I'm back!

Sorry this took so long :(

Anyways...

Blood White Rose: Thank you, I never wanted to torture her... not like that anyways.

creepyLOTRfangirl55: Yeppers

Vault108: hmmm... Well, I don't see why not...

EvilPurpleCookiePenkeyMonguin: Yes, he is... And yes... there were a lot, sorry 'bout that :( I like that name :)

UKReader: I wouldn't feel comfortable writing it to begin with, and I would never put that onto my readers. Sorry about Chaps 5 and 6, I tried to keep it as toned down as I could without leaving you guys to jump to too many conclusions.

Sombra- The Resurrection: Thanks

Sidney, (because I know you'll read this) to answer somethings about what you said:

Dwarrow - Tolkien's name that he wanted for the dwarves

Where did what come from?

(now think about the musical here) How about, love? Did I mention love? That's why he is acting this way.

I laughed at your "HAHAHAHAHA!" written across the page, it woke my mom up, lol.

He growls okay? No, do not relate him to a werewolf..

Chapter 7: Umkhûh

It had become harder to read the tracks in the dark. If it wasn't for the light of the moon and a keener eye sight of the dwarves Thorin would have lost the path long ago. The grassland stretched on and on. The path he was on was straight, it never curved or turned, just continued on ahead.

Rats, rabbits and mice all scurried away from the two, fearing to be trampled on by one of the four hooves trotting through the gold meadow. Deer on the far edge leaped into the tree line far out on the left. There were at least four of them.

He had hoped to have come across something by now. Between the game trails and the hoof prints of the men's horses, the paths Thorin was following had started to fade out from the use of the common ground. Thorin slowed his pony down to a slow walk so he could study the tracks carefully.

A low growl broke through the regular sounds of the night. Thorin's pony froze and brought its ears back, whinnying in protest. The growl came again and the mare moved back. Thorin looked around looking for the source of the sound trying to urge the mare on.

A large black animal rose from the grass standing crouched in front of something laying on the ground. Jowls and flews curled away revealing white teeth to the dwarf lord. With a rather harsh kick the pony moved forward. The dog stayed facing him, the move revealing what it protected.

The body lay face down in the dirt. Though the woman's face was hidden, the messy braids that were held in her hair and the torn remains of a nightdress, gave the identity away.

Thorin was off of the pony in a second's notice. If the large animal wasn't comfortable with her rider on, it was very much so without. His mind not on the pony though; or even the snarling dog he was approaching.

The dwarf, as he got closer, went to bend down, only to be snapped at by the beast. After doing so it stood over her body, growling with its hackles raised.

"Stupid mutt, I'm trying to help."

He reached again, going to brush the hair away from the face. Teeth clamped onto the area of his forearm. Thorin's first reaction was to lash out and attack the hound, but when it didn't try to do anything but hold his arm away he thought otherwise.

"She is my friend, I won't hurt her."

Dog eyed him.

Thorin sighed. His patients was wavering, his first and only priority had been to get Ahvain somewhere safe, not to bargain with some dog nearly his own height. He didn't know where it came from but with the dog attached to his arm (which now had blood running down it from the dog's teeth) he picked up the half elven woman. The moment he did she groaned and feebly made movements to push him away.

"It's me Ahvain."

"Thorin?" Her voice was almost too weak to catch.

"Yes," He couldn't help the smile that hinted across his face. "I'm here."

She slowly brought her lips up, the smile but a ghost on her face, before she went limp for a moment. Thorin panicked, fearing an unknown wound had taken what little life she appeared to hold.

Whatever held the broken pieces of Ahvain's spirit together crumbled and tears came before she knew they fell. Thorin held her in an embrace, kneeling to keep himself balanced as the female shifted to hide her beaten face as the tears cleaned away the dirt that had collected there.

The dog had released the dwarf's arm and had gone to lick her face from the back of the dwarf.

"Donta dos," One hand reached out to give the dog what she could manage for a petting. Her voice was still weak, tear filled and shaky.

Thorin held her in his arms, letting her let everything out. He pulled her away from him, using the pads of his thumbs to wipe away the salty water that ran down her cheek, careful not to irritate any of the scratches or bruises that marred it.

She sniffled before meeting his sapphire eyes with her emerald. "Now that I've found you, let's get you home."

"Please?"

He brought his lips to her forehead, she tensed at his touch and he regretted the selfish act, but at the same time had not. Relief had caused him to do so and she could not blame him for that. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"I-uh…" She turned away from him.

"Don't, I should have known better."

But he was, and could be, angry at himself for allowing her to get taken; allowing her to get hurt; and for putting himself before her. Aside that he picked her put and carried her to his pony.

The mare eyed the dog, though it hadn't made a noise in awhile, it was still antsy about its presence. It nudged Thorin once he got close enough. He wasn't sure how he was going to get both himself and the weak girl in his arms up into the saddle. Her eyes were droopy, barely able to stay open.

"I might be able to stand for a moment if you hurry…" She seemed to read his mind.

"Are you sure? I would hate to see you fall."

A small huff sounded from her bloodied nose. "Just hurry up."

He set her down next to the pony, her hand held tightly to the saddle, knuckles white from her grasp. He mounted, taking a few seconds to reposition himself on the seat to give Ahvain space. No a moment to spare he grabbed Ahvain by the shoulder to steady her as she swayed, nearly dropping that moment. He pulled her up, setting her in front of him, her back slouched and head falling forward.

Thorin turned his pony back in the opposite direction and started homebound. The wolfhound followed at a quick trot alongside the smaller equine. The journey home didn't seem to take as long returning as it had when he left in search on the half-elf slumped against his chest.

Pepper's ears perked slightly at his arrival and stood straight when she saw her lady. A light that had been missing returned to her eyes. He slid off from his seat Ahvain in his arms. The black mare pulled at her rope. Thorin smiled at the act and walked close to the desperate mare.

"I told you I would bring her back." A nose with white spots prodded the limp body in his arms. "Easy, she is hurt and needs her rest. You can see her when she is healed."

She snorted. "Now, eat, silly pony."

With that Thorin carried Ahvain into her house and put her down on her bed, pulling the covers high over her.

"Âkminrûk zu, Thorin." Her voice whispered from the dark, the language made him smile.

"Ambâr Ahvain." He saw a miniscule smile cross her lips as he turned away and closed the door behind him.

Once the door was shut he fell back to rest against the frame. She was home, and she wasn't going to be leaving it anymore, without permission.

"Where do these thoughts come from?" The way they had been spoken made it seem s though he had owned the girl. As if he had a claim over her. Thorin pushed off the door and sat himself down in the kitchen; tonight he would watch and make sure they didn't come for her. His thoughts he could leave to battle themselves out in his mind to pass the time.

~karak~

Ahvain awoke sore and stiff. Had last night been a dream? She didn't want to open her eyes and find out. But she would have to find out sooner or later. Seeing as one eye was purpled with a bruise she only opened one, contorting the cheek muscles on the other side to will it to open. She was greeted with a painful, blinding light shining into her sensitive eye. With some difficulty she hauled herself into sitting state and shielded the light with a hand. From what she could tell it looked as if she was in her room, back at home, which would mean that last night was no dream.

A scratching came from her door. Panic pressed into her thoughts. The noise came again only this time an airy whine accompanied it. "The dog!"

With much of her body protesting the movement, she got upright. Bones popped and ached, wanting to stay at their rest position. She had other ideas. The dog was still at the door, hearing the women inside awake, he started barking; deep woofs that sent small, miniscule vibrations through the wood.

A voice from outside the door brought a smile to her face (and confirmed without a doubt that this was no dream she'd awoken to).

"Shh, let her sleep." Thorin's deep voice whispered.

The dog whined.

"She needs rest."

Silence…

The first steps sent a sensation of burning needles stabbing into the bottoms of her feet. Each step felt the same, one after another. Pain, burning and then a hammering throb that started when pressure left a foot only to be replaced by the other.

Ahvain paused at her door, not knowing if she should open it or not.

Another whine came from the dog.

Her hand rested her hand on the knob… She couldn't face Thorin now (if ever), whatever chance, whatever courage she had to make her feelings known had left with her innocence. No man, dwarf, or even elf for that matter, would want such an unclean woman. And that's what she was, dirt.

One pain-filled step after another led her to her bed. A fire burn behind her eyes as she held in the tears. If he heard her he'd come and check on her and she didn't want that. She had to make several attempts to calm her breathing. Eventually sleep once again claimed her.

She didn't wake until footsteps could be heard entering the room. Fear squeezed her heart and her breath caught in her throat. Step, step, step, step,step, they got closer and closer until they were next to her bed. Ahvain was scared to look up and see so she hid her face in the covers of the bed.

Something was placed on the side table and soon after the most heavenly scent drifted and she found herself relaxing, only if slightly. Laying there she could feel her stomach tightening ready to betray her to the person in the room… well, she knew it was Thorin.

He stood near her, watching her. She had moved from where he had laid her down last night, from where she was this morning when he'd checked on her. He sighed and turned to leave. She either was still resting or (and he tried not to think about this option) avoiding him.

Once he as outside her room the dog sat up from where he sat guarding her door. Thorin held the door open for him. "Do not wake her."

The wolfhound leapt from his seat on the ground and trotted into the woman's room, ignoring the glare that the dwarf king directed him. Thorin watched the gray beast stop at the bed and lay down as gracefully as the large hound could. Sighing again he closed the door-left it cracked incase the dog wanted out-and headed into the dining area to clean up after the meal he'd made.

When she knew for sure that dwarf had left, she turned over to look down at the dog on the floor near her bed. From here she could see the deep bowl of (what she assumed to be) soup. Steam wafted up from the broth and sent the smell of the stock into the air, making her taste buds water and her stomach clench in reminder that it wanted food.

A large furry head lifted itself into her line of sight. Brown eyes looked at her in a smiling way. It brought one to her face, even if it didn't reach her eyes. Ahvain sat up and patted the dog's head before picking up the bowl of soup and starting to eat it, blowing on the spoon to cool down the contents.

~karak~

Thorin sat at the table with his head in his hands. With all that happened, and what he had assumed had happened, he didn't know how to handle the situation. When she was taken, his mind had focused on getting her back. Now that she was, all he could think about were romantic gestures to take with her, things of courtship. Thorin knew that this was not what she needed now. Ahvain needed to be taken care of, healed, before he could make anything know to her.

Sadly, the only thoughts to come to his mind were that of taking her in his arms, kissing her until her breath became labored, claiming her as his. There were the lesser thoughts too. Brushing her hair, braiding it, adding his own clasp to the collection she already had. These thoughts invaded his mind, taking over ones that should have been going to the woman's wellness.

It worried him, in the slightest, that her elven heritage no longer meant anything to him, it was so easily overlooked. No longer did he have to remind himself that she was also of dwarven descent. She was simply a woman, a woman who his heart had been entranced by. He could not see anything being done without her next to him. With no doubt his heart had chose her to remain by his side. The only thing he didn't call into consideration was….

"What if your feelings are not returned?"

The voice inside his head seemed to always be against him, or pushing him to do something stupid.

"She's laying in that bed, covered in Mahal knows how many bruises because of you."

"You allowed her to be taken, allowed those men to hurt her," The voice paused before speaking slowly in a dark tone, "Allowed them to defile her…"

Thorin stood quickly, clenching both his jaw and his fist. The internal torture from his self conscious was, well, torturing him. More thoughts plagued him before he swiftly walked down the hall to her room where he listened from the door for any noises. He was surprised at what he heard.

~karak~

Ahvain had finished the soup; it was good by dwarven standards. After putting the bowl back on the table, she flattened herself on her stomach, resting her head on one arm and letting the other hang down to the floor to pet thick fur of the hound.

"I do not know why you didn't leave me to your old masters, but I'm glad you are here." He sat up to looked at her with his head cocked. "Yeah, I know, you don't know a word I'm saying, just let me talk. Vi kuinta dos jalheni"

Ahvain took a deep breath and told the dog of her experience in her cell, what she'd done to Ret, hearing her parents' and grandparent's voice on the wind. All the while the dog sat there watching her, allowing her to speak, allowing her to pet him. She stopped suddenly and looked away.

"You know, I told myself, I promised myself that I would get out of that hell hole and that I would tell Thorin that…" She stopped not sure if she could say the words out loud.

"I think that I have feelings for him. I kept telling myself that I could escape come here and just put myself in his arms, but, now, I don't… I don't deserve him, he… I'm not worthy of having anyone care for me. I'm dirty, and he… he can do better than me. I'm not good for anybody."

The wolfhound moved closer and licked her face. He might not have understood her, but the aura that came from her was enough to inform him that she was hurting.

"I will go back to being alone and I will accept that I will live alone for however long I live."

Her breathing was shaky now, unsteady. Tears built up and dared to fall. But she wiped them away before they could do so.

"I'm so weak now. I can't even… who would want somebody like me? Somebody weak, somebody so dirty, I don't-"

Her words were cut off as her door swung open with a low moan. In the doorway stood Thorin, one hand still on the door holding it open, the other hung limply at his side. His eyes were squinted in either pity or concern, she didn't know which.

He stepped into the room with slow, short strides. "How could you say that about yourself?"

Blue eyes bore into hers, never leaving, never blinking. His expression was sorrowful, crestfallen, and if she wasn't imagining it, a type of deep distress and betrayal.

Ahvain could only watch him approach. Every muscle in her body tightened. He stopped adjacent to the bed and kneeled down, below her level. Whatever emotion controlling her body allowed a wave of tears to start trailing down her cheeks. Slowly he brought his hands up to cup the sides of her face, aware of the injuries and of how she had tensed at his touch.

"Don't cry Ahvain," The rough pads of his thumbs brushed away what he could of her tears. "I won't hurt you. Nath ubùrushzu ma."

His eyes pleaded with hers.

"You are not weak. Nor are you unclean. You are a strong woman, a kind woman who has given up her home to a stranger. It is that stranger that is undeserving of you. He thinks that he isn't good enough for her either."

"Th-or-in?" Her voice wouldn't let her speak without catching.

"Listen to me. I…" Thorin inhaled, allowing his lungs to fill to their capacity before slowly releasing the air out his nose. "I want you to know tha-"

Knock ,knock, knock. Three of them pounded from the front door. Thorin sighed and stood up, letting his hands linger on her face as she watched him rise.

"Stay, I'll see who it is."

Any guesses on who it will be?

So, I get a week off in after this week. I will return home on Tuesday so maybe Chap. 8 will be up that weekend... Sidney might push me to have one done sooner so we will see.

Almost forgot translations!

Âkminrûk zu - Thank you... Khuzdul

Ambâr - Sleep... Khuzdul

Vi kuinta dos jalheni - I talk you listen... Weird elvish

Nath ubùrushzu ma - (literally) give pain(you) not... If you want to know why... put your question in a reveiw

(I think that's it)