Chapter Eleven
Bernadette returned to the company, her face beet red. "Why are you blushing, Bernadette?" asked Kili. "Its none of your business!" snapped Bernadette, hotly. "Back off the claws there, Miss Boggins, I was only asking a simple question." said Kili. "What's gotten into your sister, Bilbo?" asked Fili. "I don't know." said Bilbo with a shrug. "Maybe I can talk to her." said Balin. Balin walked over and sat down next to Bernadette. "What's wrong, Miss Baggins?" asked Balin. "I just an awkward moment, that's all." said Bernadette. "Oh! OH! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry." said Balin, realizing that she was speaking of her and Thorin.
Shortly, Thorin returned while the others went for their baths. "Bernadette? What happened just a minute ago?" asked the dwarf, sitting next to her. Bernadette remained silent. "Oh? Did I make you feel uncomfortable? If I did, I'm really sorry." said Thorin gently, wrapping his arm around Bernadette. "Yes." Bernadette replied. "Bernadette, I'm sorry-it didn't mean to happen like that. I came close of wanting to, you know-but I stopped, because I see in your eyes of discomfort." said Thorin. "That's okay." smiled Bernadette, resting her head on Thorin's chest.
"You know I love you, Bernadette. I would never do anything to hurt you. You know that, don't you?" said Thorin, caressing his fingers through her hair. "I know, Thorin!" said Bernadette, and she kissed Thorin on the lips. Thorin smiled, and as he continued to hold Bernadette in his arms, and he begin to hum a soft tune. Bernadette's eyes slowly closed, falling to sleep at the sound of Thorin's deep baritone voice rumbling in her ears. The next morning, they continued their journey, making their way to Beorn's home. As they arrived on the skin changer's property, they see large bee hives and bees.
"Bilbo, take a look at those bees! I haven't see bees like that before!" exclaimed Bernadette. "I don't want to get stung by one either." said Bilbo. "Just think of all the honey you can get from those bees." smiled Bombur. Bernadette laughed. "A life time supply!" said Bilbo, grinning. By the time they reached Beorn's front gate, they stopped. Gandalf advised them to go in pairs when they introduce themselves to Beorn. "Bernadette, Bilbo, and Thorin, you will come with me first." said Gandalf. Thorin, Bernadette and Bilbo nodded, as they followed Gandalf to Beorn's large front door.
Gandalf took his staff and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" they could hear a gruff voice snarl behind the door. "Your old friend, Gandalf! And some friends!" Gandalf called out. The door opened, and there stood a tall man looking at them. His hair was dark, and wild looking, and a small beard. "Gandalf! I haven't seen you in a while! Do come in! And your companions as well." said Beorn, allowing Gandalf, the two hobbits and dwarf entering the room. Beorn gazed at Thorin darkly. "You know I'm not too fond of dwarves, Gandalf. They are greedy and selfish." said Beorn. "We are being hunted by Orcs, led by Azog, Beorn, but if you allow us to join you for supper, we'll talk more of this!" said Gandalf.
Beorn smiled. "Of course." said Beorn. Gandalf first introduces Thorin, Bilbo and Bernadette to Beorn. "Hobbits! I never seen Hobbits before!" said Beorn, taking notice of Bilbo and Bernadette' feet, and laughed. "You never heard of us? We live a quiet life in the Shire. I must preferably to live like that, but Gandalf convinced me into joining.." Bilbo began, but Bernadette nudged Bilbo. "What?" said Bilbo. "Let Gandalf tell Beorn." said Bernadette. Thorin nodded at Bernadette's move in agreement.
Thorin, Gandalf, Bilbo and Bernadette sat down at the large dining room table.
Later, the others joined them, introducing themselves as they came in. Beorn felt quite amused of how the dwarves introduced themselves, After that, the other dwarves seated at the large table, and Gandalf continuing his tale while they ate. A look of concern appeared on Beorn's features. "I will do whatever I can to help ward off the orcs for you, because they too, are my worst enemy. My wife, son and I are the only survivors of my people, since the orcs took out many of my folk." said Beorn sadly. "I'm so sorry to hear that, Beorn." spoke up Bernadette. Beorn nodded.
Suddenly, the topic changed, and Beorn began telling funny stories of his life, and of the animals, making the entire company laugh. Bernadette realized that Beorn wasn't as scary, after her first impression of him, when she first met him at the front door. Later, Beorn had to take leave, to watch over his land. Gandalf warned the others to stay indoors, and not to step out of the home during the night. After they all agreed, they gathered in Beorn's Great Hall, sitting around a fire pit on the floor. Bilbo felt tired, and he retired to his guest room that assigned to him.
Meanwhile, Bernadette sat next to Thorin.
As for Thorin, he felt in the mood to sing, and he found a lute sitting in a corner of the room, and he reached for it, as he sat cross legged on the floor next to Bernadette. He placed the lute on his lap, and he began strumming it gently, as he started to sing, shortly followed by the other dwarves:
The wind was on the withered heath
But in the forest stirred no leaf
There shadows lay, by night and day
And dark things silent crept beneath
The wind came down from mountains cold
And like a tide it roared and rolled
The branches groaned, the forest moaned
And leaves were laid upon the mould.
When Thorin strummed a final chord on the lute, the song ended. Bernadette sighed, as she looked up at Thorin and smiled. She always loved it when Thorin sang.
It made him look very handsome and regal. And her heart raced. It didn't take long for Thorin to take notice of Bernadette looking at him. "I think Uncle's singing, is causing Miss Baggins to feel love struck!" joked Kili, laughing. "I noticed that. Actually she had done that before, hearing us sing the first time. Why can't she like us? We're good singers too!" said Fili. Bernadette couldn't help from laugh at Fili and Kili's remarks. "Someday you two, I will become your aunt!" shot back the hobbit woman. Thorin grinned, just at the thought of Bernadette wanting to become his wife, made him smile.
"When will we call your Aunt Bernadette?" asked Kili. "Whenever your Uncle asks me to marry him!" replied Bernadette. Thorin chuckled, wrapping his arm around Bernadette, pulling her close to him. "I love you!" purred Thorin, kissing her neck gently. "Not out here, silly! We're in front of your family and friends." whispered Bernadette. "Maybe its time for us to retire to our room?" said Thorin standing up. "If you say so!" smiled Bernadette, standing up and she followed Thorin into their room. "I just hope they're not going to do what I think they're going to do." said Kili.
"What are they going to do?" asked Bofur.
"Roll in the frikken hay, you idiot!" Dwalin. "Oh!" said Bofur, and the dwarf blushed. Meanwhile, Thorin and Bernadette entered their room, while Thorin closed the door behind them. Bernadette had just climbed into bed, covering up with the blanket, when Thorin looked at her. "Wait!" whispered Thorin. Bernadette sat up. Thorin smiled, as he undressed, and he climbed into bed with Bernadette, taking her into his arms. "You're not afraid anymore, are you not?" purred Thorin, as he held her. "No." whispered Bernadette. Thorin smiled, leaning towards her, planting a kiss on her lips, passionately.
Suddenly, his hand reached for the laces of her nightgown, untying them, then removing the night gown from her. Afterwards he continuing kissing her, moving down to her breasts, as he started kissing on her left breast, gently on the nipple. Bernadette moaned softly. And they continued on during the night with the love making, silently, so others wouldn't hear them. Beorn was about to enter the house, when while outside, he just so happened to be near the room where Thorin and Bernadette are staying in, and he could hear heavy breathing and moaning.
Beorn took a peek into the window of the room, out of curiosity.
And he quickly looked away, chuckling softly. "Dwarves! Hobbits! Strange company you have Gandalf!" said Beorn aloud to himself, as he went back inside his home. The next morning, Bernadette woke up, feeling very cheerful. As she approached the dining room table, she hummed loudly. Everyone looked at her, as she continued to hum merrily. Bilbo took notice. He hadn't hear his sister hum loudly to herself in a long time. "You're in a good mood this morning, Bernadette." said Bilbo. "Isn't it a lovely morning, Bilbo? I just want to go out in Beorn's yard and frolic in the flowers!" chirped Bernadette.
Fili and Kili burst into roaring laughter. "What's so funny?" asked Bernadette, turning to the young dwarves. "Frolicking in the flowers? Something really good happened between you and our Uncle last night, didn't it?' teased Kili. "How did you know that? You weren't watchingi were you?" snapped Bernadette. "No, we weren't watching, Miss Baggins! You're displaying the after glow!" grinned Fili. "After glow? What after glow? I just had a very good rest that's all!" shot back Bernadette. "Okay, you two! What have I told you about teasing Miss Baggins?" demanded a deep voice behind them.
They turned, and there stood Thorin looking at them. Fili and Kili quickly stood up.
"Our apologies, Uncle! We didn't mean any by it! We was only kidding around!" said Kili. Thorin nodded gracefully as he accepted their apology, much to Kili's surprise. He noticed a sudden change in Thorin. Normally he would give them a long lecture about taunting a company member. Especially if it was one of the hobbits. Fili and Kili looked at each other, but decided not to say anything. "Good morning, love!" smiled Thorin, kissing Bernadette on the cheek, and gave her a playful slap in the behind. Bernadette jumped. "Thorin! Not in front of your nephews! You're showing a very poor example to them, you know!" said Bernadette.
Thorin laughed. "They'll have to learn someday." returned Thorin. "Kili, and I think you and I need to go and train." said Fili. "No, we're having breakfast, stay right where you are." said Thorin. "If the two of you would stop talking like that then." grinned Kili. "Fine, we will." said Thorin, rolling his eyes.