cautiously.

"Of course I have. I would not miss it. However I may not be free to meet for a little while"

"Why not" Anne said, trying to cover the disappointment and hurt, clearly expecting the worst.

"I assure you that it is not by choice. My uncle has gone away on a….short trip. He expects to be back within the week but in the meantime he has put me in charge".

Truthfully Fili wanted to tell Anne everything. That his uncle was on a crazy mission to return Sara to a dragon she was supposedly bonded with in the hope of saving her life. However this matter was top secret due to the inflammatory topic of dragons (he had previously chuckled to himself at the pun) so he was unable to say anything.

"Well I can live with that I suppose". She eyed him coyly with her big blue eyes.

Suddenly Anne couldn't help but wonder if the trip the King was taking involved Sara. The morning after the Ball, she had received a hurried note from Sara. In it, Sara had apologised for leaving without saying goodbye and explained that things had gotten out of control with the King. That he had asked to court her and she had declined. The whole situation did not make sense to Anne, as when she watched the King and her friend dance at the Ball, their feelings seemed clear. However she knew Sara, and understood that she would not make such a decision without good reason.

Was he escaping to mend a broken heart perhaps? Anne mused.

Breaking Anne out of her thoughts Fili extended his hand to hers. "Care to walk with me?" he asked.

"It would be my pleasure" she responded with a bright smile.

Once granted permission, Fili gently took her arm in his. They proceeded to walk side by side along the discrete ledge of the mountain overlooking the sunset.

With Sara safely in her room, Dwalin, Thorin and the guards sat at the small table and chatted quietly as they ate the supper. Once they were finished, Dwalin and the guards went straight to the outdoor shelter to get some sleep. However Thorin lingered. He lingered because he couldn't shake the feeling of protectiveness and concern over Sara. He stealthily poked his head inside her partially closed door to check on her. He couldn't help but smile when he heard the most dainty snoring sound he could have imagined come out of her mouth. Who knew snoring could be endearing? he mused. The moonlight streamed through the window and fell on her face like the most delicate silken veil. She looked so beautiful it made his heart clench. She also looked peaceful and happy to be home with the trace of a smile on her features. It made him feel equal parts happy and remorseful. He was happy she was indeed in her home, but remorseful that she had been forcefully removed from her house on his orders.

Thorin then became aware that the dwarrow would not appreciate him standing in her doorway at night watching her sleep. With his concern for her wellbeing temporarily satisfied, he quietly left the doorway and made his way outside to the shelter.

By the time Thorin had closed the ten pace distance from the cottage to the shelter, the guards were already tucked up under their fur covered bedrolls with full bellies. Meanwhile Dwalin stood outside the shelter looking expectantly at Thorin.

"So what is the plan" Dwalin stated bluntly, for he was never one to mince words with his friend.

"The plan exactly as I said earlier. We accompany Sara to the dragon den, reunite them, and leave peacefully".

"Peacefully? But it is a dragon" Dwalin looked at Thorin like he had grown a second head.

"Indeed it is. However this is about Sara's health. I will do not jeapardise her wellbeing. I have made that mistake once already and I will not make it again".

"Do you really trust that this dragon will not turn us into ash at the first opportunity?" Dwalin said incredulously.

Thorin sighed "Do I trust the dragon? Absolutely not. However I do trust Sara and that is more than enough for me". Thorin pleaded silently to his friend to understand this was something they must do.

Dwalin grumbled, not satisfied with Thorin's answer but unwilling to challenge him further at this stage. Thorin could have sworn he heard Dwalin mutter "Love really is blind" but he could not be sure.

The two dwarfs proceeded to enter the small shelter, lay down on their bedrolls and allowed sleep to claim them.

The next morning Sara woke up slowly to the sounds of birds outside of her window and rays of sunshine streaming down onto her bedsheets. The knowledge that her return home hadn't been a dream gave her a deep sense of peace. Still laying down, Sara rubbed her aching head and frailly tried to sit up. She felt utterly weak and exhausted. This frustrated Sara no end. She really needed to get to Raegan and fast.

Sara was about to attempt to get out of bed when there was a light knock on the door and Thorin lightly pushed the wooden door open. He wore his travelling outfit and was carrying a breakfast tray.

"Good morning" he said, blue eyes riddled with concern as he looked at her ghostly features. "We have already eaten and are ready to go. Here is your breakfast".

Thorin walked to Sara's bed and placed a tray in front of her with what looked like a cup of tea and a bowl of porridge with honey drizzled on top.

"Thank you" Sara said, allowing a smile to grace her features. "What is in the tea?" she said as she held the mug up to her nose and sniffed its contents.

"It is a herbal tea concoction that Kowen gave to me. He said it would give you some energy".

"Let us hope it works" Sara said quietly before taking a sip.

Sara couldn't help but reflect on just how sweet and attentive Thorin had been. Her rational side reminded her that his actions were too little too late, yet a deeper quieter part of her acknowledged that he was indeed making an effort and she liked it. However as always, Sara's rational side took over and reminded her to not get carried away. After all, nothing in reality had changed. He still hated dragons and she was still a Drakk Kazhunki. He had proclaimed his feelings toward her one minute and locked her up the next. She needed to proceed with great caution for how could she truly trust him?

The day's journey was much like the day previous. As the rest of the group were unfamiliar with where they were going, Sara had sat down with them and explained on a map where they needed to go. The dwarfs accepted the dwarrow's directions and left the cottage for the next part of the journey.

Sara was once again seated in front of Thorin. However this time she seemed more comfortable with the closeness. Thorin sensed that the dwarrow's unease had diminished as she wasn't as ridged as a plank when he sat behind her. This allowed him to enjoy the closeness that the ride brought them. He dared not read too much into the change in her demeanour though, for she was sick after all. He did not want to get his hopes up.

The road took they followed took them further into a forest. The trees seemed impossibly big, and yet the ground seemed impossibly green. Everywhere there seemed to be life, whether it was a butterfly, a rabbit or a bird.

Most of the ride that day was in silence, but again it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as the previous day. The High Guard were at work, so they kept conversation to a minimum, too busy paying attention to their surroundings for any potential threat. Dwalin and Thorin spent some time reminiscing on the battles they had fought, the enemies they had faced and the victories they had one. Of course they stayed away from the biggest tale of all, Smaug and the battle of five armies. After all, it was probably not the best story to recount considering they were about to come face to face with a dragon willingly.

Somewhere in the silence that day, Sara and Thorin made pleasant small talk about their childhoods. Sara explained how she was a "daddys girl" growing up, and shared a story of being a dwarfling and making it business to destroy every dress her mother made her wear. Thorin laughed at how even at a young age she was defying expectations and choosing her own path. Thorin then shared a story about how he used to tease Dis and play tricks on her. He recounted a particular incident where he put a frog in her bed. A deep rumble of a laugh left Thorin's chest when he recounted the shriek that could be heard throughout Erebor, and how Dis has never forgiven him to this day.

Dwalin watched the exchanges with interest.

Before long, the sun was starting it's downwards decline towards the horizon and they decided to stop and set up camp where they were. It was in a small clearing in the middle of the big green forest.

Thorin swung his leg behind him and dismounted gracefully from the horse. He raised his arms to Sara, one arm taking her hand and the other arm steadying her waist. With that, he helped her dismount. He internally grimaced at how unnaturally light she was for a dwarrow. As Sara slid down the side of the horse she let out a groan, for she was not used to riding a horse and her legs were paying the price.

Once they were all dismounted the dwarves set to work. Dwalin set up the shelter, Thorin chopped up firewood and lit the fire, and the guards took care of the horses and prepared the food. Sara sat with her arms crossed on a log, clearly annoyed with being so useless.

Maxon who was one of the guards soon finished his job and tentatively took a seat next to Sara. He was one of the very guards who had arrested her initially. Staring into the flames in front of him he quietly spoke.

"I want to apologise lass on behalf of us guards. We feel badly for how you were treated when we first met".

Sara was surprised at this admission and she looked at him in earnest.

"I do not begrudge you for your previous actions. After all, you were just following your orders".

Maxon nodded his head, feeling somewhat relieved.

Even though a good fire had been built, everyone was feeling the cold. The air was cold and thin which signalled an upcoming change in the seasons.

They all ate in companionable silence around the fire.

Thorin found his eyes were often drawn to Sara, watching her to make sure she was ok. However he also knew he was admiring her in the new light created by the fire. The gentle flicker and red glow of the flames seemed to allure Thorin's gaze to her even more. Every now and then Sara would catch Thorin looking at her, which made her blush despite herself. However in true defiant form she would raise her eyebrow challenging him, as if to say "what do you think you are looking at". Her challenge worked every time, as he would then avert his gaze, and stare blankly into the flames, trying to not look at her. She found his childlike reaction amusing, however she was not ignorant to what his eyes were saying, nor was she completely immune to his handsome features either.

After supper they all retired to their bedrolls. Sara's bedroll was on the end, then there was Thorin, followed by Dwalin and then the three guards. It was an uncomfortable situation for Sara who had never slept in such a close proximity to a male dwarf who was not family. Before Sara got in her bedroll, she made an obvious effort to push it as close to the shelter wall as possible, essentially trying to create as much space between her and Thorin as she could. However despite her efforts Sara was still well within his arm reach.

Before long, loud snores were coming from the other side of the small shelter while Thorin and Sara lay silently awake next to each other. Even though there was a respectable distance between the two, there was a charged electricity that they could both feel, the kind of sensation that could cause a body to betray a mind.

After a while Thorin spoke. "You are shivering" he quietly observed.

"I am not" Sara refuted, knowing it was an outright lie, but she did not wish to admit further weakness.

Thorin sighed. "Will you please save your stubbornness for another time and allow me to help?" He moved closer to give her his fur blanket, however an exasperated huff from her stopped him.

It took all of Sara's energy but she rolled over to face him. Her hazel eyes were narrowed accusingly in the firelight.

"I may be sick and weak in my bones, but do not think me feeble minded. I am fine" she said reproachfully through gritted teeth, emphasising every word.

"I would never make such a grave mistake to think you feeble minded... Have it your way then" Thorin responded, frustrated at her stubbornness.

"Indeed" she said with a huff and turned away from him again. She would not allow this unusual situation to get the better of her. She would not allow herself to be taken advantage of in this weakened state. She would not accept his furs. because one minute she would be covered in his furs… and the next? No. She would not allow herself to be wooed by the charms that Thorin was choosing to use, tempting as they were.

If Sara was honest with herself, she definitely was tempted by him. But she was also still hurt. She had seen how uncharming he could be, and that was not something she was willing or able to forget. So her defences remained up.

With a weak yawn wrapping her arms around herself, Sara drifted off to sleep.

Later that night Thorin awoke to the feeling of warm breath on his neck and the tickle of hair on his chest. It seemed that while Sara was asleep she was more than willing to accept his warmth as she was now almost right against him. With a gentle smile across his lips he sleepily draped his fur covers over her and closed his eyes again.

Despite everything inside him that wanted to take her in his arms and hold her against his chest he deliberately kept his hands to himself. For Thorin would never put his hands on a dwarrow when he knew she would not welcome the contact.

Against the top of Sara's head Thorin murmured, hoping a part of her would hear his plea "I pray to Mahal you will one day forgive me so that I may truly hold you in my arms".

He then moved himself slightly away from Sara, ensuring that her personal space was properly observed.

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A/N - It was important to me that Thorin remained very respectful of Sara while they shared the shelter. I hope I achieved this.