Dear All,
Thank you you so much for reading so far.
I feel excited for them - day (and night) before the wedding!
pls pls review/comment/fave/follow
hope you enjoy this chapter :)
—
Thorin woke early. He would spend the next night before their wedding in a different room to Shobha. He didn't like the idea of being away even for one night, but the custom according to both their cultures required this. And so, reluctantly he had accepted that fate. To ease the passing of the day, Thorin's company were arranging a small feast with plenty of ale at lunch time, with bawdy tales of female conquest and other adventures being exchanged. This would allow the groom time to rest and recover by the next morning in time for their morning wedding. Although they did not believe Thorin would get even remotely drunk. He was always very controlled, uptight even. And his overindulgence at the feast some days ago was as rare an event as a blue moon.
He looked at Shobha as she lay sleeping soundly, naked in his arms, her dark honey brown skin striking against his. He lightly stroked her arms over the many small pale scars where she had been injured by too many splinters from the cave-in when she had saved him, and then traced his fingers over the thicker more ragged scars she had sustained when she had protected Lena from the dogs. They contrasted painfully sharp and horribly pale against her brown skin. He wished he could kiss them away or bear them himself, in her place. Her skin had not been marked like this when he had first helped Oin wash and dress her after they found her and brought her back to Erebor. His attraction to her then had been unmistakable. She was so different to any other dam or woman he had ever come across.
She seemed so small and vulnerable as she lay there nude in his arms. Suddenly, staying away from her even for a few hours seemed too much now. He could only take some minor comfort that his own sister would be spending that night with her instead.
When Shobha had described the Haldi ceremony, to Dis, Mara and Elin, they had loved the idea instantly: and in the last two weeks, Dis had informed Shobha that they would be performing such a ceremony, on behalf of her family. They had even gone to the trouble and expense of procuring sufficient turmeric, and sandalwood all the way from the Eastern Kingdoms. While Elin had made her own rose water, which would be used to form the paste. None of them knew the correct words to chant in Sanskrit to perform a blessing on her. None of them knew the correct words to chant in Sanskrit to perform a blessing on her. After breakfast Shobha and Thorin had attended to some last minute matters – Thorin in court and Shobha in the infirmary.
Then she had returned to meet him outside the Throne room, where he had taken her upon her request to the small temple built in the upper reaches of the mountain dedicated to Aulë and Yavanna. It appeared that while the Valar were respected, they were not necessarily treated in the same way as gods were from Shobha's world. Instead it was a place where dwarves would go to pay their respects quietly, or for quiet contemplation in times where they may wish for blessings.
The temple had been carved into the rock, and well illuminated with many clever light shafts. One side had been planted with a beautiful hanging garden of plants including many small flowering plants, such as Athelas, giving the appearance of a lush green wall.
In the centre were two statues one of Aulë who was a large stocky dwarf with a silver mane and beard, dressed in a leather vest and kilt, carrying an enormous hammer. And he held the right hand of the beautiful ethereal Yavanna who was very slightly taller than him with long dark hair and skin the colour of earth. Her dress was formed of plants that had intertwined with each other and grown around her body very elegantly, and wore a crown of white flowers that appeared to have been dusted with gold and glistened. They truly were a divine looking couple, his raw power contrasting with her nurturing softness.
Thorin knelt before them, Shobha following, and he bowed his head and closed his eyes, holding her right hand in his left. And they remained kneeling there in silent contemplation. He couldn't be more grateful for everything Mahal had blessed him with, and now he would hope they blessed them both with many happy years of marriage together. He hoped, in spite of his fear, that if she did conceive, her pregnancy and delivery were safe. He pressed her hand to his chest and then brought it up to his lips to place a kiss across her knuckles.
"I am thankful for so much – but Mahal created the most perfect One for me. And I would live through all the pain and suffering I have borne many times over just to meet you, my love."
"I too am so grateful for every decision and situation that led to to take that hike that day, and so led me to you." She spoke turning to kiss him gently. She liked this temple, if was not quite a religious place, but it had a calming feeling. She would like to visit more with time.
When they stood to leave, Dwalin, Fili and Kili were waiting to collect Thorin and take him away from his bride for the rest of the day. While Dis, Mara and Elin waited to accompany Shobha away for her Haldi ceremony. And so after a long embrace and several kisses Thorin reluctantly left with them.
…
The three dams had gathered in her room, with some food and plenty of wine and spiced ales. Shobha showed them how to mix the paste together. Then the ladies spread a large old sheet on the floor and placed a chair in the centre on which she sat wearing an old nightgown, for the mixture would stain clothing. It smelled fragrant, just as she remembered when they had done the same for her older sister. But she couldn't recall all the correct traditions, so she would adapt it to suit her circumstances, the blessings intended were in their hearts, and these dams were the closest things to female members she could consider part of her family.
"So do we just apply it like this?" Elin giggled smearing a dollop on her arm.
"Aye, my lady." Shobha giggled and replied back in her deepest voice.
"You sounded like him there! You miss him don't you… Who would have ever thought that Thorin Oakenshield, who swore to remain ' tied to his duty over a female', would have fallen so madly in love?" Dis laughed holding a glass of wine in one hand and a handful of the paste in her other hand. "My turn, I hope this brings you happiness and lots of beautiful babies!"
"Thank you…" Shobha smiled as Dis smeared it on the rest of that arm.
"Oooh well I get the legs: Lift your skirts up and spread your legs for me, my beauty." Mara teased in a deep voice giggling, as Shobha lifted the hem of her nightdress to her knees. "You'd better get used to that now, my dear…"
The four of them giggled again. Shobha had not lined her stomach suitably in preparation for the ale. It had been watered down but it was still going straight to her head.
"Ok I will have to slow down on this – otherwise I will be terribly hung over tomorrow."
"Are you nervous dear?" Elin asked genuinely. "Its clear you mean everything to him."
"Oh no… is it nerves about the marriage bed?" Mara asked applying more to cover her arm completely.
"Well no… I guess I am nervous and excited about it at the same time." She smiled.
"So tell us… what are men folk like in bed?" Mara asked with a mischievous look. "I'm sorry – I've been dying to ask you all this time…"
This set Dis and Elin off in a fit of laughter, as they applied more of the paste on her other arm and legs.
"I think it depends on the individual and the age… I mean, ladies, I am no expert. I probably haven't had sex with as many men as I should have really!" She laughed again. "But one thing is true… Dwarves are much larger! At least compared to any of the men I have seen."
The three dams laughed again.
"Well I've only ever… with Bombur." Elin laughed.
"I had two lovers before Glóin…" Mara blushed.
"That's because you are the most beautiful dam in the Blue Mountains!" Dis chuckled. And then smearing more paste on Shobha's face concluded. "I don't know what you re laughing about… if Thorin hadn't surrounded you, we'd have a line of dwarrows all the way around the mountain waiting for you!"
"Nah!" Shobha drank the last of her ale.
"Even Thranduil clearly holds a favour for you! I saw him that day." Dis nodded solemnly. "He's fairly handsome for an elf too…"
"No… of course not. He just thinks everyone fancies him probably." She scowled at her tankard. "He is probably a bit too hairless though…"
"Speaking of hairless… you have none on your legs. Why I have seen many women folk and they all have hair."
"Oh! I shave my legs-"
"What?!" They all gasped together. And lifted their skirts to show their own very downy legs.
"That is terrible!" Mara cried. "Has the King not said anything?"
"NO! What do you mean?!" Shobha clapped her hand over her mouth. "I thought that's what everyone did. I mean… that's what we are expected to do at home. I used to wax actually."
"Oh Mahal!" Dis cried. "My dear sister, we love our hair. Every single inch of it! There is no need… I suppose Thorin loves you anyway that he would not say anything. And I guess it would be your choice if those are your customs."
"Well in my home land, women are expected to be hairless, as hair is considered a sign of masculinity. But really everyone knows women have hair – but they just remove it, so I guess it's a bit of a farce really." Shobha realised how much, they valued their hair. In fact she realised suddenly that she must be considered rather ugly in comparison to most dams. "I even shave my underarms… Gosh! I must be considered very ugly… I don't even have side burns!"
The three dams who were intensely looking at her suddenly began laughing.
"Oh my dear! Even without a beard or any other hair – I think you have quite a few hearts beating fast." Mara winked.
"In fact I would dare say… my brother wasn't completely unfounded in his jealousy when he suffered from the dragon sickness." Dis admitted raising her eyebrows.
"Fili?!" Shobha looked shocked. "No! Really?! He has always been… so supportive."
"Aye!"
"Now he IS a handsome dwarf! But I guess you don't choose who your heart belongs to…"
…
"The little lass said that to you?!" Dwalin laughed.
"Aye – 'bull-shit'!" Thorin repeated, nodding with a bemused smile.
"Oh no Thorin! The best of her bad language was when she told that man in the Black Arrow, that if he came closer she would throw the next dagger in between his legs and he would never be able to 'take a piss standing up, let alone please another woman'!" Bofur laughed making his hat wobble. "You would have loved that!"
Thorin could imagine that. He nodded as a low rumbling chuckle escaped his chest.
"Oh! We missed that!" Fili chuckled and then pursed his lips. "And her aim is as good as yours Uncle! I bet he almost pissed himself when he heard that!"
"What other shocking things does she say to you Thorin? I bet she's a naughty one!" Nori flashed his eyebrows mischievously. "I will certainly not forget that day in the war room when she said that she would 'gladly service your bed with a smile' for some freedom!"
"Och Nori!" Dwalin groused.
"Come on there isn't an unattached dwarrow from the seven clans, who wouldn't want to hear that from her lips!" Nori raised his tankard, to which Thorin bowed his head conceding the point he made.
"Well Mara said if I got her with child again that she would 'crush my dong with Mahal's very own hammer'!" Gloin laughed clutching his belly.
"But that was while the lass was giving birth brother! I have heard much worse in those times uttered towards the father," Oin shook his head. "Shame Bombur is too busy looking after the kitchen. He would have told you a thing or two."
"Elin?! Really?" Kili chuckled.
"Aye!" Oin laughed. "I have never given birth – but I expect if we had to suffer the same pain, we would say much worse. I mean seeing a head stretch that part of a female… requires a strong stomach!"
"And there is little that can be done for that pain?" Thorin asked suddenly concerned, gulping. "How do they forgive the males for having put them in that state?"
"Fortunately the females seem to eventually forget, how else can you explain siblings. But sadly our potions are not completely safe for that time for pain relief… I am not sure whether any elvish medicine or spells exist for that…" Oin added curiously, would he go to Thranduil begging even if there were? "But would you go to Thranduil?"
"I swear that I dislike the way that the Elvenking looks at Shobha." Fili scowled into his ale. "Like she is something to be eaten."
Thorin nodded silently in agreement. Fili clearly had a soft spot for his bride, and while he was a little jealous about it, as she seemed to care for him deeply also, he knew it was only harmless. It also reassured him that, in the event that he should die early, Fili would look after Shobha as she deserved.
"But you cant be too rash about him… he has pledged his allegiance to her. And as Queen she will be able to help our people one day if needed." Balin stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"If he honours his commitment to her." Thorin spoke solemnly. "Now I have had enough I think. I do not wish to be unwell tomorrow."
"Shall we go spy on the lasses… they said something about covering the bride in a paste of eastern wood on her skin?" Nori smirked, receiving a clip across the head from Dori for his mischief. Dori too had a soft spot for Shobha. He would always recall how she had acted quickly to help Thorin when he had been injured from the Morgul shaft. It had taken great courage for anyone, let alone a woman to seek help from the callous elves of Mirkwood. And as a dwarf who liked finer things, he noted that she had appreciated art, spotting her walking past a sculpture or carving in a corridor only to return back to it and take an appreciative look. It was rare to see such appreciation.
"Does that mean she will be naked?" Suddenly Bilbo piped up hopefully, but seeing Thorin cock his brow, he quickly added. "I mean to say… we shouldn't if there is a chance of that of course..."
…
After the Haldi had been applied, the other dams had helped the bride into her bath, to avoid any staining from the paste in the rest of the room and left her to wash, while tidying away.
When Shobha had emerged from her wash they had commented that the paste had made her skin glow. And had promptly divided the left over paste to apply tonight on their own faces, while they too had baths.
"Before we leave – we wanted to give you this as a bridal gift." Elin handed Shobha a wrapped parcel. "We know you had nothing when you arrived here in Erebor, and all you have are Dis' nightgowns from when she was a youngling…"
"And Thorin's enormous tunics!" Dis added chuckling bawdily. "And in truth you probably wont be wearing much at all for the first few days or maybe even the whole week – at least if my brother has any say, I suspect."
"But we wanted to gift you something feminine for your nightwear…" Mara explained urging her to open the gift. "And in truth each of us favoured a colour, but couldn't decide which would suit your skin hue the best. In the end, we felt that you would look lovely in all three colours…"
Shobha opened the satin fabric wrapping, to reveal three silk nightgowns with small frilly sleeves. They were very well shaped, almost like a slip, and edged with embroidered borders. There was one in deep blue, likely Dis' choice; one in a rich bottle green, likely Mara's choice; and finally one in a ruby red, which would have been Elin's choice. They were very beautiful – in fact rather seductive!
"Oh my goodness! Thank you! They are gorgeous!" She smiled giving them all hugs. This had become a rather nice little 'hen party' for her, although it had not been fully intended as such. It made Shobha think of her own mother and sister, who would have applied Haldi to her. Between the wine and the emotions her eyes began to well up. Elin, Mara and Dis were all aware of this – having lost their own mothers too early. Elin's mother had perished within Erebor when Smaug attacked, a victim of the beast. While Mara's and Dis' mothers had perished during the exiled period as they travelled to find a new settlement. They could see the sorrow in the bride's eyes in that moment.
"Right! Come on Mara," Elin sniffed a little. "Shobha my dear, you need a good rest. Call us if you need anything. Otherwise we will see you early in the morning to help get you dressed, and walk with you as your bridal party."
Mara gave a teary eyed nod and hugged her again.
"Alright – come on you two. You are going to make us all cry." Dis wiped her eyes and put her arms around them in a hug. "Let's save some tears for the first journey of Abkan tomorrow.."
Just as they reached the door to leave, there was an urgent knock.
Dis rushed ahead and opened the door to find Fili standing there peeping in curiously, and looking quite tipsy. The dwarrows had clearly been drinking themselves! Suddenly Shobha wondered how Thorin was doing.
"What are you doing here Fili –" Dis began irritated but was interrupted by him as he walked in and bowed to them all.
"Sorry my ladies for interrupting, but Amad, I need your help – I wanted to check my suit for tomorrow, but I cannot find the tunic and belt…" Fili looked at her concerned.
"Oh my! That can not be – Denin had put it all together." Dis turned to Shobha quickly a little panicked. "My dear, will you be ok for a short time while I clear this up quickly. I checked it myself this very morning and it was all in order!"
"Its fine; I am fine Dis. Go sort out Fili." She smiled and hugged Mara and Elin again. "See you tomorrow my ladies."
"Thank you my lady," Fili bounded over, with an angelic smile and gave Shobha a little peck on the cheek and led Dis out after Mara and Elin.
No sooner had they all left and Shobha had shut the door that there was a second quieter knock. Shobha walked over to the door wondering who it was this time, and opened the door slightly.
"Amralime," Thorin stood at the door, sapphire eyes burning into her. "I had to see you…"
Shobha opened the door, took his hand and pulled him in. And he immediately pulled her in to his arms as he quietly shut the door behind him, kissing her urgently. It felt like an age since she had felt his lips on hers. He traced his tongue across her lips, to find her parting them allowing him to taste her fully. She entwined her fingers in his hair, enjoying the taste of port and pipe weed remaining on his tongue. He immediately pressed her body to his supporting her back with one arm and letting the other wonder to knead her shapely rear.
"I've missed you lansel," he breathed onto her neck. "I don't know how I will last out the night."
"You could either have a wank… fantasising about the things you would do to me… how you would punish me for my absence…" She smiled as she brushed her thumb across his lips and watched his lips part as he attempted to grind himself against her desperately. Then she traced her other hand down his body, under his coat and rubbed his hardness, watching his eyes darken further with lust as he kissed her thumb. "Or… you could let the tension build up and… devour me completely and… unreservedly tomorrow…"
She kissed him roughly, biting his lower lip, drawing out a low growl from within his chest. He quickly shrugged his coat off allowing her to run her hands freely over his chest. But they were interrupted suddenly when the door to their room burst open, as Dis stood in the doorway with Fili standing behind grimacing.
"You two tricked me! Out!" Dis said sternly. And when Thorin continued to kiss Shobha, she spoke louder still. "Thorin! Don't make me throw a jug of water on you!"
He stemmed his kisses, finally steeling himself to step away.
"Oh Mahal! Thorin!" Dis bent down, picked up his coat and threw it at him. There was no hiding his painful erection that strained his trousers as he stepped away from Shobha with a rarely seen grin on his face. Shobha liked seeing him happy like this. He straightened his coat and draped it over his arm to cover the evidence of his lust for her before stepping out into the corridor to receive a pat on the shoulder and a big grin from Fili.
"My dear sister – do not punish my nephew, he only agreed to help his poor Uncle out of kindness." And then bowing to them from outside the door Thorin softly addressed Shobha also. "I look forward to tomorrow Amralime: My bride – my Queen…"
As Shobha blew them both a kiss, Dis shut the door rolling her eyes at them and winking at her sister-in-law to be.
—
Abkan – awakening; when a betrothal or engagement ends and the couple are wed.
Lansel – love of loves
