Before she could say anymore, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a tender kiss. After their role play from earlier today, she found herself returning his kiss quite readily too. It took all the unwanted attention from her, as several guests whistled lewdly, and everyone else returned to their own conversations.

"The spare seat beside you, was clearly meant to show you up, my beauty." He whispered into her ear, still holding her close to his body, one hand caressing her neck and a possessive arm pressing her into his own frame. To those who watched them, it was a subtly sensual, skirting dangerously on the verge of appearing grossly inappropriate. In her eyes, he was her knight in shining armour. "Anyway, as all eyes were on you, I thought we should give them something to talk about..."

"How did you know…?" She raised a hand to wipe off a smudge of her pillar-box red lipstick from his lips. "Sorry about that…"

"When I brought your shawl back, I happened to meet the host, who asked whether I would stay." He smiled, catching her hand in his and kissing it, all the while keeping his storm like eyes fixed on her. "I think you have an admirer… and that red suits you."

He pulled her chair out for her, before taking a seat himself.

"Hi! You must be Shobha. I'm Anaya, Vikram's sister." A young woman, who looked like she was in her mid-twenties leant over from beside Shobha to introduce herself. She kept glancing past at Thorin, clearly curious, but not so pushy enough to directly ask.

"Oh! It's nice to meet you." Shobha smiled politely.

"Is that your boyfriend?" Anaya leant closer and asked. She didn't make an effort to whisper, but all the same spoke quieter than was polite, given he sat within earshot.

Shobha frowned at the girl, but found her still waiting for an answer, and not in the least put off by her reluctance.

"Oh.."

"I hardly think one could call me a 'boy'." Thorin cut in, wrapping his arm around Shobha in a clearly possessive display.

"Really babe, you saw that kiss he gave her right?" A young man with dirty blonde hair, grey eyes and a very pale complexion, dismissed Anaya, rolling his eyes. He flashed a genuine smile before offering his hand out to shake hands with Thorin and then Shobha. "I'm Darren. And I don't like being called her 'boyfriend' either… but that's more for other reasons!"

Darren chuckled with Thorin, prompting Anaya to slap his arm firmly, her face clearly soured. He had taken his dinner jacket off and rolled his sleeves up already as if he were ready for an enormous feast to turn up. Knowing Ria, he would be sorely disappointed; this restaurant was probably the sort of place that served up meals that were more like tiny samples of ingredients used for meals, and called them 'deconstructed' dishes!

"I imagine so." Thorin whispered in Shobhas ear.

"So what do you do then Thorin?" Anaya asked him directly, turning her attention back again to them.

"I am actually civil engineer by trade, but run a set of mines." While he answered Anaya, he watched Shobha, studying her face for its reaction.

Shobha looked at Thorin quite taken aback. She didn't know he was an engineer, and certainly never imagined he could be so modest!

"Oh – so you're a miner?" Anaya pressed on.

"No. I do have to go into the mines to inspect them… I probably could do it if I so wished. But no, I do not do any of the mining." Thorin pulled his lips into a tight forced smile.

"It must be quite frustrating running a business when you want to do something else? I just made partner at my practice! So finally I get a say in what goes." She scowled disdainfully.

"I have little choice in the matter. It is a familial expectation." Thorin smiled watching Shobha again as he spoke. "When my father passed away, I was expected to follow…"

Shobha didn't turn to watch Anaya reply, this time, instead she held Thorin's intense sapphire gaze, which made her feel as though he could see all of her.

He wanted to know what thoughts played through her mind, to hold his gaze for so long. Today, when she had played the part of his betrothed, he had let himself imagine what could become of a relationship with her. It had transformed into a tantalising possibility. And what little he had of her then, had felt heavenly – a taste he was neither likely nor willing to forget anytime soon.

"Ugh. How terribly annoying." Anaya sighed, clueless to what he was speaking of. "I would be desperate to get out of that. Those horrid, dirty, dark mines…"

"Anaya, he's not a miner." Shobha dismissed, like she was some sort of annoying insect buzzing around. "Thorin owns the mines and the town."

"And they are probably not coal mines Anaya," Darren rolled his eyes at her ignorance, before holding her hand in genuine consolation. "Where do you think your diamonds and rubies come from? Besides, if you don't eat your starter, I will."

Shobha grinned at Darren, who had not only rolled the sleeves of his crisp white shirt up, but also tucked in one napkin around his neck and set one on his lap to be sure, as he indulged in the food ravenously. He had only put his fork down temporarily to stop his girlfriends overbearing questions, and seemed annoyed at that, because it had stalled his own eating, which was a surprise, since he looked almost rakishly lean.

Anaya, looking over at him, finally noticed his state of undress and began to fuss immediately.

"If you don't want me to get my suit dirty, then I have no choice. I'm not starving myself for your vanity, babe." He began to tuck back into his food hungrily. "You will have to repay me in kind tonight for this stuffy dinner."

Shobha turned back, a genuine grin on her face only to notice Thorin watching her with a mixture of curiosity and something else she couldn't quite read.

He never had the chance to watch her so intimately when she was relaxed before.

"At first I was unsure about whether you would be happy to have my company this evening. But now, I am in no doubt," Thorin whispered leaning in to whisper so closely to her, that she could feel a few soft bristles of his beard brush against the skin of her cheek, which had become suddenly so sensitive. He spoke even softer this time, finishing as if making a confession this time. "And for your sake, quite glad I came…"

She tilted her face a little more towards him, before finding that intense stormy gaze piercing her own eyes before gently touching his arm briefly.

"I'm glad you came too." She whispered back, not daring to look into his eyes this time, in case he should realise her true feelings.

…..

Dinner had been a long and tedious affair, just as she had expected. They had to endure seven course of very delicious food but in very tiny portions. And then they had sat through five speeches, which had made dinner drag on indeed! To make matters worse, several cousins and mutual friends had spoken with her across the table, including Mike's sister, Cathy, recalling the 'good old days' – which had been more cringeworthy than funny. At one point, Thorin, seeing her discomfort had reached down to hold her hand under the table.

Finally as the evening began to draw to a close, Shobha had excused herself to the bathroom, only to be joined by Anaya and Cathy.

"Hey Shobha, I'm sorry I haven't been in touch –" Cathy, who had quietly listened to Anaya prattle on about her role as maid of honour as they walked together finally spoke as they stood washing their hands.

"Please don't, Cathy. It's fine." Shobha interrupted her, grabbing a couple of paper towels to dry her hands as she observed Mike's sister in the mirror.

"I didn't know whether you would want to hear – I just had to explain myself." Cathy, played with her strawberry blonde tresses in the mirror, before fishing out some lipgloss from her purse and applying it in the mirror.

Before all this, Shobha would have probably accepted this, but she felt it was just words of convenience.

"Really, there's no need to mention it."

"Please… He thinks about you. A lot." Cathy sudden burst out with it. "I know he feels terrible –"

"Well then, he shouldn't have cheated." Shobha replied flatly.

"He's an absolute idiot. Buts it's more than that…" This time Cathy watched shobha, with her pale blue watery eyes, pausing because she was clearly in possession of another man's secret that she was still weighing up about revealing.

"What is it Cath…" Shobha looked at the woman that would have once become her future sister in law, curious to hear it out at first.

Only their conversation was cut short by Anaya's arrival, who was entirely oblivious to what had been discussed, and they had pulled apart as if they had been about to kiss.

"So there won't be a hen or stag do specifically as such. But we are all having a night cap in the bar just next door, while the stags stay in the bar here." Anaya carried on, before pausing for a moment to scowl at the two of them. "What's wrong with you two?"

"Oh nothing. Just that I would have preferred to have taken a piss without the chatter – you know; in peace." Shobha remarked trying her best to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. "Except women think everyone has to visit the loos together… have you ever worked out that one?"

"What the hell are you going on about?" Anaya's lip curled disdainfully at her.

"Why do women feel they have to go when they see another woman going to the loo?" Shobha repeated a little slower. "Is there some sort of 'Toilet-Monster' that jumps the unsuspecting solo visitor…?"

Cathy burst out laughing, while Anaya scowled a little more.

"I think you've had quite enough to drink tonight. There's no point in you coming out with us and getting so hung over that you can't make it tomorrow, or worse, get sick or cause a scene." Anaya observed her with disgust. "She didn't want to invite you – but she was desperate."

"Oh! That's going to be such a disappointment." Shobha replied over her shoulder as she began to walk away from them both. "Anyway I had better head back and sleep this off before tomorrow right?"

The truth was she was sick of this all. Initially she had dreaded returning, and running into Mike with another woman, but now it was clear in her own mind- that she just didn't care about him either way, much at all.

…

Thorin stood by the bar holding Shobha's shawl and purse in one hand while he sipped a glass of port. He had been the first at the bar, and seemed to have quite a lead, as everyone appeared to have continued milking around the dining table near the bride and groom.

She had spent most of the evening whispering apologies in his ear; he could feel her soft, raven hair brush against his skin, and smell the subtle perfume she wore on her skin. Then as she got a little more tipsy, she began to lean against his shoulder and touch his knee. He would feel guilty about enjoying taking full advantage of her intoxication tomorrow, but for tonight, he would allow it all.

It had even meant he had forgotten about the many unsavoury glances they had received from her former betrothed.

"So, you must be Shobha's 'handsome chap', as everyone is referring to you as?" A soft, voice interrupted his brooding.

Turning he found Shobha's cousin, the bride-to-be, smiling up at him. She was not dissimilar in stature and build to her cousin. She wore a revealing figure hugging white dress, with a plunging neckline. Her face was much less striking in comparison with either Shobha or her older sister, but she had used ample make up and false lashes, and another feature Ria seemed to enjoy highlighting were her ample breasts.

"Aye," he set his glass of port down on the bar and held his hand out. "Thorin."

"I hear it's actually Lord Thorin?" Ria batted her lashes at him.

"Well, that would be Thorin son of Thrain, son of Thror, Lord of Erebor." He corrected coldly, fully aware of how this woman had treated Shobha from overhearing her telephone conversations while in his study. It meant that no amount of charm she directed towards him would work. He was by nature of his upbringing a cold man, not because of his parents didn't show him affection, in fact it was quite the opposite. But rather, because of the mantle he was set to inherit.

"Oooh… so will that make Shobha a Lady…? What woman wouldn't want that?" She tried again, cooing sweetly, leaning forward with a hand on his chest, so her breasts were pushed out.

"I doubt that she would ever use her title." He replied, wearing his usual unreadable expression, and looked down at her, keeping his eyes on her face. Under any other circumstances, he would have found himself quite amused by a woman throwing herself at him so brazenly, if he had found the woman as attractive as Shobha, he might have even felt rather flattered.

"You could be the King of England, for all I care, but if you hurt her, you'll have us to deal with."

"I think you'll find my treatment towards Shobha on a different universe, compared to you." He kept his tone clinical.

"Oh – I guess you're right." She looked taken aback at first, only to accept his judgement immediately after. Then she a sense of panic seemed to fill her eyes, making her grasp a hand at her ample chest. She turned to face the bar and ran her hands restlessly over the grain of the varnished wood. "Do you believe confession is good for the soul, Thorin?"

Thorin did not respond, remaining silent in stead, until she clarified herself.

"I mean, if you knew you did something terrible. And caused someone a lot of pain – without their knowing… And they were the last person that would deserve such treatment… would you tell them?" She finally spoke the words as if they had been bottled up for some time, and he was the first soul to hear them. "I couldn't ever expect forgiveness if I did…"

Thorin remained silent for a moment, wondering whether she spoke of Shobha.

"If it is the right thing to do; and it should bring her the closure she needs…" he finally admonished her. "This should be solely for her benefit. If you are at fault, but it will not serve her well to know – then you must suffer the burden to taking your secret to the grave."

His judgement, much like his demeanour was cold and clinical. It had left her wondering how he could possibly ever show affection for another at all. And yet she had seen it with her own two eyes – that which had been so different about him, in her presence.

"Hey mate – scotch please." Their conversation had been interrupted by the tall frame of Shobha's ex fiancé. He addressed Ria first, reaching down to tuck a strand of hair from her face. "Are you alright, love?"

Ria nodded quickly before moving away from them both, leaving an awkward moment between .

"So… you're the new man eh?" He gave Thorin a brief glance before turning to watch Ria returning back to the group. "Ria didn't know she was bringing a plus one…"

Thorin remained silent at first, sipping his port, which he was no longer enjoying. He had hoped for a few minutes peace from the utter trite these people discussed, but this made him feel somewhat better in truth; this man was shorter than him, and was coming across as a greater fool than he had once imagined.

"She should be most grateful to have a cousin like Shobha, who was willing give aid in her hour of need; a favour unreturned, no doubt." Thorin kept a cold and clinical tone to his words.

"Yes of course. A selfless act by Shobha I'm sure." Mike replied making no attempt to hide the sarcasm in his voice. "I told Vic they should have just carried on without the extra bridesmaid. It wouldn't have made any difference to the day anyway…"

"Hmmmm… I heard no such complaint from the bride. Perhaps you might speak with the bride, so that we may return back earlier tomorrow?" Thorin raised an eyebrow at the man.

"Is that Port? I didn't know it was on the drinks list for tonight…?" Mike sniggered instead, pointing at Thorin's glass. "Scotch too strong for you?"

"Oh no. This is a Taylor's Vintage from 1985. It was an excellent year, but sadly now, quite rare and coveted. In fact, this is the only bottle in this restaurant, and is from the private collection of the owner of this establishment. This particular bottle was accrued from a private Berlin cellar, and cost two-thousand eight-hundred pounds for the bottle. I was quite willing to pay for a glass, but the owner has asked that I send him a small barrel of Erebor single malt, in return." Thorin replied, keeping a neutral expression. Watching the smug look on the man's face melt away, was quite satisfying. "What YOU are drinking, is not real whisky."

Thorin let him skulk off, muttering something about port being an 'old man's drink'. Finally he was free of irritating wedding goers, and could enjoy his drink.

…..

Shobha stepped out of the ladies toilets and took a few steps towards the courtyard garden, to spot everyone out of their seats and milling around talking. Thorin was no longer in his seat either, and she had no intention of hanging around until either Cathy or Anaya joined her.

Another guest began heading in her direction where the rest rooms were, so, panicking, she did the only thing she could and pulled out her phone, thanking Mel silently for the hidden pocket she had placed in her otherwise rather figure hugging dress.

As the guest drew nearer, she recognised it to be Pavan, Ria's older brother! She had once harboured a terrible crush on him when she was eighteen. Pavan, was a suave, handsome bachelor. But also a womaniser, and neither felt a need to hide, or explain his behaviour.

After Mike left her, she had spent several months of self doubt avoiding any interaction with the opposite sex, until she had bumped into Pavan at a family Christmas party. They had somehow spent the evening together, and almost ended up having a quickie! It had been Ria herself that had walked in on them, before too much had happened.

Disappointingly, her phone had no missed calls, and so, she quickly began to listen to her voicemail – looking terribly engrossed as if listening to a very important call.

"Hey doll!" He winked initially, only to whisper an apology as he realised she was on the phone, and head past into the toilets himself.

As soon as he had disappeared, she ended her call, and moved on, scanning the room for Thorin.

Then finally having spotted him at the bar, she began to take the least crowded route towards him. Her path led her away from the group and past several dimly lit booths with tables. Clearly designed for more privacy compared with the remaining tables.

Two familiar figures standing by an empty booth she would have to pass, made her stop.

"What do you want me to tell her?"

It was Mike and Ria! They stood close, whispering harshly, and he had her hand, in some sort of unspoken desperation.

"The truth! She's here for me!" Mike pleaded.

"Don't be so ridiculous! Look at the man she's with…"

"Yeah he's old enough to be her father!" He scoffed again.

"You're jealous." Ria sounded strangely surprised!

"No! No, love!"

"Please! Tell me what you want me to say Mike?!" Ria sounded tormented again. "Its all such a mess –"

They all jumped as Shobhas phone suddenly rang loundly, making her cousin and ex spin around to find her fumbling around her dress to pull the phone out.

It was Thorin!

"I'm at the bar, darling." Thorin's voice sounded even deeper on the phone! Hearing his voice like that made her stomach flutter.

"Thanks – oh yes I can see you! I will see you in a minute"

"If you are not here in one minute, I will come and get you." He added smoothly. "If you are to wake up early, then I need to get you to bed soon…"

"Oh." Heading his words made her feel flushed. "Um – you better do."

She put the phone down, realising she would have to explain herself. But strangely enough, Ria looked relieved and came rushing over.

"Oh Shobha! You have to help me - I'm in such a desperate state."

Shobha looked at her cousin confused.

"Hey Shobha." Mike sounded strangely subdued. "It looks like the highlands suit you; you look well."

"Hi Mike." The words just came out before she could think things through. He looked a little tormented in truth and it made her pity him a little. "Hope you're doing well too."

Shobha had played through the many scenarios of meeting Mike again in her head, since their break up; at first she had thought of some angry words to say, then she had considered asking for an explanation. After all these months, in truth she had been through various stages of the grieving process, but even in the last week she had considered that this encounter would have given her some closure to those five years of her life.

But now, standing here, and actually seeing him again – and all that she had prepared for – and all that she had expected…

The truth was, that she felt… nothing.

She had no idea whether it was the lack of 'actual food', in proper portions, or the ample champagne, but her mind was firmly on Thorin. And in particular, she was curious about all the things he had found in that vault!

"Look Ria," she looked towards the bar, momentarily before looking back to her approaching cousin. "I have to go. Thank you for inviting me this evening – everything was beautiful. And I will see you tomorrow –"

"Stay for one drink with the girls and me?" Ria quickly grabbed Shobhas arm, just as she began to walk away. "Please?"

Mike muttered something from where he stood behind Ria, which was out of earshot.

"We have so much catching up to do… so much to tell you." Ria shifted herself to interrupt her gaze towards the bar again, so that she was in her direct vision. And when Shobha hesitated she pleaded again. "Just one drink – surely your Thorin will wait a for five minutes."

"I really can't…"

"I'll ask him –"

"Really Ria, I am exhausted."

"Leave her to her old man, Ria." Mike muttered from behind again. "I told you she'd be like this – she was never here for your sake!"

Shobha blinked, frankly quite shocked at them both.

"I am here aren't I? Even though you didn't really have the decency to send me an invitation until last minute when you actually NEEDED me!" Shobha shook her head.

"I did invite you!" Ria protested.

"Oh? Because I never received that –"

"With your parents –"

"Uncle, Aunty AND FAMILY doesn't cut it Ria. We've been friends since school!" Shobha deliberately left out the 'best friend' title – that was long gone, and was never coming back. "Even my sister got a separate invite!"

"She is married and has a family!" Ria attempted to explain.

"Well, look, I am here now cheering you both on for your big day." Shobha pulled her arm back from her cousin. "But my injured leg aches, and I need some rest now."

"I hope you won't mind my stealing your cousin back now..."

Shobha felt an arm wind itself around her waist protectively again, looking over her shoulder to find Thorin.

"We were trying to encourage Shobha to join us for a few drinks tonight." Ria smiled at him again. "I think she was more worried about you…"

"Ah…" he looked down at her studying her big, brown eyes, hoping to glean what she wanted him to say, but only found himself distracted.

She had no desire to have drinks with them, so she turned to him fully, standing on tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck so that she could kiss him. At first she pressed her lips to his, letting her hands find their way up from his neck and into his wavy hair, only to find his hands press her body firmly into his. Within moments, what should have been a playful, pretend kiss, had turned into something so passionate as he explored her mouth and moved a hand further down her back that she had forgotten about their audience.

"Ugh…"

They were made fully aware of where they were when Mike muttered in disgust as he walked away.

Ria momentarily scowled at Mike, before turning to Shobha.

"I suppose there is nothing I can do to change your mind."

Thorin held her close, since she appeared to have no desire to be released, and she too continued to gaze deeply into his sapphire eyes, now clearly filled with open desire.

"Sorry Ria. You already owe me big time, let's not make your debt bigger." Shobha replied without turning back to face Ria, still keeping her eyes locked on Thorin's.

"Might already be too late for that.." Ria muttered, frowning.

"My lady?" Thorin questioned ignoring Ria altogether.

"Let's go."

Before they could be stopped, Thorin, like her 'knight in a dinner jacket', had whisked her away to the car he had waiting, and opened the door for her.

"Ugh! Thank you!" She threw herself in and onto the seat, partially relieved, partially exhausted, while Thorin climbed in across from her. "How did you get a car here so quickly?"

"I've been driving Lord Durin and his family about in the south since I was a young man, Miss. The name's Giles -Wilson, Miss," The driver replied in a clear cockney accent. "I'm sorry to have interrupted, Sir..."

"My Father used to do a lot of business on behalf of Erebor in London. So he decided we should have a chauffeur and car while we were here. He hired Giles' father." Thorin explained.

"Of course, me father was a black cabbie back then. None of these posh cars."

"The Audi is hardly posh. My father liked Bentleys. And we had a time, when all I could afford was Giles' wages…" Thorin uttered in quiet reflection, as he turned to appraise Shobha. "Back to the hotel please."

"Course Sir."

The car began to move again, as she leant into the soft leather seats. On the way back they passed several old haunts, from when she had been in university. Days that seemed so long ago, they felt like a different lifetime.

Then without warning she called out, causing the driver to bring the car to an immediate halt.

"Oh my God! This is the back of Red Lion Square isn't it?" She cried out.

"Yes Miss… Holborn Station is just past there –"

"Oh my God! Giles, is El Toreador still open?!" She leant over Thorin looking out of is window excited. "Oh my goodness! We HAVE to go see – can we pull over Giles?"

"Yes Miss… your Lordship?"

"Aye Giles." Thorin looked at her with a raised eyebrow, more surprised than annoyed.

"Come on then." She began to push Thorin out to open the door on his side of the car where the pavement lay. "Please?! We have to go!"

"I…" he hesitated initially, but quickly gave in, unable to help himself. Today had been a strange day for him. Having resisted his desire for her, for what felt like a very long time, suddenly he had an almost no-strings-attached taste of what it would feel like to have her as a bride. Secretly he'd hoped it would make him see sense enough to rid himself of any foolish passion he might have harboured for her, but in truth it had only made it worse! She had made him feel young again.

So humouring her with this, before 'midnight struck' and made any semblance of possible affection on her part towards him disappear, was what he desired to do.

"Come on Thorin!" She had grabbed his hand and pulled him along down a street towards a square, that had a single neon sign still lit, amongst a host of other shopfronts and office buildings that all stood in relative darkness. "This is bloody brilliant! It's still open! Look!"

He could hear deep vibrations, the after-echoes of music emitting from the entrance. As they made their way closer.

"Will Giles wait for thirty minutes of so…?"

"Aye. He will wait as long as is needed." He reassured her as she dragged him to the entrance.

The entryway narrowed quickly and led down dimly lit steps towards louder music.

"What are we doing exactly?" He tugged on her hand gently only to have her turn around distracted and bump straight into his chest. Catching her against his body he gazed down at her smiling softly.

"This is a Tango Club Thorin…" she smiled back up at him. He seemed different tonight somehow – younger... "We used to come here when we were in university. We even learn to tango fairly well. There was a guy called Francesco, who used to do a free lesson on a Thursday night – free entry…"

"But I don't dance."

"Yes you do." Shobha corrected him. He knew she referred to that day when he had found her on the balcony. "So don't be such an old man – and come dance with me. Twenty minutes and we go home."

"You want me to take you… home… darling?" Thorin smirked this time.

"Okay, no need to rub it in my face. You needed me to play your 'bride' just as much as I needed a date for tonight." She took his hand and began to pull him back towards the music again, only to be stopped by a large bouncer.

"No entry after nine, love."

"Oh no! Come on! It's just us – and for twenty minutes."

"They ain't serving drinks in there now." He repeated watching her carefully. "You look tipsy enough as it is."

"I'll make sure she doesn't get into trouble." Thorin spoke as he stood close behind her.

"Pleeeease? We're only here from Scotland for this last night before we have to go back. And I had to show my boyfriend this place." Shobha smiled.

The man looked at the couple before softening his stance.

"Go on then." He broke out into a crooked grin. "You'd better keep an eye on her, Sir. She's trouble that one."

"Aye. And don't I know it." Thorin muttered in reply, as she dragged him through to the club.

The music was just loud enough, that they could hear one another close up and the dance floor rather packed.

"Do you know –" But before Shobha could finish her sentence he spun her around and positioned her close against his body, in a tango hold.

"Yes I do. My mother insisted all the Durin boys learnt to Tango." He led her out on the floor. "I never enjoyed it…"

"Until now, you mean." She chuckled.

He let that thought hang between them, because it was true, even if she made light of it.

"What can I say; I create feelings in others that they themselves don't understand." She laughed this time.

"You mean like… irritation… or anger…" he spun her around again before dipping her and as he pulled her up, she wrapped her leg around him. "Or… frustration…?"

She laughed again. He had heard her laugh just as heartily at his nephew's jokes, but it had often annoyed him to hear her so happy with them. Now she laughed with him and it was a wonderful feeling.

….

They walked through the door to his suite.

She spun around happily, laughing again before noticing him standing there watching her, with an amused look. It made her stop to realise just how much fun they had that evening. It felt like she was seeing the true Thorin for the first time. As if he was hiding in plain sight!

"Why did you decide to join me…?" She suddenly turned back to him.

"Would you have rather I didn't?" He moved closer to her.

"No! I'm glad that you did…"

"You were there for me today…" his reply was soft, tender even. He wanted her. In that moment he needed her so much, he was sure she felt it too.

"I was glad to help." She took the last step towards him, closing what little space there remained between them. His sapphire eyes, pupils blown wide, pierced her eyes, as if reaching into her very soul.

"I would never have had the chance to even see those journals if you hadn't found his study." He whispered this time, their lips inches away from each other. His words now more a plea than a statement.

"What was that about curiosity and the cat…"

"I don't know about curiosity, but I can tell you what happens to smart mouths." He offered, gently cupping her chin in his hand and tilting her face up to meet his.

"What happens to smart mouths then?"

He pulled her in firmly with the other arm, pressing her lithe form to his iron frame. She was everything he was not and completed all that he lacked. He needed her now more than ever – it would bring about the healing to his broken soul he had needed all these years. Watching her breath fall a little heavier, and her eyes shut, he claimed her lips with all his being.

….

Dear all,

Sorry if there are any typos. Had less time for rereading and editing this week.

Hope you are all keeping safe and well.

Thank you for following my little mental escape from these terrible times.

Please post and let me know your thoughts xx