DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and sometimes Peter Jackson's stuff might fall in too. I only own my OC. Please, feel free to leave any comments and questions. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known. Thank you!


~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~


CHAPTER 43

Even though our small council debates for over an hour, we can not find a solution. With each failed suggestion, I can physically see the tension in Thorin's shoulders increase until the poor dwarf is as stiff as a board. We come to the conclusion that we will just have to continue on the path we are on, doing our best to avoid disturbing the elves and spiders. Hopefully, though I'm vigilantly doubtful, we will be able to miss out on the dungeon. It makes more work for me since I'll have to find a way to get the elves to join the battle some other way. 'Meh. We'll see how it plays out.' Plan set, I leave the dwarves to their devices and wander the makeshift camp. Feeling a crick in my spine, I stretch my arms up to crack my back.

"It is a very realistic mark." Bifur's voice startles me mid stretch

"Ah, yeah." I fix my shirt and glance around to make sure I haven't flashed anyone else "Thanks."

I make a mental note to obtain a longer one when I can. I would have thought that this shirt would be just fine; it reaches a little further than the waistband of my pants and was never a problem before. Even so, if someone is resting below me they can see slightly under the hem if I stretch, like Bifur has done. Usually it wouldn't bother me but lately I've had a need to be a tad bit more conscious of myself. 'Thieves. Killers. Rapist. The usual.' With another tug on the shirt I smile at the dwarf with a question on my lips.

"You should not hide it." he rises and circles me, returning my silent question with a strange look "It should be displayed for all, not covered like a nasty secret."

"I can't go around flashing the world, Biffy." I roll my eyes and start to walk away "It's hardly proper."

"I would not mind in the least." he follows closely, his voice never rising above a whisper. He plays a very good perv when he wants to "The sight would be most welcomed."

"That's because you are a panty chaser." I laugh, trying to ignore his closeness

"I do not know the word you call me." he strokes his beard as if seriously contemplating the word, before grinning thinly "But I like it."

"That's because it fits you perfectly."

"What are these 'panties' that I am suppose to chase?"

Our conversation is cut short when I hear Thorin call out for Oin and Gloin to start a fire. It gets extremely dark at night and a fire has been needed to penetrate the inky blackness, if only by a little. It makes me nervous because the forest is more Tolkien then Jackson at night. The darkness is so pervasive that you can't see your hand in front of your face, let alone an enemy at swords length.

I prefer to sleep in total darkness, except of course when I can feel eyes on me. There are plenty; red, yellow, and green eyes blink at us from the shadows when we sleep like a kids movie. If we weren't so frightened of losing someone in the darkness, I'm sure a dwarf would have tried to scare the creatures away. Even more so, I am not looking forward to the moths that are attracted to the flames at night. The deeper we go, the bigger they get. Determining that it would probably be best to put the flames out or at least keep them low, I approach the king.

"Thorin, I think-"

My words are interrupted by something slamming into my ear. I shake my head immediately, trying to dislodge whatever it is but it has become trapped inside. I cry out and smack myself silly at the feeling of tiny legs and wings wiggling in my ear. 'Oh no, oh no, oh no!' Battling my hand harder against my ear, I stumble around blindly, ignoring the worried shouts of the company as I trip over them.

"Whats wrong with her?"

"The elves! They've cursed her mad!"

"Stand still lassie!"

"Get it out! Get it out!" I cry, scratching at my ear canal to no avail "Ahhh! Its moving! Get it out!"

"What has happened to her!?"

"I don't know! She was talking to Bifur and-"

"What did I tell you!"

Hands grab me and I am forced to lay down on, much to my displeasure. I thrash wildly; whipping my head from side to side trying to eject the creature from my ear but it is settled deeply. I whine as tears slide from my eyes and into my free ear as the dwarves flip me onto my side. My head is held still and a small torch is brought forth for a better look.

"Gah! One of the blasted moths has lodged itself in the lass's ear." Oin, I think, concludes "Gloin! Get me small tweezers from the bag."

"Lady Malcolmson." I hear Thorin's distorted voice. It is muffled but distinct, as I could never mistake him for another "You must lie still or Oin may harm you."

"I. Can't!" I cry, feeling my stomach roll as the creature twitches in my head. My hysteria increases and my cries escalate to shrieks "It's moving. Oh God, get it out!"

"We will, Atamanel. We will. Please catch yours." he lays down at my side, placing his face beside mine. In my compromised state, I can only catch a vague understanding of the word, accepting that overall, it is meant to calm me "Just look at me. It will be alright."

"How can you be sure?" I whimper pathetically "It's... it's..."

"It is alright." he inserts, gripping my hand "I trust you. Now, you need to trust me."

"But I-" I close my eyes a grip his hand as Oin begins trying to remove the bug "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm scared."

"You need not apologize. There is no shame in being afraid. But know this; I will not allow any harm to befall you." he wipes my tears with his rough hand and I cling to the feeling of his calluses over the fluttering in my ear "I have been blind. Allow me to make it up to you now."

We lay together; Thorin whispering reassurances and me hiccuping responses. I have not forgotten about the insect in my ear; how could I with it moving to avoid Oin's tweezers? Still, I know the importance of not moving, so I focus on Thorin's voice and try to ignore the movement. I try not to shriek at the sound of dry trapped wings crackling much too close to my ear drum as Oin tears off pieces of the insect in the removal.

"Almost..." All of a sudden, the pressure in my ear is released as Oin tugs the whole moth out of my canal "Got ye, ye bugger!"

I leapt up and crash into Thorin in my haste to get away from the wiggling thing between the tweezers. How it's still alive is beyond me. The king wraps his arms around my shaking shoulders and holds me close to his chest, as he always does. I don't even think of pushing him away; merely burying myself into his warm and to try to stop trembling.

"Shhhh, It is alright now." he strokes my back gently "There is nothing to worry about now Lady Malcolmson."

"Screw it... I forgive you." I sniff out, not feeling angry at him in the least anymore "You can call me Thia again."

"My crimes against you have not lessened."

"No... but you were here for me when I needed you." I rub my eyes, trying not to fall asleep on the guy "You have proven to be a friend. A temperamental, angry, violent friend; but a friend none the less."

"As a friend..." he starts, eyes clouding over

"...you are allowed to use my given name." I feel my body betray me; my eyes drooping shut "As long as you behave yourself."

"I will." he continues to hold me, despite my dozing state "I will not act against you again, my beautiful one."


Thorin POV

My seer falls into an exhausted slumber and I think to watch her now peaceful face for a spell. The moment however is quickly ruined by the snickering of the company as they also watch the scene, much to my chargin. Coin purses can be heard being flung around as well as groans and jeers. Curling my lip softly, I glare minutely at the group but they just smirk back at me.

"So have you finally admitted it to yourself, lad?" my advisors asks, having hinted on the subject with a battle ax numerous times "It took long enough for our Berch Kanaag to become your... Atamanel was it?."

"Aye, that it did and was." Bofur agrees kindly, padding his hat with his newly acquired coin "Though it won me a bet, so I don't mind in the least."

"I was sure ye wouldn't say anything until we reached Erebor." Dwalin groans, turning his empty pockets inside out "I was certain that if ye hadn't jumped her by now-"

"DWALIN." His brother seethes patiently "Enough."

"It doesn't count!" Kili whines, trying to hide his coins from his brother "She wasn't even awake to hear it!"

"But we were." Fili snatches the prize and drops it into his pack "That means he admitted it."

"You are all addled."

I stand and easily carry Thia to her bedroll while the bickering continues. Gazing down at her, I know that I had not thought I would find my one when starting this quest. In fact, with alienated being so rare the thought that I might even have one had not crossed my heart, let alone mind, in many years. I had even given up on the need of a political marriage once Fili and Kili were born. Even when this blessing quite literally, and slightly painfully, landed in my lap, I thought it best to keep her at arms length but that is proving to be more of a distraction than I am willing to allow.

Had I claimed her properly when I first recognized the girl as mine, she would currently be safely waiting for me in Rivendell; well fed and prepared for her new duties. Instead, she is beside me; starving in this bloody forest and PRAYING that we are captured by elves. It will do me no good to think of what could have been when we have more serious tasks at hand. She is here. The elves are not. I will keep her here and keep them away. Nodding my head to her own aids in clearing my mind of such thoughts; strengthening my resolve. Tucking the woman in tightly, I turn back to group and give them all a piercing look.

"None of you shall repeat what I have said to Thia when she wakes. When I decide to officially court her, I will inform her myself."

"You act as if she would have you."

I turn towards Bifur, who is watching me with an expression of pure distain. I have long suspected he has feelings for the young woman but whether they extend past lust or not, I do not know. His shoulders shake with barely controlled rage as he rumbles over to me; snapping twigs under his boots with every step.

"Once Erebor is reclaimed, I will be able to provide her with all she could ever need. Every king needs a queen and as mine, she will want for nothing." It is only fitting that my one should be such a sure sign of my right to rule. Our life together has already begun, and I see no reason as to why it should not continue. Nodding to myself, I chuckle at the seething dwarrow's countenance "Why would she not have me?"

"You pompous- Because she is mine!" he snarls, clenching his fist until they look close to bursting "Atamanel you call her? My air is she, not yours! She can not take another when she already belongs to myself."

"Bifur..." his hatted cousin places a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him "The lass is Thorin's one; you know this. We all know this. She can not belong to you."

"He does not deserve her! He does not KNOW her, not like I do." he shrugs off the hand angrily, clearly distressed by the events. I would let his aggravation pass unaddressed, as usual, if not for the topic at hand "She is mine. Your one she may be, or perhaps she isn't, but she belongs to me!"

"That it not the way these dealings proceed. Her rightful place is by my side!" I return sternly and switch to Khuzdul, not fond of the closeness to treason the dwarf is treading "Even if she were not my own, she still would not be yours!"

"I would care for her better than you could ever hope, your majesty!" he mocks

"She is Uncle's one, Bifur!" Fili defends, trying to reason with the dwarf. The other members agree, which only serves to agitate him further "Do not make this difficult. You have no claim on her."

"She prefers my touch to any of yours." he hisses with misplaced pride, stepping towards me again until we are chest to chest. I wave Dwalin away, as he approaches swiftly to remove the offender "Rarely does she flinch from my touch as she does the rest of you."

"She prefers the touch of no one; she has told us as such." I sneer in return, baring my teeth. Our causes the dwarrow to relent a bit, as he backs away and begins pacing "She is just too kind to remove you from her side. I will see it as my duty to aid her in both areas."

"She is too kind to tell you to go screw yourself!" He flings back, spittle flying in his rage "After all you have done to her, you have no right to claim her as your one! None!"

"I have every right. The ONLY right!"

"U-uh, um... excuse me. I do not fully understand what's going on... as you are no longer speaking common..." the halfling speaks from his place beside the slumbering woman drawing my gaze to him "but I think Miss Thia should probably be awake to hear it... whatever it is.

"And she will be quite soon" Ori adds distantly "if you two do not stop yelling..."

We turn our attention to the lump in the bedroll that is twisting as if greatly disturbed. I feel an ache in my gut at having played a part in interrupted her much needed rest. Moving over to her side, I whisper to her soothingly until she stills and returns to her deep sleep. Still, I will not have my claim on the girl questioned or argued. Straightening to my full height, I stare down my nose at the defective dwarf. Clearing my face of emotion, I regard him with cold disinterest before addressing the group as a whole.

"Thia Malcolmson is my One. This can not be disputed. Mahal blessed our union not only by giving her the gifts she needs to insure my success, but also by placing my birthright as king of Erebor upon her skin." I peer into each face and find no expressions of denial, Bifur notwithstanding "As I have confirmed the connection, none may place a claim on her but me, or face the wrath of Mahal himself for disrupting destiny."

"She could deny you. Refuse your hand and take another."

"I will make sure that my one will never have a mind to take any other."

"You can not do this." Bifur snarls with a scowl

I meet his glare with one of my own. I will not be cowed, challenged, or denied in this. Not with her. Not anymore. Noticing the pathetic fluttering of the dying moth from earlier, I take deliberate steps to place it under my boot. With a crisp crunch, the creature's life is ended and it's transgressions forgiven in death. Stepping forward to stand face to face with the ax headed dwarf I address him once more.

"Watch me."


*Atamanel-breath of all breaths

Hey guys! So, here's another chapter. As you can see, theres some heated tension between Thorin and Bifur. Neither of them are totally wrong but then again, neither is totally right. Poor Thia missed the whole thing. So what did you guys think? I really do love hearing any constructive criticism or comments you guys have. Lay it on me. Thank you for your reviews. Until next time!