It was a grand feast the Master put on for his guest, to wish them luck in this dangerous quest and hope that he will see riches very soon. The company was having a merry old time, their mugs were filled with ale, laughter and jests filled the room. Thorin on the other hand was not in a very joyous mood and sat at the far end of the long table, away from his men and still had yet to touch his mug.
He just froze as those soldiers dragged the young woman away. Why didn't she listen to him? She should of stayed indoors where it was safe and she wouldn't be in a cell right now. Thorin had his head resting in the palm of his hand, making a look as if he were in deep thought and he straightened up when he saw he suddenly had company.
"You haven't touched your mug, uncle. You should be celebrating with the rest of us!" Fili exclaimed.
"I'm fine boys. Go, don't let my mood spoil yours." Thorin encouraged, but the two brothers knew there uncle too well that something else was weighing on his mind, besides the quest. Thorin thought his nephews hadn't noticed, but they did. Throughout this journey they had noticed the attitude difference the leader showed towards the young woman that accompanied them. They could tell he liked her a lot and he was trying so hard not to show it.
"This isn't right." Kili muttered. "Bella should be here celebrating with us. She is part of this company as much as the rest of us." The young dwarf declared. Fili couldn't agree more with his brother. Thorin knew they were right. Bella was part of this company and as much as he tried so hard not to let his feelings get in the way of his duty he promised to his people, he just couldn't fight it anymore. He cared about her in ways he never thought he would. Thorin knew what he had to do and he got up from the table and started heading for the doors that would lead him of of the room and into the hallway.
"Uncle where are you going?" Fili questioned, furrowing his brows, wondering what suddenly got into his uncle that would cause him to get up so abruptly and leave.
"I'm getting Bella back." Thorin stated lowly with determination in his voice, forgetting that none of them were aware the half-breed had been taken captive. And Fili and Kili watched as their uncle disappeared out of the room and then turned to look at each other. Wasn't Bella at her brother's house, resting?
Thorin headed down the hall towards the Masters study when out of nowhere, Alfrid's ugly face showed up. " What are you doing down here?" Alfrid hissed.
"I must speak with the Master." Thorin stated, giving a slight glare.
"The Master is a busy man. He does not wish to be disturbed."
"Tell the Master, that I wish to renegotiate our agreement." The dwarf king pressed.
"What for?" Alfrid challenged.
"I want Bella free of all charges against her."
"Bella is a murderer and a thief. She is right where she should have been ten years ago." Alfrid spat. Thorin glared at the greasy haired man and his anger got the best of him and he grabbed Alfrid by the scruff of his clothing, yanking him down to his level, his face only inches from his.
"You and I both know, Bella didn't do either of those things. She gave the bag of coins back to you. She was only trying to help her friend out and you accused them when they did nothing!" Thorin sneered lowly. The dwarf could hear the faint heavy breathing coming from the terrified man. " I suggest you take me to the Master, now." He growled, shoving frightened Alfrid away from him, causing him to stumble. Alfrid gave Thorin a glare, before straightening out his coat and leading the way.
The Master's deputy knocked on the door and walked in. "Sire, the Mountain King would like a word with you." The Master looked up from his table and nodded and the dwarf walked passed Alfrid and sat down.
"What can I do for you my Lord?" The Master asked, as he took a huge gulp of brandy and Alfrid stood beside the other man.
"I want Bella released." Thorin stated, getting right to the point.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. Bella must pay for the crime, she has committed." The dwarf king narrowed his eyes at that and knew what he had to do next.
"Release her. And I can promise you more gold." Thorin offered, noticing the Master's attention had perked at this.
" You would buy this...thief's freedom back?" The Master challenged.
"She's here because of us. So yes, I would." The dwarf declared.
The Master was in deep thought, choosing his next words carefully. " If...I pardon Bella of all crimes against her. The gold you promised to my people, goes only to me." Thorin was perplexed by the Master's greediness. He cared only for himself and could care less about what was best for his people. The mountain king didn't like the sound of this at all but what choice did he have? He wasn't going to leave this place without her. Thorin stood up and looked at the Master and held out his hand.
"You have a deal." He stated and the Master shook his hand.
"I'll have Bella released at once. The Master looked at Braga, the captain of the guard and nodded and the man left to release the young woman. Thorin began to follow, when the Master spoke. "One last thing." Thorin turned around to look at the disgusting man. " Bella can never enter this town again. If she does, her punishment will be her death." he warned. Thorin left and went to catch up to the captain of the guard.
Bella was laying on the uncomfortable bed provided in the cell, staring at ceiling above her. She knew coming back here was a mistake. But this was what she deserved. The young woman was lost in her thoughts when she heard the shouting just outside her cell.
"Move!" Braga ordered, shoving passed a few soldiers, and pulled out the keys to unlock the door. Bella instantly sat up and was confused to see Braga opening her cell. " Looks like its your lucky day Bella. You've been pardoned of your crimes." He sneered and grabbed her by her clothing and dragged her out.
Thorin was standing outside when he heard heavy footsteps coming in his direction and saw the way they were handing Bella and the men tossed Bella toward's Thorin who ended up catching her in his arms before she could hit the ground and gave the men a scowl as they all laughed and left back down through the town square, leaving the two of them alone standing in the street as fresh snow began to fall on their heads.
"Bella, are you alright?" Thorin asked her, as he steadied her.
"I'm fine. Thorin what is going on? I don't understand." Bella pressed.
"Bella your free now." The dwarf informed her and noticed the shaking of her head at this, wondering how this was possible.
"Thorin...what did you do?" She dared to ask.
"It doesn't matter. What matters is that you have your freedom back." Thorin told her.
"I don't deserve to have my freedom back Thorin." The half-breed protested, looking down at the ground, but Thorin wasn't having any of it and cupped the woman's face in his hands, making her have no choice but to look him right in the eyes.
"Bella, I want you to listen to me. You need to stop blaming yourself for what cannot be undone. You are not responsible for the death of your friend. The ones responsible will get their deserving fates, but you do not deserve to rot away in a cell for the rest of your life."
"Why would you risk the fate of this quest for me, Thorin? This quest is more important then everything else." Bella stated, her eyes drifting away from Thorin's towards the ground as he still had her face in his hands.
"Not everything, Bella." He told her, turning her face to look at him. " I thought I made that obvious, earlier." The dwarf king pressed, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs and then remembered something else she should know. "Bella...in order to have you released, the Master wants you to never enter Laketown again...if you do, your punishment will be death."
The young woman swallowed the pit that had entered her, hearing this. This meant she would never be able to see her brother or her two nieces and nephew ever again. " I guess...I should go then." She mumbled, pulling out of Thorin's hold and only getting a few steps before the dwarf caught her by the arm.
"Bella, stop! You don't have to run anymore. You are not alone. You know the company cares about you...I care about you. Your coming with us."
The two of them just stood in silence, looking at one another. Thorin still had her hand in his when he tugged her towards him, pressing his lips against hers. The leader let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her even closer to him as the kiss deepened. Thorin was the first to pull away and rested his forehead against hers. " I think its safer if you stay with me tonight." Thorin breathed lowly. Bella looked up at Thorin when he said this to her and couldn't lie that just being near him, made her feel more safer then she had felt in a very long time. The young woman returned back into Thorin's arms, resting her head against his chest. The king had an arm wrapped around her stroking her hair and then rested it on her shoulder. " Let's get you out of this cold."
Thorin started leading her down the street, his arm still wrapped around her shoulder. They only had a short distance to walk before they reached the Masters home. Bella was a bit hesitant about going in there, but the dwarf assured her, she had nothing to worry about and took her hand and they began the climb up the steps where two guards stood watch. The doors opened and they walked in. Bella could hear down the hall the loud shouts of the company, they were having a merry old time and she couldn't help but smile, hearing them all. But their voices were fading just as quickly as Thorin lead her away from the noise of his rambunctious men and the two of them ventured further through the Master's home when they stopped at a door. The king pushed the door open and in that instants the young woman realized this must be his quarters the Master had given him. The dwarf gestured for her to go in first and he followed behind her, closing the door and locking it.
It was quiet for the first few minutes only the crackling of the hearth broke the silence. " You don't wish to join the others?" Bella finally asked.
"No. I wish to spend this evening with you, Bella." Thorin spoke deeply, coming towards her. He was looking at her with such longing in his eyes as he lifted a finger to caress one of the scars on her face. The half-breed closed her eyes at his surprisingly soft touch. Thorin had rough hands, due to his many years as a blacksmith and warrior and yet they felt as gentle as ever and she suddenly felt warm lips graze hers.
The two of them slowly backed up towards the wall and the kiss turned deeper as Bella weaved her fingers into the dwarf's hair. The half-breed could feel the need for more in ever kiss Thorin placed against her skin. He started kissing her down the side of her neck, his hands began travelling up her back slowly to undo the buttons that held the top of her dress together.
Instantly Bella pulled away out of hesitation and Thorin now looked at her with question in his eyes. " Bella..." Thorin said, concern evident in his voice. Bella shook her head, turning away from the worried look in Thorin's eyes.
"W-why would you want me, Thorin? I'm...hideous."
"Bella. Your not hideous. Your the most beautiful woman I have ever met." He declared, placing a hand on the side of her cheek to make her look at him.
" You say that now...you have no idea. The goblin attack wasn't...my first time being tortured," She began. "...before I met Beorn I was captured by a group of wild men and tortured for information on the whereabouts of someone they thought I knew..." Bella exhaled a breath before continuing. " They did worse to me then what the goblins inflicted on me in the tunnels. My body is scarred Thorin...I am hideous. Your telling me, you could look at this everyday?"
Thorin couldn't believe she was belittling herself like this. He had never thought for a second after what happened to her that she looked any lesser then the first day he met her at the hobbit's home. If anything she was more beautiful in his eyes. What she had been through, showed him just how strong she really was, which made him only desire her more. " Bella nothing pains me more then that day, knowing I could have done something to prevent that from happening and I did nothing until it was too late and I'll regret it for the rest of my life, but you are still the most beautiful creature, scars or not. Your scars make you even more beautiful in my eyes, and show just how strong you really are, I admire that about you. I would never hurt you Bella. " Bella was too shocked for words. She had never heard Thorin speak to her with such love and she could feel the doubt starting to go away as Thorin tilted her head and pressed his lips softly against the scar just above her eye.
The young woman looked back into Thorin's blue eyes. " Is it necessary you wear all these layers?" She pressed, giving a laugh and seeing Thorin smirking at her.
"Do you want assistance?" He chuckled, raising an eyebrow at her.
Bella clutched the front of Thorin's coat and looked at him. " I think I can manage." and she pulled the dwarf towards her, claiming his lips. She removed coat off of him and started removing the next layer of clothing and then the next. Thorin went back to undoing her dress, taking his time doing it and kissing every inch of her face.
They both now stood before each other, there forms exposed. Bella could feel Thorin's intense eyes on her, but he wasn't looking at her with disgust but with desire in his eyes. The two of them slowly moved away from the wall, Bella following Thorin blindly when she suddenly felt the sheets touch the back of her legs. The half-breed shifted further back onto the mattress, the dwarf king climbing on after her until she was lying in the center of the bed and he was hovering over her, and she stared into the kings burning gaze.