To Sow a Barren Land

Disclaimer: As much as I wish to, I don't own 'The Hobbit'.

AN: There's a bit of fluff in this chapter but there's some serious drama here as well. A plot twist, you may say and a crucial point of this story.

To everyone who've reviewed/faved/followed- you have my sincere thanks. I am humbled that you guys are liking it.

Morgan: I am thrilled to read your review and of course, after reading your opinion, I'd have jumped up and down in excitement if it were upto me. I am truly truly flattered that you are enjoying it, and that my efforts are paying off. :) Also, thanks for taking the time to review. As I have said, reviews make my day and give me a boost to write more and yours was a total energy packet!

Chapter 13

Rainion startled awake at the crack of dawn. It had been an unknown instinct that nudged him in his heart and because of it, he now found himself wandering outside his tent and moving towards that of the elven prince.

His mind rebuked him; told him not to take a step further; that the prince was entitled to his privacy. However his heart contradicted every thought, thus making him to check up on the prince.

He paused right outside Thranduil's tent and debated for a while. His curiosity soon overpowered his courtesy as a hesitant hand reached for the flap and gingerly opened it aside.

Rainion's heart sunk at what awaited him inside.

The bedding was empty. Thranduil was nowhere in sight and the others hadn't woken up yet to notice where the prince went.

A frown crossed his temples as a deep concern teased Rainion's heart. Lingering about for a few more moments, he rushed back to his own tent. With quick hands, he took out the map that was given to him and let his eyes trace over the supposed area where they were camping. With a careful finger, he traced back to the nearby brook before again coming centre to the clearing and trailing his finger over a small track that was generally used for trade.

His mind began forming ideas of the likely places that could capture Thranduil's attention. Given the state he displayed, Thranduil most likely would love to be in a place which would be isolated from unwanted attention. Keeping that in mind, it now became easier for him to chalk up Thranduil's whereabouts.

As the idea solidified, Rainion wasted no time as he headed for the most likely direction.

Thranduil sighed and relaxed as splashes of water soothed his bare legs. Morning light had just began breaking in the east. All around him, the forest indulged in such a serenity that seemed divine and calmed the elf. To be honest, he didn't recall the last time since he had truly relaxed after his return from Erebor. This forest seemed to provide him an excellent retreat.

Swishing his legs in the water, Thranduil leaned back and enjoyed as the cool morning breeze brushed his face.

Finally, he was free of the burning sensation in his throat as the cause of it became a morning routine for several days.

He slid his eyes shut and let his mind float back to the happier times where he would marvel at the odd creature in front of him, who in turn would be amused by a form completely different from his own. He'd remember the shy looks, the benign smiles and the light blushes when they'd meet among the convoys while heading to or from Doriath. He would remember the enchanting voice of the other that would draw him in to a fantasy. He remembered the light kisses, the hesitant touches, the touches evolved from need, the touches evolved from want, the slow building of fire when passion would overtake them, the ache and joy when their deepest desires would be fulfilled; silent agreements, unspoken love, whispered promises—Thranduil remembered it all.

Blue eyes opened suddenly as faint sounds were picked up by his sensitive ears. Alertness filling them, Thranduil darted his eyes around. He grabbed his sword quickly and pulled away from the brook, hauling himself on his feet as the sounds became louder.

Clearly whoever it was didn't intend on concealing himself.

Using his thumb, Thranduil parted the sheath from his sword and very carefully hold the hilt using another arm. Stealth graced his every movement. His eyes narrowed in focus, Thranduil directed his central vision at the bushes from where the sound seemed to be emerging.

Judging by its nature, it was someone who was heavy footed and therefore was not an elf—certainly not from his company.

Caution gripped him tight and he felt a flutter in the pits of his stomach, making him all the more attentive and alert at whatever threat was approaching him.

Louder and louder the rustling of dead leaves and twigs became. Thranduil felt himself growing taut with concentration. Every fibre of his muscle was on high alarm. The trained fighter as we was, Thranduil was ready to launch an attack should he caught a glimpse of a foe.

The leaves of the bushes moved slightly, indicating how close he was to this unknown being. He drew in his breath and never once left his focused eyes leave the spot as the movement of the bushes became distinct.

His eyes broadened suddenly and due to reflex, he slackened in his stance as finally the 'foe' came into view.

"Gracious!" It was the other who had expressed is genuine surprise. And if his voice wasn't a giveaway, the wide-eyed, bewildered look Thorin Oakenshield had about him spoke volumes of what he didn't expect to find.

As for Thranduil, his jaws lost all the tension and his mouth hung ajar as he shook his head in surprise. Soon, the elven prince's face cracked as a slow smile crept over it and his eyes twinkled before he found himself throwing his sword and rubbing his cheeks, unsure of how to express the fountain of emotions crashing down upon him.

Thorin's eyes softened. His lips curled into a smile and before he knew it, he was pulled into a hard embrace as butterfly kisses trailed all over his face.

"Thorin." Thranduil whispered drawing away from the other by a mere gap, his eyes shifting left and right, holding the other's gaze before he pulled the other back into another embrace.

"What were the odds?" Thorin breathed out, delighted at the unexpected reunion which he never dared to dream about.

Thranduil gasped as he swallowed back a sob threatening to out itself through his voice, sighing contently as his mouth was captured by a pair of very longing lips as gentle hands began running up and down his back. He tipped his head slightly and opened his mouth, welcoming the other to explore every bit of him and declare his love as Thorin did without the use of any words.

They broke away only when air was necessary and for a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply held each other's gazes and let their eyes speak on behalf of them about how much they missed and yearned for each other.

It was Thorin who finally broke their silence, "How have you been?"

Thrandui's eyes flickered for a moment before they adorned a genuine happiness.

"I am well now." He replied, lacing their fingers together and closing his eyes as Thorin trailed gentle kisses over his knuckles.

Silence again befell them and both regarded each other shyly.

Cheeks tinged with a warm shade of red, Thranduil smiled as his heart was filled up with content, joy and an indescribable feeling which soothed him all over.

"Do you remember this place?" He asked after a while, his voice low and soft, his eyes dancing with brightness.

Thorin's eyes lit up as well when the memory swirled in his mind.

"Yes, it is where we had our first kiss." He nodded, biting his lips as he added further, "Your father was looking for you. But you were not really worried."

Thranduil chuckled, his eyes lightening up even further as he recalled, "You seemed nervous and came up with such silly excuses."

"Silly but one saved us though!"

"Telling my father you were lost? Surely that was as original as it seemed." A sly smirk crawled on to his lips as Thranduil said in a cheeky tone, "Then again, knowing you, it was passable for the truth when he first met."

Thorin's cheeks reddened all of a sudden and he let out a blasphemous expression. "That was because it was very dark!" He defended at which Thranduil laughed louder.

"Oh I'm sure that it became dark. Although...it's dawn now." He added while looking around, pretending to sound very boggled as he frowned, "And here you are. I wonder why it must be so! This is most curio—"

He couldn't finish his thoughts as Thranduil found himself being tackled to the ground. Laughter filled the woods as he flailed while Thorin grunted and laughed, pinning his arms down while sitting on his chest.

"And here you are!" Thorin huffed indignantly, rolling his eyes at the coy looking elf, "I wonder why it must be so. This is most curious as you were never the one to rise this early."

"I'm an elf. I enjoy Nature." Thranduil retorted back playfully, raising his brow when his answer caused Thorin to roll his eyes yet again.

"Oh save it." Thorin smirked, "Unless of course I wore you out."

At that, Thranduil formed a smirk of his own as he raised a brow and nodded his head minutely, which made Thorin's smirk to grow even more.

The playfulness soon faded away and was replaced by a solemn expression on Thorins face. In response to that, Thranduil's cheekiness faded away as well as he felt his heart beating with a rhythm and pumping a fluttering feeling all throughout his body.

"What are you doing here?" Thorin asked, sliding off the other and lying down beside him on the grass as he lightly caressed Thranduil's lower lip with the tip of his thumb.

Thranduil's lips trembled at the contact, his heart thumping even faster as new thrills showered down upon him. He leaned in closer and kissed Thorin's finger.

"I am attending something on behalf of my father." Thranduil replied, leaving out the details as he didn't want to sadden Thorin with his troubles. "What about you?"

"I am returning after a negotiation. It was hard to do. But we managed." Thorin responded as lightly as he could but behind it, the constraint in his tone didn't go unnoticed by the elf.

Figuring a reason similar to his own, Thranduil nodded and looked up, letting his eyes fall shut when Thorin captured his lips once again.

The kiss was slow. Thorin's lips undulated between his own, sucking lightly before moving on to the other. Thanduil wrapped his arms around the other and drew Thorin over him, letting his arms run wild over the dwarf's legs firmly which were planted on the ground before moving them over to his back and tangling into his thick mane.

Encouraged, Thorin tilted his head and deepened his kiss, stroking his tongue at the inner walls of Thranduil's lips making the elf shudder in pleasure and open his mouth even more.

He felt the warm tongue sliding inside of his mouth and caressing every corner of it with a suppressed passion, which intensified as Thorin delved deeper.

Thranduil sighed and moved his lips against the other, tipping his own head in the opposite direction as he responded back just as enthusiastically using his tongue.

Slowly he brought his leg up. Placing it against the stout form of the other, he started brushing it against Thorin's side. His hands loosened their grip and fell beside him, pressing against the ground and caressing it before enclosing a fist around the soft, moist grass, giving it a tug.

He brought his leg down, dragging his heel along the soil as his mind exploded with pleasure stemming from his heart.

Thranduil felt so refreshed. The burden he had on his chest was finally beginning to lift and he silently prayed to the Valar for countless number of times for once again making their paths cross.

Thorin slowly began pulling away, lightly nibbling on his lips before finally breaking the kiss.

Lips swollen and pants echoing off the trees, Thranduil opened his eyes, shimmering like the morning dew as a light blush dusted across his cheeks.

Thorin's eyes were dreamy— taken back to the far away times when they were together. His cheeks were flushed and the way he looked at Thranduil did strange things to the elf which he could no longer put into words.

"Thranduil..." Thorin began, falling down beside the other and stroking Thranduil's chest with his palm. "I can't stay long. I must leave soon."

Thranduil sighed and for a while spoke nothing. Thorin's massages were lowering further down onto his torso and towards his belly, making him involuntarily suck in a breath. He finally sighed and said with utmost sincerity, "But it shouldn't be permanent."

Thorin's hand stopped momentarily as he looked at the other with clear befuddlement, "But...my grandfather..."

A sudden mirth began pouring in the alluring blue orbs as Thranduil informed, a small smile showing on his lips, "Oh meleth. He won't object now. I am sure of it." He cupped the other's chin with one if his hand and gazed into Thorin's eyes with pure belief as he spoke, "I am sure of it."

Thorin's eyes softened and when Thranduil lay on his back again, he resumed his caresses. "But it is not that simple." He explained, letting his hand approach the other's stomach. "I am—"

He paused abruptly, running his hand up and down the area with a sudden haste.

"Meleth?" Thranduil called out but was deflated immediately when a muddled frown appeared in between Thorin's brows.

Suddenly, Thorin sat up.

As he ran his hands over some more, Thorin's confusion slowly morphed into disbelief. His eyes flashed with anger. As he directed them over to Thranduil, the elf's calmness faded away before cold bouts of fear and stress invaded his heart.

"Thorin?" He asked, bringing a hand to hold Thorin's palm settling over his torso.

Thorin flinched his hand away, at which Thranduil panicked as he sat up and called again when the other's face portrayed shock. "Meleth?"

A shuddered breath escaped Thorin's mouth and it took him a while before he could bring himself to face Thranduil. As he did, all Thranduil saw was disapproval and betrayal, shattering the joyous feeling Throin held in his eyes.

"It doesn't feel flat." Thorin wheezed out, "Thranduil, are you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Thorin tore his eyes away and glared at the ground.

"Yes my love!" Thranduil responded, desperation laced in his voice as his eyes quivered, pleading for Thorin to look at him. "Yes, I am with child."

He smiled but somehow it came out feigned with underlying fear. "Thorin? Thorin! Now we can be together." He spoke but the more he did, more Thorin seemed to be disgusted.

Fear clouded Thranduil's heart which beat rapidly as desperation set in. Still, he went on. He tried to explain, refusing to give up. "Don't you see? We have an heir. Thrór or my father won't have anything to object now. We can be happy!"

"By Mahal Thranduil! Whose is it?" Thorin's eyes flashed in pain. His voice was already strained and his eyes were red from holding back tears.

"Ours!" Thranduil replied strongly.

"No it is not! Whose is it, Thranduil?" Thorin snarled, making Thranduil wince a little at the harsh tone.

"Yes it is!" He insisted, all his hope shattering away when Thorin flinched. "It's ours. Here?"

He took the dwarf's hand and placed it against his stomach, hoping that Thorin would realize and would look forward to their future together.

However, Thorin became extremely stiff and his face distorted in pain as he tugged his hand free.

Thranduil's eyes widened at the act. His heart panging with a throbbing sense of rejection, he let his hands fall beside him as his sadness washed away any form of hope from his eyes.

"It's ours, meleth." His voice came out weak, hopeless—much like he had felt at that moment. "I did it for you."

Thorin inhaled sharply and bit his lips. He seemed to be struggling against himself before finally he gathered his bearings and faced the other.

It hurt Thranduil as he was looking back at a hardened face.

"I shouldn't have indulged."

"No." Thranduil rasped, pleading with his eyes.

"I shouldn't have allowed myself. We can't be together."

"No, don't say that!" Thranduil's voice was bordered with a fraught insistence. He knew he was losing his world and he held tightly till the end, determined not to give up. "We can. I have done it for you! All for you. How can you say that?"

His eyes flared with anger rising up from his chest. Despondence planting itself firmly inside his heart, Thranduil sneered with the last reserve of will he had, praying for Thorin to come around. "It was for you. All for you! How can you give up like that?"

Thorin's eyes were suddenly devoid of any emotion and they portrayed what his tone bore: a cold hard fact.

"I can't be with you, Thranduil. I am engaged."

Thranduil's eyes expanded when he felt the beginning of impact of those words. He shook his head, desperately trying to reject what he had heard just then but the more he tried, more had they rang louder inside his head.

His mouth parted as he tried forming some words. But all it did was cause his lips to tremble as the words lost their way at the tip of his tongue.

"You're engaged?" He finally said, a cold eerie feeling grasping his entire body.

Whatever colour he had left on his face drained away without a second's hesitation as Thorin nodded. "Yes."

Blue orbs narrowed as they flickered in an enraged manner. Thranduil's face soon shrugged off the disbelief and reddened with anger which bubbled inside of his chest.

"You're engaged and so you can't be with me?" He hissed, sneering all the more when Thorin regarded him with a hidden apology. "I am willing to sacrifice everything for you. My honour, my dignity! And you can't do one thing for me?"

Suddenly, the wave of anger had disappeared and instead of a raging storm, Thranduil's eyes became frigid and harsh as if they'd been swept by a cold torrent.

"If that is what it is to be," he spoke, his voice lacking any of its usual warmth. His eyes became harder and colder, much like what he had felt within him. "Then so be it."

He saw Thorin's eyes flicker with unspoken words of apology but before Thorin had any chance to say anything further, Thranduil stood up and left, wishing to be left alone as soon as possible.

He didn't spare Thorin a second glance.

Behind the thick cover of trees, a pair of eyes followed the retreating back of the elven prince. Sharp ears had picked up every bit of the conversation that had taken place and at the end of it, Rainion stood there absolutely shocked. Dumbfounded.

Thranduil was pregnant. And he was the sire.

AN: Well not so much as a plot twist. I'm sure most of you have guessed what'd happen. :) I'm sorry for tearing those two apart like that! It's not a fluffy Thorinduil, as I've said, but unlike my other fics, I'm not too sure if they'll have a happily-ever-after ending. I'm so sorry! D: Do let me know what you think. I really appreciate your feedback.