Eternity Is You

A/N- Welcome back, sorry about the long wait for this chapter, I do hope I make up for it. As they say life gets in the way.

Disclaimer- I do not own the Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings, but I do own my original ideas in this story and my lovely leading lady.

'Thoughts/inner self'

Khuzdul

Enjoy everyone!

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Chapter 8:

Mountains to Climb

Fili groaned as he was kicked awake by his brother, his neck was sore from the long night of waiting he'd just endured. Kili didn't look any better though and that made Fili feel just a tad better, he wasn't alone in his pain after all.

He glanced at the entrance to the bath and then at Kili who just shrugged. "I woke up just a bit ago myself, haven't scented uncle past the doorway, so he must still be inside. With Tansy." Fili rolled his eyes at his brothers' lame attempt at morning humor, at the moment Fili felt like crap and if his brother didn't let up he'd share the feeling.

Many times through the night they'd made love, Thorin was determined he make the bond with Tansy as permanent as he could. He felt as if he didn't then she might leave him, no matter what she'd promised him. He knew better but it didn't stop his wolf from worrying about it.

Once he was sure Tansy was out like a light, Thorin dressed her and then curled up with her for the remainder of the night. She clung to him and that made him and his wolf very happy.

When morning finally came, Thorin knew they'd have to make an early start of it the following day. First though he needed to make sure the others knew just what Tansy was to him now. He was pleased to find his new mate and wife curled close to him still. Although he was a little worried about how he'd explain to her what had truly happened the night before in its entirety.

Reluctantly, he shifted and tried his best to lift Tansy without waking her, but as he moved to stand she began to shift. A yawn broke free from her lips as she turned her head and opened her eyes to look up at him. She smiled contentedly, "Good morning Thorin." She then pushed herself up to kiss him soundly upon the lips, pulling back she giggled a little. "I hope you slept as well as I did."

Blinking at her easy manner after their 'intimate' night together, Thorin tilted his head. "I slept soundly." Tansy smiled at that before she looked around them, "we're still in the bath I see. Does that mean..." she paused as her eyes drifted towards the exit, "Fili and Kili aren't still out there...are they?"

Surprised by her question, Thorin looked towards the exit as well. "I am not sure; once I entered my mind was a little occupied." Tansy's face turned a bright red but her smile remained, "I guess we'll find out. I just hope they approve. I mean...I hope they will still like me."

Reaching down, Thorin gripped her chin and turned her head towards him. He bent his head to press their foreheads together, "they will, of that I am certain. Come, it is time we left." Tansy laughed softly before she took his hand and let him lead her to the entrance.

Thorin opened the door and scenting his nephew's he growled low and deep. Both darted into kneeling positions before him and Tansy. Thorin snorted once before he wrapped his arm around Tansy's shoulder. "Nephew's...show her."

Fili and Kili hurriedly stood and proceeded to strip. At which Tansy turned and buried her face in Thorin's chest, he pulled her away and turned her to face his Nephews. "Watch."

Kili and Fili looked at each other before they began to shift, Tansy watched with wide eyes as both changed into wolves, one was dark like Thorin was while the other had golden tinges here and there. Tansy stared at them in silent awe; she always liked wolves and knowing that Thorin and these two were ones made it even more amazing.

"Kili...Fili?" They transformed back quickly and she felt just a tiny bit disappointed. Thorin squeezed her shoulder, "we cannot let the elves see what we really are. It would be far too dangerous. You are allowed as my mate to know everything now."

Both then picked up their clothes, hurrying to get themselves re-dressed before someone came along. Tansy blinked and felt her face turn red, she was still nervous about what she and Thorin had done. Normally she would have married him first, but she'd been unable to resist him. Sighing she twirled some of her hair on her finger, "we better return to the others soon. They will be worried about us."

Thorin heard the trembling to her voice and knew she was nervous, but he would soon fix that. First though they needed to gather the others and leave this place. They had stayed too long already. "Let us go."

It didn't take them long to return to where all the others were waiting, a few were still asleep when they arrived, while the others were awake and conversing. Dwalin rose when he saw them enter, "Thorin! Gandalf was just here, he told us that you need to speak with him and the elf lord about the map today."

Thorin nodded his head in response to that, "then we must pack and be ready to leave in the morning tomorrow. Once we've discovered what we can about what the map has hidden within it, we will have to depart quickly. I am certain of that."

The others nodded their heads, then Bofur whom had been watching cleared his throat, "since that is settled I just was wondering, the braid Thorin? Is that what I think it is?" Tansy felt her face go red as she looked up at Thorin; he almost seemed to puff up like a balloon as a smile crossed his lips. "That I will announce once everyone is awake to hear it. I will only do this once."

Bofur snorted under his breath, knowing what Thorin was trying to do. Dwalin just moved around to kick awake those still sleeping "might as well get them moving then. Wake up! Thorin is back!" Within a good twenty minutes all of the company excluding Gandalf were awake and assembled. Thorin gave them all a good long look as he pulled Tansy to stand before him his hands on her shoulders.

"Mahal has spoken to me through our journey and has granted me a rare treasure. Tansy has offered me her heart, as I did her. We're bound now, I expect you all to treat her with the respect her new position demands. I ask also that you help to protect her for the remainder of our quest, I cannot leave her behind." His voice was deep and resounded through the open air space, Tansy had never expected him to announce their relationship like this and she felt increasingly embarrassed.

Fili and Kili stepped up first and bowed speaking together, "we swear our protection and loyalty." The other's slowly moved up as well, each promising in their own way to protect and respect Tansy as their new lady and soon queen. Dwalin seemed reluctant but he offered his fealty as well, it seemed he wasn't sure of their leaders love for the hobbit.

Thorin saw this and made sure to note it, when he had the right moment he would explain things to Dwalin, he just hoped he would understand. Feeling that he had done what he could to ensure his new mates safety he looked about, "now then, start packing our things but make sure the elves do not suspect anything. When Gandalf arrives, Balin you will accompany me when we leave to speak with Elrond." The elder dwarrow bowed his head in agreement, as everyone else moved to do as Thorin requested.

Tansy got her meager possessions together quickly and was about to set them in the pile with everyone else's when Fili came over and took her stuff. He then wrapped them up in with his own, he winked at her as he did this, "for safekeeping I'll carry your things."

She opened her mouth to ask why but never made it that far when she heard a low growl. Fili snickered before wandering away; Tansy narrowed her eyes and turned to find Thorin behind her his arms crossed. "It's his duty to do this Tansy; he is now your nephew as well. In our culture our dams are treasured above all else." He then leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "as are our females with our other side. We are very overprotective of the alpha female."

Feeling her face heat Tansy shifted a bit trying to hide her attraction to him, she didn't want the others to see her blushing like this. All of this was still too new and if she admitted it to herself, she felt disappointed in herself for not being able to resist Thorin's charms until they had married. Although if what Thorin was saying was true, they had married but in a very different way than one she was accustomed to. It was something they would need to talk about when they got the chance.

Thorin brushed his knuckles against Tansy's cheek, "it will take some getting used to but, we have time for that now. First though, Erebor, our home. Then, well then we shall see." She felt strange when he treated her like this, like she was some sort of jewel. He had said their womenfolk were treasured, but she was a hobbit, this just wasn't how her people did things.

Taking a deep breath to calm her emotions, Tansy looked up at Thorin and tilted her head, "I am ready to do what I can to help you all. Just remember that I came because you needed a burglar. I can handle myself, female or not. "She then decided to be cheeky and tugged at Thorin's beard pulling his head down where she could kiss him soundly upon the lips.

She then moved off to see if she could help anyone else with packing or otherwise. Most turned her help down but Bombur didn't mind her assisting in packing the cooking ware. He already had his hands full with all the preparations for the food they were going to swipe from the kitchens. A task which Thorin soon assigned to Fili and Kili.

Tansy just knew that if anyone could pull such a stunt off under the noses of the elves, it would be those two. From what little she'd been around them, she knew they were very sneaky. They also had their other nature, their wolven sides and that was a great boon with such a task.

Not knowing what else she could do, Tansy sat down and watched the others as they packed. After a bit though, it seemed Bofur had taken pity on her and came over to her side. He handed her a bit of wood and a small knife, a very sharp one from the look of it. When she looked up at him in silent questioning he just smiled and sat down next to her, he pulled out another piece of wood and another knife, this one was longer and thinner than the one he'd given her.

"Thought I'd distract you with a bit of wood carving, I am a toy maker after all. Would you like to learn my lady?" His tone was respectful and she felt a smile touch her lips, "thank you Bofur, I'd love to learn." Bofur's smile doubled at that before he began the lesson.

Time flew by as he showed her several methods of carving, all of which had her fascinated. She had made very little progress while Bofur had carved three small horses and a working butterfly. She just couldn't help but stare at him as he worked, making something out of nothing. Creating something beautiful just out of thin air, it was such a wondrous thing.

She was so enthralled by this that she didn't notice when Thorin and Balin left or even when they returned. It wasn't until she felt a pair of arms wrap about her shoulders that she finally snapped out of it, she looked up to see it was Thorin and he looked troubled. She shifted around to where she could face him, reaching up she wrapped her arms around his midsection, burying her face in Thorin's chest.

He just lifted her up he then sat down with her in his lap, "Tansy, I see that Bofur has been keeping you busy." Tansy pulled back enough to reach down and pick up the carving she'd been working on, it was still rather blocky and not all that good. "I was trying to make a wolf." Thorin smirked at her words as he looked at the wood carving, it really looked more like a lump than an animal. "Not too bad for a first try. Bofur?"

Bofur just smiled and nodded his head, "she is doing very well for a novice, the lass will get rather good at this if she keeps practicing." Another voice broke in before either could reply, "speaking of practice. I suggest that as soon as we have the time lass needs to learn to defend herself. I will personally teach her if that is your will Thorin."

Tansy looked over to see Dwalin leaning against a pillar as he asked this, his arms were crossed and she could see all his tattoo's in the firelight quite vividly. She blinked at that, realizing that it was now night time. 'How did I lose track of the time so easily? So much time has passed.'

"Aye, the lass needs such training. It is only going to get more difficult as we move on from here, you know that as well as we Thorin." Balin's voice joined in as he made his way over, "we are on a time limit now after all." Thorin looked down at Tansy and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, "You are both right. We will begin her training as soon as we have left this place on the morrow, we must get as far as we can tomorrow. Do you agree to this Tansy?"

All four of them stared at Thorin at that last comment, considering how it was so out of character for him they all shared a moment of shock. Knowing Thorin was awaiting her answer though, Tansy hurried to speak. "Yes, you are right Thorin. I want to help the company and not be a burden, besides I will need such training if I am ever on my own during the rest of the quest."

Now Thorin stared at her in a loaded silence, she knew he wanted to speak to her but with the other's present didn't wish to divulge information they weren't privy to. He just nodded his head before looking over at the others, "tell the others that we had best bed down for the night soon. We are leaving before dawn tomorrow, before those elves have a chance to stop us."

Dwalin bowed at this, "it will be done Thorin." He then turned and moved about the area speaking to each of the company. Bofur got to his feet and cracked his back, "well then I will bid you good night. We'll work on your witling during the journey my lady." He then winked at her before sauntering off. A low growl vibrated from Thorin's chest at that and Tansy felt her cheeks heat once more. Thorin was jealous; it made her feel rather good to know that.

Balin coughed to gain their attention back as he looked at them both knowingly. "As I am sure he hasn't spoken to you of this milady, I feel I need to clarify some things. Thorin, as you didn't observe the traditional courtship and marriage customs you will maintain only courtship behavior for the next leg of our quest. As your elder I invoke the right to take on miss Tansy as my charge, she must have the proper instruction and I will see that she gets it."

Thorin opened his mouth to speak but Balin raised his hand silencing him, "you know I am right in this. As you are our king, although in exile at the moment. You must not open your future queen to any ridicule, so I must ask you to observe celibacy until at least the mountain is restored to us. This way we can have you married properly and none shall be able to oppose it."

"This also brings up what I know you wish to keep hidden lad, as you've lain with her already I take it she knows about your 'udurjai' side? This is why I take it you set aside tradition and just did. Please try to hold that side back lad, we cannot afford for a child to be made. Do you understand?' Balin's voice was almost a whisper but Tansy heard enough to have her burying her face in her hands in utter embarrassment.

A huffing growl came from Thorin before he spoke, "I understand Balin. I will try, but I cannot promise anything now that we've mated. The desire may become too strong to overcome, as you well know. I shall try though and I agree, your logic is sound. Now head off to bed, you need your rest as much as we all do."

Balin bowed and left, leaving Thorin and Tansy to an awkward silence. After a long moment though Tansy finally worked up enough courage to ask, "So Balin knows? About your other self?" Thorin let out a puff of air as he shifted, pulling Tansy down into a lying position across his chest. "Yes. He was there the day myself; my sister and her sons were born. He saw us for what we truly are."

Blinking in confusion, Tansy tried to get up but Thorin held her firmly against himself. Sighing in defeat Tansy responded. "What do you mean by that?" Thorin chuckled, "simply that when those who have our quirk are born they are born in their other form." Eyes wide at that, she tried to imagine Thorin's wolf form a little puppy and giggled at the image she conjured. "I see."

Thorin bent his head and kissed her forehead once more as he let out a deep sigh, "enough questions for today. We must rest, the morning will not wait on us and we must move out quickly. Good night 'Kurdûh.' Sleep well." Tansy shifted a little against Thorin's chest at that before she closed her eyes tried to let sleep claim her, she reminded herself that she needed to find out what those words he was saying meant.

A/N- There we are another chapter down. This one gave me many a trouble so I hope it was done well enough.

Thank you once more for reading this, I am so grateful to you all.

Khuzdul-

Udurjai- Strange

Kurdûh- My Heart

See you next time.

May the Fluff Be With You!

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