"Och ye told him what?!" Dwalin's brows shot straight up in disbelief.

"That I feared she might not return my sentiments –"

"By Durin's hairy nut-sack Thorin! Ye kept stating that ye would not 'rob her loved ones of her', and that it was our duty to watch over her and 'aid her return back home'! But I know you like a brother. Ye never looked twice at a lass before! And Shobha, she was different, we all saw it from the start!" Thorin scoffed, but Dwalin carried on regardless laughing overtly. "When have ye ever stayed to help Oin wash and dress anyone, let alone a woman we found wandering around in the woods… and yer now offerin the poor lad advice like yer the Ladykiller of the Dwarven Kingdoms Eh?"

"I didn't OFFER him anything! He pestered me!" Bending under the workbench to collect some tools Thorin knocked his head on the counter as he emerged irate.

"And that time we came back from Dale, and ye watched her play with the younglings… all dreamy-eyed baheluh," Dwalin chuckled, shaking his head as he worked the bellows while Thorin began annealing several shards. "I knew you were imagining her as the mother of ya children! And when she came over with the little ones and gave ye flowers she'd picked, I thought you'd run around like a troll with its jambags in heat!"

"Aye, Dwalin, I accept I was reluctant –"

"Or the time she wore that dress from her home land on Durins Day – I was worried for her safety when you disappeared with her to watch the fireworks ALONE!"

"I am no savage Dwalin –"

"Or when Bofur caught ya eating her face, with yer hands creepin trying to open her robe –"

"It wasn't like that! I was holding her robe together!"

"Och aye – so she undid her robe for ya on her own eh?! And Wargs might live on tree-shagger food! Or ya mean to say a beautiful, exotic, little lass like that offers herself to ya, and ya turn her away?!"

Thorin growled at his best friend's highly sarcastic tone.

"No! Her robe was falling open from the vigour with which she returned my kiss!" He turned the glowing pieces of metal with the tongs.

"Yes, her robe accidentally opened itself up to ya." Dwalin emphasised, in comical disbelief.

"Urgh! Can we focus on this now. The metal is almost ready to work."

"Aye Baheluh, but what did ya tell the young lad? Ta avoid his lass as much as he can, and then try it on when he gets the chance, in hopes that she gets with child?" Dwalin followed Thorin to the anvil, where he held the metal down with a second pair of tongs, as Thorin began to hammer at the shards. "Because I swear that's what you'd have done if not for Dis and the rest of us!"

"Of course not! I have honour! I am not some wild man of the West-Fold!" Thorin hammered down hard.

"This has nothing to do with honour – Thorin Oakenshield doesn't talk… He has his oakenshield! But ye wanted her badly brother – I've never seen anyone recovering from a Morgul Blade and grow a marrow in their breeches as fast as you did when the lass kissed ya." Dwalin guffawed this time, much to his friend's ire at being the subject of the jest. "Ye clearly weren't pleased to see ME!"

"Keep your mind on the metal you're holding, Brother! We are reforging a King-maker that was created by one our greatest ancestors!" Thorin snapped at Dwalin, who simply laughed, shaking his head, as they carried on with their work.

…..

The darkness cleared to form an image of the Palantir once again. Her mind was drawn to the Iron Fortress of the White Wizard, despite her conscious attempts to think of other things.

The stone swirled around again, finally revealing an image.

"Where does the ring lie…?" The pale, spidery hands moved over the rounded stone. "Show me…"

Within the swirls of the Palantir surfaced the pale face of Gollum! He angrily beat his fists against the darkened stone within his cave.

"He stole it from us! My precious!"

She held her breath wondering how much the creature would reveal, but Saruman sighed impatiently.

"Where is the ring?" He demanded from the Palantir. But nothing further could be seen in the stone sphere.

Her vision blurred again… then suddenly bright sunlight filled her sight. Beside her she could hear the voice of Balin, but her attention was on the distance, where the grass in the fields was over grown with various wild flowers, and there in the distance she could see the small ground of dwarven children playing. She was there too in the soft linen dress that had been made for her that summer. The younglings chased her, and she watched with a strange feeling of desire!

Balin continued to speak, but there was little she could hear of what he said. They all carried small bunches of wild flowers, as the tutors called out and one by one the younglings all gathered holding hands. The small group began to return to the mountain. They were all smiling and laughing as they moved closer. She could hear a suggestive chuckle from Dwalin, followed by a nudge, but she remained where she was as the group approached.

"Your Majesty. My Lords." The tutors bowed as they neared and the children did the same, but her gaze was oddly fixed on herself, as she moved closer, and curtsying again, she offered the bunch of wild flowers she had picked. After a moment of hesitation a hand reached out to take the flowers, clothed in deep blue linen. The large hand was decked in chunky silver rings as it accepted the small bouquet, large fingers grazing hers and lingering there for a moment.

It was a strange perspective seeing herself through the eyes of another. She smiled and carried on, as the younglings pulled her along inside the mountain.

Turning, she spotted Balin watching closely, while Dwalin waggled his eyebrows.

"She doesn't know – I imagine she believes they are offered in friendship." The flowers were raised up to inhale the scent.

"She didn't offer us any flowers baheluh," Dwalin replied. "And we are her brothers."

"Aye Thorin, she likes you as much as you like her," Balin offered. It was clear Balin was happy about this, for he believed any marriage preferable to none. And he had been shown many lasses, including some very beautiful dams but shown little interest, so this for Balin, was more than progress. This, he was sure, was the Kings One. "What holds you back laddie?"

"She misses her family – she may wish to return home." The reply was pained. "I will not rob her loved ones of seeing her again… unless she chooses to stay."

"She probably thinks she is a burden to us, and that we wish for her to return." Dwalin challenged. "Just tell her that ya love her…"

Then she realised! She had somehow invaded her own husbands mind! Stepping back, feeling as though she had violated his privacy, she realised, all those times it had felt as though he had hesitated around her were due to this. He had loved her all along, even though she had always thought he mistrusted her as an outsider, even before she knew her own feelings for him!

The darkness engulfed her once more.

And then a dim light sharpened in her sight. Beneath her was a bowl of water that reflected like a mirror… leaning over to look in, was the pale face of an elleth, with pale, sparkling, blue eyes. Her hair as pale as the dress she wore. As the image cleared, she smiled up as thought expecting this.

"I did not think you would be here so soon… but I believe you are ready, my dear." Galadriel paused this time before speaking. "He is on his way to meet with the council, and will arrive soon. But fear not, you appear to have an unexpected ally… one who will love you to the end…"

Shobha struggled to think who Galadriel might have been referring to, but her thoughts were interrupted by a further warning. This time in the water a darkness reflected across her face as she spoke in a deeper tone.

"You know what he seeks… prepare your mind!"

The darkness rushed at her as though she was falling, and she opened her eyes to find Elrond watching her carefully from his chair this time.

"Saruman is coming! He wants the ring –"

"The ring! He possesses a ring –"

"No! The One Ring! Sauron's Ring!"

"I am not certain that is what Lady Galadriel meant…" Elrond watched her with uncertainty.

"Sauron's Ring has been found! The creature Gollum! He had it… but it was lost!" She stood angrily. Why was Elrond ignoring her concerns! She wanted to tell him everything, but if he was as sceptical as Gandalf, she would only be putting Bilbo at more risk by telling the elf too! "Why does no one believe me?!"

"I think you need time to rest. You have done exceedingly well – but I have pushed you too hard all the same. Your thoughts are unclear. You have seen too much in one go." Elrond smiled softly as though she was confused! It made her angry and frustrated! "Sleep on your thoughts. They will make better sense in time."

"I am not some silly, confused little girl, who needs protection from her own thoughts in case she might fly into a fit of hysteria Lord Elrond!" She crossed her arms over her chest, sighing. With her growing belly and boobs she couldn't even do that comfortably anymore! It sent her thoughts to Thorin's image of her, slender and light on her feet in her summer dress. Apparently she would carry on swelling for a year and a half! That was a longer gestation than a bloody elephant!

"I apologise, my lady. That was not my intent." He walked over with an apologetic look, like a father that had ignored the cries of his children for too long. "Saruman and Galadriel were on their way here for a council meeting. Regarding you…"

"Why do they need to discuss me?" She suddenly worried.

Elrond moved towards her looking concerned too.

"It is nothing for you to worry about. Only that your powers are rare. Particularly for man." Elrond spoke almost protectively.

"It's about what Saruman saw in the Palantir isn't it?" She could tell he was lying. "I am going to die of childbirth."

"No –" Elrond moves closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Childbirth is not taken lightly in any case. We must do all we can to make it safe and easy for you…"

He was lying again, like a parent who promised a child that the dentist wouldn't hurt! Or that there were no monsters in the world and everything would be ok.

She gave him a gentle hug feeling sorry for him. No other person had treated her as a parent would, and she missed her parents badly. He must have had a good heart to feel that way about her, after all from what she gathered, the elves generally had little regard or concern for human life or suffering here, and viewed mortals the way they saw animals, leading short and lesser lives!

"Go rest child." He smiled softly. "You are growing steadily, you will find everything tiring now."

But she was worried. Bilbo had the ring, and Saruman was looking for it. Gandalf refused to listen to her, and now Elrond was not listening either. She would need to take action, warn Bilbo, he would need to keep the ring safe and hidden for the next fifty to sixty years!

…..

"Bilbo!" Shobha found him seated under a tree sketching.

"Shobha! Uh – I mean – my lady –"

"Don't worry about all that title crap. Where have you put it – no don't tell me. Is it somewhere safe?" She searched his face urgently for signs of acknowledgement.

"I… I'm – not quite certain –"

"Don't play dumb with me Bilbo. This is important. Saruman the White Wizard in on his way here." She looked nervously. "Heaven forbid he's here already. He's been looking for the ring – for himself. So you either need to keep yourself hidden away while he is around or else hide the ring itself in a lockable sort of place."

Suddenly she wondered whether Thorin had a locked chest to keep money, or whether he kept it on him all the time. Surely dwarves didn't trust elves? They had travelled carrying a fair amount of luggage, so she hadn't really looked into it. It wasn't like they had smartphones which contained all their lives including important numbers, which no one memorised anymore, diary appointments, emails, bank and credit card details and the full shebang! So she hadn't anything she could truly call valuable.

"Uh – I – would –"

"Better keep it on you. Don't wear it or draw attention to yourself, and stay out of his way. Maybe stay near a dwarf whenever you're alone." She thought again. The whole company including Thorin had been around him while he carried the ring, but never taken it or wanted it for that matter. They were not corrupted by its power in the same way.

"I would prefer that Shobha. But how do you know?" The hobbit ruffled his fingers through his fluffy hair, frowning with curiousity.

"Elrond just told me he's coming, but I was able to speak with Galadriel using my thoughts. However crazy that might sound it's true –"

"I don't doubt you, my lady." He uttered sincerely, looking worried. "But doesn't Gandalf have great regard for Saruman?"

"Yes, yes, they're all friends and refuse to believe me. But I know. In sixty years or so, Saruman will send an army or orcs he creates in Isengard itself, bearing the banner of the white hand, to attack Rohan. Women, children and all – you see at some point he becomes corrupted by the power of the ring, when he decides he wants it for himself." She studied the halflings light blue eyes in frustration. If he would not believe her, then there would be no hope. "Why doesn't anyone believe me? Do I look like a batty woman to you?"

"No I believe you, Shobha – it's just that.. well, you can understand right?"

"Sure, you test it out then – but if he gets that ring it's game over for everyone." She clutched at his arms in desperation. "I saw what he thought… he looked into his Palantir and asked to see where the ring was. It showed his Gollum, in the caves where you found it."

Suddenly Bilbo regarded her carefully. There was no way anyone knew about the creature. He hadn't even told Gandalf. The wizard had cautioned him about magic rings from goblin tunnels but no body could have possibly known about the creature who claimed it belonged to him.

"You see, your book… you write it. Really well. And it gets found by someone centuries from now… but it's not just your story. Frodo writes his too –"

"My nephew? But he was only just born!" Bilbo watched her carefully.

"I will have to explain the rest later. I need to see Thorin. But you must understand, Saruman was looking for Gollum, and he has left the caves looking for you. Does he know you are from the Shire?"

The hobbit furrowed his brows in concentration again, trying to recall his encounter many years ago.

"Quite possibly…"

"Eventually Sauron will send riders to the Bree and so on looking for you. So, keep quiet about it, keep it hidden and don't draw attention to yourself."

Satisfied that he finally understood the gravity of the situation, she left Bilbo in search of the forges.

…..

Shobha could hear the clash of metal on metal as she neared the forge. It appeared Thorin had been given the largest workshop, located in a quiet corner. It appeared he was working alone now. He had moaned about being interrupted and distracted by the lovesick young Estel the last time, and apparently even Dwalin had been dismissed today!

She had loved seeing him dressed formally, in his ceremonial armour, it had suited him perfectly. But she was not prepared for what she would set her eyes on that afternoon.

There he was, bare chested, covered in a fine layer of sweat and some soot, which outlined the muscles of his torso perfectly. He beat the glowing metal hard, each stroke was focussed and precise. His deep blue eyes fixed on his target and brows furrowed in concentration. His hair was tied back exposing his large ears and his chiselled features, making him look like some sort of Greek sculpture.

She stood in the stone doorway, transfixed, watching him work. Each strike, powerful, with a beat of its own.

Pausing for a moment to inspect his work, he looked over to the doorway where she stood. Then turning, he set the metal aside to cool before placing the hammer in a rack, and wiping his hands and face with a rag.

"You look like you are enjoying my toil, beautiful." He watched her blush and wondered what she was thinking of. "Oh… you like what you see – is that it?"

Gulping at how turned on she was seeing him like this, she shifted in the doorway, taking a tentative step towards him.

He enjoyed seeing her openly lusting after him, for he often feared Dwalin was correct when he implied that Thorin had turned into a lustful dwarrow. He often craved her, and it mattered not whether he was busy or at leisure, he wanted her all the same.

Striding over, he stood towering in front of her, only to reach around her and pull down a water skein hanging off a peg on the wall. He could see her tense in anticipation, expecting his touch, and almost appeared disappointed for not having received it.

Keeping his expression completely unreadable, he unstoppered the skein and drank from it deeply, keeping his gaze fixed on her.

A few small drops escaped his mouth, trickling down his chin, over his beard, while a few more drops continued their journey down his neck and onto his chest. She watched him unblinking, as he drank, following the droplets and his Adam's apple move as he gulped thirstily finally her own lips parting ever so slightly in sheer desperation, as she fought to control her breathing, clutching at her chest.

Finally he stoppered the skein, letting his eyes fall from her face to her heaving breasts, which had grown along with the swell of her stomach. He shamelessly feasted his eyes on the bare tops her soft brown peaks, that he so badly wanted to taste now. Trailing his hungry gaze up to her parted full lips, he moved in to claim them with an almost violent desire, grabbing her and gently pinning her to the wall behind as he let go of the near empty skein. It fell to the flood with a thud, but they were both too deep in each other's eyes, to hear the sound, only the pounding of their own heartbeats.

He quickly moved to trail hot kisses along her neck before reaching her breasts, pulling the laces undone on her dress, and all but tearing it open to grasp one of her nipples in his mouth while he kneaded the other firmly with one free hand, lifting her dress with the other.

"Someone… might… come over… ah! Thorin!" She panted, kissing along the shell of his ear. It drove him wild when she did it. And now she wanted him wild.

"No one comes here… while I work…" he spoke into her breasts as he continued, kissing and biting them softly. "You'll have to be quiet."

She moved one of her hands to her mouth, desperately trying to muffle her moans unable to control herself.

"Mmmmmmm! Thorin!"

"Touch yourself, my beauty," he grasped her wrist away from her mouth and brought her hand down, as he pulled her knickers off. "I can't touch you, my hands are covered in soot and grime…"

She placed her index finger and middle finger on his lips, and he immediately sucked them instinctively before moving them down to her core. He groaned as he watched her draw circles over her clit, very skillfully, moving them further intermittently, to dip them in her wetness and return them back to her nub. He bit her lips between kissing them, kneading her fuller hips, impatient to bury his aching cock deep inside her.

He had always enjoyed watching her play with herself, but it had never lasted very long, for his desire to join her, or take over had often interrupted her. She was clearly very capable of pleasuring herself. And the thought would have made him very jealous indeed, if he hadn't enjoyed watching her.

He could see she was nearing her release, but today he couldn't wait, he released his throbbing cock, letting his breeches fall around his ankles. Then grasping her wrist he pulled it away from herself pinning it against the wall, and entering her in one firm thrust, making her cry out. Then lifting her legs up to wrap around him, he grunted as he pulled out and thrust back in again several times. She was so wet and tight, he wanted to take her hard.

Her eyes suddenly flew open, and he stilled, worried he had hurt her, for being rough.

"I can hear someone…" she gasped, her face filled with terror at the prospect of being discovered by a random stranger, or even worse someone they knew!

A dark look flashed across his face, his blue irides now almost fully swallowed up by his dilated pupils. And he pulled out and slammed into her again, beginning to build the pace, hoping to make her scream with pleasure.

"Then better be quiet, my Queen…"

"Oh fuck…" she arched her back, as a wave of pleasure surged through her, and so he stilled, making her whine, withholding her release once more.

"What should I do, my Queen? They are still nearby…"

"Ah! Please… I'm so close… " she begged, grinding her hips against his. Her desperate whispers roused a fire in his loins that was becoming increasingly hard for him to ignore. She let go of his neck with one arm and snaked it between them attempting to bring about her release when he remained still but buried in her, and so he grasped her errant wrist once more and pulled it away, thrusting hard once, watching her head fell back with pleasure.

"What should I do?" He bore into her doe eyes intensely with his icy gaze.

"I don't care… fuck me Thorin… fuck me hard…" she breathed in a completely mindless daze, having forgotten what she came to see him about in the first place.

Groaning at her colourful language, he began to move again and each of his thrusts was met by her grinding against him with desperation to finish. He would do more than fuck her and make her climax. He wanted to posses her, body and soul, completely.

…..

Dear All,

Thanks for being patient during my break. A shorter chapter to start with this time… The next couple of months will be hectic so my posts will be a little slower but please keep your reviews and thoughts coming xx

Specials thanks -

Tgo62 – haha! "Occlumency" is separated from "Legillimency" in HP. Where as Tolkien's 'Osanwe Kenta' (originates from the Quenya for "thought opening") is a form of telepathic communication (for want of a better word) but involves magical beings in middle earth. Def not to be confused ;) Elrond is slowly teaching her to control her mind, not just to occlude but also to penetrate. He started with blocking because Sauron is trying to corrupt her! :) In fact there are references to Galadriel and Sauron having 'mental duals', he was often obsessed with knowing what she intended to do. The point is Shobha has abilities that are found among some of the highest of the magical beings of Arda (just not yet able to control it), despite being a mortal, and that's the mystery… ;)

Dragonegyptianblue – there's a bit more love in this one ;) but Saruman is on his way so def some excitement to come!

UnaLouise – thank you… and back again (even more than Arnie! lol!) :)

ColdOnePaul – I love your description of the crusty old King giving advice to a young Estel (that is exactly how I imagined it when I tried to write this bit! I see Elrond as the dad-sort, so he will be protective, but he won't rush to make enemies of the most powerful of the Istari just yet… :)