A/N: My lovely dearreader, the previous chapter was already written (no carpal tunnel can stop me, there is always voice input :D) so I pulled some ideas for this one from your review :)

Also Wynni had already dropped her smut bomb on me, so I needed a build-up towards it :)

That time when Wren saw the mountain as the opportunity of a lifetime for a thief, while Thorin became convinced that two burglars are better than one.

Four hours passed, and there was no sign of the thief. He stood at the ledge, watching the dark landscape in front of him, trying not to listen to the quiet conversation the Dwarves led behind him. Except for Balin and surprisingly Dwalin, the members of his company were starting to grumble. The Hobbit was sitting to the side, on a boulder, and in Thorin's opinion looked relieved that he wasn't the one sent inside.

Thorin didn't like the thoughts that were whirring in his mind. He started by questioning the sanity of his decision, he rarely doubted himself at all, and such state was distressing. She was a thief, she'd loot him. She even stated she was here at least partially for the gold, and yet, he sent her to the treasury of his ancestors. And then he started thinking that perhaps the woman he couldn't stop thinking about was about to be eaten alive by Smaug. He wouldn't be able to say even in his mind more than just that about her, but the prospect of her finding her demise there suddenly became glaringly evident to him, and he felt terrified.

"She'll be fine," he suddenly heard Dwalin's quiet voice, and shaking off his stupour he looked at the warrior in surprise, "She is a tough lass. And a fine crook. She'll be back." Thorin noted that Dwalin worried whether she'd be safe, but didn't doubt her loyalty. Thorn wished he could say the same about himself.

"We should send the Hobbit after her," he suddenly heard Gloin's grumbly voice, and he realised the Dwarves were arguing quite loudly by then.

"She needs time! We wouldn't want to waken the dragon!" Dori disagreed.

"She must have bolted by now," Nori's voice was derisive, and Throin felt a prick of irritation. It takes a thief to see one. He turned to the company, and they grew silent. Sending her was his decision, no one would oppose it openly.

"I'll go," the hobbit suddenly rose at his feet and stepped, puffing his chest. "One way or another she is not back, and perhaps she needs… assistance. I will go." The Dwarves exchanged looks, different emotions dancing in their eyes, and then they all looked at Thorin waiting for his decision. He reminded himself that the quest was above all and nodded.

The hobbit left, fisting and unfisting his hands nervously, and Balin followed him to give him a pep talk. Dwalin stepped to Thorin.

"The halfling will meddle. She knows what she is doing." Thorin couldn't help it anymore, he needed to understand what the always so mistrustful warrior saw in a small thief from Men.

"Why are you on her side?" Dwalin folded his arms on his chest and gave Thorin a pensive look.

"You chose her." Thorin looked at him in confusion, and then a small smile tugged at his lips. He did indeed. She was his. He fought the desire, he tried to forget her, to talk himself out of it endless amounts of times, but even though he might not have her to himself, he indeed chose her.

"I honestly thought it would be bigger. But again that does happen a lot," the thief's voice was teasing, and Ori yelped at the background.

Thorin twirled at his spot. She was standing in the door, a bag in one hand, the Arkenstone in another, an arrogant smile playing on her lips.

He guffawed in disbelief and heard Dwalin's low chuckle. The Dwarves jumped up and started talking at the same time, but her eyes were only on him. And then she looked around and frowned. She noticed that the hobbit was gone.

"Don't tell me you sent him after me," she shook her head in disbelief, her lips pressed in a stern enraged line, "You do realise there is a bloody dragon down there, right? It was sleeping but I doubt it'll last. Master Baggins is hardly subtle." The Dwarves exchanged alarmed murmurs.

Thorin's eyes fell on the Arkenstone in her hand, and he stepped towards her.

"Give me the stone, Wren." He saw her clench her jaw, and she narrowed her eyes, her anger rising.

"Or what? You are going to beat it out of me? Maiar help me, you are such shukashuk!" Petty coward. She spat out the words and threw the stone to him. "Here is your rock, since it's all you care about." She threw the bag over her shoulder and stomped towards the stairs.

The Arkenstone lay heavily in his palm.

"Where are you going?" He called after her, his eyes still on the white gem on his palm, she didn't answer, and he looked up. She was by the stairs already. "Wren?" She gave him an enraged look over her shoulder.

"I did my job, I got you your heirloom, I'm considering this bag my fair payment." She started going down the stairs, and he stood frozen. He insulted her. He doubted her even after he had allowed her into Erebor, after openly accepting her help. She had every right to be furious.

"Go after her, laddie," he heard Balin's quiet voice, meant only for his ears, and he met the old man's clever eyes. "We will try to find the halfling, and you go after the woman." Thorin was ready to follow the advice, when Balin caught his sleeve and added, "And be careful. An offended woman is much more fatal than a dragon."

She was going fast but he sped up and caught up with her. He grabbed her sleeve, and she hissed.

"Anything else I can help you with, Mister Oakenshield?" Even in the darkness of the night he saw her eyes burn, her lips twisted in a venomous smirk. "Oh should I say, my King?" She gave him a mocking bow, "Now that you have your rock, you are the King Under the Mountain."

"Wren..." She jerked the sleeve from his hand.

"What? Are you going to apologise again? You do that a lot, treat me like dirt, then show me some warmth and respect, then insult me again, then apologise. You know what your fault is?" She pointed her small finger at his nose, "You are afraid. Afraid of your own desires, of your feelings. And believe me, I understand it better than anybody. Maiar be my witnesses, I have been scared of you from the start, I knew I could fall for you. But I came now, and I helped you." She took a deep breath in collecting herself. "I told you I don't need anything from you. I got my payment," she repeated firmly and turned to leave.

"You wanted one night..." He spoke slowly, his voice raspy.

"I changed my mind," she squared her shoulders. "You are a coward, Thorin Oakenshield. If you chose to trust me, you were supposed to be on my side till the end. You endangered us all because you thought you allowed me in your mountain because of your mawkishness. Your heart frightens you, and you make wrong decisions." She turned away from him, but just like the night before he couldn't leave, she didn't move either. They stood in silence, and then he spoke in a low voice.

"Of course I'm afraid. Naihriri, Wren." We belong with each other. "And nothing will come out of it. Does it not frighten you?"

Her shoulders twitched, and then he heard a joyless chuckle. "Enough to make me drink all that wine." He stepped closer and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Wren..." He didn't know what to say, but she turned around and smiled to him sadly. Nothing needed saying, and he gently put his hand on the other shoulder. She winced, and he remembered the bruises. He wanted to jerk his hands away, but she stepped closer and presses her temple to his. She was only an inch shorter, and he felt her body pressed flush to his. The bag dropped from her hand on the ground, with a metal clank, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'm scared..." She whispered into his ear, and he tenderly embraced her.

"Of what?"

"That this night won't be enough." He moved away and looked into her eyes.

"This night?" She didn't answer, and his brows jumped up in surprise. "Now?"

"I am taking herbs, there is a dragon in this mountain, a clumsy hobbit went in, and we have to stay here and wait because we can't abandon him. I would say it's about time." He chuckled and gently brushed a curl off her face.

"Just killing time then?" He jested, and she pressed firmer to him.

"One night, Thorin Oakenshield, one night, and I'm leaving." Her eyes were serious, lips slightly opened, and he nodded. He cupped her jaw, his fingers under her ear, their tips buried in her hair, and she pressed her face into his palm like a cat. He brushed his thumb to the corner of her lips. He lowered his face, she met him halfway, and their lips joined. The familiar intoxicating daze filled his head. She was magic.

After a few minutes it became clear that if they didn't find a safe, private spot, he'd take her right on these stairs, and they would probably fall to their demise off it into the abyss. He tore his mouth from hers and pulled her after him.

"What?... Where?..." She was raspy and looked completely disoriented, he pulled harder, she stumbled. He rushed by his companions, dragging her behind him, catching the Dwarves' astonished eyes for a second. They dashed into the passage through the secret door, he passed two turns and pushed her in the nearest nook, assuming such distance from others would suffice. He opened his mouth to ask her if she was certain, when she jumped at him, her mouth greedy, her hands roaming his torso, pulling at clothes, and he growled. A faint memory of all the times he had been disappointed in such situations stirred in his mind, when she jerked his belt off and started peppering his face with kisses, her hands then jumping to his ears.

"Don't… Don't doubt me now… Not now… Not in this..." She punctuated each phrase with a kiss, like a little promise stamped on his skin, her mouth hot and skilled, and he grabbed her around her middle and pulled her into him, his hands grabbing her buttocks, hair and waist. His mouth covered the frantically beating pulse on her throat, and then he grabbed her collar and jerked it to the sides. The little buttons scattered, and suddenly she started laughing.

"Oh that's what happened… I couldn't remember..." She cupped her face and made him look into her eyes. "You already tried this on me in Mirkwood."

"You wanted to feel my body on yours," he rasped out, and she inhaled sharply.

She caught his mouth again, and he pushed the doublet off her shoulders.

AND NOW SMUT...

But first a few personal thoughts :)

I brought The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition DVD home, and I'm in heaven. Couple things stood out, and of course I need to share them with you, my lovelies :D

1. Richard and the stuck key, this scene was a FF goldmine! We got a guffaw, clearing of throat, a chuckle, and later in the same scene a loud sharp exhale. All of it is going into the next chapter, my darlings. It's written but I'll up the stakes, I'm affected! :)

2. Richard sinking in the freezing water in the barrel scene. I'm so sorry but all I could think that that is how Thorin looks in his climax *furious blush*

3. They made "real" Dwarven coins for Erebor treasure with five different designs. One of them is probably a raven, but it's so round and fattish that looks a lot like… a wren :D That is so going into a fic :D