Coming Of Age – Chapter 15

Despite their awkward moment in the first room, Thorin and ThoraLee were able to put aside their feelings as she told him what she had learned so far of the translation.

"The Western Gate?" Thorin said as they climbed the stairs. "I doubt it existed anymore. Besides it is in Khazad-dûm or Moria. We do not travel there anymore." He shook his head.

Lee nodded, "I realized that but the passage ways were also carved all the way through here as well. This elven Lady, Galadriel, she had travelled frequently back and forth beneath the Western Gate of the Elven world and here in the Darrowdelf."

As they reached the surface of the palace, Thorin leaned to her and said softly, "We'll talk more in private."

She saw the sentry guards on duty and nodded to him.

Then Thorin said aloud, "Let me show you your surprise."

He led her to another set of hallways and more stairs.

ThoraLee recognized the corridors and stopped Thorin, "These are towards your quarters, Thorin…I don't think it's appropriate," she hesitated going further.

Thorin turned back and smiled as he said, "They are the Prince's quarters but as future Princess and my wife, these will be your assigned quarters too. It would not be seemingly to be staying in the guest quarters now that you are to be part of my family, Lee."

"Princess…"Lee spoke the word and shook her head, "I can't see myself as one, Thorin. I'm still ThoraLee and I'll always be ThoraLee or just plain Lee."

Thorin grinned at her as he leaned in and kissed her pert nose, "Well, just plain Lee, you will always be my Princess."

Lee smiled shyly at him as she glanced up at him.

It was then they realized they were not alone as they looked down the hallway, near the end of the corridor. There was a quite short with a chest length red colored bearded dour looking dwarf waiting for them by a double door.

Thorin grinned and pulled her hand, "Come and meet Nifir, she is to be your helpmaid"

Lee was startled for she had thought the dwarf was a male for she had a beard!

Thorin felt her reluctance to advance and hesitation and looked at her in askance. Lee felt intimidated.

"Lee? What's wrong?"He asked her, suddenly felt concerned.

"I…I…I'm not sure. She...I…Thorin, I'm scared of her." She griped his hand hard for emphasis.

Thorin pulled her to him and said softly to her, "Lee, it's okay, she won't hurt you. She belonged to the Firebeard clan, and I have known her since I was a boy. Well, Frerin and I for she has been in our family's service since my mother was a girl.

Lee gave him a look, "What about the beard?"

Thorin chuckled, "The females of the Firebeard clan have beards. I know, it's pretty quaint but you'll get used to it."

She shook her head, "Why don't we have any? I mean my kind? Have beards, that is?"

Thorin stared at her as if he was picturing Lee with a beard and shook his head vehemently, "No! I don't think so, I don't think I can get use to you with a beard. I am used to Nefir's appearance already but not on you."

Lee looked up at Thorin mischievously and grinned, "So, if I were to grow a beard, you would object to it?"

He glared at his intended, "Very much so, I'd shave it off for you!"

Lee laughed heartily as she let Thorin led her to Nifir who continued to glare at them.

As they stood before her, Nifir bowed low to Thorin as she greeted him formally, "Your Highness, it is good to see you."

Thorin nodded his head as he smiled to her, "Nifir, greetings to you. I hope you have been well." She nodded. "Your family? I trust their wealth and good health has been good within your family?" She nodded again.

Thorin spoke again, "Please allow me to introduce my intended to you. This is ThoraLee, daughter of Erimm, a metalsmither. She is also niece of Crimm, the Royal Valet."

Nifir bowed low to Lee, "Greeting, Mistress ThoraLee, welcome. I hope you will allow this humble servant to serve you."

ThoraLee smiled and bowed in return, "Greetings to you, Madam Fefir, I am most pleased to meet you."

Nifir nodded and opened the door, her hand spreading into the room.

Lee turned to face Thorin questioningly who was still grinning, "Follow Nifir, she will show you the rest of your …er…surprise within."

Lee, unsure of everything, nodded hesitantly as she began to turn towards the awaiting Nifir but Thorin was still holding her.

Lee glanced towards him just as he leaned in and kissed her on her lips and whispered softly, "I love you, my Princess, I hope you like your surprise!" after another sound kiss, he nudged her from him, pushing her towards the opened door and the awaiting Nifir

….

Inside the room, ThoraLee found that it was a private sitting room; there were several long couches and lounging chairs for a comfortable afternoon tea. The tall windows were bright, airy and cheerful.

Nifir pointed the large golden plated fire place, the mantle above was richly decorated with gold and silver ornaments. Above the high ceiling and in the center of the room was a huge chandelier made with hundreds of diamonds reflecting its brilliance casted from the fire torches lining along the walls of the room. Every where she looked, Lee saw richness and wealth, she could not imagine the gold the palace had used to decorate within!

"Your bedroom, Mistress ThoraLee," Nifir pointed to their left, Lee saw an open door. She entered another room and almost reeled back!

This was her bedroom? It could fit her entire house in Dale!

The bed in enormous; Lee blushed as she could see Thorin and her sleeping in it and still there were plenty of space around them. It was absolutely ridiculous! The framework was, of course, made of gold. The bed looked soft and smooth and silky.

"Mistress, this way," Nifir nodded to another door that she opened for Lee but she paused as she turned behind her and glanced at a door and asked Nifir where it led to. The helpmaid told her calmly that it was connected to the Prince's bedroom. Lee was embarrassed as she followed Nifir meekly towards the door she had first indicated.

As soon as Lee entered the room, Lee began to giggled; it was not as big as the bed room but it was not small either, there was another golden fireplace built against the far wall from where they stood. But what held her attention was in the middle of the room. It was a giant black marble round bath basin built into the floor. The size of the basin could fit two or three of her or just Thorin and her…

At the moment, the basin was almost full and a steady steam billowing out of it, looking inviting.

Lee was smiling; so this was Thorin's surprise! He knew I must be in need of a good cleaning up!

"If you will, I have drawn this bath for you. And after you are done, your dressing is right this way." Nifir showed her an adjourning paneling jutting out of the wall that contained some privacy for her dressing. There was a table where some thick cloths was stacked, Lee saw that it must be for drying her body after a bath and then she saw a dress she had never seen before. It was navy blue in color with long sleeves, and unlike the party dress she first in her Coming of Age party, this sleeve was slimmer, more fitted. Lee grinned and thought to herself; at least I'm not going to fly or put any child in there!

Half an hour later, she was grinning like a fool as she soaked up in the steamy scented warm water. She had never taken a bath in her life and she found she enjoyed it incredibly. At home, she usually washed up in the private room in next to her bedroom.

With her eyes closed, she could not believe where she was, warm steamy water lapping luxuriously on her as she leaned her head back against the edge of the basin; Nifir had placed a cloth behind the back of head against the marble basin as a cushion.

Thorin, how did he know she had wanted to be clean? She smiled as she remembered earlier what he was doing to her, when he slid her undergarment off of her and caressed her breasts softly and kissed her there so gently.

"Lee," he had whispered her name softly. "You are so beautiful." He kissed her again.

She smiled as she presented her neck to him, he leaned lowered and tasted her and traced smoothness of her skin under the warmth of the water, touching the crest of her breasts as her breath became shortened.

"My lovely ThoraLee…"He continued to whisper caressingly into her.

Then she felt his hands on her bare thighs beneath the waters; he was touching her with just the tips of his fingers but it was doing untold emotions within her lower extremities!

She moaned softly…

"Mistress?" Nifir asked nearby

Lee snapped her eyes opened and saw Nifir standing near her and she screamed! She had thought a strange male dwarf had entered into her bathroom; she was still not used to Nifir and her…beard.

….

Thorin was in his private room, he had just completed his own bath, having a new male servant drawn his bath water for him. He thought of his intended; his ThoraLee and wondered how she was enjoying his simple gift of her own rooms, dresses, and her own help maid. He knew she had expressed that she did not desire jewels, which was unusual for a female dwarf, but he had chosen some simple jewels for her choosing that he had hoped she liked and that she would wear for him. The piece of bracelet her twin brother gave her yester eve had given him some ideas, as well he remembered the jewels she had designed in the workshop in her home, he remembered her preference. He hoped she liked what he had picked for her.

As for the dresses, though, he knew she was not overly fond of them, having preferring shirts and breeches. But he liked to see her in dresses too. So, he hoped she would, occasionally, wear a dress.

He had planned for a simple dinner for them tonight to dine alone, before they returned to the oppressive basement and work.

He saw that she had made much progress in the translation and was vastly pleased at it, he knew it was a matter of time she would get to the location of the Arkenstone.

Wearing clean trousers, he was about to put on his the sapphire tunic he had worn on Lee's Coming of Age party when he heard a loud feminine scream from the other side of his room, where Lee's private quarters was! Tossing his tunic down, he dashed to the connecting door when he realized it was locked.

Damn! He swore aloud.

He looked for the key he knew he had one and that Lee now had the other…there! In the golden bowl near the fire place!

He dashed over and dug for the key, knocking the bowl down but he didn't care as he left it spinning on the ground and dashed back to the door and unlocked it as fast as could, he had already wasted precious time…

Banging the door opened he ran into the room and looked around, "Lee! Where are you! What's going on?"

No one was in here so he ran into the other room he knew to be her bathroom and he smacked the door opened and ran in only to skid to a stop as if he had turned to stone instantly. The sight before him was forever now indelible in his mind; he swallowed hard as he found he did not want to blink for fear it would disappear;

It was ThoraLee, standing in the middle of the huge basin and the water had reached to her knees but that was not what took his attention. It was the rest of her naked form; his eyes had moved from her bare knees to her thighs and to where her thighs joined at the apex, there was a patch of dark brown curls of hair covering her maidenhood. Thorin kept his gaze going up and he saw that her stomach was taut and firm, her waist was narrow. Now, her beasts, her beautiful full breasts he had adored this morn, and kissed its tips lovingly. What he would give to be able to worship her body close up again!

When he moved his eyes to her beautiful face, he saw her stunned look; she was standing staring back at him, stunned and naked. He tried to grin at her but he couldn't. He wanted to gather her into his arms, to assure her she is safe, he was there to protect her from whatever that had frightened her.

What did frighten her anyways? He turned to her help maid who was still standing near her, body cloth in her hands.

Nifir was momentarily shocked to see him within the Princess' private bathroom but recovering now, and thankfully with a body cloth she moved to cover Lee's body.

"Oh the great Aulё," Thorin muttered under his breath as he took in her vision as Nifir covered her. But her naked form was forever burned into his mind as he muttered ,"By all the ancestors of Durin, you are certainly the most beautiful of all that graced this land, ..." he began to move forward but suddenly, Nifir appeared before him, her hand in front of his face.

"Your highness," she said firmly as she shook he head. "You are not permitted to take another step forward within. Mistress ThoraLee is still a maiden, you will dishonor her."

At once Thorin snapped himself out of a trance as he saw Lee standing behind Nifir. Her face was covered within her hands but her ears were flaming red. Nifir was glaring at Thorin disapprovingly.

Just as Nifir was dismissing Thorin, Lee peeked over her shoulder and began staring at Thorin. She had never seen him without a shirt on and found herself deeply attracted to his built. His arms were so well built! The muscles on his arms were big and incredibly muscular. His chest was bulky and…well, rippling. Oh my! Lee could not keep her eyes from his half naked form! And his waist was narrow, tapering down to where the top of his trousers covered his narrow hips. She could tell his thighs were quite nicely formed as well; what it would feel to run her hands over them! She wondered as her hands tingled to feel, "By the great Aulё, he could not have been made more gloriously like the immortals!"

"I believe you were in the process of dressing yourself, your Highness?" Nifir said stiffly, reminding Thorin again.

Thorin turned his gaze from Lee to her and nodded distractedly, "Yes, Madam Nifir. I…I…will be...um… on my way." He cleared his throat and glancing at Lee one more time before walking back to his rooms.

Nifir turned back to Lee, "Now, shall we get you dressed Mistress ThoraLee?" she arched a brow at her.

Lee meekly nodded at her, clutching the cloth to her body as she followed Nifir to the alcove.

….

End of Chapter 15