Chapter 2

They were walking for hours; daylight was already fading. Somewhere in those hours Enya had relieved her hair from the ponytail it had been in. She hoped feverishly that she wasn't looking as repulsive as she believed she was. She quickly ran her fingers through her long locks in an attempt to straighten it. She watched as Thorin walked a few feet in front of her. No doubt he was scouting the area, checking if it still was safe. She almost bumped into him when he suddenly stopped.

'Ssh.' He growled, while listening at something she could not hear.

'What is it?' she whispered. Although they were still hidden in the bushes, a few yards away she saw a road.

Thorin sighed. 'We're nearly in Hobbiton, miss. You see this road?'

She nodded.

'I was checking if we could safely cross it. Although we're in the shire, one cannot be careful enough.'

'Right.'

He glanced at her and rewarded her with one of his precious little amused smiles. 'I wonder what would have happened if I was not there to rescue you from those orcs.'

'I would have killed them'

He chuckled. 'With what?'

'Well..' Enya frowned. 'I must say I do have the advantage of surprise.'

'You certainly do. Come.'

Thorin grabbed her hand and she felt an electric shock bolting through her body. She quivered. He stopped moving and for a moment he just held her stare. Both of them said nothing.

Had he felt it too? She could not believe how handsome he was. God, if she just could kiss his face. Or touch him. She wondered if he would allow her. Thorin broke the spell and let go of her hand.

'We have to go.' He rumbled, his voice low.

He crossed the road and she had no choice but to follow him. When they were safely in the woods on the other side, he turned and looked at her.

'Are you cold?'

She shrugged. 'A little.'

He took his coat and put it over her shoulders. 'We're nearly there, I hope. Gandalf said it would be easy to find.'

'Gandalf?'

'Yes. Gandalf the grey. He's a wizard.'

She nodded and tried not to laugh. Of course she knew who Gandalf was, and the thought of meeting one of Middle Earth's greatest wizards was enough to make any fangirl squeal. What the actual fuck... Was she really going to meet Mithrandir?

Thorin held her close to him when they entered Hobbiton. She did not know if he wanted to protect her or was terrified that anyone identified her as someone who didn't belong. Luckily, it was after dusk so most of the residents were staying in their homes. Thorin looked around as they paced through the town, muttering under his own breath. They turned around a few times, and she wondered if he knew where he was going.

'What are we looking for?' she inquired softly.

'Any sign of the wizard. He said he would mark the house where we need to be.'

For a while, they walked in silence, both searching for a sign.

'You don't have to do this.' Enya said. 'I can take care of myself.'

Thorin frowned and suddenly shot her a cold glance. 'No, you don't.'

'So you are just dragging me along then?' she said and her voice sounded more venomous than she wanted it to be. She quickly watched Thorin's face and was relieved to find that a little curve was displayed on his lips. He was trying to hold a smile back.

'Yes, until I found you a place where I think you will be safe.'

'In that case, I don't want to be safe' she murmured and quickly put her hand before her mouth before any more stupid stuff would come out of it. Good gracious god, what was she doing? She certainly hoped he did not hear that!

'Look..' Thorin pointed at a green door that was positioned on the side of a hill. For a moment Enya wondered why this door was different than the others they had passed, but then she saw it too. It was indeed marked with a little shiny symbol.

'What does it mean?'

'Burglar.' answered Thorin as he knocked two times on the hard wood.

When the door swung open they encountered a person smaller than themselves. If she had not known a thing or two about the people that inhabited the lands of middle earth, she would have thought this person was a child. But she knew this childlike figure was a hobbit. Next to the hobbit stood Gandalf the grey, who smiled at Thorin.

'Thorin Oakenshield, may I introduce you to our burglar: Bilbo Baggings. Bilbo Baggings, this is the leader of our company: Thorin Oakenshield.'

Thorin nodded. 'I have an unexpected guest. This is a human, her name is miss Enya Blueheart. I found her in the woods.'

Both Bilbo as Gandalf were looking at her, curiously.

'You're quite small to be a human, miss.' Gandalf said friendly. 'If I wouldn't have known better, I'd say you were a dwarrowdam.'

'A what?' Enya inquired.

'A female dwarf.' the wizard replied.

She followed Thorin and the others into the house, which was small, but comfortable and warm. Thorin removed his weapons in the hall and ventured in the little dining room that was on the left. Enya was surprised when she saw twelve dwarves sitting around the huge table. Their clear presence in the vorm of cheerful voices and laughter made the dining room appear even smaller than it acutally was. They greeted Thorin happily as an old friend and didn't even notice Enya's presence.

'You are late.' The eldest one was the first one to speak.

Thorin nodded. 'Aye, Balin. I was delayed by this young lady over here.'

And they lost their way. Twice.

Enya smiled awkwardly as everyone suddenly gazed at her.

'I found her in the woods' Thorin continued. 'She encountered some gundabad orcs. Her name is miss Enya.'

Gandalf gestured her to join them and she took a place between Thorin and himself. She pulled Thorins coat closer around her body and breathed in his scent. Thorin shot a glance at her before he spoke again.

'Which reminds me. Does anyone know where we might find clothing that would fit a human?'

The other dwarves started muttering and it took no long before there was a fierce discussion. She heaved a sigh. For god sake, how was the topic of her clothing worth an intense debate?

'I can help you, miss Enya.' A soft voice spoke behind her. Bilbo stood in the hallway and looked a little bit unsure with suddenly having all the attention shifting to him. He grabbed her hand. 'Come with me.'

They went downstairs and Enya could not help feeling like Alice, who went into that rabbit hole. It was dark down there and Bilbo gave her a lamp to help her see where she was going.

'These are storage rooms.' Bilbo explained before she could ask anything. 'I do prefer living upstairs... I don't like dark and damp places.'

'You have a lovely house mister Baggings.' She said.

'Thank you' he answered politely.

They walked through a long corridor and Bilbo stopped at the last door. He retrieved a key from the pocket in his jacket and opened the door. Enya follwed him inside and carefully set her lamp on a small table next to the door. Bilbo opened a big closet and smiled.

'My mother was a seamstress and the made clothing for all kind of races that happened to be traveling through the shire.' He explained as he got out a beautiful dress. 'She would drag the travelers to our home where she took care of them. She loved the stories they would tell to her. I am afraid to admit that she was quite an adventurer herself too.'

Enya smiled. 'There is nothing wrong with being an adventurer, right?'

'No of course not!' said Bilbo. 'When you are a human. Or a dwarf. Or even a wizard.' He shuffled his feet. 'But when you are a hobbit, mis Enya, you should stay away from it as far as possible. Adventures won't do an hobbit any good!' He swallowed hard and Enya noticed he tried to maintain his composure. 'For instance….' He begun. 'A few days ago I had a polite conversation with Gandalf... the next thing I know, there are THIRTEEN DWARVES in my house who empty my pantry and... and wait until I show you what they have done with the plumbing!'

Bilbo seemed really appalled by the latter fact and Enya pitied him.

'But they are quite a merry couple, I believe.' She tried.

'That is exactly what Gandalf said' Bilbo muttered. 'But I don't want to go on an adventure and leave my house and…'

He inhaled slowly and regained his senses. 'I am sorry, miss Enya. I didn't mean to…'

'Oh, mister Baggings. It's okay.' She smiled. 'I come from a foreign land. I am as baffled about everything that is going on as you are.'

Bilbo smiled too. 'Thank you. It is Bilbo by the way. I will leave you now so you can try on some clothes.' He gestured at the dresser in the corner. 'There should be more over there.'

She bowed her head and waited until she was left on her own. Enya inhaled deeply and shook off Thorins cloak. She laid it on the empty chair that was standing next to the dresser. After that she went through the clothing in the closet. She needed something warm and easy to wear, because they would take on quite a journey. Although Thorin did not mention he would take her with him on this journey, she was determined to stay with him.

Enya did not know how long it took before she rummaged through all the clothes in the closet. Bilbo's mother had taste and boy, the woman could sow! She had found some nice tight leather pants that followed the curves of her body and a pair of heavy boots that would give her the stability and warmth she needed. She had to admit that the boots were a bit too large, but if she would tuck a sock in the front of the shoe she would be fine. She snickered when she thought about how silly she looked, with leather pants, thick boots and her tight running shirt still on. She opened the first drawer of the dresser and was positively surprised when she discovered a beautiful black corset in it. She did not know if it was wise to put in on, but she knew she had to.

She absolutely loved corsets.

She changed her shirt and bra for a simple white shirt with a low neckline. She pulled on the strings of the corset to open it up and wriggled herself inside. She groaned. How on earth was she going to pull it tightly around her chest without asking any of the gentlemen that were in the rooms above her? She hoped Bilbo would be back soon... He was the most likely fellow to ask for a favor. Of course she could ask Thorin too, but… A deep reddish blush appeared on her cheeks at the mere idea of him touching her skin and tying her up. She would definitely melt down the floor before he was done with the task given to him. She giggled, ashamed of even considering that the dwarf king would touch her in this manner and opened the other drawers. She found a comfortable jacket and a coat made from black thick fur. She rummaged through the last drawer at the bottom of the closet and retrieved a pair of black gloves too. She smiled and cleaned up the room. Just when she was about to go upstairs, she-

'That looks good on you.'

Wow.

His low husky voice he made his presence clear. Her body instantly reacted to him and she shivered in delight. With a faint smile she turned to him.

'I might have a little problem.' She purred.

'I thought you could take care of yourself.'

She grinned and she walked through the room, towards him. 'I can. But sometimes even an independent lady needs some help. And getting into a corset is one of those occasions. You have to tie me up.'

Thorin kept his face straight, but his eyes were telling her he was intrigued. 'Well then you have to show me how. I usually don't help women dress.'

'Of course he doesn't...' her mind commented. 'He probably does have a lot experience with UNDRESSING though...'

Wait, what? Enya bit her lip furiously and tried to ignore her stupid brain.

'It is really simple.' she breathed. 'Start at the top and make sure all the strings are pulled together tightly.' She stood still as he very carefully touched her back and pulled gently. 'Pull. I'm not thát fragile!' She encouraged, her voice shrouded with impatience.

'I want you to be able to breathe.' He countered.

It took ages before she was tied up. Enya was relieved and disappointed at the same time when Thorin made a solid knot at the bottom of the corset. She smiled when she turned around.

'Am I presentable enough to your liking?'

He stepped forward and touched her cheek, immediately setting her skin on fire. She suddenly forgot how to breathe, and the corset was not the cause for that! He didn't answer her out loud, but just nodded slowly. For a moment they were lost in each other's eyes. She studied his face and could tell he was not a young man any more. The fine lines around his beautiful breathtaking blue eyes and the few grey strings in his hair told her he must be well in his forties. That is, if you counted his age in human years. In dwarf years, she had no clue how old he could be.

'You are a mysterious woman…' Thorin whispered.

Her body ached for him to kiss her. In her entire life she hadn't desired something that much... Enya bit her lip, too scared to make the move herself. She did not want to insult him by being too bold (again). It was one thing to be a lady from another world, but she didn't dare to cross certain lines. Thorin lowered his gaze and shifted his attention from her face to her chest.

'What's that?' he asked and he pointed at the locket around her neck, carefully not to touch her there.

Pfff. Her dirty mind wished he would.

Enya shrugged. 'A gift.'

'May I?' asked Thorin softly.

'Sure' she answered.

He gently removed the necklace and he fumbled with his fingers around the locket.

'This belongs to the treasure of the firebeards clan. The emblem is distinctive.' He gave her a quick look before he continued. 'But their clan was destroyed long ago… Where did you get this?'

Enya frowned. 'My grandmother gave it to me.'

Thorin shot her a glance that made her uncomfortable.

'You don't believe me' she stated.

Thorin shrugged. 'Well, it wouldn't be the first time that someone tries to deceive others about their ancestry.'

Enya smiled. 'I can assure you my intentions are completely honorable.' She pressed her lips together before she would admit that her less honorable intentions had a lot to do with getting of his clothes as soon as possible.

'Is it all right if I show it to Gandalf?' Thorin asked.

'By all means, please show it to him.' She answered.

He stared a few moments at her and then rushed out of the room. She let herself drop down on the chair and panted heavily. It felt like she just ran a long marathon... Sweet lord, she did know the dwarf for less than 24 hours, and he already had such an effect on her...

It made her fear for the future. And yearn.