She was pulled out of the way, as Smaug landed before them with a great crash. Soldiers had fled from their posts only to narrowly avoid the enormous beast.
Sobbing, against the cold armour of her rescuer, she didn't want to open her eyes.
"You are a silly girl aren't you?!" A gentle voice pulled her from her depths of despair. "Just as you were that day when you saw the sandworm for the first time, after running outside the city walls..."
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up, to find Arvind looking down at her. His warm brown eyes filled with concern.
"I thought you were..."
"Ha! It will take a lot more than that, baby sister. I am still here as your guardian, until you and happy with your husband..." Arvind smiled at her this time. He had a cut on his face, and his black hair was dishevelled, in a way she had never seen before. And his helmet was no where to be seen. "We had to rescue the catapults from where the creature might have crashed... So it turned out that the stories Master Bard told you were true... And you were good enough to tell me..."
A low rumble came from the dragon behind them.
They all turned to assess it, where it lay. But it was still not yet dead, it's limbs just about still moving in pain as it lay there.
She looked at her brother, who groaned in surprise.
"After all that?!" He frowned annoyed again at her. "Good Lord!"
"I know. It shouldn't die alone..." It was all she could say. A part of her still pitied the ancient creature, now realising that after all the death and destruction it had dealt, there was never any other choice but to slay it. "It won't hurt anyone now..."
"You have a problem you know!" Arvind groaned, letting her go.
"I know." She kissed his cheek, before turning towards the beast that lay on the ground like a large black behemoth. And then she glanced back at Arvind again, who was following her along with Karan and Amit, all three of them had their sabres out ready to attack the dying beast should it move. "I was worried about you..."
"I know." Arvind nodded still following.
Reaching the dying beast she came to stand by its enormous head, and slowly reached out to touch it.
The scales that covered it were smooth and cool, in spite of the impression they gave.
"I should have given him the Arkenstone, just to watch him be driven mad by it... Like his pathetic grandfather..." Smaug wheezed in his final breaths. "He is not worthy of you..."
"No, I suppose he is not." She sighed, fearing there was some truth in what the dragon said. "I just wish you had saved yourself..."
She gently stroked its head, as his strange amber eyes watched her carefully. It was like she was something between a meal and a toy to the giant drake.
"I could not. It is in my nature. I take..." He replied. "And I would have returned to take back the Mountain... And you...had I lived..."
She remained silent watching the last of the light fade from his terrifying amber eyes.
"Come. We will need help with the many injured - we are lucky none are dead today..." Arvind slowly reached out for her. "And no doubt so the surviving people of Laketown will need help now too..."
...
They had spent the next day setting up tents for the sick. Perhaps surprisingly, or perhaps because of Arvinds skillful leadership, there had been no dead!
By dawn the people of Esgaroth had made their way to the encampment. And so for better shelter, the soldiers had helped them salvage what they could and turned the ruins of the old city of Dale into a proper shelter for the survivors. There were many women and children who had arrived first, and then the men who had remained to fight had slowly arrived.
She had spent all day in the medical tent, when finally word had arrived that Thorin had sent for his bride!
So she had hurried to find Arvind.
"The mountain is still in poor condition and will need to be cleared to make room for all the men," Balin stood explaining to Arvind, when she arrived.
It had been difficult to hide her disappointment, at Thorins absence.
"Ah lassie, Thorin felt you would be better protected from within the mountain..."
"It is still disappointing to see Thorin not arriving himself... We have slayed his beast for him after all!" Arvind snapped irritated.
"I mean do I have to come right NOW?"
Balin looked at her sadly.
"Thorin informed me that I must remind you of what you... ah yes...'owe him'?" Balin repeated the exact words Thorin had used, clearly without knowing what he meant.
She, of course knew exactly what he meant - referring to their actual wedding night. He expected her to let him have her now. In fact it was probably more a demand than a request.
And she didn't want any more revealed about it, particularly after Smaug had called her a virgin!
"You do not need to go, sister," Arvind muttered angrily. "It is a disrespect to a wife that a husband does not come to collect her directly. Instead he sits there guarding his hoard of treasure!"
"It's fine, brother. There is no need for any fuss. I shall go... I have tended to the sick now. And there are fortunately few injured from Laketown."
"No need to worry lassie, I will send some medicines and herbs we found in the infirmary still as good as new..." Balin tried to reassure her.
"Fili, Kili, Oin and Bofur are alive. They were evacuated from Laketown before the dragon escaped." She quickly added.
"But how?!" Balin looked at her with some hope.
"We felt the ground quake," she sighed sadly. "We must find them. The lady-elf, healed Kili!"
"Dont worry lassie. We will find them. We must first get you back to Thorin." Balin reassured her. "We can arrange all else thereafter..."
"What about Arvind?" She looked back at her brother. "And Abdi and Dabur are with the rest of the caravan -"
"I will need to stay here for a while anyway, dear sister," Arvind walked over to her and gave her a big hug. "You are a newly wed bride. He has a duty now to make you comfortable..."
"Who will help the healer with the men?" She worried again.
"Shah Aaman has been learning from you. We will manage." Arvind reassured her this time. "Karan and Amit will follow you soon. We will arrange everything else in time."
She had nervously pulled on her cape, realising that she would have been covered in mud and blood. She had not changed since leaving Esgaroth, when the dragon attacked.
"Don't worry lassie, we will have fresh clothing for you..."
"There is one more thing I need to do first, please Balin," she had turned back to find Arvind again. Then quickly running over to her brother one last time before setting off with Balin. "Arvind!"
He turned towards her voice in surprise, as she ran into his arms.
"Arvind! I forgot to tell you something!" She said breathless for having run over. "The Orcs!"
Arvind held her hands as she caught her breath in between speaking.
"The Orcs that raided Laketown were a group of scouts. A pair of elves were tracking them - one was the Prince of Greenwood. They are after Thorin...Why I am not sure... But they have been following their journey for some time now," she spoke hurriedly. "It was not a spontaneous raid. So please be on your guard. I expect they might attack here!"
"Oh dear sister, we will be on our guard now." Arvind chuckled at her. "A few orcs are hardly a worry...they are not the Bashiq clan!"
"Seriously my dear brother. Those creatures were well armed. And were under instruction to find Thorin...I am worried they might be part of a bigger group?"
Arvind noted the worry on her face, and nodded.
"Of course, I will increase our gaurd on watch and on the slopes, so we can spot anything approaching from afar." Arvind kissed her hand reassuringly. "Now, do not worry about us, little sister, and go and fulfil your wifely duties!"
...
There was only one word to describe Erebor from what she saw of it as Balin took her along the many vast and clearly once grand corridors, and that word was 'dusty'!
The statues, paintings, alcoves and floors were all covered in dust! It was strange to see no cobwebs, though, not that she minded. Spiders were possibly one creature that she was not overly fond of, so she was not too upset about the latter. It was not until they got to some of the main corridors that she found they had started clearing up.
"Is there any particular urgent reason I have been called..." She began with a whisper as Balin led her silently along the corridors, and then she regretted her words instantly. There was no need to have her suspicions confirmed.
"Well, lassie... I suppose a husband wishes to be with his new wife..." Balin replied quietly. "He was not rough with ya now was he?"
He looked at her with sincere concern on his face, and of course unable to reveal the truth, she just shook her head.
The little fluffy haired dwarf blushed profusely under his wispy beard, and kept silent as they carried on further.
"I was hoping I could find Kili, Fili, Oin and Bofur amongst the people who have taken shelter in the ruins of Dale," she suggested hopefully.
"There is no need lass, they will find their way soon," Balin reassured her, carrying on. He felt somewhat unhappy about the unceremoniously hurried way in which she had been brought back to Erebor. After all she was possibly safer with her brother behind the protected lines of his large army than in the mountain. And could only think of one reason why Thorin might have wanted her here so fast. So his involvement in the matter felt like an intimate glimpse into what was to go on behind closed doors.
She felt equally awkward, like an escaped bride who was being forced to return to her marriage bed.
"So...this is Erebor then..." She spoke eventually, unable to bear the awkward silence any more. Then once again felt stupid for saying such a silly thing.
"Aye lass," Balin smiled politely. "I am sorry we couldn't clean up a little better before you arrived. It was one of the grandest kingdoms in middle earth once... I think you will be able to see her restored to her beauty soon enough..."
He trailed off as they arrived at a set of enormous, carved doors the size of the vaulted corridor! The doors were already open, leading into a grand hallway, with a floor of pure gold, glowing under the dim lighting they had managed for now.
She stopped suddenly, nervous, and feeling a little self conscious now, as she was still in the clothes she had dressed in from two days ago. In a most futile attempt she tried to straighten out her pantaloons and her top, but nothing was going to remove the blood, mud and dirt from her clothes before she was to be presented in front of her husband again.
"Don't worry lass, all the dirt in middle earth cannae lessen how bonnie your face looks," Balin smiled genuinely this time. "Don't be afraid lass..."
He gently ushered her into the grand hall. Each step they took echoed through the grand space, where the main walkway was lined by tall, marble pillars the size of large tree trunks. She couldn't help but look up at the dark-veined greenish marble columns in awe as they walked along, nearly losing her balance a few times.
The hall was very grand indeed, and their journey to reach the other end, where the grand dais stood was a long one.
Finally they could see the large stone throne illuminated by two smaller torches as they walked on. To her surprise on the throne sat a formally dressed figure, whom she finally recognised as Thorin! He was dressed in a grand fur-lined cloak, and stood when he saw her approach.
"Welcome to Erebor!" He announced as he moved down the steps to the golden floor. "This is the gallery of Kings leading to the Throne of Durin! My Grandfather's throne!"
As he moved closer, he noticed her clothes and dishevelled hair, and his face visibly fell. It was like she was nothing but a disappointment.
"You are in a state! Hardly fit to be presented to a husband, let alone a king!" He snapped, appraising her critically again.
"We were attacked by the dragon, my lord. Some of my people were injured, as were many men from Esgaroth," she tried to explain. "I had to help - and I was not given time to change, or collect any of my items -"
"You have an insolent mouth," he took a step closer to her, whispering so that only she heard. "Take care that I do not have to teach it a lesson!"
Her heart pounded in her chest, as he stood so close to her.
"Our furnaces are working oncemore - go and wash yourself, so that you may present yourself properly to me," he leant closer still and whispered again in his deep voice, such that it made her stomach flutter, as she recalled his touch last time. "There is no need to wear anything too complicated. I will need to take your clothes off with ease and fast. I shall pick up where we left off last time..."
...
She sat in wonderfully warm bath.
Balin had shown her to Thorins room directly, as he had been instructed. But neither Karan or Amit had arrived with her clothes yet. And so she had taken her time, testing out the many scented salts and oils on the shelf by smell first before adding small amounts to the water. Erebor had been unoccupied for almost fifty years, so she worried about using the bath products left behind in case they had turned rancid over time. But some oils still smelt wonderful and fresh, so she had tried them in the smallest amounts.
Eventually she had emerged from the water and wrapped herself in a large dwarven-sized towel, making her way into the bed room after unplugging the bath.
She missed home. It was freezing here. And she missed Rajah.
Taking another towel to dry her hair, she looked around for a comb or brush. Eventually she found one one on a dresser, made of a beautiful polished dark wood.
She sat on the giant bed and wondered what she would have to wear. Balin had not told her where any clothing might be kept and she didn't feel right going through the wardrobe in his room, so she sat there combing through her hair and hoping it would dry soon. It was much easier in Rhun-agar where the weather was much warmer.
She wondered over to the fireplace and placed a few logs in there, but there was no kindling and no flint.
Finally giving up, she lay down on the bed and out of sheer exhaustion, and fell asleep.
The sound of deep humming awoke her to find Thorin in their room undressing.
It was dark now, and the fireplace was roaring, filling the room with warmth.
"You did not join us for supper. So I have brought you a bowl of broth," he gestured to a side table. "Have you eaten today?"
Still a little disoriented as she sat up, she shook her head, but he was not looking at her as he continued to undress.
"Have you eaten today?" He asked again a little more sternly.
"Uh.. no..."
"You duty is not to look after injured soldiers or folk from the town -"
"But you cannot leave them to suffer, my lord," she replied quietly. "Please may I get some water -"
"On the side table." He was now only in his trousers. "We still have several problems, the Arkenstone is missing and you are not carrying my child."
She poured herself a goblet of water and drank it all in one go. The walk to the mountain had been long, and she couldn't recall the last time she drank anything.
"What about the people of Laketown?" She asked drinking another goblet.
"You are not even dressed." He sighed walking over to her, and gently brushing her long dark hair aside. "Well, there is no need to get dressed now..."
Taking the empty goblet from her hands he placed it back down, and wrapping one arm around her waist pulled her in for a kiss.
It set her heart racing once more, as he pressed her against his bare chest.
His kiss was hungry, with no gentleness to it from the very start. All she could do was hold onto him as he took control.
Then she could feel his hand trail down her body, before trailing up her thigh, brushing gently between her legs in a way that contrasted so much to his rough kisses.
But it was sudden enough to make her pull her face away from him.
"You had no objection a few nights ago..." He spoke softly, continuing to draw pleasurable tiny circles exactly as he had done before. "In fact, you were deliciously wet on our last occasion... And I recall a certain debt of pleasure you owe to me..."
He observed her with his cold blue eyes, and a neutral expression, although he was certain he had won this battle thoroughly with her, from the way in which she had not pulled away entirely.
There was little that she could do now, from the way in which her body felt so inflamed under his touch, but to hold onto his arms, in case her legs might give way, her breathing now heavy.
"Would you prefer that I stop?" He asked again coldly.
But she couldn't answer, her eyes falling shut now as she was so close to the explosion that was building inside her.
And then he dipped a finger inside her suddenly and pulling out stopped all together.
"Open your eyes!" He commanded sternly. "And tell me to stop."
Still breathless, and her lips parted from the gasp she was unable to suppress from his quite rough intrusion, she slowly opened her eyes.
"What are you...doing to me?" She whispered breathlessly.
"I can take you dry, hard and painfully. I doubt you will enjoy that much," he spoke to her coldly. "Or I can pleasure you, and when you are wet for me, which apparently doesn't require much, I can have you as I please..."
She blinked nervously, for all she could do was listen silently.
"Either way, I must deflower you tonight, and spill myself within you," he smirked at her. There were no smart comments from her now. "So tell me..."
He then untied her towel and removed it from her, throwing it on the bed.
"I don't want it to hurt..." Was all she could manage as he moved her back to the bed. "Please..."
"Then keep your eyes open...and on me..." He whispered removing his own trousers now to reveal a large erection. "Here...put your hands on it..."
He pulled one of her hands from his arm, still keeping her body steady and placed her tiny cool hand on his cock, rubbing it up and down along the shaft.
"Go on...feel it...I know you are curious..." He hummed as she felt his cock with one hand, eyes widening. Carefully occupying her, he moved to lay her down on the bed, spreading her legs wider as he carried on. And when she closed her eyes again, he slipped his finger deeper inside her suddenly, making her cry out. "Uh uh - close your eyes and I stop the pleasure."
Opening her eyes, against her natural desire, under the fire that he was setting between her legs, she decided to focus on what she was feeling. She tried gripping her hand around it, but it was too thick, so she ran her hand up and down again slowly feeling the veins that ran between patches of smooth skin. It seemed to throb and twitch in her hands, as though it had a mind of its own, and she thought of how some of the women in her father's court had often laughed about how some men had thought using their appendage!
Gasping, she threw her head back again, as he carried on taking her her higher and higher until she could barely breath.
Again he paused inserting two thick fingers inside, while using his thumb to carry on with the circular movements. She tried to pull her legs together against the intrusion, but he kept them apart as he lay between her legs now.
"Move you hand up and down..." He groaned, sliding his fingers in and out slowly, the pain he was causing with his rough intrusion, was in contrast to his thumb. "Squeeze tighter..."
She tried to follow his instructions, but she couldn't think anymore.
"You are so very, very wet..." His words were a quiet groan as he watched her, warning her carefully. "Keep your eyes on me..."
She didn't dare disobey him now, her body so tight, she could no longer breath, as his fingers found a rhythm.
His icy, sapphire eyes with their strange pale flecks, looked darker, his pupils dilated. It was almost as though he was holding back something feral.
And then she exploded, she could feel every part of her pulsating.
But a sudden pain pierced her in that moment, making her cry out again. He groaned as he pushed himself all the way in, then he began to move.
He had no concern about her pleasure, for now he was purely in pursuit of his own. Grasping her thigh, while holding himself up on one arm to stop crushing her, he began to pound himself into her and ignoring her altogether. All he knew was that he was drowning in her deep brown eyes,and buried in her warm, wet, tightness.
He wanted more. But he could not control himself. With several thrusts, he spilled himself inside her with a guttaral roar.
Riding out his own climax with several more hard thrusts, he pulled out, and collapsed beside her on the bed.
Looking down he could see the sheets stained with patches of blood, where she lay gasping, as if she had held her breath all this time and felt a little guilt for he had enjoyed that better than he had ever done with any other.
Realising his eyes roaming her body, she clutched at the closest thing, the towel, to cover herself up.
Again her display of weakness made him feel some guilt, which he instantly dispelled from his thoughts by assuring himself that he had of course ensured her pleasure first, even if he had not given it the time he should have.
He wanted her again, but would not force himself upon her when she was clearly sore. Turning to look at her face, he gently reached out to brush away the hair that had become stuck to her cheek, only to find that she flinched initially, her cheek damp, from a few tears.
"Your tears only make you more beautiful, so do not waste them on me," he whispered to her, wiping them away before trailing his finger along her neck, shoulders and arm. "I will draw you a warm bath, it will ease any soreness you feel..."
He stood from the bed lazily, as though he has just taken an afternoon nap and walked towards the bathroom.
She could feel her body relax a little now that he was gone. It felt as though she had been rammed with a hot poker repeatedly, and then her insides filled with molten lava. The stinging sensation still lingered, but she had no intention of moving from the bloody sticky mess of sheets she lay in until he had gone altogether.
After bringing her to the height of pleasure, he had brutishly ravaged her.
She couldn't endure feral poundings like this until she got pregnant. And what if he wanted more children thereafter - an heir AND a spare?! And from what she had read, dwarves did not keep more than one wife!
She heard the taps run for a while, and felt a desperate thirst, but didnt dare get up.
"I apologise for I cannot stay. The King's Jewel is still missing.." he walked over to the large armchair where he had placed his clothes, and began to dress.
"You do not wish to wash, my lord?" Her inquiry was a whisper, in case he expected to bathe with her.
He seemed to pause in response.
"I like how you smell on me." He replied back softly, glancing over his shoulder at her before continuing to dress. "Anyway it is urgent that we locate it. The other clans will not swear allegiance to me without the stone..."
"Did Gandalf not ask that you wait for him, my lord?" She spoke nervously, recalling Smaugs words of warning.
"And where is Gandalf now?!" He spat angrily. "He abandoned us when we needed him the most! Probably cavorting with the elves!"
She fell silent. She had once liked the old wizard, but had now come to hate him almost as much as her husband.
After all he was the reason she was in this mess!
Thorin and Gandalf certainly shared one thing in common - their blinkered view to achieve certain outcomes with little regard for the people they used as pawns to achieve this, like herself!
"It matters not, for you need not concern yourself over such matters," Thorin grunted, pulling on his jacket and straightening out his clothes. "Your only concern is to bear me children..."
She held her tongue again, not wishing to upset him, in case he felt the need to lay with her again, just out of spite.
"Very well, my lord.." she replied in a whisper.
"That's a good girl," he replied back smugly, moving over to take a look at her as she lay in his bed. He would certainly be aroused again if he remained there looking at her, so naked and vulnerable. "I will send Balin for you with some fresh soothing oils to add to your bath...your guards will be here soon I imagine also..."
She sat up in his bed, hoping to ask about Rajah, but hesitated.
"What is it?"
"My lord... I wish to ask a favour..."
He paused to sit on the edge of the bed, gazing into her big brown eyes.
"There is no need to refer to me in that manner when we are in private," he cupped her chin and tilted her face up to meet his. He enjoyed the way she looked at him. Her features were soft in a way that he had never seen in a dam or a woman before. And while he harboured no feeling for her, it could not be denied that she was a beauty. "What is it you wish to ask?"
"I would really like to see Rajah, when he arrives..."
Thorin groaned.
"This again?"
"Please, I beg of you... Thorin..."
It had been easier to dismiss her before, but today, she spoke his name. It was a plea. He would have preferred to see her beg him, just as nude and on her knees, but perhaps she might be easily taught. She certainly climaxed quicker that any other female he had taken care of.
"You agreed it was not a risk to take when you came to be with child." He sighed as though he were trying to reason with an unruly adolescent. "You may be with child now -"
"It is my first, it is too soon! I know that much." She countered, trying to keep her voice as soft as she could, in spite of her feelings.
"We shall see when the beast arrives..." He couldn't bring himself to deny her entirely. After all he had thoroughly enjoyed himself with her today, but he was aware that he had been far from gentle with her. "And do not fear me. Our coupling will grow more pleasurable, as your body gets used to me... It is what all female folk must endure when they are wed."
And with that he stood and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind.
...
She had been quick to have a bath, and then found a clean dress to wear which actually fit her in an old wardrobe. Balin had never arrived, as she had expected. Nor had any or her guards, and so she had chosen to explore Erebor for herself.
Carrying the tray with the bowl of broth, she walked along the dimly lit corridors, finding her way using footprints left in the dust or the odd sconce holding a lot torch.
She had been walking for what felt like almost half an hour when she spotted a small, familiar figure she was glad to recognise!
He seemed to be huddled over examining something he was holding.
"Master Baggins!" She whispered excitedly. "Oh thank goodness!"
The hobbit almost jumped out of his skin on hearing her harsh whisper.
"My lady!" He whispered back startled, hastily putting something away in his pocket. "I...I am surprised...and delighted... to see you!"
She quickly set the tray on the floor and threw her arms around him in a big hug. It was a little like hugging one of the older children in the orphanage, but she was grateful for some genuine affection.
"And I am glad to see you Master Baggins!" She whispered again. "Did you meet the dragon?"
He paused for a moment, inspecting her face.
"Hmmm...you look different..." He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was certainly something different. "And yes I did - he was quite...terrifying I assure you."
"I met him too..." She replied to his shock. "Yes I agree, although if he were not so cruel, I would have thought him rather magnificent. It is such a shame..."
"Balin said that he saw the beast laying dead in the valley of Dale...it must have been quite a battle -"
"Arvind is very experienced. He has slain so many worms back home. Maybe they were not dragons but they were equally deadly I think..."
"Arvind told Balin that you spoke with Smaug?" Bilbo asked her, unable to hide the shock from his face. "I too could not look the beast in the eye -"
"In truth I tried pleading with it to go away and save itself. But it refused...it was shackled and trapped under many nets all the while of course," she concluded. "But it warned me that the Arkenstone drove Thror mad with greed for gold and jewels! And then he warned me that it would do the same to Thorin..."
The hobbit paused to observe her carefully.
"Tell me please, my lady, what is different about you?" His curiousity was running wild in his mind. She was indeed very different.
"Well, I have faced a dragon, become a wife, and all sorts in just the last few days..." She lied. The truth was that she was sore, but trying to sound nonchalant about it. But more importantly, she was desperate to go outside and find Rajah. She was sure that her Jaguar was here. Then she spotted Bilbos behaviour. It was odd to say the least. He kept reaching into his pocket to fiddle with something. "You are different too, Master Baggins..."
"I... No..." He stuttered.
"Very well then, it is clear that you do not trust me. And so I will part from you as an acquaintance, and look for the kitchen instead -"
"Wait," he hesitated. "Can I trust you, my lady?"
"Let me put it this way, I will need your help - so in return I will keep whatever secret you wish if you promise to help me."
Bilbos eyes pricked up. They looked up at her like small, twinkly, hazel coloured marbles.
"What do you need of me, my lady?" He asked in a whisper.
"Something very dangerous..."
He paused at her words. He had quite enough danger for a lifetime already. And yet, he wanted to help this poor girl, for this was what she was in comparison to Thorin.
"Then let me burden you with my secret..." He whispered. "and with that you will have my agreement to help you in any way that I can..."
She nodded slowly, wondering what great and treacherous secret such a meek creature could be harbouring.
And so without any further words, he slowly pulled a small item out of a hidden pocket in his coat. It was something rounded and well wrapped in a piece of cloth.
Carefully he revealed it, unwrapping one corner at a time.
There in his hands, was a large rounded stone, which even in the dim light, shone with the brilliance of so many diamonds. She had seen many large and precious jewels that belonged to her father, but never anything like this! It seemed to glow of a light of its own, that sparkled like a rainbow in a fine drizzle!
Finally she realised what exactly he was showing her and gasped...