Over 100 reviews already? I never thought I'd see it reach triple-digits so soon. Thank you again for your continued interest, criticism and growing excitement!
Regarding mature content, you'll have to wait and see. ;)
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The rain continued to downpour, forcing the company to remain indoors most of the day. As night had drawn in thunderous lightning strikes flashed through the darkened sky, occasionally illuminating the room. Fresh logs had been placed over the burning fire, its glow and warmth spreading across the large area from the hearth. Élarinya sat in an armchair, knees cradled loosely to the side with a mug of warm cider resting on her lap. She stared into the fire a long while, each member coming and going quietly and some making small talk as they went. Being cooped up all day hadn't been too boring, but it was tiresome. The female dwarf rested her eyes, subconsciously being reminded not to let go of the mug and allowing faint voices to merge within her aural judgment.
Fili and Kili had gone upstairs, drained from the monotonic atmosphere. No one dared to be subjected to the duo's definition of entertainment. The unfavorable weather hadn't helped much either. The day grew long, the night short. Occasional clashes of thunder and lightning seemed to have been the only source of interest when their burglar would jump out of fright. Bilbo wasn't entirely scared; he was ill and became overly sensitive to the sudden outside noises when the dwarves became aberrantly hushed. It was only a bit of fun, though they still felt the need to care for him all the same seconds after. Unwavering were their souls, the young princes were determined to have a good laugh, until Thorin sent the company to bed early.
Respectfully they obliged, but that didn't stop the two from noticing their uncle's strange behaviour the past week. Seven days of freedom for the two, watching and waiting what would happen next. By accident, Kili had asked for Balin's expert opinion about their leader's interaction with Éla, thinking their uncle had confided with him on the subject. It turned out that wasn't the case.
Balin hadn't been told anything, which grew his suspicions now that his life-long friend and king had recently kept something hidden behind closed doors. It wasn't like Thorin to hold secrets, especially when it regarded a member of his company. There was a softer side to their leader, only shown when no one was looking. Balin knew Thorin well to know the signs between uncle and nephews. If there was more going on between his friend and the female dwarf, perhaps the protective barrier shielded by his armour would finally break.
Maybe Éla would help his friend see that he could be happy with the small things in life, but that was a lot to hope for in itself.
The brothers peered over the railing in quieten while watching Thorin drape a blanket over the one who had fallen asleep in a chair. Fili nudged his brother, who had trouble containing some form of laughter, in the ribs so they wouldn't draw any attention up the stairs. The two couldn't help their mad grins from spreading as they watched the scenes unfold below.
A large, burly shadow cascaded over them. Fili turned to see what had obstructed their light only to freeze and tap his younger brother on the shoulder. "Umm, Kili..." The blonde yanked down on the younger's sleeve, forcing Kili to dart his eyes away from the scene below in disappointment.
"What?"
A clearing of the throat stopped the young prince stone cold as he slowly looked over his shoulder. He could not tell how long they were being watched. Dwalin stood closely behind, arms crossed over his chest, suddenly appearing rather tall as he scrutinized the brothers' developing plot of mischief.
"What are you two doing?" He asked coarsely already aware of what was taking place beyond prying sights.
"Mister Dwalin..." Kili put on a nervous smile, attempting to re-befriend the dwarf with innocence and courtesy. His plan had no effect. Fili tugged his arm so they moved away from the railing. "We were just about to leave."
Dwalin looked at them funny, rising to his full height. They knew he was not convinced. Fili took charge and half dragged his younger brother to the safety of the corridor towards their rooms. Once out of view, the broad dwarf carefully leaned over the railing, down to whatever had caught the interest of the young princes. All he could see was the female's shape shaded in an armchair from the fire, and heavy, fur covered boots a little ways over. He almost felt remorse for the female dwarf as he pushed away and vacated the stairwell entirely.
Éla's eyes flickered open the moment she heard the sounds of shifting and smell of pipe weed. Looking up, her sight darted from the dwarf sitting nearby to the blanket covering her form. She hadn't heard Thorin walk into the living area, nor did she feel the soft material weigh down on her body until she moved. She straightened, tightening her grip on the fabric as she waited patiently for her leader to speak first. He carried on staring into the fireplace, occasionally taking a puff of his pipe, exhaling a cloud of white smoke as he toyed with the tip brushing against his bottom lip.
She fixed her eyes on her lap, lowering the cover off her shoulders. "What is this...between us?" Éla finally asked faintly, intently studying his every reaction.
Thorin never left his sight from the flames burning bright. His silence sparked indignation. He spoke after a moment in a low tone, quiet enough so their voices would not travel to possible eavesdropping members. "What would you like it to be?"
"I'm not one to seek what I cannot have." Éla stated plainly. It was true; she never sought anything that was beyond reach unlike most she's met. A practical approach allowed her to live a more meaningful life without any regret or longings for a changed heart.
Thorin smirked into his pipe at her response, averting his gaze from the reddish-orange glow. "Tell me," his gaze hardened, peering into her in search of an answer, "why do you not want a share of the treasure if Erebor is retaken?"
Éla was taken aback. She had already discussed her terms of acceptance prior to joining his company. "It is not mine to claim."
"That is hard to believe." Thorin lingered before lowering his pipe, unconvinced by her testimony. "Each and every dwarf is on this quest for their share of gold, so what are you looking to gain by continuing with us?"
"Adventure? Peace? A place to belong? I don't know!" Her frustration grew from his line of questioning. She quickly recomposed herself, speaking more softly. "Not all treasure can be found in gold."
The corners of his mouth curled against their will. Éla stopped fuming, staring him down cold. She knew she was overreacting and made a better attempt to not raise her voice at him.
"What makes you so upset?" Thorin questioned. He was acting genuine, something no dwarf had portrayed towards the maiden in the past.
"Why do you keep distancing yourself only to bend me to your will when you choose?" She asked in response, heaving a solemn sigh. "What is it you want from me?"
The dwarf raised a brow and Éla fell silent. She was upset and it made him feel bitter, although she did make a good point.
"I needed time to think." Thorin began while holding her glazed stare. He was drawn to her like his grandfather was to gold. He would never tell her that, he couldn't bring himself to. Knowing he carried a trace of corrupted greed, he felt he had to keep away from her. "Your presence has thrown me off guard. It's not without great difficulty to keep a safe distance."
"Thorin, you undid my braid. You made your choice." Éla stood and moved to sit next to him. A bold move, but not half as bold as many of his previous actions. "So why remain out of reach?"
The expression he now wore softened. His conscience ceased the dwarf from leaning into her touch on his forearm. His mouth a fine line, jaw clenching down, he was at a loss emotionally.
Thorin had become blinded by her charisma from the day he laid eyes on her, but what could he do now? He didn't much care for how the Master had looked at Éla the past few days, how he lured himself towards her presence. Thorin would be weak to say out loud that it was jealousy but she was part of his company. Not the Master's kin. He was bound to protect what was his. Death would become him the day he would give a dwarf woman to the race of men. They were sly, dirty, and conniving people who held no pride for their own. He had to indirectly hint to The Master, to Éla, where their relationship status laid.
Éla carried herself more independently than most other women would. He respected her for that, all of them to be precise. Their stay in Esgaroth was proving a far greater challenge for the dwarf leader than he had anticipated. Éla may have been a distraction up until this point but there was no turning back on what he had done. It felt right, but the reasoning behind it seemed very wrong. "Do you recall your lecture about braids before we entered the forest?"
"It was hardly a lecture." The female muttered, clasping her hands in her lap. Dark eyes watched him closely as he adjusted his position so his body faced her fully. His sight shifted from her face to her thick tassels. Éla wondered if he would at least give an explanation as to why he undid her silver braid, or if he would tell her it was a mistake.
The strategically placed plait hid well with her hair's color. Few would guess the silver lock was intended for traditional courtship. In modern practices, this old custom was seldom used unless the consequences and one's situation were dire. Her grandmother had taught her of these forgotten traditions as a young maiden, hence she kept the braid more for personal amusement, rather than used to be taken seriously. Never in her wildest dreams had Éla thought someone would undo it. It was not openly practiced anymore; therefore, younger generations mistook it as part of her character. What surprised Éla even more was how Thorin knew of its significance. Regardless, he most likely would've had to learn about old customs as a young prince.
"I would make a proposition if you chose to accept." Thorin smiled slightly.
Éla hesitated, her body suddenly feeling numb. "What might that be?" Thorin could see the uncertainty in her eyes and reached to stroke the curve of her jaw with his hand.
"I will make this very clear: this isn't out of desperation. It is my own choice as it is yours."
She brought her hand to cover his as he cupped her face. "Why me? You could have anyone."
Thorin processed her words carefully. "You are not just anyone, Éla. I never expected to develop strong feelings for you, if any at all."
The beating of her heart pounded through her veins as he lowered his hand. She held it close to her chest in both of hers for a moment longer, refusing to let go right away. "This is progressing too fast, isn't it?"
"I cannot guarantee the outcome of this quest," Thorin said blankly, "nor will I make any false promises. By undoing your braid, I can theoretically stake more than my claim to you."
She looked at him tauntingly, moving away without delay . "That won't be as easy as you think."
"I beg to differ." Thorin said cunningly, a sinister look foreshadowing his thought.
"You, beg?" Éla stifled a laugh. "If I had known I would have that kind of power over you from a simple braid-"
"You don't." Thorin pushed her down flush against the sofa's plump cushions. His body prevented her from moving as one hand brushed away strands of hair to clear her skin. His hand left her neck, momentarily resting on the exposed skin below her collar bone. He watched the rise and fall of her chest while feeling the pounding of her heart beneath his fingertips. Her reaction satisfied his hunger for the time being as he sat up. "There are other means to claim you as my own."
Éla narrowed her gaze with a smirk, threatening to challenge him. "So long as you respect traditions of old, otherwise you cannot claim what does not belong to you." She pushed Thorin back with a gentle touch, leaning into him so she whispered in his ear. "I could give myself to you freely if I wished, but that would be no fun."
Her sweet scent filled his airways and he inhaled deeply, soft waves falling on his shoulder. She pressed off of him all too soon, nearly wanting to relish the feeling of his broad chest beneath the thin fabric under her palms. A faint desire loomed deep within her as Éla yearned to roam gentle fingers over defined muscle and skin. Sharing living accommodations with thirteen other members came to the forefront, cutting short any actions that were to be carried out.
Thorin's face dropped once her warmth left him. His partially calm scowl almost made her laugh aloud as she left him to contemplate his options.
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Yup, I'm ending it here...I'm going to aim for a longer chapter next update, so be patient until the weekend.
Reference last chapter was 'half a cow', very first paragraph.