The sound of water splashing woke her from her doze, it made her sit up on the lounger by the pool. Turning towards the water she watched Thorin emerge, the water dripping off his muscular body, making him look like some sort of moving sculpture.
"I thought you were going to join me?" He smiled, picking up a towel and lazily drying himself as he walked over.
"I'm a bit tired." She lay back on her lounger and shut her eyes. Erebor was generally quite a cold place, given its location and the way it had been carved into the rock of the mountain. But there by the heated pool, it was wonderfully warm, like a summer's day, making it perfect for lazing about.
"Are you feeling alright, my lady?" He walked over, towel in hand, to stand by her lounger carefully observing her. "Are you pregnant?"
"What?! No!" She jerked up, surprised at his line of questioning, only to relax back on seeing him smirk.
She leant back again, shutting her eyes.
"Then perhaps we're not trying hard enough..." he grinned dripping water over her but her eyelids were so heavy she just couldn't stay awake.
She opened her eyes partially as more water sprinkled on her face, only to close them again. Her head pounded, and her mouth felt dry.
"Wakey wakey!"
She felt sharp slaps to her face this time, forcing her eyes open.
"Ugh. Wake up you disgusting little whore!"
Shobha opened her eyes again, but now the ache in her head made her feel sick.
"Please I'm going to throw up." She lifted herself up with difficulty covering her mouth to stop herself from retching.
"Give her a bucket for Mahal's sake!"
A bucket appeared in front of her just in time as she vomited.
"You're a pathetic little bitch. All you know how to do is spread your legs for any dog to have a sniff."
Shobha lifted her throbbing head to look at the woman. She must have been in her forties, with long red hair, tied in a neat ponytail and piercing green eyes. She wore military combats, and stood scowling down at Shobha with her arms crossed and her sleeves rolled up.
"What's wrong now? Are you going to vomit again?" She asked in a mockingly sympathetic tone, that made Shobha realise it was the same woman that had come to her door in Imladris.
She shook her head, trying to focus past the pain, when a heavy boot landed on her shoulder pushing her up. Unable to keep her balance due to the unexpected force, Shobha fell back.
"Come on! Get the fuck up! You useless little cunt!" She screamed, as Shobha tried to get up.
"Next time use ketamine, or lorazepam, or midazolam, and your prisoner will have less side effects." Shobha retched again. "If you cant even drug someone right – then it's time to time ask who really is the useless little cunt –"
She was stopped mid sentence by a sharp slap that sent her crashing to the floor on her side. Feeling dazed, she lay there a moment before trying to get back up again, and looking up spotted the redhead crouching over her. The woman was attractive, but looked cruel all the same. Then she noticed a tattoo on her neck; it looked like a crooked arrow, and then realised it was a rune. She had seen it in Thror's and Thrain's insignia.
Suddenly two pairs of hands hauled her up onto her jelly like legs. Glancing either side she found two soldiers dressed in dark military suits holding her up.
"Permission to speak ma'am?" One soldier grunted and upon receiving a nod he carried on. "The Lieutenant was clear that the woman would not be hurt."
"Yes. Well. She is useless unless she does as she is told." The woman spoke thoughtfully. And then she turned away to walk towards a door. "Perhaps we need an incentive for her. Bring in the other one…"
There was a grating noise, making her turn to her right where a large, wide door opened to the room and there from the darkness of the corridor beyond several men in uniform pulled in a large cage containing a dark shape within.
She still felt sick and weak. And her vision felt a little blurry, making it hard to focus well, particularly with her throbbing head. But as they wheeled the cage closer, to her utter horror, she noticed the dark shape within move.
She stood up now, forcing herself to stand, although the two soldiers who held her still pulled back at her shoulders. Attempting to squint in order to see better, it quickly became clear the large shape crouched within the giant cage, it snorted and sniffed.
"What have you done?!" Shobha screamed, trying to pull at her captors in vain.
"Give her a little more incentive." The woman's voice rang over the tannoy. And within seconds another soldier, clearly taller and stronger than the others had moved closer to the cage, as her own two soldiers dragged her closer still. The large soldier near the cage had picked up a long metal rod and poking it through the cage, prodded the creature within. Immediately the large black haired wolf inside growled in pain, flinging itself against the bars.
"Noooooooo!" Shobha screamed.
The werewolf appeared to move more sluggishly than she had ever seen them move before, but upon registering her presence, it seemed to rattle and fight against the bars in its cage.
"Don't bother. It's titanium alloy. Among one of the strongest known in the military. Even a werewolf won't rip through this." Her voice mocked, blaring into the room. "Let's give him another dose of electricity shall we? He's been a bad, bad, dog!"
The soldier who held the long cattle prod, twisted a dial on the machine, and without hesitation pushed it through the bars and into the wolf's hide. Once again, the wolf lunged at the bars, this time, his piercing blue eyes, locked onto her, and he growled ferociously as he spotted the two guards restraining Shobha. It was Thorin's alpha!
"Please! Stop!" Shobha cried out again writhing against the men that held her. "What do you want?! Please I can give you anything!"
"Thank you lads, take him to the lock up with the others." The woman commanded.
The wolf began the rattle the cage more. It was hard to imagine the metal maintained its shape against his assaults let alone that it didn't simply break open! And rattling and growling, just as quickly as he had been wheeled in, the men had also wheeled Thorin back out of the room.
She could still hear him growl from beyond the room she was held in. Her head still throbbed, but her heart ached more. Just a few hours ago, they had found perfect bliss in each other's arms, and now he was being held like a caged animal.
This was more than just about the Arkenstone, and she was sure of it.
The nausea rising in the pit of her stomach was now unbearable.
And then without warning, her legs gave way, as she faded again into darkness.
….
Shobha's eyes fluttered open, and she lifted her hand up to cover her eyes against the blinding fluorescent light. Looking around, she was alone, in what looked like a prison cell of some sort.
She tried to sit up but found her hands were cuffed using rigid restraints.
Her mouth felt dry. She tried to open her mouth to speak but found she couldn't.
"Don't strain yourself… you're weak." It was the redhead again. She walked over to where Shobha lay on the floor. "Look I get it… Thorin's the only decent one there, so it's easy to fall for him. But he doesn't let his guard down so easily. Tell me, have you worked out where the Arkenstone might be?"
Shobha looked up at the woman and slowly shook her head.
"Don't worry, no need to lie, we have your phone remember. We've listened to the recording on your phone. So I know about the translation of the runes…" the woman paused again. "No? Nothing…? Very well. Perhaps I should 'prod' your canine friend to see if he might help –"
"No! Please! Is that what you want?" Shobha rolled onto her side pleading.
The woman just stared back at her coldly.
"Please? If I help you find it, will you let him go?"
"IF you find it I will release you…"
"Everyone you have caught." Shobha corrected as she tried to sit up again.
This time the woman bent down and grabbed her by the scruff of her shirt, hoisting her body up so she came to kneel in front of her. She stared at Shobha coldly, square in the eyes, her brilliant green eyes narrowing slightly as though weighing up an opponent.
"Why?" She asked.
Shobha looked at her surprised.
"Tell me, why you would wish to save him…" the redhead carried on. "See women like you and me, we have spent a lifetime working hard, paying our dues, only to have pathetic, entitled men like 'Lord' Thorin come and rain on our parade. And don't tell me that's not true. I know about the hard work you put in, the canvassing, the financials for this clinic – only to have him veto your ideas." She revealed and then scoffed. "Thorin, is nothing but a user. And when he's done marking your notch up on his bedpost, he won't need you anymore…. And just like that, you, his shiny new toy, will be placed in the back of his toy box, from where you can watch him lavish his attention on his latest 'project'…"
The redhead watched Shobha carefully, and when she didn't answer she spoke again.
"Leave him to his fate, and you go live your life…" she spoke coldly. "You don't NEED him. It may seem like that right now, but in time you will see…"
Shobha frowned. This woman clearly knew Thorin, and it sounded rather personal, but she didn't want to risk anything by annoying her; she was clearly strong, and powerful.
"I don't need him." Shobha lied. "But I will offer to solve this riddle and find the Arkenstone for you, if you release ALL the prisoners you have – the wolves…"
The redhead frowned again.
"Please?" Shobha softened her tone. "You clearly need me. Thorin is clearly useless, and won't be able to solve this – I mean, I am the one that found a lot of the pieces so far… so that's why you have me right? And let's just say, I feel a duty of care towards any of these creatures you have here… in this off-the-books facility… and that's my trade; I help you in return for their release."
The woman didn't reply. Narrowing her eyes coldly, she merely wrapped her hands around Shobhas neck and began to tighten her grip.
She could feel the pressure, the lack of air leaving her lungs, the difficulty thinking clearly as she placed pressure on her carotids. Shobha kicked out, and raised her restrained hands up to the woman's trying to free herself, but her vision was already begging to fade.
She opened her mouth, in a final attempt to gasp, as her legs connected with nothing from the way in which the woman held her.
And then just as suddenly as she had begun to throttle Shobha, the woman flung her like an unwanted rag doll to the floor.
Desperate for breath, and still dizzy, Shobha gasped desperately, gulping in lungfulls of air.
"Find me the Arkenstone, like the good little whore you are..." The woman pressed a heavy boot onto her shoulder and rolled her over onto her back. "And remember, YOU are in no position to bargain. But I will agree if you do it."
Shobha lay there panting, unsure what new murderous torment the woman might inflict on her as she turned to leave.
"Please… I need my phone to check my notes –" Shobha finally spoke quietly, falling silent as soon as the woman spun around to the sound of her voice.
"Very well. But you have thirty minutes and then we leave…"
….
Shobha crawled along the uneven ground covered in heather and low scrub, on her hands and knees. She could hear her pursuers close behind, and now felt a sense of desperation to evade them.
Suddenly the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she was plunged into a deep cavity that had formed beneath the ground. Reaching out to clutch onto anything to prevent herself from sliding down uncontrollably, she dug her hands into the earth and roots beneath, her fingernails now bleeding until finally she came to a halt in a large cavern. Looking up she could no longer see the small opening, and so felt her way around the wall of the space.
But a gentle snorting sound brought her to an instant halt. Ears pricking up, she silently turned towards the noise and listened carefully. It sounded shallow, and came at steady intervals, like weak breathing.
"Hello…? Is there … anyone there?" She spoke quietly.
This time the breathing came with a muffled groan. It sounded pained, and made her take pity on the poor soul, rather than feel scared. Slowly and very cautiously she made her way towards the noise, somewhere on the opposite side of the dark space.
As she reached the other side of the dark cavern, she held up her phone, helping to illuminate the way using the dim light on her screen.
"Hello… are you okay?" She called out silently.
She received a soft groan in reply.
Again, moving closer still, she held up her phone. And there in the dim light, she spotted the frail body of an old man laying on the ground. Seeing her, he extended a frail arm towards her, making her move closer.
"It's you…" he whispered weakly. "You are here to help us…"
Seeing his state she rushed over to him and knelt down.
"Are you hurt?" Shobha gently set her hand on his arm. As she looked down at him she saw the tattoos on his bony arms. They were much like Thorin's. Despite being so frail and old, she could tell he was once a large man. His hair was almost fully silver although there were tell tale strands of black, as was his beard, and his heavy eyes, were blue, although they looked watery pals now. But there was something else about him, a certain familiarity she couldn't shake. "I am going to get you out –"
"My poor sweet girl, it is too late for me now…" the old man groaned. "Don't trust a word she says… and do not give her the stone…"
"Lord Thrain…?"
He raised a hand shakily up to her face.
"Let me take one more look at you lassie…" he chuckled weakly. "He had no clue what hit him the moment he saw your pretty face.. His mother would have loved you…now go! Look for the lifeless white tree. But don't give it to her –"
"But –"
"Go!"
She felt a pair of hands shaking her.
"Let's go Miss!" A soldier stood in front of her and lifted her to her feet before shoving a jacket into her hands. "Better put this on. It's cold out there. You're not in Fiji anymore."
Slowly, she pulled the large jacket on and stood up, when he immediately placed her hands back in restraints.
She was led down several faceless corridors before they finally emerged into the open ascending a small stairwell.
Outside the chill in the air was palpable as they stood in a large field with a military helicopter that had landed on the wild grass. The landscape was similar to the areas surrounding Erebor, but she couldn't recognise quite where she was.
She tried to look around her for memorable landmarks but was quickly pushed forward to where more senior looking men in military uniform were gathered around a map on a small table.
"So…? You had time with your phone and the map… where do you think the jewel is hidden…?" The red haired woman spoke from where she stood around the map.
The soldier who had collected her from her cell, nudged her forward to the map again.
Squinting in the daylight, which she was sure she hadn't seen for at least two days now, she put her hands on the map, and slowly found her way to Erebor.
"The Arkenstone is hidden in the hollow of a tree…" she pointed towards an area bordering Greenwood, not wanting to be too specific so she didn't give it away. There would be no need for her if she shared everything she knew. "I will be able to see more when I get there… but there is one problem; it's not on the Durins land…"
She moved her hands over the borders of the Greenwood forest.
"It's on Thranduil's land. But I will need to walk around to find it. So we need to work in daylight. And we need protection." Shobha stood back from the map for a minute. She had spotted a clear area where the vampires' forest was particularly close to Erebors borders, and imagined Thráin had chosen a tree there in a hurry imagining that someone had triggered the collapse of part of the mountain on purpose to distract them while trying to steal the precious jewel. "Drop me here."
She pointed to the fields just outside of the area in question, hoping that she would be able to spot the tree from there.
"Very well."
"And our deal? How do I know…"
"The prisoners have already been sent to Erebor. As soon as you hand over the Arkenstone, you will be reunited with your precious wolves." The redhead snarled at her. "Now go!"
Before she could say another word, Shobha had been bundled into the chinook. The flight had been a short one, so she imagined their military base was very close by. And with equal precision they had hovered over where she had indicated on the map, as the soldiers jumped out first before hoisting her out onto the ground.
"Get down!" A hand crowded over her lowering her head, as the giant helicopter pulled up and away, the propeller blades beating down strong gusts heavily on the group.
She partially stumbled having trouble stabilising herself with her hands still in restraints.
"Sorry honey."
A pair of hands hauled her back onto her feet, pulling the hood of her jacket over against the rain that had steadily begun to fall on the gloomy highland landscape. Looking up, at the only person who had treated her with the remotest bit of kindness, she realised that she recognised him!
"Jonesy!" She exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and disappointment.
"Get tooled up boys. We'll be heading into hostile land." He commanded as the soldiers pulled out a variety of weapons including some rather scary looking mechanical crossbows and machetes. "Don't look at me like that Shobha. I know what you're thinking, but this operation is being led by her. I'm only here for two things; for our bio samples and to make sure you are safe – Like I told you before; I owe your father."
Shobha shook her head again.
"Look, you may not realise, but these vampires and werewolves have genetic advantages. They don't fall ill easily, and when they get hurt they heal faster than any man ever could dream of." He loaded up a shotgun before stepping over to her. "You're a Doctor, don't you want to find out how they work so we can use it to help sick people…?"
"We already have medicine –"
"Not like this." He cut her off, unlocking her hand restraints. "There's no need for you to have these anymore… now shall we get this over and done with?"
Shobha looked around at the woodland and gasped. Most of the trees on the border had fully shed their leaves with the few remaining leaves painted all shades of reds, golds and browns. More leaves danced and fluttered in the blustery winds.
It didn't take long to spot the one tall, dead, gnarled tree amongst the rest of the woodland visible here. It's bark had come away leaving a white, skeletal structure that stood with its branches spread like some strange writhing ghoul! Finally she understood why the runes said it could be spotted after Durins Day, when the thick woodland canopy at the borders finally shed their leaves.
She began trudging through the rain towards the tree.
"Slow down!" Fernando called out to her as the small unit of men moved in formation, constantly scanning the perimeter. "Or you'll hurt yourself."
"You mean more than how you guys have hurt me?"
"I'm sorry. They were all under strict instructions – you were never meant to be hurt –" he replied ruefully. "I will have to look into the matter…"
"And do what? Write a strongly worded letter? Tell someone higher up…?"
Fernando muttered under his breath when she abruptly stopped, frowning at him.
"Does my dad know about all this? Was I sent here for a reason?"
"No! He didn't like the idea of you coming here. I guess he knew we were running some sort of op up here, but he wouldn't have been aware of its exact details. As for applying, interviewing and accepting the job offer, that's all on you and the Erebor lot." He shrugged looking surprised. "I have to say I am surprised they even entertained it – they don't usually have anything to do with the outside."
She carried on thoughtfully through for a little while. But as she entered the tree line, Shobha spotted movement in the distance.
"Hurry! Hurry!" She rushed over to the tree, spotting the large hollow in its trunk. Several sharp arrows flew past her towards the trees up ahead, urging her on. If there were feral vampires, they would be in trouble and would have little time. So looking around the tree, she grabbed the trunk and began to hoist herself up using several branches. Finally, reaching the opening in the trunk she peeped in. It was dark and deep enough for hiding something. It just wasn't the sort of deep dark hole she fancied blindly reaching into, or worse falling in either!
In the dim light she could see something in the bottom of the cavity, which thankfully was not too far down. It looked like the top of a leather satchel, but was covered in a pile of old rotting leaves.
Gingerly, she eased her head, followed by her shoulders, through the opening, still keeping one hand firmly gripping the tree. Then carefully scrambling through for balance using her legs and trunk reached in a little more with her free hand.
The stench of putrid leaves filled her nose and mouth, and she didn't dare look around at what crawling insects lurked around in the hollow. Keeping her focus on the item, she reached out a bit more, and could feel her fingertips brush the damp, soft, leather.
She just needed to reach a little further. Outside, she could hear muffled sounds and movement, as though a fight had broken out.
Hands and torso aching now from contortion and over reach she stretched a little further.
"Get out of there! It's not worth it, Shobha." She heard her fathers acquaintance call out to her. "Did you hear me –"
She brushed off something that had dropped and scuttled over her head. The sheer thought of more spiders or other bugs lurking in this dark rotten trunk make her skin crawl and itch!
But she couldn't stop now.
Ignoring everything going on, she shut her eyes and extended with every inch of give in her body, her fingers moving ever more along the protruding edge of the hidden treasure… until at last she could feel it in her palm!
This was it – and she knew it! There would be no more chances at this again!
Scraping and pulling the material into her whole hand, as though her life depended on it, she grasped the soft leather of the sack in which the jewel was hidden and pulled at it.
It came loose from the mass of rotten leaf material that had formed its own ecosystem in that dark hollow. Carefully, still ignoring the noises going on outside, she lifted the bag, covered in scuttling bugs as quickly as she could, and as she began to ease herself back out of the tree she could feel the widespread crawling up her arm.
Unable to restrain herself, finally, and desperate to brush the hoard of dislodged insects off her, she flung herself off the tree. And her feet slipping on the sodden, dead trunk, denuded of its bark, she fell to the ground and onto her back.
She lay there for a moment staring at the grey sky, as water poured over her, feeling winded by her fall, until she felt more crawling. It was inside her jacket now.
Rolling over as fast as her aching body allowed, she reached down to undo her jacket. Her fingers were bloody from having gripped onto the tree and she was now soaked. Finally she pulled the offending clothing off and began to dust herself down desperately trying to get them all off.
"Stop right there. This is the second time you are on our land without permission…"
Slowly turning, with her hands up, she spotted Legolas standing there, holding Fernando by the neck.
"And you've brought a snack…" he smirked at her, jabbing a small, but very shiny dagger into his side, which made the military man stand up even straighter.
"Please… I am here to collect something that belongs to Thrain. I think your father knows about it." Shobha explained. "If I owe you for coming here, then I will happily give you my blood. But I need a few days to sort this out…"
The tall blond vampire looked less amused now.
"This is foolish. And I would advise against whatever you are thinking."
"It doesn't belong to you. And I know that Thrain spoke with your father about it. So I am here to collect it, on their behalf…" she urged him, slowly lowering her hands. "And right now, they need it. So either you kill me or you let me take it and leave. And don't hurt them; They are here to protect me."
He shifted uncomfortably, before pushing Fernando to the ground.
"I hope you know what you're doing." Legolas replied coldly. "If they ever return, I will not stop the Undead from feeding to their hearts fill next time. And then I will burn their corpses."
Shobha carefully bent down and picked up the leather satchel dusting off the last few scuttling wood lice and other beetles. But when she stood up, the vampires were gone, leaving Fernando and only three of the men looking quite shaken indeed.
He didn't waste any time, limping over to her fast and grabbing her arm to pull her along back towards the fields and away from the trees.
"Let's go! Right now!"
As they reached the fields, with two of the three men injured and being carried along by the others, they found the large military helicopter landed and awaiting their arrival.
"Have you got it?" The redhead called out as she stood waiting for them.
"Yes." Fernando snapped back angrily. "I hope its worth it. We lost four of my best men-"
"You didn't say that when you got what YOU ALL wanted did you?" She warned him. "You were failing miserably until I agreed to help. So now you can shut up and follow through on your end of the deal!"
Shobha frowned looking at the smelly, rotting leather satchel, that she clutched close to her and wondered what bargain had been struck between them.
"Where's my Arkenstone?" She called out to Shobha.
"You'll get it when I see everyone safe, and free." Shobha confirmed.
"And you are certain that you wouldn't simply wish to look after yourself… maybe work with me. Instead of saving a bunch of useless dogs who won't even value the sacrifices you've made for them…?"
Shobha had no words now, so she could only shake her head.
"Very well. Better get in the chopper then…" the woman turned away. "And I will take you to them…"
…...
The helicopter had flown back to their base to drop the injured men off before heading off towards where the woman had planned. Shobha had carefully slipped the contents of the old satchel in which the Arkenstone was hidden into the pocket of her jacket to keep it safe and had no intention of giving anything up until she saw Thorin safe.
However, had flown past Erebor much to her dismay, and continued North until another smaller set of hills came into view in the distance. With dusk approaching on a gloomy day, the lights in the small settlement had been switched on, making it visible from where they were up in the air.
This must have been the Iron Hills!
Her heart pounded in her chest as the chinook began to descend.
"All the prisoners you want released are down there." The woman explained. "Now the Arkenstone please?"
Shobha peered out of the open hatch, as a firm hand grasped her arm keeping her steady. A quick sidelong glance confirmed it was indeed Fernando, her fathers friend.
"Jonesy, take the jewel from her now." The woman commanded from in front, harshly.
"You'd better give it –" he stepped towards her only to have her cut him off.
"Not until I can see that they are safe." Shobha had trouble hiding the worry from her voice as she noticed the field in which they were landing looked empty.
"Oh they're all there." The woman muttered with disgust. "No need to worry your pretty little head about that. Now be a good girl and give me the jewel –"
"No. I have kept my deal; I found it. And I will gladly give it when I see Thorin and the other prisoners."
The woman narrowed her eyes, watching Shobha like a hawk as the helicopter landed again. Daylight was steadily fading, and the cold setting in. A slight mist clung low to the ground after the rain, which made the empty fields look even creepier than they were. The land surrounding the Iron Hills didn't seem to bear the same desolate beauty that Erebor did. Instead, these lands were barren, with only grasses, moss and other weeds that barely clung on as dark, bare rock was visible here and there. There were no signs of rabbits, of small creatures living here, and certainly no grazing livestock visible as far as the horizon.
"Come on." The woman pulled her off the helicopter rather violently, dragging her away into the middle of the field, ignoring the protests of Fernando.
Wet, cold, with raw hands, Shobha was now exhausted and ready to give up. Perhaps this was how she was going to die.
"They'll be here now. And I can't risk this failing. If you knew how long I have waited for this day, then you would understand," she snapped angrily as they finally stopped. Several new military men, this time in black uniforms stood close behind. "But sadly, you just lack the ambition. It's disappointing really. A clever, talented girl like you, could have gone far if you weren't hung up on a man… maybe if we all make it through this, you will get smarter. But a word of advice… Men will only ever keep you down. You go from being 'daddy's good little girl' to being 'a good wife' and then 'a good mother'. But they ALWAYS have the control – over your choices, your clothes, your hair, your work… even your body and your bed! You are never the one doing the fucking – but always the one BEING fucked!"
Shobha gave her a sidelong glance, to spot her brilliant green eyes looking off into the distance. There was a sadness in them, that made her feel a little sorry for the woman. She wondered what had driven this woman to behave in the way she did, and who this woman was.
"I am sorry to have to do this to you… but needs must –"
And suddenly, Shobha felt a sharp searing pain pulse through her whole body, her limbs clench tight, spasming uncontrollably as she fell to the cold hard ground.
She lay there as the pain of the taser overcame her tired, aching body, and she passed out.
…...
Eyes slowly opening, she found herself in a hard cot, still aching all over. Her eyelids felt heavy, and while she felt cold, she was finally dry.
"Lass..?" A quiet, shaky voice travelled from the darkness across the space from her. "Are you alright?"
She groaned softly as she tried to sit up.
"Don't bother lass, it's mithril – those cuffs will not yield for anything but the keys with which they came…"
She reached down to feel her pockets but found she no longer wore the clothes from before, instead she had been dressed in a strange white, flowing silk dress. The skirt was flowing and soft, while the bodice was tight, cupping and squeezing her breasts perfectly, as if it had been made for her body.
"The stone!" She exclaimed realising that she had been cheated. "It's gone!"
"So it's true then.." the voice sounded as though it belonged to an old man. "You found where it was hidden then…"
Finally Shobha contorted herself enough to sit up.
"It was meant to be in exchange for our release."
"And how did a lass from outside, come to be involved in all our clan business?" The old man staggered into view now. He was gaunt, and very frail, in rags. His hair was long, grey and unkempt, with a beard to match. One eye, had been heavily scarred, but his features were sharp, and refined.
"Lord Thrain…?"
"That is a name I have not heard for some years now…" his voice drifted off.
"They have Thorin, your son!" She pleaded looking around and realising they were in dungeons. There were no windows only the door to their cell. And all the walls surrounding were black rock. "We have to do something!"
"There is nothing we can do now Lass… I am only sorry that you have been taken for this…" He gestured weakly towards her clothing.
"For what? I don't understand…"
"Tonight is the blood moon. The powers that the jewel posses are heightened this very night. The moon goddess will demand a blood rite. It maybe a coupling or a sacrifice…" shook his head in defeat. "The alpha takes over tonight… and it was an old ritual, but many centuries ago, the people of Dale, chose and sacrificed a virgin maid to the wolves of Erebor on this very night –"
He was interrupted by the sound of the door unlocking.
"Quit your chit chat old man." A stocky auburn haired man walked in grabbing her arm and pushing her out of the cell."It's time to go little lady – and you too old man."
"Where are you taking me?!" She tried to resist in vain, he was much larger and stronger than her and pulled her along like a rag doll.
"If you don't walk, then I will throw you over my shoulder." He replied gruffly. The man was dressed similar to Dain and the other men from the Iron Hills, and had many tattoos on his face and neck.
"So why take him?" She spoke quietly, complying with him instructions.
The man merely looked at her with a strange curiosity.
"Do you question Lord Thorin this way when given a task?"
"Yes. In fact I would probably refuse to do something unless I saw sense in it." She replied.
He shook his head, and gave her a wry smile, before pulling her along again. Although she was sure this time he seemed a little gentler with her.
They had soon arrived at a large cave in the stone which was open to the outside. The space was illuminated only by burning torches that had been placed in stone sconces intermittently. And there in the dim light she could see what looked like a large stone altar.
It was dark outside, but the moon shone brightly, and looked enormous, as though it was close to colliding with the Earth. She shivered as a strong cold breeze hit her skin. This was 'coat-weather' and she was dressed more like a virgin about to be ritually deflowered.
"What is it with this obsession of dressing a presumed virgin in the sort of outfit that a hooker would wear but calling it chaste because it's in white…?" She muttered, receiving a guffaw from the old man and an angry prod from her jailer.
"I would keep that pretty little mouth of yours shut." He pushed her closer to the altar roughly making her mithril restraints jangle. "Don't think I will release you because I like you, or feel sorry for you –"
She opened her mouth to say something but they were both cut off by the arrival of further people in the darkness.
Her heart sank as a severely battered and bruised Thorin was pushed forward in mithril manacles. He was apparently resisting but between the restraints and three guards dragging him, he had little choice.
What made matters worse was the subsequent arrival of an equally bound Fili and Dwalin. She imagined they were the strongest wolves in Erebor. And if they were captured then it most likely meant that there would be no real rescue from this one.
Finally following them all Dain walked in. He looked dishevelled and worn out as though he had been fighting, but seeing her, his face picked up a little.
"Ah! Good to see you awake… Welcome dear!" He smirked at her, slowly stepping closer. "The dress suits ye… and as always ye do clean up well…"
With his strange beard, moustache ornaments, beady eyes and his stocky build, he reminded her of a very scary walrus!
She heard several sets of manacles jangle again, as all three men strained against them in an attempt to get out.
"Relax lads! I will not lay a finger on the lass." Dain turned towards Thorin. "I was raised te respect lasses."
"So can you tell me what this is about then?" She held her own restrained wrists up towards him, the mithril chain that connected both her own wrist cuffs shone brightly in the moonlight.
"I warned ya little lady, that ye needed te stay outta clan business…" he spun back around to face her. "And now look where it's got us!"
He gestured towards her, and before she was aware of what was happening, the guard that had escorted her here, had scooped her up, carried her to the stone altar, and laid her on the cold stone.
"I am sorry it's so cold, my lady.." he whispered so quietly that no one but the two of them were aware of his words. Then he carefully proceeded to adjust her dress and hair before stepping away.
The stone was even colder than she imagined, and the dress far too thin to offer any protection against the temperature. Her skin prickled with goosebumps and her nipples tented the soft fabric of the dress as she tried to suppress a shiver.
"Why are you doing this Dain?" Thorin growled pulling on his restraints again and nearly bringing down the three guards who held him in place.
"Very good Cousin! At least now, ye finally pay attention to the important things eh?" Dain tilted his head to admire the way she had been set out on the altar, reaching out quite tenderly to adjust her long hair as though he was fixing an exquisite table centrepiece for some grand feast! "You see, it began quite a while ago, when ye discarded a woman after using her as ye wished to serve ya bed. I do think she believed it to be love, but of course YOU probably don't even recall such an affair, for the offers to keep Yer bed warm and yer body satisfied are plentiful eh?"
Thorin frowned, a look of uncertainty fleetingly occupying his features.
"I see that look… well, let me finish the story; She was a fine woman. And I fell in love with her. Not that my love could have ever matched yours, but she returned my affections, and soon we were to be wed. But suddenly a mere two days before our wedding, she disappeared and left me this note –" he held up a small folded piece of paper. It looked very old indeed, with the corners worn out where it had been repeatedly folded and unfolded. "She said, her heart only ever fully belonged to another. And while she loved me deeply, and has been nothing but faithful, she could not in good conscience marry me knowing she could never love another the way she did him! She disappeared for one whole day, and then suddenly returned the day before the wedding begging me for forgiveness, and that if I loved her still that she still wished to begin a life with me, finally at peace in her own heart, and casting any thoughts of this other man aside forever… I was so shocked by all this, that I had little time to consider things myself, and with the celebrations being so close, could not afford to suffer such embarrassment. She was of noble upbringing, unrivalled beauty and a perfect match, I could never do better – so I went through with the marriage… of course, it was only later that she confessed that she had spent the night with her former lover – and believed our son was his offspring!"
Thorin, Fili and Dwalin all fell silent as they listened.
"That's right yer self-cantered cunt!" Dain landed a heavy blow to his cousins face, as Thorin staggered back with the force, having openly allowed the strike to land. "Ye ruined me marriage, and robbed me of me own flesh and blood! And I've had to live with this for so long… your conquest meant nothing, but destroyed the lives of many!"
Thorin shook his head, his blue eyes filled with tears and guilt as he glanced over from his cousin to his her where she lay on the stone.
"Marina…" his words were barely a whisper, but audible to all. "But she… we were just kids… I asked her to marry me…"
"Aye. Ye did two days before she was to wed me!"
"She said no! She didn't want me – "
"It didn't stop ye from having yer way with her did it?"
"I had no idea then that she was to be married… I…" Thorin was genuinely surprised by the information he was hearing for the first time after so many decades! He imagined Marina had never harboured any true feelings for him, since he had asked her to come away with him before he left Erebor to study after he turned eighteen. "How do you know all this?"
"She told me so!" Dain bellowed, his face red for being challenged, but his eyes harboured something else. A deep sadness. "And it drove me wild! To think, I, future Lord of the Iron Hills, had been cuckolded!"
He grew quiet as he walked over to Shobha, observing her closely.
"Those were the last words she ever spoke to me… before she disappeared…" Dain stroked her long black hair again. It seemed like he felt a certain comfort in playing with her soft, dark hair. "And I did some unspeakable things – I am not proud of… but I never had the chance to make it right by her…"
Shobha gulped down a lump in her throat, daring to glance at him again. This time the moon light was slowly fading.
"So you see woman, Thorin will never truly love ye. For he only loves himself. Ye are nowt more than a perfectly delectable little notch in his bedpost. And believe me, he has plenty. You were just the little corker with fire between her thighs and the look of some exotic beauty from a distant land… something new… But sadly it has to be ye." He patted her with an air of superficial sympathy before reaching into the pocket of his formal jacket. Shobha winced in reaction to this imagining he was about to pull out some sort of dagger, but instead his hand emerged with a small item wrapped in leather. Carefully he unwrapped it revealing a smooth stone, which caught the dim light of the many torches and seemed to amplify it, glowing like a million rainbows and casting its glittering light everywhere.
"You took it!" Shobha gasped pulling her face away from the light that scattered all over her.
"And it was not yers to take!" Dain tutted. "Now you will have to suffer the consequences. You see only an heir to the line of Durin may handle the jewel – or is punishable by death… and the old custom of sacrificing a maid during the blood moon, is the perfect way to do this –"
"Fight me Dain!" Thorin growled pulling at his chains again. "Your grievance is with me."
"Aye. And this is how is shall be settled; an offering of flesh, to end in coupling or consumption." Dain set the brilliant jewel in her shivering hands. "The final part of the ritual is to anoint them with the blood of an elder under the blood moon.."
Dain looked over at another guard who without question turned to the old man shivering silently in a corner and taking his hand cut his palm collecting the blood that dropped into a golden chalice. Thrain himself, who still remained too hidden to be identified groaned a little at the sharp sting but appeared too weak and frail to protest or fight back.
Looking up into the sky her heart sank as she realised that the lunar eclipse had progressed, with the moon almost fully coloured in a reddish hue. The night sir suddenly felt much chillier as darkness pervaded the visible land beyond the cave.
"I call upon the Gods, the ancient ones. With this blood of old, and the offering of flesh so ripe, I awaken rites long gone." He dipped his hand in the blood and marked a line down Thorin's forehead, carrying on along the bridge of his aquiline nose, and did the same to the other two. "May the hunt strengthen the wolf within and satisfy any debts of blood unpaid. May this young flesh in blood keep us changed until it is claimed by our leader –"
Without warning Dain was interrupted by several guards as they brought another hooded figure, who was thrown to the ground at his feet, with hands tied behind his back. Dawn stepped forward, his large round figure looming over the new prisoner, and pulled down his hood.
Shobha gasped as Kili stood up defiantly.
"Well… it's a shame ye have such terrible timing laddie! I always liked ye the best…" Dain bent down and applied blood to Kili's lips before moving over to Shobha at last. "Och well; the more the merrier I suppose!"
Finally taking the last of the blood he applied a small amount to the Arkenstone that lay shaking in her hands as she shivered in the cold night air.
"May this offering of a body in bloom renew and awaken the beasts within!"
In that moment, Shobha watched horrified as before her eyes the moon turned red in its entirety, and all the men around her began to double over briefly in agony.
"The change has begun! Release the prisoners!" Dain exclaimed triumphantly, before he too clutched at his own chest for a brief moment.
There was a loud series of clanging and jangling as Thorin, Fili and Dwalin were all released from their mithril.
"What… about me…?" Shobha struggled to try and sit up despite her body now being seized by the cold of the stone on which she had been laying for too long!
"And me?!" Kili muttered, scrambling to his feet. Apparently his hands had only been tied with rope, presumably because Dain knew that he could not shift.
Dain merely laughed at them as he staggered to a side of the cave, now clearly mid-metamorphosis.
"Run little girl! Ye have a few minutes head start now if ye get going…"
She scrambled against the hard stone, when Kili appeared by her side, almost practically lifting her off the stone despite his bound hands.
Heart racing, and shaken she steadied herself against him, as he brushed her hair off her face and assessed her carefully.
"Are you hurt, Shobha? Can you run?" He asked gently.
She nodded and then turned to spot the old man slumped over in a corner.
"I can manage but we need to help him." She moved towards him, Kili following. "I think this is your grandfather."
Kili suddenly looked at her clearly shocked.
"Are you sure?"
"Well. If he gets killed by crazed werewolves, then we will never know will we?" She tore off a strip from her dress and quickly bandaged his hand, before helping him get up. "We gotta get going!"
Kili, who had taken a moment to process the developments himself grabbed the frail man with an arm around his waist and the three of them began to hastily move.
A quick glance behind her as they rushed on confirmed that they did indeed have very little time to escape. Most of the men there were well into their transformations, and soon the wolves would indeed be hot on their heels.
"We have to fins somewhere to hide until they turn back." She panted as she spotted a small clump of trees in the distance. "Wolves can't climb trees right? That big tree looks like it could hold us all…"
"I'm not going to make that lass… just let me go…" the old man groaned as he struggled to keep up.
"It's not far. I'll carry you if I must." Kili chipped in.
Between supporting the elderly man and the uneven ground, they had both slowed down. She glanced over her shoulder again, to spot the large black and silver furred wolf had transformed fully now, with no sign of Thorin. It howled into the cold night air before locking its eyes on its target and commencing its hunt.
"Oh Fuck! They're coming –"
"Language little lassie." The old man groaned, coughing a little.
"Yeah she can swear like a seaman when she needs to – " Kili laughed bitterly as they hurried on.
"Och forget swearing like one – she probably would eat seamen for breakfast with that temper." Thrain wheezed again.
"Okay – eating 'seamen' for breakfast is not really the sort of imagery I need right now –" she panted glancing over her shoulder again when Kili yelped in pain suddenly, letting go of Thrain, who stumbled onto the ground with Shobha. "Oh my God! Are you okay Kili?!"
She pulled the elderly man back up again, no longer worried about being gentle.
"Arrrrggghhhh –" he clutched at himself again.
"Come on! I will patch you up with the reams of material on this fucking dress when we are up in that tree – just get your arse up now!" She screamed yanking at his arm. "Kili? Kili?!"
But he only gritted his teeth to suppress a scream as he continued to clutch his legs in agony.
"Kili…?" She looked over concerned into the distance as several wolves now raced towards them.
"Lass… you had better go…" a frail hand tapped her arm as the old man scanned the skies with his strange pale, watery eyes. "You have to get somewhere safe…"
"What? I'm not leaving you or him!" She cried hopelessly.
"My life is done now lass… I should have died long ago –"
"Go!" Kili groaned loudly. It was a strange growl of a sound that got the attention of both Thrain and Shobha. "Right now!"
"Kili…" she gingerly moved towards him, only to notice in the strange darkness of the eclipsed moon that his nails were bleeding, and his teeth had grown longer in his jaw. He writhed again falling onto all fours.
"It's happening lass…" Thrain gently tugged on her hand. "You won't be safe here –"
"It's happening? What's happening?"
"He's changing."
She glanced at him again realising the handsome young man's face was now strangely elongating, and his spine curving, as he cried out in pain again before a strange growl left his lungs. It was ferocious enough to force Shobha and Thrain to stumble backwards.
"What are you doing here?!" Kili grunted at them through gritted teeth as he turned to look at them, his handsome chocolate-brown eyes filled with pain.
She hesitated again, despite realising his imminent change, because it broke her heart to see him in so much agony.
"Go!" Kili shouted again, his voice now sounded deep, and unrecognisable.
It was enough of a warning to see the giant black wolf closing on them; It made her start moving again, with Thrain hobbling along to aid her as they ran for the trees.
She turned to spot the once gentle, and sensitive young Kili, had now fully transformed into a wolf with deep mahogany fur. He looked particularly menacing as he stood there blocking the way and snarling at the other wolves that were chasing them.
"That is particularly impressive, I know few who first change and retain such self control –" Thrain panted as he held onto her while they both carried on towards the trees. They were now tantalisingly close, but still painfully far away. Both the elderly man and the woman were each struggling now, for Thrain, although frail was still much taller than her.
"Well, he is your grandson you know…" she puffed, swearing again under her breath as the thin slippers she had been dressed with offered little protection for her feet on this ground.
Kili, in wolf form was now surrounded by the others, but as several other wolves attempted to attack him, they were put back in place by their alpha. The black wolf was at least one and a half time's the size of Kili or the others. But, Kili made a vicious growl and fearlessly stood his ground against his uncle.
Finally reaching the largest tree she quickly looked behind to spot Kili locked in an impossible battle with the giant black werewolf. Leaving Thrain to lean on the closest tree, she assessed each one to see how strong each was, and finally satisfied at having found the right one she began to push the old man up into the first branch, despite the jangling restraints.
"It's no use lass, I can't…" he groaned leaning against the trunk. "Save yourself –"
"No!" She turned to grab his arms, looking him directly in the eyes. "All these years you were gone, Thorin never believed you were dead! He never gave up looking for you; Every missing person report, every unidentified body discovered… he always believed you were alive! I don't believe he will hurt you or me – just because Dain has cast some crazy voodoo on him –"
Thrain looked at her surprised, his pale eyes welling up with tears, as though recalling a long lost past life. He slowly touched her cheek gently with a withered old hand and then shook his head.
"Lass, this is not hocus pocus. It is blood magic. My own great-grandfather destroyed the last books that contained these rites centuries ago. They are not to be taken trivially. And the Arkenstone amplifies the power…" He explained, eyes filled with tears now. "I am only sorry that it has to come to this – but I am certain that if the origin of the blood rites are destroyed then any spell cast is vanquished."
"If you are suggesting that you allow yourself to be mauled by a pack of wolves before you have met Thorin properly – wait don't you turn into a wolf too?"
"Not anymore lass…"
"Okay, well, I don't care. Thorin will have to find his control somehow –" she was interrupted by the sounds of howling in the distance. But before she could turned to look a loud growl nearby made them both turn towards the sound.
The giant black wolf had caught them! It stood there towering over them, and snarling, it's strange piercing blue eyes fixed on them.
Quickly she stood in front of Thrain pushing him back, her heart racing but still putting on a face of false bravado.
The wolf took another step closer, making her stumble back still.
"What are you protecting woman? Why do you not run?" The enormous beast snarled moving closer.
"You can have me, but I need to make sure he is safe…"
It's teeth gleamed in the dim moonlight as it moved closer. He sniffed at her briefly to her utter terror, before roughly moving her aside so he had the old man in his grasp. And then to her surprise he picked him up and pushed Thrain onto one of the branches in the large tree behind. It was low enough for the black wolf to reach, but none of the others would manage.
"He is safe – now run!" His strange impossibly deep voice was clear, even over the deafening pounding of her own heartbeat. "Run woman!"
Turning and stumbling over a tree root, she began to run through the trees. Lungs screaming for air, and legs burning, she carried on. Soon she could hear the beast behind, but there was no way she could turn to look back with the trees. The slightest lapse of concentration would mean that she would surely hurt herself on a branch or root that was sticking out.
Her dress snagged, pulling her back. Desperately she tore the masses of silky material, looking around her for signs of the wolf. But surprisingly there was none.
Heart still pounding out of her chest she hid behind a tree, catching her breath as quietly as possible before looking around for the best direction to go.
Then she heard movement to her far left and stiffened before setting off again in the opposite direction. This time she moved as quietly as she could, ears straining to hear where he might be all the while.
The night was eerily silent, but the moon shone brightly once again, the lunar eclipse having passed for some time. It was very cold now, her stupid dress had snagged several times, and her exposed arms were scratched from the low lying branches.
She was starting to tire, ready to give in. If death awaited her at the very hands that gave her unspeakable pleasure mere days ago, then she was ready to accept her fate.
Suddenly the sound of snapping twigs, alerted her to something close behind. Turning she spotted a dark shape moving close behind, and was left with no choice.
She set off running again, the trees scratching at her bare skin, and pulling at her clothes.
Sure that she had marked some distance, she glanced back again, but went rigid as she ran straight into the hard, muscular form of the towering creature…
….
Dear All,
Thank you again for following so far. And thank you for all your posts and comments. Sorry for the cliffhanger… I just couldn't help myself! Rest will be revealed soon.
Please do let me know your thoughts – I am always grateful xx
special thank you to Luinwen - lol! I think this poor damsel in distress will have to dig deep into her own girl power to find her salvation (although Kili did try) :(