The next month flew by as more dwarves arrived from the Blue Mountains to resettle. Thorin had specifically asked for the best smiths and locksmiths to be sent from Ered Luin. But try as they might, the heavy gold shackles had remained unbroken around her wrists and ankles.

They had also loaned stone masons to help with work on the rebuilding of Dale, which was almost complete. This meant that work on escape passages had begun and the vast market hall in Erebor was being restored fast under Bifur's lead.

Shobha had taken it on to slowly clear the temple of Aulë, but Bilbo and a few others were helping, in order to prevent her from doing too much.

Despite continuing morning sickness, Shobhas baby bump was growing fast. She and Thorin had kept to their normal routines, leaving little time for audiences with various nobles requesting it. Dis had acted in their stead entertaining those who needed it. Thorin and Shobha had only ever attended a few select formal dinners Dis had arranged, even then arriving late and leaving early. This had kept them relatively free from the attentions of those like as Lady Gul and Lady Milla.

Mara and Elin had rapidly become good friends and ardent supporters of Shobha. She had also begun to spend more time with Dis, although, Thorin, Fili and Kili would 'drop in' coincidentally during such times.

She had also continued to work in the infirmary, which had led to her getting to know many of the dwarves settling there. While Thorin was very busy with many meetings and councils on the running of Erebor, trade and inspections, he always made time to visit the infirmary while she worked. Sometimes he would speak with his wife and inquire after her, while other times he would just watch her secretly as she attended to a patient.

That morning he watched her hidden behind the screen as she tended to several nasty wounds on a young Lord. He remained silent, not wishing to disturb her as she examined him and then worked efficiently to clean, debride and suture them rather skilfully in a way he had never seen any healer in their land do.

Thorin realised this young dwarf had been injured during the most recent journey here, where the caravans had run into a small party of stray orcs. They had sustained many injuries but fortunately no deaths, and had dispatched the orcs anyway. She had indeed been called on for help by Oin early from breakfast, and had been all too happy to leave the dining hall, where Balin, Fili and Dis had engaged them in a conversation regarding plans for a coronation.

The dwarf was clearly of noble blood. He was young, probably around Fili's age, Thorin imagined, and very handsome. His strong and sharp features were framed with a shorter, but well kempt chestnut beard, to match his thick mane of wavy locks. And his deep blue eyes watched her with unwavering attention. If she inflicted pain on him during her treatment, he was careful not to show it, bearing up with valiant effort. It was only visible from the few beads of sweat that graced his forehead and his lips that were pulled into a thin line.

She was done with him much quicker than Thorin expected, and he too lingered watching. He always liked to watch her, her bedside manner was so endearing, and something that no healer in Arda appeared to posses. Suddenly he recalled the guard at the club from her world from so long ago, who had sung her praises, and he understood why. All the same, he understood why so many of the Khazad treated in the infirmary and particularly the younglings had loved her.

A strange jealousy crept into him, as he wondered how no dwarves had fallen in love with her for having treated them with such kindness during their ailments. It made him feel ashamed of himself, for despite the kindness and the morbid wit she showered her patients with, there was still an air of authority and sternness with which she handled herself. In here she was Queen without a doubt.

After finishing, she washed her very bloody hands in a second bowl of clean water and wiped them on a clean cloth. He had noticed that since her input into the infirmary, this appeared to be a practice that most of the other healers that worked there under Oin had taken up. A hygienic practice that was absent among many before!

She then instructed him on rest, elevation, what potions to take, when to return for review and patted him on the shoulder, cradling her now clearly showing bump with her left hand.

"My lady, I am most indebted to you." He suddenly sat forward wincing from apparent pain, to grasp her free right hand and press a soft kiss to it. "If there is ever anything I can do for you…"

"Oh! Thank you…" she seemed taken aback by his charms, suddenly noticing his face that watched her eagerly and smiled. Then she realised, among nobility, she didn't always have many that openly supported her, so she bowed her head again, not wishing to sound ungrateful. "Thank you, Lord Imli. That's very kind of you –"

"My apologies for interrupting, but I wish to have a word with my wife please." Thorin interrupted from behind the screen, looking nonchalantly at the young dwarf Lord, who began to look for his tunic. His bare chest was broad and muscular, covered with a moderate amount of chestnut hair, disappearing below his belt. He was clearly almost as tall as the King.

"My King, forgive me. I was not aware I had the honour of being treated by our Queen." He bowed his head, but she reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder again.

"I told you, no big movements, or you will tear your sutures. And I have done some nice work on your back and arms!" She stopped him from moving with her small hand placed on his chest now. If Thorin was angry, he wouldn't show it, crossing his hands behind his back in his usual stance, even if his fists were clenched where they were hidden from view.

The dwarf King couldn't bring himself to believe the young Lord was unaware of the talk within the mountain, of their monarch who had taken a child of man as a bride. Shobha was clearly not a dam, and there was little doubt now that she was indeed with child. He needed to think of something to occupy her away from the infirmary, at least some of the time. Her body growing lush and ripe with the new life that flourished within her, cheeks were now often flushed, her warm dark honey skin had a glow to it even without the sun, and her inky black hair was thicker and longer. He didn't dare think about how her small breasts had filled out, and how she looked in one of Denin's pretty brightly coloured silken dresses, for it would only drive him to distraction. The little solace he could afford was that she always wore a her loose dark dresses whenever she worked. But amongst the Khazad, she stuck out, taller and leaner than their females, and with her tanned skin and straight hair. This idiot of a young dwarf could not possibly mistake her!

Shobha took his hand as Thorin led her away from the main bay.

"Is everything ok, Thor – my King?" She looked worried as to why he had suddenly interrupted her.

"Aye beautiful. I was worried about you."

"Oh. I thought it was urgent?" She was a little irritated now. She had enough to do without need for interruption, even if it were from a hot, warrior dwarf!

"You have been working so hard, I was worried about you."

"You know Oin is more obsessed with how much I rest, drink and pee more than you right?" She rubbed his arm gently, it was clear something bothered him. The question was what.

"Dáin will be coming soon. And I think we should think about the coronation then. Before you get much bigger, and over time you will need more rest…" he took her left hand and kissed it, before pulling her in for a deep kiss. Even if it was against royal protocol to behave so openly affectionate, he needed her to know who she belonged to, and that her heart was indeed still his.

"Mmmmm…" her small little hands slipped between his jacket and tunic, in their attempt to feel him.

"This may turn into something else, if we don't take care, my beauty." He groaned catching her hands quickly.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him into a nearby unstocked store room, and shut the door. Then leaning against it and twisting the lock, smiled mischievously.

"You started it." She smiled again invitingly, before running her fingers over his belt and unclasping it. "Oh dear! Now your belt is off too… Oh! And your jacket is off!"

She feigned shock as she pushed his jacket off his shoulders with ease. He wouldn't fight her urges, and these days she indeed had many!

"Anyway you can't knock me up any more… so you can finish inside me." She kissed him hard.

Somewhere between his jealousy, her increased carnal appetite and the way she aroused him, he wanted to take her hard. He often held back these days even when she clawed at him for more, fearing for his babe that grew inside her. But today there was something in the way she tempted him, and the still very public place in which she wanted him.

"I'm warning you my Queen… I will take everything you have –"

"Good." She pulled him closer using his tunic before slipping her hands into his trousers, her light touch made him growl and throw his head back. "Because I want everything–"

"You are playing with fire to rile me today when I am in a lesser mood for games."

He spun her around roughly, grabbing her soft cotton skirts and yanking them up unceremoniously. She leant against the door for support as he pressed himself against her, wrapping his muscular arms around her. Groping her full breasts, that now fit his large hands, he bit on her soft neck.

"Oh my… I was starting to think you had lost your mojo since I have grown fat…"she loved it when he took control, and he had been too restrained lately. It was usually jealousy and anger that fired him up. While she couldn't understand how either could apply at the moment, she was grateful for his dissolving restraint either way.

There was something in her mocking that stoked the fire in his loins. Hurriedly looking around he spotted a counter and knocked the boxes off it with a single swipe, spilling bundles of bandages, swabs and other items on the floor. Then grasping her hips firmly he bent her over the counter, running his hands up and down her back, tearing her knickers off, before firmly burying his throbbing hard cock fully inside her.

He leant over her body and pulled her top down exposing her breasts, and moved her hands out either side, intertwining their fingers together, and roughly thrusting into her several times. She was so turned on and wet already, he would never regain control now, not until he had taken everything he wanted from her.

"I warned you!" He breathed heavily, his head falling back, eyes closing as he savoured every second, and moving in a rhythm, lost deep in his own head.

She moaned under him, feeling her sensitive breasts pressed against the hard stone counter, it heightened the pleasure he struck repeatedly, deep inside. He was filling her up deliciously.

Under normal circumstances Thorin would have worried about whether the sounds they made could be heard by some unsuspecting patient or healer, but today he didn't care. She met each of his thrusts, pushing back, grasping the counter firmly. The noises they made were driving him higher, his grunts and growls, mixed with her cries and moans, their movements perfectly in synch.

He reached forward slipping his hand in front of her and between her thighs, marvelling at feel of their merged wetness and trailing it forward as he drew spirals over her swollen clit. She let her face rest against the cold of the stone, the cool making her nipples tingle.

Plundering her fertile body was everything and more, but this time he would dictate the terms.

…..

Thorin walked fast along the corridor towards the training arena. His fevered romp with Shobha had left him late, and it was worth all the teasing that Dwalin would give him a thousand times over, but he was sorely in need of some training. As he rounded the corner next to the armoury, he crashed body first into the full figure of Lady Milla.

"I apologise for my carelessness and haste." He added quickly, steadied her holding her elbow from a distance, and bowed his head before turning to continue.

"Oh my King, we must stop bumping into each other like this." She laughed suggestively, and he frowned to himself. But she interrupted him again. "My Lord, I wish to send your Queen a wedding gift, but was uncertain what to choose. Her tastes are clearly somewhat simpler than our people. It is a shame there was no public wedding. I suppose, her ladyship will not wish to partake in a public coronation either…"

"Thorin?" The familiar voice of Dwalin was a welcomed sound. "Yer late, Baheluh! What in the name of Durins massive ding-dong have yer been doing – Oh. Lady Milla."

"My Lord, forgive me. I did not intend to keep the King for so long. And I assure you we were doing nothing." WIth that she rushed off, leaving Thorin frowning and Dwalin looking at him disapprovingly.

"I wasn't – that wasn't – I came from the infirmary –" Thorin attempted to explain. In truth he was still flustered from his time with his One and he longed to stay in her arms. But she had ushered him away as there were two final patients she needed to see and both were younglings. This meant she would take her time with them.

"Och Thorin! Ye smell like ye've had a good shag." Dwalin scowled and looked down the corridor after Milla again. "And fer my sake, since I am going ta take ya down repeatedly today, I hope it's the Princess and not whatserface that yer covered in."

Thorin stopped, thoughts of her and how he made her climax with him came flooding back, bringing a smile to his face.

"Ah." Dwalin patted him on the shoulder, satisfied it was indeed his Queen. "I did think ye smelled of those wild flowers she likes."

…

Thorin arrived back in their room to find Shobha dressed for dinner, but having fallen asleep on the couch waiting for him. His body ached after training with Dwalin, it had been some time, and he had been distracted thinking of her. That was all the more reason he needed to resume training hard again. And with Dwalin there was nothing but hard. He had even sustained a few blows to the face, where one was forming a good bruise under his left cheekbone.

He shrugged his jacket off before removing his boots and knelt by her to stroke her cheek softly.

"Thorin…?" She murmured quietly trying to stir herself awake.

"You are tired, my beauty. Rest please," he picked her up in his arms and moved her to their bed. "I will have supper brought up."

"No… they are expecting you…"

"Hush now. It is no state dinner." He whispered, brushing her hair with his fingers, trying to sooth her back to sleep.

A knock interrupted him, and he moved quietly to the door where Dis stood outside.

"You're both late for supper - Brother!" She gasped touching the bruise steadily marking itself on his face. "What in Mahal's name happened to you? Oin said you two got trapped in a store room –"

"It was during sparring." Thorin quickly explained before further questions could be asked. Under scrutiny, his sister would see through the lie Oin had used.

"Oh. You are not so careless usually…"

"I have not trained for some time."

Dis looked at him, gauging his reactions closely.

"You were distracted." She often reminded him of his mother. They often had the ability to read him.

"Who is Imli?"

"Lord Imli?" Dis raised an eyebrow. "He is son of the late Lord Arli, who owned the smiths halls in the Iron Hills. Why?"

"What is he doing here in Erebor?"

"His mother is Lady Tula, she was a Lady of Erebor, but she was left widowed very young and remarried Arli." Dis explained. "I hear Imli sustained some nasty injuries fighting the orcs that attacked their wagons. You still haven't told me why you are so worried about him?"

"I met him today. That's all. No reason." Thorin looked over his shoulder checking she was still asleep. He felt ashamed for inquiring after her patient, like a jealous husband. Even if that is what he was.

"Sleeping? Poor thing – she should take things slower now… I will send you both supper up to your room." Dis sighed accepting that the King would not be joining them this evening.

Thorin bowed his head gratefully and returned to the bed, taking his tunic off and climbing in beside her. There was something about the young Dwarven Lord he didn't like. And while he had initially brushed off Milla as nosy, he didn't like how she kept cropping up where he was. He hadn't spoken about setting a date for the coronation, and he knew Shobha disliked big formal affairs. But this was non-negotiable, and the pregnancy was clearly making her rather tired. She would simply have to accept that the coronation would need to carried out sooner rather than later. He wanted everyone in Erebor to know this was his choice of Queen and it was final.

"My wrists… tight… fingers numb…." Shobha muttered quietly in her sleep. Thorin shifted closer to listen.

Talking in her sleep was a common thing for Shobha, and initially it had scared him when she had fallen asleep for the first time on her couch with him, back in her apartment. But now he was used to it, and even found it useful! Some of the things she spoke of were her worries, but then at times it was simply incoherent.

"What is tight Amralime…" he whispered so quietly it was almost a breath.

"Thranduil… release me…"

His eyes wondered down to the solid gold shackles that sat on her small wrists. They sat snugly before, so must have been tighter now since she conceived.

He had tried everything he could to get them off without Thranduil, but she had complained of pain more recently. There was a need to respond to the woodland king's offers of trade also. He had been putting things off until matters with Dale, their own markethall and restoration work was resolved first. But now he realised there could be no further waiting. He stood decisively and walked through from their room to his study. He would attend to Thranduil's offers immediately, and ask to visit them to have the bindings removed as a matter of urgency.

...

Dear All

Thethank you again... please keep your lovely reviews coming xx

special thank yous -

ColdOnePaul - I am afraid I like perverted men lol (Sorry) but only the good kind as opposed to the creepy variety, which is why there are hordes of them. But Balin, Fili, Kili, Oin and Gloin are decent. Thorin only perves on Shobha, and Bard is decent too. Thranduil will make up for his shortcomings I promise, so dont rule him out yet :) And as for the birth my lips are sealed ;) except to say expect the unexpected... (cue mysterious music) :) hope you enjoy this chapter too