"So, Dain's son is truly Thorin's?" Dis frowned with disbelief as she watched Thrain sip his soup slowly. His partially toothless mouth carefully chewing on the few bits of soft vegetable in the broth.
"Yeah. Apparently, Dain found out not long after his son was born. But treated Marina terribly for it – and then soon afterwards she wrote him and her son letters asking for forgiveness and then disappeared. Dain found the letter was regretful for how he had behaved, and the guilt has driven him to revenge ever since." Shobha couldn't hide the annoyance in her tone at what Thorin had told her accepting it all as gospel. "Apparently over the last few years he was contacted by someone offering to help exact his revenge on the 'Lord of Erebor'. A so called kindred spirit, who shared his sentiments and had been wronged once themselves. This person claimed to have been yet another of Thorin's conquests from the past, but never once showed her face or revealed a name to Dain. All communication was via notes, delivered by hand… And when the time came he was asked to meet the military men outside their land to collect some prisoners he might want and the Arkenstone. Worst of all neither Thorin nor Dain ever saw this redhead that I met at the military base. So its all a bit of a mystery."
"And you really think Stonehelm is Thorin's son?" Dis asked suspiciously again. "I mean truly?"
Shobha turned to look at Thorin's sister, her brilliant blue eyes clearly dubious.
"Why do you say that?"
"Look – Thorin will hear none of it from me, and I have no desire to speak ill of the dead – but Marina was always… ambitious… and manipulative. I mean schemingly manipulative…" Dis hesitated as Thrain continued to enjoy his soup, seemingly ignoring their quiet conversation. She then shuffled her chair closer to Shobha. "The old man likes you, you know."
Shobha laughed but remained silent curious to hear what Dis had to say uninterrupted.
"She was just a young girl, maybe around seventeen, when she met Thorin, and he was immediately smitten. He had a real weakness for her. But when she realised he had no desire of inheriting the Lordship, she immediately broke things off. Thorin won't say this to you, but he planned to leave Erebor and lead a normal life further south. But when she refused him, he was heartbroken, and never spoke of his plans again. Then suddenly a few years later, she turns up as Dain's fiancé to a celebration here, while Thorin was away at university. Well, none of us said anything. But I think she always wanted to marry into power. I guess she somehow thought she could call more of the shots. I mean Dain is pretty stupid sometimes but they are men at the end of the day: they will never part with power particularly if it means sharing it with a woman." Dis scoffed bitterly.
"So it was pretty serious then…" Shobha nodded thoughtfully.
"Aye, but I think only for Thorin, because he was young and stupid. We've all been there at some point." Dis leant over and gave her arm a gentle reassuring squeeze. "He feels guilty and looks back on it with rose tinted glasses now, only because she is dead, and has left him with an apparent heir – even if he won't admit it; I know my brother. But he will snap right out of it once the initial shock has worn off and he is thinking straight again."
Shobha offered up a smile, but just like the stand she had with the wolves that night, she was putting on her best bluff. It was becoming increasingly hard to shift this uneasy feeling that she was somehow being lost in all of this. And it made her think of the redheads stark warning to her about men in general.
"You know, they saw each other for about two years before she figured he had no interest in power at the time – I suppose Thorin planned for Frerin to take over all along, even though our grandfather had spent years grooming him for the role." Dis rolled her eyes, before laughing. "They got tattoos on their necks the first summer. A rune for each other's first initial…"
Shobha suddenly frowned.
"Like what? Do you have any pictures of them…?"
"Oh dear, why would you want to torture yourself like that –"
"No. I just want to know… I mean, I might as well get used to the fact that she will always be in our lives now…" she urged Dis on muttering. "Because apparently, even if I haul my arse out to the end of the world, chances are, that I happen to pick the one man who has had a baby with another woman – Again. So, I guess the sooner I accept it…"
"Very well, love. But… I… will need to dig up some old albums.." Dis observed her a little unsure of what to say. "And I mean real oldies … from before you were born my dear…"
"How do you know she died?"
"Well, I don't – why? Do you think she is still alive?" Dis clutched her chest, stifling a gasp.
"It just seems like killing herself is not really the sort of thing someone like that does…"
"How could she leave her son behind?" Dis frowned. "It's easier to think she died…"
"Because she hated both men who have fathered her child…?" Shobha shrugged. "She was clearly having a hard time… Anyway, I have to get going."
"Kili wanted to say thank you by the way." Dis smiled catching her arm again. "He just about recalls you giving him shots of morphine through the night while you set his broken arm."
"It was the least I could do. He saved my arse several times that night. And that's how he hurt himself – trying to defend me, so I owe him." She nodded. "In truth, I am glad he has healed so fast."
But Dis stopped her again, a genuine look of worry weighing on her elegant features.
"Don't you think Thorin should ask for a paternity test to check that Stonehelm truly is his son?" She whispered. "I am sorry to admit it, but over the years he has had a few women. Not that many – but a few. And none of the others have come forward with love children."
"Oh God!" Shobha groaned mockingly as Dis stifled a chuckle at her brothers expense. "It might all start happening now… I don't feel it's my place to judge or interfere Dis. I feel like I want to stuff my ears with cotton when I hear anything about it, because I can only be a passive observer right now – in fact you have more right to judge than me."
Dis finally understood, and nodded, mouthing an apology again before giving her a warm hug.
"You're the best woman he could ever dream of you know…"
"Thanks… please don't forget, to dig up that old photo." Shobha nodded again, before looking over at the old man who lay in bed smiling at her and waving her off quite gaily.
…..
Several weeks had flown by in a blur of work, checking up on Thrain and trying to bring her life back to normal again. It transpired that Thrain had been injected with various heavy metals including silver, which they imagined had led to the many symptoms including memory loss that he was suffering. As such, he still was unable to recall much of his old life, or even recognise Dis or Thorin.
Thorin had been extremely busy, but had made time to have dinner with her regularly, although that had more often than not been interrupted by various matters surrounding the mines or other work issues. And so, after a little coaxing he had reluctantly agreed to take her to Dale where they were hosting a world food festival in the town market square on Guy Fawkes night. Most of Erebor had planned to go, and Mayor Bard had been warmly insisted that all were invited, particularly since they coincided the festivities with Guy Fawkes day, culminating in a fireworks display.
And so after making sure Thrain had supper, and was settled for the night, with Helga and Gror attending on him should he need it, she hurried back to her room and got dressed.
Kicking off her shoes, she stripped fast, and threw on a pair of jeans, a long sleeved top and a sweater. The weather had turned bitterly cold in the highlands now, with the mornings becoming frosty.
"So much for a two week break in Fiji huh?" She muttered to herself as she pulled out warm socks, a soft scarf and her leather gloves from a drawer, before pulling out her long woollen coat from the back of her wardrobe. And then she frowned, as she realised there was still no sign of Thorin. "Surely he hasn't forgotten…"
Quickly getting dressed and pulling on her tall boots, she headed out towards his study. She was already almost an hour late, and had expected him to be standing angrily by her door, swearing under his breath. After all he had promised to take her out tonight, and since most of Erebor was in Dale too, she couldn't imagine he had any pressing meetings at his hour!
"If he couldn't make it – he should have just let me go with Fili and Kili, or Dis or Dario… or anyone else!" She huffed as she hurried down the corridor. "Now I will miss it!"
She couldn't quite work out what it was about that night in particular that made it so important for her to be out, but she was determined that she would go. With or without him. Perhaps it was because it was the first normal thing she had done since being kidnapped.
Turning the corner, she didn't even pause to knock, just opening the door to his study to let herself in. And there he sat surrounded by several mounds of paperwork, as he scrutinised the file he had in his hand, while he sipped a glass of whiskey. He was so engrossed in what he was reading that initially he failed to register her arrival, but then looked up and swore again under his breath again.
"Oh, Shobha! I am so sorry!" He immediately put his paperwork and tumbler on his desk and stood up, moving towards her.
"Thorin! You promised!" She shook her head walking towards the door, only to have him stand in her way.
"I know, but I have been busy –"
"It's fine, I just wish you had told me before… then I would have gone with the others."
"But I thought you wanted to go with me?" He sounded genuinely disappointed by her admission.
"Well, not if I am going to tear you away from such important work that on the one night I ask, you can't remember."
"Look, I just need to grab my coat and we'll go –"
But a knock at the door interrupted them. So she took a step closer and opened the door before he could protest.
Standing outside was the stockily built auburn haired younger man she saw seated next to Dain on the night of the feast, and then she realised this was Thorin Stonehelm. He looked angry, but his frown seemed to deepen on seeing her.
Jostling past her with a huff, he addressed Thorin.
"My father told me…" then he paused and glancing at her scornfully carried on. "… About everything."
"Well, I am glad you came to see me. Dain and I decided he would tell you, and then let you decide how you wished to approach matters." Thorin spoke with a clam but sympathetic tone. He had obviously been expecting this for a while. "I never knew. All this time, and that I swear by my life, Thorin, or I would have been in your life long ago. But your mother and father kept it a secret."
"Do we have to do this in front of her?" He grumbled this time not even looking in her direction.
"We were just about to leave –"
"No, he's right. I was leaving anyway. You two need to speak alone." She replied resigned to her fate as she walked out, but before she could shut the door, Thorin stood behind her. He grabbed her waist and pulled her in against him, claiming her lips possessively.
"I am sorry my love. Please forgive me. I had no idea he would arrive today." He searched her face, his brow furrowed with worry. "Give me an hour; I will call Bard and ask him to arrange a couple of take away plates with everything – I bet we will have left overs which Fili and Kili will devour tomorrow. And we will make it with plenty of time for the fireworks…?"
While she was annoyed, she also felt bad for the two men, who had finally discovered their connection, and felt she had little choice in the matter.
"Of course. But you really don't have to take me –"
"I want to. This will be the first time that we will be seen together, and I want the world to know that I am courting you…" he rubbed her arms before planting a chaste kiss on her soft lips. "I want them to know that you belong to me."
"Go – talk to your son."
She watched him flash a rarely seen smile at her – the one she had seen play on his lips when they were in Fiji. There was a nervousness mixed in, but it was sincere. Of course she had seen him smile plenty before at the many public events she had seen him at, but that was a reserved smile – one that was rehearsed and polite for his role as Lord of Erebor.
Standing there in the corridor she watched the door to his office close, and with guilty resentment she turned to head for the kitchen after a thoughtful pause.
Only making it a few minutes down the corridor, she suddenly found her phone ping with multiple messages. Pulling out the device from the back pocket of her jeans, she suddenly found herself oddly unfamiliar with it. Even if the reception around the lonely mountain had been better, none of her old friends messaged her any more! And her parents weren't really the texting sort, which only left her sister, who intermittently sent her a message or a joke. This was an unusually high volume in a very short time.
Flicking through she found herself on a 'Lettschat' message group headed by Kili! There had been a sudden flurry of photos of food, and inquiries about where she was now.
So she sent a quick reply:
Sorry – delayed for a bit.
Dis replied almost immediately:
What is Thorin doing?! Tell him to move his arse!
Not wishing to worsen her already low spirits, she quickly replied:
Sudden meeting with Iron Hills – set off in 60
Kili added:
Text us when you're in car here
Followed by Dis:
See you soon xx
Putting her phone away. She carried on, when Helga found her.
"Och lass! I am glad to see you! Lord Thrain was asking for you… I told him you may have left –" Thorin's housekeeper observed her with a mix of sympathy and hesitancy. Apparently she had become aware that Dain's son had visited.
"No, it's okay. I am not going anywhere any time soon." Shobha sighed as she followed the woman to Thrain's room, where she found the elderly man sitting up in bed eagerly awaiting her arrival.
"Ah lass! Come and sit with me a while… the other lass is not here –"
"No… Dis, your daughter, has gone to Dale, with her sons and a group of others. They have market stalls and fireworks tonight." She tried to explain, knowing this was the umpteenth time they had all done so that evening.
"And you prefer to stay here with an old man like me?" He smiled as his watery eyes crinkled, deepening the scar across the left eye. It was a very deep scar indeed, and only a wonder that he had not lost the eye altogether!
She laughed at that, finally feeling bitterly resigned to the possibility that she would indeed spend her night there.
He then paused to look at her, his face taking a more serious expression.
"What is it lass?" He reached over with a wizened old hand and gently patted her own.
"It's nothing… just me being silly –"
"Oh come now. We have been through too much to be strangers…"
"I feel selfish for complaining…"
"My son, is courting you is he not?" He asked, apparently genuinely curious.
"Um… yes…"
"You seem uncertain," the old man chuckled. "A pretty girl like you, with the courage you show and you are clearly a highly trusted healer… he would be a fortunate man to have a young thing like yourself return his affections… so where is he? Leaving you alone on a night like this…"
"He… had a sudden meeting that he couldn't turn down…" she replied surprised by Thrain's reaction. She had expected his disapproval, according to what she had heard from the Vampires.
"Oh, I see! His apparent son has finally come to see him!" He leant back in his bed as if in thought. "He should have handled this better…"
"Oh God! I can't imagine what it must be like to deal with that sort of news –"
"A scam. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was – not that I have anything against that lass. It comes at the right time to ruin things with you though doesn't it, now?" He groused, in his old husky voice.
She winced, as she found herself drawing comparisons with Mike again.
"There is some modern way to check the truth of these things isn't there…?" He asked waving a frail, wrinkled hand in the air weakly.
She looked at him surprised again.
"Oh don't look so surprised lass, I have heard Dis speaking of it here, with him and then with you… And I think I quite agree with her." He watched her carefully again, pale watery eyes sparked with interest. "What else surprises ya lassie?"
She pursed her lips, hesitant of revealing what she was truly thinking.
"So… yer surprised that I approve of him courting you?" His eyes cracked as he smiled knowingly. "You can't believe everything those bloodsuckers tell you, ya know?"
"They're not all that bad. I think Thranduil just misses his wife –"
"Oh lassie – that poor woman is probably better off now..." He chuckled at his own distastefully dark humour. "Do you know that they actually share their lasses?! Can ya imagine huh?"
"Well actually, I happened to walk in on that one evening when we were out in Dale!" She laughed, feeling her cheeks heat up as she remembered the whole fiasco!
"Aye?! Well… I'd like ter hear that story…" he laughed again. "Thorin must have been livid to hear of it?!"
"Since I am not going anywhere soon… why not!" She moved her chair closer and whispered, before adding. "You should have seen the look on his face! I thought he was going to burst a blood vessel!"
This time he laughed unreservedly at the expense of his son, and they began chatting again, each telling the other amusing stories they could recall, until her phone began to buzz.
Glancing down at the many messages asking where she was, she realised she had been chatting for almost an hour and a half. This time, she came to accept that Thorin would be too late to drive her out in time for the fireworks, when there was a knock on the door,
"Come in?" She offered looking over at the door as it pushed open and Helga scurried in.
She looked over at Thrain, before moving closer to Shobha and leaning down to whisper in her ear subtly.
"Lass, Lord Thranduil's son is here to see you…" Helga looked nervously at her.
"I'm weak, not deaf and stupid, Helga!" Thrain grumbled. "Well… what does he want?"
"He… would like to offer, Miss Seth transport to Dale." The housekeeper admitted looking somewhat flustered.
"I'll go talk to him and send him away –"
"No lass!" Thrain interrupted. "Just because Thorin is a fool, there is no reason for you to miss out on a nice evening. In any case, it is only an escort to Dale, you are not accepting a proposal…"
Both Helga and Shobha turned to look at the frail, old man, sitting quite happily tucked up like a child in the large bed. Neither of the women were unable to hide the complete and utter shock on their faces.
"Och don't look at me like that! Besides…" he gave them a wide, toothless grin. "It won't hurt to make Thorin a little jealous eh?"
She stood watching him a moment in utter surprise.
"Anyway, I am an old man – I need my sleep now." He muttered dismissing them with a weak movement of his hand. "No sense in a bonnie face keeping me company on a Friday night…"
Helga followed Shobha, ushering her out of the room.
"Lass, either way it is better he doesn't stay here too long…" Helga urged before adding, still surprised. "But his Lordship is a lot more alert than I thought…"
"Yes. It makes you wonder doesn't it…" then she stopped the housekeeper. "Go see he is okay. I will talk to Legolas. That way if anyone gets in trouble – it should be me."
She hurried down the long dark corridors of Erebor, reaching the main entrance where she found the tall, blond vampire waiting for her. The haughty, disgusted look on his face changed into a dazzling smile as soon as he spotted her.
"My Lady." He bowed his head elegantly. "You never returned as you promised, to hand yourself in…"
"Oh? I didn't think you meant it…" she couldn't help suppressing a smile at his quip.
"Well… I am here to release you from your prison." He smiled again.
But looking around she saw no car waiting.
"I… um…" Shobha hesitated looking back up at the imposing palatial residence built into the looming Mountainside. There appeared to be no sign of Thorin still, and it made her wonder how things were going between him and Dain's son. "How did you even know…?"
"I overheard a conversation between his nephew and our captain of the guard – the younger Male, with dark hair."
"Kili." She smiled. "And was it just overhearing –"
"Well… lets say, I offered to rescue you."
"So… where's you batmobile then?" She looked around still a little uncertain.
"All will be revealed if you promise to let me escort you." He offered his arm with a graceful bow.
She sighed, realising that either things were dire for Thorin, or he had entirely forgotten about her. Either way there was no point in her waiting for him.
"Okay…" she finally took his arm as he began to lead her away towards the grand, sweeping driveway.
"Miss Shobha!" Gror called out nervously from the steps leading up to the grand entrance. "Miss Shobha! What shall I tell his Lordship…?"
She paused for a moment as she looked back, initially imagining the extent of his wrath that she would unleash with this, only to dismiss it. He probably wouldn't even know she was gone by the time he found her asleep in bed.
"Tell him not to wait up!" She replied, as Legolas continued to walk her away. "So…where is you getaway car then –"
But she stopped mid sentence as she spotted the beautiful motorbike. It's elegant lines, and powerful silhouette were unmistakable.
"Oh my gosh!" She gushed letting go of his arm and moving towards it quickly. "I've never test driven a motorbike…"
He watched her touching the machine quite lovingly and chuckled.
"Well, my lady… you are not going to start with my Ducati." He gently moved her away from the handlebars and handed her a helmet. "Besides… you know we don't turn into bats right?"
"Okay, but doesn't count as a date. And no bloody deserts?"
"I can manage that." He climbed on and held his hand out to her.
"Lets go." Hiding her smile, she put on the helmet and grabbed his hand to climb on. She positioned herself carefully as he started it up, with a loud growl, and then gave her some time to adjust herself. He then took her hands gently and tugged them tighter around himself with a smirk. "If you want to enjoy the ride, you're gonna have to hold on tight…"
…
The journey had been thrilling, he had sped up at points along the long, sweeping road to Dale. It had made her forget her worries… and even Thorin for a moment, as she clung tightly to him. He smelt of wood, fresh leaves and leather. It was strangely pleasant and not what she expected a vampire to smell of!
As they finally arrived in Dale, the market square was buzzing with crowds. She spotted Ereboreans, vampires from Greenwood, and it seems all of Dale!
There were colourful food stalls with queues everywhere and small gatherings of groups chatting, and laughing where ever there was any space. Despite how late it was, there were equally so many children, dressed in various fancy outfits with their families and friends darting in between crowds and running around raucously. It was a wonderful atmosphere altogether, and nothing like the usually creepy old town that she was used to from her previous visits!
"Now…" Legolas gently took her hand before she could wonder off distracted, and pulled her closer. "I have promised to deliver you to the dogs safely, but I have a small surprise for you first…"
"Oh." Part of her was curious about what he had to show her, while the other part that craved her Thorin felt reluctant to entertain his attentions, however thoughtful or even platonic they might be.
"Are you well, my lady…?" He suddenly shifted nervously observing her. "I realise that you have been through much with all that has gone on…"
She found his face genuinely filled with concern, his usual stern expression gone in that moment.
"I… don't really know how you get over being kidnapped… I don't really go out so much other than for work, but I guess the weather has really turned now… so…" she struggled. Dis and Kili were the only ones who truly asked how she felt after everything that had happened. And while she and Thorin spent time together on dates, she had never brought up the subject. Even when she had asked him about himself, he too had reassured her without opening up much. "Those men had caught several werewolves… and I asked them to release all their prisoners –"
"Some of our feral undead who disappeared have never been found again. I do not think they last long in such captivity – as they cannot be reasoned with. I imagine the soldiers kill them when they find they are unable to control them." Legolas confirmed her suspicions. "I feel for them, but they are merely servants to their own physicals needs. And if you live like that it will eventually be your own downfall."
He searched her face again, before carefully reaching out to tuck a loose tendril of hair behind her ear with a restrained tenderness, giving her enough time to pull away should she wish to. And while she was clearly lost in her own thoughts, she appeared to register his concern but didn't flinch at his closeness.
"There is just something that hasn't quite fit in all this for me… a missing piece of the puzzle to link it all. Dain wanted to hurt Thorin for the wrongs he believed, and worked with an anonymous assailant. While the special ops guys wanted to catch werewolves and vampires to study scientifically, and teamed up with a woman whom they believed knew about these people…" she thought out loud. "But they were linked and in the end, they traded their prisoners AND the arkenstone – so it didn't make sense…"
"Maybe you just need to give yourself a break." Legolas smiled and gently continued to usher her along. "Besides… as I alluded to before, I have a surprise for you…"
"Oh… um…" she looked around nervously as he carried on leading her through the crowds.
Then suddenly he stopped and covered her eyes with his cold hands, continuing to move her gently using the pressure of his body against hers while he kept her eyes shut.
"No peeping now. I had a lot of convincing to do in order to set this one up." He explained with a smug satisfaction. "Right… are you ready?"
"Um…" she worried as to what he had planned, when he let his hands fall to her arms.
"Open your eyes…"
And there in front of her, beyond the crowds stood a large caravan that had been transformed into a haunted house attraction!
"Oh my goodness! But –"
"I remembered you mention how you mentioned the last time you went through a haunted house when you were sixteen… and since you missed All Hallows' Eve – I thought that you might appreciate it.." he watched her eagerly as her eyes lit up with almost childlike excitement.
"You… remembered that conversation from all the way back then?" She observed him with surprise. It had been nothing more than a passing conversation during her capture in Greenwood.
"Yes, well… you are not so easy to forget…" he looked away, attempting to hide a sheepish grin. "So I convinced Mayor Bard to keep this open for a few extra days after Hallowe'en."
He looked at her again and found a genuine smile lighting up her face again, lifting away her worries at least temporarily.
"Well then – no sense in waiting any more…" she took a few steps closer unable to hide her grin, watching as other people walked in through the door.
Within a few paces she had crossed the short distance to the entrance, and a group of rowdy youths had appeared behind her. Eager to go in themselves, they swept her along in the crowd despite Legolas calling out from behind and following.
Suddenly she found herself in a dark corridor, lit up by eerie dim, green lighting and covered in some fine gossamer like thread intended to feel like cobwebs. Suppressing a squeal and dusting the stuff off, she found herself ushered on by the boys, when something reached out from the darkness.
Several bony skeletal hands swung forward and back grabbing and lunging from the walls of the narrow corridor, and the boy seemed to shriek out and huddle closer together clutching on to her at the same time. As a tight group the navigated the dark corridor further still through more cobwebs and to the sounds of distant wailing, before reaching a junction where the corridor divided.
Suddenly a door slid open revealing a tall, ghoulish figure, that lunged out at them wielding a knife that glinted in the dim light.
The boys, now truly terrified dashed out dispersing down separate corridors, some screaming in rather a high pitch, leaving her grappling for her life with this creature. It seemed to have got her, clutching at her coat and pulling her towards it. It was too realistic! When she found herself face to face with the creature and saw its eyes light up with tiny red lights, she realised it was just an automaton. It remained still for a moment, allowing her to free her clothing from its mechanical hand that had acted like a hook. And then just as soon as it had appeared, the door in the black wall had shut and it was gone.
She turned to look back into the darkness.
"Legolas…?"
But the corridors were suddenly filled with several puffs of dry ice, obscuring her view entirely. This was nothing like the haunted house she had been to before – it was far too realistic.
Heart racing and unable to see, she slowly made her way in one direction, and back into the pitch black again as the smoke finally dissipated, where she found herself in a small atrium filled with mirrors, some distorted, some elongated, making her face look odd and scary as dim coloured lights switched on and off, to further sounds of wailing.
She stepped into the middle and tried to feel her way out, surely one panel was a door?
"You were given your chance to leave…" a familiar voice spoke to her. "To save yourself from this mess that he made for himself…"
She spun round looking at the various mirrors, only to have another puff of smoke appear in the chamber of mirrors.
"But I suppose you have made up your mind…" it was a familiar voice, but not a pleasant one. "I can smell him all over you…"
It was HER!
As a flash of dim light illuminated the chamber, she saw the attractive, red haired woman in the mirror! Spinning around, Shobha couldn't find where she stood, when a panel opened into a corridor and she spotted the woman walking away.
"Wait… please…" she followed down the dark corridor, but the woman was quick.
More bony arms lunged at her through the walls again to the sound of wailing, as eerie dim lights switched on and off. But she pushed on. Now the corridor felt narrower. It made her feel quite claustrophobic, heart racing as she passed through more cobwebs, which felt too real to be fun anymore.
Another panel in the wall opened to reveal a large bear like creature, its eyes glowing in the dark.
This time she was unable to stifle a shriek as it reminded her of the wolves that chased her, not so long ago! She could hears screams from others going through, but was unable to locate the direction as she moved through the darkness quickly, wishing to get out into the open now.
Then as she rounded another corner, she found herself shoved bodily against the wall, her face pressed to a side.
"You're a pretty girl… so I don't want to ruin that face…"
It was the redhead! She held Shobhas hands locked behind her back, and while the woman could have twisted them uncomfortably, she didn't.
"I can see why he wants you - you're not like the others…" she whispered in Shobhas ear, and the she scoffed bitterly. "I bet he resisted you like his life depended on it eh? Fuck – I would do you myself…"
She gently brushed her hair over to her other shoulder revealing Shobhas neck, and leaning down to take a deep breath in. It was strangely gentle, despite the iron grip with which the woman held her hands.
"Mmmm…. You do smell good too…" the woman's lips and face felt soft against the sensitive skin of her neck, unlike the bristly feel of Thorin's bearded face.
"Please… tell me what you want…" Shobha finally managed closing her eyes. "If you want him – I won't stand in your way –"
"Oh but we both know he wants you… he has claimed your body. I can smell him all over you," the woman grabbed her and spun her around, pressing her against the wall again. "And now you will have to burn with him…"
Shobha blinked, as she watched the woman with her brilliant green eyes as she stared right back. And then as further smoke and lights began to fill the dark corridor, the redheads face began to change! Her teeth elongating, her nose and mouth pulling forwards as she stood there!
It looked like she was transforming… into a wolf!
"I imagine you must taste so good…" she almost growled, as her voice appeared to be changing.
Shobha writhed free of her grasp, and ran in to the dark corridor, now filled with smoke. This time little furry bats dangled down on invisible wires. Weaving through them and moving them aside, she hurried on, until she rounded yet another corner when suddenly the floor slid open. A tall, pale figure sat up from within, its lips covered with red blood and its eyes flashing red!
She screamed, only just managing not to fall into the whole with the mechanical figure!
"Run little girl! Go find him – see whether he will even pay you any attention, or even listen to you, now that he has other priorities.."
Quickly skirting to one side, she carefully shuffled past it, looking behind her at the shadows moving in the smoke, and ran into the next corner.
Finally she could feel a cool blast of air and followed it until she could see the exit!
A final set of bony arms lunged out at her, only hurrying her exit along, as she dodged them and rushed out.
She had only taken a few steps out, when she was grasped by a pair of firm arms.
"Hey little one! I've got you!" Legolas held her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. "If I had known this was all it took to hold you – I would have done this a long time ago…"
"It was her! The woman running the military group!" She panted, clinging onto his chest looking up at him desperately trying to explain. "She's a werewolf!"
"I think it's meant to be a bear, not a wolf –"
"No! She was in the mirrors and then she caught me!" She pleaded again. "We need to find the others!"
"I don't understand?" He looked behind her at the exit, as more people left, screaming, laughing and shouting at each other.
"The woman who kidnapped me was in there! And she's a werewolf…" Shobha explained again, her heart pounding in her chest. "You have to believe me!"
But it was all too much, her heart raced, her stomach churned and she found herself unable to catch her breath. Soon her vision darkened until everything faded away.
When she opened her eyes again, she was lying on a stretcher wrapped in a large, warm leather coat, and blanket, a pair of pale eyes watching her with concern.
"Shobha…?" Legolas spoke gently.
"Oh God! We have to go –"
"Hush! It's okay! We searched in the haunted house, and there was no one – so whoever she was, must have left by then." He explained gently, before offering her a cup. "Here have this… it's hot chocolate."
"Shobha! Oh my dear! Thank goodness you're awake." Dis appeared in the medical tent. Her initial happiness to see Shobha awake faded into partial disdain on seeing the tall blonde. "You are a bad creature; None of this would have happened, if you had just kept yourself from trying to get into her pants!"
"Its not his fault… I'm sorry I caused trouble – besides it's that woman." She took a sip of the hot chocolate and suddenly stopped, feeling a wave of queasiness.
Legolas observed her with renewed concern, before handing her a bottle of water.
"Here take some sips of water. It may settle that feeling.." he offered.
"I have got Dario to bring the car around, we will get you home as soon as possible and then you can rest better –"
"Really that's not necessary. I don't want a big fuss. I just fainted – I will feel better soon, and then Legolas can take me back…" she looked towards the tall, pale man, and he merely nodded with a little tilt of his head, still observing her, before glancing at Dis with a neutral expression.
"What?! You can't go back on that… that… contraption!"
"It's a bike! It's perfectly safe!"
"Fili should have picked you up as we had planned all along…" Dis fussed moving over to her and putting a hand on Shobhas forehead.
"This is no ones fault. I will just have some water and it will be fine."
"I will take you back in the car, and Tauriel can take the bike back. It is probably the best thing to do." Legolas offered sympathetically.
"We've had a look around – and there is no sign of anyone now…" Kili burst in to the tent this time. "Shobha you're up!"
Everyone turned to look at the younger councilman, who appeared to hesitate.
"Great. So I could have made it all up… or imagined it." Shobha shrugged.
"Well no… that's what I wanted to say, there was a definite scent we both picked up. Another wolf, but nothing like what we have smelled before." Kili added cautiously. "So we really need to tell Thorin right away –"
"You mean he doesn't know…?"
"We sort of left a message with Helga…" Dis replied, her tone a clear mixture of disappointment and worry. Apparently she was not particularly happy about absence.
"Okay, good. So we can enjoy the fireworks and then go home." She said taking another sip and suppressing another wave of sickness.
"No!" Dis, Legolas and Kili all replied together.
"Better to get home and rest…" Legolas agreed.
"You look pale, and a little tired." Dis smiled. "You should rest my dear."
"Besides Uncle will get the message anytime now, and then we will all be in trouble for having brought you here without him…" Kili revealed nervously. "I mean, I have never heard of a she wolf, but we could both smell her in there. So it was not your imagination, Shobha."
"Aye, my dear. What danger you and all these people were in, only Mahal knows. I think you were lucky –" Dis began.
"What if she wanted me to see her…"
"It still doesn't matter. You need to get home." Dis spoke sternly this time. "We can figure things out tomorrow after you've had a rest."
Just then the a group marched in to the medical tent, led by a terrifyingly angry looking Thorin, who was flanked by Dales Mayor and Fili. He looked around and spotting their group, made a beeline towards them, his eyes casting murderous glances towards Legolas.
"Great. My night just got a whole lot better…" Shobha muttered.
…
"Please put me down Thorin. I am quite capable of walking –"
"Aye? Well you had no complaints when that bloodsucker carried you." He grunted.
"No. He put me down too." She replied quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't wait for you – but it was silly waiting when everyone had stuff planned with me and you had more pressing matters."
"Is that what this is about? You think I consider Thorin more important than my commitments to you?" He glanced at her, his face stern and expressionless.
It was hard to guess how angry he was, when he was like this, unlike when he ranted and raved at her. She was quite used to that! This made her feel as though she had truly done something wrong!
"No! And you know that Thorin." She snapped back. "I was not upset about you having to work, I just want the freedom to join Dis, Dwalin, Kili and Fili and go out. What's wrong about that?!"
"Well, there was a reason I was going to accompany you. Because it was still dangerous – and you have proven that quite well, haven't you?" He finally spat back angrily.
"No. I was well protected –"
"You rode on that vampire's motorbike! If that is your idea of safe –" he scoffed, his anger making it hard for him to coherently get his words out at the point. "Well then – you SHOULD be locked away until someone accompanies you!"
"Ha! That's your problem isn't it? Legolas?!" She laughed bitterly. "You're jealous?! Really?!"
He knew she was correct. The mere thought of how close she was to that creature made him want to put his fist through a wall!
"Would you prefer that I didn't care?" He suddenly turned to her and pushed her against the marbled wall of the long corridor, grasping her hips in a firm grip, towering over her, and looking into her eyes. As far as he was concerned, she belonged to him, and anything else made him angry. He brushed her lips gently with his thumb as he lifted a hand up to cup her cheek. Her skin was cold, and he needed to do something about it. He leant in and whispered in her ear. "You are mine. And my duty is to protect you…"
"Yours…" She closed her eyes feeling his body against hers, unable to concentrate and lost for words, until he pulled away with a smug look on his face.
"I got held behind as I received word from some of our scouts. Your Golem found the MOD base and then found my scouts. But the base has been destroyed; burnt to the ground. And your Golem was searching for you…"
"Cole. His name is Cole." She replied. "But I set him free?"
"It turns out that he is very loyal indeed." He ushered her into his room gently.
"Thorin, I still don't understand how you can be so calm about this military woman –"
"There are many who hate me. It could just be an idle threat. Then there are activists who target the mines, but know nothing of our mining. It could be anyone –" he shut the door turning towards her as she clutched onto him in a desperate attempt to make herself heard.
"No this was the woman who kidnapped us! Don't you remember – she ordered your torture!"
"Shobha those vile men did many things – but I never met a woman there." He observed her with a concerned indifference, as if she were hallucinating, or overtired and recalling a dream.
"I swear there was a woman. Late forties; red haired –"
"Very well, my love. We will look into it. I promise." He spoke soothingly, tugging gently at her coat. "But for now you need some rest. We have both dealt with so much…Now, let me draw you a bath and get you to bed…"
…..
She stirred awake, once again finding herself naked and alone in the centre of his enormous bed. But soon she quickly realised she was not alone in the room.
Sitting up carefully and peering around the room in the dim light, she noticed an enormous dark shape at the foot of the bed. It's soft, deep breathing steady.
The alpha stirred slightly itself in response to the sound of her movement, lifting its head to scan the peripheries, or so she I imagined and then satisfied it lowered its head back down.
It was guarding her.
Removing the warm covers, she carefully slipped out of bed, nervous but sure now that the beast had no intent on harming her. She paused, the last encounter she had with it running through her head and then very slowly, step by step began to walk over to it.
Reminding herself that it was, of course, just another version of Thorin, she gingerly approached the beast.
As she neared it, she noticed it's eyes were fully open, and it was actually awake!
"You are awake…" she whispered quietly as it looked up at her.
"And you should be asleep…" his eyes drifted down from her face over her nude form with quite some interest.
"I can't get back to sleep. That bed is too enormous for me," she hesitated as the wolf adjusted itself.
The beast suddenly opened itself up, beckoning for her to lay in his arms and against its chest.
After a moments hesitation, she slowly tiptoed closer before crouching down to crawl into his arms, despite being completely naked. He too gave her a few seconds to lay down comfortably in his open arms before engulfing her tiny form quite eagerly.
"I keep seeing her face… her anger - it feels very personal," she finally explained, resting her head against its enormous chest.
"And I swear to keep you safe little one." It brushed her hair gently with its strange humanoid clawed hands ever so gently.
"Is that what you have been doing each night?" She could feel the heat from its body, and hear its steady heartbeat where she rested her head.
"But I do not sense any imminent threat. There is not even the slightest scent of a new wolf nearby, and there has not been for the last few weeks –"
"So you have been worried that she might attack? And you believe that she is a were – that she can change?" She corrected herself, suddenly lifting herself up, and twisting around to examine the beasts face, with his strange blue eyes, and its terrifying jaws.
"I sensed this creature after your Thorin had mated with you that night on the vampire island. Her scent is different, her ability to change is not driven by the same thing that we have. Perhaps that is why the others are baffled. Our female mates do not posses the ability." He explained in his rumbling deep voice. "But that night was the first time I had sensed this. And they were prepared, as soon as I had changed and left the room, the men had there darts and nets ready. That is a mistake that will never happen again."
"So they tranquilliser you! That's how they caught you." She had always wondered.
"When our men change, for the first few moments we are weak, with our senses disorientated. This is our only weakness." The creature explained, watching her carefully. "But now I am prepared."
There was something strangely tender about this grotesque creature guarding her each night. And it also explained where Thorin went on some of the nights she had awoken to find herself alone in bed! Slowly, she reached out to stroke its face, careful of allowing it the freedom to pull away. But to her surprise, it closed its eyes, the moment her small hand connected with its fur, and leant into her touch. Gently she ran her hand along its jaw, no longer fearing its sharp teeth, and then paused as it opened its eyes again.
"Thank you… " she whispered settling back down into his chest, finding it strangely cosy and agreeable, like being wrapped up in a large, heated fur coat. "This is actually… very lovely…"
"You seem dismayed by that…" he growled, it made a rumbling sensation through his chest which she could feel against her skin.
"No… it's just that… I think you listen to me more than he does…" she confessed, subconsciously running her fingers through his fur gently again. Even her initial self consciousness over being naked had melted away leaving her feeling strangely safe as she curled up against its enormous frame. "I guess… I didn't really expect that…"
The beast responded with a pleasurable growl, but remained silent as she continued to think out loud.
"You're really not a beast at all…" she yawned, as finally all her worries had melted away, and her desire for sleep returned once more.
…