Remember

Thorin thundered into the small flat where he'd woken that morning. The whole place was furnished, lived in, as though the whole of reality had moulded a life around him. According to the driving license he'd found in his wallet, his name was Richard Armitage and he was forty years of age. How could this have all happened around him? His soul had somehow been transported here to reside in the life of someone else. Somehow he also 'knew' of modern technology and seemed to instinctively be able to operate a mobile phone and computer. It was as though he'd been here before, only he hadn't.

The frustration was building in Thorin as he tried to work out in his mind how he'd approach Leah. Surely some part of her remembered the kiss they'd shared as he died, or the way she'd desperately tried to help him gain control from the Dragon Sickness. In his time of mental turmoil when he'd temporarily forgotten what he was fighting for, she'd been there, pulling him back from the brink. Now it was him that needed to help her remember; to remember the silent strength that she displayed when faced with danger, and to remember the bond she'd forged with the dwarf king.

Thorin poured himself a glass of whiskey, trying to dull the ache. But the ache would not shift, and that ache was the need to get Leah to remember. It was a miracle that he'd appeared in this world so close to her; she was but a few streets away from him. If the gods really were playing a game, maybe they'd mastered the sport in such a way that gave Thorin the upper hand?

Maybe he should write a letter? No, that would be too formal and just scare her all the more. A phone call? Surely she'd have a land line telephone alongside her mobile.

Thorin grabbed the telephone book from beneath the coffee table and flicked through, looking for her surname, Davenport. There were no L. Davenports. Then it hit him to try the Rs; the phone line would probably be in her sister's name. Then he found it. The address also matched. A relieved smile crossed his face. For tonight he'd wait, and then tomorrow he'd call her.

xxx

Leah lay in bed, unable to sleep. The full moon looked absolutely stunning tonight and larger than usual as it cast a warm glow in through her curtains. It made her think back again to the dying man in her dreams. He'd smiled at her through the pain. And she'd taken his strong hand in hers, then placed a kiss against his lips. The flashing pictures continued on as she drifted to sleep, a tear clinging to her cheek. And without even knowing, she whispered his name to the dark room.

The next morning was overcast, threatening rain. Leah had told Rachel she was going to attempt some washing today and would start with the dark clothes and then move onto lights, but the weather was looking unpredictable. She'd no doubt wind up having to put everything out on the airer in front of the radiator.

Rachel had already left for work at nine. And just as the large clock in the hallway chimed ten, the phone rang. Leah dropped the dirty washing back into the basket and approached the phone, picking it up quickly. "Hello?" she asked.

The line was quiet for a couple of seconds. Then a man spoke, sounding quite unsure of the call. "Leah?"

"Yes, speaking," she replied, frowning at the strange call.

"I need to talk to you," he said again, sounding on edge and a little agitated.

"Who is this?" Leah asked.

The line went quiet again.

"Look, mate. I don't know who you are but I'm ending this call," Leah said sharply.

"Don't," the man said sternly.

"Well tell me who you are then!" Leah demanded.

The man sighed down the phone. "You won't believe me if I tell you."

Leah was becoming extremely nervous at this point. There was something strange about this man's tone and even his voice sounded eerily familiar. But she'd heard thousands of male voices. He could have been absolutely anyone. Then the next words he spoke made her shiver; from head to foot she felt goosebumps rise on her flesh.

"I dreamed of you last night. When we sat by the fire," he said softly.

In sheer panic and self defence, Leah slammed the phone back down into its cradle. Tears streamed down her face. Blood was hammering towards her head, raising her blood pressure and her breathing.

Then the phone rang again. Leah sobbed as she picked it up.

"I need to see you," he said again.

Leah wept into the phone. "P...please, leave me alone."

"Leah, you need to remember," he begged. "We must meet. I will come to you."

Then the phone went dead. Leah threw the phone on the table and dashed out of the room, suddenly dazed and confused. This man obviously knew where she lived and was coming. And he somehow knew about her dreams. The conflict inside her was all-consuming; should she wait and listen to him as her heart was telling her to? Or should she hide away like her rational mind was advising, as this man could be any psychopath?

Just as Leah was about the leave the room, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She looked at the reflection, feeling somehow alien. The reflection seemed to show someone who wasn't quite there; she felt distant from this person. Her long, light brown hair framed a round face. Her pale green eyes seemed darkened and showed signs of brokenness. These were the eyes of someone who had become lost. The more she studied her reflection, the more it changed, becoming someone she most certainly didn't recognise.

When suddenly she heard a knock at the front door. Leah closed her eyes, feeling her heartbeat racing in her throat. How had he got here so quickly? She walked to the door with trepidation, scared of who was the other side of the wood. In the frosted glass she could make out a person's form.

Thorin stood outside her home and braced himself. He'd called her from the mobile phone he'd found in his flat, and then made his way whilst talking. He was anticipating the moment but also fearing it. But surely deep down inside Leah, no matter how locked away, she'd remembered something. He'd heard her sobs on the phone. What he'd said had hit a nerve, and whilst he would never intend to hurt her, he could use this to his advantage to help her fully remember.

The door then opened slowly and he saw her. He couldn't help but stare at her, noticing how drained she looked. Her eyes were no longer the wide, beautiful windows to her kind soul that he'd once known. They now seemed closed, as if the windows had dark curtains pulled across, guarding her.

Leah looked at the man and instantly felt drawn to his eyes, those piercing silver blue eyes. He certainly was handsome, more so than she was expecting.

Thorin sensed a flicker of recognition in her face as she studied him. "May I come in?" he asked. "I won't harm you."

Instantly Leah felt as though she trusted him, and why she couldn't understand. Without rationally thinking on her actions, she let him into her home. She stepped back, watching as he shut the door behind himself and then turned back to face her. He stared at her, and she felt a warmth curl itself inside her as he smiled. The way her body was responding to this man was unlike anything she'd ever felt before.

He moved closer to her and Leah found herself glued, unable to move or speak. Gently he took her hand, lifting it to his face and kissed the back of it.

Before Leah's eyes she saw him transform; his hair was now long, touched with silver streaks, he was shorter in stature and he wore a fur and leather coat. But one thing still remained the same – his eyes. Then suddenly darkness temporarily took her.

Thorin moved as quickly as he could, grabbing her unconscious body and lifting her in his arms. He took her into the living room, not paying any attention to his surroundings whatsoever. All that mattered was her. He sat down on the sofa, keeping her head on his chest. It reminded him so much of the night by the fire. The night when she'd opened up to him, told him stories of her home and had fallen asleep on him. The woman who lay on him now was closed off, guarded and broken. Was this all through his death?

Leah began to rouse, mumbling under her breath. She smiled and whispered his name again, her unconscious mind taking over.

Thorin smiled and kissed her head. "My love," he said softly.

But Leah suddenly came to, realising where she was. She'd heard his words and quickly jumped out of his arms. "What did you just say?" she asked, knowing exactly what he'd said, but feeling herself becoming so incredibly aroused by his words, but also terrified. Her body was reacting uncontrollably.

His eyes were smouldering with lust as he looked at her, unable to unlock his gaze. Without a word between them, they both shot into a highly passionate kiss. Leah rose up on her knees and straddled him on the sofa, listening to him groan. Her instincts and urges had tumbled down to their most primitive level, and she knew ultimately that somewhere inside her soul, she loved this man. Even if she couldn't remember who he was, not even his name, she loved him.

They continued kissing, almost fighting in their need for each other. Until Leah stopped and looked in his eyes, brushing her hand down his face. "I...dreamed of you. But I don't know who you are."

Thorin smiled. "You must do somewhere because you said my name as you regained consciousness. The memories are there, Leah. We just have to find a way to unlock them. I will do everything in my power to see you as the woman you were when we last met."

"Was that when you died?" Leah asked, closing her eyes and placing her head on his shoulder. "Those are the only two things I remember about you; when we sat by the fire and when you died."

"We only have two days now in order to go back," Thorin told her.

"Back where? The place where you died?" Leah asked. "I can't just leave my home."

Thorin sighed. "There is so much of you that you've locked away with your memories. When I last saw you, you promised you wouldn't leave when I was affected by the Dragon Sickness. You told me you'd do anything to help me, and I'm going to offer the same to you. You have to trust me."

"Dragon Sickness?" Leah scoffed. "This is all going too far. Dragons aren't even real."

Leah jumped up from the sofa and watched as Thorin's face became mixed with anger and grief. "After everything that we endured together, I can't even believe I'm hearing you say that to me!" His voice now had trails of disgust in it. "What has happened to you?!"

"Maybe it's not me you're looking for," Leah shot back, crossing her arms.

Thorin smiled. "It's definitely you. But the strength inside you has recoiled back, and I know it's because you're scared. You were tossed into another world, saw death and destruction and then had to come back here, with all those memories gone. It is only right it would change anyone, but Leah, I know you."

"You don't know me," Leah growled. "You claim to know me."

"And look at you right now, arguing with a man you've only just met who could quite easily be anyone and head and shoulders taller than you. No matter what height I am, Leah, you can still hold your ground in an argument." At those words, both Thorin and Leah laughed.

"Was I taller than you?" she asked, shocked, still smiling.

"Only slightly," Thorin replied.

Leah unfolded her arms and stood before Thorin, approaching him. She ran her hands up the suit jacket he was wearing, and studied the few chest hair she could see peeping out of his open neck shirt. Then she looked up into his eyes. "I don't know what happened between us before, but I don't think I'm this wonderful person you think I am. I've obviously changed..."

Thorin shushed her and kissed her again. This time Thorin couldn't help but let his lips caress her neck, his beard bristly against her skin. But the more he kissed her neck, the tighter her grip was on his shirt, and the louder her moans came. As all comprehension left her, she found herself whispering his name again. He smiled against her throat, kissing down towards her chest. "Keep saying my name, my love. It'll help you remember."

Leah uttered his name as they shed their clothes. Then again when he entered her body. As they thrust back and forth, she saw flashes of light before her eyes and saw him turn back to his previous form; his long hair was spread across her chest as he kissed her, nipping at her breasts. And in those moments, she remembered exactly who he was. He was Thorin Oakenshield, rightful King of Erebor. And then as they both climaxed together, she called out his name into the air.

As Leah rode out the waves of her climax and then rested back down, she looked at Thorin to see that his long hair had disappeared, and he now looked as he did when he greeted her at the door. "I saw you as you used to look. Just then. But the memories keep disappearing again."

Thorin rested behind Leah and kissed her shoulder gently then took her hand in his. "I'll make sure they return and stay with you."

At least Leah now had a name. She smiled to herself as she said his name again.