Shobha woke up with a jolt. The darkness of the room was interrupted by the soft glow of moonlight that flooded through the large window. The curtains billowed out intermittently from where the window had been left open. It gave the whole setting a strange eerie feeling.
"Thorin…" she whispered. "Thorin…"
She felt across the bed blindly, but found it empty. Her heart beginning to race at the realisation that he was not there.
Then somewhere out of the darkness not too far away she heard a growl!
At first she froze, desperately trying to locate where the sound originated from, and then realising she was alone, decided she would be safer to find someone. So silently slipping out of Thorin's enormous bed, she looked around trying to orientate herself in his room.
"Shobha… I know the last few days have been…" he began but paused, unable to find the right words to say. He wanted to tell her that Saturday when they had spent all day pretending to be engaged had felt right. And how much she had come to mean to him. Yet he was a man who did not imagine he would even remotely feel any such towards a woman, and could not be certain how he felt about marriage or children, even now. How could he deny her of such things, which he was sure that she wished for?
"Please. I really mean it, Thorin." She interrupted him walking past him and standing just beyond his doorway before coming to stand a few steps away from him, crossing her hands across her chest. "I don't want to talk about anything…"
She turned to face him, as he slowly shut the door and watched her, as she stood there barefoot in her soft bathrobe, with her damp hair falling softly around her face. His thoughts drifted, imagining how she might look while being made love to. And it aroused him.
He took several steps towards her, coming to stand close, and run both his arms along hers.
"What is it that you wish for me to do, my lady?" He inquired sincerely.
"Please could you just hold me, while I sleep? Just pretend you care for me…?" She looked up at him, eyes slowly trailing up his broad chest, covered in scars and tattoos, following the trail of dark hair up to his neck and then finally finding his cold, icy gaze.
He wanted to tell her that he really did care for her, but what good would it do her right now? And so, without hesitation he immediately scooped up her little frame into his arms, and carried her over to his bed.
He could never deny her whatever she asked of him.
She recalled how he had opened the window in his room last night, given how warm it had been, and wondering what had made Thorin leave in the night moved silently towards the door. But before she could reach it, she heard the howls from within the corridor nearing his room.
Initially she froze, where she stood, desperately trying to focus her tired brain to figure out what to do next. She needed an escape route in case the wolf came in here.
An idea flashed in her mind, making her move towards the grand fireplace in his room, and began to feel along the ornate carving work, finally finding the hidden switch.
A loud thud at the door sounded, before the handle to the door slowly began to twist open.
Quickly opening the hidden passageway to the adjoining room which she had once spent the night in, she stepped through silently, covering her mouth tight with her hand to silence her disgust as cobwebs draped over her head in the process.
Reaching the safety of the other room, she shuddered as soon as the passageway door shut, dusting off the fine gossamer threads, as silently and as rapidly as possible.
She could hear the beast enter Thorin's room, and pause, before sniffing the air.
Was it possible that it was searching for her?
Frantically she looked around the room, much of the old furniture that had been destroyed when the intruder had broken in, had now gone, making the space look vast. It also meant there was no place to hide.
Making her way out of the room and into the corridor, she paused to listen for the beast, but it seemed busy searching Thorin's room.
As she made her way out, she stumbled over the edge of the rug in the bedroom, landing on her hands and knees. She paused momentarily, feeling the cold of the marbled floors on her skin, as she listened out. And although the sound she made was barely audible, it seemed to attract the attention of the wolf.
Quickly scrambling to her feet, she rushed along the dark corridor.
The loud pounding of her own heartbeat drowned out the soft sound of claws, as it followed behind. But she didn't dare look behind her.
Turning the corner, she found the stairwell leading down to the kitchens, and raced down the steps as fast as her legs would take her down safely clinging onto the banister.
She pushed open the doors to the kitchen, and shut them behind her, before falling to her knees, this time on purpose, and crawling behind a counter. Looking around from where she hid, she could only berate herself for cornering herself in.
Suspecting it to be a werewolf, she already knew it's sense of smell and vision in the dark would be too superior for her to hide for long.
Quietly she stood up, trying desperately to steady her harsh, ragged breathing. Then quickly, she moved towards the butchers block and pulled out a chef's knife, before making her way to the large pantry. She walked inside the room, lined from floor to ceiling with shelves filled with various dried foods, and other ingredients. To one side sat a shelf filled with various spices and herbs, while she couldn't see the various colours, the aroma of their combination was definitely unmistakable.
Gently, she shut the door, hoping that the wolf would be unable to smell her amongst the scents of the various ingredients.
She shut her eyes, her right hand shaking as it held the knife, and closed her eyes in the pitch black pantry cupboard.
Everything outside sounded silent. And so she pressed her ear to the wood of the door, feeling it's cold surface against her burning skin, to listen better over the thrum of her own racing heart.
Only to hear the sound of the semi-silent footsteps, it made against the marble floor, each step given away only by the scraping of its claws.
She began breathing deeply, holding each breath several seconds longer, as the steps moved in her direction.
It was moving slowly, but deliberately. Stalking her. Pausing after a few paces, to sniff the air.
Within minutes the beast was nearing the pantry. So she stepped back and away from the door.
Watching, in the near pitch black confines of the store, the door knob began to slowly twist open. It made her grasp the handle of the chefs knife she held tight in her palm.
Suddenly the door flung open, and there stood the large wolf, the clear alpha of the clan, with its strange blue eyes, and its silver streaked, black fur. It was the darkest black imaginable. And the wolf itself was enormous; towering; almost as tall as the ceiling.
It snarled at her, crouching down to look closer.
She had come across this wolf several times before, but never quite registered just how large it truly was. Thorin had not been wrong to worry, for if he wished it, he could have killed her in a heartbeat.
Reaching in with a giant clawed hand it wrapped it around her waist and pulled her out, almost effortlessly, placing her against the smooth wall, besides the door to the pantry and growled at her.
Standing face to face, she recognised the beast well now; It was Thorin.
It too, moved closer to inspect her better.
"Please… Thorin… its just me; Shobha…" she tried appealing, unable to bring herself to wield the knife as she intended.
Just mere hours ago, he had held her tenderly while she fell asleep, because she asked it of him. After all the madness that her recently transpired in her life, she had not wanted to even think. And there, in his strong arms as he lay enveloping her, she had felt safe. She had hoped the man that dwelled within the beast might recognise that.
But he only tilted his head and looked at her strangely, with those piercing eyes.
"Your Thorin is not here… my pretty maid," it spoke with a deep, rumbling voice.
"Then… who are you…?" She found herself pressed back against the wall, through sheer terror.
"I am his deepest desires; his base instincts; his rage." The beast snarled, it's white teeth contrasting in the dark against his black fur. "I am 'the alpha'. And I have you to thank for my release…"
"I… I don't understand…"
The wolf stepped closer still, grasping her chin roughly in its clawed hand, and pulling her face to stare at it, as if it were memorising every detail.
She could feel it's hot breath against her skin, and instinctively she found herself closing her eyes.
"I am his need to protect you, his desire to claim you – to see you bear his young…" it traced its clawed hand down her neck, where her robe had opened up slightly, after she had tried to run away. The feel of his sharp claws against her skin, made her gasp. "You of all should fear me the least, little one…"
She whimpered, dropping the knife she held, to claw at the walls, as it continued to drag its sharp claws down her robe, opening the tie, letting the robe fall slightly open.
"Please… no…" she managed.
"He has chosen you as our mate. Even if he refuses to accept it, for now." The beast lifted its gaze from the strip of exposed skin up to her face. "We will have you… but we will only take what you give freely."
She felt relieved a little at that.
"His taste is always superior – the appetite of a King. Yes." It moved closer, lowering its head towards her exposed navel and drawing in a deep breath, like it was savouring the aroma of a particularly tasty meal.. "You are indeed delicious… very fecund."
She whimpered again out of fear, and it stood back up, staring at her for several moments again, watching her breasts heaving.
"Is it… always like this…?" She whispered, scared of it but also a little curious, feeling a little reassured that it was not out to kill her. It might explain why despite having encountered these wolves a fair bit she had survived to tell the tale.
However, the wolf appeared distracted in the next moment, before glancing back down at her, as if it were listening to something far off.
"… You…" initially beginning to explain, it abruptly stopped again, turning to look towards the doorway. After a few moments of standing there listening for a while, it finally turned back to her. "Get back to his room. And stay there."
And with that, he immediately turned and left leaving her to slump back against the wall, feeling her legs, previously fuelled by adrenaline, turn to jelly.
…..
"This is much slower than I wanted to go, Dwalin." Shobha bent down to stretch her legs out while she waited for Dwalin to catch up.
"Aye. But ye always run as though yer bein chased by Morgoth himself." He chuckled as he caught up and took off a long duffel bag he had carried with him.
"Well, this is far too slow. It's more tiring than if we ran flat out." She complained looking over at him. "What on earth are you carrying such a giant bag with you for? We're not going camping!"
"Never mind. I have to show ye something now. So yer gonnae have a break anyway." He took out a small bottle of water and threw it to her, before rummaging through his bag again.
They had taken a northern route for a run that morning. It was near the border of the clans' land, but very peaceful and relatively flat scrubland. They had stopped near a small brook, which made a soft burbling sound that was quite pleasant. It was not the hard core run, Shobha had in mind, but the scenery had been so beautiful, that it had taken her mind off most of the things she had wanted to stop thinking about.
"So… what exactly are we doing here again…?" She watched him pull out several items, which looked mechanical in nature. There was something familiar about them, but she couldn't tell exactly what it was.
"All in good time lass… How was yer cousin's wedding?" He glanced over before returning to rummaging through his bag and pulling out items.
"Thorin didn't tell you?" Shobha looked over at him frowning.
"Och lass, Thorin is many things, but talking about how his weekend went is not his thing." Dwalin shook his head as he began to fit several pieces together.
"Oh." She watched Dwalin, but it seemed he truly had no idea. "Did he even tell you about Saturday?"
"No lass. But it sounded like ya both enjoyed yer selves…"
"Okay. Well, the rehearsal dinner was a little awful, since they had left an extra space for a guest to join me, without letting me know. Luckily Thorin stayed. I've never seen him trying to be so sociable before!" Shobha smiled, deciding whatever Dwalin had in mind would take longer and sat herself down on a soft patch of grass. "And the wedding was cancelled."
"Eh?!" Dwalin glanced over looking entirely surprised.
"Yeah. After all that she decided not to marry Vikram –"
"Och no. I mean, Thorin being social…? That's gotta be a first!" Dwalin laughed, still looking quite shocked. "He likes ya alright. Thorin is NEVER social. So are ya square with yer cousin? Or will ye have to go back for her next weddin'?"
"Nope, I have no more obligations towards them now." Shobha whispered the last bit. It felt as though she would cry again. "Ever."
Dwalin stopped what he was doing to look over at her carefully detecting her subtle change, realising something must have happened.
"Ye know what they say eh? Ye can't choose yer family an all…" He walked over to her and sat himself down next to her. "I'm sorry lass. I should've realised that was why ye were so quiet on the drive back…"
"It's okay."
"I thought it was Thorin! I gave him a bloody earful too." Dwalin admitted grimacing.
"And he didn't tell you anything?" Shobha suddenly looked over at Dwalin, who shook his head.
"No. He just stonewalled me. Made me think somethin definitely happened between ye two… he's like me brother lass. I know he likes ya. More that he cares ter admit… but he's made a pigs ear outa it so far." He softly put his hand in her shoulder. "In some ways I will confess that I'm relieved. We all like ya here. And the lads thought… well, they thought that you might not come back."
"Kili! I should have known." She chuckled quietly, for the first time in a few days.
"Aye lass! He was really worried about it too! Kept badgering Thorin since the day he heard about it." He laughed back. "Even Dis began ter worry."
"So did Thorin come to the rehearsal dinner to keep me here?"
"Och no! Yer a pain for him as far as Erebor goes. Nah, he came for ye."
They sat quietly for sometime just watching the clear water trickling down past rocks and stones.
"Have you ever been in love Dwalin?"
"Aye. Once. But I took too long ter tell her. She accepted another man's proposal by the time I had figured it all out. They got married and had bairns as well – grown lads now." He spoke looking away. "In the end the man in question went missing after the whole mountain collapse… we thought he died in the terrible accident."
"Did you never tell her?"
"Nah. What good would come of it now?"
She sat quietly, thinking.
"My ex is having a baby with another woman. The woman he cheated on me with."
"Och lass. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I'm not. I mean I think I'm over Mike. It's just that it turns out quite a few of my closest friends knew about it at the time. And no one wanted to tell me. Even I didn't know. It felt like he just left me for no apparent reason…" she finally admitted. It was a relief to tell someone. "That's what gets me. I didn't even suspect – How stupid could I have been?! How can I trust myself again…? Especially when I didn't see everyone around me hiding the truth? What if I DIDN'T want to see it?"
Dwalin looked back down at her to spot silent tears rolling down her cheeks as she sat crunched up in a ball, with her knees tucked under her chin. He leant over and wrapped an arm around her pulling her tight into his side.
She found she couldn't hold back, turning to bury her face into his chest, she felt her sobs fall sharp and her breath grow ragged. Dwalin just held her. He had no words to comfort her, but he could hold her for as long as she needed it.
"Oh Dwalin! How could I have been so blind?!" She sobbed softly into his chest.
"Lass, there is one thing I have realised in life; when they said 'love is blind' – they really meant blind in every sense!" Dwalin stroked her hair slowly as he held her, and pulling out a handkerchief from a pocket, passed it to her. "Anyhoo, ya know what they say eh? Better ter have loved and lost…?"
"I think Tennyson was mad to have said that…" she sobbed a little quieter this time, his distraction proving to be helpful.
"Aye lass; I think when he said 'lost', he meant lost yer mind!" He chuckled softly.
It brought out a quiet chuckle from her too, as she clutched his hanky to her face.
"There ya go lass. See, it's not all bad. It brought ye to us eh?" He stroked her hair again. "Old Uncle Dwalin will look after ya…"
She took several deep breaths as her sobbing began to ease, and nodded.
"Besides, who else can infuriate Thorin the way ye do? And we do enjoy seeing him all wound up." He laughed again, and this time she laughed with him. "He was fuming about yer application fer some extra clinic at the infirmary."
"Oh yeah! I completely forgot!" She genuinely laughed this time, recalling her presentation to the council for her business proposal a few days previously. It had been several days since she returned from London, and she hadn't spent the night again with Thorin – not since the wolf had chased her. Even Thorin himself had returned long after she had fallen asleep in his bed again, and woken up much before her, so she hadn't seen him for days before she saw him at the council meeting. "Goodness! It's not much funding I am asking for really. But he was so angry. I could see him, bubbling away behind that morose look he always wears."
"Well, I gotta hand it's ter ya. Nobody gets him riled the way ye do!" Dwalin laughed again.
"I'm sorry about all this Dwalin." She pulled away, still mopping her eyes. "I really shouldn't have…"
"No ye should. Always." And then he pointed towards a tripod stand which housed a small target board. "In fact I've got something I need to talk to ye about. I want yer to learn how to shoot. With a shotgun."
"What?! Where did that come from…" she looked at him puffy eyed, and quite surprised.
"It's not that hard, and hopefully ye never have to –"
"Why?! I really don't think –"
"Now hear me out lass. Certain things have happened – and we need to keep yer extra safe. I know about yer being chased in the night. Thorin told me. He was worried about ya –"
"But the alpha spoke to me. He told me he that… he wouldn't… hurt me." She spoke the words slowly, hearing how absurd they sounded coming from her own mouth.
"The Alpha spoke ter ya?" Dwalin glanced over, eyebrows shooting up.
"Yes. Why?"
"Our wolves never speak –"
"But I have heard you all –"
"Aye. But that is us in control. When the wolf takes control – I never thought it COULD speak." He rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "This is new. What did he say?"
"He told me not to be scared. But something distracted him, and he told me to go back to the room, and ran off." She didn't feel comfortable revealing everything the wolf had told her. "Where is Gandalf when you need him…"
They both fell silent for a few moments, each pondering the significance of these developments.
"Maybe we should ask Ori to do some research in the ancient archives…"Dwalin suggested, glancing at her. "Thrain and Thror certainly would know what this might mean."
"Are there no more people of that generation still alive then?"
"Well… we have an aunt who lives in the Iron Hills." Dwalin hesitated again. "But I dunnae think ye should be venturing out that way. Anyway, I recon they are all a bit batty down there."
"So what do we do?"
"Sit tight until Thorin gets through all of Thrain's diaries, and Gandalf will be back for Durins Day. Until then… that's the reason ye need to learn to use a gun. If nothing else, and ye need ter stop the alpha if it chases ye again and yer worried," Dwalin picked up a small double barrel shotgun. It was probably just about right in size for her, but in Dwalin's giant hands it looked oddly miniature. "This here is Bessie; she's me favourite. Perfectly balanced and just the right hold fer ye. A couple of rounds will do the trick to stop even the alpha."
"Oh my God! I don't want to kill him!"
"No need ter worry about that lass. It'll stop him getting too close. Sorry lass, it'll take much more ter kill us." Dwalin smiled darkly. "But this will give ye a fighting chance ter getaway."
"Oh God! Dogsoldiers was right." She joked.
"What's that – a movie?"
"Yup – a classic werewolf movie."
"Well whatever ye saw is nothing. Don't be fooled because we keep ye safe." This time his warning was sincere, his tone loaded with remorse. "Transformed, we are nothing less that the worst monsters ye can imagine."
….
She stormed down the corridors, holding the letter she had received from the council, rejecting her proposal for a dressings clinic. After realising how much the infirmary required this, she had spent several months meticulously auditing the need for the service, trialling a clinic and performing a cost analysis, as advised by the treasurer Chancellor Gloin. She had even spent inordinate hours speaking with various council members whom Oin advised might oppose her, and buttering them up, gaining their agreement in word, before completing the presentation at the town council meeting. She was also fully aware that she had a majority vote passing her proposal, and therefore the rejection could only be at the hands of the sole member who possessed the capability to veto any proposal; Thorin!
Standing outside his study, she knocked loudly. They hadn't seen each other since the night they had spent together, when he had lost control and she had been chased down by 'the alpha' except for when he had been present at the council meeting.
"Come in."
She heard him grunt, so she pushed the door open and marched in to find him at his desk pouring through a pile of documents.
"Why would you do this?" She waved the letter as she walked over to his desk. "The infirmary needs this badly, and everyone was happy… so why?"
At first he looked up at her, slightly confused, and then the usual look of irritation fell across his face.
"Use your inside voice please, Miss Seth." He looked at the piece of paper she set down firmly on top of all the rest of his work. "I realised you are upset; But the truth is that there is no need for such a service. Erebors Infirmary has been functioning satisfactorily thus far. Why fix a problem that does not exist?"
"No need?! My assistants and I never leave work on time because there is such a demand. I don't care for myself, but some of the other staff working there have families – have children!" She fumed. "And we are SO busy, because we even get patients from Dale because they have such limited resources too… didn't you even listen to my presentation…or read the proposal before rejecting it?!"
"And what makes you sure I rejected it?" He asked smugly. "It is all decided democratically and anonymously."
"Because I know how many people voted in my favour and I had a clear majority! So that leaves you – with the only veto vote."
"Ori!" He muttered angrily under his breath, cursing in Khuzdul.
"No. I had spoken with almost all the council members beforehand. And they were all in support." She crossed her arms over her chest, still standing in front of his desk.
"Our system was fine before you came. It does not require any meddling."
"Oh goodness! Please tell me you are not skimping because of the extra wages! You have enough gems down in those mines to fund a hundred hospitals for the next five centuries!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. He was his usual unreadable self again. It was as if she were a complete stranger. "I will take a pay cut – or bloody hell, I will go down there and do some mining during weekends voluntarily!"
"I would like to see that." He mused wryly standing up from his desk and walking away from her towards the window.
"I don't understand. Is that still a 'no'?" She turned to look at his statuesque frame, as he continued to look out of the large window.
But he remained silent. He didn't want to turn around right now, for he had a particular predilection for her when she was all worked up like that. She fearlessly challenged him, making it difficult for him not to engage back, which inexplicably aroused him. He clenched and unclenched his fists at his side, doing his best to keep calm.
"Do I at least get an explanation or some sort of real reason for why you rejected my proposal?" She pressed, taking a step closer. This time her tone was distinctly softer. It was hard not to feel the tension between them any longer. "Thorin…?"
He turned slowly, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Quickly crossing the room, and ignoring her to his great satisfaction, knowing that it was irritating her more, he opened the door.
"My Lord, there is an unexpected package, which has arrived addressed to Laverna." Gror, Thorin's butler stood at the door. "I assume it's harmless, but Laverna has not purchased anything, Sir… and you did ask that we alert you to any suspicious things…"
"Aye, Gror – " he paused, and a very subtle tilt of his head towards his shoulder, was the only tell that he had no intention of discussing anything further in front of her. "I am free. I will join you in the atrium."
As far as he was concerned she had become too involved with the problems that were unfolding in Erebor. Those wishing to remove him from his Lordship, were now also targeting her, and what's more, he was having real trouble controlling his inner wolf around her.
"Does it say Bosch on the box?" She spoke up from where she stood.
"Aye Miss. How did…" Gror began, as Thorin slowly turned towards her.
"I ordered a dishwasher for Laverna; it's a heavy package because it's an industrial size, and I have added six months worth of consumables…" Shobha explained.
"Gror, I shall join you in the atrium shortly." Thorin dismissed him, before shutting the door and turning to face her. His own features were now creased with deep frown lines. "You just can't help yourself can you?!"
He moved towards her, irate.
"It's just a dishwasher Thorin! Laverna needs it, and it won't take long to install it –"
"Do you not see, that all this security is in order to protect YOU, woman?!" He towered over her, angrily. "I cannot allow your clinic, as it requires additional staff, who will have to be brought in from elsewhere. Even if this is from Dale or the Iron Hills, it still poses a risk! We have already had several attempts at breaking in, fortunately with little success, because we have been vigilant. But I cannot be held responsible for any harm befalling you."
"Why didn't you just tell me?" She looked up into his cold gaze, and watched as his face softened a little.
"I do not want you involved any further." He moved closer still, as he spoke softly, reaching to cup her chin and tilt her face up to take a good look. "What in Mahal's name made you buy a dishwasher for Laverna?"
"I cant believe you have left her to do the washing up by hand all these years! She's old, and think of when you have all those lavish dinners –"
"She has plenty of help on such days." He couldn't help smile.
"Thorin, what do you mean by there have been attempts at break-ins?" She looked up at him worried. "And did you find anything in your fathers diaries?"
"He documented much in a great deal of detail. It seems there are many more secret passages to my Halls that I was unaware of… and more mysteries surrounding my bloodline than I was aware of." He paused briefly looking at her with concern. She was already far too deeply involved. "That night… you spent… with me… a golem was sent to try and break in."
"A golem?!"
"Shhhh… inside voice please." He held both her hands in his, trying to quieten her.
"Okay. Okay." She shut her eyes briefly, trying to control her utter shock. "As in man fashioned of clay from the riverbanks; like the rabbi of Prague; THAT sort of golem?"
"I think I recall the story you speak of, but there are many references to golems throughout literature." He replied smugly. "It was said that our ancestors carved golems out of stone that lay deep within the mountains. They were the ones who carved the initial paths into the rock to create the hidden passageways and carve out much of the Manor. They only answered the commands of the Lords."
"So…what happened to them?"
"The golems tunnelled so deep that they got lost themselves. You see, they are not known for their intelligence, although bullishly persistent. In fact I believe that is where our phrase 'rock brained' comes from." He shook his head, clearly irritated at having told her that much. "The point is, a golem, seemingly the same one that attempted to break in to our hotel room, tried breaking in again."
"Sure. If there are werewolves and vampires in the real world… why not golems." She muttered to herself. "So… It's after the journals?"
"Aye. I think so."
"And… what in the journals do you think is soooo important –"
"Come on, Miss Seth. Have you dined yet?" Thorin changed the subject, guiding her out of the room, with his hand around her. He had come to realise, when they had played the part of being betrothed, that a guiding arm was probably the one way to have any sort of control over her. And he was thankful that it worked today. "I think after such a long day at work, you need to eat. And then rest."
"Wait! Oh my God! You don't know what important information it's after! Please! Let me help! I could look through the diaries too –"
"No. Miss Seth." He guided her along the corridor, despite her protesting. "I told you. I don't even trust anyone from outside coming in to help at your proposed clinic… Now, who do I have to bring in to plumb the infernal thing–"
"I don't know what you mean." She attempted to look nonchalant as she attempted to reach for the doorknob.
"Oh, my lady, one thing you are terrible at is lying." He smirked, as they reached her bedroom, stopping her from opening the door, until she had answered him.
"Okay; Roth, is the plumber I spoke with. He has experience with fitting, repairing and servicing dishwashers in Dale." Quickly reaching for her door, she let herself in, watching him turn to walk away.
….
"I'm bored." Kili lounged on the sofa in her shared office beside Fili, who rolled his eyes.
Autumn had set in, as September had rolled on. The warm days had grown much more seldom, and Shobha had kept her head down with work.
"You guys don't normally hang around here. Anyway I have a ton of paperwork to catch up on." She grumbled. "I neglected it all to carry out that audit and proposal for a new clinic, wasted hours schmoozing various council members, only to have it rejected in the end."
"Well you didn't schmooze me!" Fili wagged his finger mockingly. "Anyway, it had nothing to do with us. We voted in your favour, my lady."
"I know…" she admitted. The truth was that she had avoided her shared office for quite some time, because of the tension between herself and Lis. It had made working in there a little unpleasant, since Gorin bore no hard feelings towards her, and would occasionally sign a silent hello when his fiancé was otherwise engaged. This made matters even more awkward. But she didn't want to get into all this with the two young Durin Councilmen. "Shouldn't you guys be working?"
"This is that time of year when nothing much happens. Everyone is just getting ready for winter and up coming Durins Day." Kili explained.
"And you've been very well behaved recently…" Fili smirked at her.
"Yeah. Normally you're annoying uncle, and getting into trouble aren't you?" Kili grinned.
"Well. I only have a few more months left of my contracted period. I guess, in three months, I will be up for some sort of review." She replied absentmindedly, as she read through some of her dictated letters and sighed them. "And then I suppose I will have to start looking for a new job…"
"That's a load of rubbish! Everyone in town loves you! And Oin will certainly expect that you are kept on." Fili dismissed with a wave of his hand. "And I think Uncle secretly quite likes all the trouble you are creating…"
"Okay… so what do you propose we should do then?" She looked up at them suddenly.
"A trip to Dale?" Fili looked over at his brother.
"Aye. Just what the doctor prescribed." Kili grinned mischievously back. "The Old Bargeman has karaoke night on Fridays."
"But it's a rough crowd." Fili warned. "We don't want to get her in too much trouble, brother."
"Aye, but we'll be there. And Bilbo fancies a good night out too. After Durins Day he'll be heading back home to Hampshire." Kili argued back. "Come on, Fili, please?"
Fili sat contemplating it for a little while, before one corner of his mouth pulled up into a slight half-smile.
"Very well, brother." He conceded. "But at the first sign of trouble, we leave. And you keep your big mouth shut about it. Not even Amad is to know."
"Deal." Kili jumped up with excitement, patting his brother on the back and doing a little jig. "Nori, Ori and Dori will be good for the night too. Oh! And Bofur!"
"Aye! But that's it! No more!" Fili warned again. "And you, my lady, can't even tell Dwalin. You'll have to say you're going to bed early, and then sneak out."
"Oh dear God!" Shobha groaned, covering her eyes with a hand, as various images of things going terribly wrong raced through her imagination.
"Relax my lady! Fili and I used to sneak out all the time! I'll pick you up." Kili grinned again, hardly able to contain the mischief he was plotting. "It'll be a really good night out. I promise. You'll see…"
"Famous last words." She mumbled, starting to feel a little worried now. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this…"
…..
"Are you sure we won't get caught this way?" She whispered, as Kili led the way down dimly lit corridors and stairwells. It seemed Durin Manor was filled with various creepy passages, that one could get lost in for days!
"Aye, my lady. Fear not." He winked cheekily. "At worst, if we get caught, I can say we were heading over to visit Ori and Dori to play chess."
"What?! Thorin will never believe that!"
"Why are you so worried?" Kili turned to give her a funny look. "Come on! No one will probably even realise that we have been out and back."
As they finally arrived in the enormous underground cavern they used as a parking garage, They both blinked and squinted under the brighter lights.
"Why is your garage better lit than the corridors of Durin Manor?"
"Do you know what? I have no idea." Kili chuckled. "Come on. There they are."
They both hurried over to two SUVs parked together, where Bilbo stood as Bofur fussed around the other car. As neared, they also spotted Fili rummaging through the boot.
"It's bad I'm afraid – you have a flat Kili." Bilbo shook his head. "I'm no good at this – usually call out the AA to get it sorted…"
"Well. There will be no AA coming out here." Shobha rummaged through the small handbag that hung across her body, and pulled out another set of keys. "I can change a flat, but we don't have time to waste like that. Not when we have other options."
She waved her set of car keys and stood on tiptoe to look around the large garage filled with various cars that belongs to various members of the family and then spotted hers parked in a corner.
"Come on lads. Abandon ship there!" She called out to Fili and Bofur, before walking over towards her own car. "There's not as much room, but we can still fit two adults in the back."
She turned to Kili and tossed him the keys.
"You'd let me drive your precious car?!" Kili grinned unreservedly.
"Well… since we're going to get caught either way." She laughed uneasily. "You do drive manual right?"
….
They all sat in a booth, watching Bilbo and Dori singing The Proclaimers on the stage. They appeared to have several ladies from Dale standing near the stage, dancing and cheering them on. The pub was as packed as they had anticipated, and it had been fortunate they had attended in such a large group, as that had earned them a large booth.
Fili and Kili had squashed in either side of her, while their group had been joined by Sigrid, Bain and Tilda, the children of the Mayor of Dale. The three of them sat on one side laughing as they chatted with Bofur and Ori.
"I really needed this night out." Kili sounded genuinely downhearted, and a little tipsy. "Lady Melia blew be off thrice now. I don't see any point in my attempting again..."
"Oh dear brother, Lady Melia is a stuck up, prude. You are better off this way." Fili took a sip of his ale, as his eyes drifted towards Sigrid briefly. "Besides there will be another… better lady for you."
"Yeah. You'll meet someone waaay better." She sympathised. "Otherwise you end up wasting five years of your valuable youth; only to have your fiancé shag someone else and have a secret baby with them."
Fili and Kili both shot a strange look at her.
"By the way, mother wanted me to remind you that you need to ask Mel to make you a new dress for Durins Day." Kili smiled, reaching over and patting her hand. "And my dear brother and I, well… we think you should wear something quite racy."
The two young men looked at her and winked.
"Oh dear God." She muttered. "Right, Kili, I will drive back thanks. And what do we do about you Fili? Because everyone else is quite happily sloshed too!"
"Relax, my lady. One of the advantages of… our transformation gift… is our metabolism burns stuff like this off very quickly." Fili reassured her with a whisper.
"Speak for yourself, brother." Kili whispered back across Shobha, quite harshly.
"What does that mean?" She asked.
"I am not part of their little lupine club." The younger, dark haired brother explained bitterly, to her total surprise.
"Relax, little brother. You will. You are five years younger, and I only began recently." Fili reached across to Kili, wrapping his arm behind her, where she sat between them, and grasped his shoulder in solidarity.
"So… what does it feel like?" Shobha turned to the older of the Durins, only to have Kili lean in.
"It hurts at first. Sometimes… I still can't control myself, but I have been told that comes with experience and time." Fili admitted, glancing around the table as he kept his voice down. "I guess it's all about…"
He hesitated, clicking his fingers a few times, trying to find the right word.
"Instinct." Fili finally finished. And then with a smug satisfaction that reminded her of his uncle, he took a sip of his ale.
"And how do you control yourself?" She asked, thinking of what had happened between Thorin and herself. She had expected that he would have talked to her about it the next day, but it never did happen.
"… I… sometimes I can't." He admitted. "I nearly mauled our cousin to death a few months ago; and I almost crossed the boundary to Dale."
"Yeah. Thorin had to stop him reaching Dale; I mean can you imagine what might have happened if he had? A wolf rampaging through Dale?" Kili grimaced. "The other time, Dwalin halted him after three rounds of his shotgun."
"Shit! It took three rounds to stop him?!" Her eyebrows shot up.
Fili grinned at her proudly before he realised her concern, immediately attempting to reassure her.
"Oh Mahal! I don't think you need to worry at all, Shobha. No one would ever harm you!" Fili quickly reassured her.
"Besides, Uncle would protect you." Kili added, and they all fell silent once more. Around them a round of applause erupted as Bilbo and Dori finished their song. And yet there, in their little corner of the booth, the three of them had fallen deep into thought.
"You know, it's a territorial thing." Fili broke the silence. "A need to protect what's yours; That's what calls the beast."
All three sat looking at their drinks, still quite serious, while Nori and Ori took to the small stage, and the music began. Although she watched them singing 'Message in a bottle', her mind was deep in thought.
"Right." Fili smiled, his eyes drifting towards the young woman from Dale. Sigrid appeared to have stood from her seat. "My turn to buy a round… orders everyone please! What's your poison?"
Everyone sitting down began to call out.
"I'll come with ya." Bofur began inching out of the booth.
"No. No. I'm going up anyway. And maybe Sigrid you could help us, since you are up anyway?" Shobha smiled as she stood up, nudged Fili. "I am popping over to the loo, and making a quick call… got to check on a patient. So Sigrid can help until I join you both and Fili will keep you company… if that's okay with you, Sigrid?"
"Of course." She smiled, glancing over at Fili, a slight flush creeping into her cheeks.
They walked towards the bar, Shobha pushing the two of them together, ahead of her.
"I will just nip off…"Shobha began, but Sigrid quickly turned and caught her hand.
"Use the rest rooms upstairs. You get better signal and it's quieter." Sigrid spoke with urgency. "Do you want me to show you?"
"Do you need the loo too?" Shobha asked in return. The truth was that she had no true desire to use the toilet, it was really to get away for a moment.
"Not really –"
"Good God, then please don't worry." She spun Sigrid around, bodily, to face a softly smiling Fili, as they reached the bar, weaving through the crowds. "Promise the toilet monster won't get me."
They both shot her a quizzical look, as she ducked aside and moved towards the door marked with signs to the toilets. Pushing it open she found herself on the landing of a dark stairwell. She could hear loud music emanating from the steps leading down. She paused, pulling out her phone to check, only to find someone bump into her from behind.
"Oh! Sorry love."
She found herself looking up, blinking in the dim lighting of the stairwell, a young woman staring back. She was pretty, with pale skin, hazel eyes, long chestnut hair that fell in waves around her face, even if she did look unusually gaunt.
"Didn't see you there honey." She ushered Shobha along down the stair with her. "Come on. I think we're already late."
She pulled Shobha down the stairs towards a dark corridor from which loud music boomed out, with an eagerness that gave little time to contradict. At the end of the corridor was a door, guarded by a tall man in a black suit. Everything began to take place quicker that she could object.
"Hey! Sorry we're late –"
The bouncer blocked the door.
"Come on Terry. It's me!" She replied irritated and then sighed. "Ugh. The code word is Nosferatu… I mean gotta hand it to them and their weird sense of humour –"
"Who's your friend?" Terry nodded his head towards Shobha. "She's not a regular."
"I know… but you know…" the young woman whispered to him this time, although she had to whisper loudly because of the music, which meant Shobha was able to just about overhear her. "He has exotic taste…"
Terry hesitated initially, only to be hurried by the woman again.
"If you delay her.. HE will probably get angry – and we're already late: And HE hasn't done this for a very long time I am told."
Terry grunted something inaudible as he shook his head and stepped out of the way, still a little hesitant.
"Just saying, Terry," the young woman this time patted him on the chest and gently ushered him aside, before pulling Shobha along and into what appeared to look like an underground club. "Come on honey… don't be afraid… I've been doing this for years now; Promise you'll be fine."
The dark room, was smaller than the pub space above. Strobe lights flashed about the darkness, as she took a moment to allow her eyes to adjust. Looking around the room, it was packed, as loud music made it almost impossible to hear. People had broken into small groups, or pairs, all of them kissing, or groping one another. It looked like a strange orgy!
"Mmmmm… who is this?"
Shobha found several pairs of hands touching her; it was unwanted, but also not unpleasant, all at the same time.
Turning around, she backed away from several tall, thin, pale men and women, all with long hair. They surrounded her, like hungry wolves around a carcass, one bending down to plant a kiss on her hand, another circling behind, gently trailing his hand down her back, and the third picking a lock of her hair and wrapping it around his finger, as if it were the tendril of a pretty floral creeper.
"Enchanted… little lady…" the tall blonde haired man, playing with her hair lowered his head to practically sniff her neck. "Hardly necessary with you… but, mmmm…. You do smell good…"
"Leave her alone." The young woman, who had dragged her down there seemed to appear out of nowhere. "She isn't for you."
"Why does HE need her – he doesn't even take part usually…"
"Well then all the more." She chastised him again. "She belongs to him! Now out of the way!"
As the woman dragged her further, she could make out a group of people seated at a booth at the back, illuminated intermittently by the flashes of strobe lighting. It made the platinum blonde hair of the tall man seated in the centre almost glow. Two women sat either side of him, one kissing his neck as she ran her hands up his thigh, while the other kissed along his jaw as her hands brushed along his chest through the partially unbuttoned shirt he wore. As she moved closer, amidst the dark mass of people that sat crowded into that booth, where several orgies appeared to be taking place, Shobha was able to make out the shape of a third woman knelt down, between the splayed open legs of the man in the centre too, her head moved up and down rhythmically, as he stroked her hair, coaxing her to continue to his desired tempo.
His head was initially thrown back, seemingly enjoying the various ministrations he was receiving, until his eyes suddenly shot open, watching her as the women continued. He didn't seem to be enjoying himself completely, although he was not entirely dissatisfied either. Thranduil, tilted his head forward, smirking at her, before beckoning for her to approach.
"Join us, my dear." He called out to her, extending a hand.
But she took a step back, bumping into several strong, cold bodies, her desire being to leave now. Looking around her, it finally dawned on her that she had walked into some sort of weird vampire party! She could feel many eyes trained on her now, as she desperately turned around to search for the nearest exit. Finally she spotted it, a fire door to her right. But it meant weaving through several groups of vampires.
Instinctively she ducked and moved, half running, and half dancing, towards the exit, as several hands grabbed and tugged at her.
Arriving at the firedoor, she desperately clutched at the bar to open it, until finally she pushed her full body against it, to spill out into another stairwell which appeared to lead up and out.
Scrambling up the stairs on both hands and knees, she emerged on a narrow cobbled street, surrounded by closed shops, with dark windows and stone buildings. She looked around in vain for anyone that might help, but apparently, she was very much alone. Hearing steps following behind she ran down a narrow street which appeared to have some sort of lighting and turned several sharp corners into other smaller streets that led off, and finally believing herself free of any stalkers, she leant back against a brick wall.
Slowly, she allowed herself to breath out, still trying to remain as quiet as possible, despite her lungs complaining about her attempt to control her breathing after all that running. Shutting her eyes, to make it easier to focus, she stood there for a few moments. She rubbed her palms, which were grazed and raw from her hurried scramble up the stone steps onto the street. And then peered around the corner of the wall, back at the route she had taken to see whether there was any sign of someone following.
Much to her relief she found herself entirely alone. Placing her hand on her chest to steady her breathing, and finally she turned to walk on, only to walk straight into a tall, lean, muscular figure.
"You have quite a healthy curiosity, little lady…" he spoke almost uncaringly. "But you do realise that curiosity killed the cat?"
She looked up into Thranduil's pale face and her eyes widened, nervously. He stood there, his hair still somewhat ruffled, and his shirt was undone, clearly having left his own little orgy in a state of incompletion.
"I'm starting to realise that." She backed up, only to find herself against the stone wall, and wondering how she would get out of this. If he wished to bite her, no one would know. She wondered whether Fili, Kili and the rest had even noticed she was missing.
"Worry not, little one, I won't feed on you. I am no beast," he smirked, taking a step closer. "But you do owe me completion… thrice…"
She laughed nervously. Surely he wasn't serious, since he left his own little orgy halfway. But as she stood alone in what might as well have been a lonely, dark alleyway, it was not something she wanted to test out.
"I am sure you can easily find three willing women…" she began.
"Oh, but it can be so much better with just one, if it is with the right woman; I can see you have a supple, flexible little body. I imagine you dance well..." He took a step closer and stopped. "But alas, I believe your heart belongs to another beast. Even if you try your damnedest to act otherwise."
It was then that she noticed movement behind her, and turning, spotted several tall, pale men surrounding her. They appeared silently out of the darkness. But Thranduil dismissed them with a graceful gesture, and the creatures seem to melt away into the darkness from which they emerged.
"What was that?" She moved towards him, looking around her for those vampires again.
"My immortal guards." He tilted his head watching her out of curiosity. "You declined my invitation earlier. They see this as disobedience… and no one disobeys me.. if it were up to them, you would be forced to bring me to completion."
She raised her eyebrows concerned, only to have him dismiss her with a gesture.
"Be at ease, my dear. I will do nothing to you, that you would not wish for." He smirked once more. "So, tell me, what is it that you are doing out here tonight?"
"It's karaoke night. I just happened to get lost… and someone thought I was one of your orgy-girls. I suppose I should feel flattered by that. I mean… they all are very pretty..." She prattled on, when he interrupted her.
"No. I mean, which of the many things that burden your mind drove you to interrupt the first time I chose to tend to my needs in a while..?" Thranduil held his arms behind his back, peering deep into her eyes. It felt as if he was reaching into her soul.
"I just don't know… I mean…." She hesitated uncertain of this.
"Sometimes it helps to talk to a perfect stranger." He held his hand out to her, and this time she seemed to take it without hesitation. It even surprised her. "Now, perhaps, a better place to think…"
He pulled her close to his body, which felt icy cold, and within moments they were up in the air. It was a most peculiar feeling. She shut her eyes, as he held her tight, and when she next opened them, they were standing on a rooftop. It was a very small space, but the roof was, thankfully flat.
Cautiously, she peered over the edge. It was a very long way down indeed! The cars looked like matchbox vehicles, and the few people walking around in the empty streets around the open pubs looked like ants, scurrying in the darkness.
"Please do not go too close to the edge." Thranduil warned gently, as she felt the weight of a heavy leather coat fall onto her shoulders. On him it came down to his thigh, on her, it nearly reached her ankles. He then took her hands and gently observed her grazed palms. "We are on top of the historical town hall building… I come here when I need to think. You have hurt your palms."
"It'll be fine. Feels worse than it is." She looked up to spot his strangely elongated features looking out over the town. His expression was quite unreadable. Unsure of where to begin herself, she looked away. "Sorry I spoiled your orgy."
"It has been over a century since my wife died. But this is the first time I joined the others in the carnal feast." He admitted, with a heavy sigh. "None of those women were truly satisfying me."
"Oh God, are all those people going to be killed?" She asked worrying about the rest of the group.
"No such thing. We merely feed on the sensual energies; no blood will be spilled tonight." He reassured. "Although, sometimes, there may be a taste – with consent of course. Nothing but a trickle… owners won't even miss it."
She looked away disgusted.
"I think you would enjoy it! The tiniest amount of vampire venom at the point of climax… heightens… ones pleasure…" he smirked momentarily before glancing at her sidelong. "It is most unfortunate for you that your preference is for those wild dogs…"
She rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"I was not born yesterday, my dear." He observed her with a certain degree of impatience. "So… why are you here out with the others, and not the alpha?"
"What?!"
"He has chosen you as his… mate… right?" Thranduil looked down at her. "I have observed them for quite long enough –"
"Are the frescoes in the church a true portrayal of the history?" She interrupted him, realising this was a valuable chance. Despite him imprisonments of her before, he clearly liked her company enough to want a chat.
"The church wishes to claim we were the evil ones, when we were here for much longer than any of them! The wolves were here a long time too. Almost as long as our people. We always lived on the blood of animals, the wolves always opposed us. That was the only way we could lead a settled life. Sometimes when the odd human strays on our land, unpermitted – they must pay the price with blood." He paused a moment, looking at her again, as she listened intently. "Well, I suppose you could say the wolves kept us in check. You see if any of our stray undead left the borders of our land, they would viciously rip them to shreds; they have this territorial thing. I can't say I am particularly upset by it; you see the feral ones, have little semblance of humanity, they they possess only a desire to feed and mate. Sometimes we have to deal with them ourselves, for if left unchecked they would consume all life. Of course they have their uses: They guard our borders. But that's in a very rudimentary manner. I think we allow them to live out of pity."
He fell silent again gauging her reaction. But when she remained silent, looking up at him with those big brown eyes, almost like a child holding on to every word of an epic tale, he continued with a half smile.
"The humans came to settle down after we began to trade and deal with the outside world – this was mainly done by the wolves. Because they are craftsman and miners, but grown nothing, so they need food, medicine and clothing – things not made here, while your kind covet their jewels." He explained very clinically, as if the Ereboreans were lesser than them. "They may not live on the life blood of others, but their greed runs deep. Of course, their trade led to trade with us also, after all, the blood from an animal slaughtered for meat, could be traded with us. Since we possess skills and knowledge of the land, which we would share, unlike the wolves. For them, it's cold business, and if they can gain wealth from anything they will do so. And if they can do this with as little contact with the outside world as possible, then all the better."
She opened her mouth to refute this, but fell silent, thinking of Thorin's and Dain's aversion to outsiders.
"Tell me… do you know how they trade?"
She paused, realising she knew so little of how Erebor gained their wealth.
"Very well then, I shall inform you. The owner of the mines holds the wealth. He pays his miners, very well, I might add, and they mine jewels of great value and other precious materials: Diamonds, Emeralds, Rubies, Sappires, rivers of gold… that which you could not imagine. These are then refined or cut by Erebor smiths, and sold on to your world. The jewels are almost always of the highest quality and finest cuts, so they always go to very exclusive auctions." Thranduil rubbed the many rings on one hand with the long fingers of his other hand, drawing her attention to the various precious stones and filigree-work he wore. "It brings in unimaginable sums of money. This is then used to employ the many people within the town; security, healers, cooks, housekeepers, tutors, and so on. But… all the trade this relies upon… is carried out through trusted parties, based in Dale. The purchase and supply of food items, textiles, books, equipment, and frankly anything that is not made here, is also carried out by parties in Dale."
"So that is how Dale became populated. But I thought they have farms?"
"Yes. Organic, small scale farms – for field to table type ventures." He uttered scathingly. "Hardly worth the effort."
"So what's your point?"
"The point is, their desire for riches knows no end." He turned to her. "There is a strange madness that runs in their family. A desire… for gold… jewels…"
"Okay, firstly, mental health is stigmatised enough by that sort of talk. Secondly, a desire for things… I don't think that is a madness –"
"Thror fell in love with an artisan jeweller. Her craft was so fine that royalty from many countries commissioned coronets to be crafted by her. But each piece of work she did, he finally negotiated thrice the original price for – I should know." He looked away again, this time into the distance. "The jewels bequeathed to my wife, were entrusted to him; a price even agreed on. Then to go back on this agreement, for more payment."
"So that's the necklace." She whispered recalling what Legolas had told her about when she was held prisoner in Greenwood.
"It is not just that. Thror withdrew, and became more paranoid as he aged with this… affliction." He chose his words with greater care this time. "He did not even trust his own son in the end!"
She wondered whether Thorin had discovered this in Thrain's journal entries.
"Do you think it's possible that someone was trying to take over Erebor?" She asked, looking up at him.
"Of course this is entirely possible. But what makes you think that?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Lots of things and yet nothing completely solid." She decided to keep her answers vague. After all, she wasn't sure she could trust him entirely just yet.
"And have you taken this to your leader and admirer?"
"What makes you think he's my admirer?"
"Oh, lots of things and yet nothing solid." He answered coyly, with a bemused laugh. "If you haven't already suggested this to him, I would do so immediately. And be careful of investigating such a matter yourself. If what you believe is indeed true, then you will be putting yourself in considerable danger."
She didn't respond, just looking up at him to watch his face turn quite serious as he warned her.
"In that case, since I expect you plan to meddle fully, I would like to offer you my assistance in any matter, should you wish it. At any time, my lady." He tipped his head, as if mimicking a bow, but remained unbending. "And you would be entirely blind not to see that Thorin harbours a favour for you… which is not entirely unreturned."
A chilling breeze blew, as she stood there next to him looking down at the stone buildings of the sleepy town below, bathed in darkness. It was almost difficult to imagine there was an underground room somewhere below that had a vampiric orgy taking place!
"Do you know much about golems?"
"Much of Erebor's hard work was done by them. Certainly the more dangerous bits. It is now all passed into legend, but I believe Thror had use of them, that he used them to mine certain very precious stones from the very heart of the mountain. Problem is, when they got buried in the mines, he didn't rescue them. Even after their lifetime of servitude, to generations of Lords." He commented scathingly again. "But that is how the wolves are. Greedy to the very core. Once they have little use of something it is often discarded. Part of the payment for my wife's necklace was her help in delivering Thrain, and saving Thror's wife when she was almost dying during childbirth."
Thranduil looked away into the horizon again. But this time, it was clear his heart still aches at the thought of her.
"But… I thought your wife passed away over a hundred years ago?!"
"Yes. The Ereboreans live much longer than the rest of you… mortals. Thror was almost one hundred and fifty when he died."
She frowned trying to think of her patient group, and did notice that she saw many in their eighties and nineties. Even Mel and Laverna looked rather old, although she had no idea of an exact age. She could only wonder why she never saw the more elderly patients.
"So that necklace means a lot –"
"She was killed by a hunter while travelling to Italy to see the coven that she came from not long after Thror's wife offered to craft a necklace for her." He turned away from her, clearly hiding what was still a painful memory. "It is the last thing I planned to gift her… except when I arrived to collect the necklace, Thror refused to the price already agreed on."
"Oh God." She whispered, suddenly feeling pity for him. "Does Thorin know all this?"
"My dear Shobha, Thorin is very ignorant to many things that occurred in Erebor. Thrain ensured he was well schooled, and raised in the ways of their people, ready to take up the mantle when the time was right. But, as soon as he was permitted, he left Erebor, to complete his education. If you ask me – he reluctantly took his place." Thranduil turned to face her this time. "And now, my dear, I think it's time we returned you back. 'Your people' will be looking for you I imagine."
…..
She gingerly touched the doorknob, shutting her door, biting her lip to avoid herself from hissing in pain from her grazed palms coming into contact with the metal. Slipping her heels off, and letting her mac slip off onto the floor she hissed, as the skin on her hands burned with even the lightest contact of the material.
"There is no need to sneak around in the darkness."
The deep voice that emerged out of the darkness of her room, made her jump. An involuntary scream accompanied her shock as Thorin moved from the armchair on which he sat at the far end of the room, to turn on the lights.
"I… um… we had game night at Ori's…" she mumbled. When Thranduil had brought her back to join the others, they had already been in the midst of frantically searching for her, and on the verge Of telling Thorin. So they had each decided it was in everyone's best interests to stick to the story of game night, and that's what she did.
"Is that right?" He mused as he walked over to her. "Would you care to amend your answer if I told you that I received a call from the landlord of the Bargeman…?"
"Err…" she struggled. She was tired, and her mind otherwise occupied.
"You're hurt." He picked her hands in his and inspected her palms.
"I'm okay," she shook her head. "Just needs a quick wash…"
"Very well then, let me." He led her through to her en-suite, and opened the taps, carefully testing the water temperature before pushing her hands under the cool running water.
"Ouch!" She hissed. Her eyes slowly drifted up to observe his face, forehead creased with concentration but his eyes half hidden under his dark lashes.
"Good! That will teach you to go wondering around." He groused. "I received word from Thranduil also."
"Ugh."
"What possessed you to walk into their carnal feast. I take it you saw what was happening as soon as you walked through the door?" He turned off the water and then pulled down a clean towel from a shelf dabbing gently, despite her groans. "Hold still!"
"What are you doing here?" She looked up at him, but he ignored her at first opening the medicine cabinet to pull out a jar of ointment.
"I think it's clear what I am doing." He muttered opening the jar and dabbing ointment onto her palms before looking around the sparsely occupied bathroom. "Have you actually unpacked your things here?"
"No. And do you know what? I am glad I did find Thranduil!" She pulled her hands back. "He said that necklace was made out of gems that belonged to his wife! It's sentimental in value, Thorin. You have to give it back."
"And tell me why I should help them?!" He grunted at her, stepping away to put the ointment back.
"Because it's the right thing to do. And because he clings onto it because it is a precious memory of his wife. While it means nothing to you, other than the symbol of an old feud, that wasn't even of your doing!" She took a step closer to him, as he turned to face her, his face now clearly showing signs of irritation. "Don't you think it's time to move on?"
He took a step closer, frowning. As much as she enraged him, in that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss those full lips again, and yet there was so much that held him back.
"You speak so easily of moving on, Shobha, but look at you; you still haven't even unpacked! You're living here as though you have one foot out of Erebor, ready to flee from your feelings at the slightest thing!" He reached out to stroke her face and then pulled his hand back.
"Well, I have to do what I must in order to protect myself. After all, you're not the most stable person – all hot and cold with me all the time..." she frowned back. Even if they were arguing, at least they were getting everything out in the open. "One minute you hold me, the next minute we kiss, and then you insult me or go cold… I just don't know where we are –"
Watching her all this time, quite intently, he suddenly growled out of frustration, and bending down, grabbed her, picking her up as though she weighed nothing more than a child to him. Then he carried her back into her bedroom, where he threw her on the bed. Then carefully climbing up to straddle her, bent down and roughly kissed her.
It was a possessive kiss; his beard brushing at her skin, his lips pressing themselves jealously over hers, his tongue plundering her and his hands suddenly pulling her up into his lap as he flipped them both over, bodily.
It left her breathless, and weak, needing to lean herself against his body, throwing an arm around his shoulder in desperation, only for him to stop as abruptly as he began.
"Now do you know where I stand…?" He growled. "Woman, you are an infuriating, meddling, enragingly stubborn creature…"
He watched her slowly blink, seemingly a bit surprised and confused by his outburst. She remained silent.
"But I would rather be here, fighting with you, than be placated by anyone else." He gently caressed her face, but his heart was heavy. He had never intended to let her become close to him, but from that very first night when he had been drawn to her, even as a beast, he had never been able to keep away.
"You must be a real glutton for punishment then." She smiled softly, wrapping her hands around his neck. It was hard to deny how she felt about him, but she no longer trusted her instincts when it came to love. This time, she would enjoy the moment, but not dream of happily ever after.
"Aye." The corners of his mouth twitched slowly into a smile, and he pulled her in for a softer, ore chaste kiss.
"What is it?" She pulled away to study his face better, certain that he was now holding something back. "Oh God! Please don't tell me that you are having a secret baby with some other woman?"
He smiled at her words and shook his head.
"I… fear that you have a terrible choice in men, my lady…" he smiled again.
"You finished reading through the journals!" Her big brown eyes widened, as she observed his face and noticing the sudden moroseness he struggled to hide, even at a moment like this. He truly looked like one who bore a terrible secret that ate away at him. "What did you find?"
He paused again, half desperate to reveal all to her, knowing she would probably unearth enough on her own anyway, but also adamant that he should protect her. So he kissed her again, tasting he remnants of some sweet, fruity drink, he imagined she had consumed. Running his hands along her legs, he grabbed a thigh and pulled it across his lap, bringing her over to straddle him. His erection ached and throbbed for her attention, in response to the delicious friction she provided in her positioning. All he wanted was now to be inside her.
Wrapping one arm around her tiny waist and roughly grabbing her thigh with the other hand he pulled her down against him harder. It made her moan into their kiss, which only made his arousal greater.
Suddenly she pulled away, making him groan involuntarily.
"Come on. You have to tell me…" she pleaded, as her fingers danced along the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one, grateful he had already removed his jacket earlier.
"Are you attempting to trade your body for my secrets?" He grabbed her waist, pulling her in.
"Is it working?"
He rolled them both over pinning her beneath him on the soft covers of her enormous bed.
"Tell you what – I will give you Thranduil's necklace. It will be your gift to do with as you please." He offered, as she tugged his shirt off his shoulders, which he lifted himself up to remove fully.
"Well that's not worth the hard pounding I imagine you plan to give me." She mocked, unable to hold back a chuckle. "I'm reconsidering our trade."
"I believe you initiated this, Shobha!" He ran a hand up the inside of her thigh, delighting in the sight of her opening her legs, apparently as desperate for his touch as he was for hers. "You would go to bed quite so unsatisfied?"
"Oh no. I'm good – had my fill at that vampire orgy and with Thrandy himself –"
"What?!" He genuinely looked alarmed at first before realising that she was teasing him. "Oh I see; I think you deserve a hard pounding just for that…"
She ran her small cool hands through the dark hair on his chest, and smiled up at him very invitingly.
"You know my mother warned me about men like you…"
"Except, I have met your mother.." He laughed at that, gently brushing several errant strands of soft onyx hair from her face. "And I do believe she rather liked me…"
He cupped her chin, lifting her face up to meet his and claimed her lips once again.
….
Dear All,
Another long chapter – sorry about that.
Thank you again for all the wonderful reviews and comments❤️ and for following my story so far.
Please do continue to let me know your thoughts
Keep safe xx