Chapter 6-The Shire

After their talk about about hair braiding Philicia felt much better. She had cried on Thorins shoulder till she was nearly sick. He all the while held her close and rocked her gently as if she were a child wispering apoligies in her ear and silently vowing to never purposley hurt her again. The sight of tears on Philicias beautiful face was enough to make him realize how fragile she really was. This human girl lost and all alone in this world .Thorin knew he was all she had and he vowed to protect her with his very life ,if he had to. "What would I have done if you wouln't have found me." She wept onto his shoulder. "Do not think about that "he had told her placing his hands on her waist and setting her back to gaze into her face, his eyes searching hers . They stayed that way for a few more minutes then continued on their way. As they rounded a corner they came across houses on both sides of the road. There was a horse pulling a cart and a small man steering it. Thorin stopped him and inquired about where we could get some ponies but the hobbit just shook his head and went about his way. "I'm sure we will find someone who has some horses soon Thorin."Philicia reassured him but he wasn't so certin of that."It will be a long way to Bag End if we must walk the rest of the way and I will be very late for sure."The irritation evident in his tone. "Like my mom always said, have a little faith Thorin something will turn up." She reached for his arm and locked hers around his."Is that in the story also"he asked turning to look at her "Not this , me, your pony going lame i've changed things already" That thought made both of them a little scared but they brushed it off and continued on their way. As the afternoon faded to evening Thorin reached for his bow and with a clean and clear shot he snagged a rabbit for their dinner that night. Throwing the creature over his shoulder they continued on. "I'm exausted Thorin can we please stop I need a break" Philicia rested her back against a tree out of breath from trying to keep up with Thorins fast pace. "By the time this is over I will be ready for The Boston Marathon" she said still taking deep gulps of air. "We will rest here for the night let us find shelter and I will get this ready."They spotted an old abandoned house and deceided to make that their camp spot. The place was definatly old but still in good condition. Thorin checked to make sure it was clear then Philicia followed him inside. He went to gather wood for the fire as Philicia cleaned up as best she could. She was just inspecting the small room when he called her name " Here see if you can make a desent fire". So she put the wood in the fireplace and struck the match to the flint and within a few minutes the light and warmpth filled the little room."Well , does that meet your approval?" she asked pointing to the roaring fire in the hearth. "I should let you make the campfire from now on." He said crossing his arms . " I think your better at it then me so ...I need to find some sheets for the bed" with that Philicia bolted from the room."What , theres a bed to sleep on." He was right behind her. "Apparantly so ,look ." She gestured to the little room just off the main space."I think these will work "Philicia pulled clean sheets down from a shelf that was a bathroom at one time. She put the sheets on the bed then proceeded to jump onto the soft mattress laughing as she fell. "Suddenly she looked up and Thorin was standing in the door frame watching her with an amused look on his handsome face. For a minute they just looked at each other then quick as a flash she jumped up and grabbed the dwarf and sent them both tumbling to the bed."With this we will definatly sleep good tonight " Philicia gave Thorin a playful nudge then she was up and back in the other room. The dwarf king just laid there and thought to himself this is so much better than the cold ground . Then another thought occured to him he and the girl would be here together and this was not the wilds. He suddenly became a little nervous. Then Thorin thought about Philicia he was sure she was probably thinking the same thing. Oakenshield figured it best they discuss the sleeping arrangements right away so he went to find Philicia. She was getting the cooking pot out and hung over the fire place ready to help with the evening meal. "Rabbit stew again " she sighed. "Theres naught but the furry little things here." Thorin said taking the thing Thorin was taking care of the meat she wandered around the little house finding potatos, wild parsley , sage and rosemary "This will help some,I hope"she said pickin the spices and heading back inside. Thorin was putting the meat in the pot when she came through the door. "Hey "she caught Thorins eye "there is a little garden and I found these". She showed the spices to him and then he nodded his approval and she rubbed them between her palms and dumped them into the cooking pot. They ate in silence Philicia not caring for rabbit stew that much ate a little bit then deceided to fish through her pack and finding a can of spagettios she warmed them up over the fire in an old pan she had found in the kitchen, In the end Thorin had ate half of it after he had asked what it was "Here try a bite"she had offered and he had liked it right away .So thats how they spent their evening Talking and munching on the snacks Philicia had in her bag. All was quiet then Thorin brought up the sleeping situation. "Philicia come sit next to me" Thorin was soft but serious at the same time."There is something we must talk about". She curled her legs underneath her and waited. "Philicia I know you have been sleeping beside me every night but there is another choice tonight. You may have the bed and I can sleep here I think this place is safe enough for that" Thorin waited her responce."No ,you should take the bed you know being who you are and all. I will sleep here" Thorin was surprised, she was willing to take her rest on a hard floor while he slept on a soft mattress. "Philicia You can not do that" Thorin countered. "Why not, I will be fine , go get some sleep you need it" So Thorin left her there alone and she laid the blankets out and tossed Thorins heavy coat down as extra cushion she laid her head on his cloak as a pillow and as the scent of pine and sandelwood surrounded her she began to cry quietly so he didn't hear. What Philicia didn't know was that Thorin had been watching her the whole time .He had observed how she dashed at her eyes and heard the soft wimpers. In two swift strides he was beside her, lifting her in his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. "Why ," was all she said as Thorin laid her gently down on the soft bed. "I would not be able to sleep knowing you are possibly uncomfortable and cold". He then turned to leave" Stay with me" she suddenly blurted out taking Thorins hand." I feel better when you are next to me." Philicia knew the real reason she wanted the dwarf next to her was because her great love for him however she couldn't tell Thorin that."If that is what you want I will stay". The mattress gave way a little bit as he lay down next to firelight from the other room was casting shadows on the walls and making her red gold hair sparkle in it's glow. "Your injury is healing nicely" he said giving her a warm smile. " You should do that more often you know" she said trying to keep from looking into his fathomless blue pools. That however didn't last long his eyes found hers and he was caught staring at her in wonder, foreign emotions stirring inside of him. "Your smile could light up the world" She breathed suddenly turning her head away and sitting up laying her head on the soft pillows. Thorin did the same resting his back against the headboard. Thunder cracked outside and then the rain came pouring down hitting the roof with thunk ,thunk, thunk sounds. Thorin cupped her chin with his hand and turned her face up to shivered ."Are you cold"? He asked, reaching for his heavy cloak placing it around her. Thank you" she said. Thorn went and put another log on and then came back to the room but instead of laying down he sat where he was and scooped Philicia up and sat her between his outstretched legs. He very gently pulled her back against him. She let her head rest against his chest and breathed in the smell that was his alone."Your so warm,so very warm." She wispered. "Dwarves are more tolerant to cold than humans are Philicia what would make us a little chilled, you would be freezing." Thorin wrapped his arms around her tighter." So your not human then?" She turned around in his embrace to seek his face. "No , dwarves are not of the race of man. Does it change things between us"? He asked secretly hoping her answer was no. " Not to me it doesn't ". She said. Thorin let loose the breath he had been holding. She again let her eyes lock onto his and they were both caught up in the magic between them. "You are so very beautiful", Thorin brushed her cheek with the back of his hand and let it fall to her lips .He traced the outline with his fingers all the while never breaking contact with her eyes. His hand then found its way to her hair and taking the strands between his fingers he let it slide through her long length."I've never even considered myself pretty ". She told him" at least not like some girls. I'm too slender too short and -"."You are absolutly breathtaking Philicia ,never doubt that ". She almost teared up again the way he spoke his deep voice resonating in the small room. "Your beautiful too." She wispered reaching out her hand and placing her palm over where his heart was. Thorin went still as she held her hand there. "In here, where it really counts. You have so much to give, so much locked away deep inside you and one day you are going to make a lucky lady so very happy." Philicia was about to pull her hand away when suddenly his came and covered her small one .Thorin locked their fingers together." That is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever told me." He said not breaking the eye contact still. What was he searching for in those eyes of hers . Thorin brushed his hand over her cheek again letting it unfurl . His other hand reaching out till he was holding her head between his huge battle worn hands searching her face. "Philicia, when I was sick you told me something that I have not been able to forget ,it consumes me night and day." She held her breath afraid to move. "Philicia", he let loose a breath hotter than dragons fire as his lips came crashing down over hers. It was no chaste kiss it was explosive and passionate as Thorins tongue brushed against her lips. Philicia opend for him and everything she felt for this king of the dwarves she poured out to him . Wrapping her arms around his neck she let their tongues explore and touch dancing together. Thorin let out a groan laying down pulling her with him never breaking the kiss. He continued to plunder her mouth as he felt a tightening in his middle. By then Thorin was ready to cast all honor aside and show her what she made him feel. Philicia kissed Thorin back with a passion born out of love for him . She could tell what he was felling by the way his body responded and sudden fear washed over her. All the times she had watched the story unfold on the movie screen she had wondered what a kiss from someone like that would be like. Never did she imagine this. Thorin was fire and strength passionate and tenderness all in one. He mouth left hers as he planted kisses along her collarbone down to the side and back up again before returning to her lips. Nothing had ever tasted so sweet and his thoughts began to wonder what the rest of her would taste like. Philicia held Thorin close as he turned her on her side and broke away gasping for breath. She didn't say anything for a minute she was too stunned. "Thorin I..." "Shhhh Philicia I know" he said pulling her closer." I know that you love me," He confessed brushing his lips against hers very tenderly." You told me when you thought I could not hear you." He had heard but how much."What I would have you tell me is how for we have not known one another but a week yet. Philicia looked up at his striking face and spilled her heart to him. "Yes ,I do love you, I always have. Most girls fall for the boy at school but I fell for the incredible person that wasn't even real." Tears spilled down her face and Thorin wiped them away with his soft kisses. "With each movie released I fell for you even more and the last one I, it hurt so much and then I ended up here and you found me and you are real and I just want to hold you and touch you and tell you so bad how much I feel for you. So yes Thorin Oakenshield I love you, I always have, I know that now. It's ok tho, you don't have to love me back or even say anything I just wanted you to know how much I feel for you." "Philicia", was all he could say . Thorin pulled her close to him and held her till her breathing evened out and he knew she was sleeping. He closed his eyes and drifted off knowing this beautiful tender young woman loved him with all her heart. Mahal help me was his last thought. Hearing noises Philicia sat up and yawned, stretching her hands above her head. All the sudden last night , had she dreampt , did Thorin really kiss her, .Yes he had kissed her and not just a peck on the lips. His kiss was explosive. She had kissed a boy at school once but that had been a quick thank you on the cheek. This was something entirely different. And Thorin was no boy. His kiss had been passionate yet gentle .He had drank from her lips till they were out of breath. Then he had pulled her down and underneath him. Nothing had ever felt so good his weight on her ,his hands in her hair ,on her body, his mouth on hers his lips and tongue ravishing her mouth. The soft kisses he had planted along her neck and breast. The tender words he had spoken .Philicia wished she understood Kazadul. She had an idea what he had wispered to her in between those firey kisses. Thorin was everything she knew he would be passionate and gentle and they hadn't gone any further. He wanted to she could tell by the way his body responded to her. The buldge in his middle was proof enough. Philicia would have surrendered everything to him had they not stopped. She would have been ready even tho it would have hurt, a lot. "Hey" she said looking up at Thorin standing in the door his arms crossed. "How did you sleep?" He asked. Coming over to where she was he just stood there in front of her being his usual brooding self but his eyes never left hers. Was Thorin thinking about what happend last night also. She hoped so. "I'm ok" Philicia sighed looking at her feet . Had the kiss they shared been a just caught in the moment. Philicia let her thumb and index finger trace over her swollen lips. He knew, he knew that she loved him that made Philicias heart soar with joy." How did you sleep"? she asked knowing the dwarf king had held her in his arms through the whole night. She had woke up for a minute and Thorins arms were snug tightly around her , her head on his chest and her hands tangled in his ebony waves." I have some water boiling so you can enjoy that vial drink you call coffee." Thorin laughed." Yummy" she said getting off the bed. " I'll be right back I need to you know". The dwarf king said nothing just nodded his head in agreement. When Philicia came back she grabbed her pack and finding the toothpaste slapped some on her brush" What is that?" Thorin jestured to the little tubular object. " Oh it's to clean your teeth, I'm assuming you know what that is." She reached for the toothpaste and handed it to Thorin. "Yes, we have something like this made of plant deritives." He said turning the tube over in his hand. " Not like this you don't I have a extra brush it 's new and you are welcome to it." Philicia delved in her bag and finding the spare brush she showed Thorin how to open the tube and as expected he figured out the rest."Better" she said after both had given their teeth a good scrubbing. " That burns worse than ale " he said wiping his mouth on a clean cloth. Philicia went in the other room so Thorin could wash up and drank her coffee. She made some breakfast for them both. She chopped the potatos from the garden and after finding the eggs Thorin had left there she mixed the potatos and eggs in the bowls tore some pieces of bread that was there. Smearing butter and honey on they she was just getting the forks when Thorin snuck up behind her." Something smells really good." He said as Philicia handed him his breakfast. There was no table so they both sat on the floor on front of the hearth and ate in silence. "I apolagize Philicia ,You had asked me earlier how I slept and I did not answer you." He looked at her and put down his bowl. "Thats fine I'm sure you had a good nights rest" She figheted with her fingers. " Philicia about last night." Thorin stood up and stared out the window. " I am sorry I do not know what came over me. I had no right to touch you like that and for that I am so sorry" He turned then and his eyes held hers. " I'm not sorry , I'll never be sorry , not with you, never with you." Philicia came up behind Thorin and wrapped her arms around his waist laying her head against his back she said" If we would have made love last night I still wouldn't be sorry." Thorin closed his eyes before he answered her. " Do not think for a moment I did not want you. It took every bit of self control I had not to claim you then and there." "I know that." she said. Philicia turned him around and let her hand caress his cheek. " You are so amazing ," She wispered. "Philicia. " Thorin pulled her against him as his lips came down over hers in a kiss that was so evidently tender it brought tears to her eyes. Thorin kissed the line of moisture and enfolding her in his arms held her close. " I didn't dare ever dream what a kiss from you would be like." She breathed buring her face in his long black hair."I hope I did not frighten you ,I would never hurt you Philicia" Thorin held her closer " I know that" she said letting her hand play with Thorins hair. Let us go we must be there by tomorrow." Oakenshield started getting things together while Philicia put out the fire in the hearth. She took the sheets from the bed and rolled them up and stuffed them in her bag. The pillows had to be left at Philicas disapointment tho. So after a while they were on their way "It looks like rain again"she said pointing to the darkening sky. "We must hurry " he said . But before they could find shelter the sky let loose and the rain came down soaking them both in minutes. "Here "he said throwing his leather cloak over her but alas it was to big and kept falling off. By the time they had found a kindky old farmer and his wife who were willing to part with two ponies Thorin and Philicia were drenched. The old hobbit couple invited them in for hot tea and pastries. Thorin inquired about Bag End and Philicia sat by the fire trying to ward off shivers. She had changed into dry clothes but was still cold .They thanked the couple and packed the supplies on the one pony and while Thorin took care of the price negoations Philicia accepted some hot stew from the kindly hobbit lady."Thank you we will not let this go to waste." and with that Thorin climbed in the saddle and pulled Philicia up and seated her in front of him"Have you ever ridden before? "He asked urging the small horse into a canter. 'Once when I was little", she said through chattering teeth. So they rode the rest of the afternoon in the pouring rain Thorin trying to keep his cloak around them both so they would stay dry." After a while Philicia fell asleep her head resting on Thorins chest. He rode till weariness set in and thats when he shook Philicia trying to wake when he touched her arm thats when Thorin noticed something was very wrong for she wouldn't wake up."Philicia Philicia, PHILICIA" he hollered but she wouldn't respond ." OH no,no" Thorin knew her fever was high and he had nothing with him to help bring it down. So he did the only thing he could dampend a cloth with cool water and after slipping it behind her neck Thorin kicked the pony hard in the side rode through the night a at a hard gallup. Philicia had develped a bad hacking cough during the night and Thorin had to stop several times to check on her. He managed to get her to drink a little water pefore she slipped back unconcious again. Oakenshield had faced orks, a fire breathing dragon and the unknown wilderness but nothing prepared him for the fear of the thought of Philicia never waking up again. Towards morning The rolling green hills of The Shire came into view Thorin knew they were getting close and he prayed she would make it there. Oin And Gloin would have the things to help falling off the pony Thorin deceided to rest for a bit. He lifted Philicia off and gently laid her out on the soft grass under the shade of a tree, "Oh" she moaned as Thorin lifted her . He laid Philicias head in his lap and when next he woke it was nearly sunset. Thorin put her on the horse and climbed in behind her ."Ha" Thorin hollered kicking the pony in the side hard. And what a sight it was a dwarf storming down The Great East Road with a girl in his arms with hair the color of goldenfire. .