When Thorin came home that night, Laurelin saw immediately that he was exhausted. He had spent his day outside, on horseback, travelling with the hunters he tried to hide it behind a mask of dignity and composure, yet Laurelin knew him well and she saw he was in pain. She could only imagine how sore he was, after spending the whole day riding in the sun. So when evening came she prepared a hearty dinner for him, and while he was eating she decided to prepare a bath for him. It would relax his muscles and soothe him, and he desperately needed both. And even if it was spring and the days were warm, she lit a fire in the hearth to make the temperature climb even higher in Thorin's bedroom, where he would bath.
When Thorin was finished with his dinner, he joined Laurelin and she walked out of the bedroom to give him privacy while he undressed. She waited a long time – longer than usual – and then suddenly she heard him curse and mutter in his beard. Curious, she entered to see if he needed help, and saw him in a very awkward position : he was still wearing his trousers, but he was barefoot and struggling with his white – but stained – linen shirt, that was currently recovering his head. Obviously, he had tried to remove it, but the button behind the neck was caught in his long black hair. Laurelin couldn't help but smile in amusement.
So here is Thorin Oakenshield, the mighty King Under the Mountain... She was sure no one else had ever seen him like that.
« My King... can I help you ? » She asked, trying to keep her voice serious, but she failed.
Thorin's face partially emerged from the shirt, but the button was still entwined in his hair.
« Maybe a bit of help would he welcome, yes... » He said jokingly, before laughing heartily at himself and at the awkward position he got himself into.
Laurelin took a few steps and suddenly realized she would have to get very close to him to help him. She blushed slightly, but she hoped that Thorin would think the flush came from the heat. She couldn't help but admire his broad back, and the muscles that moved just underneath the pale skin. Her cheeks grew even hotter. She had seen him naked quite often now, since she helped him with his bath almost every day, but it never left her indifferent to see him like that every time she saw his body it made her fingers tremble and her heart beat like mad in her chest.
Very delicately, she removed his hair from his back : it was long and thick, and very black (except for a few streaks of silver at his temples, that made him look even more regal). She did her best to not pull on them as she worked and to keep concentrated on her task, not on Thorin's naked back that she loved so much. The palms of her hands rested on his back, and her fingers brushed against his neck as she tried to undo the knot of hair that had tangled around the button. His skin was slightly sticky from the sweat of the day and filthy with dust, but she didn't even care.
Thorin was a bit surprised, at first, to feel her lean on him so heavily and to feel her warm skin against his back and neck, because he hadn't expected it. But once he had gotten used to this surprising – but pleasant – contact, he just felt his tense muscles relax. The annoyance he had felt towards his shirt flowed out of him, leaving him in a pleasant mood. He waited patiently till Laurelin was finished, trying not towince every time she tugged at his hair while she did her best to untangle the button.
As soon as Laurelin was done, she removed her hands from him and stepped back.
« You are free, my King. » She told him gently.
Thorin removed the evil shirt at once and threw it into one corner of the bedroom, before straightening up and stretching his muscles. Laurelin, who was standing in front of him, did her best to stay modest while she watched him, but it was undeniable that the vision of Thorin's bare chest triggered something in her. She felt slightly dizzy, and she knew she would have to do something if she didn't want to betray herself – so she picked up Thorin's dirty clothes and walked out of the room with them, before putting them into the absket for the washing girls. Then she also prepared a set of new, warm clothes for Thorin, tu pot on after the bath.
When she entered into the bedroom again – after knocking – he was sitting in the tub. She handed him the soap, but this time she didn't allow herself to look at him any more than what was necessary. And then she walked away from the tub to give him privacy while he washed himself she stirred the fire with the iron hook, and hung the towel in front of the fire so it would be nicely warm for Thorin. When she was done with these small tass, she went back to him and rubbed his back, his shoulders, as she always did. She could sense how tense his msucles were, right underneath the skin. What a hard day he must have had... She reflected sadly. And then she also helped him wash his hair. It was thick and black, but also streaked with silver at the temples, now. Laurelin liked him like that, because it didn't make him look older – it made him just look more regal. A true King of Durin's line. First she poured some water over his hair, and she smiled when Thorin moaned in delight as the warm water ran over his chest and his back. Then she rubbed soap into his hair for a moment, very delicately, doing her best to not pull at his hair while she did so. When she was finished, she rinsed Thorin's head by pouring even more water onto it, till there was no soap left in his hair. And to finish, she filled one more cup, that she poured generously over his back and his chest, fore the mere pleasure of making him feel good and contented.
Once the bath was finished, he got up in his tub and Laurelin immediately looked away from him. She kept her eyes on her own shoes as she handed his the warm towel, yet somehow she still saw him from the corner of her eyes, stark naked just in front of her. She couldn't help but blush deeply.
Thorin grabbed the towel and smiled in amusement. She had assisted him in his bath so often, by now, but she still blushed every time. He found her shyness endearing, but since he didn't want to put her too ill at ease he quickly wrapped himself in the towel. It was divine to be cloaked in warm softness like that, particularly after such a long and dreadful day. Then he walked over to the fire, and dried himself slowly, appreciating this moment of quiet and comfort. Since he knew Laurelin was not looking at him – she was genuinely devoted to him, not like most other servants who would have taken advantage of this situation to spy on him as he was naked – he didn't take too much precautions to remain covered as he dried himself.
A few minutes later, when Thorin was dry, Laurelin heard him call her name.
« Laurelin, could you please give me my clothes now ? » He asked gently, in his deep voice.
« Of course, my King. » she said, nodding. When she came back to him with the night clothes in her arms, she saw him wince as he stretched and rolled his shoulders.
She handed him the comfortable linen trousers first, then she looked away once more while he slipped them on. Then she gave him the shirt, and at this moment their eyes locked for a short moment she understood at once that he was truly in pain, and was immediately overcome by worry. She knew he was strong, but even strong men could be tired and sore after a hard day.
Thorin stretched out his hand to grab the shirt, then suddenly he froze in mid-air. Laurelin frowned at him, surprised by such a reaction.
« Laurelin, would you... » He cleared his throat and started again. « Would you mind doing something to ease the pain in my back, my neck and my shoulders ? Today was a hard day, and more hard days will follow when I will travel with the hunters, and I would really appreciate it if you could help me soothe the pain, if only for a shirt moment. »
Laurelin didnt know what he was talking about, exactly – soothe the pain, yes, but how ? What did he have in his mind ? He had never asked something like that before. She was looking at him and listening raptly, waiting for him to say more, but he remained silent and waited for her answer.
« I will do my best, my King. » She said in a very soft and vulnerable voice, because she had not forgotten the words travel with the hunters. Did it mean he would leaver her again, maybe for several days in a row ? So soon after they had been reunited ?
Thorin, who was looking down at her, had noticed her sudden sadness. For a moment he wondered why, and then he understood : Had he not talked about travelling ? He cursed himself for putting such stupied ideas in her head. He had never planned to leave Erebor for more than a few hours, a day at most.
« I will have to leave early in the morning, at the break of dawn, and I will not be back before nightfall. But I will wome home every night. » He said with a fond smile, to reassure her. « I have grown far, too fond of Erebor to ever leave it again. »
And I have also grown very fond of one very special person who lives here... He added silently.
Dimly, he remembered a few rumours he had heard not so long ago – rumours about Laurelin having more than just friendly feelings for him. At the moment he had dismissed them without a second thought although the thought of her being in love with him was very pleasant, he had not believed there was any truth in it. But now... Doubt seized him. If the mere though of him leaving Erebor for a few days could distress her like that, maybe it did truly mean there was something more than just friendship ?
He felt his heart beat slightly faster, but didn't allow himself to cling to unfounded – and probalby false – hopes.
It's probably just nothing.
« Would you please sit down ? » He said, preparing a stool for her, right behind the chair where he sat down himself. « Every time you help me while I bathe, I have to marvel at the softness of your fingers. They are very skilled in relaxing the muscles of my back and shoulders. So maybe... If you'd like to, Laurelin... Maybe you could give me a massage ? My back is so sore I can barely move. I would be really grateful if you accepted, yet as usual there is no obligation. It's your choice. »
He waited for a few seconds, then Laurelin nodded with a smile. She was a bit startled by this demand – he had never asked this before – yet she was also pleased to do it for him. The idea that she would be allowed to touch him – his skin, his muscles – made her blush, so she looked away before her eyes betrayed her and Thorin could guess what she was feeling.
« If you're not at ease with this idea, you don't have to do it... » He insisted, looking at her with worried eyes.
« No, my King. It doesn't make me ill at ease. » She said truthfully. « I will be pleased to help you at my best. »
She smiled at him, and tried to keep a composed face as she watched Thorin put the shirt away again. He sat on his chair, bare-chested and imposing.
Laurelin hesitated, so Thorin looked at her over his shoulder and offered her an encouraging smile. His damp hair was still hanging loose, framing his proud face and making him look even more handsome, in a way, than when it was neatly braided and adorned with jewels.
Laurelin took a deep breath to give herself courage, but couldn't help her cheeks to blush as she sat on the stool behind Thorin. For a moment she could do nothing but stare at this broad, muscled and scarred back, completely lost. What was she supposed to do ? How was she supposed to start ? She felt panic rise in her – what if I have to tell him I can't do it after all ? - but then he looked at her again. His smile was kind and friendly and reassuring. She felt slightly calmer, and at the same time her blush deepened.
« Please sit straight and look straight ahead. » She said very softly, in an uncertain voice.
Thorin was not used at receiving orders, not even gentle orders, and for a moment his pride balked at the idea of obeying. Then he remembered that the person who had just given him this order was Laurelin, and he relaxed at once he would have spent his days listening and obeying to her orders, if it pleased her. Besides, they were in his private chambers here, were no one would witness them. He didn't need to be a King, when he was alone with Laurelin. He could be just a man who was glad to surrender himself to his beloved, after a long hard day.
LAURELIN's hands were trembling no matter how hard she was trying to steady them, they just refused to obey.
Maybe he won't notice... She hoped as she slowly touched his hand with her fingers.
She separated his hair in two parts and slipped both parts over his shoulders, on each side of his neck, so it came to rest against his chest. As she did so, Thorin looked down at her fingers they were long and thin, almost like human fingers. The skin was a bit rough and dry from working hard, and she had several ink spots on the inside of her fingers, but they worked on Thorin's hair very softly, very gently, without pulling at one single hair. He saw her damaged nails, too, and wondered if this was merely the result of too much work, or if she was biting them like many Dwarves did. He felt guilty for making her work so hard, even if her life had already become much easier since they had returned to Erebor. The idea that que was still his « servant » made him ill at ease. He didn't want her to be a servant. He just wanted to love her.
As she removed her hands from Thorin's hair, the skin of her arms brushed against Thorin's bare shoulders he could feel her warmth once more, and he felt an immediate feeling of happiness and well-being. Usually, no one ever touched him a hug from his sister from time to time – but she was rough as a bear compared to Laurelin - or sometimes an affectionate pat on the shoulder from his nephews, or from Dwalin. But nothing felt even remotely as good as Laurelin's touch. It was something both soft and powerful, something strong that made his heart beat like mad and that sent a rush of ecstasy though his veins. It made him forget all about his worries and his endless duties, as if nothing else in the world existed anymore.
Laurelin's hands being wet from Thorin's hair, she dried them on the front of her dress before taking a deep, long breath. She hesitated once more, unsure of what to do next, but then suddenly she decided to act instead of overthinking. She put both her open hands on his shoulders, a soft but firm contact that gave her the shivers never before had she touched his bare back so directly, so firmly. It made her heart beat faster in her chest. She pressed her thumbs against the tight muscles, and started massageing him, very slowly. Sometimes she had done it for her tired grand-mother, long ago. So she knew the basics of it. LAURELIN tried to put into practice whatever she remembered. She started in the middle of his shoulders, on either side of his spine, and then she moved outwards in big, slow circles, taking the time to knead the tired muscles till they relaxed under her soft touch.
No one had ever given a massage before, so when Laurelin started he had no idea what exactly to expect but after barely a few minutes, he realized it was even better than anything he could have expected. Laurelin's fingers were firm and strong as they worked on his sore muscles, but they were also soft and gentle, and so pleasantly warm. He closed his eyes and relaxed, enjoying this moment of pure bliss.
After a while, the rumours of Laurelin having feelings for him came back to the surface of his mind, and he wondered once more whether there was something true about it. Could she really see him as more than a friend ? Could she really love him like he loved her ? He knew he should not give too much importance to such unreliable rumors – who had started them, anyways ? – yet in spite of what his reason was telling him, a small part of him couldn't help but want to believe them. And these hopes made the massage she was giving him even more delicious.
Laurelin, on her side, appreciated it just as much as Thorin. She didn't say a word – she didn't want to ruin this moment of quiet – but she enjoyed exploring Thorin's back with her hands : his skin, his bones, his muscles... Here and there, she could feel a scar under her fingers, and she remembered the dreadful day he had returned from the Battle of Azanulbizar wounded and embittered. But then she shoved these bad memories aside to savour the present. She breathed in his smell and listened to his deep, slow breathing. She did her best to be discreet, but all these sensations were so delightful that if was hard for her to keep a straight face. And the fact that he truly enjoyed what she was doing for him made this moment enven better. She felt closer to him than ever before as her fingers slowly worked their way down his back. His muscles were so hard, so tense, but they loosened up one after the other as she worked on them.
At first Thorin tried to keep his usual countenance – he was a king, after all, and a king is supposed to show some restraint – but after a while he completely forgot every notion of control as Laurelin's fingers gently tickled his skin with the tip of his fingers. The touch was as light as a feather's. A deep moan escaped his throat as he felt a wave of well-being engulf him from head to toe. No one had ever made him feel things like that. No one. Ever. He couldn't think about anything else but Laurelin's hands all over his back. He shivered, but not from the cold. His mind wandered over to Laurelin herself, the woman who was making him feel so good the way she had been so shy and intimidated in his presence, moments earlier the warmth and softness of her magical fingers. He tried to imagine her face as she was concentrating on her task. He liked the idea that maybe she wasn't doing this massage as the duty of a servant for his master, or even a friend to another friend he liked the idea that there was love behind this wonderful touch, true and deep love.
Never before had he hoped with such intensity that a rumour was true.
When Laurelin was done massaging Thorin's whole back, she ended it by softly rubbing and stroking his skin with the palm of her hands, because she knew her grand-mother used to like this so maybe Thorin would like it too ? She started with his shoulders, then she went down his back as far as she felt she was allowed to without making anybody feel uncomfortable.
What she didn't know, was that Thorin was not feeling uncomfortable at all, on the contrary. Her caresses were so soft, so pleasant that he would have loved to feel them on his arms and his chest as well... He only regretted that he couldn't see her face at this moment, because he was sure that if he could see her right now he would be able to read in her eyes whether she truly had feelings for him or not. But he was afraid that if he turned around to look at her she would stop, so he did nothing and he just enjoyed what she was doing to him.
At some point, when Laurelin paused to bind back a strand of hair that had escaped her braid, he was afraid it was almost over and he was about to ask her to continue – but he realized just in time how inappropriate that would have sounded.
You're not supposed to love her touch as much as you, besides. She's doing it to help you relax. If she knew what you are truly feeling for her...
Thorin sighed. What would she do, if she knew ? Would she freak out and leave him alone ? Would she be flattered – or even happy – to know how much she was important for him ? He knew the only way to get answers was to confess his love for her, yet he didn't feel the courage to do so right now. Not after such a long, hard day.
Then Laurelin resumed her ministrations, on his exposed neck this time. She put her hands on his, then she started massaging it with both her thumbs. There was strength in her fingers, and magic as well it didn't take them look to undo all the tight knot in his muscles. It also made him feel strangely warm from the inside, as her touch had the power to warm his blood.
Or maybe it's just the fire in the heart... The down-to-earth side of his mind retorted.
Laurelin's fingers stayed on Thorin's thick and muscled neck for a few minutes, then they went down his spine again and started massaging his back once more, because she could still feel some tension there and she wanted him to be completely satisfied.
Thorin could just feel himself slide deeper and deeper into the sensations of well-being Laurelin was waking in him. Every no and then, a soft moan or a low grunt of contentement escaped his lips. In the end he was so relaxed that he started dozing off the massage and the warmth combined overcame his resistance.
Laurelin, on the other side, was getting more and more tense. Keeping a straight face and keeping her mind on her task was getting more and more difficult touching his skin, feeling his muscles and pressing her hands into the hard flesh of his back was making her hot and giddy it was taking up all her strengths to not give in to the undeniable desire she was feeling for him. She was glad Thorin couldn't see heer at this precise moment, because he would have noticed at once how troubled she was – and she didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of him.
When she felt her hands starting to tremble again, she removed them from Thorin's back and pressed them against her thighs to steady them, but she knew she would be unable to resume massaging him. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again.
« My King... » She said softly, to let him now she was finished.
It took Thorin a few moments to get out of his pleasant state of drowsiness. Going back to him so much pleas reality was hard, but he had no other choice so he nodded and turned around to look at Laurelin. His eyes immediately fell on her hands, who had just given so much satisfaction he wished it would have last longer, he wished it would never have stopped at all. But he chased away these silly ideas – good things never lasted endlessly – and his yes searched Laurelin's.
« Thank you, Laurelin. » He said with a warm smile, as he grabbed one of her hands. « Thank you for soothing my sore muscles and helping me to get rid of the pain. »
Laurelin kept a straight face, yet a real storm of emotions was raging inside of her as she felt Thorin's strong fingers curl around her own hand, so big and strong and gentle. She was sure her weak legs would not be able to support her weight much longer : this was more than she could have expected. Being able to make him feel better in such an intimate way, and being rewarded by his simles and his groans of contentement... Being here alone with him... Hearing him thank her with this deep voice she loved so much... When she had started working for him, so many years ago, she would never have believed it if anybody had stold her such a situation would happen some day.
Thorin saw her get flushed, and he felt her fingers tremble in his hand. But he was troubled himself, too – no one had ever been able to make him feel things like that. He remembered Laurelin's hands on him and regretted once more that she had not ventured on other places than his back. And the very idea that somebody could do such things to him... provoke such reactions in him... it was very unsettling. In a good way, of course, but still unsettling.
He stood up from his chair and slowly stretched him muscles, who were not supple and relaxed. The pain was almost completely gone. Laurelin handed him his shirt, and Thorin realized it was time to send her away – but he didn't want to.
« Could you... could you clear away that mess right now, please ? » He asked her awkwardly. He felt bad ordering her about as if she were no more than a serving girl, particularly now after what she had done for him, but troubled as he was he had found any other reason to keep her at his side a bit longer.
Usually when it was this late Laurelin cleared away the dirty water and the tub and the towels the next day, and Thorin didn't mind at all to spend the night in a messy bedroom, and Thorin hoped she wouldn't resent him for this additional work. She sat on the edge of his bed to put on his shirt and to watch her while she was busy, he cursed himself for being such a coward.
Why in Mahal's name didn't you tell her how you feel ? Then you wouldn't have needed such a stupid reason to ask her to stay.
Laurelin was surpised by Thorin's orders, but she gladly accepted to do what he asked of her. Being busy would help her to come out of her state of giddiness. She did her best to work swiftly and silently, with her usual goodwill, but she never looked up at Thorin as she was busy in his bedroom. She could feel his gaze on her, though, and wondered why he was looking at her instead of trying to sleep. Was he not exhausted ? Would he not have a hard day tomorrow ? Yet he was just sitting there on his bed, wearing the comfortable night clothes Laurelin had prepared for him. It didn't help her to calm down her trembling and flushed body.
When Laurelin settled down into one of the armchairs to brush Thorin's travelling cloak – it was covered in dust and horse hair – Thorin almost told her there was no need to, since it would get dirty the next day again, but then she kept his mouth shut when he realized it would allow him to watch her even longer. She was always so kind, so patient, so devoted to him. No one had asked her to clean this cloak right now, but she had just seen it was dirty so she had teken the initiative to clean it. Even though Thorin felt a bit uneasy to see her in such a situation – working as a servant when he wanted to worship her like a beloved woman – he couldn't tear his eyes off her. She was so cute and endearing. She was offering him a gentleness and a tenderness he had never experienced before – neither from his stern father and grand-father, neither from his mother who had died as he was still young, neither from his sister who was tough as a man underneath her pretty face. He had loved the sensations Laurelin has wakened in him when she had given him this masage. He was sure it wouldn't have been as good – by far – if any other person had given him a massage. It was Laurelin who had made it so good. Sweet and lovely Laurelin. Only her.
He also noticed – not for the first time – how beautiful she was. Her face was round and soft, with big brown doe eyes and light brown freckled over her nose and full lips. He long hair was light brown, but in the light of the candles it looked almost red it was still bound in a tight bun, but several strands had escaped and were now dangling around her face. Her body was slender for a Dwarf-woman, yet she still had enough curves to make her look gorgeous and terribly feminine. Even though her humble dresses were not made to show her to her best advantage, she still looked more beautiful in cotton and roughspun than most women with velvet and silk. He wondered what she was thinking of, as he watched her sitting in her chair, a look of concentration on her face.
After a while, as he realized it may make her feel uncomfortable to be started at like that. So he told her to stop working, and to have some rest. She nodded and bowed briefly in front of him, then she delicately hung the cloak over the back of the chair on which she had been sitting, in front of the fire so it would be nicely warm for Thorin next morning.
Then she looked at him for the first time since she had massaged him, to check whether he was asleep or not. He wasn't, of course, and their eyes met. He tried to read her thoughts, but it was dark now and the light of the candles wasn't providing enough light for him to study her moods.
« Since you have no more tasks for me I will leave, then, to let you rest in peace. » She said in a soft voice, as she bowed again. « Good night, my King. »
The way she said good-night made him smile in delight. A spark of happiness flickered through his blue eyes.
« Good night... » He replied kindly, still smiling.
Then Laurelin bowed one last time, and left his bedroom.
As soon as she had left, Thorin felt instantly disappointed. In spite of the fire, the room felt suddenly very cold and empty, without Laurelin's presence – as if whe had taken all the warmth with her, when she had left. He sighed sadly, and laid down into his bed, then he tried to settle as comfortably as possible under his blankets. But here again they were cold and empty. He wished Laurelin could come into the bed with him, and lay at his side. He blushed violently at this thought, but even so it didn't stop his mind from wandering into a direction that made him feel both uncomfortable and strangely flushed instead of her brushing his cloak, he imagined her at his side, under the blankets, her hands all over his body and not only on his back and shoulder. Never in his life had he desired something as hard as he now desired Laurelin's presence at his side.
Neddless to say that he didn't sleep much that night. He tossed and he turned in his bed, and when he fell asleep at last it was a restless kind of sleep, full of strange dreams that left him sweating and breathless.
When he woke up before the break of dawn, even more tired as before he had gone to bed, he had made a resolution :
« Today, I will tell her. » He said aloud, to the darkness surrounding him.
Of course he would not wake her before leaving on his journey with the hunters, but as soon as he would come home : He would tell her.