For WritersMonth 2021

Prompt 13: Night

Found this little sketch in my WIP file…with a bit of work it turned out perfect for the prompt.

Thorin woke with a start, feeling something was wrong. He rolled over and reached across the bed, finding only cool sheets. Kaylea was gone. Thorin pulled her pillow close, inhaling her scent. He lay still and listened to the sounds of his city traveling through the stone, wondering what time it was. From the quiet it had to be the middle of the night.

He rolled onto his back, wondering where Kaylea was. She slept so little, she was probably running up the side of the mountain or some such thing. Thorin wondered if everyone in her country was always rushing around from one thing to another. Kaylea seemed to spend every spare moment punishing her body in some way. It seemed strange to him, to single-mindedly make life more difficult, especially for someone already so strong and skilled. Kaylea was so rarely in Erebor, every moment spent with her was precious to him. He treasured the moments falling asleep and waking up beside her. Thorin had told her as much, and she had agreed to stay while he slept. Instead, she seemed to have perfected the art of slipping away.

Thorin stared at the ceiling, debating. Just go back to sleep, he told himself. She will be here when you wake. But he was already thinking about the letters he needed to write, this dispute between the families could easily escalate into war. He hoped there was still a chance it could be avoided, not looking forward to choosing a side. He threw the covers back and swung his feet over the side of the bed. He was awake, might as well make the best of it. Thorin recovered his trousers and undershirt from the floor and stoked up the fire in his sitting room. Then he turned his attention to the pile of papers on his desk.

He had just sealed his second letter and was about to go over the maps when he heard the soft creak of the door. He half-turned to see Kaylea step into the room, wearing her close-fitting training clothes. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw him, she quickly crossed the room and took a knee beside his chair.

"I beg your forgiveness, my king. I thought I would be back before you woke."

Thorin smiled at her, running his finger under her jaw to lift her head. "You know there is no need for such formality between us, my love." He sighed. "I do wish you would stay in one place for a few hours. Is that really asking so much?"

"It is not," Kaylea bowed her head again, the lamplight reflecting off the mithril beads in her hair. "I felt no need of sleep and thought I could do some training before you woke. I am sorry."

"No, I don't believe you are," Thorin looked at her thoughtfully. The braids along her temples caught his eye, she never did get them right. "Tell me, does everyone in your country live like this? Do they never take a moment's rest?"

"Life moves at a very different pace there," Kaylea smiled up at him, then quickly bowed her head. "I give you my word, for this day forward I will not leave you during the night, without your permission."

"I am going to hold you to that promise," Thorin said, turning back to his papers. "Now that you are here, I would like your opinion."

"Of course, your majesty," Kaylea rose to her feet. "If I may have a few moments to change?"

Thorin nodded his approval and went back to reading. He tried to concentrate, but found himself listening to Kaylea in the bathroom, water running, then quiet for a time before hearing her move around the bedroom. She returned and took a seat at the table next to him, her golden hair loose over her shoulders, wearing only one of his shirts that left a very enticing length of thigh exposed. She set two glasses down and poured drinks from a tall bottle. The fine whisky from her land, that always reminded Thorin of their first kiss, and everything that happened after.

He picked up a glass and clicked it to hers, his eyes drawn to the curve of her breast disappearing into his shirt. "How exactly am I supposed to concentrate now?"

"I'm sorry, am I distracting you, my king?" Kaylea asked innocently, tossing her drink back. She fluttered her eyelashes at him. "It is purely intentional, I assure you." She gave him an enquiring look. "What is keeping you up at this hour?"

Thorin shook his head. "There are many things on my mind at present," he replied, with a wry smile, looking at her bare legs. "I would like you to go over these letters. If you see a way to avoid a war, I would like to hear it."

Kaylea gave him a curious glance, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is that all?"

"If you must know, it is the fact that you never get your braids tight enough," Thorin said curtly, getting to his feet. "You read, and I will braid."

Kaylea read through the letters as Thorin combed out her hair. He loved the soft feel of it between his fingers, the color like spun gold. As he worked, he tried to focus on what he could do to resolve the dispute, but his train of thought was repeated interrupted by the smell of Kaylea's hair. His eyes kept straying to her thin silk shirt, the length of thigh exposed when she shifted in her chair. He finished her braids then took the letters from her and tossed them on the table with a sigh of exasperation.

"I wasn't finished reading those!" Kaylea turned to look at him.

"You can finish later," Thorin told her, with a grin. "Right now, I am going to have my way with you. Naughty woman who deserts her King in the middle of the night."

Kaylea stood up to face him with a sly smile, started unbuttoning her shirt. "I was beginning to wonder if I had lost my powers of persuasion." She looked at him through her lashes. "Am I forgiven?"

Thorin pulled her into his arms. "Not yet."