The first day of travel had been hard for Shobha. She had needed to stop several times with sickness when Gandalf had helped with a spell to ease her nausea temporarily. And after several days of slower travel with many stops for rest, she had started to acclimatise and feel somewhat better.

By the time they had set up camp on the fourth day, she had felt well enough to help Dori with cooking dinner. Thorin had watched her carefully, as she finished and served the stew into bowls helping to hand them out.

When she had brought his bowl over, he had caught her hand quickly, and pulled her in.

"It is not your place to eat last, my lady." He sat her down and handed his own bowl to her. "Here, have mine –"

"Oh no… meat…" she pushed it back into his hands looking away in an attempt to suppress the nausea. "I only managed to make this because Dori added the meat at the end for me. Mine is there cooling off…"

He set his down on a nearby log and brought her bowl over.

"Here. I will have mine once you have yours." Thorin passed her bowl over before seating himself next to her. "Then you will do as you're told, my wife, and get to bed. The rest of us can do the washing and clearing."

While she had wanted to counter that, the fatigue was simply too great.

…..

Shobha stood barefoot on what felt like pebbled sand but she simply couldn't see. The fog that surrounded her was thick.

"Hello…?" Carefully taking a few steps, she moved forward, but there was still nothing but thick fog.

She was now better able to identify what were dreams. But this was not a dream of her desire, and Thorin wasn't here. So it was someone else.

"Why have you brought me here?" She called out again.

The skies above were covered by grey clouds, and all she could see was grey. The sharp pebbles cut her feet.

Balancing on one foot she examined the sole of her other to find several small bleeding cuts and sharp black pebbles and sand. Then limping a few more steps ahead, the immediate vicinity began to clear revealing a looming dark mountain with a small cloud of smoke and ash spewing from above.

"I could make you Queen. A just and beautiful ruler that all would bow to." A deep voice, smooth and intoxicating spoke to her. "He is strong, powerful , and would wage any war for you. The King under the Mountain would bow only to you and commands the might of all the dwarven armies."

A searing pain shot through her head, making her feel weak, bringing her to her knees. The sharp pebbles cut her legs through the soft fabric of her dress.

And she could see before her a dark barren land, before her stood a large army of dwarves, elves and men. In the distance there were the large behemoths from the Harad, mounted with towers of men. They all knelt or bowed their heads. Thorin knelt immediately before her, and behind him Fili and Thranduil knelt down and bowed their heads, their hands across their chests in reverence.

"They would all gladly follow you. None would stand in your way. Your children would be Kings and Queens, your line would remain unbroken." The voice continued, seductively, almost purring. "All would love you."

She didn't want this, but the pain bore through her forehead with greater intensity.

"Please stop! It hurts!" She screamed, holding her head in her hands.

Her head was spinning, and now her stomach with it, as she reached down to cradle the beginnings of her baby bump.

"My dear! Awaken now – close your mind and wake up." A large hand, brushed the hair off her face, before taking her cheek gently.

Her eyes flew open, meeting the cracked, twinkling blue eyes of the grey Wizard. Struggling to get up she rolled over to the side out of her bed roll, before rushing over to the edge of camp and falling on her hands and knees by a shrub vomiting. She had never woken up feeling nauseous like that so far. But then again, she had never had such an terrible nightmare before either!

As she stood back Gandalf gently placed his hand on her shoulder. She could hear him muttering something under his breath, and her beating heart along with the nausea began to subside.

"Here, my dear," Gandalf poured some water from his skein into her hands, which she used to wash her face.

"Thank you – I – um –" she looked behind at the group of dwarves still seated around the fire, surprised that none of them had spotted her.

"I informed them that I would keep an eye on you. And as such, I have made it so that they will not notice for now." He looked at her a bit more worried now. "I do not think you should share your dream with anyone else though."

"You know – how?" There was disbelief written across her face.

"Your mind is highly unguarded, when you are asleep, my dear. I have been watching you each night." He began to usher her back. "Come you must get some rest again. And I need to think."

"What does this mean…?"

"I am not certain yet. But I think we need to get you to Imladris sooner than we planned." He waited while she got back into her bedroll. Then holding his staff, he chanted something more quietly. "Do not worry you will not have any more such dreams tonight. And I will be right here."

Nodding she turned to her side and and drifted off quietly, while the pilgrim sat down leaning against a rock near where she lay.

…..

Shobha and Bilbo watched that morning while Thorin, Dwalin and Gandalf partook in a heated discussion over the map.

"I would not cross the mountains at river pass. It will lead to the Ettenmoors, where stray orcs roam coming down from Gundabad." Dwalin shook his head.

"Travelling south to the Old Ford, is at least another day of riding." Gandalf spoke looking over his shoulder at her.

"Aye, Gandalf, and that would allow us to rest at the lodgings of the Bearman." Thorin confirmed reluctantly. They had not had any true rest for over a week now. And while he didn't relish a visit to see the skin changer, all the same it would allow her some much needed rest.

"Rest is not something we can afford at this point, Thorin Oakenshield. Your Queen needs to be taken to see the White Council as soon as can be afforded."

"Such continuous travel places too much strain upon her! I will not have that!"

"This is the most delicate stage of the lass' gestation." Oin chipped in then.

"I am no fool!" Gandalf suddenly raised his voice irritated. "I realise that fully, Master dwarf!"

"What on earth are they arguing about now?" Bilbo looked at her as she gently stroked her pony. He couldn't understand why she cared so little about what went on.

"They are 'debating' where to cross the Misty mountains." She was distracted by the nightmare she had a few days ago, still uncertain what exactly she had been. In fact it felt like the answer was hidden in her memory somewhere – it was just a matter of time before figuring out.

"How – Huh – How do you know?" He was even more surprised. Surely she should be there dictating that they got moving.

"I can lip-read a few words." It didn't matter there was something strange happening to her and she needed to figure it out.

"Do you not care?" He watched the pony nuzzle at her skirts.

"I have come to realise and accept that certain things are beyond my control. I don't like it, but sometimes it's better to let it go." There were many things in life that were like that. She was not about causing a big fuss. People didn't react to change that way. She accepted there were things that were best left for others to decide and do, especially in this harsh world that she was now inextricably a part of. Ultimately she had bigger problems like figuring out why Gandalf was so nervous about her dreaming and how she was going to make sure her baby was healthy and safe.

"What will you do then?"

"Chillax Bilbo. Let them plan and decide. Life is too short to fight all the time."

"Chilllax?!" The hobbit looked even more flustered. "How can you possibly… Uh…"

The dwarves and Gandalf were still debating, and now she had a jittery Hobbit to distract as well.

"I need to pee." She decided. "So you will have to watch me."

"Watch!" Bilbo looked even more nervous, fidgeting with the pockets of his waistcoat.

"Oh God! Not actually watch me take a pee you pervert! I mean watch out for me… you know in case I don't come back or something." Bilbo blushed a bright shade of red at he thought and her eyes fixed on his movements, where he played with the contents of one particular pocket. "Are you… have you been travelling around with the ring this whole time?!"

"What? How did you know? What?"

Instantly she began to worry, unable to recall whether Bilbo went on further adventures after his journeys in the original book until the fellowship was formed. Presumably, the ring remained safe and undetected sitting nestled away in the sleepy shire, where it was least expected, but now after the change in events, he too had been on the road more. And all the while carrying the Ring of Power everywhere. All they needed was to be robbed or attacked, and all could be lost.

Now she cared. Storming over to Gandalf, leaving a rather confused and nervous hobbit behind, she attempted to engage the wizard, who himself was storming away from the arguing dwarves.

"Gandalf! Gandalf! He has it on him!" Her voice started off louder than expected, making the Grey Pilgrim immediately turn towards her.

"Keep your voice down my dear!" He spoke sternly.

"He's been carrying IT everywhere… all this time!" Shobha quietened after taking a deep breath. "Won't there be things, creatures or whatever searching for it?!"

"No one knows. It is better that there is some movement of the item –"

"Gandalf?" Bilbo's quiet voice interrupted them.

"What about Gollum?"

"Gollum? Where?" Hearing the words she uttered, drew a gasp from the hobbits lips.

"He left the Misty Mountains. He has not been seen for years now." Gandalf silenced them both, speaking in a hurried way. "These are unsuitable discussions to be had now. You will simply have to keep silent about it."

She opened her mouth only to be interrupted by Gandalf.

"We must simply reach Rivendell soon, and your husband has decided we will cross at the high pass instead. Stubborn dwarf." Gandalf muttered.

"Saddle up everyone!" Thorin cried. "We ride further south."

He began to walk over to her, irritated by the discussion he noticed they appeared to be having privately.

"My lady, is something the matter?"

"How long do we plan to be on the road for?"

"I thought you wanted to go to Rivendell?" He quirked a brow at her, uncertain what this new found reluctance seemed to be about.

"I do, I'm only asking." She turned to her pony, who seemed to have just followed her around anyway.

"She's after the bits of honey cake you keep feeding her." Thorin answered her silent question. She had secretly kept a few cakes on her person and had kept feeding bits to her pony. Her gentle pony, that she had named buttercup, because the creature enjoyed eating flowers over grass, had developed a keen sweet tooth. When she had started riding lessons with Thorin, he had taught her to befriend the chestnut shire pony by feeding it oats. But since then, each time she had visited, Shobha had taken her a treat of some variety, carrots, apples, and the occasional sweet treat. But she hadn't imagined that Thorin would have spotted her. She had been so quiet only feeding the animal when no one else was looking.

"Oh. Well, I ran out a long time ago."

"You mean yesterday." He moved to stand close so close their bodies were touching. "Are you resting well enough, Amralime?"

They hadn't shared a bed for a while let alone engaged in other more pleasurable activities. And when she wasn't sick, she had a craving for that! It was something he had noticed, when he had kept guard, while she had washed up by the small brooks they had come across so far. The look in her eyes had been unmistakable. They had acted on it briefly, but never afforded enough time alone during this journey so far. Even the time they spent together was interrupted by Dwalin or Gandalf or someone checking up on them. In truth, he hoped they would have some time together when they neared the Carrock before they crossed at the Old Ford and reached the High Pass, for he too was growing more desperate.

He helped her back up onto her pony, his hand lingering on her behind slightly longer than it needed to.

"Och Baheluh?" Dwalin called out from his pony, chuckling. "Are ye done helping the lass? Or do ya need more time to have a good grope!"

They had travelled a further day, as they turned south following the northern border of Mirkwood, but as soon as they had spotted the River Anduin they had kept a route fairly close to it. Finally breaking earlier to make camp in the day so they could all appreciate a good wash.

She had been given the privacy of a stretch of the river further up stream, covered by rocks and Dwalin was keeping guard, as she bathed.

"I have seen to the ponies, thank you, Baheluh. Now go and bathe." Thorin placed his hand on Dwalin's shoulder, nodding.

"Och no! I am happy to carry on if ya want to wash." He looked at their monarch suspiciously.

"Oh I intend to. But I think you need the wash!"

"Aye? That's rich coming from ye!" Dwalin folded his arms across his chest defensively. He was certain he reeked no worse than his cousin. "If he have any ideas about interrupting the lass' bath…"

"I suggest you leave me to my wife, Brother." A flash of amusement shot across his face as he observed Dwalin. His closest ally on and off the battlefield had truly taken his duties as a brother to heart. It had been an old custom amongst their race to avoid excessive intimate contact during gestation, unless initiated by the expecting mother. Thorin however knew that the desires of his One had only grown since she had conceived.

"Alright baheluh. But if we hear any noise, I won't stop Nori or Bilbo from wondering over to have a peep!" Dwalin laughed walking away to join the rest of the group.

Thorin moved quietly towards the river bank. The water was gently flowing, clear and looked very inviting indeed. She had washed her soft travelling dress and underwear which now lay on several rocks in the sun.

Kicking off his boots and socks, he stepped over the pebbles before looking out across the river and then spotted her. She was fully nude and washing her hair, her back turned to the bank. Her brown skin glowing with the reflection of the sun in the water, and her raven hair completely wet. Her body had filled out slightly in places that no Male would disapprove of. He worried somewhat seeing her so deep in the water, uncertain of her ability to swim. But the ripeness of her form, stirred him, making him hardened and wanting already.

Shedding his clothes rapidly, he silently moved towards her in the water. The steady gurgling of the large river, and the rowdy laughter and chatter of the rest of his company downstream covering his approach.

Before she knew it a large rough pair of hands wrapped around her, pressing her against his body from behind. At first she gasped having now realised that Dwalin had left, but then fast recognised it was him. The hair on his chest and body scratched against her damp soft skin as he held her pressed to him.

His body yearned for her, to feel her surrounding his length, to touch and taste her. But all the same he worried about how tired she might be from the travel.

"Oh my beautiful one..." He breathed against her skin, wrapping an arm around her chest squeezing one of her breasts, as he slid his hand down her stomach towards her core. Teasing her, he slipped a finger between her, and began languidly stroking soft patterns over her clit. "You smell divine."

She felt her body melting under his touch. Her worries, and anxieties about the future, their baby, the dreams, all disappearing.

In a moment she pushed herself off his body and jumped into the water, swimming into the deeper part. It scared Thorin, but to his surprise she swam, very well, into the deep river.

"Please don't go so deep, Amralime.." he swam after her worried.

"Or else what?" She laughed continuing to evade him in the water.

After she slipped away from him for the third time, he finally realised she was a surprisingly proficient swimmer. There seemed so much about her that he suddenly felt he didn't know. Her visit to her family home in their shared dream revealed that. It was akin to a whole life she had, before him. It made him feel a swell of jealousy and then sorrow for keeping her from her beloved parents.

She splashed him, pulling him out of his thoughts and making it clear she wanted him to chase her. Growling, he showed irritation, but in truth he enjoyed her playfulness. It made him feel young, and made up for the youth he had lost to duty.

He focussed on following her movements, and made a concerted effort to reach her. However this time he grasped her firmly, so she couldn't escape, then scooped her up into his arms before wading into shallower water.

"What are you going to do to me?" She panted as he set her back on her feet again and pulled her against him firmly. He wanted her to feel how aroused he was, this would be her chance to stop him, before he took her.

"Teach you to obey your King and husband." He kissed her deeply as he let his large hands wonder over her new soft curves. Letting his hands fall lower still, he began to knead her hips, feeling his own stress and worries immediately melt away. A low groan rumbling through his chest as he did.

"What if I refuse?" She kissed along his jaw, letting her own hands feel his thick, hard, cock that seemed to twitch in her hands.

"Then I will have to punish you, my beauty…" He bit and sucked a bruise into her soft neck, eliciting a moan, which made him impatient to be inside her.

Moving her quickly partially onto the bank, so she was shin deep in the water he kissed her again. Pulling on her hair so that she partially opened her lips and taking full advantage of that, he plundered her mouth.

"Turn around." He commanded her softly at first. But she had been so caught up in that kiss, she wasn't paying attention. So he bit her earlobe and repeated himself more sternly. "Turn around. I want to see you come undone several times before I lose myself. But the longer you keep me waiting my Queen, the less patient I get…"

She turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest, as she felt him grasp her around the middle and bend her over. He lay her hands on a large smooth rock that lay jutting out from the bank in front on them, while she fell to her knees, with him following behind.

Thorin wasted no time, coursing a trail of hot kisses down her back before diving in to taste her arousal, large hands kneading her hips and the swell of her buttocks.

"Ah! Thorin…" she cried as he slipped a finger inside her, bringing her to her first climax.

"Mahal. I've missed you my heart." He pulled away, smirking at the sound of her whimpering, before lining the tip of his swollen, weeping, cock to her entrance. Pushing himself inside right up to the hilt impatiently, he soothed her with feathery strokes along her back and purred soft words in her ear, bending over her and speaking in Khuzdul.

After a moment, she pushed her hips back against him, making him hiss with pleasure and snap his hips forward almost with a mind of its own.

"Ah!" She cried out, as she bent down further to rest her chest on the surface of the rock. Despite its smooth appearance, the surface scraped at her soft skin and rubbed against her nipples each time he thrust into her.

His view was perfect, watching his cock sliding in and out of her tight heat, as wetness escaped her, an intoxicating mixture of them both. It dripped down to colour the clear water that surrounded them and rippled with his thrusts.

He moved one hand off her hips and up along her back, feeling the intoxication of being fully in power, as she orgasmed again. Then withdrawing completely, he turned her around on her back, wanting to watch her this time, when he brought her to release, and entered her again in one swift movement. It made her arch her back, allowing him to kiss her little swollen belly before kissing his way up to her breasts.

Guiding her more upright, he began thrusting into her, watching her face, eyes heavy lidded and full lips parted in silent moans. She automatically opened her legs for him wider, wrapping them around his powerful hips, desperately pounding into her as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Enjoying having all of her, and feasting on the sight of her heavier breasts as they moved with his rough thrusts, he came apart in shallow sobs. And she followed as he erupted within her, in pulses.

He cradled her in his arms, leaning his forehead to hers, still inside her as they both came down panting heavily.

"I have missed you so much." It was all he could quietly utter into her neck as he held her tightly against him.

...

Thorin lay next to Shobha on his side running his hands along her skin. He had made them a bed on the grassy verge next to the bank using his heavy coat. She had dozed off in the warm sun against his body, with her hair splayed around her. He had terribly missed their time together alone since they left Erebor, and she too appeared to sleep better on this occasion.

It hadn't gone unnoticed that she had suffered from nightmares of late, and the Grey Wizard had specifically kept an eye on her regarding this. Often Thorin had searched for her in his dreams. The gift of shred dreams between Ones had been a blessing. At first it had chased away his own nightmares that previously plagued his sleep from both Azanulbizar and the Great Battle at Erebor. But then had also become an addiction, so as soon as he was aware that he was dreaming he would immediately seek her out, and it appeared they shared an open connection on most occasions that allowed him to find her.

But on some nights, and he now realised, more recently when she had nightmares, try as he might, could never find her.

Thorin did not rest well when she was not there in his dreams.

"Thorin!" Gandalf interrupted as he marched over, only to stop and clear his throat as he stumbled across the sight of their naked entangled bodies, turning his back to them. "Get dressed, we must leave here at once! Hurry!"

"What is it?" Thorin demanded as he helped her up, rushing to get their clothes.

"Ori has seen a Wight! We must hurry!" Gandalf began to pace up and down. "I am here to protect you all, but we must stay together and we will need to cross the mountains at the low River-pass! Hurry!"

...

Dear All, thank you for following so far. please please let me know your thoughts etc xx

sorry for the cliffhanger this time. will make it up to you ;)

Special thank yous to you lovely reviewers (your posts always make me smile 💕)

ZabuzasGirl - thank you so much. welcome to my crazy story :) hope you enjoy this chapter too

UnaLouise - that is true, but she is not a typical millennial (more Gen Y) and a medic. so she has seen the harsher side of life, death, intensive care bed rationing, stabbings, gun shot wounds etc. And while seeing it repulses her (hence she says she doesnt want to know), she accepts there are things in middle earth that she cant change. that is in part why Aro's death was such an issue for her :( he was fatally injured protecting her, but in her previous capacity, she could have resuscitated him, and likely saved him 😢. I know what you mean about the gestational period haha (and i thought elephants had it bad!) apparently according to khazad experts it should be 48months! (eek! i know some people dont even keep cars for that long! lol) but i shorted it! hopefully for her it will be half way between 9mnths and 24mnths :)

Dragonegyptianblue - so true... but they need to get to rivendell in one piece. And there is something sinister going on with these dreams... (mysterious music) :)